bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming insomnia: protocol for a large-scale randomised controlled trial of online cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia compared with online patient education about sleep
Authors: Kallestad Håvard , Vedaa Øystein , Scott Jan , Morken Gunnar , Pallesen Ståle , Harvey Allison G , Gehrman Phil , Thorndike Frances , Ritterband Lee , Stiles Tore Charles , Sivertsen Børge
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Insomnia is a major public health concern. While cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is acknowledged as the best available intervention, there are unanswered questions about its wider dissemination, socioeconomic benefits and its impact on health resource utilisation. The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate the effectiveness of a fully automated online version of CBT-I compared with online patient education about sleep (PE). Outcome measures comprise changes in symptoms of insomnia, time off work due to sick leave as well as medication and health resource utilisation. Also, we will examine (i) putative mediators of the effects of CBT-I on insomnia severity and (ii) selected potential psycho-bio-social moderators of the effects of the interventions.

Methods and analysis

A parallel-group RCT will be conducted in a target sample of about 1500 adults recruited across Norway. Participants will complete an online screening and consent process. Those who meet eligibility criteria will be randomised to receive direct access to fully automated online CBT-I or to an online PE programme. The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity immediately postintervention; secondary outcomes are change in daytime functioning and other sleep measures postintervention and at 6-month and 24-month follow-up. Objective data from national registries will be obtained at two time points (1 year and 2 years post-treatment), allowing a mirror image study of preintervention and postintervention rates of sick leave, and of medication and healthcare utilisation by condition.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics in South East Norway (2015/134). Findings from the RCT will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Exploratory analyses of potential mediators and moderators will be reported separately. User-friendly outputs will be disseminated to patient advocacy and other relevant organisations.

Trial registration number

NCT02558647; Pre-results.
‘Take a Mental Break!’ study: Role of mental aspects in running-related injuries using a randomised controlled trial
Authors: de Jonge Jan , van Iperen Luuk , Gevers Josette , Vos Steven
Published: August 2018

Background

Running-related injuries (RRIs) can be considered the primary enemy of runners. Most literature on injury prediction and prevention overlooks the mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery, despite their potential role in injury prediction and prevention. Consequently, knowledge on the role of mental aspects in RRIs is lacking.

Objective

To investigate mental aspects of overtraining and under-recovery by means of an online injury prevention programme.

Methods and analysis

The ‘Take a Mental Break!’ study is a randomised controlled trial with a 12 month follow-up. After completing a web-based baseline survey, half and full marathon runners were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. Participants of the intervention group obtained access to an online injury prevention programme, consisting of a running-related smartphone application. This app provided the participants of the intervention group with information on how to prevent overtraining and RRIs with special attention to mental aspects. The primary outcome measure is any self-reported RRI over the past 12 months. Secondary outcome measures include vigour, fatigue, sleep and perceived running performance. Regression analysis will be conducted to investigate whether the injury prevention programme has led to a lower prevalence of RRIs, better health and improved perceived running performance.

Ethics and dissemination

The Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, has exempted the current study from ethical approval (reference number: NL64342.041.17). Results of the study will be communicated through scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, scientific reports and presentations on scientific conferences.
Y-configuration stenting for coiling of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms using Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support Junior
Authors: Park Keun Young , Kim Byung Moon , Kim Dong Joon , Chung Joonho , Lee Jae Whan
Published: August 2018

Background

Little has been reported about the feasibility and durability of a Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support Junior (LVIS Jr) Y-stenting device for wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and durability of LVIS Jr Y-stenting for coiling of unruptured wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

Methods

We identified patients in whom LVIS Jr Y-stenting was attempted for unruptured wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms from a prospectively maintained registry of a referral hospital. Procedural success rate, treatment-related morbidity, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were retrospectively assessed.

Results

LVIS Jr Y-stenting was attempted for a total of 21 aneurysms in 21 patients (mean age 60±8.9 years; M:F=6:15): nine basilar artery, six anterior communicating artery, four middle cerebral artery, one internal carotid artery, and one vertebrobasilar fenestration aneurysms. The mean dome and neck size were 7.9±2.7 mm and 5.7±1.8 mm, respectively. All attempts were successful. Treatment-related morbidity occurred in one individual with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 2. Immediate postprocedural angiograms showed complete occlusion in 15 (71.4%) and neck remnant in 6 (28.6%) patients. All 21 patients had good outcomes (mRS score 0–2) for a mean of 12 months' follow-up (range 6–27 months); mRS score 0 in 20 patients and mRS score 2 in one patient, respectively. Follow-up imaging over a mean of 11 months (range 6–18 months) was available in 18 patients (85.7%). All aneurysms showed complete occlusion at follow-up.

Conclusions

LVIS Jr Y-stenting and coiling for wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms seems to be feasible with acceptable safety and to provide durable aneurysm occlusion for wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.
Presentation and outcomes of patients with thoracic and lumbosacral spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Byun Jun-Soo , Tsang Anderson Chun On , Hilditch Christopher Alan , Nicholson Patrick , Fang Yi-Bin , Krings Timo , Pereira Vitor Mendes , Lanzino Giuseppe , Brinjikji Waleed
Published: August 2018

Background and purpose

Thoracolumbar and sacral spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas (SEDAVFs) are an increasingly recognized form of spinal vascular malformation. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the demographics, clinical presentation and treatment results of thoracolumbar SEDAVFs.

Materials and methods

Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched from January 2000 to January 2018 for articles on treatment of SEDAVFs. Pooled data of individual patients were analyzed for demographic and clinical features of SEDAVFs as well as treatment outcomes.

Results

There were 125 patients from 11 studies included. Mean age was 63.5 years. There was a male sex predilection (69.6%). Sensory symptoms including pain or numbness were the most frequently presenting symptoms. Fistula location was the lumbosacral spine in 79.2% and the thoracic spine in 20.8%. Involvement of intradural venous drainage was more common than extradural venous drainage only (89.6% vs 10.4%). Of the 123 treated patients, endovascular therapy was performed in 67.5% of patients, microsurgery in 23.6%, and combined treatment in 8.9%. The overall complete obliteration rate was 83.5% and did not differ between groups. Clinical symptoms improved in 70.7% of patients, were stable in 25%, and worsened in 1.7% with no difference between treatment modalities.

Conclusions

Thoracic and lumbosacral SEDAVFs often present with symptoms secondary to congestive myelopathy or compressive symptoms. Both endovascular and microsurgical treatments were associated with high obliteration rates and good clinical outcomes.
Aberrant promoter methylation reduced the expression of protocadherin 17 in nasopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Yang Shiming , Dai Zhirao , Li Weimin , Wang Rongguan , Huang Dongyan
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of protocadherin 17 (PCDH17) downregulated in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). NPC tumor and adjacent tissue samples were collected from NPC patients who received therapy in the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Meanwhile, a normal epithelial cell lines NP96 and 6 NPC and cell lines C666-1, CEN1, CEN2, HNE1, HEN2, and HONE1 were prepared. Then, the expression level of PCDH17 and the methylation level of PCDH17 promoter in both tissues samples and cell lines were determined using the PCR method. Moreover, PCDH17 was overexpressed in CNE2 and HONE1 using Lipo2000. Following this, the proliferation and apoptosis of CNE2 and HONE1 were assessed using MTT and flow cytometry. The expression of PCDH17 was significantly downregulated in NPC tissues compared with the adjacent tissues as well as in the NPC cell lines compared with the normal NP96 cells. Overexpressed PCDH17 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of CNE2 and HONE1 cells but obviously promote the apoptosis of these two cell lines. Aberrant hypermethylation in the promoter might be the explanation of PCDH17 downregulated in PCDH17 and promoted the development of NPC.
Empirical Functional PCA for 3D Image Feature Extraction Through Fractal Sampling
Authors: Ortiz Andrés , Munilla Jorge , Martínez-Murcia Francisco J. , Górriz Juan M. , Ramírez Javier
Published: August 2018

Medical image classification is currently a challenging task that can be used to aid the diagnosis of different brain diseases. Thus, exploratory and discriminative analysis techniques aiming to obtain representative features from the images play a decisive role in the design of effective Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems, which is especially important in the early diagnosis of dementia. In this work, we present a technique that allows using specific time series analysis techniques with 3D images. This is achieved by sampling the image using a fractal-based method which preserves the spatial relationship among voxels. In addition, a method called Empirical functional PCA (EfPCA) is presented, which combines Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) with functional PCA to express an image in the space spanned by a basis of empirical functions, instead of using components computed by a predefined basis as in Fourier or Wavelet analysis. The devised technique has been used to classify images from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), achieving accuracies up to 93% and 92% differential diagnosis tasks (AD versus controls and PD versus Controls, respectively). The results obtained validate the method, proving that the information retrieved by our methodology is significantly linked to the diseases.
Planning Optimal Degradation Tests in Consideration of Budget and Statistical Accuracy at Different Stress Levels
Authors: Beslic Zeljana , Bertsche Bernd
Published: August 2018

Degradation testing is a useful technique for demonstrating the process of failure over time. The challenge when planning a test is to determine how many test units should be examined and how long the test should run in order to get sufficient data and reach the predefined reliability targets within the provided and/or available test budget. In this paper, a novel strategic workflow for identifying the sample size and the number of measurements during each test run in consideration of the accuracy and budget will be proposed. The number of sample sizes and the testing time are constantly adapted until the predetermined requirements are met. The presented work results in a treatment of a mechanical failure mode, i.e., pitting of transmission gears. The tool covers the determination of resources in a novel procedure using existing methods. We apply this degradation model to degradation signals obtained through the relatively time-consuming and cost-intensive accelerated testing of gears on a test bench. The results contain the optimal sample size, the number of inspections for each sample and the asymptotic lifetime and its variance coefficients.
Open questions concerning antiautomorphisms of division rings with quasi-generalized Engel conditions
Authors: Chacron M. , Lee T.-K.
Published: August 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a noncommutative division ring with center [Formula: see text], which is algebraic, that is, [Formula: see text] is an algebraic algebra over the field [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be an antiautomorphism of [Formula: see text] such that (i) [Formula: see text], all [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are positive integers depending on [Formula: see text]. If, further, [Formula: see text] has finite order, it was shown in [M. Chacron, Antiautomorphisms with quasi-generalised Engel condition, J. Algebra Appl. 17(8) (2018) 1850145 (19 pages)] that [Formula: see text] is commuting, that is, [Formula: see text], all [Formula: see text]. Posed in [M. Chacron, Antiautomorphisms with quasi-generalised Engel condition, J. Algebra Appl. 17(8) (2018) 1850145 (19 pages)] is the question which asks as to whether the finite order requirement on [Formula: see text] can be dropped. We provide here an affirmative answer to the question. The second major result of this paper is concerned with a nonnecessarily algebraic division ring [Formula: see text] with an antiautomorphism [Formula: see text] satisfying the stronger condition (ii) [Formula: see text], all [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are fixed positive integers. It was shown in [T.-K. Lee, Anti-automorphisms satisfying an Engel condition, Comm. Algebra 45(9) (2017) 4030–4036] that if, further, [Formula: see text] has finite order then [Formula: see text] is commuting. We show here, that again the finite order assumption on [Formula: see text] can be lifted answering thus in the affirmative the open question (see Question 2.11 in [T.-K. Lee, Anti-automorphisms satisfying an Engel condition, Comm. Algebra 45(9) (2017) 4030–4036]).
Parameters for generalized Hecke algebras in type B
Authors: Murin Max , Shelley-Abrahamson Seth
Published: August 2018

The irreducible representations of full support in the rational Cherednik category [Formula: see text] attached to a Coxeter group [Formula: see text] are in bijection with the irreducible representations of an associated Iwahori–Hecke algebra. Recent work has shown that the irreducible representations in [Formula: see text] of arbitrary given support are similarly governed by certain generalized Hecke algebras. In this paper, we compute the parameters for these generalized Hecke algebras in the remaining previously unknown cases, corresponding to the parabolic subgroup [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Solving Classification Problems Using Projection-Based Learning Algorithm with Fuzzy Radial Basis Function Neural Network
Authors: Padma S. , Pugazendi R.
Published: August 2018

Radial basis function (RBF) is combined with fuzzy C-means algorithms and its learning process made by projection-based learning (PBL) has been proposed in this paper, which is pointed out as PBL-fuzzy radial basis function (PBL-FRBF). The proposed method PBL-FRBF is producing good performances by selecting appropriate center and its width in order to achieve it by unsupervised classification algorithms instead of random selection. The PBL decreases the learning time, finds optimum output weight by its energy function and prefers smallest amount of samples for testing. Performance analysis is evaluated by benchmark datasets for classification problem taken from the UCI machine learning repository. The performance of the proposed PBL-FRBF has produced superior results when compared with FRBF and RBF for classification problems.
DETECTION OF SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TO THE NUCLEOCAPSID PROTEIN FRAGMENTS OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME-CORONAVIRUS AND SCOTOPHILUS BAT CORONAVIRUS-512 IN THREE INSECTIVOROUS BAT SPECIES
Authors: Chen Yi-Ning , Su Bo-Gang , Chen Hung-Chang , Chou Cheng-Han , Cheng Hsi-Chi
Published: August 2018

Bats are the natural reservoirs of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Six Alphacoronavirus and five Betacoronavirus have been detected in many bat species, including SARS-related CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-related CoV. In Taiwan, SARS-related CoV, belonging to Betacoronavirus, has been detected in Rhinolophus monoceros. Scotophilus bat CoV-512, belonging to Alphacoronavirus, has been detected in Scotophilus kuhlii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Rhinolophus monoceros by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To understand the infection history of CoV in these three insectivorous bat populations, CoV-specific antibodies were surveyed by using western blot (WB) analysis and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The carboxyl terminal fragment of nucleocapsid protein (N3) of SARS-CoV and Scotophilus bat CoV-512 were used as the antigen in the assays. Of the 52 serum samples obtained from Scotophilus kuhlii, 29 samples (56%) were tested positive for Scotophilus bat CoV-512-specific antibodies through ELISA. Of the 63 serum samples obtained from Rhinolophus monoceros, 9 samples were tested positive for only SARS-CoV-specific antibodies, 7 samples were tested positive for only Scotophilus bat CoV-512-specific antibodies, and 16 samples (25.4%) were tested positive for both antibodies through WB analysis. Only 1 of 18 Miniopterus bat serum samples tested positive for Scotophilus bat CoV-512-specific antibodies through ELISA. Lactating female bats had higher positive rates of CoV-specific antibodies than non-lactating female and male bats did. Our findings were crucial for understanding CoV infection history in three insectivorous bat species and important for the control of bat-borne zoonosis diseases.
Microstructure evolution and kinetic laws for the motion of multiple twin boundaries in Ni–Mn–Ga
Authors: Zreihan Noam , Krimer Anna , Avisar Deline , Pagounis Emmanouel , Shilo Doron , Faran Eilon
Published: August 2018

The motion of individual twin boundaries in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga alloys is the basic mechanism by which large reversible strains are generated. The resulting mechanical response makes these alloys potential candidates for magneto-mechanical actuation applications. In this work, we characterize the relations between the magnetically induced strain response of Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals and their internal twin boundary arrangements and kinetics. The macroscopic response is measured under constant magnetic fields, while the kinetics of individual twin boundaries is measured by the pulsed magnetic field method. By testing two different crystals with different twinning microstructures, we show that the main characteristics of the macroscopic response can be controlled by the number of mobile twin boundaries. In addition, we show that the magnitudes of controlling kinetic parameters of different twin boundaries vary with their location within the sample.
A Dependable Time Series Analytic Framework for Cyber-Physical Systems of IoT-based Smart Grid
Authors: Wang Chang , Zhu Yongxin , Shi Weiwei , Chang Victor , Vijayakumar P. , Liu Bin , Mao Yishu , Wang Jiabao , Fan Yiping
Published: August 2018

With the emergence of cyber-physical systems (CPS), we are now at the brink of next computing revolution. The Smart Grid (SG) built on top of IoT (Internet of Things) is one of the foundations of this CPS revolution, which involves a large number of smart objects connected by networks. The volume of time series of SG equipment is tremendous and the raw time series are very likely to contain missing values because of undependable network transferring. The problem of storing a tremendous volume of raw time series thereby providing a solid support for precise time series analytics now becomes tricky. In this article, we propose a dependable time series analytics (DTSA) framework for IoT-based SG. Our proposed DTSA framework is capable of providing a dependable data transforming from CPS to the target database with an extraction engine to preliminary refining raw data and further cleansing the data with a correction engine built on top of a sensor-network-regularization-based matrix factorization method. The experimental results reveal that our proposed DTSA framework is capable of effectively increasing the dependability of raw time series transforming between CPS and the target database system through the online lightweight extraction engine and the offline correction engine. Our proposed DTSA framework would be useful for other industrial big data practices.
Privacy-preserving Data Aggregation Computing in Cyber-Physical Social Systems
Authors: Yu Jiahui , Wang Kun , Zeng Deze , Zhu Chunsheng , Guo Song
Published: August 2018

In cyber-physical social systems (CPSS), a group of volunteers report data about the physical environment through their cyber devices and data aggregation is widely utilized. An important issue in data aggregation for CPSS is to protect users’ privacy. In this article, we use bitwise XOR and propose a bit-choosing algorithm to realize privacy-preserving min,
k
-th min, and percentile computation. By our algorithm, the aggregator can confirm whether a user’s data value is equal to certain value or within certain scale. Consequently, it is also possible to count the number of users satisfying given conditions. Our bit-choosing algorithm makes sure that the users send non-repetition replies to the aggregator to raise the aggregation accuracy. We analyze the communication cost and the achievable accuracy of our algorithm. Via performance comparison against existing protocols, the efficiency and accuracy of our algorithm are verified.
Ontology-Mediated Queries
Authors: Bienvenu Meghyn , Kikot Stanislav , Kontchakov Roman , Podolskii Vladimir V. , Zakharyaschev Michael
Published: August 2018

We give solutions to two fundamental computational problems in ontology-based data access with the W3C standard ontology language
OWL 2 QL
: the succinctness problem for first-order rewritings of ontology-mediated queries (OMQs) and the complexity problem for OMQ answering. We classify OMQs according to the shape of their conjunctive queries (treewidth, the number of leaves) and the existential depth of their ontologies. For each of these classes, we determine the combined complexity of OMQ answering and whether all OMQs in the class have polynomial-size first-order, positive existential, and nonrecursive datalog rewritings. We obtain the succinctness results using hypergraph programs, a new computational model for Boolean functions, which makes it possible to connect the size of OMQ rewritings and circuit complexity.
An Alternative TAGE-like Conditional Branch Predictor
Authors: Michaud Pierre
Published: August 2018

TAGE is one of the most accurate conditional branch predictors known today. However, TAGE does not exploit its input information perfectly, as it is possible to obtain significant prediction accuracy improvements by complementing TAGE with a statistical corrector using the same input information. This article proposes an alternative TAGE-like predictor making statistical correction practically superfluous.
ActivePointers
Authors: Shahar Sagi , Bergman Shai , Silberstein Mark
Published: August 2018

Modern discrete GPUs have been the processors of choice for accelerating compute-intensive applications, but using them in largescale data processing is extremely challenging. Unfortunately, they do not provide important I/O abstractions long established in the CPU context, such as memory mapped files, which shield programmers from the complexity of buffer and I/O device management. However, implementing these abstractions on GPUs poses a problem: the limited GPU virtual memory system provides no address space management and page fault handling mechanisms to GPU developers, and does not allow modifications to memory mappings for running GPU programs. We implement ActivePointers, a software address translation layer and paging system that introduces native support for page faults and virtual address space management to GPU programs, and enables the implementation of fully functional memory mapped files on commodity GPUs. Files mapped into GPU memory are accessed using active pointers, which behave like regular pointers but access the GPU page cache under the hood, and trigger page faults which are handled on the GPU. We design and evaluate a number of novel mechanisms, including a translation cache in hardware registers and translation aggregation for deadlock-free page fault handling of threads in a single warp. We extensively evaluate ActivePointers on commodity NVIDIA GPUs using microbenchmarks, and also implement a complex image processing application that constructs a photo collage from a subset of 10 million images stored in a 40GB file. The GPU implementation maps the entire file into GPU memory and accesses it via active pointers. The use of active pointers adds only up to 1% to the application's runtime, while enabling speedups of up to 3.9x over a combined CPU+GPU implementation and 2.6x over a 12-core CPU-only implementation which uses AVX vector instructions.
Intestinal bile acid sequestration improves glucose control by stimulating hepatic miR-182-5p in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Sedgeman Leslie R. , Beysen Carine , Allen Ryan M. , Ramirez Solano Marisol A. , Turner Scott M. , Vickers Kasey C.
Published: August 2018

Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant approved to treat both hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes, but the mechanism for its glucose-lowering effects is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hepatic microRNAs (miRNAs) as regulators of metabolic disease and to investigate the link between the cholesterol and glucose-lowering effects of colesevelam. To quantify the impact of colesevelam treatment in rodent models of diabetes, metabolic studies were performed in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and db/db mice. Colesevelam treatments significantly decreased plasma glucose levels and increased glycolysis in the absence of changes to insulin levels in ZDF rats and db/db mice. High-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR were used to quantify hepatic miRNA and mRNA changes, and the cholesterol-sensitive miR-96/182/183 cluster was found to be significantly increased in livers from ZDF rats treated with colesevelam compared with vehicle controls. Inhibition of miR-182 in vivo attenuated colesevelam-mediated improvements to glycemic control in db/db mice. Hepatic expression of mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1), a nuclear receptor coactivator, was significantly decreased with colesevelam treatments in db/db mice, and MED1 was experimentally validated to be a direct target of miR-96/182/183 in humans and mice. In summary, these results support that colesevelam likely improves glycemic control through hepatic miR-182–5p, a mechanism that directly links cholesterol and glucose metabolism.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Colesevelam lowers systemic glucose levels in Zucker diabetic fatty rats and db/db mice and increases hepatic levels of the sterol response element binding protein 2-responsive microRNA cluster miR-96/182/183. Inhibition of miR-182 in vivo reverses the glucose-lowering effects of colesevelam in db/db mice. Mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1) is a novel, direct target of the miR-96/182/183 cluster in mice and humans.
Measuring length-tension function of the anal sphincters and puborectalis muscle using the functional luminal imaging probe
Authors: Tuttle Lori J. , Zifan Ali , Sun Catherine , Swartz Jessica , Roalkvam Sophia , Mittal Ravinder K.
Published: August 2018

The functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) has been used to measure the distensibility of the anal canal. We hypothesized that with increasing distension of the anal canal with FLIP there will be an increase in length of the anal sphincter muscle allowing measurement of the length-tension function of anal sphincter and puborectalis muscles (PRM). We studied 14 healthy nulliparous women. A custom-designed FLIP bag (30-mm diameter) was placed in the vagina and then in the anal canal, distended in 10-ml steps with volumes ranging from 30 to 90 ml. At each volume, subject performed maximal voluntary squeezes. Length-tension measurements were also made with a manometric probe system. Tension was calculated (pressure × radius) in Newtons per meter using a custom software program. Peak tensions at different FLIP volumes were compared with the manometric data. No change in the luminal CSA was noted at low fluid volumes; the sphincter muscles were able to fully collapse the FLIP bag within the anal canal/vagina even at rest. At larger volumes, with each squeeze there was an increase in the bag pressure and reduction in the cross-sectional area, which represents concentric contraction of the muscle. Both rest and squeeze tension increased with the increase in volume in the anal as well as vaginal canal indicating that the external anal sphincter and puborectalis muscles produce more tension when lengthened. FLIP device, which has been used to describe the distensibility of the anal canal can also provide information on the length-tension function of the anal sphincters and PRM.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) has been used to describe the distensibility of the anal canal. This report is the first to describe the use of the FLIP in the vaginal canal and the anal canal to provide information on the length-tension function of the anal sphincter and puborectalis muscles, which may provide clinicians with additional information regarding the active components of muscle contraction involved in the anal closure function.
Daytime loop gain is elevated in obstructive sleep apnea but not reduced by CPAP treatment
Authors: Deacon-Diaz Naomi Louise , Sands Scott A. , McEvoy R. Doug , Catcheside Peter G.
Published: August 2018

Reduced ventilatory control stability (elevated loop gain) is a key nonanatomical, pathological trait contributing to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), yet the mechanisms responsible remain unclear. We sought to identify the key factors contributing to elevated loop gain in OSA (controller vs. plant contributions) and to examine whether abnormalities in these factors persist after OSA treatment. In 15 males (8 OSA, 7 height, weight- and age -matched controls), we measured loop gain, controller gain, and plant gain using a pseudorandom binary CO2 stimulation method during wakefulness. Factors potentially influencing plant gain were also assessed (supine lung volume via helium dilution and spirometry). Measures were repeated 2 and 6 wk after initiating continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Loop gain (LG) was higher in OSA versus controls (LG at 1 cycle/min 0.28 ± 0.04 vs. 0.16 ± 0.04, P = 0.046, respectively), and the controller exhibited a greater peak response to CO2 and faster roll-off in OSA. OSA patients also exhibited reduced forced expiratory volume in the first second and forced vital capacity compared with controls (92.2 ± 1.7 vs. 102.9 ± 3.5% predicted, P = 0.021; 93.4 ± 3.1 vs. 106.6 ± 3.6% predicted, P = 0.015, respectively). There was no effect of treatment on any variable. These findings confirm loop gain is higher in untreated OSA patients than in matched controls; however, this was not affected by treatment.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Elevated loop gain contributes to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pathophysiology. However, whether loop gain is inherently elevated in OSA or induced by OSA itself, whether it is elevated due to increased chemoreflex sensitivity or obesity-dependent reduced lung volume, and whether it is treatment reversible, are all currently uncertain. This study found loop gain was elevated in OSA versus age-, sex-, height-, and weight-matched controls. However, this was not altered by 6-wk continuous positive airway pressure treatment.
Training state and skeletal muscle autophagy in response to 36 h of fasting
Authors: Dethlefsen Maja Munk , Bertholdt Lærke , Gudiksen Anders , Stankiewicz Tomasz , Bangsbo Jens , van Hall Gerrit , Plomgaard Peter , Pilegaard Henriette
Published: August 2018

The present study aimed at investigating fasting-induced responses in regulators and markers of autophagy in vastus lateralis muscle from untrained and trained human subjects. Untrained and trained subjects (based on maximum oxygen uptake, muscle citrate synthase activity, and oxidative phosphorylation protein level) fasted for 36 h with vastus lateralis muscle biopsies obtained at 2, 12, 24, and 36 h after a standardized meal. Fasting reduced ( P < 0.05) skeletal muscle microtubule-associated protein-1A/1B light chain 3 (LC3)I, LC3II, and adaptor protein sequestosome 1/p62 protein content in untrained subjects only. Moreover, skeletal muscle RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT)Thr308, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)Thr172, and Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase-1 (ULK1)Ser555 phosphorylation state, as well as Bcl-2-interacting coiled-coil protein-1 (Beclin1) and ULK1Ser757 phosphorylation, was lower ( P < 0.05) in trained than untrained subjects during fasting. In addition, the plasma concentrations of several amino acids were higher ( P < 0.05) in trained than untrained subjects, and the plasma concentration profile of several amino acids was different in untrained and trained subjects during fasting. Taken together, these findings suggest that 36-h fasting has effects on some mediators of autophagy in untrained human skeletal muscle and that training state influences the effect of fasting on autophagy signaling and on mediators of autophagy in skeletal muscle.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study showed that skeletal muscle autophagy was only modestly affected in humans by 36 h of fasting. Hence, 36-h fasting has effects on some mediators of autophagy in untrained human skeletal muscle, and training state influences the effect of fasting on autophagy signaling and on mediators of autophagy in skeletal muscle.
Femur Fracture Associated with Knee Brace Wear in the Motocross Athlete: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Erwood Amalie , Wilson Jacob M. , Schwartz Andrew M. , Schenker Mara L. , Moore Thomas
Published: August 2018

The sport of motocross entails off-road motorcycle racing and is associated with a high incidence of traumatic injury. While prophylactic knee braces are routinely worn, there has been anecdotal concern that brace use is linked to femoral shaft fractures. While this risk remains unreported in the medical literature, preventing this complication has played a role in new commercial knee brace designs. We present two cases in which two motocross riders sustained transverse femoral shaft fractures at the proximal portion of each respective knee brace. The fracture locations measured on anterior-posterior radiograph were 22 and 21.1 cm proximal to the center of the knee, which is also the recommended proximal extent of motocross knee braces. We propose that the rigid knee brace protects the ligamentous knee structures but may focus undue force on the proximal aspect of the brace. New knee brace designs have incorporated features to dissipate the potentially injurious force to prevent femur fracture. While knee braces undoubtedly help prevent ligamentous knee injury, these cases question the safety of standard brace design and highlight the need for further brace development to better protect the patient’s bony structures, in addition to the knee joint.
Single Dose Based Ertapenem Prophylaxis Reduces Surgical Site Infection after Selective Hepatectomy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Study
Authors: Tang Bin , Liu Xiaolin , Xing Fei , Wang Chao , Jia Changjun , Peng Songlin , Zhao Yang , Dai Chaoliu , Xu Feng
Published: August 2018

Objective. This study aimed to assess whether a single dose of ertapenem prophylaxis was more effective than other antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) after selective hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. The data from HCC patients with open hepatectomy between January 2012 and June 2017 in Shengjing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: ertapenem (ER) group, where a single dose of ER was administered; non-ertapenem (NER) group, where NER antibiotics were administered. The SSI rates were compared between two groups before and after matching the propensity scores. Results. The enrolled patients consisted of 78 in the ER group and 197 in the NER group. After matching the propensity scores, each group was down-selected to 65 patients. The SSI rate among the matched 130 patients was 14.6%, 7.7% occurred in the ER group and 21.5% in the NER group (P<0.05). The SSI rates in organ/space of the ER and NER groups were 3.1% and 13.8%, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions. A single dose of ER before surgery was more effective in mitigating SSI after selective hepatectomy compared with other antibiotics use. The results imply that the selection of both antibiotics and administration timing is important for the efficacy in preventing SSI.
Using the Bezier Curve and Particle Swarm Optimization in Trajectory Planning for Overhead Cranes to Suppress the Payloads’ Residual Swing
Authors: Liu Huasen , Cheng Wenming
Published: August 2018

An overhead crane is an underactuated system, which leads to residual swing of the crane’s payload when the crane accelerates or decelerates. This paper proposes a trajectory planning approach which uses the Bezier curve and particle swarm optimizer (PSO-BC) to limit the residual swing of a payload. The dynamic equation for an overhead crane is discredited, and a five-order Bezier curve is generated as the trolley’s displacement. The trolley’s desired position is set as the last control point of the Bezier curve, which guarantees that the trolley reaches the desired position accurately. Various constraints, including restricting the swing angle, the allowable trolley velocity, and the allowable trolley acceleration, are then taken into consideration as the constraints. In order to make the trolley reach its desired position whilst suppressing the payload’s swing under the constraints, a particle swarm optimizer is used to determine the optimal control point positions of the Bezier curve. Finally, the PSO-BC simulation results are compared to some existing approaches and are presented to show the feasibility and robustness of the proposed PSO-BC method. The simulation results indicate that the trolley moved to the desired position accurately whilst the payload’s swing angle is kept to an allowable level.
Development of Corneal Astigmatism (CA) according to Axial Length/Corneal Radius (AL/CR) Ratio in a One-Year Follow-Up of Children in Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Fenglei , Xiao Lin , Meng Xuxia , Wang Ling , Wang Dabo
Published: August 2018

Purpose. The correlations between the axial length-to-corneal radius (AL/CR) ratio and corneal astigmatism (CA) were studied by prospectively analyzing and comparing survey data from school children in the Beijing urban area from 2014 to 2015. Methods. In this longitudinal study, a total of 2,970 students were enrolled in 2014, and 2,179 students were enrolled in 2015. The students were in grades 1 and 4 of primary schools located in the Yangfangdian district of Beijing. The students were examined using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart for uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and IOLMaster for ocular components. Results. From 2014 to 2015, the students from grades 1 and 4 had significantly worse UCVA results, longer axial lengths (AL), and greater AL/CRs (p<0.001). The boys had a longer AL and corneal radius (CR) than the girls (p<0.001). A significantly higher rate of increased CA was observed for the students with increased AL/CR than for those with decreased or unchanged ratios (AL/CR for grade 1, X2 = 12.304, p=0.001; for grade 4, X2 = 29.044, p<0.001). In addition, with increased AL/CR over one year, the CA value of the students in grades 1 and 4 became significantly larger (grade 1, p=0.001; grade 4, p<0.001); moreover, the UCVA became worse (p<0.001). Conclusions. We found that UCVA and AL growth were affected by aging. An increase in the AL/CR ratio is a risk factor for the progression of corneal astigmatism for school children.
Global Attractor for Coupled Beam Equations with Nonhomogeneous Boundaries Conditions
Authors: Li Yuying , Zhang Haifeng
Published: August 2018

We study the longtime behavior for thermoelastic coupled beam equations with strong damping and past history thermal memory utt+uxxxx+uxxxxt+θxx-M∫0lux2dxuxx=hx, in 0,l×R+, and θt-ιθxx-1-ι∫0∞ksθxxt-sds-uxxt+pθ=qx, with 1/2≤ι<1, where we consider the nonlinear boundary conditions u0,t=ux0,t=uxxl,t=0, uxxxl,t+uxxxt(l,t)-M∫0lux2dxux(l,t)=ful,t+gutl,t,θ0,t=θxl,t=0 and certain initial conditions. To this problem little is known with nonlinear boundary conditions. This system arises from a model of the nonlinear thermoelastic coupled vibration beam with a nonlinear damping acting on x=l.
Development and Validation of 3D Finite Element Models for Prediction of Orthodontic Tooth Movement
Authors: Likitmongkolsakul Udomsak , Smithmaitrie Pruittikorn , Samruajbenjakun Bancha , Aksornmuang Juthatip
Published: August 2018

Objectives. The aim of this study was to develop and validate three-dimensional (3D) finite element modeling for prediction of orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and Methods. Two orthodontic patients were enrolled in this study. Computed tomography (CT) was captured 2 times. The first time was at T0 immediately before canine retraction. The second time was at T4 precisely at 4 months after canine retraction. Alginate impressions were taken at 1 month intervals (T0–T4) and scanned using a digital scanner. CT data and scanned models were used to construct 3D models. The two measured parameters were clinical tooth movement and calculated stress at three points on the canine root. The calculated stress was determined by the finite element method (FEM). The clinical tooth movement was measured from the differences in the measurement points on the superimposed model. Data from the first patient were used to analyze the tooth movement pattern and develop a mathematical formula for the second patient. Calculated orthodontic tooth movement of the second patient was compared to the clinical outcome. Results. Differences between the calculated tooth movement and clinical tooth movement ranged from 0.003 to 0.085 mm or 0.36 to 8.96%. The calculated tooth movement and clinical tooth movement at all reference points of all time periods appeared at a similar level. Differences between the calculated and clinical tooth movements were less than 0.1 mm. Conclusion. Three-dimensional FEM simulation of orthodontic tooth movement was achieved by combining data from the CT and digital model. The outcome of the tooth movement obtained from FEM was found to be similar to the actual clinical tooth movement.
Simvastatin Does Not Affect Nitric Oxide Generation Increased by Sesame Oil in Obese Zucker Rats
Authors: Cebova Martina , Rehakova Radoslava , Kosutova Michaela , Pechanova Olga
Published: August 2018

Current treatments for cardiovascular and obesity‐associated diseases, such as statin therapy, may be associated with several side effects. Products from food sources with polyphenolic compounds may represent promising agents in the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases with minimal side effects. Thus, we aimed to study the effect of sesame oil and simvastatin treatment on plasma lipid profile, nitric oxide generation, and oxidative load in obese Zucker rats. 12‐week‐old male Zucker rats were divided into the control and sesame oil‐ (1.25 ml/kg/day) treated Zucker lean groups, the control and sesame oil (1.25 ml/kg/day), or simvastatin (15 mg/kg/day) together with sesame oil‐treated Zucker fa/fa groups, n = 6 in each group. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Sesame oil composition and plasma lipid profile were analyzed. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, endothelial NOS (eNOS), phosphorylated eNOS, and inducible NOS (iNOS) protein expressions were determined in the left ventricle and aorta. Oxidative load, measured as conjugated diene (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations, was detected in the liver. Neither sesame oil nor cotreatment with simvastatin affected plasma lipid profile in Zucker fa/fa rats. Sesame oil and similarly cotreatment with simvastatin markedly increased NOS activity and phosphorylated eNOS protein expressions in the left ventricle and aorta of Zucker fa/fa rats. There were no changes in eNOS and iNOS protein expressions within the groups and tissues investigated. Hepatic CD concentration was higher in Zucker fa/fa comparing Zucker lean rats, and sesame oil treatment decreased it significantly. Interestingly, this decrease was not seen after cotreatment with simvastatin. In conclusion, phosphorylation of eNOS and decreased oxidative load may significantly contribute to increase in total NOS activity with potential beneficial properties. Interestingly, simvastatin did not affect NO generation already increased by sesame oil in obese Zucker rats.
An MOEA/D-ACO with PBI for Many-Objective Optimization
Authors: Ling Tianbai , Wang Chen
Published: August 2018

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are an important instrument for solving the multiobjective optimization problems (MOPs). It has been observed that the combined ant colony (MOEA/D-ACO) based on decomposition is very promising for MOPs. However, as the number of optimization objectives increases, the selection pressure will be released, leading to a significant reduction in the performance of the algorithm. It is a significant problem and challenge in the MOEA/D-ACO to maintain the balance between convergence and diversity in many-objective optimization problems (MaOPs). In the proposed algorithm, an MOEA/D-ACO with the penalty based boundary intersection distance (PBI) method (MOEA/D-ACO-PBI) is intended to solve the MaOPs. PBI decomposes the problems with many single-objective problems, a weighted vector adjustment method based on clustering, and uses different pheromone matrices to solve different single objectives proposed. Then the solutions are constructed and pheromone was updated. Experimental results on both CF1-CF4 and suits of C-DTLZ benchmarks problems demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm in comparison with three state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of both convergence and diversity.