bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Note: Contrast free angiography of the pulmonary vasculature in live mice using a laboratory x‐ray source
Authors: Samarage Chaminda R. , Carnibella Richard , Preissner Melissa , Jones Heather D. , Pearson James T. , Fouras Andreas , Dubsky Stephen
Published: October 2016

Purpose

In vivo imaging of the pulmonary vasculature in small animals is difficult yet highly desirable in order to allow study of the effects of a host of dynamic biological processes such as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Here the authors present an approach for the quantification of changes in the vasculature.

Methods

A contrast free angiography technique is validated in silico through the use of computer‐generated images and in vivo through microcomputed tomography (μCT) of live mice conducted using a laboratory‐based x‐ray source. Subsequent image processing on μCT data allowed for the quantification of the caliber of pulmonary vasculature without the need for external contrast agents. These measures were validated by comparing with quantitative contrast microangiography in the same mice.

Results

Quantification of arterial diameters from the method proposed in this study is validated against laboratory‐based x‐ray contrast microangiography. The authors find that there is a high degree of correlation (R = 0.91) between measures from microangiography and their contrast free method.

Conclusions

A technique for quantification of murine pulmonary vasculature without the need for contrast is presented. As such, this technique could be applied for longitudinal studies of animals to study changes to vasculature without the risk of premature death in sensitive mouse models of disease. This approach may also be of value in the clinical setting.
Time‐resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories for dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in head and neck cancer: Are pharmacokinetic parameters affected?
Authors: Panek Rafal , Schmidt Maria A. , Borri Marco , Koh Dow‐Mu , Riddell Angela , Welsh Liam , Dunlop Alex , Powell Ceri , Bhide Shreerang A. , Nutting Christopher M. , Harrington Kevin J. , Newbold Kate L. , Leach Martin O.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

To investigate the effects of different time‐resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories (TWIST) k‐space undersampling schemes on calculated pharmacokinetic dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) vascular parameters.

Methods

A digital perfusion phantom was employed to simulate effects of TWIST on characteristics of signal changes in DCE. Furthermore, DCE‐MRI was acquired without undersampling in a group of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and used to simulate a range of TWIST schemes. Errors were calculated as differences between reference and TWIST‐simulated DCE parameters. Parametrical error maps were used to display the averaged results from all tumors.

Results

For a relatively wide range of undersampling schemes, errors in pharmacokinetic parameters due to TWIST were under 10% for the volume transfer constant, Ktrans, and total extracellular extravascular space volume, Ve. TWIST induced errors in the total blood plasma volume, Vp, were the largest observed, and these were inversely dependent on the area of the fully sampled k‐space. The magnitudes of errors were not correlated with Ktrans, Vp and weakly correlated with Ve.

Conclusions

The authors demonstrated methods to validate and optimize k‐space view‐sharing techniques for pharmacokinetic DCE studies using a range of clinically relevant spatial and temporal patient derived data. The authors found a range of undersampling patterns for which the TWIST sequence can be reliably used in pharmacokinetic DCE‐MRI. The parameter maps created in the study can help to make a decision between temporal and spatial resolution demands and the quality of enhancement curve characterization.
Cemento-ossifying fibroma of mandible mimicking complex composite odontome
Authors: Dewan Hitesh Sudarshan , Dewan Sudarshan Kumar , Bahl Sumit , Tushar Parekh Parth
Published: October 2016

Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) is a fibro-osseous lesion or non-odontogenic tumour that affects craniofacial bones. These lesions are included in the spectrum of fibro-osseous lesions arising from periodontal ligament cells, which can deposit combination of cementum and bone surrounded by fibrous tissue. It clinically, macroscopically and radiologically resembles complex composite odontome and can be differentiated only on the basis of histopathology. They usually occur solitarily as a painless and expansile spherical or ovoid jawbone mass that may displace the roots of adjacent teeth. They predominantly occur in females in third and fourth decades of life. We present a case report of a 20-year-old man, with a mildly painful swelling in the mandible which was successfully treated with enucleation and diagnosed as COF. Its resemblance to complex composite odontome and unique surgical approach are highlighted in this paper.
What factors predict length of stay in a neonatal unit: a systematic review
Authors: Seaton Sarah E , Barker Lisa , Jenkins David , Draper Elizabeth S , Abrams Keith R , Manktelow Bradley N
Published: October 2016

Objective

In the UK, 1 in 10 babies require specialist neonatal care. This care can last from hours to months depending on the need of the baby. The increasing survival of very preterm babies has increased neonatal care resource use. Evidence from multiple studies is crucial to identify factors which may be important for predicting length of stay (LOS). The ability to predict LOS is vital for resource planning, decision-making and parent counselling. The objective of this review was to identify which factors are important to consider when predicting LOS in the neonatal unit.

Design

A systematic review was undertaken which searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus for papers from 1994 to 2016 (May) for research investigating prediction of neonatal LOS. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Quality of each study was discussed, but not used as a reason for exclusion from the review.

Main outcome measure

Prediction of LOS in the neonatal unit.

Results

9 studies were identified which investigated the prediction of neonatal LOS indicating a lack of evidence in the area. Inherent factors, particularly birth weight, sex and gestational age allow for a simple and objective prediction of LOS, which can be calculated on the first day of life. However, other early occurring factors may well also be important and estimates may need revising throughout the baby's stay in hospital.

Conclusions

Predicting LOS is vital to aid the commissioning of services and to help clinicians in their counselling of parents. The lack of evidence in this area indicates a need for larger studies to investigate methods of accurately predicting LOS.
Short-term and medium-term survival of critically ill patients with solid tumours admitted to the intensive care unit: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Fisher Richard , Dangoisse Carole , Crichton Siobhan , Whiteley Craig , Camporota Luigi , Beale Richard , Ostermann Marlies
Published: October 2016

Objectives

Patients with cancer frequently require unplanned admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objectives were to assess hospital and 180-day mortality in patients with a non-haematological malignancy and unplanned ICU admission and to identify which factors present on admission were the best predictors of mortality.

Design

Retrospective review of all patients with a diagnosis of solid tumours following unplanned admission to the ICU between 1 August 2008 and 31 July 2012.

Setting

Single centre tertiary care hospital in London (UK).

Participants

300 adult patients with non-haematological solid tumours requiring unplanned admission to the ICU.

Interventions

None.

Primary and secondary outcomes

Hospital and 180-day survival.

Results

300 patients were admitted to the ICU (median age 66.5 years; 61.7% men). Survival to hospital discharge and 180 days were 69% and 47.8%, respectively. Greater number of failed organ systems on admission was associated with significantly worse hospital survival (p<0.001) but not with 180-day survival (p=0.24). In multivariate analysis, predictors of hospital mortality were the presence of metastases (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.59), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) Score (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.13) and a Glasgow Coma Scale Score <7 on admission to ICU (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.65 to 16.43). Predictors of worse 180-day survival were the presence of metastases (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.57 to 5.06), APACHE II Score (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.13) and sepsis (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.38).

Conclusions

Short-term and medium-term survival in patients with solid tumours admitted to ICU is better than previously reported, suggesting that the presence of cancer alone should not be a barrier to ICU admission.
Self-reported sleep disturbance and incidence of dementia in ageing men
Authors: Luojus Maria K , Lehto Soili M , Tolmunen Tommi , Brem Anna-Katharine , Lönnroos Eija , Kauhanen Jussi
Published: October 2016

Background

Sleep disturbance is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia. However, prospective longitudinal data from middle-aged populations are scarce.

Methods

We investigated a population-based sample of 2386 men aged 42–62 years at baseline during 1984–1989. Participants having a history of mental illnesses, psychiatric medication, Parkinson's disease or dementia within 2 years after baseline (n=296) were excluded. Difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep, sleep duration and daytime tiredness were enquired. Dementia diagnoses (n=287) between 1984 and 2014 were obtained through linkage with hospital discharge, national death and special reimbursement registers. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed for all dementias, and separately for Alzheimer's disease (n=234) and other phenotypes (n=53). Additional analyses were performed on a subsample of an apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype-tested population (n=1199).

Results

The risk ratio for dementia was 1.58 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.27) in men with frequent sleep disturbance after adjustments for age, examination year, elevated depressive symptoms, physical activity, alcohol consumption, cumulative smoking history, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C reactive protein, cardiovascular disease history, education years and living alone. Daytime tiredness and sleep duration were not associated with dementia in adjusted analysis. In theAPOEsubsample, bothAPOEε4 genotype and frequent sleep disturbance were associated with increased dementia risk, but in the interaction analysis they had no joint effect.

Conclusions

Self-reported frequent sleep disturbance in middle-aged men may relate to the development of dementia in later life. Having anAPOEε4 genotype did not affect the relationship.
High-risk behaviour and HIV infection risk among non-local men who have sex with men with less than a single year's residence in urban centres: a multicentre cross-sectional study from China
Authors: Yu Yan-qiu , Xu Jun-jie , Hu Qing-hai , Yan Hong-Jing , Wang Zhe , Lu Lin , Zhuang Ming-hua , Chen Xi , Fu Ji-hua , Qin Yi-lu , Jiang Yong-jun , Geng Wen-qing , Shang Hong
Published: October 2016

Objectives

Traditionally, subjects' migration status has usually been defined on the basis of their registered residency status. We attempted to redefine migration based on the duration of residency in their cities of migration and to explore more precisely the impact of migration on HIV infection risk in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods

A multisite cross-sectional study was conducted during 2012–2013 in seven Chinese cities. Questionnaire surveys were conducted and blood was drawn to test for antibodies to HIV, syphilis and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). MSM who were unregistered local residents and had resided in their cities of migration for ≤1 or >1 year were defined as migrant MSM, or transitional MSM, respectively.

Results

Compared with transitional MSM and local MSM, migrant MSM had poorer HIV knowledge and higher rates of high-risk behaviour, including earlier sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, participation in commercial sex and recreational drug use. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HIV prevalence among migrant MSM was higher than local MSM (p<0.05). This relationship, however, did not hold for transitional MSM and local MSM (p>0.05). Male sex work, recreational drug use, syphilis infection and HSV-2 infection were independently associated with HIV infection among migrant MSM.

Conclusions

Non-local MSM with shorter residence were at greater risk of HIV acquisition. More focus should be placed on HIV behavioural interventions targeting non-local MSM with temporary residence.
Fatal pneumothorax in a dog caused by a lesion resembling congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) of children
Authors: Knight Cameron , Malaguti Lorenza , Rajotte Sophie , Rosa Brielle , Wright James
Published: October 2016

An 8 month old boxer dog was referred for management of acute spontaneous pneumothorax. CT showed multiple variably sized bullae in the right middle lung lobe, and partial or complete atelectasis of all remaining lung lobes. This was assumed to be a case of congenital lobar emphysema (CLE). The dog was anaesthetised for surgery but died from cardiopulmonary arrest during presurgical thoracocentesis. Postmortem examination confirmed that ruptured bullae in the right middle lung lobe were responsible for the dog's pneumothorax and death. In addition, a malformation of the right subclavian artery was present. Histologically, the right middle lung lobe and primary bronchus were malformed, with microscopic changes resembling those of human congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), rather than CLE. CPAM has not been reported in the veterinary literature and should be considered in the differential diagnosis for spontaneous pneumothorax in dogs.
Activated ADI pathway: the initiator of intermediate vancomycin resistance inStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Tan Xin-Ee , Neoh Hui-min , Looi Mee-Lee , Chin Siok Fong , Cui Longzhu , Hiramatsu Keiichi , Hussin Salasawati , Jamal Rahman
Published: October 2016

Comparative proteomic profiling between 2 vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) strains, Mu50Ω-vraSm and Mu50Ω-vraSm-graRm, and vancomycin-susceptible S. aureus (VSSA) strain Mu50Ω revealed upregulated levels of catabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase (ArcB) of the arginine catabolism pathway in VISA strains. Subsequent analyses showed that the VISA strains have higher levels of cellular ATP and ammonia, which are by-products of arginine catabolism, and displayed thicker cell walls. We postulate that elevated cytoplasmic ammonia and ATP molecules, resulting from activated arginine catabolism upon acquisition of vraS and graR mutations, are important requirements facilitating cell wall biosynthesis, thereby contributing to thickened cell wall and consequently reduced vancomycin susceptibility in VISA strains.
Snapshots
Authors: Smorodinskaya Noemi
Published: October 2016

Note from Publisher: This article contains the abstract only.
Perturbative pomeron vertices and the conformal bootstrap
Authors: Ewerz Carlo
Published: October 2016

High energy scattering processes in QCD can be described in terms of interacting pomerons. Vertices for the interaction of pomerons have been derived in perturbative QCD. Their properties hint at the existence of a 2+1-dimensional conformal field theory of interacting pomerons. Here we study in particular the 1-to-2 and the 1-to-3 pomeron vertex and find them to be related to each other by a conformal bootstrap relation.
Multipomeron theory in the Gribov approach
Authors: Abramovsky V. A. , Abramovskaya N. V. , Evstigneeva N. V.
Published: October 2016

Pomeron and non vacuum reggeon parameters which reasonably describe total and elastic cross sections are obtained. The ratio of the real and imaginary part of the forward elastic scattering amplitude is calculated with these parameters and it coincides with the experimental data in the whole energy region. The shower enhancement coefficient in the quasi-eikonal approach appears to be less than unity which corresponds to the definite distribution of parton showers in incident hadrons.
Gribov inelastic shadowing in the dipole representation
Authors: Kopeliovich B. Z.
Published: October 2016

The dipole phenomenology, which has been quite successfully applied to various hard reactions, especially on nuclear targets, is applied for calculation of Gribov inelastic shadowing. This approach does not include ad hoc procedures, which are unavoidable in calculations done in hadronic representation. Several examples of Gribov corrections evaluated within the dipole description are presented.
Fine structure of the diffraction cone: From the ISR to the LHC
Authors: Fagundes D. A. , Jenkovszky L. , Miranda E. Q. , Pancheri G. , Silva P. V. R. G.
Published: October 2016

Following earlier findings, we argue that the low-[Formula: see text] structure in the elastic diffractive cone, recently reported by the TOTEM Collaboration at [Formula: see text] TeV, is a consequence of the threshold singularity required by [Formula: see text]channel unitarity, such as revealed earlier at the ISR. By using simple Regge-pole models, we analyze the available data on the [Formula: see text] elastic differential cross section in a wide range of c.m. energies, namely those from ISR to LHC8, obtaining good fits of all datasets. This study hints at the fact that the non-exponential behavior observed at LHC8 is a recurrence of the low-[Formula: see text] “break” phenomenon, observed in the seventies at ISR, being induced by the presence of a two-pion loop singularity in the Pomeron trajectory.
Testing a possible way of geometrization of the strong interaction by a Kaluza–Klein star
Authors: Karsai Szilvia , Pósfay Péter , Barnaföldi Gergely Gábor , Lukács BÉla
Published: October 2016

Geometrization of the fundamental interactions has been extensively studied during the century. The idea of introducing compactified spatial dimensions originated by Kaluza and Klein. Following their approach, several model were built representing quantum numbers (e.g. charges) as compactified space-time dimensions. Such geometrized theoretical descriptions of the fundamental interactions might lead us to get closer to the unification of the principle theories. Here, we apply a [Formula: see text] dimensional theory, which contains one extra compactified spatial dimension [Formula: see text] in connection with the flavor quantum number in Quantum Chromodynamics. Within our model the size of the [Formula: see text] dimension is proportional to the inverse mass-difference of the first low-mass baryon states. We used this phenomena to apply in a compact star model — a natural laboratory for testing the theory of strong interaction and the gravitational theory in parallel. Our aim is to test the modification of the measurable macroscopical parameters of a compact Kaluza–Klein star by varying the size of the compactified extra dimension. Since larger the [Formula: see text] the smaller the mass difference between the first spokes of the Kaluza–Klein ladder resulting smaller-mass stars. Using the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkov equation, we investigate the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] diagram and the dependence of the maximum mass of compact stars. Besides testing the validity of our model we compare our results to the existing observational data of pulsar properties for constraints.
Some QCD/gravity intersections
Authors: Teryaev O. V.
Published: October 2016

Gravitational form factors are the matrix elements of the Belinfante energy momentum tensor (EMT) which naturally incorporate the hadron structure and the equivalence principle. The relocalization property allowing to transform EMT to the Belinfante form provides the “kinematical” counterpart of the famous [Formula: see text] problem. The equivalence principle may be approximately valid for quarks and gluons separately in non-perturbative (NP)QCD, and this conjecture is supported by the experimental and lattice data. The extra-dimensional gravity leading to holographic AdS/QCD is supporting the relation of quark transverse momentum to the Regge slope, discovered by V.N. Gribov.
Naturalness and renormalization group in the standard model
Authors: Pivovarov Grigorii B.
Published: October 2016

I define a naturalness criterion formalizing the intuitive notion of naturalness discussed in the literature. After that, using [Formula: see text] as an example, I demonstrate that a theory may be natural in the [Formula: see text]-scheme and, at the same time, unnatural in the Gell-Mann–Low scheme. Finally, I discuss the prospects of using a version of the Gell-Mann–Low scheme in the Standard Model.
Minimal string theory and the Douglas equation
Authors: Belavin A. A. , Belavin V. A.
Published: October 2016

We use the connection between the Frobenius manifold and the Douglas string equation to further investigate Minimal Liouville gravity. We search for a solution of the Douglas string equation and simultaneously a proper transformation from the KdV to the Liouville frame which ensures the fulfilment of the conformal and fusion selection rules. We find that the desired solution of the string equation has an explicit and simple form in the flat coordinates on the Frobenius manifold in the general case of (p,q) Minimal Liouville gravity.
The ϵ-expansion for QED
Authors: Di Pietro L. , Komargodski Z. , Shamir I. , Stamou E.
Published: October 2016

We study Quantum Electrodynamics in [Formula: see text] (QED3) coupled to [Formula: see text] flavors of fermions. The theory flows to an IR fixed point for [Formula: see text] larger than some critical number [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], chiral symmetry breaking is believed to take place. In analogy with the Wilson-Fisher description of the critical [Formula: see text] models in [Formula: see text], we use the existence of a fixed point in [Formula: see text] to study the three-dimensional theory. We show how the [Formula: see text]-expansion can be used to study the anomalous dimension of 2- and 4-fermion operators. The latter leads to an estimate of the critical number [Formula: see text]. An important novelty compared to the [Formula: see text] models is that, because of the structure of spinors, the theory in [Formula: see text] has an enhanced symmetry. We identify the operators in [Formula: see text] that correspond to the additional conserved currents at [Formula: see text].
Twisted non-Abelian vortices
Authors: Forgács Péter , Lukács Árpád , Schaposnik Fidel A.
Published: October 2016

Twisted non-Abelian flux-tube solutions are considered in the bosonic sector of a 4-dimensional [Formula: see text] super-symmetric gauge theory with U(2)[Formula: see text] symmetry, with two scalar doublets in the fundamental representation. Twist refers to a time-dependent matrix phase between the two doublets, and twisted strings have nonzero (global) charge, momentum, and in some cases even angular momentum per unit length. The planar cross section of a twisted string corresponds to a rotationally symmetric, charged non-Abelian vortex, satisfying 1st order Bogomolny-type equations and Gauss-type constraints. Quite unexpectedly some twisted strings lack cylindrical symmetry in [Formula: see text].
Investigations of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for VO2+ ions in KZnClSO4 ⋅ 3H2O single crystals
Authors: Tu Chao , Xie Linhua , Du Xiangrong
Published: October 2016

The spin Hamiltonian parameters of VO[Formula: see text] in KZnClSO[Formula: see text]3H2O single crystals are calculated from the third-order perturbation formulas based on the double spin–orbit coupling model for the tetragonal transition-ion clusters in crystals with the ground state [Formula: see text]. In the paper, both the crystal-field (CF) mechanism and the charge-transfer (CT) mechanism (double-mechanism model) are considered to calculate the spin Hamiltonian parameters. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental data. Moreover, the calculated results show that the CT mechanism cannot be omitted for a high-valence state V[Formula: see text] ions in KZnClSO[Formula: see text]3H2O single crystals. The tetragonal field parameters are also acquired in the paper.
CHARACTERIZATION OF FRICTION WELDED TITANIUM ALLOY AND STAINLESS STEEL WITH A NOVEL INTERLAYER GEOMETRY
Authors: KUMAR R. , BALASUBRAMANIAN M.
Published: October 2016

The main purpose of the current research work is to identify and investigate a novel method of holding an intermediate metal and to evaluate its metallurgical and mechanical properties. Copper was used as an interlayer material for the welding of this dissimilar Ti–6Al–4V (Ti alloy) and 304L stainless steel (SS). The study shows that the input parameters and surface geometry played a very significant role in producing a good quality joints with minimum heat affected zone and metal loss. A sound weld was achieved between Ti–6Al–4V and SS304L, on the basis of the earlier experiments conducted by the authors in their laboratory, by using copper rod as intermediate metal. Box–Behnken method was used for performing a minimum number of experiments for the study. In the present study, Ti–6Al–4V alloy and SS304L were joined by a novel method of holding the interlayer and new surface geometry for the interlayer. Initially, the drop test was used for determining the quality of the fabricated joint and, subsequently, non-destructive techniques like radiography and C-scan were used. Further optical micrograph, SEM–EDS, hardness and tensile test were done for understanding the performance of the joint.
Wilson frames for ℂL with general lattices
Authors: You Minghou , Yang Junqiao , Lian Qiaofang
Published: October 2016

In digital signal and image processing one can only process discrete signals of finite length, and the space [Formula: see text] is the preferred setting. Recently, Kutyniok and Strohmer constructed orthonormal Wilson bases for [Formula: see text] with general lattices of volume [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] even). In this paper, we extend this construction to Wilson frames for [Formula: see text] with general lattices of volume [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for two sequences having Wilson structure to be dual frames for [Formula: see text]. When the window function satisfies some symmetry property, we obtain a characterization of a Wilson system to be a tight frame for [Formula: see text], show that a Wilson frame for [Formula: see text] can be derived from the underlying Gabor frame, and that the dual frame having Wilson structure can also be derived from the canonical Gabor dual of the underlying Gabor frame.
Stability of lq-analysis based dual frame with Weibull matrices for 0 < q ≤ 1
Authors: Gao Yi , Yue Shigang , Huang Yongdong
Published: October 2016

In practical examples, there are numerous signals that are sparse in a redundant frame rather than an orthonormal basis. This paper mainly focuses on such sparse recovery via [Formula: see text]-analysis-based dual frame with Weibull matrices under the assumption that signals are sparse or compressible in a general frame. First, we give the [Formula: see text] robust null space property and show that it is weaker than the [Formula: see text]-RIP when [Formula: see text] is a general frame. Second, we show that Weibull random matrices with a general dual frame satisfy the [Formula: see text] robust null space property with high probability. Finally, we investigate the stability estimate of [Formula: see text]-analysis based dual frame with Weibull matrices. The result shows that it remains stable and can guarantee accurate recovery of signals with high probability.
Semigroup properties of linear terms
Authors: Lohapan Laddawan , Jampachon Prakit
Published: October 2016

The concept of linear terms of a given type [Formula: see text] (terms in which each variable occurs at most once) was introduced by M. Couceiro and E. Lethonen in [Galois theory for sets of operations closed under permutation, cylindrification and composition, Algebr. Univ. 67 (2012) 273–297, doi:10.1007/s00012-012-0184-1] (see also [T. Changphas, K. Denecke and B. Pibaljommee, Linear terms and linear hypersubstitutions, SEAMS Bull. Math. 40 (2016) (to be published).]). In this paper, we introduce binary partial operations [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] on the set [Formula: see text] of all linear terms of type [Formula: see text] Then we characterize regular elements and Green’s relations in these partial algebras.
Microstructure and calorimetric behavior of laser welded open cell foams in CuZnAl shape memory alloy
Authors: Biffi Carlo Alberto , Previtali Barbara , Tuissi Ausonio
Published: October 2016

Cellular shape memory alloys (SMAs) are very promising smart materials able to combine functional properties of the material with lightness, stiffness, and damping capacity of the cellular structure. Their processing with low modification of the material properties remains an open question. In this work, the laser weldability of CuZnAl SMA in the form of open cell foams was studied. The cellular structure was proved to be successfully welded in lap joint configuration by using a thin plate of the same alloy. Softening was seen in the welded bead in all the investigated ranges of process speed as well as a double stage heat affected zone was identified due to different microstructures; the martensitic transformation was shifted to higher temperatures and the corresponding peaks were sharper with respect to the base material due to the rapid solidification of the material. Anyways, no compositional variations were detected in the joints.
Winter course in physiology: a successful example of continuing education for secondary school teachers in Brazil
Authors: Café-Mendes Cecília C. , Righi Luana L. , Calil-Silveira Jamile , Nunes Maria Tereza , Abdulkader Fernando
Published: October 2016

In international surveys, Brazilian students have been consistently ranking low in science. Continuing education for secondary school teachers is certainly a way to change this situation. To update teachers and provide teaching and learning experiences for graduate students, our department organized a “Winter Course in Physiology” where schoolteachers had the opportunity to attend lectures that were offered by graduate students and participate in discussions on teaching and learning strategies and their applicability, considering different schools and student age groups. This work evaluated the ways in which the Winter Course in Physiology improves continuing education for secondary school teachers. Graduate students prepared, presented, and discussed with the audience the concepts, content, and topics of the program, which were previously presented to the organizing committee and a supervising professor. Potential participants were recruited based on their curriculum vitae and a letter of intent. During the course, they completed a questionnaire that graded different aspects of course organization and lectures. The results indicated that the Winter Course was positively evaluated. Most topics received a grade of ≥4.0, considering a range of 1.0 (low) to 5.0 (high). In a followup, both the participants and instructors reported positive impacts on their overall knowledge in physiology. Schoolteachers reported improvements in the performance and participation of their students. In conclusion, the results suggested that the Winter Course is a good way to promote continuing education for schoolteachers and promote university outreach. It also provided an important experience for graduate students to develop teaching skills.
Odds Ratios Estimation of Rare Event in Binomial Distribution
Authors: Raweesawat Kobkun , Areepong Yupaporn , Jampachaisri Katechan , Sukparungsee Saowanit
Published: October 2016

We introduce the new estimator of odds ratios in rare events using Empirical Bayes method in two independent binomial distributions. We compare the proposed estimates of odds ratios with two estimators, modified maximum likelihood estimator (MMLE) and modified median unbiased estimator (MMUE), using the Estimated Relative Error (ERE) as a criterion of comparison. It is found that the new estimator is more efficient when compared to the other methods.
Rostral Agranular Insular Cortex Lesion with Motor Cortex Stimulation Enhances Pain Modulation Effect on Neuropathic Pain Model
Authors: Jung Hyun Ho , Shin Jaewoo , Kim Jinhyung , Ahn Seung-Hee , Lee Sung Eun , Koh Chin Su , Cho Jae Sung , Kong Chanho , Shin Hyung-Cheul , Kim Sung June , Chang Jin Woo
Published: October 2016

It is well known that the insular cortex is involved in the processing of painful input. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain modulation role of the insular cortex during motor cortex stimulation (MCS). After inducing neuropathic pain (NP) rat models by the spared nerve injury method, we made a lesion on the rostral agranular insular cortex (RAIC) unilaterally and compared behaviorally determined pain threshold and latency in 2 groups: Group A (NP + MCS;n=7) and Group B (NP + RAIC lesion + MCS;n=7). Also, we simultaneously recorded neuronal activity (NP;n=9) in the thalamus of the ventral posterolateral nucleus and RAIC to evaluate electrophysiological changes from MCS. The pain threshold and tolerance latency increased in Group A with “MCS on” and in Group B with or without “MCS on.” Moreover, its increase in Group B with “MCS on” was more than that of Group B without MCS or of Group A, suggesting that MCS and RAIC lesioning are involved in pain modulation. Compared with the “MCS off” condition, the “MCS on” induced significant threshold changes in an electrophysiological study. Our data suggest that the RAIC has its own pain modulation effect, which is influenced by MCS.
Robust Floor Determination Algorithm for Indoor Wireless Localization Systems under Reference Node Failure
Authors: Maneerat Kriangkrai , Kaemarungsi Kamol , Prommak Chutima
Published: October 2016

One of the challenging problems for indoor wireless multifloor positioning systems is the presence of reference node (RN) failures, which cause the values of received signal strength (RSS) to be missed during the online positioning phase of the location fingerprinting technique. This leads to performance degradation in terms of floor accuracy, which in turn affects other localization procedures. This paper presents a robust floor determination algorithm called Robust Mean of Sum-RSS (RMoS), which can accurately determine the floor on which mobile objects are located and can work under either the fault-free scenario or the RN-failure scenarios. The proposed fault tolerance floor algorithm is based on the mean of the summation of the strongest RSSs obtained from the IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) during the online phase. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with those of different floor determination algorithms in literature. The experimental results show that the proposed robust floor determination algorithm outperformed the other floor algorithms and can achieve the highest percentage of floor determination accuracy in all scenarios tested. Specifically, the proposed algorithm can achieve greater than 95% correct floor determination under the scenario in which 40% of RNs failed.
A Fatal Case of Congenital Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Disseminated Cutaneous Lesions in a Premature Neonate
Authors: Inoue Michio , Tomita Yoko , Egawa Tsuyoshi , Ioroi Tomoaki , Kugo Masaaki , Imashuku Shinsaku
Published: October 2016

Background. The outcome of neonates with congenital cutaneous Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is variable. Observations. We report a case of LCH in a female premature neonate born at 33-week gestation. She had disseminated cutaneous lesions, which consisted of hemorrhagic papules and vesicles, with sparse healthy skin areas, and the hands and feet were contracted with scarring and blackened. She was in respiratory failure although no apparent pulmonary or bone lesions on X-rays were noted. Skin biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of LCH due to observation of CD1a+ Langerhans cells, which lacked expression of E-cadherin and CD56. The patient died 57 hours after birth. Conclusions. Based on this case and the literature survey, the outcome of premature babies with congenital cutaneous LCH lesions is noted to be unfavorable, with the majority of such cases suffering from multisystem disease.
Double-Layered Lateral Meniscus in an 8-Year-Old Child: Report of a Rare Case
Authors: Araki Susumu , Kubo Mitsuhiko , Kumagai Kosuke , Imai Shinji
Published: October 2016

Reports of congenital abnormalities of the lateral meniscus include discoid meniscus, accessory meniscus, double-layered meniscus, and ring-shaped meniscus. Particularly, only a few cases of double-layered meniscus have been reported. We report a case of double-layered lateral meniscus, in which an additional semicircular meniscus was observed under the normal lateral meniscus. The accessory hemimeniscus was resected by means of arthroscopic surgery. This case demonstrates an interesting and extremely rare anatomical abnormality of the lateral meniscus.
Spectral Quantitative Analysis Model with Combining Wavelength Selection and Topology Structure Optimization
Authors: Wang Qian , Cai Boyan , Yu Yajie , Cao Hui
Published: October 2016

Spectroscopy is an efficient and widely used quantitative analysis method. In this paper, a spectral quantitative analysis model with combining wavelength selection and topology structure optimization is proposed. For the proposed method, backpropagation neural network is adopted for building the component prediction model, and the simultaneousness optimization of the wavelength selection and the topology structure of neural network is realized by nonlinear adaptive evolutionary programming (NAEP). The hybrid chromosome in binary scheme of NAEP has three parts. The first part represents the topology structure of neural network, the second part represents the selection of wavelengths in the spectral data, and the third part represents the parameters of mutation of NAEP. Two real flue gas datasets are used in the experiments. In order to present the effectiveness of the methods, the partial least squares with full spectrum, the partial least squares combined with genetic algorithm, the uninformative variable elimination method, the backpropagation neural network with full spectrum, the backpropagation neural network combined with genetic algorithm, and the proposed method are performed for building the component prediction model. Experimental results verify that the proposed method has the ability to predict more accurately and robustly as a practical spectral analysis tool.
Serum Lipoprotein (a) Levels in Black South African Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Authors: Joseph Jim , Ganjifrockwala Farzana , George Grace
Published: October 2016

Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) which is a low‐density lipoprotein‐like particle containing apo(a) is considered as an emergent cardiovascular risk factor. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a two‐ to threefold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of Lp(a) in Black South African T2DM patients and its association with other metabolic factors. 67 T2DM patients and 48 healthy control participants were recruited for the cross‐sectional study. The Lp(a) level was determined by ELISA and the result was analyzed using SPSS. The Lp(a) level in diabetics was found to be significantly increased (P = 0.001) when compared to the normal healthy group. In the diabetic group, the Lp(a) levels correlated significantly with the duration of diabetes (P = 0.008) and oxidized LDL (ox‐LDL) levels (P = 0.03) and decreased total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.001). The third tertile of Lp(a) was significantly correlated with increased ox‐LDL, C‐reactive protein, and triglycerides and decreased total antioxidant capacity.
Maternal Attitudes about Objectively Monitored Bednet Use in Rural Uganda
Authors: Krezanoski Paul J. , Santorino Data , Nambogo Nuriat , Campbell Jeffrey I. , Bangsberg David R.
Published: October 2016

Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) are a mainstay of malaria prevention, yet poor adherence poses a major barrier to effective prevention. Self-reports of bednet use suffer from recall and social desirability biases. We have designed a device that electronically records ITN usage longitudinally. SmartNet consists of circuits made from a conductive fabric interwoven into the sides and top of a rectangular ITN. Digital sampling of the state of these circuits allows for determining whether the SmartNet is deployed for use or folded up. We conducted a study among pregnant women and women with children <5 years in Uganda to determine attitudes about objective bednet monitoring and SmartNet. Fifty women were interviewed with an average age of 27 years and 2.3 children. Twenty-two percent were pregnant. Ninety-five percent had used a bednet and 90% reported having a bednet at home. After displaying a SmartNet, 92% thought it would be easy to use and 100% expressed interest in using SmartNet. Concerns about SmartNet included washing the net, worries about being monitored while asleep, and worries about users removing the device components. Objective monitoring of ITN use appears to be acceptable among women in rural Uganda, setting the stage for further SmartNet field testing.
Application of Functionals in Creating Inequalities
Authors: Pavić Zlatko , Wu Shanhe , Novoselac Vedran
Published: October 2016

The paper deals with the fundamental inequalities for convex functions in the bounded closed interval. The main inequality includes convex functions and positive linear functionals extending and refining the functional form of Jensen’s inequality. This inequality implies the Jensen, Fejér, and, thus, Hermite-Hadamard inequality, as well as their refinements.
Reduced HMGB 1‐Mediated Pathway and Oxidative Stress in Resveratrol‐Treated Diabetic Mice: A Possible Mechanism of Cardioprotection of Resveratrol in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wu Han , Sheng Zhen-Qiang , Xie Jun , Li Ran , Chen Liang , Li Guan-Nan , Wang Lian , Xu Biao
Published: October 2016

Myocardial fibrosis and inflammation are intricately linked in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), and resveratrol has been shown to attenuate oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in several cell types or animal models. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB 1), a proinflammatory cytokine, has been reported to regulate fibrosis and inflammation in various organs. Then the present study aimed to reveal the expression of HMGB 1‐mediated signaling pathway and oxidative stress in resveratrol‐treated diabetic mice. The significant increase in serum HMGB 1 concentration in diabetic mice was attenuated by treatment with resveratrol. Similarly, western blot analysis revealed a significant increase of HMGB 1 protein in monocytes and heart tissues of diabetic mice, and resveratrol partly normalized the changes. In addition, resveratrol abrogated the increased expression of HMGB 1‐mediated signaling pathway, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and inflammation in diabetic hearts. In conclusion, inhibition of HMGB 1‐mediated signaling pathway and oxidative stress may contribute to resveratrol‐induced anti‐inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in DCM.
Cl-NQTrp Alleviates Tauopathy Symptoms in a Model Organism through the Inhibition of Tau Aggregation-Engendered Toxicity
Authors: Frenkel-Pinter Moran , Tal Sharon , Scherzer-Attali Roni , Abu-Hussien Malak , Alyagor Idan , Eisenbaum Tal , Gazit Ehud , Segal Daniel
Published: October 2016

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most abundant tauopathy and is characterized by Aβ-derived plaques and tau-derived tangles, resulting from the unfolding of the corresponding monomeric subunits into ordered β-sheet oligomers and fibrils. Intervening in the toxic aggregation process is a promising therapeutic approach, but, to date, a disease-modifying therapy is neither available for AD nor for other tauopathies. Along these lines, we have previously demonstrated that a small naphthoquinone-tryptophan hybrid, termed NQTrp, is an effective modulator of tauopathy in vitro and in vivo. However, NQTrp is difficult to synthesize and is not very stable. Therefore, we tested whether a more stable and easier-to-synthesize modified version of NQTrp, containing a Cl ion, namely Cl-NQTrp, is also an effective inhibitor of tau aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Cl-NQTrp was previously shown to efficiently inhibit the aggregation of various amyloidogenic proteins and peptides. We demonstrate that Cl-NQTrp inhibits the in vitro assembly of PHF6, the aggregation-prone fragment of tau, and alleviates tauopathy symptoms in a transgenic Drosophila model through the inhibition of tau aggregation-engendered toxicity. These results suggest that Cl-NQTrp could be a unique potential therapeutic for AD since it targets aggregation of both Aβ and tau.
4-Year Trajectory of Visceral Adiposity Index in the Development of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Meilin , Zheng Li , Li Ping , Zhu Yufeng , Chang Hong , Wang Xuan , Liu Weiqiao , Zhang Yuwen , Huang Guowei
Published: October 2016

Background/Aims: Our aim was to evaluate whether visceral adiposity index (VAI) could predict the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in different genders and to compare the predictive ability between VAI and other fatness indices. Methods: Four thousand seventy-eight participants including 1,817 men and 2,261 women, aged 18 and older and free of T2D at baseline were enrolled in 2010 and followed up for 4 years. New cases of T2D were identified via the annual medical examination. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between VAI and incidence of T2D. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curves (AUC) were applied to compare the prediction ability of T2D between VAI and other fatness indices. Results: During the 4-year follow-up, 153 (8.42%) of 1,817 men and 88 (3.89%) of 2,261 women developed T2D. The multivariable-adjusted hazards ratios for developing T2D in the highest tertile of VAI scores were 2.854 (95% CI 1.815-4.487) in men and 3.551 (95% CI 1.586-7.955) in women. The AUC of VAI was not higher than that of other fatness indices. Conclusions: VAI could predict the risk of T2D among Chinese adults, especially in women. However, the prediction ability of T2D risk for VAI was not higher than that of the other fatness indices.
Ecosystem Service Commodification: Lessons from California
Authors: Schmitz Marissa Bongiovanni , Kelly Erin Clover
Published: October 2016

In 2013 the state of California launched a cap-and-trade program with a groundbreaking protocol for improved forest management (IFM), providing a framework to monetize carbon sequestration in managed forests. Through in-depth interviews and document review, this research examines California's IFM program development as a case study in stakeholder-engaged ecosystem commodification. We consider how diverse, vested-interest actors contested rival program design options by using the familiar narratives of ecological modernization, green governmentality, and civic environmentalism. The results reveal the benefits and complexities of delegating methodological design to stakeholders who seek direct participation in the market, and highlight the challenges of balancing multiple program objectives, including environmental benefits, legitimacy and market reception, and landowner participation potential. This research provides a unique window into the complex process of forest-offset program design and offers broader lessons for ecosystem markets currently being designed and implemented globally.
Uysal, T., Hamzaoğlu, E., Ertuğrul, K. & Bozkurt M. (2016) A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Turkey. Phytotaxa 275 (2): 149–158.
Authors: UYSAL TUNA , HAMZAOĞLU ERGIN , ERTUĞRUL KUDDISI , BOZKURT MERYEM
Published: October 2016

N/A