bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Push‐Out Tests on Large Diameter and High Strength Welded Stud Connectors
Authors: Yang Fei , Liu Yuqing , Li Yongjun
Published: September 2018

In recent years, steel‐concrete composite cable‐pylon anchorages are increasingly employed in the construction of long‐span cable‐stayed bridges, especially in China. Welded stud connectors, typically 19 mm and 22 mm in diameter, are usually densely arranged at the interface between the steel anchorage box and the wall of the concrete pylon to transfer the huge cable force into the concrete pylon. However, dense welded stud arrangements at the interface have some disadvantages, such as the shear strength reduction of stud connectors and the difficulties in arranging reinforcements and pouring pylon concrete. Larger diameter and higher strength welded studs may be excellent alternatives since they both could increase the shear strength of a single stud connector and thus reduce the required number of welded studs. In this paper, push‐out tests were implemented on four groups of welded stud connector specimens, including conventional 22 mm welded studs, 22 mm welded studs with much higher strength, 25 mm welded studs, and 30 mm welded studs. The shear strength, shear stiffness, and ductility of these welded stud connectors were investigated and compared with the predictions by the equations recommended in existing design codes. The results show that the shear strength of welded stud connectors could be conservatively determined by Eurocode 4, while AASHTO LRFD will produce a suitable estimation. The load‐slip relationships proposed by Ollgaard and Buttry can be used to predict the load‐slip curves of large diameter and high strength welded stud connectors.
Fabrication of Strontium Bismuth Oxides as Novel Battery-Type Electrode Materials for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Han Yinghui , Li Le , Liu Yunpeng , Li Xue , Qi Xiaohan , Song Lili
Published: September 2018

A simple and efficient process method for the preparation of strontium bismuth oxides (SBOs) via an impregnation-calcination method is presented. The synthesized active materials are characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical performance of the as-synthesized SBO samples is observed to decrease gradually as the strontium content is increased from 25% to 50%. The SBO sample with a Sr/Bi ratio of 1 : 3 shows the highest specific capacitance of 1228.7 F g−1 (specific capacity of 204.8 mAh g−1) at a current density of 1 A g−1 and a good cycling stability (75.1%) over 3000 charge-discharge cycles. The improved performance of the supercapacitors can be attributed to the unique structural features resulting from the addition of appropriate portions of Sr, which supports high electron conductivity and rapid ion/electron transport within the electrode and at the electrode/electrolyte interface. All the results show that the SBOs have considerable potential for use as high-performance battery-type electrodes in supercapacitors.
Elastoplastic Analysis of Circular Tunnel Based on Drucker–Prager Criterion
Authors: Yang Xiongfei , Yuan Hong , Wu Jiayu , Li Shanqing
Published: September 2018

Based on the Drucker–Prager yield criterion, the theoretical solution of stratigraphic deformation in tunnel excavation process is deduced by the cavity expansion theory. In view of soil loosening around the tunnel caused by the tunnel excavation process, the internal friction angle of the surrounding soil is not a constant but a function of normal stress. The piecewise linearization of the nonlinear yield function is used to analyze the elastoplastic solution of the cylindrical hole shrinkage. A comparison is conducted with a plastic zone in which the internal friction angle of the soil remains unchanged. It can be concluded that the radial stress, the tangential stress, the radial strain, and the tangential strain around the inner wall calculated from the former are smaller.
Optimizing Truck Visits to Container Terminals with Consideration of Multiple Drays of Individual Drivers
Authors: Jovanovic Raka
Published: September 2018

In this paper a new approach for designing a truck appointment system (TAS) at container terminals is proposed. While the vast majority of published research analyzes the TAS from the perspective of drayage companies and terminal operations, in this work this topic is centered around truck drivers. The objective of this approach is to show that it is possible to increase the satisfaction of drivers which will maintain the positive effects that the TAS provides to the port. To be more precise, the focus is on exploiting the fact that individual truck drivers perform multiple visits to the container terminal in a day. Based on this information, a scheduling problem is defined and the corresponding integer programming model is developed. The potential benefits of the proposed approach are evaluated for the ports of Los Angeles and the port of Seattle. This has been done by generating problem instances based on the distribution of the number of daily truck visits to the port, number of daily working hours of drivers, and distances (lengths) of individual dray moves for the corresponding ports. The results of the conducted computational experiments show that using the proposed approach can positively affect gate waiting times and truck driver satisfaction. Further, it is shown that this type of approach favors more experienced drivers, which has a potential to provide additional benefits to the port.
Impact and Lessons Learned from a National Consortium for Participatory Health Research: PartKommPlus—German Research Consortium for Healthy Communities (2015–2018)
Authors: Wright Michael T. , Hartung Susanne , Bach Mario , Brandes Sven , Gebhardt Birte , Jordan Susanne , Schaefer Ina , Wihofszky Petra
Published: September 2018

Integrated strategies of health promotion at the municipal level are receiving particular attention in public health policy and practice in Germany. These strategies are intended to provide a coordinated approach to health promotion during the entire lifespan, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities. They are also intended to be participatory in both their design and implementation, involving all sectors of the social welfare, educational and healthcare systems, civil society, and the general public. PartKommPlus—German Research Consortium for Healthy Communities is examining such strategies using participatory forms of research. The goal is to determine how participation can best be planned and implemented and what effects this participation has. In this article the work of PartKommPlus from the first funding phase (2015–2018) will be described with particular attention to the lessons learned and the forms of impact which are being considered as part of the participatory research process.
A New Method for State of Charge and Capacity Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Dual Strong Tracking Adaptive H Infinity Filter
Authors: Liu Zheng , Dang Xuanju
Published: September 2018

As one of the most important features representing the operating state of power battery in electric vehicles (EVs), state of charge (SOC) and capacity estimation is a crucial assessment index in battery management system (BMS). This paper presents a fusion method of SOC and capacity estimation with identified model parameters. The equivalent circuit model (ECM) parameters are obtained online by variable forgetting factor recursive least squares (VFFRLS), which is based on incremental ECM analysis to respond to the inconsistent rates of parameters variation. The independent open-circuit voltage (OCV) estimation way is designed to reduce the effect of mutual coupling between OCV and ECM parameters. Based on the identified ECM parameters and OCV, a dual adaptive H infinity filter (AHIF) combined with strong tracking filter (STF) is proposed to estimate battery SOC and capacity. A new quadratic function as capacity error compensation is introduced to represent the relationship between capacity and OCV. The adaptive strategy of the AHIF can adjust noise covariance and restricted factor, while the STF can regulate prior state covariance by adding suboptimum fading factor. The results of experiment and simulation show the merits of proposed approach in SOC and capacity estimation.
Trajectory Planning of an Intermittent Jumping Quadruped Robot with Variable Redundant and Underactuated Joints
Authors: Zhong Jun , Luo Minzhou , Fan Jizhuang , Zhao Jie
Published: September 2018

The jumping robot has been a hot research field due to its prominent obstacle‐climbing ability and excellent capacity in terrain adaptation and autonomous movement. However, huge impact between the robot and the ground when landing may cause structure damage, unbalanced movement, and even system crash. Therefore, trajectory planning of the jumping process has been a great challenge in robotic research, especially for the robot with varying underactuated and redundant joints. An intermittent jumping quadruped robot driven by pneumatic muscle actuators (PMAs) and owning variable redundant and underactuated joints designed in a previous study is taken as the study object. This paper divides the problem of trajectory planning into trajectory planning in the centroid space and joint space. Trajectory planning of different jumping phases in the centroid space adopts the scheme of minimizing the peak reaction force from the ground, then trajectory planning of the joint space is performed obeying the principle of minimizing consumed active torques. A jumping experiment is performed and validates the effectiveness of the proposed trajectory algorithm.
Mechanical Properties and Conversion Relations of Strength Indexes for Stone/Sand‐Lightweight Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Zhang Xianggang , Deng Dapeng , Yang Jianhui
Published: September 2018

This is a study of the basic mechanical properties of specified density shale aggregate concrete, which is based on different replacement rates in stone‐lightweight aggregate concrete (stone‐LAC) and sand‐lightweight aggregate concrete (sand‐LAC). They were prepared by replacing the ceramsite and pottery sand with stone and river sand, respectively. Many tests were performed regarding the basic mechanical property indexes, including tests of cube compressive strength, axial compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The failure modes of specified density shale aggregate concrete were obtained. The effects of replacement rates on the mechanical property indexes of specified density shale aggregate concrete were analyzed. Calculation models were implemented for elastic modulus, for the conversion relations between the axial compressive strength and the cube compressive strength, and for the relations between the tension‐compression ratio and Poisson’s ratio. It was shown that when the replacement rate of stone or river sand increased from 0% to 100%, the cube compressive strength of stone‐LAC and sand‐LAC increased, respectively, by 55% and 25%, the axial compressive strength increased, respectively, by 91% and 72%, splitting tensile strength increased, respectively, by 99% and 44%, and the flexural strength increased, respectively, by 46% and 26%. Similarly, the elastic modulus of stone‐LAC and sand‐LAC increased, respectively, by 16% and 30%. However, Poisson’s ratio for stone‐LAC decreased first and then increased, eventually increased by 11%; Poisson’s ratio for sand‐LAC only reduced gradually, eventually reduced by 67%. After introducing the influence parameter for the replacement rate, the established calculation models become simple and practical, and the calculation accuracies are favorable.
Numerical Study of Convection and Radiation Heat Transfer in Pipe Cable
Authors: Fu Chen-Zhao , Si Wen-Rong , Quan Lei , Yang Jian
Published: September 2018

Pipe cable is considered as an important form for underground transmission line. The maximum electrical current (ampacity) of power cable system mostly depends on the cable conductor temperature. Therefore, accurate calculation of temperature distribution in the power cable system is quite important to extract the cable ampacity. In the present paper, the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in the pipe cable with alternating current were numerically studied by using commercial code COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS based on finite element method (FEM). The cable core loss and eddy current loss in the cable were coupled for the heat transfer simulation, and the difference of heat transfer performances with pure natural convection model and radiation-convection model was compared and analysed in detail. Meanwhile, for the radiation-convection model, the effects caused by radiant emissivity of cable surface and pipe inner surface, as well as the cable location in the pipe, were also discussed. Firstly, it is revealed that the radiation and natural convection heat flux on the cable surface would be of the same order of magnitude, and the radiation heat transfer on the cable surface should not be ignored. Otherwise, the cable ampacity would be underestimated. Secondly, it is found that the overall heat transfer rate on the cable surface increases as the cable surface emissivity increases, and this is more remarkable to the upper cable. While the effect caused by the radiant emissivity on the pipe inner surface would be relatively small. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, as cable location in the pipe falls, the natural convection heat transfer would be enhanced. These results would be meaningful for the ampacity prediction and optimum design for the pipe cable.
Strauss’s Radial Compactness and Nonlinear Elliptic Equation Involving a Variable Critical Exponent
Authors: Hashizume Masato , Sano Megumi
Published: September 2018

We study existence of a nontrivial solution of-Δpu(x)+u(x)p-1=u(x)q(x)-1,  u(x)≥0,  x∈RN,  u∈Wrad1,p(RN), under some conditions onq(x), especially,lim inf|x|→∞ q(x)=p. Concerning this problem, we firstly consider compactness and noncompactness for the embedding fromWrad1,p(RN)toLq(x)(RN). We point out that the decaying speed ofq(x)at infinity plays an essential role on the compactness. Secondly, by applying the compactness result, we show the existence of a nontrivial solution of the elliptic equation.
Resource Allocation with Successive Coding for OFDM-Based Cognitive System Subject to Statistical CSI
Authors: Chami Marwa , Pischella Mylene , Le Ruyet Didier
Published: September 2018

This paper investigates the resource allocation problem for a multicarrier underlay cognitive radio system, under the assumption that only statistical Channel State Information (CSI) about the primary channels is available at the secondary user. More specifically, we maximize the system utility under primary and secondary user outage constraints and the total power constraint. The secondary user transmission is also constrained by the interference threshold imposed by the primary user. Moreover, the secondary receiver adapts its decoding strategy, which is either treating interference as noise or using successive interference cancellation or superposition coding. This leads to a nonconvex optimization problem, with either perfect or statistical CSI. Consequently, we propose a sequential-based algorithm to efficiently obtain a solution to the problem. The simulation results show that the sequential algorithm is convergent and that our global proposed scheme achieves larger secondary and sum rates than other algorithms where the decoding strategy is not adapted.
Green Preparation, Spheroidal, and Superior Property of Nano-1,3,5,7-Tetranittro-1,3,5,7-Tetrazocane
Authors: Jia Xinlei , Wang Jingyu , Hou Conghua , Tan Yingxin
Published: September 2018

Herein, a green process for preparing nano-HMX, mechanical demulsification shearing (MDS) technology, was developed. Nano-HMX was successfully fabricated via MDS technology without using any chemical reagents, and the fabrication mechanism was proposed. Based on the “fractal theory,” the optimal shearing time for mechanical emulsification was deduced by calculating the fractal dimension of the particle size distribution. The as-prepared nano-HMX was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). And the impact sensitivities of HMX particles were contrastively investigated. The raw HMX had a lower fractal dimension of 1.9273. The ideal shearing time was 7 h. The resultant nano-HMX possessed a particle size distribution ranging from 203.3 nm to 509.1 nm as compared to raw HMX. Nano-HMX particles were dense spherical, maintaining β-HMX crystal form. In addition, they had much lower impact sensitivity. However, the apparent activation energy as well as thermal decomposition temperature of nano-HMX particles was decreased, attributing to the reduced probability for hotspot generation. Especially when the shearing time was 7 h, the activation energy was markedly decreased.
Semiparametric Estimation and Panel Data Clustering Analysis Based on D-Vine and C-Vine
Authors: Li Hong , Xie Yuantao , Yang Juan , Wang Di
Published: September 2018

This paper proposed a panel data clustering model based on D-vine and C-vine and supported a semiparametric estimation for parameters. These models include a two-step inference function for margins, two-step semiparameter estimation, and stepwise semiparametric estimation. In similarity measurement, similarity coefficients are constructed by a multivariate Hierarchical Nested Archimedean Copula (HNAC) model and compound PCC models, which are HNAC and D-vine compound model and HNAC and C-vine compound model. Estimation solutions and models evaluation are given for these models. In the case study, the clustering results of HNAC and D-vine compound model and HNAC and C-vine compound model are given, and the effect of different copula families on clustering results is also discussed. The result shows the models are effective and useful.
Morphological Filter-Assisted Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Zhou Xiaohang , Shan Deshan , Li Qiao
Published: September 2018

In the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) algorithm, different realizations of white noise are added to the original signal as dyadic filter banks to overcome the mode mixing problems of empirical mode decomposition (EMD). However, not all the components in white noise are necessary, and the superfluous components will introduce additional mode mixing problems. To address this problem, morphological filter-assisted ensemble empirical mode decomposition (MF-EEMD) was proposed in this paper. First, a new method for determining the structuring element shape and size was proposed to improve the adaptive ability of morphological filter (MF). Then, the adaptive MF was introduced into EMD to remove the superfluous white noise components to improve the decomposition results. Based on the contributions of MF in a single EMD process, the MF-EEMD was proposed by combining EEMD with MF to suppress the mode mixing problems. Finally, an analog signal and a measured signal were used to verify the feasibility of MF-EEMD. The results show that MF-EEMD significantly mitigates the mode mixing problems and achieves a higher decomposition efficiency compared to that of EEMD.
Aerothermoelastic Load Calculation for Hypersonic Vehicles Based on Multiphysics Coupled Analysis
Authors: Chen Hao , Xu Min , Qiu Zihua , Xie Dan , Wang Yabin
Published: September 2018

To fulfill the design objective of a structure and thermal protection system, accurate load environment prediction is very important, so we present a high-fidelity aerothermoelastic load calculation method based on a partitioned computational fluid dynamics/computational structural dynamics/computational thermal dynamics (CFD/CSD/CTD) coupling analysis. For the data transformation between the CFD/CSD/CTD systems, finite element interpolation (FEI) is explored, and a shape-preserving grid deformation strategy is achieved via radical basis functions (RBFs). Numerical results are presented for validation of the proposed CFD/CSD/CTD coupling analysis. First, a simply supported panel in hypersonic flow is investigated for results comparison of the proposed coupling method and previous work. Second, a hypersonic forebody is investigated to explore the aerothermoelastic effects while considering the feedback between deformation and aerodynamic heating. The results show that the CFD/CSD/CTD coupling method is accurate for analysis of aerothermoelasticity. In addition, considering the aerothermoelastic effect, the shear force and bending movement increase with time before 900s and decrease after 900s, and at 900s increased percentages of 5.7% and 4.1% are observed, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt high-fidelity CFD/CSD/CTD coupling in the design of a structure and thermal protection system for hypersonic vehicles.
The Influence of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements on Comatose Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the First Week of Admission
Authors: Belatar Bahia , Elabidi Abdallah , Barkiyou Malika , El Faroudi Mamoun , Eljaoudi Rachid , Lahlou Laila , Kabbaj Saad , Maazouzi Wajdi
Published: September 2018

Purpose. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and imbalance of trace elements (chromium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) in death among patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Material and Methods. A case-control study was conducted with 64 comatose patients with severe TBI, in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ibn Sina University Hospital and Hospital of Specialties in Rabat, Morocco; 22 healthy volunteers were recruited in Blood Transfusion Center of Rabat. Blood samples were collected from TBI patients, in the first week (3h after admission and each 48h during one week) and from healthy volunteers one time. Concentration of heavy metals and trace elements in serum was determined by electrochemical atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical software (SPSS) and the cases and controls were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test and Student’s t-test for cadmium according to gender and final evolution. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results. Our data showed that the difference of heavy metals concentration (lead and cadmium) between patients and healthy subjects was not statistically significant. However, the difference of some trace elements concentration (iron, copper, chromium, and selenium) between patients and healthy subjects was statistically significant. According to the final evolution, the concentration of manganese was higher in dead patients and statistically significant (p = 0.04) for heavy metals; the concentration of lead was not statistically significant while the concentration in cadmium was statistically significant (p = 0.004). By sex, lead and cadmium were statistically significant, respectively p = 0.02, p = 0.001, and cadmium was higher in women, while lead was higher in men. Conclusion. Among all studied heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and trace elements (iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, and manganese), manganese and cadmium may play a role in the death of patients from severe traumatic brain injury.
Enhanced Ammonia Adsorption on Directly Deposited Nanofibrous Carbon Films
Authors: Bannov Alexander G. , Jašek Ondřej , Prášek Jan , Buršík Jiří , Zajíčková Lenka
Published: September 2018

The ammonia adsorption on the nanostructured carbon thin film was significantly influenced by the choice of deposition temperature and deposition time of thin film synthesis. The thin films were prepared on Si/SiO2 substrates by chemical vapour deposition in Ar/C2H2 gas mixture using iron catalytic nanoparticles. The analysis of the grown layer by the scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed the transition from long multiwalled nanotubes (MWCNTs) to bamboo-like hollow carbon nanofiber structure with the decrease of the deposition temperature from 700 to 600°C. Further, the material was analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the transition from graphitic sp2 structure to highly defective structure at lower deposition temperature. The resistance of the prepared layer strongly depends on deposition temperature (Td) and deposition time (td). High resistance layer, 38.6 kΩ, was formed at Td 600°C and td 10 min, while at Td 700°C and td 60 min, the resistance decreased to 860 ohms. Such behaviour is consistent with MWCNTs being responsible for the formation of the conductive network. Such system was studied using chemiresistor ammonia gas sensor configuration. The sensor resistance increased when exposed to ammonia in all the cases, but their response varied considerably. A decrease in deposition time, from 60 to 10 min, and the deposition temperature, from 700 to 600°C, led to the 10-fold increase in the sensor response. The measurements carried out at room temperature showed the higher sensor response than the measurements carried out at 200°C. This behaviour can be explained by the change in adsorption-desorption equilibrium at different temperatures. Analysis of dependence of the sensor response on the ammonia concentration proved that the underlying resistance change mechanism is chemisorption of ammonia molecules on the carbon network corresponding to the Langmuir isotherm.
A Lightweight Privacy Protection User Authentication and Key Agreement Scheme Tailored for the Internet of Things Environment: LightPriAuth
Authors: Chen Yuwen , López Lourdes , Martínez José-Fernán , Castillejo Pedro
Published: September 2018

Different data are collected by diverse sensors under an Internet of things scenario, such as health data, environmental data, and traffic flow data. People can access data remotely via the Internet easily. Considering the importance and confidentiality of these data, it is necessary to ensure the data security. In this study, we propose an authentication and key establishment scheme for an Internet of things scenario based on low-capability devices. This scheme achieves many security features: user anonymity, sensor anonymity, forward secrecy, resistance to the loss of synchronization problem, and so on We verified these security features using AVISPA and ProVerif; both results show that the scheme is safe enough to achieve the security requirements. Besides, the experiment results elucidate that this scheme gains an advantage in computation and communication costs. It is because of the sole usage of XOR operations and hash functions as well as a minimal amount of asymmetric encryptions to fulfil forward secrecy.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate Derived from Allium spp. against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Human Samples
Authors: Sorlozano-Puerto Antonio , Albertuz-Crespo Maria , Lopez-Machado Isaac , Ariza-Romero Juan Jose , Baños-Arjona Alberto , Exposito-Ruiz Manuela , Gutierrez-Fernandez Jose
Published: September 2018

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro antibacterial activity of two compounds derived from Alliaceae, PTS (propyl-propane-thiosulfinate), and PTSO (propyl-propane-thiosulfonate), with that of other antibiotics commonly used against bacteria isolated from humans. Materials and Methods. A total of 212 gram-negative bacilli and 267 gram-positive cocci isolated from human clinical samples and resistant to at least one group of antibiotics were selected. In order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) to various antibiotics as well as PTS and PTSO, all isolates underwent broth microdilution assay. Results. PTS showed moderate activity against Enterobacteriaceae with MIC50 (and MBC50) and MIC90 (and MBC90) values of 256-512 mg/L, while PTSO showed greater activity with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 64-128 mg/L and MBC50 and MBC90 values of 128-512 mg/L. These data show the bactericidal activity of both compounds and indicate that PTSO was more active than PTS against this group of bacteria. Both compounds showed lower activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC50 = 1024 mg/L, MIC90 = 2048 mg/L, MBC50 = 2048 mg/L, and MBC90 = 2048 mg/L, for PTS; MIC50 = 512 mg/L, MIC90 = 1024 mg/L, MBC50 = 512 mg/L, and MBC90 = 2048 mg/L, for PTSO) compared to those obtained in others nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli (MIC50 = 128 mg/L, MIC90 = 512 mg/L, MBC50 = 128 mg/L, and MBC90 = 512 mg/L, for PTS; MIC50 = 64 mg/L, MIC90 = 256 mg/L, MBC50 = 64 mg/L, and MBC90 = 256 mg/L, for PTSO) and also indicate the bactericidal activity of both compounds against these groups of bacteria. Finally, the activity against S. aureus, E. faecalis, and S. agalactiae was higher than that observed against enterobacteria, especially in the case of PTSO (MIC50 = 8 mg/L, MIC90 = 8 mg/L, MBC50 = 32 mg/L, and MBC90 = 64 mg/L, in S. aureus; MIC50 = 4 mg/L, MIC90 = 8 mg/L, MBC50 = 8 mg/L, and MBC90 = 16 mg/L, in E. faecalis and S. agalactiae). Conclusion. PTS and PTSO have a significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity against multiresistant bacteria isolated from human clinical samples. Preliminary results in present work provide basic and useful information for development and potential use of these compounds in the treatment of human infections.
Ameliorative Effects of Infantile Feire Kechuan Oral Solution on Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia in Infant Mouse and Rat Models
Authors: Guo Shanshan , Bao Lei , Qu Tiange , Mao Xin , Gao Yingjie , Xu Yingli , Cui Xiaolan
Published: September 2018

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection is a major pathogen of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children worldwide. Infantile Feire Kechuan Oral Solution (IFKOS) has been used for the treatment of MP pneumonia clinically in China for many years. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of IFKOS on MP pneumonia and explore the potential mechanism of the actions. The infant BALB/c mouse and Wistar rat models of MP infection were successfully established to confirm the therapeutic effects of IFKOS, followed by assays for related cytokines and investigations of the IgM response involved. The results showed that IFKOS exhibited an inhibitory effect on pulmonary index (PI) and effectively reduced the degree of lesions in the lungs. The lethal rate of mice was significantly decreased while survival time of mice was dramatically increased by IFKOS treatment in comparison to infection control, respectively. IFKOS treatment (40, 20, and 10ml/kg) significantly decreased the level of MP‐IgM in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas IFKOS showed no obvious inhibitory effect on the increase of relative expression of MP‐DNA. In addition, the elevated IL‐2 and TNF‐α levels were significantly reduced and the decreased IL‐6 level was significantly enhanced by IFKOS treatment. Our study demonstrates that IFKOS has inhibitory effect on MP infection in infant mouse and rat models of MP pneumonia and protective effect from lethal MP challenge in infant murine model. These anti‐MP effects might be related to suppression of the IgM response and a reversal the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines induced by MP infection.
Seismic Risk Mitigation for a Portfolio of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings through Optimal Allocation of a Limited Budget
Authors: Caterino Nicola , Azmoodeh Behnam M. , Manfredi Gaetano
Published: September 2018

The mitigation of seismic risk for a population of vulnerable civil critical structures (e.g., hospitals, schools, and bridges) is a crucial issue for many governments of earthquake‐prone regions. Furthermore, owing to the global economic crisis, limited financial resources make full seismic rehabilitation of entire building stocks challenging. Therefore, a critical decision has to be made on the following key question: what is the most advantageous way of spending the available budget while treating each building in a portfolio differently, by giving it a different level of structural improvement to reduce the overall risk of the portfolio of buildings as much as possible? Herein, a decision‐making tool is proposed to address this high‐social‐impact issue. Starting with a limited amount of information, which is gathered through expeditious surveys on existing buildings, and by involving uncertainties, the overall risk is evaluated from the fragility analysis of each structure. This is conducted via simplified pushover analyses by considering the local seismic hazard. Then, an optimization is performed for each building of the portfolio to select a relevant structural intervention from four alternatives (no intervention, partial retrofit, full retrofit, and demolition and reconstruction), based on both the overall risk reduction and the amount of financial resources. Procedures for quick estimation of fragility curves and installation costs are also discussed as part of the proposed approach. Finally, a practical application is presented with reference to a simulated case study consisting of 46 reinforced concrete school buildings located in Campania, Italy.
Application of a FBG-Based Instrumented Rock Bolt in a TBM-Excavated Coal Mine Roadway
Authors: Tang Bin , Cheng Hua , Tang Yongzhi , Yao Zhishu , Rong Chuanxin , Xue Weipei , Lin Jian
Published: September 2018

Rock bolts have been widely applied with roadway excavation in underground coal mines to prevent roadway collapse and improve the stability of roadway surrounding rocks. Overloading and failures of rock bolts could result in accidents or casualties in coal mine roadways. Consequently, monitoring axial forces and work conditions of rock bolts plays an increasingly important role in ensuring safe operations of underground coal mines. Conventional mechanical or electronic rock bolt monitoring systems are typically affected by electromagnetic interference, corrosive groundwater, and dusty circumstance in underground working sites. This work proposed a FBG-based instrumented rock bolt. Quasi-distributed FBG sensors were installed on a slotted rock bolt and encapsulated by epoxy resin that was used to fix FBG sensors on the rock bolt and protect FBG sensors from damage. The FBG sensors were calibrated before the in situ application. Monitoring results indicated that the axial forces of rock bolts installed on the roof of the roadway were higher than that of others, and the maximum axial forces of each rock bolt were typically detected near the middle portion of rock bolts. A real-time and accurate rock bolt monitoring system was established by integrating instrumented rock bolts to the existing monitoring system of the coal mine.
Background Modeling with Extracted Dynamic Pixels for Pumping Unit Surveillance
Authors: Yu Tianming , Yang Jianhua , Lu Wei
Published: September 2018

Background modeling plays an important role in the application of intelligent video surveillance. Researchers have presented diverse approaches to support the development of dynamic background modeling. However, in the case of pumping unit surveillance, traditional background modeling methods often mistakenly detect the periodic rotational pumping unit as the foreground object. To address this problem here, we propose a novel background modeling method for foreground segmentation, particularly in dynamic scenes that include a rotational pumping unit. In the proposed method, the ViBe method is employed to extract possible foreground pixels from the sequence frames and then segment the video image into dynamic and static regions. Subsequently, the kernel density estimation (KDE) method is used to build a background model with dynamic samples of each pixel. The bandwidth and threshold of the KDE model are calculated according to the sample distribution and extremum of each dynamic pixel. In addition, the strategy of sample adjustment combines regular and real-time updates. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated against several state-of-the-art methods applied to complex dynamic scenes consisting of a rotational pumping unit. Experimental results show that the proposed method is available for periodic object motion scenario monitoring applications.
Telemedicine and Geriatrics in France: Inventory of Experiments
Authors: Zulfiqar A. A. , Hajjam A. , Talha S. , Hajjam M. , Hajjam J. , Ervé S. , Andrès E.
Published: September 2018

Telemedicine is now in vogue, being deployed through computer and communication tools in various health fields, such as diabetology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology, and cardiology. With population ageing, geriatrics is coming into sharp focus. Telemedicine practices differ for home-based or institutionalized patients in long-term care homes. We take a look at telemedicine projects in France concerning the elderly.
Effects of the Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Extract (Klamin®) on a Neurodegeneration Cellular Model
Authors: Nuzzo D. , Presti G. , Picone P. , Galizzi G. , Gulotta E. , Giuliano S. , Mannino C. , Gambino V. , Scoglio S. , Di Carlo M.
Published: September 2018

Cyanobacteria have been recognized as a source of bioactive molecules to be employed in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods. An extract of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), commercialized as Klamin®, was subjected to chemical analysis to determine its compounds. The AFA extract Klamin® resulted to be nontoxic, also at high doses, when administered onto LAN5 neuronal cells. Its scavenging properties against ROS generation were evaluated by using DCFH‐DA assay, and its mitochondrial protective role was determined by JC‐1 and MitoSOX assays. Klamin® exerts a protective role against beta amyloid‐ (Aβ-) induced toxicity and against oxidative stress. Anti‐inflammatory properties were demonstrated by NFβB nuclear localization and activation of IL‐6 and IL‐1β inflammatory cytokines through ELISA. Finally, by using thioflavin T (ThT) and fluorimetric measures, we found that Klamin® interferes with Aβ aggregation kinetics, supporting the formation of smaller and nontoxic structures compared to toxic Aβ aggregates alone. Altogether, these data indicate that the AFA extract may play a protective role against mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration.
A New Approach to Adaptive Stabilization of Stochastic High-Order Nonholonomic Systems
Authors: Li Guangju , Zhang Kemei
Published: September 2018

This paper studies the problem of adaptive stabilization for a class of stochastic high-order nonholonomic systems. Under the weaker assumptions, by constructing the appropriate Lyapunov function and combining sign function technique, an adaptive state feedback controller is designed to guarantee global asymptotic stability in probability of the closed-loop system. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated by a mechanical system.
A Prospective Randomized, Controlled, Double‐Blind Trial of the Efficacy Using Centella Cream for Scar Improvement
Authors: Jenwitheesuk Kamonwan , Rojsanga Porntip , Chowchuen Bowornsilp , Surakunprapha Palakorn
Published: September 2018

Objective. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of Centella asiatica extract in cream, a preparation for the prevention of scar development of the split‐thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site. Methods. A prospective randomized, double‐blind control study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of Centella cream in 30 patients who underwent a STSG operation. Both Centella cream and placebo were applied equally to the donor site at least 2 weeks after epithelialization was completed. A scar assessment using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was taken at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results. Of the original 30 patients, 23 patients completed evaluation. There were significant differences in pigmentation parameter of VSS and comparative total VSS scores between 4 and 12 weeks in Centella cream group. Conclusion. The effect of Centella cream on scar development of a STSG operation may be attainable in terms of better pigmentation. By means of objective measurements and longer follow‐up times, Centella cream may prove to be an alternative product for hypertrophic scar amelioration.
Cystic Echinococcosis of the Bone in Kazakhstan
Authors: Manciulli Tommaso , Mustapayeva Aigerim , Juszkiewicz Konrad , Sokolenko Ekaterina , Maulenov Zhaksylik , Vola Ambra , Mariconti Mara , Serikbaev Gani , Duisenova Amangul , Brunetti Enrico , Zholdybay Zhamilya
Published: September 2018

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by E. granulosus primarily affecting the liver and lungs. CE of the bone is by far the most debilitating form of the disease and is very difficult to manage as it mimics malignant tumors. We reviewed bone CE cases admitted to a reference oncological hospital in Kazakhstan from January 2010 to February 2017. Among eight patients, the mean age was 33.5 years, and the male/female ratio was 1 : 3. Patients were examined by X-ray (8/8), CT (7/8), and MRI (3/8). CE was in the spine (2 cases), pelvis (3 cases), and long bones (humerus, tibia, and femur; one case for each). All patients were treated surgically. No perioperative albendazole was administered. No patient received albendazole afterwards. The mean hospital stay was 25 days. Interventions are urgently needed to assess the burden of CE in Kazakhstan and to inform clinicians of the existence of the disease.
The Effect of Anterior Uterocervical Angle on Primary Dysmenorrhea and Disease Severity
Authors: Sahin Mefkure Eraslan , Sahin Erdem , Madendag Yusuf , Madendag Ilknur Col , Tayyar Ahter Tanay , Özdemir Fatma , Acmaz Gokhan , Muderris Iptisam Ipek
Published: September 2018

Background. Primary dysmenorrhea, defined as painful menstrual cramps originating in the uterus without underlying pathology, is a gynecological disease that affects quality of life and school success. Our goal was to determine the effect of anterior uterocervical angle on primary dysmenorrhea and disease severity. Methods. A total of 200 virgin adolescents, 16 to 20 years of age, were included in the study. The Andersch and Milsom scale was used to determine dysmenorrhea severity. Those with pathologies causing secondary dysmenorrhea were excluded from the study. Study subjects were grouped based on severity of pain. Demographic characteristics and uterocervical ultrasonographic measurements were compared among groups. Results. Of the 200 participants enrolled in the study, 50 were healthy controls and 150 had primary dysmenorrhea. Those with primary dysmenorrhea had a significant family history of primary dysmenorrhea compared with controls (P<0.001). Age (P=0.668), body mass index (P=0.898), menarche age (P=0.915), and length of menstrual cycles (P=0.740) were similar in all groups. The uterine corpus longitudinal axis, uterine corpus transverse axis, and uterine cervix longitudinal axis were also similar (P=0.359, P=0.279, and P=0.369, resp.). The mean uterocervical angle was 146.8 ± 6.0 in controls and 143.3 ± 7.3 in those with mild pain with no significant difference between the groups. In those with moderate pain, the mean uterocervical angle was 121.2 ± 7.3 compared with 101 ± 9.2 in those with severe pain, which was a significant difference. Additionally, there was also a significant difference in the uterocervical angle among those with mild, moderate, and severe pain (P<0.001). Conclusion. Our results indicate that a narrower anterior uterocervical angle is associated with primary dysmenorrhea and disease severity.
Functional Silencing of HSD17B2 in Prostate Cancer Promotes Disease Progression
Authors: Gao Xiaomei , Dai Charles , Huang Shengsong , Tang Jingjie , Chen Guoyuan , Li Jianneng , Zhu Ziqi , Zhu Xuyou , Zhou Shuirong , Gao Yuanyuan , Hou Zemin , Fang Zijun , Xu Chengdang , Wang Jianyang , Wu Denglong , Sharifi Nima , Li Zhenfei
Published: September 2018

Purpose:

Steroidogenic enzymes are essential for prostate cancer development. Enzymes inactivating potent androgens were not investigated thoroughly, which leads to limited interference strategies for prostate cancer therapy. Here we characterized the clinical relevance, significance, and regulation mechanism of enzyme HSD17B2 in prostate cancer development.

Experimental Design:

HSD17B2 expression was detected with patient specimens and prostate cancer cell lines. Function of HSD17B2 in steroidogenesis, androgen receptor (AR) signaling, and tumor growth was investigated with prostate cancer cell lines and a xenograft model. DNA methylation and mRNA alternative splicing were investigated to unveil the mechanisms of HSD17B2 regulation.

Results:

HSD17B2 expression was reduced as prostate cancer progressed. 17βHSD2 decreased potent androgen production by converting testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to each of their upstream precursors. HSD17B2 overexpression suppressed androgen-induced cell proliferation and xenograft growth. Multiple mechanisms were involved in HSD17B2 functional silencing including DNA methylation and mRNA alternative splicing. DNA methylation decreased the HSD17B2 mRNA level. Two new catalytic-deficient isoforms, generated by alternative splicing, bound to wild-type 17βHSD2 and promoted its degradation. Splicing factors SRSF1 and SRSF5 participated in the generation of new isoforms.

Conclusions:

Our findings provide evidence of the clinical relevance, significance, and regulation of HSD17B2 in prostate cancer progression, which might provide new strategies for clinical management by targeting the functional silencing mechanisms of HSD17B2.

See related commentary by Mostaghel, p. 1139
Controversies among Cancer Registry Participants, Genomic Researchers, and Institutional Review Boards about Returning Participants’ Genomic Results
Authors: Edwards Karen L. , Goodman Deborah , Johnson Catherine O. , Wenzel Lari , Condit Celeste , Bowen Deborah
Published: September 2018

Objectives: Genomic information will increasingly be used to aid in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Several national initiatives are paving the way for this new reality, while also promoting new models of participant-engaged research. We compare the opinions of research participants in a cancer registry, human genetic researchers, and institutional review board (IRB) professionals about the return of individual-level genetic results (ROR). Methods: Online surveys were administered to participants in a cancer registry (n = 450) and overlapping questions were compared to our previous online national surveys of human genetic researchers (n = 351) and IRB professionals (n = 208). Results: The majority of respondents agreed that researchers have an obligation to return individual results when they would affect a participant’s health. While 77% of registry participants favored ROR if the researcher feels the participant might be interested in the results, only 30% of the IRB professionals and 25% of the genetic researchers agreed with this statement. Conclusions: Significant differences emerged between the stakeholder groups in several ROR scenarios. Policies that are acceptable to participants, researchers and IRBs, and that ensure human subject protections and facilitate research are needed.
Clinical Implication of Multi-Parameter Flow Cytometry in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Duetz Carolien , Westers Theresia M. , van de Loosdrecht Arjan A.
Published: September 2018

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a challenging group of diseases for clinicians and researchers, as both disease course and pathobiology are highly heterogeneous. In (suspected) MDS patients, multi-parameter flow cytometry can aid in establishing diagnosis, risk stratification and choice of therapy. This review addresses the developments and future directions of multi-parameter flow cytometry scores in MDS. Additionally, we propose an integrated diagnostic algorithm for suspected MDS.