bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of botulinum toxin type A in patients with erythematous-telangiectatic rosacea
Authors: Egorova O. A.
Published: December 2019

The article describes relevant data on the etiology of rosacea and the clinical forms of the disease. A pathogenetic substantiation of the feasibility of using botulinum toxin type A (BTA) with an erythematous-telangiectatic subtype of rosacea is given. A study was conducted involving 30 patients with ETR to treat the manifestations of this dermatosis using BTA injections in mesotechnics. As a result, we established a positive role for the use of BTA in ETP based on the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS), and also obtained data on the distribution of trigger factors and associated pathologies. We came to conclusions about the effectiveness of the botulinum toxin method for rosacea and the feasibility of further studies to optimize the dose and frequency of administration of type A botulinum toxin for a more pronounced and lasting result.
Principles of diagnostics and therapy of anogenital pruritus in women
Authors: Perlamutrov Yu. N. , Vаsilеnkо Т. V. , Olkhovskaia К. B.
Published: December 2019

Anogenital itching is a serious problem for most women at one or another period of life. The multifactorial nature of dermatoses with localization in the vulva and anus, the lack of knowledge of the pathophysiology of itching, in principle, determine the problem of itching in the genital area as a relevant medical problem. Conducting a rational differential diagnosis and the use of modern treatment that can quickly jugulate a symptom will at the present stage increase the effectiveness of specialized medical care for this category of patients.
Current features of management of comorbid patients with hypertension
Authors: Karetnikova V. N. , Zvereva T. N. , Barbarash O. L.
Published: December 2019

The article presents an analysis of the current state of the problem of managing patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and various comorbid backgrounds. Also, it highlights the current guidelines (2018) for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension. Information on new target blood pressure (BP) values in the range of 120–130 mm Hg is emphasized for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 70–80 mm Hg for the diastolic (DAD) one in the majority of patients with the exception of persons of 65 years and older, as well as patients with chronic kidney disease, who have been recommended to achieve a blood pressure of 130–139 mm Hg. Furthermore, his material presents the current views on the priority of combined (initially double, and triple in the case of failure), mainly fixed antihypertensive therapy, the choice of which requires the presence and nature of comorbid pathology.
Intensive care of a complicated form of asthmatic status (clinical case)
Authors: Temerov D. A. , Vorobyova L. V. , Vyzhevsky S. V. , Savchenkov S. B. , Marchenkov Yu. V.
Published: December 2019

The article presents a clinical case of successful treatment of a patient with prolonged asthmatic status. The pathogenesis of purulent-septic and other life-threatening complications developing as a result of the above critical condition is described. The positive effect of a differentiated approach in conducting respiratory support depending on the stage of the disease is justified: at the beginning, when airway obstruction is in the foreground, and in the future, when restrictive respiratory disorders develop. When conducting respiratory support, the most reasonable methods for ensuring airway patency were selected. The necessity of neurovegetative blockade and myoplegia for the prevention of pulmonary barotrauma during respiratory support by aggressive ventilation modes and with the goal of antihypoxic protection of the brain is emphasized. During the treatment of the patient, it was confirmed that the optimal regime for obstruction of the bronchi is forced volume-cyclic ventilation of the lungs to provide the necessary minute volume of breathing, and in severe pneumonia, in the case of relief of bronchial obstruction, respiratory support is carried out in pressure control mode for better air-oxygen mixture distribution in the airways. The need for early tracheostomy and daily therapeutic fibrobronchoscopy to ensure airway patency and treat pneumonia has been confirmed.
Use of various drugs based on herbal components in complex treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases
Authors: Fomenko E. V. , Grudyanov A. I.
Published: December 2019

The article discusses the use of various dosage forms of anti-inflammatory periodontal drugs used in patients with inflammatory periodontal diseases. The rapid anti-inflammatory efficacy of toothpaste, gel, aerosol, and rinse aid has been proven. The combination of several active components in one product actively affects all parts of the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process from antimicrobial effects to the elimination of halitosis.
Cerebrovascular disorders and autonomic dystonia syndrome in children (adolescents) and young patients. Clinical diagnostic therapy algorithms
Authors: Abramova M. F. , Stepanova I. A. , Abramov K. V. , Kazykina T. N. , Vasilyeva T. M.
Published: December 2019

The expressed disturbances of a cerebral hemodynamics (mainly venous) at patients of teenage and young age lead to disturbances of the vegetative nervous system (before the panic attacks), and then to decrease of cognitive functions, and to development of asthenic states. We offered options of complex therapy within 2 months under control of the ultrasonic methods (ultrasonic transcranial dopplerography). Appointment of vasoactive drugs and also drugs with nootropic action is necessary.
Successful treatment for patient with Erdheim-Chester syndrome
Authors: Orlova R. V. , Antimonik N. Yu. , Pasekov D. S. , Nagornaya O. A. , Savostyanov T. F. , Alyoshina N. V. , Levina A. S.
Published: December 2019

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare systemic disease with an unknown etiology, which is characterized by infiltration of the organs CD68+, CD1a by non-langerhans cell histiocytes and occupies an intermediate position between malignant and immune disorders. The medical literature describes a little more than 750 sick peoplearound the world, and the 17 with a lesion of the bronchial tree. The largest study on this pathology includes only 53 patients. The article presents a case of personal experience of successful treatment of a patient with a morphologically established diagnosis of ECD, which differs from the standard options both in the clinical picture and in the approach to treatment. The purpose of the publication is differential diagnosis between malignant neoplasms of the skin or bronchi and ECD.
Projecting the Foreign propaganda on the Georgian Politics
Authors: Urushadze Maia
Published: December 2019

From 2016, the powerful and permanent ideological impact of the Russian
messages on the global community is perceived as one of the most important
challenges for the western civilization at the beginning of the 21st century. It
is without a doubt that the challenge is more acute for the so-called “young
democracies”. Georgia is considered to be one of such states. Thus, we have
decided to use Georgia as the example to discuss the general essence
of propaganda, the mechanisms of its use, the level of resistance by the local
societies towards it and the influence that this phenomenon can have on a
small country. There is no doubt that the success of the propagandist attacks
on the sovereignty of a state directly depends on the level of trust of the wide
layers of the society towards the governmental structures of the target state.
The higher the level of mistrust, the more successful is the propagandist
campaign conducted against a state, and vice versa: the higher the level of
adequacy between the government and society, stronger the society is in
withstanding the propagandist attacks. In case of Georgia, the ideological
frame of the Georgian society is saturated by the mix of the right-conservative
ideas with the left-socialist directions, where all the narratives of outside
political actors definitely find their support. Based on this, we can suppose
that their rhetoric places the society at the risk of negative radicalization
Karaciğer Sirozu Olan Hastalarda Safra Kesesi Taşı Sıklığı
Authors: KOŞAR Kenan , DURAN Cevdet , FİŞEKÇİ OKTAR Sevil
Published: December 2019

Amaç:  Safra kesesi taşı sıklığı
genel olarak %5 ile %15 arasında değişmektedir. Obezite, kadın cinsiyet,
gebelik ve ileri yaş safra kesesi taşı gelişimi için başlıca risk
faktörleridir. Sebebi tam olarak bilinmemekle beraber karaciğer sirozu olan
hastalarda safra taşı görülme sıklığı 2-5 kat artmıştır. Bu çalışmamızda sirozlu
hastalarda safra kesesi taşı sıklığı ve buna etki eden faktörlerin
araştırılması amaçlandı.

Gereç ve Yöntem:
Haziran 2010–Aralık 2015 tarihleri arasında Konya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Dahiliye Kliniği ve Dahiliye Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde takip ve tedavi edilen,
klinik ve laboratuvar olarak karaciğer sirozu tanısı almış toplam 150 hasta
retrospektif olarak incelendi. Kriterlere uymayan 27 hasta çalışmadan
çıkarıldı. Sirozlu hastalarda siroz etiyolojisi, yaş, cinsiyet, hastalık evre
ve skoru ve safra taşı varlığı hasta kartlarına kayıt edildi.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya
dahil edilen 123 hastanın 38’inde
(%30.9) safra kesesi taşı tespit edildi. Hastaların yaşları 20 ile 89 arasında
değişmekte olup, yaş ortalaması 62.1±14.3 idi. Safra kesesi taşı varlığı ile
hasta yaşı ve cinsiyeti, siroz evresi ve etyolojisi arasında ilişki saptanmadı.
 

Sonuç:
Safra kesesi taşının bölgemizdeki
sirozlu olgularda oldukça sık görüldüğünü saptadık. Sirozlu hastaarın safra kesesi
taşı gelişimi açısından yakın takip edilmesi önem arzedecektir.
Halsizlik ve Yorgunluğa Klinik Yaklaşım
Authors: ÇAYAKAR Ahmet
Published: December 2019

Halsizlik ve yorgunluk; iç hastalıkları uzmanlarının sık karşılaştığı, subjektif olarak enerji azlığı, tükenme hissi ve güçsüzlük şeklinde tarif edilebilen özgül olmayan yakınmalardır. Aile hekimine yapılan başvurulardaki semptomların yaklaşık %20’ sini oluşturup zamanla aile yaşantısını, iş performansını ve sosyal ilişkileri olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Altı ayı geçen semptom kronik yorgunluk olarak kabul edilir. Toplumdaki oranı toplumda %15 olarak hesaplanmış ve 30-50 yaş arasındaki sosyoekonomik şartları kötü, eğitim seviyesi düşük bayan grubunda daha sık gözlendiği bildirilmiştir. Zeminde tıbbi rahatsızlıkları olanlarda ise saptanma oranı %40’ lara kadar yükselebilmektedir. Kronik yorgunluk sendromu olarak adlandırılan hastalık ise özellikle bayanları etkileyen ve kendine has kriterleri olan kompleks bir hadisedir. Kronik yorgunluk çeken her yedi hastadan biri bu sendroma dahil olup sıklığı üçüncü basamak sağlık kuruluşlarında %10-15’e kadar çıkmaktadır. Patofizyolojide periferik inflamatuar sinyaller sonucu dolaşımda artan sitokinlerin kan beyin bariyeri bulunmayan alanlardan geçişi ve microglialardan prostoglandin E2 vasıtasıyla sitokin salınımını indüklemesi söz konusudur. Santral sitokinler NF-ƙβ sinyal yolu üzerinden yürüyerek norepinefrin, dopamin ve serotonin gibi çeşitli yolaklardaki nörotransmitterleri etkilemektedir. Neticede, kişide ağrı, uyku bozukluğu ve yorgunluk hissi kliniği ortaya çıkmaktadır. Etyolojide en sık neden %80 oranla psikolojik durumdaki değişikliklerdir. Diğer nedenler olarak kronik yorgunluk sendromu, romatolojik ve onkolojik hadiseler, enfeksiyonlar, nörolojik, hematolojik ve endokrinolojik hastalıklar ile son dönem organ hastalıkları sıralanabilir. Çoğunlukla kronik yorgunluk hissine generalize vücut ağrısı veya güçsüzlük semptomları da eşlik etmekte ve mevcut durum daha karmaşık hale dönüşmektedir. Tedavide hasta hekim ilişkisi son derece önemli olup, yapılacak ilk iş halsizlik nedeni olabilecek ilaçların kesilmesidir. Uyku, diyet, fiziksel aktivite, iş yaşamı ve stres hali değerlendirilmeli ve fizyolojik ihtiyaçları düzenlemek adına gerekli müdahaleler yapılmalıdır. Günümüzde medikal tedavi olarak, B vitamini ve koenzim kompleksleri, omega 3 yağ asitleri ve bitkisel destek ürünleri önerilebilmektedir. Ayrıca levokarnitin ya da özellikle terminal dönemdeki hastalarda steroid ve methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, modafinil gibi psikostimülanlar kullanılabilmektedir.
Travmatik Beyin Hasarı Rehabilitasyonu
Authors: KARPUZ Savaş
Published: December 2019

Giriş: Bu makale epidemiyoloji, tıbbi ve rehabilitasyon sorunları, travmatik beyin hasarı (TBH) rehabilitasyonu için mevcut kanıtlar, son gelişmeler ve ortaya çıkan uygulamalar hakkında genel bir bakış sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Materyal-metot: Bu derlemenin verilerini toplama aşamasında Medline endeksli yayınlar ve önemli rehabilitasyon metinleri ve Kuzey Amerika Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon kliniklerinde ilgili bölümleri ve erişilen internet yayınları dahil edildi. Sonuçlar: TBH, Dünya Sağlık Örgütü tarafından 21.yüzyılda dünya geneli için sıtma ve HIV / AIDS'e benzer şekilde önemli bir sağlık sorunu olarak nitelendirilmiştir. Hastaların üçte birinde uzun süreli bilişsel ve davranışsal bozukluklarla yaşarlar. Beyindeki yaralanmalar sadece beyin hasarına neden olmakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda vakaların % 20'sinde meydana gelen yaralanmalardan dolayı nöroendokrin ve nöromedikal komplikasyonları içerebilen multisistemik bir bozukluğa yol açabilir. Multidisipliner bir beyin hasarı rehabilitasyon programına erken başlamasıyla elde edilen sonuç ve fonksiyonel faydaların ümit verici kanıtları vardır. Bununla birlikte, TBH yaş, yaralanma şiddeti ve tipi, fonksiyonel sonuç ölçüleri ve küçük örneklemlerinden dolayı özünde heterojen popülasyon olması nedeniyle araştırması zorluklarla doludur. TBH rehabilitasyonundaki son gelişmeler arasında göreve özel eğitim, bilgisayar destekli bilişsel iyileştirme ve görsel-mekansal ve görsel tarama teknikleri ve motor bozukluklar için vücut ağırlığı destekli yürüyüş bandı ve robotik cihazlar yer almaktadır.
Finding Patterns in Signals Using Lossy Text Compression
Authors: Rozenberg Liat , Lotan Sagi , Feldman Dan
Published: December 2019

Whether the source is autonomous car, robotic vacuum cleaner, or a quadcopter, signals from sensors tend to have some hidden patterns that repeat themselves. For example, typical GPS traces from a smartphone contain periodic trajectories such as “home, work, home, work, ⋯”. Our goal in this study was to automatically reverse engineer such signals, identify their periodicity, and then use it to compress and de-noise these signals. To do so, we present a novel method of using algorithms from the field of pattern matching and text compression to represent the “language” in such signals. Common text compression algorithms are less tailored to handle such strings. Moreover, they are lossless, and cannot be used to recover noisy signals. To this end, we define the recursive run-length encoding (RRLE) method, which is a generalization of the well known run-length encoding (RLE) method. Then, we suggest lossy and lossless algorithms to compress and de-noise such signals. Unlike previous results, running time and optimality guarantees are proved for each algorithm. Experimental results on synthetic and real data sets are provided. We demonstrate our system by showing how it can be used to turn commercial micro air-vehicles into autonomous robots. This is by reverse engineering their unpublished communication protocols and using a laptop or on-board micro-computer to control them. Our open source code may be useful for both the community of millions of toy robots users, as well as for researchers that may extend it for further protocols.
Construction Method of Probabilistic Boolean Networks Based on Imperfect Information
Authors: Umiji Katsuaki , Kobayashi Koichi , Yamashita Yuh
Published: December 2019

A probabilistic Boolean network (PBN) is well known as one of the mathematical models of gene regulatory networks. In a Boolean network, expression of a gene is approximated by a binary value, and its time evolution is expressed by Boolean functions. In a PBN, a Boolean function is probabilistically chosen from candidates of Boolean functions. One of the authors has proposed a method to construct a PBN from imperfect information. However, there is a weakness that the number of candidates of Boolean functions may be redundant. In this paper, this construction method is improved to efficiently utilize given information. To derive Boolean functions and those selection probabilities, the linear programming problem is solved. Here, we introduce the objective function to reduce the number of candidates. The proposed method is demonstrated by a numerical example.
Application and Evaluation of Surrogate Models for Radiation Source Search
Authors: Cook Jared A. , Smith Ralph C. , Hite Jason M. , Stefanescu Razvan , Mattingly John
Published: December 2019

Surrogate models are increasingly required for applications in which first-principles simulation models are prohibitively expensive to employ for uncertainty analysis, design, or control. They can also be used to approximate models whose discontinuous derivatives preclude the use of gradient-based optimization or data assimilation algorithms. We consider the problem of inferring the 2D location and intensity of a radiation source in an urban environment using a ray-tracing model based on Boltzmann transport theory. Whereas the code implementing this model is relatively efficient, extension to 3D Monte Carlo transport simulations precludes subsequent Bayesian inference to infer source locations, which typically requires thousands to millions of simulations. Additionally, the resulting likelihood exhibits discontinuous derivatives due to the presence of buildings. To address these issues, we discuss the construction of surrogate models for optimization, Bayesian inference, and uncertainty propagation. Specifically, we consider surrogate models based on Legendre polynomials, multivariate adaptive regression splines, radial basis functions, Gaussian processes, and neural networks. We detail strategies for computing training points and discuss the merits and deficits of each method.
Managing the Complexity through New Forms of Financial Reporting: A Multiple Case Study on Italian Public Museums
Authors: Milone Virginia , Pizzi Simone
Published: December 2019

During recent years, an increasing number of studies have started to discuss the introduction of new form of reports in public administration. Furthermore, the attention paid by academics has been favoured by the introduction of a new form of regulation by policy makers. Specifically, a large part of these studies has regarded the heritage sector due to its high degree of complexity. The attention paid to the heritage sector has been driven by the existence of asymmetries between the value of cultural assets and the profitability of institutions. According to this evidence, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Italian Integrated Economic Report (IER). Our research highlights that the adoption of managerial reports, such as the IER, could provide useful insights for policy makers in order to invest their financial resources in a more effective way.
A Christian Case for Farmed Animal Welfare
Authors: Adam Margaret B. , Clough David L. , Grumett David
Published: December 2019

It is now common to blame Christianity for broader society’s general inattention to the needs and comfort of animals in general, and farmed animals in particular. This critique of Christianity claims that certain biblical themes and particular biblical passages form the foundation for an anti-animal position that Christianity has imposed on Christians and on wider Western society. This article concedes that Christianity has often been used to justify exploitation of animals, but argues that it is a mistake to consider Christianity inevitably opposed to concern for animals. After reviewing the views of critics such as Lynn White Jr., Peter Singer, and Tom Regan, the article demonstrates the complexity of interpreting biblical passages and the possibility of readings that affirm the importance of treating animals well. It shows that Christians have indeed been advocates for animals, notably in relation to the first legislation against animal cruelty in the early nineteenth century and the formation of the RSPCA. Finally, it proposes a constructive framework for a Christian ethics of farmed animal welfare that could provide the basis for Christian action to reduce consumption of animals and shift to higher welfare sources of animal products.
Effects of Dietary Selenium Deficiency or Excess on Selenoprotein Gene Expression in the Spleen Tissue of Pigs
Authors: Lu Zhuang , Wang Pengzu , Teng Teng , Shi Baoming , Shan Anshan , Lei Xin Gen
Published: December 2019

To evaluate the effects of dietary Se deficiency and excess on the mRNA levels of selenoproteins in pig spleen tissues, 20 healthy uncastrated boars (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 10 ± 0.72 kg) were randomly divided into four groups (5 pigs per group). The pigs were fed a Se deficient corn-soybean basal feed (Se content <0.03 mg/kg) or basal feed with added sodium selenite at 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg Se/kg diet, respectively. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. The spleen tissue was collected to examine the mRNA expression levels of 24 selenoprotein genes at the end of the study. Compared with pigs in other groups, those fed with the 1.0 mg Se/kg diet had higher mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), glutathione peroxidase 2 (Gpx2), deiodinase type II (Dio2), thioredoxin reductase 3 (Txnrd3), selenoprotein H (Selh), selenoprotein N, 1 (Sepn1), selenoprotein P1 (Sepp1), and selenoprotein V (Selv) in the spleen (p < 0.05). Dietary Se deficiency resulted in lower mRNA levels of Gpx1, Gpx2, glutathione peroxidase 3 (Gpx3), Dio2, thioredoxin reductase 2 (Txnrd2), Txnrd3, Selh, selenoprotein I (Seli), selenoprotein K (Selk), selenoprotein M (Selm), Sepn1, Sepp1, and Selv in the spleen than the other three groups. Dietary Se levels did not affect the mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), deiodinase type I (Dio1), deiodinase type III (Dio3), selenophosphate synthetase 2 (Sephs2), thioredoxin reductase 1 (Txnrd1), selenoprotein O (Selo), selenoprotein S (Sels), selenoprotein W (Selw), selenoprotein X (Selx), and selenoprotein 15 (Sel15) in the spleen (p > 0.05). Dietary Se levels can affect the transcription levels of 14 selenoprotein genes in the spleen of pigs.
Effects of Dietary Energy on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation and Bacterial Community, and Meat Quality of Holstein-Friesians Bulls Slaughtered at Different Ages
Authors: Wang Haibo , Li Hang , Wu Fei , Qiu Xinjun , Yu Zhantao , Niu Wenjing , He Yang , Su Huawei , Cao Binghai
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary energy levels on growth performance, rumen fermentation and bacterial community, and meat quality of Holstein-Friesians bulls slaughtered at different ages. Thirty-six Holstein-Friesians bulls (17 months of age) were divided into a 3 × 3 factorial experiment with three energy levels (LE, ME and HE; metabolizable energy is 10.12, 10.90 and 11.68 MJ/kg, respectively) of diets, and three slaughter ages (20, 23 and 26 months). Results indicated that bulls fed with ME and HE diets had higher dry matter intake, average daily gain, and dressing percentage at 23 or 26 months of age. The ME and HE diets also reduced bacterial diversity, altered relative abundances of bacteria and produced lower concentrations of acetate, but higher butyrate and valerate concentrations in rumen fluid. Increasing in dietary energy and slaughter age increased the intramuscular fat (IMF) and water holding capacity. In summary, Holstein-Friesians bulls fed with ME and HE diets, slaughtered at 23 and 26 months of age could be a good choice to produce beef with high IMF. Slaughter age may have less influence than dietary energy in altering fermentation by increasing amylolytic bacteria and decreasing cellulolytic bacteria, and thus, further affecting meat quality.
Practice of Noseband Use and Intentions towards Behavioural Change in Dutch Equestrians
Authors: Visser E. Kathalijne , Kuypers Monique M. F. , Stam Jennifer S. M. , Riedstra Bernd
Published: December 2019

Understanding equestrians’ noseband tightening practices and intentions is necessary to target welfare improvement strategies. Firstly, we measured tightness in dressage and show jumping horses in The Netherlands, shortly after implementation of the two-finger rule by the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation. Noseband tightness decreased with age, was less tight in dressage horses than in show jumpers, and was dependent on the interaction between competition level and discipline. Fifty-nine percent of the riders tightened nosebands to such an extent that they adhered to the new regulation. Secondly, we conducted an online survey to gain insight into whether riders were aware of noseband use and tightening behaviour. Of the 386 respondents, 54.5% agreed with the new regulations, and 62% believe that it improves horses’ welfare. Applying cluster analysis to statements regarding their own attitude, peer pressure, and behavioural control produced three clusters. Noticeably, a lower percentage of Cluster 1 respondents (38%) performing at higher levels was convinced that the new regulation improved welfare than Cluster 2 (77.9%) and 3 (89.0%) respondents. Designing strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the new regulation and to convince equestrians to comply would be most effective if targeted differentially, and should include a transparent and objective form of regulation.
Research on Accelerating Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning Convergence with Atmospheric Constraint
Authors: Wang Ren , Gao Jingxiang , Zheng Nanshan , Li Zengke , Yao Yifei , Zhao Long , Wang Yifan
Published: December 2019

An increasing number of researchers have conducted in-depth research on the advantages of low-cost single-frequency (SF) receivers, which can effectively use ionospheric information when compared to dual-frequency ionospheric-free combination. However, SF observations are bound to increase the unknown parameters and prolong the convergence time. It is desirable if the convergence time can be reduced by external information constraints, for example atmospheric constraints, which include ionosphere- or troposphere constraints. In this study, ionospheric delay constraints, tropospheric delay constraints, and their dual constraints were considered. Additionally, a total of 18,720 test experiments were performed. First, the nearest-neighbor extrapolation (NENE), bilinear- (BILI), bicubic- (BICU), and Junkins weighted-interpolation (JUNK) method of Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) grid products were analyzed. The statistically verified BILI in the percentage of convergence time, average convergence time, and computation time consumption of them shows a good advantage. Next, the influences of global troposphere- and ionosphere-constrained on the convergence time of SF Precise Point Positioning (PPP) were analyzed. It is verified that the ionosphere-constrained (TIC2) has significant influence on the convergence time in the horizontal and vertical components, while the troposphere-constrained (TIC1) has better effect on the convergence time in the vertical components within some thresholds. Of course, the dual constraint (TIC3) has the shortest average convergence time, which is at least 46.5% shorter in static mode and 5.4% in kinematic mode than standard SF PPP (TIC0).
A Stress Analysis of a Conical Pick by Establishing a 3D ES-FEM Model and Using Experimental Measured Forces
Authors: Fan Qiuxia , Zhang Qianqian , Liu Guirong
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a procedure for an accurate and reliable stress analysis in a conical pick used in mining operations, aiming to improve their wear resistance. This is achieved by (1) establishment of a three-dimensional (3D) edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM), and algorithms of creating the smoothing domain for accurate solution in terms of stress and strain distributions; and (2) use of experimentally measured actual forces using a full-scale rotary cutting machine. In our 3D ES-FEM model, the physical domain for the pick is first discredited using linear triangular elements that can be generated easily for complicated geometries. The smoothing domains are then constructed based on edges of these elements in an automated fashion. In order to create the smoothing domains for the smoothed strain computation in the ES-FEM, an algorithm is presented for establishing connection between nodes, edges, faces, and elements. Each smoothing domain is bounded by a set of enclosed line-segments, besides, leading to a connectivity list for later effective computation. To show the effectiveness and accuracy of the strain energy and the displacement solution of ES-FEM, based on the actually measured forces from the laboratory rock cutting tests with a single pick, a comparison study is carried out against the standard finite element method (FEM). It can be concluded that ES-FEM has a higher convergence in energy norm and better accuracy than FEM using the same mesh from the comparison results. The 3D ES-FEM model solves the problem of the lower solution accuracy, caused by the poor quality of mesh, by using the standard FEM in solving the stress distribution of mining machinery parts, such as picks, and offers accurate and reliable solutions that are critical for improving the wear resistance of the pick for the mining industry.
A Novel Adaptive Model Predictive Control Based Three-Phase Inverter Current Control Method
Authors: Lei Mingyu , Zhang Ying , Meng Lexuan , Wang Yibo , Yang Zilong , Cao Dufeng
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes a novel current control method based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for three-phase inverters. The proposed method is based on an Adaptive MPC (A-MPC) with a PWM modulation. An innovative model parameter estimation and modification method is also proposed, leading to enhanced control accuracy. Comparing with traditional current control methods, such as PI and PR control, the proposed method has better dynamic performance. The transient dynamics, i.e., recovery time and overshoot, have been considerably improved. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposal.
Transparent Redirections in Content Delivery Networks
Authors: Boros Tomáš , Bencel Rastislav , Kotuliak Ivan
Published: December 2019

In today’s age of digital media and social networks, delivering content to a massive scale of recipients became one of the main challenges. Load Balancers and Content Delivery Networks are used to distribute content to multiple locations, which increase the scalability of services and decrease the load on content origins. Both technologies rely on redirections. Redirections have not received a significant amount of attention in the recent years; however, they do impose some limitations. In this article, we propose a transparent redirection mechanism, which exploits the versatility of Software Defined Networking. The redirection method is achieved by handing off existing TCP sessions without any required modifications to the endpoints. This article demonstrates how the proposed redirection mechanism can be adopted in Content Delivery Networks and Load Balancing scenarios. The performance of the solution is thoroughly tested and compared to existing legacy solutions.
Electrospinning-Derived PLA/Shellac/PLA Sandwich—Structural Membrane Sensor for Detection of Alcoholic Vapors with a Low Molecular Weight
Authors: Wang Shi-Cai , Liang Jun-Wei , Yao Ying-Bang , Tao Tao , Liang Bo , Lu Sheng-Guo
Published: December 2019

The development of gas sensors for detecting alcoholic vapors with a low molecular weight is essential for environmental protection, industrial process control, and the monitoring of the living atmosphere in daily life to avoid health problems in human beings. Here, poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/shellac/PLA sandwich-structural membranes were fabricated via an electrospinning approach and the interaction with alcoholic vapors with a low molecular weight was investigated. It was found that the PLA/shellac/PLA sandwich-structural membrane exhibited fast response to the alcoholic vapors with low molecular weight, especially for methanol vapor. After being treated with alcohol vapor with a low molecular weight, the PLA/shellac/PLA sandwich-structural membrane could change its transmission in a short time (~5 s) and with a concentration of 10 wt% of methanol (ethanol) in water. In the meantime, the PLA/shellac/PLA sandwich-structural membrane can hopefully be potentially used again after evaporating the alcoholic vapor at an elevated temperature.
Development and Evaluation of a Calibrating System for the Application Rate Control of a Seed-Fertilizer Drill Machine with Fluted Rollers
Authors: Yu Hongfeng , Ding Yongqian , Liu Zhuo , Fu Xiuqing , Dou Xianglin , Yang Chuanlei
Published: December 2019

Seed-fertilizer drill machines with fluted rollers generally utilize a calibrated relationship between the fluted-roller rotation speed and mass flow rate to control the application rate. However, this relationship model gradually deteriorates with operating time and is easily affected by working conditions. To maintain the initial operating accuracy, a self-calibrating system for adjusting the control model parameters was designed. It utilizes the application-rate information and fluted-rollers rotation speed data during the operation process to dynamically establish the calibrated relationship. During the field tests performed 18 times, the self-calibrating system could dynamically re-calibrate the relationship model. After the model parameters were updated, the application rate control system maintained a high accuracy level, though the relative deviation of control parameters was relatively higher. The average relative deviations between actual and theoretical cumulative application rates were 0.97% and 1.22% for seeding and fertilizing, respectively, and the standard deviations were 0.69% and 0.62%. Correspondingly, the average relative deviations of control parameters were 7.29% and 7.86%, and the standard deviations were 1.16% and 3.06%. These results indicate that the proposed method with closed-looped control can maintain high-quality control performance and improve the productivity of the drill machine, which will benefit the agricultural production.
Correlation Structures of PM2.5 Concentration Series in the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Lim Gyuchang , Min Seungsik
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the authors investigate the idiosyncratic features of auto- and cross-correlation structures of PM2.5 (particulate matter of diameter less than 2.5 μ m ) mass concentrations using DFA (detrended fluctuation analysis) methodologies. Since air pollutant mass concentrations are greatly affected by geographical, topographical, and meteorological conditions, their correlation structures can have non-universal properties. To this end, the authors firstly examine the spatio-temporal statistics of PM2.5 daily average concentrations collected from 18 monitoring stations in Korea, and then select five sites from those stations with overall lower and higher concentration levels in order to make up two groups, namely, G1 and G2, respectively. Firstly, to compare characteristic behaviors of the auto-correlation structures of the two groups, we performed DFA and MFDFA (multifractal DFA) analyses on both and then confirmed that the G2 group shows a clear crossover behavior in DFA and MFDFA analyses, while G1 shows no crossover. This finding implies that there are possibly two different scale-dependent underlying dynamics in G2. Furthermore, in order to confirm that different underlying dynamics govern G1 and G2, the authors conducted DCCA (detrended cross-correlation analysis) analysis on the same and different groups. As a result, in the same group, coupling behavior became more prominent between two series as the scale increased, while, in the different group, decoupling behavior was observed. This result also implies that different dynamics govern G1 and G2. Lastly, we presented a stochastic model, namely, ARFIMA (auto-regressive fractionally integrated moving average) with periodic trends, to reproduce behaviors of correlation structures from real PM2.5 concentration time series. Although those models succeeded in reproducing crossover behaviors in the auto-correlation structure, they yielded no valid results in decoupling behavior among heterogeneous groups.
A Simplified Analytical Approach for Optimal Planning of Distributed Generation in Electrical Distribution Networks
Authors: Sa’ed Jaser A. , Amer Mohammad , Bodair Ahmed , Baransi Ahmad , Favuzza Salvatore , Zizzo Gaetano
Published: December 2019

DG-integrated distribution system planning is an imperative issue since the installing of distributed generations (DGs) has many effects on the network operation characteristics, which might cause significant impacts on the system performance. One of the most important characteristics that mostly varies because of the installation of DG units is the power losses. The parameters affecting the value of the power losses are number, location, capacity, and power factor of the DG units. In this paper, a new analytical approach is proposed for optimally installing DGs to minimize power loss in distribution networks. Different parameters of DG are considered and evaluated in order to achieve a high loss reduction in the electrical distribution networks. The algorithm of the proposed approach has been implemented using MATLAB software and has been tested and investigated on 12-bus, 33-bus, and 69-bus IEEE distribution test systems. The results show that the proposed approach can provide an accurate solution via simple algorithm without using exhaustive process of power flow computations.
Value-Set-Based Approach to Robust Stability Analysis for Ellipsoidal Families of Fractional-Order Polynomials with Complicated Uncertainty Structure
Authors: Matušů Radek , Şenol Bilal , Pekař Libor
Published: December 2019

This paper presents the application of a value-set-based graphical approach to robust stability analysis for the ellipsoidal families of fractional-order polynomials with a complex structure of parametric uncertainty. More specifically, the article focuses on the families of fractional-order linear time-invariant polynomials with affine linear, multilinear, polynomic, and general uncertainty structure, combined with the uncertainty bounding set in the shape of an ellipsoid. The robust stability of these families is investigated using the zero exclusion condition, supported by the numerical computation and visualization of the value sets. Four illustrative examples are elaborated, including the comparison with the families of fractional-order polynomials having the standard box-shaped uncertainty bounding set, in order to demonstrate the applicability of this method.
Scattering of Surface Waves by a Three-Dimensional Cavity of Arbitrary Shape: Analytical and Experimental Studies
Authors: Lee Jaesun , Ngo VanTrung , Phan Haidang , Nguyen TruongGiang , Dao Duy Kien , Cho Younho
Published: December 2019

The scattering of surface waves by a three-dimensional shallow cavity of arbitrary shape at the surface of a homogenous, isotropic, linearly elastic half-space is theoretically investigated. A novel analytical approach based on a reciprocity consideration is introduced in this article to determine the particle displacements of the scattered wave field generated by the interaction between the surface waves and the cavity. In the usual manner, the scattered field was shown to be equivalent to the radiation from the distribution of tractions, calculated from the incident wave, on the surface of the cavity. The radiation of surface waves subjected to the computed tractions applied at a single location was found using reciprocity theorems. The field scattered by the cavity was subsequently obtained from the superposition of displacements due to all the forces applied on the cavity surface. Solutions for the scattering of surface waves by a spherical, a circular cylindrical (coin-shaped) and a square cylindrical cavity are presented in detail. We here derive the closed-form expressions of the displacement amplitudes, which represent the far-field scattered waves produced by each of the cavities. An experimental setup using the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique was then carried out to record the scattered echoes of surface waves from these cavities in order to provide practical validation of the analytical findings. The vertical displacements measured at a significant distance of about twenty-five wavelengths from the cavities of the same width and different depth were compared with the corresponding theoretical predictions. The comparisons show excellent agreement for the case of a spherical cavity and good agreement in the cases of a circular and a cylindrical cavity in terms of trends and magnitudes. It is followed by a discussion on the results of the comparison and the limitations of the proposed approach regarding the degree of smoothness and the size of cavity.
Weighted z-Distance-Based Clustering and Its Application to Time-Series Data
Authors: Wang Zhao-Yu , Wu Chen-Yu , Lin Yan-Ting , Lee Shie-Jue
Published: December 2019

Clustering is the practice of dividing given data into similar groups and is one of the most widely used methods for unsupervised learning. Lee and Ouyang proposed a self-constructing clustering (SCC) method in which the similarity threshold, instead of the number of clusters, is specified in advance by the user. For a given set of instances, SCC performs only one training cycle on those instances. Once an instance has been assigned to a cluster, the assignment will not be changed afterwards. The clusters produced may depend on the order in which the instances are considered, and assignment errors are more likely to occur. Also, all dimensions are equally weighted, which may not be suitable in certain applications, e.g., time-series clustering. In this paper, improvements are proposed. Two or more training cycles on the instances are performed. An instance can be re-assigned to another cluster in each cycle. In this way, the clusters produced are less likely to be affected by the feeding order of the instances. Also, each dimension of the input can be weighted differently in the clustering process. The values of the weights are adaptively learned from the data. A number of experiments with real-world benchmark datasets are conducted and the results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ideas.
Medical Therapy of Patients Contaminated with Radioactive Cesium or Iodine
Authors: Aaseth Jan , Nurchi Valeria Marina , Andersen Ole
Published: December 2019

Follow-up studies after the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents have shown that 137Cs and 131I made up the major amount of harmful contaminants in the atmospheric dispersion and fallout. Other potential sources for such radionuclide exposure may be terrorist attacks, e.g., via contamination of drinking water reservoirs. A primary purpose of radionuclide mobilization is to minimize the radiation dose. Rapid initiation of treatment of poisoned patients is imperative after a contaminating event. Internal contamination with radioactive material can expose patients to prolonged radiation, thus leading to short- and long-term clinical consequences. After the patient’s emergency conditions are addressed, the treating physicians and assisting experts should assess the amount of radioactive material that has been internalized. This evaluation should include estimation of the radiation dose that is delivered and the specific radionuclides inside the body. These complex assessments warrant the reliance on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates regional experts in radiation medicine and emergencies. Regional hospitals should have elaborated strategies for the handling of radiation emergencies. If radioactive cesium is a significant pollutant, Prussian blue is the approved antidote for internal detoxification. Upon risks of radioiodine exposure, prophylactic or immediate treatment with potassium iodide tablets is recommended. Chelators developed from calcium salts have been studied for gastrointestinal trapping and enhanced mobilization after strontium exposure.
Fatty Acids of Marine Mollusks: Impact of Diet, Bacterial Symbiosis and Biosynthetic Potential
Authors: Zhukova Natalia V.
Published: December 2019

The n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) families are essential for important physiological processes. Their major source are marine ecosystems. The fatty acids (FAs) from phytoplankton, which are the primary producer of organic matter and PUFAs, are transferred into consumers via food webs. Mollusk FAs have attracted the attention of researchers that has been driven by their critical roles in aquatic ecology and their importance as sources of essential PUFAs. The main objective of this review is to focus on the most important factors and causes determining the biodiversity of the mollusk FAs, with an emphasis on the key relationship of these FAs with the food spectrum and trophic preference. The marker FAs of trophic sources are also of particular interest. The discovery of new symbioses involving invertebrates and bacteria, which are responsible for nutrition of the host, deserves special attention. The present paper also highlights recent research into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of PUFA biosynthesis in marine mollusks. The biosynthetic capacities of marine mollusks require a well-grounded evaluation.
Herbal Extracts Incorporated into Shortbread Cookies: Impact on Color and Fat Quality of the Cookies
Authors: Kozlowska Mariola , Zbikowska Anna , Marciniak-Lukasiak Katarzyna , Kowalska Malgorzata
Published: December 2019

This study aimed at determining the effect of aqueous ethanolic extracts from lemon balm, hyssop and nettle, and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on properties of shortbread cookies. This was achieved by instrumental measurements of color and sensory properties of the cookies directly after baking and by determination of peroxide (PV) and p-anisidine (p-AnV) values, and specific extinction coefficients (K232 and K268 values) for fat extracted from the cookies stored for 3 months at room temperature. Increase of the herbal extracts’ concentration from 0.02% to 0.2% in the cookies caused a reduction of L* (the brightness) and a* values (the red coordinate), while b* values (the yellow coordinate) increased when the cookies were enriched with lemon balm and nettle extracts. Among the cookies studied, those prepared with BHA and 0.1 and 0.2% addition of lemon balm extracts were characterized by the highest scores for aroma, taste, and overall acceptability. Incorporation of BHA and 0.02% hyssop extract into the cookies caused a decrease of PV values (the peroxide value) for fat extracted from the cookies after 3 months of their storage compared to a (control) sample without additives and produced the lowest K232 values. Changes in the p-AnV values for the fat samples studied occurred gradually and slowly during the storage and the obtained values were lower compared to the control sample. All of the studied fat samples also showed a higher ability to scavenge DPPH radicals than the control sample. Considering both PV and p-AnV values as indicators of fat oxidation, BHA protected fat extracted from cookies against oxidation better than the herbal extracts used.