bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiation of idiopathic spinal cord herniation from dorsal arachnoid webs on MRI and CT myelography
Authors: Schultz Randall , Steven Andrew , Wessell Aaron , Fischbein Nancy , Sansur Charles A. , Gandhi Dheeraj , Ibrahimi David , Raghavan Prashant
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Dorsal arachnoid webs (DAWs) and spinal cord herniation (SCH) are uncommon abnormalities affecting the thoracic spinal cord that can result in syringomyelia and significant neurological morbidity if left untreated. Differentiating these 2 entities on the basis of clinical presentation and radiological findings remains challenging but is of vital importance in planning a surgical approach. The authors examined the differences between DAWs and idiopathic SCH on MRI and CT myelography to improve diagnostic confidence prior to surgery.

METHODS

Review of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) database between 2005 and 2015 identified 6 patients with DAW and 5 with SCH. Clinical data including demographic information, presenting symptoms and neurological signs, and surgical reports were collected from the electronic medical records. Ten of the 11 patients underwent MRI. CT myelography was performed in 3 patients with DAW and in 1 patient with SCH. Imaging studies were analyzed by 2 board-certified neuroradiologists for the following features: 1) location of the deformity; 2) presence or absence of cord signal abnormality or syringomyelia; 3) visible arachnoid web; 4) presence of a dural defect; 5) nature of dorsal cord indentation (abrupt “scalpel sign” vs “C”-shaped); 6) focal ventral cord kink; 7) presence of the nuclear trail sign (endplate irregularity, sclerosis, and/or disc-space calcification that could suggest a migratory path of a herniated disc); and 8) visualization of a complete plane of CSF ventral to the deformity.

RESULTS

The scalpel sign was positive in all patients with DAW. The dorsal indentation was C-shaped in 5 of 6 patients with SCH. The ventral subarachnoid space was preserved in all patients with DAW and interrupted in cases of SCH. In no patient was a web or a dural defect identified.

CONCLUSIONS

DAW and SCH can be reliably distinguished on imaging by scrutinizing the nature of the dorsal indentation and the integrity of the ventral subarachnoid space at the level of the cord deformity.
Contralateral peripheral neurotization for a hemiplegic hindlimb after central neurological injury
Authors: Zheng Mou-Xiong , Hua Xu-Yun , Jiang Su , Qiu Yan-Qun , Shen Yun-Dong , Xu Wen-Dong
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Contralateral peripheral neurotization surgery has been successfully applied to rescue motor function of the hemiplegic upper extremity in patients with central neurological injury (CNI). It may contribute to strengthened neural pathways between the contralesional cortex and paretic limbs. However, the effect of this surgery in the lower extremities remains unknown. In the present study the authors explored the effectiveness and safety of contralateral peripheral neurotization in treating a hemiplegic lower extremity following CNI in adult rats.

METHODS

Controlled cortical impact (CCI) was performed on the hindlimb motor cortex of 36 adult Sprague-Dawley rats to create severe unilateral traumatic brain injury models. These CCI rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. At 1 month post-CCI, the experimental group (Group 1, 12 rats) underwent contralateral L-6 to L-6 transfer, 1 control group (Group 2, 12 rats) underwent bilateral L-6 nerve transection, and another control group (Group 3, 12 rats) underwent an L-6 laminectomy without injuring the L-6 nerves. Bilateral L-6 nerve transection rats without CCI (Group 4, 12 rats) and naïve rats (Group 5, 12 rats) were used as 2 additional control groups. Beam and ladder rung walking tests and CatWalk gait analysis were performed in each rat at baseline and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 months to detect the skilled walking functions and gait parameters of both hindlimbs. Histological and electromyography studies were used at the final followup to verify establishment of the traumatic brain injury model and regeneration of the L6-L6 neural pathway.

RESULTS

In behavioral tests, comparable motor injury in the paretic hindlimbs was observed after CCI in Groups 1–3. Group 1 started to show significantly lower slip and error rates in the beam and ladder rung walking tests than Groups 2 and 3 at 6 months post-CCI (p < 0.05). In the CatWalk analysis, Group 1 also showed a higher mean intensity and swing speed after 8 months post-CCI and a longer stride length after 6 months post-CCI than Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). Transection of L-6 resulted in transient skilled walking impairment in the intact hindlimbs in Groups 1 and 2 (compared with Group 3) and in the bilateral hindlimbs in Group 4 (compared with Group 5). All recovered to baseline level within 2 months. Histological study of the rat brains verified comparable injured volumes among Groups 1–3 at final examinations, and electromyography and toluidine blue staining indicated successful regeneration of the L6-L6 neural pathways in Group 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Contralateral L-6 neurotization could be a promising and safe surgical approach for improving motor recovery of the hemiplegic hindlimb after unilateral CNI in adult rats. Further investigations are needed before extrapolating the present conclusions to humans.
Socioeconomic status and outcomes after sport-related concussion: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Zuckerman Scott L. , Zalneraitis Brian Holt , Totten Douglas J. , Rubel Kolin E. , Kuhn Andrew W. , Yengo-Kahn Aaron M. , Bonfield Christopher M. , Sills Allen K. , Solomon Gary S.
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

A significant proportion of patients experience long-term symptoms after sport-related concussion (SRC), and several factors have been associated with this protracted recovery. Limited data exist on the role of socioeconomic status (SES) on SRC outcomes. The objective in this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine the effect of SES on outcomes after SRC in student-athletes treated at a regional sports concussion center.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 282 middle school, high school, and collegiate student-athletes was conducted. An attempt was made to contact all patients seen at a comprehensive SRC center between January 2012 and May 2015 for in-depth interviews. Subsequent demographic data were collected. The SES was defined as follows: cost of living percentile, median income percentile, percentage of college graduates, percentage of homeowners, county type, and insurance status. Outcomes after SRC were defined as follows: days of symptom duration, days of missed school, and days of missed practice. Statistically controlled covariates included sex, race, age, body mass index, concussion history, neuropsychiatric history, and type of sport.

RESULTS

A total of 282 student-athletes consented and were studied. The median age was 15.8 years (range 11.6–22.2 years) and 61.4% of student-athletes were male. A previous concussion was incurred by 34.0% of student-athletes. Football was the most common sport (32.3%), followed by soccer (16.3%), and basketball (15.6%). The median symptom duration was 21 days (range 1–365 days); the median missed school days was 2 (range 0–90 days); and median for days of missed practice was 10 (range 0–150 days). After multivariate Cox regression analysis, no relationship between any of the 6 SES variables and symptom duration or missed practice was seen. However, individuals with private insurance had more missed days of school than those with public insurance (hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.83, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

In a preliminary study of middle school, high school, and collegiate student-athletes, SES had no impact on the outcomes of symptom duration and missed practice. However, for individuals with private insurance, the return to school was slower than for those with public insurance. This pilot study reveals the complex relationship between SES and SRC recovery, which demands further study with more accurate and validated assessments of SES.
Crisis, Free Economy and Strong State: On Ordoliberalism
Authors: Bonefeld Werner
Published: March 2017

The ordoliberal conception that the strong but limited state is the fundamental precondition of a free society entails a negative judgement about the character of market competition. In opposition to the laissez-faire idea of market self-regulation, it rejects as dangerous to the constitution of liberty the idea that markets always know best. Competition does not unite society. Instead, it manifests freedom in the form of unsocial relationships between economic agents and social classes. Ordoliberalism posits the state as planner for competition and guardian of enterprise. In this context, the article explores the ordoliberal meaning of democracy and liberal interventionism. It concludes by arguing that in the ordoliberal view, economic crises manifest a failure of political interventionism.
Ordoliberalism, Ordnungspolitik, and the Reason of Rules
Authors: Vanberg Viktor J.
Published: March 2017

In the debate on how to deal with the current Eurozone crisis, Germany’s insistence on binding rules has drawn attention to the ordoliberal tradition of the Freiburg School and its concept of Ordnungspolitik. The purpose of this paper is twofold, firstly, to provide a summary of the history and the core tents of this tradation and, secondly, to discuss the rationale behind its rule-based concept of Ordnungspolitik.
Emergence, Dynamics and Institutionalisation of Un-Nato Cooperation in Kosovo and Afghanistan
Authors: Ivanov Ivan Dinev
Published: March 2017

International organisations (IOs) like UN, NATO and EU have been tasked with cooperating to provide numerous services that include security, distribution of humanitarian relief and management of reconstruction efforts. These joint operations have triggered the proliferation of scholarship on inter-organisational cooperation with competing theoretical explanations about the factors that facilitate and impede such cooperation. This article compares and contrasts the emergence, dynamics and institutionalisation of such cooperation involving the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in two of the organisations' largest missions – in Kosovo and Afghanistan. It argues that in all stages – emergence, dynamics and institutionalisation – cooperation is more successful when it emerges or is endorsed by officers operating in the field, when IOs overcome 0ureaucratic, resource and environmental constraints for cooperation and finally when the IOs choose a decentralised or informal way to manage their relationship.

The article advances the argument that inter-organisational cooperation is more likely to emerge informally among the field staff because it is more responsive to the surrounding environment and tends to overcome differences of organisational culture in order to divide tasks based on their expertise. To this end, the cases of Kosovo and Afghanistan validate the argument that formal and imposed cooperation driven solely by member-states and IO headquarters is insufficient to overcome 0ureaucratic, resource and environmental constraints. Similarly, centralised attempts to institutionalise inter-governmental cooperation cannot be effective unless they take into account the preferences of field staff, IO partners and mediators.
International Cooperation in Early Warning and Conflict Prevention Global V Regional Approaches – Un and Eu Models
Authors: Vasileva Evgeniya , Gotchev Atanas
Published: March 2017

This article analyses the cooperation and the correspondence of the UN and EU's early warning approaches in a comparative manner and explains how early warnings activities relate to preventive policies and how the latter are integrated into their organisational programming. Furthermore, it surveys the literature on early warning and response strategies applied 0y international institutions and organisations and draws evidence from authors' experience in creating EW systems under the UNDP programmes in different countries. The article argues that the EU and UN early warning and conflict prevention models represent a mixture of top-down and 0ottom-up systems with complex network dynamics, partially overlapping and partially independent incremental policies. This process leads to a greater dialogue than in conflict prevention and contri0utes to a very slow 0ut simultaneous change in the way that actors operate in crisis and post-conflict settings. Finally, it also evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the applied warning and response mechanisms and addresses some of the constraints to response and development strategies.
George Herbert on The Last Things
Authors: Rodgers Katherine Gardiner
Published: March 2017

The final poems of George Herbert’s The Temple have often been recognized as a sequence on the last things, but the extent to which they skew the traditional presentation of this theme deserves attention. Herbert’s soteriology is more confident than Catholic versions of the tradition, his vision of heaven more tentative than Puritan ones, and his presentation of the Atonement more central than either.
A Spatial-Temporal-Semantic Neural Network Algorithm for Location Prediction on Moving Objects
Authors: Wu Fan , Fu Kun , Wang Yang , Xiao Zhibin , Fu Xingyu
Published: March 2017

Location prediction has attracted much attention due to its important role in many location-based services, such as food delivery, taxi-service, real-time bus system, and advertisement posting. Traditional prediction methods often cluster track points into regions and mine movement patterns within the regions. Such methods lose information of points along the road and cannot meet the demand of specific services. Moreover, traditional methods utilizing classic models may not perform well with long location sequences. In this paper, a spatial-temporal-semantic neural network algorithm (STS-LSTM) has been proposed, which includes two steps. First, the spatial-temporal-semantic feature extraction algorithm (STS) is used to convert the trajectory to location sequences with fixed and discrete points in the road networks. The method can take advantage of points along the road and can transform trajectory into model-friendly sequences. Then, a long short-term memory (LSTM)-based model is constructed to make further predictions, which can better deal with long location sequences. Experimental results on two real-world datasets show that STS-LSTM has stable and higher prediction accuracy over traditional feature extraction and model building methods, and the application scenarios of the algorithm are illustrated.
An Asynchronous Message-Passing Distributed Algorithm for the Generalized Local Critical Section Problem
Authors: Kamei Sayaka , Kakugawa Hirotsugu
Published: March 2017

This paper discusses the generalized local version of critical section problems including mutual exclusion, mutual inclusion, k-mutual exclusion and l-mutual inclusion. When a pair of numbers (li, ki) is given for each process Pi, it is the problem of controlling the system in such a way that the number of processes that can execute their critical sections at a time is at least li and at most ki among its neighboring processes and Pi itself. We propose the first solution for the generalized local (li, |Ni| + 1)-critical section problem (i.e., the generalized local li-mutual inclusion problem). Additionally, we show the relationship between the generalized local (li, ki)-critical section problem and the generalized local (|Ni| + 1 − ki, |Ni| + 1 − li)-critical section problem. Finally, we propose the first solution for the generalized local (li, ki)-critical section problem for arbitrary (li, ki), where 0 ≤ li < ki + |Ni| + 1 for each process Pi.
Antioxidant Properties of Selenophene, Thiophene and Their Aminocarbonitrile Derivatives
Authors: Tavadyan Levon , Manukyan Zaruhi , Harutyunyan Lusik , Musayelyan Makich , Sahakyan Adrine , Tonikyan Hakob
Published: March 2017

The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method was used to detect the antiperoxyradical ability of organoselenium compounds: selenophene and its derivative, 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-selenophene-3-carbonitrile (ATSe); while as a comparison, the sulfur-containing analogue of selenophene—thiophene and its derivative—2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-thiophene-3-carbonitrile (ATS)—was selected. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and squarewave voltammetry (SWV) methods were used to determine the redox characteristics of organoselenium and organosulfur compounds. The antiradical activity and capacity of the studied compounds were also measured by using stable radical 2,2ʹ-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Detected anodic peaks of the oxidation of selenophene, thiophene and their derivatives in CV, DPV and SWV in the interval of −1200 ÷ (+1600) mV potentials in regard to the Ag/Ag+ medium of acetonitrile prove the presence of antiperoxyradical activity in regard to oxidizers, i.e., peroxyradicals. The chemical mechanism of the antiperoxyradical ability of selenophene, thiophene and their organic derivatives is proposed.
Spatial Variability and Factors Influencing the Air-Sea N2O Flux in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and Chukchi Abyssal Plain
Authors: Wu Man , Chen Liqi , Zhan Liyang , Zhang Jiexia , Li Yuhong , Liu Jian
Published: March 2017

The concentrations of the ozone-depleting greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) in the upper 300 m of the Subarctic and Arctic Oceans determined during the 5th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition were studied. The surface water samples revealed that the study area could be divided into three regions according to the distribution of dissolved N2O in the surface water, namely, the Aleutian Basin (52° N–60° N), continental shelf (60° N–73° N) and Canadian Basin (north of 73° N), with N2O in the surface water in equilibrium, oversaturated and undersaturated relative to the atmosphere, respectively. The influences of physical and chemical processes, such as eddy diffusion and sedimentary emissions, beneath the surface layer are discussed. The results of a flux evaluation show that the Aleutian Basin may be a weak N2O source of approximately 0.46 ± 0.1 μmol·m−2·d−1, and the continental shelf acts as a strong N2O source of approximately 8.2 ± 1.4 μmol·m−2·d−1. By contrast, the Chukchi Abyssal Plain (CAP) of the Canadian Basin is at least a temporal N2O sink with a strength of approximately −10.2 ± 1.4 μmol·m−2·d−1.
Characterization of Atmospheric Iron Speciation and Acid Processing at Metropolitan Newark on the US East Coast
Authors: Xu Guojie , Gao Yuan
Published: March 2017

To characterize atmospheric dissolved iron over Newark, a large metropolitan city on US east coast, size-segregated (0.056–18 μm in aerodynamic diameter) aerosols were collected in downtown Newark, New Jersey during August to October 2012. Aerosols samples were analyzed for Fe(II) and total dissolved iron (Fe(TD)) by UV/Visible spectroscopy, and water soluble compounds were analyzed by ion chromatograph (IC). Results from this study showed that Fe(II) concentrations were 2.1 ng m−3 (range: 1.2–4.2 ng m−3), Fe(TD) concentrations were 2.4 ng m−3 (range: 1.3–4.9 ng m−3). Dissolved iron (Fe(II) and Fe(TD)) in general appeared as bi-modal size distribution, was mainly accumulated in the fine mode. The highest concentration of dissolved iron displayed in the fine mode, which was associated with high concentrations of sulfate, oxalate and nitrate, suggesting the potential for Fe–acids interactions. Dissolved iron presented positive correlations with sulfate in the coarse mode, and with nitrate in the fine mode, further suggesting the importance of acid processing in aerosol iron solubility. However, as the oxalate concentration was so low, a good correlation between dissolved iron and oxalate in both the fine and coarse mode was not found.
Shannon Information Entropy in Position Space for the Ground and Singly Excited States of Helium with Finite Confinements
Authors: Ou Jen-Hao , Ho Yew
Published: March 2017

We provide benchmark values for Shannon information entropies in position space for the ground state and ls2s 1Se excited state of helium confined with finite confinement potentials by employing the highly correlated Hylleraas-type wave functions. For the excited state, a “tilt” (small oscillation) on the curve of Shannon entropy as a function of width size for the confinement potential is observed. Justified by the behavior of the electron density, the localization or delocalization of the helium wave functions confined with repulsive and attractive finite oscillator (FO) potentials are examined.
Ionic Liquids Confined in Silica Ionogels: Structural, Thermal, and Dynamical Behaviors
Authors: Mitra Subhankur , Cerclier Carole , Berrod Quentin , Ferdeghini Filippo , De Oliveira-Silva Rodrigo , Judeinstein Patrick , Le Bideau Jean , Zanotti Jean-Marc
Published: March 2017

Ionogels are porous monoliths providing nanometer-scale confinement of an ionic liquid within an oxide network. Various dynamic parameters and the detailed nature of phase transitions were investigated by using a neutron scattering technique, giving smaller time and space scales compared to earlier results from other techniques. By investigating the nature of the hydrogen mean square displacement (local mobility), qualitative information on diffusion and different phase transitions were obtained. The results presented herein show similar short-time molecular dynamics between pristine ionic liquids and confined ionic liquids through residence time and diffusion coefficient values, thus, explaining in depth the good ionic conductivity of ionogels.
A Solar Energy Solution for Sustainable Third Generation Mobile Networks
Authors: Alsharif Mohammed
Published: March 2017

The energy consumption of cellular networks has become increasingly important to cellular network operators, due to the significant economic and ecological influence of these networks in the future. The development of alternative energy technologies has resulted in the consideration of a solar powered base station (BS) as a long-term solution for the mobile cellular network industry, to reduce the operational expenditures and CO2 footprints of cellular networks. This study addresses the deployment and operational issues of a solar powered universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS; a third generation mobile cellular system) BS (i.e., Node B) that is currently deployed (i.e., UMTS Node B 2/2/2 and UMTS Node B 4/4/4). In addition, this study employs a hybrid optimization model for an electric renewable software simulator developed by the American National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Four key aspects are discussed in this study: optimal solar system architecture, energy production, the cash flow of the solar powered UMTS Node B project, and the economic feasibility of a solar powered system compared with traditional sources. Simulation results show that the proposed solution ensures 100% energy autonomy and long-term energy balance for the UMTS Node B, with cost effectiveness.
Dystrophic Cardiomyopathy—Potential Role of Calcium in Pathogenesis, Treatment and Novel Therapies
Authors: Johnstone Victoria P. A. , Viola Helena M. , Hool Livia C.
Published: March 2017

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by defects in the DMD gene and results in progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle due to an absence of functional dystrophin. Cardiomyopathy is prominent in DMD patients, and contributes significantly to mortality. This is particularly true following respiratory interventions that reduce death rate and increase ambulation and consequently cardiac load. Cardiomyopathy shows an increasing prevalence with age and disease progression, and over 95% of patients exhibit dilated cardiomyopathy by the time they reach adulthood. Development of the myopathy is complex, and elevations in intracellular calcium, functional muscle ischemia, and mitochondrial dysfunction characterise the pathophysiology. Current therapies are limited to treating symptoms of the disease and there is therefore an urgent need to treat the underlying genetic defect. Several novel therapies are outlined here, and the unprecedented success of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) in preclinical and clinical studies is overviewed.
Development of 44 Novel Polymorphic SSR Markers for Determination of Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes) Cultivars
Authors: Lee Hwa-Yong , Moon Suyun , Shim Donghwan , Hong Chang , Lee Yi , Koo Chang-Duck , Chung Jong-Wook , Ryu Hojin
Published: March 2017

The shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) is one of the most popular edible mushrooms in the world and has attracted attention for its value in medicinal and pharmacological uses. With recent advanced research and techniques, the agricultural cultivation of the shiitake mushroom has been greatly increased, especially in East Asia. Additionally, demand for the development of new cultivars with good agricultural traits has been greatly enhanced, but the development processes are complicated and more challenging than for other edible mushrooms. In this study, we developed 44 novel polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for the determination of shiitake mushroom cultivars based on a whole genome sequencing database of L. edodes. These markers were found to be polymorphic and reliable when screened in 23 shiitake mushroom cultivars. For the 44 SSR markers developed in this study, the major allele frequency ranged from 0.13 to 0.94; the number of genotypes and number of alleles were each 2–11; the observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.00–1.00 and 0.10–0.90, respectively; and the polymorphic information content value ranged from 0.10 to 0.89. These new markers can be used for molecular breeding, the determination of cultivars, and other applications.
Slum Upgrading and Health Equity
Authors: Corburn Jason , Sverdlik Alice
Published: March 2017

Informal settlement upgrading is widely recognized for enhancing shelter and promoting economic development, yet its potential to improve health equity is usually overlooked. Almost one in seven people on the planet are expected to reside in urban informal settlements, or slums, by 2030. Slum upgrading is the process of delivering place-based environmental and social improvements to the urban poor, including land tenure, housing, infrastructure, employment, health services and political and social inclusion. The processes and products of slum upgrading can address multiple environmental determinants of health. This paper reviewed urban slum upgrading evaluations from cities across Asia, Africa and Latin America and found that few captured the multiple health benefits of upgrading. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on improving well-being for billions of city-dwellers, slum upgrading should be viewed as a key strategy to promote health, equitable development and reduce climate change vulnerabilities. We conclude with suggestions for how slum upgrading might more explicitly capture its health benefits, such as through the use of health impact assessment (HIA) and adopting an urban health in all policies (HiAP) framework. Urban slum upgrading must be more explicitly designed, implemented and evaluated to capture its multiple global environmental health benefits.
Unintentional Injuries and Violence among Adults in Northern Jordan: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study
Authors: Alzghoul Manal , Shakhatreh Mohammed , Al-sheyab Nihaya
Published: March 2017

Injuries (unintentional and intentional) are the main cause of death and disability worldwide, including Jordan. The main purpose of this hospital-based retrospective study was to identify characteristics, causes, and risk factors of unintentional injuries and violence among all adult patients who approached the Accidents and Emergency department because of injury in Northern Jordan. Data were collected retrospectively from four major hospitals from January 2008 to January 2013. A total of 2425 Jordanian individuals who accessed and were treated by the four hospitals were included in this study. The findings show that the majority of patients who approached the Accidents and Emergency departments in the four hospitals were males (n = 2044, 87.16%) versus females (n = 301, 12.8%). Violence was the most common reason of injury (70.66%), followed by road traffic crashes (23.21%). The most common anatomical locations of reported injuries were the head (38.74%), followed by abdomen/pelvis and lower back, among males and females (9.93%). Violence had a high significant effect on the site of injuries. Patients who had been injured to the head because of a stab wound or fighting were substantially over-involved in head injuries, with injury rates 3.88 and 7.51 times higher than those who had been injured to the head due to gunshot, respectively. Even patients who had been injured to the head because of assault show much higher involvement in injury risk than non-assault patients (Odds Ratio = 8.46). These findings highlight the need for a large national study to confirm the findings. It also draws attention to the importance of public awareness and to special injury prevention programs that not only focus on saving lives and lessening the number of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but also to limit the social and economic burden of injury among adults in Northern Jordan.
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Approach to Neuroprotection and Repair
Authors: Knott Eric , Assi Mazen , Rao Sudheendra , Ghosh Mousumi , Pearse Damien
Published: March 2017

A wide diversity of perturbations of the central nervous system (CNS) result in structural damage to the neuroarchitecture and cellular defects, which in turn are accompanied by neurological dysfunction and abortive endogenous neurorepair. Altering intracellular signaling pathways involved in inflammation and immune regulation, neural cell death, axon plasticity and remyelination has shown therapeutic benefit in experimental models of neurological disease and trauma. The second messengers, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP), are two such intracellular signaling targets, the elevation of which has produced beneficial cellular effects within a range of CNS pathologies. The only known negative regulators of cyclic nucleotides are a family of enzymes called phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides into adenosine monophosphate (AMP) or guanylate monophosphate (GMP). Herein, we discuss the structure and physiological function as well as the roles PDEs play in pathological processes of the diseased or injured CNS. Further we review the approaches that have been employed therapeutically in experimental paradigms to block PDE expression or activity and in turn elevate cyclic nucleotide levels to mediate neuroprotection or neurorepair as well as discuss both the translational pathway and current limitations in moving new PDE-targeted therapies to the clinic.
Aesthetic Local Search of Wind Farm Layouts
Authors: Mayo Michael , Daoud Maisa
Published: March 2017

The visual impact of wind farm layouts has seen little consideration in the literature on the wind farm layout optimisation problem to date. Most existing algorithms focus on optimising layouts for power or the cost of energy alone. In this paper, we consider the geometry of wind farm layouts and whether it is possible to bi-optimise a layout for both energy efficiency and the degree of visual impact that the layout exhibits. We develop a novel optimisation approach for solving the problem which measures mathematically the degree of visual impact of a layout. The approach draws inspiration from the field of architecture. To evaluate our ideas, we demonstrate them on three benchmark problems for the wind farm layout optimisation problem in conjunction with two recently-published stochastic local search algorithms. Optimal patterned layouts are shown to be very close in terms of energy efficiency to optimal non-patterned layouts.
Manufacturing Feasibility and Forming Properties of Cu-4Sn in Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Mao Zhongfa , Zhang David , Wei Peitang , Zhang Kaifei
Published: March 2017

Copper alloys, combined with selective laser melting (SLM) technology, have attracted increasing attention in aerospace engineering, automobile, and medical fields. However, there are some difficulties in SLM forming owing to low laser absorption and excellent thermal conductivity. It is, therefore, necessary to explore a copper alloy in SLM. In this research, manufacturing feasibility and forming properties of Cu-4Sn in SLM were investigated through a systematic experimental approach. Single-track experiments were used to narrow down processing parameter windows. A Greco-Latin square design with orthogonal parameter arrays was employed to control forming qualities of specimens. Analysis of variance was applied to establish statistical relationships, which described the effects of different processing parameters (i.e., laser power, scanning speed, and hatch space) on relative density (RD) and Vickers hardness of specimens. It was found that Cu-4Sn specimens were successfully manufactured by SLM for the first time and both its RD and Vickers hardness were mainly determined by the laser power. The maximum value of RD exceeded 93% theoretical density and the maximum value of Vickers hardness reached 118 HV 0.3/5. The best tensile strength of 316–320 MPa is inferior to that of pressure-processed Cu-4Sn and can be improved further by reducing defects.
Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: A Review of Their History, Structure, Properties, Coating Technologies and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Eliaz Noam , Metoki Noah
Published: March 2017

Calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are widely used in the field of bone regeneration, both in orthopedics and in dentistry, due to their good biocompatibility, osseointegration and osteoconduction. The aim of this article is to review the history, structure, properties and clinical applications of these materials, whether they are in the form of bone cements, paste, scaffolds, or coatings. Major analytical techniques for characterization of CaPs, in vitro and in vivo tests, and the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international standards from CaP coatings on orthopedic and dental endosseous implants, are also summarized, along with the possible effect of sterilization on these materials. CaP coating technologies are summarized, with a focus on electrochemical processes. Theories on the formation of transient precursor phases in biomineralization, the dissolution and reprecipitation as bone of CaPs are discussed. A wide variety of CaPs are presented, from the individual phases to nano-CaP, biphasic and triphasic CaP formulations, composite CaP coatings and cements, functionally graded materials (FGMs), and antibacterial CaPs. We conclude by foreseeing the future of CaPs.
Effect of Immobilized Antithrombin III on the Thromboresistance of Polycarbonate Urethane
Authors: Lukas Karin , Stadtherr Karin , Gessner Andre , Wehner Daniel , Schmid Thomas , Wendel Hans , Schmid Christof , Lehle Karla
Published: March 2017

The surface of foils and vascular grafts made from a thermoplastic polycarbonate urethanes (PCU) (Chronoflex AR) were chemically modified using gas plasma treatment, binding of hydrogels—(1) polyethylene glycol bisdiamine and carboxymethyl dextran (PEG-DEX) and (2) polyethyleneimine (PEI)—and immobilization of human antithrombin III (AT). Their biological impact was tested in vitro under static and dynamic conditions. Static test methods showed a significantly reduced adhesion of endothelial cells, platelets, and bacteria, compared to untreated PCU. Modified PCU grafts were circulated in a Chandler-Loop model for 90 min at 37 °C with human blood. Before and after circulation, parameters of the hemostatic system (coagulation, platelets, complement, and leukocyte activation) were analyzed. PEI-AT significantly inhibited the activation of both coagulation and platelets and prevented the activation of leukocytes and complement. In conclusion, both modifications significantly reduce coagulation activation, but only PEI-AT creates anti-bacterial and anti-thrombogenic functionality.
A Series of Robust Copper-Based Triazolyl Isophthalate MOFs: Impact of Linker Functionalization on Gas Sorption and Catalytic Activity †
Authors: Junghans Ulrike , Kobalz Merten , Erhart Oliver , Preißler Hannes , Lincke Jörg , Möllmer Jens , Krautscheid Harald , Gläser Roger
Published: March 2017

The synthesis and characterization of an isomorphous series of copper-containing microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on triazolyl isophthalate linkers with the general formula [Cu4(μ3-OH)2(R1-R2-trz-ia)3(H2O)x] are presented. Through size adjustment of the alkyl substituents R1 and/or R2 at the linker, the impact of linker functionalization on structure-property relationships was studied. Due to the arrangement of the substituents towards the cavities, the porosity (pore fraction 28%–39%), as well as the pore size can be adjusted by the size of the substituents of the triazole ring. Thermal analysis and temperature-dependent PXRD studies reveal a thermal stability of the MOFs up to 230 °C due to increasing framework stability through fine-tuning of the linker substitution pattern. Adsorption of CO2 (298 K) shows a decreasing maximum loading with increasing steric demand of the substituents of the triazole ring. Furthermore, the selective oxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is studied over the MOFs at 323 K in liquid chloroform. The catalytic activity increases with the steric demand of the substituents. Additionally, these isomorphous MOFs exhibit considerable robustness under oxidizing conditions confirmed by CO2 adsorption studies, as well as by the catalytic selective oxidation experiments.
Development and Application of Wood Flour-Filled Polylactic Acid Composite Filament for 3D Printing
Authors: Tao Yubo , Wang Honglei , Li Zelong , Li Peng , Shi Sheldon Q.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents the development of wood flour (WF)-filled polylactic acid (PLA) composite filaments for a fused deposition modeling (FDM) process with the aim of application to 3D printing. The composite filament consists of wood flour (5 wt %) in a PLA matrix. The detailed formulation and characterization of the composite filament were investigated experimentally, including tensile properties, microstructure, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The feedstock filaments of this composite were produced and used successfully in an assembled FDM 3D printer. The research concludes that compared with pure PLA filament, adding WF changed the microstructure of material fracture surface, the initial deformation resistance of the composite was enhanced, the starting thermal degradation temperature of the composite decreased slightly, and there were no effects on the melting temperature. The WF/PLA composite filament is suitable to be printed by the FDM process.
Applications and Thermodynamic Analysis of Equilibrium Solution for Secondary Phases in Ti–N–C Gear Steel System with Nano-Particles
Authors: Wang Yanlin , Zhou Meng , Pang Xiaolu , Volinsky Alex , Chen Mingwen , Gao Kewei
Published: March 2017

Thermodynamic analysis and computations of the equilibrium solution for the multivariable secondary phase in steels have been conducted, based on the chemical equilibrium. Solid solution precipitation in the Ti–N–C microalloy steel for the secondary phase was analyzed, and its engineering application in the development of carburizing gear steels was investigated. The complete dissolution temperature increases with more C, N, or Ti in gear steels, and the effects of Ti and N are more significant than C. At a given temperature, the amount of [Ti] increases naturally with more Ti element content, while it decreases with more C or N elements content. It declines rapidly in the complete dissolution temperature range in steels until 1100 °C. The effective activity coefficient k1 increases with the temperature decreases, and increases with the higher content of Ti or C, while it decreases with the higher N content under the same temperature. Thermodynamic analysis shows that nitrogen has been precipitated largely as TiN micron-particles above 1400 °C in gear steels. Then, titanium precipitated mainly as TiC nano-particles, thus this secondary phase can hinder grain coarsening during heat treatment.
Large-Area Piezoelectric PVDF Fibers Fabricated by Near-Field Electrospinning with Multi-Spinneret Structures
Authors: Pan Cheng-Tang , Tsai Kuo-Chang , Wang Shao-Yu , Yen Chung-Kun , Lin Yan-Liang
Published: March 2017

In the study, we improved the near-field electrospinning (NFES) by multi-spinnerets with a cylindrical collector to fabricate a large area permanent piezoelectric of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers array. We designed multi-spinnerets by using printed circuit board (PCB) and drilled spinnerets on the solder balls. With different process parameters, we can obtain different diameters of PVDF fibers. By using the Taguchi method analysis, we found that the optimum sample of PVDF fiber arrays were manufactured by an electrical field of 1.6 × 107 V/m. The cylindrical collector with high tangential velocity of 1779.9 mm/s and the heat treatment temperature of 65 °C for one hour. In addition, we used X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze β-phase crystal quality and the surface character of PVDF fibers, respectively. From the observation of XRD, it revealed a high diffraction peak at 2θ = 20.6° of piezoelectric crystal β-phase structure. As PVDF solution with concentration of 18 wt % and the conductivity of 44.2 μS/cm was electrospun via NFES with multi-spinneret structure, we obtained a smooth manufacturing process. When the periodical tapping frequency was applied with 9 Hz, the maximum peak voltage of 86.9 mV was generated. In a cicada’s wing test, when the tapping frequency input was applied during 10–50 Hz, the maximum output voltage signals of 6.2 mV were generated.
Determination of Ultra-trace Rhodium in Water Samples by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Cloud Point Extraction Using 2-(5-Iodo-2-Pyridylazo)-5-Dimethylaminoaniline as a Chelating Agent
Authors: Han Quan , Huo Yanyan , Wu Jiangyan , He Yaping , Yang Xiaohui , Yang Longhu
Published: March 2017

A highly sensitive method based on cloud point extraction (CPE) separation/preconcentration and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) detection has been developed for the determination of ultra-trace amounts of rhodium in water samples. A new reagent, 2-(5-iodo-2-pyridylazo)-5-dimethylaminoaniline (5-I-PADMA), was used as the chelating agent and the nonionic surfactant TritonX-114 was chosen as extractant. In a HAc-NaAc buffer solution at pH 5.5, Rh(III) reacts with 5-I-PADMA to form a stable chelate by heating in a boiling water bath for 10 min. Subsequently, the chelate is extracted into the surfactant phase and separated from bulk water. The factors affecting CPE were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.1–6.0 ng/mL, the detection limit was 0.023 ng/mL for rhodium and relative standard deviation was 3.67% (c = 1.0 ng/mL, n = 11)．The method has been applied to the determination of trace rhodium in water samples with satisfactory results
Design and Synthesis of Novel Pyrazole-Substituted Different Nitrogenous Heterocyclic Ring Systems as Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Authors: Nossier Eman , Fahmy Hoda , Khalifa Nagy , El-Eraky Wafaa , Baset Marawan
Published: March 2017

With the aim of developing novel anti-inflammatory scaffolds, a new series of pyrazole-substituted various nitrogenous heterocyclic ring systems at C-4 position were synthesized through different chemical reactions and validated by means of spectral and elemental data. The new obtained compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan-induced paw edema standard technique and revealed that, compound 6b showed increased potency with % inhibition of edema 85.23 ± 1.92 and 85.78 ± 0.99, respectively, higher than the standard reference drugs indomethacin and celebrex (72.99% and 83.76%). Molecular modeling studies were initiated herein to validate the attained pharmacological data and provide understandable evidence for the observed anti-inflammatory behavior.
A Study of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Levoglucosan Derivatives
Authors: Quiquempoix Lucas , Bogdan Elena , Wells Neil , Le Questel Jean-Yves , Graton Jérôme , Linclau Bruno
Published: March 2017

Organofluorine is a weak hydrogen-bond (HB) acceptor. Bernet et al. have demonstrated its capability to perturb OH···O intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IMHBs), using conformationally rigid carbohydrate scaffolds including levoglucosan derivatives. These investigations are supplemented here by experimental and theoretical studies involving six new levoglucosan derivatives, and complement the findings of Bernet et al. However, it is shown that conformational analysis is instrumental in interpreting the experimental data, due to the occurrence of non-intramolecular hydrogen-bonded populations which, although minor, cannot be neglected and appears surprisingly significant. The DFT conformational analysis, together with the computation of NMR parameters (coupling constants and chemical shifts) and wavefunction analyses (AIM, NBO), provides a full picture. Thus, for all compounds, the most stabilized structures show the OH groups in a conformation allowing IMHB with O5 and O6, when possible. Furthermore, the combined approach points out the occurrence of various IMHBs and the effect of the chemical modulations on their features. Thus, two-center or three-center IMHB interactions are observed in these compounds, depending on the presence or absence of additional HB acceptors, such as methoxy or fluorine.
(R)-(−)-Aloesaponol III 8-Methyl Ether from Eremurus persicus: A Novel Compound against Leishmaniosis
Authors: Rossi Daniela , Ahmed Karzan , Gaggeri Raffaella , Della Volpe Serena , Maggi Lauretta , Mazzeo Giuseppe , Longhi Giovanna , Abbate Sergio , Corana Federica , Martino Emanuela , Machado Marisa , Varandas Raquel , Sousa Maria , Collina Simona
Published: March 2017

Leishmaniosis is a neglected tropical disease which affects several millions of people worldwide. The current drug therapies are expensive and often lack efficacy, mainly due to the development of parasite resistance. Hence, there is an urgent need for new drugs effective against Leishmania infections. As a part of our ongoing study on the phytochemical characterization and biological investigation of plants used in the traditional medicine of western and central Asia, in the present study, we focused on Eremurus persicus root extract in order to evaluate its potential in the treatment of leishmaniosis. As a result of our study, aloesaponol III 8-methyl ether (ASME) was isolated for the first time from Eremurus persicus root extract, its chemical structure elucidated by means of IR and NMR experiments and the (R) configuration assigned by optical activity measurements: chiroptical aspects were investigated with vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopies and DFT (density functional theory) quantum mechanical calculations. Concerning biological investigations, our results clearly proved that (R)-ASME inhibits Leishmania infantum promastigotes viability (IC50 73 µg/mL), inducing morphological alterations and mitochondrial potential deregulation. Moreover, it is not toxic on macrophages at the concentration tested, thus representing a promising molecule against Leishmania infections.