bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Versatile Method for Depth Data Error Estimation in RGB-D Sensors
Authors: Cabrera Elizabeth V. , Ortiz Luis E. , Silva Bruno M. F. da , Clua Esteban W. G. , Gonçalves Luiz M. G.
Published: September 2018

We propose a versatile method for estimating the RMS error of depth data provided by generic 3D sensors with the capability of generating RGB and depth (D) data of the scene, i.e., the ones based on techniques such as structured light, time of flight and stereo. A common checkerboard is used, the corners are detected and two point clouds are created, one with the real coordinates of the pattern corners and one with the corner coordinates given by the device. After a registration of these two clouds, the RMS error is computed. Then, using curve fittings methods, an equation is obtained that generalizes the RMS error as a function of the distance between the sensor and the checkerboard pattern. The depth errors estimated by our method are compared to those estimated by state-of-the-art approaches, validating its accuracy and utility. This method can be used to rapidly estimate the quality of RGB-D sensors, facilitating robotics applications as SLAM and object recognition.
Sensor-Based Real-Time Detection in Vulcanization Control Using Machine Learning and Pattern Clustering
Authors: Kim Jonghyuk , Hwangbo Hyunwoo
Published: September 2018

Recent paradigm shifts in manufacturing have resulted from the need for a smart manufacturing environment. In this study, we developed a model to detect anomalous signs in advance and embedded it in an existing programmable logic controller system. For this, we investigated the innovation process for smart manufacturing in the domain of synthetic rubber and its vulcanization process, as well as a real-time sensing technology. The results indicate that only analysis of the pattern of input variables can lead to significant results without the generation of target variables through manual testing of chemical properties. We have also made a practical contribution to the realization of a smart manufacturing environment by building cloud-based infrastructure and models for the pre-detection of defects.
Finite Element Calculation with Experimental Verification for a Free-Flooded Transducer Based on Fluid Cavity Structure
Authors: He Zhengyao , Chen Geng , Wang Yun , Zhang Kan , Tian Wenqiang
Published: September 2018

A free-flooded transducer that couples the vibration of a longitudinal vibration transducer and the fluid cavity of an aluminum ring was investigated. Given the transducer is based on a fluid cavity structure and has no air cavity, it can resist high hydrostatic pressure when working underwater, which is suitable for application in the deep sea. At first, the structure and working principle of the transducer were introduced. Then, the axisymmetric finite element model of the transducer was established; and the transmitting voltage response, admittance, and radiation directivity of the transducer were simulated using the finite element method. According to the size of the finite element model, a prototype of the transducer was designed and fabricated, and the electro-acoustic performance of the prototype was measured in an anechoic water tank. The experimental results were consistent with the simulation results and showed a good performance of the transducer. Finally, the improvement of the radiation directivity of the transducer by the optimal design of the free-flooded aluminum ring was obtained using the finite element method and verified by experiments.
A Blockchain Implementation Prototype for the Electronic Open Source Traceability of Wood along the Whole Supply Chain
Authors: Figorilli Simone , Antonucci Francesca , Costa Corrado , Pallottino Federico , Raso Luciano , Castiglione Marco , Pinci Edoardo , Del Vecchio Davide , Colle Giacomo , Proto Andrea Rosario , Sperandio Giulio , Menesatti Paolo
Published: September 2018

This is the first work to introduce the use of blockchain technology for the electronic traceability of wood from standing tree to final user. Infotracing integrates the information related to the product quality with those related to the traceability [physical and digital documents (Radio Frequency IDentification—RFID—architecture)] within an online information system whose steps (transactions) can be made safe to evidence of alteration through the blockchain. This is a decentralized and distributed ledger that keeps records of digital transactions in such a way that makes them accessible and visible to multiple participants in a network while keeping them secure without the need of a centralized certification organism. This work implements a blockchain architecture within the wood chain electronic traceability. The infotracing system is based on RFID sensors and open source technology. The entire forest wood supply chain was simulated from standing trees to the final product passing through tree cutting and sawmill process. Different kinds of Internet of Things (IoT) open source devices and tags were used, and a specific app aiming the forest operations was engineered to collect and store in a centralized database information (e.g., species, date, position, dendrometric and commercial information).
Erratum: Xie, Z.-J.; Bao, X.-Y.; Peng, C.-F. Highly Sensitive and Selective Colorimetric Detection of Methylmercury Based on DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles. Sensors 2018, 18, 2679.
Authors: Xie Zheng-Jun , Bao Xian-Yu , Peng Chi-Fang
Published: September 2018

The authors wish to make the following corrections to their paper [...]
A Crop Classification Method Integrating GF-3 PolSAR and Sentinel-2A Optical Data in the Dongting Lake Basin
Authors: Gao Han , Wang Changcheng , Wang Guanya , Zhu Jianjun , Tang Yuqi , Shen Peng , Zhu Ziwei
Published: September 2018

With the increasing of satellite sensors, more available multi-source data can be used for large-scale high-precision crop classification. Both polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) and multi-spectral optical data have been widely used for classification. However, it is difficult to combine the covariance matrix of PolSAR data with the spectral bands of optical data. Using Hoekman’s method, this study solves the above problems by transforming the covariance matrix to an intensity vector that includes multiple intensity values on different polarization basis. In order to reduce the features redundancy, the principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm is adopted to select some useful polarimetric and optical features. In this study, the PolSAR data acquired by satellite Gaofen-3 (GF-3) on 19 July 2017 and the optical data acquired by Sentinel-2A on 17 July 2017 over the Dongting lake basin are selected for the validation experiment. The results show that the full feature integration method proposed in this study achieves an overall classification accuracy of 85.27%, higher than that of the single dataset method or some other feature integration modes.
Energy-Efficient Online Resource Management and Allocation Optimization in Multi-User Multi-Task Mobile-Edge Computing Systems with Hybrid Energy Harvesting
Authors: Zhang Heng , Chen Zhigang , Wu Jia , Deng Yiqing , Xiao Yutong , Liu Kanghuai , Li Mingxuan
Published: September 2018

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) has evolved into a promising technology that can relieve computing pressure on wireless devices (WDs) in the Internet of Things (IoT) by offloading computation tasks to the MEC server. Resource management and allocation are challenging because of the unpredictability of task arrival, wireless channel status and energy consumption. To address such a challenge, in this paper, we provide an energy-efficient joint resource management and allocation (ECM-RMA) policy to reduce time-averaged energy consumption in a multi-user multi-task MEC system with hybrid energy harvested WDs. We first formulate the time-averaged energy consumption minimization problem while the MEC system satisfied both the data queue stability constraint and energy queue stability constraint. To solve the stochastic optimization problem, we turn the problem into two deterministic sub-problems, which can be easily solved by convex optimization technique and linear programming technique. Correspondingly, we propose the ECM-RMA algorithm that does not require priori knowledge of stochastic processes such as channel states, data arrivals and green energy harvesting. Most importantly, the proposed algorithm achieves the energy consumption-delay trade-off as [ O ( 1 / V ) , O ( V ) ] . V, as a non-negative weight, which can effectively control the energy consumption-delay performance. Finally, simulation results verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
The Place and Participation of Parents at the Rond-Point Perinatal and Family Center for Drug Addiction
Authors: Laurin Isabelle , René Jean-François , Giguère Nadia , Morissette Isabelle , Maari Frédéric , Dionne Renée-ève
Published: September 2018

This article presents a participatory action research initiative involving counsellors and parents at a perinatal and family center for drug addiction in order to reflect on what shape parental participation might take within this resource. The goal was to document how moments of discussion would impact the parents’ participation, the parents’ journeys, and Rond-Point’s (RP) planned interventions. In November 2014, a group of parents took part in eight meetings, and a team of RP counsellors, in three meetings. Two combined “pooling meetings” were held between both groups in order to share ideas. Both before and after the initiative, to complete the data collection process, group meetings were held with the counsellors and individual interviews took place with the parents. In the parent group, the initiative gave rise to a culture of voicing their views, reflecting, and raising questions. In the counsellor group, the initiative led to changing how they worked and transforming the way they viewed parental participation. Nevertheless, the parents’ participation did not significantly change the center’s planned offerings. A number of clinical and organizational issues constituted obstacles to the parents’ power to act in this regard.
Monitoring Mediterranean Oak Decline in a Peri-Urban Protected Area Using the NDVI and Sentinel-2 Images: The Case Study of Castelporziano State Natural Reserve
Authors: Recanatesi Fabio , Giuliani Chiara , Ripa Maria Nicolina
Published: September 2018

Climate change and human activities in particular are important causes of the possible variations in Mediterranean basin forest health conditions. Over the last decades, deciduous oak-forest mortality has been a recurrent problem in central and southern Italy. Despite the perception of increasingly visible damage in oak forests in drought sites, the role of various environmental factors in their decline is not completely clear. Among the modern methods of monitoring terrestrial ecosystems, remote sensing is of prime importance thanks to its ability to provide synoptic information on large areas with a high frequency of acquisition. This paper reports the preliminary results regarding a replicable and low cost monitoring tool planned to quantify forest health conditions based on the application of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), using the diachronic images provided by the Sentinel-2 satellite. The study area is represented by a peri-urban forest of natural Mediterranean deciduous oaks, characterized by a high variability in the composition of the species and in the silvicultural structures. In order to monitor the health conditions of a specific forest canopy cover with remote sensing data, it is necessary to classify the forest canopy cover in advance to separate it from other species and from the Mediterranean scrub. This is due to the spatial distribution of vegetation and the high rate of biodiversity in the Mediterranean natural environment. To achieve this, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, forest management data and field sampling data were analyzed. The main results of this research show a widespread decline in oak health conditions over the observed period (2015–2017). Specifically, for the studied area, thanks to the specific localization of the oak canopy cover, we detected a high potential concerning the Sentinel-2 data application in monitoring forest health conditions by NDVI application.
Evaluation of Spatial Balance of China’s Regional Development
Authors: Shen Hongyan , Teng Fei , Song Jinping
Published: September 2018

China’s substantial economic growth and rapid urbanization has brought about some negative effects, one of which is spatial imbalance. Spatial imbalance has attracted considerable attention from both the government and researchers, since it has severely hindered regional sustainable development. This study, from the perspective of the matching relationship between spatial supply capacity and development demand intensity, evaluates the spatial balance of 290 prefecture-level cities in China by establishing an index system that considers the economy, society, resources, and the environment. The findings of this study have demonstrated that the strategies and measures of China in the last few years have brought about a spatial imbalance in regional development while rapidly boosting economic growth. The results reveal that there is not a corresponding relationship between spatial supply capacity and development demand intensity in China’s regional development, indicating that most cities in China are in an imbalanced state regarding regional development. Only a few cities have reached spatial balance, while overexploitation is a common phenomenon. This study displays an overall perspective on the state of spatial balance in China, providing a sound basis for implementing pertinent governance measures in different regions.
Acute Phase Protein Levels as An Auxiliary Tool in Diagnosing Viral Diseases in Ruminants—A Review
Authors: Reczyńska Daria , Zalewska Magdalena , Czopowicz Michał , Kaba Jarosław , Zwierzchowski Lech , Bagnicka Emilia
Published: September 2018

We examined acute phase protein (APP) concentrations in viral infections of dairy ruminants and assessed the potential role of characteristic patterns of APP changes in auxiliary diagnosing viral diseases. All viruses reviewed are common causes of farm animal diseases. APPs are among the first agents of immunity, and their concentrations could be diagnostically relevant. In the most common ruminant viral diseases, elevated serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) levels in blood serum have been observed. However, since these proteins are the main APPs in many viral infections, it is impossible to use their levels for diagnosing particular infections. Decreased Cp and albumin expression could help differentiate the bluetongue virus infection from other diseases. Lastly, analysis of SAA levels in blood serum and milk could be helpful in diagnosing small ruminant lentivirus infection. While promising, APP levels can only be considered as an auxiliary tool in diagnosing viral diseases in ruminants.
Energy Efficient Operation of Variable Speed Submersible Pumps: Simulation of a Ground Water Well Field
Authors: Sperlich Alexander , Pfeiffer Dino , Burgschweiger Jens , Campbell Enrique , Beck Marcus , Gnirss Regina , Ernst Mathias
Published: September 2018

Due to their lower energy consumption, permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) submersible pumps have been introduced in ground water well field operation. Besides direct savings of energy, the introduction of PMSM pumps together with the required variable frequency converters offers new operational scenarios to meet the seasonally varying water demand. In this work, potential energy savings of variable speed submersible pumps were investigated. A ground water well field consisting of 13 wells and their transport pipes was modeled in the hydraulic modeling software EPANET 2.0. Using MS visual basic for applications, EPANET was coupled with MS Excel and a genetic algorithm to identify the most energy efficient combination of pump speeds. For the simulated well field, the total specific energy demand required for pumping was significantly lower in partial load operation as compared to nominal pump speed operation. For low and moderate flow scenarios, energy savings in the range of 20% compared to nominal speed operation can be achieved. These findings were confirmed by a monitoring campaign in the well field. Combining hydraulic simulation and optimization using genetic algorithms, the best efficiency scenario for operation of ground water well fields can be found.
Estimation of Precipitation Evolution from Desert to Oasis Using Information Entropy Theory: A Case Study in Tarim Basin of Northwestern China
Authors: Zhou Xiangyang , Niu Zhipan , Lei Wenjuan
Published: September 2018

The cold-wet effect of oasis improves the extreme natural conditions of the desert areas significantly. However, the relationship between precipitation and the width of oasis is challenged by the shortage of observed data. In this study, the evolution of annual precipitation from desert to oasis was explored by the model establishment and simulation in Tarim Basin of northwestern China. The model was developed from the principle of maximum information entropy, and was calibrated by the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset with a high spatial resolution of 0.1° from 1990 to 2010. The model performs well in describing the evolution of annual precipitation from the desert to oasis when the oasis is wide enough, and the R2 is generally more than 0.90 and can be up to 0.99. However, it fails to simulate the seasonal precipitation evolution because of the non-convergence solved by nonlinear fitting and the unfixed upper boundary condition solved by the least square method. Through the simulation with the parameters obtained from the nonlinear fitting, the basic patterns, four stages of precipitation evolution with the oasis width increasing, are revealed at annual scale, and the current stages of these oases are also uncovered. Therefore, the establishment of the model and the simulated results provide a deeper insight from the perspective of informatics to understand the regional precipitation evolution of the desert–oasis system. These results are not only helpful in desertification prevention, but also helpful in fusing multisource data, especially in extreme drought desert areas.
Development and Integration of Sub-Daily Flood Modelling Capability within the SWAT Model and a Comparison with XAJ Model
Authors: Li Dachen , Qu Simin , Shi Peng , Chen Xueqiu , Xue Feng , Gou Jianfeng , Zhang Wenhao
Published: September 2018

To date, floods have become one of the most severe natural disasters on Earth. Flood forecasting with hydrological models is an important non-engineering measure for flood control and disaster reduction. The Xin’anjiang (XAJ) model is the most widely used hydrological model in China for flood forecasting, while the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is widely applied for daily and monthly simulation and has shown its potential for flood simulation. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the SWAT model in simulating floods at a sub-daily time-scale in a slightly larger basin and compare that with the XAJ model. Taking Qilijie Basin (southeast of China) as a study area, this paper developed the XAJ model and SWAT model at a sub-daily time-scale. The results showed that the XAJ model had a better performance than the sub-daily SWAT model regarding relative runoff error (RRE) but the SWAT model performed well according to relative peak discharge error (RPE) and error of occurrence time of peak flow (PTE). The SWAT model performed unsatisfactorily in simulating low flows due to the daily calculation of base flow but behaved quite well in simulating high flows. We also evaluated the effect of spatial scale on the SWAT model. The results showed that the SWAT model had a good applicability at different spatial scales. In conclusion, the sub-daily SWAT model is a promising tool for flood simulation though more improvements remain to be studied further.
Development of RiverBox—An ArcGIS Toolbox for River Bathymetry Reconstruction
Authors: Dysarz Tomasz
Published: September 2018

The main purpose of the present research is to develop software for reconstruction of the river bed on the basis of sparse cross-section measurements. The tools prepared should support the process of hydrodynamic model preparation for simulation of river flow. Considering the formats of available data and the requirements of modern modeling techniques, the prepared software is fully integrated with the GIS environment. The scripting language Python 2.7 implemented in ArcGIS 10.5.1 was chosen for this purpose. Two study cases were selected to validate and test the prepared procedures. These are stream reaches in Poland. The first is located on the Warta river, and the second on the Ner river. The data necessary for the whole procedure are: a digital elevation model, measurements of the cross-sections in the form of points, and two polyline layers representing an arbitrary river centerline and river banks. In the presented research the concept of a channel-oriented coordinate system is applied. The elevations are linearly interpolated along the longitudinal and transversal directions. The interpolation along the channel is implemented in three computational schemes linking different tools available in ArcGIS and ArcToolbox. A simplified comparison of memory usage and computational time is presented. The scheme linking longitudinal and spatial interpolation algorithms seems to be the most advantageous.
Risk Assessment of Upper-Middle Reaches of Luanhe River Basin in Sudden Water Pollution Incidents Based on Control Units of Water Function Areas
Authors: Xiao Yao , Huang Suiliang , Zhou Jianguo , Kong Fanqing , Liu Mingzhe , Li Ying
Published: September 2018

Upper-middle reaches of Luanhe River Basin belongs to Haihe River Basin and it is a pretty important water source to North China, especially to Tianjin and Tangshan Cities, Hebei. Based on control units of the water function areas and the sub-basins the working units were produced. The index system for environmental risk source hazard was constructed by adopting the pressure state response (PSR) environmental analysis model. The environment risk sources are identified, and their hazard grade assessment is performed. In the environmental risk source hazard an assessment index system, namely “downstream characteristics of environmental risk sources” is added by taking the fact into account that environmental risk sources themselves are affected by different functional areas (working units) downstream of the rivers. Through collecting hazard data, determining their standards and weights for environment risk sources, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to calculate the risk source hazard grades and the vulnerability grades of the working units. Using the one-dimensional exponential decay river model for pollutants in rivers, the hazard grade evaluation method of working units is established. This consists of two parts: (1) The risk source hazard grade of the working unit itself, and (2) the impact of the risk sources upstream on the working unit downstream of the rivers. Combining the hazard grade with the vulnerability grade of the working unit, the risk grade of the working unit is evaluated through the risk matrix. The risk zones of the watershed are realized by merging working units in the same control units of the water function areas with the same risk grades. The risk zoning of sudden water pollution incidents in the upper and middle reaches of Luanhe River Basin is obtained by applying the above risk zoning method. It is found that there are 55 risk zones in total, including three highest risk zones, 15 higher risk zones, 14 lower risk zones, 23 lowest risk zones. These results indicate that the upper and middle reaches of River Luanhe are overall at low risk. The corresponding management methods for the different risk zones are suggested.
Les effets d’une ludification adaptative sur l’engagement des apprenants
Authors: Monterrat Baptiste , Lavoué Élise , George Sébastien , Desmarais Michel C.
Published: September 2018

Gamification is increasingly used to address the lack of learner motivation. However, gamification systems generally do not consider learner's preferences for game mechanics. This paper presents a model to adapt the gamification features to the learners according to their player profile. An evaluation of this model shows that adapted game features increase learner engagement, while counter-adapted game features decrease their motivation.
Analyser la conception pédagogique d’un MOOC de langue sous l’angle de la «massivité»
Authors: Chotel Laure
Published: September 2018

La dimension massive des MOOC de langues pose de véritables défis en termes de conception pédagogique (interactions, correction, évaluation, etc.). À partir d’une étude de cas sur un MOOC d’anglais, cet article montre que les points forts en termes de gestion de la massivité sont les tâches, les ressources et les artefacts techniques. Toutefois, si ces éléments peuvent faciliter les apprentissages langagiers, les faiblesses liées à la correction des tâches, aux aides, à l’évaluation et au scénario de communication constituent des limites pour le MOOC analysé.
Comprendre les processus de construction et de régulation des EPA par des étudiants universitaires
Authors: Felder Joris
Published: September 2018

Cet article situe les processus de construction et de régulation de l’environnement personnel d’apprentissage par l’étudiant en tant qu’objet de recherche. Il développe un modèle qui conceptualise l’EPA comme le produit d’une activité d’apprentissage dans laquelle des processus de construction et de régulation de l’EPA sont réalisés par l’étudiant en interaction avec sa perception du dispositif de formation et la définition de son projet d’apprentissage. Ce modèle, utilisé de manière exploratoire pour analyser les cas de cinq étudiants universitaires, permet de décrire ces processus. Nous en discutons l’intérêt heuristique, les limites et les perspectives.
A Galaxy-scale Fountain of Cold Molecular Gas Pumped by a Black Hole
Authors: Tremblay G. R. , Combes F. , Oonk J. B. R. , Russell H. R. , McDonald M. A. , Gaspari M. , Husemann B. , Nulsen P. E. J. , McNamara B. R. , Hamer S. L. , O’Dea C. P. , Baum S. A. , Davis T. A. , Donahue M. , Voit G. M. , Edge A. C. , Blanton E. L. , Bremer M. N. , Bulbul E. , Clarke T. E. , David L. P. , Edwards L. O. V. , Eggerman D. , Fabian A. C. , Forman W. , Jones C. , Kerman N. , Kraft R. P. , Li Y. , Powell M. , Randall S. W. , Salomé P. , Simionescu A. , Su Y. , Sun M. , Urry C. M. , Vantyghem A. N. , Wilkes B. J. , ZuHone J. A.
Published: September 2018

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer observations of the brightest cluster galaxy in Abell 2597, a nearby (z = 0.0821) cool core cluster of galaxies. The data map the kinematics of a three billion solar mass filamentary nebula that spans the innermost 30 kpc of the galaxy’s core. Its warm ionized and cold molecular components are both cospatial and comoving, consistent with the hypothesis that the optical nebula traces the warm envelopes of many cold molecular clouds that drift in the velocity field of the hot X-ray atmosphere. The clouds are not in dynamical equilibrium, and instead show evidence for inflow toward the central supermassive black hole, outflow along the jets it launches, and uplift by the buoyant hot bubbles those jets inflate. The entire scenario is therefore consistent with a galaxy-spanning “fountain,” wherein cold gas clouds drain into the black hole accretion reservoir, powering jets and bubbles that uplift a cooling plume of low-entropy multiphase gas, which may stimulate additional cooling and accretion as part of a self-regulating feedback loop. All velocities are below the escape speed from the galaxy, and so these clouds should rain back toward the galaxy center from which they came, keeping the fountain long lived. The data are consistent with major predictions of chaotic cold accretion, precipitation, and stimulated feedback models, and may trace processes fundamental to galaxy evolution at effectively all mass scales.
Discovery of Extended Infrared Emission around the Neutron Star RXJ0806.4–4123*

†
Authors: Posselt B. , Pavlov G. G. , Ertan Ü. , Çalışkan S. , Luhman K. L. , Williams C. C.
Published: September 2018

Following up on a faint detection of a near-infrared (NIR) source at the position of the X-ray thermal isolated neutron star RX J0806.4–4123, we present new Hubble Space Telescope observations in the H-band. The NIR source is unambiguously detected with a Vega magnitude of 23.7 ± 0.2 (flux density of 0.40 ± 0.06 μJy at λ = 1.54 μm). The source position is coincident with the neutron star position, and the implied NIR flux is strongly in excess of what one would expect from an extrapolation of the optical-UV spectrum of RX J0806.4–4123. The NIR source is extended, with a size of at least 0.″8, and shows some asymmetry. The conservative upper limit on the flux contribution of a point source is 50%. Emission from gas and dust in the ambient diffuse interstellar medium can be excluded as a cause for the extended emission. The source parameters are consistent with an interpretation as either the first NIR-only detected pulsar wind nebula or the first resolved disk around an isolated neutron star.
Outbreak of an acute aflatoxicosis in Tanzania during 2016
Authors: Kamala A. , Shirima C. , Jani B. , Bakari M. , Sillo H. , Rusibamayila N. , De Saeger S. , Kimanya M. , Gong Y.Y. , Simba A. , _ _
Published: September 2018

In June 2016, an outbreak of an unknown disease was reported to affect clusters of families in two regions of the central part of Tanzania. A rapid epidemiological survey was conducted in the affected villages, with a detailed house-to-house survey in selected households. A total of 68 cases occurred between 14 May and 14 November 2016, of which 20 died, making a case fatality rate of 30%. Over 50% of the cases were below the age of 15 years. The cases presented with jaundice (n=60), abdominal pain (n=59), vomiting (n=56), diarrhoea (n=34) and ascites (n=32). The responsible food item appeared to be home grown maize. The rate ratio indicated that the occurrence of illnesses was associated with ingestion of food contaminated with high levels of aflatoxins (contamination range: 10-51,100 μg/kg and 2.4-285 μg/kg for case and control households, respectively). Serum aflatoxin biomarker indicated that cases were more likely to have higher than 1000 pg/mg aflatoxin-albumin adduct level in their sera compared to controls (Odds Ratio = 13.5; 95% confidence intervals = 1.5-165.3; range of aflatoxin-albumin adduct level = 36- 32,800 pg/mg for cases and 10-4020 pg/mg for controls). Beside aflatoxins, maize samples were also contaminated with high levels of fumonisins (range of contamination; 945-12,630 μg/kg) with 8 of 10 samples analysed from case households co-contaminated with both toxins at levels above the maximum limit of 5 or 10 μg/kg set for AFB1 or total aflatoxins and 2,000 μg/kg for fumonisins. Clinical presentation and high levels of aflatoxin in food samples coupled with high levels of serum aflatoxin-albumin adducts among the cases support the causal role of aflatoxins.
Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Predicts Poor Short-term Outcomes for Hip Fracture Surgery
Authors: Ryan Sean , Politzer Cary , Fletcher Amanda , Bolognesi Michael , Seyler Thorsten
Published: September 2018

Hip fractures are common in elderly patients, and which surgical modality to pursue is often debated. Malnutrition, which cannot be corrected preoperatively in this population, is often not considered. Therefore, the authors sought to investigate the association between hypoalbuminemia and postoperative outcomes based on surgical intervention. Patients undergoing arthroplasty (hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty), open reduction and internal fixation, and intramedullary nailing placement for treatment of hip fractures were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were stratified by preoperative albumin level, with less than 3.5 g/dL indicating hypoalbuminemia. Albumin's association with postoperative complications was evaluated with multivariate logistic regression controlling for patient age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and functional independence. A total of 20,278 patients with hip fractures and available albumin levels were included. Multivariate analysis revealed hypoalbuminemia was predictive of readmission, reintubation, mortality, and length of stay for all surgeries performed. When analyzing across surgical modalities, unique complications were identified for patients with hypoalbuminemia undergoing open reduction and internal fixation/prosthetic replacement (reoperation,
P
<.001) and arthroplasty (any infection,
P
=.028) compared with other treatment options. Hypoalbuminemia can predict postoperative complications for patients with hip fractures and should be considered preoperatively to guide surgical decision making in equivocal cases where multiple modalities may be used based on fracture pattern. This study supports that, compared with other interventions, intramedullary nailing is associated with fewer postoperative complications in patients with hypoalbuminemia. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(6):e789–e796.]
Angiogenic Cytokine Profile of a Patient With Schwartz-Matsuo Syndrome
Authors: Fan Wen , Zheng Xinhua , Yuan Songtao , Xie Ping , Liu Qinghuai
Published: September 2018

A 36-year-old man was diagnosed with Schwartz-Matsuo syndrome and received a scleral buckle surgery. Photoreceptor outer segments in aqueous humor were examined under electron microscope to confirm the diagnosis. Afterwards, 17 human angiogenesis and growth factor biomarkers were chosen to make simultaneous quantification in aqueous humor, among which the authors demonstrated the remarkable high expression of angiopoietin-2 in aqueous humor. This is the first reported case of angiogenesis / growth factor biomarkers in aqueous humor of the Schwartz-Matsuo Syndrome patient. Angiopoietin-2 level significantly increased in this patient's aqueous humor, which helped the authors to illuminate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying Schwartz-Matsuo syndrome.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:721–725.]
Treatment Response in Sympathetic Ophthalmia as Assessed by Widefield OCT Angiography
Authors: Brar Manpreet , Sharma Mansi , Grewal S.P.S. , Grewal Dilraj S.
Published: September 2018

The authors report the widefield montage swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in a 36-year-old male with sympathetic ophthalmia and illustrate the presence of multiple small areas of choriocapillaris flow voids that likely correspond to areas of choriocapillaris ischemia. Using sequential imaging, the authors observed that these flow voids improved following initiating of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy and almost completely resolved following 6 months of therapy with corresponding improvement in visual acuity. This report highlights the role of widefield montage OCTA to detect these likely ischemic changes within the choriocapillaris in sympathetic ophthalmia and demonstrates that they can be used as an anatomic marker to monitor treatment response.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:726–730.]
Closure of Large Chronic Macular Hole by Scleral Imbrication and Retinal Expansion
Authors: Chantarasorn Yodpong , Thamsriswadi Patrinee
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study is to describe a new technique for the treatment of large, chronic macular hole (MH) using scleral imbrication and retinal expansion and to report the outcomes of MH closure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This retrospective study demonstrates a procedure for correcting the disproportion between an area of stiff neurosensory retina and the inner scleral wall. Baseline MH parameters were collected. MH closure rate, visual outcomes, and biometry were reported at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS:

MH closure was achieved in six out of seven patients (85.7%). Mean minimal hole diameter, base hole diameter, and MH index were 712 μm ± 136.8 μm, 1,440 μm ± 444 μm, and 0.27 μm ± 0.08 μm, respectively. At 6-month follow-up, median logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) corrected distance visual acuity significantly improved from 1.2 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.0 to 1.6) preoperatively to 0.7 (IQR = 0.58 to 0.8) postoperatively (
P
= .018; Wilcoxon signed-rank test).

CONCLUSION:

This technique provided both satisfactory hole closure rates and acceptable structural outcomes.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e57–e64.]
Autologous Neurosensory Retinal Free Flap Treatment for a Large Macular Hole
Authors: Lazić Ratimir , Drača Nataša , Cerović Vesna , Katić Dinko , Mladenovski Stefan , Gabrić Nikica
Published: September 2018

A patient presented with a large chronic macular hole (MH) of 700 μm. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/200. Since the MHs edges were attached and stiff, an autologous neurosensory retinal flap was harvested and placed into the MH to close it. Perfluoro-n-octane heavy liquid (PFC) was instilled over the flap and exchanged with silicone oil (1,000 cs). Seven days postoperatively, the MH was closed, with a BCVA of 20/80 that improved to 20/60 at months 1 and 3. Optical coherence tomography and angiography showed patch incorporation with fovea formation and normal circulation.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e89–e92.]
Fellow Eye Anti-VEGF ‘Crunch’ Effect in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Wood Edward H. , Rao Prethy , Moysidis Stavros N. , Dedania Vaidehi S. , Elman Michael J. , Drenser Kimberly A. , Capone Antonio , Trese Michael T.
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is increasing in popularity for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Despite many technical benefits, issues remain prompting further investigation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Retrospective case report and literature review.

RESULTS:

A 42-week-old postmenstrual age female with gestational age of 28 weeks and birth weight of 990 g presented with prominent progression of peripapillary purely tractional atypical stage 4A ROP in both eyes following intravitreal bevacizumab therapy in the right eye only.

CONCLUSION:

The authors present the first reported case, to their knowledge, of a “crunch” phenomenon tractional retinal detachment from fellow eye administration of bevacizumab.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e102–e104.]
Anatomical Changes of Full-Thickness Macular Hole Documented by Microscope-Integrated Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Gonzalez-Cortes Jesus H. , Estudillo Abel Ramirez , Sanchez-Ramos Jorge A. , Bages-Rousselon Yunuen , Fernandez-Mar Mariana , Mohamed-Hamsho Jesus
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate anatomical changes of idiopathic macular hole (MH) after internal limiting membrane removal and after passive suction at the hole's borders using microscope-integrated intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Five eyes of five subjects with full-thickness idiopathic MH underwent phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, pars plana vitrectomy, and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal. iOCT was performed after ILM removal and after passive suction at the hole's borders.

RESULTS:

iOCT showed decreased MH diameter after ILM removal in all cases. Passive suction achieved complete apposition of borders. All cases presented successful postsurgical closure.

CONCLUSIONS:

iOCT provides anatomical information during MH surgery that may impact surgical decision-making by allowing a real-time evaluation of structures. iOCT with preservative-free triamcinolone acetonide enhanced ILM visualization. Its use is superior to iOCT alone for the identification of vitreomacular interface structures.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e105–e111.]
Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy Imaged With Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Marchese Alessandro , Rabiolo Alessandro , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: September 2018

The authors present a case of a 29-year-old man who presented to the Department of Ophthalmology at their institution to complete a peripheral laser treatment in his left eye for familial exudative vitreoretinopathy complicated by tractional macular edema.

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Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e112–e113.]
El puente sobre el Tajo de Eiffel en España
Authors: Plasencia-Lozano P.
Published: September 2018

El texto describe y analiza el puente construido sobre el río Tajo por Gustave Eiffel en las cercanías de Cáceres, una de las obras más relevantes de la primera etapa del célebre ingeniero francés, y la mayor de las mismas construida en España. A partir de los planos hallados en diversos archivos, y de otras fuentes históricas, se analiza la obra y el proceso seguido para llevarla a cabo, y se repasa la importancia que tuvo tras su finalización. Al final del escrito, las conclusiones subrayan los puntos destacados del mismo y proponen distintas cuestiones relacionadas con las obras públicas históricas.
Extracto acuoso natural de Morinda Citrifolia como inhibidor de corrosión del acero AISI-1045 en ambientes ácidos de HCl
Authors: Franco Mara , Herrera-Hernández Héctor , García-Orozco Iván , Herrasti Pilar
Published: September 2018

Los compuestos tanto orgánicos como inorgánicos empleados en la industria para inhibir el proceso de corrosión de los metales y sus aleaciones son en su mayoría sustancias químicas altamente tóxicas, además de ser costosas. En este trabajo se han extraído en medio acuoso componentes azucarados derivados de la planta Morinda Citrifolia (MC) para obtener un inhibidor natural capaz de controlar el daño por corrosión, el cual puede sustituir a los inhibidores tradicionales, siendo amigable con el medio ambiente. Los resultados indican, que este compuesto ha demostrado un excelente comportamiento como inhibidor de la corrosión, alcanzando valores de inhibición hasta el 90% para concentraciones de inhibidor de entre 0,8 y 2 g·L-1 y tiempos de inmersión 1 a 4 h. Se ha comprobado experimentalmente que el proceso de inhibición tiene lugar por la adsorción de las moléculas orgánicas naturales sobre la superficie del metal (AISI 1045), por un proceso de fisisorción.
Aanbod en gebruik van het openbaar vervoer in Brussel van 1950 tot 2017
Authors: Carton Vincent
Published: September 2018

Aan de hand van de statistieken van de MIVB sinds 1950 analyseert dit artikel de gemaakte keuzes op het vlak van het openbaar vervoersaanbod. Van een net dat bijna uitsluitend gericht was op de tram gingen we geleidelijk over naar een metro-, tram- en busaanbod, waarvan de intensiteit in afgelegde km inmiddels weer het niveau van 1950 bereikt. Hoewel er over de metro gauw consensus heerste, kon die de inkrimpingen van het aanbod als gevolg van besparingen op de exploitatie van het net in de jaren 1980 niet compenseren. Het volstaat niet om het merendeel van de middelen op één vervoermiddel in te zetten wanneer dat vervoermiddel een beperkt grondgebied dekt. Ook al is er geen automatisch verband tussen de verbetering van het aanbod en een toename van het cliënteel, toch kunnen we het volgende besluiten: in 68 jaar tijd is het aantal gebruikers van de MIVB tot drie keer toe gestegen nadat het aanbod op het hele net verbeterd was, en dan vooral de frequenties van tram en bus; de frequenties van de metro zijn altijd hoog geweest. De studie geeft meer inzicht in het debat over de mogelijke keuzes: moet er worden geïnvesteerd in een metrolijn tussen Albert en Bordet of in het bovengrondse net (uitbreiding door middel van lijnen met een hoog serviceniveau, afscherming van tram en bus tegen het overige verkeer en verbetering van de frequenties)?
d-Glycero-β-d-Manno-Heptose 1-Phosphate and d-Glycero-β-d-Manno-Heptose 1,7-Biphosphate Are Both Innate Immune Agonists
Authors: Adekoya Itunuoluwa A. , Guo Cynthia X. , Gray-Owen Scott D. , Cox Andrew D. , Sauvageau Janelle
Published: September 2018

d-Glycero-β-d-manno-heptose 1,7-biphosphate (β-HBP) is a novel microbial-associated molecular pattern that triggers inflammation and thus has the potential to act as an immune modulator in many therapeutic contexts. To better understand the structure–activity relationship of this molecule, we chemically synthesized analogs of β-HBP and tested their ability to induce canonical TIFA-dependent inflammation in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293T) and colonic epithelial cells (HCT 116). Of the analogs tested, only d-glycero-β-d-manno-heptose 1-phosphate (β-HMP) induced TIFA-dependent NF-κB activation and cytokine production in a manner similar to β-HBP. This finding expands the spectrum of metabolites from the Gram-negative ADP–heptose biosynthesis pathway that can function as innate immune agonists and provides a more readily available agonist of the TIFA-dependent inflammatory pathway that can be easily produced by synthetic methods.
Removal of the Long Spine Board From Clinical Practice: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Feld Francis X.
Published: September 2018

Since the early 1970s, initial management of patients with suspected spinal injuries has involved the use of a cervical collar and long spine board for full immobilization, which was thought to prevent additional injury to the cervical spine. Despite a growing body of literature demonstrating the detrimental effects and questionable efficacy of spinal immobilization, the practice continued until 2013, when the National Association of EMS Physicians issued a position statement calling for a reduction in the use of spinal immobilization and a shift to spinal-motion restriction. This article examines the literature that prompted the change in spinal-injury management and the virtual elimination of the long spine board as a tool for transport.
Comparing the Maslach Burnout Inventory to Other Well-Being Instruments in Emergency Medicine Residents
Authors: Williamson Kelly , Lank Patrick M. , Cheema Navneet , Hartman Nicholas , Lovell Elise O. ,   Emergency Medicine Education Research Alliance (EMERA)
Published: September 2018

Background 

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is considered the “gold standard” for measuring burnout, encompassing 3 scales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Other well-being instruments have shown utility in various settings, and correlations between MBI and these instruments could provide evidence of relationships among key variables to guide well-being efforts.

Objective 

We explored correlations between the MBI and other well-being instruments.

Methods 

We fielded a multicenter survey of 9 emergency medicine (EM) residencies, administering the MBI and 4 published well-being instruments: a quality-of-life assessment, a work-life balance rating, an appraisal of career satisfaction, and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire 2 question screen. Consistent with the Maslach definition, burnout was defined by high emotional exhaustion (> 26) and high depersonalization (> 12).

Results 

Of 334 residents, 261 (78%) responded. Residents who reported lower quality of life had higher emotional exhaustion (ρ = –0.437, P < .0001), higher depersonalization (ρ = –0.18, P < .005), and lower personal accomplishment (ρ = 0.347, P < .001). Residents who reported a negative work-life balance had emotional exhaustion (P < .001) and depersonalization (P < .009). Positive career satisfaction was associated with lower emotional exhaustion (P < .0001), lower depersonalization (P < .005), and higher personal accomplishment (P < .05). A positive depression screen was associated with higher emotional exhaustion, higher depersonalization, and lower personal achievement (all P < .0001).

Conclusions 

Our multicenter study of EM residents demonstrated that assessments using the MBI correlate with other well-being instruments.