bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk and adverse outcomes of fractures in patients with liver cirrhosis: two nationwide retrospective cohort studies
Authors: Chen Ta-Liang , Lin Chao-Shun , Shih Chun-Chuan , Huang Yu-Feng , Yeh Chun-Chieh , Wu Chih-Hsing , Cherng Yih-Giun , Liao Chien-Chang
Published: October 2017

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate fracture risk and post-fracture outcomes in patients with and without liver cirrhosis (LC).

Design

Retrospective cohort study and nested fracture cohort study.

Setting

This study was based on Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database that included information on: (1) 3941 patients aged 20 years and older newly diagnosed with LC between 2000 and 2003; (2) 688290 hospitalised fracture patients aged 20 years and older between 2006 and 2013.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Followed-up events of fracture from 2000 to 2008 were noted from medical claims to evaluate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of fracture associated with LC. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of adverse events after fracture were compared among patients with and without LC

Results

The incidences of fracture for people with and without LC were 29.1 and 17.2 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Compared with controls, the adjusted HR of fracture was 1.83 (95% CI 1.67 to 2.01) for patients with LC. Previous LC was associated with risks of septicaemia (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.60 to 1.96), acute renal failure (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.99), and 30-day in-hospital mortality (OR 1.61, 95 %CI 1.37 to 1.89) after fracture.

Conclusion

LC was associated with higher risk of fracture; patients with LC in particular had more complications and 30-day in-hospital mortality after fracture. Fracture prevention and attention to post-fracture adverse events are needed for these susceptible populations.
Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma
Authors: Pabreja Kavita , Gibson Peter , Lochrin Alyssa J , Wood Lisa , Baines Katherine J , Simpson Jodie L
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Sputum colour is associated with neutrophilic inflammation in chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Neutrophilia and sputum expectoration is notable in asthma, but whether sputum colour is associated with and predicts the presence of neutrophilic inflammation in asthma is unknown. The objective of the study is to assess the ability of sputum colour in distinguishing asthma inflammatory phenotypes.

Methods

Induced sputum samples collected from 271 adults with stable asthma were retrospectively assessed. Sputum colour was determined using the BronkoTest sputum colour chart and correlated to differential cell counts and CXCL-8 concentration. Neutrophilic inflammation was defined as an age-corrected sputum neutrophil proportion (≥61.6% for age 20–40 years; ≥63.2% for age 40–60 and ≥67.2% for age >60 years), whereas neutrophilic bronchitis (NB) was defined as high total cell count (≥5.1×106 cells/mL) plus an increased age-corrected neutrophil proportion. The optimal cut-off for sputum colour to predict neutrophilic inflammation and NB was determined using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis.

Results

A sputum colour score of ≥3 represented and predicted neutrophilic inflammation with modest accuracy (area under the curve (AUC)=0.64; p<0.001, specificity=78.4%, sensitivity=49.2%). Participants with a sputum colour score of ≥3 had significantly (p<0.05) higher CXCL-8, total cells and neutrophil number and proportion. Sputum colour score was also positively correlated with these factors. Sputum colour score ≥3 predicted NB with reasonably good accuracy (AUC=0.79, p<0.001, specificity=79.3%, sensitivity=70.7%).

Conclusions

Visual gradation of sputum colour in asthma relates to high total cell count and neutrophilic inflammation. Assessment of sputum colour can identify adults with asthma who are likely to have NB without the need for sputum processing and differential cell count, which may facilitate asthma management.
Subcutaneous levetiracetam for the management of seizures at the end of life
Authors: Sutherland Anna Elizabeth , Curtin John , Bradley Victoria , Bush Olivia , Presswood Maggie , Hedges Victoria , Naessens Katrien
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To report the results of a combined case series analysis of subcutaneous levetiracetam (Keppra) for the management of seizures in palliative care patients.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review on the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam was performed, and these data were combined with a prospective observational audit of its use in terminal care undertaken in a regional palliative care network.

Results

7 papers were identified from the literature review-four case reports and three observational case series-reporting on a total of 53 cases where subcutaneous levetiracetam was administered.

We report 20 further cases of subcutaneous levetiracetam administration from a prospective observational audit. Doses ranged from 250mg to 4000 mg daily. Oral to subcutaneous conversion ratios where stated were 1:1. Levetiracetam was reported as the sole administered antiepileptic drug (AED) in eight cases, and no seizures were reported until death in five cases. Five were switched back to enteral levetiracetam. In seven cases, levetiracetam was combined with AEDs to provide seizure control at the end of life. There was one report of a sterile abscess after 25 days of continuous subcutaneous administration.

Conclusions

Combined analysis of 73 reported cases of subcutaneous levetiracetam suggests this treatment may have a role in the management of seizures at the end of life. However, randomised controlled trials are urgently needed to establish the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous levetiracetam administration. If proven to be safe and effective, subcutaneous levetiracetam offers the potential to prevent and treat seizures without causing unnecessary sedation at the end of life.
A multilevel analysis of risk and protective factors for Canadian youth injured or killed by interpersonal violence
Authors: Snider Carolyn E , Brownell Marni , Dufault Brenden , Barrett Nicole , Prior Heather , Cochrane Carla
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The study’s purpose was to determine individual-level and neighbourhood-level risk and protective factors for severe intentional injury among youth.

Methods

We conducted a multilevel case–control study using registry data to determine individual-level and neighbourhood-level social determinants associated with severe violent injury/homicide among youth from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Results

The study includes 13 206 youth, aged 12–24 years (1222 cases, 11 984 controls). Individual-level risk predictors of being a victim of violence were male sex (OR 5.72 (95% CI 4.77 to 6.86)) and First Nations (OR 2.76 (95% CI 2.32 to 3.29)). Education was inversely associated with victimisation for individuals under (OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.51)) and over (OR 0.58 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.69)) 18 years. Ever having been in protective care (OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.99)), receiving income assistance from the government (OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.51)) or ever having criminal charges (OR 4.76 (95% CI 4.08 to 5.56)) were also significant predictors of being a victim of violence. Neighbourhood-level risk factors for victimisation included low socioeconomic status (OR 1.14 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.25)) and high levels of assault (OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.10)).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a complex web of risk and protective factors among youth injured by violence. It underscores the ongoing, injurious effects of historical trauma experienced by many Canadian First Nations people. Strong victim–perpetrator overlap suggests that intersectoral policies are needed to address these issues. Our findings highlight the need to improve education and family supports.
Early life socioeconomic determinants of dietary score and pattern trajectories across six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Authors: Gasser Constantine E , Mensah Fiona K , Kerr Jessica A , Wake Melissa
Published: October 2017

Background

Social patterning of dietary-related diseases may partly be explained by population disparities in children’s diets. This study aimed to determine which early life socioeconomic factors best predict dietary trajectories across childhood.

Methods

For waves 2–6 of the Baby (B) Cohort (ages 2–3 to 10–11 years) and waves 1–6 of the Kindergarten (K) Cohort (ages 4–5 to 14–15 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we constructed trajectories of dietary scores and of empirically derived dietary patterns. Dietary scores, based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines, summed children’s consumption frequencies of seven groups of foods or drinks over the last 24 hours. Dietary patterns at each wave were derived using factor analyses of 12–16 food or drink items. Using multinomial logistic regression analyses, we examined associations of baseline single (parental education, remoteness area, parental employment, income, food security and home ownership) and composite (socioeconomic position and neighbourhood disadvantage) factors with adherence to dietary trajectories.

Results

All dietary trajectory outcomes across both cohorts showed profound gradients by composite socioeconomic position but not by neighbourhood disadvantage. For example, odds for children in the lowest relative to highest socioeconomic position quintile being in the ‘never healthy’ relative to the ‘always healthy’ score trajectory were OR=16.40, 95% CI 9.40 to 28.61 (B Cohort). Among the single variables, only parental education consistently predicted dietary trajectories.

Conclusion

Child dietary trajectories vary profoundly by family socioeconomic position. If causal, reducing dietary inequities may require researching underlying pathways, tackling socioeconomic inequities and targeting health promoting interventions to less educated families.
Against lifetime QALY prioritarianism
Authors: Herlitz Anders
Published: October 2017

Lifetime quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) prioritarianism has recently been defended as a reasonable specification of the prioritarian view that benefits to the worse off should be given priority in health-related priority setting. This paper argues against this view with reference to how it relies on implausible assumptions. By referring to lifetime QALY as the basis for judgments about who is worse off lifetime QALY prioritarianism relies on assumptions of strict additivity, atomism and intertemporal separability of sublifetime attributes. These assumptions entail that a health state at some period in time contributes with the same amount to how well off someone is regardless of intrapersonal and interpersonal distributions of health states. The paper argues that this is implausible and that prioritarians should take both intrapersonal and interpersonal distributions of goods into account when they establish who is worse off. They should therefore not accept that lifetime QALY is a reasonable ground for ascribing priority and reject lifetime QALY prioritarianism.
Development and validation of a clinical risk score to predict mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Wall Joshua J S , Iqbal Javaid , Andrews Michael , Teare Dawn , Ghobrial Mina , Hinton Thomas , Turton Samuel , Quffa Leila , El-Omar Magdi , Fraser Douglas G , Siotia Anjan , Gunn Julian
Published: October 2017

Objective

To develop and validate a contemporary clinical risk score to predict mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Using data collected from patients undergoing PCI at the South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre, Sheffield, UK, between January 2007 and September 2013, a risk score was developed to predict mortality. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of each variable upon 30-day mortality. A backwards stepwise logistic regression model was then used to build a predictive model. The results were validated both internally and externally with data from Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK. 30-Day mortality status was determined from the UK Office of National Statistics.

Results

The development data set comprised 6522 patients from Sheffield. Five risk factors, including cardiogenic shock, procedural urgency, history of renal disease, diabetes mellitus and age, were statistically significant to predict 30-day mortality. The risk score was validated internally on a further 3290 patients from Sheffield and externally on 3230 patients from Manchester. The discrimination of the model was high in the development (C-statistic=0.82, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.85), internal (C-statistic=0.81, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.86) and external (C statistics=0.90, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.93) cohorts. There was no significant difference between observed and predicted mortality in any group.

Conclusion

This contemporary risk score reliably predicts 30-day mortality after PCI using a small number of clinical variables obtainable prior to the procedure, without knowledge of the coronary anatomy.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation on television: are we miseducating the public?
Authors: Colwill Michael , Somerville Charlotte , Lindberg Eric , Williams Caroline , Bryan James , Welman Ted
Published: October 2017

Background

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK are poor, and non-medically trained individuals have been identified to perform substandard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Millions watch televised medical dramas and, for many, these comprise their only education on CPR. This study aims to investigate the quality of CPR portrayed on these programmes and whether this has an effect on public knowledge.

Methods

Prospective observational study of 30 consecutive episodes of three popular medical dramas. Public knowledge of CPR and viewing habits were assessed with a survey of non-medically trained personnel.

Results

90 episodes were reviewed with 39 resuscitation attempts shown. Chest compression rates varied from 60 to 204 compressions per minute with a median of 122 (95% CI 113 to 132). Depth varied from 1.5 to 7.5 cm with a median of 3 (3.15–4.31). Rate and depth were significantly different from the UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines (2010) (p<0.05, t-test). Survey participants (n=160, 80% response rate) documented what they thought was the correct rate and depth of chest compressions and were scored accordingly. Those who documented watching medical dramas regularly scored significantly worse than those who watched occasionally (p<0.05, Mann-Whitney test).

Conclusion

Televised medical dramas depict CPR inaccurately and laypersons may be less well informed about the correct technique the more they tune into these programmes. While there may be other confounding variables, given the popularity of television medical dramas, the poor depiction may be significantly contributing to poor public CPR knowledge and represent a potential new avenue of public education.
Securing a cardiology speciality training programme in the UK: how did other people do it?
Authors: Protty Majd B , Mohee Kevin , Hoskins Hannah C , Haboubi Hasan N
Published: October 2017

Background

Application to cardiology specialty training is competitive with uncertainty among candidates as to what the secret recipe for a successful appointment is. We aimed to investigate objective variables, which were demonstrated by successful appointees to cardiology training schemes in the UK.

Methods

Data from successful cardiology applicants for the years 2014 to 2016 were obtained from the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board under the Freedom of Information Act. These data included basic demographics as well as objective scores awarded for selection categories such as qualifications, academic, teaching and other achievements.

Results

There were a total of 976 applicants during the study period, of whom 423 were successfully appointed, generating a competition ratio of 2.3 applicants for each position. There was an increasing proportion of successful female applicants (22% in 2014, 28% in 2015 and 32% in 2016). Median scores for postgraduate exams (14/14), presentations (6/6) and quality improvement (10/10) scores corresponded to maximum possible scores, whereas median scores for additional undergraduate and postgraduate degrees were 0. Median scores for prizes, publications and teaching experience were 6/10, 4/8 and 9/10, respectively.

Conclusion

The secret to a successful cardiology training appointment is associated with completion of all postgraduate clinical exams, completion and presentation of quality improvement projects, national presentations and substantial teaching achievements. At least half of the successful candidates had no additional undergraduate or postgraduate degrees but had evidence of some prizes and publications. The ratio of successful female candidates is rising, but remains less than males in cardiology training.
Long-term treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with nintedanib: results from the TOMORROW trial and its open-label extension
Authors: Richeldi Luca , Kreuter Michael , Selman Moisés , Crestani Bruno , Kirsten Anne-Marie , Wuyts Wim A , Xu Zuojun , Bernois Katell , Stowasser Susanne , Quaresma Manuel , Costabel Ulrich
Published: October 2017

The TOMORROW trial of nintedanib comprised a randomised, placebo-controlled, 52-week period followed by a further blinded treatment period and an open-label extension. We assessed outcomes across these periods in patients randomised to nintedanib 150 mg twice daily or placebo at the start of TOMORROW. The annual rate of decline in FVC was −125.4 mL/year (95% CI −168.1 to −82.7) in the nintedanib group and −189.7 mL/year (95% CI −229.8 to −149.6) in the comparator group. The adverse event profile of nintedanib remained consistent throughout the studies. These results support a benefit of nintedanib on slowing progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis beyond 52 weeks.
Perceived nicotine content of reduced nicotine content cigarettes is a correlate of perceived health risks
Authors: Pacek Lauren R , Joseph McClernon F , Denlinger-Apte Rachel L , Mercincavage Melissa , Strasser Andrew A , Dermody Sarah S , Vandrey Ryan , Smith Tracy T , Nardone Natalie , Hatsukami Dorothy K , Koopmeiners Joseph S , Kozink Rachel V , Donny Eric C
Published: October 2017

Background

Reducing cigarette nicotine content may reduce smoking. Studies suggest that smokers believe that nicotine plays a role in smoking-related morbidity. This may lead smokers to assume that reduced nicotine means reduced risk, and attenuate potential positive effects on smoking behaviour.

Methods

Data came from a multisite randomised trial in which smokers were assigned to use cigarettes varying in nicotine content for 6 weeks. We evaluated associations between perceived and actual nicotine content with perceived health risks using linear regression, and associations between perceived nicotine content and perceived health risks with smoking outcomes using linear and logistic regression.

Findings

Perceived—not actual—nicotine content was associated with perceived health risks; compared with those perceiving very low nicotine, individuals who perceived low (β=0.72, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.17), moderate (β=1.02, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.53) or high/very high nicotine (β=1.66, 95% CI 0.87 to 2.44) perceived greater health risks. Nevertheless, individuals perceiving low (OR=0.48, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.71) or moderate nicotine (OR=0.42, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.66) were less likely than those perceiving very low nicotine to report that they would quit within 1 year if only investigational cigarettes were available. Lower perceived risk of developing other cancers and heart disease was also associated with fewer cigarettes/day at week 6.

Conclusions

Although the perception of reduced nicotine is associated with a reduction in perceived harm, it may not attenuate the anticipated beneficial effects on smoking behaviour. These findings have implications for potential product standards targeting nicotine and highlight the need to clarify the persistent harms of reduced nicotine combusted tobacco products.
Tobacco product developments in the Australian market in the 4 years following plain packaging
Authors: Scollo Michelle , Bayly Megan , White Sarah , Lindorff Kylie , Wakefield Melanie
Published: October 2017

This paper aimed to identify continued and emerging trends in the Australian tobacco market following plain packaging implementation, over a period of substantial increases in tobacco taxes. Since 2012, our surveillance activities (including review of trade product and price lists, ingredient reports submitted by tobacco companies to government and monitoring of the retail environment) found several trends in the factory-made cigarette market. These include the continued release of extra-long and slim cigarettes and packs with bonus cigarettes, particularly in the mainstream and premium market segments; new menthol capsule products; other novel flavourings in cigarettes; filter innovations including recessed and firm filters; continued use of evocative and descriptive product names; the proliferation of the new super-value market segment; and umbrella branding, where new products are introduced within established brand families. Several similar trends were also observed within the smoking tobacco market. While not all of these trends were new to the Australian market at the time of plain packaging implementation, their continued and increased use is notable. Plain packaging legislation could be strengthened to standardise cigarette and pack size, restrict brand and variant names, and ban features such as menthol capsules and filters innovations that provide novelty value or that may provide false reassurance to smokers.
Provenance of the Early Triassic in the southwestern Sichuan Basin, Upper Yangtze, and its implications for tectonic evolution
Authors: Zhu Min , Chen Hanlin , Yu Long , Zhou Jing , Yang Shufeng
Published: October 2017

The opening and closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the tectonomagmatic thermal event in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) along the western margin of the Yangtze Block during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic shaped the unique pattern of the basin–mountain system. To put constraints on the provenance and tectonic settings of the Early Triassic deposition in southwestern Sichuan, the detrital compositions and major and trace elements of clastic rocks from the E’mei and Meigu sections were analyzed. The detrital components of sandstones in southwestern Sichuan are related to basaltic, short-transport, recycled clastics. Detrital zircons from the bottom of the Feixianguan Formation in the Meigu section yield U–Pb ages ranging from 246 to 280 Ma, with a major peak at ∼258 Ma, which are consistent with those of published data from the ELIP major magmatic event. The geochemical characteristics of sandstone are similar to the high-Ti Emeishan basalt of the ELIP and Precambrian to Permian sedimentary rocks of the Yangtze Craton. These results, combined with the research findings based on paleogeography data, indicate that the Early Triassic strata in the E’mei–Meigu region probably originated from both the ELIP and Khamdian Paleoland of the inner Yangtze Craton. The formation of the Sichuan Basin was mainly controlled by the Khamdian Paleoland during that time.
U–Pb baddeleyite crystallization age for a Corson diabase intrusion: possible Midcontinent Rift magmatism in eastern South Dakota
Authors: McCormick Kelli A. , Chamberlain Kevin R. , Paterson Colin J.
Published: October 2017

The largely buried basement of the northern Great Plains includes suture zones and terrane boundaries that represent a significant part of the growth of Laurentia in the Proterozoic. Basement exposures in this region east of the Black Hills are rare. In southeastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northeastern Nebraska, and northwestern Iowa, small outcrops of the Proterozoic Sioux Quartzite occur. In southeastern South Dakota, Corson diabase sills or dykes have intruded the quartzite. U–Pb ID–TIMS baddeleyite data from a Corson diabase sample yield an upper intercept date of 1149.4 ± 7.3 Ma, suggesting the diabase is related temporally to the Midcontinent Rift (MCR). The similarity in age of this diabase to the Inspiration sill, Pigeon River, Kipling, and Abitibi dykes suggests that early Midcontinent Rift development was not localized within the Nipigon Embayment, but extended along a roughly east–northeast zone from the Abitibi dykes to the Corson diabase. The presence of the Corson intrusions 250 km west of the MCR is hypothesized to represent a failed rift arm within the Superior craton. The greater strength of the Superior craton relative to lithosphere south of the Spirit Lake tectonic zone resulted in a shift of the southwestern rift arm in southern Minnesota along the Belle Plaine fault southeastward to the Iowa border. Alternatively, the apparent northeast trend of known occurrences of the Corson diabase is also consistent with a mantle plume centre explanation for early Midcontinent rifting.
Genetic heterogeneity amongVibrio alginolyticusstrains, and design of a PCR-based identification method usinggyrBgene sequence
Authors: Bunpa Supansa , Nishibuchi Mitsuaki , Thawonsuwan Jumroensri , Sermwittayawong Natthawan
Published: October 2017

Vibrio alginolyticus, a pathogen among humans and marine animals, is ubiquitous in marine environments. The aims of this study were to analyze the relationships between genetic diversity and origins, and to develop new primers based on the gyrB sequence to identify V. alginolyticus isolated from various sources. To determine the genetic diversity of this bacterium, an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) technique was performed on 36 strains of V. alginolyticus isolated from diarrhea patients and from diseased marine animals and environments in southern Thailand. The results showed distinct DNA fingerprints of all strains, indicating that they are genetically heterogeneous. For species-specific identification of V. alginolyticus, primers targeting the gyrB gene of V. alginolyticus were developed. Thirty reference Vibrio spp., 13 non-Vibrio spp., and 160 strains of V. alginolyticus isolated from various sources in southern Thailand were used to evaluate the specificity of these primers. Our results showed that the gyrB primers could specifically identify V. alginolyticus from all sample types. In addition, the detection limit of the PCR was at least 95 pg of DNA template. Therefore, we concluded that the newly designed gyrB primers are rapid, highly sensitive, and specific to identify V. alginolyticus isolated from various sources.
Bulk-edge correspondence and the cobordism invariance of the index
Authors: Hayashi Shin
Published: October 2017

We show that the bulk-edge correspondence for two-dimensional type A and type [Formula: see text] topological insulators follows directly from the cobordism invariance of the index.
Influence of sintering technique on the characteristics of Li–Co nanoferrites
Authors: Victory Maisnam , Maisnam Mamata , Phanjoubam Sumitra
Published: October 2017

Li–Co nanoferrites (Li[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]O4) with x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, and 0.12, were synthesized by chemical sol–gel method. Two different sintering techniques viz. conventional technique (CT) and microwave technique (MT) were employed to heat treat the synthesized samples with an aim to study the effect of sintering technique on the properties of the nanoferrites. Structural and microstructural properties of the samples were investigated using XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, respectively. The variation of room temperature dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured as a function of frequency in the range 100 Hz–1 MHz and the normal dispersive behavior was observed. Magnetic properties were investigated using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), while Soohoo’s method was used to measure Curie temperature. The results obtained have been discussed in the paper.
Construction of Biological Model of Human Lumbar and Analysis of its Mechanical Properties
Authors: Hui Yu , Wu Jun-Sheng , Yu Bin , Zhang Chen , Du Jing
Published: October 2017

In this paper, combined with physiological anatomy knowledge, the complete finite element model of L3–L4 lumbosacral segment of human lumbar was established by using the 3D graphic of human spine L3–L4 segment, which is obtained by image diagnosis technique (CT scan). This model includes the sections of the bones, the intervertebral disc and the anterior ligament, the posterior ligament, the ligamentum flavum, the fibrous ring and other major spine attached soft tissue. Then the finite element model meshing and the material properties of the corresponding part setting were done on the constructed model, and different loads and boundary conditions were imposed to simulate the displacement and stress and strain nephogram of the normal model and intervertebral disc herniation, senile degeneration and other models in different movement states. And the effectiveness of model data is verified by analyzing its biomechanical properties. The biomechanical properties of the spine obtained by the finite element method can be used to provide biomechanical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of intervertebral disc herniation and degeneration.
Cosmological reconstruction and stability in F(T,TG) gravity
Authors: Sharif M. , Nazir Kanwal
Published: October 2017

This study investigates the reconstruction scheme and stability of some well-known cosmological models in [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] represent the torsion scalar and Gauss–Bonnet invariant torsion term, respectively. For this purpose, we consider isotropic homogeneous universe model and develop the corresponding field equations. It is found that we can reproduce cosmological evolution for power-law, de Sitter solutions, phantom/nonphantom era and [Formula: see text] cold dark matter by applying reconstruction scheme in this gravity. Finally, we discuss stability of the reconstructed power-law and de Sitter solutions as well as two well-known [Formula: see text] models. It is concluded that all these models provide stable solutions for suitable choices of the constants except power-law solutions.
Cordes–Nirenberg's imbedding and restricting with application to an elliptic equation
Authors: Hou S. , Xiao J.
Published: October 2017

This paper not only presents a criterion for the Cordes–Nirenberg space [Formula: see text] imbedding between the associate Morrey space [Formula: see text] and the Morrey space [Formula: see text], but also characterizes a Radon measure [Formula: see text] such that the Cordes–Nirenberg potential space [Formula: see text] is restricted to the [Formula: see text]-based Campanato space [Formula: see text] — thereby giving an application of the discovered characterization to the regularity for a class of the elliptic equations with symmetric [Formula: see text]-coefficients.
Existence of positive solutions to a linearly coupled Schrödinger system with critical exponent
Authors: Wu Huiling , Chen Jianqing , Li Yongqing
Published: October 2017

We are concerned with the system of nonlinear Schrödinger equations [Formula: see text] The existence of a positive solution to the system is proved.
Surfaces of general type with q = 2 are rigidified
Authors: Liu Wenfei
Published: October 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a minimal smooth projective surface of general type with irregularity [Formula: see text]. We show that, if [Formula: see text] has a nontrivial holomorphic automorphism acting trivially on the cohomology with rational coefficients, then it is a surface isogenous to a product. As a consequence of this geometric characterization, one infers that no nontrivial automorphism of surfaces of general type with [Formula: see text] (which are not necessarily minimal) can be homotopic to the identity. In particular, such surfaces are rigidified in the sense of Fabrizio Catanese.
Obtaining free group algebras in division rings generated by group graded rings
Authors: Sánchez Javier
Published: October 2017

We give sufficient conditions for the existence of noncommutative free group algebras in division rings generated by group graded rings. We also relate our conclusions to already existing results on the subject improving some of them.
Numerical irreducible decomposition over a number field
Authors: McCoy Timothy M. , Peterson Chris , Sommese Andrew J.
Published: October 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a set of elements in the polynomial ring [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] denote the ideal generated by the elements of [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] denote the radical of [Formula: see text]. There is a unique decomposition [Formula: see text] with each [Formula: see text] a prime ideal corresponding to a minimal associated prime of [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] denote the reduced algebraic set corresponding to the common zeroes of the elements of [Formula: see text]. Techniques from numerical algebraic geometry can be used to determine the numerical irreducible decomposition of [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text]. This corresponds to producing a witness set for [Formula: see text] for each [Formula: see text] together with the degree and dimension of [Formula: see text] (a point in a witness set for [Formula: see text] can be considered as a numerical approximation for a general point on [Formula: see text]). The purpose of this paper is to show how to extend these results taking into account the field of definition for the polynomial system. In particular, let [Formula: see text] be a number field (i.e. a finite field extension of [Formula: see text]) and let [Formula: see text] be a set of elements in [Formula: see text]. We show how to extend techniques from numerical algebraic geometry to determine the numerical irreducible decomposition of [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text].
Computational Investigation of Thermal Interaction Phenomena Between Two Adjacent Spheres Filled with Different Phase Change Materials (PCMs)
Authors: Rachedi Khouiled , Korti Abdel Illah Nabil
Published: October 2017

One of the discussed techniques in improving the performance of latent thermal energy storage applications is to use different phase change materials (PCMs) encapsulated in spherical nodules. However, the large number of spheres used in the storage applications pushes the researchers to neglecting the natural convection effect inside spheres. Consequently, they cannot observe the real thermal interaction effect between spheres. The objective of this work is to carry out a computational study on the thermal behavior of two adjacent different PCMs inside aluminum spherical capsules and taking into account the natural convection effect inside the spheres. Water is used as heat transfer fluid (HTF) at constant inlet temperature. The study shows that for the HTF inlet velocity lower than 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m/s, the thermal interaction between two adjacent different PCMs cannot be neglected. However, the thermal interaction appears more clearly in the discharging mode. The thermal interaction can accelerate the discharging of one of the PCMs by reducing the discharging of the other one.
Portrait Lighting Transfer Using a Mass Transport Approach
Authors: Shu Zhixin , Hadap Sunil , Shechtman Eli , Sunkavalli Kalyan , Paris Sylvain , Samaras Dimitris
Published: October 2017

Lighting is a critical element of portrait photography. However, good lighting design typically requires complex equipment and significant time and expertise. Our work simplifies this task using a relighting technique that transfers the desired illumination of one portrait onto another. The novelty in our approach to this challenging problem is our formulation of relighting as a mass transport problem. We start from standard color histogram matching that only captures the overall tone of the illumination, and we show how to use the mass-transport formulation to make it dependent on facial geometry. We fit a three-dimensional (3D) morphable face model to the portrait, and for each pixel, we combine the color value with the corresponding 3D position and normal. We then solve a mass-transport problem in this augmented space to generate a color remapping that achieves localized, geometry-aware relighting. Our technique is robust to variations in facial appearance and small errors in face reconstruction. As we demonstrate, this allows our technique to handle a variety of portraits and illumination conditions, including scenarios that are challenging for previous methods.
Woven Fabric Model Creation from a Single Image
Authors: Guarnera Giuseppe Claudio , Hall Peter , Chesnais Alain , Glencross Mashhuda
Published: October 2017

We present a fast, novel image-based technique for reverse engineering woven fabrics at a yarn level. These models can be used in a wide range of interior design and visual special effects applications. To recover our pseudo-Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF), we estimate the three-dimensional (3D) structure and a set of yarn parameters (e.g., yarn width, yarn crossovers) from spatial and frequency domain cues. Drawing inspiration from previous work [Zhao et al. 2012], we solve for the woven fabric pattern and from this build a dataset. In contrast, however, we use a combination of image space analysis and frequency domain analysis, and, in challenging cases, match image statistics with those from previously captured known patterns. Our method determines, from a single digital image, captured with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera under controlled uniform lighting, the woven cloth structure, depth, and albedo, thus removing the need for separately measured depth data. The focus of this work is on the rapid acquisition of woven cloth structure and therefore we use standard approaches to render the results.

Our pipeline first estimates the weave pattern, yarn characteristics, and noise statistics using a novel combination of low-level image processing and Fourier analysis. Next, we estimate a 3D structure for the fabric sample using a first-order Markov chain and our estimated noise model as input, also deriving a depth map and an albedo. Our volumetric textile model includes information about the 3D path of the center of the yarns, their variable width, and hence the volume occupied by the yarns, and colors.

We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach through comparison images of test scenes rendered using (a) the original photograph, (b) the segmented image, (c) the estimated weave pattern, and (d) the rendered result.
Highway Passenger Transport Based Express Parcel Service Network Design: Model and Algorithm
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Sun Baofeng , Li Gendao , Lin Zhibin , Zheng Changxu , Shen Xiuxiu
Published: October 2017

Highway passenger transport based express parcel service (HPTB-EPS) is an emerging business that uses unutilised room of coach trunk to ship parcels between major cities. While it is reaping more and more express market, the managers are facing difficult decisions to design the service network. This paper investigates the HPTB-EPS network design problem and analyses the time-space characteristics of such network. A mixed-integer programming model is formulated integrating the service decision, frequency, and network flow distribution. To solve the model, a decomposition-based heuristic algorithm is designed by decomposing the problem as three steps: construction of service network, service path selection, and distribution of network flow. Numerical experiment using real data from our partner company demonstrates the effectiveness of our model and algorithm. We found that our solution could reduce the total cost by up to 16.3% compared to the carrier’s solution. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the robustness and flexibility of the solutions of the model.
Screening of Pesticides with the Potential of Inducing DSB and Successive Recombinational Repair
Authors: Suárez-Larios Karen , Salazar-Martínez Ana-María , Montero-Montoya Regina
Published: October 2017

A study was realized to ascertain whether eight selected pesticides would induce double strand breaks (DSB) in lymphocyte cultures and whether this damage would induce greater levels of proteins Rad51 participating in homologous recombination or of p-Ku80 participating in nonhomologous end joining. Only five pesticides were found to induce DSB of which only glyphosate and paraoxon induced a significant increase of p-Ku80 protein, indicating that nonhomologous end joining recombinational DNA repair system would be activated. The type of gamma-H2AX foci observed was comparable to that induced by etoposide at similar concentrations. These results are of importance since these effects occurred at low concentrations in the micromolar range, in acute treatments to the cells. Effects over longer exposures in actual environmental settings are expected to produce cumulative damage if repeated events of recombination take place over time.
Forensic Age Estimation of Chinese Malaysian Adults by Evaluating Occlusal Tooth Wear Using Modified Kim’s Index
Authors: Lu Chai Kit , Yee Margaret Chia Soo , Ravi Spoorthi Banavar , Pandurangappa Rohit
Published: October 2017

Background and Objective. Evaluation of dental attrition is an easy and relatively accurate approach to estimating the age of an adult either ante- or postmortem for some specific population. Dental attrition represents a progressive physiological age change that can be measured using variety of indices to aid as an adjunct in forensic age estimation. Some of the previously proposed indices have their own practical limitations. This paper focuses on using modified Kim’s criteria to score dental attrition to estimate the age of Chinese Malaysian adults and validate it.Methodology. Tooth wear was evaluated on 190 dental models of Chinese Malaysian adults (age range: 20–60 years) using modified Kim’s index to custom-derive a population specific linear equation. The same equation was validated further on new 60 dental casts.Results and Conclusion. Regression analysis revealed good correlation between age and teeth wear and lower standard error of estimate. Test of regression on a test sample (n=30pairs, age range: 20–60 years) showed insignificant difference between predicted versus the actual age with statistically acceptable mean absolute difference. These data suggest that modified Kim’s index can be used effectively in forensic age estimation.
A Case Study of Mass Transport during the East-West Oscillation of the Asian Summer Monsoon Anticyclone
Authors: Luo Jiali , Song Jiayao , Tian Hongying , Liu Lei , Liang Xinlei
Published: October 2017

We use ERA-Interim reanalysis, MLS observations, and a trajectory model to examine the chemical transport and tracers distribution in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS) associated with an east-west oscillation case of the anticyclone in 2016. The results show that the spatial distribution of water vapor (H2O) was more consistent with the location of the anticyclone than carbon monoxide (CO) at 100 hPa, and an independent relative high concentration center was only found in H2O field. At 215 hPa, although the anticyclone center also migrated from the Tibetan Mode (TM) to the Iranian Mode (IM), the relative high concentration centers of both tracers were always colocated with regions where upward motion was strong in the UTLS. When the anticyclone migrated from the TM, air within the anticyclone over Tibetan Plateau may transport both westward and eastward but was always within the UTLS. The relative high concentration of tropospheric tracers within the anticyclone in the IM was from the east and transported by the westward propagation of the anticyclone rather than being lifted from surface directly. Air within the relative high geopotential height centers over Western Pacific was partly from the main anticyclone and partly from lower levels.
Utilization of Foaming Technology in Cemented Paste Backfill of High-Mud Superfine Unclassified Tailings
Authors: Zhao Jian-wen , Wang Xin-min , Peng Kang , Li Shuai
Published: October 2017

Due to high-mud content in superfine unclassified tailings (SUT), the viscosity of cemented paste backfill (CPB) is high and its pipeline transportation properties are poor. Foaming technology was introduced to prepare a new three-phase flow backfill (TFB) using a foaming machine. Then the rheological parameters of TFB with different bubble ratio were measured and their pipeline transportation properties were simulated by Fluent. Besides, the simulation results were further verified by a semi-industrial loop test. The results indicate that the optimum ratio of TFB is a cement-sand ratio of 1 : 8, mass concentration of 70%, and bubble ratio of 20%. Compared with CPB, the decrease of bleeding rate, viscosity, and resistance loss of TFB is 27%, 25%, and 30%, respectively. Therefore, foaming technology is an innovative and feasible solution for high-mud CPB in reducing viscosity, decreasing resistance loss, and improving pipeline transporting efficiency.
Neural Adaptive Decentralized Coordinated Control with Fault‐Tolerant Capability for DFIGs under Stochastic Disturbances
Authors: Li Xiao-ming , Zhang Xiu-yu , Cao Hong , Lin Zhong-wei , Niu Yu-guang , Wang Jian-guo
Published: October 2017

At present, most methodologies proposed to control over double fed induction generators (DFIGs) are based on single machine model, where the interactions from network have been neglected. Considering this, this paper proposes a decentralized coordinated control of DFIG based on the neural interaction measurement observer. An artificial neural network is employed to approximate the nonlinear model of DFIG, and the approximation error due to neural approximation has been considered. A robust stabilization technique is also proposed to override the effect of approximation error. A H2 controller and a H∞ controller are employed to achieve specified engineering purposes, respectively. Then, the controller design is formulated as a mixed H2/H∞ optimization with constrains of regional pole placement and proportional plus integral (PI) structure, which can be solved easily by using linear matrix inequality (LMI) technology. The results of simulations are presented and discussed, which show the capabilities of DFIG with the proposed control strategy to fault‐tolerant control of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) under slight sensor faults, low voltage ride‐through (LVRT), and its contribution to power system transient stability support.