bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Galium species and populations using morphological characters and molecular markers
Authors: Deroo A C , Eckstein P. , Benaragama D , Beattie A D , Willenborg C J
Published: October 2018

Three Galium species are believed to be present across western Canada: Galium aparine, Galium spurium and Galium boreale. Galium spurium and G. aparine are very difficult to distinguish morphologically, which is problematic for crop consultants and weed surveyors, and could have implications for control measures. Molecular techniques could potentially make identification easier and more rapid than using chromosome counts, as is currently done. The objective of this study was to identify morphological traits and/or genetic polymorphisms capable of species differentiation. To this end, Galium seed of unknown speciation were collected from nine field populations across western Canada and, along with two reference samples of G. spurium and G. aparine, were characterised for both morphological traits and their ribosomal ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 genomic sequence. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphism variation within the highly conserved 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene was identified that could consistently differentiate Galium species. Sequence analysis of the ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region of field collections from western Canada indicated that all samples were G. spurium and all were highly related to each other. These results were supported by a distinct lack of variation in morphological traits, as nearly all plant traits measured did not differ between populations. This suggests that all sampled populations, and perhaps most of the Galium populations across western Canada, are derived from a single species, G. spurium.
Semi Analytical Solution of Heat Transfer of Magnetohydrodynamic Third-Grade Fluids Flowing Through Parallel Plates With Viscous Dissipation
Authors: Chaudhuri Sumanta , Kumar Rathore Sushil
Published: October 2018

This study deals with the heat transfer characteristics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a third-grade fluid through parallel plates, subjected to a uniform wall heat flux, but of different magnitudes. The effect of viscous dissipation has been included for both heating and cooling of the fluid. The least square method (LSM) has been adopted for solving the nonlinear equations. The expressions for the velocity and temperature fields have been derived which, in turn, is utilized to evaluate the Nusselt number. The results indicate an increase in Nusselt number for higher values of the third-grade fluid parameter during heating and indicate a reverse trend for cooling. Nusselt number increases with an increase in Hartmann number during heating, whereas it decreases with increasing values of the Hartmann number while cooling the fluid.
Performance Test of the Air-Cooled Finned-Tube Supercritical CO2 Sink Heat Exchanger
Authors: Vojacek Ales , Dostal Vaclav , Goettelt Friedrich , Rohde Martin , Melichar Tomas
Published: October 2018

This technical paper presents results of an air-cooled supercritical CO2 (sCO2) finned-tube sink heat exchanger (HX) performance test comprising wide range of variable parameters (26–166 °C, 7–10 MPa, 0.1–0.32 kg/s). The measurement covered both supercritical and subcritical pressures including transition of pseudocritical region in the last stages of the sink HX. The test was performed in a newly built sCO2 experimental loop which was constructed within Sustainable Energy (SUSEN) project at Research Centre Rez (CVR). The experimental setup along with the boundary conditions are described in detail; hence, the gained data set can be used for benchmarking of system thermal hydraulic codes. Such benchmarking was performed on the open source Modelica-based code ClaRa. Both steady-state and transient thermal hydraulic analyses were performed using the simulation environment DYMOLA 2018 on a state of the art PC. The results of calculated averaged overall heat transfer coefficients (using Gnielinski correlation for sCO2 and IPPE or VDI for the air) and experimentally determined values shows reasonably low error of + 25% and – 10%. Hence, using the correlations for the estimation of the heat transfer in the sink HX with a similar design and similar conditions gives a fair error and thus is recommended.
Transonic Compressor Blade Optimization Integrated With Circumferential Groove Casing Treatment
Authors: Song Weimin , Zhang Yufei , Chen Haixin , Deng Kaiwen
Published: October 2018

A compressor blade integrated with circumferential groove casing treatment (CGCT) is optimized in this study. A hybrid aerodynamic optimization algorithm that combines the differential evolution (DE) with a radial basis function (RBF) response surface is used for the multi-objective optimization via the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The sweep and lean distributions are optimized to pursue the maximum total pressure ratio and adiabatic efficiency at the design point. Constraints on the choking mass flow rate and the near-stall compression ratio are imposed to ensure the off-design performance. The performance is improved much more with the blade-CGCT integrated optimization than with the blade-only optimization. The stall margin of the blade-only optimized blade with CGCT added as an afterthought can be even worse than the baseline blade. The CGCT-removal test for the blade-CGCT integrated optimization result further verifies that the superior performance of the blade-CGCT integrated optimization is obtained via optimizing the coupling between the effects of the sweep and lean on the blade loading and the effects of the CGCT on the flow blockage.
Numerical Investigation of Two-Phase Flow Over Unglazed Plate Collector Covered With Porous Material of Wire Screen for Solar Water Heater Application
Authors: Salameh T. , Zurigat Y. , Badran A. , Ghenai C. , El Haj Assad M. , Khanafer Khalil , Vafai Kambiz
Published: October 2018

This paper presents three-dimensional numerical simulation results of the effect of surface tension on two-phase flow over unglazed collector covered with a wire screen. The homogenous model is used to simulate the flow with and without the effect of porous material of wire screen and surface tension. The Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase flow approach was used in this study. The phases are completely stratified, the interphase is well defined (free surface flow), and interphase transfer rate is very large. The liquid–solid interface, gas–liquid interface, and the volume fraction for both phases were considered as boundaries for this model. The results show that the use of porous material of wire screen will reduce the velocity of water flow and help the water flow to distribute evenly over unglazed plate collector. The possibility of forming any hot spot region on the surface was reduced. The water velocity with the effect of surface tension was found higher than the one without this effect, due to the extra momentum source added by surface tension in longitudinal direction. The use of porous material of wires assures an evenly distribution flow velocity over the inclined plate, therefore helps a net enhancement of heat transfer mechanism for unglazed solar water collector application.
Deformation of Transvaginal Mesh in Response to Multiaxial Loading
Authors: Barone William R. , Knight Katrina M. , Moalli Pamela A. , Abramowitch Steven D.
Published: October 2018

Synthetic mesh for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair is associated with high complication rates. While current devices incorporate large pores (>1 mm), recent studies have shown that uniaxial loading of mesh reduces pore size, raising the risk for complications. However, it is difficult to translate uniaxial results to transvaginal meshes, as in vivo loading is multidirectional. Thus, the aim of this study was to (1) experimentally characterize deformation of pore diameters in a transvaginal mesh in response to clinically relevant multidirectional loading and (2) develop a computational model to simulate mesh behavior in response to in vivo loading conditions. Tension (2.5 N) was applied to each of mesh arm to simulate surgical implantation. Two loading conditions were assessed where the angle of the applied tension was altered and image analysis was used to quantify changes in pore dimensions. A computational model was developed and used to simulate pore behavior in response to these same loading conditions and the results were compared to experimental findings. For both conditions, between 26.4% and 56.6% of all pores were found to have diameters <1 mm. Significant reductions in pore diameter were noted in the inferior arms and between the two superior arms. The computational model identified the same regions, though the model generally underestimated pore deformation. This study demonstrates that multiaxial loading applied clinically has the potential to locally reduce porosity in transvaginal mesh, increasing the risk for complications. Computational simulations show potential of predicting this behavior for more complex loading conditions.
Double Wall Cooling of a Full-Coverage Effusion Plate With Main Flow Pressure Gradient, Including Internal Impingement Array Cooling
Authors: Vanga Sneha Reddy , Ritchie David , Click Austin , Ren Zhong , Ligrani Phil , Liberatore Federico , Patel Rajeshriben , Srinivasan Ram , Ho Yin-Hsiang
Published: October 2018

The present study provides new effusion cooling data for both the surfaces of the full-coverage effusion cooling plate. For the effusion-cooled surface, presented are spatially resolved distributions of surface adiabatic film cooling effectiveness and surface heat transfer coefficients (measured using transient techniques and infrared thermography). For the impingement-cooled surface, presented are spatially resolved distributions of surface Nusselt numbers (measured using steady-state liquid crystal thermography). To produce this cool-side augmentation, impingement jet arrays at different jet Reynolds numbers, from 2720 to 11,100, are employed. Experimental data are given for a sparse effusion hole array, with spanwise and streamwise impingement hole spacing such that coolant jet hole centerlines are located midway between individual effusion hole entrances. Considered are the initial effusion blowing ratios from 3.3 to 7.5, with subsonic, incompressible flow. The velocity of the freestream flow which is adjacent to the effusion-cooled boundary layer is increasing with streamwise distance, due to a favorable streamwise pressure gradient. Such variations are provided by a main flow passage contraction ratio CR of 4. Of particular interest are effects of impingement jet Reynolds number, effusion blowing ratio, and streamwise development. Also, included are comparisons of impingement jet array cooling results with: (i) results associated with crossflow supply cooling with CR = 1 and CR = 4 and (ii) results associated with impingement supply cooling with CR = 1, when the mainstream pressure gradient is near zero. Overall, the present results show that, for the same main flow Reynolds number, approximate initial blowing ratio, and streamwise location, significantly increased thermal protection is generally provided when the effusion coolant is provided by an array of impingement cooling jets, compared to a crossflow coolant supply.
Investigating the Influence of Bridge Officer Experience on Ice Management Effectiveness Using a Marine Simulator Experiment
Authors: Veitch Erik , Molyneux David , Smith Jennifer , Veitch Brian
Published: October 2018

The research investigates the influence of human expertise on the effectiveness of ice management operations. The key contribution is an experimental method for investigating human factor issues in an operational setting. Ice management is defined as a systematic operation that enables a marine operation to proceed safely in the presence of sea ice. In this study, the effectiveness of ice management operations was assessed in terms of ability to modify the presence of pack ice around an offshore structure. This was accomplished in a full-mission marine simulator as the venue for a systematic investigation. In the simulator, volunteer participants from a range of seafaring experience levels were tasked with individually completing ice management tasks. Recorded from 36 individuals' simulations, we compared ice management effectiveness metrics against two independent variables: (i) experience level of the participant, categorized as either cadet or seafarer and (ii) ice severity, measured in ice concentration. The results showed a significant difference in ice management effectiveness between experience categories. We examined what the seafarers did that made them more effective and characterized their operational tactics. The research provides insight into the relative importance of vessel operator skills in contributing to effective ice management, as well as how this relative importance changes as ice conditions vary from mild to severe. This may have implications for training in the nautical sciences and could help to inform good practices in ice management.
Numerical Studies on Size Effect Behaviors of Glassy Polymers Based on Strain Gradient Elastoviscoplastic Model
Authors: Deng Yujun , Wang Jin , Yi Peiyun , Peng Linfa , Lai Xinmin , Lin Zhongqin
Published: October 2018

The improvement of the accuracy and efficiency of microforming process of polymers is of great significance to meet the miniaturization of polymeric components. When the nonuniform deformation is reduced to the microscopic scale, however, the mechanics of polymers shows a strong reinforcement behavior. Traditional theoretical models of polymers which have not considered material feature lengths are difficult to describe the size effect in micron scale, and the process simulation models based on the traditional theory could not provide effective and precise guidance for polymer microfabrication techniques. The work reported here proposed strategies to simulate size effect behaviors of glassy polymers in microforming process. First, the strain gradient elastoviscoplastic model was derived to describe the size affected behaviors of glassy polymers. Based on the proposed constitutive model, an eight-node finite element with the consideration of nodes' rotation was developed. Then, the proposed finite element method was verified by comparisons between experiments and simulations for both uniaxial compression and microbending. Finally, based on the FE model, under the consideration of the effect of rotation gradient, the strain distribution, the deformation energy, and the processing load were discussed. These strategies are immediately applicable to other wide-ranging classes of microforming process of glassy polymers, thereby foreshadowing their use in process optimizations of microfabrication of polymer components.
Design and Testing of a Soft Rehabilitation Glove Integrating Finger and Wrist Function
Authors: Wang Jiangbei , Liu Zhaoyu , Fei Yanqiong
Published: October 2018

This work presents a lightweight soft rehabilitation glove that integrates finger and wrist function by developing and applying the double-DOF soft pneumatic bending actuators (DPBAs). The proposed soft glove can achieve separate as well as coordinated motion exercises of fingers and the wrist, which benefits stroke patients who have complicated hand impairment. It consists of a commercial glove extended by a customized wrist bracer, on which are installed three dorsal DPBAs through fingers (index/middle/ring) and the wrist, two dorsal single-DOF pneumatic bending actuators (SPBAs) through thumb/pinky, and three palmar SPBAs through wrist. The proposed DPBA has two independent bendable segments to actuate flexion of finger and wrist, respectively, whose multigait bending conforms with multipattern flexion of the biological hand. The SPBAs are used for actuating wrist extension or finger flexion. The proposed wrist bracer is designed as an extension of the glove to install the soft actuators and transfer their motion and force to the wearer's wrist efficiently as well as minimize unactuated restriction on the hand. To verify its feasibility, we evaluate the range of motion (ROM), strength and speed of five subjects' hands assisted by the glove in six different passive motions. Results show that the proposed glove can provide sufficient assistance for stroke patients in hand rehabilitation exercise. Furthermore, the soft glove has potential in extending the hand functional training from simple exercises such as closing/opening and gripping to complex ones such as weightlifting, writing, and screwing/unscrewing.
Mechanical Properties Characterization and Finite Element Analysis of Epoxy Grouts in Repairing Damaged Pipeline
Authors: Kar Sing Lim , Yahaya Nordin , Valipour Alireza , Zardasti Libriati , Azraai Siti Nur Afifah , Md Noor Norhazilan
Published: October 2018

Oil and gas pipelines are subjected to various types of deterioration and damage over long service years. These damaged pipes often experience loss of strength and structural integrity. Repair mechanisms have been developed in restoring the loading capacity of damaged pipelines, and composite repair systems have become popular over the past few years. The mechanical properties of the putty/grout are critical to their potential application as infill materials in structural repair. In this paper, the compression, tensile, and flexural behavior of four epoxy grouts was investigated through laboratory tests. The stiffness of the grouts for compression, tensile, and flexural was found to be 6 GPa to 18 GPa, 4 GPa to 15 GPa, and 4 GPa to 12 GPa, respectively. The ultimate strength for all grouts was found from 62 MPa to 87 MPa, 18 MPa to 38 MPa, and 34 MPa to 62 MPa under compression, tensile, and flexural tests, respectively. The behavior of all the tested grouts is discussed. A finite element (FE) model simulating a composite-repaired pipe was developed and compared with past studies. The FE results show a good correlation with experimental test with margin of error less than 10%. By replacing the infill properties in FE model to mimic the used of different infill material for the repair, it was found that about 4–8% increment in burst pressure can be achieved. This signifies that the role of infill material is not only limited to transferring the load, but it also has the potential to increase overall performance of composite-repaired pipe.
A Unified Three-Dimensional Numerical Model for Boiling Curve in a Temperature Controlled Mode1
Authors: Garg Deepak , Dhir V. K.
Published: October 2018

In the present study, level set method is used to simulate the entire boiling curve in a temperature-controlled mode spanning all the three regimes viz., nucleate, transition, and film boiling with a unified numerical model supplemented with correlations specifying nucleation site density and waiting time between successive nucleations. In order to improve the performance of the code, parallel computing has also been implemented. Vapor evolution process along with temporal- and spatial-averaged wall heat flux and wall void fraction are computed for a uniform wall superheat case. Wall void fraction is found to increase with increase in wall superheat nonlinearly as different regimes of boiling were traversed. Energy partitioning from wall into liquid, interface, and microlayer has also been examined where it is found that as the wall void fraction increases, the percent energy going into liquid decreases while the microlayer contribution peaks around critical heat flux (CHF). Numerical simulations are carried out in 3D with water as test liquid and contact angle of 38 deg.
Heat Transfer From Particles Confined Between Two Parallel Walls
Authors: Sangani Ashok S.
Published: October 2018

The rate of heat conduction (or mass transfer by diffusion) from a cylindrical or a spherical particle confined between two walls is determined as a function of the position and the radius of the particle. It is shown that the appropriate Green's function can be determined using the method of images even when the resulting series is divergent with the help of Shanks transformation. Asymptotic expansions for small particle radius compared to the distance between the walls are combined with the expressions for the case in which the gap between the particle and one of the walls is small compared to the particle radius to provide formulas that are surprisingly accurate for estimating the rate of heat transfer for the entire range of parameters that include the radius and the position of the particle. Results are also presented for the thermal dipole induced by a spherical or a cylindrical particle placed between two walls with unequal temperatures and these are used to predict the effective thermal conductivity of thin composite films containing spherical or cylindrical particles.
Line-by-Line Random-Number Database for Monte Carlo Simulations of Radiation in Combustion System
Authors: Ren Tao , Modest Michael F.
Published: October 2018

With today's computational capabilities, it has become possible to conduct line-by-line (LBL) accurate radiative heat transfer calculations in spectrally highly nongray combustion systems using the Monte Carlo method. In these calculations, wavenumbers carried by photon bundles must be determined in a statistically meaningful way. The wavenumbers for the emitting photons are found from a database, which tabulates wavenumber–random number relations for each species. In order to cover most conditions found in industrial practices, a database tabulating these relations for CO2, H2O, CO, CH4, C2H4, and soot is constructed to determine emission wavenumbers and absorption coefficients for mixtures at temperatures up to 3000 K and total pressures up to 80 bar. The accuracy of the database is tested by reconstructing absorption coefficient spectra from the tabulated database. One-dimensional test cases are used to validate the database against analytical LBL solutions. Sample calculations are also conducted for a luminous flame and a gas turbine combustion burner. The database is available from the author's website upon request.
Analytical solution for converging elliptic shear wave in a bounded transverse isotropic viscoelastic material with nonhomogeneous outer boundary
Authors: Guidetti Martina , Royston Thomas J.
Published: October 2018

Dynamic elastography methods—based on optical, ultrasonic, or magnetic resonance imaging—are being developed for quantitatively mapping the shear viscoelastic properties of biological tissues, which are often altered by disease and injury. These diagnostic imaging methods involve analysis of shear wave motion in order to estimate or reconstruct the tissue's shear viscoelastic properties. Most reconstruction methods to date have assumed isotropic tissue properties. However, application to tissues like skeletal muscle and brain white matter with aligned fibrous structure resulting in local transverse isotropic mechanical properties would benefit from analysis that takes into consideration anisotropy. A theoretical approach is developed for the elliptic shear wave pattern observed in transverse isotropic materials subjected to axisymmetric excitation creating radially converging shear waves normal to the fiber axis. This approach, utilizing Mathieu functions, is enabled via a transformation to an elliptic coordinate system with isotropic properties and a ratio of minor and major axes matching the ratio of shear wavelengths perpendicular and parallel to the plane of isotropy in the transverse isotropic material. The approach is validated via numerical finite element analysis case studies. This strategy of coordinate transformation to equivalent isotropic systems could aid in analysis of other anisotropic tissue structures.
Identification of Novel Protein Lysine Acetyltransferases in Escherichia coli
Authors: Christensen David G. , Meyer Jesse G. , Baumgartner Jackson T. , D’Souza Alexandria K. , Nelson William C. , Payne Samuel H. , Kuhn Misty L. , Schilling Birgit , Wolfe Alan J.
Published: October 2018

N
ε-Lysine acetylation is one of the most abundant and important posttranslational modifications across all domains of life. One of the best-studied effects of acetylation occurs in eukaryotes, where acetylation of histone tails activates gene transcription. Although bacteria do not have true histones,
N
ε-lysine acetylation is prevalent; however, the role of these modifications is mostly unknown. We constructed an
E. coli
strain that lacked both known acetylation mechanisms to identify four new
N
ε-lysine acetyltransferases (RimI, YiaC, YjaB, and PhnO). We used mass spectrometry to determine the substrate specificity of these acetyltransferases. Structural analysis of selected substrate proteins revealed site-specific preferences for enzymatic acetylation that had little overlap with the preferences of the previously reported acetyl-phosphate nonenzymatic acetylation mechanism. Finally, YiaC and YfiQ appear to regulate flagellum-based motility, a phenotype critical for pathogenesis of many organisms. These acetyltransferases are highly conserved and reveal deeper and more complex roles for bacterial posttranslational modification.
In Fungal Intracellular Pathogenesis, Form Determines Fate
Authors: May Robin C. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: October 2018

For pathogenic microbes to survive ingestion by macrophages, they must subvert powerful microbicidal mechanisms within the phagolysosome. After ingestion,
Candida albicans
undergoes a morphological transition producing hyphae, while the surrounding phagosome exhibits a loss of phagosomal acidity.
Timeline of the South Tibet – Himalayan belt: the geochronological record of subduction, collision, and underthrusting from zircon and monazite U–Pb ages
Authors: Burg Jean-Pierre , Bouilhol Pierre
Published: October 2018

The “exact timing” of collision between India and Eurasia is a recurring theme. Careful dating is critical for all tectonic events. With the example of the South Tibet – Himalaya collision system, a short review of arguments from different approaches suggests that this pursuit is in vain, but that our knowledge is already sufficient to provide an acceptably “precise” timing of the main events. We reviewed U–Pb ages of zircons and monazites, recognizing that major tectonic events can produce thermal effects strong enough to be recognized in high-temperature geochronology. This review also shows that precise timing is beyond the precision of the methods and the rock record. General consistency between geologic and thermochronologic records strengthens previous interpretations of the collisional orogenic system. We argue that the Tsangpo Suture in South Tibet results from two merged subduction zones and that island arcs may be part of the root of the Eurasian paleoactive margin, which is at variance with most tectonic interpretations. The two main collisional events closely followed each other at ca. 50 and 40 Ma.
Adaptive intermittent control for exponential synchronization of directed networks with complex-variable systems and distributed delays coupling
Authors: Cai Shuiming , Li Xiaojing , Zhou Feilong
Published: October 2018

In this paper, adaptive exponential synchronization of directed networks with complex-variable systems and distributed delays coupling is investigated. An adaptive nonperiodical intermittent control scheme is adopted to realize exponential synchronization of such complex-variable directed dynamical networks. Based on the complex inequality, piecewise analysis method and Lyapunov stability theory, some sufficient conditions guaranteeing globally exponential synchronization are established. Different from previous works, here the designed adaptive update law for intermittent feedback control gain does not explicitly depend on time, which makes the adaptive nonperiodical intermittent control technique more convenient to implement in realistic applications. Moreover, it is indicated that the established synchronization criteria depend on the control rates rather than the control periods or control widths, and therefore the control periods can be optionally chosen for practical problems. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the derived theoretical results.
Numerical study on micromixers with smart-rhombic structure
Authors: Xu Jiajia , Chen Xueye , Liu Yanlin , Yao Zhen
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we have designed a rhombic microchannel plane micromixer (RMPM). The RMPM uses the principle of converging and diverging to improve the mixing efficiency. We improved the mixing efficiency by changing the rhombic angles and the rhombic channel width ratios. The influence of geometric parameters on mixing efficiency is analyzed by control of the variable method. Through the analysis of the numerical simulation, the RMPM can help increase the chaotic convection between different concentrations of fluids. The results of the study show that the rhombic angle and the width ratio of a microchannel can have a considerable effect on the mixing efficiency. The micromixer can be potentially useful in the future applications of rapid and high throughput mixing.
Uterine Prolapse in Pregnancy: Two Cases Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zeng Chunyan , Yang Feng , Wu Chunhua , Zhu Junlin , Guan Xiaoming , Liu Juan
Published: October 2018

Uterine prolapse complicating pregnancy is rare. Two cases are presented here: one patient had uterine prolapse at both her second and third pregnancy, and the other developed only once prolapse during pregnancy. This report will analyze etiology, clinical characteristics, complication, and treatment of uterine prolapse in pregnancy. Routine gynecologic examination should be carried out during pregnancy. If uterine prolapse occurred, conservative treatment could be used to prolong the gestational period as far as possible. Vaginal delivery is possible, but caesarean section seems a better alternative when prolapsed uterus cannot resolve during childbirth.
A Preliminary Checklist of the Orchid Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) of Ecuador
Authors: Padrón Pablo S. , Roubik David W. , Picón Ruben P.
Published: October 2018

A checklist of Euglossini in Ecuador is given, including all currently described, valid species collected until 2018. The list has been assembled from museum records, fieldwork cited herein, and literature. The former species lists are nearly doubled here, with 1Aglae, 23Eufriesea, 68Euglossa, 18Eulaema, and 5Exaerete,115 in total with>50 new records for the country.Distribution and collection data are included, and some doubtful species are discussed. The Amazon region is the most species rich area but not necessarily a natural pattern, perhaps due to uneven sampling effort across the country. Southern Ecuador is relatively little sampled.
UCAV Formation Online Collaborative Trajectory Planning Using hp Adaptive Pseudospectral Method
Authors: Wei Zhenglei , Huang Changqiang , Ding Dali , Huang Hanqiao , Zhou Huan
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a novel approach to solving the formation online collaborative trajectory planning for fixed-wing Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) is proposed. In order to describe the problem, the formation attack process which consists of communication framework and synergy elements is analyzed. The collaborative trajectory planning model which is based on avoiding the threat zones, reducing the execution time, and accomplishing the mission combines kinematics/dynamics model of UCAV with formation relative motion model to establish the optimal control problem. The approach based on hp adaptive pseudospectral method is presented to generate formation trajectory that satisfies the collaborative constraints. When a trigger event is detected, based on the offline planning, the online collaborative trajectory replanning using rolling horizon strategy is carried out. Simulated experiments which are divided into offline scenarios and online scenarios demonstrate that the proposed approach can generate trajectories which can meet the actual flight constraints, and the results verify the feasibility and stability of the proposed approach.
Characteristics of New Onset Herpes Simplex Keratitis after Keratoplasty
Authors: Qi Xiaolin , Wang Miaolin , Li Xiaofeng , Jia Yanni , Li Suxia , Shi Weiyun , Gao Hua
Published: October 2018

Purpose. To observe clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of new onset herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) after keratoplasty. Methods. Among 1,443 patients (1,443 eyes) who underwent keratoplasty (excluding cases of primary HSK) in Shandong Eye Hospital, 17 patients suffered postoperative HSK. The clinical manifestations, treatment regimens, and prognoses of the patients were evaluated. Results. The incidence of new onset HSK after keratoplasty was 1.18%. Epithelial HSK occurred in 10 eyes, with dendritic epithelial infiltration in 6 eyes and map-like epithelial defects in 4 eyes. Nine eyes had lesions at the junction of the graft and recipient. Stromal necrotic and endothelial HSK occurred in 7 eyes, presenting map-shaped ulcers in the entire corneal graft and recipient (two eyes) or at the graft-recipient junction (five eyes). Confocal microscopy revealed infiltration of a large number of dendritic cells at the junction of the lesion and transparent cornea. All 10 eyes with epithelial lesions and two eyes suffering stromal lesions of ≤1/3 corneal thickness healed after systematic and local antiviral treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity and corneal graft transparency were restored. For stromal HSK with an ulcer of >1/3 corneal thickness, amniotic membrane transplantation was performed, and visual acuity and graft transparency decreased significantly. Conclusion. New onset HSK after keratoplasty primarily resulted in epithelial and stromal lesion, involving both the graft and recipient. Effective treatments included antiviral medications and amniotic membrane transplantation. Delayed treatment may lead to aggravated graft opacification.
Electroacupuncture: A Feasible Sirt1 Promoter Which Modulates Metainflammation in Diet‐Induced Obesity Rats
Authors: Luo Dan , Liu Li , Liang Feng-xia , Yu Zhao-min , Chen Rui
Published: October 2018

It is generally accepted that metainflammation, a state of chronic and low‐grade inflammation in obesity, plays a great role in metabolic disorder like insulin resistance. To gain further insight into the mechanism of metainflammation and find feasible therapy of obesity, diet‐induced obesity (DIO) rats model and Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment were established in this trail. The results indicated that rising Lee’s index, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and increasing inflammation factors including NF‐κB, TNF‐α, and Macrophages 1 were determined in DIO rats while EA is exhibiting an effective intervention. Furthermore, to clarify this phenomenon and provide new recognition of alternative medicine for the treatment of metainflammation, we found that EA activating Sirt1 and Sirt1‐dependent deacetylation of histone (H3K9) was the key of modulation. It should be noted that, while possible, the activating of Sirt1 could lead to deacetylation of NF‐κB also. In this study, the deacetylation of NF‐κB depended on higher level of Sirt1 than H3K9, which suggested that the deacetylation via Sirt1 in metainflammation could be specific and programmed.
Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Septic Cardiomyopathy due to Legionella Pneumonia after Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Asaki Motohiro , Masuda Takamitsu , Miki Yasuo
Published: October 2018

A 57-year-old man presented to the emergency department with fever and progressive altered level of consciousness of 5 days’ duration. Three days before admission, influenza A was diagnosed at a clinic. On admission, his vital signs were unstable. Pneumonia was diagnosed through chest computed tomography, and urinary Legionella antigen test was positive. A diagnosis of septic shock due to Legionella and influenza pneumonia was made, and critical care management was initiated, including mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. However, tachycardia did not improve, left ventricular ejection fraction was 20%, and circulatory insufficiency progressed. Therefore, considering the involvement of septic cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) was initiated for circulation assistance on day 3 since admission. Tachycardia and myocardial dysfunction improved by day 8, and VA-ECMO was withdrawn. Subsequently, nutrition management and rehabilitation were performed, and the patient was transferred to a recovery hospital on day 108. VA-ECMO may be beneficial when concomitant with circulatory assistance in uncontrollable cases of septic cardiomyopathy using catecholamines and β-blockers. It may be necessary to adopt VA-ECMO at an appropriate time before the patient progresses to cardiopulmonary arrest.
Model-Free Adaptive Control of Direct Drive Servo Valve of Electromagnetic Linear Actuator
Authors: Zhu Jianhui , Dai Jianguo , Wang Cheng
Published: October 2018

An electromagnetic linear actuator (EMLA) has a promising application in direct motion control. However, ELMA will inevitably inherit uncertainties in the face of load changes, system parameter perturbation, and inherent system nonlinearities, all of which constitute disturbances adversely affecting the precision and adaptability of the control system. A model-free adaptive control (MFAC) strategy based on full form dynamic linearization (FFDL) was proposed to reduce the sensitivity of the control system to the disturbances. An adaptive control of direct drive servo valve was achieved based on the online interaction of characteristic parameters and control algorithms. The feasibility and precision of the proposed algorithm were verified through simulation and experimental results. The results show that the proposed algorithm could achieve adaptive adjustment of the servo valve response at different openings of 0-3 mm without changing control parameters, with the response time controlled within 10ms and steady state error less than 0.04mm. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm had better robustness and capacity of resisting disturbance.
Liver Cholestasis Secondary to Syphilis in an Immunocompetent Patient
Authors: Hussain Nazneen , Igbinedion Samuel O. , Diaz Richie , Alexander J. S. , Boktor Moheb , Knowles Kurt
Published: October 2018

Liver involvement is a known feature of secondary syphilis. The prevalence of hepatitis in secondary syphilis ranges broadly from 1 to 50%. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with type 1 diabetes mellitus and sickle cell trait presenting with jaundice and acute liver cholestasis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed mild hepatic fatty infiltration. RPR and Treponema pallidum IgG results were positive with a reflex titer of 1:64. Liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with normal hepatic architecture, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, hepatic cholestasis, and ductal proliferation suggestive of syphilitic hepatitis.
Pan-HDAC Inhibitors Restore PRDM1 Response to IL21 in CREBBP-Mutated Follicular Lymphoma
Authors: Desmots Fabienne , Roussel Mikaël , Pangault Céline , Llamas-Gutierrez Francisco , Pastoret Cédric , Guiheneuf Eric , Le Priol Jérôme , Camara-Clayette Valérie , Caron Gersende , Henry Catherine , Belaud-Rotureau Marc-Antoine , Godmer Pascal , Lamy Thierry , Jardin Fabrice , Tarte Karin , Ribrag Vincent , Fest Thierry
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

Follicular lymphoma arises from a germinal center B-cell proliferation supported by a bidirectional crosstalk with tumor microenvironment, in particular with follicular helper T cells (Tfh). We explored the relation that exists between the differentiation arrest of follicular lymphoma cells and loss-of-function of CREBBP acetyltransferase.

Experimental Design: The study used human primary cells obtained from either follicular lymphoma tumors characterized for somatic mutations, or inflamed tonsils for normal germinal center B cells. Transcriptome and functional analyses were done to decipher the B- and T-cell crosstalk. Responses were assessed by flow cytometry and molecular biology including ChIP-qPCR approaches.

Results:

Conversely to normal B cells, follicular lymphoma cells are unable to upregulate the transcription repressor, PRDM1, required for plasma cell differentiation. This defect occurs although the follicular lymphoma microenvironment is enriched in the potent inducer of PRDM1 and IL21, highly produced by Tfhs. In follicular lymphoma carrying CREBBP loss-of-function mutations, we found a lack of IL21-mediated PRDM1 response associated with an abnormal increased enrichment of the BCL6 protein repressor in PRDM1 gene. Moreover, in these follicular lymphoma cells, pan-HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat, restored their PRDM1 response to IL21 by lowering BCL6 bound to PRDM1. This finding was reinforced by our exploration of patients with follicular lymphoma treated with another pan-HDAC inhibitor. Patients showed an increase of plasma cell identity genes, mainly PRDM1 and XBP1, which underline the progression of follicular lymphoma B cells in the differentiation process.

Conclusions:

Our data uncover a new mechanism by which pan-HDAC inhibitors may act positively to treat patients with follicular lymphoma through the induction of the expression of plasma cell genes.
Spatiotemporal Loss of NF1 in Schwann Cell Lineage Leads to Different Types of Cutaneous Neurofibroma Susceptible to Modification by the Hippo Pathway
Authors: Chen Zhiguo , Mo Juan , Brosseau Jean-Philippe , Shipman Tracey , Wang Yong , Liao Chung-Ping , Cooper Jonathan M. , Allaway Robert J. , Gosline Sara J.C. , Guinney Justin , Carroll Thomas J. , Le Lu Q.
Published: October 2018

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a cancer predisposition disorder that results from inactivation of the tumor suppressor neurofibromin, a negative regulator of RAS signaling. Patients with NF1 present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, and the tumor with highest prevalence is cutaneous neurofibroma (cNF). Most patients harboring cNF suffer greatly from the burden of those tumors, which have no effective medical treatment. Ironically, none of the numerous NF1 mouse models developed so far recapitulate cNF. Here, we discovered that HOXB7 serves as a lineage marker to trace the developmental origin of cNF neoplastic cells. Ablating Nf1 in the HOXB7 lineage faithfully recapitulates both human cutaneous and plexiform neurofibroma. In addition, we discovered that modulation of the Hippo pathway acts as a “modifier” for neurofibroma tumorigenesis. This mouse model opens the doors for deciphering the evolution of cNF to identify effective therapies, where none exist today.

Significance:

This study provides insights into the developmental origin of cNF, the most common tumor in NF1, and generates the first mouse model that faithfully recapitulates both human cutaneous and plexiform neurofibroma. The study also demonstrates that the Hippo pathway can modify neurofibromagenesis, suggesting that dampening the Hippo pathway could be an attractive therapeutic target.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1
The Evaluation of Durative Transfusion of Endostar Combined with Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Xiaoqin , Gu Guomin , Soliman Faris , Sanders Andrew J. , Wang Xiuli , Liu Chunling
Published: October 2018

Background: The overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, with median OS of advanced NSCLC with standard systemic chemotherapy being reported at 13.6 months and the 5-year survival rate at less than 15%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate Endostar combined with chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Data on 116 cases of pathologically confirmed stage IIIB-IV NSCLC were retrospectively collected. The control group was treated with chemotherapy combined with intravenous infusion of Endostar while the test group received durative transfusion of Endostar. The short-term therapeutic effects including overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety were evaluated in both groups. In the follow-up, progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were also analysed. Results: In the test group, the ORR was 53.4%, which was similar to that in the control group (44.8%) (p > 0.05). However, the DCR in the test group (86.2%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (70.7%) (p < 0.01). The median time to progression in the test group (6 months) was also significantly longer than that in the control group (4 months). Importantly, the median OS in the test group (17.5 months) was improved compared to the control group (13.5 months). The 1-year survival rate in the test and control groups was 9.7 and 15.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference in side effects (including thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, nausea, and vomiting) between the two groups. Conclusions: Endostar durative transfusion combined with chemotherapy showed a higher DCR, longer PFS and OS time, and was well tolerated in patients with advanced NSCLC.
Very Early Neurophysiological Study in Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Authors: Jin Jiaoting , Hu Fangfang , Qin Xing , Liu Xuan , Li Min , Dang Yonghui , Dang Jingxia
Published: October 2018

Purpose: The diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the very early stage may be challenging. Our aim was to report the neurophysiological abnormalities in GBS within 4 days of clinical onset. We expected that GBS will be diagnosed by the assistance of neurophysiological study in the very early stage. Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with a diagnosis of GBS discharged from First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University and Xi Jing Hospital. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the onset of symptoms to electromyography examination interval (OEI). The neurophysiological findings were carried out using standard procedures. All patients were examined by the same experienced neurophysiologist. Results: There were not significant group differences in abnormal rate, distal motor latency (DML), motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), F response (FR), compound muscle action potential (CMAP), conduction block (CB), sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), and sensory nerve conduction velocity among OEI ≤4 days, 4< OEI ≤10 days, and OEI > 10 days groups. Motor nerves were more affected than sensory nerves in neurophysiological presentation in very early stage patients. The difference of motor nerves and sensory nerves was statistically significant in lower limbs, but was not in upper limbs. In motor nerve conduction studies, the abnormal rate of DML, MNCV, FR, CB was more common seen in ulnar and peroneal nerve than median and tibial nerve, the abnormal rate of CMAP was the same in ulnar, median, peroneal and tibial nerve. In sensory nerve conduction studies, the abnormal rate of ulnar nerve and median nerve was higher than the superficial peroneal nerve and sural nerve. The OEI was not correlated with the SNAP decrease rate of median (r = 0.10, p = 0.23) and ulnar (r = 0.26, p = 0.06) but was statistically correlated with sural SNAP decrease rate (r = 0.29, p = 0.04). The sural-sparing pattern phenomenon was the most commonly discovered phenomenon in very early stage patients (OEI ≤4 days), followed by patients with 4< OEI ≤10 days, ultimately found in patients with OEI > 10 days. Conclusions: We suggest performing neurophysiological examination as soon as possible for suspected GBS patients, particularly focusing on multi-spots inspection of ulnar and peroneal nerves, and paying close attention to sural-sparing patterns.