bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Gluon Sivers Function at a Future Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Zheng Liang , Aschenauer E. C. , Lee J. H. , Xiao Bo-Wen , Yin Zhong-Bao
Published: May 2018

In this work, we present a systematic study on the feasibility of probing the largely unexplored gluon Sivers function (GSF) based on the open charm production, charged dihadron and dijet method at a future high energy, high luminosity Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). Sivers function describes the anisotropy of parton distributions inside a transversely polarized nucleon in the momentum space and provides us a complete picture of the 2+1D structure of the nucleons. It is proposed that the GSF can be studied through the single spin asymmetry (SSA) measurement in the photon-gluon fusion channel with electron proton collisions at the EIC. Using a well tuned Monte Carlo model for deep inelastic scatterings, we estimate the possible constraints of the gluon Sivers effect one can draw from the future EIC data. Comparisons of all the possible measurements further illustrate that the dijet method is the most promising way to demonstrate the presence of GSF and pin down its evolution effect.
Recent Results from KLOE-2
Authors: Krzemien Wojciech
Published: May 2018

The most recent results from the KLOE experiment are presented, covering: the measurement of the running fine-structure constant [Formula: see text], the Dalitz plot measurement of [Formula: see text], the search of a U boson, tests of discrete symmetries and quantum coherence. The KLOE-2 Collaboration will take data until mid 2018 aiming to collect 5 fb1 increasing the data set, in order to produce new precision measurements and continue studies of fundamental symmetries and New Physics.
Light-Meson Spectroscopy at GlueX
Authors: Austregesilo Alexander
Published: May 2018

GlueX at Jefferson Lab aims to study the light meson spectrum with an emphasis on the search for light hybrid mesons. To this end, a linearly-polarized [Formula: see text]GeV photon beam impinges on a hydrogen target contained within a hermetic detector with near-complete neutral and charged particle coverage. In 2016, the experiment completed its commissioning and subsequently started to take data in its design configuration. With the size of the data set so far, GlueX already exceeds previous experiments for polarized photoproduction in this energy regime. A selection of early results will be presented, focusing on beam asymmetries for pseudo-scalar and vector mesons. The potential to make significant contributions to the field of light-meson spectroscopy is highlighted by the observation of several known meson resonances. Furthermore, the strategy to map the light meson spectrum with amplitude analysis tools will be outlined.
Nucleon Resonances in the Photoproduction γp → K∗+Λ
Authors: Huang F. , Wang A. C. , Wang W. L. , Haberzettl H. , Nakayama K.
Published: May 2018

The differential cross-section data from the CLAS Collaboration for [Formula: see text] have been analyzed based on an effective Lagrangian approach. The [Formula: see text]-channel [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] exchanges, the [Formula: see text]-channel [Formula: see text] and near-threshold [Formula: see text]’s exchanges, the [Formula: see text]-channel [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] exchanges, and the generalized contact term are considered in constructing the reaction amplitude. It is found that by including the [Formula: see text] resonance, which is responsible for the shape of the angular distribution of [Formula: see text] near the [Formula: see text] threshold, and one of the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] resonances, one can describe the cross-section data for this reaction reasonably well. More experimental data on spin observables are needed to further pin down the resonance contents and associated resonance parameters in this reaction.
Recent Results from Borexino and Prospects for the SOX Experiment
Authors: Collica Laura
Published: May 2018

The Borexino experiment, located at Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy, is operational since 2007. The unprecedented ultra-low background of the inner scintillating core has allowed to measure the fluxes of different components of the solar neutrino spectrum for the first time, as well as neutrino physical properties. In this work we present the recent results obtained with Borexino Phase-II data. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects for the SOX project, which will start at the beginning of 2018 and it will be able to test the long-standing issue of the existence of a sterile neutrino.
Precision Measurements with an Electroweak Boson in the Final State with the ATLAS Detector
Authors: Lang Valerie S.
Published: May 2018

Measurements of the Drell-Yan production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] bosons at the LHC provide a benchmark of our understanding of perturbative QCD and probe the proton structure in a unique way. The ATLAS collaboration has performed new measurements for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] boson production, reaching unprecedented precision and strong constraints on parton distribution functions, in particular the strange quark density. Studying jet production in association with a vector boson, perturbative QCD predictions can be tested in a multi-scale environment. Once the QCD aspects of the vector boson production are understood, high precision measurements aim at the tests of the electroweak sector, such as measuring the [Formula: see text] boson mass.

Here, a selection of recent ATLAS measurements, as presented at the 21st Particles and Nuclei International Conference, in September 2017 in Beijing, China, is discussed.
Search for Heavy Higgs Bosons with the ATLAS Detector
Authors: Schaarschmidt Jana
Published: May 2018

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider performed searches for heavy Higgs bosons, whose presence would establish the existance of new physics. Searches for charged and neutral Higgs bosons are carried out using 8 or 13 TeV data for various production modes and in many different final states. No deviations from Standard Model expectations are observed. Exclusions limits are set on the production cross section and on parameters in various benchmark models.
On a Possibility of the Gravitational Wave Detection at the High Energy Colliders
Authors: Verma Murli Manohar
Published: May 2018

A strong follow up of a previous proposal (ICHEP, Valencia 2014) is made leading to the first experiment to observe the gravitational waves at the collision sites at the colliders such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The amplitudes have been calculated with regard to the sensitivity of the detector. Compared with the standard model physics, it is shown to have a measurable impact on the particle motions and corresponds to ‘missing’ energy in form of the gravitational wave loss. This is unlike the cosmological detectors like BICEP2 etc. where the indirect B mode polarization on CMBR were masked by dust. In contrast, this experiment would be the first experiment where the energy-momentum tensor of the source can be controlled.
The New Cylindrical GEM Inner Tracker of BESIII
Authors: Lavezzi L. , Alexeev M. , Amoroso A. , Baldini Ferroli R. , Bertani M. , Bettoni D. , Bianchi F. , Calcaterra A. , Canale N. , Capodiferro M. , Carassiti V. , Cerioni S. , Chai JY. , Chiozzi S. , Cibinetto G. , Cossio F. , Cotta Ramusino A. , De Mori F. , Destefanis M. , Dong J. , Evangelisti F. , Farinelli R. , Fava L. , Felici G. , Fioravanti E. , Garzia I. , Gatta M. , Greco M. , Leng CY. , Li H. , Maggiora M. , Malaguti R. , Marcello S. , Melchiorri M. , Mezzadri G. , Mignone M. , Morello G. , Pacetti S. , Patteri P. , Pellegrino J. , Pelosi A. , Rivetti A. , Rolo M. D. , Savrié M. , Scodeggio M. , Soldani E. , Sosio S. , Spataro S. , Tskhadadze E. , Verma S. , Wheadon R. , Yan L.
Published: May 2018

The Cylindrical GEM-Inner Tracker (CGEM-IT) is the upgrade of the internal tracking system of the BESIII experiment. It consists of three layers of cylindrically-shaped triple GEMs, with important innovations with respect to the existing GEM detectors, in order to achieve the best performance with the lowest material budget. It will be the first cylindrical GEM running with analog readout inside a 1T magnetic field. The simultaneous measurement of both the deposited charge and the signal time will permit to use a combination of two algorithms to evaluate the spatial position of the charged tracks inside the CGEM-IT: the charge centroid and the micro time projection chamber modes. They are complementary and can cope with the asymmetry of the electron avalanche when running in magnetic field and with non-orthogonal incident tracks. To evaluate the behaviour under different working settings, both planar chambers and the first cylindrical prototype have been tested during various test beams at CERN with 150 GeV/[Formula: see text] muons and pions. This paper reports the results obtained with the two reconstruction methods and a comparison between the planar and cylindrical chambers.
D-Wave Heavy Baryons from QCD Sum Rules
Authors: Mao Qiang , Chen Hua-Xing , Hosaka Atsushi , Liu Xiang , Zhu Shi-Lin
Published: May 2018

We study the [Formula: see text]-wave heavy baryons using the method of QCD sum rules in the framework of heavy quark effective theory. Our results suggest that the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] complete two [Formula: see text]-wave [Formula: see text] flavor [Formula: see text] charmed baryon doublets of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Towards Slack-Aware Networking
Authors: Dogar Fahad R.
Published: May 2018

We are moving towards an Internet where most of the packets may be consumed by \emph{machines} -- set-top-boxes or smart-phone apps prefetching content, Internet of Things (IoT) devices uploading their data to the cloud, or data centers doing geo-distributed replication. We observe that such machine centric communication can afford to have \emph{slack} built into it: every packet can be marked as to when it will be consumed in future. Slack could be anywhere from seconds to hours or even days. In this paper, we make a case for slack-aware networking by illustrating slack opportunities that arise for a wide range of applications as they interact with the cloud and its pricing models (e.g., spot pricing). We also sketch the design of SlackStack, a network stack with explicit support for slack at multiple levels of the stack, from a slack-based interface to slack-aware optimizations at the transport and network layers.
VANETs' research over the past decade
Authors: Cavalcanti Elmano Ramalho , de Souza Jose Anderson Rodrigues , Spohn Marco Aurelio , Gomes Reinaldo Cezar de Morais , Costa Anderson Fabiano Batista Ferreira da
Published: May 2018

Since its inception, Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) have been attracting much attention from both academia and industry. As for other wireless networking areas, scientific advancements are mainly due to the employment of simulation tools and mathematical models. After surveying 283 papers published in the last decade on vehicular networking, we pinpoint the main studied topics as well the most employed tools, pointing out the changes in research subject preference over the years. As a key contribution, we also evaluate to what extent the research community has evolved concerning the principles of credibility in simulation-based studies, such as repeatability and replicability, comparing our results with previous studies.
Failures from the Environment, a Report on the First FAILSAFE workshop
Authors: Breza Michael , Tomic Ivana , McCann Julie
Published: May 2018

This document presents the views expressed in the submissions and discussions at the FAILSAFE workshop about the common problems that plague embedded sensor system deployments in the wild. We present analysis gathered from the submissions and the panel session of the FAILSAFE 2017 workshop held at the SenSys 2017 conference. The FAILSAFE call for papers specifically asked for descriptions of wireless sensor network (WSN) deployments and their problems and failures. The submissions, the questions raised at the presentations, and the panel discussion give us a sufficient body of work to review, and draw conclusions regarding the effect that the environment has as the most common cause of embedded sensor system failures.
The Future of CISE Distributed Research Infrastructure
Authors: Baldin Ilya , Wolf Tilman
Published: May 2018

The following paper represents an initial snapshot of the community vision for a possible future of CISE distributed research infrastructure aimed at enabling new types of research and discoveries. As such, it is only the first step in helping define this vision. It is expected that it will change over time as the research community contributes new ideas.
Pannexin1: a multifunction and multiconductance and/or permeability membrane channel
Authors: Wang Junjie , Dahl Gerhard
Published: May 2018

Of the three pannexins in vertebrate proteomes, pannexin1 (Panx1) is the only one well characterized, and it is generally accepted that Panx1 functions as an ATP release channel for signaling to other cells. However, the ATP permeability of the channel is only observed with certain stimuli, including low oxygen, mechanical stress, and elevated extracellular potassium ion concentration. Otherwise, the Panx1 channel is selective for chloride ions and exhibits no ATP permeability when stimulated simply by depolarization to positive potentials. A third, irreversible activation of Panx1 follows cleavage of carboxyterminal amino acids by caspase 3. The selectivity/permeability properties of the caspase cleaved channel are unclear as it reportedly has features of both channel conformations. Here we describe the biophysical properties of the channel formed by the truncation mutant Panx1Δ378, which is identical to the caspase-cleaved protein. Consistent with previous findings for the caspase-activated channel, the Panx1Δ378 channel was constitutively active. However, like the voltage-gated channel, the Panx1Δ378 channel had high chloride selectivity, lacked cation permeability, and did not mediate ATP release unless stimulated by extracellular potassium ions. Thus, the caspase-cleaved Panx1 channel should be impermeable to ATP, contrary to previous claims.
Relationship between intermuscular adipose tissue infiltration and myostatin before and after aerobic exercise training
Authors: Konopka Adam R. , Wolff Christopher A. , Suer Miranda K. , Harber Matthew P.
Published: May 2018

Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is associated with impaired skeletal muscle contractile and metabolic function. Myostatin and downstream signaling proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) contribute to the regulation of adipose and skeletal muscle mass in cell culture and animals models, but this relationship remains incompletely understood in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine if the infiltration of IMAT was associated with skeletal muscle myostatin and downstream proteins before and after 12 wk of aerobic exercise training (AET) in healthy older women (OW; 69 ± 2 yr), older men (OM; 74 ± 3 yr), and young men (YM; 20 ± 1 yr). We found that the infiltration of IMAT was correlated with myostatin and phosphorylated CDK2 at tyrosine 15 [P-CDK2(Tyr15)]. IMAT infiltration was greater in the older subjects and was associated with lower skeletal muscle function and exercise capacity. After 12 wk of AET, there was no change in body weight. Myostatin and P-CDK2(Tyr15) were both decreased after AET, and the reduction in myostatin was associated with decreased IMAT infiltration. The decrease in myostatin and IMAT occurred concomitantly with increased exercise capacity, skeletal muscle size, and function after AET. These findings demonstrate that the reduction in IMAT infiltration after AET in weight stable individuals was accompanied by improvements in skeletal muscle function and exercise capacity. Moreover, the association between myostatin and IMAT was present in the untrained state and in response to exercise training, strengthening the potential regulatory role of myostatin on IMAT.
Differences in lumbar motor neuron pruning in an animal model of early onset spasticity
Authors: Brandenburg Joline E. , Gransee Heather M. , Fogarty Matthew J. , Sieck Gary C.
Published: May 2018

Motor neuron (MN) development in early onset spasticity is poorly understood. For example, spastic cerebral palsy (sCP), the most common motor disability of childhood, is poorly predicted by brain imaging, yet research remains focused on the brain. By contrast, MNs, via the motor unit and neurotransmitter signaling, are the target of most therapeutic spasticity treatments and are the final common output of motor control. MN development in sCP is a critical knowledge gap, because the late embryonic and postnatal periods are not only when the supposed brain injury occurs but also are critical times for spinal cord neuromotor development. Using an animal model of early onset spasticity [ spa mouse (B6.Cg- Glrbspa/J) with a glycine (Gly) receptor mutation], we hypothesized that removal of effective glycinergic neurotransmitter inputs to MNs during development will influence MN pruning (including primary dendrites) and MN size. Spa (Glrb−/−) and wild-type (Glrb+/+) mice, ages 4–9 wk, underwent unilateral retrograde labeling of the tibialis anterior muscle MNs via peroneal nerve dip in tetramethylrhodamine. After 3 days, mice were euthanized and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, and the spinal cord was excised and processed for confocal imaging. Spa mice had ~61% fewer lumbar tibialis anterior MNs ( P < 0.01), disproportionately affecting larger MNs. Additionally, a ~23% reduction in tibialis anterior MN somal surface area ( P < 0.01) and a 12% increase in primary dendrites ( P = 0.046) were observed. Thus MN pruning and MN somal surface area are abnormal in early onset spasticity. Fewer and smaller MNs may contribute to the spastic phenotype.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Motor neuron (MN) development in early onset spasticity is poorly understood. In an animal model of early onset spasticity, spa mice, we found ~61% fewer lumbar tibialis anterior MNs compared with controls. This MN loss disproportionately affected larger MNs. Thus number and heterogeneity of the MN pool are decreased in spa mice, likely contributing to the spastic phenotype.
Dependence of behavioral performance on material category in an object-grasping task with monkeys
Authors: Yokoi Isao , Tachibana Atsumichi , Minamimoto Takafumi , Goda Naokazu , Komatsu Hidehiko
Published: May 2018

Material perception is an essential part of our cognitive function that enables us to properly interact with our complex daily environment. One important aspect of material perception is its multimodal nature. When we see an object, we generally recognize its haptic properties as well as its visual properties. Consequently, one must examine behavior using real objects that are perceived both visually and haptically to fully understand the characteristics of material perception. As a first step, we examined whether there is any difference in the behavioral responses to different materials in monkeys trained to perform an object grasping task in which they saw and grasped rod-shaped real objects made of various materials. We found that the monkeys’ behavior in the grasping task, which was measured based on the success rate and the pulling force, differed depending on the material category. Monkeys easily and correctly grasped objects of some materials, such as metal and glass, but failed to grasp objects of other materials. In particular, monkeys avoided grasping fur-covered objects. The differences in the behavioral responses to the material categories cannot be explained solely based on the degree of familiarity with the different materials. These results shed light on the organization of multimodal representation of materials, where their biological significance is an important factor. In addition, a monkey that avoided touching real fur-covered objects readily touched images of the same objects presented on a CRT display. This suggests that employing real objects is important when studying behaviors related to material perception.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We tested monkeys using an object-grasping task in which monkeys saw and grasped rod-shaped real objects made of various materials. We found that the monkeys’ behavior differed dramatically across the material categories and that the behavioral differences could not be explained solely based on the degree of familiarity with the different materials. These results shed light on the organization of multimodal representation of materials, where the biological significance of materials is an important factor.
The KEAP1-NRF2 System: a Thiol-Based Sensor-Effector Apparatus for Maintaining Redox Homeostasis
Authors: Yamamoto Masayuki , Kensler Thomas W. , Motohashi Hozumi
Published: May 2018

The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-NF-E2-related factor 2 (KEAP1-NRF2) system forms the major node of cellular and organismal defense against oxidative and electrophilic stresses of both exogenous and endogenous origins. KEAP1 acts as a cysteine thiol-rich sensor of redox insults, whereas NRF2 is a transcription factor that robustly transduces chemical signals to regulate a battery of cytoprotective genes. KEAP1 represses NRF2 activity under quiescent conditions, whereas NRF2 is liberated from KEAP1-mediated repression on exposure to stresses. The rapid inducibility of a response based on a derepression mechanism is an important feature of the KEAP1-NRF2 system. Recent studies have unveiled the complexities of the functional contributions of the KEAP1-NRF2 system and defined its broader involvement in biological processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as cytoprotection. In this review, we describe historical milestones in the initial characterization of the KEAP1-NRF2 system and provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms governing the functions of KEAP1 and NRF2, as well as their roles in physiology and pathology. We also refer to the clinical significance of the KEAP1-NRF2 system as an important prophylactic and therapeutic target for various diseases, particularly aging-related disorders. We believe that controlled harnessing of the KEAP1-NRF2 system is a key to healthy aging and well-being in humans.
Sarason’s Conjecture of Toeplitz Operators on Fock-Sobolev Type Spaces
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Chen Jianjun , Xia Jin
Published: May 2018

In this note, we will solve Sarason’s conjecture on the Fock-Sobolev type spaces and give a well solution that if Toeplitz product TuTv¯, with entire symbols u and v, is bounded if and only if u=eq, v=Ce-q, where q is a linear complex polynomial and C is a nonzero constant.
Gaps in Understanding Mechanism and Lack of Treatments: Potential Use of a Nonhuman Primate Model of Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Hama Aldric , Natsume Takahiro , Ogawa Shin’ya , Higo Noriyuki , Hayashi Ikuo , Takamatsu Hiroyuki
Published: May 2018

The antineoplastic agent oxaliplatin induces an acute hypersensitivity evoked by cold that has been suggested to be due to sensitized central and peripheral neurons. Rodent-based preclinical studies have suggested numerous treatments for the alleviation of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain, but few have demonstrated robust clinical efficacy. One issue is that current understanding of the pathophysiology of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain is primarily based on rodent models, which might not entirely recapitulate the clinical pathophysiology. In addition, there is currently no objective physiological marker for pain that could be utilized to objectively indicate treatment efficacy. Nonhuman primates are phylogenetically and neuroanatomically similar to humans; thus, disease mechanism in nonhuman primates could reflect that of clinical oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy. Cold-activated pain-related brain areas in oxaliplatin-treated macaques were attenuated with duloxetine, the only drug that has demonstrated clinical efficacy for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. By contrast, drugs that have not demonstrated clinical efficacy in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain did not reduce brain activation. Thus, a nonhuman primate model could greatly enhance understanding of clinical pathophysiology beyond what has been obtained with rodent models and, furthermore, brain activation could serve as an objective marker of pain and therapeutic efficacy.
Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Mortality and Hematoma Size in a Rat Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model in an Acute Phase
Authors: Choi Bo Young , Kim Ok Joon , Min Sae-Hong , Jeong Jeong Hyun , Suh Sang Won , Chung Tae Nyoung
Published: May 2018

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a critical disease, highly associated with mortality and morbidity. Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on ICH, mostly focused on their mid-to-long-term effect. Acute hematoma expansion is one of the most important prognostic factors of ICH. We hypothesized that MSCs would decrease mortality and hematoma size in acute ICH, based on the findings of a few recent researches reporting their effect on blood-brain barrier and endothelial integrity. Rat ICH models were made using bacterial collagenase. One hour after ICH induction, the rats were randomly divided into MSC-treated and control groups. Mortality, hematoma volume, ventricular enlargement, brain edema, and degenerating neuron count were compared at 24 hours after ICH induction. Expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin) and coagulation factor VII mRNA was also compared. Mortality rate (50% versus 8.3%), hematoma size, ventricular size, hemispheric enlargement, and degenerating neuron count were significantly lower in the MSC-treated group (p=0.034, 0.038, 0.001, 0.022, and <0.001, resp.), while the expression of ZO-1 and occludin was higher (p=0.007 and 0.012). Administration of MSCs may prevent hematoma expansion in the hyperacute stage of ICH and decrease acute mortality by enhancing the endothelial integrity of cerebral vasculature.
The Effects of Music Intervention on Functional Connectivity Strength of the Brain in Schizophrenia
Authors: Yang Mi , He Hui , Duan Mingjun , Chen Xi , Chang Xin , Lai Yongxiu , Li Jianfu , Liu Tiejun , Luo Cheng , Yao Dezhong
Published: May 2018

Schizophrenia is often associated with behavior abnormality in the cognitive and affective domain. Music intervention is used as a complementary treatment for improving symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, the neurophysiological correlates of these remissions remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of music intervention in neural circuits through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in schizophrenic subjects. Under the standard care, patients were randomly assigned to music and non-music interventions (MTSZ, UMTSZ) for 1 month. Resting-state fMRI were acquired over three time points (baseline, 1 month, and 6 months later) in patients and analyzed using functional connectivity strength (FCS) and seed-based functional connection (FC) approaches. At baseline, compared with healthy controls, decreased FCS in the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) was observed in patients. However, after music intervention, the functional circuitry of the right MTG, which was related with the function of emotion and sensorimotor, was improved in MTSZ. Furthermore, the FC increments were significantly correlated with the improvement of symptoms, while vanishing 6 months later. Together, these findings provided evidence that music intervention might positively modulate the functional connectivity of MTG in patients with schizophrenia; such changes might be associated with the observed therapeutic effects of music intervention on neurocognitive function. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-OPC-14005339.
Dutch Translation and Validation of the Headache-Specific Locus of Control Scale (HSLC-DV)
Authors: Willekens Marceline C. , Postel Don , Keesenberg Martin D. M. , Lindeboom Robert
Published: May 2018

Background and Objective. The assessment of locus of control forms an important part of headache treatment, and there is need to adapting them to the Dutch population. Methods. Forward-backward translation was used to obtain the Headache-Specific Locus of Control Scale–Dutch Version (HSLC-DV). The response of 87 participants with migraine, tension-type headache, and cervicogenic headache, aged between 18 and 55 years (75% female), is used. Test-retest reliability was measured by intraclass correlations. Construct validity was assessed by correlations with corresponding domains of the Pain Coping and Cognition List (PCCL) and by confirmation of known groups hypotheses. Structural validity was evaluated by factor analysis (principal axis factoring). Results. The intraclass correlations for the External, Internal, and Chance domains were 0.79, 0.89, and 0.73, respectively. Internal consistencies for domains exceeded 0.73 and were similar to those observed in the original study. Convergent correlations were as expected and three of the seven known groups hypotheses were confirmed. Structural validity was supported by results of the factor analysis that matched the proposed structure of the original instrument. Conclusions. The HSLC-DV is a valid and reliable questionnaire for measuring the locus of control.
Improved Morphological Band-Pass Filtering Algorithm and Its Application in Circle Detection
Authors: Wang Xian , Zhao Qiancheng , Tan Jianping
Published: May 2018

Existing image segmentation and image enhancement methods are deficient in complex industrial environments. Therefore, an improved morphological band-pass filter algorithm is presented. The first step of the algorithm is obtaining two marker images by erosion operations for a test image with two kinds of structuring elements: one slightly larger and one smaller than the feature but similar in shape. The second step is obtaining an image only, including the background, and an image including the feature with the background, excluding noise. The final step is realizing the feature segmentation by carrying out a difference operation on the two images. Selection of the structuring elements in the algorithm and the computational cost reduction are also discussed for engineering applications. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves the accurate segmentation of the circle at a specific scale through the velocity-optimized morphological operation and features good real-time performance and high accuracy in complex industrial environments, which could meet the requirements of industrial online monitoring.
Challenges of Future VANET and Cloud‐Based Approaches
Authors: Shrestha Rakesh , Bajracharya Rojeena , Nam Seung Yeob
Published: May 2018

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have been studied intensively due to their wide variety of applications and services, such as passenger safety, enhanced traffic efficiency, and infotainment. With the evolution of technology and sudden growth in the number of smart vehicles, traditional VANETs face several technical challenges in deployment and management due to less flexibility, scalability, poor connectivity, and inadequate intelligence. Cloud computing is considered a way to satisfy these requirements in VANETs. However, next‐generation VANETs will have special requirements of autonomous vehicles with high mobility, low latency, real‐time applications, and connectivity, which may not be resolved by conventional cloud computing. Hence, merging of fog computing with the conventional cloud for VANETs is discussed as a potential solution for several issues in current and future VANETs. In addition, fog computing can be enhanced by integrating Software‐Defined Network (SDN), which provides flexibility, programmability, and global knowledge of the network. We present two example scenarios for timely dissemination of safety messages in future VANETs based on fog and a combination of fog and SDN. We also explained the issues that need to be resolved for the deployment of three different cloud‐based approaches.
Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharides Attenuate Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Macrophages through miR-155
Authors: Ruan Yang , Li Hong , Pu Lianmei , Shen Tao , Jin Zening
Published: May 2018

Aim. To investigate the function of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides (TFPS) in LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of macrophages. Methods. RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with TFPS and then stimulated with 0.1 μg/ml LPS. NFκB, Akt, p38MAPK, MCP-1, and SOD-1 were analyzed by Western blotting. Cell viability was measured using MTT assays. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, real-time PCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence staining were performed on RAW264.7 cells that were treated with LPS and/or TFPS to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of TFPS. Results. LPS induced inflammation and ROS production and promoted the secretion of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. LPS also enhanced the nuclear translocation of NFκB, which promoted inflammation by oxidative stress. However, pretreatment with TFPS profoundly inhibited the activation of Akt, p38MAPK, and NFκB and attenuated the expression of MCP-1 in macrophages. Meanwhile, TFPS also decreased cytokine and ROS levels and attenuated cell inflammation after treatment with LPS. Moreover, miR-155, one of the key small RNAs which regulate NFκB and inflammation in macrophages, was significantly downregulated. Conclusion. TFPS inhibits LPS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting miR-155 expression and NFκB activation in macrophages, which suggests that TFPS may be a potential reagent for inhibiting the development of inflammation.
Efficacy of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion Injection Combined with the Chemotherapy for Treating Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wu Jia-Rui , Liu Shu-Yu , Zhu Jia-Lian , Zhang Dan , Wang Kai-Huan
Published: May 2018

Objective. This meta‐analysis sought to assess the efficacy and safety of Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection (BJOEI) combined with chemotherapy for treating gastric cancer (GC). Method. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding BJOEI to treat GC were searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), the Wan‐Fang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed) up to January 9, 2017. The clinical total effective rate, performance status, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and other outcomes were analyzed with Review Manager 5.3 and Stata12.0 software. Results. 13 RCTs involving 912 patients were included in the present meta‐analysis. The results demonstrated that, compared with receiving chemotherapy alone, BJOEI combined with chemotherapy was more effective in improving clinical total effective rate (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.22~1.56, P < 0.00001), performance status (RR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.30~2.04, P < 0.00001), and relieving ADRs such as myelosuppression, neutropenia, thrombopenia, and liver damage. Statistically significant difference was observed between the experimental group and control group. Conclusion. The pooled analysis showed that using BJOEI on the basis of the chemotherapy had a remarkable therapeutic effect for patients with GC, whereas more evidence‐based medical researches were required to further support our study.
Temporomandibular Disorders Related to Stress and HPA-Axis Regulation
Authors: Staniszewski Kordian , Lygre Henning , Bifulco Ersilia , Kvinnsland Siv , Willassen Lisa , Helgeland Espen , Berge Trond , Rosén Annika
Published: May 2018

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are characterized by pain and dysfunction in the masticatory apparatus and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Previous trauma, stress symptoms, psychosocial impairment, and catastrophizing have been related to TMD. To assess if the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is upregulated in TMD patients, we performed a cross-sectional study with saliva from 44 TMD patients and 44 healthy sex- and age-matched controls for cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we calculated the F/E ratio for the evaluation of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. We also assessed anxiety/depression and pain catastrophizing scores from a questionnaire that participants completed prior to the examination. We found that F (P=0.01), E (P=0.04), the F/E ratio (P=0.002), and the sum of glucocorticoids (E + E) in saliva (P=0.02) were significantly higher in the TMD group. Anxiety/depression and catastrophizing scores were also significantly higher in the TMD group (P<0.0001). Our findings indicate that patients with TMDs may have an upregulated HPA axis with higher F secretion from the adrenal cortex. Anxiety/depression and pain catastrophizing scores were significantly higher in the TMD group, and psychological factors may contribute to chronic upregulation of the HPA axis.
Meta-Analysis of the Use of 8-OHdG in Saliva as a Marker of Periodontal Disease
Authors: Paredes-Sánchez Esther , Montiel-Company José María , Iranzo-Cortés José Enrique , Almerich-Torres Teresa , Bellot-Arcís Carlos , Almerich-Silla José Manuel
Published: May 2018

The objective was to collect the available evidence on oxidative stress marker measurements in periodontal patients, focusing specifically on 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a salivary marker of periodontal disease, and to perform meta-analyses to calculate differences in concentration compared to healthy persons. A systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus identified 81 articles. Of these, 38 were duplicates. After reading the abstracts of the remaining 43, 42 were selected for full-text assessment. Finally, 17 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Those excluded were of low quality, did not answer the research question, or did not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 17 in the qualitative synthesis, 9 were included in the meta-analysis. The 9 studies in the meta-analysis were combined in a random effects model. Their heterogeneity was high (Q=3982.02, p<0.001, I2=99.8%). The difference in mean 8-OHdG concentration in saliva between periodontal and healthy subjects was estimated at 2.11 ng/ml (95% CI 1.23–2.98). The different saliva collection methods (stimulated/unstimulated) did not explain the heterogeneity. The 8-OHdG levels in saliva of periodontal patients were almost double to those of healthy patients: 8-OHdG is clearly a powerful periodontal disease marker.
An F-Score-Weighted Indoor Positioning Algorithm Integrating WiFi and Magnetic Field Fingerprints
Authors: Bozkurt Keser Sinem , Yazici Ahmet , Gunal Serkan
Published: May 2018

Indoor positioning systems have attracted much attention with the recent development of location-based services. Although global positioning system (GPS) is a widely accepted and accurate outdoor localization system, there is no such a solution for indoor areas. Therefore, various systems are proposed for the indoor positioning problem. Fingerprint-based positioning is one of the widely used methods in this area. WiFi-received signal strength (RSS) is a frequently used signal type for the fingerprint-based positioning system. Since WiFi signal distribution is nonstationary, accuracy is insufficient. Therefore, the performance of indoor positioning systems can be enhanced using multiple signal types. However, the positioning performance of each signal type varies depending on the characteristics of the environment. Considering the variability of the performances of different signal types, an F-score-weighted indoor positioning algorithm, which integrates WiFi-RSS and MF fingerprints, is proposed in this study. In the proposed approach, the positioning is first performed by maximum likelihood estimation for both WiFi-RSS and magnetic field signal values to calculate the F-score of each signal type. Then, each signal type is combined using F-score values as a weight to estimate a position. The experiments are performed using a publicly available dataset that contains real-world data. Experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithm is efficient in achieving accurate indoor positioning and consolidates the system performance compared to using a single type of signal.
Ir-6: A Novel Iridium (III) Organometallic Derivative for Inhibition of Human Platelet Activation
Authors: Shyu Ren-Shi , Khamrang Themmila , Sheu Joen-Rong , Hsia Chih-Wei , Velusamy Marappan , Hsia Chih-Hsuan , Chou Duen-Suey , Chang Chao-Chien
Published: May 2018

Platelet activation has been reported to play a major role in arterial thrombosis, cancer metastasis, and progression. Recently, we developed a novel Ir(III)-based compound, [Ir(Cp∗)1-(2-pyridyl)-3-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine Cl]BF4or Ir-6 and assessed its effectiveness as an antiplatelet drug. Ir-6 exhibited higher potency against human platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen. Ir-6 also inhibited ATP-release, intracellular Ca2+mobilization, P-selectin expression, and the phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2), protein kinase C (PKC), v-Akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (Akt)/protein kinase B, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), in collagen-activated platelets. Neither the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 nor the guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one significantly reversed the Ir-6-mediated inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Moreover, Ir-6 did not considerably diminish OH radical signals in collagen-activated platelets or Fenton reaction solution. At 2 mg/kg, Ir-6 markedly prolonged the bleeding time in experimental mice. In conclusion, Ir-6 plays a crucial role by inhibiting platelet activation through the inhibition of signaling pathways, such as the PLCγ2–PKC cascade and the subsequent suppression of Akt and MAPK activation, thereby ultimately inhibiting platelet aggregation. Therefore, Ir-6 is a potential therapeutic agent for preventing or treating thromboembolic disorders or disrupting the interplay between platelets and tumor cells, which contributes to tumor cell growth and progression.
Serum Sclerostin as a Possible Biomarker in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Perrotta Fabio Massimo , Ceccarelli Fulvia , Barbati Cristiana , Colasanti Tania , De Socio Antonia , Scriffignano Silvia , Alessandri Cristiano , Lubrano Ennio
Published: May 2018

Objective. Several molecules are involved in the pathogenesis of a new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of sclerostin in patients with AS as a possible biomarker and to investigate any correlations with radiographic damage, disease activity, and function. Methods. AS patients fulfilled the modified New York criteria, and healthy controls were enrolled for this study. BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, BASMI, BASFI, patient and physician VAS, and C-reactive protein were evaluated at baseline visit. Spinal damage was assessed using the mSASSS on radiographs performed within 3 months from baseline. Serum concentrations of sclerostin were assessed at baseline and after four months of therapy in patients who started an anti-TNF. Results. Twenty healthy subjects and 40 AS patients were enrolled in the study. In our group, serum sclerostin levels (median (25th–75th percentile)) were significantly higher in healthy controls (18.04 (13.6–24) pg/ml) than in AS patients (6.46 (4.5–11.1) pg/ml; P value < 0.01). However, no significant correlations were found between serum sclerostin levels and radiographic damage, assessed by mSASSS, and between serum sclerostin levels and clinical indices of activity and disability or with laboratory parameters. Sclerostin levels did not show significant changes after 4 months of anti-TNF therapy. Conclusions. The results of our study suggest a possible role of sclerostin in the identification of AS patients. Further studies are needed to prove the role of sclerostin as a disease activity biomarker and progression of disease in AS.
Troxerutin and Cerebroprotein Hydrolysate Injection Protects Neurovascular Units from Oxygen‐Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation‐Induced Injury In Vitro
Authors: Zhào Hóngyi , Liu Yu , Zeng Jing , Li Dandan , Zhang Weiwei , Huang Yonghua
Published: May 2018

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury involves complex events of cellular and molecular processes. Previous studies suggest that a neurovascular unit (NVU) acts as an intricate network to maintain the neuronal homeostatic microenvironment. The present study established an NVU model for oxygen‐glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) damage, trying to target the major components of the NVU using a coculture of rat neurons, astrocytes, and rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMECs) to investigate the therapeutic effects of troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate injections (TCHis). The study observed that OGD/R downregulated the expressions of GAP‐43, Claudin‐5, and AQP‐4 obviously detected by Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis, respectively, while TCHi ameliorated the effect of OGD/R significantly. Meanwhile, TCHi alleviated the abnormalities of ultrastructure of neurons and rBMECs induced by OGD/R. Furthermore, both levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α) and cell adhesion molecules (VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1) detected by ELISA in NVU supernatant were found elevated significantly through OGD/R, but TCHi ameliorated the trend. In addition, TCHi also mitigated the increase of proapoptotic factors (Bax, p53, and caspase‐3) induced by OGD/R in NVU model statistically. All these findings demonstrated that TCHis played a protective role, which was reflected in anti‐inflammation, antiapoptosis, and blood–brain barrier maintenance. The results of the study concluded that the NVU is an ideal target and TCHi acts as a neuroprotective agent against cerebral I/R injuries.
Clinicopathological and Prognostic Significance of Cancer Antigen 15-3 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis including 12,993 Patients
Authors: Li Xuan , Dai Danian , Chen Bo , Tang Hailin , Xie Xiaoming , Wei Weidong
Published: May 2018

Purpose. The prognostic role of serum cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in breast cancer remains controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of these two markers in breast cancer patients.Methods. After electronic databases were searched, 36 studies (31 including information regarding CA15-3 and 23 including information regarding CEA) with 12,993 subjects were included. Based on the data directly or indirectly from the available studies, the hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled according to higher or lower marker levels.Results. Elevated CA15-3 or CEA was statistically significant with poorer DFS and OS in breast cancer (multivariate analysis of OS: HR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.76–2.33 for CA15-3; HR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.46–2.20 for CEA; multivariate analysis of DFS: HR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.06–1.55 for CA15-3; HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.53–2.04 for CEA). Subgroup analysis showed that CA15-3 or CEA had significant predictive values in primary or metastasis types and different cut-offs and included sample sizes and even the study publication year. Furthermore, elevated CA15-3 was associated with advanced histological grade and younger age, while elevated CEA was related to the non-triple-negative tumor type and older age. These two elevated markers were all associated with a higher tumor burden.Conclusions. This meta-analysis showed that elevated serum CA15-3 or CEA was associated with poor DFS and OS in patients with breast cancer, and they should be tested anytime if possible.