bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicological Implications of Platinum Nanoparticle Exposure: Stimulation of Intracellular Stress, Inflammatory Response, and Akt Signaling In Vitro
Authors: Labrador-Rached Claudia J. , Browning Rebecca T. , Braydich-Stolle Laura K. , Comfort Kristen K.
Published: October 2018

Due to their distinctive physicochemical properties, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) have emerged as a material of interest for a number of biomedical therapeutics. However, in some instances NP exposure has been correlated to health and safety concerns, including cytotoxicity, activation of cellular stress, and modification to normal cell functionality. As PtNPs have induced differential cellular responses in vitro, the goal of this study was to further characterize the behavior and toxicological potential of PtNPs within a HepG2 liver model. This study identified that a high PtNP dosage induced HepG2 cytotoxicity. However, lower, subtoxic PtNP concentrations were able to elicit multiple stress responses, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and modulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 dependent signal transduction. Taken together, this work suggests that PtNPs would not be overtly toxic for acute exposures, but sustained cellular interactions might produce long term health consequences.
On Solving of Constrained Convex Minimize Problem Using Gradient Projection Method
Authors: Sirirut Taksaporn , Tianchai Pattanapong
Published: October 2018

Let C and Q be closed convex subsets of real Hilbert spaces H1 and H2, respectively, and let g:C→R be a strictly real-valued convex function such that the gradient ∇g is an 1/L-ism with a constant L>0. In this paper, we introduce an iterative scheme using the gradient projection method, based on Mann’s type approximation scheme for solving the constrained convex minimization problem (CCMP), that is, to find a minimizer q∈C of the function g over set C. As an application, it has been shown that the problem (CCMP) reduces to the split feasibility problem (SFP) which is to find q∈C such that Aq∈Q where A:H1→H2 is a linear bounded operator. We suggest and analyze this iterative scheme under some appropriate conditions imposed on the parameters such that another strong convergence theorems for the CCMP and the SFP are obtained. The results presented in this paper improve and extend the main results of Tian and Zhang (2017) and many others. The data availability for the proposed SFP is shown and the example of this problem is also shown through numerical results.
Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the ICU: 3 Case Reports and Review of Literature
Authors: Lucero Pablo , Chapela Sebastián
Published: October 2018

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of diabetes mellitus, both type I and type II, as well as other types with diabetes such gestacional diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by blood glucose levels greater than 250 mg/dL and metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.3 and serum bicarbonate < 15 mEq/dL) with an increased anion gap and the presence of ketone bodies in the blood or urine. Within this pathology, there is a subgroup of pathologies which are characterized by being present with no signs of hyperglycemia, posing a diagnostic challenge due to the absence of the main sign of the pathology and the diversity of their pathophysiology. In this article, we will present 3 clinical cases with 3 different forms of clinical presentation: a case of DKA in pregnancy, a case of DKA associated with the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, and a third case related to sepsis, together with a narrative review of the literature on the topic.
A Modified RBF Neuro-Sliding Mode Control Technique for a Grid Connected PMSG Based Variable Speed Wind Energy Conversion System
Authors: Douanla Rostand Marc , Kenné Godpromesse , Pelap François Béceau , Fotso Armel Simo
Published: October 2018

A modified control scheme based on the combination of online trained neural network and sliding mode techniques is proposed to enhance maximum power extraction for a grid connected permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbine system. The proposed control method does not need the knowledge of the uncertainty bounds nor the exact model of the nonlinear system. Since the neural network is trained online, the time to estimate good weights can affect the dynamic performance of the process during the startup phase. Therefore an appropriate way to smoothly and explicitly accelerate the neural network rate of convergence during the startup phase is proposed. Furthermore, a flexible grid side voltage source converter control structure which can handle both grid connected and standalone modes based on conventional proportional integral (PI) control method is presented. Simulations are done in Matlab/Simulink environment to verify the effectiveness and assess the performance of the proposed controller. The results analysis shows the superiority of the proposed RBF neuro-sliding mode controller compared to a nonlinear controller based on sliding mode control method when the system undergoes parameter uncertainties.
The Role ofSauropus androgynus(L.) Merr. Leaf Powder in the Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Naturally Contaminated with Aflatoxin
Authors: Prakoso Yos Adi , Puspitasari  , Rini Chylen Setiyo , Aliviameita Andika , Salasia Siti Isrina Oktavia , Kurniasih  , Ikram Ahmad Fadhli Dzil , Walalangi Baristha , Utama Kukuh Priya , Al Huda Muhammad Fajar , Su’udiyah Neneng Ayu
Published: October 2018

Aflatoxin (AF) is the secondary metabolite ofAspergillus flavusand commonly contaminates feed during storage. AF causes lowered growth rate, stress, and increased mortality in the poultry, especially for broiler industries. The aims of this study are to determine the effects ofSauropus androgynus(L.) Merr. leaf powder (SAP) in the chickens fed a diet naturally contaminated with AF. A total of 108 chickens are divided into 6 group: group I fed with basal diet (AF not detectable); group II fed with basal diet (AF not detectable) + 5% SAP; group III with AF (>1 ppb <50 ppb); group IV with AF (>1 ppb <50 ppb) + 5% SAP; group V with AF (>51 ppb <100 ppb) + 5% SAP; group VI with AF (>101 ppb <150 ppb) + 5% SAP. The data of the body weight, feed intake and efficiency, the relative weight of liver, kidney, spleen, bursa of Fabricius (BF), histopathology, haematological profile, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer, AF residue, and immunohistochemistry are collected on days 7, 14, and 21. All the data were analysed using SPSS 16. The supplementation of 5% SAP in the chickens fed a diet naturally contaminated with AF showed the potential effects of the body weight performance, haematological profile protection, increase in the cellular and humoral immune responses, reduction of AF residue in the organ, protection of liver, kidney, spleen, and BF histopathology, and increase in the immune-expression of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes ratio (P < 0.05). It shows that 5% SAP can be used as the alternative herbal supplementation to depress the impacts of aflatoxicosis in the broiler chickens.
Solving Oscillatory Delay Differential Equations Using Block Hybrid Methods
Authors: Ahmad Sufia Zulfa , Ismail Fudziah , Senu Norazak
Published: October 2018

A set of order condition for block explicit hybrid method up to order five is presented and, based on the order conditions, two-point block explicit hybrid method of order five for the approximation of special second order delay differential equations is derived. The method is then trigonometrically fitted and used to integrate second-order delay differential equations with oscillatory solutions. The efficiency curves based on the log of maximum errors versus the CPU time taken to do the integration are plotted, which clearly demonstrated the superiority of the trigonometrically fitted block hybrid method.
Tuberculous Pachymeningitis Presenting as a Diffused Dural Thickening in a Patient with Chronic Headache and Recurrent Neurological Abnormalities for More than a Decade: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Fonseka C. L. , Kanakkahewa T. E. , Singhapura S. D. A. L. , Hewavithana J. S. , Kolambage L. P. , Herath H. M. M. , Pathirana K. D. , Weeraratna Thilak Priyantha
Published: October 2018

Background. Tuberculous pachymeningitis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis usually suspected from the detection of thickening of the dura in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Progressive nature of the disease can lead to chronic headache with focal neurological signs due to compression from the thickened dura. Case Report. We report a 40-year-old female who presented with chronic headache over a decade associated with recurrent neurological abnormalities including optic neuritis, hemisensory loss, migraine, facial nerve palsy, and recurrent vertigo. Although there was an initial perceived response to steroids, the patient had a subsequent progressive course. On investigations, she was found to have a diffused dural thickening on contrast MRI with a strongly positive Mantoux test with caseating necrotizing granulomatous inflammation on dural histology. With initiation of antituberculous medication with steroids, the patient markedly improved, and the medication for tuberculosis was continued for a year with good response. Conclusion. Primary tuberculous pachymeningitis should be suspected in a patient complaining of prolonged headache with focal neurological signs when MRI evidence of dural thickening is detected, and another focus of tuberculosis was not found. Prompt suspicion with image-guided dural biopsy for histology would help to confirm the diagnosis.
Multiobjective Optimization Approach for Robust Bridge Damage Identification against Sensor Noise
Authors: Ok Seung-Yong , Jung Sungmoon , Song Junho
Published: October 2018

One of the important goals of structural health monitoring is to identify structural damage using measured responses. However, such damage identification is sensitive to noises in the response measurements. Even a small change in the measurement may result in a significantly biased damage assessment. The goal of this paper is to expand the multiobjective optimization approach developed for robust damage identification in order to facilitate its applications to more realistic bridge damage identification problems. Specifically, a benchmark problem on highway bridges, developed under the auspices of International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS), is investigated. Various issues regarding sensor noises, multiple measurements, and loading scenarios are addressed to improve the robustness of bridge damage identification. A major finding from this study is that the stochastic process of Pareto optimal solutions obtained in a single run not only captures the actual damage locations successfully but also provides useful information such as damage‐detected ratio on the potential candidates for damage to be inspected on site. Moreover, it is shown through the success, failure, and partial detection rates that the robustness of the proposed approach can be improved by using appropriate excitation scenarios and multiple sets of measurement data.
An Enhanced User Authentication Protocol Based on Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem in Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Wang Chenyu , Ding Ke , Li Bin , Zhao Yiming , Xu Guoai , Guo Yanhui , Wang Ping
Published: October 2018

With the popularity of cloud computing, information security issues in the cloud environment are becoming more and more prominent. As the first line of defense to ensure cloud computing security, user authentication has attracted extensive attention. Though considerable efforts have been paid for a secure and practical authentication scheme in cloud computing environment, most attempts ended in failure. The design of a secure and efficient user authentication scheme for cloud computing remains a challenge on the one hand and user’s smart card or mobile devices are of limited resource; on the other hand, with the combination of cloud computing and the Internet of Things, applications in cloud environments often need to meet various security requirements and are vulnerable to more attacks. In 2018, Amin et al. proposed an enhanced user authentication scheme in cloud computing, hoping to overcome the identified security flaws of two previous schemes. However, after a scrutinization of their scheme, we revealed that it still suffers from the same attacks (such as no user anonymity, no forward secrecy, and being vulnerable to offline dictionary attack) as the two schemes they compromised. Consequently, we take the scheme of Amin et al. (2018) as a study case, we discussed the inherent reason and the corresponding solutions to authentication schemes for cloud computing environment in detail. Next, we not only proposed an enhanced secure and efficient scheme, but also explained the design rationales for a secure cloud environment protocol. Finally, we applied BAN logic and heuristic analysis to show the security of the protocol and compared our scheme with related schemes. The results manifest the superiority of our scheme.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Saudi Emergency Physicians toward t-PA Use in Stroke
Authors: Al Khathaami Ali M. , Aloraini Haya , Almudlej S. , Al Issa Haifa , Elshammaa Nourhan , Alsolamy Sami
Published: October 2018

Background and Objectives. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 4.5 hours from onset improves outcome in patients with ischemic stroke and has been recommended by several international guidelines. Since its approval in 1996, the debate among emergency physicians continues particularly around the result interpretation of the first positive randomized controlled trial, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) clinical trial. This lack of consensus might negatively affect the delivery of effective stroke care. Here we aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of Saudi emergency physicians toward t-PA use within 4.5 hours of onset in acute ischemic stroke. Methods. A web-based, self-administered, locally designed questionnaire was sent to all emergency physicians practicing in the city of Riyadh from January to September 2017. Results. Out of 450 emergency physicians, 122 from ten hospitals in Riyadh participated in the survey, with a 27% response rate. The majority of participants were men (78%), and their mean age was 40 ± 8 years. Half of the participants were board certified, and 36% were consultants. Half of the participants consider the evidence for t-PA use in stroke within 4.5 hours of stroke onset to be controversial, and 41% recommend against its use due to lack of proven efficacy (37%), the risk of hemorrhagic complications (35%), lack of stroke expertise (21%), and medicolegal liability (9%). Nearly half were willing to administer IV t-PA for ischemic stroke in collaboration with remote stroke neurology consultation if telestroke is implemented. Conclusion. Our study detected inadequate knowledge and a negative attitude among Saudi emergency physicians toward t-PA use in acute stroke. This might negatively impact patient outcome. Therefore, we recommend developing urgent strategies to improve emergency physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in the management of acute stroke.
Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema with Intravitreal Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Prompt versus Deferred Focal Laser during Long-Term Follow-Up and Identification of Prognostic Retinal Markers
Authors: Weingessel Birgit , Miháltz Kata , Gleiss Andreas , Sulzbacher Florian , Schütze Christopher , Vécsei-Marlovits Pia V.
Published: October 2018

Purpose. Long-term follow-up of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) combined focal laser and identification of prognostic morphological characteristics. Methods. Prospective clinical trial (50 treatment-naive eyes) with DME randomized 1 : 1 receiving intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) and prompt grid laser compared with ranibizumab and deferred laser. Morphological characteristics potentially relevant for prognosis were assessed at baseline, month 6, month 9, and years 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of follow-up. Results. Although functional results were slightly higher in the prompt group at week 12 (0.5; 20/40 Snellen (SD = 0.04, 0.3 logMAR) versus 0.4; 20/50 Snellen (SD = 0.04, logMAR: 0.4), p=0.4) and month 9 (prompt group: 0.5; 20/40 Snellen (SD = 0.03, 0.3 logMAR) versus deferred group: 0.4; 20/50 Snellen (SD = 0.04, 0.4 logMAR), p=0.4), these were statistically insignificant. There was no significant benefit regarding functionality during long-term follow-up in the prompt group compared to the deferred group. BCVA in the eyes with clusters of hyperreflective foci in the central macular region was inferior compared with the eyes without these alterations at year 5 (0.39; 20/50 Snellen, (SD = 0.25, 0.4 logMAR) versus 0.63; 20/80 Snellen (SD = 0.22, 0.2 logMAR), p<0.01). Conclusion. Grid laser and ranibizumab therapy are effective in DME management during the long-term follow-up. Intraretinal hyperreflective material in SD-OCT is negatively related to BCVA.
A Theoretical Consideration on the Estimation of Interphase Poisson’s Ratio for Fibrous Polymeric Composites
Authors: Venetis J. , Sideridis E.
Published: October 2018

An analytical approach on the evaluation of interphase Poisson’s ratio for fibrous composites, consisting of polymeric matrix and unidirectional continuous fibers, is performed. The simulation of the microstructure of the composite was carried out by means of a modified form of Hashin-Rosen cylinder assemblage model. Next, by the use of this three-phase model the authors impose some limitations to the polynomial variation laws which are commonly adopted to approximate the thermomechanical properties of the interphase layer of this type of polymeric composites and then propose an nth-degree polynomial function to approximate the Poisson’s ratio of this layer.
Evaluation of Wind‐Induced Response Bounds of High‐Rise Buildings Based on a Nonrandom Interval Analysis Method
Authors: Wei Xianglei , Xu An , Zhao Ruohong
Published: October 2018

The traditional wind‐induced response analysis of high‐rise buildings conventionally considers the wind load as a stationary stochastic process. That is, for a certain wind direction angle, the reference wind speed (usually refers to the mean wind speed at the building height) is assumed to be a constant corresponding to a certain return period. Combined with the recorded data in wind tunnel test, the structural response can be computed using the random vibration theory. However, in the actual typhoon process, the average wind speed is usually time‐variant. This paper combines the interval process model and the nonrandom vibration analysis method with the wind tunnel test and proposes a method for estimating the response boundary of the high‐rise buildings under nonstationary wind loads. With the given upper and lower bounds of time‐variant wind excitation, this method can provide an effective calculation tool for estimating wind‐induced vibration bounds for high‐rise buildings under nonstationary wind load. The Guangzhou East tower, which is 530 m high and the highest supertall building in Guangzhou, China, was taken as an example to show the effectiveness of the method. The obtained boundary response can help disaster prevention and control during the passage of typhoons.
Approximate Cubic Lie Derivations on ρ-Complete Convex Modular Algebras
Authors: Kim Hark-Mahn , Shin Hwan-Yong
Published: October 2018

In this article, we present generalized Hyers–Ulam stability results of a cubic functional equation associated with an approximate cubic Lie derivations on convex modular algebras χρ with Δ2-condition on the convex modular functional ρ.
Current Role of Chemotherapy in Nonmetastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Bhattacharyya Tapesh , Babu Geethu , Kainickal Cessal Thommachan
Published: October 2018

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is highly radio- and chemosensitive tumor with its unique clinical and biological behavior. Treatment of stage I disease is radical radiotherapy alone. For stage II disease treatment is radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. The standard of care for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (stages III-IVB) is concurrent chemoradiation. Optimum timing and sequence of chemotherapy are not yet well-defined. The role of adjuvant and induction chemotherapy is debatable. Here we are going to highlight the role of chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, its benefit, and controversies regarding timing and sequences.
School Engagement in Relation to Body Mass Index and School Achievement in a High-School Age Sample
Authors: Finn Kristin E. , Faith Myles S. , Seo Young S.
Published: October 2018

Purpose. Research has documented an inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and school achievement but has failed to empirically explain it. We tested whether this association among adolescents can be explained in part by student engagement.Methods. A self-report survey about health and school behaviors was completed by 196 high school students; BMI and achievement data were obtained from school records. Three forms of engagement were assessed: behavioral, presenteeism, and affective. Associations of engagement with BMI and achievement were examined, and mediation analyses were conducted.Results. The simple relationship between BMI and achievement was confirmed and demonstrated that BMI was negatively related to academic achievement. Higher BMI was also significantly correlated with lower classroom participation. Mediation tests showed the significant relationship between BMI and achievement was reduced after accounting for behavioral engagement but not affective engagement.Conclusions. These novel findings shed light on why heavier students often experience lower academic achievement. Intervention studies targeting barriers to classroom engagement among overweight and obese youth are needed so that their academic potential is not compromised.
Systems with Local and Nonlocal Diffusions, Mixed Boundary Conditions, and Reaction Terms
Authors: Bogoya Mauricio , Rossi Julio D.
Published: October 2018

We study systems with different diffusions (local and nonlocal), mixed boundary conditions, and reaction terms. We prove existence and uniqueness of the solutions and then analyze global existence vs blow up in finite time. For blowing up solutions, we find asymptotic bounds for the blow-up rate.
An Efficiency Control Method Based on SFSM for Massive Crowd Rendering
Authors: Lyu Lei , Zhang Jinling , Fan Meilin
Published: October 2018

For massive crowds, users often have the need for interactive roaming. A good roaming effect can make the user feel immersed in the crowd, and the scenes need to be populated with crowds of people that make the environment both alive and believable. This paper proposes a method of efficiency control for massive crowd rendering. First, we devise a state machine mechanism based on self-feedback, which can dynamically adjust the accuracy of crowd model rendering according to the relationship between the speed of the system rendering and the speed the users expect. Second, we propose a movement frequency update method to perform the frequency of motion update based on the distance between the individual and the viewpoint. In addition, we propose a variable precision point sampling drawing strategy to render the individual with different sampling precision. The state machine system in this paper effectively integrates two core technologies for dynamically controlling the accuracy of the model, ensuring visual efficiency, improving the rendering efficiency, and satisfying the fluency of users’ roaming interaction.
Anti‐Angiogenic Alternative and Complementary Medicines for the Treatment of Endometriosis: A Review of Potential Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Zheng Weilin , Cao Lixing , Xu Zheng , Ma Yuanyuan , Liang Xuefang
Published: October 2018

Endometriosis is caused by the growth or infiltration of endometrial tissues outside of the endometrium and myometrium. Symptoms include pain and infertility. Surgery and hormonal therapy are widely used in Western medicine for the treatment of endometriosis; however, the side effects associated with this practice include disease recurrence and menopause, which can severely influence quality of life. Angiogenesis is the main biological mechanism underlying the development of endometriosis. Numerous natural products and Chinese medicines with potent anti‐angiogenic effects have been investigated, and the molecular basis underlying their therapeutic effects in endometriosis has been explored. This review aims to describe natural products and compounds that suppress angiogenesis associated with endometriosis and to assess their diverse molecular mechanisms of action. Furthermore, this review provides a source of information relating to alternative and complementary therapeutic products that mediate anti‐angiogenesis. An extensive review of the literature and electronic databases, such as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and Embase, was conducted using the keywords ‘endometriosis,’ ‘traditional Chinese medicine,’ ‘Chinese herbal medicine,’ ‘natural compounds,’ and ‘anti‐angiogenic’ therapy. Anti‐angiogenic therapy is an emerging strategy for the treatment of endometriosis. Natural anti‐angiogenic products and Chinese medicines provide several beneficial clinical effects, including pain relief. In this review, we summarize clinical trials and experimental studies of endometriosis using natural products and Chinese medicines. In particular, we focus on anti‐angiogenic products and alternative and complementary medicines for the treatment of endometriosis and additionally examine their therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action. Anti‐angiogenic natural products and/or compounds provide a new approach for the treatment of endometriosis. Future work will require randomized trials with larger numbers of subjects, as well as long‐term follow‐up to confirm the findings described here.
Evaluation of Assembly Gap from 3D Laser Measurements via FEA Simulation
Authors: Liu Xueshu , Chang Junhao , Yang Yuxing , Wang Yiqi , Bao Yongjie , Gao Hang
Published: October 2018

Due to the compliance and geometrical defects of composite parts, gaps exist between assembly components after the preassembly. Assembly requirements impose to fill these gaps to eliminate any unexpected internal stresses. Although it is identified as a problematic and expensive nonadded value stage, a gap measurement is still needed. This paper develops a numerical process for gap prediction before the assembly step. After the assembly components are scanned in a specified configuration, finite element meshes are created using the scanned data and the shape variations of each component caused by constraints and forces in different configurations are evaluated by finite element analysis. Assembly gaps are finally assessed by assembling the simulated preassembly shapes of all components. The feasibility of the proposed method is proved by an experiment.
Advanced Biventricular Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Leading to the Formation of a Gastric Bezoar: The Implications of Heart Failure on the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Yunina Daria , Sharma Dikshya , Fazio Richard , Amin Hossam , Tsirlin Yuriy , Shetty Vijay
Published: October 2018

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic disease process affecting multiple organ systems and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 43-year-old male with a history of unspecified cardiomyopathy who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain, distention, and nausea for 4 months. He was diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction and gastroparesis. While symptoms of dyspnea, orthopnea, or increasing peripheral edema are the first that come to mind when thinking of a CHF exacerbation, we must broaden our scope to include such things as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloating which can also indicate worsening cardiac function. This case report highlights the significant yet often forgotten gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that result from advanced biventricular heart failure, with emphasis on impaired gastric and intestinal motility.
Neurospace Mapping Modeling for Packaged Transistors
Authors: Yan Shuxia , Jin Xiaoyi , Zhang Yaoqian , Shi Weiguang , Wen Jia
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a novel Neurospace Mapping (Neuro-SM) method for packaged transistor modeling. A new structure consisting of the input package module, the nonlinear module, the output package module, and the S-Matrix calculation module is proposed for the first time. The proposed method can develop the model only using the terminal signals, instead of the internal and physical structure information of the transistors. An advanced training method utilizing the different parameters to adjust the different characteristics of the packaged transistors is developed to make the proposed model match the device data efficiently and accurately. Measured data of radio frequency (RF) power laterally diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor are used to verify the capability of the proposed Neuro-SM method. The results demonstrate that the novel Neuro-SM model is more accurate and efficient than existing device models.
The Impact of Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain: Costs and Patients’ Burden
Authors: Geurts José W. , Willems Paul C. , Kallewaard Jan-Willem , van Kleef Maarten , Dirksen Carmen
Published: October 2018

Introduction. Chronic discogenic low back pain (CDP) is frequently diagnosed in patients referred to specialized pain clinics for their back pain. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of CDP both on the individual patient and on society.Materials and Methods. Using the baseline records of 80 patients in a randomized trial assessing the effectiveness of a new intervention for CDP, healthcare and societal costs related to back pain are calculated. Furthermore, the impact of the condition on perceived pain, disability, health-related quality of life, Quality of life Adjusted Life Years (QALY), and QALY loss is assessed.Results. Using the friction costs approach, we found that the annual costs for society are €7,911.95 per CDP patient, 51% healthcare and 49% societal costs. When using the human capital approach, total costs were €18,940.58, 22% healthcare and 78% societal costs. Healthcare costs were mainly related to pain treatment. Mean pain severity was 6.5 (0–10), and 46% suffered from severe pain (≥7/10). Mean physical limitations rate was 43.7; 13.5% of the patients were very limited to disabled. QALY loss compared to a healthy population was 64%.Discussion. This study shows that in patients with CDP referred to a pain clinic, costs for society are high and the most used healthcare resources are pain therapies. Patients suffer severe pain, are physically limited, and experience a serious loss in quality of life.
Optimal Trade Execution under Jump Diffusion Process: A Mean-VaR Approach
Authors: Zhou Tianmin , Jia Can , Li Handong
Published: October 2018

In the classical optimal execution problem, the basic assumption of underlying asset price is Arithmetic Brownian Motion (ABM) or Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM). However, many empirical researches show that the return distribution of assets may have heavy tails than those of normal distribution. The uncertain information impact on financial market may be considered as one of the main reasons for heavy tails of return distribution. To introduce this information impact, our paper proposes a Jump Diffusion model for optimal execution problem. The jumps in our model are described by the compound Poisson process where random jump amplitude depicts the information impact on price process. In particular, the model is simple enough to derive closed-form strategies under risk neutral and Mean-VaR criterion. Simulation analysis of the model is also presented.
An Approach to Determining Attribute Weights Based on Integrating Preference Information on Attributes with Decision Matrix
Authors: Zhang Quan , Xiu HongWei
Published: October 2018

The interval multiple attribute decision-making problems are studied in this paper, where the preference information on attributes is expressed with preference orderings, linguistic terms, interval numbers, and inequality constraints among partial attribute weights. An approach is proposed to determine the attribute weights based on the preference information on attributes and the interval decision matrix. Firstly, preference orderings, linguistic terms, and interval numbers are normalized and aggregated into the group opinions, based on which an optimization model is set up to calculate the subjective attribute weights by including inequality constraints among partial attribute weights in the model. Then, based on the interval decision matrix, the entropy method is adopted to calculate the objective attribute weights, which is integrated with the subjective weights so that both the subjective preference information and the objective information in the decision matrix are reflected. Finally, an example is used to illustrate the proposed approach.
A Cost Function Approach to the Prediction of Passenger Distribution at the Subway Platform
Authors: Yang Xiaoxia , Yang Xiaoli , Wang Zhenling , Kang Yuanlei
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes a cost function approach to predict the passenger distribution at the platform, which is contributed to provide services to the passenger safety and convenience and also an efficient use of the subway platform. According to the limited observation and field data collection of Beijing Xuanwumen subway station, passenger behaviors and basic attributes at the platform are analyzed. Based on the analysis and investigation, factors including the distance to the waiting area, the passenger density in the visual field, and the length of the waiting area occupied by passengers are put forward as important factors to affect the choice of the waiting area. The determination of the real-time choice defined by these factors is applied to model the passengers’ waiting area choice behaviors. Simulation experiments are run for the model calibration and validation combining with the collected field data. The results show that the passenger distribution which arises from the model is capable of keeping consistent with the actual distribution in the rough. The model is helpful for controlling how heavy carriages are congested and providing suggestions to optimize the layout of platform facilities.
Lung Ultrasound Is Accurate for the Diagnosis of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema: A Prospective Study
Authors: Yang Weibo , Wang Yuliang , Qiu Zewu , Huang Xuewen , Lv Maoxia , Liu Bin , Yang Dingzhou , Yang Zhenhan , Xie Tingshan
Published: October 2018

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasonography (LUS) for high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Background. LUS has proven to be a reliable tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases, including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and pneumothorax. LUS also has potential for the diagnosis of HAPE. However, the actual diagnostic value of LUS for HAPE is still unknown. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of using LUS for the diagnosis of HAPE. Materials and Methods. A prospective clinical research study of adult HAPE patients was conducted. LUS and chest X-ray (CXR) were performed in patients with suspected HAPE before and after treatment, and pulmonary moist rales were recorded concurrently. The diagnostic value of LUS, CXR, and moist rales for HAPE (i.e., their sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values) were assessed, and the results were compared. The gold standard was the final diagnosis. Results. In total, 148 patients were enrolled in the study, 126 of which were diagnosed with HAPE (85.14%). Before treatment, the diagnostic accuracy of LUS for HAPE was as follows: sensitivity, 98.41% (95% confidence interval (CI) 100.60–96.23%); specificity, 90.91% (95% CI 102.92–78.90%). LUS had higher sensitivity (0.98 vs. 0.81, P<0.01 using the McNemar test) than moist rales for the diagnosis of HAPE. LUS also had higher sensitivity than CXR (0.98 vs. 0.93, P<0.05 using the McNemar test). After treatment, LUS was consistent with CXR in 96.55% of HAPE patients, and the concordance between LUS and CXR was high (k statistic = 0.483 P≤0.001; 95% CI −0.021 to −0.853). Conclusion. The results indicate that LUS is a reliable method for the diagnosis and surveillance of HAPE. This trial is registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-DDD-16009841).
Improvement of Low-Frequency Radiated Emission in Electric Vehicle by Numerical Analysis
Authors: Gao Feng , Ye Chengkai , Wang Zilong , Li Xu
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a methodology for improving vehicle-level radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI) in electric vehicle (EV) is proposed. This methodology predicts vehicle-level radiated EMI by using the multiport network theory, based on analyzing the contribution from each electronic component to find out the main EMI source. To validate its effectiveness, the proposed methodology is applied in an actual EV for low-frequency radiated emissions. Simulation in a commercially available electromagnetics software and measurement in the EV are combined to predict the vehicle-level emissions, and then the electronic component with the greatest EMI that causes failure to meet the EMC standard is identified. After improving this component, the vehicle-level radiated emission is reduced to comply with the EMC standard, proving that the presented numerical method is effective. The proposed methodology can also be used in other EMC issues, regardless of the amount of interference sources and sensitive equipment.
Experimental Studies of Single‐Layer Reticulated Domes with Isolated Supports
Authors: Nie Guibo , Liu Kun
Published: October 2018

To study the seismic behavior of a single‐layer reticulated dome subjected to severe earthquakes, a series of shaking table tests were conducted for this paper. Seismic responses including the acceleration, displacement, and strains gathered at the members and nodes were discussed. The dynamic characteristics, including structure frequencies and damping ratio, were obtained through the results under the input excitation of white noise and the fast sine sweeping with different amplitudes. Various isolation devices usually installed in the upper portion of the structures have been widely used to reduce the dynamic responses for more than three decades. However, these isolation devices deal mostly with either horizontal isolation or vertical isolation, which is not applicable for synchronous isolation in both horizontal and vertical isolation. Therefore, an innovative isolated support for three‐dimensional isolation was invented. In order to understand the earthquake‐isolation effects of a single‐layer reticulated dome with the isolated support, a series of shaking table tests were conducted. The dynamic behavior of the structure was then investigated and discussed using the acceleration and displacement responses of the tested structures with or without the isolated supports. The experimental results show that the isolated support invented in this study had a remarkable earthquake‐isolation action in both horizontal and vertical isolation.
Incomplete Multiview Clustering via Late Fusion
Authors: Ye Yongkai , Liu Xinwang , Liu Qiang , Guo Xifeng , Yin Jianping
Published: October 2018

In real-world applications of multiview clustering, some views may be incomplete due to noise, sensor failure, etc. Most existing studies in the field of incomplete multiview clustering have focused on early fusion strategies, for example, learning subspace from multiple views. However, these studies overlook the fact that clustering results with the visible instances in each view could be reliable under the random missing assumption; accordingly, it seems that learning a final clustering decision via late fusion of the clustering results from incomplete views would be more natural. To this end, we propose a late fusion method for incomplete multiview clustering. More specifically, the proposed method performs kernel k-means clustering on the visible instances in each view and then performs a late fusion of the clustering results from different views. In the late fusion step of the proposed method, we encode each view’s clustering result as a zero-one matrix, of which each row serves as a compressed representation of the corresponding instance. We then design an alternate updating algorithm to learn a unified clustering decision that can best group the visible compressed representations in each view according to the k-means clustering objective. We compare the proposed method with several commonly used imputation methods and a representative early fusion method on six benchmark datasets. The superior clustering performance observed validates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Low‐Complexity Estimation for Spatially Modulated Physical‐Layer Network Coding Systems
Authors: Nguyen Huu Minh , Tran Xuan Nam , Pham Van Bien , Nguyen Cong Dinh
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes a low‐complexity signal estimator at the relay node for a spatially modulated physical‐layer network coding system. In the considered system, the two terminal nodes use spatial modulation to transmit their signals to the relay node during the multiple access phase. Based on the channel quantization method, we propose a low‐complexity estimator which can detect both antenna indices and M‐QAM symbols using successive interference cancellation (SIC). Moreover, we design signal constellations for a combined signal component at the relay for arbitrary M‐QAM modulation. The obtained constellations allow further reduction of the computational complexity of the estimator. Performance evaluations show that the proposed estimator can achieve near‐optimal error performance while requiring significantly less computational complexity compared with the maximum‐likelihood detector, particularly with high‐order modulation.
The Quantified Athlete: Associations of Wearables for High School Athletes
Authors: Ng Kwok , Ryba Tatiana
Published: October 2018

The adoption of wearable technology in competitive sports can be an advantage to performance and training. Athletes who use personalised data to quantify their performances with the possibilities of sharing with others may use wearables to reinforce the athletic identity. Despite these changes, few studies have actually examined the associations between wearables and developing athletes in their quest for professional sports. Student athletes (n = 437, age = 17y) still in high schools completed a web-based survey about their professional aspirations, athletic identity, and the association with wearables. Wearables were measured by ownership and usage of apps, fitness trackers, or sports watches. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Most high school athletes had apps (64.3%) or fitness trackers (65.2%) and over half of the athletes (58%) had aspirations for professional sport. Athletic identity was positively associated with ownership and usage of apps and fitness trackers. The OR was greater for professional sport aspiration with fitness trackers owners (OR = 2.60, CI = 1.44-4.73) and users (OR = 4.04, CI = 2.09-7.81) than athletes without fitness trackers. Wearables were common among high school athletes and it was part of their athletic identity. For professional aspiring athletes, wearables have the potential to help provide data to support suitable training and competition schedules at a time when students may be overloaded with academic pressures.
Gestational Weight Gain Intervention Impacts Determinants of Healthy Eating and Exercise in Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women
Authors: Pauley Abigail M. , Hohman Emily , Savage Jennifer S. , Rivera Daniel E. , Guo Penghong , Leonard Krista S. , Symons Downs Danielle
Published: October 2018

High gestational weight gain (GWG) in overweight/obese pregnant women increases maternal-fetal complications. We conducted a 6-week GWG intervention based on an energy balance model that includes theories of planned behavior (TPB) and self-regulation constructs to promote exercise and healthy eating motivation and behaviors. The purposes of this proof-of-concept feasibility study were to examine: (1) the energy balance model constructs over the intervention, and (2) pre-post intervention, weekly, and dose-response changes in study constructs. Methods. Overweight/obese pregnant women (N=17) were randomized to 1 of 6 conditions, increasing in intensity, and included varied combinations of components (exercise sessions, healthy eating demonstrations, etc.). Exercise and healthy eating TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intention), and self-regulation (prospective, retrospective) constructs were collected weekly. Exercise behavior, energy intake, and GWG were collected daily. Results. We observed: (a) significant increases in exercise TPB constructs, healthy eating attitude (limit unhealthy foods), exercise/healthy eating retrospective self-regulation; (b) significant decrease in healthy eating subjective norm (limit unhealthy foods); (c) trending increases for healthy eating perceived behavioral control (limit unhealthy foods), healthy eating prospective self-regulation, and energy intake; (d) significantly higher active time, steps, and energy expenditure at W3 relative to other weeks; (e) no significant increase in GWG; and, (f) a dose response effect such that women in more intensive dosages had greater gains in exercise and healthy eating perceived behavioral control (eat healthy/limit unhealthy foods). Conclusion. Brief exposure to a theoretically-driven, GWG intervention resulted in changes to exercise and healthy eating TPB and self-regulation motivational determinants, no significant increase in GWG, and suggests intervention intensity can strengthen perceived ability to engage in exercise/healthy eating behaviors; offering initial proof-of-concept for the intervention to regulate GWG in overweight/obese pregnant women. Future research will test this intervention over the course of pregnancy to understand long-term impact on maternal-fetal health outcomes.
Antiapoptotic Molecule Survivin in Transplantation: Helpful or Harmful?
Authors: Assadiasl Sara , Mousavi Mohammad Javad , Amirzargar Aliakbar
Published: October 2018

Survivin, an antiapoptotic molecule from inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, is most known for its implication in cancer as there are some efforts to apply it for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes in oncology. On the other hand, it could be a useful molecule to be positively targeted when trying to save tissue and promote cells viability. Since protecting the allograft from ischemia reperfusion injury and inflammation-induced damage is a considerable objective in transplantation, it is reasonable to take advantage from antiapoptotic agents like survivin in order to achieve this goal. However, survivin’s potential ability to induce malignancies makes some concerns about its use in clinic. The other barrier is this molecule’s involvement in lymphocytes development and proliferation which might increase the risk of graft rejection due to adaptive immune system overactivation. In this review we summarize the few studies carried out about survivin’s effect on graft survival and probable advantages and disadvantages of its overexpression in transplantation.