bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Regenerated Sportive Activities on the Empathic Tendency of Women
Authors: Akandere Mehibe , Arslan Fatma , Cakmakci Evrim
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the levels of empathy for regularly exercising women and to determine whether empathy levels differ according to some variables.The study is planned as a single group pretest-posttest. 178 sedentary and healthy adult women participated in the study as a volunteer. Aerobic-Dance Exercise program was applied to the participants 60 minutes a day, 3 days per week for 8 weeks; then, The Empathic Tendency Scale (EQS) were filled at the beginning and at the end of the exercise program. The validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Dokmen (1988).Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.00 software was used in the analysis of the data obtained from the research. One way ANOVA was used to determine the differences between the groups when the data showed normal distribution and after the homogeneity of the variances was tested, the Tukey test was used for differences between the groups and the error level was taken as 0.05.When the findings are examined; the mean score of " Empathic Tendency " according to the marital status, the study status and the number of children of the participants was statistically significant in the pretest-posttest after the exercise program (p<0.005). But, there was no statistically significant difference between the group's comparisons in terms of the “Empathic Tendency "(p>0.05). As a result, it was seen that exercise had a positive effect on the "Empathic Tendency” levels of the women participating in the study.
Variations on a simple dice game
Authors: Heafner Joe
Published: March 2018

I begin my introductory astronomy course with a unit on critical thinking that focuses on, among other things, the differences between the “scientific method” as frequently presented in textbooks and actual scientific practice. One particular classroom activity uses a simple dice game to simulate observation of a natural phenomenon and the process of figuring out the framework, which we have previously defined as the rules that allow us to make predictions, governing the simulated phenomenon. Using games to teach scientific methodology is not new (see Maloney and Masters and Smith and references therein). I have experimented with Maloney and Masters’ games and discovered that my students found them too difficult to figure out and therefore they did not learn what I hoped they would from them. I also experimented with other card games and found that too many students already knew the rules of both well-known and obscure card games. I even tried inventing my own games with, at best, mediocre results.
MRI experiments for introductory physics
Authors: Taghizadeh Sanaz , Lincoln James
Published: March 2018

The introductory physics classroom has long educated students about the properties of the atom and the nucleus. But absent from these lessons has been an informed discussion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its parent science nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Physics teachers should not miss the opportunity to instruct upon this highly relevant application of modern physics, especially with so many of our students planning to pursue a career in medicine. This article provides an overview of the physics of MRI and gives advice on how physics teachers can introduce this topic. Also included are some demonstration activities and a discussion of a desktop MRI apparatus that may be used by students in the lab or as a demo.
Quantifying undesired parallel components in Thévenin-equivalent acoustic source parameters
Authors: Nørgaard Kren Rahbek , Neely Stephen T. , Rasetshwane Daniel M.
Published: March 2018

The calibration of an ear probe to determine its Thévenin-equivalent acoustic source parameters facilitates the measurement of ear-canal impedance and reflectance. Existing calibration error metrics, used to evaluate the quality of a calibration, are unable to reveal undesired parallel components in the source parameters. Such parallel components can result from, e.g., a leak in the ear tip or improperly accounting for evanescent modes, and introduce errors into subsequent measurements of impedance and reflectance. This paper proposes a set of additional error metrics that are capable of detecting such parallel components by examining the causality of the source admittance in the frequency domain and estimating the source pressure in the time domain. The proposed and existing error metrics are applied to four different calibrations using two existing calibration methods, representing typical use cases and introducing deliberate parallel components. The results demonstrate the capability of the proposed error metrics in identifying various undesired components in the source parameters that might otherwise go undetected.
Structural Variation in the Bacterial Community Associated with Airborne Particulate Matter in Beijing, China, during Hazy and Nonhazy Days
Authors: Yan Dong , Zhang Tao , Su Jing , Zhao Li-Li , Wang Hao , Fang Xiao-Mei , Zhang Yu-Qin , Liu Hong-Yu , Yu Li-Yan
Published: March 2018

The structural variation of the bacterial community associated with particulate matter (PM) was assessed in an urban area of Beijing during hazy and nonhazy days. Sampling for different PM fractions (PM
2.5
[<2.5 μm], PM
10
[<10 μm], and total suspended particulate) was conducted using three portable air samplers from September 2014 to February 2015. The airborne bacterial community in these samples was analyzed using the Illumina MiSeq platform with bacterium-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 1,707,072 reads belonging to 6,009 operational taxonomic units were observed. The airborne bacterial community composition was significantly affected by PM fractions (
R
= 0.157,
P
< 0.01). In addition, the relative abundances of several genera significantly differed between samples with various haze levels; for example,
Methylobacillus
,
Tumebacillus
, and
Desulfurispora
spp. increased in heavy-haze days. Canonical correspondence analysis and permutation tests showed that temperature, SO
2
concentration, relative humidity, PM
10
concentration, and CO concentration were significant factors that associated with airborne bacterial community composition. Only six genera increased across PM
10
samples (
Dokdonella
,
Caenimonas
,
Geminicoccus
, and
Sphingopyxis
) and PM
2.5
samples (
Cellulomonas
and
Rhizobacter
), while a large number of taxa significantly increased in total suspended particulate samples, such as
Paracoccus
,
Kocuria
, and
Sphingomonas
. Network analysis indicated that
Paracoccus
,
Rubellimicrobium
,
Kocuria
, and
Arthrobacter
were the key genera in the airborne PM samples. Overall, the findings presented here suggest that diverse airborne bacterial communities are associated with PM and provide further understanding of bacterial community structure in the atmosphere during hazy and nonhazy days.

IMPORTANCE
The results presented here represent an analysis of the airborne bacterial community associated with particulate matter (PM) and advance our understanding of the structural variation of these communities. We observed a shift in bacterial community composition with PM fractions but no significant difference with haze levels. This may be because the bacterial differences are obscured by high bacterial diversity in the atmosphere. However, we also observed that a few genera (such as
Methylobacillus
,
Tumebacillus
, and
Desulfurispora
) increased significantly on heavy-haze days. In addition,
Paracoccus
,
Rubellimicrobium
,
Kocuria
, and
Arthrobacter
were the key genera in the airborne PM samples. Accurate and real-time techniques, such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, should be developed for a future survey of the relationship of airborne bacteria and haze.
Metabolism of Oxo-Bile Acids and Characterization of Recombinant 12α-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases from Bile Acid 7α-Dehydroxylating Human Gut Bacteria
Authors: Doden Heidi , Sallam Lina A. , Devendran Saravanan , Ly Lindsey , Doden Greta , Daniel Steven L. , Alves João M. P. , Ridlon Jason M.
Published: March 2018

Bile acids are important cholesterol-derived nutrient signaling hormones, synthesized in the liver, that act as detergents to solubilize dietary lipids. Bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating gut bacteria generate the toxic bile acids deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid from host bile acids. The ability of these bacteria to remove the 7-hydroxyl group is partially dependent on 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH) activity, which reduces 7-oxo-bile acids generated by other gut bacteria. 3α-HSDH has an important enzymatic activity in the bile acid 7α-dehydroxylation pathway. 12α-HSDH activity has been reported for the low-activity bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacterium
Clostridium leptum
; however, this activity has not been reported for high-activity bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria, such as
Clostridium scindens
,
Clostridium hylemonae
, and
Clostridium hiranonis
. Here, we demonstrate that these strains express bile acid 12α-HSDH. The recombinant enzymes were characterized from each species and shown to preferentially reduce 12-oxolithocholic acid to deoxycholic acid, with low activity against 12-oxochenodeoxycholic acid and reduced activity when bile acids were conjugated to taurine or glycine. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that 12α-HSDH is widespread among
Firmicutes
,
Actinobacteria
in the
Coriobacteriaceae
family, and human gut
Archaea
.

IMPORTANCE
12α-HSDH activity has been established in the medically important bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria
C. scindens
,
C. hiranonis
, and
C. hylemonae
. Experiments with recombinant 12α-HSDHs from these strains are consistent with culture-based experiments that show a robust preference for 12-oxolithocholic acid over 12-oxochenodeoxycholic acid. Phylogenetic analysis identified novel members of the gut microbiome encoding 12α-HSDH. Future reengineering of 12α-HSDH enzymes to preferentially oxidize cholic acid may provide a means to industrially produce the therapeutic bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid. In addition, a cholic acid-specific 12α-HSDH expressed in the gut may be useful for the reduction in deoxycholic acid concentration, a bile acid implicated in cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Serratia proteamaculans Strain AGR96X Encodes an Antifeeding Prophage (Tailocin) with Activity against Grass Grub (Costelytra giveni) and Manuka Beetle (Pyronota Species) Larvae
Authors: Hurst Mark R. H. , Beattie Amy , Jones Sandra A. , Laugraud Aurelie , van Koten Chikako , Harper Lincoln
Published: March 2018

A highly virulent
Serratia proteamaculans
strain, AGR96X, exhibiting specific pathogenicity against larvae of the New Zealand grass grub (
Costelytra giveni
; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the New Zealand manuka beetle (
Pyronota festiva
and
P. setosa
; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), was isolated from a diseased grass grub larva. A 12-day median lethal dose of 4.89 × 10
3
± 0.92 × 10
3
cells per grass grub larva was defined for AGR96X, and death occurred within 5 to 12 days following the ingestion of a high bacterial dose. During the infection period, the bacterium rapidly multiplied within the insect host and invaded the hemocoel, leading to a mean bacterial load of 8.2 × 10
9
cells per larva at 6 days postingestion. Genome sequencing of strain AGR96X revealed the presence of a variant of the
Serratia entomophila
antifeeding prophage (Afp), a tailocin designated AfpX. Unlike Afp, AfpX contains two Afp16 tail-length termination protein orthologs and two putative toxin components. A 37-kb DNA fragment encoding the AfpX-associated region was cloned, transformed into
Escherichia coli
, and fed to
C. giveni
and
Pyronota
larvae, causing mortality. In addition, the deletion of the
afpX15
putative chaperone component abolished the virulence of AGR96X. Unlike
S. entomophila
Afp, the AfpX tailocin could be induced by mitomycin C. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of Afp-like particles of various lengths, and when the purified AfpX tailocin was fed to grass grub or manuka beetle larvae, they underwent phenotypic changes similar to those of larvae fed AGR96X.

IMPORTANCE
Serratia proteamaculans
strain AGR96X shows dual activity against larvae of endemic New Zealand pasture pests, the grass grub (
Costelytra giveni
) and the manuka beetle (
Pyronota
spp.). Unlike
Serratia entomophila
, the causal agent of amber disease, which takes 3 to 4 months to kill grass grub larvae, AGR96X causes mortality within 5 to 12 days of ingestion and invades the insect hemocoel. AGR96X produces a unique variant of the
S. entomophila
antifeeding prophage (Afp), a cell-free phage-like entity that is proposed to deliver protein toxins to the grass grub target site, causing a cessation of feeding activity. Unlike other Afp variants, AGR96X Afp, named AfpX, contains two tail-length termination proteins, resulting in greater variability in the AfpX length. AfpX shows dual activity against both grass grub and manuka beetle larvae. AGR96X is a viable alternative to
S. entomophila
for pest control in New Zealand pasture systems.
A Quorum Sensing-Regulated Protein Binds Cell Wall Components and Enhances Lysozyme Resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Gogos Artemis , Jimenez Juan Cristobal , Chang Jennifer C. , Wilkening Reid V. , Federle Michael J.
Published: March 2018

The Rgg2/3 quorum sensing (QS) system is conserved among all sequenced isolates of group A
Streptococcus
(GAS;
Streptococcus pyogenes
). The molecular architecture of the system consists of a transcriptional activator (Rgg2) and a transcriptional repressor (Rgg3) under the control of autoinducing peptide pheromones (SHP2 and SHP3). Activation of the Rgg2/3 pathway leads to increases in biofilm formation and resistance to the bactericidal effects of the host factor lysozyme. In this work, we show that deletion of a small gene,
spy49_0414c
, abolished both phenotypes in response to pheromone signaling. The gene encodes a small, positively charged, secreted protein, referred to as StcA. Analysis of recombinant StcA showed that it can directly interact with GAS cell wall preparations containing phosphodiester-linked carbohydrate polymers but not with preparations devoid of them. Immunofluorescence microscopy detected antibody against StcA bound to the surface of paraformaldehyde-fixed wild-type cells. Expression of StcA in bacterial culture induced a shift in the electrostatic potential of the bacterial cell surface, which became more positively charged. These results suggest that StcA promotes phenotypes by way of ionic interactions with the GAS cell wall, most likely with negatively charged cell wall-associated polysaccharides.

IMPORTANCE
This study focuses on a small protein, StcA, that is expressed and secreted under induction of Rgg2/3 QS, ionically associating with negatively charged domains on the cell surface. These data present a novel mechanism of resistance to the host factor lysozyme by GAS and have implications in the relevance of this circuit in the interaction between the bacterium and the human host that is mediated by the bacterial cell surface.
A Service evaluation of a hospital child death review process to elucidate understanding of contributory factors to child mortality and inform practice in the English National Health Service
Authors: Magnus Daniel S , Schindler Margrid B , Marlow Robin D , Fraser James I
Published: March 2018

Objective

To describe a novel approach to hospital mortality meetings to elucidate understanding of contributory factors to child death and inform practice in the National Health Service.

Design

All child deaths were separately reviewed at a meeting attended by professionals across the healthcare pathway, and an assessment was made of contributory factors to death across domains intrinsic to the child, family and environment, parenting capacity and service delivery. Data were analysed from a centrally held database of records.

Setting

All child deaths in a tertiary children’s hospital between 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2013.

Main outcome measures

Descriptive data summarising contributory factors to child deaths.

Results

95 deaths were reviewed. In 85% cases, factors intrinsic to the child provided complete explanation for death. In 11% cases, factors in the family and environment and, in 5% cases, factors in parenting capacity, contributed to patient vulnerability. In 33% cases, factors in service provision contributed to patient vulnerability and in two patients provided complete explanation for death. 26% deaths were classified as potentially preventable and in those cases factors in service provision were more commonly identified than factors across other domains (OR: 4.89; 95% CI 1.26 to 18.9).

Conclusions

Hospital child death review meetings attended by professionals involved in patient management across the healthcare pathway inform understanding of events leading to a child’s death. Using a bioecological approach to scrutinise contributory factors the multidisciplinary team concluded most deaths occurred as a consequence of underlying illness. Although factors relating to service provision were commonly identified, they rarely provided a complete explanation for death. Efforts to reduce child mortality should be driven by an understanding of modifiable risk factors. Systematic data collection arising from a standardised approach to hospital reviews should be the basis for national mortality review processes and database development.
Impact of adolescent age on maternal and neonatal outcomes in the Born in Bradford cohort
Authors: Marvin-Dowle Katie , Kilner Karen , Burley Victoria Jane , Soltani Hora
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Explore associations between maternal and neonatal outcomes and maternal age, with particular reference to adolescent women.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting

Maternity department of a large hospital in Northern England.

Participants

Primiparous women delivering a singleton at Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010 aged ≤19 years (n=640) or 20–34 years (n=3951). Subgroup analysis was performed using women aged ≤16 years (n=68). Women aged 20–34 years were used as the reference group.

Primary outcome measures

Maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Results

The odds of extremely low birth weight (<1000 g) were significantly higher in the adolescent group (≤19 years) compared with the reference group (adjusted OR (aOR) 4.13, 95% CI 1.41 to 12.11). The odds of very (<32 weeks) and extremely (<28 weeks) preterm delivery were also higher in the adolescent group (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.25 and aOR 5.06, 95% CI 1.23 to 20.78, respectively).

Women in the adolescent group had lower odds of gestational diabetes (aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.62), caesarean delivery (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.67 and instrumental delivery (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.67).

Conclusions

This study identifies important differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes between women by age group. These findings could help in identifying at-risk groups for additional support and tailored interventions to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes for these vulnerable groups. Further work is needed to identify the causal mechanisms linking age with outcomes in adolescent women where significant gaps in the literature exist.
Prevalence and risk factors of uncorrected refractive error among an elderly Chinese population in urban China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ye Hehua , Qian Yiyong , Zhang Qi , Liu Xiaohong , Cai Xuan , Yu Wenjing , Li Xiang , Zhao Peiquan
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of uncorrected refractive error (URE) in an elderly urban Chinese population in China.

Design

A population-based cross-sectional study.

Methods

The study was conducted using a cluster random sample of residents aged 50 years or older living in the Jiangning Road subdistrict, Shanghai, China. All participants underwent a standardised interview and eye examinations, including presenting visual acuity (PVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between November 2012 and February 2013. URE was defined as an improvement of two lines or more in the BCVA compared with the PVA in the better eye of <20/40.

Results

A total of 1999 subjects (an 82.5% response rate) completed both the questionnaire and ophthalmic examination. The prevalence of URE was 20.1% (95% CI 18.0% to 22.2%) in the study sample. After age standardisation, the prevalence of URE in Chinese people aged 50 years or older was 18.7% (95% CI 17.0% to 20.4%). Under multiple logistic regression analysis, older age (per 1-year increase, OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.05) and a lower level of education (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.69) were significantly related to URE. A history of ocular diseases (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.92) was a protective factor for URE.

Conclusions

URE is highly prevalent among the elderly urban Chinese population, which should raise awareness of the URE burden in China to meet the Vision 2020 goal to eliminate preventable blindness.
Nursing students’ experience in performing intimate clinical procedures via high fidelity Mask-Ed simulation
Authors: Frost Jane , Delaney Lori J
Published: March 2018

Background

Didactic clinical skills training employing low fidelity simulation has been the traditional approach to teaching undergraduate nursing students the insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter. This approach, however, does not adequately prepare students for the intricacies and complexity of this procedure in the real world, which is associated with high rates of infection secondary to procedural contamination.

Objectives

To explore students’ confidence levels in developing clinical psychomotor skills associated with the insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter in a high-fidelity simulation using Mask-Ed.

Methods

A mixed methods study was conducted involving final year Bachelor of Nursing students. Preproceduraland postprocedural confidence was rated by students using a 5-point Likert scale. A focus group consisting of eleven students was conducted to further explore student’s experience of engaging with a Mask-Ed character and the procedural experience from a learning perspective.

Results

The findings indicated that students increased their procedure confidence when engaging with the Mask-Ed simulation (P=0.025). The ability to maintain procedural asepsis and ability to accurately identify the correct anatomical structures related to indwelling urinary catheter insertion were found to be related (rs=0.71, P<0.05). Three primary themes were identified: caring of a person, intimate care and communication.

Conclusion

Psychomotor skills related to communication, support and maintaining procedural asepsis were areas that required further clinical development, which are not concurrently integrated into the simulation approach using manikin based simulation. Mask-Ed provided a unique learning opportunity to replicate a clinically and anatomically realistic experience.
Functional neurological disorders in Parkinson disease
Authors: Wissel Benjamin D , Dwivedi Alok K , Merola Aristide , Chin Danielle , Jacob Cara , Duker Andrew P , Vaughan Jennifer E , Lovera Lilia , LaFaver Kathrin , Levy Ariel , Lang Anthony E , Morgante Francesca , Nirenberg Melissa Jill , Stephen Christopher , Sharma Nutan , Romagnolo Alberto , Lopiano Leonardo , Balint Bettina , Yu Xin X , Bhatia Kailash P , Espay Alberto J
Published: March 2018

Objective

To ascertain demographic and clinical features of Parkinson disease (PD) associated with functional neurological features.

Methods

A standardised form was used to extract data from electronic records of 53 PD patients with associated functional neurological disorders (PD-FND) across eight movement disorders centres in the USA, Canada and Europe. These subjects were matched for age, gender and disease duration to PD patients without functional features (PD-only). Logistic regression analysis was used to compare both groups after adjusting for clustering effect.

Results

Functional symptoms preceded or co-occurred with PD onset in 34% of cases, nearly always in the most affected body side. Compared with PD-only subjects, PD-FND were predominantly female (68%), had longer delay to PD diagnosis, greater prevalence of dyskinesia (42% vs 18%; P=0.023), worse depression and anxiety (P=0.033 and 0.025, respectively), higher levodopa-equivalent daily dose (972±701 vs 741±559 mg; P=0.029) and lower motor severity (P=0.019). These patients also exhibited greater healthcare resource utilisation, higher use of [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT and were more likely to have had a pre-existing psychiatric disorder (P=0.008) and family history of PD (P=0.036).

Conclusions

A subtype of PD with functional neurological features is familial in one-fourth of cases and associated with more psychiatric than motor disability and greater use of diagnostic and healthcare resources than those without functional features. Functional manifestations may be prodromal to PD in one-third of patients.
Randomised controlled trial of a self-guided online fatigue intervention in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Pöttgen Jana , Moss-Morris Rona , Wendebourg Janina-Maria , Feddersen Lena , Lau Stefanie , Köpke Sascha , Meyer Björn , Friede Tim , Penner Iris-Katharina , Heesen Christoph , Gold Stefan M
Published: March 2018

Objective

Fatigue is a major disabling symptom in many chronic diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), but treatment options are limited.Here, we tested the effectiveness of a self-guided , interactive, online fatigue management programme (ELEVIDA) based on principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and related psychotherapeutic approaches (eg, mindfulness) for reducing fatigue in MS.

Methods

Patients with MS and self-reported fatigue were recruited via the website of the German MS Society and assigned via an automated randomisation generator (1:1, no blocking or stratification) to a 12-week online intervention (ELEVIDA, n=139, 82% female, mean age 40.8, median patient determined disease steps (PDDS) 3.0) or a waitlist control group (n=136, 79% female, mean age 41.9, median PDDS 3.0). The primary outcome was the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, at week 12 (postintervention) and at follow-up (week 24).

Results

Compared with the control group, significantly greater reductions in Chalder Fatigue Scale scores were seen in the ELEVIDA group at week 12 (primary endpoint, intention-to-treat analysis: between-group mean difference 2.74 points; 95% CI 1.16 to 4.32; p=0.0007; effect size d=0.53), with effects sustained at week 24 (intention-to-treat analysis: between-group mean difference 2.19 points; 95% CI 0.57 to 3.82; p=0.0080).

Conclusions

Our trial provides evidence for the effectiveness of a self-guided , internet-based intervention to reduce fatigue in MS. Interventions such as ELEVIDA may be a suitable low barrier, cost-effective treatment option for MS fatigue.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN registry (number ISRCTN25692173).
Blood pressure management in older people: balancing the risks
Authors: Naschitz Jochanan E
Published: March 2018

Guidelines of arterial hypertension treatment based on individualised expected outcomes are not available for frail older persons. In this paper, we review the evidence, concerning management of arterial blood pressure (BP) in frail older patients. We focused on the best affordable methods for BP measurement; the age-related optimum BP; specific BP goals in agreement with the patients’ general heath, frailty status, orthostatic and postprandial hypotension; balancing the benefits against risks of antihypertensive treatment. Lenient BP goals are generally recommended for older persons with moderate or severe frailty, multimorbidity and limited life expectancy. To this aim, there may be a need for deintensification of antihypertensive treatment.
New results on finite-time parameter identification and synchronization of uncertain complex dynamical networks with perturbation
Authors: Zhao Hui , Zheng Mingwen , Li Shudong , Wang Weiping
Published: March 2018

Some existing papers focused on finite-time parameter identification and synchronization, but provided incomplete theoretical analyses. Such works incorporated conflicting constraints for parameter identification, therefore, the practical significance could not be fully demonstrated. To overcome such limitations, the underlying paper presents new results of parameter identification and synchronization for uncertain complex dynamical networks with impulsive effect and stochastic perturbation based on finite-time stability theory. Novel results of parameter identification and synchronization control criteria are obtained in a finite time by utilizing Lyapunov function and linear matrix inequality respectively. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Nanoarrays for Systolic Biosequence Analysis
Authors: Mehdy Malik Ashter , Antidormi Aleandro , Graziano Mariagrazia , Piccinini Gianluca
Published: March 2018

Applications like biosequence alignment are currently addressed using traditional technology at the price of a huge overhead in terms of area and power dissipation. Nanoarrays are expected to outperform current limits especially in terms of processing capabilities. The purpose of this work is to assess the real terms of these expectations. Our contribution deals with: (i) a new model for nanowire FETs used to evaluate transistor’s essential performance; (ii) a new switch-level simulator for nanoarray structure used to evaluate its switching activity; (iii) a nanoarray implementation for biosequence alignment based on a systolic array and the modeling of its essential performance based on (i) and (ii); (iv) the evaluation of the potential improvement of the nanoarray-based systolic structure with respect to an equivalent CMOS one in terms of processing capabilities, area, and power dissipation. Depending on the possible technological scenario, the performance of nanoarray is impressive, especially considering the density achievable in terms of processing per unit area. A wide solution space can be explored to find the optimal solution in terms of trading power and performance considering the technological limitations of a realistic implementation.
A Novel CMOS CCCII with Wide Tunable Rx and Its Application
Authors: Zhu Cuirong , Wang Chunhua , Chen Hua , Zhang Xin , Sun Jingru , Du Sichun
Published: March 2018

This paper introduces a novel CMOS second-generation current-controlled current conveyor (CCCII) that has a wide tunable intrinsic resistance ([Formula: see text]. The designed structure is achieved by the combination of one ordinary CCCII, one cross-coupled OTA and one active resistor. An inverse relationship between the intrinsic resistance and external bias current is created for the first time in CMOS CCCII design, which results in wide tuning range of [Formula: see text]. Performance of the proposed circuit is discussed by detailed analysis. The CMOS CCCII is simulated in TSMC 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m RF CMOS technology. The simulation results confirm that the proposed CMOS CCCII achieves a wide tunable [Formula: see text] (from 197.4[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] to 27.23[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]) while maintaining favorable performance in bandwidth, transfer gain and linear range. In addition, a new reconfigurable structure, which can function as a universal filter or a quadrature oscillator via controlling an enabled switch, is given as an application example to validate the feasibility of the proposed CMOS CCCII.
A Reliable, Low Power and Nonvolatile MTJ-Based Flip-Flop for Advanced Nanoelectronics
Authors: Rajaei Ramin
Published: March 2018

Very large-scale integrated circuit (VLSI) design faces many challenges with today’s nanometer CMOS technology, including leakage current and reliability issues. Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) hybrid with CMOS transistors can offer many advantages for future VLSI design such as high performance, low power consumption, easy integration with CMOS and also nonvolatility. However, MTJ-based logic circuits suffer from a reliability challenge that is the read disturbance issue. This paper proposes a new nonvolatile magnetic flip-flop (MFF) that offers a disturbance-free sensing and a low power write operation over the previous MFFs. This magnetic-based logic circuit is based on the previous two-in-one (TIO) MTJ cell that presents the aforementioned attributes. Radiation-induced single event upset, as another reliability challenge, is also taken into consideration for the MFFs and another MFF robust against radiation effects is suggested and evaluated.
Abelian subgroup separability of certain HNN extensions
Authors: Zhou Wei , Kim Goansu
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we prove that certain HNN extensions of finitely generated abelian subgroup separable groups are finitely generated abelian subgroup separable. Using this, we show that certain HNN extensions of finitely generated nilpotent groups are finitely generated abelian subgroup separable.
Theoretical approaches on the α-decay of spherical Bismuth isotopes
Authors: Hosseini S. S. , Hassanabadi H.
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the alpha decay process is investigated through the theoretical approaches for spherical Bismuth (Bi) isotopes in the range 187 [Formula: see text] A [Formula: see text] 214. The results are compared with the experimental data for isotopes of Bi with the modified Coulomb and proximity potential model (MCPPM). We analyze the systematics of alpha decay half-life (HL) of Bi isotopes versus the decay energy and the total [Formula: see text]-kinetic energy. The results and their systematics are compared with the available experimental data and with those data obtained from empirical models as the Viola-Seaborg (VS) formula, Royer (R) and the two versions of modified Brown (mB) empirical formulas. The computed half-lives (HLs) are compared with the experimental data and also with the existing empirical estimates and are found in good agreement.
Evidence of forward–backward multiplicity correlation at SPS energy
Authors: Bhoumik Gopa , Bhattacharyya Swarnapratim , Deb Argha , Ghosh Dipak
Published: March 2018

In this paper, a detailed study of two-particle rapidity correlation has been presented by measuring the dynamical fluctuation variable [Formula: see text] in forward and backward pseudo-rapidity window of shower particles produced in the relativistic heavy ion collision, [Formula: see text]O–AgBr interactions at 60[Formula: see text]AGeV and [Formula: see text]S–AgBr interactions at 200[Formula: see text]AGeV. Variations of [Formula: see text] with rapidity gap between forward and backward zones and with the width of each zone have been studied. For both cases, [Formula: see text] increase with increasing either width of the zone or gap between the zones. Our findings show the presence of strong long-range correlation. Comparison of experimental results with MC-RAND events confirms the present correlation to be dynamical in nature. We have also compared our results with FRITIOF and UrQMD events. Such events also show the presence of correlation, but found to fail to reproduce the experimental results both quantitatively and qualitatively. Strength of correlation is dependent on the centrality of collision for experimental events, it decreases with centrality.
CMCABC: Clustering and Memory-Based Chaotic Artificial Bee Colony Dynamic Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Moradi Mohsen , Nejatian Samad , Parvin Hamid , Rezaie Vahideh
Published: March 2018

The swarm intelligence optimization algorithms are used widely in static purposes and applications. They solve the static optimization problems successfully. However, most of the recent optimization problems in the real world have a dynamic nature. Thus, an optimization algorithm is required to solve the problems in dynamic environments as well. The dynamic optimization problems indicate the ones whose solutions change over time. The artificial bee colony algorithm is one of the swarm intelligence optimization algorithms. In this study, a clustering and memory-based chaotic artificial bee colony algorithm, denoted by CMCABC, has been proposed for solving the dynamic optimization problems. A chaotic system has a more accurate prediction for future in the real-world applications compared to a random system, because in the real-world chaotic behaviors have emerged, but random behaviors havenot been observed. In the proposed CMCABC method, explicit memory has been used to save the previous good solutions which are not very old. Maintaining diversity in the dynamic environments is one of the fundamental challenges while solving the dynamic optimization problems. Using clustering technique in the proposed method can well maintain the diversity of the problem environment. The proposed CMCABC method has been tested on the moving peaks benchmark (MPB). The MPB is a good simulator to evaluate the efficiency of the optimization algorithms in dynamic environments. The experimental results on the MPB reveal the appropriate efficiency of the proposed CMCABC method compared to the other state-of-the-art methods in solving dynamic optimization problems.
Heat Recovery Time of Adsorption Cooling System
Authors: Duong Xuan Quang , Cao Ngoc Vi , Chung Jae Dong
Published: March 2018

In this study, a two-dimensional numerical model of finned-tube type adsorbers was developed and used to examine heat recovery time to improve the performance of an adsorption cooling system. The optimal heat recovery time, which resulted in the highest COP, was determined for a range of heat source temperatures (60–90[Formula: see text]C) and cycle times (600–1200[Formula: see text]s). The introduced heat recovery process enhanced COP, but also reduced SCP. This penalty became more serious when the hot water temperature was low and cycle time was short, which serves as a guideline for when heat recovery should be adopted in a given operating condition.
Chinese Dynasties and Modern China: Unification and Fragmentation
Authors: Baaquie Belal Ehsan , Wang Qing-Hai
Published: March 2018

The history of China is briefly reviewed to ascertain the features that are common to the various dynasties. Our study shows that China has repeatedly gone through a historical phase of fragmentation and a historical phase of unification. In our view, the single most important factor in the unity, stability and longevity of a dynasty is the system for determining the succession of the emperor. Given the vastly changed circumstances of the present era, we discuss the relevance of China’s historical pattern of fragmentation and unification. The contemporary rise of China is shown to follow a pattern that is similar to the case of many previous dynasties. A few tentative predictions are made about the future course of China. An appendix provides a brief summary of the history of China since its first unification in 221 BC.
An Efficient Non-Gaussian Sampling Method for High Sigma SRAM Yield Analysis
Authors: Zhai Jinyuan , Yan Changhao , Wang Sheng-Guo , Zhou Dian , Zhou Hai , Zeng Xuan
Published: March 2018

Yield
1
analysis of SRAM is a challenging issue, because the failure rates of SRAM cells are extremely small. In this article, an efficient non-Gaussian sampling method of cross entropy optimization is proposed for estimating the high sigma SRAM yield. Instead of sampling with the Gaussian distribution in existing methods, a non-Gaussian distribution, i.e., a joint one-dimensional generalized Pareto distribution and (
n
-1)-dimensional Gaussian distribution, is taken as the function family of practical distribution, which is proved to be more suitable to fit the ideal distribution in the view of extreme failure event. To minimize the cross entropy between practical and ideal distributions, a sequential quadratic programing solver with multiple starting points strategy is applied for calculating the optimal parameters of practical distributions. Experimental results show that the proposed non-Gaussian sampling is a 2.2--4.1× speedup over the Gaussian sampling, on the whole, it is about a 1.6--2.3× speedup over state-of-the-art methods with low- and high-dimensional cases without loss of accuracy
Flexible Droplet Routing in Active Matrix–Based Digital Microfluidic Biochips
Authors: Lu Guan-Ruei , Kuo Chun-Hao , Chiang Kuen-Cheng , Banerjee Ansuman , Bhattacharya Bhargab B. , Ho Tsung-Yi , Chen Hung-Ming
Published: March 2018

The active matrix (AM)-based architecture offers many advantages over conventional digital electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic biochips, such as the capability of handling variable-size droplets, more flexible droplet movement, and precise control over droplet navigation. However, a major challenge in choosing the routing paths is to decide when the droplets are to be reshaped depending on the congestion of the intended path, or split- and route sub droplets,and merging them at their respective destinations. As the number of microelectrodes in AM-EWOD chips is large, the path selection problem becomes further complicated. In this article, we propose a negotiation-guided flow based on routing of subdroplets that obviates the explicit need for deciding when the droplets are to be manipulated, yet fully utilizing the power of droplet reshaping, splitting, and merging them to facilitate their journey. The proposed algorithm reduces routing cost and provides more freedom in deadlock avoidance in the presence of multiple routing tasks by assigning certain congestion penalty for sibling subdroplets and fluidic penalty for heterogeneous droplets. Compared to existing techniques, it reduces latest arrival time by an average of 29% for several benchmark and random test suites. Furthermore, our method is observed to provide 100% routability of nets for all test cases, whereas existing and baseline routers fail to produce feasible solutions in many instances. We also propose a reliable mode droplet routing strategy where the number of unreliable splitting operations can be reduced by paying a small penalty on latest arrival time.
Hypothesis: role for ammonia neutralization in the prevention and reversal of heart failure
Authors: Bing Oscar H. L.
Published: March 2018

Ammonia plays a central role in the life and death of all living organisms and has been studied for over 100 yr. Ammonia is necessary for growth and development, but it is toxic in excess, and, as a result, differing methods of ammonia neutralization have evolved. After physiological and pathological stress to the heart, tissue ammonia levels rise. Local ammonia neutralization may be inadequate, and excess ammonia may exert its toxic effects. Phenylbutyrate (PBA), which is Federal Drug Administration approved for the treatment of elevated blood ammonia in urea cycle disorders, provides an accessory pathway for ammonia excretion. Recently, PBA has also been found to prevent specific cardiomyopathies. The central theme presents the hypothesis that stress to the myocardium from a variety of environmental sources causes injury, cell death, necrosis, and ammonia production. Ammonia, if not neutralized, exerts downstream toxic effects. Here, data are presented showing that neutralization with PBA alone and PBA combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition prevent and reverse pathophysiology associated with specific cardiomyopathies.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ammonia produced after myocardial injury is hypothesized to be an upstream stress contributing to the pathophysiology of heart failure, effects that may be attenuated by a documented ammonia-reducing treatment. Reversal of heart failure can be achieved using an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor combined with an ammonia-reducing treatment.
Identification of Cerebral Artery Stenosis Using Bilateral Photoplethysmography
Authors: Kang Hyun Goo , Lee Seogki , Ryu Han Uk , Shin Youngsuk
Published: March 2018

Cerebral artery stenosis is currently diagnosed by transcranial Doppler (TCD), computed tomographic angiography (CTA), or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). CTA exposes a patient to radiation, while CTA and MRA are invasive and side effects were related to contrast medium use. This study aims to provide a technique that can simply discriminate between people with normal blood vessels and those with cerebral artery stenosis using photoplethysmography (PPG), which is noninvasive and inexpensive. Moreover, the measurement takes only 120 seconds and is conducted on the fingers. The technique projects the light of a specific wavelength and analyzes the pulse waves which are generated when the blood passes through the blood vessels according to one’s heartbeat using the transmitted light. Normalization was performed after dividing the extracted pulse waveform into windows, and maximum positive and negative amplitudes (MPA, MNA) were extracted from the detected pulse waves as features. The extracted features were used to identify normal subjects and those with cerebral artery stenosis using a linear discriminant analysis. The study results showed that the recognition rate using MPA was 92.2%, MNA was 90.6%, and combined MPA + MNA was 90.6%. The technique proposed is expected to detect early stage asymptomatic cerebral artery stenosis and help prevent ischemic stroke.
A Deep Belief Network and Dempster-Shafer-Based Multiclassifier for the Pathology Stage of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kim Jae Kwon , Choi Mun Joo , Lee Jong Sik , Hong Jun Hyuk , Kim Choung-Soo , Seo Seong Il , Jeong Chang Wook , Byun Seok-Soo , Koo Kyo Chul , Chung Byung Ha , Park Yong Hyun , Lee Ji Youl , Choi In Young
Published: March 2018

Object. Pathologic prediction of prostate cancer can be made by predicting the patient’s prostate metastasis prior to surgery based on biopsy information. Because biopsy variables associated with pathology have uncertainty regarding individual patient differences, a method for classification according to these variables is needed.Method. We propose a deep belief network and Dempster-Shafer- (DBN-DS-) based multiclassifier for the pathologic prediction of prostate cancer. The DBN-DS learns prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, and clinical T stage variable information using three DBNs. Uncertainty regarding the predicted output was removed from the DBN and combined with information from DS to make a correct decision.Result. The new method was validated on pathology data from 6342 patients with prostate cancer. The pathology stages consisted of organ-confined disease (OCD; 3892 patients) and non-organ-confined disease (NOCD; 2453 patients). The results showed that the accuracy of the proposed DBN-DS was 81.27%, which is higher than the 64.14% of the Partin table.Conclusion. The proposed DBN-DS is more effective than other methods in predicting pathology stage. The performance is high because of the linear combination using the results of pathology-related features. The proposed method may be effective in decision support for prostate cancer treatment.
Diagnóstico de infecciones con técnicas de biología molecular.
Authors: Torres H. Marisa
Published: March 2018

Sin resumen