bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blind Recognition of Binary BCH Codes for Cognitive Radios
Authors: Zhou Jing , Huang Zhiping
Published: January 2016

A novel algorithm of blind recognition of Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes is proposed to solve the problem of Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) in cognitive radio systems. The recognition algorithm is based on soft decision situations. The code length is firstly estimated by comparing the Log-Likelihood Ratios (LLRs) of the syndromes, which are obtained according to the minimum binary parity check matrixes of different primitive polynomials. After that, by comparing the LLRs of different minimum polynomials, the code roots and generator polynomial are reconstructed. When comparing with some previous approaches, our algorithm yields better performance even on very low Signal-Noise-Ratios (SNRs) with lower calculation complexity. Simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
BMSCs Interactions with Adventitial Fibroblasts Display Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage Potential in Differentiation and Migration That Contributes to Neointimal Formation
Authors: Wendan Y. , Changzhu J. , Xuhong S. , Hongjing C. , Hong S. , Dongxia Y. , Fang X.
Published: January 2016

In this study a model of simulated vascular injury in vitro was used to study the characterization of bone‐marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) morphology and to investigate the differentiation and migration of BMSCs in the presence of adventitial fibroblasts. BMSCs from rats were indirectly cocultured with adventitial fibroblasts in a transwell chamber apparatus for 7 days, and clonogenic assays demonstrated that BMSCs could be differentiated into smooth muscle‐like cells with this process, including smooth muscle α‐actin (α‐SMA) expression by immunofluorescence staining. Cell morphology of BMSCs was assessed by inverted microscope, while cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. The expressions of TGF‐β1, MMP‐1, and NF‐κB were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Smad3 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription PCR. Migration ability of BMSCs with DAPI‐labeled nuclei was measured by laser confocal microscopy. Our results demonstrate that indirect interactions with adventitial fibroblasts can induce proliferation, differentiation, and migration of BMSCs that can actively participate in neointimal formation. Our results indicate that the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling might perform via TGF‐β1/Smad3 signal transduction pathways.
Lycopene Deficiency in Ageing and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Petyaev Ivan M.
Published: January 2016

Lycopene is a hydrocarbon phytochemical belonging to the tetraterpene carotenoid family and is found in red fruit and vegetables. Eleven conjugated double bonds predetermine the antioxidant properties of lycopene and its ability to scavenge lipid peroxyl radicals, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide. Lycopene has a low bioavailability rate and appears in the blood circulation incorporated into chylomicrons and other apo‐B containing lipoproteins. The recent body of evidence suggests that plasma concentration of lycopene is not only a function of intestinal absorption rate but also lycopene breakdown via enzymatic and oxidative pathways in blood and tissues. Oxidative stress and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide may represent a major cause of lycopene depletion in ageing, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been shown recently that low carotenoid levels, and especially decreased serum lycopene levels, are strongly predictive of all‐cause mortality and poor outcomes of cardiovascular disease. However, there is a poor statistical association between dietary and serum lycopene levels which occurs due to limited bioavailability of lycopene from dietary sources. Hence, it is very unlikely that nutritional intervention alone could be instrumental in the correction of lycopene and carotenoid deficiency. Therefore, new nutraceutical formulations of carotenoids with enhanced bioavailability are urgently needed.
Fundamental Frequency Analysis of Sandwich Beams with Functionally Graded Face and Metallic Foam Core
Authors: Mu Lin , Zhao Guiping
Published: January 2016

This study is interested in assessing a way to analyze fundamental frequency of sandwich beams with functionally graded face sheet and homogeneous core. The face sheet, which is an exponentially graded material (EGM) varying smoothly in the thickness direction only, is composed of a mixture of metal and ceramic. The core which is made of foam metal is homogeneous. The classical plate theory (CPT) is used to analyze the face sheet and a higher-order theory (HOT) is used to analyze the core of sandwich beams, in which both the transverse normal and shear strains of the core are considered. The extended Galerkin method is used to solve the governing equations to obtain the vibration equations of the sandwich beams suitable for numerical analysis. The fundamental frequency obtained by the theoretical model is validated by using the finite element code ABAQUS and comparison with earlier works. The influences of material and geometric properties on the fundamental frequency of the sandwich beams are analyzed.
Detrended Fluctuation Analysis and Hough Transform Based Self-Adaptation Double-Scale Feature Extraction of Gear Vibration Signals
Authors: Wang JiaQing , Xiao Han , Lv Yong , Wang Tao , Xu Zengbing
Published: January 2016

This paper presents the analysis of the vibration time series of a gear system acquired by piezoelectric acceleration transducer using the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). The experimental results show that gear vibration signals behave as double-scale characteristics, which means that the signals exhibit the self-similarity characteristics in two different time scales. For further understanding, the simulation analysis is performed to investigate the reasons for double-scale of gear’s fault vibration signal. According to the analysis results, a DFA double logarithmic plot based feature vector combined with scale exponent and intercept of the small time scale is utilized to achieve a better performance of fault identification. Furthermore, to detect the crossover point of two time scales automatically, a new approach based on the Hough transform is proposed and validated by a group of experimental tests. The results indicate that, comparing with the traditional DFA, the faulty gear conditions can be identified better by analyzing the double-scale characteristics of DFA. In addition, the influence of trend order of DFA on recognition rate of fault gears is discussed.
Monitoring the Bystander Killing Effect of Human Multipotent Stem Cells for Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors
Authors: Leten Cindy , Trekker Jesse , Struys Tom , Roobrouck Valerie D. , Dresselaers Tom , Vande Velde Greetje , Lambrichts Ivo , Verfaillie Catherine M. , Himmelreich Uwe
Published: January 2016

Tumor infiltrating stem cells have been suggested as a vehicle for the delivery of a suicide gene towards otherwise difficult to treat tumors like glioma. We have used herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase expressing human multipotent adult progenitor cells in two brain tumor models (hU87 and Hs683) in immune‐compromised mice. In order to determine the best time point for the administration of the codrug ganciclovir, the stem cell distribution and viability were monitored in vivo using bioluminescence (BLI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment was assessed by in vivo BLI and MRI of the tumors. We were able to show that suicide gene therapy using HSV‐tk expressing stem cells can be followed in vivo by MRI and BLI. This has the advantage that (1) outliers can be detected earlier, (2) GCV treatment can be initiated based on stem cell distribution rather than on empirical time points, and (3) a more thorough follow‐up can be provided prior to and after treatment of these animals. In contrast to rodent stem cell and tumor models, treatment success was limited in our model using human cell lines. This was most likely due to the lack of immune components in the immune‐compromised rodents.
The Progress of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as Models of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Kang Ji-feng , Tang Bei-sha , Guo Ji-feng
Published: January 2016

In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were widely used for investigating the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Somatic cells from patients with SNCA (α‐synuclein), LRRK2 (leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2), PINK1 (PTEN induced putative kinase 1), Parkin mutations, and at‐risk individuals carrying GBA (β‐glucocerebrosidase) mutations have been successfully induced to iPSCs and subsequently differentiated into dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Importantly, some PD‐related cell phenotypes, including α‐synuclein aggregation, mitophagy, damaged mitochondrial DNA, and mitochondrial dysfunction, have been described in these iPSCs models, which further investigated the pathogenesis of PD. In 2007, Takahashi et al. and Vodyanik et al. generated iPSCs from human somatic cells for the first time. Since then, patients derived iPSCs were applied for disease modeling, drug discovery and screening, autologous cell replacement therapy, and other biological applications. iPSC research has now become a hot topic in a wide range of fields. This review summarizes the recent progress of PD patients derived iPSC models in pathogenic mechanism investigation and potential clinical applications, especially their promising strategy in pharmacological study and DA neurons transplantation therapy. However, the challenges of iPSC transplantation still exist, and it has a long way to go before it can be used in clinical application.
Human Hepatocyte‐Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: MYC Expression, Similarities to Human Germ Cell Tumors, and Safety Issues
Authors: Unzu Carmen , Friedli Marc , Bosman Alexis , Jaconi Marisa E. , Wildhaber Barbara E. , Rougemont Anne-Laure
Published: January 2016

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a most promising approach to the development of a hepatocyte transplantable mass sufficient to induce long‐term correction of inherited liver metabolic diseases, thus avoiding liver transplantation. Their intrinsic self‐renewal ability and potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers identify iPSC as the most promising cell‐based therapeutics, but also as drivers of tumor development. Teratoma development currently represents the gold standard to assess iPSC pluripotency. We analyzed the tumorigenic potential of iPSC generated from human hepatocytes (HEP‐iPSC) and compared their immunohistochemical profiles to that of tumors developed from fibroblast and hematopoietic stem cell‐derived iPSC. HEP‐iPSC generated tumors significantly presented more malignant morphological features than reprogrammed fibroblasts or CD34+ iPSC. Moreover, the protooncogene myc showed the strongest expression in HEP‐iPSC, compared to only faint expression in the other cell subsets. Random integration of transgenes and the use of potent protooncogenes such as myc might be a risk factor for malignant tumor development if hepatocytes are used for reprogramming. Nonviral vector delivery systems or reprogramming of cells obtained from less invasive harvesting methods would represent interesting options for future developments in stem cell‐based approaches for liver metabolic diseases.
Research on Sustainable Development of Resource-Based Cities Based on the DEA Approach: A Case Study of Jiaozuo, China
Authors: Li Li , Lei Yalin , Pan Dongyang , Si Chunyan
Published: January 2016

Jiaozuo is a typical resource-based city, and its economic transformation has been an example of success in China. However, quantitative evaluation of the city’s development has scarcely been performed, and future development is not clear. Because of this, using the relevant data from 1999 to 2013, this paper uses the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to evaluate development after the transformation of Jiaozuo with the aim of providing a basis for its future developing plan. The results show that DEA was effective in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012, was weakly effective in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2013, and was ineffective in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. By evaluating the development of Jiaozuo, this paper provides policy implications for Jiaozuo’s sustainable development, and it may serve as a reference for the sustainable development of China’s other resources-based cities.
Simulation of an Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer Array by Using Analytical Method and FDTD
Authors: Xie Yuedong , Rodriguez Sergio , Zhang Wenbo , Liu Zenghua , Yin Wuliang
Published: January 2016

Previously, we developed a method based on FEM and FDTD for the study of an Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer Array (EMAT). This paper presents a new analytical solution to the eddy current problem for the meander coil used in an EMAT, which is adapted from the classic Deeds and Dodd solution originally intended for circular coils. The analytical solution resulting from this novel adaptation exploits the large radius extrapolation and shows several advantages over the finite element method (FEM), especially in the higher frequency regime. The calculated Lorentz force density from the analytical EM solver is then coupled to the ultrasonic simulations, which exploit the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to describe the propagation of ultrasound waves, in particular for Rayleigh waves. Radiation pattern obtained with Hilbert transform on time-domain waveforms is proposed to characterise the sensor in terms of its beam directivity and field distribution along the steering angle, which can produce performance parameters for an EMAT array, facilitating the optimum design of such sensors.
A Striking Coronary Artery Pattern in a Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease Patient
Authors: Iacovelli Fortunato , Pepe Martino , Contegiacomo Gaetano , Alberotanza Vito , Masi Filippo , Bortone Alessandro Santo , Favale Stefano
Published: January 2016

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a myocardial disorder probably due to the arrest of normal embryogenesis of the left ventricle. It could be isolated or associated with other extracardiac and cardiac abnormalities, including coronary artery anomalies. Despite the continuous improvement of imaging resolution quality, this cardiomyopathy still remains frequently misdiagnosed, especially if associated with other heart diseases. We report a case of LVNC association with both malposition of the great arteries and a very original coronary artery pattern.
Formation of Tumorspheres with Increased Stemness without External Mitogens in a Lung Cancer Model
Authors: Yakisich Juan Sebastian , Azad Neelam , Venkatadri Rajkumar , Kulkarni Yogesh , Wright Clayton , Kaushik Vivek , Iyer Anand Krishnan V.
Published: January 2016

Like with most solid tumors, the presence of a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer stem‐like cells (CS‐LCs) has been associated with chemoresistance and tumor relapse in lung cancer cells. In the absence of serum, CSCs/CS‐LCs have the ability to grow as lung tumorspheres (LTSs), and this system is routinely used for isolation and characterization of putative CSCs/CS‐LCs. Methods to isolate LTSs are usually performed in serum‐free media supplemented with specific additives such as epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. In this study, we report the generation of LTSs without the addition of any external mitogenic stimulation. LTSs generated in this manner demonstrated several traits usually associated with increased stemness such as elevated expression of the stemness‐associated marker Sox2 and increased chemoresistance to conventional anticancer drugs. In addition, we report that the FDA‐approved drug Digitoxin, at concentration close to its therapeutic level, decreased the viability of LTSs and downregulated Sox2 independent of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The potential use of LTSs generated without the addition of any external mitogenic stimulation to study the role of specific factor(s) associated with stemness properties is also discussed.
Pharmacogenetics of Risperidone and Cardiovascular Risk in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Dos Santos-Júnior Amilton , Henriques Taciane Barbosa , de Mello Maricilda Palandi , Della Torre Osmar Henrique , Paes Lúcia Arisaka , Ferreira-Neto Adriana Perez , Sewaybricker Letícia Esposito , Fontana Thiago Salum , Celeri Eloisa Helena Rubello Valler , Guerra-Júnior Gil , Dalgalarrondo Paulo
Published: January 2016

Objective. To identify the frequency of obesity and metabolic complications in child and adolescent users of risperidone. Potential associations with clinical parameters and SNPs of theHTR2C,DRD2,LEP,LEPR,MC4R, andCYP2D6genes were analyzed.Methods. Samples from 120 risperidone users (8–20 years old) were collected and SNPs were analyzed, alongside assessment of chronological and bone ages, prescribed and weight-adjusted doses, use of other psychotropic drugs, waist circumference, BMIz-scores, blood pressure, HOMA-IR index, fasting levels of serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, transaminases, and leptin.Results. Thirty-two (26.7%) patients were overweight and 5 (4.2%) obese. Hypertension was recorded in 8 patients (6.7%), metabolic syndrome in 6 (5%), and increased waist circumference in 20 (16.7%). The HOMA-IR was high for 22 patients (18.3%), while total cholesterol and triglycerides were high in 20 (16.7%) and 41 (34.2%) patients, respectively. SNP associations were found forLEP,HTR2C, andCYP2D6with BMI;CYP2D6with blood pressure, ALT, and HOMA-IR;HTR2CandLEPRwith leptin levels;MC4RandDRD2with HOMA-IR;HTR2Cwith WC; andLEPwith ALT.Conclusions. Although not higher than in the general pediatric population, a high frequency of patients was overweight/obese, with abnormalities in metabolic parameters and some pharmacogenetic associations.
Mitochondrial Alterations in Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells from Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients
Authors: Delbarba A. , Abate G. , Prandelli C. , Marziano M. , Buizza L. , Arce Varas N. , Novelli A. , Cuetos F. , Martinez C. , Lanni C. , Memo M. , Uberti D.
Published: January 2016

It is well recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration occurring in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, evidences of mitochondrial defects in AD peripheral cells are still inconclusive. Here, some mitochondrial‐encoded and nuclear‐encoded proteins, involved in maintaining the correct mitochondria machine, were investigated in terms of protein expression and enzymatic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from AD and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients and healthy subjects. In addition mitochondrial DNA copy number was measured by real time PCR. We found some differences and some similarities between AD and MCI patients when compared with healthy subjects. For example, cytochrome C and cytochrome B were decreased in AD, while MCI showed only a statistical reduction of cytochrome C. On the other hand, both AD and MCI blood cells exhibited highly nitrated MnSOD, index of a prooxidant environment inside the mitochondria. TFAM, a regulator of mitochondrial genome replication and transcription, was decreased in both AD and MCI patients’ blood cells. Moreover also the mitochondrial DNA amount was reduced in PBMCs from both patient groups. In conclusion these data confirmed peripheral mitochondria impairment in AD and demonstrated that TFAM and mtDNA amount reduction could be two features of early events occurring in AD pathogenesis.
Effects of Fast Simple Numerical Calculation Training on Neural Systems
Authors: Takeuchi Hikaru , Nagase Tomomi , Taki Yasuyuki , Sassa Yuko , Hashizume Hiroshi , Nouchi Rui , Kawashima Ryuta
Published: January 2016

Cognitive training, including fast simple numerical calculation (FSNC), has been shown to improve performance on untrained processing speed and executive function tasks in the elderly. However, the effects of FSNC training on cognitive functions in the young and on neural mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the effects of 1-week intensive FSNC training on cognitive function, regional gray matter volume (rGMV), and regional cerebral blood flow at rest (resting rCBF) in healthy young adults. FSNC training was associated with improvements in performance on simple processing speed, speeded executive functioning, and simple and complex arithmetic tasks. FSNC training was associated with a reduction in rGMV and an increase in resting rCBF in the frontopolar areas and a weak but widespread increase in resting rCBF in an anatomical cluster in the posterior region. These results provide direct evidence that FSNC training alone can improve performance on processing speed and executive function tasks as well as plasticity of brain structures and perfusion. Our results also indicate that changes in neural systems in the frontopolar areas may underlie these cognitive improvements.
Subculture of Germ Cell‐Derived Colonies with GATA4‐Positive Feeder Cells from Neonatal Pig Testes
Authors: Lee Kyung Hoon , Lee Won Young , Kim Jin Hoi , Park Chan Kyu , Do Jeong Tae , Kim Jae Hwan , Choi Young Suk , Kim Nam Hyung , Song Hyuk
Published: January 2016

Enrichment of spermatogonial stem cells is important for studying their self‐renewal and differentiation. Although germ cell‐derived colonies (GDCs) have been successfully cultured from neonatal pig testicular cells under 31°C conditions, the short period of in vitro maintenance (<2 months) limited their application to further investigations. To develop a culture method that allows for in vitro maintenance of GDCs for long periods, we subcultured the GDCs with freshly prepared somatic cells from neonatal pig testes as feeder cells. The subcultured GDCs were maintained up to passage 13 with the fresh feeder cells (FFCs) and then frozen. Eight months later, the frozen GDCs could again form the colonies on FFCs as shown in passages 1 to 13. Immunocytochemistry data revealed that the FFCs expressed GATA‐binding protein 4 (GATA4), which is also detected in the cells of neonatal testes and total testicular cells, and that the expression of GATA4 was decreased in used old feeder cells. The subcultured GDCs in each passage had germ and stem cell characteristics, and flow cytometric analyses revealed that ~60% of these cells were GFRα‐1 positive. In conclusion, neonatal pig testes‐derived GDCs can be maintained for long periods with GATA4‐expressing testicular somatic cells.
MP Resulting in Autophagic Cell Death of Microglia through Zinc Changes against Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Li Dingding , Wang Guannan , Han Donghe , Bi Jing , Li Chenyuan , Wang Hongyu , Liu Zhiyuan , Gao Wei , Gao Kai , Yao Tianchen , Wan Zhanghui , Li Haihong , Mei Xifan
Published: January 2016

Methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT), as a public recognized therapy of spinal cord injury (SCI), is doubted recently, and the exact mechanism of MP on SCI is unclear. This study sought to investigate the exact effect of MP on SCI. We examined the effect of MP in a model of SCI in vivo and an LPS induced model in vitro. We found that administration of MP produced an increase in the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores and motor neurons counts of injured rats. Besides the number of activated microglia was apparently reduced by MP in vivo, and Beclin-1 dependent autophagic cell death of microglia was induced by MP in LPS induced model. At the same time, MP increases cellular zinc concentration and level of ZIP8, and TPEN could revert effect of MP on autophagic cell death of microglia. Finally, we have found that MP could inhibit NF-κβin LPS induced model. These results show that the MP could result in autophagic cell death of microglia, which mainly depends on increasing cellular labile zinc, and may be associated with inhibition of NF-κβ, and that MP can produce neuroprotective effect in SCI.
Modulation ofmecA Gene Expression by Essential Oil fromSalvia sclareaand Synergism with Oxacillin in Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus epidermidisCarrying Different Types of Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassettemec
Authors: Chovanová Romana , Mikulášová Mária , Vaverková Štefánia
Published: January 2016

The essential oil (EO) fromSalvia sclareawas shown to increase the susceptibility of methicillin resistantStaphylococcus epidermidis(MRSE) isolates to oxacillin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EO fromS. sclareaon expression ofmecA gene of MRSE carrying different types of staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCCmec) and to evaluate potential synergistic effect of EO with oxacillin. Using real-time PCR we found that EO alone inhibited the expression of the resistant genesmecA,mecR1, andmecI andblaZ,blaR1, andblaI. The use of the combination of EO with oxacillin resulted in significantly inhibited expression ofmecA gene in all tested strains with different types of SCCmec. Using time-kill assay and checkerboard assay we confirmed synergistic effect of EO fromS. sclareaand oxacillin in MRSE.
Vibration and Deflection Behavior of a Coal Auger Working Mechanism
Authors: Liu Songyong , Ji Huifu , Cui Xinxia
Published: January 2016

Because coal auger working mechanism faces problems such as excessive vibration, serious deflection, and low drilling efficiency, a new five-bit coal auger working mechanism test model was established to explore the influence factor on vibration and deflection under different conditions. Additionally, a simulation model was built to further research the effect of partial load and stabilizer arrangement, the correctness of which was proved by experiments. The results show that the vibration and deflection increase with drilling depth in thexdirection, and they first increase and then gradually become stable in theydirection. In addition, the vibration, deflection, and deflection force increase with the partial load. By arranging the stabilizer every five drill-rod section intervals, the vibration and deflection can be decreased by 30% and 40% in thexdirection and by 14.3% and 65.7% inydirection, respectively.
Coping with the Forced Swim Stressor: Towards Understanding an Adaptive Mechanism
Authors: de Kloet E. R. , Molendijk M. L.
Published: January 2016

In the forced swim test (FST) rodents progressively show increased episodes of immobility if immersed in a beaker with water from where escape is not possible. In this test, a compound qualifies as a potential antidepressant if it prevents or delays the transition to this passive (energy conserving) behavioural style. In the past decade however the switch from active to passive “coping” was used increasingly to describe the phenotype of an animal that has been exposed to a stressful history and/or genetic modification. A PubMed analysis revealed that in a rapidly increasing number of papers (currently more than 2,000) stress-related immobility in the FST is labeled as a depression-like phenotype. In this contribution we will examine the different phases of information processing during coping with the forced swim stressor. For this purpose we focus on the action of corticosterone that is mediated by the closely related mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the limbic brain. The evidence available suggests a model in which we propose that the limbic MR-mediated response selection operates in complementary fashion with dopaminergic accumbens/prefrontal executive functions to regulate the transition between active and passive coping styles. Upon rescue from the beaker the preferred, mostly passive, coping style is stored in the memory via a GR-dependent action in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. It is concluded that the rodent’s behavioural response to a forced swim stressor does not reflect depression. Rather the forced swim experience provides a unique paradigm to investigate the mechanistic underpinning of stress coping and adaptation.
Evaluation of Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Teenagers with Myopia through Noninvasive Keratograph
Authors: Wang Xiu , Lu Xiaoxiao , Yang Jun , Wei Ruihua , Yang Liyuan , Zhao Shaozhen , Wang Xilian
Published: January 2016

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate dry eye and ocular surface conditions of myopic teenagers by using questionnaire and clinical examinations.Methods. A total of 496 eyes from 248 myopic teenagers (7–18 years old) were studied. We administered Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, slit-lamp examination, and Keratograph 5M. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on OSDI dry eye standard, and their ocular surfaces and meibomian gland conditions were evaluated.Results. The tear meniscus heights of the dry eye and normal groups were in normal range. Corneal fluorescein scores were significantly higher whereas noninvasive break-up time was dramatically shorter in the dry eye group than in the normal group. All three meibomian gland dysfunction parameters (i.e., meibomian gland orifice scores, meibomian gland secretion scores, and meibomian gland dropout scores) of the dry eye group were significantly higher than those of the normal group (P<0.0001).Conclusions. The prevalence of dry eye in myopic teenagers is 18.95%. Meibomian gland dysfunction plays an important role in dry eye in myopic teenagers. The Keratograph 5M appears to provide an effective noninvasive method for assessing ocular surface situation of myopic teenagers.
The Elastic Constants Measurement of Metal Alloy by Using Ultrasonic Nondestructive Method at Different Temperature
Authors: Hu Eryi , Wang Wenjin
Published: January 2016

The ultrasonic nondestructive method is introduced into the elastic constants measurement of metal material. The extraction principle of Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus, and shear modulus is deduced from the ultrasonic propagating equations with two kinds of vibration model of the elastic medium named ultrasonic longitudinal wave and transverse wave, respectively. The ultrasonic propagating velocity is measured by using the digital correlation technique between the ultrasonic original signal and the echo signal from the bottom surface, and then the elastic constants of the metal material are calculated. The feasibility of the correlation algorithm is verified by a simulation procedure. Finally, in order to obtain the stability of the elastic properties of different metal materials in a variable engineering application environment, the elastic constants of two kinds of metal materials in different temperature environment are measured by the proposed ultrasonic method.
Delay, Reliability, and Throughput Based QoS Profile: A MAC Layer Performance Optimization Mechanism for Biomedical Applications in Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks
Authors: Akbar Muhammad Sajjad , Yu Hongnian , Cang Shuang
Published: January 2016

Recently, increasing demand for remote healthcare monitoring systems poses a specific set of Quality of Services (QoS) requirements to the MAC layer protocols and standards (IEEE 802.15.6, IEEE 802.15.4, etc.) of Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks (WBASNs). They mainly include time bounded services (latency), reliable data transmission, fair channel distribution, and specified data rates. The existing MAC protocols of WBASNs are lack of a specific set of QoS. To address this, the paper proposes a QoS profile named delay, reliability, and throughput (DRT). The QoS values computed through DRT profile provide maximum reliability of data transmission within an acceptable latency and data rates. The DRT is based on the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) channel access mechanism and considers IEEE 802.15.4 (low-rate WPAN) and IEEE 802.15.6 (WBASN). Further, a detailed performance analysis of different frequency bands is done which are standardized for WBASNs, that is, 420 MHz, 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and so forth. Finally, a series of experiments are conducted to produce statistical results for DRT profile with respect to delay, reliability, and packet delivery ratio (PDR). The calculated results are verified through extensive simulations in the CASTALIA 3.2 framework using the OMNET++ network simulator.
Circulating Glutamate and Taurine Levels Are Associated with the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Takano Shintaro , Fujibayashi Kousuke , Fujioka Nakaba , Ueno Ei-ichi , Wakasa Minoru , Kawai Yasuyuki , Kajinami Kouji
Published: January 2016

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, but its proarrhythmic mechanism remains to be elucidated. Glutamate (Glu) and taurine (Tau) are present in the myocardium at substantially higher concentrations than in the plasma, suggesting their active role in myocardium. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the metabolism of Glu and Tau is altered in association with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with AF. Fifty patients with paroxysmal AF and 50 control subjects without a history of AF were consecutively enrolled. Circulating Glu and Tau levels were measured and correlations between Glu/Tau and ROS levels were examined. Glu/Tau content was significantly higher in patients with AF versus controls (Glu:79.2±23.9versus60.5±25.2 nmol/L; Tau:78.8±19.8versus68.5±20.8 nmol/L; mean ± standard deviation (SD),p<0.001for both). Glu/Tau levels also showed an independent association with AF by multiple logistic regression analysis. Glu and Tau levels both showed significant positive associations with plasma hydroperoxide concentrations. These data suggest a novel pathophysiological role of Glu and Tau in association with ROS production in paroxysmal AF, providing new insights into the elevated amino acid content in cardiac disease.
Role of Inorganic and Organic Fractions in Animal Manure Compost in Lead Immobilization and Microbial Activity in Soil
Authors: Katoh Masahiko , Kitahara Wataru , Sato Takeshi
Published: January 2016

This study aimed to identify how the ratio of inorganic-to-organic components in animal manure compost (AMC) affected both lead immobilization and microbial activity in lead-contaminated soil. When AMC containing 50% or more inorganic fraction with high phosphorous content was applied to contaminated soil, the amounts of water-soluble lead in it were suppressed by over 88% from the values in the soil without compost. The residual fraction under sequential extraction increased with the inorganic fraction in the AMC; however, in those AMCs, the levels of microbial enzyme activity were the same or less than those in the control soil. The application of AMC containing 25% inorganic fraction could alter the lead phases to be more insoluble while improving microbial enzyme activities; however, no suppression of the level of water-soluble lead existed during the first 30 days. These results indicate that compost containing an inorganic component of 50% or more with high phosphorus content is suitable for immobilizing lead; however, in the case where low precipitation is expected for a month, AMC containing 25% inorganic component could be used to both immobilize lead and restore microbial activity.
Preoperative Biliary Drainage in Cases of Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery
Authors: Tsuboi Tomofumi , Sasaki Tamito , Serikawa Masahiro , Ishii Yasutaka , Mouri Teruo , Shimizu Akinori , Kurihara Keisuke , Tatsukawa Yumiko , Miyaki Eisuke , Kawamura Ryota , Tsushima Ken , Murakami Yoshiaki , Uemura Kenichiro , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: January 2016

Objective. To elucidate the optimum preoperative biliary drainage method for patients with pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Material and Methods. From January 2010 through December 2014, 20 patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer underwent preoperative biliary drainage and NAC with a plastic or metallic stent and received NAC at Hiroshima University Hospital. We retrospectively analyzed delayed NAC and complication rates due to biliary drainage, effect of stent type on perioperative factors, and hospitalization costs from diagnosis to surgery.Results. There were 11 cases of preoperative biliary drainage with plastic stents and nine metallic stents. The median age was 64.5 years; delayed NAC occurred in 9 cases with plastic stent and 1 case with metallic stent (p=0.01). The complication rates due to biliary drainage were 0% (0/9) with metallic stents and 72.7% (8/11) with plastic stents (p=0.01). Cumulative rates of complications determined with the Kaplan-Meier method on day 90 were 60% with plastic stents and 0% with metallic stents (log-rank test,p=0.012). There were no significant differences between group in perioperative factors or hospitalization costs from diagnosis to surgery.Conclusions. Metallic stent implantation may be effective for preoperative biliary drainage for pancreatic cancer treated with NAC.
Decoupled Multicamera Sensing for Flexible View Generation
Authors: Singh Vivek K. , Fernandes Danny , Kankanhalli Mohan , Haenselmann Thomas
Published: January 2016

Any sensing paradigm has three important components, namely, theactor, thesensor, and theenvironment. Traditionally, the sensors have been attached to either the actor or the environment. This restricts the kind of sensing that can be undertaken. We study a newer decoupled sensing paradigm, which separates the sensors from both the actor and the environment and tremendously increases the flexibility with which the scenes can be viewed. For example, instead of showing just one view, “how the environment sees the actor” or “how the actor sees the environment,” a viewer can choose to see either one or both of these views and even choose to see the scene from any desired position in any desired direction. We describe a methodology using mobile autonomous sensors to undertake such decoupled sensing and study the feasible number as well as the placement of such sensors. Also, we describe how the sensors can coordinate their movements around a moving actor so as to continue capturing the required views with minimum overall cost. The practical results obtained demonstrate the viability of the proposed approach.
Australian Pregnant Women’s Awareness of Gestational Weight Gain and Dietary Guidelines: Opportunity for Action
Authors: Bookari Khlood , Yeatman Heather , Williamson Moira
Published: January 2016

Background. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) can negatively impact on maternal and foetal health. Guidelines based on Institute of Medicine (IOM) encourage managing GWG by following healthy eating recommendations and increasing physical activity. This study investigated pregnant women’s knowledge of their optimal GWG and recommended dietary approaches for GWG management.Method. English-speaking pregnant women were recruited from five hospitals in New South Wales (Australia) and an online link. Prepregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and prepregnancy weight. Participants identified their recommended GWG. A survey assessed practical dietary knowledge and asked about broad dietary recommendations to prevent excessive GWG. Chi square and logistic regression analyses were used.Results.N=326pregnant women completed the surveys; 49% entered pregnancy overweight (25.2%) or obese (23.6%); and knowledge of recommended GWG was lacking. Prepregnancy BMI was a significant predictor of GWG recommendation knowledge (P<0.000). Pregnant women were highly knowledgeable about broad dietary recommendations but had poor knowledge of detailed recommendations.Conclusions. Limited knowledge of IOM’s GWG guidelines and of specific dietary recommendations for pregnancy should be addressed by health care providers and education initiatives to assist the high number of women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese.
In Vitro Expansion of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alters DNA Double Strand Break Repair of Etoposide Induced DNA Damage
Authors: Hare Ian , Gencheva Marieta , Evans Rebecca , Fortney James , Piktel Debbie , Vos Jeffrey A. , Howell David , Gibson Laura F.
Published: January 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of interest for use in diverse cellular therapies. Ex vivo expansion of MSCs intended for transplantation must result in generation of cells that maintain fidelity of critical functions. Previous investigations have identified genetic and phenotypic alterations of MSCs with in vitro passage, but little is known regarding how culturing influences the ability of MSCs to repair double strand DNA breaks (DSBs), the most severe of DNA lesions. To investigate the response to DSB stress with passage in vitro, primary human MSCs were exposed to etoposide (VP16) at various passages with subsequent evaluation of cellular damage responses and DNA repair. Passage number did not affect susceptibility to VP16 or the incidence and repair kinetics of DSBs. Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) transcripts showed little alteration with VP16 exposure or passage; however, homologous recombination (HR) transcripts were reduced following VP16 exposure with this decrease amplified as MSCs were passaged in vitro. Functional evaluations of NHEJ and HR showed that MSCs were unable to activate NHEJ repair following VP16 stress in cells after successive passage. These results indicate that ex vivo expansion of MSCs alters their ability to perform DSB repair, a necessary function for cells intended for transplantation.
Endogenous and Synthetic Cannabinoids as Therapeutics in Retinal Disease
Authors: Kokona Despina , Georgiou Panagiota-Christina , Kounenidakis Mihalis , Kiagiadaki Foteini , Thermos Kyriaki
Published: January 2016

The functional significance of cannabinoids in ocular physiology and disease has been reported some decades ago. In the early 1970s, subjects who smokedCannabis sativadeveloped lower intraocular pressure (IOP). This led to the isolation of phytocannabinoids from this plant and the study of their therapeutic effects in glaucoma. The main treatment of this disease to date involves the administration of drugs mediating either the decrease of aqueous humour synthesis or the increase of its outflow and thus reduces IOP. However, the reduction of IOP is not sufficient to prevent visual field loss. Retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, have been defined as neurodegenerative diseases and characterized by ischemia-induced excitotoxicity and loss of retinal neurons. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies must be applied in order to target retinal cell death, reduction of visual acuity, and blindness. The aim of the present review is to address the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in retinal disease.
Understanding Power Spectrum Density Transmissibility
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhu Tong , Zhou Jing
Published: January 2016

Power spectrum density transmissibility (PSDT) is a type of complex frequency domain function proposed recently. It describes the relation between cross-spectra of system outputs. Since PSDTs with same local-reference degree of freedom (DOF) combination but with different transferring output DOFs cross each other at the system’s poles under certain load condition, the functions have been used as the primary data in operational modal analysis (OMA) to extract modal parameters, and such technique is named as PSDT-based OMA (PSDTOMA). Because PSDT is a concept that appears recently, researches on which, especially, in-depth discussions aim at the essence and properties of PSDT are very rare. For appropriate application of PSDTOMA, it is necessary to perform further study on such problem obviously. In this paper, two paths to get PSDT, which, respectively, are referred to as PSDT estimator and PSDT syntheticism, are given firstly; some properties about PSDT are explored based on the PSDT syntheticism, and the relation between PSDT and single reference transmissibility function (STF) is analyzed. Finally, the above conclusions are verified with numerical values and experimental data.
Linear Programming Problem with Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Coefficients and an Interpretation for Its Constraints
Authors: Srinivasan A. , Geetharamani G.
Published: January 2016

Interval type 2 fuzzy numbers are a special kind of type 2 fuzzy numbers. These numbers can be described by triangular and trapezoidal shapes. In this paper, first, perfectly normal interval type 2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers with their left-hand and right-hand spreads and their core have been introduced, which are normal and convex; then a new type of fuzzy arithmetic operations for perfectly normal interval type 2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers has been proposed based on the extension principle of normal type 1 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Moreover, in this proposal, linear programming problems with resources and technology coefficients are perfectly normal interval type 2 fuzzy numbers. To solve this kind of fuzzy linear programming problems, a method based on the degree of satisfaction (or possibility degree) of the constraints has been introduced. In this method the fulfillment of the constraints can be measured with the help of ranking method of fuzzy numbers. Optimal solution is obtained at different degree of satisfaction by using Barnes algorithm with the help of MATLAB. Finally, the optimal solution procedure is illustrated with numerical example.
Puerarin Improves Diabetic Aorta Injury by Inhibiting NADPH Oxidase-Derived Oxidative Stress in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Li Wenping , Zhao Wenwen , Wu Qin , Lu Yuanfu , Shi Jingshan , Chen Xiuping
Published: January 2016

Objective.Puerarin is a natural flavonoid isolated from the TCM lobed kudzuvine root. This study investigated the effect and mechanisms of puerarin on diabetic aorta in rats.Methods.Streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats were administered with puerarin for 3 weeks. Levels of serum insulin (INS), PGE2, endothelin (ET), glycated hemoglobin (GHb), H2O2, and nitric oxide (NO) in rats were measured by ELISA and colorimetric assay kits. The aortas were stained with H&E. Moreover, the mRNA expression of ICAM-1, LOX-1, NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), and NOX4 and the protein expression of ICAM-1, LOX-1, NF-κB p65, E-selectin, NOX2, and NOX4 in aorta tissues were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The localization of ICAM-1, NF-κB p65, NOX2, and NOX4 in the aorta tissues was also determined through immunohistochemistry.Results.Puerarin treatment exerted no effect on fasting blood glucose levels but significantly reduced the serum levels of INS, GHb, PGE2, ET, H2O2, and NO. In addition, puerarin improved the pathological alterations and inhibited the expression of ICAM-1, LOX-1, NOX2, and NOX4 at both mRNA and protein levels. Puerarin also significantly reduced the number of cells showing positive staining for ICAM-1, NOX2, NOX4, and NF-κB p65.Conclusion.Puerarin demonstrated protective effect on the STZ-induced diabetic rat aorta. The protective mechanisms may include regulation of NF-κB and inhibition of NOX2 and NOX4 followed by inhibition of cell adhesion molecule expression.