bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local anaesthetics combined with vasoconstrictors in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing dental procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Guimaraes Caio Chaves , Lopes Motta Rogério Heládio , Bergamaschi Cristiane de Cássia , Araújo Jimmy de Oliveira , Andrade Natalia Karol de , Figueiró Mabel Fernandes , Ramacciato Juliana Cama , Lopes Luciane Cruz
Published: November 2017

Introduction

The use of vasoconstrictors combined with local anaesthetics (LAs) in dentistry for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still controversial in the scientific literature. It raises concerns regarding the possibility of transient episodes, triggering negative cardiovascular outcomes.

Method/design

Trials eligible for our systematic review will enrol patients with CVD who have undergone dental treatments carried out with the use of LAs by comparing two arms: LAs with vasoconstrictors and LAs without vasoconstrictors. The research will be conducted in the electronic databases, namely Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Healthstar (via Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Web of Science, from their inception to December 2017, without any restrictions in terms of language and status of publication. A team of reviewers will independently assess titles, abstracts and complete text to determine eligibility. For eligible studies, the same reviewers will perform data extraction and evaluate the risk of bias in the selected articles. The selected outcomes comprise death, mortality by a specific cause, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, hospitalisation, pain, bleeding, arrhythmias, ischaemic episodes, anxiety, adverse effects, changes in blood pressure, changes in heart rate, anxiety and results obtained via oximetry. Whenever possible, we will conduct a meta-analysis to establish the effects of LAs with and without vasoconstrictors in the patients with CVD, and the overall quality of evidence for each outcome will be determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation classification system.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics committee approval was not necessary because this is a protocol of systematic review. This systematic review will be submitted for presentation at conferences and for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Our review will assess the risks of cardiovascular events when using LAs with and without vasoconstrictors in patients with CVD, focusing on important clinical outcomes.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42016045421.
Airway Transplantation of Adipose Stem Cells Protects against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Llontop Pedro , Lopez-Fernandez Daniel , Clavo Bernardino , Afonso Martín Juan Luis , Fiuza-Pérez María D , García Arranz Mariano , Calatayud Joaquín , Molins López-Rodó Laureano , Alshehri Khalid , Ayub Adil , Raad Wissam , Bhora Faiz , Santana-Rodríguez Norberto
Published: November 2017

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with poor prognosis. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) have demonstrated regenerative properties in several tissues. The hypothesis of this study was that airway transplantation of ADSC could protect against bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Fifty-eight lungs from 29 male Sprague-Dawley rats were analyzed. Animals were randomly divided into five groups: a) control (n=3); b) sham (n=6); c) BLM (n=6); d) BLM+ADSC-2d (n=6); and e) BLM+ADSC-14d (n=8). Animals received 500 µL saline (sham), 2.5 UI/kg BLM in 500 µL saline (BLM), and 2×106 ADSC in 100 µL saline intratracheally at 2 (BLM+ADSC-2d) and 14 days (BLM+ADSC-14d) after BLM. Animals were sacrificed at 28 days. Blinded Ashcroft score was used to determine pulmonary fibrosis extent on histology. Hsp27, Vegf, Nfkβ, IL-1, IL-6, Col4, and Tgfβ1 mRNA gene expression were determined using real-time quantitative-PCR. Ashcroft index was: control=0; sham=0.37±0.07; BLM=6.55±0.34 vs sham (P=0.006). BLM vs BLM+ADSC-2d=4.63±0.38 (P=0.005) and BLM+ADSC-14d=3.77±0.46 (P=0.005). BLM vs sham significantly increased Hsp27 (P=0.018), Nfkβ (P=0.009), Col4 (P=0.004), Tgfβ1 (P=0.006) and decreased IL-1 (P=0.006). BLM+ADSC-2d vs BLM significantly decreased Hsp27 (P=0.009) and increased Vegf (P=0.006), Nfkβ (P=0.009). BLM+ADSC-14d vs BLM significantly decreased Hsp27 (P=0.028), IL-6 (P=0.013), Col4 (P=0.002), and increased Nfkβ (P=0.040) and Tgfβ1 (P=0.002). Airway transplantation of ADSC significantly decreased the fibrosis rate in both early and established pulmonary fibrosis, modulating the expression of Hsp27, Vegfa, Nfkβ, IL-6, Col4, and Tgfβ1. From a translational perspective, this technique could become a new adjuvant treatment for patients with IPF.
Nutritional Status Plays a Crucial Role in the Mortality of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Renal Failure
Authors: Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Xiaodong , Dong Lei
Published: November 2017

We aimed to clarify associations between nutritional status and mortality in patients with acute renal failure. De-identified data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database comprising more than 40,000 critical care patients treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centerbetween 2001 and 2012. Weight loss and body mass index criteria were used to define malnutrition. Data of 193 critically ill patients with acute renal failure were analyzed, including demographics, nutrition intervention, laboratory results, and disease severity. Main outcomes were in-hospital and 1-year mortality. The 1-year mortality was significantly higher in those with malnutrition than in those without malnutrition (50.0% vs 29.3%, p=0.010), but differences in in-hospital survival were not significant (p=0.255). Significant differences in mortality were found between those with malnutrition and without starting at the 52nd day after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge (p=0.036). No significant differences were found between men and women with malnutrition in in-hospital mortality (p=0.949) and 1-year mortality (p=0.051). Male patients requiring intervention with blood products/colloid supplements had greater risk of 1-year mortality, but without statistical significance. Nutritional status is a predictive factor for mortality among critically ill patients with acute renal failure, particularly 1-year mortality after ICU discharge.
Revealing the complexity of quitting smoking: a qualitative grounded theory study of the natural history of quitting in Australian ex-smokers
Authors: Smith Andrea L , Carter Stacy M , Dunlop Sally M , Freeman Becky , Chapman Simon
Published: November 2017

Objective

To explore the quitting histories of Australian ex-smokers in order to develop an understanding of the varied contribution of smoking cessation assistance (either pharmacotherapy or professionally mediated behavioural support) to the process of quitting.

Design

Qualitative grounded theory study; in-depth interviews.

Participants

37 Australian adult ex-smokers (24–68 years; 15 men, 22 women) who quit in the past 6–24 months.

Results

Although participants’ individual quitting histories and their overall experiences of quitting were unique, when the 37 quitting histories were compared it was clear two experiences were common to almost all participants: almost no one quit at their first quit attempt and almost everyone started out quitting unassisted. Furthermore, distinct patterns existed in the timing and use of assistance, in particular the age at which assistance was first used, how some participants were resolutely uninterested in assistance, and how assistance might have contributed to the process of successful quitting even if not used on the final quit attempt. Importantly, three patterns in use of assistance were identified: (1) only ever tried to quit unassisted (n=13); (2) started unassisted, tried assistance but reverted back to unassisted (n=13); (3) started unassisted, tried assistance and quit with assistance (n=11). For most participants, insight into what quitting would require was only gained through prior quitting experiences with and without assistance. For a number of participants, interest in assistance was at its lowest when the participant was most ready to quit.

Conclusion

Quitting should be viewed as a process drawing on elements of assisted and unassisted quitting rather than a stand-alone event that can be labelled as strictly assisted or unassisted.
Objective and subjective measures of exercise intensity during thermo-neutral and hot yoga
Authors: Boyd Corinne N. , Lannan Stephanie M. , Zuhl Micah N. , Mora-Rodriguez Ricardo , Nelson Rachael K.
Published: November 2017

While hot yoga has gained enormous popularity in recent years, owing in part to increased environmental challenge associated with exercise in the heat, it is not clear whether hot yoga is more vigorous than thermo-neutral yoga. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine objective and subjective measures of exercise intensity during constant intensity yoga in a hot and thermo-neutral environment. Using a randomized, crossover design, 14 participants completed 2 identical ∼20-min yoga sessions in a hot (35.3 ± 0.8 °C; humidity: 20.5% ± 1.4%) and thermo-neutral (22.1 ± 0.2 °C; humidity: 27.8% ± 1.6%) environment. Oxygen consumption and heart rate (HR) were recorded as objective measures (percentage of maximal oxygen consumption and percentage of maximal HR (%HRmax)) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded as a subjective measure of exercise intensity. There was no difference in exercise intensity based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga (30.9% ± 2.3% vs. 30.5% ± 1.8%, p = 0.68). However, exercise intensity was significantly higher during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga based on %HRmax (67.0% ± 2.3% vs. 60.8% ± 1.9%, p = 0.01) and RPE (12 ± 1 vs. 11 ± 1, p = 0.04). According to established exercise intensities, hot yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption but moderate-intensity exercise based on %HRmax and RPE while thermo-neutral yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen uptake, %HRmax, and RPE. Despite the added hemodynamic stress and perception that yoga is more strenuous in a hot environment, we observed similar oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga, classifying both exercise modalities as light-intensity exercise.
An improved two-rotor function for conformational potential energy surfaces of 20 amino acid diamides
Authors: Villar John Justine S. , Valdez Adrian Roy L. , Setiadi David H. , Csizmadia Imre G. , Viskolcz Béla , Rágyanszki Anita
Published: November 2017

Predicting the three-dimensional structure of a protein from its amino acid sequence requires a complete understanding of the molecular forces that influences the protein folding process. Each possible conformation has its corresponding potential energy, which characterizes its thermodynamic stability. This is needed to identify the primary intra- and inter-molecular interactions, so that we can reduce the dimensionality of the problem, and create a relatively simple representation of the system. Investigating this problem using quantum chemical methods produces accurate results; however, this also entails large computational resources. In this study, an improved two-rotor potential energy function is proposed to represent the backbone interactions in amino acids through a linear combination of a Fourier series and a mixture of Gaussian functions. This function is applied to approximate the 20 amino acid diamide Ramachandran-type PESs, and results yielded an average RMSE of 2.36 kJ mol−1, which suggest that the mathematical model precisely captures the general topology of the conformational potential energy surface. Furthermore, this paper provides insights on the conformational preferences of amino acid diamides through local minima geometries and energy ranges, using the improved mathematical model. The proposed mathematical model presents a simpler representation that attempts to provide a framework on building polypeptide models from individual amino acid functions, and consequently, a novel method for rapid but accurate evaluation of potential energies for biomolecular simulations.
Use of extended finite element method and statistical analysis for modelling the corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete containing metakaolin
Authors: Al-alaily Hossam S. , Hassan Assem A.A. , Hussein Amgad A.
Published: November 2017

This study presents an improved technique to predict the time for corrosion-induced cracking in concrete containing metakaolin (MK) based on combining extended finite element model (XFEM) and statistical analysis. The prediction model was developed based on the percentage of MK in the mixture, binder content, water-to-binder (W/B) ratio, and concrete cover thickness. The developed model was also validated experimentally using an accelerated corrosion test. Moreover, design charts were developed in this study using statistical analysis to facilitate and simplify the use of the prediction model. The results indicated that the corrosion pressure required to crack the concrete cover increased with higher percentages of MK, higher binder content, and (or) lower W/B ratio. The most significant factors affecting the time for corrosion-induced cracking was found to be the concrete cover, W/B ratio, MK replacement, and binder content, respectively, in order of significance. The results also indicated that the time required for corrosion-induced cracking obtained from the developed prediction model showed a good agreement with the experimental results of the accelerated corrosion samples. Also, the cracks predicted by the XFEM showed a similar trend of variation with that found in the accelerated corrosion samples.
An efficient quantum teleportation of six-qubit state via an eight-qubit cluster state
Authors: Zhao Nan , Li Min , Chen Nan , Pei Chang-xing
Published: November 2017

We present a scheme for teleporting a certain class of six-particle state via an eight-particle cluster state as quantum channel. In our scheme, the sender merely needs to perform an eight-particle von-Neumann projective measurement, and the receiver gives a corresponding general evolution to restore the original state. Our scheme is a deterministic scheme. Compared with other schemes proposed before, our scheme possesses higher intrinsic efficiency.
Oxidative stress burden inhibits spermatogenesis in adult male rats: testosterone protective effect
Authors: Makary Samy , Abdo Mohamed , Fekry Ereny
Published: November 2017

In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of androgens, using letrozole (LET; an aromatase inhibitor), grape seed extract (GSE; a naturally occurring aromatase inhibitor and antioxidant), and testosterone propionate (Tp), against methotrexate (MTX)-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. MTX has been shown to induce oxidative stress and exhibit antiproliferative effects in the testes. Adult male rats received oral saline gavage (control group with no treatment), the potential protective agents (LET, GSE, or Tp) alone, MTX alone, or a combination of one of the potential protective agents and MTX. The testicular levels of oxidative stress markers and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) were measured. Spermatogenesis and sperm viability were microscopically evaluated. Administration of LET and GSE 7 days before MTX improved spermatogenesis and sperm viability, as well as reduced the levels of oxidative stress markers and cellular cytokines. Exogenous testosterone exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, similar to GSE and LET. We also showed that enhancing the endogenous androgenic activity by LET and GSE protected spermatogenesis against MTX-induced testicular toxicity via reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress in the testes. Our data suggest that testosterone protected spermatogenesis owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Efficiency Measurement of Multistage Processes: Context Dependent Numbers of Stages
Authors: Cook Wade D. , Guo Chuanyin , Li Wanghong , Li Zhepeng , Liang Liang , Zhu Joe
Published: November 2017

An important area of research involving the benchmarking methodology data envelopment analysis (DEA), concerns the modeling of multistage situations. In the usual multistage settings, it is generally assumed that all decision-making units (DMUs) have the same number and configuration of stages. However, in many real-world examples, this assumption does not hold. Consider, for example, a supply chain setting where for some DMUs, products are shipped directly from a supplier to a retailer (single-stage), while for other DMUs, products can be transshipped through distribution centers (two or more stages). In the current paper, we investigate an efficiency measurement situation where the DMUs exhibit a mix of single and two-stage setups. The particular case examined involves a set of high technology firms that can be thought of as falling into two groups; those firms where the output of interest is the annual revenue generated, and those that not only generate revenue, but as well invest a portion of that revenue in R&D. Firms in the first group can be viewed as being single-stage DMUs while those in the other group are of the two-stage type. The modeling complication here is that the set of DMUs do not explicitly form a homogeneous set of units. We develop a DEA-style model aimed at measuring efficiency in the presence of such nonhomogeneous two-group structures.
The standard electroweak model in the noncommutative DFR space–time
Authors: Neves Mario J. , Abreu Everton M. C.
Published: November 2017

The noncommutative (NC) framework elaborated by Doplicher, Fredenhagen and Roberts (DFR) has a Lorentz invariant space–time structure in order to be considered as a candidate to understand the physics of the early Universe. In DFR formalism, the NC parameter [Formula: see text] is a coordinate operator in an extended Hilbert space and it has a conjugate momentum. Since [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are independent coordinates, the Moyal–Weyl (MW) product can be used in this framework. With these elements, in this work, we have constructed the standard electroweak model. To accomplish this task, we have begun with the MW-product basis group of symmetry. After that we have introduced the spontaneous symmetry breaking and the hypercharge in DFR framework. The electroweak symmetry breaking was analyzed and the masses of the new bosons were computed. Finally, the gauge symmetry and gauge transformations were discussed.
A self-consistency check for unitary propagation of Hawking quanta
Authors: Baker Daniel , Kodwani Darsh , Pen Ue-Li , Yang I-Sheng
Published: November 2017

The black hole information paradox presumes that quantum field theory in curved space–time can provide unitary propagation from a near-horizon mode to an asymptotic Hawking quantum. Instead of invoking conjectural quantum-gravity effects to modify such an assumption, we propose a self-consistency check. We establish an analogy to Feynman’s analysis of a double-slit experiment. Feynman showed that unitary propagation of the interfering particles, namely ignoring the entanglement with the double-slit, becomes an arbitrarily reliable assumption when the screen upon which the interference pattern is projected is infinitely far away. We argue for an analogous self-consistency check for quantum field theory in curved space–time. We apply it to the propagation of Hawking quanta and test whether ignoring the entanglement with the geometry also becomes arbitrarily reliable in the limit of a large black hole. We present curious results to suggest a negative answer, and we discuss how this loss of naive unitarity in QFT might be related to a solution of the paradox based on the soft-hair-memory effect.
Thermal lens effect and fluorescence of motor oil investigated by holographic method
Authors: Chirita Arcadi , Dimov Fedor , Kukhtarev Nickolai
Published: November 2017

This paper presents studies of the thermal lens effect in the volume of motor oil by holographic methods using excitation of 447[Formula: see text]nm laser wavelength. The possibility of using a hologram of initial object, as a diffractive element, for obtaining the spectral dependence of the fluorescence of the oil product was shown.
General fabrication of MCo2O4@CeO2 (M = Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn) core@shell nanospheres and their catalytic performances in CO oxidation
Authors: Liu Ling , Shi Jingjing , Wang Ruiyu
Published: November 2017

A facile strategy is described for general synthesis of MCo2O4@CeO2 ([Formula: see text], Cu, Zn, Mn) core@shell nanospheres. First, uniform M,Co–glycerate were prepared and served as precursor to produce MCo2O4 spheres by calcination, followed by a reflux process to obtain MCo2O4@CeO2 core@shell spheres. As expected, due to the synergetic effect at the interface between the two components, most of the as-prepared MCo2O4@CeO2 core@shell spheres exhibited enhanced catalytic activities toward CO oxidation compared with the corresponding MCo2O4 spheres and CeO2 nanoparticles.
A correction on the signed bad number
Authors: Amjadi J. , Khoeilar R. , Soroudi M.
Published: November 2017

A signed bad function of [Formula: see text] is a function [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for every [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the closed neighborhood of [Formula: see text]. The signed bad number is [Formula: see text]. Ghameshlou et al. [A. N. Ghameshlou, A. Khodkar and S. M. Sheikholeslami, The signed bad numbers in graphs, Discrete Math. Algorithms Appl. 1 (2011) 33–41] proved that for any bipartite graph of order [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. But their proof has a gap and the bound is not correct in general. In this note, we modify their proof and show that for any bipartite graph of order [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and also we characterize the bipartite graphs attaining this bound.
A multi-level splitting algorithm based on differential evolution
Authors: Wang Liping , Fan Wenhui
Published: November 2017

Multi-level splitting algorithm is a famous rare event simulation (RES) method which reaches rare set through splitting samples during simulation. Since choosing sample paths is a key factor of the method, this paper embeds differential evolution in multi-level splitting mechanism to improve the sampling strategy and precision, so as to improve the algorithm efficiency. Examples of rare event probability estimation demonstrate that the new proposed algorithm performs well in convergence rate and precision for a set of benchmark cases.
Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Procedures for Children with Congenital Membranous Cataract
Authors: Long Jingji , Xiang Daoman , Guo Zheng , Chen Lihong , Chen Feng , Wang Jianxun , Xie Wanhua , He Shiping
Published: November 2017

Objective. In a group case series, the clinical characteristics of congenital membranous cataract in children were studied to establish a system of classification and determine the surgical method suited for each type. Methods. Children (18 eyes) with congenital membranous cataract were examined by slit lamp, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and operating microscopy to classify cataracts. The clinical characteristics of congenital membranous cataract and its feature related to the surgical method were analyzed. Results. Five major types of congenital membranous cataracts were classified. All of the surgeries were successful. Anterior and posterior capsulorhexis was performed using Klöti RF capsulotomy tips. The capsular flap was removed, and anterior vitrectomy was performed using a vitrectomy cutter. Postoperative complications included posterior capsule opacification in 16.7% of the patients. Conclusion. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used successfully to classify congenital membranous cataracts prior to surgery. Anterior and posterior capsulorhexis was performed using Klöti RF capsulotomy tips, and capsulectomy was performed using a vitrectomy cutter. These were effective techniques and should be considered for congenital membranous cataract removal surgery. This trial is registered with registration number chiCTR-OOC-17010913.
The Role of Surface Infiltration in Hydromechanical Coupling Effects in an Unsaturated Porous Medium of Semi-Infinite Extent
Authors: Wu L. Z. , Selvadurai A. P. S. , Yang J.
Published: November 2017

Rainfall infiltration into an unsaturated region of the earth’s surface is a pervasive natural phenomenon. During the rainfall-induced seepage process, the soil skeleton can deform and the permeability can change with the water content in the unsaturated porous medium. A coupled water infiltration and deformation formulation is used to examine a problem related to the mechanics of a two-dimensional region of semi-infinite extent. The van Genuchten model is used to represent the soil-water characteristic curve. The model, incorporating coupled infiltration and deformation, was developed to resolve the coupled problem in a semi-infinite domain based on numerical methods. The numerical solution is verified by the analytical solution when the coupled effects in an unsaturated medium of semi-infinite extent are considered. The computational results show that a numerical procedure can be employed to examine the semi-infinite unsaturated seepage incorporating coupled water infiltration and deformation. The analysis indicates that the coupling effect is significantly influenced by the boundary conditions of the problem and varies with the duration of water infiltration.
On the Output Controllability of Positive Discrete Linear Delay Systems
Authors: Naim Mouhcine , Lahmidi Fouad , Namir Abdelwahed , Rachik Mostafa
Published: November 2017

Necessary and sufficient conditions for output reachability and null output controllability of positive linear discrete systems with delays in state, input, and output are established. It is also shown that output reachability and null output controllability together imply output controllability.
Theoretical Investigation of Oxazine 170 Perchlorate Doped Polymeric Optical Fiber Amplifier
Authors: Miluski Piotr , Kochanowicz Marcin , Żmojda Jacek , Dorosz Dominik
Published: November 2017

Optical signal amplification in the waveguiding structure of optical fibers can be used for optical telecommunication systems and new light sources constructions. Organic dyes doped materials are interesting for new applications in polymeric optical fibers technology due to their benefits (efficient fluorescence, high absorption cross section, and easy processing). This article presents a numerical simulation of gain in poly(methyl methacrylate) optical fiber doped by Oxazine 170 Perchlorate. The calculated gain characteristic for the used dye molar concentration (0.2 · 10−6–1.4 · 10−6) and pump power (1–10 kW) is presented. The fabricated fluorescent polymeric optical fiber is also shown. The presented analysis can be used for optical amplifier construction based on dye‐doped polymeric optical fiber (POF).
Quantification and Analysis of Suspended Sediments Concentration Using Mobile and Static Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Instruments
Authors: Dwinovantyo Angga , Manik Henry M. , Prartono Tri , Susilohadi Susilohadi
Published: November 2017

The application of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) can be used not only for measuring ocean currents, but also for quantifying suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) from acoustic backscatter strength based on sonar principle. Suspended sediment has long been recognized as the largest sources of sea contaminant and must be considered as one of the important parameters in water quality of seawater. This research was to determine SSC from measured acoustic backscattered intensity of static and mobile ADCP. In this study, vertically mounted 400 kHz and 750 kHz static ADCP were deployed in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi. A mobile ADCP 307.2 kHz was also mounted on the boat and moved to the predefined cross-section, accordingly. The linear regression analysis of echo intensity measured by ADCP and by direct measurement methods showed that ADCP is a reliable method to measure SSC with correlation coefficient (r) 0.92. Higher SSC was observed in low water compared to that in high water and near port area compared to those in observed areas. All of this analysis showed that the combination of static and mobile ADCP methods produces reasonably good spatial and temporal data of SSC.
Reactive Extrusion of Polyethylene Terephthalate Waste and Investigation of Its Thermal and Mechanical Properties after Treatment
Authors: Mohsin Mahmoud A. , Abdulrehman Tahir , Haik Yousef
Published: November 2017

This study investigates treating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste water bottles with different mass of ethylene glycol (EG) using reactive extrusion technique at a temperature of 260°C. The study puts emphases on evaluating the thermal, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of the treated polyethylene terephthalate. The properties of the treated PET from the extruder were analyzed using FT-IR, TGA, DSC, and nanoindentation. The melt flow indexes (MFI) of both treated and untreated PET were also measured and compared. Thermal properties such as melting temperature (Tm) for treating PET showed an inversely proportional behavior with the EG concentrations. The FT-IR analysis was used to investigate the formation of new linkages like hydrogen bonds between PET and EG due to the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. Nanoindentation results revealed that both the mechanical characteristics, elastic modulus and hardness, decrease with increasing EG concentration. On the other hand, the melt flow index of treated PET exhibited an increase with increasing EG concentration in the PET matrix.
General Framework of Reversible Watermarking Based on Asymmetric Histogram Shifting of Prediction Error
Authors: Chen Sheng , Chen Xianyi , Fu Huijuan
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a general framework for the reversible watermarking based on asymmetric histogram shifting of prediction error, which is inspired by reversible watermarking of prediction error. Different from the conventional algorithms using single-prediction scheme to create symmetric histogram, the proposed method employs a multi-prediction scheme, which calculates multiple prediction values for the pixels. Then, the suitable value would be selected by two dual asymmetric selection functions to construct two asymmetric error histograms. Finally, the watermark is embedded in the two error histograms separately utilizing a complementary embedding strategy. The proposed framework provides a new perspective for the research of reversible watermarking, which brings about many benefits for the information security.
Robust STAP for MIMO Radar Based on Direct Data Domain Approach
Authors: Chen Cheng , He Junjie , Yuan Zeshi , Zhu Xiaohua , Li Hongtao
Published: November 2017

The detection performance of direct data domain (D3) space-time adaptive processing (STAP) will be extremely degraded when there are mismatches between the actual and the presumed signal steering vectors. In this paper, a robust D3 STAP method for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar is developed. The proposed method utilizes the worst-case performance optimization (WCPO) to prevent the target self-nulling effect. An upper bound for the norm of the signal steering vector error is given to ensure that the WCPO problem has an admissible solution. Meanwhile, to obtain better detection performance in the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environment, the proposed method gives a modified objective function to minimize the array noise while mitigating the interferences. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of our proposed method.
Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Active Skin Antenna with 3D Printing Array Framework
Authors: Zhou Jinzhu , Li Haitao , Kang Le , Tang Baofu , Huang Jin , Cai Zhiheng
Published: November 2017

An active skin antenna with structural load-bearing and electromagnetic functions is usually installed in the structural surface of mobile vehicles such as aircrafts, warships, and high-speed train. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a novel active skin antenna which consists of an encapsulation shell, antenna skin, and RF and beam control circuits. The antenna skin which consists of the facesheet, honeycomb, array framework, and microstrip antenna elements was designed by using Bayesian optimization, in order to improve the design efficiency. An active skin antenna prototype with 32 microstrip antenna elements was fabricated by using a hybrid manufacturing method. In this method, 3D printing technology was applied to fabricate the array framework, and the different layers were bonded to form the final antenna skin by using traditional composite process. Some experimental testing was conducted, and the testing results validate the feasibility the proposed antenna skin structure. The proposed design and fabrication technique is suitable for the development of conformal load-bearing antenna or smart skin antenna installed in the structural surface of aircraft, warships, and armored vehicles.
Five Indigenous Plants of Pakistan with Antinociceptive, Anti‐Inflammatory, Antidepressant, and Anticoagulant Properties in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Ismail Hammad , Rasheed Ammara , Haq Ihsan-ul , Jafri Laila , Ullah Nazif , Dilshad Erum , Sajid Moniba , Mirza Bushra
Published: November 2017

Five medicinal plants of Pakistan were investigated for their antinociceptive, anti‐inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticoagulant potential. Antinociceptive activity was estimated by hot plate and writhing assay. In hot plate assay, Quercus dilatata (52.2%) and Hedera nepalensis (59.1%) showed moderate while Withania coagulans (65.3%) displayed a significant reduction in pain. On the other hand, in writhing assay, Quercus dilatata (49.6%), Hedera nepalensis (52.7%), and Withania coagulans (62.0%) showed comparative less activity. In anti‐inflammatory assays crude extracts showed significant edema inhibition in a dose dependent manner. In carrageenan assay, the highest activity was observed for Withania coagulans (70.0%) followed by Quercus dilatata (66.7%) and Hedera nepalensis (63.3%). Similar behavior was observed in histamine assay with percentage inhibitions of 74.3%, 60.4%, and 63.5%, respectively. Antidepressant activity was estimated by forced swim test and the most potent activity was revealed by Withania coagulans with immobility time 2.2s (95.9%) followed by Hedera nepalensis with immobility time 25.3s (53.4%). Moreover, the crude extracts of Fagonia cretica (74.6%), Hedera nepalensis (73.8%), and Phytolacca latbenia (67.3%) showed good anticoagulant activity with coagulation times 86.9s, 84.3s, and 67.5s, respectively. Collectively, the results demonstrate that these five plants have rich medicinal constituents which can be further explored.
A No-Reference Modular Video Quality Prediction Model for H.265/HEVC and VP9 Codecs on a Mobile Device
Authors: Pal Debajyoti , Vanijja Vajirasak
Published: November 2017

We propose a modular no-reference video quality prediction model for videos that are encoded with H.265/HEVC and VP9 codecs and viewed on mobile devices. The impairments which can affect video transmission are classified into two broad types depending upon which layer of the TCP/IP model they originated from. Impairments from the network layer are called the network QoS factors, while those from the application layer are called the application/payload QoS factors. Initially we treat the network and application QoS factors separately and find out the 1 : 1 relationship between the respective QoS factors and the corresponding perceived video quality or QoE. The mapping from the QoS to the QoE domain is based upon a decision variable that gives an optimal performance. Next, across each group we choose multiple QoS factors and find out the QoE for such multifactor impaired videos by using an additive, multiplicative, and regressive approach. We refer to these as the integrated network and application QoE, respectively. At the end, we use a multiple regression approach to combine the network and application QoE for building the final model. We also use an Artificial Neural Network approach for building the model and compare its performance with the regressive approach.
Chronic Kidney Disease and Disproportionally Increased Cardiovascular Damage: Does Oxidative Stress Explain the Burden?
Authors: Duni Anila , Liakopoulos Vassilios , Rapsomanikis Karolos-Pavlos , Dounousi Evangelia
Published: November 2017

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are among the groups at the highest risk for cardiovascular disease and significantly shortened remaining lifespan. CKD enhances oxidative stress in the organism with ensuing cardiovascular damage. Oxidative stress in uremia is the consequence of higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, whereas attenuated clearance of pro‐oxidant substances and impaired antioxidant defenses play a complementary role. The pathophysiological mechanism underlying the increased ROS production in CKD is at least partly mediated by upregulation of the intrarenal angiotensin system. Enhanced oxidative stress in the setting of the uremic milieu promotes enzymatic modification of circulating lipids and lipoproteins, protein carbamylation, endothelial dysfunction via disruption of nitric oxide (NO) pathways, and activation of inflammation, thus accelerating atherosclerosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and heart failure are hallmarks of CKD. NADPH oxidase activation, xanthine oxidase, mitochondrial dysfunction, and NO‐ROS are the main oxidative pathways leading to LVH and the cardiorenal syndrome. Finally, a subset of antioxidant enzymes, the paraoxonases (PON), deserves special attention due to abundant clinical evidence accumulated regarding reduced serum PON1 activity in CKD as a contributor to the increased burden of cardiovascular disease. Future, meticulously designed studies are needed to assess the effects of antioxidant therapy on patients with CKD.
On Quantum Statistical Mechanics: A Study Guide
Authors: Majewski Wladyslaw Adam
Published: November 2017

We provide an introduction to a study of applications of noncommutative calculus to quantum statistical physics. Centered on noncommutative calculus, we describe the physical concepts and mathematical structures appearing in the analysis of large quantum systems and their consequences. These include the emergence of algebraic approach and the necessity of employment of infinite-dimensional structures. As an illustration, a quantization of stochastic processes, new formalism for statistical mechanics, quantum field theory, and quantum correlations are discussed.
Potential Developmental and Reproductive Impacts of Triclocarban: A Scoping Review
Authors: Rochester Johanna R. , Bolden Ashley L. , Pelch Katherine E. , Kwiatkowski Carol F.
Published: November 2017

Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial agent used in personal care products. Although frequently studied with another antimicrobial, triclosan, it is not as well researched, and there are very few reviews of the biological activity of TCC. TCC has been shown to be a possible endocrine disruptor, acting by enhancing the activity of endogenous hormones. TCC has been banned in the US for certain applications; however, many human populations, in and outside the US, exhibit exposure to TCC. Because of the concern of the health effects of TCC, we conducted a scoping review in order to map the current body of literature on the endocrine, reproductive, and developmental effects of TCC. The aim of this scoping review was to identify possible endpoints for future systematic review and to make recommendations for future research. A search of the literature until August 2017 yielded 32 relevant studies in humans, rodents, fish, invertebrates, and in vitro. Based on the robustness of the literature in all three evidence streams (human, animal, and in vitro), we identified three endpoints for possible systematic review: estrogenic activity, androgenic activity, and offspring growth. In this review, we describe the body of evidence and make recommendations for future research.
Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Solid Benign Thyroid Nodules: Comparison of MWA versus Control Group
Authors: Wu Wenjun , Gong Xiaohua , Zhou Qi , Chen Xiong , Chen Xiaojun
Published: November 2017

Background. The aim of this research is to investigate the feasibility of percutaneous ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for benign solid thyroid nodules. Methods. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was performed for 90 benign solid thyroid nodules in 75 patients. The volume changes of the nodules were evaluated before and after microwave ablation, and the cosmetic grading and clinical symptoms were assessed as well. Results. The volume of all the 90 benign thyroid nodules obviously decreased after microwave ablation at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups (p<0.01), while that of the control group increased at the follow-up of 12 months (p<0.01). The volume reduction rate (VRR) at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups was 55.98%, 69.31%, 76.65%, and 84.67% in the MWA group, respectively. The cosmetic problems and clinical symptoms were also improved in the MWA group. All the patients are well tolerated to the procedure. Hoarseness occurred in 2 cases (2.7%) and Horner syndrome in 1 case (1.3%), and 1 patient (1.3%) developed slight burn on cervical skin. Conclusions. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation is a practical method for treating benign solid thyroid nodules, and the complications were acceptable. The trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov with the registration number NCT03057925.
Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Activation Mediates Adaptive Resistance to BRAF Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Chen Guangming , Gao Chenxi , Gao Xuan , Zhang Dennis Han , Kuan Shih-Fan , Burns Timothy F. , Hu Jing
Published: November 2017

One of the most encouraging developments in oncology has been the success of BRAF inhibitors in BRAF-mutant melanoma. However, in contrast to its striking efficacy in BRAF-mutant melanomas, BRAF inhibitor monotherapy is ineffective in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer. Although many studies on BRAF inhibitor resistance in colorectal cancer have focused on mechanisms underlying the reactivation of the EGFR/RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, the current study focuses on identifying novel adaptive signaling mechanisms, a fresh angle on colorectal cancer resistance to BRAF inhibition. We found that treatment with BRAF inhibitors (both current and next-generation BRAF inhibitors) upregulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in BRAFV600E-mutant colorectal cancer cell lines through activating the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The results showed that FAK activation upon BRAF inhibitor treatment did not require EGFR or ERK1/2 activation, implying that BRAF inhibitor treatment-induced hyperactivation of Wnt signaling is “pathway reactivation”-independent. BRAF inhibition–induced Wnt pathway activation was further validated in preclinical models of BRAFV600E-mutant colorectal cancer, including cell line xenograft model and a patient-derived xenograft model. Combined inhibition of BRAF/Wnt pathways or BRAF/FAK pathways exerted strong synergistic antitumor effects in cell culture model and mouse xenograft model. Overall, the current study has identified activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a novel fundamental cause of colon cancer resistance to BRAF inhibition. Our results suggest that although complete vertical pathway blockade is pivotal for effective and durable control of BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer, cotargeting parallel adaptive signaling—the Wnt/β-catenin pathway—is also essential. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(4); 806–13. ©2017 AACR.
Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Symptom of Semantic Dementia
Authors: Sakai Mariko , Kazui Hiroaki , Shigenobu Kazue , Komori Kenjiro , Ikeda Manabu , Nishikawa Takashi
Published: November 2017

Objective: To investigate the gustatory function in patients with semantic dementia (SD). Methods: Detection and recognition thresholds of the 4 basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, and bitter), taste discrimination, and taste identification were evaluated in 18 patients with SD, 18 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), and 22 healthy controls. Results: Total detection and recognition threshold values were significantly higher in the SD and AD groups than in the control group. Patients with early-stage SD (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score 0.5) exhibited significantly higher detection and recognition thresholds relative to controls, while increases in recognition threshold were only noted in patients with AD. Patients with SD exhibited significantly higher thresholds for the detection of sweet and salty tastes and the recognition of salty, sour, and bitter tastes, while patients with AD exhibited significantly higher thresholds only for the recognition of salty and sour tastes. Taste discrimination was preserved, whereas taste identification was disturbed, in both the SD and AD groups. Conclusions: Gustatory dysfunction at both the sensory and semantic levels may be among the early symptoms of SD. Although patients with SD had difficulty detecting sweet tastes, they more easily recognized these tastes than others, which may explain their strong preference for sweets.
Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Mito-Tempo Protects Against Aldosterone-Induced Renal Injury In Vivo
Authors: Ding Wei , Liu Tingyan , Bi Xiao , Zhang Zhiling
Published: November 2017

Background/Aims: Growing evidence suggests mitochondrial dysfunction (MtD) and the Nlrp3 inflammasome play critical roles in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. We previously reported that Aldosterone (Aldo)-induced renal injury in vitro is directly caused by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS)-mediated activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome. Here we aimed to determine whether a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (Mito-Tempo) could prevent Aldo-induced kidney damage in vivo. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were treated with Aldo and/or Mito-Tempo (or ethanol as a control) for 4 weeks. Renal injury was evaluated by Periodic Acid-Schiff reagent or Masson’s trichrome staining and electron microscopy. ROS were measured by DCFDA fluorescence and ELISA. MtD was determined by real-time PCR and electron microscopy. Activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) was detected via western blot. Results: Compared with control mice, Aldo-infused mice showed impaired renal function, increased mtROS production and MtD, Nlrp3 inflammasome activation, and elevated ERS. We showed administration of Mito-Tempo significantly improved renal function and MtD, and reduced Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and ERS in vivo. Conclusion: Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants may attenuate Aldo-infused renal injury by inhibiting MtD, the Nlrp3 inflammasome, and ERS in vivo. Therefore, targeting mtROS might be an effective strategy for preventing CKD.