bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial diversity of the supra- and subgingival biofilm of healthy individuals after brushing with chlorhexidine- or silver-coated toothbrush bristles
Authors: do Nascimento Cássio , Paulo Diana Ferreira , Pita Murillo Sucena , Pedrazzi Vinícius , de Albuquerque Junior Rubens Ferreira
Published: November 2014

Nanoparticulate silver has recently been reported as an effective antimicrobial agent. The aim of this clinical study was to investigate the potential changes on the oral microbiota of healthy individuals after controlled brushing with chlorhexidine- or silver-coated toothbrush bristles. Twenty-four healthy participants were enrolled in this investigation and randomly submitted to 3 interventions. All the participants received, in a crossover format, the following toothbrushing interventions: (i) chlorhexidine-coated bristles, (ii) silver-coated bristles, and (iii) conventional toothbrush (Control). All the interventions had a duration of 30 days. The DNA checkerboard hybridization method was used to identify and quantify up to 43 microbial species colonizing the supra- and subgingival biofilm. The supragingival samples presented higher genome counts than the subgingival samples (p < 0.0001). The total genome counts from the Control group showed the highest values, followed by the silver and chlorhexidine groups (p < 0.0001). After 4 weeks of brushing, the silver-coated and chlorhexidine-coated bristles were capable of reducing or maintaining lower levels of the bacterial counts of the putative periodontal pathogens Tanerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Other major periodontal pathogens, such as Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella nigrescens, and Parvimonas micra, were also detected at lower levels. The toothbrush bristles impregnated with silver nanoparticles reduced the total and individual genome count in the supra- and subgingival biofilm after 4 weeks of brushing. Chlorhexidine was not effective in reducing the total genome counts in both supra- or subgingival biofilm after 4 weeks of brushing. Chlorhexidine reduced the individual genome counts in the supragingival biofilm for most of the target species, including putative periodontal pathogens.
Bound states of the Dirac equation for the generalized Woods–Saxon potential in pseudospin and spin symmetry limits
Authors: Candemir N. , Bayrak O.
Published: November 2014

Bound state solutions of the Dirac equation for the generalized Woods–Saxon potential are examined for arbitrary κ states by using the approximation to the Coulomb and centrifugal potentials in pseudospin symmetry (PSS) and spin symmetry (SS) limits, respectively. The energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions are obtained in closed forms. Some numerical examples are given for proton or anti-proton in a nucleus. The correlations between the energy splitting and some parameters of the effective potential in PSS limit are examined for several pseudospin doublets.
Equivalence of zeta function technique and Abel–Plana formula in regularizing the Casimir energy of hyper-rectangular cavities
Authors: Lin Rui-Hui , Zhai Xiang-Hua
Published: November 2014

Zeta function regularization is an effective method to extract physical significant quantities from infinite ones. It is regarded as mathematically simple and elegant but the isolation of the physical divergency is hidden in its analytic continuation. By contrast, Abel–Plana formula method permits explicit separation of divergent terms. In regularizing the Casimir energy for a massless scalar field in a D-dimensional rectangular box, we give the rigorous proof of the equivalence of the two methods by deriving the reflection formula of Epstein zeta function from repeatedly application of Abel–Plana formula and giving the physical interpretation of the infinite integrals. Our study may help with the confidence of choosing any regularization method at convenience among the frequently used ones, especially the zeta function method, without the doubts of physical meanings or mathematical consistency.
Kaluza–Klein mass spectra on extended dimensional branes
Authors: Hong Soon-Tae
Published: November 2014

We study the hierarchy problem on the four- and five-branes which are constructed by attaching a circle and a sphere to the standard three-brane, respectively. The effective masses in their excited spectra on these extended dimensional branes imply intriguing characteristics associated with the quantization of the compact circular and spherical manifolds. In particular, their lightest effective masses are shown to suppress exponentially with respect to the Planck mass, similar to the three-brane case. We also investigate the effective couplings in these extended dimensional branes.
MULTISCALE STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MODEL FOR DERIVATIVES ON FUTURES
Authors: FOUQUE JEAN-PIERRE , SAPORITO YURI F. , ZUBELLI JORGE P.
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we present a new method for computing the first-order approximation of the price of derivatives on futures in the context of multiscale stochastic volatility studied in Fouque et al. (2011). It provides an alternative method to the singular perturbation technique presented in Hikspoors & Jaimungal (2008). The main features of our method are twofold: firstly, it does not rely on any additional hypothesis on the regularity of the payoff function, and secondly, it allows an effective and straightforward calibration procedure of the group market parameters to implied volatilities. These features were not achieved in previous works. Moreover, the central argument of our method could be applied to interest rate derivatives and compound derivatives. The only pre-requisite of our approach is the first-order approximation of the underlying derivative. Furthermore, the model proposed here is well-suited for commodities since it incorporates mean reversion of the spot price and multiscale stochastic volatility. Indeed, the model was validated by calibrating the group market parameters to options on crude-oil futures, and it displays a very good fit of the implied volatility.
The Effects of Various Slippage Loads on the Response Modification Factor of Steel Structures Equipped with Frictional Dampers
Authors: Samani Hamid Rahmani , Mirtaheri Masoud , Rafiee Mojtaba
Published: November 2014

A common and successful way of structural control is to dissipate the seismic kinetic energy via frictional dampers. Response of a friction damped frame during an earthquake excitation is heavily dependent to the slippage limit of the frictional dampers. Low values of slippage load may lead to excessive deformations while large slippage loads may prevent sliding. Therefore, selecting appropriate values for slippages loads of the dampers is very important in order to have optimum energy dissipating system. Utilizing a response modification factor, the standard seismic design code procedure can be applied to the frames equipped with frictional dampers to determine the value of slippage loads. In this investigation, the response modification factor of steel moment resisting frames equipped with frictional dampers is evaluated considering the effects of various slippage loads. The response modification factor is calculated for two bay widths of 5 m and 7 m in length. It is shown that the optimum slippage load that results in the maximum response modification factor is in the range of 8% to 20% of the total weight of the structure. The taller the structure is, the less the optimum slippage load will be. Finally, an equation is proposed for the response modification factor as a function of the slippage load.
Pairwise quantum and classical correlations in multi-qubits states via linear relative entropy
Authors: Daoud M. , Laamara R. Ahl , El Hadfi H.
Published: November 2014

The pairwise correlations in a multi-qubit state are quantified through a linear variant of relative entropy. In particular, we derive the explicit expressions of total, quantum and classical bipartite correlations. Two different bi-partioning schemes are considered. We discuss the derivation of closest product, quantum–classical and quantum–classical product states. We also investigate the additivity relation between the various pairwise correlations existing in pure and mixed states. As illustration, some special cases are examined.
Bayes Classification for Nonstationary Patterns
Authors: Kulczycki Piotr , Kowalski Piotr Andrzej
Published: November 2014

The paper's subject is classification with nonstationary patterns. The attribute space is finite-dimensional, while its coordinates in particular may be continuous, binary, discrete, categorical in character, or also a combination of these. The number of patterns is not methodologically limited. Use of the Bayes approach minimizes the expected value of misclassifications, allowing additionally for an influence in the proportions of probability of errors when assigning to specific classes. In turn, the statistical kernel estimators method makes the algorithm independent of patterns' shapes. The investigated procedure also eliminates elements of patterns which have insignificant or even negative influence on the results' accuracy. Appropriate modifications follow the classifier parameters, which increases the effectiveness of procedure adaptation for nonstationary patterns. The algorithm concept is based on the sensitivity method, used with artificial neural networks.
The Hallandia gneiss, a Swedish heritage stone resource
Authors: Schouenborg B. , Andersson J. , Göransson M. , Lundqvist Inger
Published: November 2014

Cited documents indicate that industrial production of building stones of the Hallandia gneiss from SW Sweden (Halland County) goes back to at least the 1850s when large quantities of paving stones were exported to Germany and Denmark. It is most likely that quarry operations have been going on for a much longer period, mostly for local needs.

The Hallandia gneiss is an aesthetically distinct gneiss unit characterized by multiple phases of deformation and veining at high-grade metamorphic conditions, unique with few, if any, equivalents in the world. Remnants of about 500 quarries (including small examples) have been documented in the area. The occurrence of Hallandia gneiss is limited to the coastal areas of SW Sweden where there are strong demands on the land for recreation and cultural heritage. The unique and restricted occurrence of the Hallandia gneiss to an area with strong competing interests of land use has resulted in severe concerns about the supply of this building stone material.

The need to safeguard a future supply of this rare stone type is urgent. This paper provides an outline of its unique geology, historic and present use, along with its technical and aesthetical properties.
Active vitamin D deficiency mediated by extracellular calcium and phosphorus results in male infertility in young mice
Authors: Sun Weiwei , Chen Lulu , Zhang Wei , Wang Rong , Goltzman David , Miao Dengshun
Published: November 2014

We used mice with targeted deletion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 α-hydroxylase [1α(OH)ase−/−] to investigate whether 1,25(OH)2D3deficiency results in male infertility mediated by 1,25(OH)2D3or extracellular calcium and phosphorus. Male 1α(OH)ase−/−and their wild-type littermates fed either a normal diet or a rescue diet from weaning were mated at 6–14 wk of age with female wild-type mice on the same diet. The fertility efficiency of females was analyzed, and the reproductive phenotypes of males were evaluated by histopathological and molecular techniques. Hypocalcemic and hypophosphatemic male 1α(OH)ase−/−mice on a normal diet developed infertility characterized by hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, with downregulation of testicular calcium channels, lower intracellular calcium levels, decreased sperm count and motility, and histological abnormalities of the testes. The proliferation of spermatogenic cells was decreased with downregulation of cyclin E and CDK2 and upregulation of p53 and p21 expression, whereas apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was increased with upregulation of Bax and p-caspase 3 expression and downregulation of Bcl-xl expression. When serum calcium and phosphorus were normalized by the rescue diet, the defective reproductive phenotype in the male 1α(OH)ase−/−mice, including the hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, decreased sperm count and motility, histological abnormalities of testis, and defective spermatogenesis, was reversed. These results indicate that the infertility seen in male 1,25(OH)2D3-deficient mice is not a direct effect of active vitamin D deficiency on the reproductive system but is an indirect effect mediated by extracellular calcium and phosphorus.
Implant-Related Infection in the Tibia: Surgical Revision Strategy with Vancomycin Cement
Authors: Xu Yong-Qing , Zhu Yue-Liang , Fan Xin-Yv , Jin Tao , Li Yang , He Xiao-Qing
Published: November 2014

The development of a deep wound infection in the presence of internal hardware presents a clinical dilemma. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of vancomycin cement with other advances of surgical techniques for implant-related infection (IRI) in the tibia. This study included 217 consecutive patients who had sustained IRI of the tibia. Of them, 152 patients had soft tissue defects and the internal hardware was exposed. Repeated debridement and negative pressure assisted closure were used. All the infected internal hardware was removed. External fixations and flaps were used. Custom-made vancomycin cement was inserted into the dead space of the wounds and left in site for a month. The follow-up was from 12 months to 108 months, averaging 37.5 months. For all the 217 patients, the general osteomyelitis healing rate and bone union rate were 86.6% and 97.2%, respectively. This study shows high rates of healing of IRI in the tibia if the new advances of surgery could be effectively combined into the treatment strategy with vancomycin cement as an important treatment.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Accuracy in the Staging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Review and Cost-Effectiveness
Authors: Gómez León Nieves , Escalona Sofía , Bandrés Beatriz , Belda Cristobal , Callejo Daniel , Blasco Juan Antonio
Published: November 2014

Aim of the performed clinical study was to compare the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of PET/CT in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Material and Methods. Cross-sectional and prospective study including 103 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC. All patients were examined using PET/CT with intravenous contrast medium. Those with disease stage ≤IIB underwent surgery (n=40). Disease stage was confirmed based on histology results, which were compared with those of PET/CT and positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) separately. 63 patients classified with ≥IIIA disease stage by PET/CT did not undergo surgery. The cost-effectiveness of PET/CT for disease classification was examined using a decision tree analysis.Results. Compared with histology, the accuracy of PET/CT for disease staging has a positive predictive value of 80%, a negative predictive value of 95%, a sensitivity of 94%, and a specificity of 82%. For PET alone, these values are 53%, 66%, 60%, and 50%, whereas for CT alone they are 68%, 86%, 76%, and 72%, respectively. Incremental cost-effectiveness of PET/CT over CT alone was €17,412 quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).Conclusion. In our clinical study, PET/CT using intravenous contrast medium was an accurate and cost-effective method for staging of patients with NSCLC.
Synthesis and Molecular Structure of Chiral (2S, 5S)-tert-Butyl 3-Oxo-2-oxa-5-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-5-carboxylate
Authors: Moriguchi Tetsuji , Krishnamurthy Suvratha , Arai Toru , Tsuge Akihiko
Published: November 2014

The title compound (2S, 5S)-tert-butyl 3-oxo-2-oxa-5-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-5-carboxylate was synthesized as a chiral cyclic amino acid ester from the corresponding cis- and trans-5-hydroxypipecolic acid ethyl esters via an intramolecular lactonization reaction without using chiral catalyst or enzyme and without separation by chiral column chromatography. The chiral compound was characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Its exact structure was then determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal obtained after recrystallization of the compound from ethyl acetate/diethyl ether. The crystal was found to be of the orthorhombic space group P212121 (No. 19, noncentrosymmetric, chiral) with a=9.6402(10) Å, b=9.7026(10) Å, c=12.2155(12) Å, Dcalc=1.3194 g/cm3, and a Flack parameter of 0.0(5) at 90 K. The compound has a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane structure comprised of lactone and piperidine groups.
Single-Tooth Morse Taper Connection Implant Placed in Grafted Site of the Anterior Maxilla: Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation
Authors: Mangano Francesco Guido , Zecca Piero , Luongo Fabrizia , Iezzi Giovanna , Mangano Carlo
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study was to achieve aesthetically pleasing soft tissue contours in a severely compromised tooth in the anterior region of the maxilla. For a right-maxillary central incisor with localized advanced chronic periodontitis a tooth extraction followed by reconstructive procedures and delayed implant placement was proposed and accepted by the patient. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique was employed, with a biphasic calcium-phosphate (BCP) block graft placed in the extraction socket in conjunction with granules of the same material and a resorbable barrier membrane. After 6 months of healing, an implant was installed. The acrylic provisional restoration remained in situ for 3 months and then was substituted with the definitive crown. This ridge reconstruction technique enabled preserving both hard and soft tissues and counteracting vertical and horizontal bone resorption after tooth extraction and allowed for an ideal three-dimensional implant placement. Localized severe alveolar bone resorption of the anterior maxilla associated with chronic periodontal disease can be successfully treated by means of ridge reconstruction with GBR and delayed implant insertion; the placement of an early-loaded, Morse taper connection implant in the grafted site was effective to create an excellent clinical aesthetic result and to maintain it along time.
Genetic Variability and Selection Criteria in Rice Mutant Lines as Revealed by Quantitative Traits
Authors: Oladosu Yusuff , Rafii M. Y. , Abdullah Norhani , Abdul Malek Mohammad , Rahim H. A. , Hussin Ghazali , Abdul Latif Mohammad , Kareem Isiaka
Published: November 2014

Genetic based knowledge of different vegetative and yield traits play a major role in varietal improvement of rice. Genetic variation gives room for recombinants which are essential for the development of a new variety in any crop. Based on this background, this work was carried out to evaluate genetic diversity of derived mutant lines and establish relationships between their yield and yield components using multivariate analysis. To achieve this objective, two field trials were carried out on 45 mutant rice genotypes to evaluate their growth and yield traits. Data were taken on vegetative traits and yield and its components, while genotypic and phenotypic coefficients, variance components, expected genetic advance, and heritability were calculated. All the genotypes showed variations for vegetative traits and yield and its components. Also, there was positive relationship between the quantitative traits and the final yield with the exception of number of tillers. Finally, the evaluated genotypes were grouped into five major clusters based on the assessed traits with the aid of UPGMA dendrogram. So hybridization of group I with group V or group VI could be used to attain higher heterosis or vigour among the genotypes. Also, this evaluation could be useful in developing reliable selection indices for important agronomic traits in rice.
Electricity Market Stochastic Dynamic Model and Its Mean Stability Analysis
Authors: Lu Zhanhui , Wang Weijuan , Li Gengyin , Xie Di
Published: November 2014

Based on the deterministic dynamic model of electricity market proposed by Alvarado, a stochastic electricity market model, considering the random nature of demand sides, is presented in this paper on the assumption that generator cost function and consumer utility function are quadratic functions. The stochastic electricity market model is a generalization of the deterministic dynamic model. Using the theory of stochastic differential equations, stochastic process theory, and eigenvalue techniques, the determining conditions of the mean stability for this electricity market model under small Gauss type random excitation are provided and testified theoretically. That is, if the demand elasticity of suppliers is nonnegative and the demand elasticity of consumers is negative, then the stochastic electricity market model is mean stable. It implies that the stability can be judged directly by initial data without any computation. Taking deterministic electricity market data combined with small Gauss type random excitation as numerical samples to interpret random phenomena from a statistical perspective, the results indicate the conclusions above are correct, valid, and practical.
Radiation Therapy with Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma: Outcome Analysis with Emphasis on the Impact of Treatment Duration on Outcome
Authors: Diaz Juan , Yu Daohai , Micaily Bizhan , Ferriss J. Stuart , Hernandez Enrique
Published: November 2014

Objective. To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of carboplatin concurrent with pelvic external beam radiation and low-dose rate brachytherapy and to assess the impact that adherence to the treatment plan has on outcomes.Methods. Retrospective chart review of 56 patients treated from January 2001 to December 2010.Results. Median follow-up was 68 months. Optimal dose of radiation (ORT) was defined as a minimal cervical dose exceeding 70 Gy, point A dose of 80–90 Gy, and duration not exceeding 56 days. Only 50% received ORT. In multivariable analyses we only found ORT to be statistically significant predictor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (HR [95% CI] for non-ORT vs. ORT: 2.4 [1.2, 5.1],P=0.014for PFS and 2.2 [1.1, 4.6],P=0.035for OS). The 5-year PFS in patients who received ORT was better than that in patients who received non-ORT, 56% vs. 22% (95% CI: [36%, 72%] vs. [9%, 39%]). Patients who received ORT had a better 5-year OS as well (59% vs. 33%; 95% CI: [38%, 75%] vs. [16%, 51%]).Conclusion. Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with weakly carboplatin or cisplatin, teletherapy, and low dose-dose rate brachytherapy have poorer outcomes when treatment duration is prolonged.
An In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of Intravenous Lipid Emulsion on Free and Total Local Anaesthetic Concentrations in Human Blood and Plasma
Authors: Clark Louise Ann , Beyer Jochen , Graudins Andis
Published: November 2014

Background. Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) is recommended as a “rescue” treatment for local anaesthetic (LA) toxicity. A purported mechanism of action suggests that lipophilic LAs are sequestered into an intravascular “lipid-sink,” thus reducing free drug concentration. There is limited data available correlating the effects of ILE on LAs.Aims. To compare the in vitro effect of ILE on LA concentrations in human blood/plasma and to correlate this reduction to LA lipophilicity.Method. One of four LAs (bupivacaine-most lipophilic-4 mg/L, ropivacaine-6 mg/L, lignocaine-14 mg/L, and prilocaine-least lipophilic-7 mg/L) was spiked into plasma or whole blood. ILE or control-buffer was added. Plasma was centrifuged to separate ILE and total-LA concentration assayed from the lipid-free fraction. Whole blood underwent equilibrium dialysis and free-LA concentration was measured. Percent reduction in LA concentration from control was compared between the LAs and correlated with lipophilicity.Results. ILE caused a significant reduction in total and free bupivacaine concentration compared with the other LAs. Ropivacaine had the least reduction in concentration, despite a lipophilicity similar to bupivacaine. The reduction in LA concentration correlated to increasing lipophilicity when ropivacaine was excluded from analysis.Conclusion. In this first in vitro model assessing both free- and total-LA concentrations exposed to ILE in human blood/plasma, ILE effect was linearly correlated with increasing lipophilicity for all but ropivacaine.
Antimetastatic and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Essential Oil from EdibleOcimum sanctumLeaves
Authors: Manaharan Thamilvaani , Thirugnanasampandan Ramaraj , Jayakumar Rajarajeswaran , Ramya Gunasekar , Ramnath Gogul , Kanthimathi M. S.
Published: November 2014

Antimetastatic and anti-inflammatory activities ofOcimum sanctumessential oil (OSEO) have been assessed in this study. OSEO at the concentration of 250 μg/mL and above showed a significant (P*<0.05) decrease in the number of migrated cancer cells. In addition, OSEO at concentration of 250 μg/mL and above suppressed MMP-9 activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory cells. A dose-dependent downregulation of MMP-9 expression was observed with the treatment of OSEO compared to the control. Our findings indicate that OSEO has both antimetastatic and anti-inflammatory potentials, advocating further investigation for clinical applications in the treatment of inflammation associated cancer.
Development and Characterization of Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) Copolymer Based Polymer Electrolytes
Authors: Sa’adun Nurul Nadiah , Subramaniam Ramesh , Kasi Ramesh
Published: November 2014

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are developed using poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) [P(VP-co-VAc)] as the host polymer, lithium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide [LiTFSI] as the lithium salt and ionic liquid, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide [EMImTFSI] by using solution casting technique. The effect of ionic liquid on ionic conductivity is studied and the optimum ionic conductivity at room temperature is found to be 2.14 × 10−6 S cm−1for sample containing 25 wt% of EMImTFSI. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity from 303 K to 353 K exhibits Arrhenius plot behaviour. The thermal stability of the polymer electrolyte system is studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) while the structural and morphological properties of the polymer electrolyte is studied by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), respectively.
Subacute Oral Toxicity of Yukmijiwhang‐Tang in Crl:CD Sprague‐Dawley Rats and Its Cytotoxicity
Authors: Jeong Soo-Jin , Seo Chang-Seob , Huh Jung-Im , Shin Hyeun-Kyoo
Published: November 2014

Background. The traditional herbal formula Yukmijiwhang‐tang (YMJ) consists of six medicinal herbs and has been used to treat dysuria, diabetic mellitus, and neurosis in Korea, China, and Japan. Here we report safety information on its subacute toxicity and the cytotoxicity. Methods. YMJ extract was administered to SD rats at various dosages for 4 weeks. We monitored clinical signs, mortality, body and organ weights, food intake, and hematological and serum biochemistry factors. For cytotoxicity testing, each cell line was treated with various concentrations of YMJ for 24 h. Results. YMJ treatment had no significant effects on changes in clinical signs, body weight, or food intake in male or female rats. In male rats, YMJ treatment decreased the absolute weights of the epididymides and serum Na levels. In female rats, YMJ significantly reduced the prothrombin time (PT) and serum creatine level. However, the changes were not severe and were considered to be in the normal physiological range for rats. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect‐level (NOAEL) was estimated to be 2000 mg/kg/day. YMJ extract did not exert any cytotoxicity against 23 tested cell lines. Conclusions. Our data provide scientific evidence on the safety of YMJ for potential development as a prescription drug.
Sintering of Hydroxyapatite/Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Nanocomposites under Nitrogen Gas for Dental Materials
Authors: Leong C. H. , Muchtar A. , Tan C. Y. , Razali M. , Amat Noor Faeizah
Published: November 2014

This study aims to determine the effect of adding 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) in hydroxyapatite (HA) and sintering HA/3YSZ nanocomposites under nitrogen gas on HA decomposition. This paper presents the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of HA/3YSZ nanocomposites. Gas pressure and conventional sintering were performed on HA/3YSZ nanocomposites containing different amounts of 3YSZ (i.e., 0, 0.5, 1, and 7 wt%) at 1250°C. The phase stability, morphology, relative density, and microhardness of the HA/3YSZ nanocomposites were investigated. The phase stability of the HA/3YSZ nanocomposites was affected by adding different amounts of 3YSZ. Overall, gas pressure sintering leads to the formation of greater grain size compared with the conventional sintering method. The severe HA decomposition and the presence of the porosity in HA/7 wt% 3YSZ have led to deterioration in relative density and microhardness. In this study, HA/0.5 wt% 3YSZ with gas pressure sintering exhibited the optimum microstructure with the highest relative density (97%) and microhardness (3.93 GPa).
Performance of Power Systems under Sustained Random Perturbations
Authors: Verdejo Humberto , Kliemann Wolfgang , Vargas Luis
Published: November 2014

This paper studies linear systems under sustained additive random perturbations. The stable operating point of an electric power system is replaced by an attracting stationary solution if the system is subjected to (small) random additive perturbations. The invariant distribution of this stationary solution gives rise to several performance indices that measure how well the system copes with the randomness. These indices are introduced, showing how they can be used for the optimal tuning of system parameters in the presence of noise. Results on a four‐generator two‐area system are presented and discussed.
Feedback Stabilization for a Class of Nonlinear Stochastic Systems with State‐ and Control‐Dependent Noise
Authors: Wang Yu-Hong , Zhang Tianliang , Zhang Weihai
Published: November 2014

This paper mainly studies the state feedback stabilizability of a class of nonlinear stochastic systems with
state‐ and control‐dependent noise. Some sufficient conditions on local and global state feedback stabilizations are given in
linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and generalized algebraic Riccati equations (GAREs). Some obtained results improve the previous work.
Variations in Eyeball Diameters of the Healthy Adults
Authors: Bekerman Inessa , Gottlieb Paul , Vaiman Michael
Published: November 2014

Thepurposeof the current research was to reevaluate the normative data on the eyeball diameters.Methods. In a prospective cohort study, the CT data of consecutive 250 adults with healthy eyes were collected and analyzed, and sagittal, transverse, and axial diameters of both eyeballs were measured. The data obtained from the left eye and from the right eye were compared. The correlation analysis was performed with the following variables: orbit size, gender, age, and ethnic background.Results. We did not find statistically significant differences correlated with gender of the patients and their age. The right eyeball was slightly smaller than the left one but this difference was statistically insignificant(P=0.17). We did not find statistically significant differences of the eyeball sizes among the ethnicities we dealt with. Strong correlation was found between the transverse diameter and the width of the orbit(r=0.88).Conclusion. The size of a human adult eye is approximately24.2 mm (transverse) × 23.7 mm (sagittal) × 22.0–24.8 mm(axial) with no significant difference between sexes and age groups. In the transverse diameter, the eyeball size may vary from 21 mm to 27 mm. These data might be useful in ophthalmological, oculoplastic, and neurological practice.
Stroke after Initiating IV Penicillin for Neurosyphilis: A Possible Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction
Authors: Punia Vineet , Rayi Appaji , Sivaraju Adithya
Published: November 2014

Introduction.Syphilis incidence has increased in the US in the last decade. Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is a well-documented adverse effect of penicillin treatment in syphilis. Stroke has not been reported as part of its phenomenology.Case Report.A 57-year-old man presented with worsening memory. His minimental status examination score was 14/30. Serum RPR test was positive and VDRL test in the CSF was reactive. Within six hours of first dose of IV crystalline penicillin G, he was found to have hemineglect and difficulty moving the left leg. MRI of the brain showed multiple acute ischemic strokes. Immediate MRA ruled out vascular occlusion. Penicillin treatment was stopped. Four hours later, he was found to be febrile and had two episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures.Conclusions.We report a case of confirmed neurosyphilis with no known modifiable stroke risk factors, who developed acute ischemic stroke and other constitutional symptoms consistent with JHR after IV penicillin. This is the first reported case in literature where an acute ischemic stroke can be attributed to Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Given an increase in incidence of syphilis in recent years, our case underlies the importance of keeping in mind potential catastrophic drug adverse reactions in neurosyphilis patients.
Transcutaneous Neuromodulation at Posterior Tibial Nerve and ST36 for Chronic Constipation
Authors: Zhang Nina , Huang Zhihui , Xu Feng , Xu Yuemei , Chen Jianfeng , Yin Jieyun , Lin Lin , Chen Jiande D. Z.
Published: November 2014

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of transcutaneous neuromodulation (TN) in patients with chronic constipation. Twelve patients were recruited. The treatment consisted of 2‐week TN and 2‐week sham‐TN which was performed in a crossover design. Bowel habit diary, Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom (PAC‐SYM), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC‐QOL), and anorectal motility were evaluated. Electrocardiogram was recorded for the assessment of autonomic function during acute TN therapy. It was found that (1) TN improved the frequency of spontaneous defecation. After 2‐week TN therapy, 83% patients had more than 3 times bowel movements per week which was significantly different from sham‐TN (P = 0.01). (2) TN improved PAC‐SYM and PAC‐QOL scores (P < 0.001, resp.). (3) TN significantly decreased the threshold volume to elicit RAIR (P < 0.05), ameliorated rectal sensory threshold (P = 0.04), and maximum tolerance (P = 0.04). (4) TN, but not sham‐TN, increased the vagal activity (P = 0.01 versus baseline) and decreased the sympathetic activity (P = 0.01, versus baseline). It was concluded that needleless TN at posterior tibial nerve and ST36 using a watch‐size stimulator is effective in chronic constipation, and the effect was possibly mediated via the autonomic mechanism.
Preclinical Safety of the Root Extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow in Sprague‐Dawley Rats and Beagle Dogs
Authors: Shin Ki Young , Won Beom Young , Ha Hyun Jee , Yun Yeo Sang , Lee Hyung Gun
Published: November 2014

The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow has been used for the treatment of insomnia, depression, and amnesia. However, the toxicological properties of the herb have been overlooked, because it has been used for a long time for various purposes. In this study, we evaluated the preclinical safety of the root extract in rats and beagle dogs. First, the acute oral toxicity was tested in both rats and dogs. In the rats, only one female of 2 g/kg died, but no treatment‐related death or clinical and gross findings were observed after the administration. No toxicological changes or mortalities related to the test substance were also observed after the administration in the dogs. Although vomiting, discoloration, or hemorrhage was found in some dogs, there were no serious abnormalities. Second, the subchronic toxicity was investigated in the rats. Two animals were found dead in the female group of 1,000 mg/kg/day, but there were no abnormal findings associated with the test substance. There also were no adverse effects on the clinical signs, body weight, and hematological and biochemical findings. Therefore, our results showed that the acute or subchronic toxicity of the root extract of Polygala tenuifolia might not be toxic to rats and dogs.
Analysis of Stochastic Gilpin‐Ayala Competition System
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhu Quanxin
Published: November 2014

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic behavior for stochastic Gilpin‐Ayala competition system. The sufficient conditions for existence of stationary distribution and extinction are established. And a certain asymptotic property of the solution is also obtained. A nontrivial example is provided to illustrate our results.
Burden and Depressive Symptoms Associated with Adult-Child Caregiving for Individuals with Heart Failure
Authors: Bozkurt Zincir Selma , Sunbul Murat , Zincir Serkan , Aydin Sunbul Esra , Oguz Mustafa , Feriha Cengiz Fatma , Durmus Erdal , Kivrak Tarik , Sari Ibrahim
Published: November 2014

Background. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate adult-child caregiver burden in heart failure (HF) patients. Secondary purpose of the study was to identify the possible influencing factors for caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in a young adult-child caregiver group.Methods. A total of 138 adult-child caregivers and 138 patients with HF participated in this study. Caregivers’ burden, depressive symptoms, and anxiety levels were assessed by using Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively.Results. The mean ZCBS scores of the female caregivers were significantly higher than male caregivers. Approximately one-third of the adult-child caregivers had at least mild depressive symptoms. Caregivers with higher depressive symptoms had higher levels of caregiver burden. There were positive correlations between caregiving time, severity of depressive symptoms, and perceived caregiver burden. There was a negative correlation between education level of caregivers and perceived caregiver burden. Age, socioeconomic level, and marital status of patients were affecting factors for depressive symptoms in caregivers. Among caregiver characteristics, gender, marital status, and ZCBS scores seem to influence the depression in caregivers.Conclusions. The study findings suggest significant levels of burden and depressive symptoms even in adult-child caregivers of HF patients.
Evaluation of Hypoglycemic Efficacy of Tangningtongluo Formula, a Traditional Chinese Miao Medicine, in Two Rodent Animal Models
Authors: Cheng Long , Meng Xiang-bao , Lu Shan , Wang Ting-ting , Liu Yue , Sun Gui-bo , Sun Xiao-bo
Published: November 2014

Traditional Chinese medicines largely lack adequate and scientifically rigorous evidence regarding efficacy and functional mechanisms. The present study was aimed to confirm the hypoglycemic effect of Tangningtongluo (TNTL) formula, a traditional Chinese Miao medicine, in two animal models: high-fat diet and streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats and C57BL/KsJ-db/db diabetic mice. After 4 weeks, TNTL intervention in STZ-induced diabetic rats yielded in significant improvement on the glucose tolerance test. Moreover, the islet histopathology showed that oral TNTL reduced the severity of islet necrosis in pancreases tissue. Compared with diabetic controls, a 12-week TNTL treatment regimen (dosages = 0.9, 1.8, and 3.6 g/kg) in db/db mice significantly decreased fasting glucose and HbA1c. Additionally, oral glucose tolerance in TNTL-treated mice improved significantly, compared with diabetic mice receiving metformin. Finally, tissue histopathology and biochemical index evaluations revealed significant improvement in TNTL-treated mice. Taken together, our results show that TNTL exerted a strong hypoglycemic effect in two diabetic rodent animal models, preservingβ-cells in the pancreas islet and reducing the risk of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy.
The Analysis of Hand Movement Distinction Based on Relative Frequency Band Energy Method
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Wang Gang , Teng Chaolin , Sun Zhongjiang , Wang Jue
Published: November 2014

For the purpose of successfully developing a prosthetic control system, many attempts have been made to improve the classification accuracy of surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals. Nevertheless, the effective feature extraction is still a paramount challenge for the classification of SEMG signals. The relative frequency band energy (RFBE) method based on wavelet packet decomposition was proposed for the prosthetic pattern recognition of multichannel SEMG signals. Firstly, the wavelet packet energy of SEMG signals in each subspace was calculated by using wavelet packet decomposition and the RFBE of each frequency band was obtained by the wavelet packet energy. Then, the principal component analysis (PCA) and the Davies-Bouldin (DB) index were used to perform the feature selection. Lastly, the support vector machine (SVM) was applied for the classification of SEMG signals. Our results demonstrated that the RFBE approach was suitable for identifying different types of forearm movements. By comparing with other classification methods, the proposed method achieved higher classification accuracy in terms of the classification of SEMG signals.
Hemoglobin Expression in Nonerythroid Cells: Novel or Ubiquitous?
Authors: Saha Debarchana , Patgaonkar Mandar , Shroff Ankit , Ayyar Kanchana , Bashir Tahir , Reddy K. V. R.
Published: November 2014

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a major protein involved in transport of oxygen (O2). Red blood cells (RBCs) contain maximum amount of Hb and because of their unique structure and plasticity they transport O2to various tissues of the body at an optimal concentration. Recently, it has been reported that, apart from RBCs, Hb is also expressed by nonerythroid cells such as epithelial cells of different origin. The cells expressing Hb are from the tissues where maintenance of O2homeostasis is of paramount importance. Hb expression has been observed in the epithelial cells from human tissues including lungs, neurons, retina, and endometrium. Our group has recently demonstrated that Hb is expressed by the cervicovaginal epithelial cells. We further showed that, apart from maintaining O2homeostasis, Hb and the peptides derived from it play an indispensable role in the protection of vaginal epithelium by exhibiting antimicrobial activity. In this review, we discuss the significance of Hb expression in vaginal epithelial cells and its role in the recognition of pathogens thereby reducing the risk and/or severity of inflammation and/or infections and the possible mechanism by which Hb exhibits antimicrobial and antioxidative functions.
Primary Headache in Yemen: Prevalence and Common Medications Used
Authors: Abdo Salah A. , Amood AL-Kamarany Mohammed , Alzoubi Karem H. , Al-Maktari Mohamed T. , Al-Baidani Abdulrhman H.
Published: November 2014

Background and Objective. Primary headaches is a major medical concern in certain Arabic countries, for example Oman, Jordan, and Qatar. This study was aimed at increasing understanding of the prevalence of headache in Arabic countries and identifying common medications used for treatment because of the lack of research done in this field in Yemen.Methods. This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted by recruiting case-series of adults and elderly who have primary headache within the age group from 18 to 85 years. 12640 subjects received a simple explanation for the aim of the study as ethical issue. The subjects were allowed to complete a self-conducted screening questionnaire. The data were diagnosed according to the International Headache Society’s diagnostic criteria (2004).Results. The results showed that 76.5% of the primary headache is prevalent at least once per year, 27.1% of the tension type headache (TTH) was the maximum percentage of type of headache, and 14.48% of the migraine headache (MH) was the minimum percentage. On the other hand, the relationship between the primary headache and age of subjects was statistically significant (P<0.05), while between primary headache and sex was not (P>0.05). In addition, 70.15% of the subjects said that headache attacks affected their activity of daily livings (ADL). 62.26% of the subjects used the medications without medical advice regarding their headache. 37.73% of the subjects relied on medical professionals (physicians and pharmacist) regarding analgesics use. The most common agent used among the medications was paracetamol (38.4%). Others included ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac sodium, naproxen, mefenamic acid, ergotamine and (11.45%) were unknown agents.Conclusion. We concluded that absence of health attention from the Yemeni Community and education from the health system in the country regarding analgesics use and their potential risk led to abuse of such medications and could be a reason beyond high prevalence of headache in Yemen.
Optimization Method for Crop Growth Characteristics Based on Improved Locality Preserving Projection
Authors: Dongyao Jia , Po Hu , Shengxiong Zou
Published: November 2014

Locality preserving projection (LPP) retains only partial information, and category information of samples is not considered, which causes misclassification of feature extraction. An improved locality preserving projection algorithm is proposed to optimize the extraction of growth characteristics. Firstly, preliminary dimensionality reduction of sample data is constructed by using two-dimensional principal component analysis (2DPCA) to retain the spatial information. Then, two optimized subgraphs are defined to describe the neighborhood relation between different categories of data. Finally, feature parameters set are obtained to extract local information of samples by improved LPP algorithm. The experiments show that the improved LPP algorithm has good adaptability, and the highest SVM classification accuracy rate of this method can reach more than 96%. Compared with other methods, the improved LPP has superior optimized performance in terms of multidimensional data analysis and optimization.
Antioxidative Activities and Active Compounds of Extracts fromCatalpaPlant Leaves
Authors: Xu Hongyu , Hu Gege , Dong Juane , Wei Qin , Shao Hongbo , Lei Ming
Published: November 2014

In order to screen theCatalpaplant with high antioxidant activity and confirm the corresponding active fractions fromCatalpa ovataG. Don,C. fargesiiBur., andC. bungeiC. A. Mey., total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the extracts/fractions ofCatalpaplant leaves were determined. The determined total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were used as assessment criteria. Those compounds with antioxidant activity were isolated with silica gel column chromatography and ODS column chromatography. Our results showed that the total flavonoid content inC. bungeiC. A. Mey. (30.07 mg/g·DW) was the highest, followed by those inC. fargesiiBur. (25.55 mg/g·DW) andC. ovataG. Don (24.96 mg/g·DW). According to the determination results of total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in 3 clones of leaves ofC. bungeiC. A. Mey., the total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in crude extracts fromC. bungeiC. A. Mey. 6 (CA6) leaves were the highest. Moreover, the results showed that the total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction in ethanol crude extracts in CA6 leaves were the highest, followed byn-butanol, petroleum ether (PE), and water fractions. Two flavonoid compounds with antioxidant activity were firstly isolated based on EA fraction. The two compounds were luteolin (1) and apigenin (2), respectively.