bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Appendix Testis in Normal Testicular Descent: Is There a Connection?
Authors: Zvizdic Zlatan , Zivkovic Dragana , Sabanovic Jasmin , Milisic Emir
Published: April 2018

Objective. The presence of testicular appendices was prospectively evaluated in 89 boys with 96 undescended testes who underwent orchidopexy over the period of 4 years.Results. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A included 42 boys with 49 undescended testes positioned close to the internal inguinal ring, and Group B included 47 boys with 47 undescended testes close to the external inguinal ring. The incidence of appendix testis (AT) in Group A was 57.1% (28 in 49) and 78.7% (37 in 47) in Group B. The results of our study showed significantly decreased incidence of testicular appendices in undescended testes positioned close to the internal inguinal ring compared with undescended testes positioned close to the external inguinal ring (p<0.05).Conclusion. AT may play a role in normal testicular descent and the undescended testis positioned close to the external inguinal ring can be considered as a separate entity of the true congenital undescended testis.
Motor and Perceptual Recovery in Adult Patients with Mild Intellectual Disability
Authors: Cantone Mariagiovanna , Catalano Maria A. , Lanza Giuseppe , La Delfa Gaetano , Ferri Raffaele , Pennisi Manuela , Bella Rita , Pennisi Giovanni , Bramanti Alessia
Published: April 2018

Introduction. The relationship between intellectual disability (ID) and hand motor coordination and speed-accuracy, as well as the effect of aging on fine motor performance in patients with ID, has been previously investigated. However, only a few data are available on the impact of the nonpharmacological interventions in adult patients with long-term hand motor deficit.Methods. Fifty adults with mild ID were enrolled. A group of thirty patients underwent a two-month intensive ergotherapic treatment that included hand motor rehabilitation and visual-perceptual treatment (group A); twenty patients performing conventional motor rehabilitation alone (group B) served as a control group. Data on attention, perceptual abilities, hand dexterity, and functional independence were collected by a blind operator, both at entry and at the end of the study.Results. After the interventions, group A showed significantly better performance than group B in all measures related to hand movement from both sides and to independence in activities of daily living.Discussion. Multimodal integrated interventions targeting visual-perceptual abilities and motor skills are an effective neurorehabilitative approach in adult patients with mild ID. Motor learning and memory-mediated mechanisms of neural plasticity might underlie the observed recovery, suggesting the presence of plastic adaptive changes even in the adult brain with ID.
Multivariate Method Based on Raman Spectroscopy for Quantification of Dipyrone in Oral Solutions
Authors: Guimarães Luciana Lopes , Moreira Letícia Parada , Lourenço Bárbara Faria , Toma Walber , Zângaro Renato Amaro , Pacheco Marcos Tadeu Tavares , Silveira Landulfo
Published: April 2018

This work employed a quantitative model based on Raman spectroscopy and principal component regression (RS/PCR) to quantify the active ingredient dipyrone (metamizole) in commercially available formulations as an analytical methodology for quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. Raman spectra were collected using a dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 250 mW excitation, and 20 s exposure time) coupled to a Raman probe. Solutions of dipyrone diluted in water in the range of 80 to 120% of the concentration of commercial formulations (500 mg/mL) were used to develop a calibration model based on PCR to obtain the figures of merit for class I validation from the Brazilian Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA, RE no. 899/2003). This spectral model was then used to predict the concentration of dipyrone in commercial formulations from distinct brands with 500 mg/mL. A prediction error of 6.5 mg/mL (1.3%) was found for this PCR model using the diluted samples. Commercial formulations had predicted concentrations with a difference below 5.0% compared to the label concentration, indicating the applicability of Raman spectroscopy for quality control in the final product.
Study of the Bullwhip Effect in a Multistage Supply Chain with Callback Structure considering Two Retailers
Authors: Ma Junhai , Zhu Liqing , Yuan Ye , Hou Shunqi
Published: April 2018

With the purpose of researching the bullwhip effect when there is a callback center in the supply chain system, this paper establishes a new supply chain model with callback structure, which has a material supplier, a manufacture, and two retailers. The manufacture and retailers all employ AR(1) demand processes and use order‐up‐to inventory policy when they make order decisions. Moving average forecasting method is used to measure the bullwhip effect of each retailer and manufacture. We investigate the impact of lead‐times of retailers and manufacture, forecasting precision, callback index, and marketing share on the bullwhip effect of both retailers and manufacture. Then we use the method of numerical simulation to indicate the different parameters in this supply chain. Furthermore, this paper puts forward some suggestions to help the enterprises to control the bullwhip effect in the supply chain with callback structure.
The Computational Complexity of Tissue P Systems with Evolutional Symport/Antiport Rules
Authors: Pan Linqiang , Song Bosheng , Valencia-Cabrera Luis , Pérez-Jiménez Mario J.
Published: April 2018

Tissue P systems with evolutional communication (symport/antiport) rules are computational models inspired by biochemical systems consisting of multiple individuals living and cooperating in a certain environment, where objects can be modified when moving from one region to another region. In this work, cell separation, inspired from membrane fission process, is introduced in the framework of tissue P systems with evolutional communication rules. The computational complexity of this kind of P systems is investigated. It is proved that only problems in class P can be efficiently solved by tissue P systems with cell separation with evolutional communication rules of length at most (n, 1), for each natural number n ≥ 1. In the case where that length is upper bounded by (3,2), a polynomial time solution to the SAT problem is provided, hence, assuming that P ≠ NP a new boundary between tractability and NP‐hardness on the basis of the length of evolutional communication rules is provided. Finally, a new simulator for tissue P systems with evolutional communication rules is designed and is used to check the correctness of the solution to the SAT problem.
Receding Horizon Control of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus by Using Nonlinear Programming
Authors: Khan Hamza , Tar József K. , Rudas Imre , Kovács Levente , Eigner György
Published: April 2018

Receding Horizon Controllers are one of the mostly used advanced control solutions in the industry. By utilizing their possibilities we are able to predict the possible future behavior of our system; moreover, we are able to intervene in its operation as well. In this paper we have investigated the possibilities of the design of a Receding Horizon Controller by using Nonlinear Programming. We have applied the developed solution in order to control Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The nonlinear optimization task was solved by the Generalized Reduced Gradient method. In order to investigate the performance of our solution two scenarios were examined. In the first scenario, we applied “soft” disturbance—namely, smaller amount of external carbohydrate—in order to be sure that the proposed method operates well and the solution that appeared through optimization is acceptable. In the second scenario, we have used “unfavorable” disturbance signal—a highly oscillating external excitation with cyclic peaks. We have found that the performance of the realized controller was satisfactory and it was able to keep the blood glucose level in the desired healthy range—by considering the restrictions for the usable control action.
Boron-Doped Carbon Nano-/Microballs from Orthoboric Acid-Starch: Preparation, Characterization, and Lithium Ion Storage Properties
Authors: Lu Xinhua , Chen Lin
Published: April 2018

A boron-doped carbon nano-/microballs (BC) was successfully obtained via a two-step procedure including hydrothermal reaction (180°C) and carbonization (800°C) with cheap starch and H3BO3 as the carbon and boron source. As a new kind of boron-doped carbon, BC contained 2.03 at% B-content and presented the morphology as almost perfect nano-/microballs with different sizes ranging from 500 nm to 5 μm. Besides that, due to the electron deficient boron, BC was explored as anode material and presented good lithium storage performance. At a current density of 0.2 C, the first reversible specific discharge capacity of BC electrode reached as high as 964.2 mAh g–1 and kept at 699 mAh g–1 till the 11th cycle. BC also exhibited good cycle ability with a specific capacity of 356 mAh g–1 after 79 cycles at a current density of 0.5 C. This work proved to be an effective approach for boron-doped carbon nanostructures which has potential usage for lithium storage material.
Inhibitory Effects of a Novel PPAR-γAgonist MEKT1 onPomcExpression/ACTH Secretion in AtT20 Cells
Authors: Parvin Rehana , Noro Erika , Saito-Hakoda Akiko , Shimada Hiroki , Suzuki Susumu , Shimizu Kyoko , Miyachi Hiroyuki , Yokoyama Atsushi , Sugawara Akira
Published: April 2018

Although therapeutic effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists rosiglitazone and pioglitazone against Cushing’s disease have been reported, their effects are still controversial and inconsistent. We therefore examined the effects of a novel PPAR-γagonist, MEKT1, onPomcexpression/ACTH secretion using murine corticotroph-derived AtT20 cells and compared its effects with those of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. AtT20 cells were treated with either 1 nM~10 μM MEKT1, rosiglitazone, or pioglitazone for 24 hours. Thereafter, their effects on proopiomelanocortin gene(Pomc)mRNA expression were studied by qPCR and thePomcpromoter (−703/+58) activity was demonstrated by luciferase assay.PomcmRNA expression and promoter activity were significantly inhibited by MEKT1 at 10 μM compared to rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. SiRNA-mediated PPAR-γknockdown significantly abrogated MEKT1-mediatedPomcmRNA suppression. ACTH secretion from AtT20 cells was also significantly inhibited by MEKT1. Deletion/point mutant analyses ofPomcpromoter indicated that the MEKT1-mediated suppression was mediated via NurRE, TpitRE, and NBRE at −404/-383, −316/-309, and −69/-63, respectively. Moreover, MEKT1 significantly suppressedNur77,Nurr1, andTpitmRNA expression. MEKT1 also was demonstrated to inhibit the protein-DNA interaction of Nur77/Nurr1-NurRE, Tpit-TpitRE, and Nur77-NBRE by ChIP assay. Taken together, it is suggested that MEKT1 could be a novel therapeutic medication for Cushing’s disease.
Synergistic Activity of Colistin/Fosfomycin Combination against Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in an In Vitro Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model
Authors: Wang Jin , He Ji-tong , Bai Yan , Wang Rui , Cai Yun
Published: April 2018

Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is globally recognized as one of the greatest threats to public health, and combination therapy may be the chemotherapeutic option. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of colistin/fosfomycin combination against carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae. The antibacterial effects were determined in a one-compartment in vitro pharmacokinetic model over a period of 24 h. The initial inoculum was 108 CFU/mL. Low, medium, and high Cmax values of colistin at 0.5, 2, and 5 mg/L as well as Cmax of fosfomycin at 100 mg/L were simulated in the model. Doses of both colistin and fosfomycin were given every 8 h until 24 h. For the colistin- and fosfomycin-susceptible isolate KP47, three combination regimens showed greater killing effect compared with colistin monotherapy. The greatest killing effect was observed in combination regimen containing 5 mg/L colistin. For colistin-heteroresistant and fosfomycin-susceptible isolate KP79, combination regimen containing low dose colistin (0.5 mg/L) showed no synergistic or additive effects. However, combination regimens containing 2 and 5 mg/L colistin maintained the bactericidal effect until 24 h compared with colistin monotherapy. For colistin-heteroresistant and fosfomycin-resistant isolates KP42 and KP11, bactericidal activity was barely enhanced by combination regimens. Moreover, combination regimen containing 5 mg/L colistin could only prevent the emergence of colistin-resistant subpopulation in colistin and fosfomycin-susceptible isolate. It is necessary to know the resistant patterns of the K. pneumoniae before using combination of colistin and fosfomycin in clinical practice.
Whole-Body Vibration Does Not Seem to Affect Postural Control in Healthy Active Older Women
Authors: Gomes P. S. C. , Campos M. O. , Oliveira L. F. , Mello R. G. T. , Fernandes I. A.
Published: April 2018

Objective. This study investigated the acute residual effects induced by different frequencies of whole-body vibration (WBV) on postural control of elderly women. Design. Thirty physically active elderly women (67±5 years) were randomly divided into three groups: two experimental groups (high WBV frequency: 45 Hz and 4 mm amplitude, n=10; low WBV frequency: 30 Hz and 4 mm amplitude, n=10) and one control group (n=10), with no treatment. The participants were first subjected to stabilometry tests and were then guided through three sets of isometric partial squats for 60 s while the WBV stimulation was applied. The control group was subjected to the same conditions but without the WBV stimulation. The participants were again subjected to body balance tests immediately following the end of the intervention period and again at 8, 16, and 24 min. To measure body sway control, three 60 s tests were performed at 10 s intervals for each of the following experimental conditions: (1) eyes opened and (2) eyes closed. The following variables were investigated: the average velocity of the displacement of the centre of pressure in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral planes as well as in the elliptical area. Results. A 3 (condition) × 5 (test) two-way repeated-measures ANOVA did not identify significant differences in the stabilometric variables, regardless of group, time, or experimental condition. Conclusions. The effect of WBV, regardless of the stimulation frequency, did not have a significant effect immediately after or up to 24 minutes after vibration cessation, on the variables involved in the control of postural stability in physically active elderly women.
Cache Aided Decode‐and‐Forward Relaying Networks: From the Spatial View
Authors: Xia Junjuan , Zhou Fasheng , Lai Xiazhi , Zhang Haochuan , Chen Hongbin , Yang Qinghai , Liu Xin , Zhao Junhui
Published: April 2018

We investigate cache technique from the spatial view and study its impact on the relaying networks. In particular, we consider a dual‐hop relaying network, where decode‐and‐forward (DF) relays can assist the data transmission from the source to the destination. In addition to the traditional dual‐hop relaying, we also consider the cache from the spatial view, where the source can prestore the data among the memories of the nodes around the destination. For the DF relaying networks without and with cache, we study the system performance by deriving the analytical expressions of outage probability and symbol error rate (SER). We also derive the asymptotic outage probability and SER in the high regime of transmit power, from which we find the system diversity order can be rapidly increased by using cache and the system performance can be significantly improved. Simulation and numerical results are demonstrated to verify the proposed studies and find that the system power resources can be efficiently saved by using cache technique.
Combined Failure Diagnosis of Slewing Bearings Based on MCKD‐CEEMD‐ApEn
Authors: Wang Fengtao , Liu Chenxi , Su Wensheng , Xue Zhigang , Han Qingkai , Li Hongkun
Published: April 2018

Large‐size and heavy‐load slewing bearings, which are mainly used in heavy equipment, comprise a subgroup of rolling bearings. Owing to the complexity of the structures and working conditions, it is quite challenging to effectively diagnose the combined failure and extract fault features of slewing bearings. In this study, a method was proposed to denoise and classify the combined failure of slewing bearings. First, after removing the mean, the vibration signals were denoised by maximum correlated kurtosis deconvolution. The signals were then decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD). Appropriate IMFs were selected based on the correlation coefficient and kurtosis. The approximate entropy values of the selected IMFs were regarded as the characteristic vectors and then inputted into the support vector machine (SVM) based on multiclass classification for training. The practical combined failure signals of the 3 conditions were finally recognized and classified using SVMs. The study also compared the proposed method with 5 other methods to demonstrate the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Evaluating Hepatobiliary Transport with18F-Labeled Bile Acids: The Effect of Radiolabel Position and Bile Acid Structure on Radiosynthesis andIn VitroandIn VivoPerformance
Authors: De Lombaerde Stef , Kersemans Ken , Neyt Sara , Verhoeven Jeroen , Vanhove Christian , De Vos Filip
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Anin vivodetermination of bile acid hepatobiliary transport efficiency can be of use in liver disease and preclinical drug development. Given the increased interest in bile acid Positron Emission Tomography- (PET-) imaging, a further understanding of the impact of 18-fluorine substitution on bile acid handlingin vitroandin vivocan be of significance.Methods. A number of bile acid analogues were conceived for nucleophilic substitution with [18F]fluoride: cholic acid analogues of which the 3-, 7-, or 12-OH function is substituted with a fluorine atom (3α-[18F]FCA; 7β-[18F]FCA; 12β-[18F]FCA); a glycocholic and chenodeoxycholic acid analogue, substituted on the 3-position (3β-[18F]FGCA and 3β-[18F]FCDCA, resp.). Uptake by the bile acid transporters NTCP and OATP1B1 was evaluated with competition assays in transfected CHO and HEK cell lines and efflux by BSEP in membrane vesicles. PET-scans with the tracers were performed in wild-type mice (n=3per group): hepatobiliary transport was monitored and compared to a reference tracer, namely, 3β-[18F]FCA.Results. Compounds 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA were synthesized in moderate radiochemical yields (4–10% n.d.c.) and high radiochemical purity (>99%); 7β-[18F]FCA and 12β-[18F]FCA could not be synthesized and included further in this study.In vitroevaluation showed that 3α-FCA, 3β-FGCA, and 3β-FCDCA all had a low micromolarKi-value for NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP.In vivo,3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA displayed hepatobiliary transport with varying efficiency. A slight yet significant difference in uptake and efflux rate was noticed between the 3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FCA epimers. Conjugation of 3β-[18F]FCA with glycine had no significant effectin vivo. Compound 3β-[18F]FCDCA showed a significantly slower hepatic uptake and efflux towards gallbladder and intestines.Conclusion. A set of18F labeled bile acids was synthesized that are substrates of the bile acid transportersin vitroandin vivoand can serve as PET-biomarkers for hepatobiliary transport of bile acids.
Serum S100B Levels Can Predict Computed Tomography Findings in Paediatric Patients with Mild Head Injury
Authors: Kelmendi Fatos M. , Morina Arsim A. , Mekaj Agon Y. , Blyta Afrim , Alimehmeti Ridvan , Dragusha Shefki , Ahmeti Feti , Morina Qamile , Kotori Afrim
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are very common in paediatric populations, in which they are also a leading cause of death. Computed tomography (CT) overuse in these populations results in ionization radiation exposure, which can lead to lethal malignancies. The aims of this study were to investigate the accuracy of serum S100B levels with respect to the detection of cranial injury in children with mild TBI and to determine whether decisions regarding the performance of CT can be made based on biomarker levels alone. Materials and Methods. This was a single-center prospective cohort study that was carried out from December 2016 to December 2017. A total of 80 children with mild TBI who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The patients were between 2 and 16 years of age. We determined S100B protein levels and performed head CTs in all the patients. Results. Patients with cranial injury, as detected by CT, had higher S100B protein levels than those without cranial injury (p<0.0001). We found that patients with cranial injury (head CT+) had higher mean S100B protein levels (0.527 μg L−1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.447–0.607 μg L−1) than did patients without cranial injury (head CT−) (0.145 μg L−1, 95% CI 0.138–0.152 μg L−1). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis clearly showed that S100B protein levels differed between patients with and without cranial injury at 3 hours after TBI (AUC = 0.893, 95% CI 0.786–0.987, p=0.0001). Conclusion. Serum S100B levels cannot replace clinical examinations or CT as tools for identifying paediatric patients with mild head injury; however, serum S100B levels can be used to identify low-risk patients to prevent such patients from being exposed to radiation unnecessarily.
Measurement Method of Temporal Attenuation by Human Body in Off‐the‐Shelf 60 GHz WLAN with HMM‐Based Transmission State Estimation
Authors: Koda Yusuke , Yamamoto Koji , Nishio Takayuki , Morikura Masahiro
Published: April 2018

This paper discusses a measurement method of time‐variant attenuation of IEEE 802.11ad wireless LAN signals in the 60 GHz band induced by human blockage. The IEEE 802.11ad access point (AP) transmits frames intermittently, not continuously. Thus, to obtain the time‐varying signal attenuation, it is required to estimate the duration in which the AP transmitted signals. To estimate whether the AP transmitted signals or not at each sampling point, this paper applies a simple two‐state hidden Markov model. In addition, the validity of the model is tested based on Bayesian information criterion in order to prevent model overfitting and consequent invalid results. The measurement method is validated in that the distribution of the time duration in which the signal attenuates by 5 dB is consistent with the existing statistical model and the range of the measured time duration in which the signal attenuation decreases from 5 dB to 0 dB is similar to that in the previous report.
Corticospinal and Spinal Excitabilities Are Modulated during Motor Imagery Associated with Somatosensory Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Traverse E. , Lebon F. , Martin A.
Published: April 2018

Motor imagery (MI), the mental simulation of an action, influences the cortical, corticospinal, and spinal levels, despite the lack of somatosensory afferent feedbacks. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of MI associated with somatosensory stimulation (SS) on the corticospinal and spinal excitabilities. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation to induce motor-evoked potentials (MEP) and H-reflexes, respectively, in soleus and medialis gastrocnemius (MG) muscles of the right leg. Twelve participants performed three tasks: (1) MI of submaximal plantar flexion, (2) SS at 65 Hz on the posterior tibial nerve with an intensity below the motor threshold, and (3) MI + SS. MEP and H-reflex amplitudes were recorded before, during, and after the tasks. Our results confirmed that MI increased corticospinal excitability in a time-specific manner. We found that MI+SS tended to potentiate MEP amplitude of the MG muscle compared to MI alone. We confirmed that SS decreased spinal excitability, and this decrease was partially compensated when combined with MI, especially for the MG muscle. The increase of CSE could be explained by a modulation of the spinal inhibitions induced by SS, depending on the amount of afferent feedbacks.
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study at the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital, Ghana
Authors: Osei-Yeboah James , Kye-Amoah Kenneth Kwame , Owiredu William K. B. A. , Lokpo Sylvester Yao , Esson Joseph , Bella Johnson Beatrice , Amoah Paul , Asumbasiya Aduko Romeo
Published: April 2018

Background. There is a dearth of information about the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors among the Ghanaian health workforce in the Western Region. This study sought to determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among healthcare workers at the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital in the Western Region of Ghana.Materials and Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 112 employees of the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital was conducted. The cardiometabolic risk variables assessed were obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and diabetes. Sociodemographic parameters were also captured. The prevalence of hypertension and obesity was determined using the JNC VII panel and WHO BMI criteria for obesity classifications. Blood lipids and glucose concentrations were evaluated using standard methods.Results. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was 16.07% and 52.68%, respectively. About 38.39% of participants were overweight, and 12.50% were obese. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia was 26.79%, whereas prediabetes glycaemic levels and diabetes incidence were 5.41% and 4.50%, respectively. Fifty percent (50.00%) of participants presented at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. Aging and adiposity were associated with increasing cardiometabolic risk.Conclusion. Cardiometabolic risk factors are prevalent among healthcare providers in Sefwi-Wiawso. The cardiometabolic dysregulation observed among this cohort of healthcare professionals may be modulated by age and adiposity.
Treatment of an Unusual Occurrence of a Complex Left Subclavian Artery/Left Internal Mammary Artery Bifurcation Stenosis in the Setting of Coronary Subclavian Steal Syndrome and Ischemic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction
Authors: Martinelli Michael J. , Martinelli Michael B.
Published: April 2018

This case will illustrate the clinical and unique technical challenges, not previously reported, in a patient with a history of progressive left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, congestive heart failure (CHF), myocardial infarction (MI), and a complex bifurcation lesion of the left subclavian artery (SA) involving the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in the setting of coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS). The approach to this lesion is complicated by significant LIMA involvement requiring intervention directed toward both the SA and the LIMA in the presence of severe LV systolic dysfunction. This clinical scenario necessitates a careful technique, utilizing bifurcation methods similar to those used in coronary intervention.
Improved Reduced‐Order Fault Detection Filter Design for Polytopic Uncertain Discrete‐Time Markovian Jump Systems with Time‐Varying Delays
Authors: Rong Lihong , Peng Xiuyan , Liu Liangliang , Zhang Biao
Published: April 2018

The fault detection (FD) reduced‐order filtering problem is investigated for a family of polytopic uncertain discrete‐time Markovian jump linear systems (MJLSs) with time‐varying delays. Under meeting the control precision requirements of the complex systems, the reduced‐order fault detection filter can improve the efficiency of the fault detection. Then, by the aid of the Markovian Lyapunov function and convex polyhedron techniques, some novel time‐varying delays and polytopic uncertain sufficient conditions in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) are proposed to insure the existence of the FD reduced‐order filter. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to verify the usefulness of the given method.
Development of Cellulose Acetate Microcapsules with Cyanex 923 for Phenol Removal from Aqueous Media
Authors: Pérez-Silva Irma , Ibarra Israel S. , Castañeda-Ovando A. , Galán-Vidal C. A. , Páez-Hernández Ma. Elena
Published: April 2018

Microcapsules of cellulose acetate with Cyanex 923 were prepared and used in this study for phenol removal from water and synthetic textile wastewater. The influence of several factors on the microcapsules extraction efficiency was studied, as well as characterization and phenol adsorption isotherm. Microcapsules characterization demonstrated the extractant reagent encapsulation, while in a batch mode procedure, good adsorption of phenol (ca. 5.5 × 10−3 mol Kg−1) has been reached. A slight decrease in phenol extraction percentage was obtained when synthetic textile wastewater was used (ca. 4.955 × 10−3 mol Kg−1), although a decrease in color was observed due to dye microcapsule extraction. Results indicate that this method is a promising alternative to conventional phenol removal technologies for aqueous samples of low phenol concentrations or in textile effluents.
Predictors of Rapid Cognitive Decline in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study with 12-Month Follow-Up Performed in Memory Clinics
Authors: Tchalla Achille E. , Clément Jean-Pierre , Saulnier Isabelle , Beaumatin Betty , Lachal Florent , Gayot Caroline , Bosetti Anaïs , Desormais Iléana , Perrochon Anaïck , Preux Pierre-Marie , Couratier Philippe , Dantoine Thierry
Published: April 2018

Background/Aims: Alzheimer disease (AD) is particularly devastating, with no cure, no means of prevention, and no proven way to slow progression. AD is associated with the worsening of cognitive function attributable to a variety of factors of which little is known. Our main objective was to determine factors associated with rapid cognitive decline (RCD) in older AD patients. Methods: We conducted a 12-month, prospective, multi-centre cohort study. Community-living individuals aged ≥65 years with mild-to-moderate AD were included. RCD was defined as the loss of ≥3 points/year in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Potential individual-level predictors were collected at baseline. Results: A total of 521 individuals were included. The mean age was 80.8 ± 9.0 years and 66.0% were females. The average baseline MMSE score was 20.5 ± 4.5. The incidence of RCD was 40.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.7–45.1). RCD was more common in patients with moderate (53.5%) than mild (22.3%) AD. The factors associated with RCD were: a parental history of dementia (odds ratio [OR], 2.32 [95% CI, 1.24–4.21], p = 0.011), psychotic symptoms (OR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.22–3.48], p = 0.007), malnutrition (OR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.06–2.63], p = 0.028), and the female gender (OR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.03–2.15], p = 0.036). An MMSE score < 20 at treatment onset was also associated with RCD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The factors associated with RCD were an MMSE score < 20 at treatment onset, female gender, psychotic symptoms, malnutrition, and a family history of dementia. These results may be directly relevant to patients, their families, and their physicians, enabling early anticipation of difficult clinical trajectories and poor functional outcomes.
Triplocania Roesler: a new species, redescriptions, description of the female of Triplocania spinosa Mockford, and revalidation of the original combination of Belicania cervantesi (García Aldrete) (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Ptiloneuridae)
Authors: Silva Neto Alberto Moreira da , García Aldrete Alfonso Neri , Rafael José Albertino
Published: April 2018

Triplocania umbrataoides sp. nov., from the Río Tambopata Reserved Zone, in Madre de Dios, Peru, is here described and illustrated. Triplocania magnifica Roesler and the male of Triplocania spinosa Mockford are redescribed and illustrated. The female Triplocania spinosa is here described and illustrated. The original combination of Belicania cervantesi (García Aldrete) is revalidated.
First record of the nymph of Nanomis rasmusseni Chacon, Pescador & Segnini, 2013 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Colombia
Authors: Salinas Jimenez Luis Gonzalo , Villegas Acosta Paola Andrea , Román-Valencia César
Published: April 2018

Herein, we present the first record of the nymph of Nanomis rasmusseni Chacón, Pescador & Segnini, 2013, from two biogeographic regions in Colombia. This species was originally described for the Venezuelan Andes. Both Colombian and Venezuelan populations occur at high elevations, in streams with similar altitudes. We also found that both populations can be distinguished from each other by the terga II, VII, and IX coloration, in addition to the branching pattern of the abdominal gills.
Causes and Temporal Patterns of 30‐Day Readmission Among Older Adults Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Preserved or Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Goyal Parag , Loop Matthew , Chen Ligong , Brown Todd M. , Durant Raegan W. , Safford Monika M. , Levitan Emily B.
Published: April 2018

Background

It is unknown whether causes and temporal patterns of 30‐day readmission vary between heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (
HF
p
EF
) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (
HF
r
EF
). We sought to address this question by examining a 5% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods and Results

We included individuals who experienced a hospitalization for
HF
p
EF
or
HF
r
EF
between 2007 and 2013. We identified causes of 30‐day readmission based on primary discharge diagnosis and further classified causes of readmission as
HF
‐related, non–
HF
cardiovascular‐related, and non–cardiovascular‐related. We calculated the cumulative incidence of these classifications for
HF
p
EF
and
HF
r
EF
in a competing risks model and calculated subdistribution hazard ratios of these classifications by comparing those with
HF
p
EF
and those with
HF
r
EF
. Among 60 640 Medicare beneficiaries, we identified 13 785 unique older adults hospitalized with
HF
p
EF
and 15 205 who were hospitalized with
HF
r
EF
. Noncardiovascular diagnoses represented the most common causes of 30‐day readmission (
HF
p
EF
: 59%;
HF
r
EF
: 47%), a pattern that was observed for each week of the 30‐day study period for both
HF
p
EF
and
HF
rEF participants. In comparing readmission diagnoses in an adjusted model, non–cardiovascular‐related diagnoses were more common and
HF
‐related diagnoses were less common in
HF
pEF participants.

Conclusions

Non–cardiovascular‐related diagnoses represented the most common causes of 30‐day readmission following
HF
hospitalization for each week of the 30‐day postdischarge period.
HF
diagnoses were less common among those with
HF
p
EF
compared with
HF
r
EF
. Future interventions aimed at reducing 30‐day readmissions following an
HF
hospitalization would benefit from an increased focus on noncardiovascular comorbidity and interventions that target
HF
p
EF
and
HF
r
EF
separately.
Governing International Cooperation in Criminal Matters: The Role of the aut dedere aut judicare Principle
Authors: Caligiuri Andrea
Published: April 2018

The aim of the study is to ascertain how the original Grotian formula ‘aut dedere aut punire’ has been implemented and evolved in international law. The first step is to classify the multilateral conventions that have accepted an aut dedere aut judicare clause. The goal is to bring out peculiarities of the different treaty texts, describing the relationship between the two options dedere and judicare, and the different obligations that arise for the contracting states. We will then examine the content of the two options, to define the legal boundaries within which the contracting states shall or may operate. At this point, we will focus on the legal nature of the aut dedere aut judicare principle that over time may have risen to the status of customary rule. The study will conclude with analysis of reactions to the breach of the aut dedere aut judicare clause by non-complying countries.
The Nearctic Ecclisomyia species (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)
Authors: GIVENS DONALD R.
Published: April 2018

The Nearctic species of Ecclisomyia are reviewed with new descriptions of the pupae of the four recognized species. The larvae of E. bilera Denning 1951, E. maculosa Banks 1907, and E. simulata Banks 1920 are described. A supplementary description is provided for the larva of E. conspersa Banks 1907. Genetic and morphological information is provided to support the recent restoration of E. simulata as a valid species. Keys to the males, females, pupae, and larvae are provided. Biological and distributional data are also included.
Eddy Lifetime, Number, and Diffusivity and the Suppression of Eddy Kinetic Energy in Midwinter
Authors: Schemm Sebastian , Schneider Tapio
Published: April 2018

The wintertime evolution of the North Pacific storm track appears to challenge classical theories of baroclinic instability, which predict deeper extratropical cyclones when baroclinicity is highest. Although the surface baroclinicity peaks during midwinter, and the jet is strongest, eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and baroclinic conversion rates have a midwinter minimum over the North Pacific. This study investigates how the reduction in EKE translates into a reduction in eddy potential vorticity (PV) and heat fluxes via changes in eddy diffusivity. Additionally, it augments previous observations of the midwinter storm-track evolution in both hemispheres using climatologies of tracked surface cyclones. In the North Pacific, the number of surface cyclones is highest during midwinter, while the mean EKE per cyclone and the eddy lifetime are reduced. The midwinter reduction in upper-level eddy activity hence is not associated with a reduction in surface cyclone numbers. North Pacific eddy diffusivities exhibit a midwinter reduction at upper levels, where the Lagrangian decorrelation time is shortest (consistent with reduced eddy lifetimes) and the meridional parcel velocity variance is reduced (consistent with reduced EKE). The resulting midwinter reduction in North Pacific eddy diffusivities translates into an eddy PV flux suppression. In contrast, in the North Atlantic, a milder reduction in the decorrelation time is offset by a maximum in velocity variance, preventing a midwinter diffusivity minimum. The results suggest that a focus on causes of the wintertime evolution of Lagrangian decorrelation times and parcel velocity variance will be fruitful for understanding causes of seasonal storm-track variations.
Soil Moisture–Evapotranspiration Coupling in CMIP5 Models: Relationship with Simulated Climate and Projections
Authors: Berg Alexis , Sheffield Justin
Published: April 2018

Soil moisture–atmosphere coupling is a key process underlying climate variability and change over land. The control of soil moisture (SM) on evapotranspiration (ET) is a necessary condition for soil moisture to feed back onto surface climate. Here we investigate how this control manifests itself across simulations from the CMIP5 ensemble, using correlation analysis focusing on the interannual (summertime) time scale. Analysis of CMIP5 historical simulations indicates significant model diversity in SM–ET coupling in terms of patterns and magnitude. We investigate the relationship of this spread with differences in background simulated climate. Mean precipitation is found to be an important driver of model spread in SM–ET coupling but does not explain all of the differences, presumably because of model differences in the treatment of land hydrology. Compared to observations, some land regions appear consistently biased dry and thus likely overly soil moisture–limited. Because of ET feedbacks on air temperature, differences in SM–ET coupling induce model uncertainties across the CMIP5 ensemble in mean surface temperature and variability. We explore the relationships between model uncertainties in SM–ET coupling and climate projections. In particular over mid-to-high-latitude continental regions of the Northern Hemisphere but also in parts of the tropics, models that are more soil moisture–limited in the present tend to warm more in future projections, because they project less increase in ET and (in midlatitudes) greater increase in incoming solar radiation. Soil moisture–atmosphere processes thus contribute to the relationship observed across models between summertime present-day simulated climate and future warming projections over land.
Temporal Filtering Enhances the Skewness of Sea Surface Winds
Authors: Monahan Adam H.
Published: April 2018

The component of the sea surface wind in the along-mean wind direction is known to display pronounced skewness at many locations over the ocean. A recent study by Proistosescu et al. found that the skewness of daily 850-hPa air temperature measured by radiosondes is typically reduced by bandpass filtering. This behavior was also shown to be characteristic of correlated additive–multiplicative (CAM) noise, which has been proposed as a generic model for non-Gaussian variability in the atmosphere and ocean. The present study shows that if the cutoff frequency is not too low, the skewness of the along-mean wind component is enhanced by low-pass filtering, particularly in the equatorial band and in the midlatitude storm tracks. The filter time scale beyond which skewness is systematically reduced by filtering is of the daily to synoptic scale, except in a narrow equatorial band where it is of subseasonal to seasonal time scales. This behavior is reproduced in an idealized stochastic model of the near-surface winds, in which key parameters are the characteristic time scales of the nonlinear dynamics and of the noise. These results point toward more general approaches for assessing the relative importance of multiplicative noise or dynamical nonlinearities in producing non-Gaussian structure in atmospheric and oceanic fields.
A Correction for the Thermal Mass–Induced Errors of CTD Tags Mounted on Marine Mammals
Authors: Mensah Vigan , Roquet Fabien , Siegelman-Charbit Lia , Picard Baptiste , Pauthenet Etienne , Guinet Christophe
Published: April 2018

The effect of thermal mass on the salinity estimate from conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) tags sensor mounted on marine mammals is documented, and a correction scheme is proposed to mitigate its impact. The algorithm developed here allows for a direct correction of the salinity data, rather than a correction of the sample’s conductivity and temperature. The amplitude of the thermal mass–induced error on salinity and its correction are evaluated via comparison between data from CTD tags and from Sea-Bird Scientific CTD used as a reference. Thermal mass error on salinity appears to be generally O(10−2) g kg−1, it may reach O(10−1) g kg−1, and it tends to increase together with the magnitude of the cumulated temperature gradient (THP) within the water column. The correction we propose yields an error decrease of up to ~60% if correction coefficients specific to a certain tag or environment are calculated, and up to 50% if a default value for the coefficients is provided. The correction with the default coefficients was also evaluated using over 22 000 in situ dive data from five tags deployed in the Southern Ocean and is found to yield significant and systematic improvements on the salinity data, including for profiles whose THP was weak and the error small. The correction proposed here yields substantial improvements in the density estimates, although a thermal mass–induced error in temperature measurements exists for very large THP and has yet to be corrected.
Estimating the Velocity and Transport of Western Boundary Current Systems: A Case Study of the East Australian Current near Brisbane
Authors: Zilberman N. V. , Roemmich D. H. , Gille S. T. , Gilson J.
Published: April 2018

Western boundary currents (WBCs) are highly variable narrow meandering jets, making assessment of their volume transports a complex task. The required high-resolution temporal and spatial measurements are available only at a limited number of sites. In this study a method is developed for improving estimates of the East Australian Current (EAC) mean transport and its low-frequency variability, using complementary modern datasets. The present calculation is a case study that will be extended to other subtropical WBCs. The method developed in this work will reduce uncertainties in estimates of the WBC volume transport and in the interannual mass and heat budgets of the meridional overturning circulations, improving our understanding of the response of WBCs to local and remote forcing on long time scales. High-resolution expendable bathythermograph (HR-XBT) profiles collected along a transect crossing the EAC system near Brisbane, Australia, are merged with coexisting profiles and parking-depth trajectories from Argo floats, and with altimetric sea surface height data. Using HR-XBT/Argo/altimetry data combined with Argo trajectory-based velocities at 1000 m, the 2004–15 mean poleward alongshore transport of the EAC is 19.5 ± 2.0 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) of which 2.5 ± 0.5 Sv recirculate equatorward just offshore of the EAC. These transport estimates are consistent in their mean and variability with concurrent and nearly collocated moored observations at 27°S, and with earlier moored observations along 30°S. Geostrophic transport anomalies in the EAC system, including the EAC recirculation, show a standard deviation of ±3.1 Sv at interannual time scales between 2004 and 2015.
Care: Intersections of scales, inequalities and crises
Authors: Williams Fiona
Published: April 2018

This article develops an understanding of how and why care is a central issue for personal relationships and for global sustainability and justice. Three approaches inform the synthetic analytical framework: intersectionality; the transnational political economy of care within the context of global crises of care, finance, environment and migration; and the ethics of care. The article applies these to an analysis that can account for the multidirectional dynamics of care from micro to meso to macro scales, as well as to the salient intersections of categories within each of these levels. It argues for a care-ethical approach to global social justice and sustainability that recognizes the centrality of care and interdependence to everyday life.
Sergio De Santis, un naufrago della scrittura
Authors: Perrella Silvio
Published: April 2018

Quelle di Sergio De Santis (Napoli, 1953) sono storie naufraghe e salmastre; storie di malussìa che raccontano di uno “smarrimento fra gli stretti sentieri di una vita troppo diversa da come l’avevamo immaginata”. E la malussìa è la dimensione di un io metamorfico e dai nomi cangianti – a volte professore, altre velista, altre ancora giocatore di carte… – che attraversa il suo mondo narrativo, legando tra loro echi, temi e movenze di scrittura.

Nel gruzzolo di opere sinora pubblicate – una raccolta di racconti e tre romanzi – De Santis si dimostra un naufrago della scrittura che ama giocare con la reticenza, non solo perché è consapevole della forza dell’allusività e del rapporto tra i vuoti e i pieni, ma anche perché vuole che il suo paesaggio fisico e morale sia un correlativo di una condizione umana generale. Per De Santis il Sud è soprattutto la specola attraverso la quale guardare malinconicamente al disastro del mondo, senza però lasciarsi sfuggire ogni possibilità residua e imprevista di bellezza.