bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Force Analysis and Energy Operation of Chaotic System of Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor
Authors: Qi Guoyuan , Hu Jianbing
Published: January 2018

The disadvantage of a nondimensionalized model of a permanent-magnet synchronous Motor (PMSM) is identified. The original PMSM model is transformed into a Kolmogorov system to aid dynamic force analysis. The vector field of the PMSM is analogous to the force field including four types of torque — inertial, internal, dissipative, and generalized external. Using the feedback thought, the error torque between external torque and dissipative torque is identified. The pitchfork bifurcation of the PMSM is performed. Four forms of energy are identified for the system — kinetic, potential, dissipative, and supplied. The physical interpretations of the decomposition of force and energy exchange are given. Casimir energy is stored energy, and its rate of change is the error power between the dissipative energy and the energy supplied to the motor. Error torque and error power influence the different types of dynamic modes. The Hamiltonian energy and Casimir energy are compared to find the function of each in producing the dynamic modes. A supremum bound for the chaotic attractor is proposed using the error power and Lagrange multiplier.
Torus Breakdown and Homoclinic Chaos in a Glow Discharge Tube
Authors: Ginoux Jean-Marc , Meucci Riccardo , Euzzor Stefano
Published: January 2018

Starting from historical researches, we used, like Van der Pol and Le Corbeiller, a cubic function for modeling the current–voltage characteristic of a direct current low-pressure plasma discharge tube, i.e. a neon tube. This led us to propose a new four-dimensional autonomous dynamical system allowing to describe the experimentally observed phenomenon. Then, mathematical analysis and detailed numerical investigations of such a fourth-order torus circuit enabled to highlight bifurcation routes from torus breakdown to homoclinic chaos following the Newhouse–Ruelle–Takens scenario.
Bifurcation Analysis and Nonlinear Decay of a Tumor in the Presence of an Immune Response
Authors: López Álvaro G. , Seoane Jesús M. , Sanjuán Miguel A. F.
Published: January 2018

The decay of a planar compact surface that is reduced through its boundary is considered. The interest of this problem lies in the fact that it can represent the destruction of a solid tumor by a population of immune cells. The theory of curves is utilized to derive the rate at which the area of the set decreases. Firstly, the process is represented as a discrete dynamical system. A recurrence equation describing the shrinkage of the area at any step is deduced. Then, a continuum limit is attained to derive an ordinary differential equation that governs the decay of the set. The solutions to the differential equation and its implications are discussed, and numerical simulations are carried out to test the accuracy of the decay law. Finally, the dynamics of a tumor-immune aggregate is inspected using this law and the theory of bifurcations. As the ratio of immune destruction to tumor growth increases, a saddle-node bifurcation stabilizes the tumor-free fixed point.
Automated Learning Content Generation from Knowledge Bases in the STUDYBATTLES Environment
Authors: Shehadeh Amal , Felfernig Alexander , Stettinger Martin , Jeran Michael , Reiterer Stefan
Published: January 2018

E-learning environments provide an orthogonal approach to transfer relevant knowledge. For example, sales representatives can improve their sales knowledge more independently from related courses offered. Major challenges for successfully establishing e-learning technologies in a company are to develop learning content in an efficient fashion, to recommend only relevant content to system users, and to motivate them to utilize the learning environment in a sustainable fashion. In this paper, we present the gamification-based e-learning environment STUDYBATTLES. We provide an overview of STUDYBATTLES functionalities including content creation, gamification techniques, learning performance analysis, and automated question generation. We show how STUDYBATTLES can be utilized for different learning purposes in academic and professional environments. In addition, we introduce an approach to automatically generate product and sales domain learning content from recommender knowledge bases to be exploited in STUDYBATTLES. Finally, we report the results of an initial qualitative study related to the applicability of STUDYBATTLES in different domains, the potential improvements that StudyBattles can achieve, and additional functionalities that should be integrated.
A Method to Analyze Predicate Transition Nets Using SPIN Model Checker
Authors: Alam Dewan Mohammad Moksedul , He Xudong
Published: January 2018

High-level Petri nets (HLPNs) are a formal method for studying concurrent and distributed systems and have been widely used in many application domains. However, their strong expressive power hinders their analyzability. In this paper, we present a new transformational analysis method for analyzing a special class of HLPNs — predicate transition (PrT) nets. This method extends and improves our prior results by covering more PrT net features including full first-order logic formulas and exploring additional alternative translation schemes. This new analysis method is supported by a tool chain — front-end PIPE[Formula: see text] for creating and simulating PrT nets and back-end SPIN for model checking safety and liveness properties. We have applied this method to two benchmark systems used in annual Petri net model checking contest 2015. We discuss several properties and show the detailed model checking results in one system.
Localization of Linearizability Faults on the Coarse-Grained Level
Authors: Zhang Zhenya , Wu Peng , Zhang Yu
Published: January 2018

Linearizability is an important correctness criterion that guarantees the safety of concurrent data structures. Due to the nondeterminism of concurrent executions, reproduction and localization of a linearizability fault still remain challenging. The existing works mainly focus on model checking the thread schedule space of a concurrent program on a fine-grained (state) level, and hence suffer from the severe problem of state space explosion. This paper presents a tool called CGVT to build a small test case that is sufficient enough for reproducing a linearizability fault. Given a possibly long history that has been detected nonlinearizable, CGVT first locates the operations causing a linearizability violation and then synthesizes a minimum test case for further investigation. Moreover, we present several optimization techniques to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of CGVT. We have applied CGVT to 10 concurrent objects, while the linearizability of some of the objects is unknown yet. The experiments show that CGVT is powerful and efficient enough to build the test cases more adaptable for fine-grained fault localization.
Mining Hidden Interests from Twitter Based on Word Similarity and Social Relationship for OLAP
Authors: Yu Dongjin , Wu Yiyu , Sun Jingchao , Ni Zhiyong , Li Youhuizi , Wu Qing , Chen Xufeng
Published: January 2018

Online Analytical Processing, or OLAP, is an approach to answering multidimensional analytical (MDA) queries in an interactive way. However, the traditional OLAP approaches can only deal with structured data, but not unstructured textual data like tweets. To address this problem, we propose a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA)-based model, called Multilayered Semantic LDA (MS-LDA), which detects the hidden layered interests from Twitter data based on LDA. The layered dimension of interests can be further used to apply OLAP techniques to Twitter data. Furthermore, MS-LDA employs the semantic similarity among words of tweets based on word2vec, and also the social relationship among twitters, to improve its effectiveness. The extensive experiments demonstrate that MS-LDA can effectively extract the dimension hierarchy of tweeters' interests for OLAP.
An Approach to Generate Software Agents for Health Data Mining
Authors: Morejón Reinier , Viana Marx , Lucena Carlos
Published: January 2018

Data mining is a hot topic that attracts researchers of different areas, such as database, machine learning, and agent-oriented software engineering. As a consequence of the growth of data volume, there is an increasing need to obtain knowledge from these large datasets that are very difficult to handle and process with traditional methods. Software agents can play a significant role performing data mining processes in ways that are more efficient. For instance, they can work to perform selection, extraction, preprocessing, and integration of data as well as parallel, distributed, or multisource mining. This paper proposes a framework based on multiagent systems to apply data mining techniques to health datasets. Last but not least, the usage scenarios that we use are datasets for hypothyroidism and diabetes and we run two different mining processes in parallel in each database.
The quantum Higgs field and the resolution of the cosmological constant paradox in the Weyl-geometrical Universe
Authors: De Martini Francesco
Published: January 2018

The nature of the scalar field responsible for the cosmological inflation is found to be rooted in the most fundamental concept of the Weyl’s differential geometry: the parallel displacement of vectors in curved spacetime. Within this novel geometrical scenario, the standard electroweak theory of leptons based on the [Formula: see text] as well as on the conformal groups of spacetime Weyl’s transformations is analyzed within the framework of a general-relativistic, conformally-covariant scalar–tensor theory that includes the electromagnetic and the Yang–Mills fields. A Higgs mechanism within a spontaneous symmetry breaking process is identified and this offers formal connections between some relevant properties of the elementary particles and the dark energy content of the Universe. An “effective cosmological potential”: [Formula: see text] is expressed in terms of the dark energy potential: [Formula: see text] via the “mass reduction parameter”: [Formula: see text], a general property of the Universe. The mass of the Higgs boson, which is considered a “free parameter” by the standard electroweak theory, by our theory is found to be proportional to the mass [Formula: see text] which contributes to the measured Cosmological Constant, i.e. the measured content of vacuum-energy in the Universe. The nonintegrable application of the Weyl’s geometry leads to a Proca equation accounting for the dynamics of a [Formula: see text]-particle, a vector-meson proposed as an optimum candidate for Dark Matter. The peculiar mathematical structure of [Formula: see text] offers a clue towards a very general resolution in 4-D of a most intriguing puzzle of modern quantum field theory, the “cosmological constant paradox”(here referred to as: “[Formula: see text]-paradox”). Indeed, our “universal” theory offers a resolution of the “[Formula: see text]-paradox” for all exponential inflationary potentials: [Formula: see text], and for all linear superpositions of these potentials, where [Formula: see text] belongs to the mathematical set of the “real numbers”. An explicit solution of the [Formula: see text]-Paradox is reported for [Formula: see text]. The results of the theory are analyzed in the framework of the recent experimental data of the PLANCK Mission. The average vacuum-energy density in the Universe is found: [Formula: see text], the mass-reduction parameter: [Formula: see text] and the value of the “cosmological constant”: [Formula: see text](eV/c[Formula: see text]. A quite remarkable result of the theory consists of the complete formulation of the Einstein equation including in its structure the “cosmological constant”, [Formula: see text]. This was the term that Einstein added “by hand” to his famous equation. The critical stability of the Universe is also discussed.
Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine versus Ketofol for Sedation of Postoperative Mechanically Ventilated Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Elmoutaz Mahmoud Hatem , Rashwan Doaa Abou Elkassim
Published: January 2018

Patients with sleep apnea are prone to postoperative respiratory complications, requiring restriction of sedatives during perioperative care. We performed a prospective randomized study on 24 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were equally divided into two groups: Group Dex: received dexmedetomidine loading dose 1 mcg/kg IV over 10 min followed by infusion of 0.2–0.7 mcg/kg/hr; Group KFL: received ketofol as an initial bolus dose 500 mcg/kg IV (ketamine/propofol 1 : 1) and maintenance dose of 5–10 mcg/kg/min. Sedation level (Ramsay sedation score), bispectral index (BIS), duration of mechanical ventilation, surgical intensive care unit (SICU) stay, and mean time to extubation were evaluated. Complications (hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, postextubation apnea, respiratory depression, and desaturation) and number of patients requiring reintubation were recorded. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in BIS at the third hour only (Group DEX 63.00 ± 3.542 and Group KFL 66.42 ± 4.010, p value = 0.036). Duration of mechanical ventilation, SICU stay, and extubation time showed no statistically significant differences. No complications were recorded in both groups. Thus, dexmedetomidine was associated with lesser duration of mechanical ventilation and time to extubation than ketofol, but these differences were not statistically significant.
Comparison of Mask Oxygen Therapy and High-Flow Oxygen Therapy after Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Obese Patients
Authors: Sahin Mazlum , El Helin , Akkoç Ibrahim
Published: January 2018

Background. To clarify the efficiency of mask O2and high-flow O2(HFO) treatments following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in obese patients.Methods. During follow-up, oxygenization parameters including arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and physical examination parameters including respiratory rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure were recorded respectively. Presence of atelectasia and dyspnea was noted. Also, comfort scores of patients were evaluated.Results. Mean duration of hospital stay was 6.9 ± 1.1 days in the mask O2group, whereas the duration was significantly shorter (6.5 ± 0.7 days) in the HFO group (p=0.034). The PaO2values and SpO2values were significantly higher, and PaCO2values were significantly lower in patients who received HFO after 4th, 12th, 24th, 36th, and 48th hours. In postoperative course, HFO leads patients to achieve better postoperative FVC (p<0.001). Also, dyspnea scores and comfort scores were significantly better in patients who received HFO in both postoperative day 1 and day 2 (p<0.001,p<0.001 and p=0.002,p=0.001, resp.).Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that HFO following CPB in obese patients improved postoperative PaO2, SpO2, and PaCO2values and decreased the atelectasis score, reintubation, and mortality rates when compared with mask O2.
Inflammatory Stimuli Significantly Change the miRNA Profile of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Wang Zicheng , Li Haili , Cheng Li , Zhang Zhongyuan , Wang Hao , Lv Tongde , Lin Jian , Zhou Liqun
Published: January 2018

Background. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) have been shown to have immunoregulatory properties in many studies. However, the mechanisms remain unknown. miRNAs are associated with many cellular processes, including immune responses. Thus, we hypothesized that miRNAs act as immunoregulators when hASCs are stimulated by inflammatory environments. Methods. A set of cytokines was used to stimulate the hASCs in the cytokine group, while no cytokines were used to stimulate the cells in the normal group. A microarray was used to obtain the miRNA expression profile of hASCs, and RT-PCR was used to validate the miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the two groups. Target genes were predicted using online databases, and KEGG analysis was performed to identify the pathways enriched by the target genes of all the differentially expressed miRNAs. Results. Five miRNAs were significantly upregulated, and 2 miRNAs were downregulated in the cytokine group compared with the normal group. We identified several immune-related pathways that are targeted individually or collectively by those miRNAs. Conclusion. Inflammatory stimuli changed the miRNA expression profile of hASCs. miRNAs may play a pivotal role in the immune response in hASCs and may be targets through which the immunoregulatory functions of hASCs can be enhanced.
Typical Daily Power Curve Mining for Energy Storage Systems under Smoothing Power Fluctuation Scenarios
Authors: Yang Xiyun , Ren Jie , Li Xiangjun , Zhang Hang
Published: January 2018

Under the application scenario of smoothing photovoltaic (PV) power fluctuation, a novel typical daily power curve mining method is developed for a battery energy storage system (BESS) that utilizes the power probability distribution and Bloch spherical quantum genetic algorithm. The charging/discharging of BESS is analyzed by applying fuzzy-c means clustering techniques. In the mining approach, at any sample time, those distribution intervals containing concentrated power points are individually located by using probability distribution information and Bloch spherical quantum genetic algorithm. Character power for the specified interval can also be determined using Bloch spherical quantum genetic algorithm. Next, a roulette principal is employed, to determine one value from the character power data as a typical value of the mined power curve at the sample time. By connecting the typical power at each sample time, the typical daily power curve for BESS is achieved. Based on typical power curve, decision-maker can master the important operating parameters of BESS and analyze optimal capacity allocation. By error evaluation indexes between the mined typical daily power curve and power curve under different weather patterns, the simulation results verify that the mined power curve can address the operating power of the BESS under different weather patterns.
PM2.5 Induced the Expression of Fibrogenic Mediators via HMGB1-RAGE Signaling in Human Airway Epithelial Cells
Authors: Zou Weifeng , He Fang , Liu Sha , Pu Jinding , Hu Jinxing , Sheng Qing , Zhu Tao , Zhu Tianhua , Li Bing , Ran Pixin
Published: January 2018

Background. The aim of the present study was to test whether fine particulate matter (PM2.5) induces the expression of platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB), PDGF-BB, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) in vitro via high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signaling.Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to motor vehicle exhaust (MVE) or clean air. HBECs were either transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HMGB1 or incubated with anti-RAGE antibodies and subsequently stimulated with PM2.5.Results. The expression of HMGB1 and RAGE was elevated in MVE-treated rats compared with untreated rats, and PM2.5 increased the secretion of HMGB1 and upregulated RAGE expression and the translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) into the nucleus of HBECs. This activation was accompanied by an increase in the expression of PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, and TGF-β1. The HMGB1 siRNA prevented these effects. Anti-RAGE antibodies attenuated the activation of NF-κB and decreased the secretion of TGF-β1, PDGF-AB, and PDGF-BB from HBECs.Conclusion. PM2.5 induces the expression of TGF-β1, PDGF-AB, and PDGF-BB in vitro via HMGB1-RAGE signaling, suggesting that this pathway may contribute to the airway remodeling observed in patients with COPD.
Recurrent Syncope, a Clue in Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Marin-Acevedo Julian A. , Sanchez-Alvarez Catalina , Alsaad Ali A. , Pagán Ricardo J.
Published: January 2018

Infiltrative cardiomyopathies include a variety of disorders that lead to myocardial thickening resulting in a constellation of clinical manifestations and eventually heart failure that could be the first clue to reach the diagnosis. Among the more described infiltrative diseases of the heart is amyloid cardiomyopathy. The disease usually presents with subtle, nonspecific symptoms. Herein, we illustrate a case of recurrent syncope as the initial presenting symptom for systemic amyloid with polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy as a cause of syncope. The article illustrates the role of advanced cardiac imaging in the diagnosis of the disease with a focused literature review. We also highlight the role of early, shared decision-making between patient, family, and medical team in the management of cardiac amyloidosis.
Simple Method to Predict Ground Displacements Caused by Installing Horizontal Jet-Grouting Columns
Authors: Wang Zhi-Feng , Shen Jack S. , Cheng Wen-Chieh
Published: January 2018

During the horizontal jet grouting in soft ground, injection of large volumes of water and grout into the soil can lead to significant ground displacements. A simple method is proposed in this paper to predict the ground displacements caused by installing horizontal jet-grouting columns. The process of installing a horizontal column is simplified as the expansion of a cylindrical cavity with a uniform radial stress applied at plastic-elastic interface in a half plane. In this study, the analytical solution is adopted to calculate the deformation induced by the expansion of a cylindrical cavity. Considering the main jetting parameters (jetting pressure of the fluid, flow rate of the fluid, and withdrawal rate of the rod) and the soil properties (stiffness of the surrounding soil), an empirical equation to estimate the radius of plastic zone is developed. Two field tests are carried out in Shanghai, China, to verify the correctness and applicability of the proposed method. Comparisons between the predicted and measured values indicate that the proposed method can provide a reasonable prediction. The proposed simple method can be recommended as a useful tool for the design of ground improvement by means of horizontal jet grouting.
Spinal Anaesthesia for Cesarean Section in a Patient with Vascular Type Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Authors: Carness Jeffrey M. , Lenart Mark J.
Published: January 2018

We report the administration of spinal anaesthesia for cesarean delivery in a parturient with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Parturients who genetically inherit this disorder are at risk for significant morbidity and mortality. Risks during pregnancy include premature labor, uterine prolapse, and uterine rupture. Additionally, such laboring parturients are at increased risk of hemodynamic volatility, vascular stress, and severe postpartum hemorrhage. Instrumented delivery and cesarean delivery bring additional risks. Nonpregnancy-related complications include excessive bleeding, intestinal rupture, cardiac valvular dysfunction, and arterial dissection. Despite the complexity of this condition, literature focusing on specific intraoperative anaesthetic management is sparse.
An Evaluation Method for Brittle Source of the Key Procedure in Complex Parts’ Manufacturing
Authors: Xiang Ying , Mo Rong , Qiao Hu
Published: January 2018

A method is proposed to analyze and evaluate brittle source of the key procedure in increasing the stability during complex parts’ manufacturing. Based on the concept of machining cell, brittleness risk is introduced into the stability analysis of manufacturing process; the key procedure in manufacturing process is obtained by analyzing and calculating the brittleness risk entropy of each machining cell. Moreover, brittleness factors of the key process are analyzed to obtain a human-machine-environment brittleness model from man-machine-environment. The improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is used to analyze the relationship between the brittleness factor and the brittleness event, and a quantification method of the brittle factor in the key process is given. Thus, dangerous brittle sources in key procedure as well as abnormal control points for anomalies can be identified to improve the stability of complex parts’ manufacturing processes. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of this method are verified by using the manufacturing process of an aeroengine blade.
Conservative Vertical Groove Technique for Tooth Rehabilitation: 3-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Karre Dhanalaxmi , duddu Mahesh Kumar , Swathi Silla Swarna , Bin Mohsin Abdul Habeeb , Bharadwaj Bhogavaram , Barshaik Sheraz
Published: January 2018

Reattachment of tooth fragment is a simple, conservative, and noninvasive procedure, and it is the most currently acceptable treatment option. This article presents management of two accidentally damaged maxillary incisors using direct composite resin restoration and fractured tooth fragment. With the advancements in adhesive dentistry, tooth fragment reattachment procedure has become simpler and clinically reliable. The present paper is a report of 3-year follow-up of coronally fractured tooth treated with a very conservative technique of tooth fragment reattachment using vertical groove preparation and reinforcement with fiber post.
Hepatic Rupture Induced by Spontaneous Intrahepatic Hematoma
Authors: Zhou Jin-bao , Chen Wei-bo , Zhu Feng
Published: January 2018

The etiology of hepatic rupture is usually secondary to trauma, and hepatic rupture induced by spontaneous intrahepatic hematoma is clinically rare. We describe here a 61-year-old female patient who was transferred to our hospital with hepatic rupture induced by spontaneous intrahepatic hematoma. The patient had no history of trauma and had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus for five years, taking a daily dose of 5 mg prednisone for treatment. The patients experienced durative blunt acute right upper abdominal pain one day after satiation, which aggravated in two hours, accompanied by dizziness and sweating. Preoperative diagnosis was rupture of the liver mass. Laparotomy revealed 2500 mL fluid consisting of a mixture of blood and clot in the peritoneal cavity. A 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm rupture was discovered on the hepatic caudate lobe near the vena cava with active arterial bleeding, and a 5  × 6 cm hematoma was reached on the right posterior lobe of the liver. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and laparotomy revealed spontaneous rupture of intrahepatic hematoma with hemorrhagic shock. The patient was successfully managed by suturing the rupture of the hepatic caudate lobe and clearing part of the hematoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after two weeks of hospitalization.
Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Promotes Maturation of Dendritic Cell via Notch Signaling and Strengthens Dendritic Cell Mediated T Lymphocyte Cytotoxicity on Colon Cancer Cell CT26‐WT
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Mingxing , Wang Yang , Yang Tao , Li Dongsheng , Ding Feng , Sun Hongzhi , Bai Guang , Li Qing
Published: January 2018

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the major function component of Lycium barbarum L. and has been previously reported to induce the phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) as well as activating T lymphocytes. In the current study, the immunologic cytotoxicity promoting effect of LBP was assessed and the underlying mechanism was explored. The impact of LBP on the phenotype, maturation, and immunogenicity of DCs was assessed. The activity of Notch pathway which is involved in the regulation of LBP on DCs was detected. Afterwards, the influence of LBP on cytotoxicity of DC‐mediated cytotoxicity T lymphocytes (CTLs) to CT26‐WT colon cancer cells was further assessed. Administration of LBP induced the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs. After being subjected to LBP, the expression of Notch and Jagged and Notch targets Hes1 and Hes5 was all upregulated. The cytotoxicity of DC‐mediated CTLs was strengthened by administration of LBP. Additionally, cytotoxicity of DC‐mediated CTLs on CT26‐WT colon cancer cells also increased with effector‐target ratio. In conclusion, LBP could induce the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs via Notch signaling and promote the cytotoxicity of DC‐mediated CTLs, which could be employed as a promising adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy.
Research on Taxi Driver Strategy Game Evolution with Carpooling Detour
Authors: Zhang Wei , He Ruichun , Ma Changxi , Gao Mingxia
Published: January 2018

For the problem of taxi carpooling detour, this paper studies driver strategy choice with carpooling detour. The model of taxi driver strategy evolution with carpooling detour is built based on prospect theory and evolution game theory. Driver stable strategies are analyzed under the conditions of complaint mechanism and absence of mechanism, respectively. The results show that passenger’s complaint mechanism can effectively decrease the phenomenon of driver refusing passengers with carpooling detour. When probability of passenger complaint reaches a certain level, the stable strategy of driver is to take carpooling detour passengers. Meanwhile, limiting detour distance and easing traffic congestion can decrease the possibility of refusing passengers. These conclusions have a certain guiding significance to formulating taxi policy.
A Comprehensive Review of the Pharmacologic Management of Uterine Leiomyoma
Authors: Lewis Terrence D. , Malik Minnie , Britten Joy , San Pablo Angelo Macapagal , Catherino William H.
Published: January 2018

Uterine leiomyomata are the most common benign tumors of the gynecologic tract impacting up to 80% of women by 50 years of age. It is well established that these tumors are the leading cause for hysterectomy with an estimated total financial burden greater than $30 billion per year in the United States. However, for the woman who desires future fertility or is a poor surgical candidate, definitive management with hysterectomy is not an optimal management plan. Typical gynecologic symptoms of leiomyoma include infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)/heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and/or intermenstrual bleeding (IMB) with resulting iron-deficiency anemia, pelvic pressure and pain, urinary incontinence, and dysmenorrhea. The morbidity caused by these tumors is directly attributable to increases in tumor burden. Interestingly, leiomyoma cells within a tumor do not rapidly proliferate, but rather the increase in tumor size is secondary to production of an excessive, stable, and aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) made of disorganized collagens and proteoglycans. As a result, medical management should induce leiomyoma cells toward dissolution of the extracellular matrix, as well as halting or inhibiting cellular proliferation. Herein, we review the current literature regarding the medical management of uterine leiomyoma.
A Study of Chained Stochastic Tracking in RGB and Depth Sensing
Authors: Liu Xuhong , Payandeh Shahram
Published: January 2018

This paper studies the notion of hierarchical (chained) structure of stochastic tracking of marked feature points while a person is moving in the field of view of a RGB and depth sensor. The objective is to explore how the information between the two sensing modalities (namely, RGB sensing and depth sensing) can be cascaded in order to distribute and share the implicit knowledge associated with the tracking environment. In the first layer, the prior estimate of the state of the object is distributed based on the novel expected motion constraints approach associated with the movements. For the second layer, the segmented output resulting from the RGB image is used for tracking marked feature points of interest in the depth image of the person. Here we proposed two approaches for associating a measure (weight) for the distribution of the estimates (particles) of the tracking feature points using depth data. The first measure is based on the notion of spin-image and the second is based on the geodesic distance. The paper presents the overall implementation of the proposed method combined with some case study results.
Modeling, Testing, and Characteristic Analysis of a Planetary Flywheel Inerter
Authors: Ge Zheng , Wang Weirui
Published: January 2018

We propose the planetary flywheel inerter, which is a new type of ball screw inerter. A planetary flywheel consists of several planetary gears mounted on a flywheel bracket. When the flywheel bracket is driven by a screw and rotating, each planetary gear meshing with an outer ring gear generates a compound motion composed of revolution and rotation. Theoretical analysis shows that the output force of the planetary flywheel inerter is proportional to the relative acceleration of one terminal of the inerter to the other. Optimizing the gear ratio of the planetary gears to the ring gear allows the planetary flywheel to be lighter than its traditional counterpart, without any loss on the inertance. According to the structure of the planetary flywheel inerter, nonlinear factors of the inerter are analyzed, and a nonlinear dynamical model of the inerter is established. Then the parameters in the model are identified and the accuracy of the model is validated by experiment. Theoretical analysis and experimental data show that the dynamical characteristics of a planetary flywheel inerter and those of a traditional flywheel inerter are basically the same. It is concluded that a planetary flywheel can completely replace a traditional flywheel, making the inerter lighter.
A MapReduce‐Based Parallel Frequent Pattern Growth Algorithm for Spatiotemporal Association Analysis of Mobile Trajectory Big Data
Authors: Xia Dawen , Lu Xiaonan , Li Huaqing , Wang Wendong , Li Yantao , Zhang Zili
Published: January 2018

Frequent pattern mining is an effective approach for spatiotemporal association analysis of mobile trajectory big data in data‐driven intelligent transportation systems. While existing parallel algorithms have been successfully applied to frequent pattern mining of large‐scale trajectory data, two major challenges are how to overcome the inherent defects of Hadoop to cope with taxi trajectory big data including massive small files and how to discover the implicitly spatiotemporal frequent patterns with MapReduce. To conquer these challenges, this paper presents a MapReduce‐based Parallel Frequent Pattern growth (MR‐PFP) algorithm to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of taxi operating using large‐scale taxi trajectories with massive small file processing strategies on a Hadoop platform. More specifically, we first implement three methods, that is, Hadoop Archives (HAR), CombineFileInputFormat (CFIF), and Sequence Files (SF), to overcome the existing defects of Hadoop and then propose two strategies based on their performance evaluations. Next, we incorporate SF into Frequent Pattern growth (FP‐growth) algorithm and then implement the optimized FP‐growth algorithm on a MapReduce framework. Finally, we analyze the characteristics of taxi operating in both spatial and temporal dimensions by MR‐PFP in parallel. The results demonstrate that MR‐PFP is superior to existing Parallel FP‐growth (PFP) algorithm in efficiency and scalability.
Effects of Fibers on Color and Translucency Changes of Bulk-Fill and Anterior Composites after Accelerated Aging
Authors: Tuncdemir Ali Riza , Güven Mehmet Esad
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of glass and polyethylene fibers on the color and translucency change of bulk-fill and anterior composites before and after artificial accelerated aging (AAA). Two types of teflon molds were used to fabricate samples which were 13 mm in diameter and, respectively, 2 mm and 4 mm in height. Polyethylene fiber (PF) and glass fiber (GF) were incorporated in the middle of the composite samples. Color and translucency changes of each composite were evaluated before and after AAA with spectrophotometer. ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD post hoc statistical analysis were used at a significance level of 0.05. Before AAA (for anterior composites), there were no significant differences in L* and b* parameters among the three groups (p>0.05); there were no significant differences in L* parameter between PF and GF groups or in TP between GF and control groups (p>0.05) (for bulk-fill composites). After AAA, there were no significant differences in L* parameter between GF and control groups, in a* parameter between PF and control groups, in b* parameter among all groups, or in TP parameter between GF and control groups (p>0.05). Fiber reinforcement led to color and TP change in both anterior and bulk-fill resin composites.
An Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm Based on Factor Library and Dynamic Search Balance
Authors: Yu Wenjie , Li Xunbo , Cai Hanbin , Zeng Zhi , Li Xiang
Published: January 2018

The artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is a relatively new optimization technique for simulating the honey bee swarms foraging behavior. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness, it has attracted much attention in recent years. However, ABC search equation is good at global search but poor at local search. Some different search equations are developed to tackle this problem, while there is no particular algorithm to substantially attain the best solution for all optimization problems. Therefore, we proposed an improved ABC with a new search equation, which incorporates the global search factor based on the optimization problem dimension and the local search factor based on the factor library (FL). Furthermore, aimed at preventing the algorithm from falling into local optima, dynamic search balance strategy is proposed and applied to replace the scout bee procedure in ABC. Thus, a hybrid, fast, and enhanced algorithm, HFEABC, is presented. In order to verify its effectiveness, some comprehensive tests among HFEABC and ABC and its variants are conducted on 21 basic benchmark functions and 20 complicated functions from CEC 2017. The experimental results show HFEABC offers better compatibility for different problems than ABC and some of its variants. The HFEABC performance is very competitive.
Pleural Effusion or Main Left Bronchus Mucus Obstruction: To Drain or Not to Drain? Decision-Making for Young Surgeon on Call
Authors: Coco Danilo , Leanza Silvana
Published: January 2018

Mucous plugs occur in a number of pulmonary conditions. Central right or left bronchus mucus plug causes complete pulmonary collapse making it an emergency life-threatening case. We describe the case of an 80-year-old man that, in postoperative period after a urological intervention, has had a progressive tachypnea and dyspnea during hospitalization for urological problems. Young surgeon on call was called.
An SAT‐Based Method to Multithreaded Program Verification for Mobile Crowdsourcing Networks
Authors: Zhang Long , Qu Wanxia , Huo Yinjia , Guo Yang , Li Sikun
Published: January 2018

This paper focused on the safety verification of the multithreaded programs for mobile crowdsourcing networks. A novel algorithm was proposed to find a way to apply IC3, which is typically the fastest algorithm for SAT‐based finite state model checking, in a very clever manner to solve the safety problem of multithreaded programs. By computing a series of overapproximation reachability, the safety properties can be verified by the SAT‐based model checking algorithms. The results show that the new algorithm outperforms all the recently published works, especially on memory consumption (an advantage that comes from IC3).
(α,ψ)-Meir-Keeler Contraction Mappings in Generalized b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Karapinar Erdal , Czerwik Stefan , Aydi Hassen
Published: January 2018

We present a fixed point theorem for generalized (α,ψ)-Meir-Keeler type contractions in the setting of generalized b-metric spaces. The presented results improve, generalize, and unify many existing famous results in the corresponding literature.
Short‐Range Cooperation of Mobile Devices for Energy‐Efficient Vertical Handovers
Authors: Foukas Xenofon , Kontovasilis Kimon , Marina Mahesh K.
Published: January 2018

The availability of multiple collocated wireless networks using heterogeneous technologies and the multiaccess support of contemporary mobile devices have allowed wireless connectivity optimization, enabled through vertical handover (VHO) operations. However, this comes at high energy consumption on the mobile device due to the inherently expensive nature of some of the involved operations. This work proposes exploiting short‐range cooperation among collocated mobile devices to improve the energy efficiency of vertical handover operations. The proactive exchange of handover‐related information through low‐energy short‐range communication technologies, like Bluetooth, can help in eliminating expensive signaling steps when the need for a VHO arises. A model is developed for capturing the mean energy expenditure of such an optimized VHO scheme in terms of relevant factors by means of closed‐form expressions. The descriptive power of the model is demonstrated by investigating various typical usage scenarios and is validated through simulations. It is shown that the proposed scheme has superior performance in several realistic usage scenarios considering important relevant factors, including network availability, the local density of mobile devices, and the range of the cooperation technology. Finally, the paper explores cost/benefit trade‐offs associated with the short‐range cooperation protocol. It is demonstrated that the protocol may be parametrized so that the trade‐off becomes nearly optimized and the cost is maintained affordable for a wide range of operational scenarios.
Predictors of Sun Protective Behaviors among Latino Day Laborers
Authors: Boyas Javier F. , Nahar Vinayak K.
Published: January 2018

Objectives. Despite the substantial solar ultraviolet radiation experienced by Latino day laborers, little attention has been given to factors that are associated with sun protective behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychological and nonpsychological predictors of sun protective behaviors among Latino day laborers. Methods. This cross-sectional study included a nonrandom sample of 137 Latino day laborers recruited from Mississippi and Illinois. Participants completed a self-report survey instrument, available in English and Spanish, on sun protective behaviors. Results. Multivariate regression results showed that sun protective behaviors were significantly greater among Latino day laborers: (a) who had greater perceptions that their supervisor also engaged in sun protective behaviors (β=0.25, p≤0.01); (b) who reported higher levels of health literacy (β=0.23, p≤0.001); (c) who have greater knowledge of skin cancer risk factors (β=0.21, p≤0.01); and (d) who have skin tone that was self-perceived to be more prone to sunburns (β=0.19, p≤0.01). Conclusions. Latino day laborers possess marginal levels of skin cancer knowledge and engage minimally in sun protective behaviors. Skin cancer prevention interventions are warranted for this high-risk group, particularly in the locations in which Latino day laborers work.
Chronic Intake of Commercial Sweeteners Induces Changes in Feeding Behavior and Signaling Pathways Related to the Control of Appetite in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Barrios-Correa Alberto A. , Estrada José A. , Martel Caroline , Olivier Martin , López-Santiago Rubén , Contreras Irazú
Published: January 2018

Nonnutritive sweetener use is a common practice worldwide. Although considered safe for human consumption, accumulating evidence suggests these compounds may affect metabolic homeostasis; however, there is no consensus on the role of frequent sweetener intake in appetite and weight loss. We sought to determine whether frequent intake of commercial sweeteners induces changes in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in the brain of mice, as it is involved in the regulation of appetite and body composition. We supplemented adult BALB/c mice with sucrose, steviol glycosides (SG), or sucralose, daily, for 6 weeks. After supplementation, we evaluated body composition and expression of total and phosphorylated JAK2, STAT3, and Akt, as well as SOCS3 and ObRb, in brain tissue. Our results show that frequent intake of commercial SG decreases energy intake, adiposity, and weight gain in male animals, while increasing the expression of pJAK2 and pSTAT3 in the brain, whereas sucralose increases weight gain and pJAK2 expression in females. Our results suggest that chronic intake of commercial sweeteners elicits changes in signaling pathways that have been related to the control of appetite and energy balance in vivo, which may have relevant consequences for the nutritional state and long term health of the organism.
Efficacy of Nalbuphine with Flurbiprofen on Multimodal Analgesia with Transverse Abdominis Plane Block in Elderly Patients Undergoing Open Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blinded Trial
Authors: Mao Yu , Cao Yuanyuan , Mei Bin , Chen Lijian , Liu Xuesheng , Zhang Zhi , Gu Erwei
Published: January 2018

Objective. To assess different doses of nalbuphine with flurbiprofen compared to sufentanil with flurbiprofen in multimodal analgesia efficacy for elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery with a transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB). Methods. 158 elderly patients scheduling for elective open gastrointestinal surgery under general anesthesia and TAPB were randomly assigned to four groups according to different doses of nalbuphine with flurbiprofen in postoperative intravenous analgesia (PCIA). Postoperative pain intensity, effective pressing numbers of PCIA, and adverse effects were recorded at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Results. Postoperative pain intensity, effective pressing numbers, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were similar among the four groups after surgery, while the severity of PONV was decreased in Group L compared with Group S at 6, 12, and 48 h after surgery. No individual experienced pruritus, respiratory depression, or hypotension. Conclusions. Low dose of nalbuphine (15 μg·kg−1·ml−1) combined with flurbiprofen is superior for elderly patients undergoing elective open gastrointestinal surgery with TAPB in terms of the efficient postoperative analgesia and decreased severity of PONV. This trial is registered with NCT02984865.
Drinking Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion Interventions in Two Slum Communities in Central Uganda
Authors: Musoke David , Ndejjo Rawlance , Halage Abdullah Ali , Kasasa Simon , Ssempebwa John C. , Carpenter David O.
Published: January 2018

Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) continue to contribute to the high prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in low-income countries such as Uganda particularly in slums. We implemented a 3-year WASH project in two urban slums in Uganda with a focus on safe drinking water and improvement in sanitation. The project implemented community and school interventions in addition to capacity building initiatives. Community interventions included home improvement campaigns, clean-up exercises, water quality assessment, promotion of drinking safe water through household point-of-use chlorination, promotion of hand washing, and support towards solid waste management. In schools, the project supported health clubs and provided them with “talking compound” messages. The capacity building initiatives undertaken included training of youth and community health workers. Project evaluation revealed several improvements in WASH status of the slums including increase in piped water usage from 38% to 86%, reduction in use of unprotected water sources from 30% to 2%, reduction in indiscriminate disposal of solid waste from 18% to 2%, and increase in satisfaction with solid waste management services from 40% to 92%. Such proactive and sustainable community interventions have the potential to not only improve lives of slum inhabitants in developing countries but also create lasting impact.