bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Heat and Mass Transfer during the Transport of Nitrogen in Coal Porous Media on Coal Mine Fires
Authors: Shi Bobo , Zhou Fubao
Published: June 2014

The application of liquid nitrogen injection is an important technique in the field of coal mine fire prevention. However, the mechanism of heat and mass transfer of cryogenic nitrogen in the goaf porous medium has not been well accessed. Hence, the implementation of fire prevention engineering of liquid nitrogen roughly relied on an empirical view. According to the research gap in this respect, an experimental study on the heat and mass transfer of liquid nitrogen in coal porous media was proposed. Overall, the main mechanism of liquid nitrogen fire prevention technology in the coal mine is the creation of an inert and cryogenic atmosphere. Cryogenic nitrogen gas vapor cloud, heavier than the air, would cause the phenomenon of “gravity settling” in porous media firstly. The cryogen could be applicable to diverse types of fires, both in the openings and in the enclosures. Implementation of liquid nitrogen open-injection technique in Yangchangwan colliery achieved the goals of fire prevention and air-cooling. Meanwhile, this study can also provide an essential reference for the research on heat and mass transfer in porous media in the field of thermal physics and engineering.
Motivators for Physical Activity among Ambulatory Nursing Home Older Residents
Authors: Chen Yuh-Min , Li Yueh-Ping
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore self-identified motivators for regular physical activity among ambulatory nursing home older residents. A qualitative exploratory design was adopted. Purposive sampling was performed to recruit 18 older residents from two nursing homes in Taiwan. The interview transcripts were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Five motivators of physical activity emerged from the result of analysis: eagerness for returning home, fear of becoming totally dependent, improving mood state, filling empty time, and previously cultivated habit. Research on physical activity from the perspectives of nursing home older residents has been limited. An empirically grounded understanding from this study could provide clues for promoting and supporting lifelong engagement in physical activity among older residents. The motivators reported in this study should be considered when designing physical activity programs. These motivators can be used to encourage, guide, and provide feedback to support older residents in maintaining physical activity.
Mathematical Solvability of a Caputo Fractional Polymer Degradation Model Using Further Generalized Functions
Authors: Doungmo Goufo Emile Franc , Mugisha Stella
Published: June 2014

The continuous fission equation with derivative of fractional order α, describing the polymer
chain degradation, is solved explicitly. We prove that, whether the breakup rate depends on the
size of the chain breaking up or not, the evolution of the polymer sizes distribution is governed
by a combination of higher transcendental functions, namely, Mittag‐Leffler function, the further
generalized G‐function, and the Pochhammer polynomial. In particular, this shows the existence of
an eigenproperty; that is, the system describing fractional polymer chain degradation contains
replicated and partially replicated fractional poles, whose effects are given by these functions.
Clinical Significance of Serum Soluble T Cell Regulatory Molecules in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Masuda Akinori , Arai Kyoko , Nishihara Daisaku , Mizuno Tomoya , Yuki Hideo , Kambara Tsunehito , Betsunoh Hironori , Abe Hideyuki , Yashi Masahiro , Fukabori Yoshitatsu , Yoshida Ken-Ichiro , Kamai Takao
Published: June 2014

To clarify the role of serum soluble T cell regulatory molecules in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), we measured the serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble B7-H3 (sB7-H3), and soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) in 70 CCRCC patients and 35 healthy controls. We investigated correlations between the serum levels of these soluble T cell regulatory molecules and the pathological grade, clinical stage, and prognosis of CCRCC. We also assessed the relations among each of these soluble molecules. As a result, the serum level of sIL-2R was significantly higher in CCRCC patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05). In addition, elevation of serum sIL-2R was significantly correlated with the clinical stage (P<0.001), and the survival of patients with high sIL-2R levels was shorter than that of patients with low sIL-2R levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, the serum level of sB7-H3 was also significantly correlated with the clinical stage (P<0.05), while the sIL-2R and sB7-H3 levels showed a positive correlation with each other (R=0.550,P<0.0001). These results indicate that the serum level of sIL-2R reflects tumor progression in CCRCC patients. In addition, the possibility was suggested that the IL-2/IL-2R and B7-H3 pathways may be involved in the progression of CCRCC.
Nonlinear Dynamical Analysis of Hydraulic Turbine Governing Systems with Nonelastic Water Hammer Effect
Authors: Li Junyi , Chen Qijuan
Published: June 2014

A nonlinear mathematical model for hydroturbine governing system (HTGS) has been proposed. All essential components of HTGS, that is, conduit system, turbine, generator, and hydraulic servo system, are considered in the model. Using the proposed model, the existence and stability of Hopf bifurcation of an example HTGS are investigated. In addition, chaotic characteristics of the system with different system parameters are studied extensively and presented in the form of bifurcation diagrams, time waveforms, phase space trajectories, Lyapunov exponent, chaotic attractors, and Poincare maps. Good correlation can be found between the model predictions and theoretical analysis. The simulation results provide a reasonable explanation for the sustained oscillation phenomenon commonly seen in operation of hydroelectric generating set.
A Semantic-Based Indexing for Indoor Moving Objects
Authors: Ben Tingting , Qin Xiaolin , Wang Ning
Published: June 2014

The increasing availability of indoor positioning, driven by techniques like RFID, Bluetooth, and smart phones, enables a variety of indoor location-based services (LBSs). Efficient queries based on semantic-constraint in indoor spaces play an important role in supporting and boosting LBSs. However, the existing indoor index techniques cannot support these semantic constraints-based queries. To solve this problem, this paper addresses the challenge of indexing moving objects in indoor spaces, in which both the moving objects and the indoor environments include semantic meanings. We present an indoor semantic-based model, which gives the formal description of semantics of indoor cells and moving objects. Then, a new semantic-based index is proposed for indoor environment, which can support queries under semantic constraint. In addition, we develop efficient algorithms for two new queries, which are the nearest neighbor query based on semantic constraints for static indoor cells and moving objects, respectively. The conducted experiment demonstrates that the proposed index structure is effective, robust, and efficient.
Growth and Comprehensive Quality Index of Tomato under Rain Shelters in Response to Different Irrigation and Drainage Treatments
Authors: Shao Guang-cheng , Wang Ming-hui , Liu Na , Yuan Min , Kumar Prem , She Dong-Li
Published: June 2014

The effects of two levels of irrigation water (100%, 60%) and buried underground pipe depths (0.8 m, 0.6 m) under rain shelters’ conditions on yield and some quality parameters of tomato were investigated. A fully randomized factorial experiment was conducted between April and August in 2011 and 2012 at Hohai University. It was found that drainage treatments enhanced biomass production, whereas soil desiccation led to biomass reduction. At 60 cm buried underground pipe depths, the drought treatments increased the mean root weight and root-shoot ratio by 14% and 39%, respectively. The main effects of drainage treatments on the fruit quality were increases in total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugar (SS), and vitamin C (VC) compared to the control. In addition, drainage treatments increased the average yield by 13% and 9%, respectively, in both years. The drought treatments did not significantly alter fruit yield, although mean single fruit weight was slightly reduced. Instead, these treatments tend to have great potential to improve fruit quality (TSS, SS, and VC) to variable extents. In both years, the drought treatment at 60 cm buried underground pipe depths proved to possess the highest comprehensive quality index based on Principal Component Analysis.
Antidiabetic and Antioxidative Effect of Jiang Tang Xiao Ke Granule in High‐Fat Diet and Low‐Dose Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Zhao Dan-Dan , Yu Na , Li Xiao-Ke , Fang Xin , Mu Qian-qian , Qin Pei-Jie , Ma Yue , Mo Fang-Fang , Zhang Dong-Wei , Gao Si-Hua
Published: June 2014

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a kind of metabolic disease, is increasing over the last four decades in the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Jiang Tang Xiao Ke (JTXK) granule, a naturally occurring ingredient from Chinese herbal medicines, on serum glucose, lipids, and oxidative stress in DM rats induced by high‐fat diet and streptozotocin. JTXK granule 9 g/kg (based on crude herb equivalent) and pioglitazone 1.5 mg/kg (as a positive control for comparison) were orally administrated to DM rats for 4 weeks. Results showed that administration of JTXK granule reduced serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels (by 12%, 33%, 57%, and 44%, resp.) but increased high‐density lipoprotein level by 69%, compared with the drug‐untreated DM rats. Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were lowered (by 34% and 52%, resp.) associated with the elevation in serum superoxide dismutase levels (by 60%) after JTXK granule treatment. In addition, JTXK granule suppressed serum alanine aminotransferase activity (up to 50%) and alleviated pathological changes of pancreas and liver tissues in DM rats. The beneficial changes of pioglitazone on biomarkers were also found in DM rats. These findings suggested that JTXK granule may be an alternative medicine for the management of DM.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising from Inverted Schneiderian Papilloma: A Case Report with Oral Involvement
Authors: Garcia Alexandre Simões , Bravo-Calderón Diego Maurício , Ferreira Mariana Pisinato , Oliveira Denise Tostes
Published: June 2014

Inverted Schneiderian papilloma is an uncommon benign tumor that presents tendency to recur and propensity to be associated with malignancy in approximately 10% of the cases. Some of these lesions are isolated in the maxillary sinus, and predominantly affect white males with mean age of 50 years. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from inverted Schneiderian papilloma in the maxillary sinus extending to the mouth. The patient was submitted to extraction of a maxillary molar tooth four months before the exacerbation of the symptoms of nasal airway obstruction and facial enlargement. Computed tomography scan revealed a sinonasal mass causing opacification of the right maxillary sinus with destruction of the lateral nasal wall and maxillary sinus floor. The patient was referred to an oncology center for treatment and died from tumor progression one year after the cancer was diagnosed. The intention of this report is to alert dentists to include the inverted Schneiderian papilloma, either associated with squamous cell carcinoma, or not, in the differential diagnosis of maxillary sinus tumors with aggressive behavior, which may extend to the oral cavity or involve roots of teeth.
An Emergency Packet Forwarding Scheme for V2V Communication Networks
Authors: Hoque Faika , Kwon Sungoh
Published: June 2014

This paper proposes an effective warning message forwarding scheme for cooperative collision avoidance. In an emergency situation, an emergency-detecting vehicle warns the neighbor vehicles via an emergency warning message. Since the transmission range is limited, the warning message is broadcast in a multihop manner. Broadcast packets lead two challenges to forward the warning message in the vehicular network: redundancy of warning messages and competition with nonemergency transmissions. In this paper, we study and address the two major challenges to achieve low latency in delivery of the warning message. To reduce the intervehicle latency and end-to-end latency, which cause chain collisions, we propose a two-way intelligent broadcasting method with an adaptable distance-dependent backoff algorithm. Considering locations of vehicles, the proposed algorithm controls the broadcast of a warning message to reduce redundant EWM messages and adaptively chooses the contention window to compete with nonemergency transmission. Via simulations, we show that our proposed algorithm reduces the probability of rear-end crashes by 70% compared to previous algorithms by reducing the intervehicle delay. We also show that the end-to-end propagation delay of the warning message is reduced by 55%.
Prevalence of Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis and Associated Risk Factors in Japanese Patients
Authors: Uchida Toyoyoshi , Kasai Takatoshi , Takagi Atsutoshi , Sekita Gaku , Komiya Koji , Takeno Kageumi , Shigihara Nayumi , Shimada Kazunori , Miyauchi Katsumi , Fujitani Yoshio , Daida Hiroyuki , Watada Hirotaka
Published: June 2014

Amiodarone is a widely used agent for life-threatening arrhythmias. Although amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is a major adverse effect that can cause recurrence of arrhythmias and exacerbation of heart failure, risk factors for AIT among amiodarone-treated Japanese patients have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the prevalence and predictive factors for AIT. The study subjects were 225 patients treated with amiodarone between 2008 and 2012, who were euthyroid before amiodarone therapy. All patients with AIT were diagnosed by measurement of thyroid hormones and ultrasonography. Among the 225 subjects, 13 patients (5.8%) developed AIT and all the patients were classified as Type 2 AIT. Baseline features of patients with AIT were not different from those who did not develop AIT, except for age (AIT, 55.1 ± 13.8, non-AIT, 68.1 ± 12.0 years,P<0.001). Multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model identified age as the sole determinant of AIT (hazard ratio: 0.927, 95% confidence interval: 0.891–0.964). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified age of 63.5 years as the cutoff value for AIT with sensitivity of 70.3% and specificity of 69.2%. In summary, this study showed that the prevalence of AIT is 5.8% in Japanese patients treated with amiodarone and that young age is a risk factor for AIT.
Investigation of Cytotoxicity of Phosphoryl Choline Modified Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes under a Live Cell Station
Authors: Zhao Yufeng , Mao Qunlong , Liu Yu , Zhang Yan , Zhang Tao , Jiang Zhengsheng
Published: June 2014

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and various modified SWCNTs have drawn a lot of attention due to their potential applications in biomedical field. Before further moving on to real clinical applications, hydrophobicity and toxicity of SWCNTs should be investigated thoroughly. In this paper, 2-methacryloyloxy ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was adopted to modify SWCNTs and phosphoryl choline was grafted onto SWCNTs as small molecule moieties and polymeric chains, which made SWCNTs dispersed stably both in water and in cell culture medium for a long time. Cytotoxicity of pristine and modified SWCNTs were assayed upon successful preparation of the designed modified SWCNT. Furthermore, the internalization of SWCNTs by three cells was investigated using a live cell station under normal culture temperature (37°C) and low temperature (4°C). The results showed that the internalization of modified SWCNTs was related to both the active transport and the passive transport. Although the modification with phosphoryl choline remarkably reduced the cytotoxicity of SWCNTs, the results were probably due to other reasons such as the decrease in the ratio of cells which internalized modified SWCNTs since the cells without SWCNTs occupation still exhibited normal states.
Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production: Combine Effluent Treatment with Energy Generation in UASB Reactor as Biorefinery Annex
Authors: Berni Mauro , Dorileo Ivo , Nathia Grazielle , Forster-Carneiro Tânia , Lachos Daniel , Santos Breno G. M.
Published: June 2014

The issue of residues and industrial effluents represents an unprecedented environmental challenge in terms of recovery, storage, and treatment. This work discusses the perspectives of treating effluents through anaerobic digestion as well as reporting the experience of using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor as biorefinery annex in a pulp and paper industrial plant to be burned in the boilers. The performance of the reactors has shown to be stable under considerable variations in load and showed a significant potential in terms of biogas production. The reactors UASB treated 3600.00 m3of effluent daily from a production of 150.00 tons. The biogas generation was 234.000 kg/year/mill, equivalent in combustible oil. The results of methane gas generated by the anaerobic system UASB (8846.00 kcal/m3) dislocate the equivalent of 650.0 kg of combustible oil (10000.00 kcal/kg) per day (or 234.000 kg/year). The production of 8846.00 Kcal/m3of energy from biogas can make a run at industrial plant for 2 hours. This substitution can save US$ 128.700 annually (or US$ 550.0 of fuel oil/tons). The companies are invested in the use of the biogas in diesel stationary motors cycle that feed the boilers with water in case of storage electricity.
Dosimetric Coverage of the External Anal Sphincter by 3-Dimensional Conformal Fields in Rectal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: Implications for the Concept of Sphincter-Preserving Radiation Therapy
Authors: Chen Yi-Jen , Chen Michelle B. , Liu Alan J. , Sanchez Julian , Tsai Peter , Liu An
Published: June 2014

Background. We evaluated the anatomic location of the external anal sphincter (EAS) to pelvic bony landmarks related to 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT) and studied the dosimetric coverage of the EAS in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer.Methods. Sixty-four consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation were included. All patients were treated in a prone position on a bellyboard by 3DRT. The inferior border of the RT fields was at least 3–5 cm inferior to the gross tumorous volume (GTV) or at the inferior border of the obturator foramen (IBOF), whichever was more inferior. The EAS was contoured and dose distributions were determined using dose-volume histograms.Results. In 53 out of 64 cases (82.8%), the EAS was completely inferior to the IBOF. In the remaining 11 cases, the EAS was either overlapping the IBOF (10 cases; 15.6%) or completely superior to the IBOF (1 case; 1.7%). The average mean dose delivered to the EAS was 2795 cGy. Lower mean doses were delivered to the EAS when the center of the EAS was located more distant from the GTV.Conclusions. Meticulous planning to define the inferior border of the RT field is recommended to avoid irradiating the EAS.
Chaotic Dynamic Analysis of Aquatic Phytoplankton System
Authors: Wang C. C. , Liu C. C.
Published: June 2014

This study analyzed the effect of nonlinear dynamic parameter of phytoplankton toxin emission on the system. Many previous studies have indicated that the zooplankton, mollusks, and habitat factors generate nonlinear chaotic dynamic behavior, which is hardly controlled random behavior. Therefore, in order to understand in what parameter conditions the system has this nonlinear behavior, the linear and nonlinear behaviors resulting from different conditions are discussed. This study used numerical analysis of differential transformation method to analyze the phase of system and applied bifurcation diagrams, trajectory diagrams, Poincaré maps, and spectrograms to discuss and validate whether the system has chaos phenomenon.
Optimal Application Timing of Pest Control Tactics in Nonautonomous Pest Growth Model
Authors: Zhang Shujuan , Liang Juhua , Tang Sanyi
Published: June 2014

Considering the effects of the living environment on growth of populations, it is unrealistic to assume that the growth rates of predator and prey are all constants in the models with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Therefore, a nonautonomous predator-prey system with impulsive effect is developed and investigated in the present work. In order to determine the optimal application timing of IPM tactics, the threshold value which guarantees the stability of pest-free periodic solution has been obtained firstly. The analytical formula of optimal application timings within a given period for different cases has been obtained such that the threshold value is the smallest, which is the most effective in successful pest control. Moreover, extensively numerical investigations have also been confirmed our main results and the biological implications have been discussed in more detail. The main results can guide the farmer to design the optimal pest control strategies.
General Description of Nonnegative Waveforms up to Second Harmonic for Power Amplifier Modelling
Authors: Juhas Anamarija , Novak Ladislav A.
Published: June 2014

General description of nonnegative waveforms up to second harmonic in terms of independent (unconstrained) parameters is provided. Three important subclasses of the class of nonnegative waveforms are also fully characterised: nonnegative waveforms with maximal amplitude of fundamental harmonic for prescribed amplitude of second harmonic, nonnegative waveforms with maximal coefficient of cosine part of fundamental harmonic for prescribed coefficients of second harmonic, and nonnegative waveforms with at least one zero. We prove that members of the first two subclasses have at least one zero; that is, they also belong to the third subclass. Nonnegative cosine waveforms up to second harmonic are also considered and characterised. A number of case studies of practical interest for power amplifier (PA) design, involving nonnegative waveforms up to second harmonic, are also considered.
Humidification during Mechanical Ventilation in the Adult Patient
Authors: Al Ashry Haitham S. , Modrykamien Ariel M.
Published: June 2014

Humidification of inhaled gases has been standard of care in mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. More than a century ago, a variety of reports described important airway damage by applying dry gases during artificial ventilation. Consequently, respiratory care providers have been utilizing external humidifiers to compensate for the lack of natural humidification mechanisms when the upper airway is bypassed. Particularly, active and passive humidification devices have rapidly evolved. Sophisticated systems composed of reservoirs, wires, heating devices, and other elements have become part of our usual armamentarium in the intensive care unit. Therefore, basic knowledge of the mechanisms of action of each of these devices, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, becomes a necessity for the respiratory care and intensive care practitioner. In this paper, we review current methods of airway humidification during invasive mechanical ventilation of adult patients. We describe a variety of devices and describe the eventual applications according to specific clinical conditions.
The Effect of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on the Pancreas and Macroangiopathy in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Rats
Authors: Huang Shan , Peng Wenfang , Jiang Xiaohong , Shao Kan , Xia Lili , Tang Yubin , Qiu Jiayin
Published: June 2014

Purpose. The aim was to explore the effect of the chromium picolinate (CrPic) administration on the pancreas and macroangiopathy of type II diabetes mellitus rats.Methods. The type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model was induced by low-dose streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (ten rats in each group). After supplementing CrPic for 15 weeks, the histopathological examination was performed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Serum insulin and NO level were determined by radioimmunoassay and colorimetry, respectively. Serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), adiponectin (APN), advanced glycation end products (AGES), and apelin were measured by ELISA. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied for detecting the mRNA expression ofAPNandapelin.Results. After CrPic treatment, compared with the T2DM control group (group 2), pancreas sections stained with HE showed the completed pancreatic cells structure and no inflammatory infiltration in groups 4 and 5. In addition, the levels of serum NO and insulin were significantly increased and the serum levels of HbA1C, AGES, APN, and apelin were significantly decreased in groups 4 and 5 compared with group 2. The mRNA expression ofAPNandapelinin groups 4 and 5 was also recovered to the normal level.Conclusion. CrPic can recover the function ofΒ-cells and alleviate macroangiopathy in STZ-induced T2DM rats.
Acute Peripheral Facial Palsy after Chickenpox: A Rare Association
Authors: Ferreira Helena , Dias Ângela , Lopes Andreia
Published: June 2014

Chickenpox, resulting from primary infection by the varicella-zoster virus, is an exanthematous disease very common during childhood and with good prognosis. However, serious complications, namely, neurological syndromes, may develop during its course, especially in risk groups, including adolescents. Peripheral facial palsy is a rare neurologic complication that has been previously described.Conclusion. We report the case of a teenager with peripheral facial palsy as a complication of chickenpox, aiming to increase the awareness of this rare association.
Hepatic Stellate Cell Coculture Enables Sorafenib Resistance in Huh7 Cells through HGF/c-Met/Akt and Jak2/Stat3 Pathways
Authors: Chen Weibo , Wu Junhua , Shi Hua , Wang Zhongxia , Zhang Guang , Cao Yin , Jiang Chunping , Ding Yitao
Published: June 2014

Purpose. Tumor microenvironment confers drug resistance to kinase inhibitors by increasing RKT ligand levels that result in the activation of cell-survival signaling including PI3K and MAPK signals. We assessed whether HSC-LX2 coculture conferred sorafenib resistance in Huh7 and revealed the mechanism underlying the drug resistance.Experimental Design. The effect of LX2 on sorafenib resistance was determined by coculture system with Huh7 cells. The rescue function of LX2 supernatants was assessed by MTT assay and fluorescence microscopy. The underlying mechanism was tested by administration of pathway inhibitors and manifested by Western blotting.Results. LX2 coculture significantly induced sorafenib resistance in Huh7 by activating p-Akt that led to reactivation of p-ERK. LX2 secreted HGF into the culture medium that triggered drug resistance, and exogenous HGF could also induce sorafenib resistance. The inhibition of p-Akt blocked sorafenib resistance caused by LX2 coculture. Increased phosphorylation of Jak2 and Stat3 was also detected in LX2 cocultured Huh7 cells. The Jak inhibitor tofacitinib reversed sorafenib resistance by blocking Jak2 and Stat3 activation. The combined administration of sorafenib and p-Stat3 inhibitor S3I-201 augmented induced apoptosis even in the presence of sorafenib resistance.Conclusions. HSC-LX2 coculture induced sorafenib resistance in Huh7 through multiple pathways: HGF/c-Met/Akt pathway and Jak2/Stat3 pathway. A combined administration of sorafenib and S3I-201 was able to augment sorafenib-induced apoptosis even in the presence of LX2 coculture.
P-Selectin: An Unpredicted Factor for Deep Vein Thrombosis after Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Shi Dongquan , Xu Xingquan , Xu Zhihong , Nakamura Takahiro , Pang Yong , Yao Chen , Wang Feng , Chen Dongyang , Dai Jin , Jiang Qing
Published: June 2014

Introduction. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a severe complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). It leads to acute pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening disease. P-selectin is a 140-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein. Elevated P-selectin was associated with 1.7-fold increase in the risk of venous thrombosis.Materials and Methods. To confirm the association, a total of 91 subjects who received primary total hip arthroplasty using lateral approach performed by one skilled orthopedic surgeon were studied. All the patients were consecutively enrolled at the Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Joint Diseases, Drum Tower Hospital affiliated to the Medical School of Nanjing University from 2010 to 2012. All the subjects received venography 3–5 days after operation. We measured P-selectin by means of a highly sensitive sandwich ELISA technique and a commercially available test reagent set.Results. No significant association was detected between P-selectin and DVT (allP  values>0.05). ΔsP-selectin was correlated with weight, APTT after operation, history of DVT, and diagnosis of primary disease (Pvalues were 0.03, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.02, resp.).Conclusion. P-selectin may not be a predicted factor for deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty.
OsSLI1, a Homeodomain Containing Transcription Activator, Involves Abscisic Acid Related Stress Response in Rice (Oryza sativaL.)
Authors: Huang Xi , Duan Min , Liao Jiakai , Yuan Xi , Chen Hui , Feng Jiejie , Huang Ji , Zhang Hong-Sheng
Published: June 2014

Homeodomain-leucine zipper type I (HD-Zip I) proteins are involved in the regulation of plant development and response to environmental stresses. In this study,OsSLI1(Oryza sativa stress largely induced 1), encoding a member of the HD-Zip I subfamily, was isolated from rice. The expression ofOsSLI1was dramatically induced by multiple abiotic stresses and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA).In silicosequence analysis discovered severalcis-acting elements including multiple ABREs (ABA-responsive element binding factors) in the upstream promoter region ofOsSLI1. The OsSLI1-GFP fusion protein was localized in the nucleus of rice protoplast cells and the transcriptional activity of OsSLI1 was confirmed by the yeast hybrid system. Further, it was found thatOsSLI1expression was enhanced in anABI5-Like1(ABL1) deficiency rice mutantabl1under stress conditions, suggesting that ABL1 probably negatively regulatesOsSLI1gene expression. Moreover, it was found thatOsSLI1was regulated in panicle development. Taken together,OsSLI1may be a transcriptional activator regulating stress-responsive gene expression and panicle development in rice.
Gradual Reliability Sensitivity Analysis of Mechanical Part Considering Preventive Maintenance
Authors: Changyou Li , Haiyang Liu , Song Guo , Yimin Zhang , Zhenyuan Li
Published: June 2014

A lot of mechanical parts are subject to failure due to the deterioration. Usually the preventive maintenance is taken to ensure the safety and reliability. Therefore, it is very important to study the gradual reliability design of the mechanical part for improving the gradual reliability of the mechanical system under the condition of considering the preventive maintenance. Beta distribution is employed to describe the randomness of the mechanical part state after the preventive maintenance. The deterioration process of the mechanical part is modeled using the nonstationary Gamma process. The gradual reliability model before the first preventive maintenance is proposed according to the gradual failure principle and using the initial state distribution and the properties of Gamma process. Then, the gradual reliability model between any two times of preventive maintenance is also derived. Subsequently, the sensitivity equations of the proposed gradual reliability model to each parameter are given. The application process and practicality of the proposed approach are described by a numerical example. This work solved the problem where the maintenance has not been well considered in the reliability design of the mechanical part and contributed to the theory and method of improving the safety and reliability operation of the mechanical system.
Morphometric Approach to Pulp Fibroblast Development in Tooth Germ
Authors: Căruntu Irina-Draga , Săvinescu Sergiu Daniel , Amălinei Cornelia
Published: June 2014

This paper builds a morphometric framework for the analysis of dental pulp fibroblast evolution during tooth development. We investigated 15 tooth germs (cases) organized, by histological criteria, in three groups corresponding to cap, early bell, and late bell stages, respectively. Each group comprised five cases. The morphometric description used the following parameters: areaA, perimeterP—automatically extracted by a color segmentation technique, and form factor (FF)—calculated as4πA/P2. The designed framework operated at inter- and intragroup levels. The intergroup analysis quantified the differences between groups, in the sense of a relative distance (RD) adequately defined by mean-value scaling. We showed that the stage of early bell is approximately 5 times closer to late bell than to cap. The quantification procedure required concomitant information aboutA,Pparameters (asP versus Adependences, orFFvalues), whereas the procedure failed forAorPseparately used. The intragroup analysis quantified the similarity of the cases belonging to the same stage. We proved that, unlike the intergroup tests, the individual exploitation of all three descriptorsA,P, andFFis effective, yielding highly compatible results. Within any group, most cases presented RDs less than 10% from the group mean value, regardless of the descriptor type.
Slit Wall Effect on the Stability of Wavy Vortex Flow
Authors: Liu Dong , Wang Ying-ze , Kim Hyoung-Bum , Zhu Fang-neng , Wang Chun-lin
Published: June 2014

The wavy vortex flow in the plain model was studied by experimental measurement; the preliminary feature of wavy vortex flow was obtained. This flow field in the plain model was also studied by numerical simulation. The reliability of numerical simulation was verified by comparing with the experimental and numerical simulation results. To study the slit wall effect on the wavy vortex flow regime, another two models with different slit number were considered; the slit number was 6 and 12. By comparing the wavy vortex flow field in different models, the axial fluctuation of Taylor vortices was found to be different, which was increased with the increasing of slit number. The maximum radial velocity from the inner cylinder to the outer one in the 6-slit number was increased by 12.7% compared to that of plain model. From the results of different circumferential position in the same slit model, it can be found that the maximum radial velocity in slit plane is significantly greater than that in other planes. The size of Taylor vortices in different models was also calculated, which was found to be increased in the 6-slit model but was not changed as the slit number increased further.
Alcohol Drinking Patterns and Differences in Alcohol-Related Harm: A Population-Based Study of the United States
Authors: Antai D. , Lopez G. B. , Antai J. , Anthony D. S.
Published: June 2014

Alcohol use and associated alcohol-related harm (ARH) are a prevalent and important public health problem, with alcohol representing about 4% of the global burden of disease. A discussion of ARH secondary to alcohol consumption necessitates a consideration of the amount of alcohol consumed and the drinking pattern. This study examined the association between alcohol drinking patterns and self-reported ARH. Pearson chi-square testχ2and logistic regression analyses were used on data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). The NCS-R is a cross-sectional nationally representative sample. Data was obtained by face-to-face interviews from 9282 adults aged ≥18 years in the full sample, and 5,692 respondents in a subsample of the full sample. Results presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Alcohol drinking patterns (frequency of drinking, and drinks per occasion) were associated with increased risks of self-reported ARH; binge or “risky” drinking was strongly predictive of ARH than other categories of drinks per occasion or frequency of drinking; and men had significantly higher likelihood of ARH in relation to frequency of drinking and drinks per occasion. Findings provide evidence for public health practitioners to target alcohol prevention strategies at the entire population of drinkers.
Primary Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Paranasal Sinuses
Authors: Khan Maliha , Nizami Sobia , Mirrakhimov Aibek E. , Maughan Benjamin , Bishop Justin A. , Sharfman William H.
Published: June 2014

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses is an extremely rare and aggressive neoplasm. Despite aggressive management, the tumor carries a poor prognosis, with a high risk of local recurrence or distant metastases. The management strategy is based on that for pulmonary small cell cancer and includes platinum-based chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. We are reporting a case of an 89-year-old female patient diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of right-sided ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. The tumor was found to have invaded the right orbit and anterior cranial fossa. Metastases to cervical lymph nodes and bone were also found. Due to the extended stage and poor prognosis of the patient, the management plan is palliative chemoradiotherapy.
Combined Tractional and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in the Anti-VEGF Era
Authors: Hsu Ya-Jui , Hsieh Yi-Ting , Yeh Po-Ting , Huang Jehn-Yu , Yang Chung-May
Published: June 2014

Purpose. To investigate the clinical features, surgical outcomes, and prognostic factors of combined rhegmatogenous and tractional detachment (combined RD) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in recent years.Methods. Medical records of PDR and combined RD treated with vitrectomy from 2008 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.Results. A total of 57 eyes from 49 patients were included. Nine eyes had received panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and 7 eyes had intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) within 3 months before RD developed. Thirty-eight eyes (66.7%) had ≧3 sites of broad adhesion of fibrovascular proliferation (FVP). Thirty-three eyes (57.9%) showed active FVP. Thirty-four eyes (59.6%) had extent of RD involving 3 or 4 quadrants. The primary reattachment rate was 93.0%, and the final visual acuity (VA) improved by more than 3 lines in 80.7% of eyes. Neovascular glaucoma occurred in 4 eyes postoperatively. Poor preoperative VA, severe vitreoretinal adhesion, and broad extent of RD had significant correlation with poor visual outcomes.Conclusion. PRP or IVB might play a role in provoking combined RD. The anatomical and functional success rates of surgery were high. Poor preoperative VA and severe proliferations predicted poor visual outcomes.
Impact of High Temperature on the Compressive Strength of ECC
Authors: Shang Xingyan , Lu Zhoudao
Published: June 2014

The influence of different cooling regimes (quenching in water and cooling in air) on the residual mechanical properties of ECC (engineered cementitious composites) exposed to high temperature up to 800°C was discussed in this paper. The specimens quenching in water gained better mechanical properties than the ones cooling in air. The strengthening effect of quenching for specimens subjected to 800°C was more significant than for the ones subjected to 400°C. The microstructural characterization is examined before and after exposure to fire deterioration by using scanning electron microscopy. Results from the microtest well explained the mechanical properties variation of postfire specimens.
Virtual Reality Aided Positioning of Mobile C-Arms for Image-Guided Surgery
Authors: Shao Zhenzhou , Guan Yong , Tan Jindong
Published: June 2014

For the image-guided surgery, the positioning of mobile C-arms is a key technique to take X-ray images in a desired pose for the confirmation of current surgical outcome. Unfortunately, surgeons and patient often suffer the radiation exposure due to the repeated imaging when the X-ray image is of poor quality or not captured at a good projection view. In this paper, a virtual reality (VR) aided positioning method for the mobile C-arm is proposed by the alignment of 3D surface model of region of interest and preoperative anatomy, so that a reference pose of the mobile C-arm with respect to the inside anatomy can be figured out from outside view. It allows a one-time imaging from the outside view to greatly reduce the additional radiation exposure. To control the mobile C-arm to the desired pose, the mobile C-arm is modeled as a robotic arm with a movable base. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of appearance model and precision of mobile C-arm positioning. The appearance model was reconstructed with the average error of 2.16 mm. One-time imaging of mobile C-arm was achieved, and new modeling of mobile C-arm with 8 DoFs enlarges the working space in the operating room.
Multiphase CFD Simulation of Solid Propellant Combustion in a Small Gun Chamber
Authors: Bougamra Ahmed , Lu Huilin
Published: June 2014

The interior ballistics simulations in 9 mm small gun chamber were conducted by implementing the process into the mixture multiphase model of Fluent V6.3 platform. The pressure of the combustion chamber, the velocity, and the travel of the projectile were investigated. The performance of the process, namely, the maximum pressure, the muzzle velocity, and the duration of the process was assessed. The calculation method is validated by the comparison of the numerical simulations results in the small gun with practical tests, and with lumped-parameter model results. In the current numerical study, both the characteristics and the performance of the interior ballistic process were reasonably predicted compared with the practical tests results. The impact of the weight charge on the interior ballistic performances was investigated. It has been found that the maximum pressure and the muzzle velocity increase with the increase of the charge weight.
Unintended Avulsion of Hypertrophic Adenoids in Posterior Nasopharynx: A Case Report of a Rare Complication Caused by Nasotracheal Intubation
Authors: Chen Hao-Hu , Chen Li-Chuan , Hsieh Yu-Hui , Chen Mao-Kai , Chen Chung-Ho , Cheng Kuang-I
Published: June 2014

The enlarged adenoid serves as a mechanical obstacle on the nasopharynx to intricate nasotracheal intubation. No matter what video or direct laryngoscopic techniques are applied, nasotracheal tube navigation from the nasal valve area through the nasal cavity to the nasopharynx is always blind; trauma is not uncommon. Here we report a case of unintended avulsed adenoids that plugged the tube tip while the nasotracheal tube blindly navigated through the nasopharyngeal space. After failing to insert a bent tip of gum elastic bougie passing through the nasopharynx, an alternative method of NTI was performed by mounting the nasotracheal tube on a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The nasotracheal tube was successfully railroaded along the insertion tube of the fiberscope to the trachea.
Crosstalk between Glioma-Initiating Cells and Endothelial Cells Drives Tumor Progression
Authors: Jeon Hye-Min , Kim Sung-Hak , Jin Xun , Park Jong Bae , Kim Se Hoon , Joshi Kaushal , Nakano Ichiro , Kim Hyunggee
Published: June 2014

Glioma-initiating cells (GIC), which reside within the perivascular microenvironment to maintain self-renewal capacity, are responsible for glioblastoma initiation, progression, and recurrence. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling crosstalk between GICs and endothelial cells are poorly understood. Here, we report that, in both GICs and endothelial cells, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)–driven activation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase increases NO-dependent inhibitor of differentiation 4 (ID4) expression, which in turn promotes JAGGED1–NOTCH activity through suppression of miR129 that specifically represses JAGGED1 suppression. This signaling axis promotes tumor progression along with increased GIC self-renewal and growth of tumor vasculature in the xenograft tumors, which is dramatically suppressed by NOTCH inhibitor. ID4 levels correlate positively with NOS2 (NO synthase-2), HES1, and HEY1 and negatively with miR129 in primary GICs. Thus, targeting the PDGF–NOS–ID4–miR129 axis and NOTCH activity in the perivascular microenvironment might serve as an efficacious therapeutic modality for glioblastoma. Cancer Res; 74(16); 4482–92. ©2014 AACR.
Allergic Diseases and Risk of Hematopoietic Malignancies in a Cohort of Postmenopausal Women: A Report from the Iowa Women's Health Study
Authors: Linabery Amy M. , Prizment Anna E. , Anderson Kristin E. , Cerhan James R. , Poynter Jenny N. , Ross Julie A.
Published: June 2014

Background: Allergic diseases signify immune dysregulation attributable to underlying genetics and environmental exposures. Associations between various allergies and hematopoietic cancers have been observed, albeit inconsistently; however, few prospective studies have examined the risk, and even fewer among older adults.

Methods: We examined risk of incident hematopoietic cancers in those reporting allergic diseases in a population-based cohort of 22,601 older women (Iowa Women's Health Study). Self-reported allergic status, including asthma, hay fever, eczema, and/or other allergies, was determined via questionnaire in 1997 (mean age, 72 years; range, 63–81 years). Incident cancers were ascertained by linkage with the Iowa Cancer Registry from 1997 to 2011. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to estimate multivariate-adjusted HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for myeloid (N = 177) and lymphoid (N = 437) malignancies, respectively.

Results: Allergic diseases were not associated with risk of myeloid (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.72–1.37) or lymphoid (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.81–1.22) malignancies overall, or for most allergic and malignant subtypes examined. Self-reported asthma was positively associated with development of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.93–4.32). In addition, there was a 30% to 40% decrease in risk of both lymphoid and myeloid cancers in those reporting rural residences but no association in those reporting urban residences; the interaction between residence and allergy was statistically significant for lymphoid malignancies (Pinteraction = 0.05).

Conclusions and Impact: These results suggest that asthma may contribute to the pathogenesis of MDS, a finding consistent with the chronic antigen stimulation hypothesis. Susceptibility differences by location of residence are concordant with the hygiene hypothesis and merit additional exploration. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(9); 1903–12. ©2014 AACR.