bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of budesonide and surfactant in preterm fetal sheep
Authors: Kothe T. Brett , Royse Emily , Kemp Matthew W. , Schmidt Augusto , Salomone Fabrizio , Saito Masatoshi , Usuda Haruo , Watanabe Shimpei , Musk Gabrielle C. , Jobe Alan H. , Hillman Noah H.
Published: April 2018

Mechanical ventilation causes lung injury and systemic inflammatory responses in preterm sheep and is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Budesonide added to surfactant decreased BPD by 20% in infants. We wanted to determine the effects of budesonide and surfactant on injury from high tidal volume (VT) ventilation in preterm lambs. Ewes at 125 ± 1 days gestational age had fetal surgery to expose fetal head and chest with placental circulation intact. Lambs were randomized to 1) mechanical ventilation with escalating VT to target 15 ml/kg by 15 min or 2) continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5 cmH2O. After the 15-min intervention, lambs were given surfactant 100 mg/kg with saline, budesonide 0.25 mg/kg, or budesonide 1 mg/kg. The fetuses were returned to the uterus for 24 h and then delivered and ventilated for 30 min to assess lung function. Budesonide levels were low in lung and plasma. CPAP groups had improved oxygenation, ventilation, and decreased injury markers compared with fetal VT lambs. Budesonide improved ventilation in CPAP lambs. Budesonide decreased lung weights and lung liquid and increased lung compliance and surfactant protein mRNA. Budesonide decreased proinflammatory and acute-phase responses in lung. Airway thickness increased in animals not receiving budesonide. Systemically, budesonide decreased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA and preserved glycogen in liver. Results with 0.25 and 1 mg/kg budesonide were similar. We concluded that budesonide with surfactant matured the preterm lung and decreased the liver responses but did not improve lung function after high VT injury in fetal sheep.
Mycobacterium mucogenicumHand Infection in an Intravenous Drug Abuser
Authors: Basnet Sijan , Mir Izza , Dhital Rashmi , Basnet Garima , Patel Nitin
Published: April 2018

Mycobacterium mucogenicumis a rapidly growing mycobacterium found ubiquitously in water sources. It has been reported to cause widespread infections with infection entry from wound or central venous catheters especially in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis is made from blood cultures which may take at least a week. Management includes removal of the source or drainage of wound infections and combination antimicrobial therapy.
Superconducting Properties of 3D Low-Density Translation-Invariant Bipolaron Gas
Authors: Lakhno V. D.
Published: April 2018

Consideration is given to thermodynamical properties of a three-dimensional Bose-condensate of translation-invariant bipolarons (TI-bipolarons). The critical temperature of transition, energy, heat capacity, and the transition heat of ideal TI-bipolaron gas are calculated. The results obtained are used to explain experiments on high-temperature superconductors.
A Woman with Black Beads in Her Stomach: Severe Gastric Ulceration Caused by Yttrium-90 Radioembolization
Authors: Voruganti Indu S. , Godwin James L. , Adrain Alyn , Feller Edward
Published: April 2018

Radioembolization (RE) is a selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) delivering targeted, high-dose, intra-arterial radiation directly to the vascular supply of liver tumors. Complications can occur due to aberrant deposition or migration of radiation microspheres into nontarget locations, including normal hepatic parenchyma, lungs, pancreas, and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. We report a case of gastric ulcers due to yttrium-90 (90Y) seed migration to the stomach to alert clinicians to this rare cause of gastric injury. A 57-year-old woman with stage IV breast cancer with liver and lung metastases presented to the hospital with 2 months of worsening nausea and vomiting. Two months prior, she had received SIRT with 90Y microspheres without complications. Upper GI endoscopy showed diffuse gastritis and extensive antral ulceration. Biopsies revealed black, spherical foreign bodies, consistent with 90Y microspheres, documenting radiation injury. Radiation-induced UGI ulceration is caused by direct radiation injury from beta-radiation. Delay in diagnosis may be due to the nonspecificity of symptoms and temporal delay of symptom onset from SIRT, which was 2 months in our patient. Also, complaints may be attributed erroneously to adjuvant chemotherapy or widespread metastatic disease. Clinicians must consider radiation-associated toxicity in any SIRT-treated patient developing abdominal symptoms.
Health Related Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in Ethiopia
Authors: Abegaz Tadesse Melaku , Ayele Asnakew Achaw , Gebresillassie Begashaw Melaku
Published: April 2018

Background.Neoplasm, AKA cancer (Ca), is associated with major morbidity and mortality.Aim.Measurement of health related quality of life (HRQoL) of Ca patients is uncommon in Ethiopia. The present study determined the HRQoL and its determinants among people living with Ca in north Ethiopia.Methods.A prospective hospital based study was conducted from 1 January 2017 to 30 August 2017 on Ca patients attending cancer treatment center of University of Gondar Teaching Hospital. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire version 3 was utilized to collect the data. The rate of QoL was presented using means with standard deviation (±SD). Binary logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with HRQoL.Result.The present study is based on the findings from 150 subjects. The rate of QoL was 52.7 (20.1) (mean ± SD). The highest functional status was emotional functioning 61 (25.5). Patients with no disease metastasis, 92.1 (5.1), had high QoL as compared to metastasis, 22.1 (18.9)(p=0.03). Patients with affected physical functioning have a 20% reduction in QoL and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 0.794 [0.299–891]. Patients with low satisfaction level with the provided care, 0.82 [0.76–0.93], and those with unmet needs, 0.85 [0.80–0.95], experienced reduced level of HRQoL.Conclusion.Health related quality of life of cancer patients was found to be low in Ethiopia. Patients with limited rate of disease metastasis had improved HRQoL. Further, the unmet needs of Ca patients and the level of satisfaction with the overall care were found to influence the extent of HRQoL. Therefore, early detection of neoplasm to arrest metastasis is warranted in order to achieve better QoL. In addition, addressing the unmet needs of these patients and ensuring higher satisfaction rate are recommended to maintain adequate HRQoL.
Integrated Production-Delivery Lot Sizing Model with Limited Production Capacity and Transportation Cost considering Overtime Work and Maintenance Time
Authors: Zhang Renqian , Sun Xuefang
Published: April 2018

An extension of the integrated production-delivery lot sizing model with limited production capacity and transportation cost is investigated. We introduce the factor of overtime work into the model to improve the manufacturer’s production. In addition, when finishing a lot, the manufacturer has maintenance time to maintain and repair equipment for ensuring that the supply chain is operating continuously. By analyzing the integrated model, the solution procedure is provided to determine the optimal delivery and order policy. We conduct a numerical experiment and give sensitive analysis by varying some parameters to illustrate the problem and its solution procedure.
High-Risk Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Role of NK Cells
Authors: Mavers Melissa , Bertaina Alice
Published: April 2018

Natural killer (NK) cells are a population of cytotoxic innate lymphocytes that evolved prior to their adaptive counterparts and constitute one of the first lines of defense against infected/mutated cells. Several studies have shown that in patients with acute leukemia given haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor-derived NK cells play a key role in the eradication of cancer cells. The antileukemic effect is mostly related to the presence of “alloreactive” NK cells, that is, mature KIR+ NK cells that express inhibitory KIR mismatched with HLA class I (KIR-L) of the patient. A genotypic analysis detecting KIR B haplotype and the relative B content is an additional donor selection criterion. These data provided the rationale for implementing phase I/II clinical trials of adoptive infusion of either selected or ex vivo-activated NK cells, often from an HLA-mismatched donor. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the role played by NK cells in patients with acute leukemia, focusing also on the various approaches to adoptive NK cell therapy and the unresolved issues therein. In addition, we outline new methods to enhance NK activity, including anti-KIR monoclonal antibody, bi-/trispecific antibodies linking NK cells to cytokines and/or target antigens, and CAR-engineered NK cells.
Conventional DCs from Male and Female Lupus-Prone B6.NZM Sle1/Sle2/Sle3 Mice Express an IFN Signature and Have a Higher Immunometabolism That Are Enhanced by Estrogen
Authors: Lee Michael H. , Chakhtoura Marita , Sriram Uma , Caricchio Roberto , Gallucci Stefania
Published: April 2018

Type I interferons (IFN) are pathogenic in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and were proposed to control the immunometabolism of dendritic cells (DCs). We previously reported that DCs from female lupus-prone mice constitutively overexpress IFN-responsive genes resembling the IFN signature found in SLE patients. As SLE has higher incidence in women than men, more so in women of reproductive age, estrogens are suggested to affect lupus pathogenesis. We investigated the effects of sex and estrogens on the IFN signature in conventional GM-CSF-bone marrow-derived DCs (cDCs), from male and female Triple Congenic B6.NZM.Sle1/Sle2/Sle3(TCSle) lupus-prone mice or from wild-type C57BL/6 mice, generated with titrations of 17-beta-estradiol (E2). We found that cDCs from prediseased TCSle male mice express the IFN signature as female TCSle cDCs do. Estrogens are necessary but not sufficient to express this IFN signature, but high doses of E2 can compensate for other steroidal components. E2 stimulation, regardless of sex, modulates type I IFN-dependent and type I IFN-independent activation of cDCs in response to TLR stimulation. Finally, we found that TCSle cDCs from both sexes have elevated markers of immunometabolism and estrogens enhance the metabolic pathways in cDCs, suggesting a mechanistic link between estrogens, immunometabolism, and the IFN signature in lupus.
VDR Agonist Prevents Diabetic Endothelial Dysfunction through Inhibition of Prolyl Isomerase‐1‐Mediated Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Authors: Zhang Meijin , Lin Liming , Xu Changsheng , Chai Dajun , Peng Feng , Lin Jinxiu
Published: April 2018

Background and aim. Upregulation of prolyl isomerase‐1 (Pin1) protein expression and activity was associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy through induction of endothelial oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, VDR agonist protects against high glucose‐induced endothelial apoptosis through the inhibition of oxidative stress. We aimed to explore the effects of the VDR agonist on diabetes‐associated endothelial dysfunction and the role of Pin1 in this process. Methods. Streptozocin‐induced diabetic mice were randomly treated with vehicle, VDR agonist (10 μg/kg/d, i.g., twice a week), or Pin1 inhibitor, Juglone (1 mg/kg/d, i.p., every other day), for eight weeks. In parallel, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to high‐glucose condition were treated with 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Juglone or vehicle for 72 hours. Organ chamber experiments were performed to assess endothelium‐dependent relaxation to acetylcholine. Circulatory levels of Pin1, SOD, MDA, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and NO in diabetic mice, Pin1 protein expression and activity, subcellular distribution of p66Shc, and NF‐κB p65 in high glucose‐cultured HUVECs were determined. Results. Both VDR agonist and Juglone significantly improved diabetes‐associated endothelial dysfunction and reduced high glucose‐induced endothelial apoptosis. Mechanistically, the circulatory levels of SOD and NO were increased compared with those of vehicle‐treated diabetic mice. Additionally, Pin1 protein expression and activity, p66Shc mitochondrial translocation, and NF‐κB p65 in high glucose‐cultured HUVECs were also inhibited by VDR agonist and Juglone. Knockdown of VDR abolished the inhibitory effects of VDR agonist on high glucose‐induced upregulation of Pin1 protein expression and activity. Conclusions. VDR agonist prevents diabetic endothelial dysfunction through inhibition of Pin1‐mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation.
Effect of Adjusting for Particle‐Size Distribution of Cement on Strength Development of Concrete
Authors: Kim Daegeon
Published: April 2018

The massive construction projects such as nuclear power plants and gas storage plants operate their own batch plants for appropriate supply of a massive amount of ASTM Type I cement. The batch plants have difficulty responding to diversifying consumer requirements such as early strength development of concrete under the current limited production line of cement. In order to respond to the needs, this study collected several sizes of cement particles from different filters at a cement plant, and conducted the adjustment of cement particle‐size distribution to enhance the properties of concrete based on ASTM Type I cement. This paper shows the chemical properties and physical tests such as setting time and compression tests considering the effects of the distribution of cement particles. Also, the classification based on cement particle‐size distribution was defined as FMC (fineness modulus of cement). As FMC increased, compressive strength was relatively low at early age but the difference became smaller for later age. The test results show the effects of the adjusted mix proportion considering particle‐size distribution of cement on strength development of concrete. Therefore, it is possible to see that customized cement or concrete can be manufactured in response to various consumer requirements by introducing such method that by‐passes and collects fine or coarse cement in the cement‐crushing process and then re‐mixes them with OPC ASTM Type I cement depending on FMC.
Exenatide Delays the Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in C57BL/6 Mice, Which May Involve Inhibition of the NLRP3 Inflammasome through the Mitophagy Pathway
Authors: Shao Ning , Yu Xin-Yang , Ma Xue-Fei , Lin Wen-Jian , Hao Ming , Kuang Hong-Yu
Published: April 2018

Objective. This study is aimed at investigating whether exenatide (Exe) delays the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in C57BL/6 mice by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome through the autophagy/mitophagy pathway. Methods. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=10), model group (n=10), and Exe (exenatide) group (n=10). Mouse models of NAFLD and diabetes were established using a high-fat diet and streptozocin. Results. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) in the serum were significantly reduced after Exe treatment. The body weight, liver weight/body weight, and number of lipid droplets in the liver significantly decreased in Exe-treated mice. Treatment with Exe markedly reduced the levels of liver lipids, malondialdehyde (MDA), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and livers. The number of autophagosomes increased significantly in the Exe group. The expression of LC3A/B-II/I, Beclin-1, Parkin, and BNIP3L increased significantly, whereas NLRP3 and IL-1β proteins were suppressed after Exe treatment. Conclusion. We successfully established a mouse model of NAFLD and diabetes. Exe may reduce oxidative stress injury and inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome by enhancing the autophagy/mitophagy pathway in liver, which has a protective effect on the liver in NAFLD and diabetes in C57BL/6 mice.
A Mix Design Procedure for Alkali‐Activated High‐Calcium Fly Ash Concrete Cured at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Phoo-ngernkham Tanakorn , Phiangphimai Chattarika , Damrongwiriyanupap Nattapong , Hanjitsuwan Sakonwan , Thumrongvut Jaksada , Chindaprasirt Prinya
Published: April 2018

This research focuses on developing a mix design methodology for alkali‐activated high‐calcium fly ash concrete (AAHFAC). High‐calcium fly ash (FA) from the Mae Moh power plant in northern Thailand was used as a starting material. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used as alkaline activator solutions (AAS). Many parameters, namely, NaOH concentration, alkaline activator solution‐to‐fly ash (AAS/FA) ratio, and coarse aggregate size, were investigated. The 28‐day compressive strength was tested to validate the mix design proposed. The mix design methodology of the proposed AAHFAC mixes was given step by step, and it was modified from ACI standards. Test results showed that the 28‐day compressive strength of 15–35 MPa was obtained. After modifying mix design of the AAHFAC mixes by updating the AAS/FA ratio from laboratory experiments, it was found that they met the strength requirement.
b-Metric Generalization of Some Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Ali Mumtaz , Arshad Muhammad
Published: April 2018

We prove common fixed point theorems in terms of b-metric spaces with new contractions. The results presented in this paper include b-metric generalizations of some fixed point theorems of Fisher, Pachpatte, and Sahu and Sharma.
Bone Texture Fractal Dimension Analysis of Ultrasound-Treated Bone around Implant Site: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Abdulhameed Elaf Akram , Al-Rawi Natheer Hashim , Uthman Asmaa Tahseen , Samsudin Ab Rani
Published: April 2018

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of bone texture fractal dimension (FD) analysis method in predicting implant stability from intraoral periapical radiographs using two implant protocols. Materials and Methods. A double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 22 subjects who needed dental implants. The participants were randomized into two groups, the control group with standard implant protocol treatment and the intervention group with added low-intensity power ultrasound treatment (LIPUS) besides the standard implant protocol. The FD values of bone density were carried out on the mesial and distal sides of the implant on digital intraoral radiographs using the box-counting method. Both resonance frequency (RF) and fractal dimension (FD) were assessed in three time intervals: after surgery and before and after loading. Results. FD on both the mesial and distal sides serve as very good-to-excellent tests with high validity (ROC area exceeding 0.8) in predicting high implant stability (ISQ ≥ 70). The mesial side measurements were consistently better than the distal side among the intervention groups. The optimum cutoff value for the FD-mesial side that predicts a highly stable implant (ISQ ≥ 70) is ≥1.505. At this optimum cutoff value, the mesial side FD is associated with a perfect sensitivity (100%) and fairly high specificity (86.5%). Conclusion. The FD analysis could be recommended as an adjunctive quantitative method in prediction of the implant stability with very high sensitivity and specificity. This trial is registered with ISRCTN72648040.
Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound in a Diagnostic Dilemma: Metastatic Breast Cancer to the Stomach
Authors: Ulmer Laura L. , Cormier Ian , Jha Lokesh K. , Singh Shailender , Fisher Kurt W. , Hewlett Alexander T.
Published: April 2018

A 55-year-old woman presented with persistent nausea, vomiting, and weight loss previously attributed to Ménétrier’s disease. On further workup, she was found to have metastatic lobular breast carcinoma causing gastric outlet obstruction, diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration after previous gastric mucosal biopsies were unremarkable. In most reported cases of gastric metastasis from breast cancer, a diagnosis was established by mucosal biopsy. This case is an important reminder that mucosal biopsies can be negative in about 20% of patients with gastric metastasis, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Gastroenterologists should be diligent in taking deeper biopsies if there is a suspicion for gastric metastasis.
Dilution of Ferromagnets via a Random Graph‐Based Strategy
Authors: Javarone Marco Alberto , Marinazzo Daniele
Published: April 2018

The dynamics and behavior of ferromagnets have a great relevance even beyond the domain of statistical physics. In this work, we propose a Monte Carlo method, based on random graphs, for modeling their dilution. In particular, we focus on ferromagnets with dimension D ≥ 4, which can be approximated by the Curie‐Weiss model. Since the latter has as graphic counterpart, a complete graph, a dilution can be in this case viewed as a pruning process. Hence, in order to exploit this mapping, the proposed strategy uses a modified version of the Erdős‐Renyi graph model. In doing so, we are able both to simulate a continuous dilution and to realize diluted ferromagnets in one step. The proposed strategy is studied by means of numerical simulations, aiming to analyze main properties and equilibria of the resulting diluted ferromagnets. To conclude, we also provide a brief description of further applications of our strategy in the field of complex networks.
Forming Mechanism of High‐Speed Cold Roll Beating of Spline Tooth
Authors: Niu Ting , Li Yong-Tang , Liu Zhi-Qi , Qi Hui-Ping
Published: April 2018

The spline tooth of ASTM 1045 was fabricated by high‐speed cold roll‐beating (HSCRB) process at room temperature. Microhardness of the spline tooth was examined by a nanoindenter. The grains and misorientation angle distributions were measured by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that the microhardness was improved up to 1280 μm deep from the surface of the spine tooth. The microhardness and the grain sizes gradually decreased in the direction away from the surface. On the surface, the fraction of ultrafine grains increased up to about 90%, and the average grain diameter (which was ∼0.56 µm) decreased by 71.4%. The model of grain evolution during HSCRB process is proposed in this work. New grains appear first on the boundaries of the elongated grains within numerous subgrains. The elongated grains are refined as a result of subgrain rotation. By analyzing the HSCRB technical principle, we concluded that the process parameters affect the refinement degree of studied steel by determining beating pass, beating pass interval time, and strain rate.
Use of the Minimally Invasive Reduction Instrumentation System for Facilitating Alignment and Reduction When Performing Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Three Dogs
Authors: Townsend Sarah , Lewis Daniel D.
Published: April 2018

The Minimally Invasive Reduction Instrumentation System (MIRIS) was utilized to facilitate minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) of distal limb diaphyseal comminuted fractures (2 crural, 1 antebrachial) in three dogs. The MIRIS facilitated efficient MIPO in all three fractures. Radial and tibial lengths were restored within 2% of the length of the intact bone and postoperative frontal and sagittal plane angulation were within 3° of the normal contralateral limb for each of the fractures. Fixation failed in one of the tibial fractures when the plates bent a week following surgery. The implants were removed and the fracture was restabilized via MIPO facilitated by the MIRIS. Inappropriate implant selection was considered the primary reason for implant failure. All three fractures achieved union by 10 weeks following surgery. The dog that underwent revision surgery developed a surgical site infection 5 months following revision surgery, which necessitated implant removal. All three dogs had excellent limb function at the time of the final evaluation. This system resulted in reductions that were near anatomic, with acceptable restoration of length and alignment and excellent limb function.
A Single Codon Optimization Enhances Recombinant Human TNF-α Vaccine Expression in Escherichia coli
Authors: Chu Chu , Zhang Wangqian , Li Jialin , Wan Yi , Wang Zenglu , Duan Ruyi , Yu Pei , Zhao Ning , Zhang Kuo , Wang Shuning , Hao Qiang , Li Weina , Zhang Cun , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yingqi , Li Meng , Xue Xiaochang
Published: April 2018

As a proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in various autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thus, TNF-α has been defined as a therapeutic target for RA. Although some TNF-α antagonists including neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptors have been approved to be successful in attenuating symptoms in patients suffering from RA, the long-term use of these passive immunization reagents could cause some problems like a variable degree of immunogenicity. In the present study, in order to wake up active immune responses of RA patients, we developed a recombinant TNF-α therapeutic vaccine (named mrTNF-PADRE) by coupling a 12-amino acid universal Pan HLA-DR Epitope (PADRE) to the protein. Codon optimization was performed to improve the secondary structure of mrTNF-PADRE mRNA to ensure its heterologous expression. As a result, a single codon synonymous mutation greatly elevated recombinant protein expression (about 30% of the total bacteria proteins) in E. coli as compared with the undetectable expression of the unoptimized gene. Although expressed as insoluble inclusion bodies (IBs), the vaccine can be effectively prepared with a purity of over 95% by IBs washing and one-step gel-infiltration chromatography. By this strategy, a stable yield of 5.2 mg purified mrTNF-PADRE per gram of cell paste could be obtained.
How to Mitigate Theme Park Crowding? A Prospective Coordination Approach
Authors: Yuan Yuguo , Zheng Weimin
Published: April 2018

Crowding is a key factor in tourists’ experience in theme parks, and mitigating crowding makes parks more competitive. This study examines how to effectively mitigate crowding in theme parks. First, a Markov-based method is developed to predict the spatial-temporal distribution of tourists in the park. Then, a prospective coordination approach based on the tourist distribution prediction is proposed. To evaluate the performance of this approach, an experiment is constructed using an agent-based simulation platform. The results indicate that the proposed method significantly outperforms existing methods. Furthermore, we conduct two experiments and, based on the results, offer several recommendations for crowd management.
Aqueous Extract of Dendropanax morbiferus Leaves Effectively Alleviated Neuroinflammation and Behavioral Impediments in MPTP‐Induced Parkinson’s Mouse Model
Authors: Park Shin-Young , Karthivashan Govindarajan , Ko Hyun Myung , Cho Duk-Yeon , Kim Joonsoo , Cho Dae Jun , Ganesan Palanivel , Su-Kim In , Choi Dong-Kug
Published: April 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a commonly reported age‐related neurodegenerative disorder. Microglial‐mediated neuroinflammation is one of the cardinal hallmarks of various neurodegenerative disorders, including PD progression. Inadequate therapeutic strategies and substantial adverse effects of well‐established drug candidates demand new therapeutic leads to treat PD. Dendropanax morbifera (DM) is an endemic plant species of South Korea, and it has been used extensively as traditional medicine to treat numerous clinical complications. In this study, we conducted an initial profiling of the few major phytoconstituents of aqueous DM leaf extracts (DML) and quantified the same using high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS). We subsequently evaluated the antineuroinflammatory activity and ameliorative potential of DML in both in vitro and in vivo experimental PD models. The prophylactic treatment of DML effectually improved the behavioral deficits, curbed the microglial‐mediated neuroinflammation, and protected dopaminergic (DA) neuronal loss by restoring tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in brain tissue of the MPTP‐induced PD mouse model. We conducted chromatographic profiling and identified chlorogenic acid (CA) as a major constituent (19.5 mg/g of BuOH fraction), which has been well documented as an antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agent. This was found to be in harmony with our in vitro results, where DML suppressed the level of inflammatory mediators and allied the signaling pathway in LPS‐stimulated microglial cells. The results of our study indicate that DML and its bioactive constituents can be developed as potential therapeutic candidates against progressive PD complications.
Angioedema Secondary to IV Tissue Plasminogen Activator Administration for Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Chaucer Benjamin , Whelan Dustin , Veys Christopher , Upadhyaya Manas
Published: April 2018

Background. IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the treatment of choice for ischemic strokes that present within the treatment window. In the majority of patients, this offers an effective and often life-prolonging treatment in the acute setting. In a rare set of patients treated with IV tPA, side effects can be seen. One rare and potentially dangerous side effect is angioedema. Case Report. We present the case of a patient treated for ischemic stroke who developed angioedema and discuss the etiology and risk factors for this rare, but dangerous side effect. Conclusion. Given the frequent and widespread use of tPA, awareness of the rare life-threatening side effects is paramount. This is of particular importance for practitioners in the acute care setting.
Fabrication and Characterization of Two-Dimensional Layered MoS2 Thin Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Jiao Lei , Wang Yuehui , Zhi Yusong , Cui Wei , Chen Zhengwei , Zhang Xiao , Jie Wenjing , Wu Zhenping
Published: April 2018

Direct growth of uniform wafer-scale two-dimensional (2D) layered materials using a universal method is of vital importance for utilizing 2D layers into practical applications. Here, we report on the structural and transport properties of large-scale few-layer MoS2 back-gated field effect transistors (FETs), fabricated using conventional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy results confirmed that the obtained MoS2 layers on SiO2/Si substrate are multilayers. The FETs devices exhibit a relative high on/off ratio of 5 × 102 and mobility of 0.124 cm2V−1S−1. Our results suggest that the PLD would be a suitable pathway to grow 2D layers for future industrial device applications.
Solidarity Value and Solidarity Share Functions for TU Fuzzy Games
Authors: Biswakarma Rajib , Borkotokey Surajit , Mesiar Radko
Published: April 2018

TU games under both crisp and fuzzy environments describe situations where players make full (crisp) or partial (fuzzy) binding agreements and generate worth in return. The challenge is then to decide how to distribute the profit among them in a rational manner: we call this a solution. In this paper, we introduce the notion of solidarity value and the solidarity share function as a suitable solution to TU fuzzy games. Two special classes of TU fuzzy games, namely, TU fuzzy games in Choquet integral form and in multilinear extension form, are studied and the corresponding solidarity value and the solidarity share functions are characterized.
Epigenetic Modifications of the α‐Synuclein Gene and Relative Protein Content Are Affected by Ageing and Physical Exercise in Blood from Healthy Subjects
Authors: Daniele Simona , Costa Barbara , Pietrobono Deborah , Giacomelli Chiara , Iofrida Caterina , Trincavelli Maria Letizia , Fusi Jonathan , Franzoni Ferdinando , Martini Claudia
Published: April 2018

Epigenetic regulation may contribute to the beneficial effects of physical activity against age‐related neurodegeneration. For example, epigenetic alterations of the gene encoding for α‐synuclein (SNCA) have been widely explored in both brain and peripheral tissues of Parkinson’s disease samples. However, no data are currently available about the effects of physical exercise on SNCA epigenetic regulation in ageing healthy subjects. The present paper explored whether, in healthy individuals, age and physical activity are related to blood intron1‐SNCA (SNCAI1) methylation, as well as further parameters linked to such epigenetic modification (total, oligomeric α‐synuclein and DNA methyltransferase concentrations in the blood). Here, the SNCAI1 methylation status increased with ageing, and consistent with this result, low α‐synuclein levels were found in the blood. The direct relationship between SNCAI1 methylation and α‐synuclein levels was observed in samples characterized by blood α‐synuclein concentrations of 76.3 ng/mg protein or lower (confidence interval (CI) = 95%). In this selected population, higher physical activity reduced the total and oligomeric α‐synuclein levels. Taken together, our data shed light on ageing‐ and physical exercise‐induced changes on the SNCA methylation status and protein levels of α‐synuclein.
Toxoplasma gondiiin Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
Authors: Moshfe Abdolali , Arefkhah Nasir , Sarkari Bahador , Kazemi Saadat , Mardani Ahmad
Published: April 2018

Toxoplasma gondiiis an important foodborne protozoan that can be transmitted through infected blood containing tachyzoite form of the parasite. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence ofT. gondiiinfection and related risk factors among healthy blood donors in Boyer-Ahmad County, southwest Iran. Blood samples were taken from 285 healthy blood donors who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Sera and buffy coat were isolated from the blood samples for serological and molecular evaluations. The sera were tested for anti-T. gondiiantibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit. The buffy coat of seropositive cases was evaluated for detection ofT. gondiiDNA by PCR. Moreover, a structured questionnaire, containing socioepidemiological data and possible risk factors, was filled out by each participant during sample collection. Anti-T. gondiiantibodies were detected in sera of 48/285 (16.8%) participants. Only two of the subjects (0.7%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM antibodies.T. gondiiDNA was not detected in buffy coat of any of the seropositive cases. Risk factors such as contact with soil (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 4.9–19.4) and consumption of semicooked meat (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2–5.03) were statistically associated with seropositivity toT. gondii. The seroprevalence rate ofT. gondiiantibodies in the blood donors of Boyer-Ahmad County was not high in comparison with other regions in Iran. In this study, consumption of undercooked meats, job, and contact with soil were independent risk factors associated withT. gondiiinfection, which can be considered as potential sources ofT.gondiiinfection.
A Doherty Power Amplifier with Large Back‐Off Power Range Using Integrated Enhancing Reactance
Authors: Kong Wa , Xia Jing , Meng Fan , Yu Chao , Yang Lixia , Zhu Xiaowei
Published: April 2018

A symmetric Doherty power amplifier (DPA) based on integrated enhancing reactance (IER) was proposed for large back‐off applications. The IER was generated using the peaking amplifier with the help of a desired impedance transformation in the low‐power region to enhance the back‐off efficiency of the carrier amplifier. To convert the impedances properly, both in the low‐power region and at saturation, a two‐impedance matching method was employed to design the output matching networks. For verification, a symmetric DPA with large back‐off power range over 2.2–2.5 GHz was designed and fabricated. Measurement results show that the designed DPA has the 9 dB back‐off efficiency of higher than 45%, while the saturated output power is higher than 44 dBm over the whole operation bandwidth. When driven by a 20 MHz LTE signal, the DPA can achieve good average efficiency of around 50% with adjacent channel leakage ratio of about –50 dBc after linearization over the frequency band of interest. The linearity improvement of the DPA for multistandard wireless communication system was also verified with a dual‐band modulated signal.
Degradation of Roller‐Compacted Concrete Subjected to Freeze‐Thaw Cycles and Immersion in Potassium Acetate Solution
Authors: Zhang Wuman , Zhang Jingsong , Chen Shuhang , Gong Sheng
Published: April 2018

Two sets of roller‐compacted concrete (RCC) samples cured for 28 days were subjected to freeze‐thaw (F‐T) cycles and immersion in laboratory conditions. F‐T cycles in water and water‐potassium acetate solution (50% by weight) were carried out and followed by the flexural impact test. The weight loss, the dynamic elastic modulus (Ed), the mechanical properties, and the residual strain of RCC were measured. The impact energy was calculated based on the final number of the impact test. The results show that the effect of F‐T cycles in KAc solution on the weight loss and Ed of RCC is slight. Ed, the compressive strength, and the flexural strength of RCC with 250 F‐T cycles in KAc solution decrease by 3.8%, 23%, and 36%, respectively. The content (by weight) of K+ at the same depth of RCC specimens increases with the increase of F‐T cycles. The impact energy of RCC specimens subjected to 250 F‐T cycles in KAc solution decreases by nearly 30%. Microcracks occur and increase with the increase of F‐T cycles in KAc solution. The compressive strength of RCC immersed in KAc solution decreases by 18.8% and 32.8% after 6 and 12 months. More attention should be paid to using KAc in practical engineering because both the freeze‐thaw cycles and the complete immersion in KAc solution damage the mechanical properties of RCC.
A Highly Reliable Embedded Optical Torque Sensor Based on Flexure Spring
Authors: Liu Yuwang , Tian Tian , Chen Jibiao , Wang Fuhua , Zhang Defu
Published: April 2018

We propose a new highly reliable and lightweight embedded optical torque sensor for biomimetic robot arm enabling the torque measurement in joints, which can measure torque of the joint by detecting torsion of its elastic element (mechanical structure or flexure element). Flexure spring is introduced as the elastic element of the torque sensor in this paper. Because of its curve modeling, flexure spring is not inclined to be broken contrast to crossbeam structure, which is commonly used in torque sensor. Thanks to this structure, we can build a torque sensor as an extremely compact and highly reliable size. Six types of flexure spring are proposed to be used as the elastic element of the torque sensor in this paper, which have the potential for the requirements of measurement range and multidimensional detection. The optical electronic, less influenced by electromagnetic interferences, is selected to measure the torsion displacement of the flexure spring. The proposed design is analyzed, which can obtain the successful measurement of the torque with a load capacity of 1 Nm. One of the designed optical torque sensors is optimized by FEM. The calibration and experiment are conducted to ensure its feasibility and performance.
Enhanced Electrical Insulation and Heat Transfer Performance of Vegetable Oil Based Nanofluids
Authors: Yao Wei , Huang Zhengyong , Li Jian , Wu Liya , Xiang Chenmeng
Published: April 2018

Nanoparticles enhance the electrical insulation and thermal properties of vegetable oil, and such improvements are desirable for its application as an alternative to traditional insulating oil for power transformers. However, the traditional method of insulating nanofluids typically achieves high electrical insulation but low thermal conductivity. This work reports an environmentally friendly vegetable oil using exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) showing high thermal conductivity and high electrical insulation. Stable nanofluids were prepared by liquid exfoliation of h-BN in isopropyl alcohol. With 0.1 vol.% of the nano-oil, the AC breakdown voltage increased by 18% at 25°C and 15% at 90°C. Both the positive and negative lightning impulse breakdown voltages of the nano-oil were also enhanced compared with those of the pure oil. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of the nano-oil increased by 11.9% at 25°C and 14% at 90°C. Given its high thermal conductivity, the nano-oil exhibited faster heating and cooling effects than the pure oil. Nano-oils with an electric field (either DC or AC) displayed a faster thermal response than that without an electric field. The reason is that h-BN is oriented under the electric field and formed a thermal network to increase the heat transfer.
The Benefits of Residual Hair Cell Function for Speech and Music Perception in Pediatric Bimodal Cochlear Implant Listeners
Authors: Cheng Xiaoting , Liu Yangwenyi , Wang Bing , Yuan Yasheng , Galvin John J. , Fu Qian-Jie , Shu Yilai , Chen Bing
Published: April 2018

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefits of residual hair cell function for speech and music perception in bimodal pediatric Mandarin-speaking cochlear implant (CI) listeners. Design. Speech and music performance was measured in 35 Mandarin-speaking pediatric CI users for unilateral (CI-only) and bimodal listening. Mandarin speech perception was measured for vowels, consonants, lexical tones, and sentences in quiet. Music perception was measured for melodic contour identification (MCI). Results. Combined electric and acoustic hearing significantly improved MCI and Mandarin tone recognition performance, relative to CI-only performance. For MCI, performance was significantly better with bimodal listening for all semitone spacing conditions (p<0.05 in all cases). For tone recognition, bimodal performance was significantly better only for tone 2 (rising; p<0.05). There were no significant differences between CI-only and CI + HA for vowel, consonant, or sentence recognition. Conclusions. The results suggest that combined electric and acoustic hearing can significantly improve perception of music and Mandarin tones in pediatric Mandarin-speaking CI patients. Music and lexical tone perception depends strongly on pitch perception, and the contralateral acoustic hearing coming from residual hair cell function provided pitch cues that are generally not well preserved in electric hearing.
Squeal Frequency of a Railway Disc Brake Evaluation by FE Analyses
Authors: Cascetta F. , Caputo F. , De Luca A.
Published: April 2018

This paper deals with the development of a numerical model, based on the Finite Element (FE) theory for the prediction of the squeal frequency of a railway disc brake. The analytical background has been discussed and presented, as well as the most efficient methods for evaluating the system stability; the attention has been paid particularly to the complex eigenvalues method, which has been adopted within this paper to investigate the railway disc brake system. Numerical results have been compared with measurements from experimental tests in order to validate the proposed numerical approach. At the end of this work, a sensitivity analysis, aimed at understanding the effects of some physical parameters influencing the stability of the brake system and the squeal propensity, has been carried out.
Efficient Delivery of Therapeutic siRNA with Nanoparticles Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Mu Xupeng , Lu Haibin , Fan Lianlian , Yan Shaohua , Hu Kebang
Published: April 2018

Gene silencing using small interfering RNA (siRNA) has shown significant potential in the treatment of cancer. Herein, we developed the lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (PEG-LP/siRNA NPs) for siRNA delivery. The cell viability assay indicated that PEG-LP/siRNA NPs had negligible cell cytotoxicity. The cellular uptake efficiency of PEG-LP/siRNA NPs measured by flow cytometry was up to 94.4%. Importantly, in vitro gene knockdown experiments demonstrated that PEG-LP/siJnk-1 NPs could significantly downregulate the expression of Jnk-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels in DU145 cells. Gene knockdown of Jnk-1 could activate apoptosis in part by the mitochondrial pathway in DU145 cells. Moreover, the PEG-LP/siJnk-1 NPs could inhibit tumor growth in a DU145 xenograft murine model, suggesting its therapeutic promise in cancer therapy.
Stock Market Prediction on High-Frequency Data Using Generative Adversarial Nets
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Pan Zhisong , Hu Guyu , Tang Siqi , Zhao Cheng
Published: April 2018

Stock price prediction is an important issue in the financial world, as it contributes to the development of effective strategies for stock exchange transactions. In this paper, we propose a generic framework employing Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) for adversarial training to forecast high-frequency stock market. This model takes the publicly available index provided by trading software as input to avoid complex financial theory research and difficult technical analysis, which provides the convenience for the ordinary trader of nonfinancial specialty. Our study simulates the trading mode of the actual trader and uses the method of rolling partition training set and testing set to analyze the effect of the model update cycle on the prediction performance. Extensive experiments show that our proposed approach can effectively improve stock price direction prediction accuracy and reduce forecast error.
Analysis of User Interaction with a Brain-Computer Interface Based on Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials: Case Study of a Game
Authors: Leite Harlei Miguel de Arruda , Carvalho Sarah Negreiros de , Costa Thiago Bulhões da Silva , Attux Romis , Hornung Heiko Horst , Arantes Dalton Soares
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a systematic analysis of a game controlled by a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) based on Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEP). The objective is to understand BCI systems from the Human-Computer Interface (HCI) point of view, by observing how the users interact with the game and evaluating how the interface elements influence the system performance. The interactions of 30 volunteers with our computer game, named “Get Coins,” through a BCI based on SSVEP, have generated a database of brain signals and the corresponding responses to a questionnaire about various perceptual parameters, such as visual stimulation, acoustic feedback, background music, visual contrast, and visual fatigue. Each one of the volunteers played one match using the keyboard and four matches using the BCI, for comparison. In all matches using the BCI, the volunteers achieved the goals of the game. Eight of them achieved a perfect score in at least one of the four matches, showing the feasibility of the direct communication between the brain and the computer. Despite this successful experiment, adaptations and improvements should be implemented to make this innovative technology accessible to the end user.