bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐intensity interval training improves insulin sensitivity in older individuals
Authors: Søgaard D. , Lund M. T. , Scheuer C. M. , Dehlbæk M. S. , Dideriksen S. G. , Abildskov C. V. , Christensen K. K. , Dohlmann T. L. , Larsen S. , Vigelsø A. H. , Dela F. , Helge J. W. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimMetabolic health may deteriorate with age as a result of altered body composition and decreased physical activity. Endurance exercise is known to counter these changes delaying or even preventing onset of metabolic diseases. High‐intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time efficient alternative to regular endurance exercise, and the aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic benefit of HIIT in older subjects.MethodsTwenty‐two sedentary male (n = 11) and female (n = 11) subjects aged 63 ± 1 years performed HIIT training three times/week for 6 weeks on a bicycle ergometer. Each HIIT session consisted of five 1‐minute intervals interspersed with 1½‐minute rest. Prior to the first and after the last HIIT session whole‐body insulin sensitivity, measured by a hyperinsulinaemic‐euglycaemic clamp, plasma lipid levels, HbA1c, glycaemic parameters, body composition and maximal oxygen uptake were assessed. Muscle biopsies were obtained wherefrom content of glycogen and proteins involved in muscle glucose handling were determined.ResultsInsulin sensitivity (P = .011) and maximal oxygen uptake increased (P < .05) in both genders, while plasma cholesterol (P < .05), low‐density lipoprotein (P < .05), visceral fat mass (P < .05) and per cent body fat (P < .05) decreased after 6 weeks of HIIT. HbA1c decreased only in males (P = .001). Muscle glycogen content increased in both genders (P = .001) and in line GLUT4 (P < .05), glycogen synthase (P = .001) and hexokinase II (P < .05) content all increased.ConclusionSix weeks of HIIT significantly improves metabolic health in older males and females by reducing age‐related risk factors for cardiometabolic disease.
Characterization of the properties of a selective, orally bioavailable autotaxin inhibitor in preclinical models of advanced stages of liver fibrosis
Authors: Baader Manuel , Bretschneider Tom , Broermann Andre , Rippmann Joerg F , Stierstorfer Birgit , Kuttruff Christian A , Mark Michael 
Published: December 2017

Background and PurposeAutotaxin (ATX) is a secreted phospholipase which hydrolyses lysophosphatidylcholine to generate lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The extracellular signalling molecule LPA exerts its biological actions through activation of six GPCRs expressed in various cell types including fibroblasts. Multiple preclinical studies using knockout animals, LPA receptor antagonists or ATX inhibitors have provided evidence for a potential role of the ATX/LPA axis in tissue fibrosis. Despite growing evidence for a correlation between ATX levels and the degree of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the role of ATX in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear.Experimental ApproachThe relevance of ATX in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis was investigated by oral administration of Ex_31, a selective ATX inhibitor, in a 10 week model of carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury and in a 14 week model of choline‐deficient amino acid‐defined diet‐induced liver injury in rats.Key ResultsOral administration of Ex_31, a selective ATX inhibitor, at 15 mg·kg−1 twice daily in therapeutic intervention mode resulted in efficient ATX inhibition and more than 95% reduction in plasma LPA levels in both studies. Treatment with Ex_31 had no effect on biomarkers of liver function, inflammation, or fibrosis and did not result in histological improvements in diseased animals.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings question the role of ATX in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis and the potential of small molecule ATX inhibitors for the treatment of patients with NASH and advanced stages of liver fibrosis.
The national burden of influenza‐associated severe acute respiratory illness hospitalization in Rwanda, 2012‐2014
Authors: Nyamusore José , Rukelibuga Joseph , Mutagoma Mwumvaneza , Muhire Andrew , Kabanda Alice , Williams Thelma , Mutoni Angela , Kamwesiga Julius , Nyatanyi Thierry , Omolo Jared , Kabeja Adeline , Koama Jean Baptiste , Mukarurangwa Agrippine , Umuringa Jeanne d'Arc , Granados Carolina , Gasana Michel , Moen Ann , Tempia Stefano 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundEstimates of influenza‐associated hospitalization are severely limited in low‐ and middle‐income countries, especially in Africa.ObjectivesTo estimate the national number of influenza‐associated severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) hospitalization in Rwanda.MethodsWe multiplied the influenza virus detection rate from influenza surveillance conducted at 6 sentinel hospitals by the national number of respiratory hospitalization obtained from passive surveillance after adjusting for underreporting and reclassification of any respiratory hospitalizations as SARI during 2012‐2014. The population at risk was obtained from projections of the 2012 census. Bootstrapping was used for the calculation of confidence intervals (CI) to account for the uncertainty associated with all levels of adjustment. Rates were expressed per 100 000 population. A sensitivity analysis using a different estimation approach was also conducted.ResultsSARI cases accounted for 70.6% (9759/13 813) of respiratory admissions at selected hospitals: 77.2% (6783/8786) and 59.2% (2976/5028) among individuals aged <5 and ≥5 years, respectively. Overall, among SARI cases tested, the influenza virus detection rate was 6.3% (190/3022): 5.7% (127/2220) and 7.8% (63/802) among individuals aged <5 and ≥5 years, respectively. The estimated mean annual national number of influenza‐associated SARI hospitalizations was 3663 (95% CI: 2930‐4395—rate: 34.7; 95% CI: 25.4‐47.7): 2637 (95% CI: 2110‐3164—rate: 168.7; 95% CI: 135.0‐202.4) among children aged <5 years and 1026 (95% CI: 821‐1231—rate: 11.3; 95% CI: 9.0‐13.6) among individuals aged ≥5 years. The estimates obtained from both approaches were not statistically different (overlapping CIs).ConclusionsThe burden of influenza‐associated SARI hospitalizations was substantial and was highest among children aged <5 years.
The impact of silver nanoparticles integration on biofilm formation and mechanical properties of glass ionomer cement
Authors: El‐Wassefy Noha A. , El‐Mahdy Rasha H. , El‐Kholany Naglaa R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo study the effect of silver nanoparticles incorporation to glass ionomer cement (GIC) on the Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in terms of bacterial growth and evaluate the incorporating effect on hardness and compressive strength.MethodsSilver nanopowder was added in concentration 0, 1, 3, and 5 wt% to the conventional powder of GIC Fuji IX GP and then the powder is added to the liquid and mixed together with the recommended Powder/liquid ratio of 3.6:1 g. One hundred and twenty disc and cylindrical‐shaped specimens were prepared using teflon molds. The specimens were put in tissue culture plate wells contained S. aureus in brain–heart infusion broth. The plate was incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Specimens were then washed, fixed, dehydrated, and air dried. The spatial distribution of biofilm was examined via scanning electron microscope. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were also evaluated. After setting, the specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 h before testing for microhardness and compressive strength.ResultsScanning electron photomicrographs of biofilm formed on the control GIC, showed a consistent biofilm with a thick sheet of cells, whereas those formed were less dense at 3 wt% and below the detection limit at 5 wt% silver nanoparticles. MIC and MBC of S. aureus were 25 and 50 µg/mL, respectively. The microhardness and compressive strength values of tested groups showed a nonsignificant decrease from the control group, P = .58 and .82, respectively.ConclusionIncorporation of silver nanoparticles with GIC can limit S. aureus biofilm formation with an insignificant effect on mechanical properties and noticeable influence on its coloration, which restrict its usage in areas where esthetic is not of major concern.Clinical significanceAs the modification of GIC with silver nanoparticles improved the antibiofilm properties without altering its mechanical properties, it could be used as a restoration of root carious lesion mainly in nonesthetic areas, a base under composite restorations in deep posterior cavities and as a core material in caries susceptible patients.
Oro‐facial pain and temporomandibular disorders classification systems: A critical appraisal and future directions
Authors: Klasser G. D. , Manfredini D. , Goulet J.‐P. , De Laat A. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryIt is a difficult undertaking to design a classification system for any disease entity, let alone for oro‐facial pain (OFP) and more specifically for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). A further complication of this task is that both physical and psychosocial variables must be included. To augment this process, a two‐step systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, of the classification systems published during the last 20 years for OFP and TMD was performed. The first search step identified 190 potential citations which ultimately resulted in only 17 articles being included for in‐depth analysis and review. The second step resulted in only 5 articles being selected for inclusion in this review. Five additional articles and four classification guidelines/criteria were also included due to expansion of the search criteria. Thus, in total, 14 documents comprising articles and guidelines/criteria (8 proposals of classification systems for OFP; 6 for TMD) were selected for inclusion in the systematic review. For each, a discussion as to their advantages, strengths and limitations was provided. Suggestions regarding the future direction for improving the classification process with the use of ontological principles rather than taxonomy are discussed. Furthermore, the potential for expanding the scope of axes included in existing classification systems, to include genetic, epigenetic and neurobiological variables, is explored. It is therefore recommended that future classification system proposals be based on combined approaches aiming to provide archetypal treatment‐oriented classifications.
Priming of Nicotiana benthamiana antioxidant defences using brown seaweed extracts
Authors: Esserti Siham , Smaili Amal , Makroum Kacem , Belfaiza Malika , Rifai Lalla Aicha , Koussa Tayeb , Kasmi Imane , Faize Mohamed 
Published: December 2017

AbstractExtracts from the brown seaweeds Cystoseira myriophylloides, Laminaria digitata and Fucus spiralis were evaluated as plant defence inducers against the wild fire disease of Nicotiana benthamiana. Seeds’ imbibition in aqueous seaweed extracts (SE) results in plants with reduced disease severity. In addition, bacterial populations were significantly reduced in these plants when compared to those germinated in sterile distilled water. They primed N. benthamiana for H2O2 accumulation and for enhanced activity of several antioxidant enzymes including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. These results revealed that soaking of seeds in SE before sowing allows N. benthamiana to reduce pathogen attack and can be easily applied in practice.
Efficacy of Minocycline in Naturally Occurring Nonacute Ehrlichia canis Infection in Dogs
Authors: Jenkins S. , Ketzis J.K. , Dundas J. , Scorpio D. 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundMinocycline has been used in the treatment of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs as an alternative to doxycycline, the recommended treatment. However, efficacy of this alternative therapy is unknown.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of minocycline in the treatment of natural occurring E. canis infection in dogs.AnimalsTen privately owned dogs of mixed breed positive for E. canis by blood PCR.MethodsProspective, randomized clinical study. Dogs positive for E. canis by PCR were housed in a kennel environment and randomly allocated to receive doxycycline 10 mg/kg bodyweight PO once daily (“gold standard” control group) or minocycline (extralabel) 10 mg/kg bodyweight PO twice daily (treatment test group) for 28 days. Blood, analyzed by PCR to determine the presence or absence of E. canisDNA, was collected weekly during treatment starting on the first day of treatment and including through day 35, 7 days after the last treatment.ResultsIn both groups, one dog tested negative after 7 days of treatment. For the doxycycline group, the latest time to a negative PCR test was after 3 weeks of treatment. For the minocycline group, the latest time was on day 28 of treatment. All dogs tested negative 7 days after the end of treatment.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceMinocycline can be an effective alternative to doxycycline for clearing E. canis from the blood in nonacute infections.
A Remote Assay for Measuring Canine Platelet Activation and the Inhibitory Effects of Antiplatelet Agents
Authors: Dunning M. , May J. , Adamany J. , Heptinstall S. , Fox S. 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundAntiplatelet medications are increasingly used in dogs. Remote analysis of platelet activity is challenging, limiting assessment of antiplatelet drug efficacy.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo evaluate a method used in humans for stimulation and remote analysis of canine platelet activity.AnimalsForty‐five dogs of various ages without a coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia. Six were receiving antiplatelet medication.MethodsProspective observational study. Platelets were stimulated with combinations of arachidonic acid (AA) and epinephrine (Epi) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and the thromboxane A2‐mimetic U46619 (U4).PAMFix was added to the blood samples to facilitate delayed analysis of platelet activity. Activity was assessed by flow cytometric measurement of surface P‐selectin (CD62P) expression.ResultsCanine platelets could be stimulated with bothAA/Epi andADP/U4. The levels of P‐selectin were significantly greater than paired, unstimulated samples (P < 0.001). Inhibition of P‐selectin expression occurred after this stimulation by adding antiplatelet drugs in vitro. The efficacy of antiplatelet drugs in samples from treated dogs was also measurable ex vivo using this method. Delayed analysis of platelet activity at time points up to 22 days demonstrated excellent correlation between respective mf values at each time point (r2 = 0.92,P < 0.0001).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis study evaluated a new method to remotely assess canine platelet activity. It shows thatPAMFix can be used for this purpose. This provides opportunities to interrogate the inhibitory action of antiplatelet drugs in clinical settings.
A Novel Intermittent Gas Lifting and Monitoring System Toward Liquid Unloading for Deviated Wells in Mature Gas Field
Authors: Tong Zheng , Zhao Guangmin , Wei Songbo 
Published: December 2017

For liquid-loading gas wells, effective deliquification operation is needed but current liquid-lifting technology is not able to meet the requirements of high efficiency as well as low cost especially in large-deviated wells. This paper proposes a hybrid deliquification technology combining plunger lift, chemical foamer injection, and down-hole monitoring to unload liquid in deviated gas wells. The system comprised multipart plunger body, deployment-retrieving integrating assembly (DRIA) and operation canisters. By means of flexible plunger body, the system performs deliquification normally in deviated wellbore. The operation canisters are carried with plunger body through tubing onto the bottom of deviated section to operate in terms of four modes: long-term down-hole monitoring, foamer injection, mobile data acquisition, and wireless data exchange with the wellhead. The key components of DRIA and injection valve are made of improved disintegrating alloy with the rating temperature of 100 °C, compressive strength of 370 MPa, and disintegrating rate of 170.9 mg/(cm2 h) characterized by lab test. Field trials were successfully performed in two liquid-loading tight gas wells, and the maximal deviated angle of the wells was 68 deg. It indicates that the new technology is a cost-effective way contributing to automatic production and management of mature gas wells in the remote area instead of traditional rigid plunger and wire-line logging.
Comparison of Methods for Measuring Pump Flow Ripple and Impedance
Authors: Bramley Chris , Johnston Nigel 
Published: December 2017

Positive displacement pumps produce flow and pressure ripple due to their pumping mechanism. Two ISO standard methods for measuring pump ripple were compared in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, reliability and practical difficulty. These were the “secondary source” (SS) method (ISO 10767-1: 1996) and the “2 pressures / 2 systems” (2P2S) method (ISO 10767-1: 2015). The 2P2S method has recently replaced the secondary source as the ISO standard for precision testing although the UK has retained the SS method for its BS ISO standard.
The methods produced similar source impedance and flow ripple results. The SS method enabled a wider range of operating conditions to be tested due to the more flexible circuit arrangement but the impedance results were affected by interference between the test pump and secondary source at the pumping harmonic frequencies. It was found that the simpler 2P2S circuit allowed measurements to be taken faster, but measurements were only valid at the pumping harmonic frequencies. Both methods were found to produce repeatable results provided there was no trapped air in the circuit.
Overall, the SS method was considered the stronger technique in terms of repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity and practicality, but it had a more complex data processing and experimental set up. It had more flexibility, which enabled the pump to be tested over the widest range of operating conditions, and the fluid borne noise characteristics of the test pump could be evaluated completely. The authors consider that the 2P2S method could be improved by the inclusion of a third transducer, and that it would be beneficial to retain the SS method as an alternative Standard.
A Combined 0D-3D Numerical Approach for the Performance Prediction of Vehicles’ Heat Exchangers Under Actual Operating Conditions
Authors: Montorsi Luca , Martelli Massimo , Gessi Silvia , Milani Massimo 
Published: December 2017

The paper focuses on the development of a predictive numerical tool for the performance assessment of air-cooled cross-flow heat exchangers for vehicle application. First, a CFD approach for the simulation of vehicles’ radiators under actual operating conditions is proposed. The numerical analysis accounts both for the thermo-fluid dynamics behavior of each section of the heat exchanger and for the flow characteristics of the adopted fan. The full-scale geometry of the fan is included in the simulation as well as the casing and the real rotational speed. The CFD results are used to correlate the flow distribution across the different radiator’s sections and the actual working conditions of both the heat exchanger and the fan operation.
Following this methodology, a generic radiator was divided in two different sub-domain types (internal/boundary), and for each one the Wall Heat Transfer Coefficient and the pressure drop 2D maps are determined on the basis of preliminary CFD simulations as functions of fluid velocity and temperature. These elements became the elementary blocks to be used by a custom-made algorithm to characterize exchangers of any size. The algorithm was extended to develop a fully featured PC software to calculate the performance of multiple sections exchangers.
Optimized Control for an Independent Metering Valve With Integrated Diagnostic Features
Authors: Campanini Federico , Bianchi Riccardo , Vacca Andrea , Casoli Paolo 
Published: December 2017

This paper presents an optimized control for independent metering hydraulic systems that integrates machine diagnostic features. The machine under study is a hydraulic crane for truck applications equipped with a post compensated Load Sensing Pressure Compensated (LSPC) independent metering valve. Control challenges of such hydraulic system pertain to the determination of the opening of the meter-out section under overrunning load conditions. In this work, the inlet actuator pressure was used as feedback for a PI control architecture. The gains of the PI regulator were defined through an Extremum Seeking (ES) optimization algorithm, which minimizes cost functions representative of energy consumption and occurrence of cavitation, to achieve optimal performance in different operating conditions. The control was tested on a simulation model of the reference machine developed in AMESim and validated against experimental results.
The paper shows that the same cost functions used to define the controller parameters can be used as additional inputs, along with conventional sensors, to monitor the health status of the machine.
Investigation of a Real-Time Pressure Based Valve Timing Correction Algorithm
Authors: Breidi Farid , Garrity Jordan , Lumkes John 
Published: December 2017

Digital hydraulics is an emerging field in fluid power, complementing conventional hydraulic and potentially improving efficiency and dynamic performance. High speed electrically controlled on/off valves are key enablers for many digital hydraulic systems, and specifically for digital pump/motors. This work investigates a 4-quadrant 3-piston digital pump/motor utilizing two electrically controlled high speed on/off valves per displacement chamber. The test unit was simulated, built, and experimentally tested. Simulation and experimental results showed the importance of valve response times on the overall performance and efficiency of the digital pump/motor, where a small error in the delay in the valve opening or closing could lead to significant energy losses.
To minimize the impact of valve variability, a real-time valve correction algorithm was developed to account for the error in valve timing. The algorithm uses the pressure readings at the low and high pressure ports to detect the time at which the pressure ripple occurred and then obtain the delay in the valve timing. It calculates the turn-on and turn-off valve delay times in all displacement chambers in a three-piston pump with two valves per chamber, detecting a total of 12 valve delay times. The code was tested for sequential flow diverting and sequential flow limiting operating modes at a wide range of displacement (25% to 100%) with pressures ranging from 25 bar to 105 bar and shaft speeds up to 700 rpm (limited by the valves speed). It was also tested for flow diverting mode and gave good results for displacements between 70% and 100%. The error in the calculated delay times was below 5% in all of the tested conditions, providing major improvements to the digital pump system, and to digital hydraulics in general.