bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NLRP3 inflammasome mediates oxidative stress-induced pancreatic islet dysfunction
Authors: Sokolova Marina , Sahraoui Afaf , Høyem Merete , Øgaard Jonas , Lien Egil , Aukrust Pål , Yndestad Arne , Ranheim Trine , Scholz Hanne
Published: July 2018

Inflammasomes are multiprotein inflammatory platforms that induce caspase-1 activation and subsequently interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 processing. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by different forms of oxidative stress, and, based on the central role of IL-1β in the destruction of pancreatic islets, it could be related to the development of diabetes. We therefore investigated responses in wild-type C57Bl/6 (WT) mice, NLRP3−/− mice, and mice deficient in apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC) after exposing islets to short-term hypoxia or alloxan-induced islet damage. NLRP3-deficient islets compared with WT islets had preserved function ex vivo and were protected against hypoxia-induced cell death. Furthermore, NLRP3 and ASC-deficient mice were protected against oxidative stress-induced diabetes caused by repetitive low-dose alloxan administration, and this was associated with reduced β-cell death and reduced macrophage infiltration. This suggests that the beneficial effect of NLRP3 inflammasome deficiency on oxidative stress-mediated β-cell damage could involve reduced macrophage infiltration and activation. To support the role of macrophage activation in alloxan-induced diabetes, we injected WT mice with liposomal clodronate, which causes macrophage depletion before induction of a diabetic phenotype by alloxan treatment, resulting in improved glucose homeostasis in WT mice. We show here that the NLRP3 inflammasome acts as a mediator of hypoxia and oxidative stress in insulin-producing cells, suggesting that inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome could have beneficial effects on β-cell preservation.
Endocrine disruptor bisphenol A is implicated in urinary voiding dysfunction in male mice
Authors: Nicholson Tristan M. , Nguyen Jalissa L. , Leverson Glen E. , Taylor Julia A. , vom Saal Frederick S. , Wood Ronald W. , Ricke William A.
Published: July 2018

Estrogens, acting synergistically with androgens, are known from animal experiments to be important in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostate enlargement. Human exposure to environmental estrogens occurs throughout the life span, but the urologic health risks in men are largely unknown. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor implicated in male urogenital malformations. Given the role of estrogens in male LUTS, we studied the effects of BPA administered in combination with testosterone (T) on the urinary voiding behavior of adult male mice. Adult male mice underwent subcutaneous implantation with slow-release pellets of 25 mg BPA or 2.5 mg estradiol-17β (E2), plus 25 mg T, and were compared with untreated (UNT) mice that underwent sham surgery. We studied urinary voiding behavior noninvasively for 1 mo before treatment and for 4 mo after treatment. After euthanasia, we evaluated bladder volume and mass. Mice treated with T+BPA had increased bladder volume ( P < 0.05) and mass ( P < 0.01) compared with UNT mice. After 4 mo of treatment with T+BPA, three of five mice developed voiding dysfunction in the form of droplet voiding or an intermediate pattern of voiding different from both UNT and T+E2-treated mice. Treatment of male mice with BPA or estradiol induces voiding dysfunction that manifests at later time points, implicating the endocrine disruptor, BPA, as a contributor to male LUTS.
Do postural constraints affect eye, head, and arm coordination?
Authors: Stamenkovic Alexander , Stapley Paul J. , Robins Rebecca , Hollands Mark A.
Published: July 2018

If a whole body reaching task is produced when standing or adopting challenging postures, it is unclear whether changes in attentional demands or the sensorimotor integration necessary for balance control influence the interaction between visuomotor and postural components of the movement. Is gaze control prioritized by the central nervous system (CNS) to produce coordinated eye movements with the head and whole body regardless of movement context? Considering the coupled nature of visuomotor and whole body postural control during action, this study aimed to understand how changing equilibrium constraints (in the form of different postural configurations) influenced the initiation of eye, head, and arm movements. We quantified the eye-head metrics and segmental kinematics as participants executed either isolated gaze shifts or whole body reaching movements to visual targets. In total, four postural configurations were compared: seated, natural stance, with the feet together (narrow stance), or while balancing on a wooden beam. Contrary to our initial predictions, the lack of distinct changes in eye-head metrics; timing of eye, head, and arm movement initiation; and gaze accuracy, in spite of kinematic differences, suggests that the CNS integrates postural constraints into the control necessary to initiate gaze shifts. This may be achieved by adopting a whole body gaze strategy that allows for the successful completion of both gaze and reaching goals.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Differences in sequence of movement among the eye, head, and arm have been shown across various paradigms during reaching. Here we show that distinct changes in eye characteristics and movement sequence, coupled with stereotyped profiles of head and gaze movement, are not observed when adopting postures requiring changes to balance constraints. This suggests that a whole body gaze strategy is prioritized by the central nervous system with postural control subservient to gaze stability requirements.
Stationary Distribution and Dynamic Behaviour of a Stochastic SIVR Epidemic Model with Imperfect Vaccine
Authors: Kiouach Driss , Boulaasair Lahcen
Published: July 2018

We consider a stochastic SIVR (susceptible-infected-vaccinated-recovered) epidemic model with imperfect vaccine. First, we obtain critical condition under which the disease is persistent in the mean. Second, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence of an ergodic stationary distribution to the model. Third, we study the extinction of the disease. Finally, numerical simulations are given to support the analytical results.
Adaptive Synchronization for Uncertain Delayed Fractional-Order Hopfield Neural Networks via Fractional-Order Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Meng Bo , Wang Xiaohong
Published: July 2018

Adaptive synchronization for a class of uncertain delayed fractional-order Hopfield neural networks (FOHNNs) with external disturbances is addressed in this paper. For the unknown parameters and external disturbances of the delayed FOHNNs, some adaptive estimations are designed. Firstly, a fractional-order switched sliding surface is proposed for the delayed FOHNNs. Then, according to the fractional-order extension of the Lyapunov stability criterion, a fractional-order sliding mode controller is constructed to guarantee that the synchronization error of the two uncertain delayed FOHNNs converges to an arbitrary small region of the origin. Finally, a numerical example of two-dimensional uncertain delayed FOHNNs is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Design on the Bowden Cable-Driven Upper Limb Soft Exoskeleton
Authors: Wei Wei , Qu Zhicheng , Wang Wei , Zhang Pengcheng , Hao Fuchun
Published: July 2018

To assist hemiplegic patients with the activities of daily life, many upper limb soft exoskeletons have been developed. In this paper, we propose the structure of upper limb soft exoskeleton for rehabilitation training based on human biomechanics. The soft driving structure based on Bowden cable is devised. Man-machine interaction force must be considered because it can damage on the joint and lead to arm discomfort. We focus on structural optimization to minimize man-machine interaction force. Human arm model is established to perform motion simulation in ADAMS. To summarize optimality conditions, the movements of elbow are simulated in ADAMS when the number and location of force bearing points are changed. This paper describes the movement of the shoulder skeletal system through a mathematical model based on the Bowden cable transmission and utilizes man-machine contact force sensor to detect human interaction forces for analysis of experimental data. The experimental results show that man-machine interaction force can be reduced when the number of bearing force points is increased and bearing force point is away from the elbow.
Inhibition of MDM2 via Nutlin-3A: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Pleural Mesotheliomas with MDM2-Induced Inactivation of Wild-Type P53
Authors: Walter Robert F. H. , Werner Robert , Wessolly Michael , Mairinger Elena , Borchert Sabrina , Schmeller Jan , Kollmeier Jens , Mairinger Thomas , Hager Thomas , Bankfalvi Agnes , Christoph Daniel C. , Eberhardt Wilfried E. E. , Plönes Till , Aigner Clemens , Schmid Kurt W. , Wohlschlaeger Jeremias , Mairinger Fabian D.
Published: July 2018

Previously, our group demonstrated that nuclear expression of E3 ubiquitin ligase (MDM2) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is significantly associated with decreased overall survival. A possible explanation may be that overexpression of MDM2 leads to a proteasomal degradation of TP53 that eventually results in a loss of TP53-induced apoptosis and senescence. It is well known from other tumor entities that restoration of TP53 activity, e.g., by MDM2 inhibition, results in an instant TP53-induced stress and/or DNA damage response of cancer cells. Nutlin-3A (acis-imidazoline analogue) has been described as a potent and selective MDM2 inhibitor preventing MDM2-TP53-interaction by specific binding to the hydrophobic TP53-binding pocket of MDM2. In the present study, the effects of MDM2 inhibition in MPM via Nutlin-3A and standard platinum based chemotherapeutic agents were comparatively tested in three MPM cell lines (NCI-H2052, MSTO-211H, and NCI-H2452) showing different expression profiles of TP53, MDM2, and its physiological inhibitor of MDM2—P14/ARF. Ourin vitroexperiments on MPM cell lines revealed that Nutlin-3A in combination with cisplatin resulted in up to 9.75 times higher induction of senescence (p=0.0050) and up to 5 times higher apoptosis rate (p=0.0067) compared to the commonly applied cisplatin and pemetrexed regimens. Thus Nutlin-3A, a potent inhibitor of MDM2, is associated with a significant induction of senescence and apoptosis in MPM cell lines, making Nutlin-3A a promising substance for a targeted therapy in the subgroup of MPM showing MDM2 overexpression.
Street-Level Landmark Evaluation Based on Nearest Routers
Authors: Li Ruixiang , Sun Yuchen , Hu Jianwei , Ma Te , Luo Xiangyang
Published: July 2018

High reliable street-level landmarks are the basis of IP geolocation, but landmark evaluation methods having been proposed cannot evaluate the street-level landmarks. Therefore, in this paper, a street-level landmark evaluation method based on nearest router is proposed. The location organization declared is regarded as an area not a point. Firstly, the declared location of preevaluated landmark is verified by IP location databases. Secondly, the preevaluated landmarks are grouped according to their nearest router. Then, the distance constraint is obtained using delay value between landmark and its nearest router by delay-distance correlation. And relation model is established among distance constraint, organization’s region radius, and distance between two landmarks. Finally, the reliability value of landmarks is calculated in each group based on relational model and binomial distribution. Landmarks evaluation experiment is taken based on 7082 preevaluated landmarks, and the results show that geolocation errors decrease obviously using evaluated landmarks. The mean error of 100 targets in Shanghai is reduced from 7.832km to 2.185km.
MC‐GiV2V: Multichannel Allocation in mmWave‐Based Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Kim Wooseong
Published: July 2018

During last several years, mobile communications using mmWave spectrum have been intensively researched for 5G wireless networks. Now the mmWave wireless technologies are evolved into direct device‐to‐device communications for a single or multihop communication via Giga‐bit links. Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are one of the most attractive areas to apply the direct mmWave communications. In this paper, we propose a Giga‐V2V (GiV2V) network, in which vehicles query and deliver high quality video and sensor data of smart and self‐driving cars using mmWave communications instead of current dedicated short‐range communications (DSRC). In the GiV2V networks, vehicles probably form a grid topology along lanes of a road, which leads to align mmWave beams of the vehicles and cause mutual interference among them. As channel diversity can resolve effectively the interference between mmWave beams, we propose several heuristic algorithms for channel assignment of each beam in the GiV2V networks. We investigate the proposed algorithms using simulation and compare performance with well‐known metaheuristic algorithms for this NP‐Hard problem.
Fucosterol Protects against Concanavalin A-Induced Acute Liver Injury: Focus on P38 MAPK/NF-κB Pathway Activity
Authors: Mo Wenhui , Wang Chengfen , Li Jingjing , Chen Kan , Xia Yujing , Li Sainan , Xu Ling , Lu Xiya , Wang Wenwen , Guo Chuanyong
Published: July 2018

Objective. Fucosterol is derived from the brown alga Eisenia bicyclis and has various biological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of fucosterol pretreatment on Concanavalin A- (ConA-) induced acute liver injury in mice, and to understand its molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods. Acute liver injury was induced in BALB/c mice by ConA (25 mg/kg), and fucosterol (dissolved in 2% DMSO) was orally administered daily at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The levels of hepatic necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy associated with inflammatory cytokines were measured at 2, 8, and 24 h. Results. Fucosterol attenuated serum liver enzyme levels and hepatic necrosis and apoptosis induced by TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Fucosterol also inhibited apoptosis and autophagy by upregulating Bcl-2, which decreased levels of functional Bax and Beclin-1. Furthermore, reduced P38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling were accompanied by PPARγ activation. Conclusion. This study showed that fucosterol could alleviate acute liver injury induced by ConA by inhibiting P38 MAPK/PPARγ/NF-κB signaling. These findings highlight that fucosterol is a promising potential therapeutic agent for acute liver injury.
Low Prevalence of Active Tuberculosis among High-Risk Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Sweden: A Retrospective Epidemiological Cohort Study Using and Evaluating TST as Screening Method
Authors: Bullarbo Maria , Barnisin Martina , Vukas Radulovic Nina , Mellgren Åsa
Published: July 2018

Objective. Studies on the prevalence of active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among high-risk pregnant and postpartum women are few and prevalence is not well known. The methods used for diagnosing and treating TB and LTBI also differ both within and between countries. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of TB and LTBI among high-risk pregnant and postpartum women in a Western Region of Sweden using tuberculin skin test (TST) as screening method. Secondary aims were to evaluate the effectiveness of the screening method and possible negative labour and neonatal outcomes among TST-positive women. Methods. Pregnant women attending an antenatal care unit (ACU) allocated for TST screening were investigated and followed up for two years postpartum. Results. Only one woman out of 902 screened women in the study group was diagnosed with active TB because of TB symptoms and not because of positive TST. 36% of the skin-tested women fulfilled criteria for LTBI. No difference in perinatal outcome was found between women with and without positive TST. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that TST screening of high-risk women may not be an effective strategy, since the prevalence of active TB is low. Investigating pregnant and postpartum women with TB symptoms instead of TST for screening could be an option in low TB prevalence areas. The criteria for diagnosing and treating LTBI should be clearly stated.
Temperature Dependence of G− Mode in Raman Spectra of Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Wu Qianru , Wen Zhijie , Zhang Xiuyun , Tian Lei , He Maoshuai
Published: July 2018

The temperature evolution of G mode in the Raman spectra of surface grown single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is investigated. It is revealed that the intensity of G− mode in Raman spectra varies with the measurement temperature. The intensity variation of the G− mode is synchronized to that of the radial breathing mode, which is sensitive to the resonance condition (∣EL−Eii∣). Such an intensity evolution is associated with the temperature-induced change of Eii. That is, the intensity of G−, an indication of electron-phonon coupling in metallic SWNTs, can be greatly enhanced only when the laser energy well matches the transition energy of nanotubes (Eii). In other words, the window for observing asymmetric and broad G− mode is very narrow. This work further confirms that the G− mode in the Raman spectrum mainly arises from metallic SWNTs, and caution should be paid when using the intensity ratio of G−/G+ to estimate the percentage of metallic SWNTs in products.
Effects of the Installation Angle of Raised Pavement Markers on a Horizontal Curve Section on the Line of Sight Induction Performance
Authors: Liang Guo-hua , Zhang Dong , Du Shi-bei , Yin Yu-jie , Li Rui , Shi Bo-rui
Published: July 2018

Different installation angles of raised pavement markers (RPMs) correspond to different incident angles of light, which affects the retroreflective performance of the RPMs. This paper explores how adjustments to the installation angle of the RPMs on a horizontal curve section affect a driver’s line of sight induction. The conditions under which RPMs achieve the optimal effect of retroreflection are confirmed, and a driver’s visual range at night is analyzed. The incident angle of light and the installation angle of RPMs are calculated when the optimal effect of retroreflection is achieved and the RPMs are installed along the radial direction (normal conditions). The differences in incident angles are compared. The results show that the differences in the incident angle under the two installment modes decrease as the radius increases, with a maximum value of 5.9 degrees. The improvement of the retroreflection with variations in the incident angle is analyzed using the STT-201A RPM measuring instrument. When the incident angle is decreased by 5.9 degrees and the observed angle is less than 2 degrees, the average increase in the coefficient of the retroreflection is only 12.6%, indicating that the improvement of the retroreflection is not obvious. Therefore, a driver’s perception of road alignment cannot be significantly improved by adjusting the installation angle of RPMs. Considering the complexity of the construction of a project, the installation angle should not be changed under normal conditions; namely, the RPMs should still be installed along the radial direction.
Distance Based Entropy Measure of Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and Its Application in Multicriteria Decision Making
Authors: Rashid Tabasam , Faizi Shahzad , Zafar Sohail
Published: July 2018

Fuzzy entropy means the measurement of fuzziness in a fuzzy set and therefore plays a vital role in solving the fuzzy multicriteria decision making (MCDM) and multicriteria group decision making (MCGDM) problems. In this study, the notion of the measure of distance based entropy for uncertain information in the context of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (IVIFS) is introduced. The arithmetic and geometric average operators are firstly used to aggregate the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information provided by the decision makers (DMs) or experts corresponding to each alternative, and then the fuzzy entropy of each alternative is calculated based on proposed distance measure. Several numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the application to MCDM and MCGDM problems to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Improved HFACS on Human Factors of Construction Accidents: A China Perspective
Authors: Ye Gui , Tan Qin , Gong Xiaoli , Xiang Qingting , Wang Yuhe , Liu Qinjun
Published: July 2018

Human errors are one of the major contributors of accidents. In order to improve the safety performance, human errors have to be addressed. Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) has been developed as an analytical framework for the investigation of the role of human errors in aviation accidents. However, the HFACS framework did not reveal the relationships describing the effect among diverse factors at different levels. Similarly, its interior structure was not exposed. As a result, it is difficult to identify critical paths and key factors. Therefore, an improved Human Factors Analysis and Classification System in the construction industry (I‐HFACS) was developed in this study. An analytical I‐HFACS mechanism was designed to interpret how activities and decisions made by upper management lead to operator errors and subsequent accidents. Critical paths were highlighted. Similarly, key human factors were identified, that is, “regulatory factors,” “organizational process,” “supervisory violations,” “adverse spiritual state,” “skill underutilization,” “skill‐based errors,” and “violations.” Findings provided useful references for the construction industry to improve the safety performance.
Weighting Algorithm and Relaxation Strategies of the Landweber Method for Image Reconstruction
Authors: Han Guanghui , Qu Gangrong , Wang Qian
Published: July 2018

The iterative approach is important for image reconstruction with ill-posed problem, especially for limited angle reconstruction. Most of iterative algorithms can be written in the general Landweber scheme. In this context, appropriate relaxation strategies and appropriately chosen weights are critical to yield reconstructed images of high quality. In this paper, based on reducing the condition number of matrix ATA, we find one method of weighting matrices for the general Landweber method to improve the reconstructed results. For high resolution images, the approximate iterative matrix is derived. And the new weighting matrices and corresponding relaxation strategies are proposed for the general Landweber method with large dimensional number. Numerical simulations show that the proposed weighting methods are effective in improving the quality of reconstructed image for both complete projection data and limited angle projection data.
Treatment Algorithm of Peripancreatic Arteries Aneurysm Coexisting with Coeliac Artery Lesion: Single Institution Experience
Authors: Antoniak Robert , Grabowska-Derlatka Laretta , Maciąg Rafał , Ostrowski Tomasz , Nawrot Ireneusz , Gałązka Zbigniew , Nazarewski Sławomir , Rowiński Olgierd
Published: July 2018

Introduction. True aneurysms of peripancreatic arterial arcades (PAAAs) coexisting with celiac axis lesion are often asymptomatic. However, they may rupture regardless of their size and cause life-threatening hypovolemia. No treatment guidelines exist to date. We present a series of 21 patients and our management algorithm. Material and Methods. For ruptured aneurysms we preformed endovascular embolization. Further treatment was dependent on patient’s condition and control studies. In case of unruptured aneurysms, we assessed collateral circulation between superior mesenteric artery and celiac axis in angio-CT. If there was a pathway free from aneurysms, endovascular approach was chosen. Otherwise, surgical or combined treatment was favored. Results. Endovascular treatment was performed in 14 patients with no complications. Follow-up studies revealed incomplete occlusion of the aneurysms in two cases. Surgical or combined treatment was performed in 7 patients with three serious perioperative complications. They were managed conservatively in two cases and surgically in one. Follow-up studies showed aneurismal dilatation and stenosis of a renohepatic by-pass in one case. Conclusion. We present our management algorithm of PAAAs. Our results support the leading role of endovascular treatment. We present its limitations favoring surgical or combined treatment. All patients should be carefully followed.
Advanced SEM and TEM Techniques Applied in Mg-Based Hydrogen Storage Research
Authors: Li Jianding , Xu Jincheng , Li Bo , He Liqing , Lin Huaijun , Li Hai-Wen , Shao Huaiyu
Published: July 2018

Mg-based materials are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for hydrogen storage. In order to clarify the relationship between the structures and properties as well as to understand the reaction and formation mechanisms, it is beneficial to obtain useful information about the size, morphology, and microstructure of the studied materials. Herein, the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques for the representation of Mg-based hydrogen storage materials is described. The basic principles of SEM and TEM are presented and the characterizations of the size, morphology observation, phase and composition determination, and formation and reaction mechanisms clarification of Mg-based hydrogen storage materials are discussed. The applications of advanced SEM and TEM play significant roles in the research and development of the next-generation hydrogen storage materials.
Optimization Study of the Dump Diffuser in Gas Turbine to Reduce Pressure Loss
Authors: Xing Fei , Su Hao , Chan Shining , Xu Leilei , Yu Xinyi
Published: July 2018

As a key component-connecting compressor and the entrance of combustion chamber, the diffuser is able to increase the pressure and slow down the airflow in order to promote efficient combustion as well as avoid a large amount of pressure loss. In this paper, experimental investigation and numerical studies have been carried out to understand the effects of air bleeding from dump region and dump gap ratio on the total pressure loss and static pressure recovery of the dump diffusers. The ultimate objective is optimizing the dump diffuser design to get the maximum static pressure recovery and minimum total pressure loss. A simplified test model is used to study the effect of the air bleeding from the outer dump region and the dump gap ratio on the total pressure loss and static pressure recovery in the dump diffuser. The impact of the dump gap ratio in the performance of the dump diffusers has also been discussed. Nearly all the pressure raise occurs in the prediffuser, and most of the total pressure loss occurs in the dump region. For the recirculating area in the dump region, the controllable vortex can be introduced. Bleeding air from the outer dump region can improve the velocity distribution near the flame tube. The results show that when 0.4% of the air is bled from outer dump region, the performance of the dump diffuser is optimal. Hence, the controllable vortex method is effective for improving the performance of the dump diffuser.
Three-Dimensional Holographic Imaging Using Single Frequency Microwave Data
Authors: Amineh Reza K. , Ravan Maryam , Sharma Raveena , Baua Smit
Published: July 2018

Three-dimensional (3D) microwave and millimeter wave imaging techniques based on the holographic principles have been successfully employed in several applications such as security screening, body shape measurement for the apparel industry, underground imaging, and wall imaging. The previously proposed 3D holographic imaging techniques require the acquisition of wideband data over rectangular or cylindrical apertures. Requirement for wideband data imposes limitations on the hardware (in particular at very high or very low frequencies). It may also lead to errors in the produced images if the media is dispersive (e.g., in biomedical imaging) and not modeled properly in the image reconstruction process. To address these limitations, here, we propose a technique to perform 3D imaging with single frequency data. Instead of collecting data at multiple frequencies, we acquire the backscattered fields with an array of resonant antennas. We demonstrate the possibility of 3D imaging with the proposed setup and perform a comprehensive study of the capabilities and limitations of the technique via simulations. To perform a realistic study, the simulation data is contaminated by noise.
Modulation Set Optimization for the Improved Complex Quadrature SM
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Mohaisen Manar , Kwak Kyung Sup
Published: July 2018

At each channel use, the complex quadrature spatial modulation (CQSM) transmits two signal symbols drawn from two disjoint modulation sets. The indices of the antennas from which symbols are transmitted also carry information. In the improved CQSM (ICQSM), an additional antenna is used to transmit the second signal symbol only when the indices of the antennas to be used for transmission are equal. Conventionally, the second modulation set is a rotated version of the first, where the rotation angle is optimized such that the average unconditional error probability (AUP) is reduced. In this paper, we propose a low‐complexity method to design the PSK modulation sets based on reducing the AUP. After introducing min‐BER and max‐dmin, two exhaustive search methods, we analytically show that the AUP depends on Euclidean distance between transmitted vectors, which in turn depends on the power of signal symbols, the Euclidean distance between the symbols of each modulation set, and the Euclidean distance between the symbols of the two sets. The optimal rotation angle is analytically derived for any modulation order and the radii of the modulation sets are optimized such that AUP is reduced for a wide range of system configurations. The simulation results show that more than 3 dB of power gain is achieved in the case of 16PSK, where higher gains are achieved for higher modulation orders. These gains are achieved at no computational cost because the optimization does not depend on the channel realization.
Jian‐Pi‐Yi‐Shen Formula Regulates Inflammatory Cytokines Production in 5/6 Nephrectomized Rats via Suppression of NF‐κB Activation
Authors: Lu Jiandong , Liu Xinhui , Liao Yijiao , Wang Dongcai , Chen Jianping , Li Shunmin
Published: July 2018

Jian‐Pi‐Yi‐Shen formula (JPYSF) is a Chinese herbal decoction used for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) for over 20 years with good efficiency. However, the mechanism lacks solid evidence. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that JPYSF may retard CKD progression via inhibition of inflammation in 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) rat model. The 5/6 Nx rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: 5/6 Nx group and JPYSF group. Sham‐operated rats served as control. JPYSF (2.06 g/kg/d) were administrated by gavage to 5/6 Nx rats daily for 6 weeks. Results showed that JPYSF treatment significantly improved kidney function and pathological injury in 5/6 Nx rats. Multiplex analysis of cytokines revealed that JPYSF reduced proinflammatory cytokines and increased anti‐inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, JPYSF inhibited the activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) signaling pathway. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that JPYSF remarkably retards development and progression of CKD in a 5/6 Nx rat model, which may be associated with inhibition of inflammation via NF‐κB signaling pathway.
Patients’ Knowledge of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy Treatment and Its Impact on Patient Adherence
Authors: Afaya Agani , Salia Solomon Mohammed , Adatara Peter , Afaya Richard Adongo , Suglo Solomon , Japiong Milipaak
Published: July 2018

Despite increased support from government and other stakeholders for malaria control over the past decade, malaria burden remains high in many endemic countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess patients’ knowledge of antimalarial treatment (ACT) and its association with patient adherence. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed in this study. Data were collected from April to May 2017. Both descriptive and inferential statistics in the form of frequencies, percentages, mean values, standard deviations, and Pearson’s chi-square test were generated by use of Microsoft excel spreadsheet and IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The average age of the respondents surveyed for this study was 42.27 ± 11.09. Adherence level to ACT was 47%. The results showed that there was a significant association between respondents’ knowledge of the efficacy of antimalarial medication (p =0.003), benefits of completing antimalarial treatment course (p =0.001), and consequences of not completing the doses of antimalarial medication prescribed (p =0.002) and adherence to ACT. This study then recommends that improving patients’ knowledge regarding the efficacy, benefits of completing ACT, and consequences of not completing ACT treatment may improve the likelihood of patients adhering fully to ACT.
Scanning Mortars to Understand the Past and Plan the Future for the Maintenance of Monuments
Authors: Stefanidou Maria , Pavlidou Eleni
Published: July 2018

The effect of microstructure on macroproperties of building materials was the initiation in order to use microscopic techniques for studying the materials’ behavior. Primer role among the different techniques has the scanning electron microscope (SEM) as it provides much information in an easy and understandable way. SEM has been used in almost every study of the last decades, dealing with historic and repair materials to complete the analysis performed. In the case of historic mortars, it is a unique technique as it requires a small representative sample and without any intense treatment important information derived from an almost unknown sample including damage detection, phase identification, and microanalysis. It is usually a complementary method of analysis but a precious one as the gained results from the analysis of old mortars are used for designing compatible repair materials for restoration purposes. In the paper, the long-term use of SEM in studying both old authentic and innovative repair mortars is presented.
Optimal Maneuver Strategy of Observer for Bearing-Only Tracking in Threat Environment
Authors: He Renke , Chen Shuxin , Wu Hao , Liu Zhuowei , Chen Jianhua
Published: July 2018

The optimal maneuver of observer for bearing-only tracking (BOT) in a threat environment is a complex problem which involves nonlinear filtering, threat avoidance, and optimal maneuver strategy. Under comprehensive consideration, the reward function comprised of the lower bound on detFIM and threat cost was established; the finite-horizon MDP principle was applied to obtain the optimal strategy. The quantization method was used to discretize the BOT process and calculate the transition matrix of Markov chain; to achieve quantization in the beginning of each period, CKF was applied to provide the initial state estimate and the corresponding error covariance. The numerical simulations illustrated the applicability and superior performance for static and dynamic target tracking in several scenarios in the threat environment.
Averaged Control for Fractional ODEs and Fractional Diffusion Equations
Authors: Mitrovic Darko , Novak Andrej , Uzunović Tarik
Published: July 2018

We generalize results concerning averaged controllability on fractional type equations: system of fractional ODEs and the fractional diffusion equation. The proofs are accomplished by introducing appropriate Banach space in which we prove observability inequalities.
Accountable and Transparent TLS Certificate Management: An Alternate Public-Key Infrastructure with Verifiable Trusted Parties
Authors: Khan Salabat , Zhang Zijian , Zhu Liehuang , Li Meng , Khan Safi Qamas Gul , Chen Xiaobing
Published: July 2018

Current Transport Layer Security (TLS) Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a vast and complex system; it consists of processes, policies, and entities that are responsible for a secure certificate management process. Among them, Certificate Authority (CA) is the central and most trusted entity. However, recent compromises of CA result in the desire for some other secure and transparent alternative approaches. To distribute the trust and mitigate the threats and security issues of current PKI, publicly verifiable log-based approaches have been proposed. However, still, these schemes have vulnerabilities and inefficiency problems due to lack of specifying proper monitoring, data structure, and extra latency. We propose Accountable and Transparent TLS Certificate Management: an alternate Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) with verifiable trusted parties (ATCM) that makes certificate management phases; certificate issuance, registration, revocation, and validation publicly verifiable. It also guarantees strong security by preventing man-in-middle-attack (MitM) when at least one entity is trusted out of all entities taking part in the protocol signing and verification. Accountable and Transparent TLS Certificate Management: an alternate Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) with verifiable trusted parties (ATCM) can handle CA hierarchy and introduces an improved revocation system and revocation policy. We have compared our performance results with state-of-the-art log-based protocols. The performance results and evaluations show that it is feasible for practical use. Moreover, we have performed formal verification of our proposed protocol to verify its core security properties using Tamarin Prover.
Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutant from Water under UV and Sunlight via Cellulose Nanofiber Aerogel Wrapped by TiO2
Authors: Li Song , Hao Xiaofeng , Dai Xiangdong , Tao Tao
Published: July 2018

Semiconductor photocatalysis can be used to decompose various organic compounds in open air under aqueous conditions with solar energy. A cellulose nanofiber/TiO2 aerogel (CNFT) for rapid photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution was successfully fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method. TiO2 nanoparticles adhered to the surface of cellulose nanofibers as scaffold through a hydrogen bond and were well-distributed. The particle size distribution data showed that the mean diameter of TiO2 nanoparticles was around 6.8 nm. In the system of the as-prepared CNFT, CNF played important roles in adsorption of pollutant and in stopping the electron hole derived from TiO2 from recombining. The composite aerogel exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity in the degradation of pollutant (MB) under ultraviolet light (UV) and sunlight irradiation. The composite aerogel could be regarded as a green and portable photocatalyst, because it was promising for wastewater treatment application as a result of its good high photocatalytic activity and stability under ultraviolet light and sunlight irradiation.
Gastrointestinal Pathobionts in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Patients
Authors: Purcell Rachel V. , Kaakoush Nadeem O. , Mitchell Hazel M. , Pearson John F. , Keenan Jacqueline I.
Published: July 2018

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with a rising incidence worldwide, particularly in children. CD is thought to arise due to an immune response to environmental factors. The role of bacteria in CD has recently been highlighted, and here, we examine the prevalence of two bacterial species, enterotoxigenicBacteroides fragilis(ETBF) andFusobacterium nucleatum, implicated in gastrointestinal pathologies, in a pediatric CD cohort. Stool samples from 30 children with treatment-naïve CD and 30 age- and sex-matched controls were collected, and DNA was extracted. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the levels of ETBF andF. nucleatumin stool samples. Bacterial positivity and relative abundance were assessed between cases and controls and in relation to disease severity. No associations were found between colonization with ETBF and CD, or between colonization with either ETBF orF. nucleatumand disease severity or presence ofC. concisus. However, a strong association was observed between positivity forF. nucleatumin the stool samples and the occurrence of CD in patients (25/30) as compared to controls (8/30) (P=0.003).F. nucleatumis more prevalent in the stool samples of pediatric CD patients, compared to healthy controls, and may have potential use as a biomarker of pediatric CD.
Research on the Law of Large‐Scale Deformation and Failure of Soft Rock Based on Microseismic Monitoring
Authors: Chen Feng , Ma Tianhui , Tang Chun’an , Du Yanhong , Li Zhichao , Liu Fei
Published: July 2018

Based on the existing Canadian ESG microseismic monitoring system, a mobile microseismic monitoring system for a soft rock tunnel has been successfully constructed through continuous exploration and improvement to study the large‐scale nucleation and development of microfractures in the soft rock of the Yangshan Tunnel. All‐weather, continuous real‐time monitoring is conducted while the tunnel is excavated through drilling and blasting, and the waveform characteristics of microseismic events are analysed. Through the recorded microseismic monitoring data, the variation characteristics of various parameters (e.g., the temporal, spatial, and magnitude distributions of the microseismic events, the frequency of microseismic events, and the microseismic event density and energy) are separately studied during the process of large‐scale deformation instability and failure of the soft rock tunnel. The relationship between the deterioration of the rock mass and the microseismic activity during this failure process is consequently discussed. The research results show that a microseismic monitoring system can be used to detect precursors; namely, the microseismic event frequency and energy both will appear “lull” and “active” periods during the whole failure process of soft rock tunnel. Two peaks are observed during the evolution of failure. When the second peak occurs, it is accompanied by the destruction of the surrounding rock. The extent and strength of the damage within the surrounding rock can be delineated by the spatial, temporal, and magnitude distributions of the microseismic events and a microseismic event density nephogram. The results of microseismic analysis confirm that a microseismic monitoring system can be used to monitor the large‐scale deformation and failure processes of a soft rock tunnel and provide early warning for on‐site construction workers to ensure the smooth development of the project.
Quality of Life after an Episode of Severe Maternal Morbidity: Evidence from a Cohort Study in Brazil
Authors: Angelini Carina R. , Pacagnella Rodolfo C. , Parpinelli Mary A. , Silveira Carla , Andreucci Carla B. , Ferreira Elton C. , Santos Juliana P. , Zanardi Dulce M. , Souza Renato T. , Sousa Maria H. , Cecatti Jose G.
Published: July 2018

Objective. To assess quality of life (QOL) in women who experienced a severe maternal morbidity (SMM) event and associated factors, in comparison to those who did not. Study Design. Retrospective cohort study performed at the maternity of the University of Campinas in Brazil, including 801 women with or without SMM, within 6 months to 5 years after delivery. Women were interviewed by phone and data were electronically stored, using the Brazilian version of the SF36 to assess women’s self-perception of quality of life. To analyze a possible relationship between SMM and perceived impairment in quality of life, χ2 and Fisher’s Exact tests were used. Multiple analysis using Generalized Linear Models was applied to identify factors independently associated with the general health score. The main outcome measures were general and domain-specific SF36 scores on quality of life. Results. Maternal morbidity conditions were associated with lower scores of patient perceptions of quality of life in the following domains: physical functioning, role-limiting physical, pain, and general health status. A lower level of school education, not having a partner, caesarean section, and history of previous clinical conditions were associated with a worse perception of general health and quality of life. Conclusion. Health professionals should know the association between life conditions, previous chronic health conditions, and SMM for women during prenatal care to beyond 42 weeks postpartum. Longitudinal and interdisciplinary actions should be put into practice to provide healthcare for these women, with special emphasis on the effective reduction in health inequities.
Quantitative Spatial Profiling of PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction and HLA-DR/IDO-1 Predicts Improved Outcomes of Anti–PD-1 Therapies in Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Johnson Douglas B. , Bordeaux Jennifer , Kim Ju Young , Vaupel Christine , Rimm David L. , Ho Thai H. , Joseph Richard W. , Daud Adil I. , Conry Robert M. , Gaughan Elizabeth M. , Hernandez-Aya Leonel F. , Dimou Anastasios , Funchain Pauline , Smithy James , Witte John S. , McKee Svetlana B. , Ko Jennifer , Wrangle John M. , Dabbas Bashar , Tangri Shabnam , Lameh Jelveh , Hall Jeffrey , Markowitz Joseph , Balko Justin M. , Dakappagari Naveen
Published: July 2018

Purpose: PD-1/L1 axis–directed therapies produce clinical responses in a subset of patients; therefore, biomarkers of response are needed. We hypothesized that quantifying key immunosuppression mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment by multiparameter algorithms would identify strong predictors of anti–PD-1 response.

Experimental Design: Pretreatment tumor biopsies from 166 patients treated with anti–PD-1 across 10 academic cancer centers were fluorescently stained with multiple markers in discovery (n = 24) and validation (n = 142) cohorts. Biomarker-positive cells and their colocalization were spatially profiled in pathologist-selected tumor regions using novel Automated Quantitative Analysis algorithms. Selected biomarker signatures, PD-1/PD-L1 interaction score, and IDO-1/HLA-DR coexpression were evaluated for anti–PD-1 treatment outcomes.

Results: In the discovery cohort, PD-1/PD-L1 interaction score and/or IDO-1/HLA-DR coexpression was strongly associated with anti–PD-1 response (P = 0.0005). In contrast, individual biomarkers (PD-1, PD-L1, IDO-1, HLA-DR) were not associated with response or survival. This finding was replicated in an independent validation cohort: patients with high PD-1/PD-L1 and/or IDO-1/HLA-DR were more likely to respond (P = 0.0096). These patients also experienced significantly improved progression-free survival (HR = 0.36; P = 0.0004) and overall survival (HR = 0.39; P = 0.0011). In the combined cohort, 80% of patients exhibiting higher levels of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction scores and IDO-1/HLA-DR responded to PD-1 blockers (P = 0.000004). In contrast, PD-L1 expression was not predictive of survival.

Conclusions: Quantitative spatial profiling of key tumor-immune suppression pathways by novel digital pathology algorithms could help more reliably select melanoma patients for PD-1 monotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 24(21); 5250–60. ©2018 AACR.