bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Herbal Medicines on Pain Management
Authors: Luo Yun , Wang Chong-Zhi , Sawadogo Richard , Tan Ting , Yuan Chun-Su
Published: February 2020

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience in many diseases and is often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. Pain negatively affects the quality of life and increases high health expenditures. Drugs with analgesic properties are commonly used to relieve pain, but these Western medications could be overwhelmed by side effects including tolerance and addiction. Herbal medicines may provide alternative measures for pain management. In this review paper, after introduction of Chinese medicine theory and treatment modality, emphasis is placed on the application of Chinese herbs and herbal formulations in pain management. Three of the most commonly used herbs, i.e., Corydalis yanhusuo, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Aconitum carmichaeli, are reviewed. Subsequently, using this ancient medical remedy, Chinese herbal formulation in treating common medical conditions associated with pain, such as headache/migraine, chest pain, abdominal pain, low back pain, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, and cancer pain, is presented. Chinese herbal medicines could be considered as a complementary and integrative approach in the modern armamentarium in combating pain.
Three-dimensional equations of generalized dynamics of 18-fold symmetry soft-matter quasicrystals
Authors: Tang Zhi-Yi , Fan Tian-You
Published: February 2020

This paper presents a three-dimensional form of governing equations of generalized dynamics of 18-fold symmetry soft-matter quasicrystals. According to the dynamics basis, there are first and second phason elementary excitations apart from phonons and fluid phonon. In the derivation, the group representation theory is a key point. The complete form of the theory includes an equation of state. The governing equations present some important meaning in the study on thermodynamics of the matter, which is also introduced.
Determining the Properties of the Basins of Convergence in the Generalized Hénon–Heiles System
Authors: Zotos Euaggelos E. , Sanam Suraj Md. , Mittal Amit , Aggarwal Rajiv
Published: February 2020

We examine the convergence properties of the generalized Hénon–Heiles system, by using the multivariate version of the Newton–Raphson iterative scheme. In particular, we numerically investigate how the perturbation parameter [Formula: see text] influences several aspects of the method, such as its speed and efficiency. Color-coded diagrams are used for revealing the basins of convergence on the configuration plane. Additionally, we compute the degree of fractality of the convergence basins on the configuration space, as a function of the perturbation parameter, by using different tools, such the uncertainty dimension and the (boundary) basin entropy. Our analysis suggests that the perturbation parameter strongly influences the number of the equilibrium points, as well as the geometry and the structure of the associated basins of convergence. Furthermore, the highest degree of fractality, along with the appearance of nonconverging points, occur near the critical values of the perturbation parameter.
Global Dynamics and Rich Sliding Motion in an Avian-Only Filippov System in Combating Avian Influenza
Authors: Yang Youping , Wang Lingjun
Published: February 2020

Culling birds has always been an effective method to control the spread of avian influenza. Here, we introduce a Filippov avian-only model with culling of both susceptible and infected birds. The Filippov-type model is formulated by considering that no control strategy is taken if the number of infected birds is less than an infected threshold level [Formula: see text]; further, we cull infected birds once the number of infected birds exceeds [Formula: see text]; meanwhile, we cull susceptible birds if the number of susceptible birds exceeds a susceptible threshold level [Formula: see text]. The global dynamical behavior of the Filippov system, including the existence and stability of various types of equilibria, the existence of the sliding mode and its dynamics, together with bifurcation analyses with regard to local sliding bifurcations, is investigated. It is shown that model solutions ultimately converge to the positive equilibrium that lies in the region above [Formula: see text], or below [Formula: see text], or on [Formula: see text], as we vary the susceptible and infected threshold values [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Our results indicate that proper combinations of the susceptible and infected threshold values based on the threshold policy can maintain the number of infected birds either below a certain threshold level or at a previously given level.
A Complete Investigation of the Effect of External Force on a 3D Megastable Oscillator
Authors: Liu Yongjian , Khalaf Abdul Jalil M. , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Pham Viet-Thanh , Jafari Sajad
Published: February 2020

Multistability is an essential topic in nonlinear dynamics. Recently, two critical subsets of multistable systems have been introduced: systems with extreme multistability and systems with megastability. In this paper, based on a newly introduced megastable system, a megastable forced oscillator is introduced. The effect of adding a forcing term and its parameters on the dynamical behavior of the designed system is investigated. By the help of bifurcation diagram and Lyapunov exponents, it is shown that the modified oscillator can show a variety of dynamical solutions including limit cycle, torus, and strange attractor.
Bifurcations of Traveling Wave Solutions for Fully Nonlinear Water Waves with Surface Tension in the Generalized Serre–Green–Naghdi Equations
Authors: Li Jibin , Chen Guanrong , Song Jie
Published: February 2020

For the generalized Serre–Green–Naghdi equations with surface tension, using the methodologies of dynamical systems and singular traveling wave theory developed by Li and Chen [2007] for their traveling wave systems, in different parameter conditions of the parameter space, all possible bounded solutions (solitary wave solutions, kink wave solutions, peakons, pseudo-peakons and periodic peakons as well as compactons) are obtained. More than 26 explicit exact parametric representations are given. It is interesting to find that this fully nonlinear water waves equation coexists with uncountably infinitely many smooth solitary wave solutions or infinitely many pseudo-peakon solutions with periodic solutions or compacton solutions. Differing from the well-known peakon solution of the Camassa–Holm equation, the generalized Serre–Green–Naghdi equations have four new forms of peakon solutions.
How about including free-standing, open-ended questions for readiness assessment and application activities in team-based learning, in addition to MCQs?
Authors: Prakash Elapulli Sankaranarayanan
Published: February 2020

In conventional team-based learning (TBL), readiness assurance test (RAT) items must be formatted as free-standing multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Even in the application phase of TBL, all teams must work on the same, significant problem and be required to make a specific choice and simultaneously report them to the whole class, which the MCQ format with predetermined answer choices allows. However, the founders of the TBL method rightly emphasize that the intended learning outcomes of a course using TBL underlie the design of the various components of TBL. The main point of this brief essay is to suggest that, if the ability to generate solutions to problems without predetermined answer choices is an intended learning outcome, it is advantageous to include carefully constructed free-standing, open-ended questions (OEQ) for both RAT and application activities in courses using TBL as the primary instructional method, in addition to the use of MCQs. Free-standing OEQs are OEQs not linked to an MCQ used for RAT or application activities. How this might be incorporated in what one may envision as TBL is discussed.
The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in the pathophysiology of heart failure in pregnancy and in fetal and neonatal life
Authors: Szczepanska-Sadowska E. , Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska A. , Wsol A.
Published: February 2020

Pregnancy and early life create specific psychosomatic challenges for the mother and child, such as changes in hemodynamics, resetting of the water-electrolyte balance, hypoxia, pain, and stress, that all play an important role in the regulation of the release of oxytocin and vasopressin. Both of these hormones regulate the water-electrolyte balance and cardiovascular functions, maturation of the cardiovascular system, and cardiovascular responses to stress. These aspects may be of particular importance in a state of emergency, such as hypertension in the mother or severe heart failure in the child. In this review, we draw attention to a broad spectrum of actions exerted by oxytocin and vasopressin in the pregnant mother and the offspring during early life. To this end, we discuss the following topics: 1) regulation of the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin and expression of their receptors in the pregnant mother and child, 2) direct and indirect effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on the cardiovascular system in the healthy mother and fetus, and 3) positive and negative consequences of altered secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin in the mother with cardiovascular pathology and in the progeny with heart failure. The present survey provides evidence that moderate stimulation of the oxytocin and vasopressin receptors plays a beneficial role in the healthy pregnant mother and fetus; however, under pathophysiological conditions the inappropriate action of these hormones exerts several negative effects on the cardiovascular system of the mother and progeny and may potentially contribute to the pathophysiology of heart failure in early life.
Transmural variation in microvascular remodeling following percutaneous revascularization of a chronic coronary stenosis in swine
Authors: Weil Brian R. , Suzuki Gen , Canty John M.
Published: February 2020

Remodeling of the coronary microcirculation is known to occur distal to a chronic coronary stenosis, but the reversibility of these changes and their functional significance on maximum myocardial perfusion before and after revascularization is unknown. Accordingly, swine instrumented with a chronic silastic stenosis on the left anterior descending coronary artery to produce hibernating myocardium underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; n = 8) and were compared with animals with a persistent stenosis ( n = 8), as well as sham controls ( n = 6). Stenotic animals demonstrated an increased subendocardial arteriolar wall thickness-to-lumen ratio (37.8 ± 3.3 vs. 28.3 ± 1.3% in sham, P = 0.04), reduced lumen area per arteriole (597 ± 88 vs. 927 ± 113 μm2, P = 0.04), and a compensatory increase in arteriolar density (9.4 ± 1.0 vs. 5.3 ± 0.4 arterioles/mm2, P < 0.01). As a result, vasodilated flow immediately after PCI was similar to normally perfused remote regions (5.1 ± 1.0 vs. 4.8 ± 0.9 ml·min−1·g−1, P = 0.87). When assessed 1-mo after PCI, increases in wall thickness-to-lumen diameter (42.2 ± 3.3%) and reductions in lumen area per arteriole (638 ± 59 μm2) remained unchanged, but arteriolar density returned to normal (5.2 ± 0.5 arterioles/mm2). As a result, maximum subendocardial flow during adenosine declined and was lower than remote regions (2.6 ± 0.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 ml·min−1·g−1, P = 0.01). There was no microvascular remodeling in subepicardial arterioles, and maximum perfusion remained unchanged. These data demonstrate that subendocardial microvascular remodeling occurs distal to a chronic epicardial stenosis. The regression of arteriolar density without increases in luminal area may precipitate stress-induced subendocardial ischemia in the absence of a physiologically significant stenosis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Swine with a chronic coronary stenosis exhibit subendocardial microvascular remodeling distal to a critical stenosis characterized by an increase in arteriolar wall thickness and reduction in lumen area with a compensatory increase in arteriolar density. The present study is the first to demonstrate that subendocardial arteriolar density normalizes 1-mo after revascularization, but the lumen area of individual arterioles remains reduced. This leads to a reduction in maximal subendocardial perfusion at this time point despite initial normalization of vasodilator reserve after revascularization. This pattern of chronic microvascular structural remodeling could contribute to recurrent subendocardial ischemia in the absence of coronary restenosis during tachycardia and increases in myocardial oxygen demand.
Autophagy Inhibition Potentiates the Anticancer Effects of a Bendamustine Derivative NL‐101 in Acute T Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Gao Hang , Lou Siyue , Hong Huanwu , Ge Qiufu , Zhao Huajun
Published: February 2020

Acute T lymphocytic leukemia (T‐ALL) is an aggressive hematologic resulting from the malignant transformation of T‐cell progenitors. Drug resistance and relapse are major difficulties in the treatment of T‐ALL. Here, we report the antitumor potency of NL‐101, a compound that combines the nitrogen mustard group of bendamustine with the hydroxamic acid group of vorinostat. We found NL‐101 exhibited efficient antiproliferative activity in T‐ALL cell lines (IC50 1.59–1.89 μM), accompanied by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as evidenced by the increased expression of Cyclin E1, CDK2, and CDK4 proteins and cleavage of PARP. In addition, this bendamustine‐derived drug showed both a HDACi effect as demonstrated by histone hyperacetylation and p21 transcription and a DNA‐damaging effect as shown by an increase in γ‐H2AX. Intriguingly, we found that NL‐101‐induced autophagy in T‐ALL cells through inhibiting Akt‐mTOR signaling pathway, as indicated by an increase in LC3‐I to LC3‐II conversion and decrease of p62. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy by 3‐methyladenine increased apoptotic cell death by NL‐101, suggesting a prosurvival role of autophagy. In summary, our finding provides rationale for investigation of NL‐101 as a DNA/HDAC dual targeting drug in T‐ALL, either as a single agent or in combination with autophagy inhibitors.
A Remarkable Remission: Treating HMA Refractory Transforming MDS with Single-Agent Low-Dose Cytarabine Leading to an Ongoing Six-Year OS
Authors: Palmer David , Jones Lydia
Published: February 2020

Hypomethylating agents (HMA) are the standard of care for patients ≥65 years with intermediate-high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) unsuitable for intensive therapy or stem cell transplant (SCT). However, many patients will develop relapse/refractory disease, at which point limited treatment options remain. There has been a lot of research into investigational agents following HMA failure, especially now into targeted therapy, but there is no final consensus or convincing data to guide clinicians. Low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) has been in the armamentarium for some time, but the value of LDAC is judged differently by various guidelines. Nevertheless, in a subgroup of patients who fail on a HMA and wish to continue treatment, LDAC may still have the potential to improve overall survival (OS). In this case report, we present an 85-year-old gentleman with HMA refractory high-risk/transforming MDS (with a noncomplex karyotype) achieving an ongoing six-year OS with single-agent second-line LDAC. LDAC may therefore still be considered by clinicians as a therapeutic option, but when available, patients should be enrolled on a clinical trial.
Experimental Investigation of the Dependence of Accessible Porosity and Methane Sorption Capacity of Carbonaceous Shales on Particle Size
Authors: Gaus Garri , Kalmykov Anton , Krooss Bernhard M. , Fink Reinhard
Published: February 2020

Crushing and grinding of carbonaceous shale samples is likely to enhance the accessibility of pores and embedded organic matter as compared to the intact rock. This may lead to an overestimation of the total (volume and sorptive) gas storage capacity. In order to investigate the importance of these effects we have measured unconfined apparent grain densities (helium pycnometry) and methane sorption capacities (high-pressure methane excess sorption) of four carbonaceous shales (Cambro-Ordovician Alum Shale, Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay, Jurassic/Cretaceous Bazhenov Shale, and Late Cretaceous Eagle Ford Shale) as a function of particle size. Measurements were first conducted on 38 mm diameter core plugs, which then were crushed and milled to successively smaller particle sizes (<10 mm, <2 mm, <64 μm, and <1 μm). Apparent grain densities of the smallest particle fractions of the Alum, Bazhenov and Kimmeridge samples were consistently higher by 0.5 to 1% than apparent grain densities of the original sample plugs. Methane excess sorption capacity increased significantly for particle sizes <64 μm for the Alum and <1 μm for the Bazhenov and Kimmeridge samples while no significant changes upon grinding were observed for the Eagle Ford Shale. For the Bazhenov Shale, the apparent grain density increased slightly from 2.446 g/cm3 to 2.450 g/cm3 upon particle size reduction from <64 μm to <1 μm while the maximum sorption capacity (“Langmuir volume”) increased substantially from 0.11 mmol/g to 0.19 mmol/g. Similarly, for the Kimmeridge Clay and Alum Shale, a slight increase of the apparent grain density from 1.546 g/cm3 to 1.552 g/cm3 and from 2.362 g/cm3 to 2.385 g/cm3, respectively, was accompanied by increases in sorption capacity from 0.37 mmol/g to 0.45 mmol/g and from 0.14 mmol/g to 0.185 mmol/g, respectively. The increase in sorption capacity indicates an opening of a considerable amount of micropores with large internal surface area upon physical disruption of the rock fabric and/or removal of included fluids. It may also be due to increased swelling abilities of clay minerals and organic matter upon destruction of the stabilizing rock fabric with decreasing particle size. Grain density and sorption isotherms measured on small particle sizes are likely to overestimate the gas storage capacities and the amounts of producible gas-in-place since under field conditions (largely undisrupted rock fabric), significant portions of this storage capacity are essentially inaccessible. Poor interconnectivity of the pore system and slow, diffusion-controlled transport will massively retard gas production. Based on these findings, particle sizes >64 μm should be used for porosity and sorption measurements because they are more likely to retain the properties of the rock fabric in terms of accessible pore volume and sorptive storage capacity.
Study on Law of Overlying Strata Breakage and Migration in Downward Mining of Extremely Close Coal Seams by Physical Similarity Simulation
Authors: Li Xiaobin , He Wenrui , Xu Zhuhe
Published: February 2020

Extremely close coal seam groups are widely distributed in China, and the main mining method is downward mining. In the downward mining process of extremely close coal seam groups, the violent movement of overlying strata will cause the redistribution of surrounding rock stress. It not only produces stress concentration on the pillar but also causes the roof of the lower coal seam to be broken and difficulty in maintaining the mining roadway. In this study, the physical similitude modeling method and field observations were used to study the breakage and migration law of overlying strata in the downward mining of extremely close coal seams. Results show that in the process of mining upper coal seam, the first weighting step of the main roof is 37.5 m and the periodic weighting step is 12.5 m. The occurrence of strata separation is beneficial to the prediction of roof weighting. When the working face advances to 25 m, the rock stratum approximating a parallelogram of height 5 m does not collapse, and the working face is relatively dangerous. When mining the lower coal seam, the overall pressure of the working face is large, but the periodic weighting of the working face is not obvious. The first collapse step of the immediate roof is 15 m. When mining the upper and lower coal seams, the subsidence of the monitoring point increases significantly at 17.5 and 15 m, respectively. The roof collapse of the lower coal seam occurs 2.5 m ahead of that of the upper coal seam. The hydraulic value of the support, roof fall height, and sloughing depth in the entire working face reach the maximum at the coal pillar, and the extreme points at the coal pillar are relatively concentrated. This research provides some guidance for the safe and efficient mining of extremely close coal seams in the future.
Probucol Prevents Diabetes‐Induced Retinal Neuronal Degeneration through Upregulating Nrf2
Authors: Liu Heng-Wei , Luo Yong , Zhou Yu-Fan , Chen Zhong-Ping
Published: February 2020

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight‐threatening complication of diabetes. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of probucol in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy. C57BL/6 mice were rendered diabetic through Streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection. Mice were treated with probucol (150 mg/kg, gavage administration) or vehicle (DMSO) for 12 weeks. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photography (FP), and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were conducted to evaluate retinal structure and damage. Eyes were collected for histology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, apoptotic cells count, and western blot. After STZ injection, all mice developed hyperglycemia. Compared with the retina of the control group, the retina of diabetic mice showed enhanced arterial reflex and beaded vein dilatation. Besides, reduced inner and middle retinal thickness and significantly fewer nuclei were found in diabetic retina. Moreover, the diabetic retina also presented increased ROS generation and more TUNEL‐positive cells. Probucol treatment prevented diabetes‐induced lesions. In addition, the treatment also upregulated Nrf2 expression in diabetic retina. It was suggested that probucol attenuated diabetes‐induced retinal neuronal degeneration via upregulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway possibly. Probucol may be repurposed for DR management.
Free Vibration Analysis of Composite Conical Shells with Variable Thickness
Authors: Javed Saira , Al Mukahal F. H. H. , Salama M. A.
Published: February 2020

Free vibration of conical shells of variable thickness is analysed under shear deformation theory with simply supported and clamped free boundary conditions by applying collocation with spline approximation. Sinusoidal thickness variation of layers is assumed in axial direction. Displacements and rotational functions are approximated by Bickley-type splines of order three and a generalized eigenvalue problem is obtained. This problem is solved numerically for an eigenfrequency parameter and an associated eigenvector of spline coefficients. The vibration of composite conical shells consisting of three layers and five layers where each layer is made up of different materials is analysed. Parametric studies are made for analysing the frequencies of the shell with respect to the coefficients of thickness variations, length ratio, cone angle, circumferential node number, and different ply angles with different combinations of the materials. The results are presented in terms of tables and graphs.
Dynamic Risk Analysis in Metro Construction Using Statistical Process Control
Authors: Wang Yichen , Zheng Hong , Lu Xinyue
Published: February 2020

Metro construction is normally carried out in complex engineering geological environment, so it can generate various risk events. In the process of metro construction, a scientific risk dynamic analysis is indispensable to reduce and control risks. In order to analyze the risk in metro construction more scientifically and reasonably, in this study, a new risk dynamic analysis method for metro construction is proposed using statistical process control. The method can analyse the risk level according to the process’s capacity index and identify the characteristics of risk variation according to the statistical control chart. The risk level and the characteristic of risks may vary with dynamical updating of monitoring data, so the conclusion of risk evaluation for a time interval can be drawn and corresponding safety measures can be ascertained. The method ushers statistical process control, so the random factors in risk evolution can be considered fully. Then, the method is applied to the risk analysis of shield construction under the Beijing-Tianjin intercity railway in Beijing Metro Line 8, a typical risk problem in the traffic construction. The variation of the risk level and the characteristic of risks can be evaluated reasonably because the dynamical randomness is considered. Moreover, whether risk control measures should be taken and what the effective measures are can be ascertained explicitly.
Q-Switched and Mode-Locked Nd/Cr:YAG Ceramic Pulse Laser
Authors: Saiki T. , Hirota N. , Kanemori S. , Iida Y.
Published: February 2020

A mode-locked and Q-switched short pulse laser using the Nd3+/Cr3+:YAG ceramic has been constructed with a SESAM and Cr4+:YAG crystal optical switch based on excite state absorption (ESA). Laser oscillations of the pulse laser were observed experimentally. The Nd/Cr:YAG ceramic laser has a high conversion efficiency from white light (such as lamp light or solar light) to the laser. The Nd/Cr:YAG ceramic has a higher laser gain than the Nd:YAG laser for the same pumping power. The laser oscillation can be obtained very easily. A single-mode-locked laser pulse with fast modulation on the order of 100 ps was obtained in some pump power regimes when using the Cr4+:YAG crystal. The obtained pulse duration of the short pulse was a few hundred ps. A maximum peak power of 60 kW was obtained when using a SESAM. The same level of peak power (60 kW) was also obtained when using the Cr4+:YAG crystal.
Norvaline Reduces Blood Pressure and Induces Diuresis in Rats with Inherited Stress‐Induced Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Gilinsky Michael A. , Polityko Yulia K. , Markel Arkady L. , Latysheva Tatyana V. , Samson Abraham O. , Polis Baruh , Naumenko Sergey E.
Published: February 2020

Growing evidence suggests that increased arginase activity affects vital bioprocesses in various systems and universally mediates the pathogenesis of numerous metabolic diseases. The adverse effects of arginase are associated with a severe decline in L‐arginine bioavailability, which leads to nitric oxide synthase substrate insufficiency, uncoupling, and, eventually, superoxide anion generation and substantial reduction of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. In cooperation, it contributes to chronic oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, which might lead to hypertension and atherosclerosis. Recent preclinical investigations point arginase as a promising therapeutic target in ameliorating metabolic and vascular dysfunctions. In the present study, adult rats with inherited stress‐induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH) were used as a model of hypertension. Wistar rats served as normotensive controls. Experimental animals were intraperitoneally administered for seven days with nonproteinogenic amino acid L‐norvaline (30 mg/kg/day), which is a potent arginase inhibitor, or with the vehicle. Blood pressure (BP), body weight, and diuresis were monitored. The changes in blood and urine levels of creatinine, urea, and NO metabolites were analyzed. We observed a significant decline in BP and induced diuresis in ISIAH rats following the treatment. The same procedure did not affect the BP of control animals. Remarkably, the treatment had no influence upon glomerular filtration rate in two experimental groups, just like the daily excretion of creatinine and urea. Conversely, NO metabolite levels were amplified in normotonic but not in hypertensive rats following the treatment. The data indicate that L‐norvaline is a potential antihypertensive agent and deserves to be clinically investigated. Moreover, we suggest that changes in blood and urine are causally related to the effect of L‐norvaline upon BP regulation.
Galectin-3 Is a Potential Mediator for Atherosclerosis
Authors: Gao Ziyu , Liu Zhongni , Wang Rui , Zheng Yinghong , Li Hong , Yang Liming
Published: February 2020

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory arterial disease forming the pathological basis of many cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Numerous studies have implicated inflammation as a key player in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a 30 kDaβ-galactose, highly conserved and widely distributed intracellularly and extracellularly. Gal-3 has been demonstrated in recent years to be a novel inflammatory factor participating in the process of intravascular inflammation, lipid endocytosis, macrophage activation, cellular proliferation, monocyte chemotaxis, and cell adhesion. This review focuses on the role of Gal-3 in atherosclerosis and the mechanism involved and several classical Gal-3 agonists and antagonists in the current studies.
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Piper retrofractum Fruit Extracts against Microbial Pathogens Causing Infections in Human and Animals
Authors: Panphut Wattana , Budsabun Tanakwan , Sangsuriya Pakkakul
Published: February 2020

Long pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl) is a Thai medicinal herb which has been used as one of the common ingredients in variety of Thai foods. Here, we investigated antimicrobial activities of crude bioactive metabolites extracted from fruits of P. retrofractum against 10 pathogenic organisms (bacteria and yeast) causing opportunistic infections in human or animals including Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC2921, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Klebsiella pneumonia TISTR1843, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC741, Salmonella typhi (clinical isolate), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (XN98 and 5HP), and Candida albicans ATCC90020. The results of disk diffusion test showed that the extract from methanol solvent exhibited greater antibacterial activity than other solvents with inhibition zones ranging from 0.5 to 8.0 mm, respectively. Subsequently, minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) determined by the colorimetric assay confirmed that methanol extracts showed consistent results with disk diffusion method. In summary, in vitro assays suggest that methanol is the best solvent for extraction of bioactive metabolites from P. retrofractum fruits. This crude extract can inhibit the majority of human and animal pathogens. This opens up a potential use of pepper fruits in prevention of food-contaminating microorganisms.
The Research on Planning of Taxi Sharing Route and Sharing Expenses
Authors: Zhang Xijun , Zhang Qirui , Yuan Zhanting , Wang Chenhui , Zhang Lijuan
Published: February 2020

Aiming at the problem of taxi low carrying rate, unreasonable route planning, and taxi charges, this paper mainly studies the taxi sharing routes and the sharing expense model which take the maximum carrying rate, the shortest driving distance, and the sharing expense of drivers as the objective function. We consider the problems of taxi capacity limitation, the driving distance limitation, the number of people getting on and off, and the charges. Through using the passenger’s pool to classify passengers in different directions and different starting points, we use the championship selection strategy, station fragment cross design, station-supervised mutation, and pricing algorithm to solve the model. Finally, we analyze the taxi data of Lanzhou City and simulate the new ways of this paper. The results are shown that compared with the daily practice of the nonshared mode, the taxi sharing mode has obvious improvement in terms of carrying rate, driving distance, and driving benefits. Therefore, the sharing mode can be used in taxi sharing route, and the sharing expenses are reasonable and useful for passengers and drivers.
A Novel Multicriteria Group Decision-Making Approach with Hesitant Picture Fuzzy Linguistic Information
Authors: Yang Lin , Wu Xiao-hui , Qian Jie
Published: February 2020

In real-life group decision-making environment, different decision-makers (DMs) might be hesitant to provide their evaluation by more than two linguistic terms with positive, neutral, negative, and refusal information (e.g., attitude for support, neutral, oppose, and refusal) for criteria of alternative. In order to solve such kinds of decision-making problems, a novel definition of hesitant picture fuzzy linguistic sets (HPFLSs) is introduced, and the HPFLS-based methods are developed. Considering the operation laws appeared in previous papers are not well suitable for HPFLS operation, the novel operation laws of HPFLSs are developed. Then, two aggregation operators of HPFLSs are developed, including hesitant picture fuzzy linguistic weighted average operator (HPFLSWA) and hesitant picture fuzzy linguistic weighted geometric operator (HPFLSGA). Meanwhile, the related proofs are given in detail. Additionally, the comparison method of score and accuracy functions is provided to rank the alternative. Finally, a real-life case of teaching performance evaluation is used to verify the proposed methods. The same case-based comparisons are further conducted between the proposed method and previous methods. The results showed that the proposed method can well overcome the lack of operation rules appeared in previous multicriteria group decision-making (MCGDM) methods and demonstrate effectiveness.
A Pseudodynamic Approach of Seismic Active Pressure on Retaining Walls Based on a Curved Rupture Surface
Authors: Yan Zuofei , Deng Yahong , He Jia , Xuan You , Wu Wei
Published: February 2020

Reasonable determination of the magnitude and distribution of dynamic earth pressure is one of the major challenges in the seismic design of retaining walls. Based on the principles of pseudodynamic method, the present study assumed that the critical rupture surface of backfill soil was a composite curved surface which was in combination with a logarithmic spiral and straight line. The equations for the calculation of seismic total active thrusts on retaining walls were derived using limit equilibrium theory, and earth pressure distribution was obtained by differentiating total active thrusts. The effects of initial phase, amplification factor, and soil friction angle on the distribution of seismic active earth pressure have also been discussed. Compared to pseudostatic and pseudodynamic methods for the determination of planar failure surface forms, the proposed method receives a bit lower value of seismic active earth pressures.
Upregulated Seizure-Related 6 Homolog-Like 2 Is a Prognostic Predictor of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Linhe , Ling Xiangchao , Zhu Caihui , Zhang Zhiheng , Wang Ziming , Huang Shanzhou , Tang Yunhua , He Shujiao , Guo Zhiyong , He Xiaoshun
Published: February 2020

Seizure-related 6 homolog-like 2 (SEZ6L2), which is localized on the cell surface, has been found to be associated with tumor angiogenesis and lung cancer progression. However, the role of SEZ6L2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. We obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to investigate SEZ6L2 expression and regulation in HCC. Then, HCC tissue samples were collected to verify SEZ6L2 by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). Patient information was collected for survival and prognosis analysis. qRT-PCR, IHC, and bioinformatics analysis showed that the SEZ6L2 protein was highly expressed in HCC samples. Clinical data showed that high SEZ6L2 protein expression was correlated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages (P=0.046), tumor number (P=0.016), and tumor size (P=0.029). Meanwhile, SEZ6L2 overexpression was closely associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival in HCC patients. Moreover, SEZ6L2 is an independent prognostic predictor for the survival of HCC patients. This study suggests a significant correlation between SEZ6L2 and HCC, which means that SEZ6L2 may potentially serve as a useful prognostic biomarker for HCC patients.
Task Offloading with Power Control for Mobile Edge Computing Using Reinforcement Learning-Based Markov Decision Process
Authors: Zhang Bingxin , Zhang Guopeng , Sun Weice , Yang Kun
Published: February 2020

This paper proposes an efficient computation task offloading mechanism for mobile edge computing (MEC) systems. The studied MEC system consists of multiple user equipment (UEs) and multiple radio interfaces. In order to maximize the number of UEs benefitting from the MEC, the task offloading and power control strategy for a UE is optimized in a joint manner. However, the problem of finding the optimal solution is NP-hard. We then reformulate the problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) and develop a reinforcement learning- (RL-) based algorithm to solve the MDP. Simulation results show that the proposed RL-based algorithm achieves a near-optimal performance compared to the exhaustive search algorithm, and it also outperforms the received signal strength- (RSS-) based method no matter from the standpoint of the system (as it leads to a larger number of beneficial UEs) or an individual (as it generates a lower computation overhead for a UE).
Structural Equation Modeling of Parkinson’s Caregiver Social Support, Resilience, and Mental Health: A Strength-Based Perspective
Authors: Tyler Carmen M. , Henry Richard S. , Perrin Paul B. , Watson Jack , Villaseñor Teresita , Lageman Sarah K. , Smith Erin R. , Curiel Genoveva Rizo , Avila Judith , Jimenez Maldonado Miriam E. , Soto-Escageda Jose A.
Published: February 2020

Only scant literature has focused on social support in Parkinson’s disease (PD) caregivers, and no studies to date have examined resilience in this population, despite both variables having been shown to be important in other caregiving populations. As a result, the purpose of the current study was to construct and validate a theoretical structural equation model whereby social support is associated with higher levels of resilience in PD caregivers and increased resilience is related to decreased mental health symptoms. Two hundred fifty three PD caregivers from two clinics in the United States and Mexico completed self-report measures of these constructs. Results suggested that the hypothesized pattern was robustly supported with the structural equation model showing generally good fit indices. Higher levels of social support were associated with increased resilience, which in turn was associated with reduced mental health symptoms. Resilience partially mediated social support’s effect on mitigating mental health symptoms. The model explained 11% of the variance in resilience and 35% in mental health symptoms. These findings have implications for future research on the development and tailoring of interventions to improve social support, resilience, and mental health in PD caregivers.
Posterior Propriety of an Objective Prior in a 4-Level Normal Hierarchical Model
Authors: Song Chengyuan , Sun Dongchu , Fan Kun , Mu Rongji
Published: February 2020

The use of hierarchical Bayesian models in statistical practice is extensive, yet it is dangerous to implement the Gibbs sampler without checking that the posterior is proper. Formal approaches to objective Bayesian analysis, such as the Jeffreys-rule approach or reference prior approach, are only implementable in simple hierarchical settings. In this paper, we consider a 4-level multivariate normal hierarchical model. We demonstrate the posterior using our recommended prior which is proper in the 4-level normal hierarchical models. A primary advantage of the recommended prior over other proposed objective priors is that it can be used at any level of a hierarchical model.
Multiple Time-Varying Formation of Networked Heterogeneous Robotic Systems via Estimator-Based Hierarchical Cooperative Algorithms
Authors: Ge Ming-Feng , Liang Chang-Duo , Zhan Xi-Sheng , Chen Chao-Yang , Xu Guanghui , Chen Jie
Published: February 2020

This paper investigates both the time-varying formation and multiple time-varying formation tracking problems of networked heterogeneous robotic systems (NHRSs) with parameter uncertainties and external disturbances in the task space. Each robot inside can be either redundant or nonredundant. Several novel estimator-based hierarchical cooperative (EBHC) algorithms are designed to achieve both the tracking task and the possible preset subtasks for redundant robots. Besides, the designed estimator algorithms guarantee that each robot can obtain the accurate information of their corresponding leaders. By employing Lyapunov stability and input-to-state stability, sufficient conditions on the asymptotic stability of the error closed-loop system are derived. Finally, two simulation examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Genetic Association and Expression Correlation between Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Gene Encoding M-CSF and Adult-Onset Still’s Disease
Authors: Chen Yi-Ming , Hung Wei-Ting , Chang Wan-Chun , Hsieh Chia-Wei , Chung Wen-Hung , Lan Joung-Liang , Gung Ning-Rong , Lee Yun-Shien , Chen Der-Yuan , Hung Shuen-Iu
Published: February 2020

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare and inflammatory disorder characterized by spiking fever, rash, arthritis, and multisystemic involvement. HLA has been shown to be associated with AOSD; however, it could not explain the innate immunity and autoinflammatory characteristics of AOSD. To assess the genetic susceptibility of AOSD, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a cohort of 70 AOSD cases and 688 controls following a replication study of 36 cases and 200 controls and meta-analysis. The plasma concentrations of associated gene product were determined. The GWAS, replication, and combined sample analysis confirmed that SNP rs11102024 on 5′-upstream of CSF1 encoding macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was associated with AOSD (P=1.20×10-8, OR (95% CI): 3.28 (2.25~4.79)). Plasma levels of M-CSF increased in AOSD patients (n=82, median: 9.31 pg/mL), particularly in the cases with activity score≥6 (n=42, 10.94 pg/mL), compared to the healthy donors (n=68, 5.31 pg/mL) (P<0.0001). Patients carrying rs11102024TT genotype had higher M-CSF levels (median: 20.28 pg/mL) than those with AA genotype (6.82 pg/mL) (P<0.0001) or AT genotype (11.61 pg/mL) (P=0.027). Patients with systemic pattern outcome were associated with elevated M-CSF and frequently observed in TT carriers. Our data suggest that genetic variants near CSF1 are associated with AOSD and the rs11102024 T allele links to higher M-CSF levels and systemic outcome. These results provide a promising initiative for the early intervention and therapeutic target of AOSD. Further investigation is needed to have better understandings and the clinical implementation of genetic variants nearby CSF1 in AOSD.
ПРИНЦИПИ ПРОФІЛАКТИЧНОЇ РОБОТИ СЕРЕД СПОЖИВАЧІВ ІН’ЄКЦІЙНИХ НАРКОТИКІВ
Authors: Yavkina I. V.
Published: February 2020

У статті охарактеризовано основні принципи організації профілактичної роботи серед споживачів ін’єкційних наркотиків.
Trends in Place of Death for Cardiovascular Mortality Related to Heart Failure in the United States From 2003 to 2017
Authors: Chuzi Sarah , Molsberry Rebecca , Ogunseitan Adeboye , Warraich Haider J. , Wilcox Jane E. , Grady Kathleen L. , Yancy Clyde W. , Khan Sadiya S.
Published: February 2020

Background:

The location of death is an important component of end-of-life care. However, contemporary trends in the location of death for cardiovascular deaths related to heart failure (CV-HF) and comparison to cancer deaths have not been fully examined.

Methods:

We analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Control Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database between 2003 and 2017 to identify location of death for CV-HF and cancer deaths. The proportions of deaths that occurred in a hospice facility, home, and medical facility were tested for trends using linear regression. Odds ratios were calculated to determine the odds of death occurring in a hospice facility or home (versus a medical facility) stratified by sex and race.

Results:

We identified 2 940 920 CV-HF and 8 852 066 cancer deaths. Increases were noted in the proportion of CV-HF deaths in hospice facilities (0.2% to 8.2%;
P
trend
<0.001) and at home (20.6% to 30.7%;
P
trend
<0.001), whereas decreases were noted in the proportion of deaths in medical facilities (44.5% to 31.0%;
P
trend
<0.001) and nursing homes (30.8% to 25.7%;
P
trend
<0.001). The odds of dying in a hospice facility (odds ratio, 1.79 [1.75–1.82]) or at home (odds ratio, 1.55 [1.53–1.56]) versus a medical facility was higher for whites versus blacks. The rate of increase in proportion of deaths in hospice facilities was higher for cancer deaths (β=1.05 [95% CI, 0.97–1.12]) than for CV-HF deaths (β=0.61 [95% CI, 0.58–0.64]).

Conclusions:

The proportion of CV-HF deaths occurring in hospice facilities is increasing but remains low. Disparities are noted whereby whites are more likely to die in hospice facilities or at home versus medical facilities compared with blacks. More research is needed to determine end-of-life preferences for patients with HF and identify the basis for these differences in location of death.
Determinants of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Exertional Symptoms in Adults With Coarctation of Aorta
Authors: Egbe Alexander C. , Qureshi Muhammad Y. , Connolly Heidi M.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Coarctation of aorta (COA) results in chronic left ventricular (LV) pressure overload and subsequently leads to LV diastolic dysfunction and heart failure over time. The goal of COA intervention is to prevent these complications. The timing of COA interventions is based on the presence of these COA severity indices: doppler mean COA gradient, systolic blood pressure, upper-to-lower-extremity SBP gradient, aortic isthmus ratio, presence of collaterals, and exercise-induced hypertension. Although these indices are physiologically intuitive, the relationship between these indices and LV diastolic dysfunction and exertional symptoms has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the indices of COA severity and LV diastolic function and symptoms.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between indices of COA severity, LV diastolic function (average e’ and E/e’), and exertional symptoms (NYHA II–IV and peak oxygen consumption).

Results:

Of all the COA indices analyzed in 546 adult COA patients, aortic isthmus ratio had the strongest correlation with e’ (β [95% CI]: 3.11 [2.02–4.31];
P
=0.014) per 1 cm/second; E/e’ (−13.4 [−22.3 to −4.81];
P
=0.009) per 1 unit; peak oxygen consumption (4.05 [1.97–6.59] per 1% change,
P
=0.019), and NYHA II to IV symptoms (odds ratio, 2.16 [1.65–3.18];
P
=0.006).

Conclusions:

Of all the COA severity indices stipulated in the guidelines, aortic isthmus ratio had the strongest correlation with LV diastolic function and exertional symptoms. As LV diastolic dysfunction typically precede heart failure symptoms, we anticipate that the results of this study will improve and simplify patient selection for COA intervention and potentially improve long-term outcomes.