bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taurine supplementation for prevention of stroke-like episodes in MELAS: a multicentre, open-label, 52-week phase III trial
Authors: Ohsawa Yutaka , Hagiwara Hiroki , Nishimatsu Shin-ichiro , Hirakawa Akihiro , Kamimura Naomi , Ohtsubo Hideaki , Fukai Yuta , Murakami Tatsufumi , Koga Yasutoshi , Goto Yu-ichi , Ohta Shigeo , Sunada Yoshihide
Published: April 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose taurine supplementation for prevention of stroke-like episodes of MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), a rare genetic disorder caused by point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA that lead to a taurine modification defect at the first anticodon nucleotide of mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR), resulting in failure to decode codons accurately.

Methods

After the nationwide survey of MELAS, we conducted a multicentre, open-label, phase III trial in which 10 patients with recurrent stroke-like episodes received high-dose taurine (9 g or 12 g per day) for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the complete prevention of stroke-like episodes during the evaluation period. The taurine modification rate of mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR)was measured before and after the trial.

Results

The proportion of patients who reached the primary endpoint (100% responder rate) was 60% (95% CI 26.2% to 87.8%). The 50% responder rate, that is, the number of patients achieving a 50% or greater reduction in frequency of stroke-like episodes, was 80% (95% CI 44.4% to 97.5%). Taurine reduced the annual relapse rate of stroke-like episodes from 2.22 to 0.72 (P=0.001). Five patients showed a significant increase in the taurine modification of mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR)from peripheral blood leukocytes (P<0.05). No severe adverse events were associated with taurine.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates that oral taurine supplementation can effectively reduce the recurrence of stroke-like episodes and increase taurine modification in mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR)in MELAS.

Trial registration number

UMIN000011908.
Accuracy of image-guided percutaneous injection into a phantom spinal cord utilizing flat panel detector CT with MR fusion and integrated navigational software
Authors: Talbott Jason F , Cooke Daniel L , Mabray Marc C , Larson Paul S , Amans Matthew R , Hetts Steven W , Wilson Mark W , Moore Terilyn , Salegio Ernesto A
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of percutaneous fluoroscopic injection into the spinal cord of a spine phantom utilizing integrated navigational guidance from fused flat panel detector CT (FDCT) and MR datasets. Conventional and convection-enhanced delivery (CED) techniques were evaluated.

Materials and methods

FDCT and MR datasets of a swine thoracic spine phantom were co-registered using an integrated guidance system and surface to spinal cord target trajectory planning was performed on the fused images. Under real-time fluoroscopic guidance with pre-planned trajectory overlay, spinal cord targets were accessed via a coaxial technique. Final needle tip position was compared with a pre-determined target on 10 independent passes. In a subset of cases, contrast was injected into the central spinal cord with a 25G spinal needle or customized 200 µm inner diameter step design cannula for CED.

Results

Average needle tip deviation from target measured 0.92±0.5 mm in the transverse, 0.47±0.4 mm in the anterior-posterior, and 1.67±1.2 mm in the craniocaudal dimension for an absolute distance error of 2.12±1.12 mm. CED resulted in elliptical intramedullary diffusion of contrast compared with primary reflux observed with standard needle injection.

Conclusions

These phantom feasibility data demonstrate a minimally invasive percutaneous approach for targeted injection into the spinal cord utilizing real-time fluoroscopy aided by overlay trajectories derived from fused MRI and FDCT data sets with a target error of 2.1 mm. Intramedullary diffusion of injectate in the spinal cord is facilitated with CED compared with standard injection technique. Pre-clinical studies in large animal models are warranted.
Investigating three sources of bias in hook-and-line surveys: survey design, gear saturation, and multispecies interactions
Authors: Kuriyama Peter T. , Branch Trevor A. , Hicks Allan C. , Harms John H. , Hamel Owen S.
Published: April 2018

Hook-and-line surveys can be used to estimate population trends in fish species where conventional methods such as trawl, acoustic, visual, or pot surveys cannot be applied. Hook-and-line surveys allow for the collection of biological information, but the resultant indices of abundance may be biased. We designed simulations to address concerns around survey design, hook saturation, and competition among species and found that catch per unit effort (CPUE) declined more slowly than population size across all scenarios. This hyperstability was most prominent when fish were found in high-density patches, and these scenarios have median absolute relative error values roughly three to five times greater than those with more even distributions of fish density. Despite hyperstability, the surveys still had statistical power to detect changes in abundance. Interspecific competition for hooks caused bias in survey results when one species was more aggressive than another. Taken together, our results indicate hook-and-line surveys fill a niche in survey methodologies, but their use and interpretation can be challenged by hyperstability and competition among species.
Stability of a GI/G/1 Queue: A Survey
Authors: Shen Yichi , Wu Kan
Published: April 2018

Stability of queues is of fundamental importance in the application of queueing models. To establish the stability of a queue, one has to utilize a mathematical model to describe the evolution of the queue and then defines stability on the model. However, the types of stability are various according to their underlying processes. In this study, we survey the different underlying processes of a [Formula: see text] queue, classify the various types of stability and study the relations among them. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of sample-path, we propose a new result regarding the growth rate of the queue time when the traffic intensity equals 1.
Conversion of phycocyanobilin-binding GAF domain to biliverdin-binding domain
Authors: Hu Ping-Ping , Hou Jian-Yun , Guo Rui , Jiang Su-Ping , Zhou Ming , Zhao Kai-Hong
Published: April 2018

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are biliprotein photoreceptors that only exist in cyanobacteria and have a broad spectral response range from ultra-violet to far-red. The red/green-type CBCRs can show red/green reversible photoconversion via a covalently bound phycocyanobilin (PCB). In recent years, several CBCRs binding with not only PCB but also biliverdin (BV) have been discovered, which raises the possibility of CBCRs being applied as optogenetic tools. Through molecular modification, we hope to engineer BV-binding CBCRs responsive to the near-infrared spectral region (650–900 nm), of which the red/green type of CBCRs are suitable resources for experimentation. Here, we use Slr1393g3 (the third GAF domain of a red/green photoswitching CBCR from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803) as a template to perform such molecular evolution using both random mutagenesis and site-directed mutagenesis. After several rounds of random mutagenesis, we obtained several BV-binding variants of Slr1393g3. These BV-binding variants have a maximal absorbance at ̃690 nm and a fluorescence at ̃720 nm. Additionally, some of them have remarkable photochromicity between a far-red light-absorbing state and a red light-absorbing state. Based on the primary amino acid sequence and structural models, the Phe474 surrounding ring D of BV is thought as a crucial site for chromophore selectivity.
Geothermal resources of the North German Basin: exploration strategy, development examples and remaining opportunities in Mesozoic hydrothermal reservoirs
Authors: Franz Matthias , Barth Gregor , Zimmermann Jens , Budach Ingmar , Nowak Kerstin , Wolfgramm Markus
Published: April 2018

The North German Basin yields enormous geothermal resources of more than 13 000 EJ (exajoule: 1 EJ = 1 × 10
18
J) heat in place bound to Paleozoic petrothermal and Mesozoic hydrothermal reservoirs. So far, these resources are only exploited at a few localities. Thus, geothermal energy is considered an underutilized energy resource. Despite long-term experience in exploiting Rhaetian hydrothermal reservoirs, the exploration risk remains high, which is mainly related to high expectations on reservoir thickness and quality. Previous exploration campaigns have identified potential hydrothermal reservoirs in six Mesozoic reservoir complexes. But, as high-resolution subsurface maps are not available, the reliable prediction and targeting of reservoirs remains an unsolved problem.

As such, an exploration strategy integrating methods of sedimentology, palaeontology, petrography and reservoir characterization was applied to a large database of cores and wireline logs. This contribution details the key results of the exploration of Upper Keuper and Middle Jurassic reservoir complexes, including high-resolution subsurface facies, sandstone thickness and reservoir quality maps. Sets of these maps enable the reliable prediction and targeting of individual hydrothermal reservoirs, and, thus, make a significant contribution to a lowered exploration risk.
Interaction between mantle-derived magma and lower arc crust: quantitative reactive melt flow modelling using STyx
Authors: Riel Nicolas , Bouilhol Pierre , van Hunen Jeroen , Cornet Julien , Magni Valentina , Grigorova Vili , Velic Mirko
Published: April 2018

The magmatic processes occurring in the lowermost arc crust play a major role in the evolution of mantle-wedge-derived melt. Geological evidence indicates that mantle-derived magmas and
in-situ
products of lower crust partial melting are reacting in a pervasive melt system and are eventually extracted towards higher levels of the crust. Resolving the relative contribution of mantle-derived magma and partial melting products of pre-existing crust is essential to: (1) quantify crustal growth rate; (2) better understand the compositional range of arc magmatic series; and (3) constrain the chemical differentiation of the lower crust. In this study, we present STyx, a new modelling tool, coupling melt and heat flow with petrology to explore the dynamics of storage, transfer and hybridization of melts in complex liquid/rock systems. We perform three models representing a magmatic event affecting an amphibolitic lower arc crust in order to quantify the relative contribution between partial melting of the pre-existing crust and fractional crystallization from mantle-derived hydrous-magma. Our models demonstrate that most of the differentiated arc crust is juvenile, deriving from the differentiation of mantle melts, and that pre-existing crust does not significantly contribute to the total thickness of magmatic products.
Tectonic control over exhumation in the Arunachal Himalaya: new constraints from Apatite Fission Track Analysis
Authors: Adlakha Vikas , Patel R. C. , Kumar Akhil , Lal Nand
Published: April 2018

New apatite fission track (AFT) ages have been obtained from a synformal nappe of the Higher Himalayan Crystallines emplaced over the Lesser Himalayan metasedimentary zone of the Arunachal Himalaya, India. The AFT cooling ages within the nappe range between 5.0 ± 0.8 and 14.4 ± 1.3 Ma. Modelled exhumation rates calculated from these cooling ages vary from 0.25 ± 0.12 to 0.69 ± 0.25 mm a
−1
, which indicates slow exhumation since the Middle to Late Miocene. The AFT cooling ages are younging on both the northern and southern flanks of the synform and the oldest ages are confined to the core. The close mimicking of a shallow crustal exhumation pattern with the synformal structure suggests a strong control of the development of the synform on the exhumation path of the rocks and hence a tectonics–exhumation linkage in the central Arunachal Himalaya. Comparison of these AFT ages with the regional thermochronological record of the Eastern Himalaya reflects a variation in exhumation rates with strike. The AFT age pattern in the central Arunachal Himalaya does not match the pattern of precipitation, which suggests an absence of climate-driven tectonic deformation via focused erosion.
Invariance Principle on the Slice
Authors: Filmus Yuval , Kindler Guy , Mossel Elchanan , Wimmer Karl
Published: April 2018

The non-linear invariance principle of Mossel, O’Donnell, and Oleszkiewicz establishes that if
f
(
x
1
,… ,
x

n

) is a multilinear low-degree polynomial with low influences, then the distribution of if
f
(
b
1
,…,
b

n

) is close (in various senses) to the distribution of
f
(
G
1
,…,
G

n

), where
B
i
∈
R
{-1,1} are independent Bernoulli random variables and
G
i
∼ N(0,1) are independent standard Gaussians. The invariance principle has seen many applications in theoretical computer science, including the
Majority is Stablest
conjecture, which shows that the Goemans–Williamson algorithm for MAX-CUT is optimal under the Unique Games Conjecture.

More generally, MOO’s invariance principle works for any two vectors of hypercontractive random variables (
X
1
,… ,
X

n

),(
Y
1
,… ,
Y

n

) such that (i)
Matching moments
:
X

i

and
Y

i

have matching first and second moments and (ii)
Independence
: the variables
X
1
,… ,
X

n

are independent, as are
Y
1
,…,
Y

n

.

The independence condition is crucial to the proof of the theorem, yet in some cases we would like to use distributions
X
1
,… ,
X

n

in which the individual coordinates are not independent. A common example is the uniform distribution on the
slice
(

[
n
]

k

) which consists of all vectors (
x
1
,…,
x

n

)∈{0,1}

n

with Hamming weight 
k
. The slice shows up in theoretical computer science (hardness amplification, direct sum testing), extremal combinatorics (Erdős–Ko–Rado theorems), and coding theory (in the guise of the Johnson association scheme).

Our main result is an invariance principle in which (
X
1
,…,
X

n

) is the uniform distribution on a slice (

[
n
]

pn

and (
Y
1
,… ,
Y

n

) consists either of
n
independent Ber(
p
) random variables, or of
n
independent N(
p
,
p
(1-
p
)) random variables. As applications, we prove a version of
Majority is Stablest
for functions on the slice, a version of Bourgain’s tail theorem, a version of the Kindler–Safra structural theorem, and a stability version of the
t
-intersecting Erdős–Ko–Rado theorem, combining techniques of Wilson and Friedgut.

Our proof relies on a combination of ideas from analysis and probability, algebra, and combinatorics. In particular, we make essential use of recent work of the first author which describes an explicit Fourier basis for the slice.
Regulation of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis
Authors: Mettlen Marcel , Chen Ping-Hung , Srinivasan Saipraveen , Danuser Gaudenz , Schmid Sandra L.
Published: April 2018

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the major endocytic pathway in mammalian cells. It is responsible for the uptake of transmembrane receptors and transporters, for remodeling plasma membrane composition in response to environmental changes, and for regulating cell surface signaling. CME occurs via the assembly and maturation of clathrin-coated pits that concentrate cargo as they invaginate and pinch off to form clathrin-coated vesicles. In addition to the major coat proteins, clathrin triskelia and adaptor protein complexes, CME requires a myriad of endocytic accessory proteins and phosphatidylinositol lipids. CME is regulated at multiple steps—initiation, cargo selection, maturation, and fission—and is monitored by an endocytic checkpoint that induces disassembly of defective pits. Regulation occurs via posttranslational modifications, allosteric conformational changes, and isoform and splice-variant differences among components of the CME machinery, including the GTPase dynamin. This review summarizes recent findings on the regulation of CME and the evolution of this complex process.
Dendrimer-Entrapped Gold Nanoparticles as Potential CT Contrast Agents for Localizing Sentinel Lymph Node via Indirect CT Lymphography on Rabbit Model
Authors: Shi Fang , Yang Yue , Chen Jian , Sha Yan , Shu Yilai , Wu Haitao
Published: April 2018

Objective. To investigate the potential use of indirect computed tomography lymphography (CT-LG) with dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) in the localization and enhanced imaging of cervical sentinel lymph node (SLN) on rabbit model. Methods. Twelve rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the positive control group and the experimental group. In the control group, indirect CT-LG was performed with the injection of 0.5 ml activated carbon nanoparticles (ACNP) and Omnipaque mixture suspension in the right tongue submucosa. CT images were acquired before the injection and 1, 5, 10, and 15 min after the injection, respectively. In the experimental group, indirect CT-LG injection with 0.5 ml Au DENPs suspension was performed in the right tongue submucosa. CT images were obtained before the injection and 1, 5, 10, and 15 min and 1, 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after the injection, respectively. Then, SLN identification and enhancement characteristics were evaluated. Results. Indirect CT-LG revealed the enhancement of one right deep cervical lymph nodes in all animals, which was SLN. SLN location was marked with black color (ACNP dye) or purple-black color (Au DENPs dye). At each detection time point, the enhanced SLN attenuation values of control rabbits were statistically significantly higher than that of the plain scan, respectively (P<0.05). Also the values of experimental rabbits were statistically significantly higher than that of the control at the same time point after injection (P<0.05). The detection rate of SLN was 100%. Conclusions. Indirect CT-LG with injection of Au DENPs as CT contrast agents can locate the SLN for a long period of time and enrich the SLN black dye. It is helpful for SLNs identification during the operation.
Invasive Listeriosis of Intracardiac Device
Authors: Sharma Prerna , Yassin Mohamed
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen which can cause invasive infection in immunocompromised adults. Listeria has been known to cause infections during pregnancy and in older adults. Listeria endocarditis is a rare condition. A case of listeria-related intracardiac device infection is reported below. Case Report. A 74-year-old male with a past medical history of coronary artery disease, congestive cardiac failure, permanent atrial fibrillation status after nodal ablation, and placement of a biventricular pacemaker presented to the hospital with complaints of generalized fatigue. He was found to have listeria bacteremia, and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed pacemaker lead vegetation. The patient was treated with 6 weeks of vancomycin followed by oral suppression with amoxicillin. Discussion. Listeria can affect native valves, prosthetic valves, or nonvalvular intracardiac devices. The mean age of prosthetic valve endocarditis has been reported to be 67 years with male-to-female ratio 1.7 : 1 and mitral-to-aortic valve ratio 1.3 : 1. There have been case reports of listeria prosthetic valve endocarditis; however, there is paucity of literature on listeria-related pacemaker lead infection. Treatment is mostly a combination of penicillin and aminoglycosides for 4–6 weeks. Surgical removal of the infected device is preferred. Invasive listeriosis is a rare but fatal entity which should be identified and treated promptly to ensure a good outcome.
Fracture Resistance of Ceramic Laminate Veneers Bonded to Teeth with Class V Composite Fillings after Cyclic Loading
Authors: Sadighpour Leyla , Geramipanah Farideh , Rasaei Vanya , Kharazi Fard Mohammad J.
Published: April 2018

Purpose. Porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs) are sometimes required to be used for teeth with composite fillings. This study examined the fracture strength of PLVs bonded to the teeth restored with different sizes of class V composite fillings. Materials and Methods. Thirty-six maxillary central incisors were divided into three groups (n=12): intact teeth (control) and teeth with class V composite fillings of one-third or two-thirds of the crown height (small or large group, resp.). PLVs were made by using IPS e.max and bonded with a resin cement (RelyX Unicem). Fracture resistance (N) was measured after cyclic loading (1 × 106 cycles, 1.2 Hz). For statistical analyses, one-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used (α=0.05). Results. There was a significant difference between the mean failure loads of the test groups (P=0.004), with the Tukey-HSD test showing lower failure loads in the large-composite group compared to the control (P=0.02) or small group (P=0.05). The control and small-composite groups achieved comparable results (P>0.05). Conclusions. Failure loads of PLVs bonded to intact teeth and to teeth with small class V composite fillings were not significantly different. However, extensive composite fillings could compromise the bonding of PLVs.
A Rare Case of Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Bilateral Thyroid Cysts
Authors: Chowdhury Anupama Roy , Ch’ng Jack Kian , Tan Choon Chieh
Published: April 2018

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) can present as a thyroid cyst. In its more aggressive form, PTC may be multifocal in nature and is associated with a poorer prognosis. In patients whom PTC is diagnosed incidentally after a diagnostic lobectomy, the decision whether to offer completion thyroidectomy is sometimes challenging to make if such patients fall in the ‘low-to-intermediate’ risk category. We present a case of a 55-year-old lady who had a predominantly cystic left thyroid nodule with no suspicious features on ultrasound as well as 2 subcentimetre simple right-sided cysts. She subsequently underwent left hemithyroidectomy, and this reported a T2 PTC in the thyroid cyst. This was followed by completion thyroidectomy which yielded the surprising finding of PTC in the two tiny right sided cysts. This case highlights the need for vigilance in managing patients with thyroid cysts even though thyroid ultrasound scan did not reveal any overt suspicious features.
Potential Use ofEuphorbia hirtafor Dengue: A Systematic Review of Scientific Evidence
Authors: Perera Sashini D. , Jayawardena Uthpala A. , Jayasinghe Chanika D.
Published: April 2018

Euphorbia hirtacommonly known asTawa-Tawais a plant used in folklore medicine in the Philippines for the treatment of dengue. Though,E. hirtahas been extensively investigated for numerous bioactivities, limited studies have been conducted on the antidengue activity. Thus, the present study provides a comprehensive review of studies conducted on the antidengue activity ofE. hirta. A systematic literature survey was carried out in scientific databases, PubMed®, Scopus, and Google Scholar, for research carried on the antidengue activity ofE. hirta. The literature search identified a total of 867 articles: databases PubMed = 6, Scopus SciVerse® = 423, and Google Scholar = 437; one additional article was identified by searching reference lists. Eight full papers were entitled to the review; out of those, two studies focused on ethnobotanical surveys, three on animal experiments, one on human trial, and two onin vitroantiviral activities, and one was computational study. The available evidence conclusively demonstrates the potential ofE. hirtaagainst dengue as it holds significant antiviral and platelet increasing activities. However, the number of studies conducted to validate its antidengue activity was found to be inadequate. Hence, well-controlled clinical trials and contemporary pharmacological approaches including activity guided fractionation and elucidation of the mode of action are encouraged to establish the use ofE. hirtafor dengue.
Development and Validation of an Extractive Spectrophotometric Method for Miconazole Nitrate Assay in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Eticha Tadele , Kahsay Getu , Hailu Teklebrhan , Gebretsadikan Tesfamichael , Asefa Fitsum , Gebretsadik Hailekiros , Thangabalan Boovizhikannan
Published: April 2018

A simple extractive spectrophotometric technique has been developed and validated for the determination of miconazole nitrate in pure and pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the formation of a chloroform-soluble ion-pair complex between the drug and bromocresol green (BCG) dye in an acidic medium. The complex showed absorption maxima at 422 nm, and the system obeys Beer’s law in the concentration range of 1–30 µg/mL with molar absorptivity of 2.285 × 104 L/mol/cm. The composition of the complex was studied by Job’s method of continuous variation, and the results revealed that the mole ratio of drug : BCG is 1 : 1. Full factorial design was used to optimize the effect of variable factors, and the method was validated based on the ICH guidelines. The method was applied for the determination of miconazole nitrate in real samples.
Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Dry and Water Saturated Igneous Rock with Acoustic Emission Monitoring
Authors: Guo Jun , Feng Guo-rui , Qi Ting-ye , Wang Pengfei , Yang Jian , Li Zhen , Bai Jinwen , Du Xianjie , Wang Zehua
Published: April 2018

The uniaxial cyclic loading tests have been conducted to study the mechanical behavior of dry and water saturated igneous rock with acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. The igneous rock samples are dried, naturally immersed, and boiled to get specimens with different water contents for the testing. The mineral compositions and the microstructures of the dry and water saturated igneous rock are also presented. The dry specimens present higher strength, fewer strains, and rapid increase of AE count subjected to the cyclic loading, which reflects the hard and brittle behavior and strong burst proneness of igneous rock. The water saturated specimens have lower peak strength, more accumulated strains, and increase of AE count during the cyclic loading. The damage of the igneous rocks with different water contents has been identified by the Felicity Ratio Analysis. The cyclic loading and unloading increase the dislocation between the mineral aggregates and the water‐rock interactions further break the adhesion of the clay minerals, which jointly promote the inner damage of the igneous rock. The results suggest that the groundwater can reduce the burst proneness of the igneous rock but increase the potential support failure of the surrounding rock in igneous invading area. In addition, the results inspire the fact that the water injection method is feasible for softening the igneous rock and for preventing the dynamic disasters within the roadways and working faces located in the igneous intrusion area.
Bilateral Giant Hydronephrosis in a Ten-Year-Old Male
Authors: Kamath Sowmini P. , Ganesh Pai K. , Baliga B. Shantharam
Published: April 2018

We describe a ten-year-old male with bilateral giant hydronephrosis due to pelviureteric junction obstruction presenting with abdominal distension and renal failure. The diagnosis was confirmed on computed tomography and required a two-stage procedure, initially percutaneous nephrostomy followed by Anderson–Hynes pyeloplasty with recovery of kidney function.
Adaptive Finite Element‐Discrete Element Analysis for Microseismic Modelling of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation of Perforation in Horizontal Well considering Pre‐Existing Fractures
Authors: Wang Yongliang , Ju Yang , Yang Yongming
Published: April 2018

Hydrofracturing technology of perforated horizontal well has been widely used to stimulate the tight hydrocarbon reservoirs for gas production. To predict the hydraulic fracture propagation, the microseismicity can be used to infer hydraulic fractures state; by the effective numerical methods, microseismic events can be addressed from changes of the computed stresses. In numerical models, due to the challenges in accurately representing the complex structure of naturally fractured reservoir, the interaction between hydraulic and pre‐existing fractures has not yet been considered and handled satisfactorily. To overcome these challenges, the adaptive finite element‐discrete element method is used to refine mesh, effectively identify the fractures propagation, and investigate microseismic modelling. Numerical models are composed of hydraulic fractures, pre‐existing fractures, and microscale pores, and the seepage analysis based on the Darcy’s law is used to determine fluid flow; then moment tensors in microseismicity are computed based on the computed stresses. Unfractured and naturally fractured models are compared to assess the influences of pre‐existing fractures on hydrofracturing. The damaged and contact slip events were detected by the magnitudes, B‐values, Hudson source type plots, and focal spheres.
An Unusual Case of Refractory Hypoxia on the ICU
Authors: Phillips Caroline , Harris Clare , Broughton Nathaniel , Pulimood Thomas , Ring Liam
Published: April 2018

We present the case of a 68-year-old gentleman who presented with breathlessness and was found to have NSTEMI, pulmonary oedema, and hypoxia. He remained hypoxic despite appropriate treatment and was found to have preserved LV function and raised cardiac output. CT pulmonary angiogram was negative but a cirrhotic liver was incidentally noted and later confirmed via ultrasound. Bedside examination was positive for orthodeoxia, suggesting a diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). The finding of significant intrapulmonary shunting on “bubble” echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis. This patient did not have previously diagnosed liver disease and had largely normal LFTs when the diagnosis was first suspected. We discuss HPS in the context of ICU and suggest how it may be screened for using simple tests. There is no correlation between the presence of HPS and severity of liver disease, yet we believe this is the first reported adult case of HPS on the ICU without previously diagnosed cirrhosis.
Hybrid Structural Reliability Analysis under Multisource Uncertainties Based on Universal Grey Numbers
Authors: Yang Xingfa , Liu Jie , Chen Xiaoyue , Qing Qixiang , Wen Guilin
Published: April 2018

Nondeterministic parameters of certain distribution are employed to model structural uncertainties, which are usually assumed as stochastic factors. However, model parameters may not be precisely represented due to some factors in engineering practices, such as lack of sufficient data, data with fuzziness, and unknown‐but‐bounded conditions. To this end, interval and fuzzy parameters are implemented and an efficient approach to structural reliability analysis with random‐interval‐fuzzy hybrid parameters is proposed in this study. Fuzzy parameters are first converted to equivalent random ones based on the equal entropy principle. 3σ criterion is then employed to transform the equivalent random and the original random parameters to interval variables. In doing this, the hybrid reliability problem is transformed into the one only with interval variables, in other words, nonprobabilistic reliability analysis problem. Nevertheless, the problem of interval extension existed in interval arithmetic, especially for the nonlinear systems. Therefore, universal grey mathematics, which can tackle the issue of interval extension, is employed to solve the nonprobabilistic reliability analysis problem. The results show that the proposed method can obtain more conservative results of the hybrid structural reliability.
Are Serum Mac 2-Binding Protein Levels Elevated in Esophageal Cancer? A Control Study of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Cobanoglu Ufuk , Mergan Duygu , Dülger Ahmet Cumhur , Celik Sebahattin , Kemik Ozgur , Sayir Fuat
Published: April 2018

Objective. Elevated serum Mac 2-binding protein (M2BP) levels have been observed in some cancers. As far as we know, its importance has not been investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The investigated problem of this study was to evaluate whether there was a difference between ESCC patients and the control group in terms of M2BP. Also, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of serum M2BP alone or in combination with the CEA for patients with ESCC.Material and Methods. Blood serum samples were collected from 50 healthy donors and 150 patients with ESCC. M2BP levels of all 200 samples were quantified by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Patients who had been diagnosed with ESCC and did not have any other malignancies were enrolled to study.Results. The two groups did not significantly differ in terms of age (p>0.05). In the control group, the mean serum M2BP level was 14.97 ± 3.46 ng/mL. The mean serum M2BP level of the ESCC patients was 176.65 ± 22.14 ng/mL. The serum M2BP level was significantly higher in patients with ESCC than in the control group (p<0.001). Gender was also comparable in both groups (p=0.695).Conclusions. Our analysis demonstrated that this marker may be associated with the mechanism of the disease. Despite that serum M2BP is not a specific marker for ESCC, it can be used as an adjuvant biomarker for the diagnosis of ESCC.
Recent Advances in Studies on the Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Carotenoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Cho Kyoung Sang , Shin Myeongcheol , Kim Sunhong , Lee Sung Bae
Published: April 2018

Carotenoids, symmetrical tetraterpenes with a linear C40 hydrocarbon backbone, are natural pigment molecules produced by plants, algae, and fungi. Carotenoids have important functions in the organisms (including animals) that obtain them from food. Due to their characteristic structure, carotenoids have bioactive properties, such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and autophagy‐modulatory activities. Given the protective function of carotenoids, their levels in the human body have been significantly associated with the treatment and prevention of various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. In this paper, we review the latest studies on the effects of carotenoids on neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Furthermore, animal and cellular model studies on the beneficial effects of carotenoids on neurodegeneration are also reviewed. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms and limitations of carotenoids in the treatment and prevention of neurological diseases.
Second-Order Asymptotics of the Risk Concentration of a Portfolio with Deflated Risks
Authors: Chen Yu , Gao Yu , Gao Wenxue , Zhang Weiping
Published: April 2018

The quantification of diversification benefits due to risk aggregation has received more attention in the recent literature. In this paper, we establish second-order asymptotics of the risk concentration based on several risk measures for a portfolio of n identically distributed but dependent deflated risks Xj=RjS, j=1,2,…,n under the assumptions of second-order regular variation on the survival functions of the risks Rj and the deflator S, where R1,R2,…,Rn are n independent and identically distributed random variables with a common survival function and S is a random variable being independent of R1,R2,…,Rn. Examples are also given to illustrate our main results.
Temporomandibular Disorders among Dutch Adolescents: Prevalence and Biological, Psychological, and Social Risk Indicators
Authors: Marpaung Carolina , Lobbezoo Frank , van Selms Maurits K. A.
Published: April 2018

Aims. To assess the prevalence rates of pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds in a large group of Dutch adolescents, aged between 12 and 18 years and to determine if the same biological, psychological, and social risk indicators are related to both TMD pain and TMJ sounds. Methods. In this cross-sectional questionnaire survey, 4,235 questionnaires were analyzed, with an about equal gender distribution. Results. The overall prevalence of pain-related TMDs was 21.6% (26.1% for girls and 17.6% for boys) and that of TMJ sounds was 15.5% (19.3% for girls and 11.7% for boys). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the following variables appeared to be the strongest predictors of TMD pain: female gender, increasing age, sleep bruxism, biting on lips and/or cheeks, stress, and feeling sad. Regarding self-reported TMJ sounds, the multiple regression model revealed that female gender, increasing age, awake bruxism, and biting on lips and/or cheeks were the strongest predictors. Conclusions. TMDs are a common finding among Dutch adolescents. Except for the psychological factors that appeared to be associated with TMD pain only, pain-related TMDs and TMJ sounds shared similar biological risk indicators.
Preparation and Characterization of Styrene Bearing Diethanolamine Side Group, Styrene Copolymer Systems, and Their Metal Complexes
Authors: Açıkses Aslışah , Çömez Necmittin , Biryan Fatih
Published: April 2018

The two copolymer systems of styrene bearing diethanol amine side group and styrene were prepared by free radical polymerization method at 60°C in presence of 1,4-dioxane as solvent and AIBN as initiator. Their metal complexes were prepared by reaction of the copolymer used as ligand P(DEAMSt-co-St)L′′ and Ni(II) and Co(II) metal ions, which was carried out in presence of ethanol and NaOH at 65°C for 48 h in pH = 7.5. The structures of the copolymers used as ligand and metal complexes were identified by FT-IR, 1H-NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. The properties of the copolymers used as ligand and metal complexes were characterized by SEM-EDX, AAS, DSC, TGA, and DTA techniques. Then, the electrical properties of the copolymers and metal complexes were examined as a function of the temperature and frequency, and the activation energies (Ea) were estimated with conductivity measurements.
Group Analysis ofQValues Calculated with Tangential Radius of Curvature from Human Anterior Corneal Surface
Authors: Xia Zheren , Lin Chengmin , Huang Xueping , Ying Jinglu , Shi Mingguang , Zheng Suilian
Published: April 2018

Objective. To calculate theQvalues from the human anterior corneal surface with the tangential radius of curvature and analyze its distribution characteristics in different age and refractive status groups.Methods. Tangential power maps of the anterior cornea from Orbscan II were acquired for 201 subjects’ right eyes. They were divided into groups of adults and children and then divided further into subgroups according to the refraction status. TheQvalues of each semimeridian were calculated by the tangential radius with a linear regression equation. TheQvalue distribution in both the nasal cornea and temporal cornea were analyzed.Results. The mean temporalQvalues of the emmetropia group of adults and all children’s groups were significantly different from the mean nasalQvalue. The mean nasal cornealQvalues were more negative in children. The adult group showed differences only in the low myopia group. The meanQvalue of the nasal cornea among different refractive groups of children was significantly different, and so was the temporal cornea between the adult myopia and emmetropia group.Conclusion. The method using the tangential radius of curvature combined with linear regression to obtain anterior surfaceQvalues for both adults and children was stable and reliable. When we analyzed the anterior cornealQvalue, area division was necessary.
Parameter Identification of Composite Materials Based on Spectral Model by Using Model Updating Method
Authors: Sun Rui , Perera Ricardo , Sevillano Enrique , Gu Jintao
Published: April 2018

A model updating approach based on a spectral element model and solved with a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is proposed to identify the vibration-damping properties of composite materials. In comparison with conventional finite element model updating, a composite beam is modeled in a unified way by using a spectral approach whose computational cost is significantly reduced due to its simplicity. In this way, the dynamic response can be captured accurately by using a very limited number of elements. To identify the material properties, experimental tests are carried out to get the initial parameters that are introduced to initialize the spectral model; then, a model updating process solved with a PSO algorithm is implemented to obtain the real material parameters. It has been demonstrated that the proposed spectral model is a potential tool for model updating and parameter identification.
A Novel Approach to Identify Polytraumatized Patients in Extremis
Authors: Negrin Lukas L. , Antoni Anna , Hajdu Stefan , Heinz Thomas
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Due to the fact that early objective identification of polytraumatized patients in extremis is crucial for carrying out immediate life-saving measures, our objectives were to provide and scrutinize a definition that results in a particularly high mortality rate and to identify predictors of mortality in this group. Materials and Methods. A polytraumatized patient (ISS ≥ 16) was classified “in extremis” if five out of seven parameters (arterial paCO2 > 50 mmHg, hemoglobin < 9.5 g/dl, pH value < 7.2, lactate level > 4 mmol/l, base excess < −6 mmol/l, shock index > 1, and Horowitz index < 300) were met. By applying this definition, polytraumatized patients (age ≥ 18 years), admitted to our level I trauma center within a time period of three years, were retrospectively allocated to the “in extremis” group and to an age-, gender-, and ISS-matched “non-in extremis” group for comparison. Results. Out of 64 polytraumatized patients (mean ISS, 43.6), who formed the “in extremis” group, 36 patients (56.3%) died, thus revealing a threefold higher mortality rate than in the matched group (18.9%). Within the “in extremis” group, age and ISS were identified as predictors of mortality. Conclusion. Our definition might serve as a valuable early warning score or at least an impetus for defining polytraumatized patients in extremis in clinical practice.
Sentence Context and Word-Picture Cued-Recall Paired-Associate Learning Procedure Boosts Recall in Normal and Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Iodice Rosario , Meilán Juan José García , Ramos Juan Carro , Small Jeff A.
Published: April 2018

Introduction. The aim of this study was to employ the word-picture paradigm to examine the effectiveness of combined pictorial illustrations and sentences as strong contextual cues. The experiment details the performance of word recall in healthy older adults (HOA) and mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The researchers enhanced the words’ recall with word-picture condition and when the pair was associated with a sentence contextualizing the two items. Method. The sample was composed of 18 HOA and 18 people with mild AD. Participants memorized 15 pairs of words under word-word and word-picture conditions, with and without a sentence context. In the paired-associate test, the first item of the pair was read aloud by participants and used to elicit retrieval of the associated item. Results. The findings suggest that both HOA and mild-AD pictures improved item recall compared to word condition such as sentences which further enabled item recall. Additionally, the HOA group performs better than the mild-AD group in all conditions. Conclusions. Word-picture and sentence context strengthen the encoding in the explicit memory task, both in HOA and mild AD. These results open a potential window to improve the memory for verbalized instructions and restore sequential abilities in everyday life, such as brushing one’s teeth, fastening one’s pants, or drying one’s hands.
Electrochemical Determination of Paracetamol Using Fe3O4/Reduced Graphene-Oxide-Based Electrode
Authors: Thu Nguyen Thi Anh , Duc Hoang Van , Hai Phong Nguyen , Cuong Nguyen Duc , Hoan Nguyen Thi Vuong , Quang Khieu Dinh
Published: April 2018

The synthesis of magnetic iron oxide/reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/rGO) and its application to the electrochemical determination of paracetamol using Fe3O4/rGO modified electrode were demonstrated. The obtained materials were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and magnetic measurement. The results showed that Fe3O4/rGO composite exhibited high specific surface area, and its morphology consists of very fine spherical particles of Fe3O4in nanoscales. Fe3O4/rGO was used as an electrode modifier for the determination of paracetamol by differential pulse-anodic stripping voltammetry (DP-ASV). The preparation of Fe3O4/rGO-based electrode and some factors affecting voltammetric responses were investigated. The results showed that Fe3O4/rGO is a potential electrode modifier for paracetamol detection by DP-ASV with a low limit of detection. The interfering effect of uric acid, ascorbic acid, and dopamine on the current response of paracetamol has been reported. The repeatability, reproducibility, linear range, and limit of detection were also addressed. The proposed method could be applied to the real samples with satisfactory results.
The Effect of Pulsatile Flow on bMSC-Derived Endothelial-Like Cells in a Small-Sized Artificial Vessel Made by 3-Dimensional Bioprinting
Authors: Lee Kang Woog , Kim Dae-Hyun , Lee Jun Hee , Youn Young-Nam
Published: April 2018

Replacement of small-sized vessels is still challenging. This study is aimed at investigating the possibility of small-sized artificial vessels made by 3-dimensional bioprinting and the effect of pulsatile flow on bMSC-derived endothelial-like cells. Cells were harvested from rabbit bone marrow and primary cultured with or without growth factors. Endothelial differentiation was confirmed by the Matrigel tube formation assay, Western blot, and qRT-PCR. In addition, embedment of endothelial-like cells in an artificial vessel was made by 3-dimensional bioprinting, and the pulsatile flow was performed. For pumped and nonpumped groups, qRT-PCR was performed on CD31 and VE-cadherin gene expression. Endothelial-like cells showed increased gene expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin, and tube formation is observed at each week. Endothelial-like cells grow well in a small-sized artificial vessel made by 3-dimensional bioprinting and even express higher endothelial cell markers when they undergo pulsatile flow condition. Moreover, the pulsatile flow condition gives a positive effect for cell observation not only on the sodium alginate hydrogel layer but also on the luminal surface of the artificial vessel wall. We have developed an artificial vessel, which is a mixture of cells and carriers using a 3-dimensional bioprinting method, and applied pulsatile flow using a peristaltic pump, and we also demonstrated cell growth and differentiation into endothelial cells. This study suggests guidelines regarding a small-sized artificial vessel in the field of tissue engineering.