bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Miniature design of T-Shaped frequency Reconfigurable antenna for S-Band Application using Switching Technique
Authors: El Maleky Omar , Ben Abdelouahab Farid , Essaaidi Mohammad , Abdelfatah Nasri 
Published: October 2017

<p>The article presents a miniature antenna with a simple geometry and a simple approach for reconfiguration. In order to make the T-shaped antenna frequency reconfigurable, we integrated Switches in specific positions. The location of the switches is determined following a study of the distribution of the surface currents of the suggested antenna. Indeed, we found that the insertion of switches in places where the concentrations of surface currents are high is irrelevant. In fact, to redirect current flow, the PIN diodes or RF Switch must be placed in positions where the distribution of the surface currents is of low concentration. These locations facilitate the establishment of new trajectories of the flux of current. As a result, a miniature tunable antenna dimension 20mm*20mm*1.6mm printed on FR4 substrate with 4.4 permittivity and with 0.04 loss tangent, the antenna can be adopted in many communication devices in view of its small size, its low manufacturing cost and performance on frequency sweep, the antenna operates in S-Band with an acceptable band and gain. The antenna is simulated and optimized using CST Microwave Studio.</p>
A Novel Approach Based on Decreased Dimension and Reduced Gray Level Range Matrix Features for Stone Texture Classification
Authors: Murthy G. S. N. , Rao. V Srininvasa , Veerraju T. 
Published: October 2017

The human eye can easily identify the type of textures in flooring of the houses and in the digital images visually. In this work, the stone textures are grouped into four categories. They are bricks, marble, granite and mosaic. A novel approach is developed for decreasing the dimension of stone image and for reducing the gray level range of the image without any loss of significant feature information. This model is named as “Decreased Dimension and Reduced Gray level Range Matrix (DDRGRM)” model. The DDRGRM model consists of 3 stages. In stage 1, each 5×5 sub dimension of the stone image is reduced into 2×2 sub dimension without losing any important qualities, primitives, and any other local stuff. In stage 2, the gray level of the image is reduced from 0-255 to 0-4 by using fuzzy concepts. In stage 3, Co-occurrence Matrix (CM) features are derived from the DDRGRM model of the stone image for stone texture classification. Based on the feature set values, a user defined algorithm is developed to classify the stone texture image into one of the 4 categories i.e. Marble, Brick, Granite and Mosaic. The proposed method is tested by using the K-Nearest Neighbor Classification algorithm with the derived texture features. To prove the efficiency of the proposed method, it is tested on different stone texture image databases. The proposed method resulted in high classification rate when compared with the other existing methods.
A Mixed Binary-Real NSGA II Algorithm Ensuring Both Accuracy and Interpretability of a Neuro-Fuzzy Controller
Authors: Titel Faouzi , Belarbi Khaled 
Published: October 2017

<p>In this work, a Neuro-Fuzzy Controller network, called NFC that implements a Mamdani fuzzy inference system is proposed. This network includes neurons able to perform fundamental fuzzy operations. Connections between neurons are weighted through binary and real weights. Then a mixed binary-real Non dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA II) is used to perform both accuracy and interpretability of the NFC by minimizing two objective functions; one objective relates to the number of rules, for compactness, while the second is the mean square error, for accuracy. In order to preserve interpretability of fuzzy rules during the optimization process, some constraints are imposed. The approach is tested on two control examples: a single input single output (SISO) system and a multivariable (MIMO) system.<strong></strong></p>
Privacy Preserving Auction Based Virtual Machine Instances Allocation Scheme for Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Mohanty Suneeta , Pattnaik Prasant Kumar , Mund G. B. 
Published: October 2017

<p>Cloud Computing Environment provides computing resources in the form of Virtual Machines (VMs), to the cloud users through Internet. Auction-based VM instances allocation allows different cloud users to participate in an auction for a bundle of Virtual Machine instances where the user with the highest bid value will be selected as the winner by the auctioneer (Cloud Service Provider) to gain more. In this auction mechanism, individual bid values are revealed to the auctioneer in order to select the winner as a result of which privacy of bid values are lost. In this paper, we proposed an auction scheme to select the winner without revealing the individual bid values to the auctioneer to maintain privacy of bid values. The winner will get the access to the bundle of VM instances. This scheme relies on a set of cryptographic protocols including Oblivious Transfer (OT) protocol and Yao’s protocol to maintain privacy of bid values.</p>
Modeling of Dynamical System Piloted by Discrete Subsystem Based on Bond Graph Approach
Authors: Salem J Ben , M.N. Lakhoua , Amraoui L El 
Published: October 2017

This paper is a contribution to the analysis and modeling of a mechatronic system with dynamic behavior that is controlled by a digital computer. In this paper, a bibliographic research on mechatronic systems is presented by specifying a case study of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Then, a methodology of systemic modeling of the ABS system based on two methods Structured Analysis Design Technique (SADT) and bond graph (BG) is proposed. The model created is validated with three software programs: CarSim, 20 Sim and Simulink.
Platelet-Specific p38α Deficiency Improved Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction in Mice
Authors: Shi Panlai , Zhang Lin , Zhang Mingliang , Yang Wenlong , Wang Kemin , Zhang Junfeng , Otsu Kinya , Huang Gonghua , Fan Xuemei , Liu Junling 
Published: October 2017

Objective—
MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases), especially p38, play detrimental roles in cardiac diseases and cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction. However, the activation and function of MAPKs in coronary thrombosis in vivo and its relationship with clinical outcomes remain poorly understood.

Approach and Results—
Here, we showed that p38α was the major isoform expressed in human and mouse platelets. Platelet-specific p38α-deficient mice presented impaired thrombosis and hemostasis but had improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size, decreased inflammatory response, and microthrombus in a left anterior descending artery ligation model. Signaling analysis revealed that p38 activation was one of the earliest events in platelets after treatment with receptor agonists or reactive oxygen species. p38α/MAPK-activated protein kinase 2/heat shock protein 27 and p38α/cytosolic phospholipases A2 were the major pathways regulating receptor-mediated or hydrogen peroxide-induced platelet activation in an ischemic environment. Moreover, the distinct roles of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–regulated kinase) in receptor- or reactive oxygen species-induced p38-mediated platelet activation reflected the complicated synergistic relationships among MAPKs. Analysis of clinical samples revealed that MAPKs were highly phosphorylated in platelets from preoperative patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, and increased phosphorylation of p38 was associated with no-reflow outcomes.

Conclusions—
We conclude that p38α serves as a critical regulator of platelet activation and potential indicator of highly thrombotic lesions and no-reflow, and inhibition of platelet p38α may improve clinical outcomes in subjects with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction.
Prevention of Stroke with the Addition of Ezetimibe to Statin Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial)
Authors: Bohula Erin A. , Wiviott Stephen D. , Giugliano Robert P. , Blazing Michael A. , Park Jeong-Gun , Murphy Sabina A. , White Jennifer A. , Mach Francois , Van de Werf Frans , Dalby Anthony J. , White Harvey D. , Tershakovec Andrew M. , Cannon Christopher P. , Braunwald Eugene 
Published: October 2017

Background:
Patients who experience an acute coronary syndrome are at heightened risk of recurrent ischemic events, including stroke. Ezetimibe improved cardiovascular outcomes when added to statin therapy in patients stabilized after acute coronary syndrome. We investigated the efficacy of the addition of ezetimibe to simvastatin for the prevention of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular events in IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial), with a focus on patients with a stroke before randomization.

Methods:
Patients who experienced acute coronary syndrome were randomized to a placebo/simvastatin or ezetimibe/simvastatin regimen and followed for a median of 6 years. Treatment efficacy was assessed for the entire population and by subgroups for the first and total (first and subsequent) events for the end points of stroke of any etiology, stroke subtypes, and the primary trial end point at 7 years.

Results:

Of 18 144 patients, 641 (3.5%) experienced at least 1 stroke; most were ischemic (527, 82%). Independent predictors of stroke included prior stroke, older age, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and renal dysfunction. There was a nonsignificant reduction in the first event of stroke of any etiology (4.2% versus 4.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–1.00;
P
=0.052) with ezetimibe/simvastatin versus placebo/simvastatin, driven by a significant 21% reduction in ischemic stroke (3.4% versus 4.1%; HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67–0.94;
P
=0.008) and a nonsignificant increase in hemorrhagic stroke (0.8% versus 0.6%; HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.93–2.04;
P
=0.11). Evaluating total events, including the first and all recurrent strokes, ezetimibe/simvastatin reduced stroke of any etiology (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70–0.98;
P
=0.029) and ischemic stroke (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63–0.91;
P
=0.003). Patients who had experienced a stroke prior to randomization were at a higher risk of recurrence and demonstrated an absolute risk reduction of 8.6% for stroke of any etiology (10.2% versus 18.8%; number needed to treat=12; HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38–0.95;
P
=0.030) and 7.6% for ischemic stroke (8.7% versus 16.3%; number needed to treat=13; HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31–0.86;
P
=0.011) with ezetimibe added to simvastatin therapy.

Conclusions:
The addition of ezetimibe to simvastatin in patients stabilized after acute coronary syndrome reduces the frequency of ischemic stroke, with a particularly large effect seen in patients with a prior stroke.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00202878.
Rapamycin and CHIR99021 Coordinate Robust Cardiomyocyte Differentiation From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Via Reducing p53‐Dependent Apoptosis
Authors: Qiu Xiao‐Xu , Liu Yang , Zhang Yi‐Fan , Guan Ya‐Na , Jia Qian‐Qian , Wang Chen , Liang He , Li Yong‐Qin , Yang Huang‐Tian , Qin Yong‐Wen , Huang Shuang , Zhao Xian‐Xian , Jing Qing 
Published: October 2017

Background
Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells can serve as an unexhausted source for a cellular cardiac disease model. Although small molecule–mediated cardiomyocyte differentiation methods have been established, the differentiation efficiency is relatively unsatisfactory in multiple lines due to line‐to‐line variation. Additionally, hurdles including line‐specific low expression of endogenous growth factors and the high apoptotic tendency of human pluripotent stem cells also need to be overcome to establish robust and efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Methods and Results

We used the H9–human cardiac troponin T–e
GFP
reporter cell line to screen for small molecules that promote cardiac differentiation in a monolayer‐based and growth factor–free differentiation model. We found that collaterally treating human pluripotent stem cells with rapamycin and
CHIR
99021 during the initial stage was essential for efficient and reliable cardiomyocyte differentiation. Moreover, this method maintained consistency in efficiency across different human embryonic stem cell and human induced pluripotent stem cell lines without specifically optimizing multiple parameters (the efficiency in H7, H9, and
UQ
1 human induced pluripotent stem cells is 98.3%, 93.3%, and 90.6%, respectively). This combination also increased the yield of cardiomyocytes (1:24) and at the same time reduced medium consumption by about 50% when compared with the previous protocols. Further analysis indicated that inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin allows efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation through overcoming p53‐dependent apoptosis of human pluripotent stem cells during high‐density monolayer culture via blunting p53 translation and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production.

Conclusions
We have demonstrated that mammalian target of rapamycin exerts a stage‐specific and multifaceted regulation over cardiac differentiation and provides an optimized approach for generating large numbers of functional cardiomyocytes for disease modeling and in vitro drug screening.
Multivessel Versus Culprit Vessel–Only Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the TRANSLATE‐ACS Observational Study
Authors: Ibrahim Homam , Sharma Praneet K. , Cohen David J. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Kaltenbach Lisa A. , Effron Mark B. , Zettler Marjorie E. , Peterson Eric D. , Wang Tracy Y. 
Published: October 2017

Background

Among patients with acute myocardial infarction (
MI
) who have multivessel disease, it is unclear if multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (
PCI
) improves clinical and quality‐of‐life outcomes compared with culprit‐only intervention. We sought to compare clinical and quality‐of‐life outcomes between multivessel and culprit‐only
PCI
.

Methods and Results

Among 6061 patients with acute
MI
who have multivessel disease in the
TRANSLATE‐ACS
(Treatment With Adenosine Diphosphate Receptor Inhibitors: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events After Acute Coronary Syndrome) study, we used inverse probability‐weighted propensity adjustment to study the associations between multivessel and culprit‐only intervention during the index
PCI
and major adverse cardiovascular events, unplanned all‐cause readmission, and angina frequency at 6 weeks and 1 year. Multivessel
PCI
was performed in 1208 (20%) of patients with MI who had multivessel disease. Relative to the culprit‐only intervention, patients receiving multivessel
PCI
were similarly aged and more likely to be seen with
non–ST‐segment elevation MI
or cardiogenic shock. At 6 weeks, the initial multivessel
PCI
strategy was associated with lower
major adverse cardiovascular events
and unplanned readmission risks, whereas angina frequency was not significantly different between multivessel and culprit‐only
PCI
. At 1 year,
major adverse cardiovascular event
risk was persistently lower in the multivessel
PCI
group (adjusted
hazard ratio,
0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.72–0.99), whereas long‐term readmission risk (adjusted hazard ratio
,
0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.84–1.04) and angina frequency were similar between groups (adjusted
odds ratio,
1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.24). Similar associations were seen when
patients with ST‐segment elevation MI
and
non–ST‐segment elevation MI
were examined separately.

Conclusions

Among patients with acute
MI
who have multivessel disease, multivessel
PCI
was associated with lower risk of all‐cause readmission at 6 weeks and lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events at 6 weeks and 1 year. However, similar short‐ and long‐term angina frequencies were noted.
Polarimetric Radar Relations for Quantification of Snow Based on Disdrometer Data
Authors: Bukovčić Petar , Ryzhkov Alexander , Zrnić Dusan , Zhang Guifu 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAccurate measurements of snow amounts by radar are very difficult to achieve. The inherent uncertainty in radar snow estimates that are based on the radar reflectivity factor Z is caused by the variability of snow particle size distributions and snow particle density as well as the large diversity among snow growth habits. In this study, a novel method for snow quantification that is based on the joint use of radar reflectivity Z and specific differential phase KDP is introduced. An extensive dataset of 2D-video-disdrometer measurements of snow in central Oklahoma is used to derive polarimetric relations for liquid-equivalent snowfall rate S and ice water content IWC in the forms of bivariate power-law relations S = and along with similar relations for the intercept N0s and slope Λs of the exponential snow size distribution. The physical basis of these relations is explained. Their multipliers are sensitive to variations in the width of the canting angle distribution and to a lesser extent the particles’ aspect ratios and densities, whereas the exponents are practically invariant. This novel approach is tested against the S(Z) relation using snow disdrometer measurements in three geographical regions (Oklahoma, Colorado, and Canada). Significant improvement in snow estimates relative to the traditional Z-based methods is demonstrated.
Shear-Parallel Mesoscale Convective Systems in a Moist Low-Inhibition Mei-Yu Front Environment
Authors: Liu Changhai , Moncrieff Mitchell W. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Numerical simulations are performed to investigate organized convection observed in the Asian summer monsoon and documented as a category of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over the U.S. continent during the warm season. In an idealized low-inhibition and unidirectional shear environment of the mei-yu moisture front, the structure of the simulated organized convection is distinct from that occurring in the classical quasi-two-dimensional, shear-perpendicular, and trailing stratiform (TS) MCS. Consisting of four airflow branches, a three-dimensional, eastward-propagating, downshear-tilted, shear-parallel MCS builds upshear by initiating new convection at its upstream end. The weak cold pool in the low-inhibition environment negligibly affects convection initiation, whereas convectively generated gravity waves are vital. Upstream-propagating gravity waves form a saturated or near-saturated moist tongue, and downstream-propagating waves control the initiation and growth of convection within a preexisting cloud layer. A sensitivity experiment wherein the weak cold pool is removed entirely intensifies the MCS and its interaction with the environment. The horizontal scale, rainfall rate, convective momentum transport, and transverse circulation are about double the respective value in the control simulation. The positive sign of the convective momentum transport contrasts with the negative sign for an eastward-propagating TS MCS. The structure of the simulated convective systems resembles shear-parallel organization in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
Tinnitus and Its Effect on the Quality of Life of Sufferers: A Nigerian Cohort Study
Authors: Ukaegbe Onyinyechi C. , Orji Foster T. , Ezeanolue Basil C. , Akpeh James O. , Okorafor Ijeoma A. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectivesTo evaluate the quality of life of patients with ongoing tinnitus.Study DesignThis was a cross‐sectional study of patients with ongoing tinnitus.SettingThe study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in southeastern Nigeria.Subjects and MethodsSubjects are adults who presented to the otorhinolaryngology clinic with tinnitus as their primary complaint. Pure‐tone audiometry, tinnitus pitch, and loudness matching were done. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire was used in assessing their quality of life.ResultsThere were 63 participants within the age range of 16 to 74 years; 20 (31.7%) were male and 43 (68.3%) were female. The mean duration of tinnitus was 26.7 ± 38.1 months. Nineteen (30.2%) participants had bilateral tinnitus while 44 (69.8%) had unilateral tinnitus. The mean THI score was 36.6 ± 19.7. The most reported handicap was anxiety and difficulty with concentration followed by depression and irritability. There was no correlation between the disability shown by the THI score and the age, sex, duration of the tinnitus, the tinnitus pitch, tinnitus loudness, or the laterality of the tinnitus. There was a significant positive correlation between the grade of hearing loss and the level of disability reported in the THI (P =. 01).ConclusionTinnitus sufferers appear to have poorer quality of life compared with nonsufferers. This quality‐of‐life affectation is likely to be worse in those with disabling hearing loss but does not appear to be related to their age, sex, symptom duration, or the loudness and pitch of their tinnitus.
Adverse Events in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Infectious Orbital Complications of Sinusitis: 30‐Day NSQIP Pediatric Outcomes
Authors: Cheng Jeffrey , Liu Beiyu , Farjat Alfredo E. , Jang David W. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectiveIdentify predictors of adverse events for children who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for treatment of orbital complications associated with sinusitis.Study DesignCross‐sectional analysis of a US national database.SettingAmerican College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), pediatric version (2012‐2015).Subjects and MethodsPatients were identified with a combination of codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and 2014 Current Procedural Terminology. Our primary outcome measure was adverse events, which were compared with clinical risk factors to examine for any associations.ResultsA total of 57 patients were included for analysis. No significant relationship was identified between 30‐day postoperative adverse events and age, sex, race, body mass index, prematurity, history of asthma, steroid use (within 30 days), and preoperative white blood cell count. There was a statistically significant increase in adverse events for those patients who underwent delayed surgery (P <. 0001). No serious adverse events related to death, sepsis, nerve injury (eg, visual loss), or other organ space infections (eg, intracranial infection) were identified. After controlling for age group and race, delayed operative intervention was a significant clinical predictor of adverse events (odds ratio = 25.65; 95% CI, 3.86‐170.45; P =. 0008). We observed unplanned reoperation and readmission rates of 5.3% and 7%, respectively.ConclusionsEndoscopic surgical drainage for infectious orbital complications of sinusitis in children appears to be safe. Serious or significant adverse events were uncommon. Areas for improvement include limiting and reducing unplanned reoperations and readmissions.