bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Strategic Political-Culture Basis for Developing the Socioeconomic Welfare of Disadvantaged Urban Communities: General Review and Policy Framework
Authors: Dahan Yitzhak
Published: August 2017

The goal of promoting the economy and social welfare of disadvantaged urban communities has always been at the forefront of community studies; yet, this issue has also remained consistently controversial. The resurgence of the political-culture approach in the urban subfield has shed new light on this matter, raising new insights and presenting novel conclusions. The current study summarizes the main propositions of this approach with regard to community development, and highlights its powerful impact and valuable contribution to the understanding of the construction of urban economy, particularly concerning the welfare of disadvantaged communities. This study supports the application of the political-culture approach by reviewing and discussing major studies that have specifically examined various modes of “social capital” as a moderating concept between economic logic and local political culture (e.g., trust, social cohesion and civic engagement). Analyses of such relationships illustrate the common failure inherent in universal, culturally-blind policymaking, and highlight the importance of integrating the input of political-culture knowledge into the policy-making processes. Given this theoretical base, this paper presents a more effective methodological framework for addressing policy goals, based on the redefinition of the policy problem and a reformulation of policy plans—regarding strategy, institutions, and coalition-building—in accordance with local political-culture features and specific circumstances.
Using Dynamic Simulation to Evaluate Attemperator Operation in a Natural Gas Combined Cycle With Duct Burners in the Heat Recovery Steam Generator
Authors: Liese Eric , Zitney Stephen E.
Published: August 2017

A generic training simulator of a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) was modified to match operations at a real plant. The objective was to use the simulator to analyze cycling operations of the plant. Initial operation of the simulator revealed the potential for saturation conditions in the final high pressure superheater (HPSH) as the attemperator tried to control temperature at the superheater outlet during gas turbine loading and unloading. Subsequent plant operational data confirmed simulation results. Multiple simulations were performed during loading and unloading of the gas turbine to determine operational strategies that prevented saturation and increased the approach to saturation temperature. The solutions included changes to the attemperator temperature control setpoints and strategic control of the steam turbine (ST) inlet pressure control valve.
Pitch and Mass Ratio Effects on Transverse and Streamwise Fluidelastic Instability in Parallel Triangular Tube Arrays
Authors: Hassan Marwan , Weaver David
Published: August 2017

The simple tube and channel theoretical model for fluidelastic instability (FEI) in tube arrays, as developed by Hassan and Weaver, has been used to study the effects of pitch ratio and mass ratio on the critical velocity of parallel triangular tube arrays. Simulations were carried out considering fluidelastic forces in the lift and drag directions independently and acting together for cases of a single flexible tube in a rigid array and a fully flexible kernel of seven tubes. No new empirical data were required using this model. The direction of FEI as well as the relative importance of fluid coupling of tubes was studied, including how these are affected by tube pitch ratio and mass ratio. The simulation predictions agree reasonably well with available experimental data. It was found that parallel triangular tube arrays are more vulnerable to streamwise FEI when the pitch ratio is small and the mass-damping parameter (MDP) is large.
Rotordynamic Energy Expressions for General Anisotropic Finite Element Systems
Authors: Settipalli Manoj , Ganji Venkatarao , Brockett Theodore
Published: August 2017

It is often desirable to identify the critical components that are active in a particular mode shape or an operational deflected shape (ODS) in a complex rotordynamic system with multiple rotating groups and bearings. The energy distributions can help identify the critical components of a rotor bearing system that may be modified to match the design requirements. Although the energy expressions have been studied by researchers in the past under specific limited conditions, these expressions require computing the displacements and velocities of all degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) over one full cycle. They do not address the overall time dependency of the energies and energy distributions, and their effect on the interpretation of a mode shape or an ODS. Moreover, a detailed finite element formulation of these energy expressions including the effects of anisotropy, skew-symmetric stiffness, viscous and structural damping have not been identified by the authors in the open literature. In this article, a detailed account of orbit characteristics and planarity for isotropic and anisotropic systems is presented. The effect of orbit characteristics on the energy expressions is then discussed. An elegant approach to obtaining time-dependent kinetic and strain energies of a mode shape or an ODS directly from the structural matrices and complex eigenvectors/displacement vectors is presented. The expressions for energy contributed per cycle by various types of damping and the destabilizing skew-symmetric stiffness that can be obtained in a similar way are also shown. The conditions under which the energies and energy distributions are time-invariant are discussed. An alternative set of energy expressions for isotropic systems with the DOFs reduced by half is also presented.
Phosphate-Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Formation from Agar, Gellan, and κ-Carrageenan and Recovery of Microbial Cultivability via Catalase and Pyruvate
Authors: Kawasaki Kosei , Kamagata Yoichi
Published: August 2017

Previously, we reported that when agar is autoclaved with phosphate buffer, hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) is formed in the resulting medium (PT medium), and the colony count on the medium inoculated with environmental samples becomes much lower than that on a medium in which agar and phosphate are autoclaved separately (PS medium) (T. Tanaka et al., Appl Environ Microbiol 80:7659–7666, 2014,
https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02741-14
). However, the physicochemical mechanisms underlying this observation remain largely unknown. Here, we determined the factors affecting H
2
O
2
formation in agar. The H
2
O
2
formation was pH dependent: H
2
O
2
was formed at high concentrations in an alkaline or neutral phosphate buffer but not in an acidic buffer. Ammonium ions enhanced H
2
O
2
formation, implying the involvement of the Maillard reaction catalyzed by phosphate. We found that other gelling agents (e.g., gellan and κ-carrageenan) also produced H
2
O
2
after being autoclaved with phosphate. We then examined the cultivability of microorganisms from a fresh-water sample to test whether catalase and pyruvate, known as H
2
O
2
scavengers, are effective in yielding high colony counts. The colony count on PT medium was only 5.7% of that on PS medium. Catalase treatment effectively restored the colony count of PT medium (to 106% of that on PS medium). In contrast, pyruvate was not as effective as catalase: the colony count on sodium pyruvate-supplemented PT medium was 58% of that on PS medium. Given that both catalase and pyruvate can remove H
2
O
2
from PT medium, these observations indicate that although H
2
O
2
is the main cause of reduced colony count on PT medium, other unknown growth-inhibiting substances that cannot be removed by pyruvate (but can be by catalase) may also be involved.

IMPORTANCE
The majority of bacteria in natural environments are recalcitrant to laboratory culture techniques. Previously, we demonstrated that one reason for this is the formation of high H
2
O
2
levels in media prepared by autoclaving agar and phosphate buffer together (PT medium). In this study, we investigated the factors affecting H
2
O
2
formation from agar. H
2
O
2
formation is pH dependent, and ammonium ions promote this phosphate-catalyzed H
2
O
2
formation. Amendment of catalase or pyruvate, a well-known H
2
O
2
-scavenging agent, effectively eliminated H
2
O
2
. Yet results suggest that growth-inhibiting factor(s) that cannot be eliminated by pyruvate (but can be by catalase) are present in PT medium.
Cultivation in Space Flight Produces Minimal Alterations in the Susceptibility of Bacillus subtilis Cells to 72 Different Antibiotics and Growth-Inhibiting Compounds
Authors: Morrison Michael D. , Fajardo-Cavazos Patricia , Nicholson Wayne L.
Published: August 2017

Past results have suggested that bacterial antibiotic susceptibility is altered during space flight. To test this notion,
Bacillus subtilis
cells were cultivated in matched hardware, medium, and environmental conditions either in space flight microgravity on the International Space Station, termed flight (FL) samples, or at Earth-normal gravity, termed ground control (GC) samples. The susceptibility of FL and GC samples was compared to 72 antibiotics and growth-inhibitory compounds using the Omnilog phenotype microarray (PM) system. Only 9 compounds were identified by PM screening as exhibiting significant differences (
P
< 0.05, Student's
t
test) in FL versus GC samples: 6-mercaptopurine, cesium chloride, enoxacin, lomefloxacin, manganese(II) chloride, nalidixic acid, penimepicycline, rolitetracycline, and trifluoperazine. Testing of the same compounds by standard broth dilution assay did not reveal statistically significant differences in the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) between FL and GC samples. The results indicate that the susceptibility of
B. subtilis
cells to a wide range of antibiotics and growth inhibitors is not dramatically altered by space flight.

IMPORTANCE
This study addresses a major concern of mission planners for human space flight, that bacteria accompanying astronauts on long-duration missions might develop a higher level of resistance to antibiotics due to exposure to the space flight environment. The results of this study do not support that notion.
Perinatal outcomes following Helping Babies Breathe training and regular peer–peer skills practice among village midwives in Sudan
Authors: Arabi Ali M E , Ibrahim Salah A , Manar Abdel-Rahman , Abdalla Mohamed S , Ahmed Sami E , Dempsey Eugene P , Ryan C Anthony
Published: August 2017

Background

Over 80% of deliveries in Sudan occur in rural areas, attended by village midwives (VMWs).

Objective

To determine the impact of Helping Babies Breathe training and regular peer–peer skills practice (HBBT+RPPSP) on VMW resuscitation practices and outcomes.

Methods

In a prospective community-based intervention study, 71/82 VMWs, reporting to six East Nile rural medical centres, with previous experience in community health research, consented to HBBT+RPPSP. Outcomes included changes in the resuscitation practices, fresh stillbirths (FSB) and early neonatal deaths <1 week (ENND).

Results

There were 1350 and 3040 deliveries before and after HBBT+RPPSP, respectively, with no significant differences between the two cohorts regarding maternal age, education or area of birth. Drying of the newborn increased almost tenfold (8.4%, n=113 to 74.9%, n=1011) while suctioning of the mouth/nose decreased fivefold (80.3%, n=2442 to 14.4%, n=437) following HBBT+RPPSP. Pre-HBBT+RPPSP9/18 (50%) newborns who had mouth-to-mouth ventilation died, compared with 13/119 (11%) who received bag-mask ventilation post-HBBT+RPPSP. Excluding 11 macerated fetuses, there were 55 perinatal deaths: 14 FSB/18 ENND (6 months pre-HBBT+RPPSP) and 10 FSB/13 ENND (18 months post-HBBT+RPPSP). FSB rates decreased from 10.5 to 3.3 per 1000 births ((χ2)=8.6209, p=0.003), while ENND rates decreased from 13.5 to 4.3 per 1000 live births ((χ2)=10.9369, p=0.001) pre-HBBT+RPPSP and post-HBBT+RPPSP, respectively.

Conclusion

In a selected group of VMWs, HBBT+RPPSP was associated with improvements in newborn resuscitation and perinatal outcomes. HBBT+RPPSP could have immense benefits if propagated nationally to all 17 000 VMWs in Sudan.
Epidemiology of discordance between symptoms and signs of dry eye
Authors: Ong Erin S , Felix Elizabeth R , Levitt Roy C , Feuer William J , Sarantopoulos Constantine D , Galor Anat
Published: August 2017

Background/aims

The frequent lack of association between dry eye (DE) symptoms and signs leads to challenges in diagnosing and assessing the disease.

Methods

Participants underwent ocular surface examinations to evaluate signs of disease and completed questionnaires to assess ocular symptoms, psychological status and medication use. To assess nociceptive system integrity, quantitative sensory testing (QST), including vibratory and thermal threshold measures and temporal summation of pain were obtained at the forearm and forehead. Correlations between DE discordance score (degree of discrepancy between symptom severity and DE signs) and patient characteristics were determined. Higher discordance scores indicated more symptoms than signs.

Results

326 patients participated (mean age: 62 years; SD: 10 years; 92% men). Age was negatively correlated with DE discordance score (Pearson r=−0.30, p<0.0005), while mental health indices were positively correlated. Chronic pain elsewhere in the body (ie, non-ocular pain conditions) and intensity ratings of prolonged aftersensations of pain evoked by noxious hot and cold stimuli were also significantly correlated with DE discordance score. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that post-traumatic stress disorder and non-ocular pain intensity were important predictors of DE discordance score, Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 and Ocular Surface Disease Index and that DE discordance was also sensitive to QST as well.

Conclusions

The present study provides evidence that the degree of discordance between DE symptom report and measurable signs of ocular surface disease is associated with comorbidities related to clinical pain and to hyperalgesia as demonstrated with QST. Understanding the epidemiology of DE discordance can aid in interpreting the DE exam and individualising treatment.
Does Tai Chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review protocol
Authors: Yang Guoyan , Li Wenyuan , Cao Huijuan , Klupp Nerida , Liu Jianping , Bensoussan Alan , Kiat Hosen , Chang Dennis
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Psychological risk factors such as stress, anxiety and depression are known to play a significant and independent role in the development and progression of CVD and its risk factors. Tai Chi has been reported to be potentially effective for health and well-being. It is of value to assess the effectiveness and safety of Tai Chi on psychological well-being and quality of life in people with CVD and/or cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods and analysis

We will include all relevant randomised controlled trials on Tai Chi for stress, anxiety, depression, psychological well-being and quality of life in people with CVD and cardiovascular risk factors. Literature searching will be conducted until 31 December 2016 from major English and Chinese databases. Two authors will conduct data selection and extraction independently. Quality assessment will be conducted using the risk of bias tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. We will conduct data analysis using Cochrane’s RevMan software. Forest plots and summary of findings tables will illustrate the results from a meta-analysis if sufficient studies are identified.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required as this study will not involve patients. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, to inform both clinical practice and further research on Tai Chi and CVDs.

Discussion

This review will summarise the evidence on Tai Chi for psychological well-being and quality of life in people with CVD and their risk factors. We anticipate that the results of this review would be useful for healthcare professionals and researchers on Tai Chi and CVDs.

Trial registration number

International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42016042905.
Social and somatic determinants of underweight, overweight and obesity at 5 years of age: a Norwegian regional cohort study
Authors: Donkor Hilde Mjell , Grundt Jacob Holter , Júlíusson Pétur Benedikt , Eide Geir Egil , Hurum Jørgen , Bjerknes Robert , Markestad Trond
Published: August 2017

Objective

To identify associations between the weight groups underweight (UW), overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) at 5 years of age and exposures related to pregnancy, anthropometric measures at birth, sociodemographic factors, and family health, anthropometric measures and habits.

Design

Regional cohort study.

Setting

Oppland County, Norway.

Methods

Pregnancy data were obtained from a prospective perinatal register for children born in the county, and weight and height were measured by midwives at birth and by public health nurses at 5 years. Other information was obtained from questionnaires completed by parents.

Participants

Of 1895 eligible children, current weight and height were obtained for all, weight and length at birth and information from parents for 1119 (59%) and pregnancy register data for 749 (40%) of the children. The significance of potential explanatory variables from descriptive statistics was tested in multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of UW, OW and OB among participants was 7.8%, 10.6% and 3.5%, respectively. UW was associated with anthropometric measures at birth and those of parents, but not with sociodemographic or behavioural characteristics. OW and OB were associated with anthropometric measures of parents and siblings and with a variety of unfavourable social characteristics, lack of prolonged breast feeding, sedentary behaviour and dental caries, but not with current dietary habits. After adjustments, OW and OB were marginally related to birth parameters and diet and unrelated to physical activity, but significantly related to parental body mass index, low parental education and maternal smoking.

Conclusion

The strong associations between sociodemographic and behavioural factors and OW and OB, but not with UW, may suggest that environmental factors are major contributing causes of OW and particularly OB at 5 years. These results may be helpful in targeting preventive measures against OW and OB.
WHISPER or SHOUT study: protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial assessing mHealth sexual reproductive health and nutrition interventions among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya
Authors: Ampt Frances H , Mudogo Collins , Gichangi Peter , Lim Megan S C , Manguro Griffins , Chersich Matthew , Jaoko Walter , Temmerman Marleen , Laini Marilyn , Comrie-Thomson Liz , Stoové Mark , Agius Paul A , Hellard Margaret , L’Engle Kelly , Luchters Stanley
Published: August 2017

Introduction

New interventions are required to reduce unintended pregnancies among female sex workers (FSWs) in low- and middle-income countries and to improve their nutritional health. Given sex workers’ high mobile phone usage, repeated exposure to short messaging service (SMS) messages could address individual and interpersonal barriers to contraceptive uptake and better nutrition.

Methods

In this two-arm cluster randomised trial, each arm constitutes an equal-attention control group for the other. SMS messages were developed systematically, participatory and theory-driven and cover either sexual and reproductive health (WHISPER) or nutrition (SHOUT). Messages are sent to participants 2–3 times/week for 12 months and include fact-based and motivational content as well as role model stories. Participants can send reply texts to obtain additional information. Sex work venues (clusters) in Mombasa, Kenya, were randomly sampled with a probability proportionate to venue size. Up to 10 women were recruited from each venue to enrol 860 women. FSWs aged 16–35 years, who owned a mobile phone and were not pregnant at enrolment were eligible. Structured questionnaires, pregnancy tests, HIV and syphilis rapid tests and full blood counts were performed at enrolment, with subsequent visits at 6 and 12 months.

Analysis

The primary outcomes of WHISPER and SHOUT are unintended pregnancy incidence and prevalence of anaemia at 12 months, respectively. Each will be compared between study groups using discrete-time survival analysis.

Potential limitations

Contamination may occur if participants discuss their intervention with those in the other trial arm. This is mitigated by cluster recruitment and only sampling a small proportion of sex work venues from the sampling frame.

Conclusions

The design allows for the simultaneous testing of two independent mHealth interventions for which messaging frequency and study procedures are identical. This trial may guide future mHealth initiatives and provide methodological insights into use of reciprocal control groups.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12616000852459; Pre-results.
Use of the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio of heart rate variability to predict short-term deterioration in emergency department patients with sepsis
Authors: Barnaby Douglas P , Fernando Shannon M , Ferrick Kevin J , Herry Christophe L , Seely Andrew J E , Bijur Polly E , Gallagher E John
Published: August 2017

Objective

To examine the ability of the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to identify patients with sepsis at risk of early deterioration.

Methods

This is a prospective observational cohort study of patients with sepsis presenting to the Montefiore Medical Center ED from December 2014 through September 2015. On presentation, a single ECG Holter recording was obtained and analysed to obtain the LF/HF ratio of HRV. Initial Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were computed. Patients were followed for 72 hours to identify those with early deterioration.

Results

466 patients presenting to the ED with sepsis were analysed. Thirty-two (7%) reached at least one endpoint within 72 hours. An LF/HF ratio <1 had a sensitivity and specificity of 34% (95% CI (19% to 53%)) and 82% (95% CI (78% to 85%)), respectively, with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 1.9 (95% CI (1.1 to 3.2)) and 0.8 (95% CI (0.6 to 1.0)). An initial SOFA score ≥3 had a sensitivity and specificity of 38% (95% CI (22% to 56%)) and 92% (95% CI (89% to 95%)), with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 4.9 (95% CI (2.8 to 8.6)) and 0.7 (95% CI (0.5 to 0.9)). The composite measure of HRV+SOFA had improved sensitivity (56%, 95% CI (38% to 73%)) but at the expense of specificity (77%, 95% CI (72% to 80%)), with positive and negative likelihood ratios of 2.4 (95% CI (1.7 to 3.4)) and 0.6 (95% CI (0.4 to 0.9)). Receiver operating characteristic analysis did not identify a superior alternate threshold for the LF/HF ratio. Kaplan-Meier survival functions differed significantly (p=0.02) between low (<1) and high (≥1) LF/HF groups.

Conclusions

While we found a statistically significant relationship between HRV, SOFA and HRV+SOFA, and early deterioration, none reliably functioned as a clinical predictive tool. More complex multivariable models will likely be required to construct models with clinical utility.
Abstracts from international Emergency Medicine journals
Authors: Weber Ellen J
Published: August 2017

Editor’s note: EMJ has partnered with the journals of multiple international emergency medicine societies to share from each a highlighted research study, as selected by their editors. This edition will feature an abstract from each publication.
Surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome in relation to intensities of occupational mechanical exposures across 10-year exposure time windows
Authors: Dalbøge Annett , Frost Poul , Andersen Johan Hviid , Svendsen Susanne Wulff
Published: August 2017

Objectives

We aimed to identify intensities of occupational mechanical exposures (force, arm elevation and repetition) that do not entail an increased risk of surgery for subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) even after prolonged durations of exposure. Additionally, we wanted to evaluate if exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) is an independent risk factor.

Methods

We used data from a register-based cohort study of the entire Danish working population (n=2 374 403). During follow-up (2003–2008), 14 118 first-time events of surgery for SIS occurred. For each person, we linked register-based occupational codes (1993–2007) to a general population job exposure matrix to obtain year-by-year exposure intensities on measurement scales for force, upper arm elevation >90° and repetition and expert rated intensities of exposure to HAV. For 10-year exposure time windows, we calculated the duration of exposure at specific intensities above minimal (low, medium and high). We used a logistic regression technique equivalent to discrete survival analysis adjusting for cumulative effects of other mechanical exposures.

Results

We found indications of safe exposure intensities for repetition (median angular velocity <45°/s), while force exertion ≥10% of maximal voluntary electrical activity and upper arm elevation >90° >2 min/day implied an increased risk reaching ORs of 1.7 and 1.5 after 10 years at low intensities. No associations were found for HAV.

Conclusions

We found indications of safe exposure intensities for repetition. Any intensities of force and upper arm elevation >90° above minimal implied an increased risk across 10-year exposure time windows. No independent associations were found for HAV.
Cardiac striatin interacts with caveolin-3 and calmodulin in a calcium sensitive manner and regulates cardiomyocyte spontaneous contraction rate
Authors: Nader Moni , Alotaibi Shahd , Alsolme Ebtehal , Khalil Bariaa , Abu-Zaid Ahmed , Alsomali Rahmah , Bakheet Dana , Dzimiri Nduna
Published: August 2017

Impaired cardiomyocyte contraction rate is detrimental to cardiac function and often lethal. Despite advancements in the field, there is a paucity of information regarding the coordination of molecules implicated in regulating the heart rate. Striatin (STRN) is a dynamic protein with binding domains to calmodulin (CaM) and caveolin (Cav), both of which are regulators of myocardial function. However, its role in cardiomyocyte contraction is not yet determined. Herein, we show that STRN is expressed in cardiomyocytes and is more abundant in atrial myocardium than in ventricles. Cardiac expression of STRN (protein and mRNA) was developmentally regulated with the highest expression being at neonatal stage (day one) and the lowest in adult rats (13 weeks). CaM pulldown assay indicated that the interaction of cardiac STRN with CaM and caveolin-3 (Cav-3) was calcium sensitive. Interestingly, the overexpression of STRN induced an increase (∼2-fold) in the rate of the spontaneous contraction of cultured cardiomyocytes, while the knockdown of STRN reduced their contraction rate (∼40%). The expression level of STRN was inversely proportional to the interaction of Cav-3 with the CaM/STRN complex. Collectively, our data delineate a novel role for STRN in regulating cardiomyocyte spontaneous contraction rate and the dynamics of the STRN/Cav-3/CaM complex.
Dynamic motion modes of high temperature superconducting maglev on a 45-m long ring test line
Authors: Lei W. Y. , Qian N. , Zheng J. , Jin L. W. , Zhang Y. , Deng Z. G.
Published: August 2017

With the development of high temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev, studies on the running stability have become more and more significant to ensure the operation safety. An experimental HTS maglev vehicle was tested on a 45-m long ring test line under the speed from 4 km/h to 20 km/h. The lateral and vertical acceleration signals of each cryostat were collected by tri-axis accelerometers in real time. By analyzing the phase relationship of acceleration signals on the four cryostats, several typical motion modes of the HTS maglev vehicle, including lateral, yaw, pitch and heave motions were observed. This experimental finding is important for the next improvement of the HTS maglev system.
Phase separation of two-component Bose–Einstein condensates with monopolar interaction
Authors: Zhu Long , Li Jinbin
Published: August 2017

This paper analyzes the properties of the two-component Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) with long-range monopolar interaction by means of Thomas–Fermi approximation (TFA). The effects of long-range monopolar interaction, inter-component short-range s-wave scattering, and particle numbers on the density profiles and phase separation of BECs are investigated. It is shown that atoms with the small intra-component s-wave scattering length are squeezed out when the monopolar interaction of these atoms is not large enough, and the density profile will be compressed when corresponding monopolar interaction is increased. Effective zero interaction point that the s-wave scattering repulsive interaction is neutralized by monopolar attractive interaction, is found. Varying of particle numbers will cause the transformation between phase separation and faint phase separation (or mixture).
Robustness of complex networks with both unidirectional and bidirectional links against cascading failures
Authors: Ding Lin , Leung Victor C. M. , Tan Min-Sheng
Published: August 2017

The robustness of complex networks against cascading failures has been of great interest, while most of the researchers have considered undirected networks. However, to be more realistic, a part of links of many real systems should be described as unidirectional. In this paper, by applying three link direction-determining (DD) strategies, the tolerance of cascading failures is investigated in various networks with both unidirectional and bidirectional links. By extending the utilization of a classical global betweenness method, we propose a new cascading model, taking into account the weights of nodes and the directions of links. Then, the effects of unidirectional links on the network robustness against cascaded attacks are examined under the global load-based distribution mechanism. The simulation results show that the link-directed methods could not always lead to the decrease of the network robustness as indicated in the previous studies. For small-world networks, these methods certainly make the network weaker. However, for scale-free networks, the network robustness can be significantly improved by the link-directed method, especially for the method with non-random DD strategies. These results are independent of the weight parameter of the nodes. Due to the strongly improved robustness and easy realization with low cost on networks, the method for enforcing proper links to the unidirectional ones may be useful for leading to insights into the control of cascading failures in real-world networks, like communication and transportation networks.
Fabrication of self-enclosed nanochannels based on capillary-pressure balance mechanism
Authors: Kou Yu , Sang Aixia , Li Xin , Wang Xudi
Published: August 2017

Polymer-based micro/nano fluidic devices are becoming increasingly important to biological applications and fluidic control. In this paper, we propose a self-enclosure method for the fabrication of large-area nanochannels without external force by using a capillary-pressure balance mechanism. The melt polymer coated on the nanogrooves fills into the trenches inevitably and the air in the trenches is not excluded but compressed, which leads to an equilibrium state between pressure of the trapped air and capillary force of melt polymer eventually, resulting in the channels’ formation. A pressure balance model was proposed to elucidate the unique self-sealing phenomenon and the criteria for the design and construction of sealed channels was discussed. According to the bonding mechanism investigated using the volume of fluid (VOF) simulation and experiments, we can control the dimension of sealed channels by varying the baking condition. This fabrication technique has great potential for low-cost and mass production of polymeric-based micro/nano fluidic devices.
Samples from the Lomonosov Ridge place new constraints on the geological evolution of the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Knudsen C. , Hopper J. R. , Bierman P. R. , Bjerager M. , Funck T. , Green P. F. , Ineson J. R. , Japsen P. , Marcussen C. , Sherlock S. C. , Thomsen T. B.
Published: August 2017

A number of rock samples were collected from two dredge positions on the Lomonosov Ridge at water depths of 2–3.5 km. The dredge samples are dominated by sediments deformed and metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions 470 myr ago according to
40
Ar/
39
Ar dating of metamorphic muscovite. This shows that the Lomonosov Ridge was involved in a major Mid-Ordovician orogenic event that correlates with early arc–terrane accretion observed in northern Ellesmere Island, Svalbard, and other parts of the Caledonian belt. Detrital zircon age spectra of these metasediments span the Mesoproterozoic–Palaeoproterozoic with a main peak at around 1.6 Ga, and a pattern similar to that known from Caledonian metasedimentary rocks in East Greenland and northern Norway, as well as from Cambrian sediments in Estonia and Palaeozoic sediments on Novaya Zemlya. A second population of dredge samples comprises undeformed, non-metamorphic sandstones and siltstones. Detrital zircons in these sediments span the Palaeoproterozoic with a few Archaean zircons. Both rock types are covered by an up to 8 Ma ferromanganese crust and are evaluated to represent outcrop, and apatite fission-track data from three of the rock samples indicate that exposure at the seabed corresponds to a regional event of uplift and erosion that affected the Arctic in the Late Miocene. The data from the Lomonosov Ridge suggest that the 470 Ma orogenic event extended from Scotland and northern Scandinavia into the Arctic, including Svalbard, the Pearya Terrane and the Chukchi Borderlands.
α1A-Subtype adrenergic agonist therapy for the failing right ventricle
Authors: Cowley Patrick M. , Wang Guanying , Joshi Sunil , Swigart Philip M. , Lovett David H. , Simpson Paul C. , Baker Anthony J.
Published: August 2017

Failure of the right ventricle (RV) is a serious disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Signaling by α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs), in particular the α1A-subtype, mediate cardioprotective effects in multiple heart failure models. Recent studies have shown that chronic treatment with the α1A-subtype agonist A61603 improves function and survival in a model of left ventricular failure. The goal of the present study was to determine if chronic A61603 treatment is beneficial in a RV failure model. We used tracheal instillation of the fibrogenic antibiotic bleomycin in mice to induce pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and RV failure within 2 wk. Some mice were chronically treated with a low dose of A61603 (10 ng·kg−1·day−1). In the bleomycin model of RV failure, chronic A61603 treatment was associated with improved RV fractional shortening and greater in vitro force development by RV muscle preparations. Cell injury markers were reduced with A61603 treatment (serum cardiac troponin I, RV fibrosis, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2). RV oxidative stress was reduced (using the probes dihydroethidium and 4-hydroxynonenal). Consistent with lowered RV oxidative stress, A61603 was associated with an increased level of the cellular antioxidant superoxide dismutase 1 and a lower level of the prooxidant NAD(P)H oxidase isoform NOX4. In summary, in the bleomycin model of RV failure, chronic A61603 treatment reduced RV oxidative stress, RV myocyte necrosis, and RV fibrosis and increased both RV function and in vitro force development. These findings suggest that in the context of pulmonary fibrosis, the α1A-subtype is a potential therapeutic target to treat the failing RV.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Right ventricular (RV) failure is a serious disease with a poor prognosis and no effective treatments. In the mouse bleomycin model of RV failure, we tested the efficacy of a treatment using the α1A-adrenergic receptor subtype agonist A61603. Chronic A61603 treatment improved RV contraction and reduced multiple indexes of RV injury, suggesting that the α1A-subtype is a therapeutic target to treat RV failure.
Chronic spinal cord changes in a high-fat diet-fed male rat model of thoracic spinal contusion
Authors: Spann Redin A. , Lawson William J. , Grill Raymond J. , Garrett Michael R. , Grayson Bernadette E.
Published: August 2017

Individuals that suffer injury to the spinal cord can result in long-term, debilitating sequelae. Spinal cord-injured patients have increased risk for the development of metabolic disease, which can further hinder the effectiveness of treatments to rehabilitate the cord and improve quality of life. In the present study, we sought to understand the impact of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity on spinal cord injury (SCI) by examining transcriptome changes in the area of the injury and rostral and caudal to site of damage 12 wk after injury. Adult, male Long-Evans rats received either thoracic level contusion of the spinal cord or sham laminectomy and then were allowed to recover on normal rat chow for 4 wk and further on HFD for an additional 8 wk. Spinal cord tissues harvested from the rats were processed for Affymetrix microarray and further transcriptomic analysis. Diverse changes in gene expression were identified in the injured cord in genes such as MMP12, APOC4, GPNMB, and IGF1 and 2. The greatest signaling changes occurred in pathways involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and immune cell trafficking. Together, the cord changes in the chronically obese rat following thoracic SCI reveal further potential targets for therapy. These could be further explored as they overlap with genes involved in metabolic disease.
A Rare Cause of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Retropharyngeal Lipoma
Authors: Dilek Okan , Kaya Omer , Yilmaz Cengiz , Soker Gokhan , Gulek Bozkurt , Akin Mehmet Ali
Published: August 2017

Lipoma is the most common benign mesenchymal neoplasm. About 16% of lipomas arise in the head and neck region, especially in the posterior neck. Large lipomas that originate from the retropharyngeal space may cause dyspnea, dysphagia, and snoring and occasionally may lead to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Herein, we report a 45-year-old male patient with OSAS caused by a giant retropharyngeal lipoma with emphasis on CT findings.
Quantitative Analysis of Oxygen Gas Exhausted from Anode through In Situ Measurement during Electrolytic Reduction
Authors: Choi Eun-Young , Lee Jeong , Heo Dong Hyun , Hur Jin-Mok
Published: August 2017

Quantitative analysis by in situ measurement of oxygen gas evolved from an anode was employed to monitor the progress of electrolytic reduction of simulated oxide fuel in a molten Li2O–LiCl salt. The electrolytic reduction of 0.6 kg of simulated oxide fuel was performed in 5 kg of 1.5 wt.% Li2O–LiCl molten salt at 650°C. Porous cylindrical pellets of simulated oxide fuel were used as the cathode by loading a stainless steel wire mesh cathode basket. A platinum plate was employed as the anode. The oxygen gas evolved from the anode was exhausted to the instrumentation for in situ measurement during electrolytic reduction. The instrumentation consisted of a mass flow controller, pump, wet gas meter, and oxygen gas sensor. The oxygen gas was successfully measured using the instrumentation in real time. The measured volume of the oxygen gas was comparable to the theoretically calculated volume generated by the charge applied to the simulated oxide fuel.
The Use of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Selected Skin Diseases (Vitiligo, Alopecia, and Nonhealing Wounds)
Authors: Owczarczyk-Saczonek Agnieszka , Wociór Anna , Placek Waldemar , Maksymowicz Wojciech , Wojtkiewicz Joanna
Published: August 2017

The promising results derived from the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in many diseases are a subject of observation in preclinical studies. ADSCs seem to be the ideal cell population for the use in regenerative medicine due to their easy isolation, nonimmunogenic properties, multipotential nature, possibilities for differentiation into various cell lines, and potential for angiogenesis. This article reviews the current data on the use of ADSCs in the treatment of vitiligo, various types of hair loss, and the healing of chronic wounds.
Research on a New Signature Scheme on Blockchain
Authors: Yuan Chao , Xu Mi-xue , Si Xue-ming
Published: August 2017

With the rise of Bitcoin, blockchain which is the core technology of Bitcoin has received increasing attention. Privacy preserving and performance on blockchain are two research points in academia and business, but there are still some unresolved issues in both respects. An aggregate signature scheme is a digital signature that supports making signatures on many different messages generated by many different users. Using aggregate signature, the size of the signature could be shortened by compressing multiple signatures into a single signature. In this paper, a new signature scheme for transactions on blockchain based on the aggregate signature was proposed. It was worth noting that elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem and bilinear maps played major roles in our signature scheme. And the security properties of our signature scheme were proved. In our signature scheme, the amount will be hidden especially in the transactions which contain multiple inputs and outputs. Additionally, the size of the signature on transaction is constant regardless of the number of inputs and outputs that the transaction contains, which can improve the performance of signature. Finally, we gave an application scenario for our signature scheme which aims to achieve the transactions of big data on blockchain.
Predictors of Good Long-Term Renal Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis: Results from a Single Lupus Cohort
Authors: Fung William A. , Su Jiandong , Touma Zahi
Published: August 2017

This study aims to elucidate the predictive capabilities of proteinuria, serum creatinine (Cr), and urine RBCs (uRBCs) with respect to long-term renal outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN) in patients followed in clinic. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with LN. We evaluated the ability of proteinuria, serum Cr, and uRBCs at 12 months to predict good long-term renal outcomes defined as serum Cr ≤ 100 mmol/L and kidney transplant/dialysis-free at the 7th year. Receiver operator characteristic curves were generated for proteinuria, serum Cr, and uRBCs to study their ability to predict good long-term outcomes and to identify their best cut-off. Descriptive statistics studied the pattern of change of proteinuria and serum Cr. Results. Proteinuria of 0.6 g/d and Cr of 83 mmol/L performed independently moderately well in predicting good long-term renal outcomes while uRBC was less accurate. Combining serum Cr to proteinuria gave a small increase in positive predictive value with a trade-off in sensitivity. Proteinuria changed within the first year whereas serum Cr changed until the 7th year. Conclusions. Both proteinuria and Cr predict good long-term renal outcomes in LN. Proteinuria’s ability to change faster at 12 months makes it a favorable endpoint for clinical trials and research studies.
The Prevalence of Ocular Allergy and Comorbidities in Chinese School Children in Shanghai
Authors: Feng Yanqing , Wang Xiangning , Wang Fang , Liu Rongming , Chen Lu , Wu Shuqin , Yang Xia , Chen Miaoying , Rao Yu-Qing , Li Jing
Published: August 2017

Objective. To investigate the prevalence and features of ocular allergy (OA) and comorbidities among school children in Shanghai, China. Methods. This was a population-based cross-sectional study. Each participant completed an ISAAC-based questionnaire. The prevalence of OA symptoms, allergic rhinitis (AR) asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and sensitization to mites, pollen, and food was analyzed. Results. A total of 724 and 942 completed questionnaires from the 7–9-year-old (young group) and the 12–14-year-old (teen group) groups were analyzed, respectively. The overall prevalence of OA symptoms was 28%. However, more young students (10.6%) reported mild to severe daily life interference caused by OA than the teens (5.7%). The young group had higher prevalence of diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis (10.2%). The overall prevalence of AR symptom, diagnosed asthma, and diagnosed AD was 40.4%, 11.6%, and 16.7%, respectively. Young children had higher prevalence of diagnosed AR and AD than the teens. There were gender associated differences in the prevalence of AR and asthma among young children, but not among the teens. The comorbidities associated with OA was also analyzed. Sensitization to mites, food, and pollen was associated with higher prevalence of allergic conditions. Conclusions. OA together with other allergic conditions affected a significant number of children in Shanghai.
A Multistep Look-Ahead Deadlock Avoidance Policy for Automated Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Gu Chao , Li Zhiwu , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman
Published: August 2017

For an automated manufacturing system (AMS), it is a computationally intractable problem to find a maximally permissive deadlock avoidance policy (DAP) in a general case, since the decision on the safety of a reachable state is NP-hard. This paper focuses on the deadlock avoidance problem for systems of simple sequential processes with resources (S3PR) by using Petri nets structural analysis theory. Inspired by the one-step look-ahead DAP that is an established result, which is of polynomial complexity, for an S3PR without one-unit-capacity resources shared by two or more resource-transition circuits (in the Petri net model) that do not include each other, this research explores a multiple-step look-ahead deadlock avoidance policy for a system modeled with an S3PR that contains a shared one-unit-capacity resource in resource-transition circuits. It is shown that the development of an optimal DAP for the considered class of Petri nets is also of polynomial complexity. It is indicated that the steps needed to look ahead in a DAP depend on the structure of the net model. A number of examples are used to illustrate the proposed method.
Household Financial Burden and Poverty Impacts of Cancer Treatment in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Van Minh , Pham Cam Phuong , Vu Quynh Mai , Ngo Thuy Trang , Tran Dinh Ha , Bui Dieu , Pham Xuan Dung , Tran Dang Khoa , Mai Trong Khoa
Published: August 2017

Purpose. This paper aims to analyze the household financial burden and poverty impacts of cancer treatment in Vietnam. Methods. Under the “ASEAN CosTs in ONcology” study design, three major specialized cancer hospitals were employed to assemble the Vietnamese data. Factors of socioeconomic, direct, and indirect costs of healthcare were collected prospectively through both individual interviews and hospital financial records. Results. The rates of catastrophic expenditure based on the cut-off points of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of household’s income were 82.6%, 73.7%, 64.7%, and 56.9%, respectively. 37.4% of the households with patient were impoverished by the treatment costs for cancer. The statistically significant correlates of the impoverishment problem were higher among older patients (40–60 years: 1.77, 95% CI 1.14–2.73; above 60 years: 1.75, 95% CI 1.03–2.98); poorer patients (less than 100% national income: 29, 95% CI 18.6–45.24; less than 200% national income: 2.89, 95% CI 1.69–4.93); patients who underwent surgery alone (receiving nonsurgery treatment: 2.46, 95% CI 1.32–4.59; receiving multiple treatments: 2.4, 95% CI 1.38–4.17). Conclusions. Lots of households were pushed into poverty due to their expenditure on cancer care; more actions are urgently needed to improve financial protection to the vulnerable groups.