bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Feasibility and Safety of Higher-Dose Dexmedetomidine in Special Outpatient Examination of Pediatric Ophthalmology
Authors: Chen Chaoqiao , You Minji , Li ZhangLiang , Nie Li , Zhao Yune , Chen Gang
Published: April 2019

Objective. To investigate the feasibility and safety of higher-dose dexmedetomidine in ophthalmological outpatient examination of children with cataract. Methods. 100 cases of children were recruited in the study and randomly equally divided into two groups. One group was given 2 μg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine anesthesia, while the other group was under 3 μg/kg. The dosage of dexmedetomidine was calculated by the same anesthesiologist according to the weight of patient. After sufficient sedation, the same ophthalmologist performed ocular examinations manually, including intraocular pressure, keratometry, axial length, and corneal thickness and recorded the ocular position score during intraocular pressure measurement and corneal thickness measurement. Other variables were sedation onset time, recovery time, vital signs, and side effects. Results. In intraocular pressure measurement, only one case in the 2 μg/kg group did not complete the examination, while all cases in the 3 μg/kg group completed the examination and the difference of the success rate between the two groups was nonsignificant (P>0.05). The success rates of the 3 μg/kg group in corneal curvature, axial length, and corneal thickness examination were 96%, 92%, and 86%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the 2 μg/kg group (22%, 18%, and 4%). The average onset time of sedation in the 3 μg/kg group was 15.42 ± 2.09 minutes, which was significantly shorter than that in the 2 μg/kg group (19.52 ± 2.43 minutes, P<0.001). The average time of completing all examinations in the 3 μg/kg group was 18.36 ± 4.01 minutes, which was significantly shorter than that in the 2 μg/kg group (22.62 ± 4.13 min, P<0.001). The recovery time of group 3 μg/kg was 90.62 ± 27.80 min, which was significantly longer than that of group 2 μg/kg (49.20 ± 15.50 min). Vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate kept in normal range throughout the tests, and no obvious side effects were observed. Conclusion. 3 μg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine had a higher sedation success rate and quality than 2 μg/kg did in pediatric ocular examinations, without any obvious side effects.
Fate and Occurrence of Pharmaceutically Active Organic Compounds during Typical Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Luo Qiao , Wang Jing , Wang JianHui , Shen Yu , Yan Peng , Chen YouPeng , Zhang ChengCheng
Published: April 2019

The chemical composition, distribution, and fate of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) present in typical pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants were investigated with the aim of effectively removing these pollutants while minimizing waste of resources and energy. The results of this study indicate that the relative content of an organic compound class is unrelated to the number of organic compounds in the influent and effluent, yet it is directly proportional to the pollution contribution in pharmaceutical wastewater. In wastewater influent, the organic compound classes with the highest relative contents and pollution contributions were acids (relative content = 63.65%, contribution to pollution = 67.22%), esters (44.96%, 41.24%), and heterocyclic compounds (30.24%, 35.23%); in wastewater effluent, these classes were organic acids (62.54%, 65.13%), esters (52.66%, 59.02%), and organosilicon compounds (42.46%, 37.45%). The different physicochemical characteristics of these pollutants result in different removal efficiencies. For example, N,N-dimethylformamide, 4-methyloctane, N-ethylmorpholine, and 4-amino-N,N- and N,N-diethylbenzamide are refractory and are not degraded by microorganisms; thus, these compounds are discharged into the aquatic environment. Other organic compound classes including organosilicon compounds, acids, esters, heterocycles, and alcohols are mostly biodegraded, which leads to high concentrations of hydrocarbons in the wastewater effluent. The results of this study provide a foundation for the improvement of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.
SHOX Duplication and Tall Stature in a Patient with Xq Deletion and Vascular Disease
Authors: Ramirez J. M. , Rodríguez F. A. , Echeverría M. I. , Vargas A. L. , Calderón A. E. , Miatello R. M. , Renna N. F.
Published: April 2019

The anomalies of X chromosome are classified as numerical or structural. Concomitant structural anomalies in this chromosome that associate partial loss of its long arm with duplications in its short arm are uncommon. Only a few cases have been published and in most of them the reported patients present ovarian dysfunction, tall stature, and overdosage of the SHOX gene with locus Xp22.33. Considering these reports, we evaluated the case of a woman with a deletion in the long arm of the X chromosome, premature ovarian failure, tall stature, and multiple arterial vascular disease. With the aim to find a relationship between karyotype and phenotype, we explored associated anomalies in Xp and certified the overdosage of the SHOX gene in this case by MLPA. Also, taking into account the fact that the gene locus of the angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) is located in Xp, our goal was to investigate the influence of this gene in the development of cardiovascular disease. The detection of the gene product of ACE2 by ELISA was undetectable. We have proposed that cytogenetic anomalies in X chromosome could contribute to decrease this protein synthesis in this gender.
Protective Effect of Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes with Glutathione in Red Blood Cell Lysis Induced by Hypochlorous Acid
Authors: Shumaev Konstantin B. , Gorudko Irina V. , Kosmachevskaya Olga V. , Grigorieva Daria V. , Panasenko Оleg M. , Vanin Anatoly F. , Topunov Alexey F. , Terekhova Maria S. , Sokolov Alexey V. , Cherenkevich Sergey N. , Ruuge Enno K.
Published: April 2019

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), one of the major precursors of free radicals in body cells and tissues, is endowed with strong prooxidant activity. In living systems, dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNIC) with glutathione ligands play the role of nitric oxide donors and possess a broad range of biological activities. At micromolar concentrations, DNIC effectively inhibit HOCl-induced lysis of red blood cells (RBCs) and manifest an ability to scavenge alkoxyl and alkylperoxyl radicals generated in the reaction of HOCl withtert-butyl hydroperoxide. DNIC proved to be more effective cytoprotective agents and organic free radical scavengers in comparison with reduced glutathione (GSH). At the same time, the kinetics of HOCl-induced oxidation of glutathione ligands in DNIC is slower than in the case of GSH. HOCl-induced oxidative conversions of thiolate ligands cause modification of DNIC, which manifests itself in inclusion of other ligands. It is suggested that the strong inhibiting effect of DNIC with glutathione on HOCl-induced lysis of RBCs is determined by their antioxidant and regulatory properties.
Adsorption Property of Pb(II) by the Laterite‐Bentonite Mixture Used as Waste Landfill Liner
Authors: Chen Yong-gui , Liu Xue-min , Lei Hong-nan , Ye Wei-min , Cui Yu-jun
Published: April 2019

To assess the potential use of laterite‐bentonite mixture as waste landfill liner, a range of batch tests were conducted to study the influence of contact time, solid to solution ratio, pH, ion strength, and temperature on Pb(II) adsorption. The experimental results showed that the uptake of Pb(II) by laterite‐bentonite mixture increases with the increase of contact time and the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 30 minutes. This process can be delineated well using a pseudo‐second‐order kinetics equation. Besides, with the increase of solid to solution ratio (s/w) and pH, Pb(II) will be adsorbed more by the laterite‐bentonite mixture. However, the uptake of Pb(II) will decrease when ion strength rises in the solution and this is due to the competitive adsorption and cation exchange between different cations. When conducting the batch test at 298 K and 323 K, respectively, the experiment results showed significant growth when temperature increases because the adsorption process is an endothermic reaction. This influence of temperate can be described better by the Langmuir isotherm model than that by the Freundlich isotherm model. In each experiment condition, the uptake of Pb(II) increases with the increasing of bentonite content, indicating a good improvement in the effect of bentonite on laterite used as landfill liner.
Pseudospin-1 Physics of Photonic Crystals
Authors: Fang A. , Zhang Z. Q. , Louie Steven G. , Chan C. T.
Published: April 2019

We review some recent progress in the exploration of pseudospin-1 physics using dielectric photonic crystals (PCs). We show some physical implications of the PCs exhibiting an accidental degeneracy induced conical dispersion at the Γ point, such as the realization of zero refractive index medium and the zero Berry phase of a loop around the nodal point. The photonic states of such PCs near the Dirac-like point can be described by an effective spin-orbit Hamiltonian of pseudospin-1. The wave propagation in the positive, negative, and zero index media can be unified within a framework of pseudospin-1 description. A scale change in PCs results in a rigid band shift of the Dirac-like cone, allowing for the manipulation of waves in pseudospin-1 systems in much the same way as applying a gate voltage in pseudospin-1/2 graphene. The transport of waves in pseudospin-1 systems exhibits many interesting phenomena, including super Klein tunneling, robust supercollimation, and unconventional Anderson localization. The transport properties of pseudospin-1 systems are distinct from their counterparts in pseudospin-1/2 systems, which will also be presented for comparison.
Security Measure for Image Steganography Based on High Dimensional KL Divergence
Authors: Song Haitao , Tang Guangming , Sun Yifeng , Gao Zhanzhan
Published: April 2019

Steganographic security is the research focus of steganography. Current steganography research emphasizes on the design of steganography algorithms, but the theoretical research about steganographic security measure is relatively lagging. This paper proposes a feasible image steganographic security measure based on high dimensional KL divergence. It is proved that steganographic security measure of higher dimensional KL divergence is more accurate. The correlation between neighborhood pixels is analyzed from the principle in imaging process and content characteristics, and it is concluded that 9-dimensional probability statistics are effective enough to be used as steganographic security measure. Then in order to reduce the computational complexity of high dimensional probability statistics and improve the feasibility of the security measure method, a security measure dimension reduction scheme is proposed by applying gradient to describe image textures. Experiments show that the proposed steganographic security measure method is feasible and effective and more accurate than measure method based on 4-dimensional probability statistics.
Macular Rash, Thrombocytopenia, and Hyperbilirubinemia in a Preterm Infant
Authors: Chatur Nurin , Castro Marina , Young Tai Kin Fan
Published: April 2019

Neonatal hyperthyroidism is usually caused by the passage of maternal thyroid receptor antibodies. This relatively rare condition has various manifestations including cholestasis, prematurity, and cardiomegaly. We present a case of a preterm infant with neonatal Graves’ disease who presented with cholestasis, cardiomegaly, and a macularpapular rash that was thought to be suspicious for congenital infection. This case has been reported to illustrate lessons learnt for early identification of a neonate with Graves’ disease in order to expedite treatment.
Infectious Aortitis with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a 47-Year-Old Female with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ramiro Valerie R. , Saliba Carmegie C. , Tindoc John Anthony D. , Jambaro Marinette R. , Chua Enrique M. , Hornilla Donna Ricca M. , Abola Maria Teresa B.
Published: April 2019

Aortic aneurysms are not commonly reported among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of a 47-year-old Filipino female diagnosed with SLE 17 years ago maintained on prolonged oral steroids, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine. She also had lupus nephritis, secondary hypertension, and dyslipidemia. She initially presented with a week-long watery nonbloody diarrhea with associated diffuse crampy abdominal pain and generalized weakness. She was admitted for a week at a provincial hospital and was given an unrecalled antibiotic with resolution of symptoms. Upon discharge, however, she experienced two weeks of severe right lower quadrant pain radiating to the back and left lower quadrant, with no history of diarrhea, vomiting, dysuria, and fever. Complete blood count showed slight leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. Abdominal imaging revealed a saccular infrarenal aneurysm with dissection. An atherosclerotic mechanism was primarily considered, but a vasculitic process was likewise considered due to elevated acute phase reactants. The initial plan was Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) but due to financial limitations, an exploratory laparotomy with infrarenal endoaneurysmorrhaphy was eventually performed. Intraoperative findings were a saccular infrarenal aneurysm with dissection up to the proximal right common iliac artery and an abscess compartment within the false lumen in the anterior aortic wall. Abscess culture yielded high growth of Salmonella group B. Micrographs of the aortic wall biopsy showed fibrin deposition necrosis and calcification with peripheral viable cellular infiltrates consisting of neutrophils and foamy macrophages. Inadvertently placing an endovascular graft in an infected aortic aneurysm would have led to graft infection and catastrophic morbidity. We highlight the significance of having a high index of suspicion for infectious causes of aortitis among immunocompromised patients presenting with aneurysm prior to pursuing an endovascular versus an open approach for repair.
A Co-Occurrence of Serologically Proven Myasthenia Gravis and Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Ho Stacey , Liu Antonio
Published: April 2019

We report on a co-occurrence case of ocular myasthenia gravis with exacerbation leading to myasthenic crisis in addition to pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome in a patient with severe oropharyngeal dysphagia and acute respiratory failure.
Physicochemical Performance of Portland-Rice Husk Ash-Calcined Clay-Dried Acetylene Lime Sludge Cement in Sulphate and Chloride Media
Authors: Wachira Jackson Muthengia , Thiong’o Joseph Karanja , Marangu Joseph Mwiti , Murithi Leonard Genson
Published: April 2019

This paper reports leach and/or intake of SO42−, Cl−, Ca2+, Na+, and K+ from and/or into cement mortar cubes made from a novel cementious material in naturally encountered environmental simulated media. The paper also reports changes in pH of the media over time of exposure to the cement mortar cubes. The compressive strength changes of the test cement in simulated media are also reported. The novel cement, labelled PCDC, made from intermixing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with waste materials which included rice husks, waste bricks, acetylene lime sludge, and spent bleaching earth was previously tested and found to meet the Kenyan Standard requirements for Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). 100 mm mortar cubes were prepared, and their compressive strengths were determined after exposure to the sea water. The media included sea water, distilled water, and solutions of sulphates and chlorides separately for a period of six months. The tests were carried alongside commercial PPC and OPC. The results showed that the PCDC exhibited comparable selected ions intake and/or leach to PPC in sea water, sulphate solutions, and distilled water. In chloride solutions, the cement exhibited the highest leach in the selected ions except K+ and Na+ ions. The results further showed that PCDC exhibited lower pH in all the media compared to OPC and PPC. The tests showed that the novel cement can be used for general construction work in the tested media in a similar manner to PPC.
A Study on Depth Sizing for Surface Cracks in KTX Brake Disc Using Rayleigh Wave
Authors: Yeom Yun-Taek , Kim Min-Soo , Kim Hak-Joon , Song Sung-Jin , Lee Ho-Yong , Kwon Sung-Duk , Kang Sung-Sik , Sung Deok-Yong
Published: April 2019

Korea Train eXpress (KTX), high-speed railway system, provides an important platform for public transportation and connects major metropolitans in Korea. KTX aiming towards next-generation transportation system has plans to increase the operation times. However, with increasing operation times, safety and reliability of the railways especially inspection of brakes systems becomes important. Therefore, in this study, a KTX brake disc inspection system using the Rayleigh wave is developed to characterize the cracks in the discs. The performance of the inspection system is evaluated on the KTX brake discs specimen having fabricated cracks as well as natural cracks. The result shows that the proposed algorithm successfully characterizes the crack types and estimated the length, width, depths and gap between cracks with good accuracy.
Immediate Physical Therapy following Total Joint Arthroplasty: Barriers and Impact on Short-Term Outcomes
Authors: Warwick Hunter , George Andrew , Howell Claire , Green Cynthia , Seyler Thorsten M. , Jiranek William A.
Published: April 2019

Background. Recent evidence suggests benefit to receiving physical therapy (PT) the same day as total joint arthroplasty (TJA), but relatively little is known about barriers to providing PT in this constrained time period. We address the following questions: (1) Are there demographic or perioperative variables associated with receiving delayed PT following TJA? (2) Does receiving immediate PT following TJA affect short-term outcomes such as length of stay, discharge disposition, or 30-day readmission? Methods. Primary TJA procedures at a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Immediate PT was defined as within eight hours of surgery. Demographic and perioperative variables were compared between patients who received immediate PT and those who did not. We identified an appropriately matched control group of patients who received immediate PT. Postoperative length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day readmissions were compared between matched groups. Results. In total, 2051 primary TJA procedures were reviewed. Of these, 226 (11.0%) received delayed PT. These patients had a higher rate of general anesthesia (25.2% versus 17.8%, p=0.006), later operative start time (13:26 [11:31-14:38] versus 9:36 [8:24-11:16], p<0.001), longer operative time (1.8 [1.5-2.2] versus 1.6 [1.4-1.8] hours, p=0.002), and higher overall caseload on the day of surgery (6 [4-9] versus 5 [4-8], p=0.002). A matched group of patients who received immediate PT was identified. There were no differences in postoperative length of stay or discharge disposition between matched immediate and delayed PT groups, but delayed PT (OR 4.54; 95% CI 1.61-12.84; p=0.004) was associated with a higher 30-day readmission rate. Conclusion. Barriers to receiving immediate PT following TJA included general anesthesia, later operative start time, longer operative time, and higher daily caseload. These factors present potential targets for improving the delivery of immediate postoperative PT. Early PT may help reduce 30-day readmissions, but additional research is necessary to further characterize this relationship.
Novel Method for Removing Embedded Cactus Spines in the Emergency Department
Authors: Ford Andrew M. , Haywood Steven T. , Gallo Douglas R.
Published: April 2019

Injuries from cactus spines can present challenges to Emergency Medicine providers. When the patient has mental limitations that prevent cooperation with removal, these challenges grow. Traditional removal techniques have several drawbacks including prolonged time for complete removal and incomplete removal. We present the case of a 22-year-old with a history of low-functioning autism and congenital motor dysfunction with a cactus spine injury to a large surface area of her chest, abdomen, and extremities. Conscious sedation utilizing intramuscular ketamine and Operating Room (OR) hair removal mitts were utilized to quickly and effectively remove the cactus spines. The patient had efficient, painless resolution of her injury without need for additional spine removal.
“Redox Imaging” to Distinguish Cells with Different Proliferative Indexes: Superoxide, Hydroperoxides, and Their Ratio as Potential Biomarkers
Authors: Zhelev Zhivko , Georgieva Ekaterina , Lazarova Dessislava , Semkova Severina , Aoki Ichio , Gulubova Maya , Higashi Tatsuya , Bakalova Rumiana
Published: April 2019

The present study was directed to the development of EPR methodology for distinguishing cells with different proliferative activities, using “redox imaging.” Three nitroxide radicals were used as redox sensors: (a) mito-TEMPO—cell-penetrating and localized mainly in the mitochondria; (b) methoxy-TEMPO—cell-penetrating and randomly distributed between the cytoplasm and the intracellular organelles; and (c) carboxy-PROXYL—nonpenetrating in living cells and evenly distributed in the extracellular environment. The experiments were conducted on eleven cell lines with different proliferative activities and oxidative capacities, confirmed by conventional analytical tests. The data suggest that cancer cells and noncancer cells are characterized by a completely different redox status. This can be analyzed by EPR spectroscopy using mito-TEMPO and methoxy-TEMPO, but not carboxy-PROXYL. The correlation analysis shows that the EPR signal intensity of mito-TEMPO in cell suspensions is closely related to the superoxide level. The described methodology allows the detection of overproduction of superoxide in living cells and their identification based on the intracellular redox status. The experimental data provide evidences about the role of superoxide and hydroperoxides in cell proliferation and malignancy.
Possible Improvement of the Sagittal Spinopelvic Alignment and Balance through “Locomotion Training” Exercises in Patients with “Locomotive Syndrome”: A Literature Review
Authors: Yurube Takashi , Ito Masaaki , Takeoka Toru , Watanabe Nobuyoshi , Inaoka Hideyo , Kakutani Kenichiro , Kuroda Ryosuke , Nishida Kotaro
Published: April 2019

On the basis of rapid population aging, in 2007, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) proposed a new disease concept “locomotive syndrome” as a degenerative condition of reduced mobility due to the impairment of the musculoskeletal system. Worsened locomotive components, which consist of bones, joints, and intervertebral discs, and muscles and nerves, can lead to symptoms such as pain, limited range of motion, malalignment, impaired balance, and difficulty in walking, ultimately resulting in the requirement of nursing care. “Locomotive syndrome” has gained increased interest in Japan but still not worldwide. Hence, in this brief review, we summarize an updated definition, assessment, and management of “locomotive syndrome”. The JOA recommends “locomotion training” exercise intervention to be effective in maintaining motor function that comprises two simple exercises—squatting and single-leg standing. However, the extent to which exercises affect “locomotive syndrome” is unknown. Here, we further report hypothesis-generating patient cases who presented the improved sagittal spinopelvic alignment in standing radiographs and postural stability in piezoelectric force-plate measurements through our 6-month “locomotion training” outpatient rehabilitation program. It is noteworthy that “locomotion training” facilitated these improvements despite the presence of specific disorders including thoracic kyphosis and symptomatic lumbar spinal canal stenosis. This raises the need for further investigations to clarify effects of “locomotion training” exercises on the spinal alignment, global balance, and quality of life in patients with “locomotive syndrome”.
An Off-Label Use of a Unibody Aortic Stent-Graft System for the Treatment of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Dissections
Authors: Faraj Joseph , Tan Rebekah L. W. , Mwipatayi Bibombe P.
Published: April 2019

Infrarenal abdominal aortic dissections (IAAD) are exceedingly rare, accounting for 1-4% of all aortic dissections. The evidence is scarce on how to best manage IAAD when they become symptomatic. Two main interventional approaches exist, open surgery and the endovascular approach. Conventional stent-graft systems make it difficult to treat nonaneurysmal aortic disease due to limb competition in a narrow distal aorta. Thus, we present a novel use of the Endologix Anatomical Fixation 2 (AFX2) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) endograft system for the treatment of four patients with IAAD. We also highlight an individual case study that was treated with an alternative endovascular approach and the complications that followed. This was to highlight and compare our successful experience with Endologix AFX2 AAA endograft system. There were multiple benefits for choosing this stent-graft; however the main advantage is its suitability in the narrow distal aorta. Our aim was to highlight an alternative endovascular approach for the successful treatment of a rare, challenging, and potentially fatal pathology.
Moisture Susceptibility of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) with an Organic Wax Additive Based on X‐Ray Computed Tomography (CT) Technology
Authors: Ji Jie , Yao Hui , Yuan Zhikai , Suo Zhi , Xu Ying , Li Pengfei , You Zhanping
Published: April 2019

The warm mix asphalt was fabricated with different moisture contents (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) of limestone aggregates using the Superpave gyratory compactor. The moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures with an organic wax additive RH was studied. The samples were compacted and tested using the modified Lottman test AASHTO T283, and the X‐ray computed tomography technology was used to capture the internal structure images before and after the freeze‐thaw cycles. The test results show that the air voids were distributed in the size range of 0–5 mm3 and 5–10 mm3. The number of air voids decreased with the increase of air void size and increased after freeze‐thaw cycles. The air void content can be influenced by the residual moisture in aggregates. The higher the moisture content of aggregates is, the larger the air void content is. So, the air void content is likely to be sensitive to moisture damage. The increase ratio of the air void and moisture content of aggregates had good correlation with the indirect tensile strength and tensile strength ratio of the samples. The indirect tensile strength and tensile strength ratio of the samples decreased linearly, and the samples were sensitive to the moisture damage with the increases of increase ratio of the air void/moisture content in aggregates.
Analysis and Optimization of a Cyclone Integrated with a Cartridge Filter in a Hazardous Materials Collection Truck
Authors: Zhou Shuwen , Wang Yu
Published: April 2019

In order to meet the filtration separation of hazardous materials on hazardous materials collection truck, the most popular separation devices, such as the cyclone separator and the filter cartridge, are combined to form a new filtration device in this study. The advantages of the two devices are utilized to achieve effective separation of solid particles and prevent secondary pollution. Among the various structural influence factors of filtration equipment, four structural parameters that affect the separation performance significantly are selected as optimization variables. The response surface methodology was used to design the simulation experiment. Using fluid mechanics analysis software, multiple sets of parameters were simulated. Then, the simulation data was used to establish a mathematical model of separation efficiency, and structural optimization analysis was performed based on the mathematical model. Finally, the results show that the inner exhaust pipe diameter and the cone height have more influence on the efficiency of the cyclone separation structure. The interaction between the diameter and insertion depth of the inner exhaust pipe is also obvious. Among the four optimization variables, there is an optimum value for the inner exhaust pipe insertion depth, and the effect of the other three factors on the separation efficiency is monotonic. In the case of a total separation efficiency of 99.9% and after optimizing the combined model within a reasonable interval, 81.25% of the 1-μm particles can be removed by the cyclone separation part, and only 18.75% are removed by the filter cartridge.
Detection of Apple Lesions in Orchards Based on Deep Learning Methods of CycleGAN and YOLOV3-Dense
Authors: Tian Yunong , Yang Guodong , Wang Zhe , Li En , Liang Zize
Published: April 2019

Plant disease is one of the primary causes of crop yield reduction. With the development of computer vision and deep learning technology, autonomous detection of plant surface lesion images collected by optical sensors has become an important research direction for timely crop disease diagnosis. In this paper, an anthracnose lesion detection method based on deep learning is proposed. Firstly, for the problem of insufficient image data caused by the random occurrence of apple diseases, in addition to traditional image augmentation techniques, Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Network (CycleGAN) deep learning model is used in this paper to accomplish data augmentation. These methods effectively enrich the diversity of training data and provide a solid foundation for training the detection model. In this paper, on the basis of image data augmentation, densely connected neural network (DenseNet) is utilized to optimize feature layers of the YOLO-V3 model which have lower resolution. DenseNet greatly improves the utilization of features in the neural network and enhances the detection result of the YOLO-V3 model. It is verified in experiments that the improved model exceeds Faster R-CNN with VGG16 NET, the original YOLO-V3 model, and other three state-of-the-art networks in detection performance, and it can realize real-time detection. The proposed method can be well applied to the detection of anthracnose lesions on apple surfaces in orchards.
A Common Variant of ASAP1 Is Associated with Tuberculosis Susceptibility in the Han Chinese Population
Authors: Chen Cheng , Zhao Qi , Shao Yan , Li Yan , Song Honghuan , Li Guoli , Zhu Limei , Lu Wei , Xu Biao
Published: April 2019

Background. ASAP1 (also known as AMAP1 or DDEF1) encodes an Arf GTPase-activating protein (Arf GAP), a multifunctional scaffold protein that induces hydrolysis of GTP bound to the ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf) family GTP-binding proteins. Reduction of ASAP1 expression in vitro was related to suppression of cell migration and invasiveness. The genetic variant rs4733781 of the ASAP1 gene was revealed as a significant locus for tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility, but the results still need to be validated. Methods. Blood samples from a total of 1914 active TB and healthy controls (HC) were collected to evaluate rs4733781 and the risk of TB. Meanwhile, a total of 48 noninfected HC, latent TB-infected (LTBI) controls, and active TB were collected to assay ASAP1 expression difference among the three groups. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube was adopted to identify noninfected HC and LTBI. Results. The genetic variant of rs4733781 was found to be significantly associated with TB, and the A allele of rs4733781 (C>A) was 0.38 and 0.43 among TB cases and HC, respectively (P=0.0035). Meanwhile, the peripheral blood monocyte RNA fold changes for the ASAP1 gene among the 16 HC, 16 LTBI, and 16 active TB were 1.088±0.4919, 2.237±0.6505, and 10.12±10.98 (F=9.559, P=0.0003), respectively, and the expression of ASAP1 was increased by 2.06-fold (P<0.0001) and 9.30-fold (P<0.0052) for LTBI and active TB, when compared to the HC. Conclusions. Our data indicated that the A allele of rs4733781 for the ASAP1 gene was in association with a decreased risk of TB. But not only that, the overexpression of the ASAP1 gene among LTBI and TB was related to the progression of TB, which further implies that the expression of ASAP1 would be a potential biomarker for LTBI and TB diagnoses.
Sodium Sulfite Exacerbates Allograft Vasculopathy and Affects Tryptophan Breakdown in Murine Heterotopic Aortic Transplantation
Authors: Sucher Robert , Hautz Theresa , Mohr Elisabeth , Mackowitz Maximilian , Mellitzer Vanessa , Steger Christina , Cardini Benno , Resch Thomas , Margreiter Christian , Schneeberger Stefan , Brandacher Gerald , Fuchs Dietmar , Oberhuber Rupert , Gostner Johanna M.
Published: April 2019

Graft vasculopathy is the main feature of chronic rejection in organ transplantation, with oxidative stress being a major trigger. Inflammation-associated prooxidant processes may be controlled by antioxidants; however, interference with redox-regulated mechanisms is a complex endeavor. An essential feature of the cellular immune response is the acceleration of tryptophan (Trp) breakdown, leading to the formation of several bioactive catabolites. Long-term activation of this immunobiochemical pathway contributes to the establishment of a tolerogenic environment, thereby supporting allograft survival. Herein, the impact of the antioxidant sodium sulfite on the development of graft vasculopathy was assessed in murine aortic transplantation. Allogeneic (BALB/c to C57BL/6) heterotopic murine aortic transplantations were performed. Animals were left untreated or were treated with 10 μl of 0.1 M, of 0.01 M sodium sulfite, or of 0.1 M sodium sulfate, intraperitoneally once/day, until postoperative day (POD) 100. Grafts were assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and adhesion molecule gene expression. Serum concentrations of tryptophan and its catabolite kynurenine (Kyn) were measured. On day 100, graft vasculopathy was significantly increased upon treatment with 0.1 M sodium sulfite, compared to allogeneic untreated controls (p=0.004), which correlated with a significant increase ofα-smooth-muscle-actin, Vcam-1, and P-selectin. Serum Kyn concentrations increased in the allogeneic control group over time (p<0.05,POD≥50), while low-dose sodium sulfite treatment (0.01 M) treatment resulted in a decrease in Kyn levels over time (p<0.05,POD≥10), compared to the respective baselines (p<0.05). Longitudinal analysis of serum metabolite concentrations in the different treatment groups further identified an overall effect of sodium sulfite on Kyn concentrations. Antioxidative treatment may result in ambivalent consequences. Our data reveal that an excess of antioxidants like sodium sulfite can aggravate allograft vasculopathy, which further highlights the challenges associated with interventions that interfere with the complex interplay of redox-regulated inflammatory processes.
Ocular Manifestations of the NAA10-Related Syndrome
Authors: Gupta Angela S. , Saif Hind Al , Lent Jennifer M. , Couser Natario L.
Published: April 2019

The NAA10-related syndrome is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental condition that was first described in 2011. The disorder is caused by pathogenic variants in the NAA10 gene located on chromosome X at position Xq28. Clinical features typically include severe psychomotor developmental delay, cardiac disease, dysmorphic features, postnatal growth failure, and hypotonia, although there is significant variability in the severity of the phenotype among affected individuals. We describe a 5-year-old female with the syndrome; massively parallel exome sequencing and analysis revealed the c.247C>T (p.Arg83Cys) pathogenic variant that has been previously reported in ten affected individuals. Ocular manifestations of the NAA10-related syndrome are not uncommon, although they have not been well characterized in literature reports. From a systematic review of previously published cases to date, ocular abnormalities are present in more than half of patients with the syndrome. Common ocular findings reported include astigmatism, hyperopia, cortical vision impairment, microphthalmia/anophthalmia, and hypertelorism. Our patient presented with growth restriction, dysmorphic features, and hypotonia. Ocular manifestations identified in this child include downslanting palpebral fissures, myopic astigmatism, nystagmus, and exotropia. We speculate that the type and severity of ocular defects present in individuals with the NAA10-related syndrome are dependent on the specific NAA10 pathogenic variant involved.
Elevated Platelet Galectin-3 and Rho-Associated Protein Kinase Activity Are Associated with Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Shunt Dysfunction among Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Chen Po-Wei , Hsu Ling-Wei , Chang Hsien-Yuan , Huang Ting-Chun , Yu Jia-Rong , Liao Hsin-Yu , Lee Cheng-Han , Liu Ping-Yen
Published: April 2019

Introduction. Hyperglycemia is a major factor in influencing the patency rate of arteriovenous shunts, potentially associated with the RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathway. Besides, galectin-3 mediates thrombotic mechanisms in venous thrombosis and peripheral artery disease. We hypothesized that high ROCK activity and galectin-3 levels are associated with arteriovenous shunt dysfunction. Methods. We prospectively enrolled 38 patients diagnosed with arteriovenous shunt dysfunction. 29 patients received a complete follow-up and each provided two blood samples, which were collected at the first visit for occluded status of arteriovenous shunts and 1 month later for patent status. A Western blot assay for a myosin phosphatase target subunit (MYPT) was performed to examine Rho-kinase activity. A Western blot assay for platelet galectin-3 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for circulating galectin-3 were completed. Results. Higher platelet MYPT ratios and galectin-3 levels were identified at occluded arteriovenous shunts (MYPT ratio: 0.5 [0.3–1.4] vs. 0.4 [0.3–0.6], p = 0.01; galectin-3: 1.2 [0.4–1.6] vs. 0.7 [0.1–1.2], p = 0.0004). The plasma galectin-3 binding protein ELISA was also higher at occluded arteriovenous shunts (8.4 [6.0–9.7] μg/mL vs. 7.1 [4.5–9.1] μg/mL, p = 0.009). Biomarker ratios (occluded/patent status) trended high in patients with poorly controlled diabetes (MYPT ratio: 1.7 [1.0–3.0] vs. 1.1 [0.7–1.3], p = 0.06; galectin-3: 1.6 [1.3–3.4] vs. 1.1 [0.8–1.9], p = 0.05). Conclusion. High platelet ROCK activity and galectin-3 levels are associated with increased risk in arteriovenous shunt dysfunction, especially in patients with poorly controlled diabetes.
Features of Electro-Induced Periodical Structures in LiTaO3 Single Crystal and Their Interaction with Surface Acoustic Wave
Authors: Barsukou Siarhei D. , Kondoh Jun , Khakhomov Sergei A.
Published: April 2019

In this research, the features of electro-induced periodical structures in the volume of LiTaO3 thin plate were theoretically and experimentally investigated. For the theoretical and experimental investigations, the calculations based on the finite element method and measuring of the surface acoustic wave (SAW) interaction were implemented simultaneously. The observed difference of the electro-induced structures provides a new opportunity to control of the acoustic wave propagation in a ferroelectric substrate. The volume-existed periodical structures were induced as different electric potentials were applied to the surface arranged electrodes. The features of the induced structure were theoretically investigated based on a developed theoretical unit cell model for different induced structure configurations. The properties of the acoustic wave interaction with the periodical structure were studied on the basis of a theoretical full 3D model of an SAW device. A novel controllable SAW device was fabricated and studied experimentally. The experimental results show significant differences in magnitude and phase of both reflected and transmitted signals depending on the induced structure configuration.
Evaluation of the Antinociceptive Effect of Maropitant, a Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist, in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Corrêa Janaina M. X. , Soares Priscila C. L. R. , Niella Raquel V. , Costa Brenda A. , Ferreira Maxuel S. , Junior Alex C. Silva , Sena Aline S. , Sampaio Kátia M. O. R. , Silva Elisângela B. , Silva Fabiana L. , Lavor Mário S. L.
Published: April 2019

Maropitant is a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist that can be used for pain management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous infusion of two doses of maropitant on cardiorespiratory parameters and its postoperative analgesic effect in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Thirty cats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (10 cats each group): the control group (CG) received a continuous infusion of 10 ml/kg/h Ringer’s lactate; GM30 and GM100 first received an intravenous (IV) bolus of 1 mg/kg maropitant; GM30 then received continuous infusion of 30 μg/kg/h maropitant; and GM100 then received continuous infusion of 100 μg/kg/h maropitant. The maropitant was diluted into Ringer’s lactate and the GM30 and GM100 also received fluids intraoperatively. In all groups, premedication included intramuscular injections of morphine and acepromazine, followed by induction with propofol and maintenance with isoflurane. Temperature, heart rate (HR), Doppler blood pressure (DBP), respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and measuring the end-tidal carbon dioxide and isoflurane were monitored. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale and the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale in cats; morphine was used for analgesic rescue. During the surgical procedure, cats in GM100 demonstrated lower HR and DBP than those in CG. With regard to the evaluation of postoperative pain, GM100 required the least frequent morphine rescue and less rescue analgesia compared with CG. In conclusion, cats in GM100 maintained lower DBP and HR and required lower analgesic rescue during the postoperative period. The results suggested that animals receiving maropitant bolus (1 mg/kg) plus (100 μg/kg/h) experienced greater postoperative comfort, reflected by the lesser need for analgesic rescue. The use of maropitant in surgical procedures in cats contributes to postoperative comfort.
Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Prevent Aging-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction through a Novel Exosome/lncRNA MALAT1/NF-κB/TNF-α Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhu Bao , Zhang Lulu , Liang Chun , Liu Bin , Pan Xiangbin , Wang Yanli , Zhang Yuqing , Zhang Yu , Xie Wenping , Yan Bing , Liu Feng , Yip Hon-Kan , Yu Xi-yong , Li Yangxin
Published: April 2019

Aging is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and there is no effective therapeutic approach to alleviate this condition. NF-κB and TNF-α have been implicated in the activation of the aging process, but the signaling molecules responsible for the inactivation of NF-κB and TNF-α remain unknown. Exosomes have been reported to improve heart functions by releasing miRNA. Recent studies suggest that lncRNAs are more tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific compared to miRNA. However, the role of lncRNA in exosome-mediated cardiac repair has not been explored. In the present study, we focused on metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), which is an lncRNA associated with cell senescence. We discovered that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell- (UMSC-) derived exosomes prevent aging-induced cardiac dysfunction. Silencer RNA against lncRNA MALAT1 blocked the beneficial effects of exosomes. In summary, we discovered that UMSC-derived exosomes prevent aging-induced cardiac dysfunction by releasing novel lncRNA MALAT1, which in turn inhibits the NF-κB/TNF-α signaling pathway. These findings will lead to the development of therapies that delay aging and progression of age-related diseases.
Neutralization of BCL-2/XL Enhances the Cytotoxicity of T-DM1 In Vivo
Authors: Zoeller Jason J. , Vagodny Aleksandr , Taneja Krishan , Tan Benjamin Y. , O'Brien Neil , Slamon Dennis J. , Sampath Deepak , Leverson Joel D. , Bronson Roderick T. , Dillon Deborah A. , Brugge Joan S.
Published: April 2019

One of the most recent advances in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer is the development of the antibody–drug conjugate, T-DM1. T-DM1 has proven clinical benefits for patients with advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer who have progressed on prior HER2-targeted therapies. However, T-DM1 resistance ultimately occurs and represents a major obstacle in the effective treatment of this disease. Because anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins can affect the threshold for induction of apoptosis and thus limit the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic payload, we examined whether inhibition of BCL-2/XL would enhance the efficacy of T-DM1 in five HER2-expressing patient-derived breast cancer xenograft models. Inhibition of BCL-2/XL via navitoclax/ABT-263 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of T-DM1 in two of three models derived from advanced and treatment-exposed metastatic breast tumors. No additive effects of combined treatment were observed in the third metastatic tumor model, which was highly sensitive to T-DM1, as well as a primary treatment-exposed tumor, which was refractory to T-DM1. A fifth model, derived from a treatment naïve primary breast tumor, was sensitive to T-DM1 but markedly benefited from combination treatment. Notably, both PDXs that were highly responsive to the combination therapy expressed low HER2 protein levels and lacked ERBB2 amplification, suggesting that BCL-2/XL inhibition can enhance sensitivity of tumors with low HER2 expression. Toxicities associated with combined treatments were significantly ameliorated with intermittent ABT-263 dosing. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that T-DM1 cytotoxicity could be significantly enhanced via BCL-2/XL blockade and support clinical investigation of this combination beyond ERBB2-amplified and/or HER2-overexpressed tumors.
A Tumor-Peptide–Based Nanoparticle Vaccine Elicits Efficient Tumor Growth Control in Antitumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Heße Carolin , Kollenda Sebastian , Rotan Olga , Pastille Eva , Adamczyk Alexandra , Wenzek Christina , Hansen Wiebke , Epple Matthias , Buer Jan , Westendorf Astrid M. , Knuschke Torben
Published: April 2019

Recognition of immunoactive oligonucleotides by the immune system, such as Toll-like receptor ligand CpG, leads to increased antibody and T-cell responses. Systemic application often results in unwanted generalized nonantigen-specific activation of the immune system. Nanoparticles are ideal carriers for small and large molecules. Recently, we have demonstrated that calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles functionalized with CpG, and viral antigens are able to induce specific T-cell immunity that protects mice against viral infection and efficiently reactivates the exhausted CD8+ T-cell compartment during chronic retroviral infection. Therefore, CaP nanoparticles are promising vaccine vehicles for therapeutic applications. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential use of these nanoparticles in a murine xenograft colorectal cancer model. Therapeutic vaccination with CaP nanoparticles functionalized with CpG and tumor model antigens increased the frequencies of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the tumor in a type I interferon-dependent manner. This was accompanied with significantly repressed tumor growth in contrast to the systemic administration of soluble CpG and antigens. Combination therapy of CaP nanoparticles and immune checkpoint blocker against PD-L1 further enhanced the cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell response and eradicated the tumors. Strikingly, vaccination with CaP nanoparticles functionalized with CpG and a primary tumor cell lysate was also sufficient to control the tumor growth. In conclusion, our results represent a translational approach for the use of CaP nanoparticles as a potent cancer vaccine vehicle.