bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting Tumor Microenvironment: Effects of Chinese Herbal Formulae on Macrophage‐Mediated Lung Cancer in Mice
Authors: Xu Fei , Cui Wenqiang , Zhao Zhengxiao , Gong Weiyi , Wei Ying , Liu Jiaqi , Li Mihui , Li Qiuping , Yan Chen , Qiu Jian , Liu Baojun , Dong Jingcheng
Published: May 2017

Our previous studies have shown that Qing‐Re‐Huo‐Xue (QRHX) formulae had significant anti‐inflammatory effects in chronic airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. Here, we examined the effects of QRHX on lung cancer cell invasion and the potential associated mechanism(s), mainly polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. In vivo, QRHX both inhibited tumor growth and decreased the number of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in mice with lung cancer. Further study indicated that QRHX inhibited cancer‐related inflammation in tumor by decreasing infiltration of TAMs and IL‐6 and TNF‐α production and meanwhile decreased arginase 1 (Arg‐1) expression and increased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression. QRHX could markedly inhibit CD31 and VEGF protein expression. Additionally, CXCL12/CXCR4 expression and JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation were reduced in QRHX treatment group. Thus, we draw that QRHX played a more important role in inhibiting tumor growth by regulating TAMs in mice, which was found to be associated with the inhibition of inflammation and the CXCL12/CXCR4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Dental Management of a Child with Incidentally Detected Hemophilia: Report of a Clinical Case
Authors: Martínez-Rider Ricardo , Garrocho-Rangel Arturo , Márquez-Preciado Raúl , Bolaños-Carmona María Victoria , Islas-Ruiz Socorro , Pozos-Guillén Amaury
Published: May 2017

Children with hemophilia (A or B) are at risk for bleeding episodes, which rank from mild mucosal/soft tissues bleeding to life-threatening hemorrhages. This report describes the dental/medical management provided to an 8.10-year-old patient suffering from uncontrolled bleeding after a surgical procedure to expose both permanent upper central incisors, in which hemophilia was a pure incidental finding. Additionally, diverse precautions to be considered during the dental clinical treatment of hemophilic children are discussed.
Flexible and Lightweight Access Control for Online Healthcare Social Networks in the Context of the Internet of Things
Authors: Qin Zhen , Sun Jianfei , Chen Dajiang , Xiong Hu
Published: May 2017

Online healthcare social networks (OHSNs) play an essential role in sharing information among medical experts and patients who are equipped with similar experiences. To access other patients’ data or experts’ diagnosis anywhere and anytime, it is necessary to integrate the OHSN into the Internet as part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Therefore, it is crucial to design an efficient and versatile access control scheme that can grant and revoke a user to access the OHSN. In this paper, we propose novel attribute-based encryption (ABE) features with user revocation and verifiable decryption outsourcing to control the access privilege of the users. The security of the proposed ABE scheme is given in the well-studied random oracle model. With the proposed ABE scheme, the malicious users can be excluded from the system and the user can offload most of the overhead in the decryption to an untrusted cloud server in a verifiable manner. An access control scheme for the OHSN has been given in the context of the IoT based on the proposed ABE scheme. The simulation demonstrates that our access control mechanism is practical.
Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Its Association with Increased Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Altamirano Ufion Alvaro , Zulfiqar Beenish , Hassan Abdalla , Habibi Roshanak , Boddu Prajwal
Published: May 2017

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating different metabolism functions and multiple organs’ performance. Changes in the thyroid hormone axis can lead to profound effects on the stability of vital organs and systems, especially the cardiovascular system. Hypothyroidism is classified according to the clinical presentation as overt and subclinical. There is some evidence supporting the benefits of thyroxine hormone replacement for subclinical hypothyroidism on cardiovascular mortality outcomes. However, the clinical relevance of measuring and treating high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in newly diagnosed heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction requires further study. In this report, we review the current evidence regarding the prognostic significance of subclinical hypothyroidism in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.
Effects of Neutralization, Decoloration, and Deodorization on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons during Laboratory-Scale Oil Refining Process
Authors: Ma Yuxiang , Shi Longkai , Liu Yulan , Lu Qiyu
Published: May 2017

The influence of technological operations during oil refining process on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in neutralized, bleached, and deodorized oils was investigated on the basis of laboratory-scale study. Under the best experimental conditions, benzo[a]pyrene decreased by 85.1%, 99.7%, and 40.8% in neutralized, bleached, and deodorized oils, respectively. Total of 16 analytes decreased by 55.7%, 87.5%, and 47.7%, respectively. Bleaching with activated charcoal was the most efficient procedure to reduce PAHs in crude oil. Neutralization had a modest influence on sixteen analytes; however, deodorization was only responsible for a slight decrease in the light PAHs and heavy PAHs contents. Data obtained in this study suggest that the use of activated carbon during oil refining process is highly recommended; moreover, these results provide a useful guidance for oil refining plant to reduce security risk and ensure the quality of the vegetable oil products.
Strategies for Preventing Endoscopic Recurrence of Crohn’s Disease 1 Year after Surgery: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Feng Jin-shan , Li Jin-yu , Chen Xiu-yan , Yang Zheng , Li Shang-hai
Published: May 2017

Objective. To assess the benefits of different treatments that aim to prevent the endoscopic recurrence of Crohn’s disease (CD) after ileal resection. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Database. All the included RCTs with an endoscopic recurrence outcome which was defined as Rutgeerts’ score ≥ i2 have a duration of more than 1 year. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Pairwise treatment effects were estimated through a Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis by using the OpenBUGS 1.4 software and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% credible interval (CI). Results. Fourteen RCTs (877 participants) were included. Two strategies were superior to placebo for preventing endoscopic recurrence of CD at 1 year after surgery: infliximab (d, −5.475; 95% CI, −10.47 to –1.632) and adalimumab (d, −7.273; 95% CI, −13.84 to −2.585). Nine strategies were not effective: budesnoid, mesalazine (in both high and low dose), azathioprine, Tripterygium wilfordii, mesalazine + infliximab, ornidazole, untreated intervention, and Lactobacillus GG. Conclusions. Except for infliximab and adalimumab, other strategies included in our analysis were not effective for preventing endoscopic recurrence of CD at 1 year after ileal resection.
Global Analysis of a Novel Nonlinear Stochastic SIVS Epidemic System with Vaccination Control
Authors: Leng Xiaona , Feng Tao , Meng Xinzhu
Published: May 2017

This paper proposes a stochastic SIVS epidemic system with nonlinear saturated infection rate under vaccination and investigates the dynamics predicted by the model. By using Itô’s formula and Lyapunov methods, we first study the existence and uniqueness of global positive solution. Then we investigate the stochastic dynamics of the system and obtain the thresholds which govern the extinction and the spread of the epidemic disease. Results show that large stochastic noises can lead to the extinction of epidemic diseases; that is, stochastic disturbances can suppress the outbreak of epidemic diseases. Finally, we carry out a series of numerical simulations to demonstrate the performance of our theoretical findings.
PGE2 Promotes the Migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells through the Activation of FAK and ERK1/2 Pathway
Authors: Lu Xiaomin , Han Jibin , Xu Xiuping , Xu Jingyuan , Liu Ling , Huang Yingzi , Yang Yi , Qiu Haibo
Published: May 2017

A critical step of MSCs therapy is dependent on its ability to migrate into the sites of injury, so various approaches have been introduced to boost the migratory ability of MSCs. PGE2 is the major prostaglandin generated by COX enzymes and has been implicated in inflammatory response. Evidence indicates that PGE2 can facilitate MSCs migration. Further exploration of the underlying molecular mechanism participating in the promigratory ability of PGE2 may provide a novel strategy to improve MSC transplantation efficacy. In this study, our findings suggested that EP2 prostanoid receptor promotes MSCs migration through activation of FAK and ERK1/2 pathways. Furthermore, MSCs migration induced by PGE2 was blunted by FAK or ERK1/2 inhibitors. EP2-mediated MSCs migration depends on the activation of FAK and ERK1/2. However, the current study did not investigate the migration of MSCs over a blood vessel endothelial barrier. In conclusion, our findings reveal EP2-mediated FAK and ERK1/2 activation was essential for MSCs migration induced by PGE2, indicating that activation of EP2 receptor and FAK/ERK pathways may be a promising strategy to accelerate homing efficiency of MSCs, which in turn enhances therapeutic potential of MSCs transplantation.
Stability Analysis of a Fractional Order Modified Leslie-Gower Model with Additive Allee Effect
Authors: Suryanto Agus , Darti Isnani , Anam Syaiful
Published: May 2017

We analyze the dynamics of a fractional order modified Leslie-Gower model with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response and additive Allee effect by means of local stability. In this respect, all possible equilibria and their existence conditions are determined and their stability properties are established. We also construct nonstandard numerical schemes based on Grünwald-Letnikov approximation. The constructed scheme is explicit and maintains the positivity of solutions. Using this scheme, we perform some numerical simulations to illustrate the dynamical behavior of the model. It is noticed that the nonstandard Grünwald-Letnikov scheme preserves the dynamical properties of the continuous model, while the classical scheme may fail to maintain those dynamical properties.
More Favorable Metabolic Impact of Three-Times-Weekly versus Daily Growth Hormone Treatment in Naïve GH-Deficient Children
Authors: Ciresi Alessandro , Cicciò Floriana , Radellini Stefano , Guarnotta Valentina , Calcaterra Anna Maria , Giordano Carla
Published: May 2017

Objective. To evaluate whether two different regimens of weekly injections could lead to similar auxological and metabolic effects in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).Design. 32 GHD children (25 males, mean age 10.5 ± 2.2 yr) were randomly assigned to receive daily (group A, 16 patients) or TIW (group B, 16 patients) GHT for 12 months.Methods. Auxological parameters, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), glucose and insulin during OGTT, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, the oral disposition index (DIo), the homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance (Homa-IR), and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI).Results. After 12 months, both groups showed a significant and comparable improvement in height (p<0.001) and IGF-I (p<0.001). As regards the metabolic parameters, in both groups, we found a significant increase in fasting insulin (p<0.001andp=0.026) and Homa-IR (p<0.001andp=0.019). A significant increase in fasting glucose (p=0.001) and a decrease in ISI (p<0.001) and DIo (p=0.002) were only found in group A.Conclusions. The TIW regimen is effective and comparable with the daily regimen in improving auxological parameters and has a more favorable metabolic impact in GHD children. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT03033121.
Numerical Study on the In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Resistance of Brick Masonry Infill Panels in Steel Frames
Authors: Bahreini Vahid , Mahdi Tariq , Najafizadeh MohammadMahdi
Published: May 2017

Masonry infill walls are one of the main forms of interior partitions and exterior walls in many parts of the world. Nevertheless, serious damage and loss of stability of many masonry infill walls had been reported during recent earthquakes. To improve their performance, the interaction between these infill walls and the bounding frames needs to be properly investigated. Such interaction can dramatically increase the stiffness of the frame in the in-plane direction. To avoid the negative aspects of inappropriate interactions between the frame and infill wall, some kind of isolation needs to be introduced. In this paper, three different configurations have been evaluated by using the general finite element software, ABAQUS. Nonlinear pushover and time history analyses have been conducted for each of the three configurations. Results showed that isolation of the infill from the frame has a significant effect on the in-plane response of infilled frames. Furthermore, adequate out-of-plane stability of the infill wall has been achieved. The results show that masonry infill walls that have full contact at the top of the wall but isolated from columns have shown acceptable performance.
Epidemiology and Management of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke: Review of Data from Four European Countries
Authors: Ceornodolea Andreea D. , Bal Roland , Severens Johan L.
Published: May 2017

In Europe, 1–3% of the population suffers from atrial fibrillation (AF) and has increased stroke risk. By 2060 a doubling in number of cases and great burden in managing this medical condition are expected. This paper offers an overview of data on epidemiology and management of AF and stroke in four European countries as well as the interconnection between these dimensions. A search index was developed to access multiple scientific and “grey” literatures. Information was prioritised based on strength of evidence and date. Information on country reports was double-checked with national experts. The overall prevalence of AF is consistent across countries. France has the lowest stroke incidence and mortality, followed by Netherland and UK, while Romania has higher rates. GPs or medical specialists are responsible for AF treatment; exception are the special thrombosis services in the Netherlands. Prevention measurements are only present in UK through screening programs. Although international and national guidelines are available, undertreatment is present in all countries. Despite differences in healthcare systems and management of AF, epidemiology is comparable between three of the countries. Romania is an outlier, by being limited in data accessibility. This knowledge can contribute to improved AF care in Europe.
AAA Rupture and Psoas Hematoma due to Type II Endoleak from Inferior Mesenteric Artery “Unusual” Collaterals
Authors: Theodoridis Panagiotis G. , Staramos Dimitrios N. , Ptochis Nikolaos , Papailiou Ioannis A. , Dodos Ilias , Iatrou Nikolaos , Potouridis Anastasios G. , Dervisis Konstantinos
Published: May 2017

Although endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in the abdominal aorta has reduced the perioperative mortality when compared with open repair, the need for reintervention after complications such as endoleak may be presented in up to 20% of the cases. Type II endoleak from branch vessels is often benign but can potentially be associated with progressive abdominal aortic aneurysm growth and sac expansion. We present a rare case of a patient who presented with sac expansion and psoas hematoma due to Type II endoleak from “unusual” collaterals of IMA and was treated successfully with endoleak microembolization and percutaneous decompression of the hematoma.
Study on Drive System of Hybrid Tree Harvester
Authors: Rong-feng Shen , Xiaozhen Zhang , Chengjun Zhou
Published: May 2017

Hybrid tree harvester with a 60 kW diesel engine combined with a battery pile could be a “green” forest harvesting and transportation system. With the new design, the diesel engine maintains a constant engine speed, keeping fuel consumption low while charging the batteries that drive the forwarder. As an additional energy saving method, the electric motors work as generators to charge the battery pile when the vehicle moves downhill. The vehicle is equipped with six large wheels providing high clearance over uneven terrain while reducing ground pressure. Each wheel is driven via a hub gear by its own alternating current motor, and each of the three wheel pairs can be steered independently. The combination of the diesel engine and six electric motors provides plenty of power for heavy lifting and pulling. The main component parameters of the drive system are calculated and optimized with a set of dynamics and simulated with AVL Cruise software. The results provide practical insights for the fuel tree harvester and are helpful to reduce the structure and size of the tree harvester. Advantage Environment provides information about existing and future products designed to reduce environmental impacts.
Effects of Crystallization on the Corrosion and Passivity of Amorphous Pd-Fe-Co-Si-B Alloys
Authors: Jang HeeJin , Lee Han-Ok , Kim Hyun-Goo
Published: May 2017

Corrosion behavior of Pd48.2Fe17Co16.7Si13.4B4.7 and Pd51.4Fe18Co18Si11.1B1.5 alloys was examined by potentiodynamic polarization tests in pH 8.5 buffer solution. The amorphous alloy ribbons showed passivity with the passive current densities of 2 × 10−6 A/cm2~4 × 10−6 A/cm2. The crystalline alloys showed a higher corrosion rate in pH 8.5 buffer solution with the degree of variation depending on the alloy composition. It is suggested from the Mott-Schottky analysis that the donor density was lower for the amorphous alloy than the crystalline alloy.
Hyperchaotic Chameleon: Fractional Order FPGA Implementation
Authors: Rajagopal Karthikeyan , Karthikeyan Anitha , Duraisamy Prakash
Published: May 2017

There are many recent investigations on chaotic hidden attractors although hyperchaotic hidden attractor systems and their relationships have been less investigated. In this paper, we introduce a hyperchaotic system which can change between hidden attractor and self-excited attractor depending on the values of parameters. Dynamic properties of these systems are investigated. Fractional order models of these systems are derived and their bifurcation with fractional orders is discussed. Field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementations of the systems with their power and resource utilization are presented.
DC Glow Discharge in Axial Magnetic Field at Low Pressures
Authors: Gao Shen , Chen Shixiu , Ji Zengchao , Tian Wei , Chen Jun
Published: May 2017

On the basis of fluid approximation, an improved version of the model for the description of dc glow discharge plasma in the axial magnetic field was successfully developed. The model has yielded a set of analytic formulas for the physical quantities concerned from the electron and ion fluids equations and Poisson equation. The calculated results satisfy the practical boundary conditions. Results obtained from the model reveal that although the differential equations under the condition of axial magnetic field are consistent with the differential equations without considering the magnetic field, the solution of the equations is not completely consistent. The results show that the stronger the magnetic field, the greater the plasma density.
Plesiomonas shigelloides: An Unusual Cause of Septic Abortion
Authors: Cornut Gilbert , Marchand-Senecal Xavier , Gaudreau Christiane , Berdugo Jeremie , Gariepy Gilles , Tremblay Catherine , Savard Patrice
Published: May 2017

Plesiomonas shigelloides, the only oxidase-positive Enterobacteriaceae, is an inhabitant of freshwater and estuary ecosystems. We report the first possible case of Plesiomonas shigelloides-induced septic abortion. This 24-year-old female was successfully treated by dilatation and curettage as well as antimicrobial therapy.
NPC‐EXs Alleviate Endothelial Oxidative Stress and Dysfunction through the miR‐210 Downstream Nox2 and VEGFR2 Pathways
Authors: Liu Hua , Wang Jinju , Chen Yusen , Chen Yanfang , Ma Xiaotang , Bihl Ji C. , Yang Yi
Published: May 2017

We have demonstrated that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) protect endothelial cells (ECs) from oxidative stress. Since exosomes (EXs) can convey the benefit of parent cells through their carried microRNAs (miRs) and miR‐210 is ubiquitously expressed with versatile functions, we investigated the role of miR‐210 in the effects of NPC‐EXs on oxidative stress and dysfunction in ECs. NPCs were transfected with control and miR‐210 scramble/inhibitor/mimic to generate NPC‐EXscon, NPC‐EXssc, NPC‐EXsanti-miR-210, and NPC‐EXsmiR-210. The effects of various NPC‐EXs on angiotensin II‐ (Ang II‐) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, apoptosis, and dysfunction, as well as dysregulation of Nox2, ephrin A3, VEGF, and p‐VEGFR2/VEGFR2 in ECs were evaluated. Results showed (1) Ang II‐induced ROS overproduction, increase in apoptosis, and decrease in tube formation ability, accompanied with Nox2 upregulation and reduction of p‐VEGFR2/VEGFR2 in ECs. (2) Compared to NPC‐EXscon or NPC‐EXssc, NPC‐EXsanti-miR-210 were less whereas NPC‐EXsmiR-210 were more effective on attenuating these detrimental effects induced by Ang II in ECs. (3) These effects of NPC‐EXsanti-miR-210 and NPC‐EXsmiR-210 were associated with the changes of miR‐210, ephrin A3, VEGF, and p‐VEGFR2/VEGFR2 ratio in ECs. Altogether, the protective effects of NPC‐EXs on Ang II‐induced endothelial injury through miR‐210 which controls Nox2/ROS and VEGF/VEGFR2 signals were studied.
Detecting the Candidate Gender Determinants by Bioinformatic Prediction of miRNAs and Their Targets from Transcriptome Sequences of the Male and Female Flowers in Salix suchowensis
Authors: Wei Suyun , Ye Ning , Yin Tongming
Published: May 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of small, noncoding, and endogenous single-stranded RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Potential miRNAs can be identified based on sequence homology since miRNAs are highly conserved in plants. In this study, we aligned the expressed sequence tags derived from flower buds of male and female S. suchowensis to miRNAs in the miRBase, which enable us to identify 34 potential miRNAs from flower buds of the alternate sexes. Among them, 11 were from the female and 23 were from the male. Analyzing sequence complementarity led to identification of 124 and 55 miRNA targets in the male and female flower buds, respectively. By mapping the target genes of the predicted miRNAs to the sequence assemblies of S. suchowensis, a miR156 mediated gene was detected at the gender locus of willow, which was a transcription factor involved in flower development. It is noteworthy that this target is not expressed in male flower, while it is expressed fairly highly in female flower based on the transcriptome data derived from the alternate sexes of willows. This study provides new bioinformatic clue for further exploring the genetic mechanism underlying gender determination in willows.
Contribution of the Microenvironmental Niche to Glioblastoma Heterogeneity
Authors: Ho Ivy A. W. , Shim Winston S. N.
Published: May 2017

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive cancer of the brain. The dismal prognosis is largely attributed to the heterogeneous nature of the tumor, which in addition to intrinsic molecular and genetic changes is also influenced by the microenvironmental niche in which the glioma cells reside. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) hypothesis suggests that all cancers arise from CSCs that possess the ability to self-renew and initiate tumor formation. CSCs reside in specialized niches where interaction with the microenvironment regulates their stem cell behavior. The reciprocal interaction between glioma stem cells (GSCs) and cells from the microenvironment, such as endothelial cells, immune cells, and other parenchymal cells, may also promote angiogenesis, invasion, proliferation, and stemness of the GSCs and be likely to have an underappreciated role in their responsiveness to therapy. This crosstalk may also promote molecular transition of GSCs. Hence the inherent plasticity of GSCs can be seen as an adaptive response, changing according to the signaling cue from the niche. Given the association of GSCs with tumor recurrence and treatment sensitivity, understanding this bidirectional crosstalk between GSCs and its niche may provide a framework to identify more effective therapeutic targets and improve treatment outcome.
A Dosimetric Comparison of Dose Escalation with Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Yang Wenjuan , Zeng Biao , Qiu Yanfang , Tan Jianfeng , Xu Shilei , Cai Yilong , Zhou Yujuan , Liu Zhigang , Luo Junming , Wang Hui
Published: May 2017

Background. Many studies have demonstrated that a higher radiotherapy dose is associated with improved outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We performed a dosimetric planning study to assess the dosimetric feasibility of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in locally advanced NSCLC. Methods. We enrolled twenty patients. Five different dose plans were generated for each patient. All plans were prescribed a dose of 60 Gy to the planning tumor volume (PTV). In the three SIB groups, the prescribed dose was 69 Gy, 75 Gy, and 81 Gy in 30 fractions to the internal gross tumor volume (iGTV). Results. The SIB-IMRT plans were associated with a significant increase in the iGTV dose (P < 0.05), without increased normal tissue exposure or prolonged overall treatment time. Significant differences were not observed in the dose to the normal lung in terms of the V5 and V20 among the four IMRT plans. The maximum dose (Dmax) in the esophagus moderately increased along with the prescribed dose (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Our results indicated that escalating the dose by SIB-IMRT is dosimetrically feasible; however, systematic evaluations via clinical trials are still warranted. We have designed a further clinical study (which is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02841228).
Frequency Dependence of C-V Characteristics of MOS Capacitors Containing Nanosized High-κ Ta2O5 Dielectrics
Authors: Novkovski Nenad , Atanassova Elena
Published: May 2017

Capacitance of metal–insulator–Si structures containing high permittivity dielectric exhibits complicated behaviour when voltage and frequency dependencies are studied. From our study on metal (Al, Au, W)–Ta2O5/SiO2–Si structures, we identify serial C-R measurement mode to be more convenient for use than the parallel one usually used in characterization of similar structures. Strong frequency dependence that is not due to real variations in the dielectric permittivity of the layers is observed. Very high capacitance at low frequencies is due to the leakage in Ta2O5 layer. We found that the above observation is mainly due to different leakage current mechanisms in the two different layers composing the stack. The effect is highly dependent on the applied voltage, since the leakage currents are strongly nonlinear functions of the electric field in the layers. Additionally, at low frequencies, transition currents influence the measured value of the capacitance. From the capacitance measurements several parameters are extracted, such as capacitance in accumulation, effective dielectric constant, and oxide charges. Extracting parameters of the studied structures by standard methods in the case of high-κ/interfacial layer stacks can lead to substantial errors. Some cases demonstrating these deficiencies of the methods are presented and solutions for obtaining better results are proposed.
Health and Safety Considerations of Fermented Sausages
Authors: Holck Askild , Axelsson Lars , McLeod Anette , Rode Tone Mari , Heir Even
Published: May 2017

Fermented sausages are highly treasured traditional foods. A large number of distinct sausages with different properties are produced using widely different recipes and manufacturing processes. Over the last years, eating fermented sausages has been associated with potential health hazards due to their high contents of saturated fats, high NaCl content, presence of nitrite and its degradation products such as nitrosamines, and use of smoking which can lead to formation of toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Here we review the recent literature regarding possible health effects of the ingredients used in fermented sausages. We also go through attempts to improve the sausages by lowering the content of saturated fats by replacing them with unsaturated fats, reducing the NaCl concentration by partly replacing it with KCl, and the use of selected starter cultures with desirable properties. In addition, we review the food pathogenic microorganisms relevant for fermented sausages(Escherichia coli,Salmonella enterica,Staphylococcus aureus,Listeria monocytogenes,Clostridium botulinum, andToxoplasma gondii)and processing and postprocessing strategies to inhibit their growth and reduce their presence in the products.
Fusing Depth and Silhouette for Scanning Transparent Object with RGB-D Sensor
Authors: Ji Yijun , Xia Qing , Zhang Zhijiang
Published: May 2017

3D reconstruction based on structured light or laser scan has been widely used in industrial measurement, robot navigation, and virtual reality. However, most modern range sensors fail to scan transparent objects and some other special materials, of which the surface cannot reflect back the accurate depth because of the absorption and refraction of light. In this paper, we fuse the depth and silhouette information from an RGB-D sensor (Kinect v1) to recover the lost surface of transparent objects. Our system is divided into two parts. First, we utilize the zero and wrong depth led by transparent materials from multiple views to search for the 3D region which contains the transparent object. Then, based on shape from silhouette technology, we recover the 3D model by visual hull within these noisy regions. Joint Grabcut segmentation is operated on multiple color images to extract the silhouette. The initial constraint for Grabcut is automatically determined. Experiments validate that our approach can improve the 3D model of transparent object in real-world scene. Our system is time-saving, robust, and without any interactive operation throughout the process.
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Different Single Doses of Intravenous Paracetamol for Placement of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Preterm Infants
Authors: Roofthooft Daniella W.E. , Simons Sinno H.P. , van Lingen Richard A. , Tibboel Dick , van den Anker John N. , Reiss Irwin K.H. , van Dijk Monique
Published: May 2017

Background: The availability of a safe and effective pharmacological therapy to reduce procedural pain in preterm infants is limited. The effective analgesic single dose of intravenous paracetamol in preterm infants is unknown. Comparative studies on efficacy of different paracetamol doses in preterm infants are lacking. Objectives: To determine the analgesic effects of different single intravenous paracetamol doses on pain from peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in preterm infants. Methods: In a blinded randomized controlled trial, the analgesic effects of 10-, 15-, and 20-mg/kg single-dose intravenous paracetamol before PICC placement were compared in neonates with a gestational age <32 weeks. Secondly, a separate age-matched nonrandomized control group receiving oral sucrose was included. Pain was assessed with the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) and the COMFORTneo score. Peak plasma concentrations of paracetamol were determined. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the paracetamol dose groups (median gestational age = 27.8, IQR: 25.7-29.2 weeks). PIPP scores were comparable: median = 8 (IQR: 6-10.5), 7 (IQR: 6-9), and 8 (IQR: 6-10) for the 10-, 15-, and 20-mg/kg paracetamol groups, respectively (p = 0.94). COMFORTneo scores were not statistically different between the different paracetamol dose groups (p = 0.35). All randomized subjects, except for 3 who received 10 mg/kg of paracetamol, had peak paracetamol concentrations >9 mg/L. PIPP (p = 0.78) and COMFORTneo (p = 0.08) scores were also comparable between paracetamol- and sucrose-treated patients. Conclusions: We found no analgesic benefit from intravenous paracetamol studied in different single doses over sucrose for PICC placement in preterm infants. Paracetamol is not a suitable analgesic for this procedure in preterm infants.
The Determinants of Quality of Life of Nursing Home Residents with Young-Onset Dementia and the Differences between Dementia Subtypes
Authors: Appelhof Britt , Bakker Christian , Van Duinen-van den Ijssel Jeannette C.L. , Zwijsen Sandra A. , Smalbrugge Martin , Verhey Frans R.J. , de Vugt Marjolein E. , Zuidema Sytse U. , Koopmans Raymond T.C.M.
Published: May 2017

Aims: The aims of this study are to (1) explore the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in nursing home residents with young-onset dementia (YOD), (2) investigate whether there are differences between dementia subtypes (Alzheimer dementia, vascular/mixed dementia, frontotemporal dementia, other) regarding these determinants, and (3) compare QoL profiles of YOD nursing home residents across dementia subtypes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 207 nursing home residents. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the relationships between QoL and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), dementia severity, psychotropic drug use (PDU), dementia subtype, age, and gender. Additional multilevel models were used to compare aspects of QoL between dementia subtypes. Results: Residents' QoL was negatively associated with advanced dementia, PDU, and NPS. In general, the relationships between the determinants and QoL were similar across the dementia subtypes. Aspects of QoL differed by dementia subtype. Residents with frontotemporal dementia showed less negative emotions, accepted more help and experienced better quality of relationships with professional caregivers, had a more positive self-image, felt more comfortable in the nursing home environment, and experienced lower quality of social relationships. Conclusions: Considering the high rates of NPS and PDU in YOD residents and their negative associations with QoL, we recommend emphasizing services to manage and reduce NPS and PDU in nursing home residents with YOD. Furthermore, our findings suggest accounting for differences in aspects of QoL by dementia subtype to address specific needs and thereby improve QoL.
Shallow Anterior Chamber in a Severe Case of Unilateral Acute Central Serous Retinal Detachment
Authors: Colakoglu Ahmet , Cosar Banu
Published: May 2017

Background: Atypical serous chorioretinopathy can present with symptoms similar to those of other pachychoroid diseases; however, a proper differential diagnosis will prevent unnecessary intensive treatments. To this end, we report on the shallowness of anterior chamber and transitory anterior vitreous cells in a patient with atypical severe serous retinal detachment. Case Presentation: A 42-year-old woman presented with unilateral visual loss accompanied by mild, vague eye pain for 4 days. Spectral-domain OCT scans of the left eye showed macular and peripapillary serous detachment. Optical biometry showed the clinically significant shallow anterior chamber. Conclusions: Severe central serous chorioretinopathy can show up in an atypical fashion with macular, extramacular, juxtapapillary serous detachments, temporary existence of anterior vitreous cells, clinically detectable decreased anterior chamber depth, and mild eye pain of short duration.
The love of details: watching Breaking Bad
Authors: Jost François
Published: May 2017

The most innovative television series take advantage of new audience forms that make the fictional tend to the ludic and give to the act of watching the aspect of a game. With the functions of freezing or enlarging the details, the new visualization instruments allow the viewer to participate a little more of the creative acts, while at the same time can enjoy a recreational activity. The analysis of Breaking Bad in this article demonstrates these possibilities, highlighting how the “granularity” of the minimum unit of a television work has changed, in order to address a new kind of spectator. This spectator should be able to analyze the details of image and soundtrack to understand or taste the series.
Correntes da felicidade: emoções, gênero e poder
Authors: Freire Filho João
Published: May 2017

From the discussion on happy life norms, I direct the investigative focus from media representations to the internet’s emotional courts, proposing the construction of a theoretical-methodological reference framework to analyze the discussions on the emotional posture of two women: a prostitute who declared to be “happy” with her profession, in a campaign of the Brazilian Ministry of Health; and a mother who revealed to “hate” the experience of motherhood, in answer to a Facebook challenge. The examination of the impact of these two cases will provide a vivid panorama of the implications of affective ideals that, along with other disciplinary forces, constrain and produce identities.
A Traveling Script: Labor Migration, Precarity, and Performance
Authors: Pratt Geraldine , Johnston Caleb , Banta Vanessa
Published: May 2017

Originally performed in Vancouver, the testimonial play Nanay was developed to address the politics and hard ethical dilemmas of caregivers and migrant labor in Canada. When moved from Vancouver to the Philippines, the play was considerably revised with input from the community to consider the problems facing Filipino live-in caregivers from within the context of their home country.
Defining Christianity and Judaism from the Perspective of Religious Anarchy
Authors: Magid Shaul
Published: May 2017

This essay explores Martin Buber’s rendering of Jesus and the Ba‘al Shem Tov as two exemplars of religious anarchism that create a lens through which to see the symmetry between Judaism and Christianity. The essay argues that Buber’s use of Jesus to construct his view of the Ba‘al Shem Tov enables us to revisit the “parting of the ways” between Judaism and Christianity through the category of the religious anarchist.
Conundrums of Buddhist Cosmology and Psychology
Authors: Burley Mikel
Published: May 2017

Despite the Buddha’s renowned aversion to metaphysical-cum-cosmological speculation, ostensibly cosmological systems have proliferated in Buddhist traditions. Debates persist over how to interpret these systems, a central puzzle being the relation between apparently cosmological and psychological aspects. This article critically analyzes three main interpretive orientations, namely psychologization, literalism, and the one-reality view. After examining a tendency in the third of these to equivocate between talk of two co-referentialvocabulariesand talk of two correspondingorders, I discuss at length the debate between literalist and psychologizing approaches. The latter emphasize how accounts of “realms of existence” are most cogently read as figurative descriptions of mental states, whereas literalists argue that at least some of the accounts should be understood cosmologically, as descriptions of spatiotemporal regions. Notwithstanding weaknesses in some literalist arguments, the importance to Buddhist soteriology of a conception of rebirth beyond one’s present life counts against psychologizing approaches that either ignore or downplay this importance. Returning to the one-reality view, I develop the idea that it is the existential state being described that constitutes the common factor between “cosmological” and “psychological” passages. Treating the texts in an overly literal-minded manner, I suggest, risks missing these descriptions’ affective and conative significance.
Literature, Innovation, and Buddhist Philosophy: Shabkar’s Nine Emanated Scriptures
Authors: Pang Rachel H.
Published: May 2017

This article is about the Tibetan Buddhist poet-saint Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol’s (1781–1851) nine “emanated scriptures” (Tibetan,sprul pa’i glegs bam). Described by Shabkar as being “unprecedented,” the “emanated scripture” is the single largest genre represented in hisCollected Works. In this article, I examine the significance of the emanated scripture using a literary perspective that remains cognizant of the texts’ original religio-cultural background. After considering the Buddhist philosophical context in which Shabkar understood his nine emanated scriptures, I demonstrate how an analysis of simile, intertextuality, textual structure, and style: (1) illuminates facets of the texts that may have otherwise remained unnoticed in traditional Buddhist contexts, (2) modifies the prevalent notion in Buddhist and Tibetan studies that traditional Tibetan society did not value newness, and (3) represents an important step towards understanding Shabkar’s written legacy and the relationship between religion and literature in comparative religious contexts.
A Response to the Attempted Critique of the Scientific Phenomenological Method
Authors: Giorgi Amedeo
Published: May 2017

Recently, a book (details are given below) was published, the sole purpose of which was to discourage researchers from using the scientific phenomenological method. The author (Paley, 1997; 1998; 2000) had previously been critical of nurses who had used the scientific phenomenological method but in the new book he goes after the originators of different methods of scientific phenomenological research and attempts to criticize them severely. In this review I defend only the scientific phenomenological method that is strictly based upon the thought of Edmund Husserl. Given the entirely negative project of only critiquing phenomenologically grounded scientific research, one would expect the author to be sensitive to the cautions historians and philosophers of science speak about when one attempts to criticize concepts and procedures that belong to a different research community. Paley, an empiricist, uses empirical criteria to criticize phenomenological work.

Moreover, given the entirely negative project of critiquing phenomenologically grounded scientific research one would expect the author to be knowledgeable about phenomenology and the innovative research practices used by a new research community. However, (1) the author has only a thin, superficial understanding of phenomenology (e.g., it is not a technology; Paley, 2017, 109). One gets the impression that he only reads phenomenology in order to critique it. He displays an outsider’s understanding of it which means that his criticisms of it are faulty because he does not know how to think and dwell within the phenomenological framework; (2) he does not understand “discovery-oriented” research and he keeps judging such research according to criteria from the “context of verification” perspective which are the wrong criteria for “discovery-oriented” research; (3) he denigrates and reduces nursing research strategies because he interprets them to be based on pragmatic motivations only. He does not even grant that nurses can have authentic scientific motivations for seeking phenomenologically based methods; (4) he uses unfair rhetorical strategies in the sense that he uses strategies himself that he criticizes when others use them. The review below documents what has been summarized here.
Materiality, Labor, and Signification of Sacred Objects in Japanese Buddhism
Authors: Rambelli Fabio
Published: May 2017

Recent studies on Buddhist materiality tend to focus on specific objects and their ritual uses, without dedicating much attention to processes of production of those objects and their actual makers. This article begins to redress this situation by outlining a general theoretical framework for the study of Buddhist objects and material culture in general through their continuous transformations—a framework that takes into account not only the ontological status and phenomenological features of individual objects, but also their signification and the various types of labor involved in their production and fruition. After proposing a general typology of objects, in order to gain a better sense of the ontological extension of Buddhism, the article also discusses the types of labor and practical activities involved in the production and use of Buddhist objects. Next, it deals with different aspects that determine the value of Buddhist sacred objects, and addresses modes of transformation affecting Buddhist objects through time and space, envisioned here as instances of broader processes of semiotic transformation (semiomorphosis). While this paper mostly examines objects within the Japanese Buddhist tradition, it hopes to offer a contribution to the study of practical materiality and labor in other Buddhist traditions as well.
Novitates neocaledonicae VI: Acropogon mesophilus (Malvaceae, Sterculioideae), a rare and threatened new species from the mesic forest of New Caledonia
Authors: MUNZINGER JÉRÔME , GÂTEBLÉ GILDAS
Published: May 2017

A new species, Acropogon mesophilus Munzinger & Gâteblé (Malvaceae, Sterculioideae), is described from New Caledonia. This species is endemic to non-ultramafic areas, along the southwestern coast of Grande-Terre. The species has large leaves, widely ovate to ovate, and entire, and might be confused with only two other endemic species, namely A. bullatus (Pancher & Sebert) Morat and A. veillonii Morat. However, A. mesophilus differs from the other two species most evidently by its leaves 3-nerved, flat, and with truncate to rounded bases, versus leaves 5-nerved, bullate, and with cordate bases. A line drawing and color photos are provided for the new species, along with a discussion of its morphological affinities and a preliminary risk of extinction assessment of Endangered.
Polyphasic analysis for elucidating the taxonomic position of selected unicellular marine cyanobacteria from Indian and Hong Kong coast
Authors: BHUVANESHWARI T. , SHYLAJANACIYAR M. , PRAKASAM P. ARUL , EZHILMARAN K. , KARTHICK L. , SUBRAMANIAN G. , UMA L. , PRABAHARAN D.
Published: May 2017

Cyanobacteria, the primordial oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes encompass a wide spectrum of morphologies and ecologies. The diversity of twelve marine unicellular cyanobacteria isolated from different marine habitats was analyzed morphologically. The evolutionary relationship among the investigated strains was examined by phylogenetic analysis of nearly complete 16S rRNA gene and 16-23S internal transcribed spacer region. Phylogenetic analysis of both 16S rRNA genes and internal spacer regions exhibited coherent clustering patterns. The genetic relatedness of the investigated strains was largely congruent with morphology-based taxonomic groupings. All the investigated strains possess both the types of tRNA (tRNAIle and tRNAAla) in their 16-23S internal spacer regions and significantly varied GC contents and spacer sequence lengths. Further, ultrastructural studies provide a more valuable insight into the cyanobacterial taxa studied. Our study helps to apply the polyphasic approach (use of morphology, ultra-structure, ecology, and molecular analysis of complete 16S rRNA genes and 16-23S internal spacer regions) to resolve taxonomic ambiguities and provide a fairly robust cyanobacterial classification system among the unicellular forms studied.
An enigmatic new genus of Hormiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from South India
Authors: RANJITH A.P. , BELOKOBYLSKIJ SERGEY A. , QUICKE DONALD L.J. , KITTEL REBECCA N. , BUTCHER BUNTIKA A. , NASSER M.
Published: May 2017

A new Hormiinae genus Indohormius gen. nov. with type species I. keralensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Comparison of this genus with some Hormiinae and Rhyssalinae genera are provided. The composition of the subfamily Hormiinae and the position of the new genus on a molecular phylogenetic tree are discussed.