bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term follow‐up in patients with Brugada Syndrome in South China
Authors: Zhao Donghua , Liang Bo , Peng Jian , Tang Liangyu , Su Rongbin , Luo Lingli , Deng Bin , Wang Shuyuan
Published: January 2021

Objective

To evaluate the presence of Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern, clinical characteristics, treatment, and long‐term prognosis of Brugada syndrome in southern Chinese population.

Methods

This prospective study consisted of a consecutive series of patients with diagnostic coved type I Brugada ECG pattern at baseline between January 2007 and February 2020. Histories of symptoms including ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) episode, syncope, and family history of Brugada Syndrome (BrS) or unexplained sudden cardiac death were collected. Electrophysiological study and implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) were performed. All patients included in this study were followed up in the outpatient department every 6 months after baseline evaluation. Occurrences of syncope, VF, and sudden death were independently analyzed by two cardiologists.

Results

45 (56.3%) patients were diagnosed with BrS. During a mean follow‐up of 7.9 ± 3.6 years, six patients had experienced documented VF/sudden cardiac death (SCD) or recurrent syncope. Two patients experienced episodes of syncope more than once. Two patients experienced onset of electrical storm with a total of 11 episodes of VF. There were 50% of these events occurring in fever status. One of patient with BrS died of SCD.

Conclusion

There was a very low prevalence of Brugada syndrome in southern Chinese population. The risk of arrhythmic events was low in asymptomatic patients. ICD was high effective in preventing SCD without adverse device outcome in long‐term follow‐up. Fever can lead to predispose to malignant arrhythmia, and aggressive treatment of febrile state in Brugada syndrome was recommended.
Reducing occupational sitting time in adults with type 2 diabetes: Qualitative experiences of an office‐adapted mHealth intervention
Authors: Syrjälä Maria B. , Fharm Eva , Dempsey Paddy C. , Nordendahl Maria , Wennberg Patrik
Published: January 2021

Aim

Understanding barriers and facilitators for limiting occupational sitting and what impact it has on health on those with type 2 diabetes is essential for future trials and intervention development in primary healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention using mobile health (mHealth) technology, together with counselling by a diabetes specialist nurse, to reduce occupational sitting in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted in 15 participants with type 2 diabetes who completed a 3‐month intervention including mHealth; activity tracker (Garmin Vivofit3) and SMS reminders, one initial face‐to‐face patient‐centred counselling session and three telephone follow‐up calls by a diabetes specialist nurse within the primary healthcare system in Sweden. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Two themes were identified: (1) ‘From baby steps to milestones’ reflecting three categories; ‘Small changes make it easier to reduce sitting’, ‘Encouraged by trustworthy coaching’, ‘Physical and mental rewards matter’ and (2) ‘Tailoring strategies that fit me and my workplace’ reflecting four categories; ‘It's up to me’, ‘Taking advantage of the support’, ‘Using creativity to find practical solutions for interrupting sitting’ and ‘Living up to expectations’.

Conclusion

The intervention was perceived as feasible and acceptable in different office workplaces, and led to increased awareness of sedentary behaviour in adults with type 2 diabetes. Stepwise goal setting together with personalization of the mHealth intervention should be emphasized in individual type 2 diabetes programmes aiming to reduce workplace sitting.
LMR‐101, a novel derivative of propofol, exhibits potent anticonvulsant effects and possibly interacts with a novel target on γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors
Authors: Zhao Yi , An Long , Guo Shupan , Huang Xiaoxing , Tian Huajie , Liu Li , Chen Tao , Sun Xun , Mei Qibing , Wang Rutao
Published: January 2021

Objective

LMR‐101 is a bisphenol derivative of propofol, a short‐acting general anesthetic, which is also used to manage status epilepticus (SE). We evaluated the sedative and anticonvulsant effects of LMR‐101 to discover its potential to manage epilepsy and SE in the clinic.

Methods

Comparative studies between LMR‐101 and propofol were performed in mice to elucidate an appropriate dose range for LMR‐101 that produced anticonvulsant effects without significant sedation. Then, the anticonvulsive efficacy for LMR‐101 was evaluated using seizure models induced by pentylenetetrazol and (+)‐bicuculline. The ability of LMR‐101 to inhibit SE was assessed using a rat model of SE induced by pilocarpine. Radioligand binding assay profiles for LMR‐101 were performed to evaluate the potential mechanisms of action underlying its anticonvulsant properties.

Results

In the mouse study, LMR‐101 exhibited greater anticonvulsant and lesser sedative effect compared with propofol. LMR‐101 completely inhibited pentylenetetrazol‐induced seizures at a dose of 50 mg/kg and exhibited heavy sedation at 300 mg/kg. Propofol anesthetized all mice and only decreased the seizure rate at 25 mg/kg. LMR‐101 also suppressed seizure behaviors evoked by (+)‐bicuculline in mice in a dose‐dependent manner. In the pilocarpine‐induced SE model, LMR‐101 significantly decreased the maximum seizure score and seizure duration in a dose‐dependent manner. The median effective dose for LMR‐101 was 14.30 mg/kg and 121.87 mg/kg to prevent and inhibit sustained SE, respectively. In binding assays, LMR‐101 primarily inhibited tert‐[35S] butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding to γ‐aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration = 2.06 μmol·L–1), but it did not affect [3H] flunitrazepam or [3H] muscimol binding.

Significance

It is anticipated that LMR‐101 might play an essential role in the clinical management of epilepsy and SE. LMR‐101 also might bind to a novel target site on the GABAA receptor that is different from existing antiepileptic drugs. Further study of the mechanisms of action of LMR‐101 would be of considerable value in the search for new active drug sites on GABAA receptors.
Prehospital lactate levels in blood as a seizure biomarker: A multi‐center observational study
Authors: Magnusson Carl , Herlitz Johan , Höglind Robert , Wennberg Pär , Edelvik Tranberg Anna , Axelsson Christer , Zelano Johan
Published: January 2021

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the value of prehospital measurement of lactate level in blood for diagnosis of seizures in cases of transient loss of consciousness.

Methods

Between March 2018 and September 2019, prehospital lactate was measured with a point‐of‐care device by the emergency medical services in an area serving a population of 900 000. A total of 383 cases of transient loss of consciousness were identified and categorized as tonic‐clonic seizure (TCS), other seizure, syncope, or other cause, according to the final diagnosis in the electronic medical records system. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to identify the optimal lactate cut‐off.

Results

A total of 383 cases were included (135 TCS, 42 other seizure, 163 syncope, and 43 other causes). The median lactate level in TCS was 7.0 mmol/L, compared to a median of 2.0 mmol/L in all other cases (P < .001). The area under the curve (AUC) of TCS vs nonepileptic causes was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83‐0.91). The optimal cut‐off (Youden index, 67.8%) was 4.75 mmol/L, with 79% sensitivity (95% CI 71‐85) and 89% specificity (95% CI 85‐93) for TCS.

Significance

Prehospital lactate can be a valuable tool for identifying seizures in transient loss of consciousness. For acceptable specificity, a higher cut‐off than that previously demonstrated for hospital‐based measurements must be used when values obtained close to the time of the event are interpreted.
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes patients with renal function impairment slow the annual renal function decline, in a real clinical practice
Authors: Hirai Taro , Kitada Munehiro , Monno Itaru , Oda Erina , Hayashi Yoshihiro , Shimada Keiji , Takagaki Yuta , Ogura Yoshio , Fujii Mizue , Konishi Kazunori , Sakurai Masaru , Nakagawa Atsushi , Koya Daisuke
Published: January 2021

Aims/Introduction

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) treatment has any renoprotective effect for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in clinical practice.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated the annual eGFR slope in 85 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with renal impairment, treated with SGLT2is ≥2 years. Each patient's eGFR was <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the start of SGLT2is therapy. The calculation of the annual change in eGFR for each patient was obtained by acquired eGFR data before and after 2 years of the initial SGLT2is administration, followed by analysis of the changes in the mean eGFR slope.

Results

The participants' mean age was 72.0 ± 9.4 years, and the mean eGFR was 47.1 ± 9.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the start of additional treatment with SGLT2is. The mean annual eGFR slope after SGLT2is administration (−0.11 ± 0.20 mL/min/1.73 m2/year) was significantly slower than before SGLT2is administration (−2.93 ± 0.59 mL/min/1.73 m2/year; P < 0.0001). Additionally, SGLT2is treatment slowed the annual decline of eGFR, independent of the levels of both the initial eGFR and albuminuria levels before SGLT2is therapy was started. In the patient groups who showed an annual eGFR decline of ≥3 and 1–3 mL/min/1.73 m2, there was a significant slowing of the decline after SGLT2is therapy, compared with before the treatment (P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

SGLT2is administration slows the decline observed in the annual renal function in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in clinical practice.
Five‐Year Lower Extremity Function is Associated with White Matter Abnormality in Older Adults
Authors: He Lingxiao , de Souto Barreto Philipe , Giudici Kelly Virecoulon , Gabelle Audrey , Perus Lisa , Mangin Jean‐François , Rolland Yves , Vellas Bruno ,   Other Individuals in the MAPT/DSA Group
Published: January 2021

Objective

To explore associations between changes of lower extremity function (LEF) parameters over a 5‐year period and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of white matter tracts among community‐dwelling older adults.

Design

A secondary analysis on image and physical function data collected from the Multidomain Alzheimer's Preventive Trial (MAPT).

Participants

208 older adults (aged 75 ± 4 years, with spontaneous memory complaint or limited instrumental daily living activity or slow gait speed, 60% female) of the MAPT‐magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ancillary study. The time interval between a participant's enrolment and MRI scan was on average 110 ± 97 days.

Measurements

Forty‐eight white matter tracts (WMTs) were measured. LEF parameters (measured after the MRI scan) were assessed as the short physical performance battery (SPPB) score, gait speed, and chair stands time over a 5‐year period. Mixed‐effects models were performed to explore the associations between baseline DTI values and the progression of LEF parameters. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison correction.

Results

The progression of LEF was associated with 35 baseline DTI parameters from 24 WMTs. Higher baseline DTI parameter values were related to more decreases in SPPB score and gait speed, and greater increases in chair stands time. Bilateral uncinate fasciculus was associated with all LEF parameters. Other WMTs in cingulum, cerebral and cerebellar peduncle, internal capsule, and corpus callosum also showed close connections with LEF changes.

Conclusions

Our findings show that DTI parameters of some WMTs are associated with the 5‐year decline in LEF, suggesting that alterations in WMT integrity (evaluated by DTI parameters) might be used to explore potential causes of impaired mobility in older adults when no clear explanations can be found.
What is the abdomen? Rationalising clinical and anatomical perspectives using formal semantics
Authors: Brown Philip J. B. , Gao Yongsheng , Clunie David
Published: January 2021

The meaning of the term ‘abdomen’ has become increasingly ambiguous, as it has to satisfy the contemporary requirements of natural language discourse, literature, gross and radiological anatomy and its role in ontologies supporting electronic records and data modelling. It is critical that there is an agreed understanding of the semantics of the abdominopelvic cavity, its component volumes including the abdomen proper, true and false pelvic cavities, and its boundaries and regional contents. The expression of part–whole (meronymic) relationships is essential for inferences to be drawn by computer algorithms, but unless these are rigorously reviewed and tested incorrect assumptions are drawn. The SNOMED CT terminology descriptions and hierarchy of anatomical concepts relating to the trunk were scrutinised for ambiguity and sub‐optimal relationships using a panel of reference sources. Any identified errors were corrected and the impact of any changes reviewed iteratively by evaluating their effect on dependant hierarchies (modelled with the associated anatomical concepts). Anatomical concepts are generally structured according to a traditional gross standpoint, but in clinical practice covert complex regional notions are frequently used and during the evaluation process a new viewpoint relating to projectional (transmissive) or emissive radiological perspective was identified. The subtle but important differences in the boundaries, volumes and contents of these distinctive perspectives of the ‘abdomen’ are presented. Three significant complex variants have been identified which relate to the most common uses of the word ‘abdomen’. The merits and disadvantages of using ‘abdomen’ as common synonym to more than one concept (polysemy) are briefly discussed and the solution adopted by SNOMED International described. The review of existing ontologies and academic literature confirmed the frequent varied use of the word ‘abdomen’, which raises concerns when derived data are increasingly being used remotely from the point of clinical contact, potentially leading to incorrect inferences. The documented regional truncal volumes from an anatomical regional, segmental and cross‐sectional perspective have been integrated into a logical and comprehensive model suitable for computer processing. The robust modelling of meronymic hierarchies has to be rigorous to avoid systematic errors and it is thus timely that a proposed standard description of these subtly related volumes and structures is made available for discussion and comment.
Improving Recruitment Procedures for School‐Based Surveys: Through the Lens of the Illinois Youth Survey*
Authors: Clary Kelly Lynn , Reinhart Crystal A. , Kim Hyun Jung , Smith Douglas Cary
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological surveys are designed to collect representative trend data. School‐based surveys are important to utilize so systems can effectively create prevention and intervention programs to alter youths' perceptions and behaviors related to substance use. However, there are many barriers when implementing a school‐based survey.

METHODS

This mixed methods study sought to uncover 30 school personnel's challenges when making the decision to implement the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS). Through a descriptive and interpretive approach, participants' thoughts to improve future recruitment procedures and reduce barriers for implementation were analyzed.

RESULTS

Results found challenges included: (1) time; (2) parent‐opt out consent letter; (3) wording of the survey responses; (4) honesty of the students' responses; (5) importance and use of the data. Moreover, the most common suggestions to improve recruitment included: (1) sharing knowledge about trend data; (2) year‐round communication with school personnel; (3) targeting school personnel groups; and (4) providing examples of data use.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings can be used to improve recruitment procedures for others who have similar challenges. If schools, counties, and states have representative data they can more precisely tailor their programming to meet the needs of their population.
On some basic features of strictly stationary, reversible Markov chains
Authors: Bradley Richard C.
Published: January 2021

It has been well known for some time that for strictly stationary Markov chains that are ‘reversible’, the special symmetry (with the distribution of the Markov chain as a whole being invariant under a reversal of the ‘direction of time’) provides special extra features in the mathematical theory. This article here is in part an exposition of some of the basic aspects of that special theory. The mathematical techniques employed in this review are relatively gentle, involving only some basic measure‐theoretic probability theory. To that special theory, a couple of new results are contributed here that are connected with the Rosenblatt strong mixing condition; and those new results in turn assist in bringing further clarity to the exposition of the theory.
Grounding Second Language Vocabulary Instruction in Cognitive Science
Authors: Baxter Peta , Bekkering Harold , Dijkstra Ton , Droop Mienke , van den Hurk Marianne , Léoné Frank
Published: January 2021

Cognitive neuroscience has gained significant insight into the mechanisms underlying the mental lexicon and their impact on second language vocabulary learning. However, relatively little effort has been put into understanding how these mechanisms may impact instructional practices. We attempt to bridge this gap. Towards that end, we first describe three main properties of the mental lexicon: words have distinct form and meaning representations; these representations are organized in multilingual network structures organized by similarity; and the representations differ in strength. Next, we translate the properties into a visual framework that we use to reflect upon how this knowledge affects three important choices in vocabulary instruction: composing word lists, selecting an instruction method, and consolidating newly acquired words. Lastly, we discuss opportunities for both science and practice, highlighting the importance of improving the ecological validity of scientific models and theories, and of developing instructional methods grounded in cognitive science.
Internationalisation of emerging market currencies and original sin: Empirical evidence
Authors: Lahet Delphine , Prat Stéphanie
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the impact of the internationalisation of emerging market currencies on original sin, which is the inability of emerging countries to borrow abroad in local currency. The objective is to assess the role of measures of internationalisation on the currency structure of debt for a set of emerging market countries. We show the favourable impact of the internationalisation process on original sin for the period 2005–2018 using two different measures with a dynamic panel data empirical analysis. The main determinants are the foreign exchange (FX) turnover of the currencies, the economic size of the issuing country, and the Volatility Index (VIX). In this way, we highlight network effects between the functions of a currency. The tests also highlight the existence of inertia in the use of a currency for financial transactions. Finally, the results provide evidence on the role of derivative instruments in supporting the use of emerging market currencies in bond markets.
Informal sector and mobile financial services in emerging and developing countries: Does financial innovation matter?
Authors: Jacolin Luc , Keneck Massil Joseph , Noah Alphonse
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates the impact of mobile financial services (MFS) (mobile money, and mobile credit and savings) on the informal sector using a sample of 101 emerging and developing countries over the period 2000–15. Using both fixed‐effects estimator and propensity score‐matching methods, we show that the adoption of MFS significantly decreases the size of the informal sector. The magnitude of these effects is large, the reduction in the informal sector reaching 1–4 points, depending on the estimator. This effect is likely to increase as the services benefit wider segments of the population. These formalisation effects may stem from different possible transmission channels: improvement in credit access, increase in the productivity/profitability of informal firms attenuating subsistence constraints typical of entrepreneurship in the informal sector and possible induced growth of firms already in the formal sector. Our results were confirmed by robustness checks, using alternative measure of informal sector and MFS, sets of control variables and estimation approaches. These findings lay the groundwork for the scarce literature on the macroeconomic impact of mobile financial services, a major dimension of the growing drive towards economic digitalisation.
Consequences of groundwater overexploitation on land subsidence in Fars Province of Iran and its mitigation management programme
Authors: Golian Mohsen , Saffarzadeh Ali , Katibeh Homayoon , Mahdad Masoud , Saadat Habib , Khazaei Mahdi , Sametzadeh Ershad , Ahmadi Aboozar , Sharifi Teshnizi Ebrahim , Samadi Darafshani Mahsa , Dashti Barmaki Majid
Published: January 2021

Land subsidence induced by rapid groundwater depletion in Fars Province (Iran) has led to serious problems for agricultural lands, structures and infrastructures, also its destructive effects on the Achaemenid Empire monuments has raised national concerns. Over the past three decades, mainly due to the increasing reliance of the economy on agriculture, the number of water wells has grown rapidly (7100 new wells with the annual withdrawal of 1.1 billion m3) and therefore the groundwater storage has decreased 10 billion m3 and groundwater level has declined averagely 11 m. To cease groundwater depletion and land subsidence, Iran's sustainable groundwater management programme that is currently being implemented to sustain aquifers is considered as the main remedy solution. To analyse the efficiency of the programme implementation in sustaining the aquifers of the province so far, the status of aquifers levels before the programme implementation (before 2015) is compared to its current status (after 2015). The results indicate that by implementing the programme, 22 out of 100 aquifers, mostly located in the southern half of the province, have been sustained. Although, mainly due to inappropriate management and limited financial support, 25 aquifers are still in critical condition, some of which are the most important aquifers in the province. However, implementing sustainable groundwater management in basins facing land subsidence due to groundwater overexploitation is important since it can minimize or stop land subsidence by sustaining aquifers and preventing groundwater drawdown.
Experimental Investigation Into the Heat Transfer Mechanism of Oscillating Heat Pipes Using Temperature Sensitive Paint
Authors: Francom Matthew , Kim Jungho
Published: January 2021

Oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) represent a promising passive mechanism for the removal or spreading of heat. While simple to construct, the fluid and thermodynamics of these devices are still poorly understood. There is debate over whether the primary heat transfer mechanism is due to sensible heating of the liquid phase or due to latent heat transfer through phase change. To answer this question, an experimental apparatus was constructed to provide time- and space-resolved temperature and heat transfer data across the face of an operating OHP with HFE-7000 as the working fluid. This experiment utilized temperature sensitive paint (TSP) alongside visual recording of the fluid motion in order to determine the relative latent and sensible contribution to the overall heat transfer. The OHP was tested with input powers ranging from 2.6 W to 10.1 W. It found that latent heat transfer was the dominant heat transfer mechanism, accounting for between 65% and 83% of the total heat transferred in all cases.
Human Thoracolumbar Spine Tolerance to Injury and Mechanisms From Caudo-Cephalad Loading: A Parametric Modeling Study
Authors: Yoganandan Narayan , Khandelwal Prashant , Porwal Vaibhav , Humm John , Banerjee Anjishnu
Published: January 2021

The aims of this investigation were to delineate the internal biomechanics of the spine under vertical impact vector and assess the probability of injury. Male and female whole-body human finite element models were used. The restrained occupants were positioned on the seat, and caudo-cephalad impacts were applied to the base. Different acceleration-time profiles (50–200 ms pulse durations, 11–46 g peak accelerations) were used as inputs in both models. The resulting stress–strain profiles in the cortical and cancellous bones were evaluated at different vertebral levels. Using the peak transmitted forces at the thoracolumbar disc level as the response variable, the probability of injury for the male spine was obtained from experimental risk curves for the various pulses. Results showed that the shorter pulse durations and rise times impart greater loading on the thoracolumbar spine. The analysis of von Mises stress and strain distributions showed that the compression-related fractures are multifaceted with contributions from both the cortical and cancellous bony components of the body. Profiles are provided in the paper. The intervertebral disc may be involved in the fracture mechanism, because it acts as a medium of load transfer between adjacent vertebrae. Injury risks for the shortest pulse was 63%, and for the widest pulse it was close to zero, and injury probabilities for other pulses are given. The present modeling study provides insights into the mechanisms of internal load transfer and describes injury risk levels from caudal to cephalad impacts.
Track-Following Controller Design Using an Active Magnetic Bearing for Measurement of the Rotor Dynamics Coefficient of the Annular Seal
Authors: Yabui Shota , Inoue Hideyuki , Inoue Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2021

This study introduces a track-following controller design to measure the rotor dynamics (RD) coefficient of the annular seal using active magnetic bearings. The annular seal is implemented contiguously to prevent leakage of fluid between the rotating shaft and stationary area of a rotating machine. The force caused by the seal at the contact point can cause vibrations, which should be identified for designing rotating machinery. The RD force is coupled with mechanical and fluid dynamics. Moreover, the dynamics depend on the operating conditions of the rotating machine, namely, the rotating speed and orbit of the rotating shaft. This study proposes a control system for the active magnetic bearing to measure the RD force directly at the arbitrary operating condition. The main controller is designed to satisfy a criterion of the frequency characteristics of the rotating system. In addition, the control system employs adaptive feed-forward cancellation (AFC). This can estimate and compensate for the RD force in the control system simultaneously. The experimental results indicate that the control system can achieve an arbitrary operating condition and measure the RD coefficient of the annular seal in real-time. As a result, the RD coefficient is identified based on the equation of motion.
Set-Membership Filtering-Based Leader–Follower Synchronization of Discrete-Time Linear Multi-Agent Systems
Authors: Bhattacharjee Diganta , Subbarao Kamesh
Published: January 2021

In this paper, a set-membership filtering-based leader–follower synchronization protocol for discrete-time linear multi-agent systems is proposed, wherein the aim is to make the agents synchronize with a leader. The agents, governed by identical high-order discrete-time linear dynamics, are subject to unknown-but-bounded input disturbances. In terms of its own state information, each agent only has access to measured outputs that are corrupted with unknown-but-bounded output disturbances. Also, the initial states of the agents are unknown. To deal with all these unknowns (or uncertainties), a set-membership filter (or state estimator), having the “correction-prediction” form of a standard Kalman filter, is formulated. We consider each agent to be equipped with this filter that estimates the state of the agent and consider the agents to be able to share the state estimate information with the neighbors locally. The corrected state estimates of the agents are utilized in the local control law design for synchronization. Under appropriate conditions, the global disagreement error between the agents and the leader is shown to be bounded. An upper bound on the norm of the global disagreement error is calculated and shown to be monotonically decreasing. Finally, a simulation example is included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed leader–follower synchronization protocol.
A Comparison of Trajectory Planning and Control Frameworks for Cooperative Autonomous Driving
Authors: Viana Icaro Bezerra , Kanchwala Husain , Ahiska Kenan , Aouf Nabil
Published: January 2021

This work considers the cooperative trajectory-planning problem along a double lane change scenario for autonomous driving. In this paper, we develop two frameworks to solve this problem based on distributed model predictive control (MPC). The first approach solves a single nonlinear MPC problem. The general idea is to introduce a collision cost function in the optimization problem at the planning task to achieve a smooth and bounded collision function, and thus to prevent the need to implement tight hard constraints. The second method uses a hierarchical scheme with two main units: a trajectory-planning layer based on mixed-integer quadratic program (MIQP) computes an on-line collision-free trajectory using simplified motion dynamics, and a tracking controller unit to follow the trajectory from the higher level using the nonlinear vehicle model. Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) sharing their planned trajectories lay the foundation of the cooperative behavior. In the tests and evaluation of the proposed methodologies, matlab-carsim cosimulation is utilized. carsim provides the high-fidelity model for the multibody vehicle dynamics. matlab-carsim conjoint simulation experiments compare both approaches for a cooperative double lane change maneuver of two vehicles moving along a one-way three-lane road with obstacles.
Fixed Time Control and Synchronization for Perturbed Chaotic System Via Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode Method
Authors: Su Haipeng , Luo Runzi , Fu Jiaojiao , Huang Meichun
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates the fixed time control and synchronization of chaotic system in the presence of compound disturbances. By using the definite integration and variable substitution, we present a new fixed time stability theorem for continuous nonlinear systems. In order to offset the bad effects of the compound disturbance, some novel sliding modes are constructed to improve the robustness of the controlled system and error system. For obtaining the robust controllers, some sufficient conditions of fixed time control and synchronization of the chaotic system are proposed by means of the sliding mode control method and the given stability theorem. Numerical simulation results are presented to verify and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation-Based Decoupled-Stranded Model for Flexible Cables With Large Deformation
Authors: Zhang Yue , Guo Jiawen , Liu Yuqiang , Wei Cheng
Published: January 2021

The existing flexible cable dynamics model, established using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF), suffers from the issue of strain coupling. It also does not consider the nonlinear mechanical properties inside the flexible cable and consequently provides an inaccurate description of the strain and the constitutive properties. In this study, the axial strain of the flexible cable was redescribed by constructing an equivalent rod element in order to decouple the axial strain and bending strain. Subsequently, a strain-decoupled ANCF cable element was derived. Then, by analyzing the geometry of the stranded flexible cable as well as the relative sliding and friction between the wires in the cable, the axial stiffness and bending stiffness calculation formulae were obtained and the decoupled-stranded model was established. This study, therefore, achieved an improvement upon the traditional model in describing the strain and constitutive properties. The simulation results show that the decoupled model eliminates the strain coupling effect compared with the traditional model and has the advantages of fast convergence and high accuracy. The stiffness characteristics analysis shows that the bending stiffness of the cable changes during the bending process due to the relative motion and friction between the wires. Finally, the comparative analysis shows that the accuracy of the decoupled-stranded model is very close to that of the detailed model and performs much better than the other ANCF models, and the complexity of the decoupled-stranded model is far lower than that of the detailed model.
Inhibition Effect of Thermally-Induced Fire in 21,700 Lithium-Ion Battery With Low-Pressure Twin-Fluid Water Mist
Authors: Guo Jun , Wang Haibin , He Yuanhua
Published: January 2021

The fire hazard of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) poses a serious threat to their transportation and use. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of low-pressure twin-fluid water mist (TFWM) on suppressing lithium-ion battery fires. Experiments were executed to research the effect of working pressures and release stages on extinguishing the fire. Aqueous vermiculite dispersion (AVD), a commercial agent that was specifically designed to extinguish battery fires, was chosen to compare with the fire suppression performance of TFWM under the same conditions. The results indicate that the type 21,700 LIB fires could be controlled by applying the water mist within 10 s. The cooling ability at various working pressures (0.4, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 MPa) demonstrated an increase in inhibitory effects as the working pressure increased, and the optimal pressure was 1.2 MPa. The results further show that the extinguishing ability of the TFWM was better than the AVD agent. When the water mist was applied at the optimal working pressure, the surface temperature, flame temperature and concentration of CO reduced more significantly, compared with the AVD agent. Therefore, the TFWM shows considerable merit as a candidate to fight LIB fires.
Modeling and Optimal Control Applying the Flower Pollination Algorithm to Doubly Fed Induction Generators on a Wind Farm in a Hot Arid Climate
Authors: Chogueur Omar , Bentouba Saïd , Bourouis Mahmoud
Published: January 2021

In the present paper, the flower pollination algorithm (FPA) is employed for tuning the controller parameters of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) in a wind energy system. These parameters are then compared with those generated by the genetic algorithm (GA) and the proportional-integral (PI) (initial design) controllers. Performance analysis of the DFIG is carried out in dynamic mode in two case studies. The first case study is carried out with no failure, the second one is subject to a short circuit in the electrical network. In this latter case study, a break occurs in the rotor circuit and disconnects the DFIG from the power grid. This gives rise to an excessive current in the rotor circuit which in turn influences the converters AC/DC/AC and makes the IGBT very sensitive. The GA and the FPA are used to tune the PI controllers with the purpose of improving the quality of a power supply should electrical disturbances occur. The results show that by applying an optimal PI controller design to a DFIG using the FPA the performance of the DFIG system can be improved in the event of disturbances. When the PI controller tuning using the GA and the initial control system design is compared with the DFIG using the optimized design, a significant decrease in the overshoot of the rotor current and the DC-link voltage is observed.
Statistical Analysis of Guided Wave Imaging Algorithms Performance Illustrated by a Simple Structural Health Monitoring Configuration
Authors: Kulakovskyi Andrii , Mesnil Olivier , Chapuis Bastien , d’Almeida Oscar , Lhémery Alain
Published: January 2021

A guided wave-based structural health monitoring (GW-SHM) system aims at determining the integrity of a wide variety of plate-like structures such as aircraft fuselages, pipes, and fuel tanks. It is often based on a sparse grid of piezoelectric transducers for exciting and sensing GWs that under certain conditions interact with damage while propagating. In recent years, various defect imaging algorithms have been proposed for processing GWs signals and, particularly, for computing an image representing the integrity of the studied structure. The performance of the GW-SHM system highly depends on a signal processing methodology. This paper compares defect localization accuracy of the three state-of-art defect imaging algorithms (delay-and-sum, minimum variance, and excitelet) applied to an extensive simulated database of GWs propagation and GWs-defect interaction in aluminum plate under varying temperature and transducers degradation. This study is conducted in order to provide statistical inferences, essential for SHM system performance demonstration.
Force Scaling Comparison of Transport Phenomena in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Flow Channels
Authors: Mortazavi Mehdi , Santamaria Anthony D. , Heidari Mahbod , Doyle Michael P. , Schrader Morgan A. , Rizk Elias R.
Published: January 2021

Liquid–gas two-phase flow in flow channels of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has been investigated extensively in the literature; however, a comparison between the order of the magnitude of the forces occurring within the flow channels has not been documented. A comparison is relevant due to increased interest in practical active and passive water management strategies. The present study compares the magnitude of the forces experienced by liquid water residing in the flow channels. An analytical model of a 20-cm-long flow channel was analyzed, and key forces were compared in the stream-wise coordinate. Results clearly reinforce the dominance of the surface tension forces over other forces applied in the channel while also demonstrating how they change with key variables. For a cathode stoichiometric ratio of 1, the surface tension effects were calculated to be three orders of magnitude greater than the gravitational effects, the second largest force scale, for a droplet diameter of 0.1 mm. For larger droplets, this difference becomes smaller but the surface tension effects remain dominant. The results are useful for flow-field designers where water removal using complex geometry and hydrophobic coatings are being explored.
The Influence of Intensive Anaerobic Effort on the Rhythm of Movement
Authors: Skowronek Tomasz , Juras Grzegorz , Słomka Kajetan J.
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To estimate the influence of global anaerobic fatigue on rhythm performance. Methods: Fifteen young males participated in the experiment. Anaerobic fatigue was induced with 2 consecutive running-based anaerobic sprint tests (RAST). The level of lactate was controlled before the first RAST and 3 minutes after each RAST. The rhythm performance was assessed by using Optojump Next (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). The rhythm test was conducted 3 times, before fatigue and immediately after each RAST. Eight variables of the rhythm test were analyzed: the mean frequency of jumps for the assisted and unassisted phase (XfAP and XfUAP), SD of jump frequency for the assisted and unassisted phase (SDfAP and SDfUAP), and mean absolute error for the assisted and unassisted phases of the test (XERAP and XERUAP, respectively). Results: One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant main effect of anaerobic effort on rhythm variables only in the unassisted phase of the test. Statistically significant differences were observed in XfUAP between the first and third rhythm measurements (F2,28 = 4.98, P < .014, ), SD of jump frequency for the unassisted phase (SDfUAP; F2,28 = 3.48, P = .05, ), and mean absolute error for the unassisted phase (XERUAP; F2,28 = 3.36, P = .006, ). Conclusions: The results show that rhythm of movement may be negatively influenced after intensive anaerobic fatigue. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not precisely defined, but both central and peripheral fatigue are suspected to be involved.
Exceptions to bed-controlled ice sheet flow and retreat from glaciated continental margins worldwide
Authors: Greenwood Sarah L. , Simkins Lauren M. , Winsborrow Monica C. M. , Bjarnadóttir Lilja R.
Published: January 2021

Geological records of former ice sheets show that behavior cannot be predicted solely from catchment-scale topography and geology.
The Ocean 100: Transnational corporations in the ocean economy
Authors: Virdin J. , Vegh T. , Jouffray J.-B. , Blasiak R. , Mason S. , Österblom H. , Vermeer D. , Wachtmeister H. , Werner N.
Published: January 2021

The 100 largest corporations account for 60% of total revenues in eight core ocean economy industries.
Probing the entire vascular system
Authors: Kanakry Christopher G.
Published: January 2021

Microscopic endovascular probes that navigate by blood flow and an external magnetic field may increase the capabilities of vascular catheterization.
Lighting Effects on the Development and Diversity of Photosynthetic Biofilm Communities in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
Authors: Havlena Zoë , Kieft Thomas L. , Veni George , Horrocks Rodney D. , Jones Daniel S.
Published: January 2021

Artificial lighting in caves visited by tourists (“show caves”) can stimulate photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria, called “lampenflora,” which are unsightly and damage speleothems and other cave surfaces. The most common mitigation strategy employs bleach, but altering intensities and wavelengths of light might be effective and less harsh.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Pseudomonas
sp. Strain FEN, Isolated from the Fe- and Organic Matter-Rich Schlöppnerbrunnen Fen
Authors: Cooper Rebecca E. , Wegner Carl-Eric , Küsel Kirsten
Published: January 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Pseudomonas
sp. strain FEN, a nonfluorescent siderophore producer that was isolated from the Schlöppnerbrunnen fen, which is characterized by high concentrations of Fe, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and Fe-DOM complexes. This draft genome sequence provides insight into the mechanisms of siderophore biosynthesis and siderophore-mediated iron uptake by this bacterium.
BK Polyomavirus Genotypes in Two Patients after Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Authors: Odegard Elizabeth A. , Meeds Heidi L. , Kleiboeker Steven B. , Ziady Assem , Sabulski Anthony , Jodele Sonata , Davies Stella M. , Laskin Benjamin L. , Blackard Jason T.
Published: January 2021

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection can lead to nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). We evaluated BKPyV genotypes in two individuals after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). The first case developed HC and was infected with genotype Ib-2, while the second did not develop HC and was infected with genotype Ia.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Sulfurospirillum
sp. Strain ACS
DCE
, an Anaerobic Bacterium That Respires Tetrachloroethene under Acidic pH Conditions
Authors: Yang Yi , Huo Leitao , Li Xiuying , Yan Jun , Löffler Frank E.
Published: January 2021

Sulfurospirillum
sp. strain ACS
DCE
couples growth with reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene to
cis
-1,2-dichloroethene at pH values as low as 5.5. The genome sequence of strain ACS
DCE
consists of a circular 2,737,849-bp chromosome and a 39,868-bp plasmid and carries 2,737 protein-coding sequences, including two reductive dehalogenase genes.
Long-term safety and efficacy of alogliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 3-year prospective, controlled, observational study (J-BRAND Registry)
Authors: Ueki Kohjiro , Tanizawa Yukio , Nakamura Jiro , Yamada Yuichiro , Inagaki Nobuya , Watada Hirotaka , Shimomura Iichiro , Nishimura Rimei , Miyoshi Hideaki , Abiko Atsuko , Katagiri Hideki , Hayashi Michio , Shimada Akira , Naruse Keiko , Fujimoto Shimpei , Fujiwara Masazumi , Shikata Kenichi , Okada Yosuke , Araki Eiichi , Yamazaki Tsutomu , Kadowaki Takashi
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Given an increasing use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the real-world setting, we conducted a prospective observational study (Japan-based Clinical Research Network for Diabetes Registry: J-BRAND Registry) to elucidate the safety and efficacy profile of long-term usage of alogliptin.

Research design and methods

We registered 5969 patients from April 2012 through September 2014, who started receiving alogliptin (group A) or other classes of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs; group B), and were followed for 3 years at 239 sites nationwide. Safety was the primary outcome. Symptomatic hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, skin disorders of non-extrinsic origin, severe infections, and cancer were collected as major adverse events (AEs). Efficacy assessment was the secondary outcome and included changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and urinary albumin.

Results

Of the registered, 5150 (group A: 3395 and group B: 1755) and 5096 (3358 and 1738) were included for safety and efficacy analysis, respectively. Group A patients mostly (>90%) continued to use alogliptin. In group B, biguanides were the primary agents, while DPP-4 inhibitors were added in up to ~36% of patients. The overall incidence of AEs was similar between the two groups (42.7% vs 42.2%). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the incidence of cancer was significantly higher in group A than in group B (7.4% vs 4.8%, p=0.040), while no significant incidence difference was observed in the individual cancer. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the imbalanced patient distribution (more elderly patients in group A than in group B), but not alogliptin usage per se, contributed to cancer development. The incidence of other major AE categories was with no between-group difference. Between-group difference was not detected, either, in the incidence of microvascular and macrovascular complications. HbA1c and fasting glucose decreased significantly at the 0.5-year visit and nearly plateaued thereafter in both groups.

Conclusions

Alogliptin as a representative of DPP-4 inhibitors was safe and durably efficacious when used alone or with other OHAs for patients with type 2 diabetes in the real world setting.