bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
General practitioner management related to skin cancer prevention and screening during standard medical encounters: a French cross-sectional study based on the International Classification of Primary Care
Authors: Rat Cédric , Houd Sara , Gaultier Aurélie , Grimault Charlotte , Quereux Gaelle , Mercier Alain , Letrilliart Laurent , Dreno Brigitte , Nguyen Jean Michel
Published: January 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess general practitioner (GP) management practices related to skin cancer prevention and screening during standard medical encounters.

Setting

Data on medical encounters addressing skin cancer issues were obtained from a French database containing information from 17 019 standard primary care consultations.

Participants

Data were collected between December 2011 and April 2012 by 54 trainees who reported the regular practice of 128 GPs using the International Classification of Primary Care.

Outcome measures

Reasons for encounters and the following care processes were recorded: counselling, clinical examinations and referral to a specialist. Medical encounters addressing skin cancer issues were compared with medical encounters that addressed other health problems using a multivariate analysis.

Results

Only 0.7% of medical encounters addressed skin cancer issues. When patients did require management of a skin cancer-related issue, this was more likely initiated by the doctor than the patient (70.7% vs 29.3%; p<0.001). Compared with medical encounters addressing other health problems, encounters that addressed skin cancer problems required more tasks (3.7 vs 2.5; p<0.001) and lasted 1 min and 20 s longer (p=0.003). GPs were less involved in clinical examinations (67.5% vs 97.1%; p<0.001), both complete (7.3% vs 22.3%, p<0.001) and partial examinations (60.2% vs 74.9%), and were less involved in counselling (5.7% vs 16.9%; p<0.001). Patients presenting skin cancer issues were referred to a specialist more often than patients consulting for other health problems (39.0% vs 12.1%; p<0.001). GPs performed a biopsy in 6.7% of all skin cancer-related encounters.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates discrepancies between the high prevalence of skin cancer and the low rate of medical encounters addressing these issues in general practice. Our findings should be followed by qualitative interviews to better understand the observed practices in this field.
Early Intervention Results in Lower Mortality in Patients with Cancer Hospitalized for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression
Authors: Guddati Achuta Kumar , Kumar Gagan , Shapira Iuliana
Published: January 2017

Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is one of the most dreaded complications of cancer. A Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2000 to 2011 was used to extract data for all in-hospital stays of patients with MSCC using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. The usage and timing of radiation therapy and surgical interventions were identified using ICD-9-M codes. These interventions were defined as ‘early intervention’ if they were provided within the first 48 hours of hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with delays in ‘early intervention’. We also examined whether delays in treatment led to worse outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity. 13 457 patients were admitted with MSCC from 2000 to 2011 who received one or more modalities of treatment. Of these, 5035 (37%) received early intervention. Female gender, private-for-profit hospitals and higher comorbidity index were associated with lower rate of early intervention. In-hospital mortality was lower in the early intervention group (5.0% vs 6.9%, p=0.04). Patients receiving early intervention were discharged home more often (44.2% vs 36.4%, p<0.001) along with lower need of home health services (14.6% vs 18.8%, p=0.004). The length of stay (LOS) was significantly shorter and hospital charges lower in those who received early intervention (LOS: median 6 vs 11 days, p<0.001; charges: $34 354 vs $50 062; p<0.001). The rate of care delivery by early intervention in MSCC is suboptimal. Early treatment results in lower mortality, shorter LOS and higher rates of discharges to home along with lower hospital charges and decreased usage of home healthcare.
Loads and movement speed affect energy expenditure during circuit resistance exercise
Authors: Roberson Kirk B. , Jacobs Kevin A. , White Morgan J. , Signorile Joseph F.
Published: January 2017

Circuit resistance training (CT) constitutes a high-intensity interval program commonly used to target weight loss; however, the loads and exercise patterns that maximize energy expenditure (EE) remain undetermined. We examined differences in EE among CT protocols using varying loads and contraction speeds in recreationally trained males and females. Seven males (age, 21.1 ± 0.5 years) and 8 females (age, 20.0 ± 0.9 years) performed 3 randomized CT protocols incorporating 3 circuits using heavy-load (80% 1-repetition maximum (1RM)) explosive (HLEC), heavy-load, controlled (2 s) (HLCC), and moderate-load (50% 1RM) explosive contractions (MLEC). Expired air was collected continuously before, during, and after exercise. Blood lactate was collected at rest, immediately postexercise, and 5 min postexercise. No significant differences were detected for resting EE; however, there was a significant difference among conditions during exercise (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.229). Post hoc analysis revealed that MLEC produced significantly higher EE than HLCC, but not HLEC (p = 0.023). There was a significant difference among conditions for rate of EE during exercise (p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.361). Post hoc analysis revealed that HLEC produced a significantly higher EE rate than HLCC (p = 0.012) or MLEC (p = 0.001). A condition × sex interaction was seen for blood lactate changes (ηp2 = 0.249; p = 0.024). Females produced significantly greater change for MLEC than HLEC (p = 0.011), while males showed no significant differences. Our results favor CT using MLEC for a higher EE during a full workout; however, the rate of EE was highest when using HLEC.
Seasonal hydrology and permafrost disturbance impacts on dissolved organic matter composition in High Arctic headwater catchments
Authors: Fouché J. , Lafrenière M. J. , Rutherford K. , Lamoureux S.
Published: January 2017

Arctic landscapes are experiencing intense warming and modification of precipitation regimes with climate change. Permafrost disturbances and climate change impacts on hydrology of Arctic watersheds are likely to modify the quantity and composition of exported dissolved organic matter (DOM). In July 2007, intense rainfall and active layer thickening caused widespread active layer detachments at Cape Bounty, Melville Island (Canada). This study investigates the impacts of seasonal hydrology and permafrost disturbance on DOM composition exported from High Arctic headwater catchments. In 2012, streams were sampled from three disturbed catchments and one undisturbed catchment. The composition of DOM was characterized using absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. DOM was mostly exported during the spring freshet. Throughout this period, the undisturbed catchment exported humified DOM with high humic-like fluorescence that likely originated from runoff through shallow organic rich soil. In contrast, DOM exported from disturbed catchments was fresher, less humified with a high proportion of low molecular weight humic acid. We demonstrate that disturbed catchments delivered likely more labile DOM derived from either thawed permafrost or enhanced microbial activity. If this labile DOM comes from an ancient pool, as indicated by other studies at this site, disturbances may strengthen the permafrost carbon feedback on climate change.
Effects of closing bottom trawling on fisheries, biodiversity, and fishing communities in a boreal marine ecosystem: the Hawke Box off Labrador, Canada
Authors: Kincaid Kate , Rose George
Published: January 2017

The Hawke Box is an offshore area (8610 km2) of the boreal Northwest Atlantic that at the request of local fishers was closed to trawling and gillnetting in 2003, but remained open to seasonal snow crab (Chionocetes opilio) pot fishing. Closure was a precautionary management measure primarily to sustain the crab fishery and secondarily to conserve cod known to aggregate there. Fall (1996–2013) and spring (1996–2003, 2015) surveys indicated that biological community assemblages changed significantly before–after and inside–outside the closure (PERMANOVA P < 0.01). Crab fishery data (1996–2013) indicated that landings and relative production declined throughout the region after closure, but was significantly more outside than inside. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) increased inside and outside the closure, and several other demersal species increased significantly more inside. The Hawke Box provides a unique boreal area for the study of restrictions on trawling and gillnetting in an area with historically strong fisheries, restrictions that are strongly supported by local fishers. The overall evidence suggests that within a decade the Hawke Box has benefited fisheries communities, fisheries production, and biodiversity conservation.
A meta-analysis of vertical stratification in demersal trawl gears
Authors: Fryer R.J. , Summerbell K. , O’Neill F.G.
Published: January 2017

A meta-analysis is presented of fishing trials that use trawl gear with horizontal separator panels to direct fish into an upper or lower codend. The analysis is applied to eight North Atlantic species: the gadoids cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), saithe (Pollachius virens), and whiting (Merlangius merlangus), the flatfish lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), and monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) and Nephrops (Nephops norvegicus). The proportion of fish that rise above the separator panel decreases as the height of the leading edge of the panel increases for six of the eight species. Only monkfish and Nephrops have no significant dependency on panel height. Cod is the only species for which separation depends on the horizontal distance of the leading edge of the panel from the ground gear, with the proportion of cod going above the panel increasing the farther the panel is from the ground gear. The time of day only affects the separation of plaice, with a greater proportion going above the panel at night than during the day.
Time-dependent electric field effect on the photodetachment dynamics of negative ions
Authors: Wang De-hua
Published: January 2017

This paper addresses the photodetachment dynamics of a negative ion in a time-dependent electric field based on the semiclassical open-orbit theory. The photodetached electron probability density in a real time domain is studied in a gradient electric field for the first time. It is found that because of the influence of the gradient electric field, two or more electron trajectories can arrive at a given point on the detector, and the interference effect between these electron trajectories causes oscillatory structures in the electron probability density. Our calculation results suggest that when the external electric field changes very slowly with time, only two electron trajectories can arrive at a given point on the detector and the electron probability density exhibits a regular two-term oscillatory pattern. However, when the electric field changes quickly with time, four electron trajectories can reach the detector, which makes the oscillatory structures in the electron probability density become much more complicated. In addition, the electric field strength, photon energy, and the position of the detector can affect the electron probability density of this system sensitively. Our study provides a clear and intuitive picture for the photodetachment dynamics of the negative ion in the external electric field from a time-dependent viewpoint and may guide the future experimental researches on the photodetachment microscopy of negative ions in the time-dependent electric field.
Evaluation of alternative prey-, predator-, and ratio-dependent functional response models in a zooplankton microcosm
Authors: Prokopenko Christina M. , Turgeon Katrine , Fryxell John M.
Published: January 2017

There is strenuous debate among ecologists regarding the inclusion of predator density into the originally prey-dependent functional response. We provided comprehensive empirical comparisons of alternative functional response models for the predatory ostracod Heterocypris incongruens (Ramdohr, 1808) and the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas, 1766) as its prey in small freshwater microcosms. Prey killed was measured at factorial combinations of four predator densities and five prey densities, and was recorded at 3 min intervals over 60 min experiments. To support the potential effect of predator interference on per capita kill rate, we recorded ostracod activity and aggression. Kill rate increased following a saturating function with increasing prey density and decreased with increasing predator density. Model evaluation using an information–theoretic approach indicated that the Arditi–Ginzburg type II ratio-dependent model performed best, followed by the Arditi–Akcakaya and Beddington–DeAngelis type II predator-dependent models, suggesting that predator interference was important in predicting kill rates. Interference among predators increased and their activity decreased with increasing predator density, providing confirmation that interference was responsible for the predator-dependent effect. By combining a microcosm experiment and behavioral observations, our results suggest that predator interference at realistic population densities influences ostracod kill rates and this form of interference was best accommodated by predator-dependent models.
Circular dispersive shock waves in colloidal media
Authors: Azmi A. , Marchant T. R.
Published: January 2017

A dispersive shock wave (DSW), with a circular geometry, is studied in a colloidal medium. The colloidal particle interaction is based on the repulsive theoretical hard sphere model, where a series in the particle density, or packing fraction is used for the compressibility. Experimental results show that the particle interactions are temperature dependent and can be either repulsive or attractive, so the second term in the compressibility series is modified to allow for temperature dependent effects, using a power-law relationship. The governing equation is a focusing nonlinear Schrödinger-type equation with an implicit nonlinearity. The initial jump in electric field amplitude is resolved via a DSW, which forms before the onset of modulational instability. A semi-analytical solution for the amplitude of the solitary waves in a DSW of large radius, is derived based on a combination of conservation laws and geometrical considerations. The effect of temperature and background packing fraction on the evolution of the DSW and the amplitude of the solitary waves is discussed and the semi-analytical solutions are found to be very accurate, when compared with numerical solutions.
Growth and characterizations of L-methioninium picrate single crystal for nonlinear optical applications
Authors: Alexandar A. , Surendran P. , Sakthy Priya S. , Lakshmanan A. , Rameshkumar P.
Published: January 2017

An organic nonlinear optical (NLO) single crystal of L-methioninium picrate (LMP) has been grown by slow evaporation solution technique (SEST) at a constant temperature of [Formula: see text]C. Formation of nucleation and growth kinetics of the crystal were observed using an optical microscope for different durations and it was found that the shape of nucleation is similar to the grown large size single crystals of the same material. The characterization techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, UV–Vis NIR, Vickers microhardness, piezoelectric d[Formula: see text] coefficient, photoconductivity and etching studies have been performed. The crystal system and lattice parameters of the grown crystal were determined by PXRD analysis. The spectroscopic properties of the synthesized compound were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The UV–Vis NIR analysis was performed on the grown single crystal to find the optical absorption in the entire visible region. Attempts have been made to investigate the mechanical properties of LMP crystal using Vickers diamond pyramid indenter. In addition piezoelectric, photoconductivity and etching studies were carried out to study the d[Formula: see text] coefficient, photoconducting nature and surface properties respectively.
Competition of Continuous and Projective Measurements in Filtering Processes
Authors: Militello Benedetto
Published: January 2017

A quantum system interacting with a repeatedly measured one turns out to be subjected to a non-unitary evolution which can force the former to a specific quantum state. It is shown that in the case where the repeatedly measured system is subjected to the action of its environment, the occurrence of a competition between the dissipation and the measurements can reduce the influence of the decay on the filtering process. Both theoretical predictions and numerical results are presented.
Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Oral Manifestation in an Immunocompetent Patient
Authors: Chatterjee Debopriya , Chatterjee Aishwarya , Agarwal Manoj , Mathur Meetu , Mathur Setu , Mallikarjun R. , Banerjee Subrata
Published: January 2017

A case of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) in a 60-year-old female patient is reported from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The patient presented with multiple papules on the skin surrounding the lips, face, torso, trunk, and back. She also complained of growth in the palate. Histoplasmosis was confirmed by biopsy and histopathology of skin and palatal lesions. This case report highlights the presenting features and occurrence of histoplasmosis in nonendemic region in India.
Interleukin-6 “Trans-Signaling” and Ischemic Vascular Disease: The Important Role of Soluble gp130
Authors: Morieri Mario Luca , Passaro Angelina , Zuliani Giovanni
Published: January 2017

Inflammation plays a major role in the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine involved both in the beneficial acute inflammatory response and in the detrimental chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. Large genetic human studies, using Mendelian randomization approaches, have clearly showed that IL-6 pathway is causally involved in the onset of myocardial infarction. At the same time, IL-6 pathway is divided into two arms: classic signaling (effective in hepatocytes and leukocytes) and trans-signaling (with ubiquitous activity). Trans-signaling is known to be inhibited by the circulating soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130). In animal and in vitro models, trans-signaling inhibition with sgp130 antibody clearly shows a beneficial effect on inflammatory disease and atherosclerosis. Conversely, epidemiological data report inconsistent results between sgp130 levels and CV risk factors as well as CV outcome. We have reviewed the literature to understand the role of sgp130 and to find the evidence in favor of or against a possible clinical application of sgp130 treatment in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Electroacupuncture for Functional Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized, Control Trial
Authors: Wu Xiao , Zheng Cuihong , Xu Xiaohu , Ding Pei , Xiong Fan , Tian Man , Wang Ying , Dong Haoxu , Zhang Mingmin , Wang Wei , Xu Shabei , Xie Minjie , Huang Guangying
Published: January 2017

Background and Aim. To investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) with different current intensities for functional constipation (FC) and to assess whether the effects of EA with different current intensities are superior to the mosapride. Methods. Patients with FC were randomly divided into low current intensity group (LCI), high current intensity group (HCI), and mosapride group (MC). The primary outcome was three or more spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week and an increase of one or more SBMs from baseline during at least 3 of the 4 weeks. Results. The primary outcome was reached by 53.45%, 66.15%, and 52.24% of the patients who received LCI, HCI, and mosapride, respectively. EA can significantly improve the weekly SBMs and stool consistency and reduce straining severity (p < 0.0001, all). HCI improved the quality of life better than mosapride (p < 0.05) and reduced the proportion of severe constipation more than LCI and mosapride (p < 0.05, both). Conclusions. EA is effective and safe at both current intensities for FC; therapeutic effects of LCI and HCI are not superior to mosapride. EA is superior to mosapride in improving patients’ life quality and satisfaction level of treatment; EA has fewer adverse events than mosapride.
Accurate and Autonomous Star Acquisition Method for Star Sensor under Complex Conditions
Authors: Zhang Hao , Niu Yanxiong , Lu Jiazhen , Zhang He
Published: January 2017

Star sensor is a preferred attitude measurement device for its extremely high accuracy. Star acquisition is the essential and critical procedure, which is aiming at acquiring accurate star areas. However, degenerated acquisition results under complex conditions become one of the major restrictions for modern star sensor. In this paper, an accurate and autonomous star acquisition method is proposed. Mathematical morphology and variable thresholding are combined for accurate star extraction; motion PSF is estimated in frequency domain and nonlinear filter is adopted for star restoration. Accurate star acquisition can be achieved based on only one star image. Simulations and laboratory experiments are conducted for verification. Several existing methods are also reproduced for comparison. Acquisition results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and an excellent performance can be achieved autonomously under complex conditions, along with more detected stars and improved acquisition accuracy.
Pencil Graphite Electrodes: A Versatile Tool in Electroanalysis
Authors: David Iulia Gabriela , Popa Dana-Elena , Buleandra Mihaela
Published: January 2017

Due to their electrochemical and economical characteristics, pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) gained in recent years a large applicability to the analysis of various types of inorganic and organic compounds from very different matrices. The electrode material of this type of working electrodes is constituted by the well-known and easy commercially available graphite pencil leads. Thus, PGEs are cheap and user-friendly and can be employed as disposable electrodes avoiding the time-consuming step of solid electrodes surface cleaning between measurements. When compared to other working electrodes PGEs present lower background currents, higher sensitivity, good reproducibility, and an adjustable electroactive surface area, permitting the analysis of low concentrations and small sample volumes without any deposition/preconcentration step. Therefore, this paper presents a detailed overview of the PGEs characteristics, designs and applications of bare, and electrochemically pretreated and chemically modified PGEs along with the corresponding performance characteristics like linear range and detection limit. Techniques used for bare or modified PGEs surface characterization are also reviewed.
Black Hole Solution of Einstein-Born-Infeld-Yang-Mills Theory
Authors: Meng Kun , Yang Da-Bao , Hu Zhan-Ning
Published: January 2017

A new four-dimensional black hole solution of Einstein-Born-Infeld-Yang-Mills theory is constructed; several degenerated forms of the black hole solution are presented. The related thermodynamical quantities are calculated, with which the first law of thermodynamics is checked to be satisfied. Identifying the cosmological constant as pressure of the system, the phase transition behaviors of the black hole in the extended phase space are studied.
A Nonlinear Transfer Function Based Receiver for Wideband Interference Suppression
Authors: Ying Kuangyuan , Gao Hao , Milosevic Dusan , Baltus Peter
Published: January 2017

Wideband receivers for multistandards operation can simplify the system and lower the cost. In a wideband receiver, the tolerance of large interference signal within the operating band is important. Traditional frequency-domain filtering suffers from lacking in filtering capability for in-band interference signals. This paper describes a receiver system exploiting nonlinear transfer function. Based on the fundamental nonlinear theory, the receiver with nonlinear method can provide frequency-independent filtering for large blockers and linear amplification for weak desired signals simultaneously. The interference suppression performance depends on the amplitude discrimination between the envelope of the large and small signal. The operation of the nonlinear receiver is based on the amplitude of the interferer envelope. A feedforward path is designed to extract the envelope information of the interferer and a feedback path is added to keep track of the environment. With frequency-independent filtering, the nonlinear receiver system enhances both in-band and out-of-band linearity, thus enabling wideband multimode operation.
Cytochrome P450 and P‐Glycoprotein‐Mediated Interactions Involving African Herbs Indicated for Common Noncommunicable Diseases
Authors: Ondieki Gregory , Nyagblordzro Makafui , Kikete Siambi , Liang Rongjia , Wang Lili , He Xin
Published: January 2017

Herbal remedies are regularly used to complement conventional therapies in the treatment of various illnesses in Africa. This may be because they are relatively cheap and easily accessible and are believed by many to be safe, cause fewer side effects, and are less likely to cause dependency. On the contrary, many herbs have been shown to alter the pharmacokinetics of coadministered allopathic medicines and can either synergize or antagonize therapeutic effects as well as altering the toxicity profiles of these drugs. Current disease burden data point towards epidemiological transitions characterised by increasing urbanization and changing lifestyles, risk factors for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer which often present as multimorbidities. As a result, we highlight African herb‐drug interactions (HDIs) modulated via cytochrome P450 enzyme family (CYP) and P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) and the consequences thereof in relation to antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anticancer drugs. CYPs are enzymes which account for to up to 70% of drug metabolism while P‐gp is an efflux pump that extrudes drug substrates out of cells. Consequently, regulation of the relative activity of both CYP and P‐gp by African herbs influences the effective drug concentration at the site of action and modifies therapeutic outcomes.
Diversity of Wild Bees along Elevational Gradient in an Agricultural Area in Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Widhiono Imam , Sudiana Eming , Darsono Darsono
Published: January 2017

Increases in mean temperature affect the diversity and abundance of wild bees in agricultural ecosystems. Pollinator community composition is expected to change along an elevational gradient due to differences in the daily ambient temperature. This study investigated the diversity and abundance of wild bees in an agricultural area along an elevational gradient in Central Java, Indonesia. Wild bees were collected using a sweep net in 40 green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivation sampling locations at seven different elevations (8, 108, 224, 424, 644, 893, and 1017 m above sea level). Species diversity was determined using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index. We identified 932 individuals from 8 species of wild bee belonging to 3 families. The family Apidae was predominant, with 6 species, while only 1 species was found from each of Megachilidae and Halictidae. Across the study sites, diversity increased with increasing elevation (H′= 1.4,D= 0.25, andE= 0.78 at low elevation toH′= 2.04,D= 0.13, andE= 0.96 at high elevation), and higher numbers of species were found at middle and high elevations. Species richness and abundance increased linearly with increasing elevation, and species diversity was highest at middle elevations.
Reduction of Radiation Dosage in Visualization of Paranasal Sinuses in Daily Routine
Authors: Güldner Christian , Diogo Isabell , Leicht Julia , Mandapathil Magis , Wilhelm Thomas , Teymoortash Afshin , Jahns Evelyn
Published: January 2017

Background. Preoperative imaging of the nose and paranasal sinus is standard in otorhinolaryngology. Previous studies on phantoms demonstrated the potential for dose reduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) by varying the application parameters. Methodology. Based on previous studies, the standard protocol of paranasal sinus imaging by CBCT was altered. One hundred and fifty examinations using the old protocol (01/2010–01/2011, high dosage) and 150 examinations using the new protocol (09/2012–09/2013, low dosage) were evaluated and compared for the visibility of 17 anatomical structures, the Lund-Mackay Score, and technical parameters. Results. Alteration of the protocol resulted in a significant reduction in dosage (6.64 mGy versus 2.88 mGy). Both groups showed the same amount of pathology (Lund-Mackay Score: 4.95±3.79 versus 5.26±5.77; p=0.558). There was a significant better visibility of the anatomical structures (all visible = 1, nothing visible = 4) (results: 1.25 versus 1.17; p=0.001) in the low-dosage group. Conclusion. Despite a significant reduction in the applied dosage, reliable visualization of the bony anatomy of the anterior skull base is possible by CBCT. This demonstrates the need for the discussion of the required clinical imaging quality.
Hydrogen Sulfide Prevents Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species through PI3K/Akt Signaling and Limits Ventilator‐Induced Lung Injury
Authors: Spassov Sashko Georgiev , Donus Rosa , Ihle Paul Mikael , Engelstaedter Helen , Hoetzel Alexander , Faller Simone
Published: January 2017

The development of ventilator‐induced lung injury (VILI) is still a major problem in mechanically ventilated patients. Low dose inhalation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during mechanical ventilation has been proven to prevent lung damage by limiting inflammatory responses in rodent models. However, the capacity of H2S to affect oxidative processes in VILI and its underlying molecular signaling pathways remains elusive. In the present study we show that ventilation with moderate tidal volumes of 12 ml/kg for 6 h led to an excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mice lungs which was prevented by supplemental inhalation of 80 parts per million of H2S. In addition, phosphorylation of the signaling protein Akt was induced by H2S. In contrast, inhibition of Akt by LY294002 during ventilation reestablished lung damage, neutrophil influx, and proinflammatory cytokine release despite the presence of H2S. Moreover, the ability of H2S to induce the antioxidant glutathione and to prevent ROS production was reversed in the presence of the Akt inhibitor. Here, we provide the first evidence that H2S‐mediated Akt activation is a key step in protection against VILI, suggesting that Akt signaling limits not only inflammatory but also detrimental oxidative processes that promote the development of lung injury.
An Artificial Immune System Algorithm with Social Learning and Its Application in Industrial PID Controller Design
Authors: Wang Mingan , Feng Shuo , He Chunhui , Li Zhonghua , Xue Yu
Published: January 2017

A novel artificial immune system algorithm with social learning mechanisms (AIS‐SL) is proposed in this paper. In AIS‐SL, candidate antibodies are marked with an elitist swarm (ES) or a common swarm (CS). Correspondingly, these antibodies are named ES antibodies or CS antibodies. In the mutation operator, ES antibodies experience self‐learning, while CS antibodies execute two different social learning mechanisms, that is, stochastic social learning (SSL) and heuristic social learning (HSL), to accelerate the convergence process. Moreover, a dynamic searching radius update strategy is designed to improve the solution accuracy. In the numerical simulations, five benchmark functions and a practical industrial application of proportional‐integral‐differential (PID) controller tuning is selected to evaluate the performance of the proposed AIS‐SL. The simulation results indicate that AIS‐SL has better solution accuracy and convergence speed than the canonical opt‐aiNet, IA‐AIS, and AAIS‐2S.
The Effect of Unilateral Spinal Anaesthesia and Psoas Compartment with Sciatic Block on the Postoperative Pain Management in Total Knee Artroplastic Surgery
Authors: Canakci Ebru , Unal Dogus , Guzel Yunus
Published: January 2017

Purpose. This study was designed to investigate the effects of peripheral nerve block methods, applied through unilateral spinal anaesthesia on elderly patients to undergo total knee arthroplasty, on perioperative hemodynamic parameters and postoperative analgesia period. Materials and Method. 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups in the study. In group USA spinal anaesthesia was performed. In group PCS it was applied on psoas compartment block and sciatic nerve block. Results. Significantly higher intraoperative 60th and 90th minute mean arterial pressure values were ascertained in the PCS group compared to the USA group. The decrease observed in the 5th, 10th, and 20th minute MAP values in the USA group was statistically significant according to the control MAP value. Concerning within group comparisons, the decrease in 5th, 10th, and 20th minute heart rate values in the USA group was statistically significant compared with the control measurement value. The mean beginning time of sensory and motor blocks in the PCS group was found to be at a significantly advanced level compared with that in the USA group. Conclusions. The PCS block technique using bupivacaine hydrochloride ensured a higher haemodynamic efficiency in the perioperative period in high-risk elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03021421.
Tree Species Richness, Diversity, and Vegetation Index for Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Agbelade Aladesanmi D , Onyekwelu Jonathan C. , Oyun Matthew B.
Published: January 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the tree species richness and diversity of urban and periurban areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, and produce Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the territory. Data were collected from urban (Abuja city) and periurban (Lugbe) areas of the FCT using both semistructured questionnaire and inventory of tree species within green areas. In the study location, all trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were identified; their dbh was measured and frequency was taken. The NDVI was calculated in ArcGIS 10.3 environment using standard formula. A cumulative total of twenty-nine (29) families were encountered within the FCT, with 27 occurring in Abuja city (urban centre) and 12 in Lugbe (periurban centre) of the FCT. The results of Shannon-Wiener diversity index(H′)for the two centres are 3.56 and 2.24 while Shannon’s maximum diversity index(Hmax)is 6.54 (Abuja city) and 5.36 (Lugbe) for the urban (Abuja city) and periurban (Lugbe) areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The result of tree species evenness (Shannon’s equitability (EH) index) in urban and periurban centres was 0.54 and 0.42, respectively. The study provided baseline information on urban and periurban forests in the FCT of Nigeria, which can be used for the development of tree species database of the territory.
Deposition and Characterization of Molybdenum Thin Film Using Direct Current Magnetron and Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Aqil Muhtade Mustafa , Azam Mohd Asyadi , Aziz Mohd Faizal , Latif Rhonira
Published: January 2017

In this paper, pure molybdenum (Mo) thin film has been deposited on blank Si substrate by DC magnetron sputtering technique. The deposition condition for all samples has not been changed except for the deposition time in order to study the influence of time on the thickness and surface morphology of molybdenum thin film. The surface profiler has been used to measure the surface thickness. Atomic force microscopy technique was employed to investigate the roughness and grain structure of Mo thin film. The thickness and grain of molybdenum thin film layer has been found to increase with respect to time, while the surface roughness decreases. The average roughness, root mean square roughness, surface skewness, and surface kurtosis parameters are used to analyze the surface morphology of Mo thin film. Smooth surface has been observed. From grain analysis, a uniform grain distribution along the surface has been found. The obtained results allowed us to decide the optimal time to deposit molybdenum thin film layer of 20–100 nm thickness and subsequently patterned as electrodes (source/drain) in carbon nanotube-channel transistor.
Early and Late Endograft Limb Proximal Migration with Resulting Type 1b Endoleak following an EVAR for Ruptured AAA
Authors: Jasinski Patrick T. , Adrahtas Demetri , Monastiriotis Spyridon , Tassiopoulos Apostolos K.
Published: January 2017

Introduction. Seal zone failure after EVAR leads to type 1 endoleaks and increases the risk of delayed aortic rupture. Type 1b endoleaks, although rare, represent a true risk to the repair. Case Presentation. We report the case of a 65-year-old female who underwent emergent endovascular repair for a ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and developed bilateral type 1b endoleaks following proximal migration of both endograft limbs. The right-side failure was diagnosed within 48 hours from the initial repair and the left side at the 1-year follow-up. Both sides were successfully treated with endovascular techniques. A review of the literature with an analysis of potential risk factors is also reported. Conclusion. For patients undergoing EVAR for ruptured AAA and with noncalcified iliac arteries, more aggressive oversizing of the iliac limbs is recommended to prevents distal seal zone failures.
Systematic Prioritization of Sensor Improvements in an Industrial Gas Supply Network
Authors: Babat Onur , Esmaili Ali , Isom Joshua D. , Mancilla Camilo , Zuluaga Luis F.
Published: January 2017

The paper analyzes the impact of the sensor reading errors on parameters that affect the production costs of a leading US industrial gas supply company. For this purpose, a systematic methodology is applied first to determine the relationship between the system output and input parameters and second to identify the assigned input sensors whose readings need to be improved in a prioritized manner based on the strength of those input-output relationships. The two main criteria used to prioritize these sensors are the decrease in production costs and the decrease in production costs’ volatility obtained when the selected sensor’s precision is improved. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we first apply it to a simplified version of the real supply network model where the results can be readily validated with the simulated data. Next, we apply and test the proposed approach in the real supply network model with historical data.
Myxoid Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic Tumor Masquerading as Ganglion Cyst: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Liu Chih-Yi , Lan Jui , Huang Hsuan-Ying
Published: January 2017

Background. Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor is a distinctive mesenchymal neoplasm of low-grade malignancy, with the capacity for biphasic differentiation toward a fibroblastic or histiocyte-like morphology. Clinically, these lesions affect different areas of the body and appear as painless, slowly growing, dermal or subcutaneous masses. To date, only three cases of myxoid variant have been reported in the English literature.Case Presentation. A 45-year-old female patient presented with a subcutaneous nodule in the right popliteal fossa. The initial impression was a benign ganglion cyst. The soft tissue tumor has been treated by local excision. The histopathological and the immunohistochemical findings supported the diagnosis of myxoid plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient received regular follow-up examination. She is alive without any recurrence.Conclusions. This case demonstrates how to distinguish this distinctive plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor from other problematic soft tissue tumors. It is also remarkable for its rarely reported extensive myxoid change. Currently, there is no clear-cut correlation between the clinicopathologic findings and the behavior of this unusual variant.
Influence of Different Patellofemoral Design Variations Based on Genesis II Total Knee Endoprosthesis on Patellofemoral Pressure and Kinematics
Authors: Leichtle Ulf G. , Lange Barbara , Herzog Yvonne , Schnauffer Peter , Leichtle Carmen I. , Wülker Nikolaus , Lorenz Andrea
Published: January 2017

In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), patellofemoral groove design varies greatly and likely has a distinct influence on patellofemoral biomechanics. To analyse the selective influence, five patellofemoral design variations were developed based on Genesis II total knee endoprosthesis (original design, being completely flat, being laterally elevated, being medially elevated, and both sides elevated) and made from polyamide using rapid prototyping. Muscle-loaded knee flexion was simulated on 10 human knee specimens using a custom-made knee simulator, measuring the patellofemoral pressure distribution and tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics. The measurements were carried out in the native knee as well as after TKA with the 5 design prototypes. The overall influence of the different designs on the patellofemoral kinematics was small, but we found detectable effects for mediolateral tilt (p<0.05 for 35°–80° flexion) and translation of the patella (p<0.045 for 20°–65° and 75°–90°), especially for the completely flat design. Considering patellofemoral pressures, major interindividual differences were seen between the designs, which, on average, largely cancelled each other out. These results suggest that the elevation of the lateral margin of the patellofemoral groove is essential for providing mediolateral guidance, but smooth contouring as with original Genesis II design seems to be sufficient. The pronounced interindividual differences identify a need for more patellofemoral design options in TKA.
Equilibrium Decision Method for Earthquake First‐Aid Medicine Allocation Based on Demand Information Updating
Authors: Ye Yong , Zhan Shalei , Wei Shih-Yung
Published: January 2017

The allocation of rescue resources after an earthquake has become a popular research topic in the field of emergency management. The allocation of first‐aid medicine for earthquake rescue has stronger time sensitivity than that of general rescue materials. This study focuses on the problem of first‐aid medicine allocation in earthquake response. First, we consider the incompleteness and renewal of decision information in an emergency environment, as well as the balance between the risk of decision error and delay. Second, we propose an equilibrium decision method for the allocation of first‐aid medicine in earthquake rescue based on information update. This method attempts to realize a fair allocation to all disaster places and minimize total transport time loss. Third, a simulation analysis is performed in which the proposed method is applied to the first‐aid medicine allocation problem in the Wenchuan earthquake response. Results show that the method can be used to create a good allocation plan in an earthquake rescue situation.
A Case of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Accompanying Familial Mediterranean Fever
Authors: Rohani Pejman , Najafi Sani Mehri , Ahmadi Mitra , Ziaee Vahid
Published: January 2017

Background. Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory condition where there is a dense infiltration of eosinophils typically exceeding fifteen cells per high power field. Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by brief, acute, and self-limited episodes of fever and polyserositis that recur at irregular intervals. Case Presentation. A three-year-and-nine-month-old Iranian girl was admitted to our center. The patient’s parents complained of a history of abdominal pain, poor appetite, and poor weight gain from 1.5 years ago and episodes of food impaction after starting solid foods. Eosinophilic esophagitis was diagnosed based on histology. Because of continuing abdominal pain after treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis, the episodic nature of disease, and the presence of fever with pain, screening for familial Mediterranean fever mutation was performed and the patient was found to be heterozygote for Mediterranean fever. Conclusion. We have reported a case of eosinophilic esophagitis coexisting with familial Mediterranean fever which has not been described previously.
Effects of Material Rheology and Die Walls Translational Motions on the Dynamics of Viscous Flow during Equal Channel Angular Extrusion through a Segal 2θ-Die: CFD 2D Solution of a Curl Transfer Equation
Authors: Perig Alexander V. , Golodenko Nikolai N.
Published: January 2017

The present article is focused on a phenomenological description of a polymer workpiece Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) through 2θ-dies of Segal and Iwahashi geometries with a channel intersection angle 2θ = 105° with fixed and movable external inlet and outlet die walls. The local flow dynamics, including the formation of macroscopic rotation and a dead zone appearance during the flow of plasticine, paraffin, and wax workpiece models through the subject die configuration was studied using physical simulation techniques. The present article utilizes a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical approach to a theoretical description of 2D viscous flow of incompressible Newtonian continuum through the stated die geometries. The boundary value problem for the Navier-Stokes equations in the curl transfer form for the local viscous flow was formulated and numerically solved with a finite-difference method. Theoretical CFD-derived plots with computational flow lines, dimensionless flow and curl functions, flow velocities, and tangential stresses for viscous material flow through the stated die geometries have been generated and described. As a first rheological approximation the derived computational results provide the theoretical description of physical simulation experiments and visualize the formation of ECAE-induced rotational modes of large deformations like macroscopic rotation and rotational inhomogeneity.
An Extension of the Fuzzy Possibilistic Clustering Algorithm Using Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Techniques
Authors: Rubio Elid , Castillo Oscar , Valdez Fevrier , Melin Patricia , Gonzalez Claudia I. , Martinez Gabriela
Published: January 2017

In this work an extension of the Fuzzy Possibilistic C-Means (FPCM) algorithm using Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Techniques is presented, and this is done in order to improve the efficiency of FPCM algorithm. With the purpose of observing the performance of the proposal against the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy C-Means algorithm, several experiments were made using both algorithms with well-known datasets, such as Wine, WDBC, Iris Flower, Ionosphere, Abalone, and Cover type. In addition some experiments were performed using another set of test images to observe the behavior of both of the above-mentioned algorithms in image preprocessing. Some comparisons are performed between the proposed algorithm and the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy C-Means (IT2FCM) algorithm to observe if the proposed approach has better performance than this algorithm.