bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of deformity-correction surgery for primary degenerative sagittal imbalance: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Chang-Hyun , Chung Chun Kee , Jang Jee-Soo , Kim Sung-Min , Chin Dong-Kyu , Lee Jung-Kil , Yoon Seung Hwan , Hong Jae Taek , Ha Yoon , Kim Chi Heon , Hyun Seung-Jae
Published: August 2017

OBJECTIVE

As life expectancy continues to increase, primary degenerative sagittal imbalance (PDSI) is diagnosed in an increasing number of elderly people. Although corrective surgery for this sagittal deformity is becoming more popular, the effectiveness of the procedure remains unclear. The authors aimed to collate the available evidence on the effectiveness and complications of deformity-correction surgery in patients with PDSI.

METHODS

The authors carried out a meta-analysis of clinical studies regarding deformity correction in patients with PDSI. The studies were identified through searches of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Surgery outcomes were evaluated and overall treatment effectiveness was assessed in terms of the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) values and pain levels according to visual analog scale (VAS) scores and in terms of restoration of spinopelvic parameters to within a normal range. Data are expressed as mean differences with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Ten studies comprising 327 patients were included. The VAS and ODI values improved after deformity-correction surgery. The smallest treatment effect exceeded the MCID for VAS values (4.15 [95% CI 3.48–4.82]) but not for ODI values (18.11 [95% CI 10.99–25.23]). At the final follow-up visit, the mean lumbar lordosis angle (−38.60° [95% CI −44.19° to −33.01°]), thoracic kyphosis angle (31.10° [95% CI 24.67°–37.53°]), C-7 sagittal vertical axis (65.00 mm [95% CI 35.27–94.72 mm]), and pelvic tilt angle (30.82° [95% CI 24.41°–37.23°]) remained outside their normal ranges. Meta-regression analyses revealed a significant effect of ODI change in relation to lumbar lordosis change (p = 0.004). After a mean of 2 years after deformity correction, the mean lumbar lordosis angle and C-7 sagittal vertical axis decreased by 5.82° and 38.91 mm, respectively, and the mean thoracic kyphosis angle increased by 4.7°. The incidences of proximal junctional kyphosis and pseudarthrosis were 23.7% and 12.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Deformity correction substantially relieves back pain for about 2 years in adult patients with PDSI. Sufficient surgical restoration of lumbar lordosis can lead to substantial improvement in patient disability and reduced decompensation. Deformity correction represents a viable therapeutic option for patients with PDSI, but further technical advancements are necessary to achieve sufficient lumbar lordosis and reduce complication rates.
Effect of protein intake on muscle strength and hypertrophy during whole-body vibration training
Authors: Aksoy Duygu , Erman Alparslan , Balcı Nilüfer , Şentürk Ümit Kemal
Published: August 2017

OBJECTIVES:

There is no consensus regarding the mechanism of strength enhancement of regular whole-body vibration training (WBVT), which involves only neural or neural plus muscular adaptation. This discord could be based on lack of protein supplement to diet in WBVT. This study aimed to clarify the effects of adding protein to the diet on hypertrophy and strength during whole-body vibration training (WBVT).

METHODS:

Young healty male adults, 20–30 years old were grouped into control ([Formula: see text] 15) and protein groups ([Formula: see text] 14). All experimental subjects performed WBVT 3 days per week for 12 weeks. During WBVT, the protein group was provided with whey protein (1 g/kg) and the control group was provided with carbohydrate (1 g/kg starch isolate). Baseline measurements (pre-test) were done before the training program started while the last measurements (post-test) took place after the 12-w program. Body fat ratio and lean body mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance and hydrostatic weighing methods. Mid-thigh circumference (cm) and thigh skinfold measurement (cm) were used to calculate leg muscle area. The changes in muscle strength were evaluated by measuring jump height, hand-grip and leg strength.

RESULTS:

There were significant within-group differences between the post and in pre-training strength values of muscular strength but no between-group differences were noted. There were no changes in leg muscle area, body fat ratio and lean body mass in the control group.

CONCLUSION:

Protein supplementation does not affect strength and muscle mass after WBVT.
The effect of the palmaris longus muscle on wrist flexion and extension strength
Authors: Karahan Ali Yavuz , Bakdik Suleyman , Ozen Kemal Emre , Arslan Serdar , Karpuz Savas , Yilmaz Nihal , Yildirim Pelin , Oncu Fatih , Cicekcibasi Aynur
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND:

The palmaris longus (PLM) is a fusiform-shaped muscle that appears in the superficial flexor compartment of the forearm. It has been suggested that PLM is a phylogenetically degenerate metacarpophalangeal joint flexor.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to compare the strength of wrist flexion and extension in healthy volunteers with and without the PLM.

METHODS:

Sixty-four healthy subjects, 30 men and 34 women, 18–22 years old were enrolled in this study. The database consisted of 128 wrist tests. The inclusion criteria were as follows: sedentary lifestyle, unknown musculoskeletal disorders and right-handedness. Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging was used for assessing the presence of PLM. A hand-held digital dynamometer was used to assess the peak force of wrist extension and flexion. Data were analyzed separately for women and men

RESULTS:

The existence of right-sided PLM was 73.3% in male subjects and 55.9% in female subjects. For men, the strength of wrist flexion was 36.03 [Formula: see text] 13.92 N and 34.24 [Formula: see text] 12.23 N for the right and left side, respectively. For women, the respective strengths were 16.20 [Formula: see text] 7.29 N and 15.26 [Formula: see text] 6.79 N. For both sexes, there was no statistically significant difference between those with and without a PLM ([Formula: see text] 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the agonist/antagonist (flexion/extension) ratio of the wrist between those with and without a PLM in both sexes and sides.

CONCLUSIONS:

The existence or absence of PLM plays no role in the strength of either the flexors or extensors of the wrist.
Perceptual learning improves contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and foveal crowding in amblyopia
Authors: Barollo Michele , Contemori Giulio , Battaglini Luca , Pavan Andrea , Casco Clara
Published: August 2017

Background:

Amblyopic observers present abnormal spatial interactions between a low-contrast sinusoidal target and high-contrast collinear flankers. It has been demonstrated that perceptual learning (PL) can modulate these low-level lateral interactions, resulting in improved visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Objective:

We measured the extent and duration of generalization effects to various spatial tasks (i.e., visual acuity, Vernier acuity, and foveal crowding) through PL on the target’s contrast detection.

Methods:

Amblyopic observers were trained on a contrast-detection task for a central target (i.e., a Gabor patch) flanked above and below by two high-contrast Gabor patches. The pre- and post-learning tasks included lateral interactions at different target-to-flankers separations (i.e., 2, 3, 4, 8 λ) and included a range of spatial frequencies and stimulus durations as well as visual acuity, Vernier acuity, contrast-sensitivity function, and foveal crowding.

Results:

The results showed that perceptual training reduced the target’s contrast-detection thresholds more for the longest target-to-flanker separation (i.e., 8 λ). We also found generalization of PL to different stimuli and tasks: contrast sensitivity for both trained and untrained spatial frequencies, visual acuity for Sloan letters, and foveal crowding, and partially for Vernier acuity. Follow-ups after 5–7 months showed not only complete maintenance of PL effects on visual acuity and contrast sensitivity function but also further improvement in these tasks.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that PL improves facilitatory lateral interactions in amblyopic observers, which usually extend over larger separations than in typical foveal vision. The improvement in these basic visual spatial operations leads to a more efficient capability of performing spatial tasks involving high levels of visual processing, possibly due to the refinement of bottom-up and top-down networks of visual areas.
Reducing the rate of misdiagnosis in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness: Is there a place for audiovisual stimulation?
Authors: Naro Antonino , Leo Antonino , Bruno Rocco , Cannavò Antonino , Buda Antonio , Manuli Alfredo , Bramanti Alessia , Bramanti Placido , Calabrò Rocco Salvatore
Published: August 2017

Background:

The patients with chronic Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) mostly present with extremely challenging differential diagnosis. The advanced analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals induced by brain stimulation paradigms may provide an appropriate approach to differentiate patients with DoC, besides the clinical assessment.

Objective:

This study was performed with an objective of identifying residual brain network perturbations following an innovative, non-invasive audiovisual stimulation protocol, which could be related to behavioral responsiveness in patients with DoC.

Methods:

The study comprised of ten healthy controls (HC), seven patients with Minimally Conscious State (MCS), and nine patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS). Both synchronous as well as asynchronous transorbital and transauricolar alternating current were employed as stimuli and their effects were measured in terms of functional and effective connectivity.

Results:

A more noticeable deterioration of long range connectivity patterns were found in patients with UWS than in those with MCS, with an exception of two patients with UWS, who showed connectivity values similar to those of MCS patients.

Conclusion:

The audiovisual stimulation paradigm used in the present study may be employed as a supportive bedside tool for improving the differential diagnosis in patients with DoC.
Robotic-assisted gait training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation in chronic stroke patients: A pilot double-blind, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Seo Han Gil , Lee Woo Hyung , Lee Seung Hak , Yi Youbin , Kim Kwang Dong , Oh Byung-Mo
Published: August 2017

Background:

Although robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) is becoming a standard method in stroke rehabilitation, its effect on chronic stroke patients is uncertain.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances the effect of RAGT on functional ambulation in chronic stroke patients.

Methods:

Chronic hemiplegic stroke patients with a Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC) score≤4 were randomly assigned to either the RAGT with anodal tDCS (Anodal) group the sham tDCS (Sham) group. The patients were provided with RAGT for 45 min after allocated tDCS on the leg motor cortex in the impaired hemisphere for 20 min every weekday for 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the FAC, and the secondary outcome measures included 10-m walking test, 6-min walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower extremity, Medical Research Council Scale, and motor-evoked potential (MEP) parameters. They were evaluated before treatment (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (T2).

Results:

Twenty-one patients were finally included. The percentage of participants who achieved improvement in the FAC score was greater in the Anodal group than in the Sham group, and the difference was significant at T2 (66.7% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.024). In secondary outcome measures, the Anodal group showed greater improvement in the 6-min walking test than the Sham group at T2 (56.49±38.87 vs. 23.59±17.00, p = 0.038). The changes in the MEP parameters were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion:

This pilot study suggested that anodal tDCS on the leg motor cortex in the impaired hemisphere may facilitate the effect of RAGT on functional ambulation in chronic stroke patients. Larger clinical trials will be needed to confirm the effect of RAGT combined with tDCS in chronic stroke patients based on the present study.
Pollutant Recognition Based on Supervised Machine Learning for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems
Authors: Mad Saad Shaharil , Andrew Allan , Md Shakaff Ali , Mat Dzahir Mohd , Hussein Mohamed , Mohamad Maziah , Ahmad Zair
Published: August 2017

Indoor air may be polluted by various types of pollutants which may come from cleaning products, construction activities, perfumes, cigarette smoke, water-damaged building materials and outdoor pollutants. Although these gases are usually safe for humans, they could be hazardous if their amount exceeded certain limits of exposure for human health. A sophisticated indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring system which could classify the specific type of pollutants is very helpful. This study proposes an enhanced indoor air quality monitoring system (IAQMS) which could recognize the pollutants by utilizing supervised machine learning algorithms: multilayer perceptron (MLP), K-nearest neighbour (KNN) and linear discrimination analysis (LDA). Five sources of indoor air pollutants have been tested: ambient air, combustion activity, presence of chemicals, presence of fragrances and presence of food and beverages. The results showed that the three algorithms successfully classify the five sources of indoor air pollution (IAP) with a classification rate of up to 100 percent. An MLP classifier with a model structure of 9-3-5 has been chosen to be embedded into the IAQMS. The system has also been tested with all sources of IAP presented together. The result shows that the system is able to classify when single and two mixed sources are presented together. However, when more than two sources of IAP are presented at the same period, the system will classify the sources as ‘unknown’, because the system cannot recognize the input of the new pattern.
Effect of Prestress Levels and Jacking Methods on Friction Losses in Curved Prestressed Tendons
Authors: Hong Sungnam
Published: August 2017

The effects of prestressing methods and prestress levels on the friction losses of prestressed tendons were evaluated in this study. Two full-scale prestressed concrete girders were fabricated and used for the friction loss experiment. The prestress level was varied from 13% to 45% of the ultimate tensile strength of the prestressing tendon, and prestressing was performed by jacking one or both ends. The test results indicated that the actual friction loss measured at low prestress levels was up to 4.3 times higher than the theoretical friction loss. As the prestress level increased, the difference between the measured and theoretical friction losses gradually decreased, and the two eventually converged. On average, the ratio of the prestress force at the jacking end to the prestress force measured at midspan was 85.4% with jacking at both ends, and 81.1% with jacking at one end.
Optimized Deep Neural Networks for Real-Time Object Classification on Embedded GPUs
Authors: Rizvi Syed , Cabodi Gianpiero , Francini Gianluca
Published: August 2017

Convolution is the most computationally intensive task of the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). It requires a lot of memory storage and computational power. There are different approaches to compute the solution of convolution and reduce its computational complexity. In this paper, a matrix multiplication-based convolution (ConvMM) approach is fully parallelized using concurrent resources of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and optimized, considerably improving the performance of the image classifiers and making them applicable to real-time embedded applications. The flow of this CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture)-based scheme is optimized using unified memory and hardware-dependent acceleration of matrix multiplication. Proposed flow is evaluated on two different embedded platforms: first on an Nvidia Jetson TX1 embedded board and then on a Tegra K1 GPU of an Nvidia Shield K1 Tablet. The performance of this optimized and accelerated convolutional layer is compared with its sequential and heterogeneous versions. Results show that the proposed scheme significantly improves the overall results including energy efficiency, storage requirement and inference performance. In particular, the proposed scheme on embedded GPUs is hundreds of times faster than the sequential version and delivers tens of times higher performance than the heterogeneous approach.
Preparation, Physicochemical Properties, and Long-Term Performance of Photocatalytic Ceramsite Sand in Cementitious Materials
Authors: Zhao Du , Wang Fazhou , Liu Peng , Yang Lu , Hu Shuguang , Zhang Wenqin
Published: August 2017

Incorporation of TiO2 into cementitious materials is an important technology in the field of photocatalytic pollution mitigation; however, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 is limited by specific surface area, poor gas diffusion and light transmission performance of cementitious materials. In this study, a novel photocatalytic lightweight aggregate—photocatalytic ceramsite sand (PCS) was synthesized by loading TiO2 on activated porous ceramsite sand (CS) with negative pressure method to solve problems in application of photocatalysts in cementitious materials. Photocatalytic cement material (PCM) was prepared by loading PCS on the surface of cementitious materials, which improved the photocatalytic activity and efficiency of TiO2 in cementitious materials. It was found that the pore structure (pore volume, size distribution and interconnectivity) of ceramsite sand (CS) varies with particle size. The photocatalytic removal rate of benzene on PCS increased significantly through adjusting ceramsite sands in appropriate pore structure and TiO2 at best coating ratio. The photocatalytic activity of PCS slightly decreased but still remained active after incorporated into concrete. 2 μL benzene was degraded completely in 200 min by 5 g 4PCS-1.25~2.35 and 300 min by PCM-5, and was still degraded over 80% in 400 min by PCM-5 after exposure to natural environment for 6 months. The results suggested that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 in cementitious materials was enhanced by the preparation of PCS and PCM, which could provide more gas diffusion, higher specific surface area, more TiO2 active sites, and prevent TiO2 particles from being influenced by the envelope of cement hydration products and the carbonation of cement.
Imaging Features of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Di Martino Michele , Koryukova Kameliya , Bezzi Mario , Catalano Carlo
Published: August 2017

Non-invasive diagnosis and quantification of liver steatosis is important to overcome limits of liver biopsy, in order to follow up patients during their therapy and to establish a reference standard that can be used in clinical trials and longitudinal studies. Imaging offers several methods in this setting: ultrasound, which is the cheapest technique and easy to perform; magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which reflects the real content of triglycerides in a specific volume; and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) magnetic resonance, which is a simple method that reflects the distribution of the fat in the whole liver. Other techniques include ultrasound elastography (EUS) and magnetic resonance elastrography (MRE), which can evaluate the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) into non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, by quantifying liver fibrosis.
An Ensemble Model Based on Machine Learning Methods and Data Preprocessing for Short-Term Electric Load Forecasting
Authors: Lin Yanbing , Luo Hongyuan , Wang Deyun , Guo Haixiang , Zhu Kejun
Published: August 2017

The experience with deregulated electricity market has shown the increasingly important role of short-term electric load forecasting in the energy producing and scheduling. However, because of nonlinear, stochastic and nonstable characteristics associated with the electric load series, it is extremely difficult to precisely forecast the electric load. This paper aims to establish a novel ensemble model based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and extreme learning machine (ELM) optimized by differential evolution (DE) algorithm for multi-step ahead electric load forecasting. The proposed model is novel in the sense that VMD is firstly applied to decompose the original electric load series into a set of components with different frequencies in order to effectively eliminate the stochastic fluctuation characteristic so as to improve the overall prediction accuracy. The proposed ensemble model is tested using two electric load series collected from New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) in the Australian electricity market. The experimental results show that: (1) the data preprocessing by VMD can effectively decrease the stochastic fluctuation characteristics that existed in the electric load series, consequently improving the whole forecasting accuracy, and; (2) the proposed forecasting model performs better than all other benchmark models for both one-step and multi-step ahead electric load forecasting.
The Internet of Lights: An Open Reference Architecture and Implementation for Intelligent Solid State Lighting Systems
Authors: Mathews Emi , Guclu Salih , Liu Qingzhi , Ozcelebi Tanir , Lukkien Johan
Published: August 2017

The Internet of Things (IoT) is opening up new services and is stimulating changes in industries. The lighting industry is also embracing this change by establishing an Internet of Lights (IoL). This article highlights the main benefits and the challenges to face while going towards IoL. To address these challenges and cater to the specific requirements of lighting networks, an IoL reference architecture, Open Architecture for Intelligent Solid State Lighting Systems (OpenAIS), has been proposed. This article provides an overview of the OpenAIS architecture and explains how one can design specific systems based on this architecture. It also zooms into the configurations and design choices made in a pilot system in a real office building showing the validity of the architecture. A comparison of the OpenAIS system with a state-of-the-art commercial solution shows that IoL systems can exceed proprietary systems in several key performance indicators, such as security, interoperability, extensibility and openness.
An Improved Method for Energy and Resource Assessment of Waves in Finite Water Depths
Authors: Sheng Wanan , Li Hui , Murphy Jimmy
Published: August 2017

For cost savings and ease of operation, nearshore regions have been considered as ideal regions for deploying wave energy converters (WECs) and wave farms. As the water depths of these regions may be frequently limited to 50 m or less, they can be considered as being transitional/intermediate to shallow when compared to the wave lengths of interest for wave energy conversion. Since the impact of water depths on propagation of waves is significant, it cannot be ignored in wave energy assessment. According to the basic wave theory, in order to work out accurate wave energy amounts in finite water depth, detailed wave spectral distributions should be given. However, for some practical reasons, there are still some cases where only scatter diagrams and/or the statistical wave parameters are available, whilst the detailed wave spectra are discarded. As a result, the assessments of wave energy and resources are frequently determined by ignoring the effect of water depths or using very simplified approximations. This research paper aims to develop more accurate approximation methods by utilising a number of available parameters such that a better estimate on the wave resource assessment can be achieved even if the detailed wave spectra are not available. As one important goal, the research can provide some important indications on how the measured wave data are effectively presented so that they can be very useful for assessing the wave energy resource, especially in the cases including the effects of finite water depths.
Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Switching Ripple in the DC-Link Voltage of Single-Phase H-Bridge PWM Inverters
Authors: Vujacic Marija , Hammami Manel , Srndovic Milan , Grandi Gabriele
Published: August 2017

Direct current (DC)-link voltage ripple analysis is essential for determining harmonic noise and for DC-link capacitor design and selection in single-phase pulse-width modulation (PWM) inverters. This paper provides an extensive theoretical analysis of DC-link voltage ripple for full-bridge (H-bridge) inverters, with simulation and experimental verifications, considering a DC source impedance (non-ideal DC voltage source). The DC voltage ripple amplitude is theoretically estimated as a function of the output current, both amplitude and phase angle, and the modulation index. It consists of a switching frequency component and a double-fundamental frequency component (i.e., 100 Hz), thereby both components are considered in the analysis. In particular, the peak-to-peak distribution, maximum amplitude, and root mean square (RMS) values of the voltage switching ripple over the fundamental period are obtained. Based on the DC voltage requirements, simple and effective guidelines for designing DC-link capacitors are obtained.
Maintaining Traditions: A Qualitative Study of Early Childhood Caries Risk and Protective Factors in an Indigenous Community
Authors: Levin Ana , Sokal-Gutierrez Karen , Hargrave Anita , Funsch Elizabeth , Hoeft Kristin
Published: August 2017

In lower middle-income economies (LMIE), the nutrition transition from traditional diets to sugary foods and beverages has contributed to widespread early childhood dental caries. This qualitative study explores perceived risk and protective factors, and overall experiences of early childhood nutrition and oral health in indigenous Ecuadorian families participating in a community-based oral health and nutrition intervention. Dental exams of 698 children age 6 months through 6 years determined each child’s caries burden. A convenience sample of 18 “outlier” families was identified: low-caries children with ≤2 carious teeth vs. high-caries children with ≥10 carious teeth. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with parents/caregivers explored the child’s diet, dental habits, and family factors related to nutrition and oral health. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using grounded theory. In the high-caries families, proximity to highway and stores, consumption of processed-food, and low parental monitoring of child behavior were identified as risk factors for ECC (early childhood caries). In the low-caries families, protective factors included harvesting and consuming food from the family farm, remote geography, and greater parental monitoring of child behavior. The study results suggest that maintaining traditional family farms and authoritative parenting to avoid processed foods/drinks and ensure tooth brushing could improve early childhood nutrition and oral health.
Electronegative Low-Density Lipoprotein L5 Impairs Viability and NGF-Induced Neuronal Differentiation of PC12 Cells via LOX-1
Authors: Wang Jiz-Yuh , Lai Chiou-Lian , Lee Ching-Tien , Lin Chen-Yen
Published: August 2017

There have been striking associations of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis) and hypercholesterolemia with increased risk of neurodegeneration including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a cardiovascular risk factor, plays a crucial role in AD pathogenesis; further, L5, a human plasma LDL fraction with high electronegativity, may be a factor contributing to AD-type dementia. Although L5 contributing to atherosclerosis progression has been studied, its role in inducing neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, PC12 cell culture was used for treatments with human LDLs (L1, L5, or oxLDL), and subsequently cell viability and nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neuronal differentiation were assessed. We identified L5 as a neurotoxic LDL, as demonstrated by decreased cell viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Contrarily, L1 had no such effect. L5 caused cell damage by inducing ATM/H2AX-associated DNA breakage as well as by activating apoptosis via lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) signaling to p53 and ensuring cleavage of caspase-3. Additionally, sublethal L5 long-termly inhibited neurite outgrowth in NGF-treated PC12 cells, as evidenced by downregulation of early growth response factor-1 and neurofilament-M. This inhibitory effect was mediated via an interaction between L5 and LOX-1 to suppress NGF-induced activation of PI3k/Akt cascade, but not NGF receptor TrkA and downstream MAPK pathways. Together, our data suggest that L5 creates a neurotoxic stress via LOX-1 in PC12 cells, thereby leading to impairment of viability and NGF-induced differentiation. Atherogenic L5 likely contributes to neurodegenerative disorders.
Phellinus linteus Grown on Germinated Brown Rice Increases Cetuximab Sensitivity of KRAS-Mutated Colon Cancer
Authors: Park Hye-Jin , Park Jeong-Bin , Lee Sang-Jae , Song Minjung
Published: August 2017

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and it has recently become a leading cause of death worldwide. Among colon cancers, the v-ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-mutated form is notorious for its non-druggable features. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor, has been introduced as an antitumor therapy; however, secondary resistance and side effects significantly limit its effective use in these cancers. In this study, we prepared Phellinuslinteus on germinated brown rice (PBR) extracts to increase the sensitivity of KRAS-mutated colon cancers to cetuximab. The combined treatment of PBR extract and cetuximab suppressed SW480 cell viability/proliferation, with the cells exhibiting altered cellular morphology and clonogenic potential. AnnexinV–fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide–stained flow cytometry and Western blotting were performed, and PBR extract combined with cetuximab treatment increased apoptosis of the SW480 cells and suppressed their KRAS protein expression. The potential of PBR as a synergistic anticancer agent was further investigated in a tumor-xenografted mouse model. Tumor growth was significantly suppressed with PBR extract and cetuximab co-treatment. In conclusion, PBR increased the sensitivity of KRAS-mutated colon cancer cells to cetuximab, which indicates the potential use of PBR as a medical food against colon cancer.
Challenging the Metallothionein (MT) Gene of Biomphalaria glabrata: Unexpected Response Patterns Due to Cadmium Exposure and Temperature Stress
Authors: Niederwanger Michael , Dvorak Martin , Schnegg Raimund , Pedrini-Martha Veronika , Bacher Katharina , Bidoli Massimo , Dallinger Reinhard
Published: August 2017

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low-molecular-mass, cysteine-rich, metal binding proteins. In most animal species, they are involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification, and provide protection from oxidative stress. Gastropod MTs are highly diversified, exhibiting unique features and adaptations like metal specificity and multiplications of their metal binding domains. Here, we show that the MT gene of Biomphalaria glabrata, one of the largest MT genes identified so far, is composed in a unique way. The encoding for an MT protein has a three-domain structure and a C-terminal, Cys-rich extension. Using a bioinformatic approach involving structural and in silico analysis of putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBs), we found that this MT gene consists of five exons and four introns. It exhibits a regulatory promoter region containing three metal-responsive elements (MREs) and several TFBs with putative involvement in environmental stress response, and regulation of gene expression. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) data indicate that the MT gene is not inducible by cadmium (Cd) nor by temperature challenges (heat and cold), despite significant Cd uptake within the midgut gland and the high Cd tolerance of metal-exposed snails.
Biofilms in Endodontics—Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Neelakantan Prasanna , Romero Monica , Vera Jorge , Daood Umer , Khan Asad , Yan Aixin , Cheung Gary
Published: August 2017

Microbiota are found in highly organized and complex entities, known as biofilms, the characteristics of which are fundamentally different from microbes in planktonic suspensions. Root canal infections are biofilm mediated. The complexity and variability of the root canal system, together with the multi-species nature of biofilms, make disinfection of this system extremely challenging. Microbial persistence appears to be the most important factor for failure of root canal treatment and this could further have an impact on pain and quality of life. Biofilm removal is accomplished by a chemo-mechanical process, using specific instruments and disinfecting chemicals in the form of irrigants and/or intracanal medicaments. Endodontic research has focused on the characterization of root canal biofilms and the clinical methods to disrupt the biofilms in addition to achieving microbial killing. In this narrative review, we discuss the role of microbial biofilms in endodontics and review the literature on the role of root canal disinfectants and disinfectant-activating methods on biofilm removal.
Recent Progress of Development of Optogenetic Implantable Neural Probes
Authors: Zhao Hubin
Published: August 2017

As a cell type-specific neuromodulation method, optogenetic technique holds remarkable potential for the realisation of advanced neuroprostheses. By genetically expressing light-sensitive proteins such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in cell membranes, targeted neurons could be controlled by light. This new neuromodulation technique could then be applied into extensive brain networks and be utilised to provide effective therapies for neurological disorders. However, the development of novel optogenetic implants is still a key challenge in the field. The major requirements include small device dimensions, suitable spatial resolution, high safety, and strong controllability. In this paper, I present a concise review of the significant progress that has been made towards achieving a miniaturised, multifunctional, intelligent optogenetic implant. I identify the key limitations of current technologies and discuss the possible opportunities for future development.
Increased Expression of Plasma-Induced ABCC1 mRNA in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Ideozu Justin , Zhang Xi , Pan Amy , Ashrafi Zainub , Woods Katherine , Hessner Martin , Simpson Pippa , Levy Hara
Published: August 2017

The ABCC1 gene is structurally and functionally related to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR). Upregulation of ABCC1 is thought to improve lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF); the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. We analyzed the ABCC1 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs504348), plasma-induced ABCC1 mRNA expression levels, and ABCC1 methylation status and their correlation with clinical variables among CF subjects with differing CFTR mutations. We assigned 93 CF subjects into disease severity groups and genotyped SNP rs504348. For 23 CF subjects and 7 healthy controls, donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with plasma underwent gene expression analysis via qRT-PCR. ABCC1 promoter methylation was analyzed in the same 23 CF subjects. No significant correlation was observed between rs504348 genotypes and CF disease severity, but pancreatic insufficient CF subjects showed increased colonization with any form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR = 3.125, 95% CI: 1.192–8.190) and mucoid P. aeruginosa (OR = 5.075, 95% CI: 1.307–28.620) compared to the pancreatic sufficient group. A significantly higher expression of ABCC1 mRNA was induced by CF plasma compared to healthy control plasma (p < 0.001). CF subjects with rs504348 (CC/CG) also had higher mRNA expression compared to those with the ancestral GG genotype (p < 0.005). ABCC1 promoter was completely unmethylated; therefore, we did not detect any association between methylation and CF disease severity. In silico predictions suggested that histone modifications are crucial for regulating ABCC1 expression in PBMCs. Our results suggest that ABCC1 expression has a role in CFTR activity thereby increasing our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the clinical heterogeneity in CF.
New Insights Contributing to the Development of Effective Vaccines and Therapies to Reduce the Pathology Caused by hRSV
Authors: Gálvez Nicolás , Soto Jorge , Kalergis Alexis
Published: August 2017

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (hRSV) is one of the major causes of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) worldwide, leading to significant levels of immunocompromisation as well as morbidity and mortality in infants. Its main target of infection is the ciliated epithelium of the lungs and the host immune responses elicited is ineffective at achieving viral clearance. It is thought that the lack of effective immunity against hRSV is due in part to the activity of several viral proteins that modulate the host immune response, enhancing a Th2-like pro-inflammatory state, with the secretion of cytokines that promote the infiltration of immune cells to the lungs, with consequent damage. Furthermore, the adaptive immunity triggered by hRSV infection is characterized by weak cytotoxic T cell responses and secretion of low affinity antibodies by B cells. These features of hRSV infection have meant that, to date, no effective and safe vaccines have been licensed. In this article, we will review in detail the information regarding hRSV characteristics, pathology, and host immune response, along with several prophylactic treatments and vaccine prototypes. We will also expose significant data regarding the newly developed BCG-based vaccine that promotes protective cellular and humoral response against hRSV infection, which is currently undergoing clinical evaluation.
Differential Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Effect of Calcium on Malus baccata Borkh. Leaves under Temperature Stress
Authors: Li Lijie , Su Hong , Ma Huaiyu , Lyu Deguo
Published: August 2017

In the cool apple-producing areas of northern China, air temperature during early spring changes in a rapid and dramatic manner, which affects the growth and development of apple trees at the early stage of the growing season. Previous studies have shown that the treatment of calcium can increase the cold tolerance of Malus baccata Borkh., a widely-used rootstock apple tree in northern China. To better understand the physiological function of calcium in the response of M. baccata to temperature stress, we analyzed the effect of calcium treatment (2% CaCl2) on M. baccata leaves under temperature stress. Physiological analysis showed that temperature stress aggravated membrane lipid peroxidation, reduced chlorophyll content and induced photo-inhibition in leaves, whereas these indicators of stress injuries were alleviated by the application of calcium. An isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomics approach was used in this study. Among the 2114 proteins that were detected in M. baccata leaves, 41, 25, and 34 proteins were differentially regulated by the increasing, decreasing, and changing temperature treatments, respectively. Calcium treatment induced 9 and 15 proteins after increasing and decreasing temperature, respectively, in comparison with non-treated plants. These calcium-responsive proteins were mainly related to catalytic activity, binding, and structural molecule activity. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the changes in abundance of the proteins under increasing temperature and changing temperature treatments were similar, and the changes in protein abundance under decreasing temperature and increasing temperature with calcium treatment were similar. The findings of this study will allow a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the role of calcium in M. baccata leaves under temperature stress.
Image Fragile Watermarking through Quaternion Linear Transform in Secret Space
Authors: Botta Marco , Cavagnino Davide , Pomponiu Victor
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we apply the quaternion framework for color images to a fragile watermarking algorithm with the objective of multimedia integrity protection (Quaternion Karhunen-Loève Transform Fragile Watermarking (QKLT-FW)). The use of quaternions to represent pixels allows to consider the color information in a holistic and integrated fashion. We stress out that, by taking advantage of the host image quaternion representation, we extract complex features that are able to improve the embedding and verification of fragile watermarks. The algorithm, based on the Quaternion Karhunen-Loève Transform (QKLT), embeds a binary watermark into some QKLT coefficients representing a host image in a secret frequency space: the QKLT basis images are computed from a secret color image used as a symmetric key. A computational intelligence technique (i.e., genetic algorithm) is employed to modify the host image pixels in such a way that the watermark is contained in the protected image. The sensitivity to image modifications is then tested, showing very good performance.
Can a Network Attack Be Simulated in an Emulated Environment for Network Security Training?
Authors: Chapman Samuel , Smith Richard , Maglaras Leandros , Janicke Helge
Published: August 2017

This paper outlines a tool developed with the purpose of creating a simple configurable emulated network environment that can be used in cyber defence exercises. Research has been conducted into the various related subject areas: cyber defence exercises, network threats, network emulation, network traffic replay, network topologies, and common network services. From this research a requirements specification was produced to encapsulate the features required to create this tool. A network, containing many of the aspects researched, was designed and implemented using Netkit-NG to act as a blueprint for the tool and to further knowledge in the construction of an emulated network. Following this the tool was developed and tested to ensure requirements were met.
Upregulation and Identification of Antibiotic Activity of a Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. via Co-Cultures with Human Pathogens
Authors: Sung Anne , Gromek Samantha , Balunas Marcy
Published: August 2017

Marine natural product drug discovery has begun to play an important role in the treatment of disease, with several recently approved drugs. In addition, numerous microbial natural products have been discovered from members of the order Actinomycetales, particularly in the genus Streptomyces, due to their metabolic diversity for production of biologically active secondary metabolites. However, many secondary metabolites cannot be produced under laboratory conditions because growth conditions in flask culture differ from conditions in the natural environment. Various experimental conditions (e.g., mixed fermentation) have been attempted to increase yields of previously described metabolites, cause production of previously undetected metabolites, and increase antibiotic activity. Adult ascidians—also known as tunicates—are sessile marine invertebrates, making them vulnerable to predation and therefore are hypothesized to use host-associated bacteria that produce biologically active secondary metabolites for chemical defense. A marine-derived Streptomyces sp. strain PTY087I2 was isolated from a Panamanian tunicate and subsequently co-cultured with human pathogens including Bacillus subtilis, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by extraction. Co-culture of Streptomyces sp. PTY087I2 with each of these human pathogens resulted in increased production of three antibiotics: granaticin, granatomycin D, and dihydrogranaticin B, as well as several analogues seen via molecular networking. In addition, co-cultures resulted in strongly enhanced biological activity against the Gram positive human pathogens used in these experiments. Expanded utilization of co-culture experiments to allow for competitive interactions may enhance metabolite production and further our understanding of these microbial interactions.
Effects of ZnO Nanoparticle on the Gas Separation Performance of Polyurethane Mixed Matrix Membrane
Authors: Soltani Banafsheh , Asghari Morteza
Published: August 2017

Polyurethane (PU)-ZnO mixed matrix membranes (MMM) were fabricated and characterized for gas separation. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) test and an atomic-force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the physical properties and thermal stability of the membranes were improved through filler loading. Hydrogen Bonding Index, obtained from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), demonstrate that the degree of phase separation in PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM was more than the neat PU, while in PU-ZnO 1.0 wt % MMM, the phase mixing had increased. Compared to the neat membrane, the CO2 permeability of the MMMs increased by 31% for PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM and decreased by 34% for 1.0 wt % ZnO MMM. The CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 selectivities of PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % were 18.75 and 64.75, respectively.
Optimal Control-Based Inverse Determination of Electrode Distribution for Electroosmotic Micromixer
Authors: Ji Yuan , Deng Yongbo , Liu Zhenyu , Zhou Teng , Wu Yihui , Qian Shizhi
Published: August 2017

This paper presents an optimal control-based inverse method used to determine the distribution of the electrodes for the electroosmotic micromixers with external driven flow from the inlet. Based on the optimal control method, one Dirichlet boundary control problem is constructed to inversely find the optimal distribution of the electrodes on the sidewalls of electroosmotic micromixers and achieve the acceptable mixing performance. After solving the boundary control problem, results are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method; the step-shaped distribution of the external electric potential imposed on the sidewalls is obtained, and the electrodes with an interlaced arrangement are inversely derived according to the obtained external electric potential.
Phosphate-Linked Silibinin Dimers (PLSd): New Promising Modified Metabolites
Authors: Romanucci Valeria , Gravante Raffaele , Cimafonte Martina , Marino Cinzia Di , Mailhot Gilles , Brigante Marcello , Zarrelli Armando , Fabio Giovanni Di
Published: August 2017

By exploiting the regioselective protection of the hydroxyl groups of silibinin along with the well-known phosphoramidite chemistry, we have developed an efficient strategy for the synthesis of new silibinin-modified species, which we have named Phosphate-Linked Silibinin Dimers (PLSd), in which the monomer units are linked by phosphodiester bonds. The antioxidant abilities of the new PLSd were estimated on HepG2 cells using DPPH free radical scavenging and xanthine/xanthine oxidase assays. The new phosphate-metabolites showed a higher anti-oxidant activity than the silibinin, as well as very low toxicity. The ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen () and hydroxyl radical () reveals that the two dimers are able to scavenge about two times more effectively than silibinin. Finally, solubility studies have shown that the PLSd present good water solubility (more than 20 mg·L−1) under circumneutral pH values, whereas the silibinin was found to be very poorly soluble (less than 0.4 mg·L−1) and not stable under alkaline conditions. Together, the above promising results warrant further investigation of the future potential of the PLSd as anti-oxidant metabolites within the large synthetic polyphenols field.