bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics and pattern formation of a diffusive predator–prey model with predator-taxis
Authors: Wu Sainan , Wang Jinfeng , Shi Junping
Published: June 2018

We propose a new reaction–diffusion predator–prey model system with predator-taxis in which the preys could move in the opposite direction of predator gradient. A similar situation also occurs when susceptible population avoids the infected ones in epidemic spreading. The global existence and boundedness of solutions of the system in bounded domains of arbitrary spatial dimension and any predator-taxis sensitivity coefficient are proved. It is also shown that such predator-taxis does not qualitatively affect the existence and stability of coexistence steady state solutions in many cases. For diffusive predator–prey system with diffusion-induced instability, it is shown that the presence of predator-taxis may annihilate the spatial patterns.
New levels in spherical 96Y
Authors: Wang E. H. , Hamilton J. H. , Ramayya A. V. , Han R. , Zachary C. J. , Eldridge J. M. , Hwang J. K. , Brewer N. T. , Luo Y. X. , Rasmussen J. O. , Zhu S. J. , Ter-Akopian G. M. , Oganessian Yu. Ts.
Published: June 2018

New transitions in neutron rich [Formula: see text]Y have been identified by analyzing the high statistics [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] coincidence data from the spontaneous fission of [Formula: see text]Cf at the Gammasphere detector array. Shell model calculations were performed and are found in good agreement with experimental data. The ground state is nearly spherical but a new excited band has large deformation.
Isovector plus isoscalar neutron–proton pairing effect on nuclear statistical quantities using a path integral approach
Authors: Mokhtari D. , Allal N. H. , Fellah M.
Published: June 2018

Gap equations at finite temperature are established in the isovector plus isoscalar pairing case [Formula: see text] using a path integral approach. Expressions of the various statistical quantities, i.e., the energy, the entropy and the heat capacity are then deduced. It is shown that they do generalize the ones obtained in the pure isovector ([Formula: see text]) pairing case, as well as those obtained within the conventional finite temperature Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (FTBCS) theory in the pairing between like-particles case. A numerical study is then performed using the schematic one-level model.

It is shown that the isoscalar n–p gap parameter [Formula: see text] behaves as a function of the temperature, like its homologues [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the conventional FTBCS approach. As for the three other gap parameters, i.e., [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], their behaviors are clearly modified when the isoscalar pairing is taken into account. In particular, one observes a shift of the values of the critical temperatures.

Dealing with the statistical quantities, the inclusion of the isoscalar pairing, in addition to the isovector one, leads to a lowering of the energy as well as a change of the shapes of the curves of the energy, the entropy and the heat capacity as a function of the temperature.
Analysis with SDHO and RMF density distributions of elastic scattering cross-sections of oxygen isotopes (16–18O) by various target nuclei
Authors: Aygun M.
Published: June 2018

In the present study, two different density distributions of oxygen isotopes ([Formula: see text]O) that consist of the harmonic oscillator single-particle wave functions (SDHO) and the relativistic mean-field (RMF) approaches are investigated for the availability of elastic scattering cross-sections. For this purpose, the elastic scattering angular distributions of nuclear reactions with 13 target nuclei, four target nuclei and nine target nuclei are calculated for [Formula: see text]O, [Formula: see text]O and [Formula: see text]O, respectively. For these calculations, the double folding model based on the optical model is used. The optical potential parameters, volume integrals and cross-sections for all the nuclear reactions are given in this study. The comparison of theoretical results and experimental data shows very good agreement. The imaginary potential depth expressions, which will be new and more practical terms to explain the nuclear interactions of [Formula: see text]O, [Formula: see text]O and [Formula: see text]O with different nuclei, for each oxygen isotope are proposed.
Chained Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen steering inequalities with improved visibility
Authors: Meng Hui-Xian , Zhou Jie , Ren Changliang , Su Hong-Yi , Chen Jing-Ling
Published: June 2018

It is known that the linear [Formula: see text]-setting steering inequalities introduced in [D. J. Saunders, S. J. Jones, H. M. Wiseman and G. J. Pryde, Nat. Phys. 6 (2010) 845.] are very efficient inequalities in detecting steerability of the Werner states by using optimal measurement axes. Here, we construct chained steering inequalities that have improved visibility for the Werner states under a finite number of settings. Specifically, the threshold values of quantum violation of our inequalities for the [Formula: see text] settings are lower than those of the linear steering inequalities. Furthermore, for almost all generalized Werner states, the chained steering inequalities always have improved visibility in comparison with the linear steering inequalities.
The Political Role of the People’s Court and Authoritarian Regime Resilience: The Revision of the Environmental Protection Law in China
Authors: NAITO HIROKO
Published: June 2018

This paper demonstrates how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) designed the political role of the People’s Court for authoritarian regime resilience. In particular, the case of the revision of the Environmental Protection Law (EPL) is selected because it was the first law in China to give detailed rules for public-interest trials. To illustrate the process by which the law was made, the paper is divided into three parts: (1) the practice of local governments before the revision of the law, (2) central government inspections in the provinces during the period that the law was being made, and (3) the revision process of the EPL in the National People’s Congress. From this analysis, the paper concludes that the CCP streamlined the litigation process because it wanted to use the People’s Court system as a tool to collect and understand citizen complaints, which it could then use to manage the issues of social stability.
Coarse quotients by group actions and the maximal Roe algebra
Authors: Higginbotham Logan , Weighill Thomas
Published: June 2018

For a finitely generated group [Formula: see text] acting on a metric space [Formula: see text], Roe defined the warped space [Formula: see text], which one can view as a kind of large scale quotient of [Formula: see text] by the action of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we generalize this notion to the setting of actions of arbitrary groups on large scale spaces. We then restrict our attention to what we call coarsely discontinuous actions by coarse equivalences and show that for such actions the group [Formula: see text] can be recovered as an appropriately defined automorphism group [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] satisfies a large scale connectedness condition. We show that for a coarsely discontinuous action of a countable group [Formula: see text] on a discrete bounded geometry metric space [Formula: see text] there is a relation between the maximal Roe algebras of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], namely that there is a ∗-isomorphism [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the ideal of compact operators. If [Formula: see text] has Property A and [Formula: see text] is amenable, then [Formula: see text] has Property A, and thus the maximal Roe algebra and full crossed product can be replaced by the usual Roe algebra and reduced crossed product respectively in the above equation.
Green and facile synthesis of nanosized polythiophene as an organic anode for high-performance potassium-ion battery
Authors: Zeng Guifang , An Yongling , Fei Huifang , Yuan Tian , Qing Sun , Ci Lijie , Xiong Shenglin , Feng Jinkui
Published: June 2018

In this work, nanosized polythiophene (PTh) is synthesized via a green and facile method. The obtained nanosized PTh was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result indicated that a nanosized, porous and amorphous PTh was synthesized. As an organic anode material for potassium ion battery, the PTh shows excellent performance with a reversible capacity of 58[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 30[Formula: see text]mA[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text].
Hard-templating synthesis and enhanced photocatalysis of mesoporous titanium dioxides nanoparticles
Authors: Jin K. L. , Chen X. J. , Xu J. C. , Huang Y. S. , Han Y. B. , Jin H. X. , Jin D. F. , Peng X. L. , Hong B. , Xu W. X. , Li J. , Guo T. , Wang Q. Y. , Zhang Z. A. , Ge H. L. , Wang X. Q.
Published: June 2018

Mesoporous titanium dioxides nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were synthesized using activated carbon (AC) as templates after the decomposition of AC. All results indicated that TiO2 NPs with the small grain size presented the anatase phase structure. Mesoporous TiO2 NPs showed the high surface area and the surface area decreased with the TiO2 content. The removal of methylene blue (MB) indicated that the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of mesoporous TiO2 NPs increased up to 92% for three-times doping with the TiO2 content, and then decreased. This should be attributed to the synergistic effect from the MB adsorption of mesoporous-structure and the photocatalysis of TiO2 NPs. Therefore, the higher MB concentration near TiO2 NPs from the mesoporous-structure increased the touch chance and the MB photocatalytic decomposition was promoted greatly.
Experimental Heat Transfer Coefficient and Pressure Drop during Condensation of R-134a and R-410A in Horizontal Micro-fin Tubes
Authors: Singh Sanjeev , Kukreja Rajeev
Published: June 2018

Condensation heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops of HFC refrigerants R-134a and R-410A have been investigated experimentally in smooth and micro-fin tubes (helix angles 18[Formula: see text] and 15[Formula: see text]) of outer diameter 9.52[Formula: see text]mm at mass fluxes from 200 to 600[Formula: see text]kg/m[Formula: see text]s, vapor qualities between 0.1 and 0.9 and at saturation temperatures of 35[Formula: see text]C and 40[Formula: see text]C. Results showed that the heat transfer coefficients of R-134a and R-410A inside micro-fin tubes were 1.21–1.82 and 1.15–1.47 times higher and frictional pressure drops were 2.11–2.56 and 1.62–2.12 times higher than those of smooth tubes. These experimental results are compared with the existing heat transfer and frictional pressure drop correlations proposed by different researchers. The comparison showed fairly good agreement with these existing correlations within [Formula: see text]30%. A new correlation has also been proposed for predicting heat transfer coefficient in micro-fin tubes. The oil concentrations measured for refrigerants R-134a and R-410A varied in the range of 1.3–1.5%, respectively.
Alteration of structural, optical and electrical properties of CdSe incorporated polyvinyl pyrrolidone nanocomposite for memory devices
Authors: Tyagi Chetna , Devi Ambika
Published: June 2018

The important enhancement in the structural, dielectric and optical properties of pure polymer and CdSe incorporated polyvinyl pyrrolidone has been reported in this paper. The surface morphology of CdSe/PVP nanocomposite film is studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical composition of different elements has been reported using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum. The structure of polymer nanocomposite is determined with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum and is observed to be hexagonal. Particle size, intercrystalline separation, interplanner spacing, lattice parameters, strain and dislocation factors are calculated using XRD results. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Photoluminescence (PL) analysis have been studied in order to check the possible interaction between CdSe quantum dots and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) matrix. The ac conductivity of CdSe/PVP nanocomposite is found to be higher as compared to pure polymers. The highest value of conductivity observed at 60203 Hz and at 523 K is found to be [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Sm[Formula: see text]. Comparative study of dielectric constant, dielectric losses, dissipation factor, electric modulus and impedance has been performed. The semi-circles in impedance measurement for both materials show the bulk electrical properties that result in single relaxation process in CdSe/PVP nanocomposite.
Expertise, Teleoperation, and Task Constraints Affect the Speed–Curvature–Torsion Power Law in RAMIS
Authors: Sharon Yarden , Nisky Ilana
Published: June 2018

Quantitative characterization of surgical movements can improve the quality of patient care by informing the development of new training protocols for surgeons, and the design and control of surgical robots. Here, we focus on the relationship between the speed of movement and its geometry that was extensively studied in computational motor control. In three-dimensional movements, this relationship is defined by a family of speed–curvature–torsion power laws, such as the one-sixth power law. We present a novel characterization of open and teleoperated suturing movements using the speed–curvature–torsion power-law analysis. We fitted the gain and the exponents of this power law to suturing movements of participants with different levels of surgical experience in open (using sensorized forceps) and teleoperated (using the da Vinci Research Kit/da Vinci Surgical System) conditions from two different datasets. We found that expertise and teleoperation significantly affected the gain and exponents of the power law, and that there were large differences between different segments of movement. These results confirm that the relationship between the speed and geometry of surgical movements is indicative of surgical skill, open a new avenue for understanding the effect of teleoperation on the movements of surgeons, and lay the foundation for the development of new algorithms for automatic segmentation of surgical tasks.
BUbiNG
Authors: Boldi Paolo , Marino Andrea , Santini Massimo , Vigna Sebastiano
Published: June 2018

Although web crawlers have been around for twenty years by now, there is virtually no freely available, open-source crawling software that guarantees high throughput, overcomes the limits of single-machine systems, and, at the same time, scales linearly with the amount of resources available. This article aims at filling this gap, through the description of BUbiNG, our next-generation web crawler built upon the authors’ experience with UbiCrawler [9] and on the last ten years of research on the topic. BUbiNG is an open-source Java fully distributed crawler; a single BUbiNG agent, using sizeable hardware, can crawl several thousand pages per second respecting strict politeness constraints, both host- and IP-based. Unlike existing open-source distributed crawlers that rely on batch techniques (like MapReduce), BUbiNG job distribution is based on modern high-speed protocols to achieve very high throughput.
Multiview Discrete Hashing for Scalable Multimedia Search
Authors: Shen Xiaobo , Shen Fumin , Liu Li , Yuan Yun-Hao , Liu Weiwei , Sun Quan-Sen
Published: June 2018

Hashing techniques have recently gained increasing research interest in multimedia studies. Most existing hashing methods only employ single features for hash code learning. Multiview data with each view corresponding to a type of feature generally provides more comprehensive information. How to efficiently integrate multiple views for learning compact hash codes still remains challenging. In this article, we propose a novel unsupervised hashing method, dubbed multiview discrete hashing (MvDH), by effectively exploring multiview data. Specifically, MvDH performs matrix factorization to generate the hash codes as the latent representations shared by multiple views, during which spectral clustering is performed simultaneously. The joint learning of hash codes and cluster labels enables that MvDH can generate more discriminative hash codes, which are optimal for classification. An efficient alternating algorithm is developed to solve the proposed optimization problem with guaranteed convergence and low computational complexity. The binary codes are optimized via the discrete cyclic coordinate descent (DCC) method to reduce the quantization errors. Extensive experimental results on three large-scale benchmark datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over several state-of-the-art methods in terms of both accuracy and scalability.
Natural Timestamps in Powerline Electromagnetic Radiation
Authors: Li Yang , Tan Rui , Yau David K. Y.
Published: June 2018

The continuous fluctuation of electric network frequency (ENF) presents a fingerprint indicative of time, which we call
natural timestamp
. This article studies the time accuracy of these natural timestamps obtained from powerline electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which is mainly excited by powerline voltage oscillations at the rate of the ENF. However, since the EMR signal is often weak and noisy, extracting the ENF is challenging, especially on resource-limited sensor platforms. We design an efficient EMR conditioning algorithm and evaluate the time accuracy of EMR natural timestamps on two representative classes of IoT platforms—a high-end single-board computer with a customized EMR antenna and a low-end mote with a normal conductor wire acting as EMR antenna. Extensive measurements at six sites in a city, which are away from each other for up to 24km, show that the high-end and low-end nodes achieve median time errors of about 50ms and 150ms, respectively. To demonstrate the use of the EMR natural timestamps, we discuss three applications: time recovery, runtime clock verification, and secure clock synchronization.
Integrate and Conquer
Authors: Peng Chong , Kang Zhao , Cai Shuting , Cheng Qiang
Published: June 2018

In this article, we introduce a novel, general methodology, called integrate and conquer, for simultaneously accomplishing the tasks of feature extraction, manifold construction, and clustering, which is taken to be superior to building a clustering method as a single task. When the proposed novel methodology is used on two-dimensional (2D) data, it naturally induces a new clustering method highly effective on 2D data. Existing clustering algorithms usually need to convert 2D data to vectors in a preprocessing step, which, unfortunately, severely damages 2D spatial information and omits inherent structures and correlations in the original data. The induced new clustering method can overcome the matrix-vectorization-related issues to enhance the clustering performance on 2D matrices. More specifically, the proposed methodology mutually enhances three tasks of finding subspaces, learning manifolds, and constructing data representation in a seamlessly integrated fashion. When used on 2D data, we seek two projection matrices with optimal numbers of directions to project the data into low-rank, noise-mitigated, and the most expressive subspaces, in which manifolds are adaptively updated according to the projections, and new data representation is built with respect to the projected data by accounting for nonlinearity via adaptive manifolds. Consequently, the learned subspaces and manifolds are clean and intrinsic, and the new data representation is discriminative and robust. Extensive experiments have been conducted and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and algorithm.
Globalization and Business Regulation
Authors: Djelic Marie-Laure , Quack Sigrid
Published: June 2018

In the twenty-first century, global business regulation has come of age. In this article, we review the literature on globalization and business regulation from the angle of transnational governance, a recently evolving interdisciplinary field of research. Despite the multiplicity and plurality of regulatory platforms and products that have emerged over time, we identify common patterns of field structuration and parallel trajectories. We argue that a major trend, both in practice and in scholarly work, is a move away from an idealized convergence around a set of unified global rules; instead, our conceptualizations and our practices of transnational business regulation increasingly demonstrate a concern for the adaptability of transnational rules to resilient and resistant contextual specificities. Another important trend, both in practice and in scholarly fields, is a growing focus on the complex dynamics between rule making on the one hand and rule implementation and monitoring on the other.
Observational Study of the Association between TCM Zheng and Types of Coronary Artery Stenosis: Protocol of a Multicenter Case Series Study
Authors: Liu Chao , Chen Guang , Liu Dan , Nie Shaoping , Wang Xiao , Huang Xinsheng , Li Haitao , Li Yi , Luo Shihua , Zhao Guoan , Lin Fei , He Haoqiang , Li Jun , Xing Yanwei , Zhang Zhenpeng , Wang Jie
Published: June 2018

Background. Coronary artery stenosis is the major pathological change of coronary heart disease (CHD). Within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, some kinds of TCM Zheng could exist in patients with CHD; accordingly, TCM practitioners could provide appropriate TCM therapy. However, little is known about the association between TCM Zheng and types of coronary artery stenosis. Such knowledge could help improve the accuracy and effectiveness of efforts to combine CHD treatment with TCM therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the association between TCM Zheng and types of coronary artery stenosis. Methods and Design. This is a multicenter, large sample, case series study in 4 tertiary A hospitals from 3 provinces in China. A total of 3,000 eligible patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis or CHD and selected to undergo coronary angiography (CAG) will be enrolled in this study. We will use electronic case report forms (eCRF) to collect information, including baseline characteristics, TCM symptoms, CAG results, and GRACE scores according to standard operating procedures (SOP). Data will be analyzed by SPSS 20.0. Ethics. This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Guang’anmen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (no. 2017‐058‐KY‐01) and is registered with chictr.org (registration number ChiCTR-ROC-17013221).
Dosimetric Comparisons of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy and Tomotherapy for Early T-Stage Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Li Shan , Zhou Qin , Shen Liang-Fang , Li Huan , Li Zhan-Zhan , Yang Zhen , Lei Ming-Jun , Yang Xiao-Yu , Zhang Zi-Jian , Hu Yong-Mei , Jin Ze-Fu , Liu Gui , Lv Zhi-Ping , Huang Xin-Qiong
Published: June 2018

Purpose. To compare the dosimetric differences between volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and helical tomotherapy (HT) in treating early T-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Method. Ten patients with early T-stage NPC who received tomotherapy using simultaneously integrated boost (SIB) strategies were replanned with VMAT (RapidArc of Varian, dual-arc). Dosimetric comparisons between the RapidArc plan and the HT plan included the following: (1) D98, homogeneity, and conformity of PTVs; (2) sparing of organs at risk (OARs); (3) delivery time and monitor units (MUs). Results. (1) Compared with RapidArc, HT achieved better dose conformity (CI of PGTVnx + nd: 0.861 versus 0.818, P = 0.004). (2) In terms of OAR protection, RapidArc exhibited significant superiority in sparing ipsilateral optic nerve (Dmax: 27.5Gy versus 49.1Gy, P < 0.001; D2: 23.5Gy versus 48.2Gy, P < 0.001), contralateral optic nerve (Dmax: 30.4Gy versus 49.2Gy, P < 0.001; D2: 26.2Gy versus 48.1Gy, P < 0.001), and optic chiasm (Dmax: 32.8Gy versus 48.3Gy, P < 0.001; D2: 30Gy versus 47.6Gy, P < 0.001). HT demonstrated a superior ability to protect the brain stem (D1cc: 43.0Gy versus 45.2Gy, P = 0.012), ipsilateral temporal lobe (Dmax 64.5Gy versus 66.4 Gy, P = 0.015), contralateral temporal lobe (Dmax: 62.8Gy versus 65.1Gy, P = 0.001), ipsilateral lens (Dmax: 4.27Gy versus 5.24Gy, P = 0.009; D2: 4.00Gy versus 5.05Gy, P = 0.002; Dmean: 2.99Gy versus 4.31Gy, P < 0.001), contralateral lens (Dmax: 4.25Gy versus 5.09Gy, P = 0.047; D2: 3.91Gy versus 4.92Gy, P = 0.005; Dmean: 2.91Gy versus 4.18Gy, P < 0.001), ipsilateral parotid (Dmean: 36.4Gy versus 41.1Gy, P = 0.002; V30Gy: 54.8% versus 70.4%, P = 0.009), and contralateral parotid (Dmean: 33.4Gy versus 39.1Gy, P < 0.001; V30Gy: 48.2% versus 67.3%, P = 0.005). There were no statistically significant differences in spinal cord or pituitary protection between the RapidArc plan and the HT plan. (3) RapidArc achieved a much shorter delivery time (3.8 min versus 7.5 min, P < 0.001) and a lower MU (618MUs versus 5646MUs, P < 0.001). Conclusion. Our results show that RapidArc and HT are comparable in D98, dose homogeneity, and protection of the spinal cord and pituitary gland. RapidArc performs better in shortening delivery time, lowering MUs, and sparing the optic nerve and optic chiasm. HT is superior in dose conformity and protection of the brain stem, temporal lobe, lens, and parotid.
Line Defect-Layered EBG Waveguides in Dielectric Substrates
Authors: Ouassal Hassna , Shaker Jafar , Roy Langis , Hettak Khelifa , Chaharmir Reza
Published: June 2018

A dielectric-based multilayer structure composed of U-shaped rings (ML-UR) is used to develop a class of novel electromagnetic band gap (EBG) slab waveguide. The structure has two band gaps that narrow down as dielectric constant is increased. The EBG slab waveguide is created by embedding a single-layer line defect inside the 3D crystal of the EBG slab guide. Unlike our previously published foam-based EBG structure, the use of dielectric spacer in the EBG waveguides offers significant advantages in terms of overall size, structure reliability, and design flexibility. The waveguide structures reported in this paper are designed to operate at X-band (8–12 GHz) while being fed by coplanar-slotline transitions. Prototypes were fabricated and characterized experimentally. The insertion loss decreases by decreasing the number of full lattices of ML-UR surrounding the channels. The proposed waveguide has potential in microwave components such as directional couplers, phase shifters, and antenna array feeding networks.
Fat Embolism Syndrome in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients: Early Recognition and Aggressive Therapy
Authors: Murphy Lee D. , Yabrodi Mouhammad , Lutfi Riad
Published: June 2018

We describe two pediatric patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy that presented with acute neurologic deterioration and hypoxic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. These cases fulfill the clinical criteria for Fat Embolism Syndrome. Early recognition and aggressive supportive therapy with mechanical ventilation, right ventricular afterload reduction, and blood transfusion led to survival without any residual effects from the event. Fat Embolism Syndrome needs to be considered early in the course of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who present with respiratory and neurological symptoms.
Approaches to Medical Decision-Making Based on Big Clinical Data
Authors: Malykh V. L. , Rudetskiy S. V.
Published: June 2018

The paper discusses different approaches to building a medical decision support system based on big data. The authors sought to abstain from any data reduction and apply universal teaching and big data processing methods independent of disease classification standards. The paper assesses and compares the accuracy of recommendations among three options: case-based reasoning, simple single-layer neural network, and probabilistic neural network. Further, the paper substantiates the assumption regarding the most efficient approach to solving the specified problem.
Global Energy Solution to the Schrödinger Equation Coupled with the Chern-Simons Gauge and Neutral Field
Authors: Huh Hyungjin , Moon Bora
Published: June 2018

We study the Cauchy problem of the Chern-Simons-Schrödinger equations with a neutral field, under the Coulomb gauge condition, in energy space H1(R2). We prove the uniqueness of a solution by using the Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality with the specific constant. To obtain a global solution, we show the conservation of total energy and find a bound for the nondefinite term.
Central Pontine Myelinolysis in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Authors: Kinoshita Hannah , Grant Leon , Xoinis Konstantine , Purohit Prashant J.
Published: June 2018

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is rarely reported in pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We report this case of a 16-year-old female with new onset diabetes presenting with DKA, who received aggressive fluid resuscitation and sodium bicarbonate in the emergency department. Later she developed altered mental status concerning for cerebral edema and received hyperosmolar therapy with only transient improvement. Soon she became apneic requiring emergent endotracheal intubation. MRI brain showed cerebral edema, CPM, and subdural hemorrhage. She was extubated on day seven and exhibited mild dysmetria, ataxia, unilateral weakness, and neglect. Upon discharge she was able to ambulate with a walker and speak and eat without difficulty. Although less common than cerebral edema, CPM should be considered in DKA patients with acute neurologic deterioration. Fluid and bicarbonate therapy should be individualized, but larger studies would help guide the management. Although poor outcomes are reported in CPM, favorable outcomes are possible.
Direct Position Determination of Coherently Distributed Noncircular Sources
Authors: Lu Zhiyu , Wang Jianhui , Ba Bin , Wang Daming
Published: June 2018

The existing localization algorithms for coherently distributed (CD) sources fail to achieve the best localization performance because of position information loss and error accumulation. To solve this problem, this study proposed a novel direct position determination (DPD) algorithm that profits from the characteristics of noncircular signals. Based on the parameterization assumption of CD sources, the DPD localization model is initially constructed and an extended subspace data fusion‐based DPD algorithm is subsequently proposed by decomposing the extended covariance matrices, which are constructed by combining the characteristics of noncircular sources. The algorithm achieves a low complexity and a high efficiency by avoiding the calculation of the intermediate variables. Specifically, the closed‐form expression of the Cramer‐Rao lower bound for CD noncircular sources is also derived. Simulation results show that, compared with existing DPD algorithms, the proposed algorithm improves the multitarget localization capability and achieves high‐accuracy results.
Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transarterial Chemoembolization followed by Massive Gastric Bleeding
Authors: Nishida Kazuhiro , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Funabiki Tomohiro
Published: June 2018

Introduction. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the first-line therapy for patient with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although TACE is a generally safe procedure, major complications can be occurred. We describe a patient with rupture of HCC after TACE followed by gastric bleeding. Case Presentation. An 81-year-old man presented with worsening epigastric pain. He had been diagnosed with multiple HCC with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and underwent TACE 19 days previously. A contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed rupture of an HCC. He was treated nonoperatively and discharged on hospital day 18. Five weeks after TACE, he was emergently admitted with massive hematochezia and shock. A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrated extrinsic gastric compression by an HCC lesion with extravasation of contrast into the stomach. Emergent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a bleeding gastric ulcer with extraluminal compression which was successfully controlled by hypertonic saline-epinephrine injection. Due to tumor progression, he was discharged for palliative care and died six weeks after TACE. Conclusion. Rupture of HCC is a life-threatening complication after TACE with mortality rates up to 50%. After treatment of a ruptured HCC, extragastric compression and bleeding can occur due to direct compression by a primary lesion or intraperitoneal dissemination.
Diagnostic Values of Free Triiodothyronine and Free Thyroxine and the Ratio of Free Triiodothyronine to Free Thyroxine in Thyrotoxicosis
Authors: Chen Xinxin , Zhou Yulin , Zhou Mengxi , Yin Qinglei , Wang Shu
Published: June 2018

Background. The results of previous studies on the usefulness of free triiodothyronine (FT3) to free thyroxine (FT4) are controversial. We investigated the usefulness of FT3, FT4, and FT3/FT4 ratio in differentiating Graves’ disease (GD) from destructive thyroiditis. Methods. A total of 126 patients with untreated GD, 36 with painless thyroiditis, 18 with painful subacute thyroiditis, and 63 healthy controls, were recruited. The levels of FT3 and FT4 and the FT3/FT4 ratios for the different etiologies of thyrotoxicosis were evaluated separately by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The expression levels of type 1 and type 2 deiodinase (DIO1 and DIO2) in thyroid tissues were also investigated. Results. The optimal cut-off values were 7.215 pmol/L for FT3, 21.71 pmol/L for FT4, and 0.4056 for the FT3/FT4 ratio. The specificity and positive predictive value of the FT3/FT4 ratio were highest for values > 0.4056. DIO1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the thyroid tissue of patients with GD (P=0.013). Conclusions. We demonstrated that the FT3/FT4 ratio was useful in differentiating GD from destructive thyroiditis. In addition, a relatively high expression of type 1 deiodinase in the thyroid might be responsible for the high FT3/FT4 ratio in patients with GD.
MEMS Inertial Sensor for Strata Stability Monitoring in Underground Mining: An Experimental Study
Authors: Zhang Kaizhi , Ji Songtao , Zhang Yang , Zhang Jie , Pan Ruikai
Published: June 2018

To investigate the fracture and deformation characteristics of the strata in underground mining as well as the effectiveness and sensitivity of the MEMS inertial sensor for strata stability monitoring, a low cost, small size, and easy implementation inertial MEMS sensor module was redeveloped. Sensor modules were installed on roof strata in an underground mining equivalent material simulation experiment. Then, monitoring signal of two modules near the middle and end section of caving strata was processed. The processed signal presents stepped change, and each step consists a vibration stage and a stable stage. Further analysis of each stage, a strategy to estimate the deformation and stability of strata, can be reached: the duration of each vibration stage and complete stage with rising trend indicates that the deformation of strata is growing to the ultimate state. In this study, this method could recognize the destructive deformation of strata at least 1 hour before the strata caving.
Maneuvering Acceleration Estimation Algorithm Using Doppler Radar Measurement
Authors: Liu Hongqiang , Zhou Zhongliang , Yu Lei
Published: June 2018

An algorithm to estimate the tangential and normal accelerations directly using the Doppler radar measurement in an online closed loop form is proposed. Specific works are as follows: first, the tangential acceleration and normal acceleration are taken as the state variables to establish a linear state transition equation; secondly, the decorrelation unbiased conversion measurement Kalman filter (DUCMKF) algorithm is proposed to deal with the strongly nonlinear measurement equation; thirdly, the geometric relationship between the range rate and the velocity direction angle is used to obtain two estimators of the velocity direction angle; finally, the interactive multiple model (IMM) algorithm is used to fuse the estimators of the velocity direction angle and then the adaptive IMM of current statistical model based DUCMKF (AIMM-CS-DUCMKF) is proposed. The simulation experiment results show that the accuracy and stability of DUCMKF are better than the sequential extended Kalman filter algorithm, the sequential unscented Kalman filter algorithm, and converted measurement Kalman filter algorithms; on the other hand they show that the AIMM-CS-DUCMKF can obtain the high accuracy of the tangential and normal accelerations estimation algorithm.
Evaluation of Acid Leaching on the Removal of Heavy Metals and Soil Fertility in Contaminated Soil
Authors: Chu Chen-Yao , Ko Tzu-Hsing
Published: June 2018

Heavy metal-contaminated soils were leached with various acid reagents, and a series of treatments was assessed to understand soil fertility after acid leaching. Aqua regia digestion and a five-step sequential extraction procedure were applied to determine heavy metal distribution. The average total concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb for contaminated soil were 1334, 25, 263, and 525 mg·kg−1 based on the ICP/AES quantitative analysis. Other than Pb extracted by H2SO4, over 50% removal efficiency of other heavy metals was achieved. A five-step sequential extraction revealed that the bound-to-carbonate and bound-to-Fe-Mn oxides were the major forms of the heavy metals in the soil. The addition of organic manure considerably promoted soil fertility and increased soil pH after acid leaching. Seed germination experiments demonstrated that after acid leaching, the soil distinctly inhibited plant growth and the addition of manure enhanced seed germination rate from 35% to 84%. Furthermore, the procedure of soil turnover after acid leaching and manure addition greatly increased seed germination rate by 61% and shortened the initial germination time. Seed germination in untreated soil was superior to that in acid-leached soil, illustrating that the phytotoxic effect of acid leaching is more serious than that of heavy metals.
A Rare Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma Appearing After 55 Years on a Large Stage 3 Burn Scar
Authors: Vanhooteghem O. , Theate I.
Published: June 2018

It is widely accepted that chronic burn wounds may lead to the development of various malignant skin tumors. Deep stage 3 burned areas may facilitate deeper carcinogenesis. Deep tissues are probably less subject to severe insult than is the epithelial layer during physical insult, suggesting that soft tissues transform to a lesser extent during the late stages of tumoral development as in an immunocompromised district with altered local immune defense with both cellular and humoral defense affected. Most authors claim that tumors are almost squamous cell carcinomas, although other types of malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma and, to a lesser extent, melanoma can also be seen. However, malignant transformation of cutaneous soft tissue in a burn insult area has rarely been described. Similarly, burn-induced tumors of histiocytic origin have been reported in few cases and osteosarcoma only in two case reports. Here, we report a patient case suffering from severe large stage 3 burn after-effects on the leg. Fifty-five years after the injury, this patient developed a large extraosseous osteosarcoma on the scar.
Preservers for the Tsallis Entropy of Convex Combinations of Density Operators
Authors: Fang Xiaochun , Lao Yihui
Published: June 2018

LetHbe a complex separable Hilbert space; we first characterize the unitary equivalence of two density operators by use of Tsallis entropy and then obtain the form of a surjective map on density operators preserving Tsallis entropy of convex combinations.
Clinically Symptomatic Pericardial Effusions in Hospitalized Systemic Sclerosis Patients: Demographics and Management
Authors: Hosoya Hitomi , Derk Chris T.
Published: June 2018

Background. Pericardial effusions in systemic sclerosis (SSc) may present as acute or chronic with or without clinical symptoms. Best treatment is unknown and whether patients receive medical therapy or a surgical procedure is clinician-dependent. Objective. To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with SSc and clinically symptomatic pericardial effusions treated in the inpatient setting. Methods. We evaluated all SSc admissions over a 10-year period to a tertiary care hospital which has a dedicated SSc clinic. Patients who had a clinically symptomatic pericardial effusion were evaluated based on their demographics, disease pattern, and medical or surgical management. Results. From January 2005 till October 2015, there were 462 SSc admissions with 32 (6.9%) of them being for a clinically symptomatic pericardial effusion in 23 unique patients. Eleven (47%) of these patients had right heart failure, seventeen (74%) had pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and 4 (17%) had tamponade physiology. Five (22%) patients were treated by a surgical procedure, while eighteen (78%) patients had medical therapy. Patients who received medical therapy tended to be older, have a lower serum Cr level, and more likely have right heart failure. Conclusion. Clinically symptomatic pericardial effusion is a rare cause for hospital admissions in SSc, with a high percentage of these patients having PAH. Medical therapy tends to be reserved for older patients with right heart failure, while surgical therapy was more likely in patients with higher serum Cr levels.
The Pathology of Type II Modic Changes: Fat Deposition or Osteosclerosis? A Study Using CT Scan
Authors: Sun Chi , Wang Hongli , Jiang Jianyuan , Lu Feizhou , Ma Xiaosheng , Xia Xinlei
Published: June 2018

Study Design. A retrospective cross-sectional study of type II Modic changes (MCs). Objective. To evaluate the CT values of type II MCs and determine their relationship with disc degeneration. Methods. 124 type II MCs from 66 patients’ MRI and CT were included and analyzed. Disc degeneration adjacent to MCs was evaluated based on Pfirrmann classification. CT values of bone marrow area and endplate from MC regions, adjacent non-MC regions, and L1 vertebra were measured. CT value changes (ΔCT value) were defined as MCs’ CT value minus non-MCs’. According to the types of variables, paired t-test, signed-rank test, two-way ANOVA, and Friedman test were used. Results. The CT value of MCs was significantly higher than that of non-MCs at both bone marrow area and endplate (P<0.0001, resp.). Good consistency was found between non-MCs and L1 vertebra in the CT value of bone marrow area and endplate (P=0.2129, P=0.2272, resp.), suggesting the control group was valid. Adjacent to type II MCs, there were 8 (6.4%) discs with grade III degeneration, 58 (46.8%) with grade IV, and 58 (46.8%) with grade V. The ΔCT value of grade V disc degeneration was larger than that of grade IV at the endplate (P=0.0150). Conclusions. Osteosclerosis may exist in type II MCs. The more severe the degeneration of the adjacent disc, the greater the degree of osteosclerosis.
Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Health Behaviours among University Students: The Predictive and Moderating Role of Gender
Authors: Malinauskas Romualdas , Dumciene Audrone , Sipaviciene Saule , Malinauskiene Vilija
Published: June 2018

This study investigated the role of gender as a potential predictor of health behaviour and potential moderator of the relationship between emotional intelligence and health behaviour. This cross-sectional study included 1214 students (597 males and 617 females). Data were collected using the Schutte Self-Report Inventory and the Health Behaviour Checklist. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was executed with the components of health behaviour as the dependent variables to examine the predictive value of the emotional intelligence indicators as the independent variables. Gender predicted all categories of health behaviours. Only one indicator of emotional intelligence, appraisal, predicted the Accident Control and Traffic Risk Taking categories. The emotional intelligence indicator of social skills emerged only as a predictor of Wellness Maintenance and Enhancement in university students. Gender moderates the relationship between all emotional intelligence indicators and health behaviour components except the relationship between Appraisal and Substance Risk Taking and the relationship between Utilization and traffic risk taking.
Sensitivity Analysis of Factors Affecting Time-Dependent Slope Stability under Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Authors: Chang Zhiguo , Cai Qingxiang , Ma Li , Han Liu
Published: June 2018

With open-pit mines excavated, the slopes will be exposed to the natural environment for a long time. Affected by factors like temperature, seepage, mining, freeze-thaw, etc., slope structural integrity and strength will gradually decline as slope exposure time extends. Besides, the development of defect structure within the rocks is closely correlated with time. In this paper, freeze-thaw cycle tests were conducted on the saturated sandstones collected from a certain open-pit mine. According to the test results, the mass density and longitudinal wave velocity gradually increased with more times of freeze-thaw cycles while mechanical properties such as internal friction angle, cohesion, elastic modulus, and uniaxial compressive strength decreased instead. The constitutive model of saturated rock deterioration was established by taking the volume of phase transition of water in microcracks as a variable. Based on the tests results and theoretical analysis, the sensitivity of the factors affecting slope stability under freeze-thaw damage was studied by Control Variable Method (CVM) and Orthogonal Design Method (ODM). It was determined that the internal friction angle and cohesion had a highly significant effect on the test results, while the mass density had a significant effect. The conclusions may play a certain role in guiding slope construction and protection.
The Role of Autophagy and Related MicroRNAs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wang Shiyuan , Huang Yan , Zhou Cili , Wu Huangan , Zhao Jimeng , Wu Luyi , Zhao Min , Zhang Fang , Liu Huirong
Published: June 2018

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microRNA- (miR-) mediated posttranscriptional regulation plays an important role in autophagy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a disease that is difficult to manage clinically because of the associated chronic recurrent nonspecific inflammation. Research indicates that microRNAs regulate autophagy via different pathways, playing an important role in the IBD process and providing a new perspective for IBD research. Related studies have shown that miR-142-3p, miR-320, miR-192, and miR-122 target NOD2, an IBD-relevant autophagy gene, to modulate autophagy in IBD. miR-142-3p, miR-93, miR-106B, miR-30C, miR-130a, miR-346, and miR-20a regulate autophagy by targeting ATG16L1 through several different pathways. miR-196 can downregulate IRGM and suppress autophagy by inhibiting the accumulation of LC3II. During the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, miR-665, miR-375, and miR-150 modulate autophagy by regulating the unfolded protein response, which may play an important role in IBD intestinal fibrosis. Regarding autophagy-related pathways, miR-146b, miR-221-5p, miR-132, miR-223, miR-155, and miR-21 regulate NF-κB or mTOR signaling to induce or inhibit autophagy in intestinal cells by releasing anti- or proinflammatory factors, respectively.