bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serial-section atlas of theTritoniapedal ganglion
Authors: Brandon Christopher , Britton Matthew , Fan David , Ferrier Andrew R. , Hill Evan S. , Perez Adrian , Wang Jean , Wang Nengding , Frost William N.
Published: June 2018

The pedal ganglion of the nudibranch gastropod Tritonia diomedea has been the focus of neurophysiological studies for more than 50 yr. These investigations have examined the neural basis of behaviors as diverse as swimming, crawling, reflex withdrawals, orientation to water flow, orientation to the earth’s magnetic field, and learning. Despite this sustained research focus, most studies have confined themselves to the layer of neurons that are visible on the ganglion surface, leaving many neurons, which reside in deeper layers, largely unknown and thus unstudied. To facilitate work on such neurons, the present study used serial-section light microscopy to generate a detailed pictorial atlas of the pedal ganglion. One pedal ganglion was sectioned horizontally at 2-µm intervals and another vertically at 5-µm intervals. The resulting images were examined separately or combined into stacks to generate movie tours through the ganglion. These were also used to generate 3D reconstructions of individual neurons and rotating movies of digitally desheathed whole ganglia to reveal all surface neurons. A complete neuron count of the horizontally sectioned ganglion yielded 1,885 neurons. Real and virtual sections from the image stacks were used to reveal the morphology of individual neurons, as well as the major axon bundles traveling within the ganglion to and between its several nerves and connectives. Extensive supplemental data are provided, as well as a link to the Dryad Data Repository site, where the complete sets of high-resolution serial-section images can be downloaded.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Because of the large size and relatively low numbers of their neurons, gastropod mollusks are widely used for investigations of the neural basis of behavior. Most studies, however, focus on the neurons visible on the ganglion surface, leaving the majority, located out of sight below the surface, unexamined. The present light microscopy study generates the first detailed visual atlas of all neurons of the highly studied Tritonia pedal ganglion.
Cutaneous afferent innervation of the human foot sole: what can we learn from single-unit recordings?
Authors: Strzalkowski Nicholas D. J. , Peters Ryan M. , Inglis J. Timothy , Bent Leah R.
Published: June 2018

Cutaneous afferents convey exteroceptive information about the interaction of the body with the environment and proprioceptive information about body position and orientation. Four classes of low-threshold mechanoreceptor afferents innervate the foot sole and transmit feedback that facilitates the conscious and reflexive control of standing balance. Experimental manipulation of cutaneous feedback has been shown to alter the control of gait and standing balance. This has led to a growing interest in the design of intervention strategies that enhance cutaneous feedback and improve postural control. The advent of single-unit microneurography has allowed the firing and receptive field characteristics of foot sole cutaneous afferents to be investigated. In this review, we consolidate the available cutaneous afferent microneurographic recordings from the foot sole and provide an analysis of the firing threshold, and receptive field distribution and density of these cutaneous afferents. This work enhances the understanding of the foot sole as a sensory structure and provides a foundation for the continued development of sensory augmentation insoles and other tactile enhancement interventions.
Microneurography from the posterior tibial nerve: a novel method of recording activity from the foot in freely standing humans
Authors: Knellwolf T. P. , Burton A. R. , Hammam E. , Macefield V. G.
Published: June 2018

The posterior tibial nerve, located behind the medial malleolus of the ankle, supplies the intrinsic muscles of the foot and most of the skin of the sole. We describe a novel approach for recording from this nerve via a percutaneously inserted tungsten microelectrode and provide examples of recordings from presumed muscle spindle endings recorded in freely standing human subjects. The fact that the angular excursions of the ankle joint are small as the foot is loaded during the transition from the seated position to standing means that one can obtain stable recordings of neural traffic in unloaded, loaded, and freely standing conditions. We conclude that this novel approach will allow studies that will increase our understanding of the roles of muscle and cutaneous afferents in the foot in the control of upright posture.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have performed the first microneurographic studies from the posterior tibial nerve at the ankle. Stability of the recording site allows one to record from muscle spindles in the intrinsic muscles of the foot as well as from cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the sole of the foot during the transition from seated to standing. This novel approach opens up new opportunities for studying the roles of muscle and cutaneous afferents in the foot in the control of upright stance.
The Solution of Initial Boundary Value Problem with Time and Space-Fractional Diffusion Equation via a Novel Inner Product
Authors: Kodal Sevindir Hulya , Demir Ali
Published: June 2018

The main goal of this study is to find the solution of initial boundary value problem for the one-dimensional time and space-fractional diffusion equation which is a very intriguing topic for many researchers. With the aim of newly defined inner product, which is the main contribution of this study, the analytic solution of the boundary value problem is obtained. The time and space-fractional derivatives are defined in the Caputo sense which is more suitable than Riemann-Liouville sense. We apply the separation of variables method to reduce the problem to two separate fractional ODEs. The generalized solution is constructed/formed in the form of a Fourier series with respect to the eigenfunctions of a certain eigenvalue problem. In order to obtain the coefficients of the Fourier series for the solution, we define a new inner product which is the key point of study.
Towards a New Algorithm to Optimize IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Security for Small Objects Networks
Authors: El Ksimi Ali , Leghris Cherkaoui
Published: June 2018

In order to verify the uniqueness of link-local or unicast addresses, nodes must perform a Duplicate Address Detection process before using them. However, this process is subject to many attacks and the security is willing to be the most important issues in Small Object Networks with IPv6. In this paper, we developed a new algorithm to optimize the security in IPv6-DAD process; this method is based on SHA-512 to verify the identity of the Neighbor Discovery messages transmitted in the link local. First, before sending the NS message, the new node uses the function SHA-512 to hash to the target address and use the last 64 bits in a new field and then encrypt the result with its private key. When receiving the secure message, the existing nodes decrypt it. Our algorithm is going to secure the DAD process by using a digital signature. Overall, this algorithm showed a significant effect in terms of the Address Configuration Success Probability (ACSP).
Dynamic Stability of a Structurally Damped Delaminated Beam Using Higher Order Theory
Authors: Pölöskei Tamás , Szekrényes András
Published: June 2018

The static and dynamic stability of the composite beam with a single delamination are investigated using the Timoshenko beam theory. The mechanical model is discretized using the finite element method and the equation of motion is obtained using Hamilton’s principle. The coefficients of the mass and stiffness matrix for the damping matrix are determined using experimental modal analysis. The effect of harmonic excitation on the dynamic stability of a single delaminated composite beam is investigated using Bolotin’s harmonic balance method. The stability boundaries of the damped and undamped system are compared for different static load values and delamination lengths on the excitation frequency-excitation force amplitude parameter field.
A DLM-LSTM Framework for North-South Land Deformation Trend Analysis from Low-Cost GPS Sensor Time Series
Authors: Pu Fangling , Xu Zhaozhuo , Chen Hongyu , Xu Xin , Chen Nengcheng
Published: June 2018

Landslides endanger regular industrial production and human safety. Displacement trend analysis gives us an explicit way to observe and forecast landslides. Although satellite-borne remote sensing methods such as synthetic aperture radar have gradually replaced manual measurement in detecting deformation trends, they fail to observe displacement in a north-south direction. Wireless low-cost GPS sensors have been developed to assist remote sensing methods in north-south deformation monitoring because of their high temporal resolution and wide usage. In our paper, a DLM-LSTM framework is developed to extract and predict north-south land deformation trends from meter accuracy GPS receivers. A dynamic linear model is introduced to model the relation between measurement and the state vector, including the trend, periodic variation, and autoregressive factors in a discontinuous low-cost latitude time series. The deformation trend with submeter-level accuracy is extracted by a Kalman filter and smoother. With validated input as in previous work, the power of an LSTM network is also shown in its ability to predict deformation trends in submeter-level accuracy. A submeter-level deformation trend is detected from wireless low-cost GPS sensors with meter-level navigation error. The framework will have broad application prospects in geological disaster monitoring.
A Novel Saliency Detection Method for Wild Animal Monitoring Images with WMSN
Authors: Feng Wenzhao , Zhang Junguo , Hu Chunhe , Wang Yuan , Xiang Qiumin , Yan Hao
Published: June 2018

We proposed a novel saliency detection method based on histogram contrast algorithm and images captured with WMSN (wireless multimedia sensor network) for practical wild animal monitoring purpose. Current studies on wild animal monitoring mainly focus on analyzing images with high resolution, complex background, and nonuniform illumination features. Most current visual saliency detection methods are not capable of completing the processing work. In this algorithm, we firstly smoothed the image texture and reduced the noise with the help of structure extraction method based on image total variation. After that, the saliency target edge information was obtained by Canny operator edge detection method, which will be further improved by position saliency map according to the Hanning window. In order to verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, field-captured wild animal images were tested by using our algorithm in terms of visual effect and detection efficiency. Compared with histogram contrast algorithm, the result shows that the rate of average precision, recall and F-measure improved by 18.38%, 19.53%, 19.06%, respectively, when processing the captured animal images.
Loosely Formation‐Displaced Geostationary Orbit Optimization with Complex Hybrid Sail Propulsion
Authors: Liu Yuan , Hao Yong , Liu Weiwei
Published: June 2018

To explore the performance of hybrid sail and overcome the congestion of geostationary orbit, this work proposes a method intended to optimize the trajectories of the spacecraft formation and extend the concept of displaced geostationary orbit by loosening the relative distance and introducing a station‐keeping box. The multispacecraft formation is a typical complex system with nonlinear dynamics, and the hybrid propulsion system introduces additional complexity. To solve this problem, suboptimal trajectories with constant relative distance constraints are first found with inverse methods, which were referred to as ideal displaced geostationary orbits. Then, the suboptimal trajectories are used as a first guess for a direct optimization algorithm based on Gauss pseudospectral algorithm, which loosens the relative distance constraints and allows the spacecraft to be placed anywhere inside the station‐keeping box. The optimization results show that the loosely formation and station‐keeping box can create more flexible trajectories and achieve higher efficiency of the hybrid sail propulsion system, which can save about 40% propellant consumption.
Isolation and Characterization of Multipotent Turkey Tendon-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Liu Qian , Zhu Yaxi , Amadio Peter C. , Moran Steven L. , Gingery Anne , Zhao Chunfeng
Published: June 2018

Tendon injuries are among the most common and severe hand injuries with a high demand for functional recovery. Stem cells have been identified and isolated from different species and a variety of tissues for the sake of regenerative medicine. Recently, turkey has been suggested as a potential new large animal model for flexor tendon-related research. However, turkey tissue-specific stem cells have not been investigated. Here, we presented the isolation and verification of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) from 6- to 8-month-old heritage-breed turkey. TDSCs were isolated from turkey flexor tendon by plating nucleated cells at the determined optimal density. Approximately 4% of the nucleated cells demonstrated clonogenicity, high proliferation rate, and trilineage differentiation potential after induction culturing. These cells expressed surface antigens CD90, CD105, and CD44, but did not express CD45. There was a high level of gene expression of tenogenic markers in TDSCs, including mohawk, collagen type I, tenascin C, and elastin. Turkey TDSCs also expressed transcription factorsPouV,Nanog, andSox2, which are critically involved in the regulation of stemness. The successful isolation of tendon-derived stem cells from turkey was beneficial for future studies in tendon tissue engineering and would help in the development of new treatment for tendon diseases using this novel animal model.
Novel Intravaginal Drug Delivery System Based on Molecularly PEGylated Lipid Matrices for Improved Antifungal Activity of Miconazole Nitrate
Authors: Kenechukwu Franklin Chimaobi , Attama Anthony Amaechi , Ibezim Emmanuel Chinedum , Nnamani Petra Obioma , Umeyor Chukwuebuka Emmanuel , Uronnachi Emmanuel Maduabuchi , Momoh Mumuni Audu , Akpa Paul Achile , Ozioko Angela Chizoba
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of microparticles based on biocompatible phytolipids [Softisan® 154 (SF) (hydrogenated palm oil) and super-refined sunseed oil (SO)] and polyethylene glycol- (PEG-) 4000 to improve intravaginal delivery of miconazole nitrate (MN) for effective treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Lipid matrices (LMs) consisting of rational blends of SF and SO with or without PEG-4000 were prepared by fusion and characterized and employed to formulate MN-loaded solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) by melt-homogenization. The SLMs were characterized for physicochemical properties, anticandidal activity, and stability. Spherical discrete microparticles with good physicochemical properties and mean diameters suitable for vaginal drug delivery were obtained. Formulations based on SO:SF (1:9) and containing highest concentrations of PEG-4000 (4 %w/w) and MN (3.0 %w/w) were stable and gave highest encapsulation efficiency (83.05–87.75%) and inhibition zone diameter (25.87±0.94–26.33±0.94 mm) and significantly (p<0.05) faster and more powerful fungicidal activity regarding killing rate constant values (7.10 x 10−3–1.09 x 10−2min−1) than commercial topical solution of MN (Fungusol®) (8.00 x 10−3min−1) and pure MN sample (5.160 x 10−3min−1). This study has shown that MN-loaded SLMs based on molecularly PEGylated lipid matrices could provide a better option to deal with VVC.
Feasibility of Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta Balloon Occlusion in Pernicious Placenta Previa Coexisting with Placenta Accrete
Authors: Li Na , Yang Tian , Liu Caixia , Qiao Chong
Published: June 2018

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic balloon occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in pernicious placenta previa coexisting with placenta accrete. Methods. This retrospective study was performed in patients with placenta accreta complicated with pernicious placenta previa between January 2014 and December 2016 in Shengjing Hospital; 56 patients with a pathological diagnosis were included. The degree of placental invasion was evaluated by preoperative color Doppler ultrasonography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, and all patients in this study should undergo balloon occlusion preoperatively, which was a determination made by specific doctors. The control group consisted of 32 patients who underwent cesarean section alone, and the study group included 24 patients who underwent cesarean section with preoperative balloon occlusion. Prevention of hysterectomy was the primary outcome evaluated. The secondary outcomes include operative duration, estimated blood loss, blood transfusion, prothrombin time postoperatively, decrease in the hemoglobin level postoperatively, intensive care unit admission, pathological diagnosis, and total hospital stay (days), and these data were compared between the two groups. Additionally, the neonatal outcomes, premature delivery, Apgar scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes, neonatal birth weight, hospitalization, and mortality were compared. Results. There was a significant difference in the rate of hysterectomy between the two groups (p<0.05). However, no differences were observed between the groups in any other outcomes. Conclusion. The prophylactic use of infrarenal abdominal aortic balloon occlusion is an effective and safe option for treating pernicious placenta previa coexisting with placenta accreta.
Rapid Identification and Simultaneous Quantification of Aristolochic Acids by HPLC-DAD and Confirmations by MS in Aristolochia chilensis Using a Limited Biomass
Authors: Araya Michael , García Samantha , González-Teuber Marcia
Published: June 2018

Six aristolochic acids were identified in the Chilean species Aristolochia chilensis using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and subsequent confirmation with mass spectrometry (MS). The fractions of each signal were collected and injected directly into an Orbitrap mass detector model Q Exactive Focus (Thermo Scientific). The acids extraction was done with 0.10–0.50 g of lyophilized and pulverized sample and concentrated in Soxhlet extraction equipment. The liquid-liquid separations and a subsequent solid phase extraction (SPE) C18 were performed using 100 µL of the extract that contains the aristolochic acids present in the Aristolochia chilensis plant. The HPLC conditions used a single mobile phase acetonitrile : water (1 : 1) acidified with 0.1% acetic acid and an isocratic elution to 1 mL·min−1. The column InertSustain C18 250 × 4.6 mm and 3 µm was used, the injection volume was 20 µL, and the time of run was reduced to 15 min. Calibration curves were constructed with r2 being 0.9997. The quantification limit for AAI was 0.138 ± 0.010 µg/mL, and for AAII, it was 0.558 ± 0.042 µg/mL.
B Cell Activating Factor, Renal Allograft Antibody-Mediated Rejection, and Long-Term Outcome
Authors: Xu Haiyan , He Xiaozhou , Xu Renfang
Published: June 2018

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) of renal allograft lacks typical phenotypes and clinical manifestations, always resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. It has been considered to be an elemental factor influencing the improvement of the long-term outcome of renal allograft. The B cell activating factor (BAFF) signal plays a fundamental function in the process of antibody-mediated immune response. Data from recipients and the nonhuman primate ABMR model suggest that the BAFF signal participates in the ABMR of renal allograft, while there are objections. The challenges in the diagnosis of ABMR, different study population, and details of research may explain the discrepancy. Large quantities of dynamic, credible data of BAFF ligands and their association with renal allograft pathological characteristics would constitute a direct proof of the role of BAFF in the progression of renal allograft ABMR.
Model‐Based ILC with a Modified Q‐Filter for Complex Motion Systems: Practical Considerations and Experimental Verification on a Wafer Stage
Authors: Song Fazhi , Liu Yang , Cao Jun , Li Li , Tan Jiubin
Published: June 2018

Iterative learning control (ILC) is one of the most popular tracking control methods for systems that repeatedly execute the same task. A system model is usually used in the analysis and design of ILC. Model‐based ILC results in general in fast convergence and good performance. However, the model uncertainties and nonrepetitive disturbances hamper its practical applications. One of the commonly used solutions is the introduction of a low‐pass filter, namely, the Q‐filter. However, it is indicated in this paper that the existing Q‐filter configurations compromise the servo performance, although improving the robustness. Motivated by the combination of performance and robustness, a novel Q‐filter configuration in ILC is presented in this paper. Some practical considerations, such as the configuration of ILC in a feedback control system, the time delay compensation, and the learning coefficient, are provided in the implementation of the proposed ILC algorithm. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed ILC versus existing Q‐filter ILC are demonstrated by both theoretical analysis and experimental verification on a wafer stage.
Effect of Mean Stress on the Fatigue Life Prediction of Notched Fiber‐Reinforced 2060 Al‐Li Alloy Laminates under Spectrum Loading
Authors: Meng Weiying , Xie Liyang , Zhang Yu , Wang Yawen , Sun Xiaofang , Zhang Shijian
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a study on the fatigue life prediction of notched fiber‐reinforced 2060 Al‐Li alloy laminates under spectrum loading by applying the constant life diagram. Firstly, a review on the state of the art of constant life diagram models for the life prediction of composite materials is given, which highlights the effect on the forecast accuracy. Then, the fatigue life of notched fiber‐reinforced Al‐Li alloy laminates (2/1 laminates and 3/2 laminates) is tested under cyclic stress, which has different stress cycle characteristics (constant amplitude loading and Mini‐Twist spectrum loading). The introduced models are successfully realized based on the available experimental data of examined laminates. In the case of Mini‐Twist spectrum loading, the effect of the constant life diagram on the life prediction accuracy of examined laminates is studied based on the rainflow‐counting method and Miner damage criteria. The results show that the simple Goodman model and piecewise linear model have certain advantages compared to other complex models for the life prediction of notched fiber metal laminates with different structures under Mini‐Twist loading. From the engineering perspective, the S‐N curve prediction based on the piecewise linear model is most applicable and accurate among all the models.
Control of Chaos in a Single Machine Infinite Bus Power System Using the Discrete Sliding Mode Control Technique
Authors: Zribi Mohamed , Alrifai Muthana T. , Smaoui Nejib
Published: June 2018

Under certain conditions, power systems may exhibit chaotic behaviors which are harmful and undesirable. In this paper, the discrete time sliding mode control technique is used to control a chaotic power system. The objective of the control is to eliminate the chaotic oscillations and to bring order to the power system. Two discrete time sliding mode control (DSMC) schemes are proposed for a fourth order discrete time chaotic power system. The first DSMC control scheme is based on the well-known exponential reaching law. The second DSMC control scheme is based on the recently developed double power reaching law. It is shown that the states of the controlled system converge to their desired values. Simulation results are presented for different values of the gains of the controllers as well as for different initial conditions. These results indicate that both control schemes work well. However, the simulation results show that the second control scheme gave better results since it was able to greatly reduce the chattering problem.
Control ofCryptococcus GattiiBiofilms by an Ethanolic Extract ofCochlospermum Regium(Schrank) Pilger Leaves
Authors: Almeida-Apolonio Adriana A. , Cupozak-Pinheiro Wellinton J. , Berres Vagner M. , Dantas Fabiana G. S. , Svidzinski Terezinha I. E. , Oliveira Kelly M. P. , Chang Marilene R.
Published: June 2018

Cryptococcus gattiiis an etiologic agent of cryptococcosis and a serious disease that affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients worldwide. The therapeutic arsenal used to treat cryptococcosis is limited to a few antifungal agents, and the ability ofC. gattiito form biofilms may hinder treatment and decrease its susceptibility to antifungal agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antibiofilm activities of an ethanolic extract ofCochlospermum regium(Schrank) Pilger leaves againstC. gattii. The antifungal activity was assessed by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the broth microdilution technique and interaction of the extract with fluconazole was performed of checkerboard assay. The antibiofilm activity of the extract was evaluated in 96-well polystyrene microplates, and the biofilms were quantified by counting colony forming units. The extract showed antifungal activity at concentrations of 62.5 to 250μg/mL and when the extract was evaluated in combination with fluconazole,C. gattiiwas inhibited at sub-MIC levels. The antibiofilm activity of the extract againstC. gattiiwas observed both during biofilm formation and on an already established biofilm. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of the leaves ofC. regiumshows promise for the development of antifungal drugs to treat cryptococcosis and to combatC. gattiibiofilms.
Fertility Outcomes following Laparoscopy-Assisted Hysteroscopic Fallopian Tube Cannulation: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Ikechebelu Joseph I. , Eleje George U. , Bhamare Prashant , Joe-Ikechebelu Ngozi N. , Okafor Chidimma D. , Akintobi Abdulhakeem O.
Published: June 2018

Objectives. To determine fertility outcomes following laparoscopy-guided hysteroscopic tubal cannulation for cornual obstruction. Study Design. A prospective cohort study in Life Institute for Endoscopy at Life Specialist Hospital Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Patients with unilateral or bilateral cornual tubal obstruction as the only cause of infertility were included. Outcome measures included successful tubal recanalization, procedural complications, conception rates (first spontaneous conception after the procedure), and live birth rates. Results. Forty-nine infertile women were assessed for eligibility, but 27 met the inclusion criteria. Of 27 women, 24 (88.9%) had bilateral cornual obstruction and 3 (11.1%) had unilateral obstruction. Only three (11.1%) patients had failed cannulation. Successful recanalization rate was 90.2% (46/51) per tube and 88.9% (24/27) per patient. In the 24 patients with successfully recanalization, six spontaneous pregnancies (25.0%) and two intrauterine insemination-assisted pregnancies (8.3%) occurred within first six months of follow-up. All the eight (100.0%) pregnancies were intrauterine. The overall conception rate and live birth rate was 33.3%. There were no pre- or postprocedural complications. Conclusion. Successful recanalization rate was 90.2% per tube and 88.9% per patient with a conception rate of 33.3%. Women with only cornual obstruction should be considered first for laparoscopy-assisted hysteroscopic cannulation before assisted reproduction.
Impact of Leaf Development Stages on Polyphenolics Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels
Authors: Chang Xiaoxiao , Lu Yusheng , Lin Zhixiong , Qiu Jishui , Guo Xinbo , Pan Jianping , Abbasi Arshad Mehmood
Published: June 2018

Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels, commonly known as “wampee,” is an excellent food ingredient of medicinal value. Effects of leaf developmental stages on the composition of phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were investigated. Phenolics composition was studied using HPLC-PAD, whereas antioxidant activity was estimated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Increase in bound flavonoids, quercetin, and cellular antioxidant activity was observed in bound and free fractions at different stages of leaf development. Predominantly, quercetin and ferulic acid contents were high in free and bound fractions of old leaves. In addition, phenolic components depicted highly significant positive association (p < 0.05) with antioxidant activity. Overall, old leaves of wampee have utility value similar to leaf buds, so they could be a more sustainable and economical source of bioactive compounds for commercial application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
A Secure Ciphertext Retrieval Scheme against Insider KGAs for Mobile Devices in Cloud Storage
Authors: Xie Run , He Chanlian , Xie Dongqing , Gao Chongzhi , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: June 2018

With the advent of cloud computing, data privacy has become one of critical security issues and attracted much attention as more and more mobile devices are relying on the services in cloud. To protect data privacy, users usually encrypt their sensitive data before uploading to cloud servers, which renders the data utilization to be difficult. The ciphertext retrieval is able to realize utilization over encrypted data and searchable public key encryption is an effective way in the construction of encrypted data retrieval. However, the previous related works have not paid much attention to the design of ciphertext retrieval schemes that are secure against inside keyword-guessing attacks (KGAs). In this paper, we first construct a new architecture to resist inside KGAs. Moreover we present an efficient ciphertext retrieval instance with a designated tester (dCRKS) based on the architecture. This instance is secure under the inside KGAs. Finally, security analysis and efficiency comparison show that the proposal is effective for the retrieval of encrypted data in cloud computing.
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Cinnamomum Sp. Essential Oil and Cinnamaldehyde: Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Firmino Diego F. , Cavalcante Theodora T. A. , Gomes Geovany A. , Firmino Nairley C. S. , Rosa Lucas D. , de Carvalho Mário G. , Catunda Jr Francisco E. A.
Published: June 2018

To assess the activities of essential oils derived from the trunk bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (EOCz) and Cinnamomum cassia (EOCc) as well as cinnamaldehyde on bacterial biofilms of clinical interest. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by the broth microdilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Antibiofilm activity was assessed by quantifying the biomass and determining the number of viable cells. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined. The results showed that the major component of EOCz and EOCc was cinnamaldehyde. For the assayed substances, biofilm biomasses were reduced by up to 99.9%, and Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli biofilms were sensitive to all of the concentrations and substances analysed. In cell viability tests, 2 mg/ml of cinnamaldehyde reduced the number of viable cells by 5.74 Log CFU/ml. EOCz, EOCc, and cinnamaldehyde exhibited antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. This work describes substances with potential use against infections caused by bacterial biofilms.
The Kat in the HAT: The Histone Acetyl Transferase Kat6b (MYST4) Is Downregulated in Murine Macrophages in Response to LPS
Authors: Shukla Smita , Levine Carly , Sripathi Roopa Payanur , Elson Genie , Lutz Carol Susan , Leibovich Samuel Joseph
Published: June 2018

Epigenetic modulators, including histone methylases, demethylases, and deacetylases, have been implicated previously in the regulation of classical and alternative macrophage activation pathways. In this study, we show that the histone acetyl transferase (HAT) Kat6B (MYST4) is strongly suppressed (>80%) in macrophages by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (M1 activation), while Kat6A, its partner in the MOZ/MORF complex, is reciprocally upregulated. This pattern of expression is not altered by LPS together with the adenosine receptor agonist NECA (M2d activation). This is despite the observation that miR-487b, a putative regulator of Kat6B expression, is mildly stimulated by LPS, but strongly suppressed by LPS/NECA. Other members of the MYST family of HATs (Kat5, Kat7, and Kat8) are unaffected by LPS treatment. Using the pLightswitch 3′UTR reporter plasmid, the miR-487b binding site in the Kat6b 3′UTR was found to play a role in the LPS-mediated suppression of Kat6B expression, but other as-yet unidentified factors are also involved. As Kat6B is a HAT that has the potential to modulate gene expression by its effects on chromatin accessibility, we are continuing our studies into the potential roles of this epigenetic modulator in macrophage activation pathways.
Physalin B Suppresses Inflammatory Response to Lipopolysaccharide in RAW264.7 Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Yang Yanjun , Yi Lang , Wang Qing , Xie Bingbing , Sha Congwei , Dong Yan
Published: June 2018

Physalin B from Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) is a naturally occurring secosteroid with multiple biological activities. But its anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism remain unclear. Physalin B effects on RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were observed in this study. The expression and secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced by LPS were significantly inhibited by physalin B. Meanwhile, the NF-κB nuclear translocation induced by LPS was inhibited by physalin B. The anti-inflammatory effects of physalin B could not be inhibited by mifepristone (RU486), the blocker of glucocorticoid receptor. In conclusion, physalin B can suppress inflammatory response to LPS in macrophages by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines via NF-κB signaling.
Evaluation of the Accuracy of a System to Align Occlusal Dynamic Data on 3D Digital Casts
Authors: de Prado Iñigo , Iturrate Mikel , Minguez Rikardo , Solaberrieta Eneko
Published: June 2018

In recent years the T-Scan system has introduced the possibility of importing digitization of dental arches to its registrations. This is a remarkable advance, which allows an intuitive display of the location of the gathered dynamic data on the denture. Nevertheless, today’s usual method of manually positioning the arch in relation to the T-Scan’s force registration gives rise to the possibility of human error. In order to guarantee a good alignment between the dynamic registration and 3D digital casts, a specific method was developed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of this alignment method. For this purpose, it was compared with the most common procedure for detecting occlusal contacts, the articulating paper method. The comparison comprised overlapping digital models of both methods. Contacts of casts of 11 adults were registered, both with articulating paper and the T-Scan system. For one method, articulating paper marks were scanned in color; for the second method, the previously mentioned alignment was carried out with the T-Scan registrations. The results of both methods were overlapped in 3D digital casts, quantifying occlusal data matches. Statistical analyses were made to measure the quality of this alignment method. The study revealed a mean matching percentage of 79.02%, confirming the high reliability of the method.
Clinical Influence of Micromorphological Structure of Dental Implant Bone Drills
Authors: Marenzi Gaetano , Sammartino Josè Camilla , Quaremba Giuseppe , Graziano Vincenzo , El Hassanin Andrea , Qorri Med Erda , Sammartino Gilberto , Iorio-Siciliano Vincenzo
Published: June 2018

Background. Considerations about heat generation, wear, and corrosion due to some macrostructural bur components (e.g., cutting lips, rake angle, flute, and helix angle) have been widely reported. However, little is known about how the microstructural components of the implant drill surface can influence the implant drill lifetime and clinical performance. Aim. To investigate accurately the surface morphology of surgical bone drill, by means of multivariate and multidimensional statistical analysis, in order to assess roughness parameters able to predict the evolution of tribological phenomena linked to heat development, wear, and corrosion occurring in clinical use. Materials and Methods. The surfaces of implant drills approximately 2.0mm in diameter made by five manufacturers were examined by means of confocal microscope with white light laser interferometry, obtaining several surface roughness parameters. Statistical multivariate analysis based on discriminant analysis showed, for each cut-off, the parameters which discriminate the manufacturers. Results. The microstructural parameters used by discriminant analysis evidenced several differences in terms of drill surface roughness between the five manufacturers. Conclusions. The observed surface roughness difference of drills is able to predict a different durability and clinical performance especially in heat generation and wear onset.
Reliability Analysis of Network Real-Time Kinematic
Authors: Ouassou Mohammed , Natvig Bent , Jensen Anna B. O. , Gåsemyr Jørund I.
Published: June 2018

The multistate reliability theory was applied to the network real-time kinematic (NRTK) data processing chain, where the qualities of the network corrections, baseline residuals, and the associated variance-covariance matrices are considered as the system state vectors. The state vectors have direct influence on the rover receiver position accuracy. The penalized honored stochastic averaged standard deviation (PHSASD) is used to map the NRTK sensitive data, represented by the states vectors to different levels of performance. The study shows that the improvement is possible by identification of critical components in the NRTK system and implementation of some parallelism that makes the system more robust.
Consumption of Electricity and Industrial Growth in the Case of Ghana
Authors: Abokyi Eric , Appiah-Konadu Paul , Sikayena Isaiah , Oteng-Abayie Eric F.
Published: June 2018

We examine the causative relationship amongst electricity consumption and industrial growth in Ghana for the period of 1971 to 2014. The results of the ARDL bounds test showed that long-run relationship exists among the variables. The error correction term was also significant and negatively signed providing further evidence of long-run relationship. Contrary to the widespread belief that electricity consumption spurs productivity, the study reveals that electricity consumption has a negative impact on manufacturing sector output in Ghana. This occurrence could be explained by the fact that whiles the average growth in electricity consumption in Ghana is positive, the share of industrial sector’s electricity consumption continues to decline on the average. The Toda-Yamamoto test shows a unidirectional causality running from electricity consumption to industrial growth in Ghana, supporting the growth hypothesis in the extant literature.
Real-World Results of Aflibercept versus Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Exudative AMD Using a Fixed Regimen
Authors: Providência Joana , Rodrigues Tiago M. , Oliveira Mariana , Bernardes João , Marques João Pedro , Murta Joaquim , Silva Rufino
Published: June 2018

Intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factors have been considered a milestone in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). However, the increasing incidence of AMD and the burden of visits and injections overcharge both the patient and the healthcare systems. Real-world solutions depend on treatment protocols aimed at optimizing the number of clinical visits while guaranteeing good functional outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of 72 eyes from 63 naïve patients diagnosed with nAMD that underwent a fixed intravitreal protocol consisting of bimonthly injections after a three-month loading dose, with either Aflibercept or Ranibizumab (no predefined criteria for treatment selection). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography were analyzed at baseline and during follow-up clinical visits (months 3, 6, 12, and 18). From the included participants, 42 followed a fixed regimen with Aflibercept and 30 with Ranibizumab. At the 12-month visit, there was not a statistically significant difference in the mean change of BCVA between the two groups (p=0.121); however, the mean difference in the central retinal thickness was significantly superior in the Aflibercept group (-142.2 versus -51.5, p=0.011). The described fixed regimen seems to be efficient in the treatment of nAMD in a clinical practice setting.
Nerve Surgery to Treat Intractable Genitofemoral Neuropathic Pain following Laparoscopic Live Kidney Donation
Authors: Ramdhani K. , Malessy M. J. A. , Simon M. J. G. , Huurman V. A. L.
Published: June 2018

To date live laparoscopic donor nephrectomies (LLDN) are frequently performed. The most common complications entail bleeding, wound infection, and incisional hernia. Here we discuss a 50-year-old patient with a severe less known complication, namely, postoperative persistent neuropathic pain in the scrotum and left upper leg. Satisfactory pain control could not be obtained in 3 years of postoperative pain treatment which consisted of neuroleptic drugs, blocks of the L1/L2 dorsal roots with local anaesthetics, and pulsed radiofrequency lesioning. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed to assess the aspect of the genitofemoral nerve (GFN). A hemoclip used for the closure of the ureter at the time of nephrectomy was found in close relation to the GFN. The clip was removed and the GFN was subsequently cut proximal to the side of this clip. Soon after surgery the patient was completely pain-free and could return to his normal activities. Surgery should be considered in case of GFN neuropathic pain following LLDN.
Removal of Implant and New Rehabilitation for Better Esthetics
Authors: Matsumoto Wilson , Morelli Victor Garone , de Almeida Rossana Pereira , Trivellato Alexandre Elias , Sverzut Cássio Edvard , Hotta Takami Hirono
Published: June 2018

Tooth loss can result in loss of facial esthetics, in addition to its effect on mastication, swallowing, and speech. Adequate planning is required in order for the prosthetic treatment of the teeth and implants to be successful. Here, we present a clinical case demonstrating that improper positioning of an implant can make prosthetic rehabilitation unfeasible, necessitating new surgical and rehabilitation planning to achieve the desired esthetics. The patient had a missing right lateral incisor and cuspid, and a buccally directed implant. The preferred treatment regimen involved the removal of this implant and placement of another one more properly positioned distally and three dimensionally. The repositioning of the implant made rehabilitation treatment with a mesial cantilever possible. Due to esthetic considerations, gingival conditioning in the cantilever region was performed in the temporary prosthesis phase. The changes adopted in planning the surgery and rehabilitation resulted in good esthetics as well as functional outcomes.
Association of Genes in the High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolic Pathway with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Asian Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yuan Ming-zhen , Han Ruo-an , Zhang Chen-xi , Chen You-xin
Published: June 2018

Purpose. To assess the association of genes in the high-density lipoprotein metabolic pathway (HDLMP) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and the genetic difference in the HDLMP between PCV and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods. We performed a literature search in EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science for genetic studies on 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 5 genes in the HDLMP including cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), hepatic lipase (LIPC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) in PCV. All studies were published before September 30, 2017, without language restriction. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each polymorphism were estimated. We also compared the association profiles between PCV and AMD and performed a sensitivity analysis. Results. Our result is based on 43 articles. After excluding duplicates and articles without complete information, 7 studies were applicable to meta-analysis. 7 polymorphisms were meta-analyzed: CETP rs2303790/rs3764261, LIPC rs10468017/rs493258, LPL rs12678919, ABCA1 rs1883025, and ABCG1 rs57137919. We found that in Asian population, CETP rs3764261 (T allele; OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.28–1.665, P<0.01), CETP rs2303790 (G allele; OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.258–1.96, P<0.01), and ABCG1 rs57137919 (A allele; OR = 1.168; 95% CI: 1.016–1.343, P<0.01) were significantly associated with PCV, and ABCG1 rs57137919 (A allele; OR = 1.208, 95% CI: 1.035–1.411, P<0.01) has different effects in PCV and AMD. The other 4 polymorphisms in LIPC/LPL/ABCA1 had no significant association with PCV (P>0.05). The sensitivity analysis validated the significance of our analysis. Conclusions. Our study revealed 7 polymorphisms in 5 genes. Among them, CETP (rs3764261/rs2303790) and ABCG1 (rs57137919) were the major susceptibility genes for PCV in Asian population and ABCG1 (rs57137919) showed allelic diversity between PCV and AMD. Since the size for PCV and AMD was small, we need to study these genes genotyping in larger samples.