bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superior Stability of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A in Xuebijing Injection and the Associated Mechanism
Authors: Pu Weiling , Zhang Huijie , Wang Meng , Liu Yanan , Sun Lili , Ren Xiaoliang
Published: December 2017

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is the main bioactive ingredient of XBJ injection. At first, the stability of HSYA in solution and in a Xuebijing injection was investigated, then the mechanisms of the increased stability of HSYA in the XBJ injection were investigated to provide useful information on clinical safety. HSYA stability was investigated as a function of pH and temperature in aqueous solution and an XBJ injection, following the guidelines from the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. Products were identified by UPLC-MS/MS. HSYA reaction followed first-order kinetics under all conditions. The half-life of HSYA in XBJ was almost 40 times longer than in aqueous solution. The activation energies of HSYA reaction in aqueous solution and XBJ were calculated to be 78.53 and 92.90 kJ∙mol−1 by using Arrhenius equation. The results indicated that HSYA was more stable in XBJ than in aqueous solution. Two products were identified and the mechanism was intra-molecular nucleophilic substitution. The excellent stability of HSYA in XBJ injection partly due to the micelles formed in the injection. The study may provide clues for compatibility in TCM prescription and also provide useful information for further preparation technology research of HSYA and assessment of clinical safety of XBJ.
Steppogenin Isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Shows Antineuroinflammatory Effects via NF-κB and MAPK Pathways in LPS-Stimulated BV2 and Primary Rat Microglial Cells
Authors: Kim Dong-Cheol , Quang Tran , Oh Hyuncheol , Kim Youn-Chul
Published: December 2017

Excessive microglial stimulation has been recognized in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), HIV-associated dementia (HAD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke. When microglia are stimulated, they produce proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, including nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible NO synthase (iNOS), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) derived from cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These inflammatory reactions are related to the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Therefore, the modulation of NF-κB and MAPK is vital to prevent microglial activation and confer resistance against neuronal injury. In this study, steppogenin (1) isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata suppressed the neuroinflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Steppogenin (1) inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines in LPS-challenged BV2 and rat primary microglial cells. Moreover, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence revealed that the nuclear translocation of NF-κB was inhibited in LPS-induced BV2 and rat primary microglial cells. The LPS-stimulated activation of BV2 and rat primary microglial cells was inhibited by steppogenin (1) through the suppression of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK signaling. These results suggested that steppogenin (1) exerted antineuroinflammatory effects against acute neuroinflammation in BV2 and rat primary microglial cells by suppressing the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling and the production of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines.
Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in Raw and Denatured Aqueous Extracts from Sprouts and Wheatgrass of Einkorn and Emmer Obtained under Salinity
Authors: Falcinelli Beatrice , Benincasa Paolo , Calzuola Isabella , Gigliarelli Lilia , Lutts Stanley , Marsili Valeria
Published: December 2017

Total phenolic content (TPC), reducing power (RP), superoxide radical scavenging (RS), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) production inhibition were measured in raw and denatured aqueous extracts from sprouts and wheatgrass of einkorn and emmer obtained at increasing salinity. Grains were incubated and kept at 0, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl until either sprout or wheatgrass stage. Additionally, a recovery treatment was included, in which sprouts obtained at 100 mM NaCl were then transferred at 0 mM NaCl until wheatgrass stage. All parameters (TPC, RP, RS, and TBARS production inhibition) increased with sprouting and were highest in wheatgrass. Salinity increased all parameters, but the effect varied with NaCl concentration, genotype, developmental stage, and plant material processing (raw or denatured). Overall, given the delay and limitation of growth at high NaCl concentration, the best compromise appears to be the application of a moderate salinity (25 to 50 mM NaCl). In denatured extracts, TPC, RP, and RS slightly decreased, and TBARS was not affected, which means that antioxidant activity was mainly related to compounds other than enzymes and peptides, and thus it can be assumed to remain after digestion. Thus, supplementing the human diet with einkorn or emmer sprouts and wheatgrass can actually benefit health.
9-Vinylanthracene Based Fluorogens: Synthesis, Structure-Property Relationships and Applications
Authors: Liu Mengjie , Onchaiya Sawaros , Tan Lewis Yi Fong , Haghighatbin Mohammad A. , Luu Tracey , Owyong Tze Cin , Hushiarian Roozbeh , Hogan Conor F. , Smith Trevor A. , Hong Yuning
Published: December 2017

Fluorescent dyes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties exhibit intensified emission upon aggregation. They are promising candidates to study biomolecules and cellular changes in aqueous environments when aggregation formation occurs. Here, we report a group of 9-position functionalized anthracene derivatives that were conveniently synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction. Using fluorometric analyses, these dyes were confirmed to show AIE behavior upon forming aggregates at high concentrations, in viscous solvents, and when poorly solubilized. Their photophysical properties were then further correlated with their structural features, using density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Finally, we demonstrated their potential applications in monitoring pH changes, quantifying globular proteins, as well as cell imaging with confocal microscopy.
The UV Plasmonic Behavior of Distorted Rhodium Nanocubes
Authors: Gutiérrez Yael , Ortiz Dolores , Saiz José , González Francisco , Everitt Henry , Moreno Fernando
Published: December 2017

For applications of surface-enhanced spectroscopy and photocatalysis, the ultraviolet (UV) plasmonic behavior and charge distribution within rhodium nanocubes is explored by a detailed numerical analysis. The strongest plasmonic hot-spots and charge concentrations are located at the corners and edges of the nanocubes, exactly where they are the most spectroscopically and catalytically active. Because intense catalytic activity at corners and edges will reshape these nanoparticles, distortions of the cubical shape, including surface concavity, surface convexity, and rounded corners and edges, are also explored to quantify how significantly these distortions deteriorate their plasmonic and photocatalytic properties. The fact that the highest fields and highest carrier concentrations occur in the corners and edges of Rh nanocubes (NCs) confirms their tremendous potential for plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy and catalysis. It is shown that this opportunity is fortuitously enhanced by the fact that even higher field and charge concentrations reside at the interface between the metal nanoparticle and a dielectric or semiconductor support, precisely where the most chemically active sites are located.
Hydroxyapatite Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising Nanomaterial for Magnetic Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment
Authors: Mondal Sudip , Manivasagan Panchanathan , Bharathiraja Subramaniyan , Santha Moorthy Madhappan , Nguyen Van , Kim Hye , Nam Seung , Lee Kang , Oh Junghwan
Published: December 2017

Targeting cancer cells without injuring normal cells is the prime objective in treatment of cancer. In this present study, solvothermal and wet chemical precipitation techniques were employed to synthesize iron oxide (IO), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and hydroxyapatite coated iron oxide (IO-HAp) nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia mediated cancer therapy. The synthesized well dispersed spherical IO-HAp nanoparticles, magnetite, and apatite phases were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The non-toxic behavior of synthesized IO-HAp nanoparticles was confirmed by cytotoxicity assay (Trypan blue and MTT assay). The synthesized nanoparticles revealed a remarkable magnetic saturation of 83.2 emu/g for IO and 40.6 emu/g for IO-HAp nanoparticles in presence of 15,000 Oe (1.5 T) magnetic field at room temperature (300 K). The magnetic hyperthermia study that was performed with IO-HAp nanoparticles showed an excellent hyperthermia effect (SAR value 85 W/g) over MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. The in vitro hyperthermia temperature (~45 °C) was reached within 3 min, which shows a very high efficiency and kills nearly all of the experimental MG-63 osteosarcoma cells within 30 min exposure. These results could potentially open new perceptions for biomaterials that are aimed for anti-cancer therapies based on magnetic hyperthermia.
Nuts and Human Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Authors: De Souza Rávila , Schincaglia Raquel , Pimentel Gustavo , Mota João
Published: December 2017

There has been increasing interest in nuts and their outcome regarding human health. The consumption of nuts is frequently associated with reduction in risk factors for chronic diseases. Although nuts are high calorie foods, several studies have reported beneficial effects after nut consumption, due to fatty acid profiles, vegetable proteins, fibers, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and phytosterols with potential antioxidant action. However, the current findings about the benefits of nut consumption on human health have not yet been clearly discussed. This review highlights the effects of nut consumption on the context of human health.
Relationship between Vitamin Intake and Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Japanese Individuals: Differences with Gender and Body Mass Index
Authors: Nguyen Thao , Tsujiguchi Hiromasa , Kambayashi Yasuhiro , Hara Akinori , Miyagi Sakae , Yamada Yohei , Nakamura Haruki , Shimizu Yukari , Hori Daisuke , Suzuki Fumihiko , Hayashi Koichiro , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: December 2017

Only a few studies have focused on the relationship between vitamin intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese individuals. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between vitamin intake and depressive symptoms in 1634 elderly Japanese individuals (65 years and older). The consumption of fifteen vitamins including retinol, a retinol equivalent, beta-carotene equivalent, vitamin D, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin K, vitamin group B, vitamin C, and cryptoxanthine was analyzed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). The short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms. The prevalence of participants with depressive symptoms was 26.7%. The consumption of all vitamins, except for retinol and vitamin D, was lower among depressed than non-depressed participants. The consumption of vitamins was significantly less in female and overweight participants with depressive symptoms than in elderly participants without depressive symptoms. After adjustments for potential confounders, none of the fifteen vitamins were correlated with depressive symptoms in male or underweight participants. Associations between vitamin deficiencies and depressive symptoms were observed in female and overweight elderly participants. Our findings demonstrated a relationship between vitamin intake and depressive symptoms.
Elastic Shape Memory Hybrids Programmable at Around Body-Temperature for Comfort Fitting
Authors: Wang Tao Xi , Renata Chris , Chen Hong Mei , Huang Wei Min
Published: December 2017

A series of silicone based elastic shape memory hybrids are fabricated. Their shape memory performance, mechanical behaviors at room temperature with/without programming and during fitting at 37 °C are investigated. It is found that these materials have good shape memory effect and are always highly elastic. At 37 °C, there are 10 min or more for fitting. Thus, it is concluded that this type of material has great potential as an elastic shape memory material for comfort fitting.
Recent Advances in Fluorescence Lifetime Analytical Microsystems: Contact Optics and CMOS Time-Resolved Electronics
Authors: Wei Liping , Yan Wenrong , Ho Derek
Published: December 2017

Fluorescence spectroscopy has become a prominent research tool with wide applications in medical diagnostics and bio-imaging. However, the realization of combined high-performance, portable, and low-cost spectroscopic sensors still remains a challenge, which has limited the technique to the laboratories. A fluorescence lifetime measurement seeks to obtain the characteristic lifetime from the fluorescence decay profile. Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and time-gated techniques are two key variations of time-resolved measurements. However, commercial time-resolved analysis systems typically contain complex optics and discrete electronic components, which lead to bulkiness and a high cost. These two limitations can be significantly mitigated using contact sensing and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) implementation. Contact sensing simplifies the optics, whereas CMOS technology enables on-chip, arrayed detection and signal processing, significantly reducing size and power consumption. This paper examines recent advances in contact sensing and CMOS time-resolved circuits for the realization of fully integrated fluorescence lifetime measurement microsystems. The high level of performance from recently reported prototypes suggests that the CMOS-based contact sensing microsystems are emerging as sound technologies for application-specific, low-cost, and portable time-resolved diagnostic devices.
Construction and Potential Applications of Biosensors for Proteins in Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis
Authors: Liu Xuan , Jiang Hui
Published: December 2017

Biosensors for proteins have shown attractive advantages compared to traditional techniques in clinical laboratory diagnosis. In virtue of modern fabrication modes and detection techniques, various immunosensing platforms have been reported on basis of the specific recognition between antigen-antibody pairs. In addition to profit from the development of nanotechnology and molecular biology, diverse fabrication and signal amplification strategies have been designed for detection of protein antigens, which has led to great achievements in fast quantitative and simultaneous testing with extremely high sensitivity and specificity. Besides antigens, determination of antibodies also possesses great significance for clinical laboratory diagnosis. In this review, we will categorize recent immunosensors for proteins by different detection techniques. The basic conception of detection techniques, sensing mechanisms, and the relevant signal amplification strategies are introduced. Since antibodies and antigens have an equal position to each other in immunosensing, all biosensing strategies for antigens can be extended to antibodies under appropriate optimizations. Biosensors for antibodies are summarized, focusing on potential applications in clinical laboratory diagnosis, such as a series of biomarkers for infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, and an evaluation of vaccine immunity. The excellent performances of these biosensors provide a prospective space for future antibody-detection-based disease serodiagnosis.
Node Depth Adjustment Based Target Tracking in UWSNs Using Improved Harmony Search
Authors: Liu Meiqin , Zhang Duo , Zhang Senlin , Zhang Qunfei
Published: December 2017

Underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) can provide a promising solution to underwater target tracking. Due to the limited computation and bandwidth resources, only a small part of nodes are selected to track the target at each interval. How to improve tracking accuracy with a small number of nodes is a key problem. In recent years, a node depth adjustment system has been developed and applied to issues of network deployment and routing protocol. As far as we know, all existing tracking schemes keep underwater nodes static or moving with water flow, and node depth adjustment has not been utilized for underwater target tracking yet. This paper studies node depth adjustment method for target tracking in UWSNs. Firstly, since a Fisher Information Matrix (FIM) can quantify the estimation accuracy, its relation to node depth is derived as a metric. Secondly, we formulate the node depth adjustment as an optimization problem to determine moving depth of activated node, under the constraint of moving range, the value of FIM is used as objective function, which is aimed to be minimized over moving distance of nodes. Thirdly, to efficiently solve the optimization problem, an improved Harmony Search (HS) algorithm is proposed, in which the generating probability is modified to improve searching speed and accuracy. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify performance of our scheme.
Frequency-Locked Detector Threshold Setting Criteria Based on Mean-Time-To-Lose-Lock (MTLL) for GPS Receivers
Authors: Jin Tian , Yuan Heliang , Zhao Na , Qin Honglei , Sun Kewen , Ji Yuanfa
Published: December 2017

Frequency-locked detector (FLD) has been widely utilized in tracking loops of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to indicate their locking status. The relation between FLD and lock status has been seldom discussed. The traditional PLL experience is not suitable for FLL. In this paper, the threshold setting criteria for frequency-locked detector in the GPS receiver has been proposed by analyzing statistical characteristic of FLD output. The approximate probability distribution of frequency-locked detector is theoretically derived by using a statistical approach, which reveals the relationship between probabilities of frequency-locked detector and the carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N0) of the received GPS signal. The relationship among mean-time-to-lose-lock (MTLL), detection threshold and lock probability related to C/N0 can be further discovered by utilizing this probability. Therefore, a theoretical basis for threshold setting criteria in frequency locked loops for GPS receivers is provided based on mean-time-to-lose-lock analysis.
Detection of a Planktothrix agardhii Bloom in Portuguese Marine Coastal Waters
Authors: Churro Catarina , Azevedo Joana , Vasconcelos Vitor , Silva Alexandra
Published: December 2017

Cyanobacteria blooms are frequent in freshwaters and are responsible for water quality deterioration and human intoxication. Although, not a new phenomenon, concern exists on the increasing persistence, scale, and toxicity of these blooms. There is evidence, in recent years, of the transfer of these toxins from inland to marine waters through freshwater outflow. However, the true impact of these blooms in marine habitats has been overlooked. In the present work, we describe the detection of Planktothrix agardhii, which is a common microcystin producer, in the Portuguese marine coastal waters nearby a river outfall in an area used for shellfish harvesting and recreational activities. P. agardhii was first observed in November of 2016 in seawater samples that are in the scope of the national shellfish monitoring system. This occurrence was followed closely between November and December of 2016 by a weekly sampling of mussels and water from the sea pier and adjacent river mouth with salinity ranging from 35 to 3. High cell densities were found in the water from both sea pier and river outfall, reaching concentrations of 4,960,608 cells·L−1 and 6810.3 × 106 cells·L−1 respectively. Cultures were also established with success from the environment and microplate salinity growth assays showed that the isolates grew at salinity 10. HPLC-PDA analysis of total microcystin content in mussel tissue, water biomass, and P. agardhii cultures did not retrieve a positive result. In addition, microcystin related genes were not detected in the water nor cultures. So, the P. agardhii present in the environment was probably a non-toxic strain. This is, to our knowledge, the first report on a P. agardhii bloom reaching the sea and points to the relevance to also monitoring freshwater harmful phytoplankton and related toxins in seafood harvesting and recreational coastal areas, particularly under the influence of river plumes.
Urbanisation-Induced Land Cover Temperature Dynamics for Sustainable Future Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Authors: MacLachlan Andrew , Biggs Eloise , Roberts Gareth , Boruff Bryan
Published: December 2017

Urban land cover is one of the fastest global growing land cover types which permanently alters land surface properties and atmospheric interactions, often initiating an urban heat island effect. Urbanisation comprises a number of land cover changes within metropolitan regions. However, these complexities have been somewhat neglected in temperature analysis studies of the urban heat island effect, whereby over-simplification ignores the heterogeneity of urban surfaces and associated land surface temperature dynamics. Accurate spatial information pertaining to these land cover change—temperature relationships across space is essential for policy integration regarding future sustainable city planning to mitigate urban heat impacts. Through a multi-sensor approach, this research disentangles the complex spatial heterogeneous variations between changes in land cover (Landsat data) and land surface temperature (MODIS data), to understand the urban heat island effect dynamics in greater detail for appropriate policy integration. The application area is the rapidly expanding Perth Metropolitan Region (PMR) in Western Australia (WA). Results indicate that land cover change from forest to urban is associated with the greatest annual daytime and nighttime temperature change of 0.40 °C and 0.88 °C respectively. Conversely, change from grassland to urban minimises temperature change at 0.16 °C and 0.77 °C for annual daytime and nighttime temperature respectively. These findings are important to consider for proposed developments of the city as such detail is not currently considered in the urban growth plans for the PMR. The novel intra-urban research approach presented can be applied to other global metropolitan regions to facilitate future transition towards sustainable cities, whereby urban heat impacts can be better managed through optimised land use planning, moving cities towards alignment with the 2030 sustainable development goals and the City Resilience Framework (CRF).
Herpesvirus and Autophagy: “All Right, Everybody Be Cool, This Is a Robbery!”
Authors: Lussignol Marion , Esclatine Audrey
Published: December 2017

Autophagy is an essential vacuolar process of the cell, leading to lysosomal degradation and recycling of proteins and organelles, which is extremely important in maintaining homeostasis. Multiple roles have been now associated with autophagy, in particular a pro-survival role in nutrient starvation or in stressful environments, a role in life span extension, in development, or in innate and adaptive immunity. This cellular process can also take over microorganisms or viral proteins inside autophagosomes and degrade them directly in autolysosomes and is then called xenophagy and virophagy, respectively. Several Herpesviruses have developed strategies to escape this degradation, by expression of specific anti-autophagic proteins. However, we are increasingly discovering that Herpesviruses hijack autophagy, rather than just fight it. This beneficial effect is obvious since inhibition of autophagy will lead to decreased viral titers for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV), for example. Conversely, autophagy stimulation will improve viral multiplication. The autophagic machinery can be used in whole or in part, and can optimize viral propagation or persistence. Some viruses block maturation of autophagosomes to avoid the degradation step, then autophagosomal membranes are used to contribute to the envelopment and/or the egress of viral particles. On the other hand, VZV stimulates the whole process of autophagy to subvert it in order to use vesicles containing ATG (autophagy-related) proteins and resembling amphisomes for their transport in the cytoplasm. During latency, autophagy can also be activated by latent proteins encoded by different oncogenic Herpesviruses to promote cell survival and achieve long term viral persistence in vivo. Finally, reactivation of gammaherpesvirus Murid Herpesvirus 68 (MHV68) in mice appears to be positively modulated by autophagy, in order to control the level of inflammation. Therefore, Herpesviruses appear to behave more like thieves than fugitives.
Equine Vaccines: How, When and Why? Report of the Vaccinology Session, French Equine Veterinarians Association, 2016, Reims
Authors: Paillot Romain , Marcillaud Pitel Christel , D’Ablon Xavier , Pronost Stéphane
Published: December 2017

To date, vaccination is one of the most efficient methods of prevention against equine infectious diseases. The vaccinology session, which was organised during the annual meeting of the French Equine Veterinarians Association (AVEF) at Reims (France) in 2016, aimed to approach three subjects of importance for the equine industry. Vaccination against three major equine diseases were used as examples: equine influenza (equine influenza virus), rhinopneumonitis (equine herpes virus 1/4), and tetanus (Clostridium tetani neuro-toxin). (1) Emergency vaccination: while it has been very successful to reduce the impact of equine influenza epizooties and it is also recommended for tetanus in case of surgery and accident, the benefit of emergency vaccination against equine herpes virus 1/4 remains arguable; (2) Compatibility of equine vaccines from different brands: despite being a frequent concerns for equine veterinarians, little information is available about the compatibility of equine vaccines from different commercial origins. The consequence of mixing different equine vaccines targeting the same disease is believed to be limited but scientific evidences are sparse; and, (3) Laps vaccination and vaccine shortage: they could have serious consequences in terms of protection and their impact should be evaluated on a case by case basis, taking into account the risk of contact with the pathogen and the effect on herd immunity.
Knowledge Processing Using EKRL for Robotic Applications
Authors: Adjali Omar , Ramdane-Cherif Amar
Published: December 2017

This article describes a semantic framework that demonstrates an approach for modeling and reasoning based on environment knowledge representation language (EKRL) to enhance interaction between robots and their environment. Unlike EKRL, standard Binary approaches like OWL language fails to represent knowledge in an expressive way. The authors show in this work how to: model environment and interaction in an expressive way with first-order and second-order EKRL data-structures, and reason for decision-making thanks to inference capabilities based on a complex unification algorithm. This is with the understanding that robot environments are inherently subject to noise and partial observability, the authors extended EKRL framework with probabilistic reasoning based on Markov logic networks to manage uncertainty.
Regression-Based Automated Facial Image Quality Model
Authors: Zohra Fatema Tuz , Gavrilov Andrei D. , Zatarain Omar A. , Gavrilova Marina L.
Published: December 2017

Nowadays, biometric technologies became reliable and widespread means of unobtrusive user authentication in a variety of real-world applications. The performance of an automated face recognition system has a strong relationship with the quality of the biometric samples. The facial samples can be affected by various quality factors, such as uneven illumination, low or high contrast, excessive brightness, blurriness, etc. In this article, the authors propose a quality estimation method based on linear regression analysis to characterize the relationship between different quality factors and the performance of a face recognition system. The regression model can predict the overall quality of a facial sample which reflects the effects of various quality factors on that sample. The weights assigned to the different quality factors by the linear regression model reflect the impact of those quality factors on the performance of the recognition system. Therefore, the prediction scores generated from the model is a strong indicator of the overall quality of the facial images. The authors evaluated the quality estimation model on the Extended Yale Database B. They also performed a study to understand which quality factors affect the face recognition the most.
Classifying Behaviours in Videos with Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Abellan-Abenza Javier , Garcia-Garcia Alberto , Oprea Sergiu , Ivorra-Piqueres David , Garcia-Rodriguez Jose
Published: December 2017

This article describes how the human activity recognition in videos is a very attractive topic among researchers due to vast possible applications. This article considers the analysis of behaviors and activities in videos obtained with low-cost RGB cameras. To do this, a system is developed where a video is input, and produces as output the possible activities happening in the video. This information could be used in many applications such as video surveillance, disabled person assistance, as a home assistant, employee monitoring, etc. The developed system makes use of the successful techniques of Deep Learning. In particular, convolutional neural networks are used to detect features in the video images, meanwhile Recurrent Neural Networks are used to analyze these features and predict the possible activity in the video.
Clustering Based Sampling for Learning from Unbalanced Seismic Data Set
Authors: Rahmani Mohamed Elhadi , Amine Abdelmalek , Hamou Reda Mohamed
Published: December 2017

This article describes how some stratum contain a stress concentration zones, and while the stress increases and exceeds a high value or so called critical value, it destroys rocks. This causes the emission of seismic tremors of different energies. Seismology consists of the study of the effects of seismic waves, and predicting the seismic hazards to rocks and long wall coals. This is alongside the main problem occurred in this field, the unbalanced data that lacks cause when studying the seismic hazards. Learning from unbalanced data is considered as one of the most difficult issues to solve nowadays, this article presents an informed sampling method that is based on a clustering approach for the prediction of seismic hazards in Polish coal mines. The idea is based on the dividing of non-hazardous examples which represents more than 90% of the real-life cases into subsets of examples in order to balance the classes. This action facilitates the learning from the recorded data. For evaluation, the authors have evaluated the system based on the prediction of seismic hazards where positive results have been reviewed compared to the classification of examples without balancing the cases.
Seismic Reliability Evaluation of Structural Systems for Different Soil Conditions
Authors: Mercado Francisco Javier Villegas , Azizsoltani Hamoon , Gaxiola-Camacho J. Ramon , Haldar Achintya
Published: December 2017

This article describes how the seismic design of a structure considering soil conditions is a very difficult and complicated process. In order to minimize economic cost following an earthquake, the performance-based seismic design (PBSD) concept is proposed. This lets engineers design structures by considering a predefined amount of damage the stakeholders are willing to accept and the corresponding economic consequences. Three performance levels; Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP) are being considered at present. The major challenge in implementing PBSD is the estimation of the underlying risk. To fill this knowledge gap, a novel reliability approach is proposed by integrating first-order reliability method, response surface method, and advanced factorial concepts. PBSD is showcased with the help of a structure designed by experts satisfying recent design requirements. The results indicate that PBSD guidelines are more desirable than the older criteria, structures should be designed considering multiple earthquake time histories, and soil condition is an important design factor.
Incorporating Spatial Queries into Semantic Sensor Streams on the Internet of Things
Authors: Eom Sungkwang , Lee Kyong-Ho
Published: December 2017

In the Internet of Things (IoT) environment, the use of sensors and sensor readings is significant in research and industry. The number of sensors is increasing exponentially, adding a tremendous amount of data to the Web. Therefore, the efficient management of sensors and observation data is becoming important. Especially, the location and time of observations are expected to play a vital role in IoT. However, existing researches mainly focus on the temporal properties of data stream. It is necessary to consider the spatial features in addition to the temporal ones. In this article, the authors propose a spatiotemporal query language which integrates spatial and temporal features. Also, they propose an efficient method of building a spatiotemporal index and processing the proposed query language. To evaluate the proposed method, the authors conduct experiments through implementation. The experimental results show that the proposed method deals with spatiotemporal queries within a reasonable time.
Agility in Software Development and Project Value
Authors: Balijepally VenuGopal , DeHondt Gerald , Sugumaran Vijayan , Nerur Sridhar
Published: December 2017

Agile Development Methods, considered as an alternative to the traditional plan-based methods, have received much attention since their inception. These practices have evolved and developed over time, culminating in 2001 with the Agile Manifesto. Since that time, preferred methodologies, implementations, and best practices have continued to evolve with a focus on doing what works best for the individual company or project. However, the concept of agility in software development has remained quite nebulous, lacking in clarity particularly about its underlying dimensions. In this research the authors conceive agility in terms of four distinct dimensions. Drawing from the theoretical perspective of holographic organization, they develop a model explaining how each of these underlying dimensions of agility contributes to project value in software teams. The authors test the model using survey data collected from industry practitioners and discuss findings.
Пуассоново однородное пространство билинейных форм с действием Пуассона-Ли
Authors: Chekhov Leonid Olegovich , Mazzocco Marta
Published: December 2017

Рассматривается пространство $\mathscr A$ билинейных форм на $\mathbb C^N$, задаваемых матрицами $\mathbb A$, коэффициенты которых удовлетворяют квадратичным пуассоновым структурам типа уравнения отражения. В первой части работы дается краткое описание результатов предыдущих исследований этой структуры, а во второй части указанная структура продолжается на системы билинейных форм, динамика которых задается естественным действием $\mathbb A\mapsto B\mathbb AB^{\mathrm{T}}$ $\operatorname{GL}_N$-группы Пуассона-Ли на пространстве $\mathscr A$. Приводится классификация всех возможных квадратичных скобок на $(B,\mathbb A)\in \operatorname{GL}_N\times \mathscr A$, сохраняющих свойство пуассоновости действия, что позволяет задать на $\mathscr A$ структуру пуассонова однородного пространства. Помимо пуассоновой структуры произведения на $\operatorname{GL}_N\mathop{\times} \mathscr A$, имеют место две другие (взаимно дуальные) структуры, допускающие, в отличие от пуассоновой структуры произведения, редукции с помощью процедуры Дирака на пространство билинейных форм с определяющими матрицами блочно-верхнетреугольного вида. Рассматриваются дальнейшие обобщения этой конструкции на тройки $(B,C,\mathbb A)\in \operatorname{GL}_N\times \operatorname{GL}_N \mathop{\times} \mathscr A$ с пуассоновым действием вида $\mathbb A\mapsto B\mathbb AC^{\mathrm{T}}$, для которого показано, что пространство $\mathscr A$ при этом оснащается структурой пуассонова симметрического пространства. Исследуются обобщения на цепочки преобразований и на квантовые и квантовые аффинные алгебры, а также соотношения между конструкциями пуассоновых симметрических пространств и пуассонова группоида.
Библиография: 30 названий.
Алгебро-геометрические решения иерархии Дирака
Authors: Yang Xiao , Han Jiayan
Published: December 2017

Введено уравнение Ленарда, приведены два его специальных решения. Первое решение используется для вывода расширенной иерархии Дирака, второе решение применяется для построения производящей функции. Производящая функция дает сохраняющиеся интегралы гамильтоновой системы Дирака и определяет алгебраическую кривую. На основе теории алгебраических кривых доказано, что гамильтонова система Дирака является интегрируемой, и получены алгебро-геометрические решения иерархии Дирака.
О $p$-адической модели SOS на дереве Кэли
Authors: Khakimov Otabek Norbutaugli
Published: December 2017

Рассмотрена $p$-адическая модель SOS (Solid-on-Solid) на дереве Кэли со взаимодействием ближайших соседей с $m+1$ спинами и константой связи $J\in\mathbb Q_p$. Найдены условия, при которых в модели не происходит фазовый переход. Показано, что если $p$ делится на $m+1$, то при некоторых $J$ имеет место фазовый переход. Кроме того, для модели SOS с $m+1$ состояниями сформулирован критерий ограниченности $p$-адических мер Гиббса.
Симметрии и ложные сингулярности для простейших фуксовых уравнений
Authors: Slavyanov Sergei Yur'evich
Published: December 2017

Рассматриваются простейшие фуксовы уравнения второго порядка, особое внимание уделяется роли ложных сингулярностей. Показана связь с уравнением Пенлеве. Прослежена матричная формулировка проблемы.
О гамильтоновых операторах в дифференциальных алгебрах
Authors: Zharinov Viktor Viktorovich
Published: December 2017

Развивается предложенная ранее алгебраическая техника для гамильтонова подхода к эволюционным системам уравнений в частных производных, включая системы со связями, и предлагается определяющая система уравнений (пригодная для компьютерных вычислений), характеризующая гамильтоновы операторы данного вида. Эта техника демонстрируется на простом примере.
Голографический контроль информации и динамическое изменение топологии составных открытых квантовых систем
Authors: Aref'eva Irina Yaroslavna , Volovich Igor Vasil'evich , Inozemcev Oleg Valerievich
Published: December 2017

Рассматривается вопрос о том, как влияет составной характер системы на характерные времена установления равновесия. Изучается динамика составных открытых квантовых систем, сильно взаимодействующих с окружающей средой, после квантового возбуждения, сопровождающегося неравновесным нагревом. Используется голографическое описание эволюции энтропии зацепленности. Негладкий характер эволюции при голографическом зацеплении является общим свойством составных систем, которые демонстрируют динамическое изменение топологии в объемлющем пространстве и скачкообразное изменение скорости распространения энтропии зацепленности, причем количество скачков зависит от конфигурации системы и особенно от числа составных частей. Эволюция взаимной информации двух составных систем наследует эти скачки. Представлено подробное исследование взаимной информации для двух подсистем, одна из которых состоит из двух частей. Обнаружено, что существуют пять качественно разных типов поведения динамики взаимной информации, и указаны соответствующие им области параметров системы.
Study to evaluate Association of Tobacco Chewing and Smoking with Semen Parameters
Authors: Aggarwal Neeraj , Vohra Rishi R , Priyadarshi Shivam , Vyas Nachiket , Yadav Sher S , Tomar Vinay
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Many studies have shown deleterious effects of tobacco abuse in any form on semen quality. We studied the association of tobacco chewing, smoking, and their combination on semen characteristics.

Materials and methods

Our study was performed on 216 normal asymptomatic healthy males (49 controls, 54 smokers, 55 tobacco chewers, and 58 consuming both) in the age group of 24 to 35 years. The effect on semen parameters was analyzed.

Results

Consuming both forms of tobacco individually and in combination had statistically significant effect on sperm morphology, progressive motility, and semen concentration. Other parameters show nonstatistically significant decline compared with controls.

Conclusion

As smoking and chewing tobacco negatively affect quality of semen, strategies should be developed to direct attention of the general population toward its effect on fertility status of male.

How to cite this article

Vohra RR, Priyadarshi S, Aggarwal N, Vyas N, Yadav SS, Tomar V. Study to evaluate Association of Tobacco Chewing and Smoking with Semen Parameters. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2017;8(3):97-100.
First Case of Successful Implantation and Live Birth after Double Trophectoderm Biopsy before and after Vitrification on the Same Cohort of Blastocyst
Authors: Bhadarka Harsha K , Patel Nayana H , Patel Kruti B , Jadeja Yuvraj D , Patel Molina N , Patel Niket Hitesh
Published: December 2017

Introduction

To report the first case of live birth after double trophectoderm biopsy before and after vitrification on the same cohort of blastocyst in our knowledge.

Design

Case report.

Patient

A 36-year-old female with a history of 13 years of active married life for treatment of infertility.

Main outcome measure

Live birth after double trophectoderm biopsy.

Results

Double biopsy pre- and postvitrification and its positive outcome.

Conclusion

Preimplantation genetic screening and diagnosis (PGS/PGD), though an invasive procedure on the embryos, when done meticulously would not dampen the implantation potential of the embryo and second biopsy could be a feasible option to salvage embryos with inconclusive or suspected false-positive PGS/PGD reports.

How to cite this article

Bhadarka H, Patel NH, Jadeja YD, Patel KB, Patel NH, Patel MN. First Case of Successful Implantation and Live Birth after Double Trophectoderm Biopsy before and after Vitrification on the Same Cohort of Blastocyst. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2017;8(3):120-124.
Successful Live Births after Laparoscopic Management of Heterotypic Pregnancies in Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycles: A Tertiary Fertility Center Experience
Authors: Singh Pooja , Kalra Aradhana , Nadkarni Purnima K , Nadkarni Akshay K
Published: December 2017

Background

To review and analyze the incidence of heterotypic pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer and to report pregnancy outcome after successful management of heterotypic pregnancies.

Setting

Nadkarni's 21st Century Hospitals and Test Tube Baby Center, Surat, Gujarat, India.

Design

Retrospective study.

Materials and methods

Retrospective data were taken from hospital records from January 2013 to December 2015. A total of 2,771 patients underwentin vitrofertilization IVF/ICSI, out of which 1,455 patients were pregnant (52.5%). Out of the pregnant patients, the incidence of ectopic (EP) and heterotypic pregnancies was calculated. The etiological factors, management of heterotypic pregnancies, and their pregnancy outcome were reported.

Conclusion

Out of the 1,455 pregnant patients, there were 29 EPs (EPs: 1.99%) and 5 were heterotypic (0.34%). Laparoscopic intervention was done for all five of them and successful pregnancy outcome was reported in terms of live birth.

Clinical significance

Heterotypic pregnancy is rare and poses a diagnostic dilemma in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. Serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurement is not reliable and ultrasonography may not confirm due to the presence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or multiple cysts. Early diagnosis is ideal and good perinatal outcome can be achieved by prompt and excellent laparoscopic management of the heterotypic pregnancies.

How to cite this article

Kalra A, Nadkarni AK, Nadkarni PK, Singh P. Successful Live Births after Laparoscopic Management of Heterotypic Pregnancies in Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycles: A Tertiary Fertility Center Experience. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2017;8(3):125-127.
Sleep as an Occupational Need
Authors: Tester Nicole J. , Foss Joanne Jackson
Published: December 2017

In the same way the human body requires food, hydration, and oxygen, it also requires sleep. Even among healthy people, the amount and quality of sleep substantially influence health and quality of life because sleep helps regulate physiological functioning. Given the impact of sleep on participation, the American Occupational Therapy Association reclassified sleep from an activity of daily living to an occupational domain. Poor sleep is a frequent medical complaint, especially among populations with neurological impairment. Occupational therapy practitioners should consider routinely screening for factors affecting their clients’ sleep. By addressing such factors, as well as related routines and habits, practitioners can enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation, promote health and well-being, and increase engagement and life quality. Practitioners should acknowledge the importance of sleep in practice, and the study of sleep should be prioritized by researchers in the field to meet client needs and establish evidence for interventions.
Comparison of Two Tools to Assess Sensory Features in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Dugas Catherine , Simard Marie-Noëlle , Fombonne Eric , Couture Mélanie
Published: December 2017

OBJECTIVE. This article documents the convergent validity of the Sensory Profile (SP) and the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)–Home Form for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHOD. Parents of 34 children with ASD between ages 5 and 8 yr filled out both measures. Through correlations, χ2 tests, and levels of agreement between classifications, the results for the SP and the SPM–Home Form were compared.

RESULTS. The raw scores were correlated for some sensory domains (hearing, vision, touch, and proprioception) and for social functioning. The classifications showed a significant level of agreement for most scales (κs = .247–.589, p ≤ .05) and for the total scores (κ = .324, p ≤ .01).

CONCLUSION. This study provides further evidence of convergent validity between both tools. The SPM–Home Form identifies more children with ASD who present with sensory features for every domain measured by both tools.