bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Improving Postoperative Recovery, Reducing Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Elderly Patient Undergoing Knee Surgery
Authors: Chi Yong-Liang , Zhang Wei-Liang , Yang Fan , Su Fan , Zhou Yong-Kun
Published: November 2019

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is a form of acupuncture treatment that applies electrical stimulation on specific acupoint through cutaneous electrodes. This technique has been used for perioperative anesthesia management as part of after surgery recovery. However, to date, limited data are available for using the TEAS for postoperative recovery in elderly surgical patients. We conducted this prospective randomized sham-control trail to evaluate the efficacy of TEAS in a group of elderly patients receiving knee surgery under epidural anesthesia. 52 subjects were assigned to either the experimental group (Group E) or control group (Group C). The patients in Group E received TEAS at zusanli (ST36), sanyinjiao (SP6), neiguan (PC6), and quchi acupoints (LI11) 30[Formula: see text]min prior to the epidural anesthesia and postoperative day 1 and 2, while patients in Group C received sham TEAS on the same acupoints for 30[Formula: see text]min same as those of Group E. The primary endpoint was the Quality of Recovery-40 questionnaire (QR-40) and the secondary endpoints were the biomarkers level of stress and inflammatory responses and visual analogue scale (VAS). A one-way ANOVA (SNK method) was used in statistic, and [Formula: see text] is considered to be statistically significant. Our data showed that the QoR-40 was significantly lower in Group C than that in Group E at postoperative day 1 ([Formula: see text]); Similarly, Cortisol (COR), Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly lower in Group E than those of Group C at postoperative day 1, 3, and 7 ([Formula: see text]), while the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) was lower in Group E than that in Group C at postoperative day 1 and 3 ([Formula: see text]). Our results showed that perioperative TEAS administration is able to facilitate the development of postoperative recovery of elderly patients, especially at the early stage after surgery. The reported results are likely to be mediated by the reduction of surgical inflammation and perioperative stress response.
Noncommutative cosmological models induced by a symplectic formalism coupled to phantom fluids
Authors: Oliveira-Neto G. , Rezende Rodrigues L. G.
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we consider homogeneous and isotropic noncommutative cosmological models induced by a symplectic formalism coupled to phantom perfect fluids and a cosmological constant. After computing the field equations, we solve them to find the scalar factor dynamics. We restrict our attention to expansive solutions that may represent the present expansion of our Universe. These solutions generate big rip singularities. We study how the parameters, of these models, modify the time it takes for the scalar factor to expand from zero till infinity, at the big rip.
A comparison of computational equations for understanding the effect of adhesion energy on mobility of DNTT thin-film transistors
Authors: Li Hanbing , Tong Yanhong , Zhao Xiaoli , Wang Haiting , Tang Qingxin , Liu Yichun
Published: November 2019

In organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), adhesion energy plays an important role in the morphology of the vacuum-deposited organic semiconductor film and hence affects the field-effect mobility. Currently, two equations have been reported to calculate the adhesion energy between semiconductor and dielectric. However, the differences of the two equations remain unexplored. Here, we reflect the differences by simulation, experiment and theoretical derivation methods. Results show that the change of mobility is consistent with the change of adhesion energy calculated by Eq. (1), which is ascribed to the good availability of Eq. (1) for both polar and non-polar dielectrics. Our results provide an exact guideline for calculation of adhesion energy and help the selection of dielectrics to obtain high-performance OTFTs.
TI-6AL-4V ALLOY FABRICATED BY LASER DIRECT DEPOSITION: DYNAMIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, CONSTITUTIVE MODEL, AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION
Authors: WANG TAO , QIAO WEILIN , WANG SHENG , LI ZHAN , WANG HAO , LEI JIANBO
Published: November 2019

The dynamic mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by laser direct deposition (LDD) at different strain rates are of great significance for the application of LDD technology in the manufacture and repair of aero-engine parts. The quasi-static tensile test and dynamic compression test of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by LDD (LDD-Ti-6Al-4V) were carried out under the quasi-static and high strain rate using INSTRON-5982 tensile test equipment and Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) equipment. The true stress–strain curve is obtained, which indicates that the LDD-Ti-6Al-4V has a strain rate strengthening effect. Moreover, the Johnson–Cook (J–C) constitutive model of LDD-Ti-6Al-4V was fitted based on experimental data, and the experimental process of SHPB was numerically simulated. The simulation results are basically the same as the experimental results, which proves the correctness of the J–C constitutive model of LDD-Ti-6Al-4V.
Design and Control of Foam Hands for Dexterous Manipulation
Authors: Bauer Dominik , Bauer Cornelia , King Jonathan P. , Moro Daniele , Chang Kai-Hung , Coros Stelian , Pollard Nancy
Published: November 2019

There has been great progress in soft robot design, manufacture, and control in recent years, and soft robots are a tool of choice for safe and robust handling of objects in conditions of uncertainty. Still, dexterous in-hand manipulation using soft robots remains a challenge. This paper introduces foam robot hands actuated by tendons sewn through a fabric glove. The flexibility of tendon actuation allows for high competence in utilizing deformation for robust in-hand manipulation. We discuss manufacturing, control, and design optimization for foam robots and demonstrate robust grasping and in-hand manipulation on a variety of different physical hand prototypes.
Constrained Manipulability for Humanoid Robots Using Velocity Polytopes
Authors: Long Philip , Padır Taşkın
Published: November 2019

Robot performance measures are important tools for quantifying the ability to carry out manipulation tasks. Generally, these measures examine the system’s kinematic transformations from configuration to task space. This means that environmental constraints are neglected in spite of the significant effects they may have on the robot’s admissible motions. In this paper, we propose a new measure called the constrained manipulability polytope (CMP) that considers the system’s kinematic structure, including closed chains or composite sub-mechanisms, joint limits and the presence of obstacles. For an illustrative planar case, we demonstrate how the CMP can evaluate a robot’s performance in a cluttered scene and how this evaluation can be extrapolated to obtain a workspace visualization. Additionally, we show the advantages and limitations of the CMP compared to the state of the art. Furthermore, the method is demonstrated both in simulation and experimentally for NASA’s Valkyrie robot. We show how the CMP provides a measure for single-arm and dual-arm manipulation tasks, analyze the workspace and be used to optimize the robot’s posture.
Efficient Computation Offloading in Mobile Cloud Computing with Nature-Inspired Algorithms
Authors: Mehta Shikha , Kaur Parmeet
Published: November 2019

The ubiquitous presence of smart phones and other hand-held computing devices has resulted in a growing feasibility to utilize them as computing resources. However, these mobile devices are constrained in battery and may not possess adequate capability for computationally intensive tasks. Cloud computing allows mobile devices to address their inherent challenges by making it possible to offload computation, completely or partially, to powerful cloud servers. This enables mobile devices to act as compute resources; though, it also results in cost of using cloud servers as well as communication cost involved in offloading. The paper models the computation offloading problem as an optimization problem and makes use of nature-inspired algorithms for deciding whether a task should be executed locally on a mobile device or offloaded to the cloud. The study was performed over four algorithms, namely Genetic Algorithm (GA), Differential Evolution (DE), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA). Experimental analysis revealed that these algorithms outperform exhaustive search technique by providing a near optimal solution in a reasonable time even for large workflows. Results also establish that GA outperforms DE, PSO and SFLA by around 45%, 65% and 42%, respectively by reducing an application’s overall execution cost.
Consistent Subtyping for All
Authors: Xie Ningning , Bi Xuan , Oliveira Bruno C. D. S. , Schrijvers Tom
Published: November 2019

Consistent subtyping is employed in some gradual type systems to validate type conversions. The original definition by Siek and Taha serves as a guideline for designing gradual type systems with subtyping. Polymorphic types à la System F also induce a subtyping relation that relates polymorphic types to their instantiations. However, Siek and Taha’s definition is not adequate for polymorphic subtyping. The first goal of this article is to propose a generalization of consistent subtyping that is adequate for polymorphic subtyping and subsumes the original definition by Siek and Taha. The new definition of consistent subtyping provides novel insights with respect to previous polymorphic gradual type systems, which did not employ consistent subtyping. The second goal of this article is to present a gradually typed calculus for implicit (higher-rank) polymorphism that uses our new notion of consistent subtyping. We develop both declarative and (bidirectional) algorithmic versions for the type system. The algorithmic version employs techniques developed by Dunfield and Krishnaswami for higher-rank polymorphism to deal with instantiation. We prove that the new calculus satisfies all static aspects of the refined criteria for gradual typing. We also study an extension of the type system with static and gradual type parameters, in an attempt to support a variant of the dynamic criterion for gradual typing. Assuming a coherence conjecture for the extended calculus, we show that the dynamic gradual guarantee of our source language can be reduced to that of λ B, which, at the time of writing, is still an open question. Most of the metatheory of this article, except some manual proofs for the algorithmic type system and extensions, has been mechanically formalized using the Coq proof assistant.
Modular Product Programs
Authors: Eilers Marco , Müller Peter , Hitz Samuel
Published: November 2019

Many interesting program properties like determinism or information flow security are hyperproperties, that is, they relate multiple executions of the same program. Hyperproperties can be verified using relational logics, but these logics require dedicated tool support and are difficult to automate. Alternatively, constructions such as self-composition represent multiple executions of a program by one product program, thereby reducing hyperproperties of the original program to trace properties of the product. However, existing constructions do not fully support procedure specifications, for instance, to derive the determinism of a caller from the determinism of a callee, making verification non-modular.

We present modular product programs, a novel kind of product program that permits hyperproperties in procedure specifications and, thus, can reason about calls modularly. We provide a general formalization of our product construction and prove it sound and complete. We demonstrate its expressiveness by applying it to information flow security with advanced features such as declassification and termination-sensitivity. Modular product programs can be verified using off-the-shelf verifiers; we have implemented our approach for both secure information flow and general hyperproperties using the Viper verification infrastructure. Our evaluation demonstrates that modular product programs can be used to prove hyperproperties for challenging examples in reasonable time.
Deep Learning with Taxonomic Loss for Plant Identification
Authors: Wu Danzi , Han Xue , Wang Guan , Sun Yu , Zhang Haiyan , Fu Hongping
Published: November 2019

Plant identification is a fine-grained classification task which aims to identify the family, genus, and species according to plant appearance features. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of taxonomic tree, the taxonomic loss was proposed, which could encode the hierarchical relationships among multilevel labels into the deep learning objective function by simple group and sum operation. By training various neural networks on PlantCLEF 2015 and PlantCLEF 2017 datasets, the experimental results demonstrated that the proposed loss function was easy to implement and outperformed the most commonly adopted cross-entropy loss. Eight neural networks were trained, respectively, by two different loss functions on PlantCLEF 2015 dataset, and the models trained by taxonomic loss led to significant performance improvements. On PlantCLEF 2017 dataset with 10,000 species, the SENet-154 model trained by taxonomic loss achieved the accuracies of 84.07%, 79.97%, and 73.61% at family, genus and species levels, which improved those of model trained by cross-entropy loss by 2.23%, 1.34%, and 1.08%, respectively. The taxonomic loss could further facilitate the fine-grained classification task with hierarchical labels.
A Three-Dimensional Strain Rosette Sensor Based on Graphene Composite with Piezoresistive Effect
Authors: Wu Zhiqiang , Wei Jun , Dong Rongzhen , Chen Hao
Published: November 2019

Obtaining the internal stress and strain state of concrete to evaluate the safety and reliability of structures is the important purpose of concrete structural health monitoring. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) strain rosette sensor was designed and fabricated using graphene-based piezoresistive composite to measure the strains in concrete structures. The piezoresistive composite was prepared using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as conductive filler, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as dispersant and structural skeleton, and waterborne epoxy (WEP) as polymer matrix. The mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical properties of RGO-CNF/WEP composite were tested. The results show that the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and conductivity of the composite are greatly improved by the addition of RGO and CNF. The relative resistance change of composite films demonstrates high sensitivity to mechanical strain with gauge factors of 16-52. Within 4% strain, the piezoresistive properties of composites are stable with good linearity and repeatability. The sensing performance of the 3D strain rosette was tested. The measured strains are close to the actual strains of measure point in concrete, and the error is small. The RGO-CNF/WEP composite has excellent mechanical and piezoresistive properties, which enable the 3D strain rosette to be used as embedded sensor to measure the internal strain of concrete structures accurately.
Redefinition of Cost‐Benefit Efficiency of Land‐Use Projects: Focusing on Environmental Cost
Authors: Chen Xu , Du Qianyi , Xiong Xueyan , Zhong Deliang , Deng Na , Liu Shudong , Li Yipeng
Published: November 2019

The cost‐benefit efficiency of projects is often wrongly evaluated due to the neglect of projects’ impact on the environment. In this paper, we aim to establish a model to measure such an impact and hence propose a more reasonable approach to evaluating cost‐benefit efficiency of projects. We divide the total cost of a certain project into two parts: Business Cost (BC) and Environmental Cost (EC). BC is the explicit cost that can be approached from financial statements, while EC is the implicit cost which we try to quantify. EC is composed of three parts: (1) the Ecosystem Service Value (ESV), (2) the Restoration Cost (RC) to treat the pollution caused by the projects, and (3) the Disaster Cost (DC), potential losses caused by disasters due to launch of new projects. In order to make a cost‐benefit efficiency analysis, we introduce profitability index, which is further developed into an adjusted profitability index by taking time value into consideration. Two case studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. A regional case of a coal‐mining project proves that RC and DC play a significant role in cost‐benefit efficiency analysis, while a nationwide case of high‐speed rail shows that project scale matters. Additionally, we put our attention on the intensity of the project, which is a created measurement to characterize the project. Based on the study of intensity, the mechanism of cost‐benefit break‐even is further explained and some suggestions are proposed to policy makers.
3D XCT Mesostructure Characterization and Image‐Based Discrete Element (DE) Modelling of Failure Patterns in Coal Gangue Particles (CGPs)
Authors: Zheng K. H. , Qiu B. J. , Li J. P. , Gao K. D.
Published: November 2019

The paper presents an application of milli‐ and micro‐XCT to mesostructure characterization of CGPs and failure patterns analysis using dynamic impact simulations. In this study, XCT scanning experiments are firstly conducted on CGPs, followed by a series of image analyses with qualitative results. Then, the 3D mesomorphological parameters and internal composition of individual particles are quantitatively characterized. Finally, dynamic impact loading in y‐axis direction is modelled to investigate the 3D mesostructure and different impact velocity effects on failure patterns of individual particles. The studies show that the mesomorphological parameters present different distribution characteristics in individual CGPs. The approximate location of gangue phase is the key parameter that should be taken into account to study failure patterns as well as fracture mechanism of the heterogeneous rock materials. The XCT image‐based numerical model proved to be an effective tool that gives insights into the mesodeformation mechanisms of heterogeneous coal rock (HCR) undergoing dynamic impact failure behavior.
Active Disturbance Rejection Control for Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicles Based on Prescribed Performance Function
Authors: Xu Chenyang , Lei Humin , Lu Na
Published: November 2019

Aiming at the longitudinal motion model of the air-breathing hypersonic vehicles (AHVs) with parameter uncertainties, a new prescribed performance-based active disturbance rejection control (PP-ADRC) method was proposed. First, the AHV model was divided into a velocity subsystem and altitude system. To guarantee the reliability of the control law, the design process was based on the nonaffine form of the AHV model. Unlike the traditional prescribed performance control (PPC), which requires accurate initial tracking errors, by designing a new performance function that does not depend on the initial tracking error and can ensure the small overshoot convergence of the tracking error, the error convergence process can meet the desired dynamic and steady-state performance. Moreover, the designed controller combined with an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) and extended state observer (ESO) further enhanced the disturbance rejection capability and robustness of the method. To avoid the differential expansion problem and effectively filter out the effects of input noise in the differential signals, a new tracking differentiator was proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by comparative simulations.
Novel Cryopreservation Approach Providing Off-the-Shelf Availability of Human Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Clinical Applications
Authors: Rogulska Olena , Tykhvynska Olga , Revenko Olena , Grischuk Viktor , Mazur Svitlana , Volkova Natalia , Vasyliev Roman , Petrenko Alexander , Petrenko Yuriy
Published: November 2019

Cryopreservation is the only established method to provide long-term storage and fast availability of cellular product for therapeutic applications. The overwhelming majority of cryopreservation media contain toxic concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) limiting the possibility for the direct administration of cryopreserved cells to the patients. Here, we propose a novel approach for nontoxic xeno-free cryopreservation of human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) aimed at ensuring high viability, ready-to-use availability, and localized delivery of the cell-based graft into damaged tissues. For MSC cryopreservation, we applied sucrose pretreatment procedure and xeno-free cryoprotective medium containing human platelet-poor blood plasma (PPP), sucrose, and nontoxic concentration of DMSO. Using the combination of PPP, 0.2 M sucrose, and 1% DMSO, the recovery rate of cryopreserved MSCs reached 73% of the values obtained for noncryopreserved cells. Moreover, the presence of PPP in the cryoprotective medium provided the possibility to create a ready-to-use 3D hydrogel for the localized delivery and additional support of MSCs in vivo. In a proof-of-concept study, we assessed the regenerative capacity of cryopreserved MSCs in a full-thickness wound model in mice. The positive impact of MSCs within 3D gel on wound healing rates was confirmed by morphometric and histological examinations. Our results demonstrate the possibility to apply cryopreserved cells immediately after thawing using a cryoprotective medium as the vehicle solution.
Wind Tunnel Tests of Wind‐Induced Snow Distribution for Cubes with Holes
Authors: Jiang Xintong , Yin Zhixiang , Cui Hanbo
Published: November 2019

The nonuniform distribution of snow around structures with holes is extremely unfavorable for structural safety, and the mechanism of wind‐snow interaction between adjacent structures with holes needs to be explored. Therefore, a wind tunnel simulation was performed, in which quartz particles with an average particle size of 0.14 mm as snow particles were used, and cubes with dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm each containing a hole with the size of 20 mm × 20 mm were employed as structures. Firstly, the quality of a small low‐speed wind tunnel flow field was tested, and then the effects of hole orientation (hole located on the windward side, leeward side, and other vertical sides) and absence of holes on the surface of a single cube were studied. Furthermore, the effects of different hole locations (respectant position, opposite position, and dislocation) and relative spacing (50 mm, 100 mm, and 150 mm) on the surfaces of two cubes and the snow distribution around them were investigated. It was concluded that the presence and location of hole had a great influence on snow distribution around cubes. Snow distribution was favorable when hole was located on the other vertical sides of the test specimen. The most unfavorable snow distribution was obtained when the holes on the two‐holed sides of the cubes were respectant with a maximum snow depth coefficient of 1.4. A significant difference was observed in the snow depths of two sides of cubes when holes were dislocated. When two holes were respectant, surrounding snow depth was decreased, and the maximum snow depth on model surface area was increased with the increase of spacing. Wind tunnel tests on holed cubes provided a reference for the prediction of snow load distribution of typical structures with holes.
Ghrelin Aggravates Prostate Enlargement in Rats with Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Stromal Cell Proliferation, and Smooth Muscle Contraction in Human Prostate Tissues
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Wang Yiming , Gratzke Christian , Sterr Christian , Yu Qingfeng , Li Bingsheng , Strittmatter Frank , Herlemann Annika , Tamalunas Alexander , Rutz Beata , Ciotkowska Anna , Waidelich Raphaela , Liu Chunxiao , Stief Christian G. , Hennenberg Martin
Published: November 2019

Epidemiologic studies revealed a context between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and metabolic syndrome. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship are largely unknown. Prostate enlargement and increased prostate smooth muscle tone are important factors in the pathophysiology of LUTS suggestive of BPH. In the present study, we studied effects of the metabolic hormone ghrelin on prostate enlargement in rats with experimentally induced BPH, growth of cultured stromal cells from human prostate (WPMY-1), and smooth muscle contraction of human prostate tissues. Ghrelin (20 nmol/kg daily, p.o., 2 weeks) increased prostate size in rats with testosterone-induced BPH. Microarray identified 114 ghrelin-upregulated genes (2-fold or more) in these prostates, with possible roles in growth, smooth muscle contraction, or metabolism. 12 genes were selected for further analyses. In human prostate tissues, mRNA levels of 11 of them correlated positively with ghrelin receptor (GHSR) expression, but only two with the degree of BPH. Accordingly, no correlation was evident between GHSR expression level and BPH in human prostate tissues. In WPMY-1 cells, the GHRS agonist MK0677 upregulated 11 of the selected genes. MK0677 induced proliferation of WPMY-1 cells, shown by EdU assay, colony formation, proliferation markers, flow cytometry, and viability. In myographic measurements, GHSR agonists enhanced contractions of human prostate strips. Together, ghrelin may aggravate prostate enlargement, stromal cell growth, and prostate smooth muscle contraction in BPH. Ghrelin may deteriorate urethral obstruction independently from BPH, qualifying the ghrelin system as an attractive new target to be tested for LUTS treatment in BPH.
Photo-Fenton Degradation of RB5 Dye in Aqueous Solution Using Fe Supported on Mexican Natural Zeolite
Authors: Domenzain-Gonzalez José , Castro-Arellano José J. , Galicia-Luna Luis A. , Lartundo-Rojas Luis
Published: November 2019

A Mexican natural zeolite (MNZ) was impregnated with Fe at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg FeCl3/g MNZ (MNZ/Fe) in order to study the photo-Fenton degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye. Two samples were prepared and calcined at 550 and 700°C for each concentration. These samples were also characterized by the following techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine crystalline phases of mineral, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to observe the elemental composition of the material where the main element was Fe as Fe2p, Mössbauer to establish the phases in the material which were magnetite (Fe3O4), fayalite, and chlorite, Raman to corroborate that magnetite clusters in natural material were presented, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by which magnetite nanoparticles were observe on zeolite surface. Afterwards, the catalytic degradation of RB5 dye was performed by photo-Fenton process using a 2.2 W lamp as a radiation source. Four initial concentrations of RB5 dye ((RB5)0) were evaluated which ranged from 40 to 100 mg/L. Then, the evaluation reaction was carried out by UV-Vis spectroscopy to know the change in RB5 concentration and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal to determine the organic carbon. The best results on the photo-Fenton degradation was 91% discoloration and 68.5% chemical oxygen demand removal based on an initial concentrationRB50=100 mg/L and 10 mg MNZ/Fe (700°C of calcined temperature) atMNZ/Fe=0.05 g/L catalyst dose in aqueous solution,H2O2=3 g/L,pH=2.5, and 180 minutes of reaction time. Subsequently, variations on (RB5)0, pH, (H2O2), and (MNZ/Fe) were assessed in order to optimize the process by keeping 10 MNZ/Fe. The optimal RB5 dye degradation was achieved atRB50=100 mg/L in the presence ofMNZ/Fe=0.2 g/L,H2O2=3 g/L andpH=2.5where the highest discoloration and chemical oxygen demand removal were 93 and 70.5 at 180 min. Finally, the kinetic reaction was evaluated as a pseudo-first-order kinetics with an apparent rate constant (kapp) of 0.0225 min-1at latest conditions.
Study on Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Damage Evolution Model of Siltstone
Authors: Zhang Guoliang , Jia Haipeng , Wu Shuaifeng
Published: November 2019

This paper is focused on exploring the dynamic mechanical properties and damage process of siltstone. For this purpose, different stress wave wavelengths (0.5 m∼2.0 m) and different strain rates (25 s−1∼120 s−1) were applied to siltstone specimens in the SHPB dynamic impact test. The experimental results show that the dynamic compressive strength of siltstone is linearly positively correlated with the strain rate, and the dynamic increase factor is linearly positively correlated with the natural logarithm of strain rate; the peak strain is linearly positively correlated with the strain rate, and the increase in wavelength causes the peak strain to increase. Through multiple impact tests, it is concluded that the cumulative damage to siltstone increases with the number of impacts. The cumulative damage curve exhibits an initial rapid rise, followed by a stable development, followed by another rapid rise. With increasing wavelength of the stress wave, the stable development of the curve gradually decreases, the cumulative damage to the siltstone is intensified, and the number of repeated impacts is reduced. Meanwhile, a model for damage evolution is established based on the inverse of the Gompertz function, and the physical meanings of the model parameters are determined. The model can reflect the influence of both stress wave parameters and impact times. Verification of the model demonstrates the rationality of the model and the correctness of the physical meaning of the parameters. The model could be applied in future studies of damage to sedimentary rocks.
PPAR γ/Nnat/NF-κB Axis Involved in Promoting Effects of Adiponectin on Preadipocyte Differentiation
Authors: Yang Wenkai , Yuan Wenjin , Peng Xinghua , Wang Meiling , Xiao Jie , Wu Cheng , Luo Lie
Published: November 2019

A previous study has demonstrated that adiponectin (APN) could promote preadipocyte differentiation, and the present study further explored its mechanism. 3T3-L1 cells were infected with adenovirus holding human adiponectin gene apM1 and mouse neuronatin (Nnat) shRNA and initiated differentiation while coculturing with mature adipocytes stimulated with LPS. After 8 days, preadipocyte differentiation was observed by Oil Red O staining. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in 3T3-L1 cells were detected. Western blotting was done to quantify the protein expression levels of Nnat, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, p65, and inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (IκB) α. Results demonstrated that APN overexpression markedly increased preadipocyte differentiation; inhibited gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; reduced ROS and MDA release; increased T-AOC and SOD levels; upregulated Nnat, PPAR γ, and IκB α protein expressions; and downregulated p65 protein expression under LPS stimulation. However, the effects of APN were markedly attenuated when Nnat expression was knocked down. Taken together, the present study provided evidences that the effects of APN on promoting preadipocyte differentiation under inflammatory conditions via anti-inflammation and antioxidative stress may be regulated by the PPAR γ/Nnat/NF-κB signaling pathway.
A Preprocess Method of External Disturbance Suppression for Carotid Wall Motion Estimation Using Local Phase and Orientation of B-Mode Ultrasound Sequences
Authors: Zhang Qinghui , Li Junqiu , Qiang Zhenping , He Libo
Published: November 2019

Estimating the motions of the common carotid artery wall plays a very important role in early diagnosis of the carotid atherosclerotic disease. However, the disturbances caused by either the instability of the probe operator or the breathing of subjects degrade the estimation accuracy of arterial wall motion when performing speckle tracking on the B-mode ultrasound images. In this paper, we propose a global registration method to suppress external disturbances before motion estimation. The local vector images, transformed from B-mode images, were used for registration. To take advantage of both the structural information from the local phase and the geometric information from the local orientation, we proposed a confidence coefficient to combine them two. Furthermore, we altered the speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion filter to improve the performance of disturbance suppression. We compared this method with schemes of extracting wall displacement directly from B-mode or phase images. The results show that this scheme can effectively suppress the disturbances and significantly improve the estimation accuracy.
Can We Identify or Exclude Extensive Axillary Nodal Involvement in Breast Cancer Patients Preoperatively?
Authors: Leenders Martijn , Kramer Gaëlle , Belghazi Kamar , Duvivier Katya , van den Tol Petrousjka , Schreurs Hermien
Published: November 2019

Background. Breast cancer treatment has rapidly changed in the last few years. Particularly, treatment of patients with axillary nodal involvement has evolved after publication of several randomized clinical trials. Omitting axillary lymph node dissection in selected early breast cancer patients with one or two positive sentinel nodes did not compromise overall survival nor regional disease control in these trials. Hence, either excluding or identifying extensive axillary nodal involvement becomes increasingly important. Purpose. To evaluate whether the current diagnostic modalities can accurately identify or exclude extensive axillary nodal involvement. Evaluated modalities were axillary ultrasound, ultrasound-guided needle biopsy, MRI, and PET/CT. Methods. A literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases up to June 2019. The search strategy included terms for breast cancer, lymph nodes, and the different imaging modalities. Only articles that reported pathological N-stage or the total number of positive axillary lymph nodes were considered for inclusion. Studies with patients undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy were excluded. Conclusion. There is no evidence that any of the current preoperative axillary imaging modalities can accurately exclude or identify breast cancer patients with extensive nodal involvement. Both negative PET/CT and negative MRI scans (with gadolinium-based contrast agents) are promising in excluding extensive nodal involvement. Larger studies should be performed to strengthen this conclusion. False-negative rates of axillary ultrasound and ultrasound-guided needle biopsy are too high to rely on negative results of these modalities in excluding extensive nodal involvement.
Oxidative Damage in Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblast (hPLF) after Methylmercury Exposure
Authors: Nogueira Lygia S. , Vasconcelos Carolina P. , Mitre Geovanni Pereira , da Silva Kataoka Maria Sueli , Lima Marcelo O. , de Oliveira Edivaldo H. C. , Lima Rafael R.
Published: November 2019

Human exposure to mercury (Hg) is primary associated with its organic form, methylmercury (MeHg), through the ingestion of contaminated seafood. However, Hg contamination is also positively correlated with the number of dental restorations, total surface of amalgam, and organic mercury concentration in the saliva. Among the cells existing in the oral cavity, human periodontal ligament fibroblast (hPLF) cells are important cells responsible for the production of matrix and extracellular collagen, besides sustentation, renewal, repair, and tissue regeneration. In this way, the present study is aimed at investigating the potential oxidative effects caused by MeHg on hPLF. Firstly, we analyzed the cytotoxic effects of MeHg (general metabolism status, cell viability, and mercury accumulation) followed by the parameters related to oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity, GSH levels, and DNA damage). Our results demonstrated that MeHg toxicity increased in accordance with the rise of MeHg concentration in the exposure solutions (1-7 μM) causing 100% of cell death at 7 μM MeHg exposure. The general metabolism status was firstly affected by 2 μM MeHg exposure (43.8±1.7%), while a significant decrease of cell viability has arisen significantly only at 3 μM MeHg exposure (68.7±1.4%). The ratio among these two analyses (named fold change) demonstrated viable hPLF with compromised cellular machinery along with the range of MeHg exposure. Subsequently, two distinct MeHg concentrations (0.3 and 3 μM) were chosen based on LC50 value (4.2 μM). hPLF exposed to these two MeHg concentrations showed an intracellular Hg accumulation as a linear-type saturation curve indicating that metal accumulated diffusively in the cells, typical for metal organic forms such as methyl. The levels of total GSH decreased 50% at exposure to 3 μM MeHg when compared to control. Finally, no alteration in the DNA integrity was observed at 0.3 μM MeHg exposure, but 3 μM MeHg caused significant damage. In conclusion, it was observed that MeHg exposure affected the general metabolism status of hPLF with no necessary decrease on the cell death. Additionally, although the oxidative imbalance in the hPLF was confirmed only at 3 μM MeHg through the increase of total GSH level and DNA damage, the lower concentration of MeHg used (0.3 μM) requires attention since the intracellular mercury accumulation may be toxic at chronic exposures.
Two Cases of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis with Differing Postoperative Course
Authors: Matsumoto Yuma , Yokoi Hidenori , Kawada Michitsugu , Fujiwara Masachika , Saito Koichiro
Published: November 2019

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) often develops in unilateral paranasal sinuses, which must be differentiated from tumors. When AFS develops on both sides, however, it must be differentiated from eosinophilic chronic sinusitis with evident eosinophilic infiltration at nasal/paranasal sinus mucosa; both conditions are highly recurrent and commonly considered intractable paranasal sinusitis. Surgical correction is the primary treatment method for AFS, as it is essential to connect the paranasal sinus communication to ensure exhaustive resection of the pathologic mucosa and for nasal steroids to reach each paranasal sinus. We recently encountered two AFS cases with differing postoperative courses. Case 1 showed evident exacerbation in the computed tomography findings, which suggests progression to eosinophilic sinusitis. Case 2 showed a benign prognosis without recurrence. Close long-term follow-up should be mandatory after surgery for the treatment of AFS.
Commercial Gene Expression Tests for Prostate Cancer Prognosis Provide Paradoxical Estimates of Race-Specific Risk
Authors: Creed Jordan H. , Berglund Anders E. , Rounbehler Robert J. , Awasthi Shivanshu , Cleveland John L. , Park Jong Y. , Yamoah Kosj , Gerke Travis A.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Commercial gene expression signatures of prostate cancer prognosis were developed and validated in cohorts of predominantly European American men (EAM). Limited research exists on the value of such signatures in African American men (AAM), who have poor prostate cancer outcomes. We explored differences in gene expression between EAM and AAM for three commercially available panels recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for prostate cancer prognosis.

Methods:

A total of 232 EAM and 95 AAM patients provided radical prostatectomy specimens. Gene expression was quantified using NanoString for 60 genes spanning the Oncotype DX Prostate, Prolaris, and Decipher panels. A continuous expression-based risk score was approximated for each. Differential expression, intrapanel coexpression, and risk by race were assessed.

Results:

Clinical and pathologic features were similar between AAM and EAM. Differential expression by race was observed for 48% of genes measured, although the magnitudes of expression differences were small. Coexpression patterns were more strongly preserved by race group for Oncotype DX and Decipher than Prolaris. Poorer prognosis was estimated in EAM versus AAM for Oncotype DX (P < 0.001), whereas negligible prognostic differences were predicted between AAM and EAM using Prolaris or Decipher (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Because of observed racial differences across three commercial gene expression panels for prostate cancer prognosis, caution is warranted when applying these panels in clinical decision-making in AAM.

Impact:

Differences in gene expression by race for three commercial panels for prostate cancer prognosis indicate that further study of their effectiveness in AAM with long-term follow-up is warranted.
Adiponectin Gene Variant rs266729 Interacts with Different Macronutrient Distribution of Two Different Hypocaloric Diets
Authors: de Luis Daniel Antonio , Primo David , Izaola Olatz , Aller Rocío
Published: November 2019

Background: The role of ADIPOQ gene variants in weight loss after different dietary fat amounts remains unclear. Objective: Our aim was to analyze the effects of ADIPOQ gene polymorphism rs266729 on metabolic changes after two different amounts of dietary fat in two hypocaloric diets. Design: A population of 283 obese patients was recruited in a randomized clinical trial with two diets: Diet HF (high-fat diet: 38% carbohydrates, 24% proteins, and 38% fats) versus Diet LF (low-fat diet: 53% carbohydrates, 20% proteins, and 27% fats). Before and after 3 months, an anthropometric evaluation, an assessment of nutritional intake, and a biochemical analysis were carried out. The variant of the ADIPOQgene was assessed by real-time PCR. Results: Weight loss was similar with both diets in both genotypes (CC vs. CG+GG). After dietary intervention with Diet HF, only subjects with CC genotype showed a significant improvement in insulin levels (–3.3 ± 0.6 vs. –1.8 ± 0.9 mU/L; p = 0.03) and the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (–1.3 ± 0.1 vs. –0.8 ± 0.2 units; p = 0.02). After Diet LF, subjects with CC genotype showed a significant improvement in total cholesterol levels (CC vs. CG+GG) (–15.3 ± 1.4 vs. –6.4 ± 1.3 mg/dL; p = 0.01), LDL cholesterol (–14.6 ± 1.8 vs. –6.4 ± 1.3 mg/dL; p = 0.01), insulin levels (–4.6 ± 1.0 vs. –1.6 ± 0.5 mU/L; p = 0.01), and HOMA-IR (–1.6 ± 0.1 vs. –1.0 ± 0.2 units; p = 0.02). Only subjects with CC genotype showed a significant increase of adiponectin levels after both diets (CC vs. CG+GG): Diet HF (10.6 ± 2.0 vs. 1.8 ± 1.0 ng/dL; p = 0.01) and Diet LF (16.1 ± 2.8 vs. 1.3 ± 1.0 ng/dL: p = 0.03). Conclusion: CC genotype of ADIPOQgene variantrs266729 was associated with a better metabolic response after both diets. Additionally, Diet LF produced a significant improvement in lipid profile in noncarriers of allele G.
Impact of Serum Bicarbonate Levels on Muscle Mass and Kidney Function in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Kittiskulnam Piyawan , Srijaruneruang Somrath , Chulakadabba Adhisabandh , Thokanit Nintita Sripaiboonkij , Praditpornsilpa Kearkiat , Tungsanga Kriang , Eiam-Ong Somchai
Published: November 2019

Background: Treatment of metabolic acidosis to target the higher serum bicarbonate level than guideline recommendation may downregulate muscle protein degradation and improve renal function among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We conducted a study to test the effects of increased serum bicarbonate level on muscle parameters, nutrition, and renal function in pre-dialysis CKD patients. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled study. CKD stage 3–4 patients with serum HCO3– <22 mEq/L were randomized to either receive oral sodium bicarbonate with high target bicarbonate level of 25 ± 1 or standard level of 22 ± 1 mEq/L as control group using protocol-based titration of dosage adjustment. The changes of muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), muscle strength by hand grip dynamometer, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration equation, nutritional markers, and muscle-related biomarkers were determined. Data at baseline and after 4 months of sodium bicarbonate supplementation were compared between groups using Student t test or chi-square test as appropriate. Results: Forty-two patients completed the study (n = 21 per group). The mean age and eGFR were 61.2 ± 9.8 years and 32.4 ± 14.1 mL/min respectively. Serum bicarbonate levels at baseline were 21.0 ± 2.1 mEq/L. Baseline data including sex, diabetes, serum bicarbonate level, creatinine, and blood pressure were similar. After 4 months of treatment, the average serum bicarbonate levels in both groups were 24.0 ± 1.4 and 20.7 ± 2.3 mEq/L (p < 0.001). Both BIA-derived total-body muscle mass and appendicular lean balance were increased at 4 months in the higher bicarbonate group (26.0 ± 5.3 to 26.7 ± 5.5 kg, p = 0.04 and 19.8 ± 4.1 to 20.7 ± 4.4 kg, p = 0.06, respectively) despite comparable body weight and protein intake. Patients in the high bicarbonate group had a significant reduction of plasma myostatin levels, a surrogate of muscle degradation, at the study exit after adjusting for baseline values (–3,137.8; 95% CI –6,235.3 to –40.4 pg/mL, p= 0.04), but unaltered insulin-like growth factor-1 level, as the mediator of muscle cell growth, (141 [106–156] to 110 [87–144] ng/mL, p = 0.13) compared to the control group. Muscle strength, eGFR as well as serum prealbumin were not significantly different between 2 groups (p > 0.05). Neither worsening hypertension nor congestive heart failure was found throughout the study. Conclusion: Bicarbonate supplementation to achieve the serum level ∼24 mEq/L demonstrates better muscle mass preservation in patients with pre-dialysis CKD. The impact of alkaline therapy on renal function may require a longer period of study.
“As imagens dos sons” em Baú de ossos, de Pedro Nava
Authors: Gabriel Maria Alice Ribeiro
Published: November 2019

Memórias de infância são campo de pesquisa para a Ciência e Literatura. Este ensaio descreve a relação entre música e memória no contexto de Baú de ossos (1972), volume inicial das Memórias de Pedro Nava. Este estudo pretende assinalar a presença de uma memória musical atuando como chave mnemônica nos relatos biográficos e autobiográficos de Nava. O principal objetivo é comentar a função da música na composição literária de Baú de ossos.