bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital library keyword analysis for visualization education research
Authors: Bratt Sharon
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore digital library search engine to return relevant materials on information visualization pedagogy literature and to recommend search strategies to assist the digital library academic readership improve the efficacy of their search tasks. Furthermore, the results are of interest to general readers using similar digital repositories.

Design/methodology/approach

An initial scoping review using EBSCO Discovery services returned the number and accessibility of sources and publications-based various Boolean searches. A revised search strategy focused the search to IEEE publications as the primary source of visualization research. A corpus of keywords were extracted from the 44 relevant articles and analyzed for relevance, keyword trends and contexts of use.

Findings

Keyword analysis results show visualization education research is confounded by several information retrieval issues: relevancy, incomplete taxonomy, non-standard lexicon, diverse disciplines and under-representation. Recommendations include: search strategies, alternative digital collections, a potential opportunity for research in information visualization pedagogy to address this gap in an emerging field and the need for more effective interactive tools to assist with keyword selection.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on the IEEE publications as the primary source of visualization research.

Practical implications

A repository of visualization education research that is easily findable and relevant benefits both faculty using information visualization in their teaching and academics whose work must be disseminated to the broadest audience. Strategic keyword selection, interactive keyword tools or more robust thesaurus will enable IEEE Xplore digital library users to optimize their interaction with the system. Furthermore, results suggest a need for more research in information visualization pedagogy.

Originality/value

This is the only study to uniquely assess the efficacy of the IEEE Xplore digital library database system to retrieve relevant visualization education literature based on keyword search.
Effect of funding source on reporting bias in studies of intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Venincasa Michael J. , Kuriyan Ajay E. , Sridhar Jayanth
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To examine the relationship between industry funding and outcome reporting bias in high‐quality studies investigating the use of intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for patients with macular oedema secondary to branch or central retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods

This systematic review in PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE examined all randomized clinical trials and meta‐analyses published in journals with impact factor of ≥2 that investigated effectiveness of intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy in patients with RVO. The main outcome measure was correspondence between statistical outcome and abstract conclusion wording.

Results

Forty‐five studies met inclusion criteria; 38 (84%) showed correspondence between outcome and abstract conclusion without difference between industry‐funded and nonindustry‐funded publications (p = 0.39) or between publications in journals with impact factor ≥3 versus <3 (p = 0.96).

Conclusion

In high‐quality studies of intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy for RVO, neither industry funding nor journal impact factor affected the rate of outcome reporting bias.
Enhanced luminescence in Tb3+‐doped germanate glass ceramic scintillators containing CaF2 nanocrystals
Authors: Zhao Jingtao , Huang Lihui , Zhao Shilong , Xu Shiqing
Published: September 2018

Tb3+‐doped germanate glass ceramics containing CaF2 nanocrystals were prepared by melt quenching method with subsequent heat treatment. Their microstructures were investigated by XRD and TEM techniques. Their optical properties were studied by the transmittance, the photoluminescence, and the X‐ray excited luminescence (XEL). The luminescence intensity in the glass ceramics under 377 nm light and X‐ray excitations is significantly enhanced. The maximum integrated XEL intensity of the glass ceramics is about 50% of that of the commercial Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) scintillating crystal. The results indicate that Tb3+‐doped germanate glass ceramic could be a promising scintillating material used in X‐ray detection for slow event.
Damping Low Frequency Oscillations via FACTS-POD Controllers Tuned by Bees Algorithm
Authors: Arzeha Nurul Aziah , Mustafa Mohd Wazir , Mohamad Idris Rasyidah
Published: September 2018

Power systems are often subject to low frequency electro-mechanical oscillations resulting from electrical disturbances and consequence of the development of interconnection of large power system. Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices with Power Oscillation Damping (POD) as the supplemet controller has been recent research interest in damping the oscillation. Bees Algorithm (BA) is applied to optimized the parameters of the FACTS-POD controller. The main objective of optimization is to improve the system stability by moving the electro-mechanical eigenvalues on the s-plane to the left as far as possible. The controller is tested on a 3-machine 9-bus system and simulated in PSAT in MATLAB environment.  The system is disturbed by increasing 10% mechanical input to Generator 2 and second disturbance is the system experiencing a three-phase fault. The performance of the system with the FACTS-POD controller is observed in terms of position of electromechanical eigenvalues on s-plane and damping responses of power oscillations where both terms shows significant improvement as compared to the system without FACTS-POD controller.
Effects of Family Structure on the Academic Performance of Children: A Case Study of Ayeduase R/C Junior High School in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
Authors: Azumah Francess Dufie , Samuel Krampah , Onzaberigu Nachinaab John
Published: September 2018

In today’s competitive global setting, pupil’s performance is an important element of the school’s achievement. Pupil’s performance can significantly be affected by range of variables. Researches depict family structure as a salient variable. This study looked at the family structure of Junior High School pupils in Ayeduase Sub-Metro of Kumasi and their academic performance. The objectives were to assess the difference in relationship between the academic performance of children from single-parent families and two parent families and also to determine the difference in parental involvement in children’s academic performance. The research utilized a case study of 80 J.H.S. students in Ayeduase Sub-Metro, Kumasi between the ages of 12–18 years who were sampled by using stratified sampling technique. The sample consisted of all J.H.S 1, J.H.S 2 and J.H.S 3 students in order to maintain reliability. Chi-square test of independence was used in testing the first research hypothesis which was to determine the relationship between children in single-parent families and two parent families (family structure) and the dependent variable (academic performance). The result of the study indicated that, there was no significant difference in relationship between children from single-parent and two parent families (family structure) as independent variable and academic performance of pupils (p=0.791) as the dependent variable. The finding of this study provided evidence that family structure indicated no significant effects on academic performance of children. The study recommends that further studies should be carried out to include other family factors. Chi-square test of independence was used in testing the second hypothesis which was to determine the difference in parental involvement in children’s academic performance. The result of the study also indicated that, there was a significant difference in parental involvement in children’s academic performance (p=0.223).
In situ XPS study of low temperature atomic layer deposition of B2O3 films on Si using BCl3 and H2O precursors
Authors: Pilli Aparna , Jones Jessica , Lee Veronica , Chugh Natasha , Kelber Jeffry , Pasquale Frank , LaVoie Adrien
Published: September 2018

In this study, atomic layer deposition (ALD) of nanoscale boron oxide (B2O3) films on Si using BCl3/H2O precursors at room temperature was investigated using in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). B2O3 thin films are of considerable interest in ultra-shallow Si doping applications, including high aspect ratio FinFET structures, where film conformality and precise thickness control are crucial. ALD is therefore of particular interest for such applications. XPS data demonstrate that initial BCl3 exposures on Si at room temperature are self-limiting and are accompanied by partial B-Cl dissociation and Cl-Si formation. H2O exposures >1.7 × 108 Langmuir at room temperature removed Cl from B sites, but failed to remove Cl from the Cl-Si species. ALD-type growth of B2O3 was observed with an average growth rate of ∼2.5 Å/cycle and without further increase in the Cl content. The initial Cl contamination was due to Cl-Si bond formation at the interface, without Cl incorporation into the oxide film. The role of Cl in the inhibition of oxide film growth was further investigated by the reactions of BCl3/O2 on SiO2 at room temperature and 650 K. BCl3/O2 precursors exhibit negligible B2O3 growth at room temperature. At 650 K, B2O3 growth was observed with a decreasing growth rate per BCl3/O2 cycle, corresponding to an increase in the Cl:B atomic ratio. These data indicate that room temperature ALD using BCl3/H2O precursors is a potential route toward the formation of uniform B2O3 films for shallow Si doping applications, but that Cl-Si formation significantly impacts initial oxide nucleation and growth.
Lissajous Figures, Musical Intervals, and the Just Diatonic Scale
Authors: Ruiz Michael J.
Published: September 2018

The frequency ratios for the just diatonic scale are obtained by identifying musical intervals corresponding to Lissajous figures. The demonstration integrates the engineering physics of Lissajous patterns with the recognition of musical intervals through simple ear training. A free HTML5 app has been developed for this class activity and the program can be run online or downloaded to the desktop. A video is provided illustrating the use of the software.
Searching for Stellar Explosions to Teach the Process of Science
Authors: Rector Travis , Wooten Michelle , Puckett Andrew , Pilachowski Catherine , Coble Kimberly
Published: September 2018

Research-based science education (RBSE) is an instructional model that integrates scientific research with education by giving introductory-level undergraduate astronomy students an opportunity to do authentic research with real data. Its goals are threefold: (1) to teach that science is a process of discovery, not just a body of knowledge, (2) to improve attitudes towards science and STEM careers, and (3) to develop critical thinking, teamwork, and goal-driven work skills that are important in any career path. The RBSE curriculum currently consists of five authentic research projects in astronomy. Each project uses real astronomical data from professional observatories to investigate authentic research questions for which the answers are not known. In other words, in order to learn science, students are given the opportunity to actually do science. The results of RBSE student research have been submitted to scientific databases, presented at professional conferences, and published in refereed journals. In this paper we introduce the RBSE instructional model. To serve as an example, we also describe one of the RBSE research projects wherein students are searching for classical novae in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). We encourage instructors interested in incorporating the RBSE curriculum into their teaching to learn more at the RBSE websites.
Moving Beyond Misconceptions: Learning Progressions as a Lens for Seeing Progress in Student Thinking
Authors: Alonzo Alicia C. , von Aufschnaiter Claudia
Published: September 2018

Addressing student conceptions with instruction has been a major issue in physics education for decades. However, too often the focus is on treating student ideas as “misconceptions” rather than as potentially productive ideas with varying degrees of sophistication. This paper introduces learning progressions as models that describe ideas students are likely to hold at varying levels of sophistication. This guidance can help us to focus on students’ existing understanding, rather than on what students do not yet know. With such nuanced and structured models of student learning, we can ensure that our assessments do not just check for whether students have the “right” answer, but obtain a more accurate “picture” of what students truly understand about the content to inform instruction that is responsive to students’ learning needs.
Augmented reality Moon for astronomy lessons
Authors: Lincoln James
Published: September 2018

Astro Reality’s Lunar Pro is a highly detailed Moon model that allows users to learn historical and astronomical facts through an augmented reality app. But even just holding this 12-cm diameter Moon in your hand is already an engaging experience. The terrain details are to a very high resolution and were created authentically using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data. In this article, I discuss how the Lunar Pro can go beyond its intended purpose as a desktop novelty or science toy and provide a few examples of how it can be used to enhance the instruction of several topics of astronomy.
Challenges for commercializing perovskite solar cells
Authors: Rong Yaoguang , Hu Yue , Mei Anyi , Tan Hairen , Saidaminov Makhsud I. , Seok Sang Il , McGehee Michael D. , Sargent Edward H. , Han Hongwei
Published: September 2018

The road ahead for perovskites

The high power conversion efficiencies of small-area perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have driven interest in the development of commercial devices. Rong
et al.
review recent progress in addressing stability, how to allow mass production, and how to maintain uniformity of large-area films. They note that lifetimes exceeding 10,000 hours under 1 sun (1 kW/m
2
) illumination have been reported for printable triple mesoscopic PSCs.

Science
, this issue p.
eaat8235
Bang or whimper?
Authors: Middleton Guy D.
Published: September 2018

The evidence for collapse of human civilizations at the start of the recently defined Meghalayan Age is equivocal
Programming cells and tissues
Authors: Glass David S. , Alon Uri
Published: September 2018

New toolkits of biological parts allow powerful cell programming by synthetic biologists
Child awareness of and access to cigarettes: impacts of the point-of-sale display ban in England
Authors: Laverty Anthony A , Vamos Eszter Panna , Millett Christopher , Chang Kiara C-M , Filippidis Filippos T , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: September 2018

Introduction

England introduced a tobacco display ban for shops with >280 m2 floor area (‘partial ban’) in 2012, then a total ban in 2015. This study assessed whether these were linked to child awareness of and access to cigarettes.

Methods

Data come from the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use survey, an annual survey of children aged 11–15 years for 2010–2014 and 2016. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed changes in having seen cigarettes on display, usual sources and ease of access to cigarettes in shops

Results

During the partial display ban in 2012, 89.9% of children reported seeing cigarettes on display in the last year, which was reduced to 86.0% in 2016 after the total ban (adjusted OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.66). Reductions were similar in small shops (84.1% to 79.3%)%) and supermarkets (62.6% to 57.3%)%). Although the ban was associated with a reduction in the proportion of regular child smokers reporting that they bought cigarettes in shops (57.0% in 2010 to 39.8% in 2016), we did not find evidence of changes in perceived difficulty or being refused sale among those who still did.

Discussion

Tobacco point-of-sale display bans in England reduced the exposure of children to cigarettes in shops and coincided with a decrease in buying cigarettes in shops. However, children do not report increased difficulty in obtaining cigarettes from shops, highlighting the need for additional measures to tackle tobacco advertising, stronger enforcement of existing laws and measures such as licencing for tobacco retailers.
Efficient reduction of formic acid to formaldehyde by zinc
Authors: Alderman Nicholas P. , Peneau Virginie , Viasus Camilo J. , Korobkov Ilia , Vidjayacoumar Balamurugan , Albahily Khalid , Gambarotta Sandro
Published: September 2018

The possibility of thermally reducing formic acid to formaldehyde selectively has been probed using metallic zinc. Good selectivity (over 80%) was obtained with low concentrations of formic acid, with methanol and methyl formate as secondary products. The selectivity can be tuned by changing the carrier gas flow, temperature, and zinc amount. Zinc was oxidized to zinc oxide during this process.
Properties and fracture splitting of cast steel matrix composites
Authors: Jiang Yinfang , Sha Deli , Wang Kewei , Qian Junkang
Published: September 2018

To break through current limitations of fracture splitting materials for connecting rods, a bimetallic compound as a fracture splitting material was studied. The bimetallic sample was produced by investment casting, and interface performance tests and splitting tests were conducted. At a casting temperature of 1600 °C for 0.25 wt. % C cast carbon steel, the preheating temperature of T10A was 500 °C, and the thickness of T10A was in the range of 2–3 mm. The 0.25 wt. % C cast carbon steel and T10A were fully combined in the interface. The appearance of the fracture zone was a flat cleavage fracture, which would facilitate meshing of the cracked surface if the specimen were assembled and improve the quality of fracture splitting.
Tritium adsorption in the lithium vacancy of Li2ZrO3: A first principles study
Authors: Li Kun , Yang Wen , Wang Wei-Hua , Li Yong-Tang
Published: September 2018

Tritium adsorption in the irradiation defects of the Li2ZrO3 is a fundamental problem to understand the tritium behavior during the release process. A comprehensive computational study of tritium/helium adsorption in the lithium vacancy of bulk Li2ZrO3 is presented by the density functional theory calculations. The most stable tritium adsorption position has been found and it is determined by the neighboring lithium–oxygen interactions. The results reveal that the intrinsic defect is the lithium vacancy with one electron and it transforms to be the neutral state after a tritium atom is adsorbed. Moreover, helium is adsorbed almost in the center of lithium vacancy without bonding with surrounding oxygen atoms, which could diffuse easily in the bulk Li2ZrO3. Therefore, we predict that the intrinsic Li vacancy tends to adsorb a positive ion T[Formula: see text] other than a neutral T atom. Our results provide theoretical support to understand the T behavior in the Li2ZrO3 crystal.
Nonlinear energy transmission in systems with nonlocal effects and relativistic potentials
Authors: Macías-Díaz Jorge E.
Published: September 2018

In this work, we consider bounded one-dimensional systems consisting of particles with relativistic potentials and nonlocal interactions. The systems are initially at rest and at equilibrium, and are perturbed sinusoidally at one end. Meanwhile, we consider an absorbing boundary at the other end. A Hamiltonian computational method is employed in this work to simulate the dynamics of the continuous-time system. We show here that the driving boundary propagates energy into the system in the form of nonlinear modes. For each driving frequency at the forbidden band-gap, this process occurs at a critical amplitude: the supratransmission threshold. We find that supratransmission occurs for all frequencies in the forbidden band-gap independently of whether nearest-neighbor or global interactions are considered. Several qualitative conclusions are obtained in this work based on our computational results.
Stochastic Delay Characterization for Multicoupled RLC Interconnects Under Process Variations
Authors: Sun Jin , Li Xin , Lian Zhichao , Li Min
Published: September 2018

The characterization of interconnect delay metrics in terms of process variations is an important but complicated task for statistical timing analysis in today’s integrated circuits (ICs). This paper presents a stochastic delay characterization framework for multicoupled interconnects in the presence of process variation. The proposed method starts with deriving the stochastic nodal equations for the RLC network that models multicoupled interconnects. By employing polynomial chaos (PC) expansion, a nonsampling-based stochastic prediction method, we further represent the voltage responses of network nodes as a series of orthogonal polynomials of random variables. During the expansion procedure, we use an adaptive approximation algorithm to reduce the number of required sampling points. We then use a stochastic collocation method to estimate the coefficients in the PC expansion model. With the voltage response determined as an expression of a multi-dimensional polynomial of random variables, the stochastic properties of the delay of multicoupled interconnects can be predicted. The proposed method not only takes into account the strong correlations among process variations, but also extracts an explicit delay representation for multicoupled interconnects in terms of process variations. Experimental results demonstrate that the delay characteristics predicted by the proposed method match well with the results by the brute-force Monte-Carlo method. Moreover, a significant speedup over the Monte-Carlo method has been achieved by the proposed delay characterization framework.
Low complexity algorithms in knot theory
Authors: Kharlampovich Olga , Vdovina Alina
Published: September 2018

Agol, Haas and Thurston showed that the problem of determining a bound on the genus of a knot in a 3-manifold, is NP-complete. This shows that (unless P[Formula: see text]NP) the genus problem has high computational complexity even for knots in a 3-manifold. We initiate the study of classes of knots where the genus problem and even the equivalence problem have very low computational complexity. We show that the genus problem for alternating knots with n crossings has linear time complexity and is in Logspace[Formula: see text]. Alternating knots with some additional combinatorial structure will be referred to as standard. As expected, almost all alternating knots of a given genus are standard. We show that the genus problem for these knots belongs to [Formula: see text] circuit complexity class. We also show, that the equivalence problem for such knots with [Formula: see text] crossings has time complexity [Formula: see text] and is in Logspace[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] complexity classes.
Element-Quality-Based Stiffening for the Pseudoelastic Mesh-Moving Technique
Authors: Ishihara D. , Goto A. , Onishi M. , Horie T. , Niho T.
Published: September 2018

In this study, element-quality-based stiffening (EQBS) was developed as a method of maintaining mesh quality in the pseudoelastic mesh-moving technique. The proposed EQBS technique increases the stiffness of the element based on two element quality parameters, the element area and shape; this differs from techniques used in previous studies. Importantly, EQBS includes the previously proposed Jacobian-based stiffening (JBS) and minimum height-based stiffening (MHBS) techniques as a specific case. Therefore, it is quite general scenario of the selective stiffening of the mesh. The proposed EQBS technique was applied to the mesh-moving of a rectangular domain including a structure consisting of a square and a fin that undergo large translations and rotations. The proposed EQBS technique showed better performance than JBS on test problems with large translations and rotations applied to the structure. This is because EQBS considers the shear deformation of the element in addition to the tensile and compressive deformations.
Unsupervised calibration for noninvasive glucose-monitoring devices using mid-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Kasahara Ryosuke , Kino Saiko , Soyama Shunsuke , Matsuura Yuji
Published: September 2018

Noninvasive, glucose-monitoring technologies using infrared spectroscopy that have been studied typically require a calibration process that involves blood collection, which renders the methods somewhat invasive. We develop a truly noninvasive, glucose-monitoring technique using mid-infrared spectroscopy that does not require blood collection for calibration by applying domain adaptation (DA) using deep neural networks to train a model that associates blood glucose concentration with mid-infrared spectral data without requiring a training dataset labeled with invasive blood sample measurements. For realizing DA, the distribution of unlabeled spectral data for calibration is considered through adversarial update during training networks for regression to blood glucose concentration. This calibration improved the correlation coefficient between the true blood glucose concentrations and predicted blood glucose concentrations from 0.38 to 0.47. The result indicates that this calibration technique improves prediction accuracy for mid-infrared glucose measurements without any invasively acquired data.
The review of the bond-based peridynamics modeling
Authors: Han Duanfeng , Zhang Yiheng , Wang Qing , Lu Wei , Jia Bin
Published: September 2018

Peridynamics theory is a nonlocal meshless method that replaces differential equations with spatial integral equations, and has shown good applicability and reliability in the analysis of discontinuities. Further, with characteristics of clear physical meaning and simple and reliable numerical calculation, the bond-based peridynamics method has been widely applied in the field. However, this method describes the interaction between material points simply using a single elastic “spring”, and thus leads to a fixed Poisson’s ratio, relatively low computational efficiency and other inherent problems. As such, the goal of this review paper is to provide a summary of the various methods of bond-based peridynamics modeling, particularly those that have overcome the limitations of the Poisson’s ratio, considered the shear deformation and modeling of two-dimensional thin plates for bending and three-dimensional anisotropic composites, as well as explored coupling with finite element methods. This review will determine the advantages and disadvantages of such methods and serve as a starting point for researchers in the development of peridynamics theory.
Contemporary image-based methods for measuring passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscles in vivo
Authors: Bilston Lynne E. , Bolsterlee Bart , Nordez Antoine , Sinha Shantanu
Published: September 2018

Skeletal muscles’ primary function in the body is mechanical: to move and stabilize the skeleton. As such, their mechanical behavior is a key aspect of their physiology. Recent developments in medical imaging technology have enabled quantitative studies of passive muscle mechanics, ranging from measurements of intrinsic muscle mechanical properties, such as elasticity and viscosity, to three-dimensional muscle architecture and dynamic muscle deformation and kinematics. In this review we summarize the principles and applications of contemporary imaging methods that have been used to study the passive mechanical behavior of skeletal muscles. Elastography measurements can provide in vivo maps of passive muscle mechanical parameters, and both MRI and ultrasound methods are available (magnetic resonance elastography and ultrasound shear wave elastography, respectively). Both have been shown to differentiate between healthy muscle and muscles affected by a broad range of clinical conditions. Detailed muscle architecture can now be depicted using diffusion tensor imaging, which not only is particularly useful for computational modeling of muscle but also has potential in assessing architectural changes in muscle disorders. More dynamic information about muscle mechanics can be obtained using a range of dynamic MRI methods, which characterize the detailed internal muscle deformations during motion. There are several MRI techniques available (e.g., phase-contrast MRI, displacement-encoded MRI, and “tagged” MRI), each of which can be collected in synchrony with muscle motion and postprocessed to quantify muscle deformation. Together, these modern imaging techniques can characterize muscle motion, deformation, mechanical properties, and architecture, providing complementary insights into skeletal muscle function.
Kynurenic Acid Protects against Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury in Rats
Authors: Marciniak Sebastian , Wnorowski Artur , Smolińska Katarzyna , Walczyna Beata , Turski Waldemar , Kocki Tomasz , Paluszkiewicz Piotr , Parada-Turska Jolanta
Published: September 2018

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disorder of liver function. Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite formed along the kynurenine metabolic pathway, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its presence in food and its potential role in the digestive system was recently reported. The aim of this study was to define the effect of KYNA on liver failure. The Wistar rat model of thioacetamide-induced liver injury was used. Morphological and biochemical analyses as well as the measurement of KYNA content in liver and hepatoprotective herbal remedies were conducted. The significant attenuation of morphological disturbances and aspartate and alanine transaminase activities, decrease of myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-α, and elevation of interleukin-10 levels indicating the protective effect of KYNA in thioacetamide (TAA) - induced liver injury were discovered. In conclusion, the hepatoprotective role of KYNA in an animal model of liver failure was documented and the use of KYNA in the treatment of ALF was suggested.
Intraoperative Local Administration of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) during Neurolysis Surgery for the Treatment of Digital Nerve Crush Injury
Authors: Ikumi Akira , Hara Yuki , Okano Eriko , Kohyama Sho , Arai Norihito , Taniguchi Yu , Sugaya Hisashi , Yoshioka Tomokazu , Kanamori Akihiro , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: September 2018

The digital nerves are important for normal hand function. In addition to conventional therapies such as neurolysis, direct repair, and auto/allografts, new treatments administering growth factors and cells for promoting nerve regeneration exist. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous product with proven therapeutic effects for musculoskeletal disorders, is a new treatment option for peripheral nerve injury. We hypothesized that PRP could stimulate healing of digital nerve injuries. In the current case report, intraoperative local administration of PRP was performed during neurolysis surgery for a healthy 28-year-old woman with digital nerve crush injury. Five weeks postinjury, surgery was performed due to severe uncontrollable neuropathic pain and no sensory nerve action potential derivation of the index finger. Therapeutic effects were assessed by physical examination, visual analog scale for pain, and nerve conduction study. Postoperatively, early neuropathic pain relief and good functional recovery were obtained with no PRP-related adverse events. This case report demonstrates the therapeutic potential of intraoperative PRP to enhance the healing process of nerve crush injury in the acute phase and to decrease the neuropathic pain, thus enhancing healing of peripheral nerve crush injury.
Active Vibration Control of the Sting Used in Wind Tunnel: Comparison of Three Control Algorithms
Authors: Shen Xing , Dai Yuke , Chen Mingxuan , Zhang Lei , Yu Li
Published: September 2018

In wind tunnel tests, cantilever stings are often used as model‐mount in order to reduce flow interference on experimental data. In this case, however, large‐amplitude vibration and low‐frequency vibration are easily produced on the system, which indicates the potential hazards of gaining inaccurate data and even damaging the structure. This paper details three algorithms, respectively, Classical PD Algorithm, Artificial Neural Network PID (NNPID), and Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) Optimal Control Algorithm, which can realize active vibration control of sting used in wind tunnel. The hardware platform of the first‐order vibration damping system based on piezoelectric structure is set up and the real‐time control software is designed to verify the feasibility and practicability of the algorithms. While the PD algorithm is the most common method in engineering, the results show that all the algorithms can achieve the purpose of over 80% reduction, and the last two algorithms perform even better. Besides, self‐tuning is realized in NNPID, and with the help of the Observer/Kalman Filter Identification (OKID), LQR optimal control algorithm can make the control effort as small as possible. The paper proves the superiority of NNPID and LQR algorithms and can be an available reference for vibration control of wind tunnel system.
Anterior Chamber Flare as an Objective and Quantitative Noninvasive Method for Oculopathy in Transthyretin V30M Amyloidosis Patients
Authors: Beirão João , Miranda Vasco , Pinheiro-Torres Beatriz , Coelho João , Menéres Maria-João , Menéres Pedro
Published: September 2018

Purpose. Assess the aqueous humor flare in transthyretin V30M amyloidosis patients (ATTRV30M). Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional comparative study including 28 ATTRV30M patients with a unilateral scalloped iris. For comparative analysis, the fellow eye, the nonscalloped iris eye, from each patient was used as control. All patients underwent aqueous humor flare meter and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Results. Mean aqueous humor flare was significantly higher in the eyes with the scalloped iris than the control group with the nonscalloped iris (14.1 ± 2.2 versus 6.5 ± 0.9 pc/ms, respectively). No significant differences in IOP were found in the scalloped iris eyes than those in the nonscalloped iris control group (17.1 ± 0.8 versus 16.8 ± 0.7 mmHg, respectively). No significant correlation was not found between the flare and the IOP value within groups. Conclusions. In this study, aqueous humor flare values in the scalloped iris eyes may be a valid marker for controlling the stage of the oculopathy in ATTRV30M patients.
Clinical Investigations of the Effect of Citrus unshiu Peel Pellet on Obesity and Lipid Profile
Authors: Kang Seongil , Song Sangyeol , Lee Joosang , Chang Hyekyung , Lee Sanghun
Published: September 2018

Objectives. Several experimental studies have reported antiobesity and lipid‐improving effects of Citrus unshiu. However, clinical studies on its effects are lacking. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of Citrus unshiu peel pellet (CUPP) on obesity and lipid profile. Methods. For 118 patients with body mass index (BMI) > 23 who took Citrus unshiu peel pellet (CUPP) for 4 weeks in a Public Health Center, laboratory and biometric readings before and after CUPP administration were analyzed. Results. Mean age of these subjects was 53.8±10.6 years (range: 18‐75 years). There were 88 (74.6%) females in the study sample (n = 118). A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in BMI from 27.47±2.24 to 27.27±2.22 was observed in all subjects after CUPP treatment and 65.3% (N = 77) of them lost 1.03±0.83 kg of weight after 4 weeks of treatment. Total cholesterol level was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased from 204.0±37.4 mg/dL to 193.5±36.5 mg/dL. Significant (p < 0.05) decreases in levels of low‐density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and triglyceride were also observed. Conclusions. These results suggest that CUPP in practice could help weight control and improve total cholesterol level. Findings of this study provide clinical foundation for future large‐scale trials to establish clinical benefits of CUPP.
Association of Serum Serotonin and Pain in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain before and after Spinal Surgery
Authors: Farhanchi Afshin , Karkhanei Behrouz , Amani Negar , Aghajanloo Mashhood , Khanlarzadeh Elham , Emami Zahra
Published: September 2018

Introduction. In this study we are aiming to evaluate the changes of serum serotonin and its association with pain in patients suffering from chronic low back pain before and after lumbar discectomy surgery. Patients and Methods. A prospective study was performed on the patients referring to the outpatient clinic in Besat hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran, during 2016. A 2 mL fasting blood sample was collected from each patient at preoperative day 1 and postoperative day 14 and they were measured for level of serum serotonin. Besides, all patients were asked for severity of their low back pain in preoperative day 1 and postoperative day 14 and scored their pain from zero to ten using a Numerical Rating Scale. Results. Forty patients with the mean age of 47 ± 13 yrs/old (range 25–77) including 15 (37.5%) males were enrolled into the study. The overall mean score of preoperative pain was significantly decreased from 7.4 ± 2.18 (range 4–10) to the postoperative pain score 3.87 ± 2.92 (range 0–10) (P < .001). The overall levels of pre- and postoperative serum serotonin were 3.37 ± 1.27 (range 1.1–6.4) and 3.58 ± 1.32 (range .94–7.1) ng/mL, respectively, with no significant difference (P = .09). The levels of pre- and postoperative serum serotonin were significantly higher in males and patients older than 50 yrs/old compared to the females and patients younger than 50 yrs/old, respectively (P = .03 and .005, respectively). A significant inverse correlation between the postoperative levels of pain and serum serotonin was observed (r = -.36 and P = .02). Conclusion. A negative medium strength linear relationship may exist between the postoperative serum serotonin and low back pain.
Assessment of the Influence on Spontaneous Pregnancy of Hysterosalpingo-Contrast Sonography
Authors: Chunyan Gao , Bin Peng , Ping Yan , Yue Zhang , Yang Xiaoqing , Hongju Tian , Li Sufen , Xi Xiong
Published: September 2018

Objective. Our objective was to explore whether the pregnancy rate (PR) was higher than usual after hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy). Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of 1,008 infertility patients, all of whom were examined by HyCoSy. The expected time for spontaneous pregnancy was at least 180 days after the HyCoSy exams. There were three types of HyCoSy results: type I, defined as both fallopian tubes patent; type II, defined as one fallopian tube patent with obstruction in the other; and type III, defined as both fallopian tubes obstructed. During the HyCoSy examinations, we recorded the mobility of the ovaries, injective resistance, and contrast agent venous intravasation. Before the examinations, we recorded each patient’s medical history, including maternal age, infertility type, median duration of menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, and parity number. Results. The PR was 19.44% within 180 days after HyCoSy and it was significantly higher in the first 30 days (6.35%) (P <.01). The PR of type I was highest, with a rate of 32.01%, followed by the PR of type II (25.51%) and type III (15.04%) (P <.01). Univariate analysis showed that younger age, patency of both fallopian tubes, good ovarian mobility, and absence of injective resistance were positively related to the initiation of pregnancy (P <.01). Infertility type, median duration of menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, parity number, contrast agent venous intravasation, and identity of the sonographer were unrelated to pregnancy (P >.05). However, multivariate analysis showed that patency of both fallopian tubes and the absence of injective resistance were independently associated with pregnancy. Conclusion. Some infertility patients conceived successfully and naturally not long after HyCoSy, most often in the first month after the examination. Multivariate analysis showed that patency of both fallopian tubes and the absence of injective resistance were independently factors associated with the ability to conceive after HyCoSy examination.
Gait and Conditioned Fear Impairments in a Mouse Model of Comorbid TBI and PTSD
Authors: Teutsch Peyton , Jones Carolyn E. , Kaiser Mara E. , Avalon Gardner Natasha , Lim Miranda M.
Published: September 2018

Study Objectives. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly cooccur. Approaches to research and treatment of these disorders have been segregated, despite overlapping symptomology. We and others have hypothesized that comorbid TBI + PTSD generates worse symptoms than either condition alone. We present a mouse model of comorbid TBI + PTSD to further explore this condition. Methods. A mouse model of TBI + PTSD was generated using the single prolonged stress (SPS) protocol in combination with the controlled cortical impact (CCI) protocol. This resulted in four experimental groups: control, TBI, PTSD, and TBI + PTSD. Behavioral phenotyping included gait analysis, contextual fear conditioning, acoustic startle response, and prepulse inhibition. Results. Mice in the TBI + PTSD group showed a significantly impaired gait compared to their counterparts with TBI alone as well as control mice. Mice in the TBI + PTSD group showed significantly impaired contextual fear recall compared to controls. Prepulse inhibition testing revealed intact acoustic startle and auditory sensory gating. Conclusions. These results indicate that SPS paired with CCI in mice produces unique behavioral impairments in gait and fear recall that are not present in either condition alone. Further studies are underway to examine additional behavioral, physiological, and pathological phenotypes in this combined model of TBI + PTSD.
Silicone-Induced Granuloma of Breast Implant Capsule (SIGBIC): Histopathology and Radiological Correlation
Authors: de Faria Castro Fleury Eduardo , D’Alessandro Gabriel Salum , Lordelo Wludarski Sheila Cristina
Published: September 2018

Currently, attention has been given to complications related to breast implants, especially due to the presence of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) related to silicone implants. Many manuscripts attempt to associate silicone presence with clinical complaints reported by patients, while others try to demonstrate the mechanisms of silicone bleeding by permeability loss of breast implant surfaces. There also are reports of foreign body type reactions from implant fibrous capsule to silicone corpuscles. However, there seems to be no study that correlates the clinical, radiological, and histological correlations of these lesions. The objective of this review is to correlate radiological findings of silicone-induced granuloma of breast implant capsule (SIGBIC) from breast MRI (BMRI) scans and complementary findings of ultrasound (US) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and its histology originated from surgical breast implant capsulectomy. To make this correlation possible, we divided SIGBIC into three radiological findings: (1) intracapsular SIGBIC, (2) SIGBIC with extracapsular extension, and (3) mixed SIGBIC associated with seroma. Our experience demonstrates histological-radiological correlation in SIGBIC diagnosis. Knowledge of these findings may demonstrate its real importance in terms of public health and patient management. We believe that SIGBIC is currently underdiagnosed by lack of training, guidance, and management in our clinical practice.
Screening Potential Probiotic Characteristics of Lactobacillus brevis Strains In Vitro and Intervention Effect on Type I Diabetes In Vivo
Authors: Abdelazez Amro , Abdelmotaal Heba , Evivie Smith Etareri , Melak Sherif , Jia Fang-Fang , Khoso Mir Hassan , Zhu Zong-Tao , Zhang Lu-Ji , Sami Rokayya , Meng Xiang-Chen
Published: September 2018

Diabetes has become the third most serious threat to human health, after cancer and cardiovascular disease. Notably, Lactobacillus brevis is the most common species of LAB that produces γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of time, strain types, antibiotic concentrations, different levels of pH, and intestinal juices in aerobic or anaerobic conditions and the effect of interactions between these factors on the potential properties of KLDS 1.0727 and KLDS 1.0373, furthermore, antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogens. Moreover, another aim is to study the capability of KLDS 1.0727 and KLDS 1.0373 strains as gad gene carriers to express GABA that reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in C57BL/6 mice as diabetic models. The obtained results exhibited the surprising tolerance of Lactobacillus brevis strains in vitro digestion models mimicking the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, further, large antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogeneses. In vivo results displayed the significant effect on glucose level reduction, blood plasma, and histological assays of mice organs. As recommended, the use of Lactobacillus brevis strains should be widely shared in the market as a natural source of GABA in pharmaceutical and food applications.
Exponentially Fitted and Trigonometrically Fitted Two-Derivative Runge-Kutta-Nyström Methods for Solving y′′(x)=fx,y,y′
Authors: Mohamed Tahani Salama , Senu Norazak , Ibrahim Zarina Bibi , Nik Long Nik Mohd Asri
Published: September 2018

Two exponentially fitted and trigonometrically fitted explicit two-derivative Runge-Kutta-Nyström (TDRKN) methods are being constructed. Exponentially fitted and trigonometrically fitted TDRKN methods have the favorable feature that they integrate exactly second-order systems whose solutions are linear combinations of functions {exp⁡(wx),exp⁡(-wx)} and {sin⁡(wx),cos⁡(wx)} respectively, when w∈R, the frequency of the problem. The results of numerical experiments showed that the new approaches are more efficient than existing methods in the literature.
Endoprosthetic Reconstruction for a Displaced Atypical Femoral Fracture in a Cancer Patient with Poor Prognosis
Authors: Tamiya Hironari , Hagizawa Hiroki , Nakai Takaaki , Imura Yoshinori , Tanaka Takaaki , Oshima Kazuya , Ito Toshikazu , Naka Norifumi , Kuratsu Shigeyuki
Published: September 2018

Zoledronate or denosumab treatment is beneficial for cancer patients with bone metastasis. However, each agent may trigger atypical femoral fractures. Incomplete atypical femoral fractures can be successfully treated with prophylactic intramedullary nailing. On the other hand, intramedullary nailing for displaced atypical femoral fractures occasionally causes problems with regard to bone healing, resulting in long-term treatment. In cancer patients with poor prognosis who experience atypical femoral fractures, improvement in activities of daily living should be the priority. Thus, we performed endoprosthetic reconstruction for a displaced atypical femoral fracture in a breast cancer patient with poor prognosis to enable walking in the early stage after the operation. Two weeks after the operation, she could successfully walk. The postoperative Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 47%, and it had improved to almost the preoperative level before injury (50%). In conclusion, endoprosthetic reconstruction for displaced atypical femoral fractures may be a first-line treatment approach to acquire early postoperative walking ability for improving activities of daily living in cancer patients with poor prognosis.