bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic Interference in Implantable Defibrillators in Single-Engine Fixed-Wing Aircraft
Authors: de Rotte Alexandra A. J. , van der Kemp Peter , Mundy Peter A. , Rienks Rienk , de Rotte August A.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the possible electromagnetic interferences (EMI) in the single-engine fixed-wing aircraft environment with implantable cardio-defibrillators (ICDs). Our hypothesis is that EMI in the cockpit of a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft does not result
in erroneous detection of arrhythmias and the subsequent delivery of an inappropriate device therapy.METHODS: ICD devices of four different manufacturers, incorporated in a thorax phantom, were transported in a Piper Dakota Aircraft with ICAO type designator P28B during several
flights. The devices under test were programmed to the most sensitive settings for detection of electromagnetic signals from their environment. After the final flight the devices under test were interrogated with the dedicated programmers in order to analyze the number of tachycardias detected.RESULTS:
Cumulative registration time of the devices under test was 11,392 min, with a mean of 2848 min per device. The registration from each one of the devices did not show any detectable “tachycardia” or subsequent inappropriate device therapy. This indicates that no external signals,
which could be originating from electromagnetic fields from the aircraft's avionics, were detected by the devices under test.CONCLUSION: During transport in the cockpit of a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft, the tested ICDs did not show any signs of being affected by electromagnetic
fields originating from the avionics of the aircraft. This current study indicates that EMI is not a potential safety issue for transportation of passengers with an ICD implanted in a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft.de Rotte AAJ, van der Kemp P, Mundy PA, Rienks R, de Rotte AA. Electromagnetic
interference in implantable defibrillators in single-engine fixed-wing aircraft. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(1):52–55.
Home Cervical Traction to Reduce Neck Pain in Fighter Pilots
Authors: Chumbley Eric M. , O’Hair Nicole , Stolfi Adrienne , Lienesch Christopher , McEachen James C. , Wright Bruce A.
Published: March 2017

INTRODUCTION: Most fighter pilots report cervical pain during their careers. Recommendations for remediation lack evidence. We sought to determine whether regular use of a home cervical traction device could decrease reported cervical pain in F-15C pilots.METHODS:
An institutional review board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, controlled crossover study was undertaken with 21 male F-15C fighter pilots between February and June 2015. Of the 21 subjects, 12 completed 6 wk each of traction and control, while logging
morning, postflying, and post-traction pain. Pain was compared with paired t-tests between the periods, from initial pain scores to postflying, and postflying to post-traction.RESULTS: In the traction phase, initial pain levels increased postflight, from 1.2 (0.7) to 1.6
(1.0) Subsequent post-traction pain levels decreased to 1.3 (0.9), with a corresponding linear decrease in pain relative to pain reported postflight. The difference in pain levels after traction compared to initial levels was not significant, indicating that cervical traction was effective
in alleviating flying-related pain. Control pain increased postflight from 1.4 (0.9) to 1.9 (1.3). Daily traction phase pain was lower than the control, but insignificant.DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study of home cervical traction to address fighter pilots’
cervical pain. We found a small but meaningful improvement in daily pain rating when using cervical traction after flying. These results help inform countermeasure development for pilots flying high-performance aircraft. Further study should clarify the optimal traction dose and timing in
relation to flying.Chumbley EM, O’Hair N, Stolfi A, Lienesch C, McEachen JC, Wright BA. Home cervical traction to reduce neck pain in fighter pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(12):1010–1015.
Metabolic Syndrome and Periodontal Disease Among Civilian Pilots
Authors: Chen Xi , Xie Lu , Liu Yang , Chen Duanjing , Yu Qing , Gan Xueqi , Yu Haiyang
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that can affect civilian pilots’ health. Its prevalence and the correlation with periodontal disease (PD) among pilots had not been previously reported. The aim of the study was to determine MetS
and PD status, and to reveal their relationship in a representative sample of Chinese civilian pilots.METHODS: We investigated 303 civilian pilots (mean age 34.92 ± 7.66 yr). General information as well as blood and saliva samples were collected. Diagnostic criteria for MetS
were based on the joint interim statements of several medical organizations. Periodontal status was evaluated by Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), concentration of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), saliva matrix metalloproteinase-8, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1).RESULTS: Of the subjects, 38.28% showed MetS and 23.10% showed periodontitis. Significant differences were found between the
MetS and non-MetS pilots in total flying hours, CPI, WC, BP, TG, HDL-C, FPG, BMI, and TIMP-1. Significant relationships were found between MetS and CPI, BMI, and TIMP-1. The odds ratios were 3.378 (95%CI: 1.889–5924) for CPI, 1.269 (95%CI: 1.101–1.463) for BMI, and 0.600 (95%CI:
0.399–0.904) for TIMP-1.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MetS was sufficiently high to be a matter of medical concern, and was associated with PD among civilian pilots.Chen X, Xie L, Liu Y, Chen D, Yu Q, Gan X, Yu H. Metabolic syndrome and periodontal disease among civilian pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(12):1016–1020.
Treatment and Monitoring of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy in Pilots
Authors: Shinojima Ari , Mori Ryusaburo , Fujita Kyoko , Yuzawa Mitsuko
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), which has the characteristics of a serous retinal detachment (SRD) in the macular area, affects mostly men in the 30- to 50-yr age range. Some patients have persistent SRD, which may cause retinal thinning and photoreceptor
impairment. CSC symptoms are gradual vision loss and/or metamorphopsia. Some commercial airline pilots are concerned about CSC symptoms, which can disqualify them from flying for months and can also reoccur. Thus, careful monitoring and treatment of CSC are critical for pilots, especially
those with chronic or recurrent CSC. The Federal Aviation Administration requires uncorrected distant visual acuity in the better eye to be 20/200 or better, with correction to 20/20 or better employing lenses of no greater power than ± 3.5 diopters spherical equivalent. Multimodal
imaging modalities such as spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) allow early detection of CSC noninvasively. Moreover, half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) can cure CSC in the early stage.CASE REPORTS: Five male Japanese commercial airline pilots with
CSC are presented. Four of these five pilots had been disqualified from flying for several months, but after receiving half-dose PDT, they were ultimately able to resume flying commercial aircraft.DISCUSSION: Half-dose PDT can rapidly reduce serous subretinal fluid in CSC eyes.
Recurrent and/or chronic CSC is seen in clinical cases. Therefore, continuous observation by SD-OCT after half-dose PDT is essential, even if the patient's vision recovers. Early, i.e., before visual acuity decreases, treatment is highly recommended.Shinojima A, Mori R, Fujita K, Yuzawa
M. Treatment and monitoring of central serous chorioretinopathy in pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(12):1041–1044.
Baro-otolagia Secondary to Cholesteatoma
Authors: Govindaraju Revadi , Adaikappan Meenakshi , Rajagopalan Raman
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Baro-otalgia is a common complaint among passengers in an aircraft, in particular those who had a recent upper respiratory tract infection. The underlying pathophysiology is secondary to unequal aeration of the middle ear cleft with the surrounding atmosphere and
it can be explained using Boyle’s Law. We describe an unusual presentation of baro-otalgia in a pilot secondary to cholesteatoma obstructing the aditus despite normal middle ear pressure equalization provided by a grommet in the ear.CASE REPORT: A 26-yr-old pilot with a presenting
complaint of conductive hearing loss was diagnosed and treated for congenital cholesteatoma. His hearing improved, but 4 yr later he developed ear pain during the cruising phase of flight at an altitude of 9144 m (30,000 ft) above sea level. This pain persisted until descent to 4876 m (16,000
ft). Despite insertion of a middle ear ventilating tube, he remained symptomatic, requiring further investigation. This led to the diagnosis of recurrent cholesteatoma obstructing the aditus to the mastoid cavity. Upon surgical removal of the cholesteatoma, symptoms resolved.DISCUSSION:
We hypothesize that the recurrent cholesteatoma caused obstruction to normal aeration of the mastoid air cells during the changing atmospheric air pressure, thus producing pain. This is akin to sinus barotrauma instead of the usual pathophysiology underlying barotitis.Govindaraju R, Adaikappan
M, Rajagopalan R. Baro-otolagia secondary to cholesteatoma. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(1):65–67.
Hypoxia Occurrence in a Military Aviator Below 3048 m
Authors: Tristan Lesli R.
Published: March 2017

INTRODUCTION: Despite technological advances, hypoxia remains a concern in aviation. Hypoxia can present with a vast array of symptoms that are unique to each aviator. Military aviators undergo hypoxia awareness trainings to learn their unique constellation of hypoxia symptoms.CASE
REPORT: This case report describes a military aviator who was flying in a B1 when the cabin depressurized. While performing the emergency checklist, the aviator was moving about the cabin and began to experience hypoxia symptoms. His symptoms occurred at an altitude below 3048 m (10,000
ft), and his fellow crewmembers remained asymptomatic. Previous hypoxia awareness trainings enabled the aviator to recognize his symptoms as hypoxic. His symptoms resolved within seconds of applying supplemental oxygen via his facemask, and he did not have any recurrence of his symptoms.DISCUSSION:
Aviators reliably remember their hypoxic symptoms from previous hypoxia awareness trainings up to 4.5 yr later. This enables the aviator to quickly take action to correct his or her symptoms. While hypoxia is commonly thought to only occur at altitudes greater than 4267 m (14,000 ft), it can
occur at lower altitudes, especially if it is compounded with the physiological changes from exercise.Tristan LR. Hypoxia occurrence in a military aviator below 3048 m. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(1):61–64.
Myasthenia Gravis and Its Aeromedical Implications
Authors: Jagathesan Tania , O’Brien Michael D.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition where antibodies form against the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, eventually causing damage to the motor end plate. The clinical features include muscle fatigability as well as ocular, bulbar, and
limb weakness, which can have implications on the role of a pilot or air traffic controller. This retrospective study reviewed the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) experience of myasthenia gravis.METHODS: A search of the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority medical
records database from 1990 to 2016 identified 11 individuals with a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Data were extracted for the class of medical certificate, age at diagnosis, symptoms, acetylcholine receptor antibody status, treatment, the time from diagnosis to loss of medical certification,
and the reasons for loss of certification.RESULTS: There were two Class 1 certificate holders (for professional flying) and six Class 2 certificate holders (for private pilot flying) and three air traffic controllers. The mean and median ages at diagnosis were 53 and 57 yr, respectively,
with a range of 28–67 yr. The mean and median intervals from diagnosis to loss of certification were 22 and 11 mo, respectively, with a range of 0 to 108 mo.CONCLUSION: The aeromedical implications of myasthenia gravis, including complications, types of treatment, and functional
impact, are considered. A policy for medical certification following a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is proposed.Jagathesan T, O’Brien MD. Myasthenia gravis and its aeromedical implications. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(1):30–33.
The U.S. Experience with Waivers for Insulin-Treated Pilots
Authors: Mills William D. , DeJohn Charles A. , Alaziz Mustafa
Published: March 2017

INTRODUCTION: This study explores the U.S. experience with waivers for insulin treatment for third-class medical certificates. From 1997 through 2014, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved an estimated 1500 waivers for insulin-treated diabetes with a total of 450
active waivers as of December 31, 2014. These pilots were involved in 25 accidents, but none were attributed to medical issues.METHODS: Data for the insulin waiver group and control group were obtained from the FAA’s aeromedical certification system and matching accident data
from the NTSB database. A logistic regression model comparing accidents in this group to the overall population of third-class certificate holders adjusted for gender, age, and flight times was performed. A novel technique for calculating accident rates was also employed.RESULTS:
No statistically significant association between waivers for insulin treatment and accident risk was found by logistic regression. The overall accident rate for pilots possessing an insulin waiver was 7.0 per 100,000 flight hours and an estimate for all third-class pilots was also 7.0 per
100,000 flight hours. Only 8% of waivers for insulin treatment were later terminated for adverse changes related to the applicant’s diabetes. Of these pilots, 8% also had coronary artery disease severe enough to require its own waiver.CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings
suggest that pilots holding special issuance waivers for insulin-treated diabetes are not detectably less safe than other airmen with third-class medical certificates and most are able to successfully comply with the FAA’s stringent medical certification protocol for insulin treated
diabetes.Mills WD, DeJohn CA, Alaziz M. The U.S. experience with waivers for insulin-treated pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(1):34–41.
Gravitational wave experiments in Russia
Authors: Rudenko V N
Published: March 2017

A brief summary is given of experimental research on the detection of extraterrestrial gravitational radiation performed in Russia since the late 1960s. Various aspects of this topic are reviewed, including experiments with resonant detectors, geophysical methods for detecting low-frequency gravitational waves, and high-frequency versions of the gravitational ‘Hertz experiment’. A description is given of the current situation concerning the unique optoacoustic gravitational detector OGRAN mounted in the underground laboratory of the Baksan neutrino observatory, Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. Prospects are examined for building a long-base gravitational wave interferometer in Russia that would be integrated into a global network of gravitational antennas.
On the relation between Stokes drift and the Gerstner wave
Authors: Abrashkin A A , Pelinovsky E N
Published: March 2017

We discuss the properties of two-dimensional, nonlinear, potential, and vortex waves on the surface of an ideal liquid of infinite depth. It is shown that in the quadratic order in the amplitude, the vorticity of the Gerstner wave is equal in magnitude to and different in sign from that of the Stokes drift current in a surface layer. This allows a classic Stokes wave obtained in the framework of potential theory to be interpreted as a superposition of the Gerstner wave and Stokes drift. It is proposed that the nonlinearity coefficient in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation can be physically interpreted as the Doppler frequency shift along the vertically averaged Stokes drift current.
A Novel, Gradient Boosting Framework for Sentiment Analysis in Languages where NLP Resources Are Not Plentiful: A Case Study for Modern Greek
Authors: Athanasiou Vasileios , Maragoudakis Manolis
Published: March 2017

Sentiment analysis has played a primary role in text classification. It is an undoubted fact that some years ago, textual information was spreading in manageable rates; however, nowadays, such information has overcome even the most ambiguous expectations and constantly grows within seconds. It is therefore quite complex to cope with the vast amount of textual data particularly if we also take the incremental production speed into account. Social media, e-commerce, news articles, comments and opinions are broadcasted on a daily basis. A rational solution, in order to handle the abundance of data, would be to build automated information processing systems, for analyzing and extracting meaningful patterns from text. The present paper focuses on sentiment analysis applied in Greek texts. Thus far, there is no wide availability of natural language processing tools for Modern Greek. Hence, a thorough analysis of Greek, from the lexical to the syntactical level, is difficult to perform. This paper attempts a different approach, based on the proven capabilities of gradient boosting, a well-known technique for dealing with high-dimensional data. The main rationale is that since English has dominated the area of preprocessing tools and there are also quite reliable translation services, we could exploit them to transform Greek tokens into English, thus assuring the precision of the translation, since the translation of large texts is not always reliable and meaningful. The new feature set of English tokens is augmented with the original set of Greek, consequently producing a high dimensional dataset that poses certain difficulties for any traditional classifier. Accordingly, we apply gradient boosting machines, an ensemble algorithm that can learn with different loss functions providing the ability to work efficiently with high dimensional data. Moreover, for the task at hand, we deal with a class imbalance issues since the distribution of sentiments in real-world applications often displays issues of inequality. For example, in political forums or electronic discussions about immigration or religion, negative comments overwhelm the positive ones. The class imbalance problem was confronted using a hybrid technique that performs a variation of under-sampling the majority class and over-sampling the minority class, respectively. Experimental results, considering different settings, such as translation of tokens against translation of sentences, consideration of limited Greek text preprocessing and omission of the translation phase, demonstrated that the proposed gradient boosting framework can effectively cope with both high-dimensional and imbalanced datasets and performs significantly better than a plethora of traditional machine learning classification approaches in terms of precision and recall measures.
Fusarium Wilt Affecting Chickpea Crop
Authors: Jendoubi Warda , Bouhadida Mariem , Boukteb Amal , Béji Mohamed , Kharrat Mohamed
Published: March 2017

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) contributes 18% of the global production of grain legume and serves as an important source of dietary protein. An important decrease in cropping area and production has been recorded during the last two decades. Several biotic and abiotic constraints underlie this decrease. Despite the efforts deployed in breeding and selection of several chickpea varieties with high yield potential that are tolerant to diseases, the situation has remained the same for the last decade. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) is the major soilborne fungus affecting chickpeas globally. Fusarium wilt epidemics can devastate crops and cause up to 100% loss in highly infested fields and under favorable conditions. To date, eight pathogenic races of Foc (races 0, 1A, 1B/C, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) have been reported worldwide. The development of resistant cultivars is the most effective method to manage this disease and to contribute to stabilizing chickpea yields. Development of resistant varieties to fusarium wilt in different breeding programs is mainly based on conventional selection. This method is time‐consuming and depends on inoculum load and specific environmental factors that influence disease development. The use of molecular tools offers great potential for chickpea improvement, specifically by identifying molecular markers closely linked to genes/QTLs controlling fusarium wilt.
Corporate Reporting on Farm Animal Welfare: An Evaluation of Global Food Companies’ Discourse and Disclosures on Farm Animal Welfare
Authors: Sullivan Rory , Amos Nicky , Van de Weerd Heleen
Published: March 2017

The views that food companies hold about their responsibilities for animal welfare can strongly influence the lives and welfare of farm animals. If a company’s commitment is translated into action, it can be a major driver of animal welfare. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) is an annual evaluation of farm animal welfare-related practices, reporting and performance of food companies. The framework evaluates how close, based on their disclosures, companies are to best practice in three areas: Management Commitment, Governance & Performance and Leadership & Innovation. The BBFAW analysed information published by 68 (2012) and 70 (2013) of the world’s largest food companies. Around 70% of companies acknowledged animal welfare as a business issue. Between 2012 and 2013, the mean BBFAW score increased significantly by 5% (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test). However, only 34% (2012) and 44% (2013) of companies published comprehensive animal welfare policies. This increase suggests that global food companies are increasingly aware that farm animal welfare is of interest to their stakeholders, but also that many companies have yet to acknowledge farm animal welfare as a business issue or to demonstrate their approach to farm animal welfare to stakeholders and society.
Assessing Climate Driven Malaria Variability in Ghana Using a Regional Scale Dynamical Model
Authors: Asare Ernest , Amekudzi Leonard
Published: March 2017

Malaria is a major public health challenge in Ghana and adversely affects the productivity and economy of the country. Although malaria is climate driven, there are limited studies linking climate variability and disease transmission across the various agro-ecological zones in Ghana. We used the VECTRI (vector-borne disease community model of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste) model with a new surface hydrology scheme to investigate the spatio-temporal variability in malaria transmission patterns over the four agro-ecological zones in Ghana. The model is driven using temperature and rainfall datasets obtained from the GMet (Ghana Meteorological Agency) synoptic stations between 1981 and 2010. In addition, the potential of the VECTRI model to simulate seasonal pattern of local scale malaria incidence is assessed. The model results reveal that the simulated malaria transmission follows rainfall peaks with a two-month time lag. Furthermore, malaria transmission ranges from eight to twelve months, with minimum transmission occurring between February and April. The results further reveal that the intra- and inter-agro-ecological variability in terms of intensity and duration of malaria transmission are predominantly controlled by rainfall. The VECTRI simulated EIR (Entomological Inoculation Rate) tends to agree with values obtained from field surveys across the country. Furthermore, despite being a regional model, VECTRI demonstrates useful skill in reproducing monthly variations in reported malaria cases from Emena hospital (a peri urban town located within Kumasi metropolis). Although further refinements in this surface hydrology scheme may improve VECTRI performance, VECTRI still possesses the potential to provide useful information for malaria control in the tropics.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Catalytic Activity of a 1D Chained Ca(II) Coordination Polymer with 3,5-Bis(4-pyridylmethoxy)benzoate Ligand
Authors: Wang Li-Hua , Wang Xin , Tai Xi-Shi
Published: March 2017

A new 1D chained Ca(II) coordination polymer—namely, [CaL2(H2O)2]n (HL = 3,5-bis(4-pyridylmethoxy)benzoic acid)—was synthesized though the reaction of Ca(ClO4)2·4H2O, 3,5-bis(4-pyridylmethoxy)benzoic acid and NaOH in H2O/CH3CH2OH (v:v = 1:2) solution. Its structure was determined by elemental analysis, infrared spectrum, and single-crystal XRD. Structural analyses show that each Ca(II) ion is eight-coordinated by six oxygen atoms of four 3,5-bis(4-pyridylmethoxy)benzoate ligands and two oxygen atoms of two coordinated H2O molecules to form a square-antiprismatic CaO8 polyhedron. The Ca(II) complex displays a 1D chained structure constructed by the bridging effect of the bidentate carboxyl group of 3,5-bis(4-pyridylmethoxy)benzoate ligand. The catalytic activity of the Ca-complex was tested for the preparation of propargylamine in the A3 coupling reaction.
A Novel High-Frequency Voltage Standing-Wave Ratio-Based Grounding Electrode Line Fault Supervision in Ultra-High Voltage DC Transmission Systems
Authors: Teng Yufei , Li Xiaopeng , Huang Qi , Wang Yifei , Jing Shi , Jiang Zhenchao , Zhen Wei
Published: March 2017

In order to improve the fault monitoring performance of grounding electrode lines in ultra-high voltage DC (UHVDC) transmission systems, a novel fault monitoring approach based on the high-frequency voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) is proposed in this paper. The VSWR is defined considering a lossless transmission line, and the characteristics of the VSWR under different conditions are analyzed. It is shown that the VSWR equals 1 when the terminal resistance completely matches the characteristic impedance of the line, and when a short circuit fault occurs on the grounding electrode line, the VSWR will be greater than 1. The VSWR will approach positive infinity under metallic earth fault conditions, whereas the VSWR in non-metallic earth faults will be smaller. Based on these analytical results, a fault supervision criterion is formulated. The effectiveness of the proposed VSWR-based fault supervision technique is verified with a typical UHVDC project established in Power Systems Computer Aided Design/Electromagnetic Transients including DC(PSCAD/EMTDC). Simulation results indicate that the proposed strategy can reliably identify the grounding electrode line fault and has strong anti-fault resistance capability.
Analysis of Power Loss and Improved Simulation Method of a High Frequency Dual-Buck Full-Bridge Inverter
Authors: Meng Zhun , Wang Yi-Feng , Yang Liang , Li Wei
Published: March 2017

A high frequency dual-buck full-bridge inverter for small power renewable energy application is proposed in this paper. A switching frequency of 400 kHz is achieved with the adoption of the SiC power device. A two-pole two-zero (2P2Z) compensator is employed in the outer voltage loop to generate the current reference for inner current loop. A 3P3Z compensator is adopted in the inner current loop to track the current reference. A systematic way for calculating the losses of high frequency inverter is presented, and the losses of the components are thoroughly analyzed. The turn-on and turn-off procedures of the inverter are discussed in detail. The losses caused by high frequency are calculated accurately, and the loss distribution is established as well. The procedure of the loss analysis gives a practical example for calculating the loss of similar type inverters. Moreover, deviation between pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal and switching response in high frequency switching is thoroughly analyzed. The influence of deviation is verified by designed experiment. Hence, a compensation method is proposed in order to minimize the influence. The compensation effect is validated by experiment and simulation. Finally, a 1-kW prototype is built to verify the feasibility of the theoretical analyses. The grid-connected maximum output power experiment is completed at 1 kW with the efficiency of 96.1% and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of 1.8%. The comparison experiments of power loss between Si and SiC power devices are carried out. The experiment results confirm the loss calculation method to be valid.
Strategic Maintenance Scheduling of an Offshore Wind Farm in a Deregulated Power System
Authors: Mazidi Peyman , Tohidi Yaser , Sanz-Bobi Miguel
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a model for strategic maintenance scheduling of offshore wind farms (SMSOWF) in a deregulated power system. The objective of the model is to plan the maintenance schedules in a way to maximize the proﬁt of the offshore wind farm. In addition, some network constraints, such as transmission lines capacity, and wind farm constraints, such as labor working shift, wave height limit and wake effect, as well as unexpected outages, are included in deterministic and stochastic studies. Moreover, the proposedmodel provides theability to incorporate information from condition monitoring systems. SMSOWF is formulated through a bi-level formulation and then transformed into a single-level through Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions. The model is validated through a test system, and the results demonstrate applicability, advantages and challenges of harnessing the full potential of the model.
Optimal Scheduling of Microgrid with Multiple Distributed Resources Using Interval Optimization
Authors: Huang Chongxin , Yue Dong , Deng Song , Xie Jun
Published: March 2017

In this paper, an optimal day-ahead scheduling problem is studied for a microgrid with multiple distributed resources. For the sake of coping with the prediction uncertainties of renewable energies and loads and taking advantage of the time-of-use price for buying/selling electricity, an interval-based optimization model for maximum proﬁts is developed. To reduce the computational complexity in solving the model, the possibility degree comparison between an interval and a real number is used to convert the interval constraints into the general ones; meanwhile, some slack variables and complementary conditions are introduced to eliminate the absolute-value operation. Unlike the stochastic optimization, the interval optimization only needs the upper-lower bounds of the uncertain variables instead of their probability distribution functions, which is beneﬁcial to the practical application. Furthermore, the possible proﬁt interval and the expected optimal proﬁt can be determined by solving the optimization model. Numerical simulations are performed on a microgrid system modiﬁed from the benchmark low voltage network in the European Union project “Microgrid”, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Erratum: Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old-Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan; Forests 2017, 8, 36
Authors:   Forests Editorial Office
Published: March 2017

Due to a mistake during the production process, there was a spelling error in the Academic Editors’ names in the original published version [...]
c‐Myc‐Induced Survivin Is Essential for Promoting the Notch‐Dependent T Cell Differentiation from Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Haque Rizwanul , Song Jianyong , Haque Mohammad , Lei Fengyang , Sandhu Praneet , Ni Bing , Zheng Songguo , Fang Deyu , Yang Jin‐Ming , Song Jianxun
Published: March 2017

Notch is indispensable for T cell lineage commitment, and is needed for thymocyte differentiation at early phases. During early stages of T cell development, active Notch prevents other lineage potentials including B cell lineage and myeloid cell (e.g., dendritic cell) lineage. Nevertheless, the precise intracellular signaling pathways by which Notch promotes T cell differentiation remain unclear. Here we report that the transcription factor c‐Myc is a key mediator of the Notch signaling–regulated T cell differentiation. In a well‐established in vitro differentiation model of T lymphocytes from hematopoietic stem cells, we showed that Notch1 and 4 directly promoted c‐Myc expression; dominant‐negative (DN) c‐Myc inhibited early T cell differentiation. Moreover, the c‐Myc expression activated by Notch signaling increased the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein. We further demonstrated that over‐expression of c‐Myc increased the abundance of survivin and the T cell differentiation thereof, whereas dn c‐Myc reduced survivin levels and concomitantly retarded the differentiation. The c‐Myc–dependent survivin induction is functionally germane, because Notch‐dependent T cell differentiation was canceled by the depletion of survivin. These results identify both c‐Myc and survivin as important mediators of the Notch signaling–regulated differentiation of T lymphocytes from hematopoietic stem cells.
A Frameshift Mutation in KIT is Associated with White Spotting in the Arabian Camel
Authors: Holl Heather , Isaza Ramiro , Mohamoud Yasmin , Ahmed Ayeda , Almathen Faisal , Youcef Cherifi , Gaouar Semir , Antczak Douglas , Brooks Samantha
Published: March 2017

While the typical Arabian camel is characterized by a single colored coat, there are rare populations with white spotting patterns. White spotting coat patterns are found in virtually all domesticated species, but are rare in wild species. Theories suggest that white spotting is linked to the domestication process, and is occasionally associated with health disorders. Though mutations have been found in a diverse array of species, fewer than 30 genes have been associated with spotting patterns, thus providing a key set of candidate genes for the Arabian camel. We obtained 26 spotted camels and 24 solid controls for candidate gene analysis. One spotted and eight solid camels were whole genome sequenced as part of a separate project. The spotted camel was heterozygous for a frameshift deletion in KIT (c.1842delG, named KITW1 for White spotting 1), whereas all other camels were wild‐type (KIT+/KIT+). No additional mutations unique to the spotted camel were detected in the EDNRB, EDN3, SOX10, KITLG, PDGFRA, MITF, and PAX3 candidate white spotting genes. Sanger sequencing of the study population identified an additional five kITW1/KIT+ spotted camels. The frameshift results in a premature stop codon five amino acids downstream, thus terminating KIT at the tyrosine kinase domain. An additional 13 spotted camels tested KIT+/KIT+, but due to phenotypic differences when compared to the KITW1/KIT+ camels, they likely represent an independent mutation. Our study suggests that there are at least two causes of white spotting in the Arabian camel, the newly described KITW1 allele and an uncharacterized mutation.
Climate Change and Its Impacts on Water Resources in the Bandama Basin, Côte D’ivoire
Authors: Soro Gneneyougo , Yao Affoué , Kouame Yao , Bi Tié
Published: March 2017

This study aims to assess future trends in monthly rainfall and temperature and its impacts on surface and groundwater resources in the Bandama basin. The Bandama river is one of the four major rivers of Côte d’Ivoire. Historical data from 14 meteorological and three hydrological stations were used. Simulation results for future climate from HadGEM2-ES model under representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios indicate that the annual temperature may increase from 1.2 °C to 3 °C. These increases will be greater in the north than in the south of the basin. The monthly rainfall may decrease from December to April in the future. During this period, it is projected to decrease by 3% to 42% at all horizons under RCP 4.5 and by 5% to 47% under RCP 8.5. These variations will have cause an increase in surface and groundwater resources during the three periods (2006–2035; 2041–2060; 2066–2085) under the RCP 4.5 scenario. On the other side, these water resources may decrease for all horizons under RCP 8.5 in the Bandama basin.
Changes in Prevalence and Socioeconomic Factors of Psychiatric Disability among Children in China from 1987–2006: A Population Based Survey
Authors: Wang Zhenjie , Zheng Xiaoying , Zhang Lei , Chen Gong
Published: March 2017

The prevalence and risk factors associated with psychiatric disability among Chinese children under 14 years of age has long been of interest. Data used in the study included two nationally representative population-based surveys from the first and second China National Sample Surveys on Disability, conducted in 1987 and 2006. Both surveys used multistage, stratified random cluster sampling, with probability proportion to size, to derive nationally representative samples. Age-standardized point prevalence of mental disability was estimated through direct standardization using the 2000 census-derived Chinese population as the standard. Associations between psychiatric disability in children and possible risk factors were examined by logistic regression. Age-standardized point prevalence of psychiatric disability in children increased sharply from 0.18% to 1.11% in the 20 years between surveys. In the logistic regression analysis, the children’s age and household size presented inverse associations with psychiatric disability in both surveys, although these associations were not all significant in 1987. Residential area, minority group status and gender of children were consistently associated with psychiatric disability in both surveys. To face the challenge of rising prevalence rates of psychiatric disability among children in China, the government should adopt more vigorous strategies to prevent it, especially for minority ethnicity children and those living in rural areas.
Attitude of Health Care Workers (HCWs) toward Patients Affected by HIV/AIDS and Drug Users: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ledda Caterina , Cicciù Francesca , Puglisi Beatrice , Ramaci Tiziana , Nunnari Giuseppe , Rapisarda Venerando
Published: March 2017

Caring for HIV/AIDS patients and/or drug users requires health care workers (HCWs) to have good knowledge of the issues. Cultural differences in HCWs, combined with professional ethics and personal beliefs, could also result in conflicting attitudes, leading to difficulties related to looking after people affected by HIV/AIDS or drug users. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients and/or drug users in a sample of workers operating in a large university hospital in southern Italy. A total of 736 workers were surveyed from May to November 2016. During the periodic occupational health surveillance, a questionnaire was administered about attitudes of discrimination, acceptance and fear towards these patients. Respondents showed average levels of acceptance to HIV/AIDS and drug user patients. As years of experience and professional training increased, scores for discrimination, acceptance of HIV/AIDS, acceptance of drug users and fear decreased. Factors positively influencing levels of attitudes were being female and younger. Supplementary education is needed to strengthen the awareness of HCWs.
Disparity in Retention in Care and Viral Suppression for Black Caribbean-Born Immigrants Living with HIV in Florida
Authors: Cyrus Elena , Dawson Christyl , Fennie Kristopher , Sheehan Diana , Mauck Daniel , Sanchez Mariana , Maddox Lorene , Trepka Mary
Published: March 2017

(1) The study aim was to assess disparities in non-retention in HIV care and non-viral suppression among non-Hispanic Black Caribbean immigrants living with HIV in Florida. (2) We analyzed cases involving individuals, aged ≥13, who met CDC HIV case definition during 2000–2014. Chi square test was used to evaluate differences in non-retention and non-viral suppression by country of origin/race/ethnicity. Multilevel logistic regressions with three referent groups [US-born Blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs)] were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR). (3) Caribbean-born Blacks were less likely to be retained in care or be virally suppressed than US-born Blacks, Hispanics, and NHWs. Bahamians, Haitians, and Trinidadians and Tobagonians had increased odds of non-retention (aOR 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.40 –4.10; aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.40–1.66; aOR 2.30, 95% CI 1.38–3.83), and non-viral suppression (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 2.48–4.21; aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.68–1.98; aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06–2.90) compared with NHWs. (4) Caribbean-born Blacks living with HIV infection are less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to be retained in care and/or achieve viral suppression. Further research is urgently needed to determine social, cultural, and biological factors that contribute to this disparity.
Pedestrians in Traffic Environments: Ultrafine Particle Respiratory Doses
Authors: Manigrasso Maurizio , Natale Claudio , Vitali Matteo , Protano Carmela , Avino Pasquale
Published: March 2017

Particulate matter has recently received more attention than other pollutants. PM10 and PM2.5 have been primarily monitored, whereas scientists are focusing their studies on finer granulometric sizes due both to their high number concentration and their high penetration efficiency into the respiratory system. The purpose of this study is to investigate the population exposure to UltraFine Particles (UFP, submicrons in general) in outdoor environments. The particle number doses deposited into the respiratory system have been compared between healthy individuals and persons affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Measurements were performed by means of Dust Track and Nanoscan analyzers. Forty minute walking trails through areas with different traffic densities in downtown Rome have been considered. Furthermore, particle respiratory doses have been estimated for persons waiting at a bus stop, near a traffic light, or along a high-traffic road, as currently occurs in a big city. Large differences have been observed between workdays and weekdays: on workdays, UFP number concentrations are much higher due to the strong contribution of vehicular exhausts. COPD-affected individuals receive greater doses than healthy individuals due to their higher respiratory rate.
Overexpression of Transforming Acidic Coiled Coil‑Containing Protein 3 Reflects Malignant Characteristics and Poor Prognosis of Glioma
Authors: Sun Ying , Tian Yu , Wang Guang-Zhi , Zhao Shi-Hong , Han Bo , Li Yong-Li , Jiang Chuan-Lu
Published: March 2017

Gliomas are malignant primary brain tumors with poor prognosis. Recently, research was indicative of a tight connection between tumor malignancy and genetic alterations. Here, we propose an oncogenic implication of transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 3 (TACC3) in gliomas. By comprehensively analyzing the Chinese glioma genome atlas (CGGA) and publicly available data, we demonstrated that TACC3 were overexpressed along with glioma grade and served as an independent negative prognostic biomarker for glioma patients. Functions’ annotations and gene sets’ enrichment analysis suggested that TACC3 may participate in cell cycle, DNA repair, epithelium-mesenchymal transition and other tumor-related biological processes and molecular pathways. Patients with high TACC3 expression showed CD133+ stem cell properties, glioma plasticity and shorter overall survival time under chemo-/radio-therapy. Additionally, a TACC3 associated the miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on in silico prediction and expression pattern, which provide a foundation for further detection of TACC3-miRNA-mRNA axis function. Collectively, our observations identify TACC3 as an oncogene of tumor malignancy, as well as a prognostic and motoring biomarker for glioma patients.
Parkinson’s Disease: From Pathogenesis to Pharmacogenomics
Authors: Cacabelos Ramón
Published: March 2017

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most important age-related neurodegenerative disorder in developed societies, after Alzheimer’s disease, with a prevalence ranging from 41 per 100,000 in the fourth decade of life to over 1900 per 100,000 in people over 80 years of age. As a movement disorder, the PD phenotype is characterized by rigidity, resting tremor, and bradykinesia. Parkinson’s disease -related neurodegeneration is likely to occur several decades before the onset of the motor symptoms. Potential risk factors include environmental toxins, drugs, pesticides, brain microtrauma, focal cerebrovascular damage, and genomic defects. Parkinson’s disease neuropathology is characterized by a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, with widespread involvement of other central nervous system (CNS) structures and peripheral tissues. Pathogenic mechanisms associated with genomic, epigenetic and environmental factors lead to conformational changes and deposits of key proteins due to abnormalities in the ubiquitin–proteasome system together with dysregulation of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. Conventional pharmacological treatments for PD are dopamine precursors (levodopa, l-DOPA, l-3,4 dihidroxifenilalanina), and other symptomatic treatments including dopamine agonists (amantadine, apomorphine, bromocriptine, cabergoline, lisuride, pergolide, pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (selegiline, rasagiline), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (entacapone, tolcapone). The chronic administration of antiparkinsonian drugs currently induces the “wearing-off phenomenon”, with additional psychomotor and autonomic complications. In order to minimize these clinical complications, novel compounds have been developed. Novel drugs and bioproducts for the treatment of PD should address dopaminergic neuroprotection to reduce premature neurodegeneration in addition to enhancing dopaminergic neurotransmission. Since biochemical changes and therapeutic outcomes are highly dependent upon the genomic profiles of PD patients, personalized treatments should rely on pharmacogenetic procedures to optimize therapeutics.