bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Shared and Specific Genes and a Comparative Genomics Analysis within Three Hanseniaspora Strains
Authors: Chen Kai , Tian Zhonghuan , Jiang Fatang , Cheng Yunjiang , Long Chao-an
Published: June 2019

Kloeckera apiculata plays an important role in the inhibition of citrus postharvest blue and green mould diseases. This study was based on the previous genome sequencing of K. apiculata strain 34-9. After homologous comparison, scaffold 27 was defined as the mitochondrial (mt) sequence of K. apiculata 34-9. The comparison showed a high level of sequence identity between scaffold 27 and the known mtDNA of Hanseniaspora uvarum. The genome sequence of H. vineae T02/19AF showed several short and discontinuous fragments homologous to the mtDNA of H. uvarum. The shared and specific genes of K. apiculata, H. uvarum, and H. vineae were analysed by family using the TreeFam methodology. GO analysis was used to classify the shared and specific genes. Most of the gene families were classified into the functional categories of cellular component and metabolic processes. The whole-genome phylogram and genome synteny analysis showed that K. apiculata was more closely related to H. uvarum than to H. vineae. The genomic comparisons clearly displayed the locations of the homologous regions in each genome. This analysis could contribute to discovering the genomic similarities and differences within the genus Hanseniaspora. In addition, some regions were not collinearity-matched in the genome of K. apiculata compared with that of H. uvarum or H. vineae, and these sequences might have resulted from evolutionary variations.
The Influence of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery on Sleep Related Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Jiang Rong-San , Liang Kai-Li
Published: June 2019

Purpose. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients often complain of nasal obstruction, which may cause sleep impairment for them. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) on sleep related outcomes in CRS patients.Materials and Methods. CRS patients who received FESS were included in this study. Prior to FESS and 3 months after surgery the patients were asked about the severity of nasal obstruction and completed the 20-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20), along with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire. Endoscopic examination, acoustic rhinometry, and polysomnography were performed in all patients. They were divided into four groups according to their preoperative apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores: nonobstructive sleep apnea syndrome (non-OSAS), mild OSAS, moderate OSAS, and severe OSAS.Results. A total of 96 subjects completed the study. The scores of the sleep domain of the SNOT-20 and ESS decreased in all of the AHI groups, with the exception of the severe OSAS group, after FESS. A reduction in the AHI of less than 5 was achieved in 9 patients (13.2%) after FESS.Conclusions. Our results showed that FESS improved sleep quality in CRS patients, except those with severe OSAS, and a preoperative lower AHI was the only significant predictor of post-FESS OSAS outcome.
Cause Analysis and Countermeasures of Through Shakes in Foamed Concrete Subgrade
Authors: Huang Xianbin , Liu Chenyang , Wangren Yahong , Wang Mingxing , Mei Yujiao , Xie Zongrong , Liao Man
Published: June 2019

The paper presents a new type of material—foamed concrete—adopted for expansion subgrade of the expressway. Intriguingly, the irregular through shakes appear on its top. The method combining the engineering case, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation is employed to analyze its T‐shaped and tree‐shaped through shake. The research indicates that when the underground water table is high, cracks are easily seen on the top of step‐shape foamed concrete due to buoyancy force. Under the concentrated load effect, the maximum displacement of 27.09 mm is observed on the top of the simply supported beam when elastic modulus is 200 MPa. The maximum principle tensile stress of 0.34 MPa also occurs on the top of the simply supported beam when elastic modulus is 200 MPa and 400 MPa, which is greater than tensile strength of foamed concrete of 0.31 MPa and 0.26 MPa at 7 d and 28 d, respectively. Thus, the adoption of a simply supported beam structure fits site through crack. To avert cracks on the top of foamed concrete in high groundwater table, the antibuoyancy measures should be adopted prior to construction of the upper bearing stratum. The study has expanded the application scope of subgrade and enriched theory of foamed concrete filled in high groundwater table, providing a significant reference to similar projects.
3D Mafic Topography of the Transition Zone between the North-Western Boundary of the Congo Craton and the Kribi-Campo Sedimentary Basin from Gravity Inversion
Authors: Nguiya Sévérin , Lemotio Willy , Njandjock Nouck Philippe , Pemi Marcelin M. , Tokam Alain-Pierre K. , Ngatchou Evariste
Published: June 2019

The structure of the transition zone between the north-western boundary of the Congo Craton and the Kribi-Campo sedimentary basin is still a matter of scientific debate. In this study, the existing gravity data are interpreted in order to better understand the geodynamics of the area. Qualitatively, results show that the major gravity highs are associated with long-wavelength shallow sources of the coastal sedimentary basin, while large negative anomalies trending E-W correlate to low dense intrusive bodies found along the northern limit of the Congo Craton. For the delineation of the causative sources, the gravity anomalies have been inverted based on the Parker-Oldenburg iterative process. As inputs, we used a reference depth of 20 km obtained by spectral analysis and successively, the density contrasts 0.19 g/cm3 and 0.24 g/cm3, deduced from available 1D shear wave velocity models. The results reveal an irregular topography of the mafic interface characterized by a sequence of horst and graben structures with mafic depths varying between 15.6 km and 23.4 km. The shallower depths (15.6-17 km) are associated with the uprising of the mafic interface towards the upper crust. This intrusion may have been initiated during the extension of the Archean Ntem crust resulting in a thinning of the continental crust beneath the coastal sedimentary basin. The subsidence of the mafic interface beneath the craton is materialized by 2 similar graben structures located beneath both Matomb and Ebolowa at a maximum depth of 23.4 km. The intermediate depths (18-22 km) are correlated to the suture zone along the Pouma-Bipindi area. The location of some landslides across the area matches within the northern margin of the Congo Craton and suggests that this margin may also impact on their occurrence. This work provides new insights into the geodynamics, regional tectonics, and basin geometry.
Influence of Insertion Torque on Clinical and Biological Outcomes before and after Loading of Mandibular Implant-Retained Overdentures in Atrophic Edentulous Mandibles
Authors: Faot Fernanda , Bielemann Amália Machado , Schuster Alessandra Julie , Marcello-Machado Raissa Micaella , Del Bel Cury Altair Antoninha , Nascimento Gustavo G. , Chagas-Junior Otacílio Luiz
Published: June 2019

Aim. To evaluate the influence of primary insertion torque (IT) values of narrow dental implants on the peri-implant health, implant stability, immunoinflammatory responses, bone loss, and success and survival rates. Methods. Thirty-one edentulous patients received two narrow implants (2.9x10mm, Facility NeoPoros) to retain mandibular overdentures. The implants were categorized in four groups according to their IT: (G1) IT > 10 Ncm; (G2) IT ≥ 10Ncm and ≤ 30 Ncm; (G3) IT >30Ncm and < 45Ncm; (G4) IT ≥ 45Ncm, and all implants were loaded after 3 months of healing. The following clinical outcomes were evaluated 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after implant insertion: (i) peri-implant tissue health (PH), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), calculus presence (CP), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP); (ii) implant stability quotient (ISQ) by resonance frequency analysis; and (iii) IL-1β and TNF-α concentration in the peri-implant crevicular fluid. The marginal bone level (MBL) and changes (MBC) were evaluated. The Chi2 test, Kruskal-Wallis test, mixed-effects regression analysis, and the Kendall rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis (α = 5%). Results. G1 presented the highest PD at all evaluated periods. G2 presented higher PI at month 6 and 12. G4 showed increased GI at month 3 and 12 and more CP at month 1 (p=.003). G2 and G4 had higher ISQ values over the study period, while those from G1 and G3 presented lower ISQ values. The IL-1β concentration increased until month 12 and was independent of IT and bone type; G4 had a higher IL-1β concentration in month 3 than the other groups (p=.015). The TNF-α release was negatively correlated with IT, and TNF-α release was highest in G1 at month 12. The MBL immediately after surgery and the MBC at month 12 were similar between the groups, and G4 presented a positive MBC at month 12. The survival and success rates were 75% for G1, 81.3% for G2, 64.3% for G3, and 95% for G4. Conclusion. The IT did not influence the clinical outcomes and the peri-implant immunoinflammatory responses and was weakly correlated with the narrow dental implants primary stability. The observed success rates suggest that the ideal IT for atrophic fully edentulous patients may deviate from the standardized IT of 32 Ncm.
Lightweight and Secure Three-Factor Authentication Scheme for Remote Patient Monitoring Using On-Body Wireless Networks
Authors: Shuai Mengxia , Liu Bin , Yu Nenghai , Xiong Ling
Published: June 2019

On-body wireless networks (oBWNs) play a crucial role in improving the ubiquitous healthcare services. Using oBWNs, the vital physiological information of the patient can be gathered from the wearable sensor nodes and accessed by the authorized user like the health professional or the doctor. Since the open nature of wireless communication and the sensitivity of physiological information, secure communication has always been the vital issue in oBWNs-based systems. In recent years, several authentication schemes have been proposed for remote patient monitoring. However, most of these schemes are so susceptible to security threats and not suitable for practical use. Specifically, all these schemes using lightweight cryptographic primitives fail to provide forward secrecy and suffer from the desynchronization attack. To overcome the historical security problems, in this paper, we present a lightweight and secure three-factor authentication scheme for remote patient monitoring using oBWNs. The proposed scheme adopts one-time hash chain technique to ensure forward secrecy, and the pseudonym identity method is employed to provide user anonymity and resist against desynchronization attack. The formal and informal security analyses demonstrate that the proposed scheme not only overcomes the security weaknesses in previous schemes but also provides more excellent security and functional features. The comparisons with six state-of-the-art schemes indicate that the proposed scheme is practical with acceptable computational and communication efficiency.
Activated B Lymphocyte Inhibited the Osteoblastogenesis of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Notch Signaling
Authors: Pan Mengxue , Hong Wei , Yao Ye , Gao Xiaoxue , Zhou Yi , Fu Guoxiang , Li Yuanchuang , Guo Qiang , Rao Xinxin , Tang Peiyuan , Chen Shengzhi , Jin Weifang , Hua Guoqiang , Gao Jianjun , Xu Xiaoya
Published: June 2019

Estrogen is very important to the differentiation of B lymphocytes; B lymphopoiesis induced by OVX was supposedly involved in osteoporosis. But the effects of B lymphocytes on the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are not clear. In this study, we detected bone quality and bone loss in a trabecular bone by electronic universal material testing machine and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) in OVX and splenectomized-ovariectomy (SPX-OVX) rats. Additionally, changes in lymphocytes (B lymphocyte, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and macrophages) in the bone marrow were analyzed by flow cytometry. The osteogenesis of BMSCs cocultured with normal and LPS-pretreated B lymphocytes was detected by BCIP/NBT and Alizarin red S staining. Measurement of the Notch2, Notch4, Hey1, Hey2, Hes1, and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) expression in BMSCs cocultured with B lymphocytes was done using real-time PCR. The effects of dexamethasone and DAPT (inhibitor of Notch signaling) on osteogenesis of BMSCs were detected by BCIP/NBT, Alizarin red S staining, and real-time PCR. Osteoporosis happened in OVX rats, more serious in SPX-OVX rats, B lymphocytes increased in OVX rats, and sharply higher in SPX-OVX rats. Osteoporosis did not happen in SPX rats which is still companied with a high increase of B lymphocytes. LPS-pretreated B lymphocytes suppressed the osteogenesis of BMSCs, but the normal B lymphocytes could not. The LPS-pretreated B lymphocytes upregulated the expression of Notch4, Hes1, and Hey2 and downregulated the expression of Runx2 in BMSCs. Dexamethasone and DAPT could downregulate the high expression of Notch4, Hes1, Hey2 and upregulate the low expression of Runx2 in BMSCs which cocultured with LPS treated B lymphocytes, the inhibited ALP and Alizarin red staining in BMSCs which cocultured with LPS treated B lymphocytes also partly restored.
Cell-Free DNA Plasma Levels Differ in Age-Specific Pattern in Healthy Rats and Castrates with Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Vasilyeva I. N. , Bespalov V. G. , Von J. D. , Semenov A. L. , Tochilnikov G. V. , Romanov V. A. , Alvovsky I. K. , Baranenko D. A.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this work was to study changes in the level of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood of young and old rats in the normal state and with induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups—young (3 months), old (20 months), intact, or with testosterone-induced BPH. Groups with BPH were subjected to surgical castration and administration of testosterone esters at a dose of 25 mg/kg for a total of 7 injections for 20 days. In intact animals, the level of cfDNA in old rats (2.00±0.14 ng/μl) was significantly higher than that in the young (1.02±0.30 ng/μl). The body and the prostate weights of old rats were 1.6 and 1.4 times larger than those of the young, without an increase in the prostate index (PI). The testosterone level in the blood of young rats was 1.6 times higher than that of old (6.20±0.93 nmol/l vs. 3.77±0.55 nmol/l; NS). In animals with BPH, the level of cfDNA in old rats (3.14±0.76 ng/μl) was significantly higher than that in young rats (0.80±0.14 ng/μl). The body and the prostate weights in old rats were 1.8 and 2.3 times larger, than those in young rats, with an increase in the PI. The level of testosterone in the blood of young (15.76±0.51 nmol/l) and old (16.99±1.1 nmol/l) rats was not significantly different. Morphological signs of BPH were observed in the prostate of both young and old rats. During the induction of BPH in the experiment, according to the level of cfDNA, cell death processes have not changed significantly in young rats but significantly increased in old rats. A similar trend was observed in the group of intact animals. The obtained data indicate that apoptosis processes are enhanced during the development of BPH despite the growth of tissues in the prostate itself.
Lipolytic Enzymes with Hydrolytic and Esterification Activities Produced by Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Decomposition Leaves in an Aquatic Environment
Authors: Mendes D. B. , Silva F. F. Da , Guarda P. M. , Almeida A. F. , Oliveira D. P. de , Morais P. B. , Guarda E. A.
Published: June 2019

Microbial lipases are prominent biocatalysts able to catalyze a wide variety of reactions in aqueous and nonaqueous media. In this work, filamentous fungi isolated from leaves decomposed in an aquatic environment were screened for lipase production with hydrolytic activity and esterification. Agar plates with Tween 20 and Rhodamine B were used for selection, while submerged cultures with olive oil were subsequently used to select 38 filamentous fungi. Trichoderma harzianum, Fusarium solani, Trichoderma harzianum F5, and Penicillium sp. F36 were grown in six different culture media. F. solani presented the highest lipase production (2.37 U/mL) with esterification activity of 0.07 U/mL using medium composed of (g.L−1) KH2PO4 1.00, MgSO4 H2O 1.123, and CuSO4 0.06. Supplementation of this culture medium with organic nitrogen sources increased lipase production by 461.3% using tryptone and by 419.4% using yeast extract. Among the vegetable oils from the Amazon region, degummed cotton oil induced lipase production up to 8.14 U/mL. The lipase produced by F. solani F61 has great potential to application in conventional processes and biodiesel production by transesterification of vegetable oils, as well as food industries in the production of fatty acid esters by hydrolysis and esterification.
Leisure Time Physical Activity Reduces the Risk for Stroke in Adults: A Reanalysis of a Meta-Analysis Using the Inverse-Heterogeneity Model
Authors: Kelley George A. , Kelley Kristi S.
Published: June 2019

Objective. Apply more robust and additional analyses to a previous meta-analysis that reported statistically significant associations between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and stroke. Methods. A reanalysis of a previous meta-analysis that included nine prospective cohort studies representing 269,594 men and women 25-84 years of age and in which the association between LTPA and incident stroke was examined. Follow-up periods ranged from 7.7 to 32.0 years. Relative risks (RR) from each study were pooled using the inverse-heterogeneity model. Heterogeneity was examined using the Q statistic, inconsistency using I2, and small-study effects using Doi plots and the LFK index. Influence and cumulative meta-analysis were also conducted. Results. Using low LTPA as the reference, moderate LTPA was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk for stroke in men (RR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.65 to 0.95) and a trend in women (RR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78 to 1.0). High LTPA was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk for stroke in both men (RR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.86) and women (RR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.66 to 0.92). No statistically significant heterogeneity was observed and inconsistency was low. However, potential small-study effects were observed. With each study deleted once, results remained statistically significant. Cumulative meta-analysis demonstrated stability in results since at least 2005. Conclusions. Leisure time physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of stroke in both men and women. However, the small-study effects observed suggest the possibility that results may be exaggerated.
Expression and Clinical Relevance of SOX9 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Mesquita Patrícia , Freire Ana F. , Lopes Nair , Gomes Rosa , Azevedo Daniela , Barros Rita , Pereira Bruno , Cavadas Bruno , Pópulo Helena , Boaventura Paula , David Leonor , Pereira Luísa , Almeida Raquel
Published: June 2019

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent tumours and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The investigation of new biomarkers that can predict patient outcome more accurately and allow better treatment and follow-up decisions is of crucial importance. SOX9 (sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 9) is a regulator of cell fate decisions in embryogenesis and adulthood. Here, we sought to ascertain the relevance of SOX9 transcription factor as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer. SOX9 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 333 gastric adenocarcinoma cases, and its association with clinicopathological and follow-up data was evaluated. SOX9 nuclear expression was absent in 17% of gastric cancer cases and predicted worse disease-free survival (P=0.03). SOX9 expression was associated with lower risk of relapse in Cox univariable analysis (HR=0.58; 95% CI=0.35-0.97; P=0.04). The prognostic value of SOX9 was more pronounced in tumours with expansive growth (P=0.01) or with venous invasion (P=0.02). Two validation cohorts from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) confirmed that low SOX9 expression was significantly associated with poor patient outcome. In conclusion, we have identified SOX9 as a biomarker of disease relapse in gastric cancer patients. Further experiments are needed to elucidate its biological relevance at the cellular level.
Improved Cryptanalysis of a Fully Homomorphic Symmetric Encryption Scheme
Authors: Qu Quanbo , Wang Baocang , Ping Yuan , Zhang Zhili
Published: June 2019

Homomorphic encryption is widely used in the scenarios of big data and cloud computing for supporting calculations on ciphertexts without leaking plaintexts. Recently, Li et al. designed a symmetric homomorphic encryption scheme for outsourced databases. Wang et al. proposed a successful key-recovery attack on the homomorphic encryption scheme but required the adversary to know some plaintext/ciphertext pairs. In this paper, we propose a new ciphertext-only attack on the symmetric fully homomorphic encryption scheme. Our attack improves the previous Wang et al.’s attack by eliminating the assumption of known plaintext/ciphertext pairs. We show that the secret key of the user can be recovered by running lattice reduction algorithms twice. Experiments show that the attack successfully and efficiently recovers the secret key of the randomly generated instances with an overwhelming probability.
Assessment of Poor Home Management Practice of Diarrhea and Associated Factors among Caregivers of Under-Five Years Children in Urban and Rural Residents of Doba Woreda, Ethiopia: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kebede Fufa Waktole , Berhe Gebremedhin Gebretsadik , Gebregergs Gebremedhin Berhe , Marama Mokonnon Taklu
Published: June 2019

Background. Diarrhea is the first cause of illness and the second cause of death in under-five children. Home interventions can prevent 57% of mortality related to diarrhea. However, malpractices were common and the reason for this underutilization was unclear. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing poor home management practice of Diarrhea and associated factors among caregivers of under-five years children in urban and rural residents. Methods. The community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Doba woreda, Ethiopia, from February 25 to March 15, 2017. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to study 559 caregivers. An interviewer administered pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1 and exported to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for analysis. The binary logistic regression model was used. In bivariate analysis p-value<0.25 was taken into multivariable analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with their corresponding 95% of CI were used to report results with a significance level of p-value<0.05. Result. 184 urban and 375 rural caregivers were included in the study. Poor home management practice was 55.8% of urban and 85.6% of rural residents. Knowledge level (AOR=2.7(CI[1.3, 6.5]) and AOR=13.4(CI[5.3, 34.0]) and difficulty in preparing oral rehydration salt (AOR=4.0CI[1.4, 11.0]) and AOR=2.4(1.3, 5.3)) were associated factors for both urban and rural residents, respectively. Caregivers of male index child (AOR=2.3(1.2, 4.7)) and age of the caregivers (AOR=0.26(0.09, 0.8)) were associated with poor home practice for urban residents. In rural residents, inaccessibility to zinc supplementation (AOR=2.4(1.2, 5.0)) was among associated factors. Conclusion. Poor home management practice of diarrhea was high in both urban and rural residents. It was higher in rural compared to urban residents. Poor practice was associated with knowledge level, age of the caregivers, sex of the index child, and accessibility of zinc. Health education and community mobilization on home management of diarrhea are important to increase awareness and improve practice level.
MEK Inhibition Targets Cancer Stem Cells and Impedes Migration of Pancreatic Cancer CellsIn VitroandIn Vivo
Authors: Walter Karolin , Tiwary Kanishka , Trajkovic-Arsic Marija , Hidalgo-Sastre Ana , Dierichs Laura , Liffers Sven T. , Gu Jiangning , Gout Johann , Schulte Lucas-Alexander , Münch Jan , Seufferlein Thomas , Sainz Bruno , Siveke Jens T. , Rodriguez-Aznar Eva , Hermann Patrick C.
Published: June 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a devastating disease with a very poor prognosis. At the same time, its incidence is on the rise, and PDAC is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Despite extensive work on new therapeutic approaches, the median overall survival is only 6-12 months after diagnosis and the 5-year survival is less than 7%. While pancreatic cancer is particularly difficult to treat, patients usually succumb not to the growth of the primary tumor, but to extensive metastasis; therefore, strategies to reduce the migratory and metastatic capacity of pancreatic cancer cells merit close attention. The vast majority of pancreatic cancers harbor RAS mutations. The outstanding relevance of the RAS/MEK/ERK pathway in pancreatic cancer biology has been extensively shown previously. Due to their high dependency on Ras mutations, pancreatic cancers might be particularly sensitive to inhibitors acting downstream of Ras. Herein, we use a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic cancer and primary pancreatic cancer cells were derived from this model to demonstrate that small-molecule MEK inhibitors functionally abrogate cancer stem cell populations as demonstrated by reduced sphere and organoid formation capacity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MEK inhibition suppresses TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migrationin vitroand ultimately results in a highly significant reduction in circulating tumor cells in mice.
Diagnostic Utility of Serum Ascites Lipid and Protein Gradients in Differentiation of Ascites
Authors: Prabhu Mukhyaprana , Gangula Rahul Sai , Stanley Weena
Published: June 2019

Context. Ability of SAAG to differentiate malignant ascites from other aetiologies like tubercular peritonitis is a major problem. Alternate screening test is needed for differentiating ascites due to malignancy from those due to tubercular peritonitis. Aims. To study the diagnostic utility of serum ascites lipid gradients and serum ascites protein gradients in pathophysiological differentiation of ascites. Settings and Design. The present study is a prospective, descriptive, hospital-based, cross-sectional study. Methods and Material. The study was conducted on patients with ascites who were admitted to General Medicine Department, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. The study included 60 patients with ascites of different etiologies (liver cirrhosis, tubercular peritonitis, and malignant ascites). All of them had undergone clinical, laboratory, and imaging investigations and were treated as per standard of care. All patients underwent abdominal paracentesis, and fluid samples were sent for analysis. Statistical Analysis Used. ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and ROC curve analysis. Results. Among the gradients, only SAPG and SAAG had over all statistical significance (<0.005) among the groups, but no significance between malignancy and tubercular peritonitis had been observed. Similarly all the ascitic fluid parameters measured had an overall statistical significance (<0.005), but there was no significant difference observed between malignancy and tubercular peritonitis groups. However, ascitic fluid and serum HDL cholesterol had a statistical significance (<0.05) between malignancy and tubercular peritonitis. Conclusions. With a cut-off value of 4, SAPG is one of best screening tests in differentiation of cirrhotic with noncirrhotic ascites when compared with SAAG, whereas it is a poor parameter with high sensitivity and very low specificity in differentiation of malignant with nonmalignant ascites. Also the present study reveals HDL cholesterol levels in ascitic fluid to be a valuable marker with higher sensitivity and specificity in differentiation of malignancy and tuberculosis peritonitis (i.e., differentiation of low SAAG ascites).
On Sums of Strictly Narrow Operators Acting from a Riesz Space to a Banach Space
Authors: Maslyuchenko Oleksandr , Popov Mikhail
Published: June 2019

We prove that ifEis a Dedekind complete atomless Riesz space andXis a Banach space, then the sum of two laterally continuous orthogonally additive operators fromEtoX, one of which is strictly narrow and the other one is hereditarily strictly narrow with finite variation (in particular, has finite rank), is strictly narrow. Similar results were previously obtained for narrow operators by different authors; however, no theorem of the kind was known for strictly narrow operators.
A Bilevel Programming Model and Algorithm for the Static Bike Repositioning Problem
Authors: Tang Qiong , Fu Zhuo , Qiu Meng
Published: June 2019

In this paper, by taking the outsourcing transportation mode into account, a bilevel programming model is proposed to formulate the static bike repositioning (SBR) problem, which can be used to determine the number of bikes loaded and unloaded at each station and the optimal truck routes in bike sharing systems (BSS). The upper-level BSS providers determine the optimal loading and unloading quantities at stations to minimize the total penalties. The lower-level truck owner pursues the minimum transportation route cost. An iterated local search and tabu search are developed to solve the model. Computational tests on a set of instances from 20 to 200 bikes demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and algorithms proposed, together with some insightful findings.
Risk-Based Prenatal Hepatitis C Testing Practices and Results, Alaska 2013-2016
Authors: Nolen Leisha D. , Gustin Courtney , Seeman Sara , Murphy Neil , Truitt Sarah , Schillie Sarah , Bruce Michael G. , Bruden Dana , Tiesinga James , McMahon Brian
Published: June 2019

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in pregnant women is of concern as it presents a health threat not only to the mother, but also to her infant. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate HCV testing and exposure in women who delivered infants between 2013 and 2016 at a referral hospital in Alaska. Multiple risk behaviors were evaluated, including drug dependency or abuse (drug abuse), tobacco use, alcohol dependency or abuse, and late presentation to prenatal care. Of the 2856 women who delivered between 2013 and 2016, 470 (16.5%) were tested for HCV during pregnancy and 1356 (47.5%) were tested at any time prior to delivery (including pregnancy); 62 (2.2%) were positive for HCV antibodies. Of the 162 women with a documented history of drug abuse, 95 (58.6%) were tested for HCV during pregnancy and 143 (88.3%) were tested at any time prior to delivery (including pregnancy); 30 (18.5%) were positive for HCV antibodies. Forty-nine women (34%) with a documented history of drug abuse who were not previously known to be HCV positive were not tested for HCV during their pregnancy. In conclusion, approximately 2% of pregnant women in the study population were known to have been exposed to HCV by the time of their delivery. One-third of women with documented drug abuse did not have an HCV test during pregnancy, revealing gaps in HCV testing of pregnant women. Further studies are needed to understand the full costs and benefits of risk-based screening versus universal screening in this and other populations.
A Simplified Scaling Law of Cell-Dendrite Transition in Directional Solidification
Authors: Zhu Yaochan , Qiu Hua , Wang Zhijun , Schnack Eckart
Published: June 2019

To describe the cell-dendrite transition (CDT) during directional solidification, a new simplified scaling law is proposed and verified by quantitative phase field simulations. This scaling law bears clear physical foundation with consideration of the overall effects of primary spacing, pulling velocity, and thermal gradient on the onset of sidebranches. The analysis results show that the exponent parameters in this simplified scaling law vary within different systems, which mediates the discrepancy of exponent parameters in previous experiments. The scaling law also presents an explanation for the destabilizing mechanism of thermal gradient in sidebranching dynamics.
Research on the Value at Risk of Basis for Stock Index Futures Hedging in China Based on Two-State Markov Process and Semiparametric RS-GARCH Model
Authors: Wang Liang , Xu Tingjia , Qin Longhao , Liu Chenge
Published: June 2019

This article aims to investigate the Value at Risk of basis for stock index futures hedging in China. Since the RS-GARCH model can effectively describe the state transition of variance in VaR and the two-state Markov process can significantly reduce the dimension, this paper constructs the parameter and semiparametric RS-GARCH models based on two-state Markov process. Furthermore, the logarithm likelihood function method and the kernel estimation with invariable bandwidth method are used for VaR estimation and empirical analysis. It is found that the three fitting errors (MSE, MAD, and QLIKE) of conditional variance calculated by semiparametric model are significantly smaller than that of the parametric model. The results of Kupiec backtesting on VaR obtained by the two models show that the failure days of the former are less than or equal to that of the latter, so it can be inferred that the semiparametric RS-GARCH model constructed in this paper is more effective in estimating the Value at Risk of the basis for Chinese stock index futures. In addition, the mean value and standard deviation of VaR obtained by the semiparametric RS-GARCH model are smaller than that of the parametric method, which can prove that the former model is more conservative in risk estimation.
Planning Capacity for Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Emergency Department: A Discrete-Event Simulation Approach
Authors: Baia Medeiros Deyvison T. , Hahn-Goldberg Shoshana , Aleman Dionne M. , O’Connor Erin
Published: June 2019

Ontario has shown an increasing number of emergency department (ED) visits, particularly for mental health and addiction (MHA) complaints. Given the current opioid crises Canada is facing and the legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018, the number of MHA visits to the ED is expected to grow even further. In face of these events, we examine capacity planning alternatives for the ED of an academic hospital in Toronto. We first quantify the volume of ED visits the hospital has received in recent years (from 2012 to 2016) and use forecasting techniques to predict future ED demand for the hospital. We then employ a discrete-event simulation model to analyze the impacts of the following scenarios: (a) increasing overall demand to the ED, (b) increasing or decreasing number of ED visits due to substance abuse, and (c) adjusting resource capacity to address the forecasted demand. Key performance indicators used in this analysis are the overall ED length of stay (LOS) and the total number of patients treated in the Psychiatric Emergency Services Unit (PESU) as a percentage of the total number of MHA visits. Our results showed that if resource capacity is not adjusted, ED LOS will deteriorate considerably given the expected growth in demand; programs that aim to reduce the number of alcohol and/or opioid visits can greatly aid in reducing ED wait times; the legalization of recreational use of cannabis will have minimal impact, and increasing the number of PESU beds can provide great aid in reducing ED pressure.
Prebiotic Potential of Culinary Spices Used to Support Digestion and Bioabsorption
Authors: Peterson Christine T. , Rodionov Dmitry A. , Iablokov Stanislav N. , Pung Meredith A. , Chopra Deepak , Mills Paul J. , Peterson Scott N.
Published: June 2019

Although the impact of medicinal and culinary herbs on health and disease has been studied to varying extents, scarcely little is known about the impact of these herbs on gut microbiota and how such effects might contribute to their health benefits. We applied in vitro anaerobic cultivation of human fecal microbiota followed by 16S rRNA sequencing to study the modulatory effects of 4 culinary spices: Curcuma longa (turmeric), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Piper longum (pipli or long pepper), and Piper nigrum (black pepper). All herbs analyzed possessed substantial power to modulate fecal bacterial communities to include potential prebiotic and beneficial repressive effects. We additionally analyzed the sugar composition of each herb by mass spectrometry and conducted genome reconstruction of 11 relevant sugar utilization pathways, glycosyl hydrolase gene representation, and both butyrate and propionate biosynthesis potential to facilitate our ability to functionally interpret microbiota profiles. Results indicated that sugar composition is not predictive of the taxa responding to each herb; however, glycosyl hydrolase gene representation is strongly modulated by each herb, suggesting that polysaccharide substrates present in herbs provide selective potential on gut communities. Additionally, we conclude that catabolism of herbs by gut communities primarily involves sugar fermentation at the expense of amino acid metabolism. Among the herbs analyzed, only turmeric induced changes in community composition that are predicted to increase butyrate-producing taxa. Our data suggests that substrates present in culinary spices may drive beneficial alterations in gut communities thereby altering their collective metabolism to contribute to the salubrious effects on digestive efficiency and health. These results support the potential value of further investigations in human subjects to delineate whether the metabolism of these herbs contributes to documented and yet to be discovered health benefits.
Lifespan Extending and Oxidative Stress Resistance Properties of a Leaf Extracts from Anacardium occidentale L. in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Duangjan Chatrawee , Rangsinth Panthakarn , Gu Xiaojie , Wink Michael , Tencomnao Tewin
Published: June 2019

Anacardium occidentale (AO) contains a number of polyphenolic secondary metabolites with antioxidant activity. The objectives of this study were aimed at investigating the roles of AO leaf extracts in antioxidative stress and longevity, as well as their underlying mechanisms, in the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. AO extracts mediated the survival rate of nematodes under oxidative stress by attenuating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the DAF-16/FoxO and SKN-1/Nrf-2 signaling pathways. AO extracts stimulated the expression of stress response genes including SOD-3 and GST-4. Moreover, AO extracts exhibited antiaging activities and enhanced longevity. We observed improved pharyngeal pumping function, attenuation of pigment accumulation (lipofuscin), and an increased lifespan of the worms. Collectively, our results demonstrated that AO extracts exerted both oxidative stress resistance and antiaging properties in the C. elegans model and may lead to new agents to benefit humans in the near future.
Identification of the Anisotropic Elastic Parameters of NiCrAlY Coating by Combining Nanoindentation and Finite Element Method
Authors: Zhai Jingyu , Chen Yugang , Song Xinyuan , Wu Hongchun , Han Qingkai
Published: June 2019

For vibration damping, coatings are prepared on surface of the structures (substrates), which constitute the coating‐substrate composite structures. Elastic parameters of the coating are indispensable for the vibration and damping analysis of the composite structure. Due to the small scale of coating thickness and elastic difference compared with the substrate, the identification results are inevitably influenced by the existence of substrate. Moreover, resulting from the preparation process, elastic properties of hard coating often exhibit anisotropic properties. All the above factors bring about the difficulties of accurate identification. In this study, a method for identifying anisotropic elastic parameters of hard coatings considering substrate effect is proposed, by combining nanoindentation and finite element analysis. Based on the identification results, finite element models are established to analyze the vibration characteristics of the coating‐substrate composite structure, which verify the rationality of the anisotropic elastic parameters for vibration analysis. The studies in this paper are significant to more accurately identify the mechanical parameters for establishing the dynamic model. Moreover, they lay the foundation for further optimization design of hard coating damping.
Does Supersonic Shear Wave Elastography Help Differentiate Biliary Atresia from Other Causes of Cholestatic Hepatitis in Infants Less than 90 Days Old? Compared with Grey-Scale US
Authors: Duan Xingxing , Peng Ya , Liu Wengang , Yang Liu , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To investigate the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography (SWE) for measuring liver stiffness to identify and differentiate biliary atresia (BA) from cholestatic hepatitis in infants younger than 90 days. Methods. A total of 138 infants younger than 90 days with cholestatic hepatitis were examined by SWE. The infants were subclassified into BA and nonbiliary atresia (non-BA) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of hepatic Young’s modulus measurements, the ultrasonic findings in the differential diagnosis of suspected BA, and the cut-off value to diagnose BA. Results. In all infants with cholestatic hepatitis, the cut-off value of hepatic Young’s modulus to differentiate the BA group from the non-BA group was 12.35 kPa and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.937, with a sensitivity of 84.3% and a specificity of 89.7%; nevertheless the AUC of the abnormal gallbladder (AbGB) was 0.940, with a sensitivity of 96.1% and a specificity of 92.0%. In the parallel test, triangular cord (TC) sign combined with AbGB had the best diagnostic performance and the AUC was 0.960, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92.0%. In the serial test, SWE combined with AbGB achieved the best diagnostic performance; the AUC was 0.902, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.4% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions. SWE could not only help differentiate BA from cholestatic hepatic diseases but also increase the diagnostic specificity when combined with grey-scale ultrasound in the serial test.
Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Under-Five Children in Pastoral Communities of Afar Regional State, Northeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Gebre Abel , Reddy P. Surender , Mulugeta Afework , Sedik Yayo , Kahssay Molla
Published: June 2019

Background. Malnutrition among children remains one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. In Ethiopia, malnutrition is one of the most serious public health problem and the biggest in the world. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among under-five children in pastoral communities of Afar Regional state, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 840 children aged 6–59 months from March 01–25, 2017. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select the study participants. A structured questionnaire was used and anthropometric measurements were taken to collect data. EPI Data 3.1 and SPSS version 20.0 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with malnutrition. The statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals in the final model. Result. The study found the prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight was 16.2% (95% CI: 13.8–18.8%), 43.1% (95% CI: 39.8–46.5%), and 24.8% (95% CI: 21.9–27.8%), respectively. Family size (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.62–4.55), prelacteal feeding (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.79–5.42), and diarrhoea in the past two weeks (AOR = 4.57, 95% CI: 2.56–8.16) were associated with wasting. And sex of child (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.46–2.72), age of child ((12–23 months: AOR = 3.44, 95% CI: 2.24–5.29); (24–35 months: AOR = 3.58, 95% CI: 2.25–5.69); and (36–59 months: AOR = 4.42, 95% CI: 2.79–6.94)), and immunization status of child (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.31–4.81) were predictors for stunting. Moreover, mother’s education (AOR = 4.06, 95% CI: 2.01–8.19), sex of child (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.29–2.94), prelacteal feeding (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.64–3.72), and immunization status of child (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 2.14–4.99) were significantly associated with underweight. Conclusions. This study indicated that child malnutrition was high among under-five children. Family size of five and above, receiving prelacteal feeding, and diarrhoea in the past two weeks were positively associated with wasting. Male child, increasing age of child, and not fully immunized child were positive predictors for increasing stunting. Maternal illiteracy, male child, prelacteal feeding, and not fully immunized child were factors affecting underweight. Promoting use of family planning, preventing diarrhoeal diseases, and vaccinating children integrated with the access of nutrition education programs are vital interventions to improve nutritional status of the children.
Association of Plasma Levels of Nitric Oxide Oxidative Metabolites with Acute Stroke in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department of a Low-Middle Income Country
Authors: Waheed Shahan , Kalsekar Ayaz Ghouse , Kamal Ayeesha Kamran , Bryan Nathan S. , Mian Asad I.
Published: June 2019

Introduction. Acute stroke incites an inflammatory reaction in the brain’s microvasculature, activating formation of nitric oxide oxidative metabolites, nitrate and nitrite (NOx, collectively), measurable in plasma. Our objectives were to investigate plasma NOx in patients with acute stroke presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) and to determine if it could (i) differentiate between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke; (ii) predict clinical outcomes. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the ED of Aga Khan University Hospital, from January 1 to December 31, 2016. Participants were enrolled if they had clinical acute stroke with confirmatory brain imaging to differentiate between ischemia and hemorrhage. Clinical demographic information, ancillary blood, and diagnostic specimens were collected as per standard of care since the center follows stroke algorithmic guidelines. Plasma NOx analysis was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Barthel Index and Modified Rankin Score. Data was analyzed using SPSS 19 and expressed in medians with interquartile ranges. Nonparametric tests were applied for comparing among groups. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine associations with aforementioned stroke severity and disability scales. Results. Seventy-five patients were enrolled, with median age of 57 years (IQR 47-66 years), 53 (71%) were males, and 46 (61%) had ischemic stroke. Overall, median NOx was 20.8 μM (IQR 13.4-35.3); there was no statistically significant difference between NOx in ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke (21.2 μM vs. 17.9 μM; p=0.2). However, there was a significant positive correlation between NOx levels and aforementioned acute stroke scales [r(73)=0.417, p=0.0001], for both. Conclusion. Although plasma NOx could not differentiate between ischemia and hemorrhage, higher levels of the biomarker did show associations with poststroke disability scales. Further study with more patients in a multicenter trial is warranted to establish the real biomarker potential of plasma NOx in acute stroke.