bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Sport Performance and Quality Life of Athletes by Applying of WBV Method
Authors: Pop Petru A. , Lazar Liviu , Marcu Florin M. 
Published: February 2017

The mechanical vibrations’ therapy is widely used as a non-conservative and safe physical method for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, postmenopausal women and sportsmen training, also during athletes’ recovery and rehabilitation phase.
This paper has the main goal in assessing the benefic effects of whole-body-vibration (WBV) therapy applied to professional sportsmen as a complementary alternative of training that can improve their sport performance and quality life. The experiment applied on a group of ten volunteers’ athletes from our university, with the ages between of 19 to 29 years and appropriate weight and height, which signed a statement on by self-agreement to participate in this study. The WBV trial performed via a proper dynamic vibration installation during of two months, where the subjects were sitting in a bed with upper limbs on their thighs and inferior limbs extended to provide support for the spine in a fixed support. The installation comprised a vibration bed with direct control of vibration signal and an electronic analyzing system for acquisition and interpretation of vibration data, which allowing an automat control of rotation frequency, alarm and safety system, and visualization on-line the measurement process. The electric motor of vibrating bed can generate predictable vibration values on three axes that used two types of tri-axial vibration sensors, one accelerometer fixed on bed and the second that is an implant accelerometer on the anterior face of the thigh of evaluated subject. Each mechanical vibration training session has performed with a frequency of 45 Hz during of 16 minutes, consisted in eight series with 60 seconds, and one-minute breaks in between. The evaluation of data has made by assessing the values of subjects recorded at the initial stage and at final therapy, which supposed to control the objective parameters, as standing long jump, standing high jump and intensity of exercise performed during of physical efforts.
The results of vibration trial stressed that the subjects had a significant increase of sport performances after vibration training at each parameter assessing, which means that WBV can be a viable alternative method used of sportsmen to improve their athletic performance and quality life.
Analysis of the Tool Deflection in End Milling of Titanium
Authors: Hasenfratz Christian , Abele Eberhard 
Published: February 2017

The world’s increasing demand for intercontinental mobility is leading to a steady growth in aircraft sales, with Airbus forecasting a total demand for 32,600 passenger aircraft until the year 2034. However, this demand arises not solely due to increased passenger numbers but also due to the need of replacing current aircraft as a consequence of their increasing service life. Since fuel consumption accounts for about one-third of operating costs, airlines need efficient jet engines to meet reduced noise emissions and fuel consumption demands in order to withstand international cost pressures. The development of new aircraft types focuses on the aspect of weight reduction. The aerospace industry is characterized not only by innovations in material science and technology, but also by increased integral construction of individual components for the sake of weight reduction.
Integral components are characterized by deep cavities and consist of difficult-to-cut materials to achieve weight reduction, presenting challenges for manufacturing technology. The most commonly encountered manufacturing technology for integral components is high performance cutting (HPC), using tools with a large overhang, whereby the process chain consists of two stages: roughing and finishing. However, manufacturing of integral components pushes HPC milling to its productivity limits. The interaction between work piece and end mill in the form of radial cutting forces leads to tool deflection and therefore limits the manufacturing of deep cavities. The present experimental study contributes to the analysis of tool deflection in the end milling of integral components, e.g., a blade integrated disk made of titanium for the aerospace industry.
The goal is to identify and describe tool deflection during milling and to analyze its interdependence with form deviation, as well as the local and global tool load.
A dynamometer is used to measure the global load on the tool and an experimental setup is designed and implemented to measure tool deflection and to identify the influence of the tool holder on total tool deflection. To determine tool deflection, the tool’s stiffness is determined by a reference measurement. Tool stiffness is utilized to determine tool deflection during the process and the results are illustrated for a range of technology parameters and tool wear. Tool deflection leads to a form deviation of the finished component as well as to changing contact conditions of the cutting edge, leading to increased tool wear. This study aims at providing a basic understanding of the relationship between milling force, tool deflection and form deviation under the influence of technology parameters and tool wear.
Semantic Annotation of Aquaculture Production Data
Authors: Amaral Pedro , Oliveira Pedro , Moutinho Márcio , Matado Daniel , Costa Ruben , Sarraipa João 
Published: February 2017

Aquaculture is probably the fastest growing food-producing sector in the world producing nearly 50 percent of the fish that is used for food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). With the growing of the Aquaculture sector, problems of global knowledge access, seamless data exchanges and lack of data reuse between aquaculture companies and its related stakeholders become more evident.
From an IT perspective, aquaculture is characterized by high volumes of heterogeneous data, and lack of interoperability intra and inter-organizations. Each organization uses different data representations, using its native languages and legacy classification systems to manage and organize information, leading to a problem of integrating information from different sources due to lack of semantic interoperability that exists among knowledge organization tools used in different information systems.
The lack of semantic interoperability that exists can be minimized, if innovative semantic techniques for representing, indexing and searching sources of non-structured information are applied. To address these issues, authors are developing a platform specifically designed for the aquaculture sector, which will allow even small companies to explore their data and extract knowledge, to improve in terms of use of feed, environmental impact, growth of the fish, cost, etc.
Finite Element Analysis of Origami-Based Sheet Metal Folding Process
Authors: Ali Ablat Muhammad , Qattawi Ala 
Published: February 2017

There are challenges in the conventional sheet metal folding for mass production; those are summarized by high tooling and energy costs and lack of dimensional accuracy. High cost per product is due to the need of specific manufacturing tools and equipment like dies and molds that are shape dedicated to certain product range and specifications. Lack of high accuracy is resulted from involved forming process, machine structure and springback effects in workpiece.
Origami-based Sheet Metal (OSM) folding fabrication process has been utilized to overcome these challenges. This novel approach is an extension of the origami technique to sheet metal folding process and it requires creating numerous features along the bend line, called Material Discontinuities (MD). MD are fabricated by removal of material completely or partially through thickness direction of sheet metal along the bend line using laser cutting process or progressive stamping. MD can also be created by stamping where no material removal is present, rather stamping creates deformed pattern along the bend line to guide the folding. MD controls the material deformation during bending and results in reduced bending force, minimal tooling and machinery requirements. Despite the promising potential of OSM, there is little understating of the effect of the selected MD shape and geometry on the final workpiece, specifically this is of interest when comparing the energy and cost allocations for OSM with a well-establish process for sheet metal such as stamping.
In this work, the effect of several types of MD on sheet metal folding process is investigated using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In particular, wiping die bending of aluminum sheet with different MD shapes and geometries along the bend line is compared to the traditional sheet bending of final part in terms of stress distribution along the bending line and required bending force. FE simulations are carried out using structural and thermo-mechanical FE solver Code_Aster. Aluminum 2036-T4 is chosen as sheet metal material. Constitutive model in the simulation is J2 flow theory plasticity with isotropic hardening. The FEA results are validated by comparing it to the available empirical models in terms of bending forces.
This study finds that the OSM technique reduced the required bending force significantly, which has important significance in energy and cost reduction. It also ranked the MD in terms of the required force to bend the same sheet metal type and thickness for further future investigation. However, the MD leads to localized high stress regions along the bending line, which may affect load-bearing capability of the final part. In addition, it may lead to cracks or fractures of sheet metal part in the high stress region, especially if MD are densely arranged along the bend line.
Interaction of Rifampin and Darunavir-Ritonavir or Darunavir-Cobicistat
In Vitro
Authors: Roberts Owain , Khoo Saye , Owen Andrew , Siccardi Marco 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Treatment of HIV-infected patients coinfected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is challenging due to drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between antiretrovirals (ARVs) and antituberculosis (anti-TB) drugs. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of cobicistat (COBI) or ritonavir (RTV) in modulating DDIs between darunavir (DRV) and rifampin (RIF) in a human hepatocyte-based
in vitro
model. Human primary hepatocyte cultures were incubated with RIF alone or in combination with either COBI or RTV for 3 days, followed by coincubation with DRV for 1 h. The resultant DRV concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, and the apparent intrinsic clearance (CL
int.app.
) of DRV was calculated. Both RTV and COBI lowered the RIF-induced increases in CL
int.app.
in a concentration-dependent manner. Linear regression analysis showed that log
10
RTV and log
10
COBI concentrations were associated with the percent inhibition of RIF-induced elevations in DRV CL
int.app.
, where β was equal to −234 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −275 to −193;
P
< 0.0001) and −73 (95% CI = −89 to −57;
P
< 0.0001), respectively. RTV was more effective in lowering 10 μM RIF-induced elevations in DRV CL
int.app.
(half-maximal [50%] inhibitory concentration [IC
50
] = 0.025 μM) than COBI (IC
50
= 0.223 μM). Incubation of either RTV or COBI in combination with RIF was sufficient to overcome RIF-induced elevations in DRV CL
int.app.
, with RTV being more potent than COBI. These data provide the first
in vitro
experimental insight into DDIs between RIF and COBI-boosted or RTV-boosted DRV and will be useful to inform physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to aid in optimizing dosing regimens for the treatment of patients coinfected with HIV and
M. tuberculosis
.
Piperaquine Population Pharmacokinetics and Cardiac Safety in Cambodia
Authors: Vanachayangkul Pattaraporn , Lon Chanthap , Spring Michele , Sok Sommethy , Ta-aksorn Winita , Kodchakorn Chanikarn , Pann Sut-Thang , Chann Soklyda , Ittiverakul Mali , Sriwichai Sabaithip , Buathong Nillawan , Kuntawunginn Worachet , So Mary , Youdaline Theng , Milner Erin , Wojnarski Mariusz , Lanteri Charlotte , Manning Jessica , Prom Satharath , Haigney Mark , Cantilena Louis , Saunders David 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT
Despite the rising rates of resistance to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), DP remains a first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria in many parts of Cambodia. While DP is generally well tolerated as a 3-day DP (3DP) regimen, compressed 2-day DP (2DP) regimens were associated with treatment-limiting cardiac repolarization effects in a recent clinical trial. To better estimate the risks of piperaquine on QT interval prolongation, we pooled data from three randomized clinical trials conducted between 2010 and 2014 in northern Cambodia. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed to compare exposure-response relationships between the 2DP and 3DP regimens while accounting for differences in regimen and sample collection times between studies. A 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination without covariates best fit the data. The linear slope-intercept model predicted a 0.05-ms QT prolongation per ng/ml of piperaquine (5 ms per 100 ng/ml) in this largely male population. Though the plasma half-life was similar in both regimens, peak and total piperaquine exposures were higher in those treated with the 2DP regimen. Furthermore, the correlation between the plasma piperaquine concentration and the QT interval prolongation was stronger in the population receiving the 2DP regimen. Neither the time since the previous meal nor the baseline serum magnesium or potassium levels had additive effects on QT interval prolongation. As electrocardiographic monitoring is often nonexistent in areas where malaria is endemic, 2DP regimens should be avoided and the 3DP regimen should be carefully considered in settings where viable alternative therapies exist. When DP is employed, the risk of cardiotoxicity can be mitigated by combining a 3-day regimen, enforcing a 3-h fast before and after administration, and avoiding the concomitant use of QT interval-prolonging medications. (This study used data from three clinical trials that are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifiers NCT01280162, NCT01624337, and NCT01849640.)
In Vitro
,
Ex Vivo
, and
In Vivo
Activities of Diamidines against Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax
Authors: Gillingwater Kirsten , Kunz Christina , Braghiroli Christiane , Boykin David W. , Tidwell Richard R. , Brun Reto 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is caused by the tsetse fly-transmitted protozoans
Trypanosoma congolense
and
T. vivax
and leads to huge agricultural losses throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Three drugs are available to treat nagana in cattle (diminazene diaceturate, homidium chloride, and isometamidium chloride). With increasing reports of drug-resistant populations, new molecules should be investigated as potential candidates to combat nagana. Dicationic compounds have been demonstrated to have excellent efficacy against different kinetoplastid parasites. This study therefore evaluated the activities of 37 diamidines, using
in vitro
and
ex vivo
drug sensitivity assays. The 50% inhibitory concentrations obtained ranged from 0.007 to 0.562 μg/ml for
T. congolense
and from 0.019 to 0.607 μg/ml for
T. vivax
. On the basis of these promising results, 33 of these diamidines were further examined using
in vivo
mouse models of infection. Minimal curative doses of 1.25 mg/kg of body weight for both
T. congolense
- and
T. vivax
-infected mice were seen when the diamidines were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) over 4 consecutive days. From these observations, 15 of these 33 diamidines were then further tested
in vivo
, using a single bolus dose for administration. The total cure of mice infected with
T. congolense
and
T. vivax
was seen with single i.p. doses of 5 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. This study identified a selection of diamidines which could be considered lead compounds for the treatment of nagana.
The PA Endonuclease Inhibitor RO-7 Protects Mice from Lethal Challenge with Influenza A or B Viruses
Authors: Jones Jeremy C. , Marathe Bindumadhav M. , Vogel Peter , Gasser Rodolfo , Najera Isabel , Govorkova Elena A. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Current influenza treatment relies on a single class of antiviral drugs, the neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), raising concern over the potential emergence of resistant variants and necessitating the development of novel drugs. In recent years, investigational inhibitors targeting the endonuclease activity of the influenza acidic polymerase (PA) protein have yielded encouraging results, although there are only limited data on their
in vivo
efficacy. Here, we examined the antiviral potential of the PA endonuclease inhibitor RO-7 in prophylactic and therapeutic regimens in BALB/c mice inoculated with influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)pdm09 or B/Brisbane/60/2008 viruses, which represent currently circulating antigenic variants. RO-7 was administered to mice intraperitoneally twice daily at dosages of 6, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day for 5 days, starting 4 h before or 24 or 48 h after virus inoculation, and showed no adverse effects. Prophylactic administration completely protected mice from lethal infection by influenza A or B virus. The level of therapeutic protection conferred depended upon the time of treatment initiation and RO-7 dosage, resulting in 60 to 100% and 80 to 100% survival with influenza A and B viruses, respectively. RO-7 treatment significantly decreased virus titers in the lung and lessened the extent and severity of lung damage. No PA endonuclease-inhibitor resistance was observed in viruses isolated from lungs of RO-7-treated mice, and the viruses remained susceptible to the drug at nanomolar concentrations in phenotypic assays. These
in vivo
efficacy results further highlight the potential of RO-7 for development as antiviral therapy for influenza A and B virus infections.
Clinical Relevance of Type II Fatty Acid Synthesis Bypass in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Gloux Karine , Guillemet Mélanie , Soler Charles , Morvan Claire , Halpern David , Pourcel Christine , Vu Thien Hoang , Lamberet Gilles , Gruss Alexandra 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

The need for new antimicrobials to treat bacterial infections has led to the use of type II fatty acid synthesis (FASII) enzymes as front-line targets. However, recent studies suggest that FASII inhibitors may not work against the opportunist pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
, as environmental fatty acids favor emergence of multi-anti-FASII resistance. As fatty acids are abundant in the host and one FASII inhibitor, triclosan, is widespread, we investigated whether fatty acid pools impact resistance in clinical and veterinary
S. aureus
isolates. Simple addition of fatty acids to the screening medium led to a 50% increase in triclosan resistance, as tested in 700 isolates. Moreover, nonculturable triclosan-resistant fatty acid auxotrophs, which escape detection under routine conditions, were uncovered in primary patient samples. FASII bypass in selected isolates correlated with polymorphisms in the
acc
and
fabD
loci. We conclude that fatty-acid-dependent strategies to escape FASII inhibition are common among
S. aureus
isolates and correlate with anti-FASII resistance and emergence of nonculturable variants.
Overexpression of SmeDEF Efflux Pump Decreases Aminoglycoside Resistance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Huang Yi-Wei , Lin Cheng-Wen , Ning Hsiao-Chen , Lin Yi-Tsung , Chang Yi-Chih , Yang Tsuey-Ching 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

The SmeDEF pump of
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
is negatively regulated by SmeT. In this study, strains KJΔT (
smeT
deletion mutant) and KJT-D
m
(mutant with a defective SmeT-binding site) showed increased resistance to chloramphenicol/nalidixic acid/macrolides and susceptibility to aminoglycoside. Overexpression of the SmeDEF pump, in either KJΔT or KJT-D
m
, downregulated
smeYZ
expression, which is responsible for the reduced aminoglycoside resistance. Furthermore, the SmeRySy two-component regulatory system was downregulated in response to SmeDEF overexpression, which supports its involvement in the regulatory circuit.
Chicken Meat as a Reservoir of Colistin-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains Carrying
mcr-1
Genes in South America
Authors: Monte Daniel Farias , Mem Andressa , Fernandes Miriam R. , Cerdeira Louise , Esposito Fernanda , Galvão Julia A. , Franco Bernadette D. G. M. , Lincopan Nilton , Landgraf Mariza 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

The detection and rapid spread of colistin-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
carrying the
mcr-1
gene has created an urgent need to strengthen surveillance. In this study, eight clonally unrelated colistin-resistant
Escherichia coli
isolates carrying
mcr-1
and
bla
CTX-M
or
bla
CMY-2
genes were isolated from commercial chicken meat in Brazil. Most
E. coli
strains carried IncX4 plasmids, previously identified in human and animal isolates. These results highlight a new reservoir of
mcr-1
-harboring
E. coli
strains in South America.
Subinhibitory Concentrations of Ciprofloxacin Enhance Antimicrobial Resistance and Pathogenicity of Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Sinel Clara , Cacaci Margherita , Meignen Pierrick , Guérin François , Davies Bryan W. , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Giard Jean-Christophe , Cattoir Vincent 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Enterococcus faecium
has emerged as a major opportunistic pathogen for 2 decades with the spread of hospital-adapted multidrug-resistant clones. As members of the intestinal microbiota, they are subjected to numerous bacterial stresses, including antibiotics at subinhibitory concentrations (SICs). Since fluoroquinolones are extensively prescribed, SICs are very likely to occur
in vivo
, with potential effects on bacterial metabolism with subsequent modulation of opportunistic traits. The aim of this study was to evaluate globally the impact of SICs of ciprofloxacin on antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of
E. faecium
. Transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) (HiSeq 2500; Illumina) using the
vanB
-positive reference strain
E. faecium
Aus0004 in the absence or presence of ciprofloxacin SIC (0.38 mg/liter, i.e., 1/8 of the MIC). Several genetic and phenotypic tests were used for validation. In the presence of ciprofloxacin SIC, 196 genes were significantly induced, whereas 286 genes were significantly repressed, meaning that 16.8% of the
E. faecium
genome was altered. Among upregulated genes, EFAU004_02294 (fold change, 14.3) encoded a protein (Qnr of
E. faecium
[EfmQnr]) homologue of Qnr proteins involved in quinolone resistance in Gram-negative bacilli. Its implication in intrinsic and adaptive fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance in
E. faecium
was experimentally ascertained. Moreover, EFAU004_02292, coding for the collagen adhesin Acm, was also induced by the SIC of ciprofloxacin (fold change, 8.2), and higher adhesion capabilities were demonstrated phenotypically. Both EfmQnr and Acm determinants may play an important role in the transition from a commensal to a pathogenic state of
E. faecium
that resides in the gut of patients receiving fluoroquinolone therapy.