bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Cell Surface Hydrophobicity among Cryptococcus neoformans Strains Influences Interactions with Amoebas
Authors: Vij Raghav , Danchik Carina , Crawford Conor , Dragotakes Quigly , Casadevall Arturo
Published: April 2020

The interaction of a microbial cell with its environment is influenced by the biophysical properties of a cell. The affinity of the cell surface for water, defined by the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), is a biophysical parameter that varies among different strains of
Cryptococcus neoformans
. The CSH influences the phagocytosis of the yeast by its natural predator in the soil, the amoeba. Studying variation in biophysical properties like CSH gives us insight into the dynamic host-predator interaction and host-pathogen interaction in a damage-response framework.
Disruption of Cross-Feeding Inhibits Pathogen Growth in the Sputa of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Flynn Jeffrey M. , Cameron Lydia C. , Wiggen Talia D. , Dunitz Jordan M. , Harcombe William R. , Hunter Ryan C.
Published: April 2020

Antibiotic efficacy achieved
in vitro
correlates poorly with clinical outcomes after treatment of chronic polymicrobial diseases; if a pathogen demonstrates susceptibility to a given antibiotic in the lab, that compound is often ineffective when administered clinically. Conversely, if a pathogen is resistant
in vitro
, patient treatment with that same compound can elicit a positive response. This discordance suggests that the
in vivo
growth environment impacts pathogen antibiotic susceptibility. Indeed, here we demonstrate that interspecies relationships among microbiotas in the sputa of cystic fibrosis patients can be targeted to indirectly inhibit the growth of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. The therapeutic implication is that control of chronic lung infections may be achieved by exploiting obligate or facultative relationships among airway bacterial community members. This strategy is particularly relevant for pathogens harboring intrinsic multidrug resistance and is broadly applicable to chronic polymicrobial airway, wound, and intra-abdominal infections.
Association between socioeconomic status and incident stroke in China
Authors: Zhou Weiju , Chen Ruoling , Hopkins Alex , Wang Yulong , Tang Jie , Chen Xiangyan , Clifford Angela , Pan Yuesong , Forthby Ken , Ni Jindong , Wang Duolao , Brunner Eric
Published: April 2020

Background

Little is known about the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on incidence of stroke in China. This study aimed to examine the association of SES, which was measured by different indicators, with incidence of stroke and gender differences in the association.

Methods and results

Two prospective cohort studies were conducted including 2852 participants aged ≥60 years in Anhui province and 3016 participants in four other provinces in China. During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 211 incident stroke cases occurred in the Anhui cohort. The risk of stroke increased with living in rural areas (adjusted HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.19 to 5.22; women 3.64, 95% CI 1.17 to 11.32, men 2.23, 95% CI 0.81 to 6.19), but not significantly with educational level, occupational class, satisfactory income and financial problems (except for women with low education). The four-province cohort had 113 incident stroke cases over the 3.1 years’ follow-up. The five SES indicators were not significantly associated with incident stroke (except for increased risk in men with high occupation), but additional measurement for actual income showed that incident stroke increased in women with low personal income and in men with high family income. Pooled data from the two cohorts demonstrated the impacts of rural living (1.66, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.57) and having high occupational class (1.56, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.38), and gender differences for women with low education (2.26, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.27).

Conclusions

Rural living and being female with low SES are associated with increased stroke risk in China. Strategies to improve public health in the rural communities and gender-specific targets for health inequality should be an integral component of stroke interventions.
Age, growth, and population assessment of grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) in two northern populations
Authors: Colm J.E. , Casselman J.M. , Mandrak N.E.
Published: April 2020

Age assessment was conducted on the at-risk grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus Lesueur, 1846) in southern Ontario, Canada (the northern edge of the species’ range), to better understand population dynamics. Cleithral age assessment revealed different age distributions between two sample years; the first year characterized by old, large individuals and the second year characterized by mostly young of the year. Back-calculated lengths at age were used to develop the von Bertalanffy growth relationships and estimates of ultimate length. Growth rates were substantially faster in the second year, when fewer and smaller individuals were present, suggesting density-dependent effects on growth. A pseudoannulus in the cleithrum, common to this species, was shown by sequential sampling to form in early July at 70% to 80% of the first growth zone and to occur more frequently in slow-growing fish and strong year classes than in faster-growing individuals and weaker year classes. Mortality rates of females were high (26%–46%) relative to other studies and probably resulted from greater abundance of individuals. Compared with cleithra, scale ages after age 1 were consistently underestimated. Calculated length at cleithral age intervals overlapped minimally, suggesting length could be used as a proxy for assessing age of this species in Ontario to avoid lethal sampling.
THz cutoff frequency and multifunction Ti 2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10/GaAs photonic bandgap materials
Authors: Aly Arafa H. , Sayed Fatma A.
Published: April 2020

By using the transfer matrix method (TMM), we theoretically explore the transmittance properties and cutoff frequency of one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPCs) within the terahertz frequency region. The present structure consists of high-temperature superconductor and semiconductor layers. The results of the calculations represent the effects of various parameters on the cutoff frequency. We have used the two-fluid model as well as the Drude model to describe the permittivity of superconductor and semiconductor. Further, we consider that the permittivity of both the materials is depending on the hydrostatic pressure. The present results show that with the increasing of different parameters as the operating temperature, the thickness of semiconductor, and the filling factor of semiconductor, then the cutoff frequency shift to lower frequencies regions. By the increasing of superconductor thickness, hydrostatic pressure, doping concentration and filling factor of the superconductor, we found the cutoff frequency shifts to higher frequency regions. These results indicate that cutoff frequency can be modified through these different parameters. Finally, the present design could be useful for many optical systems as the optical filter, reflector and photoelectronic applications in the Terahertz regime.
DRY NEEDLING VERSUS KINESIO TAPING ON MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT IN THE VASTUS LATERALIS MUSCLE IN SUBJECT WITH PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME
Authors: Shakeri Hassan , Soleimanifar Manijeh , Nejad Leila , Arab Amir Massoud
Published: April 2020

Purpose and Hypothesis: Trigger points (TrP) is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal disorders. Myofascial trigger point in vastus lateralis muscle has been reported high prevalently in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dry needling and kinesio tape on trigger point in vastus lateralis muscle. Randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effect of Dry Needling (DN) and Kinesio Taping (KT) on pain intensity and knee disability after session’s treatment in individuals with trigger point (TrP) in Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscle. Methods: 30 subjects with TrP in the VL muscle participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a DN group ([Formula: see text]) or KT group ([Formula: see text]). Results: Statistical analysis (paired [Formula: see text]-test) revealed a significant improvement in VAS during activity and KOOS scores after three sessions treatment in both of groups compared with before treatment ([Formula: see text]). But PPT was not increased after one week treatment. VAS using an algometer was decreased only at DN group ([Formula: see text]). The results showed no significant changes in variables immediately after intervention. The ANCOVA revealed no significant differences between the DN and KT groups on the post-measurement VAS during activity, VAS using an algometer, PPT, KOOS scores ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: DN and KT produce an improvement in pain intensity and knee disability and may be prescribed for PFPS subjects with TrP in VL muscle especially when pain relief is the goal of the treatment.
Finding a Way Out: S1P Signaling and Immune Cell Migration
Authors: Baeyens Audrey A.L. , Schwab Susan R.
Published: April 2020

The signaling lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) plays critical roles in an immune response. Drugs targeting S1P signaling have been remarkably successful in treatment of multiple sclerosis, and they have shown promise in clinical trials for colitis and psoriasis. One mechanism of these drugs is to block lymphocyte exit from lymph nodes, where lymphocytes are initially activated, into circulation, from which lymphocytes can reach sites of inflammation. Indeed, S1P can be considered a circulation marker, signaling to immune cells to help them find blood and lymphatic vessels, and to endothelial cells to stabilize the vasculature. That said, S1P plays pleiotropic roles in the immune response, and it will be important to build an integrated view of how S1P shapes inflammation. S1P can function so effectively because its distribution is exquisitely tightly controlled. Here we review how S1P gradients regulate immune cell exit from tissues, with particular attention to key outstanding questions in the field.
Morphology-Related Functionality in Nanoarchitectured GaN
Authors: Chatterjee Abhijit , Acharya Shashidhara , Shivaprasad S.M.
Published: April 2020

Integrating silicon and III-nitride technologies for high-speed and large bandwidth communication demands optically interconnected active components that detect, process, and emit photons and electrons. It is imperative that multifunctional materials can enhance the performance and simplify fabrication of such devices. Spontaneously grown GaN in the nanowall network (NwN) architecture simultaneously displays unprecedented optical and electrical properties. A two-order increase in band-edge emission makes it suitable for high-brightness light-emitting diodes and laser applications. Decorating this NwN with silver nanoparticles further enhances emission through plasmonic interactions and renders it an excellent surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate for biomolecular detection. The observation of very high electron mobility (approximately 104 cm2/Vs) and large phase-coherence length (60 μm) is a consequence of two-dimensional (2D) electron gas formation applicable for high electron mobility transistors. Detecting ballistic transport in the nanowalls confirms proximity-induced superconductivity (<5 K and 8 T). Charge separation properties render it a device material for UV photodetectors, photoanodes for water splitting, and thermionic field emitters.
Machine Learning for Structural Materials
Authors: Sparks Taylor D. , Kauwe Steven K. , Parry Marcus E. , Tehrani Aria Mansouri , Brgoch Jakoah
Published: April 2020

The development of structural materials with outstanding mechanical response has long been sought for innumerable industrial, technological, and even biomedical applications. However, these compounds tend to derive their fascinating properties from a myriad of interactions spanning multiple scales, from localized chemical bonding to macroscopic interactions between grains. This diversity has limited the ability of researchers to develop new materials on a reasonable timeline. Fortunately, the advent of machine learning in materials science has provided a new approach to analyze high-dimensional space and identify correlations among the structure-composition-property-processing relationships that may have been previously missed. In this review, we examine some successful examples of using data science to improve known structural materials by analyzing fatigue and failure, and we discuss approaches to develop entirely new classes of structural materials in complex composition spaces including high-entropy alloys and bulk metallic glasses. Highlighting the recent advancement in this field demonstrates the power of data-driven methodologies that will hopefully lead to the production of market-ready structural materials.
Melatonin ameliorates excessive PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy by enhancing SIRT1 expression in granulosa cells of PCOS
Authors: Yi Shanling , Zheng Bo , Zhu Yuan , Cai Yunni , Sun Haixiang , Zhou Jianjun
Published: April 2020

Mitochondrial injury in granulosa cells is associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the protective effects of melatonin against mitochondrial injury in the granulosa cells of PCOS remain unclear. In this study, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA content, increased number of autophagosomes were found in the granulosa cells of PCOS patients and the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated KGN cells, with decreased protein level of the autophagy substrate p62 and increased levels of the cellular autophagy markers Beclin 1 and LC3B-II, while the protein levels of PTEN-induced kinase-1 (PINK1) and Parkin were increased and the level of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was decreased. DHT-induced PCOS-like mice also showed enhanced mitophagy and decreased SIRT1 mRNA expression. Melatonin treatment significantly increased the protein level of SIRT1 and decreased the levels of PINK1/Parkin, whereas it ameliorated the mitochondrial dysfunction and PCOS phenotype in vitro and in vivo. However, when the KGN cells were treated with SIRT1 siRNA to knock down SIRT1 expression, melatonin treatment failed to repress the excessive mitophagy. In conclusion, melatonin protects against mitochondrial injury in granulosa cells of PCOS by enhancing SIRT1 expression to inhibit excessive PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy.
ARDS and Massive Pulmonary Embolism: The Combined Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) with Thrombolytics
Authors: Dickens Brett , Bryant Casey , Gaillard John , Westphal Nathaniel
Published: April 2020

Pancreatitis causes a systemic inflammatory response that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We present a case of severe ARDS complicated by a pulmonary embolism (PE) in a 39-year-old female that developed rapidly progressive pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia.
Three-step Predictor-Corrector Finite Element Schemes for Consolidation Equation
Authors: Torabi Mina , Pastor Manuel , Stickle Miguel Martín
Published: April 2020

An accurate, stable, and efficient three-step predictor-corrector time integration method is considered, for the first time, to obtain numerical solution for the one-dimensional consolidation equation within a finite and spectral element framework. Theoretical order of accuracy and stability conditions are provided. The three-step predictor-corrector time integration method is third-order accurate and shows a larger stability region than the forward Euler method when applied to the one-dimensional consolidation equation. Furthermore, numerical results are in agreement with analytical solutions previously derived by the authors.
Genetic Diversity of Echinococcus granulosus Isolated from Humans: A Comparative Study in Two Cystic Echinococcosis Endemic Areas, Turkey and Iran
Authors: Barazesh Afshin , Sarkari Bahador , Shahabi Saeed , Halidi Ahmed Galip , Ekici Abdurrahman , Aydemir Selahattin , Mahami-Oskouei Mahmoud
Published: April 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Based on molecular studies and DNA sequencing, E. granulosus has been classified into 10 different genotypes (G1 to G10). Two neighboring countries, Turkey and Iran, are considered the two main foci of CE in the Middle East. The current study is aimed at examining the genotype diversity of E. granulosus isolated from human clinical samples in Turkey and Iran. Surgically removed human hydatid cysts were collected from East Azerbaijan and Fars provinces in Iran and Van province in Turkey. After extracting DNA, performing PCR, targeting the cox1 gene, the PCR products were purified from the gel and were sequenced from both directions. The sequences were aligned and compared, using BioEdit and also the BLAST program of GenBank. The maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the Tamura‐Nei model, using the MEGAX software. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the human isolated samples were classified into two major clades: G1 (from Iran and Turkey) and G3 (5 samples from northwestern Iran and one sample from Turkey). The mean and degree of genetic divergence (K2P) between the two major clades, G1 and G3, were 0.2% and 0.7 ± 0.4%, respectively. The findings of the current study revealed that the sheep strain (G1) and the less important strain G3 have major roles in the transmission cycle of CE in two neighboring countries, Iran and Turkey. Therefore, it is necessary to interpose the life cycle of this parasite and reduce the disease burden in livestock and humans by adopting common regional preventive and control policies.
Experimental Analysis of Seismic Performance of Masonry Shear Wall Reinforced with PP‐Band Mesh and Plastering Mortar under In‐Plane Cyclic Loading
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Yang Lingyu , Zhao Wenyang
Published: April 2020

Masonry structures are widely used in developing countries due to their low cost and simple construction, especially in remote areas, where there are a large number of houses without seismic measures. These buildings are prone to collapse and cause a lot of casualties, even under the action of small earthquakes. For the reinforcement of this structure, a cheap, effective, and easy‐to‐construct reinforcement method is urgently needed. Therefore, this article studies the reinforcement method of polypropylene bands (PP‐bands). We have carried out low‐frequency cyclic loading tests for two PP‐band reinforced masonry walls and two compared masonry walls. We mainly studied the influence of PP‐band and different compressive strengths of plastering mortar on the masonry wall’s seismic capacity. The seismic indicators mainly studied in this article include ultimate bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness degradation, and hysteresis characteristics. The experimental results show that the PP‐band can greatly enhance the seismic capacity of the masonry wall. The ultimate bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity, and displacement ductility of the PP‐band reinforced wall are increased by 38%–48%, 22%–47%, and 138%–226%.
Lipoprotein Particle Predictors of Arterial Stiffness after 17 Years of Follow Up: The Malmö Diet and Cancer Study
Authors: Hartz Jacob , Krauss Ronald M. , Göttsater Mikael , Melander Olle , Nilsson Peter , Mietus-Snyder Michele
Published: April 2020

Background. Central arterial stiffness is a surrogate of cardiovascular risk and predicts cardiovascular mortality. Apolipoprotein B lipoproteins are also established cardiovascular risk factors. It is not known whether specific lipoprotein subclasses measured in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study and previously shown to be associated with coronary heart disease also predict arterial stiffening after a mean period of 17 years. Methods. Lipoprotein particle analysis was performed on 2,505 men and women from Malmö, Sweden, from 1991 to 1994, and arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-fPWV) on this same cohort from 2007 to 2012. Associations between c-fPWV and lipoprotein particles were determined with multiple linear regression, controlling for sex, presence of diabetes, waist-to-hip circumference, and smoking status at baseline, as well as heart rate (measured at the carotid artery), mean arterial pressure, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications, C-reactive protein (CRP), and age at the time of c-fPWV measurement. Results. The results confirm that triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) but not low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) predict c-fPWV. We identify a positive predictive association for very small, small, and medium (high risk), but not large LDL particles. There was a negative association for large HDL particles. The relationships between c-fPWV and high-risk LDL particles were unaffected by adjusting for LDL-c or CRP and were only mildly attenuated by adjusting for the homeostatic model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Due to the collinearity of very small, small, and medium LDL particles and dyslipidemia (elevated TG and decreased HDL-c), the observed relationship between c-fPWV and high-risk LDL particles became insignificant after controlling for the concentration of HDL-c, large cholesterol-rich HDL particles, and TG. Conclusions. The development of central arterial stiffness previously associated with combined dyslipidemia may be mediated in part by LDL particles, particularly the very small-, small-, and medium-sized LDL particles.
U-Model-Based Sliding Mode Controller Design for Quadrotor UAV Control Systems
Authors: Wang Rui , Gao Lei , Bai Chengrui , Sun Hui
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a U-model-based fault-tolerant controller design method in order to ensure the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight performance when subject to the actuator failures. Depending on the decoupled quadrotor model, this paper presents a sliding mode control method based on U-model in detail and realizes fault-tolerant control for the quadrotor UAV with the stability theory and simulation experiment verifications. The results show that the new controller designed by using the U-model method can simplify the controller design process which has good fault-tolerant characteristics when actuator faults occur compared with the traditional method.
Numerical Modeling of Stress Disturbance Characteristics during Tunnel Excavation
Authors: Zhu Zeqi , Sheng Qian , Zhang Yumin , Liu Shiwei
Published: April 2020

The stress state and principal stress axis changes of the stress‐field tensor are analyzed during the advancement of a tunnel face on the basis of a given case study of the Jinping II Hydropower Station in China. First, the prevailing pole diagram in geology is used to illustrate the rotation of the stress axes as the tunnel face advances. The results show that the orientation adjustments of principal stresses in different positions near the tunnel boundary share common characteristics. The major and minor principal stress axes ahead of the tunnel face will rotate to intersect with the excavation surface at an angle, with the intermediate principal stress axis being almost parallel to the excavation surface. Furthermore, the stress triaxiality that is commonly used to indicate the deformation and damage of metal materials is introduced to describe the stress state change of the excavation‐induced stress. The stress triaxiality is found to represent the stress state change due to the variation in both the magnitude and orientation of the stress‐field tensor. According to the physical meaning and the change law of the stress triaxiality, stress disturbance during tunnel excavation can be divided into four stages, and the stress disturbance zone is divided into a strong disturbance zone and a weak disturbance zone. The disturbance characteristics of different stages and the distribution patterns of various zones are analyzed, which may be useful for practical application in the design and construction of rock tunnels.
Naturally Occurring Microbiota Associated with Mosquito Breeding Habitats and Potential Parasitic Species against Mosquito Larvae: A Study from Gampaha District, Sri Lanka
Authors: Ranasinghe H. A. K. , Amarasinghe L. D.
Published: April 2020

A mosquito species has its own favourable requirements of abiotic and biotic characteristics including microbiota, in a breeding habitat. Some of the microbiota may cause parasitic or pathogenic effects to mosquito larvae such as species of viruses, parasitic bacteria, fungi, protists, entomopathogenic nematodes, and filamentous fungi. In Sri Lanka, there is a scarcity of information on microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats and their effect on mosquito larvae. Hence, the present study was conducted to determine microbiota species/taxa associated with a variety of mosquito breeding habitats in selected areas of the Gampaha District in Sri Lanka and the relationship, if any, the microbiota has with mosquito larva survival and breeding. Forty‐five microbiota species belonging to 11 phyla were found from different mosquito breeding habitats with the highest percentage belonging to phylum Euglenozoa (27.89%). Species that belonged to the phylum Amoebozoa (1.22%) and Sarcodina (1.17%) had the lowest abundance, and each of its species richness was recorded as one. Philodina citrina followed by Monostyla bulla comprised 30.8% and 16.59%, respectively, of the total rotifer population. From the total microbiota, 25‐50% existed as accidental while less than 25% rare, in the habitat type according to their abundance. Paddy fields had the highest species richness (17), evenness (23.52), Shannon‐Weiner (66.64), and beta diversity (0.65) over 50% indicating high heterogeneity in microbiota composition among the habitats. Ciliated protists, namely, Vorticella microstoma, Zoothamnium spp., and Chilodinella sp., were identified as naturally occurring microbiota associated with Culex mosquito larvae that inhabited in paddy fields and associated irrigation canals. Only Vorticella microstoma caused a significant lethal effect on mosquito larvae. This study revealed that species of Cx. gelidus, Cx. pseudovishnui, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. whitmorei served as hosts for V. microstoma where infectivity rate in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus reached 73.22. Chilodinella sp. selectively served as endoparasitic to Cx. gelidus larvae causing only 4.58% mortality, and invasive cysts of the pathogen were observed in the subcuticular layer of the host body. Even though Zoothamnium spp. were found on Cx. tritaeniorhynchus larvae, there was no lethal effect due to the attachment of the parasitic agent. The potential of these microbiotas in integrated vector controlling approaches in future perspectives is recommended.
Protective Effects of Quercetin on Anxiety‐Like Symptoms and Neuroinflammation Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Authors: Lee Bombi , Yeom Mijung , Shim Insop , Lee Hyejung , Hahm Dae-Hyun
Published: April 2020

Recently, neuroinflammation is thought to be one of the important causes of many neuropsychiatric diseases. Quercetin (QUER) is a natural flavonoid, and it is well known that QUER has antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In our study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the lateral ventricle of rats to induce anxiety‐like behaviors and neuroinflammation, and it was confirmed that chronic administration of QUER could improve anxiety‐like symptoms. We also investigated the effects of QUER on inflammatory markers and its major mechanisms associated with inflammation in the hippocampus. Daily administration of QUER (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg) daily for 21 days significantly improved anxiety‐like behaviors in the elevated plus‐maze test and open field test. QUER administration significantly reduced inflammatory markers such as interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, cyclooxygenase‐2, and nuclear factor‐kappaB levels in the brain. In addition, QUER significantly increased the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level and decreased the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA level. Therefore, our results have shown that QUER can improve anxiety‐like behaviors caused by chronic neuroinflammation. This anxiolytic effect of QUER has been shown to be due to its anti‐inflammatory effects and appropriate regulation of BDNF and iNOS expression. Thus, QUER provides the potential as a therapeutic agent to inhibit anxiety‐like symptoms in neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety.
Combined Effect of Methanol Extracts and Essential Oils ofCallistemon rigidus(Myrtaceae) andEucalyptus camaldulensis(Myrtaceae) againstAnopheles gambiaeGiles larvae (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Younoussa Lame , Kenmoe Francine , Oumarou Mallam Kary , Batti Aurore Christelle Sengue , Tamesse Joseph Lebel , Nukenine Elias Nchiwan
Published: April 2020

Biopesticides from botanicals are nowadays actively encouraged in the mosquito control program because of their low mammalian toxicity, biodegradability, and target specificity. However, leaf methanolic extracts and essential oils ofCallistemon rigidusandEucalyptus camaldulensiswere evaluated individually and in combination on third- and fourth-instar larvae ofAnopheles gambiae. The extracts were tested individually and in combination at doses of 125, 250, 500, and 1000 ppm while essential oils were applied at 25, 50, 100, and 200 according to the standard protocol of WHO. The commercial insecticide Bi-one tested at the recommended dose of 1000 ppm was used as positive control while the solution of tap water containing 0.5 ml of methanol was used as negative control. The mortality of the larvae was recorded after 24 h postexposure. In the results, 100% mortality of the larvae was recorded with the extracts ofC. rigidusand the combinations E50% : C50% and E25% : C75% of the plants as well as positive control (1000 ppm). Similarly, essential oils of the two plants and their combinations caused 100% mortality of the larvae. Among the various combinations of the extracts and essential oils, only the combination E75% : C25% of essential oils presented a synergistic effect. Therefore, the essential oil combination (E75% : C25%) of the plantsE. camaldulensisandC. rigidusis recommended in order to promote the its use in the form of natural biocide in the implementation of effective insect controls against the mosquito larvae, vector of malaria.
Stochastic Characteristics and Optimal Control for a Stochastic Chemostat Model with Variable Yield
Authors: Yan Rong , Sun Shulin
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a stochastic chemostat model with variable yield and Contois growth function is investigated. The yield coefficient depends on the limiting nutrient, and the environmental noises are given by independent standard Brownian motions. First, the existence and uniqueness of global positive solution are proved. Second, by using stochastic Lyapunov function, Itô’s formula, and some important inequalities, stochastic characteristics for the stochastic model are studied, including the extinction of micro-organism, the strong persistence in the mean of micro-organism and, the existence of a unique stationary distribution of the stochastic model. Third, the necessary condition of an optimal stochastic control for the stochastic model is established by Hamiltonian function. In addition, some numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results and the influence of the variable yield on the microorganism.
Optimal Design of Cash Circulation Module Gear for Financial Machinery Based on Tribology
Authors: Yang Weisong , Wang Shukun , Song Wei , Ren Lili
Published: April 2020

To achieve the characteristics of the cash cycle module of a financial machine, such as a compact transmission mechanism, high transmission accuracy, large torque, high rotation speed, high service temperature, no lubrication, and long service life, this work presented a solution to optimize the tooth shape of a thermoplastic gear and the design of a thermoplastic gear with a limit pressure angle of 35°. Through the modeling and simulation analysis of the factors affecting the life of the gear, it was found that the gear with the improved tooth profile was superior to the control gear without the improved tooth profile in terms of sliding wear of the tooth surface, thermal deformation wear, and interference wear. The experimental results demonstrated that the wear resistance of a thermoplastic gear with a tooth profile of 35° was 1.1 times higher than that of the gear with a tooth profile of 20°, which was consistent with the simulation analysis results and can be used as a theoretical basis for thermoplastic gear design in related fields.
The Dominance Degree-Based Heterogeneous Linguistic Decision-Making Technique for Sustainable 3PRLP Selection
Authors: Zhang Xiaolu , Su Ting
Published: April 2020

This study develops a novel dominance degree-based heterogeneous linguistic decision-making technique for identifying the most sustainable third-party reverse logistics providers (3PRLPs) under complex input environments. First, qualitative and uncertain inputs that arise from real-world 3PRLP evaluation process are successfully managed by using linguistic terms, hesitant fuzzy linguistic terms, and probabilistic linguistic term sets with different granularities. Then, the dominance degrees of each 3PRLP related to the other 3PRLPs are calculated based on a new ratio index-based probabilistic linguistic ranking method and the dominance matrix is constructed. Furthermore, to represent the closeness of each 3PRLP to the ideal solution, we propose a sort of measures including the dominance-based group utility measure, the dominance-based individual regret measure, and the dominance-based compromise measure. Accordingly, the selection results of 3PRLPs are obtained according to these measures. Finally, the developed method is applied to a case study from car manufacture industry, and the comparison analysis shows that the proposed method is reliable and stable for dealing with the problem of the 3PRLP selection. The main advantage of the developed method is that it cannot only well avoid the potential loss risks but also balance group utility scores and individual regret scores.
Blended Vision Achieved by Combining High and Low Addition Power Diffractive Intraocular Lenses with Micromonovision: A Clinical Outcome
Authors: Ouchi Masayuki , Shiba Takuya
Published: April 2020

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical outcome of blended vision combined with micromonovision (MMBV) using a + 4 diopter (D) addition power (add) diffractive intraocular lens (MIOL) and a + 2.75 D add MIOL with a myopic target of −0.5 D. Methods. One hundred twenty eyes of 60 cases were enrolled. The +4 D add MIOLs were placed in the nondominant eye, the +2.75 D add MIOLs were placed in the dominant eye with a myopic target of −0.5 D in 30 cases (the MMBV group), and the +4 D add MIOLs were placed in both eyes in another 30 cases (controls). Postoperative clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results. Compared with the controls, binocular uncorrected intermediate vision at 70 cm was significantly better in the MMBV group (p=0.02). Contrast sensitivity at 12 cycles per degree and the 6% and 12.5% low-contrast visual acuities were also significantly better in the MMBV group compared with the controls (p values = 0.05, 0.05, and 0.04, respectively). Uncorrected and corrected distance and near VA did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion. MMBV provided a better intermediate VA, contrast sensitivity, and low-contrast VA than bilateral implantation of the +4 D add MIOL, while preserving comparable near and distance vision.
It Is Complicated: The Medico-Social Journey of an Undocumented Pregnant Adolescent
Authors: Kest Helen , Kaushik Ashlesha , Tehreem Bushra , Goldberg David
Published: April 2020

Adolescent pregnancies are a global health problem with over 16 million children born to this age group globally. Adolescent females also represent almost half of all adolescent global migrants. Adolescent pregnancy by itself is associated with poor health care access and morbidities; the additional risk of social insecurity in the case of undocumented adolescent migrants leads to higher risks for the mother and newborn. According to the CDC, adolescents comprise half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including reported primary and secondary syphilis. Our case highlights the relationship between social insecurity for the undocumented adolescent migrant and excess risks for preventable mother-to-child transmission of communicable diseases. In formulating preventive measures and policies for the recent rise in sexually transmitted maternal diseases with resultant congenital infections, there is need for health care systems and providers to familiarize themselves with advocacy and other useful resources that will promote health care access for undocumented and other vulnerable adolescents. Additionally, local providers who work in areas with a large population of immigrant adolescents should utilize the untapped resources of these adolescents to develop youth community advocacy projects that link adolescents to health resources, including reproductive health.
Nutrition in Herbal Plants Used in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almahasheer Hanan
Published: April 2020

Herbs are used for centuries by many people worldwide. This study derives insights into the use and content of herbs that are consumed among Saudi citizens. An online questionnaire was distributed to understand the basic information about Saudi citizens’ preference and daily patterns of herbal plants that are usually used as drinks. Moreover, concentrations of fourteen elements in twenty-one herbal plants that were indicated in the previous questionnaire were collected from the local market and then analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry (ICP). Mint leaves were significantly higher in most of the nutrients analyzed, and mint was the most popular drink among participants, followed by green tea and anise. Most of the citizens preferred to drink one cup only at home and believed that herbs are good for their health and potentially could help them to sleep better. The outcomes derived from this research could help future assessments of diet patterns among Saudi citizens.
Research on Coordination Complexity of E-Commerce Logistics Service Supply Chain
Authors: Zhong Yaoguang , Guo Fangfang , Tang Huajun , Chen Xumei
Published: April 2020

With the rapid growth of E-commerce business, logistics service, especially the last-mile distribution, has become one bottleneck, which leads to the rise of coordination complexity of logistics service supply chain (LSSC). This research, based on Stackelberg’s game theory, studies the coordination of a new three-echelon LSSC consisting of an E-commerce mall, an express company, and a terminal distribution service provider and investigates the optimal solutions and profits for each party within the semicentralized and centralized LSSC alliances, respectively. To accomplish this, it firstly shows that the three-echelon LSSC can lead to global optimum under the centralized decision-making scenario and then deploys the contract coordination schemes, including revenue sharing, cost sharing, and unit delivery price contracts, in three semicentralized alliances, so as to achieve the same performance of the centralized decision-making scenario, in which each party in the LSSC can achieve the win-win situation. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed coordination strategies. This study enriches the coordination theory in the field of LSSC and provides managerial insights for decision makers in LSSC.
Asymptotic Behavior Analysis of a Fractional-Order Tumor-Immune Interaction Model with Immunotherapy
Authors: Yang Wenbin , Feng Xiaozhou , Liang Shuhui , Wang Xiaojuan
Published: April 2020

A fractional-order tumor-immune interaction model with immunotherapy is proposed and examined. The existence, uniqueness, and nonnegativity of the solutions are proved. The local and global asymptotic stability of some equilibrium points are investigated. In particular, we present the sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of tumor-free equilibrium. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate the analytical results. The results indicate that the fractional order has a stabilization effect, and it may help to control the tumor extinction.
A Network Pharmacology‐Based Study on the Anti‐Lung Cancer Effect of Dipsaci Radix
Authors: Wu Jiayan , Hong Shengkun , Xie Xiankuan , Liu Wangmi
Published: April 2020

Objective. Dipsaci Radix (DR) has been used to treat fracture and osteoporosis. Recent reports have shown that myeloid cells from bone marrow can promote the proliferation of lung cancer. However, the action and mechanism of DR has not been well defined in lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to define molecular mechanisms of DR as a potential therapeutic approach to treat lung cancer. Methods. Active compounds of DR with oral bioavailability ≥30% and drug‐likeness index ≥0.18 were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform. The potential target genes of the active compounds and bone were identified by PharmMapper and GeneCards, respectively. The compound‐target network and protein‐protein interaction network were built by Cytoscape software and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes webserver, respectively. GO analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were performed using R software. Results. Our study demonstrated that DR had 6 active compounds, including gentisin, sitosterol, Sylvestroside III, 3,5‐Di‐O‐caffeoylquinic acid, cauloside A, and japonine. There were 254 target genes related to these active compounds as well as to bone. SRC, AKT1, and GRB2 were the top 3 hub genes. Metabolisms and signaling pathways associated with these hub genes were significantly enriched. Conclusions. This study indicated that DR could exhibit the anti‐lung cancer effect by affecting multiple targets and multiple pathways. It reflects the traditional Chinese medicine characterized by multicomponents and multitargets. DR could be considered as a candidate for clinical anticancer therapy by regulating bone physiological functions.
Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution on Human Semen Quality: A Meta‐Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Jianzhong , Cai Zhonglin , Ma Chengquan , Xiong Jian , Li Hongjun
Published: April 2020

Introduction. Several studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were inconsistent. We performed the current meta‐analysis to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Material and Methods. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution were extracted. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to assess the effects of outdoor air pollution on semen quality. In addition, trial sequential analyses (TSAs) were performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses. Results. A total of 11 studies with 4562 males were enrolled in the current meta‐analysis. Higher air pollution levels were associated with significant decreases in semen volume (WMD: ‐0.16, 95% CI: ‐0.27 to ‐0.05), sperm concentration (WMD: ‐5.52, 95% CI: ‐9.88 to ‐1.16), progressive motility (WMD: ‐6.23, 95% CI: ‐11.64 to ‐0.81), total motility (WMD: ‐7.65, 95% CI: ‐14.09 to ‐1.20), and normal sperm morphology rate (WMD: ‐3.71, 95% CI: ‐5.59 to ‐1.82). In addition, the DNA fragmentation index significantly increased (WMD: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.94 to 6.29). Conclusions. Air pollution is associated with decreased semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology rate.
Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Underwater Image Based on Image Sequence Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Li Li , Fan Zijia , Zhao Mingyang , Wang Xinlei , Wang Zhongyang , Wang Zhiqiong , Guo Longxiang
Published: April 2020

Since the underwater image is not clear and difficult to recognize, it is necessary to obtain a clear image with the super-resolution (SR) method to further study underwater images. The obtained images with conventional underwater image super-resolution methods lack detailed information, which results in errors in subsequent recognition and other processes. Therefore, we propose an image sequence generative adversarial network (ISGAN) method for super-resolution based on underwater image sequences collected by multifocus from the same angle, which can obtain more details and improve the resolution of the image. At the same time, a dual generator method is used in order to optimize the network architecture and improve the stability of the generator. The preprocessed images are, respectively, passed through the dual generator, one of which is used as the main generator to generate the SR image of sequence images, and the other is used as the auxiliary generator to prevent the training from crashing or generating redundant details. Experimental results show that the proposed method can be improved on both peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) compared to the traditional GAN method in underwater image SR.
Propofol Attenuates Hypoxia‐Induced Inflammation in BV2 Microglia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and NF‐κB/Hif‐1α Signaling
Authors: Peng Xiaowei , Li Chenglong , Yu Wei , Liu Shuai , Cong Yushuang , Fan Guibo , Qi Sihua
Published: April 2020

Hypoxia‐induced neuroinflammation typically causes neurological damage and can occur during stroke, neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy, and other diseases. Propofol is widely used as an intravenous anesthetic. Studies have shown that propofol has antineuroinflammatory effect. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of propofol against hypoxia‐induced neuroinflammation and elucidated its potential cellular and biochemical mechanisms of action. In this study, we chose cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to establish a hypoxic model. We found that propofol decreased hypoxia‐induced proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL‐1β, and IL‐6) in BV2 microglia, significantly suppressed the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, and increased the total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, propofol attenuated the hypoxia‐induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential andy 2 strongly inhibited protein expression of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) subunit p65 and hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (Hif‐1α) in hypoxic BV2 cells. To investigate the role of NF‐κB p65, specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) against NF‐κB p65 were transfected into BV2 cells, followed by exposure to hypoxia for 24 h. Hypoxia‐induced Hif‐1α production was downregulated after NF‐κB p65 silencing. Further, propofol suppressed Hif‐1α expression by inhibiting the upregulation of NF‐κB p65 after exposure to hypoxia in BV2 microglia. In summary, propofol attenuates hypoxia‐induced neuroinflammation, at least in part by inhibiting oxidative stress and NF‐κB/Hif‐1α signaling.
A New Ridge-Type Estimator for the Linear Regression Model: Simulations and Applications
Authors: Kibria B. M. Golam , Lukman Adewale F.
Published: April 2020

The ridge regression-type (Hoerl and Kennard, 1970) and Liu-type (Liu, 1993) estimators are consistently attractive shrinkage methods to reduce the effects of multicollinearity for both linear and nonlinear regression models. This paper proposes a new estimator to solve the multicollinearity problem for the linear regression model. Theory and simulation results show that, under some conditions, it performs better than both Liu and ridge regression estimators in the smaller MSE sense. Two real-life (chemical and economic) data are analyzed to illustrate the findings of the paper.