bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing a Bayesian Approach for Detecting Exotic Hybrids between Plantation and Native Eucalypts
Authors: Larcombe Matthew J. , Vaillancourt René E. , Jones Rebecca C. , Potts Brad M.
Published: March 2014

Eucalyptus globulusis grown extensively in plantations outside its native range in Australia. Concerns have been raised that the species may pose a genetic risk to native eucalypt species through hybridisation and introgression. Methods for identifying hybrids are needed to enable assessment and management of this genetic risk. This paper assesses the efficiency of a Bayesian approach for identifying hybrids between the plantation speciesE. globulusandE. nitensand four at-risk native eucalypts. Range-wide DNA samples ofE. camaldulensis,E. cypellocarpa,E. globulus,E. nitens,E. ovataandE. viminalis, and pedigreed and putative hybrids (n= 606), were genotyped with 10 microsatellite loci. Using a two-way simulation analysis (two species in the model at a time), the accuracy of identification was 98% for first and 93% for second generation hybrids. However, the accuracy of identifying simulated backcross hybrids was lower (74%). A six-way analysis (all species in the model together) showed that as the number of species increases the accuracy of hybrid identification decreases. Despite some difficulties identifying backcrosses, the two-way Bayesian modelling approach was highly effective at identifyingF1s, which, in the context ofE. globulusplantations, are the primary management concern.
Sex Differences in Constitutive Autophagy
Authors: Oliván Sara , Calvo Ana Cristina , Manzano Raquel , Zaragoza Pilar , Osta Rosario
Published: March 2014

Sex bias has been described nowadays in biomedical research on animal models, although sexual dimorphism has been confirmed widely under pathological and physiological conditions. The main objective of our work was to study the sex differences in constitutive autophagy in spinal cord and skeletal muscle tissue from wild type mice. To examine the influence of sex on autophagy, mRNA and proteins were extracted from male and female mice tissues. The expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and sequestosome 1 (p62), markers to monitor autophagy, were analyzed at 40, 60, 90, and 120 days of age. We found significant sex differences in the expression of LC3 and p62 in both tissues at these ages. The results indicated that sex and tissue specific differences exist in constitutive autophagy. These data underlined the need to include both sexes in the experimental groups to minimize any sex bias.
Chitooligosaccharide and Its Derivatives: Preparation and Biological Applications
Authors: Lodhi Gaurav , Kim Yon-Suk , Hwang Jin-Woo , Kim Se-Kwon , Jeon You-Jin , Je Jae-Young , Ahn Chang-Bum , Moon Sang-Ho , Jeon Byong-Tae , Park Pyo-Jam
Published: March 2014

Chitin is a natural polysaccharide of major importance. This biopolymer is synthesized by an enormous number of living organisms; considering the amount of chitin produced annually in the world, it is the most abundant polymer after cellulose. The most important derivative of chitin is chitosan, obtained by partial deacetylation of chitin under alkaline conditions or by enzymatic hydrolysis. Chitin and chitosan are known to have important functional activities but poor solubility makes them difficult to use in food and biomedicinal applications. Chitooligosaccharides (COS) are the degraded products of chitosan or chitin prepared by enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of chitosan. The greater solubility and low viscosity of COS have attracted the interest of many researchers to utilize COS and their derivatives for various biomedical applications. In light of the recent interest in the biomedical applications of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives, this review focuses on the preparation and biological activities of chitin, chitosan, COS, and their derivatives.
Influence of Cooling Rate on Microsegregation Behavior of Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Khan Md. Imran , Mostafa Ahmad O. , Aljarrah Mohammad , Essadiqi Elhachmi , Medraj Mamoun
Published: March 2014

The effect of cooling rate on microstructure and microsegregation of three commercially important magnesium alloys was investigated using Wedge (V-shaped) castings of AZ91D, AM60B, and AE44 alloys. Thermocouples were distributed to measure the cooling rate at six different locations of the wedge casts. Solute redistribution profiles were drawn based on the chemical composition analysis obtained by EDS/WDS analysis. Microstructural and morphological features such as dendrite arm spacing and secondary phase particle size were analyzed using both optical and scanning electron microscopes. Dendritic arm spacing and secondary phase particle size showed an increasing trend with decreasing cooling rate for the three alloys. Area percentage of secondary phase particles decreased with decreasing cooling rate for AE44 alloy. The trend was different for AZ91D and AM60B alloys, for both alloys, area percentage ofβ-Mg17Al12increased with decreasing cooling rate up to location 4 and then decreased slightly. The tendency for microsegregation was more severe at slower cooling rates, possibly due to prolonged back diffusion. At slower cooling rate, the minimum concentration of aluminum at the dendritic core was lower compared to faster cooled locations. The segregation deviation parameter and the partition coefficient were calculated from the experimentally obtained data.
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Changes Management in Patients Seen at a Tertiary Care Breast Center
Authors: Margolies L. , Cohen A. , Sonnenblick E. , Mandeli J. , Schmidt P. H. , Szabo J. , Patel N. , Hermann G. , Weltz C. , Port E.
Published: March 2014

Objectives. To study factors that predict changes in management with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). Methods.
The Institutional Review Board approved this HIPAA compliant study. 996 patients had DBT with full field digital mammography (FFDM). Univariate analysis evaluated predictors of management change and cancer detection. Results. DBT changed management in 109 of 996 (11%); 77 (71%) required less imaging. Recalled patients after abnormal FFDM screen were most likely to have management change—25% (24 of 97 patients) compared to 8% (13/163) of symptomatic patients and 10% (72/736) of screening patients (P<0.001). Dense breasted patients had a higher likelihood of having DBT change management: 13% (68/526) compared to 9% (41/470) (P=0.03). Of the 996 patients, 19 (2%) were diagnosed with breast cancer. 15 cancers (83%) were seen on FFDM and DBT; 3 (17%) were diagnosed after DBT (0.3%, 95%CI: 0.1–0.9%). One recurrence was in the skin and was not seen on DBT nor was it seen on FFDM. The increase in cancer detection rate was 17% for asymptomatic patients, 0% for symptomatic patients, and 100% for recalled patients. Conclusions. DBT increased cancer detection rate by 20% and decreased the recall rate in 8–25%. Advances in Knowledge. DBT led to a doubling of the cancer detection rate in recalled patients.
Genetic Diversity of MSP1 Block 2 ofPlasmodium vivaxIsolates from Manaus (Central Brazilian Amazon)
Authors: Soares Leidiane Amorim , Evangelista Janaína , Orlandi Patricia Puccinelli , Almeida Maria Edilene , Sousa Luciana Pereira de , Chaves Yury , Barbosa-Filho Roberto , Lacerda Marcus Vinícius , Mariuba Luis André , Nogueira Paulo Afonso
Published: March 2014

The diversity of MSP1 in bothPlasmodium falciparumandP. vivaxis presumed be associated to parasite immune evasion. In this study, we assessed genetic diversity of the most variable domain of vaccine candidate N-terminal PvMSP1 (Block 2) in field isolates of Manaus. Forty-seven blood samples the polymorphism of PvMSP1 Block 2 generates four fragment sizes. In twenty-eight of them, sequencing indicated seven haplotypes of PvMSP1 Block 2 circulating among field isolates. Evidence of striking exchanges was observed with two stretches flanking the repeat region and two predicted recombination sites were described. Single nucleotide polymorphisms determined with concurrent infections per patient indicated that nonsynonymous substitutions occurred preferentially in the repeat-rich regions which also were predicted as B-cell epitopes. The comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity of the promising Block 2 associated with clinical immunity and a reduced risk of infection byPlasmodium vivaxwould be important for the rationale of malaria vaccine designs.
The Optimal Noise Distribution for Privacy Preserving in Mobile Aggregation Applications
Authors: Zhang Hao , Yu Nenghai , Hu Honggang
Published: March 2014

In emerging mobile aggregation applications (e.g., large-scale mobile survey), individual privacy is a crucial factor to determine the effectiveness, for which the noise-addition method (i.e., a random noise value is added to the true value) is a simple yet powerful approach. However, improper additive noise could result in bias for the aggregate result. It demands an optimal noise distribution to reduce the deviation. In this paper, we develop a mathematical framework to derive the optimal noise distribution that provides privacy protection under the constraint of a limited value deviation. Specifically, we first derive a generic system dynamic function that the optimal noise distribution must satisfy and further investigate two special cases for the distribution of the original value (i.e., Gaussian and truncated Gaussian distribution). Our theoretical and numerical analysis suggests that the Gaussian distribution is the optimal solution for the Gaussian input and the asymptotically optimal solution for the truncated Gaussian input.
Arzela-Ascoli Theorem for Demi-Linear Mappings
Authors: Lei Qiang , Chen Aihong
Published: March 2014

The Arzela-Ascoli theorem for demi-linear mappings is established. Some conclusions about preserving totally bounded sets are also obtained.
Nonsyndromic Mandibular Symphysis Cleft
Authors: Guttikonda Leela Krishna , Nadella Koteswara Rao , Uppaluru Vijayalakshmi , Kodali Rama Mohan , Nallamothu Ranganadh
Published: March 2014

Median cleft of lower lip and mandible is a rare congenital anomaly described as cleft number 30 of Tessier’s classification. In minor forms only lower lip cleft is seen. We report the case of a patient with median cleft of lower lip, severe ankyloglossia, cleft of mandibular symphysis, and residual cleft involving on right soft palate and associated with other facial clefts. These deformities were corrected in multiple stage procedure, consisting of release of the tongue from floor of the mouth and lower alveolus and fixation of the mandibular cleft done with right iliac bone graft using stainless steel miniplate.
Comorbidity in Adult Bone Sarcoma Patients: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Aggerholm-Pedersen Ninna , Maretty-Nielsen Katja , Keller Johnny , Baerentzen Steen , Safwat Akmal
Published: March 2014

Background. Comorbidity is an important prognostic factor for survival in different cancers; however, neither the prevalence nor the impact of comorbidity has been investigated in bone sarcoma.Methods. All adult bone sarcoma patients from western Denmark treated at the Aarhus Sarcoma Centre in the period from 1979 to 2008 were identified through a validated population-based database. Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were computed, using discharge diagnoses from the Danish National Patient Registry. Survival was assessed as overall and disease-specific mortality. The impact of comorbidity was examined as rates according to the level of comorbidity as well as uni- and multivariately using proportional hazard models.Results. A total of 453 patients were identified. The overall prevalence of comorbidity was 19%. The prevalence increased with age and over the study period. In patients with Ewing/osteosarcoma, comorbidity was not associated with an increased overall or disease-specific mortality. However, patients with bone sarcomas other than Ewing/osteosarcoma had increased overall mortality. Independent prognostic factors for disease-specific survival were age, tumor size, stage at diagnosis, soft tissue involvement, grade, and surgery.Conclusion. The prevalence of comorbidity in bone sarcoma patients is low. Comorbidity impaired survival in patients with non-Ewing/nonosteosarcoma, histology. This emphasizes the importance of not only treating the sarcoma but also comorbidity.
Reduced Amygdala Volume Is Associated with Deficits in Inhibitory Control: A Voxel- and Surface-Based Morphometric Analysis of Comorbid PTSD/Mild TBI
Authors: Depue B. E. , Olson-Madden J. H. , Smolker H. R. , Rajamani M. , Brenner L. A. , Banich M. T.
Published: March 2014

A significant portion of previously deployed combat Veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) are affected by comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Despite this fact, neuroimaging studies investigating the neural correlates of cognitive dysfunction within this population are almost nonexistent, with the exception of research examining the neural correlates of diagnostic PTSD or TBI. The current study used both voxel-based and surface-based morphometry to determine whether comorbid PTSD/mTBI is characterized by altered brain structure in the same regions as observed in singular diagnostic PTSD or TBI. Furthermore, we assessed whether alterations in brain structures in these regions were associated with behavioral measures related to inhibitory control, as assessed by the Go/No-go task, self-reports of impulsivity, and/or PTSD or mTBI symptoms. Results indicate volumetric reductions in the bilateral anterior amygdala in our comorbid PTSD/mTBI sample as compared to a control sample of OEF/OIF Veterans with no history of mTBI and/or PTSD. Moreover, increased volume reduction in the amygdala predicted poorer inhibitory control as measured by performance on the Go/No-go task, increased self-reported impulsivity, and greater symptoms associated with PTSD. These findings suggest that alterations in brain anatomy in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans with comorbid PTSD/mTBI are associated with both cognitive deficits and trauma symptoms related to PTSD.
Measurement of Microvibration by Using Dual-Cavity Fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Kim Dae-Hyun , Lee Jin-Hyuk , Ahn Byung-Jun
Published: March 2014

Extensive researches have recently been performed to study structural integrity using structural vibration data measured by in-structure sensors. A fiber optic sensor is one of candidates for the in-structure sensors because it is low in cost, light in weight, small in size, resistant to EM interference, long in service life, and so forth. Especially, an interferometric fiber optic sensor is very useful to measure vibrations with high resolution and accuracy. In this paper, a dual-cavity fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer was proposed with a phase-compensating algorithm for measuring micro-vibration. The interferometer has structurally two arbitrary cavities; therefore the initial phase difference between two sinusoidal signals induced from the interferometer was also arbitrary. In order to do signal processing including an arc-tangent method, a random value of the initial phase difference is automatically adjusted to the exact 90 degrees in the phase-compensating algorithm part. For the verification of the performance of the interferometer, a simple vibration-test was performed to measure micro-vibration caused by piezoelectric transducer (PZT). As an experimental result, the interferometer attached on the PZT successfully measured the 50 Hz-vibration of which the absolute displacement oscillated between −424 nm and +424 nm.
The Influence of Chlorella and Its Hot Water Extract Supplementation on Quality of Life in Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Noguchi Naoto , Maruyama Isao , Yamada Akira
Published: March 2014

A self‐control, randomized, and open‐label clinical trial was performed to test the effects of the unicellular green algae Chlorella and hot water extract supplementation on quality of life (QOL) in patients with breast cancer. Forty‐five female patients with breast cancer who were living at home and not hospitalized were randomly assigned to 3 groups receiving vitamin mix tablet (control), Chlorella granules (test food‐1), or Chlorella extract drink (test food‐2) daily for one month. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Breast (FACT‐B), the Izumo scale for abdominal symptom‐specific QOL, and a narrative‐form questionnaire were used to determine outcomes. Data of thirty‐six subjects were included for final analysis. FACT‐B scores at presupplementation found no significant group differences in all subscales. Scores on the breast cancer subscale in the Chlorella granule group significantly increased during the supplementation period (P = 0.042). Fifty percent of the Chlorella extract group reported positive effects by the test food such as reduction of fatigue and improvements of dry skin (P < 0.01 versus control group). The findings suggested the beneficial effects of Chlorella on breast cancer‐related QOL and of Chlorella extract on vitality status in breast cancer patients. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger study.
Pedestrian Detection and Tracking for Counting Applications in Metro Station
Authors: Yan-yan Chen , Ning Chen , Yu-yang Zhou , Ke-han Wu , Wei-wei Zhang
Published: March 2014

A pedestrian counting method based on Haar-like detection and template-matching algorithm is presented. The aim of the method is to count pedestrians that are in a metro station automatically using video surveillance camera. The most challenging problem is to count pedestrians accurately in the case of not changing the position of the surveillance camera, because the view that surveillance camera uses in a metro station is always short-shot and nondirect downward view. In this view, traditional methods find it difficult to count pedestrians accurately. Hence, we propose this novel method. In addition, in order to improve counting accuracy more, we present a method to set the parameter value with a threshold-curve instead of a fixed threshold. The results of experiments show the high accuracy of our method.
Therapeutic Implications of Estrogen for Cerebral Vasospasm and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Induced by Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Ding Dale , Starke Robert M. , Dumont Aaron S. , Owens Gary K. , Hasan David M. , Chalouhi Nohra , Medel Ricky , Lin Chih-Lung
Published: March 2014

Cerebral vasospasm (CV) remains the leading cause of delayed morbidity and mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, increasing evidence supports etiologies of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) other than CV. Estrogen, specifically 17β-estradiol (E2), has potential therapeutic implications for ameliorating the delayed neurological deterioration which follows aneurysmal SAH. We review the causes of CV and DCI and examine the evidence for E2-mediated vasodilation and neuroprotection. E2 potentiates vasodilation by activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), preventing increased inducible NOS (iNOS) activity caused by SAH, and decreasing endothelin-1 production. E2 provides neuroprotection by increasing thioredoxin expression, decreasing c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity, increasing neuroglobin levels, preventing SAH-induced suppression of the Akt signaling pathway, and upregulating the expression of adenosine A2a receptor. The net effect of E2 modulation of these various effectors is the promotion of neuronal survival, inhibition of apoptosis, and decreased oxidative damage and inflammation. E2 is a potentially potent therapeutic tool for improving outcomes related to post-SAH CV and DCI. However, clinical evidence supporting its benefits remains lacking. Given the promising preclinical data available, further studies utilizing E2 for the treatment of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms appear warranted.
RANKL Expression in Periodontal Disease: Where Does RANKL Come from?
Authors: Chen Bin , Wu Wenlei , Sun Weibin , Zhang Qian , Yan Fuhua , Xiao Yin
Published: March 2014

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by periodontal pocket formation and alveolar bone resorption. Periodontal bone resorption is induced by osteoclasts and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) which is an essential and central regulator of osteoclast development and osteoclast function. Therefore, RANKL plays a critical role in periodontal bone resorption. In this review, we have summarized the sources of RANKL in periodontal disease and explored which factors may regulate RANKL expression in this disease.
Endodontic Treatment of a Mandibular Second Premolar with Type IV Wiene’s Root Canal: A Case Report
Authors: Chalil Noushad Matavan , Kini Shravan , Jose Sunil , Narayanan Arun , Salahudeen Shahnas , Peedikayil Faizal C.
Published: March 2014

This case report describes an endodontic treatment of a mandibular second premolar with type IV root canal. A 26-year-old male patient reported pain in right mandibular second premolar. Clinical examination showed a large carious lesion with pulp exposure. Radiographs showed minimal periapical changes and slight widening of periodontal ligament space. Mandibular second premolars usually have one canal. The mandibular second premolar may present large number of anatomic variations. The clinician should be aware of the configuration of the pulp system. This case presents the diagnosis and clinical management of a mandibular second premolar with two distinct canals in the apical third of root (Type IV Wiene’s canal configuration), drawing particular attention to tactile examination of all the canal walls and obturating it with calamus 3D obturation system.
A Performance Analysis Framework for WiFi/WiMAX Heterogeneous Metropolitan Networks Based on Cross-Layer Design
Authors: Hernández Ochoa Martha , Siller Mario , Woods John , Duran-Limon Hector Alejandro
Published: March 2014

The communication between network nodes within different protocol domains is often regarded simply as a black box with unknown configuration conditions in the path. We address network heterogeneity using a white box approach and focus on its interconnection processes. To achieve this purpose, a Performance Analysis Framework (PAF) is proposed which is composed of the formalization of the latter using process algebra (PA) and the corresponding teletraffic performance models. In this contribution, we target the IEEE 802.16 and IEEE 802.11 protocols. For the teletraffic models, we extend previous models for such scenario with the inclusion of the following protocol operational parameters (metrics): bit error rate (BER), packet error ratio (PER), and packet length (pl). From the framework teletraffic models, the optimal packet length (OPL), end to end throughput, delay, and packet loss are obtained. The PAF outperforms previous modeling solutions in terms of delay and throughput relative to NS3 simulation results.
Data Analysis and Tissue Type Assignment for Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Li Yuqian , Pi Yiming , Liu Xin , Liu Yuhan , Van Cauter Sofie
Published: March 2014

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by high infiltration. The interpretation of MRSI data, especially for GBMs, is still challenging. Unsupervised methods based on NMF by Li et al. (2013,NMR in Biomedicine) and Li et al. (2013,IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering) have been proposed for glioma recognition, but the tissue types is still not well interpreted. As an extension of the previous work, a tissue type assignment method is proposed for GBMs based on the analysis of MRSI data and tissue distribution information. The tissue type assignment method uses the values from the distribution maps of all three tissue types to interpret all the information in one new map and color encodes each voxel to indicate the tissue type. Experiments carried out onin vivoMRSI data show the feasibility of the proposed method. This method provides an efficient way for GBM tissue type assignment and helps to display information of MRSI data in a way that is easy to interpret.
Suitability of IS6110-RFLP and MIRU-VNTR for Differentiating Spoligotyped Drug-ResistantMycobacterium tuberculosisClinical Isolates from Sichuan in China
Authors: Zheng Chao , Zhao Yuding , Zhu Guoqiang , Li Song , Sun Honghu , Feng Qin , Luo Mei , Wu Fanzi , Li Xuefeng , Hill Véronique , Rastogi Nalin , Sun Qun
Published: March 2014

Genotypes ofMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC) vary with the geographic origin of the patients and can affect tuberculosis (TB) transmission. This study was aimed to further differentiate spoligotype-defined clusters of drug-resistant MTBC clinical isolates split in Beijing (n=190) versus non-Beijing isolates (n=84) from Sichuan region, the second high-burden province in China, by IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 24-locus MIRU-VNTRs. Among 274 spoligotyped isolates, the clustering ratio of Beijing family was 5.3% by 24-locus MIRU-VNTRs versus 2.1% by IS6110-RFLP, while none of the non-Beijing isolates were clustered by 24-locus MIRU-VNTRs versus 9.5% by IS6110-RFLP. Hence, neither the 24-locus MIRU-VNTR was sufficient enough to fully discriminate the Beijing family, nor the IS6110-RFLP for the non-Beijing isolates. A region adjusted scheme combining 12 highly discriminatory VNTR loci with IS6110-RFLP was a better alternative for typing Beijing strains in Sichuan than 24-locus MIRU-VNTRs alone. IS6110-RFLP was for the first time introduced to systematically genotype MTBC in Sichuan and we conclude that the region-adjusted scheme of 12 highly discriminative VNTRs might be a suitable alternative to 24-locus MIRU-VNTR scheme for non-Beijing strains, while the clusters of the Beijing isolates should be further subtyped using IS6110-RFLP for optimal discrimination.
A New Predictive Index for Osteoporosis in Men under 70 Years of Age: An Index to Identify Male Candidates for Osteoporosis Screening by Bone Mineral Density
Authors: Kim Lee Oh , Kim Hyeon-Ju , Kong Mi Hee
Published: March 2014

Background. Bone mineral density (BMD) screening guidelines for osteoporosis in men seem to have remained unclear. We aimed to set up a predictive index for the osteoporosis(PIO) in men under 70 years of age and present the optimal cutoff value of it, so that clinicians might use it to identify male candidates who benefit from taking the BMD screening.Methods. Adult men under 70 years old who met certain criteria were included. With the determined significant predictors for osteoporosis, we created a new index that presumably best predicts the osteoporosis and compared the predictability of it to other variables. Lastly, the optimal cutoff value of the PIO was calculated.Results. A total of 359 men were included. Age, weight, and current smoking status turned out to be significant predictors for osteoporosis. The PIO was as follows: [age(years) + 10 (for current smoker)]/weight(kg). Compared to other variables, the PIO showed the greatest predictive performance with the optimal cutoff point being 0.87 at which sensitivity and specificity were 71.9% and 70.0%, respectively.Conclusion. A new predictive index appeared to predict the presence of osteoporosis fairly well and thus can be used with its cutoff point to identify men under 70 years of age who need BMD screening.
Evidence for the Use of Isoflurane as a Replacement for Chloral Hydrate Anesthesia in Experimental Stroke: An Ethical Issue
Authors: Maud Pétrault , Thavarak Ouk , Cédrick Lachaud , Michèle Bastide , Vincent Bérézowski , Olivier Pétrault , Régis Bordet
Published: March 2014

Since an ethical issue has been raised regarding the use of the well-known anesthetic agent chloral hydrate, owing to its mutagenic and carcinogenic effects in animals, attention of neuroscientists has turned to finding out an alternative agent able to meet not only potency, safety, and analgesic efficacy, but also reduced neuroprotective effect for stroke research. The aim of this study was to compare the potential of chloral hydrate and isoflurane for both modulating the action of the experimental neuroprotectant MK801 and exerting analgesia. After middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats, no difference was observed in 24 h survival rate, success of ischemia, or infarct volume reduction between both anesthetics. However, isoflurane exerted a more pronounced analgesic effect than chloral hydrate as evidenced by formalin test 3 hours after anesthesia onset, thus encouraging the use of isoflurane in experimental stroke models.
Organizational Factors Influencing Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices for Integrated Treatment in Behavioral Health Agencies
Authors: Bonham Caroline A. , Sommerfeld David , Willging Cathleen , Aarons Gregory A.
Published: March 2014

Objective. In recent years, New Mexico has prioritized integrated treatment for cooccurring mental health and substance use disorders within its public behavioral health system. This report describes factors likely to be important when implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) in community agencies.Methods. Our mixed-method research design consisted of observations, semistructured interviews, and surveys undertaken with employees at 14 agencies at baseline and after 18 months. We developed four-agency typologies based on iterative coding and analysis of observations and interviews. We then examined survey data from employees at the four exemplar agencies to validate qualitative findings.Results. Financial resources and strong leadership impacted agency capacity to train providers and implement EBPs. Quantitative analysis of service provider survey responses from these agencies (N= 38) supported qualitative findings and demonstrated significant mean score differences in leadership, organizational climate, and attitudes toward EBPs in anticipated directions.Conclusion. The availability of strong leadership and financial resources were key components to initial implementation success in this study of community agencies in New Mexico. Reliance only on external funding poses risks for sustainment when demoralizing work climates precipitate employee turnover. Strong agency leadership does not always compensate for deficient financial resources in vulnerable communities.
A GA-Based Approach to Hide Sensitive High Utility Itemsets
Authors: Lin Chun-Wei , Hong Tzung-Pei , Wong Jia-Wei , Lan Guo-Cheng , Lin Wen-Yang
Published: March 2014

A GA-based privacy preserving utility mining method is proposed to find appropriate transactions to be inserted into the database for hiding sensitive high utility itemsets. It maintains the low information loss while providing information to the data demanders and protects the high-risk information in the database. A flexible evaluation function with three factors is designed in the proposed approach to evaluate whether the processed transactions are required to be inserted. Three different weights are, respectively, assigned to the three factors according to users. Moreover, the downward closure property and the prelarge concept are adopted in the proposed approach to reduce the cost of rescanning database, thus speeding up the evaluation process of chromosomes.
Homomorphisms between Fuzzy Approximation Spaces Based on Residuated Lattice
Authors: Zhao Yuan
Published: March 2014

Two kinds of homomorphisms of fuzzy approximation spaces based on complete residuated lattice are proposed. The homomorphisms are structure-preserving maps in some sense. We also introduce the fuzzy approximation subspaces and investigate their correspondence with the homomorphisms. Given a fuzzy equivalence relation, the factor set of the fuzzy approximation space is discussed.
Hypersensitivity of Vestibular System to Sound and Pseudoconductive Hearing Loss in Deaf Patients
Authors: Emami Seyede Faranak
Published: March 2014

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to compare bone-conducted low-frequency hearing thresholds (BClf) to cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) findings in prelingual adult deaf patients. The fifty participants (100 ears) included twenty healthy controls and thirty other subjects selected from patients who presented with bilateral prelingual deafness to Department of Audiology of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (Hamadan, Iran). Assessments comprised of audiological evaluations, cVEMPs, and computerized tomography scans. Twenty deaf patients (forty affected ears) with bilateral decreased vestibular excitability as detected by abnormal cVEMPs revealed that BClf hearing thresholds were completely absent. Ten deaf patients (twenty unaffected ears) with normal cVEMPs reported a sensation of the sound at BClf hearing thresholds (the mean for 250 Hz=41 dBHL and for 500 Hz=57.75 dBHL). Multiple comparisons of mean p 13 latencies, mean n23 latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes between three groups were significant (P = 0.01 for all, one-way ANOVA test). Multiple Comparisons of mean BClf between three groups were significant (P = 0.00, One-way ANOVA test). Conclusion. Hypersensitivity of vestibular system to sound augments BClf hearing thresholds in deaf patients. The sensation of the sound at low frequencies may be present in patients with total deafness and normal vestibular function (predominantly saccule). This improvement disappears when saccular function is lost.
Variable Responsive Wettability Films via Electrospinning Induced by Solvents
Authors: Wang Nü , Guo Fengyun , Wu Jing , Zhao Yong , Jiang Lei
Published: March 2014

Three kinds of interesting distinct wettability films are fabricated by a facile electrospinning technique. The films are composites of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and polystyrene but different precursor solvents. By taking advantage of the conformational changes of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) chains and polystyrene chains in different solvents, the films exhibit responsive wettability variation to temperature.
Controllability for a Wave Equation with Moving Boundary
Authors: Cui Lizhi , Song Libo
Published: March 2014

We investigate the controllability for a one-dimensional wave equation in domains with moving boundary. This model characterizes small vibrations of a stretched elastic string when one of the two endpoints varies. When the speed of the moving endpoint is less than1-1/e, by Hilbert uniqueness method, sidewise energy estimates method, and multiplier method, we get partial Dirichlet boundary controllability. Moreover, we will give a sharper estimate on controllability time that only depends on the speed of the moving endpoint.
Competition-Based Device-to-Device Transmission Scheduling to Support Wireless Cloud Multimedia Communications
Authors: Yao Runan , Wang Wei , Shin Sung , Son Seong H. , Jeon Soon I.
Published: March 2014

Multimedia applications based on cloud services for mobile devices have recently gained considerable popularity. However, the increasing density of devices leads to a high level of interference, which reduces the performance of wireless communication between devices and cloud. In this paper, we propose a new approach which allows the network to adaptively find a transmission opportunity scheduling strategy by choosing the most valuable transmission request opportunity. In this approach, the transmission request selection strategy is optimized by considering multimedia distortion reduction, hidden node problem, transmission interference, and signal coverage. Simulation results show that the proposed request selecting strategy significantly improves the systems overall data transmission quality by exploring the tradeoff between communication node pair and their neighbor nodes.
Improved Candidate Drug Mining for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Cheng Yu-Huei , Chuang Li-Yeh , Chang Hsueh-Wei , Yang Cheng-Hong
Published: March 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia for older people. Although several antidementia drugs such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine have been developed, the effectiveness of AD drug therapy is still far from satisfactory. Recently, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been chosen as one of the personalized medicine markers. Many pharmacogenomics databases have been developed to provide comprehensive information by associating SNPs with drug responses, disease incidence, and genes that are critical in choosing personalized therapy. However, we found that some information from different sets of pharmacogenomics databases is not sufficient and this may limit the potential functions for pharmacogenomics. To address this problem, we used approximate string matching method and data mining approach to improve the searching of pharmacogenomics database. After computation, we can successfully identify more genes linked to AD and AD-related drugs than previous online searching. These improvements may help to improve the pharmacogenomics of AD for personalized medicine.
Finite‐Time Stability and Stabilization of Nonlinear Quadratic Systems with Jumps
Authors: Zhang Minsong
Published: March 2014

This paper investigates the problems of finite‐time stability and finite‐time stabilization for nonlinear quadratic systems with jumps. The jump time sequences here are assumed to satisfy some given constraints. Based on Lyapunov function and a particular presentation of the quadratic terms, sufficient conditions for finite‐time stability and finite‐time stabilization are developed to a set containing bilinear matrix inequalities (BLIMs) and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Changes in Cardiopulmonary Reserve and Peripheral Arterial Function Concomitantly with Subclinical Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Vitiello Damien , Harel François , Touyz Rhian M. , Sirois Martin G. , Lavoie Joel , Myers Jonathan , Ducharme Anique , Racine Normand , O’Meara Eileen , Gayda Mathieu , Chabot-Blanchet Malorie , Rouleau Jean Lucien , de Denus Simon , White Michel
Published: March 2014

Background. Changes in cardiopulmonary reserve and biomarkers related to wall stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress concomitantly with the evaluation of peripheral arterial blood flow have not been investigated in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared with healthy subjects (CTL).Methods and Results. Eighteen HFpEF patients and 14 CTL were recruited. Plasma levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured at rest. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured at rest and peak exercise. Cardiopulmonary reserve was assessed using an exercise protocol with gas exchange analyses. Peripheral arterial blood flow was determined by strain gauge plethysmography. Peak VO2(12.0±0.4versus19.1±1.1 mL/min/kg,P<0.001) and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (1.55±0.12versus2.06±0.14,P<0.05) were significantly decreased in HFpEF patients compared with CTL. BNP at rest and following stress, C-reactive-protein, interleukin-6, and TBARS were significantly elevated in HFpEF. Both basal and posthyperemic arterial blood flow were not significantly different between the HFpEF patients and CTL.Conclusions. HFpEF exhibits a severe reduction in cardiopulmonary reserve and oxygen uptake efficiency concomitantly with an elevation in a broad spectrum of biomarkers confirming an inflammatory and prooxidative status in patients with HFpEF.
Stability of Nonlinear Dirichlet BVPs Governed by Fractional Laplacian
Authors: Bors Dorota
Published: March 2014

We consider a class of partial differential equations with the fractional Laplacian and the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary data. Some sufficient condition under which the solutions of the equations considered depend continuously on parameters is stated. The application of the results to some optimal control problem is presented. The methods applied in the paper make use of the variational structure of the problem.
Three-Dimensional Dynamic Analyses of Track-Embankment-Ground System Subjected to High Speed Train Loads
Authors: Fu Qiang , Zheng Changjie
Published: March 2014

A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to investigate dynamic response of track-embankment-ground system subjected to moving loads caused by high speed trains. The track-embankment-ground systems such as the sleepers, the ballast, the embankment, and the ground are represented by 8-noded solid elements. The infinite elements are used to represent the infinite boundary condition to absorb vibration waves induced by the passing of train load at the boundary. The loads were applied on the rails directly to simulate the real moving loads of trains. The effects of train speed on dynamic response of the system are considered. The effect of material parameters, especially the modulus changes of ballast and embankment, is taken into account to demonstrate the effectiveness of strengthening the ballast, embankment, and ground for mitigating system vibration in detail. The numerical results show that the model is reliable for predicting the amplitude of vibrations produced in the track-embankment-ground system by high-speed trains. Stiffening of fill under the embankment can reduce the vibration level, on the other hand, it can be realized by installing a concrete slab under the embankment. The influence of axle load on the vibration of the system is obviously lower than that of train speed.
Influence of Applied Bias Voltage on the Composition, Structure, and Properties of Ti:Si‐Codoped a‐C:H Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Jiang Jinlong , Wang Qiong , Wang Yubao , Xia Zhang , Yang Hua , Hao Junying
Published: March 2014

The titanium‐ and silicon‐codoped a‐C:H films were prepared at different applied bias voltage by magnetron sputtering TiSi target in argon and methane mixture atmosphere. The influence of the applied bias voltage on the composition, surface morphology, structure, and mechanical properties of the films was investigated by XPS, AFM, Raman, FTIR spectroscopy, and nanoindenter. The tribological properties of the films were characterized on an UMT‐2MT tribometer. The results demonstrated that the film became smoother and denser with increasing the applied bias voltage up to −200 V, whereas surface roughness increased due to the enhancement of ion bombardment as the applied bias voltage further increased. The sp3 carbon fraction in the films monotonously decreased with increasing the applied bias voltage. The film exhibited moderate hardness and the superior tribological properties at the applied bias voltage of −100 V. The tribological behaviors are correlated to the H/E or H3/E2 ratio of the films.
The Effects of Maekmoondong‐Tang on Cockroach Extract‐Induced Allergic Asthma
Authors: Park Soojin , Sohn Sung-Hwa , Jung Kyung-Hwa , Lee Kun-young , Yeom Yu Rim , Kim Gae-Eun , Jung Sungki , Jung Heejae , Bae Hyunsu
Published: March 2014

Maekmoondong‐tang (MMDT) has long been used in Asian countries to treat respiratory diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underlying its effects on asthma are unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of MMDT in a cockroach allergen (CKA‐)induced animal model of allergic asthma. After being challenged with CKA, the number of macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and total cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was evaluated. The Th2 specific cytokines IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were also analyzed in BALF along with IgE levels in serum. For histological analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed. In addition, airway hyperresponsiveness was assessed by noninvasive plethysmography. The cellular profiles and histopathologic analysis demonstrated that peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates were significantly decreased in the MMDT‐treated groups compared with the cockroach extract‐injected (CKA) groups. In addition, the IgE, IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 levels were significantly decreased in the MMDT group. MMDT treatment also significantly attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness. These results demonstrated that MMDT significantly reduced the hallmark signs of asthma: elevated serum IgE, airway eosinophilia, airway remodeling, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. The remarkable antiasthmatic effects of MMDT suggest its therapeutic potential in allergic asthma treatment.
Gating Techniques for Rao-Blackwellized Monte Carlo Data Association Filter
Authors: Wang Yazhao , Zhang Peini
Published: March 2014

This paper studies the Rao-Blackwellized Monte Carlo data association (RBMCDA) filter for multiple target tracking. The elliptical gating strategies are redesigned and incorporated into the framework of the RBMCDA filter. The obvious benefit is the reduction of the time cost because the data association procedure can be carried out with less validated measurements. In addition, the overlapped parts of the neighboring validation regions are divided into several separated subregions according to the possible origins of the validated measurements. In these subregions, the measurement uncertainties can be taken into account more reasonably than those of the simple elliptical gate. This would help to achieve higher tracking ability of the RBMCDA algorithm by a better association prior approximation. Simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed gating techniques.
Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis of the Retromolar Pad Area: A Case Report
Authors: Mokhtari Sepideh , Atarbashi Moghadam Saede , Mirafsharieh Abbas
Published: March 2014

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis is a rare pathological lesion that affects salivary glands. The majority of cases involve the parotid and its occurrence in minor glands is exceedingly rare. Here, we report the first case of this lesion in the retromolar pad area and discuss its histological features and immunohistochemical reactivity withαSMA and Ki67 markers. A review of the literature on its immunohistochemical profile is also provided. Sclerosing polycystic adenosis has a diverse histomorphology and should be differentiated from other more important pathologic lesions.
Impacts of Deflection Nose on Ballistic Trajectory Control Law
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Shushan , Cao Mengyu , Xu Yuxin
Published: March 2014

The deflection of projectile nose is aimed at changing the motion of the projectile in flight with the theory of motion control and changing the exterior ballistics so as to change its range and increase its accuracy. The law of external ballistics with the deflectable nose is considered as the basis of the design of a flight control system and an important part in the process of projectile development. Based on the existing rigid external ballistic model, this paper establishes an external ballistic calculation model for deflectable nose projectile and further establishes the solving programs accordingly. Different angle of attack, velocity, coefficients of lift, resistance, and moment under the deflection can be obtained in this paper based on the previous experiments and emulation researches. In the end, the author pointed out the laws on the impaction of external ballistic trajectory by the deflection of nose of the missile.