bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes in NYHA I–IV Classification of Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Shi Jun , Luo Liangtao , Chen Jing , Wang Juan , Zhao Huihui , Wang Wei
Published: February 2019

Objectives. This study investigated the distribution of characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and their association with symptoms in 1027 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods. An observational study was performed by researchers, collecting data from 1036 patients with CHF from 24 Chinese medicine hospitals from May 2009 to December 2014. Due to incomplete information from nine patients, 1027 patients with CHF were analysed. The distribution of syndromes in CHF and association between high-frequency syndromes and symptoms were investigated.Results. The primary syndromes were qi deficiency, blood stasis, fluid retention, yin deficiency, phlegm turbidity, and yang deficiency. The primary sites of disease were the heart, kidney, lung, and spleen. In patients with CHF of differing cardiac function, there was no significant difference in the frequency of yin deficiency (P>0.05). The distribution of yang deficiency was significantly different between New York Heat Association (NYHA) classes II, III, and IV and between classes I+II and III+IV (P<0.05). The frequency of phlegm turbidity was significantly different between NYHA classes II and III, between classes III and IV, and between classes I+II and III+IV (P<0.05). The frequency of fluid retention was significantly different between NYHA classes I and IV, between classes II, III, and IV, and between classes I+II and III+IV (P<0.05). Regarding associations between syndromes and symptoms, qi deficiency was diagnosed in 87.43% of patients with insomnia and spiritlessness; blood stasis in 84.85% of patients with spontaneous sweating + cyanosis of the lips; fluid retention in 75% of patients with a hard pulse and oedema; and yin deficiency in 72.92% of patients with feverish sensation in the chest, palms, and soles and spontaneous sweating.Conclusions. The frequency of yang deficiency and fluid retention was higher and that of phlegm turbidity was lower in classes III and IV than in classes I and II.
Prior Esophagogastric Devascularization Followed by Splenectomy for Liver Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension: A Modified Laparoscopic Technique
Authors: Zhang Lei , Luo Hong-Ping , Liu Fei-Long , Zhang Wan-Guang
Published: February 2019

Purpose. This study was conducted to introduce a novel modified surgical technique for laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) and its safety and efficiency. Methods. From June 2016 to November 2017, 86 patients were diagnosed with portal hypertension and serious gastroesophageal varices in our center. Of them, 32 patients underwent LSED and 54 received the modified LSED. Results and outcomes were compared retrospectively. Results. There were no significant differences in preoperative patient characteristics of the two groups. No intraoperative deaths took place in both groups. The intraoperative blood loss was apparently less in the M-LSED group (P<0.05). There was no conversion in the M-LSED group; four patients receiving LSED were converted to hand-assisted LSED due to profuse bleeding during operation (P<0.05). Operation time was significantly shorter in the M-LSED group (P<0.05). Otherwise, postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the M-LSED group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions. Our study showed that the modified LSED was a safe and effective approach with low conversion rate, less intraoperative bleeding, less blood transfusion, and shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay compared with classical LSED. Moreover, this technique is relatively easy and technically feasible.
Method for Predicting the Liquid-Sloshing Characteristics of a Microsatellite Propulsion System
Authors: Teng L. , Meng T. , Jin Zh. H.
Published: February 2019

In this study, a method for establishing a prediction model for the liquid-sloshing characteristics of microsatellite propulsion systems is proposed. The ideal states of the liquid-sloshing characteristics are considered for the following three models: (1) storage tank, (2) coupled storage tank and microsatellite, and (3) coupled storage tank and microsatellite with a deployment mechanism. The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics method is implemented in ABAQUS to study the effect of sloshing on a storage tank and microsatellite disturbance for the above three cases. Relationship models between the sloshing time, sloshing angular velocity, amount of fluid filled, and satellite attitude angular velocity are established. The analysis results show that the disturbance angular velocity of the empty storage tank and sloshing angular velocity have a linear relationship. Furthermore, the disturbance angular velocity of the liquid-filled storage tank exhibits a surface relationship with the sloshing angular velocity and amount of fluid filled in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Additionally, the disturbance angular velocity in the liquid-filled state of the storage tank is higher than that of the empty storage tank, and the degree of disturbance decreases with the increase in the mass of the coupling. The disturbance of the storage tank and microsatellite with the deployment mechanism is 10−2°/s when the angular velocities of the satellite areωx′=3,ωy′=3, andωz′=2. The maximum and minimum deviations between the calculation and simulation results of the three models are 7.6% and 1.1%, respectively. The model is used to predict the disturbance angular velocity of the microsatellite. When the calculation results of the model are compared with the orbit satellite data, the maximum and minimum disturbance angular velocity deviations occur in theyandzdirections with a deviation of 43.36% and 14.86%, respectively. This demonstrates the accuracy of the analysis and model. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for the engineering design and attitude and orbital control of a microsatellite propulsion system.
Statistical Analysis of Influence of Cover Depth on Loess Tunnel Deformation in NW China
Authors: Hu Zhao , Du Ke , Lai Jinxing , Xie Yongli
Published: February 2019

Loess is a kind of special soil with structure and hydrocollapse behavior; due to the particularity of loess, the deformation regularity of the tunnel in loess shows different characteristics from those in rock. To ensure the safety of construction, crown settlement (CS) and horizontal convergence (HC) are widely used to assess the stability of the tunnel structural system. Based on statistical analysis, this study focused on analyzing the influence of cover depth on the deformation of surrounding rock of loess tunnels by ANOVA, and relationships between them were presented by regression analysis. The achieved results indicated that the influence of cover depth on deformation was not obvious in shallow tunnels, while the cover depth had a significant effect on deformation in deep tunnels. Based on the difference of influence of cover depth on deformation between shallow tunnels and deep tunnels, a method for determining the cover depth threshold (CDT) in the tunnel by statistical analysis was proposed. The horizontal and vertical deformations in shallow tunnels were discrete and obeyed the positive distribution, mainly concentrated within 200 mm. The deformation allowance in shallow tunnels was recommended to be 200 mm. In deep tunnels, as the cover depth increased, the deformation increased linearly, while the CS/HC decreased.
Effect of Adding Co on Crystallization Behavior and Magnetoimpedance Effect of Amorphous/Nanocrystalline FeCuNbSiB Alloy Strips
Authors: Jiang Da-guo , Ye Yuan-xiu , Guo Bin
Published: February 2019

After one of the B atoms in Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy was replaced by both 0.7 Si and 0.3 Co, Fe73.5Co0.3Cu1Nb3Si14.2B8 alloy ribbons were prepared by single roll fast quenching method. The obtained alloy ribbons were subsequently wound into ring magnetic cores, and then these magnetic cores were annealed at different temperatures in air. The effects of adding Co on the crystallization behavior and soft magnetic properties of the as-quenched alloy ribbons with and without heat treatment were studied. The results show that the amorphous structure of the prepared Fe73.5Co0.3Cu1Nb3Si14.2B8 alloy ribbons is transformed into the coexistence of amorphous and nanocrystalline structures after heat treatment at 550°C. Comparing with Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy ribbons, the first initial crystallization temperature (Tx1) and crystallization peak temperature (Tp1) of Fe73.5Co0.3Cu1Nb3Si14.2B8 alloy ribbons were reduced by 1.6 and 1.7°C, respectively, While the second initial crystallization temperature (Tx1) and crystallization peak temperature (Tp2) were increased by 6.5 and 5.7°C, respectively, resulting in that the difference between the first and the second initial crystallization temperatures (∆Tx) are increased by 8.1°C; the initial permeability (μi) and saturation induction density (Bs) of the amorphous/nanocrystalline Fe73.5Co0.3Cu1Nb3Si14.2B8 magnetic cores were reduced by 0.15 H/m and 0.39 T, respectively, while the coercivity (Hc) is increased by 0.34 A/m.
Robust Invariant Set Analysis of Boolean Networks
Authors: Li Bowen , Lou Jungang , Liu Yang , Wang Zhen
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the robust invariant set (RIS) of Boolean (control) networks with disturbances is investigated. First, for a given fixed point, consider a special set called immediate neighborhoods of the fixed point; then a discrete derivative of Boolean functions at the fixed point is used to analyze the robust invariance, based on which a sufficient condition is obtained. Second, for more general sets, the robust output control invariant set (ROCIS) of Boolean control networks (BCNs) is investigated by semitensor product (STP) of matrices. Then, under a given output feedback controller, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition to check whether a given set is robust control invariant set (RCIS). Furthermore, output feedback controllers are designed to make a set to be a RCIS. Finally, the proposed methods are illustrated by a reduced model of the lac operon in E. coli.
Carbon Nanomaterials for the Adsorptive Desulfurization of Fuels
Authors: Svinterikos Efstratios , Zuburtikudis Ioannis , Al-Marzouqi Mohamed
Published: February 2019

The increasing demand for cleaner fuels and the recent stringent regulations of commercial fuel specifications have driven the research of alternative methods to upgrade the current industrial desulfurization technology. Adsorptive desulfurization, the removal of refractory sulfur compounds using appropriate selective tailor-made adsorbents, has shown up as a promising alternative in the recent years. Carbon nanomaterials, namely, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, show a significant potential as desulfurization adsorbents. Their surface area and porosity, their ability of easy functionalization, and their suitability to serve as a support of different types of adsorbents have rendered them attractive candidates for this purpose. In this review, after a presentation of the current industrial desulfurization practice and its limitations, the structure and properties of the carbon nanomaterials of interest will be described, followed by a detailed account of their applications in adsorptive desulfurization. The major literature findings and conclusions will be presented and discussed as a road map for future research in the field.
Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Quadratus Lumborum Block in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Study
Authors: Baytar Çağdaş , Yılmaz Canan , Karasu Derya , Topal Serra
Published: February 2019

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided (USG) subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and quadratus lumborum (QL) block as preventive analgesia methods after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods. A total of 120 patients, 18–75 years of age, were separated into 2 groups preoperatively. Patients in group TAP (n = 60) received 0.3 ml/kg bupivacaine with USG bilateral subcostal TAP block; patients in group QL (n = 60) received 0.3 ml/kg bupivacaine with USG bilateral QL block. Patients were assessed 24 h postoperatively, and pain scores, time to first analgesia requirement, total analgesia dose, and postoperative complications during the first 24 h were recorded. Results. Fifty-three patients in group TAP and 54 in group QL were ultimately evaluated. No statistically significant difference was found in at rest and dynamic visual analog scale scores between the groups. There was also no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to total analgesia consumption. Although the duration of anesthesia was significantly longer in group QL, no statistically significant difference was found in the duration of surgery between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusions. Results of this study demonstrated that USG subcostal TAP and QL blocks similarly reduced postoperative pain scores and analgesia consumption, with high patient satisfaction. However, subcostal TAP block could be considered preferable to QL block because it can be applied easily and in a shorter time.
Study on Compaction of Reclaimed Soil of Nonmetallic Mining Area in Northern Foothills of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Zhang Zizhao , Tang Guobin , Zhu Jian
Published: February 2019

This study focused on the changes of the compaction of the reclaimed soil after the reclamation process and the one-year maintenance period of the nonmetallic mines in north foothills of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. The plate load experiment method was employed to simulate the compaction effect of various times of compaction from the reclamation machine on a different thickness of the reclaimed soil. The experimental data were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The experimental results showed both compaction frequency and thickness of the reclaimed soil were key factors affecting the compaction of the reclaimed soil, and the interaction between them had a dramatic impact on the soil compaction. The difference of the porosity between the three-time compacted soil by the compaction machine and the noncompacted soil was significant. The effect of a single compaction dampened with the increasing times of compaction. The porosity of the 50 cm and 70 cm thick topsoil continuously decreases with the increasing times of compaction at the depth of 10 cm from the surface soil. The porosity at the 30 cm depth of the 50 cm and 70 cm thick topsoil decreased first and then increased with the increasing times of compaction. At the end of the one-year maintenance period, samples from different depths of the reclaimed soil of various thicknesses were collected to investigate the changes of porosity. The results showed the porosity of the reclaimed soil at different depths was changed due to irrigation. The porosity of the uncompacted soil decreased progressively from the surface to the deep region. The porosity of the compacted soil at the 10 cm depth was lower than that at the 30 cm depth due to soil sealing, whereas the porosity decreased with the increasing depth in the deeper region. The results from this study could provide a fundamental reference for the reclamation of nonmetallic mines in northern foothills of Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China.
Common Fixed Points in Generalized Metric Spaces with a Graph
Authors: Chaira Karim , Kabil Mustapha , Kamouss Abdessamad
Published: February 2019

The aim of this paper is to prove the existence and uniqueness of points of coincidence and common fixed points for a pair of self-mappings defined on generalized metric spaces with a graph. Our results improve and extend several recent results of metric fixed point theory.
A Node‐Based SIRS Epidemic Model with Infective Media on Complex Networks
Authors: Zheng Leyi , Tang Longkun
Published: February 2019

We focus on the node‐based epidemic modeling for networks, introduce the propagation medium, and propose a node‐based Susceptible‐Infected‐Recovered‐Susceptible (SIRS) epidemic model with infective media. Theoretical investigations show that the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. Numerical examples of three typical network structures also verify the theoretical results. Furthermore, comparison between network node degree and its infected percents implies that there is a strong positive correlation between both; namely, the node with bigger degree is infected with more percents. Finally, we discuss the impact of the epidemic spreading rate of media as well as the effective recovered rate on the network average infected state. Theoretical and numerical results show that (1) network average infected percents go up (down) with the increase of the infected rate of media (the effective recovered rate); (2) the infected rate of media has almost no influence on network average infected percents for the fully connected network and NW small‐world network; (3) network average infected percents decrease exponentially with the increase of the effective recovered rate, implying that the percents can be controlled at low level by an appropriate large effective recovered rate.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Antileishmanial Activity of Certain Quinoline-4-carboxylic Acids
Authors: Abdelwahid Mazin A. S. , Elsaman Tilal , Mohamed Malik S. , Latif Sara A. , Mukhtar Moawia M. , Mohamed Magdi A.
Published: February 2019

Leishmaniasis is a fatal neglected parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genusLeishmaniaand transmitted to humans by different species ofphlebotominesandflies. The disease incidence continues to increase due to lack of vaccines and prophylactic drugs. Drugs commonly used for the treatment are frequently toxic and highly expensive. The problem of these drugs is further complicated by the development of resistance. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new antileishmanial drug candidates. The aim of this study was to synthesize certain quinoline-4-carboxylic acids, confirm their chemical structures, and evaluate their antileishmanial activity. Pfitzinger reaction was employed to synthesize fifteen quinoline-4-carboxylic acids (Q1-Q15) by reacting equimolar mixtures of isatin derivatives and appropriateα-methyl ketone. The products were purified, and their respective chemical structures were deduced using various spectral tools (IR, MS,1H NMR, and13C NMR). Then, they were investigated againstL. donovanipromastigote (clinical isolate) in different concentration levels (200 μg/mL to 1.56 μg/mL) against sodium stibogluconate and amphotericin B as positive controls. The IC50for each compound was determined and manipulated statistically. Among these compounds,Q1(2-methylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid) was found to be the most active in terms of IC50.
Underwater Object Recognition Using Transformable Template Matching Based on Prior Knowledge
Authors: Zhu Jianjiang , Yu Siquan , Han Zhi , Tang Yandong , Wu Chengdong
Published: February 2019

Underwater object recognition in sonar images, such as mine detection and wreckage detection of a submerged airplane, is a very challenging task. The main difficulties include but are not limited to object rotation, confusion from false targets and complex backgrounds, and extensibility of recognition ability on diverse types of objects. In this paper, we propose an underwater object detection and recognition method using a transformable template matching approach based on prior knowledge. Specifically, we first extract features and construct a template from sonar video sequences based on the analysis of acoustic shadows and highlight regions. Then, we identify the target region in the objective image by fast saliency detection techniques based on FFT, which can significantly improve efficiency by avoiding an exhaustive global search. After affine transformation of the template according to the orientation of the target, we extract normalized gradient features and calculate the similarity between the template and the target region, which can solve various difficulties mentioned above using only one template. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can well recognize different underwater objects, such as mine‐like objects and triangle‐like objects and can satisfy the demands of real‐time application.
Misdiagnosis: Acute Chest Syndrome That Evolved into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Patient without a Documented History of Hemoglobinopathy
Authors: Sossou Christoph , Chika-Nwosuh Ogechukwu , Nnaoma Christopher , Bustillo Jose , Chohan Asad , Okundaye Etinosasere , Patel Pratik
Published: February 2019

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a feared complication of sickle cell disease. Here is a case of a patient who presented with symptoms suggestive of acute chest syndrome yet had a delayed diagnosis presumably due to the lack of documented history of sickle cell disease of the patient, consequently evolving into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). He was subsequently diagnosed with heterozygous sickle cell SC disease on hemoglobin electrophoresis. After appropriate management with mechanical ventilator, broad-spectrum empiric intravenous antibiotics, exchange transfusion, and intravenous fluid resuscitation, the patient was medically optimized and safely discharged home, with significant improvement noted on successive follow-up visits.
Positive Solutions for a Coupled System of Nonlinear Semipositone Fractional Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Nageswara Rao S. , Zico Meetei M.
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we consider a four-point coupled boundary value problem for system of the nonlinear semipositone fractional differential equation D0+αu(t)+λf(t,u(t),v(t))=0,  0<t<1, D0+αv(t)+μg(t,u(t),v(t))=0,  0<t<1, u(0)=v(0)=0,  a1D0+βu(1)=b1D0+βv(ξ), a2D0+βv(1)=b2D0+βu(η),  η,ξ∈(0,1), where the coefficients ai,bi,i=1,2 are real positive constants, α∈(1,2],β∈(0,1],D0+α, D0+β are the standard Riemann-Liouville derivatives. Values of the parameters λ and μ are determined for which boundary value problem has positive solution by utilizing a fixed point theorem on cone.
Clostridium difficileEnteritis after Total Abdominal Colectomy for Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Nasser Hassan , Munie Semeret , Shakaroun Dania , Ivanics Tommy , Nalamati Surya , Killu Keith
Published: February 2019

Introduction.IsolatedClostridium difficilesmall bowel enteritis is a rare condition with significant morbidity and mortality.Presentation of Case.An 83-year-old female with refractory ulcerative colitis underwent a total proctocolectomy and end ileostomy. Her postoperative course was complicated with return to the operating room for repair of an incarcerated port site hernia. Subsequently, she developed septic shock and multiorgan failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, and high dose vasopressors. Diagnostic workup revealed diffuse small bowel wall thickening on computed tomography scan as well as positive nucleic acid amplification test forC. difficiletoxin B gene. Despite treatment with antibiotics and maximum attempts at resuscitation, the patient expired.Discussion. C. difficileinfection most commonly affects the colon but rarely can involve the small bowel. The pathogenesis ofC. difficileenteritis is unclear but is believed to mirror that of colitis. Surgical patients are susceptible forC. difficileinfection, as they tend to be relatively immunosuppressed in the postoperative period. Radiologic findings of enteritis may mimic those of colitis and this includes small bowel dilation and thickening. Treatment for this condition has not been well established but it is approached similar to colitis.Conclusion.Despite an increase in the number of case reports ofC. difficileenteritis, it continues to be a rare but potentially fatal infection. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who undergo colon resections.
Effects of the Computer Desk Level on the Musculoskeletal Discomfort of Neck and Upper Extremities and EMG Activities in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries
Authors: Kang Bo-Ra , Her Jin-Gang , Lee Ju-Sang , Ko Tae-Sung , You Young-Youl
Published: February 2019

Background. Computers are used as a means of social communication, for work and other purposes. However, patients with spinal cord injuries may have a higher risk than normal individuals with musculoskeletal problems when using computers owing to their inability to control respective postures due to problems in motor and sensory functioning.Objectives. This study is aimed at identifying the effect of computer desk heights on musculoskeletal discomforts of the neck and upper extremities and EMG activities in patients with spinal cord (C6) and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries.Methods. Participants of the present study were the patients diagnosed with ASIA A or B. The patients were divided into two groups according to their spinal cord injuries: C6 group and T2-T6 group. The level of the desk was set at 5 cm below the elbow, at the elbow level, and 5 cm above the elbow level. Electromyography was used to measure the duration of typing task EMG(%RVC) of the cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, and wrist extensor. Subjective musculoskeletal discomfort (Borg-RPE) was measured at the end of the experiment.Results. The two groups showed differences in terms of RPE corresponding to each level of the computer desk (p<.05). Postanalysis revealed the C6 group had decreased RPE as the level of computer desk increased, whereas the subjects in the T2-T6 group had decreased RPE values in accordance with the decreasing level of computer desk (p<.05). In EMG, both groups had no significant differences (p>.05). However, in terms of the interaction between the muscles and the level of computer desk in both groups, the differences in the interactions of the upper trapezius and wrist extensor with each level of the desk were found (p<.05).Conclusion. This study is meaningful in that it confirms computer work posture and preference of spinal cord-injured individuals.
Simulation Investigation on Flame Retardancy of the PVAc/ATP Nanocomposite
Authors: Qiong Su , Yanbin Wang , Li Liu , Junxi Liang
Published: February 2019

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the effects of some key factors on the enhancement of flame retardancy of the PVAc/ATP nanocomposite. As a result, the obvious improved flame retardancy was attributed mainly to the increased dispersion of Mg ions in the PVAc matrix due to the stronger interaction between PVAc and ATP and partially to the combustion temperature of PVAc released by the escaped H2O originating from the ATP dopant. Hence, the ATP ore as a predicted additive is viewed as a prospective candidate to be applied in future organic materials to obtain better flame-retardant properties. Moreover, in our simulations, the temperature can induce a significant impact on the interaction of the PVAc/ATP nanocomposite, in which the prominent combination between PVAc and ATP could be greatly promoted at 350 K.
Predicting the Effect of Bilateral Pelvic Osteotomy on Sagittal Alignment Correction and Surrounding Muscles: A Mathematical Model
Authors: Zarei Vahhab , Yson Sharon C. , Bechtold Joan E. , Sembrano Jonathan N.
Published: February 2019

Study Design. Mathematical Model. Objectives. To investigate the relationship between pelvic osteotomy opening angle (OA) and its effect on spinopelvic sagittal parameters as well as the resting length of surrounding muscles. Methods. Predictive equations correlating OA with spinopelvic parameters were derived using geometric relationships. A geometric model calculated spinopelvic parameters (SVA, pelvic incidence [PI], PT, and T1 pelvic angle [TPA]) produced by progressively increasing the OA. These values were compared to optimal balance criteria in the literature. Four muscles crossing the osteotomy site were evaluated: Gluteus Medius (GMED), Gluteus Maximus (GMAX), Piriformis (P), and Tensor Fascia Lata (TFL). Insertion points were obtained from an OpenSim software model. GMAX and GMED were subdivided into 3 (anterior, middle, and posterior). Results. OA correlated negatively with PI, TPA, and SVA and positively with PT. From baseline SVA of 22 cm, OA 21° reduced SVA to 5cm. OA 23° reduced TPA to 14°. OA 30° increased PT to 20°. OA 26° decreased PI-LL to 10°. OA range of 26°-30° resulted in optimal sagittal deformity correction. OA correlated with SR positively for TFL and anterior GMED and negatively for the rest of muscles. For this OA, the SR approximately decreased 6%, 5%, 6%, 8%, and 5% for posterior GMED, anterior GMAX, middle GMAX, posterior GMAX, and P, respectively. It increased 8% and 4% for anterior GMED and TFL, respectively. Conclusion. Predictive relationships between osteotomy OA and spinopelvic parameters were shown, providing proof of concept that sagittal balance may be achieved via pelvic osteotomy.
Determinants of Open Defecation in the Wa Municipality of Ghana: Empirical Findings Highlighting Sociocultural and Economic Dynamics among Households
Authors: Osumanu Issaka Kanton , Kosoe Enoch Akwasi , Ategeeng Frank
Published: February 2019

This study examined sociocultural and economic factors determining open defecation in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. The study employed a mixed method approach involving questionnaire administration to 367 households systematically selected from 21 communities, observation, and eight key informant interviews. The mixed logit model was used to determine the factors that significantly influence open defecation. The findings revealed that 49.8% of households had no form of toilet facility at home and were either using communal/public toilets or practicing open defecation. Several sociocultural and economic reasons account for this. But for these households, having a toilet facility at home does not seem to be a priority. Six factors (education, household size, occupation, income, traditional norms, and beliefs and ownership of a toilet facility) were positively significant in determining open defecation. Fundamental to many of the significant factors is households’ capacity to finance construction of home toilets. In addition to finding new and innovative approaches to public education, the principle of credit financing, that incorporates community-led initiatives, may be considered in assisting households to construct home toilets.
Perspective of Pain Clinicians in Three Global Cities on Local Barriers to Providing Care for Chronic Noncancer Pain Patients
Authors: Lakha S. Fatima , Ballantyne Peri , Badr Hanan , Agboatwala Mubina , Mailis Angela , Pennefather Peter
Published: February 2019

An increasing proportion of the global chronic pain population is managed through services delivered by specialized pain clinics in global cities. This paper describes the results of a survey of pain clinic leaders in three global cities on barriers influencing chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) management provided by those clinics. It demonstrates a pragmatic qualitative approach for characterizing how the global city location of the clinic influences those results. A cross-sectional prospective survey design was used, and data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Key informants were pain clinicians (n = 4 women and 8 men) responsible for outputs of specialized pain clinics in academic hospital settings in three global cities: Toronto, Kuwait, and Karachi. Krippendorff’s thematic clustering technique was used to identify the repetitive themes in the data. All but one of the key informants had their primary pain training from Europe or North America. In Kuwait and Karachi, pain specialists were anesthesiologists and provided CNCP management services independently. In Toronto, pain clinic leaders were part of some form of the multidisciplinary team. Using the results of a question that asked informants to list their top three barriers, ten themes were identified. These themes were artificially organized in three thematic domains: infrastructure, clinical services, and education. In parallel, 31 predefined barriers identified from the literature were scored. The results showed variation in perception of barriers that not only depended on the clinic location but also demonstrated shared experiences across thematic domains. This study demonstrates a simple methodology for informing global and local efforts to improve access to and implementation of CNCP services globally.
A Heterogeneous IoV Architecture for Data Forwarding in Vehicle to Infrastructure Communication
Authors: Sherazi Hafiz Husnain Raza , Khan Zuhaib Ashfaq , Iqbal Razi , Rizwan Shahzad , Imran Muhammad Ali , Awan Khalid
Published: February 2019

The Internet of vehicles (IoV) is a newly emerged wave that converges Internet of things (IoT) into vehicular networks to benefit from ubiquitous Internet connectivity. Despite various research efforts, vehicular networks are still striving to achieve higher data rate, seamless connectivity, scalability, security, and improved quality of service, which are the key enablers for IoV. It becomes even more critical to investigate novel design architectures to accomplish efficient and reliable data forwarding when it comes to handling the emergency communication infrastructure in the presence of natural epidemics. The article proposes a heterogeneous network architecture incorporating multiple wireless interfaces (e.g., wireless access in vehicular environment (WAVE), long-range wireless fidelity (WiFi), and fourth generation/long-term evolution (4G/LTE)) installed on the on-board units, exploiting the radio over fiber approach to establish a context-aware network connectivity. This heterogeneous network architecture attempts to meet the requirements of pervasive connectivity for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) to make them scalable and adaptable for IoV supporting a range of emergency services. The architecture employs the Best Interface Selection (BIS) algorithm to always ensure reliable communication through the best available wireless interface to support seamless connectivity required for efficient data forwarding in vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) communication successfully avoiding the single point of failure. Moreover, the simulation results clearly argue about the suitability of the proposed architecture in IoV environment coping with different types of applications against individual wireless technologies.
Preclinical Imaging Biomarkers for Postischaemic Neurovascular Remodelling
Authors: Gandhi Richa , Tsoumpas Charalampos
Published: February 2019

In the pursuit of understanding the pathological alterations that underlie ischaemic injuries, such as vascular remodelling and reorganisation, there is a need for recognising the capabilities and limitations of in vivo imaging techniques. Thus, this review presents contemporary published research of imaging modalities that have been implemented to study postischaemic neurovascular changes in small animals. A comparison of the technical aspects of the various imaging tools is included to set the framework for identifying the most appropriate methods to observe postischaemic neurovascular remodelling. A systematic search of the PubMed® and Elsevier’s Scopus databases identified studies that were conducted between 2008 and 2018 to explore postischaemic neurovascular remodelling in small animal models. Thirty-five relevant in vivo imaging studies are included, of which most made use of magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography, whilst various optical modalities were also utilised. Notably, there is an increasing trend of using multimodal imaging to exploit the most beneficial properties of each imaging technique to elucidate different aspects of neurovascular remodelling. Nevertheless, there is still scope for further utilising noninvasive imaging tools such as contrast agents or radiotracers, which will have the ability to monitor neurovascular changes particularly during restorative therapy. This will facilitate more successful utility of the clinical imaging techniques in the interpretation of neurovascular reorganisation over time.
Anthropocentric Approach for Smart Assembly: Integration and Collaboration
Authors: Tan Qingmeng , Tong Yifei , Wu Shaofeng , Li Dongbo
Published: February 2019

Recently, anthropocentric or human-centric approaches renewed its importance in smart manufacturing especially for assembly applications where human dexterity and informal knowledge are dispensable at present and in the near future. This paper analyzes the integration, design, and collaboration issues regarding anthropocentric researches in the past few years mainly in assembly domain. First of all, towards closed-loop system integration, the researches on integrating human in the cyber-physical system are elaborated and summarized. Then, human-centric designs (HCD) especially in shop-floor assembly field are analyzed. To emphasize human-robot hybrid assembly, several related issues including collaboration paradigm, task planning and assignment, interaction interfaces, and safety are discussed. At last, a survey on human cognitive and social limitation management is elaborated. Related research challenges and directions are discussed.
Stability Analysis of a Two-Patch Competition Model with Dispersal Delays
Authors: Sun Guowei , Mai Ali
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we study a Lotka-Volterra competition model with two competing species moving randomly between two identical patches. A constant dispersal delay is incorporated into the dispersal process for each species. We show that the dispersal delays do not affect the stability and instability of all four symmetric equilibria. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effect of dispersal delays on the stability and instability of the symmetric coexistence equilibrium.
Driving with Parkinson’s Disease: Exploring Lived Experience
Authors: Holmes Jeffrey D. , Alvarez Liliana , Johnson Andrew M. , Robinson Amy E. , Gilhuly Kaylie , Horst Emily , Kowalchuk Aaron , Rathwell Kayleigh , Reklitis Yanni , Wheildon Nolan
Published: February 2019

A growing body of literature has explored the impact of Parkinson’s disease (PD) on fitness to drive. As such, evidence now supports the use of specific clinical tests for screening purposes, the predictive validity of risk impressions, and the critical driving errors that predict on-road pass/fail outcomes in this population. However, little is known about the lived experiences of persons with PD as they navigate driving-related concerns such as driving impairments, cessation, potential threats to independence, and community mobility. This qualitative secondary data analysis aimed to explore the driving-related lived experiences of persons with PD. We utilized summative content analysis to identify themes related to driving from transcribed interviews with nineteen community-dwelling individuals with PD who participated in the primary study. Five themes emerged within the analysis: (1) the meaning and significance of driving; (2) driving cessation; (3) modified driving behaviors; (4) factors affecting driving; and (5) accessibility. Participants identified driving as an activity that holds significant importance—both directly (i.e., as a primary activity) and as a means for enabling other activities. This study lays the foundation for the development of client-centred and evidence-informed driving interventions for individuals with PD, as well as the development of driving retirement programs.
The Effect of Kelulut Honey on Fasting Blood Glucose and Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose
Authors: Rashid Mohd Radzniwan , Nor Aripin Khairun Nain , Syed Mohideen Fathima Begum , Baharom Nizam , Omar Khairani , Md Taujuddin Nik Mohd Shafikudin , Mohd Yusof Hazira Hanum , Addnan Faizul Helmi
Published: February 2019

Background. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) poses a higher risk of diabetes. Honey has been reported to improve metabolic abnormalities including lowering hyperglycemia. This study is sought at determining the effect of Malaysian Kelulut honey (KH) on fasting glucose levels and metabolic parameters in IFG patients. Methods. This quasi-experimental intervention study of 30-day duration was conducted among 60 adult patients with IFG. They were allocated into taking 30 g/day KH group (experimental group, n=30) and not taking KH group (control group, n=30). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose, and lipid profile levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein) were measured before and after treatment. Results. There was no significant difference in all measured variables at day 30 compared to day 1 within both groups. Similarly, all measured variables neither at day 1 nor at day 30 had shown a statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions. Daily intake of 30 g KH for 30 days resulted in insignificant effect on fasting glucose, fasting lipid profiles, and other metabolic parameters in patients with IFG. Further studies that employ longer study duration are needed to ascertain the finding.
Transient Complete Unilateral Oculomotor Nerve Palsy following Clipping of Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm: An Abstruse Phenomenon
Authors: Das Joe M. , Sapkota Rashmi , Mishra Manish
Published: February 2019

Background. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage may be associated with different cranial nerve palsies, with oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) being the most common. ONP is especially associated with posterior communicating artery aneurysms, due to the anatomical proximity of the nerve to the aneurysmal wall. Anterior communicating artery (Acom) aneurysms are very unlikely to produce ONP due to the widely separated anatomical locations of Acom and oculomotor nerve. Case Description. Here we describe the case of a 60-year-old nondiabetic lady who presented with Acom aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage having a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade I. She underwent an uneventful right pterional craniotomy and clipping of the aneurysm, except for a short period of controlled rupture of the aneurysm. Postoperatively she developed complete ONP on the right side, though her sensorium was preserved. Computed Tomogram and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans of the brain did not yield any useful information regarding its etiology. She was conservatively managed and kept on regular follow-up. She had a gradual recovery of ONP in the following order: pupillary reaction, ocular movements, and finally ptosis. On postoperative day 61, she had complete recovery from ONP. Conclusion. We describe a very unusual case of complete ONP following Acom aneurysm clipping and its management by masterly inactivity.
Positive Solutions for a System of Neumann Boundary Value Problems of Second-Order Difference Equations Involving Sign-Changing Nonlinearities
Authors: Jiang Jiqiang , Henderson Johnny , Xu Jiafa , Fu Zhengqing
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we study the existence of positive solutions for the system of second-order difference equations involving Neumann boundary conditions: -Δ2u1(t-1)=f1(t,u1(t),u2(t)), t∈[1,T]Z, -Δ2u2(t-1)=f2(t,u1(t),u2(t)), t∈[1,T]Z, Δui(0)=Δui(T)=0, i=1,2, where T>1 is a given positive integer, Δu(t)=u(t+1)-u(t), and Δ2u(t)=Δ(Δu(t)). Under some appropriate conditions for our sign-changing nonlinearities, we use the fixed point index to establish our main results.
Predicting Remaining Useful Life Based on Hilbert–Huang Entropy with Degradation Model
Authors: Zheng Yuhuang
Published: February 2019

Prognostics health management (PHM) of rotating machinery has become an important process for increasing reliability and reducing machine malfunctions in industry. Bearings are one of the most important equipment parts and are also one of the most common failure points. To assess the degradation of a machine, this paper presents a bearing remaining useful life (RUL) prediction method. The method relies on a novel health indicator and a linear degradation model to predict bearing RUL. The health indicator is extracted by using Hilbert–Huang entropy to process horizontal vibration signals obtained from bearings. We present a linear degradation model to estimate RUL using this health indicator. In the training phase, the degradation detection threshold and the failure threshold of this model are estimated by the distribution of 600 bootstrapped samples. These bootstrapped samples are taken from the six training sets. In the test phase, the health indicator and the model are used to estimate the bearing’s current health state and predict its RUL. This method is suitable for the degradation of bearings. The experimental results show that this method can effectively monitor bearing degradation and predict its RUL.
Fréchet Differentiability for a Damped Kirchhoff-Type Equation and Its Application to Bilinear Minimax Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Hwang Jin-soo
Published: February 2019

We consider a damped Kirchhoff-type equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The objective is to show the Fréchet differentiability of a nonlinear solution map from a bilinear control input to the solution of a Kirchhoff-type equation. We use this result to formulate the minimax optimal control problem. We show the existence of optimal pairs and find their necessary optimality conditions.
Cortical Visual Performance Test Setup for Parkinson’s Disease Based on Motion Blur Orientation
Authors: Isenkul M. Erdem
Published: February 2019

Studies on Parkinson’s disease (PD) are becoming very popular on multidisciplinary platforms. The development of predictable telemonitored early detection models has become closely related to many different research areas. The aim of this article is to develop a visual performance test that can examine the effects of Parkinson’s disease on the visual cortex, which can be a subtitle scoring test in UPDRS. However, instead of showing random images and asking for discrepancies between them, it is expected that the questions to be asked to patients should be provable in the existing cortex models, should be deduced between the images, and produce a reference threshold value to compare with the practical results. In a developed test, horizontal and vertical motion blur orientation was applied to natural image samples, and then neural outputs were produced by representing three (original-horizontal-vertical) image groups with the Layer 4 (L4) cortex model. This image representation is then compared with a filtering model which is very similar to thalamus’ functionality. Thus, the linear problem-solving performance of the L4 cortex model is also addressed in the study. According to the obtained classification results, the L4 model produces high-performance success rates compared to the thalamic model, which shows the adaptation power of the visual cortex on the image pattern differences. In future studies, developed motion-based visual tests are planned to be applied to PD patient groups/controls, and their performances with mathematical threshold values will be examined.