bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vicarious pain responders and emotion: Evidence for distress rather than mimicry
Authors: Young Kurtis A. , Gandevia Simon C. , Giummarra Melita J.
Published: March 2017

Up to a third of the population experiences pain when seeing another in pain. The mechanisms underlying such vicarious sensory experiences are thought to reflect hyperactive mirror systems (threshold theory) or dysfunctional processing and representation of oneself versus others (self/other theory). This study investigated whether the tendency to experience vicarious pain corresponds to disinhibited physiological reactivity toward other's emotions, and/or greater empathic mimicry of other's physiological state (respiratory behavior) during fear, pain, and positive emotion. Fifty healthy individuals aged 18–55 years (23 vicarious pain responders) completed empathy‐ and anxiety‐related questionnaires, and a film task. Respiration was measured noninvasively with piezoelectric respiration belts while participants viewed emotional film clips depicting three emotions (fear/pain/positive) interspersed with neutral clips. The emotional stimuli depicted scenes in which the characters showed increases or decreases in respiration. The results suggest that vicarious pain responders do not mimic emotional respiratory behavior. Rather, vicarious pain responders had a significantly slower respiration rate for all emotional stimuli (MDiff = 1.40 respiratory cycles, SE = .68), compared to nonresponders. However, this was associated with heightened trait anxiety. The findings suggest vicarious pain is associated with acute distress, rather than empathic mimicry of the emotional states of another.
Hepatitis E virus in wild rabbits and European brown hares in Germany
Authors: Hammerschmidt F. , Schwaiger K. , Dähnert L. , Vina‐Rodriguez A. , Höper D. , Gareis M. , Groschup M. H. , Eiden M.
Published: March 2017

Recently, a change of hepatitis E from being a typical travel‐associated disease to an autochthonous zoonosis in Germany was observed. An increasing number of autochthonous infections with the hepatitis E Virus (HEV) have been recognized in developed countries. Venison from wild boar is already known to be a potential source of infection, if not prepared properly by the consumer. In Germany, certain wild animals are known to be a reservoir forHEV. However, current information is missing about European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Thus, a total of 833 hunting‐harvested animals (European brown haresn = 669; wild rabbitsn = 164) were tested for the occurrence ofHEV RNAandHEVantibodies. For this, liver and blood specimens were taken after hunts in six German federal states.HEVantibodies were found byELISAin 2.2% (624/14) of European brown hares, but noHEV RNAwas detectable by nested real‐timeRT‐PCR. In contrast, a seroprevalence of 37.3% (126/47) was observed for wild rabbits, and 17.1% (164/28) of the samples wereHEV RNApositive. Genomic analysis revealed that these partial sequences clustered within the rabbit clade ofHEV‐3 genotype. In addition, one rabbit sequence segregated into subtype 3g ofHEV‐3. Highest seroprevalences for hares and rabbits were detected in the federal states of Bavaria and of Schleswig‐Holstein, respectively. Comparing urban, rural and insular areas, the highest seroprevalence was shown for wild rabbits in rural areas and for European brown hares on the northern island Fehmarn. This study provides evidence that European brown hares and wild rabbits from Germany can be infected withHEV. The different prevalences indicate that wild rabbits are a potential reservoir forHEVin Germany, whereas European brown hares seem to be only of minor importance for the epidemiology ofHEV.
Inverted L-Arm Gripper Compliant Mechanism
Authors: Dearden Jason , Grames Clayton , Jensen Brian D. , Magleby Spencer P. , Howell Larry L.
Published: March 2017

This work exploits the advantages of compliant mechanisms (devices that achieve their motion through the deflection of flexible members) to enable the creation of small instruments for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Using flexures to achieve motion presents challenges, three of which are considered in this work. First, compliant mechanisms generally perform inadequately in compression. Second, for a ±90deg range of motion desired for each jaw, the bending stresses in the flexures are prohibitive considering materials used in current instruments. Third, for cables attached at fixed points on the mechanism, the mechanical advantage will vary considerably during actuation. Research results are presented that address these challenges using compliant mechanism principles as demonstrated in a two-degree-of-freedom (2DoF) L-Arm gripper.
Experimental Assessment of Noise Generation and Transmission in a High-Pressure Transonic Turbine Stage
Authors: Knobloch Karsten , Neuhaus Lars , Bake Friedrich , Gaetani Paolo , Persico Giacomo
Published: March 2017

Noise originating from the core of an aero-engine is challenging to quantify since the understanding of its generation and propagation is less advanced than that for noise sources of other engine components. To overcome the difficulties associated with dynamic measurements in the crowded core region, dedicated experiments have been set up in order to investigate mainly two processes: the propagation of direct combustion noise through the subsequent turbine stage, and the generation of indirect combustion noise by the passage of inhomogeneities of entropy and vorticity through the turbine stage. In the current work, a transonic turbine stage was exposed to isolated and well-characterized acoustic, entropic, and vortical disturbances. The incoming and outgoing sound fields were analyzed in detail by two large arrays of microphones. The mean flow field and the disturbances were carefully mapped by several aerodynamic and thermal probes. The results include transmission and reflection characteristics of the turbine stage, the latter was found to be much lower than commonly assumed. The modal decomposition of the acoustic field in the upstream and downstream section shows additional modes besides the expected rotor–stator interaction modes. At the frequency of entropy or vorticity excitation, respectively, a significant increase of the overall sound power level was observed.
Dynamic Sampling Design for Characterizing Spatiotemporal Processes in Manufacturing
Authors: Shao Chenhui , Jin Jionghua (Judy) , Jack Hu S.
Published: March 2017

Fine-scale characterization and monitoring of spatiotemporal processes are crucial for high-performance quality control of manufacturing processes, such as ultrasonic metal welding and high-precision machining. However, it is generally expensive to acquire high-resolution spatiotemporal data in manufacturing due to the high cost of the three-dimensional (3D) measurement system or the time-consuming measurement process. In this paper, we develop a novel dynamic sampling design algorithm to cost-effectively characterize spatiotemporal processes in manufacturing. A spatiotemporal state-space model and Kalman filter are used to predictively determine the measurement locations using a criterion considering both the prediction performance and the measurement cost. The determination of measurement locations is formulated as a binary integer programming problem, and genetic algorithm (GA) is applied for searching the optimal design. In addition, a new test statistic is proposed to monitor and update the surface progression rate. Both simulated and real-world spatiotemporal data are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Comparative Study on Machine Learning Algorithms for Smart Manufacturing: Tool Wear Prediction Using Random Forests
Authors: Wu Dazhong , Jennings Connor , Terpenny Janis , Gao Robert X. , Kumara Soundar
Published: March 2017

Manufacturers have faced an increasing need for the development of predictive models that predict mechanical failures and the remaining useful life (RUL) of manufacturing systems or components. Classical model-based or physics-based prognostics often require an in-depth physical understanding of the system of interest to develop closed-form mathematical models. However, prior knowledge of system behavior is not always available, especially for complex manufacturing systems and processes. To complement model-based prognostics, data-driven methods have been increasingly applied to machinery prognostics and maintenance management, transforming legacy manufacturing systems into smart manufacturing systems with artificial intelligence. While previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of data-driven methods, most of these prognostic methods are based on classical machine learning techniques, such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector regression (SVR). With the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence, various machine learning algorithms have been developed and widely applied in many engineering fields. The objective of this research is to introduce a random forests (RFs)-based prognostic method for tool wear prediction as well as compare the performance of RFs with feed-forward back propagation (FFBP) ANNs and SVR. Specifically, the performance of FFBP ANNs, SVR, and RFs are compared using an experimental data collected from 315 milling tests. Experimental results have shown that RFs can generate more accurate predictions than FFBP ANNs with a single hidden layer and SVR.
Antidepressants protect bones from metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: March 2017

Monoamine oxidase A–targeted antidepressants inhibit a tumor-stroma loop and could delay the metastatic outgrowth of prostate cancer.
An Azole-Tolerant Endosomal Trafficking Mutant of Candida albicans Is Susceptible to Azole Treatment in a Mouse Model of Vaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Peters Brian M. , Luna-Tapia Arturo , Tournu Hélène , Rybak Jeffrey M. , Rogers P. David , Palmer Glen E.
Published: March 2017

We recently reported that a
Candida albicans
endosomal trafficking mutant continues to grow after treatment with the azole antifungals. Herein, we report that the
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant does not have a survival advantage over wild-type isolates after fluconazole treatment in a mouse model of vaginal candidiasis. Furthermore, loss of
VPS21
does not synergize with established mechanisms of azole resistance, such as overexpression of efflux pumps or of Erg11p, the target enzyme of the azoles. In summary, although loss of
VPS21
function enhances
C. albicans
survival after azole treatment
in vitro
, it does not seem to affect azole susceptibility
in vivo
.
Bile Acid Administration Elicits an Intestinal Antimicrobial Program and Reduces the Bacterial Burden in Two Mouse Models of Enteric Infection
Authors: Tremblay Sarah , Romain Guillaume , Roux Mélisange , Chen Xi-Lin , Brown Kirsty , Gibson Deanna L. , Ramanathan Sheela , Menendez Alfredo
Published: March 2017

In addition to their chemical antimicrobial nature, bile acids are thought to have other functions in the homeostatic control of gastrointestinal immunity. However, those functions have remained largely undefined. In this work, we used ileal explants and mouse models of bile acid administration to investigate the role of bile acids in the regulation of the intestinal antimicrobial response. Mice fed on a diet supplemented with 0.1% chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) showed an upregulated expression of Paneth cell α-defensins as well as an increased synthesis of the type-C lectins Reg3b and Reg3g by the ileal epithelium. CDCA acted on several epithelial cell types, by a mechanism independent from farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and not involving STAT3 or β-catenin activation. CDCA feeding did not change the relative abundance of major commensal bacterial groups of the ileum, as shown by 16S analyses. However, administration of CDCA increased the expression of ileal
Muc2
and induced a change in the composition of the mucosal immune cell repertoire, decreasing the proportion of Ly6G
+
and CD68
+
cells, while increasing the relative amount of IgGκ
+
B cells. Oral administration of CDCA to mice attenuated infections with the bile-resistant pathogens
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium and
Citrobacter rodentium
, promoting lower systemic colonization and faster bacteria clearance, respectively. Our results demonstrate that bile acid signaling in the ileum triggers an antimicrobial program that can be potentially used as a therapeutic option against intestinal bacterial infections.
Analysis of Shigella flexneri Resistance, Biofilm Formation, and Transcriptional Profile in Response to Bile Salts
Authors: Nickerson Kourtney P. , Chanin Rachael B. , Sistrunk Jeticia R. , Rasko David A. , Fink Peter J. , Barry Eileen M. , Nataro James P. , Faherty Christina S.
Published: March 2017

The
Shigella
species cause millions of cases of watery or bloody diarrhea each year, mostly in children in developing countries. While many aspects of
Shigella
colonic cell invasion are known, crucial gaps in knowledge regarding how the bacteria survive, transit, and regulate gene expression prior to infection remain. In this study, we define mechanisms of resistance to bile salts and build on previous research highlighting induced virulence in
Shigella flexneri
strain 2457T following exposure to bile salts. Typical growth patterns were observed within the physiological range of bile salts; however, growth was inhibited at higher concentrations. Interestingly, extended periods of exposure to bile salts led to biofilm formation, a conserved phenotype that we observed among members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
. Characterization of
S. flexneri
2457T biofilms determined that both bile salts and glucose were required for formation, dispersion was dependent upon bile salts depletion, and recovered bacteria displayed induced adherence to HT-29 cells. RNA-sequencing analysis verified an important bile salt transcriptional profile in
S. flexneri
2457T, including induced drug resistance and virulence gene expression. Finally, functional mutagenesis identified the importance of the AcrAB efflux pump and lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis for bile salt resistance. Our data demonstrate that
S. flexneri
2457T employs multiple mechanisms to survive exposure to bile salts, which may have important implications for multidrug resistance. Furthermore, our work confirms that bile salts are important physiological signals to activate
S. flexneri
2457T virulence. This work provides insights into how exposure to bile likely regulates
Shigella
survival and virulence during host transit and subsequent colonic infection.
The answer is blowing in the wind: an uncommon cause for severe ARDS accompanied by circulatory insufficiency requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Einecke Gunilla , Beutel Gernot , Hoeper Marius M , Kielstein Jan T
Published: March 2017

We report a rare complication in an immunosuppressed patient with IgA nephropathy who suffered from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe capillary leakage and shock after placement of a double lumen central venous catheter. He could be successfully treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and therapeutic plasma exchange. This report highlights the severity of late-onset complications of catheter placements and shows the potential of ECMO treatment for the management of acute illnesses with bridge to recovery.
Sex differences in coronary heart disease and stroke mortality: a global assessment of the effect of ageing between 1980 and 2010
Authors: Bots Sophie H , Peters Sanne A E , Woodward Mark
Published: March 2017

Background

Cardiovascular disease mortality rates are well known to be lower in women than men and to increase with age. Whether these sex and age effects have changed over recent decades, and how much they differ by country, is unclear.

Method

From the WHO Mortality Database, we obtained age-specific and sex-specific coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality rates for the world's most populous countries with data available between 1980 and 2010. We calculated age-specific, country-specific and period-specific men-to-women CHD and stroke mortality rate ratios for 26 countries and compared the differences between and within countries over time.

Results

CHD and stroke mortality decreased substantially between 1980 and 2010 in most countries, in both sexes. Mostly there was an attenuation of the effect of ageing over calendar time, more so in men than in women. CHD mortality was higher in men than in women throughout adulthood, but the magnitude of the difference varied by age. Men-to-women CHD mortality rate ratios were 4–5 in middle age (30–64 years) and 2 thereafter (65–89 years). Stroke mortality was more similar between sexes, with men-to-women stroke mortality rate ratios of around 1.5–2 until old age.

Conclusions

While CHD and stroke mortality rates declined considerably between 1980 and 2010 in both sexes, there was some indication for stronger age-specific reductions in CHD in men than women. Mortality from CHD and stroke remains higher among men than women until old age across a range of economically, socially and culturally diverse countries.
Constraint choice in revision knee arthroplasty: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial assessing the effect of level of constraint on postoperative outcome
Authors: Hommel Hagen , Wilke Kai , Kunze Daniel , Hommel Peggy , Fennema Peter
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The proper management of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with severe deformities regarding the preferable prosthetic design and the required amount of constraint is a controversial subject. In the absence of any high-level clinical evidence, we designed a randomised clinical trial to investigate if rotating hinged (RTH) and constrained condylar knee (CCK) designs yield similar outcomes.

Methods and analysis

This study is a multicentre, randomised clinical trial including two groups of 85 patients. Patients will be randomised to a CCK knee design group or an RTH knee design group. Patients will be followed for 2 years. The study will be designed as an equivalence trial. The primary study outcome will be the postoperative functional outcome as measured by the self-administered Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Secondary outcomes will be postoperative joint awareness during various activities of daily living as measured by the Forgotten Joint Score-12, the Knee Society Score, along with the incidence and location of radiolucent lines using the Knee Society TKA radiographic evaluation system.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is approved by the ethics committee of the Landesärztekammer Brandenburg ((S 10(a)/2013) from 27.08.2013, amended on 25.04.2016) and will be conducted according to the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki and the ISO14155:2011.

Trial registration number

DRKS00010539.
Smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Borgen Iren , Garnweidner-Holme Lisa Maria , Jacobsen Anne Flem , Bjerkan Kirsti , Fayyad Seraj , Joranger Pål , Lilleengen Anne Marie , Mosdøl Annhild , Noll Josef , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Terragni Laura , Torheim Liv Elin , Lukasse Mirjam
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity and measurement of blood glucose levels are essential components in the care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Smartphones offer a new way to promote health behaviour. The main aim is to investigate if the use of the Pregnant+ app, in addition to standard care, results in better blood glucose levels compared with current standard care only, for women with GDM.

Methods and analysis

This randomised controlled trial will include 230 pregnant women with GDM followed up at 5 outpatient departments (OPD) in the greater Oslo Region. Women with a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) ≥9 mmol/L, who own a smartphone, understand Norwegian, Urdu or Somali and are <33 weeks pregnant, are invited. The intervention group receives the Pregnant+ app and standard care. The control group receives standard care only. Block randomisation is performed electronically. Data are collected using self-reported questionnaires and hospital records. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Groups will be compared using linear regression for the main outcome and χ2test for categorical data and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for skewed distribution. The main outcome is the glucose level measured at the 2-hour OGTT 3 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes are a change in health behaviour and knowledge about GDM, quality of life, birth weight, mode of delivery and complications for mother and child.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is exempt from regional ethics review due to its nature of quality improvement in patient care. Our study has been approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services and the patient privacy protections boards governing over the recruitment sites. Findings will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT02588729, Post-results.
Surgery for Type B Ankle Fracture Treatment: a Combined Randomised and Observational Study (CROSSBAT)
Authors: Mittal Rajat , Harris Ian A , Adie Sam , Naylor Justine M
Published: March 2017

Background

Isolated type B ankle fractures with no injury to the medial side are the most common type of ankle fracture.

Objective

This study aimed to determine if surgery is superior to non-surgical management for the treatment of these fractures.

Methods

A pragmatic, multicentre, single-blinded, combined randomised controlled trial and observational study. Setting Participants between 18 and 65 years with a type B ankle fracture and minimal talar shift were recruited from 22 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Participants willing to be randomised were randomly allocated to undergo surgical fixation followed by mobilisation in a walking boot for 6 weeks. Those treated non-surgically were managed in a walking boot for 6 weeks. Participants not willing to be randomised formed the observational cohort. Randomisation stratified by site and using permuted variable blocks was administered centrally. Outcome assessors were blinded for the primary outcomes. Primary outcomes Patient-reported ankle function using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle Outcomes Questionnaire (FAOQ) and the physical component score (PCS) of the SF-12v2 General Health Survey at 12 months postinjury. Primary analysis was intention to treat; the randomised and observational cohorts were analysed separately.

Results

From August 2010 to October 2013, 160 people were randomised (80 surgical and 80 non-surgical); 139 (71 surgical and 68 non-surgical) were analysed as intention to treat. 276 formed the observational cohort (19 surgical and 257 non-surgical); 220 (18 surgical and 202 non-surgical) were analysed. The randomised cohort demonstrated that surgery was not superior to non-surgery for the FAOQ (49.8 vs 53.0; mean difference 3.2 (95% CI 0.4 to 5.9), p=0.028), or the PCS (53.7 vs 53.2; mean difference 0.6 (−2.9 to 1.8), p=0.63). 23 (32%) and 10 (14%) participants had an adverse event in the surgical and non-surgical groups, respectively. Similar results were found in the observational cohort.

Conclusions

Surgery is not superior to non-surgical management for 44-B1 ankle fractures in the short term, and is associated with increased adverse events.

Trial registration number

NCT01134094.
Biological rationale and potential clinical use of gabapentin and pregabalin in bipolar disorder, insomnia and anxiety: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Houghton Kerensa T , Forrest Alexandra , Awad Amine , Atkinson Lauren Z , Stockton Sarah , Harrison Paul J , Geddes John R , Cipriani Andrea
Published: March 2017

Introduction

Gabapentin has been extensively prescribed off-label for psychiatric indications, with little established evidence of efficacy. Gabapentin and pregabalin, a very similar drug with the same mechanism of action, bind to a subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels which are implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of bipolar disorder, anxiety and insomnia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to collect and critically appraise all the available evidence about the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin and pregabalin in the treatment of bipolar disorder, insomnia and anxiety.

Methods and analysis

We will include all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reported as double-blind and comparing gabapentin or pregabalin with placebo or any other active pharmacological treatment (any preparation, dose, frequency, route of delivery or setting) in patients with bipolar disorder, anxiety or insomnia. For consideration of adverse effects (tolerability), single-blind or open-label RCTs and non-randomised evidence will also be summarised. The main outcomes will be efficacy (measured as dichotomous and continuous outcome) and acceptability (proportion of patients who dropped out of the allocated treatment). Published and unpublished studies will be sought through relevant database searches, trial registries and websites; all reference selection and data extraction will be conducted by at least 2 independent reviewers. We will conduct a random-effects meta-analysis to synthesise all evidence for each outcome. Heterogeneity between studies will be investigated by the I2statistic. Data from included studies will be entered into a funnel plot for investigation of small-study effects. No subgroup analysis will be undertaken, but we will carry out sensitivity analyses about combination treatment, psychiatric comorbidity, use of rescue medications and fixed versus random-effects model.

Ethics and dissemination

This review does not require ethical approval. This protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42016041802). The results of the systematic review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Surveillance Systems from Public Health Institutions and Scientific Societies for Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections in Europe (SUSPIRE): protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Núñez-Núñez María , Navarro María Dolores , Gkolia Panagiota , Babu Rajendran Nithya , del Toro María Dolores , Voss Andreas , Sharland Mike , Sifakis Frangiscos , Tacconelli Evelina , Rodríguez-Baño Jesús
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance is now recognised as a global public health threat. Owing to the geographical heterogeneity, complexity and continuously evolving dynamics of resistant organisms and genes, surveillance is a key tool for understanding, measuring and informing actions in the fight against this problem. To date there is no harmonisation of key indicators or of methodologies used to obtain them.

Methods and analysis

The main objective of this project is to systematically review and analyse the current publicly available surveillance activities on antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections in Europe. Eligible activities are those endorsed by regional, national or transnational health organisations and scientific societies providing data on a periodic basis. Grey and peer-reviewed literature will be searched with no language restrictions. Three independent reviewers will perform a two-step selection process using a previously piloted, tailored electronic data extraction form. Descriptive summaries and tables of all relevant findings will be performed and reported according to PRISMA guidelines.

Ethics and dissemination

We did not seek ethical approval for this study because the data to be collected are not linked to individuals. Data will be presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

CRD42016033867.
Venous lactate, pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide levels as prognostic indicators in 110 premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Yildiz R. , Aydogdu U. , Guzelbektes H. , Coskun A. , Sen I.
Published: March 2017

Hyperlactatemia, hypercapnia, low pH and low oxygen saturation (SatO2) are commonly observed in premature calves. These clinical indicators are associated with increased mortality in preterm human newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of venous pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and lactate level and which parameters are related with mortality in premature calves with RDS. All premature calves (52 male/58 female) were admitted to clinic within 12–24 hours after birth and blood samples were also taken into heparinised plastic syringes from the jugular vein within 30 minutes following admission. Diagnosis of RDS was made by both clinical signs and blood gas results. For the evaluation of independent samples, t test was used to compare the venous blood gas indicators of surviving and non‐surviving premature calves. Receiver operating characteristics curves were used to determine a cut‐off value in terms of lactate and pCO2 measurements among non‐surviving and surviving calves. Venous pH, pCO2, SatO2, base deficit, bicarbonate (HCO3) and lactate levels showed a significant variance between surviving and non‐surviving calves. Mean venous pH, pCO2, SatO2, lactate levels in non‐surviving premature calves was 7.05, 78.9 mm Hg, 16.1 per cent and 9.50 mmol/l, respectively. Mean pH, pCO2, SatO2 and lactate levels in surviving premature calves were 7.29, 56.3 mm Hg, 25.5 per cent and 5.1 mmol/l, respectively. The cut‐off values for lactate and pCO2 were 7.5 mmol/l and 63.5 mm Hg, respectively. In conclusion, the results of the study show that venous blood lactate and pCO2 have prognostic importance in premature calves with RDS.
A Novel Interface Circuit with 99.2% MPPT Accuracy and 1.3% THD for Energy Harvesting
Authors: Li Yani , Zhu Zhangming , Yang Yintang , Sun Yadong , Wang Xu
Published: March 2017

To improve conversion efficiency and output quality of the energy harvester, a novel interface circuit with composite maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in energy harvesting applications is proposed in this paper. By using the ultra-low-voltage multiplier with digital control and simple one-cycle variable frequency technique, the converter realizes fast power tracking and high conversion efficiency, and minimizes the power consumption and harmonics, thereby obtaining high tracking precise and low total harmonic distortion (THD). Implemented in 65-nm CMOS process, this converter achieves 85.9% peak power efficiency with dc output voltage of 1.6[Formula: see text]V. The peak tracking efficiency and THD are 99.2% and 1.3%, respectively. The peak output power is 18.31[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]W, and the power loss of the entire converter is only 16.53[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]W.
The extra scalar degrees of freedom from the two-Higgs doublet model for dark energy
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Qadir Asghar
Published: March 2017

In principle, a minimal extension of the standard model of Particle Physics, the two-Higgs doublet model (2HDM), can be invoked to explain the scalar field responsible for dark energy. The two doublets are in general mixed. After diagonalization, the lightest CP-even Higgs and CP-odd Higgs are jointly taken to be the dark energy candidate. The dark energy obtained from the Higgs fields in this case is indistinguishable from the cosmological constant.
NiO Nanocrystalline/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Film with Enhanced Electrochromic Properties
Authors: Lang Fengpei , Liu Jingbing , Wang Hao , Yan Hui
Published: March 2017

The NiO nanocrystalline/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite film was successfully synthesized using a simple hot-injection and dip coating method. The as-prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscope (SEM), ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer (UV). Compared to the NiO film, the NiO nanocrystalline/rGO composite film exhibits enhanced electrochromic properties and large [Formula: see text] (40.7% at 550[Formula: see text]nm), fast switching speed ([Formula: see text].3[Formula: see text]s and [Formula: see text].9[Formula: see text]s), high coloration efficiency (12.85[Formula: see text]cm2 C[Formula: see text] and better cycling performance (1000 cycles). The improvement of the electrochromic properties was attributed to the large specific surface area and good conductivity of the rGO.
Rationally Designed Three-Dimensional NiMoO4/Polypyrrole Core–Shell Nanostructures for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Chen Tingting , Wang Guangning , Ning Qianyan
Published: March 2017

Electrodes of rationally designed composite nanostructures can offer many opportunities for the enhanced performance in electrochemical energy storage. This paper attempts to illustrate the design and production of NiMoO4/polypyrrole core–shell nanostructures on nickel foam to be used in supercapacitor via a facile hydrothermal and electrodeposition process. It has been verified that this novel nanoscale morphology has outstanding capacitive performances. While employed as electrodes in supercapacitors, the composite nanostructures showed remarkable electrochemical performances with a great areal capacitance (3.2[Formula: see text]F/cm2 at a current density of 5[Formula: see text]mA/cm2), and a significant cycle stability (80% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles). The above results reveal that the composite nanostructures may be a likely electrode material for high-performance electrochemical capacitors.
An Experimental Investigation of Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients and Pressure Drops of Refrigerants Inside Multiport Mini-channel Tubes
Authors: Vu Pham-Quang , Choi Kwang-Il , Oh Jong-Taek , Cho Honggi
Published: March 2017

The condensation heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops of R410A and R22 flowing inside a horizontal aluminum multiport mini-channel tube having 18 channels are investigated. Experimental data are presented for the range of vapor quality from 0.1 to 0.9, mass flux from 50 to 500[Formula: see text]kg/m2s, heat flux from 3 to 15[Formula: see text]kW/m2 and the saturation temperature at 48[Formula: see text]C. The pressure drop across the test section was directly measured by a differential pressure transducer. At a small scale, the noncircular cross-sections can enhance the effect of the surface tension. The average heat transfer coefficient increased with the increase of vapor quality, mass flux and heat flux. Under the same test conditions, the heat transfer coefficients of R22 are higher than those for R410A, the pressure drops for R410A are 7–19% lower than those of R22. The lower pressure drop of R410A has an important advantage as an alternative working fluid for R22 in air-conditioning and heat pump systems.
Safe Human–Robot Interaction in Medical Robotics: A case study on Robotic Fracture Surgery System
Authors: Georgilas Ioannis , Dagnino Giulio , Dogramadzi Sanja
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a safety analysis of a Robotic Fracture Surgery System using the Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). It focuses particularly on hazards caused by the human in the loop. The robotic system and operating staff are modeled including information flow between different components of the system. The analysis has generated a set of requirements for the system design that can ultimately mitigate the identified hazards, as well as a preliminary set of human factors that can improve safety.
Upcoming SIGWEB supported conferences
Authors: Samuel Hamman
Published: March 2017

The Special Interest Group on Hypertext and the Web, SIGWEB was created in 1989 to support the community participating in the annual ACM Hypertext Conference. Now in its third decade, SIGWEB has grown considerably and now sponsors seven annual conferences of different sizes and covering a wide range of topics. SIGWEB supports several specialized conferences, short courses, and workshops, as well as the Annual Hypertext Conference. SIGWEB sponsored conferences focus on timely topics in applied and computational hypertext and Web disciplines and provide a place for members and the entire applied Hypermedia and Web community to exchange ideas and to meet with and expand their network of colleagues. In this article, we provide a brief overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SIGWEB.
Over, under, or through
Authors: Harris Heidi Skurat , Greer Michael
Published: March 2017

Online writing instruction is a process of design that includes both spatial and temporal dimensions. Ideally, this process brings together design and pedagogy to move students through their online writing work successfully. Institutionally mandated LMS platforms often constrain this process. This article establishes three design principles and concepts for designing learning environments that take into account both space and time as designed elements of online classes. Applying the principles of backward design, modular content, and student choice to course design can help instructors design more thoughtful, participatory classes centered on student learning and instructor presence.
A Stable‐Matching‐Based User Linking Method with User Preference Order
Authors: Wang Xuzhong , Liu Yan , Nan Yu
Published: March 2017

With the development of social networks, more and more users choose to use multiple accounts from different networks to meet their needs. Linking a particular user’s multiple accounts not only can improve user’s experience of the net‐services such as recommender system, but also plays a significant role in network security. However, multiple accounts of the same user are often not directly linked to each other, and further, the privacy policy provided by the service provider makes it harder to find accounts for a particular user. In this paper, we propose a stable‐matching‐based method with user preference order for the problem of low accuracy of user linking in cross‐media sparse data. Different from the traditional way which just calculates the similarity of accounts, we take full account of the mutual influence among multiple accounts by regarding different networks as bilateral (multilateral) market and user linking as a stable matching problem in such a market. Based on the combination of Game‐Theoretic Machine Learning and Pairwise, a novel user linking method has been proposed. The experiment shows that our method has a 21.6% improvement in accuracy compared with the traditional linking method and a further increase of about 7.8% after adding the prior knowledge.
Submicroscopic and Asymptomatic Congenital Infection byPlasmodium vivaxorP. falciparumin Colombia: 37 Cases with Placental Histopathology and Cytokine Profile in Maternal and Placental Blood
Authors: Agudelo-García Olga María , Arango-Flórez Eliana María , Carmona-Fonseca Jaime
Published: March 2017

Problem. Congenital plasmodial infection (CPI) is a rare event, which has been little studied in Colombia.Objective. To measure the frequency of CPI and to describe the immune and histological characteristics in maternal blood and placentas when CPI occurs.Methodology. A cross-sectional study was carried out in northwest Colombia. A sample size of 39 unit analysis (a unit of analysis corresponds to the cord, placenta, and peripheral blood of a pregnant woman) was calculated using epidemiological and statistical parameters. Thick blood smear (TBS) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used as diagnostic tests.Results and Conclusions. A total of 137 parturient women were studied. All cases of CPI were submicroscopic (TBS negative and qPCR positive) and asymptomatic infections. If the definition of CPI considers only detection of parasites in umbilical cord blood, regardless of what was found in peripheral or placental blood, the frequency of CPI was 27%. However, if that definition is stricter and includes simultaneous detection of parasites in maternal or placental blood with the same species, the frequency of CPI in this study was 13%.
Motor Imagery Impairment in Postacute Stroke Patients
Authors: Braun Niclas , Kranczioch Cornelia , Liepert Joachim , Dettmers Christian , Zich Catharina , Büsching Imke , Debener Stefan
Published: March 2017

Not much is known about how well stroke patients are able to perform motor imagery (MI) and which MI abilities are preserved after stroke. We therefore applied three different MI tasks (one mental chronometry task, one mental rotation task, and one EEG-based neurofeedback task) to a sample of postacute stroke patients (n=20) and age-matched healthy controls (n=20) for addressing the following questions: First, which of the MI tasks indicate impairment in stroke patients and are impairments restricted to the paretic side? Second, is there a relationship between MI impairment and sensory loss or paresis severity? And third, do the results of the different MI tasks converge? Significant differences between the stroke and control groups were found in all three MI tasks. However, only the mental chronometry task and EEG analysis revealed paresis side-specific effects. Moreover, sensitivity loss contributed to a performance drop in the mental rotation task. The findings indicate that although MI abilities may be impaired after stroke, most patients retain their ability for MI EEG-based neurofeedback. Interestingly, performance in the different MI measures did not strongly correlate, neither in stroke patients nor in healthy controls. We conclude that one MI measure is not sufficient to fully assess an individual’s MI abilities.
Strategic Control of 60 GHz Millimeter-Wave High-Speed Wireless Links for Distributed Virtual Reality Platforms
Authors: Kim Joongheon , Lee Jae-Jin , Lee Woojoo
Published: March 2017

This paper discusses the stochastic and strategic control of 60 GHz millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless transmission for distributed and mobile virtual reality (VR) applications. In VR scenarios, establishing wireless connection between VR data-center (called VR server (VRS)) and head-mounted VR device (called VRD) allows various mobile services. Consequently, utilizing wireless technologies is obviously beneficial in VR applications. In order to transmit massive VR data, the 60 GHz mmWave wireless technology is considered in this research. However, transmitting the maximum amount of data introduces maximum power consumption in transceivers. Therefore, this paper proposes a dynamic/adaptive algorithm that can control the power allocation in the 60 GHz mmWave transceivers. The proposed algorithm dynamically controls the power allocation in order to achieve time-average energy-efficiency for VR data transmission over 60 GHz mmWave channels while preserving queue stabilization. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm presents desired performance.
The Combination of Computational and Biosensing Technologies for Selecting Aptamer against Prostate Specific Antigen
Authors: Hsieh Pi-Chou , Lin Hui-Ting , Chen Wen-Yih , Tsai Jeffrey J. P. , Hu Wen-Pin
Published: March 2017

Herein, we report a method of combining bioinformatics and biosensing technologies to select aptamers against prostate specific antigen (PSA). The main objective of this study is to select DNA aptamers with higher binding affinity for PSA by using the proposed method. Based on the five known sequences of PSA-binding aptamers, we adopted the functions of reproduction and crossover in the genetic algorithm to produce next-generation sequences for the computational and experimental analysis. RNAfold web server was utilized to analyze the secondary structures, and the 3-dimensional molecular models of aptamer sequences were generated by using RNAComposer web server. ZRANK scoring function was used to rerank the docking predictions from ZDOCK. The biosensors, the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument, were used to verify the binding ability of selected aptamer for PSA. By carrying out the simulations and experiments after two generations, we obtain one aptamer that can have the highest binding affinity with PSA, which generates almost 2-fold and 3-fold greater measured signals than the responses produced by the best known DNA sequence in the QCM and SPR experiments, respectively.
Design, Simulation, and Optimization of an Irregularly Shaped Microstrip Patch Antenna for Air-to-Ground Communications
Authors: Ramirez L. A. R. , Santos J. C. A.
Published: March 2017

In this study an irregularly shaped microstrip patch antenna was designed, simulated, and optimized for air-to-ground communication (ATG) applications. The process started with the design of a rectangular patch antenna with the traditional transmission line and cavity methods, followed by a simulation with the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) in conjunction with a genetic algorithm (GA). The aim of the study was to design an efficient patch antenna. The designed antenna is resonating at 14.25 GHz with 35 dB return loss. The 10 dB bandwidth of the antenna is 3.7 GHz.
Patients Admitted to Three Spanish Intensive Care Units for Poisoning: Type of Poisoning, Mortality, and Functioning of Prognostic Scores Commonly Used
Authors: Banderas-Bravo María Esther , Arias-Verdú Maria Dolores , Macías-Guarasa Ines , Aguilar-Alonso Eduardo , Castillo-Lorente Encarnación , Pérez-Costillas Lucia , Gutierrez-Rodriguez Raquel , Quesada-García Guillermo , Rivera-Fernández Ricardo
Published: March 2017

Objectives. To evaluate the gravity and mortality of those patients admitted to the intensive care unit for poisoning. Also, the applicability and predicted capacity of prognostic scales most frequently used in ICU must be evaluated. Methods. Multicentre study between 2008 and 2013 on all patients admitted for poisoning. Results. The results are from 119 patients. The causes of poisoning were medication, 92 patients (77.3%), caustics, 11 (9.2%), and alcohol, 20 (16,8%). 78.3% attempted suicides. Mean age was 44.42 ± 13.85 years. 72.5% had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8 points. The ICU mortality was 5.9% and the hospital mortality was 6.7%. The mortality from caustic poisoning was 54.5%, and it was 1.9% for noncaustic poisoning (p<0.001). After adjusting for SAPS-3 (OR: 1.19 (1.02–1.39)) the mortality of patients who had ingested caustics was far higher than the rest (OR: 560.34 (11.64–26973.83)). There was considerable discrepancy between mortality predicted by SAPS-3 (26.8%) and observed (6.7%) (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: H=35.10; p<0.001). The APACHE-II (7,57%) and APACHE-III (8,15%) were no discrepancies. Conclusions. Admission to ICU for poisoning is rare in our country. Medication is the most frequent cause, but mortality of caustic poisoning is higher. APACHE-II and APACHE-III provide adequate predictions about mortality, while SAPS-3 tends to overestimate.
Improved Analysis for Squeezing of Newtonian Material between Two Circular Plates
Authors: Khan Omar , Qayyum Mubashir , Khan Hamid , Ali Murtaza
Published: March 2017

This article presents a scheme for the analysis of an unsteady axisymmetric flow of incompressible Newtonian material in the form of liquid squeezed between two circular plates. The scheme combines traditional perturbation technique with homotopy using an adaptation of the Laplace Transform. The proposed method is tested against other schemes such as the Regular Perturbation Method (RPM), Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM), Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM), and the fourth-order Explicit Runge-Kutta Method (ERK4). Comparison of the solutions along with absolute residual errors confirms that the proposed scheme surpasses HPM, OHAM, RPM, and ERK4 in terms of accuracy. The article also investigates the effect of Reynolds number on the velocity profile and pressure variation graphically.