bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xanthogranulomatous Salpingooophoritis: The Youngest Documented Case Report
Authors: Tanwar Harshawardhan , Joshi Avinash , Wagaskar Vinayak , Kini Siddharth , Bachhav Manoj
Published: May 2015

Background. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon affection of the female genital tract. The youngest case reported of xanthogranulomatous salpingooophoritis in literature was by Shilpa et al. in 2013 in an eighteen-year-old female.Case Report. We report a case of 2-year-old female child with right-sided xanthogranulomatous salpingooophoritis presented as mass in abdomen. This is a case report of the youngest documented case of xanthogranulomatous salpingooophoritis in literature. As per abdominal examination, there was generalized distention of abdomen and a mass was palpable which was arising out of pelvis more on the right side. The ultrasonography (USG) abdomen and pelvis revealed a thick-walled mass measuring 9.2 cm × 6.0 cm × 7.6 cm in pelvis. We did right salpingooophorectomy of the patient. On histopathology, the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous salpingooophoritis was confirmed.Conclusion. Clinical presentation, radiological appearance, and gross features of xanthogranulomatous lesions of ovary can mimic neoplastic lesions and lead to misdiagnosis. Though, it is very rare in pediatric age group, xanthogranulomatous salpingooophoritis as one of the differential diagnoses should be kept in mind while dealing with tuboovarian masses in this age group.
Trends in Glaucoma Medication Expenditures under Universal Health Coverage: A National Population-Based Longitudinal Survey in Taiwan
Authors: Chiu Shin-Lin , Chu Chiao-Lee , Muo Chih-Hsin , Chen Chiu-Liang , Lan Shou-Jen
Published: June 2015

Medical care in Taiwan is well known for its low cost, high efficiency, high quality, excellent medical accessibility, and high equity. We investigate the trends in medication expenditures for glaucoma from 1997 to 2010. The results show that higher medical expenditures were incurred by patients who were aged ≥40 years, male patients, and patients in the highest salary population whereas lower medical expenditures were incurred by blue-collar workers. The medications with the most significant increases in expenditure were prostaglandin analogs (PGAs),α-agonists, and fixed combinations, whereas the medications with the most significant decreases in expenditure wereβ-blockers and cholinergic agonists. The number of trabeculectomies shows two downward break points in 1999 and 2000 when PGAs were listed and were reimbursed. These results suggest socioeconomic disparities in glaucoma care, as well as understanding of the changes in the expenditure of glaucoma medications under such universal health insurance coverage system.
Comparisons betweenArabidopsis thalianaandDrosophila melanogasterin relation to Coding and Noncoding Sequence Length and Gene Expression
Authors: Caldwell Rachel , Lin Yan-Xia , Zhang Ren
Published: May 2015

There is a continuing interest in the analysis of gene architecture and gene expression to determine the relationship that may exist. Advances in high-quality sequencing technologies and large-scale resource datasets have increased the understanding of relationships and cross-referencing of expression data to the large genome data. Although a negative correlation between expression level and gene (especially transcript) length has been generally accepted, there have been some conflicting results arising from the literature concerning the impacts of different regions of genes, and the underlying reason is not well understood. The research aims to apply quantile regression techniques for statistical analysis of coding and noncoding sequence length and gene expression data in the plant,Arabidopsis thaliana, and fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, to determine if a relationship exists and if there is any variation or similarities between these species. The quantile regression analysis found that the coding sequence length and gene expression correlations varied, and similarities emerged for the noncoding sequence length (5′ and 3′ UTRs) between animal and plant species. In conclusion, the information described in this study provides the basis for further exploration into gene regulation with regard to coding and noncoding sequence length.
Dynamical Analysis on Single Degree-of-Freedom Semiactive Control System by Using Fractional-Order Derivative
Authors: Shen Yongjun , Fan Minghui , Li Xianghong , Yang Shaopu , Xing Haijun
Published: May 2015

The single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system under the control of three semiactive methods is analytically studied in this paper, where a fractional-order derivative is used in the mathematical model. The three semiactive control methods are on-off control, limited relative displacement (LRD) control, and relative control, respectively. The averaging method is adopted to provide an analytical study on the performance of the three different control methods. Based on the comparison between the analytical solutions with the numerical ones, it could be proved that the analytical solutions are accurate enough. The effects of the fractional-order parameters on the control performance, especially the relative and absolute displacement transmissibility, are analyzed. The research results indicate that the steady-state amplitudes of the three semiactive systems with fractional-order derivative in the model could be significantly reduced and the control performance can be greatly improved.
Diagnostic Challenge in a Patient with Severe Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis
Authors: Tan Eugene M. , Kalimullah Ejaaz , Sohail M. Rizwan , Ramar Kannan
Published: May 2015

The approach to the patient with acute renal failure and elevated anion and osmolal gap is difficult. Differential diagnoses include toxic alcohol ingestion, diabetic or starvation ketoacidosis, or 5-oxoproline acidosis. We present a 76-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who was found at home in a confused state. Laboratory analysis revealed serum pH 6.84, bicarbonate 5.8 mmol/L, pCO2 29 mmHg, anion gap 22.2 mmol/L, osmolal gap 17.4 mOsm/kg, elevated beta-hydroxybutyrate (4.2 mmol/L), random blood sugar 213 mg/dL, creatinine 2.1 mg/dL, and potassium 7.5 mmol/L with no electrocardiogram (EKG) changes. Fomepizole and hemodialysis were initiated for presumed ethylene glycol or methanol ingestion. Drug screens returned negative for ethylene glycol, alcohols, and acetaminophen, but there were elevated urine levels of acetone (11 mg/dL). The acetaminophen level was negative, and 5-oxoproline was not analyzed. After 5 days in the intensive care unit (ICU), her mental status improved with supportive care. She was discharged to a nursing facility. Though a diagnosis was not established, our patient’s presentation was likely due to starvation ketosis combined with chronic acetaminophen ingestion. Acetone ingestion is less likely. Overall, our case illustrates the importance of systematically approaching an elevated osmolal and anion gap metabolic acidosis.
Pressure Measurement Techniques for Abdominal Hypertension: Conclusions from an Experimental Model
Authors: Chopra Sascha Santosh , Wolf Stefan , Rohde Veit , Freimann Florian Baptist
Published: May 2015

Introduction. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement is an indispensable tool for the diagnosis of abdominal hypertension. Different techniques have been described in the literature and applied in the clinical setting.Methods. A porcine model was created to simulate an abdominal compartment syndrome ranging from baseline IAP to 30 mmHg. Three different measurement techniques were applied, comprising telemetric piezoresistive probes at two different sites (epigastric and pelvic) for direct pressure measurement and intragastric and intravesical probes for indirect measurement.Results. The mean difference between the invasive IAP measurements using telemetric pressure probes and the IVP measurements was −0.58 mmHg. The bias between the invasive IAP measurements and the IGP measurements was 3.8 mmHg. Compared to the realistic results of the intraperitoneal and intravesical measurements, the intragastric data showed a strong tendency towards decreased values. The hydrostatic character of the IAP was eliminated at high-pressure levels.Conclusion. We conclude that intragastric pressure measurement is potentially hazardous and might lead to inaccurately low intra-abdominal pressure values. This may result in missed diagnosis of elevated abdominal pressure or even ACS. The intravesical measurements showed the most accurate values during baseline pressure and both high-pressure plateaus.
Transvaginal Drainage of Pelvic Abscesses and Collections Using Transabdominal Ultrasound Guidance
Authors: Ching Kevin C. , Sumkin Jules H.
Published: May 2015

Objectives. To evaluate clinical outcomes following transvaginal catheter placement using transabdominal ultrasound guidance for management of pelvic fluid collections.Methods. A retrospective review was performed for all patients who underwent transvaginal catheter drainage of pelvic fluid collections utilizing transabdominal ultrasound guidance between July 2008 and July 2013. 24 consecutive patients were identified and 24 catheters were placed.Results. The mean age of patients was 48.1 years (range = 27–76 y). 88% of collections were postoperative (n=21), 8% were from pelvic inflammatory disease (n=2), and 4% were idiopathic (n=1). Of the 24 patients, 83% of patients (n=20) had previously undergone a hysterectomy and 1 patient (4%) was pregnant at the time of drainage. The mean volume of initial drainage was 108 mL (range = 5 to 570). Catheters were left in place for an average of 4.3 days (range = 1–17 d). Microbial sampling was performed in all patients with 71% (n=17) returning a positive culture. All collections were successfully managed percutaneously. There were no technical complications.Conclusions. Transvaginal catheter drainage of pelvic fluid collections using transabdominal ultrasound guidance is a safe and clinically effective procedure. Appropriate percutaneous management can avoid the need for surgery.
Stem Cells for Cutaneous Wound Healing
Authors: Kirby Giles T. S. , Mills Stuart J. , Cowin Allison J. , Smith Louise E.
Published: June 2015

Optimum healing of a cutaneous wound involves a well-orchestrated cascade of biological and molecular processes involving cell migration, proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition, and remodelling. When the normal biological process fails for any reason, this healing process can stall resulting in chronic wounds. Wounds are a growing clinical burden on healthcare systems and with an aging population as well as increasing incidences of obesity and diabetes, this problem is set to increase. Cell therapies may be the solution. A range of cell based approaches have begun to cross the rift from bench to bedside and the supporting data suggests that the appropriate administration of stem cells can accelerate wound healing. This review examines the main cell types explored for cutaneous wound healing with a focus on clinical use. The literature overwhelmingly suggests that cell therapies can help to heal cutaneous wounds when used appropriately but we are at risk of clinical use outpacing the evidence. There is a need, now more than ever, for standardised methods of cell characterisation and delivery, as well as randomised clinical trials.
A Novel Injectable Magnesium/Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate Composite Cement for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Zhang Shanchuan , Yang Ke , Cui Fuzhai , Jiang Yi , E Lingling , Xu Baohua , Liu Hongchen
Published: May 2015

Objective.A novel injectable magnesium/calcium sulfate hemihydrate (Mg/CSH) composite with improved properties was reported here.Methods.Composition, setting time, injectability, compressive strength, and bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) of the Mg/CSH composite were evaluated. Furthermore, the cellular responses of canine bone marrow stromal cells (cBMSCs) and bone formation capacity after the implantation of Mg/CSH in tibia defects of canine were investigated.Results.Mg/CSH possessed a prolonged setting time and markedly improved injectability and mechanical propertyp<0.05. Mg/CSH samples showed better degradability than CSH in SBF after 21 days of soakingp<0.05. Moreover, the degrees of cell attachment, proliferation, and capability of osteogenic differentiation on the Mg/CSH specimens were higher than those on CSH, without significant cytotoxicity and with the increased proliferation index, ALP activity, and expression levels of integrinβ1 and Coll I in cBMSCsp<0.05. Mg/CSH enhanced the efficiency of new bone formation at the tibia defect area, including the significantly elevated bone mineral density, bone area fraction, and Coll I expression levelp<0.05.Conclusions.The results implied that this new injectable bone scaffold exhibited promising prospects for bone repair and had a great potential in bone tissue engineering.
Molecular Systematics of the Phoxinin GenusPteronotropis(Otophysi: Cypriniformes)
Authors: Mayden Richard L. , Allen Jason S.
Published: May 2015

The genusPteronotropisis widely distributed along the gulf slope of eastern North America from Louisiana to Florida and rivers in South Carolina along the Atlantic slope.Pteronotropishave very distinctive, flamboyant coloration. The habitats most frequently associated with these species include heavily vegetated backwater bayous to small sluggish or flowing tannin-stained streams. AlthoughPteronotropisis recognized as a valid genus, no phylogenetic analysis of all the species has corroborated its monophyly. In recent years, four additional species have been either described or elevated from synonymy:P. merlini,P. grandipinnis,P. stonei, andP. metallicus, with the wide-rangingP. hypselopteruscomplex. To examine relationships within this genus and test its monophyly, phylogenetic analyses were conducted using two nuclear genes, recombination activating gene 1, RAG1, and the first intron of S7 ribosomal protein gene in both maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. In no analysis wasPteronotropis, as currently recognized, recovered as monophyletic without the inclusion of the currently recognizedNotropis harperi, herein referred to asPteronotropis. Two major clades are supported: one inclusive ofP. hubbsi,P. welaka, andP. harperiand the second inclusive ofP. signipinnis,P. grandipinnis,P. hypselopterusplusP. merlinisister toP. euryzonus, andP. metallicusplusP. stonei.
Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Billington Emma , Bernard Geneviève , Gibson William , Corenblum Bernard
Published: May 2015

Introduction. 4H leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive RNA polymerase III-related leukodystrophy, characterized by hypomyelination, with or without hypodontia (or other dental abnormalities) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.Case Presentation. We describe a 28-year-old female who presented with primary amenorrhea at the age of 19. She had a history of very mild neurological and dental abnormalities. She was found to have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hypomyelination. The diagnosis of 4H leukodystrophy was made. She was subsequently found to have mutations in thePOLR3Bgene, which encodes the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase III. She wished to become pregnant and failed to respond to pulsatile GnRH but achieved normal follicular growth and ovulation with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy.Discussion. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy may initially present with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, particularly if neurological and dental manifestations are subtle. Making the diagnosis has important implications for prognosis and management. Progressive neurologic deterioration is expected, and progressive endocrine dysfunction may occur. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy should be counseled about disease progression and about this disease’s autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. In those who wish to conceive, ovulation induction may be achieved with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy, but pulsatile GnRH does not appear to be effective.
Structural and Population Polymorphism of RT-Like Sequences in Avian SchistosomesTrichobilharzia szidati(Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Schistosomatidae)
Authors: Semyenova S. K. , Chrisanfova G. G. , Guliaev A. S. , Yesakova A. P. , Ryskov A. P.
Published: May 2015

Recently we developed the genus-specific markers of the avian schistosomes of the genusTrichobilharzia, the causative agents of human cercarial dermatitis. The 7 novel genome sequences ofT. franki, T. regenti, andT. szidatirevealed similarity with genome repeat region of African schistosomeSchistosoma mansoni. In the present work we analyzed the 37 newT. szidatisequences to study intragenome variability and host specificity for the parasite from three localities of East Europe. DNAs were isolated from cercariae or single sporocysts obtained from 6 lymnaeid snailsLymnaea stagnalisandL. palustrisfrom Belarus and Russia. All sequences formed three diverged groups, one of which consists of the sequences with multiple deletions; other groups involved two paralogous copies with stop codons and frameshift mutations. Strong association between geographical distribution and snail host specificity cannot be established. All studied sequences have homology with the reverse transcriptase domain (RT) of Penelope-like elements (PLE) ofS. mansoniandS. japonicumand new members of RT family were identified. We proposed that three diverged groups RT sequences ofT. szidatiare results of duplication or transposition of PLE during parasite evolution. Implications of the retroelement dynamics in the life history of avian schistosomes are discussed.
A Robust Supervised Variable Selection for Noisy High-Dimensional Data
Authors: Kalina Jan , Schlenker Anna
Published: June 2015

The Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (MRMR) approach to supervised variable selection represents a successful methodology for dimensionality reduction, which is suitable for high-dimensional data observed in two or more different groups. Various available versions of the MRMR approach have been designed to search for variables with the largest relevance for a classification task while controlling for redundancy of the selected set of variables. However, usual relevance and redundancy criteria have the disadvantages of being too sensitive to the presence of outlying measurements and/or being inefficient. We propose a novel approach called Minimum Regularized Redundancy Maximum Robust Relevance (MRRMRR), suitable for noisy high-dimensional data observed in two groups. It combines principles of regularization and robust statistics. Particularly, redundancy is measured by a new regularized version of the coefficient of multiple correlation and relevance is measured by a highly robust correlation coefficient based on the least weighted squares regression with data-adaptive weights. We compare various dimensionality reduction methods on three real data sets. To investigate the influence of noise or outliers on the data, we perform the computations also for data artificially contaminated by severe noise of various forms. The experimental results confirm the robustness of the method with respect to outliers.
Online Multikernel Learning Based on a Triple-Norm Regularizer for Semantic Image Classification
Authors: Huang Shuangping , Jin Lianwen , Li Yunyu
Published: May 2015

Currently image classifiers based on multikernel learning (MKL) mostly use batch approach, which is slow and difficult to scale up for large datasets. In the meantime, standard MKL model neglects the correlations among examples associated with a specific kernel, which makes it infeasible to adjust the kernel combination coefficients. To address these issues, a new and efficient multikernel multiclass algorithm called TripleReg-MKL is proposed in this work. Taking the principle of strong convex optimization into consideration, we propose a new triple-norm regularizer (TripleReg) to constrain the empirical loss objective function, which exploits the correlations among examples to tune the kernel weights. It highlights the application of multivariate hinge loss and a conservative updating strategy to filter noisy samples, thereby reducing the model complexity. This novel MKL formulation is then solved in an online mode using a primal-dual framework. A theoretical analysis of the complexity and convergence of TripleReg-MKL is presented. It shows that the new algorithm has a complexity ofOCMTand achieves a fast convergence rate ofOlogT/T. Extensive experiments on four benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of this new approach.
GPC-Based Gust Response Alleviation for Aircraft Model Adapting to Various Flow Velocities in the Wind Tunnel
Authors: Dai Yuting , Yang Chao
Published: May 2015

A unified autoregressive (AR) model is identified, based on the wind tunnel test data of open-loop gust response for an aircraft model. The identified AR model can be adapted to various flow velocities in the wind tunnel test. Due to the lack of discrete gust input measurement, a second-order polynomial function is used to approximate the gust input amplitude by flow velocity. Afterwards, with the identified online aeroelastic model, the modified generalized predictive control (GPC) theory is applied to alleviate wing tip acceleration induced by sinusoidal gust. Finally, the alleviation effects of gust response at different flow velocities are estimated based on the comparison of simulated closed-loop acceleration with experimental open-loop one. The comparison indicates that, after gust response alleviation, the wing tip acceleration can be reduced up to 20% at the tested velocities ranging from 12 m/s to 24 m/s. Demonstratively, the unified control law can be adapted to varying wind tunnel velocities and gust frequencies. It does not need to be altered at different test conditions, which will save the idle time.
A Robust and Fast Computation Touchless Palm Print Recognition System Using LHEAT and the IFkNCN Classifier
Authors: Jaafar Haryati , Ibrahim Salwani , Ramli Dzati Athiar
Published: May 2015

Mobile implementation is a current trend in biometric design. This paper proposes a new approach to palm print recognition, in which smart phones are used to capture palm print images at a distance. A touchless system was developed because of public demand for privacy and sanitation. Robust hand tracking, image enhancement, and fast computation processing algorithms are required for effective touchless and mobile-based recognition. In this project, hand tracking and the region of interest (ROI) extraction method were discussed. A sliding neighborhood operation with local histogram equalization, followed by a local adaptive thresholding or LHEAT approach, was proposed in the image enhancement stage to manage low-quality palm print images. To accelerate the recognition process, a new classifier, improved fuzzy-basedknearest centroid neighbor (IFkNCN), was implemented. By removing outliers and reducing the amount of training data, this classifier exhibited faster computation. Our experimental results demonstrate that a touchless palm print system using LHEAT and IFkNCN achieves a promising recognition rate of 98.64%.
Crystallization Behavior and Thermal Analysis of CoFeB Thin Films
Authors: Tseng Jiun-Yi , Chen Yuan-Tsung , Chang Z. G. , Wu C. W. , Yang L. C.
Published: May 2015

We examined two targets containing Co40Fe40B20 and Co60Fe20B20. We deposited Co40Fe40B20 and Co60Fe20B20 monolayer thin films of various thicknesses on glass substrates through DC magnetron sputtering; the thicknesses ranged from 25 to 200 Å. The thermal properties of the Co40Fe40B20 and Co60Fe20B20 thin films were determined using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The thermal properties included the glass transition temperature (Tg), onset crystallization temperature (Tx), and glass‐forming ability, which were determined according to these values. Using the Kissinger formula revealed that the activation energy of the Co60Fe20B20 with a thickness of 75 Å is the highest, implying that crystallization was the lowest and the Co60Fe20B20 film showed anticrystallization properties. However, the energy of 75 Å Co40Fe40B20 thin films was the lowest, which is opposite to that of Co60Fe20B20. This observation can be reasonably explained based on the concentration of Co or Fe. Therefore, a thickness of 75 Å is critical.
Physicochemical Properties of Handere Clays and Their Use as a Building Material
Authors: Erdoğan Yasin
Published: May 2015

Handere clay deposits were discovered at Adana in Turkey. These clay units primarily consist of uncoloured claystone, pebbly sandstone, sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone marl and include gypsum lenses and clay levels of various thicknesses in places. The physicochemical properties of these clays have been investigated by different techniques including Scanning Electron and Elemental Analysis (SEM and EDS), mineralogical analyses, chemical and physical analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and Atterberg (Consistency) Limits Test. The mineralogical composition deduced from XRD is wide (smectite + palygorskite + illite ± feldspar ± chlorite ± quartz ± calcite ± serpentine) due to the high smectite contents (≈85%). SEM studies reveal that smectite minerals are composed of irregular platy leaves and show honeycomb pattern in the form of wavy leaves in places. The leaves presenting an array with surface edge contact are usually concentrated in the dissolution voids and fractures of volcanic glass. Organic matter content and loss on ignition analysis of raw materials are good for all the studied samples. In summary, Handere clays can be used as building materials in bricks, roof tiles, and cement and as a binder.
Signs of Selection in Synonymous Sites of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene of Baikal Oilfish (Comephoridae) by mRNA Secondary Structure Alterations
Authors: Teterina Veronika I. , Mamontov Anatoliy M. , Sukhanova Lyubov V. , Kirilchik Sergei V.
Published: May 2015

Studies over the past decade have shown a significant role of synonymous mutations in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, which is particularly associated with messenger RNA (mRNA) secondary structure alterations. Most studies focused on prokaryote genomes and the nuclear genomes of eukaryotes while little is known about the regulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene expression. This paper reveals signs of selection in synonymous sites of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (Cytb) of Baikal oilfish or golomyankas (Comephoridae) directed towards altering the secondary structure of the mRNA and probably altering the character of mtDNA gene expression. Our findings are based on comparisons of intraspecific genetic variation patterns of small golomyanka (Comephorus dybowski) and two genetic groups of big golomyanka (Comephorus dybowskii). Two approaches were used: (i) analysis of the distribution of synonymous mutations between weak-AT (W) and strong-GC (S) nucleotides within species and groups in accordance with mutation directions from central to peripheral haplotypes and (ii) approaches based on the predicted mRNA secondary structure.
Hiding Information in Reversible English Transforms for a Blind Receiver
Authors: Banawan Salma , Kamel Ibrahim
Published: May 2015

This paper proposes a new technique for hiding secret messages in ordinary English text. The proposed technique exploits the redundancies existing in some English language constructs. Redundancies result from the flexibility in maneuvering certain statement constituents without altering the statement meaning or correctness. For example, one can say “she went to sleep, because she was tired” or “Because she was tired, she went to sleep.” The paper provides a number of such transformations that can be applied concurrently, while keeping the overall meaning and grammar intact. The proposed data hiding technique is blind since the receiver does not keep a copy of the original uncoded text (cover). Moreover, it can hide more than three bits per statement, which is higher than that achieved in the prior work. A secret key that is a function of the various transformations used is proposed to protect the confidentiality of the hidden message. Our security analysis shows that even if the attacker knows how the transforms are employed, the secret key provides enough security to protect the confidentiality of the hidden message. Moreover, we show that the proposed transformations do not affect the inconspicuousness of the transformed statements, and thus unlikely to draw suspicion.
Malignant Triton Tumors in Sisters with Clinical Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Alina Basnet , Sebastian Jofre A. , Gerardo Capo
Published: May 2015

Malignant triton tumors (MTTs) are rare and aggressive sarcomas categorized as a subgroup of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). MTTs arise from Schwann cells of peripheral nerves or existing neurofibromas and have elements of rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. We report the occurrence of MTTs in two sisters. The first patient is a 36-year-old female who presented with left sided chest wall swelling. She also had clinical features consistent with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Debulking of the mass showed high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with skeletal muscle differentiation (MTT). The patient was treated with ifosfamide and adriamycin along with radiation. Four years after treatment, she still has no evidence of disease recurrence. Her sister subsequently presented to us at the age of 42 with left sided lateral chest wall pain. Imaging showed a multicompartmental retroperitoneal cystic mass with left psoas involvement. The tumor was resected and, similarly to her sister, it showed high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation (MTT). The patient was started on chemotherapy and radiation as described above.
PPP1R12A Copy Number Is Associated with Clinical Outcomes of Stage III CRC Receiving Oxaliplatin‐Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Chenbo , Li Ajian , Li Huaguang , Peng Kangsheng , Wei Qing , Lin Moubin , Liu Zhanju , Yin Lu , Li Jianwen
Published: May 2015

Aim. To investigate the correlation between PPP1R12A gene copy number and clinical outcomes of oxaliplatin‐based regimen in stage III colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods. A total of 139 paraffin‐embedded tissue samples of stage III CRC patients who received oxaliplatin‐based treatment after radical surgery were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted and purified from paraffin‐embedded sections. Quantitative PCR methods were used to detect the relative copy number (RCN) of PPP1R12A. Results. Statistical analysis demonstrated that low PPP1R12A RCN was associated with poor RFS (HR = 2.186, 95% CI: 1.293–3.696; P = 0.003) and OS (HR = 2.782, 95% CI: 1.531–5.052; P < 0.001). Additionally, when patients were stratified according to subgroups of stage III and tumor location, poor RFS and OS were also observed in the low PPP1R12A RCN group with significance (RFS: IIIB HR = 2.870, P < 0.001; colon HR = 1.910, P = 0.037; OS: IIIB HR = 3.527, P < 0.001; IIIC HR = 2.662, P = 0.049; rectum HR = 4.229, P = 0.002). Conclusion. Our findings suggest the copy number of PPP1R12A can independently predict recurrence and overall survival of stage III colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy.
Chokeberry Anthocyanin Extract as Pancreaticβ-Cell Protectors in Two Models of Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: Rugină Dumitriţa , Diaconeasa Zoriţa , Coman Cristina , Bunea Andrea , Socaciu Carmen , Pintea Adela
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of a chokeberry anthocyanin extract (CAE) on pancreaticβ-cells (βTC3) exposed to hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) and high glucose- (HG-) induced oxidative stress conditions. In order to quantify individual anthocyanins high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to photodiode array (PDA) was used. The identification of the fragment ion pattern of anthocyanins was carried out by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The results showed that physiologically achievable concentrations of CAE (1, 5, and 10 μM) protectβTC3 against H2O2- and HG-induced cytotoxicity. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were increased in pancreaticβ-cells pretreated with CAE compared to cells exposed to the prooxidant agents. GSH levels initially reduced after exposure to H2O2and HG were restored by pretreatment with CAE. Insulin secretion inβTC3 cells was enhanced by CAE pretreatment. CAE restored the insulin pool and diminished the intracellular reactive oxygen species level in glucose-induced stress condition inβTC3 cells. These results demonstrate that anthocyanins from CAE were biologically active, showing a secretagogue potential and an antioxidative protection of enzymatic systems, conferring protection against H2O2and glucose toxicity inβTC3 cells.
Parkinsonism and Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Fortuitous Association or a Shared Immunopathogenesis?
Authors: Kchaou Mariem , Ben Ali Nadia , Hmida Intissar , Fray Saloua , Jamoussi Hela , Jalleli Mohamed , Echebbi Slim , Achouri Afef , Belal Samir
Published: May 2015

Background. The Sjögren Syndrome (SS) can include various manifestations of central nervous system impairment. Extrapyramidal signs are known to be very rare and unusually discovered on early onset in this pathology.Observation. A 46-year-old woman with a history of progressive Parkinsonism for 6 years and a normal brain magnetic resonance imaging was partially improved with levodopa therapy. The later discovery of a sicca syndrome led to performing of further investigations, which revealed the presence of anti-SSA antibodies and a sialoadenitis of grade 4 according to Chisholm’s classification on labial salivary gland biopsy. The diagnosis of primary SS was established and the adjunction of corticotherapy has remarkably improved Parkinson’s signs without use of other immunosuppressive agents.Conclusion. Based on these findings, we discuss the hypothesis of either a causal link between SS and Parkinsonism or a fortuitous association of two distinct pathologies with or without a shared immunopathogenesis.
Percutaneous Dorsal Instrumentation of Vertebral Burst Fractures: Value of Additional Percutaneous Intravertebral Reposition—Cadaver Study
Authors: Krüger Antonio , Schmuck Maya , Noriega David C. , Ruchholtz Steffen , Baroud Gamal , Oberkircher Ludwig
Published: June 2015

Purpose. The treatment of vertebral burst fractures is still controversial. The aim of the study is to evaluate the purpose of additional percutaneous intravertebral reduction when combined with dorsal instrumentation.Methods. In this biomechanical cadaver study twenty-eight spine segments (T11-L3) were used (male donors, mean age 64.9 ± 6.5 years). Burst fractures of L1 were generated using a standardised protocol. After fracture all spines were allocated to four similar groups and randomised according to surgical techniques (posterior instrumentation; posterior instrumentation + intravertebral reduction device + cement augmentation; posterior instrumentation + intravertebral reduction device without cement; and intravertebral reduction device + cement augmentation). After treatment, 100000 cycles (100–600 N, 3 Hz) were applied using a servohydraulic loading frame.Results. Overall anatomical restoration was better in all groups where the intravertebral reduction device was used (p<0.05). In particular, it was possible to restore central endplates (p>0.05). All techniques decreased narrowing of the spinal canal. After loading, clearance could be maintained in all groups fitted with the intravertebral reduction device. Narrowing increased in the group treated with dorsal instrumentation.Conclusions. For height and anatomical restoration, the combination of an intravertebral reduction device with dorsal instrumentation showed significantly better results than sole dorsal instrumentation.
Visual Control System of a Spraying Robot forHyphantria cuneaLarva Nets
Authors: Zhao Ying , Sun Qun , Wang Chong , Zhang Cuihua
Published: May 2015

In order to implement automatic spraying onHyphantria cunealarva nets, a spraying robot system with monocular hand-eye coordination and smart targeting abilities was designed according to the target net features. The system realized spatial two-dimensional motions driven by step motors on linear guide rails. Images were processed in real-time to extract the net curtain targets defined using the border area, and the optimal spraying position was then determined. An identification algorithm based on the global net image to distinguish targets before and after spray was proposed. A simulation environment was designed to verify the correctness of this method. Results showed that the highest rate of over spray is 288.5%, and the spray miss rate is 0.
New Developments in the Use of Biologics and Other Modalities in the Management of Lateral Epicondylitis
Authors: Kahlenberg Cynthia A. , Knesek Michael , Terry Michael A.
Published: May 2015

Lateral epicondylitis is a common source of elbow pain. Though it is often a self-limited condition, refractory lateral epicondylitis can lead to problems with activities of daily living and sometimes requires sick leave from work. Therefore prompt treatment is essential. Histopathologic studies have suggested that lateral epicondylitis is a tendinopathy, associated with apoptosis and autophagy, rather than a tendonitis associated with inflammation. Although corticosteroids have been used for short-term treatment, recent studies have suggested that they are not helpful and may even be harmful and delay healing in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Researchers have recently begun to investigate the use of biologics as potential treatment options for lateral epicondylitis. Autologous blood preparations including platelet rich plasma (PRP) and autologous whole blood injections (ABIs) have been proposed in order to deliver growth factors and other nutrients to the diseased tendon. Stem cell therapies have also been suggested as a method of improving tendon healing. This review discusses the current evidence for the use of PRP, ABI, and stem cell therapies for treatment of lateral epicondylitis. We also review the evidence for nonbiologic treatments including corticosteroids, prolotherapy, botulinum toxin A, and nitric oxide.
Gonococcal Chorioamnionitis with Antepartum Fetal Death In Utero
Authors: Coutanceau B. , Boujenah J. , Poncelet C.
Published: May 2015

We report the case of a patient who developed gonococcal chorioamnionitis resulting in stillbirth at 28 + 4 weeks of pregancy. As this infection is rare and potentially serious, questions remain regarding occurrence and screening forNeisseria gonorrhoeaeinfection.
Comparative Analysis of Apicoplast-Targeted Protein Extension Lengths in Apicomplexan Parasites
Authors: Seliverstov Alexandr V. , Zverkov Oleg A. , Istomina Svetlana N. , Pirogov Sergey A. , Kitsis Philip S.
Published: May 2015

In general, the mechanism of protein translocation through the apicoplast membrane requires a specific extension of a functionally important region of the apicoplast-targeted proteins. The corresponding signal peptides were detected in many apicomplexans but not in the majority of apicoplast-targeted proteins inToxoplasma gondii. InT. gondiisignal peptides are either much diverged or their extension region is processed, which in either case makes the situation different from other studied apicomplexans. We propose a statistic method to compare extensions of the functionally important regions of apicoplast-targeted proteins. More specifically, we provide a comparison of extension lengths of orthologous apicoplast-targeted proteins in apicomplexan parasites. We focus on results obtained for the model speciesT. gondii,Neospora caninum, andPlasmodium falciparum. With our method, cross species comparisons demonstrate that, in average, apicoplast-targeted protein extensions inT. gondiiare 1.5-fold longer than inN. caninumand 2-fold longer than inP. falciparum. Extensions inP. falciparumless than 87 residues in size are longer than the corresponding extensions inN. caninumand, reversely, are shorter if they exceed 88 residues.
Fractal Dimension of Fracture Surface in Rock Material after High Temperature
Authors: Zhang Z. Z.
Published: May 2015

Experiments on granite specimens after different high temperature under uniaxial compression were conducted and the fracture surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The fractal dimensions of the fracture surfaces with increasing temperature were calculated, respectively. The fractal dimension of fracture surface is between 1.44 and 1.63. Its value approximately goes up exponentially with the increase of temperature. There is a quadratic polynomial relationship between the rockburst tendency and fractal dimension of fracture surface; namely, a fractal dimension threshold can be obtained. Below the threshold value, a positive correlativity shows between rockburst tendency and fractal dimension; when the fractal dimension is greater than the threshold value, it shows an inverse correlativity.
Diabetes Remission after Nonsurgical Intensive Lifestyle Intervention in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Mottalib Adham , Sakr Mahmoud , Shehabeldin Mohamed , Hamdy Osama
Published: May 2015

Partial or complete remission from type 2 diabetes was recently observed after bariatric surgeries. Limited data is available about the possibility of inducing diabetes remission through intensive weight reduction. We retrospectively evaluated diabetes remissions after one year of the Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment (Why WAIT) program, a 12-week intensive program for diabetes weight management in real-world clinical practice. Among 120 obese patients with type 2 diabetes who completed the program, 88 patients returned for follow-up at one year. Nineteen patients (21.6%) had major improvement in their glycemic control, defined as achieving an A1C <6.5% after one year. Four patients (4.5%) achieved either partial or complete diabetes remission defined as A1C <6.5% and <5.7%, respectively, on no antihyperglycemic medications for one year; 2 achieved partial remission (2.3%) and 2 achieved complete remission (2.3%). At the time of intervention, patients who achieved diabetes remission had shorter diabetes duration (<5 years) and lower A1C (<8%) and were treated with fewer than 2 oral medications. They achieved a weight reduction of >7% after 12 weeks. These results indicate that a subset of obese patients with type 2 diabetes is appropriate for intensive lifestyle intervention with the aim of inducing diabetes remission.
KV7 Channels Regulate Firing during Synaptic Integration in GABAergic Striatal Neurons
Authors: Pérez-Ramírez M. Belén , Laville Antonio , Tapia Dagoberto , Duhne Mariana , Lara-González Esther , Bargas José , Galarraga Elvira
Published: May 2015

Striatal projection neurons (SPNs) process motor and cognitive information. Their activity is affected by Parkinson’s disease, in which dopamine concentration is decreased and acetylcholine concentration is increased. Acetylcholine activates muscarinic receptors in SPNs. Its main source is the cholinergic interneuron that responds with a briefer latency than SPNs during a cortical command. Therefore, an important question is whether muscarinic G-protein coupled receptors and their signaling cascades are fast enough to intervene during synaptic responses to regulate synaptic integration and firing. One of the most known voltage dependent channels regulated by muscarinic receptors is theKV7/KCNQ channel. It is not known whether these channels regulate the integration of suprathreshold corticostriatal responses. Here, we study the impact of cholinergic muscarinic modulation on the synaptic response of SPNs by regulatingKV7 channels. We found thatKV7 channels regulate corticostriatal synaptic integration and that this modulation occurs in the dendritic/spines compartment. In contrast, it is negligible in the somatic compartment. This modulation occurs on sub- and suprathreshold responses and lasts during the whole duration of the responses, hundreds of milliseconds, greatly altering SPNs firing properties. This modulation affected the behavior of the striatal microcircuit.
Smooth Sliding Mode Control for Vehicle Rollover Prevention Using Active Antiroll Suspension
Authors: Chu Duanfeng , Lu Xiao-Yun , Wu Chaozhong , Hu Zhaozheng , Zhong Ming
Published: May 2015

The rollover accidents induced by severe maneuvers are very dangerous and mostly happen to vehicles with elevated center of gravity, such as heavy-duty trucks and pickup trucks. Unfortunately, it is hard for drivers of those vehicles to predict and prevent the trend of the maneuver-induced (untripped) rollover ahead of time. In this study, a lateral load transfer ratio which reflects the load distribution of left and right tires is used to indicate the rollover criticality. An antiroll controller is designed with smooth sliding mode control technique for vehicles, in which an active antiroll suspension is installed. A simplified second order roll dynamic model with additive sector bounded uncertainties is used for control design, followed by robust stability analysis. Combined with the vehicle dynamics simulation package TruckSim, MATLAB/Simulink is used for simulating experiment. The results show that the applied controller can improve the roll stability under some typical steering maneuvers, such as Fishhook and J-turn. This direct antiroll control method could be more effective for untripped rollover prevention when driver deceleration or steering is too late. It could also be extended to handle tripped rollovers.
Detecting and Classifying Android Malware Using Static Analysis along with Creator Information
Authors: Kang Hyunjae , Jang Jae-wook , Mohaisen Aziz , Kim Huy Kang
Published: June 2015

Thousands of malicious applications targeting mobile devices, including the popular Android platform, are created every day. A large number of those applications are created by a small number of professional underground actors; however previous studies overlooked such information as a feature in detecting and classifying malware and in attributing malware to creators. Guided by this insight, we propose a method to improve the performance of Android malware detection by incorporating the creator's information as a feature and classify malicious applications into similar groups. We developed a system that implements this method in practice. Our system enables fast detection of malware by using creator information such as serial number of certificate. Additionally, it analyzes malicious behaviors and permissions to increase detection accuracy. The system also can classify malware based on similarity scoring. Finally, we showed detection and classification performance with 98% and 90% accuracy, respectively.
Bianchi Type-V Bulk Viscous Cosmic String inf(R,T)Gravity with Time Varying Deceleration Parameter
Authors: Bishi Bïnaya K. , Mahanta K. L.
Published: May 2015

We study the Bianchi type-V string cosmological model with bulk viscosity inf(R,T)theory of gravity by considering a special form and linearly varying deceleration parameter. This is an extension of the earlier work of Naidu et al., 2013, where they have constructed the model by considering a constant deceleration parameter. Here we find that the cosmic strings do not survive in both models. In addition we study some physical and kinematical properties of both models. We observe that in one of our models these properties are identical to the model obtained by Naidu et al., 2013, and in the other model the behavior of these parameters is different.