bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Carnian Pluvial Episode at Ma'antang, Jiangyou in Upper Yangtze Block, Southwestern China
Authors: Shi Zhiqiang , Jin Xin , Preto Nereo , Rigo Manuel , Du Yixing , Han Lu
Published: November 2018

New biostratigraphic (ammonoids and conodonts) and geochemical data (carbonate carbon and oxygen stable isotopes, and organic carbon stable isotopes) are presented for the Carnian (Upper Triassic) marine succession of Ma'antang, Jiangyou County, in the Upper Yangtze Block (NW margin of the Sichuan Basin, China). In this locality, the Ma'antang Formation lies on top of the Tianjingshan Formation, which is identified by the occurrence of peritidal cycles with stromatolite layers, and includes a distinct karst surface in its upper part. Below the karst surface, negative trends in carbonate carbon and oxygen isotopes can be interpreted as the result of meteoric diagenesis. Above, the Ma'antang Formation is subdivided into five units. The lower part (Units 1–3) mostly consists of bioclastic limestones with thin clayey siltstone intercalations, but at least three intervals of terrigenous deposits are present. A lithological change from mainly carbonates to terrigenous clastic rocks occurs between Units 3 and 4. This interval is biostratigraphically well constrained by the occurrence of ammonoids from the clayey siltstone of Unit 4, suggesting a Julian 2 age (Early Carnian), and conodont associations allow us to place the Julian–Tuvalian boundary at 195 m, the upper part of Unit 4. A wide negative carbon isotope oscillation of about 2‰ occurs in Units 1 and 2, which should be dated to the early Carnian and could be correlated to similar perturbations in western Tethys and in the Nanpanjiang Basin, South China. These correlated carbon isotopic oscillations were attributed to the onset of the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE). The two known Chinese records of the CPE both display a broad negative carbon isotopic excursion that encompasses a significant part of the Carnian, whereas the western Tethys records feature possibly multiple, short-lived isotopic excursions. The present isotopic data show that the CPE began roughly contemporaneously with the first terrigenous input at Ma'antang. It is unclear whether the minor siliciclastic intervals within Units 1–3 at Ma'antang could be correlated to similar terrigenous episodes in the western Tethys region. So far, Ma'antang is the only locality of the Sichuan Basin where the carbon isotopic perturbation related to the Carnian Pluvial Episode has been documented.
Hybrid blockchain and pseudonymous authentication for secure and trusted IoT networks
Authors: Chen Jollen
Published: November 2018

This paper addresses the issue of
secure and trusted
Internet of Things (IoT) networks by adopting the emerging blockchain technologies. This paper proposes a new hybrid blockchain technology to address the trusted IoT issues such as trustless communications and decentralized applications. Besides, we also present that the pseudonymous authentication technique can use a puzzle-solving computation to enable trustless communications for the IoT and provide the capabilities of near real-time transactions. In our previous work, we presented a decentralized software framework for the IoT by using a p2p network and the concept of the blockchain. In this paper, we outline the core components of the hybrid blockchain and delve deeper the algorithms of the
hybrid consensus
to provide the capabilities for our hybrid blockchain technology.
Introduction to this special issue
Authors: Züfle Andreas
Published: November 2018

According to a US Census report [2], the daytime population of cities like Washington D.C. nearly doubles the nighttime population, coining the notion of "Mega Commuting". To understand, explain, and predict urban mobility, our current data-centered era provides a plethora of rich data sources. These data sources capture mobility on the road, including GPS trajectories, metro, bus and taxi origin-destination data, indoor navigation data and many more types and sources of data.
Dynamic task assignment in spatial crowdsourcing
Authors: Tong Yongxin , Zhou Zimu
Published: November 2018

Spatial crowdsourcing is a crowdsourcing paradigm featured with spatiotemporal information of tasks and workers. It has been widely adopted in mobile computing applications and urban services such as citizen sensing, P2P ride-sharing and Online-To-Offline services. One fundamental and unique issue in spatial crowdsourcing is dynamic task assignment (DTA), where tasks and workers appear dynamically and need to be assigned under spatiotemporal constraints. In this paper, we aim to provide a brief overview on the basics and frontiers of DTA research. We define the generic DTA problem and introduce the evaluation metrics to its solutions. Then we review mainstream solutions to the DTA problem. Finally we point out open questions and opportunities in DTA research.
Procedural city generation beyond game development
Authors: Kim Joon-Seok , Kavak Hamdi , Crooks Andrew
Published: November 2018

The common trend in the scientific inquiry of urban areas and their populations is to use real-world geographic and population data to understand, explain, and predict urban phenomena. We argue that this trend limits our understanding of urban areas as dealing with arbitrarily collected geographic data requires technical expertise to process; moreover, population data is often aggregated, sparsified, or anonymized for privacy reasons. We believe synthetic urban areas generated via procedural city generation, which is a technique mostly used in the gaming area, could help improve the state-of-the-art in many disciplines which study urban areas. In this paper, we describe a selection of research areas that could benefit from such synthetic urban data and show that the current research in procedurally generated cities needs to address specific issues (e.g., plausibility) to sufficiently capture real-world cities and thus take such data beyond gaming.
Human serum albumin redox state is associated with decreased renal function in a community-dwelling population
Authors: Fujii Ryosuke , Ueyama Jun , Kanno Takuya , Suzuki Koji , Hamajima Nobuyuki , Wakai Kenji , Hasegawa Yukiharu , Kondo Takaaki
Published: November 2018

The redox state of human serum albumin (HSA) has attracted interest as a possible biomarker for oxidative stress (OS) in humans. Although previous studies on this topic have taken only clinical settings into consideration, evidence of its efficacy in nonclinical settings remains to be established. The present study aimed to examine and validate the relationship between HSA redox state and renal function in a rural Japanese population. We analyzed two independent data sets from health checkup programs conducted in 2013 and 2016: one for discovery ( n = 267) and the other for replication ( n = 367). The fraction of human mercaptalbumin (HMA) to total HSA [f(HMA)] was determined using our revised method of high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column bromocresol green. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on each individual’s serum creatinine value, sex, and age. Adjustment for potential confounders revealed positive associations of fraction of human mercaptalbumin [f(HMA)] with eGFR in the discovery and replication analyses ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated significant inverse associations between renal dysfunction (defined as eGFR < 60 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2) and f(HMA) by a factor of 0.50 and 0.65 (confidence intervals of 0.26–0.91 and 0.37–1.00), respectively, with a unit of 10% f(HMA). Our results indicate that HSA redox state is consistently associated with renal dysfunction in both clinical and nonclinical settings.
Functional and anatomical relationships between the medial precentral cortex, dorsal striatum, and head direction cell circuitry. II. Neuroanatomical studies
Authors: Mehlman Max L. , Winter Shawn S. , Taube Jeffrey S.
Published: November 2018

An animal’s directional heading within its environment is encoded by the activity of head direction (HD) cells. In rodents, these neurons are found primarily within the limbic system in the interconnected structures that form the limbic HD circuit. In our accompanying report in this issue, we describe two HD cell populations located outside of this circuit in the medial precentral cortex (PrCM) and dorsal striatum (DS). These extralimbic areas receive their HD signals from the limbic system but do not provide critical input or feedback to limbic HD cells (Mehlman ML, Winter SS, Valerio S, Taube JS. J Neurophysiol 121: 350–370, 2019.). In this report, we complement our previous lesion and recording experiments with a series of neuroanatomical tracing studies in rats designed to examine patterns of connectivity between the PrCM, DS, limbic HD circuit, and related spatial processing circuitry. Retrograde tracing revealed that the DS receives direct input from numerous structures known to contain HD cells and/or other spatially tuned cell types. Importantly, these projections preferentially target and converge within the most medial portion of the DS, the same area in which we previously recorded HD cells. The PrCM receives direct input from a subset of these spatial processing structures. Anterograde tracing identified indirect pathways that could permit the PrCM and DS to convey self-motion information to the limbic HD circuit. These tracing studies reveal the anatomical basis for the functional relationships observed in our lesion and recording experiments. Collectively, these findings expand our understanding of how spatial processing circuitry functionally and anatomically extends beyond the limbic system into the PrCM and DS.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Head direction (HD) cells are located primarily within the limbic system, but small populations of extralimbic HD cells are found in the medial precentral cortex (PrCM) and dorsal striatum (DS). The neuroanatomical tracing experiments reported here explored the pathways capable of transmitting the HD signal to these extralimbic areas. We found that projections arising from numerous spatial processing structures converge within portions of the PrCM and DS that contain HD cells.
Building and Regenerating the Lung Cell by Cell
Authors: Whitsett Jeffrey A. , Kalin Tanya V. , Xu Yan , Kalinichenko Vladimir V.
Published: November 2018

The unique architecture of the mammalian lung is required for adaptation to air breathing at birth and thereafter. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling its morphogenesis provides the framework for understanding the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung diseases. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing data and high-resolution imaging identify the remarkable heterogeneity of pulmonary cell types and provides cell selective gene expression underlying lung development. We will address fundamental issues related to the diversity of pulmonary cells, to the formation and function of the mammalian lung, and will review recent advances regarding the cellular and molecular pathways involved in lung organogenesis. What cells form the lung in the early embryo? How are cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation regulated during lung morphogenesis? How do cells interact during lung formation and repair? How do signaling and transcriptional programs determine cell-cell interactions necessary for lung morphogenesis and function?
Sarcopenia: Aging-Related Loss of Muscle Mass and Function
Authors: Larsson Lars , Degens Hans , Li Meishan , Salviati Leonardo , Lee Young il , Thompson Wesley , Kirkland James L. , Sandri Marco
Published: November 2018

Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass and function in the elderly that reduces mobility, diminishes quality of life, and can lead to fall-related injuries, which require costly hospitalization and extended rehabilitation. This review focuses on the aging-related structural changes and mechanisms at cellular and subcellular levels underlying changes in the individual motor unit: specifically, the perikaryon of the α-motoneuron, its neuromuscular junction(s), and the muscle fibers that it innervates. Loss of muscle mass with aging, which is largely due to the progressive loss of motoneurons, is associated with reduced muscle fiber number and size. Muscle function progressively declines because motoneuron loss is not adequately compensated by reinnervation of muscle fibers by the remaining motoneurons. At the intracellular level, key factors are qualitative changes in posttranslational modifications of muscle proteins and the loss of coordinated control between contractile, mitochondrial, and sarcoplasmic reticulum protein expression. Quantitative and qualitative changes in skeletal muscle during the process of aging also have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acquired and hereditary neuromuscular disorders. In experimental models, specific intervention strategies have shown encouraging results on limiting deterioration of motor unit structure and function under conditions of impaired innervation. Translated to the clinic, if these or similar interventions, by saving muscle and improving mobility, could help alleviate sarcopenia in the elderly, there would be both great humanitarian benefits and large cost savings for health care systems.
Reduced Levels of ATP Synthase Subunit ATP5F1A Correlate with Earlier‐Onset Prostate Cancer
Authors: Feichtinger René G. , Schäfer Georg , Seifarth Christof , Mayr Johannes A. , Kofler Barbara , Klocker Helmut
Published: November 2018

Switching of cellular energy production from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to aerobic glycolysis occurs in many types of tumors. However, the significance of energy metabolism for the development of prostate carcinoma is poorly understood. We investigated the expression of OXPHOS complexes in 94 human prostate carcinomas and paired benign tissue using immunohistochemistry. Overall mitochondrial mass was upregulated in carcinomas compared to benign prostate tissue in all Gleason grades. A significant direct correlation between the expression of OXPHOS complexes I, II, and V and the Gleason score was observed. However, 17% of prostate carcinomas and 18% of benign prostate tissues showed isolated or combined deficiency of OXPHOS complexes (one deficiency in 12% of the tumors, combined deficiencies in 5%). Complex I was absent in 9% of the samples, with only parts of the tumor affected. ATP5F1A, a complex V protein, was the most frequently affected subunit, in 10% of tumors and 11% of benign prostate tissues (but not both tissues in any single patient). A possible role of complex V in prostate cancer development is suggested by the significant positive correlation of ATP5F1A levels with earlier‐onset prostate cancer (age at diagnosis and at prostatectomy) and free PSA percentage. The relatively high percentage (17%) of prostate carcinomas with regional foci of partial OXPHOS complex deficiencies could have important therapeutic implications.
A NovelMLH1Initiation Codon Mutation (c.3G>T) in a Large Chinese Lynch Syndrome Family with Different Onset Age and mRNA Expression Level
Authors: Zhang Yanni , Chen Huishuang , Peng Zhiyu , Banerjee Santasree , Li Wei , Zhao Zhaolong , Sun Jianbin , Lv Jian , Huang Hui , Bai Ru , Lin Keke , Li Zhongxin
Published: November 2018

Lynch syndrome is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder; it is caused by a germline mutation in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Individuals with a heterozygous mutation in MLH1 have an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer. Here we described a 5-generation Chinese Lynch syndrome family with different severity and onset age. A novel heterozygous germline mutation (c.3G>T, p.Met1Ile) inMLH1gene was discovered by next generation sequencing. Our study also revealed by qPCR that the MLH1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood of patients in this family was remarkably lower than that of the unaffected carriers and non-carriers. The research results indicated that the mRNA expression level may provide predictive suggestions of treatment and management for carriers with the initiation codon mutation ofMLH1in this family. Further studies are undertaken in this family as well as other families with Lynch syndrome to interrogate the exact reasons affecting the MLH1 mRNA expression level and whether mRNA expression in peripheral blood could be a significant factor for early diagnosis and surveillance of Lynch syndrome.
Nasal Cytology: A Comparative Study of Two Different Techniques of Processing—Smeared versus Cytocentrifuged Slides
Authors: Bartoli Maria Laura , Cristofani-Mencacci Lodovica , Scarano Mariella , Nacci Andrea , Latorre Manuela , Bacci Elena , Paggiaro Pierluigi , Seccia Veronica
Published: November 2018

Nasal cytology is a precious tool to study nasal disorders, but in current literature, there is no consensus on the standardization of the processing procedure of the obtained samples. Therefore, we decided to test on specimens obtained by nasal scraping, a common way of nasal specimen sampling, two different processing techniques, smear and cytocentrifugation, and compare them in terms of inflammatory cell content, quality of slides, and validity on clinical assessment. We analyzed 105 patients with suspected sinonasal diseases, and in each patient, we performed nasal cytology with both techniques. Our analysis showed a good correlation between the two techniques for neutrophil and eosinophil percentages, both returned well-preserved cells, and showed higher neutrophil percentage in males and in smokers and higher eosinophil percentage in patients with polyposis, with a good concordance with clinical symptoms, as measured by a specific disease-related questionnaire (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22). Technically speaking, smeared slides were easier to prepare, with no need of dedicated equipment, but cell distribution was better in cytocentrifuged slides allowing shorter reading time. In conclusion, both techniques can be considered superimposable and worthy to be used.
Relationship between Thyroid Function and Kidney Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Yang , Tao Xiao Jun , Li Qian , Li Feng Fei , Lee Kok Onn , Li Dong Mei , Ma Jian Hua
Published: November 2018

Purpose. To determine if the TSH is related to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in T2D patients without overt thyroid dysfunction. Methods. A cohort study of 5936 T2D patients was assessed for thyroid and kidney functions, in whom 248 with subclinical hyperthyroidism and 362 with subclinical hypothyroidism. Serum creatinine and 24-hour urine albumin excretion (UAE) were collected. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Results. Compared with euthyroid subjects, the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had lower eGFR (82.7 ± 22.4 vs. 90.5 ± 22.4 ml/min/1.73 m2, p<0.01), higher UAE (114 ± 278 vs. 88 ± 229 mg/24 h, p<0.05), and high incidence of CKD (16.0% vs. 10.1%, p<0.05). The participants with a TSH level between 0.55 and 3.0 μIU/ml had a higher eGFR (91.4 ± 22.2 ml/min/1.73 m2) and a lower prevalence of CKD (9.5%) than those with higher TSH (3.01–4.78 μIU/ml, 85.6 ± 22.7 ml/min/1.73 m2, p<0.01 and 13.1%, p<0.01). Linear logistic regression analysis showed that the eGFR was significantly negatively associated with TSH (OR: 0.519, 95% CI: 0.291–0.927, p<0.05), after adjustment of confounders. Conclusion. High TSH was independently associated with decreased eGFR in type 2 diabetes patients without overt thyroid dysfunction. Our findings indicate that doctors who treat T2D patients should routinely measure the thyroid function.
Tolerance Analysis of Over-Constrained Assembly Considering Gravity Influence: Constraints of Multiple Planar Hole-Pin-Hole Pairs
Authors: Liu Xia , An Luling , Wang Zhiguo , Tan Changbai , Wang Xiaoping
Published: November 2018

Over-constrained assembly of rigid parts is widely adopted in aircraft assembly to yield higher stiffness and accuracy of assembly. Unfortunately, the quantitative tolerance analysis of over-constrained assembly is challenging, subject to the coupling effect of geometrical and physical factors. Especially, gravity will affect the geometrical gaps in mechanical joints between different parts, and thus influence the deviations of assembled product. In the existing studies, the influence of gravity is not considered in the tolerance analysis of over-constrained assembly. This paper proposes a novel tolerance analysis method for over-constrained assembly of rigid parts, considering the gravity influence. This method is applied to a typical over-constrained assembly with constraints of multiple planar hole-pin-hole pairs. This type of constraints is non-linear, which makes the tolerance analysis more challenging. Firstly, the deviation propagation analysis of an over-constrained assembly is conducted. The feasibility of assembly is predicted, and for a feasible assembly, the assembly deviations are determined with the principle of minimum potential energy. Then, the statistical tolerance analysis is performed. The probabilities of assembly feasibility and quality feasibility are computed, and the distribution of assembly deviations is estimated. Two case studies are presented to show the applicability of the proposed method.
The Effect of Berberine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Insulin Resistance (PCOS‐IR): A Meta‐Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Li Meng-Fei , Zhou Xiao-Meng , Li Xue-Lian
Published: November 2018

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of berberine (BBR) on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with insulin resistance (IR). Methods. PubMed (in English), Medline (in English), Embase (in English), CNKI (in Chinese), WanFang DATA (in Chinese), and VIP (in Chinese) were searched for randomized controlled trials in human beings with the search terms including “polycystic ovary syndrome /PCOS” and “berberine/BBR/Huang liansu (in Chinese)/ Xiao bojian (in Chinese)” till July 2018. Relevant indices were collected and analyzed by Stata 13.0. Results. A total of 9 randomized controlled trials were included. Limited data demonstrated the results as follows: No significant difference was found between berberine (BBR) and metformin (MET) on alleviating insulin resistance, improving glycolipid metabolism, or reproductive endocrine condition. MET combined with BBR was not superior to MET alone, but cyproterone acetate (CPA) combined with BBR was superior to CPA alone in improving some of the reproductive endocrine indices. The combination of BBR and Chinese herbs also showed positive effect. However there are insufficient data to make any conclusions on the effect of BBR on PCOS‐IR. Conclusion. BBR showed a promising prospect in treating PCOS‐IR. But its mechanisms are still unclear, and more properly designed, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials are needed to further confirm its effect and safety.
Using X‐Ray CT Scanning to Study the Failure Mechanism of Concrete under Static and Dynamic Loadings
Authors: Lei Guangyu , Han Jichang , Dang Faning
Published: November 2018

X‐ray images can be used to nondestructively monitor the initiation, extension, and combination of cracks in concrete. In this study, real‐time X‐ray computed tomography (CT) scanning of concrete specimens under static and dynamic loadings was done. The CT images showed the growth, propagation, and penetration of the cracks and showed the ultimate failure of the concrete samples. Analysis of the CT images and CT numbers showed that the failure followed the structure’s areas of weakness under the static load, but for dynamic loading, the cracks formed very rapidly along straight lines through the aggregate.
Exponential Stability of Antiperiodic Solution for BAM Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Qin Chuan , Zhu Quanxin
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a kind of BAM neural networks with leakage delays in the negative feedback terms and time-varying delays in activation functions was considered. By constructing a suitable Lyapunov function and using inequality techniques, some sufficient conditions to ensure the existence and exponential stability of antiperiodic solutions of these neural networks were derived. These conditions extend some results recently appearing in recent papers. Lastly, an example is given to show the feasibility of these conditions.
Energy Poverty and Its Implication on Standard of Living in Kirinyaga, Kenya
Authors: Njiru Christine W. , Letema Sammy C.
Published: November 2018

Energy poverty affects physical health, well-being, and ability to prosper. A large proportion of Kenyan population lack access to electricity because they are located far from the national grid where it is uneconomical to extend electricity. This paper assesses energy poverty situation in Kirinyaga and reviews its implication on standard of living. Kirinyaga is a rural county with the main economic activity being agriculture and a few agroprocessing factories. Most rural households in Kirinyaga rely on fuel wood to meet their basic energy requirements and lack access to electricity. Tea factories and educational institutions rely on fuel wood to minimize cost of electricity. Kirinyaga residents, therefore, experience energy poverty as indicated by low electricity access and reliance on traditional cooking fuels. Energy poverty in Kirinyaga has negative impact on indicators of standards of living, calorific intake, life expectancy, and literacy levels.
Microbial Decontamination of Onion by Corona Discharge Air Plasma during Cold Storage
Authors: Chang Eun Ha , Bae Yeoung Seuk , Shin Il Sheob , Choi Hyun Jin , Lee Ji Hyun , Choi Ji Weon
Published: November 2018

Corona discharge air plasma (CDAP) is a nonthermal decontamination technology which is generating antimicrobial agents such as photons, electrons, positively and negatively charged ions, atoms, and free radicals. We investigated the effect of a corona discharge under atmospheric pressure on the sterilization of postharvest fungal pathogens on onion. The main antimicrobial reactive substance generated by CDAP was O3. The active species such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitric dioxide (NO2) were nearly detected in this experiment. CDAP treatment revealed different isolation frequencies depending on postharvest pathogens from diseased onions, showing less isolation frequency of Fusarium spp. and Alternaria sp. than that of Botrytis spp. when compared with untreatment onions during 10-month cold storage. CDAP treatment at 2∼2.6 ppm of O3 slightly stimulated the mycelial growth of Alternaria sp., while the treatment at 20∼24 ppm of O3 gradually inhibited mycelial growth by treatment time. However, Botrytis sp. showed different patterns of mycelial growth with CDAP treatment. Less than 4 hours’ treatment of CDAP slightly inhibited the mycelial growth of Botrytis sp., while 8 hours’ treatment of CDAP slightly stimulated the mycelial growth of Botrytis sp. not depending on the concentration of O3. The inhibitory effect of CDAP on the conidial germination of Alternaria sp. and Botrytis sp. was examined with treatment time and intensity of CDAP. The conidial germination of Alternaria sp. treated with CDAP at the concentration of 13.7∼14.4 ppm of O3 was strongly inhibited by time, showing y = 2.66x2 − 85.139x + 4.88 and R2 = 0.98. When the conidia of Alternaria sp. were exposed for 2 hours with varying plasma O3 concentration, the conidial germination was strongly inhibited as the concentration of O3 increases, showing y = −0.09x2 + 6.905x − 0.764 and R2 = 0.95. The conidia of Botrytis sp. also showed similar patterns to CDAP. The inhibitory effect of CDAP on the germination of postharvest pathogens depends on treatment time and O3 concentration.
Position Tracking Control for Permanent Magnet Linear Motor via Continuous-Time Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Gao Wei , Chen Xiuping , Du Haibo , Bai Song
Published: November 2018

For the position tracking control problem of permanent magnet linear motor, an improved fast continuous-time nonsingular terminal sliding mode control algorithm based on terminal sliding mode control method is proposed. Specifically, first, for the second-order model of position error dynamic system, a new continuous-time fast terminal sliding surface is introduced and an improved continuous-time fast terminal sliding mode control law is proposed. Then rigorous theoretical analysis is provided to demonstrate the finite-time stability of the closed-loop system by using the Lyapunov function. Finally, numerical simulations are given to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode control method.
Circulating MicroRNA-4739 May Be a Potential Biomarker of Critical Limb Ischemia in Patients with Diabetes
Authors: Li Ju-yi , Cheng Biao , Wang Xiu-fang , Wang Zhong-jing , Zhang Hong-mei , Liu Shu-fen , Chen Li-sha , Huang Wen-jing , Liu Jue , Deng Ai-ping
Published: November 2018

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe manifestation of peripheral artery disease, which is common but rarely diagnosed. Noninvasive biomarkers are urgently required to assist in the diagnosis of CLI. Accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs play an important role in the development of various diseases. In this study, microarray profiling revealed 11 miRNAs with significantly altered expression in four T2DM patients with CLI compared with that in four sex- and age-matched T2DM patients without CLI. In independent cohorts, qRT-PCR validation confirmed the increased miRNA-4739 level in patients with CLI versus patients without CLI. miRNA-4739 levels increased with FPG and HbA1c (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for the risk factors, miRNA-4739 levels were found to be associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of T2DM with CLI (OR =12.818, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.148 to 143.143, P = 0.038). ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of miR-4739+confounding risk factors was 0.94 (95% CI 0.891 to 0.998, P < 0.001), which was higher than that of confounding risk factors (AUC 0.94 vs. 0.91, 95% CI -0.122 to 0.060, P > 0.05) and of miR-4739 (AUC 0.94 vs. 0.69, 95% CI -0.399 to -0.101, P < 0.001), respectively. We conclude that elevated plasma miRNA-4739 levels are independently associated with CLI in T2DM patients. miRNA-4739 is implicated as a novel diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for CLI in diabetes.
Toward a Theory of Normalizing Function of Interestingness Measure of Binary Association Rules
Authors: Armand Armand , Totohasina André , Feno Daniel Rajaonasy
Published: November 2018

Regarding the existence of more than sixty interestingness measures proposed in the literature since 1993 till today in the topics of association rules mining and facing the importance these last one, the research on normalization probabilistic quality measures of association rules has already led to many tangible results to consolidate the various existing measures in the literature. This article recommends a simple way to perform this normalization. In the interest of a unified presentation, the article offers also a new concept of normalization function as an effective tool for resolution of the problem of normalization measures that have already their own normalization functions.
Effect of Using Micropalm Oil Fuel Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortar
Authors: Wi Kwangwoo , Lee Han-Seung , Lim Seungmin , Ismail Mohamed A. , Hussin Mohd Warid
Published: November 2018

This study investigates the effects of micropalm oil fuel ash (mPOFA) on compressive strength and pore structure of cement mortar. Various experimental techniques, such as compression test, isothermal calorimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and X‐ray diffraction, are performed to figure out the effect of using mPOFA as partial replacement of cement on the hydration of cement and determine its optimal replacement level to increase mechanical property of the mortar specimens. 10 wt.% of cement replacement with mPOFA is found to give the highest level of compressive strength, achieving a 23% increase over the control specimens after 3 days of curing. High K2O contents in mPOFA stimulate C3S in cement to form C‐S‐H at early ages, and high surface area of mPOFA acts as a nucleus to develop C‐S‐H. Also, small mPOFA particles and C‐S‐H formed by pozzolanic reaction fill the pores and lead to reduction in large capillary pores. In XRD analysis, a decrease in Ca(OH)2 and SiO2 contents with age confirmed a high pozzolanic reactivity of mPOFA.
Resection of Liver Metastases: A Treatment Provides a Long-Term Survival Benefit for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Xinzhe , Gu Jichun , Wu Haoxuan , Fu Deliang , Li Ji , Jin Chen
Published: November 2018

Purpose. Nonsurgical therapies, including biotherapy, chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapy, provided a limit survival benefit for PNET patients with hepatic metastases. With the development of liver resection technique, there was a controversy on whether to perform a liver resection for these patients. Methods. A computerized search was made of the Medline/PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and SinoMed (CBM) before March 2018. A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the differences in the efficacy of liver resection and nonliver resection treatments based on the evaluation of morbidity, 30-day mortality, symptom relief rate, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Two investigators reviewed all included articles and extracted the data of them. The meta-analysis was performed via Review Manager 5.3 software. Results. A total of 13 cohort studies with 1524 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the nonliver resection group, liver resection group had a longer 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival time and a higher symptom relief with an acceptable mortality and morbidity. Conclusions. Liver resection is a safe treatment and could significantly prolong the long-term prognosis for highly selected patients with resectable liver metastases from PNET. Further randomized, controlled trials are needed.
A Node Selection Paradigm for Crowdsourcing Service Based on Region Feature in Crowd Sensing
Authors: Peng Zhenlong , Gui Xiaolin , An Jian , Liao Dong , Cai Ningchao , Gui Ruowei
Published: November 2018

Crowd sensing is a human-centered sensing model. Through the cooperation of multiple nodes, an entire sensing task is completed. To improve the efficiency of sensing missions, a cost-effective set of service nodes, which is easy to fit in performing different tasks, is needed. In this paper, we propose a low-cost service node selection method based on region features, which builds on the relationship between task requirements and geographical locations. The method uses Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to cluster service nodes and calculate the center point of each cluster. The area then is divided into regions according to rules of Voronoi diagrams. Local feature vectors are constructed according to the historical records in each divided region. When a particular sensing task arrives, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to match the feature vector of each region to mission requirements to get a certain number of service nodes satisfying the characteristics. To get a lower cost output, a revised Greedy Algorithm is designed to filter the exported service nodes to get the required low-cost service nodes. Experimental results suggest that the proposed method shows promise in improving service node selection accuracy and the timeliness of finishing tasks.
Could Music Minimize Discomfort and Pain During Office-Based ENT Surgery?
Authors: Casale Manuele , Sabatino Lorenzo , Moffa Antonio , Oliveto Giuseppe , Rinaldi Vittorio , Costantino Andrea , Vella Paola , Ianni Andrea , Petitti Tommasangelo , Baptista Peter , Salvinelli Fabrizio
Published: November 2018

Background.Video-assisted endoscopic radiofrequency inferior turbinate volume reduction (RFVTR) is one of the most common surgical therapies for inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH). Despite all the technical and surgical advancement, it is advisable to reduce as low as possible the intraoperative discomfort. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of music in reducing patient discomfort during RFVTR.Materials and Methods.Twenty-three patients with chronic nasal obstruction due to ITH and candidate to RFVTR are included. Before the procedure each patient filled in a completed Italian version of the state anxiety questionnaire (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), SNOT 22 questionnaire, VAS, and chose their favourite music to be played during RFVTR. All patients evaluate the intraoperative discomfort with a visual analog scale (VAS) and for each patient, vital parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate were recorded 15 minutes before the procedure, during and after RFVTR.Results.The intraoperative VAS scores during listening to music (5.7 ± 2.42 vs 6.7 ± 1.97; p< 0.05) were significantly lower, such as systolic BP (133.5 ±17.2 vs 136.78 ±16.8; p< 0.05) and heat rate (80.3 ±14.9 vs 81.7 ±15.5; p NS). During our survey, most of the patients preferred listening to classical music and none preferred rock music. No correlation was found between STAI 1-2 and intraoperative surgical discomfort evaluated both with VAS and cardiac parameters (systolic BP and HR).Conclusions.Music can be useful as a complementary method to control anxiety and reduce perception of pain in an office-based procedure, such as the RFVTR. The patient is more relaxed and experiences less discomfort; thus the surgeon and nurse can work with more confidence.
WearableDL: Wearable Internet-of-Things and Deep Learning for Big Data Analytics—Concept, Literature, and Future
Authors: Dargazany Aras R. , Stegagno Paolo , Mankodiya Kunal
Published: November 2018

This work introduces Wearable deep learning (WearableDL) that is a unifying conceptual architecture inspired by the human nervous system, offering the convergence of deep learning (DL), Internet-of-things (IoT), and wearable technologies (WT) as follows: (1) the brain, the core of the central nervous system, represents deep learning for cloud computing and big data processing. (2) The spinal cord (a part of CNS connected to the brain) represents Internet-of-things for fog computing and big data flow/transfer. (3) Peripheral sensory and motor nerves (components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)) represent wearable technologies as edge devices for big data collection. In recent times, wearable IoT devices have enabled the streaming of big data from smart wearables (e.g., smartphones, smartwatches, smart clothings, and personalized gadgets) to the cloud servers. Now, the ultimate challenges are (1) how to analyze the collected wearable big data without any background information and also without any labels representing the underlying activity; and (2) how to recognize the spatial/temporal patterns in this unstructured big data for helping end-users in decision making process, e.g., medical diagnosis, rehabilitation efficiency, and/or sports performance. Deep learning (DL) has recently gained popularity due to its ability to (1) scale to the big data size (scalability); (2) learn the feature engineering by itself (no manual feature extraction or hand-crafted features) in an end-to-end fashion; and (3) offer accuracy or precision in learning raw unlabeled/labeled (unsupervised/supervised) data. In order to understand the current state-of-the-art, we systematically reviewed over 100 similar and recently published scientific works on the development of DL approaches for wearable and person-centered technologies. The review supports and strengthens the proposed bioinspired architecture of WearableDL. This article eventually develops an outlook and provides insightful suggestions for WearableDL and its application in the field of big data analytics.
A New Mathematical Model for Predicting the Surface Vibration Velocity on the Step Topography
Authors: Wu Xu , Guo Qifeng , Zhang Yunpeng
Published: November 2018

In order to control production blasting and optimize mining operation, it is important to study the step topography vibration amplification and attenuation effect in the open‐pit mine. Surface particle vibration velocity attenuation characteristics, the formation, and change rules of the terrain effect were studied by analyzing the field measured data. Results show that local amplification effect and local attenuation amplification effect of particle vibration velocity are obvious. Amplification effect associates with bench height, and the attenuation effect is closely related with the distance from the vibration source and distance from the top. With the increase of elevation, vibration magnification of the particle on the top was 1.1∼1.4. Because of the influence of the terrain effect, particle vibration velocity on the slope toe was obviously inhibitory. Based on the measured data, elevation amplification factor and clamping effect factor which influence blasting vibration velocity are put forward, and a new mathematical model considering the attenuation coefficient, the elevation amplification coefficient, and the clamping effect coefficient for predicting the blasting vibration velocity of the step topography is further improved. The regression analysis results show that the fitting coefficient of determination of the new prediction model is 0.8152 in horizontal and 0.8902 in vertical, respectively, and the prediction error is less than 20%, which is much better than other formulas. This new model provides effective reference for blasting seismic wave propagation law research of slope engineering.
Extraction, Characterization, Antioxidant, and Immunostimulatory Activities of Polysaccharides from Hedyotis corymbosa
Authors: Lin Li-mei , Xiong Su-hui , Zhao Ling-jia , Tang Jie , Zhang Zhi-min , Li Ya-mei , Zheng Tao , Xia Bo-hou
Published: November 2018

In this study, optimization of enzyme‐assisted extraction, purification, characterization, and its bioactivities of polysaccharides from Hedyotis corymbosa (HCP) was investigated. It was found that the optimum extraction conditions were 3% of enzyme concentration (X1), 30 of liquid‐to‐solid ratio (X2), 56°C of extraction temperature (X3), 200W of ultrasonic power (X4), 10 min of extraction time (X5), and 5 of pH value (X6). Under optimum conditions, the experimental yield (4.10 ± 0.16%) was closed to the predicted value (4.02%). The crude HCP was further purified using DEAE‐52 and Sephadex G‐150 gel column, and a major polysaccharide fraction from HCP, designed as HCP‐1a with molecular weight of 33.9 kDa, was obtained. The HCP and HCP‐1a were characterized by chemical analysis, FT‐IR, and HPLC. For antioxidant activities in vitro, HCP possessed strong hydroxyl radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging, and Fe2+ chelating activities. In subsequent immunostimulatory studies, significantly decreased NO, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α concentrations were observed in both of HCP and HCP‐1a treated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, this study may indicate some insights into the application of polysaccharides from Hedyotis corymbosa as potential natural antioxidants and immunostimulants.
Relationship of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width with Cancer Mortality in Hospital
Authors: Li Jinmeng , Yang Xiaoning , Ma Junfeng , Gong Fanghua , Chen Qiongzhen
Published: November 2018

Background. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a clinical index used to make early diagnosis and to monitor treatment effects in iron deficiency anemia. Recently, several studies have suggested that RDW was associated with mortality from various cancers; however, there has been little evidence regarding RDW and cancer as a whole. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship of RDW and overall cancer mortality in hospital.Methods. We extracted patient data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care Database III version 1.3 (MIMICIII.1.3). RDW was measured prior to hospital admission. Patients older than 18 who were diagnosed with malignant tumors were included. The primary outcome was cancer mortality in hospital. Logistic regression and multivariate analysis were used to assess the association between the RDW and hospital mortality.Result. A total of 3384 eligible patients were enrolled. A positive correlation was observed between RDW and overall cancer mortality. Patients with higher RDW (14.4-16.3%, 16.4-30.5%) were at greater risk of death than the patients with RDW in the reference range (11.5-14.3%). On multivariate analysis, when adjusted for age and gender, the adjusted OR (95% CIs) in the mid-RDW group and high-RDW group were 1.61 (1.28, 2.03) and 2.52 (2.03, 3.13), respectively, with the low-RDW group set as the baseline. Similar trends were also observed in the model adjusted for other clinical characteristics. This suggested that elevated RDW was related to increased risk of cancer mortality, and RDW may play an important role in the prediction of short-term mortality after hospitalization in cancer patients.Conclusion. Elevated RDW was associated with overall cancer mortality. To a certain extent, RDW may predict the risk of mortality in patients with cancers; it was an independent prognostic indicator of short-term mortality after hospitalization in cancer patients.
The Role of the NIS (SLC5A5) Gene in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: de Morais Rafael Martins , Sobrinho Alaor Barra , de Souza Silva Calliandra Maria , de Oliveira Jamila Reis , da Silva Izabel Cristina Rodrigues , de Toledo Nóbrega Otávio
Published: November 2018

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy. Genetic and epigenetic alterations play a decisive role in the onset of several human neoplasms. Mutations and polymorphisms are two frequent genetic alterations. Located on chromosome 19 (19p13.11), the NIS SLC5A5 (solute carrier family 5 member 5) gene encodes a highly specialized and efficient 80–90 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates active transport of iodide from the bloodstream into the follicular cells. Given the highly significant role of NIS in the physiology and the cancer pathogenesis process, this paper’s objective is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the associations between NIS gene and protein with papillary thyroid cancer.
Multicriteria Evaluation of Urban Regeneration Processes: An Application of PROMETHEE Method in Northern Italy
Authors: Bottero Marta , D’Alpaos Chiara , Oppio Alessandra
Published: November 2018

The paper illustrates the development of an evaluation model for supporting the decision-making process related to an urban regeneration intervention. In particular, the study proposes an original multi-methodological approach, which combines SWOT Analysis, Stakeholders Analysis and PROMETHEE method for the evaluation of alternative renewal strategies of an urban area in Northern Italy. The article also describes the work carried out within an experts’ panel that has been organized for validating the structuring of the decision problem and for evaluating the criteria of the model.
More Is More: Semiannual Breast MRI Screening in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers
Authors: Kuhl Christiane K. , Schrading Simone
Published: November 2018

Although annual MRI screening has improved early diagnosis of hereditary breast cancer, fast growth rates of BRCA1-associated cancers can still lead to interval cancers and/or node-positive disease. Using MRI with shorter screening intervals helps to effectively avoid both interval cancers and node-positive stages, whereas there is no role for mammography in these women.

See related article by Guindalini et al., p. 1786