bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Gliofibroma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gargano Patricia , Zuccaro Graciela , Lubieniecki Fabiana
Published: July 2014

Gliofibroma is a rare tumor with biphasic morphology, commonly occurring in the first two decades of life. Currently, the tumor is not listed as a distinct entity in the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors. As its biological behavior, histogenesis, and prognostic factors are still debated, the aim of this paper was to describe a case of a gliofibroma and to update the data about these lesions. Hence, we present here clinical symptoms, pathological findings, and evolution observed in a child with gliofibroma. A 10-year-old girl with seizures was referred for study. Neuroimaging showed a hemispheric hyperdense tumor with little peritumoral edema and no mass effect. The tumor was totally removed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of a mixture of glial cells and collagen-rich stroma. Immunohistochemical examination revealed positive staining for GFAP, CD 99, S100, and vimentin. EMA staining showed a paranuclear dot pattern in only few cells in isolated areas. These findings of a glial component with collagenous stroma were consistent with a desmoplastic glioma. Because of the rarity of this entity, we believe it is important to report every case in order to adequately analyze and categorize the tumor in the next WHO classification.
Arc‐Discharge Synthesis of Iron Encapsulated in Carbon Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Chaitoglou S. , Sanaee M. Reza , Aguiló-Aguayo N. , Bertran E.
Published: July 2014

The objective of the present work is to improve the protection against the oxidation that usually appears in core@shell nanoparticles. Spherical iron nanoparticles coated with a carbon shell were obtained by a modified arc‐discharge reactor, which permits controlling the diameter of the iron core and the carbon shell of the particles. Oxidized iron nanoparticles involve a loss of the magnetic characteristics and also changes in the chemical properties. Our nanoparticles show superparamagnetic behavior and high magnetic saturation owing to the high purity α‐Fe of core and to the high core sealing, provided by the carbon shell. A liquid iron precursor was injected in the plasma spot dragged by an inert gas flow. A fixed arc‐discharge current of 40 A was used to secure a stable discharge, and several samples were produced at different conditions. Transmission electron microscopy indicated an iron core diameter between 5 and 9 nm. Selected area electron diffraction provided evidences of a highly crystalline and dense iron core. The magnetic properties were studied up to 5 K temperature using a superconducting quantum interference device. The results reveal a superparamagnetic behaviour, a narrow size distribution (σg = 1.22), and an average diameter of 6 nm for nanoparticles having a blocking temperature near 40 K.
On the Solutions of a Stefan Problem with Variable Latent Heat
Authors: Lazhar Bougoffa
Published: July 2014

This paper is concerned with a reliable treatment of the Stephan problem with variable latent heat. The power series solutions have been presented. The method is examined for computational efficiency and accuracy. Also, an analytical solution based on a similarity variable is presented in the case when the Dirichlet boundary condition at the water‐ice interface depends on time.
Visualization of Polypropylene and Polyvinylidene Fluoride Slings in Perineal Ultrasound and Correlation with Clinical Outcome
Authors: Najjari Laila , Hennemann Julia , Kirschner-Hermanns Ruth , Maass Nicolai , Papathemelis Thomas
Published: July 2014

Introduction and Hypothesis.Complications and malfunctioning after TOT can occur due to several factors, such as the material of the sling. The aim of the present study is to evaluate morphology and functionality of two types of slings (PVDF; polypropylene)in vivousing perineal ultrasound (PUS).Materials. Inn=47women with TOT four criteria for PUS were taken and checked for possible differences: vertical stability of the sling position during Valsalva manoeuvre and contraction; distance “sling to urethra”; width of the sling and condition of the selvedges.Results. We observed an increased vertical displacement of the PP-slings, a significantly smaller variance to the extent of the displacement in PVDF-slings (P<0.01), a significantly larger distance between sling and urethra (P<0.001) in PVDF-slings, and a significantly smaller width of the PP-slings (P<0.0001).Conclusion. Significant differences were found between the slings according to the four criteria. There was no difference established between the slings in the improvement of continence and no significant influence of the parameters was found for the resulting state of continence. In future studies, PUS may help to link differences in the morphology and functionality ofin vivoslings to their material properties.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electrical Properties of a New Molybdylarsenate LiNa5K3Mo11As3O45
Authors: Hamza Hamadi , Zid Mohamed Faouzi , Driss Ahmed
Published: July 2014

LiNa5K3Mo11As3O45is a new inorganic compound. It was synthesized by a solid state method. The crystal structure has been studied by single crystal X-ray analysis. TheR-values reached 2.8%. The title compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1, witha= 10.550 (2) Å,b= 11.723 (2) Å,c= 17.469 (3) Å,α= 102.35 (3)°,β= 87.61 (2)°, andγ= 111.03 (3)°. The anionic unit [Mo11As3O45]9−is formed by nine MoO6octahedra, two MoO5trigonal bipyramids, and three AsO4tetrahedra. The association of [Mo11As3O45]9−units, running along [010], leads to a one-dimensional framework. Li, K, and Na are located in the space surrounding the anionic ribbons. This material was characterized by SEM microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The electrical conductivity was investigated from 528 K to 673 K by impedance complex followed by DSC spectroscopy.
On the Odd Prime Solutions of the Diophantine Equationxy+yx=zz
Authors: Deng Yuanyuan , Zhang Wenpeng
Published: July 2014

Using the elementary method and some properties of the least solution of Pell’s equation, we prove that the equationxy+yx=zzhas no positive integer solutions (x,y,z) withxandybeing odd primes.
Genome-Wide Uncovering of STAT3-Mediated miRNA Expression Profiles in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Zhang Jufeng , Luo Xia , Li Huiming , Deng Ling , Wang Ying
Published: July 2014

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies resulting in high mortality worldwide. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an oncogenic transcription factor which is frequently activated and aberrantly expressed in CRC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs which play important roles in many cancers. However, little is known about the global miRNA profiles mediated by STAT3 in CRC cells. In the present study, we applied RNA interference to inhibit STAT3 expression and profiled the miRNA expression levels regulated by STAT3 in CRC cell lines with deep sequencing. We found that 26 and 21 known miRNAs were significantly overexpressed and downexpressed, respectively, in the STAT3-knockdown CRC cell line SW480 (SW480/STAT3-siRNA) compared to SW480 transfected with scrambled siRNAs (SW480/siRNA-control). The miRNA expression profiling was then validated by quantitative real-time PCR for selected known miRNAs. We further predicted the putative target genes for the dysregulated miRNAs and carried out functional annotation including GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis for selected miRNA targets. This study directly depicts STAT3-mediated miRNA profiles in CRC cells, which provides a possible way to discover biomarkers for CRC therapy.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Regulates LPS Induced Inflammation in Rat Macrophages through Autophagy Activation
Authors: Wang Zhong-Hui , Ren Wei-Ying , Zhu Lei , Hu Li-Juan
Published: July 2014

Background. The mechanisms by which plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) regulates inflammation, especially in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are largely unknown.Objective. To assess the relationship between PAI-1 and autophagy in inflammatory reactions induced by LPS in rat NR8383 cells.Methods. ELISA was used to assess the amounts of TNF-α, IL-1β, and PAI-1 in cell culture supernatants; TLR4, MyD88, PAI-1, LC3, Beclin1, and mTOR protein and mRNA levels were determined by western blot and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively; western blot was used to determine NF-κB protein levels. To further evaluate the role of PAI-1, the PAI-1 gene was downregulated and overexpressed using the siRNA transfection technology and the pCDH-PAI-1, respectively. Finally, the GFP Positive Expression Rate Method was used to determine the rate of GFP-LC3 positive NR8383 cells.Results. In LPS-induced NR8383 cells, TNF-α, IL-1β, and PAI-1 expression levels increased remarkably. Upon PAI-1 knockdown, TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1, TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, LC3, and Beclin1 levels were decreased, while mTOR increased. Conversely, overexpression of PAI-1 resulted in increased amounts of TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1, TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, LC3, and Beclin1. However, no significant change was observed in mTOR expression.Conclusions.In NR8383 cells, PAI-1 contributes in the regulation of LPS-induced inflammation, likely by promoting autophagy.
Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanofluids Used for Heat Dissipation in Hybrid Green Energy Systems
Authors: Hung Yi-Hsuan , Gu Hung-Jhih
Published: July 2014

This study was conducted to characterize carbon nanotube (CNT)/water nanofluids (CNWNFs) and to apply the nanofluids in a heat‐dissipation system of dual green energy sources. CNTs were mixed with water in weight fractions of 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% to produce nanofluids. The thermal conductivity, density, viscosity, and specific heat of the nanofluids were measured. An experimental platform consisting of a simulated dual energy source and a microchip controller was established to evaluate the heat‐dissipation performance. Two indices, the heat dissipation enhancement ratio and specific heat dissipation enhancement ratio (SHDER), were defined and calculated. The CNWNFs with a CNT concentration of 0.125 wt.% were used because they exhibited the highest SHDER. The steady‐state performance was evaluated at 2 flow rates, 11 hybrid flow ratios, and 3 heating ratios for a total power of 1000 W. The transient behavior of the energy sources at preset optimal temperatures was examined, and the CNWNFs exhibited average increases in stability and heat dissipation efficiency of 36.2% and 5%, respectively, compared with water. This nanofluid heat‐dissipation system is expected to be integrated with real dual energy sources in the near future.
Utilizing Optical Coherence Tomography in the Nondestructive and Noncontact Measurement of Egg Shell Thickness
Authors: Sabuncu Metin , Akdoğan Mete
Published: July 2014

The goal of this study was to measure the thickness of egg shells without any contact and by utilizing a nondestructive method that sends infrared light beam on the egg. We obtain measurement resolutions on the order of 7 μm up to a penetration depth of 1.7 mm from the actual surface of the egg shell. The measurement results we obtained show that optical coherence tomography can be used to accurately determine the egg shell thickness. Scanning the light beam over the surface allows for measuring the egg profile and monitoring the variations of shell thickness. Since this information gives a quantitative value for the uniformity of the egg shell structure, we anticipate that optical coherence tomography may be used in the quantitative evaluation of egg quality in in-line automated inspection systems.
Rhizomes Help the Forage GrassLeymus chinensisto Adapt to the Salt and Alkali Stresses
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Wang Junfeng , Lin Jixiang , Wang Ying , Mu Chunsheng
Published: July 2014

Leymus chinensishas extensive ecological adaptability and can grow well in saline-alkaline soils. The knowledge about tolerance mechanisms ofL. chinensiscould be base for utilization of saline-alkaline soils and grassland restoration and rebuilding. Two neutral salts (NaCl : Na2SO4= 9 : 1) and two alkaline salts (NaHCO3 : Na2CO3= 9 : 1) with concentration of 0, 100, and 200 mmol/L were used to treat potted 35-day-old seedlings with rhizome growth, respectively. After 10 days, the biomass and number of daughter shoots all decreased, with more reduction in alkali than in salt stress. The rhizome biomass reduced more than other organs. The number of daughter shoots from rhizome was more than from tillers. Under both stresses, Na+contents increased more in rhizome than in other organs; the reduction of K+content was more in underground than aerial tissue. Anion ions or organic acids were absorbed to neutralize cations. Na+content in stem and leaf increased markedly in high alkalinity (200 mmol/L), with accumulation of soluble sugar and organic acids sharply. Rhizomes helpL. chinensisto adapt to saline and low alkaline stresses by transferring Na+. However, rhizomes lost the ability to prevent Na+transport to aerial organs under high alkalinity, which led to severe growth inhibition ofL. chinensis.
Assessment of Waveform Similarity in Clinical Gait Data: The Linear Fit Method
Authors: Iosa M. , Cereatti A. , Merlo A. , Campanini I. , Paolucci S. , Cappozzo A.
Published: July 2014

The assessment of waveform similarity is a crucial issue in gait analysis for the comparison of kinematic or kinetic patterns with reference data. A typical scenario is in fact the comparison of a patient’s gait pattern with a relevant physiological pattern. This study aims to propose and validate a simple method for the assessment of waveform similarity in terms of shape, amplitude, and offset. The method relies on the interpretation of these three parameters, obtained through a linear fit applied to the two data sets under comparison plotted one against the other after time normalization. The validity of this linear fit method was tested in terms of appropriateness (comparing real gait data of 34 patients with cerebrovascular accident with those of 15 healthy subjects), reliability, sensitivity, and specificity (applying a cluster analysis on the real data). Results showed for this method good appropriateness, 94.1% of sensitivity, 93.3% of specificity, and good reliability. The LFM resulted in a simple method suitable for analysing the waveform similarity in clinical gait analysis.
A Mobile Anchor Assisted Localization Algorithm Based on Regular Hexagon in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Han Guangjie , Zhang Chenyu , Lloret Jaime , Shu Lei , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C.
Published: July 2014

Localization is one of the key technologies in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), since it provides fundamental support for many location-aware protocols and applications. Constraints of cost and power consumption make it infeasible to equip each sensor node in the network with a global position system (GPS) unit, especially for large-scale WSNs. A promising method to localize unknown nodes is to use several mobile anchors which are equipped with GPS units moving among unknown nodes and periodically broadcasting their current locations to help nearby unknown nodes with localization. This paper proposes a mobile anchor assisted localization algorithm based on regular hexagon (MAALRH) in two-dimensional WSNs, which can cover the whole monitoring area with a boundary compensation method. Unknown nodes calculate their positions by using trilateration. We compare the MAALRH with HILBERT, CIRCLES, and S-CURVES algorithms in terms of localization ratio, localization accuracy, and path length. Simulations show that the MAALRH can achieve high localization ratio and localization accuracy when the communication range is not smaller than the trajectory resolution.
The Smallest Spectral Radius of Graphs with a Given Clique Number
Authors: Zhang Jing-Ming , Huang Ting-Zhu , Guo Ji-Ming
Published: July 2014

The first four smallest values of the spectral radius among all connected graphs with maximum clique sizeω≥2are obtained.
Ocular Trauma from the “Knockout Game”
Authors: Joondeph Brian C.
Published: July 2014

The “knockout game” is a new form of urban violence receiving much attention in local and national media. Apart from the obvious head trauma, eye injuries may be subtle and overlooked. This report brings awareness of potential eye damage with this type of assault. This report is of a young woman, victim of the knockout game, who sustained a submacular hemorrhage. Beyond a neurologic evaluation for anyone knocked unconscious following the knockout game, patients should be counseled regarding potential ocular injury and encouraged to seek eye care promptly should symptoms develop.
Combination of Transverse Mode Selection and Active Longitudinal Mode-Locking of Broad Area Semiconductor Lasers
Authors: Doering Christoph , Fouckhardt Henning
Published: July 2014

Experimental results of the combination of transverse mode selection and active mode-locking with anti-reflection-coated broad area lasers (BALs) are presented. The BALs are subject to feedback from a free-space external Fourier-optical 4f-setup with a reflective spatial frequency filter in the Fourier-plane for transverse mode selection. Driving the BALs with a high frequency modulated pump current above threshold active longitudinal mode-locking is achieved. Pulse durations as low as 88 ps are obtained, while the Gaussian-like fundamental or a higher order transverse mode up to mode number 5 is selected on purpose. Pulse duration and shape are nearly independent of the selected transverse mode.
Higher Integrability for Very Weak Solutions of InhomogeneousA-Harmonic Form Equations
Authors: Tong Yuxia , Zheng Shenzhou , Gu Jiantao
Published: July 2014

The higher integrability for very weak solutions ofA-harmonic form equationsd*A(x,u,du)=B(x,u,du)has been proved.
Pain and Anxiety versus Sense of Family Support in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Lekka Dimitra , Pachi Argiro , Tselebis Athanasios , Zafeiropoulos Georgios , Bratis Dionisios , Evmolpidi Argiri , Ilias Ioannis , Karkanias Athanasios , Moussas Georgios , Tzanakis Nikolaos , Syrigos Konstantinos N.
Published: July 2014

Lung cancer is a stressful condition for both patient and family. The anxiety and pain accompanying cancer and its treatment have a significant negative influence on the patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between anxiety, pain, and perceived family support in a sample of lung cancer patients. The sample consisted of a total of 101 lung cancer outpatients receiving treatment at the oncology department of a general hospital. Anxiety, pain (severity and impact on everyday life), and perceived family support were assessed using Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Family Support Scale, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed correlations between anxiety, pain, and family support as perceived by the patients. The intensity of pain had a positive correlation with both state and trait anxiety and a negative correlation with family support. Anxiety (state and trait) had a significant negative correlation with family support. In conclusion, high prevalence rates of anxiety disorders were observed in lung cancer patients. Females appeared more susceptible to anxiety symptoms with a less sense of family support. A negative correlation was evidenced between family support and anxiety and a positive one between anxiety and pain.
Cytotoxic Constituents from the Rhizomes ofCurcuma zedoaria
Authors: Ahmed Hamdi Omer Abdalla , Syed Abdul Rahman Syarifah Nur , Awang Khalijah , Abdul Wahab Norhanom , Looi Chung Yeng , Thomas Noel Francis , Abd Malek Sri Nurestri
Published: July 2014

Curcuma zedoariaalso known asTemu putihis traditionally used in food preparations and treatment of various ailments including cancer. The cytotoxic activity of hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and the methanol-soxhlet extracts ofCurcuma zedoariarhizomes was tested on two human cancer cell lines (Ca Ski and MCF-7) and a noncancer cell line (HUVEC) using MTT assay. Investigation on the chemical components in the hexane and dichloromethane fractions gave 19 compounds, namely, labda-8(17),12 diene-15,16 dial (1), dehydrocurdione (2), curcumenone (3), comosone II (4), curcumenol (5), procurcumenol (6), germacrone (7), zerumbone epoxide (8), zederone (9), 9-isopropylidene-2,6-dimethyl-11-oxatricyclo[6.2.1.01,5]undec-6-en-8-ol (10), furanodiene (11), germacrone-4,5-epoxide (12), calcaratarin A (13), isoprocurcumenol (14), germacrone-1,10-epoxide (15), zerumin A (16), curcumanolide A (17), curcuzedoalide (18), and gweicurculactone (19). Compounds (1–19) were evaluated for their antiproliferative effect using MTT assay against four cancer cell lines (Ca Ski, MCF-7, PC-3, and HT-29). Curcumenone (3) and curcumenol (5) displayed strong antiproliferative activity (IC50=8.3±1.0and9.3±0.3 μg/mL, resp.) and were found to induce apoptotic cell death on MCF-7 cells using phase contrast and Hoechst 33342/PI double-staining assay. Thus, the present study provides basis for the ethnomedical application ofCurcuma zedoariain the treatment of breast cancer.
Protection of Coronary Endothelial Function during Cardiac Surgery: Potential of Targeting Endothelial Ion Channels in Cardioprotection
Authors: Yang Qin , Yu Cheuk-Man , He Guo-Wei , Underwood Malcolm John
Published: July 2014

Vascular endothelium plays a critical role in the control of blood flow by producing vasoactive factors to regulate vascular tone. Ion channels, in particular, K+channels and Ca2+-permeable channels in endothelial cells, are essential to the production and function of endothelium-derived vasoactive factors. Impairment of coronary endothelial function occurs in open heart surgery that may result in reduction of coronary blood flow and thus in an inadequate myocardial perfusion. Hyperkalemic exposure and concurrent ischemia-reperfusion during cardioplegic intervention compromise NO and EDHF-mediated function and the impairment involves alterations of K+channels, that is,KATPandKCa, and Ca2+-permeable TRP channels in endothelial cells. Pharmacological modulation of these channels during ischemia-reperfusion and hyperkalemic exposure show promising results on the preservation of NO and EDHF-mediated endothelial function, which suggests the potential of targeting endothelial K+and TRP channels for myocardial protection during cardiac surgery.
An Approach to Evaluate the Clothing Creative Design with Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Information
Authors: Li Ya-Mei
Published: July 2014

The problem of evaluating the clothing creative design with dual hesitant fuzzy information is the multiple attribute decision making problem. In this paper, we have utilized dual hesitant fuzzy hybrid average (DHFHA) operator to develop the model to solve the multiple attribute decision making problems for evaluating the clothing creative design. Finally, a practical example for evaluating the clothing creative design is given to verify the developed approach.
Chicken Embryos as a Potential New Model for Early Onset Type I Diabetes
Authors: Shi Liheng , Ko Michael L. , Huang Cathy Chia-Yu , Park So-Young , Hong Min-Pyo , Wu Chaodong , Ko Gladys Y.-P.
Published: July 2014

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among the American working population. The purpose of this study is to establish a new diabetic animal model using a cone-dominant avian species to address the distorted color vision and altered cone pathway responses in prediabetic and early diabetic patients. Chicken embryos were injected with either streptozotocin (STZ), high concentration of glucose (high-glucose), or vehicle at embryonic day 11. Cataracts occurred in varying degrees in both STZ- and high glucose-induced diabetic chick embryos at E18. Streptozotocin-diabetic chicken embryos had decreased levels of blood insulin, glucose transporter 4 (Glut4), and phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAKT). In STZ-injected E20 embryos, the ERG amplitudes of both a- and b-waves were significantly decreased, the implicit time of the a-wave was delayed, while that of the b-wave was significantly increased. Photoreceptors cultured from STZ-injected E18 embryos had a significant decrease in L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (L-VGCC) currents, which was reflected in the decreased level of L-VGCCα1D subunit in the STZ-diabetic retinas. Through these independent lines of evidence, STZ-injection was able to induce pathological conditions in the chicken embryonic retina, and it is promising to use chickens as a potential new animal model for type I diabetes.
PAuthKey: A Pervasive Authentication Protocol and Key Establishment Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks in Distributed IoT Applications
Authors: Porambage Pawani , Schmitt Corinna , Kumar Pardeep , Gurtov Andrei , Ylianttila Mika
Published: July 2014

Wireless sensor Networks (WSNs) deployed in distributed Internet of Things (IoT) applications should be integrated into the Internet. According to the distributed architecture, sensor nodes measure data, process, exchange information, and perform collaboratively with other sensor nodes and end-users, which can be internal or external to the network. In order to maintain the trustworthy connectivity and the accessibility of distributed IoT, it is important to establish secure links for end-to-end communication with a strong pervasive authentication mechanism. However, due to the resource constraints and heterogeneous characteristics of the devices, traditional authentication and key management schemes are not effective for such applications. This paper proposes a pervasive lightweight authentication and keying mechanism for WSNs in distributed IoT applications, in which the sensor nodes can establish secured links with peer sensor nodes and end-users. The established authentication scheme PAuthKey is based on implicit certificates and it provides application level end-to-end security. A comprehensive description for the scenario based behavior of the protocol is presented. With the performance evaluation and the security analysis, it is justified that the proposed scheme is viable to deploy in the resource constrained WSNs.
Composite Strain Hardening Properties of High Performance Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Jothi Jayakumar Vikram , Anandan Sivakumar
Published: July 2014

Hybrid fibres addition in concrete proved to be a promising method to improve the composite mechanical properties of the cementitious system. Fibre combinations involving different fibre lengths and moduli were added in high strength slag based concrete to evaluate the strain hardening properties. Influence of hybrid fibres consisting of steel and polypropylene fibres added in slag based cementitious system (50% CRL) was explored. Effects of hybrid fibre addition at optimum volume fraction of 2% of steel fibres and 0.5% of PP fibres (long and short steel fibre combinations) were observed in improving the postcrack strength properties of concrete. Test results also indicated that the hybrid steel fibre additions in slag based concrete consisting of short steel and polypropylene (PP) fibres exhibited a the highest compressive strength of 48.56 MPa. Comparative analysis on the performance of monofibre concrete consisting of steel and PP fibres had shown lower residual strength compared to hybrid fibre combinations. Hybrid fibres consisting of long steel-PP fibres potentially improved the absolute and residual toughness properties of concrete composite up to a maximum of 94.38% compared to monofibre concrete. In addition, the relative performance levels of different hybrid fibres in improving the matrix strain hardening, postcrack toughness, and residual strength capacity of slag based concretes were evaluated systematically.
Online Medicine for Pregnant Women
Authors: Davidesko Sharon , Segal David , Peleg Roni
Published: July 2014

Objective.To assess the use of cell phones and email as means of communication between pregnant women and their gynecologists and family physicians.Study Design.A cross-sectional study of pregnant women at routine followup. One hundred and twenty women participated in the study.Results.The mean age was 27.4 ± 3.4 years. One hundred nineteen women owned a cell phone and 114 (95%) had an email address. Seventy-two women (60%) had their gynecologist's cell phone number and 50 women (42%) had their family physician’s cell phone number. More women contacted their gynecologist via cell phone or email during pregnancy compared to their family physician (P=0.005and 0.009, resp.). Most preferred to communicate with their physician via cell phone at predetermined times, but by email at any time during the day (P<0.0001). They would use cell phones for emergencies or unusual problems but preferred email for other matters (P<0.0001).Conclusions.Pregnant women in the Negev region do not have a preference between the use of cell phones or email for medical consultation with their gynecologist or family physician. The provision of the physician’s cell phone numbers or email address together with the provision of guidelines and resources could improve healthcare services.
Hybrid Model for Early Onset Prediction of Driver Fatigue with Observable Cues
Authors: Zhang Mingheng , Longhui Gang , Wang Zhe , Xu Xiaoming , Yao Baozhen , Zhou Liping
Published: July 2014

This paper presents a hybrid model for early onset prediction of driver fatigue, which is the major reason of severe traffic accidents. The proposed method divides the prediction problem into three stages, that is, SVM‐based model for predicting the early onset driver fatigue state, GA‐based model for optimizing the parameters in the SVM, and PCA‐based model for reducing the dimensionality of the complex features datasets. The model and algorithm are illustrated with driving experiment data and comparison results also show that the hybrid method can generally provide a better performance for driver fatigue state prediction.
Moment Conditions Selection Based on Adaptive Penalized Empirical Likelihood
Authors: Song Yunquan
Published: July 2014

Empirical likelihood is a very popular method and has been widely used in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and data mining as tablets and mobile application and social media dominate the technology landscape. This paper proposes an empirical likelihood shrinkage method to efficiently estimate unknown parameters and select correct moment conditions simultaneously, when the model is defined by moment restrictions in which some are possibly misspecified. We show that our method enjoys oracle-like properties; that is, it consistently selects the correct moment conditions and at the same time its estimator is as efficient as the empirical likelihood estimator obtained by all correct moment conditions. Moreover, unlike the GMM, our proposed method allows us to carry out confidence regions for the parameters included in the model without estimating the covariances of the estimators. For empirical implementation, we provide some data-driven procedures for selecting the tuning parameter of the penalty function. The simulation results show that the method works remarkably well in terms of correct moment selection and the finite sample properties of the estimators. Also, a real-life example is carried out to illustrate the new methodology.
Tuber Cinereum Diverticula in a 28-Month-Old with Xq21 Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Whitehead Matthew T. , Vezina Gilbert
Published: July 2014

A developmentally delayed 28-month-old male toddler was referred to us for brain MRI. Imaging revealed corpus callosum dysgenesis, forniceal hypoplasia, vermian hypoplasia, and hypothalamic dysmorphism characterized by tuber cinereum diverticula. Subsequent chromosomal microarray showed an Xq21 deletion. We present a case of Xq21 deletion syndrome with midline brain anomalies and a novel hypothalamic malformation.
Transient Global Amnesia Associated with an Acute Infarction at the Cingulate Gyrus
Authors: Gallardo-Tur Alejandro , Romero-Godoy Jorge , Cruz Cosme Carlos de la , Arboix Adriá
Published: July 2014

Background. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a syndrome of sudden, unexplained isolated short-term memory loss. In the majority of TGA cases, no causes can be identified and neuroimaging, CSF studies and EEG are usually normal. We present a patient with TGA associated with a small acute infarct at the cingulate gyrus.Case Report. The patient, a 62 year-old man, developed two episodes of TGA. He had hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. He was found to have an acute ischemic stroke of small size (15 mm of maximal diameter) at the right cerebral cingulate gyrus diagnosed on brain magnetic resonance imaging. No lesions involving other limbic system structures such as thalamus, fornix, corpus callosum, or hippocampal structures were seen. The remainder of the examination was normal.Conclusion. Unilateral ischemic lesions of limbic system structures may result in TGA. We must bear in mind that TGA can be an associated clinical disorder of cingulate gyrus infarct.
Aromatherapy: Does It Help to Relieve Pain, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Community-Dwelling Older Persons?
Authors: Tang Shuk Kwan , Tse M. Y. Mimi
Published: July 2014

To examine the effectiveness of an aromatherapy programme for older persons with chronic pain. The community-dwelling elderly people who participated in this study underwent a four-week aromatherapy programme or were assigned to the control group, which did not receive any interventions. Their levels of pain, depression, anxiety, and stress were collected at the baseline and at the postintervention assessment after the conclusion of the four-week programme. Eighty-two participants took part in the study. Forty-four participants (37 females, 7 males) were in the intervention group and 38 participants (30 females, 8 males) were in the control group. The pain scores were 4.75 (SD 2.32) on a 10-point scale for the intervention group and 5.24 (SD 2.14) for the control group before the programme. There was a slight reduction in the pain score of the intervention group. No significant differences were found in the same-group and between-group comparisons for the baseline and postintervention assessments. The depression, anxiety, and stress scores for the intervention group before the programme were 11.18 (SD 6.18), 9.64 (SD 7.05), and 12.91 (SD 7.70), respectively. A significant reduction in negative emotions was found in the intervention group (P<0.05). The aromatherapy programme can be an effective tool to reduce pain, depression, anxiety, and stress levels among community-dwelling older adults.
Antiulcerogenic Potential Activity of Free and NanoencapsulatedPassiflora serratodigitataL. Extracts
Authors: Strasser Marc , Noriega Peky , Löbenberg Raimar , Bou-Chacra Nádia , Bacchi Elfriede M.
Published: July 2014

This paper provides evidence that the leaves and stem ofPassiflora serratodigitataL. dry crude extract (DCE), ethylacetate fraction (EAF), and residual water fraction show potential antiulcerogenic activity. Interestingly, the polymeric nanocapsule loaded with EAF had 10-fold more activity than the free EAF. Furthermore, the polymer nanoparticles provided homogeneous colloidal drug delivery systems and allowed overcoming challenges such as poor aqueous solubility as well as the physical-chemical instability of the organic extract, which presented 90% (w/w) of the flavonoid content. The entrapment efficiency of the total flavonoid was 90.6 ± 2.5% (w/v) for the DCE and 79.9 ± 2.7% (w/v) for the EAF. This study shows that nanoencapsulation improves both the physicochemical properties and the efficacy of the herbal formulations. Therefore, free and encapsulated extracts have the potential to be suitable drug design candidates for the therapeutic management of ulcer.
Variational Principles for Bending and Vibration of Partially Composite Timoshenko Beams
Authors: Özer Halil
Published: July 2014

Variational principles are established for the partially composite Timoshenko beam using the semi‐inverse method. The principles are derived directly from governing differential equations for bending and vibration of the beam considered. It is concluded that the semi‐inverse method is a powerful tool for searching for variational principles directly from the governing equations. Comparison between our results and the results reported in literature is given.
Microbiota in Healthy Skin and in Atopic Eczema
Authors: Baviera Giuseppe , Leoni Maria Chiara , Capra Lucetta , Cipriani Francesca , Longo Giorgio , Maiello Nunzia , Ricci Giampaolo , Galli Elena
Published: July 2014

The Italian interest group (IG) on atopic eczema and urticaria is member of the Italian Society of Allergology and Immunology. The aim of our IG is to provide a platform for scientists, clinicians, and experts. In this review we discuss the role of skin microbiota not only in healthy skin but also in skin suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD). A Medline and Embase search was conducted for studies evaluating the role of skin microbiota. We examine microbiota composition and its development within days after birth; we describe the role of specific groups of microorganisms that colonize distinct anatomical niches and the biology and clinical relevance of antimicrobial peptides expressed in the skin. Specific AD disease states are characterized by concurrent and anticorrelated shifts in microbial diversity and proportion ofStaphylococcus. These organisms may protect the host, defining them not as simple symbiotic microbes but rather as mutualistic microbes. These findings reveal links between microbial communities and inflammatory diseases such as AD and provide novel insights into global shifts of bacteria relevant to disease progression and treatment. This review also highlights recent observations on the importance of innate immune systems and the relationship with normal skin microflora for the maintenance of healthy skin.
Multiparametric MRI in Biopsy Guidance for Prostate Cancer: Fusion-Guided
Authors: Rothwax Jason T. , George Arvin K. , Wood Bradford J. , Pinto Peter A.
Published: July 2014

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common solid-organ malignancy among American men and the second most deadly. Current guidelines recommend a 12-core systematic biopsy following the finding of an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA). However, this strategy fails to detect an unacceptably high percentage of clinically significant cancers, leading researchers to develop new, innovative methods to improve the effectiveness of prostate biopsies. Multiparametric-MRI (MP-MRI) has emerged as a promising instrument in identifying suspicious regions within the prostate that require special attention on subsequent biopsy. Fusion platforms, which incorporate the MP-MRI into the biopsy itself and provide active targets within real-time imaging, have shown encouraging results in improving the detection rate of significant cancer. Broader applications of this technology, including MRI-guided focal therapy for prostate cancer, are in early phase trials.
Aesthetic Evaluation of the Nasolabial Region in Children with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Comparing Expert versus Nonexperience Health Professionals
Authors: Paiva Tatiana Saito , Andre Marcia , Paiva Wellingson Silva , Mattos Beatriz Silva Camara
Published: July 2014

Esthetic evaluation of cleft lip and palate rehabilitation outcomes may assist in the determination of new surgical interventions and aid in reevaluation of treatment protocols. Our objective was to compare esthetics assessments of the nasolabial region in children with a unilateral cleft lip and palate between healthcare professionals who were experienced in the treatment of cleft lip and palate and those who were inexperienced. The study group included 55 patients between 6 and 12 years of age who had already undergone primary reconstructive surgery for unilateral cleft lip. Standardized digital photographs were obtained, and the esthetic features of the nose, lip, and nasolabial region were evaluated. We used only cropped photographic images in the assessments of healthcare professionals with and without experience in cleft lip and palate. Interrater analysis revealed highly reliable assessments made by both the experienced and inexperienced professionals. There was no statistically significant difference in the esthetic attractiveness of the lip and nose between the experienced and inexperienced professionals. Compared with the inexperienced professionals, the experienced professional evaluators showed higher satisfaction with the esthetic appearance of the nasolabial region; however, no difference was observed in the analysis of the lip or nose alone.
A Novel Promising Strain ofTrichoderma evansii(WF-3) for Extracellularα-Galactosidase Production by Utilizing Different Carbon Sources under Optimized Culture Conditions
Authors: Chauhan Aishwarya , Siddiqi Nikhat Jamal , Sharma Bechan
Published: July 2014

A potential fungal strain ofTrichodermasp. (WF-3) was isolated and selected for the production ofα-galactosidase. Optimum conditions for mycelial growth and enzyme induction were determined. Basal media selected for the growth of fungal isolate containing different carbon sources like guar gum (GG), soya bean meal (SM), and wheat straw (WS) and combinations of these carbon substrates with basic sugars like galactose and sucrose were used to monitor their effects onα-galactosidase production. The results of this study indicated that galactose and sucrose enhanced the enzyme activity in guar gum (GG) and wheat straw (WS). Maximumα-galactosidase production (213.63 UmL−1) was obtained when the basic medium containing GG is supplemented with galactose (5 mg/mL). However, the presence of galactose and sucrose alone in the growth media shows no effect. Soya meal alone was able to supportT. evansiito produce maximum enzyme activity (170.36 UmL−1). The incubation time, temperature, and pH for the maximum enzyme synthesis were found to be 120 h (5 days), 28°C, and 4.5–5.5, respectively. All the carbon sources tested exhibited maximum enzyme production at 10 mg/mL concentration. Among the metal ions tested, Hg was found to be the strongest inhibitor of the enzyme. Among the chelators, EDTA acted as stronger inhibitor than succinic acid.
Psychosocial Aspects of Bruxism: The Most Paramount Factor Influencing Teeth Grinding
Authors: Wieckiewicz Mieszko , Paradowska-Stolarz Anna , Wieckiewicz Wlodzimierz
Published: July 2014

In clinical practice, patients suffering from an occlusal parafunctional activity have increased. It can be observed that a negative influence of environment aggravates patient’s health. The aim of this paper is to present the impact of environment and development of human civilization on the prevalence of bruxism and the correlation between them. The authors grasp the most relevant aspects of psychological and anthropological factors changing over time as well as their interactions and describe a relationship between chronic stress and bruxism. Current literature shows how contemporary lifestyle, working environment, diet, and habits influence the patient’s psychoemotional situation and the way these factors affect the occluso-muscle condition.
Failure Analysis and Optimization of the Rotor System in a Diesel Turbocharger for Rotor Speed-Up Test
Authors: Zhai Liming , Luo Yongyao , Wang Zhengwei , Liu Xin
Published: July 2014

During turbocharger rotor speed-up tests, the sensor installed in the compressor greatly affects the rotor dynamics. The effect of the floating bearing stiffness coefficient on the critical rotational speeds and the shaft dynamic response due to the unbalanced mass were both analyzed using rotor dynamics theory and a finite element analysis. The results illustrate that the initial sensor design reduced the 3rd order critical speed to lower than the maximum normal operating speed which leads to the rubbing and failure of the rotor during the speed-up test. The sensor structure was then optimized to reduce the negative influence of the sensor on the rotor dynamic characteristics to ensure stability during rotor speed-up tests.
Antileishmanial Activity of Medicinal Plants Used in Endemic Areas in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: De Queiroz Aline Cavalcanti , Dias Thays de Lima Matos Freire , Da Matta Carolina Barbosa Brito , Cavalcante Silva Luiz Henrique Agra , de Araújo-Júnior João Xavier , Araújo Givanildo Bernardino de , Moura Flávia de Barros Prado , Alexandre-Moreira Magna Suzana
Published: July 2014

This study investigates the leishmanicidal activity of five species of plants used in folk medicine in endemic areas of the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Data were collected in the cities of Colonia Leopoldina, Novo Lino, and União dos Palmares, Alagoas state, from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania amazonensis) who use medicinal plants to treat this disease. Plants extracts were tested at a concentration of 1–100 μg/mL in all experiments, except in an assay to evaluate activity against amastigotes, when 10 μg/mL was used. All plants extracts did not show deleterious activity to the host cell evidenced by LDH assay at 100, 10, and 1 μg/mL after 48 h of incubation. The plants extracts Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit, Aloe vera L., Ruta graveolens L., Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. exhibited direct activity against extracellular forms at 100 μg/mL; these extracts inhibited growth by 81.9%, 82.9%, 74.4%, 88.7%, and 87.4%, respectively, when compared with promastigotes. The plants extracts H. pectinata, A. vera, and R. graveolens also significantly diminished the number of amastigotes at 10 μg/mL, inhibiting growth by 85.0%, 40.4%, 94.2%, and 97.4%, respectively, when compared with control. Based on these data, we conclude that the five plants exhibited considerable leishmanicidal activity.
Solving Parameter Identification of Nonlinear Problems by Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Talatahari S. , Mohaggeg H. , Najafi Kh. , Manafzadeh A.
Published: July 2014

A new optimization method based on artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is presented for solving parameter identification problems. The ABC algorithm as a swarm intelligent optimization algorithm is inspired by honey bee foraging. In this paper, for the first time, the ABC method is developed to determine the optimum parameters of Bouc‐Wen hysteretic systems. The proposed method exhibits efficiency, robustness, and insensitivity to noise‐corrupted data. The results of the ABC are compared with those other optimization algorithms from the literature to show the efficiency of this technique for solving parameter identification problems.
Modulation of TLR 3, 7 and 8 Expressions in HCV Genotype 3 Infected Individuals: Potential Correlations of Pathogenesis and Spontaneous Clearance
Authors: Firdaus Rushna , Biswas Aritra , Saha Kallol , Mukherjee Anirban , Pal Falguni , Chaudhuri Sujit , Chandra Alok , Konar Asokananda , Sadhukhan Provash Chandra
Published: July 2014

Background. Hepatitis C virus is the major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide which finally leads to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Toll like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the course of many viral infections, but the role of TLRs in HCV pathogenesis has not been well elucidated so far.Objective. The aim of this study was to analyse the mRNA expression of TLRs 3, 7, and 8 in different stages of HCV infection including chronic, cirrhosis, interferon treated resolved, and relapsed cases.Methodology. Total RNA from whole blood was extracted and mRNA expression of TLRs 3, 7, and 8 genes was analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR usingβ-Actin gene as an internal control.Results. This study consisted of 100 HCV infected individuals and twenty healthy controls. TLR 3 expression was found to be significantly elevated in individuals who had spontaneously cleared the virus(p<0.001), whereas TLR 7 was found to be 3.26 times more elevated in patients with cirrhosis of liver. In IFN induced individuals, TLR 8 expression levels were found to be 2.28-fold elevated as compared to control population.Conclusion. TLRs 3, 7, and 8 are prime biomarker candidates for HCV infection mRNA expression analysis which might improve current therapeutic approaches.