bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Propofol Versus Thiopental Sodium with Succinylcholine for Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Insertion
Authors: Karmakar Chandra Shekhar , Rahman Md Afzalur , Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Islam Monirul , Islam Md Shahidul , Rahman Md Lutfur , Alam ABM Muksudul
Published: November 2018

Background: The increasing emphasis on day case anaesthesia has lead to the greater use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as an alternative to intubation. Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are noxious stimuli, which cause a reflex increase in both sympathetic and sympathoadrenal activity that may result in tachycardia, hypertension and dysarrhythmias. Insertion of Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is associated with less haemodynamic changes, minimal increase in intraocular and intracranial pressure and lower incidence of sore throat. Still its insertion requires sufficient depth of anesthesia to prevent airway reflex (gagging, coughing nd spasms). To insert LMA successfully propofol is the most frequently administered medication. But most of all recommend not using propofol singly for LMA insertion. Thiopental can’t suppress the upper airway reflexes as propofol but with low dose succinylcholine upper airway reflexes are attenuated so combination of thiopental sodium with succinylcholine may be another choice of drug.Objectives: This Prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Thiopental sodium and Succinylcholine for insertion of the LMA in comparison with Propofol.Methods: This interventional study was carried out in Sixty patients, aged 3-45 years who were scheduled for elective surgical procedure under general anaesthesia in ShSMCH. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups by odd and even number basis. In Group-1 (N1=30), LMA was inserted after induction with Thiopental sodium (5 mg/kg body weight i.v.) and Succinylcholine (0.5mg/kg i.v); in Group-2 (N2 = 30), the LMA was inserted with Propofol (2.5mg/kg i.v). Jaw relaxation, incidence of coughing- gagging , overall insertion condition and haemodynamic changes were observed.Results: Grade of jaw relaxation in Group-1 was Good in 93.3%, incomplete in 6.7% and 0% poor but in Group-2, 86.7% was good 10% incomplete and 3.3% was poor. Coughing occurred in 33.3% of patients in the Group-2 and there was only 10% in succinyl group (P=0.028) which is significantly higher in Group-2. Overall insertion condition in Group -1 was excellent in 86.7%, Good in 10% cases and poor in only 3.3% cases on the other hand in Group-2 excellent in 53.3%, Good in 33.3% cases and poor in only 13.3% cases (P=0.019).Conclusion: There was statistically significant difference in jaw relaxation in two groups and incidence of Gagging or Coughing is higher in Group-2. Overall insertion condition was significantly better in Group-1. We concluded that Thiopental sodium with low dose Suxamethonium is an effective alternative of Propofol.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, June 2018, Vol.10(1); 11-15
Post-Operative Outcomes of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion on Major Abdominal Surgery in Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Control Trial in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Saha Nirupama , Khan Nadiuzzaman , Zahid Mirza Kamrul , Talukder Shah Alam , Meftahuzzaman ASM
Published: November 2018

Background: Post-operative outcomes of a major abdominal surgery depend on careful & effective post-operative management. But it is a critical job especially in children. Obtaining adequate analgesia after major surgery is a problematic issue and postoperative pain still imposes a major burden of suffering in surgical patients.Objectives: The principle objectives of the study is to evaluate the effects of intravenous lidocaine infusion in pain management of pediatric population undergone in major abdominal surgery; to reduce post-operative morbidity & enhance better surgical outcome in children.Methodology: This is a randomized control trial carried out from January 2015-June2015,in a tertiary care hospital among 60 cases of 4 to 14 years children with major abdominal surgery without having any pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic or renal insufficiency. Grouping of patients that is lidocaine infusion group (Group A) and control group (Group B) was made among admitted cases for elective abdominal surgery by simple random technique by means of lottery. For assessment of postoperative pain FLACC Scale was used in both groups. Clinical examination findings & specifically designed data collection sheet with a set questionnaire were used as research instruments. Formulated data was analyzed by SPSS version 17, taking p value <0.05 as significant.Results: It is noted that, after 24 hours of operation most of the patients 56.7% of group A had mild pain whereas 90% patients of group B had moderate pain (p<0.001)& during that time there was no patient with severe pain in group A whereas in group B 10% patients were with severe pain. At 48 hours, pain was absent in 13.3% children of group A and 6.7% in group B. In group A most of the children 76.7%had mild pain compared to moderate pain 18 (60%) in group B children at that hours (P<0.001). Again, regarding required amount of analgesics, patients received I/V lidocaine required less amount of analgesics than its counterpart. In present study, complications was noted only 3.3% patien in group A, where as in the opposite group it was found in 23.3% & p was <0.05. In group A, in 50% patients post operative bowel sound was returned within 72 hours, compared to 73.3% patients in group B. The p value was 0.001. About post-operative hospital stay, 83.3% children of the group A were released from hospital after 5th P.O.D whereas, in group B, only 50% children were released after 7th P.O.D of operation. The P value was 0.03 that is also significant.Conclusion: Intravenous lidocaine could improve immediate and late post-operative pain with early recovery after major abdominal surgery in children & it can contribute to rapid postoperative rehabilitation programs.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, June 2018, Vol.10(1); 23-27
‘I Have an Empty Head on Love’: The Theme of Love in Derrida, or Derrida and the Literary Space
Authors: Ben-Naftali Michal
Published: November 2018

The essay examines several scenes of love in deconstruction, in an attempt to understand why Derrida claims to have ‘an empty head on love in general’, as he says in a film dedicated to his work. Beginning with ‘Romeo and Juliet’ up to Abraham's sacrificial responsibility, the essay aims to interpret Derrida's withdrawal to silence about love as enacting the erotic literary space of his own writing.
The Orthodox Issue in Jordan: The Struggle for an Arab and Orthodox Identity
Authors: Hager Anna
Published: November 2018

Scholarship on Christians in the Middle East has paid little attention to the role the Christian laity has played in defining and maintaining Christian identity and community boundaries. The so-called Orthodox issue (al-qaḍya al-urthudhuksiyya in Arabic) enhances our understanding of this role. It is an ongoing conflict within the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem between the church leadership of Greek extraction and the Arab – usually lower-ranking – clergy and laity. This article uses a case-study approach to a series of protests in Jordan in 2014 against a decision by the Patriarchate to relocate a local reform-minded cleric. Using ethnographic, historical and philological methods, I argue that through their engagement in this struggle, Greek Orthodox Jordanians assert their identity as Christians, as Arabs and as loyal Jordanians. This offers a perspective into the complex interplay between church—community relations, the issue of pastoral care, and this community's identity.
Modeling and Investigation of a Turboprop Hybrid Electric Propulsion System
Authors: Cameretti Maria Cristina , Del Pizzo Andrea , Di Noia Luigi Pio , Ferrara Michele , Pascarella Ciro
Published: November 2018

Hybrid electric propulsion in the aviation field is becoming an effective alternative propulsion technology with potential advantages, including fuel savings, lower pollution, and reduced noise emission. On the one hand, the aeroengine manufacturers are working to improve fuel consumption and reduce pollutant emissions with new combustion systems; on the other hand, much attention is given to reducing the weight of the batteries increasing the energy density. Hybrid electric propulsion systems (HEPS) can take advantage of the synergy between two technologies by utilizing both internal combustion engines (ICEs) and electric motors (EMs) together, each operating at their respective optimum conditions. In the present work, some numerical investigations were carried out by using a zero-dimensional code able to simulate the flight mission of a turboprop aircraft, comparing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of the original engine with other two smaller gas turbines working in hybrid configuration. An algorithm has been implemented to calculate the weight of the batteries for the different configurations examined, evaluating the feasibility of the hybrid propulsion system in terms of number of non-revenue passengers.
Morphological Assessment of Cultivated and Wild Amaranth Species Diversity
Authors: Thapa Ranjita , Blair Matthew W.
Published: November 2018

Amaranthus L. is genus of C4 dicotyledonous herbaceous plants comprising approximately 70 species, with three subgenera, which contains both cultivated and wild types, where cultivated ones are used for food grains, leafy vegetables, potential forages and ornamentals. Grain amaranth are pseudocereals from three species domesticated in North and South America and are notable for containing high amount of protein and minerals and balanced amino acid in their small seeds. Genetic diversity analysis of amaranths is important for development of core set of germplasm with widely diverse population and effective utilization of plant genetic resources. In this study, we evaluated a germplasm collection of 260 amaranth accessions from United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 33 accessions from Seed Savers’ Exchange (SSE). We evaluated morphological traits like blade pigmentation, blade shape, petiole pigmentation, branching index, flower color, stem color, inflorescence density, inflorescence shape, terminal inflorescence attitude, plant height and yield characteristics across all 293 accessions. We compared clustering within the USDA and SSE collection and across both collections. Data analysis of morphological data showed significant difference of petiole pigmentation, stem color, blade pigmentation, blade shape and flower color across different clusters of accessions of USDA unlike among different clusters of SSE where we found significant difference of only blade pigmentation, blade shape and flower color. The relationship depicted by neighbor-joining dendogram using the morphological markers was consistent with some but not all of the differences observed between species. Some divisions were found between cultivated and weedy amaranths that was substantiated by morphological characteristics but no separation of South and Central American species was observed. Substantial phenotypic plasticity limits the use of morphological analysis for phylogenetic analysis but does show that important morphological traits such as inflorescence type and plant architecture can cross species boundaries. Similarly, color variants for leaves, flowers and seeds are not exclusive to one cluster in our study nor to one species and can be used widely for breeding any of the cultigens, but not to species identification. Our findings will help in germplasm conservation of grain amaranths and facilitate in this crop’s improvement. It will also help on developing effective breeding programs involving different plant characteristics and morphological traits of Amaranths.
Effect of Ulvan on the Biocontrol Activity of Debaryomyces hansenii and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila against Fruit Rot of Cucumis melo L.
Authors: Rivas-Garcia Tomas , Murillo-Amador Bernardo , Nieto-Garibay Alejandra , Chiquito-Contreras Roberto G. , Rincon-Enriquez Gabriel , Hernandez-Montiel Luis G.
Published: November 2018

In the present study, the following was investigated: (a) The effect of ulvan on in vivo and in vitro biocontrol of Debaryomyces hansenii and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila against Fusarium proliferaum and (b) the effect of ulvan on in vivo and in vitro growth of D. hansenii and S. rhizophila and muskmelon quality parameters. The results showed that the biocontrol activity of D. hansenii and S. rhizophila could be enhanced by ulvan (5 g/L). The combination of ulvan and S. rhizophila resulted in a more effective control of fruit rot in comparison to fungicide benomyl. On in vitro growth of F. proliferatum, individual treatments of D. hansenii and S. rhizophila inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth with no statistical difference with the combined treatments. Ulvan does not have a direct effect on the in vivo and in vitro growth of D. hansenii and S. rhizophila. Furthermore, the combined treatments improve the natural disease incidence and quality parameters like weight, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), and pH. These results suggest that the use of ulvan may be an effective method to improve the biological activity of D. hansenii and S. rhizophila.
Reactive Oxygen Species and the Redox-Regulatory Network in Cold Stress Acclimation
Authors: Dreyer Anna , Dietz Karl-Josef
Published: November 2018

Cold temperatures restrict plant growth, geographical extension of plant species, and agricultural practices. This review deals with cold stress above freezing temperatures often defined as chilling stress. It focuses on the redox regulatory network of the cell under cold temperature conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as the final electron sink in this network which consists of redox input elements, transmitters, targets, and sensors. Following an introduction to the critical network components which include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent thioredoxin reductases, thioredoxins, and peroxiredoxins, typical laboratory experiments for cold stress investigations will be described. Short term transcriptome and metabolome analyses allow for dissecting the early responses of network components and complement the vast data sets dealing with changes in the antioxidant system and ROS. This review gives examples of how such information may be integrated to advance our knowledge on the response and function of the redox regulatory network in cold stress acclimation. It will be exemplarily shown that targeting the redox network might be beneficial and supportive to improve cold stress acclimation and plant yield in cold climate.
LIDAR Point Cloud Registration for Sensing and Reconstruction of Unstructured Terrain
Authors: Zhu Qingyuan , Wu Jinjin , Hu Huosheng , Xiao Chunsheng , Chen Wei
Published: November 2018

When 3D laser scanning (LIDAR) is used for navigation of autonomous vehicles operated on unstructured terrain, it is necessary to register the acquired point cloud and accurately perform point cloud reconstruction of the terrain in time. This paper proposes a novel registration method to deal with uneven-density and high-noise of unstructured terrain point clouds. It has two steps of operation, namely initial registration and accurate registration. Multisensor data is firstly used for initial registration. An improved Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm is then deployed for accurate registration. This algorithm extracts key points and builds feature descriptors based on the neighborhood normal vector, point cloud density and curvature. An adaptive threshold is introduced to accelerate iterative convergence. Experimental results are given to show that our two-step registration method can effectively solve the uneven-density and high-noise problem in registration of unstructured terrain point clouds, thereby improving the accuracy of terrain point cloud reconstruction.
Identifying Real Estate Opportunities Using Machine Learning
Authors: Baldominos Alejandro , Blanco Iván , Moreno Antonio José , Iturrarte Rubén , Bernárdez Óscar , Afonso Carlos
Published: November 2018

The real estate market is exposed to many fluctuations in prices because of existing correlations with many variables, some of which cannot be controlled or might even be unknown. Housing prices can increase rapidly (or in some cases, also drop very fast), yet the numerous listings available online where houses are sold or rented are not likely to be updated that often. In some cases, individuals interested in selling a house (or apartment) might include it in some online listing, and forget about updating the price. In other cases, some individuals might be interested in deliberately setting a price below the market price in order to sell the home faster, for various reasons. In this paper, we aim at developing a machine learning application that identifies opportunities in the real estate market in real time, i.e., houses that are listed with a price substantially below the market price. This program can be useful for investors interested in the housing market. We have focused in a use case considering real estate assets located in the Salamanca district in Madrid (Spain) and listed in the most relevant Spanish online site for home sales and rentals. The application is formally implemented as a regression problem that tries to estimate the market price of a house given features retrieved from public online listings. For building this application, we have performed a feature engineering stage in order to discover relevant features that allows for attaining a high predictive performance. Several machine learning algorithms have been tested, including regression trees, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machines and neural networks, identifying advantages and handicaps of each of them.
Investigation on Ship Hydroelastic Vibrational Responses in Waves
Authors: Yu Haicheng , Xia Yi , Jiao Jialong , Ren Huilong
Published: November 2018

The hydroelastic vibrational responses of a large ship sailing in regular and irregular head waves are investigated numerically and experimentally. A 3D time-domain nonlinear hydroelastic mathematical model is established in which the hydrostatic restoring forces and incident wave forces are calculated on the instantaneous wetted hull surface to consider nonlinear effects of the rigid motion and elastic deformation of the hull in harsh waves. Radiation and diffraction wave forces are computed on the mean wetted surface based on the 3D frequency-domain potential flow theory. The slamming loads are calculated by momentum theory and integrated into the hydrodynamic forces. The 1D Timoshenko beam theory is adopted to model the vibrational structural response and is fully coupled with the presented hydrodynamic theory in time-domain to generate the hydroelastic equation of motion. Moreover, self-propelled segmented model tests were conducted in a laboratory wave tank to experimentally investigate the hydroelastic responses of a target ship in regular and irregular head seas. The numerical and experimental results are systemically compared and analyzed, and the established hydroelastic analysis model turns out to be reliable and effective in the prediction of ship hydroelastic responses in waves.
Structure, Magnetism, and Electronic Properties of Inverse Heusler Alloy Ti2CoAl/MgO(100) Herterojuction: The Role of Interfaces
Authors: Wu Bo , Huang Haishen , Zhou Guangdong , Feng Yu , Chen Ying , Wang Xiangjian
Published: November 2018

In this study, the interface structures, atom-resolved magnetism, density of states, and spin polarization of 10 possible atomic terminations in the Ti2CoAl/MgO(100) heterojunction were comprehensively investigated using first-principle calculations. In the equilibrium interface structures, the length of the alloy–Mg bond was found to be much longer than that of the alloy–O bond because of the forceful repulsion interactions between the Heusler interface atoms and Mg atoms. The competition among d-electronic hybridization, d-electronic localization, and the moving effect of the interface metal atoms played an important role in the interface atomic magnetic moment. Unexpected interface states appeared in the half-metallic gap for all terminations. The “ideal” half-metallicity observed in the bulk had been destroyed. In TiAl–Mg and AlAl–O terminations, the maximal spin polarization of about 65% could be reserved. The tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) value was deduced to be lower than 150% in the Ti2CoAl/MgO(100) heterojunction at low temperature.
Laser-Control of Ultrafast π-Electron Ring Currents in Aromatic Molecules: Roles of Molecular Symmetry and Light Polarization
Authors: Kanno Manabu , Kono Hirohiko , Fujimura Yuichi
Published: November 2018

Being motivated by the recent progress in attosecond laser technology, we theoretically explore the strategy of inducing ultrafast electron dynamics inherent to aromatic molecules, i.e., ring currents by means of polarized laser pulses. The main topic of discussion is how to control the direction of ring currents in an aromatic molecule of low symmetry, for which the design of an efficient control pulse cannot be achieved intuitively. We first consider a system with a single aromatic ring and show that coherent π-electron angular momentum, which oscillates with time, can be produced and controlled by a polarized laser pulse with its ellipticity and orientation properly chosen. Nonadiabatic couplings with molecular vibration gradually weaken the angular momentum, while the vibrational amplitude strongly depends on the polarization of incident light. This suggests the conversion of the polarization dependence of ring current into that of subsequent vibration, which may open a way to detect laser-driven ultrafast electron dynamics by vibrational spectroscopy. The laser-control scheme for the ring current is then extended to a molecule with two aromatic rings, which exhibits characteristic phenomena absent in that with a single ring. We demonstrate that two-dimensional switching of the direction of angular momentum is possible in such molecules. In addition, ring current can be localized at a specific ring by tailored lasers. The application of the present control method to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons will lead to the development of next-generation organic optical switching devices.
Decellularized Human Umbilical Artery Used as Nerve Conduit
Authors: Gontika Ioanna , Katsimpoulas Michalis , Antoniou Efstathios , Kostakis Alkiviadis , Stavropoulos-Giokas Catherine , Michalopoulos Efstathios
Published: November 2018

Treatment of injuries to peripheral nerves after a segmental defect is one of the most challenging surgical problems. Despite advancements in microsurgical techniques, complete recovery of nerve function after repair has not been achieved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the decellularized human umbilical artery (hUA) as nerve guidance conduit. A segmental peripheral nerve injury was created in 24 Sprague–Dawley rats. The animals were organized into two experimental groups with different forms of repair: decellularized hUA (n = 12), and autologous nerve graft (n = 12). Sciatic faction index and gastrocnemius muscle values were calculated for functional recovery evaluation. Nerve morphometry was used to analyze nerve regeneration. Results showed that decellularized hUAs after implantation were rich in nerve fibers and characterized by improved Sciatic Functional index (SFI) values. Decellularized hUA may support elongation and bridging of the 10 mm nerve gap.
The Antidepressant-Like Effect of Lactate in an Animal Model of Menopausal Depression
Authors: Shaif Noof , Jang Daehyuk , Cho Donghyun , Kim Sunmi , Seo Dae , Shim Insop
Published: November 2018

Background: This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant-like effect of lactate and elucidate its mechanisms in ovariectomized rats with repeated stress. Methods: Two experiments were conducted on female rats in which all groups, except normal, were ovariectomized and underwent immobilization for 14 days. Lactate was administered orally (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days, and the rats’ cutaneous body temperature was measured during the same period. Depression-like behavior in rats was assessed by the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were conducted to evaluate the changes that occurred in the neurotransmitter levels and activity. Results: The lactate 100 and 250 groups had reduced time spent immobile in TST and FST and decreased peripheral body temperature. In ELISA tests, the lactate 250 group expressed elevated levels of serotonin and dopamine in many brain areas. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), and protein kinase C (PKC) immunoreactive cells showed increased density and cell counts in lactate administered groups. Conclusion: Results indicated that lactate has an antidepressant effect that is achieved by activation of PKC and upregulation of TH and TPH expression, which eventually leads to enhanced serotonin and dopamine levels in the menopausal rat’s brain.
In Situ Regeneration of Alumina-Supported Cobalt–Iron Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Catalytic Methane Decomposition
Authors: Fakeeha Anis H. , Barama Siham , Ibrahim Ahmed A. , Al-Otaibi Raja-Lafi , Barama Akila , Abasaeed Ahmed E. , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S.
Published: November 2018

A novel approach to the in situ regeneration of a spent alumina-supported cobalt–iron catalyst for catalytic methane decomposition is reported in this work. The spent catalyst was obtained after testing fresh catalyst in catalytic methane decomposition reaction during 90 min. The regeneration evaluated the effect of forced periodic cycling; the cycles of regeneration were performed in situ at 700 °C under diluted O2 gasifying agent (10% O2/N2), followed by inert treatment under N2. The obtained regenerated catalysts at different cycles were tested again in catalytic methane decomposition reaction. Fresh, spent, and spent/regenerated materials were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), N2-physisorption, H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The comparison of transmission electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction characterizations of spent and spent/regenerated catalysts showed the formation of a significant amount of carbon on the surface with a densification of catalyst particles after each catalytic methane decomposition reaction preceded by regeneration. The activity results confirm that the methane decomposition after regeneration cycles leads to a permanent deactivation of catalysts certainly provoked by the coke deposition. Indeed, it is likely that some active iron sites cannot be regenerated totally despite the forced periodic cycling.
Identification of Key Amino Acid Residues Determining Product Specificity of 2,3-Oxidosqualene Cyclase in Siraitia grosvenorii
Authors: Qiao Jing , Liu Jiushi , Liao Jingjing , Luo Zuliang , Ma Xiaojun , Ma Guoxu
Published: November 2018

Sterols and triterpenes are structurally diverse bioactive molecules generated through cyclization of linear 2,3-oxidosqualene. Based on carbocationic intermediates generated during the initial substrate preorganization step, oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) are roughly segregated into a dammarenyl cation group that predominantly catalyzes triterpenoid precursor products and a protosteryl cation group which mostly generates sterol precursor products. The mechanism of conversion between two scaffolds is not well understood. Previously, we have characterized a promiscuous OSC from Siraitia grosvenorii (SgCS) that synthesizes a novel cucurbitane-type triterpene cucurbitadienol as its main product. By integration of homology modeling, molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis, we discover that five key amino acid residues (Asp486, Cys487, Cys565, Tyr535, and His260) may be responsible for interconversions between chair–boat–chair and chair–chair–chair conformations. The discovery of euphol, dihydrolanosterol, dihydroxyeuphol and tirucallenol unlocks a new path to triterpene diversity in nature. Our findings also reveal mechanistic insights into the cyclization of oxidosqualene into cucurbitane-type and lanostane-type skeletons, and provide a new strategy to identify key residues determining OSC specificity.
Defective T-Cell Apoptosis and T-Regulatory Cell Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Malemud Charles J.
Published: November 2018

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, systemic autoimmune disease that mostly affects small and large synovial joints. At the molecular level, RA is characterized by a profoundly defective innate and adaptive immune response that results in a chronic state of inflammation. Two of the most significant alterations in T-lymphocyte (T-cell) dysfunction in RA is the perpetual activation of T-cells that result in an abnormal proliferation state which also stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts within the joint synovial tissue. This event results in what we have termed “apoptosis resistance”, which we believe is the leading cause of aberrant cell survival in RA. Finding therapies that will induce apoptosis under these conditions is one of the current goals of drug discovery. Over the past several years, a number of T-cell subsets have been identified. One of these T-cell subsets are the T-regulatory (Treg) cells. Under normal conditions Treg cells dictate the state of immune tolerance. However, in RA, the function of Treg cells become compromised resulting in Treg cell dysfunction. It has now been shown that several of the drugs employed in the medical therapy of RA can partially restore Treg cell function, which has also been associated with amelioration of the clinical symptoms of RA.
Hsp60 in Skeletal Muscle Fiber Biogenesis and Homeostasis: From Physical Exercise to Skeletal Muscle Pathology
Authors: Marino Gammazza Antonella , Macaluso Filippo , Di Felice Valentina , Cappello Francesco , Barone Rosario
Published: November 2018

Hsp60 is a molecular chaperone classically described as a mitochondrial protein with multiple roles in health and disease, participating to the maintenance of protein homeostasis. It is well known that skeletal muscle is a complex tissue, rich in proteins, that is, subjected to continuous rearrangements, and this homeostasis is affected by many different types of stimuli and stresses. The regular exercise induces specific histological and biochemical adaptations in skeletal muscle fibers, such as hypertrophy and an increase of mitochondria activity and oxidative capacity. The current literature is lacking in information regarding Hsp60 involvement in skeletal muscle fiber biogenesis and regeneration during exercise, and in disease conditions. Here, we briefly discuss the functions of Hsp60 in skeletal muscle fibers during exercise, inflammation, and ageing. Moreover, the potential usage of Hsp60 as a marker for disease and the evaluation of novel treatment options is also discussed. However, some questions remain open, and further studies are needed to better understand Hsp60 involvement in skeletal muscle homeostasis during exercise and in pathological condition.
Chitosan-Based Coatings to Prevent the Decay of Populus spp. Wood Caused by Trametes Versicolor
Authors: Silva-Castro Iosody , Casados-Sanz Milagros , Alonso-Cortés Agustín L. , Martín-Ramos Pablo , Martín-Gil Jesús , Acuña-Rello Luis
Published: November 2018

Chitosan and chitosan oligomers are receiving increasing attention due to their antimicrobial properties. In the present study, they were assayed as a preventive treatment against white-rot decay of Populus wood (very important in economic and environmental terms), caused by Trametes versicolor fungus. Their capacity to incorporate different chemical species into the polymer structure with a view to improving their anti-fungal activity was also assessed by mixing oligo-chitosan with propolis and silver nanoparticles. The minimum inhibitory concentration of medium-molecular weight chitosan (MMWC), chitosan oligomers (CO), propolis (P), nanosilver (nAg), and their binary and ternary composites against T. versicolor was determined in vitro. Although all products exhibited anti-fungal properties, composites showed an enhanced effect as compared to the individual products: 100% mycelial growth inhibition was attained for concentrations of 2.0 and 0.2 mg·mL−1 for the CO-P binary mixture, respectively; and 2 µg·mL−1 for nAg in the ternary mixture. Subsequently, MMWC, CO, CO-P and CO-P-nAg composites were tested on poplar wood blocks as surface protectors. Wood decay caused by the fungus was monitored by microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy, evidencing the limitations of the CO-based coatings in comparison with MMWC, which has a higher viscosity and better adhesion properties. The usage of MMWC holds promise for poplar wood protection, with potential industrial applications.
UAS-GEOBIA Approach to Sapling Identification in Jack Pine Barrens after Fire
Authors: White Raechel A. , Bomber Michael , Hupy Joseph P. , Shortridge Ashton
Published: November 2018

Jack pine (pinus banksiana) forests are unique ecosystems controlled by wildfire. Understanding the traits of revegetation after wildfire is important for sustainable forest management, as these forests not only provide economic resources, but also are home to specialized species, like the Kirtland Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii). Individual tree detection of jack pine saplings after fire events can provide information about an environment’s recovery. Traditional satellite and manned aerial sensors lack the flexibility and spatial resolution required for identifying saplings in early post-fire analysis. Here we evaluated the use of unmanned aerial systems and geographic object-based image analysis for jack pine sapling identification in a region burned during the 2012 Duck Lake Fire in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Results of this study indicate that sapling identification accuracies can top 90%, and that accuracy improves with the inclusion of red and near infrared spectral bands. Results also indicated that late season imagery performed best when discriminating between young (<5 years) jack pines and herbaceous ground cover in these environments.
Robust DC-Link Voltage Tracking Controller with Variable Control Gain for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators
Authors: Kim Seok-Kyoon , Lee Kyo-Beum
Published: November 2018

This study develops a robust DC-link voltage tracking controller with variable control gain for permanent magnet synchronous generators. The first feature is to suggest an auto-tuning algorithm to drive the control gain to update the closed-loop cut-off frequency. The second one is to prove that the proposed controller incorporating auto-tuner and disturbance observer (DOB) coerces the closed-loop system to achieve the desired voltage tracking behavior, exponentially, with the steady-state rejection property. The control performance is demonstrated by emulating a wind-turbine power system using the powerSIM (PSIM) software.
Virtual Inertia-Based Control Strategy of Two-Stage Photovoltaic Inverters for Frequency Support in Islanded Micro-Grid
Authors: Huang Xin , Wang Keyou , Li Guojie , Zhang Hua
Published: November 2018

For an islanded micro-grid with a high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) power generators, the low inertia reserve and the maximum peak power tracking control may increase the difficulty of maintaining the system’s supply–demand balance, and cause frequency instability, especially when the available generation is excessive. This will require changes in the way the PV inverter is controlled. In this paper, a virtual inertia frequency control (VIFC) strategy is proposed to let the two-stage PV inverters emulate inertia and support the system frequency with a timely response (e.g., inertia response), and the required power for inertia emulation is obtained from both the DC-link capacitor and the PV reserved energy. As the rate of the system frequency change can be reduced with the inertia increase, the proposed method can mitigate the frequency contingency event before the superior-level coordination control is enabled for the frequency restoration. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Event-Triggered Containment Control of Multi-Agent Systems With High-Order Dynamics and Input Delay
Authors: Li Jianzhen , Li Chenglong , Yang Xiaofei , Chen Wei
Published: November 2018

This paper studies the problem of distributed containment control for multi-agent systems with high-order dynamics and input delays. Two event-triggered control algorithms are proposed for multi-agent systems without and with input delay, respectively. The communication instants between two linked followers are determined by the event-triggering condition, and every follower can detect the event based on its own control input. For the followers, edge-based estimators are adopted to predict state differences to neighbors. Control inputs of the followers are calculated based on the predicted values of the state differences. To deal with the input delay, a delay comprehension approach is developed. It is proved that for arbitrarily large but bounded input delays, the followers can move into the convex hull spanned by the leaders asymptotically. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Laboratory and Numerical Investigation on Strength Performance of Inclined Pillars
Authors: Jessu Kashi Vishwanath , Spearing Anthony J. S. , Sharifzadeh Mostafa
Published: November 2018

Pillars play a critical role in an underground mine, as an inadequate pillar design could lead to pillar failure, which may result in catastrophic damage, while an over-designed pillar would lead to ore loss, causing economic loss. Pillar design is dictated by the inclination of the ore body. Depending on the orientation of the pillars, loading can be axial (compression) in horizontal pillars and oblique (compression as well as shear loading) in inclined pillars. Empirical and numerical approaches are the two most commonly used methods for pillar design. Current empirical approaches are mostly based on horizontal pillars, and the inclination of the pillars in the dataset is not taken into consideration. Laboratory and numerical studies were conducted with different width-to-height ratios and at different inclinations to understand the reduction in strength due to inclined loading and to observe the failure mechanisms. The specimens’ strength reduced consistently over all the width-to-height ratios at a given inclination. The strength reduction factors for gypsum were found to be 0.78 and 0.56, and for sandstone were 0.71 and 0.43 at 10° and 20° inclinations, respectively. The strength reduction factors from numerical models were found to be 0.94 for 10° inclination, 0.87 for 20° inclination, 0.78 for 30° inclination, and 0.67 for 40° inclination, and a fitting equation was proposed for the strength reduction factor with respect to inclination. The achieved results could be used at preliminary design stages and can be verified during real mining practice.
Recognizing Women Leaders in Fire Science: Revisited
Authors: Smith Alistair M.S. , Strand Eva K.
Published: November 2018

In August, 2018, an editorial in Fire entitled Recognizing Women Leaders in Fire Science was published. This was intended to ignite a conversation into diversity in fire science by highlighting several women leaders in fire research and development. This editorial was released alongside a new Topical Collection in Fire called Diversity Leaders in Fire Science. The response on social media was fantastic, leading to numerous recommendations of women leaders in fire science that had been inadvertently missed in the first editorial. In this editorial, we acknowledge 145 women leaders in fire science to promote diversity across our disciplines. Fire is continually committed to improving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the journal and welcomes perspectives, viewpoints, and constructive criticisms to help advance that mission.
Viscoelastic Oxidized Alginates with Reversible Imine Type Crosslinks: Self-Healing, Injectable, and Bioprintable Hydrogels
Authors: Hafeez Shahzad , Ooi Huey Wen , Morgan Francis L. C. , Mota Carlos , Dettin Monica , Van Blitterswijk Clemens , Moroni Lorenzo , Baker Matthew B.
Published: November 2018

Bioprinting techniques allow for the recreation of 3D tissue-like structures. By deposition of hydrogels combined with cells (bioinks) in a spatially controlled way, one can create complex and multiscale structures. Despite this promise, the ability to deposit customizable cell-laden structures for soft tissues is still limited. Traditionally, bioprinting relies on hydrogels comprised of covalent or mostly static crosslinks. Yet, soft tissues and the extracellular matrix (ECM) possess viscoelastic properties, which can be more appropriately mimicked with hydrogels containing reversible crosslinks. In this study, we have investigated aldehyde containing oxidized alginate (ox-alg), combined with different cross-linkers, to develop a small library of viscoelastic, self-healing, and bioprintable hydrogels. By using distinctly different imine-type dynamic covalent chemistries (DCvC), (oxime, semicarbazone, and hydrazone), rational tuning of rheological and mechanical properties was possible. While all materials showed biocompatibility, we observed that the nature of imine type crosslink had a marked influence on hydrogel stiffness, viscoelasticity, self-healing, cell morphology, and printability. The semicarbazone and hydrazone crosslinks were found to be viscoelastic, self-healing, and printable—without the need for additional Ca2+ crosslinking—while also promoting the adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts. In contrast, the oxime cross-linked gels were found to be mostly elastic and showed neither self-healing, suitable printability, nor fibroblast spreading. The semicarbazone and hydrazone gels hold great potential as dynamic 3D cell culture systems, for therapeutics and cell delivery, and a newer generation of smart bioinks.
When Proterozoic Crusts Became Thick: New Insights from Magma Petrology
Authors: Ganne Jérôme , Feng Xiaojun , McFarlane Helen , Macouin Mélina , Rousse Sonia , Naba Seta , Traoré Abraham , Hodel Florent
Published: November 2018

The Earth’s continental crust represents the outermost envelope of the solid Earth, controlling exchanges within the geosphere and reflecting geodynamics processes. One of the fundamental issues of Earth Science aims to determine crustal thickness in past geodynamic environments in order to discuss the evolution of certain geodynamic processes through time. Despite presenting a continuing challenge, the evolution of crustal thickness during the last 3 billion years can be investigated using indirect clues yielded by the chemical signature of mafic magmas and associated ferromagnesian minerals (pyroxene, amphibole). Here, we present a new statistical assessment of a global database of magmatic and mineral chemical information. Analysis reveals the increasing occurrence of high-temperature pyroxenes and amphiboles growing in Ca-rich, Fe-poor magma since ~1 Ga, which contrasts with lower temperature conditions of minerals crystallization throughout the Meso- and Palaeoproterozoic times. This is interpreted to reflect temporal changes in the control of Earth’s crust on mantle-derived magma composition, related to changes in lithospheric thickness and mantle secular cooling. We propose that thick existing crust is associated with deeper, hotter magmatic reservoirs, potentially elucidating the mineral chemistry and the contrasting iron content between primary and derivative mafic magmas. Based on both the chemical and mineral information of mafic magma, an integrated approach provides qualitative estimates of past crustal thickness and associated magmatic systems. Our findings indicate that the Proterozoic was characterized by thicker crustal sections (>40–50 km) relative to the Phanerozoic and Archean (<35 km). This period of crustal thickening appears at the confluence of major changes on Earth, marked by the onset of mantle cooling and Plate Tectonics and the assembly of Columbia, the first supercontinent.
Prevalence of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Liverpool between 2006 and 2012: Evidence of Widening Socioeconomic Inequalities
Authors: Noonan Robert J.
Published: November 2018

The primary aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Liverpool between 2006 and 2012. A secondary aim was to examine the extent to which socioeconomic inequalities relating to childhood overweight and obesity in Liverpool changed during this six-year period. A sample of 50,125 children was created using data from the National Child Measurement Program (NCMP) in Liverpool. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated for Reception and Year 6 aged children in Liverpool for each time period by gender and compared against published averages for England. Logistic regression analyses examined the likelihood of children in Liverpool being classified as overweight and obese based on deprivation level for each time period. Analyses were conducted separately for Reception and Year 6 aged children and were adjusted for gender. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Reception and Year 6 aged children in Liverpool increased between 2006 and 2012. During the same period, socioeconomic disparities in overweight and obesity prevalence between children living in the most deprived communities in Liverpool and those living in less deprived communities in Liverpool, widened. This study evidences rising rates of overweight and obesity among Liverpool children and widening socioeconomic health inequalities within Liverpool, England’s most deprived city between 2006 and 2012.
Evolution and Expression Characteristics of Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Protein Kinases in Maize, Rice and Arabidopsis
Authors: Fan Mingxia , Ma Wenjuan , Liu Chen , Zhang Chunyu , Wu Suwen , Chen Meiming , Liu Kuichen , Cai Fengchun , Lin Feng
Published: November 2018

Receptor-like cytoplasmic protein kinases (RLCKs) are involved in various activities in plant growth and development. We have totally identified 162, 160, and 402 RLCK genes in maize, rice, and Arabidopsis genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses divided 724 RLCK genes into 15 subfamilies and similar structural patterns of kinase activity sites and functional sites were observed within the subfamilies. Furthermore, the structural patterns of intron/exon in the same subfamilies were similar, implicating their close evolutionary relationship. Chromosome distribution indicated that segmental duplication of RLCK genes might be a major mechanism contributing to the expansion of the RLCK superfamilies in maize, rice, and Arabidopsis, respectively. The analysis of the synteny relationship and gene structure indicated that the evolution of most RLCKs in maize were prior to rice and Arabidopsis. Most of the ratio of Ka/Ks is inferior to one, suggesting that RLCK genes have experienced the negative selection in maize, rice and Arabidopsis. Duplication time revealed that the maize was the earliest emergence among these three species. The expression profiles showed that there are some specifically expressed RLCK genes in maize root, leaf, ear, and tassel. These specific expression genes may participate in the developmental regulation of these maize tissues. Our results will be useful in providing new insights into evolution of RLCKs and revealing the regulatory network of maize, rice, and Arabidopsis development.
International Journal of Molecular Science 2018 Best Paper Award
Authors:   Editorial Office
Published: November 2018

The Editors of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences have established the Best Paper Award to recognize the most outstanding articles published in the areas of molecular biology, molecular physics, and chemistry that have been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. [...]