bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment score: comparison with real-world cerebrovascular practice
Authors: Ravindra Vijay M. , de Havenon Adam , Gooldy Timothy C. , Scoville Jonathan , Guan Jian , Couldwell William T. , Taussky Philipp , MacDonald Joel D. , Schmidt Richard H. , Park Min S.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment score (UIATS) recommendations with the real-world experience in a quaternary academic medical center with a high volume of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

METHODS

All patients with UIAs evaluated during a 3-year period were included. All factors included in the UIATS were abstracted, and patients were scored using the UIATS. Patients were categorized in a contingency table assessing UIATS recommendation versus real-world treatment decision. The authors calculated the percentage of misclassification, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

A total of 221 consecutive patients with UIAs met the inclusion criteria: 69 (31%) patients underwent treatment and 152 (69%) did not. Fifty-nine (27%) patients had a UIATS between −2 and 2, which does not offer a treatment recommendation, leaving 162 (73%) patients with a UIATS treatment recommendation. The UIATS was significantly associated with treatment (p < 0.001); however, the sensitivity, specificity, and percentage of misclassification were 49%, 80%, and 28%, respectively. Notably, 51% of patients for whom treatment would be recommended by the UIATS did not undergo treatment in the real-world cohort and 20% of patients for whom conservative management would be recommended by UIATS had intervention. The area under the ROC curve was 0.646.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the authors’ experience, the UIATS recommended overtreatment of UIAs. Although the UIATS could be used as a screening tool, individualized treatment recommendations based on consultation with a cerebrovascular specialist are necessary. Further validation with longitudinal data on rupture rates of UIAs is needed before widespread use.
Surgical timing for cervical and upper thoracic injuries in patients with polytrauma
Authors: Lubelski Daniel , Tharin Suzanne , Como John J. , Steinmetz Michael P. , Vallier Heather , Moore Timothy
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have investigated the advantages of early spinal stabilization in the patient with polytrauma in terms of reduction of morbidity and mortality. Previous analyses have shown that early stabilization may reduce ICU stay, with no effect on complication rates.

METHODS

The authors prospectively observed 340 polytrauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of greater than 16 at a single Level 1 trauma center who were treated in accordance with a protocol termed “early appropriate care,” which emphasizes operative treatment of various fractures within 36 hours of injury. Of these patients, 46 had upper thoracic and/or cervical spine injuries. The authors retrospectively compared patients treated according to protocol versus those who were not. Continuous variables were compared using independent t-tests and categorical variables using Fisher’s exact test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to account for baseline confounding factors.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 46 patients (30%) did not undergo surgery within 36 hours. These patients were significantly more likely to be older than those in the protocol group (53 vs 38 years, p = 0.008) and have greater body mass index (BMI; 33 vs 27, p = 0.02), and they were less likely to have a spinal cord injury (SCI) (82% did not have an SCI vs 44% in the protocol group, p = 0.04). In terms of outcomes, patients in the protocol-breach group had significantly more total ventilator days (13 vs 6 days, p = 0.02) and total ICU days (16 vs 9 days, p = 0.03). Infection rates were 14% in the protocol-breach group and 3% in the protocol group (p = 0.2) Total complications trended toward being statistically significantly more common in the protocol-breach group (57% vs 31%). After controlling for potential confounding variables by logistic regression (including age, sex, BMI, race, and SCI), total complications were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in the protocol-breach group (OR 29, 95% CI 1.9–1828). This indicates that the odds of developing “any complication” were 29 times greater if treatment was delayed more than 36 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Early surgical stabilization in the polytrauma patient with a cervical or upper thoracic spine injury is associated with fewer complications and improved outcomes. Hospitals may consider the benefit of protocols that promote early stabilization in this patient population.
Spinal cord injury after traumatic spine fracture in patients with ankylosing spinal disorders
Authors: Teunissen Frederik R. , Verbeek Bianca M. , Cha Thomas D. , Schwab Joseph H.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major complication of spinal fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Due to the uncommon nature of these conditions, existing literature consists of relatively small case series without detailed neurological data. This study aims to investigate the incidence, predictors, and sequelae of SCI in patients with a traumatic fracture of the ankylosed spine.

METHODS

The study included all patients older than 18 years of age with AS or DISH who presented to two affiliated tertiary care centers between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2016, and had a traumatic fracture of the spine. Factors associated with SCI after traumatic fracture were compared using Fisher’s exact tests. Logistic regression was used for the analysis of predictive factors for SCI. For the comparison of probability of survival between patients with and without SCI, Kaplan-Meier methodology was used.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-two patients with a traumatic fracture of an ankylosed spine were included. Fifty-seven patients (34.1%) had an SCI associated with the fracture. The cervical spine was the most fractured region for patients both with (77.2%) and without (51.4%) SCI. A cervical fracture (odds ratio [OR] 2.70, p = 0.024) and a spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after fracture (OR 2.69, p = 0.013) were predictive of SCI. Eleven patients (19.3%) with SCI had delayed SCI (range 8–230 days). Of 44 patients with SCI and sufficient follow-up, 20 (45.5%) had neurological improvement after treatment. Early and late complication rates were significantly higher (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004) and hospital stay was significantly longer (p = 0.001) in patients with SCI. The probability of survival was significantly lower in the SCI group compared with the non-SCI group (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of SCI was high after fracture of the spine in patients with AS and DISH. Predictive factors for SCI after fracture were a fracture in the cervical spine and an SEH following fracture. One-fifth of the patients with SCI had delayed SCI. Patients with SCI had more complications, a longer hospital stay, and a lower probability of survival. Less than half of the patients with SCI showed neurological improvement.
Evolution of the postoperative sagittal spinal profile in early-onset scoliosis: is there a difference between rib-based and spine-based growth-friendly instrumentation?
Authors: Chen Zhonghui , Li Song , Qiu Yong , Zhu Zezhang , Chen Xi , Xu Liang , Sun Xu
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Although the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) and growing rod instrumentation (GRI) encourage spinal growth via regular lengthening, they can create different results because of their different fixation patterns and mechanisms in correcting scoliosis. Previous studies have focused comparisons on coronal plane deformity with minimal attention to the sagittal profile. In this retrospective study, the authors aimed to compare the evolution of the sagittal spinal profile in early-onset scoliosis (EOS) treated with VEPTR versus GRI.

METHODS

The data for 11 patients with VEPTR and 22 with GRI were reviewed. All patients had more than 2 years’ follow-up with more than 2 lengthening procedures. Radiographic measurements were performed before and after the index surgery and at the latest follow-up. The complications in both groups were recorded.

RESULTS

Patients in both groups had similar diagnoses, age at the index surgery, and number of lengthening procedures. The changes in the major coronal Cobb angle and T1–S1 spinal height were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Compared with the GRI group, the VEPTR group had less correction in thoracic kyphosis (23% ± 12% vs 44% ± 16%, p < 0.001) after the index surgery and experienced a greater correction loss in thoracic kyphosis (46% ± 18% vs 11% ± 8%, p < 0.001) at the latest follow-up. Although the increase in the proximal junctional angle was not significantly different (VEPTR: 7° ± 4° vs GRI: 8° ± 5°, p = 0.569), the incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis was relatively lower in the VEPTR group (VEPTR: 18.2% vs GRI: 22.7%). No significant changes in the spinopelvic parameters were observed, while the sagittal vertical axis showed a tendency toward a neutral position in both groups. The overall complication rate was higher in the VEPTR group than in the GRI group (72.7% vs 54.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The VEPTR had coronal correction and spinal growth results similar to those with GRI. In the sagittal plane, however, the VEPTR was not comparable to the GRI in controlling thoracic kyphosis. Thus, for hyperkyphotic EOS patients, GRI is recommended over VEPTR.
Biotransformation of Androst-4-Ene-3,17-Dione by Some Fungi
Authors: Yildirim Kudret , Kuru Ali , Keskin Ece , Salihoglu Aylin , Bukum Neslihan
Published: October 2017

The incubations of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione with Aspergillus candidus MRC 200634, Aspergillus tamarii MRC 72400, Aspergillus wentii MRC 200316 and Mucor hiemalis MRC 70325 for 5 days are reported. A. candidus MRC 200634 mainly hydroxylated androst-4-ene-3,17-dione at C-11α, C-15α and C-15β whilst A. wentii MRC 200316 hydroxylated it mainly at C-6β. A. tamarii MRC 72400 showed predominately a Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase activity. M. hiemalis MRC 70325 hydroxylated the substrate at C-14α and reduced most of it at C-17.
Synthesis of Novel Spiro(Indolizine-Pyrazole) Derivatives via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Nitrilimine
Authors: Zhang Shaowei , Hu Xiaolian , Tao Hongwen , Liu Haochong , Li Xiaofang
Published: October 2017

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrilimine, generated in situ from N′-phenylbenzohydrazonoyl chloride and triethylamine, to 7-arylmethylidene-6,7-dihydroindolizin-8( 5H)-one afforded novel 4′-aryl-2′,5′-diphenyl-2′,4′,5,6-tetrahydro-8 H-spiro(indolazine-7,3′-pyrazol)-8-ones in moderate yields. The structures of all the products were characterised thoroughly by NMR, infrared spectroscopy and HRMS. The structure and stereochemistry was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.
An Efficient One-Pot Method for a Highly Stereoselective Base-Catalysed Synthesis of Novel Trans-Spirocyclopropane-Indanedione Derivatives
Authors: Havasian Azadeh , Mosslemin Mohammad H. , Nateghi Mohammad R. , Kalantari-Fotooh Forough
Published: October 2017

A one-pot, efficient, synthesis of six novel trans-spirocyclopropane-indanedione derivatives with high stereoselectivity has been achieved via the reaction of acetopyridinium chloride with 1,3-indandione and an araldehyde in the presence of triethylamine in acetonitrile under reflux conditions. The attractive features of the method are excellent yields and high purity, short reaction times, and easy work-up.
Rhetorical figures as argument schemes – The proleptic suite
Authors: Mehlenbacher Ashley Rose
Published: October 2017

Identifying rhetorical figures with marginal to non-existent lexico-syntactic signatures poses significant challenges for computational approaches reliant upon structural definitions or descriptions. One such figure is prolepsis ([Formula: see text]ó[Formula: see text]), which this essay charts out in some detail, addressing the challenges and the benefits of rendering such figures computationally tractable through the use of argument schemes with attention to metadiscursive or macro-discursive norms offered by pragma-dialectical traditions.
Lowness for isomorphism and degrees of genericity
Authors: Franklin Johanna N.Y. , Turetsky Dan
Published: October 2017

A Turing degree d is said to be low for isomorphism if whenever two computable structures are d-computably isomorphic, then they are actually computably isomorphic. We construct a real that is 1-generic and low for isomorphism but not computable from a 2-generic and thus provide a counterexample to Franklin and Solomon’s conjecture that the properly 1-generic degrees are neither low for isomorphism nor degrees of categoricity.
Multiple System Atrophy: An Oligodendroglioneural Synucleinopathy
Authors: Jellinger Kurt A.
Published: October 2017

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an orphan, fatal, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder of uncertain etiology that is clinically characterized by various combinations of parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic, and motor dysfunction. MSA is an α-synucleinopathy with specific glioneuronal degeneration involving striatonigral, olivopontocerebellar, and autonomic nervous systems but also other parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The major clinical variants correlate with the morphologic phenotypes of striatonigral degeneration (MSA-P) and olivopontocerebellar atrophy (MSA-C). While our knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of this devastating disease is still incomplete, updated consensus criteria and combined fluid and imaging biomarkers have increased its diagnostic accuracy. The neuropathologic hallmark of this unique proteinopathy is the deposition of aberrant α-synuclein in both glia (mainly oligodendroglia) and neurons forming glial and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions that cause cell dysfunction and demise. In addition, there is widespread demyelination, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. The pathogenesis of MSA is characterized by propagation of misfolded α-synuclein from neurons to oligodendroglia and cell-to-cell spreading in a “prion-like” manner, oxidative stress, proteasomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, dysregulation of myelin lipids, decreased neurotrophic factors, neuroinflammation, and energy failure. The combination of these mechanisms finally results in a system-specific pattern of neurodegeneration and a multisystem involvement that are specific for MSA. Despite several pharmacological approaches in MSA models, addressing these pathogenic mechanisms, no effective neuroprotective nor disease-modifying therapeutic strategies are currently available. Multidisciplinary research to elucidate the genetic and molecular background of the deleterious cycle of noxious processes, to develop reliable biomarkers and targets for effective treatment of this hitherto incurable disorder is urgently needed.
Differences in Parkinson’s Disease Risk with Caffeine Intake and Postmenopausal Hormone Use
Authors: Kim Iris Y. , O’Reilly Éilis J. , Hughes Katherine C. , Gao Xiang , Schwarzschild Michael A. , Ascherio Alberto
Published: October 2017

Background:

Caffeine intake has been associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This association is robust in men, but inconsistent in women due to a possible interaction with post-menopausal hormone (PMH) use.

Objective:

To (1) evaluate the association between caffeine intake and PD risk and (2) assess potential effect modification of the association by PMH use among women.

Methods:

We examined associations between caffeine intake and incident PD risk in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) (N = 121,701 women) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) (N = 51,529 men). Dietary data on coffee and caffeine from other sources were collected every four years using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for both cohorts. Information on lifestyle and incident PD diagnosis was updated biennially and PD diagnoses were confirmed by medical record review. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

We documented a total of 1,219 PD cases over the follow-up period. The multivariable-adjusted HR comparing the highest to lowest quintile of caffeine intake was 0.50 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.68; Ptrend<0.0001) in the HPFS. Among women, there was a suggestion of an interaction between coffee intake and PMH use ( P = 0.08). In the pooled analyses combining men and women who have never used PMH, the risk of PD was lower as coffee intake increased ( Ptrend<0.001).

Conclusions:

Our results support previous findings that increased caffeine intake may be associated with a decreased PD risk in men and women who have never used PMH.
The effects of exercise on cognitive function and brain plasticity – a feasibility trial
Authors: Gomes-Osman Joyce , Cabral Danylo F. , Hinchman Carrie , Jannati Ali , Morris Timothy P. , Pascual-Leone Alvaro
Published: October 2017

Background:

Exercise-mediated cognitive improvements can be at least partly attributed to neuroplastic changes in the nervous system, and may be influenced by the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to assess mechanisms of plasticity in humans noninvasively.

Objectives:

To assess the feasibility of evaluating the effects of short-term regular exercise on cognitive performance, and to evaluate the relationship between these effects, TMS measures of plasticity, and BDNF Met carrier status in young healthy sedentary adults.

Methods:

Of the 19 participants who enrolled in the study, 14 sedentary adults (12 females, age mean± SD, 27±12.3 yr), with less than two sessions of physical exercise in the preceding 2 months, completed an aerobic exercise regimen including four 30-min daily sessions per week for 4 weeks (for a total of 16 sessions) delivered at 55–64% of age-predicted maximal heart rate. Prior to and following the exercise regimen, participants performed a neuropsychological test battery and an intermittent theta-burst TMS plasticity protocol.

Results:

All participants completed the various measures and adhered to the exercise regimen. There were no complications and the results obtained were reliable. The feasibility of the approach is thus well established. Between-group comparisons of pre-post change revealed trends toward increased performance on the Stroop and faster reaction times in the CPT detectability in the Val66Val subgroup ( p = 0.07 and p = 0.08), and a reduction in TBS-induced modulation of TMS responses in Met carriers ( p = 0.07).

Conclusion:

Acute exercise interventions in sedentary adults can be meaningfully conducted along with cognitive and neurophysiologic measures to assess behavioral and neurobiological effects and assessment of BDNF polymorphism. TMS measures of plasticity can be used to evaluate the effects of exercise on brain plasticity, and relate them to neuropsychological measures of cognition.
“How drie a Cinder this world is”: Dissociation of Sensibility Redux
Authors: Young R. V.
Published: October 2017

Although T.S. Eliot's phrase “dissociation of sensibility,” applied to the changes in poetry during the seventeenth century, made a stir when he introduced it in the review essay “The Metaphysical Poets” in 1921, it draws less attention now, and seems never to have been adequately explained. Since Eliot's claims are, in part, historical, it makes sense to consider the most historically significant changes occurring during the seventeenth century. It is during this period that the Reformation culminates and its effects become permanently established. Several recent studies of the Reformation by Charles Taylor, Brad Gregory, and Carlos M.N. Eire provide clues about how the religious and social cataclysm of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries may have affected the poetic imagination. James Smith's classic essay, “The Metaphysical Poets,” offers a way of analyzing the figurative language of seventeenth-century poetry in order to grasp the impact of the religious change. The investigations by Taylor, Gregory, and Eire into the dynamic of the reforming tendency, beginning in the late Middle Ages, as well as the Scotist and nominalist intellectual underpinnings of the Reformation, prove to be pertinent to Eliot's insight regarding seventeenth-century poetry. The growth of individualism, personal anxiety about religious choice, and materialism portend a general movement towards secularization and influence the way poets see the world. Dissociation of sensibility can thus be understood as a result of the effect of the religious and social dislocations of the Reformation in the realm of poetry.
Watching Valuation Coevolve with Production
Authors: Leary Christopher
Published: October 2017

This research note uses interviews and observations of anthology editors to explore how valuation practices shift depending on the stage of anthology construction. In the textual environment described here, editors tended to value texts related to their own lives during the early stages of construction. Later on in the process, editors sought texts related to the texts they had already gathered. In this later stage, editors performed “constant comparison,” scanning texts for concepts related to concepts identified in previously acquired texts. The research note also describes the complex relationship between editors’ valuation and writers’ production. Valuation trends became known to writers, who then shifted their production practices, which became known to editors, who then shifted their editorial practices, which became known to writers, and so on. The note concludes with speculative commentary on implications for other fields such as art collecting.
Modelling and numerical simulation of Supercritical CO2 debinding of Inconel 718 components elaborated by Metal Injection Molding
Authors: Agne Aboubakry , Barrière Thierry
Published: October 2017

A debinding step using the supercritical state of a fluid has been increasingly investigated for extracting organic binders from components obtained by metal-injection molding. It consists of placing the component in an enclosure subjected to pressure and temperatures higher than the critical point to perform polymer extraction of the Metal-injection molding (MIM) component. It is an alternative to conventional solvent debinding. The topic of this study is to model and simulate the supercritical debinding stage to elucidate the mechanism of polymer degradation and stabilization with a three-dimensional model. Modelling this extraction process would optimize the process on an industrial scale. It can be physically described by Fick’s law of diffusion. The model’s main parameter is the diffusion coefficient, which is identified by using linear regression based on the least-squares method. In the model, an effective length scale is specially developed to take into account the diffusion in all directions. The tests were performed for extracting polyethylene glycol, an organic additive, using supercritical CO2 in injected components. The feedstock is composed of polypropylene, polyethylene glycol, and stearic-acid as binder mixed with Inconel 718 super-alloy powders. The identified parameters were used to calculate the diffusion coefficient and simulate the supercritical debinding step on the Comsol Multiphysics® finite-element software platform to predict the remaining binder. The obtained numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The proposed numerical simulations allow for the determination of the remaining polyethylene glycol (PEG) binder distribution with respect to processing parameters for components during the supercritical debinding process at any time. Moreover, this approach can be used in other formulation, powder, and binder systems.
Fault Diagnosis of a Reconfigurable Crawling–Rolling Robot Based on Support Vector Machines
Authors: Elangovan Karthikeyan , Krishnasamy Tamilselvam Yokhesh , Mohan Rajesh , Iwase Masami , Takuma Nemoto , Wood Kristin
Published: October 2017

As robots begin to perform jobs autonomously, with minimal or no human intervention, a new challenge arises: robots also need to autonomously detect errors and recover from faults. In this paper, we present a Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based fault diagnosis system for a bio-inspired reconfigurable robot named Scorpio. The diagnosis system needs to detect and classify faults while Scorpio uses its crawling and rolling locomotion modes. Specifically, we classify between faulty and non-faulty conditions by analyzing onboard Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor data. The data capture nine different locomotion gaits, which include rolling and crawling modes, at three different speeds. Statistical methods are applied to extract features and to reduce the dimensionality of original IMU sensor data features. These statistical features were given as inputs for training and testing. Additionally, the c-Support Vector Classification (c-SVC) and nu-SVC models of SVM, and their fault classification accuracies, were compared. The results show that the proposed SVM approach can be used to autonomously diagnose locomotion gait faults while the reconfigurable robot is in operation.
Analysis of Powertrain Loading Dynamic Characteristics and the Effects on Fatigue Damage
Authors: Bai Jinyang , Wu Xuelei , Gao Feng , Li Hongbiao
Published: October 2017

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of key factors on the powertrain loading dynamic characteristics and fatigue damage. First, the engine and the transmission output shaft torque of a multi-axle vehicle powertrain system were measured by proving grounds (PG) testing and analyzed with a conclusion that the powertrain loading changes were mainly related to three key factors: the mean engine torque, the harmonic engine torque, and the vibration properties of the system. Subsequently, a dynamic model considering the three factors was built and validated by the test data. Finally, fatigue damage of shaft parts and gear parts were calculated to investigate the influence degrees of the three factors. The results show that, the harmonic engine torque and the vibration properties of the powertrain system have a great influence on the fatigue damage of shaft parts, and the mean engine torque is the main factor causing the fatigue damage of gear parts.
The Uncertain Role of Biogenic VOC for Boundary-Layer Ozone Concentration: Example Investigation of Emissions from Two Forest Types with a Box Model
Authors: Bonn Boris , Kreuzwieser Jürgen , Sander Felicitas , Yousefpour Rasoul , Baggio Tommaso , Adewale Oladeinde
Published: October 2017

High levels of air pollution including ground level ozone significantly reduce humans’ life expectancy and cause forest damage and decreased tree growth. The French Vosges and the German Black Forest are regions well-known for having the highest tropospheric ozone concentrations at remote forested sites in Central Europe. This box model study investigates the sensitivity of atmospheric chemistry calculations of derived ozone on differently resolved forest tree composition and volatile organic compound emissions. Representative conditions were chosen for the Upper Rhine area including the Alsatian Vosges/France and the Black Forest/Germany during summer. This study aims to answer the following question: What level of input detail for Alsace and Black Forest tree mixtures is required to accurately simulate ozone formation? While the French forest in Alsace—e.g., in the Vosges—emits isoprene to a substantially higher extent than the forest at the German site, total monoterpene emissions at the two sites are rather similar. However, the individual monoterpene structures, and therefore their reactivity, differs. This causes a higher ozone production rate for Vosges forest mixture conditions than for Black Forest tree mixtures at identical NOx levels, with the difference increasing with temperature. The difference in ozone formation is analyzed in detail and the short-comings of reduced descriptions are discussed. The outcome serves as a to-do-list to allow accurate future ozone predictions influenced by the climate adaptation of forests and the change in forest species composition.
Dentin Erosion: Method Validation and Efficacy of Fluoride Protection
Authors: Carey Clifton , Brown William
Published: October 2017

The aging population experiences more gingival recession and root exposure which increases the opportunity for dentin erosion. This study tested the use of transverse microradiography (TMR) methods to assess dentin erosion and the interaction between fluoride and citric acid on the amount of erosion in the dentin samples. In a 4 × 3 interaction experimental design, four fluoride concentrations (0.00, 25.0, 50.0, and 100.0 mg/L) and three citric acid concentrations (0.0, 0.25, and 1.00%) were combined to form 12 experimental solutions. Forty-eight dentin samples were placed in the experimental solutions for 1 and 4 h and the amount of surface lost was determined by TMR methods. The resolution of the TMR method was 0.9 μm per pixel with a 0.1% and a 5% confidence interval of ±4.2 μm. Dentin erosion increased with the concentration of citric acid and time, the erosion decreased when concentration of fluoride was increased. Effects due to fluoride and citric acid concentrations individually, and their interaction on the amount of erosion observed was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). This study found that TMR methods are appropriate and that 25.0 mg/L was the optimal fluoride concentration to protect dentin from a 1.00% citric acid challenge.
Generalized Skew-Normal Negentropy and Its Application to Fish Condition Factor Time Series
Authors: Arellano-Valle Reinaldo , Contreras-Reyes Javier , Stehlík Milan
Published: October 2017

The problem of measuring the disparity of a particular probability density function from a normal one has been addressed in several recent studies. The most used technique to deal with the problem has been exact expressions using information measures over particular distributions. In this paper, we consider a class of asymmetric distributions with a normal kernel, called Generalized Skew-Normal (GSN) distributions. We measure the degrees of disparity of these distributions from the normal distribution by using exact expressions for the GSN negentropy in terms of cumulants. Specifically, we focus on skew-normal and modified skew-normal distributions. Then, we establish the Kullback–Leibler divergences between each GSN distribution and the normal one in terms of their negentropies to develop hypothesis testing for normality. Finally, we apply this result to condition factor time series of anchovies off northern Chile.
How Can We Fully Use Noiseless Feedback to Enhance the Security of the Broadcast Channel with Confidential Messages
Authors: Li Xin , Dai Bin , Ma Zheng
Published: October 2017

The model for a broadcast channel with confidential messages (BC-CM) plays an important role in the physical layer security of modern communication systems. In recent years, it has been shown that a noiseless feedback channel from the legitimate receiver to the transmitter increases the secrecy capacity region of the BC-CM. However, at present, the feedback coding scheme for the BC-CM only focuses on producing secret keys via noiseless feedback, and other usages of the feedback need to be further explored. In this paper, we propose a new feedback coding scheme for the BC-CM. The noiseless feedback in this new scheme is not only used to produce secret keys for the legitimate receiver and the transmitter but is also used to generate update information that allows both receivers (the legitimate receiver and the wiretapper) to improve their channel outputs. From a binary example, we show that this full utilization of noiseless feedback helps to increase the secrecy level of the previous feedback scheme for the BC-CM.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Cu3SbSe4 Compounds via Gallium Doping
Authors: Zhao Degang , Wu Di , Bo Lin
Published: October 2017

In this study, the p-type Ga-doped Cu3Sb1−xGaxSe4 compounds were fabricated by melting, annealing, grinding, and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The transport properties of Ga-doped Cu3Sb1−xGaxSe4 compounds were investigated. As Ga content increased, the hole concentration of Cu3Sb1−xGaxSe4 compounds increased, which led to an increase in electrical conductivity. Meanwhile, the Seebeck coefficient of the Cu3Sb1−xGaxSe4 compounds decreased as Ga content increased. The extra phonon scattering originating from Ga-doping effectively depressed the lattice thermal conductivity of the Cu3Sb1−xGaxSe4 compounds. The ZT value of Cu3SbSe4 markedly improved, which is primarily ascribed to the depressed lattice thermal conductivity and the increased electrical conductivity. The highest ZT value for the Cu3Sb0.985Ga0.015Se4 compound was 0.54 at 650 K, which is two times higher than that of a pure Cu3SbSe4 compound.
An Improved Forecasting Method for Photovoltaic Power Based on Adaptive BP Neural Network with a Scrolling Time Window
Authors: Zhu Honglu , Lian Weiwei , Lu Lingxing , Dai Songyuan , Hu Yang
Published: October 2017

Due to the large scale of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power generation installations, accurate PV power forecasting is critical to the safe and economic operation of the electric power system. In the paper, by analyzing the influence of external ambient factors and the changing characteristics of PV modules with time, it is found that PV power generation is a nonlinear and time-varying process. This suggests that a certain single forecasting model is inadequate for representing actual generation characteristics, and it is difficult to obtain an accurate forecasting result. An adaptive back propagation (BP) neural network model adopting scrolling time window is proposed to solve the problem. Via an update of the training data of BP neural network with the scrolling time window, the forecasting model adapts to time and a changing external environment with the required modeling precision. Meanwhile, through evaluation of the forecasting performance in different time windows, an optimized time window can be determined to guarantee accuracy. Finally, using the actual operation data of a PV plant in Beijing, the approach is validated as being applicable for PV power forecasting and is able to effectively respond to the dynamic change of the PV power generation process. This improves the forecasting accuracy and also reduces computation complexity as compared with the conventional BP neural network algorithm.
An Integrated Dictionary-Learning Entropy-Based Medical Image Fusion Framework
Authors: Qi Guanqiu , Wang Jinchuan , Zhang Qiong , Zeng Fancheng , Zhu Zhiqin
Published: October 2017

Image fusion is widely used in different areas and can integrate complementary and relevant information of source images captured by multiple sensors into a unitary synthetic image. Medical image fusion, as an important image fusion application, can extract the details of multiple images from different imaging modalities and combine them into an image that contains complete and non-redundant information for increasing the accuracy of medical diagnosis and assessment. The quality of the fused image directly affects medical diagnosis and assessment. However, existing solutions have some drawbacks in contrast, sharpness, brightness, blur and details. This paper proposes an integrated dictionary-learning and entropy-based medical image-fusion framework that consists of three steps. First, the input image information is decomposed into low-frequency and high-frequency components by using a Gaussian filter. Second, low-frequency components are fused by weighted average algorithm and high-frequency components are fused by the dictionary-learning based algorithm. In the dictionary-learning process of high-frequency components, an entropy-based algorithm is used for informative blocks selection. Third, the fused low-frequency and high-frequency components are combined to obtain the final fusion results. The results and analyses of comparative experiments demonstrate that the proposed medical image fusion framework has better performance than existing solutions.
Expression Profiling of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Genes Reveals Their Evolutionary and Functional Diversity in Different Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) Cultivars
Authors: Jin Xiang , Zhu Liping , Yao Qi , Meng Xueru , Ding Guohua , Wang Dan , Xie Quanliang , Tong Zheng , Tao Chengcheng , Yu Li , Li Hongbin , Wang Xuchu
Published: October 2017

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the only commercially cultivated plant for producing natural rubber, one of the most essential industrial raw materials. Knowledge of the evolutionary and functional characteristics of kinases in H. brasiliensis is limited because of the long growth period and lack of well annotated genome information. Here, we reported mitogen-activated protein kinases in H. brasiliensis (HbMPKs) by manually checking and correcting the rubber tree genome. Of the 20 identified HbMPKs, four members were validated by proteomic data. Protein motif and phylogenetic analyses classified these members into four known groups comprising Thr-Glu-Tyr (TEY) and Thr-Asp-Tyr (TDY) domains, respectively. Evolutionary and syntenic analyses suggested four duplication events: HbMPK3/HbMPK6, HbMPK8/HbMPK9/HbMPK15, HbMPK10/HbMPK12 and HbMPK11/HbMPK16/HbMPK19. Expression profiling of the identified HbMPKs in roots, stems, leaves and latex obtained from three cultivars with different latex yield ability revealed tissue- and variety-expression specificity of HbMPK paralogues. Gene expression patterns under osmotic, oxidative, salt and cold stresses, combined with cis-element distribution analyses, indicated different regulation patterns of HbMPK paralogues. Further, Ka/Ks and Tajima analyses suggested an accelerated evolutionary rate in paralogues HbMPK10/12. These results revealed HbMPKs have diverse functions in natural rubber biosynthesis, and highlighted the potential possibility of using MPKs to improve stress tolerance in future rubber tree breeding.
Small RNAs in Circulating Exosomes of Cancer Patients: A Minireview
Authors: Bortoluzzi Stefania , Lovisa Federica , Gaffo Enrico , Mussolin Lara
Published: October 2017

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from many cell types play important roles in intercellular communication, both as paracrine and endocrine factors, as they can circulate in biological fluids, including plasma. Amid EVs, exosomes are actively secreted vesicles that contain proteins, lipids, soluble factors, and nucleic acids, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and other classes of small RNAs (sRNA). miRNAs are prominent post‐transcriptional regulators of gene expression and epigenetic silencers of transcription. We concisely review the roles of miRNAs in cell‐fate determination and development and their regulatory activity on almost all the processes and pathways controlling tumor formation and progression. Next, we consider the evidence linking exosomes to tumor progression, particularly to the setting‐up of permissive pre‐metastatic niches. The study of exosomes in patients with different survival and therapy response can inform on the possible correlations between exosomal cargo and disease features. Moreover, the exploration of circulating exosomes as possible sources of non‐invasive biomarkers could give new implements for anti‐cancer therapy and metastasis prevention. Since the characterization of sRNAs in exosomes of cancer patients sparks opportunities to better understand their roles in cancer, we briefly present current experimental and computational protocols for sRNAs analysis in circulating exosomes by RNA‐seq.
Histopathology of Cervical Cancer and Arsenic Concentration in Well Water: An Ecological Analysis
Authors: Mostafa Mohammad , Queen Zarat , Cherry Nicola
Published: October 2017

Arsenic in drinking water is causally linked with cancer of the skin, lung, and urinary bladder, but there is very little data on a possible role for arsenic in the etiology of cervical cancer, a disease in which human papilloma virus is held to be a necessary but not sufficient cause. All histopathology results from cervical specimens from the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), Dhaka (1997–2015), and the Anowara Medical Services (2003–2015), both serving the whole of Bangladesh, were classified by cell type. Arsenic concentrations in well water in the thana of residence were estimated from systematic sampling carried out by the British Geological Survey. In a case-referent analysis arsenic estimates for cases of cervical cancer were compared with those found to have benign lesions. In this study, 3464 NICRH (CH) cervical specimens and 30,050 community medical service (CMS) specimens were available: 3329 (CH) and 899 (CMS) were recorded as malignant. Most were squamous cell carcinoma, of which 4.9% were poorly differentiated. Overall, there was no increase in cervical cancer with increasing arsenic concentration. Among those with squamous cell histology, a strong dose response was seen for poorly differentiated cancer with increasing arsenic exposure. The odds ratio increased monotonically, compared with exposure <10 μg/L, from 1.58 at 10 < 50 μg/L to 8.11 at >200 μg/L (p < 0.001). Given the high proportion of Bangladeshis using drinking water containing >50 μg/L of arsenic, the evidence that arsenic is implicated in cancer grade suggests a need for further investigation and the introduction of cervical screening in high arsenic areas.
Determination of Areas Susceptible to Landsliding Using Spatial Patterns of Rainfall from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Data, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Guimarães Renato , Machado Wátila , De Carvalho Osmar , Montgomery David , Gomes Roberto , Greenberg Harvey , Cataldi Márcio , Mendonça Pedro
Published: October 2017

Spatial patterns of shallow landslide initiation reflect both spatial patterns of heavy rainfall and areas susceptible to mass movements. We determine the areas most susceptible to shallow landslide occurrence through the calculation of critical soil cohesion and spatial patterns of rainfall derived from TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) data for Paraty County, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our methodology involved: (a) creating the digital elevation model (DEM) and deriving attributes such as slope and contributing area; (b) incorporating spatial patterns of rainfall derived from TRMM into the shallow slope stability model SHALSTAB; and (c) quantitative assessment of the correspondence of mapped landslide scars to areas predicted to be most prone to shallow landsliding. We found that around 70% of the landslide scars occurred in less than 10% of the study area identified as potentially unstable. The greatest concentration of landslides occurred in areas where the root strength of vegetation is an important contribution to slope stability in regions of orographically-enhanced rainfall on the coastal topographic flank. This approach helps quantify landslide hazards in areas with similar geomorphological characteristics, but different spatial patterns of rainfall.
miR-425-5p Inhibits Differentiation and Proliferation in Porcine Intramuscular Preadipocytes
Authors: Chen Fen-Fen , Xiong Yan , Peng Ying , Gao Yun , Qin Jin , Chu Gui-Yan , Pang Wei-Jun , Yang Gong-She
Published: October 2017

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content affects the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of pork. An increasing number of studies are focusing on the functions of microRNAs (miRs) during porcine intramuscular preadipocyte development. Previous studies have proved that miR-425-5p was enriched in porcine skeletal muscles and played important roles in multiple physiological processes; however, its functions during intramuscular adipogenesis remain unclear. To explore the role of miR-425-5p in porcine intramuscular adipogenesis, miR-425-5p agomir and inhibitor were used to perform miR-425-5p overexpression and knockdown in intramuscular preadipocytes, respectively. Our results showed that the agomir of miR-425-5p dramatically inhibited intramuscular adipogenic differentiation and downregulated the expression levels of adipogenic marker genes PPARγ, FABP4, and FASN, whereas its inhibitor promoted adipogenesis. Interestingly, the agomir repressed proliferation of porcine intramuscular preadipocytes by downregulation of cyclin B and cyclin E. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-425-5p inhibited adipogenesis via targeting and repressing the translation of KLF13. Taken together, our findings identified that miR-425-5p is a novel inhibitor of porcine intramuscular adipogenesis possibly through targeting KLF13 and subsequently downregulating PPARγ.
Combined Virtual and Experimental Screening for CK1 Inhibitors Identifies a Modulator of p53 and Reveals Important Aspects of in Silico Screening Performance
Authors: Myrianthopoulos Vassilios , Lozach Olivier , Zareifi Danae , Alexopoulos Leonidas , Meijer Laurent , Gorgoulis Vassilis , Mikros Emmanuel
Published: October 2017

A compound collection of pronounced structural diversity was comprehensively screened for inhibitors of the DNA damage-related kinase CK1. The collection was evaluated in vitro. A potent and selective CK1 inhibitor was discovered and its capacity to modulate the endogenous levels of the CK1-regulated tumor suppressor p53 was demonstrated in cancer cell lines. Administration of 10 μM of the compound resulted in significant increase of p53 levels, reaching almost 2-fold in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In parallel to experimental screening, two representative and orthogonal in silico screening methodologies were implemented for enabling the retrospective assessment of virtual screening performance on a case-specific basis. Results showed that both techniques performed at an acceptable and fairly comparable level, with a slight advantage of the structure-based over the ligand-based approach. However, both approaches demonstrated notable sensitivity upon parameters such as screening template choice and treatment of redundancy in the enumerated compound collection. An effort to combine insight derived by sequential implementation of the two methods afforded poor further improvement of screening performance. Overall, the presented assessment highlights the relation between improper use of enrichment metrics and misleading results, and demonstrates the inherent delicacy of in silico methods, emphasizing the challenging character of virtual screening protocol optimization.
Biomass Derived Nitrogen-Doped Highly Porous Carbon Material with a Hierarchical Porous Structure for High-Performance Lithium/Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhao Yan , Zhang Xiaomin , He Yusen , Liu Ning , Tan Taizhe , Liang Chunyong
Published: October 2017

A novel nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon (NMPC) with a hierarchical porous structure is prepared by simple carbonizing the green algae, which is applied as a host material to encapsulate sulfur for lithium/sulfur (Li/S) battery. The NMPC exhibits high pore volume as well as large specific surface area, and thus sulfur content in the S/NMPC composite reaches up to 63 wt %. When tested in a Li/S battery, the S/NMPC composite yields a high initial capacity of 1327 mAh·g−1 as well as 757 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles at a current rate of 0.1 C, a reversible capacity of 642 was achieved even at 1 C. This good electrochemical performance of the S/NMPC composite could be attributed to a unique combination of mesopority and surface chemistry, allowing for the retention of the intermediate polysuflides within the carbon framework.