bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed cord clamping is associated with improved dynamic cerebral autoregulation and decreased incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants
Authors: Vesoulis Zachary A. , Liao Steve M. , Mathur Amit M.
Published: May 2019

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) improves neurologic outcomes in preterm infants through a reduction in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) incidence. The mechanism behind this neuroprotective effect is not known. Infants born <28 wk gestation were recruited for longitudinal monitoring. All infants underwent 72 h of synchronized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) recording within 24 h of birth. Infants with DCC were compared with control infants with immediate cord clamping (ICC), controlling for severity of illness [clinical risk index for babies (CRIB-II) score], chorioamnionitis, antenatal steroids, sedation, inotropes, and delivery mode. Autoregulatory dampening was calculated as the transfer function gain coefficient between the MABP and NIRS signals. Forty-five infants were included (DCC; n = 15, paired 2:1 with ICC controls n = 30). ICC and DCC groups were similar including gestational age (25.5 vs. 25.2 wk, P = 0.48), birth weight (852.3 vs. 816.6 g, P = 0.73), percent female (40 vs. 40%, P = 0.75), and dopamine usage (27 vs. 23%, P = 1.00). There was a significant difference in IVH incidence between the DCC and ICC groups (20 vs. 50%, P = 0.04). Mean MABP was not different (35.9 vs. 35.1 mmHg, P = 0.44). Compared with the DCC group, the ICC group had diminished autoregulatory dampening capacity (−12.96 vs. −15.06 dB, P = 0.01), which remained significant when controlling for confounders. Dampening capacity was, in turn, strongly associated with decreased risk of IVH (odds ratio = 0.14, P < 0.01). The results of this pilot study demonstrate that DCC is associated with improved dynamic cerebral autoregulatory function and may be the mechanism behind the decreased incidence of IVH.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The neuroprotective mechanism of delayed cord clamping in premature infants is unclear. Delayed cord clamping was associated with improved cerebral autoregulatory function and a marked decrease in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Improved dynamic cerebral autoregulation may decrease arterial baroreceptor sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of IVH.
Central and Peripheral Mechanism of Acupuncture Analgesia on Visceral Pain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lee In-Seon , Cheon Soyeon , Park Ji-Yeun
Published: May 2019

Background/Aims. Despite the wide use of acupuncture for the management of visceral pain and the growing interest in the pathophysiology of visceral pain, there is no conclusive elucidation of the mechanisms behind the effects of acupuncture on visceral pain. This systematic review aims to provide an integrative understanding of the treatment mechanism of acupuncture for visceral pain. Methods. Electronic and hand searches were conducted to identify studies that involved visceral pain and acupuncture. Results. We retrieved 192 articles, out of which 46 studies were included in our review. The results of our review demonstrated that visceral pain behaviors were significantly alleviated in response to acupuncture treatment in groups treated with this intervention compared to in sham acupuncture or no-treatment groups. Changes in the concentrations of β-endorphin, epinephrine, cortisol, and prostaglandin E2 in plasma, the levels of c-Fos, substance P, corticotropin-releasing hormone, P2X3, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and serotonin in the gut/spinal cord, and the neuronal activity of the thalamus were associated with acupuncture treatment in visceral pain. Conclusions. Acupuncture reduced visceral pain behavior and induced significant changes in neuronal activity as well as in the levels of pain/inflammation-related cytokines and neurotransmitters in the brain-gut axis. Further researches on the thalamus and on a standard animal model are warranted to improve our knowledge on the mechanism of acupuncture that facilitates visceral pain modulation.
Differential Activation of Fetal Hofbauer Cells in Primigravidas Is Associated with Decreased Birth Weight in Symptomatic Placental Malaria
Authors: Gaw Stephanie L. , Hromatka Bethann S. , Ngeleza Sadiki , Buarpung Sirirak , Ozarslan Nida , Tshefu Antoinette , Fisher Susan J.
Published: May 2019

Background. Placental malaria is a leading global cause of low birth weight neonates, especially in first-time mothers. To better understand the role of innate immunity in placental malaria, we investigated the relationships between histopathological markers of placental malaria, fetal and maternal macrophage responses, and perinatal outcomes in a cross-sectional case control study of pregnant women presenting with symptomatic malaria at the time of delivery. Results. Primigravidas showed increased hemozoin deposition in placental villi (p=0.02), syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.01), and fetal Hofbauer cells (p=0.01). The percentage of hemozoin-positive villi negatively correlated with infant birth weight (regression coefficient [b] = -0.03 kg decrease in birth weight per % increase in hemozoin-positive villi, p=0.035). Malaria-infected placentas showed a twofold increase in Hofbauer cells (p<0.001) and maternal macrophages (p<0.001). Placental malaria was associated with a threefold increase in the percentage of M2 maternal macrophages (19.2% vs 6.4%, p=0.01). Primigravidas showed a significant decrease in the Hofbauer cell M2-percentage in placental malaria (92.7% vs. 97.0%, p=0.04), which was predictive of infant birth weight (b=0.08 kg increase in birth weight per % increase in M2 Hofbauer cells, p=0.001). There was no association between maternal macrophage response and infant birth weights. Conclusions. Placentas with malarial infection had increased numbers of fetal Hofbauer cells in the villous stroma and maternal macrophages in the intervillous space. In primigravidas, decreased anti-inflammatory M2-type Hofbauer cells were predictive of lower birth weight. M2-type maternal macrophages were increased in placental malaria, but there was no association with gravidity or birth weight. These results suggested a protective role of M2 Hofbauer cells in fetal growth restriction.
Dynamic Coevolution of Capital Allocation Efficiency of New Energy Vehicle Enterprises from Financing Niche Perspective
Authors: Wang Qiong , Geng Cheng-xuan , E Hai-tao
Published: May 2019

Based on the dynamic characteristics of enterprises’ competition and cooperation, this paper introduces the idea of ecology and synergy and constructs a dynamic coevolution model of financing allocation efficiency and financing niche based on improved Lotka‐Volterra model. The parameters in the model are difficult to be given by the least square method and the maximum likelihood estimation method; the accelerated genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the parameters in the dynamic coevolution model, which makes the parameter estimation more accurate and reasonable. Finally, the data of new energy vehicle listed companies in China from 2009 to 2017 are given to validate the proposed model, and the dynamic process of coevolution of new energy vehicle enterprises, capital allocation efficiency, and financing niche is described. The results show that the minimum financing niche breadth of industry and market determines the location of the equilibrium point. With capital allocation efficiency as the core, adjusting the financing niche through financing market, industrial policy, enterprise development, and other factors will help to improve the coevolution balance between industrial capital allocation efficiency and financing niche and promote the coordinated development of strategic emerging industries.
Efficient Convex Optimization of Reentry Trajectory via the Chebyshev Pseudospectral Method
Authors: Yu Chun-Mei , Zhao Dang-Jun , Yang Ye
Published: May 2019

A novel sequential convex (SCvx) optimization scheme via the Chebyshev pseudospectral method is proposed for efficiently solving the hypersonic reentry trajectory optimization problem which is highly constrained by heat flux, dynamic pressure, normal load, and multiple no-fly zones. The Chebyshev-Gauss Legend (CGL) node points are used to transcribe the original dynamic constraint into algebraic equality constraint; therefore, a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem is concave and time-consuming to be solved. The iterative linearization and convexification techniques are proposed to convert the concave constraints into convex constraints; therefore, a sequential convex programming problem can be efficiently solved by convex algorithms. Numerical results and a comparison study reveal that the proposed method is efficient and effective to solve the problem of reentry trajectory optimization with multiple constraints.
Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Kidney Disease in a Semiurban Community in Lagos
Authors: Chukwuonye Innocent Ijezie , Ohagwu Kenneth Arinze , Adelowo Olufemi Oladipo , Chuku Abali , Obi Emmanuel Chukwuebuka , Onwuchekwa Uwa , Anyabolu Ernest Ndukaife , Oviasu Efosa
Published: May 2019

Background and Objectives. The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases like chronic kidney disease is on the rise in third-world countries. In Nigeria and most sub-Saharan African countries, there is dearth of community-based studies on prevalence and predictors of chronic kidney disease, prompting us to undertake this study. Materials and Methods. This was a cross-sectional study, aimed at ascertaining the prevalence and predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a semiurban community in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The study’s subjects were recruited from Agbowa community in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area of Lagos state. The community was randomly selected. Questionnaires were used to obtain relevant information from the subjects. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and other relevant data were also collected. Results. CKD was observed in 30 subjects given prevalence of 7.5% in the community. Nine out of the 30 subjects (30%) with CKD were males, while 21 (70%) subjects were females. The prevalence of CKD was significantly higher in the female population. 28 of the subjects with CKD were in stage 3, while 2 of the subjects with CKD were in stage 4. Age, hypertension, and hyperuricemia were significantly associated with CKD. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, 4 variables predicted CKD in the study population. These were age (P =0.01, OR = 0. 274, CI = 0.102 – 0.739), hypertension (p = 0.011, OR = 0. 320, CI = 0.132 – 0.773), hyperuricemia (p=0.001, OR = 0.195, CI =0.083 – 0.461), and female sex (p = 0.009, OR = 3.775, CI = 1.401 – 10.17). Conclusion. The prevalence of CKD in the population is low compared with other studies from other parts of the country, and the predictors included age, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and female gender. This is the first community-based study in Nigeria to identify hyperuricemia as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in the country.
Fluoride Levels in Saliva and Plaque following the Use of High Fluoride and Conventional Dentifrices- a Triple Blinded Randomised Parallel Group Trial
Authors: Vincent Sharon , Thomas Abi M.
Published: May 2019

Context. The comparison of fluoride levels in saliva and plaque following the use of conventional, 2800 and 5000 ppm dentifrices for different time intervals up to 24 hours has not been explored. Aim. The aim of the present study was to assess salivary and plaque fluoride levels at different time intervals following the use of high fluoride dentifrices. Study Design. This randomised control trial was conducted on sixty adolescents between the age group of 16 and 18 years divided into three groups A, B, and C. Intervention. Subjects were asked to brush the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth with one of the dentifrices for 2 min. Unstimulated whole saliva and plaque samples were collected at different time intervals. Fluoride levels were determined using SPADNS method. Data was collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS 20 Inc. by mixed repeated measure ANOVA. Results. A significant difference in fluoride levels was observed at different time intervals in both saliva (p=0.048) and plaque (p=0.03). The variance was low with time and concentration of the dentifrice used in saliva, whereas the magnitude of treatment was large for time (>0.25) but small for (<0.09) concentration in plaque. Conclusion. A significant difference in fluoride levels was observed at different time intervals in both saliva and plaque among the three groups. There was a positive correlation between fluoride levels in saliva and plaque. Both high fluoride dentifrices were effective in maintaining higher intraoral fluoride levels up to 12 hours and 5000 ppm up to 24 hours compared to conventional dentifrice.
Acetotrophic Activity Facilitates Methanogenesis from LCFA at Low Temperatures: Screening from Mesophilic Inocula
Authors: Singh Suniti , Rinta-Kanto Johanna M. , Kettunen Riitta , Lens Piet , Collins Gavin , Kokko Marika , Rintala Jukka
Published: May 2019

The inoculum source plays a crucial role in the anaerobic treatment of wastewaters. Lipids are present in various wastewaters and have a high methanogenic potential, but their hydrolysis results in the production of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) that are inhibitory to anaerobic microorganisms. Screening of inoculum for the anaerobic treatment of LCFA-containing wastewaters has been performed at mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. However, an evaluation of inocula for producing methane from LCFA-containing wastewater has not yet been conducted at low temperatures and needs to be undertaken. In this study, three inocula (one granular sludge and two municipal digester sludges) were assessed for methane production from LCFA-containing synthetic dairy wastewater (SDW) at low temperatures (10 and 20°C). A methane yield (based on mL-CH4/g-CODadded) of 86-65% with acetate and 45-20% with SDW was achieved within 10 days using unacclimated granular sludge, whereas the municipal digester sludges produced methane only at 20°C but not at 10°C even after 200 days of incubation. The acetotrophic activity in the inoculum was found to be crucial for methane production from LCFA at low temperatures, highlighting the role ofMethanosaeta(acetoclastic archaea) at low temperatures. The presence of bacterial taxa from the familySyntrophaceae(Syntrophusand uncultured taxa) in the inoculum was found to be important for methane production from SDW at 10°C. This study suggests the evaluation of acetotrophic activity and the initial microbial community characteristics by high-throughput amplicon sequencing for selecting the inoculum for producing methane at low temperatures (up to 10°C) from lipid-containing wastewaters.
Effect of Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Optical Wireless Communications
Authors: Ali Hosam Abd Elrazek Mohamed , Said El-Sayed Soliman A. , Yousef Mohamed Ebrahim
Published: May 2019

Free space optical communication systems are the future of the communication systems which can meet the needs of the end users who are demanding high bandwidths to support high-speed communication. These merits are due to its numerous advantages as well as their better performance. This paper studies the effect of environmental parameters like rain, fog, haze, snow, and dust on the performance of optical wireless communications using Opti-system program. This work considers the effect of visibility as well as operating wavelengths on atmospheric attenuation in different weather conditions for free space optical link. For different weather conditions the max distance between transmitter and receiver can also be estimated. The system analysis depicted the better performance of the Multi-Input/Multi-Output (MIMO) configurations compared to Single Input/Single Output (SISO) at different weather conditions.
Osteoarthritis, Exercise, and Tissue Engineering: A Stimulating Triad for Health Professionals
Authors: Morouço Pedro , Fernandes Cristiana , Santos-Rocha Rita
Published: May 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease, promoted by abnormal chronic mechanical loading over the joint, for instance, due to excessive body mass. Patients frequently report pain, fatigue, and limitations in specific functional daily activities. Regarding the treatment of OA, two nonpharmacological options are available. However, it is not clear which type and intensity of exercise have better outcomes in treatment and how tissue engineering can be a promising field due to the mechanical load implants will suffer. The aims of this work were to investigate (1) the main characteristics, prevalence, and consequences of OA; (2) the exercise prescription guidelines and whether exercise interventions have a positive effect on OA treatment; and (3) the novel improvements on tissue engineering for OA treatment. Both patients and practitioners should be aware that benefits may come from prescribed and supervised exercise. Recent studies have highlighted that an optimal balance between exercise and nutritional income should be widely recommended. Regarding tissue engineering, significant steps towards the development of implants that mimic the native tissue have been taken. Thus, further studies should focus on the impact that exercise (repetitive loading) might have on cartilage regeneration. Finally, suggestions for future research were proposed.
Nonlinear Modeling of Transmission Performance for Permanent Magnet Eddy Current Coupler
Authors: Yang Xiaowei , Liu Yongguang , Wang Liang
Published: May 2019

Establishing the analytical model for accurately predicting the transmitted torque of the permanent magnet eddy current coupler (PMEC) with double conductor rotors is very important to study the nonlinear transmission performance of the PMEC. In this paper, based on magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) approaches, considering the effects of permanent magnet (PM) end leakage, side leakage, and back iron saturation, the 3D magnetic field model of the PMEC is established. Based on the magnetic field model, combined with Faraday’s law and Ampere’s law, the 3D nonlinear model of the PMEC is established. The proposed model adopts the Jenei method to describe the inductance limited eddy current field. The theoretical data, 3D finite element method (FEM) data, and experimental data are compared. The research shows that the predicted value of the analytical model matches well with the torque obtained by 3D FEM and experiments in the range of 0‐100% slip, with an error less than 5.3% observed. Finally, the influence of structural parameters on the transmission performance of the PMEC is studied by using the proposed model.
Wideband Rectangular Foldable and Non-foldable Antenna for Internet of Things Applications
Authors: Mung Steve W. Y. , Cheung Cheuk Yin , Wu Ka Ming , Yuen Joseph S. M.
Published: May 2019

This article presents a simple wideband rectangular antenna in foldable and non-foldable (printed circuit board (PCB)) structures for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Both are simple structures with two similar rectangular metal planes which cover multiple frequency bands such as GPS, WCDMA/LTE, and 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands. This wideband antenna is suitable to integrate into the short- and long-range wireless applications such as the short-range 2.4 GHz ISM band and standard cellular bands. This lowers the overall size of the product as well as the cost in the applications. In this article, the configuration and operation principle are presented as well as its trade-offs on the design parameters. Simulated and experimental results of foldable and non-foldable (PCB) structures show that the antenna is suited for IoT applications.
Kamenev Type Oscillatory Criteria for Linear Conformable Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Shao Jing , Zheng Zhaowen
Published: May 2019

Using integral average method and properties of conformable fractional derivative, new Kamenev type oscillation criteria are given firstly for conformable fractional differential equations, which improve known results in oscillation theory. Examples are also given to illustrate the effectiveness of the main results.
Selective Blood Pressure Screening in the Young: Quantification of Population Wide Underestimation of Elevated Blood Pressure
Authors: Neuhauser Hannelore , Adler Carolin , Sarganas Giselle
Published: May 2019

Universal blood pressure (BP) screening in children and adolescents is questioned in prevention guidelines, while measuring blood pressure in the young in the context of overweight, obesity, or parental hypertension is promoted. This study quantifies with population data the underestimation of elevated blood pressure that would result from limiting BP screening only to those with overweight, obesity, or parental hypertension in the young. Selective screening was simulated with representative national health examination data from Germany (age 3-17, N=14,633, KiGGS0 study 2003-2006; age 18-39, N=1,884, DEGS1 2008-2011 study), with mean of two oscillometric measurements on one occasion; cutoffs for hypertensive BP in children were the 95th percentile using KiGGS percentiles, and for sensitivity analyses Fourth Report percentiles, in adults 140/90 mmHg; childhood overweight and obesity were classified according to the International Obesity Task Force and for adults as BMI ≥25 and ≥30 kg/m2. In 3-17-year-olds, different selective BP screening scenarios were simulated: screening only in those with obesity, overweight, parental hypertension, combination of overweight and parental hypertension, resulting in screening 5.6%, 20.0%, 28.5%, and 42.6% of the population and detecting 17.2%, 38.6%, 30.3%, and 58.2% of all hypertensive cases in the population. In conclusion our results show a large screening gap that would result from selective BP screening only in those with overweight, obesity, or parental hypertension.
Fire-Extinguishing Efficiency of Superfine Powders under Different Injection Pressures
Authors: Zhao Guomin , Xu Guangji , Jin Shuang , Zhang Qingsong , Liu Zhongxian
Published: May 2019

Ammonium phosphate fire-extinguishing agents are one of the best substitutes for halon in many powder media. Here, 11 μm median diameter ammonium phosphate ultrafine dry powder was used as a fire-extinguishing medium. The fire-extinguishing performance of ultrafine powder under different pressures was studied by analyzing fire-extinguishing time, amount of extinguishing agent, and temperature during the fire-extinguishing process. The results show that the fire-extinguishing performance of the ultrafine powder is improved with increasing injection pressure. Finally, we used FDS software for fire simulation to study the influence of injection pressure on the extinguishing agent. The results show that the extinguishing time is shortened with increasing injection pressure. From 0.2 MPa to 1.0 MPa, the extinguishing time decreases from 34 seconds to 4 seconds.
Low‐Cost Solution for Assessment of Urban Flash Flood Impacts Using Sentinel‐2 Satellite Images and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case Study of Ras Ghareb City, Egypt
Authors: Sadek Mohammed , Li Xuxiang
Published: May 2019

Natural hazards are indeed counted as the most critical challenges facing our world, represented in floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and forest fires. Among these natural hazards, the flash flood is regarded the most frequent. In this work, we utilized two Sentinel‐2 satellite images, before and after the flash flood, SRTM and photos captured by using a helicopter. This paper aims at three prime objectives. Firstly, the flood influence is determined on the city of Ras Ghareb, Egypt, based on analyzing free satellite data (Sentinel‐2 images). Secondly, fuzzy the analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) method and a geographical information system (GIS) are integrated for flood risk analysis and evaluation in the flood‐prone area. Finally, such a flood vulnerability map is used as an index to assist the decision‐makers prepare for probable flooding. FAHP is preferable as it can cater to the uncertainties in data and analysis. As a result, FAHP is appropriate to determine the flood‐vulnerable area in cities especially due to the matching with the most destroyed areas identified by the change detection between the two Sentinel‐2 images. Then, the decision‐maker can depend on Sentinel‐2 images to estimate the flood influence through a regional scale or applying the FAHP on cities susceptible to flash floods in case of unavailable satellite images to contribute in establishing an early warning system enough to the evacuation of the risky areas.
Prevalence of Stroke and Associated Risk Factors in Sleman District of Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia
Authors: Setyopranoto Ismail , Bayuangga Halwan Fuad , Panggabean Andre Stefanus , Alifaningdyah Sarastiti , Lazuardi Lutfan , Dewi Fatwa Sari Tetra , Malueka Rusdy Ghazali
Published: May 2019

Background. Stroke remains one of the most common noncommunicable diseases among Indonesian populations. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of stroke and its associated risk factors in the Sleman District of Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. Method. This study was a secondary analysis of community-based data collected by the Sleman Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in 2016. Basic demographic and socioeconomic data were collected. Additional questions about history of stroke and other chronic diseases were interviewed as a self-reported diagnosis. History of hormonal contraceptives use and dietary patterns were also collected. We examined the association between the prevalence of stroke and risk factors, namely, age, gender, self-reported history of chronic diseases, hormonal contraceptives use, and high-risk dietary patterns. Results. The survey included 4,996 households composed of 20,465 individuals. Data regarding stroke incidents were available from 13,605 subjects aged ≥20 years old. Among them, a total of 4,884 subjects also have data regarding stroke risk factors. The overall prevalence of stroke in Sleman District was 1.4% (0.5% men and 0.90% women). The prevalence increased with additional decades of age (p<0.001). In a multivariable model, increasing age, self-reported history of hypertension (OR=8.37, 95%CI: 4.76 to 14.69), and self-reported history of diabetes mellitus (OR=2.87, 95%CI: 1.54 to 5.35) were significantly associated with stroke. Conclusions. A community-based survey in Indonesia showed a high prevalence of stroke which was associated with increasing age, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. These findings suggest that preventive actions against the aforementioned modifiable risk factors should be prioritized.
Modeling and Verification of a New Hyperelastic Model for Rubber‐Like Materials
Authors: Zhao Zihan , Mu Xihui , Du Fengpo
Published: May 2019

The essential evaluation criterion for the hyperelastic model is its ability to describe the mechanical behavior of rubber‐like materials under different deformation modes over a large deformation range accurately. Based on the Seth strain tensor invariant, a new hyperelastic model for isotropic and incompressible rubber‐like materials is proposed. In order to investigate the prediction ability of the new model, the parameters of the new model, the Yeoh model, and the Carroll model are identified by test data of 8% vulcanized rubber and two different types of carbon black filled rubber, respectively. To this end, the data of uniaxial tension and equibiaxial tension are used simultaneously. Then, the same set of model parameters is used for prediction of pure shear (plane tension) deformation. The results show that the new model not only can predict the test data of pure shear (or plane tension) accurately, but also can be reliable to describe the response of various rubber materials over a large deformation range. Finally, the finite element simulation and experiment on static stiffness of rubber bushing are carried out based on the new model. By comparison of the experimental data with the simulation data, the new model can accurately reflect the mechanical behavior of rubber bushing. The new model can be used for performance analysis of rubber products and has better application value.
Optimization Design of a New Type of Interior Permanent Magnet Generator for Electric Vehicle Range Extender
Authors: Ma Shilun , Zhang Xueyi , Du Qinjun , Shi Liwei , Meng Xiangyu
Published: May 2019

Aiming at the disadvantages of large leakage flux and low magnetic flux density of radial magnetic circuit and tangential magnetic circuit, a new type of permanent magnet (PM) rotor with parallel tangential and radial magnetic circuits is proposed. Based on Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s law of magnetic circuits, equivalent magnetic circuits for rotor poles are developed. The structure parameters of the generator are preliminarily determined. At the same time, by means of the Taguchi method and employing finite element analysis, the rotor poles of generator are optimized to improve air gap magnetic density, the cogging torque, and the distortion of back-EMF waveform. Finally, the validity of proposed design methods is validated by the analytical and experimental results.
Examine the Availability and Safety of Mucosal Cutting Biopsy Technique for Diagnosis of Gastric Submucosal Tumor
Authors: Mizukami Kazuhiro , Matsunari Osamu , Ogawa Ryo , Hirashita Yuka , Okamoto Kazuhisa , Fukuda Kensuke , Sonoda Akira , Akiyama Hidetoshi , Ozaka Sotaro , Kawahara Yoshinari , Okimoto Tadayoshi , Kodama Masaaki , Murakami Kazunari
Published: May 2019

Objectives. Differentiating gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) from other submucosal tumors (SMTs) is important in diagnosing SMT. GIST is an immunohistological diagnosis that cannot be made from images alone. Tissue sampling of tumor sites is thus becoming increasingly important. In this study, the utility and associated complications of mucosal cutting biopsy (MCB) for gastric SMTs were investigated. Methods. This was a case series study. The subjects were patients aged ≥20 years old in whom an SMT was seen on esophagogastroduodenography and who underwent MCB between January 2012 and December 2016. Patient information, endoscopy findings, gastric SMT size, pathological diagnosis, and other information were gathered from medical records. The SMT size was the maximum diameter that could be visualized on EUS. The pathological diagnosis was made with hematoxylin-eosin staining, with immunostaining added to diagnose GIST. The endpoint was the histopathological diagnostic yield. Risk assessment using the Miettinen classification and modified Fletcher classification was also done for GISTs treated with surgery. Results. The mean tumor diameter was 15.4 mm. The tumor diameter was ≥20 mm in seven patients and <20 mm in 23 patients. The tissue-acquiring rate was 93.3%. A histological diagnosis could not be made in two patients. The only complication was that bleeding required endoscopic hemostasis during the procedure in one patient, but no subsequent bleeding or no postoperative bleeding was seen. Conclusions. MCB is an appropriate and safe procedure in the diagnosis of gastric SMTs. Many hospitals will be able to perform MCB if they have the environment, including skills and equipment, to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection.
Increased Serum Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Predicts Short-Term Outcome in Patients with Hepatitis B-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Huang Zuxiong , Wang Ning , Huang Shuiwen , Chen Yi , Yang Shida , Gan Qiaorong , Ye Hanhui , Liu Baorong , Pan Chen
Published: May 2019

Aims. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) reflects the immune activation in circumstances of inflammation and infection. It has been considered as a risk biomarker associated with poor outcome in various low-grade inflammation and infectious diseases. The study is aimed at investigating whether suPAR has a predictive value with short-term survival in patients with hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HB-ACLF). Methods. Serum suPAR expression was compared among patients with different states of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Sixty HB-ACLF patients were recruited as the training cohort and followed up for 90 days. Serum suPAR level and the clinical relevance with short-term outcome were investigated. The temporal dynamics of suPAR were evaluated in 50 HB-ACLF patients with available serum sequentially at baseline, week 2 and week 4. Another 167 HB-ACLF patients were enrolled to validate the predictive value of suPAR with respect to the prognosis. Results. Serum suPAR level was significantly increased in HB-ACLF patients compared to non-ACLF patients. In the training set of HB-ACLF, we observed higher suPAR level, INR, MELD score, and more complications in nonsurvivors than survivors. Longitudinal analysis revealed an increased trend of suPAR level in nonsurvivors during week 0 to week 4 and the modest decline in survivors. It showed that the synchronous suPAR level was higher in nonsurvivors at all indicated time points. Elevated suPAR level at baseline was identified as a strong predictor of a 90-day mortality of HB-ACLF patients. It was confirmed suPAR>16.26 ng/ml had a positive predictive value of 72.22% and a negative predictive value of 77.88% for poor outcome in the validation cohort. Conclusions. Serum suPAR level increases significantly in HB-ACLF patients and associated with a 90-day mortality. It suggests that suPAR might be a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of HB-ACLF patients.
Hyperuricemia in Children and Adolescents: Present Knowledge and Future Directions
Authors: Kubota Masaru
Published: May 2019

Recent evidence suggests that hyperuricemia is an important condition in children and adolescents, particularly in association with noncommunicable diseases. This review aims to summarize our current understanding of this condition in pediatric patients. An analysis of serum uric acid reference values in a healthy population indicates that they increase gradually with age until adolescence, with differences between the sexes arising at about 12 years of age. This information should be taken into consideration when defining hyperuricemia in studies. Gout is extremely rare in children and adolescents, and most patients with gout have an underlying disease. The major causes of hyperuricemia are chronic conditions, including Down syndrome, metabolic or genetic disease, and congenital heart disease, and acute conditions, including gastroenteritis, bronchial asthma (hypoxia), malignant disorders, and drug side effects. The mechanisms underlying the associations between these diseases and hyperuricemia are discussed, together with recent genetic information. Obesity is a major cause of hyperuricemia in otherwise healthy children and adolescents. Obesity is often accompanied by metabolic syndrome; hyperuricemia in obese children and adolescents is associated with the components of metabolic syndrome and noncommunicable diseases, including hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. Finally, strategies for the treatment of hyperuricemia, including lifestyle intervention and drug administration, are presented.
Metrics for Assessing Overall Performance of Inland Waterway Ports: A Bayesian Network Based Approach
Authors: Hossain Niamat Ullah Ibne , Nur Farjana , Jaradat Raed , Hosseini Seyedmohsen , Marufuzzaman Mohammad , Puryear Stephen M. , Buchanan Randy K.
Published: May 2019

Because ports are considered to be the heart of the maritime transportation system, thereby assessing port performance is necessary for a nation’s development and economic success. This study proposes a novel metric, namely, “port performance index (PPI)”, to determine the overall performance and utilization of inland waterway ports based on six criteria, port facility, port availability, port economics, port service, port connectivity, and port environment. Unlike existing literature, which mainly ranks ports based on quantitative factors, this study utilizes a Bayesian Network (BN) model that focuses on both quantitative and qualitative factors to rank a port. The assessment of inland waterway port performance is further analyzed based on different advanced techniques such as sensitivity analysis and belief propagation. Insights drawn from the study show that all the six criteria are necessary to predict PPI. The study also showed that port service has the highest impact while port economics has the lowest impact among the six criteria on PPI for inland waterway ports.
Estimating the Gerber-Shiu Expected Discounted Penalty Function for Lévy Risk Model
Authors: Huang Yujuan , Yu Wenguang , Pan Yu , Cui Chaoran
Published: May 2019

This paper studies the statistical estimation of the Gerber-Shiu discounted penalty functions in a general spectrally negative Lévy risk model. Suppose that the claims process and the surplus process can be observed at a sequence of discrete time points. Using the observed data, the Gerber-Shiu functions are estimated by the Laguerre series expansion method. Consistent properties are studied under the large sample setting, and simulation results are also presented when the sample size is finite.
Influence of Geometrical Parameters on Performance of Grouted Mortise and Tenon Joints for Application in Prefabricated Underground Structures
Authors: Yang Xiuren , Shi Zhongheng , Lin Fang
Published: May 2019

Prefabricated underground structures were first researched in China to address the serious social and environmental issues associated with underground construction. Five metro stations have been built on Line 2 of the Changchun Metro in China using this new prefabrication technology. The joints connecting prefabricated elements are the most critical components in such prefabricated structures. In this study, experiments and numerical simulations investigating the influences of different grouted mortise and tenon joint geometrical parameters were conducted to determine the optimal parameters and ensure proper performance. To do so, a finite element model was built with the appropriate characteristics using the experimental results, and an analysis of the influence of different geometrical parameters was conducted. The results indicate that increasing the dip angle of the tenon could improve the flexural rigidity of the joint, but its effect was relatively small compared to that of the other parameters. Increasing the width of the tenon only had a positive effect on the flexural rigidity of the joint when the width was relatively small and under small axial loads. Increasing the length of the tenon helped to enhance the flexural performance of the joint; however, this advantage was not obvious when the tenon length was relatively long. Proper indentation of the joint improved the flexural capacity under a small axial load, but was not beneficial under a high axial load. The findings of this study are of value to help researchers and engineers more effectively design prefabricated underground structures.
Investigation of Coastal Environment Change Using Wave Measurement Sensors and Geographical Laser Scanner
Authors: Kim Kyu-Han , Shin Bum-Shick , Shim Kyu-Tae
Published: May 2019

The construction of large-scale coastal structures in any coastal area may not only have direct effects on the coastal environment in that vicinity but also cause severe property damage. In order to prevent this problem, probable effects should be appreciated before any construction and the mechanism that may cause any probable damage must be accurately analyzed along with the plans to minimize damage. This study sought to analyze the cause and mechanism of damage inflicted on coasts by artificial structures through reviewing beach erosions that have occurred on beaches on the east coast of Korea after the large-scale construction of artificial structures, for which wave heights were measured in the vicinity of those structures, and the correlation between the measurements and the analysis data of waves and coastal erosion on the surrounding beach was analyzed. In addition, the correlation between coastal erosion and wave data was applied in order to understand what impact large waves have in relation to sand loss. Accordingly, a movable-bed physical model test was employed to appraise the factors that cause coastal erosion to take place.
Mainlobe Jamming Suppression Using Improved Frequency Diverse Array with MIMO Radar
Authors: Li Guang-ming , Zhang Qun , Liu Qi-yong , Liang Jia , Wang Dan , Zhu Feng
Published: May 2019

Frequency diverse array (FDA) has attracted much attention in recent years due to its range-angle-dependent beampattern. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar can offer waveform diversity to increase the virtual aperture length for azimuth coherent focus processing in radar imaging. Combining the advantages of FDA and MIMO radar, FDA-MIMO radar can steer multiple beams to different targets in the same line of sight (LOS) of radar with different waveforms. In this paper, an improved FDA model with the logistic map is proposed to get the aperiodic and range-angle uncoupling beampattern. Based on the proposed FDA, combining the FDA-MIMO radar, the waveform and chirp rate jitter techniques are adopted to mainlobe jamming suppression. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Measuring Component Importance for Network System Using Cellular Automata
Authors: He Li , Cao Qiyan , Shang Fengjun
Published: May 2019

This paper concentrates on the component importance measure of a network whose arc failure rates are not deterministic and imprecise ones. Conventionally, a computing method of component importance and a measure method of reliability stability are proposed. Three metrics are analyzed first: Birnbaum measurement, component importance, and component risk growth factor. Based on them, the latter can measure the impact of the component importance on the reliability stability of a system. Examples in some typical structures illustrate how to calculate component importance and reliability stability, including uncertain random series, parallel, parallel‐series, series‐parallel, and bridge systems. The comprehensive numerical experiments demonstrate that both of these methods can efficiently and accurately evaluate the impact of an arc failure on the reliability of a network system.
Identifying the Factors Contributing to Injury Severity in Work Zone Rear-End Crashes
Authors: Zhang Kairan , Hassan Mohamed
Published: May 2019

Egypt’s National Road Project is a large infrastructure project aiming to upgrade the existing network of 2500 kilometers as well as constructing new roads of 4000 kilometers to meet today’s need. Increasing highway work zones eventually direct the challenges for traffic safety and mobility. Realizing the need for mitigating the impact of such a challenging scenario, this paper aims to investigate and identify the factors of work zone rear-end crash severity. In this regard, a random parameter ordered probit model was applied to analyze data on the Egyptian long-term highway work zone projects during the period of 2010 to 2017. The factors of speeding and foggy weather conditions are found to be the key indicators for modeling the random parameters. Besides, during the weekend and at nighttime, there is a higher risk of rear-end crash in work zones, while heavy and passenger vehicles are at greater risk in this regard. It is anticipated that the findings of this study would facilitate transport agencies in developing effective measures to ensure safe mobility across work zones.
Long Term School Based Deworming against Soil-Transmitted Helminths Also Benefits the Untreated Adult Population: Results from a Community-Wide Cross Sectional Survey
Authors: Gichuki Paul M. , Mbugua Gabriel , Kiplelgo Edwin K. , Irungu Tabitha W. , Mwandawiro Charles
Published: May 2019

Background. Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a public health problem in Kenya. The primary control strategy for these infections is preventive chemotherapy (PC) delivered through school based deworming (SBD) programs. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the inclusion of other at-risk groups in the PC. The untreated groups in endemic areas have been shown to act as reservoirs for STH transmission. Few field based studies have focused on the possible benefits of SBD to the untreated groups in the community. This study sought to determine the levels of STH among all age groups in a community where SBD has been going on for more than 10 years. Methods. This was a cross sectional study where 3,292 individuals, ranging from 2 to 98 years, were enrolled. Stool samples were analyzed using duplicate Kato Katz thick smear technique for presence of STH eggs. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA software 14.0 (Stata corporation). Results. Out of the total 3,292 stool samples analyzed, only 13 were positive for any STH. Of these, 12 were infected with Trichuris trichiura and one case was of hookworm. There was no Ascaris lumbricoides infection detected. Of the 13 STH infections, seven of the infections were of school going age (6-18 years), 5 were of preschool age (<6 years), and one was of adult age group (18>). More male (61.5%) than female were infected with STH. Conclusion. This study shows very low prevalence of STH among all age groups in Mwea, suggesting that long term SBD may also be benefitting the untreated groups in the community and thus the potential to achieve STH elimination in such endemic areas.
Clinical Features and Treatment in the Spectrum of Paroxysmal Dyskinesias: An Observational Study in South-West Castilla y Leon, Spain
Authors: Manso-Calderón Raquel
Published: May 2019

Background. Paroxysmal dyskinesias (PxD) are a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by intermittent episodes of involuntary movements. PxD include paroxysmal kinesigenic (PKD), nonkinesigenic (PNK), and exercise-induced (PED) varieties. Objectives. To define the phenotype of primary and secondary PxD forms. Methods. Twenty-two patients with PxD (9 men/13 women) were evaluated in two hospitals in south-west Castilla y Leon, Spain. Clinical features of the episodes, causes, family history, and response to treatment were collected. Results. Thirteen participants with primary PxD (6 men/7 women) and 9 with secondary PxD (3 men/6 women) were recruited. Nine patients belong to three nonrelated families (2 had PKD and 1 had PED). Mean age at onset in primary PKD cases was 10 years (range 5-23 years), earlier than in PNKD (24 years) and PED (20 years). Most primary PKD cases experienced daily episodes of duration <1 minute, which are more frequent and shorter attacks than in PNKD (1-2 per month, 5 minutes) and PED (1 per day, 15 minutes). The location of the involuntary movements varied widely; isolated dystonia was more common than mixed chorea and dystonia. All PKD patients who received antiepileptic treatment significantly improved. Levodopa and ketogenic diet proved to be effective in two patients with PED. Secondary forms presented a later mean age of onset (51 years). Six cases had PNKD, 1 had PKD, 1 both PNKD and PKD, and 1 had PED. Causes comprised vascular lesions, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, peripheral trauma, endocrinopathies, and drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Conclusion. The knowledge of the clinical features and spectrum of causes related to PxD is crucial to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment, or even a nonorganic disorder diagnosis.