bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modified-release prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica: a multicentre, randomised, active-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study
Authors: Cutolo Maurizio , Hopp Michael , Liebscher Stefan , Dasgupta Bhaskar , Buttgereit Frank
Published: March 2017

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of modified-release (MR) versus immediate-release (IR) prednisone in newly diagnosed glucocorticoid (GC)-naïve patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods

Patients were randomised to double-blind MR prednisone (taken at approximately 22:00) or IR prednisone (taken in the morning), 15 mg/day for 4 weeks. The primary end point was complete response rate (≥70% reduction in PMR visual analogue scale, duration of morning stiffness and C reactive protein (CRP) (or CRP <2× upper limit of normal (ULN))) at week 4. Non-inferiority was decided if the lower 95% confidence limit (MR vs IR prednisone) was above −15%. 400 patients were planned but only 62 were enrolled due to difficulties in recruiting GC-naïve patients with PMR with CRP ≥2×ULN.

Results

The percentage of complete responders at week 4 was numerically greater for MR prednisone (53.8%) than for IR prednisone (40.9%). Non-inferiority of MR versus IR prednisone was not proven in the primary analysis on the per protocol population (N=48; treatment difference: 12.22%; 95% CI −15.82% to 40.25%). However, sensitivity analysis on the full analysis population showed an evident trend favouring MR prednisone (N=62; treatment difference: 15.56%; 95% CI −9.16% to 40.28%). Adverse events were generally mild and transient with no unexpected safety observations.

Conclusions

The study showed a clear trend for favourable short-term efficacy of MR prednisone versus IR prednisone in early treatment of PMR. Further studies are warranted.

Trial registration number

EudraCT number 2011-002353-57; Results.
Management of diaphyseal tibial fractures by plate fixation with absolute or relative stability: a retrospective study of 45 patients
Authors: Concha Sandoval Juan Manuel , Osma Rueda José Luis , Sandoval Daza Alejandro
Published: March 2017

Background

Fixation of diaphyseal tibial fractures by plates is not considered the best option due to complications that may eventually arise; however, if principles of stability and proper surgical techniques are used, it is possible to obtain fracture consolidation without major risks.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional observational descriptive study by retrospectively analyzing medical records of patients with diaphyseal tibial fractures that were treated with plates from the period between June 2011 and June 2014 at San José and Susana López Hospitals in the city of Popayan, Colombia. 3 treatment groups were created and analyzed according to the type of fracture (Association Osteosynthesis/Osteosynthesis Trauma Association AO/OTA): group I: simple fractures 42A/B, absolute stability; group II: simple fractures 42A/B, Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique, relative stability; group III: multifragmentary fractures 42C, MIPO technique, relative stability. A descriptive analysis of patients, fracture consolidation time, and complications in each group were performed.

Results

45 patients with tibial fractures treated with osteosynthesis plates were analyzed. Group I: 14 patients, 42A (n=13) and 42B (n=1), had an average consolidation time of 16.38 (SD=1.98) and 14 weeks, respectively. In group II: 19 patients, out of which 18 achieved fracture consolidation (42A n=15 and 42B n=3) with an average time of 17.4 (SD=3.33) and 17.3 weeks (SD=6.11), respectively. Finally, in group III: 12 patients all with 42C fractures with a consolidation time of 16.86 (SD=2.93) weeks. The average fracture consolidation time for all 44 patients was 16.86 weeks (SD 2.93).

Conclusions

Osteosynthesis plates are an alternative to intramedullary nailing for diaphyseal tibial fractures and their outcomes can be favorable as long as the management of soft tissues and the proper principle of stability are taken into account.

Level of evidence

IV.
Predatory behaviour of an invasive amphipod in response to varying conspecific densities under higher-order predation risk
Authors: Iacarella Josephine C. , Hudgins Emma J. , Dick Jaimie T.A. , Ricciardi Anthony
Published: March 2017

Behavioural responses of invasive animals to biotic interactions can inform predictions of their consumptive impacts; however, such biotic contexts are often overlooked. Here, we assessed the interacting effect of conspecific and higher-order predation risk on the per capita consumption and behaviours of the invasive freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex, using field microcosm and video-recorded lab experiments in Northern Ireland. Gammarus pulex exhibited higher per capita consumption in the presence of conspecifics, owing to reduced handling time of prey, regardless of fish presence and despite reduced swimming time and increased time spent physically interacting with each other. Consumption was lower in the presence of fish in the field, and handling time decreased with greater amphipod densities in the presence of fish cue in the lab. Our results show that impacts of G. pulex are independently influenced by conspecifics and predation risk, whereas handling time revealed an interacting effect of conspecific density and predation risk. Further assessments of the responses of invasive animals to biotic interactions could help explain variability in their impacts at local spatial scales.
Several Classes of Quadratic Ternary Bent, Near-Bent and 2-Plateaued Functions
Authors: Xu Guangkui , Cao Xiwang , Xu Shanding
Published: March 2017

Inspired by a recent work of Mesnager, we present several infinite families of quadratic ternary bent, near-bent and 2-plateaued functions from some known quadratic ternary bent functions. Meanwhile, the distributions of the Walsh spectrum of two classes of 2-plateaued functions obtained in this paper are completely determined.
Binding Number and Wheel Related Graphs
Authors: Aytaç Vecdi , Berberler Zeynep Nihan
Published: March 2017

The binding number of a graph G is defined to be the minimum of [Formula: see text] taken over all nonempty [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. Binding number, one indicator to better understand graph, is an important characteristic quantity of a graph. In this paper, the relationships between the binding number and some other graph vulnerability parameters, namely the toughness, integrity, rupture degree and scattering number, are established. Exact values for the binding numbers of wheel related graphs namely gear, helm, sunflower and friendship graph are obtained.
A first-principle model of the magnetic contrast in ultrathin films with perpendicular magnetization
Authors: Bisero Diego
Published: March 2017

In ultrathin films, the energy competition between the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and the in-plane magnetostatic coupling can originate stripe domains. In such systems, the perpendicular magnetization component has a periodic modulation, pointing alternately upwards and downwards as the stripes are crossed. A measurement technique that is widely used to study these kind of domains is the magnetic force microscopy (MFM). As known, the MFM signal cannot be related immediately to the sample magnetization and the interpretation of the results is not always straightforward. Therefore, the achievement of a reliable contrast model for this technique in simple specific cases that could be directly compared with experimental results is highly desirable. In this paper, a first-principle model of the MFM contrast in the case of 1D magnetic nanostructures is proposed. An immediate application of the model pertains to the study of ultrathin films with perpendicular magnetization.
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stagnation point flow of Casson fluid over a stretched surface with homogeneous–heterogeneous reactions
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ijaz , Waqas Muhammad , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed
Published: March 2017

This article communicates the study of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stagnation point flow of Casson liquid towards a stretched surface. Chemical reaction model involving both heat and mass transfer is established. Effects of viscous dissipation and Joule heating are also considered. Appropriate transformations yield strong nonlinear ordinary differential system. The obtained nonlinear systems have been solved through built-in shooting method. Velocity field shows decreasing behavior for higher estimation of magnetic parameter while temperature field shows increasing behavior for larger homogeneous heat parameter. Graphical behaviors of velocity, temperature and concentration are analyzed comprehensively corresponding to various pertinent parameters.
Morse potential of the q-deformed in the Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau equation
Authors: Sargolzaeipor Sepideh , Hassanabadi Hassan , Boumali Abdelmalek
Published: March 2017

We have investigated the Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau (DKP) equation, with equally vector and scalar potentials for the general deformed Morse potential, then we obtained creation and annihilation operators and showed that these operators satisfied the commutation relation of the [Formula: see text]group. The Casimir operator defined for Laguerre polynomials.
Molecular mechanics-based finite element analysis of graphene sheet and carbon nanotubes using the rebo potential
Authors: Tserpes Konstantinos , Koumpias Antonis
Published: March 2017

Molecular mechanics-based finite element (FE) models of graphene sheet and single-walled zigzag and armchair carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are developed on the basis of the assumption that the carbon nanostructures, when loaded, behave like frame structures. The behavior of carbon–carbon bonds, which are represented by beam elements, is simulated using the many-body second generation reactive empirical bond order (REBO) potential. By means of the FE models, the tensile behavior of carbon nanostructures is simulated. The FE models are verified against molecular dynamics simulations. The computed results in terms of tensile stress–strain curves and fracture patterns are compared with results obtained using the pairwise modified-Morse potential. Different tensile properties and fracture patterns are predicted using the two potentials. This is mainly attributed to the deviations in the force–bond length curves and to the contribution of bond angle variation which is present in REBO. The present work is the first attempt to implement the REBO potential into a continuum model of carbon nanostructures and paves the way for a more systematic incorporation of atomistic simulation methods into continuum models.
Chapman–Kolmogorov equations for multi-period equity-linked note with conditional coupons
Authors: Radak Branislav
Published: March 2017

An equity-linked note with complex payoff and a path dependent variable maturity is analyzed analytically and numerically. This note pays up to one coupon, the size of which depends on the period count in which it is paid and with initial investment partially protected. Valuation of this instrument is achieved in closed form in terms of multivariate normal distribution function, but simple, fast and accurate numerical solution in terms of Chapman–Kolmogorov equations is preferred. The note has a number of unique features, some of which expose the investors to types of risk not usually encountered in either equity or fixed income world.
Energy Efficient Cross-Layer Transmission Model for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Yang Xin , Wang Ling , Xie Jian
Published: March 2017

The performance of mobile wireless sensor networks (MWSN) witnessed a significant improvement in recent years, such as throughput, transmission delay, and collision detection. However, MWSN still suffers from high energy consumption, since most of the sensors or users in MWSN are based on passive devices. In order to remedy this problem, in this paper we present a Cross-layer Energy Efficiency (CEE) model for MWSN. CEE is a cross-layer model which contains three layers. It utilizes nodes location information in network layer, medium access control (MAC) protocol in MAC layer (sublayer of data link layer), and full-duplex interfaces in physical (PHY) layer. The CEE model offers a number of advantages in regard to energy efficiency, throughput improvement, low delay, and power control compared to existing models. According to the performance evaluation, the proposed transmission model effectively reduces energy consumption and improves other transmission performances. Also, it has been proved that the proposed model can be used in practical MWSN as Internet of things (IoT).
On the Dimers Stability of Allicin and Its Derivatives Interacting with AT, GC, and DNA Bridge: DFT Study
Authors: Macernis Mindaugas
Published: March 2017

Allicin and its derivatives are physiologically active molecules with many potential health benefits. It is not clear if they have a direct effect on DNA or protein. In order to elucidate the allicin and its derivatives’ effect on DNA base pairs, we investigated various complexes of base pair and its bridge with an allicin and its derivatives. The investigated allicin derivatives were (E)-Ajoene, (Z)-Ajoene, Amz121, and Bmz73 radicals. The DFT calculation results revealed that the investigated molecules would favor binding to bridge of the base pairs instead of directly affecting the base pairs. The Bmz73 radical could break DNA by change bonding in it because the Bmz73 radical significantly affected the P-O bond of the bridge of base pair.
Escaping Depressions in LRTS Based on Incremental Refinement of Encoded Quad‐Trees
Authors: Hu Yue , Qin Long , Yin Quanjun , Sun Lin
Published: March 2017

In the context of robot navigation, game AI, and so on, real‐time search is extensively used to undertake motion planning. Though it satisfies the requirement of quick response to users’ commands and environmental changes, learning real‐time search (LRTS) suffers from the heuristic depressions where agents behave irrationally. There have introduced several effective solutions, such as state abstractions. This paper combines LRTS and encoded quad‐tree abstraction which represent the search space in multiresolutions. When exploring the environments, agents are enabled to locally repair the quad‐tree models and incrementally refine the spatial cognition. By virtue of the idea of state aggregation and heuristic generalization, our EQ LRTS (encoded quad‐tree based LRTS) possesses the ability of quickly escaping from heuristic depressions with less state revisitations. Experiments and analysis show that (a) our encoding principle for quad‐trees is a much more memory‐efficient method than other data structures expressing quad‐trees, (b) EQ LRTS differs a lot in several characteristics from classical PR LRTS which represent the space and refine the paths hierarchically, and (c) EQ LRTS substantially reduces the planning amount and curtails heuristic updates compared with LRTS on uniform cells.
Multiobjective Optimization Model for Wind Power Allocation
Authors: Alemany Juan , Magnago Fernando , Lombardi Pio , Arendarski Bartlomiej , Komarnicki Przemyslaw
Published: March 2017

There is an increasing need for the injection to the grid of renewable energy; therefore, to evaluate the optimal location of new renewable generation is an important task. The primary purpose of this work is to develop a multiobjective optimization model that permits finding multiple trade‐off solutions for the location of new wind power resources. It is based on the augmented ε‐constrained methodology. Two competitive objectives are considered: maximization of preexisting energy injection and maximization of new wind energy injection, both embedded, in the maximization of load supply. The results show that the location of new renewable generation units affects considerably the transmission network flows, the load supply, and the preexisting energy injection. Moreover, there are diverse opportunities to benefit the preexisting generation, contrarily to the expected effect where renewable generation displaces conventional power. The proposed methodology produces a diverse range of equivalent solutions, expanding and enriching the horizon of options and giving flexibility to the decision‐making process.
Job Satisfaction Analysis in Rural China: A Qualitative Study of Doctors in a Township Hospital
Authors: Chen Qiwei , Yang Lan , Feng Qiming , Tighe Scott S.
Published: March 2017

Background. Township hospitals in China provide rural communities with basic but much needed critical health care services. The doctors working in these hospitals often feel unsatisfied when considering their work schedules and financial rewards. Method. To explore job satisfaction of health workers in a township hospital, a qualitative study was conducted of 39 doctors from five township hospitals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The goal was to understand the level of job satisfaction of doctors and to make recommendations for improvements. Results. About 75% (28/39) of the doctors expressed negative attitudes related to their work conditions. Slightly more than half (22/39) mentioned they should receive greater compensation for their work and more than one were seriously considering other options. Many participants (35/39) showed their satisfaction about the achievement of serving as a doctor. Conclusion. Their main concerns related to job satisfaction included working conditions, financial rewards, and the doctor’s relationships with patients. Increasing the incomes and fringe benefits of healthcare workers, improving their work conditions, and providing training and continuing education opportunities would help rural clinics retain doctors and eliminate the current unsatisfactory conditions. The findings also highlight the need for the government to increase financial support of township hospitals.
New Collaborative Filtering Algorithms Based on SVD++ and Differential Privacy
Authors: Xian Zhengzheng , Li Qiliang , Li Gai , Li Lei
Published: March 2017

Collaborative filtering technology has been widely used in the recommender system, and its implementation is supported by the large amount of real and reliable user data from the big‐data era. However, with the increase of the users’ information‐security awareness, these data are reduced or the quality of the data becomes worse. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is one of the common matrix factorization methods used in collaborative filtering, which introduces the bias information of users and items and is realized by using algebraic feature extraction. The derivative model SVD++ of SVD achieves better predictive accuracy due to the addition of implicit feedback information. Differential privacy is defined very strictly and can be proved, which has become an effective measure to solve the problem of attackers indirectly deducing the personal privacy information by using background knowledge. In this paper, differential privacy is applied to the SVD++ model through three approaches: gradient perturbation, objective‐function perturbation, and output perturbation. Through theoretical derivation and experimental verification, the new algorithms proposed can better protect the privacy of the original data on the basis of ensuring the predictive accuracy. In addition, an effective scheme is given that can measure the privacy protection strength and predictive accuracy, and a reasonable range for selection of the differential privacy parameter is provided.
A Modified Total Crossing Time Model of Bidirectional Pedestrians at Signalized Crosswalks
Authors: Wang Zhanzhong , Zhao Liying , Cao Ningbo , Lu Yue , Chen Mingtao
Published: March 2017

Since crosswalk width and pedestrian green time directly affect the safety of signalized crosswalks, modeling an exact total crossing time model to estimate those two variables is imperative. The total crossing time needed by a group of pedestrians to cross a signalized crosswalk contains the discharge time and the crossing time. The discharge time depends primarily on the maximum queue length, which is determined by pedestrian arrival rate, red interval, waiting position distribution, and the crosswalk width. Crossing time increases when interactions between bidirectional pedestrian flows become more serious. Thus, quantifying the impacts of the start-up process on the discharge time and the effects of the interactions on the crossing time is a prerequisite for optimizing the design of signalized crosswalks. This paper establishes a modified total crossing time model consisting of modified pedestrian discharge and crossing time. Discharge time is modeled by applying traffic wave theory, and crossing time is modeled based on drag force theory. The proposed models provide guidance for the design of crosswalk width and pedestrian green intervals.
Distinct Pattern of Microgliosis in the Olfactory Bulb of Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies
Authors: Kohl Zacharias , Schlachetzki Johannes C. M. , Feldewerth Judith , Hornauer Philipp , Münch Martina , Adame Anthony , Riemenschneider Markus J. , Winkler Jürgen , Masliah Eliezer
Published: March 2017

The olfactory bulb (OB) shows early neuropathological hallmarks in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, for example, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The glomerular and granular cell layer of the OB is characterized by preserved cellular plasticity in the adult brain. In turn, alterations of this cellular plasticity are related to neuroinflammation such as microglia activation, implicated in the pathogenesis of AD and PD, as well as frontotemporal lobe degeneration (FTLD). To determine microglia proliferation and activation we analyzed ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) expressing microglia in the glomerular and granular cell layer, and the olfactory tract of the OB from patients with AD, PD dementia/dementia with Lewy bodies (PDD/DLB), and FTLD compared to age-matched controls. The number of Iba1 and CD68 positive microglia associated with enlarged amoeboid microglia was increased particularly in AD, to a lesser extent in FTLD and PDD/DLB as well, while the proportion of proliferating microglia was not altered. In addition, cells expressing the immature neuronal marker polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) were increased in the glomerular layer of PDD/DLB and FTLD cases only. These findings provide novel and detailed insights into differential levels of microglia activation in the OB of neurodegenerative diseases.
Halloysite Nanotubes Noncovalently Functionalised with SDS Anionic Surfactant and PS-b-P4VP Block Copolymer for Their Effective Dispersion in Polystyrene as UV-Blocking Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Tzounis Lazaros , Herlekar Shreya , Tzounis Antonios , Charisiou Nikolaos D. , Goula Maria , Stamm Manfred
Published: March 2017

A simple and versatile method is reported for the noncovalent functionalisation of natural and “green” halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) allowing their effective dispersion in a polystyrene (PS) thermoplastic matrix via solvent mixing. Initially, HNTs (pristine HNTs) were modified with physically adsorbed surfactant molecules of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and PS-b-P4VP [P4VP: poly(4-vinylpyridine)] block copolymer (BCP). Hereafter, SDS and BCP modified HNTs will be indicated as SDS-m-HNT and BCP-m-HNT. Nanocomposite films with 1, 2, and 5 wt.% HNT loadings were prepared, abbreviated as PS-SDS-m-HNT1, PS-SDS-m-HNT2, and PS-SDS-m-HNT5 and PS-BCP-m-HNT1, PS-BCP-m-HNT2, and PS-BCP-m-HNT5 (where 1, 2, and 5 correspond to the wt.% of HNTs). All nanocomposites depicted improved thermal degradation compared to the neat PS as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the good dispersion state of HNTs and the importance of modification by SDS and BCP. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed the characteristic interlayer spacing between the two silicate layers of pristine and modified HNTs. The PS/HNT nanocomposite films exhibited excellent ultraviolent-visible (UV-vis) absorbance properties and their potential application as UV-filters could be envisaged.
Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Activity of Oral Rinses In Vitro
Authors: Müller Heinz-Dieter , Eick Sigrun , Moritz Andreas , Lussi Adrian , Gruber Reinhard
Published: March 2017

While oral rinses used for cosmetic purposes only do not necessarily have to be antiseptic, antimicrobial activity is required for medical indications, including oral and periodontal surgery. So the question arises—is the antimicrobial activity of oral rinses associated with any destructive changes in cell viability in vitro? To answer this question, we examined twelve oral rinses with respect to their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Antimicrobial activity was screened against five bacterial strains using disc diffusion. Cytotoxicity was determined by mitochondrial reductase activity with primary gingival fibroblasts, L929 cells, and HSC-2 epithelial cells. Phase contrast microscopy and trypan blue staining were then performed to reveal cell morphology. Cells remained vital after exposure to oral rinses that were only used for cosmetic purposes. Moderate cytotoxic effects were observed for oral rinses containing 0.05% chlorhexidine, ethanol, or pegylated hydrogenated castor oil and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Other oral rinses containing 0.2% chlorhexidine and cocamidopropyl betaine exhibited strong cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. Strong cytotoxic but moderate antimicrobial activity was observed in oral rinses containing cetylpyridinium chloride. The in vitro data show that oral rinses are heterogeneous with respect to their cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects. Based on their respective properties, oral rinses can be selected either to reduce the microbial load or for cosmetic purposes.
Identification ofStreptococcus pneumoniae: Development of a Standardized Protocol for Optochin Susceptibility Testing Using Total Lab Automation
Authors: Burckhardt Irene , Panitz Jessica , Burckhardt Florian , Zimmermann Stefan
Published: March 2017

Purpose. Optochin susceptibility is one parameter used in the laboratory to identifyStreptococcus pneumoniae. However, a single standardized procedure does not exist. Optochin is included neither in the current EUCAST breakpoint tables nor in the CLSI performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We wanted to establish an evidence-based protocol for optochin testing for our Total Lab Automation.Methods. We tested seven different agars and four different reading time points (7 h, 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h). To accommodate for serotype diversity, all tests were done with 99 different strains covering 34 different serotypes ofS. pneumoniae. We calculated a multivariable linear regression using data from 5544 inhibition zones.Results. Reading was possible for all strains at 12 h. Agar type and manufacturer influenced the size of the inhibition zones by up to 2 mm and they varied considerably depending on serotype (up to 3 mm for serotype 3). Depending on agar and reading time point, up to 38% of inhibition zones were smaller than the cut-off of 14 mm; that is, the result of the test was false-negative.Conclusions. Shortening incubation time from 24 h to 12 h for optochin susceptibility testing is feasible. Agar and incubation time have to be chosen carefully to avoid false-negative results.
Tongxinluo Regulates Expression of Tight Junction Proteins and Alleviates Endothelial Cell Monolayer Hyperpermeability via ERK‐1/2 Signaling Pathway in Oxidized Low‐Density Lipoprotein‐Induced Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Chang Chengcheng , Liu Hongli , Wei Cong , Chang Liping , Liang Junqing , Bei Hongying , Li Hongrong , Liu Shen , Wu Yiling
Published: March 2017

Vascular hyperpermeability resulting from distortion of endothelial junctions is associated with a number of cardiovascular diseases. Endothelial tight junction regulates the paracellular permeability of macromolecules, a function of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) monolayers that can be regulated by oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein (ox‐LDL). However, the understanding of drug regulation of vascular hyperpermeability is so far limited. This study thus aimed to investigate the role of Tongxinluo (TXL) in the maintenance of the vascular endothelial paracellular permeability. Here, changes in permeability were determined by measuring the paracellular flux of FITC‐dextran 40000 (FD40), while protein expression and intercellular distribution were examined by western blot and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. We found that TXL alleviated the ox‐LDL‐induced increase in flux of FD40 and then reduced the hyperpermeability. Moreover, ox‐LDL‐induced disruptions of ZO‐1, occludin, and claudin1 were also restored. This is via the activation of ERK1/2 in the vascular endothelial cells. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanism by which TXL alleviates ox‐LDL‐induced hyperpermeability and provide the basis for further investigations of TXL as regulators of vascular barrier function.
Properties of Nanostructure Bismuth Telluride Thin Films Using Thermal Evaporation
Authors: Arora Swati , Jaimini Vivek , Srivastava Subodh , Vijay Y. K.
Published: March 2017

Bismuth telluride has high thermoelectric performance at room temperature; in present work, various nanostructure thin films of bismuth telluride were fabricated on silicon substrates at room temperature using thermal evaporation method. Tellurium (Te) and bismuth (Bi) were deposited on silicon substrate in different ratio of thickness. These films were annealed at 50°C and 100°C. After heat treatment, the thin films attained the semiconductor nature. Samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to show granular growth.
Enhancing Tumor Detection in IR-UWB Breast Cancer System
Authors: Fouad Sara , Ghoname Reda , Elmahdy Abd Elmonem , Zekry Abd Elhalim
Published: March 2017

An ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave system for breast cancer detection is presented. The proposed system includes monocycle pulse generator, antipodal Vivaldi antenna, breast model, and calibration algorithm for tumor detection. Firstly, our pulse generator employs transmission gate in glitch generator to achieve several advantages such as low power consumption and low ringing level. Secondly, the antipodal Vivaldi antenna is designed assuming FR4 dielectric substrate material, and developed antenna element (80×80 mm2) features a −10 dB return loss and bandwidth ranges from 2.3 GHz to more than 11 GHz. Thirdly, the phantom breast can be modeled as a layer of skin, fat, and then tumor is inserted in this layer. Finally, subtract and add algorithm (SAD) is used as a calibration algorithm in tumor detection system. The proposed system suggested that horizontal antenna position with 90° between transmitting and receiving antennas is localized as a suitable antenna position with different rotating location and a 0.5 cm near to phantom. The mean advantages of this localization and tracking position around breast is a high received power signal approximately around mv as a higher recognized signal in tumor detection. Using our proposed system we can detect tumor in 5 mm diameter.
Bifurcations and Synchronization of the Fractional-Order Bloch System
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Hong Ling , Dang Honggang , Yang Lixin
Published: March 2017

In this paper, bifurcations and synchronization of a fractional-order Bloch system are studied. Firstly, the bifurcations with the variation of every order and the system parameter for the system are discussed. The rich dynamics in the fractional-order Bloch system including chaos, period, limit cycles, period-doubling, and tangent bifurcations are found. Furthermore, based on the stability theory of fractional-order systems, the adaptive synchronization for the system with unknown parameters is realized by designing appropriate controllers. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the controllers.
The Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, and Colorectal Cancer Risk: An Evaluation of Large Panels of Plasma Protein Markers Using Repeated, Prediagnostic Samples
Authors: Harlid Sophia , Myte Robin , Van Guelpen Bethany
Published: March 2017

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a set of metabolic risk factors including obesity, dysglycemia, and dyslipidemia, is associated with increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A putative biological mechanism is chronic, low-grade inflammation, both a feature of MetS and a CRC risk factor. However, excess body fat also induces a proinflammatory state and increases CRC risk. In order to explore the relationship between MetS, body size, inflammation, and CRC, we studied large panels of inflammatory and cancer biomarkers. We included 138 participants from the Västerbotten Intervention Programme with repeated sampling occasions, 10 years apart. Plasma samples were analyzed for 178 protein markers by proximity extension assay. To identify associations between plasma protein levels and MetS components, linear mixed models were fitted for each protein. Twelve proteins were associated with at least one MetS component, six of which were associated with MetS score. MetS alone was not related to any protein. Instead, BMI displayed by far the strongest associations with the biomarkers. One of the 12 MetS score-related proteins (FGF-21), also associated with BMI, was associated with an increased CRC risk (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.19–2.47). We conclude that overweight and obesity, acting through both inflammation and other mechanisms, likely explain the MetS-CRC connection.
The Chilhuacle Chili (Capsicum annuumL.) in Mexico: Description of the Variety, Its Cultivation, and Uses
Authors: García-Gaytán Víctor , Gómez-Merino Fernando Carlos , Trejo-Téllez Libia I. , Baca-Castillo Gustavo Adolfo , García-Morales Soledad
Published: March 2017

The chilhuacle chili (Capsicum annuumL.) is a Mexican native variety whose production has been highly valuable because it is the main ingredient of the Oaxacan black mole, a typical Mexican dish. It is basically grown in the Cañada Region of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve. Importantly, it is cultivated under traditional agricultural systems, where a range of agronomic constraints associated with the production process and the incidence and severity of pests and diseases represent significant impediments that hinder the yield potential. Additionally, the genetic basis of the crop is highly restricted. Under such environmental and production conditions, the mean crop yield of chilhuacle chili can reach 1 t ha−1of dehydrated fruits, which can be used in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. In this review we summarize the current progress on chilhuacle chili cultivation and outline some crucial guidelines to improve production, as well as other research topics that need to be further addressed.
Glycopatterns of Urinary Protein as New Potential Diagnosis Indicators for Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Zhu Hanyu , Liu Moyan , Yu Hanjie , Liu Xiawei , Zhong Yaogang , Shu Jian , Fu Xinle , Cai Guangyan , Chen Xiangmei , Geng Wenjia , Yang Xiaoli , Wu Minghui , Li Zheng , Zhang Dong
Published: March 2017

Diabetic nephropathy is a major cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. However, so little is known about alterations of the glycopatterns in urine with the development of diabetic nephropathy. Presently, we interrogated glycopatterns in urine specimens using a lectin microarray. The results showed that expression levels of Siaα2-6Gal/GalNAc recognized by SNA exhibited significantly increased tendency with the development of diabetic nephropathy; moreover, SNA blotting indicated glycoproteins (90 kDa, 70 kDa, and 40 kDa) in urine may contribute to this alteration. Furthermore, the glycopatterns of(GlcNAc)2–4recognized by STL exhibited difference between diabetic and nondiabetic nephropathy. The results of urinary protein microarray fabricated by another 48 urine specimens also indicated(GlcNAc)2–4is a potential indictor to differentiate the patients with diabetic nephropathy from nondiabetic nephropathy. Furtherly, STL blotting showed that the 50 kDa glycoproteins were correlated with this alteration. In conclusion, our data provide pivotal information to monitor the development of diabetic nephropathy and distinguish between diabetic nephropathy and nondiabetic renal disease based on precise alterations of glycopatterns in urinary proteins, but further studies are needed in this regard.
ε‐Properly Efficiency of Multiobjective Semidefinite Programming with Set‐Valued Functions
Authors: Yuan Chun Hong , Rong Wei Dong
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we study the ε‐properly efficiency of multiobjective semidefinite programming with set‐valued functions. Firstly, we obtain the scalarization theorems under the condition of the generalized cone‐subconvexlikeness. Then, we establish the alternative theorem which contains matrixes and vectors, the ε‐Lagrange multiplier theorems, and the ε‐proper saddle point theorems of the primal programming under some suitable conditions.
Rivastigmine as a Symptomatic Treatment for Apathy in Parkinson’s Dementia Complex: New Aspects for This Riddle
Authors: Moretti Rita , Caruso Paola , Dal Ben Matteo
Published: March 2017

Over 90% of PDD patients show at least one neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS); in the 60–70% two or more NPS are present. Their incidence is important in terms of prognosis and severity of pathology. However, among all NPS, apathy is often the most disturbing, associated with greater caregiver’s burden. Similar to other NPS, apathy may be due to a dysfunction of the nigrostriatal pathway, even though, not all the PD patients become apathetic, indicating that apathy should not entirely be considered a dopamine-dependent syndrome, and in fact it might also be related to acetylcholine defects. Apathy has been treated in many ways, without sure benefits; among these, Rivastigmine may present benefic properties. We present a series of 48 patients, suffering from PDD, treated with Rivastigmine, and followed-up for one year; they have been devotedly studied for apathy, even though all the other NPS disorders have been registered. Rivastigmine did not have a prolonged benefic effect on apathy, in our work, on the contrary of what had been observed in the literature, probably due to the longer follow-up of our patients.
Kernel‐Based Multiview Joint Sparse Coding for Image Annotation
Authors: Zang Miao , Xu Huimin , Zhang Yongmei
Published: March 2017

It remains a challenging task for automatic image annotation problem due to the semantic gap between visual features and semantic concepts. To reduce the gap, this paper puts forward a kernel‐based multiview joint sparse coding (KMVJSC) framework for image annotation. In KMVJSC, different visual features as well as label information are considered as distinct views and are mapped to an implicit kernel space, in which the original nonlinear separable data become linearly separable. Then, all the views are integrated into a multiview joint sparse coding framework aiming to find a set of optimal sparse representations and discriminative dictionaries adaptively, which can effectively employ the complementary information of different views. An optimization algorithm is presented by extending K‐singular value decomposition (KSVD) and accelerated proximal gradient (APG) algorithms to the kernel multiview framework. In addition, a label propagation scheme using the sparse reconstruction and weighted greedy label transfer algorithm is also proposed. Comparative experiments on three datasets have demonstrated the competitiveness of proposed approach compared with other related methods.
Mixed‐Degree Spherical Simplex‐Radial Cubature Kalman Filter
Authors: Wang Shiyuan , Feng Yali , Duan Shukai , Wang Lidan
Published: March 2017

Conventional low degree spherical simplex‐radial cubature Kalman filters often generate low filtering accuracy or even diverge for handling highly nonlinear systems. The high‐degree Kalman filters can improve filtering accuracy at the cost of increasing computational complexity; nevertheless their stability will be influenced by the negative weights existing in the high‐dimensional systems. To efficiently improve filtering accuracy and stability, a novel mixed-degree spherical simplex-radial cubature Kalman filter (MSSRCKF) is proposed in this paper. The accuracy analysis shows that the true posterior mean and covariance calculated by the proposed MSSRCKF can agree accurately with the third‐order moment and the second‐order moment, respectively. Simulation results show that, in comparison with the conventional spherical simplex‐radial cubature Kalman filters that are based on the same degrees, the proposed MSSRCKF can perform superior results from the aspects of filtering accuracy and computational complexity.
Numerical and Experimental Research on Cold Compression Deformation Method for Reducing Quenching Residual Stress of 7A85 Aluminum Alloy Thick Block Forging
Authors: Jin-dong Cui , You-ping Yi , Guo-yun Luo
Published: March 2017

In aeronautical machining industry, the most difficult problem to deal with is the distortion of aviation integral component, one main cause of which is the existence of quenching residual stress of forgings, especially for large-sized ones. Therefore, it is important to study the methods that can reduce the quenching residual stress. In this work, the distribution of quenching residual stress of 7A85 aluminum alloy thick block forging, as well as the effect of cold compression deformation method on reducing quenching residual stress, has been investigated by simulation. The results show that, in length direction of 7A85 aluminum alloy thick block with a large size of 260 (H) × 1150 (W) × 5300 (L) mm, quenching residual stress can be significantly reduced by about 2.5% cold compression deformation along the direction of highness, with residual stress in length direction ranging from −65 MPa to 60 MPa, compared with its counterpart after quenching from −170 MPa to 140 MPa. Then a cold compression experiment was carried out, in which the forging residual stress on the surface was measured by X-ray diffraction device. The experimental results indicate that the optimal compression deformation value is 1%-2%, reducing 70% residual stress for 7A85 aluminum alloy specimens in size of 100 (L) × 60 (W) × 40 (H) mm.
Mapping of Maize Growing Period over the Free State Province of South Africa: Heat Units Approach
Authors: Moeletsi Mokhele Edmond
Published: March 2017

Temperature is one of the important environmental parameters that determines the development of a crop from one stage to another. It is integral in the calculation of heat units. In this study, the thermal index concept is used to determine the length of the growing period of short season, medium season, and medium-late season maize crop varieties for different sowing dates (1st dekad of October to 1st dekad of January). The results show high spatiotemporal variation in the median growing period for all three maize varieties. The length of the growing period for the short, medium, and medium-late season varieties is relatively short during October to early December with values in some areas of less than 100, 120, and 120 days, respectively. The duration of the planting period increases exponentially in most places starting from the 2nd dekad of November to 2nd dekad of December, depending on the region and crop variety. Long growing periods are likely to align maize growing period with dates of high frost risk and water shortages. Thus, appropriate choice of sowing date taking into consideration the thermal time requirements of the cultivar is crucial for proper growth and development of the maize crop.
Potential Antitumor Activity and Apoptosis Induction of Glossostemon bruguieri Root Extract against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Alwhibi Mona S. , Khalil Mahmoud I. M. , Ibrahim Mohamed M. , El-Gaaly Gehan A. , Sultan Ahmed S.
Published: March 2017

Glossostemon bruguieri (moghat) is used as a nutritive and demulcent drink. This study was performed to investigate the antiproliferative effects of moghat root extract (MRE) and its apoptotic mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, HepG2 and Hep3B. MTT assay, morphological changes, apoptosis enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, caspase and apoptotic activation, flow cytometry, and immunoblot analysis were employed. The IC50 of MRE for HepG2 (910 ± 6 μg/ml) and for Hep3B (1510 ± 5 μg/ml) induced significant growth‐inhibitory effects against HCC cells, with no cytotoxic effect on normal hepatocytes. MRE treatment induced apoptotic effects to HepG2 cells in a caspase‐dependent manner and via upregulating p53/p21 and PCNA. The upregulation of p21 was controlled by p53 expression in HepG2 but not in Hep3B despite upregulation of Bax protein in both cell lines. Interestingly, p21 may be a remarkable switch to G1 arrest in HepG2 cells, but not in Hep3B cells. In addition, Fas‐ and mitochondria‐mediated pathways were found to be involved in MRE‐induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells. The GC‐MS analysis of MRE revealed two major constituents of pharmaceutical importance: the flavonoid apigenin (17.04%) and the terpenoid squalene (11.32%). The data presented in this paper introduces G. bruguieri as a promising nontoxic herb with therapeutic potential for HCC. To the authors’ knowledge, the present study provides the first report on the anticancer activity of MRE on HCC cells.
The Influence of Shaft’s Bending on the Coupling Vibration of a Flexible Blade‐Rotor System
Authors: Li Chao-feng , She Hou-xin , Liu Wen , Wen Bang-chun
Published: March 2017

The influence of shaft bending on the coupling vibration of rotor‐blades system is nonignorable. Therefore, this paper analyzed the influence of shaft bending on the coupling vibration of rotor‐blades system. The vibration mode function of shaft under elastic supporting condition was also derived to ensure accuracy of the model as well. The influence of the number of blades, the position of disk, and the support stiffness of shaft on critical speed of system was analyzed. The numerical results show that there were two categories of coupling mode shapes which belong to a set where the blade’s first two modes predominate in the system: shaft‐blade (SB) mode and interblade (BB) mode due to the coupling between blade and shaft. The BB mode was of repeated frequencies of (Nb − 2) multiplicity for number blades, and the SB mode was of repeated frequencies of (2) multiplicity for number blades. What is more, with the increase of the number of blades, natural frequency of rotor was decreasing linearly, that of BB mode was constant, and that of SB mode was increasing linearly. Natural frequency of BB mode was not affected while that of rotor and SB mode was affected (changed symmetrically with the center of shaft) by the position of disk. In the end, vibration characteristics of coupling mode shapes were analyzed.
On the Optimal Dynamic Control Strategy of Disruptive Computer Virus
Authors: Bi Jichao , Yang Xiaofan , Wu Yingbo , Xiong Qingyu , Wen Junhao , Tang Yuan Yan
Published: March 2017

Disruptive computer viruses have inflicted huge economic losses. This paper addresses the development of a cost-effective dynamic control strategy of disruptive viruses. First, the development problem is modeled as an optimal control problem. Second, a criterion for the existence of an optimal control is given. Third, the optimality system is derived. Next, some examples of the optimal dynamic control strategy are presented. Finally, the performance of actual dynamic control strategies is evaluated.