Functionalized Fullerene Increases NF-κB Activity and Blocks Genotoxic Effect of Oxidative Stress in Serum-Starving Human Embryo Lung Diploid Fibroblasts

The influence of a water-soluble [] fullerene derivative containing five residues of 3-phenylpropionic acid and a chlorine addend appended to the carbon cage (F-828) on serum-starving human embryo lung diploid fibroblasts (HELFs) was studied. Serum deprivation evokes oxidative stress in HELFs. Cultivation of serum-starving HELFs in the presence of 0.1–1 µM F-828 significantly decreases the level of free radicals, inhibits autophagy, and represses expression of NOX4 and NRF2 proteins. The activity of NF-κB substantially grows up in contrast to the suppressed NRF2 activity. In the presence of 0.2–0.25 µM F-828, the DSB rate and apoptosis level dramatically decrease. The maximum increase of proliferative activity of the HELFs and maximum activity of NF-κB are observed at these concentration values. Conclusion. Under the conditions of oxidative stress evoked by serum deprivation the water-soluble fullerene derivative F-828 used in concentrations of 0.1 to 1 µM strongly stimulates the NF-κB activity and represses the NRF2 activity in HELFs.

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Different Vancomycin Immunoassays Contribute to the Variability in Vancomycin Trough Measurements in Neonates

Substantial interassay variability (up to 20%) has been described for vancomycin immunoassays in adults, but the impact of neonatal matrix is difficult to quantify because of blood volume constraints in neonates. However, we provide circumstantial evidence for a similar extent of variability. Using the same vancomycin dosing regimens and confirming similarity in clinical characteristics, vancomycin trough concentrations measured by PETINIA (2011-2012, ) were 20% lower and the mean difference was 1.93 mg/L compared to COBAS (2012–2014, ) measurements. The impact of vancomycin immunoassays in neonatal matrix was hereby suggested, supporting a switch to more advanced techniques (LC-MS/MS).

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Image-Guided Voronoi Aesthetic Patterns with an Uncertainty Algorithm Based on Cloud Model

Tessellation-based art is an important technique for computer aided aesthetic patterns generation, and Voronoi diagram plays a key role in the preprocessing, whose uncertainty mechanism is still a challenge. However, the existing techniques handle the uncertainty incompletely and unevenly, and the corresponding algorithms are not of high efficiency; thus it is impossible for users to obtain the results in real time. For a reference image, a Voronoi aesthetic pattern generation algorithm with uncertainty based on cloud model is proposed, including uncertain line representation using an extended cloud model and Voronoi polygon approximation filling with uncertainty. In view of the different parameters, seven groups of experiments and various experimental analyses are conducted. Compared with the related algorithms, the proposed technique performs better on running time, and its time complexity is approximatively linear related to the size of the input image. The experimental results show that it can produce visually similar effect with the frayed or cracked soil and has three advantages, that is, uncertainty, simplicity, and efficiency. The proposal can be a powerful alternative to the traditional methods and has a prospect of applications in the digital entertainment, home decoration, clothing design, and various fields.

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A Scheme for Verification on Data Integrity in Mobile Multicloud Computing Environment

In order to verify the data integrity in mobile multicloud computing environment, a MMCDIV (mobile multicloud data integrity verification) scheme is proposed. First, the computability and nondegeneracy of verification can be obtained by adopting BLS (Boneh-Lynn-Shacham) short signature scheme. Second, communication overhead is reduced based on HVR (Homomorphic Verifiable Response) with random masking and sMHT (sequence-enforced Merkle hash tree) construction. Finally, considering the resource constraints of mobile devices, data integrity is verified by lightweight computing and low data transmission. The scheme improves shortage that mobile device communication and computing power are limited, it supports dynamic data operation in mobile multicloud environment, and data integrity can be verified without using direct source file block. Experimental results also demonstrate that this scheme can achieve a lower cost of computing and communications.

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Tribological Performance of Si-Doped Hydrogenated Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings in Different Biodiesel

In this paper, two kinds of different biodiesel were tested in terms of their impact on wear resistance of Si-DLC coated 100Cr6 flat worn by an oscillating 100Cr6 ball. The knowledge about the tribological behaviour of different types of biodiesel is rare. Rape and soybean are two of the most common natural sources for biodiesel production. Also, if the quality of biodiesel seems to be similar and, according to the demands, biodiesel from different natural origin could affect changes in the tribological behaviour. Although, soybean methyl ester (SME) gives the best results at room temperature wear tests, 150°C SME reaches wear rates of Si-DLC flat against 100Cr6 ball almost double as high as rapeseed methyl ester (RME). It is evident that, with increasing fraction of oxidation stabilizer C23H32O2, the wear rate increases. For silicon doped hydrogenated diamond-like carbon is especially suitable, for use in biodiesels, where certain fraction of humidity, dissociated water, or polar functional groups may present.

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Hypnosis in the Perioperative Management of Breast Cancer Surgery: Clinical Benefits and Potential Implications

The aim of this review is to summarize data published on the use of perioperative hypnosis in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery (BCS). Indeed, the majority of BCS patients experience stress, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and pain. Correct management of the perioperative period and surgical removal of the primary tumor are clearly essential but can affect patients on different levels and hence have a negative impact on oncological outcomes. This review examines the effect of clinical hypnosis performed during the perioperative period. Thanks to its specific properties and techniques allowing it to be used as complementary treatment preoperatively, hypnosis has an impact most notably on distress and postoperative pain. During surgery, hypnosis may be applied to limit immunosuppression, while, in the postoperative period, it can reduce pain, anxiety, and fatigue and improve wound healing. Moreover, hypnosis is inexpensive, an important consideration given current financial concerns in healthcare. Of course, large randomized prospective studies are now needed to confirm the observed advantages of hypnosis in the field of oncology.

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Protective Effect of Amphipterygium adstringens Extract on Dextran Sulphate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Amphipterygium adstringens is an endemic species in Mexico commonly known as “cuachalalate.” Healers to treat gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastrointestinal cancer have traditionally used the bark. We investigated the effects of alcoholic extract of A. adstringens (AaEE) in DSS-induced colitis in mice. The protective effect of AaEE was determined at 200 mg/kg by oral gavage for 10 days. We determine the effect of AaEE on clinical features (disease activity index), antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities in relation to the activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx, levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and changes both macroscopic and microscopic of the colonic mucosa. AaEE significantly reduced the inflammation of colon and significantly increased SOD and GPx activities. AaEE also significantly decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β cytokine levels compared to DSS-treated mice and reduced both infiltration of inflammatory cells and the mucosal damage in colon. The results suggested the protective potential of AaEE in DSS-induced colitis and this might be attributed to its phytochemicals compounds that have been found to induce a wide spectrum of activities such as reduction in oxidative stress, suppression of inflammation, modulating numerous signal transduction pathways, and induction of apoptosis. The findings of this study suggest that AaEE has substantial potential for the treatment of inflammatory colitis.

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Effects of Target Size and Test Distance on Stereoacuity

Target size and test distance effects on stereoacuity were investigated in 24 subjects using a three-dimensional monitor. Examination 1: Target Size Effects. The test distance was 2.5 m for 0.1°, 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes; crossed parallax was presented in 22-second units. Average stereoacuity values for 0.1°, 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes were , , , and seconds, respectively. Stereoacuity was significantly worse with a 0.1° target than with 0.2°, 0.5°, and 0.9° target sizes (, , and , resp.). Examination 2: Test Distance Effects. Test distances of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 m were investigated for a 0.5° target size; crossed parallax was presented in 22-second units. Average stereoacuity values at 2.5 m, 5.0 m, and 7.5 m test distances were , , and seconds, respectively. Stereoacuity at a 7.5 m distance was significantly better than at distances of 2.5 m and 5.0 m ( and , resp.). Stereoacuity at a 5.0 m distance was significantly better than at 2.5 m (). Stereoacuity should be estimated by both parallax and other elements, including test distance and target size.

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IPS Interest in the EEG of Patients after a Single Epileptic Seizure

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of pathological cerebral activity responses to intermittent rhythmic photic stimulation (IPS) after a single epileptic seizure. Patients and Methods. One hundred and thirty-seven EEGs were performed at the Neurophysiology Department of Mohamed V Teaching Military Hospital in Rabat. Clinical and EEG data was collected. Results. 9.5% of our patients had photoparoxysmal discharges (PPD). Incidence was higher in males than in females, but value was not significant (), and it was higher in children compared to adults with significant value (). The most epileptogenic frequencies were within the range 15–20 Hz. 63 patients had an EEG after 72 hours; among them 11 were photosensitive (). The frequency of the PPR was significantly higher in patients with generalized abnormalities than in focal abnormalities (). EEG confirmed a genetic generalized epilepsy in 8 cases among 13 photosensitive patients. Conclusion. PPR is age related. The frequencies within the range 15–20 Hz should inevitably be included in EEG protocols. The presence of PPR after a first seizure is probably more in favor of generalized seizure rather than the other type of seizure. PPR seems independent from the delay Seizure-EEG. Our study did not show an association between sex and photosensitivity.

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Septic Arthritis of the Pediatric Shoulder: From Infancy to Adolescence

Background. Septic arthritis of the glenohumeral joint in the pediatric population (

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A Case-Control Study on the Oxidative Balance of 50% Autologous Serum Eye Drops

Importance. Autologous serum (AS) eye drops are recommended for severe dry eye in patients with ocular surface disease. No description of the antioxidant balance of AS eye drops has been reported in the literature. Objective. This study sought to evaluate the total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) and concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in samples of 50% AS eye drops and their correlations with the demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits of patients with ocular surface disease and healthy controls. Design. This was a case-control study with a 3-month follow-up period. Participants. 16 patients with severe dry eye disease of different etiologies and 17 healthy controls matched by age, gender, and race were included. Results. TRAP and ROS were detected at all evaluated times. There were no differences in the mean ROS () or TRAP () levels between cases and controls. No statistically significant differences in the concentrations of ROS or TRAPs were found at 0, 15, or 30 days ( for ROS = 0.087 and for TRAP = 0.93). Neither the demographic characteristics nor the lifestyle habits were correlated with the oxidative balance of the 50% AS eye drops. Conclusions and Relevance. Both fresh and frozen 50% AS eye drops present antioxidant capacities and ROS in an apparently stable balance. Moreover, patients with ocular surface disease and normal controls produce equivalent AS eye drops in terms of oxidative properties.

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Relationship between Sowing Time, Variety, and Quality in Safflower

This research was carried out to determine the rates of protein and oil production and fatty acid composition and their correlation coefficients in four safflower cultivars (Remzibey, Dincer, Balci, and Yenice) sown in the autumn and spring from 2013 to 2015. The experiment was carried out using split plots in a randomized block design and was replicated 3 times. The study found protein production rates between 15.20 and 18.08%, oil production rates between 24.58 and 31.99%, palmitic acid production rates between 5.93 and 7.01%, stearic acid production rates between 2.13 and 2.53%, oleic acid production rates between 12.08 and 31.58%, linoleic acid production rates between 78.61 and 59.08%, and linolenic acid production rates between 0.11 and 0.15%. Higher seed oil content values were obtained from spring sowing compared to autumn sowing (27.42% and 26.10%), and, in terms of both the evaluated sowing times and cultivars, the highest oil production rates were found in the Balci cultivar (32.20% and 31.78%) for both sowing times. It was determined that there is a positive and significant () relationship between oil with protein production rates but a negative and significant relationship between oil and linolenic acid production rates (). The oleic acid production rate was strongly negatively and significantly correlated with the linoleic acid production rate ().

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Substituent Effects on Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder Reactions: Reactions of 10-Allyl-1,8-dichloroanthracene with 2-Chloroacrylonitrile, 1-Cyanovinyl Acetate and Phenyl Vinyl Sulfone

Diels-Alder reaction of 10-allyl-1,8-dichloroanthracene (3) with 2-chloroacrylonitrile (4) and 1-cyanovinyl acetate (5) gives exclusively the ortho isomer while its reaction with phenyl vinyl sulfone (10) yields a mixture of two isomeric adducts with priority to ortho isomer. The reactions proceeded under microwave condition in xylene. Configurations of these isomers have been assigned with the help of NMR spectra. The results indicated that the steric effect is dominating toward the isomer regioselectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of the present compounds.

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Kidney Expression of Toll Like Receptors in Lupus Nephritis: Quantification and Clinicopathological Correlations

Objective. The study aimed at locating and quantifying Toll Like Receptor (TLR) 3, 7, 8, and 9 expression in kidney of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and correlating them with clinicopathological features. Methods. Kidney sections from 26 LN patients and 4 controls were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using anti-human TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 polyclonal antibodies; the number of TLR-positive nuclei/mm2 was evaluated on digitalized images. Results. Compared to controls, LN showed a significantly higher amount of glomerular and tubulointerstitial TLR9 ( and ), whole and tubulointerstitial TLR3 ( and ), and a higher tubulointerstitial TLR7 (). TLR9 positively correlated with activity index () and tubular TLR7 with chronicity index (). TLR9 positively correlated with Renal-SLEDAI (). Conclusions. This is the first study quantifying kidney expressions of TLRs in LN patients; the results show an overexpression of TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9 and demonstrate a correlation with clinicopathological indices supporting a role of these mediators in the pathogenesis of LN.

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Higher Spin Symmetries of the Free Schrödinger Equation

It is shown that the Schrödinger symmetry algebra of a free particle in spatial dimensions can be embedded into a representation of the higher spin algebra. The latter spans an infinite dimensional algebra of higher-order symmetry generators of the free Schrödinger equation. An explicit representation of the maximal finite dimensional subalgebra of the higher spin algebra is given in terms of nonrelativistic generators. We show also how to convert Vasiliev’s equations into an explicit nonrelativistic covariant form, such that they might apply to nonrelativistic systems. Our procedure reveals that the space of solutions of the Schrödinger equation can be regarded also as a supersymmetric module.

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A Concealed Car Extraction Method Based on Full-Waveform LiDAR Data

Concealed cars extraction from point clouds data acquired by airborne laser scanning has gained its popularity in recent years. However, due to the occlusion effect, the number of laser points for concealed cars under trees is not enough. Thus, the concealed cars extraction is difficult and unreliable. In this paper, 3D point cloud segmentation and classification approach based on full-waveform LiDAR was presented. This approach first employed the autocorrelation coefficient and the echo ratio to determine concealed cars areas. Then the points in the concealed cars areas were segmented with regard to elevation distribution of concealed cars. Based on the previous steps, a strategy integrating backscattered waveform features and the view histogram descriptor was developed to train sample data of concealed cars and generate the feature pattern. Finally concealed cars were classified by pattern matching. The approach was validated by full-waveform LiDAR data and experimental results demonstrated that the presented approach can extract concealed cars with accuracy more than 78.6% in the experiment areas.

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Simulation on the Self-Compacting Concrete by an Enhanced Lagrangian Particle Method

The industry has embraced self-compacting concrete (SCC) to overcome deficiencies related to consolidation, improve productivity, and enhance safety and quality. Due to the large deformation at the flowing process of SCC, an enhanced Lagrangian particle-based method, Smoothed Particles Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, though first developed to study astrophysics problems, with its exceptional advantages in solving problems involving fragmentation, coalescence, and violent free surface deformation, is developed in this study to simulate the flow of SCC as a non-Newtonian fluid to achieve stable results with satisfactory convergence properties. Navier-Stokes equations and incompressible mass conservation equations are solved as basics. Cross rheological model is used to simulate the shear stress and strain relationship of SCC. Mirror particle method is used for wall boundaries. The improved SPH method is tested by a typical 2D slump flow problem and also applied to L-box test. The capability and results obtained from this method are discussed.

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Thrombus Degradation by Fibrinolytic Enzyme of Stenotrophomonas sp. Originated from Indonesian Soybean-Based Fermented Food on Wistar Rats

Objective. To evaluate thrombus degrading effect of a fibrinolytic enzyme from food origin Stenotrophomonas sp. of Indonesia. Methods. Prior to animal study, the enzyme safety was tested using cell culture. The effect on expression of tissue plasminogen activator was also analysed in the cell culture. For in vivo studies, 25 Wistar rats were used: normal control, negative control, treatment groups with crude and semipurified enzyme given orally at 25 mg/kg, and positive control group which received Lumbrokinase at 25 mg/kg. Blood clot in the tail was induced by kappa carrageenan injection at 1 mg/kg BW. Results. Experiment with cell culture confirmed the enzyme safety at the concentration used and increased expression of tPA. Decreasing of thrombus was observed in the positive group down to 70.35 ± 23.11% of the negative control animals (100%). The thrombus observed in the crude enzyme treatment was down to 56.99 ± 15.95% and 71.5 ± 15.7% for semipurified enzyme. Scanning electron microscopy showed clearly that bood clots were found in the animals injected with kappa carrageenan; however, in the treatment and positive groups, the clot was much reduced. Conclusions. Oral treatment of enzyme from Stenotrophomonas sp. of Indonesian fermented food was capable of degrading thrombus induced in Wistar rats.

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Erythritol Is More Effective Than Xylitol and Sorbitol in Managing Oral Health Endpoints

Objective. To provide a comprehensive overview of published evidence on the impact of erythritol, a noncaloric polyol bulk sweetener, on oral health. Methods. A literature review was conducted regarding the potential effects of erythritol on dental plaque (biofilm), dental caries, and periodontal therapy. The efficacy of erythritol on oral health was compared with xylitol and sorbitol. Results. Erythritol effectively decreased weight of dental plaque and adherence of common streptococcal oral bacteria to tooth surfaces, inhibited growth and activity of associated bacteria like S. mutans, decreased expression of bacterial genes involved in sucrose metabolism, reduced the overall number of dental caries, and served as a suitable matrix for subgingival air-polishing to replace traditional root scaling. Conclusions. Important differences were reported in the effect of individual polyols on oral health. The current review provides evidence demonstrating better efficacy of erythritol compared to sorbitol and xylitol to maintain and improve oral health.

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Psychiatric Emergencies for Clinicians: Emergency Department Diagnosis and Management of Steroid Psychosis

Publication date: Available online 20 August 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Bryan Corbett, Kimberly Nordstrom, Gary M. Vilke, Michael P. Wilson




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Emergency Medicine Management of Sickle Cell Disease Complications: An Evidence-Based Update

Publication date: Available online 20 August 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Erica Simon, Brit Long, Alex Koyfman
BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States. Due to alterations in the structural conformation of hemoglobin molecules under deoxygenated conditions, patients with SCD are predisposed to numerous sequelae, many of which require acute intervention.ObjectiveOur aim was to provide emergency physicians with an evidence-based update regarding the diagnosis and management of SCD complications.DiscussionSCD patients experience significant morbidity and mortality secondary to cerebrovascular accident, acute chest syndrome, acute vaso-occlusive pain crises, SCD-related multi-organ failure, cholecystitis, acute intrahepatic cholestasis, acute sickle hepatic crisis, acute hepatic sequestration, priapism, and renal disease. Emergency physicians must recognize acute manifestations of SCD in order to deliver timely management and determine patient disposition.ConclusionsA comprehensive review of the emergency department management of acute SCD complications is provided. Comprehensive understanding of these aspects of SCD can assist physicians in expediting patient evaluation and treatment, thus decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with this hemoglobinopathy.



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Acute Aortic Dissection Presenting as Bilateral Lower Extremity Paralysis: A Case Report

Publication date: Available online 20 August 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Kate E. Hughes, Colin Seguin, Brent Felton, Mary J. Hughes, David Castle
BackgroundFirst described by Morgagni in 1761, aortic dissection (AD) is an acute life-threatening and time-sensitive disease process with an increasing mortality approaching 1% for every 1-hour delay in diagnosis within the first 48 hours. Despite continued surgical advancement, overall in-hospital mortality remains significant (27.4%).Case ReportA 56-year-old woman presented to an outlying emergency department with a complaint of isolated lumbar pain associated with right lower extremity paresthesia and paralysis that progressed to the left. Her medical history and a review of symptoms were significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tobacco abuse. The initial evaluation in the emergency department included laboratory values and a computed tomography scan of the lumbar spine that revealed minimal disease. After transfer to our tertiary care center for an emergent magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lumbar spine, her vital signs were as follows: blood pressure, 176/84 mm Hg; heart rate, 76 beats/min; respiratory rate, 24 breaths/min; afebrile; and oxygen saturation 98% on room air. A repeat examination revealed cold extremities with mottling, bilateral symmetric lower extremity flaccid paralysis, and a loss of pulses and reflexes. She was insensate below the T10 dermatome. Her upper extremities and cranial nerves were normal. She underwent computed tomography angiography, revealing an extensive Stanford type A AD with interim thrombus formation. After successful endograft stenting, she died 24 hours later.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Comprising <2% of all ADs, the pathophysiology of paraplegia as the initial presentation of AD is caused by compression of the anterior spinal artery, resulting in ischemia of the spinal cord. Acute AD is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires a high clinical level of suspicion because of its often variable presentation and high incidence of mortality.



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Psychiatric Emergencies for Clinicians: Emergency Department Management of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Publication date: Available online 20 August 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Christopher S. Sharp, Michael P. Wilson, Kimberly Nordstrom




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An Enhanced Collaborative Optimization Approach with Design Structure Matrix Algorithms to Group and Decouple Multidisciplines

To improve the solution efficiency and reliability of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), an enhanced MDO approach, called sequenced collaborative optimization (SCO), is proposed. The proposed approach introduces the design structure matrix (DSM) to describe the coupling effects among disciplines and aggregates those mutually coupling disciplines into the strong tie groups among similar ones and the weak tie among heterogeneous ones through clustering algorithms. Further, those in the same group are sequenced by the DSM division algorithm. Moreover, by adding constraints, the groups are made independent, resulting in a tree structure without loops, thus decoupling the original multidisciplinary problem into several independent collaborative optimization modules. In the end, an example is employed to verify the efficiency and reliability of the approach.

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Minimally Invasive Approach of a Retrocaval Ureter

The retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital entity, classically managed with open pyeloplasty techniques. The experience obtained with the laparoscopic approach of other more frequent causes of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction has opened the method for the minimally invasive approach of the retrocaval ureter. In our paper, we describe a clinical case of a right retrocaval ureter managed successfully with laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty. The main standpoints of the procedure are described. Our results were similar to others published by other urologic centers, which demonstrates the safety and feasibility of the procedure for this condition.

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Modeling and Analysis on Cushion Characteristics of Fast and High-Flow-Rate Hydraulic Cylinder

As an indispensable actuator, the hydraulic cylinder has widespread industrial applications in mechanical engineering. The cushion characteristics of hydraulic cylinder directly affect its performance and reliability, especially the one utilized in hydraulic system with fast response, high flow rate, and instantaneous super power. In order to analyze the cushion characteristics, three different simulation models are established. Furthermore, experiments concerning the pressure characteristics of hydraulic cylinder are accomplished to verify the validation of simulation models. It was found that the integrated simulation model had the highest precision and CFD model showed better pattern of cushion process compared with other models. On the basis of the integrated simulation model, plunger structure and key structural parameters were studied in detail with optimal schemes given. The conical structure, proper design of the diameter of cushion hole, and length of plunger turned out to be effective in promoting the cushion performance. The proposed simulation models and research of cushion structure have scientific and engineering value to promote the innovative development of hydraulic cylinder.

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Crowdsource Based Indoor Localization by Uncalibrated Heterogeneous Wi-Fi Devices

Many indoor localization techniques that rely on received signals from Wi-Fi access points have been explored in the last decade. Recently, crowdsourced Wi-Fi fingerprint attracts much attention, which leads to a self-organized localization system avoiding painful survey efforts. However, this participatory approach introduces new challenges with no previously proposed techniques such as heterogeneous devices, short measurement time, and multiple values for a single position. This paper proposes an efficient localization method combating the three major technical issues in the crowdsourcing based systems. We evaluate our indoor positioning method using 5 places with different radio environment and 8 different mobile phones. The experimental results show that the proposed approach provides consistent localization accuracy and outperforms existing localization algorithms.

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Parameters Optimization for a Kind of Dynamic Vibration Absorber with Negative Stiffness

A new type of dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) with negative stiffness is studied in detail. At first, the analytical solution of the system is obtained based on the established differential motion equation. Three fixed points are found in the amplitude-frequency curves of the primary system. The design formulae for the optimum tuning ratio and optimum stiffness ratio of DVA are obtained by adjusting the three fixed points to the same height according to the fixed-point theory. Then, the optimum damping ratio is formulated by minimizing the maximum value of the amplitude-frequency curves according to optimization principle. According to the characteristics of negative stiffness element, the optimum negative stiffness ratio is also established and it could still keep the system stable. In the end, the comparison between the analytical and the numerical solutions verifies the correctness of the analytical solution. The comparisons with three other traditional DVAs under the harmonic and random excitations show that the presented DVA performs better in vibration absorption. This result could provide theoretical basis for optimum parameters design of similar DVAs.

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Liver Cholesterol Overload Aggravates Obstructive Cholestasis by Inducing Oxidative Stress and Premature Death in Mice

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is one of the leading causes of liver disease. Dietary factors determine the clinical presentation of steatohepatitis and can influence the progression of related diseases. Cholesterol has emerged as a critical player in the disease and hence consumption of cholesterol-enriched diets can lead to a progressive form of the disease. The aim was to investigate the impact of liver cholesterol overload on the progression of the obstructive cholestasis in mice subjected to bile duct ligation surgery. Mice were fed with a high cholesterol diet for two days and then were subjected to surgery procedure; histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses were conducted to address the effect of cholesterol in liver damage. Mice under the diet were more susceptible to damage. Results show that cholesterol fed mice exhibited increased apoptosis and oxidative stress as well as reduction in cell proliferation. Mortality following surgery was higher in HC fed mice. Liver cholesterol impairs the repair of liver during obstructive cholestasis and aggravates the disease with early fatal consequences; these effects were strongly associated with oxidative stress.

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Exploiting CD22 on Antigen-Specific B-Cells to Prevent Allergy to the Major Peanut Allergen Ara h 2

Methods for inducing antigen-specific immune tolerance are needed for the treatment and prevention of food allergies. We demonstrate that mice can be tolerized to the major peanut allergen through engaging CD22, an inhibitory B-cell co-receptor.

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Human CD40L deficiency dysregulates the macrophage transcriptome causing functional defects that are improved by exogenous IFN-γ

Human CD40L deficiency dysregulates the macrophage transcriptome causing functional defects, including defective microbicidal activity, reduced oxidative burst, and impaired production of inflammatory cytokines that are improved by exogenous IFN-γ.

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IL-4 impairs wound healing potential in the skin by repressing fibronectin expression

IL-4 induces changes in gene expression in keratinocytes that result in impaired re-epithelialization of wounds in vitro and in vivo.

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Gene-based analysis of regulatory variants identifies four putative novel asthma risk genes related to nucleotide synthesis and signaling

Using a new method for gene-based analysis of GWAS results, we identified a genetic association between asthma risk and eQTLs for B4GALT3 and USMG5, which are involved in the production of UDP-galactose and ATP respectively, and P2RY13 and P2RY14, two G protein-coupled receptors activated respectively by ADP and UDP-sugars. Functional studies in the mouse show that activation of P2ry13 or P2ry14 induces the release of IL-33 and eosinophil infiltration into the lungs, in the absence of allergen stimulation. Functional studies that characterize in depth the contribution of these four genes to asthma pathophysiology are warranted.

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Efficacy of the Janus Kinase 1/2 Inhibitor Ruxolitinib in the Treatment of Vasculopathy Associated with TMEM173-Activating Mutations in three children

This article demonstrates that JAK inhibition represents a highly promising and well-tolerated therapy for STING-associated vasculopathy, and which may also be relevant to the treatment of other type I interferonopathies.

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Allergy-Related Disease in Relation to Early Life Exposures – The Aladdin Birth Cohort

An anthroposophic lifestyle is associated with reduced risk of parent-reported food hypersensitivity and recurrent wheeze up to two years of age. Mediating factors for the risk reduction appear to be different for the two outcomes.

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An IL-17-dominant immune profile is shared across the major orphan forms of ichthyosis

CIE, LI, EI and NS subtypes of ichthyosis are Th17-skewed. IL-17/TNF-synergistic/additive genes are predominantly increased and significantly correlated with disease severity scores and functional barrier abnormalities (TEWL).

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Mendelian randomization analysis demonstrates that low vitamin D is unlikely causative for pediatric asthma.

We confirmed associations between 25(OH)D and asthma in our cross-sectional cohort; however, genetically predicted vitamin D status was not associated with asthma. These results suggest that vitamin D is unlikely causative for pediatric asthma.

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DOCK8-Deficient CD4+ T Cells are Biased to a Th2 Effector Fate at the Expense of Th1 and Th17 Cells

DOCK8-deficient CD4+ T cells exhibit dysregulated cytokine responses, with exaggerated production of Th2 cytokines, and impaired production of Th1 and Th17 cytokines. Collectively these findings provide explanations for some of the clinical features of DOCK8 deficiency, such as eczema and food allergies, and recurrent viral and microbial infections.

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Probiotic supplementation has little effect on peripheral blood regulatory T-cells

Probiotics may exert an anti-inflammatory influence via T-regs. In healthy people, regular physical activity appears to exert a stronger influence on the frequency of circulating CD4+ T-regs and their expression of chemokine receptors.

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Age dictates a steroid resistant cascade of Wnt5a, transglutaminase-2 and leukotrienes in inflamed airways

Epithelial remodeling factors are differentially regulated during early- and late-onset allergic airway inflammation. Age-specific diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic approaches may thus be required to improve the clinical outcomes for patients suffering from chronic airway inflammation.

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Acute Asthma, Prognosis and Treatment

Asthma affects about 300 million people globally and accounts for 1 in every 250 deaths in the world. Approximately 12 million people in the United States each year experience an acute exacerbation of their asthma, a quarter of which require hospitalization. Acute asthma should be differentiated from poor asthma control. In acute asthma, patients will exhibit increasing shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and/or wheezing. In contrast, poor asthma control typically presents with a diurnal variability in airflow and is a characteristic that is usually not seen during an acute exacerbation.

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Randomized controlled trial of early regular egg intake to prevent egg allergy

For infants without eczema symptoms, regular egg intake from 4-6 months of age does not substantially alter the risk of egg allergy by 1 year of age.

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A New Cost-Profit Model for Measuring the Optimal Scale of China’s Foreign Exchange Reserve

The fast increase of foreign exchange reserve in developing countries has raised a number of important financial questions in recent years. The analysis of the optimal scale of the foreign exchange reserve can provide important indicator to measure the strength and stability of country’s financial standing. In this work we propose a cost-profit model and use the financial data during 2000 to 2008 to analyze the optimal scale of China’s foreign exchange reserve. We identify a number of financial factors to measure the cost and profit of holding the reserves. Our prediction suggested that China’s foreign exchange reserves were still within the moderate range in 1999–2001. However, during 2002–2008 the foreign exchange reserve began to exceed the appropriate scale, and this upward trend was accelerated each year.

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Mid-Adolescent Predictors of Adult Drinking Levels in Early Adulthood and Gender Differences: Longitudinal Analyses Based on the South Australian School Leavers Study

There is considerable public health interest in understanding what factors during adolescence predict longer-term drinking patterns in adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in the age 15 social and psychological predictors of less healthy drinking patterns in early adulthood. The study investigates the relative importance of internalising problems, other risky health behaviours, and peer relationships after controlling for family background characteristics. A sample of 812 young people who provided complete alcohol consumption data from the age of 15 to 20 years (5 measurement points) were drawn from South Australian secondary schools and given a detailed survey concerning their psychological and social wellbeing. Respondents were classified into two groups based upon a percentile division: those who drank at levels consistently below NHMRC guidelines and those who consistently drank at higher levels. The results showed that poorer age 15 scores on measures of psychological wellbeing including scores on the GHQ-12, self-esteem, and life-satisfaction as well as engagement in health-related behaviours such as smoking or drug-taking were associated with higher drinking levels in early adulthood. The pattern of results was generally similar for both genders. Higher drinking levels were most strongly associated with smoking and marijuana use and poorer psychological wellbeing during adolescence.

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Bounded Traveling Wave Solutions and Their Relations for the Generalized HD Type Equation

The generalized HD type equation is studied by using the bifurcation method of dynamical systems. From a dynamic point of view, the existence of different kinds of traveling waves which include periodic loop soliton, periodic cusp wave, smooth periodic wave, loop soliton, cuspon, smooth solitary wave, and kink-like wave is proved and the sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence of the above solutions in different regions of the parametric space are given. Also, all possible exact parametric representations of the bounded waves are presented and their relations are stated.

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A Patient with a Right Atrium Mass and Congenital Heart Disease: A Challenging Diagnosis of a Stubborn Disease

Cardiac lymphoma is extremely rare. An intracardiac mass has rarely been reported to be the cardiac involvement of extranodal lymphoma. It is difficult to establish a final diagnosis via routine examinations. The ability of an echocardiogram to characterize tissue is limited; systemic (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans provide important information for both staging and response assessment in patients with lymphoma. A 68-year-old Chinese male with a second patent foramen ovale (PFO) and an interventricular septal defect presented at our institute with persistent fever, shortness of breath, repeated paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) attack, and rapidly progressing superior vena cava syndrome. The patient also presented with a mass located in the upper right atrium and superior vena cava which was detected by echocardiogram. (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan revealed a pathological increase of (18)F-FDG uptake in the atrial mass and several other extracardiac lymph nodes. Lymph node biopsy was positive for large B-cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed intense and diffuse expression of CD20, CD10, BCL-6, and Ki-67. The patient died without any chemotherapy 18 days after hospital discharge.

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Robust Adaptive Algorithm by an Adaptive Zero Attractor Controller of ZA-LMS Algorithm

This paper proposes a new approach to identify time varying sparse systems. The proposed approach uses Zero-Attracting Least Mean Square (ZA-LMS) algorithm with an adaptive optimal zero attractor controller which can adapt dynamically to the sparseness level and provide appreciable performance in all environments ranging from sparse to nonsparse conditions. The optimal zero attractor controller is derived based on the criterion that confirms largest decrease in mean square deviation (MSD) error. A simple update rule is also proposed to change the zero attractor controller based on the level of sparsity. It is found that, for nonsparse system, the proposed approach converges to LMS (as ZA-LMS cannot outperform LMS when the system is nonsparse) and, for highly sparse system, as the proposed approach is based on optimal zero attractor controller, it converges either similar to ZA-LMS or even better than ZA-LMS (depending on the value of zero attractor controller chosen for ZA-LMS algorithm). The performance of the proposed algorithm is better than ZA-LMS and LMS when the system is semisparse. Simulations were performed to prove that the proposed algorithm is robust against variable sparsity level.

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Schistosome-Derived Molecules as Modulating Actors of the Immune System and Promising Candidates to Treat Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases

It is long known that some parasite infections are able to modulate specific pathways of host’s metabolism and immune responses. This modulation is not only important in order to understand the host-pathogen interactions and to develop treatments against the parasites themselves but also important in the development of treatments against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Throughout the life cycle of schistosomes the mammalian hosts are exposed to several biomolecules that are excreted/secreted from the parasite infective stage, named cercariae, from their tegument, present in adult and larval stages, and finally from their eggs. These molecules can induce the activation and modulation of innate and adaptive responses as well as enabling the evasion of the parasite from host defense mechanisms. Immunomodulatory effects of helminth infections and egg molecules are clear, as well as their ability to downregulate proinflammatory cytokines, upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, and drive a Th2 type of immune response. We believe that schistosomes can be used as a model to understand the potential applications of helminths and helminth-derived molecules against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

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The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Improving Mind-Body Health for Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose. To conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review examining whether Tai Chi Chuan could have mental and physical benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant studies. Data of the studies were collected, and outcomes were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model. Effect sizes of the mental and physical components were determined, along with the recommendation grades of Philadelphia Panel Classification System for Tai Chi Chuan on knee osteoarthritis. Results. Eleven studies were selected and retrieved from the databases. The results of meta-analysis revealed that the effects of Tai Chi Chuan were observed for physical components in the body functions and structures domain. The effects favoring Tai Chi Chuan were observed in the physical component in the activities and participation domain. Insufficient data was included in the meta-analysis of the mental component. Conclusions. The review revealed that Tai Chi Chuan had beneficial outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The evidence-based results represented that it had small-to-moderate effects on body functions and structures, activities, and participation of physical component. However, there was insufficient evidence to support that Tai Chi Chuan had beneficial mental effect.

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Fatal Cerebral Air Embolism: A Case Series and Literature Review

Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is an infrequently reported complication of routine medical procedures. We present two cases of CAE. The first patient was a 55-year-old male presenting with vomiting and loss of consciousness one day after his hemodialysis session. Physical exam was significant for hypotension and hypoxia with no focal neurologic deficits. Computed tomography (CT) scan of head showed gas in cerebral venous circulation. The patient did not undergo any procedures prior to presentation, and his last hemodialysis session was uneventful. Retrograde rise of venous air to the cerebral circulation was the likely mechanism for venous CAE. The second patient was a 46-year-old female presenting with fever, shortness of breath, and hematemesis. She was febrile, tachypneic, and tachycardic and required intubation and mechanical ventilation. An orogastric tube inserted drained 2500 mL of bright red blood. Flexible laryngoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were performed. She also underwent central venous catheter placement. CT scan of head performed the next day due to absent brain stem reflexes revealed intravascular air within cerebral arteries. A transthoracic echocardiogram with bubble study ruled out patent foramen ovale. The patient had a paradoxical CAE in the absence of a patent foramen ovale.

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