bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of a Candidate Wolbachia pipientis Type IV Effector That Interacts with the Actin Cytoskeleton
Authors: Sheehan Kathy B. , Martin MaryAnn , Lesser Cammie F. , Isberg Ralph R. , Newton Irene L. G.
Published: July 2016

Many bacteria live as intracellular symbionts, causing persistent infections within insects. One extraordinarily common infection is that of
Wolbachia pipientis
, which infects 40% of insect species and induces reproductive effects. The bacteria are passed from generation to generation both vertically (through the oocyte) and horizontally (by environmental transmission). Maintenance of the infection within
Drosophila melanogaster
is sensitive to the regulation of actin, as
Wolbachia
inefficiently colonizes strains hemizygous for the profilin or villin genes. Therefore, we hypothesized that
Wolbachia
must depend on the host actin cytoskeleton. In this study, we identify and characterize a
Wolbachia
protein (WD0830) that is predicted to be secreted by the bacterial parasite. Expression of WD0830 in a model eukaryote (the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
) induces a growth defect associated with the appearance of aberrant, filamentous structures which colocalize with rhodamine-phalloidin-stained actin. Purified WD0830 bundles actin
in vitro
and cosediments with actin filaments, suggesting a direct interaction of the two proteins. We characterized the expression of WD0830 throughout
Drosophila
development and found it to be upregulated in third-instar larvae, peaking in early pupation, during the critical formation of adult tissues, including the reproductive system. In transgenic flies, heterologously expressed WD0830 localizes to the developing oocyte. Additionally, overexpression of WD0830 results in increased
Wolbachia
titers in whole flies, in stage 9 and 10 oocytes, and in embryos, compared to controls, suggesting that the protein may facilitate
Wolbachia
’s replication or transmission. Therefore, this candidate secreted effector may play a role in
Wolbachia
’s infection of and persistence within host niches.

IMPORTANCE
The obligate intracellular
Wolbachia pipientis
is a ubiquitous alphaproteobacterial symbiont of arthropods and nematodes and is related to the rickettsial pathogens
Ehrlichia
spp. and
Anaplasma
spp. Studies of
Wolbachia
cell biology suggest that this bacterium relies on host actin for efficient proliferation and transmission between generations. Here, we identified and characterized a
Wolbachia
protein that localizes to and manipulates the eukaryotic actin cytoskeleton, is expressed by
Wolbachia
during host development, and alters
Wolbachia
titers and localization in transgenic fruit flies. We hypothesize that WD0830 may be utilized by the bacterium to facilitate replication in or invasion of different niches during host development.
Priorities for injury prevention in women's Australian football: a compilation of national data from different sources
Authors: Fortington Lauren V , Finch Caroline F
Published: July 2016

Background/aim

Participation in Australian football (AF) has traditionally been male dominated and current understanding of injury and priorities for prevention are based solely on reports of injuries in male players. There is evidence in other sports that indicates that injury types differ between males and females. With increasing participation in AF by females, it is important to consider their specific injury and prevention needs. This study aimed to provide a first injury profile from existing sources for female AF.

Methods

Compilation of injury data from four prospectively recorded data sets relating to female AF: (1) hospital admissions in Victoria, 2008/09–13/14, n=500 injuries; (2) emergency department (ED) presentations in Victoria, 2008/09–2012/13, n=1,879 injuries; (3) insurance claims across Australia 2004–2013, n=522 injuries; (4) West Australian Women's Football League (WAWFL), 2014 season club data, n=49 injuries. Descriptive results are presented as injury frequencies, injury types and injury to body parts.

Results

Hospital admissions and ED presentations were dominated by upper limb injuries, representing 47% and 51% of all injuries, respectively, primarily to the wrist/hand at 32% and 40%. Most (65%) insurance claim injuries involved the lower limb, 27% of which were for knee ligament damage. A high proportion of concussions (33%) were reported in the club-collected data.

Conclusions

The results provide the first compilation of existing data sets of women's AF injuries and highlight the need for a rigorous and systematic injury surveillance system to be instituted.
Concomitant aneurysm detection in an intracranial dolichoectasia mouse model using a MicroFil polymer perfusion technique
Authors: Zhu Yue-Qi , Dai Da-Ying , Xing Hai-Xia , Ding Yong-Hong , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Kallmes David F
Published: July 2016

Objective

To assess the feasibility of using MicroFil polymer perfusion to detect concomitant saccular aneurysms in an intracranial arterial dolichoectasia (IADE) model in mice, and to report detailed histomorphometric features of these aneurysms.

Materials and methods

IADE models were created in C57/BL6 mice via microsurgical injection of 25 mU elastase into the cisterna magna. The cerebral vasculature was perfused with MicroFil polymer and harvested at 1, 3, and 7 days, and 2 and 4 weeks (n=8 for each group). IADE was defined by a tortuosity index >10 combined with a 25% increase in diameter of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), internal carotid artery (ICA), or basilar artery compared with the baseline of controls, which received heat-inactivated elastase. Saccular aneurysm occurrence rate, location, and morphological parameters were investigated using macroscopic and microscopic analysis.

Results

IADE was present in 95% (36/38) of the subjects, with a mortality rate of 5% (2/40). Fifteen concomitant saccular aneurysms were detected in 8 (21%) of the 38 surviving mice, including 6 at the posterior communicating artery, 1 along the ACA, 2 along the anterior communicating artery complex, 3 along the ICA, and 3 along the middle cerebral artery. Rupture was confirmed in two aneurysms. Histological examination indicated that the aneurysms develop via arterial-wall remodelling, which is characterized by internal elastic lamina disruptions and muscular layer discontinuity in the media.

Conclusions

The proportion of subjects developing saccular aneurysms in addition to IADE in our mouse model is similar to the 15% of patients with IADE who have concomitant saccular aneurysms.
Treatment of complex anterior cerebral artery aneurysms with Pipeline flow diversion: mid-term results
Authors: Dabus Guilherme , Grossberg Jonathan A , Cawley C Michael , Dion Jacques E , Puri Ajit S , Wakhloo Ajay K , Gonsales Douglas , Aguilar-Salinas Pedro , Sauvageau Eric , Linfante Italo , Hanel Ricardo A
Published: July 2016

Background

The off-label use of flow diverters in the treatment of distal aneurysms continues to be debated.

Objective

To report our multicenter experience in the treatment of complex anterior cerebral artery aneurysms with the Pipeline embolization device (PED).

Methods

The neurointerventional databases of the four participating institutions were retrospectively reviewed for aneurysms treated with PED between October 2011 and January of 2016. All patients treated for anterior cerebral artery aneurysms were included in the analysis. Clinical presentation, location, type, vessel size, procedural complications, clinical and imaging follow-up were included in the analysis.

Results

Twenty patients (13 female) with 20 aneurysms met the inclusion criteria in our study. Fifteen aneurysms were classified as saccular and five as fusiform (mean size 7.3 mm). Thirteen aneurysms were located in the anterior communicating region (ACOM or A1/2 junction), six were A2-pericallosal, and one was located in the A1 segment. Six patients had presented previously with subarachnoid hemorrhage and had their aneurysms initially clipped or coiled. There was one minor event (a small caudate infarct) and one major event (intraparenchymal hemorrhage). Sixteen of the 20 patients had angiographic follow-up (mean 10 months). Eleven aneurysms were completely occluded, one had residual neck, and four had residual aneurysm filling.

Conclusions

The treatment of complex anterior cerebral artery aneurysms with the PED as an alternative for patients who are not good candidates for conventional methods is technically feasible and safe. Mid-term results are promising but larger series with long-term follow-up are required to assess its effectiveness.
Odd tensor modes from inflation
Authors: Sorbo Lorenzo
Published: July 2016

The existence of a primordial spectrum of gravitational waves is a generic prediction of inflation. Here, I will discuss under what conditions the coupling of a pseudoscalar inflaton to a U(1) gauge field can induce, in a two-step process, gravitational waves with unusual properties such as: (i) a net chirality, (ii) a blue spectrum, (iii) large non-Gaussianities even if the scalar perturbations are approximately Gaussian and (iv) being detectable in the (relatively) near future by ground-based gravitational interferometers.
Electromagnetic thermal corrections to Casimir energy
Authors: Nazari Borzoo
Published: July 2016

In [B. Nazari, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 31, 1650007 (2016)], we calculated finite temperature corrections to the energy of the Casimir effect of two conducting parallel plates in a general weak gravitational field. The calculations was done for the case a scalar field was present between the plates. Here we find the same results in the presence of an electromagnetic field.
Galaxy clusters as probes for cosmology and dark matter
Authors: Battistelli Elia S. , Burigana Carlo , de Bernardis Paolo , Kirillov Alexander A. , Neto Gastao B. Lima , Masi Silvia , Norgaard-Nielsen Hans U. , Ostermann Peter , Roman Matthieu , Rosati Piero , Rossetti Mariachiara
Published: July 2016

In recent years, significant progress has been made in building new galaxy clusters samples, at low and high redshifts, from wide-area surveys, particularly exploiting the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) effect. A large effort is underway to identify and characterize these new systems with optical/NIR and X-ray facilities, thus opening new avenues to constraint cosmological models using structure growth and geometrical tests. A census of galaxy clusters sets constraints on reionization mechanisms and epochs, which need to be reconciled with recent limits on the reionization optical depth from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. Future advances in SZ effect measurements will include the possibility to (unambiguously) measure directly the kinematic SZ effect, to build an even larger catalogue of galaxy clusters able to study the high redshift universe, and to make (spatially-)resolved galaxy cluster maps with even spectral capability to (spectrally-)resolve the relativistic corrections of the SZ effect.
IceCube and the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos
Authors: Halzen Francis
Published: July 2016

By transforming a cubic kilometer of natural Antarctic ice into a neutrino detector, the IceCube project created the opportunity to observe cosmic neutrinos. We describe the experiment and the complementary methods presently used to study the flux of the recently discovered cosmic neutrinos. In one method, events are selected in which neutrinos interacted inside the instrumented volume of the detector, yielding a sample of events dominated by neutrinos of electron and tau flavor. Alternatively, another method detects secondary muons produced by neutrinos selected for having traveled through the Earth to reach the detector, providing a pure sample of muon neutrinos. We will summarize the results obtained with the enlarged data set collected since the initial discovery and appraise the current status of high-energy neutrino astronomy. The large extragalactic neutrino flux observed points to a nonthermal universe with comparable energy in neutrinos, gamma rays and cosmic rays. Continued observations may be closing in on the source candidates. In this context, we highlight the potential of multimessenger analyses as well as the compelling case for constructing a next-generation detector larger in volume by one order of magnitude.
On the quasilinear wave equations in time dependent inhomogeneous media
Authors: Yang Shiwu
Published: July 2016

We consider the problem of small data global existence for quasilinear wave equations with null condition on a class of Lorentzian manifolds [Formula: see text] with time dependent inhomogeneous metric. We show that sufficiently small data give rise to a unique global solution for metric which is merely [Formula: see text] close to the Minkowski metric inside some large cylinder [Formula: see text] and approaches the Minkowski metric slowly as [Formula: see text]. Based on this result, we give weak but sufficient conditions on a given large solution of quasilinear wave equations such that the solution is globally stable under perturbations of initial data.
Electroweak Baryogenesis with Anomalous Higgs Couplings
Authors: Kobakhidze Archil , Wu Lei , Yue Jason
Published: July 2016

In non-linear realisation of the electroweak gauge symmetry, the LHC Higgs boson can be assumed to be a singlet under [Formula: see text]. In such scenario, the Standard Model particle content can be kept but new sets of couplings are allowed. We identify a range of anomalous Higgs cubic and the [Formula: see text]-violating Higgs-top quark couplings that leads to first order phase transition and successful baryogenesis at the electroweak scale.
Presaccadic motion integration between current and future retinotopic locations of attended objects
Authors: Szinte Martin , Jonikaitis Donatas , Rolfs Martin , Cavanagh Patrick , Deubel Heiner
Published: July 2016

Object tracking across eye movements is thought to rely on presaccadic updating of attention between the object's current and its “remapped” location (i.e., the postsaccadic retinotopic location). We report evidence for a bifocal, presaccadic sampling between these two positions. While preparing a saccade, participants viewed four spatially separated random dot kinematograms, one of which was cued by a colored flash. They reported the direction of a coherent motion signal at the cued location while a second signal occurred simultaneously either at the cue's remapped location or at one of several control locations. Motion integration between the signals occurred only when the two motion signals were congruent and were shown at the cue and at its remapped location. This shows that the visual system integrates features between both the current and the future retinotopic locations of an attended object and that such presaccadic sampling is feature specific.
Membrane potential resonance frequency directly influences network frequency through electrical coupling
Authors: Chen Yinbo , Li Xinping , Rotstein Horacio G. , Nadim Farzan
Published: July 2016

Oscillatory networks often include neurons with membrane potential resonance, exhibiting a peak in the voltage amplitude as a function of current input at a nonzero (resonance) frequency ( f res). Although f res has been correlated to the network frequency ( f net) in a variety of systems, a causal relationship between the two has not been established. We examine the hypothesis that combinations of biophysical parameters that shift f res, without changing other attributes of the impedance profile, also shift f net in the same direction. We test this hypothesis, computationally and experimentally, in an electrically coupled network consisting of intrinsic oscillator (O) and resonator (R) neurons. We use a two-cell model of such a network to show that increasing f res of R directly increases f net and that this effect becomes more prominent if the amplitude of resonance is increased. Notably, the effect of f res on f net is independent of the parameters that define the oscillator or the combination of parameters in R that produce the shift in f res, as long as this combination produces the same impedance vs. frequency relationship. We use the dynamic clamp technique to experimentally verify the model predictions by connecting a model resonator to the pacemaker pyloric dilator neurons of the crab Cancer borealis pyloric network using electrical synapses and show that the pyloric network frequency can be shifted by changing f res in the resonator. Our results provide compelling evidence that f res and resonance amplitude strongly influence fnet, and therefore, modulators may target these attributes to modify rhythmic activity.
Spontaneous activity and functional connectivity in the developing cerebellorubral system
Authors: Del Rio-Bermudez Carlos , Plumeau Alan M. , Sattler Nicholas J. , Sokoloff Greta , Blumberg Mark S.
Published: July 2016

The development of the cerebellar system depends in part on the emergence of functional connectivity in its input and output pathways. Characterization of spontaneous activity within these pathways provides insight into their functional status in early development. In the present study we recorded extracellular activity from the interpositus nucleus (IP) and its primary downstream target, the red nucleus (RN), in unanesthetized rats at postnatal days 8 (P8) and P12, a period of dramatic change in cerebellar circuitry. The two structures exhibited state-dependent activity patterns and age-related changes in rhythmicity and overall firing rate. Importantly, sensory feedback (i.e., reafference) from myoclonic twitches (spontaneous, self-generated movements that are produced exclusively during active sleep) drove neural activity in the IP and RN at both ages. Additionally, anatomic tracing confirmed the presence of cerebellorubral connections as early as P8. Finally, inactivation of the IP and adjacent nuclei using the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol caused a substantial decrease in neural activity in the contralateral RN at both ages, as well as the disappearance of rhythmicity; twitch-related activity in the RN, however, was preserved after IP inactivation, indicating that twitch-related reafference activates the two structures in parallel. Overall, the present findings point to the contributions of sleep-related spontaneous activity to the development of cerebellar networks.
Characterization and Optical and Dielectric Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride/Silica Nanocomposites Films
Authors: Abdel-Baset T. , Elzayat M. , Mahrous S.
Published: July 2016

Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel method and mixed with different amounts of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to get nanocomposite films. The samples were characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, SEM, and FTIR. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) proved that the average particle size of the nanosilica is 15 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the nanosilica was well dispersed on the surface of the PVC films. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra for nanocomposite films intimate a significant change in the intensity of the characteristic peaks of the functional group with addition of nanosilica. The optical band gap was found to decrease with the addition of nanosilica while the refractive index increased. The dielectric constantε′, the dielectric loss modulusM′′, and AC conductivity(σAC)were also studied. It was found thatε′increases with temperature for all samples, clear dielectricα-relaxation observed from dielectric lossM′′around the glass temperature (Tg), and this could be related to micro-Brownian motion of the main PVC chain. The activation energy was calculated, and the AC conductivity could be a hopping one. The results of this work are discussed and compared with previously obtained data.
Perfusion Angiography in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Scalzo Fabien , Liebeskind David S.
Published: July 2016

Visualization and quantification of blood flow are essential for the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases. For rapid imaging of the cerebrovasculature, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard as it offers high spatial resolution. This paper lays out a methodological framework, named perfusion angiography, for the quantitative analysis and visualization of blood flow parameters from DSA images. The parameters, including cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), time-to-peak (TTP), andTmax, are computed using a bolus tracking method based on the deconvolution of the time-density curve on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The method is tested on 66 acute ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombectomy and/or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and also evaluated on an estimation task with known ground truth. This novel imaging tool provides unique insights into flow mechanisms that cannot be observed directly in DSA sequences and might be used to evaluate the impact of endovascular interventions more precisely.
Application of 3D Printing in the Surgical Planning of Trimalleolar Fracture and Doctor-Patient Communication
Authors: Yang Long , Shang Xian-Wen , Fan Jian-Nan , He Zhi-Xu , Wang Jian-Ji , Liu Miao , Zhuang Yong , Ye Chuan
Published: July 2016

To evaluate the effect of 3D printing in treating trimalleolar fractures and its roles in physician-patient communication, thirty patients with trimalleolar fractures were randomly divided into the 3D printing assisted-design operation group (Group A) and the no-3D printing assisted-design group (Group B). In Group A, 3D printing was used by the surgeons to produce a prototype of the actual fracture to guide the surgical treatment. All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. A questionnaire was designed for doctors and patients to verify the verisimilitude and effectiveness of the 3D-printed prototype. Meanwhile, the operation time and the intraoperative blood loss were compared between the two groups. The fracture prototypes were accurately printed, and the average overall score of the verisimilitude and effectiveness of the 3D-printed prototypes was relatively high. Both the operation time and the intraoperative blood loss in Group A were less than those in Group B (P<0.05). Patient satisfaction using the 3D-printed prototype and the communication score were9.3±0.6points. A 3D-printed prototype can faithfully reflect the anatomy of the fracture site; it can effectively help the doctors plan the operation and represent an effective tool for physician-patient communication.
Antidermatophytic Activity of Ethanolic Extract fromCroton tiglium
Authors: Lin Han Chien , Kuo Yu-Liang , Lee Wen-Ju , Yap Hui-Yi , Wang Shao-Hung
Published: July 2016

Dermatophytosis, which is caused mainly by genera ofTrichophyton,Epidermophyton, andMicrosporum, is a frequent dermatological problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Investigations were carried out in this study to evaluate the antidermatophytic activity of the stems, leaves, and seeds ofCroton tiglium, one of the traditional medicine plants indigenous to Asia. Ethanolic extracts of the stems, leaves, and seeds ofC. tigliumwere prepared by cold soak or heat reflux methods. The antidermatophytic activities of the extracts were evaluated by disc diffusion and microdilution susceptibility assays againstTrichophyton mentagrophytes,T. rubrum, andEpidermophyton floccosum. The active components in the extracts were analyzed and identified by GC-MS. All ethanolic extracts ofC. tigliumshowed some antifungal activities against the three dermatophytes. The ethanolic stem extract had the greatest inhibitory activities againstT. mentagrophytesandE. floccosumwith MICs at 0.16 mg/mL and had a lower activity againstT. rubrum(MIC: 0.31 mg/mL). Oleic acid and hexadecanoic acid were found to be the major constituents in the stem extract that demonstrated strong antidermatophytic activities. The ethanolic extracts of stem or seed ofC. tigliumexhibit strong antidermatophytic activities and, thus, could be considered for application on treating skin fungal infections after appropriate processing.
Power Control in Wireless Sensor Networks with Variable Interference
Authors: Chincoli Michele , Syed Aly Aamer , Exarchakos Georgios , Liotta Antonio
Published: July 2016

Adaptive transmission power control schemes have been introduced in wireless sensor networks to adjust energy consumption under different network conditions. This is a crucial goal, given the constraints under which sensor communications operate. Power reduction may however have counterproductive effects to network performance. Yet, indiscriminate power boosting may detrimentally affect interference. We are interested in understanding the conditions under which coordinated power reduction may lead to better spectrum efficiency and interference mitigation and, thus, have beneficial effects on network performance. Through simulations, we analyze the performance of sensor nodes in an environment with variable interference. Then we study the relation between transmission power and communication efficiency, particularly in the context of Adaptive and Robust Topology (ART) control, showing how appropriate power reduction can benefit both energy and spectrum efficiency. We also identify critical limitations in ART, discussing the potential of more cooperative power control approaches.
A Composite Contract for Coordinating a Supply Chain with Price and Effort Dependent Stochastic Demand
Authors: Liu Yu-Shuang , Shang Yun , Su Hong-yan
Published: July 2016

As the demand is more sensitive to price and sales effort, this paper investigates the issue of channel coordination for a supply chain with one manufacturer and one retailer facing price and effort dependent stochastic demand. A composite contract based on the quantity-restricted returns and target sales rebate can achieve coordination in this setting. Two main problems are addressed: (1) how to coordinate the decentralized supply chain; (2) how to determine the optimal sales effort level, pricing, and inventory decisions under the additive demand case. Numerical examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of combined contract in supply chain coordination and highlight model sensitivities to parametric changes.
Health Issues of Primary School Students Residing in Proximity of an Oil Terminal with Environmental Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: Cipolla Massimo , Bruzzone Marco , Stagnaro Emanuele , Ceppi Marcello , Izzotti Alberto , Culotta Claudio , Piccardo Maria Teresa
Published: July 2016

Residential proximity to industrial sites has been associated with adverse effects on human health. Children are more susceptible to airborne environmental exposure because their immune and respiratory systems are still developing. This study aimed to investigate whether living close to an oil terminal in Genoa where there is higher VOCs exposure is associated with an increased rate of school absenteeism because of disease in primary school children. Five schools were chosen for the recruitment of children and students residing in the industrial site (A) were compared to those living in residential sites (B). Sixty-six of the 407 students involved in the project were also selected for VOC monitoring. Source apportionment was carried out by comparing profiles of VOCs; principal component analysis was performed to study the correlation between profiles, and Kriging interpolation model was used to extend profiles to all participants. The concentration means of total VOCs were significantly higher in the industrial areas compared to controls. Adjusting for potential confounders, children who lived in area A had a significantly higher risk of being absent from school due to sore throat, cough, and cold compared to controls.o-Xylene, which is dispersed during the industrial activity, showed clear evidence of a significant association with respiratory symptoms.
Effect of Yield Power Law Fluid Rheological Properties on Cuttings Transport in Eccentric Horizontal Narrow Annulus
Authors: Ofei Titus Ntow
Published: July 2016

Narrow annular drilling such as casing-while-drilling technique is gaining popularity due to its ability to mitigate nonproductive time during oil and gas drilling operations. However, very little is known about the flow dynamics in narrow annular drilling. In this study, the Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model was used to examine the influence of Yield Power Law fluid rheological properties on cuttings transport in eccentric horizontal narrow annulus. The flow was assumed as fully developed, laminar, and transient state. The present simulation model was validated against experimental data, where a mean percent error of −1.2% was recorded. Results revealed an increase in the radial distribution of cuttings transport velocity in the wide annular region as the consistency index, K, and the flow behavior index, n, increase. Nonetheless, increasing the yield stress, τo, had insignificant effect on the cuttings transport velocity. Three-dimensional profiles showed how cuttings preferred to travel in less resistant flow area, whereas cuttings concentration builds up in the narrow annular region. Furthermore, annular frictional pressure losses also increased as K, n, and τo increased. This study serves as a guide to properly optimize drilling fluid rheological properties for efficient cuttings transport and equivalent circulating density (ECD) management in narrow annular drilling.
Research on Optimal Path of Data Migration among Multisupercomputer Centers
Authors: Li Gang , Zhang Qingpu , Feng Zhengqian
Published: July 2016

Data collaboration between supercomputer centers requires a lot of data migration. In order to increase the efficiency of data migration, it is necessary to design optimal path of data transmission among multisupercomputer centers. Based on the situation that the target center which finished receiving data can be regarded as the new source center to migrate data to others, we present a parallel scheme for the data migration among multisupercomputer centers with different interconnection topologies using graph theory analysis and calculations. Finally, we verify that this method is effective via numeric simulation.
Diagnostic Power of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Breast Cancer Patients Based on ROC Analysis
Authors: Zajkowska Monika , Głażewska Edyta Katarzyna , Będkowska Grażyna Ewa , Chorąży Przemysław , Szmitkowski Maciej , Ławicki Sławomir
Published: July 2016

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been described as an important regulator of angiogenesis which plays a vital role in the progression of tumor. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a cytokine whose functions include regulation of hematopoietic lineages cells growth, proliferation, and differentiation. We investigated the diagnostic significance of these parameters in comparison to CA15-3 in BC patients and in relation to the control group (benign breast tumor and healthy women). Plasma levels of the tested parameters were determined by ELISA and CA15-3 was determined by CMIA. VEGF was shown to be comparable to CA15-3 values of sensitivity in BC group and, what is more important, higher values in early stages of BC. VEGF was also the only parameter which has statistically significant AUC in all stages of cancer. M-CSF has been shown to be comparable to CA15-3 and VEGF, specificity, and AUC values only in stages III and IV of BC. These results indicate the usefulness and high diagnostic power of VEGF in the detection of BC. Also, it occurred to be the best candidate for cancer diagnostics in stages I and II of BC and in the differentiation between BC and benign cases.
Acute Exercise and Motor Memory Consolidation: The Role of Exercise Timing
Authors: Thomas Richard , Beck Mikkel Malling , Lind Rune Rasmussen , Korsgaard Johnsen Line , Geertsen Svend Sparre , Christiansen Lasse , Ritz Christian , Roig Marc , Lundbye-Jensen Jesper
Published: July 2016

High intensity aerobic exercise amplifies offline gains in procedural memory acquired during motor practice. This effect seems to be evident when exercise is placed immediately after acquisition, during the first stages of memory consolidation, but the importance of temporal proximity of the exercise bout used to stimulate improvements in procedural memory is unknown. The effects of three different temporal placements of high intensity exercise were investigated following visuomotor skill acquisition on the retention of motor memory in 48 young (24.0 ± 2.5 yrs), healthy male subjects randomly assigned to one of four groups either performing a high intensity (90% Maximal Power Output) exercise bout at 20 min (EX90), 1 h (EX90+1), 2 h (EX90+2) after acquisition or rested (CON). Retention tests were performed at 1 d (R1) and 7 d (R7). At R1 changes in performance scores after acquisition were greater for EX90 than CON (p<0.001) and EX90+2 (p=0.001). At R7 changes in performance scores for EX90, EX90+1, and EX90+2 were higher than CON (p<0.001,p=0.008, andp=0.008, resp.). Changes for EX90 at R7 were greater than EX90+2 (p=0.049). Exercise-induced improvements in procedural memory diminish as the temporal proximity of exercise from acquisition is increased. Timing of exercise following motor practice is important for motor memory consolidation.
Effect of Alkali Treatment of Wheat Straw on Adsorption of Cu(II) under Acidic Condition
Authors: Guo Yiping , Zhu Weiyong , Li Guoting , Wang Xiaomin , Zhu Lingfeng
Published: July 2016

The convenient and feasible pretreatment method of alkali treatment is very common in the degradation process of wheat straw. However, its utilization in the pretreatment of wheat straw as alternative adsorbents for aqueous heavy metals remediation is rarely reported. The present study investigated the removal efficiency of Cu(II) ions using wheat straw with alkali pretreatment. The condition of alkali treatment on wheat straw was optimized with the adsorption capacity of Cu(II) as indicator using single-factor experiments. The influences of wheat straw dosages, pH values, contact time, and temperatures on adsorption performance for both untreated wheat straw (UWS) and alkali-treated wheat straw (AWS) were investigated. Results showed that the relatively large removal rate of Cu(II) could be obtained, and chemical behavior occurred during the adsorption process. Characteristic analysis found that the major function of alkali treatment to wheat straw was to introduce the hydroxy group, which resulted in the increase of -C-O- group. Although the adsorption capacity is not as high as the one of ligands supported adsorbents, the method is easy to operate and has a wide range of application; at the same time, it could realize both purposes of treating heavy metal pollution and solid wastes.
The Predictive Role of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Atrial Fibrillation as Seen through Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Mirror
Authors: Paquissi Feliciano Chanana
Published: July 2016

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is responsible for significant disease burden worldwide. Current evidence has suggested that systemic inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the initiation, maintenance, and progression of AF. So, recent efforts have been directed in search of measurable inflammatory biomarkers as additional tools in severity and prognosis assessment of AF. A simple, and easily obtainable, inflammatory marker is the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which has shown good performance in preliminary studies as a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with AF. In this work, we performed a thorough review of clinical studies that evaluated the role of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and NLR as predictors of outcomes in AF. We gave a particular emphasis on the NLR because it is a simpler, widely available, and inexpensive biomarker.
Investigation of Boron Thermal Diffusion from Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposited Boron Silicate Glass for N-Type Solar Cell Process Application
Authors: Kurachi Ikuo , Yoshioka Kentaro
Published: July 2016

An atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (AP-CVD) system has been newly developed for boron silicate glass (BSG) film deposition dedicating to solar cell manufacturing. Using the system, thermal boron diffusion from the BSG film is investigated and confirmed in terms of process stability for surface property before BSG deposition and BSG thickness. No degradation in carrier lifetime is also confirmed. A boron diffusion simulator has been newly developed and demonstrated for optimization of this process. Then, the boron thermal diffusion from AP-CVD BSG is considered to be the suitable method for N-type silicon solar cell manufacturing.
Biomechanical Measurement of Rabbit Cornea by a Modified Scheimpflug Device
Authors: Zhang Bo , Gu Jianjun , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Yang Bin , Wang Zheng , Zheng Danying
Published: July 2016

Purpose. To explore the probability and variation in biomechanical measurements of rabbit cornea by a modified Scheimpflug device.Methods. A modified Scheimpflug device was developed by imaging anterior segment of the model imitating the intact eye at various posterior pressures. The eight isolated rabbit corneas were mounted on the Barron artificial chamber and images of the anterior segment were taken at posterior pressures of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mmHg by the device. The repeatability and reliability of the parameters including CCT, ACD, ACV, and CV were evaluated at each posterior pressure. All the variations of the parameters at the different posterior pressures were calculated.Results. All parameters showed good intraobserver reliability (Cronbach’s alpha; intraclass correlation coefficient,α, ICC > 0.96) and repeatability in the modified Scheimpflug device. With the increase of posterior pressures, the ratio of CCT decreased linearly and the bulk modulus gradually reduced to a platform. The increase of ACD was almost linear with the posterior pressures elevated.Conclusions. The modified Scheimpflug device was a valuable tool to investigate the biomechanics of the cornea. The posterior pressure 15–75 mmHg range produced small viscoelastic deformations and nearly linear pressure-deformation response in the rabbit cornea.
Mind-Body Exercises for Nurses with Chronic Low Back Pain: An Evidence-Based Review
Authors: Budhrani-Shani Pinky , Berry Donna L. , Arcari Patricia , Langevin Helene , Wayne Peter M.
Published: July 2016

Background. Chronic low back pain (CLBP) among nurses is a growing health concern. The multimodal nature of mind-body exercises has potential to impact physiological and psychological processes associated with chronic pain, affording possible advantages over conventional unimodal therapies. This paper summarizes the prevalence of and risk factors for CLBP among nurses, reviews the effectiveness in treating pain and disability of mind-body exercises (yoga and tai chi) for CLBP among the general and nursing population, and describes implications.Methods. Articles, published during or prior to 2015, were systematically identified through the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases using the following search terms:nurses, mind-body, integrative, biopsychosocial, yoga, tai chi, back pain,and/orrisk factors.Results. Prevalence estimates of CLBP among nurses ranged from 50% to 80%. Associated risk factors for CLBP included lifestyle and physical, psychological, psychosocial, and occupational factors. No published studies were identified that evaluated yoga or tai chi for nurses with CLBP. Studies in the general population suggested that these interventions are effective in reducing pain and disability and may improve factors/processes predictive of CLBP.Conclusion. This review suggests that evaluating the impact of multimodal interventions such as yoga and tai chi for nurses with CLBP warrants investigation.
A User-Customized Virtual Network Platform for NaaS Cloud
Authors: Xiao Lei , Sheng Yu , Tan Guanlan , Wang Jianxin , Pan Yi
Published: July 2016

Now all kinds of public cloud providers take computing and storage resources as the user’s main demand, making it difficult for users to deploy complex network in the public cloud. This paper proposes a virtual cloud platform with network as the core demand of the user, which can provide the user with the capacity of free network architecture as well as all kinds of virtual resources. The network is isolated by port groups of the virtual distributed switch and the data forwarding and access control between different network segments are implemented by virtual machines loading a soft-routing system. This paper also studies the management interface of network architecture and the uniform way to connect the remote desktop of virtual resources on the web, hoping to provide some new ideas for the Network as a Service model.
Smad2/3/4 Pathway Contributes to TGF-β-Induced MiRNA-181b Expression to Promote Gastric Cancer Metastasis by Targeting Timp3
Authors: Zhou Qi , Zheng Xiao , Chen Lujun , Xu Bin , Yang Xin , Jiang Jingting , Wu Changping
Published: July 2016

Background/Aims: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays a major role in tumorigenesis. MicroRNA-181b (miRNA-181b) is a multifaceted miRNA that has been implicated in many cellular processes such as cell fate determination and cellular invasion. This study aimed to confirm the relationship of miRNA-181b and the TGF-β-Smad2/3/4 pathway with the induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in gastric cancer. Methods: This study investigated the ability of TGF-β to induce migration by wound healing and transwell invasion assays in human gastric cancer cell lines. miRNA expression was altered using miRNA-181b mimic and inhibitor in the same system. Expression of miRNA-181b, the hypothetical target gene Timp3 and EMT-related markers were analyzed by real-time real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Immunoblotting was used to investigate the levels of phospho-Smad2 and Smad4. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the direct binding of miRNA-181b to Timp3. Results: miRNA-181b was significantly upregulated in response to TGF-β treatment in gastric cancer cell lines. Overexpression of miR-181b mimic induced an in vitro EMT-like change to a phenotype similar to that following TGF-β treatment alone and was reversed by miRNA-181b inhibitor. Inhibition of TGF-β−Smad2/3 signaling with SD-208 significantly attenuated the upregulation of miRNA-181b. Knockdown of Smad4 in gastric cancer cells strongly attenuated the upregulation of miRNA-181b. Moreover, miR-181b was found to directly target the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of Timp3 mRNA affecting TGF-β-induced EMT. Conclusions: Our results elucidate a novel mechanism through which the TGF-β pathway regulates the EMT of gastric cancer cells by increasing the levels of miRNA-181b to target Timp3 via the Smad2/3/4-dependent pathway. These findings provide insights into the cellular and environmental factors regulating EMT, which may guide future studies on therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.
Reconstruction of Hypopharyngeal and Esophageal Defects Using a Gastric Tube after Total Esophagectomy and Pharyngolaryngectomy
Authors: Liu Jifeng , Deng Tiehong , Li Chao , Peng Lin , Li Qiang , Zhu Guiquan , Wang Wei , Cai Yongcong , Lan Xiaojiao , He Yuxin , Wang Zhaohui , Wang Shaoxin
Published: July 2016

Aim: This study investigated the value of gastric tube during surgery for advanced hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer. Method: From November 2007 to December 2012, 42 patients underwent total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy because of advanced hypopharyngeal or cervical esophageal cancer and were reconstructed with a gastric tube. Clinical swallowing function, morbidity, overall survival, and progression-free survival were evaluated postoperatively. Result: There were no severe complications, including no gastric necrosis, surgery-related postoperative morbidity, hemothorax, thoracostomach, or severe reflux esophagitis. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 cases, and these patients healed spontaneously with conservative management. Pulmonary infection developed in 5 patients. Anastomotic stenosis occurred in 2 cases and was managed with endoscopic dilatation. Regurgitation during the night was observed in 5 cases and was controlled by medication. All the patients regained their swallowing ability and thereby increased their quality of life. All patients were followed for 30-60 months; 2 of them were lost 6 months after surgery. The 3-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 58.1 and 56.2% respectively, and the 5-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 27.6 and 21.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Reconstruction by gastric tube is a dependable one-stage procedure that restores gastrointestinal continuity after total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Children and Adolescents with Cirrhosis Due to Biliary Atresia
Authors: Wilasco Maria Inês A. , Uribe-Cruz Carolina , Santetti Daniele , Pfaffenseller Bianca , Dornelles Cristina T.L. , da Silveira Themis R.
Published: July 2016

Background: The nutritional status in patients with cirrhosis is not so easy to assess properly. Considering the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and energy homeostasis, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of BDNF in children and adolescents with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia (BA) and correlate it with their nutritional status. Methods: Fifty-three children and adolescents with cirrhosis due to BA and 33 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric parameters, and serum BDNF was measured by ELISA. Spearman coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between variables. Results: In the cirrhosis group, 28.8% were undernourished and in the control group, 100% were well-nourished. BDNF median values for the control and cirrhosis group were 28.5 and 9.0 pg/ml respectively. BDNF and platelets were positively associated with both Standard Deviation Score (SDS) for height-for-age ratio and SDS for triceps skinfold thickness-for-age ratio. Conclusions: Considering these associations, BDNF may be an indirect biomarker of nutritional status in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease. Further studies must be conducted to clarify the role of BDNF in this population.
Diagnostic Value of Serial Measurement of C-Reactive Protein in the Detection of a Surgical Complication after Laparoscopic Bowel Resection for Endometriosis
Authors: Riiskjær Mads , Forman Axel , Kesmodel Ulrik Schiøler , Andersen Lars Maagaard , Ljungmann Ken , Seyer-Hansen Mikkel
Published: July 2016

Aims: The study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of serial monitoring of biochemical inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count) in the postoperative diagnosis of anastomotic leakage or ureteral injury after bowel resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis. Methods: This is a review of prospectively collected data from 217 patients who underwent laparoscopic bowel resection for endometriosis from January 2009 to April 2015. Patients with an anastomotic leakage or ureteral injury were identified and classified. Results: The frequency of anastomotic leakage requiring reoperation was 8.3%. The frequency of ureteral injury was 4.6%. Median time to diagnosis was 6 days for anastomotic leakage and 8 days for ureteral injury. The daily mean values of serum CRP were significantly higher in patients with a surgical complication starting at the second postoperative day (POD 2, p = 0.004). WBC was significantly higher (p < 0.05) on POD 2 and 3 in patients with a surgical complication. A decrease in CRP from POD 1 to 3 predicted an uncomplicated course in 92.1% of the cases. Conclusion: A decrease in CRP from POD 1 to 3 was an indicator of uncomplicated subsequent postoperative course. The test is recommended when early discharge after rectal resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis is considered.