bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of E-Cigarettes in the United States and Its Role in a Youth Epidemic
Authors: Gottlieb Mark
Published: March 2019

During the first decade of federal regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), the e-cigarette industry has rapidly grown. Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General and Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration each declared the rapid rise in rates of youth using these products to be an “epidemic.” While a foundational basis for regulating ENDS has been in effect since 2016, deferred enforcement has contributed to acute rise in use by youth. The Agency has undertaken several initiatives to address the problem and warned manufacturers that if current youth trends continue, it will be “game over.”
Does Peer Rejection Moderate the Associations among Cyberbullying Victimization, Depression, and Anxiety among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Authors: Wright Michelle F. , Wachs Sebastian
Published: March 2019

While the consequences of cyberbullying victimization have received some attention in the literature, to date, little is known about the multiple types of strains in adolescents’ lives, such as whether cyberbullying victimization and peer rejection increase their vulnerability to depression and anxiety. Even though some research found that adolescents with disabilities show higher risk for cyberbullying victimization, most research has focused on typically developing adolescents. Thus, the present study focused on examining the moderating effect of peer rejection in the relationships between cyberbullying victimization, depression, and anxiety among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. There were 128 participants (89% male; ages ranging from 11–16 years old) with autism spectrum disorder in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade at 16 middle schools in the United States. Participants completed questionnaires on cyberbullying victimization, peer rejection, depression, and anxiety. Results revealed that cyberbullying victimization was associated positively with peer rejection, anxiety, and depression among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Further, peer rejection was linked positively with depression and anxiety. Peer rejection moderated the positive relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression, but not anxiety. Implications for prevention programs and future research are discussed.
Effect of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on Glycerol-Plasticized Anionic and Cationic Polysaccharide Edible Films
Authors: Giosafatto Concetta Valeria Lucia , Sabbah Mohammed , Al-Asmar Asmaa , Esposito Marilena , Sanchez Alfredo , Villalonga Santana Reynaldo , Cammarota Marcella , Mariniello Loredana , Di Pierro Prospero , Porta Raffaele
Published: March 2019

This study describes the production of reinforced polysaccharide (PS)-based films, by adding mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), to either pectin (PEC) or chitosan (CH) film forming solutions, either containing glycerol (GLY) as a plasticizer, or not. Film characterization demonstrated that MSNs and GLY were able to significantly increase the plasticity of both PS-based biomaterials and that the interactions between PSs and nanoparticles were mainly due to hydrogen bonds. Moreover, MSN-containing films were less transparent, compared to controls prepared with either PEC or CH, in the absence of GLY, while all films containing MSNs, but obtained with the plasticizer, were as transparent as the films prepared with PEC or CH alone. MSN addition did not influence the thickness of the PEC-based films, but increased that of CH-based ones, prepared both in the absence and presence of GLY. MSN-containing PEC-based films possessed a more compact and homogeneous morphology, with respect to both control films, prepared, with or without GLY, and to the CH-based films, containing MSNs, the structure of which showed numerous agglomerations. Finally, moisture content and uptake were reduced, in all films prepared in the presence of MSNs. The suggested addition of MSNs might have given rise to novel biomaterials for food or pharmaceutical applications.
J48SS: A Novel Decision Tree Approach for the Handling of Sequential and Time Series Data
Authors: Brunello Andrea , Marzano Enrico , Montanari Angelo , Sciavicco Guido
Published: March 2019

Temporal information plays a very important role in many analysis tasks, and can be encoded in at least two different ways. It can be modeled by discrete sequences of events as, for example, in the business intelligence domain, with the aim of tracking the evolution of customer behaviors over time. Alternatively, it can be represented by time series, as in the stock market to characterize price histories. In some analysis tasks, temporal information is complemented by other kinds of data, which may be represented by static attributes, e.g., categorical or numerical ones. This paper presents J48SS, a novel decision tree inducer capable of natively mixing static (i.e., numerical and categorical), sequential, and time series data for classification purposes. The novel algorithm is based on the popular C4.5 decision tree learner, and it relies on the concepts of frequent pattern extraction and time series shapelet generation. The algorithm is evaluated on a text classification task in a real business setting, as well as on a selection of public UCR time series datasets. Results show that it is capable of providing competitive classification performances, while generating highly interpretable models and effectively reducing the data preparation effort.
Entropy and Contrast Enhancement of Infrared Thermal Images Using the Multiscale Top-Hat Transform
Authors: Mello Román Julio César , Vázquez Noguera José Luis , Legal-Ayala Horacio , Pinto-Roa Diego P. , Gomez-Guerrero Santiago , García Torres Miguel
Published: March 2019

Discrete entropy is used to measure the content of an image, where a higher value indicates an image with richer details. Infrared images are capable of revealing important hidden targets. The disadvantage of this type of image is that their low contrast and level of detail are not consistent with human visual perception. These problems can be caused by variations of the environment or by limitations of the cameras that capture the images. In this work we propose a method that improves the details of infrared images, increasing their entropy, preserving their natural appearance, and enhancing contrast. The proposed method extracts multiple features of brightness and darkness from the infrared image. This is done by means of the multiscale top-hat transform. To improve the infrared image, multiple scales are added to the bright areas and multiple areas of darkness are subtracted. The method was tested with 450 infrared thermal images from a public database. Evaluation of the experimental results shows that the proposed method improves the details of the image by increasing entropy, also preserving natural appearance and enhancing the contrast of infrared thermal images.
Structural Change and Dynamics of Pakistan Stock Market during Crisis: A Complex Network Perspective
Authors: Memon Bilal Ahmed , Yao Hongxing
Published: March 2019

We studied the cross-correlations in the daily closing prices of 181 stocks listed on the Pakistan stock exchange (PSX) covering a time period of 2007–2017 to compute the threshold networks and minimum spanning trees. In addition to the full sample analysis, our study uses three subsamples to examine the structural change and topological evolution before, during, and after the global financial crisis of 2008. We also apply Shannon entropy on the overall sample to measure the volatility of individual stocks. Our results find substantial clustering and a crisis-like less stable overall market structure, given the external and internal events of terrorism, political, financial, and economic crisis for Pakistan. The subsample results further reveal hierarchal scale-free structures and a reconfigured metastable market structure during a postcrisis period. In addition, time varying topological measures confirm the evidence of the presence of several star-like structures, the shrinkage of tree length due to crisis-related shocks, and an expansion in the recovery phase. Finally, changes of the central node of minimum spanning trees (MSTs), the volatile stock recognition using Shannon entropy, and the topology of threshold networks will help local and international investors of Pakistan Stock Exchange limited (PSX) to manage their portfolios or regulators to monitor the important nodes to achieve stability and to predict an upcoming crisis.
A State-of-the-Art Survey on Deep Learning Theory and Architectures
Authors: Alom Md Zahangir , Taha Tarek M. , Yakopcic Chris , Westberg Stefan , Sidike Paheding , Nasrin Mst Shamima , Hasan Mahmudul , Van Essen Brian C. , Awwal Abdul A. S. , Asari Vijayan K.
Published: March 2019

In recent years, deep learning has garnered tremendous success in a variety of application domains. This new field of machine learning has been growing rapidly and has been applied to most traditional application domains, as well as some new areas that present more opportunities. Different methods have been proposed based on different categories of learning, including supervised, semi-supervised, and un-supervised learning. Experimental results show state-of-the-art performance using deep learning when compared to traditional machine learning approaches in the fields of image processing, computer vision, speech recognition, machine translation, art, medical imaging, medical information processing, robotics and control, bioinformatics, natural language processing, cybersecurity, and many others. This survey presents a brief survey on the advances that have occurred in the area of Deep Learning (DL), starting with the Deep Neural Network (DNN). The survey goes on to cover Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), Auto-Encoder (AE), Deep Belief Network (DBN), Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). Additionally, we have discussed recent developments, such as advanced variant DL techniques based on these DL approaches. This work considers most of the papers published after 2012 from when the history of deep learning began. Furthermore, DL approaches that have been explored and evaluated in different application domains are also included in this survey. We also included recently developed frameworks, SDKs, and benchmark datasets that are used for implementing and evaluating deep learning approaches. There are some surveys that have been published on DL using neural networks and a survey on Reinforcement Learning (RL). However, those papers have not discussed individual advanced techniques for training large-scale deep learning models and the recently developed method of generative models.
A Study of the Hydrodynamic Performance of a Pitch-type Wave Energy Converter–Rotor
Authors: Poguluri Sunny Kumar , Cho Il-Hyoung , Bae Yoon Hyeok
Published: March 2019

The effect of hydrodynamic performance of the wave energy converter (WEC)–rotor based on linear potential flow theory due to nonlinear viscous damping was investigated. Free decay tests were conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to obtain the viscous damping moment. The commonly used procedure for obtaining the damping moment is based on peak amplitudes which normally require a long time history records. Such long free decay records may not be possible in nodding WEC rotor due high damping. The energy method proposed by Bass and Haddara requires only the short and full range of the recorded data. This method provides sufficiently good results when the bodies have high damping. The method equates the rate of change of the total energy of a body undergoing free rolling/pitching to the rate of energy dissipated by the damping. The present study adopts a similar methodology for estimating the linear and linear plus quadratic damping. To incorporate the nonlinear viscous damping moment in the linear equation of motion, an equivalent linearization concept is used without neglecting the nonlinear damping effects. The hydrodynamic coefficients obtained from the linear potential flow theory, nonlinear viscous damping moment from the energy method and estimated PTO damping are used to solve the equation of motion of the WEC rotor. The estimated pitch free decay data shows good agreement with the simulated CFD results when compared to the linear viscous damping moment and better agreement is obtained with linear plus quadratic viscous damping moment. The regular and irregular wave analyses show that a considerable effect on the hydrodynamic performance of the WEC rotor is observed when the linear and linear plus quadratic viscous damping are included.
Prediction Modeling and Analysis of Knocking Combustion using an Improved 0D RGF Model and Supervised Deep Learning
Authors: Cho Seokwon , Park Jihwan , Song Chiheon , Oh Sechul , Lee Sangyul , Kim Minjae , Min Kyoungdoug
Published: March 2019

The knock phenomenon is one of the major hindrances for enhancing the thermal efficiency in spark-ignited engines. Due to the stochastic behavior of knocking combustion, analytical cycle studies are required. However, there are many problems to be addressed with regard to the individual cycle analysis of in-cylinder pressure data. This study thus proposes novel, comprehensive and efficient methodologies for evaluating the knocking combustion in the internal combustion engine. The proposed methodologies include a filtering method for the in-cylinder pressure, the determination of the knock onset, and the calculation of the residual gas fraction. Consequently, a smart knock onset model with high accuracy could be developed using a supervised deep learning that was not available in the past. Moreover, an improved zero-dimensional (0D) estimation model for the residual gas fraction was developed to obtain better accuracy for closed system analysis. Finally, based on a cyclic analysis, a knock prediction model is suggested; the model uses 0D ignition delay correlation under various experimental conditions including aggressive cam phase shifting by a dual variable valve timing (VVT) system. Using the proposed analysis method, insight into stochastic knocking combustion can be obtained, and a faster combustion speed can lead to a higher knock intensity in a steady-state operation.
Data-Driven EV Load Profiles Generation Using a Variational Auto-Encoder
Authors: Pan Zhixin , Wang Jianming , Liao Wenlong , Chen Haiwen , Yuan Dong , Zhu Weiping , Fang Xin , Zhu Zhen
Published: March 2019

Although the penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) in distribution networks can improve the energy saving and emission reduction effects, its random and uncertain nature limits the ability of distribution networks to accept the load of EVs. To this end, establishing a load profile model of EV charging stations accurately and reasonably is of great significance to the planning, operation and scheduling of power system. Traditional generation methods for EV load profiles rely too much on experience, and need to set up a power load probability distribution in advance. In this paper, we propose a data-driven approach for load profiles of EV generation using a variational automatic encoder. Firstly, an encoder composed of deep convolution networks and a decoder composed of transposed convolution networks are trained using the original load profiles. Then, the new load profiles are obtained by decoding the random number which obeys a normal distribution. The simulation results show that EV load profiles generated by the deep convolution variational auto-encoder can not only retain the temporal correlation and probability distribution nature of the original load profiles, but also have a good restorative effect on the time distribution and fluctuation nature of the original power load.
A Model of the On-State Voltage across IGBT Modules Based on Physical Structure and Conduction Mechanisms
Authors: Kong Qingyi , Du Mingxing , Ouyang Ziwei , Wei Kexin , Hurley William Gerard
Published: March 2019

The on-state voltage is an important electrical parameter of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules. Due to limits in instrumentation and methods, it is difficult to ensure accurate measurements of the on-state voltage in practical working conditions. Based on the physical structure and conduction mechanism of the IGBT module, this paper models the on-state voltage and gives a detailed method for extracting the on-state voltage. Experiments not only demonstrate the feasibility of the on-state voltage separation method but also suggest a method for measuring and extracting the model parameters. Furthermore, on-state voltage measurements and simulation results certified the accuracy of this method.
Study on DC Breaker Fault Current and Its Limiting Method of Multiterminal Flexible DC Distribution System
Authors: Zhang Jinghan , Gao Yuqun , Xiao Fanglei , Guo Fang , Li Xinwei , Han Yongxia , Li Licheng
Published: March 2019

The multiterminal flexible DC (MTDC) distribution system has become a hot research topic for its advantages such as new energy load accessibility and high reliability of power supply. However, the fault current during short-circuit faults will be more complicated and serious because of the multiple operating modes and specific converter structure in MTDC distribution system. The high fault current will affect the safety of equipment and system operation. As a result, it is necessary to study the fault current generation mechanism and current limiting method of the DC distribution system. In this paper, the generation mechanism, transient characteristics, and the influencing factors of the fault current in the DC breaker during the short-circuit faults are analyzed by theoretical analysis and simulations separately based on a ±10 kV three-terminal flexible DC distribution system. The current limiting devices are analyzed, and its configuration position and parameter calculation method are proposed. On this basis, the parameters of the current limiting reactor and its effects on each position are analyzed by electromagnetic transient simulations. The current limiting scheme is proposed and its reliability is verified. The study results can provide some reference for overcurrent analysis and current limiting measures of the multiterminal DC distribution system.
Weighted-PSO Applied to Tune Sliding Mode Plus PI Controller Applied to a Boost Converter in a PV System
Authors: Vargas Gil Gloria Milena , Lima Rodrigues Lucas , Inomoto Roberto S. , Sguarezi Alfeu J. , Machado Monaro Renato
Published: March 2019

In this paper, a sliding mode plus proportional-integral (PI) controller for a boost converter in a photovoltaic system is proposed. The proposed controller is characterized by being easy to implement and by operating with constant switching frequency. The parameters of the proposed controller are calculated using the weighted particle swarm optimization technique, ensuring low percentage of overshoot and short setting time. The use of this optimization technique allows one to ensure the stability of the controller. A linear lead-leg controller is considered in order to compare the performance of the proposed controller. Finally, experimental results using a solar kit are presented to verify the performance of the proposed controller.
A Dual Attack Detection Technique to Identify Black and Gray Hole Attacks Using an Intrusion Detection System and a Connected Dominating Set in MANETs
Authors: Ali Zardari Zulfiqar , He Jingsha , Zhu Nafei , Mohammadani Khalid Hussain , Pathan Muhammad Salman , Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar , Memon Muhammad Qasim
Published: March 2019

A mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is a temporary network of wireless mobile nodes. In a MANET, it is assumed that all of the nodes cooperate with each other to transfer data packets in a multi-hop fashion. However, some malicious nodes don’t cooperate with other nodes and disturb the network through false routing information. In this paper, we propose a prominent technique, called dual attack detection for black and gray hole attacks (DDBG), for MANETs. The proposed DDBG technique selects the intrusion detection system (IDS) node using the connected dominating set (CDS) technique with two additional features; the energy and its nonexistence in the blacklist are also checked before putting the nodes into the IDS set. The CDS is an effective, distinguished, and localized approach for detecting nearly-connected dominating sets of nodes in a small range in mobile ad hoc networks. The selected IDS nodes broadcast a kind of status packet within a size of the dominating set for retrieving the complete behavioral information from their nodes. Later, IDS nodes use our DDBG technique to analyze the collected behavioral information to detect the malicious nodes and add them to the blacklist if the behavior of the node is suspicious. Our experimental results show that the quality of the service parameters of the proposed technique outperforms the existing routing schemes.
Modeling of Information Operations Effects: Technological Systems Example
Authors: Geyda Alexander , Lysenko Igor
Published: March 2019

The article outlines conceptual and corresponding formal models of system functioning. Models provide means for estimation of information operation effects and the operational properties of systems and their functioning. Such systems are changed due to information operations. Examples of operational properties are efficiency, the effectiveness of system functioning, system capabilities and system potential. Operational properties are estimated based on functioning effects. Such effects of information operations are manifested through a system functioning under the conditions of a changing environment. An estimation of effects and operational properties is fulfilled analytically. It is made through plotting the dependences of the predicted values of effects and operational properties of information operations and corresponding IT usage against the variables and options of problems solved. To develop this type of model, the use of information operations during system functioning is analyzed through an example of a technological system. General concepts and principles of the modeling of information operations during the operation of such systems are defined. An exemplary modeling of the effects of technological information, and the related technological non-information operations of technological systems operation is provided. Based on concept models of information operations of technological systems, functioning set-theoretical models followed by functional models are introduced. An example of operational properties indicators estimation is considered. It is based on Architecture of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS) diagramming tools’ usage. Use cases of such indicators include choosing optimal information operations characteristics.
The Interlinked Rising Epidemic of Insufficient Sleep and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Chattu Vijay Kumar , Chattu Soosanna Kumary , Burman Deepa , Spence David Warren , Pandi-Perumal Seithikurippu R.
Published: March 2019

For healthy existence, humans need to spend one-third of their time sleeping. Any qualitative or quantitative disturbances in sleep would result in an increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. The paper aims to highlight the growing global problem of insufficient sleep and its significant impact on the rising incidence of diabetes mellitus. An extensive literature search was done in all major databases for “insufficient sleep” and “Diabetes Mellitus” for this review. Shorter (<6 h) and longer (>9 h) durations of sleep have been adversely related to insulin resistance. Though the relation between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus is more or less understood, little is known about how oversleeping or hypersomnia (10–12 h) increases the risk of diabetes. The relationship between sleep disturbances and diabetes is dual-sided, as chronic sleep disturbances would elevate the risk of developing insulin resistance, while diabetes would worsen the quality of sleep. Both the qualitative and quantitative disturbances in sleep significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes, which is supported by numerous community-based and hospital-based epidemiological studies discussed in this review. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia and increased sympathetic activity, thus leading to a higher prevalence of diabetes. Sleep therapy may serve as a low-cost method for fighting against the rising epidemic of diabetes.
Mitochondrial Impairment Induced by Sub-Chronic Exposure to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Visalli Giuseppa , Facciolà Alessio , Currò Monica , Laganà Pasqualina , La Fauci Vincenza , Iannazzo Daniela , Pistone Alessandro , Di Pietro Angela
Published: March 2019

Human exposure to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can cause health issues due to their chemical-physical features and biological interactions. These nanostructures cause oxidative stress, also due to endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which increases following mitochondrial impairment. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the health effects, due to mitochondrial dysfunction, caused by a sub-chronic exposure to a non-acutely toxic dose of multi walled CNTs (raw and functionalised). The A549 cells were exposed to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (2 µg mL−1) for 36 days. Periodically, cellular dehydrogenases, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), cytochrome c release, permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, transmembrane potential (Δψ m), apoptotic cells, and intracellular ROS were measured. The results, compared to untreated cells and to positive control formed by cells treated with MWCNTs (20 µg mL−1), highlighted the efficiency of homeostasis to counteract ROS overproduction, but a restitutio ad integrum of mitochondrial functionality was not observed. Despite the tendency to restore, the mitochondrial impairment persisted. Overall, the results underlined the tissue damage that can arise following sub-chronic exposure to MWCNTs.
Improving Dietary Behavior Among Ethnic Minority Women in Denmark: A Feasibility Study Based on a Participatory and Culturally Adapted Intervention
Authors: Pallesen Anna Vera Jørring , Byberg Stine , Kristiansen Maria
Published: March 2019

The Danish Heart Foundation and the non-governmental organization Neighborhood Mothers have co-developed a culturally adapted intervention seeking to promote healthy dietary behaviour among ethnic minority women. This feasibility study explores the potential of the intervention to reach ethnic minority women using health promotion initiatives. Participants attended instructor courses or cooking events, where culturally adapted, healthy recipes were introduced and meals prepared. Feasibility was explored using a mixed-method approach. Surveys were completed by 59 volunteers and 150 participants at five instructor courses and 21 cooking events. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with volunteers and participants after completion of the intervention. After the intervention, 61% of the 150 participants had high levels of knowledge about dietary recommendations, 96% intended to cook healthy dishes in the future and 84% intended to incorporate measuring equipment into their daily cooking routine. Participants with a high level of knowledge reported intention to change dietary behaviour more often than participants with lower levels of knowledge. Interviews confirmed that the participants cooked healthy dishes after participating, and incorporated knowledge about healthy food practices into their daily cooking. Few participants used measuring equipment. The intervention proved to be feasible as a health promotion initiative targeting a hard-to-reach population.
Anger Suppression and Rumination Sequentially Mediates the Effect of Emotional Labor in Korean Nurses
Authors: Kim Ji Eun , Park Jeong Hoon , Park Soo Hyun
Published: March 2019

The degree of emotional labor in nurses has been associated with negative physical and psychological health indices. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional labor and depressive and anxiety symptoms in nurses. Specifically, the study addressed the question of whether anger suppression and anger rumination sequentially mediated the relationship. A total of 99 nurses was recruited from a university hospital in Korea. The questionnaires included instruments assessing emotional labor, anger suppression, anger rumination, as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms. Consistent with our hypothesis, there was a significant indirect effect of anger suppression and anger rumination on the relationship between emotional labor and depressive symptoms, as well as on the relationship between emotional labor and anxiety symptoms. The nurses’ degree of emotional labor, anger suppression, and anger rumination was associated with psychological adjustment. Thus, the impact of nurses’ negative affect needs to be adequately addressed, as inadequate resolution of anger may increase their vulnerability to experience depressive and anxiety symptoms. These findings may contribute to developing a strategy for enhancing nurses’ psychological health.
Using Human Movement Data to Identify Potential Areas of Zika Transmission: Case Study of the Largest Zika Cluster in Singapore
Authors: Rajarethinam Jayanthi , Ong Janet , Lim Shi-Hui , Tay Yu-Heng , Bounliphone Wacha , Chong Chee-Seng , Yap Grace , Ng Lee-Ching
Published: March 2019

Singapore experienced its first Zika virus (ZIKV) cluster in August 2016. To understand the implication of human movement on disease spread, a retrospective study was conducted using aggregated and anonymized mobile phone data to examine movement from the cluster to identify areas of possible transmission. An origin–destination model was developed based on the movement of three groups of individuals: (i) construction workers, (ii) residents and (iii) visitors out of the cluster locality to other parts of the island. The odds ratio of ZIKV cases in a hexagon visited by an individual from the cluster, independent of the group of individuals, is 3.20 (95% CI: 2.65–3.87, p-value < 0.05), reflecting a higher count of ZIKV cases when there is a movement into a hexagon from the cluster locality. A comparison of independent ROC curves tested the statistical significance of the difference between the areas under the curves of the three groups of individuals. Visitors (difference in AUC = 0.119) and residents (difference in AUC = 0.124) have a significantly larger difference in area under the curve compared to the construction workers (p-value < 0.05). This study supports the proof of concept of using mobile phone data to approximate population movement, thus identifying areas at risk of disease transmission.
Development of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Mixed-Microfat as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product for Intra-Articular Injection of Radio-Carpal Osteoarthritis: From Validation Data to Preliminary Clinical Results
Authors: Mayoly Alice , Iniesta Aurélie , Curvale Caroline , Kachouh Najib , Jaloux Charlotte , Eraud Julia , Vogtensperger Marie , Veran Julie , Grimaud Fanny , Jouve Elisabeth , Casanova Dominique , Sabatier Florence , Legré Régis , Magalon Jérémy
Published: March 2019

Wrist osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common conditions encountered by hand surgeons with limited efficacy of non-surgical treatments. The purpose of this study is to describe the Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) mixed-microfat biological characteristics of an experimental Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) needed for clinical trial authorization and describe the clinical results obtained from our first three patients 12 months after treatment (NCT03164122). Biological characterization of microfat, PRP and mixture were analysed in vitro according to validated methods. Patients with stage four OA according to the Kellgren Lawrence classification, with failure to conservative treatment and a persistent daily painful condition >40 mm according to the visual analog scale (VAS) were treated. Microfat-PRP ATMP is a product with high platelet purity, conserved viability of stromal vascular fraction cells, chondrogenic differentiation capacity in vitro and high secretion of IL-1Ra anti-inflammatory cytokine. For patients, the only side effect was pain at the adipose tissue harvesting sites. Potential efficacy was observed with a pain decrease of over 50% (per VAS score) and the achievement of minimal clinically important differences for DASH and PRWE functional scores at one year in all three patients. Microfat-PRP ATMP presented a good safety profile after an injection in wrist OA. Efficacy trials are necessary to assess whether this innovative strategy could delay the necessity to perform non-conservative surgery.
Regulatory Effect of DNA Topoisomerase I on T3SS Activity, Antibiotic Susceptibility and Quorum- Sensing-Independent Pyocyanin Synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Yan Rong , Hu Shikun , Ma Ning , Song Peiqing , Liang Qingqing , Zhang Huiqun , Li Yanqi , Shen Lixin , Duan Kangmin , Chen Lin
Published: March 2019

Topoisomerases are required for alleviating supercoiling of DNA during transcription and replication. Recent evidence suggests that supercoiling of bacterial DNA can affect bacterial pathogenicity. To understand the potential regulatory role of a topoisomerase I (TopA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we investigated a previously isolated topA mutation using genetic approaches. We here report the effects of the altered topoisomerase in P. aeruginosa on type III secretion system, antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm initiation, and pyocyanin production. We found that topA was essential in P. aeruginosa, but a transposon mutant lacking the 13 amino acid residues at the C-terminal of the TopA and a mutant, named topA-RM, in which topA was split into three fragments were viable. The reduced T3SS expression in topA-RM seemed to be directly related to TopA functionality, but not to DNA supercoiling. The drastically increased pyocyanin production in the mutant was a result of up-regulation of the pyocyanin related genes, and the regulation was mediated through the transcriptional regulator PrtN, which is known to regulate bacteriocin. The well-established regulatory pathway, quorum sensing, was unexpectedly not involved in the increased pyocyanin synthesis. Our results demonstrated the unique roles of TopA in T3SS activity, antibiotic susceptibility, initial biofilm formation, and secondary metabolite production, and revealed previously unknown regulatory pathways.
mTOR is a Key Protein Involved in the Metabolic Effects of Simple Sugars
Authors: Sangüesa Gemma , Roglans Núria , Baena Miguel , Velázquez Ana Magdalena , Laguna Juan Carlos , Alegret Marta
Published: March 2019

One of the most important threats to global human health is the increasing incidences of metabolic pathologies (including obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), which is paralleled by increasing consumptions of hypercaloric diets enriched in simple sugars. The challenge is to identify the metabolic pathways affected by the excessive consumption of these dietary components when they are consumed in excess, to unravel the molecular mechanisms leading to metabolic pathologies and identify novel therapeutic targets to manage them. Mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as one of the key molecular nodes that integrate extracellular signals, such as energy status and nutrient availability, to trigger cell responses that could lead to the above-mentioned diseases through the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. By activating mTOR signalling, excessive consumption of simple sugars (such as fructose and glucose), could modulate hepatic gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and fatty acid uptake and catabolism and thus lipid deposition in the liver. In the present review we will discuss some of the most recent studies showing the central role of mTOR in the metabolic effects of excessive simple sugar consumption.
Photobiomodulation Enhances the Angiogenic Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Mitigate Radiation-Induced Enteropathy
Authors: Kim Kyuchang , Lee Janet , Jang Hyosun , Park Sunhoo , Na Jiyoung , Myung Jae , Kim Min-Jung , Jang Won-Suk , Lee Sun-Joo , Kim Hyewon , Myung Hyunwook , Kang JiHoon , Shim Sehwan
Published: March 2019

Radiation-induced enteropathy remains a major complication after accidental or therapeutic exposure to ionizing radiation. Recent evidence suggests that intestinal microvascular damage significantly affects the development of radiation enteropathy. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising tool to regenerate various tissues, including skin and intestine. Further, photobiomodulation (PBM), or low-level light therapy, can accelerate wound healing, especially by stimulating angiogenesis, and stem cells are particularly susceptible to PBM. Here, we explored the effect of PBM on the therapeutic potential of MSCs for the management of radiation enteropathy. In vitro, using human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs, PBM increased proliferation and self-renewal. Intriguingly, the conditioned medium from MSCs treated with PBM attenuated irradiation-induced apoptosis and impaired tube formation in vascular endothelial cells, and these protective effects were associated with the upregulation of several angiogenic factors. In a mouse model of radiation-induced enteropathy, treatment with PBM-preconditioned MSCs alleviated mucosal destruction, improved crypt cell proliferation and epithelial barrier functions, and significantly attenuated the loss of microvascular endothelial cells in the irradiated intestinal mucosa. This treatment also significantly increased angiogenesis in the lamina propria. Together, we suggest that PBM enhances the angiogenic potential of MSCs, leading to improved therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of radiation-induced enteropathy.
1H NMR Relaxometric Analysis of Paramagnetic Gd2O3:Yb Nanoparticles Functionalized with Citrate Groups
Authors: Carniato Fabio , Gatti Giorgio
Published: March 2019

Gd2O3 nanoparticles doped with different amount of Yb3+ ions and coated with citrate molecules were prepared by a cheap and fast co-precipitation procedure and proposed as potential “positive” contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. The citrate was used to improve the aqueous suspension, limiting particles precipitation. The relaxometric properties of the samples were studied in aqueous solution as a function of the magnetic field strength in order to evaluate the interaction of the paramagnetic ions exposed on the surface with the water molecules in proximity. The nanoparticles showed high relaxivity values at a high magnetic field with respect to the clinically used Gd3+-chelates and comparable to those of similar nanosytems. Special attention was also addressed to the investigation of the chemical stability of the nanoparticles in biological fluid (reconstructed human serum) and in the presence of a chelating agent.
Correlations of the Gastric and Duodenal Microbiota with Histological, Endoscopic, and Symptomatic Gastritis
Authors: Han Hye Seung , Lee Sun-Young , Oh Seo Young , Moon Hee Won , Cho Hyunseok , Kim Ji-Hoon
Published: March 2019

Mucosal inflammation is characterized by neutrophil and mononuclear cell infiltration. This study aimed to determine the gastric and duodenal microbiota associated with histological, endoscopic, and symptomatic gastritis. Dyspeptic adults who presented for evaluation were included. Subjects with either comorbidities or recent drug intake were excluded. Three endoscopic biopsies were obtained from the antrum, body, and duodenum. Next-generation sequencing for 16S ribosomal RNA V1–V2 hypervariable regions was performed. The correlation between the composition of microbiota and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, endoscopic findings, and Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM) score was analyzed. In 98 included subjects, microbial communities in the antrum and body showed Bray–Curtis similarity; however, those in the duodenum showed dissimilarity. Histological and endoscopic gastritis was associated with the abundance of Helicobacter pylori and that of commensal bacteria in the stomach. The abundances of Variovorax paradoxus and Porphyromonas gingivalis were correlated with histological gastritis, but not with endoscopic or symptomatic gastritis. The total PAGI-SYM score showed a stronger correlation with the duodenal microbiota (Prevotella nanceiensis and Alloprevotella rava) than with the gastric microbiota (H. pylori, Neisseria elongate, and Corynebacterium segmentosum). Different correlations of the gastric and duodenal microbiota with histological, endoscopic, and symptomatic gastritis were observed for the first time at the species level. H. pylori-negative gastritis is not associated with endoscopic or symptomatic gastritis. Only H. pylori-induced endoscopic gastritis requires gastric cancer surveillance. Owing to the weak correlation with H. pylori, symptomatic gastritis should be assessed separately from histological and endoscopic gastritis.
Maladaptive Rumination as a Transdiagnostic Mediator of Vulnerability and Outcome in Psychopathology
Authors: Luca Maria
Published: March 2019

Background: Maladaptive rumination is a form of negative repetitive thinking which has attracted the interest of researchers, as it is considered a cognitive vulnerability to depression. Some of the original beliefs regarding rumination, in particular its exclusive link with depression, have been questioned in the light of research findings. At present, the very concept of rumination is still unclear, so research has been investigating this topic from different, and somewhat inconsistent, perspectives. Methods: A literature review was performed in order to outline some core characteristics of rumination, explain its determinants, and discuss its possible role as a transdiagnostic mediator of vulnerability and outcome in psychopathology. Results: Maladaptive rumination could be interpreted as a dysfunctional coping strategy strictly linked to emotion regulation and metacognition that may occur in several psychopathological conditions, such as psychosis, eating disorders, and alcohol dependence. Conclusion: Evidence allows the interpretation of maladaptive rumination as a transdiagnostic mediator of vulnerability and outcome in psychopathology. Therefore, investigating it from a dimensional perspective may represent a valid research strategy.
Fabrication of Porous Bone Scaffolds Using Alginate and Bioactive Glass
Authors: Hatton Jonathan , Davis Graham Roy , Mourad Abdel-Hamid I. , Cherupurakal Nizamudeen , Hill Robert G. , Mohsin Sahar
Published: March 2019

Porous composite scaffold using an alginate and bioactive glass ICIE16M was synthesized by a simple freeze-drying technique. The scaffold was characterized using compression testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray microtomography (XMT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bioactivity of the scaffold was evaluated by its ability to form apatite on its surface in simulated body fluid (SBF). The data collected showed evidence that the novel material produced had an appropriate pore size for osteoconduction, with an average pore size of 110 µm and maximum pore size of 309 µm. Statistical analysis confirmed that the glass filler significantly (P < 0.05) increased the collapse yield of the scaffolds compared with pure alginate scaffolds. The ICIE16M glass had an amorphous structure, favorable for bioactivity.
Optimization of Process Parameters for Anti-Glare Spray Coating by Pressure-Feed Type Automatic Air Spray Gun Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Huang Yu-Hui , Chen Lung-Chuan , Chou Huann-Ming
Published: March 2019

The process of preparing anti-glare thin films by spray-coating silica sol-gel to soda-lime glass was exclusively and statistically studied in this paper. The effects of sol-gel deliver pressure, air transport pressure, and spray gun displacement speed on the gloss, haze, arithmetic mean surface roughness, and total transmittance light were analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the factors of sol-gel deliver pressure, air transport pressure, and displacement speed exhibit a significant effect on the haze, gloss, and Ra. In contrast, the variation of total transmittance light with these three factors are insignificant. Because the anti-glare property is predominantly determined by low gloss and high haze, we therefore aim to minimize gloss and maximize haze to achieve high anti-glare. Central composite design and response surface methodology are employed to analyze the main and interaction effects of the three factors through quadratic polynomial equations, which are confirmed by the analysis of variance and R2. The response surface methodology predict the lowest gloss and highest haze are 9.2 GU and 57.0%, corresponding to the sol-gel deliver pressure, air-transport pressure, and displacement speed of 250 kPa, 560 kPa, and 140 mm/s, and 340 kPa, 620 kPa, and 20 mm/s, respectively. Comparing the predicted optimal data with the real experimental results validates the applicability of the mathematical model. This study provides an important basis for the subsequent production of anti-glare glass with different specifications to satisfy the market demand.
Experimental Study on Corrosion and Mechanical Behavior of Main Cable Wires Considering the Effect of Strain
Authors: Xu Fangyuan , Chen Yuanli , Zheng Xianglong , Ma Rujin , Tian Hao
Published: March 2019

To study the corrosion degradation of cable wires in a bridge’s life, this research work created an accelerated corrosion test device, which sought to identify an optimal constant strain level. An accelerated corrosion test was carried out and the corroded specimens were scanned using super depth 3D microscopy technology. Mass loss and minimum cross-sectional diameter was measured to understand the degradation characteristics of cable wires at variable strains and corrosion time. The variation of elastic modulus, yield load, and ultimate load of corroded wires, subjected to a tensile test, were analyzed. The experimental results illustrate that the average mass loss ratio of the corroded cable wires increases nonlinearly as corrosion time increases. The higher the stress level, the more serious the corrosion level. The minimum cross-sectional diameter has good correlation with corrosion time and stress level. The elastic modulus of wires does not change significantly with the increase of corrosion time. Yield load and ultimate load decreases with the increase of strain level, and the rates of decline under different strains are nonlinear.
Regular Ordered Ternary Semigroups in Terms of Bipolar Fuzzy Ideals
Authors: Bashir Shahida , Fatima Medhit , Shabir Muhammad
Published: March 2019

Our main objective is to introduce the innovative concept of ( α , β ) -bipolar fuzzy ideals and ( α , β ) -bipolar fuzzy generalized bi-ideals in ordered ternary semigroups by using the idea of belongingness and quasi-coincidence of an ordered bipolar fuzzy point with a bipolar fuzzy set. In this research, we have proved that if a bipolar fuzzy set h = ( S ; h n , h p ) in an ordered ternary semigroup S is the ( ∈ , ∈ ∨ q ) -bipolar fuzzy generalized bi-ideal of S , it satisfies two particular conditions but the reverse does not hold in general. We have studied the regular ordered ternary semigroups by using the ( ∈ , ∈ ∨ q ) -bipolar fuzzy left (resp. right, lateral and two-sided) ideals and the ( ∈ , ∈ ∨ q ) -bipolar fuzzy generalized bi-ideals.