bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Tool–Chip Interface Temperature Measurement With Thermocouple Fabricated Directly on the Rake Face
Authors: Kesriklioglu Sinan , Arthur Cory , Morrow Justin D. , Pfefferkorn Frank E.
Published: June 2019

The objective of this work is to fabricate thermocouples directly on the rake face of a commercially available tungsten carbide cutting insert for accurately measuring the tool–chip interface temperature during metal cutting. The thermocouples are sputtered onto the cutting insert using micromachined stencils, are electrically isolated with layers of Al2O3, and receive a top coating of AlTiN for durability. The result is a nonsacrificial thermocouple junction that is approximately 1.3 µm below the rake face of the tool and 30 µm from the cutting edge. Experimental and numerical characterization of the temperature measurement accuracy and response time are presented. The instrumented cutting tool can capture the tool–chip interface temperature transients at frequencies of up to 1 MHz, which enables the observation of serrated chip formation and adiabatic shear events. Temperature measurements from oblique machining of 4140 steel are presented and compared with three-dimensional, transient numerical simulations using finite element analysis, where cutting speed and feed are varied. This method of measuring the tool–chip interface temperature shows promise for future research and smart manufacturing applications.
Concentration-Dependent Effects of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes on Collagen Gel Multiscale Biomechanics and Neuronal Signaling: Implications for Modeling Human Ligamentous Tissues
Authors: Ita Meagan E. , Winkelstein Beth A.
Published: June 2019

Abnormal loading of a joint's ligamentous capsule causes pain by activating the capsule's nociceptive afferent fibers, which reside in the capsule's collagenous matrix alongside fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and transmit pain to the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). This study integrated FLS into a DRG-collagen gel model to better mimic the anatomy and physiology of human joint capsules; using this new model, the effect of FLS on multiscale biomechanics and cell physiology under load was investigated. Primary FLS cells were co-cultured with DRGs at low or high concentrations, to simulate variable anatomical FLS densities, and failed in tension. Given their roles in collagen degradation and nociception, matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP-1) and neuronal expression of the neurotransmitter substance P were probed after gel failure. The amount of FLS did not alter (p > 0.3) the gel failure force, displacement, or stiffness. FLS doubled regional strains at both low (p < 0.01) and high (p = 0.01) concentrations. For high FLS, the collagen network showed more reorganization at failure (p < 0.01). Although total MMP-1 and neuronal substance P were the same regardless of FLS concentration before loading, protein expression of both increased after failure, but only in low FLS gels (p ≤ 0.02). The concentration-dependent effect of FLS on microstructure and cellular responses implies that capsule regions with different FLS densities experience variable microenvironments. This study presents a novel DRG-FLS co-culture collagen gel system that provides a platform for investigating the complex biomechanics and physiology of human joint capsules, and is the first relating DRG and FLS interactions between each other and their surrounding collagen network.
Clamshell, by near-ambient pressure XPS
Authors: Roychowdhury Tuhin , Bahr Stephan , Dietrich Paul , Meyer Michael , Thißen Andreas , Linford Matthew R.
Published: June 2019

Near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) is a less traditional form of XPS that allows samples to be analyzed at relatively high pressures, i.e., at greater than 2500 Pa. With NAP-XPS, XPS can probe moderately volatile liquids, biological samples, porous materials, and/or polymeric materials that outgas significantly. In this submission, we show NAP-XPS survey, Ca (3p, 2p, 2s), O 1s, C 1s, and N 1s narrow, and valence band spectra from a clamshell, a material of biological origin that would be challenging to analyze by conventional XPS approaches. Like most shells of biological origin, clamshells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate.
ANP32 Proteins Are Essential for Influenza Virus Replication in Human Cells
Authors: Staller Ecco , Sheppard Carol M. , Neasham Peter J. , Mistry Bhakti , Peacock Thomas P. , Goldhill Daniel H. , Long Jason S. , Barclay Wendy S.
Published: June 2019

Influenza virus is the etiological agent behind some of the most devastating infectious disease pandemics to date, and influenza outbreaks still pose a major threat to public health. Influenza virus polymerase, the molecule that copies the viral RNA genome, hijacks cellular proteins to support its replication. Current anti-influenza drugs are aimed against viral proteins, including the polymerase, but RNA viruses like influenza tend to become resistant to such drugs very rapidly. An alternative strategy is to design therapeutics that target the host proteins that are necessary for virus propagation. Here, we show that the human proteins ANP32A and ANP32B are essential for influenza A and B virus replication, such that in their absence cells become impervious to the virus. We map the proviral activity of ANP32 proteins to one region in particular, which could inform future intervention.
The Lipid A 1-Phosphatase, LpxE, Functionally Connects Multiple Layers of Bacterial Envelope Biogenesis
Authors: Zhao Jinshi , An Jinsu , Hwang Dohyeon , Wu Qinglin , Wang Su , Gillespie Robert A. , Yang Eun Gyeong , Guan Ziqiang , Zhou Pei , Chung Hak Suk
Published: June 2019

Dephosphorylation of the lipid A 1-phosphate by LpxE in Gram-negative bacteria plays important roles in antibiotic resistance, bacterial virulence, and modulation of the host immune system. Our results demonstrate that in addition to removing the 1-phosphate from lipid A, LpxEs also dephosphorylate undecaprenyl pyrophosphate, an important metabolite for the synthesis of the essential envelope components, peptidoglycan and O-antigen. Therefore, LpxEs participate in multiple layers of biogenesis of the Gram-negative bacterial envelope and increase antibiotic resistance. This discovery marks an important step toward understanding the regulation and biogenesis of the Gram-negative bacterial envelope.
A Meningococcal Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine with Overexpressed Mutant FHbp Elicits Higher Protective Antibody Responses in Infant Rhesus Macaques than a Licensed Serogroup B Vaccine
Authors: Beernink Peter T. , Vianzon Vianca , Lewis Lisa A. , Moe Gregory R. , Granoff Dan M.
Published: June 2019

There are two licensed meningococcal capsular B vaccines. Both contain recombinant factor H binding protein (FHbp), which can bind to host complement factor H (FH). The limitations of these vaccines include a lack of protection against some meningococcal strains and the potential to elicit autoantibodies to FH. We immunized infant macaques with a native outer membrane vesicle (NOMV) vaccine with genetically attenuated endotoxin and overproduced mutant FHbp with low binding to FH. The NOMV-FHbp vaccine stimulated higher levels of protective serum antibodies than a licensed meningococcal group B vaccine against five of six genetically diverse meningococcal strains tested. Two of 13 macaques immunized with the licensed vaccine, which contains FHbp that binds macaque FH, but 0 of 17 macaques given NOMV-FHbp or the negative control developed serum anti-FH autoantibodies Thus, in a relevant nonhuman primate model, the NOMV-FHbp vaccine elicited greater protective antibodies than the licensed vaccine and may pose less of a risk of anti-FH autoantibody.
Marine Chitinolytic
Pseudoalteromonas
Represents an Untapped Reservoir of Bioactive Potential
Authors: Paulsen Sara Skøtt , Strube Mikael Lenz , Bech Pernille Kjersgaard , Gram Lone , Sonnenschein Eva C.
Published: June 2019

Infectious bacteria are developing and spreading resistance to conventional treatments at a rapid pace. To provide novel potent antimicrobials, we must develop new bioprospecting strategies. Here, we combined
in silico
and phenotypic approaches to explore the bioactive potential of the marine bacterial genus
Pseudoalteromonas
. We found that pigmented strains in particular represent an untapped resource of secondary metabolites and that they also harbor an elaborate chitinolytic machinery. Furthermore, our analysis showed that chitin is likely a preferred substrate for pigmented species, in contrast to nonpigmented species. Potentially, chitin could facilitate the production of new secondary metabolites in pigmented
Pseudoalteromonas
strains.
Advances in rehabilitation for chronic diseases: improving health outcomes and function
Authors: Richardson Caroline R , Franklin Barry , Moy Marilyn L , Jackson Elizabeth A
Published: June 2019

Much of the burden on healthcare systems is related to the management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although conventional outpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs significantly decrease morbidity and mortality and improve function and health related quality of life for people with chronic diseases, rehabilitation programs are underused. Barriers to enrollment are multifactorial and include failure to recommend and refer patients to these services; poor communication with patients about potential benefits; and patient factors including logistical and financial barriers, comorbidities, and competing demands that make participation in facility based programs difficult. Recent advances in rehabilitation programs that involve remotely delivered technology could help deliver services to more people who might benefit. Problems with intensity, adherence, and safety of home based programs have been investigated in recent clinical trials, and larger dissemination and implementation trials are under way. This review summarizes the evidence for benefit of in-person cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. It also reviews the literature on newer developments, such as home based remotely mediated exercise programs developed to decrease cost and improve accessibility, high intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation, and alternative therapies such as tai chi and yoga for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Teaching medical students to recognise and report errors
Authors: Mohsin Syed Umer , Ibrahim Yahya , Levine Diane
Published: June 2019

Background

Medical student error reporting can potentially be increased through patient safety education, culture change and by teaching students how to report errors. There is scant literature on what kinds of errors students see during clinical rotations. The authors developed an intervention to better understand what kinds of errors students see and to train them to identify and report errors.

Methods

A safety curriculum was delivered during the Medicine clerkship for the academic year 2015–2016. Prior to the workshop, students completed a preintervention survey to determine whether they had reported a clinical error. Subsequently, they participated in an educational workshop. Facilitated discussions about conditions contributing to errors, types of errors, prevention of errors and importance of reporting followed. Students were required to submit a simulated error report about an error they personally observed. An end-of-year survey was sent to students who participated in the curriculum to determine clinical error reporting frequency.

Results

Students submitted 282 reports. Near miss errors were seen in 64% and adverse events in 36%. National Quality Forum serious events were reported in 14%, including one death. Recommendations to prevent similar events were weak (62%). Students correctly categorised 93% near miss, 88% adverse events, 67% diagnostic, 81% treatment and 78% preventative errors. On the preintervention survey, 8.5% stated they submitted an error report to their clinical site. On the end-of-year survey, 18% confirmed submitting a formal error report.

Conclusion

Training students to recognise and report errors can be successfully integrated into a clinical clerkship and impact clinical error reporting.
Are battlefield and prehospital trauma scenarios an effective educational tool to teach leadership and crisis resource management skills to undergraduate medical students?
Authors: Ellington Matt , Farrukh S
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Leadership and crisis resource management (CRM) skills are important skills for doctors, however there is a recognised lack of undergraduate leadership education. There remains debate over how best to teach leadership and CRM skills, and poor leadership skills among clinicians are associated with adverse patient outcomes. We examined whether high-fidelity battlefield and prehospital scenarios can improve leadership and CRM skills.

Method

This was a prospective observational study with students self-reporting their leadership and CRM skills using the Ottawa Crisis Resource Management Global Ranking Scale (OCRMGRS) before and after completing the Cambridge University Emergency Medicine Society Battlefield and Pre-Hospital Trauma course. The course involves a mixture of small group tutorials and practical high-fidelity battlefield and prehospital trauma scenarios. Faculty also completed the OCRMGRS for the first and last candidates at the scenarios. The mean precourse versus mean postcourse score of the OCRMGRS was analysed using a two-tailed t-test.

Results

46 students completed paired OCRMGRS before and after the course. The mean precourse scores for each of the domains (leadership, communication skills, resource utilisation, problem solving skills and situational awareness) were calculated. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in both self-reported and faculty-reported scores across all domains, and the increase remained at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Leadership and CRM skills are important non-clinical skills for doctors, however there is debate over how best to teach them. High-fidelity battlefield and prehospital trauma scenarios are an effective means of teaching leadership and CRM skills to civilian medical students.
Theoretical solutions of laterally loaded fixed-head piles in elastoplastic soil considering pile-head flexural yielding
Authors: Chiou Jiunn-Shyang , You Jia-Qi
Published: June 2019

Group piles with a cap under lateral loading behave like fixed-head piles because of the rotational restraint of the pile cap. They are susceptible to flexural yielding at the pile head due to high bending strains. In addition to soil nonlinearity, the pile-head flexural nonlinearity also significantly contributes to nonlinear responses of the piles, which is not covered in most existing analytical solutions. For a fixed-head pile buried in uniform elastoplastic soils, this study derives analytical solutions for the lateral responses to account for soil yielding, and flexural yielding and failure of the pile section at the pile head. The model assumes elastoplastic Winkler-type soil with constant subgrade stiffness and yield strength and a nonlinear moment–curvature curve for the pile section. Examples are provided to apply the solutions to determine the complete capacity curves (moment and horizontal load) of a fixed-head pile and the derived analytical capacity curves are in good agreement with those from numerical analyses that use nonlinear beam elements to reflect the nonlinear flexural behavior of the pile section. The solutions are also applied to evaluate the influences of the yield displacement of the soil and different forms of simplified nonlinear moment–curvature curves of the pile section on the lateral load–displacement curves.
Effects of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) on hydrological responses of Cd-contaminated soil planted with a herbal medicinal plant (Pinellia ternata)
Authors: Ng Charles Wang Wai , Chowdhury Nilufar , Wong James Tsz Fung
Published: June 2019

Pinellia ternata is a medicinal herb often contaminated by cadmium (Cd), which inhibits its growth and metabolism. In this study, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) is proposed as a soil amendment to reduce plant Cd availability and therefore increase transpiration-induced suction. Field soil (silty gravelly sand) contaminated with 1.5 mg·kg−1 of Cd was collected from Guizhou, China. The growth of P. ternata in 0%, 3%, and 5% GGBS amended soil has been investigated in a temperature- and humidity-controlled chamber. Soil amended with 3% and 5% GGBS significantly (P < 0.05, where P is probability) increased leaf area index (LAI) by 29% and 30%, root area index (RAI) by 65% and 66%, respectively, compared to untreated soil (control). Soil suction was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 58% in soils amended with 3% and 5% GGBS. Compared to the control, soil amended with 3% and 5% GGBS has exhibited higher air-entry value (AEV) and higher water retention ability. The study revealed that addition of GGBS increased soil water availability for plant growth. This implies that to achieve statistically significant improvement in P. ternata growth and soil hydrological responses 3% GGBS should be applied in Cd-contaminated soil.
Thermal interpretation of Schwinger effect in near-extremal RN black hole
Authors: Kim Sang Pyo , Lee Hyun Kyu , Yoon Yongsung
Published: June 2019

We propose a thermal interpretation of the Schwinger effect for charged spinless scalars and spin-1/2 fermions in an extremal and near-extremal Reissner–Nordström (RN) black hole. The emission of charges has the distribution with an effective temperature determined by the Davies–Unruh temperature for accelerating charges by the electric field and the scalar curvature of [Formula: see text] from the near-horizon geometry [Formula: see text]. We find a charge bound for the extremal micro-black hole to remain stable against the Schwinger emission in analogy with the Breitenlohner–Freedman bound for the [Formula: see text] space. In the in–out formalism, we find the one-loop QED effective action consistent with the vacuum persistence and interpret the vacuum persistence as the leading Schwinger effect and the effect of a charged vacuum of the Coulomb field.
Anisotropic tensor calculus
Authors: Javaloyes Miguel Angel
Published: June 2019

We introduce the anisotropic tensor calculus, which is a way of handling tensors that depends on the direction remaining always in the same class. This means that the derivative of an anisotropic tensor is a tensor of the same type. As an application we show how to define derivations using anisotropic linear connections in a manifold. In particular, we show that the Chern connection of a Finsler metric can be interpreted as the Levi-Civita connection and we introduce the anisotropic curvature tensor. We also relate the concept of anisotropic connection with the classical concept of linear connections in the vertical bundle. Furthermore, we also introduce the concept of anisotropic Lie derivative.
On the Computability of Conditional Probability
Authors: Ackerman Nathanael L. , Freer Cameron E. , Roy Daniel M.
Published: June 2019

As inductive inference and machine-learning methods in computer science see continued success, researchers are aiming to describe ever more complex probabilistic models and inference algorithms. It is natural to ask whether there is a universal computational procedure for probabilistic inference. We investigate the computability of conditional probability, a fundamental notion in probability theory, and a cornerstone of Bayesian statistics. We show that there are computable joint distributions with noncomputable conditional distributions, ruling out the prospect of general inference algorithms, even inefficient ones. Specifically, we construct a pair of computable random variables in the unit interval such that the conditional distribution of the first variable given the second encodes the halting problem. Nevertheless, probabilistic inference is possible in many common modeling settings, and we prove several results giving broadly applicable conditions under which conditional distributions are computable. In particular, conditional distributions become computable when measurements are corrupted by independent computable noise with a sufficiently smooth bounded density.
MEMS-IC Robustness Optimization Considering Electrical and Mechanical Design and Process Parameters
Authors: Burcea Florin , Herrmann Andreas , Li Bing , Graeb Helmut
Published: June 2019

MEMS-based sensor circuits are traditionally designed separately using CAD tools specific to each energy domain (electrical and mechanical). This article presents a complete approach for combined MEMS-IC robustness optimization. Advanced methods for robustness analysis and optimization considering design, operating and process parameters, developed for integrated circuits, are transferred to MEMS-IC systems. Both electrical and mechanical design and process parameters are included in the optimization. The methodology is exemplified on two demonstrator examples: a MEMS microphone and a MEMS accelerometer, each with an integrated readout circuit. A successful optimization requires the simultaneous inclusion of design parameters and process tolerances from both energy domains. To save CPU time, a reduced-order, circuit-level model is used for the MEMS part and this model is created only when necessary. To integrate the generation of the simplified model into the optimization flow, a simulation-in-a-loop flow based on commercial tools for both the electrical and the mechanical domain has been implemented.
Social Background and Children's Cognitive Skills: The Role of Early Childhood Education and Care in a Cross-National Perspective
Authors: Kulic Nevena , Skopek Jan , Triventi Moris , Blossfeld Hans-Peter
Published: June 2019

This review looks at the current state of research on early childhood education and care (ECEC) from a sociological stance. We summarize how children's experiences and benefits from participation in ECEC are related to their families’ socioeconomic position in modern industrial nations. By bringing together child development and intervention research from economics, education, and psychology with a sociological, social stratification perspective, our report focuses on ECEC as a policy strategy for equalization in early childhood. We argue that two major stratifiers, families and country-specific ECEC settings, need to be considered more closely when we seek to understand the efficacy of early educational interventions in modern societies. While well-targeted educational programs are found to lowerachievement gaps among children from different social backgrounds, a disproportionate use of early education by socioeconomically privileged families may offset the benefits of early interventions. In addition, the current stratification patterns in various nationwide ECEC contexts may further strengthen the gaps in children's (early) achievements.
New Method of State‐Space Formulation for Degenerate Circuit and Coupling Circuit
Authors: Chen Chung-Cheng , Ke Jian , Chen Yen-Ting
Published: June 2019

The state‐space formulation overcomes many limitations of traditional differential equation approach and is utilized as alternative to many traditional approaches in the modern electrical field. This paper proposes a new method of finding the state equation for degenerate circuit and coupling circuit that have not been systematically solved now. This paper also introduces some sound improvements to solve complicated dependent‐source circuits. Four comparative examples are demonstrated to show the significant merits that our method owns over the traditional approaches.
Characterization of the Effects of a Six-Month Dancing as Approach for Successful Aging
Authors: Vaccaro Maria Grazia , Izzo Giulia , Ilacqua Alessandro , Migliaccio Silvia , Baldari Carlo , Guidetti Laura , Lenzi Andrea , Quattrone Aldo , Aversa Antonio , Emerenziani Gian Pietro
Published: June 2019

Aging is accompanied by a decline in multiple domains. Positive effects of dance practice on several health issues have been evaluated in young adults, while the effects of regular social dance practice on physical fitness, sexual health, and cognitive functions have not been studied yet in older experienced dancers. Thus, the aim of this study has been to investigate whether a 6-month social dance practice might influence fitness performance, sexual health, and specific cognitive functions and/or mood characteristics in older experienced dancers. Thirty experienced dancers (age: 71.2±5.1 years, 18 females/12 males) were enrolled from the dance school “NonSoloLiscio” of Catanzaro. Body composition, physical fitness, sexual health, and cognitive functions were assessed before (T0) and after (T6) intervention. After 6 months of dance practice, percent of fat mass (%FM) significantly decreased (p<0.01), while fat-free mass (FFM) significantly increased (p<0.01) in both genders. Moreover, significant main effects of time on physical fitness tests, such as chair stand test (CST) (p<0.01), gait speed (p<0.05), and timed up and go (p<0.05), were found. Sexual health was significantly higher in males than in females at T0 and no significant effects of dance on subjects’ sexual health were found. Interestingly, trait of anxiety significant decreased (p<0.05) and perception of retrospective memory significantly increased (p=0.05) after training independently of gender. Our preliminary results suggest that, even in older intermediate-level dancer, the practice of social dance might positively influence body composition and also increase fitness performance, memory functions, and anxiety. In contrast, no effects on sexual health were observed after 6 months of dancing.
Deeply Learned Pose Invariant Image Analysis with Applications in 3D Face Recognition
Authors: Ratyal Naeem , Taj Imtiaz Ahmad , Sajid Muhammad , Mahmood Anzar , Razzaq Sohail , Dar Saadat Hanif , Ali Nouman , Usman Muhammad , Baig Mirza Jabbar Aziz , Mussadiq Usman
Published: June 2019

Face recognition aims to establish the identity of a person based on facial characteristics and is a challenging problem due to complex nature of the facial manifold. A wide range of face recognition applications are based on classification techniques and a class label is assigned to the test image that belongs to the unknown class. In this paper, a pose invariant deeply learned multiview 3D face recognition approach is proposed and aims to address two problems: face alignment and face recognition through identification and verification setups. The proposed alignment algorithm is capable of handling frontal as well as profile face images. It employs a nose tip heuristic based pose learning approach to estimate acquisition pose of the face followed by coarse to fine nose tip alignment using L2 norm minimization. The whole face is then aligned through transformation using knowledge learned from nose tip alignment. Inspired by the intrinsic facial symmetry of the Left Half Face (LHF) and Right Half Face (RHF), Deeply learned (d) Multi‐View Average Half Face (d‐MVAHF) features are employed for face identification using deep convolutional neural network (dCNN). For face verification d‐MVAHF‐Support Vector Machine (d‐MVAHF‐SVM) approach is employed. The performance of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through extensive experiments performed on four databases: GavabDB, Bosphorus, UMB‐DB, and FRGC v2.0. The results show that the proposed approach yields superior performance as compared to existing state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Nonobstetrical Acute Abdomen during Pregnancy as a Consequence of Colorectal Carcinoma Perforation: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Žegarac Žana , Duić Željko , Stasenko Sandra
Published: June 2019

Colorectal carcinoma is a rare but potentially fatal disease complicating pregnancy. It occurs most frequently in patients aged 50, although some studies report increasing incidence in women under the age of 40. Diagnosis of colorectal cancer during pregnancy is usually made at an advanced stage due to unspecific symptoms. We will present a case of an acute abdomen during pregnancy due to colorectal carcinoma perforation in a 33-year-old patient in her 26th week of gestation. Because of her abdominal condition, left hemicolectomy with colostomy was performed. Two hours after surgery, the patient gave birth to a male child weighing 910 g with an Apgar score of 2/6. The pathohistological finding indicated adenocarcinoma of the colon in Dukes stage B.
Warshaw Technique in Laparoscopic Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy: Surgical Strategy and Late Outcomes of Splenic Preservation
Authors: Wang Lei , Wu Dong , Cheng Yu-gang , Xu Jian-wei , Chu Hai-bo , Zhang Guang-yong , Hu San-yuan , Zhan Han-xiang
Published: June 2019

Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP) can be accomplished with either the preservation or the resection of splenic vessels; the latter is also known as Warshaw technique. Our study is designed to investigate the operation selection strategy when proceeding LSPDP and to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing Warshaw surgery. The medical records and follow-up data of patients who underwent LSPDP in Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, were reviewed retrospectively. A total of thirty-five patients were involved in this study, including 17 cases of patients who were treated with Warshaw procedure (WT) while the other 18 cases had splenic vessels preserved (SVP). Compared with the SVP group, the operative time and intraoperative blood loss in WT group were improved significantly. The incidence of early postoperative splenic infarction was higher in WT group. However, there was no report of splenic abscess or second operation. Follow-up data confirmed that there was no significant difference in spleen phagocytosis and immune function compared with normal healthy population. Our study confirms that LSPDP-Warshaw procedure is a safe and efficient treatment for the benign or low grade malignant tumors in distal pancreas in selected patients. The long-term spleen function is normal after Warshaw procedure. Preoperative assessment and intraoperative exploration are recommended for the selection of operation approaches.
Flexible Bronchoscopy Combined with Rigid Bronchoscopy for Treatment of Scarring in the Bronchus Caused by a Foreign Body
Authors: Wu Lei , Sheng Yuanjian , Xu Xuefeng , Chen Zhimin , Wang Qiang , Wang Zhifang , Yin Yu
Published: June 2019

Foreign body (FB) aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree is an emergency in the pediatric department, particularly in children aged <3 years. FB granulation tissue is commonly found in children with FB aspiration. However, scarring in the bronchus caused by a FB is rare. We herein report a case involving aspiration of a plastic whistle toy with scarring in the bronchus. The scar tissue was successfully removed by interventional bronchoscopy combined with a flexible electrosurgery probe and carbon dioxide cryotherapy.
Effects of Apelin on Left Ventricular-Arterial Coupling and Mechanical Efficiency in Rats with Ischemic Heart Failure
Authors: Ouyang Qiufang , You Tao , Guo Jinjian , Xu Rong , Guo Quehui , Lin Jiqin , Zhao Hongjia
Published: June 2019

Apelin plays important roles in cardiovascular homeostasis. However, its effects on the mechanoenergetics of heart failure (HF) are unavailable. We attempted to investigate the effects of apelin on the left ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) and mechanical efficiency in rats with HF. HF was induced in rats by the ligation of the left coronary artery. The ischemic HF rats were treated with apelin or saline for 12 weeks. The sham-operated animals served as the control. The left ventricular (LV) afterload and the systolic and diastolic functions, as well as the mechanoenergetic indices were estimated from the pressure-volume loops. Myocardial fibrosis by Masson’s trichrome staining, myocardial apoptosis by TUNEL, and collagen content in the aorta as well as media area in the aorta and the mesenteric arteries were determined. Our data indicated that HF rats manifested an increased arterial load (Ea), a declined systolic function (reduced ejection fraction, +dP/dtmax, end-systolic elastance, and stroke work), an abnormal diastolic function (elevated end-diastolic pressure, τ, and declined −dP/dtmax), and decreased mechanical efficiency. Apelin treatment improved those indices. Concomitantly, increased fibrosis in the LV myocardium and the aorta and enhanced apoptosis in the LV were partially restored by apelin treatment. A declined wall-to-lumen ratio in the mesenteric arteries of the untreated HF rats was further reduced in the apelin-treated group. We concluded that the rats with ischemic HF were characterized by deteriorated LV mechanoenergetics. Apelin improved mechanical efficiency, at least in part, due to the inhibiting cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in the LV myocardium, reducing collagen deposition in the aorta and dilating the resistant artery.
Exploiting the Potential ofMoringa oleiferaOil/Polyvinyl Chloride Polymeric Bionanocomposite Film Enriched with Silver Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Amina Musarat , Al Musayeib Nawal M. , Alarfaj Nawal A. , El-Tohamy Maha F. , Orabi Hisham E. , Bukhari Sarah I. , Mahmoud Amany Z.
Published: June 2019

The present study focused on the prospect of fabricating a polymeric naturally extractedMoringa oleiferaoil bionanocomposite film enriched with silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial activity. In this study, a standard concentration ofMoringa oleiferaoil (5-10 wt%) was used to fabricate a polymeric bionanocomposite film using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) enriched with silver nanoparticles. The active constituents of the extractedMoringa oleiferaoil were verified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, were employed to characterize and study the surface morphology of the fabricated bionanocomposite film. The antimicrobial activity of the fabricated bionanocomposite film was investigated using different strains of bacteria and fungus. The results revealed well-oriented and excellently dispersed silver nanoparticles in the PVC-Moringa oleiferaoil matrix. The bionanocomposite was able to inhibit the growth ofStaphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Salmonella typhi,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Shigella flexneri, andCandida albicans.The combination of nanoparticles with polymers is opening new routes for engineering fixable composites, which showed antimicrobial properties.
Using High-Throughput Phenotyping to Explore Growth Responses to Mycorrhizal Fungi and Zinc in Three Plant Species
Authors: Watts-Williams S. J. , Jewell N. , Brien C. , Berger B. , Garnett T. , Cavagnaro T. R.
Published: June 2019

There are many reported benefits to plants of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including positive plant biomass responses; however, AMF can also induce biomass depressions in plants, and this response receives little attention in the literature. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) technology permits repeated measures of an individual plant’s aboveground biomass. We examined the effect on AMF inoculation on the shoot biomass of three contrasting plant species: a vegetable crop (tomato), a cereal crop (barley), and a pasture legume (Medicago). We also considered the interaction of mycorrhizal growth responses with plant-available soil zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. The appearance of a depression in shoot biomass due to inoculation with AMF occurred at different times for each plant species; depressions appeared earliest in tomato, then Medicago, and then barley. The usually positive-responding Medicago plants were not responsive at the high level of soil available P used. Mycorrhizal growth responsiveness in all three species was also highly interactive with soil Zn supply; tomato growth responded negatively to AMF inoculation in all soil Zn treatments except the toxic soil Zn treatment, where it responded positively. Our results illustrate how context-dependent mycorrhizal growth responses are and the value of HTP approaches to exploring the complexity of mycorrhizal responses.
A Review of Multicriteria Assessment Techniques Applied to Sustainable Infrastructure Design
Authors: Navarro Ignacio J. , Yepes Víctor , Martí José V.
Published: June 2019

Given the great impacts associated with the construction and maintenance of infrastructures in both the environmental, the economic and the social dimensions, a sustainable approach to their design appears essential to ease the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Multicriteria decision‐making methods are usually applied to address the complex and often conflicting criteria that characterise sustainability. The present study aims to review the current state of the art regarding the application of such techniques in the sustainability assessment of infrastructures, analysing as well the sustainability impacts and criteria included in the assessments. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is the most frequently used weighting technique. Simple Additive Weighting has turned out to be the most applied decision‐making method to assess the weighted criteria. Although a life cycle assessment approach is recurrently used to evaluate sustainability, standardised concepts, such as cost discounting, or presentation of the assumed functional unit or system boundaries, as required by ISO 14040, are still only marginally used. Additionally, a need for further research in the inclusion of fuzziness in the handling of linguistic variables is identified.
NEMS Resonators for Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents Based on Graphene Sheet
Authors: Anđelić Nikola , Car Zlatan , Čanađija Marko
Published: June 2019

Graphene sheets are the basis of nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) mass resonators that are in recent years experimentally used for detection of specific gas molecules in air. The aim of this paper is to theoretically investigate the possibility of application of graphene sheets in detection of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA’s). By application of the nonlocal theory of elasticity and classical plate theory, equations that describe natural vibrations of the simply supported single‐layer graphene sheet (SLGS) and double‐layer graphene sheet (DLGS) were derived. In order to detect attached CWA molecule, the frequency shift method was applied. The results indicate that the proposed methodology could be successfully implemented in order to detect an attached CWA molecule. However, only specific mode shapes could be employed for such detection.
VHDRA: A Vertical and Horizontal Intelligent Dataset Reduction Approach for Cyber-Physical Power Aware Intrusion Detection Systems
Authors: Kholidy Hisham A. , Erradi Abdelkarim
Published: June 2019

The Cypher Physical Power Systems (CPPS) became vital targets for intruders because of the large volume of high speed heterogeneous data provided from the Wide Area Measurement Systems (WAMS). The Nonnested Generalized Exemplars (NNGE) algorithm is one of the most accurate classification techniques that can work with such data of CPPS. However, NNGE algorithm tends to produce rules that test a large number of input features. This poses some problems for the large volume data and hinders the scalability of any detection system. In this paper, we introduce VHDRA, a Vertical and Horizontal Data Reduction Approach, to improve the classification accuracy and speed of the NNGE algorithm and reduce the computational resource consumption. VHDRA provides the following functionalities: (1) it vertically reduces the dataset features by selecting the most significant features and by reducing the NNGE’s hyperrectangles. (2) It horizontally reduces the size of data while preserving original key events and patterns within the datasets using an approach called STEM, State Tracking and Extraction Method. The experiments show that the overall performance of VHDRA using both the vertical and the horizontal reduction reduces the NNGE hyperrectangles by 29.06%, 37.34%, and 26.76% and improves the accuracy of the NNGE by 8.57%, 4.19%, and 3.78% using the Multi-, Binary, and Triple class datasets, respectively.
Medial Open-Wedge Supramalleolar Osteotomy for Patients with Takakura 3B Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Mid- to Long-Term Study
Authors: Xu Yang , Xu Xiang-yang
Published: June 2019

It is controversial whether supramalleolar osteotomy is suitable for Takakura Stage 3B osteoarthritis or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of supramalleolar osteotomy in patients with Takakura 3B osteoarthritis. From February 2008 to August 2013, supramalleolar osteotomy was performed in 21 patients matching the inclusion criteria. The mean patient age at operation was 53.7±5.8 years (range: 39 to 61 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 87.7±19.5 months (range: 61 to 125 months). The radiologic evaluation included the tibial articular surface (TAS) angle, tibial lateral surface (TLS) angle, and talar tilt (TT) angle. Functional assessment was performed with use of the AOFAS, VAS, SF-36, and AOS. All patients were followed. TAS angle improved from 82.8±2.4 to 90.3±2.3. TLS angle changed from 77.5±2.8 to 79.4±2.7. The preoperative TT angle and postoperative TT angle were 13.4±3.6 to 4.8±3.6, respectively. For functional evaluation, the preoperative VAS and AOFAS-AH scores were 5.7±1.3 and 48.0±15.8, while the postoperative VAS and AOFAS-AH scores were 2.5±1.9 and 74.8±11.5. The mean SF-36 scale improved from 41.2±13.1 to 66.7±14.9. The AOS score improved from 61.4±12.5 to 27.5±17.8. 1 patient underwent total ankle replacement 3 years postoperatively. 4 patients remained stage 3B including the TAR one. 4 improved to stage 3A, 11 improved to stage 2, and 2 improved to stage 1. Supramalleolar osteotomy combined with auxiliary procedures can restore the malalignment of ankle joint and modify the abnormal stress distribution so as to achieve functional improvement and improve radiographic stages.
Temperature Effect on the Thermal Conductivity of Expanded Polystyrene Foamed Concrete: Experimental Investigation and Model Correction
Authors: Shi Jinyan , Liu Yuanchun , Liu Baoju , Han Dan
Published: June 2019

In this research, ultralightweight expanded polystyrene foamed concrete (EFC) was made by the chemical foaming method, and its thermal insulation property was measured by the transient method at different environment temperatures (from −10 to 40°C). Then, the effect of temperature and EPS volume fraction on the thermal conductivity and dry density of EFC were observed. Ultimately, the Cheng–Vachon equation was modified by introducing the temperature parameter. The results indicated that EFC thermal conductivity decreases with increasing temperature. It was also demonstrated that the suitable volume of EPS particles can not only decrease the EFC thermal conductivity but also reduce the impact of temperature on the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of EFC at different temperatures was accurately predicted in this study using the proposed model.
Herbal Formula Fo Shou San Attenuates Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Pathologies via the Gut-Liver-Brain Axis in APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Lu Jia , Guo Pengfei , Liu Xiaoqiu , Zhang Yongbin , Guo XueJun , Gao Xin , Chen Yuan
Published: June 2019

Fo Shou San (FSS) is an ancient paired-herb decoction, used in China to treat blood deficiency, blood stasis, stroke, and ischemic cerebral vascular disease for about one thousand years. The mechanisms associated with these properties, however, are not completely understood. Gut bacteria, gut bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and lipid peroxidation are common biochemical signaling that takes place on gut-liver-brain axis. Growing evidences have revealed that gut bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) enter the systemic circulation via the portal vein, and finally entering the brain tissue is an important cause of inflammatory degeneration of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alkaline phosphatase (AP) dephosphorylates LPS forming a nontoxic LPS and reduces systemic inflammation via gut-liver-brain axis. In this study, to identify the differentially gut-liver-brain axis among APP/PS1 mice, FSS-treated APP/PS1 mice, and control mice, behavioral tests were performed to assess the cognitive ability and hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess neuronal damage in the hippocampus; immunohistochemistry, western blotting, a quantitative chromogenic end-point Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL) assay kit, Malondialdehyde (MDA) assay kit, AP Assay Kit, and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to assess the level of LPS, MDA, AP, and gut bacteria. We found that FSS regulates gut-liver-brain axis to regulate AP and gut bacteria and attenuate the LPS-related systemic inflammation, oxidative stress (MDA), and thereby AD-related pathology in APP/PS1 mice. This is the first study to provide a reference for FSS-treated AD mice to aid in understanding the underlying mechanisms of FSS. FSS may also improve gastrointestinal tract barrier and blood-brain barrier and thus ameliorates the symptoms of AD; this is subject to our further study.
Analysis of the Relationship between Adult Asthma and Stroke: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study Using the Korean National Sample Cohort
Authors: Kim So Young , Lim Hyun , Lim Jae-Sung , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: June 2019

Several previous studies demonstrated the risk of stroke in asthma patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in asthma patients, independent of age, sex, income, region of residence, and past medical histories. The Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Sample Cohort from 2002 through 2013 was used. Overall, 111,364 asthma patients ≥ 20 years old were matched to 111,364 control participants for age, sex, income, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Asthma was classified using ICD-10 codes (J45 and J46) and medication history. The admission histories were investigated for hemorrhagic stroke (I60-I62) and ischemic stroke (I63) using ICD-10 codes. The crude and adjusted (age, sex, income, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and depression) hazard ratios (HRs) for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in asthma patients were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. Hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke were found in 0.7% (795/117,364) and 2.4% (922/117,364) of the asthma group and in 0.8% (922/117,364) and 2.6% (93,079/117,364) of the control group, respectively. The asthma group demonstrated adjusted HRs of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.78-0.94, p = 0.002) for hemorrhagic stroke and 0.91 (95% CI = 0.86-0.95, p = 0.002) for ischemic stroke. None of the subgroups of asthma patients showed higher HRs for stroke. Asthma did not elevate the risk of either hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke.