bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dengue fever in renal allograft recipients: Clinical course and outcome
Authors: Subbiah Arunkumar , Bagchi Soumita , Bhowmik Dipankar , Mahajan Sandeep , Yadav Raj K. , Chhabra Yogesh , Agarwal Sanjay
Published: March 2018

Background

There are annual outbreaks of dengue infection in tropical and subtropical countries. This retrospective study aimed to assess the clinical manifestation of dengue and outcome in renal transplant recipients.

Methods

Renal transplant recipients diagnosed with dengue in the nephrology department during the outbreak from August 2015 to December 2015 were included in the study.

Results

Twenty patients developed dengue presenting during the outbreak. Mean age was 31.9 ± 8.8 years and all were males. Two patients had severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome). Clinical presentation included febrile illness (95%), myalgia (65%), headache (30%), retro‐orbital pain (10%), and mucocutaneous bleeding manifestations (10%). Three (15%) had third space fluid accumulation and 2 (10%) had hypotension. Ninety percent patients had thrombocytopenia, with 4 requiring platelet transfusion. Leucopenia (WBC < 4000/mm3) developed in 50% patients. About 60% had transient transaminitis. One patient with severed dengue expired and 1 recovered with IV immunoglobulin therapy. About 40% patients had rise in serum creatinine, with complete recovery in all patients.

Conclusion

Clinical manifestations of dengue infection in renal transplant recipients were similar to that in general population. However, leucopenia necessitating temporary withdrawal of immunosuppression was common. Renal dysfunction was frequent but completely reversible.
Isavuconazole pharmacokinetics in a patient with cystic fibrosis following bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation
Authors: Kabulski Galen M. , MacVane Shawn H.
Published: March 2018

Previous studies of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) treated with azole antifungals have shown altered pharmacokinetics relative to healthy patients. Data regarding the pharmacokinetic profile of isavuconazole in patients with CF undergoing lung transplantation are currently not available. Serum trough concentrations assessed in a single CF patient following transplant revealed significantly lower values relative to available literature. Larger studies are required to validate CF population pharmacokinetics of isavuconazole.
Integration of danger peptide signals with herbivore‐associated molecular pattern signaling amplifies anti‐herbivore defense responses in rice
Authors: Shinya Tomonori , Yasuda Shigetaka , Hyodo Kiwamu , Tani Rena , Hojo Yuko , Fujiwara Yuka , Hiruma Kei , Ishizaki Takuma , Fujita Yasunari , Saijo Yusuke , Galis Ivan
Published: March 2018

Plant defense against herbivores is modulated by herbivore‐associated molecular patterns (HAMPs) from oral secretions (OS) and/or saliva of insects. Furthermore, feeding wounds initiate plant self‐damage responses modulated by danger‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as immune defense‐promoting plant elicitor peptides (Peps). While temporal and spatial co‐existence of both patterns during herbivory implies a possibility of their close interaction, the molecular mechanisms remain undetermined. Here we report that exogenous application of rice (Oryza sativa) peptides (OsPeps) can elicit multiple defense responses in rice cell cultures. Specific activation of OsPROPEP3 gene transcripts in rice leaves by wounding and OS treatments further suggests a possible involvement of the OsPep3 peptide in rice–herbivore interactions. Correspondingly, we found that simultaneous application of OsPep3 and Mythimna loreyi OS significantly amplifies an array of defense responses in rice cells, including mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation, and generation of defense‐related hormones and metabolites. The induction of OsPROPEP3/4 by OsPep3 points to a positive auto‐feedback loop in OsPep signaling which may contribute to additional enhancement of defense signal(s). Finally, the overexpression of the OsPep receptor OsPEPR1 increases the sensitivity of rice plants not only to the cognate OsPeps but also to OS signals. Our findings collectively suggest that HAMP–DAMP signal integration provides a critical step in the amplification of defense signaling in plants.
The anti‐inflammatory effect of topical tofacitinib on immediate and late‐phase cutaneous allergic reactions in dogs: a placebo‐controlled pilot study
Authors: Blubaugh Amanda , Rissi Daniel , Elder Deborah , Denley Tara , Eguiluz‐Hernandez Sitka , Banovic Frane
Published: March 2018

Background

Topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition is a promising therapeutic target for several inflammatory skin diseases of humans.

Objectives

To evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effect of tofacitinib, a JAK 1/3 inhibitor, on immediate and late‐phase skin reactions in dogs.

Animals

Five healthy laboratory beagle dogs.

Methods

Topical tofacitinib (total daily dosage: 0.5 mg/cm2) or its gel vehicle were applied on either the left or right lateral thorax of each dog for eight days. Three days before application and after eight days of topical treatment, intradermal injections of histamine and anticanine‐IgE antibodies were performed on both sides; they were evaluated by an investigator blinded to the interventions.

Results

The tofacitinib gel was well‐tolerated; one dog developed mild erythema at Day 5 that resolved by the next application. Treatment with tofacitinib reduced histamine and anticanine‐IgE global wheal scores (one‐way ANOVA, P ≤ 0.005 for both) compared to baseline; there was no significant difference for the vehicle placebo (histamine; P = 0.163; IgE, P = 0.223). Late‐phase reactions (LPRs) were markedly, but not significantly reduced after tofacitinib treatment (P = 0.071). A blinded histological evaluation of 6 h‐anti‐IgE‐associated LPRs revealed a significant reduction in the total leucocyte superficial dermal cellularity (P = 0.022), as well as eosinophil (P = 0.022) and mast cell (P = 0.022) counts at tofacitinib‐treated sides compared with pretreatment values. Post‐treatment complete blood counts and serum chemistry profiles did not show relevant tofacitinib‐induced changes.

Conclusions

Our observations suggest that topical tofacitinib exerts an inhibitory effect on activated canine skin‐emigrating immune cells; this drug should be investigated further as a topical immunosuppressive drug in dogs.
NMDA receptor‐gated visual responses in hippocampal CA1 neurons
Authors: Liu Yu‐zhang , Wang Yao , Tang Wei , Zhu Jun‐yi , Wang Zhiru
Published: March 2018

Key points

Sensory information processing in hippocampal circuits is critical for numerous hippocampus‐dependent functions, but the underlying synaptic mechanism remains elusive.

We performed whole‐cell recording in vivo to examine visually evoked synaptic activity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs).

We first found that at resting potentials, ∼30% of CA1 PCs showed synaptic responses to a flash of visual stimulation.

Interestingly, at depolarizing potentials, nearly all CA1 PCs were found to exhibit NMDA receptor‐dependent responses, indicating the presence of NMDA receptor‐mediated gating of CA1 responses.

The NMDA receptor‐gated CA1 responses may play important roles in the hippocampal function that depends on sensory information processing.

Hippocampal processing of environmental information is critical for hippocampus‐dependent brain functions that result from experience‐induced hippocampal plasticity, such as memory acquisition and storage. Hippocampal responses to sensory stimulation have been extensively investigated, particularly with respect to spike activity. However, the synaptic mechanism for hippocampal processing of sensory stimulation has been much less understood. Here, we performed in vivo whole‐cell recording on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs) from adult rodents to examine CA1 responses to a flash of visual stimulation. We first found in recordings obtained at resting potentials that ∼30% of CA1 PCs exhibited significant excitatory/inhibitory membrane‐potential (MP) or membrane‐current (MC) responses to the flash stimulus. Remarkably, in the other (∼70%) CA1 PCs, although no responses could be detected at resting potentials, clear excitatory MP or MC responses to the same flash stimulus were observed at depolarizing potentials, and these responses were further found to depend on NMDA receptors. Our findings demonstrate the presence of NMDA receptor‐mediated gating of visual responses in hippocampal CA1 neurons, a synaptic mechanism for hippocampal processing of sensory information that may play important roles in hippocampus‐dependent functions such as learning and memory.
T follicular helper–like cells contribute to skin fibrosis
Authors: Taylor Devon K. , Mittereder Nanette , Kuta Ellen , Delaney Tracy , Burwell Timothy , Dacosta Karma , Zhao Weiguang , Cheng Lily I. , Brown Charles , Boutrin Anmarie , Guo Xiang , White Wendy I. , Zhu Jie , Dong Huifang , Bowen Michael A. , Lin Jia , Gao Changshou , Yu Li , Ramaswamy Madhu , Gaudreau Marie-Claude , Woods Rob , Herbst Ronald , Carlesso Gianluca
Published: March 2018

T follicular helper–like cells and IL-21 are drivers of skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.
TLR7 Agonists Display Potent Antiviral Effects against Norovirus Infection via Innate Stimulation
Authors: Enosi Tuipulotu Daniel , Netzler Natalie E. , Lun Jennifer H. , Mackenzie Jason M. , White Peter A.
Published: March 2018

Norovirus infections are a significant health and economic burden globally, accounting for hundreds of millions of cases of acute gastroenteritis every year. In the absence of an approved norovirus vaccine, there is an urgent need to develop antivirals to treat chronic infections and provide prophylactic therapy to limit viral spread during epidemics and pandemics. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists have been explored widely for their antiviral potential, and several are progressing through clinical trials for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and as adjuvants for norovirus viruslike particle (VLP) vaccines. However, norovirus therapies in development are largely direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) with fewer compounds that target the host. Our aim was to assess the antiviral potential of TLR7 agonist immunomodulators on norovirus infection using the murine norovirus (MNV) and human Norwalk replicon models. TLR7 agonists R-848, Gardiquimod, GS-9620, R-837, and loxoribine were screened using a plaque reduction assay, and each displayed inhibition of MNV replication (50% effective concentrations [EC
50
s], 23.5 nM, 134.4 nM, 0.59 μM, 1.5 μM, and 79.4 μM, respectively). RNA sequencing of TLR7-stimulated cells revealed a predominant upregulation of innate immune response genes and interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) that are known to drive an antiviral state. Furthermore, the combination of R-848 and the nucleoside analogue (NA) 2′C-methylcytidine elicited a synergistic antiviral effect against MNV, demonstrating that combinational therapy of host modulators and DAAs might be used to reduce drug cytotoxicity. In summary, we have identified that TLR7 agonists display potent inhibition of norovirus replication and are a therapeutic option to combat norovirus infections.
Full-Genome Sequence of Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (Gallid Alphaherpesvirus 1) Strain VFAR-043, Isolated in Peru
Authors: Morales Ruiz Sandra , Bendezu Eguis Jorge , Montesinos Ricardo , Tataje-Lavanda Luis , Fernández-Díaz Manolo
Published: March 2018

We report here the first genome sequence of infectious laryngotracheitis virus isolated in Peru from tracheal tissues of layer chickens. The genome showed 99.98% identity to the J2 strain genome sequence. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in five gene-coding sequences related to vaccine development, virus attachment, and viral immune evasion.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Mammarenavirus Harbored by Rodents on Hainan Island, China
Authors: Zhang You , Rao Langyu , Lv Gang , Zhang Lei , Fu Ruijia , Wang Shanshan , Wu Yue , Cui Xiuji , Yin Feifei
Published: March 2018

Wenzhou virus (WENV) is a rodent-borne mammarenavirus that was recently found to infect humans. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of a genetic variant of WENV, HMU (Hainan Medical University) virus. The virus was harbored by a
Rattus norvegicus
individual in the residential areas of Hainan Province in southern China.
Complete Genome Sequence of Listeria monocytogenes Strain MR310, Isolated from a Pastured-Flock Poultry Farm System
Authors: Rothrock Michael J. , Fan Peixin , Jeong Kwangcheol C. , Kim Sun Ae , Ricke Steven C. , Park Si Hong
Published: March 2018

Investigation of
Listeria monocytogenes
transmission from environmental sources associated with pasture-raised chickens to poultry products is needed to determine ways to prevent potential foodborne illness. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Listeria monocytogenes
MR310, one of the isolates from a pastured-flock poultry management system.
“What’s my risk of sustaining an ACL injury while playing sports?” A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Montalvo Alicia M , Schneider Daniel K , Yut Laura , Webster Kate E , Beynnon Bruce , Kocher Mininder S , Myer Gregory D
Published: March 2018

Objective

To estimate the incidence proportion (IP) and incidence rate (IR) for ACL injury in athletes.

Design

Systematic review with meta-analysis

Data sources

The PubMed, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus electronic databases were searched from inception to 20 January 2017.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Studies were included if they reported total number of participants/population by sex, total number of ACL injuries by sex and total person-time by sex.

Results

Fifty-eight studies were included. The IP and IR of ACL injury in female athletes were 3.5% (1 out of every 29 athletes) and 1.5/10 000 athlete-exposures over a period of 1 season-25 years. The IP and IR of ACL injury in male athletes were 2.0% (1 out of every 50 athletes) and 0.9/10 000 athlete-exposures over a period of 1–25 years. Female athletes had a higher relative risk (RR) for ACL injury compared with males (RR=1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.9; P<0.01) and a higher incidence rate ratio (IRR) of ACL injury compared with males over 1 season–25 years (IRR=1.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.2; P<0.010). When accounting for participation level, the disparity in the IR between female and male athletes was highest for amateur athletes compared with intermediate and elite athletes (IRR=2.1; 95% CI 1.3 to 3.4; P<0.01; I²=82%). Amateur female athletes remained at higher risk of ACL injury than did with amateur male athletes. In studies where follow-up length was <1 year, female athletes had a higher IR of ACL injury than did to males (IRR=1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.2; P<0.01). Where follow-up was 1 year and beyond, there was no sex difference in the IR of ACL injury (IRR=2.1; 95% CI 0.9 to 4.8; P=0.06; I²=65%).

Summary/conclusions

One in 29 female athletes and 1 in 50 male athletes ruptured their ACL in a window that spanned from 1season to 25 years. The IR of ACL injury among female athletes in a season was 1.7 times higher than the IR of ACL injury among male athletes and the IP of ACL injury among female athletes was 1.5 times higher than the IP of ACL injury among male athletes. The reported sex disparity in ACL injury rates is independent of participation level and length of follow-up.
Chronic disease as risk multiplier for disadvantage
Authors: Stutzin Donoso Francisca
Published: March 2018

This paper starts by establishing a prima facie case that disadvantaged groups or individuals are more likely to get a chronic disease and are in a disadvantaged position to adhere to chronic treatment despite access through Universal Health Coverage. However, the main aim of this paper is to explore the normative implications of this claim by examining two different but intertwined argumentative lines that might contribute to a better understanding of the ethical challenges faced by chronic disease health policy. The paper develops the argument that certain disadvantages which may predispose to illness might overlap with disadvantages that may hinder self-management, potentially becoming disadvantageous in handling chronic disease. If so, chronic diseases may be seen as disadvantages in themselves, describing a reproduction of disadvantage among the chronically ill and a vicious circle of disadvantage that could both predict and shed light on the catastrophic health outcomes among disadvantaged groups—or individuals—dealing with chronic disease.
Mechanical response and pore pressure generation in granular filters subjected to uniaxial cyclic loading
Authors: Israr Jahanzaib , Indraratna Buddhima
Published: March 2018

This paper presents results from a series of piping tests carried out on a selected range of granular filters under static and cyclic loading conditions. The mechanical response of filters subjected to cyclic loading could be characterized in three distinct phases; namely, (I) pre-shakedown, (II) post-shakedown, and (III) post-critical (i.e., the occurrence of internal erosion). All the permanent geomechanical changes such, as erosion, permeability variations, and axial strain developments, took place during phases I and III, while the specimen response remained purely elastic during phase II. The post-critical occurrence of erosion incurred significant settlement that may not be tolerable for high-speed railway substructures. The analysis revealed that a cyclic load would induce excess pore-water pressure, which, in corroboration with steady seepage forces and agitation due to dynamic loading, could then cause internal erosion of fines from the specimens. The resulting excess pore pressure is a direct function of the axial strain due to cyclic densification, as well as the loading frequency and reduction in permeability. A model based on strain energy is proposed to quantify the excess pore-water pressure, and subsequently validated using current and existing test results from published studies.
Housing characteristics, home environmental factors, and pulmonary function deficit in Chinese children: Results from the Seven Northeast Cities (SNEC) Study
Authors: Emo Brett , Hu Li-Wen , Yang Bo-Yi , Mohammed Kahee A. , Geneus Christian , Vaughn Michael , Qian Zhengmin (Min) , Dong Guang-Hui
Published: March 2018

To assess the effects of housing characteristics and home environmental factors on lung function of Chinese children, 6740 children (aged 6–16 years) were recruited from seven cities in Northeast China in 2012. Performance of lung function was determined by comparison of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the associations with lung function deficit. The results showed that housing conditions were associated with lung function deficit in children. The adjusted odds ratios were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.26–0.83) for FVC for “ping-fang” housing compared with “dan-yuan-lou-fang” housing and 2.90 (95% CI: 2.43–3.47) for FEV1 with home renovations completed within two years compared with counterparts. The linear regression models consistently showed a significant association of housing conditions and home environmental factors with lung function measurements across subjects. A residence taller than seven stories was negatively associated with FEV1 ( β = −55; 95% CI: −97 to −13). In conclusion, housing conditions and home environmental factors are particularly important to the development of lung function and respiratory health in children. These factors are concerning and action should be taken to improve them.
EFFICACY OF ESWT FOR LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS TREATMENT: COMPARISON WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY MODALITIES
Authors: Altun Resa D , Incel Nurgül Arinci , Cimen Ozlem Bölgen , Sahin Gunsah
Published: March 2018

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a common condition characterized by pain in the lateral side of the elbow with tenderness on lateral epicondyle, caused by repetetive overuse of extensor muscles of the wrist. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is used in musculoskeletal problems with the possible mechanism of action including hyperstimulation analgesia, neovascularization and induction of healing process. LE generally responds well to conservative treatment. One of the widely used and accepted terms of treatment for LE is physical therapy (PT). In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of ESWT for LE treatment with conventional therapy modalities. This is a prospective randomized study with 73 patients with elbow pain and otherwise healthy, diagnosed as LE. Patients were randomized to two groups to receive either ESWT weekly for 3 weeks or PT for 10 days. Our analysis revealed similar treatment success rates for both groups in many of the evaluation parameters. As a result of our study we were unable to display a major difference between the short-term outcome for two options. However, ESWT still has the advantage of being less time consuming for both the patient and the doctor, an important parameter we believe.
Moment Lyapunov Exponent and Stochastic Stability of Binary Airfoil under Combined Harmonic and Non-Gaussian Colored Noise Excitations
Authors: Hu D. L. , Liu X. B.
Published: March 2018

Both periodic loading and random forces commonly co-exist in real engineering applications. However, the dynamic behavior, especially dynamic stability of systems under parametric periodic and random excitations has been reported little in the literature. In this study, the moment Lyapunov exponent and stochastic stability of binary airfoil under combined harmonic and non–Gaussian colored noise excitations are investigated. The noise is simplified to an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process by applying the path-integral method. Via the singular perturbation method, the second-order expansions of the moment Lyapunov exponent are obtained, which agree well with the results obtained by the Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, the effects of the noise and parametric resonance (such as subharmonic resonance and combination additive resonance) on the stochastic stability of the binary airfoil system are discussed.
Current Voltage Characteristics and Excess Noise at the Trap Filling Transition in Polyacenes
Authors: Pousset Jeremy , Alfinito Eleonora , Carbone Anna , Pennetta Cecilia , Reggiani Lino
Published: March 2018

Experiments in organic semiconductors (polyacenes) evidence a strong super quadratic increase of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristic at voltages in the transition region between linear (Ohmic) and quadratic (trap-free space-charge-limited current) behaviors. Similarly, excess noise measurements at a given frequency and increasing voltages evidence a sharp peak of the relative spectral density of the current noise in concomitance with the strong superquadratic I–V characteristics. Here, we discuss the physical interpretation of these experiments in terms of an essential contribution from field-assisted trapping-detrapping processes of injected carriers. To this purpose, the fraction of filled traps determined by the I–V characteristics is used to evaluate the excess noise in the trap-filled transition (TFT) regime. We have found an excellent agreement between the predictions of our model and existing experimental results in tetracene and pentacene thin films of different length in the range [Formula: see text].
Numerical Study on High Velocity Impact Welding Using a Modified SPH Method
Authors: Zhang Z. L. , Ma T. , Liu M. B. , Feng D.
Published: March 2018

High velocity impact welding (HVIW) involves processes like the impact of metal structures and strong fluid-structure interactions with complex phenomena such as interfacial waves and jet generation. It is very difficult to model the HVIW process with typical physics well captured due to the large deformation and moving interfaces, while the associated mechanisms inherent in HVIW are also not well understood. In this paper, the HVIW process is simulated using a modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model, in which the kernel gradient correction is used to improve computational accuracy and an artificial stress term is used to ease stress instability during the welding process. The mechanisms in HVIW are investigated, and typical phenomena including the wavy interface, jet formation, interfacial temperature and pressure distribution are captured. It is demonstrated that with proper impact welding velocity and initial welding angle, the modified SPH method can well reproduce the morphology evolution of the welding interface from straight to wavy and further to wavy interface with vortex shedding. Based on comprehensive numerical data from SPH simulations, the weldability windows for the HVIW are obtained and are compared with experimental and theoretical results. Welding limits for HVIW are also discussed in detail.
Geological influence of the Great Red River Raft on the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War
Authors: Harrelson Danny W. , Torres Nalini , Tillotson Amber , Zakikhani Mansour
Published: March 2018

About 2000 years ago, the Mississippi River avulsed westwards and captured the Red River of the South, uprooting vegetation and causing bank instability, resulting in a series of log jams known as the Great Red River Raft. The Great Raft presented a major navigation challenge during the settlement of the Red River Valley from the seventeenth century until its removal in the 1890s. The Great Raft extended
c.
100–300 km up-river from Natchitoches, Louisiana to the Louisiana–Arkansas boundary. In the nineteenth century, it contributed to a major military failure by the Union Army and Navy during the 1864 Red River Campaign of the American Civil War. While planning the Red River Campaign, Union commanders made tactical errors by overlooking unique geological aspects of the Red River, including its flashy nature, high sediment load, anastomosing channels and rapids. The Confederates used their knowledge of the Great Raft and the Red River's morphology to attack the Union's river fleet while in a position of restricted manoeuverability. The Confederates used the topographically higher defensive positions of natural levee deposits along the Red River to keep the Union's land and naval forces from supporting each other during the Campaign.
MyoVibe
Authors: Mokaya Frank , Noh Hae Young , Lucas Roland , Zhang Pei
Published: March 2018

Incorrect muscle activation can lead to sub-optimal performance, muscle imbalance, and eventually bodily injury. Consequently, assessing muscle activation is important for both excelling in exercise, athletics, and professional sports in general. Existing techniques for assessing muscle activation, such as electromyography, are invasive, requiring needles inserted directly into the muscle or electrodes that have considerable placement requirements (shaving, gels, etc.). This makes them unsuitable for active environments. In addition, factors such as body motion noise that results from the high-impact movements encountered in active sports environments easily corrupt sensor data. This compounds the unsuitability of these systems in the sports and exercise arena. As a result, such systems have been explored mostly in clinical rather than sports-based scenarios.

We present MyoVibe, a system for sensing and determining muscle activation in high-mobility, high-impact exercise scenarios. MyoVibe senses and interprets multiple muscle vibration signals obtained from a wearable network of accelerometers to determine muscle activation. By utilizing a diverse feature set combined with the simple yet effective motion artifact mitigation technique, MyoVibe can reduce inertial sensor noise in these high-mobility exercises. As a result, MyoVibe can detect muscle activation with greater than 97% accuracy.
Automatically Learning Topics and Difficulty Levels of Problems in Online Judge Systems
Authors: Zhao Wayne Xin , Zhang Wenhui , He Yulan , Xie Xing , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: March 2018

Online Judge (OJ) systems have been widely used in many areas, including programming, mathematical problems solving, and job interviews. Unlike other online learning systems, such as Massive Open Online Course, most OJ systems are designed for self-directed learning without the intervention of teachers. Also, in most OJ systems, problems are simply listed in volumes and there is no clear organization of them by topics or difficulty levels. As such, problems in the same volume are mixed in terms of topics or difficulty levels. By analyzing large-scale users’ learning traces, we observe that there are two major learning modes (or patterns). Users either practice problems in a sequential manner from the same volume regardless of their topics or they attempt problems about the same topic, which may spread across multiple volumes. Our observation is consistent with the findings in classic educational psychology. Based on our observation, we propose a novel two-mode Markov topic model to automatically detect the topics of online problems by jointly characterizing the two learning modes. For further predicting the difficulty level of online problems, we propose a competition-based expertise model using the learned topic information. Extensive experiments on three large OJ datasets have demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach in three different tasks, including skill topic extraction, expertise competition prediction and problem recommendation.
Dead But Not Gone: Contemporary Legacies of Communism, Imperialism, and Authoritarianism
Authors: Simpser Alberto , Slater Dan , Wittenberg Jason
Published: March 2018

A profusion of recent research has focused on historical legacies as key to understanding contemporary outcomes. We review this body of research, analyzing both the comparative-historical analysis (CHA) and modern political economy (MPE) research traditions as applied to the study of communism, imperialism, and authoritarianism. We restrict our focus to the sizeable subset of arguments that meets a relatively strict definition of legacies, i.e., arguments that locate the roots of present-day outcomes in causal factors operative during an extinct political order. For all their differences, the CHA and MPE approaches both face the challenges of convincingly identifying the sources of historical persistence and of reckoning with alternative channels of causation. We find that mechanisms of persistence in legacy research generally belong to one of three main categories. While both traditions acknowledge the role of institutions in historical persistence, CHA research tends to emphasize the lasting power of coalitions, whereas work in MPE often argues for the persistence of cognitions. We argue that, at their best, CHA and MPE approaches yield complementary insights. Further progress in legacy research will benefit from greater cross-fertilization across research traditions and deeper recognition of commonalities across communist, imperialist, and authoritarian regimes.
Overexpression of hexokinase 2 reduces mitochondrial calcium overload in coronary endothelial cells of type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Pan Minglin , Han Ying , Basu Aninda , Dai Anzhi , Si Rui , Willson Conor , Balistrieri Angela , Scott Brian T. , Makino Ayako
Published: March 2018

Coronary microvascular rarefaction, due to endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, is one of the causes of increased morbidity and mortality in diabetes. Coronary ECs in diabetes are more apoptotic due partly to mitochondrial calcium overload. This study was designed to investigate the role of hexokinase 2 (HK2, an endogenous inhibitor of voltage-dependent anion channel) in coronary endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. We used mouse coronary ECs (MCECs) isolated from type 2 diabetic mice and human coronary ECs (HCECs) from type 2 diabetic patients to examine protein levels and mitochondrial function. ECs were more apoptotic and capillary density was lower in the left ventricle of diabetic mice than the control. MCECs from diabetic mice exhibited significant increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]mito) compared with the control. Among several regulatory proteins for [Ca2+]mito, hexokinase 1 (HK1) and HK2 were significantly lower in MCECs from diabetic mice than control MCECs. We also found that the level of HK2 ubiquitination was higher in MCECs from diabetic mice than in control MCECs. In line with the data from MCECs, HCECs from diabetic patients showed lower HK2 protein levels than HCECs from nondiabetic patients. High-glucose treatment, but not high-fat treatment, significantly decreased HK2 protein levels in MCECs. HK2 overexpression in MCECs of diabetic mice not only lowered the level of [Ca2+]mito, but also reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production toward the level seen in control MCECs. These data suggest that HK2 is a potential therapeutic target for coronary microvascular disease in diabetes by restoring mitochondrial function in coronary ECs.
Motor action of the frontal eye field on the eyes and neck in the monkey
Authors: Izawa Yoshiko , Suzuki Hisao
Published: March 2018

Focal stimulation in the frontal eye field (FEF) evoked eye movements that were often accompanied by neck movements. Experiments were performed with concurrent recording of both movements in trained monkeys. We recorded neck forces under a head-restrained condition with a force-measuring system. With the system, we measured forces along the x-, y-, and z-axes and torque about the z-axis. Torque about the z-axis that represented yaw rotation of the head was significantly affected by stimulation. We found that stimulation generated two types of motor actions of the eyes and neck. In the first type, contraversive neck forces were evoked by stimulation of the medial part of the FEF, where contraversive saccadic eye movements with large amplitudes were evoked. When the stimulus intensity was increased, saccades were evoked in an all-or-none manner, whereas the amplitude of neck forces increased gradually. In the second type, contraversive neck forces were evoked by stimulation of the medial and caudal part of the FEF, where ipsiversive slow eye movements were evoked. The depth profiles of amplitudes of neck forces were almost parallel to those of eye movements in individual stimulation tracks. The present results suggest that the FEF is involved in the control of motor actions of the neck as well as the eyes. The FEF area associated with contraversive saccades and contraversive neck movements may contribute to a gaze shift process, whereas that associated with ipsiversive slow eye movements and contraversive neck movements may contribute to a visual stabilization process.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Focal stimulation in the frontal eye field (FEF) evoked eye and neck movements. We recorded neck forces under a head-restrained condition with a force-measuring system. Taking advantage of this approach, we could analyze slow eye movements that were dissociated from the vestibuloocular reflex. We found ipsiversive slow eye movements in combination with contraversive neck forces, suggesting that the FEF may be a source of a corollary discharge signal for compensatory eye movements during voluntary neck movements.
Vitamin D Ameliorates Impaired Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice by Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Yuan Yi Feng , Das Sushant K. , Li Mao Quan
Published: March 2018

Background. This study is designed to investigate whether vitamin D promotes diabetic wound healing and explore the potential mechanism which may be involved in the healing process. Material and Methods. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 200 μg/ml of advanced glycation end product-modified human serum albumin (AGE-HSA) and 250 mg/dl of glucose with vitamin D. Cell viability was analyzed using the CCK-8 assay, and the apoptosis rate was measured using flow cytometry. Endogenous markers of ER stress were quantified using Western blot and a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Diabetic mice were treated with vitamin D (100 ng/kg per day) for 14 days. The ulcer area and ulcerative histology were detected dynamically. Results. Vitamin D administration not only decreased the apoptosis rate but also increased cell viability. Furthermore, the expression of endogenous markers of ER stress was downregulated as a result of vitamin D treatment. Vitamin D supplementation significantly accelerated wound healing of diabetic mice and improved the healing quality. Further studies showed that reduced ER stress was associated with the positive outcome. Conclusion. These results suggest that vitamin D may ameliorate impaired wound healing in diabetic mice by suppressing ER stress.
Whole Body Vibration Retards Progression of Atherosclerosis via Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice
Authors: Wu He , Zhang Yibo , Yang Xuan , Li Xian , Shao Zhenya , Zhou Zipeng , Li Yuanlong , Pan Shuwen , Liu Chang
Published: March 2018

Whole body vibration (WBV) has a marked impact on lipid metabolism and the endocrine system, which is related to the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). To investigate the effects of WBV, we measured the atherosclerotic plaque area of apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE−/−) AS mice, which were trained by WBV (15 Hz, 30 min) for 12 weeks. Simultaneously, serum levels of lipids, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the mRNA and protein levels of the same in the aorta were compared between the control and WBV groups. The results indicated that WBV significantly reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area with lower very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in the blood. Moreover, the levels of IGF-1 in serum and expression of IL-6, IGF-1R, and p-IGF-1R protein in the mice aorta decreased significantly in the WBV group. In addition, we found that serum IGF-1 in mice increased to the highest concentration in 30 min after WBV for 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. These results suggested that appropriate WBV may delay the progression of AS, which was associated with acutely elevated serum IGF-1 and lower levels of IGF-1 and IL-6 in the aorta for long-term treatment.
Thermomechanical Behavior of Energy Pile Embedded in Sandy Soil
Authors: Huang Xu , Wu Yajun , Peng Huaifeng , Hao Yaohu , Lu Chenyang
Published: March 2018

The traditional energy pile (solid energy pile) has been implemented for decades. However, the design of different kinds of energy piles is still not well understood. In this study, a series of model tests were performed on an aluminum pipe energy pile (PEP) in dry sandy soil to investigate the thermal effects on the mechanical behaviors of pipe energy pile. The thermal responses of the PEP were also analyzed. Steady temperatures of the PEP under different working conditions were also compared with that of the solid energy pile. Different loading tests were carried out on four pipe energy piles under three different temperatures of 5, 35, and 50°C, respectively. The bearing capacity change can be interpreted through the load-displacement curves. Experiment results were also compared with the solid energy pile to evaluate bearing capacities of the PEP and the solid energy pile under different temperature conditions. The mobilized shaft resistance was also calculated and compared with the solid energy pile data and the results show that the PEP has a similar load transfer mechanism with the solid energy pile. It could also be found that, for PEPs under working load, plastic displacement would appear after a whole heating cycle.
Gold Nanoparticles as X-Ray, CT, and Multimodal Imaging Contrast Agents: Formulation, Targeting, and Methodology
Authors: Mahan Matthew M. , Doiron Amber L.
Published: March 2018

Computed tomography (CT) is among the most popular medical imaging modalities due to its high resolution images, fast scan time, low cost, and compatibility with all patients. CT scans of soft tissues require the localization of imaging contrast agents (CA) to create contrast, revealing anatomic information. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have attracted interest recently for their use as CT CA due to their high X-ray attenuation, simple surface chemistry, and biocompatibility. Targeting molecules may be attached to the particles to allow for the targeting of specific cell types and disease states. AuNP can also be readily designed to incorporate other imaging contrast agents such as rare earth metals and dyes. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of AuNP used as X-ray and multimodal contrast agents. Primary research is analyzed through the lens of structure-property-function to best explain the design of a particle for a given application. Design specification of particles includes size, shape, surface functionalization, composition, circulation time, and component synergy. Key considerations include delivery of a CA payload to the site of interest, nontoxicity of particle components, and contrast enhancement compared to the surrounding tissue. Examples from literature are included to illustrate the strategies used to address design considerations.
Investigation of Magnetic Nanoparticle Motion under a Gradient Magnetic Field by an Electromagnet
Authors: Wei Weizhong , Wang Zhen
Published: March 2018

Finite element numerical simulations were carried out in 2D geometry to calculate the magnetic force on magnetic nanoparticles under a specially fabricated electromagnet. The particle motion was modeled by a system of ordinary differential equations. The snapshots of trajectories of 4000 MNPs with and without magnetic field were analyzed and qualitatively found to be in agreement with camera visualizations of MNP movement in a container. The results of the analysis could be helpful for the design of electromagnetic field and motion analysis of magnetic particles for the delivery of magnetic materials in biomedical applications.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography versus Dye Angiography in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Sensitivity and Specificity Analysis
Authors: Nikolopoulou Eleni , Lorusso Massimo , Micelli Ferrari Luisa , Cicinelli Maria Vittoria , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe , Micelli Ferrari Tommaso
Published: March 2018

Introduction. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) could be a valid tool to detect choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), allowing the analysis of the type, the morphology, and the extension of CNV in most of the cases. Purpose. To determine the sensitivity and specificity of OCTA in detecting CNV secondary to nAMD, compared to fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Methods. Prospective observational study. Patients with suspected nAMD were recruited between May and December 2016. Patients underwent FA, ICGA, spectral domain OCT, and OCTA (AngioVue, Optovue, Inc.). Sensitivity and specificity of FA, with or without ICGA, were assessed and compared with OCTA. Results. Seventy eyes of 70 consecutive patients were included: 32 eyes (45.7%) with type I CNV, 8 eyes (11.4%) with type II CNV, 4 eyes (5.7%) with type III CNV, 6 eyes (8.6%) with mixed type I and type II CNV, and 20 eyes (28.6%) with no CNV. Sensitivity of OCTA was 88% and specificity was 90%. Concordance between FA/ICGA and OCTA was very good (0,91; range 0,81–1,00). Conclusions. OCTA showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of CNV. Concordance between OCTA and gold-standard dye-based techniques was excellent. OCTA may represent a first-line noninvasive method for the diagnosis of nAMD.
Altering the Biodegradation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles by Means of Experimental Parameters and Surface Functionalization
Authors: Seré Stephanie , De Roo Bert , Vervaele Mattias , Van Gool Stefaan , Jacobs Sandra , Seo Jin Won , Locquet Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2018

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) are gaining a large interest in the field of medical and biomedical applications due to their biodegradability and high loading capacity as a carrier. In this work, a simple synthesis and functionalization procedure is reported, which allows tuning the nanoparticle properties, functionalization, and biodegradability. Variations in the synthesis procedure are introduced, including temperature, concentration of catalyst, and surface functionalization. These samples are characterized and afterwards degraded in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to determine their degradation kinetics. The amount of degraded material is colorimetrically determined, using an optimized protocol based on molybdenum blue chemistry. It is shown that the degradability of the nanoparticles increased with decreasing synthesis temperatures, lower amounts of catalyst, and higher concentrations of nanoparticles. Surface functionalization alters the degradation kinetics as well, rendering amino-functionalized nanoparticles the fastest degradation behavior, followed by carboxylated and nonfunctionalized nanoparticles. From these results, it can be concluded that the degradation rate of MSNPs can be varied from a few hours to several days by small changes in the synthesis procedure. Moreover, the degradation behavior is strongly dependent on the nanoparticle growth rate.
Influence of Skin Packaging on Raw Beef Quality: A Review
Authors: Stella S. , Bernardi C. , Tirloni E.
Published: March 2018

A detailed revision of several aspects related to the application of skin packaging to raw beef was considered. Skin packaging, a relatively new technique derived from vacuum packaging, was developed with the aim of retailing small portions of fresh meat, minced meat, or meat preparations. Above all, the influence of this typology of packaging on the microbial population of raw meat was studied, with particular attention to total viable count, aerobic spoilage bacteria, anaerobic bacteria,Enterobacteriaceae, Brochothrix thermosphacta,and lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the effect on acidification by LAB was also deepened. As colour is the main characteristic influencing purchase decisions at the point of sale, the effect of skin packaging on this parameter was evaluated for raw meat but also for cooked meat. Tenderness, juiciness, and the ability to hold liquid of raw meat when packed in skin conditions were also considered. Furthermore, odour and flavour were considered as sensorial parameters possibly affected by skin packaging. Finally, acceptability by consumer was also investigated. In the studies considered, results showed that skin packaging is advantageous in terms of maintenance of meat quality and for prolonging shelf-life, improving the stability of the products.
Lactate as a Potential Biomarker of Sepsis in a Rat Cecal Ligation and Puncture Model
Authors: Zhai Xiaozhu , Yang Zhengfei , Zheng Guanghui , Yu Tao , Wang Peng , Liu Xuefen , Ling Qin , Jiang Longyuan , Tang Wanchun
Published: March 2018

We attempted to investigate whether blood lactate is a useful biomarker for sepsis in a rat cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent approximately 75% cecum ligation and two punctures to induce high-grade sepsis. A lactate of 1.64 mmol/L (Youden score of 0.722) was selected as the best cutoff value to predict the onset of sepsis after CLP exposure; 46 of 50 rats who survived 24 hours after the CLP were divided into the L group (lactate < 1.64 mmol/L) and M group (lactate ≥ 1.64 mmol/L). In the M group, the animals had significantly higher murine sepsis scores and none survived 5 days post-CLP, and the rate of validated septic animals, serum procalcitonin, high mobility group box 1, blood urea nitrogen, alanine transaminase, cardiac troponin I, and the wet-to-dry weight ratio were significantly higher compared to the L group. Worsen PaO2/FiO2, microcirculations, and mean arterial pressure were observed in the M group. More severe damage in major organs was confirmed by histopathological scores in the M group compared with the L group. In conclusion, lactate ≥ 1.64 mmol/L might serve as a potential biomarker to identify the onset of sepsis in a rat CLP model.