bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feedback Control of SMA-Wires for Position Determination: A Comparison of the Behavior Under Vacuum and Standard Conditions
Authors: Roj Robin , Dültgen Peter , Schummer Florian , Langbein Sven
Published: December 2019

The possibilities of a technical application of the shape memory effect are comprehensive and widespread. Besides the usage of arbitrary geometries, e.g. in the medical sector, especially wires are of great interest for unlocking mechanisms or other kinds of actuators. One of the challenges of the application of shape memory alloys (SMA) is the small deformation factor that prevents actuations with large travels. A second property that is usually seen as a disadvantage is the thermal dependence of the position. It leads to the necessity of comparably high electrical power for holding a location, as the cooling has to be compensated constantly. Therefore, SMA are usually not in use for such applications. For special environments, this effect can still be an advantage. By using an SMA driven positioning actuator in vacuum, the low loss of heat leads to a very precise and low power consuming alignment. Such actuators can be used for example in satellites. This paper presents an analysis of the properties under atmospheric conditions in comparison to the behavior in vacuum. Along with a comprehensive interpretation of the experimental results, further characteristics, like the functional and structural fatigue, are presented in detail.
Numerical Analysis and Experimental Verification of Synchronized Switching Damping Systems
Authors: Zhang Fengling , Li Lin , Fan Yu , Liu Jiuzhou
Published: December 2019

Synchronized switch damping (SSD) technique utilizing piezoelectric elements is one of good methods of vibration control. This work develops numerical tools for dynamic analysis of structures with SSD dampers, and conducts experiments to verify the effectiveness. A cantilevered beam bonded with piezoelectric patches is considered as the host structure. Two types of SSD circuits are considered, one with no subsequent electric element (SSDS) and another with inductance (SSDI). Firstly, a lumped parameter electromechanical coupling model is employed, with parameters determined experimentally. Then, the frequency response curves of the nonlinear vibration systems are analyzed by the multi-harmonic balance method combined with alternating frequency-time techniques (MHBM/AFT). In order to verify the proposed method, an experimental study is performed. In the experiment SSD circuit is realized by an enhanced analog circuit which is more complex but also more stable than the original SSD circuits. The measured results are compared with those obtained by proposed numerical tools with good agreements. It is also shown that the modal frequencies and modal shapes of SSD systems are almost unchanged with the vibration amplitudes, which indicates that the nonlinear force generated by SSD has little influence on the characteristics of linear structure. It is verified both numerically and experimentally that SSDI damper can produce significant damping for multiple modes.
4D Printed Shape Memory Polymer Composite Structures for Deployable Small Spacecrafts
Authors: Herath Madhubhashitha , Islam Mainul , Epaarachchi Jayantha , Zhang Fenghua , Leng Jinsong
Published: December 2019

Four dimensional (4D) printing is the convergence of three dimensional (3D) printing, which is an emerging additive manufacturing technology for smart materials. 4D printing is referred to the capability of changing the shape, property, or functionality of a 3D printed structure under a particular external stimulus. This paper presents the structural performance, shape memory behavior and photothermal effect of 4D printed pristine shape memory polymer (SMP) and it’s composite (SMPC) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Both materials have demonstrated the ability to retain a temporary shape and then recover their original. It is revealed that the incorporation of MWCNTs into the SMP matrix has enhanced the light stimulus shape recovery capabilities. Light stimulus shape transformation of 4D printed SMPC is advantageous for space engineering applications as light can be focused onto a particular area at a long distance. Subsequently, a model 4D printed deployable boom, which is applicable for small spacecrafts is presented. The shape fixity and recovery behaviors of the proposed boom have been investigated. Notably, the model boom structure has demonstrated ∼86 % shape recovery ratio. The proposed innovative approach of additive manufacturing based deployable composite structures will shape up the future space technologies.
Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Optimized Flexible Cylinders
Authors: Seifert David Ryan , Chapkin Wesley A. , Frank Geoffrey , Baur Jeffrey
Published: December 2019

This article presents the design, fabrication, and testing of multimaterial articulating cylinders with optimized periodic substructures. Genetic Optimization (NSGA-II) is used to obtain promising archetypes, which are rapidly post-processed, additively manufactured, and tested for bending and torsional rigidity. Objectives are set as structural stiffness in torsion and bending, subject to stress and maximum radial displacement constraints. A multimaterial printer allows for two material (stiff and compliant) design. Pareto Optimal structures are down selected and post processed into manufacturable designs, which are then printed. Bending and torsional rigidities are obtained via a series of static load tests, in which a known load is applied and a bending or twisting angle is measured. Design archetypes are compared via load-rotation curves. Performance in both loading environments is related back to the characteristic substructure.
Description of a Hydrogel-Based Micro-Valve As a Library Element for Matlab Simulink
Authors: Mehner Philipp J. , Beck Anthony , Busek Mathias , Voigt Andreas , Marschner Uwe , Richter Andreas
Published: December 2019

We propose a planar hydrogel-based micro-valve design which is modeled as a library element for Matlab Simulink. For this test case, a pressure pump (voltage source) in series with a micro-valve model (variable fluidic resistance) is built up. The micro-valve subsystem is separated in four main parts. Based on the applied temperature stimulus, the equilibrium length is determined according to an experimentally verified fit function. Furthermore, the equilibrium length considers a static hysteresis effect which is modeled in analogy to the saturation of magnetization in electric transformers. In a second step, the transient behavior follows a first order differential equation, but the cooperate diffusion coefficient is size dependent affecting the rise time of the system. This causes a faster swelling than deswelling of the hydrogel. In the third section, the stiffness property is implemented to calculate the maximum sealing pressure and the resulting gap between the hydrogel and the wall. The fluidic resistance of the micro-valve considers a three-dimensional geometry and is calculated based on a look-up table, extracted from a fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) model generated from a finite element structure.

The proposed model allows a full description of the fluidic hydrogel-based micro-valve and is part of an upcoming microfluidic toolbox for Matlab Simulink containing passive elements and optional chemical reactions like mixing fluids and enzyme reactions for future applications.
Experimental Investigation on the Cyclic Compression Behavior of Superelastic NiTi SMA Bars
Authors: Asfaw Amedebrhan M. , Xing Guohua , Ozbulut Osman E.
Published: December 2019

Over the past decade, shape memory alloy (SMA) in the form of wires and cables have been extensively studied for various structural engineering applications. There are numerous application areas where pure compression (or coupled with tension) is the primary load bearing scenario, which requires larger size SMA bars. However, the compression behavior of SMA bars is not well known, and little is reported in the literature. In that perspective, this paper presents an experimental study on large diameter superelastic Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) bars subjected to a cyclic compression load. A total of nine SMA bars having slenderness ratios ranging from 60 to 90 were tested. Hysteretic stress-strain responses are plotted and critical buckling load, energy dissipation and residual strain of SMA bars with different slenderness ratios are presented.
Dynamic Response of an Electrospun PVDF-Fe3O4 Piezoelectric Composite Microfiber
Authors: Chinnam Krishna Chytanya , Casalotti Arnaldo , Lanzara Giulia
Published: December 2019

In this paper the dynamic response of an electrospun nanocomposite piezoelectric microfiber is investigated. The microfiber is formed by magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in Polyvinylidene (PVDF) matrix. Focus is given on the influence of an AC electric field on the dynamic response of the microfiber. In particular, the resonance frequency of the fiber was assessed under an increasing AC electric field at a wide range of frequencies. The electromechanical test results show that the resonance frequency of the fiber is influenced by the applied voltage and, for this case study, it decreases with increasing voltage. The results reported in this paper suggest that, once the mechanism behind such response is fully understood, composite piezoelectric microfibers can be used to fine-tune the resonance frequency of hosting devices.
Acoustical Behaviour of Buckling Dielectric Elastomer Actuators
Authors: Gareis Michael , Maas Jürgen
Published: December 2019

Dielectric elastomers (DE) are regarded as a potential alternative to conventional actuator technologies. They feature low weight, high strains and low material costs. Their scope of application ranges from sensors, energy generators, smart textiles to biomimetic robots and much more. A few concepts of loudspeakers using DE have been demonstrated by the research community. One of the disadvantages of previously concepts was the need for mechanical bias (e.g. by air pressure). This work proposes a new concept of loudspeaker, which does not need prestretch or other means of mechanical bias. Buckling dielectric elastomer transducers (BDET) use the area expansion of actuated DE to buckle up. This mechanism is used to construct a millimeter-scale loudspeaker with good frequency response in the upper frequency range. The concept is implemented using automatically fabricated multi-layer membranes. The multilayer structure allows to generate more force and has higher flexural rigidity than a single-layer setup. Samples with different amount of layers are fabricated and an analytical model is derived. Measurements of the static deflection, the frequency response and the total harmonic distortion validate the model. The small scale of the speaker allows it to be installed in large arrays and thus might offer a hardware platform for high-resolution beam forming or wave field synthesis.
High-Intensity Interval Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease: Hemodynamic and Functional Adaptation
Authors: Fernandes Bianca , Barbieri Fabio Augusto , Arthuso Fernanda Zane , Silva Fabiana Araújo , Moretto Gabriel Felipe , Imaizumi Luis Felipe Itikawa , Ngomane Awassi Yophiwa , Guimarães Guilherme Veiga , Ciolac Emmanuel Gomes
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise training (MICE) on hemodynamic and functional variables in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: Twenty participants (13 men) were randomly assigned to a thrice-weekly HIIT (n = 12) or MICE (n = 8) for 12 weeks. Hemodynamic (resting heart rate and blood pressure, carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, endothelial reactivity, and heart rate variability) and functional variables (5-time sit-to-stand, timed up and go, and 6-min walking tests) assessed before and after training. Results: Demographic, hemodynamic and functional variables were similar between groups at baseline. Endothelial reactivity tended to increase after HIIT, but not after MICE, resulting in improved level (∼8%, P < .01) of this variable in HIIT versus MICE during follow-up. Six-minute walking test improved after HIIT (10.4 ± 3.8%, P < .05), but did not change after MICE. Sit to stand improved similarly after HIIT (27.2 ± 6.1%, P < .05) and MICE (21.5 ± 5.4%, P < .05). No significant changes were found after HIIT or MICE in any other variable assessed. Conclusion: These results suggest that exercise intensity may influence training-induced adaptation on endothelial reactivity and aerobic capacity in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Semblance: An empirical similarity kernel on probability spaces
Authors: Agarwal Divyansh , Zhang Nancy R.
Published: December 2019

Semblance uses empirical data distributions to improve the sensitivity and robustness in downstream machine learning algorithms.
Single-cell connectomic analysis of adult mammalian lungs
Authors: Raredon Micha Sam Brickman , Adams Taylor Sterling , Suhail Yasir , Schupp Jonas Christian , Poli Sergio , Neumark Nir , Leiby Katherine L. , Greaney Allison Marie , Yuan Yifan , Horien Corey , Linderman George , Engler Alexander J. , Boffa Daniel J. , Kluger Yuval , Rosas Ivan O. , Levchenko Andre , Kaminski Naftali , Niklason Laura E.
Published: December 2019

Single-cell network analysis demonstrates species-conserved functional roles for pulmonary alveolar cell types.
Dosage analysis of the 7q11.23 Williams region identifies
BAZ1B
as a major human gene patterning the modern human face and underlying self-domestication
Authors: Zanella Matteo , Vitriolo Alessandro , Andirko Alejandro , Martins Pedro Tiago , Sturm Stefanie , O’Rourke Thomas , Laugsch Magdalena , Malerba Natascia , Skaros Adrianos , Trattaro Sebastiano , Germain Pierre-Luc , Mihailovic Marija , Merla Giuseppe , Rada-Iglesias Alvaro , Boeckx Cedric , Testa Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

Dissecting the BAZ1B genetic circuitry in the neural crest brings out its critical role in shaping the modern human face.
Requirement for translocon-associated protein (TRAP) α in insulin biogenesis
Authors: Li Xin , Itani Omar A. , Haataja Leena , Dumas Kathleen J. , Yang Jing , Cha Jeeyeon , Flibotte Stephane , Shih Hung-Jen , Delaney Colin E. , Xu Jialu , Qi Ling , Arvan Peter , Liu Ming , Hu Patrick J.
Published: December 2019

A forward genetic screen inC. elegansleads to the discovery of a role for a conserved ER membrane protein in insulin biogenesis.
Atmospheric rivers drive flood damages in the western United States
Authors: Corringham Thomas W. , Ralph F. Martin , Gershunov Alexander , Cayan Daniel R. , Talbot Cary A.
Published: December 2019

Damaging floods in the western United States are mainly due to atmospheric rivers, causing substantial socioeconomic impacts.
Molecular phenotyping and image-guided surgical treatment of melanoma using spectrally distinct ultrasmall core-shell silica nanoparticles
Authors: Chen Feng , Madajewski Brian , Ma Kai , Karassawa Zanoni Daniella , Stambuk Hilda , Turker Melik Z. , Monette Sébastien , Zhang Li , Yoo Barney , Chen Peiming , Meester Richard J. C. , Jonge Sander de , Montero Pablo , Phillips Evan , Quinn Thomas P. , Gönen Mithat , Sequeira Sonia , de Stanchina Elisa , Zanzonico Pat , Wiesner Ulrich , Patel Snehal G. , Bradbury Michelle S.
Published: December 2019

Spectrally distinct ultrasmall fluorescence silica particles as multiplexing tools address cancer heterogeneity and aid surgery.
Police violence and the health of black infants
Authors: Legewie Joscha
Published: December 2019

Analysis of 3.9 million birth records reveal spillover effects of police killings on the health of black infants.
Identification of TNFR2 and IL-33 as therapeutic targets in localized fibrosis
Authors: Izadi David , Layton Thomas B. , Williams Lynn , McCann Fiona , Cabrita Marisa , Espirito Santo Ana I. , Xie Weilin , Fritzsche Marco , Colin-York Huw , Feldmann Marc , Midwood Kim S. , Nanchahal Jagdeep
Published: December 2019

IL-33 mediates cross-talk between immune and stromal cells in localized fibrosis.
The effect of citizenship on the long-term earnings of marginalized immigrants: Quasi-experimental evidence from Switzerland
Authors: Hainmueller Jens , Hangartner Dominik , Ward Dalston
Published: December 2019

Naturalization catalyzes the long-term economic integration of marginalized immigrants.
One vector to rule them all
Authors: Ronzitti Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

A combination of gene therapies improves age-associated diseases.
Synergistic Activity of Exebacase (CF-301) in Addition to Daptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus in a Neutropenic Murine Thigh Infection Model
Authors: Asempa Tomefa E. , Abdelraouf Kamilia , Carabeo Teresa , Schuch Raymond , Nicolau David P.
Published: December 2019

We evaluated the efficacy of escalating doses of exebacase administered with subtherapeutic daptomycin exposures against 8
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Daptomycin alone resulted in mean growth of 0.39 ± 1.19 log
10
CFU/thigh.
Evolutionary Dynamics of Oropouche Virus in South America
Authors: Gutierrez Bernardo , Wise Emma L. , Pullan Steven T. , Logue Christopher H. , Bowden Thomas A. , Escalera-Zamudio Marina , Trueba Gabriel , Nunes Marcio R. T. , Faria Nuno R. , Pybus Oliver G.
Published: December 2019

The emergence and reemergence of pathogens such as Zika virus, chikungunya virus, and yellow fever virus have drawn attention toward other cocirculating arboviruses in South America. Oropouche virus (OROV) is a poorly studied pathogen responsible for over a dozen outbreaks since the early 1960s and represents a public health burden to countries such as Brazil, Panama, and Peru. OROV is likely underreported since its symptomatology can be easily confounded with other febrile illnesses (e.g., dengue fever and leptospirosis) and point-of-care testing for the virus is still uncommon. With limited data, there is a need to optimize the information currently available. Analysis of OROV genomes can help us understand how the virus circulates in nature and can reveal the evolutionary forces that shape the genetic diversity of the virus, which has implications for molecular diagnostics and the design of potential vaccines.
Biochemical Reconstitution of HIV-1 Assembly and Maturation
Authors: Kucharska Iga , Ding Pengfei , Zadrozny Kaneil K. , Dick Robert A. , Summers Michael F. , Ganser-Pornillos Barbie K. , Pornillos Owen
Published: December 2019

Assembly and maturation are essential steps in the replication of orthoretroviruses such as HIV-1 and are proven therapeutic targets. These processes require the coordinated functioning of the viral Gag protein’s multiple biochemical activities. We describe here the development of an experimental system that allows an integrative analysis of how Gag’s multiple functionalities cooperate to generate a retrovirus particle. Our current studies help to illuminate how Gag synergizes the formation of the virus compartment with RNA binding and how these activities are modulated by the small molecule IP6. Further development and use of this system should lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 assembly and maturation and may provide new insights for the development of antiretroviral drugs.
Conglomerate recycling in the Himalayan foreland basin: Implications for grain size and provenance
Authors: Quick Laura , Sinclair H.D. , Attal M. , Singh V.
Published: December 2019

The nature of coarse sediment in rivers emerging from mountain ranges determines rates of downstream fining, the position of the gravel-sand transition, sediment entrainment thresholds, and channel morphologies. Additionally, in the stratigraphic record, clast size distributions and lithologies are used to reconstruct paleo-hydraulic conditions and source area provenance. Using Himalayan rivers, we demonstrate that the signal of first-generation clasts derived from the hinterland of a mountain range can be significantly altered by recycling older, structurally exhumed foreland deposits. The Siwalik foothills of the Himalaya comprise Neogene fluvial sandstones and quartzite-rich conglomerates with well-rounded clasts that were deposited in the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin and later exhumed by erosion, following uplift along the Himalayan mountain front. Mass balance calculations reveal that the Upper Siwalik conglomerate may contribute a significant proportion of the total gravel flux exported from the main Himalayan catchments (up to 100%) despite forming <1% of the catchment geology. Three end-member catchments with variable proportions of gravel flux from Siwalik conglomerates are analyzed to test for the effects of conglomerate recycling. Catchments that recycle the most Upper Siwalik conglomerate form quartzite-rich gravel bars comprising well-rounded pebbles and a narrow grain size distribution, mimicking the characteristics of the Upper Siwalik conglomerate. Conversely, catchments that recycle the least Upper Siwalik conglomerate form gravel bars with a range of Himalayan lithologies, angular quartzite pebbles and a wider grain size distribution. This study highlights that recycling of quartzite-rich conglomerate can dramatically modify the flux, lithology, grain size, and shape of gravel entering the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Role of advanced technology in the detection of sight-threatening eye disease in a UK community setting
Authors: Fidalgo Bruno R , Dabasia Priya , Jindal Anish , Edgar David F , Ctori Irene , Peto Tunde , Lawrenson John G
Published: December 2019

Background/aims

To determine the performance of combinations of structural and functional screening tests in detecting sight-threatening eye disease in a cohort of elderly subjects recruited from primary care.

Methods

505 subjects aged ≥60 years underwent frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry, iVue optical coherence tomography (iWellness and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) scans) and intraocular pressure with the Ocular Response Analyzer, all performed by an ophthalmic technician. The reference standard was a full ophthalmic examination by an experienced clinician who was masked to the index test results. Subjects were classified as presence or absence of sight-threatening eye disease (clinically significant cataract, primary open-angle glaucoma, intermediate or advanced age-related macular degeneration and significant diabetic retinopathy). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between abnormal screening test results and the presence of sight-threatening eye disease.

Results

171 subjects (33.8%) had one or more sight-threatening eye diseases. The multivariate analysis found significant associations with any of the target conditions for visual acuity of <6/12, an abnormal FDT and peripapillary RNFL thickness outside the 99% normal limit. The sensitivity of this optimised screening panel was 61.3% (95% CI 53.5 to 68.7), with a specificity of 78.8% (95% CI 74.0 to 83.1), a positive predictive value of 59.5% (95% CI 53.7 to 65.2) and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 72.9% (95% CI 68.8 to 76.8).

Conclusions

A subset of screening tests may provide an accurate and efficient means of population screening for significant eye disease in the elderly. This study provides useful preliminary data to inform the development of further larger, multicentre screening studies to validate this screening panel.
Effects of mirror training on motor performance in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Yinglun , Wang Pu , Bai Yulong , Wang Yuyuan
Published: December 2019

Objective

Mirror training (MTr) is a rehabilitation technique for patients with neurological diseases. There is no consensus on its effects on motor function in healthy individuals. This systematic review and meta-analysis considers the effects of MTr on motor function in healthy individuals.

Design

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

We searched six databases for studies assessing the effects of MTr on motor function in healthy individuals, published between January 1995 and December 2018. The Cochrane risk of bias was used to assess the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was conducted with narrative synthesis.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

English-language randomised controlled trials reporting the behavioural results in healthy individuals were included.

Results

Fourteen randomised controlled trials involving 538 healthy individuals were eligible. Two short-term studies showed MTr was inferior to passive vision pattern (standardised mean difference 0.57 (95% CI 0.06 to 1.08), I2=0%, p=0.03). The methods varied and there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of MTr compared with three alternative training patterns, with insufficient evidence to support analyses of age, skill level or hand dominance.

Conclusion

The limited evidence that MTr affects motor performance in healthy individuals is weak and inconsistent among studies. It is unclear whether the effects of MTr on motor performance are more pronounced than the direct vision pattern, passive vision pattern or action observation. Further studies are needed to explore the short-term and long-term benefits of MTr and its effects on motor learning in healthy individuals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019128881.
Family caregivers of advanced cancer patients: self-perceived competency and meaning-making
Authors: Teo Irene , Baid Drishti , Ozdemir Semra , Malhotra Chetna , Singh Ratna , Harding Richard , Malhotra Rahul , Yang Meijuan Grace , Neo Shirlyn Hui-Shan , Cheung Yin Bun , Neo Patricia Soek Hui , Kanesvaran Ravindran , Kumarakulasinghe Nesaretnam Barr , Lee Lai Heng , Koh Gerald Choon Huat , Finkelstein Eric A
Published: December 2019

Background

Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer have been reported to provide long hours of care and be at risk for poor psychological outcomes. Although research has focused on the nature of caregiving burden, little attention has been paid to identifying protective factors that improve caregiver psychological outcomes.

Aim

We examined the relationship between caregivers’ time spent caregiving and the following psychological outcomes: anxiety, depression and caregiving esteem. Subsequently, we explored the main and moderating effects of caregiver-perceived self-competency and sense of meaning on caregiver psychological outcomes.

Design/participants

Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the baseline data from an ongoing cohort study. Family caregivers of advanced cancer patients (n=287) were recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Singapore.

Results

Time spent caregiving was not significantly associated with caregiver anxiety, depression or caregiving esteem. However, significant main effects of self-competency on anxiety and caregiving esteem; and sense of meaning on anxiety, depression and caregiving esteem were observed. Moderator analyses further indicated that self-competency attenuated the positive relationship between time spent caregiving and anxiety, while sense of meaning attenuated the negative relationship between time spent caregiving and caregiving esteem.

Conclusion

Greater perceived self-competency and sense of meaning are related to better caregiver psychological outcomes, and protect caregivers from worsening outcomes as caregiving hours increase. Our findings suggest that screening caregivers for distress is an important part of care, and that supportive interventions for caregivers should aim to enhance their perceived caregiving competencies and the ability to make meaning of their caregiving role.
Current state of home-based exercise interventions in patients with congenital heart disease: a systematic review
Authors: Meyer Michael , Brudy Leon , García-Cuenllas Luisa , Hager Alfred , Ewert Peter , Oberhoffer Renate , Müller Jan
Published: December 2019

Home-based exercise training is a promising alternative to conventional supervised training for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Even though the beneficial effect of exercise interventions is well established in patients with CHD, knowledge concerning variety and utility of existing programmes is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this review is to give an overview about existing home-based exercise interventions in patients with CHD. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and PEDro (2008–2018) for relevant clinical trials that provided any kind of home-based exercise with patients with CHD. All articles were identified and assessed by two independent reviewers. Seven articles with 346 paediatric CHD (18 months to 16 years) and five articles with 200 adults with CHD (21–41 years) were included. Most studies performed a supervised home-based exercise intervention with children and adolescents exercising at least three times per week with duration of 45 min for 12 weeks. Reported outcome measurements were health-related quality of life and physical activity, but mostly exercise capacity measured as peak oxygen uptake that improved in four studies (1.2%, 7%, 7.7%, 15%; p<0.05), walking distance in two (3.5%, 19.5%, p<0.05,) or walking time (2 min, p=0.003) in one. The dropout rates were high (15%), and compliance to the training programme was not reported in the majority of the studies (58%). Home-based exercise interventions are safe, feasible and a useful alternative to supervised cardiac rehabilitation for all age groups of patients with CHD. Nevertheless, training compliance represents a major challenge.
Bedside clinical assessment predicts recurrence after hospitalization due to viral lower respiratory tract infection in young children
Authors: Arroyo Maria , Salka Kyle P , Perez Geovanny F , Rodriguez-Martinez Carlos E , Castro-Rodriguez Jose A , Nino Gustavo
Published: December 2019

Infants requiring hospitalization due to a viral lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) have a high risk of developing recurrent respiratory illnesses in early life and asthma beyond childhood. Notably, all validated clinical scales for viral LRTI have focused on predicting acute severity instead of recurrence. We present a novel clinical approach combining individual risk factors with bedside clinical parameters to predict recurrence after viral LRTI hospitalization in young children. A retrospective longitudinal cohort of young children (≤3 years) designed to define clinical predictive factors of recurrent respiratory illnesses within 12 months after hospitalization due to PCR-confirmed viral LRTI. Data collection was through electronic medical record. We included 138 children hospitalized with viral LRTI. Using automatic stepwise logistic model selection, we found that the strongest predictors of recurrence in infants hospitalized for the first time were severe prematurity (≤32 weeks’ gestational age, OR=5.19; 95% CI 1.76 to 15.32; p=0.002) and a clinical score that weighted hypoxemia, subcostal retractions and wheezing (OR=3.33; 95% CI 1.59 to 6.98; p<0.001). After the first hospitalization, the strongest predictors of subsequent episodes were wheezing (OR=5.62; 95% CI 1.03 to 30.62; p=0.04) and family history of asthma (OR=5.39; 95% CI 1.04 to 27.96; p=0.04). We found that integrating individual risk factors (eg, prematurity or family history of asthma) with bedside clinical assessment (eg, wheezing, subcostal retractions or hypoxemia) can predict the risk of recurrence after viral LRTI hospitalization in infants. This strategy may enable clinically oriented subsetting of infants with viral LRTI based on individual predictors for recurrent respiratory illnesses during early life.
First prosecution of a Dutch doctor since the Euthanasia Act of 2002: what does the verdict mean?
Authors: Asscher Eva Constance Alida , van de Vathorst Suzanne
Published: December 2019

On 11 September 2019, the verdict was read in the first prosecution of a doctor for euthanasia since the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act of 2002 was installed in the Netherlands. The case concerned euthanasia on the basis of an advance euthanasia directive (AED) for a patient with severe dementia. In this paper we describe the review process for euthanasia cases in the Netherlands. Then we describe the case in detail, the judgement of the Regional Review Committees for Termination of Life on Request and Euthanasia (RTE) and the judgement of the medical disciplinary court. Both the review committees and the disciplinary court came to the conclusion there were concerns with this case, which mainly hinged on the wording of the AED. They also addressed the lack of communication with the patient, the absence of oral confirmation of the wish to die and the fact that the euthanasia was performed without the patient being aware of this. However, the doctor was acquitted by the criminal court as the court found she had in fact met all due care criteria laid down in the act. We then describe what this judgement means for euthanasia in the Netherlands. It clarifies the power and reach of AEDs, it allows taking conversations with physicians and the testimony of the family into account when interpreting the AED. However, as a practical consequence the prosecution of this physician has led to fear among doctors about prosecution after euthanasia.
Ultrafast selective excitation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering from a single molecule by shaping pump and Stokes pulses
Authors: Zhao Hua , Xia Yingjie , Jia Tianqing
Published: December 2019

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has attracted much attention as an important technique for studying and monitoring the behavior of molecules. Coherent control by shaping femtosecond pulses is an efficient method for controlling molecular vibration state, rotation state, ionization state, and other molecule dynamics. In this paper, we propose a theoretical scheme of selective excitation of SERS from a single porphycene molecule with two Raman peaks at 327[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and 367[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] placed in the gap between silver dimer nanospheres. Based on the theory of quantum coherent control, selective excitation of the peak at 327[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and depression of another at 367[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] are demonstrated by properly shaping femtosecond laser pulses with central frequency of 12500[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 300[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]. Ultrafast dynamics of the response of dimer nanospheres to the shaped pump and Stokes pulses are simulated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method followed by Fourier transform. The enhanced and selected single molecule SERS is realized simultaneously. The SERS probability is enhanced by more than six orders in magnitude compared with the case in air environment, and the FWHMs of the enhanced and the depressed Raman peaks are both larger than 17[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] despite the narrow gap of only 40[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] between the two Raman peaks.
Planning Grasping Motions for Humanoid Robots
Authors: Rosell Jan , Suárez Raúl , García Néstor , Din Muhayy Ud
Published: December 2019

This paper addresses the problem of obtaining the required motions for a humanoid robot to perform grasp actions trying to mimic the coordinated hand–arm movements humans do. The first step is the data acquisition and analysis, which consists in capturing human movements while grasping several everyday objects (covering four possible grasp types), mapping them to the robot and computing the hand motion synergies for the pre-grasp and grasp phases (per grasp type). Then, the grasp and motion synthesis step is done, which consists in generating potential grasps for a given object using the four family types, and planning the motions using a bi-directional multi-goal sampling-based planner, which efficiently guides the motion planning following the synergies in a reduced search space, resulting in paths with human-like appearance. The approach has been tested in simulation, thoroughly compared with other state-of-the-art planning algorithms obtaining better results, and also implemented in a real robot.
Effect of PVP formulation on the in vitro photodynamic efficiency of a photosensitizing phthalocyanine
Authors: Pehlivan Eda Gazel , Ek Yıldız , Topkaya Derya , Tazebay Uygar Halis , Dumoulin Fabienne
Published: December 2019

The administration of photosensitizers and their biocompatibility is crucial to the success of photodynamic therapy treatment. Amongst the various strategies developed to administer photosensitizers of low water-solubility, the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), an FDA-approved food additive, is emerging as extremely promising. Its effect on photodynamic outcome was compared to more classical formulation in DMSO and direct solubilization in water. The tetrakis (2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)-Zn(II) phthalocyanine chosen as the model photosensitizer for this study proved to be a powerful photosensitizer. Even if slightly less efficient than DMSO formulation, PVP formulation proved to work very well, with submicromolar IC50 and IC90 values against MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells.
Synthesis and QCM gas-sensing properties of 3,4-dialkoxyphenyl tosylamino-substituted phthalocyanines
Authors: Harbeck Mika , Şen Zafer , Erbahar Dilek D. , Çelik Esranur Fidan , Gümüş Gülay , Musluoǧlu Emel
Published: December 2019

Octa-substituted metallophthalocyanines [M = Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II)] carrying 3,4-dialkoxyphenyl tosylamino groups at the peripheral positions have been synthesized from 1,2-dicyano-4,5-bis[(3,4-dialkoxyphenyl-tosylamino)methyl]benzene in the presence of the corresponding anhydrous metal salt. Next to the metal ion center, the length of the alkyl chains in the dialkoxyphenyl moiety ([Formula: see text], 5, 6, and 12) was varied. In total, sixteen soluble phthalocyanines have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and [Formula: see text]H-NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the gas sensing properties of these new compounds have been studied using quartz crystal microbalance transducers. The sensing properties are described on the basis of sensor responses to nine different test analytes comprising volatile organic compounds, toxic gases, and chemical warfare agent simulants. The influence of the metal ion center and substituents on sensor selectivity and sensitivity is discussed. The compounds show good performance in the gas-sensing experiments with diverse responses to the analytes. Phthalocyanine species with pronounced selectivity for polar analytes, hydrocarbons or amines have been identified among the set of sensors with the help of multivariate data exploration methods. The results reveal that quite a high diversity in terms of selectivity is introduced through the minute variations to the phthalocyanine structure.
Export Sophistication and Outward FDI in Developing Countries
Authors: Li Jie
Published: December 2019

Using panel data of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) from 1990 to 2010, we find strong evidence that outward FDI from BRICS is significantly associated with “better exports, measured by EXPY, an index developed by Hausmann et al. (2007). Every 1% increase in outward FDI leads to around 0.1% improvement in export sophistication (EXPY). Meanwhile, inward FDI does not seem to improve BRICS’ export sophistication.
Optimal Streaming and Tracking Distinct Elements with High Probability
Authors: Błasiok Jarosław
Published: December 2019

The distinct elements problem is one of the fundamental problems in streaming algorithms—given a stream of integers in the range { 1,… ,
n
}, we wish to provide a (1+ε) approximation to the number of distinct elements in the input. After a long line of research an optimal solution for this problem with constant probability of success, using
O
(1/ε
2
+lg
n
) bits of space, was given by Kane, Nelson, and Woodruff in 2010.

The standard approach used to achieve low failure probability δ is to take the median of lg δ
−1
parallel repetitions of the original algorithm. We show that such a multiplicative space blow-up is unnecessary: We provide an optimal algorithm using
O
(lg δ
−1
/ε
2
+ lg
n
) bits of space—matching known lower bounds for this problem. That is, the lg δ
−1
; factor does not multiply the lg
n
term. This settles completely the space complexity of the distinct elements problem with respect to all standard parameters.

We consider also the
strong tracking
(or
continuous monitoring
) variant of the distinct elements problem, where we want an algorithm that provides an approximation of the number of distinct elements seen so far, at all times of the stream. We show that this variant can be solved using
O
(lg lg
n
+ lg δ
−1
/ε
2
+ lg
n
) bits of space, which we show to be optimal.
The Economics of Cybercrime
Authors: Park Jiyong , Cho Daegon , Lee Jae Kyu , Lee Byungtae
Published: December 2019

Under what conditions is the Internet more likely to be used maliciously for criminal activity? This study examines the conditions under which the Internet is associated with cybercriminal offenses. Using comprehensive state-level data in the United States during 2004–2010, our findings show that there is no clear empirical evidence that the Internet penetration rate is related to the number of Internet crime perpetrators; however, cybercriminal activities are contingent upon socioeconomic factors and connection speed. Specifically, a higher income, more education, a lower poverty rate, and a higher inequality are likely to make the Internet penetration be more positively related with cybercrime perpetrators, which are indeed different from the conditions of terrestrial crime in the real world. In addition, as opposed to narrowband, the broadband connections are significantly and positively associated with the number of Internet crime perpetrators, and it amplifies the aforementioned moderating effects of socioeconomic status on Internet crime offenses. Taken together, cybercrime requires more than just a skilled perpetrator, and it requires an infrastructure to facilitate profiteering from the act.
QuTiBench
Authors: Blott Michaela , Halder Lisa , Leeser Miriam , Doyle Linda
Published: December 2019

Neural Networks have become one of the most successful universal machine-learning algorithms. They play a key role in enabling machine vision and speech recognition and are increasingly adopted in other application domains. Their computational complexity is enormous and comes along with equally challenging memory requirements in regards to capacity and access bandwidth, which limits deployment in particular within energy constrained, embedded environments. To address these implementation challenges, a broad spectrum of new customized and heterogeneous hardware architectures have emerged, often accompanied with co-designed algorithms to extract maximum benefit out of the hardware. Furthermore, numerous optimization techniques are being explored for neural networks to reduce compute and memory requirements while maintaining accuracy. This results in an abundance of algorithmic and architectural choices, some of which fit specific use cases better than others.

For system-level designers, there is currently no good way to compare the variety of hardware, algorithm, and optimization options. While there are many benchmarking efforts in this field, they cover only subsections of the embedded design space. None of the existing benchmarks support essential algorithmic optimizations such as quantization, an important technique to stay on chip, or specialized heterogeneous hardware architectures. We propose a novel benchmark suite,
QuTiBench
, that addresses this need. QuTiBench is a novel multi-tiered benchmarking methodology (
Ti
) that supports algorithmic optimizations such as quantization (
Qu
) and helps system developers understand the benefits and limitations of these novel compute architectures in regard to specific neural networks and will help drive future innovation. We invite the community to contribute to QuTiBench to support the full spectrum of choices in implementing machine-learning systems.
Hierarchical Ensemble Reduction and Learning for Resource-constrained Computing
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Li Jianwen , He Kun
Published: December 2019

Generic tree ensembles (such as Random Forest, RF) rely on a substantial amount of individual models to attain desirable performance. The cost of maintaining a large ensemble could become prohibitive in applications where computing resources are stringent. In this work, a hierarchical ensemble reduction and learning framework is proposed. Experiments show our method consistently outperforms RF in terms of both accuracy and retained ensemble size. In other words, ensemble reduction is achieved with enhancement in accuracy rather than degradation. The method can be executed efficiently, up to >590× time reduction than a recent ensemble reduction work. We also developed Boolean logic encoding techniques to directly tackle multiclass problems. Moreover, our framework bridges the gap between software-based ensemble methods and hardware computing in the IoT era. We developed a novel conversion paradigm that supports the automatic deployment of >500 trees on a chip. Our proposed method reduces power consumption and overall area utilization by >21.5% and >62%, respectively, comparing with RF. The hierarchical approach provides rich opportunities to balance between the computation (training and response time), the hardware resource (memory and energy), and accuracy.
Capacity Fade Analysis of Lithium-Ion Cells Utilizing Uncertainty Quantification Approach
Authors: Esfahanian Vahid , Akbari Saeed , Chaychizadeh Farzin , Dehghandorost Hojat
Published: December 2019

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have drawn attention in research due to their broad range of applications. To achieve low-cost and high reliable batteries, researchers have worked on a variety of degradation phenomena. Among them, the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer is the most important degradation phenomenon and causes the cell to capacity fade and internal resistance raise. In this paper, a stochastic approach, based on the sparse Jacobi polynomial chaos expansion, is utilized to investigate the effect of the uncertainty sources on the lithium-ion battery aging. Furthermore, the importance of every uncertainty source is calculated by using Sobol indices. Capacity fade and resistance raise obtain at the end of the Constant Current-Constant Voltage (CC-CV) charging. The outcome of this study shows the most important parameters affecting capacity fade and voltage drop.
A Multichannel LSTM‐CNN Method for Fault Diagnosis of Chemical Process
Authors: Shao Bilin , Hu Xiaoli , Bian Genqing , Zhao Yu
Published: December 2019

The identification and classification of faults in chemical processes can provide decision basis for equipment maintenance personnel to ensure the safe operation of the production process. In this paper, we combine long short‐term memory neural network (LSTM) with convolutional neural network (CNN) and propose a new fault diagnosis method based on multichannel LSTM‐CNN (MCLSTM‐CNN). The primary methodology here includes three aspects. In the initial state, the fault data are input into the LSTM to obtain the output of the hidden layer, which stores the relevant temporal and spatial domain information. Due to the diversity of data features, convolutional kernels with different sizes are utilized to form multiple channels to extract the output characteristics of the hidden layer simultaneously. Finally, the fault data are classified by fully connected layers. The Tennessee Eastman (TE) chemical process is used for experimental analysis, and the MCLSTM‐CNN model is compared with the LSTM‐CNN, LSTM, CNN, RF and KPCA + SVM models. The experimental results show that the MCLSTM‐CNN model has higher diagnostic accuracy, and the fault classification results are superior to other models.