bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of chromium substitution on crystal and lattice structure of soft manganese zinc ferrites
Authors: Yadav Anand , Varshney Dinesh
Published: May 2017

Chromium-doped manganese–zinc ferrite samples were prepared by solid-state reaction route to probe the effect of chromium ion on the crystal and lattice structure of mixed manganese–zinc ferrite. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that Mn[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Cr[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) ferrite has polycrystalline cubic spinel structure with some secondary phase of [Formula: see text]–Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. The Raman spectra reveal four Raman active phonon modes in the measurement range of 200–750 cm[Formula: see text] with small shift in Raman modes towards higher wave number. The average particle size for Mn[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] is found to be 37.28 nm which reduces to 33.64 nm for Mn[Formula: see text]Cr[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. As the ion doping of chromium increases, the modes of vibration are found to shift towards higher wavelength and blueshift is attributed to the higher ionic radii of Cr[Formula: see text] as compared to Zn[Formula: see text].
Urdu Sentiment Analysis Using Supervised Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Mukhtar Neelam , Khan Mohammad Abid
Published: May 2017

From the last decade, Sentiment Analysis of languages such as English and Chinese are particularly the focus of attention but resource poor languages such as Urdu are mostly ignored by the research community, which is focused in this research. After acquiring data from various blogs of about 14 different genres, the data is being annotated with the help of human annotators. Three well-known classifiers, that is, Support Vector Machine, Decision tree and [Formula: see text]-Nearest Neighbor ([Formula: see text]-NN) are tested, their outputs are compared and their results are ultimately improved in several iterations after taking a number of steps that include stop words removal, feature extraction, identification and extraction of important features. extraction. Initially, the performance of the classifiers is not satisfactory as the accuracy achieved by all the three is below 50%. Ensemble of classifiers is also tried but the results are not fruitful (in terms of high accuracy). The results are analyzed carefully and improvements are made including feature extraction that raised the performance of these classifiers to a satisfactory level. It is further concluded that [Formula: see text]-NN is performing better than Support Vector Machine and Decision tree in terms of accuracy, precision, recall and [Formula: see text]-measure.
Infinite families of hyperbolic prime knots with alternation number 1 and dealternating number n
Authors: de los Angeles Guevara Hernández María
Published: May 2017

For each positive integer [Formula: see text] we will construct a family of infinitely many hyperbolic prime knots with alternation number 1, dealternating number equal to [Formula: see text], braid index equal to [Formula: see text] and Turaev genus equal to [Formula: see text].
A Nonlinear Oscillator Model to Generate Lateral Walking Force on a Rigid Flat Surface
Authors: Kumar Prakash , Kumar Anil , Erlicher Silvano
Published: May 2017

This study proposes a single degree of freedom nonlinear oscillator to model the lateral movement of the body center of mass of a pedestrian walking on a flat rigid surface. Experimentally recorded ground reaction force of a dozen of pedestrians in the lateral direction is used to develop the model. In detail, the hardening and softening effects are observed in the stiffness curve as well as higher odd harmonics are present in the frequency spectrum of the lateral force signals. The proposed oscillator is a modification of the Rayleigh and the Van der Pol oscillators with additional nonlinear softening and hardening terms. To obtain an approximation of the limit cycle of the oscillator and its stability, two methods are studied: the energy balance method and the Lindstedt–Poincare perturbation technique. The experimental force signals of pedestrians at four different walking speeds are used for the identification of the values of the model parameters. The results obtained from the proposed model show a good agreement with the experimental ones.
A weak form of the soliton resolution conjecture for high-dimensional fourth-order Schrödinger equations
Authors: Roy Tristan
Published: May 2017

We prove a weak form of the soliton resolution conjecture for — [Formula: see text] uniformly bounded in time — solutions of semilinear fourth-order Schrödinger equations, in dimensions [Formula: see text], and with a mass supercritical-energy subcritical power type nonlinearity, by using a strategy developed by T. Tao in 2007. More precisely, we prove that the solutions are decomposed into a sum of two terms: a free solution and a nonradiative term that approaches asymptotically an object that has similar properties to those of a finite sum of solitons. The asymptotic behavior of the nonradiative term is derived from its asymptotic frequency localization and its asymptotic spatial localization. There are two main differences between the present contribution and T. Tao’s earlier work. The first one appears when we prove the asymptotic frequency localization: we fill a gap of regularity by using the better dispersive properties of the high frequency pieces of the free solution. The second one appears when we prove the asymptotic spatial localization. A key estimate depends on the fundamental solution that does not have an explicit form. We overcome the difficulty by introducing a modified fundamental solution and exploiting the symmetries of the characters of the phases.
Homogenization of nonlinear hyperbolic stochastic equation via Tartar’s method
Authors: Mohammed Mogtaba
Published: May 2017

In this paper, We establish new homogenization results for stochastic nonlinear hyperbolic equations with periodically oscillating coefficients. We use a delicate blending of Tartar’s method of oscillating test functions and deep probabilistic compactness results due to Prokhorov and Skorokhod. We prove that the sequence of solutions of the original problem converges in suitable topologies to the solution of a homogenized stochastic hyperbolic problem with constant coefficients. We also prove the convergence of the associated energies.
Thermoelastic Vibration and Flexural Behavior of FG-CNT Reinforced Composite Curved Panel
Authors: Mehar Kulmani , Panda Subrata Kumar , Patle Bhumesh Kumar
Published: May 2017

The free vibration and flexural behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite curved panel is investigated under uniform and linear thermal environment. The carbon nanotube reinforced composite curved panel has been modeled mathematically based on the higher-order shear deformation theory. The nanotube properties are assumed to be depended on the temperature and graded in the thickness direction using different grading rules. The governing equations for the static and vibration analysis of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite panel are obtained using the variational method. Further, isoparametric finite element steps are implemented for the discretization of the governing equation and solved numerically via a specialized computer code developed in MATLAB environment. The rate of convergence and the validity of the presently developed numerical model have been checked. Finally, the effect of different geometrical and material parameters (thickness ratios, support conditions, volume fractions, thermal load, aspect ratios, and type of grading) on the free vibration and flexural behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite are examined and discussed detail under thermal environment.
Investigation of the Free Vibrations of Composite Anisogrid Lattice Conical Shells Formed by Geodesically Spiral and Circumferential Ribs
Authors: Khadem Siamak E. , Nezamoleslami Reza
Published: May 2017

This paper focuses on the dynamic behavior of composite anisogrid lattice conical shells. Lattice composite conical shell consists of composite helical and circumferential ribs and thin outer skin. The free vibration analysis of anisogrid composite lattice conical shell is presented. A smeared method is employed to calculate the variable coefficients of stiffness of conical shell and more close to the realistic applications. The lattice part of conical shell is modeled as a beam, so in addition to the axial loads, ribs endure shear loads and bending moments. The first-order shear deformation shell theory is used to account for the effects of transverse shear deformations and rotary inertia. The current results are verified with 3D finite element model of conical shell by ANSYS Software and those reported in the literature. Some special cases as influences of geometric parameters of lattice part of shell, effects of boundary conditions and circumferential wave number on natural frequencies of the shell are discussed. It was concluded that employment of the smear method could be recommended for determining the coefficients of stiffness of the composite lattice conical shells with outer skin. Also increasing the vertex angle of cone increases the natural frequencies of conical shell.
Studies of Low-loading Micro-slip Contacts on Rough Surfaces with GW Model
Authors: Lu Pin , Yang Lulu , Wang Gangfeng
Published: May 2017

Lateral loading and interfacial slip of multi-asperity (i.e., rough) elastic contacts are studied for micro-slip contact conditions. The Mindlin micro-slip model for smooth surfaces is generalized to rough surface contacts using the Greenwood–Williamson (GW) approach, and the general relations of lateral contact force and related stiffness are obtained. The method extends previous approaches by incorporating micro-slip, allowing application to rough surfaces and providing simple expressions for experimental analysis by use of the Greenwood–Williams roughness parameters. As applications, the numerical results of micro-slip contacts on rough surfaces for Gaussian and exponential asperity height distributions, respectively, are obtained based on the general relations of the extended model, and are compared and discussed for low load cases.
On the Structural Features of Scientific and Technological Innovation Network in China’s Urban System: Based on the Analysis of Cooperation Network of High-Level Papers
Authors: JIN Zhongfan , ZHANG Guang
Published: May 2017

The cooperation among cities to promote scientific and technological (sci-tech) innovation is of practical significance to regional coordinated development. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the features of sci-tech cooperation and innovation network in China’s urban system. Based on the recognition that high-level scientific papers are important achievements of sci-tech innovation, the author investigates the status quo of the cooperation on high-level scientific papers among cities, establishes a matrix on sci-tech innovation network in China’s urban system and analyzes its structural features and evolutionary trend during 2000–2010. The results show that: urban sci-tech innovation network is developing rapidly, but the development level remains low; network dominant city pairs are distributed across regions; network connection keys, concentrating in the eastern cities, present clear regional differences in distribution; the structure of network dominant cities is relatively stable, but the first network node city (Beijing) is underdeveloped; cohesive subgroups start to develop, but neither the national nor the regional high-level cohesive subgroups are fully developed; the largest subgroup consists of only 25 cities; and none of the three major urban agglomerations (Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations) forms a complete cohesive subgroup.
Advances in Chemistry and Their Implications for Studying and Treating Brain Disease
Authors: Langer Robert
Published: May 2017

Chemical approaches to creating new drug delivery systems and biomaterials are discussed. These delivery systems have been used to study how blood vessels grow and how different molecules affecting the brain behave. They have also been used in treatments ranging from schizophrenia to brain cancer.
Molecular Inference of Wisdom
Authors: Sharrer G. Terry
Published: May 2017

Wisdom is a human trait upon which natural selection creates evolutionary pathways from the molecular biology of the gene, to the cellular organization of nervous system, to the physical functioning of the brain — and the transit is a two way street. Wellness is a selection advantage at every level. Molecular wellness is innate, though often compromised because selection is blind; intellectual or high level wellness is learned behavior fed back to the molecular level as a kind of vision. The wisdom of this is that lifelong wellness — to the point of dying healthy — is a goal for every person and every society because it precedes and influences all other achievements.
Identification and mapping of lithogeochemical signatures using staged factor analysis and fractal/multifractal models
Authors: Zhao Jiangnan , Chen Shouyu , Zuo Renguang
Published: May 2017

To identify geochemical signatures related to deposit-type sought, staged factor analysis (SFA), fractal and multifractal methodologies were utilized to process the lithogeochemical data in the Laochang district, Yunnan province, SE China. In this study, 13 elements, including W, Mo, Pb, Zn, Ag, As, Bi, Hg, Sb, Sn, Cu, Cd and Mn, were analyzed in 825 rock samples. A centred logratio (clr) transformation was applied to address the closure problem of geochemical data. The results clearly demonstrate that SFA greatly assisted with not only interpretation of geochemical zonation patterns genetically related to intrusions, but also extraction of multi-element associations signature of the mineral deposit-type sought. The geochemical distribution patterns can be characterized by multifractal parameters such as singular exponent
α
, as well as
τ
″(1) and Δ
α
, which are effective for depicting the spatial heterogeneity signatures of geochemical data. Through geochemical mineralization prospectivity indices (GPMI) and C-A model, the results illustrate that element distribution signatures are greatly influenced by fault density. The integrated methods are useful for identifying significant multi-element anomalous signature and generating reliable target areas for further prospecting.
Singularity mapping of fracture fills and its relationship to deep concealed orebodies – a case study of the Shaxi porphyry Cu-Au deposit, China
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Yuan Feng , Jowitt Simon M. , Zhou Kefa , Wang Jinlin , Zhou Taofa , Hu Xunyu , Zhou Jie , Li Yang
Published: May 2017

Porphyry Cu-Au type mineralization forms as a result of magmato-hydrothermal activity and involves the migration of hydrothermal fluids through rock fractures, a process that causes the precipitation of fracture-filling minerals with a volume that is much larger than the orebodies themselves. This means that the mineralization-related geochemical anomalies within the minerals that fill these fractures (i.e. fracture fills) can be used to identify areas prospective for deep-seated or otherwise concealed porphyry-type mineralization. This study focuses on the Shaxi deposit, a concealed porphyry Cu-Au deposit located in the Anhui Province, China, and uses singularity techniques to identify and extract geochemical anomalies associated with porphyry Cu-Au-related fracture fills. These data were used to examine the relationships between geochemical anomalies and known deep and concealed mineralization distinguished from unaltered and unmineralized wall-rock material using a concentration–volume (C–V) model in the study area. This analysis indicates that the geochemical anomalies identified in this study are associated with known areas of mineralization in the Shaxi deposit. Areas defined by fracture fills containing anomalous concentrations of Cu only effectively delineate known areas of shallower Cu mineralization, whereas areas with fracture fills containing anomalous concentrations of Au effectively delineate areas containing either Au mineralization and/or deep-seated Cu mineralization. Our study also identified several other targets that have not been explored in the peripheral areas of the Shaxi deposit, some of which should be considered high priority targets for future exploration for concealed orebodies. This indicates that combining singularity mapping with fracture fill geochemical analysis can effectively delineate geochemical anomalies associated with deep-seated or concealed porphyry-type mineralization, an approach that also may well be applicable to exploration for other types of magmato-hydrothermal or hydrothermal mineral deposits.
Fractal/multifractal analysis in support of mineral exploration in the Duolong mineral district, Tibet, China
Authors: Wang Wenlei , Cheng Qiuming , Tang Juxing , Pubuciren  , Song Yang , Li Yubin , Liu Zhibo
Published: May 2017

The study area, Duolong mineral district, Tibet, China is not a well-developed area but has received attention in recent years due to its considerable production of Cu-Au resources. This paper utilizes fractal/multifractal analytical techniques to gain insights to the geological environment, metallogenesis of ore deposits, as well as mineral exploration in this area. Porphyry Cu-Au mineralization related elements and fault-activity indicator elements from stream sediments geochemical data are integrated by log-ratio transformation-based principal component analysis, the results of which are further analyzed by singularity theory and spectrum-area model. Identified geochemical anomalies spatially coincident with structural framework are not only suggestive of the presence of mineralization but also suggest genetic relationship between mineralization and regional fault structures. The usefulness of the singularity theory and spectrum-area model, as two mature and effective geo-information extraction methods in the fractal/multifractal context, is compared based on their theoretical foundations and practical applications. It was found that, in the study area, the spectrum-area model is more effective for characterizing self-similar spatial patterns caused by specific geological processes, while the singularity theory can inform about geochemical behaviours of elements or element associations reflecting a series of geological processes. Compared to the results of the singularity technique, the results of spectrum-area modeling results, especially the geochemical background patterns, are more robust for interpreting structural framework and metallogenic background of the area. This study infers mesh-like structural control on porphyry mineralization, and identified background geochemical patterns of multi-element association by fractal/multifractal analyses further provide indirect and/or proxy geo-information of the mesh-like structure to support of mineral exploration in the Duolong mineral district.
Heme oxygenase-1 mitigates ferroptosis in renal proximal tubule cells
Authors: Adedoyin Oreoluwa , Boddu Ravindra , Traylor Amie , Lever Jeremie M. , Bolisetty Subhashini , George James F. , Agarwal Anupam
Published: May 2017

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated nonapoptotic cell death, which contributes to damage in models of acute kidney injury (AKI). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective enzyme induced in response to cellular stress, and is protective against AKI because of its antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the role of HO-1 in regulating ferroptosis is unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of HO-1 in regulating ferroptotic cell death in renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs). Immortalized PTCs obtained from HO-1+/+ and HO-1−/− mice were treated with erastin or RSL3, ferroptosis inducers, in the presence or absence of antioxidants, an iron source, or an iron chelator. Cells were assessed for changes in morphology and metabolic activity as an indicator of cell viability. Treatment of HO-1+/+ PTCs with erastin resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in HO-1 gene expression and protein levels compared with vehicle-treated controls. HO-1−/− cells showed increased dose-dependent erastin- or RSL3-induced cell death in comparison to HO-1+/+ PTCs. Iron supplementation with ferric ammonium citrate in erastin-treated cells decreased cell viability further in HO-1−/− PTCs compared with HO-1+/+ cells. Cotreatment with ferrostatin-1 (ferroptosis inhibitor), deferoxamine (iron chelator), or N-acetyl-l-cysteine (glutathione replenisher) significantly increased cell viability and attenuated erastin-induced ferroptosis in both HO-1+/+ and HO-1−/− PTCs. These results demonstrate an important antiferroptotic role of HO-1 in renal epithelial cells.
Acute exercise does not impair renal function in nondialysis chronic kidney disease patients regardless of disease stage
Authors: Santana Davi A. , Poortmans Jacques R. , Dórea Egidio Lima , Machado Juliana Bannwart de Andrade , Fernandes Alan Lins , Sá-Pinto Ana Lúcia , Gualano Bruno , Roschel Hamilton
Published: May 2017

Exercise has been overlooked as a potential therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD), mainly because of a lack of understanding on its safety aspects. Notably, there are no data on renal function after exercise in CKD considering its stages. We investigated the acute effects of a 30-min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise bout on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albuminuria in 22 nondialysis CKD patients divided into: CKD stages 1 and 2 (CKD1–2) and CKD stages 3 and 4 (CKD3–4). Eleven body mass index-, age-, and sex-matched healthy individuals served as control (CON). Blood and urine samples were collected before, immediately after, and up to 90 min postexercise for creatinine and albumin assessments. GFR was determined by creatinine clearance (GFRCr-Cl). All CKD patients had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake than CON. CKD1–2 and CKD3–4 had increasingly higher serum creatinine than CON (9.6 ± 2.6, 25.6 ± 1.01, and 7.5 ± 1.4 mg/l, respectively); however, no within-group changes in serum or urinary creatinine were observed across time. GFRCr-Cl was decreased in CKD1–2 and CKD3–4 compared with CON (91 ± 17 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2; 34 ± 15 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2; 122 ± 20 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2, respectively). Most importantly, exercise did not affect GFRCr-Cl in none of the groups across time. Albuminuria was significantly higher in CKD3–4 (297 ± 284 µg/min) than in CON (5.4 ± 1.4 µg/min), but no within-group changes were observed after exercise. In conclusion, a single 30-min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise bout does not impair renal function in nondialysis CKD patients, regardless of disease stage, supporting the notion that exercise training can be safe in this disease.
A model-specific role of microRNA-223 as a mediator of kidney injury during experimental sepsis
Authors: Colbert James F. , Ford Joshay A. , Haeger Sarah M. , Yang Yimu , Dailey Kyrie L. , Allison Kristen C. , Neudecker Viola , Evans Christopher M. , Richardson Vanessa L. , Brodsky Kelley S. , Faubel Sarah , Eltzschig Holger K. , Schmidt Eric P. , Ginde Adit A.
Published: May 2017

Sepsis outcomes are heavily dependent on the development of septic organ injury, but no interventions exist to interrupt or reverse this process. microRNA-223 (miR-223) is known to be involved in both inflammatory gene regulation and host-pathogen interactions key to the pathogenesis of sepsis. The goal of this study was to determine the role of miR-223 as a mediator of septic kidney injury. Using miR-223 knockout mice and multiple models of experimental sepsis, we found that miR-223 differentially influences acute kidney injury (AKI) based on the model used. In the absence of miR-223, mice demonstrated exaggerated AKI in sterile models of sepsis (LPS injection) and attenuated AKI in a live-infection model of sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture). We demonstrated that miR-223 expression is induced in kidney homogenate after cecal ligation and puncture, but not after LPS or fecal slurry injection. We investigated additional potential mechanistic explanations including differences in peritoneal bacterial clearance and host stool virulence. Our findings highlight the complex role of miR-223 in the pathogenesis of septic kidney injury, as well as the importance of differences in experimental sepsis models and their consequent translational applicability.
Anisomorphic cortical reorganization in asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Cheung Steven W. , Atencio Craig A. , Levy Eliott R. J. , Froemke Robert C. , Schreiner Christoph E.
Published: May 2017

Mild-to-moderate hearing loss in one ear and essentially normal hearing in the other triggers cortical reorganization that is different in the two hemispheres. Asymmetry of cochlea sensitivities does not simply propagate to the two auditory cortices in mirror-image fashion. The resulting anisomorphic cortical reorganization may be a neurophysiological basis of clinical deficits in asymmetric hearing loss, such as difficulty with hearing in noise, impaired spatial hearing, and accelerated decline of the poorer ear.
Long-lasting increase in axonal excitability after epidurally applied DC
Authors: Jankowska Elzbieta , Kaczmarek Dominik , Bolzoni Francesco , Hammar Ingela
Published: May 2017

The study indicates a new form of plasticity of myelinated fibers. The differences in time course of DC-evoked increases in the excitability of myelinated nerve fibers in the dorsal columns and in preterminal axonal branches suggest that distinct mechanisms are involved in them. The results show that combining epidural stimulation and transspinal DC polarization may dramatically improve their outcome and result in more effective pain control and the return of impaired motor functions.
Cortical amplification models of experience-dependent development of selective columns and response sparsification
Authors: Christie Ian K. , Miller Paul , Van Hooser Stephen D.
Published: May 2017

Sensory circuits are initially constructed via mechanisms that are independent of sensory experience, but later refinement requires experience. We constructed models of how circuits that receive biased feedforward inputs can be initially unselective and then be modified by experience and plasticity so that the resulting circuit exhibits increased selectivity. We propose that neighboring cortical columns may initially exhibit coupling that is too strong for selectivity. Experience-dependent mechanisms decrease this coupling so individual columns can exhibit selectivity.
Influence of Resistance Training on Neuromuscular Function and Physical Capacity in ALS Patients
Authors: Jensen L. , Djurtoft J. B. , Bech R. D. , Nielsen J. L. , Jørgensen L. H. , Schrøder H. D. , Frandsen U. , Aagaard P. , Hvid L. G.
Published: May 2017

Objectives. The present study aimed to explore the effect of resistance training in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss and muscle weakness. Materials and Methods. Following a 12-week “lead-in” control period, a population of ALS patients from Funen, Denmark, completed a 12-week resistance training program consisting of 2-3 sessions/week. Neuromuscular function (strength and power) and voluntary muscle activation (superimposed twitch technique) were evaluated before and after both control and training periods. Physical capacity tests (chair rise and timed up and go), the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) scores, and muscle cross sectional area (histology) were also assessed. Results. Of twelve ALS patients assessed for eligibility, six were included and five completed the study. Training did not significantly affect the ALSFRS-R score, and loss of neuromuscular function (strength and power) increased following the training period. However, an improved functionality (chair rise) and an increase in greatly hypertrophied type II fibres combined with an increase in atrophied fibres following the training period compared to the control period were observed. Conclusion. In this small study, the present form of resistance training was unable to attenuate progressive loss of neuromuscular function in ALS, despite some changes in physical capacity and morphology.
Acinetobacter baumannii Infection in Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia Patients with Sepsis
Authors: Abdul Rasheed Muzaheed , Alzahrani Faisal Mousa , Sattar Shaikh Saeed
Published: May 2017

Purpose. To identify the Acinetobacter baumannii infection among transfusion dependent thalassemia patients. Methods. A quantitative approach was employed to assess Acinetobacter baumannii infection in transfusion dependent thalassemia patients. Samples were collected from 916 patients, which have shown bacterial growth on MacConkey and blood agar culture media. A. baumannii strains were identified by microbiological methods and Gram’s staining. API 20 E kit (Biomerieux, USA) was used for final identification. Results. From 916 cultured blood specimens, 107 (11.6%) showed growth of A. baumannii. Serum ferritin in thalassemic patients without bacterial infections was 3849.5±1513.5 µg/L versus 6413.5±2103.9 µg/L in those with bacterial infections (p=0.0001). Acinetobacter baumannii infected patients have shown higher serum ferritin levels (p=0.0001). Serum ferritin in thalassemic patients was 3849.5±1513.5 µg/L versus 6413.5±2103.9 µg/L in those with bacterial infections (p=0.0001). Acinetobacter baumannii infected patients showed high serum ferritin levels (p=0.0001). The clinical symptoms have been found with A. baumannii +ve with a mean and standard deviation of 47 (5.1%) and A. baumannii −ve with mean and standard deviation of 60 (6.5%). Conclusion. Isolation of asymptomatic A. baumannii from the thalassemia patients shows an alarming situation of bacterial infections. A continuous surveillance of transfusion dependent thalassemia patients is recommended for bacterial sepsis.
First Insight into the Molecular Epidemiology ofMycobacterium tuberculosisIsolates from the Minority Enclaves of Southwestern China
Authors: Chen Lianyong , Pang Yu , Ma Li , Yang Huijuan , Ru Haohao , Yang Xing , Yan Shuangqun , Jia Mao , Xu Lin
Published: May 2017

Yunnan is a province located in southwestern China. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB) strains circulating in Yunnan Province. We used spoligotyping and a 12-locus high-resolution VNTR set to identify a total of 271 MTB isolates collected from six prefectures’ Yunnan. All the 271 patients were classified as 11 different ethnic groups, including 133 Han patients (49.1%) and 138 minority patients (50.9%). Spoligotyping analyses revealed that the largest two spoligotypes were SIT1 (Beijing family,n=136) and SIT53 (T family,n=35). Statistical analysis indicated that the proportion of Beijing genotype in Qujing was significantly higher than that in the ethnic enclaves (P≤0.01). Compared with the percentage of Beijing-family isolates from patients under 25 years of age (72.7%), those from patients aged 45~64 years (44.6%,P<0.01) and older than 64 years (48.1%) (P=0.04) were significantly lower. Beijing genotype strains (23.8%, 36/151) showed higher clustering rate than non-Beijing genotype strains (16/120, 13.3%,P=0.029). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the Beijing genotype was the predominant genotype in Yunnan Province. The distribution of Beijing genotype strains showed geographic diversity. In addition, Beijing genotype was associated with recent transmission rather than drug resistance.
In Utero Stem Cell Transplantation: Potential Therapeutic Application for Muscle Diseases
Authors: Chowdhury Neeladri , Asakura Atsushi
Published: May 2017

Muscular dystrophies, myopathies, and traumatic muscle injury and loss encompass a large group of conditions that currently have no cure. Myoblast transplantations have been investigated as potential cures for these conditions for decades. However, current techniques lack the ability to generate cell numbers required to produce any therapeutic benefit. In utero stem cell transplantation into embryos has been studied for many years mainly in the context of hematopoietic cells and has shown to have experimental advantages and therapeutic applications. Moreover, patient-derived cells can be used for experimental transplantation into nonhuman animal embryos via in utero injection as the immune response is absent at such early stages of development. We therefore propose in utero transplantation as a potential method to generate patient-derived humanized skeletal muscle as well as muscle stem cells in animals for therapeutic purposes as well as patient-specific drug screening.
An Unusual Case of Pancreatic Metastasis from Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung Diagnosed by EUS-Guided Fine Needle Biopsy
Authors: Ishikawa Takuya , Hirooka Yoshiki , Teman Carolin J. , Goto Hidemi , Belletrutti Paul J.
Published: May 2017

We report a case of a 70-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain and weight loss, with initial imaging showing simultaneous mass lesions in the pancreas and lungs along with extensive lymphadenopathy in the thorax up to the left supraclavicular region. Core biopsies of the left supraclavicular lymph node showed squamous cell carcinoma, which required differentiation between secondary and primary pancreatic neoplasms. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling using a novel fine needle biopsy system was key to making a definite histological diagnosis and determining the best treatment plan.
Unilateral Dilated Pupil and Spontaneous Cardiac Arrest with Successful Bystander Resuscitation
Authors: Hancox James M. , Spiers Julian , Crombie Nicholas , Naumann David N.
Published: May 2017

A 75-year-old man collapsed on a golf course and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a bystander, including the use of a public automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED was discharged once, with return of spontaneous circulation. An air ambulance crew found the patient haemodynamically stable, with no acute abnormalities on a 12-lead ECG. He had reduced consciousness and a dilated left pupil. On contacting the patient’s wife by telephone, she said that he had fallen and hit his head earlier that day. The crew decided to convey the patient to a Major Trauma Centre that had both neurosurgical and cardiology specialist services (rather than the nearest hospital) so that both traumatic brain injury and cardiac pathologies could be addressed if required. A head CT was normal, but coronary angiography demonstrated occlusion of two coronary arteries. These were successfully treated with stenting, and the patient went home two weeks later. He informed medical staff that his left pupil has been permanently dilated since he was a boy following a traumatic ocular injury. This case illustrates the utility of early deployment of an AED as well as the importance of an accurate history and emergency decision-making by prehospital personnel.
Efficacy and Safety of an Herbal Therapy in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 24‐Week Randomized Phase III Trial
Authors: Tian Jinzhou , Shi Jing , Li Tao , Li Lin , Wang Zhiliang , Li Xiaobin , Lv Zhu , Zheng Qingshan , Wei Mingqing , Wang Yongyan
Published: May 2017

Objective. In the 24‐week randomized, double‐blind, double‐placebo, parallel‐controlled trial, we aimed to test the effects of herbal therapy with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods. A total of 324 patients with aMCI entered a 2‐week placebo run‐in period followed by 24 weeks’ treatment of either (a) herbal capsule (5 shenwu capsules/administration, 3 times/day) and placebo identical to donepezil tablets (n = 216) or (b) donepezil (5 mg/day) and placebo identical to herbal capsule (n = 108). Results. Herbal therapy showed a significant improvement on the primary efficacy measure, measured by Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive subscale (ADAS‐cog), and showed a mean decrease from baseline of 4.23 points at the endpoint, without a significant difference from the donepezil group. Secondary efficacy measurement of the Logical Memory II Delayed Story Recall subtest (DSR) showed modest improvement in those taking herbal capsule compared to baseline, and there was no significant difference from donepezil group. The frequency of adverse events was much less in the herbal therapy group than the donepezil. Conclusion. Herbal therapy demonstrated a significant improvement in cognition and memory, which were similar to the donepezil in patients with aMCI. Herbal therapy was safe and well tolerated. Trial Registration. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT01451749.
Quantitative Identification of Adulterated Sichuan Pepper Powder by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics
Authors: Wu Xi-Yu , Zhu Shi-Ping , Huang Hua , Xu Dan
Published: May 2017

Sichuan pepper is a traditional and important flavoring of Chinese cuisine. It has attracted increasing interest in recent years owning to its unique taste and aroma. However, some cheap adulterants have been illegally found in Sichuan pepper powder in the market due to merchants trying to cut costs and gain an extra profit. In order to determine the compositions of Sichuan pepper powder quickly and effectively, a direct detection method using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been developed. 462 samples of adulterated Sichuan pepper powder mixed with different amounts of wheat bran, rice bran, corn flour, and rosin powder were studied. The NIR spectra data was studied using partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The method was found to be capable of predicting the compositions of adulterated Sichuan pepper powder. The determination coefficients of prediction set (Rp2) with the best pretreatments were 0.971 for Sichuan pepper powder, 0.948 for rice bran, 0.969 for wheat bran, 0.967 for corn flour, and 0.994 for rosin powder, respectively. The standard errors of prediction (SEP) were 2.81%, 2.38%, 3.19%, 2.46%, and 1.10%, respectively. The results showed that NIR spectroscopy with chemometrics is a rapid and nondestructive tool for the quantitative analysis of adulterated Sichuan pepper powder.
A Novel ECG Eigenvalue Detection Algorithm Based on Wavelet Transform
Authors: Peng Ziran , Wang Guojun
Published: May 2017

This study investigated an electrocardiogram (ECG) eigenvalue automatic analysis and detection method; ECG eigenvalues were used to reverse the myocardial action potential in order to achieve automatic detection and diagnosis of heart disease. Firstly, the frequency component of the feature signal was extracted based on the wavelet transform, which could be used to locate the signal feature after the energy integral processing. Secondly, this study established a simultaneous equations model of action potentials of the myocardial membrane, using ECG eigenvalues for regression fitting, in order to accurately obtain the eigenvalue vector of myocardial membrane potential. The experimental results show that the accuracy of ECG eigenvalue recognition is more than 99.27%, and the accuracy rate of detection of heart disease such as myocardial ischemia and heart failure is more than 86.7%.
Prion Diagnosis: Application of Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion
Authors: Kang Hae-Eun , Mo Youngwon , Abd Rahim Raihah , Lee Hye-Mi , Ryou Chongsuk
Published: May 2017

Prions composed of pathogenic scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) are infectious pathogens that cause progressive neurological conditions known as prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Although these diseases pose considerable risk to public health, procedures for early diagnosis have not been established. One of the most recent attempts at sensitive and specific detection of prions is the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) method, which measures the activity of PrPScaggregates or amyloid formation triggered by PrPScseeds in the presence of recombinant PrP. In this review, we summarize prions, prion diseases, and current approaches to diagnosis, including the principle, conditions for assay performance, and current diagnostic applications of RT-QuIC.
Optimization of Extraction Process for Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activities of Kursi Wufarikun Ziyabit Using Response Surface Methodology and Quantitative Analysis of Main Components
Authors: Edirs Salamet , Turak Ablajan , Numonov Sodik , Xin Xuelei , Aisa Haji Akber
Published: May 2017

By using extraction yield, total polyphenolic content, antidiabetic activities (PTP‐1B and α‐glycosidase), and antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH) as indicated markers, the extraction conditions of the prescription Kursi Wufarikun Ziyabit (KWZ) were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Independent variables were ethanol concentration, extraction temperature, solid‐to‐solvent ratio, and extraction time. The result of RSM analysis showed that the four variables investigated have a significant effect (p < 0.05) for Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, and Y5 with R2 value of 0.9120, 0.9793, 0.9076, 0.9125, and 0.9709, respectively. Optimal conditions for the highest extraction yield of 39.28%, PTP‐1B inhibition rate of 86.21%, α‐glycosidase enzymes inhibition rate of 96.56%, and ABTS inhibition rate of 77.38% were derived at ethanol concentration 50.11%, extraction temperature 72.06°C, solid‐to‐solvent ratio 1 : 22.73 g/mL, and extraction time 2.93 h. On the basis of total polyphenol content of 48.44% in this optimal condition, the quantitative analysis of effective part of KWZ was characterized via UPLC method, 12 main components were identified by standard compounds, and all of them have shown good regression within the test ranges and the total content of them was 11.18%.
Piper betle L. Modulates Senescence-Associated Genes Expression in Replicative Senescent Human Diploid Fibroblasts
Authors: Durani Lina Wati , Khor Shy Cian , Tan Jen Kit , Chua Kien Hui , Mohd Yusof Yasmin Anum , Makpol Suzana
Published: May 2017

Piper betle (PB) is a traditional medicine that is widely used to treat different diseases around Asian region. The leaf extracts contain various bioactive compounds, which were reported to have antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. In this study, the effect of PB aqueous extracts on replicative senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) was investigated by determining the expressions of senescence-associated genes using quantitative PCR. Our results showed that PB extracts at 0.4 mg/ml can improve cell proliferation of young (143%), presenescent (127.3%), and senescent (157.3%) HDFs. Increased expressions of PRDX6, TP53, CDKN2A, PAK2, and MAPK14 were observed in senescent HDFs compared to young and/or presenescent HDFs. Treatment with PB extracts modulates the transcriptional profile changes in senescent HDFs. By contrast, expressions of SOD1 increased, whereas GPX1, PRDX6, TP53, CDKN2A, PAK2, and MAPK14 were decreased in PB-treated senescent HDFs compared to untreated senescent HDFs. In conclusion, this study indicates the modulation of PB extracts on senescence-associated genes expression of replicative senescent HDFs. Further studies warrant determining the mechanism of PB in modulating replicative senescence of HDFs through these signaling pathways.
Pulmonary Embolism due to Inferior Vena Cava Compression by a Retroperitoneal Hematoma after Endovascular Repair of a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Shukuzawa Kota , Toya Naoki , Momokawa Yasutake , Fukushima Soichiro , Akiba Tadashi , Ohki Takao
Published: May 2017

We report a case of a patient with a residual hematoma compressing the inferior vena cava after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), which led to a pulmonary embolism (PE). A 65-year-old man underwent emergent EVAR for a ruptured aortic aneurysm in the right retroperitoneal region. He developed sudden chest pain at midnight of the fifth day after EVAR, and computed tomography demonstrated a massive PE. He subsequently went into cardiopulmonary arrest. This case suggested that abdominal complications due to a residual hematoma, including deep vein thrombosis and PE, should be considered in addition to compartment syndrome.
Fall Prevention Shoes Using Camera-Based Line-Laser Obstacle Detection System
Authors: Lin Tzung-Han , Yang Chi-Yun , Shih Wen-Pin
Published: May 2017

Fall prevention is an important issue particularly for the elderly. This paper proposes a camera-based line-laser obstacle detection system to prevent falls in the indoor environment. When obstacles are detected, the system will emit alarm messages to catch the attention of the user. Because the elderly spend a lot of their time at home, the proposed line-laser obstacle detection system is designed mainly for indoor applications. Our obstacle detection system casts a laser line, which passes through a horizontal plane and has a specific height to the ground. A camera, whose optical axis has a specific inclined angle to the plane, will observe the laser pattern to obtain the potential obstacles. Based on this configuration, the distance between the obstacles and the system can be further determined by a perspective transformation called homography. After conducting the experiments, critical parameters of the algorithms can be determined, and the detected obstacles can be classified into different levels of danger, causing the system to send different alarm messages.
An Innovative Serious Game for the Detection and Rehabilitation of Oral-Facial Malfunction in Children: A Pilot Study
Authors: Máximo-Bocanegra Nuria , Martín-Ruiz María-Luisa
Published: May 2017

We present SONRIE, a serious game based on virtual reality and comprising four games which act as tests where children must perform gestures in order to progress through several screens (raising eyebrows, kissing, blowing, and smiling). The aims of this pilot study were to evaluate the overall acceptance of the game and the capacity for detecting anomalies in motor execution and, lastly, to establish motor control benchmarks in orofacial muscles. For this purpose, tests were performed in school settings with 96 typically developing children aged between five and seven years. Regarding the different games, in the kissing game, children were able to execute the correct movement at six years of age and a precise movement at the age of seven years. Blowing actions required more maturity, starting from the age of five and achievable by the age of six years. The smiling game was performed correctly among all ages evaluated. The percentage of children who mastered this gesture with both precision and speed was progressively greater reaching more than 75% of values above 100 for children aged seven years. SONRIE was accepted enthusiastically among the population under study. In the future, SONRIE could be used as a tool for detecting difficulties regarding self-control and for influencing performance and the ability to produce fine-tuned facial movements.