bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast contact force calculation method for a wire mesh based on support vector machine
Authors: Li Jun , Ma Xiaofei , Li Tuanjie
Published: March 2017

The wire mesh of a space mesh reflector antenna is a core component that reflects electromagnetic waves, greatly influencing the functions of the antenna. Due to the complex weaving structure of the wire mesh, there are thousands of contact nodes per square meter. Therefore, modeling and analyzing the wire mesh becomes very difficult. It is both time-consuming and labor-intensive to calculate the contact force of the wire mesh. In this paper, fast contact force calculation for a wire mesh based on support vector machine (SVM) was developed. First, the wire mesh was discretized into small-sized wire meshes with the same shape. Then, the contact forces of the discretized wire meshes with different boundary conditions can be obtained by the finite element method. Afterwards, a (SVM) model was established based on a small part of the contact forces. Finally, the accuracy and efficiency of the fast calculation model was validated through the numerical examples.
The Digital Signal Processing Platform for the Low Frequency Aperture Array: Preliminary Results on the Data Acquisition Unit
Authors: Naldi Giovanni , Mattana Andrea , Pastore Sandro , Alderighi Monica , Zarb Adami Kristian , Schillirò Francesco , Aminaei Amin , Baker Jeremy , Belli Carolina , Comoretto Gianni , Chiarucci Simone , Chiello Riccardo , D’Angelo Sergio , Dalle Mura Gabriele , De Marco Andrea , Halsall Rob , Magro Alessio , Monari Jader , Roberts Matt , Perini Federico , Poloni Marco , Pupillo Giuseppe , Rusticelli Simone , Schiaffino Marco , Zaccaro Emanuele
Published: March 2017

A signal processing hardware platform has been developed for the Low Frequency Aperture Array component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The processing board, called an Analog Digital Unit (ADU), is able to acquire and digitize broadband (up to 500[Formula: see text]MHz bandwidth) radio-frequency streams from 16 dual polarized antennas, channel the data streams and then combine them flexibly as part of a larger beamforming system. It is envisaged that there will be more than 8000 of these signal processing platforms in the first phase of the SKA, so particular attention has been devoted to ensure the design is low-cost and low-power. This paper describes the main features of the data acquisition unit of such a platform and presents preliminary results characterizing its performance.
Equations, Contractions, and Unique Solutions
Authors: Sangiorgi Davide
Published: March 2017

One of the most studied behavioural equivalences is bisimilarity. Its success is much due to the associated bisimulation proof method, which can be further enhanced by means of “bisimulation up-to” techniques such as “up-to context.”

A different proof method is discussed, based on a unique solution of special forms of inequations called contractions and inspired by Milner’s theorem on unique solution of equations. The method is as powerful as the bisimulation proof method and its “up-to context” enhancements. The definition of contraction can be transferred onto other behavioural equivalences, possibly contextual and non-coinductive. This enables a coinductive reasoning style on such equivalences, either by applying the method based on unique solution of contractions or by injecting appropriate contraction preorders into the bisimulation game.

The techniques are illustrated in CCS-like languages; an example dealing with higher-order languages is also shown.
Inducing a Bilingual Lexicon from Short Parallel Multiword Sequences
Authors: Finch Andrew , Harada Taisuke , Tanaka-Ishii Kumiko , Sumita Eiichiro
Published: March 2017

This article proposes a technique for mining bilingual lexicons from pairs of parallel short word sequences. The technique builds a generative model from a corpus of training data consisting of such pairs. The model is a hierarchical nonparametric Bayesian model that directly induces a bilingual lexicon while training. The model learns in an unsupervised manner and is designed to exploit characteristics of the language pairs being mined. The proposed model is capable of utilizing commonly used word-pair frequency information and additionally can employ the internal character alignments within the words themselves. It is thereby capable of mining transliterations and can use reliably aligned transliteration pairs to support the mining of other words in their context. The model is also capable of performing word reordering and word deletion during the alignment process, and it is furthermore capable of operating in the absence of full segmentation information. In this work, we study two mining tasks based on English-Japanese and English-Chinese language pairs, and compare the proposed approach to baselines based on a simpler models that use only word-pair frequency information. Our results show that the proposed method is able to mine bilingual word pairs at higher levels of precision and recall than the baselines.
Iterative Analysis to Improve Key Properties of Critical Human-Intensive Processes
Authors: Osterweil Leon J. , Bishop Matt , Conboy Heather M. , Phan Huong , Simidchieva Borislava I. , Avrunin George S. , Clarke Lori A. , Peisert Sean
Published: March 2017

In this article, we present an approach for systematically improving complex processes, especially those involving human agents, hardware devices, and software systems. We illustrate the utility of this approach by applying it to part of an election process and show how it can improve the security and correctness of that subprocess. We use the Little-JIL process definition language to create a precise and detailed definition of the process. Given this process definition, we use two forms of automated analysis to explore whether specified key properties, such as security and safety policies, can be undermined. First, we use model checking to identify process execution sequences that fail to conform to event-sequence properties. After these are addressed, we apply fault tree analysis to identify when the misperformance of steps might allow undesirable outcomes, such as security breaches. The results of these analyses can provide assurance about the process; suggest areas for improvement; and, when applied to a modified process definition, evaluate proposed changes.
Peripheral and Autonomic Neuropathy in South Asians and White Caucasians with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Possible Explanations for Epidemiological Differences
Authors: Tahrani Abd A. , Altaf Q. A. , Piya Milan K. , Barnett Anthony H.
Published: March 2017

Objectives.To compare the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and that of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) between South Asians and White Caucasians with type 2 diabetes and to explore reasons for observed differences.Methods.A cross-sectional study of casually selected South Asian and White Caucasian adults attending a hospital-based diabetes clinic in the UK. DPN and CAN were assessed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) and heart rate variability testing, respectively.Results.Patients (n=266) were recruited (47.4% South Asians). DPN was more common in White Caucasians compared to South Asians (54.3% versus 38.1%,p=0.008). Foot insensitivity as assessed by 10 g monofilament perception was more common in White Caucasians (43.9% versus 23.8%,p=0.001). After adjustment for confounders, White Caucasians remained twice as likely to have DPN as South Asians, but the impact of ethnicity became nonsignificant after adjusting for adiposity measures or height. No difference in prevalence of standardized CAN test abnormalities was detected between ethnicities. Skin microvascular assessment demonstrated that South Asians had reduced heating flux but preserved acetylcholine response.Conclusions.South Asians with type 2 diabetes have fewer clinical signs of DPN compared to White Caucasians. Differences in adiposity (and its distribution) and height appear to explain these differences.
Study on Carbonyl Emissions of Diesel Engine Fueled with Biodiesel
Authors: Li Ruina , Wang Zhong , Xu Guangju
Published: March 2017

Biodiesel is a kind of high-quality alternative fuel of diesel engine. In this study, biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blend were used in a single cylinder diesel engine to study the carbonyl emissions. The result shows that carbonyl pollutants of biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blend are mainly aldehyde and ketone compounds with 1–3 carbon atoms, and formaldehyde concentration is higher than 80% of the total carbonyl pollutants for biodiesel. The formaldehyde concentration peak is reduced with the increase of intake temperature (T), intake pressure (P), and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) ratio and increased with the increase of compression ratio (ε). When excess air coefficient (λ) is lower than 1.7, the formaldehyde concentration is increased with the increase of excess air ratio. When λ is higher than 1.7, the formaldehyde concentration is reduced with the increase of excess air ratio. The dilution of air can reduce formaldehyde concentration in the premixed flame of diesel effectively; however, it has less effect on biodiesel. Among the fuel pretreatment measures of adding hydrogen, CO, and methane, the addition of hydrogen shows the best effect on reducing formaldehyde of biodiesel.
Pre- and Postsurgical Orthodontics in Patients with Moebius Syndrome
Authors: Magnifico Marisabel , Cassi Diana , Kasa Ilda , Di Blasio Marco , Di Blasio Alberto , Gandolfini Mauro
Published: March 2017

The authors report a combined orthodontic-surgical correction of an adult patient’s malocclusion affected by Moebius Syndrome (MS). The treatment was conducted at the Dentistry Unit and the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the University Hospital of Parma. Treatment of malocclusion was performed after the correction of facial mimic mobility with smile surgery. The postoperative stability and orthodontic results were good and the correction of the morphological problems related to the syndrome was very satisfactory.
Commodity Systems Assessment Methodology of Postharvest Losses in Vegetable Amaranths: The Case of Tamale, Ghana
Authors: Osei-Kwarteng Mildred , Gweyi-Onyango Joseph Patrick , Mahunu Gustav Komla
Published: March 2017

A semistructured questionnaire based on the commodity system assessment methodology (CSAM) was used to determine postharvest losses in vegetable amaranths (VA). Fifty producers and retailers were randomly selected from five and four major VA producing areas and markets, respectively, and interviewed. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistical analyses. The survey revealed that absence of laws, regulation, incentives, and inadequate technical information affected the production of VA. The utmost preproduction challenge was poor quality seeds with poor seed yield (35%), low viability (19%), and nontrueness (46%). It was noted that some cultural practices including planting pattern and density, irrigation, and fertiliser use had effects on postharvest losses. Some postharvest practices used were cleaning with water, trimming, sorting, and grading. Usually the produce was transported to marketing centers by cars and motor cycle trailers. Generally poor temperature management after harvest was a big challenge for the postharvest handling of VA. The potential of vegetable amaranths as a commodity in the study area can be enhanced by providing the necessary institutional support, incentives, and use of good management practices along the value chain. An interdisciplinary approach and quantification of losses along the chain are recommended for any future study.
Investigation of Small Bowel Abnormalities in HIV-Infected Patients Using Capsule Endoscopy
Authors: Sakai Eiji , Higurashi Takuma , Ohkubo Hidenori , Hosono Kuhihiro , Ueda Atsuhisa , Matsuhashi Nobuyuki , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: March 2017

HIV infection is reportedly associated with an increased permeability of the intestinal epithelium and can cause HIV enteropathy, which occurs independently of opportunistic infections. However, the characteristics of small bowel abnormalities attributable to HIV infection are rarely investigated. In the present study, we assessed the intestinal mucosal changes found in HIV-infected patients and compared them with the mucosa of healthy control subjects using capsule endoscopy (CE). Three of the 27 HIV-infected patients harbored gastrointestinal opportunistic infections and were thus excluded from subsequent analyses. The endoscopic findings of CE in HIV-infected patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects (55% versus 10%,P=0.002); however, most lesions, such as red spots or tiny erosions, were unlikely to cause abdominal symptoms. After validating the efficacy of CE for the diagnosis of villous atrophy, we found that the prevalence of villous atrophy was 54% (13/24) among HIV-infected patients. Interestingly, villous atrophy persisted in patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy, though most of them exhibited reconstituted peripheral blood CD4+ T cells. Although we could not draw any conclusions regarding the development of small bowel abnormalities in HIV-infected patients, our results may provide some insight regarding the pathogenesis of HIV enteropathy.
Geographical Origin Traceability of Red Wines Based on Chemometric Classification via Organic Acid Profiles
Authors: Huang Xian-Yong , Jiang Zi-Tao , Tan Jin , Li Rong
Published: March 2017

A preliminary study on the chemometric classification of red wines produced from different grape varieties and geographical origins was performed based on their chromatographic profiles of organic acids. Tartaric, malic, citric, lactic, acetic, and succinic acids in wines were detected via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Employing multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), pattern recognition models were built for the classification of the investigated wines regarding the grape varieties and geographical origins. The PCA clearly grouped the wines according to variety, and the LDA further offered 100% classification ability toward geographical identification of the wines and the leave-one-out cross-validated assignments were 100%, 86.7%, and 100% correct for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir wines, respectively. The results reveal the potential of using chromatographic profiles of organic acid as the characteristic indices for chemometric classification of red wines.
Design of Optimized Multimedia Data Streaming Management Using OMDSM over Mobile Networks
Authors: Park Byungjoo , Hwang Ankyu , Latchman Haniph
Published: March 2017

Mobility management is an essential challenge for supporting reliable multimedia data streaming over wireless and mobile networks in the Internet of Things (IoT) for location-based mobile marketing applications. The communications among mobile nodes for IoT need to have a seamless handover for delivering high quality multimedia services. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) mobility management schemes are the proposals for handling the routing of IPv6 packets to mobile nodes that have moved away from their home network. However, the standard mobility management scheme cannot prevent packet losses due to longer handover latency. In this article, a new enhanced data streaming route optimization scheme is introduced that uses an optimized Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) realignment algorithm in order to prevent the packet disordering problem whenever the nodes in the IoT environment are communicating with each other. With the proposed scheme, data packets sequence realignment can be prevented, the packet traffic speed can be controlled, and the TCP performance can be improved. The experimental results show that managing the packet order in proposed new scheme remarkably increases the overall TCP performance over mobile networks within the IoT environment thus ensuring the high quality of service (QoS) for multimedia data streaming in location-based mobile marketing applications.
Effects of Mixing and Curing Temperature on the Strength Development and Pore Structure of Fly Ash Blended Mass Concrete
Authors: Park Ki-Bong , Noguchi Takafumi
Published: March 2017

The aim of this work is to know clearly the effects of temperature in response to curing condition, hydration heat, and outside weather conditions on the strength development of high-performance concrete. The concrete walls were designed using three different sizes and three different types of concrete. The experiments were conducted under typical summer and winter weather conditions. Temperature histories at different locations in the walls were recorded and the strength developments of concrete at those locations were measured. The main factors investigated that influence the strength developments of the obtained samples were the bound water contents, the hydration products, and the pore structure. Testing results indicated that the elevated summer temperatures did not affect the early-age strength gain of concrete made using ordinary Portland cement. Strength development was significantly increased at early ages in concrete made using belite-rich Portland cement or with the addition of fly ash. The elevated temperatures resulted in a long-term strength loss in both belite-rich and fly ash containing concrete. The long-term strength loss was caused by a reduction in the degree of hydration and an increase in the total porosity and amount of smaller pores in the material.
Joint Optimization of Preventive Maintenance and Spare Parts Inventory with Appointment Policy
Authors: Cai Jing , Yin Yibing , Zhang Li , Chen Xi
Published: March 2017

Under the background of the wide application of condition‐based maintenance (CBM) in maintenance practice, the joint optimization of maintenance and spare parts inventory is becoming a hot research to take full advantage of CBM and reduce the operational cost. In order to avoid both the high inventory level and the shortage of spare parts, an appointment policy of spare parts is first proposed based on the prediction of remaining useful lifetime, and then a corresponding joint optimization model of preventive maintenance and spare parts inventory is established. Due to the complexity of the model, the combination method of genetic algorithm and Monte Carlo is presented to get the optimal maximum inventory level, safety inventory level, potential failure threshold, and appointment threshold to minimize the cost rate. Finally, the proposed model is studied through a case study and compared with both the separate optimization and the joint optimization without appointment policy, and the results show that the proposed model is more effective. In addition, the sensitivity analysis shows that the proposed model is consistent with the actual situation of maintenance practices and inventory management.
Stability and Hopf Bifurcation Analysis for a Computer Virus Propagation Model with Two Delays and Vaccination
Authors: Zhang Zizhen , Wang Yougang , Bi Dianjie , Guerrini Luca
Published: March 2017

A further generalization of an SEIQRS-V (susceptible-exposed-infectious-quarantined-recovered-susceptible with vaccination) computer virus propagation model is the main topic of the present paper. This paper specifically analyzes effects on the asymptotic dynamics of the computer virus propagation model when two time delays are introduced. Sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability and existence of the Hopf bifurcation are established by regarding different combination of the two delays as the bifurcation parameter. Moreover, explicit formulas that determine the stability, direction, and period of the bifurcating periodic solutions are obtained with the help of the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. Finally, numerical simulations are employed for supporting the obtained analytical results.
Investigation of the Mode Structures of Multiphoton Induced Ultraviolet Laser in a ZnO Microrod
Authors: Zhu Guangping
Published: March 2017

Hexagonal wurtzite structural ZnO microrods were fabricated by vapor-phase transport method. Under the excitation of a pulse laser with 1200 nm wavelength, the multiphoton induced ultraviolet (UV) laser was observed in a microrod. The dependence of the laser mode structures on pump intensity was investigated. The result indicates that the laser belongs to whispering gallery mode (WGM) at low pump intensity and Fabry-Perot (FP) mode at high pump intensity. The corresponding positive feedback mechanisms were discussed.
Preservation of Myocardial Perfusion and Function by Keeping Hypertrophied Heart Empty and Beating for Valve Surgery: An In Vivo MR Study of Pig Hearts
Authors: Wang Jian , Xiang Bo , Deng Jixian , Lin Hung-Yu , Freed Darren H. , Arora Rakesh C. , Tian Ganghong
Published: March 2017

Objectives. Normothermic hyperkalemic cardioplegia arrest (NHCA) may not effectively preserve hypertrophied myocardium during open-heart surgery. Normothermic normokalemic beating perfusion (NNBP), keeping hearts empty-beating, was utilized as an alternative to evaluate its cardioprotective role.Materials and Methods. Twelve hypertrophied pig hearts at 58.6 ± 7.2 days after ascending aorta banding underwent NNBP and NHCA, respectively. Near infrared myocardial perfusion imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) was conducted to assess myocardial perfusion. Left ventricular (LV) contractile function was assessed by cine MRI. TUNEL staining and western blotting for caspase-3 cleavage and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) degradation were conducted in LV tissue samples.Results. Ascending aortic diameter was reduced by52.7%±0.4%at approximately fifty-eight days after banding. LV wall thickness was significantly higher in aorta banding than in sham operation. Myocardial blood flow reflected by maximum ICG absorbance value was markedly higher in NNBP than in NHCA. The amount of apoptotic cardiomyocyte was significantly lower in NNBP than in NHCA. NNBP alleviated caspase-3 cleavage and cTnI degradation associated with NHCA. NNBP displayed a substantially increased postoperative ejection fraction relative to NHCA.Conclusions. NNBP was better than NHCA in enhancing myocardial perfusion, inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and preserving LV contractile function for hypertrophied hearts.
Ionospheric Gradient Threat Mitigation in Future Dual Frequency GBAS
Authors: Felux Michael , Circiu Mihaela-Simona , Lee Jiyun , Holzapfel Florian
Published: March 2017

The Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) is a landing system for aircraft based on differential corrections for the signals of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS or Galileo. The main impact on the availability of current single frequency systems results from the necessary protection against ionospheric gradients. With the introduction of Galileo and the latest generation of GPS satellites, a second frequency is available for aeronautical navigation. Dual frequency methods allow forming of ionospheric free combinations of the signals, eliminating a large part of the ionospheric threats to GBAS. However, the combination of several signals increases the noise in the position solution and in the calculation of error bounds. We, therefore, developed a method to base positioning algorithms on single frequency measurements and use the second frequency only for monitoring purposes. In this paper, we describe a detailed derivation of the monitoring scheme and discuss its implications for the use in an aviation context.
Modification of Nafion® Membrane via a Sol-Gel Route for Vanadium Redox Flow Energy Storage Battery Applications
Authors: Huang Shu-Ling , Yu Hsin-Fu , Lin Yung-Sheng
Published: March 2017

Nafion 117(N-117)/SiO2-SO3H modified membranes were prepared using the 3-Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) to react with H2O2via in situ sol-gel route. Basic properties including water uptake, contact angle, ion exchange capacity (IEC), vanadium ion permeability, impedance, and conductivity were measured to investigate how they affect the charge-discharge characteristics of a cell. Furthermore, we also set a vanadium redox flow energy battery (VRFB) single cell by the unmodified/modified N-117 membranes as a separated membrane to test its charge/discharge performance and compare the relations among the impedance and efficiency. The results show that the appropriate amount of SiO2-SO3H led into the N-117 membrane contributive to the improvement of proton conductivity and vanadium ion selectivity. The permeability was effectively decreased from original 3.13 × 10−6 cm2/min for unmodified N-117 to 0.13 × 10−6 cm2/min for modified membrane. The IEC was raised from original 0.99 mmol/g to 1.24 mmol/g. The modified membrane showed a good cell performance in the VRFB charge/discharge experiment, and the maximum coulombic efficiency was up to 94%, and energy efficiency was 82%. In comparison with unmodified N-117, the energy efficiency of modified membrane had increased more than around 10%.
Curcumin Analogue CA15 Exhibits Anticancer Effects on HEp-2 Cells via Targeting NF-κB
Authors: Chen Jian , Zhang Linlin , Shu Yilai , Chen Liping , Zhu Min , Yao Song , Wang Jiabing , Wu Jianzhang , Liang Guang , Wu Haitao , Li Wulan
Published: March 2017

Laryngeal carcinoma remains one of the most common malignancies, and curcumin has been proven to be effective against head and neck cancers in vitro. However, it has not yet been applied in clinical settings due to its low stability. In the current study, we synthesized 34 monocarbonyl analogues of curcumin with stable structures. CA15, which exhibited a stronger inhibited effect on laryngeal cancer cells HEp-2 but a lower toxicity on hepatic cells HL-7702 in MTT assay, was selected for further analysis. The effects of CA15 on cell viability, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and NF-κB activation were measured using MTT, Transwell migration, flow cytometry, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays in HEp-2 cells. An NF-κB inhibitor, BMS-345541, as well as curcumin was also tested. Results showed that CA15 induced decreased toxicity towards HL-7702 cells compared to curcumin and BMS-345541. However, similar to BMS-345541 and curcumin, CA15 not only significantly inhibited proliferation and migration and induced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis but also attenuated TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation in HEp-2 cells. These results demonstrated that curcumin analogue CA15 exhibited anticancer effects on laryngeal cancer cells via targeting of NF-κB.
Stabilization of Continuous‐Time Random Switching Systems via a Fault‐Tolerant Controller
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Li Zhiqiang
Published: March 2017

This paper focuses on the stabilization problem of continuous‐time random switching systems via exploiting a fault‐tolerant controller, where the dwell time of each subsystem consists of a fixed part and random part. It is known from the traditional design methods that the computational complexity of LMIs related to the quantity of fault combination is very large; particularly system dimension or amount of subsystems is large. In order to reduce the number of the used fault combinations, new sufficient LMI conditions for designing such a controller are established by a robust approach, which are fault‐free and could be solved directly. Moreover, the fault‐tolerant stabilization realized by a mode‐independent controller is considered and suitably applied to a practical case without mode information. Finally, a numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed methods.
Drug Induced Pneumonitis Secondary to Treatment with Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir (VIEKIRA PAK®) for Chronic Hepatitis C: Case Report of an Unexpected Life-Threatening Adverse Reaction
Authors: Wu Shih Yea Sylvia , Faire Bridget , Gane Edward
Published: March 2017

VIEKIRA PAK (ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir) is an approved treatment for compensated patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This oral regimen has minimal adverse effects and is well tolerated. Cure rates are 97% in patients infected with HCV GT 1a and 99% in those with HCV GT 1b. We report the first case of life-threatening allergic pneumonitis associated with VIEKIRA PAK. This unexpected serious adverse event occurred in a 68-year-old Chinese female with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. One week into treatment with VIEKIRA PAK without ribavirin, she was admitted to hospital with respiratory distress and acute kidney injury requiring intensive care input. She was initially diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia and improved promptly with intravenous antibiotics and supported care. No bacterial or viral pathogens were cultured. Following complete recovery, she recommenced VIEKIRA PAK but represented 5 days later with more rapidly progressive respiratory failure, requiring intubation and ventilation, inotropic support, and haemodialysis. The final diagnosis was drug induced pneumonitis.
Huge Lymphangioma of the Esophagus Resected by Endoscopic Piecemeal Mucosal Resection
Authors: Luo Dinghai , Ye Liping , Wu Weidan , Zheng Haihong , Mao Xinli
Published: March 2017

We present an unusual case of a 41-year-old male patient with a large lymphangioma of the esophagus. Endoscopy revealed that the structure measured 60 × 10 mm in the mucosa and the submucosa and had a heterogenous echo pattern. The esophageal mass was successfully resected by endoscopic piecemeal mucosal resection. However, most esophageal lymphangiomas that are larger than 2 cm in diameter reported in the literature can be removed only through open surgery. Thus far, we know of no reported cases of endoscopic resection as a treatment for this case.
Commutative Watermarking-Encryption of Audio Data with Minimum Knowledge Verification
Authors: Schmitz Roland , Gruber Jan
Published: March 2017

We present a scheme for commutative watermarking-encryption (CWE) of audio data and demonstrate its robustness against an important class of attacks, Time-Scale Modifications (TSM). In addition, we show how the proposed CWE scheme can be integrated into a cryptographic protocol enabling public verification of the embedded mark without disclosing the mark or the watermarking key used for embedding.
Influence of Pressure on the Temperature Dependence of Quantum Oscillation Phenomena in Semiconductors
Authors: Gulyamov G. , Erkaboev U. I. , Gulyamov A. G.
Published: March 2017

The influence of pressure on the oscillations of Shubnikov-de Haas (ShdH) and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) in semiconductors is studied. Working formula for the calculation of the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the Landau levels of electrons is obtained. The temperature dependence of quantum oscillations for different pressures is determined. The calculation results are compared with experimental data. It is shown that the effect of pressure on the band gap is manifested to oscillations and ShdH and dHvA effects in semiconductors.
A Giant Cavernous Hemangioma of the Left Atrioventricular Groove
Authors: Fan Chengming , Tan Changming , Kong Demiao , Yang Jinfu , Yuan Shuwen , Wu Sijie
Published: March 2017

A 10-year-old Chinese female diagnosed with an asymptomatic giant cardiac cavernous hemangioma was reported. The patient originally tended to observation because this unusual cardiac tumoral mass was discovered incidentally during routine health examination of transthoracic echocardiography. Over 5 years of follow-up, the mass had enlarged obviously, and the patient visited our outpatient clinic and was prone to excision. Subsequently, a total resection surgery of the tumor was performed, and the tumor was found to be located on the left atrioventricular groove with complete packing membrane. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4 and remains asymptomatic on last follow-up.
Nutritional Composition and Phytochemical, Antioxidative, and Antifungal Activities ofPergularia tomentosaL.
Authors: Lahmar Imen , Belghith Hafedh , Ben Abdallah Ferjani , Belghith Karima
Published: March 2017

Crude extracts from a medicinal Tunisian plant,Pergularia tomentosaL., were the investigated natural material. Butanolic extract of roots analyzed with IR spectra revealed the presence of hydroxyl, alcoholic, and carboxylic groups and sugars units. Analysis of some secondary metabolites, total phenolic, flavonoids, flavonols, and procyanidins, was performed using different solvents following the increased gradient of polarity. Fruits and leaves contained the highest amounts of all these compounds. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by the determination of free radical scavenging activity and the reducing power of methanolic extracts. Fruits and leaf extracts were the most powerful antioxidants for the two-assay in vitro system. Stems and fruits extracts exhibit an antifungal activity againstFusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersiciwhich could become an alternative to synthetic fungicide to controlSolanumspecies fungal diseases.
Clinical Applications of Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion MRI Techniques in Gliomas: Recent Advances and Current Challenges
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Liu Heng , Tong Haipeng , Wang Sumei , Yang Yizeng , Liu Gang , Zhang Weiguo
Published: March 2017

Gliomas possess complex and heterogeneous vasculatures with abnormal hemodynamics. Despite considerable advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for improving tumor management and patient care in recent years, the prognosis of malignant gliomas remains dismal. Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging techniques that could noninvasively provide superior information on vascular functionality have attracted much attention for evaluating brain tumors. However, nonconsensus imaging protocols and postprocessing analysis among different institutions impede their integration into standard-of-care imaging in clinic. And there have been very few studies providing a comprehensive evidence-based and systematic summary. This review first outlines the status of glioma theranostics and tumor-associated vascular pathology and then presents an overview of the principles of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-MRI (DSC-MRI), with emphasis on their recent clinical applications in gliomas including tumor grading, identification of molecular characteristics, differentiation of glioma from other brain tumors, treatment response assessment, and predicting prognosis. Current challenges and future perspectives are also highlighted.
Model of the Mechanical Behavior of Cementitious Matrices Reinforced with Nanomaterials
Authors: Balopoulos Victor D. , Archontas Nikolaos , Pantazopoulou Stavroula J.
Published: March 2017

CNTs and CNFs have been introduced as a nanoscale reinforcing material to cementitious composites, for stiffening and strengthening the microstructure. This technology is motivated by the need to control crack initiation in the cementitious gel before it propagates into visible crack formations. Experimental evidence supports this concept; however, testing at the nanoscale may only be conducted through nanoindentation, which has a limited range only providing localized results that cannot be extrapolated to general stress states. To evaluate the restraining action of nanomaterials in the gel microstructure, a computational mechanistic model has been developed where the material phases (gel, nanotubes, and pores) are modeled explicitly allowing for natural randomness in their distribution and orientation. Repeated analysis with identical input data reproduces the statistical scatter observed in laboratory tests on identical material samples. The formulation uses a discrete element approach; the gel structure is represented by a random network of hydrates and successfully reproduces the known trends in mechanical behavior of cementitious materials (pressure and restraint sensitive material behavior) and the small ratio of tensile to compressive strength. Simulations illustrate that it is possible to computationally reproduce the measured properties and behavior of fiber-reinforced cement composites using information from simple laboratory tests.
Deformation Prediction of Plate Line Rolling Forming Based on Inherent Strain Method
Authors: Hu Changcheng , Zhao Yao , Tang Guoyuan
Published: March 2017

Inherent strain method has been widely used as a forecasting and computing method for welding deformation of large complicated structures and further applied to the research of line heating forming. Mechanical forming is a common ship‐hull plate forming method, for which deformation prediction still depends mainly on elastoplastic finite element method. This paper researched the application of inherent strain method to plate line rolling forming, a common mechanical forming method, and then compared the results of inherent strain method and elastoplastic finite element method, proving the applicability of inherent strain method, providing a method for fast, accurate forecasting of distortion in plate line rolling and formation of automation equipment.
Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist Mitigates Hematopoietic Radiation Syndrome and Improves Survival after Whole-Body Ionizing Irradiation Followed by Wound Trauma
Authors: Kiang Juliann G. , Zhai Min , Liao Pei-Jun , Ho Connie , Gorbunov Nikolai V. , Elliott Thomas B.
Published: March 2017

Ionizing radiation combined with trauma tissue injury (combined injury, CI) results in greater mortality and H-ARS than radiation alone (radiation injury, RI), which includes thrombocytopenia. The aim of this study was to determine whether increases in numbers of thrombocytes would improve survival and mitigate H-ARS after CI. We observed in mice that WBC and platelets remained very low in surviving RI animals that were given 9.5 Gy60Co-γ-photon radiation, whereas only lymphocytes and basophils remained low in surviving CI mice that were irradiated and then given skin wounds. Numbers of RBC and platelets, hemoglobin concentrations, and hematocrit values remained low in surviving RI and CI mice. CI induced 30-day mortality higher than RI. Radiation delayed wound healing by approximately 14 days. Treatment with a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, Alxn4100TPO, after CI improved survival, mitigated body-weight loss, and reduced water consumption. Though this therapy delayed wound-healing rate more than in vehicle groups, it greatly increased numbers of platelets in sham, wounded, RI, and CI mice; it significantly mitigated decreases in WBC, spleen weights, and splenocytes in CI mice and decreases in RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit values, and splenocytes and splenomegaly in RI mice. The results suggest that Alxn4100TPO is effective in mitigating CI.
Energy Method Solution for the Vertical Deformation of Longitudinally Coupled Prefabricated Slab Track
Authors: Ren Juanjuan , Deng Shijie , Jin Zhibin , Yang Junbin , Liu Xueyi
Published: March 2017

Upwarping on the longitudinally coupled prefabricated slab track system caused by the rising temperature is a common distress, which deteriorates the mechanical properties of the coupled slabs and the vertical stability of slabs. The objective of this paper is to quantify the upwarping deformation on the slab subjected to temperature force and to find out the influence of different factors on the upwarping phenomenon of the slabs. An analytical expression is deduced using energy method, and a finite element model is also established to verify the analytical solution’s adequacy. The following main findings are drawn: (1) when the amplitude of the initial elastic misalignment we is equal to a half of the amplitude of the initial plastic misalignment wp and the half‐wavelength lmin takes the most unfavorable value, the maximum relative error between the analytical solution and the result in FEM is only 2.64%, which demonstrates that the analytical solution correlates well with the FEM results. (2) lmin is closely related with wp. With the increase of wp, lmin becomes longer, and the maximum length of the half‐wavelength is 7.769 m. (3) When the total amplitude we + wp exaggerates, the slab will be much likely to suffer upwarping.
PC2 Ovotransferrin: Characterization and Alternative Immunotherapeutic Activity
Authors: Chiurciu Constantin , Chiurciu Viorica , Oporanu Mariana , Pătrașcu Ionel Victor , Mihai Iuliana , Tablică Mădălina , Cristina Romeo Teodor
Published: March 2017

Characterization and evaluation of immunotherapeutic potential of ovotransferrin PC2 (OTf PC2) were performed in this study. The ovoprotein was obtained from egg white from hens immunized with bacterial antigens, pathogenic for humans. For the negative control samples, OTf was extracted from eggs collected from Specific Pathogen‐Free (SPF) hens and purified by affinity chromatography on Protein G‐agarose column with two eluting peaks: I, representing ovalbumin, and II, ovotransferrin. The final apo-OTf form was reached by successive precipitation with ammonium sulfate and citric acid and the holo-OTf form by saturating the apo-form with FeCl3. Multiple OTf PC2 samples were analyzed through Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate‐Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and, based on the molecular marker migration model, the ovotransferrin (76.5 kDa) and ovalbumin (45 kDa) were detected. The agglutination reaction exhibited statistically significant high specificity of the multiple OTf PC2, by reacting with the antigens used for hens’ immunization. Following ELISA, it was established that OTf PC2 from hyperimmune eggs has specificity for all antigens; the antibody titer was high, indicating that OTf PC2 possesses immunological properties similar to immunoglobulin Y (Ig Y). This study suggests that OTf PC2 immunological activity may play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of infections resistant to antibiotics and OTf PC2 can also act as a valuable nutraceutical.
Multiband Planar Inverted-F Antenna with Independent Operating Bands Control for Mobile Handset Applications
Authors: El Halaoui Mustapha , Kaabal Abdelmoumen , Asselman Hassan , Ahyoud Saida , Asselman Adel
Published: March 2017

A new compact multiband PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna) for mobile handset is proposed in this article. The proposed PIFA has a simple geometry with four slots integrated in the radiating patch and ground plane. The PIFA occupies a small volume of 51 × 14 × 7.2 mm3and is placed on the top portion of mobile phone. The optimized PIFA is worked in the 790 MHz band (737–831 MHz), the 1870 MHz band (1794–1977 MHz), the 2550 MHz band (2507–2615 MHz), and the 3400 MHz band (3341–3545 MHz), to cover LTE700, LTE800, DCS1800, PCS1900, LTE1800, LTE1900, LTE2500, and WIMAX3400 bands. Each of the four operating bands can be controlled independently by the variation of a single parameter of the proposed design, with a wide control range. An omnidirectional radiation pattern to each resonant frequency is obtained with a maximum gain of 2.15 dBi at 790 MHz, 3.99 dBi at 1870 MHz, 4.57 dBi at 2550 MHz, and 6.43 dBi at 3400 MHz. The proposed PIFA is studied in the free space and in the presence of other mobile phone components such as the battery, LCD (liquid crystal display), camera, microphone, speaker, buttons, and a plastic housing. The distribution of specific absorption rate for both European and American standards for each operating band and at various distances between the antenna and the human head is also studied.
Towards a Unified Testing Framework for Single-Sided Deafness Studies: A Consensus Paper
Authors: Van de Heyning Paul , Távora-Vieira Dayse , Mertens Griet , Van Rompaey Vincent , Rajan Gunesh P. , Müller Joachim , Hempel John Martin , Leander Daniel , Polterauer Daniel , Marx Mathieu , Usami Shin-ichi , Kitoh Ryosuke , Miyagawa Maiko , Moteki Hideaki , Smilsky Kari , Baumgartner Wolf-Dieter , Keintzel Thomas Georg , Sprinzl Georg Mathias , Wolf-Magele Astrid , Arndt Susan , Wesarg Thomas , Zirn Stefan , Baumann Uwe , Weissgerber Tobias , Rader Tobias , Hagen Rudolf , Kurz Anja , Rak Kristen , Stokroos Robert , George Erwin , Polo Ruben , Medina María del Mar , Henkin Yael , Hilly Ohad , Ulanovski David , Rajeswaran Ranjith , Kameswaran Mohan , Di Gregorio Maria Fernanda , Zernotti Mario E.
Published: March 2017

Background: While hearing aids for a contralateral routing of signals (CROS-HA) and bone conduction devices have been the traditional treatment for single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL), in recent years, cochlear implants (CIs) have increasingly become a viable treatment choice, particularly in countries where regulatory approval and reimbursement schemes are in place. Part of the reason for this shift is that the CI is the only device capable of restoring bilateral input to the auditory system and hence of possibly reinstating binaural hearing. Although several studies have independently shown that the CI is a safe and effective treatment for SSD and AHL, clinical outcome measures in those studies and across CI centers vary greatly. Only with a consistent use of defined and agreed-upon outcome measures across centers can high-level evidence be generated to assess the safety and efficacy of CIs and alternative treatments in recipients with SSD and AHL. Methods: This paper presents a comparative study design and minimum outcome measures for the assessment of current treatment options in patients with SSD/AHL. The protocol was developed, discussed, and eventually agreed upon by expert panels that convened at the 2015 APSCI conference in Beijing, China, and at the CI 2016 conference in Toronto, Canada. Results: A longitudinal study design comparing CROS-HA, BCD, and CI treatments is proposed. The recommended outcome measures include (1) speech in noise testing, using the same set of 3 spatial configurations to compare binaural benefits such as summation, squelch, and head shadow across devices; (2) localization testing, using stimuli that rove in both level and spectral content; (3) questionnaires to collect quality of life measures and the frequency of device use; and (4) questionnaires for assessing the impact of tinnitus before and after treatment, if applicable. Conclusion: A protocol for the assessment of treatment options and outcomes in recipients with SSD and AHL is presented. The proposed set of minimum outcome measures aims at harmonizing assessment methods across centers and thus at generating a growing body of high-level evidence for those treatment options.
Time-of-Day Could Affect Cognitive Screening Performance in Older Patients with TIA and Stroke
Authors: Mazzucco Sara , Li Linxin , Tuna Maria A. , Pendlebury Sarah T. , Frost Rhoda , Wharton Rose , Rothwell Peter M. ,   on behalf of the Oxford Vascular Study
Published: March 2017

Background and Purpose: The impact of time-of-day on the cognitive performance of older patients with limited cognitive reserve after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke, and on short cognitive tests, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is unknown. We retrospectively studied whether morning versus afternoon assessment might affect the classification of patients aged 70 or older as severe (SCI), mild (MCI), and no (NCI) cognitive impairment by the MoCA. Methods: Morning (12 p.m. or earlier) versus afternoon (later than 12 p.m.) proportions of SCI (MoCA score <20), MCI (MoCA score 25-20) and NCI (MoCA score ≥26) were compared in a cohort of patients aged ≥70, attending a rapid-access TIA/stroke clinic. Results: Of 278 patients, 113 (40.6%) were tested in the morning and 165 (59.4%) in the afternoon. The proportion with SCI was greater in the afternoon than in the morning (10.9 vs. 1.8%, respectively, p = 0.004), with no difference in age, education, diagnosis, disability, or vascular risk factors. Conclusions: Time-of-day appears to affect cognitive performance of older patients after they undergo TIA and minor stroke. If our cross-sectional findings are confirmed in cross-over studies with repeated testing, timing of assessments should be considered in clinical practice and in research studies.