bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Description of CD8+Regulatory T Lymphocytes and Their Specific Intervention in Graft-versus-Host and Infectious Diseases, Autoimmunity, and Cancer
Authors: Vieyra-Lobato Martha R. , Vela-Ojeda Jorge , Montiel-Cervantes Laura , López-Santiago Rubén , Moreno-Lafont Martha C.
Published: August 2018

Gershon and Kondo described CD8+Treg lymphocytes as the first ones with regulating activity due to their tolerance ability to foreign antigens and their capacity to inhibit the proliferation of other lymphocytes. Regardless, CD8+Treg lymphocytes have not been fully described—unlike CD4+Treg lymphocytes—because of their low numbers in blood and the lack of specific and accurate population markers. Still, these lymphocytes have been studied for the past 30 years, even after finding difficulties during investigations. As a result, studies have identified markers that define their subpopulations. This review is focused on the expression of cell membrane markers as CD25, CD122, CD103, CTLA-4, CD39, CD73, LAG-3, and FasL as well as soluble molecules such as FoxP3, IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-β, IL-34, and IL-35, in addition to the lack of expression of cell activation markers such as CD28, CD127 CD45RC, and CD49d. This work also underlines the importance of identifying some of these markers in infections with several pathogens, autoimmunity, cancer, and graft-versus-host disease as a strategy in their prevention, monitoring, and cure.
Mobility‐Centric Analysis of Communication Offloading for Heterogeneous Internet of Things Devices
Authors: Kozyrev Dmitry , Ometov Aleksandr , Moltchanov Dmitri , Rykov Vladimir , Efrosinin Dmitry , Milovanova Tatiana , Andreev Sergey , Koucheryavy Yevgeni
Published: August 2018

Today, the number of interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices is growing tremendously followed by an increase in the density of cellular base stations. This trend has an adverse effect on the power efficiency of communication, since each new infrastructure node requires a significant amount of energy. Numerous enablers are already in place to offload the scarce cellular spectrum, thus allowing utilization of more energy‐efficient short‐range radio technologies for user content dissemination, such as moving relay stations and network‐assisted direct connectivity. In this work, we contribute a new mathematical framework aimed at analyzing the impact of network offloading on the probabilistic characteristics related to the quality of service and thus helping relieve the energy burden on infrastructure network deployments.
The Migration of Coalbed Methane under Mining Pressure and Air Injection: A Case Study in China
Authors: Zhang Liqiang , Wu Yu , Pu Hai , He Xiaoping , Li Pan
Published: August 2018

Gas outburst has always affected the safety of coal mining. To eliminate this risk by high-efficiency extraction of coalbed methane (CBM) in 4102 working face of number 3 coal seam in Hebi Number 3 coal mine, a model of CBM extraction in working face was established which was considering the mining impact of adjacent 4101 working face. In this model, the coupling relationships between stress, desorption, and migration of methane were analyzed. Moreover, we also studied the changes of methane pressure, plastic failure scope, and permeability of coal during the mining and then verified the results with the field data. And on this basis, a stimulation solution for methane extraction by injecting air into coal seam was presented, and the extraction effect was simulated. The simulation results show that the injection of air decreases the effective stress of coal which increases the permeability of coal and promotes the methane migration within the coal seam fractures. Besides, affected by the velocity of gas migration, the pressure drop between fractures and matrix will reduce with time while air injection can provide extra power for gas migration in fractures which causes the desorption and diffusion of methane in the matrix. So this stimulation solution can enhance the efficiency of gas extraction of coal seam and prevent gas outburst of the working face.
Chaos and Symbol Complexity in a Conformable Fractional‐Order Memcapacitor System
Authors: He Shaobo , Banerjee Santo , Yan Bo
Published: August 2018

Application of conformable fractional calculus in nonlinear dynamics is a new topic, and it has received increasing interests in recent years. In this paper, numerical solution of a conformable fractional nonlinear system is obtained based on the conformable differential transform method. Dynamics of a conformable fractional memcapacitor (CFM) system is analyzed by means of bifurcation diagram and Lyapunov characteristic exponents (LCEs). Rich dynamics is found, and coexisting attractors and transient state are observed. Symbol complexity of the CFM system is estimated by employing the symbolic entropy (SybEn) algorithm, symbolic spectral entropy (SybSEn) algorithm, and symbolic C0 (SybC0) algorithm. It shows that pseudorandom sequences generated by the system have high complexity and pass the rigorous NIST test. Results demonstrate that the conformable memcapacitor nonlinear system can also be a good model for real applications.
Mechanical Properties and Thermal Conductivity of Aerogel‐Incorporated Alkali‐Activated Slag Mortars
Authors: Bostanci Levent , Sola Ozlem Celik
Published: August 2018

Compressive strength, thermal conductivity coefficient, and porosimetric properties of alkali‐activated slag (AAS) mortars containing silica aerogel were investigated experimentally in this study. For this purpose, slag mortar mixtures at 0.75% and 1.0% aerogel content ratios were prepared, and these mortar mixtures were activated with lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) at 0.03% and 1.50% dosage rates. Mortar samples were exposed to curing process in water for 2, 7, and 28 days, and the samples, which completed the curing stage, were subjected to the compressive strength test. The porosimetry test and the thermal conductivity coefficient measurement were carried out following the compressive strength test on 28‐day samples. The varying aerogel content rate in the mixtures and the effects of the dosage of Li2CO3 on the gel, capillary, and macropore distributions, and the effect of changing porosimetric properties on compressive strength and thermal conductivity coefficient were analyzed in detail. Experimental studies have shown that AAS mortars including an optimum 0.75% aerogel content rate and 0.03% Li2CO3 activation provided a compressive strength of 34.1 MPa and a thermal conductivity coefficient of 1.32 W/mK. Aerogel addition provides a partial compressive strength increase at 7‐ and 28‐day samples while it also causes maximum strength loss of 5.0% at 2‐day samples.
Mutation Study of Malaysian Patients with Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency: Clinical, Molecular, and Bioinformatics Analyses of Two Novel Missense Mutations of the OTC Gene
Authors: Ali Ernie Zuraida , Zakaria Yuslina , Mohd Radzi Mohd Amran , Ngu Lock Hock , Jusoh Siti Azma
Published: August 2018

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD), an X-linked disorder that results from mutations in the OTC gene, causes hyperammonemia and leads to various clinical manifestations. Mutations occurring close to the catalytic site of OTCase can cause severe OTCD phenotypes compared with those caused by mutations occurring on the surface of this protein. In this study, we report two novel OTC missense mutations, Q171H and N199H, found in Malaysian patients. Q171H and N199H caused neonatal onset OTCD in a male and late OTCD in a female, respectively. In silico predictions and molecular docking were performed to examine the effect of these novel mutations, and the results were compared with other 30 known OTC mutations. In silico servers predicted that Q171H and N199H, as well as 30 known missense mutations, led to the development of OTCD. Docking analysis indicated that N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-ornithine (PALO) was bound to the catalytic site of OTCase mutant structure with minimal conformational changes. However, the mutations disrupted interatomic interactions in the catalytic site. Therefore, depending on the severity of disruption occurring at the catalytic site, the mutation may affect the efficiency of mechanism and functions of OTCase.
Ammonium Bisphosphonate Polymeric Magnetic Nanocomplexes for Platinum Anticancer Drug Delivery and Imaging with Potential Hyperthermia and Temperature-Dependent Drug Release
Authors: Zhang Rui , Fellows Benjamin , Pothayee Nikorn , Hu Nan , Pothayee Nipon , Jo Ami , Bohórquez Ana C. , Rinaldi Carlos , Mefford Olin Thompson , Davis Richey M. , Riffle Judy S.
Published: August 2018

Novel magnetite-ammonium bisphosphonate graft ionic copolymer nanocomplexes (MGICs) have been developed for potential drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and hyperthermia applications. The complexes displayed relatively uniform sizes with narrow size distributions upon self-assembly in aqueous media, and their sizes were stable under simulated physiological conditions for at least 7 days. The anticancer drugs, cisplatin and carboplatin, were loaded into the complexes, and sustained release of both drugs was observed. The transverse NMR relaxivities (r2s) of the complexes were 244 s−1 (mM Fe)−1 which is fast compared to either the commercial T2-weighted MRI agent Feridex IV® or our previously reported magnetite-block ionomer complexes. Phantom MRI images of the complexes demonstrated excellent negative contrast effects of such complexes. Thus, the bisphosphonate-bearing MGICs could be promising candidates for dual drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, the bisphosphonate MGICs generate heat under an alternating magnetic field of 30 kA·m−1 at 206 kHz. The temperature of the MGIC dispersion in deionized water increased from 37 to 41°C after exposure to the magnetic field for 10 minutes, corresponding to a specific absorption rate of 77.0 W·g−1. This suggests their potential as hyperthermia treatment agents as well as the possibility of temperature-dependent drug release, making MGICs more versatile in potential drug delivery applications.
Evaluation of Body Composition in Hemodialysis Thai Patients: Comparison between Two Models of Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
Authors: Jayanama Kulapong , Putadechakun Supanee , Srisuwarn Praopilad , Vallibhakara Sakda Arj-Ong , Chattranukulchai Shantavasinkul Prapimporn , Sritara Chanika , Kantachuvesiri Surasak , Komindr Surat
Published: August 2018

Background. Body composition measurement is very important for early nutritional care in hemodialysis patients. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a gold standard test, but clinically limited. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with multifrequency technique is a practical and reliable tool. Objective. This cross-sectional study was aimed to compare the agreement of BIA with DXA in measurement of body composition in hemodialysis patients and to evaluate their associated factors. Methods. Body composition was measured by 2 BIA methods (InBody S10 and InBody 720) and DXA after a hemodialysis session. A total of 69 measurements were included. Pearson’s correlation and Bland and Altman analysis were used to determine the correlation of body composition between methods and to compare the methods agreement, respectively. Results. The correlation coefficients of body compositions were strong between DXA and InBody S10 (fat mass index (FMI): r=0.95, fat-free mass index (FFMI): r=0.78) and also between DXA and InBody 720 (FMI: r=0.96, FFMI: r=0.81). Comparing to DXA, the means of each body composition measured by InBody S10 method were not significantly different in each gender, but differences were found in FM, %FM, and FMI measured by InBody 720. Conclusions. In maintenance hemodialysis patients, the measurement of body composition with DXA and both BIA methods had highly significant correlations; practically, BIA method could be used as an instrument to follow FM and FFM and to measure the edematous stage. Further studies with large populations are warranted.
A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Crossover Comparative Study for Evaluating the Clinical Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloids‐Free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE)
Authors: Odaguchi Hiroshi , Sekine Mariko , Hyuga Sumiko , Hanawa Toshihiko , Hoshi Keika , Sasaki Yoshinobu , Aso Masako , Yang Jinwei , Hyuga Masashi , Kobayashi Yoshinori , Hakamatsuka Takashi , Goda Yukihiro , Kumagai Yuji
Published: August 2018

Ephedra Herb is an important crude drug; it is used in various Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo) formulations. Its significant pharmacological effects have been believed to be attributed to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which sometimes induce adverse effects. On the other hand, it has been reported that some of these pharmacological effects are not dependent on ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine alkaloids‐free Ephedra Herb extract has been newly developed. It has been reported to have analgesic, anti‐influenza, and antimetastatic effects. This clinical trial was aimed at verifying the noninferiority of EFE’s safety compared to that of Ephedra Herb extract (EHE) in humans. This was a single‐institution, double‐blinded, randomized, two‐drug, two‐stage, crossover comparative study. Twelve healthy male subjects were equally and randomly allocated into two groups: prior administration of EFE (EFE‐P) and prior administration of EHE (EHE‐P). In Stage 1, EFE and EHE were orally administered to the EFE‐P and EHE‐P groups, respectively, for six days. After a 4‐week washout period, Stage 2 was initiated wherein the subjects were given a study drug different from Stage 1 study drug for six days. Eleven adverse events with a causal relationship to the study drugs (EHE: 8; EFE: 3) were noted; all events were mild in severity. With regard to the incidence of adverse events, EHE and EFE administration, respectively, accounted for 4 cases (out of 12 subjects, similarly below) and 1 case of increased pulse rate (p=0.32) and 3 cases and 1 case of insomnia (p=0.59). Further, there was one case of hot flashes (p=1.00) due to EFE administration and one case of dysuria (p=1.00) due to EHE administration. There were no significant differences in the incidences of adverse events between EHE administration and EFE administration. Therefore, we concluded that EFE is not inferior to EHE in terms of safety.
Consensus Control of Time-Varying Delayed Multiagent Systems with High-Order Iterative Learning Control
Authors: Deng Xiongfeng , Sun Xiuxia , Liu Ri , Liu Shuguang
Published: August 2018

We address the consensus control problem of time-varying delayed multiagent systems with directed communication topology. The model of each agent includes time-varying nonlinear dynamic and external disturbance, where the time-varying nonlinear term satisfies the global Lipschitz condition and the disturbance term satisfies norm-bounded condition. An improved control protocol, that is, a high-order iterative learning control scheme, is applied to cope with consensus tracking problem, where the desired trajectory is generated by a virtual leader agent. Through theoretical analysis, the improved control protocol guarantees that the tracking errors converge asymptotically to a sufficiently small interval under the given convergence conditions. Furthermore, the bounds of initial state difference and disturbances tend to zero; the bound of tracking errors also tends to zero. In the end, some cases are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.
Short Stay Thyroid Surgery: Can We Replicate the Same in Low Resource Setting?
Authors: Bansal Naval , Yadav Sanjay Kumar , Mishra Saroj Kanta , Kishore Kamal , Mishra Anjali , Chand Gyan , Agarwal Gaurav , Agarwal Amit , Verma Ashok Kumar
Published: August 2018

Introduction. The concept of short stay thyroidectomy has been tested and in practice in the developed world; the same has not been replicated in countries with limited resources due to lack of organized healthcare system. So, in this study, we tried to analyze if short stay thyroid surgery can be performed in a cost-effective way in developing countries and also if the endocrine surgical trainee can deliver these services safely. Methods. The study was conducted prospectively from January 2013 to July 2014, at Department of Endocrine Surgery, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, India. Study group included patients undergoing short stay hemithyroidectomy whereas matched patients who qualified for inclusion criteria but did not undergo short stay surgery due to various reasons constituted control group. Outcome in both the groups was compared in terms of complication rates, cost benefit, and patient satisfaction. Subgroup analysis was also done for trainee versus consultant performed short stay thyroid surgery. Results. A total of 439 patients with surgical thyroid disorders were evaluated at our institute during the study period and out of these 110 patients (58 cases and 52 controls) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Younger patients with low socioeconomic status who were paying out of pocket were found to be more inclined to short stay thyroid surgery. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of postanesthetic discharge score (PADS), complication rates, and patients satisfaction; however there was significant reduction (p <0.001) in hospital cost in short stay group. In subgroup analysis, procedure time was more in trainee performed surgeries; however there was no significant difference in terms of mean PADS and complication rates. Conclusion. Short stay thyroidectomy can provide a better cost-effective alternative to conventional thyroidectomy in patients undergoing thyroid surgery and can be safely performed by endocrine surgical trainees even in a low resource setting.
Growth Inhibition of a Novel Iron Chelator, DpdtC, against Hepatoma Carcinoma Cell Lines Partly Attributed to Ferritinophagy‐Mediated Lysosomal ROS Generation
Authors: Huang Tengfei , Sun Yanjie , Li Yongli , Wang Tingting , Fu Yun , Li Cuiping , Li Changzheng
Published: August 2018

Some iron chelators display significant anticancer activity that may involve ferritin degradation either in proteasomes or in lysosomes, and the latter might involve ferritinophagy with a period. However, the correlation of ferritinophagy with anticancer activity of iron chelator was not fully determined. Revealing the underlying link therefore is required. Di‐2‐pyridylketone dithiocarbamate (DpdtC), a novel iron chelator, could mobilize iron from ferritin and displayed excellent antitumor against hepatoma carcinoma cell lines (IC50s = 0.4 ± 0.2 for HepG2 and 3.5 ± 0.3 μM for Bel‐7402, resp.); we speculated that the antiproliferative action of DpdtC might involve ferritinophagy. To this end, the alterations of ferritin, microtubule‐associated protein light chain 3 (LC3‐II), and nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) were investigated after exposure of DpdtC to the cells. The results revealed that DpdtC could cause increases of autophagic vacuoles and LC3‐II. The data from cellular immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed a reciprocal relation between abundances of ferritin and LC3‐II, but the trends of NCOA4 and LC3‐II in abundance were in a similar manner, indicating that a ferritinophagy occurred. Further studies revealed that the ferritinophagy evoked an iron‐driven intralysosomal oxidative reaction, resulting in LMP change and lipid peroxidation. Thus, a ferritinophagy‐mediated lysosomal ROS generation playing a role in the antiproliferative action of DpdtC could be proposed, which will enrich our knowledge of iron chelator in cancer therapy.
One-Phase Stefan-Like Problems with Latent Heat Depending on the Position and Velocity of the Free Boundary and with Neumann or Robin Boundary Conditions at the Fixed Face
Authors: Bollati Julieta , Tarzia Domingo A.
Published: August 2018

A one-phase Stefan-type problem for a semi-infinite material which has as its main feature a variable latent heat that depends on the power of the position and the velocity of the moving boundary is studied. Exact solutions of similarity type are obtained for the cases when Neumann or Robin boundary conditions are imposed at the fixed face. Required relationships between data are presented in order that these problems become equivalent to the problem where a Dirichlet condition at the fixed face is considered. Moreover, in the case where a Robin condition is prescribed, the limit behaviour is studied when the heat transfer coefficient at the fixed face goes to infinity.
Identifying Therapeutic Targets for Sepsis Research: A Characterization Study of the Inflammatory Players in the Cecal Ligation and Puncture Model
Authors: Nullens Sara , De Man Joris , Bridts Chris , Ebo Didier , Francque Sven , De Winter Benedicte
Published: August 2018

During sepsis, disturbed gastrointestinal motility and increased mucosal permeability can aggravate sepsis due to the increased risk of bacterial translocation. To help identify new therapeutic targets, there is a need for animal models that mimic the immunological changes in the gastrointestinal tract as observed during human sepsis. We therefore characterized in detail the gastrointestinal neuroimmune environment in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model, which is the gold standard animal model of microbial sepsis. Mice were sacrificed at day 2 and day 7, during which gastrointestinal motility was assessed and cytokines were measured in the serum and the colon. In the spleen, lymph nodes, ileum, and colon, subsets of leukocyte populations were identified by flow cytometry. Septic animals displayed an impaired gastrointestinal motility at day 2 and day 7. Two days post-CLP, increased serum and colonic levels of proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Flow cytometry revealed an influx of neutrophils in the colon and ileum, increased numbers of macrophages in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, and an enhanced number of mast cells in all tissues. At day 7 post-CLP, lymphocyte depletion was observed in all tissues coinciding with increased IL-10 and TGF-β levels, as well as increased colonic levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ. Thus, CLP-induced sepsis in mice results in simultaneous activation of pro- and anti-inflammatory players at day 2 and day 7 in different tissues, mimicking human sepsis.
CS‐PLM: Compressive Sensing Data Gathering Algorithm Based on Packet Loss Matching in Sensor Networks
Authors: Sun Zeyu , Tao Rong , Xiong Naixue , Pan Xiaoyan
Published: August 2018

The data transmission process in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) often experiences errors and packet losses due to the environmental interference. In order to address this problem, we propose a Compressive Sensing data gathering algorithm based on Packet Loss Matching (CS‐PLM). It is proven that, under tree routing, the packet loss on communication links would severely undermine the data reconstruction accuracy in Compressive Sensing (CS) based data gathering process. It is further pointed out that the packet loss in CS based data gathering exhibits the correlation effect. Meanwhile, we design a sparse observation matrix based on packet loss matching and verify that the designed matrix satisfies the Restricted Isometry Property (RIP) with a probability arbitrarily close to 1. Therefore, reliable transmission of the compressed data can be guaranteed by adopting the multipath backup routing among CS nodes. It is shown in the simulation results that, with a 60% packet loss ratio of the link, the CS‐PLM algorithm can still ensure the effective reconstruction of the data gathered by the CS algorithm and the relative reconstruction error is lower than 5%. Therefore, it is verified that the proposed algorithm could effectively alleviate the sensitivity to packet losses for the CS based data gathering algorithm on unreliable links.
On the Locating Chromatic Number of Certain Barbell Graphs
Authors: Asmiati  , Sadha Gunce Yana I. Ketut , Yulianti Lyra
Published: August 2018

The locating chromatic number of a graph G is defined as the cardinality of a minimum resolving partition of the vertex set V(G) such that all vertices have distinct coordinates with respect to this partition and every two adjacent vertices in G are not contained in the same partition class. In this case, the coordinate of a vertex v in G is expressed in terms of the distances of v to all partition classes. This concept is a special case of the graph partition dimension notion. In this paper we investigate the locating chromatic number for two families of barbell graphs.
Generalization of Hermite-Hadamard Type Inequalities via Conformable Fractional Integrals
Authors: Adil Khan Muhammad , Khurshid Yousaf , Du Ting-Song , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: August 2018

We establish a Hermite-Hadamard type identity and several new Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities for conformable fractional integrals and present their applications to special bivariate means.
Tibetan Weibo User Group Division Based on Semantic Information in the Era of Big Data
Authors: Qiu Lirong , Yu Jia , Li Jie , Jia HaoRan
Published: August 2018

In the era of big data, group division in online social network analysis is a basic task. It can be divided into the group division based on static relationship and the group division based on dynamic relationship. Compared with the static group division, users express their semantic information in all kinds of social network behaviors, and they tend to interact with other users who have the same idea and attitude; this is how different groups are formed. In this paper, aimed at the issue that some Tibetan users use Chinese to publish microblogs on social platforms, a group division method based on semantic information of Tibetan users under the big data environment is proposed. When dividing a large number of Tibetan user groups in a social network, a large amount of semantic information of Tibetan users in the social network is first analyzed. Then, based on the semantic similarity between users, we aggregate the Tibetan users with high similarities into one group, thus achieving the final group division. The experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the method of analyzing Tibetan user semantic information in the context of big data for group partitioning.
Identifying Fake Accounts on Social Networks Based on Graph Analysis and Classification Algorithms
Authors: Mohammadrezaei Mohammadreza , Shiri Mohammad Ebrahim , Rahmani Amir Masoud
Published: August 2018

Social networks have become popular due to the ability to connect people around the world and share videos, photos, and communications. One of the security challenges in these networks, which have become a major concern for users, is creating fake accounts. In this paper, a new model which is based on similarity between the users’ friends’ networks was proposed in order to discover fake accounts in social networks. Similarity measures such as common friends, cosine, Jaccard, L1-measure, and weight similarity were calculated from the adjacency matrix of the corresponding graph of the social network. To evaluate the proposed model, all steps were implemented on the Twitter dataset. It was found that the Medium Gaussian SVM algorithm predicts fake accounts with high area under the curve=1 and low false positive rate=0.02.
Causation Analysis of Hazardous Material Road Transportation Accidents by Bayesian Network Using Genie
Authors: Ma Xiaoli , Xing Yingying , Lu Jian
Published: August 2018

With the increase of hazardous materials (Hazmat) demand and transportation, frequent Hazmat road transportation accidents had arisen the widespread concern in the community. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the risk factors’ implications, which would make the safety of Hazmat transportation evolve from “passive type” to “active type”. In order to explore the influence of risk factors resulting in accidents and predict the occurrence of accidents under the combination of risk factors, 839 accidents that have occurred for the period 2015–2016 were collected and examined. The Bayesian network structure was established by experts’ knowledge using Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. Parameter learning was conducted by the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm in Genie 2.0. The two main results could be likely to obtain the following. (1) The Bayesian network model can explore the most probable factor or combination leading to the accident, which calculated the posterior probability of each risk factor. For example, the importance of three or more vehicles in an accident leading to the severe accident is higher than less vehicles, and in the absence of other evidences, the most probable reasons for “explosion accident” are vehicles carrying flammable liquids, larger quantity Hazmat, vehicle failure, and transporting in autumn. (2) The model can predict the occurrence of accident by setting the influence degrees of specific factor. Such that the probability of rear-end accidents caused by “speeding” is 0.42, and the probability could reach up to 0.97 when the driver is speeding at the low-class roads. Moreover, the complex logical relationship in Hazmat road transportation accidents could be obtained, and the uncertain relation among various risk factors could be expressed. These findings could provide theoretical support for transportation corporations and government department on taking effective measures to reduce the risk of Hazmat road transportation.
Analysis of Leafy Vegetable Nitrate Using a Modified Spectrometric Method
Authors: Yu Tzu-Hsien , Hsieh Shuo-Ping , Su Chien-Ming , Huang Feng-Jung , Hung Chien-Che , Yiin Lih-Ming
Published: August 2018

A quick and cost-effective method to analyze leafy vegetable nitrate on spectrometry was developed and compared with a standard method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This method was designed to use ion-exchange solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges in reducing interference from organic matrices to meet the criterion of an existing method for analyzing nitrate in wastewater. Nine vegetables (bok coy, cabbage, celery, Chinese cabbage, Chinese kale, lettuce, mustard green, pak choi, and water spinach) were selected for the method testing with three replicates being conducted for each vegetable. The nitrate contents ranged from 800 to 4,300 μg/g, with bok coy, celery, and pak choi being the highest. Data derived from spectrometry and HPLC were close to each other with most relative errors being within ±10% and were highly correlated with an R square value of 0.969. Stability testing and spike analysis resulted in a mean coefficient of variation lower than 6% and a mean recovery rate of 83.7%, suggesting reliability of the method. In addition, both the cost and time consumption for using this method were lower than the standard method using HPLC or ion chromatography, making this spectrometric method a good alternative for analysis of leafy vegetable nitrate.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Concrete‐Filled Double‐Skin Steel Tubular Column for Steel Beam Joints
Authors: Zhang Dongfang , Zhao Junhai , Zhang Yufen
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a new type of joint for connecting steel beams with a concrete‐filled double‐skin steel tubular (CFDST) column. Four half‐scale specimens of the joint with different specifications were constructed and tested under a constant axially compressive force with vertical low‐reversal loads applied to the beam ends to examine their failure modes and hysteretic behaviors. The beam hinging mechanism of the joint was observed in the radian area of the horizontal end plates. The proposed connection was found to exhibit good energy dissipation capabilities with its limit rotation in the failure state reaching 0.05 rad, thus satisfying the FEMA‐350 ductility requirement of ≥0.03 rad for seismic resistance. A finite element analysis (FEA) model of the joint was also established and validated by comparing its predictions with experimental results. The FEA model was used to investigate the effects of different parameters such as the stiffened height of the web anchorage plate, axial load level, steel and concrete strengths, steel ratio on the moment‐rotation relationship, and initial stiffness of the connection. This paper presents some important design considerations of the connection, as well as aspects requiring further study.
Pneumatosis Coli Formation via Counterperfusion Supersaturation in a Patient with Severe Diarrhea
Authors: Vecchio Eric , Jamot Sehrish , Ferreira Jason
Published: August 2018

We present the case of an elderly male patient with known multiple myeloma who was hospitalized with profuse watery diarrhea and abdominal pain after a course of induction chemotherapy. Intestinal intramural gas was found on imaging and the diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis was confirmed by colonoscopy. We propose counterperfusion supersaturation as the etiology for this patient’s pneumatosis coli via disruption of homeostasis between nitrogen and hydrogen normally present in the bowel. His condition was successfully treated with antidiarrheal medications and inhaled oxygen as well as intravenous hydration, and he eventually completed multiple myeloma directed chemotherapy with an excellent response. In this report, we discuss how clinicians can improve management of pneumatosis intestinalis by understanding the proposed pathophysiology.
Network Planning Method for Capacitated Metro‐Based Underground Logistics System
Authors: Dong Jianjun , Hu Wanjie , Yan Shen , Ren Rui , Zhao Xiaojing
Published: August 2018

Underground logistics system (ULS) tends to alleviate traffic congestion, increase city logistics efficiency, mitigate the negative effects of traditional logistics processes, and improve the sustainability of urban areas. However, the relatively high cost and risk of underground construction are serious obstacles to implementing ULS. Integrating ULS into modern metro system (M‐ULS) is considered to be feasible and efficient to solve this problem. This paper aims at developing a metro system‐based ULS network planning method. First, an evaluation model of underground freight volume was proposed considering service capacity, freight flow, and regional accessibility. Second, a set of mixed integer programming model was developed to solve the problem of optimal nodes’ location‐allocation (LAP) in the network. Then, a hybrid algorithm was designed with a combination of E‐TOPSIS, exact algorithm, and heuristic algorithm. Finally, two lines of Nanjing Metro were selected as a case to validate the proposed planning method. The results showed that the new system can significantly reduce the construction costs of ULS and alleviate traffic congestion. Moreover, the potential of metro stations and underground tunnels can be fully exploited to achieve higher logistics benefits.
Physical Activity Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged and Elderly Northern Chinese Adults
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhang Xu , Fang Li , Guan Qingbo , Gao Ling , Li Qiu
Published: August 2018

The main aim of this study is to quantitatively describe the status of physical activity and evaluate its levels in a rural population and to investigate the association between the quantifiable physical activity and type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In total, 2076 participants aged over 40 years were included in a cross-sectional analysis. Physical activity status and the contributions of different types of activity were evaluated. The association between social behaviors and physical activities was analyzed. In addition, the impact of physical activities on type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome was also analyzed by logistic regression. Approximately half of the total activity in rural areas consisted of work-related activity (49.3%) followed by commuting (30.2%) and recreational activity (20.5%). In rural areas, the prevalence of physical activity levels was 28.6% for low levels, 47.3% for moderate levels, and 24.1% for high levels. Educational level showed a significant negative association with the physical activity level. Lower physical activity shows a strong and significant association with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, insufficient physical activity among rural people over 40 years old increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Population-wide and individualized guidelines for physical activities especially recreational physical activities should be developed.
Deep Learning Approach for Building Detection Using LiDAR–Orthophoto Fusion
Authors: Nahhas Faten Hamed , Shafri Helmi Z. M. , Sameen Maher Ibrahim , Pradhan Biswajeet , Mansor Shattri
Published: August 2018

This paper reports on a building detection approach based on deep learning (DL) using the fusion of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and orthophotos. The proposed method utilized object-based analysis to create objects, a feature-level fusion, an autoencoder-based dimensionality reduction to transform low-level features into compressed features, and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to transform compressed features into high-level features, which were used to classify objects into buildings and background. The proposed architecture was optimized for the grid search method, and its sensitivity to hyperparameters was analyzed and discussed. The proposed model was evaluated on two datasets selected from an urban area with different building types. Results show that the dimensionality reduction by the autoencoder approach from 21 features to 10 features can improve detection accuracy from 86.06% to 86.19% in the working area and from 77.92% to 78.26% in the testing area. The sensitivity analysis also shows that the selection of the hyperparameter values of the model significantly affects detection accuracy. The best hyperparameters of the model are 128 filters in the CNN model, the Adamax optimizer, 10 units in the fully connected layer of the CNN model, a batch size of 8, and a dropout of 0.2. These hyperparameters are critical to improving the generalization capacity of the model. Furthermore, comparison experiments with the support vector machine (SVM) show that the proposed model with or without dimensionality reduction outperforms the SVM models in the working area. However, the SVM model achieves better accuracy in the testing area than the proposed model without dimensionality reduction. This study generally shows that the use of an autoencoder in DL models can improve the accuracy of building recognition in fused LiDAR–orthophoto data.
Diagnostic and Vaccination Approaches for Newcastle Disease Virus in Poultry: The Current and Emerging Perspectives
Authors: Bello Muhammad Bashir , Yusoff Khatijah , Ideris Aini , Hair-Bejo Mohd , Peeters Ben P. H. , Omar Abdul Rahman
Published: August 2018

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most devastating diseases that considerably cripple the global poultry industry. Because of its enormous socioeconomic importance and potential to rapidly spread to naïve birds in the vicinity, ND is included among the list of avian diseases that must be notified to the OIE immediately upon recognition. Currently, virus isolation followed by its serological or molecular identification is regarded as the gold standard method of ND diagnosis. However, this method is generally slow and requires specialised laboratory with biosafety containment facilities, making it of little relevance under epidemic situations where rapid diagnosis is seriously needed. Thus, molecular based diagnostics have evolved to overcome some of these difficulties, but the extensive genetic diversity of the virus ensures that isolates with mutations at the primer/probe binding sites escape detection using these assays. This diagnostic dilemma leads to the emergence of cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) which have so far proven to be promising in terms of rapid, sensitive, and accurate recognition of virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates even in mixed infections. As regards disease control strategies, conventional ND vaccines have stood the test of time by demonstrating track record of protective efficacy in the last 60 years. However, these vaccines are unable to block the replication and shedding of most of the currently circulating phylogenetically divergent virulent NDV isolates. Hence, rationally designed vaccines targeting the prevailing genotypes, the so-called genotype-matched vaccines, are highly needed to overcome these vaccination related challenges. Among the recently evolving technologies for the development of genotype-matched vaccines, reverse genetics-based live attenuated vaccines obviously appeared to be the most promising candidates. In this review, a comprehensive description of the current and emerging trends in the detection, identification, and control of ND in poultry are provided. The strengths and weaknesses of each of those techniques are also emphasised.
Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception ofStriga gesnerioides(Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Authors: Haruna Peter , Asare Aaron T. , Asare-Bediako Elvis , Kusi Francis
Published: August 2018

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained byStriga gesnerioides(Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) perception ofS. gesnerioidesparasitism on cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In all, 200 respondents—179 cowpea farmers and 21 AEOs—in five cowpea growing districts were randomly sampled to answer closed- and opened-ended questions coupled with visit to cowpea farms. Majority of the farmer respondents were males between the ages of 21 and 60 with very little or no formal education. Almost all of the respondents could identify the parasitic weed,S. gesnerioides,but they lacked adequate knowledge of the parasitic effects on the host, cowpea plant.S. gesnerioidesinfestation was widespread and devastating in almost all the fields surveyed. Its effects on the host plants (cowpea) included stunted growth, leaf senescence, chlorosis, death of the crop, and reduced yield. Different management strategies employed by the farmers to contain the spread of the parasite include weeding (90%), application of manure (5.5%), and crop rotation and fallowing (4.0%). Both farmers and extension officers had very little knowledge on existence ofS. gesnerioidesresistant cowpea genotypes for cultivation. Farmers expressed the desire to cultivateStriga-resistant cowpea varieties when made accessible, since it is the most reliable and environmentally friendly method of controlling the parasitic weed.
Structural Characterization and Repair Mechanism of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Sulfated Polysaccharides of Different Molecular Weights on Damaged Renal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Guo Da , Yu Kai , Sun Xin-Yuan , Ouyang Jian-Ming
Published: August 2018

Natural Gracilaria lemaneiformis sulfated polysaccharide (GLP0, molecular weight = 622 kDa) was degraded by H2O2 to obtain seven degraded fragments, namely, GLP1, GLP2, GLP3, GLP4, GLP5, GLP6, and GLP7, with molecular weights of 106, 49.6, 10.5, 6.14, 5.06, 3.71, and 2.42 kDa, respectively. FT‐IR and NMR results indicated that H2O2 degradation does not change the structure of GLP polysaccharides, whereas the content of the characteristic −OSO3H group (13.46% ± 0.10%) slightly increased than that of the natural polysaccharide (13.07%) after degradation. The repair effects of the polysaccharide fractions on oxalate‐induced damaged human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK‐2) were compared. When 60 μg/mL of each polysaccharide was used to repair the damaged HK‐2 cells, cell viability increased and the cell morphology was restored, as determined by HE staining. The amount of lactate dehydrogenase released decreased from 16.64% in the injured group to 7.55%–13.87% in the repair groups. The SOD activity increased, and the amount of MDA released decreased. Moreover, the mitochondrial membrane potential evidently increased. All polysaccharide fractions inhibited S phase arrest through the decreased percentage of cells in the S phase and the increased percentage of cells in the G2/M phase. These results reveal that all GLP fractions exhibited repair effect on oxalate‐induced damaged HK‐2 cells. The repair ability is closely correlated with the molecular weight of the fractions. GLP2 with molecular weight of about 49.6 kDa exhibited the strongest repair effect, and GLP with higher or lower molecular weight than 49.6 kDa showed decreased repair ability. Our results can provide references for inhibiting the formation of kidney stones and developing original anti‐stone polysaccharide drugs.
Fixed-Point Theorems for Systems of Operator Equations and Their Applications to the Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Zhang Xinqiu , Liu Lishan , Zou Yumei
Published: August 2018

We study the existence and uniqueness of positive solution for a class of nonlinear binary operator equations systems by means of the cone theory and monotone iterative technique, under more general conditions. Also, we give the iterative sequence of the solution and the error estimation of the system. Moreover, we use this new result to study the existence and uniqueness of the solutions for fractional differential equations systems involving integral boundary value conditions in ordered Banach spaces as an application. The results obtained in this paper are more general than many previous results and complement them.
Simultaneous Ipsilateral Quadriceps and Triceps Tendon Rupture in a Patient with End-Stage Renal Failure
Authors: Moerenhout Kevin , Gkagkalis Georgios , Benoit Benoit , Laflamme Georges Yves
Published: August 2018

Introduction. Quadriceps tendon ruptures (QTR) frequently occur in patients with end-stage renal failure, while triceps brachii tendon ruptures (TTR) are less common. This is the first properly documented report of a simultaneous ipsilateral traumatic rupture of both of these tendons. Case Report. A 50-year-old patient, on hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure, fell on his right side. He presented with sudden right knee and elbow pain, with functional impairment of both joints. X-rays showed avulsion-like osseous lesions on the olecranon and patella with a low-riding patella. Ultrasound confirmed complete quadriceps and triceps avulsion ruptures. Both lesions were treated surgically. Fixation was performed with anchors using the Krackow suture technique for both tendons. Postoperative clinical and radiological results were satisfactory, and follow-up was uneventful. The patient regained his preinjury functional level with a complete range of motion of both his knee and elbow. Discussion. Isolated QTR and TTR are frequent lesions in chronic renal failure patients treated with hemodialysis. Simultaneous ipsilateral rupture of both tendons however is extremely rare and should therefore not be overlooked. Surgical treatment is recommended for complete ruptures.