bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucosamine induces ER stress by disrupting lipid-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis andN-linked protein glycosylation
Authors: Beriault Daniel R. , Dang Vi T. , Zhong Lexy H. , Petlura Christina I. , McAlpine Cameron S. , Shi Yuanyuan , Werstuck Geoff H.
Published: November 2016

Glucosamine is an essential substrate for N-linked protein glycosylation. However, elevated levels of glucosamine can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Glucosamine-induced ER stress has been implicated in the development of diabetic complications, including atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis. In this study, we investigate the potential relationship between the effects of glucosamine on lipid-linked oligosaccharide (LLO) biosynthesis, N-linked glycosylation, and ER homeostasis. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were cultured in the presence of 0–5 mM glucosamine for up to 18 h, and LLO biosynthesis was monitored by fluorescence-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. ER stress was determined by quantification of unfolded protein response (UPR) gene expression. We found that exposure of MEFs to ≥1 mM glucosamine significantly impaired the biosynthesis of mature (Glc3Man9GlcNAc2) LLOs before the activation of the UPR, which resulted in the accumulation of an LLO intermediate (Man3GlcNAc2). The addition of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), a chemical chaperone, was able to alleviate ER stress but did not rescue LLO biosynthesis. Other ER stress-inducing agents, including dithiothreitol and thapsigargin, had no effect on LLO levels. Together, these data suggest that elevated concentrations of glucosamine induce ER stress by interfering with lipid-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis and N-linked glycosylation. We hypothesize that this pathway represents a causative link between hyperglycemia and the development of diabetic complications.
Irritable bowel syndrome: a gut microbiota-related disorder?
Authors: Bhattarai Yogesh , Muniz Pedrogo David A. , Kashyap Purna C.
Published: November 2016

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Despite its prevalence, the pathophysiology of IBS is not well understood although multiple peripheral and central factors are implicated. Recent studies suggest a role for alterations in gut microbiota in IBS. Significant advances in next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics and the declining cost have now allowed us to better investigate the role of gut microbiota in IBS. In the following review, we propose gut microbiota as a unifying factor in the pathophysiology of IBS. We first describe how gut microbiota can be influenced by factors predisposing individuals to IBS such as host genetics, stress, diet, antibiotics, and early life experiences. We then highlight the known effects of gut microbiota on mechanisms implicated in the pathophysiology of IBS including disrupted gut brain axis (GBA), visceral hypersensitivity (VH), altered GI motility, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune activation. While there are several gaps in the field that preclude us from connecting the dots to establish causation, we hope this overview will allow us to identify and fill in the voids.
Hyperglycemia induces defective Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Sorrentino Andrea , Borghetti Giulia , Zhou Yu , Cannata Antonio , Meo Marianna , Signore Sergio , Anversa Piero , Leri Annarosa , Goichberg Polina , Qanud Khaled , Jacobson Jason T. , Hintze Thomas H. , Rota Marcello
Published: November 2016

Diabetes and other metabolic conditions characterized by elevated blood glucose constitute important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Hyperglycemia targets myocardial cells rendering ineffective mechanical properties of the heart, but cellular alterations dictating the progressive deterioration of cardiac function with metabolic disorders remain to be clarified. In the current study, we examined the effects of hyperglycemia on cardiac function and myocyte physiology by employing mice with high blood glucose induced by administration of streptozotocin, a compound toxic to insulin-producing β-cells. We found that hyperglycemia initially delayed the electrical recovery of the heart, whereas cardiac function became defective only after ~2 mo with this condition and gradually worsened with time. Prolonged hyperglycemia was associated with increased chamber dilation, thinning of the left ventricle (LV), and myocyte loss. Cardiomyocytes from hyperglycemic mice exhibited defective Ca2+ transients before the appearance of LV systolic defects. Alterations in Ca2+ transients involved enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ releases from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), reduced cytoplasmic Ca2+ clearance, and declined SR Ca2+ load. These defects have important consequences on myocyte contraction, relaxation, and mechanisms of rate adaptation. Collectively, our data indicate that hyperglycemia alters intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, hindering contractile activity and contributing to the manifestation of the diabetic cardiomyopathy.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have investigated the effects of hyperglycemia on cardiomyocyte physiology and ventricular function. Our results indicate that defective Ca2+ handling is a critical component of the progressive deterioration of cardiac performance of the diabetic heart.
Loss of UCP1 exacerbates Western diet-induced glycemic dysregulation independent of changes in body weight in female mice
Authors: Winn Nathan C. , Vieira-Potter Victoria J. , Gastecki Michelle L. , Welly Rebecca J. , Scroggins Rebecca J. , Zidon Terese M. , Gaines T’Keaya L. , Woodford Makenzie L. , Karasseva Natalia G. , Kanaley Jill A. , Sacks Harold S. , Padilla Jaume
Published: November 2016

We tested the hypothesis that female mice null for uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) would have increased susceptibility to Western diet-induced “whitening” of brown adipose tissue (AT) and glucose intolerance. Six-week-old C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and UCP1 knockout (UCP1−/−) mice, housed at 25°C, were randomized to either a control diet (10% kcal from fat) or Western diet (45% kcal from fat and 1% cholesterol) for 28 wk. Loss of UCP1 had no effect on energy intake, energy expenditure, spontaneous physical activity, weight gain, or visceral white AT mass. Despite similar susceptibility to weight gain compared with WT, UCP1−/− exhibited whitening of brown AT evidenced by a striking ~500% increase in mass and appearance of large unilocular adipocytes, increased expression of genes related to inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and endoplasmic reticulum/oxidative stress ( P < 0.05), and decreased mitochondrial subunit protein (COX I, II, III, and IV, P < 0.05), all of which were exacerbated by Western diet ( P < 0.05). UCP1−/− mice also developed liver steatosis and glucose intolerance, which was worsened by Western diet. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that loss of UCP1 exacerbates Western diet-induced whitening of brown AT, glucose intolerance, and induces liver steatosis. Notably, the adverse metabolic manifestations of UCP1−/− were independent of changes in body weight, visceral adiposity, and energy expenditure. These novel findings uncover a previously unrecognized metabolic protective role of UCP1 that is independent of its already established role in energy homeostasis.
Neuronal pattern separation of motion-relevant input in LIP activity
Authors: Berberian Nareg , MacPherson Amanda , Giraud Eloïse , Richardson Lydia , Thivierge J.-P.
Published: November 2016

In various regions of the brain, neurons discriminate sensory stimuli by decreasing the similarity between ambiguous input patterns. Here, we examine whether this process of pattern separation may drive the rapid discrimination of visual motion stimuli in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP). Starting with a simple mean-rate population model that captures neuronal activity in LIP, we show that overlapping input patterns can be reformatted dynamically to give rise to separated patterns of neuronal activity. The population model predicts that a key ingredient of pattern separation is the presence of heterogeneity in the response of individual units. Furthermore, the model proposes that pattern separation relies on heterogeneity in the temporal dynamics of neural activity and not merely in the mean firing rates of individual neurons over time. We confirm these predictions in recordings of macaque LIP neurons and show that the accuracy of pattern separation is a strong predictor of behavioral performance. Overall, results propose that LIP relies on neuronal pattern separation to facilitate decision-relevant discrimination of sensory stimuli.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY A new hypothesis is proposed on the role of the lateral intraparietal (LIP) region of cortex during rapid decision making. This hypothesis suggests that LIP alters the representation of ambiguous inputs to reduce their overlap, thus improving sensory discrimination. A combination of computational modeling, theoretical analysis, and electrophysiological data shows that the pattern separation hypothesis links neural activity to behavior and offers novel predictions on the role of LIP during sensory discrimination.
Contextual effects of noise on vocalization encoding in primary auditory cortex
Authors: Ni Ruiye , Bender David A. , Shanechi Amirali M. , Gamble Jeffrey R. , Barbour Dennis L.
Published: November 2016

Robust auditory perception plays a pivotal function for processing behaviorally relevant sounds, particularly with distractions from the environment. The neuronal coding enabling this ability, however, is still not well understood. In this study, we recorded single-unit activity from the primary auditory cortex (A1) of awake marmoset monkeys ( Callithrix jacchus) while delivering conspecific vocalizations degraded by two different background noises: broadband white noise and vocalization babble. Noise effects on neural representation of target vocalizations were quantified by measuring the responses' similarity to those elicited by natural vocalizations as a function of signal-to-noise ratio. A clustering approach was used to describe the range of response profiles by reducing the population responses to a summary of four response classes (robust, balanced, insensitive, and brittle) under both noise conditions. This clustering approach revealed that, on average, approximately two-thirds of the neurons change their response class when encountering different noises. Therefore, the distortion induced by one particular masking background in single-unit responses is not necessarily predictable from that induced by another, suggesting the low likelihood of a unique group of noise-invariant neurons across different background conditions in A1. Regarding noise influence on neural activities, the brittle response group showed addition of spiking activity both within and between phrases of vocalizations relative to clean vocalizations, whereas the other groups generally showed spiking activity suppression within phrases, and the alteration between phrases was noise dependent. Overall, the variable single-unit responses, yet consistent response types, imply that primate A1 performs scene analysis through the collective activity of multiple neurons.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The understanding of where and how auditory scene analysis is accomplished is of broad interest to neuroscientists. In this paper, we systematically investigated neuronal coding of multiple vocalizations degraded by two distinct noises at various signal-to-noise ratios in nonhuman primates. In the process, we uncovered heterogeneity of single-unit representations for different auditory scenes yet homogeneity of responses across the population.
The Outcome of Repeated Mid Urethral Sling in SUI Treatment after Vaginal Excisions of Primary Failed Sling: Preliminary Study
Authors: Kociszewski Jacek , Majkusiak Wojciech , Pomian Andrzej , Tomasik Paweł , Horosz Edyta , Kuszka Andrzej , Barcz Ewa
Published: November 2016

Mid urethral sling is the standard in SUI treatment. Nevertheless, the risk of reoperation reaches 9%. There is no consensus as to the best treatment option for complications. A question is raised: what is the optimal way to achieve the best result in patients after primary failure? The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of repeat MUS surgery in patients after excision of the sling with recurrent SUI. We compared its effectiveness with uncomplicated cases treated with TVT. 27 patients who underwent the repeated MUS and 50 consecutive patients after primary TVT were enrolled in the study. After 6 months, we have found that 24 (88.46%) patients from repeat sling group and 48 (96%) patients after primary sling were dry (1-hour pad test, 2 g or less). The difference between groups was not significant. We showed statistically significant improvement of quality of life in both groups. In conclusion, we showed that repeated sling after MUS excision is almost as effective as primary MUS. We postulate that sling excision and repeated MUS may be the best option for persistent SUI and/or complications after MUS procedures. Further multicenter observations are ongoing as to provide results on bigger group of cases.
Modified Surgical Techniques for Managing Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome
Authors: Simaroj Pornchai , Lekhanont Kaevalin , Charukamnoetkanok Puwat
Published: November 2016

Purpose.To report a modified surgical strategy in the management of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome-associated iris prolapse.Methods.Prolapsed iris is left as is and a new corneal incision near the original wound but at a different site is created. Depending on the location of the original incision and the surgeon’s preference, this additional incision can be used as a new port for phacoemulsification tip or can be the new site for the iris to securely prolapse, allowing for the surgery to proceed safely.Results.We present 2 cases of iris prolapse and inadequate pupil dilation in patients with IFIS. Along with our modified technique, additional iris retractors were placed to increase the workspace for the phacoemulsification tip. The cataract surgery was performed successfully without further complications in both cases.Conclusion.This surgical technique could be an adjunct to allow the surgeons to expand the armamentarium for the management of IFIS-associated iris prolapse.
Development of a Full-Depth Wheel Tracking Test for Asphalt Pavement Structure: Methods and Performance Evaluation
Authors: Wang Hui , Fan Zepeng , Zhang Jiupeng
Published: November 2016

The rutting performance of asphalt pavement structure relies on the high temperature properties of asphalt mixture as well as the pavement structure and thickness. In order to investigate the influence of the structure and thickness, a full-depth wheel tracking test is developed in this research by improving the conventional wheel tracking test apparatus. The newly proposed test method is capable of varying its load speed and load size, controlling its specimen temperature gradient, and simulating the support conditions of actual asphalt pavement. The full-depth wheel tracking test based rutting performance evaluation of different asphalt pavement structures indicates that it is not reasonable to explain the rutting performance of asphalt pavement structure from the point of view of single-layer asphalt mixture rutting performance. The developed full-depth wheel tracking test can be used to distinguish rutting performance of different asphalt pavement structures, and two of five typical asphalt pavement structures commonly used in Shanxi Province were suggested for use in practical engineering.
Green Synthesis Methods of CoFe2O4and Ag-CoFe2O4Nanoparticles Using Hibiscus Extracts and Their Antimicrobial Potential
Authors: Gingasu Dana , Mindru Ioana , Patron Luminita , Calderon-Moreno Jose Maria , Mocioiu Oana Catalina , Preda Silviu , Stanica Nicolae , Nita Sultana , Dobre Nicoleta , Popa Marcela , Gradisteanu Gratiela , Chifiriuc Mariana Carmen
Published: November 2016

The cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and silver-cobalt ferrite (Ag-CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were obtained through self-combustion and wet ferritization methods using aqueous extracts ofHibiscus rosa-sinensisflower and leaf. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements were used for the characterization of the obtained oxide powders. The antimicrobial activity of the cobalt ferrite and silver-cobalt ferrite nanoparticles against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungal strains, was investigated by qualitative and quantitative assays. The most active proved to be the Ag-CoFe2O4nanoparticles, particularly those obtained through self-combustion using hibiscus leaf extract, which exhibited very low minimal inhibitory concentration values (0.031–0.062 mg/mL) against all tested microbial strains, suggesting their potential for the development of novel antimicrobial agents.
The Needs and Priorities for Government Grants for Traditional Korean Medicine: Comparing the Public and Traditional Korean Medicine Doctors
Authors: Hyun Min Kyung
Published: November 2016

This study was conducted to compare the need for research and development (R&D) of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perceived by the public and Traditional Korean Medicine doctor (KMD) in. Survey data from 2462 people and KMD were utilized for this study. Overall, 25.10% of the public and 90.91% of KMD answered that government grants for TKM R&D were “extremely necessary.” The majority of respondents reported that grants were needed “for the advancement of science and technology in TKM” (public, 46.28%; KMD, 34.08%). Research regarding herbal medicine was the top priority of TKM R&D in both groups. However, “research facilities and training for researchers (27.85%)” was a close second priority of the public, but not KMD. Moreover, the public believed that safety from adverse effects and toxicity was a more important area of R&D in each discipline, but KMD did not find these to be important. The public and KMD generally agreed on the need for government grants for TKM R&D, but the public was more interested in safety than KMD. Therefore, government policy decision makers must consider opinions of both the public and KMD when planning government grants.
Design and Development of a New Electrically Small 3D UHF Spherical Antenna with 360° of Opening Angle in the Whole Space for RFID, WSN, and RSN Applications
Authors: Bou-El-Harmel Abdelhamid , Benbassou Ali , Belkadid Jamal
Published: November 2016

Several antenna designs have been made in order to obtain a novel electrically small 3D UHF spherical antenna (ka = 0.1916), which has a resonance frequency close to 915 MHz, produces a quasi-isotropic radiation with an opening angle equal to 360° in the whole space, and is used for RFID, WSN, and RSN applications. These antennas are based on different shapes and are wrapped on the Styrofoam sphere surface of dielectric constant close to air (ɛr=1.06). A T-match configuration is used to adapt the input impedance of antennas to a value of 50 Ω. The antennas form allows for placing the sensor electronics in its interior, to reconfigure it for numerous values of impedances and to operate it in other ISM bands by adjusting their geometric parameters.
HBV Infection Status and the Risk of Cholangiocarcinoma in Asia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Hao , Zhu Biqing , Zhang He , Liang Jianxin , Zeng Wenting
Published: November 2016

Background. The inconsistent finding was between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This meta-analysis is to explore this relationship in Asia.Methods. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to October 30, 2015. Pooled incidence rate and OR with 95% CI were calculated using STATA 11.0.Results. Thirty-nine studies were included. The pooled incidence rate of CCA patients with HBV infection was 31% (95% CI 22%–39%). The pooled OR showed increased risk of CCA incidence with HBV infection (OR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.90–3.88), especially in ICC (OR = 3.184, 95% CI 2.356–4.302), while it showed no risk in ECC (OR = 1.407, 95% CI 0.925–2.141). Also, the pooled OR showed increased risk of ICC and ECC incidence (OR = 6.857, 95% CI 4.421–10.633 and OR = 1.740, 95% CI 1.260–2.404) in patients with HBsAg+/HBcAb+. The pooled OR showed increased risk of ICC incidence (OR = 1.410, 95% CI 1.095–1.816) in patients with HBsAg−/HBcAb+.Conclusion. It is suggested that HBV infection is associated with an increased risk of CCA in Asia. Two HBV infection models (HBsAg+/HBcAb+ and HBsAg−/HBcAb+) increase the risk of CCA, and patients with HBsAg−/HBcAb+ also had a risk of ICC. This trial is registered with PROSPEROCRD42015029264.
A Rare Type of Primary Internal Hernia Causing Small Intestinal Obstruction
Authors: Kar Sibabrata , Mohapatra Vandana , Rath Pratap Kumar
Published: November 2016

Primary internal hernias are extremely rare in adults. They are an important cause of small intestinal obstruction and lead to high morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Clinical presentation of internal hernia is nonspecific. Imaging has been of limited utility in cases of acute intestinal obstruction; moreover, interpretation of imaging features is operator dependant. Thus, internal hernias are usually detected at laparotomy and preoperative diagnosis in an emergency setting is either difficult or most of the time not suspected. We report herein a case of a 45-year-old male who presented with acute intestinal obstruction which was attributed later to a very rare type of internal hernia on exploratory laparotomy. A loop of ileum was found to enter the retroperitoneum through a hernia gate which was located lateral to the sigmoid colon in the left paracolic gutter. The segment of intestine was reduced and the hernial defect was closed. Our finding represents an extremely rare variant of retroperitoneal hernias.
Distance and Density Similarity Based Enhancedk-NN Classifier for Improving Fault Diagnosis Performance of Bearings
Authors: Uddin Sharif , Islam Md. Rashedul , Khan Sheraz Ali , Kim Jaeyoung , Kim Jong-Myon , Sohn Seok-Man , Choi Byeong-Keun
Published: November 2016

An enhancedk-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classification algorithm is presented, which uses a density based similarity measure in addition to a distance based similarity measure to improve the diagnostic performance in bearing fault diagnosis. Due to its use of distance based similarity measure alone, the classification accuracy of traditionalk-NN deteriorates in case of overlapping samples and outliers and is highly susceptible to the neighborhood size,k. This study addresses these limitations by proposing the use of both distance and density based measures of similarity between training and test samples. The proposedk-NN classifier is used to enhance the diagnostic performance of a bearing fault diagnosis scheme, which classifies different fault conditions based upon hybrid feature vectors extracted from acoustic emission (AE) signals. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme, which uses the enhancedk-NN classifier, yields better diagnostic performance and is more robust to variations in the neighborhood size,k.
Mathematical Analysis of Malaria-Schistosomiasis Coinfection Model
Authors: Bakare E. A. , Nwozo C. R.
Published: November 2016

We formulated and analysed a mathematical model to explore the cointeraction between malaria and schistosomiasis. Qualitative and comprehensive mathematical techniques have been applied to analyse the model. The local stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibrium was analysed, respectively. However, the main theorem shows that if RMS<1, then the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable and the phase will vanish out of the host and if RMS>1, a unique endemic equilibrium is also locally asymptotically stable and the disease persists at the endemic steady state. The impact of schistosomiasis and its treatment on malaria dynamics is also investigated. Numerical simulations using a set of reasonable parameter values show that the two epidemics coexist whenever their reproduction numbers exceed unity. Further, results of the full malaria-schistosomiasis model also suggest that an increase in the number of individuals infected with schistosomiasis in the presence of treatment results in a decrease in malaria cases. Sensitivity analysis was further carried out to investigate the influence of the model parameters on the transmission and spread of malaria-schistosomiasis coinfection. Numerical simulations were carried out to confirm our theoretical findings.
Poisson Mixture Regression Models for Heart Disease Prediction
Authors: Mufudza Chipo , Erol Hamza
Published: November 2016

Early heart disease control can be achieved by high disease prediction and diagnosis efficiency. This paper focuses on the use of model based clustering techniques to predict and diagnose heart disease via Poisson mixture regression models. Analysis and application of Poisson mixture regression models is here addressed under two different classes: standard and concomitant variable mixture regression models. Results show that a two-component concomitant variable Poisson mixture regression model predicts heart disease better than both the standard Poisson mixture regression model and the ordinary general linear Poisson regression model due to its low Bayesian Information Criteria value. Furthermore, a Zero Inflated Poisson Mixture Regression model turned out to be the best model for heart prediction over all models as it both clusters individuals into high or low risk category and predicts rate to heart disease componentwise given clusters available. It is deduced that heart disease prediction can be effectively done by identifying the major risks componentwise using Poisson mixture regression model.
Raspberry Pi Based Intelligent Wireless Sensor Node for Localized Torrential Rain Monitoring
Authors: Xu Zhaozhuo , Pu Fangling , Fang Xin , Fu Jing
Published: November 2016

Wireless sensor networks are proved to be effective in long-time localized torrential rain monitoring. However, the existing widely used architecture of wireless sensor networks for rain monitoring relies on network transportation and back-end calculation, which causes delay in response to heavy rain in localized areas. Our work improves the architecture by applying logistic regression and support vector machine classification to an intelligent wireless sensor node which is created by Raspberry Pi. The sensor nodes in front-end not only obtain data from sensors, but also can analyze the probabilities of upcoming heavy rain independently and give early warnings to local clients in time. When the sensor nodes send the probability to back-end server, the burdens of network transport are released. We demonstrate by simulation results that our sensor system architecture has potentiality to increase the local response to heavy rain. The monitoring capacity is also raised.
Sclerotherapy of Intraoral Superficial Hemangioma
Authors: Ademi Abdyli Resmije , Abdyli Yll , Perjuci Feriall , Gashi Ali , Agani Zana , Ahmedi Jehona
Published: November 2016

Hemangioma is the clinical term for a benign vascular neoplasm due to proliferation of the endothelial lining of blood vessels. Their most frequent location is the body skin and oral mucosa. One of the treatment modalities for hemangiomas is intralesional injection of sclerosing agents which cause the damage of blood vessels followed by their obliteration. The objective of the study was to describe the facility of application and evaluate the efficiency of sclerotherapy with aethoxysklerol 1%.Method. The case presented with intraoral submucosal hemangioma of the cheek was treated by intralesional injection of aethoxysklerol 3% diluted in water for injections at a 4 : 1 ratio (0.75%) at the first appointment and 3 : 1 (1%) at the second appointment. The effect of sclerotherapy was evaluated on the following visits in time intervals of two weeks.Results. The hemangioma disappeared without complications after the second injection of aethoxysklerol 1%. The successful results of the study were comparable to the data of literature with variations according to the used sclerosant agent, its concentration, the number of injections, and the intervals between each session.Conclusion. Since sclerotherapy is a very effective, inexpensive, and easy-to-apply treatment, it should be the treatment of choice, especially for intraoral superficial hemangiomas.
Effect of Modified Pin Profile and Process Parameters on the Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6
Authors: Verduzco Juárez J. C. , Dominguez Almaraz G. M. , García Hernández R. , Villalón López J. J.
Published: November 2016

This work deals with the effect of a new “bolt-head” pin profile on the friction stir welding performance of the aluminum alloy 6061-T6, compared to traditional pin profiles. Friction stir welding parameters such as the tool rotation speed and the welding speed were investigated together with the different pin profiles; the results show that the new “bolt-head” pin profile leads to better mechanical properties of welded specimens. The pin profiles used in this work were the straight square (SS), straight hexagon (SH), taper cylindrical (TC), and the straight hexagon “bolt-head” (SHBH). It was found that the last pin profile improves the material flow behavior and the uniform distribution of plastic deformation and reduces the formation of macroscopic defects on the welded zone. Mechanical tensile tests on welded specimens were performed to determine the tensile strength: the specimens welded with the SHBH pin profile have shown the highest mechanical properties. An approach is presented for material flow on this aluminum alloy using the SHBH pin profile, which is related to the improvement on the resulting mechanical properties.
Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction with Titanium Meshes and Simultaneous Implant Placement: A Retrospective, Multicenter Clinical Study
Authors: Zita Gomes Raquel , Paraud Freixas Andres , Han Chang-Hun , Bechara Sohueil , Tawil Isaac
Published: November 2016

Objective. To evaluate horizontal bone gain and implant survival and complication rates in patients treated with titanium meshes placed simultaneously with dental implants and fixed over them. Methods. Twenty-five patients treated with 40 implants and simultaneous guided bone regeneration with titanium meshes (i–Gen®, MegaGen, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea) were selected for inclusion in the present retrospective multicenter study. Primary outcomes were horizontal bone gain and implant survival; secondary outcomes were biological and prosthetic complications. Results. After the removal of titanium meshes, the CBCT evaluation revealed a mean horizontal bone gain of 3.67 mm (±0.89). The most frequent complications were mild postoperative edema (12/25 patients: 48%) and discomfort after surgery (10/25 patients: 40%); these complications were resolved within one week. Titanium mesh exposure occurred in 6 patients (6/25 : 24%): one of these suffered partial loss of the graft and another experienced complete graft loss and implant failure. An implant survival rate of 97.5% (implant-based) and a peri-implant marginal bone loss of 0.43 mm (±0.15) were recorded after 1 year. Conclusions. The horizontal ridge reconstruction with titanium meshes placed simultaneously with dental implants achieved predictable satisfactory results. Prospective randomized controlled trials on a larger sample of patients are required to validate these positive outcomes.
On Graceful Spider Graphs with at Most Four Legs of Lengths Greater than One
Authors: Panpa A. , Poomsa-ard T.
Published: November 2016

A graceful labeling of a tree T with n edges is a bijection f:V(T)→{0,1,2,…,n} such that {|f(u)-f(v)|:uv∈E(T)} equal to {1,2,…,n}. A spider graph is a tree with at most one vertex of degree greater than 2. We show that all spider graphs with at most four legs of lengths greater than one admit graceful labeling.
Thermochemical Properties of Glass Wool/Maerogel Composites
Authors: Dastorian Jamnani Bahador , Hosseini Soraya , Shavandi Amin , Hassan Mohd Roshdi
Published: November 2016

Aerogel blankets are composites of silica aerogel particles dispersed in a reinforcing fiber matrix that turns the brittle aerogel into durable and flexible insulating materials. In this study, silica aerogel was loaded on glass wool with different concentrations (0–18.6%) and morphological and thermal characteristics of the aerogel blankets were studied. Rate of modified blanket decomposition was slower at temperatures between 250°C and 650°C due to the retardant effect of the silica aerogel. The average diameter of the fiber for either original glass wool or modified glass wool materials was approximately 20 μm and samples had porous, interconnected particles with dendritic-like structure.
Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes of Patients Who Were Diagnosed with Neural Tube Defect in Midtrimester Fetal Ultrasound Scan and Refused Request for Termination of Pregnancy
Authors: Melekoglu Rauf , Eraslan Sevil , Celik Ebru , Simsek Yavuz
Published: November 2016

Objectives. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the perinatal and neonatal outcomes of patients who were diagnosed with neural tube defect (NTD) in the midtrimester fetal ultrasound scan and refused the request for termination of pregnancy. Material and Methods. The records of 69 patients, for whom NTD was detected in the midtrimester fetal ultrasound scan and who preferred the continuation of the pregnancy after comprehensive counselling about the possible prognosis and treatment options during the period between January 2011 and February 2016, were reviewed retrospectively. Results. Of these patients, 66.7% were 25–35 years old; 95.7% were multiparous; and 1.4% had a history of a fetus having NTD in previous pregnancies. There were 7 (10.1%) neonatal deaths in these patients. Meningomyelocele closure procedure was the most performed surgery in the postnatal period (92%). Of these patients, 30.7% had paraplegia; 51.6% had neurogenic bladder; and 6.4% had infections due to surgery. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrated perinatal and neonatal outcomes of fetuses with NTD who were not terminated by the preference of the family in midtrimester. The experience of our centre would be beneficial as a tool for nondirective counselling of these patients when considering the antenatal/postnatal care options and postnatal prognosis.
Public Key Encryption with Keyword Search from Lattices in Multiuser Environments
Authors: Wu Daini , Wang Xiaoming , Gan Qingqing
Published: November 2016

A public key encryption scheme with keyword search capabilities is proposed using lattices for applications in multiuser environments. The proposed scheme enables a cloud server to check if any given encrypted data contains certain keywords specified by multiple users, but the server would not have knowledge of the keywords specified by the users or the contents of the encrypted data, which provides data privacy as well as privacy for user queries in multiuser environments. It can be proven secure under the standard learning with errors assumption in the random oracle model.
Impact of WHO Hand Hygiene Improvement Program Implementation: A Quasi-Experimental Trial
Authors: Farhoudi Farinaz , Sanaei Dashti Anahita , Hoshangi Davani Minoo , Ghalebi Nadiyeh , Sajadi Golnar , Taghizadeh Raziyeh
Published: November 2016

Objectives. As affirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), hand hygiene is the most powerful preventive measure against healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and, thus, it has become one of the five key elements of patient safety program. The aim is to assess the effect of implementation of the WHO’s Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy among healthcare workers of a tertiary teaching hospital in a developing country.Methods. Hand hygiene compliance was assessed among healthcare workers, according to five defined moments for hand hygiene of the WHO, before and after implementation of the WHO’s Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy in fourteen wards of a tertiary teaching hospital in Shiraz, Iran. We used direct observation method and documented the results in WHO hand hygiene observation forms.Results. There was a significant change in compliance before and after implementation of WHO’s Multimodal HH Improvement Strategy (29.8% and 70.98%, resp.).Conclusions. Implementing WHO hand hygiene program can significantly improve hand hygiene compliance among nurses.
Severe Anemia with Hemoperitoneum as a First Presentation for Multinodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Rare Event in Western Countries
Authors: Swe Thein , Naing Akari Thein , Baqui Aama , Khillan Ratesh
Published: November 2016

Hemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma is a life-threatening and rare condition in western countries with an incidence of less than 3% because of early detection of cirrhosis and neoplasm. Here, we describe a case of a 66-year-old male patient with altered mental status with hemorrhagic shock. Computed tomography scan of abdomen revealed hemoperitoneum and mass in liver. Patient underwent resection of liver tumor and biopsy revealed multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma. A high degree of suspicion is required where severe anemia and hemoperitoneum can be a first presentation for hepatocellular carcinoma especially in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Early diagnosis is crucial since mortality rates remain high for untreated cases.
Electroacupuncture Restores 5‐HT System Deficit in Chronic Mild Stress‐Induced Depressed Rats
Authors: Duan Dongmei , Tu Ya , Yang Xiuyan , Liu Ping
Published: November 2016

Objective. The current study is designed to investigate the antidepressant efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment by evaluating its effect on the synthesis, metabolism, reuptake, and receptors of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), so as to clarify the molecular mechanisms of EA for antidepression. Materials and Methods. Solitary combined with the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to establish the rat model with depression. The depressed rats were supplied with EA treatment for 4 weeks, and the behavior change and the following indices including 5‐HT, 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA), monoamine oxidase A (MAO‐A), tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), 5‐HT transporter (SERT), 5‐HT1A, and 5‐HT2A in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were examined. Results. EA treatment significantly improved the behavior of rats and increased 5‐HT level in hippocampus of depressed rats. Similarly, EA treatment could significantly increase protein and mRNA expression of TPH and 5‐HT1A during 5‐HT synthesis process in hippocampus of depressed rats. However, EA treatment had no effect on the activity of MAO‐A and the expression of SERT protein and mRNA. Conclusion. Antidepressant efficacy of EA treatment can be accomplished through enhancing 5‐HT synthesis, upregulating 5‐HT1A level, and improving 5‐HT content in brain and synaptic gaps.
The Importance of Bone Mineral Density in Hip Arthroplasty: Results of a Survey Asking Orthopaedic Surgeons about Their Opinions and Attitudes Concerning Osteoporosis and Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Maier Gerrit Steffen , Kolbow Kristina , Lazovic Djordje , Maus Uwe
Published: November 2016

Objective. In patients scheduled to undergo total joint arthroplasty of the hip, the bone quality around the joint affects the safety of prosthetic implantation. Bone strength is clinically assessed by measuring bone mineral density (BMD); therefore we asked if BMD is important to orthopaedic surgeons performing hip arthroplasty. Methods. In a 14-question survey, we asked about treatment patterns with respect to BMD, osteoporosis work-up, and treatment for patients with low BMD scheduled to undergo hip arthroplasty. Results. 72% of all asked orthopaedics reported to use cementless implants as a standard in hip arthroplasty. Over 60% reported that low BMD is a reason to reconsider operation strategies, but only 4% performed BMD measurement preoperatively. 26% would change their treatment strategy in case of a BMD (T-Score) between −1.5 and −2 and 40% in case of a T-score between −2 and −2.5, and 29% would change their intraoperative strategy if a T-score smaller than −2.5 was measured. Conclusion. The majority of orthopaedic surgeons who responded to the survey reported that they do not perform routine measurement of BMD before arthroplasty. However, most surgeons commented that low bone mineral density will influence their surgical plan and the implant design.
Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Invasive Giant Prolactinomas after a Mean Ten-Year Followup
Authors: Wu Ze Rui , Zhang Yong , Cai Lin , Lin Shao Jian , Su Zhi Peng , Wei Yong Xu , Shang Han Bing , Yang Wen Lei , Zhao Wei Guo , Wu Zhe Bao
Published: November 2016

Objective. The aim of this study is to observe clinical outcomes after more than ten years of followup in a group of patients with invasive giant prolactinomas (IGPs) treated with dopamine agonists (DAs).Methods. Twenty-five patients met the criteria of IGPs, among which 16 patients primarily received bromocriptine (BRC) and the other nine had undergone unsuccessful microsurgery prior to BRC treatment.Results. After a mean follow-up period of135.5±4.7months, the clinical symptoms in all patients improved by different degrees. Tumor volume was decreased by a mean of 98.6%, and the tumors of 19 patients had almost completely disappeared. The mean duration of treatment at maximal doses of BRC was 48.5 months. At the last follow-up visit, nineteen patients had normal PRL levels, and 14 of these patients had received the low-dose BRC treatment (at an average of2.9±0.3 mg/d). Younger patients < 25 years had a significantly higher rate of persistent hyperprolactinemia after long-term BRC treatment (p=0.043).Conclusion. DAs are a first-line therapy for IGPs because they can effectively achieve long-term control in both shrinking tumor volume and normalizing the PRL level, and majority of patients need low-dose DA maintenance. Younger patients are prone to persistent hyperprolactinemia despite long-term DA treatment.
Reservoir Cannulas for Pediatric Oxygen Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Wu Grace , Wollen Alec , DiBlasi Robert M. , Himley Stephen , Saxon Eugene , Austin Glenn , Delarosa Jaclyn , Izadnegahdar Rasa , Ginsburg Amy Sarah , Zehrung Darin
Published: November 2016

Hypoxemia is a complication of pneumonia—the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Treatment generally requires oxygen-enriched air, but access in low-resource settings is expensive and unreliable. We explored use of reservoir cannulas (RCs), which yield oxygen savings in adults but have not been examined in children. Toddler, small child, and adolescent breathing profiles were simulated with artificial lung and airway models. An oxygen concentrator provided flow rates of 0 to 5 L/min via a standard nasal cannula (NC) or RC, and delivered oxygen fraction (FdO2) was measured. The oxygen savings ratio (SR) and absolute flow savings (AFS) were calculated, comparing NC and RC. We demonstrated proof-of-concept that pendant RCs could conserve oxygen during pediatric therapy. SR mean and standard deviation were1.1±0.2to1.4±0.4,1.1±0.1to1.7±0.3, and1.3±0.1to2.4±0.3for toddler, small child, and adolescent models, respectively. Maximum AFS observed were0.3±0.3,0.2±0.1, and1.4±0.3 L/min for the same models. RCs have the potential to reduce oxygen consumption during treatment of hypoxemia in children; however, further evaluation of products is needed, followed by clinical analysis in patients.
Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Platelet‐Rich Plasma on the Bone Healing of Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Wei Bo , Huang Chengshuo , Zhao Mingyan , Li Peng , Gao Xiang , Kong Junchao , Niu Yanru , Huang Rui , Quan Juanhua , Wei Jinsong , Chu Jiaqi
Published: November 2016

We evaluated the efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in combination with allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects in an ovariectomized rat model. By day 42 after injury, in vivo microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) imaging revealed that bone defects of control rats and ovariectomized rats treated with PRP and BMSCs were completely repaired, whereas those of ovariectomized rats treated with PRP or BMSCs alone exhibited slower healing. Histological data were consistent with these results. We also assessed changes to bone trabeculae in the proximal tibial growth plate. In ovariectomized rats treated with PRP or with a combination of PRP and BMSCs, the trabecular connectivity densities (Conn.D), bone volume ratios (BV/TV), and numbers (Tb.N) in the defect areas increased significantly from day 7 to day 42. These results indicate that PRP treatment enhances bone microarchitecture in osteoporosis. Moreover, expression levels of osteogenesis‐specific marker genes including RUNX2, OSX, and OPN were significantly upregulated in rats treated with PRP and BMSCs compared to those of other groups. Thus, we conclude that treatment with PRP combined with BMSCs significantly promotes healing of osteoporotic bone defects. This study provides an alternative strategy for the treatment of osteoporotic bone loss.
Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Treatments with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Zhou Xinhua , Cui Guozhen , Tseng Hisa Hui Ling , Lee Simon Ming-Yuen , Leung George Pak Heng , Chan Shun Wan , Kwan Yiu Wa , Hoi Maggie Pui Man
Published: November 2016

The prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease is likely to increase with the global aging population. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is a wide spectrum term used to include a diverse heterogeneous group of cognitive syndromes with vascular factors regardless of the cause of pathogenesis. VCID ranges from mild cognitive impairment to full‐blown dementia with vascular dementia (VaD) as the most severe stage. It is further complexed by the coexistence of other forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent researches in the functions of the neurovascular unit (NVU) suggest that dysfunction of the NVU might be the cause of primary vascular events in the brain that leads to further neurodegeneration. In this review, we have briefly summarized various forms of VCID. There is currently no standard therapy for VCID or dementia. Given the fact that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has gained popularity worldwide, we also reviewed recent scientific and clinical findings on various antidementia TCM for the treatment of VCID, including Salvia miltiorrhiza, Huperzia serrata, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and also TCM formula Sailuotong capsule (SLT) and Fufangdanshen tablets (FFDS).
Fractional Sobolev’s Spaces on Time Scales via Conformable Fractional Calculus and Their Application to a Fractional Differential Equation on Time Scales
Authors: Wang Yanning , Zhou Jianwen , Li Yongkun
Published: November 2016

Using conformable fractional calculus on time scales, we first introduce fractional Sobolev spaces on time scales, characterize them, and define weak conformable fractional derivatives. Second, we prove the equivalence of some norms in the introduced spaces and derive their completeness, reflexivity, uniform convexity, and compactness of some imbeddings, which can be regarded as a novelty item. Then, as an application, we present a recent approach via variational methods and critical point theory to obtain the existence of solutions for ap-Laplacian conformable fractional differential equation boundary value problem on time scaleT:  Tα(Tαup-2Tα(u))(t)=∇F(σ(t),u(σ(t))),Δ-a.e.  t∈a,bTκ2,u(a)-u(b)=0,Tα(u)(a)-Tα(u)(b)=0,whereTα(u)(t)denotes the conformable fractional derivative ofuof orderαatt,σis the forward jump operator,a,b∈T,  0<a1, andF:[0,T]T×RN→R. By establishing a proper variational setting, we obtain three existence results. Finally, we present two examples to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the existence results.