bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Method of Ultrasonic Finger Gesture Recognition Based on the Micro-Doppler Effect
Authors: Zeng Qinglin , Kuang Zheng , Wu Shuaibing , Yang Jun
Published: June 2019

With the popularity of small-screen smart mobile devices, gestures as a new type of human–computer interaction are highly demanded. Furthermore, finger gestures are more familiar to people in controlling devices. In this paper, a new method for recognizing finger gestures is proposed. Ultrasound was actively emitted to measure the micro-Doppler effect caused by finger motions and was obtained at high resolution. By micro-Doppler processing, micro-Doppler feature maps of finger gestures were generated. Since the feature map has a similar structure to the single channel color image, a recognition model based on a convolutional neural network was constructed for classification. The optimized recognition model achieved an average accuracy of 96.51% in the experiment.
Seismic Design of Steel Moment-Resisting Frames with Damping Systems in Accordance with KBC 2016
Authors: JEON Seong-Ha , PARK Ji-Hun , HA Tae-Woong
Published: June 2019

An efficient design procedure for building structures with damping systems is proposed using nonlinear response history analysis permitted in the revised Korean building code, KBC 2016. The goal of the proposed procedure is to design structures with damping systems complying with design requirements of KBC 2016 that do not specify a detailed design method. The proposed design procedure utilizes response reduction factor obtained by a limited number of nonlinear response history analyses of the seismic-force-resisting system with incremental damping ratio substituting damping devices. Design parameters of damping device are determined taking into account structural period change due to stiffness added by damping devices. Two design examples for three-story and six-story steel moment frames with metallic yielding dampers and viscoelastic dampers, respectively, shows that the proposed design procedure can produce design results complying with KBC 2016 without time-consuming iterative computation, predict seismic response accurately, and save structural material effectively.
A Hybrid Algorithm for Predicting Median-Plane Head-Related Transfer Functions from Anthropometric Measurements
Authors: Liu Xuejie , Song Hao , Zhong Xiaoli
Published: June 2019

Since head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) represent the interactions between sounds and physiological structures of listeners, anthropometric parameters represent a straightforward way to customize (or predict) individualized HRTFs. This paper proposes a hybrid algorithm for predicting median-plane individualized HRTFs using anthropometric parameters. The proposed hybrid algorithm consists of three parts: decomposition of HRTFs; selection of key anthropometric parameters; and establishing a prediction formula. Firstly, an independent component analysis (ICA) is applied to median-plane HRTFs from multiple subjects to obtain independent components and subject-dependent weight coefficients. Then, a factor analysis is used to select key anthropometric parameters relevant to HRTFs. Finally, a regression formula that connects ICA weight coefficients to key anthropometric parameters is established by a multiple linear regression. Further, the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid algorithm is verified by an objective evaluation via spectral distortion and a subjective localization experiment. The results show that, when compared with generic Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research (KEMAR) HRTFs, the spectral characteristics of the predicted HRTFs are closer to those of the individualized HRTFs. Moreover, the predicted HRTFs can alleviate front–back and up–down confusion and improve the accuracy of localization for most subjects.
Glycosylation in the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Tumor Angiogenesis and Metastasis
Authors: Brown Chandler Kevin , E. Costello Catherine , Rahimi Nader
Published: June 2019

Just as oncogene activation and tumor suppressor loss are hallmarks of tumor development, emerging evidence indicates that tumor microenvironment-mediated changes in glycosylation play a crucial functional role in tumor progression and metastasis. Hypoxia and inflammatory events regulate protein glycosylation in tumor cells and associated stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which facilitates tumor progression and also modulates a patient’s response to anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the impact of altered glycosylation on angiogenic signaling and endothelial cell adhesion, and the critical consequences of these changes in tumor behavior.
Entropy-Based Low-Rank Approximation for Contrast Dielectric Target Detection with Through Wall Imaging System
Authors: Bivalkar Mandar , Singh Dharmendra , Kobayashi Hirokazu
Published: June 2019

In through wall imaging, clutter plays an important role in the detection of objects behind the wall. In the literature, extensive studies have been carried out to eliminate clutter in the case of targets with the same dielectric. Existing clutter reduction techniques, such as the sub-space approach, differential approach, entropy-based time gating, etc., are able to detect a single target or two targets with the same dielectric behind the wall. In a real-time scenario, it is not necessary that targets with the same dielectric will be present behind the wall. Very few studies are available for the detection of targets with different dielectrics; here we termed it “contrast target detection” in the same scene. Recently, low-rank approximation (LRA) was proposed to reduce random noise in the data. In this paper, a novel method based on entropy thresholding for low-rank approximation is introduced for contrast target detection. It was observed that our proposed method gives satisfactory results.
A Comprehensive Medical Decision–Support Framework Based on a Heterogeneous Ensemble Classifier for Diabetes Prediction
Authors: El-Sappagh Shaker , Elmogy Mohammed , Ali Farman , ABUHMED Tamer , Islam S. M. Riazul , Kwak Kyung-Sup
Published: June 2019

Early diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) is critical to prevent its serious complications. An ensemble of classifiers is an effective way to enhance classification performance, which can be used to diagnose complex diseases, such as DM. This paper proposes an ensemble framework to diagnose DM by optimally employing multiple classifiers based on bagging and random subspace techniques. The proposed framework combines seven of the most suitable and heterogeneous data mining techniques, each with a separate set of suitable features. These techniques are k-nearest neighbors, naïve Bayes, decision tree, support vector machine, fuzzy decision tree, artificial neural network, and logistic regression. The framework is designed accurately by selecting, for every sub-dataset, the most suitable feature set and the most accurate classifier. It was evaluated using a real dataset collected from electronic health records of Mansura University Hospitals (Mansura, Egypt). The resulting framework achieved 90% of accuracy, 90.2% of recall = 90.2%, and 94.9% of precision. We evaluated and compared the proposed framework with many other classification algorithms. An analysis of the results indicated that the proposed ensemble framework significantly outperforms all other classifiers. It is a successful step towards constructing a personalized decision support system, which could help physicians in daily clinical practice.
Reliability Improvement of Power Distribution System for UAV
Authors: Udris Dainius , Bručas Domantas , Pomarnacki Raimondas
Published: June 2019

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), like other complex mechatronics systems, use servomechanisms for the accurate positioning of construction elements. Servomechanisms are stable, reliable and easy to control. However, occasionally they fail and cause issues for the electrical system. In this paper, the authors present a full analysis of the system operations after a specific fault and the consequences of it. The authors propose a test bench and show the experimentation results that contain servo motor electrical parameters at loaded and idle states, the relations to the manufacturer technical specifications, and possible fault detection and elimination solutions. The obtained results could be implemented into existing popular UAV control systems to improve reliability and fault tolerance of commercial products.
Scenario Analysis in the Electric Power Industry under the Implementation of the Electricity Market Reform and a Carbon Policy in China
Authors: Wang Peng , Li Meng
Published: June 2019

In China, electricity market reform was first implemented in 2015. At the same time, the national carbon market was built, along with the electricity industry, which was considered a breakthrough. Some key considerations for the future development of China’s electricity system include the implementation of demand-side measures in order to adjust the peak-to-valley difference and the economic dispatch of increasing intermittent renewable energy and traditional energy in the process of power marketization with the implementation of a carbon policy. This paper examines the impact of policies on electricity generation by modelling the evolution process of power marketization and the economic dispatch of generation technologies over a sixteen-year period beginning in 2020. We model four potential influencing factors of government policy: (1) the demand response mode; (2) power marketization process; (3) capacity adjustment of thermal power units; and (4) carbon taxes, which vary in terms of their timing and amount. This model assesses the impact of these influencing factors on the competition between electricity generators using a range of output variables, including generation portfolios, electricity prices, capacity factors, CO2 emissions, etc. The results show that the new round of electricity market reforms has had a positive impact on renewable energy generation. The influence of carbon policy is evident in the promotion, transformation and elimination of thermal units, and an indirect increase in renewable energy generation.
Performance Improvement of Servo Control System Driven by Novel PMSM-DTC Based On Fixed Sector Division Criterion
Authors: Wang Dazhi , Yuan Tianqing , Wang Xingyu , Wang Xinghua , Ni Yongliang
Published: June 2019

In order to improve the performance of the servo control system driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) under novel direct torque control (NDTC), which, utilizing composite active vectors, fixed sector division criterion, is proposed in this paper. The precondition of the accurate compensations of torque and flux errors is that the sector where the stator flux linkage is located can be determined accurately. Consequently, the adaptive sector division criterion is adopted in NDTC. However, the computation burden is inevitably increased with the using of the adaptive part. On the other hand, the main errors can be compensated through SV-DTC (DTC-utilizing single active vector), while another active vector applied in NDTC can only supply the auxiliary error compensation. The relationships of the two active vectors’ characteristics in NDTC are analyzed in this paper based on the active factor. Furthermore, the fixed sector division criterion is proposed for NDTC (FS-NDTC), which can classify the complexity of the control system. Additionally, the switching table for the selections of the two active vectors is designed. The effectiveness of the proposed FS-NDTC is verified through the experimental results on a 100-W PMSM drive system.
DC Grid for Domestic Electrification
Authors: Arunkumar G. , Elangovan D. , Sanjeevikumar P. , Nielsen Jens Bo Holm , Leonowicz Zbigniew , Joseph Peter K.
Published: June 2019

Various statistics indicate that many of the parts of India, especially rural and island areas have either partial or no access to electricity. The main reason for this scenario is the immense expanse of which the power producing stations and the distribution hubs are located from these rural and distant areas. This emphasizes the significance of subsidiarity of power generation by means of renewable energy resources. Although in current energy production scenario electricity supply is principally by AC current, a large variety of the everyday utility devices like cell phone chargers, computers, laptop chargers etc. all work internally with DC power. The count of intermediate energy transfer steps are significantly abridged by providing DC power to mentioned devices. The paper also states other works that prove the increase in overall system efficiency and thereby cost reduction. With an abundance of solar power at disposal and major modification in the area of power electronic conversion devices, this article suggests a DC grid that can be used for a household in a distant or rural area to power the aforementioned, utilizing Solar PV. A system was designed for a household which is not connected to the main grid and was successfully simulated for several loads totaling to 250 W with the help of an isolated flyback converter at the front end and suitable power electronic conversion devices at each load points. Maximum abstraction of operational energy from renewable sources at a residential and commercial level is intended with the suggested direct current systems.
A Hierarchical Optimisation of a Compressed Natural Gas Station for Energy and Fuelling Efficiency under a Demand Response Program
Authors: Kagiri Charles , Zhang Lijun , Xia Xiaohua
Published: June 2019

Compressed natural gas stations serve customers who have chosen compressed natural gas powered vehicles as an alternative to diesel and petrol based ones, for cost or environmental reasons. The interaction between the compressed natural gas station and electricity grid requires an energy management strategy to minimise a significant component of the operating costs of the station where demand response programs exist. Such a strategy when enhanced through integration with a control strategy for optimising gas delivery can raise the appeal of the compressed natural gas, which is associated with reduced criteria air pollutants. A hierarchical operation optimisation approach adopted in this study seeks to achieve energy cost reduction for a compressed natural gas station in a time-of-use electricity tariff environment as well as increase the vehicle fuelling efficiency. This is achieved by optimally controlling the gas dispenser and priority panel valve function under an optimised schedule of compressor operation. The results show that electricity cost savings of up to 60.08% are achieved in the upper layer optimisation while meeting vehicle gas demand over the control horizon. Further, a reduction in filling times by an average of 16.92 s is achieved through a lower layer model predictive control of the pressure-ratio-dependent fuelling process.
Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Valuation of Biochar Production: Two Case Studies in Belgium
Authors: Rajabi Hamedani Sara , Kuppens Tom , Malina Robert , Bocci Enrico , Colantoni Andrea , Villarini Mauro
Published: June 2019

It is unclear whether the production of biochar is economically feasible. As a consequence, firms do not often invest in biochar production plants. However, biochar production and application might be desirable from a societal perspective as it might entail net environmental benefits. Hence, the aim of this work has been to assess and monetize the environmental impacts of biochar production systems so that the environmental aspects can be integrated with the economic and social ones later on to quantify the total return for society. Therefore, a life cycle analysis (LCA) has been performed for two potential biochar production systems in Belgium based on two different feedstocks: (i) willow and (ii) pig manure. First, the environmental impacts of the two biochar production systems are assessed from a life cycle perspective, assuming one ton of biochar as the functional unit. Therefore, LCA using SimaPro software has been performed both on the midpoint and endpoint level. Biochar production from willow achieves better results compared to biochar from pig manure for all environmental impact categories considered. In a second step, monetary valuation has been applied to the LCA results in order to weigh environmental benefits against environmental costs using the Ecotax, Ecovalue, and Stepwise approach. Consequently, sensitivity analysis investigates the impact of variation in NPK savings and byproducts of the biochar production process on monetized life cycle assessment results. As a result, it is suggested that biochar production from willow is preferred to biochar production from pig manure from an environmental point of view. In future research, those monetized environmental impacts will be integrated within existing techno-economic models that calculate the financial viability from an investor’s point of view, so that the total return for society can be quantified and the preferred biochar production system from a societal point of view can be identified.
Understanding the Permafrost–Hydrate System and Associated Methane Releases in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf
Authors: Shakhova Natalia , Semiletov Igor , Chuvilin Evgeny
Published: June 2019

This paper summarizes current understanding of the processes that determine the dynamics of the subsea permafrost–hydrate system existing in the largest, shallowest shelf in the Arctic Ocean; the East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS). We review key environmental factors and mechanisms that determine formation, current dynamics, and thermal state of subsea permafrost, mechanisms of its destabilization, and rates of its thawing; a full section of this paper is devoted to this topic. Another important question regards the possible existence of permafrost-related hydrates at shallow ground depth and in the shallow shelf environment. We review the history of and earlier insights about the topic followed by an extensive review of experimental work to establish the physics of shallow Arctic hydrates. We also provide a principal (simplified) scheme explaining the normal and altered dynamics of the permafrost–hydrate system as glacial–interglacial climate epochs alternate. We also review specific features of methane releases determined by the current state of the subsea-permafrost system and possible future dynamics. This review presents methane results obtained in the ESAS during two periods: 1994–2000 and 2003–2017. A final section is devoted to discussing future work that is required to achieve an improved understanding of the subject.
Lipid Metabolism in Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Differs from Patients Presenting with Other Dementia Phenotypes
Authors: Sarrafpour Syena , Ormseth Cora , Chiang Abby , Arakaki Xianghong , Harrington Michael , Fonteh Alfred
Published: June 2019

Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ42) and Tau and cognitive decline are typical characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since dysregulation in lipid metabolism accompanies abnormal amyloid formation, we quantified glycerophospholipids (GP) and sphingolipids (SP) in CSF fractions from participants with late-onset AD (LOAD, n = 29) or with Other Dementia (OD, n = 10) to determine if alterations in lipid metabolism account for pathological differences. Aβ42 and total Tau levels were determined using a sandwich ELISA. Liposomal-based fluorescent assays were used to measure phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and acid or neutral sphingomyelinase (aSMase, nSMase) activities. Supernatant fluid (SF) and nanoparticle (NP) lipids were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Although CSF Aβ42 and Tau levels are similar, phosphatidylserine (PS) in SF and ceramide (CM) levels in NP are significantly higher in OD compared with LOAD. The aSMase but not the nSMase activity is higher in OD. PLA2 activity in CSF from OD subjects positively correlates with several GP classes in SF and NP fractions but not in LOAD fractions. Our data indicate differences in CSF lipid metabolism between dementia variants. Higher levels of inflammatory and apoptotic lipids may induce faster neuronal death, resulting in the earlier cognitive decline in patients with OD phenotypes.
Effects of PM2.5 on Cardio-Pulmonary Function Injury in Open Manganese Mine Workers
Authors: Huang Yuanni , Bao Mian , Xiao Jiefeng , Qiu Zhaolong , Wu Kusheng
Published: June 2019

Exposure to fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is associated with adverse health effects, varying by its components. The health-related effects of PM2.5 exposure from ore mining may be different from those of environment pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of PM2.5 exposure on the cardio-pulmonary function of manganese mining workers. A total of 280 dust-exposed workers who were involved in different types of work in an open-pit manganese mine were randomly selected. According to the different concentrations of PM2.5 in the working environment, the workers were divided into an exposed group and a control group. The electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and multiple lung function parameters of the two groups were measured and analyzed. The PM2.5 exposed group had significantly lower values in the pulmonary function indexes of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), maximum mid expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), percentage of peak expiratory flow out of the overall expiratory flow volume (PEFR%), forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF 25, FEF75), forced expiratory flow when 25%, 50%, and 75% of forced vital capacity has been exhaled (FEF25%,FEF50%, FEF75%), and FEV1.0/FVC% (the percentage of the predicted value of forced vital capacity) than the control group (all p < 0.05). Both groups had mild or moderate lung injury, most of which was restrictive ventilatory disorder, and there was significant difference in the prevalence rate of restrictive respiratory dysfunction between the two groups (41.4% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.016). Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, especially sinus bradycardia, were shown in both groups, but there was no statistical difference of the prevalence rate between the two groups (p > 0.05). Also, no significant difference of the prevalence rate of hypertension was observed between the PM2.5 exposure and control groups (p > 0.05). PM2.5 exposure was associated with pulmonary function damage of the workers in the open-pit manganese mine, and the major injury was restrictive ventilatory disorder. The early effect of PM2.5 exposure on the cardiovascular system was uncertain at current exposure levels and exposure time.
Guard Cell Microfilament Analyzer Facilitates the Analysis of the Organization and Dynamics of Actin Filaments in Arabidopsis Guard Cells
Authors: Li Xin , Diao Min , Zhang Yanan , Chen Guanlin , Huang Shanjin , Chen Naizhi
Published: June 2019

The actin cytoskeleton is involved in regulating stomatal movement, which forms distinct actin arrays within guard cells of stomata with different apertures. How those actin arrays are formed and maintained remains largely unexplored. Elucidation of the dynamic behavior of differently oriented actin filaments in guard cells will enhance our understanding in this regard. Here, we initially developed a program called ‘guard cell microfilament analyzer’ (GCMA) that enables the selection of individual actin filaments and analysis of their orientations semiautomatically in guard cells. We next traced the dynamics of individual actin filaments and performed careful quantification in open and closed stomata. We found that de novo nucleation of actin filaments occurs at both dorsal and ventral sides of guard cells from open and closed stomata. Interestingly, most of the nucleated actin filaments elongate radially and longitudinally in open and closed stomata, respectively. Strikingly, radial filaments tend to form bundles whereas longitudinal filaments tend to be removed by severing and depolymerization in open stomata. By contrast, longitudinal filaments tend to form bundles that are severed less frequently in closed stomata. These observations provide insights into the formation and maintenance of distinct actin arrays in guard cells in stomata of different apertures.
Are Circulating Cytokines Reliable Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Authors: Moreno-Martinez Laura , Calvo Ana Cristina , Muñoz María Jesús , Osta Rosario
Published: June 2019

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that has no effective treatment. The lack of any specific biomarker that can help in the diagnosis or prognosis of ALS has made the identification of biomarkers an urgent challenge. Multiple panels have shown alterations in levels of numerous cytokines in ALS, supporting the contribution of neuroinflammation to the progressive motor neuron loss. However, none of them is fully sensitive and specific enough to become a universal biomarker for ALS. This review gathers the numerous circulating cytokines that have been found dysregulated in both ALS animal models and patients. Particularly, it highlights the opposing results found in the literature to date, and points out another potential application of inflammatory cytokines as therapeutic targets.
Parkin Mutation Affects Clock Gene-Dependent Energy Metabolism
Authors: Pacelli Consiglia , Rotundo Giovannina , Lecce Lucia , Menga Marta , Bidollari Eris , Scrima Rosella , Cela Olga , Piccoli Claudia , Cocco Tiziana , Vescovi Angelo Luigi , Mazzoccoli Gianluigi , Rosati Jessica , Capitanio Nazzareno
Published: June 2019

Growing evidence highlights a tight connection between circadian rhythms, molecular clockworks, and mitochondrial function. In particular, mitochondrial quality control and bioenergetics have been proven to undergo circadian oscillations driven by core clock genes. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. Almost half of the autosomal recessive forms of juvenile parkinsonism have been associated with mutations in the PARK2 gene coding for parkin, shown to be involved in mitophagy-mediated mitochondrial quality control. The aim of this study was to investigate, in fibroblasts from genetic PD patients carrying parkin mutations, the interplay between mitochondrial bioenergetics and the cell autonomous circadian clock. Using two different in vitro synchronization protocols, we demonstrated that normal fibroblasts displayed rhythmic oscillations of both mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic activity. Conversely, in fibroblasts obtained from PD patients, a severe damping of the bioenergetic oscillatory patterns was observed. Analysis of the core clock genes showed deregulation of their expression patterns in PD fibroblasts, which was confirmed in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) derived thereof. The results from this study support a reciprocal interplay between the clockwork machinery and mitochondrial energy metabolism, point to a parkin-dependent mechanism of regulation, and unveil a hitherto unappreciated level of complexity in the pathophysiology of PD and eventually other neurodegenerative diseases.
Constitutive Expression of an Apple FLC3-like Gene Promotes Flowering in Transgenic Blueberry under Nonchilling Conditions
Authors: Zong Xiaojuan , Zhang Yugang , Walworth Aaron , Tomaszewski Elise M. , Callow Pete , Zhong Gan-yuan , Song Guo-qing
Published: June 2019

MADS-box transcription factors FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and APETALA1 (AP1)/CAULIFLOWER (CAL) have an opposite effect in vernalization-regulated flowering in Arabidopsis. In woody plants, a functional FLC-like gene has not been verified through reverse genetics. To reveal chilling-regulated flowering mechanisms in woody fruit crops, we conducted phylogenetic analysis of the annotated FLC-like proteins of apple and found that these proteins are grouped more closely to Arabidopsis AP1 than the FLC group. An FLC3-like MADS-box gene from columnar apple trees (Malus domestica) (MdFLC3-like) was cloned for functional analysis through a constitutive transgenic expression. The MdFLC3-like shows 88% identity to pear’s FLC-like genes and 82% identity to blueberry’s CAL1 gene (VcCAL1). When constitutively expressed in a highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivar ‘Legacy’, the MdFLC3-like induced expressions of orthologues of three MADS-box genes, including APETALA1, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1, and CAL1. As a consequence, in contrast to the anticipated late flowering associated with an overexpressed FLC-like, the MdFLC3-like promoted flowering of transgenic blueberry plants under nonchilling conditions where nontransgenic ‘Legacy’ plants could not flower. Thus, the constitutively expressed MdFLC3-like in transgenic blueberries functioned likely as a blueberry’s VcCAL1. The results are anticipated to facilitate future studies for revealing chilling-mediated flowering mechanisms in woody plants.
What Do Real Alcohol Outpatients Expect about Alcohol Transdermal Sensors?
Authors: Barrio Pablo , Teixidor Lidia , Andreu Magalí , Gual Antoni
Published: June 2019

Objective: Little is known about the potential acceptability of alcohol transdermal sensors among alcohol-dependent outpatients in routine clinical settings. The aim of the present study was to investigate patients’ attitudes towards alcohol transdermal sensors, as well as features associated with enhanced acceptability and usability. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among routine alcohol outpatients was conducted. The Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) was adapted to the field of alcohol transdermal sensors for attitudes assessment. Likert-type and multiple-choice questions were used for acceptability and usability evaluation. Results: 68 patients completed the questionnaire, and the DAI-10 mean score was 3 (standard deviation (SD) = 6.5). Internal consistency revealed a Cronbach alpha of 0.613. The score of a single The score of a single Likert-type question about overall perceived value was 7.4 (SD = 2.6). Its correlation with mean DAI-10 scores was r = 0.633, with p < 0.001. Relapse prevention and a stricter treatment control from therapists were the main reported advantages. Perceived stigma was the main disadvantage. Features increasing device discretion would enhance its acceptability. Conclusions: The data suggest that transdermal sensors could play a role in the clinical treatment of alcohol outpatients and concerns regarding stigma should be taken into account. Future designs should try to minimize size and visibility and stigma concerns should be discussed with patients.
Occipital Petalia and Albinism: A Study of Interhemispheric VEP Asymmetries in Albinism with No Nystagmus
Authors: Liasis Alkiviades , Handley Sian E. , Nischal Ken K.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to assess chiasmal misrouting in a cohort of children with albinism with no nystagmus using hemifield visual evoked potentials (VEP) measures. Methods: Monocular VEPs were recorded and analyzed from three electrodes (O1, Oz, and O2 referred to Fz) from 16 children with albinism without nystagmus. Pattern reversal (full field and hemifield stimulation), full field pattern appearance and flash stimuli were used to evoke VEPs for each eye. Results: The amplitude of the pattern reversal VEPs to stimulation of the hemifield corresponding to the crossing pathways were as expected significantly larger than those to the non-crossing in each eye ((right eye p = 0.000004), (left eye p = 0.001)). Pattern reversal VEPs recorded from the left hemisphere were also larger than those from the right and most evident when comparing the crossing pathways of each eye (p = 0.004). Conclusions: This study has demonstrated electrophysiological differences in visual pathway function of the left and right hemisphere in subjects with albinism like that previously described in controls. Nasal field stimulation activated crossing and non-crossing pathways in patients with albinism and as a result, nasal hemifield VEPs in albinism are less lateralized compared to what is found in normal subjects.
Investigation of the Proportion of Diagnosed People Living with HIV/AIDS among Foreign Residents in Japan
Authors: Shimizu Kazuki , Nishiura Hiroshi , Imamura Akifumi
Published: June 2019

Foreign residents represent an increasing proportion of newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases in Japan, though scant research has addressed this. This study aimed to estimate the diagnosed proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among foreign residents in Japan, covering 1990–2017 and stratifying by geographic region of the country of origin. A balance equation model was employed to statistically estimate the diagnosed proportion as a single parameter. This used published estimates of HIV incidence and prevalence, population size, visit duration, travel volume, as well as surveillance data on HIV/AIDS in Japan. The proportion varied widely by region: People from Western Europe, East Asia and the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, and North America were underdiagnosed, while those from sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, and Latin America were more frequently diagnosed. Overall, the diagnosed proportion of PLWHA among foreign residents in Japan has increased, but the latest estimate in 2017 was as low as 55.3%; lower than the estimate among Japanese on the order of 80% and far below the quoted goal of 90%. This finding indicates a critical need to investigate the underlying mechanisms, including disparate access to HIV testing.
Faster Release of Lumen-Loaded Drugs than Matrix-Loaded Equivalent in Polylactic Acid/Halloysite Nanotubes
Authors: Venkatesh Chaitra , Clear Oran , Major Ian , Lyons John G. , Devine Declan M.
Published: June 2019

Nanocomposite-based drug delivery systems with intrinsic controlled release properties are of great interest in biomedical applications. We report a novel polylactic acid (PLA)/halloysite nanotube (HNT) nanocomposite-based drug delivery system. PLA/HNT nanocomposites have shown immense potential for use in biomedical applications due to their favorable cyto- and hemo-compatibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the release of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from PLA/HNT composites matrix and the effect of preloading the API into the lumen of the HNT on its release profile. Aspirin was used in this study as a model drug as it is a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet agent widely used for various medical conditions. These two types of drug-loaded PLA/HNT nanocomposites were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), surface wettability and mechanical testing. Statistical analysis was conducted on numerical data. Drug entrapment and in vitro drug release studies were conducted using UV spectrophotometry. Results indicate that aspirin was successfully loaded into the lumen of HNT, which resulted in the sustained release of aspirin from the nanocomposites. Furthermore, the addition of HNT into the polymer matrix increased the mechanical properties, indicating its suitability as a drug-eluting reinforcing agent.
Deformation of the Internal Connection of Narrow Implants after Insertion in Dense Bone: An in Vitro Study
Authors: Delgado-Ruiz Rafael , Silvente Ana Nicolas , Romanos Georgios
Published: June 2019

Implant connections must resist surgical and prosthetic procedures without deformation. This study evaluated the deformation of different internal connections (IC) of narrow dental implants (NDI) after their insertion in artificial dense bone. Thirty NDI, with different IC geometries, Group A (internal hexagon), Group B (tri-channeled), and Group C (four-channeled), with the same length and similar narrow diameters, were inserted in type II density bone blocks. Drilling protocols for dense bone from each implant manufacturer were followed. The Insertion torque (IT), connection length, vertex angles, and wall deformations were analyzed before and after the insertion of the implants. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Tukey post-test were used for statistical comparisons. IT values were higher for Group A, surface damage, and titanium particles were observed in the IC in all the groups. Angle deformations between 5 and 70 degrees were present in all the groups, and the walls of Group B connection were the most affected by deformations (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this experiment, it can be concluded that narrow diameter implants will suffer deformation of the implant connection and will also experience surface damage and titanium particle release when inserted in type II bone density.
Core-Shell and Hollow Particles of Carbon and SiC Prepared from Hydrochar
Authors: Hao Wenming , Liu Yongsheng , Neagu Alexandra , Bacsik Zoltan , Tai Cheuk-Wai , Shen Zhijian , Hedin Niklas
Published: June 2019

The applications of silicon carbide (SiC) include lightweight materials with thermal shock resistance. In this study, core-shell C-SiC particles were synthesized by compacting and rapidly heating a hydrochar from glucose by using strong pulsed currents and infiltration of silicon vapor. Hollow particles of SiC formed on removing the carbon template. In contrast to related studies, we detected not only the pure 3C polytype (β-SiC) but also significant amounts of the 2H or the 6H polytypes (α-SiC) in the SiC.
An Iterative Algorithm for the Nonlinear MC2 Model with Variational Inequality Method
Authors: Min Chao , Fan Feifei , Yang Zhaozhong , Li Xiaogang
Published: June 2019

The multiple criteria and multiple constraint level (MC 2 ) model is a useful tool to deal with the decision programming problems, which concern multiple decision makers and uncertain resource constraint levels. In this paper, by regarding the nonlinear MC 2 problems as a class of mixed implicit variational inequalities, we develop an iterative algorithm to solve the nonlinear MC 2 problems through the resolvent operator technique. The convergence of the generated iterative sequence is analyzed and discussed by a calculation example, and the stability of Algorithm 1 is also verified by error propagation. By comparing with two other MC 2 -algorithms, Algorithm 1 performs well in terms of number of iterations and computation complexity.
Online Backwash Optimization of Membrane Filtration for Produced Water Treatment
Authors: Jepsen Kasper L. , Bram Mads V. , Hansen Leif , Yang Zhenyu , Lauridsen Steven M. Ø.
Published: June 2019

In the offshore oil and gas sector, produced water is discharged into the sea, but increasing environmental concerns and stricter governmental regulations require new technologies to be considered. Membrane filtration is a promising technology to improve separation, but fouling of the membranes causes a significant reduction in flow capacity. To reduce fouling, optimization of the backwashing parameters is given much attention. Comprehensive and time-consuming experiments are used to model the effect of backwashing, but most methods neglect time varying features present in the offshore produced water treatment train. In this paper, a backwashing scheduling algorithm is proposed, which dynamically selects the filtration and backwashing durations to maximize the average net permeate production. The proposed algorithm is tested on a lab-scaled pilot plant, where it was able to adapt as irreversible fouling accumulated and the OiW concentration changed. The paper concludes that the removal rate of oil fouling was observed to be dependent on the rate at which the backwashing pressure could be established. As the proposed method online adapts to the current conditions, it can improve the filtration capacity compared to cases with constant backwashing and filtration durations throughout the lifetime of the facilities.
Predominantly Ferruginous Conditions in South China during the Marinoan Glaciation: Insight from REE Geochemistry of the Syn-glacial Dolostone from the Nantuo Formation in Guizhou Province, China
Authors: Gu Shangyi , Fu Yong , Long Jianxi
Published: June 2019

The Neoproterozoic Era witnessed two low-latitude glaciations, which exerted a fundamental influence on ocean–atmosphere redox conditions and biogeochemical cycling. Climate models and palaeobiological evidence support the belief that open waters provided oases for life that survived snowball Earth glaciations, yet independent geochemical evidence for marine redox conditions during the Marinoan glaciation remains scarce owing to the apparent lack of primary marine precipitates. In this study, we explore variability in rare earth elements (REEs) and trace metal concentrations in dolostone samples of the Cryogenian Nantuo Formation taken from a drill core in South China. Petrological evidence suggests that the dolostone in the Nantuo Formation was formed in near-shore waters. All the examined dolostone samples featured significant enrichment of manganese (345–10,890 ppm, average 3488 ppm) and middle rare earth elements (MREEs) (Bell Shape Index: 1.43–2.16, average 1.76) after being normalized to Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS). Most dolostone samples showed slight to no negative Ce anomalies (Ce*/Ce 0.53–1.30, average 0.95), as well as positive Eu anomalies (Eu*/Eu 1.77–3.28, average 1.95). This finding suggests that the dolostone samples were deposited from suboxic to iron-enriched and anoxic waters. Although total REE concentrations correlated positively with Th concentrations in dolostone samples, MREE-enriched PAAS-normalized patterns preclude the conclusion that REEs were largely introduced by terrestrial contamination. Rather, we interpret the correlation between REEs and Th as an indication that the former were transported by colloids and nanoparticles in meltwaters. Taken together, we propose that anoxic and ferruginous water columns dominated in South China during the Marinoan glaciation with a thin oxic/suboxic layer restricted to coastal waters. The extreme anoxic and ferruginous conditions prevailing in the Cryogenian would have provided a baseline for subsequent transient Ediacaran ocean oxygenation and life evolution.
Structural Modifications of Nature-Inspired Indoloquinolines: A Mini Review of Their Potential Antiproliferative Activity
Authors: Wang Ning , Świtalska Marta , Wang Li , Shaban Elkhabiry , Hossain Md Imran , El Sayed Ibrahim El Tantawy , Wietrzyk Joanna , Inokuchi Tsutomu
Published: June 2019

Cryptolepine, neocryptolepine and isocryptolepine are naturally occurring indoloquinoline alkaloids with various spectrum of biological properties. Structural modification is an extremely effective means to improve their bioactivities. This review enumerates several neocryptolepine and isocryptolepine analogues with potent antiproliferative activity against MV4-11 (leukemia), A549 (lung cancer), HCT116 (colon cancer) cell lines in vitro. Its activity towards normal mouse fibroblasts BALB/3T3 was also evaluated. Furthermore, structure activity relationships (SAR) are briefly discussed. The anticancer screening of neocryptolepine derivatives was performed in order to determine their cytotoxic and growth inhibitory activities across the JFCR39 cancer cell line panel.
Design and Synthesis of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 Inhibitors and Evaluation of Their Use as Anti-Tumor Agents
Authors: Wen Hui , Liu Yuke , Wang Shufang , Wang Ting , Zhang Gang , Chen Xiaoguang , Li Yan , Cui Huaqing , Lai Fangfang , Sheng Li
Published: June 2019

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) 1 is the key enzyme for regulating tryptophan metabolism and is an important target for interrupting tumor immune escape. In this study, we designed four series of compounds as potential IDO1 inhibitors by attaching various fragments or ligands to indole or phenylimidazole scaffolds to improve binding to IDO1. The compounds were synthesized and their inhibitory activities against IDO1 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase were evaluated. The cytotoxicities of the compounds against two tumor cell lines were also determined. Two compounds with a phenylimidazole scaffold (DX-03-12 and DX-03-13) showed potent IDO1 inhibition with IC50 values of 0.3–0.5 μM. These two IDO1 inhibitors showed low cell cytotoxicity, which indicated that they may exert their anti-tumor effect via immune modulation. Compound DX-03-12 was investigated further by determining the in vivo pharmacokinetic profile and anti-tumor efficacy. The pharmacokinetic study revealed that DX-03-12 had satisfactory properties in mice, with rapid absorption, moderate plasma clearance (∼36% of hepatic blood flow), acceptable half-life (∼4.6 h), and high oral bioavailability (∼96%). Daily oral administration of 60 mg/kg of compound DX-03-12 decreased tumor growth by 72.2% after 19 days in a mouse melanoma cell B16-F10 xenograft model compared with the untreated control. Moreover, there was no obvious weight loss in DX-03-12-treated mice. In conclusion, compound DX-03-12 is a potent lead compound for developing IDO1 inhibitors and anti-tumor agents.
Interference with Amyloid-β Nucleation by Transient Ligand Interaction
Authors: Zhang Tao , Loschwitz Jennifer , Strodel Birgit , Nagel-Steger Luitgard , Willbold Dieter
Published: June 2019

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The structural flexibility and aggregation propensity of Aβ pose major challenges for elucidating the interaction between Aβ monomers and ligands. All-D-peptides consisting solely of D-enantiomeric amino acid residues are interesting drug candidates that combine high binding specificity with high metabolic stability. Here we characterized the interaction between the 12-residue all-D-peptide D3 and Aβ42 monomers, and how the interaction influences Aβ42 aggregation. We demonstrate for the first time that D3 binds to Aβ42 monomers with submicromolar affinities. These two highly unstructured molecules are able to form complexes with 1:1 and other stoichiometries. Further, D3 at substoichiometric concentrations effectively slows down the β-sheet formation and Aβ42 fibrillation by modulating the nucleation process. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of how D3 affects Aβ assemblies and contributes to our knowledge on the interaction between two IDPs.
Hispidulin Inhibits Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Inflammation through Down-Regulation of Histamine Release and Inflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Kim Dong Eun , Min Kyoung-jin , Kim Min-Jong , Kim Sang-Hyun , Kwon Taeg Kyu
Published: June 2019

Hispidulin (4′,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) is a natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and it is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Here, we investigated the effect of hispidulin on the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic responses in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 mast cells. When RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with anti-dinitrophenyl (anti-DNP) IgE and subsequently stimulated with DNP-human serum albumin (HSA), histamine and β-hexosaminidase were released from the cells by degranulation of activated mast cells. However, pretreatment with hispidulin before the stimulation of DNP-HSA markedly attenuated release of both in anti-DNP IgE-sensitized cells. Furthermore, we investigated whether hispidulin inhibits anti-DNP IgE and DNP-HSA-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), as an animal model for Type I allergies. Hispidulin markedly decreased the PCA reaction and allergic edema of ears in mice. In addition, activated RBL-2H3 cells induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-4), which are critical for the pathogenesis of allergic disease, through the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Inhibition of JNK activation by hispidulin treatment reduced the induction of cytokine expression in the activated mast cells. Our results indicate that hispidulin might be a possible therapeutic candidate for allergic inflammatory diseases through the suppression of degranulation and inflammatory cytokines expression.