bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical nuances of clipping a middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm
Authors: Kalakoti Piyush , Bir Shyamal C. , Murray Richard D. , Ahmed Osama , Nanda Anil
Published: July 2015

Broad-necked middle cerebral artery aneurysms present unique challenges for the vascular neurosurgeon, who must contend with smaller vessels and often a complex clipping strategy. Due to their superficial location, these lesions are still commonly selected for microsurgical clipping. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with significant vascular disease with a right middle cerebral artery aneurysm. We discuss the key surgical steps, demonstrate the microsurgical dissection and intraoperative rupture encountered and the final clipping strategy, as well as the postoperative course in this operative video presentation.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/qZ2gvqz7XdQ.
Ophthalmic artery aneurysm treated by surgical clipping and balloon-assisted temporary carotid occlusion
Authors: Dehdashti Amir R.
Published: July 2015

A 29-year-old woman is diagnosed with a large broad-base right ophthalmic artery aneurysm. Despite an intact visual field, she complained of mild right visual blurriness. Between endovascular and surgical treatments, surgery was favored due to her young age. It was decided to perform the surgery with simultaneous endovascular temporary carotid balloon occlusion. A right pterional craniotomy and intradural anterior clinoidectomy were performed, the balloon was positioned in the petrous carotid, and the distal durai ring was opened exposing the proximal neck. Under temporary proximal carotid balloon occlusion and distal carotid clip occlusion, the aneurysm was fully dissected and clipped. Intraoperative angiogram confirmed complete aneurysm occlusion and patency of the ophthalmic artery. The patient's neurological exam remained unchanged.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/BIQKTl9bDqA.
Far-lateral transcondylar approach for microsurgical trapping of an anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm
Authors: Caplan Justin M. , Jusue-Torres Ignacio , Kim Jennifer E. , Luksik Andrew , Liauw Jason , Gottschalk Allan , Tamargo Rafael J.
Published: July 2015

Aneurysms of the posterior circulation remain challenging lesions given their proximity to the brainstem and cranial nerves. Many of these aneurysms may best be approached through a retrosigmoid-suboccipital craniectomy with a far-lateral transcondylar extension. In this narrated video illustration, we present the case of a 37-year-old man with an incidentally discovered right-sided anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) aneurysm. Diagnostic studies included CT angiography and cerebral angiography. A suboccipital craniectomy and far-lateral transcondylar extension were performed for microsurgical trapping and excision of the AICA aneurysm. The techniques of the retrosigmoid craniectomy, C-1 laminectomy, condylectomy and microsurgical trapping of the aneurysm are reviewed.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/JiM3CXVwXnk.
Cranio-orbito-zygomatic approach for a previously coiled/recurrent giant MCA aneurysm in a hybrid angio/OR suite
Authors: Arko Leopold , Quach Eric , Sukul Vishad , Desai Anuj , Gassie Kelly , Erkmen Kadir
Published: July 2015

We present surgical clipping of a giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm. The patient is a 64-year-old woman who suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2005. She was treated with coiling of the aneurysm at an outside institution. She presented to our clinic with headaches and was found on angiography to have giant recurrence of the aneurysm. To allow adequate exposure for clipping, we performed the surgery through a cranio-orbito-zygomatic (COZ) skull base approach, which is demonstrated. The surgery was performed in an operating room/angiography hybrid suite allowing for high quality intraoperative angiography. The technique and room flow are also demonstrated.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/eePcyOMi85M.
Microsurgical technique of symptomatic intracavernous aneurysm
Authors: Liao Chih-Hsiang , Lin Chun-Fu , Hsu Sanford PC. , Chen Min-Hsiung , Shih Yang-Hsin
Published: July 2015

Symptomatic intracavernous aneurysm is rare. Cranial nerves in the cavernous sinus are subjected to the mass effect of an expanding aneurysm. Microsurgical clipping is the treatment of choice to relieve compressive cranial neuropathy. In this video, the authors present a case of intracavernous aneurysm causing diplopia, ptosis, and facial numbness. The patient was operated on via a pretemporal transclinoid-transcavernous approach. The aneurysm was completely obliterated through direct clipping. There were no new-onset neurologic deficits and complications after the operation. Complete recovery of the diplopia, ptosis, and facial numbness was observed at the 6-month postoperative follow up.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/4w5QUoNIAQM.
Microsurgical clipping of a giant vertebrobasilar junction aneurysm under hypothermic circulatory arrest
Authors: Cıkla Ulas , Uluç Kutluay , Baskaya Mustafa K.
Published: July 2015

Giant posterior circulation aneurysms pose a significant challenge to neurovascular surgeons. Among various treatment methods that have been applied individually or in combination, clipping under hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) is rarely used. We present a 62-year-old man who initially underwent coil occlusion of the right vertebral artery (VA) for a 2.5 cm giant vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) aneurysm. His neurological condition had declined gradually and the aneurysm grew to 4 cm in size. The patient underwent clip reconstruction of giant VBJ aneurysm under HCA. His postoperative course was prolonged due to his preexisting neurological deficits. His preoperative Modified Rankin Score was 5, and improved postoperatively to 3 at three and six months, and to 2 at one year.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/L53SiLV8eJY.
ICA aneurysm surgically treated utilizing a choroidal to PCOM bypass and vein bypass
Authors: Patel Nirav J. , Morgan Michael K.
Published: July 2015

This video shows the surgical repair of a 2.3 cm ICA aneurysm found in a 58-year-old woman, who presented for right eye vision changes. The patient underwent a right modified orbitozygomatic craniotomy and saphenous vein bypass from the common carotid to the temporal M2. The aneurysm was then opened and repaired. However, since the anterior choroidal artery was not filling, a salvage bypass between the anterior choroidal and the PCOM was done. Both bypasses were patent and the patient has done well with a mRS of 1 for vision symptoms.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/ciMyzfXgo8I.
Clipping of posteriorly projecting large posterior communicating aneurysm via transsylvian anterior temporal approach
Authors: Yamamoto Junichi
Published: July 2015

Clipping of a posterior projecting large posterior communicating aneurysm via transsylvian anterior temporal approach is presented. To expose and clip this large aneurysm, retraction of the temporal lobe is required via the conventional pterional approach. In this video, we demonstrate microsurgical techniques as to how to dissect and mobilize the sylvian veins as well as a bridging vein to the sphenoparietal sinus, and the middle cerebral artery branches to the frontal lobe side. After the microsurgical dissection, a wide anteriolateral temporal space is obtained without significant temporal lobe retraction. The aneurysm was completely obliterated via this approach.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/vU9Nxm7Yn-A.
Microsurgical confirmation of perforating arteries arising from the fundus of a posterior communicating artery aneurysm
Authors: Reynolds Matthew R. , Roland Jarod L. , Kamath Ashwin A. , Cross DeWitte T. , Dacey Ralph G.
Published: July 2015

Perforating arteries rarely project from the fundus of an aneurysm. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman who was found to have a right posterior communicating artery (PCOM) aneurysm via catheter angiography. Superselective microcatheter angiography revealed that perforating arteries arose from the aneurysm fundus that supplied the anterolateral thalamus. Microsurgical exploration confirmed several small perforating arteries arising from the aneurysm dome as well as an atretic distal PCOM artery. Given the complex anatomy, the lesion was unsuitable for clipping. We propose that this aneurysm represents a developmental variant whereby the proximal PCOM artery becomes atretic and terminates in PCOM perforators.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/iDcp9fsDjq4.
“Picket Fence” clipping technique for large and complex aneurysms
Authors: Davies Jason M. , Lawton Michael T.
Published: July 2015

The “picket fence” clipping technique is a method for clipping large aneurysms when conventional clipping across the neck is not feasible, either due to complex anatomy, atherosclerosis, calcification, or compromise of branch origins. This has also been described as a dome fenestration tube. Parallel straight clips, simple and/or fenestrated, are stacked vertically from dome to neck with the tips reconstructing the neck. In this video, the “picket fence” clipping technique is demonstrated on a large middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm. A total of 14 clips reconstructed the neck, completely occluding the aneurysm and preserving outflow in all branch vessels.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/0N5rYR6Op8Y.
Microsurgical management of a large ICA bifurcation aneurysm
Authors: Rangel-Castilla Leonardo , Spetzler Robert F.
Published: July 2015

A 70-year-old man with progressive visual disturbances, left superior quadrantanopsia, and right-sided papilledema underwent imaging that demonstrated a right internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus aneurysm with third-ventricle mass effect and ipsilateral optic nerve and chiasm compression. We performed a right modified orbitozygomatic craniotomy, with proximal control and dissection of the aneurysm and small perforator arteries. Temporary ICA and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) clips allowed placement of a large curved permanent clip, reconstructing the ICA bifurcation and maintaining adequate patency of the ACA and middle cerebral artery. Complete aneurysm obliteration was confirmed by intraoperative indocyanine green angiography and postoperative CT angiography.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/5WEEgmA-g2A.
k-jump: A strategy to design publicly-known algorithms for privacy preserving micro-data disclosure
Authors: Liu Wen Ming , Wang Lingyu , Zhang Lei , Zhu Shunzhi
Published: July 2015

Abstract

Data owners are expected to disclose micro-data for research, analysis, and various other purposes. In disclosing micro-data with sensitive attributes, the goal is usually two fold. First, the data utility of disclosed data should be maximized for analysis purposes. Second, the private information contained in such data must be to an acceptable level. Typically, a disclosure algorithm evaluates potential generalization functions in a predetermined order, and then discloses the first generalization that satisfies the desired privacy property. Recent studies show that adversarial inferences using knowledge about such disclosure algorithms can usually render the algorithm unsafe. In this paper, we show that an existing unsafe algorithm can be transformed into a large family of safe algorithms, namely, k-jump algorithms. We then prove that the data utility of different k-jump algorithms is generally incomparable. The comparison of data utility is independent of utility measures and syntactic privacy models. Finally, we analyze the computational complexity of k-jump algorithms, and confirm the necessity of safe algorithms even when a secret choice is made among algorithms.
What, indeed, is intransitive noninterference?
Authors: van der Meyden Ron
Published: July 2015

Abstract

This paper argues that Haigh and Young’s definition of noninterference for intransitive security policies admits information flows that are not in accordance with the intuitions it seeks to formalize. Several alternative definitions are discussed, which are shown to be equivalent to the classical definition of noninterference with respect to transitive policies. Rushby’s unwinding conditions for intransitive noninterference are shown to be sound and complete for one of these definitions, TA-security. Access control systems compatible with a policy are shown to be TA-secure, and it is also shown that TA-security implies that the system can be interpreted as an access control system.
Dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin compared with conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment for stage II-IV ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Du Zhenhua , Ma Xiaolin
Published: July 2015

We investigated dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin compared with conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment on stage II-IV ovarian cancer patients. Between July, 2011, and October, 2014, a total of 221 patients was randomly assigned to receive dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin group (n = 109) and conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin group (n = 112), just after the sixth chemotherapy cycles, and at 12 months after randomization. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.8 months (range 3.3-48+ months) of conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin group was lower than that of dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin group 27.6 months (range 4.2-51+ months). But, these clinical responses were not statistical significance in each group. In conclusion, dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment improves survival compared with conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin treatment. 
Ethanol extract of Artemisia sieversiana exhibits anticancer effects and induces apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway involving DNA damage in COLO-205 colon carcinoma cells
Authors: Tang Jun , Zhao Juan-Juan , Li Zhi-Hong
Published: July 2015

The aim of the study was to see the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of ethanolic herbal extract of Artemisia sieversiana against three human colon cancer (HT-29, HCT-15 and COLO-205) cells. The cytotoxicity of the extract on these cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/ETBR) staining was employed to investigate morphological alterations in COLO-205 cells by the herbal extract. Flow cytometry instrument measured the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential loss while as gel electrophoresis measured DNA damage in these cells. The extract at increasing doses exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect in a dose-dependent manner against all the three colon cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of the extract against HT-29, HCT-15 and COLO-205 cancer cells were found to be 52.1, 43.2 and 38.6 µg/mL respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential loss (ΔΨm) and DNA fragmentation events were also observed following extract treatment at increasing doses.  

 
Prevention of secretory diarrhea by ethanol extract of Bistortae rhizoma through inhibition of chloride channel
Authors: Yu Bo , Jiang Yu , Liu Yue , Ma Tonghui , Yang Hong
Published: July 2015

Inhibition of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and Ca2+-activated Cl- channel (CaCC) represents an attractive approach for the treatment of secretory diarrhea. The aim of the study is to investigate the molecular basis of the anti-diarrheal effect of traditional Chinese herbal anti-diarrheal medicine Bistortae rhizoma. Fluorescence quenching assay indicated that the 40% methanol /water fraction (D5) dose-dependently inhibited both CFTR and CaCC function in transfected Fischer rat thyroid (FRT) cells. Ex vivo studies indicated that D5 inhibited both forskolin (FSK)-activated CFTR current and CCh-induced CaCC current in rat colonic mucosa. In the mouse closed-loop model, intraluminal application of D5 (200 µg/mL) significantly reduced cholera toxin-stimulated fluid secretion. In the intestinal motility model, D5 significantly delayed intestinal peristalsis in mice. Our research suggests that CFTR and CaCC-mediated intestinal epithelial Cl- secretion inhibiting and gastrointestinal motility delaying may account for the anti-diarrheal activity of B. rhizoma.  

 
Isolation and antimicrobial effects of endophytic fungi from Edgeworthia chrysantha
Authors: Zhang Huawei , Ruan Chuanfeng , Bai Xuelian
Published: July 2015

Ten fungal strains isolated from Edgeworthia chrysantha, one of traditional medicinal plants in China, were evaluated their antimicrobial activities against three human pathogens, Escherichia coli, Staphyloccocus aureus and Candida albicans, and two phytopathogens, Rhizoctonia cerealis and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The results indicated that most ethyl acetate extracts of fermentation broth of these fungal endophytes had stronger antimicrobial activities than their fermentation broth. Among these endophytic strains, both fermentation broth and the ethyl acetate extract of strain D showed the strongest inhibitory effects on all pathogens. Strains 5-19 and BZ also exhibited potent antibacterial activities. However, other strains had weak or no antimicrobial effect. This was the first report on the isolation and antimicrobial effects of endophytic fungi from E. chrysantha.   

 
Current state and perspectives of the Croatian shipbuilding industry
Authors: Hadi? Neven , Tomi? Marko , Vladimir Nikola , Ostoji? Sinia , Senjanovi? Ivo
Published: July 2015

Shipbuilding is one of the most important manufacturing industries in Croatia involved in ships and offshore units production, maintenance, repair and installation with a significant impact on Croatian economy and society. Current state of the Croatian shipbuilding industry is presented herein, based on the most recent available data on global and domestic shipbuilding activities and important conclusions and recommendations for its future development are drawn considering current state of the world shipping and shipbuilding databases. Future perspectives are addressed through analysis of current negotiation potential of suppliers and buyers as well as with respect to the rivalry among competitors. An importance of stable financial background and development of the domestic industrial surroundings is pointed out. Along with that, current Croatian industrial 2020 strategy is addressed in order to enhance its application within the existing shipbuilding infrastructure as well as within Croatian economy. Finally, energy, food and entertainment market sectors are pointed out as the most perspective sectors capable of influencing future Croatian society, economy, science and technology.
A study of parametric effects on thermal profile of submerged arc welding process
Authors: Sarkar Abhijit , Rai R.N. , Saha S.C.
Published: July 2015

In this study, a Numerical model is carried out to study the effect of welding parameters on the temperature variations in Submerged Arc Welding process (SAW) with moving heat source model (Gaussian distribution) by using finite difference method (FDM). The proposed method is validated from the experimental results and found is in good agreement with results obtained by experimental. The mathematical model of transient thermal is also recognized to simulate Peak temperature. Finally Parametric effects on temperature profiles based on numerical results, are carried out for different weld parameters including welding speed, heat input, and plate thickness. It has been shown that all those parameters are playing an essential role in affecting the temperature distribution.
Wind Turbine Waste Heat Recovery—A Short-Term Heat Loss Forecasting Approach
Authors: Xydis George , Pechlivanoglou George , Nayeri Navid
Published: July 2015

The transition from the era of massive renewable energy deployment to the era of cheaper energy needed has made scientists and developers more careful with respect to energy planning compared with a few years ago. The focus is—and will be—placed on retrofitting and on extracting the maximum amount of locally generated energy. The question is not only how much energy can be generated, but also what kind of energy and how it can be utilized efficiently. The waste heat coming from wind farms (WFs) when in operation—which until now was wasted—was thoroughly studied. A short-term forecasting methodology that can provide the operator with a better view of the expected heat losses is presented. The majority of mechanical (due to friction) and electro-thermal (i.e., generator) losses takes place at the nacelle while a smaller part of this thermal source is located near the foundation of the wind turbine (WT) where the power electronics and the transformers are usually located. That thermal load can be easily collected via a working fluid and then be transported to the nearest local community or nearby agricultural or small scale industrial units using the necessary piping.
Applications of the Fuzzy Sumudu Transform for the Solution of First Order Fuzzy Differential Equations
Authors: Rahman Norazrizal , Ahmad Muhammad
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we study the classical Sumudu transform in fuzzy environment, referred to as the fuzzy Sumudu transform (FST). We also propose some results on the properties of the FST, such as linearity, preserving, fuzzy derivative, shifting and convolution theorem. In order to show the capability of the FST, we provide a detailed procedure to solve fuzzy differential equations (FDEs). A numerical example is provided to illustrate the usage of the FST.
A Review of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Bio-Crude Properties and Prospects for Upgrading to Transportation Fuels
Authors: Ramirez Jerome , Brown Richard , Rainey Thomas
Published: July 2015

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) presents a viable route for converting a vast range of materials into liquid fuel, without the need for pre-drying. Currently, HTL studies produce bio-crude with properties that fall short of diesel or biodiesel standards. Upgrading bio-crude improves the physical and chemical properties to produce a fuel corresponding to diesel or biodiesel. Properties such as viscosity, density, heating value, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur content, and chemical composition can be modified towards meeting fuel standards using strategies such as solvent extraction, distillation, hydrodeoxygenation and catalytic cracking. This article presents a review of the upgrading technologies available, and how they might be used to make HTL bio-crude into a transportation fuel that meets current fuel property standards.
Conformational Dynamics of Ago-Mediated Silencing Processes
Authors: Willkomm Sarah , Restle Tobias
Published: July 2015

Argonaute (Ago) proteins are key players of nucleic acid-based interference mechanisms. Their domains and structural organization are widely conserved in all three domains of life. However, different Ago proteins display various substrate preferences. While some Ago proteins are able to use several substrates, others are limited to a single one. Thereby, they were demonstrated to act specifically on their preferred substrates. Here, we discuss mechanisms of Ago-mediated silencing in relation to structural and biochemical insights. The combination of biochemical and structural information enables detailed analyses of the complex dynamic interplay between Ago proteins and their substrates. Especially, transient binding data allow precise investigations of structural transitions taking place upon Ago-mediated guide and target binding.
Characterization of the Interaction between Gallic Acid and Lysozyme by Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Optical Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhan Minzhong , Guo Ming , Jiang Yanke , Wang Xiaomeng
Published: July 2015

The binding interaction between gallic acid (GA) and lysozyme (LYS) was investigated and compared by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and spectral techniques. The results from spectroscopy indicate that GA binds to LYS to generate a static complex. The binding constants and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. MD simulation revealed that the main driving forces for GA binding to LYS are hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The root-mean-square deviation verified that GA and LYS bind to form a stable complex, while the root-mean-square fluctuation results showed that the stability of the GA-LYS complex at 298 K was higher than that at 310 K. The calculated free binding energies from the molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method showed that van der Waals forces and electrostatic interactions are the predominant intermolecular forces. The MD simulation was consistent with the spectral experiments. This study provides a reference for future study of the pharmacological mechanism of GA.
Decellularized Human Skeletal Muscle as Biologic Scaffold for Reconstructive Surgery
Authors: Porzionato Andrea , Sfriso Maria , Pontini Alex , Macchi Veronica , Petrelli Lucia , Pavan Piero , Natali Arturo , Bassetto Franco , Vindigni Vincenzo , De Caro Raffaele
Published: July 2015

Engineered skeletal muscle tissues have been proposed as potential solutions for volumetric muscle losses, and biologic scaffolds have been obtained by decellularization of animal skeletal muscles. The aim of the present work was to analyse the characteristics of a biologic scaffold obtained by decellularization of human skeletal muscles (also through comparison with rats and rabbits) and to evaluate its integration capability in a rabbit model with an abdominal wall defect. Rat, rabbit and human muscle samples were alternatively decellularized with two protocols: n.1, involving sodium deoxycholate and DNase I; n.2, trypsin-EDTA and Triton X-NH4OH. Protocol 2 proved more effective, removing all cellular material and maintaining the three-dimensional networks of collagen and elastic fibers. Ultrastructural analyses with transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the preservation of collagen, elastic fibres, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Implantation of human scaffolds in rabbits gave good results in terms of integration, although recellularization by muscle cells was not completely achieved. In conclusion, human skeletal muscles may be effectively decellularized to obtain scaffolds preserving the architecture of the extracellular matrix and showing mechanical properties suitable for implantation/integration. Further analyses will be necessary to verify the suitability of these scaffolds for in vitro recolonization by autologous cells before in vivo implantation.
Stepchild or Prodigy? Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research
Authors: Rottlaender Andrea , Kuerten Stefanie
Published: July 2015

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) and characterized by the infiltration of immune cells, demyelination and axonal loss. Loss of axons and nerve fiber pathology are widely accepted as correlates of neurological disability. Hence, it is surprising that the development of neuroprotective therapies has been neglected for a long time. A reason for this could be the diversity of the underlying mechanisms, complex changes in nerve fiber pathology and the absence of biomarkers and tools to quantify neuroregenerative processes. Present therapeutic strategies are aimed at modulating or suppressing the immune response, but do not primarily attenuate axonal pathology. Yet, target-oriented neuroprotective strategies are essential for the treatment of MS, especially as severe damage of nerve fibers mostly occurs in the course of disease progression and cannot be impeded by immune modulatory drugs. This review shall depict the need for neuroprotective strategies and elucidate difficulties and opportunities.
The UGG Isoacceptor of tRNAPro Is Naturally Prone to Frameshifts
Authors: Gamper Howard , Masuda Isao , Frenkel-Morgenstern Milana , Hou Ya-Ming
Published: July 2015

Native tRNAs often contain post-transcriptional modifications to the wobble position to expand the capacity of reading the genetic code. Some of these modifications, due to the ability to confer imperfect codon-anticodon pairing at the wobble position, can induce a high propensity for tRNA to shift into alternative reading frames. An example is the native UGG isoacceptor of E. coli tRNAPro whose wobble nucleotide U34 is post-transcriptionally modified to cmo5U34 to read all four proline codons (5ʹ-CCA, 5ʹ-CCC, 5ʹ-CCG, and 5ʹ-CCU). Because the pairing of the modified anticodon to CCC codon is particularly weak relative to CCA and CCG codons, this tRNA can readily shift into both the +1 and +2-frame on the slippery mRNA sequence CCC-CG. We show that the shift to the +2-frame is more dominant, driven by the higher stability of the codon-anticodon pairing at the wobble position. Kinetic analysis suggests that both types of shifts can occur during stalling of the tRNA in a post-translocation complex or during translocation from the A to the P-site. Importantly, while the +1-frame post complex is active for peptidyl transfer, the +2-frame complex is a poor peptidyl donor. Together with our recent work, we draw a mechanistic distinction between +1 and +2-frameshifts, showing that while the +1-shifts are suppressed by the additional post-transcriptionally modified m1G37 nucleotide in the anticodon loop, the +2-shifts are suppressed by the ribosome, supporting a role of the ribosome in the overall quality control of reading-frame maintenance.
Radio/Antenna Mounting System for Wireless Networking under Row-Crop Agriculture Conditions
Authors: Fisher Daniel
Published: July 2015

Interest in and deployment of wireless monitoring systems is increasing in many diverse environments, including row-crop agricultural fields. While many studies have been undertaken to evaluate various aspects of wireless monitoring and networking, such as electronic hardware components, data-collection procedures, power management, and communication protocols, little information related to physical deployment issues has been reported. To achieve acceptable wireless transmission capability, the radio/antenna must be positioned properly relative to the ground surface or crop canopy to minimize degradation of the radio signal, usually requiring the mounting of the radio/antenna above the canopy. This results in the presence of obstacles to normal agricultural equipment traffic and production operations and potential damage to the wireless monitoring system. A simple and rugged radio/antenna mounting system was designed which could be subjected to encounters with agricultural equipment without suffering physical damage. The mounting system was deployed and tested, and operated successfully following repeated encounters with various agricultural machines and implements. The radio/antenna mount is simple and inexpensive to fabricate using locally available components.
Analysis and Ranking of Protein-Protein Docking Models Using Inter-Residue Contacts and Inter-Molecular Contact Maps
Authors: Oliva Romina , Chermak Edrisse , Cavallo Luigi
Published: July 2015

In view of the increasing interest both in inhibitors of protein-protein interactions and in protein drugs themselves, analysis of the three-dimensional structure of protein-protein complexes is assuming greater relevance in drug design. In the many cases where an experimental structure is not available, protein-protein docking becomes the method of choice for predicting the arrangement of the complex. However, reliably scoring protein-protein docking poses is still an unsolved problem. As a consequence, the screening of many docking models is usually required in the analysis step, to possibly single out the correct ones. Here, making use of exemplary cases, we review our recently introduced methods for the analysis of protein complex structures and for the scoring of protein docking poses, based on the use of inter-residue contacts and their visualization in inter-molecular contact maps. We also show that the ensemble of tools we developed can be used in the context of rational drug design targeting protein-protein interactions.
The Antioxidant Properties and Inhibitory Effects on HepG2 Cells of Chicory Cultivated Using Three Different Kinds of Fertilizers in the Absence and Presence of Pesticides
Authors: Yook Jin-Seon , Kim Mina , Pichiah Pichiah , Jung Su-Jin , Chae Soo-Wan , Cha Youn-Soo
Published: July 2015

The objective of this study was to explore the antioxidant levels and anticancer properties of chicory cultivated using three different kinds of fertilizers (i.e., developed, organic, and chemical) in the presence and absence of pesticides. Phenolic phytochemicals, including total polyphenols and flavonoids, and antioxidant activities, including reducing power, ABTS+ and DPPH radical scavenging activity, were analyzed using several antioxidant assays. HepG2 cell viability was analyzed using the MTT assay. The antioxidant properties of chicory were found to increase when cultivated with chemical fertilizer in the absence of pesticides. On the other hand, antioxidant capacity was higher in chicory cultivated with eco-developed fertilizer even in the presence of pesticides. Chicory grown using eco-developed or organic fertilizer was more effective in suppressing the proliferation of HepG2 cells when compared to chicory grown with chemical fertilizer. This effect was time dependent, regardless of treatment with or without pesticides. In conclusion, the antioxidant activity of chicory were affected by the presence or absence of pesticides. However, developed and organic fertilizers showed a strong anti-proliferative effect against HepG2 cells, regardless of the presence or absence of pesticides.
Effects of Fuzhuan Brick-Tea Water Extract on Mice Infected with E. coli O157:H7
Authors: Wang Yuanliang , Xu Aiqing , Liu Ping , Li Zongjun
Published: July 2015

Fuzhuan brick-tea extract (FBTE) affects the physiology of mice infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7. For 10 consecutive days, 0.05, 0.5, and 1.0 g/mL FBTE was administered intragastrically to three groups of infected Kunming mice, and changes in immunological function, hematology, and histopathology were examined. The results revealed upregulation of platelets, total protein, and albumin along with downregulation of serum triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea nitrogen in FBTE-treated mice. Histological sections of stomach, kidney, duodenum, ileum, and colon suggested that infected mucous membranes could be rehabilitated by low- and high-dose FBTE and that inflammation was alleviated. Similarly, increased thymic function in mice treated with middle- and high-dose FBTE led to elevated serum hemolysin antibody titer and increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as indicated by CD4+ and CD8+ expression on intestinal mucosa. Monocyte and macrophage function was improved by three FBTE dosages tested. Colonic microbiota analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed characteristic bands in infected mice treated with middle- and high-dose FBTE and increased species diversity in Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Clostridium cluster IV. These results suggest that FBTE may protect kidney and liver of mice infected with E. coli O157:H7, improve immune function, and regulate the colonic microbiota.
Postprandial Responses to Lipid and Carbohydrate Ingestion in Repeated Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Biopsies in Healthy Adults
Authors: Dordevic Aimee , Pendergast Felicity , Morgan Han , Villas-Boas Silas , Caldow Marissa , Larsen Amy , Sinclair Andrew , Cameron-Smith David
Published: July 2015

Adipose tissue is a primary site of meta-inflammation. Diet composition influences adipose tissue metabolism and a single meal can drive an inflammatory response in postprandial period. This study aimed to examine the effect lipid and carbohydrate ingestion compared with a non-caloric placebo on adipose tissue response. Thirty-three healthy adults (age 24.5 ± 3.3 year (mean ± standard deviation (SD)); body mass index (BMI) 24.1 ± 3.2 kg/m2, were randomised into one of three parallel beverage groups; placebo (water), carbohydrate (maltodextrin) or lipid (dairy-cream). Subcutaneous, abdominal adipose tissue biopsies and serum samples were collected prior to (0 h), as well as 2 h and 4 h after consumption of the beverage. Adipose tissue gene expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased in all three groups, without an increase in circulating TNF-α. Serum leptin (0.6-fold, p = 0.03) and adipose tissue leptin gene expression levels (0.6-fold, p = 0.001) decreased in the hours following the placebo beverage, but not the nutrient beverages. Despite increased inflammatory cytokine gene expression in adipose tissue with all beverages, suggesting a confounding effect of the repeated biopsy method, differences in metabolic responses of adipose tissue and circulating adipokines to ingestion of lipid and carbohydrate beverages were observed.
Occurrence and Control of Legionella in Recycled Water Systems
Authors: Jjemba Patrick , Johnson William , Bukhari Zia , LeChevallier Mark
Published: July 2015

Legionella pneumophila is on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Candidate Contaminant list (CCL) as an important pathogen. It is commonly encountered in recycled water and is typically associated with amoeba, notably Naegleria fowleri (also on the CCL) and Acanthamoeba sp. No legionellosis outbreak has been linked to recycled water and it is important for the industry to proactively keep things that way. A review was conducted examine the occurrence of Legionella and its protozoa symbionts in recycled water with the aim of developing a risk management strategy. The review considered the intricate ecological relationships between Legionella and protozoa, methods for detecting both symbionts, and the efficacy of various disinfectants.
Enumeration of Somatic and F-RNA Phages as an Indicator of Fecal Contamination in Potable Water from Rural Areas of the North West Province
Authors: Nkwe Keitumetse , Ateba Collins , Sithebe Nomathamsanqa , Bezuidenhout Cornelius
Published: July 2015

Bacteriophages are regarded as enteric viral indicators in faecally contaminated water systems and may indicate the presence of human viral pollution. They are relatively resistant to inactivation by natural and treatment processes. In this study, the presence of somatic coliphages and F-RNA coliphages was investigated in potable water from rural areas in the North West province. Water samples were aseptically collected from boreholes and tap water from some rural communities in the North West Province. Physical parameters of the water, such as the temperature, pH and turbidity, were measured before sample collection. Double-agar layer assay was performed using ISO, (1995, 2000) standard methods. Bottled water was used as a negative control and the strains фX174 and MS2 as positive controls. Of the 16 water samples collected, 15 were positive for somatic bacteriophages while F-RNA coliphages were detected in only two samples. Amongst the positive samples 189 and three plaque forming units were obtained for both somatic and F-RNA coliphages, respectively. No coliphage was detected in water from Masamane tap 1. The rest of the samples obtained from various rural areas were positive and did not comply with national and international standards for potable water. This was a cause for concern and should be further investigated.
Improving Localization Accuracy: Successive Measurements Error Modeling
Authors: Ali Najah , Abu-Elkheir Mervat
Published: July 2015

Vehicle self-localization is an essential requirement for many of the safety applications envisioned for vehicular networks. The mathematical models used in current vehicular localization schemes focus on modeling the localization error itself, and overlook the potential correlation between successive localization measurement errors. In this paper, we first investigate the existence of correlation between successive positioning measurements, and then incorporate this correlation into the modeling positioning error. We use the Yule Walker equations to determine the degree of correlation between a vehicle’s future position and its past positions, and then propose a -order Gauss–Markov model to predict the future position of a vehicle from its past positions. We investigate the existence of correlation for two datasets representing the mobility traces of two vehicles over a period of time. We prove the existence of correlation between successive measurements in the two datasets, and show that the time correlation between measurements can have a value up to four minutes. Through simulations, we validate the robustness of our model and show that it is possible to use the first-order Gauss–Markov model, which has the least complexity, and still maintain an accurate estimation of a vehicle’s future location over time using only its current position. Our model can assist in providing better modeling of positioning errors and can be used as a prediction tool to improve the performance of classical localization algorithms such as the Kalman filter.
A Sensitive and Selective Label-Free Electrochemical DNA Biosensor for the Detection of Specific Dengue Virus Serotype 3 Sequences
Authors: Oliveira Natália , Souza Elaine , Ferreira Danielly , Zanforlin Deborah , Bezerra Wessulla , Borba Maria , Arruda Mariana , Lopes Kennya , Nascimento Gustavo , Martins Danyelly , Cordeiro Marli , Lima-Filho José
Published: July 2015

Dengue fever is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the world, with nearly 100 million people infected every year. Early diagnosis and identification of the pathogen are crucial steps for the treatment and for prevention of the disease, mainly in areas where the co-circulation of different serotypes is common, increasing the outcome of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Due to the lack of fast and inexpensive methods available for the identification of dengue serotypes, herein we report the development of an electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of sequences of dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3). DENV-3 probe was designed using bioinformatics software and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for electrochemical analysis. The results showed that a 22-m sequence was the best DNA probe for the identification of DENV-3. The optimum concentration of the DNA probe immobilized onto the electrode surface is 500 nM and a low detection limit of the system (3.09 nM). Moreover, this system allows selective detection of DENV-3 sequences in buffer and human serum solutions. Therefore, the application of DNA biosensors for diagnostics at the molecular level may contribute to future advances in the implementation of specific, effective and rapid detection methods for the diagnosis dengue viruses.
Spectral and Image Integrated Analysis of Hyperspectral Data for Waxy Corn Seed Variety Classification
Authors: Yang Xiaoling , Hong Hanmei , You Zhaohong , Cheng Fang
Published: July 2015

The purity of waxy corn seed is a very important index of seed quality. A novel procedure for the classification of corn seed varieties was developed based on the combined spectral, morphological, and texture features extracted from visible and near-infrared (VIS/NIR) hyperspectral images. For the purpose of exploration and comparison, images of both sides of corn kernels (150 kernels of each variety) were captured and analyzed. The raw spectra were preprocessed with Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing and derivation. To reduce the dimension of spectral data, the spectral feature vectors were constructed using the successive projections algorithm (SPA). Five morphological features (area, circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, and solidity) and eight texture features (energy, contrast, correlation, entropy, and their standard deviations) were extracted as appearance character from every corn kernel. Support vector machines (SVM) and a partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model were employed to build the classification models for seed varieties classification based on different groups of features. The results demonstrate that combining spectral and appearance characteristic could obtain better classification results. The recognition accuracy achieved in the SVM model (98.2% and 96.3% for germ side and endosperm side, respectively) was more satisfactory than in the PLS-DA model. This procedure has the potential for use as a new method for seed purity testing.
Preserving Smart Objects Privacy through Anonymous and Accountable Access Control for a M2M-Enabled Internet of Things
Authors: Hernández-Ramos José , Bernabe Jorge , Moreno M. , Skarmeta Antonio
Published: July 2015

As we get into the Internet of Things era, security and privacy concerns remain as the main obstacles in the development of innovative and valuable services to be exploited by society. Given the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) nature of these emerging scenarios, the application of current privacy-friendly technologies needs to be reconsidered and adapted to be deployed in such global ecosystem. This work proposes different privacy-preserving mechanisms through the application of anonymous credential systems and certificateless public key cryptography. The resulting alternatives are intended to enable an anonymous and accountable access control approach to be deployed on large-scale scenarios, such as Smart Cities. Furthermore, the proposed mechanisms have been deployed on constrained devices, in order to assess their suitability for a secure and privacy-preserving M2M-enabled Internet of Things.
A Software Product Line Process to Develop Agents for the IoT
Authors: Ayala Inmaculada , Amor Mercedes , Fuentes Lidia , Troya José
Published: July 2015

One of the most important challenges of this decade is the Internet of Things (IoT), which aims to enable things to be connected anytime, anyplace, with anything and anyone, ideally using any path/network and any service. IoT systems are usually composed of heterogeneous and interconnected lightweight devices that support applications that are subject to change in their external environment and in the functioning of these devices. The management of the variability of these changes, autonomously, is a challenge in the development of these systems. Agents are a good option for developing self-managed IoT systems due to their distributed nature, context-awareness and self-adaptation. Our goal is to enhance the development of IoT applications using agents and software product lines (SPL). Specifically, we propose to use Self-StarMASMAS, multi-agent system) agents and to define an SPL process using the Common Variability Language. In this contribution, we propose an SPL process for Self-StarMAS, paying particular attention to agents embedded in sensor motes.
Hierarchical Clustering Using One-Class Support Vector Machines
Authors: Lee Gyemin
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a novel hierarchical clustering method using support vector machines. A common approach for hierarchical clustering is to use distance for the task. However, different choices for computing inter-cluster distances often lead to fairly distinct clustering outcomes, causing interpretation difficulties in practice. In this paper, we propose to use a one-class support vector machine (OC-SVM) to directly find high-density regions of data. Our algorithm generates nested set estimates using the OC-SVM and exploits the hierarchical structure of the estimated sets. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm on synthetic datasets. The cluster hierarchy is visualized with dendrograms and spanning trees.