bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studying the origin of fluorescence emissions of neodymium porphyrin based on the analysis of energy level structure
Authors: Hua Jianyu , Zang Lixin , Zhao Huimin , Liu Ting , Fan Ming , Chen Tong , Cao Zhengyu , Tian Ye , Zhang Zhiguo
Published: December 2017

This paper studies the origin of fluorescence emissions of metalloporphyrins. The absorption spectrum of neodymium-coordinated hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (Nd-HMME) was found to have four Q bands, which is different from the accepted knowledge (two Q bands). The absorbance of Nd-HMME was comparable to the corresponding absorbance of HMME at wavelengths of 538 nm and 572 nm, but the absorbance of Nd-HMME at wavelengths of 502 nm and 622 nm was approximately 1/30 of that at 572 nm. The doping of Nd[Formula: see text] enhanced the symmetry of HMME, and led to changes in energy level properties. Moreover, Nd-HMME still exhibited two fluorescence peaks at 624 nm and 686 nm, similar to HMME, which can be explained by the observation of a weak absorption peak of Nd-HMME at 622 nm.
Re-Examining the Rationale for Strategic Assessment: An Evaluation of Purpose in Two Systems
Authors: Hayes Samuel J. , Barker Adam , Jones Carys E
Published: December 2017

Strategic forms of impact assessment have seen increased application around the world since their conception. Expansion has produced considerable variation and this range of tools and processes can create practitioner confusion and blurred boundaries in practice. This research draws on empirical data from England and Scotland to examine different systems to understand how the purposes of strategic assessment are framed and to consider how purposes are translated into practice. Four key purposes of strategic assessment are examined; overcoming EIA shortcomings, strategic thinking, representation of the environment and consideration of sustainability. It is concluded that various scales (international, national, local and individual) influence how strategic assessment purpose is framed. We find that as multiple purposes come together they interact, with regulatory compliance potentially dominating. Strategic assessment is also found to be described as information provider, and excluded or distant from strategic thinking as part of plan formulation.
Detecting Hypernym/Hyponym in Science and Technology Thesaurus Using Entropy-Based Clustering of Word Vectors
Authors: Kawamura Takahiro , Sekine Motoki , Matsumura Katsuji
Published: December 2017

Thesauri for science and technology information are increasingly used in bibliometrics and scientometrics. However, the manual construction and maintenance of thesauri are costly and time consuming; thus, methods for semi-automatic construction and maintenance are being actively studied. We propose a method that expands an existing thesaurus with specified terms extracted from the abstracts of articles. Specifically, we assign the terms to certain subcategories by our novel clustering method based on information entropy for word vectors. Then, we determine the hypernyms and hyponyms based on their relations with terms in the subcategories. The word vectors are constructed from 177,000 IEEE articles archived from 2012 to 2014 in the Scopus dataset. In experiments, the terms were correctly classified into the Japan Science and Technology thesaurus with 83.3% precision and 71.4% recall. In future, we will develop a semi-automatic thesaurus maintenance system that recommends new terms in their proper relative positions.
Reasoning-Supported Robustness Validation of Automotive E/E Components
Authors: Novacek Jan , Viehl Alexander , Bringmann Oliver , Rosenstiel Wolfgang
Published: December 2017

This article presents an ontology-supported approach to tackle the complexity of the Robustness Validation (RV) process of automotive electrical/electronic (E/E) components. The approach uses formalized knowledge from the RV process and stress, operating, and load profiles, so-called Mission Profiles (MPs). In contrast to the error-prone industrially established manual procedure, we show how component characteristics are formalized in OWL in order to form the foundation of an efficient automated analysis selection and decision support during the RV process. Additionally, a rule-based transformation of component characteristics upon propagation via SWRL is described. The proposed approach is based on the idea of mapping MPs to an OWL representation in order to allow to execute semantic queries against MP data to improve their integration into the RV process. The resulting ontology-supported application framework has been applied to an industrial use-case from automotive power electronics. A generalization of the approach is described and demonstrated by applying it to stress test selection within the AEC Q100 standard. We present experimental results showing that the RV process can be significantly improved in terms of reduced design time and increased exhaustiveness by automating the analyses selection step and the provisioning of all the relevant data to be used.
A Formal Ontology for Describing Interactive Behaviors and Supporting Automated Testing on User Interfaces
Authors: Silva Thiago Rocha , Hak Jean-Luc , Winckler Marco
Published: December 2017

Nowadays many software development frameworks implement Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) as a mean of automating the test of interactive systems under construction. Automated testing helps to simulate user’s actions on the User Interface and therefore check if the system behaves properly and in accordance to scenarios that describe functional requirements. However, tools supporting BDD run tests on implemented User Interfaces and are a suitable alternative for assessing functional requirements in later phases of the development process. However, even when BDD tests can be written in early phases of the development process they can hardly be used with specifications of User Interfaces such as prototypes. To address this problem, this paper proposes to raise the abstraction level of both system interactive behaviors and User Interfaces by means of a formal ontology that is aimed at supporting test automation using BDD. The paper presents an ontology and an ontology-based approach for automating the test of functional requirements of interactive systems. We demonstrate the feasibility of this ontology-based approach to assess functional requirements in prototypes and full-fledge applications through an illustrative case study of e-commerce applications for buying flight tickets.
A useful quantitative model for determination of enantiomeric composition of racemate praziquantel by ultraviolet spectroscopy combined with partial least squares and its application to praziquantel tablets
Authors: Zhao Man , Meng Ran , Lu Yifang , Hu Lingyun , Sun Na , Nie Lei , Wang Haina
Published: December 2017

A simple and novel method has been proposed to determine the enantiomeric composition of racemate praziquantel (PZQ) by using the analysis of ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy combined with partial least squares (PLS). This method does not rely on the use of expensive carbohydrates such as cyclodextrins, but on the use of inexpensive sucrose, which is equally effective as carbohydrate. PZQ has two enantiomers. Through measuring the slight difference in the UV spectral absorption of PZQ due to different interactions between its two enantiomers and sucrose, the enantiomeric composition was determined by a quantitative model based on PLS analysis. The model showed that the correlation coefficients of calibration set and validation set were 0.9971 and 0.9972, respectively. The root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.0167 and 0.0129, respectively. Then, the independent data of PZQ tablets were also used to test how well the quantitative model of PLS predicted the enantiomeric composition. The ratio of S-PZQ in tablet was 0.492, determined by high-performance liquid chromatography as the reference value. Six solutions of the tablet samples were prepared, and the ratios of S-PZQ in tablet samples in the validation set were predicted by the PLS model. Their relative errors with the reference value were not more than 4%. Therefore, the established model could be accurate and employed to predict the enantiomeric compositions of PZQ tablets.
Monetary Policy Surprises over Time
Authors: Pericoli Marcello , Veronese Giovanni
Published: December 2017

We document how the impact of monetary surprises on euro-area and US financial markets has changed from 1999 to date. We use a definition of monetary policy surprises, which singles out movements in the long-end of the yield curve — rather than those changing nearby futures on the central bank reference rates. By focusing only on this component of monetary policy, our results are more comparable over time. We find a hump-shaped response of the yield curve to monetary policy surprises, both in the pre-crisis period and since 2013. During the crisis years, Fed path-surprises, largely through their effect on term premia, account for the impact on interest rates, which is found to be increasing in tenor. In the euro area, the path-surprises reflect the shifts in sovereign spreads, and have a large impact on the entire constellation of interest rates, exchange rates and equity markets.
Suppression of gut dysbiosis reverses Western diet-induced vascular dysfunction
Authors: Battson Micah L. , Lee Dustin M. , Jarrell Dillon K. , Hou Shuofei , Ecton Kayl E. , Weir Tiffany L. , Gentile Christopher L.
Published: December 2017

Vascular dysfunction represents a critical preclinical step in the development of cardiovascular disease. We examined the role of the gut microbiota in the development of obesity-related vascular dysfunction. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a standard diet (SD) ( n = 12) or Western diet (WD) ( n = 24) for 5 mo, after which time WD mice were randomized to receive either unsupplemented drinking water or water containing a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail (WD + Abx) ( n = 12/group) for 2 mo. Seven months of WD caused gut dysbiosis, increased arterial stiffness (SD 412.0 ± 6.0 vs. WD 458.3 ± 9.0 cm/s, P < 0.05) and endothelial dysfunction (28% decrease in max dilation, P < 0.05), and reduced l-NAME-inhibited dilation. Vascular dysfunction was accompanied by significant increases in circulating LPS-binding protein (LBP) (SD 5.26 ± 0.23 vs. WD 11 ± 0.86 µg/ml, P < 0.05) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (SD 3.27 ± 0.25 vs. WD 7.09 ± 1.07 pg/ml, P < 0.05); aortic expression of phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB) ( P < 0.05); and perivascular adipose expression of NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox ( P < 0.05). Impairments in vascular function correlated with reductions in Bifidobacterium spp. Antibiotic treatment successfully abrogated the gut microbiota and reversed WD-induced arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction. These improvements were accompanied by significant reductions in LBP, IL-6, p-NF-κB, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and were independent from changes in body weight and glucose tolerance. These results indicate that gut dysbiosis contributes to the development of WD-induced vascular dysfunction, and identify the gut microbiota as a novel therapeutic target for obesity-related vascular abnormalities.
Prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust PM2.5 causes offspring β cell dysfunction in adulthood
Authors: Chen Minjie , Liang Shuai , Qin Xiaobo , Zhang Li , Qiu Lianglin , Chen Sufang , Hu Ziying , Xu Yanyi , Wang Wanjun , Zhang Yuhao , Cao Qi , Ying Zhekang
Published: December 2017

Environmental stressors that encounter in early-life and cause abnormal fetal and/or neonatal development may increase susceptibility to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. Maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with various fetal abnormalities, suggesting that it may program offspring’s susceptibility to diabetes. In the present study, we therefore examined whether maternal exposure to diesel exhaust PM2.5 (DEP), one of the major sources of ambient PM2.5 in urban areas, programs adult offspring’s glucose metabolism. Female C57Bl/6J mice were intratracheally instilled with DEP or vehicle throughout a 7-wk preconceptional period, gestation, and lactation, and the glucose homeostasis of their adult male offspring was assessed. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) revealed that the maternal exposure to DEP significantly impaired adult male offspring’s glucose tolerance. Unexpectedly, it did not influence their insulin sensitivity, whereas it significantly decreased their glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS). This deficit in insulin secretion was corroborated by their significant decrease in arginine-induced insulin secretion. Histological analysis demonstrated that the deficit in insulin secretion was accompanied by the decrease in pancreatic islet and β cell sizes. To differentiate the effects of maternal exposure to DEP before birth and during lactation, some offspring were cross-fostered once born. We did not observe any significant effect of cross-fostering on the glucose homeostasis of adult male offspring and the function and morphology of their β cells. Prenatal exposure to DEP programs the morphology and function of β cells and thus homeostatic regulation of glucose metabolism in adult male offspring.
The serum metabolomics signature of type 2 diabetes is obscured in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Morris Jill K. , Piccolo Brian D. , Shankar Kartik , Thyfault John P. , Adams Sean H.
Published: December 2017

There is evidence for systemic metabolic impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases AD risk. Although studies analyzing blood metabolomics signatures have shown differences between cognitively healthy (CH) and AD subjects, these signatures have not been compared with individuals with T2D. We utilized untargeted analysis platforms (primary metabolism and complex lipids) to characterize the serum metabolome of 126 overnight-fasted elderly subjects classified into four groups based upon AD status (CH or AD) and T2D status [nondiabetic (ND) or T2D]. Cognitive diagnosis groups were a priori weighted equally with T2D subjects. We hypothesized that AD subjects would display a metabolic profile similar to cognitively normal elderly individuals with T2D. However, partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) modeling resulted in poor classification across the four groups (<50% classification accuracy of test subjects). Binary classification of AD vs. CH was poor, but binary classification of T2D vs. ND was good, providing >79.5% and >76.9% classification accuracy for held-out samples using primary metabolism and complex lipids, respectively. When modeling was limited to CH subjects, T2D discrimination improved for the primary metabolism platform (>89.5%) and remained accurate for complex lipids (>73% accuracy). Greater abundances of glucose, fatty acids (C20:2), and phosphatidylcholines and lower abundances of glycine, maleimide, octanol, and tryptophan, cholesterol esters, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins were identified in CH subjects with T2D relative to those without T2D. In contrast, T2D was not accurately discriminated within AD subjects. Results herein suggest that AD may obscure the typical metabolic phenotype of T2D.
Qingxuan Jiangya Decoction Mitigates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Regulating Transforming Growth Factor‐β1/Smad Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Wangyu , Lin Shan , Cai Qiaoyan , Zhang Ling , Shen Aling , Chen Youqin , Chu Jianfeng , Peng Jun
Published: December 2017

Qingxuan Jiangya Decoction (QXJYD) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in the clinical treatment of hypertension. Earlier studies had shown that QXJYD could inhibit the elevation of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and prevent remodeling of arterial vessels. This study examines the therapeutic efficacy of QXJYD against elevated blood pressure using the SHR model, as well as the mechanisms behind its antihypertensive activity and protection against renal fibrosis. The results showed that QXJYD significantly attenuated the increase in blood pressure in SHRs and mitigated the development of renal interstitial fibrosis. In addition, QXJYD also robustly decreased the excess accumulation of extracellular matrix and attenuated the elevated expression of MMPs. The antihypertensive effects and renal protection of QXJYD were determined to be strongly associated with inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway.
Geochemical Signature of Magmatic-Hydrothermal Fluids Exsolved from the Beauvoir Rare-Metal Granite (Massif Central, France): Insights from LA-ICPMS Analysis of Primary Fluid Inclusions
Authors: Harlaux Matthieu , Mercadier Julien , Bonzi Wilédio Marc-Emile , Kremer Valentin , Marignac Christian , Cuney Michel
Published: December 2017

The Beauvoir granite (Massif Central, France) represents an exceptional case in the European Variscan belt of a peraluminous rare-metal granite crosscutting an early W stockwork. The latter was strongly overprinted by rare-metal magmatic-hydrothermal fluids derived from the Beauvoir granite, resulting in a massive topazification of the quartz-ferberite vein system. This work presents a complete study of primary fluid inclusions hosted in quartz and topaz from the Beauvoir granite and the metasomatized stockwork, in order to characterize the geochemical composition of the magmatic fluids exsolved during the crystallization of this evolved rare-metal peraluminous granite. Microthermometric and Raman spectrometry data show that the earliest fluid (L1) is of high temperature (500 to >600°C), high salinity (17–28 wt.% NaCl eq), and Li-rich (Te<−70°C) with Na/Li ratios ~5. LA-ICPMS analyses of L1-type fluid inclusions reveal that the chemical composition of this magmatic-hydrothermal fluid is dominated by Na, K, Cs, and Rb, with significant concentrations (101–104 ppm) in rare-metals (W, Nb, Ta, Sn, and Li). This study demonstrates that primary fluid inclusions preserved the pristine signature of the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids in the Beauvoir granite but also in the metasomatized W stockwork, despite the distance from the granitic cupola (>100 m) and interaction with external fluids.
Microvessel Density in Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Perivoliotis Konstantinos , Ntellas Panagiotis , Dadouli Katerina , Koutoukoglou Prodromos , Ioannou Maria , Tepetes Konstantinos
Published: December 2017

Background. We conducted a meta-analysis, in order to appraise the effect of microvessel density (MVD) on the survival of patients with cutaneous melanoma. Methods. This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A systematic literature search in electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials) was performed. Fixed Effects or Random Effects model was used, based on the Cochran Q test. Results. In total 9 studies (903 patients) were included. Pooled HR for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 2.62 (95% CI: 0.71–9.60, p=0.15) and 2.64 (95% CI: 0.82–8.47, p=0.10), respectively. Odds ratios of overall survival between high and low MVD groups, at 12 (1.45, 95% CI: 0.16–13.24), 36 (2.93, 95% CI: 0.63–13.59), and 60 (4.09, 95% CI: 0.85–19.77) months did not reach statistical significance. Significant superiority of low MVD group, in terms of DFS, at all time intervals (OR: 4.69, p<0.0001; OR: 2.18, p=0.004; OR: 7.46, p=0.01, resp.) was documented. Discussion. MVD does not affect the HR of OS and DFS. A strong correlation with DFS rates at 12, 36, and 60 months was recorded.
Routing Optimization Algorithms Based on Node Compression in Big Data Environment
Authors: Yang Lifeng , Chen Liangming , Wang Ningwei , Liao Zhifang
Published: December 2017

Shortest path problem has been a classic issue. Even more so difficulties remain involving large data environment. Current research on shortest path problem mainly focuses on seeking the shortest path from a starting point to the destination, with both vertices already given; but the researches of shortest path on a limited time and limited nodes passing through are few, yet such problem could not be more common in real life. In this paper we propose several time-dependent optimization algorithms for this problem. In regard to traditional backtracking and different node compression methods, we first propose an improved backtracking algorithm for one condition in big data environment and three types of optimization algorithms based on node compression involving large data, in order to realize the path selection from the starting point through a given set of nodes to reach the end within a limited time. Consequently, problems involving different data volume and complexity of network structure can be solved with the appropriate algorithm adopted.
Acute, Nontraumatic Spontaneous Spinal Subdural Hematoma: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Rettenmaier Leigh A. , Holland Marshall T. , Abel Taylor J.
Published: December 2017

Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma (sSDH) is a rare condition outright. Moreover, cases that occur spontaneously in the absence of an identifiable etiology are considerably less common and remain poorly understood. Here, we present the case of a 43-year-old man with spontaneous sSDH presenting with acute onset low back pain and paraplegia. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging identified a dorsal SDH from T8 to T11 with compression of the spinal cord. Emergent T8–T10 laminectomies with intradural exploration and hematoma evacuation were performed. However, despite prompt identification and appropriate action, the patient’s recovery was modest and significant disability remained at discharge. This unique and unusual case demonstrates that spontaneous sSDH requires prompt surgical treatment to minimize associated morbidity and supports the association between the presence of severe neurological deficits upon initial presentation with less favorable outcomes. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of spontaneous sSDH of unknown etiology, which demonstrates that emergent surgical intervention is indicated for patients presenting with severe neurological deficits and the presence of these deficits is predictive of poor neurological outcome. Furthermore, conservative management should be considered in patients presenting with mild neurological deficits as spontaneous resolution followed by favorable neurological outcomes is often observed in these patients.
Impact of Probe Configurations on Maximum of Test Volume Size in 3D MIMO OTA Testing
Authors: Wang Weimin , Gao Huaqiang , Wu Yongle , Liu Yuanan
Published: December 2017

With the development of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology, the over-the-air (OTA) testing of MIMO capable devices with different sizes needs to be conducted for performance evaluation. The device under test (DUT) should be within a tridimensional test volume created by multiprobe configurations. Thus, determining the maximum size of test volume could be vital to test the DUT of different size and larger test volumes should be adopted to evaluate larger DUTs. All types of probe configurations including the fixed and the flexible probe configurations are investigated in this paper to address this issue. The maximum of test volume size (MTVS) is determined within the given error threshold of spatial correlation for a given probe configuration. Simultaneously, the impact of different probe configurations on MTVS is studied in order to obtain larger MTVSs. Simulation results show that larger MTVSs can be obtained by utilizing the optimal probe configuration with any given 3D channel model for 3D MIMO OTA testing.
DCT-Based HDR Exposure Fusion Using Multiexposed Image Sensors
Authors: Lee Geun-Young , Lee Sung-Hak , Kwon Hyuk-Ju
Published: December 2017

It is difficult to apply existing exposure methods to a resource-constrained platform. Their pyramidal image processing and quality measures for interesting areas that need to be preserved require a lot of time and memory. The work presented in this paper is a DCT-based HDR exposure fusion using multiexposed image sensors. In particular, it uses the quantization process in JPEG encoding as a measurement of image quality such that the fusion process can be included in the DCT-based compression baseline. To enhance global image luminance, a Gauss error function based on camera characteristics is presented. In the simulation, the proposed method yields good quality images, which balance naturalness and object identification. This method also requires less time and memory. This qualifies our technique for use in resource-constrained platforms.
Optimization of the Two Fishermen’s Profits Exploiting Three Competing Species Where Prices Depend on Harvest
Authors: Agmour Imane , Bentounsi Meriem , Achtaich Naceur , El Foutayeni Youssef
Published: December 2017

Bioeconomic modeling of the exploitation of biological resources such as fisheries has gained importance in recent years. In this work we propose to define and study a bioeconomic equilibrium model for two fishermen who catch three species taking into consideration the fact that the prices of fish populations vary according to the quantity harvested; these species compete with each other for space or food; the natural growth of each species is modeled using a logistic law. The main purpose of this work is to define the fishing effort that maximizes the profit of each fisherman, but all of them have to respect two constraints: the first one is the sustainable management of the resources and the second one is the preservation of the biodiversity. The existence of the steady states and their stability are studied using eigenvalue analysis. The problem of determining the equilibrium point that maximizes the profit of each fisherman leads to Nash equilibrium problem; to solve this problem we transform it into a linear complementarity problem (LCP); then we prove that the obtained problem (LCP) admits a unique solution that represents the Nash equilibrium point of our problem. We close our paper with some numerical simulations.
Correlation of Volatile Compounds and Sensory Attributes of Chinese Traditional Sweet Fermented Flour Pastes Using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Huang Meigui , Li Yulin , Zhan Ping , Liu Ping , Tian Honglei , Fan Jie
Published: December 2017

The aroma compositions, sensory attributes, and their correlations of various traditional Chinese sweet fermented flour pastes (SFFPs) were investigated. SFFPs, including LEEJ, LEEH, and XH6, showed high overall acceptance scores of 8.00, 8.21, and 7.50, respectively. Ninety-six volatile compounds were detected using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped SFFPs into three clusters according to their concentrations and compositions of volatile components. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed that volatile compounds, including ethyl phenylacetate, 5-methyl furfural, amyl cinnamal, ethyl myristate, decyl aldehyde, 1-phenylethyl acetate, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-buten-2-ol, butanoic acid, and caproaldehyde, were highly negatively correlated with saltiness, sourness, and bitterness, while they were positively correlated with sweetness, umami, richness, and acceptance. The obvious correlation between flavor profiles and sensory attributes could help online monitoring of SFFPs’ flavor quality during production.
Influences of Anlotinib on Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Rats Using a Cocktail Method
Authors: Sun Wei , Wang Zhe , Chen Ruimin , Huang Chengke , Sun Rui , Hu Xiaoxia , Li Wanshu , Chen Ruijie
Published: December 2017

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of anlotinib (AL3818) on pharmacokinetics of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C6, CYP2D1, CYP2D2, and CYP3A1/2) by using five cocktail probe drugs in vivo. After pretreatment for 7 days with anlotinib (treatment group) or saline (control group) by oral administration, probe drugs phenacetin, tolbutamide, omeprazole, metoprolol, and midazolam were administered to rats by oral administration. Blood samples were obtained at a series of time-points and the concentrations of five probe drugs in plasma were determined by a UHPLC-MS/MS method. The results showed that treatment with anlotinib had no significant effect on rat CYP1A2, CYP2D2, and CYP2C6. However, anlotinib had a significant inductive effect on CYP2D1 and CYP3A1/2. Therefore, caution is needed during the concomitant use of anlotinib with other drugs metabolized by CYP2D1 and CYP3A1/2 because of potential drug-anlotinib interactions.
Adaptive Ensemble Method Based on Spatial Characteristics for Classifying Imbalanced Data
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhao Lei , Gui Guan , Zheng Baoyu , Huang Ruochen
Published: December 2017

The class imbalance problems often reduce the classification performance of the majority of standard classifiers. Many methods have been developed to solve these problems, such as cost-sensitive learning methods, synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE), and random oversampling (ROS). However, the existing methods still have some problems due to the possible performance loss of useful information and overfitting. To solve the problems, we propose an adaptive ensemble method by using the most advanced feature of self-adaption by considering an average Euclidean distance between test data and training data, where the average distance is calculated by k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm. Simulation results are provided to confirm that the proposed method has a better performance than existing ensemble methods.
A Signal Processing Algorithm Based on 2D Matched Filtering for SSAR
Authors: Yang Shouguo , Li Yong , Zhang Kunhui , Liu Jianshe
Published: December 2017

This study discusses a smart radar antenna scanning mode that combines features of both the sector‐scan mode used for conventional radar and the line‐scan mode used for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and achieves an application of the synthetic aperture technique in the conventional sector‐scan (mechanically scanned) radar, and we refer to this mode as sector‐scan synthetic aperture radar (SSAR). The mathematical model is presented based on the principle of SSAR, and a signal processing algorithm is proposed based on the idea of two‐dimensional (2D) matched filtering. The influences of the line‐scan range and speed on the SSAR system are analyzed, and the solution to the problem that the target velocity is very high is given. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through computer simulations. The simulation results indicate that the proposed signal processing algorithm of SSAR can gather the signal energy of targets, thereby improving the ability to detect dim targets.
Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Children: Hospital Review in Selected Hospitals of Tanzania
Authors: Lekei Elikana , Ngowi Aiwerasia V. , London Leslie
Published: December 2017

Background. Acute pesticide poisoning (APP) is a serious problem worldwide. Because the burden of childhood APP is unknown in Tanzania, this study describes the distribution, circumstances, and patterns of APP involving children under 18 years in Tanzania. Methodology. A 12-month prospective study was conducted in 10 Tanzanian healthcare facilities in 2006 using a data collection tool for surveillance. Results. Of 53 childhood poisoning cases identified, 56.6% were female. The most common poisoning circumstances were accidents (49.1%) and suicide (30.2%). The most vulnerable children were 16-17 years old (30.2%). Suicide was significantly more common in females (PRR females/males = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.03–2.68) and accidental cases were more common in children aged 10 years or younger. Suicide was concentrated in children over 10 years, comprising 53% of cases in this age group. Organophosphates (OPs), zinc phosphide, and endosulfan were common amongst reported poisoning agents. The annual APP incidence rate was 1.61/100,000. Conclusion. APP is common among children in this region of Tanzania. Prevention of suicide in older children should address mental health issues and control access to toxic pesticides. Prevention of accidents in younger children requires safer storage and hygiene measures. Diverse interventions are needed to reduce pesticide poisoning among children in Tanzania.
Experimental and Clinical Applications of Chamaecyparis obtusa Extracts in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Cui Lian , Lee Hyo Seok , Li Ying , Choi Joo-Hee , Yun Je-Jung , Jung Ji Eun , Choi Won , Yoon Kyung Chul
Published: December 2017

Purpose. To investigate the effects of Chamaecyparis obtusa (CO) on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells, a murine experimental dry eye (EDE) model, and the efficacy of antioxidant eye mask in dry eye disease (DED) patients. Methods. 0.001%, 0.01%, and 0.1% CO extracts were used to treat HCE cells, cell viability, and production of antioxidative enzymes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed. Afterwards, CO extracts or balanced salt solution (BSS) was applied in EDE. Clinical and experimental parameters were measured at 7 days after treatment. In addition, DED patients were randomly assigned to wear either an eye mask containing CO extracts or a placebo. Clinical parameters were evaluated. Results. The viability of HCE cells and antioxidative enzyme expression significantly improved after treatment with 0.1% CO extracts. Mice treated with 0.1% CO extracts showed significant improvement in clinical parameters. During the trial, the clinical parameters significantly improved in the treatment group at 4 weeks after application. Conclusions. 0.1% CO extracts could promote the expression of antioxidative proteins and ROS production. In addition, an eye mask containing CO extracts could improve DED clinical parameters. These suggest that CO extracts may be useful as an adjunctive option for the DED treatment.
Autistic, Aberrant, and Food-Related Behaviors in Adolescents and Young Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome: The Effects of Age and Genotype
Authors: Ishii Atsushi , Ihara Hiroshi , Ogata Hiroyuki , Sayama Masayuki , Gito Masao , Murakami Nobuyuki , Ayabe Tadayuki , Oto Yuji , Takahashi Asami , Nagai Toshiro
Published: December 2017

The effects of age and genotype were examined, with regard to the severity of aberrant, autistic, and food-related behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), with an emphasis on the contrast between adolescents and young adults. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist Japanese version (ABC-J), the Food Related Problem Questionnaire (FRPQ), and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Society Japan Rating Scale (PARS) were administered to 65 PWS patients, including 20 adolescents (ages 12 to 17) and 45 young adults (ages 18 to 29). Significant differences (Mann–Whitney U tests) were found in ABC-J (p=0.004) and PARS (p=0.021), with lower scores in adolescents than in young adults. While DEL subgroups showed no significant differences between the two age groups in ABC-J (p=0.063) and PARS (p=0.134), mUPD subgroups showed a statistically significant difference in terms of ABC-J (p=0.007). No significant differences were found between adolescents and young adults, in terms of FRPQ (p=0.163). These results suggest that aberrant and autistic behaviors follow a marked worsening trend from around the age of 18. On the other hand, food-related behaviors give no sign of change at this transitory stage. Young adults with mUPD were found to be significantly more severe than adolescents with mUPD, in terms of aberrant behaviors.
The Optimal Timing for Pancreatic Islet Transplantation into Subcutaneous Scaffolds Assessed by Multimodal Imaging
Authors: Gálisová Andrea , Fábryová Eva , Sticová Eva , Kosinová Lucie , Jirátová Markéta , Herynek Vít , Berková Zuzana , Kříž Jan , Hájek Milan , Jirák Daniel
Published: December 2017

Subcutaneously implanted polymeric scaffolds represent an alternative transplantation site for pancreatic islets (PIs) with the option of vascularisation enhancement by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Nevertheless, a proper timing of the transplantation steps is crucial. In this study, scaffolds supplemented with plastic rods were implanted into diabetic rats and two timing schemes for subsequent transplantation of bioluminescent PIs (4 or 7 days after rod removal) were examined by multimodal imaging. The cavities were left to heal spontaneously or with 10 million injected MSCs. Morphological and vascularisation changes were examined by MRI, while the localisation and viability of transplanted islets were monitored by bioluminescence imaging. The results show that PIs transplanted 4 days after rod removal showed the higher optical signal and vascularisation compared to transplantation after 7 days. MSCs slightly improved vascularisation of the graft but hindered therapeutic efficiency of PIs. Long-term glycaemia normalisation (4 months) was attained in 80% of animals. In summary, multimodal imaging confirmed the long-term survival and function of transplanted PIs in the devices. The best outcome was reached with PIs transplanted on day 4 after rod removal and therefore the suggested protocol holds a potential for further applications.
Cosmology in the Universe with Distance Dependent Lorentz-Violating Background
Authors: Almeida C. A. G. , Anacleto M. A. , Brito F. A. , Passos E. , Santos J. R. L.
Published: December 2017

We consider a cosmological setup with inflaton in the presence of a redshift dependent Lorentz-violating time-like background to address the inflationary regime and other phases of the Universe. We also show that the regime of dark energy at large distances (low redshifts) is essentially dominated by the presence of the Lorentz-violating background.
Parameter‐Independent Dynamical Behaviors in Memristor‐Based Wien‐Bridge Oscillator
Authors: Wang Ning , Bao Bocheng , Jiang Tao , Chen Mo , Xu Quan
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a novel memristor‐based Wien‐bridge oscillator and investigates its parameter‐independent dynamical behaviors. The newly proposed memristive chaotic oscillator is constructed by linearly coupling a nonlinear active filter composed of memristor and capacitor to a Wien‐bridge oscillator. For a set of circuit parameters, phase portraits of a double‐scroll chaotic attractor are obtained by numerical simulations and then validated by hardware experiments. With a dimensionless system model and the determined system parameters, the initial condition‐dependent dynamical behaviors are explored through bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, and phase portraits, upon which the coexisting infinitely many attractors and transient chaos related to initial conditions are perfectly offered. These results are well verified by PSIM circuit simulations.
Convolutional Shallow Features for Performance Improvement of Histogram of Oriented Gradients in Visual Object Tracking
Authors: Wibowo Suryo Adhi , Lee Hansoo , Kim Eun Kyeong , Kim Sungshin
Published: December 2017

Histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) is a feature descriptor typically used for object detection. For object tracking, this feature has certain drawbacks when the target object is influenced by a change in motion or size. In this paper, the use of convolutional shallow features is proposed to improve the performance of HOG feature‐based object tracking. Because the proposed method works based on a correlation filter, the response maps for each feature are summed in order to obtain the final response map. The location of the target object is then predicted based on the maximum value of the optimized final response map. Further, a model update is used to overcome the change in appearance of the target object during tracking. A performance evaluation of the proposed method is obtained by using Visual Object Tracking 2015 (VOT2015) benchmark dataset and its protocols. The results are then provided based on their accuracy‐robustness (AR) rank. Furthermore, through a comparison with several state‐of‐the‐art tracking algorithms, the proposed method was shown to achieve the highest rank in terms of accuracy and a third rank for robustness. In addition, the proposed method significantly improves the robustness of HOG‐based features.
Supplementation of Micronutrient Selenium in Metabolic Diseases: Its Role as an Antioxidant
Authors: Wang Ning , Tan Hor-Yue , Li Sha , Xu Yu , Guo Wei , Feng Yibin
Published: December 2017

Selenium is an essential mineral naturally found in soil, water, and some of the food. As an antioxidant, it is one of the necessary trace elements in human body and has been suggested as a dietary supplement for health benefit. Although the human body only needs a trace amount of selenium every day, plenty of recent studies have revealed that selenium is indispensable for maintaining normal functions of metabolism. In this study, we reviewed the antioxidant role of nutritional supplementation of selenium in the management of major chronic metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, and hyperphenylalaninemia. Clinical significance of selenium deficiency in chronic metabolic diseases was elaborated, while clinical and experimental observations of dietary supplementation of selenium in treating chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and phenylketonuria, were summarized. Toxicity and recommended dose of selenium were discussed. The mechanism of action was also proposed via inspecting the interaction of molecular networks and predicting target protein such as xanthine dehydrogenase in various diseases. Future direction in studying the role of selenium in metabolic disorders was also highlighted. In conclusion, highlighting the beneficial role of selenium in this review would advance our knowledge of the dietary management of chronic metabolic diseases.
The Intelligent Healthcare Data Management System Using Nanosensors
Authors: Dorj Ulzii-Orshikh , Lee Malrey , Choi Jae-young , Lee Young-Keun , Jeong Gisung
Published: December 2017

We developed a design of Intelligent Healthcare Data Management System using nanosensors (IHDMS) and composed an application for mobile device. The proposed IHDMS will coordinate the healthcare data of the patients from nanosensors and transforms it into a worldwide consumed standard HL7 (Health Level Seven) for conversion of healthcare data. This converted data dispatches to a server of its system. The battery lifetime of the facility is feasible to increase, the memory usage is less than 100 KB, and it operates all data by employing few and far between resources. Moreover, the proposed system decreases the waiting time in the transposing data, and secured channel was used for the server of the healthcare center in the running HL7 format data.
A New Dynamic Multicriteria Decision‐Making Approach for Green Supplier Selection in Construction Projects under Time Sequence
Authors: Yin Shi , Li Baizhou , Dong Hengmin , Xing Zeyu
Published: December 2017

Nowadays, due to the lack of natural resources and environment problems which have been appearing increasingly, green building is more and more involved in the construction industry. The evaluation and selection of green supplier are a significant part of the development of green building. In this paper, we propose a new dynamic multicriteria decision‐making approach in construction projects under time sequence to deal with these problems. First, the paper establishes 4 main criteria and 17 subcriteria for green supplier selection in construction projects. Then, a method considering interaction between criteria and the influence of constructors subjective preference and objective criteria information is proposed. It uses the interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy geometric weighted Heronian means (IVIFGWHM) operator and multitarget nonlinear programming model to calculate the comprehensive evaluation results of potential green suppliers. The proposed method is much easier for constructors to select green supplier and make the localization of green supplier more practical and accurate in construction projects. Finally, a case study about a green building project is given to verify practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Chuna (or Tuina) Manual Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Lee Nam-Woo , Kim Gee-Heon , Heo In , Kim Koh-Woon , Ha In-Hyuk , Lee Jun-Hwan , Hwang Eui-Hyoung , Shin Byung-Cheul
Published: December 2017

Objective. To review the literature and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Chuna (or Tuina) manual therapy (C[T]MT) on pain and function for musculoskeletal disorders. Methods. We searched 15 English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean databases using relevant keywords. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of C(T)MT for musculoskeletal disorders were considered, and we limited analyses to studies with a low‐risk bias for randomization and/or allocation concealment. Results. Sixty‐six RCTs with 6,170 participants were included. One sham‐controlled RCT showed that C(T)MT relieved pain more effectively than a sham control (SMD −3.09 [−3.59, −2.59]). For active‐controlled RCTs, pooled meta‐analysis showed that C(T)MT had statistically significant effects on pain reduction, especially compared to traction (P < 0.00001), drugs (P = 0.04), and physical therapies (P < 0.0001). For functional improvement, combined effects of C(T)MT with drugs (P = 0.04) and traction (P = 0.05) also showed similar positive effects. Conclusions. This systematic review suggests that C(T)MT is safe and effective for pain reduction and functional improvement for musculoskeletal diseases; however, the evidence for functional improvement was not as strong as for pain reduction. For future studies, high‐quality RCTs such as sham‐controlled studies with standardized interventions are needed to provide sufficient evidence on the effects of C(T)MT for musculoskeletal diseases. Protocol registration number is CRD42016038307 04/07/2016.
Exact Solutions of a Class of Double-Well Potentials: Algebraic Bethe Ansatz
Authors: Baradaran M. , Panahi H.
Published: December 2017

Applying the Bethe ansatz method, we investigate the Schrödinger equation for the three quasi-exactly solvable double-well potentials, namely, the generalized Manning potential, the Razavy bistable potential, and the hyperbolic Shifman potential. General exact expressions for the energies and the associated wave functions are obtained in terms of the roots of a set of algebraic equations. Also, we solve the same problems using the Lie algebraic approach of quasi-exact solvability through the sl(2) algebraization and show that the results are the same. The numerical evaluation of the energy spectrum is reported to display explicitly the energy levels splitting.
Optimal Power Flow Using Gbest‐Guided Cuckoo Search Algorithm with Feedback Control Strategy and Constraint Domination Rule
Authors: Chen Gonggui , Qiu Siyuan , Zhang Zhizhong , Sun Zhi , Liao Honghua
Published: December 2017

The optimal power flow (OPF) is well‐known as a significant optimization tool for the security and economic operation of power system, and OPF problem is a complex nonlinear, nondifferentiable programming problem. Thus this paper proposes a Gbest‐guided cuckoo search algorithm with the feedback control strategy and constraint domination rule which is named as FCGCS algorithm for solving OPF problem and getting optimal solution. This FCGCS algorithm is guided by the global best solution for strengthening exploitation ability. Feedback control strategy is devised to dynamically regulate the control parameters according to actual and specific feedback value in the simulation process. And the constraint domination rule can efficiently handle inequality constraints on state variables, which is superior to traditional penalty function method. The performance of FCGCS algorithm is tested and validated on the IEEE 30‐bus and IEEE 57‐bus example systems, and simulation results are compared with different methods obtained from other literatures recently. The comparison results indicate that FCGCS algorithm can provide high‐quality feasible solutions for different OPF problems.