bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perfusion Imaging in Autoimmune Encephalitis
Authors: Vallabhaneni Deepak , Naveed Muhammad Atif , Mangla Rajiv , Zidan Awss , Mehta Rashi I.
Published: May 2018

Encephalitis is characterized by inflammation of brain tissue and has various infectious and noninfectious causes. CSF analysis and MRI usually reveal inflammatory changes although sometimes brain imaging may be normal. Autoimmune encephalitis is caused by antibodies against neuronal synaptic receptors, surface proteins, or intracellular proteins. In this case report, we present a 65-year-old female who presented with a fall and altered mental status. Workup for infectious etiologies was negative and MRI of the brain displayed focal restricted diffusion with corresponding T2-FLAIR hyperintensity involving gray matter structures, making the diagnosis unclear. CT perfusion of the brain demonstrated increased cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow in the left parietooccipital gray matter, with corresponding normal mean transit time. Following treatment failure with acyclovir, antibiotics, and steroids, the patient was found to be positive for GAD65 antibodies and diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. Symptoms markedly improved with plasmapheresis. Autoimmune encephalitis rarely causes restricted diffusion and this is the first case report to describe corresponding hyperperfusion on CT perfusion study.
Single-Frequency Ultrasound-Based Respiration Rate Estimation with Smartphones
Authors: Ge Linfei , Zhang Jin , Wei Jing
Published: May 2018

Respiration monitoring is helpful in disease prevention and diagnosis. Traditional respiration monitoring requires users to wear devices on their bodies, which is inconvenient for them. In this paper, we aim to design a noncontact respiration rate detection system utilizing off-the-shelf smartphones. We utilize the single-frequency ultrasound as the media to detect the respiration activity. By analyzing the ultrasound signals received by the built-in microphone sensor in a smartphone, our system can derive the respiration rate of the user. The advantage of our method is that the transmitted signal is easy to generate and the signal analysis is simple, which has lower power consumption and thus is suitable for long-term monitoring in daily life. The experimental result shows that our system can achieve accurate respiration rate estimation under various scenarios.
A Parameter Classification System for Nonrevenue Water Management in Water Distribution Networks
Authors: Jang Dongwoo
Published: May 2018

Nonrevenue water (NRW) in a water distribution network is the water lost from unbilled authorized consumption, apparent losses, and real losses compared to the total system input volume. Nonrevenue water is an important parameter for prioritizing water distribution network improvement intervention planning, and it is necessary to identify the affecting parameters. A factor classification system has been developed based on the factors suggested by major institutions and researchers to propose an effective NRW classification system in a water distribution network. The factor classifications used include physical, operational, and socioeconomic factors that could affect NRW. Appropriate standards are required when classifying water main parameters. In this study, three criteria were proposed to create independent factors. The first relates to the properties of the parameter. One determines whether the parameters related to the water network are more suitable for physical, operational, or socioeconomic factors and classifies them into one of these three parameters. Second, one considers data availability and data characteristics taking into account the scope of the coverage area. Third, it must be possible to quantify selected parameter data. Whether the collected data are numerically valid and whether it can be used as a standard for assessment or comparison between regions must be examined. The quantification portion of the qualitative data in managing NRW is important and needs to be used in accordance with reasonable standards. In this study, more factors can be used depending on those selected, and it was found that NRW prediction that reflects regional characteristics is possible.
Responsiveness of Health Professionals to Postabortion Care at a Regional Level Hospital in Ghana: A Qualitative Study of Patients’ Self-Reports
Authors: Adde Kenneth Setorwu , Darteh Eugene Kofuor Maafo , Kumi-Kyereme Akwasi , Amu Hubert
Published: May 2018

Background. The responsiveness of health professionals to patients in the provision of abortion services is essential to influencing patients’ perceptions and expectations regarding the quality of medical care to be received and their general satisfaction. This, in turn, determines if patients will revisit a particular health facility to access abortion services. In this study, we examine the responsiveness of health professionals in providing postabortion care at a regional level health facility in Ghana. Methods. Qualitative data collected from 20 female patients who assessed abortion services at a regional level health facility in Ghana were used. The sample was achieved through saturation while a systematic qualitative orientated text analysis was adopted in analysing the data. Results. Health professionals were responsive to postabortion care at the facility. Most women who sought postabortion care at the facility were referred from other health facilities which could not handle such cases. Other reasons include satisfaction with services received on previous visits to the hospital. We also realized, however, that postabortion services were not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme. Conclusions. All hospitals across the country should be equipped with the basic equipment and personnel to conduct and manage abortions. This would reduce not only referrals but also possible maternal deaths. Abortion services should also be added to the services covered by the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme.
Airway Management during Thyroidectomy for a Giant Goitre due to McCune-Albright Syndrome
Authors: Nakao Hiroyuki
Published: May 2018

There have been no case reports to date describing the technical aspects of tracheal intubation in a patient with a goitre associated with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS), even though goitre is frequently observed in this condition. I describe a case of resection of a giant goitre in a patient with MAS, with difficult airway management. Preoperative investigation showed that the trachea was shifted to the right by the goitre, with the narrowest part of the tracheal lumen 4 mm in diameter. There was dome-shaped protuberance of the posterior pharyngeal wall into the airway. The patient had an S-shaped total spine, a short neck, and a relatively large jaw, which interfered with airway visualisation during intubation. Anaesthesia was induced with light sedation and supplemental oxygen. Endotracheal intubation was successfully performed using a fiberoptic laryngoscope and a flexible, spiral-wound, obtuse-tipped tracheal tube.
Toxicological Evaluation of Essential Oils from Some Plants of Rutaceae Family
Authors: Liaqat Iram , Riaz Naila , Saleem Qurat-ul-Ain , Tahir Hafiz Muhammad , Arshad Muhammad , Arshad Najma
Published: May 2018

Essential oils are produced as secondary metabolites by aromatic plants, predominantly belonging to families Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. The family Rutaceae has great economic importance for its numerous edible fruits and essential oils. In the present study, essential oils of seven plants of family Rutaceae, Aegle marmelos, Murraya koenigii, Citrus reticulata Blanco, Zanthoxylum armatum, Skimmia laureola, Murraya paniculata, and Boenninghausenia albiflora, were used for their toxicological assessment. Seven groups of selected essential oils‐treated Wistar rats were established against control group (n = 5) that received water for 14 days; animals were offered feed and water ad libitum and treated with essential oils at 400 mg/kg body weight. Hematological studies revealed significant elevation in TEC in animals treated with essential oils of M. koenigii, S. laureola, and B. albiflora, while an elevation in PCV and depletion in MCV were observed in animals treated with M. paniculata and B. albiflora, respectively. Serological investigations demonstrated significant depletion in triglycerides and elevation in blood sodium level in animals treated with essential oils of A. marmelos and C. reticulata Blanco. Boenninghausenia albiflora affected many markers including RBC, MCV, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, urea, and sodium. In conclusion, all oils except B. albiflora can be considered safe for internal use.
Early-Stage Estimated Value of Blend Sign on the Prognosis of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Wang Weijun , Zhou Ningquan , Wang Chao
Published: May 2018

Background and Purpose. This study aimed to explore the relationship between blend sign and prognosis of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods. Between January 2014 and December 2016, the results of cranial computed tomography imaging within 24 h after the onset of symptoms from 275 patients with ICH were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with or without blend sign were compared to observe and analyze the difference in coagulation function abnormality, rebleeding, mortality, and bad prognosis rates in the early stages. Results. Of the 275 patients with ICH, 47 patients had Blend Sign I (17.09%) and 17 patients had Blend Sign II (6.18%). The coagulation function abnormality rate had no statistical difference among Blend Sign I, Blend Sign II, and conventional groups (P>0.05). In the Blend Sign I group, the rebleeding rate was 4.26%, bad prognosis rate was 25.53%, and mortality rate was 6.38%, which were not statistically significantly different compared with those in the conventional group (P>0.05). The rebleeding rate in the Blend Sign II group was 47.06%, bad prognosis rate was 82.35%, and mortality rate was 47.06%, which were statistically significantly different compared with those in the conventional and Blend Sign I groups (P<0.05). Conclusions. For the patients associated with Blend Sign I, the prognosis was equivalent to that in the conventional group, with no statistically significant difference. The rebleeding, bad prognosis, and mortality rates were higher in the Blend Sign II group than in the conventional group and deserved more attention.
Drug Resistance Patterns ofEscherichia coliin Ethiopia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tuem Kald Beshir , Gebre Abadi Kahsu , Atey Tesfay Mehari , Bitew Helen , Yimer Ebrahim M. , Berhe Derbew Fikadu
Published: May 2018

Background. Antimicrobial drug resistance is a global threat for treatment of infectious diseases and costs life and money and threatens health delivery system’s effectiveness. The resistance ofE. colito frequently utilized antimicrobial drugs is becoming a major challenge in Ethiopia. However, there is no inclusive countrywide study. Therefore, this study intended to assess the prevalence ofE. coliresistance and antimicrobial-specific resistance pattern amongE. coliclinical isolates in Ethiopia.Methods. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and grey literature from 2007 to 2017. The main outcome measures were overallE. coliand drug-specific resistance patterns. A random-effects model was used to determine pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI), using DerSimonian and Laird method. In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted to improve the outcome. The study bias was assessed by Begg’s funnel plot. This study was registered in PROSPERO as follows: PROSPERO 2017: CRD42017070106.Results. Of 164 articles retrieved, 35 articles were included. A total of 19,235 study samples participated in the studies and 2,635E. colistrains were isolated. Overall,E. coliantibacterial resistance was 45.38% (95% confidence interval (CI): 33.50 to 57.27). The resistance pattern ranges from 62.55% in Addis Ababa to 27.51% in Tigray region. The highest resistance ofE. colireported was to ampicillin (83.81%) and amoxicillin (75.79%), whereas only 13.55% ofE. coliisolates showed resistance to nitrofurantoin.Conclusion.E. coliantimicrobial resistance remains high with disparities observed among regions. The bacterium was found to be highly resistant to aminopenicillins. The finding implies the need for effective prevention strategies for theE. colidrug resistance and calls for multifaceted approaches with full involvement of all stakeholders.
Adaptive Fuzzy Control of Uncertain Robotic Manipulator
Authors: Zhou Jinglei , Zhang Qunli
Published: May 2018

This paper designs a kind of adaptive fuzzy controller for robotic manipulator considering external disturbances and modeling errors. First, n-link uncertain robotic manipulator dynamics based on the Lagrange equation is changed into a two-order multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system via feedback technique. Then, an adaptive fuzzy logic control scheme is studied by using sliding theory, which adopts the adaptive fuzzy logic systems to estimate the uncertainties and employs a filtered error to make up for the approximation errors, hence enhancing the robust performance of robotic manipulator system uncertainties. It is proved that the tracking errors converge into zero asymptotically by using Lyapunov stability theory. Last, we take a two-link rigid robotic manipulator as an example and give its simulations. Compared with the existing results in the literature, the proposed controller shows higher precision and stronger robustness.
A Quantitative Method for Detecting Ara h 2 by Generation and Utilization of Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Chen Huifang , Zou Zehong , Tao Ailin
Published: May 2018

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is one of the most common food allergens that can induce fatal anaphylaxis, and Ara h 2 is one of the major allergen components involved in peanut allergy. The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative method for detecting peanut allergen using monoclonal antibodies against Ara h 2. The splenocytes of immunized mice were fused with myeloma cells (SP2/0), and stable mAb-producing clones were obtained by limiting dilution. mAbs against Ara h 2 were isolated from mouse ascites, and specificity was confirmed by immunoblotting. Five mAbs with high purity and specific reactivity were obtained, which were referred to as 1-2E10, 2-1D5, 3-1C5, 4-1C2, and 5-1G4, respectively. After screening different mAb combinations for development of a sandwich ELISA, we selected 5-1G4 as the capture antibody and 1-2E10 as the detection antibody for the measurement of Ara h 2 from which an optimal correlation between the Ara h 2 concentration and the OD value was obtained. This sandwich ELISA could specifically detect Ara h 2 in peanut extract at concentrations as low as 5 ng/mL and up to 10 μg/mL. These mAbs can, therefore, serve as quantitative diagnostic reagents for peanut and peanut product risk assessment.
Local Search Algorithms for the Beam Angles’ Selection Problem in Radiotherapy
Authors: Cabrera-Guerrero Guillermo , Rodriguez Nibaldo , Lagos Carolina , Cabrera Enrique , Johnson Franklin
Published: May 2018

One important problem in radiation therapy for cancer treatment is the selection of the set of beam angles radiation will be delivered from. A primary goal in this problem is to find a beam angle configuration (BAC) that leads to a clinically acceptable treatment plan. Further, this process must be done within clinically acceptable times. Since the problem of selecting beam angles in radiation therapy is known to be extremely hard to solve as well as time-consuming, both exact algorithms and population-based heuristics might not be suitable to solve this problem. In this paper, we compare two matheuristic methods based on local search algorithms, to approximately solve the beam angle optimisation problem (BAO). Although the steepest descent algorithm is able to find locally optimal BACs for the BAO problem, it takes too long before convergence, which is not acceptable in clinical practice. Thus, we propose to use a next descent algorithm that converges quickly to good quality solutions although no (local) optimality guarantee is given. We apply our two matheuristic methods on a prostate case which considers two organs at risk, namely, the rectum and the bladder. Results show that the matheuristic algorithm based on the next descent local search is able to quickly find solutions as good as the ones found by the steepest descent algorithm.
Prevalence and Antibiogram Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus in Beef at Municipal Abattoir and Butcher Shops in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Adugna Feben , Pal Mahendra , Girmay Gebrerufael
Published: May 2018

Objective. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2013 to April 2014 to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus from beef of Addis Ababa Abattoir and butcher shops in Addis Ababa. Seven hundred sixty-eight swab samples were taken from the abattoir and butcher carcasses using a systematic random sampling. One hundred twenty swab samples were also taken from hooks, cutting tables, and knives from the abattoir. Staphylococcus aureus positive isolates were taken for antibiotic susceptibility test. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the abattoir and butcher workers to assess the hygienic practice and possible risk factors regarding the contamination of meat. Results. The prevalence of S. aureus in the abattoir, butcher, cutting table, hook, and knife was 9.4%, 19.8%, 15%, 15%, and 22.5%, respectively. The prevalence of S. aureus in the knife and butcher was found to be 2.8 (OR = 2.8, CI = 1.2–6.4) and 2.4 (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.6–3.6) times that of the abattoir results (p<0.01). The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was also conducted on 133 isolates of S. aureus using the disc diffusion susceptibility method. Bacitracin, neomycin, and methicillin were found to be 100% resistant to S. aureus. To avoid the presence of pathogenic Staphylococcus isolates, preventive measures using good hygienic practices during slaughtering and handling of the beef carcasses are recommended.
Predicting Short‐Term Electricity Demand by Combining the Advantages of ARMA and XGBoost in Fog Computing Environment
Authors: Li Chuanbin , Zheng Xiaosen , Yang Zikun , Kuang Li
Published: May 2018

With the rapid development of IoT, the disadvantages of Cloud framework have been exposed, such as high latency, network congestion, and low reliability. Therefore, the Fog Computing framework has emerged, with an extended Fog Layer between the Cloud and terminals. In order to address the real‐time prediction on electricity demand, we propose an approach based on XGBoost and ARMA in Fog Computing environment. By taking the advantages of Fog Computing framework, we first propose a prototype‐based clustering algorithm to divide enterprise users into several categories based on their total electricity consumption; we then propose a model selection approach by analyzing users’ historical records of electricity consumption and identifying the most important features. Generally speaking, if the historical records pass the test of stationarity and white noise, ARMA is used to model the user’s electricity consumption in time sequence; otherwise, if the historical records do not pass the test, and some discrete features are the most important, such as weather and whether it is weekend, XGBoost will be used. The experiment results show that our proposed approach by combining the advantage of ARMA and XGBoost is more accurate than the classical models.
A Novel Feature Selection Method Based on Extreme Learning Machine and Fractional-Order Darwinian PSO
Authors: Wang Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Huan , Qiu Chen-Hui , Xia Shun-Ren
Published: May 2018

The paper presents a novel approach for feature selection based on extreme learning machine (ELM) and Fractional-order Darwinian particle swarm optimization (FODPSO) for regression problems. The proposed method constructs a fitness function by calculating mean square error (MSE) acquired from ELM. And the optimal solution of the fitness function is searched by an improved particle swarm optimization, FODPSO. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, comparative experiments with other relative methods are conducted in seven public datasets. The proposed method obtains six lowest MSE values among all the comparative methods. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has the superiority of getting lower MSE with the same scale of feature subset or requiring smaller scale of feature subset for similar MSE.
Age-Related Reference Intervals for Blood Amino Acids in Thai Pediatric Population Measured by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Uaariyapanichkul Jaraspong , Chomtho Sirinuch , Suphapeetiporn Kanya , Shotelersuk Vorasuk , Punnahitananda Santi , Chinjarernpan Pannee , Suteerojntrakool Orapa
Published: May 2018

Background. Age, race, and analytic method influence levels of blood amino acids, of which reference intervals are required for the diagnosis and management of inherited metabolic disorders.Objectives. To establish age-specific reference intervals for blood amino acids in Thai pediatric population measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).Methods. A cross-sectional study of 277 healthy children from birth to 12 years was conducted. Anthropometric, clinical, and dietary information were recorded. Dried blood spots on a filtered paper were used for measurement by derivatized LC-MS/MS. Factors that might affect amino acids such as fasting time and dietary intake were analyzed using quantile regression analysis.Results. Levels of thirteen blood amino acids were reported as median and interval from 2.5th–97.5th percentiles. Compared with those of Caucasian, most blood amino acid levels of Thai children were higher. Compared with a previous study using HPLC in Thai children, many amino acid levels are different. Glycine, alanine, leucine/isoleucine, and glutamic acid sharply decreased after birth. Citrulline, arginine, and methionine stayed low from birth throughout childhood, whereas phenylalanine was at middle level and slightly increased during preadolescence.Conclusion. Reference intervals of age-specific blood amino acids using LC-MS/MS were established in the Thai pediatric population. They diverge from previous studies, substantiating the recommendation that, for the optimal clinical practice, age-specific reference intervals of amino acids should be designated for the particular population and analysis method.
Treatment of Rectovaginal Fistula Using Sphincteroplasty and Fistulectomy
Authors: Beksac Kemal , Tanacan Atakan , Ozgul Nejat , Beksac Mehmet Sinan
Published: May 2018

Aim. To assess the results of the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas with incontinence and impaired anal tonus. Materials and Methods. This study comprised three rectovaginal fistula groups that were treated using sphincteroplasty and fistulectomy: group 1: eight women with simple rectovaginal fistula due to birth trauma; group 2: six rectovaginal fistula cases that were associated with chronic inflammatory diseases; and group 3: five cases with at least one failed repair attempt. In the second step, operations that took place before the year 2000 were compared to the operations that took place after the year 2000 in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. Results. All of the simple rectovaginal fistula cases healed after the operation. Five of the group 2 patients healed after the operation. However, 1 patient with Crohn’s disease needed to undergo reoperation, but successfully healed after 6 months. On the contrary, 3 patients in group 3 healed (60%) whereas 2 of them failed to heal. Clinical characteristics of the patients were different between the groups (before and after the year 2000). Conclusion. The choice of operation must be done according to the patient’s underlying pathology. Proper management of associated inflammatory diseases and systemic disorders is recommended for necessary complex cases.
Multipoint Approximation of Statistical Descriptors of Local Strain and Stress Fields in Heterogeneous Media Using Integral Equation Method
Authors: Tashkinov Mikhail
Published: May 2018

This paper is devoted to derivation of analytic expressions for statistical descriptors of stress and strain fields in heterogeneous media. Multipoint approximations of solutions of stochastic elastic boundary value problems for representative volume elements are investigated. The stress and strain fields are represented in the form of random coordinate functions, for which analytical expressions for the first- and second-order statistical central moments are obtained. Such moments characterize distribution of fields under prescribed loading of a representative volume element and depend on the geometry features and location of components within a volume. The information of the internal geometrical structure is taken into account by means of multipoint correlation functions. Within the framework of the second approximation of the boundary value problem, the correlation functions up to the fifth order are required to calculate the statistical characteristics. Using the method of Green’s functions, analytical expressions for the moments in distinct phases of the microstructure are obtained explicitly in a form of integral equations. Their analysis and comparison with previously obtained results are performed.
Quality of Commercial Coffees: Heavy Metal and Ash Contents
Authors: Pigozzi Mariana Teixeira , Passos Flávia Regina , Mendes Fabrícia Queiroz
Published: May 2018

This study aimed to quantify the ash content and to determine the concentration of heavy metals in roasted ground coffee and their respective infusions. The ash content was determined by incineration of the samples, and the quantification of heavy metals was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the following metals: cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, nickel, and zinc. According to the ash analysis, 15% of the roasted ground coffee samples were within the standards established by the legislation of the state of São Paulo, which has set an ash content of below 5%. In the roasted ground coffee samples, the Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn contents did not exceed the limit established by Brazilian legislation. In several samples, both Pb and Cr were found in high levels, exceeding the limits established by Brazilian legislation. In the infusions of roasted ground coffee, the Cd, Cu, Cr, and Ni contents were below the detection limit of the equipment. Zn was found in all infusions and Pb was only detected in seven coffee infusion samples. Overall, the concentrations of heavy metals found in the commercially roasted ground coffee and their respective infusions are lower than the limits recommended by the official inspection agencies and, thus, are suitable for consumption.
A Retrospective 10-Year Analysis of Water Absorbent Bead Ingestion in Children
Authors: Mehmetoğlu Feride
Published: May 2018

Aim. This retrospective case series was designed to evaluate the clinical experience of pediatric patients who had ingested water absorbent beads (WABs) and review the relevant literature.Materials and Methods. A retrospective chart analysis of 21 children who were admitted to the emergency service or outpatient clinic with complaints of swallowing WABs during a 10-year period was performed. The patients were divided into two groups: 6 patients who were hospitalized and 15 patients who were observed as outpatients for groups 1 and 2, respectively. All data were screened with respect to presentation, age, gender, clinical and radiological findings, modalities of treatment, and follow-up.Results. All patients were asymptomatic with uneventful outcomes. Laboratory studies, X-ray, and ultrasound examinations revealed normal results. None of the patients underwent surgery or other medical procedures. Gastrointestinal system obstruction or any other pathological findings were not detected after WAB ingestion. No complications were identified during follow-up.Discussion. This first clinical study showed that asymptomatic patients do not require inpatient observation and laboratory investigations, X-ray, and ultrasound. However, results of the present study cannot be generalized to children of all ages due to the few cases of bowel obstruction reported to date in small children.
The Application of Real Convolution for Analytically Evaluating Fermi-Dirac-Type and Bose-Einstein-Type Integrals
Authors: Selvaggi Jerry P. , Selvaggi Jerry A.
Published: May 2018

The Fermi-Dirac-type or Bose-Einstein-type integrals can be transformed into two convergent real-convolution integrals. The transformation simplifies the integration process and may ultimately produce a complete analytical solution without recourse to any mathematical approximations. The real-convolution integrals can either be directly integrated or be transformed into the Laplace Transform inversion integral in which case the full power of contour integration becomes available. Which method is employed is dependent upon the complexity of the real-convolution integral. A number of examples are introduced which will illustrate the efficacy of the analytical approach.
The Schwartz Alternating Algorithm for Solving 3D Exterior Helmholtz Problems
Authors: Chen Qing , Liu Baoqing , Du Qikui
Published: May 2018

Based on the natural boundary reduction, an overlapping domain decomposition method is discussed for solving exterior Helmholtz problem over a three-dimensional (3D) domain. By introducing two different artificial boundaries, the original unbounded domain is divided into a bounded subdomain and a typical unbounded region, and a Schwartz alternating method is presented. The finite element method and natural boundary element method are alternately applied to solve the problems in the bounded subdomain and the typical unbounded subdomain. Moreover, the convergence of the Schwartz alternating algorithm is studied. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented to show the performance of this method.
Predicting Traffic Dynamics with Driver Response Model for Proactive Variable Speed Limit Control Algorithm
Authors: Ye Huixuan , Tu Lili , Fang Jie
Published: May 2018

Variable Speed Limit (VSL) control contributes to potential crash risk reduction by suggesting a suitable dynamic speed limit to achieve more stable and uniform traffic flow. In recent studies, researchers adopted macroscopic traffic flow models and perform prediction-based optimal VSL control. The response of drivers to the advised VSL is one of the most critical parameters in VSL-controlled speed dynamics modeling, which significantly affects the accuracy of traffic state prediction as well as the control reliability and performance. Nevertheless, the variations of driver responses were not explicitly modeled. Thus, in this research, the authors proposed a dynamic driver response model to formulate how the drivers respond to the advised VSL during various traffic conditions. The model was established and calibrated using field data to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of drivers’ desired speed regarding the advised VSL and current traffic state variables. A proactive VSL control algorithm incorporating the established driver response model was designed and implemented in field-data-based simulation study. The design proactive control algorithm modifies VSL in real-time according to the traffic state prediction results, aiming to reduce potential crash risks over the experiment site. By taking into account the real-time driver response variations, the VSL-controlled traffic state dynamics was more accurately predicted. The experimental results illustrated that the proposed control algorithm effectively reduces the crash probabilities in the traffic network.
Toxicity of Anethole and the Essential Oils of Lemongrass and Sweet Marigold to the Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor and Their Selectivity for Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Workers and Larvae
Authors: Sabahi Qodratollah , Hamiduzzaman Mollah Md. , Barajas-Pérez Juan S. , Tapia-Gonzalez Jose M. , Guzman-Novoa Ernesto
Published: May 2018

This study examined the toxicity of anethole and that of the essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and sweet marigold (Tagetes lucida) to the mite Varroa destructor and to honey bee workers and larvae. Anethole was the most toxic compound to V. destructor (LC50: 304.9 μg/ml), whereas Tagetes oil was the least toxic (LC50: 1256.27 μg/ml). The most and least toxic compounds to worker bees were anethole and Tagetes oil with LD50s of 35942 and 85381 μg/ml, respectively. For larvae, Tagetes oil was the most toxic compound (LD50: 9580.7 μg/ml) and anethole the least toxic (LD50: 14518.0 μg/ml). Anethole and Cymbopogon oil had the highest selectivity ratios. The expression of AChE, a gene that regulates the production of acetyl cholinesterase, a detoxifying enzyme, was not altered in bees treated with the plant compounds at 48 h post-treatment. This study showed that anethole and Cymbopogon oil have potential for controlling Varroa mites and seem to be relatively safe for larvae and adult honey bees.
Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia)
Authors: Nazir Muhammad Mudasser , Ayaz Muhammad Mazhar , Ahmed Atif Nisar , Maqbool Azhar , Ashraf Kamran , Oneeb Muhammad , Yasin Ghulam , Subhani Atta , Ali Muhammad Asif , Nazir Noman , Sajid Muhammad Afzal
Published: May 2018

Little is known about the prevalence of protozoan parasites in the muscles of rock pigeons (Columbia livia). The muscles from 54 (heart from 45 and breast from 54) rock pigeons were examined for DNA of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis species using PCR. Twenty-four were female and 30 were males. The birds were part of flocks of pigeons housed at the tombs of saints in Lahore, Pakistan. Birds that died or were euthanized due to poor health were submitted for necropsy at the Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, where DNA isolations and PCR were conducted. Nineteen (35.1%) of the birds were positive for T. gondii DNA. Seven males and 12 females were positive. Breast tissue was always infected in T. gondii positive birds, while the heart was infected in 13 (28.8%) of breast positive birds. Five (9.2%) of the pigeons, 2 males and 3 females, were positive for N. caninum. The distribution of N. caninum DNA was more variable in the muscles of pigeons than T. gondii and was found only in the heart of 1 (female), heart and breast muscle of 2 (male), and only the breast muscle of 2 birds (female). One of the 54 rock pigeons (female) was positive for both T. gondii (heart and breast) and N. caninum (heart only). Two of the positive Neospora caninum amplicons were sequenced and had 97% nucleotide identity with N. caninum isolates. Sarcocystis DNA was not found in any bird. The prevalence of T. gondii in rock pigeons and their predation by cats suggest that they may play an unrecognized role in maintaining environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts by cats. Our study indicates that rock pigeons are intermediate hosts of N. caninum and this information will aid in understanding the epidemiology of N. caninum.
Rail Degradation Prediction Models for Tram System: Melbourne Case Study
Authors: Falamarzi Amir , Moridpour Sara , Nazem Majidreza , Hesami Reyhaneh
Published: May 2018

Tram is classified as a light rail mode of transportation. Tram tracks experience high acceleration and deceleration forces of locomotives and wagons within their service life and also share their route with other vehicles. This results in higher rates of degradation in tram tracks compared to the degradation rate in heavy rail tracks. In this research, gauge deviation is employed as a representative of track geometry irregularities for the predication of the tram track degradation. Data sets used in this research were sourced from Melbourne’s tram system. For model development, the data of approximately 250 km of tram tracks are used. Two different models including a regression model and an Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model have been applied for predicting tram track gauge deviation. According to the results, the performances of the regression models are similar to the ANN models. The determination coefficients of the developed models are above 0.7.
Flow Partitioning in Rectangular Open Channel Flow
Authors: Han Yu , Yang Shu-Qing , Sivakumar Muttucumaru , Qiu Liu-Chao , Chen Jian
Published: May 2018

Hydraulic engineers often divide a flow region into subregions to simplify calculations. However, the implementation of flow divisibility remains an open issue and has not yet been implemented as a fully developed mathematical tool for modeling complex channel flows independently of experimental verification. This paper addresses whether a three-dimensional flow is physically divisible, meaning that division lines with zero Reynolds shear stress exist. An intensive laboratory investigation was conducted to carefully measure the time-averaged velocity in a rectangular open channel flow using a laser Doppler anemometry system. Two innovative methods are employed to determine the locations of division lines based on the measured velocity profile. The results clearly reveal that lines with zero total shear stress are discernible, indicating that the flow is physically divisible. Moreover, the experimental data were employed to test previously proposed methods of calculating division lines, and the results show that Yang and Lim’s method is the most reasonable predictor.
The Status and Future Prospects of Hydropower for Sustainable Water and Energy Development in Tanzania
Authors: Kichonge Baraka
Published: May 2018

Tanzania is among the countries with the fastest growing economy in Africa and therefore the need for affordable, clean, and most importantly sustainable electrical energy to meet her ever growing demands is pressing. In recent years, the country’s electricity needs have been largely dominated by thermal generations despite the fact that Tanzania is gifted with huge hydropower resource potential approximated at 38,000 MW with only a very small portion exploited to date. However, the exploited potential is expected to grow by commissioning of identified large and medium-scale hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 4,765 MW currently under various stages of implementation. Moreover, the geographical location of Tanzania has several benefits to support development of small hydropower projects essential for appropriate utilization of available water resources as a way of mitigating climate challenges effects. Over the last decade, the country electricity demand along with end-use of energy has witnessed significant increases as economic development spreads towards achieving Vision 2025 goals. Proposed hydropower developments are projected to have enormous benefits in the acceleration of economic growth while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. In this paper, hydropower, which is one of the domestic options for clean energy development path, its present and future potential status, and water resources are explored based on a comprehensive review of energy sector relevant documents and polices.
A Progressive Extended Kalman Filter Method for Freeway Traffic State Estimation Integrating Multisource Data
Authors: Liu Yingshun , He Shanglu , Ran Bin , Cheng Yang
Published: May 2018

Variable techniques have been used to collect traffic data and estimate traffic conditions. In most cases, more than one technology is available. A legitimate need for research and application is how to use the heterogeneous data from multiple sources and provide reliable and consistent results. This paper aims to integrate the traffic features extracted from the wireless communication records and the measurements from the microwave sensors for the state estimation. A state‐space model and a Progressive Extended Kalman Filter (PEKF) method are proposed. The results from the field test exhibit that the proposed method efficiently fuses the heterogeneous multisource data and adaptively tracks the variation of traffic conditions. The proposed method is satisfactory and promising for future development and implementation.
A Novel Model for Predicting Associations between Diseases and LncRNA-miRNA Pairs Based on a Newly Constructed Bipartite Network
Authors: Zhou Shunxian , Xuan Zhanwei , Wang Lei , Ping Pengyao , Pei Tingrui
Published: May 2018

Motivation. Increasing studies have demonstrated that many human complex diseases are associated with not only microRNAs, but also long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs and microRNA play significant roles in various biological processes. Therefore, developing effective computational models for predicting novel associations between diseases and lncRNA-miRNA pairs (LMPairs) will be beneficial to not only the understanding of disease mechanisms at lncRNA-miRNA level and the detection of disease biomarkers for disease diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention, but also the understanding of interactions between diseases and LMPairs at disease level.Results. It is well known that genes with similar functions are often associated with similar diseases. In this article, a novel model named PADLMP for predicting associations between diseases and LMPairs is proposed. In this model, a Disease-LncRNA-miRNA (DLM) tripartite network was designed firstly by integrating the lncRNA-disease association network and miRNA-disease association network; then we constructed the disease-LMPairs bipartite association network based on the DLM network and lncRNA-miRNA association network; finally, we predicted potential associations between diseases and LMPairs based on the newly constructed disease-LMPair network. Simulation results show that PADLMP can achieve AUCs of 0.9318, 0.9090 ± 0.0264, and 0.8950 ± 0.0027 in the LOOCV, 2-fold, and 5-fold cross validation framework, respectively, which demonstrate the reliable prediction performance of PADLMP.
Yokukansan, a Traditional Japanese Medicine, Enhances the Glutamate Transporter GLT‐1 Function in Cultured Rat Cortical Astrocytes
Authors: Ueki Toshiyuki , Kawakami Zenji , Kanno Hitomi , Omiya Yuji , Mizoguchi Kazushige , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: May 2018

Astrocytes carry two glutamate transporters—GLAST and GLT‐1—the latter of which is responsible for >90% of glutamate uptake activity in the brain; however, under culture conditions, the GLT‐1 expression in astrocytes is exceedingly low, as is the glutamate uptake activity mediated by GLT‐1. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of yokukansan (YKS) in relation to the GLT‐1‐mediated regulation of extracellular glutamate concentrations. Thus, we treated cultured astrocytes with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and dibutyryl‐cAMP (dBcAMP) (hereinafter, referred to as “TA”) to increase GLT‐1 expression and then functionally examined how YKS would affect glutamate uptake ability derived from GLT‐1. Contrary to expectations, although the TA treatments did not affect the uptake activity, YKS significantly augmented it. Conversely, GLAST‐derived glutamate uptake was significantly reduced by TA treatments but was unaffected by YKS. Subsequently, we analyzed the GLT‐1 protein and mRNA levels and found that TA treatments had significantly increased them, which were then further augmented by YKS. These findings suggest that YKS enhances GLT‐1‐derived glutamate transport functions in TA‐treated cultured astrocytes and that this process entails increased GLT‐1 protein and mRNA levels. This type of mechanism may contribute to the YKS‐mediated regulation of extracellular glutamate concentrations.
Synthesis, Characterization of Nano-β-Tricalcium Phosphate and the Inhibition on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Liu Langlang , Wu Yanzeng , Xu Chao , Yu Suchun , Wu Xiaopei , Dai Honglian
Published: May 2018

It is difficult to synthesize nano-β-tricalcium phosphate (nano-β-TCP) owing to special crystal habit. The aim of this work was to synthesize nano-β-TCP using ethanol-water system and characterize it by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Malvern laser particle size analyzer, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, the inhibitory effect of nano-β-TCP on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells was also investigated using MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage test, and 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The results showed that negatively charged rod-like nano-β-TCP with about 55 nm in diameter and 120 nm in length was synthesized, and the average particle size of nano-β-TCP was 72.7 nm. The cell viability revealed that nano-β-TCP caused reduced cell viability of HepG2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These findings presented here may provide valuable reference data to guide the design of nano-β-TCP-based anticancer drug carrier and therapeutic systems in the future.
Radiation Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles/Chitosan for Controlling Leaf Fall Disease on Rubber Trees Causing by Corynespora cassiicola
Authors: Nhien Le Thi An , Luong Nguyen Duc , Tien Le Thi Thuy , Luan Le Quang
Published: May 2018

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully prepared by γ-rays irradiation of solution containing 1.0–10 mM of silver nitrate and 1% chitosan. The optical characteristics and particles sizes of AuNPs were determined by UV-Vis spectra and TEM images, respectively. The size of AgNPs increased by the increase of silver concentration or the decrease of chitosan molecular weight in irradiated solution. The in vitro test showed that AgNPs inhibited the growth of Corynespora cassiicola on rubber-leaf extract media with the inhibitory efficiency of 52.1–100% by treatment of AgNPs with particle size from 15 to 5 nm, respectively. In addition, antifungal activity was found to reach ~100% by the addition of 90 ppm AgNPs. The in vivo foliar treatment of AgNPs on 9-month-old rubber plants showed that the treatment with 2.5–12.5 ppm AgNPs on tested plants after inoculation by spraying with C. cassiicola spores enhanced the rate of non-disease-infected plants from 6.0 to 93.3%, respectively, compared to the untreated control. The inhibition effect of AgNPs on fungal growth of C. cassiicola mycelial was also elucidated via SEM images. The AgNPs/chitosan synthesized by γ-irradiation is potentially promising to use as a fungicidal product for treating C. cassiicola, a serious pathogen fungus on rubber trees.
The Chinese Herb Yi‐Qi‐Huo‐Xue Protects Cardiomyocyte Function in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Wang Xiangsheng , Huang Jing , Wang Shengyi , Ni Qing
Published: May 2018

Aims. To study the effect of the Chinese herb Yi‐qi‐huo‐xue on cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats. Methods. Rats were fed a high fat and high glucose diet and injected with 50 ml/kg streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), followed by treatment with Yi‐qi‐huo‐xue for 4 weeks. We measured the rats’ heart weight index, observed the myocardial morphology using hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, and determined the content of collagen types I and III in the myocardium using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We determined Bcl‐2, Bax, and P53 protein expression by Western blot analysis and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate via a flow cytometry assay. Results. Compared with the rats in the control group, the diabetic rats gained weight and had increased blood sugar levels, an enhanced heart weight index, and increased myocardial pathophysiological damage. There was a decrease in their Bcl‐2 expression, and their Bax and P53 expression increased. The Bcl‐2/Bax ratio was enhanced, and there was an increase in the content of collagen types I and III in the myocardium. After treatment with Yi‐qi‐huo‐xue, all levels listed above returned to normal. Conclusion. The Chinese herb Yi‐qi‐huo‐xue degraded the myocardial interstitial collagen types I and III to protect the myocardium of the diabetic rats, thus delaying the role of myocardial fibrosis. Yi‐qi‐huo‐xue could play an important role in protecting the myocardium of DCM rats by enhancing the expression of the Bcl‐2 protein, inhibiting the expression of the Bax and P53 proteins, increasing the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax, and inhibiting the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.