bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lupin seed coat as a promising food ingredient: physicochemical, nutritional, antioxidant properties, and effect of genotype and environment
Authors: Zhong Liezhou , Ali Hayder , Fang Zhongxiang , Wahlqvist Mark L. , Hodgson Jonathan M. , Johnson Stuart K.
Published: November 2019

The high proportion of seed coat of legume lupins results in big milling lose during kernel flour production, though the seed coat could be value‐added as human food. The physicochemical and nutritional properties and antioxidant capacities of seed coats of six Australian sweet lupin cultivars grown at two locations were evaluated. Results showed that genotype, environment and their interaction were significant for seed coat percentage, proximate composition, dietary fibre content, polyphenols and antioxidant capacities. Strong correlations between seed coat lightness and polyphenol content were found. A comparison using multivariate analysis of the seed coat properties showed clear separation based on growing sites. This study indicates the enormous potential of Australian sweet lupin seed coat as an ‘antioxidant dietary fibre’ food source. The results could also benefit to breed varieties with desirable levels of nutrients and phytochemicals.
Peripheral blood schistocytes in the acute phase after allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation assessed by digital microscopy
Authors: Karakioulaki Meropi , Martinez Maria , Medinger Michael , Heim Dominik , Passweg Jakob R. , Tsakiris Dimitrios A.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Early detection of endothelial graft‐vs‐host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) might help protect the patient from the late and severe complications of transplant‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA‐TMA). Appearance of schistocytes in peripheral blood is one of the cardinal diagnostic features of TA‐TMA. Our aim was to test the diagnostic accuracy and objectiveness of digital microscopy with respect to the recognition and quantification of schistocytes in the setting of endothelial GVHD.

Methods

Peripheral blood smears from 127 allogeneic and 63 autologous HSCT patients (January 2016‐June 2017) were retrospectively examined before, 1 month and at 2‐3 months after transplantation using digital microscopy. Peripheral blood smears from 31 healthy blood donors were also analyzed as the control group.

Results

Assessment by digital microscopy showed that schistocytes are significantly increased after 3 months from the allogeneic (P < .001) or the autologous HSCT (P < .001) compared to the control group. Significantly higher schistocyte counts were found in patients with acute GVHD (P = .05) and in patients with HLA mismatch (P = .005). Patients in the upper quartile of the schistocyte counts had significantly more frequently acute GVHD (P = .024) or HLA mismatch (P = .035).

Conclusions

Schistocytes can be reliably counted by means of a digital microscopy system and are significantly higher in patients with acute GVHD and HLA mismatch. Inversely, patients with the highest numbers of schistocytes are more frequently affected by aGVHD, implying that high schistocyte counts after HSCT might be a surrogate marker for this complication.
Preverbal communication complexity in infants
Authors: Salley Brenda , Brady Nancy C. , Hoffman Lesa , Fleming Kandace
Published: November 2019

The development of prelinguistic communication in typically developing infants is marked by changes in complexity as well as frequency, yet most measures focus on frequency. In the current study, we used the Communication Complexity Scale (CCS) to measure prelinguistic complexity of typically developing infants in a cross‐sectional sample of 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, and 12‐month‐olds (N = 204) during semi‐structured play interaction. For each toy/interactive episode, infants’ highest level of communication complexity (ranging from 0 for no response to 12 for multi‐word verbalization), for both joint attention (i.e., social) and behavior regulation (e.g., requesting) functions, was scored. In addition, the same interaction was coded for frequency of all prelinguistic communication acts. Results of multivariate models indicated age‐related differences in prelinguistic complexity. Measures of prelinguistic complexity and frequency evidenced moderate to strong correlations, with age‐related differences by function (joint attention and behavior regulation). Significant associations with parent‐report communication questionnaires were observed for both complexity and frequency measures. Results indicate that evaluating complexity of infant preverbal communication skill with the CCS is a valuable approach that can meaningfully index developmental differences in prelinguistic and early linguistic communication.
Race and ‘Disability Passing’ in a Chicago Public School Art Classroom
Authors: Stabler Albert
Published: November 2019

Race, history and visibility have a great deal to do with how disability operated socially and educationally in the Chicago public high school art classroom where I taught for ten years. I am severely near‐sighted, and I am also white, educated and often, but not consistently, able to pass for non‐disabled. A large number of my students were identified as having learning, emotional and behavioural disabilities, diagnoses which were certainly conditioned by the institution, but diagnoses which perhaps also underrepresented the amount of socially and historically occasioned impairment or debility that existed in the low‐income majority‐Black community served by my school. In this article I reflect on the overlapping social performances that occurred in terms of ‘disability passing’, a state that can characterise both hidden and exaggerated or invented impairments. My reflections examine my own individual experience in contrast to the long‐term experience of the African diaspora in and beyond the USA, in order to think about other ways to parse the complex factors determining how disability plays out in educational environments.
Queering the Art Classroom: Queering Matters
Authors: Millett Tabitha Verity Patience
Published: November 2019

Since 2003, successive British governments have taken steps to develop legislation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning / queer, intersex, asexual and those who are gender / sexuality non‐conforming more generally (LGBTQIA+). In doing so, they have foregrounded the need for educational institutions to respond proactively to this legislation. There is evidence to suggest that homophobia is prominent in UK schools, yet measures to address the issue have largely rested on schools and LGBTQIA+ charities, reducing discussions of homosexuality to anti‐bullying discourses and introducing curriculum modifications that are overwhelmingly homonormative. The limitations of these current approaches ignore the societal and institutional power structures that help to produce homophobia, which is often referred to as heteronormativity. Drawing on aspects of new materialist and queer theoretical perspectives, this article follows the findings of a research project that focused on developing an intervention at GCSE level, exploring non‐normative genders and sexualities in the art curriculum. The research project was based on a class in a secondary school in North London from 2017 to 2018. Through the application of a pedagogy rooted in queer theory, the study explores the possibilities of disrupting heteronormativity and didactic learning by investigating student responses to the interventions. For this article, I focus on one student’s artwork and her reactions to the process of making her artworks during the project. As such, the study is an exploration of an attempt at moving beyond the homonormative inclusion of LGBTQIA+ content, towards a deeper exploration of gender and sexuality within the curriculum cultivated through making.
Retracted: Gastrodin relieves inflammation injury induced by lipopolysaccharides in MRC‐5 cells by up‐regulation of miR‐103
Authors: Xi Zhuona , Qiao Yahong , Wang Jifang , Su Hongjian , Bao Zhen , Li Hongyan , Liao Xiaoming , Zhong Xiaolan
Published: November 2019

The beneficial function of gastrodin towards many inflammatory diseases has been identified. This study designed to see the influence of gastrodin in a cell model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MRC‐5 cells were treated by LPS, before which gastrodin was administrated. The effects of gastrodin were evaluated by conducting CCK‐8, FITC‐PI double staining, Western blot, qRT‐PCR and ELISA. Besides this, the downstream effector and signalling were studied to decode how gastrodin exerted its function. And dual‐luciferase assay was used to detect the targeting link between miR‐103 and lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1 (LRP1). LPS induced apoptosis and the release of MCP‐1, IL‐6 and TNF‐α in MRC‐5 cells. Pre‐treating MRC‐5 cells with gastrodin attenuated LPS‐induced cell damage. Meanwhile, p38/JNK and NF‐κB pathways induced by LPS were repressed by gastrodin. miR‐103 expression was elevated by gastrodin. Further, the protective functions of gastrodin were attenuated by miR‐103 silencing. And LRP1 was a target of miR‐103 and negatively regulated by miR‐103. The in vitro data illustrated the protective function of gastrodin in LPS‐injured MRC‐5 cells. Gastrodin exerted its function possibly by up‐regulating miR‐103 and modulating p38/JNK and NF‐κB pathways.
Role of LuxR‐type regulators in fish pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila
Authors: Mao Leilei , Qin Yingxue , Kang Jianping , Wu Bin , Huang Lixing , Wang Suyun , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Jiahui , Zhang Ruixuan , Yan Qingpi
Published: November 2019

LuxR‐type transcriptional factors are essential in many bacterial physiological processes. However, there have been no reports on their roles in Aeromonas hydrophila. In this study, six stable silent strains were constructed using shRNA. Significant decreases in the expression levels of luxR05, luxR08, luxR19, luxR11, luxR164 and luxR165 were shown in their respective strains by qRT‐PCR. The luxR05‐RNAi and luxR164‐RNAi exhibit the most significant changes in sensitivity to kanamycin and gentamicin. The luxR05‐RNAi showed minimum biofilm formation and the least motility, while luxR164‐RNAi showed minimum biofilm formation, adhesion, growth and extracellular protease activity compared to the wild‐type strain. In summary, the results of this paper suggest that all six luxR genes are involved in multiple physiological processes in A. hydrophila and that the roles of luxR05 and luxR164 are highly significant. The sensitivity of luxR05‐RNAi and luxR164‐RNAi to drugs may be closely related to biofilm formation. The luxR05 may play an important role in the pathogenicity of A. hydrophila by regulating the movement, adhesion and biofilm formation of bacteria, whereas luxR164 may be involved in similar functions by regulating bacterial adhesion, extracellular enzyme activity and growth. These results help further our understanding of the drug resistance and pathogenesis of A. hydrophila.
ACCRUALS AND MOMENTUM
Authors: Gu Ming , Wu Yangru
Published: November 2019

We view accruals as a natural candidate to link to momentum in the context of the overreaction explanation. Accruals can proxy for ambiguity about the implications of new information for a firm's value and can vary with the business cycle. Thus, higher accruals can lead to greater behavioral biases in the cross‐sectional and time‐series dimensions and, hence, stronger momentum. Our results show that momentum profitability is mostly concentrated in firms with high accruals. The previously documented cross‐sectional characteristics of momentum and market states do not subsume the effect of accruals on momentum. We also find that most of the momentum returns among high‐accrual firms are attributable to high discretionary accruals.
Extract of spray‐dried Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense L.) skin
Authors: Maia Juliana Leão , Dantas Thayse Naianne Pires , Neto Bento Pereira da Costa , Borges Kátia Cristina , Lima Erica Cortez , da Mata Ana Lúcia de Medeiros Lula , de Medeiros Maria de Fátima Dantas , Pereira Camila Gambini
Published: November 2019

The Malay apple is a fruit tree found in northeastern Brazil; little is known about the composition and properties of its fruit, which motivated the present study. Among natural antioxidants, anthocyanins are pigments responsible for the red and blue coloring of a wide range of food plants. There is a growing interest in their use by the pharmaceutical industry; however, their sensitivity to environmental factors means processing is required to ensure their stability. Spray‐drying has proved to be effective in this regard. The aim of this study was to dry Malay apple skin extract by two different methods (spray‐ and freeze‐drying) and analyze the physical and chemical properties, morphology, and bioactive compounds of the products obtained, in order to assess the preservation of the antioxidants and conduct a preliminary study on their possible encapsulation. The results indicated that it is possible to obtain a powder with low humidity and preserved biocharacteristics using freeze‐ and spray‐drying, with high yield. When compared to the freeze‐dried product, the spray‐drying conserved the bioactive compounds and provided smaller size distribution than that obtained by freeze‐drying. The results obtained by spray‐drying showed favorable for use in controlled release systems.

Practical applications

This work had as practical applications the use of a local and almost industrially unexplored fruit, the Malay apple, as a product rich in anthocyanins and other bioactive compounds for use as food additive and with potential use in cosmetics, since the compounds obtained, anthocyanins, have proven antioxidant capacity. Bioactive compounds from the peel of the Malay apple were determined for the first time. The spray‐drying process maintains much of the bioactive characteristics of the Malay apple skin. The freeze‐drying process is more effective in preserving the properties of the skin of the Malay apple. The zeta potential of the Malay apple was determined for the first time.
A new physical accounting model for material flows in urban systems with application to the Stockholm Royal Seaport District
Authors: Papageorgiou Asterios , Sinha Rajib , Frostell Björn , Sundberg Cecilia
Published: November 2019

Sustainable urbanization requires streamlining of resource management in urban systems which in turn requires understanding of urban metabolism (UM). Even though various methods have been applied for UM analysis, to date there is no standardized method for comprehensive accounting of material flows in urban systems. Moreover, the accounting of material flows is rarely implemented with a bottom‐up approach that can provide a thorough analysis of UM. This article presents the Urban Accounting Model (UAM) which aims to allow comprehensive accounting of urban material flows based on a bottom‐up approach. The model comprises two interlinked sub‐models. The first was developed by integrating a new physical input output table (PIOT) framework for urban systems into a three‐dimensional structure. The second comprises a set of physical accounts for systematic accounting of material flows of each economic sector in the system in order to support the compilation of the PIOTs. The functions of the UAM were explored through its application to two urban neighborhoods in the Stockholm Royal Seaport district. The application highlighted that the UAM can describe the physical interactions between the urban system and the environment or other socioeconomic systems, and capture the intersectoral flows within the system. Moreover, its accounts provide information that allow an in‐depth analysis of the metabolism of specific sectors. Overall, the UAM can function as a useful tool for UM analysis as it systematizes data collection and at the same time depicts the physical reality of the urban system.
Targeted therapy in oncology patients and skin: Pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic management
Authors: Varvaresou Athanasia , Iakovou Kriton , Mellou Fotini , Myrogiannis Dimetrios , Papageorgiou Spyros
Published: November 2019

Background

Numerous oncology patients who receive targeted therapy suffer from the skin adverse effects induced. Novel agents, that is tyrosine kinase inhibitors and RAS‐RAF‐MEK‐ERK pathway, have given good results in patient survival while decreasing the systemic toxicities in comparison to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, but are also related to skin adverse effects.

Aims

In this article, we highlighted the importance of specific pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic management of the untoward events of targeted therapy.

Conclusion

The combination of Oncodermatology, Psychodermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology, Cosmetic Science, Dermatopharmacology and Aesthetic Science can offer a lot for the prevention or early relief of the cutaneous adverse effects in oncology patients receiving targeted therapy.
A randomized study showing improved skin quality and aesthetic appearance of dorsal hands after hyaluronic acid gel treatment in a Chinese population
Authors: Wu Yan , Tian Yan , Xu Jinhua , Zhong Shaomin , Wang Ruiyan , Wu Wenyu
Published: November 2019

Background

Patients are increasingly aware of the aesthetic appearance of aging hands.

Aims

To evaluate efficacy and safety of a hyaluronic acid gel for improving skin quality in aged skin of the dorsal hand.

Methods

This was a 15‐month randomized, multi‐center, evaluator‐blinded, split‐hand, no treatment‐controlled study. Three treatments with hyaluronic acid gel were administered in the same hand in adult Chinese subjects with grade 2 or 3 (mild or moderate aging) on the Hand Grading Scale (HGS). The primary objective was to evaluate the difference at 3 months between treated and untreated hands, based on the blinded evaluator's HGS assessment. Secondary assessments included the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), biophysical measurements (skin elasticity, skin roughness and hydration), and subject satisfaction. Safety was evaluated by incidence of adverse events.

Results

A total of 100 subjects were enrolled. Clinically relevant differences in HGS favored HA gel (P < .0001). At 15 months, 87%‐96% of treated hands were still improved according to GAIS (per evaluator and subject, respectively). Objective measures of skin quality improved, confirmed by evaluators and highly satisfied subjects. Treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Hyaluronic acid treatment improved skin quality and reduced the aging appearance of the hand, with high subject satisfaction.
Predictors of unplanned readmission to acute care from inpatient brain injury rehabilitation
Authors: McKechnie Duncan , Fisher Murray J. , Pryor Julie , McKechnie Rochelle
Published: November 2019

Aims and objectives

To identify the predictors of unplanned readmission to acute care (RTAC) from inpatient brain injury rehabilitation and to develop a risk prediction model.

Background

RTAC from inpatient rehabilitation is not uncommon. Individual rehabilitation patient populations require their own body of evidence regarding predictors of RTAC.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Adult patients with new onset acquired brain injury admitted to a stand‐alone rehabilitation facility between 1 January 2012–31 December 2018 were included in the study. The main measures were RTAC, sensitivity, specificity, the C‐statistic and Youden's index. This paper is reported using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Results

Of 383 patients admitted for rehabilitation, 83 (22%) experienced a RTAC; 69 (18%) patients had at least one unplanned RTAC episode. Patients requiring unplanned RTAC were more likely to have lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores on rehabilitation admission, a higher burden of care on rehabilitation discharge and be discharged to a nonhome residence. Rehabilitation admission GCS and motor FIM were identified as the independent RTAC predictors in multivariate regression modelling. The combined C‐statistic was 0.86. A GCS cut‐off score of ≤14 and motor FIM cut‐off score of ≤40 were identified as optimal, yielding a combined Youden's index of 0.56 (sensitivity = 0.72; specificity = 0.83).

Conclusion

Patients requiring an unplanned RTAC had a lower functional status on rehabilitation admission. A prediction model for unplanned RTAC has been developed using validated and readily available clinical measures.

Relevance to clinical practice

The developed RTAC risk prediction model is the first step in preventing unplanned RTAC from inpatient brain injury rehabilitation. Future research should focus on discrete interventions for preventing unplanned RTAC from inpatient brain injury rehabilitation.
Netrin‐1 and its receptor Unc5b as markers of periodontal disease
Authors: Gunpinar Sadiye , Meraci Bilge , Dundar Niyazi
Published: November 2019

Objectives

The aim of this present study was to evaluate the levels of Netrin‐1 and Unc5b in periodontal health and disease.

Background

Netrin‐1, acting via its receptor UNC5b, regulates the inflammatory response and takes apart in bone destructive diseases.

Methods

Samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), whole saliva, and serum were taken from systemically healthy, nonsmoking 20 periodontitis , 20 gingivitis patients, and 20 periodontally healthy subjects at baseline and 4 weeks after nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). Whole‐mouth and site‐specific clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. Netrin‐1 and Unc5b levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed by nonparametric tests.

Results

Total amount of Netrin‐1 in GCF was significantly higher in periodontitis than the others, and the levels were significantly reduced after NSPT. Salivary and serum concentrations of Netrin‐1 were significantly different among the study groups (P = .000), and NSPT significantly increased the concentration levels of both salivary and serum Netrin‐1 (P < .05). Healthy subjects had significantly lower GCF (P = .001) and conversely, higher salivary and serum levels of Unc5b than the other groups (P = .002). The GCF levels of Unc5b were significantly reduced (P < .01), and conversely, serum concentrations were significantly increased after NSPT (P < .05). GCF Netrin‐1 and Unc5b total amounts were positively correlated with clinical parameters (P < .01 and P < .05) whereas salivary Netrin‐1 and Unc5b concentrations were negatively correlated with clinical parameters (P < .01 and P < .05).

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that Netrin‐1 and its receptor Unc5b may have essential roles in periodontal inflammation and those can be assumed as useful therapeutic agent to control inflammation and periodontal breakdown.
Role of electrolyte concentrations and renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone activation in the staging of canine heart disease
Authors: Adin Darcy , Kurtz Kari , Atkins Clarke , Papich Mark G. , Vaden Shelly
Published: November 2019

Background

Refractory congestive heart failure (CHF) and associated diuretic resistance are not well defined.

Objectives

To characterize renal function, electrolyte concentrations, indices of diuretic efficacy, and renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) activation in dogs with naturally occurring heart disease (HD) in American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine stages B1, B2, C, and D and to determine their usefulness in defining HD stages.

Animals

Group 1:149 dogs with HD stages B1, B2, C, and D. Group 2:22 dogs with HD stages C and D.

Methods

Group 1: Renal parameters, serum and urine electrolyte and diuretic concentrations, and urine aldosterone concentrations were measured. Medication dosages and measured variables were compared among stages. Correlation of furosemide dosages to serum concentrations was explored. Group 2: Angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity and RAAS components were measured and compared among CHF stages.

Results

Serum chloride concentration was the best differentiator of HD stage. Furosemide PO dosages (≤6 mg/kg/day) were weakly correlated with serum furosemide concentrations, whereas higher dosages were not significantly correlated. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor dosage and RAAS inhibition were greater in stage D, compared to stage C dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Hypochloremia is a useful marker for stage D HD in dogs. Poor furosemide dosage correlation to serum concentration may indicate variable and poor absorption, especially at higher dosages, advanced disease, or both. A small number of stage D dogs met proposed criteria for diuretic resistance. Greater RAAS inhibition in stage D versus stage C indicates effectiveness of RAAS‐suppressive treatments in this group of dogs with refractory CHF.
Body condition, sex and elevation in relation to mite parasitism in a high mountain gecko
Authors: Comas M.
Published: November 2019

Parasitism is one of the main selective forces in nature, strongly affecting host fitness. Still, knowledge is incomplete concerning how variation in probability and intensity of infestation depends on body condition, sex or geographic variables. Here, I study the variation in probability and intensity of infestation of bloodsucking mites parasitizing the Atlas day gecko (Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus) depending on host body condition, sex and elevation, in the High Atlas (Morocco). Parasite prevalence was 58.75%, and probability of infection decreased with host body condition. However, parasitism intensity tended to increase with body condition. The parasite load ranged from 0 to 16 mites per individual, with a mean intensity of 3.0 ± 0.37 (se) in infested geckos. Prevalence was higher in males (2/3 parasitized) than in females (1/2 parasitized), but intensity did not significantly differ with sex. Neither prevalence nor intensity varied with elevation. In conclusion, geckos in better body condition harboured heavier parasite loads, but animals with the highest body condition were not infested. These findings suggest that animals with good body condition may tolerate heavier mite infestations, but only animals with the highest body condition may resist infestation.
Tracheal extubation in children: Planning, technique, and complications
Authors: Veyckemans Francis
Published: November 2019

Although poorly described in textbooks and rarely a topic of lecture, tracheal extubation is a critical phase of anesthetic care. It should therefore be carefully planned taking into account simple physiology‐based principles to maintain the upper airway patent and avoid lung de‐recruitment, but also the pharmacology of all anesthetic agents used. Although the management of most of its complications can be learned in a clinical simulation environment, the basic techniques can so far only be taught at the bedside, in the operating room. In this paper, the process of extubation is described in successive steps: preparation, return to adequate spontaneous ventilation, awake versus deep extubation, timing according to the child's breathing cycle, extubation in the operating room or in the Postanesthesia Care unit, child's management immediately after extubation, diagnosis and treatment of the early complications, and finally, how to prepare for a difficult reintubation.
KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH: A SKEPTICAL CHALLENGE
Authors: Buckwalter Wesley , Turri John
Published: November 2019

It is widely accepted in epistemology that knowledge is factive, meaning that only truths can be known. We argue that this theory creates a skeptical challenge: because many of our beliefs are only approximately true and therefore false, they do not count as knowledge. We consider several responses to this challenge and propose a new one. We propose easing the truth requirement on knowledge to allow approximately true, practically adequate representations to count as knowledge. In addition to addressing the skeptical challenge, this view also coheres with several previous theoretical proposals in epistemology.
Simultaneous inhibition of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL‐33 and IL‐25: A therapeutic option in asthma?
Authors: Maes Tania , Brusselle Guy G.
Published: November 2019

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Successful treatment of fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection with emergent fecal microbiota transplantation in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and prolonged, severe neutropenia
Authors: Lee Matthew S. L. , Ramakrishna Bharat , Moss Alan C. , Gold Howard S. , Branch‐Elliman Westyn
Published: November 2019

We present a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and prolonged, severe neutropenia who developed fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection refractory to medical therapy and was high‐risk for surgical intervention. He was treated with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for life‐saving cure. The patient had subsequent clinical improvement, however, developed multidrug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia 2 days post‐procedure. We describe subsequent investigation of this event that found this bacteremia was not related to the donor stool administered during FMT. This case adds to the literature that FMT could be considered in heavily immunocompromised patients with fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection where maximal medical therapy has been ineffective and surgery may carry an excessively high mortality risk.
Staphylococcus sciuri peritonitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Meservey Amber , Sullivan Alexander , Wu Christine , Lantos Paul M.
Published: November 2019

Staphylococcus sciuri is an occasional cause of human infection that has been described in the flora of numerous animal species and in environmental specimens. Here, we report a rare case of S. sciuri peritonitis in a dialysis patient who had exposure to peridomestic animals.
The generalized Fermat equation with exponents 2, 3,
Authors: Freitas Nuno , Naskręcki Bartosz , Stoll Michael
Published: November 2019

We study the generalized Fermat equation $x^{2}+y^{3}=z^{p}$, to be solved in coprime integers, where $p\geqslant 7$ is prime. Modularity and level-lowering techniques reduce the problem to the determination of the sets of rational points satisfying certain 2-adic and 3-adic conditions on a finite set of twists of the modular curve $X(p)$. We develop new local criteria to decide if two elliptic curves with certain types of potentially good reduction at 2 and 3 can have symplectically or anti-symplectically isomorphic $p$-torsion modules. Using these criteria we produce the minimal list of twists of $X(p)$ that have to be considered, based on local information at 2 and 3; this list depends on $p\hspace{0.2em}{\rm mod}\hspace{0.2em}24$. We solve the equation completely when $p=11$, which previously was the smallest unresolved $p$. One new ingredient is the use of the ‘Selmer group Chabauty’ method introduced by the third author, applied in an elliptic curve Chabauty context, to determine relevant points on $X_{0}(11)$ defined over certain number fields of degree 12. This result is conditional on the generalized Riemann hypothesis, which is needed to show correctness of the computation of the class groups of five specific number fields of degree 36. We also give some partial results for the case $p=13$. The source code for the various computations is supplied as supplementary material with the online version of this article.
Implicit Discontinuous Galerkin Solution on Unstructured Mesh for Turbine Blade Secondary Flow
Authors: Yao M. , He L.
Published: November 2019

To enhance solution accuracy with high-order methods, an implicit solver using the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization on unstructured mesh has been developed. The DG scheme is favored chiefly due to its distinctive feature of achieving a higher-order accuracy by simple internal sub-divisions of a given mesh cell. It can thus relieve the burden of mesh generation for local refinement. The developed method has been assessed in several test cases. First, an examination on the mesh-dependency with different DG orders for discretization has demonstrated the expected mesh convergence order of accuracy correlation. The flow around a cylinder solved with up to the fifth-order accuracy demonstrates the need for a high-order geometrical representation corresponding to the high-order flow field discretization. A calculated turbulent flat plate boundary layer demonstrates the capability of the high-order DG in capturing the laminar sub-layer for a given coarse mesh (y + >20) without a wall function, in a clear contrast to a conventional second-order scheme. The focal test case of the present work is a high-pressure (HP) turbine cascade with the flow losses being strongly influenced by both the laminar separation induced transition on the blade suction surface and the secondary flow development in the endwall region. Fully turbulent RANS solutions consistently overpredict the losses, which can be significantly reduced by an empirically specified transition at a mid-chord point. Of particular interest is a contrasting behavior of pure laminar flow solutions. A steady laminar flow solution is difficult to converge, and even when converging, tends to give an unrealistically large separation. On the other hand when the laminar solution is run in a time-accurate unsteady mode, a qualitatively different flow pattern emerges. The separated shear layer is then shown to lead to coherently shed unsteady vortices with a net entrainment from the main stream to the near-wall region. The resultant time-averaged near-wall flow then effectively becomes a reattached boundary layer. Both overall and distributed losses computed from unsteady laminar solutions are shown to be consistently much better than the fully turbulent RANS solutions. It is remarkable and quite unexpected that for such a seemingly complex 3D flow problem, the straightforward unsteady laminar solutions with no empirical input seem to be comparable with (or slightly better than) the tripped RANS with empirical input.
Temperature Control of a Guard Heater Using Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Nudehi Shahin S. , Venstrom Luke
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the theoretical background and experimental results of temperature control of a guard heater used in an electrochemical model cell for Mg production. A proportional-integral controller was used for the temperature control system. The gains of the controller were set to be constant and were tuned using a fuzzy logic technique due to inherent uncertainties in the system. The feedback loop was implemented using a real-time hardware. Experimental results were in agreement with the simulation data.
Time Delay Control of a High-DOF Robot Manipulator Through Feedback Linearization Based Predictor
Authors: Bagheri Mostafa , Naseradinmousavi Peiman , Krstić Miroslav
Published: November 2019

We formulate a predictor-based controller for a high-DOF manipulator to compensate a time-invariant input delay during a pick-and-place task. Robot manipulators are widely used in tele-manipulation systems on the account of their reliable, fast, and precise motions while they are subject to large delays. Using common control algorithms on such delay systems can cause not only poor control performance, but also catastrophic instability in engineering applications. Therefore, delays need to be compensated in designing robust control laws. As a case study, we focus on a 7-DOF Baxter manipulator subject to three different input delays. First, delay-free dynamic equations of the Baxter manipulator are derived using the Lagrangian method. Then, we formulate a predictor-based controller, in the presence of input delay, in order to track desired trajectories. Finally, the effects of input delays in the absence of a robust predictor are investigated, and then the performance of the predictor-based controller is experimentally evaluated to reveal robustness of the algorithm formulated. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the predictor-based controller effectively compensates input delays and achieves closed-loop stability.
Adaptive NN Learning Control of Discrete-Time Nonlinear Uncertain Systems
Authors: Zhang Jingting , Yuan Chengzhi , Stegagno Paolo
Published: November 2019

This paper addresses the problem of composite tracking control and adaptive learning for discrete-time nonlinear uncertain systems in a general normal form. This problem specifies a joint objective of stable tracking control and accurate learning/identifying the associated ideal control strategy simultaneously, in which the “ideal control strategy” is defined to be the tracking controller structure that is typically adopted when the controlled plant’s nonlinear dynamics are precisely known. To this end, a novel adaptive neural network (NN) learning controller is proposed based on the deterministic learning theory. Compared with existing adaptive NN control approaches, the proposed controller is capable of rendering not only stable tracking control, but also accurate learning/identifying the ideal tracking control strategy. Moreover, the learned knowledge can be effectively represented and stored as constant NN models, whose weights are guaranteed to converge to ideal/optimal values. Based on this, an experience-based controller is also constructed to achieve desired tracking control performance without online adaptation, leading to reduced computational cost and improved controlled performance. Numerical simulations have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Optimal Strategy for Multiple Evaders Against an Agile Pursuer
Authors: Liu Chunsheng , Trevorrow Mark V.
Published: November 2019

This paper focuses on the problem of multiple slow moving and less maneuverable evaders against an agile pursuer, addressing the optimal strategy for multiple evaders. This is the so-called wolf-sheep game. Two scenarios are examined: 1) both pursuer and evaders have perfect knowledge about opponents, and 2) the pursuer has limited detection capability. Since the wolf-sheep game involves the Boolean value state, the game is hard to solve using traditional methods. This paper adopts a hierarchical approach. The two player game is solved first. Then the solution of the multiplayer game is based on the two-player game and the pursuer chasing order. The optimal strategy is calculated based on Nash equilibrium. The game with limited detection capability is solved by maximizing the Close Point of Approach (CPA). The optimal solution will be found theoretically and numerically.
Kinetic to Potential Energy Transformation Using an Elastica
Authors: Chau Sheryl , Mukherjee Ranjan
Published: November 2019

The kinetic energy of a mass traveling in the horizontal direction can be fully transformed into potential energy using an elastica as a temporary storage element. This problem, which resembles the sport of pole-vaulting, is investigated using a non-dimensional framework and by solving the ensuing two-point boundary problem. Dimensional studies are conducted with the objective of better understanding the role of the mass of the vaulter, modeled here as the mass attached to the elastica, and torque applied by the vaulter, modeled here as external torque on the elastica, on vaulting performance. Simulation results indicate better vaulting performance, as indicated by higher non-dimensional potential energy, for lower mass and higher torque.
Evaluating the Performance of Foot Control of a Supernumerary Robotic Limb
Authors: Dougherty Zachary , Winck Ryder C.
Published: November 2019

Supernumerary robotic limbs may one day allow people to perform tasks as if they had an extra limb, extending human capabilities. One challenge with supernumerary robotic limbs is how to control them. One method is teleoperation using the foot. This allows a person to continue using their arms. However, it is not clearly known how well a person can physically and cognitively use a foot-controlled supernumerary robotic arm and both of their arms simultaneously. We present an experiment that shows that using the foot to control a supernumerary robotic arm improves task performance. The task was selected so that it could be performed using only two hands, where the hands switch between subtasks. The use of only two hands provides a baseline for comparison. The results show that using the foot with the hands improved performance relative to just using the hands alone.
Comparison of Adaptive Control Laws for Wind Rejection in Quadrotor UAVs
Authors: Verberne Johannes , Moncayo Hever
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the evaluation of adaptive control augmentation algorithms for wind disturbance rejection in small rotorcraft UAVs. The following control algorithms are developed in an effort to mitigate wind effects: baseline nonlinear dynamic inversion (NLDI), NLDI augmented with adaptive artificial neural networks (ANN), and NLDI augmented with ℒ1 output-feedback adaptive control. A six degrees-of-freedom nonlinear simulation environment is developed to evaluate the performance under different wind disturbance conditions. Monte Carlo analysis and a set of metrics are applied to compare and assess the overall performance of the developed control algorithms within a predefined wind envelope. These metrics provide a performance evaluation for trajectory tracking, angular rates tracking, attitude angle tracking and total energy consumption. The individual metrics are combined to provide the global performance index for the quadrotor with the developed control algorithms. Outdoor flight test results are included in this paper and the capabilities of these controllers to reduce wind disturbance effects on different flight tracking parameters are analyzed. The performance of the developed control laws is evaluated under nominal, low, medium and high wind disturbance conditions.
Control-Oriented Modeling and Repetitive Control in In-Layer and Cross-Layer Thermal Interactions in Selective Laser Sintering
Authors: Wang Dan , Jiang Tianyu , Chen Xu
Published: November 2019

Publisher’s Note:

This paper was selected for publication in ASME Letters in Dynamic Systems and Control.

https://www.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/lettersdynsys/article/doi/10.1115/1.4046367/1074566/Control-Oriented-Modeling-and-Repetitive-Control
A Series Elastic Actuator Design and Control in a Linkage Based Hand Exoskeleton
Authors: Chauhan Raghuraj J. , Ben-Tzvi Pinhas
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the design of a series elastic actuator and a higher level controller for said actuator to assist the motion of a user’s hand in a linkage based hand exoskeleton. While recent trends in the development of exoskeleton gloves has been to exploit the advantages of soft actuators, their size and power requirements limit their adoption. On the other hand, a series elastic actuator can provide compliant assistance to the wearer while remaining compact and lightweight. Furthermore, the linkage based mechanism integrated with the SEA offers repeatability and accuracy to the hand exoskeleton. By measuring the user’s motion intention through compression of the elastic elements in the actuator, a virtual dynamic system can be utilized that assists the users in performing the desired motion while ensuring the motion stability of the overall system. This work describes the detailed design of the actuator followed by performance tests using a simple PD controller on the integrated robotic exoskeleton prototype. The performance of the proposed high level controller is tested using the integrated exoskeleton glove mechanism for a single finger, using two types of input motion. Preliminary results are discussed as well as plans for integrating the proposed actuator and high level controller into a complete hand exoskeleton prototype to perform intelligent grasping.
Self-Resonant Energy Harvester With a Passively Tuned Sliding Mass
Authors: Kim Hongjip , Smith Arthur , Barry Oumar , Zuo Lei
Published: November 2019

Passive tuning phenomenon with a sliding mass on a vibrating beam has been observed and studied in the literature. Such a phenomenon can be extended to self-resonant energy harvesting, where the natural frequency can be favorably adjusted to the excitation frequency for enhanced energy harvesting. In this paper, we consider the nonlinear dynamic coupling of a piezoelectric clamped-clamped beam with sliding mass and study experimentally and numerically how these nonlinear interactions affect the performance of the energy harvester. We derive the mathematical model using the extended Hamilton principle. The governing equations of motion are obtained as three coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. The Galerkin method is employed to obtain a reduced order model. Our mathematical formulation is validated via experiments and the results show very good agreement between the simulation and the experiment. Parametric studies are carried out to examine how key parameters affect the performance of the energy harvester. The findings suggest that a passively tuned mechanism with a small sliding mass can increase the power output even when the excitation frequency is far off the original resonance.
Optimal Maintenance of Electric Vehicle Battery System Through Overnight Home Charging
Authors: Jangra Sidharth , Chung Chien Hsin , Lai Qingzhi , Lin Xinfan
Published: November 2019

Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is emerging as one of the most viable choices for the transportation sector to reduce fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission. As the most critical component of PEV, battery systems require intensive management and diagnostics to ensure safety, efficiency, and endurance. Most existing studies focus on battery management when PEVs are under operation while none has explored battery maintenance during overnight parking, which accounts for a majority of the time (> 12 hours per day). Battery states during this period significantly affect the lifetime due to the side reactions that occur even when the battery is not in use. The process occurs at an accelerated rate when the battery energy level or temperature is too high or too low. In this paper, we propose to utilize an existing infrastructure available to PEV owners, the home charging unit, for intelligent battery maintenance during overnight parking. We will design an optimal charging profile that would charge the battery to a specific level while maintaining its states at optimal conditions to minimize degradation due to side reactions over the whole overnight period. Optimal charging profiles are created for different ambient temperatures and at different stages of battery life to investigate various scenarios. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed optimal charging profiles, the total capacity loss overnight is compared with those of three standard charging profiles.
A New Quasi-Steady In-Ground Effect Model for Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: He Xiang , Leang Kam K.
Published: November 2019

This paper introduces a new quasi-steady in-ground effect model for rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicles to predict the aerodynamic behavior when the vehicle’s rotors approach ground plane. The model assumes that the compression of the outflow due to the presence of ground plane induces a change in the induced velocity that can drastically affect the thrust and power output. The new empirical model describes the change in thrust as a function of the distance to an obstacle for a rotor in hover condition. Using blade element theory and the method of image, the model parameters are described in terms of the rotor pitch angle and solidity. Experiments with off-the-shelf, fixed-pitch propellers and 3D-printed variable pitch propellers are carried out to validate the model. Experimental results suggest good agreement with 9.5% root-mean-square error (RMSE) and 97% p-value of statistic significance.