bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development and Psychometric Validation of an Arabic-Language Version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Authors: Huijer Huda Abu-Saad , Fares Souha , French Douglas J.
Published: January 2017

Context. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is the most widely used measure of pain-specific catastrophizing. Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate an Arabic-language version of the PCS. Methods. In Study 1, 150 adult chronic nonmalignant pain patients seeking treatment at a hospital setting completed the PCS-A and a number of self-report measures assessing clinical parameters of pain, symptoms of depression, and quality of life. Study 2 employed a cold pressor pain task to examine the PCS-A in a sample of 44 healthy university students. Results. Exploratory factor analyses suggested a two-factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis comparing the 2-factor model, Sullivan’s original 3-factor model, and a 1-factor model based on the total score all provided adequate fit to the data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients across all models met or exceeded accepted standards of reliability. Catastrophizing was associated with higher levels of depression and increased pain intensity and interference. Catastrophizing predicted decreased quality of life, even after controlling for the contribution of gender, employment, depression, and pain interference. PCS-A scores were positively correlated with heightened experimental pain severity and decreased pain tolerance. Conclusion. The present results provide strong support for the psychometric properties of the PCS-A.
An Interesting Case of Intramuscular Myxoma with Scapular Bone Lysis
Authors: Tirefort Jérôme , Kolo Frank C. , Lädermann Alexandre
Published: January 2017

Introduction. Intramuscular myxoma is a rare benign primitive tumor of the mesenchyme founded at the skeletal muscle level; it presents itself like an unpainful, slow-growing mass. Myxomas with bone lysis are even more rare; only 7 cases have been reported in the English literature, but never at the shoulder level. Case Presentation. We describe an 83-year-old patient with a growing mass in the deltoid muscle with unique scapular lysis, without any symptom. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a biopsy were performed and the diagnosis of intramuscular myxoma has been retained. In front of this diagnosis of nonmalignant lesion, the decision of a simple follow-up was taken. One year after this decision, the patient was still asymptomatic. Conclusion. In the presence of an intramuscular growing mass with associated bone lysis, intramuscular myxoma as well as malignant tumor should be evoked. MRI has to be part of the initial radiologic appraisal but biopsy is essential to confirm the diagnosis. By consensus, the standard treatment is surgical excision but conservative treatment with simple follow-up can be an option.
Sagging Eye Syndrome or Nemaline Rod Myopathy? Divergence Insufficiency with Levator Dehiscence as an Overlapping Symptom between Two Diagnoses
Authors: Cheung Stephanie S. L. , Ghadiali Larissa K. , Brannagan III Thomas H. , Moonis Gul , Faust Phyllis L. , Odel Jeffrey G.
Published: January 2017

A 78-year-old woman complained of gradual, painless onset of horizontal binocular diplopia associated with progressive axial weakness. Physical examination revealed esotropia that was greater at distance than at near vision, bilateral levator dehiscence, and normal abducting saccadic speeds. Given the age of the patient and compatible clinical findings, the diagnosis of Sagging Eye Syndrome (SES) was made. However, further work-up with a muscle biopsy suggested Sporadic Late-Onset Nemaline Myopathy (SLONM) as the cause of her progressive muscle weakness. Although rare, external ophthalmoplegia has been described in the literature as a presenting symptom in SLONM. To elucidate the pathological mechanism for the patient’s diplopia, an MRI of the orbits was performed, which revealed findings consistent with SES. This case aims to highlight the importance of integrating clinical findings during the diagnostic process and serves as a reminder that diplopia can be a common symptom for an uncommon diagnosis.
Suppression of Mutual Interference in Noncontiguous Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Based Cognitive Radio Systems
Authors: Elahi Atif , Qureshi Ijaz Mansoor , Zaman Fawad , Gul Noor , Saleem Tahir
Published: January 2017

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a favourable technology for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) due to the flexibility in spectrum shaping. In spite of that, high sidelobes of OFDM subcarriers bring in considerable interference to the nearby users, particularly in OFDM based cognitive radio (CR) networks, where the secondary users (SUs) are capable of accessing the spectrum opportunistically. In this paper, two new techniques for the suppression of high sidelobes are proposed. The proposed techniques composed of an optimization scheme are followed by generalized sidelobe canceller. The proposed techniques can be considered as a two-level suppression technique in the sense that in the first level the sidelobe is reduced by using cancellation carriers (CCs), whose amplitudes are determined using genetic algorithm (GA) and differential evolution (DE), while in the second level further reduction of sidelobe is achieved using generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC). Simulation results show the power spectral density (PSD) performance of the proposed techniques in comparison with already existing techniques, demonstrating that the proposed techniques minimize the out-of-band radiation (OOBR) significantly, thus qualifying for more effective spectrum sharing.
Evaluation of an Aqueous Extract from Horseradish Root (Armoracia rusticana Radix) against Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Cellular Inflammation Reaction
Authors: Herz Corinna , Tran Hoai Thi Thu , Márton Melinda-Rita , Maul Ronald , Baldermann Susanne , Schreiner Monika , Lamy Evelyn
Published: January 2017

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial crop and its root is used in condiments. Traditionally, horseradish root is used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract and urinary bladder. The antiphlogistic activity, determined in activated primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), was evaluated for an aqueous extract and its subfractions, separated by HPLC. Compound analysis was done by UHPLC‐QToF/MS and GC‐MS. The aqueous extract concentration‐dependently inhibited the anti‐inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in terms of TNF‐α release at ≥37 μg/mL. Further, the cyclooxygenase as well as lipoxygenase pathway was blocked by the extract as demonstrated by inhibition of COX‐2 protein expression and PGE2 synthesis at ≥4 μg/mL and leukotriene LTB4 release. Mechanistic studies revealed that inhibition of ERK1/2 and c‐Jun activation preceded COX‐2 suppression upon plant extract treatment in the presence of LPS. Chemical analysis identified target compounds with a medium polarity as relevant for the observed bioactivity. Importantly, allyl isothiocyanate, which is quite well known for its anti‐inflammatory capacity and as the principal pungent constituent in horseradish roots, was not relevant for the observations. The results suggest that horseradish root exerts an antiphlogistic activity in human immune cells by regulation of the COX and LOX pathway via MAPK signalling.
Stable Delay of Microstrip Line with Side Grounded Conductors
Authors: Gazizov T. R. , Salov V. K. , Kuksenko S. P.
Published: January 2017

Characteristics of transmission lines are addressed. Wave impedance and per-unit-length delay of the microstrip structure with grounded side conductors on three layers are calculated under different parameters of the structure. A line which provides the desired value of wave impedance and constant per-unit-length delay, at the expense of correction of the gaps on different layers, is proposed.
Does Online Investor Sentiment Affect the Asset Price Movement? Evidence from the Chinese Stock Market
Authors: Xie Chi , Wang Yuanxia
Published: January 2017

With the quick development of the Internet, online platforms that provide financial news and opinions have attracted more and more attention from investors. The question whether investor sentiment expressed on the Internet platforms has an impact on asset return has not been fully addressed. To this end, this paper uses the Baidu Searching Index as the agent variable to detect the effect of online investor sentiment on the asset price movement in the Chinese stock market. The empirical study shows that although there is a cointegration relationship between online investor sentiment and asset return, the sentiment has a poor ability to predict the price, return, and volatility of asset price. Meanwhile, the structural break points of online investor sentiment do not lead to changes in the asset price movement. Based on the empirical mode decomposition of online investor sentiment, we find that high frequency components of online investor sentiment can be used to predict the asset price movement. Thus, the obtained results could be useful for risk supervision and asset portfolio management.
Maresin 1 Mitigates High Glucose-Induced Mouse Glomerular Mesangial Cell Injury by Inhibiting Inflammation and Fibrosis
Authors: Tang Shi , Gao Chenlin , Long Yang , Huang Wei , Chen Jiao , Fan Fang , Jiang Chunxia , Xu Yong
Published: January 2017

Background. Inflammation and fibrosis are the important pathophysiologic processes in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Maresin 1 is a potential anti-inflammatory lipid mediator, which has displayed powerful proresolving activities.Aim. We determine whether maresin 1 has protective effect on mouse glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) induced by high glucose.Methods. We cultured GMCs stimulated by high glucose and categorized as follows: normal glucose group (5.6 mmol/L), high glucose group (30 mmol/L), mannitol group, maresin 1 intervention group (1, 10, and 100 nmol/L), maresin 1 and normal glucose group, and the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) intervention group (10 μmol/L NAC). After 24 h, the expression of ROS, NLRP3, caspase-1, procaspase-1, IL-1β, and pro-IL-1βwas detected by western-blot, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. After 48 h, the expression of TGF-β1 and FN was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.Results. Compared with normal glucose group, the expression of ROS, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, TGF-β1, and FN increased in high glucose group (P<0.05), but it decreased after the treatment of maresin 1 in different concentrations. On the contrary, the expression of procaspase-1 and pro-IL-1βprotein was restrained by high glucose and enhanced by maresin 1 in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05).Conclusion. Maresin 1 can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome, TGF-β1, and FN in GMCs; it may have protective effect on DN by mitigating the inflammation and early fibrosis.
A Family of Boundary Value Methods for Systems of Second-Order Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Biala T. A. , Jator S. N.
Published: January 2017

A family of boundary value methods (BVMs) with continuous coefficients is derived and used to obtain methods which are applied via the block unification approach. The methods obtained from these continuous BVMs are weighted the same and are used to simultaneously generate approximations to the exact solution of systems of second-order boundary value problems (BVPs) on the entire interval of integration. The convergence of the methods is analyzed. Numerical experiments were performed to show efficiency and accuracy advantages.
Short UV-C Treatment Prevents Browning and Extends the Shelf-Life of Fresh-Cut Carambola
Authors: Moreno Carlota , Andrade-Cuvi María J. , Zaro María J. , Darre Magali , Vicente Ariel R. , Concellón Analía
Published: January 2017

In this work, we selected a short UV-C treatment for fresh-cut carambola and assessed its efficacy in supplementing the benefits of low temperature storage. UV-C treated (6.0, 10.0, and 12.5 kJ m−2) carambola slices showed reduced deterioration compared to control fruit. Treatment with a dose of 12.5 kJ m−2 UV-C was more effective in maintaining quality and was selected for subsequent experiments evaluating the combination of UV-C and refrigeration on fruit storability and physical, chemical, and microbiological properties. Short UV-C exposure reduced weight loss and electrolyte leakage. UV-C treated carambola slices presented higher phenolic antioxidants than control after 21 d at 4°C and showed no alterations in soluble solids or titratable acidity. UV-C exposure also reduced the counts of molds, yeast, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria. UV-C treated fruit showed a fresh-like appearance even after 21 d as opposed to control carambola which presented spoilage and extensive browning symptoms. The reduction of fruit browning in UV-C treated fruit was not due to reduction in phenylalanine-ammonia lyase (PAL) and/or peroxidase (POD), but rather through polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inhibition and improved maintenance of tissue integrity.
Neural Prescribed Performance Control for Uncertain Marine Surface Vessels without Accurate Initial Errors
Authors: Si Wenjie , Dong Xunde
Published: January 2017

This paper deals with the problems concerned with the trajectory tracking control with prescribed performance for marine surface vessels without velocity measurements in uncertain dynamical environments, in the presence of parametric uncertainties, unknown disturbances, and unknown dead‐zone. First, only the ship position and heading measurements are available and a high‐gain observer is used to estimate the unmeasurable velocities. Second, by utilizing the prescribed performance control, the prescribed tracking control performance can be ensured, while the requirement for the initial error is removed via the preprocessing. At last, based on neural network approximation in combination with backstepping and Lyapunov synthesis, a robust adaptive neural control scheme is developed to handle the uncertainties and input dead‐zone characteristics. Under the designed adaptive controller for marine surface vessels, all the signals in the closed‐loop system are semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB), and the prescribed transient and steady tracking control performance is guaranteed. Simulation studies are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Transverse and Oblique Long Bone Fracture Evaluation by Low Order Ultrasonic Guided Waves: A Simulation Study
Authors: Li Ying , Liu Dan , Xu Kailiang , Ta Dean , Le Lawrence H. , Wang Weiqi
Published: January 2017

Ultrasonic guided waves have recently been used in fracture evaluation and fracture healing monitoring. An axial transmission technique has been used to quantify the impact of the gap breakage width and fracture angle on the amplitudes of low order guided wave modesS0andA0under a 100 kHz narrowband excitation. In our two dimensional finite-difference time-domain (2D-FDTD) simulation, the long bones are modeled as three layers with a soft tissue overlay and marrow underlay. The simulations of the transversely and obliquely fractured long bones show that the amplitudes of bothS0andA0decrease as the gap breakage widens. Fixing the crack width, the increase of the fracture angle relative to the cross section perpendicular to the long axis enhances the amplitude ofA0, while the amplitude ofS0shows a nonmonotonic trend with the decrease of the fracture angle. The amplitude ratio between theS0andA0modes is used to quantitatively evaluate the fracture width and angles. The study suggests that the low order guided wave modesS0andA0have potentials for transverse and oblique bone fracture evaluation and fracture healing monitoring.
Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly Spirulina
Authors: Finamore Alberto , Palmery Maura , Bensehaila Sarra , Peluso Ilaria
Published: January 2017

The highly nutritional and ecofriendly Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) has hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antihypertensive properties. Spirulina contains functional compounds, such as phenolics, phycocyanins, and polysaccharides, with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and immunostimulating effects. Studies conducted on Spirulina suggest that it is safe in healthy subjects, but attitude to eating probably affects the acceptability of Spirulina containing foods. Although the antioxidant effect of Spirulina is confirmed by the intervention studies, the concerted modulation of antioxidant and inflammatory responses, suggested by in vitro and animal studies, requires more confirmation in humans. Spirulina supplements seem to affect more effectively the innate immunity, promoting the activity of natural killer cells. The effects on cytokines and on lymphocytes’ proliferation depend on age, gender, and body weight differences. In this context, ageing and obesity are both associated with chronic low grade inflammation, immune impairment, and intestinal dysbiosis. Microbial‐modulating activities have been reported in vitro, suggesting that the association of Spirulina and probiotics could represent a new strategy to improve the growth of beneficial intestinal microbiota. Although Spirulina might represent a functional food with potential beneficial effects on human health, the human interventions used only supplements. Therefore, the effect of food containing Spirulina should be evaluated in the future.
Seismic Performance and Ice-Induced Vibration Control of Offshore Platform Structures Based on the ISO-PFD-SMA Brace System
Authors: Zhang Jigang , Ma Zhehao , Liu Feifei , Zhang Chunwei , Sharafi Pezhman , Rashidi Maria
Published: January 2017

Pall-typed frictional damper (PFD) has higher capacity of energy dissipation, whereas shape memory alloy (SMA) has excellent superelastic performance. Therefore, combining PFD and SMA together as a brace system has a great prospect in vibration control of structures. This paper investigates the performance of offshore platform with three structural configurations including the SMA brace system, the ISO-SMA (where ISO stands for isolation) brace system, and the ISO-PFD-SMA brace system, which are subjected to seismic and ice-induced excitations. In this study, PFD-SMA brace system is installed on the isolation layer of jacket platform, which is under earthquake excitations and ice loading. Then, the reduction of vibration is evaluated by using ANSYS program. The results show that the PFD-SMA brace system is useful in reducing the seismic response and ice-induced response of offshore platform structures; meanwhile, it also demonstrates excellent energy dissipation and hysteretic behavior.
Efficiently and Effectively Mining Time-Constrained Sequential Patterns of Smartphone Application Usage
Authors: Hsu Kuo-Wei
Published: January 2017

Today, we have the freedom to install and use all kinds of applications on smartphones, thanks to the development of mobile communication and computing technologies. Undoubtedly, the system and application developers are eager to know how we use the applications on our smartphones in our daily life and so are the researchers. In this paper, we present our work on developing a pattern mining algorithm and applying it to smartphone application usage log collected from tens of smartphone users for several years. Our goal is to mine the sequential patterns each of which presents a series of application uses and satisfies a constraint on the maximum time interval between two application uses. However, we cannot mine such patterns by general algorithms and will miss some patterns by using the widely used implementation of the advanced algorithm specifically designed for time-constrained sequential pattern mining. We not only present an algorithm that can efficiently and effectively mine the patterns in which we are interested but also discuss and visualize the mined patterns. Our work could potentially support the related studies.
Acute Feasibility of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Severely Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vivodtzev Isabelle , Maffiuletti Nicola A. , Borel Anne-Laure , Grangier Angélique , Wuyam Bernard , Tamisier Renaud , Pépin Jean-Louis
Published: January 2017

Objective. Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are closely interconnected conditions both leading to high cardiovascular risk. Inactivity is frequent and physical activity programs remain difficult in these patients. We investigated the acute feasibility of two neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) modalities in extremely inactive obese patients with OSA.Design. A randomized cross-over study, with two experimental sessions (one per condition: multipath NMES versus conventional NMES).Setting. Outpatient research hospital.Subjects. Twelve patients with obesity, already treated for OSA.Interventions. No intervention.Measures. Feasibility outcomes included NMES current intensity, knee extension force evoked by NMES, and self-reported discomfort.Results. We found higher current intensity, a trend to significantly higher evoked force and lower discomfort during multipath NMES versus conventional NMES, suggesting better tolerance to the former NMES modality. However, patients were rapidly limited in the potential of increasing current intensity of multipath NMES.Conclusion. Both NMES modalities were feasible and relatively well tolerated by obese patients with OSA, even if multipath NMES showed a better muscle response/discomfort ratio than conventional NMES. There is an urgent need for a proof-of-concept study and interventional randomized controlled trials comparing NMES therapy versus current care to justify its utilization in obese and apneic patients with low physical activity levels.
Comprehensive Testing Techniques for the Measurement of Shrinkage and Structural Changes of Fine-Grained Cement-Based Composites during Ageing
Authors: Kucharczyková Barbara , Topolář Libor , Daněk Petr , Kocáb Dalibor , Misák Petr
Published: January 2017

The paper deals with an experimental analysis focusing on the utilization of a specific measurement technique for determining the development of shrinkage and for monitoring structural changes in fine-grained cement-based composites during their ageing. Advanced measurement equipment and procedure allowing simultaneous measurement of length changes, mass losses, acoustic responses, and temperature development were designed and verified by the experimental investigation. The main scope of the experiments performed was focused on finding the relationships between the characteristics being investigated while maintaining a uniform test setup. For the purpose of the experimental measurement, three fine-grained cement composite mixtures were designed and manufactured. The mixtures differed in the water-to-cement ratio (w/c) and in the amount of plasticizer. The measurement outputs are presented in the form of diagrams showing the relations between the studied parameters, such as relative length changes, mass losses, temperature progress, and acoustic emission (AE) activity during solidification of the composites. The measurement results showed close relations between the examined characteristics. The progress of relative length changes together with the progress of mass losses and temperature development is reflected in the AE activity. The advanced measurement procedure and technique provided valuable information about the behaviour of cement-based composites during early setting and long-term hardening.
Urinary Microvesicle-Bound Uromodulin: A Potential Molecular Biomarker in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lou Neng-jun , Ni Yi-hong , Jia Hong-ying , Deng Jing-ti , Jiang Lu , Zheng Feng-jie , Sun Ai-li
Published: January 2017

This study was designed to investigate the changes of urinary microvesicle-bound uromodulin and total urinary uromodulin levels in human urine and the correlations with the severity of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). 31 healthy subjects without diabetes and 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included in this study. The patients with T2DM were divided into three groups based on the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR): normoalbuminuria group (DM, n=46); microalbuminuria group (DN1, n=32); and macroalbuminuria group (DN2, n=22). We use a specific monoclonal antibody AD-1 to capture the urinary microvesicles. Urinary microvesicle-bound uromodulin and total urinary uromodulin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that the levels of urinary microvesicle-bound uromodulin in DN1 and DN2 groups were significantly higher than those in control group and DM group (P<0.01). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that UACR was independent determinant for urinary microvesicle-bound uromodulin (P<0.05) but not for total urinary uromodulin. These findings suggest that the levels of urinary microvesicle-bound uromodulin are associated with the severity of DKD. The uromodulin in urinary microvesicles may be a specific marker of DKD and potentially may be used to predict the onset and/or monitor the progression of DKD.
Synthesis ofxLiMnPO4·yLi3V2(PO4)3/C Nanocomposites for Lithium Ion Batteries Using Tributyl Phosphate as Phosphor Source
Authors: Wang Yanming , Zhu Bo , Liu Xiaoyu , Wang Fei
Published: January 2017

ThexLiMnPO4·yLi3V2(PO4)3/C (x/y= 1 : 0, 12 : 1, 8 : 1, 6 : 1, 4 : 1, 0 : 1) composite cathode materials are synthesized using tributyl phosphate as a novel organic phosphor source via a solid-state reaction process. All obtainedxLiMnPO4·yLi3V2(PO4)3/C composites present similar particles morphology with an average size of ca. 100 nm and low extent agglomeration. The electrochemical performance of pristine LiMnPO4/C can be effectively improved by adding small amounts of Li3V2(PO4)3additives. The 4LiMnPO4·Li3V2(PO4)3/C has a high discharge capacity of 143 mAh g−1at 0.1 C and keeps its 94% at the end of 100 cycles.
On Control of a Boost DC-DC Power Converter under Constrained Input
Authors: Moreno-Valenzuela Javier , García-Alarcón Octavio
Published: January 2017

In this paper, a new controller for a boost DC-DC (direct current to direct current) power converter is proposed. The discussed DC-DC boost converter model considers the losses coming from the inductor and capacitor. The novel control scheme takes into account that the duty cycle is constrained to physically admissible values. The analysis of the closed-loop trajectories provides the conclusion that output voltage regulation is achieved in asymptotic form. In addition, the problem of uncertain supply voltage and unmeasurable inductor current is also addressed by using an observer together with the proposed control law. Our theoretical results are supported by using numerical simulations and experimental tests. Comparisons with respect to known approaches are presented.
Patient-Centered Robot-Aided Passive Neurorehabilitation Exercise Based on Safety-Motion Decision-Making Mechanism
Authors: Pan Lizheng , Song Aiguo , Duan Suolin , Yu Zhuqing
Published: January 2017

Safety is one of the crucial issues for robot-aided neurorehabilitation exercise. When it comes to the passive rehabilitation training for stroke patients, the existing control strategies are usually just based on position control to carry out the training, and the patient is out of the controller. However, to some extent, the patient should be taken as a “cooperator” of the training activity, and the movement speed and range of the training movement should be dynamically regulated according to the internal or external state of the subject, just as what the therapist does in clinical therapy. This research presents a novel motion control strategy for patient-centered robot-aided passive neurorehabilitation exercise from the point of the safety. The safety-motion decision-making mechanism is developed to online observe and assess the physical state of training impaired-limb and motion performances and regulate the training parameters (motion speed and training rage), ensuring the safety of the supplied rehabilitation exercise. Meanwhile, position-based impedance control is employed to realize the trajectory tracking motion with interactive compliance. Functional experiments and clinical experiments are investigated with a healthy adult and four recruited stroke patients, respectively. The two types of experimental results demonstrate that the suggested control strategy not only serves with safety-motion training but also presents rehabilitation efficacy.
CARCC: Connectivity Autorecovering via Cooperative Communication
Authors: Afonseca Ulisses Rodrigues , Rêgo Camila Feitosa , Bordim Jacir Luiz
Published: January 2017

Wireless ad hoc networks are often considered an alternative for providing communication means to support urgent and temporary tasks. In such settings, network connectivity is a primary condition to allow nodes to exchange information. In this work we explore the use of cooperative communication (CC) techniques for improving network connectivity. The proposed solution, named Connectivity Autorecovering with Cooperative Communication (CARCC), monitors potential network disruption points and proactively creates cooperative links (CC-links). These links are used to regain network connectivity when necessary. CARCC allows the selection of suitable CC-links in O(Δ(G)×Λ) time, whereas a centralized approach takes O(V2×Λ) time, where Δ(G) is the degree of the underline network graph G(V,E) and Λ is the computational cost of selecting helper nodes. Although CARCC relies on localized information, it is able to provide comparable results of other noteworthy alternatives that require global topological information. The CC-links provided by CARCC reestablished network connectivity in over 91% in the evaluated settings.
In-Body Ranging with Ultra-Wideband Signals: Techniques and Modeling of the Ranging Error
Authors: Kanaan Muzaffer , Suveren Memduh
Published: January 2017

Results about the problem of accurate ranging within the human body using ultra-wideband signals are shown. The ability to accurately measure the range between a sensor implanted in the human body and an external receiver can make a number of new medical applications such as better wireless capsule endoscopy, next-generation microrobotic surgery systems, and targeted drug delivery systems possible. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, we propose two novel range estimators: one based on an implementation of the so-called CLEAN algorithm for estimating channel profiles and another based on neural networks. Second, we develop models to describe the statistics of the ranging error for both types of estimators. Such models are important for the design and performance analysis of localization systems. It is shown that the ranging error in both cases follows a heavy-tail distribution known as the Generalized Extreme Value distribution. Our results also indicate that the estimator based on neural networks outperforms the CLEAN-based estimator, providing ranging errors better than or equal to 3.23 mm with 90% probability.
TNF-αInduced the Enhanced Apoptosis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ankylosing Spondylitis by Overexpressing TRAIL-R2
Authors: Liu Zhenhua , Gao Liangbin , Wang Peng , Xie Zhongyu , Cen Shuizhong , Li Yuxi , Wu Xiaohua , Wang Le , Su Hongjun , Deng Wen , Wang Shan , Li Deng , Li Jinteng , Ouyang Yi , Wu Yanfeng , Shen Huiyong
Published: January 2017

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Dysregulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) apoptosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, apoptosis of MSCs from patients with AS (ASMSCs) has not been investigated yet. The present study aims to assess the apoptosis of bone marrow-derived ASMSCs and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of altered ASMSCs apoptosis. We successfully induced the apoptosis of ASMSCs and MSCs from healthy donors (HDMSCs) using the combination of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and cycloheximide (CHX). We found that ASMSCs treated with TNF-αand CHX showed higher apoptosis levels compared to HDMSCs. During apoptosis, ASMSCs expressed significantly more TRAIL-R2, which activated both the death receptor pathway and mitochondria pathway by increasing the expression of FADD, cleaved caspase-8, cytosolic cytochrome C, and cleaved caspase-3. Inhibiting TRAIL-R2 expression using shRNA eliminated the apoptosis differences between HDMSCs and ASMSCs by partially reducing ASMSCs apoptosis but minimally affecting that of HDMSCs. Furthermore, the expression of FADD, cleaved caspase-8, cytosolic cytochrome C, and cleaved caspase-3 were comparable between HDMSCs and ASMSCs after TRAIL-R2 inhibition. These results indicated that increased TRAIL-R2 expression results in enhanced ASMSCs apoptosis and may contribute to AS pathogenesis.
Vibration Control of a High-Speed Precision Servo Numerically Controlled Punching Press: Multidomain Simulation and Experiments
Authors: Xu Teng , Xia Qinxiang , Long Xiaobin , Buffa Gianluca
Published: January 2017

A three-degree-of-freedom mathematical vibration model of a high-speed punching press was developed in order to explore the vibration modes of the punching press. A multidomain model of the punching press was established to predict the kinematic state during different conditions, as well as the effects of load fluctuation on the motor speed. Experimental measurements of the acceleration of the punching press were carried out. The results comparison reveals that the multidomain model is consistent with the vibration model and the experimental measurements. Modal analysis and structure modification of the punching press were conducted. The foundation at the base of the punching press was improved against excess of vibration. The effects of the dimensions of the foundation on the vibration were discussed with the aid of the multidomain model. Finally, proper foundation design, able to reduce the vibration, was obtained.
Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly: Midterm Outcomes of Column Stabilisation and Primary Arthroplasty
Authors: Ortega-Briones A. , Smith S. , Rickman M.
Published: January 2017

Background. Interest in arthroplasty techniques for periarticular or intra-articular fractures in the elderly/osteoporotic patient continues to rise, including for geriatric acetabular fractures. In line with this, many acetabular fracture surgeons are now undertaking acute total hip arthroplasty in elderly/osteoporotic patients. Little is known however of the outcomes of this procedure, beyond the first year after surgery. Questions/Purposes. We determined the clinical outcomes of a series of elderly osteoporotic patients (mean age at surgery 77.4 years) treated for acetabular fractures with column fixation and simultaneous total hip arthroplasty, at a mean of 49 months after surgery. Methods. 24 patients (25 hips) were reviewed at a mean of 49 months after surgery. The surgical technique employed has previously been described. Radiographs were obtained, and clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip Scores and the Merle d’Aubigné score. Results. 14 hips were available for assessment (9 deceased, 2 lost to follow-up). No patient suffered any complications beyond the perioperative period, no acetabular components were loose clinically or on latest radiographs, and the mean Harris Hip Score was 92. All but one patient scored good or excellent on the Merle d’Aubigné score. Conclusions. Column fixation and simultaneous total hip arthroplasty are a viable option for complex geriatric acetabular fractures, with encouraging midterm results. We conclude that THR is a viable long-term solution in this situation provided that the acetabular columns are stabilised prior to implantation, but more research is needed to aid in overall management decision making.
Deep Recurrent Neural Network-Based Autoencoders for Acoustic Novelty Detection
Authors: Marchi Erik , Vesperini Fabio , Squartini Stefano , Schuller Björn
Published: January 2017

In the emerging field of acoustic novelty detection, most research efforts are devoted to probabilistic approaches such as mixture models or state-space models. Only recent studies introduced (pseudo-)generative models for acoustic novelty detection with recurrent neural networks in the form of an autoencoder. In these approaches, auditory spectral features of the next short term frame are predicted from the previous frames by means of Long-Short Term Memory recurrent denoising autoencoders. The reconstruction error between the input and the output of the autoencoder is used as activation signal to detect novel events. There is no evidence of studies focused on comparing previous efforts to automatically recognize novel events from audio signals and giving a broad and in depth evaluation of recurrent neural network-based autoencoders. The present contribution aims to consistently evaluate our recent novel approaches to fill this white spot in the literature and provide insight by extensive evaluations carried out on three databases: A3Novelty, PASCAL CHiME, and PROMETHEUS. Besides providing an extensive analysis of novel and state-of-the-art methods, the article shows how RNN-based autoencoders outperform statistical approaches up to an absolute improvement of 16.4% averageF-measure over the three databases.
Synthesis of Ibuprofen Conjugated Molecular Transporter Capable of Enhanced Brain Penetration
Authors: Biswas Goutam , Kim Wanil , Kim Kyong-Tai , Cho Junhwi , Jeong Dongjun , Song Keon-Hyoung , Im Jungkyun
Published: January 2017

Based on the strong evidences between inflammation and neurodegeneration, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are considered as effective agents to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. However, the clinical use of NSAIDs in these diseases is limited by low brain distribution. In this study, we had synthesized ibuprofen conjugate which has good brain penetration.S-(+)-Ibuprofen was covalently attached to a molecular transporter having FITC and eight terminal guanidine groups. This conjugate showed good cellular uptake property in live cells. It was also injected into a mouse and the distribution of the compound was examined in each organ. The conjugate was well delivered to mouse brain indicating the conjugate is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Our novel synthetic ibuprofen conjugate will hopefully deliver other NSAIDs into brain and is therefore applicable to the neurodegenerative diseases treatment or prevention.
Corrosion Behavior of Brazed Zinc-Coated Structured Sheet Metal
Authors: Nikitin A. , Schleuss L. , Ossenbrink R. , Michailov V.
Published: January 2017

Arc brazing has, in comparison to arc welding, the advantage of less heat input while joining galvanized sheet metals. The evaporation of zinc is reduced in the areas adjacent to the joint and improved corrosion protection is achieved. In the automotive industry, lightweight design is a key technology against the background of the weight and environment protection. Structured sheet metals have higher stiffness compared to typical automobile sheet metals and therefore they can play an important role in lightweight structures. In the present paper, three arc brazing variants of galvanized structured sheet metals were validated in terms of the corrosion behavior. The standard gas metal arc brazing, the pulsed arc brazing, and the cold metal transfer (CMT®) in combination with a pulsed cycle were investigated. In experimental climate change tests, the influence of the brazing processes on the corrosion behavior of galvanized structured sheet metals was investigated. After that, the corrosion behavior of brazed structured and flat sheet metals was compared. Because of the selected lap joint, the valuation of damage between sheet metals was conducted. The pulsed CMT brazing has been derived from the results as the best brazing method for the joining process of galvanized structured sheet metals.
Pretreatment with Fish Oil-Based Lipid Emulsion Modulates Muscle Leukocyte Chemotaxis in Murine Model of Sublethal Lower Limb Ischemia
Authors: Shih Yao-Ming , Shih Juey-Ming , Hou Yu-Chen , Yeh Chiu-Li , Li Cheng-Che , Yeh Sung-Ling
Published: January 2017

This study investigated the effects of a fish oil- (FO-) based lipid emulsion on muscle leukocyte chemotaxis and inflammatory responses in a murine model of limb ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Mice were assigned randomly to 1 sham (sham) group, 2 ischemic groups, and 2 IR groups. The sham group did not undergo the ischemic procedure. The mice assigned to the ischemic or IR groups were pretreated intraperitoneally with either saline or FO-based lipid emulsion for 3 consecutive days. The IR procedure was induced by applying a 4.5 oz orthodontic rubber band to the left thigh above the greater trochanter for 120 min and then cutting the band to allow reperfusion. The ischemic groups were sacrificed immediately while the IR groups were sacrificed 24 h after reperfusion. Blood, IR-injured gastrocnemius, and lung tissues were collected for analysis. The results showed that FO pretreatment suppressed the local and systemic expression of several IR-induced proinflammatory mediators. Also, the FO-pretreated group had lower bloodLy6ChiCCR2himonocyte percentage and muscle M1/M2 ratio than the saline group at 24 h after reperfusion. These findings suggest that FO pretreatment may have a protective role in limb IR injury by modulating the expression of proinflammatory mediators and regulating the polarization of macrophage.
Assessment of Drivers’ Perceptions of Various Police Enforcement Strategies and Associated Penalties and Rewards
Authors: Shaaban Khaled
Published: January 2017

Road crashes are a major cause of death in many countries. Qatar has been battling to improve road safety on several fronts using different strategies, including road policing. The purpose of this study is to ascertain drivers’ perceptions towards five existing and four proposed police traffic enforcement strategies and associated penalties and rewards in Qatar using face-to-face surveys. The results show that red-light running cameras were perceived to be the most successful existing strategy. The high violation fine and the automation of the system were mentioned as the main reasons for making this strategy the most successful. Three of the existing strategies, fixed-speed enforcement cameras, police enforcement, and mobile speed cameras, were conferred almost the same success percentage, followed by the demerit point system. Regarding the proposed strategies, rewarding safe drivers was selected by the participants as the most successful proposed strategy, followed by introducing more automated enforcement methods. Community service for traffic tickets came in third, followed by defensive driving school. These results can be used to influence future enhancements of existing strategies and guide the development of future traffic strategies being introduced in the traffic system.
Optimal Fare, Vacancy Rate, and Subsidies under Log‐Linear Demand with the Consideration of Externalities for a Cruising Taxi Market
Authors: Chu Chun-Hsiao
Published: January 2017

Externality is an important issue for formulating the regulation policy of a taxi market. However, this issue is rarely taken into account in the current policy‐making process, and it has not been adequately explored in prior research. This study extends the model proposed by Chang and Chu in 2009 with the aim of exploring the effect of externality on the optimization of the regulation policy of a cruising taxi market. A closed‐form solution for optimizing the fare, vacancy rate, and subsidy of the market is derived. The results show that when the externality of taxi trips is taken into consideration, the optimal vacancy rate should be lower and the subsidy should be higher than they are under current conditions where externality is not considered. The results of the sensitivity analysis on the occupied and vacant distance indicate that the relation of the vacant distance to the marginal external cost is more sensitive than the occupied distance. The result of the sensitivity analysis on the subsidy shows the existence of a negative relationship between the marginal external cost and the optimal subsidy.
Complexity Analysis of a Triopoly Cooperation‐Competition Game Model in Convergence Product Market
Authors: Zhao Liming , Liu Xiaofeng , Ji Ning
Published: January 2017

This work considered a tripartite cooperation‐competition game model for the convergence product market, whose products are compounds of two base products or services. An early convergence product firm monopoly in this market and two potential entrants from the base products decide to cooperate with another to compete with the monopolist. We analyzed factors that affect existence and local stability of the Nash equilibrium. Rich nonlinear dynamic behaviors like bifurcation, chaos, and attractors are presented to explain the complex relationships between the three players. Results showed that the pulling effect on profit for the united R&D activity can significantly enlarge the stable region. Too frequently adjusted price strategy will bring the system into chaos. A parameter feedback control method is given to control the chaotic system and we numerically verified its effectiveness. This study has significant values to understand the fluctuations in related convergence product market.
Multipath Activity Based Routing Protocol for Mobile ‎Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Omar Shereen , El Ghandour Osama , Abd El-Haleem Ahmed M.
Published: January 2017

Cognitive radio networks improve spectrum utilization by ‎sharing licensed spectrum with cognitive radio devices. In ‎cognitive radio ad hoc networks the routing protocol is one ‎of the most challenging tasks due to the changes in ‎frequency spectrum and the interrupted connectivity ‎caused by the primary user activity. In this paper, a multi‎path activity based routing protocol for cognitive radio ‎network (MACNRP) is proposed. The protocol utilizes ‎channel availability and creates multiple node-disjoint ‎routes between the source and destination nodes. The ‎proposed protocol is compared with D2CARP and FTCRP ‎protocols. The performance evaluation is conducted ‎through mathematical analysis and using OPNET ‎simulation. The performance of the proposed protocol ‎achieves an increase in network throughput; besides it ‎decreases the probability of route failure due to node ‎mobility and primary user activity. We have found that the ‎MACNRP scheme results in 50% to 75% reduction in ‎blocking probability and 33% to 78% improvement in ‎network throughput, with a reasonable additional routing ‎overhead and average packet delay. Due to the successful ‎reduction of collision between primary users and ‎cognitive users, the MACNRP scheme results in decreasing ‎the path failure rate by 50% to 87%.‎
Acute Truncal Lymphedema Secondary to Axillary Metastatic Melanoma Presenting Like Cellulitis
Authors: Hwang Shelley J. E. , Kong Benjamin Y. , Chou Shaun , Wakade Deepal , Carlino Matteo S. , Fernandez-Penas Pablo
Published: January 2017

There are reported cases of diphencyprone used in treating cutaneous metastases of melanoma. Here, we report a patient with previous primary melanoma on his left back treated with surgical excision and lymphadenectomy, followed by radiotherapy for the recurrent tumor on the primary site. Despite radiotherapy and treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib, in-transit metastases have developed and topical diphencyprone was applied to these metastases. Six weeks later, the patient developed fever and a spreading erythematous tender indurated plaque covering the left side of the body including axillae, back, and flank, clinically suggestive of cellulitis. Systemic antibiotic therapy did not improve the condition and a biopsy showed sparse lymphocytic infiltrate. With the diagnosis of possible acute lymphedema, a CT scan was requested that showed significant axillary lymph node metastasis. The fever was considered secondary to dabrafenib and trametinib therapy. This case highlights that, in patients with lymphadenectomy, atypical forms of lymphedema on the body may appear. Truncal lymphedema is an infrequent event.