bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Fault Tolerant Control
Authors: Meyer Richard T. , Johnson Scott C. , DeCarlo Raymond A. , Pekarek Steve , Sudhoff Scott D.
Published: July 2017

This paper investigates the supervisory-level, fault tolerant control of a 2004 Prius powertrain. The fault considered is an interturn short circuit (ITSC) fault in the traction drive (a surface mount permanent magnet synchronous machine (SPMSM) for which its rotor is part of the vehicle's driveline). ITSC faults arise from electrical insulation failures in the stator windings where part of a phase winding remains functional while the remaining decoupled windings form a self-contained loop. Because the permanent magnets on the rotor (driveline) shaft are able to induce very large eddy currents in this self-contained loop if its rotational velocity is left unchecked, the maximum allowable driveline speed, and consequently, vehicle speed, must be reduced to avoid exceeding the drive's operational thermal limits. A method for detecting these ITSC faults and the induced eddy current in an SPMSM using a moving horizon observer (MHO) is reviewed. These parameters then determine which previously computed, fault-level-dependent SPMSM input–output power efficiency map and maximum safe operating speed is utilized by the supervisory-level controller. The fault tolerant control is demonstrated by simulating a Prius over a 40 s drive velocity profile with fault levels of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 5% detected at the midpoint of the profile. For comparison, the Prius is also simulated without a traction motor fault. Results show that the control reduces vehicle velocity upon detection of a fault to an appropriate safe value.
Effects of Stacked Layers and Stacked Configurations on Wire Sweep and Wire Sag of Advanced Overhang/Pyramid Stacked Packages
Authors: Kung Huang-Kuang , Hsieh Chi-Lung
Published: July 2017

Overhang and/or pyramid stacked packages are the trend in the semiconductor industry. As the stacked layers increase drastically, the wire sweep and wire sag problems become more and more serious. Based on some types of frequently used stacked configurations, their corresponding wire sweep and wire sag stiffness and deflections are investigated for extra-high stacked layers. Two typical profiles of Q_loop and S_loop wire bonds are included in this study. However, wire sweep and wire sag have to be considered in two different design aspects. For wire sweep, we have the conclusion that the maximum wire sweep deflections always occur near the central segment of a wire bond. As for the wire sag, the maximum wire sag may take place in the center region of the straight portion of a wire bond. The result shows that the deflections of wire sag can be reduced significantly by simply shifting the position of the kink or bend created within a wire bond. Finally, we have concluded that a stacked configuration with smallest bond span may be the preferred selection for the concerns of wire sweep and wire sag issues.
Numerical Investigation of Back Vane Design and Its Impact on Pump Performance
Authors: Mortazavi Farzam , Riasi Alireza , Nourbakhsh Ahmad
Published: July 2017

Adding back vanes to the rear shroud of centrifugal pumps is sometimes practiced in order to alleviate large axial forces. Effective design and flow characteristics of back vanes remain obscure due to lack of knowledge associated with experimental complexities in study of this area. In this study, various design parameters of the conventional noncurved rectangular back vanes are evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Furthermore, the complex flow structure at the rear chamber of these pumps is illustrated and discussed with the advantage of CFD which is a highly costly and taxing job if one chooses to capture it using experimental methods. Effect of back vanes outer radius, width, clearance, thickness, vane angle, and number of vanes on pump characteristics and axial thrust has been investigated. New findings of this study show that back vanes are capable of canceling the axial thrust in a large range of flow rates without a penalty to the machine efficiency, provided that suitable design parameters are selected. In addition, the best efficiency point (BEP) will not be affected by usage of back vanes. The rear chamber’s flow pattern suggest that back vanes have a repumping effect causing increased pump head at longer back vane configurations.
A Structural and Fluid-Flow Model for Mechanically Driven Peristaltic Pumping With Application to Therapeutic Drug Delivery
Authors: Krautbauer Kevin , Sparrow Eph , Gorman John
Published: July 2017

The primary focus of this research is the design of wall-driven peristaltic pumps based on first principles with minimal simplifying assumptions and implementation by numerical simulation. Peristaltic pumps are typically used to pump clean/sterile fluids because crosscontamination with exposed pump components cannot occur. Some common biomedical applications include pumping IV fluids through an infusion device and circulating blood by means of heart-lung machines during a bypass surgery. The specific design modality described here involves the structural analysis of a hyperelastic tube-wall medium implemented by numerical simulation. The numerical solutions yielded distributions of stresses and mechanical deflections. In particular, the applied force needed to sustain the prescribed rate of compression was determined. From numerical information about the change of the volume of the bore of the tube, the rate of fluid flow provided by the peristaltic pumping action was calculated and several algebraic equation fits are presented. Other results of practical utility include the spatial distributions of effective stress (von Mises) at a succession of times during the compression cycle and the corresponding information for the spatial and temporal evolution of the displacements.
Comparison of Various Surrogate Models to Predict Stress Intensity Factor of a Crack Propagating in Offshore Piping
Authors: Keprate Arvind , Chandima Ratnayake R. M. , Sankararaman Shankar
Published: July 2017

This paper examines the applicability of the different surrogate-models (SMs) to predict the stress intensity factor (SIF) of a crack propagating in topside piping, as an inexpensive alternative to the finite element methods (FEM). Six different SMs, namely, multilinear regression (MLR), polynomial regression (PR) of order two, three, and four (with interaction), Gaussian process regression (GPR), neural networks (NN), relevance vector regression (RVR), and support vector regression (SVR) have been tested. Seventy data points (consisting of load (L), crack depth (a), half crack length (c) and SIF values obtained by FEM) are used to train the aforementioned SMs, while 30 data points are used for testing. In order to compare the accuracy of the SMs, four metrics, namely, root-mean-square error (RMSE), average absolute error (AAE), maximum absolute error (MAE), and coefficient of determination (R2) are used. A case study illustrating the comparison of the prediction capability of various SMs is presented. python and matlab are used to train and test the SMs. Although PR emerged as the best fit, GPR was selected as the best SM for SIF determination due to its capability of calculating the uncertainty related to the prediction values. The aforementioned uncertainty representation is quite valuable, as it is used to adaptively train the GPR model (GPRM), which further improves its prediction accuracy and makes it an accurate, faster, and alternative method to FEM for predicting SIF.
Simplified Finite Element Models to Study the Wet Collapse of Straight and Curved Flexible Pipes
Authors: Gay Neto Alfredo , de Arruda Martins Clóvis , Malta Eduardo Ribeiro , Tanaka Rafael Loureiro , Godinho Carlos Alberto Ferreira
Published: July 2017

When the external sheath of flexible pipes experiences damage, seawater floods the annulus. Then, the external pressure is applied directly on the internal polymeric layer, and the load is transferred to the interlocked carcass, the innermost layer. In this situation, the so-called wet collapse failure of the interlocked carcass can occur. Simplified methodologies to address such a scenario, using restricted three-dimensional (3D) finite element models, are presented in this work. They are compared with full 3D models, studying both straight and curved flexible pipes scenarios. The curvature of the flexible pipe is shown to be important for wet collapse pressure predictions.
Dynamics of Flywheel Energy Storage System With Permanent Magnetic Bearing and Spiral Groove Bearing
Authors: Qiu Yujiang , Jiang Shuyun
Published: July 2017

Developing a flywheel energy storage system (FESS) with permanent magnetic bearing (PMB) and spiral groove bearing (SGB) brings a great challenge to dynamic control for the rotor system. In this paper, a pendulum-tuned mass damper is developed for 100 kg-class FESS to suppress low-frequency vibration of the system; the dynamic model with four degrees-of-freedom is built for the FESS using Lagrange's theorem; mode characteristics, critical speeds, and unbalance responses of the system are analyzed via theory and experiment. A comparison between the theoretical results and the experiment ones shows that the pendulum-tuned mass damper is effective, the dynamic model is appropriate, and the FESS can run smoothly within the working speed range.
The effect of permutations of time samples in the speech waveform on intelligibility
Authors: Gotoh Satoru , Tohyama Mikio , Houtgast Tammo
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the effect of two types of temporal permutations of the speech waveform on speech intelligibility. Using an overlap-add procedure with triangular-shaped windows for frame lengths of 1/8 to 2048 ms, the temporal order of the speech samples within each frame was subjected to either of two types of permutations: time-reversal or randomization. For both permutations, speech intelligibility tests expectantly show 100% intelligibility for the very short frame lengths containing only a few speech samples. Intelligibility drops to essentially zero toward longer frame lengths of around 1 ms. Interestingly, only for the reverse condition, intelligibility recovers to essentially 100% for frame lengths in the 4–32 ms range, dropping again to zero for frame lengths exceeding about 100 ms. Tests for the Japanese and the English language show essentially similar results. The data are interpreted along the lines of a previous paper by Kazama and the present authors [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127(3), 1432–1439 (2010)]. As in that previous paper, the loss of temporal envelope correlation shows a pattern very similar to that of the intelligibility data, illustrating again the importance of the preservation of narrow-band envelopes for speech intelligibility.
An Alternative Test of Tackling Ability in Rugby League Players
Authors: Speranza Michael J.A. , Gabbett Tim J. , Greene David A. , Johnston Rich D. , Townshend Andrew D. , O’Farrell Brett
Published: July 2017

This study investigated the relationship between 2 tests of tackling ability, muscle strength, and power in semiprofessional rugby league players. Thirty-one players, 19 first-grade and 12 second-grade, underwent tests of muscle strength (1-repetition-maximum bench press, chin-up, and squat) and power (plyometric push-up and countermovement jump). Tackling ability was assessed via video analysis of under-and over-the-ball tackle drills. The first-grade players had significantly greater scores in both the under-the-ball (P = .03, effect size [ES] = 0.84, 95% CI 0.07–1.50) and over-the-ball tackling-ability tests (P < .001, ES =1.86, 95% CI 0.83–2.52) than the second-grade players. A large, significant relationship was found between under- and over-the-ball tackling ability (r = .55, 95% CI .24–.76, P = .001). Lower-body strength (r = .37, 95% CI .02–.64, P = .04) was moderately associated with under-the-ball tackling ability, whereas over-the-ball tackling ability was moderately associated with plyometric push-up performance (r = .39, 95% CI .04–.65, P = .03). This study found that over-the-ball tackling ability was significantly associated with under-the-ball tackling in semiprofessional rugby league players. Furthermore, it was found that, compared with the second-grade players, the first-grade players had superior tackle ability in both tackle drills. In this study it was observed that plyometric push-up peak power was significantly related to over-the-ball tackling ability and absolute lower-body strength was associated with under-the-ball tackling ability. These findings provide skill coaches and strength and conditioning staff a greater understanding of elements that contribute to effective tackling ability.
Marathon Pace Control in Masters Athletes
Authors: Breen Derek , Norris Michelle , Healy Robin , Anderson Ross
Published: July 2017

Purpose: Pacing strategies are key to overall performance outcome in distance-running events. Presently, no literature has examined pacing strategies used by masters athletes of all running levels during a competitive marathon. Therefore, this study aimed to examine masters athletes’ pacing strategies, categorized by gender, age, and performance level. Methods: Data were retrieved from the 2015 TSC New York City Marathon for 31,762 masters athletes (20,019 men and 11,743 women). Seven performance-classification (PC) groupings were identified via comparison of overall completion time compared with current world records, appropriate to age and gender. Data were categorized via, age, gender, and performance level. Mean 5-km speed for the initial 40 km was calculated, and the fastest and slowest 5-km-split speeds were identified and expressed as a percentage faster or slower than mean speed. Pace range, calculated as the absolute sum of the fastest and slowest split percentages, was then analyzed. Results: Significant main effects were identified for age, gender, and performance level (P < .001), with performance level the most determining factor. Athletes in PC1 displayed the lowest pace range (14.19% ± 6.66%), and as the performance levels of athletes decreased, pace range increased linearly (PC2–PC7, 17.52% ± 9.14% to 36.42% ± 18.32%). A significant interaction effect was found for gender × performance (P < .001), with women showing a smaller pace range (−3.81%). Conclusions: High-performing masters athletes use more-controlled pacing strategies than their lower-ranked counterparts during a competitive marathon, independent of age and gender.
“Hand in Glove”: Using Qualitative Methods to Connect Research and Practice
Authors: Harper Liam D. , McCunn Robert
Published: July 2017

Recent work has espoused the idea that in applied sporting environments, “fast”-working practitioners should work together with “slow”-working researchers. However, due to economical and logistical constraints, such a coupling may not always be practical. Therefore, alternative means of combining research and applied practice are needed. A particular methodology that has been used in recent years is qualitative research. Examples of qualitative methods include online surveys, 1-on-1 interviews, and focus groups. This article discusses the merits of using qualitative methods to combine applied practice and research in sport science. This includes a discussion of recent examples of the use of such methods in published journal articles, a critique of the approaches employed, and future directions and recommendations. The authors encourage both practitioners and researchers to use and engage with qualitative research with the ultimate goal of benefiting athlete health and sporting performance.
Comparison of Methods of Calculating Dynamic Strength Index
Authors: Comfort Paul , Thomas Christopher , Dos’Santos Thomas , Jones Paul A. , Suchomel Timothy J. , McMahon John J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose: To determine the reliability and variability of the Dynamic Strength Index (DSI) calculated from squat-jump (SJ) vs countermovement-jump (CMJ) peak force (PF) and to compare DSI values between methods. Methods: Male youth soccer and rugby league players (N = 27; age 17.2 ± 0.7 y, height 173.9 ± 5.7 cm, body mass 71.1 ± 7.2 kg) performed 3 trials of the SJ, CMJ, and isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) on 2 separate days. DSI was calculated by dividing the PF during each jump by the IMTP PF. Results: DSI-SJ exhibited moderate (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .419) within-session reliability and high variability (percentage coefficient of variation [%CV] = 15.91) during session 1; however, this improved noticeably during session 2 (ICC = .948, %CV = 4.03). In contrast, DSI-CMJ showed nearly perfect within-session reliability (ICC = .920–.952) and low variability (%CV = 3.80–4.57) for both sessions. Moreover, DSI-SJ values demonstrated a small yet significant increase between sessions (P = .01, d = 0.37), whereas only a trivial and nonsignificant increase was observed for DSI-CMJ between sessions (P = .796, d = 0.07). Between-sessions reliability was very high for the DSI-SJ (ICC = .741) and nearly perfect for the DSI-CMJ (ICC = .924). There was no significant or meaningful difference (P = .261, d = 0.12) between DSI-SJ (0.82 ± 0.18) and DSI-CMJ (0.84 ± 0.15). Conclusions: Practitioners should use DSI-CMJ, as it is a more reliable measure than DSI-SJ, although it produces similar ratios.
Foot and Ankle Kinematics During Descent From Varying Step Heights
Authors: Gerstle Emily E. , O’Connor Kristian , Keenan Kevin G. , Cobb Stephen C.
Published: July 2017

In the general population, one-third of incidences during step negotiation occur during the transition to level walking. Furthermore, falls during curb negotiation are a common cause of injury in older adults. Distal foot kinematics may be an important factor in determining injury risk associated with transition step negotiation. The purpose of this study was to identify foot and ankle kinematics of uninjured individuals during descent from varying step heights. A 7-segment foot model was used to quantify kinematics as participants walked on a level walkway, stepped down a single step (heights: 5 cm, 15 cm, 25 cm), and continued walking. As step height increased, landing strategy transitioned from the rearfoot to the forefoot, and the rearfoot, lateral and medial midfoot, and medial forefoot became more plantar flexed. During weight acceptance, sagittal plane range of motion of the rearfoot, lateral midfoot, and medial and lateral forefoot increased as step height increased. The changes in landing strategy and distal foot function suggest a less stable ankle position at initial contact and increased demand on the distal foot at initial contact and through the weight acceptance phase of transition step negotiation as step height increases.
Effects of a Prophylactic Knee Sleeve on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Loading During Sport-Specific Movements
Authors: Sinclair Jonathan , Taylor Paul J.
Published: July 2017

Context: Prophylactic knee bracing is extensively utilized in athletic populations to reduce the high risk from knee injuries, but its role in the attenuation of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) pathologies is not well understood. Objective: The aim of this investigation was to explore the effects of a prophylactic knee sleeve on ACL loading parameters linked to the etiology of injury in recreational athletes. Setting: Laboratory. Design: Repeated measures. Participants: Thirteen healthy male recreational athletes. Intervention: Participants performed run, cut, and single-leg hop movements under 2 conditions; prophylactic knee sleeve and no sleeve. Main Outcome Measures: Biomechanical data were captured using an 8-camera 3D motion capture system and a force platform. Peak ACL force, average ACL load rate, and instantaneous ACL load rate were quantified using a musculoskeletal modeling approach. Results: The results showed that both average and instantaneous ACL load rates were significantly reduced when wearing the knee sleeve in the hop (sleeve = 612.45/1286.39 N/kg/s and no sleeve = 743.91/1471.42 N/kg/s) and cut (sleeve = 222.55/1058.02 N/kg/s and no sleeve = 377.38/1183.01 N/kg/s) movements. Conclusions: Given the biomechanical association between ACL loading and the etiology of ACL injuries, it is proposed that athletes may be able to attenuate their risk from injury during cut and hop movements through utilization of a prophylactic knee sleeve.
Impact of Martial Arts (Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu) on Bone Mineral Density Gains in Adolescents of Both Genders: 9-Month Follow-Up
Authors: Ito Igor H. , Kemper Han C.G. , Agostinete Ricardo R. , Lynch Kyle R. , Christofaro Diego G.D. , Ronque Enio R. , Fernandes Rômulo A.
Published: July 2017

Purpose: To compare bone mineral density (BMD) gains in adolescents of both genders stratified according to different martial art styles in a 9-month follow-up study. Methods: The longitudinal study consisted of 29 adolescents of both genders and age between 11 and 17 years stratified into a control group (not engaged in any sport) and 50 fighters (kung fu/karate, n = 29; judo, n = 21). All 79 subjects underwent anthropometric measures (weight, height, leg length, and height set) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (BMD, in g/cm2) at 2 moments, baseline and 9 months later. Maturity offset (age at peak height velocity), lean soft tissue, chronological age, and resistance training were treated as covariates. Results: Male judoists presented higher gains in BMD-spine [0.098 g/cm2 (95% confidence interval, 0.068–0.128)] than control group [0.040 g/cm2 (95% confidence interval, 0.011–0.069)] (post hoc test with P = .030). There was no effect of martial art on BMD gains among girls. Independently of gender, in all multivariate models, lean soft tissue constituted the most relevant covariate. Conclusions: Judo practice in adolescents affected the bone accrual significantly after 9-month follow-up compared with controls, mainly in boys.
Chasing Rx: A Spatial Ethnography of the CrossFit Gym
Authors: Crockett Matt C. , Butryn Ted
Published: July 2017

CrossFit is a group fitness program that incorporates a variety of weightlifting and gymnastic movements performed at high intensities. While scholars have examined CrossFit’s physiological and behavioral outcomes, few studies have examined the program’s psychological and sociological characteristics. Drawing from Henning Eichberg’s work on spatial geography, this 5-month ethnographic study examined the space and place of two CrossFit gyms as an introduction to a broader discussion on CrossFit subculture and evolving discourses about the body, health, and fitness. Specifically, the gyms’ location, layout, and open arrangement of moving bodies revealed three major themes about CrossFit space: a place that blurs the line between exercise and menial labor in an otherwise sedentary and technologized society; a place that is inclusive specifically in terms of gender, age, and ability, yet exclusive socioeconomically; and a faux-elite sporting place that inadvertently produces wild and untamed bodily movements. Results of the study suggest that CrossFit’s popularity in recent years portends a dramatic shift in the social function of recreational fitness toward forms of exercise that are more inclusive, and yet at the same time are more socially competitive and hierarchical.
Exploring the Understanding and Application of Motivational Interviewing in Applied Sport Psychology
Authors: Mack Rory , Breckon Jeff , Butt Joanne , Maynard Ian
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to explore how sport and exercise psychologists working in sport understand and use motivational interviewing (MI). Eleven practitioners participated in semistructured interviews, and inductive thematic analysis identified themes linked to explicit use of MI, such as building engagement and exploring ambivalence to change; the value of MI, such as enhancing the relationship, rolling with resistance and integrating with other approaches; and barriers to the implementation of MI in sport psychology, such as a limited evidence-base in sport. Findings also indicated considerable implicit use of MI by participants, including taking an athlete-centered approach, supporting athlete autonomy, reflective listening, demonstrating accurate empathy, and taking a nonprescriptive, guiding role. This counseling style appears to have several tenets to enhance current practice in sport psychology, not least the enhancement of therapeutic alliance.
Social considerations of inflammatory bowel disease in Southern Israel
Authors: Taylor Jonathan , Neff Chase
Published: July 2017

Chronic diseases pose unique social challenges beyond traditional health considerations that require specific attention. In this report, we examine the case of a middle-aged woman with ulcerative colitis, living in Southern Israel. Trust between the patient and physician is shown to positively influence a variety of therapeutic outcomes and should be considered a fundamental component of successful care. In context of the military conflict between Israel and Gaza, the needs of patients with chronic diseases cannot be forgotten. The work environment is also identified as an area of particular concern, as a supportive work environment is essential in order to maintain satisfaction in the workplace and sustain a high quality of life. Out-of-pocket costs for medications are confirmed to be a significant barrier to adherence. Better understanding of patientsâ€™ financial capabilities, along with affordable therapeutic interventions, will alleviate healthcare-related financial burdens and improve health outcomes.
Link Worker social prescribing to improve health and well-being for people with long-term conditions: qualitative study of service user perceptions
Authors: Moffatt Suzanne , Steer Mel , Lawson Sarah , Penn Linda , O’Brien Nicola
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To describe the experiences of patients with long-term conditions who are referred to and engage with a Link Worker social prescribing programme and identify the impact of the Link Worker programme on health and well-being.

Design

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews with thematic analysis of the data.

Intervention

Link Worker social prescribing programme comprising personalised support to identify meaningful health and wellness goals, ongoing support to achieve agreed objectives and linkage into appropriate community services.

Setting

Inner-city area in West Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (population n=132 000) ranked 40th most socioeconomically deprived in England, served by 17 general practices.

Participants

Thirty adults with long-term conditions, 14 female, 16 male aged 40–74 years, mean age 62 years, 24 white British, 1 white Irish, 5 from black and minority ethnic communities.

Results

Most participants experienced multimorbidity combined with mental health problems, low self-confidence and social isolation. All were adversely affected physically, emotionally and socially by their health problems. The intervention engendered feelings of control and self-confidence, reduced social isolation and had a positive impact on health-related behaviours including weight loss, healthier eating and increased physical activity. Management of long-term conditions and mental health in the face of multimorbidity improved and participants reported greater resilience and more effective problem-solving strategies.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that tackling complex and long-term health problems requires an extensive holistic approach not possible in routine primary care. This model of social prescribing, which takes into account physical and mental health, and social and economic issues, was successful for patients who engaged with the service. Future research on a larger scale is required to assess when and for whom social prescribing is clinically effective and cost-effective.
Effectiveness of behavioural change techniques in physiotherapy interventions to promote physical activity adherence in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Willett Matthew , Duda Joan , Gautrey Charlotte , Fenton Sally , Greig Carolyn , Rushton Alison
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative articular disease, the highest cause of individual level disability and a significant socioeconomic burden to healthcare services. Patient education and physical activity (PA) prescription are recommended components of interventions in several healthcare guidelines and are commonly provided by physiotherapists. However, these interventions lack long-term clinical effectiveness. Patient adherence to PA prescription requires patients to modify their PA behaviour and appears critical in maintaining symptomatic improvements. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural change techniques (BCTs) used in physiotherapy interventions to improve PA adherence.

Methods and analysis

Medline, Cochrane and PEDro registers of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases, and key grey literature sources will be rigorously searched for randomised controlled trials that compared a physiotherapy intervention incorporating BCTs with other therapies, placebo interventions, usual care or no-treatment. Two independent researchers will conduct literature searches, assess trial eligibility, extract data, conduct risk of bias assessment (using Cochrane risk of bias tool), classify BCTs and evaluate the quality of the body of literature following Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. Narrative synthesis of key outcomes will be presented and meta-analysis will be performed if included trials are clinically homogenous, based on their intervention and comparator groups and outcome measures. This review will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

Ethics and dissemination

Research ethics approval is not required. This review will help inform clinicians and researchers on the most effective behavioural change techniques used in physiotherapy interventions to enhance adherence to PA prescription for patients with lower limb OA. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42016039932.
PATHway I: design and rationale for the investigation of the feasibility, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a technology-enabled cardiac rehabilitation platform
Authors: Claes Jomme , Buys Roselien , Woods Catherine , Briggs Andrew , Geue Claudia , Aitken Moira , Moyna Niall , Moran Kieran , McCaffrey Noel , Chouvarda Ioanna , Walsh Deirdre , Budts Werner , Filos Dimitris , Triantafyllidis Andreas , Maglaveras Nicos , Cornelissen Véronique A
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) independently alters the clinical course of cardiovascular diseases resulting in a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiac mortality. However, only 15%–30% of all eligible patients participate in a phase 2 ambulatory programme. The uptake rate of community-based programmes following phase 2 CR and adherence to long-term exercise is extremely poor. Newer care models, involving telerehabilitation programmes that are delivered remotely, show considerable promise for increasing adherence. In this view, the PATHway (Physical Activity Towards Health) platform was developed and now needs to be evaluated in terms of its feasibility and clinical efficacy.

Methods and analysis

In a multicentre randomised controlled pilot trial, 120 participants (m/f, age 40–80 years) completing a phase 2 ambulatory CR programme will be randomised on a 1:1 basis to PATHway or usual care. PATHway involves a comprehensive, internet-enabled, sensor-based home CR platform and provides individualised heart rate monitored exercise programmes (exerclasses and exergames) as the basis on which to provide a personalised lifestyle intervention programme. The control group will receive usual care. Study outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after completion of phase 2 of the CR programme. The primary outcome is the change in active energy expenditure. Secondary outcomes include cardiopulmonary endurance capacity, muscle strength, body composition, cardiovascular risk factors, peripheral endothelial vascular function, patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), well-being, mediators of behaviour change and safety. HRQoL and healthcare costs will be taken into account in cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Ethics and dissemination

The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This protocol has been approved by the director and clinical director of the PATHway study and by the ethical committee of each participating site. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at congresses and events.

Trial registration number

NCT02717806. This trial is currently in the pre-results stage.
Fitted Finite Difference Method for Third Order Singularly Perturbed Delay Differential Equations of Convection Diffusion Type
Authors: Mahendran R. , Subburayan V.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, a fitted finite difference method on Shishkin mesh is suggested to solve a class of third order singularly perturbed boundary value problems for ordinary delay differential equations of convection-diffusion type. Numerical solution converges uniformly to the exact solution. The order of convergence of the numerical method is almost first order. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Numerical Study on Mechanical Properties of Discontinuously Reinforced Titanium Matrix Composite with Network Reinforcement Architecture
Authors: Wang Peng , Nian Guodong , Qu Shaoxing , Shan Yejie , Huang Lujun , Peng Hua-Xin
Published: July 2017

A two-step finite element modeling method is adopted to predict the elastic properties and reveal the strengthening mechanisms of discontinuously reinforced titanium matrix composites (DRTMCs) with network reinforcement architecture. The microstructure of the composite consists of reinforcement-rich phase (Phase I) and reinforcement-lean phase (Phase II). In the first step, the mechanical properties of Phase I with varying whisker reinforcement content are calculated. In the second step, the calculated mechanical properties are used as input parameters for the homogenized Phase I in the representative volume elements (RVEs) of the composites. In addition, a direct procedure is adopted to generate the exact RVE to validate the two-step method. The predicted elastic moduli obtained by the two-step procedure agree well with those from experiments. Following the same procedure, the strength increase of the composites contributed by the two mechanisms, i.e., load-transfer by the reinforcement and matrix strengthening caused by grain refinement, solution strengthening, etc., can be determined from the simulations separately, which shows that the strength enhancement of the DRTMCs with the addition of TiB whiskers by in situ reaction is primarily due to the matrix strengthening rather than the load-transfer mechanism.
Size-Controlled Silver Nanoparticles Confined in Ordered Mesoporous Silica and Their Enhanced Catalytic Activities
Authors: Zhou Xiaofei , Wan Jiawei , Liu Yefeng , Liu Di , Wang Hong , Lai Xiaoyong , Zou Yanzhao , Lin Guo , Chen Jian
Published: July 2017

A cooperative assembly route has been developed, by which silver nanoparticles with controlled sizes are incorporated into the channels of ordered cubic mesoporous silica (KIT-6) with different pore sizes (4.3–6.4[Formula: see text]nm). The samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis and N2physisorption. The pore wall of mesoporous silica can efficiently confine the growth of silver nanoparticles within the channels and their average sizes decreased with the pore size reduction of KIT-6. Catalytic activities of the resultant Ag/KIT-6-[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] stands for hydrothermal temperature) composite for reducing harmful organic dye Rhodamine B (Rh B) by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) were investigated. All the Ag/KIT-6 composite samples show great catalytic activities, among which Ag/KIT-6-80 with higher loading and smaller size of Ag nanoparticles exhibits higher catalytic activity than those of Ag/KIT-6-60 and Ag/KIT-6-100.
Real-Time Large-Scale Map Matching Using Mobile Phone Data
Authors: Algizawy Essam , Ogawa Tetsuji , El-Mahdy Ahmed
Published: July 2017

With the wide spread use of mobile phones, cellular mobile big data is becoming an important resource that provides a wealth of information with almost no cost. However, the data generally suffers from relatively high spatial granularity, limiting the scope of its application. In this article, we consider, for the first time, the utility of actual mobile big data for map matching allowing for “microscopic” level traffic analysis. The state-of-the-art in map matching generally targets GPS data, which provides far denser sampling and higher location resolution than the mobile data. Our approach extends the typical Hidden-Markov model used in map matching to accommodate for highly sparse location trajectories, exploit the large mobile data volume to learn the model parameters, and exploit the sparsity of the data to provide for real-time Viterbi processing. We study an actual, anonymised mobile trajectories data set of the city of Dakar, Senegal, spanning a year, and generate a corresponding road-level traffic density, at an hourly granularity, for each mobile trajectory. We observed a relatively high correlation between the generated traffic intensities and corresponding values obtained by the gravity and equilibrium models typically used in mobility analysis, indicating the utility of the approach as an alternative means for traffic analysis.
Algorithm 977
Authors: Drmač Zlatko
Published: July 2017

A new software for computing the singular value decomposition (SVD) of real or complex matrices is proposed. The method implemented in the code xGESVDQ is essentially the QR SVD algorithm available as xGESVD in LAPACK. The novelty is an extra step, the QR factorization with column (or complete row and column) pivoting, also already available in LAPACK as xGEQP3. For experts in matrix computations, the combination of the QR factorization and an SVD computation routine is not new. However, what seems to be new and important for applications is that the resulting procedure is numerically superior to xGESVD and that it is capable of reaching the accuracy of the Jacobi SVD. Further, when combined with pivoted Cholesky factorization, xGESVDQ provides numerically accurate and fast solvers (designated as xPHEVC, xPSEVC) for the Hermitian positive definite eigenvalue problem. For instance, using accurately computed Cholesky factor, xPSEVC computes all eigenvalues of the 200 × 200 Hilbert matrix (whose spectral condition number is greater that 10
300
) to nearly full machine precision. Furthermore, xGESVDQ can be used for accurate spectral decomposition of general (indefinite) Hermitian matrices.
Design and Analysis of QoE-Aware Quality Adaptation for DASH
Authors: Wang Cong , Bhat Divyashri , Rizk Amr , Zink Michael
Published: July 2017

The dynamics of the application-layer-based control loop of dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) make video bitrate selection for DASH a difficult problem. In this work, we provide a DASH quality adaptation algorithm, named SQUAD, that is specifically tailored to provide a high quality of experience (QoE). We review and provide new insights into the challenges for DASH rate estimation. We found that in addition to the ON-OFF behavior of DASH clients, there exists a discrepancy in the timescales that form the basis of the rate estimates across (i) different video segments and (ii) the rate control loops of DASH and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). With these observations in mind, we design SQUAD aiming to maximize the average quality bitrate while minimizing the quality variations. We test our implementation of SQUAD together with a number of different quality adaptation algorithms under various conditions in the Global Environment for Networking Innovation testbed, as well as, in a series of measurements over the public Internet. Through a measurement study, we show that by sacrificing little to nothing in average quality bitrate, SQUAD can provide
significantlygt
; better QoE in terms of quality switching and magnitude. In addition, we show that retransmission of higher-quality segments that were originally received in low-quality is feasible and improves the QoE.
Study on Cooperative Mechanism of Prefabricated Producers Based on Evolutionary Game Theory
Authors: Feng Tongyao , Tai Shuangliang , Sun Chengshuang , Man Qingpeng
Published: July 2017

Good cooperation mechanism is an important guarantee for the advancement of industrialization construction. To strengthen the partnership between producers, we analyze the behavior evolution trend of both parties using an evolutionary game theory. Based on the original model, the mechanism of coordination and cooperation between prefabricated producers is explained under the condition of punishment and incentive. The results indicate that stable evolutionary strategies exist under both cooperation and noncooperation, and the evolutionary results are influenced by the initial proportion of both decision‐making processes. The government can support the production enterprises to establish a solid partnership through effective punishment and incentive mechanisms to reduce the initial cost in the supply chain of prefabricated construction, resulting in a win‐win situation.
The Effects of Guizhi Gancao Decoction on Pressure Overload‐Induced Heart Failure and Posttranslational Modifications of Tubulin in Mice
Authors: Chen Hui-hua , Zhao Pei , Tian Jing , Guo Wei , Xu Ming , Zhang Chen , Lu Rong
Published: July 2017

Guizhi Gancao Decoction (GGD), a traditional Chinese medical recipe, has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China for centuries. The present study was carried out to determine whether GGD exerts direct protective effects against pressure overload‐induced heart failure. Moreover, we investigated whether GGD affects tubulin expression and posttranslational modifications. We demonstrated that GGD ameliorated TAC caused cardiac hypertrophy by gravimetric and echocardiography analysis in C57BL/6 mice. We found that GGD abrogated TAC‐induced myocardium fibrosis by Masson’s staining and collagen volume fraction (CVF) analysis. By using pressure‐volume hemodynamic measurements, we found that GGD prevented TAC‐induced cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescent analysis revealed that GGD abrogated TAC‐induced detyrosination and acetylation abnormalities on microtubules. Our present study demonstrated potential therapeutic effects of GGD against pressure overload‐induced heart failure.
Functional Virtual Flow Cytometry: A Visual Analytic Approach for Characterizing Single-Cell Gene Expression Patterns
Authors: Han Zhi , Johnson Travis , Zhang Jie , Zhang Xuan , Huang Kun
Published: July 2017

We presented a novel workflow for detecting distribution patterns in cell populations based on single-cell transcriptome study. With the fast adoption of single-cell analysis, a challenge to researchers is how to effectively extract gene features to meaningfully separate the cell population. Considering that coexpressed genes are often functionally or structurally related and the number of coexpressed modules is much smaller than the number of genes, our workflow uses gene coexpression modules as features instead of individual genes. Thus, when the coexpressed modules are summarized into eigengenes, not only can we interactively explore the distribution of cells but also we can promptly interpret the gene features. The interactive visualization is aided by a novel application of spatial statistical analysis to the scatter plots using a clustering index parameter. This parameter helps to highlight interesting 2D patterns in the scatter plot matrix (SPLOM). We demonstrated the effectiveness of the workflow using two large single-cell studies. In the Allen Brain scRNA-seq dataset, the visual analytics suggested a new hypothesis such as the involvement of glutamate metabolism in the separation of the brain cells. In a large glioblastoma study, a sample with a unique cell migration related signature was identified.
Diagnostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Feng Jue-Rong , Qiu Xiao , Wang Fan , Chen Peng-Fei , Gao Qian , Peng Ya-Nan , Lin Xue , Liu Qing , Liu Jing , Zhao Qiu , Li Jin
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and non-CD controls. These ratios were all derived from complete blood counts. Two hundred and six participants including CD inpatients and non-CD controls were retrospectively enrolled. We found statistically higher NLR and PLR and lower LMR in CD patients than in non-CD controls (all P<0.01). However, NMR was not different between the two groups (P=0.18). In addition, NLR, PLR, and LMR were associated with CRP and ESR. Optimal cutoffs for NLR and PLR were 2.72 (sensitivity: 68.3%, specificity: 75.9%, and overall accuracy: 70.1%) and 132.88 (sensitivity: 76.7%, specificity: 84.8%, and overall accuracy: 80.8%), respectively. In conclusion, the NLR and PLR might be effective, readily available, and low-cost biomarkers for differentiating CD patients from non-CD controls.
Central Administration of 1‐Deoxynojirimycin Attenuates Hypothalamic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Regulates Food Intake and Body Weight in Mice with High‐Fat Diet‐Induced Obesity
Authors: Kim Jongwan , Yun Eun-Young , Quan Fu-Shi , Park Seung-Won , Goo Tae-Won
Published: July 2017

The α‐glucosidase inhibitor, 1‐deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), is widely used for its antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. Researchers have demonstrated that DNJ regulates body weight by increasing adiponectin levels, which affects energy intake and prevents diet‐induced obesity. However, the mechanism by which centrally administered DNJ exerts anorexigenic effects has not been studied until now. We investigated the effect of DNJ in the hypothalamus of mice with high‐fat diet‐induced obesity. Results showed that intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of DNJ reduced hypothalamic ER stress, which activated the leptin‐induced Janus‐activated kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway to cause appetite suppression. We conclude that DNJ may reduce obesity by moderating feeding behavior and ER stress in the hypothalamic portion of the central nervous system (CNS).
Effect of Modified Pulsatilla Powder on Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O101‐Induced Diarrhea in Mice
Authors: Yu Jiankang , Zhang Yuetian , Song Xu , Yang Yi , Jia Renyong , Chen Xu , Sun Kai , Li Li , Zhao Xinghong , Cui Qiankun , Fu Qiuting , Zou Yuanfeng , Li Lixia , Yin Zhongqiong
Published: July 2017

MPP can be effective in the treatment of E. coli O101‐induced diarrhea in mice. MPP can improve the weight loss caused by diarrhea, increase spleen and thymus indices, and reduce the diarrhea index. MPP can reduce the number of WBC, regulate the level of cytokines, and regulate the intestinal microbial flora. These data suggest that MPP is a promising candidate for treatment of E. coli‐induced diarrhea in humans and animals.