bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Collapse and Expansion of Liquid-Filled Elastic Channels and Cracks
Authors: Meng Fanbo , Huang Jiexi , Thouless M. D.
Published: July 2015

The rate at which fluid drains from a collapsing channel or crack depends on the interaction between the elastic properties of the solid and the fluid flow. The same interaction controls the rate at which a pressurized fluid can flow into a crack. In this paper, we present an analysis for the interaction between the viscous flow and the elastic field associated with an expanding or collapsing fluid-filled channel. We first examine an axisymmetric problem for which a completely analytical solution can be developed. A thick-walled elastic cylinder is opened by external surface tractions, and its core is filled by a fluid. When the applied tractions are relaxed, a hydrostatic pressure gradient drives the fluid to the mouth of the cylinder. The relationship between the change in dimensions, time, and position along the cylinder is given by the diffusion equation, with the diffusion coefficient being dependent on the modulus of the substrate, the viscosity of the fluid, and the ratio of the core radius to the exterior radius of the cylinder. The second part of the paper examines the collapse of elliptical channels with arbitrary aspect ratios, so as to model the behavior of fluid-filled cracks. The channels are opened by a uniaxial tension parallel to their minor axes, filled with a fluid, and then allowed to collapse. The form of the analysis follows that of the axisymmetric calculations, but is complicated by the fact that the aspect ratio of the ellipse changes in response to the local pressure. Approximate analytical solutions in the form of the diffusion equation can be found for small aspect ratios. Numerical solutions are given for more extreme aspect ratios, such as those appropriate for cracks. Of particular note is that, for a given cross-sectional area, the rate of collapse is slower for larger aspect ratios. With minor modifications to the initial conditions and the boundary conditions, the analysis is also valid for cracks being opened by a pressurized fluid.
Measurement of the Friction Force Inside the Needle in Biopsy
Authors: Li Weisi , Wang Yancheng , Nteziyaremye Valens , Yamaguchi Hitomi , Shih Albert J.
Published: July 2015

Core needle biopsy (CNB) is widely used in active surveillance, which is the current standard of care for low risk prostate cancers. A longer biopsy sample length may improve the accuracy of diagnosis. To increase the biopsy sample length, the magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) technique was applied to decrease the needle inner friction force, which may hinder the tissue from entering the lumen of the biopsy needle. To assess the effectiveness of these MAF polished needles as compared to the unpolished needles, a method to measure the three components of axial force during hollow needle insertion—tip cutting force, inner friction force, and outer friction force—was developed. Six tissue-mimicking samples of different lengths were used to find the linear relationship between the sum of the cutting force and inner friction force and the phantom length or contact length. Linear regression method was used to extrapolate and estimate the tip cutting force and the inner friction force. With this method, the difference between the inner friction force of the needles with and without polishing was found. The results showed that the unpolished needles had an inner friction force 40–50% higher and a tip cutting force 22% higher than their MAF polished counterparts. We also found that MAF polished needles had an average of 9% longer contact length between the sample and the inner wall than unpolished needles, indicating that a longer sample can be extracted at a lower friction force. The results of our investigation implied that reducing the inner surface roughness of a biopsy needle could reduce inner friction forces.
Phase‐based vascular input function: Improved quantitative DCE‐MRI of atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: van Hoof R. H. M. , Hermeling E. , Truijman M. T. B. , van Oostenbrugge R. J. , Daemen J. W. H. , van der Geest R. J. , van Orshoven N. P. , Schreuder A. H. , Backes W. H. , Daemen M. J. A. P. , Wildberger J. E. , Kooi M. E.
Published: July 2015

Purpose:

Quantitative pharmacokinetic modeling of dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI can be used to assess atherosclerotic plaque microvasculature, which is an important marker of plaque vulnerability. Purpose of the present study was (1) to compare magnitude‐ versus phase‐based vascular input functions (m‐VIF vs ph‐VIF) used in pharmacokinetic modeling and (2) to perform model calculations and flow phantom experiments to gain more insight into the differences between m‐VIF and ph‐VIF.

Methods:

Population averaged m‐VIF and ph‐VIFs were acquired from 11 patients with carotid plaques and used for pharmacokinetic analysis in another 17 patients. Simulations, using the Bloch equations and the MRI scan geometry, and flow phantom experiments were performed to determine the effect of local blood velocity on the magnitude and phase signal enhancement.

Results:

Simulations and flow phantom experiments revealed that flow within the lumen can lead to severe underestimation of m‐VIF, while this is not the case for the ph‐VIF. In line, the peak concentration of the m‐VIF is significantly lower than ph‐VIF (p < 0.001), in vivo. Quantitative model parameters for m‐ and ph‐VIF differed in absolute values but were moderate to strongly correlated with each other [Ktrans Spearman's ρ > 0.93 (p < 0.001) and vp Spearman's ρ > 0.58 (p < 0.05)].

Conclusions:

m‐VIF is strongly influenced by local blood velocity, which leads to underestimation of the contrast medium concentration. Therefore, it is advised to use ph‐VIF for DCE‐MRI analysis of carotid plaques for accurate quantification.
Experimental and numerical study of the excitability of zero group velocity Lamb waves by laser-ultrasound
Authors: Grünsteidl Clemens M. , Veres István A. , Murray Todd W.
Published: July 2015

The excitability of zero group velocity (ZGV) Lamb waves using a pulsed laser source is investigated experimentally and through numerical simulation. Experimentally, a laser based ultrasonic technique is used to find the optical spot size on the sample surface that allows an optimal coupling of the optical energy into the ZGV mode. Numerical simulations, using the time domain finite differences technique, are carried out to model the thermoelastic generation process by laser irradiation and the propagation of the generated acoustic waves. The experimental results are in good agreement with the numerical predictions. The experimentally and numerically obtained responses of the plate are investigated by a short-time Fourier transform. The responses show that the source diameter does not affect the fundamental behavior of the temporal decay of the ZGV mode.
Passive acoustic source localization using sources of opportunity
Authors: Verlinden Christopher M. A. , Sarkar J. , Hodgkiss W. S. , Kuperman W. A. , Sabra K. G.
Published: July 2015

The feasibility of using data derived replicas from ships of opportunity for implementing matched field processing is demonstrated. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is used to provide the library coordinates for the replica library and a correlation based processing procedure is used to overcome the impediment that the replica library is constructed from sources with different spectra and will further be used to locate another source with its own unique spectral structure. The method is illustrated with simulation and then verified using acoustic data from a 2009 experiment for which AIS information was retrieved from the United States Coast Guard Navigation Center Nationwide AIS database.
Separate and Combined Effects of Caffeine and Sodium-Bicarbonate Intake on Judo Performance
Authors: Felippe Leandro C. , Lopes-Silva João P. , Bertuzzi Rômulo , McGinley Cian , Lima-Silva Adriano E.
Published: July 2015

The combined supplementation of caffeine (CAF) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) may have a potential ergogenic effect during intermittent-exercise tasks such as judo; however, its effect in this sport has not been tested.

Purpose:

To investigate the isolated and combined effects of CAF and NaHCO3 on judo performance.

Methods:

Ten judokas performed 4 supplementation protocols—NaHCO3, CAF, NaHCO3 + CAF, and placebo (PLA) (cellulose)—followed by 3 Special Judo Fitness Tests (SJFTs) interspaced with 5 min rest.

Results:

In the first SJFT, the combined supplement (NaHCO3 + CAF) resulted in a higher number of throws than with PLA (24.4 ± 0.9 and 23.2 ± 1.5 throws, respectively, P = .02). There was no significant difference between conditions for the 2nd SJFT (P = .11). In the 3rd SJFT, NaHCO3 and NaHCO3 + CAF resulted in more throws than with PLA (23.7 ± 1.6, 24.4 ± 1.0, and 22.0 ± 1.6 throws, P = .001 and P = .03, respectively). When the total throws performed in the 3 SJFTs were summed, they were higher than PLA only for NaHCO3 + CAF (68.8 ± 4.4 and 72.7 ± 3.1 throws, respectively, P = .003). Postexercise plasma lactate after each SJFT was higher in all experimental conditions than with PLA (P = .001). There was no significant difference in rating of perceived exertion across the conditions (P = .18).

Conclusion:

The results of the current study show that the combined supplementation of NaHCO3 + CAF increases judo performance compared with PLA.
Reliability of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
Authors: Thomas Christopher , Dos’Santos Thomas , Jones Paul A. , Comfort Paul
Published: July 2015

Purpose:

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the reliability of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) in semiprofessional soccer players.

Methods:

Fourteen male semiprofessional soccer players performed the 30-15IFT on 2 occasions separated by 7 d. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), typical error of measurement expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV), and smallest worthwhile change (SWC) to determine any significant difference between testing sessions.

Results:

Maximal intermittent running velocity (VIFT) demonstrated good reliability (ICC = .80) for between-sessions reliability. The CV was 2.5% for between-sessions reliability of the 30-15IFT. As the SWC (0.70 km/h) falls within the range in which the individual’s true score is likely to lie (1.0 km/h), the usefulness of the VIFT was rated as marginal. Despite the usefulness of the 30-15IFT being deemed marginal, a change in performance as small as 1.0 km/h (2 stages) in VIFT could be considered substantial or real.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that VIFT in the 30-15IFT is reliable, resulting in a reliable assessment of team-sport-specific cardiorespiratory fitness, with changes as small as 1.0 km/h (2 stages) in VIFT considered meaningful.
Improvement of Sprint Performance in Wheelchair Sportsmen With Caffeine Supplementation
Authors: Graham-Paulson Terri S. , Perret Claudio , Watson Phil , Goosey-Tolfrey Victoria L.
Published: July 2015

Purpose:

Caffeine can be beneficial during endurance and repeated-sprint exercise in able-bodied individuals performing leg or wholebody exercise. However, little evidence exists regarding its effects during upper-body exercise. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine on sprint (SPR) and 4-min maximal-push (PUSH) performance in wheelchair sportsmen.

Methods:

Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 12 male wheelchair rugby players (age 30.0 ± 7.7 y, body mass 69.6 ± 15.3 kg, training 11.1 ± 3.5 h/wk) completed 2 exercise trials, separated by 7–14 d, 70 min after ingestion of 4 mg/kg caffeine (CAF) or dextrose placebo (PLA). Each trial consisted of four 4-min PUSHes and 3 sets of 3 × 20-m SPRs, each separated by 4 min rest. Participants responded to the Felt Arousal (a measure of perceived arousal), Feeling (a measure of the affective dimension of pleasure/displeasure), and rating-of-perceived-exertion (RPE) scales. Salivary caffeine secretion rates were measured.

Results:

Average SPR times were faster during CAF than PLA during SPR 1 and SPR 2 (P = .037 and .016). There was no influence of supplementation on PUSHes 2–4 (P > .099); however, participants pushed significantly farther during PUSH 1 after CAF than after PLA (mean ± SD 677 ± 107 and 653 ± 118 m, P = .047). There was no influence of CAF on arousal or RPE scores (P > .132). Feeling scores improved over the course of the CAF trial only (P = .017) but did not significantly differ between trials (P > .167). Pre-warm-up (45 min postingestion) salivary CAF secretion rates were 1.05 ± 0.94 and 0.08 ± 0.05 μg/min for CAF and PLA, respectively.

Conclusion:

Acute CAF supplementation can improve both 20-m-sprint performance and a 1-off bout of short-term endurance performance in wheelchair sportsmen.
The Influence of Training Phase on Error of Measurement in Jump Performance
Authors: Taylor Kristie-Lee , Hopkins Will G. , Chapman Dale W. , Cronin John B.
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study was to calculate the coefficients of variation in jump performance for individual participants in multiple trials over time to determine the extent to which there are real differences in the error of measurement between participants. The effect of training phase on measurement error was also investigated. Six subjects participated in a resistance-training intervention for 12 wk with mean power from a countermovement jump measured 6 d/wk. Using a mixed-model meta-analysis, differences between subjects, within-subject changes between training phases, and the mean error values during different phases of training were examined. Small, substantial factor differences of 1.11 were observed between subjects; however, the finding was unclear based on the width of the confidence limits. The mean error was clearly higher during overload training than baseline training, by a factor of ×/÷ 1.3 (confidence limits 1.0–1.6). The random factor representing the interaction between subjects and training phases revealed further substantial differences of ×/÷ 1.2 (1.1–1.3), indicating that on average, the error of measurement in some subjects changes more than in others when overload training is introduced. The results from this study provide the first indication that within-subject variability in performance is substantially different between training phases and, possibly, different between individuals. The implications of these findings for monitoring individuals and estimating sample size are discussed.
Atrophy and Depigmentation After Pretibial Corticosteroid Injection for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome: Two Case Reports
Authors: Loopik Miette F. , Winters Marinus , Moen Maarten H.
Published: July 2015

Introduction:

No reports have been published on the results of corticosteroid injections for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS).

Case Presentation:

The authors present 2 cases of women with MTSS who showed atrophy and depigmentation of the skin after pretibial corticosteroid injections. Case 1 is an 18-y-old woman presenting with pain in her lower leg for 12 mo. No improvement was noticed after conservative treatment, so she received local injections with corticosteroids. Five months later physical examination showed tissue atrophy and depigmentation around the injection sites. Case 2 is a 22-y-old woman who presented with pain in both lower legs for 24 mo. Several conservative treatment options failed, so she received local injections with corticosteroids. Physical examination revealed tissue atrophy and depigmentation around the injection sites.

Conclusion:

No positive effect of injections with corticosteroids was found in 2 cases of MTSS. Furthermore, considerable tissue atrophy and hypopigmentation of the skin was observed.
Iterated Aluthge transforms of composition operators on H2
Authors: Jung Sungeun , Kim Yoenha , Ko Eungil
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we study various properties of the iterated Aluthge transforms of the composition operators Cφ and Cσ where φ(z) = az + (1 - a) and [Formula: see text] for 0 < a < 1. We express the iterated Aluthge transforms [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as weighted composition operators with linear fractional symbols. As a corollary, we prove that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are not quasinormal but binormal. In addition, we show that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are quasisimilar for all non-negative integers n and m. Finally, we show that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] converge to normal operators in the strong operator topology.
Critical fermion density for restoring spontaneously broken symmetry
Authors: Kleinert Hagen , Xue She-Sheng
Published: July 2015

We show how the phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry breakdown is affected by the presence of a sea of fermions in the system. When its density exceeds a critical value, the broken symmetry can be restored. We calculate the critical value and discuss the consequences for three different physical systems: First, for the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics, where the spontaneous symmetry breakdown leads to nonzero masses of intermediate gauge bosons and fermions. The symmetry restoration will greatly enhance various processes with dramatic consequences for the early universe. Second, for the Gell-Mann–Lévy [Formula: see text]-model of nuclear physics, where the symmetry breakdown gives rise to the nucleon and meson masses. The symmetry restoration may have important consequences for formation or collapse of stellar cores. Third, for the superconductive phase of condensed-matter, where the BCS condensate at low-temperature may be destroyed by a too large electron density.
A string-inspired model for the low-ℓ CMB
Authors: Kitazawa N. , Sagnotti A.
Published: July 2015

We present a semi-analytic exploration of some low-[Formula: see text] angular power spectra inspired by “brane supersymmetry breaking (BSB)”. This mechanism splits Bose and Fermi excitations in string theory, leaving behind an exponential potential that is just too steep for the inflaton to emerge from the initial singularity while descending it. As a result, the scalar generically bounces against the exponential wall, which typically introduces an infrared depression and a pre-inflationary peak in the power spectrum of scalar perturbations. We elaborate on a possible link between this phenomenon and the low-[Formula: see text] CMB. For the first 32 multipoles, combining the hard exponential with a milder one leading to [Formula: see text] and with a small Gaussian bump, we have attained a reduction of [Formula: see text] to about 46% of the standard ΛCDM setting, with both WMAP9 and PLANCK 2013 data. This result corresponds to a [Formula: see text] of about 0.45, to be compared with a ΛCDM value of about 0.85. The preferred choices combine naturally quadrupole depression, a first peak around [Formula: see text] and a wide minimum around [Formula: see text]. We have also gathered some evidence that similar spectra emerge if the hard exponential is combined with more realistic models of inflation. A problem of the preferred examples is their slow convergence to an almost scale-invariant profile.
CDD pole effects on the P33 channel of the Chew–Low model without crossing
Authors: McLeod R. J.
Published: July 2015

To better understand the role of CDD poles in modern field theories, we investigate the effects of CDD poles on the [Formula: see text] channel in [Formula: see text] scattering. We use the non-crossing Chew–Low model for this investigation. The Chew–Low model is the simplest phenomenological model of [Formula: see text] scattering. In the no crossing limit, the [Formula: see text] channel can be easily solved and displays the predominate [Formula: see text] resonance. It has been shown that the denominator function, used in the [Formula: see text] method of solution, is a generalized R-function. Our research centers on two investigations. The first is whether one can readily associate a CDD pole with the [Formula: see text] resonance. We find that one cannot, since the CDD pole forces the phases to disagree with the experimental values. The second investigation is into the nature of the redundant solutions one can generate by adding CDD pole to the denominator function. We find that the solutions with the added CDD pole cannot reproduce the phases of the original Chew–Low Model at low energies. Thus, there are no redundant solutions to this model. These results are contrary to what is generally assumed. We question the use of adding a CDD pole to produce resonances and the ideal that adding such poles do not effect the low energy phases.
Dimer–monomer model on the Towers of Hanoi graphs
Authors: Chen Hanlin , Wu Renfang , Huang Guihua , Deng Hanyuan
Published: July 2015

The number of dimer–monomers (matchings) of a graph [Formula: see text] is an important graph parameter in statistical physics. Following recent research, we study the asymptotic behavior of the number of dimer–monomers [Formula: see text] on the Towers of Hanoi graphs and another variation of the Sierpiński graphs which is similar to the Towers of Hanoi graphs, and derive the recursion relations for the numbers of dimer–monomers. Upper and lower bounds for the entropy per site, defined as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the number of vertices in a graph [Formula: see text], on these Sierpiński graphs are derived in terms of the numbers at a certain stage. As the difference between these bounds converges quickly to zero as the calculated stage increases, the numerical value of the entropy can be evaluated with more than a hundred significant figures accuracy.
A New Class of Chaotic Circuit with Logic Elements
Authors: Li Hongtao , Li Chunbiao , Yuan Zeshi , Hu Wen , Zhen Xiaochen
Published: July 2015

When signum operation is applied in chaotic systems to realize piecewise-linearity, the original nonlinearity turns to be a kind of Boolean calculation, and correspondingly the chaotic circuit can be implemented by an analog structure embedded with some logic-gate circuits. In this paper, as examples based on the diffusionless Lorenz system we proposed a couple of chaotic flows with signum piecewise-linearity, which experimentally resorts to digital gate circuits. The experimental chaotic circuit with logic elements was built, and the oscillation in the physical circuit agrees well with the numerical simulation.
A local wavelet transform on the torus T2
Authors: Wang Bao Qin , Wang Gang , Zhou Xiao-Hui
Published: July 2015

For the smooth surface M, the explicit construction of local flattening map p is given, where the bijection projection p is the local flattening map from a smooth surface M to a plane. By virtue of the inverse projection p-1, the local wavelet transform on M can be generated from wavelet transform on a plane. Take the torus T2for example, by using the local flattening map p of torus, the construction of the local dilation on the torus is systematically studied, the local wavelet transform formula on the torus is offered and the inverse transform formula of the local wavelet transform, that is, the reconstruction formula is also offered. Finally, we show the graphical representation of the local wavelet on the torus.
Convergence of eigenvalues to the support of the limiting measure in critical β matrix models
Authors: Fan C. , Guionnet A. , Song Y. , Wang A.
Published: July 2015

We consider the convergence of the eigenvalues to the support of the equilibrium measure in the β matrix models at criticality. We show a phase transition phenomenon, namely that, with probability one, all eigenvalues will fall in the support of the limiting spectral measure when β > 1, whereas this fails when β < 1.
Soter
Authors: Ye Yanfang , Li Tao , Shen Haiyin
Published: July 2015

In recent years, crimes against children and cases of missing children have increased at a high rate. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safety support systems to prevent crimes against children or for antiloss, especially when parents are not with their children, such as to and from school. However, existing children’s tracking systems are not smart enough to provide the safety supports, as they simply locate the children’s positions without offering any notification to parents that their children may be in danger. In addition, there is limited research on children’s tracking and their antiloss. In this article, based on location histories, we introduce novel notions of children’s life patterns that capture their general lifestyles and regularities, and develop an intelligent data mining framework to learn the safe regions and safe routes of children on the cloud side. When the children may be in danger, their parents will receive automatic notifications from the cloud. We also propose an effective energy-efficient positioning scheme that leverages the location tracking accuracy of the children while keeping energy overhead low by using a hybrid global positioning system and a global system for mobile communications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt in applying data mining techniques to applications designed for children’s safety. Our proposed techniques have been incorporated into
Soter
, a children’s safeguard system that is used to provide cloud service for smart bracelets produced by Qihoo. The case studies on real smart bracelet users of Qihoo demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods and
Soter
for children’s safety.
Extracting City Traffic Events from Social Streams
Authors: Anantharam Pramod , Barnaghi Payam , Thirunarayan Krishnaprasad , Sheth Amit
Published: July 2015

Cities are composed of complex systems with physical, cyber, and social components. Current works on extracting and understanding city events mainly rely on technology-enabled infrastructure to observe and record events. In this work, we propose an approach to leverage citizen observations of various city systems and services, such as traffic, public transport, water supply, weather, sewage, and public safety, as a source of city events. We investigate the feasibility of using such textual streams for extracting city events from annotated text. We formalize the problem of annotating social streams such as microblogs as a sequence labeling problem. We present a novel training data creation process for training sequence labeling models. Our automatic training data creation process utilizes instance-level domain knowledge (e.g., locations in a city, possible event terms). We compare this automated annotation process to a state-of-the-art tool that needs manually created training data and show that it has comparable performance in annotation tasks. An aggregation algorithm is then presented for event extraction from annotated text. We carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the event annotation and event extraction on a real-world dataset consisting of event reports and tweets collected over 4 months from the San Francisco Bay Area. The evaluation results are promising and provide insights into the utility of social stream for extracting city events.
A New Six-Parameter Model Based on Chebyshev Polynomials for Solar Cells
Authors: Lun Shu-xian , Sang Jing-shu , Guo Ting-ting
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a new current-voltage (I-V) model for solar cells. It has been proved that series resistance of a solar cell is related to temperature. However, the existing five-parameter model ignores the temperature dependence of series resistance and then only accurately predicts the performance of monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Therefore, this paper uses Chebyshev polynomials to describe the relationship between series resistance and temperature. This makes a new parameter called temperature coefficient for series resistance introduced into the single-diode model. Then, a new six-parameter model for solar cells is established in this paper. This new model can improve the accuracy of the traditional single-diode model and reflect the temperature dependence of series resistance. To validate the accuracy of the six-parameter model in this paper, five kinds of silicon solar cells with different technology types, that is, monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, thin film silicon, and tripe-junction amorphous silicon, are tested at different irradiance and temperature conditions. Experiment results show that the six-parameter model proposed in this paper is anI-Vmodel with moderate computational complexity and high precision.
Mean Platelet Volume and Splenomegaly as Useful Markers of Subclinical Activity in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Marzouk Huda , Lotfy Hala M. , Farag Yomna , Rashed L. A. , El-Garf Kamal
Published: July 2015

Objective. To study whether mean platelet volume (MPV) and splenomegaly could be used as subclinical inflammatory markers in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) at the attack-free period.Patients and Methods. The study included ninety-seven children with FMF. MPV was carried out within 4 hours of blood sampling according to standard laboratory practice. Splenomegaly was determined by abdominal ultrasound (USG).Results. High MPV was detected in 84.45% of our studied patients and was significantly higher in FMF patients with splenomegaly than in patients without splenomegaly. There was a statistically significant correlation between MPV and splenic span (P=0.045).Conclusion. Elevated MPV and its significant correlation with splenic span in FMF children during the attack-free periods support the use of MPV and splenomegaly as useful markers of the subclinical inflammation in FMF patients at the attack-free period.
The Difference between Growth Factor Expression after Single and Multiple Fractures: Preliminary Results in Human Fracture Healing
Authors: Binder Harald , Eipeldauer Stefan , Gregori Markus , Höchtl-Lee Leonard , Thomas Anita , Tiefenboeck Thomas M. , Hajdu Stefan , Sarahrudi Kambiz
Published: July 2015

Objectives.Circulating levels of VEGF-A (Vascular Endothelia Growth Factor-A), TGF-β1 (Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1), and M-CSF (Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor) were found to be predictors of bone healing and therefore prognostic criteria of delayed bone healing or nonunion. The aim of this study was to evaluate a potential rise of these markers in patients with multiple fractures of long bones compared to patients with single fractured long bone.Methods.92 patients were included in the study and finally after excluding all female patients 45 male patients were left for final analysis and divided into the single or multiple fracture group. TGF-β1, M-CSF, and VEGF-A serum levels were analysed over a time period of two weeks.Results.MCSF serum concentrations were higher in the group with multiple fractures as also TGF-β1 serum concentrations were at one and two weeks after trauma. No statistically significant difference was observed in the VEGF-A serum concentrations of both groups at either measurement point.Conclusion.We did observe a correlation between the quantity of the M-CSF and TGF-β1 expressions in serum and the number of fractured bones; surprisingly there was no statistically significant difference in the serum levels between patients with single and multiple fractures of long bones.
A Modified Cellular Automaton Approach for Mixed Bicycle Traffic Flow Modeling
Authors: Shan Xiaonian , Li Zhibin , Chen Xiaohong , Ye Jianhong
Published: July 2015

Several previous studies have used the Cellular Automaton (CA) for the modeling of bicycle traffic flow. However, previous CA models have several limitations, resulting in differences between the simulated and the observed traffic flow features. The primary objective of this study is to propose a modified CA model for simulating the characteristics of mixed bicycle traffic flow. Field data were collected on physically separated bicycle path in Shanghai, China, and were used to calibrate the CA model using the genetic algorithm. Traffic flow features between simulations of several CA models and field observations were compared. The results showed that our modified CA model produced more accurate simulation for the fundamental diagram and the passing events in mixed bicycle traffic flow. Based on our model, the bicycle traffic flow features, including the fundamental diagram, the number of passing events, and the number of lane changes, were analyzed. We also analyzed the traffic flow features with different traffic densities, traffic components on different travel lanes. Results of the study can provide important information for understanding and simulating the operations of mixed bicycle traffic flow.
Surgical Audit of Patients with Ileal Perforations Requiring Ileostomy in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India
Authors: Verma Hemkant , Pandey Siddharth , Sheoran Kapil Dev , Marwah Sanjay
Published: July 2015

Introduction. Ileal perforation peritonitis is a frequently encountered surgical emergency in the developing countries. The choice of a procedure for source control depends on the patient condition as well as the surgeon preference.Material and Methods. This was a prospective observational study including 41 patients presenting with perforation peritonitis due to ileal perforation and managed with ileostomy. Demographic profile and operative findings in terms of number of perforations, site, and size of perforation along with histopathological findings of all the cases were recorded.Results. The majority of patients were male. Pain abdomen and fever were the most common presenting complaints. Body mass index of the patients was in the range of 15.4–25.3 while comorbidities were present in 43% cases. Mean duration of preoperative resuscitation was14.73+13.77hours. Operative findings showed that 78% patients had a single perforation; most perforations were 0.6–1 cm in size and within 15 cm proximal to ileocecal junction. Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was seen in 29.2% patients. On histopathological examination, nonspecific perforations followed by typhoid and tubercular perforations respectively were the most common.Conclusion. Patients with ileal perforations are routinely seen in surgical emergencies and their demography, clinical profile, and intraoperative findings may guide the choice of procedure to be performed.
The Use of Epoxy Silanes on Montmorillonite: An Effective Way to Improve Thermal and Rheological Properties of PLA/MMT Nanocomposites Obtained via “In Situ” Polymerization
Authors: Sabatini Valentina , Farina Hermes , Basilissi Luca , Di Silvestro Giuseppe , Ortenzi Marco A.
Published: July 2015

Polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites were prepared via “in situ” ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide using a montmorillonite, Cloisite 15A, employed after surface treatment with 3‐Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The dispersion of the nanoparticles was checked using Wide Angle X‐Ray Scattering (WAXS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM); both the effects of different amounts of montmorillonite and silane were measured on molecular weights and on thermal and rheological properties, using Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and rheological analyses. It was found that even very low amounts (0.1% w/w) of nanoparticles greatly affect nanocomposites properties. Unmodified montmorillonite tends to decrease molecular weights, deactivating the catalytic system used for ROP of lactide, but when epoxy silane is present molecular weights increase. Melt crystallization temperatures increase with modified nanoparticles, which enhance crystallization process. TGA analyses show that when pure montmorillonite is present, nanocomposites have lower thermal stability with respect to standard PLA; when silane is used thermal stability can get much higher than standard PLA as silane content increases. The rheological behaviour of nanocomposites shows that melt viscosity is far higher than that of standard PLA at low shear rates and also a marked shear thinning behaviour can be achieved.
Assessing Risk of Fumonisin Contamination in Maize Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Levasseur-Garcia Cecile , Bailly Sylviane , Kleiber Didier , Bailly Jean-Denis
Published: July 2015

Fumonisins are major mycotoxins found worldwide in maize and maize products. Because of their toxicity for both human and animals, European Union regulations were created to fix the maximal fumonisin B1 and B2 content allowed in foods and feeds. Unfortunately, directly measuring these mycotoxins by current analytical techniques is tedious and expensive and most measurement methods do not lend themselves to online control. Alternative approaches to chemical analysis have been developed and involve models that allow the mycotoxin contamination to be predicted based on environmental conditions and analysis by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. In the present work, we use NIR spectroscopy to determine the fumonisin and fungal contents of 117 samples of maize. The determination coefficient between fumonisin and fungal-biomass content was 0.44. We establish herein a threshold for the number of CFUs for fungal biomass beyond which the fumonisin content is likely to exceed the European regulatory level of 4000 μg/kg. In addition, we determine the fungal content by using a NIR-spectroscopy model that allows us to sort samples of maize. Upon calibration, the percentage of well-classified samples was 96%, which compares favorably to the 82% obtained by independent verification.
Preparation, Characterization, and Pharmacological Activity ofCymbopogon winterianusJowitt ex Bor (Poaceae) Leaf Essential Oil ofβ-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes
Authors: Santos Priscila L. , Araújo Adriano A. S. , Quintans Jullyana S. S. , Oliveira Makson G. B. , Brito Renan G. , Serafini Mairim R. , Menezes Paula P. , Santos Marcio R. V. , Alves Pericles B. , de Lucca Júnior Waldecy , Blank Arie F. , La Rocca Viviana , Almeida Reinaldo N. , Quintans-Júnior Lucindo J.
Published: July 2015

This study aimed to evaluate the orofacial antinociceptive effect of theCymbopogon winterianusessential oil (LEO) complexed inβ-cyclodextrin (LEO-CD) and to assess the possible involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). The LEO was extracted, chromatographed, and complexed inβ-cyclodextrin. The complex was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry derivative (TG/DTG). Male Swiss mice (2-3 months) were treated with LEO-CD (50–200 mg/kg, p.o.), vehicle (distilled water, p.o.), or standard drug (i.p.) and subjected to the orofacial nociception formalin-, capsaicin-, and glutamate-induced. After the formalin test, the animals were perfused and the brains subjected to immunofluorescence for Fos. The rota-rod test (7 rpm/min) was carried out. Geraniol (37.57%) was the main compound of LEO. DSC and TG/DTG proved the complexation. The orofacial nociceptive behavior was significantly (p<0.05) reduced. The number of Fos-positive cells was significantly changed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (p<0.01), locus coeruleus (p<0.001), trigeminal nucleus (p<0.05), and trigeminal thalamic tract (p<0.05). LEO-CD did not cause changes in motor coordination in the rota-rod test. Thus, our results suggested that LEO-CD has an orofacial antinociceptive profile, probably mediated by the activation of the CNS without changing the motor coordination.
A Cumulative Rainfall Function for Subhourly Design Storm in Mediterranean Urban Areas
Authors: Carbone Marco , Turco Michele , Brunetti Giuseppe , Piro Patrizia
Published: July 2015

Design storms are very useful in many hydrological and hydraulic practices and are obtained from statistical analysis of precipitation records. However considering design storms, which are often quite unlike the natural rainstorms, may result in designing oversized or undersized drainage facilities. For these reasons, in this study, a two-parameter double exponential function is proposed to parameterize historical storm events. The proposed function has been assessed against the storms selected from 5-year rainfall time series with a 1-minute resolution, measured by three meteorological stations located in Calabria, Italy. In particular, a nonlinear least square optimization has been used to identify parameters. In previous studies, several evaluation methods to measure the goodness of fit have been used with excellent performances. One parameter is related to the centroid of the rain distribution; the second one is related to high values of the standard deviation of the kurtosis for the selected events. Finally, considering the similarity between the proposed function and the Gumbel function, the two parameters have been computed with the method of moments; in this case, the correlation values were lower than those computed with nonlinear least squares optimization but sufficiently accurate for designing purposes.
Quantification of Hepatorenal Index for Computer-Aided Fatty Liver Classification with Self-Organizing Map and Fuzzy Stretching from Ultrasonography
Authors: Kim Kwang Baek , Kim Chang Won
Published: July 2015

Accurate measures of liver fat content are essential for investigating hepatic steatosis. For a noninvasive inexpensive ultrasonographic analysis, it is necessary to validate the quantitative assessment of liver fat content so that fully automated reliable computer-aided software can assist medical practitioners without any operator subjectivity. In this study, we attempt to quantify the hepatorenal index difference between the liver and the kidney with respect to the multiple severity status of hepatic steatosis. In order to do this, a series of carefully designed image processing techniques, including fuzzy stretching and edge tracking, are applied to extract regions of interest. Then, an unsupervised neural learning algorithm, the self-organizing map, is designed to establish characteristic clusters from the image, and the distribution of the hepatorenal index values with respect to the different levels of the fatty liver status is experimentally verified to estimate the differences in the distribution of the hepatorenal index. Such findings will be useful in building reliable computer-aided diagnostic software if combined with a good set of other characteristic feature sets and powerful machine learning classifiers in the future.
The Benefits and Risks of Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Doh Young , Oh Kyoung Ho , Cho Jae-Gu , Kwon Soon-Young , Woo Jeong-Soo , Baek Seung-Kuk , Jung Kwang-Yoon
Published: July 2015

Objectives. This study evaluated the benefits of performing prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) with total thyroidectomy (TT) in management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients who were clinically node-negative at presentation.Methods.A total of 257 patients with stage T1 or T2 PTC and without preoperative evidence of lymph node involvement (N0) were enrolled in this prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) a total thyroidectomy (TT) group (n=104) or (2) a TT plus CND group (n=153). The two groups were compared for their perioperative data, complication rates, disease recurrence rates, and clinical outcomes.Results. The two groups of patients were similar in age, sex ratio, follow-up duration, and tumor size (P=0.227, 0.359, 0.214, and 0.878, resp.). The two groups showed similar rates of disease recurrence (3.9% in the TT group versus 3.3% in the TT plus CND group); however, complications occurred more frequently in the TT plus CND group; especially transient hypocalcemia (P=0.043).Conclusions.Patients treated with TT plus CND had a higher rate of complications with similar recurrence rate. We believe that CND may not be routinely recommended when treating patients with PTC.
Dual Energy Method for Breast Imaging: A Simulation Study
Authors: Koukou V. , Martini N. , Michail C. , Sotiropoulou P. , Fountzoula C. , Kalyvas N. , Kandarakis I. , Nikiforidis G. , Fountos G.
Published: July 2015

Dual energy methods can suppress the contrast between adipose and glandular tissues in the breast and therefore enhance the visibility of calcifications. In this study, a dual energy method based on analytical modeling was developed for the detection of minimum microcalcification thickness. To this aim, a modified radiographic X-ray unit was considered, in order to overcome the limited kVp range of mammographic units used in previous DE studies, combined with a high resolution CMOS sensor (pixel size of 22.5 μm) for improved resolution. Various filter materials were examined based on their K-absorption edge. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was used to simulate microcalcifications. The contrast to noise ratio (CNRtc) of the subtracted images was calculated for both monoenergetic and polyenergetic X-ray beams. The optimum monoenergetic pair was 23/58 keV for the low and high energy, respectively, resulting in a minimum detectable microcalcification thickness of 100 μm. In the polyenergetic X-ray study, the optimal spectral combination was 40/70 kVp filtered with 100 μm cadmium and 1000 μm copper, respectively. In this case, the minimum detectable microcalcification thickness was 150 μm. The proposed dual energy method provides improved microcalcification detectability in breast imaging with mean glandular dose values within acceptable levels.
Intelligent Vibration Control for High-Speed Spinning Beam Based on Fuzzy Self-Tuning PID Controller
Authors: Zhou Lanwei , Chen Guoping
Published: July 2015

Spinning structures play an increasingly prominent role in modern engineering. In order to suppress the inevitable vibration of a high-speed spinning flexible beam along the longitudinal direction, intelligent vibration controller is investigated. To design an intelligent vibration controller, the original system is reduced first using the internal balance model reduction method. A fuzzy self-tuning PID controller is further designed based on the reduced-order model. The results show that the reduced-order model derived from the internal balance model reduction method is a good approximation of the original system. In addition, the proposed controller is effective in suppressing the vibration and improves by about 22% compared with the traditional PID controller.
Modelling Optimal Control of Cholera in Communities Linked by Migration
Authors: Njagarah J. B. H. , Nyabadza F.
Published: July 2015

A mathematical model for the dynamics of cholera transmission with permissible controls between two connected communities is developed and analysed. The dynamics of the disease in the adjacent communities are assumed to be similar, with the main differences only reflected in the transmission and disease related parameters. This assumption is based on the fact that adjacent communities often have different living conditions and movement is inclined toward the community with better living conditions. Community specific reproduction numbers are given assuming movement of those susceptible, infected, and recovered, between communities. We carry out sensitivity analysis of the model parameters using the Latin Hypercube Sampling scheme to ascertain the degree of effect the parameters and controls have on progression of the infection. Using principles from optimal control theory, a temporal relationship between the distribution of controls and severity of the infection is ascertained. Our results indicate that implementation of controls such as proper hygiene, sanitation, and vaccination across both affected communities is likely to annihilate the infection within half the time it would take through self-limitation. In addition, although an infection may still break out in the presence of controls, it may be up to 8 times less devastating when compared with the case when no controls are in place.