bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parameters of the 3-Minute All-Out Test: Overestimation of Competitive-Cyclist Time-Trial Performance in the Severe-Intensity Domain
Authors: Nicolò Andrea , Bazzucchi Ilenia , Sacchetti Massimo
Published: September 2016

Purpose:

To verify the accuracy of predicting performance in the severe-intensity domain by means of end-test power output (EP) and the work performed above EP (WEP) obtained from a 3-min all-out test in competitive cyclists.

Methods:

Ten welltrained cyclists performed a ramp incremental test and a 3-min all-out familiarization test. Subsequently, they performed a 3-min all-out experimental test to obtain EP and WEP and a 10-min time trial (TT). The actual 10-min-TT mean power output was then compared with the power output predicted as P = WEP/Tlim + EP, where Tlim corresponds to 600 s. The ramp-test peak power output (PPO) was compared with PPO predicted as , where S represents the ramp slope (0.5 W/s).

Results:

The actual (347 ± 30 W) and predicted (376 ± 48 W) 10-min TT mean power output were correlated (r = .87, P = .001) but significantly different (P < .01). The coefficient of variation (CV) between the predicted and actual performance was 5.6% ± 4.4%. The error of prediction was positively correlated to EP (r = .80, P = .005) and negatively correlated to WEP (r = –.71, P = .021). No significant difference was found between the 10-min-TT mean power output and EP (351 ± 53 W). The actual (438 ± 30 W) and predicted (472 ± 41 W) ramp PPO were correlated (r = .88, P < .001) but significantly different (P < .001). The CV between the predicted and actual PPO was 5.2% ± 3%. The error of prediction was positively correlated to EP (r = .63, P = .051).

Conclusions:

EP and WEP obtained from a 3-min all-out test overestimate severe-intensity performance in competitive cyclists.
Heart-Rate Variability During Deep Sleep in World-Class Alpine Skiers: A Time-Efficient Alternative to Morning Supine Measurements
Authors: Herzig David , Testorelli Moreno , Olstad Daniela Schäfer , Erlacher Daniel , Achermann Peter , Eser Prisca , Wilhelm Matthias
Published: September 2016

Background:

It is increasingly popular to use heart-rate variability (HRV) to tailor training for athletes. A time-efficient method is HRV assessment during deep sleep.

Aim:

To validate the selection of deep-sleep segments identified by RR intervals with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) recordings and to compare HRV parameters of these segments with those of standard morning supine measurements.

Methods:

In 11 world-class alpine skiers, RR intervals were monitored during 10 nights, and simultaneous EEGs were recorded during 2–4 nights. Deep sleep was determined from the HRV signal and verified by delta power from the EEG recordings. Four further segments were chosen for HRV determination, namely, a 4-h segment from midnight to 4 AM and three 5-min segments: 1 just before awakening, 1 after waking in supine position, and 1 in standing after orthostatic challenge. Training load was recorded every day.

Results:

A total of 80 night and 68 morning measurements of 9 athletes were analyzed. Good correspondence between the phases selected by RR intervals vs those selected by EEG was found. Concerning root-mean-squared difference of successive RR intervals (RMSSD), a marker for parasympathetic activity, the best relationship with the morning supine measurement was found in deep sleep.

Conclusion:

HRV is a simple tool for approximating deep-sleep phases, and HRV measurement during deep sleep could provide a time-efficient alternative to HRV in supine position.
The Impact of Central and Peripheral Cyclooxygenase Enzyme Inhibition on Exercise-Induced Elevations in Core Body Temperature
Authors: Veltmeijer Matthijs T.W. , Veeneman Dineke , Bongers Coen C.C.W. , Netea Mihai G. , van der Meer Jos W. , Eijsvogels Thijs M.H. , Hopman Maria T.E.
Published: September 2016

Purpose:

Exercise increases core body temperature (TC) due to metabolic heat production. However, the exercise-induced release of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) may also contribute to the rise in TC by increasing the hypothalamic temperature set point. This study investigated whether the exercise-induced increase in TC is partly caused by an altered hypothalamic temperature set point.

Methods:

Fifteen healthy, active men age 36 ± 14 y were recruited. Subjects performed submaximal treadmill exercise in 3 randomized test conditions: (1) 400 mg ibuprofen and 1000 mg acetaminophen (IBU/APAP), (2) 1000 mg acetaminophen (APAP), and (3) a control condition (CTRL). Acetaminophen and ibuprofen were used to block the effect of IL-6 at a central and peripheral level, respectively. TC, skin temperature, and heart rate were measured continuously during the submaximal exercise tests.

Results:

Baseline values of TC, skin temperature, and heart rate did not differ across conditions. Serum IL-6 concentrations increased in all 3 conditions. A significantly lower peak TC was observed in IBU/APAP (38.8°C ± 0.4°C) vs CTRL (39.2°C ± 0.5°C, P = .02) but not in APAP (38.9°C ± 0.4°C) vs CTRL. Similarly, a lower ΔTC was observed in IBU/APAP (1.7°C ± 0.3°C) vs CTRL (2.0°C ± 0.5°C, P < .02) but not in APAP (1.7°C ± 0.5°C) vs CTRL. No differences were observed in skin temperature and heart-rate responses across conditions.

Conclusions:

The combined administration of acetaminophen and ibuprofen resulted in an attenuated increase in TC during exercise compared with a CTRL. This observation suggests that a prostaglandin-E2-induced elevated hypothalamic temperature set point may contribute to the exercise-induced rise in TC.
The Use of Recovery Strategies Among Participants of the BUPA Great North Run: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Shaw Sarah , Smith Tina , Alexanders Jenny , Shaw Thomas , Smith Lois , Nevill Alan , Anderson Anna
Published: September 2016

Objective:

To investigate half-marathon runners’ frequency of use of recovery strategies, perceptions regarding the most beneficial recovery strategy, and reasons for using recovery strategies.

Design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Participants:

186 participants of the 13.1 mile BUPA Great North Run 2013.

Methods:

A questionnaire was developed which required participants to indicate how frequently they used 12 different recovery strategies, identify which recovery strategy they believed to be most beneficial, and rank 6 reasons for using recovery strategies in order of importance. Data were analyzed using a Friedman nonparametric ANOVA and additional nonparametric tests.

Results:

All participants used recovery strategies. Stretching was the most commonly used recovery strategy (P < .001), whereas the use of nutritional supplements was the most commonly selected most beneficial recovery strategy. More than 50% of respondents indicated that they never used strategies such as kinesio tape (80%), hydrotherapy (78%), or ice baths (71%). A significant difference was observed between reasons for using recovery strategy (χ2 (5) = 292.29, P < .001). Reducing muscle tightness (rank 4.87) and reducing injury (rank 4.35) were the most frequently chosen most important reasons for using recovery strategies. Minor sex and age differences in the responses were identified.

Conclusion:

Recovery strategy usage appears to be widespread among half-marathon runners; however, disparities exist between the frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of different recovery strategies. Further research in this area is needed to facilitate the development of recovery strategy guidelines which are both evidence-based and practically relevant.
Home Exercises Versus On-Site Rehabilitation in the Management of Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: A Critically Appraised Topic
Authors: Day Joseph M. , Dale Robert Barry , Kennedy Elizabeth
Published: September 2016

Clinical Scenario: Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LE) is a common musculoskeletal condition that often results in pain and disability. An array of conservative interventions have been shown to improve patient outcomes in outpatient rehabilitation clinics. However, with the rise in health care costs, patients and rehabilitation specialists have opted to reduce the number of in-house visits and focus on home exercise programs (HEPs). As a result, many rehabilitation specialists and patients now depend on HEPs as the primary intervention to treat LE. Focused Clinical Question: For individuals with LE, is there evidence to suggest that HEPs are as effective as traditional on-site rehabilitation for reducing pain and disability? Summary of Search, Best Evidence Appraised, and Key Findings: The literature was searched for studies comparing HEP to on-site rehabilitation in the management of LE. Two clinical controlled trials (CCTs) were included. No studies suggested that HEPs demonstrated equal or improved outcomes in pain or disability. Both studies concluded that on-site rehabilitation services were more effective at reducing pain and disability in the short term. More research is needed to compare the cost effectiveness of both HEP and on-site rehabilitation. Clinical Bottom Line: Based on 2 CCTs, it can be concluded that there is moderate evidence to suggest that patients with LE experience decreased pain and disability scores with on-site rehabilitation compared to a guided HEP in the short term. The authors could not draw a conclusion regarding long-term effects of treatments or cost effectiveness of the 2 approaches. Strength of Recommendation: Based on the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, there is level B evidence that a HEP only was not as effective as on-site rehabilitation services in patients with LE.
This is What We Do With the Rest of the Day! Exploring the Macro and Meso Levels of Elite Golf Performance
Authors: Davies Thomas , Collins Dave , Cruickshank Andrew
Published: September 2016

Despite substantial research in golf on preshot routines, our understanding of what elite golfers are or potentially should be focusing on beyond this phase of performance is limited. Accordingly, interviews were conducted with elite-level golfers and support practitioners to explore what golfers are and should be attending to before competition and between shots and holes. Results pointed to a number of important and novel processes for use at macro (i.e., precompetition) and meso (i.e., between shots and holes) levels, including the role of shared mental models across team members.
Whole-Genome Sequencing Identifies
In Vivo
Acquisition of a
bla
CTX-M-27
-Carrying IncFII Transmissible Plasmid as the Cause of Ceftriaxone Treatment Failure for an Invasive Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infection
Authors: McCollister Bruce , Kotter Cassandra V. , Frank Daniel N. , Washburn Taylor , Jobling Michael G.
Published: September 2016

We report a case of ceftriaxone treatment failure for bacteremia caused by
Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovar Typhimurium, due to the
in vivo
acquisition of a
bla
CTX-M-27
-encoding IncFII group transmissible plasmid. The original β-lactamase-susceptible isolate ST882S was replaced by the resistant isolate ST931R during ceftriaxone treatment. After relapse, treatment was changed to ciprofloxacin, and the patient recovered. Isolate ST931R could transfer resistance to
Escherichia coli
at 37°C. We used whole-genome sequencing of ST882S and ST931R, the
E. coli
transconjugant, and isolated plasmid DNA to unequivocally show that ST882S and ST931R had identical chromosomes, both having 206 identical single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) versus
S
. Typhimurium 14028s. We assembled a complete circular genome for ST931R, to which ST882S reads mapped with no SNPs. ST882S and ST931R were isogenic except for the presence of three additional plasmids in ST931R. ST931R and the
E. coli
transconjugant were ceftriaxone resistant due to the presence of a 60.5-kb IS
26
-flanked,
bla
CTX-M-27
-encoding IncFII plasmid. Compared to 14082s, ST931R has almost identical Gifsy-1, Gifsy-2, and ST64B prophages, lacks Gifsy-3, and instead carries a unique Fels-2 prophage related to that found in LT2. ST882S and ST931R both had a 94-kb virulence plasmid showing >99% identity with pSLT14028s and a cryptic 3,904-bp replicon; ST931R also has cryptic 93-kb IncI1 and 62-kb IncI2 group plasmids. To the best of our knowledge,
in vivo
acquisition of extended-spectrum β-lactamase resistance by
S
. Typhimurium and
bla
CTX-M-27
genes in U.S. isolates of
Salmonella
have not previously been reported.
Petroleum generation modeling of the organic-rich shales of Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous succession from Mintaq-01 well in the Wadi Hajar sub-basin, Yemen
Authors: Hakimi Mohammed Hail , Ahmed Abdulghani F.
Published: September 2016

Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous shales of the Naifa, Safer, and Madbi formations were studied to evaluate source rock characterization. The results of the source rock were then incorporated into basin modeling to understand the timing of hydrocarbon (HC) generation and expulsion. The Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous shales have low to high organic matter, with total organic carbon (TOC) values in the range of 0.50%–28.01%, indicating fair to excellent source rock potential. Main oil and gas are anticipated to be generated from the Naifa, Safer, and Lam shale samples with types I and (or) II and types II–III kerogens. In contrast, the Meem samples are dominated by type III kerogen (hydrogen index, HI < 200 mg HC / g TOC), and are thus considered to be gas prone. The Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous shale samples have temperatures of maximum pyrolysis yield (Tmax) in the range of 337–515 °C, consistent with immature to post-mature stages. The Tmaxdata also indicate that the Safer and Madbi shale samples have sufficient thermal maturity, i.e., peak–mature oil and gas window. The basin models indicate that the Naifa Formation is early–mature, and the onset oil generation began during the Early Miocene. The models also indicate that the main phase of oil generation in the Safer source rock began during the Late Eocene. In contrast, the Madbi source rock units had passed the peak oil generation window, and the oil was converted to gas during the Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene. The modeled HC expulsion history reveals that most oils are contributed by both Madbi units, with significant amounts of gas originating from the Meem unit.
Thinning effects on foliar elements in eastern hemlock: implications for managing the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid
Authors: Piatek Kathryn B. , Fajvan Mary Ann , Turcotte Richard M.
Published: September 2016

Stand thinning is being tested as a means to limit the impacts of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA; Adelges tsugae Annand) on eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere). The efficacy of this strategy may be reduced if thinning increases hemlock foliar nutrients because HWA densities are correlated with foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mn. We determined foliar N, P, K, Ca, and Mn concentrations in 1-year-old and all other (older) needles prior to and for 4 years after thinning in northwestern Pennsylvania stands of eastern hemlock without HWA. Average foliar concentrations in 1-year-old needles were 1.30–1.80 g N·100 g−1, 1300–1700 mg P·kg−1, 4200–6300 mg K·kg−1, 2500–5200 mg Ca·kg−1, and 2393 μg Mn·g−1. N, P, and K decreased, Ca increased, and Mn first increased and then stabilized. Thinning by itself did not affect the tested foliar nutrients. The interaction between treatment and year was significant and evident in temporal trajectories of foliar N and K. However, the differences between thinned and unthinned plots within years averaged only 0.03 g N·100 g−1 and 340 mg K·kg−1. We concluded that even though thinning changed the temporal trajectories of foliar N and K, the nutritional shifts were minimal, brief, and unlikely to affect the efficacy of thinning in limiting the impacts of HWA.
A note on gauge-fixing in the electroweak sector of non-minimal UED
Authors: Datta Anindya , Shaw Avirup
Published: September 2016

Electroweak observables are highly sensitive to the loop corrections. Therefore, a proper gauge-fixing mechanism is always needed to define the propagators which are involved in Feynman loop amplitude. With this spirit, we compute gauge-fixing mechanism in five-dimensional (5D) universal extra-dimensional (UED) model with boundary localized terms (BLTs). These BLTs are not 5D operators in four-dimensional (4D) effective theory but some sort of boundary conditions on the respective fields at the fixed points of [Formula: see text] orbifold. Furthermore, these BLTs nontrivially modify the Kaluza–Klein (KK) spectra and some of the interactions among the KK-excitations compared to the minimal UED (mUED), in which, these BLTs are absent. In this note, we calculate the gauge-fixing mechanism in the electroweak sector of such nontrivial UED scenario. Moreover, we discuss the composition and masses of Goldstone and any physical scalar that emerge after the symmetry breaking in this set up with different choices of gauge.
Harmonic knots
Authors: Koseleff P.-V. , Pecker D.
Published: September 2016

The harmonic knot [Formula: see text] is parametrized as [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are pairwise coprime integers and [Formula: see text] is the degree [Formula: see text] Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind. We classify the harmonic knots [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] We study the knots [Formula: see text] the knots [Formula: see text] and give a table of the simplest harmonic knots.
The structure of connected quandles with the profile {1,ℓ,ℓ} or {1,ℓ,ℓ,ℓ} and its inner group
Authors: Watanabe Taisuke
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we study connected quandles with the profile [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. For such a quandle, we prove that its inner group is a Frobenius group, its order is a prime power and it is an affine quandle.
Development of Three-Dimensional GSM-CFD Solver for Compressible Flows
Authors: Yao Jianyao , Wu Weimin , Zhang Kun , Sun Dongyang , Liu Yaolu , Ning Huiming , Hu Ning , Liu G. R.
Published: September 2016

A three-dimensional (3D) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver based on the gradient smoothing method (GSM) is developed for compressible flows based on previous research. The piecewise constant smoothing function with one-point integration scheme is implemented for gradient approximation of field variables and convective fluxes. The matrix-based method for gradient approximations is also developed to improve the numerical efficiency. Numerical examples of gradient approximations of several given functions have shown that the proposed GSM is more accurate and robust to mesh distortion. A transonic ONERA M6 wing is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed GSM-CFD solver.
Intellectual Property Rights and Export Sophistication
Authors: Zhang Huiying , Yang Xiaohui
Published: September 2016

Developing economies are aiming to upgrade the sophistication of their exports. Previous studies have explored the drivers of export sophistication. However, the intellectual property rights (IPR) protection has attracted little attention. This paper studies how IPR protection affects export sophistication. The empirical results show that in developing countries, foreign direct investment (FDI) and imports play a mediating role in the relationship between IPR protection and export sophistication; while for developed countries, the corresponding mediating effects rely on research and development (R&D) and FDI. In addition, when making a more accurate classification of developing countries' imports and inward FDI origin, we find that the mediating effect depends on South–South imports and North–South FDI.
Aging in epitaxial ferroelectric PbTiO3 films
Authors: Hannu Jari , Peräntie Jani , Stratulat Sergiu Mihai , Jantunen Heli , Tyunina Marina
Published: September 2016

Ability of epitaxial perovskite oxide ferroelectric films to maintain a poled polarization state on a long-term scale is crucial for advanced devices employing such films. Here polarization relaxation with time, or aging, is experimentally studied in epitaxial capacitor heterostructures of PbTiO3 sandwiched between SrRuO3 and Pt electrodes. The relaxation obeys logarithmic time-decay for the time 102–105[Formula: see text]s after poling pulses. The decay is by factor [Formula: see text]10 slower than that reported for polycrystalline films. Our experimental results show that existing models are insufficient for epitaxial films.
Analyzing the Impact of Trucks on Traffic Flow Based on an Improved Cellular Automaton Model
Authors: Kong Dewen , Guo Xiucheng , Yang Bo , Wu Dingxin
Published: September 2016

This paper aims to analyze the impact of trucks on traffic flow and propose an improved cellular automaton model, which considers both the performance difference between passenger cars and trucks and the behaviour change of passenger cars under the impact of trucks. A questionnaire survey has been conducted to find out whether the impact of trucks exists and how the behaviour of passenger car drivers changes under the impact of trucks. The survey results confirm that the impact of trucks exists and indicate that passenger car drivers will enlarge the space gap, decelerate, and change lanes in advance when they are affected. Simulation results show that traffic volume is still affected by percentages of trucks in the congestion phase in the proposed model compared with traditional heterogeneous cellular automaton models. Traffic volume and speed decrease with the impact of trucks in the congestion phase. The impact of trucks can increase traffic congestion as it increases. However, it has different influences on the speed variance of passenger cars in different occupancies. In the proposed model, the relative relationship of the space gap between car-following-truck and car-following-car is changeable at a certain value of occupancy, which is related to the impact of trucks.
The Alteration of the Epidermal Basement Membrane Complex of Human Nevus Tissue and Keratinocyte Attachment after High Hydrostatic Pressurization
Authors: Morimoto Naoki , Jinno Chizuru , Mahara Atsushi , Sakamoto Michiharu , Kakudo Natsuko , Inoie Masukazu , Fujisato Toshia , Suzuki Shigehiko , Kusumoto Kenji , Yamaoka Tetsuji
Published: September 2016

We previously reported that human nevus tissue was inactivated after high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) higher than 200 MPa and that human cultured epidermis (hCE) engrafted on the pressurized nevus at 200 MPa but not at 1000 MPa. In this study, we explore the changes to the epidermal basement membrane in detail and elucidate the cause of the difference in hCE engraftment. Nevus specimens of 8 mm in diameter were divided into five groups (control and 100, 200, 500, and 1000 MPa). Immediately after HHP, immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the presence of laminin-332 and type VII collagen, and the specimens were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). hCE was placed on the pressurized nevus specimens in the 200, 500, and 1000 MPa groups and implanted into the subcutis of nude mice; the specimens were harvested at 14 days after implantation. Then, human keratinocytes were seeded on the pressurized nevus and the attachment was evaluated. The immunohistochemical staining results revealed that the control and 100 MPa, 200 MPa, and 500 MPa groups were positive for type VII collagen and laminin-332 immediately after HHP. TEM showed that, in all of the groups, the lamina densa existed; however, anchoring fibrils were not clearly observed in the 500 or 1000 MPa groups. Although the hCE took in the 200 and 500 MPa groups, keratinocyte attachment was only confirmed in the 200 MPa group. This result indicates that HHP at 200 MPa is preferable for inactivating nevus tissue to allow its reuse for skin reconstruction in the clinical setting.
The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Obese Children and Adolescents in Dalmatia: A Hospital Based Study
Authors: Šimunović Marko , Božić Joško , Milić Lukrecija , Unić Ivana , Škrabić Veselin
Published: September 2016

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) are one of the biggest public health issues in child and adolescent population. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this hospital based study is the first report on the prevalence of MS in obese children and adolescents in Dalmatia, the Mediterranean part of Croatia. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of individual cardiovascular risk factors and MS. Between January 2009 and June 2014, 201 obese subjects aged 6 to 18 were analyzed retrospectively from our Pediatric Endocrine Unit database. The subjects were then classified in two groups of obesity; subjects with BMIzscore 2.0–3.0 were classified as moderately obese and subjects with BMIzscore > 3.0 were classified as severely obese. The overall prevalence of MS using the modified IDF criteria was 30.3%. The most common component of MS in both groups was arterial hypertension, while impaired fasting glucose was the least common component of MS. Our finding of high prevalence of MS underlines the importance of early childhood obesity treatment.
Bayesian Estimation in Delta and Nabla Discrete Fractional Weibull Distributions
Authors: Ganji M. , Gharari F.
Published: September 2016

We use discrete fractional calculus for showing the existence of delta and nabla discrete distributions and then apply time scales for definitions of delta and nabla discrete fractional Weibull distributions. Also, we study the Bayesian estimation of the functions of parameters of these distributions.
Spatial Variation of Arsenic in Soil, Irrigation Water, and Plant Parts: A Microlevel Study
Authors: Kabir M. S. , Salam M. A. , Paul D. N. R. , Hossain M. I. , Rahman N. M. F. , Aziz Abdullah , Latif M. A.
Published: September 2016

Arsenic pollution became a great problem in the recent past in different countries including Bangladesh. The microlevel studies were conducted to see the spatial variation of arsenic in soils and plant parts contaminated through ground water irrigation. The study was performed in shallow tube well command areas in Sadar Upazila (subdistrict), Faridpur, Bangladesh, where both soil and irrigation water arsenic are high. Semivariogram models were computed to determine the spatial dependency of soil, water, grain, straw, and husk arsenic (As). An arsenic concentration surface was created spatially to describe the distribution of arsenic in soil, water, grain, straw, and husk. Command area map was digitized using Arcview GIS from the “mouza” map. Both arsenic contaminated irrigation water and the soils were responsible for accumulation of arsenic in rice straw, husk, and grain. The accumulation of arsenic was higher in water followed by soil, straw, husk, and grain. Arsenic concentration varied widely within command areas. The extent and propensity of arsenic concentration were higher in areas where high concentration of arsenic existed in groundwater and soils. Spherical model was a relatively better and appropriate model. Kriging method appeared to be more suitable in creating interpolated surface. The average arsenic content in grain was 0.08–0.45 mg/kg while in groundwater arsenic level it ranged from 138.0 to 191.3 ppb.
Reaction Behavior of Cellulose in the Homogeneous Esterification of Bagasse Modified with Phthalic Anhydride in Ionic Liquid 1-Allyl-3-methylimidazium Chloride
Authors: Wang Hui-Hui , Zhang Xue-Qin , Long Piao , Zhang Ai-Ping , Liu Chuan-Fu , Sun Run-Cang
Published: September 2016

In order to elucidate the reaction behavior of cellulose component in bagasse, the homogeneous phthalation of bagasse was investigated comparatively with the isolated cellulose in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazium chloride (AmimCl) with phthalic anhydride (PA) at the dosage of 10–50 mmol/g. The phthalation degrees of bagasse and the isolated cellulose were in the range of 5.66% to 22.71% and 11.61% to 44.11%, respectively. A phthalation degree increase of cellulose was proportional to phthalic anhydride dosage due to its regular macromolecular structure and followed the equationyPDI=0.004x-0.02. FT-IR and 2D HSQC NMR analyses confirmed the attachment of phthaloyl group. The phthalation reactivity of the three hydroxyls in the isolated cellulose followed the order of C-6 > C-2 > C-3, and the more selective phthalation to C-6 position was found in the cellulose component in bagasse. These results provide detailed understanding of the homogenous modification mechanism of lignocellulose.
Refractory IgD Multiple Myeloma Treated with Daratumumab: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Husnain Muhammad , Kurtin Sandra , Barkett Nikki , Riaz Irbaz Bin , Agarwal Amit
Published: September 2016

Patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma have poor prognosis. A recent analysis of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who were refractory to both proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs showed the median overall survival of 9 months only. Daratumumab is the first-in-class human monoclonal antibody against CD38 cells which was studied in phase I/II trials for treatment of these patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. It showed an overall response rate of 36% and a median overall survival (OS) of 17 months in these patients. We report a case of 40-year-old man with immunoglobulin D (IgD) multiple myeloma whose disease was refractory to at least 5 different chemotherapy regimens including proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs. The clinical studies assessing daratumumab did not include any patients with IgD myeloma which is a rare form of multiple myeloma and to our knowledge is the first study reporting use of daratumumab in IgD myeloma.
Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients without Major Neuropsychiatric Manifestations
Authors: Bai Ru , Liu Shuang , Zhao Yueyin , Cheng Yuqi , Li Shu , Lai Aiyun , Xie Zhongqi , Xu Xinyu , Lu Zhaoping , Xu Jian
Published: September 2016

Depressive and anxiety disorders are frequently observed in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We conducted this survey to understand the prevalence of depression and anxiety in SLE patients without major neuropsychiatric manifestations (non-NPSLE) and to explore the relationship between emotional disorders, symptoms, autoantibodies, disease activity, and treatments in SLE. 176 SLE patients were included, and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) were recorded to evaluate their disease activity and emotional status. We found that depressive and anxiety disorders were common among SLE patients: 121 (68.8%) patients were in depression status while 14 (8.0%) patients could be diagnosed with depression. Accordingly, 101 (57.4%) were in anxiety status and 21 (11.9%) could be diagnosed with anxiety. Depression was associated with disease activity, and anxiety was associated with anti-P0 antibody, while both of them were associated with proteinuria. HAMA and HAMD scores were in strong positive correlation and they were independent risk factors of each other. We concluded that the high prevalence of depression and anxiety and the association between depression and SLE disease activity might reveal the covert damage of central nervous system in SLE. The role of anti-P0 antibody in SLE patients with emotional disorders warrants more researches.
Compressive Detection Using Sub-Nyquist Radars for Sparse Signals
Authors: Sun Ying , Huang Jianjun , Huang Jingxiong , Kang Li , Lei Li , Tang Yi
Published: September 2016

This paper investigates the compression detection problem using sub-Nyquist radars, which is well suited to the scenario of high bandwidths in real-time processing because it would significantly reduce the computational burden and save power consumption and computation time. A compressive generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detector for sparse signals is proposed for sub-Nyquist radars without ever reconstructing the signal involved. The performance of the compressive GLRT detector is analyzed and the theoretical bounds are presented. The compressive GLRT detection performance of sub-Nyquist radars is also compared to the traditional GLRT detection performance of conventional radars, which employ traditional analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) at Nyquist sampling rates. Simulation results demonstrate that the former can perform almost as well as the latter with a very small fraction of the number of measurements required by traditional detection in relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) cases.
A Review on Approximation Results for Integral Operators in the Space of Functions of Bounded Variation
Authors: Angeloni Laura , Vinti Gianluca
Published: September 2016

We present a review on recent approximation results in the space of functions of bounded variation for some classes of integral operators in the multidimensional setting. In particular, we present estimates and convergence in variation results for both convolution and Mellin integral operators with respect to the Tonelli variation. Results with respect to a multidimensional concept ofφ-variation in the sense of Tonelli are also presented.
Mitochondrial Disease as a Cause of Neonatal Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Fuwa Kazumasa , Kubota Mitsuru , Kanno Masami , Miyabayashi Hiroshi , Kawabata Ken , Kanno Keiichi , Shimizu Masaki
Published: September 2016

Diagnosis of mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder (MRCD) is often difficult. Its pathogenesis is still unclear. We diagnosed MRCD by measuring the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme, and the patient also had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). A preterm female infant was born at 34 weeks of gestation. On day 6, HLH was revealed by bone marrow aspiration. She died on day 10 due to uncontrollable HLH. An autopsy was performed, and we measured the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme in the liver, muscle, and heart. The activity of complex I was decreased in all tissues. As we could not prove another origin of the HLH, she was diagnosed as having HLH caused by MRCD. It is useful to measure the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme for diagnosing MRCD. MRCD, which has a severe clinical course, may be related to HLH.
Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety amongst Cancer Patients in a Hospital Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Khalil Anish , Faheem Muhammad , Fahim Ammad , Innocent Haran , Mansoor Zainab , Rizvi Shehrbano , Farrukh Hizra
Published: September 2016

Background. The biomedical care for cancer has not been complemented by psychosocial progressions in cancer care.Objectives. To find the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients in a hospital setting.Design and Setting. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary care hospitals Shifa International Hospital Islamabad and Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, and Radiotherapy Institute [NORI].Patients and Methods. 300 patients were interviewed from both the outpatient and inpatient department using The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale (AKUADS).Main Outcome Measures. Using a score of 20 and above on the AKUADS, 146 (48.7%) patients were suffering from anxiety and depression.Results. When cross tabulation was done between different factors and the cancer patients with anxiety and depression, the following factors were found out to be significant with associatedpvalue < 0.05: education of the patient, presence of cancer in the family, the severity of pain, and the patient’s awareness of his anxiety and depression. Out of 143 (47.7%) uneducated patients, 85 (59.4%) were depressed, hence making it the highest educational category suffering from depression and anxiety.Conclusion. The prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients was high showing that importance should be given to screening and counseling cancer patients for anxiety and depression, to help them cope with cancer as a disease and its impact on their mental wellbeing.Limitations. The frequency of female patients in our research was higher than those of male patients.
The Management of Patients after Surgical Treatment of Maxillofacial Tumors
Authors: Rolski D. , Kostrzewa-Janicka J. , Zawadzki P. , Życińska K. , Mierzwińska-Nastalska E.
Published: September 2016

Morphological and functional disturbances induced by postsurgical defects and loss of tissues in the stomatognathic system due to the treatment of tumors in the maxillofacial region determine the therapeutic needs of patients. The study aimed at clinical and epidemiological evaluation of patients under prosthetic treatment in order to establish the algorithm for rehabilitation. The study group was composed of the patients after midface surgery (45.74%); surgery in a lower part of the face (47.38%); mixed postoperative losses (3.44%); loss of face tissues and surgery in other locations in the head and neck region (3.44%). The supplementary treatment was applied in 69.63% of patients. Clinical and additional examinations were performed to obtain the picture of postoperative loss, its magnitude, and location to plan the strategy of prosthetic rehabilitation. The management algorithm for prosthetic rehabilitation in patients after surgical treatment of maxillofacial neoplasms was based on its division in stages. The location and magnitude of postoperative losses, as well as the implementation of supplementary treatment of the patients after treatment of maxillofacial tumors, influence the planning of prosthetic rehabilitation that plays a key role and facilitates the patients’ return to their prior living situation, occupational and family lives.
Combinations of Methods for Collaborative Evaluation of the Usability of Interactive Software Systems
Authors: Solano Andrés , Collazos César A. , Rusu Cristian , Fardoun Habib M.
Published: September 2016

Usability is a fundamental quality characteristic for the success of an interactive system. It is a concept that includes a set of metrics and methods in order to obtain easy-to-learn and easy-to-use systems. Usability Evaluation Methods, UEM, are quite diverse; their application depends on variables such as costs, time availability, and human resources. A large number of UEM can be employed to assess interactive software systems, but questions arise when deciding which method and/or combination of methods gives more (relevant) information. We proposeCollaborative Usability Evaluation Methods, CUEM, following the principles defined by the Collaboration Engineering. This paper analyzes a set of CUEM conducted on different interactive software systems. It proposes combinations of CUEM that provide more complete and comprehensive information about the usability of interactive software systems than those evaluation methods conducted independently.
Computation of New Degree-Based Topological Indices of Graphene
Authors: Shigehalli V. S. , Kanabur Rachanna
Published: September 2016

Graphene is one of the most promising nanomaterials because of its unique combination of superb properties, which opens a way for its exploitation in a wide spectrum of applications ranging from electronics to optics, sensors, and biodevices. Inspired by recent work on Graphene of computing topological indices, here we propose new topological indices, namely, Arithmetic-Geometric index (AG1index), SK index, SK1index, and SK2index of a molecular graphGand obtain the explicit formulae of these indices for Graphene.
Parallel-SymD: A Parallel Approach to Detect Internal Symmetry in Protein Domains
Authors: Jha Ashwani , Flurchick K. M. , Bikdash Marwan , KC Dukka B.
Published: September 2016

Internally symmetric proteins are proteins that have a symmetrical structure in their monomeric single-chain form. Around 10–15% of the protein domains can be regarded as having some sort of internal symmetry. In this regard, we previously published SymD (symmetry detection), an algorithm that determines whether a given protein structure has internal symmetry by attempting to align the protein to its own copy after the copy is circularly permuted by all possible numbers of residues. SymD has proven to be a useful algorithm to detect symmetry. In this paper, we present a new parallelized algorithm called Parallel-SymD for detecting symmetry of proteins on clusters of computers. The achieved speedup of the new Parallel-SymD algorithm scales well with the number of computing processors. Scaling is better for proteins with a larger number of residues. For a protein of 509 residues, a speedup of 63 was achieved on a parallel system with 100 processors.
Association of Household Food Insecurity with the Mental and Physical Health of Low-Income Urban Ecuadorian Women with Children
Authors: Weigel M. Margaret , Armijos Rodrigo X. , Racines Marcia , Cevallos William , Castro Nancy P.
Published: September 2016

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for a rising proportion of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas region. Household food insecurity (HFI) has been linked to chronic disease in US and Canadian women but it is uncertain if the same is true for low- and middle-income Latin American countries in epidemiologic transition. We conducted a survey to investigate the association of HFI with the physical and mental health of 794 women with children living in low-income Quito, Ecuador, neighborhoods. Data were collected on HFI and health indicators including self-reported health (SF-1), mental health (MHI-5), blood pressure, and self-reported mental and physical health complaints. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured in a subsample. The multivariate analyses revealed that HFI was associated with poorer self-rated health, low MHI-5 scores, and mental health complaints including stress, depression, and ethnospecific illnesses. It was also associated with chest tightness/discomfort/pain, dental disease, and gastrointestinal illness but not other conditions. The findings suggest that improving food security in low-income households may help reduce the burden of mental distress in women with children. The hypothesized link with diabetes and hypertension may become more apparent as Ecuador moves further along in the epidemiologic transition.
Analysis of the Thermal Stress for Combined Electrode of Soldered Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells under Temperature Field
Authors: Wang He , Wang Ao , Yang Hong , Song Dengyuan
Published: September 2016

Based on the theory of material mechanics and thermal stress analysis, the stress distribution of combined electrode for crystalline silicon solar module was studied for the first time. The shear stress and normal stress distribution of soldered structure for crystalline silicon solar cells under the thermal field were discussed. And the results show that the stress distribution is not simply linear relationship as some results found. But there is a stress concentration at the edge, which was considered as the true reason that caused microcracks at the edge of soldered solar cells. The conclusions we got in this paper provide a theoretical basis for deceasing the breakage rates of soldered crystalline silicon solar cells and improving the reliability of crystalline silicon solar modules.
Label‐Free Imaging of Umbilical Cord Tissue Morphology and Explant‐Derived Cells
Authors: Donders Raf , Sanen Kathleen , Paesen Rik , Slenders Eli , Gyselaers Wilfried , Stinissen Piet , Ameloot Marcel , Hellings Niels
Published: September 2016

In situ detection of MSCs remains difficult and warrants additional methods to aid with their characterization in vivo. Two‐photon confocal laser scanning microscopy (TPM) and second harmonic generation (SHG) could fill this gap. Both techniques enable the detection of cells and extracellular structures, based on intrinsic properties of the specific tissue and intracellular molecules under optical irradiation. TPM imaging and SHG imaging have been used for label‐free monitoring of stem cells differentiation, assessment of their behavior in biocompatible scaffolds, and even cell tracking in vivo. In this study, we show that TPM and SHG can accurately depict the umbilical cord architecture and visualize individual cells both in situ and during culture initiation, without the use of exogenously applied labels. In combination with nuclear DNA staining, we observed a variance in fluorescent intensity in the vessel walls. In addition, antibody staining showed differences in Oct4, αSMA, vimentin, and ALDH1A1 expression in situ, indicating functional differences among the umbilical cord cell populations. In future research, marker‐free imaging can be of great added value to the current antigen‐based staining methods for describing tissue structures and for the identification of progenitor cells in their tissue of origin.
Livelihoods and Welfare Impacts of Forest Comanagement
Authors: Chinangwa Linda , Pullin Andrew S. , Hockley Neal
Published: September 2016

Comanagement programmes are gaining popularity among governments as one way of improving rural livelihoods. However, evidence of their effects on the livelihoods and welfare remains unclear. We used the sustainable livelihoods framework and stated preference techniques to assess the livelihoods and welfare impacts of forest comanagement on 213 households in Zomba and Ntchisi districts. The results show that approximately 63% of respondents perceive that, overall, comanagement has had no impact on their livelihoods. However, the programme is enhancing financial capital by introducing externally subsidised income generating activities and human and social capital among some community members through training programmes. A majority of households (80%) are willing to pay annual membership fees to participate in the programme (mean = 812 Malawi Kwacha), because of perceived potential future benefits. Education, gender of the household head, a positive perception of current livelihoods benefits, and a position on the committee increase household willingness to pay membership fees. However, the positive willingness to pay despite the negative perception of overall livelihoods impacts may also demonstrate the weaknesses of relying on stated preference surveys alone in estimating welfare effects.
Ketogenic Diet Decreases Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations Related to Epilepsy
Authors: Kayyali Husam R. , Luniova Anastasia , Abdelmoity Ahmed
Published: September 2016

Background. Approximately, one-third of patients with epilepsy are refractory to pharmacological treatment which mandates extensive medical care and imposes significant economic burden on patients and their societies. This study intends to assess the impact of the treatment with ketogenic diet (KD) on reducing seizure-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations in children with refractory epilepsy. Methods. This is a retrospective review of children treated with the KD in one tertiary center. We compared a 12 months’ period prior to KD with 12 months after the diet was started in regard to the number of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and hospital days as well as their associated charges. Results. 37 patients (57% males) were included. Their ages at time of KD initiation were (4.0±2.78) years. Twelve months after the KD initiation, the total number of ED visits was reduced by 36% with a significant decrease of associated charges (p=0.038). The number of hospital admissions was reduced by 40% and the number of hospital days was reduced by 39%. The cumulative charges showed net cost savings after 9 months when compared to the prediet baseline. Conclusion. In children with refractory epilepsy, treatment with the ketogenic diet reduces the number of ED visits and hospitalizations and their corresponding costs.