bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Procedural Justice and Policing: A Rush to Judgment?
Authors: Tyler Tom
Published: February 2017

Within policing research there is currently little research examining the role of procedural justice in shaping legitimacy and considering their joint role in shaping compliance. However, large literatures in social psychology and management make a plausible case for the value of applying this model to policing. These literatures suggest that it is likely that (a) the practices of the police can be crafted to raise perceptions of procedural justice, (b) police training can alter officer behavior, and (c) redesigning police organizations internally can motivate their members to treat community members more fairly. A focus on legitimacy highlights the virtues of consensual models of policing. Consensual models are found to motivate public cooperation in fighting crime and to heighten identification with and engagement in communities. Consequently, legitimacy is the most promising framework for discussing changing the goals of policing and moving from a police force model to a police service model.
Response to “Procedural Justice and Policing: A Rush to Judgment?”
Authors: Nagin Daniel S. , Telep Cody W.
Published: February 2017

We are heartened by Tom Tyler's concurrence with the key conclusion of our full essay that evidence of procedurally just treatment of citizens by police or other representatives of the criminal justice system altering citizen perceptions of legitimacy and legal compliance is in short supply. Our main point of disagreement with Tyler is on how this agreed-upon conclusion about the state of the evidence should be communicated to policy makers. It is our view that the policy process is best served by a forthright acknowledgement of the weaknesses of the evidence base.
Synchrotron X-Ray Optics
Authors: Macrander Albert T. , Huang XiangRong
Published: February 2017

Most X-ray optics for use at synchrotron beamlines are structured to achieve a desired performance level. The fabrication steps needed to achieve a certain structure usually limit the final performance, such as for energy resolution and focus size. This review illustrates this point for monochromators, mirrors, multilayers, and zone plates, with a special emphasis on focusing optics because these provide some of the best examples of structuring. Elliptically shaped mirrors, Fresnel zone plates, and multilayer Laue lenses are reviewed.
Water Oxidation Mechanisms of Metal Oxide Catalysts by Vibrational Spectroscopy of Transient Intermediates
Authors: Zhang Miao , Frei Heinz
Published: February 2017

Water oxidation is an essential reaction of an artificial photosystem for solar fuel generation because it provides electrons needed to reduce carbon dioxide or protons to a fuel. Earth-abundant metal oxides are among the most attractive catalytic materials for this reaction because of their robustness and scalability, but their efficiency poses a challenge. Knowledge of catalytic surface intermediates gained by vibrational spectroscopy under reaction conditions plays a key role in uncovering kinetic bottlenecks and provides a basis for catalyst design improvements. Recent dynamic infrared and Raman studies reveal the molecular identity of transient surface intermediates of water oxidation on metal oxides. Combined with ultrafast infrared observations of how charges are delivered to active sites of the metal oxide catalyst and drive the multielectron reaction, spectroscopic advances are poised to play a key role in accelerating progress toward improved catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.
The Political Economy of Regional Integration
Authors: Schneider Christina J.
Published: February 2017

This article reviews and analyzes recent research on regional integration. The review is structured along a political economy framework and proceeds in three steps. After analyzing the development of regional integration agreements (RIAs) from a historical perspective, I first discuss regional integration as a consequence of the decision-making calculus of office-motivated political leaders who find themselves under pressure from different societal groups interested in promoting or hindering regional integration. These pressures are conveyed, constrained, and calibrated by domestic institutions, which provide an important context for policy making, and in particular for the choice to enter RIAs. The analysis also highlights the importance of international pressures for regional integration. Second, I summarize the determinants and consequences of variations in regional institutional design. Third, I analyze the normative and strategic consequences of regional integration. The article concludes by outlining opportunities for future research, with emphasis on the domestic politics of regional integration, the causes and consequences of institutional design beyond trade agreements, and the consequences of the increasing number of often overlapping regional agreements.
Feminist Theory Today
Authors: Ferguson Kathy E.
Published: February 2017

Feminist theory is not only about women; it is about the world, engaged through critical intersectional perspectives. Despite many significant differences, most feminist theory is reliably suspicious of dualistic thinking, generally oriented toward fluid processes of emergence rather than static entities in one-way relationships, and committed to being a political as well as an intellectual enterprise. It is rooted in and responsible to movements for equality, freedom, and justice. Three important contemporary questions within feminist theory concern (a) subjectivity, narrative, and materiality; (b) global neoliberal geopolitics; and (c) global ecologies. Feminist theorists employ the tools of intersectionality, interdisciplinarity, and the intertwinings of scholarship and activism to address these questions. While we labor to contribute to our academic fields, our primary responsibility is to contribute to positive social change.
Muscle PGC-1α is required for long-term systemic and local adaptations to a ketogenic diet in mice
Authors: Schnyder Svenia , Svensson Kristoffer , Cardel Bettina , Handschin Christoph
Published: February 2017

Low-carbohydrate/high-fat (LCHF) diets are increasingly popular dietary interventions for body weight control and as treatment for different pathological conditions. However, the mechanisms of action are still poorly understood, in particular, in long-term administration. Besides liver, brain, and heart, skeletal muscle is one of the major organs involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological ketosis. We assessed the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) in skeletal muscle of male wild-type control and PGC-1α muscle-specific knockout mice upon 12 wk of LCHF diet feeding. Interestingly, LCHF diet administration increased oxygen consumption in a muscle PGC-1α-dependent manner, concomitant with a blunted transcriptional induction of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and impairment in exercise performance. These data reveal a new role for muscle PGC-1α in regulating the physiological adaptation to long-term LCHF diet administration.
Reduced skeletal muscle fiber size following caloric restriction is associated with calpain-mediated proteolysis and attenuation of IGF-1 signaling
Authors: Lu Yue , Bradley Jennifer S. , McCoski Sarah R. , Gonzalez John M. , Ealy Alan D. , Johnson Sally E.
Published: February 2017

Caloric restriction decreases skeletal muscle mass in mammals, principally due to a reduction in fiber size. The effect of suboptimal nutrient intake on skeletal muscle metabolic properties in neonatal calves was examined. The longissimus muscle (LM) was collected after a control (CON) or caloric restricted (CR) diet was cosnumed for 8 wk and muscle fiber size, gene expression, and metabolic signal transduction activity were measured. Results revealed that CR animals had smaller ( P < 0.05) LM fiber cross-sectional area than CON, as expected. Western blot analysis detected equivalent amounts of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α) but reduced ( P < 0.05) amounts of the splice-variant, PGC1α-4 in CR LM. Expression of IGF-1, a PGC1α-4 target gene, was 40% less ( P < 0.05) in CR than CON. Downstream mediators of autocrine IGF-1 signaling also are attenuated in CR by comparison with CON. The amount of phosphorylated AKT1 was less ( P < 0.05) in CR than CON. The ratio of p4EBP1T37/46 to total 4EBP1, a downstream mediator of AKT1, did not differ between CON and CR. By contrast, protein lysates from CR LM contained less ( P < 0.05) total glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and phosphorylated GSK3β than CON LM, suggesting blunted protein synthesis. Smaller CR LM fiber size associates with increased ( P < 0.05) calpain 1 (CAPN1) activity coupled with lower ( P < 0.05) expression of calpastatin, the endogenous inhibitor of CAPN1. Atrogin-1 and MuRF expression and autophagy components were unaffected by CR. Thus CR suppresses the hypertrophic PGC1α-4/IGF-1/AKT1 pathway while promoting activation of the calpain system.
Renal inflammation and injury are associated with lymphangiogenesis in hypertension
Authors: Kneedler Sterling C. , Phillips Lauren E. , Hudson Kayla R. , Beckman Katharine M. , Lopez Gelston Catalina A. , Rutkowski Joseph M. , Parrish Alan R. , Doris Peter A. , Mitchell Brett M.
Published: February 2017

Lymphatic vessels are vital for the trafficking of immune cells from the interstitium to draining lymph nodes during inflammation. Hypertension is associated with renal infiltration of activated immune cells and inflammation; however, it is unknown how renal lymphatic vessels change in hypertension. We hypothesized that renal macrophage infiltration and inflammation would cause increased lymphatic vessel density in hypertensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) that exhibit hypertension and renal injury (SHR-A3 strain) had significantly increased renal lymphatic vessel density and macrophages at 40 wk of age compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. SHR rats that exhibit hypertension but minimal renal injury (SHR-B2 strain) had significantly less renal lymphatic vessel density compared with WKY rats. The signals for lymphangiogenesis, VEGF-C and its receptor VEGF-R3, and proinflammatory cytokine genes increased significantly in the kidneys of SHR-A3 rats but not in SHR-B2 rats. Fischer 344 rats exhibit normal blood pressure but develop renal injury as they age. Kidneys from 24-mo- and/or 20-mo-old Fischer rats had significantly increased lymphatic vessel density, macrophage infiltration, VEGF-C and VEGF-R3 expression, and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression compared with 4-mo-old controls. These data together demonstrate that renal immune cell infiltration and inflammation cause lymphangiogenesis in hypertension- and aging-associated renal injury.
Modeling the diversity of spontaneous and agonist-induced electrical activity in anterior pituitary corticotrophs
Authors: Fletcher Patrick A. , Zemkova Hana , Stojilkovic Stanko S. , Sherman Arthur
Published: February 2017

Pituitary corticotrophs fire action potentials spontaneously and in response to stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), and such electrical activity is critical for calcium signaling and calcium-dependent adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion. These cells typically fire tall, sharp action potentials when spontaneously active, but a variety of other spontaneous patterns have also been reported, including various modes of bursting. There is variability in reports of the fraction of corticotrophs that are electrically active, as well as their patterns of activity, and the sources of this variation are not well understood. The ionic mechanisms responsible for CRH- and AVP-triggered electrical activity in corticotrophs are also poorly characterized. We use electrophysiological measurements and mathematical modeling to investigate possible sources of variability in patterns of spontaneous and agonist-induced corticotroph electrical activity. In the model, variation in as few as two parameters can give rise to many of the types of patterns observed in electrophysiological recordings of corticotrophs. We compare the known mechanisms for CRH, AVP, and glucocorticoid actions and find that different ionic mechanisms can contribute in different but complementary ways to generate the complex time courses of CRH and AVP responses. In summary, our modeling suggests that corticotrophs have several mechanisms at their disposal to achieve their primary function of pacemaking depolarization and increased electrical activity in response to CRH and AVP.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We and others recently demonstrated that the electrical activity and calcium dynamics of corticotrophs are strikingly diverse, both spontaneously and in response to the agonists CRH and AVP. Here we demonstrate this diversity with electrophysiological measurements and use mathematical modeling to investigate its possible sources. We compare the known mechanisms of agonist-induced activity in the model, showing how the context of ionic conductances dictates the effects of agonists even when their target is fixed.
Presurgical Cone Beam Computed Tomography Bone Quality Evaluation for Predictable Immediate Implant Placement and Restoration in Esthetic Zone
Authors: Cristache Corina Marilena
Published: February 2017

Despite numerous advantages over multislice computed tomography (MSCT), including a lower radiation dose to the patient, shorter acquisition times, affordable cost, and sometimes greater detail with isotropic voxels used in reconstruction, allowing precise measurements, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is still controversial regarding bone quality evaluation. This paper presents a brief review of the literature on accuracy and reliability of bone quality assessment with CBCT and a case report with step-by-step predictable treatment planning in esthetic zone, based on CBCT scans which enabled the clinician to evaluate, depending on bone volume and quality, whether immediate restoration with CAD-CAM manufactured temporary crown and flapless surgery may be a treatment option.
Frequency Equation of Flexural Vibrating Cantilever Beam Considering the Rotary Inertial Moment of an Attached Mass
Authors: Wang Binghui , Wang Zhihua , Zuo Xi
Published: February 2017

The major goal of this paper is to address the derivation of the frequency equation of flexural vibrating cantilever beam considering the bending moment generated by an additional mass at the free end of beam, not just the shear force. It is a transcendental equation with two unambiguous physical meaning parameters. And the influence of the two parameters on the characteristics of frequency and shape mode was made. The results show that the inertial moment of the mass has the significant effect on the natural frequency and the shape mode. And it is more reasonable using this frequency equation to analyze vibration and measure modulus.
Prognostic Role of the MicroRNA-200 Family in Various Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Jung Soo , Ahn Young-Ho , Won Hye Sung , Sun Der Sheng , Kim Yeo Hyung , Ko Yoon Ho
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims.The miRNA-200 (miR-200) family may act as key inhibitors of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. However, the potential prognostic value of miR-200s in various human malignancies remains controversial. This meta-analysis analyzed the associations between miR-200 levels and survival outcomes in a variety of tumors.Methods.Eligible published studies were identified by searching the Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, and Google scholar databases. Patient clinical data were pooled, and pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to calculate the strength of this association.Results.The pooled HRs suggested that high tissue expression of miR-200 family members was associated with better survival (overall survival [OS]: HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.54–0.91; progression-free survival [PFS]: HR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.52–0.76) in thirty-four eligible articles. In contrast, higher expression of circulating miR-200 members was significantly associated with poor clinical outcome (OS, HR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.15–2.46; PFS, HR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.68–4.07).Conclusion.The results from this meta-analysis suggest that miR-200 family members are potential prognostic biomarkers in patients with various carcinomas. To apply these findings in the clinic, large prospective studies are needed to validate the prognostic values of miR-200s in individual cancer types.
Fatigue and Muscle Strength Involving Walking Speed in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights for Developing Rehabilitation Strategy for PD
Authors: Huang Ying-Zu , Chang Fang-Yu , Liu Wei-Chia , Chuang Yu-Fen , Chuang Li-Ling , Chang Ya-Ju
Published: February 2017

Background. Problems with gait in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are a challenge in neurorehabilitation, partly because the mechanisms causing the walking disability are unclear. Weakness and fatigue, which may significantly influence gait, are commonly reported by patients with PD. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between weakness and fatigue and walking ability in patients with PD.Methods. We recruited 25 patients with idiopathic PD and 25 age-matched healthy adults. The maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), twitch force, and voluntary activation levels were measured before and after a knee fatigue exercise. General fatigue, central fatigue, and peripheral fatigue were quantified by exercise-induced changes in MVC, twitch force, and activation level. In addition, subjective fatigue was measured using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).Results. The patients with PD had lower activation levels, more central fatigue, and more subjective fatigue than the healthy controls. There were no significant differences in twitch force or peripheral fatigue index between the two groups. The reduction in walking speed was related to the loss of peripheral strength and PD itself.Conclusion. Fatigue and weakness of central origin were related to PD, while peripheral strength was important for walking ability. The results suggest that rehabilitation programs for PD should focus on improving both central and peripheral components of force.
Urachal Tumor: A Case Report of an Extremely Rare Carcinoma
Authors: Palla Garcia José , Sampaio Rita , Peixoto Carlos
Published: February 2017

The urachus is a tubular structure that connects the bladder to the allantois in the embryonic development, involuting after the third trimester. The urachus carcinoma is an extremely rare tumor that accounts for <1% of all bladder cancers. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman, with no past medical history, complaining of hematuria with 6-month duration and a physical exam and an abdominal computed topographic scan revealing an exophytic mass of 6.8 cm longer axis that grew depending on the anterior bladder wall, invading the anterior abdominal wall. Cystoscopy detected mucosal erosion. The biopsy showed structures of adenocarcinoma of enteric type. The surgical specimen showed urachus adenocarcinoma of enteric type with stage IVA in the Sheldon system and stage III in the Mayo system. This case has a 3-year follow-up without disease recurrence.
Dynamic Pricing in Cloud Manufacturing Systems under Combined Effects of Consumer Structure, Negotiation, and Demand
Authors: Peng Wei , Guo Wei , Wang Lei , Liang Ruo-Yu
Published: February 2017

In this study, we proposed a game‐theory based framework to model the dynamic pricing process in the cloud manufacturing (CMfg) system. We considered a service provider (SP), a broker agent (BA), and a dynamic service demander (SD) population that is composed of price takers and bargainers in this study. The pricing processes under linear demand and constant elasticity demand were modeled, respectively. The combined effects of SD population structure, negotiation, and demand forms on the SP’s and the BA’s equilibrium prices and expected revenues were examined. We found that the SP’s optimal wholesale price, the BA’s optimal reservation price, and posted price all increase with the proportion of price takers under linear demand but decrease with it under constant elasticity demand. We also found that the BA’s optimal reservation price increases with bargainers’ power no matter under what kind of demand. Through analyzing the participants’ revenues, we showed that a dynamic SD population with a high ratio of price takers would benefit the SP and the BA.
Factors Associated with Poststroke Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wright Francesca , Wu Simiao , Chun Ho-Yan Yvonne , Mead Gillian
Published: February 2017

Background and Purpose.Anxiety affects 25% of stroke survivors. There are no effective treatments. Poststroke depression, prestroke anxiety and depression, locus of control, coping, confidence, fatigue, and sleep are factors that may be associated with poststroke anxiety and can potentially be targeted by therapy. We systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis to identify associations with these factors.Methods. We searched electronic databases from January 2014 to July 2015 to complement a literature search performed from inception to May 2014. Study quality was assessed using an internationally endorsed checklist. We used odds ratios (ORs) to estimate the strength of associations and random-effects modelling to calculate summary effect sizes.Results.There were 24 studies recruiting 15448 patients. Quality of reporting was satisfactory. 13 studies with 2408 patients reported associations between poststroke anxiety and poststroke depression (OR=4.66, 95% confidence interval: 2.23, 9.74). One study reported association with prestroke anxiety, three with prestroke depression, one with fatigue, and two with sleep. No studies reported on locus of control, coping, or confidence.Conclusion.Poststroke anxiety was associated with depression but there are limited data on other modifiable associations. Further research is needed to identify potential targets for treatment.
Technologies for Proteome-Wide Discovery of Extracellular Host-Pathogen Interactions
Authors: Martinez-Martin Nadia
Published: February 2017

Pathogens have evolved unique mechanisms to breach the cell surface barrier and manipulate the host immune response to establish a productive infection. Proteins exposed to the extracellular environment, both cell surface-expressed receptors and secreted proteins, are essential targets for initial invasion and play key roles in pathogen recognition and subsequent immunoregulatory processes. The identification of the host and pathogen extracellular molecules and their interaction networks is fundamental to understanding tissue tropism and pathogenesis and to inform the development of therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, the characterization of the proteins that function in the host-pathogen interface has been challenging, largely due to the technical challenges associated with detection of extracellular protein interactions. This review discusses available technologies for the high throughput study of extracellular protein interactions between pathogens and their hosts, with a focus on mammalian viruses and bacteria. Emerging work illustrates a rich landscape for extracellular host-pathogen interaction and points towards the evolution of multifunctional pathogen-encoded proteins. Further development and application of technologies for genome-wide identification of extracellular protein interactions will be important in deciphering functional host-pathogen interaction networks, laying the foundation for development of novel therapeutics.
Outage Analysis and Optimization of SWIPT in Network-Coded Two-Way Relay Networks
Authors: Jiang Ruihong , Xiong Ke , Zhang Yu , Zhong Zhangdui
Published: February 2017

This paper investigates the outage performance of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) in network-coded two-way relay systems, where a relay first harvests energy from the signals transmitted by two sources and then uses the harvested energy to forward the received information to the two sources. We consider two transmission protocols, power splitting two-way relay (PS-TWR) and time switching two-way relay (TS-TWR) protocols. We present two explicit expressions for the system outage probability of the two protocols and further derive approximate expressions for them in high and low SNR cases. To explore the system performance limits, two optimization problems are formulated to minimize the system outage probability. Since the problems are nonconvex and have no known solution methods, a genetic algorithm- (GA-) based algorithm is designed. Numerical and simulation results validate our theoretical analysis. It is shown that, by jointly optimizing the time assignment and SWIPT receiver parameters, a great performance gain can be achieved for both PS-TWR and TS-TWR. Moreover, the optimized PS-TWR always outperforms the optimized TS-TWR in terms of outage performance. Additionally, the effects of parameters including relay location and transmit powers are also discussed, which provide some insights for the SWIPT-enabled two-way relay networks.
Dynamic Optimization of Constrained Layer Damping Structure for the Headstock of Machine Tools with Modal Strain Energy Method
Authors: Xu Yakai , Gao Weiguo , Yu Yuhan , Zhang Dawei , Zhao Xiangsong , Tian Yanling , Cun Huaying
Published: February 2017

Dynamic stiffness and damping of the headstock, which is a critical component of precision horizontal machining center, are two main factors that influence machining accuracy and surface finish quality. Constrained Layer Damping (CLD) structure is proved to be effective in raising damping capacity for the thin plate and shell structures. In this paper, one kind of high damping material is utilized on the headstock to improve damping capacity. The dynamic characteristic of the hybrid headstock is investigated analytically and experimentally. The results demonstrate that the resonant response amplitudes of the headstock with damping material can decrease significantly compared to original cast structure. To obtain the optimal configuration of damping material, a topology optimization method based on the Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) is implemented. Modal Strain Energy (MSE) method is employed to analyze the damping and to derive the sensitivity of the modal loss factor. The optimization results indicate that the added weight of damping material decreases by 50%; meanwhile the first two orders of modal loss factor decrease by less than 23.5% compared to the original structure.
Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio, and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Aiying , Li Haifeng , Zheng Yuming , Tang Minzhong , Li Jun , Wu Huihui , Zhong Weiming , Gao Jianquan , Ou Ningjiang , Cai Yonglin
Published: February 2017

The peripheral blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to correlate with the prognosis of many malignancies. This study evaluated the prognostic value of pretreatment NLR, LMR, and PLR in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A retrospective analysis of clinical and pathological data of 140 NPC patients without distant metastasis during initial treatment was conducted to identify correlations between NLR, LMR, and PLR and clinicopathological features, overall survival, and progression-free survival. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to reveal the independent factors affecting the prognosis of NPC patients. NLR was associated with T staging, N staging, and overall clinical stage grouping of the NPC patients (P<0.05). NLR ≥ 2.28, LMR < 2.26, and PLR ≥ 174 were significantly associated with a relatively short overall survival (P<0.05). In addition, NLR ≥ 2.28 was significantly associated with a relatively short progression-free survival (P<0.05). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent prognostic factor in NPC. Pretreatment NLR, LMR, and PLR might be a useful complement to TNM staging in the prognostic assessment of NPC patients.
Detection of Circulating Tumour Cells in Urothelial Cancers and Clinical Correlations: Comparison of Two Methods
Authors: Fina Emanuela , Necchi Andrea , Bottelli Stefano , Reduzzi Carolina , Pizzamiglio Sara , Iacona Chiara , Daidone Maria Grazia , Verderio Paolo , Cappelletti Vera
Published: February 2017

Circulating tumour cells (CTC) are identified exploiting their protein/gene expression patterns or distinct size compared to blood cells. Data on CTC in bladder cancer (BC) are still scarce. We comparatively analyzed CTC enrichment by AdnaTest ProstateCancerSelect (AT) and ScreenCell®Cyto (SC) kits, combined with identification by EPCAM, MUC1, and ERBB2 expression and by cytological criteria, respectively, in 19 nonmetastatic (M0) and 47 metastatic (M+) BC patients, at baseline (T0) and during treatment (T1). At T0, CTC positivity rates by AT were higher in M+ compared to M0 cases (57.4% versus 25%, p = 0.041). EPCAM was detected in 75% of CTC-positive samples by AT, showing increasing expression levels from T0 to T1 (median (interquartile range, IQR): 0.18 (0.07–0.42) versus 0.84 (0.33–1.84), p=0.005) in M+ cases. Overall, CTC positivity by SC was around 80% regardless of clinical setting and time point of analysis, except for a lower occurrence at T1 in M0 cases. At T0, circulating tumour microemboli were more frequently (25% versus 8%) detected and more numerous in M+ compared to M0 patients. The approach used for CTC detection impacts the outcome of CTC studies. Further investigations are required to clarify the clinical validity of AT and SC in specific BC clinical contexts.
Acoustic Log Prediction on the Basis of Kernel Extreme Learning Machine for Wells in GJH Survey, Erdos Basin
Authors: Cao Jianhua , Shi Yancui , Wang Dan , Zhang Xiankun
Published: February 2017

In petroleum exploration, the acoustic log (DT) is popularly used as an estimator to calculate formation porosity, to carry out petrophysical studies, or to participate in geological analysis and research (e.g., to map abnormal pore-fluid pressure). But sometime it does not exist in those old wells drilled 20 years ago, either because of data loss or because of just being not recorded at that time. Thus synthesizing the DT log becomes the necessary task for the researchers. In this paper we propose using kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) to predict missing sonic (DT) logs when only common logs (e.g., natural gamma ray: GR, deep resistivity: REID, and bulk density: DEN) are available. The common logs are set as predictors and the DT log is the target. By using KELM, a prediction model is firstly created based on the experimental data and then confirmed and validated by blind-testing the results in wells containing both the predictors and the target (DT) values used in the supervised training. Finally the optimal model is set up as a predictor. A case study for wells in GJH survey from the Erdos Basin, about velocity inversion using the KELM-estimated DT values, is presented. The results are promising and encouraging.
Third-Order Approximate Solution of Chemical Reaction-Diffusion Brusselator System Using Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method
Authors: Alkhalaf Salem
Published: February 2017

The objective of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness and performance of optimal homotopy asymptotic method in solving a system of nonlinear partial differential equations. Since mathematical modeling of certain chemical reaction-diffusion experiments leads to Brusselator equations, it is worth demanding a new technique to solve such a system. We construct a new efficient recurrent relation to solve nonlinear Brusselator system of equations. It is observed that the method is easy to implement and quite valuable for handling nonlinear system of partial differential equations and yielding excellent results at minimum computational cost. Analytical solutions of Brusselator system are presented to demonstrate the viability and practical usefulness of the method. The results reveal that the method is explicit, effective, and easy to use.
Novel Sequential Screening and Enhanced Production of Fibrinolytic Enzyme byBacillussp. IND12 Using Response Surface Methodology in Solid-State Fermentation
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Ponnuswamy , Rajendran P. , Prakash Vincent Samuel Gnana , Arun Arumugaperumal , Abdullah Al-Dhabi Naif , Valan Arasu Mariadhas , Young Kwon Oh , Kim Young Ock
Published: February 2017

Fibrinolytic enzymes have wide applications in clinical and waste treatment. Bacterial isolates were screened for fibrinolytic enzyme producing ability by skimmed milk agar plate using bromocresol green dye, fibrin plate method, zymography analysis, and goat blood clot lysis. After these sequential screenings,Bacillussp. IND12 was selected for fibrinolytic enzyme production.Bacillussp. IND12 effectively used cow dung for its growth and enzyme production (687±6.5 U/g substrate). Further, the optimum bioprocess parameters were found out for maximum fibrinolytic enzyme production using cow dung as a low cost substrate under solid-state fermentation. Two-level full-factorial experiments revealed that moisture, pH, sucrose, peptone, and MgSO4were the vital parameters with statistical significance (p<0.001). Three factors (moisture, sucrose, and MgSO4) were further studied through experiments of central composite rotational design and response surface methodology. Enzyme production of optimized medium showed4143±12.31 U/g material, which was more than fourfold the initial enzyme production (978±36.4 U/g). The analysis of variance showed that the developed response surface model was highly significant (p<0.001). The fibrinolytic enzyme digested goat blood clot (100%), chicken skin (83±3.6%), egg white (100%), and bovine serum albumin (29±4.9%).
Experimental Study on the Softening Characteristics of Sandstone and Mudstone in Relation to Moisture Content
Authors: Li Gui-chen , Qi Chong-chong , Sun Yuan-tian , Tang Xiao-lin , Hou Bao-quan
Published: February 2017

The kinetics of fluid-solid coupling during immersion is an important topic of investigation in rock engineering. Two rock types, sandstone and mudstone, are selected in this work to study the correlation between the softening characteristics of the rocks and moisture content. This is achieved through detailed studies using scanning electron microscopy, shear tests, and evaluation of rock index properties during exposure to different moisture contents. An underground roadway excavation is simulated by dynamic finite element modeling to analyze the effect of moisture content on the stability of the roadway. The results show that moisture content has a significant effect on shear properties reduction of both sandstone and mudstone, which must thus be considered in mining or excavation processes. Specifically, it is found that the number, area, and diameter of micropores, as well as surface porosity, increase with increasing moisture content. Additionally, stress concentration is negatively correlated with moisture content, while the influenced area and vertical displacement are positively correlated with moisture content. These findings may provide useful input for the design of underground roadways.
Autophagy Is a Protective Response to the Oxidative Damage to Endplate Chondrocytes in Intervertebral Disc: Implications for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Disc
Authors: Chen Ke , Lv Xiaohua , Li Wei , Yu Fei , Lin Jianjing , Ma Junxuan , Xiao Deming
Published: February 2017

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability in the elderly. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) was considered as the main cause for LBP. Degeneration of cartilaginous endplate was a crucial harmful factor during the initiation and development of IDD. Oxidative stress was implicated in IDD. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for the degeneration of cartilaginous endplate remains elusive. Herein, we found that oxidative stress could induce apoptosis and autophagy in endplate chondrocytes evidenced by western blot analysis, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, GFP‐LC3B transfection, and MDC staining. In addition, we also found that the apoptosis of endplate chondrocytes was significantly increased after the inhibition of autophagy by bafilomycin A1 shown by flow cytometry. Furthermore, mTOR pathway upstream autophagy was greatly suppressed suggested by western blot assay. In conclusion, our study strongly revealed that oxidative stress could increase autophagy and apoptosis of endplate chondrocytes in intervertebral disc. The increase of autophagy activity could prevent endplate chondrocytes from apoptosis. The autophagy in endplate chondrocytes induced by oxidative stress was mTOR dependent. These findings might shed some new lights on the mechanism for IDD and provide new strategies for the treatments of IDD.
Could the Topping-Off Technique Be the Preventive Strategy against Adjacent Segment Disease after Pedicle Screw-Based Fusion in Lumbar Degenerative Diseases? A Systematic Review
Authors: Chou Po-Hsin , Lin Hsi-Hsien , An Howard S. , Liu Kang-Ying , Su Wei-Ren , Lin Cheng-Li
Published: February 2017

The “topping-off” technique is a new concept applying dynamic or less rigid fixation such as hybrid stabilization device (HSD) or interspinous process device (IPD) for the purpose of avoiding adjacent segment disease (ASD) proximal to the fusion construct. A systematic review of the literature was performed on the effect of topping-off techniques to prevent or decrease the occurrence of ASD after lumbar fusion surgery. We searched through major online databases, PubMed and MEDLINE, using key words related to “topping-off” technique. We reviewed the surgical results of “topping-off” techniques with either HSD or IPD, including the incidence of ASD at two proximal adjacent levels (index and supra-adjacent level) as compared to the fusion alone group. The results showed that the fusion alone group had statistically higher incidence of radiographic (52.6%) and symptomatic (11.6%) ASD at the index level as well as higher incidence (8.1%) of revision surgery. Besides, the HSD (10.5%) and fusion groups (24.7%) had statistically higher incidences of radiographic ASD at supra-adjacent level than the IPD (1%). The findings suggest that the “topping-off” technique may potentially decrease the occurrence of ASD at the proximal motion segments. However, higher quality prospective randomized trials are required prior to wide clinical application.
Examining the Potential of Forest Residue-Based Amendments for Post-Wildfire Rehabilitation in Colorado, USA
Authors: Rhoades Charles C. , Minatre Kerri L. , Pierson Derek N. , Fegel Timothy S. , Cotrufo M. Francesca , Kelly Eugene F.
Published: February 2017

Wildfire is a natural disturbance, though elemental losses and changes that occur during combustion and post-fire erosion can have long-term impacts on soil properties, ecosystem productivity, and watershed condition. Here we evaluate the potential of forest residue-based materials to rehabilitate burned soils. We compare soil nutrient and water availability, and plant recovery after application of 37 t ha−1of wood mulch, 20 t ha−1of biochar, and the combination of the two amendments with untreated, burned soils. We also conducted a greenhouse trial to examine how biochar influenced soil nutrient and water content under two wetting regimes. The effects of wood mulch on plant-available soil N and water content were significant and seasonally consistent during the three-year field study. Biochar applied alone had few effects under field conditions, but significantly increased soil pH, Ca, P, and water in the greenhouse. The mulched biochar treatment had the greatest effects on soil N and water availability and increased cover of the most abundant native plant. We found that rehabilitation treatments consisting of forest residue-based products have potential to enhance soil N and water dynamics and plant recovery following severe wildfire and may be justified where erosion risk or water supply protection are crucial.
Three-Dimensional Human Cardiac Tissue Engineered by Centrifugation of Stacked Cell Sheets and Cross-Sectional Observation of Its Synchronous Beatings by Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Haraguchi Yuji , Hasegawa Akiyuki , Matsuura Katsuhisa , Kobayashi Mari , Iwana Shin-ichi , Kabetani Yasuhiro , Shimizu Tatsuya
Published: February 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) tissues are engineered by stacking cell sheets, and these tissues have been applied in clinical regenerative therapies. The optimal fabrication technique of 3D human tissues and the real-time observation system for these tissues are important in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cardiac physiology, and the safety testing of candidate chemicals. In this study, for aiming the clinical application, 3D human cardiac tissues were rapidly fabricated by human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived cardiac cell sheets with centrifugation, and the structures and beatings in the cardiac tissues were observed cross-sectionally and noninvasively by two optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. The fabrication time was reduced to approximately one-quarter by centrifugation. The cross-sectional observation showed that multilayered cardiac cell sheets adhered tightly just after centrifugation. Additionally, the cross-sectional transmissions of beatings within multilayered human cardiac tissues were clearly detected by OCT. The observation showed the synchronous beatings of the thicker 3D human cardiac tissues, which were fabricated rapidly by cell sheet technology and centrifugation. The rapid tissue-fabrication technique and OCT technology will show a powerful potential in cardiac tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug discovery research.
Oxidative Stress Induced by Polymyxin E Is Involved in Rapid Killing ofPaenibacillus polymyxa
Authors: Yu Zhiliang , Zhu Yuyi , Qin Wangrong , Yin Jianhua , Qiu Juanping
Published: February 2017

Historically, the colistin has been thought to kill bacteria through membrane lysis. Here, we present an alternative mechanism that colistin induces rapidPaenibacillus polymyxadeath through reactive oxygen species production. This significantly augments our understanding of the mechanism of colistin action, which is critical knowledge toward the yield development of colistin in the future.
Complexity in Linear Systems: A Chaotic Linear Operator on the Space of Odd2π-Periodic Functions
Authors: Kalmár-Nagy Tamás , Kiss Márton
Published: February 2017

Not just nonlinear systems but infinite-dimensional linear systems can exhibit complex behavior. It has long been known that twice the backward shift on the space of square-summable sequencesl2displays chaotic dynamics. Here we construct the corresponding operatorCon the space of2π-periodic odd functions and provide its representation involving a Principal Value Integral. We explicitly calculate the eigenfunction of this operator, as well as its periodic points. We also provide examples of chaotic and unbounded trajectories ofC.
Different Densities of Na-Ca Exchange Current in T-Tubular and Surface Membranes and Their Impact on Cellular Activity in a Model of Rat Ventricular Cardiomyocyte
Authors: Pásek M. , Šimurda J. , Christé G.
Published: February 2017

The ratio of densities of Na-Ca exchanger current (INaCa) in the t-tubular and surface membranes (INaCa-ratio) computed from the values ofINaCaand membrane capacitances (Cm) measured in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes before and after detubulation ranges between 1.7 and 25 (potentially even 40). Variations of action potential waveform and of calcium turnover within this span of theINaCa-ratio were simulated employing previously developed model of rat ventricular cell incorporating separate description of ion transport systems in the t-tubular and surface membranes. The increase ofINaCa-ratio from 1.7 to 25 caused a prolongation of APD (duration of action potential at 90% repolarisation) by 12, 9, and 6% and an increase of peak intracellular Ca2+transient by 45, 19, and 6% at 0.1, 1, and 5 Hz, respectively. The prolonged APD resulted from the increase ofINaCadue to the exposure of a larger fraction of Na-Ca exchangers to higher Ca2+transients under the t-tubular membrane. The accompanying rise of Ca2+transient was a consequence of a higher Ca2+load in sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by the increased Ca2+cycling between the surface and t-tubular membranes. However, the reason for large differences in theINaCa-ratio assessed from measurements in adult rat cardiomyocytes remains to be explained.
Fluid-Structure Interaction in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Effect of Modeling Techniques
Authors: Lin Shengmao , Han Xinwei , Bi Yonghua , Ju Siyeong , Gu Linxia
Published: February 2017

In this work, the impact of modeling techniques on predicting the mechanical behaviors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is systematically investigated. The fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model for simultaneously capturing the transient interaction between blood flow dynamics and wall mechanics was compared with its simplified techniques, that is, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or computational solid stress (CSS) model. Results demonstrated that CFD exhibited relatively smaller vortexes and tends to overestimate the fluid wall shear stress, compared to FSI. On the contrary, the minimal differences in wall stresses and deformation were observed between FSI and CSS models. Furthermore, it was found that the accuracy of CSS prediction depends on the applied pressure profile for the aneurysm sac. A large pressure drop across AAA usually led to the underestimation of wall stresses and thus the AAA rupture. Moreover, the assumed isotropic AAA wall properties, compared to the anisotropic one, will aggravate the difference between the simplified models with the FSI approach. The present work demonstrated the importance of modeling techniques on predicting the blood flow dynamics and wall mechanics of the AAA, which could guide the selection of appropriate modeling technique for significant clinical implications.
Aqueous Extract of Saraca indica Leaves in the Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Finding a Way towards Going Green
Authors: Prasad Kollur Shiva , Patra Alakananda , Shruthi Govindaraju , Chandan Shivamallu
Published: February 2017

The present study is mainly aimed at the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles of varied size by green synthetic approach. The structural and morphological behavior of as-synthesized CuO nanoparticles were investigated using ultraviolet-visible spectral studies (UV-Vis), Fourier transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The reduction of copper ions using aqueous extract of S. indica leaves produces nanoparticles of varied size and morphology. The images from SEM investigation revealed that the particles are spherical in shape with average diameter of 40–70 nm. TEM and HRTEM images clearly indicate the crystallinity and spherical nature of as-synthesized CuO nanoparticles with interplanar distance between two neighboring lattice fringes of 0.315 nm.