bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction between a Quasi-Geostrophic Buoyancy Filament and a Heton
Authors: Reinaud Jean N. , Carton Xavier , Dritschel David G.
Published: July 2017

We investigate the interaction between a heton and a current generated by a filament of buoyancy anomaly at the surface. Hetons are baroclinic dipoles consisting of a pair of vortices of opposite signs lying at different depths. Such structures have self-induced motion whenever the pair of vortices are offset horizontally. A surface buoyancy filament generates a shear flow since the density perturbation locally modifies the pressure field. The vertical shear induced by the filament offsets the vortices of the heton if vertically aligned initially. Moreover, if the vortex nearer the surface is in adverse horizontal shear with the buoyancy filament, the heton tends to move towards the filament. Conversely, if the upper vortex is in cooperative horizontal shear with the buoyancy filament, the heton moves away from it. The filament is also naturally unstable and eventually breaks into a series of billows as it is perturbed by the heton. Moderate to large intensity surface buoyancy distributions separate the vortices of the heton, limiting its advection as a baroclinic dipole. Instead, the vortices of the heton start to interact strongly with surface billows. Additionally, the vortices of the heton can be partially destroyed by the filament if the shear it induces is sufficiently large.
A 10-Year Follow-Up Study of Social Ties and Functional Health among the Old: The AGES Project
Authors: Murata Chiyoe , Saito Tami , Tsuji Taishi , Saito Masashige , Kondo Katsunori
Published: July 2017

In Asian nations, family ties are considered important. However, it is not clear what happens among older people with no such ties. To investigate the association, we used longitudinal data from the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) project. Functionally independent older people at baseline (N = 14,088) in 10 municipalities were followed from 2003 to 2013. Social ties were assessed by asking about their social support exchange with family, relatives, friends, or neighbors. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to investigate the association between social ties and the onset of functional disability adjusting for age, health status, and living arrangement. We found that social ties with co-residing family members, and those with friends or neighbors, independently protected functional health with hazard ratios of 0.81 and 0.85 among men. Among women, ties with friend or neighbors had a stronger effect on health compared to their male counterparts with a hazard ratio of 0.89. The fact that social ties with friends or neighbors are associated with a lower risk of functional decline, independent of family support, serves to underscore the importance of promoting social ties, especially among those lacking family ties.
Plant Lectins as Medical Tools against Digestive System Cancers
Authors: Estrada-Martínez Laura , Moreno-Celis Ulisses , Cervantes-Jiménez Ricardo , Ferriz-Martínez Roberto , Blanco-Labra Alejandro , García-Gasca Teresa
Published: July 2017

Digestive system cancers—those of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon-rectum, liver, and pancreas—are highly related to genetics and lifestyle. Most are considered highly mortal due to the frequency of late diagnosis, usually in advanced stages, caused by the absence of symptoms or masked by other pathologies. Different tools are being investigated in the search of a more precise diagnosis and treatment. Plant lectins have been studied because of their ability to recognize and bind to carbohydrates, exerting a variety of biological activities on animal cells, including anticancer activities. The present report integrates existing information on the activity of plant lectins on various types of digestive system cancers, and surveys the current state of research into their properties for diagnosis and selective treatment.
Theranostic Liposome–Nanoparticle Hybrids for Drug Delivery and Bioimaging
Authors: Seleci Muharrem , Ag Seleci Didem , Scheper Thomas , Stahl Frank
Published: July 2017

Advanced theranostic nanomedicine is a multifunctional approach which combines the diagnosis and effective therapy of diseased tissues. Here, we investigated the preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of theranostic liposomes. As is known, liposome–quantum dot (L–QD) hybrid vesicles are promising nanoconstructs for cell imaging and liposomal-topotecan (L-TPT) enhances the efficiency of TPT by providing protection against systemic clearance and allowing extended time for it to accumulate in tumors. In the present study, hydrophobic CdSe/ZnS QD and TPT were located in the bilayer membrane and inner core of liposomes, respectively. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ζ) measurements and fluorescence/absorption spectroscopy were performed to determine the vesicle size, charge and spectroscopic properties of the liposomes. Moreover, drug release was studied under neutral and acidic pH conditions. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis were used to examine the cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of the TPT-loaded L–QD formulation. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was utilized to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of the formulations on HeLa cells. According to the results, the TPT-loaded L–QD hybrid has adequate physicochemical properties and is a promising multifunctional delivery vehicle which is capable of a simultaneous co-delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents.
Mechanism Investigation of Rifampicin-Induced Liver Injury Using Comparative Toxicoproteomics in Mice
Authors: Kim Ju-Hyun , Nam Woong , Kim Sun , Kwon Oh , Seung Eun , Jo Jung , Shresha Riya , Lee Tae , Jeon Tae , Ki Sung , Lee Hye , Lee Sangkyu
Published: July 2017

Tuberculosis is one of the top causes of death among curable infectious diseases; it is an airborne infectious disease that killed 1.1 million people worldwide in 2010. Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury is the primary cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Rifampicin is one of the most common anti-tuberculosis therapies and has well-known hepatotoxicity. To understand the mechanism of rifampicin-induced liver injury, we performed a global proteomic analysis of liver proteins by LC-MS/MS in a mouse model after the oral administration of 177 and 442.5 mg/kg rifampicin (LD10 and LD25) for 14 days. Based on the biochemical parameters in the plasma after rifampicin treatment, the hepatotoxic effect of rifampicin in the mouse liver was defined as a mixed liver injury. In the present study, we identified 1101 proteins and quantified 1038 proteins. A total of 29 and 40 proteins were up-regulated and 27 and 118 proteins were down-regulated in response to 177 and 442.5 mg/kg rifampicin, respectively. Furthermore, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses to characterize the mechanism of rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity. In the molecular function category, glutathione transferase activity was up-regulated and proteins related to arachidonic acid metabolism were down-regulated. In the KEGG pathway enrichment-based clustering analysis, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) signaling pathway, cytochrome P450, glutathione metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, and related proteins increased dose-dependently in rifampicin-treated livers. Taken together, this study showed in-depth molecular mechanism of rifampicin-induced liver injury by comparative toxicoproteomics approach.
A Finger Exoskeleton Robot for Finger Movement Rehabilitation
Authors: Hsu Tzu-Heng , Chiang Yen-Cheng , Chan Wei-Tun , Chen Shih-Jui
Published: July 2017

In this study, a finger exoskeleton robot has been designed and presented. The prototype device was designed to be worn on the dorsal side of the hand to assist in the movement and rehabilitation of the fingers. The finger exoskeleton is 3D-printed to be low-cost and has a transmission mechanism consisting of rigid serial links which is actuated by a stepper motor. The actuation of the robotic finger is by a sliding motion and mimics the movement of the human finger. To make it possible for the patient to use the rehabilitation device anywhere and anytime, an Arduino™ control board and a speech recognition board were used to allow voice control. As the robotic finger follows the patients voice commands the actual motion is analyzed by Tracker image analysis software. The finger exoskeleton is designed to flex and extend the fingers, and has a rotation range of motion (ROM) of 44.2°.
The Impact of Metal Ion Exposure on the Cellular Behavior of Human Osteoblasts and PBMCs: In Vitro Analyses of Osteolytic Processes
Authors: Jonitz-Heincke Anika , Tillmann Jenny , Klinder Annett , Krueger Simone , Kretzer Jan , Høl Paul , Paulus Alexander , Bader Rainer
Published: July 2017

Osteolysis in the periprosthetic tissue can be caused by metallic wear particles and ions that can originate from implant surface corrosion. These products influence cellular behavior and stimulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of CoCr29Mo6 ions on cell survival, differentiation, and cytokine expression in human osteoblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Thus, we exposed cells with a mixture of 200 µg/L ion solution and determined cell viability and apoptosis/necrosis. Gene expression analyses of osteoblastic and osteoclastic differentiation markers as well as pro-osteolytic mediators (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP1, TIMP1) were performed. These markers were also investigated in mixed cultures of adherent and non-adherent PBMCs as well as in co-cultures of human osteoblasts and PBMCs. The ion solution induced necrosis in osteoblasts and PBMCs in single cultures. All examined mediators were highly expressed in the co-culture of osteoblasts and PBMCs whereas in the single cell cultures only IL-6, IL-8, and MMP1 were found to be stimulated. While the applied concentration of the CoCr29Mo6 ion solutions had only marginal effects on human osteoblasts and PBMCs alone, the co-culture may provide a comprehensive model to study osteolytic processes in response to Co and Cr ions.
Finite Element Analysis of Interfacial Debonding in Copper/Diamond Composites for Thermal Management Applications
Authors: Zain-ul-abdein Muhammad , Ijaz Hassan , Saleem Waqas , Raza Kabeer , Mahfouz Abdullah Salmeen Bin , Mabrouki Tarek
Published: July 2017

Copper/diamond (Cu/D) composites are famous in thermal management applications for their high thermal conductivity values. They, however, offer some interface related problems like high thermal boundary resistance and excessive debonding. This paper investigates interfacial debonding in Cu/D composites subjected to steady-state and transient thermal cyclic loading. A micro-scale finite element (FE) model was developed from a SEM image of the Cu/20 vol % D composite sample. Several test cases were assumed with respect to the direction of heat flow and the boundary interactions between Cu/uncoated diamonds and Cu/Cr-coated diamonds. It was observed that the debonding behavior varied as a result of the differences in the coefficients of thermal expansions (CTEs) among Cu, diamond, and Cr. Moreover, the separation of interfaces had a direct influence upon the equivalent stress state of the Cu-matrix, since diamond particles only deformed elastically. It was revealed through a fully coupled thermo-mechanical FE analysis that repeated heating and cooling cycles resulted in an extremely high stress state within the Cu-matrix along the diamond interface. Since these stresses lead to interfacial debonding, their computation through numerical means may help in determining the service life of heat sinks for a given application beforehand.
In Vitro Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Response to Ionic Dissolution Products from Lithium-Containing 45S5 Bioactive Glass
Authors: Haro Durand Luis , Vargas Gabriela , Vera-Mesones Rosa , Baldi Alberto , Zago María , Fanovich María , Boccaccini Aldo , Gorustovich Alejandro
Published: July 2017

Since lithium (Li+) plays roles in angiogenesis, the localized and controlled release of Li+ ions from bioactive glasses (BGs) represents a promising alternative therapy for the regeneration and repair of tissues with a high degree of vascularization. Here, microparticles from a base 45S5 BG composition containing (wt %) 45% SiO2, 24.5% Na2O, 24.5% CaO, and 6% P2O5, in which Na2O was partially substituted by 5% Li2O (45S5.5Li), were obtained. The results demonstrate that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) have greater migratory and proliferative response and ability to form tubules in vitro after stimulation with the ionic dissolution products (IDPs) of the 45S5.5Li BG. The results also show the activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the increase in expression of proangiogenic cytokines insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). We conclude that the IDPs of 45S5.5Li BG would act as useful inorganic agents to improve tissue repair and regeneration, ultimately stimulating HUVECs behavior in the absence of exogenous growth factors.
Carbon Coated Boron Nitride Nanosheets for Polymer Nanocomposites with Enhanced Dielectric Performance
Authors: Yang Minhao , Zhao Hang , He Delong , Hu Chaohe , Chen Haowei , Bai Jinbo
Published: July 2017

Carbon coated boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs@C) hybrids with different carbon contents were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The content of carbon in as-obtained BNNSs@C hybrids could be precisely adjusted from 2.50% to 22.62% by controlling the carbon deposition time during the CVD procedure. Afterward, the BNNSs@C hybrids were subsequently incorporated into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix to fabricate the BNNSs@C/PVDF nanocomposites through a combination of solution and melting blending methods. The dielectric properties of the as-obtained BNNSs@C/PVDF nanocomposites could be accurately tuned by adjusting the carbon content. The resultant nanocomposites could afford a high dielectric constant about 39 (103 Hz) at BNNSs@C hybrids loading of 30 vol %, which is 4.8 times larger than that of pristine BNNSs-filled ones at the same filler loading, and 3.5 times higher than that of pure PVDF matrix. The largely enhanced dielectric performance could be ascribed to the improved interfacial polarizations of BNNSs/carbon and carbon/PVDF interfaces. The approach reported here offers an effective and alternative method to fabricate high-performance dielectric nanocomposites, which could be potentially applied to the embedded capacitors with high dielectric performance.
Investigation of Rapid Low-Power Microwave-Induction Heating Scheme on the Cross-Linking Process of the Poly(4-vinylphenol) for the Gate Insulator of Pentacene-Based Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Fan Ching-Lin , Shang Ming-Chi , Wang Shea-Jue , Hsia Mao-Yuan , Lee Win-Der , Huang Bohr-Ran
Published: July 2017

In this study, a proposed Microwave-Induction Heating (MIH) scheme has been systematically studied to acquire suitable MIH parameters including chamber pressure, microwave power and heating time. The proposed MIH means that the thin indium tin oxide (ITO) metal below the Poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) film is heated rapidly by microwave irradiation and the heated ITO metal gate can heat the PVP gate insulator, resulting in PVP cross-linking. It is found that the attenuation of the microwave energy decreases with the decreasing chamber pressure. The optimal conditions are a power of 50 W, a heating time of 5 min, and a chamber pressure of 20 mTorr. When suitable MIH parameters were used, the effect of PVP cross-linking and the device performance were similar to those obtained using traditional oven heating, even though the cross-linking time was significantly decreased from 1 h to 5 min. Besides the gate leakage current, the interface trap state density (Nit) was also calculated to describe the interface status between the gate insulator and the active layer. The lowest interface trap state density can be found in the device with the PVP gate insulator cross-linked by using the optimal MIH condition. Therefore, it is believed that the MIH scheme is a good candidate to cross-link the PVP gate insulator for organic thin-film transistor applications as a result of its features of rapid heating (5 min) and low-power microwave-irradiation (50 W).
Influence of Texture on Impact Toughness of Ferritic Fe-20Cr-5Al Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steel
Authors: Sánchez-Gutiérrez Javier , Chao Jesus , Vivas Javier , Galvez Francisco , Capdevila Carlos
Published: July 2017

Fe-based oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are oriented to applications where high operating temperatures and good corrosion resistance is paramount. However, their use is compromised by their fracture toughness, which is lower than other competing ferritic-martenstic steels. In addition, the route required in manufacturing these alloys generates texture in the material, which induces a strong anisotropy in properties. The V-notched Charpy tests carried out on these alloys, to evaluate their impact toughness, reveal that delaminations do not follow the path that would be expected. There are many hypotheses about what triggers these delaminations, but the most accepted is that the joint action of particles in the grain boundaries, texture induced in the manufacturing process, and the actual microstructure of these alloys are responsible. In this paper we focused on the actual role of crystallographic texture on impact toughness in these materials. A finite elements simulation is carried out to solely analyze the role of texture and eliminate other factors, such as grain boundaries and the dispersed particles. The work allows us to conclude that crystallographic texture plays an important role in the distribution of stresses in the Charpy specimens. The observed delaminations might be explained on the basis that the crack in the grain, causing the delamination, is directly related to the shear stresses τ12 on both sides of the grain boundary, while the main crack propagation is a consequence of the normal stress to the crack.
A Review on Ethno-Medicinal and Pharmacological Activities of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre
Authors: Olorunnisola Olubukola , Fadahunsi Olumide , Adegbola Peter
Published: July 2017

Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre is a member of a diverse family of plants known as Menispermaceae. They are famous for a plethora of important biological functions. S. jollyanum is a shrub native to the tropical forest zones of West Africa and thrives in deep shade. It is widely cultivated in Cameroun, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. S. jollyanum is employed in folk medicine as a cure for wounds, fever, coughs, high blood pressure, breast tumor, constipation, and as an aphrodisiac. Phytochemical investigations revealed that the plant is a rich source of secondary metabolites such as annin, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids. Pharmacological activities include anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-malarial, angiogenic, and anxiogenic. Thus, this present review summarizes the phytochemical and nutritional constituents and important biological studies on various crude extracts, fractions, and isolated principles of all morphological organs of S. jollyanum.
Chocolate Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Yuan Sheng , Li Xia , Jin Yalei , Lu Jinping
Published: July 2017

Although epidemiological studies have examined the role of chocolate in preventing cardiometabolic disease, the results remain inconsistent. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis of prospective studies to determine the association between chocolate intake and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and diabetes. A systematical search in PubMed and Embase through March 2017, together with reference scrutiny of relevant literatures, was performed to identify eligible studies. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random effect models. Fourteen prospective studies of primary prevention with 508,705 participants were finally included, with follow-up durations ranging from 5 to 16 years. The summary RRs for the highest versus lowest chocolate consumption were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82–0.97; n = 6) for CHD, 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78–0.90; n = 7) for stroke, and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70–0.96; n = 5) for diabetes. Dose–response meta-analysis suggested a nonlinear association of chocolate consumption with all outcomes. For both CHD and stroke, there was little additional risk reduction when consuming chocolate ≥3 servings/week (one serving was defined as 30 g of chocolate). For diabetes, the peak protective effect of chocolate emerged at 2 servings/week (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63–0.89), with no benefit observed when increasing consumption above 6 servings/week. In conclusion, chocolate intake is associated with decreased risks of CHD, stroke, and diabetes. Consuming chocolate in moderation (≤6 servings/week) may be optimal for preventing these disorders.
High Consumption of Iron Exacerbates Hyperlipidemia, Atherosclerosis, and Female Sterility in Zebrafish via Acceleration of Glycation and Degradation of Serum Lipoproteins
Authors: Kim So-Hee , Yadav Dhananjay , Kim Suk-Jeong , Kim Jae-Ryong , Cho Kyung‐Hyun
Published: July 2017

Elevated serum iron level is linked with an increased risk of diabetes and atherosclerosis. However, the pathological mechanism by which iron affects serum lipoprotein levels is unknown. To elucidate the mechanism, a high dose of ferrous ion was applied (final 60 µM, 120 µM) to human serum lipoproteins, macrophages, and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells. Iron-treated lipoproteins showed loss of antioxidant ability along with protein degradation and multimerization, especially co-treatment with fructose (final 10 mM). In the presence of fructose, HDF cells showed 3.5-fold more severe cellular senescence, as compared to the control, dependent on the dosage of fructose. In macrophages, phagocytosis of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL) was more accelerated by ferrous ion, occurring at a rate that was up to 1.8-fold higher, than acLDL alone. After 24 weeks supplementation with 0.05% and 0.1% ferrous ion in the diet (wt/wt), serum total cholesterol (TC) level was elevated 3.7- and 2.1-fold, respectively, under normal diet (ND). Serum triglyceride (TG) was elevated 1.4- and 1.7-fold, respectively, under ND upon 0.05% and 0.1% ferrous ion supplementation. Serum glucose level was elevated 2.4- and 1.2-fold under ND and high cholesterol diet (HCD), respectively. However, body weight was decreased by the Fe2+ consumption. Iron consumption caused severe reduction of embryo laying and reproduction ability, especially in female zebrafish via impairment of follicular development. In conclusion, ferrous ion treatment caused more pro-atherogenic, and pro-senescence processes in human macrophages and dermal cells. High consumption of iron exacerbated hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia as well as induced fatty liver changes and sterility along with reduction of female fertility.
Effects of Carbohydrate and Glutamine Supplementation on Oral Mucosa Immunity after Strenuous Exercise at High Altitude: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial
Authors: Caris Aline , Da Silva Edgar , Dos Santos Samile , Tufik Sergio , Dos Santos Ronaldo
Published: July 2017

This study analyzed the effects of carbohydrate and glutamine supplementation on salivary immunity after exercise at a simulated altitude of 4500 m. Fifteen volunteers performed exercise of 70% of VO2peak until exhaustion and were divided into three groups: hypoxia placebo, hypoxia 8% maltodextrin (200 mL/20 min), and hypoxia after six days glutamine (20 g/day) and 8% maltodextrin (200 mL/20 min). All procedures were randomized and double-blind. Saliva was collected at rest (basal), before exercise (pre-exercise), immediately after exercise (post-exercise), and two hours after exercise. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures and Tukey post hoc test were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. SaO2% reduced when comparing baseline vs. pre-exercise, post-exercise, and after recovery for all three groups. There was also a reduction of SaO2% in pre-exercise vs. post-exercise for the hypoxia group and an increase was observed in pre-exercise vs. recovery for both supplementation groups, and between post-exercise and for the three groups studied. There was an increase of salivary flow in post-exercise vs. recovery in Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) decreased from baseline vs. post-exercise for Hypoxia + Glutamine group. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) increased from post-exercise vs. after recovery in Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Reduction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was observed from baseline vs. post-exercise and after recovery for the Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group; a lower concentration was observed in pre-exercise vs. post-exercise and recovery. TNF-α had a reduction from baseline vs. post-exercise for both supplementation groups, and a lower secretion between baseline vs. recovery, and pre-exercise vs. post-exercise for Hypoxia + Carbohydrate group. Five hours of hypoxia and exercise did not change IgA. Carbohydrates, with greater efficiency than glutamine, induced anti-inflammatory responses.
Effect of Polymers on the Physicochemical Properties and Biological Performance of Fenoprofen Calcium Dihydrate-Triacetyl-β-Cyclodextrin Complex
Authors: Ammar Hussein , Makram Tarek , Mosallam Shaimaa
Published: July 2017

Background: Fenoprofen calcium dehydrate (FCD) is counted as a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic drug. FCD is slightly water soluble. It is indicated for mild pain relief, where the suggested dosage is 200 mg orally every 4 to 6 h. Aim: Reduce dissolution efficiency, reach an extended therapeutic effect and reduce the frequency of the drug side effects. Method: Combination of the co-evaporated drug:triacetyl-β-cyclodextrin complex prepared in a ratio of 1:3 and either of two polymers—hydroxylpropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) or ethyl cellulose (EC)—in the same formulation. In vitro dissolution studies were carried in simulated gastric (pH 1.2) and intestinal (pH 6.8) fluids, by using the USP dissolution tester (rotating paddle apparatus). The FCD in vitro release from EC/drug complex was markedly retarded. Interaction between fenoprofen, TA-β-CD, EC, HPMC in the solid state were confirmed by FT-IR, DSC, XRD and SEM. In vivo studies assessed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and the results were compared with the market product Nalfosab® Capsules. Results: Remarkable inhibition of inflammation and nociception after 24 h was attained for EC/drug complex. Conclusions: EC/drug complex has a sustained effect due to high remaining amount after elapsing with remarkable inhibition of inflammation.
On the Use of Multivariate Methods for Analysis of Data from Biological Networks
Authors: Vargason Troy , Howsmon Daniel , McGuinness Deborah , Hahn Juergen
Published: July 2017

Data analysis used for biomedical research, particularly analysis involving metabolic or signaling pathways, is often based upon univariate statistical analysis. One common approach is to compute means and standard deviations individually for each variable or to determine where each variable falls between upper and lower bounds. Additionally, p-values are often computed to determine if there are differences between data taken from two groups. However, these approaches ignore that the collected data are often correlated in some form, which may be due to these measurements describing quantities that are connected by biological networks. Multivariate analysis approaches are more appropriate in these scenarios, as they can detect differences in datasets that the traditional univariate approaches may miss. This work presents three case studies that involve data from clinical studies of autism spectrum disorder that illustrate the need for and demonstrate the potential impact of multivariate analysis.
Reconstructing Historical Land Cover Type and Complexity by Synergistic Use of Landsat Multispectral Scanner and CORONA
Authors: Shahtahmassebi Amir Reza , Lin Yue , Lin Lin , Atkinson Peter M. , Moore Nathan , Wang Ke , He Shan , Huang Lingyan , Wu Jiexia , Shen Zhangquan , Gan Muye , Zheng Xinyu , Su Yue , Teng Hongfen , Li Xiaoyan , Deng Jinsong , Sun Yuanyuan , Zhao Mengzhu
Published: July 2017

Survey data describing land cover information such as type and diversity over several decades are scarce. Therefore, our capacity to reconstruct historical land cover using field data and archived remotely sensed data over large areas and long periods of time is somewhat limited. This study explores the relationship between CORONA texture—a surrogate for actual land cover type and complexity—with spectral vegetation indices and texture variables derived from Landsat MSS under the Spectral Variation Hypothesis (SVH) such as to reconstruct historical continuous land cover type and complexity. Image texture of CORONA was calculated using a mean occurrence measure while image textures of Landsat MSS were calculated by occurrence and co-occurrence measures. The relationship between these variables was evaluated using correlation and regression techniques. The reconstruction procedure was undertaken through regression kriging. The results showed that, as expected, texture based on the visible bands and corresponding indices indicated larger correlation with CORONA texture, a surrogate of land cover (correlation >0.65). In terms of prediction, the combination of the first-order mean of band green, second-order measure of tasseled cap brightness, second-order mean of Normalized Visible Index (NVI) and second-order entropy of NIR yielded the best model with respect to Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC), r-square, and variance inflation factors (VIF). The regression model was then used in regression kriging to map historical continuous land cover. The resultant maps indicated the type and degree of complexity in land cover. Moreover, the proposed methodology minimized the impacts of topographic shadow in the region. The performance of this approach was compared with two conventional classification methods: hard classifiers and continuous classifiers. In contrast to conventional techniques, the technique could clearly quantify land cover complexity and type. Future applications of CORONA datasets such as this one could include: improved quality of CORONA imagery, studies of the CORONA texture measures for extracting ecological parameters (e.g., species distributions), change detection and super resolution mapping using CORONA and Landsat MSS.
Detection of Quinoline in G. boninense-Infected Plants Using Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: A Field Study
Authors: Akanbi Fowotade , Yusof Nor , Abdullah Jaafar , Sulaiman Yusran , Hushiarian Roozbeh
Published: July 2017

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and chitosan nanoparticles (CTSNPs) were anchored on a screen-printed electrode to fabricate a multi-walled structure for the detection of quinoline. The surface morphology of the nanocomposites and the modified electrode was examined by an ultra-high resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of specific functional groups on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) were used to monitor the layer-by-layer assembly of ultra-thin films of nanocomposites on the surface of the electrode and other electrochemical characterizations. Under optimized conditions, the novel sensor displayed outstanding electrochemical reactivity towards the electro-oxidation of quinoline. The linear range was fixed between 0.0004 and 1.0 μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.75 nM. The fabricated electrode exhibited high stability with excellent sensitivity and selectivity, specifically attributable to the salient characteristics of AuNPs, CTSNPs, and MWCNTs and the synergistic inter-relationship between them. The newly developed electrode was tested in the field. The Ipa increased with an increase in the amount of quinoline solution added, and the peak potential deviated minimally, depicting the real capability of the newly fabricated electrode.
Development of a PrGO-Modified Electrode for Uric Acid Determination in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid by an Electrochemical Technique
Authors: Tukimin Nurulkhalilah , Abdullah Jaafar , Sulaiman Yusran
Published: July 2017

An attractive electrochemical sensor of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/reduced graphene oxide electrode (PrGO) was developed for an electrochemical technique for uric acid (UA) detection in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). PrGO composite film showed an improved electrocatalytic activity towards UA oxidation in pH 6.0 (0.1 M PBS). The PrGO composite exhibited a high current signal and low charge transfer resistance (Rct) compared to a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) electrode or a bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The limit of detection and sensitivity of PrGO for the detection of UA are 0.19 μM (S/N = 3) and 0.01 μA/μM, respectively, in the range of 1–300 μM of UA.
In-Situ Real-Time Focus Detection during Laser Processing Using Double-Hole Masks and Advanced Image Sensor Software
Authors: Cao Binh , Hoang Phuong , Ahn Sanghoon , Kim Jeng-o , Kang Heeshin , Noh Jiwhan
Published: July 2017

In modern high-intensity ultrafast laser processing, detecting the focal position of the working laser beam, at which the intensity is the highest and the beam diameter is the lowest, and immediately locating the target sample at that point are challenging tasks. A system that allows in-situ real-time focus determination and fabrication using a high-power laser has been in high demand among both engineers and scientists. Conventional techniques require the complicated mathematical theory of wave optics, employing interference as well as diffraction phenomena to detect the focal position; however, these methods are ineffective and expensive for industrial application. Moreover, these techniques could not perform detection and fabrication simultaneously. In this paper, we propose an optical design capable of detecting the focal point and fabricating complex patterns on a planar sample surface simultaneously. In-situ real-time focus detection is performed using a bandpass filter, which only allows for the detection of laser transmission. The technique enables rapid, non-destructive, and precise detection of the focal point. Furthermore, it is sufficiently simple for application in both science and industry for mass production, and it is expected to contribute to the next generation of laser equipment, which can be used to fabricate micro-patterns with high complexity.
Efficient Depth Enhancement Using a Combination of Color and Depth Information
Authors: Lee Kyungjae  , Ban Yuseok  , Lee Sangyoun 
Published: July 2017

Studies on depth images containing three-dimensional information have been performed for many practical applications. However, the depth images acquired from depth sensors have inherent problems, such as missing values and noisy boundaries. These problems significantly affect the performance of applications that use a depth image as their input. This paper describes a depth enhancement algorithm based on a combination of color and depth information. To fill depth holes and recover object shapes, asynchronous cellular automata with neighborhood distance maps are used. Image segmentation and a weighted linear combination of spatial filtering algorithms are applied to extract object regions and fill disocclusion in the object regions. Experimental results on both real-world and public datasets show that the proposed method enhances the quality of the depth image with low computational complexity, outperforming conventional methods on a number of metrics. Furthermore, to verify the performance of the proposed method, we present stereoscopic images generated by the enhanced depth image to illustrate the improvement in quality.
Acoustic Sensing and Ultrasonic Drug Delivery in Multimodal Theranostic Capsule Endoscopy
Authors: Stewart Fraser , Qiu Yongqiang , Lay Holly , Newton Ian , Cox Benjamin , Al-Rawhani Mohammed , Beeley James , Liu Yangminghao , Huang Zhihong , Cumming David , Näthke Inke , Cochran Sandy
Published: July 2017

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is now a clinically accepted diagnostic modality in which miniaturized technology, an on-board power supply and wireless telemetry stand as technological foundations for other capsule endoscopy (CE) devices. However, VCE does not provide therapeutic functionality, and research towards therapeutic CE (TCE) has been limited. In this paper, a route towards viable TCE is proposed, based on multiple CE devices including important acoustic sensing and drug delivery components. In this approach, an initial multimodal diagnostic device with high-frequency quantitative microultrasound that complements video imaging allows surface and subsurface visualization and computer-assisted diagnosis. Using focused ultrasound (US) to mark sites of pathology with exogenous fluorescent agents permits follow-up with another device to provide therapy. This is based on an US-mediated targeted drug delivery system with fluorescence imaging guidance. An additional device may then be utilized for treatment verification and monitoring, exploiting the minimally invasive nature of CE. While such a theranostic patient pathway for gastrointestinal treatment is presently incomplete, the description in this paper of previous research and work under way to realize further components for the proposed pathway suggests it is feasible and provides a framework around which to structure further work.
Direct Quantification of Cd2+ in the Presence of Cu2+ by a Combination of Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using a Bi-Film-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode and an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Guo , Wang Hui , Liu Gang
Published: July 2017

Abstract: In this study, a novel method based on a Bi/glassy carbon electrode (Bi/GCE) for quantitatively and directly detecting Cd2+ in the presence of Cu2+ without further electrode modifications by combining square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) has been proposed. The influence of the Cu2+ concentration on the stripping response to Cd2+ was studied. In addition, the effect of the ferrocyanide concentration on the SWASV detection of Cd2+ in the presence of Cu2+ was investigated. A BP-ANN with two inputs and one output was used to establish the nonlinear relationship between the concentration of Cd2+ and the stripping peak currents of Cu2+ and Cd2+. The factors affecting the SWASV detection of Cd2+ and the key parameters of the BP-ANN were optimized. Moreover, the direct calibration model (i.e., adding 0.1 mM ferrocyanide before detection), the BP-ANN model and other prediction models were compared to verify the prediction performance of these models in terms of their mean absolute errors (MAEs), root mean square errors (RMSEs) and correlation coefficients. The BP-ANN model exhibited higher prediction accuracy than the direct calibration model and the other prediction models. Finally, the proposed method was used to detect Cd2+ in soil samples with satisfactory results.
Predictions of the Potential Geographical Distribution and Quality of a Gynostemma pentaphyllum Base on the Fuzzy Matter Element Model in China
Authors: Zhao Zefang , Guo Yanlong , Wei Haiyan , Ran Qiao , Gu Wei
Published: July 2017

Specific spatial information about medicinal plants is becoming an increasingly important part of their conservation. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino is a traditional Chinese medical plant, and gypenosides is one of the main active components of G. pentaphyllum. In our research, many samples of G. pentaphyllum and the data of gypenosides content in these samples were collected from 43 sampling sites, and based on the Fuzzy Matter Element model (FME), the relationships between gypenosides content and 19 environmental variables were established. Then, the maximum entropy model was used to determine the relative importance of each environmental variable, and thus determine the most limiting habitat criteria. Finally, the weighted average method was applied to determine the potential distribution of G. pentaphyllum in China, which was based on the content of gypenosides. The results showed that the areas of marginally suitable and suitable habitats for G. pentaphyllum in China were approximately 1.2 × 106 km2 and 0.3 × 106 km2, respectively. The suitable habitats were mainly located in southern China, including Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, and other regions. In conclusion, the FME model could accurately evaluate the habitat suitability of G. pentaphyllum, quantify the area of a suitable habitat, and analyze the spatial distribution.
Fostering Sustainable Urban-Rural Linkages through Local Food Supply: A Transnational Analysis of Collaborative Food Alliances
Authors: Preiss Potira , Charão-Marques Flávia , Wiskerke Johannes
Published: July 2017

The mainstream system of food supply has been heavily criticized in the last years due to its social and environmental impacts. Direct food purchasing schemes have emerged in recent decades as a form of supply that may be more ecologically sound and socially just, while allowing for a closer relationship between producers and consumers. The aim of this article is to show how a specific kind of direct supply, Collaborative Food Alliances, may help to foster sustainable urban–rural linkages. This paper presents, compares and discusses seven different cases, located in five different countries: Movimento de Integração Campo-Cidade (MICC) (Brazil), Canasta Comunitaria Utopía (Ecuador), GAS Testaccio Meticcio and Gasper (Italy), Grupo de Consumo Vera and Grupo de Consumo de Russafa (Spain), and De Groene Schuur at Zeist (The Netherlands). Analysis of the seven cases reveals that, through alliances between consumers and producers, solidarity and sustainable food supply are built. City dwellers benefit from such alliances by receiving organic products on a stable basis and at a fair price, while providing farmers with a stable income.
Macroeconomic Effects of Entrepreneurship from an International Perspective
Authors: Nițu-Antonie Renata , Feder Emőke-Szidónia , Munteanu Valentin
Published: July 2017

At the panel level, formed of 33 European economies based on resource efficiency enhancers or innovation-driven factors, the present study followed causal relationships between the conditions of economic efficiency ensuring framework and different macroeconomic effects of entrepreneurship, mediated by the entrepreneurial behavior, with delays up to five years. Research findings highlighted that a national efficiency enhancing framework acts as stimulant for the entrepreneurial behavior of nascent entrepreneurs and new small and medium-sized business owners, while a superior level of entrepreneurial behavior generates simultaneous and/or medium-term favorable effects on the growth of gross domestic product, exports, imports and employment, therefore assuring, besides immediate growth, sustainable economic and social progress in the analyzed countries. The causal relationships identified are consistent with the results of other empirical studies in the field.
Nonadditive Grey Prediction Using Functional-Link Net for Energy Demand Forecasting
Authors: Hu Yi-Chung
Published: July 2017

Energy demand prediction plays an important role in sustainable development. The GM(1,1) model has drawn our attention to energy demand forecasting because it only needs a few data points to construct a time series model without statistical assumptions. Residual modification is often considered as well to improve the accuracy of predictions. Several residual modification models have been proposed, but they focused on residual sign estimation, whereas the FLNGM(1,1) model using functional-link net (FLN) can estimate the sign as well as the modification range for each predicted residual. However, in the original FLN, an activation function with an inner product assumes that criteria are independent of each other, so additivity might influence the forecasting performance of FLNGM(1,1). Therefore, in this study, we employ the FLN with a fuzzy integral instead of an inner product to propose a nonadditive FLNGM(1,1). Experimental results based on real energy demand cases demonstrate that the proposed grey prediction model performs well compared with other grey residual modification models that use sign estimation and the additive FLNGM(1,1).
A Time-Frequency Domain Underdetermined Blind Source Separation Algorithm for MIMO Radar Signals
Authors: Guo Qiang , Ruan Guoqing , Liao Yanping
Published: July 2017

This paper considers the underdetermined blind separation of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar signals that are insufficiently sparse in both time and frequency domains under noisy conditions, while traditional algorithms are usually applied in the ideal sparse environment. An effective separation method based on single source point (SSP) identification and time-frequency smoothed l 0 norm (TF-SL0) is proposed. Firstly, a preprocessing step of the moving average filter and a novel argument-based time-frequency SSPs detection are employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and signal sparsity of the observed signals, respectively. Then, the mixing matrix is obtained by using clustering algorithms. Secondly, to obtain the optimal solution of underdetermined sparse component analysis, the smoothed l 0 norm (SL0) is introduced to preliminarily achieve signal separation in the time-frequency domain. Finally, time-frequency ridge estimation is proposed to jointly enhance the reconstruction accuracy of the MIMO radar signals, and the time domain waveforms are recovered by the model of the signals. Simulations illustrate the validity of the method and show that the proposed method outperforms the traditional methods in source separation, especially in the non-cooperative electromagnetic case where the prior information is unknown.
Update on Senecavirus Infection in Pigs
Authors: Leme Raquel , Alfieri Alice , Alfieri Amauri
Published: July 2017

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Senecavirus genus within the Picornaviridae family. The virus has been silently circulating in pig herds of the USA since 1988. However, cases of senecavirus-associated vesicular disease were reported in Canada in 2007 and in the USA in 2012. Since late 2014 and early 2015, an increasing number of senecavirus outbreaks have been reported in pigs in different producing categories, with this virus being detected in Brazil, China, and Thailand. Considering the novel available data on senecavirus infection and disease, 2015 may be a divisor in the epidemiology of the virus. Among the aspects that reinforce this hypothesis are the geographical distribution of the virus, the affected pig-producing categories, clinical signs associated with the infection, and disease severity. This review presents the current knowledge regarding the senecavirus infection and disease, especially in the last two years. Senecavirus epidemiology, pathogenic potential, host immunological response, diagnosis, and prophylaxis and control measures are addressed. Perspectives are focused on the need for complete evolutionary, epidemiological and pathogenic data and the capability for an immediate diagnosis of senecavirus infection. The health risks inherent in the swine industry cannot be neglected.
GLOBAL EXISTENCE AND ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF SOLUTIONS FOR THE CAUCHY PROBLEM OF A DISSIPATIVE BOUSSINESQ-TYPE EQUATION
Authors: Esfahani Amin , Mohammadi Hamideh B.
Published: July 2017

We consider the Cauchy problem for a Boussinesq-type equation modeling bidirectional surface waves in a convecting fluid. Under small condition on the initial value, the existence and asymptotic behavior of global solutions in some time weighted spaces are established by the contraction mapping principle.