bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Dust Suppression Technology of Shotcrete Based on New Spray Equipment and Process Optimization
Authors: Li Pengcheng , Zhou Zhi , Chen Lianjun , Liu Guoming , Xiao Wei
Published: March 2019

In order to reduce the dust hazard of shotcrete, the paper analyzed the mechanism of dust production from the perspective of various dust sources and developed the plunger‐type wet spraying machinery and wet mixer which can be applied in the small‐section tunnel for reducing dust on the root cause. The dust concentration between dry‐mix shotcrete and wet‐mix shotcrete was compared and analyzed. The results showed that the average total dust concentration and respirable dust concentration in the process of dry spraying were 99.4 mg/m3 and 52 mg/m3, respectively, while 9.8 mg/m3 and 4.08 mg/m3 in the wet‐mix shotcrete process, and the average dust concentration decreased by more than 90% after applying new wet‐mix shotcrete outfits. The clean zone of dust was divided according to the dust distribution. Finally, the dust suppression technology was optimized by using an accelerator and adjusting wind pressure and spraying angle. Results indicated that the application of the accelerator reduced the dust production efficiently; moreover, when the wind pressure was 0.2 MPa with 1 m spraying distance and 90° angle of spraying, the dust concentration and rebound reached the minimum.
CFD-PBM Coupled Simulation of Liquid-Liquid Dispersions in Spray Fluidized Bed Extractor: Comparison of Three Numerical Methods
Authors: Zheng Dan , Zou Wei , Peng Chuanfeng , Fu Yuhang , Yan Jie , Zhang Fengzhen
Published: March 2019

A coupled numerical code of the Euler-Euler model and the population balance model (PBM) of the liquid-liquid dispersions in a spray fluidized bed extractor (SFBE) has been performed to investigate the hydrodynamic behavior. A classes method (CM) and two representatively numerical moment-based methods, namely, a quadrature method of moments (QMOM) and a direct quadrature method of moments (DQMOM), are used to solve the PBE for evaluating the effect of the numerical method. The purpose of this article is to compare the results achieved by three methods for solving population balance during liquid-liquid two-phase mixing in a SFBE. The predicted results reveal that the CM has the advantage of computing the droplet size distribution (DSD) directly, but it is computationally expensive if a large number of intervals are needed. The MOMs (QMOM and DQMOM) are preferable to coupling the PBE solution with CFD codes for liquid-liquid dispersions simulations due to their easy application, reasonable accuracy, and high reliability. Comparative results demonstrated the suitability of the DQMOM for modeling the spray fluidized bed extractor with simultaneous droplet breakage and aggregation. This work increases the understanding of the chemical engineering characteristics of multiphase systems and provides a theoretical basis for the quantitative design, scale-up, and optimization of multiphase devices.
A Simple Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Measurement of Cortisol Level in Human Saliva
Authors: Alvi Syed N. , Hammami Muhammad M.
Published: March 2019

A simple ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for measurement of cortisol level in human saliva was developed and validated. Saliva samples containing cortisol were spiked with tolperisone as internal standard (IS) and extracted with a mixture of methyl tert-butyl ether and hexane (8:2, v:v). After solvent evaporation, residue was reconstituted in 100 μl mobile phase. Analysis was performed on Atlantis dC18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 3 μm particle size) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 2 mM ammonium acetate (50:50, v:v) and delivered at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/minute. Mass spectrometry acquisition was performed with multiple reaction monitoring in positive-ion mode for cortisol and IS (m/z: 363.1 → 121.0 and 246.0 → 97.9, respectively). Retention times of cortisol and IS were about 1.35 and 2.45 minutes, respectively. The relationship between cortisol level and peak area ratio of cortisol to IS was linear in the range of 0.5-100 ng/ml. Intra- and interday coefficient of variation and bias were ≤ 9.0% and ≤12.0%, respectively. Mean extraction recoveries of cortisol and IS from saliva samples were 92% and 94%, respectively. Using the method, cortisol was found to be ≥ 86% stable in processed (24 hours at room temperature or 48 hours at -20°C) and ≥ 91% stable in unprocessed (24 hours at room temperature or 20 weeks at -20°C) saliva samples. Further, the method was successfully applied to determine daily cortisol profile in saliva samples of a healthy volunteer.
Composite Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma and T-Prolymphocytic Leukemia Presenting with Lymphocytosis, Skin Lesions, and Generalized Lymphadenopathy
Authors: Sakhdari Ali , Tang Guilin , Ginsberg Lawrence E. , Hirsch-Ginsberg Cheryl F. , Bueso-Ramos Carlos E. , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Miranda Roberto N.
Published: March 2019

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in Western countries with an incidence of 3-5 cases per 100,000 persons. Most patients follow an indolent clinical course with eventual progression and need for therapy. In contrast, T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare type of T-cell leukemia with most patients having an aggressive clinical course and a dismal prognosis. Therapies are limited for T-PLL patients and there is a high relapse rate. Morphologically, the cells of CLL and T-PLL can show overlapping features. Here, we report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with a clinically indolent CLL and T-PLL, initially diagnosed solely and followed as CLL, despite the presence of an associated but unrecognized aberrant T-cell population in blood. After 2 years, the T-PLL component became more apparent with cutaneous and hematologic manifestations and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunophenotypic and cytogenetic analysis. Fluorescencein situhybridization demonstrated anATMdeletion in both CLL and T-PLL components. Retrospective testing demonstrated that composite CLL and T-PLL were both present in skin and lymph nodes as well as in blood and bone marrow since initial presentation. This case is also unique because it highlights that a subset of T-PLL patients can present with clinically indolent disease. The concomitant detection ofATMmutation in CLL and T-PLL components raises the possibility of a common pathogenic mechanism.
Ethanol Dehydration over WO3/TiO2Catalysts Using Titania Derived from Sol-Gel and Solvothermal Methods
Authors: Tresatayawed Anchale , Glinrun Peangpit , Jongsomjit Bunjerd
Published: March 2019

The present study aims to investigate the catalytic ethanol dehydration to higher value products including ethylene, diethyl ether (DEE), and acetaldehyde. The catalysts used for this reaction were WO3/TiO2catalysts having W loading of 13.5 wt.%. For a comparative study, the TiO2supports employed were varied by two different preparation methods including the sol-gel and solvothermal-derived TiO2supports, denoted as TiO2-SG and TiO2-SV, respectively. It is obvious that the different preparation methods essentially altered the physicochemical properties of TiO2supports. It was found that the TiO2-SV exhibited higher surface area and pore volume and larger amounts of acid sites than those of TiO2-SG. As a consequence, different characteristics of support apparently affected the catalytic properties of WO3/TiO2catalysts. As expected, both catalysts WO3/TiO2-SG and WO3/TiO2-SV exhibited increased ethanol conversion with increasing temperatures from 200 to 400°C. It appeared that the highest ethanol conversion (ca. 88%) at 400°C was achieved by the WO3/TiO2-SV catalysts due to its high acidity. It is worth noting that the presence of WO3onto TiO2-SV yielded a remarkable increase in DEE selectivity (ca. 68%) at 250°C. In summary, WO3/TiO2-SV catalyst is promising to convert ethanol into ethylene and DEE, having the highest ethylene yield of ca. 77% at 400°C and highest DEE yield of ca. 26% at 250°C. These can be attributed to proper pore structure, acidity, and distribution of WO3.
Follower Position Does Not Affect Waggle Dance Information Transfer
Authors: Kietzman Parry M. , Visscher P. Kirk
Published: March 2019

It is known that the honey bee waggle dance communicates the distance and direction of some item of interest, most commonly a food source, to nestmates. Previous work suggests that, in order to successfully acquire the information contained in a dance, other honey bees must follow the dancer from behind. We revisit this topic using updated methodology, including a greater distance from the hive to the feeder, which produced longer, more easily-read dances. Our results are not congruent with those of earlier work, and we did not conclude that honey bees must follow a dancer from behind in order to obtain the dance information. Rather, it is more likely that a follower can successfully acquire a dance’s information regardless of where she may be located about a dancer.
Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh: Activities, Challenges, and Suggestions
Authors: Joarder Taufique , Chaudhury Tahrim Z. , Mannan Ishtiaq
Published: March 2019

Catastrophic health expenditure forces 5.7 million Bangladeshis into poverty. Inequity is present in most of health indicators across social, economic, and demographic parameters. This study explores the existing health policy environment and current activities to further the progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the challenges faced in these endeavors. This qualitative study involved document reviews (n=22) and key informant interviews (KII, n=15). Thematic analysis of texts (themes: activities around UHC, implementation barriers, suggestions) was done using the manual coding technique. We found that Bangladesh has a comprehensive set of policies for UHC, e.g., a health-financing strategy and staged recommendations for pooling of funds to create a national health insurance scheme and expand financial protection for health. Progress has been made in a number of areas including the roll out of the essential package of health services for all, expansion of access to primary health care services (support by donors), and the piloting of health insurance which has been piloted in three subdistricts. Political commitment for these areas is strong. However, there are barriers pertaining to the larger policy level which includes a rigid public financing structure dating from the colonial era. While others pertain to the health sector’s implementation shortfalls including issues of human resources, political interference, monitoring, and supervision, most key informants discussed demand-side barriers too, such as sociocultural disinclination, historical mistrust, and lack of empowerment. To overcome these, several policies have been recommended, e.g., redesigning the public finance structure, improving governance and regulatory mechanism, specifying code of conduct for service providers, introducing health-financing reform, and collaborating with different sectors. To address the implementation barriers, recommendations include improving service quality, strengthening overall health systems, improving health service management, and improving monitoring and supervision. Addressing demand-side barriers, such as patient education and community empowerment, is also needed. Research and advocacy are required to address crosscutting barriers such as the lack of common understanding of UHC.
Study on the Photodegradation Stability of Poly(butylene Succinate-co-butylene Adipate)/TiO2 Nanocomposites
Authors: Cai Lihai , Qi Zhiguo , Xu Jun , Guo Baohua , Huang Zhongyao
Published: March 2019

A poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)/TiO2 (PBSA/TiO2) nanocomposite was prepared by a melt-blending process. The effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the photodegradation behaviors of the nanocomposite was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), rheological measurements, and mechanical tests. TEM images of the PBSA/TiO2 revealed that the TiO2 nanoparticles were well dispersed in the matrix without obvious aggregation. The FT-IR results indicated that the TiO2 nanoparticles can block high-energy ultraviolet (UV) light and reduce the degradation of the PBSA matrix. The viscosity analysis results indicated that the TiO2 nanoparticles inhibited the chain scission of PBSA matrix under irradiation. In addition, the surface of the PBSA/TiO2 films and their mechanical properties change less than that of untreated PBSA films during the photoaging process. The obtained results imply that the TiO2 nanoparticles can be considered as an efficient photodegradation-resistant additive to PBSA for reducing photodegradation.
Jackhammer Esophagus: From Manometric Diagnosis to Clinical Presentation
Authors: Clément Marianne , Zhu Wen Jing , Neshkova Elissaveta , Bouin Mickael
Published: March 2019

Background. Jackhammer esophagus is a hypercontractile esophageal disorder recently brought to light with the advent of high resolution manometry (HRM). As little is known about its clinical presentation, the aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics associated with this new gastrointestinal motility disorder. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted on patients visiting the CHUM’s Gastro-Intestinal Motility Center from January 2015 to December 2017. The HRM diagnoses were collated in a database along with age and sex of every individual. The latest Chicago classification (version 3.0) was used. Among all the patients subjected to HRM, those diagnosed with Jackhammer esophagus were included in the study. Patient charts were reviewed to collect relevant demographic and clinical data. Key Results. A total of 36 patients with Jackhammer esophagus were included (62 ± 13 years age, 89% females). Their main symptoms were dysphagia (72%), pyrosis (42%), retrosternal chest pain (36%), and epigastralgia (33%). Other manometric findings were hypertonia (22%) and/or inadequate relaxation (19%) of the lower esophageal sphincter. Among the 26 patients who had esogastroduodenoscopy, hiatal hernia was seen in 3 patients. Pathological gastroesophageal reflux was found in 4 of the 10 patients investigated by pH-monitoring. Conclusions and Inferences. Jackhammer esophagus represents 3% of the HRM diagnoses in this study, with a significant female preponderance. In more than two-thirds of cases, the clinical presentation of Jackhammer esophagus is dysphagia.
On the Essential Norm of Multiplications Operators Acting on Cesàro Sequence Spaces
Authors: Ramos-Fernández Julio C. , Rivera-Sarmiento María A. , Salas-Brown Margot
Published: March 2019

In this article, we establish an important property about the growth of sequences in the dual space of Cesàro sequence spaces. As a consequence of this fact, we calculate the measure of noncompactness or the essential norm of the multiplication operator Mu acting on Cesàro sequence spaces cesp.
The Antiseptic Octenidine Inhibits Langerhans Cell Activation and Modulates Cytokine Expression upon Superficial Wounding with Tape Stripping
Authors: Nikolić Nenad , Kienzl Philip , Tajpara Pooja , Vierhapper Martin , Matiasek Johannes , Elbe-Bürger Adelheid
Published: March 2019

Ideal agents for the topical treatment of skin wounds should have antimicrobial efficacy without negative influence on wound healing. Octenidine (OCT) has become a widely used antiseptic in professional wound care, but its influence on several components of the wound healing process remains unclear. In the present study, we have used a superficial wound model using tape stripping on human full-thickness skin ex vivo to investigate the influence of OCT on epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and cytokine secretion pattern of skin cells during wound healing in a model without disruption of the normal skin structure. Histological and immunofluorescence studies showed that OCT neither altered human skin architecture nor the viability of skin cells upon 48 hours of culture in unwounded or wounded skin. The epidermis of explants and LCs remained morphologically intact throughout the whole culture period upon OCT treatment. OCT inhibited the upregulation of the maturation marker CD83 on LCs and prevented their emigration in wounded skin. Furthermore, OCT reduced both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-8, IL-33, and IL-10), while angiogenesis and growth factor mediators (VEGF and TGF-β1) remained unchanged in skin explant cultures. Our data provide novel insights into the host response to OCT in the biologically relevant environment of viable human (wounded) skin.
Prevalence of Anterior Femoral Neck Osteophyte in a Total Hip Arthroplasty Population: Analysis of Preoperative Surgical Plans
Authors: Katchky Adam M. , Smith Mitchell L. , Shimmin Andrew J. , McMahon Stephen J. , Latham Jeremy , Baré Jonathan V.
Published: March 2019

Despite strongly positive results of total hip arthroplasty (THA), patients remain at risk for complications including dislocation. Spinopelvic motion and the hip-spine relationship have been recognized as important factors in surgical planning and implant positioning in THA. Periarticular osteophytes are one of the hallmark pathoanatomic features of osteoarthritis and may influence implant positioning and joint stability; residual osteophytes at the anterior femoral neck may cause anterior impingement and posterior instability. No studies have been identified which establish the prevalence of anterior femoral neck osteophyte for incorporation into THA planning. 413 consecutive patients scheduled for THA underwent preoperative planning taking into account spinopelvic motion to establish optimal component position. Each surgical plan was reviewed retrospectively by four independent raters who were blinded to other imaging and intraoperative findings. Anterior femoral neck osteophytes were rated as being absent, minor, or extensive for each case. A single outlying rater was excluded. Inter-rater reliability was calculated manually. The patient group comprised 197 male and 216 female hips, with a mean age of 63 years (range 32–91). The presence of anterior femoral neck osteophytes was identified in a mean of 82% of cases (range 78–86%). A significant number of patients were found to have large or extensive osteophytes present in this location (mean 27%; range 23–31%). Inter-rater reliability was 70%. A large majority of our THA patients were found to have anterior femoral neck osteophytes. These must be considered during preoperative planning with respect to the spinopelvic relationship. Failure to identify and address osteophytes intraoperatively may increase the risk of impingement in flexion and/or internal rotation, leading to decreased range of motion, joint instability, and possibly dislocation. Planned future directions include incorporation of an impingement and instability model into preoperative planning for THA.
Reliability Design of Soft Soil Foundation Preloading Method for Airport Runway
Authors: Yu Qingkun , Cai Liangcai , Shi Xiang
Published: March 2019

Focusing on the rapid assessment of the reliability of airport runway soft soil foundation, taking the soft soil foundation preloading method as the research object, we established the corresponding settlement calculation model and studied the soil parameters and how they affect the settlement values, and the reliability of the soft soil foundation preloading method was obtained by the checking point method (JC). In order to realize the fast calculation of reliability, Visual Studio 2010 is used to design the visual reliability calculation program of the airport runway soft soil foundation preloading method. The analysis results showed that the soil index with the greatest influence on the final consolidation settlement was the compression coefficient, followed by the soil layer thickness, the compression modulus, the void ratio, and the consolidation coefficient. On the basis of the limit state equation, we got the final failure probability formula. Combined with an airport project example, the reliability calculation results showed that the longer the preloading time was, the more reliable the treatment plan was, and the less the probability of failure was; the larger the preloading pressure was, the more reliable the treatment plan was, and the less the probability of failure was. In the engineering example, it can be found that the treatment plan with the preloading of 100 kPa and the stacking time of 150 days is the best solution.
Phenolic Compounds from Water-Ethanol Extracts ofTetrapleura tetrapteraProduced in Cameroon, as Potential Protectors againstIn VivoCCl4-Induced Liver Injuries
Authors: Saague Peter William Kemewele , Moukette Moukette Bruno , Njimou Jacques Romain , Biapa Prosper Cabral Nya , Nzufo Tankeu Francine , Moor Vicky Joseline Ama , Pieme Constant Anatole , Ngogang Jeanne Yonkeu
Published: March 2019

Background. Liver diseases are a global health problem. Medicinal plants are being increasingly used to manage a wide variety of diseases including liver disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant properties and hepatoprotective activity of polyphenolic extract from the fruits ofTetrapleura tetraptera (T. tetraptera).Results. The extract ofT. tetrapterawas administered at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 07per osto rats before the induction of hepatotoxicity with of 2 ml/kg of 1:1 (v/v) carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and olive oil through intraperitoneal route. Thein vitroantioxidant and radical scavenging properties ofT. tetrapterawere conducted by the FRAP method, the phosphomolybdate method, and the inhibition potential of DPPH, ABTS, OH, and NO radicals. The extraction yield ofT. tetrapterawas 19.35%. This extract contains polyphenols (273.48 mg CAE/g DM), flavonoids (5.2549 mg SE/g DM), and flavonols (1.615 mg SE/g DM). This extract showedin vitroantioxidant activity, an inhibitor power of various free radicals, and radical scavenging potential dose-dependent. The fifty-percent inhibitory concentration of the extract (IC50) for the studied radical varied from 28.16 to 136μg/L. In rats treated with the extract ofT. tetraptera, in a dose-dependent manner, the levels of hepatotoxicity markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) significantly increased while the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the level of reduced glutathione (GHS) significantly increased compared to the control group.Conclusions. The extracts from the fruit ofT. tetrapterademonstrate antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects.
Study on Hesitant Fuzzy Information Measures and Their Clustering Application
Authors: Lv Jin-hui , Guo Si-cong , Guo Fang-fang
Published: March 2019

At present, research on hesitant fuzzy operations and measures is based on equal length processing, and an equal length processing method will inevitably destroy the original data structure and change the data information. This is an urgent problem to be solved in the development of hesitant fuzzy sets. Aiming at solving this problem, this paper firstly defines a hesitant fuzzy entropy function as the measure of the degree of uncertainty of hesitant fuzzy information and then proposes the concept of hesitant fuzzy information feature vector. The hesitant fuzzy distance measure and similarity measure are studied based on the information feature vector. Finally, the hesitant fuzzy network clustering method based on similarity measure is given, and the effectiveness of our algorithm through a numerical example is illustrated.
On the Rotor Stator Interaction Effects of Low Specific Speed Francis Turbines
Authors: Agnalt Einar , Iliev Igor , Solemslie Bjørn W. , Dahlhaug Ole G.
Published: March 2019

The rotor stator interaction in a low specific speed Francis model turbine and a pump-turbine is analyzed utilizing pressure sensors in the vaneless space and in the guide vane cascade. The measurements are analyzed relative to the runner angular position by utilizing an absolute encoder mounted on the shaft end. From the literature, the pressure in the analyzed area is known to be a combination of two effects: the rotating runner pressure and the throttling of the guide vane channels. The measured pressure is fitted to a mathematical pressure model to separate the two effects for two different runners. One turbine with 15+15 splitter blades and full-length blades and one pump-turbine with six blades are investigated. The blade loading on the two runners is different, giving different input for the pressure model. The main findings show that the pressure fluctuations in the guide vane cascade are mainly controlled by throttling for the low blade loading case and the rotating runner pressure for the higher blade loading case.
The Increased PTK7 Expression Is a Malignant Factor in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Sun Jun-Jie , Li Hong-Lin , Guo Su-Jie , Ma Hui , Liu Shen-Jia , Liu Dong , Xue Feng-Xia
Published: March 2019

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in gynecology. Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) with an inactive kinase domain is an important regulator of multiple Wnt pathways under normal and various pathological conditions and overexpressed in various tumors; however, the clinical and biological significance of PTK7 in cervical cancer is still unknown. In the present study, the protein expression level of PTK7 was detected in clinical cervical cancer patient samples, and the relationship between PTK7 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier method was performed to estimate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients to investigate the clinicopathological significance of PTK7 expression. Functional assays demonstrated that knocking down PTK7 might inhibit the ability of cancer cells to proliferate and invade or migrate, both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, PTK7 might serve as a potential target for cervical cancer.
Parameters Suggesting Spontaneous Passage of Stones from Common Bile Duct: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Khoury Tawfik , Adileh Mohamed , Imam Ashraf , Azraq Yosef , Bilitzky-Kopit Avital , Massarwa Muhamad , Benson Ari , Bahouth Zaher , Abu-Gazaleh Samir , Sbeit Wisam , Safadi Rifaat , Khalaileh Abed
Published: March 2019

Background. Common bile duct (CBD) stones are common. However, they are known to pass spontaneously, which obviates the need for ERCP.Aim. The aim of this study is to identify specific predictors for spontaneous passage of CBD stones.Methods. Data was retrospectively collected for all patients who were hospitalized with clinical, laboratory, or ultrasonographic evidence of choledocholithiasis and who underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in Hadassah Medical Center between 2005 and 2011. The patients were classified into 4 groups: group A (positive MRCP and positive ERCP), group B (positive MRCP but negative ERCP), group C (positive MRCP but did not undergo ERCP), and group D (negative MRCP that did not undergo ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. All positive MRCP-groups (A+B+C) were further grouped together into group E. We compared groups A versus B and groups E versus D.Results.Comparing groups A versus B, only gamma-glutamyl transferase predicted spontaneous passage of stones from CBD, as the level was significantly higher in group A (677±12.1) versus group B (362.4±216.2) (P=0.023). Patients with small stone diameter (P=0.001), distal stones (P=0.05), and absence of intrahepatic dilatation (P=0.047) tend to pass their stones spontaneously. Comparing groups D versus E, it was found that male gender (P=0.03), older age (P<0.001), high levels of GGT (P=0.022), high levels of alkaline phosphatase (P=0.011), high levels of total bilirubin (P=0.007), and lower levels of amylase (P<0.001) are predictors for positive MRCP studies for CBD stones.Conclusion. Identification of specific predictors is important to avoid unnecessary invasive endoscopic intervention.
Allium cepa Bio Assay to Assess the Water and Sediment Cytogenotoxicity in a Tropical Stream Subjected to Multiple Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutants
Authors: Wijeyaratne W. M. Dimuthu Nilmini , Wadasinghe L. G. Y. J. G.
Published: March 2019

The present study was conducted to assess the cytotoxicity of water and sediments of an industrial effluent receiving water body in the western province of Sri Lanka using Allium cepa bioassay. Six sampling sites (Site A: Urban; B: Industrial; C: Water intake for public water supply; D: Industrial; E: Agricultural; F: Reference) were selected from the study area. Ten replicate water and sediment samples were collected from each site, and physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard analytical methods. Cytotoxicity of water and sediment elutriates were measured using Allium cepa bioassay. Despite the significant spatial variations, the overall water and sediment quality parameters of the study sites were in accordance with the standard ambient environment parameters to sustain a healthy aquatic life. In the A. cepa bulbs exposed to water samples, significant root growth variations were not observed within 48 hours of exposure. However, significant root length variations were observed in A. cepa bulbs exposed to sediment elutriates within the 48-hour exposure and the percentage root growth inhibition increased with increase of exposure time. Similar trend was observed in mitotic activity indicating significantly lower mitotic indices (compared to that of the reference site) in A. cepa root tip cells exposed to sediment elutriates than those exposed to water samples. Further, the highest number of nuclear abnormalities was recorded from root tip cells of A. cepa exposed to water and sediment samples from sites B, C, and D. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to identify the composition and speciation of these cytogenotoxic compounds in the tropical climatic conditions and to propose possible clean-up or treatment solutions to overcome this environmental and public health risk associated problem.
Allelopathic Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL. Moench) on the Early Seedling Growth of Sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) Varieties and Selected Weeds
Authors: Murimwa J. C. , Rugare J. T. , Mabasa S. , Mandumbu R.
Published: March 2019

Sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) production is lucrative to resource poor farmers in marginalised areas of Zimbabwe, although most farmers have reportedly been failing to derive maximum economic benefits from sesame production due to poor productivity. Low productivity has been attributed to several factors including challenges of weed control due to absence of registered herbicides for use in sesame in Zimbabwe. Laboratory enzyme assays were conducted using different sorghum aqueous leaf and stem extract concentrations at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% wv−1to determine the effect of sorghum aqueous extracts on plant defense enzymes polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) in sesame and selected weeds. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effect of sorgaab or sorgaab-Agil postemergence sprays on the seedling growth and physiology of sesame and weeds. The exposure of sesame, black jack, and goose grass to sorghum aqueous extracts caused a significant (p<0.05) concentration-dependent increase on the activity of antioxidant enzymes PAL, POD, and POD. Similarly, postemergence sprays of sole sorgaab, herbicide, and sorgaab-herbicide combination significantly (p<0.05) increased sesame and black jack seedling growth, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence but not of goose grass. From this study, it could be concluded that the allelochemicals in sorghum aqueous extracts were not effective at inhibiting the growth and physiological processes of sesame and the weeds. Therefore, resource-poor farmers cannot rely on sorgaab to control weeds in sesame but there is a need to integrate weed control options to form an effective integrated weed management program.
Metal-Organic Framework MIL-53(Fe) as an Adsorbent for Ibuprofen Drug Removal from Aqueous Solutions: Response Surface Modeling and Optimization
Authors: Nguyen Duyen Thi Cam , Le Hanh Thi Ngoc , Do Trung Sy , Pham Van Thinh , Lam Tran Dai , Ho Van Thi Thanh , Tran Thuan Van , Nguyen Duy Chinh , Nguyen Trinh Duy , Bach Long Giang , Ha Huynh Ky Phuong , Doan Van Thuan
Published: March 2019

Ibuprofen contamination from water sources has been increasingly alarming due to its environmentally accumulative retention; however, the strategies for ibuprofen-containing water treatment are still an enormous challenge. Herein, we described the utilization of metal-organic frameworks MIL-53(Fe) (MIL = Materials of Institute Lavoisier) for the adsorption of ibuprofen in synthetic solution. Firstly, the MIL-53(Fe) was solvothemally synthesized and then characterized using the X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The optimization of ibuprofen adsorption over MIL-53(Fe) was performed with three independent variables including ibuprofen concentration (1.6–18.4 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.16–1.84 g/L), and pH (2.6–9.4) according to the experimental design from response surface methodology. Under the optimized conditions, more than 80% of ibuprofen could be eliminated from water, indicating the promising potential of the MIL-53(Fe) material for treatment of this drug. Kinetic and isotherm models also were used to elucidate the chemisorption and monolayer behavior mechanisms of ibuprofen over MIL-53(Fe).
On Cancellation Capability of Full-Duplex RF Self-Interference Cancellation Schemes
Authors: Zhang Zhiliang , Liu Ying , Luo Fang , Wang Xiaohong
Published: March 2019

In this work, we study the self-interference cancellation (SIC) capability of two basic radio frequency (RF) SIC schemes: auxiliary antenna cancellation and multireconstruction-path (MRP) cancellation (including particular two-reconstruction-path balun cancellation), and derive their cancellation capability in detail. Theoretical results show that auxiliary antenna cancellation capability and balun cancellation capability are related to the ratio of bandwidth to carrier frequency, the latter is further related to an angle ratio; that is, the ratio of the angle between the self-interference vector and the first fixed delay vector to the angle between the two fixed delay vectors, and common MRP cancellation capability is essentially related to the channel response of self-interference and the canceller frequency response. Numerical results confirm a perhaps obvious intuition: MRP cancellation outplays auxiliary antenna cancellation to cancel self-interference, especially when multiple self-interference paths exist, and MRP cancellation with more reconstruction paths achieves higher cancellation capability.
TheUlvaspp. Conundrum: What Does the Ecophysiology of Southern Atlantic Specimens Tell Us?
Authors: Oliveira Vinícius Peruzzi , Ignacio Barbara Lage , Martins Nuno Tavares , Dobler Leticia , Enrich-Prast Alex
Published: March 2019

Species of the genusUlvaare common in anthropogenically disturbed areas and have been reported as the cause of green tides in many areas of the world. In addition, they rank among the main marine groups used in a wide range of commercial applications. By displaying few distinctive morphological characters, some taxonomical identifications are difficult and the genus is under a conundrum. Our aims were to provide ecophysiological information about threeUlvaspecies in response to abiotic factors and to evaluate the proposal of ecophysiological information and the chlorophyll-afluorescence technique as auxiliary tool to resolve the long-standing taxonomic confusion. We hypothesize that three cooccurring specimens (U. fasciataDelile,U. lactucaLinnaeus, andU. rigidaC. Agardh) have different ecophysiological responses (as measured by the effective quantum yield of photosystem II by pulse amplitude modulated fluorometers) under manipulated conditions of temperature and nutrient concentration.Ulva lactucaandU. rigidashowed different photosynthetic efficiencies related to temperature, whereas no difference was recorded forU. fasciataindividuals. These results provide a reasonable explanation for the variability in spatial and temporal abundance of these species ofUlvaon rocky shores. We proposed the use of ecophysiological information by chlorophyll-afluorescence as an auxiliary tool to corroborate the taxonomic distinction ofUlvaspecies. We reinforce the statement ofU. fasciataandU. lactucaas distinct valid species.
Nonfragile Quantized Dissipative Filter for Nonlinear Networked Systems
Authors: Huang Kewang , Wang Jianfeng , Pan Feng
Published: March 2019

To address the problem of filter parameter perturbation in nonlinear networked systems, a nonfragile quantized dissipative filter is designed by considering the coexistence of random one‐step time delay, multipacket losses, and quantization error. We acquired the sufficient conditions for the existence of filter by choosing appropriate Lyapunov function as well as utilizing linear matrix inequality. Furthermore, we obtained the parameter expressions of the designed filter. The designed filter could meet the performance requirements of stability and dissipativity for the filter error system under the condition of allowed time delays, packet loss probability, and quantization density. The effectiveness of the designed filter is verified by numerical simulation.
Effect of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles on Mixed POPC/DPPC Monolayers at Air-Water Interface
Authors: Xu Zhuangwei , Hao Changchun , Xie Bin , Sun Runguang
Published: March 2019

Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) as a commonly used carrier in targeted drug delivery are widely used to carry drugs for the treatment of diseases. However, the mechanism of action of between Fe3O4 NPs and biological membranes is still unclear. Therefore, this article reports the influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic Fe3O4 NPs on mixed 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) that were studied using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film technique and an atomic force microscope (AFM). From surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms, we have calculated the compression modulus. The results showed that hydrophobic Fe3O4 NPs enlarged the liquid-expanded (LE) and liquid-condensed (LC) phase of the mixed POPC/DPPC monolayers. The compressibility modulus of the mixed POPC/DPPC monolayer increases for hydrophilic Fe3O4 NPs, but the opposite happens for the hydrophobic Fe3O4 NPs. The adsorption of hydrophobic Fe3O4 NPs in mixed POPC/DPPC monolayers was much more than the hydrophilic Fe3O4 NPs. The interaction of hydrophilic Fe3O4 NPs with the head polar group of the mixed lipids increased the attraction force among the molecules, while the interaction of hydrophobic Fe3O4 NPs with the tail chain of the mixed lipids enhanced the repulsive force. The morphology of the monolayers was observed by AFM for validating the inferred results. This study is of great help for the application of Fe3O4 NPs in biological systems.
The Electrochemical Variation of a Kind of Protein Staining and Food Dye as a New Corrosion Inhibitor on Mild Steel in Acidic Medium
Authors: Özkır Demet
Published: March 2019

In this study, the relevance of a food dye, namely, Fast Green-FCF (FG-FCF), was surveyed as a new inhibitor for mild steel in HCl solution. This effect was specified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), one of the most widely used measurement techniques. As a result of the increment of the inhibitor concentration, it was seen that the values ​​of polarization resistance increased and covered the metal surface of FG-FCF like a blanket. Tests endorse that the FG-FCF is chemically adsorbed on mild steel surface, according to the Langmuir isotherm. With surface characteristic analyses, such as field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), it was further determined that the metal surface in HCl of FG-FCF was protected. By applying the hydrogen gas evolution technique, FG-FCF has been proven to provide the lowest surface area with all inhibited solutions from the blank due to its strong adsorption to the metal surface. Finally, it has been clarified that FG-FCF can be practically used as a good corrosion inhibitor for mild steel with the supported results.
Hepatic and Renal Toxicity Induced by TiO2 Nanoparticles in Rats: A Morphological and Metabonomic Study
Authors: Valentini Xavier , Rugira Pascaline , Frau Annica , Tagliatti Vanessa , Conotte Raphaël , Laurent Sophie , Colet Jean-Marie , Nonclercq Denis
Published: March 2019

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are produced abundantly and are frequently used as a white pigment in the manufacture of paints, foods, paper, and toothpaste. Despite the wide ranges of uses, there is a lack of information on the impact of NPs on animal and human health. In the present study, rats were exposed to different doses of TiO2 nanoparticles and sacrificed, respectively, 4 days, 1 month, and 2 months after treatment. Dosage of TiO2 in tissues was performed by ICP-AES and revealed an important accumulation of TiO2 in the liver. The nanoparticles induced morphological and physiological alterations in liver and kidney. In the liver, these alterations mainly affect the hepatocytes located around the centrilobular veins. These cells were the site of an oxidative stress evidenced by immunocytochemical detection of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Kupffer cells are also the site of an important oxidative stress following the massive internalization of TiO2 nanoparticles. Enzymatic markers of liver and kidney functions (such as AST and uric acid) are also disrupted only in animals exposed to highest doses. The metabonomic approach allowed us to detect modifications in urine samples already detectable after 4 days in animals treated at the lowest dose. This metabonomic pattern testifies an oxidative stress as well as renal and hepatic alterations.
Research of Mortar Containing Phosphorous Slag and Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles
Authors: Yang Huashan , Che Yujun
Published: March 2019

Ground phosphorous slag (PS) has not been widely used in construction due to its negative effects on the early-age performances of cementitious materials. The effects of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (NC) on strength development of mortar containing high content of PS were investigated at different curing ages. The NC was incorporated at 2% as partial mass replacements for binder. Hydration products and microstructure characterization was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal gravity (DTG), thermogravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Test results showed that NC improved both flexural and compressive strength of mortar containing high content of PS at 7, 28, 56, and 90 days. XRD, DTG-TG, and SEM analysis confirmed the filling effect of NC. Furthermore, the formation of the carboaluminate even at later age also improved the microstructure of mortar, which created a denser microstructure.
Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections by Urine Flow Cytometry: Adjusted Cut-Off Values in Different Clinical Presentations
Authors: Schuh Sabine K. , Seidenberg Ruth , Arampatzis Spyridon , Leichtle Alexander B. , Hautz Wolf E. , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. , Schechter Clyde B. , Müller Martin
Published: March 2019

Background. Bacterium and leucocyte counts in urine can be measured by urine flow cytometry (UFC). They are used to predict significant bacterial growth in urine culture and to diagnose infections of the urinary tract. However, little information is available on appropriate UFC cut-off values for bacterium and leucocyte counts in specific clinical presentations. Objective. To develop, validate, and evaluate adapted cut-off values that result in a high negative predictive value for significant bacterial growth in urine culture in common clinical presentation subgroups. Methods. This is a single center, retrospective, observational study with data from patients of the emergency department of Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, with suspected infections of the urinary tract. The patients presented with different symptoms, and urine culture and urine flow cytometry were performed. For different clinical presentations, the patients were grouped by (i) age (>65 years), (ii) sex, (iii) clinical symptoms (e.g., fever or dysuria), and (iv) comorbidities such as diabetes and immunosuppression. For each group, cut-off values were developed, validated, and analyzed using different strategies, i.e., linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and Youden’s index, and were compared with known cut-offs and cut-offs optimized for sensitivity. Results. 613 patients were included in the study. Significant bacterial growth in urine culture depended on clinical presentation and ranged from 32.3% in male patients to 61.5% in patients with urinary frequency. In all clinical presentations, the predictive accuracy of UFC leucocyte and UFC bacterium counts was good for significant bacterial growth in urine culture (AUC≥0.88). The adapted LDA95 equations did not exhibit consistently high sensitivity. However, the in-house cut-offs (test positive if UFC leucocytes>17/μL or UFC bacteria>125/μL) were highly sensitive (>90%). In female, younger, and dysuric patients, even higher cut-offs for UFC leucocytes (169/μL, 169/μL, and 205/μL) exhibited high sensitivity. Specificity was insufficient (<0.9) for all tested cut-offs. Conclusions. For various clinical presentations, significant bacterial growth in urine culture can be excluded if flow cytometry measurements give a bacterial count of ≤125/μL or a leucocyte count of ≤17/μL. In female patients, dysuric patients, and patients younger than ≤65 years, the leucocyte cut-off can be increased to 170/μL.
Consensus Clustering-Based Undersampling Approach to Imbalanced Learning
Authors: Onan Aytuğ
Published: March 2019

Class imbalance is an important problem, encountered in machine learning applications, where one class (named as, the minority class) has extremely small number of instances and the other class (referred as, the majority class) has immense quantity of instances. Imbalanced datasets can be of great importance in several real-world applications, including medical diagnosis, malware detection, anomaly identification, bankruptcy prediction, and spam filtering. In this paper, we present a consensus clustering based-undersampling approach to imbalanced learning. In this scheme, the number of instances in the majority class was undersampled by utilizing a consensus clustering-based scheme. In the empirical analysis, 44 small-scale and 2 large-scale imbalanced classification benchmarks have been utilized. In the consensus clustering schemes, five clustering algorithms (namely, k-means, k-modes, k-means++, self-organizing maps, and DIANA algorithm) and their combinations were taken into consideration. In the classification phase, five supervised learning methods (namely, naïve Bayes, logistic regression, support vector machines, random forests, and k-nearest neighbor algorithm) and three ensemble learner methods (namely, AdaBoost, bagging, and random subspace algorithm) were utilized. The empirical results indicate that the proposed heterogeneous consensus clustering-based undersampling scheme yields better predictive performance.