bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Effect of Superficial Acupuncture in Treating Myofascial Pain of the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Chao Ching , Huang Tse Hung , Chiou Kuo Ching , Chang Zi Yu
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to compare the treatment efficacies of superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture on trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Forty people were recruited and randomly allocated to the traditional and superficial acupuncture groups. Each subject received two treatments per week in a four‐week period. Outcomes were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire scores (NPQ), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) assessments of trigger points. Data collected before the interventions were considered as baseline. Assessments were performed after the first treatment and at the end of the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Patients reported significant (p<0.05) and immediate improvements in VAS and PPT for both superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture after the first treatment and after two and four weeks. Significant improvements (p<0.05) in NPQ were attained after two weeks of treatments in both groups. Because superficial acupuncture is associated with less pain while producing immediate pain relief, we recommend it for treating myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle.
Preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio Are Not Clinically Useful in Predicting Prognosis in Early Stage Cervical Cancer
Authors: Nuchpramool Prachratana , Hanprasertpong Jitti
Published: December 2018

Background. An objective of this study was to determine the prognostic role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with cervical cancer (CC) stages IA2-IB1. Methods. The study included 484 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic node dissection. The associations of preoperative NLR and PLR with clinicopathologic characteristics and oncological outcomes were analyzed. The cut-off values of NLR (=1.8) and PLR (=119) were set as medians. Results. The clinicopathologic analysis showed that NLR was associated with age (p=0.010), tumor size (p=0.045), and adjuvant treatment (p=0.005), and PLR was associated with only adjuvant treatment (p=0.033). DFS and OS were not significantly different between patients with high and low NLR (p=0.670 and p=0.934) or high and low PLR (p=0.780 and p=0.306). The independent prognostic factors associated with OS were lymph node status and anemia, and with DFS were histology, deep stromal invasion, and lymph node status. Conclusions. NLR and PLR have no use as prognostic biomarker for DFS and OS in early-stage CC. However, NLR and PLR might be of use in determining the risk for adjuvant treatment.
The Use of Negative Acceleration as Accessory Force during Lifting
Authors: Trafimow Jordan , Aruin Alexander S.
Published: December 2018

Objectives. Injury associated with lifting, especially low back injury, is a big problem in industry that accounts for loss of work and high medical expenses. Studies of biomechanics of lifting provide a basis for optimization of lifting. The aim of the study was to further investigate the role of the upward force due to negative acceleration during a lift. Methods. Nine healthy subjects lifted an empty box and a box with additional load of 10, 20, and 25 lb. Kinematic data were recorded during the lifts and accelerations were calculated, and angular positions of the trunk and knee were obtained during the lifting when negative accelerations were used. Results. Negative acceleration assisted the quadriceps when the thighs were at approximately 90° and the hips when the trunk was rotating toward standing position. Negative acceleration was present during lifts of different loads. Conclusion. The outcome of the study suggests that enhancing the use of negative acceleration could be a strategy to improve the quality of lifting and minimize a probability of low back injury.
Toxicity Evaluation of a Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Marker, CoCl2-N-Acetylcysteine, in Rats
Authors: Wang Li , Gagea Mihai , Martirosyan Karen , Johansen Mary , Madden Timothy , Norberg Lisa , Culotta Kirk S. , Frank Steven J.
Published: December 2018

C4 (cobalt dichloride-N-acetylcysteine [1% CoCl2:2% NAC]) is a novel magnetic resonance imaging contrast marker that facilitates visualization of implanted radioactive seeds in cancer brachytherapy. We evaluated the toxicity of C4. Rats were assigned to control (0% CoCl2:NAC), low-dose (0.1% CoCl2:2% NAC), reference-dose (C4), and high-dose (10% CoCl2:2% NAC) groups. Agent was injected into the left quadriceps femoris muscle of the rats. Endpoints were organ and body weights, hematology, and serum chemistry and histopathologic changes of tissues at 48 hours and 28 and 63 days after dosing. Student’s t tests were used. No abnormalities in clinical signs, terminal body and organ weights, or hematologic and serum chemistry were noted, and no gross or histopathologic lesions of systemic tissue toxicity were found in any treatment group at any time point studied. At the site of injection, concentration-dependent acute responses were observed in all treatment groups at 48 hours after dosing and were recovered by 28 days. No myofiber degeneration or necrosis was observed at 28 or 63 days in any group. In conclusion, a single intramuscular dose of C4 produced no acute or chronic systemic toxicity or inflammation in rats, suggesting that C4 may be toxicologically safe for clinical use in cancer brachytherapy.
ASTEC–MAAP Comparison of a 2 Inch Cold Leg LOCA until RPV Failure
Authors: de la Rosa Blul J. C. , Brumm S. , Mascari F. , Lee S. J. , Carenini L.
Published: December 2018

A 2 inch, cold-leg loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) in a 900 MWe generic Western PWR was simulated using ASTEC 2.1.1 and MAAP 5.02. The progression of the accident predicted by the two codes up to the time of vessel failure is compared. It includes the primary system depressurization, accumulator discharge, core heat-up, hydrogen generation, core relocation to lower plenum, and lower head breach. The purpose of the code comparison exercise is to identify modelling differences between the two codes and the user choices affecting the results. The two codes predict similar primary system depressurization behaviour until the accumulation injection, confirming similar break flow and primary system thermal-hydraulic response calculations between the two codes. The choice of the accumulator gas expansion model, either isentropic or isothermal, affects the rate and total amount of coolant injected and thereby determines whether the core is quenched or overheated and attains a noncoolable geometry during reflooding. A sensitivity case was additionally simulated by each code to allow comparisons to be made with either accumulator gas expansion models. The two codes predict similar amount of in-vessel hydrogen generated and core quench status for a given accumulator gas expansion model. ASTEC predicts much larger initial core relocation to lower plenum leading to an earlier vessel failure time. MAAP predicts more gradual core relocation to lower plenum, prolonging the lower plenum debris bed heat-up and time to vessel failure. Beside the effect of the code user in conducting severe accident simulations, some discrepancies are found in the modelling approaches in each code. The biggest differences are found in the in-vessel melt progression and relocation into the lower plenum, which deserve further research to reduce the uncertainties.
GANs Based Density Distribution Privacy-Preservation on Mobility Data
Authors: Yin Dan , Yang Qing
Published: December 2018

With the development of mobile devices and GPS, plenty of Location-based Services (LBSs) have emerged in these years. LBSs can be applied in a variety of contexts, such as health, entertainment, and personal life. The location based data that contains significant personal information is released for analysing and mining. The privacy information of users can be attacked from the published data. In this paper, we investigate the problem of privacy-preservation of density distribution on mobility data. Different from adding noises into the original data for privacy protection, we devise the Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to train the generator and discriminator for generating the privacy-preserved data. We conduct extensive experiments on two real world mobile datasets. It is demonstrated that our method outperforms the differential privacy approach in both data utility and attack error.
The Complexity Analysis for Price Game Model of Risk‐Averse Supply Chain Considering Fairness Concern
Authors: Yi-min Huang , Qiu-xiang Li , Yu-hao Zhang
Published: December 2018

This paper, considering risk aversion and fair concern, establishes a dynamic price game model of a dual‐channel supply chain in which dual‐channel retailer sells products through traditional channel and online channel and the online retailer only sells products through online channel. The stability of the system and the influences of different parameter values on utilities are analyzed emphatically using game theory and nonlinear dynamic theory, such as 2D and 3D bifurcation diagram, parameter plot basin, chaos attractor, and sensitivity to initial value. The results find that the system is more likely to lose stability and fall into chaos with the customer demand fluctuating greatly. The system enters into chaos through flip bifurcation with the increase of the price adjustment speed; adjusting the risk‐aversion levels or the fairness concern levels of the two retailers can make the system be in a stable state or delay the occurrence of system instability. When the system is in chaos, the average utility of the online retailer will decrease and one of the dual‐channel retailers will increase. Using the state feedback control method, the system can return to a stable state from chaos by selecting appropriate control parameters. The research of this paper is of great significance to the decision‐makers’ price decision and supply chain operation management.
The Structure of Isomorphic Digraph from Powers Modulo pe
Authors: Zhao Jinxing , Deng Guixin , Liu Tiejun
Published: December 2018

For positive integers n and k, let G(n,k) denote the digraph whose set of vertices is {0,1,2,…,n-1} and there is a directed edge from a to b if ak≡b  (mod n). It is great value to consider conditions of G(p,k1)≃G(p,k2). In this paper, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for G(n,k1)≃G(n,k2) when n=pe.
Investigation of the Correlation between Postherpetic Itch and Neuropathic Pain over Time
Authors: Ishikawa Rie , Iseki Masako , Koga Rie , Inada Eiichi
Published: December 2018

Postherpetic itch (PHI), or herpes zoster itch, is an intractable and poorly understood disease. We targeted 94 herpes zoster patients to investigate their pain and itch intensities at three separate stages of the condition (acute, subacute, and chronic). We used painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ) scores to investigate the correlation between PHI and neuropathic pain. Seventy-six patients were able to complete follow-up surveys. The prevalence of PHI was 47/76 (62%), 28/76 (37%), and 34/76 (45%) at the acute, subacute, and chronic stages, respectively. PHI manifestation times and patterns varied. We investigated the relationship of PHI with neuropathic pain using the visual analog scale (VAS), which is a measure of pain intensity, and the PDQ, which is a questionnaire used to evaluate the elements of neuropathic pain. The VAS and PDQ scores did not differ significantly between PHI-positive and PHI-negative patients. A large neuropathic component was not found for herpes zoster itch, suggesting that neuropathic pain treatments may not able to adequately control the itch. Accordingly, we suggest that a more PHI-focused therapy is required to address this condition.
Pegasus: A Simulation Tool to Support Design of Progression Games
Authors: da Silva Marcelo Arêas R. , Xexéo Geraldo Bonorino
Published: December 2018

The process of designing a game involves many phases. We can summarize the work of the game designer as satisfactorily converting the idea in their mind to a digital game, which is not a simple task. Therefore, game designers should have a variety of tools to assist them. However, there are not that many specialized tools to support the game design process. Herein, we describe the experience of using Pegasus to design a part of a game. We propose an environment to simulate progression games based on game design patterns. Thus, we described the interaction of the game designer with Pegasus in such an environment, in order to support the process of creating, testing, and refining game elements before proceeding to the programming phase. Each configuration of the game elements corresponded to a simulation that could be performed multiple times, like in discrete event simulation. The results showed that Pegasus has the potential to support game design. Additionally, we presented some support components that were created to facilitate the use of the tool.
Sine‐Cosine Optimization‐Based Bijective Substitution‐Boxes Construction Using Enhanced Dynamics of Chaotic Map
Authors: Alzaidi Amer Awad , Ahmad Musheer , Ahmed Hussam S. , Solami Eesa Al
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes a novel method of constructing strong substitution‐boxes (S‐boxes) of order n (4 ≤ n ≤ 8) based on a recent optimization algorithm known as sine‐cosine algorithm (SCA). The paper also proposes a new 1D chaotic map, which owns enhanced dynamics compared to conventional chaotic map, for generating initial population of S‐boxes and facilitating the optimization mechanism of SCA. The proposed method applies the SCA with enhanced chaotic map to explore and exploit the search space for obtaining optimized S‐boxes on the basis of maximization of nonlinearity as fitness function. The S‐box construction involves three phases such as initialization of population, optimization, and adjustment. The simulation and performance analyses are done using standard measures of nonlinearity, strict avalanche criterion, bits independence criterion, differential uniformity, linear approximation probability, and autocorrelation function. The obtained experimental results are compared with some immediate optimization‐based and other S‐boxes to show the strength of proposed method for constructing bijective S‐boxes of salient cryptographic features.
Load Balancing Opportunistic Routing for Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Duan Wenxuan , Tang Xing , Zhou Junwei , Wang Jing , Zhou Guosheng
Published: December 2018

Recent research activities have shown that opportunistic routing can achieve considerable performance gains in Cognitive Radio Ad hoc Networks (CRAHNs). Most of these studies focused on designing appropriate metrics to select and prioritize the forwarding candidates. However, in multiple‐flow networks, a small number of nodes may always be with the higher priority order for different flows. Thus, some nodes may easily become overloaded with too much traffic and be severely congested. To overcome this problem, we propose a load balancing opportunistic routing (LBOR) scheme to maximize the total throughput of the whole network. We first formulate the problem of maximizing the total throughput of the network as a linear programming problem. Then, we develop heuristic load balancing candidate forwarder sorting and selection algorithms. Simulation results and comparisons demonstrate that our proposed LBOR scheme outperforms existing opportunistic routing protocols with nonload balancing methods in CRAHNs.
Structural Model of Students’ Interest and Self-Motivation to Learning Mathematics
Authors: Otoo Dominic , Iddrisu Wahab A. , Kessie Justice A. , Larbi Ernest
Published: December 2018

Students pick up the perception that mathematics is abstract and therefore, the learning of mathematics would yield to them no benefit. With their attitude towards mathematics modelled and their interest for mathematics impacted by this automatic generated perception, they may never again appreciate the beauty of mathematics. In this paper, the researchers used structural equation modeling (SEM), to investigate the variables that affect students’ interest, among the variables, students’ confidence and motivation. The foregoing variables were conceptualized to have a direct effect on students’ interest in mathematics, whilst mathematics anxiety and students’ knowledge of the usefulness of mathematics were conceptualized to have indirect effects on their interest in mathematics moderated by students’ confidence and motivation. The result showed that significantly students’ confidence directly affects students’ interest in the learning of mathematics and there is a direct relationship between confidence and motivation. A student’s knowledge about the usefulness of mathematics indirectly increases the student’s interest in mathematics.
Interaction between Nursing Staff and Residents with Aphasia in Long-Term Care: A Mixed Method Case Study
Authors: Saldert Charlotta , Bartonek-Åhman Hannah , Bloch Steven
Published: December 2018

Introduction.Thousands of individuals with communication disorders live in long-term residential care. Nursing staff are often their primary communication partners. The positive effects of social interaction and person-centred care have been recognised but there remains a paucity of research on the content and quality of communicative interaction between long-term care staff and residents with aphasia. This mixed method study investigates the discourse in interaction between nursing staff and residents with aphasia.Methods.A routine care activity was explored in 26 video-recordings featuring four enrolled nurses and four elderly persons with severe aphasia. Factors such as goals and roles in the activity were mapped out and a qualitative discourse analysis was performed. Based on the findings a coding scheme was constructed and the amount of time spent in different interactional foci of discourse was explored.Results.From the qualitative findings three broad, but distinct, foci in the nurse-initiated interaction could be distinguished:(1)a focus on getting the task done with minimum interaction;(2)topics related to the task, but not necessary to get the task done; and(3)personal topics related to themes beyond the caring task. The analysis of distribution of time revealed that although most of the interaction was focused on the main care activity, between 3 and 17% of the time was spent in either task-related or non task-related interaction. The distribution varied between dyads and could not be related to the residents’ severity of aphasia nor the activity as such.Conclusions.An endeavour to interact socially with the residents with aphasia influences the nurses’ foci of interaction. Contextual and personal factors of the residents and nurses need to be considered in clinical work as well as research on how communication may be supported to facilitate social interaction and person-centredness in long-term care of people with aphasia.
Vulnerability and Resilience in Patients with Chronic Pain in Occupational Healthcare: A Pilot Study with a Patient-Centered Approach
Authors: Peilot Birgitta , Andréll Paulin , Gottfries Johan , Sundler Annelie J. , Mannheimer Clas
Published: December 2018

Objectives. The aim of this pilot study was to describe vulnerability and resilience and possible subgroups in patients with chronic work related musculoskeletal pain in occupational healthcare. A second aim was to evaluate a patient-centered approach. Methods. This study was based on consecutive patients with chronic pain, seen by the same physician and sick-listed full or part time three months or longer. They were included during a period of three months. Patient reported outcome measures (PROM) were administered at baseline and at follow-up after 8 months. A patient-centered approach was applied where the patient’s whole situation was taken into account. Results. A dominance of an insecure dismissing attachment pattern and a subnormal sense of coherence (SOC) was reported both at baseline and at follow-up. The patients (n=38) reported significant improvement of pain severity (p=0.01), pain interference (p=0.001), life control (p=0.01), affective distress (p=0.02), and dysfunction (p=0.001) on the multidimensional pain inventory (MPI) and fewer patients were sick-listed full time at follow-up (13 patients versus 21). By means of multivariate data analyses this change in MPI was confirmed and was also correlated with a significant increase in health related quality of life (HRQoL). Moreover subgroups with different outcome at follow-up were identified according to attachment pattern and subgroups on MPI. Conclusion. A patient-centered approach may be of value for patients with chronic pain in occupational healthcare, improving pain and dysfunction. Patients with chronic pain are a heterogeneous group where outcome of treatment might be influenced by individual resilience and/or vulnerability.
Comparison of General Practice and Pharmaceutical Dispensing Data for Pharmacoepidemiological Research: Assessing the Risk of Urinary-Tract Infections with Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Diabetes
Authors: Gadzhanova Svetla , Roughead Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

Background. This study compared results of a study undertaken using Australia’s general practice electronic health record database, MedicineInsight, to assess risk of urinary-tract infections with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2) for diabetes, by undertaking the same study in a 10% random sample of data from the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data. Methods. Cohort studies were undertaken using deidentified data from the two national datasets. In each dataset, initiators of SGLT2 inhibitors were compared to initiators of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in the period Jan 2012 to Sep 2015. The risk of urinary-tract infections (UTI) was assessed in six-month follow-up after initiation of SGLT2 and DPP-4. Results. There were 1,977 people in the SGLT2 and 1,964 people in the DPP-4 cohort (MedicineInsight data) and 3,120 in the SGLT2 and 12,359 in the DPP-4 cohort (10% PBS data). In both datasets, the risk of UTI after initiation of SGLT2 was not significantly increased in comparison to DPP-4 cohort (MedicineInsight: 3.6% versus 4.9%; aHR=0.90, 95% CI 0.66-1.24; PBS: 3.0% versus 3.9%; aHR=0.90, 95% CI 0.72-1.13, 10%). Conclusions. Comparison of MedicineInsight data to PBS national pharmacy data demonstrated highly comparable results for the specific study question. MedicineInsight is a reliable source of data that can be used for pharmacoepidemiological studies.
Dynamic Behaviors and the Equivalent Realization of a Novel Fractional‐Order Memristor‐Based Chaotic Circuit
Authors: Yang Ningning , Xu Cheng , Wu Chaojun , Jia Rong , Liu Chongxin
Published: December 2018

This paper proposed a novel fractional‐order memristor‐based chaotic circuit. A memristive diode bridge cascaded with a fractional‐order RL filter constitutes the generalized fractional‐order memristor. The mathematical model of the proposed fractional‐order chaotic circuit is established by extending the nonlinear capacitor and inductor in the memristive chaotic circuit to the fractional order. Detailed theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are carried out on the dynamic behavior of the proposed circuit by investigating the stability of equilibrium points and the influence of circuit parameters on bifurcations. The results show that the order of the fractional‐order circuit has a great influence on the dynamical behavior of the system. The system may exhibit complicated nonlinear dynamic behavior such as bifurcation and chaos with the change of the order. The equivalent circuits of the fractional‐order inductor and capacitor are also given in the paper, and the parameters of the equivalent circuits are solved by an undetermined coefficient method. Circuit simulations of the equivalent fractional‐order memristive chaotic circuit are carried out in order to validate the correctness of numerical simulations and the practicability of using the integer‐order equivalent circuit to substitute the fractional‐order element.
An Enhanced PEGASIS Algorithm with Mobile Sink Support for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Jin , Gao Yu , Yin Xiang , Li Feng , Kim Hye-Jin
Published: December 2018

Energy efficiency has been a hot research topic for many years and many routing algorithms have been proposed to improve energy efficiency and to prolong lifetime for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Since nodes close to the sink usually need to consume more energy to forward data of its neighbours to sink, they will exhaust energy more quickly. These nodes are called hot spot nodes and we call this phenomenon hot spot problem. In this paper, an Enhanced Power Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information Systems (EPEGASIS) algorithm is proposed to alleviate the hot spots problem from four aspects. Firstly, optimal communication distance is determined to reduce the energy consumption during transmission. Then threshold value is set to protect the dying nodes and mobile sink technology is used to balance the energy consumption among nodes. Next, the node can adjust its communication range according to its distance to the sink node. Finally, extensive experiments have been performed to show that our proposed EPEGASIS performs better in terms of lifetime, energy consumption, and network latency.
Thyroid Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Single Center Study
Authors: Zhao Wei , Li Xinyu , Liu Xuhan , Lu Lu , Gao Zhengnan
Published: December 2018

Background. Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease and the prevalence is increasing rapidly. Thyroid disorders including subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome are frequently observed in diabetic patients. We conducted a study to explore thyroid function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods. We included 103 healthy volunteers, 100 T2DM patients without DN, and 139 with DN. Physical examinations including body mass index and blood pressure and laboratory measurements including renal function, thyroid function, and glycosylated hemoglobin were conducted. Results. Patients with DN had higher thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and lower free T3 (FT3) levels than those without DN (p < 0.01). The prevalence of SCH and low FT3 syndrome in patients with DN was 10.8% and 20.9%, respectively, higher than that of controls and patients without DN (p < 0.05). Through Pearson correlation or Spearman rank correlation analysis, in patients with DN, there were positive correlations in TSH with serum creatinine (r = 0.363, p = 0.013) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (r = 0.337, p = 0.004), and in FT3 with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with statistical significance (r = 0.560, p < 0.001). Conclusions. High level of TSH and low level of FT3 were observed in T2DM patients with DN. Routine monitoring of thyroid function in patients with DN is necessary, and management of thyroid dysfunction may be a potential therapeutic strategy of DN.
Identity-Based Proxy Signcryption Protocol with Universal Composability
Authors: Yu Huifang , Wang Zhicang , Li Jianmin , Gao Xinzhe
Published: December 2018

Proxy signcryption means that the proxy signcrypter obtains the delegate authorization from the original signcrypter and then signcrypts the specified message on behalf of the original signcrypter. In this paper, we construct an identity-based proxy signcryption protocol (IBPSP) based on the universally composable (UC) framework. In the random oracle model, we prove that this protocol has the semantic security under the gap bilinear Diffie-Hellman and computational Diffie-Hellman assumptions. At the same time, an ideal functionality of the identity-based proxy signcryption protocol is defined in the UC security framework, and we also prove the equivalence between the universally composable identity-based proxy signcryption protocol and its IND-CCA2 and UF-CMA security. Analysis shows this IBPSP has both low computation complexity and semantic security together with UC security.
A New Linear Motor Force Ripple Compensation Method Based on Inverse Model Iterative Learning and Robust Disturbance Observer
Authors: Fu Xuewei , Yang Xiaofeng , Chen Zhenyu
Published: December 2018

Permanent magnet linear motors (PMLMs) are gaining increasing interest in ultra‐precision and long stroke motion stage, such as reticle and wafer stage of scanner for semiconductor lithography. However, the performances of PMLM are greatly affected by inherent force ripple. A number of compensation methods have been studied to solve its influence to the system precision. However, aiming at some application, the system characteristics limit the design of controller. In this paper, a new compensation strategy based on the inverse model iterative learning control and robust disturbance observer is proposed to suppress the influence of force ripple. The proposed compensation method makes fully use of not only achievable high tracking accuracy of the inverse model iterative learning control but also the higher robustness and better iterative learning speed by using robust disturbance observer. Simulation and experiments verify effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
An Experimental Study of Photocatalytic Degradation of Congo Red Using Polymer Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Alshabanat Mashael Nasser , AL-Anazy Murefah M.
Published: December 2018

Eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite films were synthesized using biodegradable polymers of chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol as polymeric matrices and carbon black nanoparticles as the reinforcement. These films were applied to study their applicability to industrial wastewater purification as a photocatalyst for degradation of Congo red as a target pollutant and to study the effect of the polymeric matrix types of the films on their performance as a semiconductor photocatalyst. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the films. Visible light photocatalytic degradation of Congo red as a pollutant under various operational conditions of pH, dye concentration, contact time, and light intensity was performed. Photocatalytic results revealed that the polymeric substrate type does not play a major role in the photodegradation of the dye, and the best operational conditions were at a pH of 6 and a dye solution concentration of 8 mg/L.
ProMe: A Mentoring Platform for Older Adults Using Machine Learning Techniques for Supporting the “Live and Learn” Concept
Authors: Kostopoulos Giorgos , Neureiter Katja , Papatoiu Dragos , Tscheligi Manfred , Chrysoulas Christos
Published: December 2018

It is well known what an important role employment plays in our lives and how it influences our everyday life. With the help of employment, all of us as individuals manage to create our personal and social net that not only gives meaning and financial security but also heavily affects our social status, contributes to self-esteem, and plays a vital role on the way our social relationships at work and (not only) are formed. Being work active even after the retirement time has been found to have mostly useful and positive effects. Age groups that are in the after retirement age group (65 and more) and keep working can significantly improve their mental health since they feel that there are still things to offer to others. ProMe aims to provide a unique framework for the people being in this transitional phase of their life, from work to retirement, thus playing a vital role in supporting their mental health and well-being. ProMe provides a platform for the younger generation to benefit from the accumulated professional and formal knowledge and experience of the older. In this way, ProMe supports professional intergenerational cooperation and mentoring, bringing together older adults with younger generations.
Transforming of the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for TGF-βInhibition in the Context of Immune-Checkpoint Therapy
Authors: Löffek Stefanie
Published: December 2018

Significant breakthroughs have been achieved in the fields of oncogenic signaling inhibition and particularly immune-checkpoint blockade has triggered substantial enthusiasm during the last decade. Antibody-mediated blockade of negative immune-checkpoint molecules (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4) has been shown to achieve profound responses in several of solid cancers. Unfortunately, these responses only occur in a subset of patients or, after initial therapy response, these tumors eventually relapse. Thus, elucidating the determinants of intrinsic or therapy-induced resistance is the key to improve outcomes and developing new treatment strategies. Several cytokines and growth factors are involved in the tight regulation of either antitumor immunity or immunosuppressive tumor-promoting inflammation within the tumor microenvironment (TME), of which transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is of particular importance. This review will therefore summarize the recent progress that has been made in the understanding of how TGF-βblockade may have the capacity to enhance efficacy of immune-checkpoint therapy which presents a rational strategy to sustain the antitumor inflammatory response to improve response rates in tumor patients. Finally, I will conclude with a comprehensive summary of clinical trials in which TGF-βblockade revealed therapeutic benefit for patients by counteracting tumor relapses.
Neuroprotection by Paeoniflorin against Nuclear Factor Kappa B-Induced Neuroinflammation on Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Wang Bin , Dai Wangying , Shi Lijun , Teng Honglin , Li Xigong , Wang Jing , Geng Wujun
Published: December 2018

Background. Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most common and devastating causes of sensory or motor dysfunction. Nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)-mediated neuroinflammatory responses, in addition to nitric oxide (NO), are key regulatory pathways in SCI. Paeoniflorin (PF), a major active component extracted from Paeonia roots, has been suggested to exert neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system. However, whether PF could improve the motor function after SCI in vivo is still unclear. Method. Immunohistochemical analysis, western blot, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and histopathological and behavioral evaluation were used to explore the effects of paeoniflorin after SCI for 14 days. Results. In this study, PF treatment significantly inhibited NF-κB activation and downregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), and Nogo-A. Comparing behavioral and histological changes in SCI and PF treatment groups, we found that PF treatment improved motor function recovery, attenuated the histopathological damage, and increased neuronal survival in the SCI model. PF treatment also reduced expression levels of Bax and c-caspase-3 and increased the expression level of Bcl-2 and cell viabilities. Upregulation of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β after injury was also prevented by PF. Conclusion. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of PF are related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. And PF may be a therapeutic strategy in spinal cord injury.
Validation of the COTENP Code: A Steady-State Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis Code for Nuclear Reactors with Plate Type Fuel Assemblies
Authors: Castellanos-Gonzalez Duvan A. , Moreira João Manoel Losada , Maiorino José Rubens , Carajilescov Pedro
Published: December 2018

This article presents the validation of the Code for Thermal-hydraulic Evaluation of Nuclear Reactors with Plate Type Fuels (COTENP), a subchannel code which performs steady-state thermal-hydraulic analysis of nuclear reactors with plate type fuel assemblies operating with the coolant at low pressure levels. The code is suitable for design analysis of research, test, and multipurpose reactors. To solve the conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy, we adopt the subchannel and control volume methods based on fuel assembly geometric data and thermal-hydraulic conditions. We consider the chain or cascade method in two steps to facilitate the analysis of whole core. In the first step, we divide the core into channels with dimensions equivalent to that of the fuel assembly and identify the assembly with largest enthalpy rise as the hot assembly. In the second step, we divide the hot fuel assembly into subchannels with size equivalent to one actual coolant channel and similarly identify the hot subchannel. The code utilizes the homogenous equilibrium model for two-phase flow treatment and the balanced drop pressure approach for the flow rate determination. The code results include detailed information such as core pressure drop, mass flow rate distribution, coolant, cladding and centerline fuel temperatures, coolant quality, local heat flux, and results regarding onset of nucleate boiling and departure of nucleate boiling. To validate the COTENP code, we considered experimental data from the Brazilian IEA-R1 research reactor and calculated data from the Chinese CARR multipurpose reactor. The mean relative discrepancies for the coolant distribution were below 5%, for the coolant velocity were 1.5%, and for the pressure drop were below 10.7%. The latter discrepancy can be partially justified due to lack of information to adequately model the IEA-R1 experiment and CARR reactor. The results show that the COTENP code is sufficiently accurate to perform steady-state thermal-hydraulic design analyses for reactors with plate type fuel assemblies.
A Serum-Induced Transcriptome and Serum Cytokine Signature Obtained at Diagnosis Correlates with the Development of Early Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Metastasis
Authors: Tsai Susan , McOlash Laura , Jia Shuang , Zhang Jian , Simpson Pippa , Kaldunski Mary L. , Aldakkak Mohammed , Grewal Jenny , Palen Katie , Dwinell Michael B. , Johnson Bryon D. , Mackinnon Alexander , Hessner Martin J. , Gershan Jill A.
Published: December 2018

Background:

Despite the accessibility of blood, identification of systemic biomarkers associated with cancer progression has been especially challenging. The aim of this study was to determine a difference in baseline serum immune signatures in patients that experienced early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis compared with patients that did not. We hypothesized that immune mediators would differ in the baseline serum of these patient cohorts. To test this hypothesis, novel approaches of systemic immune analysis were performed.

Methods:

A serum-induced transcriptional assay was used to identify transcriptome signatures. To enable an understanding of the transcriptome data in a global sense, a transcriptome index was calculated for each patient taking into consideration the relationship of up- and downregulated transcripts. For each patient, serum cytokine concentrations were also analyzed globally as a cytokine index (CI).

Results:

A transcriptome signature of innate type I IFN inflammation was identified in patients that experienced early metastatic progression. Patients without early metastatic progression had a baseline transcriptome signature of TGFβ/IL10–regulated acute inflammation. The transcriptome index was greater in patients with early metastasis. There was a significant difference in the CI in patients with and without early metastatic progression.

Conclusions:

The association of serum-induced transcriptional signatures with PDAC metastasis is a novel finding. Global assessment of serum cytokine concentrations as a CI is a novel approach to assess systemic cancer immunity.

Impact:

These systemic indices can be assessed in combination with tumor markers to further define subsets of PDAC that will provide insight into effective treatment, progression, and outcome.
Combined PPARγ Activation and XIAP Inhibition as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors
Authors: Leung Dilys T.H. , Nguyen Trang , Oliver Edwina May , Matti Juliana , Alexiadis Maria , Silke John , Jobling Thomas W. , Fuller Peter J. , Chu Simon
Published: December 2018

Ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCT) are characterized by indolent growth and late relapse. No therapeutic modalities aside from surgery have proven effective. We previously reported overexpression of the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), and constitutive activity of the NFκB and AP1 signaling pathways in GCT. PPARγ presents as a potential therapeutic target as it impedes proliferation and promotes terminal differentiation of granulosa cells. However, resistance to the actions of PPARγ is caused by NFκB transrepression in GCT-derived cell lines, KGN and COV434. We showed that abrogation of NFκB signaling in GCT cells enables PPARγ agonists to initiate apoptosis. In addition, we observed overexpression of an NFκB–induced gene, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), in GCT and GCT-derived cells. XIAP is an attractive therapeutic target due to its role in inhibiting the apoptotic pathway. We investigated the antitumor effects of combined XIAP inhibition using Smac-mimetics and PPARγ activation using thiazolidinediones (TZD) in the GCT-derived cells. Transactivation assays revealed that NFκB transrepression of PPARγ can be relieved by NFκB or XIAP inhibition. Combined Smac-mimetic and TZD significantly induced apoptosis, reduced cell viability and proliferation in KGN cells in monolayer and 3D spheroid culture, and in GCT explant models. The Smac-mimetic and TZD cotreatment also delayed cell invasion, upregulated proapoptotic genes, and compromised cell metabolism in KGN cells. This study provides evidence that PPARγ and XIAP cotreatment has antineoplastic effects in GCT. As therapeutics that target these proteins are already in clinical or preclinical use, expedient translation to the clinic is possible.
Alterations of Renal Epithelial Glucose and Uric Acid Transporters in Fructose Induced Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Ng Hwee-Yeong , Lee Yueh-Ting , Kuo Wei-Hung , Huang Pei-Chen , Lee Wei-Chia , Lee Chien-Te
Published: December 2018

Background/Aims: Hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia are two major disorders of Metabolic syndrome. Kidney plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of uric acid and glucose. The aim of the study was to examine the changes of renal glucose and uric acid transporters in animals with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fructose diet (60%) for 3 months (FR-3) and 5 months (FR-5). At the end study, serum and urine biochemical data were compared. Gene expression and protein abundance of renal GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT9, SGLT1, SGLT2, UAT and URAT1 was investigated by using RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Results: Metabolic syndrome was induced by high-fructose diet. Systolic blood pressure and proteinuria was significantly increased in FR-5 animals. In kidney tissue, gene expression of GLUT2 and SGLT2 increased significantly in a time dependent manner. GLUT9, SGLT1 and UAT were also significantly upregulated in FR-5. Immunohistochemical study showed a significant increase of SGLT1 in both FR-3 (413.5 ± 88.3% of control, p< 0.001) and FR-5 (677.6 ± 26.5% of control, p< 0.001). Also, SGLT2 protein was increased in both FR-3 (643.1 ± 41.3% of control, p< 0.001) and FR-5 (563.3 ± 21.7% of control, p< 0.001). Fructose rich food also induced increase of UAT by nearly 5-fold in both FR-3 and FR-5 (both p< 0.05) and more than 3-fold of GLUT-9 in FR-3 and FR-5 (both p< 0.05). Conclusion: Long term high fructose diet induced metabolic syndrome with increased blood pressure and proteinuria in rats. Metabolic syndrome was associated with dual increase in renal glucose and uric acid transporters, including SGLT1, SGLT2, GLUT2, GLUT9 and UAT.
The Transient Receptor Potential Channel, Vanilloid 5, Induces Chondrocyte Apoptosis via Ca2+ CaMKII–Dependent MAPK and Akt/ mTOR Pathways in a Rat Osteoarthritis Model
Authors: Wei Yingliang , Jin Zhaofeng , Zhang He , Piao Shang , Lu Jinghan , Bai Lunhao
Published: December 2018

Background/Aims: Chondrocyte apoptosis is a central pathological feature of cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA). Accumulating evidence suggests that calcium ions (Ca2+) are an important regulator of apoptosis. Previously, we reported that the transient receptor potential channel vanilloid (TRPV5) is upregulated in monoiodoacetic acid (MIA)-induced OA articular cartilage. Methods: The protein levels of TRPV5, phosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (p-CaMKII), and total CaMKII were detected in vivo using western blotting techniques. Primary chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. Then, p-CAMKII was immunolocalized by immunofluorescence in chondrocytes. Fluo-4AM staining was used to assess intracellular Ca2+. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate / propidium iodide flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine chondrocyte apoptosis. Western blotting techniques were used to measure the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Results: We found that ruthenium red (aTRPV5inhibitor)or(1-[N,O-bis-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl]-4-phenylpiperaze (KN-62) (an inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylation) can relieve or even reverse OA in vivo. We found that TRPV5 has a specific role in mediating extracellular Ca2+ influx leading to chondrocyte apoptosis in vitro. The apoptotic effect in chondrocytes was inhibited by KN-62. We found that activated p-CaMKII could elicit the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38, three important regulators of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Moreover, we also showed that activated p-CaMKII could elicit the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and two important downstream regulators of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR): 4E-binding protein, and S61 kinase. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that upregulated TRPV5 may be an important initiating factor that activates CaMKII phosphorylation via the mediation of Ca2+ influx. In turn, activated p-CaMKII plays a critical role in chondrocyte apoptosis via MAPK and Akt/mTOR pathways.
Relationship of Inter‐Individual Blood Pressure Variability and the Risk for Recurrent Stroke
Authors: Kim Bum Joon , Kwon Sun U. , Wajsbrot Dalia , Koo Jaseong , Park Jong Moo , Jeffers Barrett W.
Published: December 2018

Background

Evidence suggests that patients with higher blood pressure variability (
BPV
) have a higher risk for stroke, but any link between
BPV
and stroke recurrence is unknown among those who had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (
TIA
).

Methods and Results

Data for patients with a history of stroke or
TIA
at enrollment were extracted from the
ASCOT
(Anglo Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial) and the
ALLHAT
(Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial).
BPV
was defined as the within‐subject standard deviation or coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure across visits from 12 weeks poststroke or
TIA
onward.
BPV
was significantly higher in patients with a history of stroke or
TIA
than those without. BPV was a predictor of recurrent stroke in the pooled analysis. In the
ASCOT
study, 252 patients (12.3%) had a recurrent stroke among 2046 with a history of stroke. Incidence of recurrent stroke was significantly higher in the highest BPV quartile (17.8%) compared with the lowest quartile (10.5%); by treatment arm, this reached significance for the amlodipine‐arm only (high‐
BPV
: 18.7% versus low‐
BPV
: 12.9%;
P
=0.029). Of the 2173 patients from the
ALLHAT
with a history of stroke or
TIA
, patients with the highest quartile of
BPV
had a higher incidence of recurrent stroke (9.6%) compared with the lowest quartile BPV (5.5%); by treatment arm, this reached significance for the chlorthalidone‐arm only (high‐
BPV
: 12.1% versus low‐
BPV
: 5.4%;
P
=0.007).

Conclusions

Visit‐to‐visit
BPV
is a predictor of recurrent stroke in patients with a history of stroke or
TIA
on antihypertensive treatment. Considering
BPV
following a stroke may be important to reduce the risk for a recurrent stroke.