bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proceedings of the Food and Drug Administration's public workshop on new red blood cell product regulatory science 2016
Authors: Vostal Jaroslav G. , Buehler Paul W. , Gelderman Monique P. , Alayash Abdu I. , Doctor Alan , Zimring James C. , Glynn Simone A. , Hess John R. , Klein Harvey , Acker Jason P. , Spinella Philip C. , D'Alessandro Angelo , Palsson Bernhard , Raife Thomas J. , Busch Michael P. , McMahon Timothy J. , Intaglietta Marcos , Swartz Harold M. , Dubick Michael A. , Cardin Sylvain , Patel Rakesh P. , Natanson Charles , Weisel John W. , Muszynski Jennifer A. , Norris Philip J. , Ness Paul M.
Published: December 2017

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a workshop on red blood cell (RBC) product regulatory science on October 6 and 7, 2016, at the Natcher Conference Center on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH; the Department of Defense; the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services; and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA. The workshop reviewed the status and scientific basis of the current regulatory framework and the available scientific tools to expand it to evaluate innovative and future RBC transfusion products. A full record of the proceedings is available on the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/NewsEvents/WorkshopsMeetingsConferences/ucm507890.htm). The contents of the summary are the authors' opinions and do not represent agency policy.
TRIBOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON PALM FATTY ACID DISTILLATE (PFAD) AS ALTERNATIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR CLUTCH APPLICATION
Authors: Salleh M. A. A. , Abdul Hamid M. K. , Che Daud Z. H. , Abu Bakar A. R. , Abu Bakar S. A.
Published: December 2017

Typically, a mineral based oil from petroleum refining has been widely used as automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in the wet clutch application. However, it has two major disadvantages: (1) It causes pollution to the environment and (2) It is a non-renewable source. Thus, Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) is explored as an alternative lubricant for the wet clutch application. In present study, tribological behaviour of PFAD is first sought using a pin on disk tribo-tester and then its behavior will be compared with the behavior obtained in the commercial ATF. It is found in the friction analysis that PFAD has good anti friction ability at low speeds. In addition, PFAD generates almost identical dynamic friction coefficients obtained in the commercial ATF at velocity of 0.4m/s to 0.9 m/s. A slight positive slope in the friction coefficient–velocity graph indicates that PFAD has tendency to have anti-shudder properties, which can improve engaging quality of the wet clutch. However, PFAD has two weaknesses; low viscosity index and less anti wear ability. Some additives should be added into PFAD so that it can give better friction level and less wear rate.
HEAT RESISTANT AND TENSILE PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES
Authors: Ahmad Norhayati , Rasman Mohd Saufi , Wan Hussin Wan Nazdah
Published: December 2017

The study focuses on E glass fiber laminate with vinyl ester resin. Two types of fiber glass are used namely chopped strand mat (CSM) and woven roving (WR). The objective of this research is to determine the thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and Modulus Young of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) prepared by vacuum bagging resin infusion process. The samples of GFRP were exposed to cooking gas fire for 5 minutes and 10 minutes for fire test. The tensile test was also conducted for the three samples and the microstructure was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) after tensile testing.  The result discovered that WR sample was better than CSM sample because CSM sample yield an average value of 0.236 W/mK for thermal conductivity and 521.6 J/KgK for specific heat capacity while WR sample give a value of 0.205 W/mK for thermal conductivity and 589.5 J/KgK for specific heat capacity. The Modulus Young of WR sample is higher (24.2 GPa) compared with CSM sample (16.1 GPa). From SEM micrograph, the failure occurred on the samples were matrix cracking and fibers separation. From the fire and tensile test conducted, the damage occurred on the samples were quite the same with the failure of the reinforcement and matrix. The findings could be used in the building construction as engineers always looking for the best material as they may have the possibilities of fire exposure and tension load as well as this is a part of the safety requirement for buildings.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PALM KERNEL OIL-COPPER OXIDE NANOLUBRICANT
Authors: A. N. Afifah, , S. Syahrullail, , M. Amirrul Amin , H. M. Faizal,
Published: December 2017

Since the last decade, vegetable oil has received tremendous attention as an alternative lubricant because of worsening state of environmental health and finite resources of mineral oil. However, the use of vegetable oil is restricted due to the poor low temperature fluidity and thermal-oxidative stability. These drawbacks can be enhanced by adding additive into the solution of vegetable oil. Thus, objective of this research is to investigate the influence of adding nanoparticle additive on tribological performance of palm kernel oil. The type of nanoparticle used throughout this study is copper oxide, which serves as anti-wear additive. Palm kernel oil (PKO), palm kernel oil-copper oxide nanoparticle (PKO-CuO), mineral oil (SAE-40), synthetic oil (SAE15W-50) are used as lubricant. Tribological properties if the used lubricants are evaluated using fourball tribotester under standard load and extreme pressure tests. Experimental results showed that the presence of nanoparticles in natural palm kernel oil improved tribological performances of friction and wear. The friction coefficient and wear scar diameter are reduced by approximately 5.0% and 3.5% respectively. The highest enhancement in friction coefficient value of ~20% was obtained under extreme pressure condition. Addition of nanoparticle also is found to improve load carrying capacity of PKO by 15%.
ANTICORROSION PERFORMANCE OF SELF-HEALING POLYMERIC COATINGS ON LOW CARBON STEEL SUBSTRATES
Authors: Ahmad Seri Muhammad Ashraff , Hamzah Esah , Ahdash Abdelsalam , Mamat Mohd Fauzi
Published: December 2017

Recently, self-healing coating is classified as one of the smart coatings which has the ability to heal or repair damage of the coating to prevent further corrosion. The aim of this study is to synthesize the self-healing coatings from polymeric material and evaluate the performance and their corrosion behavior when coated on steel substrates. The corrosion tests were performed using immersion test and salt spray test method at room temperature. The immersion test shows that self-healing coating gives lower corrosion rate compared to pure epoxy paint, with a value of 0.02 and 0.05 mm/year respectively. Also, salt spray test shows similar trend as the immersion test, which is 0.11 and 0.19 mm/year for self-healing coating and pure epoxy paint respectively. While uncoated samples without any protection corroded at 0.89 mm/year. It was also found that the damage on self-healing coating was covered with zeolite from the microcapsules indicating that the self-healing agent was successfully synthesized and could function well. In other words, self-healing coating shows better corrosion resistance compared to the pure epoxy coating on steel substrate.
REDUCTION OF DISC BRAKE SQUEAL NOISE USING CONSTRAINED LAYER DAMPERS
Authors: Arvin Rao S. , Jusoh Muhamad Anuwar , Abu Bakar Abd Rahim , Abdul Hamid Mohd Kameil , Zakaria Khidzir
Published: December 2017

Brakes squeal has remained to be one of the major NVH challenges in brake system design and development. It has been a concern for automotive industry for decade. Brake researchers have proposed many brake squeal reduction and prevention methods in order to overcome and reduce the squeal that emanates from the brake disc systems. In this paper, the effectiveness of constrained layer dampers (CLD) in reducing disc brake squeal noise was investigated. CLD isolates the brake squeal noise through shear deformations of the viscoelastic materials. Two sets of brake tests were conducted using the brake test dynamometer with the application of CLD. Two different types of CLD were used which are three-layer constrained layer damper and four-layer constrained layer damper. Squeal tests were carried out using brake noise test rig based on the global standard procedure SAE J2521. From the test, four-layer CLD configuration works more efficient than three-layer CLD configuration. CLD made up of nitrile butadiene rubber, silicone rubber and mild steel proved to be the most effective noise insulator at hydraulic pressure range of 5 bar to 30 bar and temperature range of 50oC to 200oC with a maximum noise reduction of 11.3 dBA. Thus, CLD technique was proven to be an effective method in reducing brake squeal noise.
Experimental Investigation on the Influence of Geometrical Parameters on the Frictional Heat Input and Leakage Performance of Brush Seals
Authors: Hildebrandt Manuel , Schwitzke Corina , Bauer Hans-Jörg
Published: December 2017

Because of the superior sealing characteristics compared to labyrinth seals, brush seals found an increased spread in turbomachinery in recent years. Their outstanding sealing performance results mainly from their flexibility. Thus, a very small gap between the rotor and bristle package can be obtained without running the risk of severe detrimental deterioration in case of rubbing. Rubbing between rotor and seal during operation might occur as a result of e.g., an unequal thermal expansion of the rotor and stator or a rotor elongation due to centrifugal forces or maneuver forces. Thanks to the flexible structure of the brush seal the contact forces during a rubbing event are reduced; however, the frictional heat input can still be considerable. Particularly, in aircraft engines with their thin and lightweight rotor structures, the permissible material stresses can easily be exceeded by an increased heat input and thus harm the engine's integrity. The geometry of the seal has a decisive influence on the resulting contact forces and consequently the heat input. The complex interactions between the geometric parameters of the seal and the heat input and leakage characteristics are not yet fully understood. This paper presents the investigation of the influence of the geometric parameters of a brush seal on the heat input into the rotor and the leakage behavior. Two seals with different packing densities were tested under relevant engine conditions with pressure differences ranging from 1 to 7 bar, relative surface speeds ranging from 30 to 180 m/s, and radial overlaps ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 mm. The transient temperature rise during the rub event was recorded with 24 thermocouples in close proximity to the rub contact embedded in the rotor structure. By comparing the temperature curves with the results of a thermal finite element (FE) analysis of the rotor the heat input into the rotor was calculated iteratively. It could be shown that the packing density has a decisive influence on the overall operating behavior of a brush seal. Furthermore, results for the heat flux distribution between seal and rotor are shown.
Tuning Elastic Waves in Soft Phononic Crystal Cylinders Via Large Deformation and Electromechanical Coupling
Authors: Wu Bin , Zhou Weijian , Bao Ronghao , Chen Weiqiu
Published: December 2017

Soft electroactive materials can undergo large deformation subjected to either mechanical or electrical stimulus, and hence, they can be excellent candidates for designing extremely flexible and adaptive structures and devices. This paper proposes a simple one-dimensional soft phononic crystal (PC) cylinder made of dielectric elastomer (DE) to show how large deformation and electric field can be used jointly to tune the longitudinal waves propagating in the PC. A series of soft electrodes, which are mechanically negligible, are placed periodically along the DE cylinder, and hence, the material can be regarded as uniform in the undeformed state. This is also the case for the uniformly prestretched state induced by a static axial force only. The effective periodicity of the structure is then achieved through two loading paths, i.e., by maintaining the longitudinal stretch and applying an electric voltage over any two neighboring electrodes or by holding the axial force and applying the voltage. All physical field variables for both configurations can be determined exactly based on the nonlinear theory of electroelasticity. An infinitesimal wave motion is further superimposed on the predeformed configurations, and the corresponding dispersion equations are derived analytically by invoking the linearized theory for incremental motions. Numerical examples are finally considered to show the tunability of wave propagation behavior in the soft PC cylinder. The outstanding performance regarding the band gap (BG) property of the proposed soft dielectric PC is clearly demonstrated by comparing with the conventional design adopting the hard piezoelectric material. One particular point that should be emphasized is that soft dielectric PCs are susceptible to various kinds of failure (buckling, electromechanical instability (EMI), electric breakdown (EB), etc.), imposing corresponding limits on the external stimuli. This has been carefully examined for the present soft PC cylinder such that the applied electric voltage is always assumed to be less than the critical voltage except for one case, in which we illustrate that the snap-through instability of the axially free PC cylinder made of a generalized Gent material may be used to efficiently trigger a sharp transition in the BGs.
A Comparative Study of Ten Different Methods on Numerical Solving of Point Reactor Neutron Kinetics Equations
Authors: Zhang Yining , Zhang Haochun , Wang Kexin
Published: December 2017

Point reactor neutron kinetics equations describe the time-dependent neutron density variation in a nuclear reactor core. These equations are widely applied to nuclear system numerical simulation and nuclear power plant operational control. This paper analyzes the characteristics of ten different basic or normal methods to solve the point reactor neutron kinetics equations. The accuracy after introducing different kinds of reactivity, stiffness of methods, and computational efficiency are analyzed. The calculation results show that: considering both the accuracy and stiffness, implicit Runge–Kutta method and Hermite method are more suitable for solution on these given conditions. The explicit Euler method is the fastest, while the power series method spends the most computational time.
Equivalence of Initialized Fractional Integrals and the Diffusive Model
Authors: Yuan Jian , Zhang Youan , Liu Jingmao , Shi Bao
Published: December 2017

Fractional calculus is viewed as a novel and powerful tool to describe the stress and strain relations in viscoelastic materials. Consequently, the motions of engineering structures incorporated with viscoelastic dampers can be described by fractional-order differential equations. To deal with the fractional differential equations, initialization for fractional derivatives and integrals is considered to be a fundamental and unavoidable problem. However, this issue has been an open problem for a long time and controversy persists. The initialization function approach and the infinite state approach are two effective ways in initialization for fractional derivatives and integrals. By comparing the above two methods, this technical brief presents equivalence and unification of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals and the diffusive representation. First, the equivalence is proved in zero initialization case where both of the initialization function and the distributed initial condition are zero. Then, by means of initialized fractional integration, equivalence and unification in the case of arbitrary initialization are addressed. Connections between the initialization function and the distributed initial condition are derived. Besides, the infinite dimensional distributed initial condition is determined by means of input function during historic period.
On the Weak Signal Amplification by Twice Sampling Vibrational Resonance Method in Fractional Duffing Oscillators
Authors: Yang Jin-Rong , Wu Cheng-Jin , Yang Jian-Hua , Liu Hou-Guang
Published: December 2017

In our former work developed by Yang et al. (2017, “Enhancing the Weak Signal With Arbitrary High-Frequency by Vibrational Resonance in Fractional-Order Duffing Oscillators,” ASME J. Comput. Nonlinear Dyn., 12(5), p. 051011), we put forward the rescaled vibrational resonance (VR) method in fractional duffing oscillators to amplify a weak signal with arbitrary high frequency. In the present work, we propose another method named as twice sampling VR to achieve the same goal. Although physical processes of two discussed methods are different, the results obtained by them are identical completely. Besides the two external signals excitation case, the validity of the new proposed method is also verified in the system that is excited by an amplitude modulated signal. Further, the dynamics of the system reveals that the resonance performance, i.e., the strength and the pattern, depends on the fractional order closely.
Reactivity of prehydrated electrons toward nucleobases and nucleotides in aqueous solution
Authors: Ma Jun , Wang Furong , Denisov Sergey A. , Adhikary Amitava , Mostafavi Mehran
Published: December 2017

Where does the reaction between prehydrated electrons and nucleotides lead to?
Molecular behavior of zero-dimensional perovskites
Authors: Yin Jun , Maity Partha , De Bastiani Michele , Dursun Ibrahim , Bakr Osman M. , Brédas Jean-Luc , Mohammed Omar F.
Published: December 2017

Researchers provide new insights into the formation of small polarons in zero-dimensional perovskites.
Ultrafast all-climate aluminum-graphene battery with quarter-million cycle life
Authors: Chen Hao , Xu Hanyan , Wang Siyao , Huang Tieqi , Xi Jiabin , Cai Shengying , Guo Fan , Xu Zhen , Gao Weiwei , Gao Chao
Published: December 2017

Trihigh tricontinuous graphene cathode enables a 1.1 s charge, 250,000 cycle life, wide temperature range Al-ion battery.
Potential Role for Acupuncture in the Treatment of Food Addiction and Obesity
Authors: Chen Jason Aaron , Chen Justin Albert , Lee Sanghoon , Mullin Gerard
Published: December 2017

Addressing the global obesity epidemic requires innovative approaches that are also acceptable to affected individuals. There is growing evidence suggesting that food addiction, one contributor to obesity, bears many similarities to drug and alcohol addiction, presenting a potential role for addiction-focused acupuncture as a novel treatment modality. In this perspective article, we begin by briefly reviewing the evidence linking food and drug/alcohol addiction. We then describe the development of an acupuncture-based protocol for treating opioid addiction in Hong Kong in the 1970s and discuss the evidence base for acupuncture's efficacy in treating a range of substance use disorders. Next, we describe acupuncture's proposed mechanism of action in attenuating withdrawal and promoting abstinence. Finally, we note the dearth of studies specifically examining the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating food addiction and suggest that more research should focus in this area as part of the effort to combat rising rates of obesity worldwide.
Initiative to improve the cardiogenic safety of antipsychotic medication in community mental health patients
Authors: Parks Katherine Margaret , Donnelly Fiona , Smithies Jane
Published: December 2017

Serious mental illness is reported to reduce a patient’s life expectancy by 15–20 years. This disparity is thought to be related to lifestyle factors, access to healthcare, poor health monitoring and the common use of antipsychotics, which can cause serious metabolic and cardiogenic side effects. Therefore, to reduce the risk of cardiac complications, both national and local guidance recommends annual ECG monitoring for patients on antipsychotics. Unfortunately this monitoring is not completed consistently at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, especially within community mental health teams. A small team of healthcare professionals conducted a quality improvement (QI) project from June 2015 to May 2016 with the aim of addressing this deficiency in care. A multidisciplinary approach was used to implement improvement in four key areas. Awareness of the need for monitoring, patient engagement with this process, identification of patients requiring monitoring and access to ECG equipment were all addressed as separate primary drivers for change over an 8-month period using a ‘Plan Do Study Act’ model of QI. Outcome, process and balancing measures were gathered monthly to track progress and improvement following the application of change. Compliance with annual ECG monitoring nearly doubled throughout the course of the project from 43% in June 2015 to a peak of 83% in February 2016. Improvement appeared to be sustained as the percentage of patients receiving the required monitoring remained significantly higher than baseline even after no further change interventions were being implemented (76%, 71%, 77%, March, April, May 2016). This QI project has shown that improvements can be made and has documented a recipe for how this change was achieved.
Cryptococcal meningitis in apparently immunocompetent patients: association with idiopathic CD4+ lymphopenia
Authors: Shribman Samuel , Noyce Alastair , Gnanapavan Sharmilee , Lambourne Jonathan , Harrison Thomas , Schon Frederick
Published: December 2017

We present two cases of cryptococcal meningitis in people subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic CD4+ lymphopenia. Both presented with new onset headaches without sinister features and were sent home on multiple occasions from emergency departments. Cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-negative patients poses major diagnostic and management problems; the associated mortality is 9%–27%. We suggest performing blood and cerebrospinal fluid cryptococcal antigen tests in all people with lymphocytic meningitis.
Heat-not-burn tobacco product use in Japan: its prevalence, predictors and perceived symptoms from exposure to secondhand heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol
Authors: Tabuchi Takahiro , Gallus Silvano , Shinozaki Tomohiro , Nakaya Tomoki , Kunugita Naoki , Colwell Brian
Published: December 2017

Objectives

A heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco product, IQOS, was first launched in Japan and Italy as test markets and is currently in commerce in 30 countries. Using two data sources, we examined interest in HNB tobacco (IQOS, Ploom and glo), its prevalence, predictors of its use and symptoms from exposure to secondhand HNB tobacco aerosol in Japan, where HNB tobacco has been sold since 2014.

Methods

Population interest in HNB tobacco was explored using Google search query data. Prevalence of HNB tobacco current use (ie, use in the previous 30 days) was calculated using a longitudinal internet survey of 8240 individuals (15–69 years old in 2015) followed up to 2017. Rates of perceived symptoms from exposure to exhaled aerosol of others’ HNB tobacco were also calculated.

Results

The largest internet search volume for IQOS occurred in April 2016 in the week after a popular national entertainment TV show introduced IQOS. For Ploom and glo, search volumes have remained limited since their launch. Prevalence of IQOS users increased from 0.3% in January–February 2015 to 0.6% in January–February 2016 and up to 3.6% in January–February 2017, while estimated rates of use of other HNB tobacco products remained low in 2017. Respondents who had seen the TV programme in 2016 were more likely to have used IQOS than those who had not seen it (10.3% vs 2.7%). Among never-smokers who had been exposed to secondhand HNB tobacco aerosol, nearly half reported at least one acute symptom, although these symptoms were not serious.

Conclusions

A popular TV programme triggered IQOS diffusion in Japan. Extrapolating from survey results to the general population, around 3.1 million people currently use IQOS in Japan. Tobacco control organisations and governments should closely monitor HNB tobacco and consider how to regulate it.
Effect of buffer composition on PNA–RNA hybridization studied in the microfluidic microarray chip
Authors: Chim Wilson , Sedighi Abootaleb , Brown Christopher L. , Pantophlet Ralph , Li Paul C.H.
Published: December 2017

Herein, we report that peptide nucleic acid sequences (PNAs) have been used as the probe species for detection of RNA and that a microfluidic microarray (MMA) chip is used as the platform for detection of hybridizations between immobilized PNA probes and RNA targets. The RNA targets used are derived from influenza A sequences. This paper discusses the optimization of two probe technologies used for RNA detection and investigates how the composition of the probe buffer and the content of the hybridization solution can influence the overall results. Our data show that the PNA probe is a better choice than the DNA probe when there is low salt in the probe buffer composition. Furthermore, we show that the absence of salt (NaCl) in the hybridization buffer does not hinder the detection of RNA sequences. The results provide evidence that PNA probes are superior to DNA probes in term of sensitivity and adaptability, as PNA immobilization and PNA–RNA hybridization are less affected by salt content in the reaction buffers unlike DNA probes.
An evacuation model based on co-evolutionary multi-particle swarms optimization for pedestrian–vehicle mixed traffic flow
Authors: Zong Xinlu , Wang Chunzhi , Chen Hongwei
Published: December 2017

In a large common place, a huge number of pedestrians may flood into the surrounding region and mix with the vehicles which originally existed on the roads when emergent events occur. The mutual restriction between pedestrians and vehicles as well as the mutual effect between evacuation individuals and the environment which evacuees are situated in, will have an important impact on evacuation effects. This paper presents a pedestrian–vehicle mixed evacuation model to produce optimal evacuation plans considering both evacuation time and density degree. A co-evolutionary multi-particle swarms optimization approach is proposed to simulate the evacuation process of pedestrians and vehicles separately and the interaction between these two kinds of traffic modes. The proposed model and algorithm are effective for mixed evacuation problems. An illustrating example of a study region around a large stadium has been presented. The experimental results indicate the effective performances for evacuation problems which involve complex environments and various types of traffic modes.
Parental Diabetes Behaviors and Distress Are Related to Glycemic Control in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Longitudinal Data from the DINO Study
Authors: Eilander Minke M. A. , Snoek Frank J. , Rotteveel Joost , Aanstoot Henk-Jan , Bakker-van Waarde Willie M. , Houdijk Euphemia C. A. M. , Nuboer Roos , Winterdijk Per , de Wit Maartje
Published: December 2017

Objective. To evaluate (1) the longitudinal relationship between parental well-being and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes and (2) if youth’s problem behavior, diabetes parenting behavior, and parental diabetes-distress influence this relationship. Research Design and Methods. Parents of youth 8–15 yrs (at baseline) (N=174) participating in the DINO study completed questionnaires at three time waves (1 yr interval). Using generalized estimating equations, the relationship between parental well-being (WHO-5) and youth’s HbA1c was examined. Second, relationships between WHO-5, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist (DFBC), Problem Areas In Diabetes-Parent Revised (PAID-Pr) scores, and HbA1c were analyzed. Results. Low well-being was reported by 32% of parents. No relationship was found between parents’ WHO-5 scores and youth’s HbA1c (β=−0.052, p=0.650). WHO-5 related to SDQ (β=−0.219, p<0.01), DFBC unsupportive scale (β=−0.174, p<0.01), and PAID-Pr (β=−0.666, p<0.01). Both DFBC scales (supportive β=−0.259, p=0.01; unsupportive β=0.383, p=0.017), PAID-Pr (β=0.276, p<0.01), and SDQ (β=0.424, p<0.01) related to HbA1c. Conclusions. Over time, reduced parental well-being relates to increased problem behavior in youth, unsupportive parenting, and parental distress, which negatively associate with HbA1c. More unsupportive diabetes parenting and distress relate to youth’s problem behavior.
The Application of Stem Cells from Different Tissues to Cartilage Repair
Authors: Fisher James N. , Tessaro Irene , Bertocco Tommaso , Peretti Giuseppe M. , Mangiavini Laura
Published: December 2017

The degeneration of articular cartilage represents an ongoing challenge at the clinical and basic level. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine using stem/progenitor cells have emerged as valid alternatives to classical reparative techniques. This review offers a brief introduction and overview of the field, highlighting a number of tissue sources for stem/progenitor cell populations. Emphasis is given to recent developments in both clinical and basic sciences. The relative strengths and weaknesses of each tissue type are discussed.
An Iterative Mesh Untangling Algorithm Using Edge Flip
Authors: Kim Jibum
Published: December 2017

Existing mesh untangling algorithms are unable to untangle highly tangled meshes. In this study, we address this problem by proposing an iterative mesh untangling algorithm using edge flip. Our goal is to produce meshes with no inverted elements and good element qualities when inverted elements with poor element qualities are produced during mesh generation or mesh deformation process. Our proposed algorithm is composed of three steps: first, we iteratively perform edge flip; subsequently, optimization‐based mesh untangling is conducted until all inverted elements are eliminated; finally, we perform mesh smoothing for generating high‐quality meshes. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is able to successfully generate high‐quality meshes with no inverted elements for highly tangled meshes.
Psychological Distress in Patients with Symptomatic Vitreous Floaters
Authors: Kim Yong-Kyu , Moon Su Young , Yim Kyung Mi , Seong Su Jeong , Hwang Jae Yeon , Park Sung Pyo
Published: December 2017

Purpose. To evaluate the degree of psychological distress in symptomatic vitreous floater patients and to evaluate whether these psychological factors are associated with the severity of discomfort associated with vitreous floaters. Methods. We recruited 61 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters and 34 controls. The degree of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was evaluated using optical coherence tomography. We measured the level of depression, perceived stress, state, and trait anxiety and the degree of floater-associated discomfort with self-administered questionnaire. We compared psychological parameters between floater patients and control. We also compared clinical and psychological characteristics among different floater-associated discomfort severity groups. Results. Symptomatic vitreous floater patients showed higher rate of complete PVD and higher psychological distress compared to the control. On multiple logistic regression analysis, complete PVD (p=0.001), depression (p=0.001), and younger age (p=0.037) were significantly associated with symptomatic floaters. There were no significant differences in complete PVD rate among different discomfort groups, while severe discomfort group showed higher depression, perceived stress, and state and trait anxiety compared to the other two milder symptom groups. Conclusions. Symptomatic vitreous floater patients showed substantial level of psychological distress, and the severity of floater symptoms was significantly associated with psychological distress.
A Case of Macrolide-Refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Pregnancy Treated with Garenoxacin
Authors: Matsuda Yoko , Chigusa Yoshitsugu , Kondoh Eiji , Ito Isao , Ueda Yusuke , Mandai Masaki
Published: December 2017

Pneumonia in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes, and intensive treatment with appropriate antibiotics is essential. However, cases caused by pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics suitable for the developing foetus are challenging. We herein report a case of macrolide-refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in pregnancy. A 40-year-old multigravida with twin pregnancy complained of cough and fever at 13 weeks of gestation and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Even though empiric treatment with ceftriaxone and oral azithromycin was started, her condition deteriorated rapidly. The findings of chest computed tomography suggested Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Since azithromycin did not work, this strain was considered to be macrolide-refractory. Garenoxacin, an oral quinolone, was selected and was dramatically effective. The use of quinolone could be justified with the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial/atypical pneumonia and in the maternal life-threatening condition.
Mental Task Classification Scheme Utilizing Correlation Coefficient Extracted from Interchannel Intrinsic Mode Function
Authors: Rahman Md. Mostafizur , Fattah Shaikh Anowarul
Published: December 2017

In view of recent increase of brain computer interface (BCI) based applications, the importance of efficient classification of various mental tasks has increased prodigiously nowadays. In order to obtain effective classification, efficient feature extraction scheme is necessary, for which, in the proposed method, the interchannel relationship among electroencephalogram (EEG) data is utilized. It is expected that the correlation obtained from different combination of channels will be different for different mental tasks, which can be exploited to extract distinctive feature. The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) technique is employed on a test EEG signal obtained from a channel, which provides a number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and correlation coefficient is extracted from interchannel IMF data. Simultaneously, different statistical features are also obtained from each IMF. Finally, the feature matrix is formed utilizing interchannel correlation features and intrachannel statistical features of the selected IMFs of EEG signal. Different kernels of the support vector machine (SVM) classifier are used to carry out the classification task. An EEG dataset containing ten different combinations of five different mental tasks is utilized to demonstrate the classification performance and a very high level of accuracy is achieved by the proposed scheme compared to existing methods.
Greening Software Requirements Change Management Strategy Based on Nash Equilibrium
Authors: Tong Zhixiang , Su Xiaohong , Cen Longzhu , Wang Tiantian
Published: December 2017

Recently, green computing has become more and more important in software engineering (SE), which can be achieved by effectively recycling the software system and utilizing the computing resources. However, the requirement change may lead to unnecessary labor and time cost. Moreover, it may also result in the waste of hardware and computing resources once unreasonable requirements are realized. Thus, to perform green computing in SE, it is necessary to propose effective strategies to manage the requirement change. For this decision-making problem, game theoretical methods can be feasible solutions. In this paper, we propose a novel requirement change management approach based on game theory. Specifically, we model the problem as a game between the stakeholders and the developer and devise the payoff matrix between different strategies of the players. We then propose a Nash equilibrium-based game theoretical algorithm to manage requirement change. The evaluation results show that, compared to the exhaustive algorithm, our method not only can achieve almost the same optimal results but also can significantly reduce the computational time complexity. Thus, our method is feasible for a lot of requirement changes and can facilitate the green computing targets from the perspective of software engineering.
Multimodality Imaging Assessment of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome
Authors: Wang Hui , Wang Yanling , Li Hongyang
Published: December 2017

Objectives. To assess the underlying mechanisms of OIS and confirm the haemodynamic and retinal structure changes of early OIS. Methods. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted of 60 internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis patients, and they were divided into OIS and control group. Colour doppler imaging, optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed. Results. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis differs significantly between the two groups. More OIS patients had new collateral patency of posterior communicating artery (PCoA) and retrograde flow via the ophthalmic artery (OA) (p<0.001). The peak systolic velocity (PSV) in central retinal artery (CRA) and choroidal thickness (CT) was significantly reduced in OIS patients (p=0.001 and p<0.001). The arm-retina time (ART) and the retinal arteriovenous passage time (AVP) were prolonged in OIS patients (p<0.001 and p=0.001). CT, ART, and PSV of the CRA showed high sensitivity, while ART and ICA stenosis grade showed high specificity for the diagnosis of OIS according to ROC curve. Conclusions. Patients who suffered from severe ipsilateral ICA stenosis, new collateral patency of PCoAs, and MCA stenosis may be more susceptible to OIS. The most sensitive sign is PSV of CRA and CT, and the most specific sign is ART.
Joint Design of Massive MIMO Precoder and Security Scheme for Multiuser Scenarios under Reciprocal Channel Conditions
Authors: Anjos Gustavo , Castanheira Daniel , Silva Adão , Gameiro Atílio , Gomes Marco , Vilela João
Published: December 2017

The exploration of the physical layer characteristics of the wireless channel is currently the object of intensive research in order to develop advanced secrecy schemes that can protect information against eavesdropping attacks. Following this line of work, in this manuscript we consider a massive MIMO system and jointly design the channel precoder and security scheme. By doing that we ensure that the precoding operation does not reduce the degree of secrecy provided by the security scheme. The fundamental working principle of the proposed technique is to apply selective random rotations in the transmitted signal at the antenna level in order to achieve a compromise between legitimate and eavesdropper channel capacities. These rotations use the phase of the reciprocal wireless channel as a common random source between the transmitter and the intended receiver. To assess the security performance, the proposed joint scheme is compared with a recently proposed approach for massive MIMO systems. The results show that, with the proposed joint design, the number of antenna elements does not influence the eavesdropper channel capacity, which is proved to be equal to zero, in contrast to previous approaches.
Trust on the Ratee: A Trust Management System for Social Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Gai Fangyu , Zhang Jiexin , Zhu Peidong , Jiang Xinwen
Published: December 2017

The integration of social networking concepts with Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has led to the novel paradigm “Social Internet of Vehicles (SIoV),” which enables vehicles to establish social relationships autonomously to improve traffic conditions and service discovery. There is a growing requirement for effective trust management in the SIoV, considering the critical consequences of acting on misleading information spread by malicious nodes. However, most existing trust models are rater-based, where the reputation information of each node is stored in other nodes it has interacted with. This is not suitable for vehicular environment due to the ephemeral nature of the network. To fill this gap, we propose a Ratee-based Trust Management (RTM) system, where each node stores its own reputation information rated by others during past transactions, and a credible CA server is introduced to ensure the integrality and the undeniability of the trust information. RTM is built based on the concept of SIoV, so that the relationships established between nodes can be used to increase the accuracy of the trustworthiness. Experimental results demonstrate that our scheme achieves faster information propagation and higher transaction success rate than the rater-based method, and the time cost when calculating trustworthiness can meet the demand of vehicular networks.
Profound Sinoatrial Arrest Associated with Ibrutinib
Authors: Mathur Kanupriya , Saini Aditya , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Shepard Richard K.
Published: December 2017

Background. Ibrutinib is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor approved for second-line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Ibrutinib use has been linked to increased incidence of atrial fibrillation and hypertension in multiple studies. Other forms of cardiac toxicities have also been reported in isolated case reports. Bradycardia and asystole have not been associated with ibrutinib use in the past. Case Report. We present a case of a 76-year-old female with no prior cardiac history, who initiated treatment with ibrutinib for relapsing mantle cell lymphoma and was noted to have symptomatic bradycardia, greater than 20 second long pauses on her cardiac monitor requiring placement of a permanent pacemaker. Conclusion. This is the first case associating bradycardia and asystole with tyrosine kinase inhibitor use. Irreversible inhibition of certain cardioprotective tyrosine kinases has been a growing topic of research in oncology therapeutics.
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined with Robotic Rehabilitation Improves Upper Limb Function after Stroke
Authors: Capone Fioravante , Miccinilli Sandra , Pellegrino Giovanni , Zollo Loredana , Simonetti Davide , Bressi Federica , Florio Lucia , Ranieri Federico , Falato Emma , Di Santo Alessandro , Pepe Alessio , Guglielmelli Eugenio , Sterzi Silvia , Di Lazzaro Vincenzo
Published: December 2017

The efficacy of standard rehabilitative therapy for improving upper limb functions after stroke is limited; thus, alternative strategies are needed. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation is a promising approach, but the invasiveness of this technique limits its clinical application. Recently, a noninvasive method to stimulate vagus nerve has been developed. The aim of the present study was to explore whether noninvasive VNS combined with robotic rehabilitation can enhance upper limb functionality in chronic stroke. Safety and efficacy of this combination have been assessed within a proof-of-principle, double-blind, semirandomized, sham-controlled trial. Fourteen patients with either ischemic or haemorrhagic chronic stroke were randomized to robot-assisted therapy associated with real or sham VNS, delivered for 10 working days. Efficacy was evaluated by change in upper extremity Fugl–Meyer score. After intervention, there were no adverse events and Fugl–Meyer scores were significantly better in the real group compared to the sham group. Our pilot study confirms that VNS is feasible in stroke patients and can produce a slight clinical improvement in association to robotic rehabilitation. Compared to traditional stimulation, noninvasive VNS seems to be safer and more tolerable. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this innovative approach.
Marshaling the Translational Potential ofMC1Rfor Precision Risk Assessment of Melanoma
Authors: Kanetsky Peter A. , Hay Jennifer L.
Published: December 2017

Melanoma rates have been increasing in the United States, and neither primary (sun protection and avoidance) nor secondary (skin examination) prevention is practiced consistently, even by those with melanoma risk factors. Inherited variation at MC1R is a robust marker for increased risk of melanoma, even among individuals with “sun-resistant” phenotypes. Although MC1R conveys important information about inherited melanoma risk for a broad spectrum of individuals, concerns that MC1R feedback could have negative consequences, including increased distress about melanoma, inappropriate use of health services, and development of a false sense of security, are valid and require empirical examination. The time is right for high-quality research focusing on the translation of MC1R genotype into clinical and public health practice. If studies show MC1R genetic risk screening is effective at motivating behavior change, more melanomas may be detected at earliest stages for which surgical excision is highly curative or a large number of melanomas may be prevented altogether. While other genetic markers for melanoma susceptibility may emerge in the coming years, the burgeoning research agenda on the public health translational potential of MC1R genetic risk screening will inform and usefully advance current and future precision risk assessment of melanoma. Cancer Prev Res; 11(3); 121–4. ©2017 AACR.
Hemodynamics of Fontan Failure
Authors: Egbe Alexander C. , Connolly Heidi M. , Miranda William R. , Ammash Naser M. , Hagler Donald J. , Veldtman Gruschen R. , Borlaug Barry A.
Published: December 2017

Background

Nonpulsatile pulmonary blood flow in Fontan circulation results in pulmonary vascular disease, but the potential relationships between pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) and Fontan failure have not been studied. The objective was to determine whether the absence of subpulmonary ventricle in the Fontan circulation would make patients more vulnerable to even low-level elevations in PVRI, and when coupled with low cardiac index, this would identify patients at increased risk of Fontan failure.

Methods and Results

Two hundred sixty-one adult Fontan patients underwent cardiac catheterization; age 26±3 years, men 146 (56%), atriopulmonary Fontan 144 (55%). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with high PVRI (>2 WU·m
2
) and low cardiac index <2.5 L min
−1
m
−2
(group 1, n=70, 30%), and those with normal PVRI and normal cardiac index (group 2, n=182, 70%). Fontan failure was defined by the composite of all-cause mortality, listing for heart transplantation, or initiation of palliative care. There were 68 (26%) cases of Fontan failure during a mean follow-up of 8.6±2.4 years. When compared with group 2, freedom from Fontan failure was significantly lower in group 1: 66% versus 89% at 5 years. The combination of high PVRI and low cardiac index was an independent risk factor for Fontan failure (hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.85).

Conclusions

When coupled with low cardiac index, even mild elevations in PVRI identify patients at high risk of Fontan failure. This suggests that pulmonary vascular disease is a key mechanism underlying Fontan failure and supports further studies to understand the pathophysiology and target treatments to pulmonary vascular tone in this population.