bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Placental Origins of Chronic Disease
Authors: Burton Graham J. , Fowden Abigail L. , Thornburg Kent L.
Published: September 2016

Epidemiological evidence links an individual's susceptibility to chronic disease in adult life to events during their intrauterine phase of development. Biologically this should not be unexpected, for organ systems are at their most plastic when progenitor cells are proliferating and differentiating. Influences operating at this time can permanently affect their structure and functional capacity, and the activity of enzyme systems and endocrine axes. It is now appreciated that such effects lay the foundations for a diverse array of diseases that become manifest many years later, often in response to secondary environmental stressors. Fetal development is underpinned by the placenta, the organ that forms the interface between the fetus and its mother. All nutrients and oxygen reaching the fetus must pass through this organ. The placenta also has major endocrine functions, orchestrating maternal adaptations to pregnancy and mobilizing resources for fetal use. In addition, it acts as a selective barrier, creating a protective milieu by minimizing exposure of the fetus to maternal hormones, such as glucocorticoids, xenobiotics, pathogens, and parasites. The placenta shows a remarkable capacity to adapt to adverse environmental cues and lessen their impact on the fetus. However, if placental function is impaired, or its capacity to adapt is exceeded, then fetal development may be compromised. Here, we explore the complex relationships between the placental phenotype and developmental programming of chronic disease in the offspring. Ensuring optimal placentation offers a new approach to the prevention of disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, which are reaching epidemic proportions.
Evaluation of Light-Activated Provisional Resin Materials for Periodontal Soft Tissue Management
Authors: Jun Soo-Kyung , Lee Hae-Hyoung , Lee Jung-Hwan
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine mechanical properties using a compressive test with cylinder specimen (h=6 mm andϕ=4 mm) as well as cytotoxicity using elutes from disk specimen (ϕ=10 mm andh=2 mm) against human gingival fibroblasts and oral keratinocytes with light-activated provisional resin materials (Revotek LC and Luxatemp Solar) compared to chemically activated counterpart (Snap, Trim II, and Jet). Significantly increased compressive strength (210~280 MPa) was detected in light-activated products compared to chemically activated ones (20~65 MPa,P<0.05) and similar compressive modulus was detected in both types (0.8~1.5 and 0.5~1.3 GPa). Simultaneously, the light-activated products showed less adverse effects on the periodontal soft tissue cells in any polymerization stage compared to the chemically activated products. Particularly, chemically activated products had significantly greater adverse effects during the “polymerizing” phase compared to those that were “already set” (P<0.05), as shown in confocal microscopic images of live and dead cells. In conclusion, light-activated provisional resin materials have better mechanical properties as well as biocompatibility against two tested types of oral cells compared to the chemically activated counterpart, which are considered as more beneficial choice for periodontal soft tissue management.
The Impact of Subway Lines on Residential Property Values in Tianjin: An Empirical Study Based on Hedonic Pricing Model
Authors: Sun Hui , Wang Yuning , Li Qingbo
Published: September 2016

The construction of subways has an external impact on the urban environment. Among them, the most important acceleration function lies in the property values of housing near subway stations. Tianjin, the largest open coastal city in Northern China, is selected as the subject of the research in this paper by virtue of its unique background. The Hedonic Pricing Model is used in analysing the change in the value of the properties located within 1,000 metres of completed subway line 3 stations. Using the theories of land rent and land location, and a model of the impact of urban traffic on the surrounding real estate prices, we analyse the sphere of influence of Tianjin Metro Line 3 on real estate prices. Finally, the paper stresses the importance of urban construction and subway building and finds that different development strategies should be used according to the characteristics of the subway in various regions of the city.
Embracing Integrative Multiomics Approaches
Authors: Rotroff Daniel M. , Motsinger-Reif Alison A.
Published: September 2016

As “-omics” data technology advances and becomes more readily accessible to address complex biological questions, increasing amount of cross “-omics” dataset is inspiring the use and development of integrative bioinformatics analysis. In the current review, we discuss multiple options for integrating data across “-omes” for a range of study designs. We discuss established methods for such analysis and point the reader to in-depth discussions for the various topics. Additionally, we discuss challenges and new directions in the area.
Controlling Neimark-Sacker Bifurcation in Delayed Species Model Using Feedback Controller
Authors: Ran Jie , Liu Yanmin , He Jun , Li Xiang
Published: September 2016

Based on the stability and orthogonal polynomial approximation theory, the ordinary, dislocated, enhancing, and random feedback control methods are used to suppress the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation to fixed point in this paper. It is shown that the convergence rate of enhancing feedback control and random feedback control can be faster than those of dislocated and ordinary feedback control. The random feedback control method, which does not require any adjustable control parameters of the model, just only slightly changes the random intensity. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controllers.
CXCL13 Promotes Proliferation of Mesangial Cells by Combination with CXCR5 in SLE
Authors: Da Zhanyun , Li Liuxia , Zhu Jin , Gu Zhifeng , You Bo , Shan Ying , Shi Si
Published: September 2016

As a CXC subtype member of the chemokine superfamily, CXCL13 is considered to be involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in lupus nephritis (LN). To determine the effect of CXCL13 on SLE and explore the potential mechanisms, we tested serum concentrations of CXCL13 in patients and healthy individuals and found that CXCL13 expression was high in SLE patients especially in LN patients. When we treated human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs)in vitrowith recombinant human CXCL13, the cell proliferation was accelerated, which was tested by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay revealed that CXCL13 would lead to phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). However, the effect was weakened after the silence of CXCR5. The results of our study elaborated that high expression of CXCL13 could be involved in the pathogenesis of LN.
C1Q Assay Results in Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Crossmatch Negative Renal Transplant Candidates with Donor-Specific Antibodies: High Specificity but Low Sensitivity When Predicting Flow Crossmatch
Authors: Arreola-Guerra José M. , Castelán Natalia , de Santiago Adrián , Arvizu Adriana , Gonzalez-Tableros Norma , López Mayra , Salcedo Isaac , Vilatobá Mario , Granados Julio , Morales-Buenrostro Luis E. , Alberú Josefina
Published: September 2016

The aim of the present study was to describe the association of positive flow cross match (FXM) and C1q-SAB.Methods. In this observational, cross-sectional, and comparative study, patients included had negative AHG-CDC-XM and donor specific antibodies (DSA) and were tested with FXM. All pretransplant sera were tested with C1q-SAB assay.Results. A total of 50 donor/recipient evaluations were conducted; half of them had at least one C1q+ Ab (n=26, 52%). Ten patients (20.0%) had DSA C1q+ Ab. Twenty-five (50%) FXMs were positive. Factors associated with a positive FXM were the presence of C1q+ Ab (DSA C1q+ Ab: OR 27, 2.80–259.56,P=0.004, and no DSA C1q+ Ab: OR 5, 1.27–19.68,P=0.021) and the DSA LABScreen-SAB MFI (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49,P=0.007). The cutoff point of immunodominant LABScreen SAB DSA-MFI with the greatest sensitivity and specificity to predict FXM was 2,300 (sensitivity: 72% and specificity: 75%). For FXM prediction, DSA C1q+ Ab was the most specific (95.8%, 85–100) and the combination of DSA-MFI > 2,300 and C1q+ Ab was the most sensitive (92.0%, 79.3–100).Conclusions. C1q+ Ab and LABScreen SAB DSA-MFI were significantly associated with FXM. DSA C1q+ Ab was highly specific but with low sensitivity.
TBL1XR1 Is Highly Expressed in Gastric Cancer and Predicts Poor Prognosis
Authors: Liu Fang , He Yuan , Cao Qinghua , Liu Ni , Zhang Wenhui
Published: September 2016

Objective. To investigate the expression of transducin- (β-) like 1 X-linked receptor 1 (TBL1XR1) in human gastric cancer (GC) and its correlation with prognostic and biologic significance.Methods. TBL1XR1 mRNA expression was analyzed in gastric cancer using a microarray dataset (GSE2701) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of TBL1XR1 was performed on GC tissue microarray (TMA) to assess its prognostic and biological significance in 334 patients of GC.Results. Analysis of GSE2701 showed that the mRNA levels of TBL1XR1 were significantly elevated in primary gastric tumor and lymph node tissues than normal gastric tissues (P<0.05). The same results of TBL1XR1 protein level were observed by IHC staining in 334 GC tissues. 204 of 334 (60.1%) primary gastric cancer tissues showed high expression of TBL1XR1 protein. TBL1XR1 overexpression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.000) and advanced TNM stage (P=0.001). Moreover, high levels of TBL1XR1 predicted worse overall survival (P=0.015). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high expression of TBL1XR1 was an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival (HR, 0.525; 95% confidence interval, 0.367–0.752;P=0.005).Conclusion. This present study demonstrates that TBL1XR1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer and may be a potential predictor and therapeutic target for GC patients.
Low Model Analysis and Synchronous Simulation of the Wave Mechanics
Authors: Duan Wenyuan , Wang Heyuan , Kan Meng
Published: September 2016

The dynamic behavior of a chaotic system in the internal wave dynamics and the problem of the tracing and synchronization are investigated, and the numerical simulation is carried out in this paper. The globally exponentially attractive set and positive invariant set of the chaotic system are studied via constructing the positive definite and radial unbounded Lyapunov function. There are no equilibrium positions, periodic solutions, quasi-period motions, wandering recovering motions, and other chaotic attractors of the system out of the globally exponentially attractive set. Strange attractors can only locate in the globally exponentially attractive set. A feedback controller is designed for the chaotic system to realize the control of the unstable point. The second method of Lyapunov is used to discuss theoretically the rationality of the design of the controller. The driving-response synchronization method is used to realize the globally exponential synchronization. The numerical simulation is carried out by MATLAB software, and the simulation results show that the method is effective.
Dynamics and Control of a Tethered Satellite System Based on the SDRE Method
Authors: Kuo Yong-Lin
Published: September 2016

This paper presents the nonlinear dynamic modeling and control of a tethered satellite system (TSS), and the control strategy is based on the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE). The TSS is modeled by a two-piece dumbbell model, which leads to a set of five nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations. Two sets of equations of motion are proposed, which are based on the first satellite and the mass center of the TSS. There are two reasons to formulate the two sets of equations. One is to facilitate their mutual comparison due to the complex formulations. The other is to provide them for different application situations. Based on the proposed models, the nonlinear dynamic analysis is performed by numerical simulations. Besides, to reduce the convergence time of the librations of the TSS, the SDRE control with a prescribed degree of stability is developed, and the illustrative examples validate the proposed approach.
Role of Ultrasound in Body Stalk Anomaly and Amniotic Band Syndrome
Authors: Routhu Madhavilatha , Thakkallapelli Sreedevi , Mohan Prashanthi , Ahmed Nadeem
Published: September 2016

Body stalk anomaly (BSA) and amniotic band syndrome (ABS) are rare similar fetal sporadic polymalformative syndromes of unknown etiology, though there are certain differences between them. BSA is a combination of developmental abnormalities involving neural tube, body wall, and the limbs with persistent extra embryonic coelomic cavity. ABS is characterized by the presence of thin membrane-like strands attached to fetal body parts and causing constrictions and amputations. This is a cohort study involving 32,100 patients who were referred for routine antenatal ultrasound scan. The data was entered prospectively into a computer database. The duration of study was 3 years. In our study, ultrasound examination in 86 patients demonstrated ventral wall defects, craniofacial defects, and spinal and limb deformities as isolated or combined abnormalities. In those, 10 patients were suspected/diagnosed as BSA/ABS including a twin of a dichorionic diamniotic gestation. The typical features of body stalk anomaly can be detected by ultrasound by the end of the first trimester, which is important for the patient counselling and management. We are presenting these rare conditions and highlighting the importance of early sonographic imaging in diagnosing and differentiating them from other anterior abdominal wall defects.
Clinical and Mutational Analysis of theGCDHGene in Malaysian Patients with Glutaric Aciduria Type 1
Authors: Abdul Wahab Siti Aishah , Yakob Yusnita , Abdul Azize Nor Azimah , Md Yunus Zabedah , Huey Yin Leong , Mohd Khalid Mohd Khairul Nizam , Lock Hock Ngu
Published: September 2016

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme encoded by theGCDHgene. In this study, we presented the clinical and molecular findings of seven GA1 patients in Malaysia. All the patients were symptomatic from infancy and diagnosed clinically from large excretion of glutaric and 3-hydroxyglutaric acids. Bidirectional sequencing of theGCDHgene revealed ten mutations, three of which were novel (Gln76Pro, Glu131Val, and Gly390Trp). The spectrum of mutations included eight missense mutations, a nonsense mutation, and a splice site mutation. Two mutations (Gln76Pro and Arg386Gln) were homozygous in two patients with parental consanguinity. All mutations were predicted to be disease causing by MutationTaster2. In conclusion, this is the first report of both clinical and molecular aspects of GA1 in Malaysian patients. Despite the lack of genotype and phenotype correlation, early diagnosis and timely treatment remained the most important determinant of patient outcome.
The Intoxication Effects of Methanol and Formic Acid on Rat Retina Function
Authors: Liu Dong-Mei , Zhou Shu , Chen Jie-Min , Peng Shu-Ya , Xia Wen-Tao
Published: September 2016

Objective. To explore the potential effects of methanol and its metabolite, formic acid, on rat retina function.Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3- and 7-day groups and a control. Experimental groups were given methanol and the control group were provided saline by gavage. Retinal function of each group was assessed by electroretinogram. Concentrations of methanol and formic acid were detected by GC/HS and HPLC, respectively.Results. The a and b amplitudes of methanol treated groups decreased and latent periods delayed in scotopic and photopic ERG recordings. The summed amplitudes of oscillatory potentials (OPs) of groups B and C decreased and the elapsed time delayed. The amplitudes of OS1, OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group B and OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group C decreased compared with the control group. The IPI1 of group B and IPI1-4 of group C were broader compared with the control group and the IPI1-4 and ET of group B were broader than group C. Conclusions. Both of scotopic and photopic retinal functions were impaired by methanol poisoning, and impairment was more serious in the 7-day than in the 3-day group. OPs, especially later OPs and IPI2, were more sensitive to methanol intoxication than other eletroretinogram subcomponents.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity of Nickel (II) and Palladium (II) Complex with Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate (PDTC)
Authors: Islam Sk Imadul , Das Suvendu Bikash , Chakrabarty Sutapa , Hazra Sudeshna , Pandey Akhil , Patra Animesh
Published: September 2016

The synthesis of square planar Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) was characterized by elemental, physiochemical, and spectroscopic methods. Two complexes were prepared by the reaction of nickel acetate and palladium acetate with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) in 1 : 2 molar ratio. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) interaction with complexes was examined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques at pH 7.4. All the spectral data suggest that coordination of the pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) takes place through the two sulphur atoms in a symmetrical bidentate fashion. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity against some species of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Bacillus cereus). It has been observed that complexes have higher activity than the free ligand.
Root Canal Stripping: Malpractice or Common Procedural Accident—An Ethical Dilemma in Endodontics
Authors: Ciobanu Ionela Elisabeta , Rusu Darian , Stratul Stefan-Ioan , Didilescu Andreea Cristina , Cristache Corina Marilena
Published: September 2016

Root canal stripping is defined as an oblong, vertical perforation that appears especially in the middle section of curved root canals during endodontic treatments with nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) instruments. Its occurrence may drastically affect the outcome of the treatment, transforming a common otherwise efficient endodontic procedure into a complication such as tooth extraction. In order to discuss the ethical and legal consequences, two cases of dental strip perforations are herewith presented. Due to the existence of risk factors for dental strip perforation, experience of the clinician and the use of magnification and modern imagistic methods (CBCT) may avoid or reduce the frequency of this type of accidents. Under correct working circumstances, dental stripping should not be regarded as a malpractice but as a procedural accident. However, the patient must always be informed, before and during the endodontic procedure, about the event and the possible complications that may occur.
Retinal Fundus Image Enhancement Using the Normalized Convolution and Noise Removing
Authors: Dai Peishan , Sheng Hanwei , Zhang Jianmei , Li Ling , Wu Jing , Fan Min
Published: September 2016

Retinal fundus image plays an important role in the diagnosis of retinal related diseases. The detailed information of the retinal fundus image such as small vessels, microaneurysms, and exudates may be in low contrast, and retinal image enhancement usually gives help to analyze diseases related to retinal fundus image. Current image enhancement methods may lead to artificial boundaries, abrupt changes in color levels, and the loss of image detail. In order to avoid these side effects, a new retinal fundus image enhancement method is proposed. First, the original retinal fundus image was processed by the normalized convolution algorithm with a domain transform to obtain an image with the basic information of the background. Then, the image with the basic information of the background was fused with the original retinal fundus image to obtain an enhanced fundus image. Lastly, the fused image was denoised by a two-stage denoising method including the fourth order PDEs and the relaxed median filter. The retinal image databases, including the DRIVE database, the STARE database, and the DIARETDB1 database, were used to evaluate image enhancement effects. The results show that the method can enhance the retinal fundus image prominently. And, different from some other fundus image enhancement methods, the proposed method can directly enhance color images.
Efficacy and Safety of LASIK Combined with Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for Myopia: Six-Month Study
Authors: Wu Ying , Tian Lei , Wang Li-qiang , Huang Yi-fei
Published: September 2016

This was a prospective controlled clinical trial. 48 myopia patients (96 eyes) were included in this study. After LASIK, accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (ACXL) was used for myopia treatment. During 6-month follow-up, the results of LASIK-ACXL treatment were studied and compared to the LASIK-only procedure. The results showed that no statistically significant differences in UDVA, CDVA, MRSE,Kmean, pachymetry, or ECD were found between the two groups at the visit after 6 months of follow-up (allP>0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, 2 eyes lost one or more lines of visual acuity in the LASIK-ACXL group, whereas all LASIK-only treated eyes had a stable CDVA.In vivoconfocal microscopy showed a decrease of keratocyte density and appearance of honeycomb-like structures in the anterior residual stroma bed; the changes were similar but more pronounced following LASIK-only. None of the cases in both groups developed signs of significant keratitis, regression, or ectasia during the 6-month follow-up. LASIK-ACXL can effectively correct refractive error in patients with myopia, with no significant complications during 6-month follow-up, indicating stability and morphologic change similar to those with LASIK-only treatment.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation by TCDD Modulates Expression of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Genes during Experimental Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Lamb Cheri L. , Cholico Giovan N. , Perkins Daniel E. , Fewkes Michael T. , Oxford Julia Thom , Lujan Trevor J. , Morrill Erica E. , Mitchell Kristen A.
Published: September 2016

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a soluble, ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Increasing evidence implicates the AhR in regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. We recently reported that TCDD increased necroinflammation and myofibroblast activation during liver injury elicited by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). However, TCDD did not increase collagen deposition or exacerbate fibrosis in CCl4-treated mice, which raises the possibility that TCDD may enhance ECM turnover. The goal of this study was to determine how TCDD impacts ECM remodeling gene expression in the liver. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated for 8 weeks with 0.5 mL/kg CCl4, and TCDD (20 μg/kg) was administered during the last two weeks. Results indicate that TCDD increased mRNA levels of procollagen types I, III, IV, and VI and the collagen processing molecules HSP47 and lysyl oxidase. TCDD also increased gelatinase activity and mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 3, MMP-8, MMP-9, and MMP-13. Furthermore, TCDD modulated expression of genes in the plasminogen activator/plasmin system, which regulates MMP activation, and it also increased TIMP1 gene expression. These findings support the notion that AhR activation by TCDD dysregulates ECM remodeling gene expression and may facilitate ECM metabolism despite increased liver injury.
Corneal Biomechanical Findings in Contact Lens Induced Corneal Warpage
Authors: Alipour Fateme , Letafatnejad Mojgan , Beheshtnejad Amir Hooshang , Mohammadi Seyed-Farzad , Ghaffary Seyed Reza , Hassanpoor Narges , Yaseri Mehdi
Published: September 2016

Purpose. To evaluate the difference in biomechanical properties between contact lens induced corneal warpage and normal and keratoconic eyes.Method. Prospective observational case control study, where 94 eyes of 47 warpage suspicious and 46 eyes of 23 keratoconic patients were included. Warpage suspected cases were followed until a definite diagnosis was made (warpage, normal, or keratoconus).Results. 44 eyes of 22 patients had contact lens related corneal warpage. 46 eyes of 23 people were diagnosed as nonwarpage normal eyes. 46 eyes of 23 known keratoconus patients were included for comparison. The mean age of the participants was 23.8 ± 3.8 years, and 66.2% of the subjects were female. The demographic and refractive data were not different between warpage and normal groups but were different in the keratoconus group. The biomechanical properties (corneal hysteresis or CH and corneal resistance factor or CRF) were different with the highest value in the warpage group followed by normal and keratoconus groups. CRF was 10.08 ± 1.75, 9.23 ± 1.22, and 7.38 ± 2.14 and CH was 10.21 ± 1.57, 9.59 ± 1.21, and 8.69 ± 2.34 in the warpage, normal, and keratoconus groups, respectively.Conclusion. Corneal biomechanics may be different in people who develop contact lens induced warpage.
Primary Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Localized to the Lacrimal Sac: A Case Presentation and Review of the Literature
Authors: Zarrabi Kevin , Desai Ved , Yim Brandom , Gabig Theodore G.
Published: September 2016

We report a rare case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the lacrimal sac in a 50-year-old male. The incidence of primary ocular lymphoma is low and it is considered a rare disease. Moreover, reports of ocular DLBCL are uncommon and the disease remains poorly characterized. Our patient presented for management of osteomyelitis and was incidentally found to have a painless swelling and cyst around his right eye. A PET/CT scan revealed hypermetabolic activity within the lacrimal sac and a subsequent excisional biopsy of the mass yielded histopathology consistent with DLBCL. Consequently, the patient underwent treatment with R-CHOP therapy. The patient responded well to chemotherapy with a substantial shrinkage in tumor burden and the disease remained localized. Herein, we present a rare case of primary ocular lymphoma, highlight the importance of early diagnosis, and review current treatment modalities.
Integrating Orthographic and Phonological Knowledge in Early Readers: Implicit and Explicit Knowledge
Authors: Kaefer Tanya
Published: September 2016

Children develop some orthographic knowledge before learning to read. In some contexts phonological knowledge can scaffold orthographic understanding, but in others, phonological knowledge must be ignored in favor of orthographic knowledge. The current study examines the development of orthographic knowledge as it interacts with phonological knowledge in early readers. Forty-five Kindergarten students were presented with two different nonwords on screen and their gaze was tracked. In the first task, they were asked to choose the best “word,” and in the second task they were asked to choose the best “word” for a specific pronunciation, thereby requiring phonological decoding of the stimuli. Our findings indicate that early readers show explicit awareness of some orthographic conventions and implicit awareness of others, but they only showed implicit awareness when they did not have to additionally decode the stimuli. These results suggest that early orthographic knowledge may be fragile and easily masked by phonological knowledge.
Application of Traditional Chinese Medical Herbs in Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Authors: Lin Li Li , Shan Jin Jun , Xie Tong , Xu Jian Ya , Shen Cun Si , Di Liu Qing , Chen Jia Bin , Wang Shou Chuan
Published: September 2016

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common viral pathogen of the lower respiratory tract, which, in the absence of effective management, causes millions of cases of severe illness per year. Many of these infections develop into fatal pneumonia. In a review of English and Chinese medical literature, recent traditional Chinese medical herb‐ (TCMH‐) based progress in the area of prevention and treatment was identified, and the potential anti‐RSV compounds, herbs, and formulas were explored. Traditional Chinese medical herbs have a positive effect on inhibiting viral attachment, inhibiting viral internalization, syncytial formation, alleviation of airway inflammation, and stimulation of interferon secretion and immune system; however, the anti‐RSV mechanisms of TCMHs are complicated, which should be further investigated.
18S Ribosomal RNA Evaluation as Preanalytical Quality Control for Animal DNA
Authors: Leonard Cory Ann , Meli Marina L. , Novacco Marilisa , Borel Nicole
Published: September 2016

The 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene is present in all eukaryotic cells. In this study, we evaluated the use of this gene to verify the presence of PCR-amplifiable host (animal) DNA as an indicator of sufficient sample quality for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis. We compared (i) samples from various animal species, tissues, and sample types, including swabs; (ii) multiple DNA extraction methods; and (iii) both fresh and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. Results showed that 18S ribosomal RNA gene amplification was possible from all tissue samples evaluated, including avian, reptile, and FFPE samples and most swab samples. A single swine rectal swab, which showed sufficient DNA quantity and the demonstrated lack of PCR inhibitors, nonetheless was negative by 18S qPCR. Such a sample specifically illustrates the improvement of determination of sample integrity afforded by inclusion of 18S rRNA gene qPCR analysis in addition to spectrophotometric analysis and the use of internal controls for PCR inhibition. Other possible applications for the described 18S rRNA qPCR are preselection of optimal tissue specimens for studies or preliminary screening of archived samples prior to acceptance for biobanking projects.
Object Boundary Detection Using Active Contour Model via Multiswarm PSO with Fuzzy-Rule Based Adaptation of Inertia Factor
Authors: Khunteta Ajay , Ghosh D.
Published: September 2016

Active contour models, colloquially known as snakes, are quite popular for several applications such as object boundary detection, image segmentation, object tracking, and classification via energy minimization. While energy minimization may be accomplished using traditional optimization methods, approaches based on nature-inspired evolutionary algorithms have been developed in recent years. One such evolutionary algorithm that has been used extensively in active contours is the particle swarm optimization (PSO). However, conventional PSO converges slowly and gets trapped in local minimum easily which results in inaccurate detection of concavities in the object boundary. This is taken care of by using proposed multiswarm PSO in which a swarm is set for every control point in the snake and then all the swarms search for their best points simultaneously through information sharing among them. The performance of the multiswarm PSO-based search process is further enhanced by using dynamic adaptation of the inertia factor. In this paper, we propose using a set of fuzzy rules to adjust the inertia weight on the basis of the current normalized snake energy and the current value of inertia. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to conventional approaches.
Herb‐Drug Interaction: Effects of Relinqing® Granule on the Pharmacokinetics of Ciprofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole, and Trimethoprim in Rats
Authors: Lu Yuan , Gong ZiPeng , Xie YuMin , Pan Jie , Sun Jia , Li YueTing , Chen SiYing , Li YongJun , Wang YongLin , Huang Yong
Published: September 2016

Relinqing granule (RLQ) is the best‐selling Chinese patent drug for treatment of urinary system diseases. In this study, the effects of RLQ on the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim in SD rats were investigated. Rats were randomly divided into control group 1, control group 2, RLQ group 1, and RLQ group 2. RLQ group 1 and RLQ group 2 were treated orally with RLQ for 7 days, and rats were treated with the same volume of water in control group 1 and control group 2. Then, RLQ group 1 and control group 1 were given intragastrically ciprofloxacin on day 8, while RLQ group 2 and control group 2 were given intragastrically sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim on day 8. Blood samples were collected and determined. There was no significant influence of pharmacokinetic parameters of trimethoprim on two groups. But some pharmacokinetic parameters of ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole in RLQ pretreated rats were evidently altered (P < 0.05), which indicated that absorption of ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole in RLQ pretreated rats was significantly affected. It indicated the coadministration of RLQ would have an influence on the efficacy of ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole, and the doses of ciprofloxacin tablet and compound sulfamethoxazole tablet need adjustment.
Vibration and Damping Analysis of a Multilayered Composite Plate with a Viscoelastic Midlayer
Authors: Wan Haochuan , Li Yinong , Zheng Ling
Published: September 2016

Based on the theory of Donnell and Kirchhoff hypothesis and by using the complex constant model of viscoelastic materials, the vibration equations of five-layered constrained damping plate are established. The transfer matrix method (TMM) is improved and used to solve equations. The improved TMM is more effective to solve complex structural vibration. The influence of layer numbers, thickness of each layer, and arrangement of materials on vibration behavior are discussed. It is proved that multilayered plates can more effectively reduce natural frequency and obtain higher structural loss factor. The loss factor increases with the number of whole layers. Symmetrical structure can obtain higher structural loss factor than one-direction structure. Uniform arrangement of viscoelastic materials and constrained materials can obtain higher structural loss factor than nonuniform arrangement. There is different optimum frequency with different material thickness, and the optimum frequency is not dependent from layer numbers.
Cognitive Impairment Involving Social Cognition in SPG4 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Authors: Chamard Ludivine , Ferreira Sabrina , Pijoff Alexa , Silvestre Manon , Berger Eric , Magnin Eloi
Published: September 2016

Objectives. To describe cognitive assessment including social cognition in SPG4 patients.Methods. We reported a series of nine patients with SPG4 mutation with an extensive neuropsychological examination including social cognition assessment.Results. None of our patients presented with mental retardation or dementia. All presented with mild cognitive impairment with a high frequency of attention deficit (100%), executive disorders (89%), and social cognition impairment (78%). An asymptomatic patient for motor skills presented with the same cognitive profile. No correlation was found in this small sample between cognitive impairment and motor impairment, age at disease onset, or disease duration.Conclusions. SPG4 phenotypes share some cognitive features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cognitive disorders including executive disorders and social cognition impairment are frequent in SPG4 patients and might sometimes occur before motor disorders. Therefore, cognitive functions including social cognition should be systematically assessed in order to improve the clinical management of this population.
Origins of the Exchange-Bias Phenomenology, Coercivity Enhancement, and Asymmetric Hysteretic Shearing in Core-Surface Smart Nanoparticles
Authors: Erdem Rıza , Yalçın Orhan , Özüm Songül , Çiftçi Nazire
Published: September 2016

We have used a spin-1 Ising model Hamiltonian with dipolar (bilinear,J), quadrupolar (biquadratic,K), and dipolar-quadrupolar (odd,L) interactions in pair approximation to investigate the exchange-bias (EB), coercive field, and asymmetric hysteretic shearing properties peculiar to core/surface (C/S) composite nanoparticles (NPs). Shifted hysteresis loops with an asymmetry and coercivity enhancement are observed only in the presence of the odd interaction term in the Hamiltonian expression and their magnitudes show strong dependence on the value ofL. The observed coercivity and EB inC/SNPs originated from nonzero odd coupling energies and their dependence on temperature (T) and particle size (R) are also discussed in relation to experimental findings.
Evaluation of Knee Proprioception and Factors Related to Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ribeiro Artigas Nathalie , Eltz Giovana Duarte , Pinho Alexandre Severo do , Torman Vanessa Bielefeldt Leotti , Hilbig Arlete , Rieder Carlos R. M.
Published: September 2016

Background. Changes in proprioception may contribute to postural instability in individuals with neurological disorders. Objectives. Evaluate proprioception in the lower limbs of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the association between proprioception and cognitive ability, motor symptoms, postural instability, and disease severity. Methods. This is a cross-sectional, controlled study that evaluated proprioception in PD patients and healthy age- and sex-matched individuals. Kinetic postural proprioception of the knee was evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex® Multi-Joint System 4 Pro). Participants were evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Hoehn and Yahr rating scale and postural instability (pull test and stabilometric analysis), and motor function (UPDRS-III) tests. Results. A total of 40 individuals were enrolled in the study: 20 PD patients and 20 healthy controls (CG). The PD patients had higher angular errors on the proprioceptive ratings than the CG participants (p=0.002). Oscillations of the center of pressure (p=0.002) were higher in individuals with PD than in the controls. Proprioceptive errors in the PD patients were associated with the presence of tremors as the dominant symptom and more impaired motor performance. Conclusion. These findings show that individuals with PD have proprioceptive deficits, which are related to decreased cognitive ability and impaired motor symptoms.
Acupuncture Decreases Blood Pressure Related to Hypothalamus Functional Connectivity with Frontal Lobe, Cerebellum, and Insula: A Study of Instantaneous and Short‐Term Acupuncture Treatment in Essential Hypertension
Authors: Zheng Yu , Zhang Jiping , Wang Yanjie , Wang Yuying , Lan Yujun , Qu Shanshan , Tang Chunzhi , Huang Yong
Published: September 2016

The therapeutic effects of acupuncture in decreasing blood pressure are ambiguous and underlying acupuncture in hypertension treatment has not been investigated. Our objective was to observe the change of quality of life and compare the differences in brain functional connectivity by investigating instantaneous and short‐term acupuncture treatment in essential hypertension patients. A total of 30 patients were randomly divided into the LR3 group and sham acupoint group. Subjects received resting‐state fMRI among preacupuncture, postinstantaneous, and short‐term acupuncture treatment in two groups. Hypothalamus was selected as the seed point to analyze the changes in connectivity. We found three kinds of results: (1) There was statistical difference in systolic blood pressure in LR3 group after the short‐term treatment and before acupuncture. (2) Compared with sham acupoint, acupuncture at LR3 instantaneous effects in the functional connectivity with seed points was more concentrated in the frontal lobe. (3) Compared with instantaneous effects, acupuncture LR3 short‐term effects in the functional connectivity with seed points had more regions in frontal lobe, cerebellum, and insula. These brain areas constituted a neural network structure with specific functions that could explain the mechanism of therapy in hypertension patients by LR3 acupoint.
Inhibitory Effect of Long-Chain Fatty Acids on Biogas Production and the Protective Effect of Membrane Bioreactor
Authors: Dasa Kris Triwulan , Westman Supansa Y. , Millati Ria , Cahyanto Muhammad Nur , Taherzadeh Mohammad J. , Niklasson Claes
Published: September 2016

Anaerobic digestion of lipid-containing wastes for biogas production is often hampered by the inhibitory effect of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). In this study, the inhibitory effects of LCFAs (palmitic, stearic, and oleic acid) on biogas production as well as the protective effect of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) against LCFAs were examined in thermophilic batch digesters. The results showed that palmitic and oleic acid with concentrations of 3.0 and 4.5 g/L resulted in >50% inhibition on the biogas production, while stearic acid had an even stronger inhibitory effect. The encased cells in the MBR system were able to perform better in the presence of LCFAs. This system exhibited a significantly lower percentage of inhibition than the free cell system, not reaching over 50% at any LCFA concentration tested.
Safety and Efficacy Profile of Commercial Veterinary Vaccines against Rift Valley Fever: A Review Study
Authors: Alhaj Moataz
Published: September 2016

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is an infectious illness with serious clinical manifestations and health consequences in humans as well as a wide range of domestic ruminants. This review provides significant information about the prevention options of RVF along with the safety-efficacy profile of commercial vaccines and some of RVF vaccination strategies. Information presented in this paper was obtained through a systematic investigation of published data about RVF vaccines. Like other viral diseases, the prevention of RVF relies heavily on immunization of susceptible herds with safe and cost-effective vaccine that is able to confer long-term protective immunity. Several strains of RVF vaccines have been developed and are available in commercial production including Formalin-Inactivated vaccine, live attenuated Smithburn vaccine, and the most recent Clone13. Although Formalin-Inactivated vaccine and live attenuated Smithburn vaccine are immunogenic and widely used in prevention programs, they proved to be accompanied by significant concerns. Despite Clone13 vaccine being suggested as safe in pregnant ewes and as highly immunogenic along with its potential for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA), a recent study raised concerns about the safety of the vaccine during the first trimester of gestation. Accordingly, RVF vaccines that are currently available in the market to a significant extent do not fulfill the requirements of safety, potency, and DIVA. These adverse effects stressed the need for developing new vaccines with an excellent safety profile to bridge the gap in safety and immunity. Bringing RVF vaccine candidates to local markets besides the absence of validated serological test for DIVA remain the major challenges of RVF control.
Multiple Solutions of Mixed Convective MHD Casson Fluid Flow in a Channel
Authors: Raza Jawad , Rohni Azizah Mohd , Omar Zurni
Published: September 2016

A numerical investigation is made to determine the occurrence of the multiple solutions of MHD Casson fluid in a porous channel. Governing partial differential equation of the proposed problem converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using similarity transformation. Numerical technique known as shooting method is used to investigate the existence of the multiple solutions for the variations of different parameters. Effects of physical parameters on velocity profile, temperature, concentration, and skin friction are presented in pictorial and tabulation representation.
Herbal Medicines and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Rasekhjahromi Athar , Hosseinpoor Masoumeh , Alipour Farzaneh , Maalhagh Mehrnoosh , Sobhanian Saeed
Published: September 2016

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the association between herbal medication and OHSS.Methods. This retrospective cohort study was conducted with 101 polycystic ovary syndrome patients. 66 patients took conventional pharmacological medications and 35 took herbal medications. Data were analyzed by statistical test including Fisher’s Exact and binominal logistic regression.P<0.05was considered significant.Results. Of the 101 females, 53 were married and 48 were single. There was no significant association between the groups in marriage. No significant association was found in mean age between the two groups (23.9 ± 5.8 years in the control group versus 26.3 ± 6.7 years in the case group). There was a significant difference between the two groups .After adding the dependent (OHSS prevalence) and independent (marriage and group) variables into the model, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed suitability. Variances analyzed with this model ranged between 29.4% and 40.7%.Conclusion. The indiscriminate use of herbs is correlated with OHSS. Because patients increasingly consume herbs, they should be aware of potential side effects. However, appropriate dosages of herbs could be obtained for use instead of conventional treatments, which often have side effects.
Finite-Time Synchronization of Chaotic Systems with Different Dimension and Secure Communication
Authors: Pang Shouquan , Feng Yu , Liu Yongjian
Published: September 2016

Finite-time synchronization of chaotic systems with different dimension and secure communication is investigated. It is rigorously proven that global finite-time synchronization can be achieved between three-dimension Lorenz chaotic system and four-dimension Lorenz hyperchaotic system which have certain parameters or uncertain parameters. The electronic circuits of finite-time synchronization using Multisim 12 are designed to verify our conclusion. And the application to the secure communications is also analyzed and discussed.
The Brief Symptom Inventory and the Outcome Questionnaire-45 in the Assessment of the Outcome Quality of Mental Health Interventions
Authors: Crameri Aureliano , Schuetz Christopher , Andreae Andreas , Koemeda Margit , Schulthess Peter , Tschuschke Volker , von Wyl Agnes
Published: September 2016

Self-report questionnaires are economical instruments for routine outcome assessment. In this study, the performance of the German version of the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was evaluated when applied in analysis of the outcome quality of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions. Pre-post data from two inpatient samples (N=5711) and one outpatient sample (N=239) were analyzed. Critical differences (reliable change index) and cut-off points between functional and dysfunctional populations were calculated using the Jacobson and Truax method of calculating clinical significance. Overall, the results indicated that the BSI was more accurate than the OQ-45 in correctly classifying patients as clinical subjects. Nonetheless, even with the BSI, about 25% of inpatients with schizophrenia attained a score at admission below the clinical cut-off. Both questionnaires exhibited the highest sensitivity to psychopathology with patients with personality disorders. When considering the differences in the prescores, both questionnaires showed the same sensitivity to change. The advantage of using these self-report measures is observed primarily in assessing outpatient psychotherapy outcome. In an inpatient setting two main problems—namely, the low response rate and the scarce sensitivity to psychopathology with severely ill patients—limit the usability of self-report questionnaires.