bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of carbon nanoflake/sulfur arrays as cathode materials of lithium-sulfur batteries
Authors: Wang Fan , Liang Xinqi , Chen Minghua , Xia Xinhui
Published: May 2018

It is of great importance to develop high-quality carbon/sulfur cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, we report a facile strategy to embed sulfur into interconnected carbon nanoflake matrix forming integrated electrode. Interlinked carbon nanoflakes have dual roles not only as a highly conductive matrix to host sulfur, but also act as blocking barriers to suppress the shuttle effect of intermediate polysulfides. In the light of these positive characteristics, the obtained carbon nanoflake/S cathode exhibit good LSBs performances with high capacities (1117[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 0.2[Formula: see text]C, and 741[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 0.6[Formula: see text]C) and good high-rate cycling performance. Our synthetic method provides a novel way to construct enhanced carbon/sulfur cathode for LSBs.
Finite-time convergence of an nth nonlinear system with unmatched disturbance and its application in integrated guidance and control system
Authors: Zhang Cong
Published: May 2018

The finite-time convergence problem of an [Formula: see text]th nonlinear system with unmatched disturbance is primarily studied in this paper. During the recursive procedure, a new finite-time controller is designed and proven by adding a sign function and a power integrator. Meanwhile, a [Formula: see text] positive definite and proper Lyapunov function, which satisfies the finite-time Lyapunov stability law, is designed. Finally, the designed finite-time controller is applied to some examples and an application of integrated guidance and control system to test and verify its advantage and practicability.
Adaptive scheduling method for dynamic robotic cell based on pattern classification algorithm
Authors: Wang Chuyuan , Zhang Linxuan , Liu Chongdang
Published: May 2018

In order to deal with the dynamic production environment with frequent fluctuation of processing time, robotic cell needs an efficient scheduling strategy which meets the real-time requirements. This paper proposes an adaptive scheduling method based on pattern classification algorithm to guide the online scheduling process. The method obtains the scheduling knowledge of manufacturing system from the production data and establishes an adaptive scheduler, which can adjust the scheduling rules according to the current production status. In the process of establishing scheduler, how to choose essential attributes is the main difficulty. In order to solve the low performance and low efficiency problem of embedded feature selection method, based on the application of Extreme Gradient Boosting model (XGBoost) to obtain the adaptive scheduler, an improved hybrid optimization algorithm which integrates Gini impurity of XGBoost model into Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is employed to acquire the optimal subset of features. The results based on simulated robotic cell system show that the proposed PSO-XGBoost algorithm outperforms existing pattern classification algorithms and the newly learned adaptive model can improve the basic dispatching rules. At the same time, it can meet the demand of real-time scheduling.
Common Interferences Removal from Dense Multichannel EEG Using Independent Component Decomposition
Authors: Li Weifeng , Shen Yuxiaotong , Zhang Jie , Huang Xiaolin , Chen Ying , Ge Yun
Published: May 2018

To improve the spatial resolution, dense multichannel electroencephalogram with more than 32 leads has gained more and more applications. However, strong common interference will not only conceal the weak components generated from the specific isolated neural source, but also lead to severe spurious correlation between different brain regions, which results in great distortion on brain connectivity or brain network analysis. Starting from the fast independent component analysis algorithm, we first derive the mixing matrix of independent source components based on the baseline signals prior to tasks. Then, we identify the common interferences as those components whose mixing vectors span the minimum angles with respect to the unitary vector. By assuming that both the common interferences and their corresponding mixing vectors stay consistent during the entire experiment, we apply the demixing and mixing matrix to the task signals and remove the inferred common interferences. Subsequently, we validate the method using simulation. Finally, the index of global coherence is calculated for validation. It turns out that the proposed method can successfully remove the common interferences so that the prominent coherence of mu rhythms in motor imagery tasks is unmasked. The proposed method can gain wide applications because it reveals the true correlation between the local sources in spite of the low signal-to-noise ratio.
Evaluation of the Effect of Different Types of Abrasive Surface Treatment before and after Zirconia Sintering on Its Structural Composition and Bond Strength with Resin Cement
Authors: Skienhe Hasan , Habchi Roland , Ounsi Hani , Ferrari Marco , Salameh Ziad
Published: May 2018

This study evaluated the effect of air abrasion before and after sintering with different particle type, shape, and size on the surface morphology, monoclinic phase transformation, and bond strength between resin cement and zirconia surface using primer containing silane and MDP. Airborne particle abrasion (APA) was performed on zirconia before and after sintering with different particle shape and size (50 μm Al2O3 and 25 μm silica powder). 120 square shaped presintered zirconia samples (Amann Girrbach) were prepared (3 mm height × 10 mm width × 10 mm length) and polished with grit papers #800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and 2000. Samples were divided into 6 groups according to surface treatment—group A: (control) no surface treatment; group B: APA 50 μm Al2O3 before sintering (BS); group C: APA 50 μm Al2O3 after sintering (AS); group D: APA25 μm silica powder (BS); group E: APA25 μm silica powder (AS) at a pressure of 3.5 bar; and group F: APA 25 μm silica powder (AS) at a pressure of 4 bar. Samples were analyzed using XRD, AFM, and SEM. The samples were submitted to shear bond strength (SBS) test. A dual cure resin cement (RelyX Ultimate) and primer (Scotchbond Universal) were used. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey test (α≥0.05). APA in group B significantly increased the surface roughness when compared to all other groups. A significant monoclinic phase transformation (t-m) value was observed in groups C and F and a reverse transformation occurred in presintered groups. The SBS value of group A was 11.58±1.43 and the highest significant shear bond strength value was for groups B (15.86±1.92) and C (17.59±2.21 MPa) with no significant difference between them. Conclusions. The use of APA 50 μm Al2O3 before sintering and the application of primer containing MDP seem to be valuable methods for durable bonding with zirconia. The use of APA 50 μm Al2O3 after sintering induced the highest (t-m) phase transformation.
Assessment of Durability of Concrete Structure Subject to Carbonation with Application of Safety Factor
Authors: Pack Seung-Woo , Jung Min Sun , Kang Jun Won , Ann Ki Yong , Kim Janghwan
Published: May 2018

A reliability‐based method for identifying appropriate safety factors for use in predicting the service life (i.e., corrosion‐free life) of concrete structures subject to carbonation is described in this paper. Reinforced concrete (RC) columns located in CO2‐rich urban environments were investigated to estimate their service life. Carbonation depths and cover depths were measured for sound, cracked, and jointed concrete cover conditions. The measurements were used to calculate safety factors for columns subject to carbonation. Goodness‐of‐fit tests were used to obtain optimal probability distributions for carbonation depths and cover depths. A reliability index of 1.28, corresponding to a 10% probability of corrosion initiation, was taken as a threshold for determining the safety factor. The safety factor proposed in this paper can be used to estimate the service life of RC structures subject to carbonation. The sensitivity of the safety factor to the casting method and coefficient of variation of the cover depth were also evaluated.
The Ecological Perspective of Landslides at Soils with High Clay Content in the Middle Bogowonto Watershed, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sartohadi Junun , Harlin Jennie Pulungan Nur Ainun , Nurudin Makruf , Wahyudi Wahyudi
Published: May 2018

The clay layers at hilly regions in the study area were very thick. The presence of very thick clay caused several difficulties in terms of environmental management, particularly in reducing georisk due to landslide. However, initial observations proved that areas of active landslides had better vegetation cover. The objective of this study was to find out ecological roles of landslides in livelihood in the Middle Bogowonto Watershed. The ecological roles of landslide were examined through field empirical evidences. Texture, bulk density, permeability, structure, and index plasticity were conducted for analyses of soil physical properties. Stepwise interpretation was made using 1 : 100,000–1 : 25,000 Indonesian topographic maps and remote sensing images of 30 m–<10 m spatial resolution. The results showed that landslides formed three landform zones: residual, erosional, and depositional zones. The area that did not slid, the residual zone, had massive soil structure and very hard consistency. Crops cultivated in this zone did not grow well. In the areas of active landslide, the environmental conditions seemed to be more favorable for living creatures. The landslides resulted in depositional zones with gentle slopes (4° to 15°), higher water availability, and easier soil management. The landslides also acted as the rearrangement process of landforms for better living environment.
Digital Simulation of Superconductive Memory System Based on Hardware Description Language Modeling
Authors: Narendran S. , Selvakumar J.
Published: May 2018

We have modeled a memory system using Josephson Junction to attain low power consumption using low input voltage compared to conventional Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor-Static Random Access Memory (CMOS-SRAM). We attained the low power by connecting a shared/common bit line and using a 1-bit memory cell. Through our design we may attain 2.5–3.5 microwatts of power using lower input voltage of 0.6 millivolts. Comparative study has been made to find which memory system will attain low power consumption. Conventional SRAM techniques consume power in the range of milliwatts with the supply input in the range of 0-10 volts. Using HDL language, we made a memory logic design of RAM cells using Josephson Junction in FreeHDL software which is dedicated only for Josephson Junction based design. With use of XILINX, we have calculated the power consumption and equivalent Register Transfer Level (RTL) schematic is drawn.
Microscopic Parameter Extraction and Corresponding Strength Prediction of Cemented Paste Backfill at Different Curing Times
Authors: Qin Xuebin , Liu Lang , Wang Pai , Wang Mei , Xin Jie
Published: May 2018

To accurately and intuitively study the influence of microscopic parameters and mechanical responses of the consolidation process of cemented paste backfill (CPB), a method is proposed for characterizing its geometric and morphological characteristics and its mechanical response. A set of microstructure parameter software is developed for analyzing the CPB consolidation process, which quantitatively analyzes the mechanical response of CPBs at a microscopic scale. Based on the fuzzy clustering method, CPB microscopic pore images are extracted via digital image processing technology. Microscopic CPB pores are extracted from images via cluster analysis, binarization, and denoising techniques. Then, images are evaluated for porosity, number of pores, average pore width, fractal dimension, weighted probability entropy, and 11 more indicators to quantitatively analyze pores. Thus, the proposed method forms nonlinear relationships between microstructure parameters and mechanical responses based on a deep learning TensorFlow framework under different curing times. Results show that the multiparameter predictive mechanical response at the microscopic scale has a good effect, and the predicted average error is 9.51%. The accuracy of the proposed method is higher than that of the traditional method. Therefore, the proposed method provides a new method to quantitatively analyze the mechanical response strength prediction at a microscale.
Acupuncture for Diarrhoea‐Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Network Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Zhu Lingping , Ma Yunhui , Ye Shasha , Shu Zhiqun
Published: May 2018

Background. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and drugs in the treatment of diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of acupuncture and drugs were comprehensively retrieved from electronic databases (such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and CBM) up to December 2017. Additional references were obtained from review articles. With document quality evaluations and data extraction, Network Meta‐Analysis was performed using a random‐effects model under a frequentist framework. Results. A total of 29 studies (n = 9369) were included; 19 were high‐quality studies, and 10 were low‐quality studies. NMA showed the following: (1) the ranking of treatments in terms of efficacy in diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome is acupuncture, sham acupuncture, pinaverium bromide, alosetron = eluxadoline, ramosetron, and rifaximin; (2) the ranking of treatments in terms of severity of side effects in diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome is rifaximin, alosetron, ramosetron = pinaverium bromide, sham acupuncture, and acupuncture; and (3) the treatment of diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome includes common acupoints such as ST25, ST36, ST37, SP6, GV20, and EX‐HN3. Conclusion. Acupuncture may improve diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome better than drugs and has the fewest side effects. Sham acupuncture may have curative effect except for placebo effect. In the future, it is necessary to perform highly qualified research to prove this result. Pinaverium bromide also has good curative effects with fewer side effects than other drugs.
Isolated Knee Arthritis as Early and Only Symptom of Whipple’s Disease
Authors: Giunchi Dario , Marcoli Natalie , Deabate Luca , Delcogliano Marco , Testa Enrique , Candrian Christian , Gaffurini Paolo
Published: May 2018

We report a case of isolated Whipple’s disease involving the knee of a 64-year-old female patient who presented recurrent monoarthritis whose origin was not clear. Initially, the cause of the gradually invalidating symptoms was related to a meniscal lesion and a diffuse minor grade chondropathy, but pain and functional impairment suggested that more exams were needed. Biopsies were performed during arthroscopy. The histology showed highly inflammatory infiltrates with PAS staining negative for Tropheryma while PCR revealed the infection with Tropheryma whipplei. This, following the recommendation of a rheumatologist and infectious disease specialist, led to biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid that showed no other organ involvement. This confirms the scientific literature that an isolated monoarthritis without involvement of the gastrointestinal tract caused by this bacterium is rare but can occur as an early manifestation of potentially fatal systemic disease. Moreover, a review of the scientific literature showed the uncertainty about epidemiology of this rare disease, suggesting that more and specific data are required.
The Identification of Core Gene Expression Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Ning , Li Ling , Chen Yongshun
Published: May 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies, which causes serious financial burden worldwide. This study aims to investigate the potential mechanisms contributing to HCC and identify core biomarkers. The HCC gene expression profile GSE41804 was picked out to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were carried out using DAVID. We constructed a protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network to visualize interactions of the DEGs. The survival analysis of these hub genes was conducted to evaluate their potential effects on HCC. In this analysis, 503 DEGs were captured (360 downregulated genes and 143 upregulated genes). Meanwhile, 15 hub genes were identified. GO analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in oxidative stress, cell cycle, and extracellular structure. KEGG analysis suggested the DEGs were enriched in the absorption, metabolism, and cell cycle pathway. PPI network disclosed that the top3 modules were mainly enriched in cell cycle, oxidative stress, and liver detoxification. In conclusion, our analysis uncovered that the alterations of oxidative stress and cell cycle are two major signatures of HCC. TOP2A, CCNB1, and KIF4A might promote the development of HCC, especially in proliferation and differentiation, which could be novel biomarkers and targets for diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
Intestinal Myiasis Caused bySarcophagaspp. in Cusco, Peru: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ly Priscilla , Aizenberg Adiel , Martin Taylor , Lopez Martha , Arturo Saldaña Miguel , Hughes Grant Leslie , Cabada Miguel Mauricio
Published: May 2018

Myiasis is the infestation by dipterous fly larvae in humans and animals. The larvae can infect living or necrotic tissue involving the skin, nasopharynx, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. The accidental ingestion of eggs causes infection of the intestinal tract. We report a case of intestinal myiasis caused bySarcophagaspp. larvae in a two-year-old child from Limatambo province in the Cusco region of Peru. Live larvae were identified incidentally in this child’s stool sample during the study screening forStrongyloides stercoralis. The child did not have any constitutional or abdominal symptoms. The morphological examination of the specimen under magnification revealedSarcophagaspp. larvae. We performed a literature review of publications reporting intestinal myiasis caused bySarcophagaspp. and discussed key aspects of this infestation.
Effect of Fermentation Conditions and Plucking Standards of Tea Leaves on the Chemical Components and Sensory Quality of Fermented Juice
Authors: Tang Ping , Shen Dan-Yu , Xu Yong-Quan , Zhang Xing-Cai , Shi John , Yin Jun-Feng
Published: May 2018

The effects of fermentation conditions (temperature, time, and pH) and plucking standards (one leaf and a bud to four leaves and a bud) on the chemical components and sensory quality of the fermented juices processed from crushed fresh tea leaves were investigated. The results showed that optimum fermentation conditions that resulted in fermented juices of the best sensory quality and the highest content of TFs were a temperature of 35°C, time duration of 75 min, and pH 5.1. The fermented juices processed from new shoots with three leaves and a bud or four leaves and a bud afforded high overall acceptability and TF concentration. These differences arise because tea leaves with different plucking standards have different catechin content and enzyme activities. Fermented tea juice possessed higher concentrations of chemical components such as soluble solids, amino acids, and TFs and exhibited better sensory quality as compared to black tea infusion. The TF concentrations decreased as the pH of the fermenting juice increased, and the fermented juice showed the best overall acceptability. These results provide essential information for the improvement of the processing of black tea beverage by suggesting fermentation of fresh tea leaves as a better alternative to their infusion.
Serum Adipocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 Levels Are Independently Associated with Radioisotope Glomerular Filtration Rate in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Early Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Ni Xiaoqing , Gu Yunjuan , Yu Haoyong , Wang Shenqi , Chen Ying , Wang Xinlei , Yuan Xinlu , Jia Weiping
Published: May 2018

Serum fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been linked to renal dysfunction. This study evaluated the association between serum FABP4 and the radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (rGFR) in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) with early diabetic nephropathy. Twenty healthy controls and 172 patients with T2DM were enrolled. Serum FABP4 and renal impairment biomarkers including urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), serum retinal-binding protein 4 (RBP4), urinary cystatin C-to-creatinine ratio (CysC/Cr), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin-to-creatinine ratio (NGAL/Cr) were measured. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) was used to test rGFR. Serum FABP4 levels were higher in T2DM patients compared with the controls. There was no significant correlation between serum FABP4 and UACR in patients with T2DM. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that, in patients with T2DM, FABP4 was significantly associated with rGFR while CysC/Cr and RBP4 were significantly associated with UACR independently. But UACR had no independent association with rGFR. NGAL/Cr had no significant correlation with either rGFR or UACR. FABP4 might be an early biomarker for diabetic nephropathy if combined with UACR.
Decision-Support Framework for Selecting the Optimal Road Toll Collection System
Authors: Milenković Marina , Glavić Draženko , Mladenović Miloš N.
Published: May 2018

One of the central decision-making questions in planning road tolling is the selection of the optimal toll collection system (TCS). The question of TCS selection arises in the situation when the existing TCS is to be upgraded or when TCS is selected for a newly constructed road. Considering that there are multiple TCS available nowadays, with their particular advantages and disadvantages, and that there is a range of often conflicting criteria for TCS selection, this decision-making issue belongs to the group of multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problems. The MCDM-based methodology used in this research integrates Strengths-Weakness-Opportunities-Threat (SWOT) analysis and Fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (F-PROMETHEE). The expert-based decision-support framework includes a procedure for defining evaluation criteria and their weights, scoring of alternatives, and sensitivity analysis. Presented decision-support framework is tested with fourteen toll systems. Results indicate that the best-ranked TCS is the dedicated short-range communication multilane free flow. Decision-support framework is developed for transferability to different contexts, where local features can be taken into account by choosing specific alternatives, criteria, and criteria values. Finally, this development opens up opportunities for further analysis of criteria values and considerations of user attitudes in road pricing scheme planning.
Dynamic Properties of Clean Sand Modified with Granulated Rubber
Authors: Okur Dervis Volkan , Umu Seyfettin Umut
Published: May 2018

Waste automobile tires are used as additives or replacements instead of traditional materials in civil engineering works. In geotechnical engineering, tires are shredded to certain sizes and mixed with soil, especially used as backfill material behind retaining walls or fill material for roadway embankments. Compared to soil, rubber has high damping capacity and low shear modulus. Therefore, it requires the determination of the dynamic characteristics of rubber/soil mixtures. In this paper, the cyclic behavior of recycled tire rubber and clean sand was studied, considering the effects of the amount and particle size of the rubber and confining stresses. A total of 40 stress‐controlled tests were performed on an integrated resonant column and dynamic torsional shear system. The effects of the relative size and proportion of the rubber on the dynamic characteristics of the mixtures are discussed. The dynamic properties, such as the maximum shear modulus, strain‐dependent shear modulus, and damping ratio, are examined. For practical purposes, simple empirical relationships were formulated to estimate the maximum shear modulus and the damping ratio. The change in the shear modulus and damping ratio with respect to shear strain with 5% of rubber within the mixture was found to be close to the behavior of clean sand.
Multiscale Numerical Simulations of Branched Polymer Melt Viscoelastic Flow Based on Double-Equation XPP Model
Authors: Li Xuejuan , Zhu Liping , Yue Hongyun
Published: May 2018

The double-equation extended Pom-Pom (DXPP) constitutive model is used to study the macro and micro thermorheological behaviors of branched polymer melt. The energy equation is deduced based on a slip tensor. The flow model is constructed based on a weakly-compressible viscoelastic flow model combined with DXPP model, energy equation, and Tait state equation. A hybrid finite element method and finite volume method (FEM/FVM) are introduced to solve the above-mentioned model. The distributions of viscoelastic stress, temperature, backbone orientation, and backbone stretch are given in 4 : 1 planar contraction viscoelastic flows. The effect of Pom-Pom molecular parameters and a slip parameter on thermorheological behaviors is discussed. The numerical results show that the backbones are oriented along the direction of fluid flow in most areas and are spin-oriented state near the wall area with stronger shear of downstream channel. And the temperature alongy=-1is little higher in entropy elastic case than one in energy elastic case. Results demonstrate good agreement with those given in the literatures.
Acute Biochemical, Cardiovascular, and Autonomic Response to Hyperbaric (4 atm) Exposure in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Kozakiewicz Mariusz , Slomko Joanna , Buszko Katarzyna , Sinkiewicz Wladyslaw , Klawe Jacek J. , Tafil-Klawe Malgorzata , Newton Julia L. , Zalewski Pawel
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a hyperbaric environment alone on the cardiovascular system by ensuring elimination of factors that may mask the effect on hyperbaria. The research was performed in a hyperbaric chamber to eliminate the effect of physical activity and the temperature of the aquatic environment. Biochemical analysis and examination with the Task Force Monitor device were performed before and immediately after exposure. TFM was used for noninvasive examination of the cardiovascular system and the functional evaluation of the autonomic nervous system. Natriuretic peptides were measured as biochemical markers which were involved in the regulation of haemodynamic circulation vasoconstriction (urotensin II). L‐arginine acted as a precursor of the level of the nitric oxide whereas angiotensin II and angiotensin (1–7) were involved in cardiac remodeling. The study group is comprised of 18 volunteers who were professional divers of similar age and experience. The results shown in our biochemical studies do not exceed reference ranges but a statistically significant increase indicates the hyperbaric environment is not without impact upon the human body. A decrease in HR, an increase in mBP, dBP, and TPR, and increase in parasympathetic heart nerves activity suggest an increase in heart afterload with a decrease in heart activity within almost one hour after hyperbaric exposure. Results confirm that exposure to a hyperbaric environment has significant impact on the cardiovascular system. This is confirmed both by changes in peptides associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes, where a significant increase in the studied parameters was observed, and by noninvasive examination.
Asymptomatic Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma with Chest Wall Metastasis as an Initial Manifestation: An Autopsy Case
Authors: Kakimoto Tomoo , Sasaki Mamoru , Morinaga Shojiroh , Nakayama Robert , Minematsu Naoto
Published: May 2018

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy arising in the pulmonary trunk or proximal pulmonary artery and shows intraluminal growth. Clinical manifestations in PAIS are predominantly related to the pulmonary artery embolism, so cases with initial symptoms related to an extrapulmonary metastasis are unusual. The present report describes an 82-year-old man without any cardiopulmonary symptoms who was detected with an abnormal shadow on chest radiography during a routine health checkup. Contrast medium-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed an enhancing mass in the right pulmonary artery, pulmonary nodules, and a chest wall tumor corresponding to the abnormal shadow observed using chest radiography. A core needle biopsy for the chest wall tumor determined a pathological diagnosis of unclassified sarcoma. The patient was diagnosed with PAIS on the basis of clinical, radiological, and pathological correlations. He was scheduled to receive supportive care, but died of respiratory failure 1 year from the first visit. An autopsy revealed the pleomorphic sarcoma occupying the entire lumen of the right pulmonary artery with the only site of extrapulmonary metastasis in the chest wall. We should be aware of rare cases of asymptomatic PAIS found through routine health checkups.
Accident Management System Based on Vehicular Network for an Intelligent Transportation System in Urban Environments
Authors: Al-Mayouf Yusor Rafid Bahar , Mahdi Omar Adil , Taha Namar A. , Abdullah Nor Fadzilah , Khan Suleman , Alam Muhammad
Published: May 2018

As cities across the world grow and the mobility of populations increases, there has also been a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles on roads. The result of this has been a proliferation of challenges for authorities with regard to road traffic management. A consequence of this has been congestion of traffic, more accidents, and pollution. Accidents are a still major cause of death, despite the development of sophisticated systems for traffic management and other technologies linked with vehicles. Hence, it is necessary that a common system for accident management is developed. For instance, traffic congestion in most urban areas can be alleviated by the real-time planning of routes. However, the designing of an efficient route planning algorithm to attain a globally optimal vehicle control is still a challenge that needs to be solved, especially when the unique preferences of drivers are considered. The aim of this paper is to establish an accident management system that makes use of vehicular ad hoc networks coupled with systems that employ cellular technology in public transport. This system ensures the possibility of real-time communication among vehicles, ambulances, hospitals, roadside units, and central servers. In addition, the accident management system is able to lessen the amount of time required to alert an ambulance that it is required at an accident scene by using a multihop optimal forwarding algorithm. Moreover, an optimal route planning algorithm (ORPA) is proposed in this system to improve the aggregate spatial use of a road network, at the same time bringing down the travel cost of operating a vehicle. This can reduce the incidence of vehicles being stuck on congested roads. Simulations are performed to evaluate ORPA, and the results are compared with existing algorithms. The evaluation results provided evidence that ORPA outperformed others in terms of average ambulance speed and travelling time. Finally, our system makes it easier for ambulance to quickly make their way through traffic congestion so that the chance of saving lives is increased.
Multidamage Detection of Bridges Using Rough Set Theory and Naive-Bayes Classifier
Authors: Sun Shuang , Liang Li , Li Ming , Li Xin
Published: May 2018

This paper is intended to introduce a two-stage detection method to solve the multidamage problem in bridges. Vibration analysis is conducted to acquire the dynamic fingerprints which are regarded as information sources. Bayesian fusion is used to integrate these sources and preliminarily locate the damage. Then, the RSNB method which combines rough set theory and Naive-Bayes classifier is proposed to simplify the sample dimensions and fuse the remaining attributes for damage extent detection. A numerical simulation of a real structure, the Sishui Bridge in Shenyang, China, is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed detection method. Data fusion based method is compared with single-valued index method at the damage localization stage. The proposed RSNB method is compared with the Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) method at the damage qualification stage. The results show that the proposed two-stage damage detection method has better performances in regard to transparency, accuracy, efficiency, noise robustness, and stability. Furthermore, an ambient excitation modal test was carried out on the bridge to obtain the vibration responses and assess the damage condition with the proposed method. This novel approach is applicable for early damage detection and provides a basis for bridge management and maintenance.
Relationship between Tongue Temperature Estimated by Infrared Thermography, Tongue Color, and Cold‐Heat Pathological Patterns: A Retrospective Chart Review Study
Authors: Baek Seung-Won , Lee Jin-Moo , Park Young-Bae , Park Young-Jae
Published: May 2018

Tongue diagnosis is a technique used to determine cold‐heat pathologic patterns (CHPPs). Herein, we reviewed electronic medical records of tongue temperature measured using infrared thermography (IRT), tongue color (luminance, green/red, and blue/yellow balance), cold‐heat pattern questionnaires (CHPQ), and body temperature for 134 women with gynecological problems (age, 38.97 ± 11.49 years). The temperatures of seven tongue regions (root, center, tip, and both sides of the center and root) were determined, and the effects of age, regional differences, and their correlations with color parameters were examined. Factor analysis was conducted separately with the 10 cold pattern (CP) and 10 heat pattern (HP) items. Tongue temperature showed an age effect (β; ‐0.198 to ‐0.210) and regional differences (both sides of the root > center and root > tip). Tongue temperature was positively correlated with luminance (r: 0.236‐0.246), indicating that a higher temperature was associated with a brighter color. The factor analysis extracted two factors (cold sensitivity‐pain and discharge‐complexion factors) from the CP items and three factors (heat sensation‐pain, discharge‐breath, and cold preference‐thirst factors) from the HP items. Tongue temperature was negatively correlated with the discharge‐complexion factor of CP and the discharge‐breath factor of HP (r: ‐0.171 to ‐0.203), indicating that a lower tongue temperature may be a consequence of emission of excessive heat in HP and a lower blood perfusion in CP. Body temperature did not correlate with the CHPQ factor scores. In conclusion, tongue temperatures measured using IRT may be a partial indicator of CHPPs.
Detection of Firmiana danxiaensis Canopies by a Customized Imaging System Mounted on an UAV Platform
Authors: Liu Chun , Ai Mengchi , Chen Zhuo , Zhou Yuan , Wu Hangbin
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of mapping the canopies of Firmiana danxiaensis (FD), a rare and endangered plant species in China, from remotely sensed images acquired by a customized imaging system mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The work was conducted in an experiment site (approximately 10 km2) at the foot of Danxia Mountain in Guangdong Province, China. The study was conducted as an experimental task for a to-be-launched large-scale FD surveying on Danxia Mountain (about 200 km2 in area) by remote sensing on UAV platforms. First, field-based spectra were collected through hand-held hyperspectral spectroradiometer and then analyzed to help design a classification schema which was capable of differentiating the targeted plant species in the study site. Second, remote-sensed images for the experiment site were acquired and calibrated through a variety of preprocessing steps. Orthoimages and a digital surface model (DSM) were generated as input data from the calibrated UAV images. The spectra and geometry features were used to segment the preprocessed UAV imagery into homogeneous patches. Lastly, a hierarchical classification, combined with a support vector machine (SVM), was proposed to identify FD canopies from the segmented patches. The effectiveness of the classification was evaluated by on-site GPS recordings. The result illustrated that the proposed hierarchical classification schema with a SVM classifier on the remote sensing imagery collected by the imaging system on UAV provided a promising method for mapping of the spatial distribution of the FD canopies, which serves as a replacement for field surveys in the attempt to realize a wide-scale plant survey by the local governments.
Condylar Degradation from Decreased Occlusal Loading following Masticatory Muscle Atrophy
Authors: Shi Zhan , Lv Jin , Xiaoyu Liu , Zheng Li Wu , Yang Xue-wen
Published: May 2018

Objective. The masticatory muscles are the most important contributor to bite force, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) receives direct occlusal loading. The present study aimed to investigate condylar remodeling after masseter muscle atrophy in rats.Methods. Sixty 5-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following 3 groups: the control group, soft diet (SD) group, and botulinum toxin (BTX) group. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the masseter muscles was investigated as well as atrogin-1/MuRF-1 expression. Changes in the condylar head were evaluated by H-E, toluidine blue staining, and contour measurements. The biomechanical sensitive factors PTHrP Ihh, Col2a1, and ColX of condylar cartilage were detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Furthermore, micro-CT and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining were performed to determine the osteopenia in subchondral bone.Results. The histological and protein analysis demonstrated muscle hypofunction in the SD and BTX groups. Condylar cartilage contour was diminished due to different treatments; the immunohistochemistry and protein examination showed that the expressions of PTHrP, Ihh, Col2a1, and ColX were suppressed in condylar cartilage. A steady osteoporosis in subchondral bone was found only in the BTX group.Conclusion. The current results suggested that a steady relationship between muscular dysfunction and condylar remodeling exists.
Triple-Porosity Modelling for the Simulation of Multiscale Flow Mechanisms in Shale Reservoirs
Authors: Wei Mingyao , Liu Jishan , Elsworth Derek , Wang Enyuan
Published: May 2018

Shale gas reservoir is a typical type of unconventional gas reservoir, primarily because of the complex flow mechanism from nanoscale to macroscale. A triple-porosity model (M3 model) comprising kerogen system, matrix system, and natural fracture system was presented to describe the multispace scale, multitime scale, and multiphysics characteristic of gas flows in shale reservoir. Apparent permeability model for real gas transport in nanopores, which covers flow regime effect and geomechanical effect, was used to address multiscale flow in shale matrix. This paper aims at quantifying the shale gas in different scales and its sequence in the process of gas production. The model results used for history matching also showed consistency against gas production data from the Barnett Shale. It also revealed the multispace scale process of gas production from a single well, which is supplied by gas transport from natural fracture, matrix, and kerogen sequentially. Sensitivity analysis on the contributions of shale reservoir permeability in different scales gives some insight as to their importance. Simulated results showed that free gas in matrix contributes to the main source of gas production, while the performance of a gas shale well is strongly determined by the natural fracture permeability.
Modeling and Experiment of a V‐Shaped Piezoelectric Energy Harvester
Authors: Zhao Yue , Qin Yi , Guo Lei , Tang Baoping
Published: May 2018

Vibration‐based energy harvesting technology is the most promising method to solve the problems of self‐powered wireless sensor nodes, but most of the vibration‐based energy harvesters have a rather narrow operation bandwidth and the operation frequency band is not convenient to adjust when the ambient frequency changes. Since the ambient vibration may be broadband and changeable, a novel V‐shaped vibration energy harvester based on the conventional piezoelectric bimorph cantilevered structure is proposed, which successfully improves the energy harvesting efficiency and provides a way to adjust the operation frequency band of the energy harvester conveniently. The electromechanical coupling equations are established by using Euler‐Bernoulli equation and piezoelectric equation, and then the coupled circuit equation is derived based on the series connected piezoelectric cantilevers and Kirchhoff′s laws. With the above equations, the output performances of V‐shaped structure under different structural parameters and load resistances are simulated and discussed. Finally, by changing the angle θ between two piezoelectric bimorph beams and the load resistance, various comprehensive experiments are carried out to test the performance of this V‐shaped energy harvester under the same excitation. The experimental results show that the V‐shaped energy harvester can not only improve the frequency response characteristic and the output performance of the electrical energy, but also conveniently tune the operation bandwidth; thus it has great application potential in actual structure health monitoring under variable working condition.
Lethal End of Spectrum of Clots-Thrombotic Storm
Authors: Rana Muhammad Asim , Mady Ahmed F. , Lashari Abdullah Ali , Eltreafi Rehab , Fischer-Orr Nicola , Naser Kamal
Published: May 2018

Thrombotic storm (TS) is a rare, acute, hypercoagulable state characterized by multiple thromboembolic events affecting at least two different areas of the vascular system/organs over a short period of time. Typical triggers include inflammation, infections, minor trauma, surgery, pregnancy, and the puerperium. A single thrombotic event can set off a number of thromboembolic events, often including unusual locations like hepatic, portal, or renal veins, skin (purpura fulminans), adrenal glands, and cerebral sinus venous thrombosis. Usually, younger female patients are affected; in some patients, there is an association with an autoimmune disorder like lupus erythematosus, and they show evidence of antiphospholipid antibodies or other phenotypic expressions of anticoagulation disorders. The majority of patients have no previous history of thromboembolism. As the diagnosis of thrombotic storm relies solely on clinical symptoms with a lack of specific diagnostic tests, this can result in a delay of diagnosis. The treatment consists of uninterrupted lifelong anticoagulation. Sometimes immunomodulatory therapies have been used. The distinction between extensive thrombotic events like Heparin Induced Thrombosis (HIT), Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), Antiphospholipids Syndrome (APS), and TS can sometimes be difficult, and the etiology of TS remains uncertain.
Treatment Sequencing in a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patient with Central Nervous System Involvement
Authors: Mousinho Filipa , Mendes Tatiana , Sousa e Santos Paula , Acosta Maria João , Pereira José , Arroz Maria , Silva Cândido , Azevedo Ana Paula , Oliveira Rita , Chorão Martinha , Lima Fernando
Published: May 2018

Early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with neurologic involvement is a rare condition and should require a careful follow-up. Although no standard protocol exists for this condition, intrathecal chemotherapy, combined with systemic chemoimmunotherapy, has been used previously. This case describes the treatment of a patient with CLL and symptomatic compromise of the central nervous system. Our results suggest that a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and ibrutinib, administered sequentially over a 2-year period, led to a near-complete resolution of the cerebral spinal fluid neoplastic infiltration. Importantly, this response has been maintained with ibrutinib monotherapy for more than 12 months.
Composite Scaffolds Based on Intestinal Extracellular Matrices and Oxidized Polyvinyl Alcohol: A Preliminary Study for a New Regenerative Approach in Short Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Grandi Francesca , Stocco Elena , Barbon Silvia , Rambaldo Anna , Contran Martina , Fascetti Leon Francesco , Gamba Piergiorgio , Parnigotto Pier Paolo , Macchi Veronica , De Caro Raffaele , Porzionato Andrea
Published: May 2018

Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome is a rare malabsorption disease occurring because of massive surgical resections of the small intestine. To date, the issues related to current strategies including intestinal transplantation prompted the attention towards tissue engineering (TE). This work aimed to develop and compare two composite scaffolds for intestinal TE consisting of a novel hydrogel, that is, oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (OxPVA), cross-linked with decellularized intestinal wall as a whole (wW/OxPVA) or homogenized (hW/OxPVA). A characterization of the supports was performed by histology and Scanning Electron Microscopy and their interaction with adipose mesenchymal stem cells occurred by MTT assay. Finally, the scaffolds were implanted in the omentum of Sprague Dawley rats for 4 weeks prior to being processed by histology and immunohistochemistry (CD3; F4/80; Ki-67; desmin; α-SMA; MNF116). In vitro studies proved the effectiveness of the decellularization, highlighting the features of the matrices; moreover, both supports promoted cell adhesion/proliferation even if the wW/OxPVA ones were more effective (p<0.01). Analysis of explants showed a continuous and relatively organized tissue wall around the supports with a connective appearance, such as myofibroblastic features, smooth muscle, and epithelial cells. Both scaffolds, albeit with some difference, were promising; nevertheless, further analysis will be necessary.
An Improved Multispectral Palmprint Recognition System Using Autoencoder with Regularized Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Gumaei Abdu , Sammouda Rachid , Al-Salman Abdul Malik S. , Alsanad Ahmed
Published: May 2018

Multispectral palmprint recognition system (MPRS) is an essential technology for effective human identification and verification tasks. To improve the accuracy and performance of MPRS, a novel approach based on autoencoder (AE) and regularized extreme learning machine (RELM) is proposed in this paper. The proposed approach is intended to make the recognition faster by reducing the number of palmprint features without degrading the accuracy of classifier. To achieve this objective, first, the region of interest (ROI) from palmprint images is extracted by David Zhang’s method. Second, an efficient normalized Gist (NGist) descriptor is used for palmprint feature extraction. Then, the dimensionality of extracted features is reduced using optimized AE. Finally, the reduced features are fed to the RELM for classification. A comprehensive set of experiments are conducted on the benchmark MS-PolyU dataset. The results were significantly high compared to the state-of-the-art approaches, and the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach are revealed.