bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Outcomes Evaluation of Combined Valgus and Chiari Osteotomy Inconsistent with Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Hozumi Akira , Kidera Kennichi , Chiba Ko , Shida Takayuki , Osaki Makoto
Published: April 2018

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire, which is tailored to Japanese lifestyles, has recently been developed in Japan as a patient-reported outcome measure. In this study, combined valgus and Chiari osteotomy were evaluated using the JHEQ and JOA scores. The subjects were 42 hips of 39 patients with a mean age at surgery of 45.3 years. The mean follow-up period was 95.3 months. Radiological osteoarthritis stage, preoperative and postoperative JOA scores, JHEQ score at final follow-up, and patient dissatisfaction with hip joint status rated on a visual analog scale were evaluated. The factors that affected patient dissatisfaction were also identified using multiple regression analysis. Radiological osteoarthritis stage at final follow-up was either maintained or improved in 85.7%. The mean JOA score improved from 57.2 preoperatively to 78.7 at final follow-up. The JHEQ score at final follow-up, however, was low, at 43.3 points. Patients who were comparatively satisfied accounted for 47.6%. Of the JHEQ subscales, movement had the lowest scores, and this was the subscale that had the greatest effect on patient dissatisfaction. The present results suggest that the results of JOA score are inconsistent for postoperative patients’ satisfaction after CVCO, and patient-based evaluation tool must also be used.
Twin Subgraphs and Core‐Semiperiphery‐Periphery Structures
Authors: Riaza Ricardo
Published: April 2018

A standard approach to reduce the complexity of very large networks is to group together sets of nodes into clusters according to some criterion which reflects certain structural properties of the network. Beyond the well‐known modularity measures defining communities, there are criteria based on the existence of similar or identical connection patterns of a node or sets of nodes to the remainder of the network. A key notion in this context is that of structurally equivalent or twin nodes, displaying exactly the same connection pattern to the remainder of the network. Our first goal is to extend this idea to subgraphs of arbitrary order of a given network, by means of the notions of T‐twin and F‐twin subgraphs. This research, which leads to graph‐theoretic results of independent interest, is motivated by the need to provide a systematic approach to the analysis of core‐semiperiphery‐periphery (CSP) structures, a notion which is widely used in network theory but that somehow lacks a formal treatment in the literature. The goal is to provide an analytical framework accommodating and extending the idea that the unique (ideal) core‐periphery (CP) structure is a 2‐partitioned K2, a fact which is here understood to rely on the true and false twin notions for vertices already known in network theory. We provide a formal definition of such CSP structures in terms of core eccentricities and periphery degrees, with semiperiphery vertices acting as intermediaries between both. The T‐twin and F‐twin notions then make it possible to reduce the large number of resulting structures, paving the way for the decomposition and enumeration of CSP structures. We compute explicitly the resulting CSP structures up to order six. We illustrate the scope of our results by analyzing a subnetwork of the well‐known network of metal manufactures trade arising from 1994 world trade statistics.
Unsupervised Medical Entity Recognition and Linking in Chinese Online Medical Text
Authors: Xu Jing , Gan Liang , Cheng Mian , Wu Quanyuan
Published: April 2018

Online medical text is full of references to medical entities (MEs), which are valuable in many applications, including medical knowledge-based (KB) construction, decision support systems, and the treatment of diseases. However, the diverse and ambiguous nature of the surface forms gives rise to a great difficulty for ME identification. Many existing solutions have focused on supervised approaches, which are often task-dependent. In other words, applying them to different kinds of corpora or identifying new entity categories requires major effort in data annotation and feature definition. In this paper, we propose unMERL, an unsupervised framework for recognizing and linking medical entities mentioned in Chinese online medical text. For ME recognition, unMERL first exploits a knowledge-driven approach to extract candidate entities from free text. Then, the categories of the candidate entities are determined using a distributed semantic-based approach. For ME linking, we propose a collaborative inference approach which takes full advantage of heterogenous entity knowledge and unstructured information in KB. Experimental results on real corpora demonstrate significant benefits compared to recent approaches with respect to both ME recognition and linking.
Work Intensity, Low‐Grade Inflammation, and Oxidative Status: A Comparison between Office and Slaughterhouse Workers
Authors: Zelzer Sieglinde , Tatzber Franz , Herrmann Markus , Wonisch Willibald , Rinnerhofer Stefan , Kundi Michael , Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara , Niedrist Tobias , Cvirn Gerhard , Wultsch Georg , Mangge Harald
Published: April 2018

Limited knowledge exists about the impact of physical workload on oxidative stress in different occupational categories. Thus, we aimed to investigate the oxidative and inflammatory status in employees with different physical workloads. We enrolled a total of 79 male subjects, 27 office workers (mean age 38.8 ± 9.1 years) and 52 heavy workers, in a slaughterhouse (mean age 40.8 ± 8.2 years). Fasting blood was drawn from an antecubital vein in the morning of the midweek before an 8‐hour or 12‐hour work shift. The antioxidative capacity was assessed measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid, total polyphenols (PPm), and endogenous peroxidase activity (EPA). Total peroxides (TOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were analyzed as prooxidative biomarkers, and an oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. In addition, hsCRP, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), MDA‐LDL IgM antibodies, galectin‐3, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured as biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation and emotional stress. TOC (p = 0.032), TAC (p < 0.001), ACTH (p < 0.001), OSI (p = 0.011), and hsCRP (p = 0.019) were significantly increased in the heavy workers group, while EPA, BDNF (p < 0.001), and polyphenols (p = 0.004) were significantly higher in office workers. Comparison between 8 and 12 h shifts showed a worse psychological condition in heavy workers with increased levels for hsCRP (p = 0.001) and reduced concentration of BDNF (p = 0.012) compared to office workers. Oxidative stress and inflammation are induced in heavy workers and are particularly pronounced during long working hours, that is, 12‐hour versus 8‐hour shifts.
Sebaceous Lymphadenoma of Parotid: Imaging, Cytological, and Histological Findings in Detail
Authors: Shekarkhar Golsa , Soleimanpour Hossein , Jafari Seyed Hamed , Zamani Fatemeh
Published: April 2018

Sebaceous lymphadenomas are rare and account for less than 1% of primary salivary gland tumors. These rare tumors are mostly found in men older than 50 years. The clinicopathological features of these tumors are poorly understood and no definite causative factor has been reported for them till now. They are not often diagnosed prior to surgery, which could be due to their rarity and lack of enough preop radiological and cytological findings. Few case reports have been published in literature about their pathogenesis and accompanying malignant lesions. The cytological and imaging findings have been dealt with in some articles. Here we describe the histologic, cytologic, and radiologic findings of sebaceous lymphadenomas of parotid gland, all together, and discuss their differential diagnoses in various diagnostic methods.
Effects of Vitamin D3 on the NADPH Oxidase and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in an Animal Model of Global Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Velimirović Milica , Jevtić Dožudić Gordana , Selaković Vesna , Stojković Tihomir , Puškaš Nela , Zaletel Ivan , Živković Milica , Dragutinović Vesna , Nikolić Tatjana , Jelenković Ankica , Djorović Djordje , Mirčić Aleksandar , Petronijević Nataša D.
Published: April 2018

Decreased blood flow in the brain leads to a rapid increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). NADPH oxidase (NOX) is an enzyme family that has the physiological function to produce ROS. NOX2 and NOX4 overexpression is associated with aggravated ischemic injury, while NOX2/4‐deficient mice had reduced stroke size. Dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contributes to tissue damage. The active form of vitamin D3 expresses neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti‐inflammatory effects in the CNS. The present study examines the effects of the vitamin D3 pretreatment on the oxidative stress parameters and the expression of NOX subunits, MMP9, microglial marker Iba1, and vitamin D receptor (VDR), in the cortex and hippocampus of Mongolian gerbils subjected to ten minutes of global cerebral ischemia, followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. The ischemia/reperfusion procedure has induced oxidative stress, changes in the expression of NOX2 subunits and MMP9 in the brain, and increased MMP9 activity in the serum of experimental animals. Pretreatment with vitamin D3 was especially effective on NOX2 subunits, MMP9, and the level of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion. These results outline the significance of the NOX and MMP9 investigation in brain ischemia and the importance of adequate vitamin D supplementation in ameliorating the injury caused by I/R.
Serum ADAMTS-13 Levels as an Indicator of Portal Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Mikuła Tomasz , Kozłowska Joanna , Stańczak Wojciech , Sapuła Mariusz , Różyk Aleksandra , Wiercińska-Drapało Alicja
Published: April 2018

Background. Coagulation disorders in patients with liver cirrhosis are a common clinical problem. Cirrhosis should be considered a state of impaired blood clotting or an imbalance of the whole coagulation system. Cirrhosis-induced coagulopathy encompasses disturbances in both the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems. This mechanism may promote the development of thrombosis with portal vein thrombosis (PVT), which is considered an obstacle to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We assessed serum ADAMTS-13 levels in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, with and without PVT. Material and Methods. Serum ADAMTS-13 levels, age, platelet count (PLT), and INR (international normalized ratio) were evaluated in (n=64) patients with liver cirrhosis either with PVT (group 1, n=31) or without PVT (group 2, n=33). The results were compared with those from healthy volunteers (group 3, n=37). Liver cirrhosis was based on Desmet’s classification of chronic hepatitis in liver biopsy stage ≥ 3 or liver elastography F-score ≥ 3. Serum ADAMTS-13 levels were measured with Quantikine® ELISA Human ADAMTS13 Immunoassay, R&D Systems Inc. We used Welch’s F-test, Games-Howell, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni test, and logistic regression to determine whether ADAMTS-13 levels were a predictor that was independent of MELD and Child-Pugh scores. All results (P<0.05) were considered statistically significant. Results. The mean serum ADAMTS-13 level in patients with PVT was significantly lower than that in patients without PVT (P=0.001) and controls (P=0.001). The mean serum ADAMTS-13 level in patients without PVT was significantly lower than that in controls (P=0.001). ADAMTS-13 levels were significantly associated with PVT accounting for the Child-Pugh or MELD score in the logistic regression model. Conclusions. Low serum ADAMTS-13 levels can be a useful indicator of portal thrombosis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis irrespective of Child-Pugh or MELD scores. Further research is needed to determine whether ADAMTS-13 levels will find use in everyday clinical practice.
A Study of the Distributions of Two Endangered Sea Skaters Halobates matsumurai Esaki and Asclepios shiranui (Esaki) (Hemiptera: Gerridae: Halobatinae) with Special Reference to Their Strategies to Cope with Tidal Currents
Authors: Ikawa Terumi , Nozoe Yuichi , Yamashita Natsuko , Nishimura Namiko , Ohnoki Satoshi , Yusa Kyoko , Hoshizaki Sugihiko , Komaba Masayuki , Kawakubo Akihiro
Published: April 2018

There exist surprisingly few marine insects, most of which are confined to the intertidal zone. Halobates is the only genus to have some oceanic species along with some coastal species. Among the coastal sea skaters, that is, genus Halobates and its close relative, genus Asclepios, there are variations in their affinity for the shore. We have studied the distributions of two endangered Japanese sea skaters, Halobates matsumurai and Asclepios shiranui in Kujukushima, where they cooccur in coves. To compare their survival strategies at sea, we especially noted differences in their distributions along the shore during high and low tides. The results show that A. shiranui tended to remain along the shore during low tide. This species appeared to cling to the shore against the ebb current and to stay in the protected coves. By contrast, H. matsumurai tended to leave the shore during low tide. Notably, some adults were found skating outside the coves. The strategy of H. matsumurai appeared to be leaving with the ebb current even beyond the coves, thereby using more resources and enlarging its habitat. Some such coastal Halobates might have acquired the ability to live on the open ocean clearly independent of the shoreline.
Extraspectral Imaging for Improving the Perceived Information Presented in Retinal Prosthesis
Authors: Al-Atabany Walid , Al Yaman Musa , Degenaar Patrick
Published: April 2018

Retinal prosthesis is steadily improving as a clinical treatment for blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa. However, despite the continued exciting progress, the level of visual return is still very poor. It is also unlikely that those utilising these devices will stop being legally blind in the near future. Therefore, it is important to develop methods to maximise the transfer of useful information extracted from the visual scene. Such an approach can be achieved by digitally suppressing less important visual features and textures within the scene. The result can be interpreted as a cartoon-like image of the scene. Furthermore, utilising extravisual wavelengths such as infrared can be useful in the decision process to determine the optimal information to present. In this paper, we, therefore, present a processing methodology that utilises information extracted from the infrared spectrum to assist in the preprocessing of the visual image prior to conversion to retinal information. We demonstrate how this allows for enhanced recognition and how it could be implemented for optogenetic forms of retinal prosthesis. The new approach has been quantitatively evaluated on volunteers showing 112% enhancement in recognizing objects over normal approaches.
Modelling the Operating Speed in Segments of Two-Lane Highways from Probe Vehicle Data: A Stochastic Frontier Approach
Authors: Lobo António , Amorim Marco , Rodrigues Carlos , Couto António
Published: April 2018

Most of the existing operating speed statistical models are applicable to individual design elements, particularly horizontal curves and tangents. A segment approach to operating speed has rarely been followed, with a few exceptions mainly related to the performance assessment of urban and freeway corridors, or design consistency studies using speed profiles built from successive design elements. This study introduces a new model to predict operating speeds in segments of two-lane highways. The maximum operating speed is given by a stochastic frontier function of the average daily traffic and road geometrics; the asymmetric disturbance accounts for the diversity in drivers’ behaviour and vehicle characteristics, allowing estimating any percentile speed. The model was calibrated using probe vehicle data from noncongested roads. The accuracy of the average daily traffic in representing the actual driving conditions was further validated using simultaneous speed-traffic measurements. The new model aims to assist practitioners in the evaluation of design consistency from a macroscopic perspective since the early stages of road planning and design, as well as to support the definition of speed limits at new or existing infrastructures.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Crude Extracts and Fractions of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), Cajui (Anacardium microcarpum), and Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense C.): A Systematic Review
Authors: Baptista Anderson , Gonçalves Reggiani Vilela , Bressan Josefina , Pelúzio Maria do Carmo Gouveia
Published: April 2018

The accentuated increase in the use of medicinal plants by the population to treat diseases makes it necessary to carry out pharmacological studies in order to contribute to the scientific knowledge and clarify the mechanisms involved in the main compounds present in these plants. Due to the difficulty of combating antimicrobial‐resistant microorganisms, plants become a low‐cost and effective alternative. The stem, fruit, and leaves of plants are used to measure antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity and to combat the oxidative degradation of free radicals produced in the presence of xenobiotics. A systematic review is a powerful tool that incorporates the variability among the studies, providing an overall estimate of the use of plant extracts as antioxidants and antimicrobial activities. In view of the controversies in the literature regarding the use of compounds from plants or the isolation and purification of the main substances for the prevention of bacterial various therapeutic actions, the aim of this was to present a systematic review on the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of cashew (Anacardium occidentale), cajui (Anacardium microcarpum), and pequi (Caryocar brasiliense). The following databases were analyzed: PubMed/Medline, Virtual Health Library (LILACS and SciELO), and Science Direct. Out of 425 articles, 33 articles have been used in this study, which were also represented in the Prisma Statement. In vitro antioxidant tests were conducted in 28 studies using different methodologies. Most of the tests involving the studied species demonstrated positive antioxidant potential and antimicrobial properties. The results provide important data and perspectives into the use of natural products that can contribute to the treatment of various diseases.
Construction of an Anthropomorphic Phantom for Use in Evaluating Pediatric Airway Digital Tomosynthesis Protocols
Authors: Kasraie Nima , Robinson Amie , Chan Sherwin
Published: April 2018

Interpretation of radiolucent foreign bodies (FBs) is a common task charged to pediatric radiologists. The use of a motion compensated technique to decrease breathing motion on images would greatly decrease overall exposure to ionizing radiation and increase access to treatment yielding a great impact on clinical care. This study reports on the methodology and materials used to construct an in-house anthropomorphic phantom for investigating image quality in digital tomosynthesis protocols for volumetric imaging of the pediatric airway. Availability and cost of possible substitute materials were considered and simplifying assumptions were made. Two different modular phantoms were assembled in coronal slab layers using materials designed to approximate a one- and three-year-old thorax at diagnostic photon energies for use with digital tomosynthesis protocols such as those offered on GE’s VolumeRAD application. Exposures were made using both phantoms with inserted food particles inside an oscillating airway. The goal of the phantom is to help evaluate (1) whether the currently used protocol is sufficient to image the airway despite breathing motion and (2) whether it is not, to find the optimal protocol by testing various commercially available protocols using this phantom. The affordable construction of the pediatric sized phantom aimed at optimizing GE’s VolumeRAD protocol for airway foreign body imaging is demonstrated in this study which can be used to test VolumeRAD’s ability to image the airways with and without a low-density foreign body within the airways.
Oral High-Dose Thiamine Improves the Symptoms of Chronic Cluster Headache
Authors: Antonio Costantini , Massimo Tiberi , Gianpaolo Zarletti , Immacolata Pala Maria , Erika Trevi
Published: April 2018

Cluster headache is a rare painful primary disorder occurring in either episodic or chronic patterns. Several authors found that the hypothalamus, the brain region regulating endocrine function and autonomic system, is involved in the pathophysiology of cluster headache. Some authors have found in patients affected by this disease abnormality in glucose metabolism. Considering the role of thiamine in brain function, in energetic metabolism, and in pain modulation, we treated a patient affected by cluster headache with oral high-dose thiamine. We report a 41-year-old man suffering from primary chronic cluster headache since the age of 15 years. The patient began oral therapy with high-dose thiamine in December 2016. Oral thiamine supplementation led to a dramatic improvement of the symptoms. The therapy was effective in reversing all the symptoms of the disease. Our observation suggests that a thiamine deficiency due to enzymatic abnormalities or to dysfunction of the circulation of thiamine in the intracellular space could cause a neuronal selective impairment in the centers that are involved in this disease and could have an important role in the pathogenesis of the symptoms of cluster headache.
17β‐Estradiol Regulates Microglia Activation and Polarization in the Hippocampus Following Global Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Thakkar Roshni , Wang Ruimin , Wang Jing , Vadlamudi Ratna K. , Brann Darrell W.
Published: April 2018

17β‐Estradiol (E2) is a well‐known neuroprotective hormone, but its role in regulation of neuroinflammation is less understood. Recently, our lab demonstrated that E2 could regulate the NLRP3 (NOD‐like receptor protein 3) inflammasome pathway in the hippocampus following global cerebral ischemia (GCI). Here, we examined the ability of E2 to regulate activation and polarization of microglia phenotype in the hippocampus after global cerebral ischemia (GCI). Our in vivo study in young adult ovariectomized rats showed that exogenous low‐dose E2 profoundly suppressed microglia activation and quantitatively shifted microglia from their “activated,” amoeboid morphology to a “resting,” ramified morphology after GCI. Further studies using M1 “proinflammatory” and M2 “anti‐inflammatory” phenotype markers showed that E2 robustly suppressed the “proinflammatory” M1 phenotype, while enhancing the “anti‐inflammatory” M2 microglia phenotype in the hippocampus after GCI. These effects of E2 may be mediated directly upon microglia, as E2 suppressed the M1 while enhancing the M2 microglia phenotype in LPS‐ (lipopolysaccharide‐) activated BV2 microglia cells in vitro. E2 also correspondingly suppressed proinflammatory while enhancing anti‐inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the LPS‐treated BV2 microglia cells. Finally, E2 treatment abolished the LPS‐induced neurotoxic effects of BV2 microglia cells upon hippocampal HT‐22 neurons. Collectively, our study findings suggest a novel E2‐mediated neuroprotective effect via regulation of microglia activation and promotion of the M2 “anti‐inflammatory” phenotype in the brain.
Disruption of the Circadian Clock Alters Antioxidative Defense via the SIRT1‐BMAL1 Pathway in 6‐OHDA‐Induced Models of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Wang Yali , Lv Dongjun , Liu Wenwen , Li Siyue , Chen Jing , Shen Yun , Wang Fen , Hu Li-Fang , Liu Chun-Feng
Published: April 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is known to involve circadian dysfunction and oxidative stress. Although antioxidative defense is regulated by the molecular circadian clock, few studies have examined their function in PD and their regulation by silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1). We hypothesize that reduced antioxidative activity in models of PD results from dysfunction of the molecular circadian clock via the SIRT1 pathway. We treated rats and SH‐SY5Y cells with 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) and measured the expression of core circadian clock and associated nuclear receptor genes using real‐time quantitative PCR as well as levels of SIRT1, brain and muscle Arnt‐like protein 1 (BMAL1), and acetylated BMAL1 using Western blotting. We found that 6‐OHDA treatment altered the expression patterns of clock and antioxidative molecules in vivo and in vitro. We also detected an increased ratio of acetylated BMAL1:BMAL1 and a decreased level of SIRT1. Furthermore, resveratrol, an activator of SIRT1, decreased the acetylation of BMAL1 and inhibited its binding with CRY1, thereby reversing the impaired antioxidative activity induced by 6‐OHDA. These results suggest that a dysfunctional circadian clock contributes to an abnormal antioxidative response in PD via a SIRT1‐dependent BMAL1 pathway.
The Last Mile: Safety Management Implementation in Construction Sites
Authors: Zhao Tingshen , Kazemi Seyed Ebrahim , Liu Wen , Zhang Miao
Published: April 2018

To deepen the understanding of the construction safety accidents rules as well as identify and cure the crux of construction safety management failures in China, we analyzed the status quo of safety management and identified the “last mile” problem, that is, the failure of implementation of the extensive legal and regulatory systems on the construction site. The safety factors were then extracted based on a questionnaire consisting of 34 items. Through factor analysis and ranking correlation, five human factors were found to be the greatest challenge and leverage point of safety management at construction sites. Accordingly, a novel safety management framework was proposed and tested as part of the Wuhan‐Shenzhen highway project. Expert auditing confirmed that the proposed framework could substantially improve the construction safety performance and thus bridge the “last mile” of safety management implementation.
A Parallel Algorithm for the Counting of Ellipses Present in Conglomerates Using GPU
Authors: Yam-Uicab Reyes , López-Martínez José , Llanes-Castro Erika , Narvaez-Díaz Lizzie , Trejo-Sánchez Joel
Published: April 2018

Detecting and counting elliptical objects are an interesting problem in digital image processing. There are real-world applications of this problem in various disciplines. Solving this problem is harder when there is occlusion among the elliptical objects, since in general these objects are considered as part of the bigger object (conglomerate). The solution to this problem focusses on the detection and segmentation of the precise number of occluded elliptical objects, while omitting all noninteresting objects. There are a variety of computational approximations that focus on this problem; however, such approximations are not accurate when there is occlusion. This paper presents an algorithm designed to solve this problem, specifically, to detect, segment, and count elliptical objects of a specific size when these are in occlusion with other objects within the conglomerate. Our algorithm deals with a time-consuming combinatorial process. To optimize the execution time of our algorithm, we implemented a parallel GPU version with CUDA-C, which experimentally improved the detection of occluded objects, as well as lowering processing times compared to the sequential version of the method. Comparative test results with another method featured in literature showed improved detection of objects in occlusion when using the proposed parallel method.
A Novel Multiscale Gaussian-Matched Filter Using Neural Networks for the Segmentation of X-Ray Coronary Angiograms
Authors: Cruz-Aceves Ivan , Cervantes-Sanchez Fernando , Avila-Garcia Maria Susana
Published: April 2018

The accurate and efficient segmentation of coronary arteries in X-ray angiograms represents an essential task for computer-aided diagnosis. This paper presents a new multiscale Gaussian-matched filter (MGMF) based on artificial neural networks. The proposed method consists of two different stages. In the first stage, MGMF is used for detecting vessel-like structures while reducing image noise. The results of MGMF are compared with those obtained using six GMF-based detection methods in terms of the area (Az) under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In the second stage, ten thresholding methods of the state of the art are compared in order to classify the magnitude of the multiscale Gaussian response into vessel and nonvessel pixels, respectively. The accuracy measure is used to analyze the segmentation methods, by comparing the results with a set of 100 X-ray coronary angiograms, which were outlined by a specialist to form the ground truth. Finally, the proposed method is compared with seven state-of-the-art vessel segmentation methods. The vessel detection results using the proposed MGMF method achieved an Az=0.9357 with a training set of 50 angiograms and Az=0.9362 with the test set of 50 images. In addition, the segmentation results using the intraclass variance thresholding method provided a segmentation accuracy of 0.9568 with the test set of coronary angiograms.
Hole Defects Affect the Dynamic Fracture Behavior of Nearby Running Cracks
Authors: Yang R. S. , Ding C. X. , Yang L. Y. , Xu P. , Chen C.
Published: April 2018

Effects of defects on the dynamic fracture behavior of engineering materials cannot be neglected. Using the experimental system of digital laser dynamic caustics, the effects of defects on the dynamic fracture behavior of nearby running cracks are studied. When running cracks propagate near to defects, the crack path deflects toward the defect; the degree of deflection is greater for larger defect diameters. When the running crack propagates away from the defect, the degree of deflection gradually reduces and the original crack path is restored. The intersection between the caustic spot and the defect is the direct cause of the running crack deflection; the intersection area determines the degree of deflection. In addition, the defect locally inhibits the dynamic stress intensity factor of running cracks when they propagate toward the defect and locally promotes the dynamic stress intensity factor of running cracks when they propagate away from the defect.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine Kangai Injection as an Adjuvant Method in Combination with Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer in Chinese Patients: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Xue Jing-Xian , Zhu Zhi-Yuan , Bian Wei-He , Yao Chang
Published: April 2018

Objective. The traditional Chinese medicine Kangai injection as an adjuvant method in combination with chemotherapy has been widely used for treating breast cancer in clinical practice in China. This study systematically reviewed the clinical effect and safety of traditional Chinese medicine Kangai injection as an adjuvant method in combination with chemotherapy for treating Chinese patients with breast cancer. Methods. Seven databases were searched in this study, namely, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Sino Med, VIP, and Wanfang Data. The timeframe of retrieval was set from the founding date of each database to November 1, 2017. Results. Fifteen papers were included in this study. The quality of all the studies included was low. All the studies were carried out among the Chinese population. Meta‐analyses showed that, compared with single‐use chemotherapy, using a Kangai injection combined with chemotherapy to treat Chinese breast cancer patient can increase the total effective rate [RR = 1.15, 95% CI (1.01, 1.32), and P = 0.033], improve the quality of life [RR = 1.30, 95% CI (1.14, 1.48), and P ≤ 0.001], decrease the incidence of weight loss [RR = 0.49, 95% CI (0.32, 0.77), and P = 0.002], decrease WBC count [RR = 0.78, 95% CI (0.68, 0.89), and P ≤ 0.001], decrease incidence of renal and liver dysfunction [RR = 0.58, 95% CI (0.46, 0.73), and P ≤ 0.001], and decrease cardiac dysfunction [RR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.18, 0.94), and P = 0.035]. For the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions [RR = 0.89, 95% CI (0.65, 1.21), and P = 0.452], decreased platelet count [RR=0.49, 95% CI (0.18, 1.30), and P = 0.150], and alopecia [RR = 1.01, 95% CI (0.89, 1.14), and P = 0.879], these two groups showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion. Kangai injection as an adjuvant method in combination with chemotherapy for treating Chinese breast cancer patients can improve their life quality and physical conditions and reduce the adverse reactions that result from chemotherapy. However, the present conclusion is only suitable for the Chinese population. The long‐term, high‐quality researches are required to further verify the above conclusions.
Moisture Damage Modeling in Lime and Chemically Modified Asphalt at Nanolevel Using Ensemble Computational Intelligence
Authors: Hassan M. R. , Mamun A. Al. , Hossain M. I. , Arifuzzaman M.
Published: April 2018

This paper measures the adhesion/cohesion force among asphalt molecules at nanoscale level using an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and models the moisture damage by applying state-of-the-art Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques (e.g., artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), and an Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)). Various combinations of lime and chemicals as well as dry and wet environments are used to produce different asphalt samples. The parameters that were varied to generate different asphalt samples and measure the corresponding adhesion/cohesion forces are percentage of antistripping agents (e.g., Lime and Unichem), AFM tips K values, and AFM tip types. The CI methods are trained to model the adhesion/cohesion forces given the variation in values of the above parameters. To achieve enhanced performance, the statistical methods such as average, weighted average, and regression of the outputs generated by the CI techniques are used. The experimental results show that, of the three individual CI methods, ANN can model moisture damage to lime- and chemically modified asphalt better than the other two CI techniques for both wet and dry conditions. Moreover, the ensemble of CI along with statistical measurement provides better accuracy than any of the individual CI techniques.
Nonuniform Code Multiple Access
Authors: Yan Cheng , Zhang Ningbo , Kang Guixia
Published: April 2018

For sparse code multiple access advanced (SCMAA), the quality of initial information on each resource node and the convergence reliability of the detected user in each decision process were unsatisfactory at the message passing algorithm (MPA) receiver. Driven by these problems, this paper proposes a nonuniform code multiple access (NCMA) scheme. In the codebook design of NCMA, different transmitted layers are generated from different complex multidimension constellations, respectively, and a novel basic complex multidimension constellation design is proposed to increase the minimum intrapartition distance. Then a novel criterion of permutation set is proposed to maximize the sum of distances between interfering dimensions of transmitted codewords multiplexed on any resource node, where the number of nonzero elements of transmitted codewords is more than 1. On the other side, an advanced MPA receiver is proposed to improve the reliability of detection on each transmitted layer of NCMA. Simulation results show that the block error rate performance of NCMA outperforms SCMAA and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) under the same spectral efficiency.
The Prevalence of Phenylketonuria in Arab Countries, Turkey, and Iran: A Systematic Review
Authors: El-Metwally Ashraf , Yousef Al-Ahaidib Lujane , Ayman Sunqurah Alaa , Al-Surimi Khaled , Househ Mowafa , Alshehri Ali , Da’ar Omar B. , Abdul Razzak Hira , AlOdaib Ali Nasser
Published: April 2018

Background/Objectives. This paper seeks to identify the prevalence of Phenylketonuria (PKU) in Arab countries, Turkey, and Iran. The study reviewed the existence of comprehensive national newborn screening programs and reported consanguinity rates.Methods. A computer based literature search was conducted using relevant keywords to retrieve studies conducted on PKU. A total of 34 articles were included. Prevalence was categorized based on the type of screening method used for PKU diagnoses.Results. The prevalence of classical PKU diagnosed through a comprehensive national newborn screening program ranged from 0.005% to 0.0167%. The highest prevalence was reported in Turkey at 0.0167%, whereas the lowest prevalence was reported in the UAE, 0.005%.Conclusion. The findings of this review emphasize the need for the establishment of more efficient reporting systems in these countries that would help measure Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) in order to estimate the overall societal burden of PKU.
High-Speed Transmission in Long-Haul Electrical Systems
Authors: Juárez-Campos Beatriz , Kaikina Elena I. , Naumkin Pavel I. , Ruiz-Paredes Héctor Francisco
Published: April 2018

We study the equations governing the high-speed transmission in long-haul electrical systems i∂tu-1/3∂x3u=iλ∂xu2u, t,x∈R+×R, u0,x=u0x, x∈R, where λ∈R,  ∂xα=F-1ξαF, and F is the Fourier transformation. Our purpose in this paper is to obtain the large time asymptotics for the solutions under the nonzero mass condition ∫u0xdx≠0.
Outcome for Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma of Nonextremities Treated with Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Study from a Single Cancer Institution
Authors: Marshall Shoko , Nakano Kenji , Sugiura Yoshiya , Taira Shinichiro , Ono Makiko , Tomomatsu Junichi , Takahashi Shunji
Published: April 2018

Background. Doxorubicin is the key drug for treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The appropriate dosage of doxorubicin, regarding monotherapy or the role of combination therapy, is unclear. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed patients with advanced or metastatic STS of nonextremities who were treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapies in our institution. Time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival (OS), overall response, and prognostic factors for OS were evaluated. Results. Seventy-five patients were enrolled. The median TTF was 4.7 months, and the median OS was 20.1 months. The overall response rate was 20%. Doses of doxorubicin monotherapy did not show significant difference either in TTF or in OS. There were no significant differences in OS between combination therapy and monotherapy, but the TTF with combination therapy was better than monotherapy. The overall response for combination therapy indicated a better response rate. Less number of involved organs, no bulky mass, and a normal CRP level were independent favorable prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions. Combination therapy showed better response and TTF than monotherapy but did not show better OS. Possible prognostic factors for OS were indicated. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. This trial is registered with UMIN000028787.
The Impact of Food Quality Information Services on Food Supply Chain Pricing Decisions and Coordination Mechanisms Based on the O2O E-Commerce Mode
Authors: Yu Xiaoqiu , Ren Xiaoxue
Published: April 2018

This paper considers the price conflict problem between the online channel of a food processing factory and the offline channel of the food retailers in food supply chains by analyzing the pricing decisions and coordination mechanisms between the food processing factory and food retailers under the influence of a food quality information service. First, the Stackelberg game method and the Bertrand game method are used to optimize the pricing decisions with the goal of maximizing the profits of the food processing factory and retailer. The analysis shows that the food quality information service level is positively correlated with the price of the factory’s own channel, and the influence of the food quality information service level on the price of the food processing factory’s or the food retailer’s own channel is stronger than its influence on the price of a competitor’s channel. Second, the food supply chain members’ pricing decisions are analyzed using the case analysis method by considering practical problems in the food supply chain. The results indicate that the food processing factory should use the Stackelberg game to make pricing decisions. However, it is optimal for the food retailer to make pricing decisions under the Bertrand game, and the total profit of the food supply chain is optimized under centralized decision making. Finally, we use both the quantitative discount mechanism and the Stackelberg game method to analyze the profits obtained by the food processing factory and retailer. The results indicate that the food processing factory should implement a quantitative discount mechanism when the quantity discount coefficient is greater than 0.4, and the retailer should implement a quantity discount mechanism when the quantity discount coefficient is in the range of 0.25 to 0.4.
Hydroxytyrosol Ameliorates Endothelial Function under Inflammatory Conditions by Preventing Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Calabriso Nadia , Gnoni Antonio , Stanca Eleonora , Cavallo Alessandro , Damiano Fabrizio , Siculella Luisa , Carluccio Maria Annunziata
Published: April 2018

Mitochondria are fundamental organelles producing energy and reactive oxygen species (ROS); their impaired functions play a key role in endothelial dysfunction. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a well‐known olive oil antioxidant, exerts health benefits against vascular diseases by improving endothelial function. However, the HT role in mitochondrial oxidative stress in endothelial dysfunction is not clear yet. To investigate the HT effects on mitochondrial ROS production in the inflamed endothelium, we used an in vitro model of endothelial dysfunction represented by cultured endothelial cells, challenged with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), an inflammatory, prooxidant, and proangiogenic agent. We found that the pretreatment of endothelial cells with HT (1–30 μmol/L) suppressed inflammatory angiogenesis, a crucial aspect of endothelial dysfunction. The HT inhibitory effect is related to reduced mitochondrial superoxide production and lipid peroxidation and to increased superoxide dismutase activity. HT, in a concentration‐dependent manner, improved endothelial mitochondrial function by reverting the PMA‐induced reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP synthesis, and ATP5β expression. In PMA‐challenged endothelial cells, HT also promoted mitochondrial biogenesis through increased mitochondrial DNA content and expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐alpha, nuclear respiratory factor‐1, and mitochondrial transcription factor A. These results highlight that HT blunts endothelial dysfunction and pathological angiogenesis by ameliorating mitochondrial function, thus suggesting HT as a potential mitochondria‐targeting antioxidant in the inflamed endothelium.
Flavocoxid, a Natural Antioxidant, Protects Mouse Kidney from Cadmium‐Induced Toxicity
Authors: Micali Antonio , Pallio Giovanni , Irrera Natasha , Marini Herbert , Trichilo Vincenzo , Puzzolo Domenico , Pisani Antonina , Malta Consuelo , Santoro Giuseppe , Laurà Rosalba , Santoro Domenico , Squadrito Francesco , Altavilla Domenica , Germanà Antonino , Minutoli Letteria
Published: April 2018

Background. Cadmium (Cd), a diffused environmental pollutant, has adverse effects on urinary apparatus. The role of flavocoxid, a natural flavonoid with antioxidant activity, on the morphological and biochemical changes induced in vivo by Cd in mice kidney was evaluated. Methods. C57 BL/6J mice received 0.9% NaCl alone, flavocoxid (20 mg/kg/day i.p.) alone, Cd chloride (CdCl2) (2 mg/kg/day i.p.) alone, or CdCl2 plus flavocoxid (2 mg/kg/day i.p. plus 20 mg/kg/day i.p.) for 14 days. The kidneys were processed for biochemical, structural, ultrastructural, and morphometric evaluation. Results. Cd treatment alone significantly increased urea nitrogen and creatinine, iNOS, MMP‐9, and pERK 1/2 expression and protein carbonyl; reduced GSH, GR, and GPx; and induced structural and ultrastructural changes in the glomeruli and in the tubular epithelium. After 14 days of treatment, flavocoxid administration reduced urea nitrogen and creatinine, iNOS, MMP‐9, and pERK 1/2 expression and protein carbonyl; increased GSH, GR, and GPx; and showed an evident preservation of the glomerular and tubular structure and ultrastructure. Conclusions. A protective role of flavocoxid against Cd‐induced oxidative damages in mouse kidney was demonstrated for the first time. Flavocoxid may have a promising antioxidant role against environmental Cd harmful effects on glomerular and tubular lesions.
A Domain-Specific Terminology for Retinopathy of Prematurity and Its Applications in Clinical Settings
Authors: Zhang Yinsheng , Zhang Guoming
Published: April 2018

A terminology (or coding system) is a formal set of controlled vocabulary in a specific domain. With a well-defined terminology, each concept in the target domain is assigned with a unique code, which can be identified and processed across different medical systems in an unambiguous way. Though there are lots of well-known biomedical terminologies, there is currently no domain-specific terminology for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity). Based on a collection of historical ROP patients’ data in the electronic medical record system, we extracted the most frequent terms in the domain and organized them into a hierarchical coding system—ROP Minimal Standard Terminology, which contains 62 core concepts in 4 categories. This terminology has been successfully used to provide highly structured and semantic-rich clinical data in several ROP-related applications.
Multikinase Inhibitor CT-707 Targets Liver Cancer by Interrupting the Hypoxia-Activated IGF-1R–YAP Axis
Authors: Zhu Hong , Wang Dan-Dan , Yuan Tao , Yan Fang-Jie , Zeng Chen-Ming , Dai Xiao-Yang , Chen Zi-bo , Chen Ying , Zhou Tianyi , Fan Guang-Han , Ying Meidan , Cao Ji , Luo Peihua , Liu Xi-Jie , Hu Yuandong , Peng Yong , He Qiaojun , Yang Bo
Published: April 2018

Given that Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling acts as a critical survival input for hypoxic cancer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), disruption of YAP function and the maintenance of hypoxia is an attractive way to treat HCC. Utilizing a cell-based YAP-TEAD luciferase reporter assay and functional analyses, we identified CT-707, a China-FDA approved multi-kinase inhibitor under clinical trial with remarkable inhibitory activity against YAP function. CT-707 exhibited prominent cytotoxicity under hypoxia on HCC cells, which was attributable to the inhibition of YAP signaling. CT-707 arrested tumor growth in HepG2, Bel-7402, and HCC patient-derived xenografts. Mechanistically, the inhibitory activity of CT-707 on YAP signaling was due to the interruption of hypoxia-activated IGF1R. Overall, these findings not only identify CT-707 as a promising hypoxia-targeting agent against HCC, but they also unveil IGF1R as a new modulator specifically regulating hypoxia-activated YAP signaling.

Significance: CT-707 may represent a novel clinical approach for patients with HCC suffering poor drug response due to intratumor hypoxia. Cancer Res; 78(14); 3995–4006. ©2018 AACR.