bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure and functions of His domain protein tyrosine phosphatase in receptor trafficking and cancer
Authors: Desrochers Guillaume , Kazan Jalal M. , Pause Arnim
Published: June 2018

Cell surface receptors trigger the activation of signaling pathways to regulate key cellular processes, including cell survival and proliferation. Internalization, sorting, and trafficking of activated receptors, therefore, play a major role in the regulation and attenuation of cell signaling. Efficient sorting of endocytosed receptors is performed by the ESCRT machinery, which targets receptors for degradation by the sequential establishment of protein complexes. These events are tightly regulated and malfunction of ESCRT components can lead to abnormal trafficking and sustained signaling and promote tumor formation or progression. In this review, we analyze the modular domain organization of the alternative ESCRT protein HD-PTP and its role in receptor trafficking and tumorigenesis.
Mineral composition of host sediments influences the fossilization of soft tissues
Authors: Naimark Elena , Kalinina Maria , Shokurov Alexander , Markov Alexander , Zaytseva Liubov , Boeva Natalia
Published: June 2018

Cambrian Lagerstätten host rocks are frequently composed of kaolinite and chlorite in varying amounts; accordingly, our goal was to study the preservation potential of crustaceans in these two clays. We conducted long-term experiments (12–18 months, the longest duration of actualistic taphonomy experiments from published literature) on the decay of Artemia salina in these clay sediments. The degree of preservation, transformed mineralogical composition of the sediments, and the elemental composition of the nauplial remains were examined. We demonstrate that the kaolinite and chlorite sediment enhanced the preservation (in the kaolinite the effect was considerably higher than in the chlorite) compared with the sediment-free control. pH inside the sediments dropped to 6.5–7.1 and was even lower (<4) around the buried carcasses, facilitating the dissolution of clays. This phenomenon was confirmed by mineralogical analyses of the experimental sediments, which showed mineralogical signatures of such dissolution and new mineral phases. According to the variations in the dissolved minerals in the sediments, different cations entered the buried remains as was shown by the multiple energy dispersive X-ray analyses. An increased level of Mg was detected in the carcasses buried in chlorite, whereas Al and Si concentrations were higher in the kaolinite; in both cases, Ca rapidly entered the decaying tissues from marine water. Bacteria underwent similar mineralization as the macroremains and apparently had no direct effect on the mineralization. The results confirmed an important role of dissolved Al ions in preservation of soft-bodied organisms in clay-dominated sediments and explained wide variation in chemical composition of their fossils.
Body condition of American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) wintering in Atlantic Canada using carcass composition and a scaled mass index
Authors: English Matthew D. , Robertson Gregory J. , Peck Liam E. , Pirie-Hay Donald , Roul Sheena , Mallory Mark L.
Published: June 2018

Body condition is commonly used in ecology to assess the physiological health of an organism or population and can be used to predict individual survival or breeding success. Waterfowl have been the focus of much research on body condition, and we studied body condition via carcass composition and using a scaled mass index (SMI) in American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes Brewster, 1902) wintering in coastal, agricultural, and urban areas of Atlantic Canada. Carcass composition varied between sexes and body mass decreased through winter as fat reserves depleted. Carcass composition was compared with American Black Ducks wintering in the United States, and American Black Ducks wintering in Atlantic Canada were structurally smaller yet proportionally fatter than those wintering in the United States, likely as a mechanism to survive Atlantic Canada’s harsher winters. SMI did not differ between coastal, agricultural, or urban American Black Ducks, indicating that despite known differences in the diets of the Black Ducks from these three areas, they can maintain similar body conditions capable of surviving the winter. We show that the SMI is a nondestructive alternative to study body condition in waterfowl. Our research highlights the adaptability and hardiness of American Black Ducks at the northern limit of their winter range.
Pion exchange interaction in the γp → pe+e− reaction
Authors: Das Swapan
Published: June 2018

The [Formula: see text] interference has been studied in the dilepton invariant mass distribution spectra in the photonuclear reaction, but that is not done for the gamma-nucleon reaction. In the recent past, the [Formula: see text] invariant mass distribution spectrum in the [Formula: see text] reaction, i.e., [Formula: see text] reaction, was measured at Jefferson Laboratory to look for the [Formula: see text] interference in the multi-GeV region. To study the mechanism of this reaction, the differential cross section of the [Formula: see text] invariant mass distribution is calculated in the quoted energy region. The reaction is assumed to proceed as [Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] denotes a vector meson, i.e., either [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] meson. The photoproduction of the vector meson is described by the Vector Meson Dominance (VMD) model which consists of diagonal and off-diagonal processes. The diagonal process is described as [Formula: see text]. The low-energy [Formula: see text] meson photoproduction data is well described by the off-diagonal process which is illustrated as [Formula: see text]. The reaction [Formula: see text] proceeds due to one pion exchange interaction. The differential cross-sections of the [Formula: see text] reaction due to the above processes of VMD model are compared, and the significance of the pion exchange interaction is investigated in the energy region of [Formula: see text] beam available at Jefferson Laboratory.
Mechanical Design and Control Method of a Hollow Modular Joint for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Authors: Song Guoli , Hou Che , Zhao Yiwen , Zhao Xingang , Han Jianda
Published: June 2018

Design of the hollow modular joint plays an important role in modern robot layout, fixation, and wiring. In this paper, a hollow modular joint that meets the requirement of a minimally invasive surgical robot is proposed. The mechanical and control design is sequentially illustrated, and the torque sensor and its optimization are provided. Furthermore, a free-force control method is introduced. To analyze the designed module, the simulation of the redundant robot, comprised of the designed joint in seven degrees of freedom, is presented. The results of analyses showed that the designed hollow modular joint is valid and effective.
Cosmology of Bigravity
Authors: Soloviev V. O.
Published: June 2018

This article discusses cosmology, bimetric gravity and their possible interplay.
Einstein Equation for Nondual Field Matter Modifies Naiver-Stokes Dynamics
Authors: Bulyzhenkov I. E.
Published: June 2018

Cartesian extended matter has its own nondual analog of the 1915 Einstein Equation for pure field physics in nonempty moving space. This tensor balance of energy densities and local stresses leads to Maxwell-type equalities for inertial currents and vector geodesic equations for relativistic accelerations of the Ricci scalar for inertial and gravitational mass densities. Field inertia of slow energy flows reestablishes the living force feedback which is missed in Newton-Euler fluid dynamics and in the Navier-Stokes equation.
Dipole Polarizabilities of π±-Mesons
Authors: Fil’kov L. V. , Kashevarov V. L.
Published: June 2018

The main experimental works, where dipole polarizabilities of charged pions have been determined, are considered. Possible reasons for the differences between the experimental data are discussed. In particular, it is shown that the account of the [Formula: see text]-meson gives a significant correction to the value of the polarizability obtained in the latest experiment of the COMPASS collaboration. We present also new fit results for the [Formula: see text] reaction.
QCD Analysis of Leading-Neutron Production at HERA: Determination of Neutron Fracture Functions
Authors: Shoeibi Samira , Taghavi-Shahri F. , Javidan Kurosh
Published: June 2018

The last two decades have seen a growing trend towards the experimental efforts at the electron-proton collider HERA in which have collected high precision data on the spectrum of leading neutron (LN) and leading-proton (LP) carrying a large fraction of the proton’s energy. In our recent study [Phys. Rev. D 95 (2017), 074011], we have proposed an approach based on the Fractures Functions (FF) formalism and have extracted the neutron Fracture Functions (neutron FFs) from a global QCD analysis of LN production data measured by H1 and ZEUS collaborations at HERA. We have shown that considering the approach based on the framework of Fracture Functions, one could phenomenologically parametrize the neutron FFs at the input scale. In order to access the uncertainties for the obtained neutron FFs as well as the LN structure functions and cross section, associated with the uncertainties in the data, we have made an extensive use of the “Hessian method”. Our theory predictions based on the obtained neutron FFs are in satisfactory agreement with all LN data analyzed, for a wide range of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Asymptotic Behavior and Critical Coupling in Scalar Yukawa Model
Authors: Rochev V. E.
Published: June 2018

The solution of the equation for the pion propagator in the leading order of the [Formula: see text] – expansion for a vector-matrix model with interaction [Formula: see text] in four dimensions shows a change of the asymptotic behavior in the deep Euclidean region in a vicinity of a certain critical value of the coupling constant.
Measurements of Cross Sections and Couplings of the Higgs Boson Using the ATLAS Detector
Authors: Stugu B.
Published: June 2018

Measurements of cross sections and couplings of the Higgs boson using the ATLAS detector at CERN’s LHC are presented. Data from proton proton collisions at [Formula: see text], 8 and 13 TeV are discussed. A range of production and decay couplings can be tested with a precision that depends on the generality of the assumptions made. Data at 7 and 8 TeV are also combined with CMS results to enhance the precision. The results are all consistent with predictions of the Standard Model.
Quartet-Metric Gravity and Dark Components of the Universe
Authors: Pirogov Y. F.
Published: June 2018

In the report there are presented the general frameworks for the quartet-metric gravity based on the two main principles. First, there exist in space-time the distinct dynamical coordinates, given by a scalar quartet, playing the role of the Higgs fields for gravity. Second, the physical gravity fields arising due to the spontaneous symmetry breaking serve as the dark components of the Universe. It is argued that the mere admixture to metric of the scalar quartet may give rise to an extremely wide spectrum of the emergent gravity phenomena beyond General Relativity (GR). Further developing the proposed frameworks to find out the next-to-GR theory of gravity is a challenge.
Superluminal Tunneling of a Relativistic Half-Integer Spin Particle Through a Potential Barrier
Authors: Nanni L.
Published: June 2018

This paper investigates the problem of a relativistic Dirac half-integer spin free particle tunneling through a rectangular quantum-mechanical barrier. If the energy difference between the barrier and the particle is positive, and the barrier width is large enough, there is proof that the tunneling may be superluminal. For first spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, the tunneling is always superluminal regardless the barrier width. Conversely, the second spinor components of particle and antiparticle states may be either subluminal or superluminal depending on the barrier width. These results derive from studying the tunneling time in terms of phase time. For the first spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, it is always negative while for the second spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, it is always positive, whatever the height and width of the barrier. In total, the tunneling time always remains positive for particle states while it becomes negative for antiparticle ones. Furthermore, the phase time tends to zero, increasing the potential barrier both for particle and antiparticle states. This agrees with the interpretation of quantum tunneling that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle provides. This study’s results are innovative with respect to those available in the literature. Moreover, they show that the superluminal behaviour of particles occurs in those processes with high-energy confinement.
The role of HMGB1 in neuroinflammation and tissue repair: A potential therapeutic target for depression?
Authors: Liu Lumei , Zhao Zhengxiao , Lu Linwei , Liu Jiaqi , Wu Xiao , Sun Jing , Wei Ying , Dong Jingcheng
Published: June 2018

High mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1), a sophisticated danger signal with pleiotropic functions, has been proved to function as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. In the central neural system (CNS), HMGB1 can stimulate microglia, the immune cell in the CNS, to release inflammatory factors and to cause chronic neurodegeneration. The evidence showed that HMGB1 can act as a pro-inflammatory cytokine mainly through its receptors like advanced glycation end product (RAGE), Toll-like 4 (TLR4), and so on. Moreover, HMGB1 contributed to the priming effects of stress-pretreatment and played a key role in neurodegeneration diseases via mediating neuroinflammation. However, the evidence also showed that HMGB1 played a role in tissue repair, with the ability to promote cell migration and proliferation, to induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and to regenerate spinal cord. These pleiotropic functions of HMGB1 make it possible to play a role from cell death to new life. Depression is a chronic, severe, and often life-threatening disease accompanied with impaired neurogenesis. The evidence showed that neuroinflammation played a key role in the process of depression. Depressive patients often showed a high expression of inflammatory cytokines in the blood and an activation of microglia in the brain. Meanwhile, they also showed a neuron deficit in the brain. Though they lack direct evidence linking HMGB1 with depression, the ability of HMGB1 that can function from neuroinflammation to tissue repair makes HMGB1 a promising therapeutic target of depression.
P2P networks are inherently unstable
Authors: Lewis Ted G.
Published: June 2018

The P2P technology underlying file-sharing systems like Gnutella and distributed autonomous organizations like blockchain are inherently unstable because of self-organizing processes akin to Gause's competitive exclusion principle, and preferential attachment. To maintain an egalitarian P2P organization it is necessary to conserve the original network's entropy, defined as the random structure of the network and actions among peers.
Introduction to this special issue
Authors: Züfle Andreas
Published: June 2018

Mobility in Urban environments is a problem of global scale. According to the latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard [1], drivers in the United States wasted $305 billion in 2017 alone. This number is derived from more than 11 billion liters of wasted fuel per year, and 6.9 billion of man-hours stuck in traffic per year [2]. In addition, the INRIX study shows that this problem is global. Measured per-capita, people in Russia and Thailand spend even more time in traffic, while Brazil, South Africa, the UK, and Germany are only slightly behind the US.
Genetic improvement workshop at GECCO 2017
Authors: Cody-Kenny Brendan
Published: June 2018

The Genetic Improvement (GI) Workshop at GECCO this year was an event in itself. It had it's own keynote delivered by Wolfgang Banzhaf, followed by a mixture of long and short papers, and finished with best paper awards just before closing. From 10:40am to 6pm, one of the three largest workshops at GECCO covered bug-fixing, energy optimisation, new operators and landscape analysis.
ACM marks 50 years of the ACM A.M. turing award and computing's greatest achievements
Authors: Scott Eric , Martins Marcella Scoczynski Ribeiro , Yafrani Mohamed El , Volz Vanessa , Wilson Dennis G
Published: June 2018

Since its inauguration in 1966, the ACM A. M. Turing Award has recognized major contributions of lasting importance in computing. Through the years, it has become the most prestigious technical award in the field, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of computing." During 2017, ACM celebrated 50 years of the Turing Award and the visionaries who have received it. The aim was to highlight the significant impact of the contributions of the Turing Laureates on computing and society, to look ahead to the future of technology and innovation, and to help inspire the next generation of computer scientists to invent and dream.
Niemann-Pick C1-deficient mice lacking sterolO-acyltransferase 2 have less hepatic cholesterol entrapment and improved liver function
Authors: Lopez Adam M. , Jones Ryan D. , Repa Joyce J. , Turley Stephen D.
Published: June 2018

Cholesteryl esters are generated at multiple sites in the body by sterol O-acyltransferase (SOAT) 1 or SOAT2 in various cell types and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in plasma. Esterified cholesterol and triacylglycerol contained in lipoproteins cleared from the circulation via receptor-mediated or bulk-phase endocytosis are hydrolyzed by lysosomal acid lipase within the late endosomal/lysosomal (E/L) compartment. Then, through the successive actions of Niemann-Pick C (NPC) 2 and NPC 1, unesterified cholesterol (UC) is exported from the E/L compartment to the cytosol. Mutations in either NPC1 or NPC2 lead to continuing entrapment of UC in all organs, resulting in multisystem disease, which includes hepatic dysfunction and in some cases liver failure. These studies investigated primarily whether elimination of SOAT2 in NPC1-deficient mice impacted hepatic UC sequestration, inflammation, and transaminase activities. Measurements were made in 7-wk-old mice fed a low-cholesterol chow diet or one enriched with cholesterol starting 2 wk before study. In the chow-fed mice, NPC1:SOAT2 double knockouts, compared with their littermates lacking only NPC1, had 20% less liver mass, 28% lower hepatic UC concentrations, and plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities that were decreased by 48% and 36%, respectively. mRNA expression levels for several markers of inflammation were all significantly lower in the NPC1 mutants lacking SOAT2. The existence of a new class of potent and selective SOAT2 inhibitors provides an opportunity for exploring if suppression of this enzyme could potentially become an adjunctive therapy for liver disease in NPC1 deficiency.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY In Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease, the entrapment of unesterified cholesterol (UC) in the endosomal/lysosomal compartment of all cells causes multiorgan disease, including neurodegeneration, pulmonary dysfunction, and liver failure. Some of this sequestered UC entered cells initially in the esterified form. When sterol O-acyltransferase 2, a cholesterol esterifying enzyme present in enterocytes and hepatocytes, is eliminated in NPC1-deficient mice, there is a reduction in their hepatomegaly, hepatic UC content, and cellular injury.
The role of insulin at brain-liver axis in the control of glucose production
Authors: Ribeiro Izabela Martina Ramos , Antunes Vagner Roberto
Published: June 2018

Glucose is an essential metabolic substrate for all mammalian cells, and its availability in the circulation is carefully controlled to avoid wide variations. Different mechanisms are involved in the glucose disposal, such as an adequate pancreatic and hepatic function. Insulin is the main hormone in glycemic control, and its action occurs directly in the cells, as well as in the liver, in an indirect way, to ultimately control the glycemia. Insulin has also an important action within the central nervous system, more precisely in the hypothalamus that projects directly to preautonomic nuclei in the brain stem to control hepatic glucose production. The central action of insulin relies on autonomic outflow through the vagal innervation of the liver, where insulin is able to modulate the production of glucose at this organ level. In this way, responses generated in the CNS reach the effector organs by autonomic efferent pathways as part of an important brain-organ axis in the control of glycemia. The purpose of this minireview is to shed light on the brain-liver axis in the control of hepatic glucose by central action of insulin via the autonomic nervous system.
Thermosensory micromapping of warm and cold sensitivity across glabrous and hairy skin of male and female hands and feet
Authors: Filingeri Davide , Zhang Hui , Arens Edward A.
Published: June 2018

The ability of hands and feet to convey skin thermal sensations is an important contributor to our experience of the surrounding world. Surprisingly, the detailed topographical distribution of warm and cold thermosensitivity across hands and feet has not been mapped, although sensitivity maps exist for touch and pain. Using a recently developed quantitative sensory test, we mapped warm and cold thermosensitivity of 103 skin sites over glabrous and hairy skin of hands and feet in male (M; 30.2 ± 5.8 yr) and female (F; 27.7 ± 5.1 yr) adults matched for body surface area (M: 1.77 ± 0.2 m2; F: 1.64 ± 0.1 m2; P = 0.155). Findings indicated that warm and cold thermosensitivity varies by fivefold across glabrous and hairy skin of hands and feet and that hands (warm/cold sensitivity: 1.25/2.14 vote/°C) are twice as sensitive as the feet (warm/cold sensitivity: 0.51/0.99 vote/°C). Opposite to what is known for touch and pain sensitivity, we observed a characteristic distal-to-proximal increase in thermosensitivity over both hairy and glabrous skin (i.e., from fingers and toes to body of hands and feet), and found that hairy skin is more sensitive than glabrous. Finally, we show that body surface area-matched men and women presented small differences in thermosensitivity and that these differences are constrained to glabrous skin only. Our high-density thermosensory micromapping provides the most detailed thermosensitivity maps of hands and feet in young adults available to date. These maps offer a window into peripheral and central mechanisms of thermosensory integration in humans and will help guide future developments in smart skin and sensory neuroprostheses, in wearable, energy-efficient personal comfort systems, and in sport and protective clothing.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We provide the most detailed thermosensitivity maps across glabrous and hairy skin of hands and feet in men and women available to date. Our maps show that thermosensitivity varies by fivefold across hands and feet, distal regions (e.g., fingers, toes) are less sensitive than proximal (e.g., palm, sole), hands are twice as sensitive as feet, and men and women present small thermosensitivity differences. These findings will help guide developments in sensory neuroprostheses, wearable comfort systems, and sport/protective clothing.
Sciatic nerve stimulation and its effects on upper airway resistance in the anesthetized rabbit model relevant to sleep apnea
Authors: Schiefer Matthew , Gamble Jenniffer , Strohl Kingman P.
Published: June 2018

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by collapse of the velopharynx and/or oropharynx during sleep when drive to the upper airway is reduced. Here, we explore an indirect approach for activation of upper airway muscles that might affect airway dynamics, namely, unilateral electrical stimulation of the afferent fibers of the sciatic nerve, in an anesthetized rabbit model. A nerve cuff electrode was placed around the sciatic and hypoglossal nerves to deliver stimulus while airflow, air pressure, and alae nasi electromyogram (EMG) were monitored both before and after sciatic transection. Sciatic nerve stimulation increased respiratory effort, rate, and alae nasi EMG, which persisted for seconds after stimulation; however, upper airway resistance was unchanged. Hypoglossal stimulation reduced resistance without altering drive. Although sciatic nerve stimulation is not ideal for treating OSA, it remains a target for altering respiratory drive.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previously, sciatic nerve stimulation has been shown to activate upper airway and chest wall muscles. The supposition that resistance through the upper airway would be reduced with this afferent reflex was disproven. Findings were in contrast with the effect of hypoglossal nerve stimulation, which was shown to decrease resistance without changing muscle activation or ventilatory drive.
Persuasion, Adaptation, and Double Identity: Qualitative Study on the Psychological Impact of a Screen-Detected Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: McGregor Lesley M. , Tookey Sara , Raine Rosalind , von Wagner Christian , Black Georgia
Published: June 2018

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) is aimed at reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality through early detection within a healthy population. This study explores how 5 people (three females) experience and make sense of their screen-detected diagnosis and the psychological implications of this diagnostic pathway. A biographical narrative interview method was used, and transcripts were analysed using a thematic analysis with a phenomenological lens. Themes specifically relating to posttreatment experience and reflections are reported here: Do it: being living proof, Resisting the threat of recurrence, Rationalising bodily change, and Continuing life—“carrying on normally.” Participants described their gratefulness to the BCSP, motivating a strong desire to persuade others to be screened. Furthermore, participants professed a duality of experience categorised by the normalisation of life after diagnosis and treatment and an identification of strength post cancer, as well as a difficulty adjusting to the new changes in life and a contrasting identity of frailty. Understanding both the long- and short-term impacts of a CRC diagnosis through screening is instrumental to the optimisation of support for patients. The results perhaps highlight a particular target for psychological distress reduction, which could reduce the direct and indirect cost of cancer to the patient.
Characterization of Atherosclerosis Formation in a Murine Model of Type IIa Human Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Miyajima Chiharu , Iwaki Takayuki , Umemura Kazuo , Ploplis Victoria A. , Castellino Francis J.
Published: June 2018

A murine genetic model of LDL-cholesterol- (LDL-C-) driven atherosclerosis, based on complete deficiencies of both the LDL-receptor (Ldlr-/-) and key catalytic component of an apolipoprotein B-edisome complex (Apobec1-/-), which converts apoB-100 to apoB-48, has been extensively characterized. These gene deficiencies allow high levels of apoB-100 to be present and inefficiently cleared, thus leading to very high levels of LDL-C in mice on a normal diet. Many key features of atherosclerotic plaques observed in human familial hypercholesterolemia are found in these mice as they are allowed to age through 72 weeks. The general characteristics include the presence of high levels of LDL-C in plasma and macrophage-related fatty streak formation in the aortic tree, which progressively worsens with age. More specifically, plaque found in the aortic sinuses contains a lipid core with relatively high numbers of macrophages and a smooth muscle cell α-actin- and collagen-containing cap, which thins with age. These critical features of plaque progression suggest that the Ldlr-/-/Apobec1-/- mouse line presents a superior model of LDL-C-driven atherosclerosis.
Mandibular Canal Course and the Position of the Mental Foramen by Panoramic X-Ray in Chilean Individuals
Authors: Cartes Gloria , Garay Ivonne , Deana Naira Figueiredo , Navarro Pablo , Alves Nilton
Published: June 2018

The object of this study was to analyse the morphology and morphometry of the mandibular canal (MC) course and the mental foramen (MF) position in relation to the inferior teeth by panoramic X-ray (PAN). Vertical linear measurements were taken of each hemimandible to obtain the length of the distances analysed. We studied the MF position in relation to inferior premolar roots and the relation between the MC and mandibular teeth roots (MCR). The MF was usually located between the apices of the first and second premolars in younger individuals and immediately below the apex of the inferior second premolar in older individuals. The MC evinced proximity to the third molar, and this relation was not affected by sex or age group. The distances analysed in this study presented a marked difference between gender, with larger values in males than in females. The variations which may occur between individuals and different populations make it essential for dentists and surgeons to plan carefully before procedures involving this region.
A New Generalized Deep Learning Framework Combining Sparse Autoencoder and Taguchi Method for Novel Data Classification and Processing
Authors: Karim Ahmad M. , Güzel Mehmet S. , Tolun Mehmet R. , Kaya Hilal , Çelebi Fatih V.
Published: June 2018

Deep autoencoder neural networks have been widely used in several image classification and recognition problems, including hand-writing recognition, medical imaging, and face recognition. The overall performance of deep autoencoder neural networks mainly depends on the number of parameters used, structure of neural networks, and the compatibility of the transfer functions. However, an inappropriate structure design can cause a reduction in the performance of deep autoencoder neural networks. A novel framework, which primarily integrates the Taguchi Method to a deep autoencoder based system without considering to modify the overall structure of the network, is presented. Several experiments are performed using various data sets from different fields, i.e., network security and medicine. The results show that the proposed method is more robust than some of the well-known methods in the literature as most of the time our method performed better. Therefore, the results are quite encouraging and verified the overall performance of the proposed framework.
Sleep Quality of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder Patients in Class-Three Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tianjin, China
Authors: Zhao Wei , Jin Hong , Xu Mengque , Wang Dongxu , Liu Yandi , Tang Yanping , Zhang Qiuzan , Hua Jianping , Wang Bangmao
Published: June 2018

Background. Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) patients are influenced by anxiety, depression, and low sleep quality, which reduce the quality of their life. However, epidemiological data on the quality of sleep in FGID patients were lacking. This study aims to explore the sleep quality and influencing factors of the sleep quality in FGID patients. Methods. 1200 subjects, diagnosed as FGID in one of the six class-three hospitals in Tianjin, China, from January to December 2014, were recruited. The information about demographic information, the severity of clinical symptoms, psychological status (Zung self-rating depression scale), and sleep quality (evaluated with Pittsburgh sleep quality index) was gathered. Results. The questionnaires from 1117 participants were collected including 920 of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients, 77 of irritable bowel disease (IBS) patients, 26 of functional constipation (FC) patients, and 94 other FGID patients. The results showed that morbidity rate for FD patients who had sleep disorders was higher than those who suffered from IBS or FC (P<0.001). The proportion of elderly patients suffering from low sleep quality was higher than that of middle-aged and young patients (P<0.001). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, education, and the severity of FGID symptom were influencing factors for poor sleep quality in FGID patients. Conclusion. The issue of poor sleep quality in FGID patients in Tianjin area is prominent, and elderly patients suffer lower sleep quality than other FGID patients. Age, education, and the severity of FGID symptoms are critical influencing factors which result in a drop-in sleep quality.
EBV Infection in XLP1 Manifested Solely by Behavioral Aggression and Effective Treatment Using Rituximab
Authors: Korah-Sedgwick Michelle M. , Wall Luke A.
Published: June 2018

Patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease 1 (XLP1) are exquisitely susceptible to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), with the first EBV infection often resulting in rapid death. In a manner not previously described, a 5-year-old patient with XLP1 presented solely with behavioral aggression, with no laboratory evidence of organ dysfunction or inflammation. Although EBV-IgM was negative, PCR confirmed the presence of EBV in both the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. MRI of the brain showed frontal lobe foci. After failure to eradicate his viremia with ganciclovir, rituximab was administered. EBV was eradicated from the blood after the second rituximab infusion and remained absent for 5 months, at which time he underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Although EBV classically produces fulminant infection in patients with XLP1, this case demonstrates that EBV infection may be initially subtle. Acute change in behavior should prompt evaluation. This case also demonstrates the possible effectiveness of rituximab in the treatment of acute EBV infection.
Fabrication of Bifunctional TiO2/POM Microspheres Using a Layer-by-Layer Method and Photocatalytic Activity for Methyl Orange Degradation
Authors: Niu Ping , Wang Dunqing , Wang Aili , Liang Yuhua , Wang Xinfang
Published: June 2018

Bifunctional films of Keggin-type polyoxometalates H3PW12O40 (PW12), H4SiW12O40 (SiW12), H3PMo12O40 (PMo12), and TiO2 were successfully built on Fe3O4@SiO2 microspheres using a layer-by-layer method. The characterization by field emission scan electronic microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) shows that TiO2 nanoparticles and polyoxometalate (POM) anions are successfully assembled. The photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) was used to test the photocatalytic efficiency of magnetic catalysts under UV irradiation. For MO decomposition, multilayer films that combine PW12 and SiW12 with TiO2 show high efficiency, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect between POMs and TiO2. The degradation of the model contaminant was also systematically checked under different conditions such as bilayer number deposited on magnetic microspheres, catalyst concentration, inorganic oxidants, and salts. The oxidation process of MO follows an apparent first-order reaction. Furthermore, the composite catalysts deposited on Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic microspheres can be conveniently, quickly, and efficiently separated by an external magnet from a solution.
Inhaling Difluoroethane Computer Cleaner Resulting in Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Calhoun Kristen , Wattenbarger Laura , Burns Ethan , Hatcher Courtney , Patel Amol , Badam Manjulatha , Khan Abdul-Jabbar
Published: June 2018

Difluoroethane is the active ingredient in various computer cleaners and is increasingly abused by teenagers due to its ease of access, quick onset of euphoric effects, and lack of detectability on current urine drug screens. The substance has detrimental effects on various organ systems; however, its effects on the kidneys remain largely unreported. The following case report adds new information to the developing topic of acute kidney injury in patients abusing difluoroethane inhalants. In addition, it is one of the first to show a possible relationship between prolonged difluoroethane abuse and the development of chronic kidney disease in the absence of other predisposing risk factors.
Bradycardia during Induction Therapy with All-trans Retinoic Acid in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chen Pin-Zi , Wu Yee-Jen , Wu Chien-Chih , Wang Yu-Wen
Published: June 2018

A 41-year-old man with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) received induction chemotherapy, containing all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), idarubicin, and arsenic trioxide. On the 11th day of therapy, he experienced complete atrioventricular (AV) block; therefore, ATRA and arsenic trioxide were immediately postponed. His heart rate partially recovered, and ATRA was rechallenged with a half dose. However, complete AV block as well as differentiation syndrome recurred on the next day. ATRA was immediately discontinued, and a temporary pacemaker was inserted. Two days after discontinuing ATRA, AV block gradually improved, and ATRA was uneventfully rechallenged again. The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale was 7 for ATRA, suggesting it was the probable cause of arrhythmia. A literature search identified 6 other cases of bradycardia during ATRA therapy, and all of them occurred during APL induction therapy, with onset ranging from 4 days to 25 days. Therefore, monitoring vital signs and performing electrocardiogram are highly recommended during the first month of induction therapy with ATRA. ATRA should be discontinued if complete AV block occurs. Rechallenging with ATRA can be considered in fully recovered and clinically stable patients.
Pervasive Refusal Syndrome in Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Bond Emily Claire , Oliphant Rosalind Yvonne Kirton
Published: June 2018

Pervasive Refusal Syndrome (PRS) is a rare child psychiatric condition. We describe a case of PRS in a 9-year-old boy with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presenting with severe weight loss due to extreme restriction of food and fluids. Other prominent symptoms included total mutism, school refusal, and self-neglect. He was admitted to a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit. We discuss the symptoms present in this case and the differential diagnosis of ASD in PRS. Although this differential has briefly been considered one in previous case, there have been no reported cases of PRS with a prior diagnosis of ASD. We explore comorbidity and interaction of the two diagnoses. We discuss the possible impact of ASD as a predisposing factor upon the progression and prognosis of PRS.
The Central Role of the Inflammatory Response in Understanding the Heterogeneity of Sepsis-3
Authors: Ding Renyu , Meng Yulan , Ma Xiaochun
Published: June 2018

In sepsis-3, in contrast with sepsis-1, the definition “systemic inflammatory response” has been replaced with “dysregulated host response”, and “systemic inflammatory response syndrome” (SIRS) has been replaced with “sequential organ failure assessment” (SOFA). Although the definition of sepsis has changed, the debate regarding its nature is ongoing. What are the fundamental processes controlling sepsis-induced inflammation, immunosuppression, or organ failure? In this review, we discuss the heterogeneity of sepsis-3 and address the central role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of sepsis. An unbalanced pro- and anti-inflammatory response, inflammatory resolution disorder, and persistent inflammation play important roles in the acute and/or chronic phases of sepsis. Moreover, powerful links exist between inflammation and other host responses (such as the neuroendocrine response, coagulation, and immunosuppression). We suggest that a comprehensive evaluation of the role of the inflammatory response will improve our understanding of the heterogeneity of sepsis.
Evaluating University Reputation Based on Integral Linear Programming with Grey Possibility
Authors: Chen Chao , Esangbedo Moses Olabhele
Published: June 2018

As the Chinese economy becomes stronger and stronger, there is increasing interest by some countries to adopt the Chinese approach to grow. The outstanding Chinese growth can be partly attributed to the education quality that is obtainable from the universities in China. The need to evaluate the reputation of Chinese universities is essential. In this paper, a hierarchical model for evaluating universities is proposed. Also, the Integral Linear Programming with Grey Possibility (ILP-GP) method is presented, which does not require the assumption of 0.5 for the grey distinguishing coefficient (ζ=0.5) in Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). In this paper, a numerical example for evaluating the reputation of five universities based on the sample data from 1,565 students in Shaanxi Province, China, is presented, and the most reputable university in this research is consistent with rankings in the literature.
Colour Vignetting Correction for Microscopy Image Mosaics Used for Quantitative Analyses
Authors: Piccinini Filippo , Bevilacqua Alessandro
Published: June 2018

Image mosaicing permits achieving one high-resolution image, extending the visible area of the sample while keeping the same resolution. However, intensity inhomogeneity of the stitched images can alter measurements and the right perception of the original sample. The problem can be solved by flat-field correcting the images through the vignetting function. Vignetting correction has been widely addressed for grey-level images, but not for colour ones. In this work, a practical solution for the colour vignetting correction in microscopy, also facing the problem of saturated pixels, is described. In order to assess the quality of the proposed approach, five different tonal correction approaches were quantitatively compared using state-of-the-art metrics and seven pairs of partially overlapping images of seven different samples. The results obtained proved that the proposed approach allows obtaining high quality colour flat-field corrected images and seamless mosaics without employing any blending adjustment. In order to give the opportunity to easily obtain seamless mosaics ready for quantitative analysis, the described vignetting correction method has been implemented in an upgraded release of MicroMos (version 3.0), an open-source software specifically designed to automatically obtain mosaics of partially overlapped images.
SEDC-Based Hardware-Level Fault Tolerance and Fault Secure Checker Design for Big Data and Cloud Computing
Authors: Siddiqui Zahid Ali , Lee Jeong-A , Park Unsang
Published: June 2018

Fault tolerance is of great importance for big data systems. Although several software-based application-level techniques exist for fault security in big data systems, there is a potential research space at the hardware level. Big data needs to be processed inexpensively and efficiently, for which traditional hardware architectures are, although adequate, not optimum for this purpose. In this paper, we propose a hardware-level fault tolerance scheme for big data and cloud computing that can be used with the existing software-level fault tolerance for improving the overall performance of the systems. The proposed scheme uses the concurrent error detection (CED) method to detect hardware-level faults, with the help of Scalable Error Detecting Codes (SEDC) and its checker. SEDC is an all unidirectional error detection (AUED) technique capable of detecting multiple unidirectional errors. The SEDC scheme exploits data segmentation and parallel encoding features for assigning code words. Consequently, the SEDC scheme can be scaled to any binary data length “n” with constant latency and less complexity, compared to other AUED schemes, hence making it a perfect candidate for use in big data processing hardware. We also present a novel area, delay, and power efficient, scalable fault secure checker design based on SEDC. In order to show the effectiveness of our scheme, we (1) compared the cost of hardware-based fault tolerance with an existing software-based fault tolerance technique used in HDFS and (2) compared the performance of the proposed checker in terms of area, speed, and power dissipation with the famous Berger code and m-out-of-2m code checkers. The experimental results show that (1) the proposed SEDC-based hardware-level fault tolerance scheme significantly reduces the average cost associated with software-based fault tolerance in a big data application, and (2) the proposed fault secure checker outperforms the state-of-the-art checkers in terms of area, delay, and power dissipation.
Effects of Acidification and Preservatives on Microbial Growth during Storage of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Puree
Authors: Musyoka Joyce Ndunge , Abong' George Ooko , Mbogo Daniel Mahuga , Fuchs Richard , Low Jan , Heck Simon , Muzhingi Tawanda
Published: June 2018

Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) puree, a versatile food ingredient, is highly perishable limiting its use in resource constrained environments. It is therefore important to develop shelf-stable puree. A challenge test study was carried out to determine the effect of combinations of chemical preservatives and acidification on microbial growth in stored puree. Puree was prepared and treated as follows: control (A); 0.05% potassium sorbate+0.05% sodium benzoate+1% citric acid (B); 0.1% potassium sorbate+0.1% sodium benzoate+1% citric acid (C); 0.2% potassium sorbate+0.2% sodium benzoate+1% citric acid (D); 1% citric acid (E). Samples were inoculated with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at levels of 5.2 x 109 cfu/100g and 1.5 x 109 cfu/100g, respectively, before being evaluated during storage for 10 weeks at prevailing ambient temperature (15-25°C) and refrigeration temperature (4°C). Total aerobic counts, yeasts, and molds were also evaluated. E. coli and S. aureus counts declined significantly (p<0.05) by 4 log cycles in all puree treatments except for control and puree with only citric acid. Total viable count, yeasts, and molds were completely inhibited except for puree with only citric acid. Combination of chemical preservatives and acidification is effective in inhibiting pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in sweet potato puree.
Best Linear Unbiased Prediction for Multifidelity Computer Experiments
Authors: Mu Weiyan , Wei Qiuyue , Cui Dongli , Xiong Shifeng
Published: June 2018

Recently it becomes a growing trend to study complex systems which contain multiple computer codes with different levels of accuracy, and a number of hierarchical Gaussian process models are proposed to handle such multiple-fidelity codes. This paper derives the best linear unbiased prediction for three popular classes of multiple-level Gaussian process models. The predictors all have explicit expressions at each untried point. Empirical best linear unbiased predictors are also provided by plug-in methods with generalized maximum likelihood estimators of unknown parameters.