bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Clinical Review
Authors: García de Acilu M. , Leal S. , Caralt B. , Roca O. , Sabater J. , Masclans J. R.
Published: August 2015

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as the acute onset of noncardiogenic edema and subsequent gas-exchange impairment due to a severe inflammatory process. Recent report on the prognostic value of eicosanoids in patients with ARDS suggests that modulating the inflammatory response through the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids may be a useful strategy for ARDS treatment. The use of enteral diets enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) has reported promising results, showing an improvement in respiratory variables and haemodynamics. However, the interpretation of the studies is limited by their heterogeneity and methodology and the effect ofω-3 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsion or enteral diets on patients with ARDS remains unclear. Therefore, the routine use ofω-3 fatty acid-enriched nutrition cannot be recommended and further large, homogeneous, and high-quality clinical trials need to be conducted to clarify the effectiveness ofω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Screening Ingredients from Herbs against Pregnane X Receptor in the Study of Inductive Herb-Drug Interactions: Combining Pharmacophore and Docking-Based Rank Aggregation
Authors: Cui Zhijie , Kang Hong , Tang Kailin , Liu Qi , Cao Zhiwei , Zhu Ruixin
Published: August 2015

The issue of herb-drug interactions has been widely reported. Herbal ingredients can activate nuclear receptors and further induce the gene expression alteration of drug-metabolizing enzyme and/or transporter. Therefore, the herb-drug interaction will happen when the herbs and drugs are coadministered. This kind of interaction is called inductive herb-drug interactions. Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and drug-metabolizing target genes are involved in most of inductive herb-drug interactions. To predict this kind of herb-drug interaction, the protocol could be simplified to only screen agonists of PXR from herbs because the relations of drugs with their metabolizing enzymes are well studied. Here, a combinational in silico strategy of pharmacophore modelling and docking-based rank aggregation (DRA) was employed to identify PXR’s agonists. Firstly, 305 ingredients were screened out from 820 ingredients as candidate agonists of PXR with our pharmacophore model. Secondly, DRA was used to rerank the result of pharmacophore filtering. To validate our prediction, a curated herb-drug interaction database was built, which recorded 380 herb-drug interactions. Finally, among the top 10 herb ingredients from the ranking list, 6 ingredients were reported to involve in herb-drug interactions. The accuracy of our method is higher than other traditional methods. The strategy could be extended to studies on other inductive herb-drug interactions.
Systemic Autoimmune, Rheumatic Diseases and Coinciding Psoriasis: Data from a Large Single‐Centre Registry and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bazsó Anna , Szodoray Péter , Szappanos Ágnes , Korda Judit , Pálfi Patrícia , Kiss Emese , Poór Gyula
Published: August 2015

Psoriasis is a systemic immune‐inflammatory disease characterized by chronic or recurrent skin symptoms, psoriatic arthritis, enthesopathy, and uveitis. Psoriasis has recently been published to appear with various autoimmune disorders, but the coexistence has been systematically reviewed by only few studies until now. In the present study, charts and electronic database of 4344 patients with various systemic autoimmune disorders, under regular medical control at our department, were reviewed retrospectively searching for association with psoriasis. Hereby, we demonstrate 25 psoriatic patients coinciding with various systemic autoimmune diseases. The coexistence of psoriasis and autoimmune diseases resulted in the worsening of the clinical outcome of the autoimmune diseases as indicated by higher frequency and dosages of glucocorticoid use, need for biologicals, and other comorbidities. These results suggest common environmental and genetic background as well as therapeutic possibilities in the future.
Lhermitte Sign as a Presenting Symptom of Thoracic Spinal Pathology: A Case Study
Authors: Hills Adam , Al-Hakim Mazen
Published: August 2015

A 54-year-old male with ankylosing spondylitis presented with complaints of progressively worsening bilateral leg weakness and difficulty ambulating of 2-week duration. He also felt a sharp, electric, shock-like sensation radiating from his lower back into his legs upon flexing the trunk. There was no history of trauma or other inciting events within the 2 weeks prior to presentation. Thoracic MRI at this visit showed a three-column fracture at T11-T12. He underwent spinal fusion surgery and within 2 days after surgery the radiating electrical sensation with spinal flexion had completely resolved.
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake to RegulateHelicobacter pylori-Associated Gastric Diseases as Nonantimicrobial Dietary Approach
Authors: Park Jong-Min , Jeong Migyeong , Kim Eun-Hee , Han Young-Min , Kwon Sung Hun , Hahm Ki-Baik
Published: August 2015

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), commonly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been acknowledged as essential long-chain fatty acids imposing either optimal health promotion or the rescuing from chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, fatty liver, and various inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. Recent studies dealing with EPA and DHA have sparked highest interests because detailed molecular mechanisms had been documented with the identification of its receptor, G protein coupled receptor, and GPR120. In this review article, we have described clear evidences showing that n-3 PUFAs could reduce variousHelicobacter pylori- (H. pylori-) associated gastric diseases and extended to play even cancer preventive outcomes includingH. pylori-associated gastric cancer by influencing multiple targets, including proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Since our previous studies strongly concluded that nonantimicrobial dietary approach for reducing inflammation, for instance, application of phytoceuticals, probiotics, natural products including Korean red ginseng, and walnut plentiful of n-3 PUFAs, might be prerequisite step for preventingH. pylori-associated gastric cancer as well as facilitating the rejuvenation of precancerous atrophic gastritis, these beneficial lipids can restore or modify inflammation-associated lipid distortion and correction of altered lipid rafts to send right signaling to maintain healthy stomach even after chronicH. pyloriinfection.
Supplier Selection Group Decision Making in Logistics Service Value Cocreation Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Wang Qifeng , Lv Hongbo
Published: August 2015

Intuitionistic fuzzy information aggregation plays an important role in intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and is widely used in group decision making. In this paper, an induced intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid aggregation operator (I-IFEHA) is investigated for supplier selection group decision making in logistics service value cocreation based on fuzzy measures. We first introduce some aggregation operators and Einstein operations on intuitionistic fuzzy sets and develop a new induced intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein hybrid aggregation operator to accommodate the environment in which the given arguments are intuitionistic fuzzy values. Then, we study the supplier selection group decision model in logistics service value cocreation based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets with the I-IFEHA operator. Finally, an example of 3PL supplier selection in logistics service value cocreation environment is given to verify the developed approach and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed approach.
Rough Multilinear Fractional Integrals on Weighted Morrey Spaces
Authors: Li Xiao , Cui Runqing
Published: August 2015

It is showed that a class of multilinear fractional operators with rough kernels, which are similar to the higher-order commutators for the rough fractional integrals, are bounded on the weighted Morrey spaces.
Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials on Safety and Efficacy of Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Treatments for Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Sacchetti Marta , Mantelli Flavio , Merlo Daniela , Lambiase Alessandro
Published: August 2015

Aims.Several treatments have been proposed to slow down progression of Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a hereditary retinal degenerative condition leading to severe visual impairment. The aim of this study is to systematically review data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating safety and efficacy of medical interventions for the treatment of RP.Methods.Randomized clinical trials on medical treatments for syndromic and nonsyndromic RP published up to December 2014 were included in the review. Visual acuity, visual field, electroretinogram, and adverse events were used as outcome measures.Results.The 19 RCTs included in this systematic review included trials on hyperbaric oxygen delivery, topical brimonidine tartrate, vitamins, docosahexaenoic acid, gangliosides, lutein, oral nilvadipine, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and valproic acid. All treatments proved safe but did not show significant benefit on visual function. Long term supplementation with vitamin A showed a significantly slower decline rate in electroretinogram amplitude.Conclusions.Although all medical treatments for RP appear safe, evidence emerging from RCTs is limited since they do not present comparable results suitable for quantitative statistical analysis. The limited number of RCTs, the poor clinical results, and the heterogeneity among studies negatively influence the strength of recommendations for the long term management of RP patients.
Serotonin Syndrome in the Setting of Lamotrigine, Aripiprazole, and Cocaine Use
Authors: Kotwal Anupam , Cutrona Sarah L.
Published: August 2015

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with increased serotonergic activity in the central nervous system. It is classically associated with the simultaneous administration of two serotonergic agents, but it can occur after initiation of a single serotonergic drug or increasing the dose of a serotonergic drug in individuals who are particularly sensitive to serotonin. We describe a case of serotonin syndrome that occurred after ingestion of higher than prescribed doses of lamotrigine and aripiprazole, in addition to cocaine abuse. The diagnosis was established based on Hunter toxicity criteria and severity was classified as mild. The features of this syndrome resolved shortly after discontinuation of the offending agents. Serotonin syndrome is characterized by mental status changes, autonomic hyperactivity, and neuromuscular abnormalities along a spectrum ranging from mild to severe. Serotonin syndrome in our patient was most likely caused by the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between lamotrigine, aripiprazole, and cocaine leading to increased CNS serotonergic activity.
Serum IL‐6 and IL‐23 Levels and Their Correlation with Angiogenic Cytokines and Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and SAPHO Syndrome
Authors: Przepiera-Będzak Hanna , Fischer Katarzyna , Brzosko Marek
Published: August 2015

Objectives. To assess serum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) and their correlation with angiogenic cytokines and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and SAPHO syndrome. Patients and Methods. We studied 152 spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients: 69 PsA, 61 AS, 22 SAPHO, and 29 controls. We recorded age, sex, disease duration, and treatment. We assessed BASDAI, VAS, and PASI scores. Serum IL‐6, IL‐23, VEGF, EGF, FGFb, and FGFa levels were determined using ELISA. We estimated ESR and CRP. Results. Serum IL‐6 and IL‐23 levels were higher in SpA than in control (P < 0.00001 and P = 0.0004, resp.). There was a positive correlation between serum IL‐6 and CRP in AS (P = 0.000001), PsA (P = 0.000001), and SAPHO (P = 0.0003) patients. There was a positive correlation between serum IL‐6 and ESR in AS (P = 0.000001), PsA (P = 0.002), and SAPHO (P = 0.02) patients. There was no correlation of serum IL‐6 and IL‐23 with VAS, BASDAI, and angiogenic cytokines in SpA. Conclusions. Serum IL‐6 but not serum IL‐23 correlated with ESR and CRP in SpA. No correlation was found of serum IL‐6 and IL‐23 with VAS, BASDAI, and angiogenic cytokines.
Risk Factors of the Invasive Breast Cancer Locoregional Recurrence
Authors: Liubota R. V. , Zotov A. S. , Vereshchako R. I. , Liubota I. I. , Zaychuk V. V.
Published: August 2015

Background. The aim of the research was to estimate the frequency of the locoregional breast cancer recurrence appearance, the recurrence-free period continuance, and the 3- and 5-year survival depending on the scope of the surgical intervention, menstrual profile, and histological and molecular-biologic characteristics of the primary tumor.Patients and Methods. Among 218 patients with a breast cancer, 99 patients had breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and 119 underwent radical mastectomy (RME); all patients had regional lymphatic nodes dissection. The size and the primary tumor differentiation degree, metastasis presence in the regional lymph nodes, ER expression, PR, and Her/2neu were assessed as the prognostics factors.Results. It was defined that the locoregional recurrence appearance frequency in patients with BCS turned out to be 13%, and in patients after RME it turned out to be 9%; the recurrence-free period continuance was53±8months and56±10months, respectively.Conclusions. The locoregional cancer recurrence frequency is higher in women with the menstrual function being preserved at the moment of the primary tumor detection than in postmenopausal patients and also in patients having the hyperexpression of the Her/2neu. The ipsilateral cancer recurrence decreases the 3-year survival by 7,1% and the 5-year one by 20,3%, respectively.
Validation of Simulation Models without Knowledge of Parameters Using Differential Algebra
Authors: Haffke Björn , Möller Riccardo , Melz Tobias , Strackeljan Jens
Published: August 2015

This study deals with the external validation of simulation models using methods from differential algebra. Without any system identification or iterative numerical methods, this approach provides evidence that the equations of a model can represent measured and simulated sets of data. This is very useful to check if a model is, in general, suitable. In addition, the application of this approach to verification of the similarity between the identifiable parameters of two models with different sets of input and output measurements is demonstrated. We present a discussion on how the method can be used to find parameter deviations between any two models. The advantage of this method is its applicability to nonlinear systems as well as its algorithmic nature, which makes it easy to automate.
Symmetry Based Automatic Evolution of Clusters: A New Approach to Data Clustering
Authors: Vijendra Singh , Laxman Sahoo
Published: August 2015

We present a multiobjective genetic clustering approach, in which data points are assigned to clusters based on new line symmetry distance. The proposed algorithm is called multiobjective line symmetry based genetic clustering (MOLGC). Two objective functions, first the Davies-Bouldin (DB) index and second the line symmetry distance based objective functions, are used. The proposed algorithm evolves near-optimal clustering solutions using multiple clustering criteria, without a priori knowledge of the actual number of clusters. The multiple randomizedKdimensional (Kd) trees based nearest neighbor search is used to reduce the complexity of finding the closest symmetric points. Experimental results based on several artificial and real data sets show that proposed clustering algorithm can obtain optimal clustering solutions in terms of different cluster quality measures in comparison to existing SBKM and MOCK clustering algorithms.
Theoretical and Experimental Study of Spectral Selectivity Surface for Both Solar Heating and Radiative Cooling
Authors: Hu Mingke , Pei Gang , Li Lei , Zheng Renchun , Li Junfei , Ji Jie
Published: August 2015

A spectral selectivity surface for both solar heating and radiative cooling was proposed. It has a high spectral absorptivity (emissivity) in the solar radiation band and atmospheric window band (i.e., 0.2~3 μm and 8~13 μm), as well as a low absorptivity (emissivity) in other bands aside from the solar radiation and atmospheric window wavelengths (i.e., 3~8 μm or above 13 μm). A type of composite surface sample was trial-manufactured combining titanium-based solar selective absorbing coating with polyethylene terephthalate (TPET). Sample tests showed that the TPET composite surface has clear spectral selectivity in the spectra of solar heating and radiation cooling wavelengths. The equilibrium temperatures of the TPET surface under different sky conditions or different inclination angles of surface were tested at both day and night. Numerical analysis and comparisons among the TPET composite surface and three other typical surfaces were also performed. These comparisons indicated that the TPET composite surface had a relative heat efficiency of 76.8% of that of the conventional solar heating surface and a relative temperature difference of 75.0% of that of the conventional radiative cooling surface, with little difference in cooling power.
Biological Roles of Resolvins and Related Substances in the Resolution of Pain
Authors: Lim Ji Yeon , Park Chul-Kyu , Hwang Sun Wook
Published: August 2015

Endogenous pain-inhibitory substances have rarely been found. A group of powerful pain suppressor molecules that are endogenously generated are now emerging: resolvins and related compounds including neuroprotectins and maresins. These molecules began to be unveiled in a series of inflammation studies more than a decade ago, rapidly shifting the paradigm that explains the mechanism for the inflammatory phase switch. The resolution phase was considered a passive process as proinflammatory mediators disappeared; it is now understood to be actively drawn by the actions of resolvins. Surprisingly, these substances potently affect the pain state. Although this research area is not fully matured, consistently beneficial outcomes have been observed in a variousin vivoandin vitropain models. Furthermore, multiple hypotheses on the neuronal and molecular mechanisms for alleviating pain are being tested, deriving inspiration from existing inflammation and pain studies. This paper serves as a brief summary of the proresolving roles of resolvins and related lipid mediators in inflammation and also as a review for accumulated information of their painkilling actions. This also includes potential receptor-mediated mechanisms and discusses future scientific perspectives. Further diverse approaches will help to construct a hidden axis of natural protection principles and establish proofs of concept for pain relief.
Evaluation of Anti-TBGL Antibody in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Patients in China
Authors: Zhao Jingge , Zhu Zhaoqin , Zhang Xiaoyan , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Chagan-Yasutan Haorile , Chen Haili , Wan Yanmin , Xu Jianqing , Ashino Yugo , Hattori Toshio
Published: August 2015

Tuberculous glycolipid (TBGL) is a component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall, and anti-TBGL antibodies are used for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Anti-TBGL IgG and IgA levels were measured in 45 pulmonary TB patients (PTB), 26 extra-pulmonary TB patients (ETB), 16 AIDS-TB patients, and 58 healthy controls (HC) including 39 health care workers (HW) and 19 newly enrolled students (ST). Anti-TBGL IgG measurements yielded 68.9% and 46.2% sensitivity in PTB and ETB, respectively, and 81.0% specificity. However, anti-TBGL IgA measurements were significantly less sensitive in detecting ETB than PTB (15.4% versus 46.7% sensitivity) but showed up to 89.7% specificity. Samples from AIDS-TB patients exhibited low reaction of anti-TBGL IgG and IgA with 6.3% and 12.5% sensitivity, respectively. Unlike anti-lipoarabinomannan (LAM) IgG that was found to elevate in sputum smearpositive subjects, anti-TBGL IgG and IgA elevated in those with cavitation and bronchiectasis, respectively. Anti-TBGL IgG in cavitary TB yielded 78.2% sensitivity compared to 57.1% in those otherwise. Meanwhile, higher anti-TBGL IgA titers were observed in HW than in ST, and increasing anti-TBGL IgG titers were observed in HW on follow-up. Therefore, higher anti-TBGL antibody titers are present in patients presenting cavities and bronchiectasis and subjects under TB exposure risk.
Gigantol Suppresses Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes in Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Bhummaphan Narumol , Chanvorachote Pithi
Published: August 2015

As cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to malignancy, metastasis, and relapse of cancers, potential of compound in inhibition of CSCs has garnered most attention in the cancer research as well as drug development fields recently. Herein, we have demonstrated for the first time that gigantol, a pure compound isolated fromDendrobium draconis, dramatically suppressed stem-like phenotypes of human lung cancer cells. Gigantol at nontoxic concentrations significantly reduced anchorage-independent growth and survival of the cancer cells. Importantly, gigantol significantly reduced the ability of the cancer cells to form tumor spheroids, a critical hallmark of CSCs. Concomitantly, the treatment of the compound was shown to reduce well-known lung CSCs markers, including CD133 and ALDH1A1. Moreover, we revealed that gigantol decreased stemness in the cancer cells by suppressing the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) signal which in turn decreased the cellular levels of pluripotency and self-renewal factors Oct4 and Nanog. In conclusion, gigantol possesses CSCs suppressing activity which may facilitate the development of this compound for therapeutic approaches by targeting CSCs.
The Role of Poly(ADP‐ribose) Polymerase‐1 in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: García Samuel , Conde Carmen
Published: August 2015

Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) is a nuclear enzyme with a crucial role in the maintenance of genomic stability. In addition to the role of PARP‐1 in DNA repair, multiple studies have also demonstrated its involvement in several inflammatory diseases, such as septic shock, asthma, atherosclerosis, and stroke, as well as in cancer. In these diseases, the pharmacological inhibition of PARP‐1 has shown a beneficial effect, suggesting that PARP‐1 regulates their inflammatory processes. In recent years, we have studied the role of PARP‐1 in rheumatoid arthritis, as have other researchers, and the results have shown that PARP‐1 has an important function in the development of this disease. This review summarizes current knowledge on the effects of PARP‐1 in rheumatoid arthritis.
Serum Vitamin A and Inflammatory Markers in Individuals with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Caram L. M. O. , Amaral R. A. F. , Ferrari R. , Tanni S. E. , Correa C. R. , Paiva S. A. R. , Godoy I.
Published: August 2015

Background. Vitamin A is essential for the preservation and integrity of the lung epithelium and exerts anti‐inflammatory effects. Objective. Evaluating vitamin A in the serum and sputum and testing its correlation with inflammatory markers in individuals with or without COPD. Methods. We evaluated dietary intake, serum and sputum vitamin A, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin‐ (IL‐) 6, IL‐8, and C‐reactive protein in 50 COPD patients (age = 64.0 ± 8.8 y; FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second) (%) = 49.8 ± 16.8) and 50 controls (age = 48.5 ± 7.4 y; FEV1 (%) = 110.0 ± 15.7). Results. COPD exhibited lower serum vitamin A (1.8 (1.2–2.1) versus 2.1 (1.8–2.4) μmol/L, P < 0.001) and lower vitamin A intake (636.9 (339.6–1349.6) versus 918.0 (592.1–1654.6) RAE, P = 0.05) when compared with controls. Sputum concentration of vitamin A was not different between groups. Sputum vitamin A and neutrophils were negatively correlated (R2 = −0.26; P = 0.03). Smoking (0.197, P = 0.042) exhibited positive association with serum vitamin A. COPD was associated with lower serum concentrations of vitamin A without relationship with the systemic inflammation. Conclusions. Serum concentration of vitamin A is negatively associated with the presence of COPD and positively associated with smoking status. Sputum retinol is quantifiable and is negatively influenced by neutrophils. Although COPD patients exhibited increased inflammation it was not associated with serum retinol.
Some Applications of New Modifiedq-Integral Type Operators
Authors: Pathak R. P. , Sahoo Shiv Kumar
Published: August 2015

We introduce a new sequence ofq-integral operators. We show that it is a weighted approximation process in the polynomial space of continuous functions defined on unit interval. Weighted statistical approximation theorem, Korovkin type theorems for fuzzy continuous functions, and an estimate for the rate of convergence for these operators.
Laser Raman Spectroscopy with Different Excitation Sources and Extension to Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Wahadoszamen Md. , Rahaman Arifur , Hoque Nabil Md. Rakinul , I Talukder Aminul , Abedin Kazi Monowar , Haider A. F. M. Yusuf
Published: August 2015

A dispersive Raman spectrometer was used with three different excitation sources (Argon-ion, He-Ne, and Diode lasers operating at 514.5 nm, 633 nm, and 782 nm, resp.). The system was employed to a variety of Raman active compounds. Many of the compounds exhibit very strong fluorescence while being excited with a laser emitting at UV-VIS region, hereby imposing severe limitation to the detection efficiency of the particular Raman system. The Raman system with variable excitation laser sources provided us with a desired flexibility toward the suppression of unwanted fluorescence signal. With this Raman system, we could detect and specify the different vibrational modes of various hazardous organic compounds and some typical dyes (both fluorescent and nonfluorescent). We then compared those results with the ones reported in literature and found the deviation within the range of ±2 cm−1, which indicates reasonable accuracy and usability of the Raman system. Then, the surface enhancement technique of Raman spectrum was employed to the present system. To this end, we used chemically prepared colloidal suspension of silver nanoparticles as substrate and Rhodamine 6G as probe. We could observe significant enhancement of Raman signal from Rhodamine 6G using the colloidal solution of silver nanoparticles the average magnitude of which is estimated to be 103.
A Review on Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition and Low Temperature Combustion by Optical Diagnostics
Authors: Jin Chao , Zheng Zunqing
Published: August 2015

Optical diagnostics is an effective method to understand the physical and chemical reaction processes in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) and low temperature combustion (LTC) modes. Based on optical diagnostics, the true process on mixing, combustion, and emissions can be seen directly. In this paper, the mixing process by port-injection and direct-injection are reviewed firstly. Then, the combustion chemical reaction mechanism is reviewed based on chemiluminescence, natural-luminosity, and laser diagnostics. After, the evolution of pollutant emissions measured by different laser diagnostic methods is reviewed and the measured species including NO, soot, UHC, and CO. Finally, a summary and the future directions on HCCI and LTC used optical diagnostics are presented.
Exercise Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Kirkham Amy A. , Davis Margot K.
Published: August 2015

Thanks to increasingly effective treatment, breast cancer mortality rates have significantly declined over the past few decades. Following the increase in life expectancy of women diagnosed with breast cancer, it has been recognized that these women are at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease due in part to the cardiotoxic side effects of treatment. This paper reviews evidence for the role of exercise in prevention of cardiovascular toxicity associated with chemotherapy used in breast cancer, and in modifying cardiovascular risk factors in breast cancer survivors. There is growing evidence indicating that the primary mechanism for this protective effect appears to be improved antioxidant capacity in the heart and vasculature and subsequent reduction of treatment-related oxidative stress in these structures. Further clinical research is needed to determine whether exercise is a feasible and effective nonpharmacological treatment to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in breast cancer survivors, to identify the cancer therapies for which it is effective, and to determine the optimal exercise dose. Safe and noninvasive measures that are sensitive to changes in cardiovascular function are required to answer these questions in patient populations. Cardiac strain, endothelial function, and cardiac biomarkers are suggested outcome measures for clinical research in this field.
K-Profiles: A Nonlinear Clustering Method for Pattern Detection in High Dimensional Data
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhao Qing , Lu Jianwei , Yu Tianwei
Published: August 2015

With modern technologies such as microarray, deep sequencing, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), it is possible to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes/proteins simultaneously to unravel important biological processes. A very first step towards elucidating hidden patterns and understanding the massive data is the application of clustering techniques. Nonlinear relations, which were mostly unutilized in contrast to linear correlations, are prevalent in high-throughput data. In many cases, nonlinear relations can model the biological relationship more precisely and reflect critical patterns in the biological systems. Using the general dependency measure, Distance Based on Conditional Ordered List (DCOL) that we introduced before, we designed the nonlinearK-profiles clustering method, which can be seen as the nonlinear counterpart of theK-means clustering algorithm. The method has a built-in statistical testing procedure that ensures genes not belonging to any cluster do not impact the estimation of cluster profiles. Results from extensive simulation studies showed thatK-profiles clustering not only outperformed traditional linearK-means algorithm, but also presented significantly better performance over our previous General Dependency Hierarchical Clustering (GDHC) algorithm. We further analyzed a gene expression dataset, on whichK-profile clustering generated biologically meaningful results.
A Simple Fitness Function for Minimum Attribute Reduction
Authors: Su Yuebin , Guo Jin , Li Zejun
Published: August 2015

The goal of minimal attribute reduction is to find the minimal subsetRof the condition attribute setCsuch thatRhas the same classification quality asC. This problem is well known to be NP-hard. When only one minimal attribute reduction is required, it was transformed into a nonlinearly constrained combinatorial optimization problem over a Boolean space and some heuristic search approaches were used. In this case, the fitness function is one of the keys of this problem. It required that the fitness function must satisfy the equivalence between the optimal solution and the minimal attribute reduction. Unfortunately, the existing fitness functions either do not meet the equivalence, or are too complicated. In this paper, a simple and better fitness function based on positive domain was given. Theoretical proof shows that the optimal solution is equivalent to minimal attribute reduction. Experimental results show that the proposed fitness function is better than the existing fitness function for each algorithm in test.
Isolation and Characterization of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Yeast Strains from Petroleum Contaminated Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Gargouri Boutheina , Mhiri Najla , Karray Fatma , Aloui Fathi , Sayadi Sami
Published: August 2015

Two yeast strains are enriched and isolated from industrial refinery wastewater. These strains were observed for their ability to utilize several classes of petroleum hydrocarbons substrates, such asn-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons as a sole carbon source. Phylogenetic analysis based on the D1/D2 variable domain and the ITS-region sequences indicated that strains HC1 and HC4 were members of the generaCandidaandTrichosporon, respectively. The mechanism of hydrocarbon uptaking by yeast,Candida,andTrichosporonhas been studied by means of the kinetic analysis of hydrocarbons-degrading yeasts growth and substrate assimilation. Biodegradation capacity and biomass quantity were daily measured during twelve days by gravimetric analysis and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry techniques. Removal ofn-alkanes indicated a strong ability of hydrocarbon biodegradation by the isolated yeast strains. These two strains grew on long-chainn-alkane, diesel oil, and crude oil but failed to grow on short-chainn-alkane and aromatic hydrocarbons. Growth measurement attributes of the isolates, usingn-hexadecane, diesel oil, and crude oil as substrates, showed that strain HC1 had better degradation for hydrocarbon substrates than strain HC4. In conclusion, these yeast strains can be useful for the bioremediation process and decreasing petroleum pollution in wastewater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Design of Pd-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for ORR: A DFT Calculation Study
Authors: Ou Lihui
Published: August 2015

Developing Pd-lean catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key for large-scale application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In the present paper, we have proposed a multiple-descriptor strategy for designing efficient and durable ORR Pd-based alloy catalysts. We demonstrated that an ideal Pd-based bimetallic alloy catalyst for ORR should possess simultaneously negative alloy formation energy, negative surface segregation energy of Pd, and a lower oxygen binding ability than pure Pt. By performing detailed DFT calculations on the thermodynamics, surface chemistry and electronic properties of Pd-M alloys, Pd-V, Pd-Fe, Pd-Zn, Pd-Nb, and Pd-Ta, are identified theoretically to have stable Pd segregated surface and improved ORR activity. Factors affecting these properties are analyzed. The alloy formation energy of Pd with transition metals M can be mainly determined by their electron interaction. This may be the origin of the negative alloy formation energy for Pd-M alloys. The surface segregation energy of Pd is primarily determined by the surface energy and the atomic radius of M. The metals M which have smaller atomic radius and higher surface energy would tend to favor the surface segregation of Pd in corresponding Pd-M alloys.
An Intelligent Model for Pairs Trading Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Huang Chien-Feng , Hsu Chi-Jen , Chen Chi-Chung , Chang Bao Rong , Li Chen-An
Published: August 2015

Pairs trading is an important and challenging research area in computational finance, in which pairs of stocks are bought and sold in pair combinations for arbitrage opportunities. Traditional methods that solve this set of problems mostly rely on statistical methods such as regression. In contrast to the statistical approaches, recent advances in computational intelligence (CI) are leading to promising opportunities for solving problems in the financial applications more effectively. In this paper, we present a novel methodology for pairs trading using genetic algorithms (GA). Our results showed that the GA-based models are able to significantly outperform the benchmark and our proposed method is capable of generating robust models to tackle the dynamic characteristics in the financial application studied. Based upon the promising results obtained, we expect this GA-based method to advance the research in computational intelligence for finance and provide an effective solution to pairs trading for investment in practice.
Herb-Partitioned Moxibustion Regulates the TLR2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Wang Xiaomei , Liu Yanan , Dong Hongsheng , Wu Luyi , Feng Xiaoming , Zhou Zhigang , Zhao Chen , Liu Huirong , Wu Huangan
Published: August 2015

The TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathomechanism of ulcerative colitis (UC); acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the damage in colonic tissues of UC, but the regulatory mechanism remains unknown. This study observed the effect of moxibustion on the TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway at the Tianshu (ST25) and Qihai (CV6) acupuncture points in the UC rat. The result shows that TLR2, IRAK1, and IKK-b mRNA and protein levels in the colonic mucosa were significantly higher in the UC rats than in the control rats. Herb-partitioned moxibustion reduced the expression of TLR2, IRAK1, and IKK-b mRNA and proteins in the UC rats. Similarly, the expression of NF-κB was significantly increased and IFN-βand IL-10 were significantly decreased in the colonic mucosa of UC rats, but herb-partitioned moxibustion reduced the expression of IFN-βand upregulating the expression of IFN-βand IL-10 significantly. It indicates that herb-partitioned moxibustion can inhibit the expression of multiple signaling molecules of the TLR2 pathway effectively, and it may modulate the excessive local immune response by inhibiting TLR2 signaling, thereby promoting the repair of damaged colonic mucosa.
Optimization of High-Dimensional Functions through Hypercube Evaluation
Authors: Abiyev Rahib H. , Tunay Mustafa
Published: August 2015

A novel learning algorithm for solving global numerical optimization problems is proposed. The proposed learning algorithm is intense stochastic search method which is based on evaluation and optimization of a hypercube and is called the hypercube optimization (HO) algorithm. The HO algorithm comprises the initialization and evaluation process, displacement-shrink process, and searching space process. The initialization and evaluation process initializes initial solution and evaluates the solutions in given hypercube. The displacement-shrink process determines displacement and evaluates objective functions using new points, and the search area process determines next hypercube using certain rules and evaluates the new solutions. The algorithms for these processes have been designed and presented in the paper. The designed HO algorithm is tested on specific benchmark functions. The simulations of HO algorithm have been performed for optimization of functions of 1000-, 5000-, or even 10000 dimensions. The comparative simulation results with other approaches demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is a potential candidate for optimization of both low and high dimensional functions.
Reconstruction of Radiated Gluteal Defects following Sarcoma Resection with Pedicled Sensate Tensor Fascia Lata Flaps
Authors: Chao Albert H. , Kearns Patrick N.
Published: August 2015

Sarcomas of the gluteal region often result in sizable defects following resection that are challenging to reconstruct due to their location, particularly in patients who have received radiation therapy. Reconstruction of these defects has been seldom discussed in the literature. We present two patients with large radiated gluteal defects following sarcoma resection, of which one patient received neoadjuvant radiation and the other received intraoperative radiation therapy. As a result of the resection and radiation, local tissues and recipient vessels were unsuitable for use in reconstruction. A pedicled tensor fascia lata (TFL) flap was therefore performed in both cases, which resulted in durable sensate reconstruction with good functional outcomes and no complications. We believe the pedicled TFL flap represents an important option for the reconstruction of oncologic gluteal defects that provides well-vascularized and sensate tissue from outside the zone of radiation without the need for microsurgical techniques.
Development of Agranulocytosis after Discontinuation of Methimazole: An Unusual Case
Authors: Üçler Rıfkı , Atmaca Murat , Candar Ömer , Alay Murat , Göy Burhan , Kara Erdal , Turan Mahfuz , Demir Yusuf
Published: August 2015

Agranulocytosis is a rare and critical adverse effect of antithyroid drugs (ATD). The occurrence of agranulocytosis in continuous ATD treatment patients is well known; however, a case of ATD agranulocytosis occurring following the discontinuation of methimazole (MMI) treatment is not a usual situation. We herein describe a case of a 41-year-old woman who was previously administered methimazole (MMI) for ten days and developed ATD-induced agranulocytosis and symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection after three weeks following discontinuation of MMI treatment. A thorough hematologic and serological evaluation did not disclose an alternative cause for the agranulocytosis. After receiving empirical antibiotic treatment, she responded successfully with clinical improvement of her symptoms and resolved neutropenia on the seventh day. This case is atypical because agranulocytosis developed after discontinuation of MMI, which strengthens the importance of remaining alert for signs of agranulocytosis even after discontinuation of ATD treatment.
Study of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal and Tendon-Derived Stem Cells Transplantation on the Regenerating Effect of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in Rats
Authors: Al-ani Mohanad Kh , Xu Kang , Sun Yanjun , Pan Lianhong , Xu ZhiLing , Yang Li
Published: August 2015

Comparative therapeutic significance of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation to treat ruptured Achilles tendon was studied. Three groups of SD rats comprising 24 rats each, designated as TDSCs and BMSCs, and nontreated were studied for regenerative effects through morpho-histological evaluations and ultimate failure load. For possible mechanism in tendon repair/regeneration through TDSCs and BMSCs, we measured Collagen-I (Col-I), Col-III gene expression level by RT-PCR, and Tenascin-C expression via immunofluorescent assay. TDSCs showed higher agility in tendon healing with better appearance density and well-organized longitudinal fibrous structure, though BMSCs also showed positive effects. Initially the ultimate failure load was considerably higher in TDSCs than other two study groups during the weeks 1 and 2, but at week 4 it attained an average or healthy tendon strength of 30.2 N. Similar higher tendency in Col-I/III gene expression level during weeks 1, 2, and 4 was observed in TDSCs treated group with an upregulation of 1.5-fold and 1.1-fold than the other two study groups. Immunofluorescent assay revealed higher expression of Tenascin-C in TDSCs at week 1, while both TDSCs and BMSCs treated groups showed detectable CM-Dil-labelled cells at week 4. Compared with BMSCs, TDSCs showed higher regenerative potential while treating ruptured Achilles tendons in rats.
The Evolution of T-cell Therapies for Solid Malignancies
Authors: Fousek Kristen , Ahmed Nabil
Published: August 2015

Primary resistant, recurrent, and relapsed solid tumors are often nonresponsive to conventional antineoplastic therapies. Moreover, in responsive tumors, the therapeutic-to-toxic range of these interventions remains quite narrow, such that side effects of therapy are substantial. Targeted therapies, such as adoptive T-cell transfer, not only spare normal tissues but also use alternative killing mechanisms to which the tumor cells are usually not immune. Adoptive T-cell transfer for solid tumors faces unique challenges because of the inherent heterogeneity of tumor parenchyma, the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, and tumor occurrence in areas with limited therapeutic accessibility. In this review, we examine the recent evolution of various T-cell–based immunotherapeutics, the mechanisms of action behind their antitumor activity, their increasing complexity, and the prospect of building on previous successes in the treatment of solid tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 21(15); 3384–92. ©2015 AACR.
Preclinical Efficacy and Safety Assessment of an Antibody–Drug Conjugate Targeting the c-RET Proto-Oncogene for Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Nguyen Minh , Miyakawa Shuichi , Kato Junichi , Mori Toshiyuki , Arai Toshimitsu , Armanini Mark , Gelmon Karen , Yerushalmi Rinat , Leung Samuel , Gao Dongxia , Landes Gregory , Haak-Frendscho Mary , Elias Kathleen , Simmons Andrew D.
Published: August 2015

Purpose: The RET proto-oncogene has been implicated in breast cancer, and the studies herein describe the preclinical and safety assessment of an anti-RET antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) being developed for the treatment of breast cancer.

Experimental Design: RET protein expression was analyzed in breast tumor samples using tissue microarrays. The fully human anti-RET antibody (Y078) was conjugated to the DM1 and DM4 derivatives of the potent cytotoxic agent maytansine using thioether and disulfide linkers, respectively. The resulting compounds, designated Y078-DM1 and Y078-DM4, were evaluated for antitumor activity using human breast cancer cell lines and established tumor xenograft models. A single-dose, 28-day, safety study of Y078-DM1 was performed in cynomolgus monkeys.

Results: By immunohistochemistry, RET expression was detected in 57% of tumors (1,596 of 2,800 tumor sections) and was most common in HER2-positive and basal breast cancer subtypes. Potent in vitro cytotoxicity was achieved in human breast cancer cell lines that have expression levels comparable with those observed in breast cancer tissue samples. Dose-response studies in xenograft models demonstrated antitumor activity with both weekly and every-3-weeks dosing regimens. In cynomolgus monkeys, a single injection of Y078-DM1 demonstrated dose-dependent, reversible drug-mediated alterations in blood chemistry with evidence of on-target neuropathy.

Conclusions: RET is broadly expressed in breast cancer specimens and thus represents a potential therapeutic target; Y078-DM1 and Y078-DM4 demonstrated antitumor activity in preclinical models. Optimization of the dosing schedule or an alternate cytotoxic agent with a different mechanism of action may reduce the potential risk of neuropathy. Clin Cancer Res; 21(24); 5552–62. ©2015 AACR.
Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome
Authors: Ben-Skowronek Iwona , Kozaczuk Sylwia
Published: August 2015

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a hereditary cancer syndrome characterized by the development of multiple vascular tumours. The syndrome is caused by inactivation of the VHL protein (pVHL) and increased production of VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-α. The course of VHL syndrome is associated with the development of multiple vascular tumours. Most frequently, these include retinal and central nervous system haemangioblastomas, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, phaeochromocytomas, pancreatic islet tumours, endolymphatic sac tumours, and additionally, renal and pancreatic cystadenomas and epididymal cystadenomas in men. VHL syndrome is a highly complex disease; hence, the diagnosis is often difficult. The diagnosis of any of the characteristic tumours, particularly in children, is an implicit indication for the necessity of diagnosis and genetic tests in the patient and family members and for intensive supervision of carriers of the mutated gene, thereby improving early diagnosis and successful treatment of the malignancies.