bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocol for Compass: a randomised controlled trial of primary HPV testing versus cytology screening for cervical cancer in HPV-unvaccinated and vaccinated women aged 25–69 years living in Australia
Authors: Canfell Karen , Saville Marion , Caruana Michael , Gebski Val , Darlington-Brown Jessica , Brotherton Julia , Heley Stella , Castle Philip E
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) currently recommends 2-year cytology in women aged 18–69 years. Following a review of the NCSP prompted by the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, the programme will transition in 2017 to 5-year primary HPV screening with partial genotyping for HPV16/18 in women aged 25–74 years. Compass is a sentinel experience for the renewed NCSP and the first prospectively randomised trial of primary HPV screening compared with cytology to be conducted in a population with high uptake of HPV vaccination. This protocol describes the main Compass trial, which commenced after a pilot study of ~5000 women completed recruitment.

Methods and analysis

Women aged 25–69 years will be randomised at a 1:2 allocation to (1) 2.5-year image-read, liquid-based cytology (LBC) screening with HPV triage of low-grade smears (active control Arm A) or (2) 5-year HPV screening with partial genotyping and referral of HPV16/18-positive women to colposcopy (intervention Arm B). Women in Arm B positive for other oncogenic HPV (not 16/18) will undergo secondary randomisation at a 1:1 allocation to either LBC or dual-stained (p16INK4aand Ki-67) cytology testing (dual-stained cytology). The primary outcome is cumulative CIN3+ (CIN3, adenocarcinoma in situ and invasive cervical cancer) following a 5-year HPV exit testing round in both arms, in women randomised to the HPV arm versus women randomised to the LBC arm, based on an intention-to-treat analysis. The primary outcome will first be tested for non-inferiority and if declared, the primary outcome will be tested for superiority. A total of 36 300 women in birth cohorts not offered vaccination and 84 700 women in cohorts offered vaccination will be recruited, bringing the final sample size to 121 000. The trial is powered for the secondary outcome of cumulative CIN3+ in screen-negative women, adjusted for censoring after CIN2+ treatment and hysterectomy.

Ethics and dissemination

Approved by the Bellberry Ethics Committee (2014-11-592). Findings will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings.

Trial registration number

NCT02328872; Pre-results.
Blood-based biomarkers of cancer-related cognitive impairment in non-central nervous system cancer: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Mayo Samantha J , Kuruvilla John , Laister Rob C , Ayala Ana Patricia , Alm Mark , Byker Will , Kelly Debra Lynch , Saligan Leorey
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) can have detrimental effects on quality of life, even among patients with non-central nervous system (CNS) cancers. Several studies have been conducted to explore different markers associated with CRCI to understand its pathobiology. It is proposed that the underlying mechanisms of CRCI are related to a cascade of physiological adaptive events in response to cancer and/or treatment. Hence, peripheral blood would be a logical source to observe and identify these physiological events. This paper outlines the protocol for a scoping review being conducted to summarise the extant literature regarding blood-based biomarkers of CRCI among patients with non-CNS cancer.

Methods/analysis

Methods will be informed by the updated guidelines of Arksey and O’Malley. The systematic search for literature will include electronic databases, handsearching of key journals and reference lists, forward citation tracking and consultation with content experts. Study selection will be confirmed by duplicate review and calculation of inter-rater reliability. Data to be charted will include study design, sample size, cancer and treatment characteristics, demographic characteristics, cognitive variable/s and biomarkers assessed, associations between cognitive functioning and biomarkers (including statistics used), and rigour in biomarker sample collection and processing. Results will be presented through: (1) a descriptive numerical summary of studies, including a flow diagram based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement, (2) a list of blood-based biomarkers associated with CRCI and (3) a narrative overview developed through collaboration among the research team and consultation with content experts.

Dissemination

The findings of this review will highlight current directions and gaps in the current body of evidence that may lead to improved rigour in future CRCI investigations. The dissemination of this work will be facilitated through the involvement of clinicians and researchers on the research team, an external consultation process and the presentation of the results through scholarly publication and presentation.
Epidurals in Pancreatic Resection Outcomes (E-PRO) study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pak Linda Ma , Haroutounian Simon , Hawkins William G , Worley Lori , Kurtz Monika , Frey Karen , Karanikolas Menelaos , Swarm Robert A , Bottros Michael M
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Epidural analgesia provides an important synergistic method of pain control. In addition to reducing perioperative opioid consumption, the deliverance of analgesia into the epidural space, effectively creating a sympathetic blockade, has a multitude of additional potential benefits, from decreasing the incidence of postoperative delirium to reducing the development of persistent postsurgical pain (PPSP). Prior studies have also identified a correlation between the use of epidural analgesia and improved oncological outcomes and survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of epidural analgesia in pancreatic operations on immediate postoperative outcomes, the development of PPSP and oncological outcomes in a prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Methods

The Epidurals in Pancreatic Resection Outcomes (E-PRO) study is a prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled trial. 150 patients undergoing either pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy will be randomised to receive an epidural bupivacaine infusion following anaesthetic induction followed by continued epidural bupivacaine infusion postoperatively in addition to the institutional standardised pain regimen of hydromorphone patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), acetaminophen and ketorolac (intervention group) or no epidural infusion and only the standardised postoperative pain regimen (control group). The primary outcome was the postoperative opioid consumption, measured in morphine or morphine-equivalents. Secondary outcomes include patient-reported postoperative pain numerical rating scores, trend and relative ratios of serum inflammatory markers (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-10), occurrence of postoperative delirium, development of PPSP as determined by quantitative sensory testing, and disease-free and overall survival.

Ethics and dissemination

The E-PRO trial has been approved by the institutional review board. Recruitment began in May 2016 and will continue until the end of May 2018. Dissemination plans include presentations at scientific conferences and scientific publications.

Trial registration number

NCT02681796.
Trends and determinants of length of stay and hospital reimbursement following knee and hip replacement: evidence from linked primary care and NHS hospital records from 1997 to 2014
Authors: Burn Edward , Edwards Christopher J , Murray David W , Silman Alan , Cooper Cyrus , Arden Nigel K , Pinedo-Villanueva Rafael , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel
Published: January 2018

Objectives

To measure changes in length of stay following total knee and hip replacement (TKR and THR) between 1997 and 2014 and estimate the impact on hospital reimbursement, all else being equal. Further, to assess the degree to which observed trends can be explained by improved efficiency or changes in patient profiles.

Design

Cross-sectional study using routinely collected data.

Setting

National Health Service primary care records from 1995 to 2014 in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink were linked to hospital inpatient data from 1997 to 2014 in Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care.

Participants

Study participants had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Interventions

Primary TKR, primary THR, revision TKR and revision THR.

Primary outcome measures

Length of stay and hospital reimbursement.

Results

10 260 primary TKR, 10 961 primary THR, 505 revision TKR and 633 revision THR were included. Expected length of stay fell from 16.0 days (95% CI 14.9 to 17.2) in 1997 to 5.4 (5.2 to 5.6) in 2014 for primary TKR and from 14.4 (13.7 to 15.0) to 5.6 (5.4 to 5.8) for primary THR, leading to savings of £1537 and £1412, respectively. Length of stay fell from 29.8 (17.5 to 50.5) to 11.0 (8.3 to 14.6) for revision TKR and from 18.3 (11.6 to 28.9) to 12.5 (9.3 to 16.8) for revision THR, but no significant reduction in reimbursement was estimated. The estimated effect of year of surgery remained similar when patient characteristics were included.

Conclusions

Length of stay for joint replacement fell substantially from 1997 to 2014. These reductions have translated into substantial savings. While patient characteristics affect length of stay and reimbursement, patient profiles have remained broadly stable over time. The observed reductions appear to be mostly explained by improved efficiency.
Maternal and birth cohort studies in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: protocol for a systematic review and narrative evaluation
Authors: Al-Rifai Rami H. , Ali Nasloon , Barigye Esther T. , Al Haddad Amal H. I. , Loney Tom , Al-Maskari Fatima , Ahmed Luai A.
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Cohort studies have revealed that genetic, socioeconomic, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and environmental exposures during pregnancy may influence the mother and her pregnancy, birth delivery and her offspring. Numerous studies have been conducted in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to examine maternal and birth health. The objectives of this protocol for a systematic review are to systematically review and characterise the exposures and outcomes that have been examined in the mother and birth cohort studies in the GCC region, and to summarise the strength of association between key maternal exposures during pregnancy (ie, body mass index) and different health-related outcomes (ie, mode of birth delivery). The review will then synthesise and characterise the consequent health implications and will serve as a platform to help identify areas that are overlooked, point out limitations of studies and provide recommendations for future cohort studies.

Methods and analysis

Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science electronic databases will be comprehensively searched. Two reviewers will independently screen each study for eligibility, and where discrepancies arise they will be discussed and resolved; otherwise a third reviewer will be consulted. The two reviewers will also independently extract data into a predefined Excel spreadsheet. The included studies will be categorised on the basis of whether the participant is a mother, infant or mother–infant dyad. Outcome variables will be divided along two distinctions: mother or infant. Exposure variables will be divided into six domains: psychosocial, biological, environmental, medical/medical services, maternal/reproductive and perinatal/child. Studies are expected to be of heterogeneous nature; therefore, quantitative syntheses might be limited.

Ethics and dissemination

There is no primary data collection; therefore, ethical review is not necessary. The findings of this review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017068910.
Ultrasonography of the larynx in horses: an update
Authors: Garrett Katie
Published: January 2018

Laryngeal ultrasonography is a useful adjunctive diagnostic technique for investigation of upper airway disorders in horses. A transcutaneous examination can be completed using equipment that is widely available to the practitioner and adds minimal time to the examination. Characteristic ultrasonographic findings of conditions such as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, arytenoid chondritis and congenital malformations have been documented. Although upper airway endoscopy should remain the cornerstone of investigation of these disorders, ultrasonography provides additional clinically relevant information.
Residual cardiovascular risk in individuals on lipid-lowering treatment: quantifying absolute and relative risk in the community
Authors: Lieb Wolfgang , Enserro Danielle M , Larson Martin G , Vasan Ramachandran S
Published: January 2018

Objective

The residual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in individuals on long-term lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) in the general population is not well described.

Methods

We estimated absolute CVD risks by age and sex for different categories of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, stratified by LLT status, and assessed subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in 3012 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 58.4 years; 55% women) free of CVD. Individuals were categorised into five groups: (1) LDL-C <100 mg/dL without LLT; (2) LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL to <130 mg/dL without LLT; (3) LDL-C <130 mg/dL on LLT; (4) LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL without LLT; and (5) LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL on LLT.

Results

Individuals in groups 3–5 had significantly more carotid atherosclerosis compared with group 1. During follow-up (median, 13.7 years), 548 CVD events occurred. Individuals on LLT (groups 3 and 5) had substantial residual CVD risk (26.7 (95% CI 19.5 to 34.0) and 24.1 (95% CI 16.2 to 31.9) per 1000 person-years, respectively), representing approximately three times the risk for untreated individuals with LDL <100 mg/dL (group 1: 9.0 (95% CI 6.8 to 11.3) per 1000 person-years). Absolute CVD risks rose with age and were slightly greater in men than in women. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, groups 3–5 displayed increased hazards for CVD (HR=1.47, 1.42 and 1.54, respectively) compared with group 1. Further adjustment for carotid atherosclerosis modestly attenuated these results.

Conclusions

There is substantial residual CVD risk in individuals on LLT, compared with participants with optimal LDL-C (<100 mg/dL), even when LDL-C levels <130 mg/dL are reached.
Optimal antiplatelet strategy after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmad Yousif , Demir Ozan , Rajkumar Christopher , Howard James P , Shun-Shin Matthew , Cook Christopher , Petraco Ricardo , Jabbour Richard , Arnold Ahran , Frame Angela , Sutaria Nilesh , Ariff Ben , Kanaganayagam Gajen , Francis Darrel , Mayet Jamil , Mikhail Ghada , Malik Iqbal , Sen Sayan
Published: January 2018

Objective

International guidelines recommend the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The recommended duration of DAPT varies between guidelines. In this two-part study, we (1) performed a structured survey of 45 TAVI centres from around the world to determine if there is consensus among clinicians regarding antiplatelet therapy after TAVI; and then (2) performed a systematic review of all suitable studies (randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and registries) to determine if aspirin monotherapy can be used instead of DAPT.

Methods

A structured electronic survey regarding antiplatelet use after TAVI was completed by 45 TAVI centres across Europe, Australasia and the USA. A systematic review of TAVI RCTs and registries was then performed comparing DAPT duration and incidence of stroke, bleeding and death. A variance weighted least squared metaregression was then performed to determine the relationship of antiplatelet therapy and adverse events.

Results

82.2% of centres routinely used DAPT after TAVI. Median duration was 3 months. 13.3% based their practice on guidelines. 11 781 patients (26 studies) were eligible for the metaregression. There was no benefit of DAPT over aspirin monotherapy for stroke (P=0.49), death (P=0.72) or bleeding (P=0.91).

Discussion

Aspirin monotherapy appears to be as safe and effective as DAPT after TAVI.
Long‐term complications following tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in small dogs with tibial plateau angles > 30°
Authors: Knight Rebekah , Danielski Alan
Published: January 2018

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is commonly performed for surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. It has been suggested that small dogs may have steeper tibial plateau angles (TPAs) than large dogs, which has been associated with increased complication rates after TPLO. A retrospective study was performed to assess the rate and nature of long‐term complications following TPLO in small dogs with TPAs>30°. Medical records were reviewed for dogs with TPAs>30° treated for CCL rupture by TPLO with a 2.0 mm plate over a five‐year period. Radiographs were assessed to determine TPA, postoperative tibial tuberosity width and to identify any complication. Up‐to‐date medical records were obtained from the referring veterinary surgeon and any complications in the year after surgery were recorded. The effects of different variables on complication rate were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Minor complications were reported in 22.7 per cent of cases. This is similar to or lower than previously reported complication rates for osteotomy techniques in small dogs and dogs with steep TPAs. A smaller postoperative TPA was the only variable significantly associated with an increased complication rate. No major complications were identified.
Probing Shells Against Buckling: A Nondestructive Technique for Laboratory Testing
Authors: Thompson J. Michael T. , Hutchinson John W. , Sieber Jan
Published: January 2018

This paper addresses testing of compressed structures, such as shells, that exhibit catastrophic buckling and notorious imperfection sensitivity. The central concept is the probing of a loaded structural specimen by a controlled lateral displacement to gain quantitative insight into its buckling behavior and to measure the energy barrier against buckling. This can provide design information about a structure’s stiffness and robustness against buckling in terms of energy and force landscapes. Developments in this area are relatively new but have proceeded rapidly with encouraging progress.

Recent experimental tests on uniformly compressed spherical shells, and axially loaded cylinders, show excellent agreement with theoretical solutions. The probing technique could be a valuable experimental procedure for testing prototype structures, but before it can be used a range of potential problems must be examined and solved. The probing response is highly nonlinear and a variety of complications can occur. Here, we make a careful assessment of unexpected limit points and bifurcations, that could accompany probing, causing complications and possibly even collapse of a test specimen. First, a limit point in the probe displacement (associated with a cusp instability and fold) can result in dynamic buckling as probing progresses, as demonstrated in the buckling of a spherical shell under volume control. Second, various types of bifurcations which can occur on the probing path which result in the probing response becoming unstable are also discussed. To overcome these problems, we outline the extra controls over the entire structure that may be needed to stabilize the response.
Developer Identity Linkage and Behavior Mining Across GitHub and StackOverflow
Authors: Xiong Yunxiang , Meng Zhangyuan , Shen Beijun , Yin Wei
Published: January 2018

Nowadays, software developers are increasingly involved in GitHub and StackOverflow, creating a lot of valuable data in the two communities. Researchers mine the information in these software communities to understand developer behaviors, while previous works mainly focus on mining data within a single community. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to developer identity linkage and behavior mining across GitHub and StackOverflow. This approach links the accounts from two communities using a CART decision tree, leveraging the features from usernames, user behaviors and writing styles. Then, it explores cross-site developer behaviors through [Formula: see text]-graph analysis, LDA-based topics clustering and cross-site tagging. We conducted several experiments to evaluate this approach. The results show that the precision and [Formula: see text]-score of our identity linkage method are higher than previous methods in software communities. Especially, we discovered that (1) active issue committers are also active question askers; (2) for most developers, the topics of their contents in GitHub are similar to those of those questions and answers in StackOverflow; (3) developers’ concerns in StackOverflow shift over the time of their current participating projects in GitHub; (4) developers’ concerns in GitHub are more relevant to their answers than questions and comments in StackOverflow.
Random GUI Testing of Android Application Using Behavioral Model
Authors: Muangsiri Woramet , Takada Shingo
Published: January 2018

Automated GUI testing based on behavioral model is one of the most efficient testing approaches. By mining user usage, test scenarios can be generated based on statistical models such as Markov chain. However, these works require static analysis before starting the exploration which requires too much prerequisites and time.

To address these challenges, we propose a behavioral-based GUI testing approach for mobile applications that achieves faster and higher coverage. The proposed approach does not conduct static analysis. It creates a behavioral model from usage logs by applying a statistical model. The events within the behavioral model are mapped to GUI components in a GUI tree. Finally, it updates the model dynamically to increase the probability of an event that rarely or never occurs when users use the application. The proposed approach was evaluated on four open-source Android applications, and compared with the state-of-the-art tools and manual testing. The main evaluation criteria are code coverage and ability to find errors. The proposed approach performed better than the current state-of-the-art automated testing tools in most aspects.
Formal Approach to Assertion-Based Code Generation
Authors: Li Pengyi , Sun Jing , Wang Hai
Published: January 2018

With the growing in size and complexity of modern computer systems, the need for improving the quality at all stages of software development has become a critical issue. The current software production has been largely dependent on manual code development. Despite the slow development process, the errors introduced by the programmers contribute to a substantial portion of defects in the final software product. This paper investigates the synergy of generating code and assertion constraints from formal design models and use them to verify the implementation. We translate Z formal models into their OCL counterparts and Java assertions. With the help of existing tools, we demonstrate various checkings at different levels to enhance correctness.
First-principles prediction of insulating antiferromagnet in ordered double-perovskite Ca2MnMoO6 compound
Authors: Djefal A. , Amari S. , Obodo K. O. , Beldi L. , Bendaoud H. , Bouhafs B.
Published: January 2018

Using first-principle calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT), the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method have been performed to investigate structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the Ca2MnMoO6 double perovskite. Different spin configurations (ferromagnetic (FM), ferrimagnetic (FiM), and anti-ferromagnetic AFM1, and AFM2) within both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and [Formula: see text] (Hubbard Coulomb onsite correction) were considered. The value of the Hubbard−Coulomb [Formula: see text] parameter was varied in the range of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]eV. The ground state is found to be AFM and insulating with the AFM1 state which is the most favorable. In the AFM1 spin configuration, Ca2MnMoO6 compound has a semiconductor nature, with the fully spin-polarized valence and conduction bands in the same spin channel. Within the [Formula: see text] approximation, the FM phase has a half-metallic character with a net magnetic moment of [Formula: see text] while in the anti-ferromagnetic phase it has an insulating character with zero net magnetic moment which was found at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]eV. We found that in the AFM phase within the GGA approximation, a metallic character is obtained for Ca2MnMoO6 and also for [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]eV. In particular, for Hubbard [Formula: see text] of 3.6[Formula: see text]eV, a small energy gap of 0.20[Formula: see text]eV is observed. The main features shown by the density of states curves motivate further experimental exploration in the double perovskite Ca2MnMoO6 for spintronic applications.
Data-Driven Analysis of Virtual 3D Exploration of a Large Sculpture Collection in Real-World Museum Exhibitions
Authors: Agus Marco , Marton Fabio , Bettio Fabio , Hadwiger Markus , Gobbetti Enrico
Published: January 2018

We analyze use of an interactive system for the exploration of highly detailed three-dimensional (3D) models of a collection of protostoric Mediterranean sculptures. In this system, when the object of interest is selected, its detailed 3D model and associated information are presented at high resolution on a large display controlled by a touch-enabled horizontal surface at a suitable distance. The user interface combines an object-aware interactive camera controller with an interactive point-of-interest selector and is implemented within a scalable implementation based on multiresolution structures shared between the rendering and user interaction subsystems. The system was installed in several temporary and permanent exhibitions and was extensively used by tens of thousands of visitors. We provide a data-driven analysis of usage experience based on logs gathered during a 27-month period at four exhibitions in archeological museums for a total of more than 75K exploration sessions. We focus on discerning the main visitor behaviors during 3D exploration by employing tools for deriving interest measures on surfaces and tools for clustering and knowledge discovery from high-dimensional data. The results highlight the main trends in visitor behavior during the interactive sessions. These results provide useful insights for the design of 3D exploration user interfaces in future digital installations.
Semantics-Based Analysis of Content Security Policy Deployment
Authors: Calzavara Stefano , Rabitti Alvise , Bugliesi Michele
Published: January 2018

Content Security Policy (CSP) is a recent W3C standard introduced to prevent and mitigate the impact of content injection vulnerabilities on websites. In this article, we introduce a formal semantics for the latest stable version of the standard, CSP Level 2. We then perform a systematic, large-scale analysis of the effectiveness of the current CSP deployment, using the formal semantics to substantiate our methodology and to assess the impact of the detected issues. We focus on four key aspects that affect the effectiveness of CSP: browser support, website adoption, correct configuration, and constant maintenance. Our analysis shows that browser support for CSP is largely satisfactory, with the exception of a few notable issues. However, there are several shortcomings relative to the other three aspects. CSP appears to have a rather limited deployment as yet and, more crucially, existing policies exhibit a number of weaknesses and misconfiguration errors. Moreover, content security policies are not regularly updated to ban insecure practices and remove unintended security violations. We argue that many of these problems can be fixed by better exploiting the monitoring facilities of CSP, while other issues deserve additional research, being more rooted into the CSP design.
Enhancing FPGAs with Magnetic Tunnel Junction-Based Block RAMs
Authors: Tatsumura Kosuke , Yazdanshenas Sadegh , Betz Vaughn
Published: January 2018

While plentiful on-chip memory is necessary for many designs to fully utilize an FPGA’s computational capacity, SRAM scaling is becoming more difficult because of increasing device variation. An alternative is to build FPGA block RAM (BRAM) from magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ), as this emerging embedded memory has a small cell size, low energy usage, and good scalability. We conduct a detailed comparison study of SRAM and MTJ BRAMs that includes cell designs that are robust with device variation, transistor-level design and optimization of all the required BRAM-specific circuits, and variation-aware simulation at the 22nm node. At a 256Kb block size, MTJ-BRAM is 3.06× denser and 55% more energy efficient and its
F

max

is 274MHz, which is adequate for most FPGA system clock domains. We also detail further enhancements that allow these 256 Kb MTJ BRAMs to operate at a higher speed of 353MHz for the streaming FIFOs, which are very common in FPGA designs and describe how the non-volatility of MTJ BRAM enables novel on-chip configuration and power-down modes. For a RAM architecture similar to the latest commercial FPGAs, MTJ-BRAMs could expand FPGA memory capacity by 2.95× with no die size increase.
November 2017 SIGCSE special projects grants
Authors: Fitzgerald Sue
Published: January 2018

The SIGCSE Board is pleased to announce the November 2017 SIGCSE Special Projects grant awards. Three of thirteen applications were funded, with an acceptance rate of 23%.
Ectopic Intratracheal Thyroid: A Rare Cause of Airway Obstruction
Authors: Rahman Waheed , Arimbrathodi Nafil Ishaq , Abdulkader Faisal , Al-Enazi Hussain , Dogan Zeynel A.
Published: January 2018

Ectopic intratracheal thyroid tissue (EITT) is a rare abnormality with only limited cases reported so far. The presenting symptoms can be very similar to those of bronchial asthma. We discuss the case of a 29-year-old man with subglottic ectopic thyroid, with a history of thyroid surgery for goiter, which has been managed with laser-assisted endoscopic approach. We have also included presenting symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of EITT. We aim to include EITT in the differentials of airway obstruction, particularly in those patients who have goiter or previous thyroid surgeries.
Fifteen-Year Follow-Up of a Case of Surgical Retreatment of a Single Gingival Recession
Authors: Francetti Luca , Taschieri Silvio , Cavalli Nicolò , Corbella Stefano
Published: January 2018

Purpose. The aim of the present case report was to describe the retreatment of the single gingival recession in aesthetic area, in the presence of scar formation and consequent impairment of aesthetic appearance. Methods. A young patient with one single recession of 4 mm of 2.1 was treated with coronally advanced flap and subepithelial connective tissue graft, through a microsurgical approach that aimed at the removal of the scarred fibrous tissue. The intervention was performed using a surgical microscope as a magnification device. Results. Fifteen years after the surgical treatment, a substantial stable resolution of the gingival recession could be observed. Moreover, a further improvement of the aesthetic appearance could be observed. Conclusions. This case report suggests that periodontal microsurgery could be an effective approach for the retreatment of gingival recessions and, in long-term evaluation, to reduce the aesthetic problem due to the presence of scar formation. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to better evaluate its efficacy.
Panax notoginseng Promotes Repair of Colonic Microvascular Injury in Sprague‐Dawley Rats with Experimental Colitis
Authors: Wang Shiying , Tao Ping , Zhao Lei , Zhang Wangjun , Hu Hongyi , Lin Jiang
Published: January 2018

To investigate the therapeutic effects of PN on intestinal inflammation and microvascular injury and its mechanisms, dextran sodium sulfate‐ (DSS‐) or iodoacetamide‐ (IA‐) induced rat colitis models were used. After colitis model was established, PN was orally administered for 7 days at daily dosage of 1.0 g/kg. Obvious colonic inflammation and mucosal injuries and microvessels were observed in DSS‐ and IA‐induced colitis groups. DAI scores, serum concentrations of VEGFA121, VEGFA165, VEGFA165/VEGFA121, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, and expression of Rap1GAP and TSP1 proteins in the colon were significantly higher while serum concentrations of IL‐4 and IL‐10 and MVD in colon were significantly lower in the colitis model groups than in the normal control group. PN promoted repair of colonic mucosal injury and microvessels, attenuated inflammation, and decreased DAI scores in rats with colitis. PN also decreased the serum concentrations of VEGFA121, VEGFA165, VEGFA165/VEGFA121, IL‐6, and TNF‐α and increased the serum concentrations of IL‐4 and IL‐10, with the expression of Rap1GAP and TSP1 proteins in colonic mucosa being downregulated. The constituents of PN were identified with HPLC‐DAD. To sum up, PN could promote repair of injuries of colonic mucosa and microvessels via downregulating VEGFA isoforms and inhibiting Rap1GAP/TSP1 signaling pathway.
Comparative Analysis on Propagation Effects of Flight Delays: A Case Study of China Airlines
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Wu Cheng-Lung , Feng Tao , Zhang Haoyu , Qiu Shuping
Published: January 2018

This paper aims to capture the interdependency among the sequence of flight delays due to airline operations in airports, weather, and air traffic control conditions. A copula function is used to determine the distribution of delay sequence and examine the propagation effects. Using the actual data sourced from an airline in Asia Pacific region, it is found that flight delays could propagate to downstream airports/airlines, where the strength of delays was decreased, passed on, or increased. Considering the possible effects of increased delays under air traffic control or airline factors, scenarios that adjust flight schedules with additional buffer time were created and analyzed. Results show that, by adding buffer time efficiently, flight schedules can become more reliable.
Improving the Classification Accuracy for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Chinese Salvia miltiorrhiza Using Local Variable Selection
Authors: Zhu Lianqing , Chang Haitao , Zhou Qun , Wang Zhongyu
Published: January 2018

In order to improve the classification accuracy of Chinese Salvia miltiorrhiza using near-infrared spectroscopy, a novel local variable selection strategy is thus proposed. Combining the strengths of the local algorithm and interval partial least squares, the spectra data have firstly been divided into several pairs of classes in sample direction and equidistant subintervals in variable direction. Then, a local classification model has been built, and the most proper spectral region has been selected based on the new evaluation criterion considering both classification error rate and best predictive ability under the leave-one-out cross validation scheme for each pair of classes. Finally, each observation can be assigned to belong to the class according to the statistical analysis of classification results of the local classification model built on selected variables. The performance of the proposed method was demonstrated through near-infrared spectra of cultivated or wild Salvia miltiorrhiza, which are collected from 8 geographical origins in 5 provinces of China. For comparison, soft independent modelling of class analogy and partial least squares discriminant analysis methods are, respectively, employed as the classification model. Experimental results showed that classification performance of the classification model with local variable selection was obvious better than that without variable selection.
Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Conjugate Heat Transfer of Electrothermal Deicing Process
Authors: Mu Zuodong , Lin Guiping , Shen Xiaobin , Bu Xueqin , Zhou Ying
Published: January 2018

A novel 3-D unsteady model of in-flight electrothermal deicing process is presented in this paper to simulate the conjugate mass and heat transfer phenomena of water film runback, phase change, and solid heat conduction. Mathematical models of water film runback and phase change are established and solved by means of a loosely coupled method. At the current time step, solid heat conduction, water film runback, and phase change are iteratively solved until the heat boundary condition reaches convergence, then the temperature distribution and ice shape at the moment are obtained, and the calculation of the next time step begins subsequently. A deicing process is numerically simulated using the present model following an icing tunnel experiment, and the results match well with those in the literatures, which validate the present model. Then, an in-flight deicing process is numerically studied to analyze the effect of heating sequence.
Durable and Washable Antibacterial Copper Nanoparticles Bridged by Surface Grafting Polymer Brushes on Cotton and Polymeric Materials
Authors: Sun Chufeng , Li Yi , Li Zhi , Su Qiong , Wang Yanbin , Liu Xuqing
Published: January 2018

To increase the durability of antibacterial coating on cotton and polymeric substrates, surface initiated grafting polymer brushes are introduced onto the substrates surface to bridge copper nanoparticles coatings and substrate. The morphologies of the composites consisting of the copper nanoparticles and polymer brushes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that copper nanoparticles were uniformly and firmly distributed on the surfaces of the substrates by the polymer brushes; meanwhile, the reinforced concrete-like structures were formed in the composite materials. The substrates coated by the copper nanoparticles showed the efficient antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) even after washing by 30 cycles. The copper nanoparticles were tethered on the substrates by the strong chemical bonds, which led to the excellent washable fitness and durability. The change of the phase structure of the copper was analyzed to investigate the release mechanism of copper ions.
Novel Signal Noise Reduction Method through Cluster Analysis, Applied to Photoplethysmography
Authors: Waugh William , Allen John , Wightman James , Sims Andrew J. , Beale Thomas A. W.
Published: January 2018

Physiological signals can often become contaminated by noise from a variety of origins. In this paper, an algorithm is described for the reduction of sporadic noise from a continuous periodic signal. The design can be used where a sample of a periodic signal is required, for example, when an average pulse is needed for pulse wave analysis and characterization. The algorithm is based on cluster analysis for selecting similar repetitions or pulses from a periodic single. This method selects individual pulses without noise, returns a clean pulse signal, and terminates when a sufficiently clean and representative signal is received. The algorithm is designed to be sufficiently compact to be implemented on a microcontroller embedded within a medical device. It has been validated through the removal of noise from an exemplar photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, showing increasing benefit as the noise contamination of the signal increases. The algorithm design is generalised to be applicable for a wide range of physiological (physical) signals.
Applying Statistical and Complex Network Methods to Explore the Key Signaling Molecules of Acupuncture Regulating Neuroendocrine‐Immune Network
Authors: Zhang Kuo , Guo Xin-meng , Yan Ya-wen , Liu Yang-yang , Xu Zhi-fang , Zhao Xue , Wang Jiang , Guo Yi , Li Kai , Ding Sha-sha
Published: January 2018

The mechanisms of acupuncture are still unclear. In order to reveal the regulatory effect of manual acupuncture (MA) on the neuroendocrine‐immune (NEI) network and identify the key signaling molecules during MA modulating NEI network, we used a rat complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) model to observe the analgesic and anti‐inflammatory effect of MA, and, what is more, we used statistical and complex network methods to analyze the data about the expression of 55 common signaling molecules of NEI network in ST36 (Zusanli) acupoint, and serum and hind foot pad tissue. The results indicate that MA had significant analgesic, anti‐inflammatory effects on CFA rats; the key signaling molecules may play a key role during MA regulating NEI network, but further research is needed.
Unsuspected Small-Bowel Crohn’s Disease in Elderly Patients Diagnosed by Video Capsule Endoscopy
Authors: Chao Che-Yung , Duchatellier Carl Frederic , Seidman Ernest G.
Published: January 2018

Background. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is increasingly performed among the elderly for obscure bleeding. Our aim was to report on the utility of VCE to uncover unsuspected Crohn’s disease (CD) in elderly patients. Methods. Retrospective review of VCE performed in elderly patients (≥70 y) at a tertiary hospital (2010–2015). All underwent prior negative bidirectional endoscopies. CD diagnosis was based on consistent endoscopic findings, exclusion of other causes, and a Lewis endoscopic score (LS) > 790 (moderate-to-severe inflammation). Those with lower LS (350–790) required histological confirmation. Known IBD cases were excluded. Results. 197 VCE were performed (mean age 78; range 70–93). Main indications were iron deficiency anemia (IDA), occult GI bleeding (OGIB), chronic abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Eight (4.1%) were diagnosed as CD based on the aforementioned criteria. Fecal calprotectin (FCP) was elevated in 7/8 (mean 580 μg/g). Mean LS was 1824. Small-bowel CD detected by VCE led to a change in management in 4/8. One patient had capsule retention secondary to NSAID induced stricture, requiring surgical retrieval. Conclusions. VCE can be safely performed in the elderly. A proportion of cases may have unsuspected small-bowel CD despite negative endoscopies. FCP was the best screening test. Diagnosis frequently changed management.
Cloud Based Data Protection in Anonymously Controlled SDN
Authors: Shen Jian , Shen Jun , Lai Chin-Feng , Liu Qi , Zhou Tianqi
Published: January 2018

Nowadays, Software Defined Network (SDN) develops rapidly for its novel structure which separates the control plane and the data plane of network devices. Many researchers devoted themselves to the study of such a special network. However, some limitations restrict the development of SDN. On the one hand, the single controller in the conventional model bears all threats, and the corruption of it will result in network paralysis. On the other hand, the data will be increasing more in SDN switches in the data plane, while the storage space of these switches is limited. In order to solve the mentioned issues, we propose two corresponding protocols in this paper. Specifically, one is an anonymous protocol in the control plane, and the other is a verifiable outsourcing protocol in the data plane. The evaluation indicates that our protocol is correct, secure, and efficient.
Neutrophil Elastase-Derived Fibrin Degradation Products Indicate Presence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Correlate with Intraluminal Thrombus Volume
Authors: Lindquist Liljeqvist Moritz , Silveira Angela , Hultgren Rebecka , Frebelius Siw , Lengquist Mariette , Engström Jan , Gasser T. , Eriksson Per , Roy Joy
Published: January 2018

Background The intraluminal thrombi (ILT) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) contain neutrophils, which can secrete elastase. We evaluated whether plasma neutrophil elastase-derived cross-linked fibrin degradation products (E-XDP) could reveal the presence, size and mechanical stress of AAAs and its ILTs.

Methods E-XDP and D-dimer were measured in plasma from 37 male patients with AAA and 42 male controls. The ILT volumes of the AAAs and any coexisting aneurysms could be measured in 29 patients and finite element analysis was performed to estimate mechanical stress of the ILT. E-XDP, neutrophil elastase and neutrophil marker CD66acd were evaluated in aortic tissue with immunohistochemistry (IHC). The association between ILT volume and E-XDP was validated in a separate cohort (n = 51).

Results E-XDP levels were elevated in patients with AAA compared with controls (p = 5.8e-13), indicated AAA with 98% sensitivity, 86% specificity and increased with presence of coexisting aneurysms. The association between AAA and increased E-XDP was independent of smoking, comorbidities and medication. E-XDP correlated with volume of all ILTs (r = 0.76, p = 4.5e-06), mean ILT stress (r = 0.46, p = 0.013) and the volume of the AAA-associated ILT (r = 0.64, p = 0.00017). E-XDP correlated stronger with ILT volume compared with D-dimer (r = 0.76 vs. r = 0.64, p = 0.018). The correlation between E-XDP and ILT volume was validated in the separate cohort (r = 0.53, p = 7.6e-05). IHC revealed E-XDP expression in the ILT, spatially related to neutrophil elastase and neutrophils.

Conclusion E-XDP is a marker of the presence of AAA and coexisting aneurysms as well as the volume and mechanical stress of the ILT.
Inhibitory Effects of an Orally Active Thromboxane A2 Receptor Antagonist, nstpbp5185, on Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice
Authors: Huang Shiu-Wen , Lien Jin-Cherng , Kuo Sheng-Chu , Huang Tur-Fu
Published: January 2018

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) activation of TP receptor has been shown contributing to the progression and acute complications of atherosclerosis including endothelial dysfunction, platelet hyperactivity and inflammation. Growing evidence suggests that TP receptor may represent as a therapeutic target in atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether nstpbp5185, an orally active TP receptor antagonist, exhibits protective effects against atherosclerotic progression. Nstpbp5185 and aspirin were orally administered daily for 12 weeks in high-cholesterol-fed ApoE-deficient mice to examine their anti-atherosclerosis effects. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were slightly decreased in nstpbp5185-treated mice. However, nstpbp5185 significantly reduced neointima formation and aortic atherosclerotic lesion area. Nstpbp5185 increased serum paraoxonase 1 activity. In contrast, plasma levels of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α were reduced in nstpbp5185-treated mice. Plasma level of TXA2 metabolite, TXB2, was lower in both aspirin- and nstpbp5185-treated mice, while the urinary 2,3-dinor-6-keto PGF1α (a PGI2 metabolite) and plasma iPF2α-III were not altered. Moreover, nstpbp5185 neither caused gastric ulceration nor affected the haemostatic response. Nstpbp5185 also inhibited U46619-induced endothelial NF-kB activation, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, as well as monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. In conclusion, nstpbp5185 may represent as an ideal, safe and efficacious agent for preventing atherosclerotic progression through its antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities.