bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information Processing and Security Analysis of Shared System Resource Based Architectures
Authors: Anjaria Kushal , Mishra Arun
Published: September 2018

Background: Nowadays, service-oriented architectures and cloud-based infrastructures are widely used in manufacturing industries and IT organizations. These architectures and infrastructures are based on shared system resources. In some organizations, system resources like a printer, photocopy machines, and scanners are also shared among the members of the organization. The purpose of the proposed work is to model various types of shared system resources, shared system resources based architecture/infrastructure and analyze the model to identify the possible security risk associated with shared system resources and shared system resources based architecture/infrastructure.

Design Approach: To model shared system resources and shared system resources based architecture/Infrastructure, Petri net and its variations are used. For security analysis of the Petri net based model of the shared system resource, Petri net algebra based concepts are applied.

Results: The present paper successfully demonstrates that the proposed Petri net based modeling approach can be used for quantitative and qualitative security analysis of shared system resources and shared system resources based architecture/infrastructure. For quantitative analysis of security risk associated with shared system resources, information theoretic concepts are used. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, case studies are also incorporated in the present paper. The proposed approach can take various security risk factors like timing analysis attack, information leakage due to confidentiality policy violation and power analysis attack into the consideration while analyzing the security of shared system resources in the industrial environment.
A Coupled Discrete–Finite Element Method for the Ice-Induced Vibrations of a Conical Jacket Platform with a GPU-Based Parallel Algorithm
Authors: Ji Shunying , Wang Shuailin
Published: September 2018

Flowing ice draws special attention due to the dynamic response of jacket platforms. In this study, a coupled discrete element method (DEM) and finite element method (FEM) are developed to analyze the interaction between sea ice and conical jacket platforms to determine the ice-induced vibrations (IIVs) of the structure. To model the ice cover and to investigate ice loads, a DEM with bond-breaking spherical elements is adopted. Meanwhile, the FEM (with a beam element) is applied to model the IIVs of the jacket platform. An efficient transmission scheme between the bond-breaking spherical elements and the beam element is proposed. The graphics processing unit-based parallel algorithm is developed to improve the computational efficiency. The simulated ice loads are verified by comparing them with the full-scale data and different ice load functions. The simulated IIV accelerations of the JZ20-2 MUQ conical platform in the Bohai Sea (China) are consistent with the full-scale data under various ice conditions (e.g., velocity and thickness). The numerical results show that the IIV acceleration increases linearly with the ice velocity and the square of the ice thickness.
WHAT IMPACT DOES INFLATION TARGETING HAVE ON THE REAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPING AND EMERGING COUNTRIES?
Authors: DIVINO JOSE ANGELO
Published: October 2018

The inflation targeting (IT) regime has been adopted by several countries around the world. Despite the growing empirical literature, it is not clear whether developing and emerging countries can improve economic performance by adopting IT. We investigate how far macroeconomic policies anchored on IT impact on unemployment, economic growth, and output gap. The results show that IT causes no harm to the real economy of developing and emerging countries. On the contrary, it might reduce average unemployment and output gap. Thus, there is no apparent reason to condemn developing and emerging countries for adopting the IT regime.
CONCERNING THE SEIZURE OF COLLATERAL IN COLLATERALIZED LOAN MARKETS
Authors: MENEZES ADRIANO CAMPOS , ORRILLO JAIME
Published: October 2018

This paper deals with the frictions which arise in the transfer of collateral from borrowers to lenders in case of default in collateralized loans. We propose a simple model of collateralized loans in which the sale of assets (borrowing) is tied to the purchase of a put option written on the collateral whose exercise price is the value of debt made by the borrower who is the holder of the put. Thus, lenders protect themselves against the possibility of not being able to seize the collateral in case of default. We show that this new financial mechanism does not destroy the orderly function of markets. Lastly, a remark on efficiency will be offered.
A Multivariate Regression Reconstruction of the Quasi-Global Annual Precipitation on 1-Deg Grid From 1900 To 2015
Authors: Lämmlein Lars J. , Shen Samuel S. P.
Published: September 2018

This paper presents a multivariate linear regression reconstruction for the near-global annual precipitation anomalies with 1-deg latitude–longitude resolution from 1900 to 2015. The regression’s explanatory variables are the empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs), computed from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) dataset. The data for the regression’s dependent variable are from the station dataset of the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN). The data for the explanatory variables are the EOF data at the GHCN data locations. Compared to the earlier work of reconstruction at [Formula: see text] latitude–longitude resolution, our current reconstruction has two contributions. First, the spatial resolution is reduced to [Formula: see text] latitude–longitude. The finer resolution allows the data to be more useful in applications, such as historical drought assessment for a given region. Second, the multivariate regression is directly computed from linear regression models and hence includes the intercept term, which is not a coefficient of an EOF. The intercept enables a more realistic detection of the long-term trend of the spatial average. The trend of the global average annual precipitation from 1900 to 2015 is 0.133 (mm/day)/100a for the reconstruction with an intercept, and is 0.022 (mm/day)/100a without an intercept. The latter agrees with the trends of other models. The reconstruction error is assessed by a time-varying standard deviation.
M-CLOCK
Authors: Lee Minho , Kang Dong Hyun , Eom Young Ik
Published: October 2018

Phase Change Memory (PCM) has drawn great attention as a main memory due to its attractive characteristics such as non-volatility, byte-addressability, and in-place update. However, since the capacity of PCM is not fully mature yet,
hybrid memory architecture
that consists of DRAM and PCM has been suggested as a main memory. In addition, page replacement algorithm based on
hybrid memory architecture
is actively being studied, because existing page replacement algorithms cannot be used on
hybrid memory architecture
in that they do not consider the two weaknesses of PCM: high write latency and low endurance. In this article, to mitigate the above hardware limitations of PCM, we revisit the page cache layer for the
hybrid memory architecture
and propose a novel page replacement algorithm, called M-CLOCK, to improve the performance of
hybrid memory architecture
and the lifespan of PCM. In particular, M-CLOCK aims to reduce the number of PCM writes that negatively affect the performance of
hybrid memory architecture
. Experimental results clearly show that M-CLOCK outperforms the state-of-the-art page replacement algorithms in terms of the number of PCM writes and effective memory access time by up to 98% and 9.4 times, respectively.
Interview with Shelley E. Taylor
Authors: Taylor Shelley E. , Fiske Susan T.
Published: October 2018

Shelley Taylor's autobiographical interview (conducted by Annual Review of Psychology Editor and long-time collaborator Susan Fiske) touches on some of her favorite ideas. For example, positive illusions: “The traditional textbook definition of mental health included the stipulation that people see the world accurately, and what we were suggesting is that actually, a lot of times, people don't see the world accurately. They see it with a positive spin on it.” She also discusses how to found fields (social cognition, health psychology, and social neuroscience) and the challenges of boundary crossing (from social to biological). Her practical comments describe the joy of teaching methods, running a lab, and being a solo female. The interview ends with her advice to follow your instincts about the next big idea: “Trusting your own ideas is a very important way of coming up with a research program that is novel and exciting, and that ultimately wins people over.”
Synergies in coordination: a comprehensive overview of neural, computational, and behavioral approaches
Authors: Bruton Michaela , O’Dwyer Nicholas
Published: October 2018

At face value, the term “synergy” provides a unifying concept within a fractured field that encompasses complementary neural, computational, and behavioral approaches. However, the term is not used synonymously by different researchers but has substantially different meanings depending on the research approach. With so many operational definitions for the one term, it becomes difficult to use as either a descriptive or explanatory concept, yet it remains pervasive and apparently indispensable. Here we provide a summary of different approaches that invoke synergies in a descriptive or explanatory context, summarizing progress, not within the one approach, but across the theoretical landscape. Bernstein’s framework of flexible hierarchical control may provide a unifying framework here, since it can incorporate divergent ideas about synergies. In the current motor control literature, synergy may refer to conceptually different processes that could potentially operate in parallel, across different levels within the same hierarchical control scheme. There is evidence for the concurrent existence of synergies with different features, both “hard-wired” and “soft-wired,” and task independent and task dependent. By providing a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted ideas about synergies, our goal is to move away from the compartmentalization and narrow the focus on one level and promote a broader perspective on the control and coordination of movement.
Anticipatory postural adjustments and spatial organization of motor cortex: evidence of adaptive compensations in healthy older adults
Authors: Smith Jo Armour , Fisher Beth E.
Published: October 2018

During anticipated postural perturbations induced by limb movement, the central nervous system generates anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) in the trunk and hip musculature to minimize disturbances to equilibrium. Age-related changes in functional organization of the nervous system may contribute to changes in APAs in healthy older adults. Here we examined if altered APAs of trunk/hip musculature in older adults are accompanied by changes in the representation of these muscles in motor cortex. Twelve healthy older adults, 5 with a history of falls and 7 nonfallers, were compared with 13 young adults. APAs were assessed during a mediolateral arm raise task in standing. Temporal organization of postural adjustments was quantified as latency of APAs in the contralateral external oblique, lumbar paraspinals, and gluteus medius relative to activation of the deltoid. Spatial organization was quantified as extent of synergistic coactivation between muscles. Volume and location of the muscle representations in motor cortex were mapped using transcranial magnetic stimulation. We found that older adults demonstrated significantly delayed APAs in the gluteus medius muscle. Spatial organization of the three muscles in motor cortex differed between groups, with the older adults demonstrating more lateral external oblique representation than the other two muscles. Separate comparisons of the faller and nonfaller subgroups with young adults indicated that nonfallers had the greatest delay in gluteus medius APAs and a reduced distance between the representational areas of the lumbar paraspinals and gluteus medius. This study indicates that altered spatial organization of motor cortex accompanies altered temporal organization of APA synergies in older adults.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Anticipatory postural adjustments are a critical component of postural control. Here we demonstrate that, in healthy older adults with and without a history of falls, delayed anticipatory postural adjustments in the hip musculature during mediolateral perturbations are accompanied by altered organization of trunk/hip muscle representation in motor cortex. The largest adaptations are evident in older adults with no history of falls.
Effects of bilateral priming on motor cortex function in healthy adults
Authors: Jordan Harry T. , Stinear Cathy M.
Published: October 2018

Bilateral priming is a rehabilitation adjuvant that can improve upper limb motor recovery poststroke. It uses a table-top device to couple the upper limbs together such that active flexion and extension of one wrist leads to passive movement of the opposite wrist in a mirror symmetric pattern. Bilateral priming increases corticomotor excitability (CME) in the primary motor cortex (M1) of the passively driven wrist; however, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this increase remain unclear. This study explored these mechanisms by using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the right M1 and recording motor-evoked potentials from the passively driven left extensor carpi radialis of healthy adults. Intracortical measures were recorded before and 5 and 35 min after a single 15-min session of priming. One-millisecond short-interval intracortical inhibition, long-interval intracortical inhibition, late cortical disinhibition (LCD), and intracortical facilitation were recorded with a posterior-anterior (PA) intracortical current, whereas CME and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) were recorded with both PA and anterior-posterior (AP) currents. CME with PA stimulation was also recorded ~1 h postpriming. PA CME was elevated 35 min postpriming and remained elevated ~1 h postpriming. LCD decreased, and AP SICF increased at both 5 and 35 min postpriming. However, these changes in LCD and AP SICF are unlikely to be the cause of the increased PA CME because of the differing timelines of their effects and AP and PA currents activating separate interneuron circuits. These results suggest that bilateral priming does not increase CME through alterations of the intracortical circuits investigated here.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to measure how bilateral priming modulates corticomotor excitability with posterior-anterior and anterior-posterior intracortical currents, 1-ms short-interval intracortical inhibition, late cortical disinhibition, intracortical facilitation, and short-interval intracortical facilitation. We found corticomotor excitability with a posterior-anterior current increased by 35 min until ~1 h postpriming. Short-interval intracortical facilitation with an anterior-posterior current was greater for at least 35 min postpriming. This provides further insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying bilateral priming.
Association between Visual Acuity and Retinal Layer Metrics in Diabetics with and without Macular Edema
Authors: Rangaraju LakshmiPriya , Jiang Xuejuan , McAnany J. Jason , Tan Michael R. , Wanek Justin , Blair Norman P. , Lim Jennifer I. , Shahidi Mahnaz
Published: October 2018

Purpose. Diabetes is known to cause alterations in retinal microvasculature and tissue that progressively lead to visual impairment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful for assessment of total retinal thickening due to diabetic macular edema (DME). In the current study, we determined associations between visual acuity (VA) and retinal layer thickness, reflectance, and interface disruption derived from enface OCT images in subjects with and without DME. Materials and Methods. Best corrected VA was measured and high-density OCT volume scans were acquired in 149 diabetic subjects. A previously established image segmentation method identified retinal layer interfaces and locations of visually indiscernible (disrupted) interfaces. Enface thickness maps and reflectance images of the nerve fiber layer (NFL), combined ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCLIPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), photoreceptor outer segment layer (OSL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were generated in the central macular subfield. The associations among VA and retinal layer metrics were determined by multivariate linear regressions after adjusting for covariates (age, sex, race, HbA1c, diabetes type, and duration) and correcting for multiple comparisons. Results. In DME subjects, increased GCLIPL and OPL thickness and decreased OSL thickness were associated with reduced VA. Furthermore, increased NFL reflectance and decreased OSL reflectance were associated with reduced VA. Additionally, increased areas of INL and ONL interface disruptions were associated with reduced VA. In subjects without DME, increased INL thickness was associated with reduced VA, whereas in subjects without DME but with previous antivascular endothelium growth factor treatment, thickening of OPL was associated with reduced VA. Conclusions. Alterations in retinal layer thickness and reflectance metrics derived from enface OCT images were associated with reduced VA with and without presence of DME, suggestive of their potential for monitoring development, progression, and treatment of DME.
In Situ Monitoring of the Long‐Term Settlement of High‐Fill Subgrade
Authors: Jia Liang , Guo Jian , Yao Kai
Published: September 2018

Monitoring the settlement of high‐fill subgrade plays a significant role in maintaining the service quality of highways. To investigate the postconstruction settlement of high‐fill subgrade under gravity stress and vehicle loads, in situ monitoring was carried out on the Lanzhou‐Yongjing highway. Single‐point settlement meters were buried in various depths under the driveway and road shoulder. The evolution of settlement with time and space was analyzed. The results show that the settlement of the road shoulder is greater than that of the driveway; the settlement of the subgrade increases with time and tends to be stable after 1 year; the vehicle loads have no big effect on the settlement of the subgrade; the exponential model can be adopted to predict the settlement of the Lanzhou‐Yongjing highway accurately.
Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy Associated with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor and Hurthle Cell Tumor
Authors: Kim Daniel D. , Ghorayeb Ghassan
Published: September 2018

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPEE) is a chorioretinal inflammatory disease of unknown origin. Patients usually present with a rapid loss of central/paracentral vision over the course of a week in both eyes. The fundus exhibits rapid appearance of multiple deep subretinal yellow-white, flat lesions at the RPE/choriocapillaris level. This in turn causes changes of both the ellipsoid zone and RPE which can result in permanent central vision loss. The pathogenesis is controversial but is associated with a recent viral illness and can involve the central nervous system with concern for cerebral vasculitis. Rare reports of APMPEE associated with systemic vasculitis such as Wegener’s granulomatosis and malignancy such as clear cell renal carcinoma have been reported. We report a case of APMPEE with concurrent diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and Hurthle cell tumor. While such association may well be coincidental, the near simultaneous presentation raised our suspicion for potential association.
Green Tea Polyphenols and Padma Hepaten Inhibit Candida albicans Biofilm Formation
Authors: Farkash Yosi , Feldman Mark , Ginsburg Isaac , Steinberg Doron , Shalish Miriam
Published: September 2018

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most prevalent opportunistic human pathogenic fungus and can cause mucosal membrane infections and invade the blood. In the oral cavity, it can ferment dietary sugars, produce organic acids and therefore has a role in caries development. In this study, we examined whether the polyphenol rich extractions Polyphenon from green tea (PPFGT) and Padma Hepaten (PH) can inhibit the caries‐inducing properties of C. albicans. Biofilms of C. albicans were grown in the presence of PPFGT and PH. Formation of biofilms was tested spectrophotometrically after crystal violet staining. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) secretion was quantified using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Treated C. albicans morphology was demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Expression of virulence‐related genes was tested using qRT‐PCR. Development of biofilm was also tested on an orthodontic surface (Essix) to assess biofilm inhibition ability on such appliances. Both PPFGT and PH dose‐dependently inhibited biofilm formation, with no inhibition on planktonic growth. The strongest inhibition was obtained using the combination of the substances. Crystal violet staining showed a significant reduction of 45% in biofilm formation using a concentration of 2.5mg/ml PPFGT and 0.16mg/ml PH. A concentration of 1.25 mg/ml PPFGT and 0.16 mg/ml PH inhibited candidal growth by 88% and EPS secretion by 74% according to CSLM. A reduction in biofilm formation and in the transition from yeast to hyphal morphotype was observed using SEM. A strong reduction was found in the expression of hwp1, eap1, and als3 virulence associated genes. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effect of natural PPFGT polyphenolic extraction on C. albicans biofilm formation and EPS secretion, alone and together with PH. In an era of increased drug resistance, the use of phytomedicine to constrain biofilm development, without killing host cells, may pave the way to a novel therapeutic concept, especially in children as orthodontic patients.
Catastrophic Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Caused by Rare Black Fungi
Authors: Butt Khurram , Kumar Ranjeet , D’Souza Jason , Limback Joseph , Shah Rajesh , Burt Jeremy
Published: September 2018

Fungal infection of prosthetic heart valves is rare and can lead to severe complications including death. Dematiaceous mold, also known as “black fungi,” are an extremely rare cause of endocarditis that usually affect immunocompromised hosts. The infection is usually chronic and can lead to heart failure and embolic complications. These fungi have limited antifungal treatment modalities. We present a rare case of prosthetic aortic valve, root, and graft infection in an immunocompetent host that revealed itself through renal, mesenteric, and cerebral embolic phenomenon. The patient underwent removal and replacement of the aortic graft followed by small bowel resection for mesenteric infarction. Patient had a successful postoperative course and underwent a long-term antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and voriconazole.
A Stochastic Differential Game of Transboundary Pollution under Knightian Uncertainty of Stock Dynamics
Authors: Fu Chunyan , Yi Yongxi , Cheng Susu
Published: September 2018

With the robust control framework of Hansen and Sargent (2001), this paper investigates a stochastic differential game of transboundary pollution between two regions under Knightian uncertainty of stock dynamics. Both regions are assumed to play a noncooperative and a cooperative game, and the worst-case pollution accumulation processes for discrete robustness parameters are characterized. Our objective is to identify both regions’ optimal output and emission levels and analyze the effects of the Knightian uncertainty of pollution stock dynamics on both regions’ optimization behavior. We illustrate the results with some numerical examples.
Stable Isotope-Resolved Metabolomic Differences between Hormone-Responsive and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Winnike Jason H. , Stewart Delisha A. , Pathmasiri Wimal W. , McRitchie Susan L. , Sumner Susan J.
Published: September 2018

Purpose. To conduct an exploratory study to identify mechanisms that differentiate Luminal A (BT474 and MCF-7) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) breast cancer (BCa) cell lines to potentially provide novel therapeutic targets based on differences in energy utilization. Methods. Cells were cultured in media containing either [U-13C]-glucose or [U-13C]-glutamine for 48 hours. Conditioned media and cellular extracts were analyzed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Results. MCF-7 cells consumed the most glucose, producing the most lactate, demonstrating the greatest Warburg effect-associated energy utilization. BT474 cells had the highest tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) activity. The majority of energy utilization patterns in MCF-7 cells were more similar to MDA-MB-468 cells, while the patterns for BT474 cells were more similar to MDA-MB-231 cells. Compared to the Luminal A cell lines, TNBC cell lines consumed more glutamine and less glucose. BT474 and MDA-MB-468 cells produced high amounts of 13C-glycine from media [U-13C]-glucose which was integrated into glutathione, indicating de novo synthesis. Conclusions. Stable isotopic resolved metabolomics using 13C substrates provided mechanistic information about energy utilization that was difficult to interpret using 1H data alone. Overall, cell lines that have different hormone receptor status have different energy utilization requirements, even if they are classified by the same clinical BCa subtype; and these differences offer clues about optimizing treatment strategies.
Emergency versus Elective Cervical Cerclage: An Audit of Our First Two Years of Service
Authors: Vasudeva N. , Reddington C. , Bogdanska M. , De Luca L.
Published: September 2018

One of the biggest obstetric challenges is the diagnosis and management of a short cervix as cervical length has an inverse relationship with risk of preterm birth. A cervical cerclage is a surgical procedure to reduce the risk of preterm birth and can be placed in an elective or emergency setting. This is a retrospective review of cervical cerclages inserted at an outer metropolitan hospital from February 2014 to May 2017. Since the introduction of the service, a total of 43 patients were identified as requiring a cervical cerclage. Four of these patients were transferred to tertiary hospitals. Of the 39 cerclages inserted, 26 were elective and 13 were emergency, placed at a mean gestation of 15.6 and 19.6 weeks. In total, there were 35 live births, 2 stillbirths, and 2 neonatal deaths. The maternal demographics (age, gravidity, parity, and preterm risk factors) were not statistically significant between the two groups. The mean pregnancy prolongation and birthweight was greater in the elective than the emergency group (21.4 versus 14.1 weeks; 3148.2 versus 2447.2 grams). There was no obvious pattern with which patients received antibiotics pre-, intra-, or postoperatively or received a vaginal swab. This audit identified the need for improvements to guidelines to standardise the use of antibiotics and progesterone in women with a cervical cerclage.
A Parametric Study and Optimization of an Air Conditioning System for a Heat-Loaded Room
Authors: Yao Qinghe , Bai Hang , Kwan Trevor Hocksun , Kase Kiwamu
Published: September 2018

Optimization of an air conditioning system is critical in terms of the transient and steady state behavior of the air distribution along the room and the temperature of the equipment themselves. In this paper, three computational techniques, namely, the standard k-ε, RNG k-ε, and the k-ω model, are used to numerically simulate and determine the air distribution in an air-conditioned room. The simulation results for all three methods are verified via a comparison with an experiment involving a room that contains a computer server which generates up to 6 kW of heat. In doing so and by additionally performing an error analysis, it is determined that the k-ω model produces the most accurate results. The results also indicated that the direction of air supply from the air conditioners has a strong impact on the velocity field and temperature distribution along the room and on the computer server. Hence, many candidate directions of air supply options were selected for study and by conducting a performance evaluation in terms of air temperature around the server, the optimal solution was obtained.
Postpartum Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Toxic Shock Syndrome Caused by a Perineal Infection
Authors: Deguchi Yoko , Horiuchi Yuko , Shojima Kensaku , Iwahashi Naoyuki , Ikejima Miwa , Ino Kazuhiko , Furukawa Kenichi
Published: September 2018

Although toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare, multiorgan failure can occur without early identification and appropriate therapy. In particular, a few cases of postpartum TSS due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported. Here, we describe a rare case in which a 32-year-old Japanese woman had TSS due to MRSA that was caused by a perineal infection after a normal vaginal delivery. Twelve days after giving birth to a healthy child, she was readmitted to our hospital due to a 2-day fever and perineal pain without uterine tenderness. She developed emesis and watery diarrhea on the night of admission. On the second day, a diffuse cutaneous macular rash appeared over her trunk. Laboratory data revealed deteriorated renal function and thrombocytopenia. Her history and clinical results were compatible with a typical course of TSS. Administration of ceftriaxone and clindamycin was started immediately after admission and was effective. The patient recuperated steadily over the next week with desquamation of the skin. MRSA was isolated from her vaginal discharge and was found to produce TSS toxin 1 (TSST-1). Furthermore, since MRSA was not detected in the nasal and vaginal cavity during pregnancy, it suggests that vaginal colonization can also occur postpartum and be the disease source in mothers. Therefore, MRSA infections should be considered when treating for postpartum TSS.
Detection of Reinforcement Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures by Potential Mapping: Theory and Practice
Authors: Ebell Gino , Burkert Andreas , Mietz Jürgen
Published: September 2018

Electrochemical potential mapping according to guideline B3 of DGZfP (German Society for Nondestructive Testing) is a recognized technique for the localization of corroding reinforcing steels. In reinforced concrete structures the measured potentials are not necessarily directly linked to the corrosion likelihood of the reinforcing steel. The measured values may be significantly affected, different from, e.g., stress measurement, by different influences on the potential formation at the phase boundary metal/concrete itself as well as the acquisition procedure. Due to the complexity of influencing factors there is a risk that the results are misinterpreted. Therefore, in a training concept firstly the theoretical basics of the test method should be imparted. Then, frequently occurring practical situations of various influencing factors will be made accessible to the participants by a model object specially designed for this purpose. The aim is to impart profound knowledge concerning the characteristics of potential mapping for detecting corrosion of reinforcing steel in order to apply this technique in practice as reliable and economical test method.
Effective Negative Mass Nonlinear Acoustic Metamaterial with Pure Cubic Oscillator
Authors: Gao Ming , Wu Zhiqiang , Wen Zhijie
Published: September 2018

Acoustic metamaterial, which can prohibit effectively the elastic wave propagation in the bandgap frequency range, has broad application prospects in the vibration and noise reduction areas. The Lindstedt–Poincaré method was utilized to analyze the dispersion curves of nonlinear metamaterial with a pure Duffing oscillator. The first‐order perturbation solutions of acoustic and optical branches were obtained. Both the starting and cutoff frequencies of the bandgap are determined consequently. It was found that the soft/hard characteristics of pure Duffing oscillators could lead to the lower/upper movement of the starting and cutoff frequencies of the bandgap. By further researching the degraded linear system, the conclusion that actual nonlinear metamaterial bandgap region is wider than effective negative mass region is drawn and that both mass and stiffness ratio effect on the starting frequency is obtained. Effective positive mass can also lead to the vibration attenuation in bandgap. For nonlinear metamaterial, the translation effect of the external excitation amplitude on the bandgap range and the zero mass at the nonlinear bandgap cutoff frequency were discussed, and all above conclusion are identified by numerical analysis.
Immunological and Clinical Characteristics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Series from Morocco
Authors: Zian Zeineb , Maamar Mouna , Aouni Mohamed El , Barakat Amina , Naima Ghailani Nourouti  , El Aouad Rajae , Arji Naima , Bennani Mechita Mohcine
Published: September 2018

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with a high female predominance. To date, studies about SLE in Morocco are few. This retrospective study describes the clinical and immunological features in a series of 50 SLE Moroccan patients in University Hospital Center of Rabat, Morocco, between December 2011 and December 2013. All patients were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-DNA antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence, followed by identification of anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies by ELISA. The female to male ratio was 6.1:1. Mean age was 31.72 years. The main clinical manifestations were arthritis (82%), mucocutaneous manifestations (80%), renal manifestations (50%), and hematological features (46%). Of the mucocutaneous features, the highest frequencies were observed in the malar rash (68%) and photosensitivity (60%). Of the hematological features, lymphopenia was most frequently observed in 30% of patients, followed by hemolytic anemia in 16% and leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in 8%. Central nervous system was involved in 10%. ANA were found in 88%, anti-DNA antibodies in 56%, and anti-Sm antibodies in 50%. Anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Sm/RNP, and anti-Scl70 antibodies were detected in 38%, 10%, 48%, and 8%, respectively. Our data show that, in our patients, the main clinical and immunological features of SLE remain comparable to patients from other Arab countries.
Echo- and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-Guided Follow-Up versus Symptom-Guided Follow-Up: Comparison of the Outcome in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Bajraktari Gani , Pugliese Nicola Riccardo , D’Agostino Andreina , Rosa Gian Marco , Ibrahimi Pranvera , Perçuku Luan , Miccoli Mario , Galeotti Gian Giacomo , Fabiani Iacopo , Pedrinelli Roberto , Henein Michael , Dini Frank L.
Published: September 2018

Recent European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guidelines did not recommend biomarker-guided therapy in the management of heart failure (HF) patients. Combination of echo- and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be an alternative approach in guiding ambulatory HF management. Our aim was to determine whether a therapy guided by echo markers of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), lung ultrasound (LUS) assessment of B-lines, and BNP improves outcomes of HF patients. Consecutive outpatients with LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 50% have been prospectively enrolled. In Group I (n=224), follow-up was guided by echo and BNP with the goal of achieving E-wave deceleration time (EDT) ≥ 150 ms, tissue Doppler index E/e′ < 13, B-line numbers < 15, and BNP ≤ 125 pg/ml or decrease >30%; in Group II (n=293), follow-up was clinically guided, while the remaining 277 patients (Group III) did not receive any dedicated follow-up. At 60 months, survival was 88% in Group I compared to 75% in Group II and 54% in Group III (χ2 53.5; p<0.0001). Survival curves exhibited statistically significant differences using Mantel–Cox analysis. The number needed to treat to spare one death was 7.9 (Group I versus Group II) and 3.8 (Group I versus Group III). At multivariate Cox regression analyses, major predictors of all-cause mortality were follow-up E/e′ (HR: 1.05; p=0.0038) and BNP >125 pg/ml or decrease ≤30% (HR: 4.90; p=0.0054), while BNP > 125 pg/ml or decrease ≤30% and B-line numbers ≥15 were associated with the combined end point of death and HF hospitalization. Evidence-based HF treatment guided by serum biomarkers and ultrasound with the goal of reducing elevated BNP and LVFP, and resolving pulmonary congestion was associated with better clinical outcomes and can be valuable in guiding ambulatory HF management.
Numerical Simulation Study of Variable‐Mass Permeation of the Broken Rock Mass under Different Cementation Degrees
Authors: Li Chong , Yao Banghua , Ma Qingqing
Published: September 2018

In order to analyze variable‐mass permeation characteristics of broken rock mass under different cementation conditions and reveal the water inrush mechanism of geological structures containing broken rock masses like karst collapse pillars (KCPs) in the coal mine, the EDEM‐FLUENT coupling simulation system was used to implement a numerical simulation study of variable‐mass permeation of broken rock mass under different cementation conditions and time‐dependent change laws of parameters like porosity, permeability, and mass loss rate of broken rock specimens under the erosion effect were obtained. Study results show that (1) permeability change of broken rock specimens under the particle migration effect can be divided into three phases, namely, the slow‐changing seepage phase, sudden‐changing seepage phase, and steady seepage phase. (2) Specimen fillings continuously migrate and run off under the water erosion effect, porosity and permeability rapidly increase and then tend to be stable, and the mass loss rate firstly rapidly increases and then gradually decreases. (3) Cementation degree has an important effect on permeability of broken rock mass. As cementing force of the specimen is enhanced, its maximum mass loss rate, mass loss, porosity, and permeability all continuously decrease. The study approach and results not only help enhance coal mining operations safety by better understanding KCP water inrush risks. It can also be extended to other engineering applications such as backfill paste piping and tailing dam erosion.
The Application of Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Checkpoint Blockade Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Zhao Huan , Li Yuanqi , Wei Dan , Luo Hongrong
Published: September 2018

Tumor is the most serious threat to human beings. Although war against cancer has been launched over forty years, cancer treatment is still far away from being satisfactory. Immunotherapy, especially checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, is a rising star that shows a promising future. To fulfill the requirement of depleting primary tumor and inhibiting tumor metastasis and recurrence, many researchers combined checkpoint blockade immunotherapy with other treatment strategies to extend the treatment outcome. Photodynamic therapy could induce immunogenic cell death, and checkpoint blockade could further accelerate the immunity; therefore, combining these two strategies publishes many papers. Additionally, photothermal therapy and immunotherapy were also utilized for combining with checkpoint blockade, which were also reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, antibodies, siRNA, and small molecule inhibitors are developed to block the checkpoint; therefore, we categorized the papers into three sections, combination nanoparticles with checkpoint blockade antibody, combination nanoparticles with checkpoint blockade siRNA, and combination nanoparticles with small molecule checkpoint inhibitors, and related researches were summarized. In conclusion, the combination nanoparticle with checkpoint blockade cancer immunity is a promising direction that may fulfill the requirement of cancer treatment.
Unscented Particle Smoother and Its Application to Transfer Alignment of Airborne Distributed POS
Authors: Gong Xiaolin , Zheng Xiaorui , Yan Xing-Gang , Lu Zhaoxing
Published: September 2018

This paper deals with the problem of state estimation for the transfer alignment of airborne distributed position and orientation system (distributed POS). For a nonlinear system, especially with large initial attitude errors, the performance of linear estimation methods will degrade. In this paper, a nonlinear smoothing algorithm called the unscented particle smoother (UPS) is proposed and utilized in the off-line transfer alignment of airborne distributed POS. In this algorithm, the measurements are first processed by the forward unscented particle filter (UPF) and then a backward smoother is used to achieve the improved solution. The performance of this algorithm is compared with that of a similar smoother known as the unscented Rauch-Tung-Striebel smoother. The simulation results show that the UPS effectively improves the estimation accuracy and this work offers a new off-line transfer alignment approach of distributed POS for multiantenna synthetic aperture radar and other airborne earth observation tasks.
Monolluma quadrangula Protects against Oxidative Stress and Modulates LDL Receptor and Fatty Acid Synthase Gene Expression in Hypercholesterolemic Rats
Authors: Bin-Jumah May N.
Published: September 2018

Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder associated with oxidative stress. The present study investigated the protective effect of Monolluma quadrangula extract on hypercholesterolemia‐induced oxidative stress in the liver and heart of high‐cholesterol‐diet‐ (HCD‐) fed rats. The experimental animals received HCD for 10 weeks and were concurrently treated with 300 or 600 mg/kg M. quadrangula extract. HCD‐fed rats showed a significant increase in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, vLDL‐cholesterol, and cardiovascular risk indices along with decreased HDL‐cholesterol and antiatherogenic index. The M. quadrangula extract significantly improved dyslipidemia and atherogenesis in HCD‐fed rats. HCD induced a significant increase in serum transaminases, creatine kinase‐MB, and proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, HDC induced a significant increase in hepatic and cardiac lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzymes. Treatment with the M. quadrangula extract significantly alleviated liver and heart function markers, decreased proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation, and enhanced the antioxidant defenses. Also, the M. quadrangula extract significantly reduced the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and increased the expression of LDL receptor in the liver of HCD‐fed rats. In conclusion, the M. quadrangula extract has a potent antihyperlipidemic and cholesterol‐lowering effect on HCD‐fed rats. The beneficial effects of the M. quadrangula extract were mediated through the increased antioxidant defenses, decreased inflammation and lipid peroxidation, and modulated hepatic FAS and LDL receptor gene expression.
Experimental Investigation on Seepage Stability of Filling Material of Karst Collapse Pillar in Mining Engineering
Authors: Yu Bangyong , Chen Zhanqing , Wu Jiangyu
Published: September 2018

In northern China, groundwater inrush of Karst collapse pillar (KCP) often affects the coal mining process. Current studies rarely consider the seepage stability of filling materials of KCP, especially through experimental investigations. This study is to quantify the impacts of variable initial porosity and cementing strength on the seepage properties of filling material. For this purpose, we designed and fabricated a test system. This system can offer high water pressure and abundant water flow rate. We tested three types of specimens which were cemented by clay, gypsum, and cement, respectively. The seepage properties were obtained under the initial porosity of 0.11, 0.13, 0.15, and 0.17, respectively. The change mechanism of seepage properties was measured through the comparison between mass loss and mass gain. The results showed the followings findings: (1) The permeability‐time curves have two types: the first type is that permeability gradually increases up to the occurrence of seepage instability and the second type is that permeability gradually decreases and approaches to a stable value. No seepage instability is observed. (2) Initial porosity and cementing material significantly affect the water flow properties of filling material. In general, larger initial porosity has larger permeability. For clay as cementing material, seepage instability occurs soon and higher initial porosity has shorter time to reach seepage instability. For gypsum, seepage instability occurs after a period of time when initial porosity is large enough. For cement, the permeability decreases gradually and approaches to a stable value. The permeability‐time curves have rapid decrease and slow decrease. (3) The permeability has a magnitude of 10−15–10−13 m2 and varies with initial porosity and cementing materials. The permeability is the largest for clay cementing and is the smallest for cement cementing.
Deposit Mechanism Design and Corresponding Decision Strategy considering Uncertainty of Customer Behaviour
Authors: Xu Qingshan , Liu Mengjia , Huang Yu , Sun Hong , Li Xinjia
Published: September 2018

Demand response (DR) has received great concern since the significant growth in electricity consumption and peak-valley difference were witnessed recently. Based on the theory of customer psychology, an uncertainty model of customer behaviour is proposed. By converting electric power to deposit points, a novel deposit mechanism is designed in this paper, which can better deal with the special situations in China. Compared with traditional mechanism, the proposed deposit mechanism is capable of improving acceptability of DR methods in China and achieving greater mobilization of customer motivation for its more understandable rules and higher participation compensations. Furthermore, a decision strategy considering benefits of both the power company and the subscribed customers is proposed based on the uncertainty model of customer behaviour and the proposed deposit mechanism, which aims at achieving win-win situations and greater mobilization of customer motivation. The uncertainties in decision strategy are quantified by the uniform design sampling (UDS) method which is more efficient and computationally accurate than traditional Monte Carlo simulation. With the electricity data of Nanjing City, China, the superiority of proposed deposit mechanism and decision strategy are verified by numerical simulations.