bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controlling Physical Interactions: Humans Do Not Minimize Muscle Effort
Authors: Koeppen Ryan , Huber Meghan E. , Sternad Dagmar , Hogan Neville 
Published: November 2017

Physical interaction with tools is ubiquitous in functional activities of daily living. While tool use is considered a hallmark of human behavior, how humans control such physical interactions is still poorly understood. When humans perform a motor task, it is commonly suggested that the central nervous system coordinates the musculo-skeletal system to minimize muscle effort. In this paper, we tested if this notion holds true for motor tasks that involve physical interaction. Specifically, we investigated whether humans minimize muscle forces to control physical interaction with a circular kinematic constraint.
Using a simplified arm model, we derived three predictions for how humans should behave if they were minimizing muscular effort to perform the task. First, we predicted that subjects would exert workless, radial forces on the constraint. Second, we predicted that the muscles would be deactivated when they could not contribute to work. Third, we predicted that when moving very slowly along the constraint, the pattern of muscle activity would not differ between clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) motions.
To test these predictions, we instructed human subjects to move a robot handle around a virtual, circular constraint at a constant tangential velocity. To reduce the effect of forces that might arise from incomplete compensation of neuro-musculo-skeletal dynamics, the target tangential speed was set to an extremely slow pace (∼1 revolution every 13.3 seconds). Ultimately, the results of human experiment did not support the predictions derived from our model of minimizing muscular effort. While subjects did exert workless forces, they did not deactivate muscles as predicted. Furthermore, muscle activation patterns differed between CW and CCW motions about the constraint. These findings demonstrate that minimizing muscle effort is not a significant factor in human performance of this constrained-motion task. Instead, the central nervous system likely prioritizes reducing other costs, such as computational effort, over muscle effort to control physical interactions.
Robustness and Adaptability Analysis of Future Military Modular Fleet Operation System
Authors: Li Xingyu , Epureanu Bogdan I. 
Published: November 2017

Modular vehicles are vehicles with interchangeable substantial components also known as modules. Fleet modularity provides a system with extra operational flexibility through on-field actions, in terms of vehicle assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration. The ease of assembly and disassembly of modular vehicles enables them to achieve real-time fleet reconfiguration in order to reach time-changing combat environments and constantly update their techniques. Previous research reveals that life cycle costs, especially acquisition costs, shrink significantly as a result of fleet modularization. In addition, military field demands and enemy attacks are highly unpredictable and uncertain. Hence, it is of interest to the US Army to investigate the robustness and adaptability of a modular fleet operation system against demand uncertainty. We model the fleet operation management in a stochastic state space model while considering time delays from operational actions, as well as use model predictive control (MPC) to attain real-time optimal operation actions based on the received demands and predicted system status.
Analyses on the robustness and adaptability of how a modular vehicle fleet reacts to the demand disturbance and noise have been very limited, although research on operation management and model prediction control have been ongoing for many years. In our current study, we model all the main processes in a fleets operation into an integrated system. These processes include module resupply, vehicle transportation, and on-base assembly, disassembly, reconfiguration (ADR) actions. We also consider the fact that delayed field demands trigger additional demands, which might cause system instability under improper operational strategies. We have designed a predictive control approach that includes an optimizer and a simulation process to monitor and control the fleet operation. Under the identical mission demands and fleet configuration settings, a modular vehicle fleet shows a faster reaction speed than a conventional fleet once demand disturbance and noise are injected. Although our study is inspired by a military application, it is not hard to notice that our system also represents a simplified supply chain structure. Thus, our methodology can also be generalized for civilian applications.
Simulation Based Design of a Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Device for Aircraft Applications
Authors: Lyras Michalis , Zymaride Lito , Kyratsi Theodora , Louca Loucas S. , Becker Thomas 
Published: November 2017

Maintenance is, amongst others, a key cost driver in aircraft operation. A wireless monitoring device might be able to reduce these costs. However, the supply of energy to such system via power lines would result in additional cabling and battery operation would lead to additional maintenance. Thermoelectric energy harvesting, as a power source for such devices, is considered as one the most promising approaches for autonomous energy conversion onboard fixed wing aircraft. Using thermoelectric generators (TEGs), the temperature difference, between the inside and outside of the cabin, can be used to generate electrical energy.
In this paper an energy harvesting device, for aircraft application needs and requirements, is designed and optimized using modeling and simulation. A variety of models are used for analyzing the static and dynamic behavior of the device. A one-dimensional heat transfer model is used to identify critical parameters, while a detailed three-dimensional heat-transfer and airflow model is used to study realistic operating conditions. The proposed design leads to a significant increase of peak and average output power, specific energy productions and decrease of response time of the harvester.
Battery Capacity Estimation From Partial-Charging Data Using Gaussian Process Regression
Authors: Richardson Robert R. , Birkl Christoph R. , Osborne Michael A. , Howey David A. 
Published: November 2017

Accurate on-board capacity estimation is of critical importance in lithium-ion battery applications. Battery charging/discharging often occurs under a constant current load, and hence voltage vs. time measurements under this condition may be accessible in practice. This paper presents a novel diagnostic technique, Gaussian Process regression for In-situ Capacity Estimation (GP-ICE), which is capable of estimating the battery capacity using voltage vs. time measurements over short periods of galvanostatic operation.
The approach uses Gaussian process regression to map from voltage values at a selection of uniformly distributed times, to cell capacity. Unlike previous works, GP-ICE does not rely on interpreting the voltage-time data through the lens of Incremental Capacity (IC) or Differential Voltage (DV) analysis. This overcomes both the need to differentiate the voltage-time data (a process which amplifies measurement noise), and the requirement that the range of voltage measurements encompasses the peaks in the IC/DV curves. Rather, GP-ICE gives insight into which portions of the voltage range are most informative about the capacity for a particular cell. We apply GP-ICE to a dataset of 8 cells, which were aged by repeated application of an ARTEMIS urban drive cycle. Within certain voltage ranges, as little as 10 seconds of charge data is sufficient to enable capacity estimates with ∼ 2% RMSE.
Study of an Impact Driven Frequency Up-Conversion Piezoelectric Harvester
Authors: Abedini Amin , Onsorynezhad Saeed , Wang Fengxia 
Published: November 2017

Frequency up-conversion is an effective way to increase the output power from a piezoelectric beam, which converts the ambient low-frequency vibration to the resonant vibration of the piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) to achieve high electric power output. Frequency up-conversion technologies are realized via impact or non-impact magnetic force to mediate the interaction between the driving beam and the generating beam. Most studies focus on the either linear model prediction or experimental verification of the linear analysis. Few, if any, study the effects of the impact induced nonlinear phenomena on power generation efficiency. In this work, we investigate how to use discontinuous theory to improve the power efficiency of the frequency up-conversion process caused by impacts. The energy harvesting performance of a piezoelectric beam in interaction with a softer beam in periodic motion is studied. The discontinuous dynamical system theory is applied to this problem to study the piezoelectric behavior under periodic motions and its bifurcations.
The beams are modeled with two spring-mass-damper systems, and the analytical model of the piezoelectric beam is created based on the linear mechanical-electrical constitutive law of the piezoelectric material, and the linear elastic constitutive law of the substrate. Based on the theoretical model, the analytical solution of the output power is derived in terms of the vibration amplitude, frequency, and the electrical load. The soft beam is subjected to a sinusoidal base excitation, and the impacts of the more flexible beam excite the piezoelectric beam. The performance of the energy harvesting of period one and period two motions have been studied and bifurcation trees for impact velocities, times, displacements and harvested power versus the frequency of the base excitation are obtained.
Electrosclerotherapy for capillary malformations: study protocol for a randomised within-patient controlled pilot trial
Authors: Horbach Sophie E R , Wolkerstorfer Albert , de Bruin Daniel Martijn , van der Horst Chantal M A M 
Published: November 2017

IntroductionThe current state-of-the-art treatment modality for hypertrophic capillary malformations (CMs), laser therapy, has a considerable rate of non-responders and recurrence. Intralesional bleomycin injections (or ‘sclerotherapy’) are commonly used to treat venous and lymphatic malformations with an excellent effect, but these intravascular injections are not possible in CMs due to the small diameter of the vessels. Electroporation—an electric field applied to the tissue—could increase the permeability of endothelial cells, which could theoretically facilitate targeted localised bleomycin delivery. We therefore hypothesise that bleomycin injections in combination with electroporation—‘electrosclerotherapy’ (EST), also known as ‘electrochemotherapy’—could potentially be a novel alternative treatment option for CMs.Methods and analysisIn this randomised within-patient controlled pilot trial, 20 patients with hypertrophic CMs will be enrolled. Three regions of interest (ROIs) within the CM will be randomly allocated for treatment with (A) EST, (B) bleomycin sclerotherapy without electroporation and (C) no treatment. Patients and outcome assessors are blinded for the treatment allocation. Treatment outcome for each ROI will be measured approximately 7 weeks after the treatment procedure, using patient-reported and physician-reported global assessment scores, colorimetry, laser speckle imaging and reporting of adverse events.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol is approved by the ethics review committee of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. Results will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals and will be presented at international conferences and scientific meetings. Study results will be fed back to the patient population through website and social media notifications.Trial registration numberNCT02883023;Pre-results. NTR6169.
Health literacy in Italy: a cross-sectional study protocol to assess the health literacy level in a population-based sample, and to validate health literacy measures in the Italian language
Authors: Lorini Chiara , Santomauro Francesca , Grazzini Maddalena , Mantwill Sarah , Vettori Virginia , Lastrucci Vieri , Bechini Angela , Boccalini Sara , Bussotti Alessandro , Bonaccorsi Guglielmo 
Published: November 2017

IntroductionHealth literacy (HL) concerns the knowledge and competences necessary for people to meet complex health demands. The aims of this study are to assess the level of HL in a sample using the Italian version of the Newest Vital Sign and the association of HL and selected antecedents with health outcomes, and to develop and validate the Italian version of the three Brief Health Literacy Screeners, two subjective numeracy items and the short form and the short-short form of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire.Methods and analysisThe study adopts a cross-sectional design and is being conducted in Florence, with information collected through telephone interviews. The population-based sample has been randomly selected using the registries of eight general practitioners (GPs). Based on a power calculation, 480 subjects will be included. Participants have been randomly offered two different questionnaires, each containing different HL measures. Data on sociodemographics and important antecedents and consequences of HL will be collected and the distribution of HL levels calculated. The mediating role of HL will be assessed using Preacher and Hayes’ model. To assess the concurrent validity of the HL scales, correlation and receiver operating characteristic analyses will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Area Vasta Centro. Results will be disseminated via scientific journals and conference presentations, and individual data made available to the GPs.
Expression and prognostic significance of human epidermal growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3 in oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas preneoadjuvant and postneoadjuvant treatment
Authors: Hedner Charlotta , Borg David , Nodin Björn , Karnevi Emelie , Jirström Karin , Eberhard Jakob 
Published: November 2017

AimsNeoadjuvant treatment has now become the standard of care for oesophageal and gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of neoadjuvant therapy on the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER1/EGFR), HER2 and HER3, in oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma.MethodsImmunohistochemical expression of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 was examined and compared in pretreatment biopsies, post-treatment surgical resection specimens and metastases in a retrospective cohort of 166 patients with adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or stomach. The relationship between expression of the investigative markers and histopathological response to neoadjuvant treatment, overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) was analysed.ResultsConversion of protein expression between pretreatment biopsy and post-treatment surgical resection was seen in 4.6% of the cases for EGFR, 5.9% for HER2% and 19.4% for HER3. Histopathological response to neoadjuvant treatment was significantly and stepwise associated with OS and RFS . High HER3 protein expression in post-treatment surgical resection specimens was significantly associated with a prolonged OS in univariable analysis (HR=0.39; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.93), but did not remain significant in multivariable analysis. Expression of EGFR and HER2 in post-treatment surgical resection specimens was not prognostic. No correlation between pretreatment HER-protein expression and histopathological response was seen.ConclusionsThe results from this study underscore the need for further studies on the influence of neoadjuvant treatment on biomarker expression, as this may influence treatment strategy as well as prognosis. Histopathological response is validated as a useful prognostic factor.
Underwater optical environment in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Loos Eduardo , Costa Maycira , Johannessen Sophia 
Published: November 2017

We describe the underwater light field of the Strait of Georgia in spring and summer, using apparent optical properties (reflectance, attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance, the average cosine of downwelling irradiance, and the attenuation of scalar irradiance). Both the attenuation and reflectance of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm) are highest in the turbid waters of the Fraser River plume, due to scattering by mainly inorganic particles and absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter, phytoplankton, and other organic particles. Light is most diffuse in the surface waters of the plume and least diffuse at depth and away from the plume. Throughout the Strait, blue and red wavelengths are attenuated most rapidly resulting in a green peak of reflectance, the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that penetrates the most deeply. PAR is attenuated to 1% of its surface intensity within 6–22 m in the spring and 4–23 m in the summer. For red and blue light, the depth of 1% penetration is never deeper than 9 m. All of the visible radiation, with the exception of some green light, is absorbed within the outflowing layer (15–30 m) that is exported from the Strait with the estuarine circulation. The rapid extinction of light helps to explain the very shallow distribution of phytoplankton.
Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Facts and Hopes
Authors: Iñarrairaegui Mercedes , Melero Ignacio , Sangro Bruno 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the advanced stage remains a great challenge, with very few drugs approved. After decades of failure of immune therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as potentially effective treatments for patients with HCC in the advanced stage. Immune checkpoints, including human cancer, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein 4 (CTLA-4), and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), are surface proteins expressed in a variety of immune cells and mostly provide immunosuppressive signals. Monoclonal antibodies able to block these molecules have shown antitumor activity against a wide spectrum of human cancers. Clinical experience with checkpoint inhibitors in HCC includes early trials with the anti–CTLA-4 agent tremelimumab and a large phase II trial with the anti–PD-1 agent nivolumab. The latter has shown strong activity particularly as second-line therapy, both in terms of tumor response and patient survival. At least three topics should be the focus of future research: (i) the search for activity in patients at less-advanced stages, including the adjuvant treatment of patients with resectable or ablatable tumors; (ii) the enhanced efficacy of combination therapies, including particularly the combination with those targeted and locoregional therapies that may have a synergistic effect or act upon mechanisms of primary or acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors; and (iii) the identification of clinical features and serum or tissue biomarkers that would allow a better patient selection for individual treatments. Hopefully, ongoing trials will help to design better treatments in the future. Clin Cancer Res; 24(7); 1518–24. ©2017 AACR.
A Phase I Clinical Trial of the Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Veliparib and Weekly Topotecan in Patients with Solid Tumors
Authors: Wahner Hendrickson Andrea E. , Menefee Michael E. , Hartmann Lynn C. , Long Harry J. , Northfelt Donald W. , Reid Joel M. , Boakye-Agyeman Felix , Kayode Olumide , Flatten Karen S. , Harrell Maria I. , Swisher Elizabeth M. , Poirier Guy G. , Satele Daniel , Allred Jake , Lensing Janet L. , Chen Alice , Ji Jiuping , Zang Yiping , Erlichman Charles , Haluska Paul , Kaufmann Scott H. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Purpose:
To determine the dose limiting toxicities (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of veliparib in combination with weekly topotecan in patients with solid tumors. Correlative studies were included to assess the impact of topotecan and veliparib on poly(ADP-ribose) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, serum pharmacokinetics of both agents, and potential association of germline repair gene mutations with outcome.

Experimental Design:
Eligible patients had metastatic nonhematologic malignancies with measurable disease. Using a 3 + 3 design, patients were treated with veliparib orally twice daily on days 1–3, 8–10, and 15–17 and topotecan intravenously on days 2, 9, and 16 every 28 days. Tumor responses were assessed by RECIST.

Results:
Of 58 patients enrolled, 51 were evaluable for the primary endpoint. The MTD and RP2D was veliparib 300 mg twice daily on days 1–3, 8–10, and 15–17 along with topotecan 3 mg/m2 on days 2, 9, and 16 of a 28-day cycle. DLTs were grade 4 neutropenia lasting &gt;5 days. The median number of cycles was 2 (1–26). The objective response rate was 10%, with 1 complete and 4 partial responses. Twenty-two patients (42%) had stable disease ranging from 4 to 26 cycles. Patients with germline BRCA1, BRCA2, or RAD51D mutations remained on study longer than those without homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations (median 4 vs. 2 cycles).

Conclusions:
Weekly topotecan in combination with veliparib has a manageable safety profile and appears to warrant further investigation.
IMMU-140, a Novel SN-38 Antibody–Drug Conjugate Targeting HLA-DR, Mediates Dual Cytotoxic Effects in Hematologic Cancers and Malignant Melanoma
Authors: Cardillo Thomas M. , Govindan Serengulam V. , Zalath Maria B. , Rossi Diane L. , Wang Yang , Chang Chien-Hsing , Goldenberg David M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHLA-DR is a member of the MHC class II antigen family expressed on hematologic and solid tumors. Antibodies directed against HLA-DR have demonstrated some clinical success, but toxicities limited development. IMMU-140 is an anti–HLA-DR antibody–drug conjugate composed of the active metabolite of irinotecan, SN-38, conjugated to a humanized anti–HLA-DR IgG4 antibody (IMMU-114); the IgG4 naked antibody is devoid of immune functions. Our aim was to determine if SN-38, the metabolite of a drug not commonly used in hematopoietic cancers, would be effective and safe when targeted to HLA-DR–expressing tumors. IMMU-140 had dual-therapeutic mechanisms, as evidenced by its retention of nonoverlapping anti–HLA-DR nonclassical apoptotic signaling and classical apoptosis mediated by its SN-38 payload. In seven human disease models [acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and melanoma], IMMU-140 provided significant therapeutic efficacy compared with controls, in vitro, in 3D spheroid models, and in vivo. Except for MM and HL, IMMU-140 imparted significantly improved antitumor effects compared with parental IMMU-114. Even in intractable AML and ALL, where IMMU-114 only had modest antitumor effects, IMMU-140 therapy mediated &gt;80% improvement in survival. Therapy was well tolerated, as demonstrated by no marked loss in body weight. Combined with doxorubicin, IMMU-140 produced significantly greater antitumor effects in HL than with monotherapy and without any added toxicity. The dual-therapeutic action of IMMU-140 resulted in promising therapeutic activity in a range of hematopoietic tumors and melanoma, and therefore warrants clinical development. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 150–60. ©2017 AACR.