bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolated Celiac and Splenic Artery Dissection: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Moussa Tania , Nawfal Georges , Assi Tarek , El Rassy Elie , Massoud Elie , Daou Iskandar
Published: December 2015

An isolated dissection of the celiac artery is an extremely rare condition that requires a high level of suspicion to evoke the diagnosis. Once established, the natural course is unpredictable in view of the discrepancies in its management requiring a case-by-case analysis. In this paper, we report an unusual case of spontaneous abdominal pain that was diagnosed with celiac and splenic artery rupture secondary to physical stress. This paper underlines the necessity to maintain a high level of suspicion for arterial dissections and we also review the management plan in such cases.
Immunoregulation of NKT Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Chen Junwei , Wu Meng , Wang Jing , Li Xiaofeng
Published: December 2015

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with different variety of clinical manifestations. Natural killer T (NKT) cells are innate lymphocytes that play a regulatory role during broad range of immune responses. A number of studies demonstrated that the quantity and quality of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells showed marked defects in SLE patients in comparison to healthy controls. This finding suggests that iNKT cells may play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of this disease. In this review, we mainly summarized the most recent findings about the behavior of NKT cells in SLE patients and mouse models, as well as how NKT cells affect the proportion of T helper cells and the production of autoreactive antibodies in the progress of SLE. This will help people better understand the role of NKT cells in the development of SLE and improve the therapy strategy.
Multi-Quartz Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy with Different Acoustic Microresonator Configurations
Authors: Zheng Huadan , Yin Xukun , Dong Lei , Wu Hongpeng , Liu Xiaoli , Ma Weiguang , Zhang Lei , Yin Wangbao , Jia Suotang
Published: December 2015

Acoustic microresonators were added to the recently developed multi-QTF based QEPAS spectrophone to enhance the signal amplitude. Two kinds of “on-beam” configurations were experimentally investigated in detail. The developed multi-QTF based “on-beam” spectrophone had a signal enhancement of 1.6 times compared with the traditional single QTF based “on-beam” spectrophone, with the approximate noise level. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient (1σ) of 1.24 × 10−9 W·cm−1·Hz−1/2was obtained for water vapor detection at atmospheric pressure.
Dependence of the Photocurrent of a Schottky-Barrier Solar Cell on the Back Surface Recombination Velocity and Suggestion for a Structure with Improved Performance
Authors: Chatterjee Avigyan , Biswas Ashim Kumar , Sinha Amitabha
Published: December 2015

Though Schottky-barrier solar cells have been studied extensively previously, not much work has been done recently on these cells, because of the fact that conventional p-n junction silicon solar cells have much higher efficiency and have attracted the attention of most of the researchers. However, the Schottky-barrier solar cells have the advantage of simple and economical fabrication process. In this paper, the effect of back surface recombination velocity on the minority carrier distribution and the spectral response of a Schottky-barrier silicon solar cell have been investigated and, based on this study, a new design of the cell with a back surface field has been suggested, which is expected to give much improved performance.
On Geodesic Segments in the Infinitesimal Asymptotic Teichmüller Spaces
Authors: Wu Yan , Qi Yi , Fu Zunwei
Published: December 2015

LetAZ(R)be the infinitesimal asymptotic Teichmüller space of a Riemann surfaceRof infinite type. It is known thatAZ(R)is the quotient Banach space of the infinitesimal Teichmüller spaceZ(R), whereZ(R)is the dual space of integrable quadratic differentials. The purpose of this paper is to study the nonuniqueness of geodesic segment joining two points inAZ(R). We prove that there exist infinitely many geodesic segments between the basepoint and every nonsubstantial point in the universal infinitesimal asymptotic Teichmüller spaceAZ(D)by constructing a special degenerating sequence.
Study of Synchrotron Radiation Near‐Edge X‐Ray Absorption Fine‐Structure of Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon Films at Various Thicknesses
Authors: Tunmee Sarayut , Supruangnet Ratchadaporn , Nakajima Hideki , Zhou XiaoLong , Arakawa Satoru , Suzuki Tsuneo , Kanda Kazuhiro , Ito Haruhiko , Komatsu Keiji , Saitoh Hidetoshi
Published: December 2015

The compositions and bonding states of the amorphous hydrogenated carbon films at various thicknesses were evaluated via near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine‐structure (NEXAFS) and elastic recoil detection analysis combined with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The absolute carbon sp2 contents were determined to decrease to 65% from 73%, while the hydrogen contents increase from 26 to 33 at.% as the film thickness increases. In addition, as the film thickness increases, the π⁎ (C=C), σ⁎ (C–H), σ⁎ (C=C), and σ⁎ (C≡C) bonding states were found to increase, whereas the π⁎ (C≡C) and σ⁎ (C–C) bonding states were observed to decrease in the NEXAFS spectra. Consequently, the film thickness is a key factor to evaluate the composition and bonding state of the films.
Interspecific Variations in Duration of Tail Regression in Two Tropical Anurans
Authors: Mahapatra Cuckoo , Mahapatra Pravati Kumari
Published: December 2015

Anurans breed in an array of habitats and hence employ a variety of evolutionary strategies to adapt to the variable conditions. Particularly, since they undergo a larval phase they develop mechanisms to overcome unfavourable conditions like desiccation, extreme temperatures, and so forth. The anurans,Polypedates maculatusandDuttaphrynus melanostictus, show noticeable variation in the duration of larval period and tadpole tail regression.D. melanostictusbreeds throughout the year and hence is subjected to different environmental conditions as compared toP. maculatuswhich breeds only during the rainy season. Thus, the tadpoles ofD. melanostictushave selected to undergo a shorter larval period and duration of tail regression to suit their breeding habits. The present study correlates the interspecific difference in the duration of tail regression with the morphological variations in the tails of the two species.D. melanostictusshortens the duration of larval tail regression by having comparatively larger and more number of melanocytes and a thinner notochord thanP. maculatus.
Calcium Mitigates Arsenic Toxicity in Rice Seedlings by Reducing Arsenic Uptake and Modulating the Antioxidant Defense and Glyoxalase Systems and Stress Markers
Authors: Rahman Anisur , Mostofa Mohammad Golam , Alam Md. Mahabub , Nahar Kamrun , Hasanuzzaman Mirza , Fujita Masayuki
Published: December 2015

The effect of exogenous calcium (Ca) on hydroponically grown rice seedlings was studied under arsenic (As) stress by investigating the antioxidant and glyoxalase systems. Fourteen-day-old rice (Oryza sativaL. cv. BRRI dhan29) seedlings were exposed to 0.5 and 1 mM Na2HAsO4alone and in combination with 10 mM CaCl2(Ca) for 5 days. Both levels of As caused growth inhibition, chlorosis, reduced leaf RWC, and increased As accumulation in the rice seedlings. Both doses of As in growth medium induced oxidative stress through overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by disrupting the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Exogenous application of Ca along with both levels of As significantly decreased As accumulation and restored plant growth and water loss. Calcium supplementation in the As-exposed rice seedlings reduced ROS production, increased ascorbate (AsA) content, and increased the activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the glyoxalase I (Gly I) and glyoxalase II (Gly II) enzymes compared with seedlings exposed to As only. These results suggest that Ca supplementation improves rice seedlings tolerance to As-induced oxidative stress by reducing As uptake, enhancing their antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems, and also improving growth and physiological condition.
The Effect of Thermooxidative Aging on the Durability of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy
Authors: Khajeh Amin , Mustapha Faizal , Sultan Mohamed Thariq Hameed , Bánhegyi György , Karácsony Zsuzsanna , Baranyai Viktor
Published: December 2015

Thin-skinned organic matrix composites within aeronautical structures are subjected to thermooxidative aging during their service life, leading to reductions in their durability. In this paper, a durability evaluation of fiberglass epoxy prepreg is performed on the original composite thickness before and after 800 h isothermal aging at 82°C. The characterization of both aged and unaged composites comprised tensile tests, DMA, FTIR, weight loss measurements, SEM, and DSC. The tensile strength and modulus of the composites increased after being exposed to pronounced aging conditions, whereas a decrease was observed in the toughness. DMA results revealed that the glass transition temperature and rubbery state modulus increased as a result of the thermooxidative aging. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the formation of carbonyl compounds due to oxidation of the chemical structure of the resin. SEM observations indicated the existence of minor superficial cracking and poor fiber-matrix adhesion after aging. In addition, a minor mass change was observed from mass loss monitoring methods. The overall findings suggest that postcuring and physical aging enhanced the brittleness of the resin, leading to a significant decline in the useful structural life of the thin-skinned composite.
Resistance to P. brasiliensis Experimental Infection of Inbred Mice Is Associated with an Efficient Neutrophil Mobilization and Activation by Mediators of Inflammation
Authors: Sperandio Felipe Fornias , Fernandes Gisele Pesquero , Mendes Ana Carolina Silvério Cerqueira , Bani Giulia Maria de Alencar Castro , Calich Vera Lucia Garcia , Burger Eva
Published: December 2015

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic fungal infection, endemic in Brazil, that leads to severe morbidity and even mortality if not correctly treated. Patients may respond differently to PCM depending on the pattern of the acquired immune response developed. The onset of protective immune response is notably mediated by neutrophils (PMN) that play an important role through directly killing the fungi and also by interacting with other cell types to modulate the acquired protective immune response that may follow. In that way, this study aimed to present and compare different experimental models of PCM (intraperitoneal and subcutaneous) regarding PMN production and maturation inside femoral bone marrow and also PMN infiltration in peritoneal and subcutaneous exudates of resistant and susceptible mice. We also assessed the fungal colony forming units and the levels of soluble inflammatory mediators (LTB4, KC, IFN‐γ, GM‐CSF, and IL‐10) inside subcutaneous air‐pouches to compare the efficiency of the PMN present at this site in relation to the two main neutrophil functions: initial lysis of the invading pathogen and modulation of the acquired immune response. P. brasiliensis inoculated intraperitoneally was able to disseminate to the bone marrow of susceptible mice, causing a more marked alteration of PMN production and maturation than that observed after resistant mice infection by the same route. Subcutaneous air‐pouch inoculation of P. brasiliensis elicited a controlled and limited infection that produced a PMN‐rich exudate, thus favoring the study of the interaction between the fungus and the neutrophils. Susceptible mice produced higher numbers of PMN; however, these cells were less effective in killing the fungi. Inflammatory cytokines were more pronounced in resistant mice, which supports their PCM raised resistance.
Attitudes towards Advance Care Planning and Healthcare Autonomy among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhang Ning , Ning Xiao-hong , Zhu Ming-lei , Liu Xiao-hong , Li Jing-bing , Liu Qian
Published: December 2015

Objectives. To investigate the preferences of ACP and healthcare autonomy in community-dwelling older Chinese adults.Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with older adults living in the residential estate of Chaoyang District, Beijing.Results. 900 residents were enrolled. 80.9% of them wanted to hear the truth regarding their own condition from the physician; 52.4% preferred to make their own healthcare decisions. Only 8.9% of them preferred to endure life-prolonging interventions when faced with irreversible conditions. 78.3% of the respondents had not heard of an ACP; only 39.4% preferred to document in an ACP. Respondents with higher education had significantly higher proportion of having heard of an ACP, as well as preferring to document in an ACP, compared to those with lower education. Those aged <70 years had higher proportion of having heard of an ACP, as well as refusing life-prolonging interventions when faced with irreversible conditions, compared to those aged ≥70 years.Conclusions. Although the majority of community-dwelling older Chinese adults appeared to have healthcare autonomy and refuse life-prolonging interventions in terms of end-of-life care, a low level of “Planning ahead” awareness and preference was apparent. Age and education level may be the influential factors.
Fuzzy Control for Seismic Protection of Semiactive Base-Isolated Structures Subjected to Near-Fault Earthquakes
Authors: Zhao Dahai , Li Yongxing
Published: December 2015

This paper proposes a new fuzzy logic controller, which is designed for seismic protection of base-isolated structures utilizing piezoelectric friction damper against near-fault earthquakes for different ground sites. According to the elastic design spectrum that Eurocode 8 recommends, one 5% damped elastic design spectrum for Chi-Chi earthquake is proposed to generate artificial earthquakes of different ground sites. The proposed controller employs a hierarchic fuzzy control algorithm, in which a supervisory fuzzy controller governs a sublevel fuzzy controller by altering its input normalization factors according to current level of ground motion. In order to simultaneously reduce the base displacement and superstructure responses of the base-isolated structure during seismic excitations, genetic algorithm is employed to optimize the supervisory fuzzy controller and the preload of piezoelectric friction damper. The efficiency of the proposed controller is also compared with passive controller and a linear quadratic Gauss optimal controller. Numerical results show that the proposed fuzzy logic controller has favorable performance in mitigating the responses of the base-isolated structure.
Towards Targeted Delivery Systems: Ligand Conjugation Strategies for mRNA Nanoparticle Tumor Vaccines
Authors: Phua Kyle K. L.
Published: December 2015

The use of nanoparticles encapsulating messenger RNA (mRNA) as a vaccine has recently attracted much attention because of encouraging results achieved in many nonviral genetic antitumor vaccination studies. Notably, in all of these studies, mRNA nanoparticles are passively targeted to dendritic cells (DCs) through careful selection of vaccination sites. Hence, DC-targeted mRNA nanoparticle vaccines may be an imminent next step forward. In this brief report, we will discuss established conjugation strategies that have been successfully applied to both polymeric and liposomal gene delivery systems. We will also briefly describe promising DC surface receptors amenable for targeting mRNA nanoparticles. Practicable conjugation strategies and receptors reviewed in this paper will provide a convenient reference to facilitate future development of targeted mRNA nanoparticle vaccine.
Comparative Kinetic Study of Anaerobic Treatment of Thermally Pretreated Source-Sorted Organic Market Refuse
Authors: Das Aritra , Mondal Chanchal
Published: December 2015

The present study deals with extensive investigations of the effect of thermal pretreatment on whole-sale market rejects for their biogas production potential. Market reject considered as biomass for this study has been treated at two different temperatures 85°C and 135°C for 8 h each and subjected as feedstock for anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The AD process has been operated in the mesophilic range (35–38°C) of bacterial growth. Various kinetic models have been used to simulate the experimental data. Kinetic modeling revealed that biogas production rate exhibited better coefficient of determination (R2) in the range of 0.973–0.989 with exponential model for the ascending limb whereas the descending limb resulted in good linear correlation withR2as 0.911–0.976. Logistic growth model and Gompertz relation simulation of cumulative biogas production resulted in betterR2values in the range of 0.994–0.997 and 0.998–0.999, whereas theR2values for exponential rise to maximum plots ranged from 0.722 to 0.800.
Optimized Sizing, Selection, and Economic Analysis of Battery Energy Storage for Grid-Connected Wind-PV Hybrid System
Authors: Fathima Hina , Palanisamy K.
Published: December 2015

Energy storages are emerging as a predominant sector for renewable energy applications. This paper focuses on a feasibility study to integrate battery energy storage with a hybrid wind-solar grid-connected power system to effectively dispatch wind power by incorporating peak shaving and ramp rate limiting. The sizing methodology is optimized using bat optimization algorithm to minimize the cost of investment and losses incurred by the system in form of load shedding and wind curtailment. The integrated system is then tested with an efficient battery management strategy which prevents overcharging/discharging of the battery. In the study, five major types of battery systems are considered and analyzed. They are evaluated and compared based on technoeconomic and environmental metrics as per Indian power market scenario. Technoeconomic analysis of the battery is validated by simulations, on a proposed wind-photovoltaic system in a wind site in Southern India. Environmental analysis is performed by evaluating the avoided cost of emissions.
Cadmium Phytoremediation Potential of Napiergrass Cultivated in Kyushu, Japan
Authors: Ishii Yasuyuki , Hamano Kotomi , Kang Dong-Jin , Idota Sachiko , Nishiwaki Aya
Published: December 2015

Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureumSchumach), a C4tropical species, has been used for forage since it has high dry matter productivity, sustainability over several years in low-altitudinal sites of Kyushu, and little damage from serious pests. Recently, this grass has gained attention due to its potential as a bioethanol feedstock and for phytoremediation. Napiergrass cultivar Wruk Wona was grown as an annual crop in cadmium- (Cd-) contaminated soils under two cutting frequencies. Annual dry matter yield was not affected significantly by cutting frequency, but the concentration and uptake of Cd were higher when cut twice rather than only once, due to high Cd content of the herbage from the second cutting. Therefore, the soil Cd concentration was reduced by 4.6% when managed by cutting twice in a single year of Napiergrass cultivation.
Defect Detection and Localization of Nonlinear System Based on Particle Filter with an Adaptive Parametric Model
Authors: Wu Jingjing , Song Shujuan , An Wei , Zhou Deqiang , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2015

A robust particle filter (PF) and its application to fault/defect detection of nonlinear system are investigated in this paper. First, an adaptive parametric model is exploited as the observation model for a nonlinear system. Second, by incorporating the parametric model, particle filter is employed to estimate more accurate hidden states for the nonlinear stochastic system. Third, by formulating the problem of defect detection within the hypothesis testing framework, the statistical properties of the proposed testing are established. Finally, experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed detector on real defect detection and localization in images.
HBS-Tools for Hairpin Bisulfite Sequencing Data Processing and Analysis
Authors: Sun Ming-an , Velmurugan Karthik Raja , Keimig David , Xie Hehuang
Published: December 2015

The emerging genome-wide hairpin bisulfite sequencing (hairpin-BS-Seq) technique enables the determination of the methylation pattern for DNA double strands simultaneously. Compared with traditional bisulfite sequencing (BS-Seq) techniques, hairpin-BS-Seq can determine methylation fidelity and increase mapping efficiency. However, no computational tool has been designed for the analysis of hairpin-BS-Seq data yet. Here we present HBS-tools, a set of command line based tools for the preprocessing, mapping, methylation calling, and summarizing of genome-wide hairpin-BS-Seq data. It accepts paired-end hairpin-BS-Seq reads to recover the original (pre-bisulfite-converted) sequences using global alignment and then calls the methylation statuses for cytosines on both DNA strands after mapping the original sequences to the reference genome. After applying to hairpin-BS-Seq datasets, we found that HBS-tools have a reduced mapping time and improved mapping efficiency compared with state-of-the-art mapping tools. The HBS-tools source scripts, along with user guide and testing data, are freely available for download.
Retinal Targets ALDH Positive Cancer Stem Cell and Alters the Phenotype of Highly Metastatic Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Mu Xiaodong , Patel Stuti , Mektepbayeva Damel , Mahjoub Adel , Huard Johnny , Weiss Kurt
Published: December 2015

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a cancer stem cell marker. Retinoic acid has antitumor properties, including the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation. Retinal, the precursor of retinoic acid, can be oxidized to retinoic acid by dehydrogenases, including ALDH. We hypothesized that retinal could potentially be transformed to retinoic acid with higher efficiency by cancer stem cells, due to the higher ALDH activity. We previously observed that ALDH activity is greater in highly metastatic K7M2 osteosarcoma (OS) cells than in nonmetastatic K12 OS cells. We also demonstrated that ALDH activity correlates with clinical metastases in bone sarcoma patients, suggesting that ALDH may be a therapeutic target specific to cells with high metastatic potential. Our current results demonstrated that retinal preferentially affected the phenotypes of ALDH-high K7M2 cells in contrast to ALDH-low K12 cells, which could be mediated by the more efficient transformation of retinal to retinoic acid by ALDH in K7M2 cells. Retinal treatment of highly metastatic K7M2 cells decreased their proliferation, invasion capacity, and resistance to oxidative stress. Retinal altered the expression of metastasis-related genes. These observations indicate that retinal may be used to specifically target metastatic cancer stem cells in OS.
An Unusual Presentation of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Authors: Gill Kurren S. , Frattali Mark A.
Published: December 2015

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare tumor of epithelial cell origin, most commonly arising from major salivary glands. It is uncommonly found outside the major or minor salivary glands and is especially rare when located in the nasal cavity. Diagnosis and treatment of ACC pose numerous challenges, partly due to its biological behavior of slow growth, high tendency of local recurrence, and perineural invasion. We present the case of a 67-year-old male with complaints of facial pain and swelling, with a CT scan showing a soft tissue mass extending from the right nasal cavity with osseous destruction. Biopsy revealed ACC with perineural invasion. ACC of the nasal cavity continues to pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to physicians. Because this rare pathology presents in a vague manner, early diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion for this disease and close follow-up care. Since ACC of the nasal cavity is seldom reported in the literature, it is our hope that reporting these rare instances as case reports will heighten physician awareness of this rare disease, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.
A Spectral Dai-Yuan-Type Conjugate Gradient Method for Unconstrained Optimization
Authors: Zhou Guanghui , Ni Qin
Published: December 2015

A new spectral conjugate gradient method (SDYCG) is presented for solving unconstrained optimization problems in this paper. Our method provides a new expression of spectral parameter. This formula ensures that the sufficient descent condition holds. The search direction in the SDYCG can be viewed as a combination of the spectral gradient and the Dai-Yuan conjugate gradient. The global convergence of the SDYCG is also obtained. Numerical results show that the SDYCG may be capable of solving large-scale nonlinear unconstrained optimization problems.
Normal Inverse Gaussian Model-Based Image Denoising in the NSCT Domain
Authors: Jia Jian , Zhang Yongxin , Chen Li , Zhao Zhihua
Published: December 2015

The objective of image denoising is to retain useful details while removing as much noise as possible to recover an original image from its noisy version. This paper proposes a novel normal inverse Gaussian (NIG) model-based method that uses a Bayesian estimator to carry out image denoising in the nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain. In the proposed method, the NIG model is first used to describe the distributions of the image transform coefficients of each subband in the NSCT domain. Then, the corresponding threshold function is derived from the model using Bayesian maximuma posterioriprobability estimation theory. Finally, optimal linear interpolation thresholding algorithm (OLI-Shrink) is employed to guarantee a gentler thresholding effect. The results of comparative experiments conducted indicate that the denoising performance of our proposed method in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio is superior to that of several state-of-the-art methods, including BLS-GSM, K-SVD, BivShrink, and BM3D. Further, the proposed method achieves structural similarity (SSIM) index values that are comparable to those of the block-matching 3D transformation (BM3D) method.
Nitrate-Bridged One-Dimension Coordination Polymer Self-Assembled from a N4O2-Tetraiminodiphenolate Dicopper(II) Macrocyclic Complex
Authors: da Rocha Julio Cesar , Zambiazi Priscilla J. , Hörner Manfredo , Nunes Fábio Souza
Published: December 2015

Herein we report on the synthesis and single crystal X-ray structure characterization of [{Cu2(tidf)(μ-NO3)}∞]ClO4(tidf = a Robson type macrocyclic ligand obtained upon condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-diaminopropane). The coordination geometry around the copper(II) is square-pyramidal and has [Cu2(tidf)]2+units connected to each other through nitrate bridges extending as a one-dimension coordination polymer. The compound exhibits an extensive supramolecular structure supported by nonclassic hydrogen bonding between C-H⋯Operchlorateand C-H⋯Onitrate.
Rheology and Shear‐Induced Textures of Silver Nanowire Lyotropic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Xu Teng , Davis Virginia A.
Published: December 2015

We report the rheological and microstructural shear response of a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated silver nanowires and nanoparticle aggregates (Ag) dispersed in ethylene glycol (EG) or water (H2O). Biphasic and liquid crystalline dispersions exhibited rheological characteristics similar to those of lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs). The viscosity versus concentration curve for Ag‐EG dispersions showed a viscosity minimum at a silver concentration between 2.2 vol.% and 2.9 vol.%; this is indicative of the transition to an entirely liquid crystalline phase. The rheology results were consistent with optical microscopy observations that at 2.9 vol.% the sample was entirely birefringent; this is another indication of liquid crystalline phase formation. Shear had a significant effect on the microstructure of the dispersions and dried coatings. Depending on the shear rate, worm or shear banding Structures were observed.
Neutrophils in Cancer: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Authors: Uribe-Querol Eileen , Rosales Carlos
Published: December 2015

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in blood and are considered to be the first line of defense during inflammation and infections. In addition, neutrophils are also found infiltrating many types of tumors. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) have relevant roles in malignant disease. Indeed neutrophils may be potent antitumor effector cells. However, increasing clinical evidence shows TANs correlate with poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment controls neutrophil recruitment and in turn TANs help tumor progression. Hence, TANs can be beneficial or detrimental to the host. It is the purpose of this review to highlight these two sides of the neutrophil coin in cancer and to describe recent studies that provide some light on the mechanisms for neutrophil recruitment to the tumor, for neutrophils supporting tumor progression, and for neutrophil activation to enhance their antitumor functions.
Spatial-Temporal Variation of Aridity Index of China during 1960–2013
Authors: Huang Huiping , Han Yuping , Cao Mingming , Song Jinxi , Xiao Heng
Published: December 2015

Aridity index, as the ration of potential evapotranspiration and precipitation, is an important indicator of regional climate. GIS technology, Morlet wavelet, Mann-Kendall test, and principal component analysis are utilized to investigate the spatial-temporal variation of aridity index and its impacting factors in China on basis of climate data from 599 stations during 1960–2013. Results show the following. (1) Boundaries between humid and semihumid region, and semihumid and semiarid region coincide with 400 mm and 800 mm precipitation contour lines. (2) Average annual aridity index is between 3.4 and 7.5 and shows decrease trend with a tendency of –0.236 per decade at 99% confidence level. (3) The driest and wettest month appear in December and July, respectively, in one year. (4) Periods of longitudinal and latitudinal shift of aridity index 1, 1.5, and 4 contours coordinate are 10 and 25 years, 6 and 26 years, and 5 and 25 years, respectively. (5) Four principal components which affect aridity index are thermodynamic factors, water and radiation factors, geographical and air dynamic factors, and evaluation factor, respectively.
Instantaneous Frequency Identification Using Adaptive Linear Chirplet Transform and Matching Pursuit
Authors: Xu Chang , Wang Cong , Gao Jingbo
Published: December 2015

An instantaneous frequency identification method of vibration signal based on linear chirplet transform and Wigner-Ville distribution is presented. This method has an obvious advantage in identifying closely spaced and time-varying frequencies. The matching pursuit algorithm is employed to select optimal chirplets, and a modified version of chirplet transform is presented to estimate nonlinear varying frequencies. Because of the high time resolution, the modified chirplet transform is superior to the original method. The proposed method is applied to time-varying systems with both linear and nonlinear varying stiffness and systems with closely spaced modes. A wavelet-based identification method is simulated to compare with the proposed method, with the comparison results showing that the chirplet-based method is effective and accurate in identifying both time-varying and closely spaced frequencies. A bat echolocation signal is used to verify the effectiveness of the modified chirplet transform. The result shows that it will significantly increase the accuracy of nonlinear frequency trajectory identification.
An Investigation into the Antiobesity Effects ofMorinda citrifoliaL. Leaf Extract in High Fat Diet Induced Obese Rats Using a1H NMR Metabolomics Approach
Authors: Gooda Sahib Jambocus Najla , Saari Nazamid , Ismail Amin , Khatib Alfi , Mahomoodally Mohamad Fawzi , Abdul Hamid Azizah
Published: December 2015

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, with high fat diet (HFD) as one of the main contributing factors. Obesity increases the predisposition to other diseases such as diabetes through various metabolic pathways. Limited availability of antiobesity drugs and the popularity of complementary medicine have encouraged research in finding phytochemical strategies to this multifaceted disease. HFD induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with an extract ofMorinda citrifoliaL. leaves (MLE 60). After 9 weeks of treatment, positive effects were observed on adiposity, fecal fat content, plasma lipids, and insulin and leptin levels. The inducement of obesity and treatment with MLE 60 on metabolic alterations were then further elucidated using a1H NMR based metabolomics approach. Discriminating metabolites involved were products of various metabolic pathways, including glucose metabolism and TCA cycle (lactate, 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, succinate, pyruvate, and acetate), amino acid metabolism (alanine, 2-hydroxybutyrate), choline metabolism (betaine), creatinine metabolism (creatinine), and gut microbiome metabolism (hippurate, phenylacetylglycine, dimethylamine, and trigonelline). Treatment with MLE 60 resulted in significant improvement in the metabolic perturbations caused obesity as demonstrated by the proximity of the treated group to the normal group in the OPLS-DA score plot and the change in trajectory movement of the diseased group towards the healthy group upon treatment.
Obestatin Accelerates the Healing of Acetic Acid‐Induced Colitis in Rats
Authors: Matuszyk Aleksandra , Ceranowicz Piotr , Warzecha Zygmunt , Cieszkowski Jakub , Bonior Joanna , Jaworek Jolanta , Kuśnierz-Cabala Beata , Konturek Peter , Ambroży Tadeusz , Dembiński Artur
Published: December 2015

Obestatin, a 23‐amino acid peptide derived from the proghrelin, has been shown to exhibit some protective and therapeutic effects in the gut. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of obestatin administration on the course of acetic acid‐induced colitis in rats. Materials and Methods. Studies have been performed on male Wistar rats. Colitis was induced by a rectal enema with 3.5% acetic acid solution. Obestatin was administered intraperitoneally twice a day at a dose of 8 nmol/kg, starting 24 h after the induction of colitis. Seven or 14 days after the induction of colitis, the healing rate of the colon was evaluated. Results. Treatment with obestatin after induction of colitis accelerated the healing of colonic wall damage and this effect was associated with a decrease in the colitis‐evoked increase in mucosal activity of myeloperoxidase and content of interleukin‐1β. Moreover, obestatin administration significantly reversed the colitis‐evoked decrease in mucosal blood flow and DNA synthesis. Conclusion. Administration of exogenous obestatin exhibits therapeutic effects in the course of acetic acid‐induced colitis and this effect is related, at least in part, to the obestatin‐evoked anti‐inflammatory effect, an improvement of local blood flow, and an increase in cell proliferation in colonic mucosa.
Possible Future Climate Change Impacts on the Hydrological Drought Events in the Weihe River Basin, China
Authors: Yuan Fei , Ma Mingwei , Ren Liliang , Shen Hongren , Li Yue , Jiang Shanhu , Yang Xiaoli , Zhao Chongxu , Kong Hao
Published: December 2015

Quantitative evaluation of future climate change impacts on hydrological drought characteristics is one of important measures for implementing sustainable water resources management and effective disaster mitigation in drought-prone regions under the changing environment. In this study, a modeling system for projecting the potential future climate change impacts on hydrological droughts in the Weihe River basin (WRB) in North China is presented. This system consists of a large-scale hydrological model driven by climate outputs from three climate models (CMs) for future streamflow projections, a probabilistic model for univariate drought assessment, and a copula-based bivariate model for joint drought frequency analysis under historical and future climates. With the observed historical climate data as the inputs, the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrological model projects an overall runoff reduction in the WRB under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A1B scenario. The univariate drought assessment found that although fewer hydrological drought events would occur under A1B scenario, drought duration and severity tend to increase remarkably. Moreover, the bivariate drought assessment reveals that future droughts in the same return period as the baseline droughts would become more serious. With these trends in the future, the hydrological drought situation in the WRB would be further deteriorated.
Effectiveness of a Peer Support Programme versus Usual Care in Disease Management of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 regarding Improvement of Metabolic Control: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Johansson Tim , Keller Sophie , Winkler Henrike , Ostermann Thomas , Weitgasser Raimund , Sönnichsen Andreas C.
Published: December 2015

Aim. Testing the effectiveness of peer support additionally to a disease management programme (DMP) for type 2 diabetes patients.Methods. Unblinded cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 49 general practices, province of Salzburg, Austria. All patients enrolled in the DMP were eligible,n=337participated (intervention: 148 in 19 clusters; control: 189 in 20 clusters). The peer support intervention ran over 24 months and consisted of peer supporter recruitment and training, and group meetings weekly for physical exercise and monthly for discussion of diabetes related topics.Results. At two-year follow-up, adjusted analysis revealed a nonsignificant difference inHbA1cchange of 0.14% (21.97 mmol/mol) in favour of the intervention (95% CI −0.08 to 0.36%,p=0.22). Baseline values were 7.02 ± 1.25% in the intervention and 7.08 ± 1.25 in the control group. None of the secondary outcome measures showed significant differences except for improved quality of life (EQ-5D-VAS) in controls (4.3 points on a scale of 100; 95% CI 0.08 to 8.53,p=0.046) compared to the intervention group.Conclusion. Our peer support intervention as an additional DMP component showed no significant effect onHbA1cand secondary outcome measures. Further RTCs with a longer follow-up are needed to reveal whether peer support will have clinically relevant effects.Trial Registration. This trial has been registered with Current Controlled Trials Ltd. (ISRCTN10291077).
Oxidative Stress in Shiga Toxin Production by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Authors: Licznerska Katarzyna , Nejman-Faleńczyk Bożena , Bloch Sylwia , Dydecka Aleksandra , Topka Gracja , Gąsior Tomasz , Węgrzyn Alicja , Węgrzyn Grzegorz
Published: December 2015

Virulence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains depends on production of Shiga toxins. These toxins are encoded in genomes of lambdoid bacteriophages (Shiga toxin‐converting phages), present in EHEC cells as prophages. The genes coding for Shiga toxins are silent in lysogenic bacteria, and prophage induction is necessary for their efficient expression and toxin production. Under laboratory conditions, treatment with UV light or antibiotics interfering with DNA replication are commonly used to induce lambdoid prophages. Since such conditions are unlikely to occur in human intestine, various research groups searched for other factors or agents that might induce Shiga toxin‐converting prophages. Among other conditions, it was reported that treatment with H2O2 caused induction of these prophages, though with efficiency significantly lower relative to UV‐irradiation or mitomycin C treatment. A molecular mechanism of this phenomenon has been proposed. It appears that the oxidative stress represents natural conditions provoking induction of Shiga toxin‐converting prophages as a consequence of H2O2 excretion by either neutrophils in infected humans or protist predators outside human body. Finally, the recently proposed biological role of Shiga toxin production is described in this paper, and the “bacterial altruism” and “Trojan Horse” hypotheses, which are connected to the oxidative stress, are discussed.
Stem Cell Models to Investigate the Role of DNA Methylation Machinery in Development of Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Authors: Mohan K. Naga
Published: December 2015

Epigenetic mechanisms underlie differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into different lineages that contain identical genomes but express different sets of cell type‐specific genes. Because of high discordance rates in monozygotic twins, epigenetic mechanisms are also implicated in development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. In support of this notion, increased levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), DNMT polymorphisms, and dysregulation of DNA methylation network were reported among schizophrenia patients. These results point to the importance of development of DNA methylation machinery‐based models for studying the mechanism of abnormal neurogenesis due to certain DNMT alleles or dysregulated DNMTs. Achieving this goal is strongly confronted by embryonic lethality associated with altered levels of epigenetic machinery such as DNMT1 and expensive approaches in developing in vivo models. In light of literature evidence that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are tolerant of DNMT mutations and advancement in the technology of gene targeting, it is now possible to introduce desired mutations in DNMT loci to generate suitable ESC lines that can help understand the underlying mechanisms by which abnormal levels of DNMTs or their specific mutations/alleles result in abnormal neurogenesis. In the future, these models can facilitate development of suitable drugs for treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Clinical Use of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Diagnosis of Wilson’s Disease
Authors: Németh Dániel , Árvai Kristóf , Horváth Péter , Kósa János Pál , Tobiás Bálint , Balla Bernadett , Folhoffer Anikó , Krolopp Anna , Lakatos Péter András , Szalay Ferenc
Published: December 2015

Objective. Wilson’s disease is a disorder of copper metabolism which is fatal without treatment. The great number of disease-causingATP7Bgene mutations and the variable clinical presentation of WD may cause a real diagnostic challenge. The emergence of next-generation sequencing provides a time-saving, cost-effective method for full sequencing of the wholeATP7Bgene compared to the traditional Sanger sequencing. This is the first report on the clinical use of NGS to examineATP7Bgene.Materials and Methods. We used Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine in four heterozygous patients for the identification of the other mutations and also in two patients with no known mutation. One patient with acute on chronic liver failure was a candidate for acute liver transplantation. The results were validated by Sanger sequencing.Results. In each case, the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease was confirmed by identifying the mutations in both alleles within 48 hours. One novel mutation (p.Ala1270Ile) was found beyond the eight other known ones. The rapid detection of the mutations made possible the prompt diagnosis of WD in a patient with acute liver failure.Conclusions. According to our results we found next-generation sequencing a very useful, reliable, time-saving, and cost-effective method for diagnosing Wilson’s disease in selected cases.
A Generalized National Planning Approach for Admission Capacity in Higher Education: A Nonlinear Integer Goal Programming Model with a Novel Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: El-Qulity Said Ali , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: December 2015

This paper proposes a nonlinear integer goal programming model (NIGPM) for solving the general problem of admission capacity planning in a country as a whole. The work aims to satisfy most of the required key objectives of a country related to the enrollment problem for higher education. The system general outlines are developed along with the solution methodology for application to the time horizon in a given plan. The up-to-date data for Saudi Arabia is used as a case study and a novel evolutionary algorithm based on modified differential evolution (DE) algorithm is used to solve the complexity of the NIGPM generated for different goal priorities. The experimental results presented in this paper show their effectiveness in solving the admission capacity for higher education in terms of final solution quality and robustness.
Surrounding Gastric Mucosa Findings Facilitate Diagnosis of Gastric Neoplasm as Gastric Adenoma or Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Miike Tadashi , Yamamoto Shojiro , Miyata Yoshifumi , Hirata Tomoya , Noda Yuko , Noda Takaho , Suzuki Sho , Takeda Sachiko , Natsuda Shuichiro , Sakaguchi Mai , Maemura Kosuke , Hashimoto Kanna , Yamaji Takumi , Abe Hiroo , Iwakiri Hisayoshi , Tahara Yoshihiro , Hasuike Satoru , Nagata Kenji , Kitanaka Akira , Shimoda Kazuya
Published: December 2015

Background and Aim. It is difficult to master the skill of discriminating gastric adenoma from early gastric cancer by conventional endoscopy or magnifying endoscopy combined with narrow-band imaging, because the colors and morphologies of these neoplasms are occasionally similar. We focused on the surrounding gastric mucosa findings in order to determine how to discriminate between early gastric cancer and gastric adenoma by analyzing the characteristics of the gastric background mucosa.Methods. We retrospectively examined 146 patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasm between October 2009 and January 2015. The boundary of atrophic gastritis was classified endoscopically according to the Kimura-Takemoto classification system. Of 146 lesions, 63 early gastric cancers and 21 gastric adenomas were ultimately evaluated and assessed.Results. Almost all gastric adenomas were accompanied by open-type gastritis, whereas 47 and 16 early gastric cancers were accompanied by open-type and closed-type gastritis, respectively (p= 0.037).Conclusions. The evaluation of the boundary of atrophic gastritis associated with gastric neoplasms appears to be useful for discrimination between early gastric cancer and gastric adenoma. When gastric neoplasm is present in the context of surrounding localized gastric atrophy, gastric cancer is probable but not certain.
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Monitoring of Early Stage Disease in Australian General Practice: Tackling Preventable Blindness within a Chronic Care Model
Authors: Crossland Lisa , Askew Deborah , Ware Robert , Cranstoun Peter , Mitchell Paul , Bryett Andrew , Jackson Claire
Published: December 2015

Introduction. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia. Up to 50% of people with proliferative DR who do not receive timely treatment will become legally blind within five years. Innovative and accessible screening, involving a variety of primary care providers, will become increasingly important if patients with diabetes are to receive optimal eye care. Method. An open controlled trial design was used. Five intervention practices in urban, regional, and rural Australia partnered with ophthalmologists via telehealth undertook DR screening and monitoring of type 2 diabetes patients and were compared with control practices undertaking usual care 2011–2014. Results. Recorded screening rates were 100% across intervention practices, compared with 22–53% in control practices. 31/577 (5%) of patients in the control practices were diagnosed with mild-moderate DR, of whom 9 (29%) had appropriate follow-up recorded. This was compared with 39/447 (9%) of patients in the intervention group, of whom 37 (95%) had appropriate follow-up recorded. Discussion and Conclusion. General practice-based DR screening via Annual Cycle of Care arrangements is effective across differing practice locations. It offers improved recording of screening outcomes for Australians with type 2 diabetes and better follow-up of those with screen abnormalities.