bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive role of vitamin B12 in acute kidney injury in living donor liver transplantation: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Park Jaesik , Choi Jung Hee , Choi Ho Joong , Hong Sang Hyun , Park Chul Soo , Choi Jong Ho , Chae Min Suk
Published: November 2020

Objectives

We examine the association between vitamin B12 level and risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Design

Retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting

University hospital, from January 2009 to December 2018.

Participants

A total of 591 patients who underwent elective LDLT were analysed in this study. Those with a preoperative history of kidney dysfunction, vitamin B12 supplementation due to alcoholism, low vitamin B12 (<200 pg/mL) or missing laboratory data were excluded.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The population was classified into AKI and non-AKI groups according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, and associations between perioperative factors and AKI were analysed. After 1:1 propensity score (PS) matching, the association between high vitamin B12 (>900 pg/mL) and postoperative AKI was evaluated.

Results

Preoperative vitamin B12 was higher in the AKI group. Potentially significant perioperative factors from univariate analyses were entered into multivariate analyses, including preoperative factors (vitamin B12, diabetes), intraoperative factors (hourly urine output) and donor graft fatty change in LDLT patients. PS matching analyses with adjustment using PS revealed that high serum vitamin B12 (>900 pg/mL) was associated with risk for AKI, and the risk was 2.8-fold higher in patients with high vitamin B12 than in those with normal vitamin B12. Higher vitamin B12 was also related to a higher AKI stage. In addition, inflammatory factors (C reactive protein, white blood cells and albumin) were associated with vitamin B12 level.

Conclusions

Our study may improve the accuracy of predicting postoperative AKI by introducing preoperative vitamin B12 into risk assessments for patients undergoing LDLT.
Inequalities in the uptake of, adherence to and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions: systematic review protocol
Authors: Birch Jack Michael , Griffin Simon J , Kelly Michael P , Ahern Amy L
Published: November 2020

Introduction

It has been suggested that interventions focusing on individual behaviour change, such as behavioural weight management interventions, may exacerbate health inequalities. These intervention-generated inequalities may occur at different stages, including intervention uptake, adherence and effectiveness. We will synthesise evidence on how different measures of inequality moderate the uptake, adherence and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in adults.

Methods and analysis

We will update a previous systematic literature review from the United States Preventive Services Taskforce to identify trials of behavioural weight management interventions in adults aged 18 years and over that were, or could feasibly be, conducted in or recruited from primary care. Medline, Cochrane database (CENTRAL) and PsycINFO will be searched. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs will be included. Two investigators will independently screen articles for eligibility and conduct risk of bias assessment. We will curate publication families for eligible trials. The PROGRESS-Plus acronym (place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender, religion, education, socioeconomic status, social capital, plus other discriminating factors) will be used to consider a comprehensive range of health inequalities. Data on trial uptake, intervention adherence, weight change and PROGRESS-Plus-related data will be extracted. Data will be synthesised narratively. We will present a Harvest plot for each PROGRESS-Plus criterion and whether each trial found a negative, positive or no health inequality gradient. We will also identify potential sources of unpublished original research data on these factors which can be synthesised through a future individual participant data meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required as no primary data are being collected. The completed systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal, at conferences, and contribute to the lead author’s PhD thesis. Authors of trials included in the completed systematic review may be invited to collaborate on a future individual participant data meta-analysis.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020173242.
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the TeamSTEPPS teamwork perceptions questionnaire to measure teamwork perceptions of Chinese residents: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Qu Jinglou , Zhu Yaxin , Cui Liyuan , Yang Libin , Lai Yanni , Ye Xuechen , Qu Bo
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perception Questionnaire (T-TPQ) among the Chinese residents.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

A clinical hospital of the China Medical University in Liaoning Province, China.

Participants

A total of 664 residents were enrolled in this research. The valid response rate was 83.0% (664 of 800 residents).

Main outcome measures

Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. The construct validity of the Chinese T-TPQ was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, the concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity were analysed.

Results

Cronbach’s α coefficient of the T-TPQ in Chinese language was 0.923. Except for the communication dimension (0.649), the Cronbach’s α coefficient of all dimensions were satisfactory. The T-TPQ and its five dimensions reported a good test–retest reliability (0.740–0.881, p<0.01). Moreover, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the construct validity of the Chinese T-TPQ was satisfactory. All dimensions significantly correlated with the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) teamwork within units dimension and the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) teamwork climate dimension (p<0.01), and the questionnaire showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity.

Conclusions

The T-TPQ in Chinese language demonstrated good psychometric characteristics and was a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure the Chinese health professionals’ perception of teamwork. Thus, the Chinese version of the T-TPQ could be applied in teamwork training programmes and medical education research.
ASPIRE trial: study protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial of aspirin for overheating during exercise in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kever Anne , Nelson Katherine E , Aguerre Ines M , Riley Claire S , Boehme Amelia , Lee Nancy W , Strauss Farber Rebecca , Levin Seth N , Stein Joel , Leavitt Victoria M
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The many benefits of exercise for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are well established, yet patients often refrain from exercise due to overheating and exhaustion. The present randomised controlled trial tests aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)) as a convenient method to prevent overheating and improve exercise performance in persons with MS. The effects of ASA are compared with those of acetaminophen (APAP) and placebo.

Methods and analysis

Participants are seen for a laboratory maximal exercise test on 3 separate days separated by at least 1 week. At each session, body temperature is measured before oral administration of a standard adult dose (650 mg) of ASA, APAP or placebo. One hour after drug administration, participants perform a maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer. Primary outcomes are (a) time to exhaustion (that is, time spent cycling to peak exertion) and (b) body temperature change. Crossover analyses will include tests for effects of treatment, period, treatment–period interaction (carryover effect) and sequence.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the institutional review board at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (reference: AAAS2529). Results of the trial will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. Neurologists, physiatrists, primary care physicians and physiotherapists are important stakeholders and will be targeted during dissemination. Positive trial results have the potential to promote aspirin therapy, an inexpensive and readily available treatment, to reduce overheating and allow more persons with MS to benefit from exercise.

Trial registration number

NCT03824938.
Association of nephrolithiasis with the risk of cardiovascular diseases: a longitudinal follow-up study using a national health screening cohort
Authors: Kim So Young , Bang Woo Jin , Min Chanyang , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the associations of stroke and ischaemic heart disease in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Design

A longitudinal follow-up study.

Setting

Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service–Health Screening Cohort (2002–2013) were retrieved to identify the occurrence of nephrolithiasis.

Participants and interventions

In total, 19 103 patients with nephrolithiasis were matched at a 1:4 ratio with control participants for age, sex, income and region of residence.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The occurrence of stroke and ischaemic heart disease was analysed in both patients with nephrolithiasis and control participants. The primary outcome was HRs of stroke and ischaemic heart disease in a stratified Cox proportional hazards model. Smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and Charlson Comorbidity Index were adjusted for as covariates. Subgroup analyses according to age and sex were also performed.

Results

Eight per cent (1615/19 103) of patients with nephrolithiasis and 7.2% (5476/76 412) of control participants had stroke. Nine per cent (1879/19 103) of patients with nephrolithiasis and 7.7% (5895/76 412) of control participants had ischaemic heart disease. Patients with nephrolithiasis had risks of stroke and ischaemic heart disease that were 1.18 times (95% CI=1.11 to 1.24) and 1.24 times (95% CI=1.18 to 1.31) those of the control participants, respectively. The age and sex subgroups showed consistent results.

Conclusions

Nephrolithiasis was associated with increased risks of stroke and ischaemic heart disease.
Uptake and use of a minimum data set (MDS) for older people living and dying in care homes in England: a realist review protocol
Authors: Musa Massirfufulay Kpehe , Akdur Gizdem , Hanratty Barbara , Kelly Sarah , Gordon Adam , Peryer Guy , Spilsbury Karen , Killett Anne , Burton Jennifer , Meyer Julienne , Fortescue Sue , Towers Ann-Marie , Irvine Lisa , Goodman Claire
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Care homes provide nursing and social care for older people who can no longer live independently at home. In the UK, there is no consistent approach to how information about residents’ medical history, care needs and preferences are collected and shared. This limits opportunities to understand the care home population, have a systematic approach to assessment and documentation of care, identifiy care home residents at risk of deterioration and review care. Countries with standardised approaches to residents’ assessment, care planning and review (eg, minimum data sets (MDS)) use the data to understand the care home population, guide resource allocation, monitor services delivery and for research. The aim of this realist review is to develop a theory-driven understanding of how care home staff implement and use MDS to plan and deliver care of individual residents.

Methods and analysis

A realist review will be conducted in three research stages.

Stage 1 will scope the literature and develop candidate programme theories of what ensures effective uptake and sustained implementation of an MDS.

Stage2 will test and refine these theories through further iterative searches of the evidence from the literature to establish how effective uptake of an MDS can be achieved.

Stage 3 will consult with relevant stakeholders to test or refine the programme theory (theories) of how an MDS works at the resident level of care for different stakeholders and in what circumstances. Data synthesis will use realist logic to align data from each eligible article with possible context–mechanism–outcome configurations or specific elements that answer the research questions.

Ethics and dissemination

The University of Hertfordshire Ethics Committee has approved this study (HSK/SF/UH/04169). Findings will be disseminated through briefings with stakeholders, conference presentations, a national consultation on the use of an MDS in UK long-term care settings, publications in peer-reviewed journals and in print and social media publications accessible to residents, relatives and care home staff.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020171323; this review protocol is registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.
Utilisation, expenditure and cost-effectiveness of cystic fibrosis drugs in Ireland: a retrospective analysis of a national pharmacy claims database
Authors: Smith Amelia , Barry Michael
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To determine the use and expenditure associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) modulator therapies in Ireland since their reimbursement in 2013.

Design

A retrospective analysis of a national drug claims database.

Setting

The data included in this study are nationally representative (Ireland).

Participants

Data on all persons receiving CF modulator therapies were included.

Methods

We obtained national claims data for CF therapies from the Health Service Executive’s Primary Care Reimbursement Service. We determined the use and expenditure associated with CF therapies from January 2012 to March 2020.

Results

The increased prescribing of CF modulator therapies was associated with an approximate fivefold increase in expenditure from €23 million in 2013 to €113 million in 2019. Many patients who initiated lumacaftor/ivacaftor in 2017 went on to receive symptomatic therapies, and subsequently initiated tezacaftor/ivacaftor in 2019.

Conclusion

Despite none of these modulator therapies demonstrating value for money when subjected to health technology assessment, the associated Irish expenditure reached €113 million in 2019 alone.
Are the needs of people with multiple long-term conditions being met? Evidence from the 2018 General Practice Patient Survey
Authors: Rolewicz Lucina , Keeble Eilís , Paddison Charlotte , Scobie Sarah
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To investigate individual, practice and area level variation in patient-reported unmet need among those with long-term conditions, in the context of general practice (GP) appointments and support from community-based services in England.

Design

Cross-sectional study using data from 199 150 survey responses.

Setting

Primary care and community-based services.

Participants

Respondents to the 2018 English General Practice Patient Survey with at least one long-term condition.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were the levels of unmet need in GP and local services among patients with multiple long-term conditions. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of variation explained by practice and area-level factors.

Results

There was no relationship between needs being fully met in patients’ last practice appointment and number of long-term conditions once sociodemographic characteristics and health status were taken into account (5+conditions−OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.09), but there was a relationship for having enough support from local services to manage conditions (5+conditions−OR=0.84, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.88). Patients with multimorbidity that were younger, non-white or frail were less likely to have their needs fully met, both in GP and from local services. Differences between practices and local authorities explained minimal variation in unmet need.

Conclusions

Levels of unmet need are high, particularly for support from community services to manage multiple conditions. Patients who could be targeted for support include people who feel socially isolated, and those who have difficulties with their day-to-day living. Younger patients and certain ethnic groups with multimorbidity are also more likely to have unmet needs. Increased personalisation and coordination of care among these groups may help in addressing their needs.
Effect of exercise-heat acclimation on cardiac autonomic modulation in type 2 diabetes: a pilot study
Authors: Macartney Michael J. , Notley Sean R. , Herry Christophe L. , Sigal Ronald J. , Boulay Pierre , Kenny Glen P.
Published: November 2020

The effects of exercise-heat acclimation on heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear. We assessed electrocardiogram recordings during exercise-heat stress in middle-aged-to-older individuals (50–70 years) with (n = 6) and without (control; n = 8;) T2D, before and after 7 days of exercise-heat acclimation. Exercising heart rate was reduced (control, −9 ± 5 bpm; T2D, −14 ± 9 bpm) yet HRV was not significantly different. Given the negative correlations between diminished HRV and cardiac risk observed in the scientific literature, further research is warranted.

Novelty: Our observations indicate that 7 days exercise-heat acclimation may not effectively attenuate the deviation toward reduced overall HRV and unfavourable cardiac autonomic modulation in individuals with T2D.
Paraoxonase and oxidative stress changes in left and right ventricles of exhaustively exercised rats
Authors: Sarikaya Badegül , Runa Metin , Dayanir Duygu , Gündüztepe Yasemin , Pinar Lamia
Published: November 2020

Exhaustive exercise can cause subclinical inflammation to the heart, as it is an oxidative tissue that works continuously. The effect of exhaustive exercise on left and right ventricles (LVs, RVs) may be different. It is claimed that paraoxonase-1 (PON1), an antioxidant enzyme, has a cardioprotective effect on oxidative stress. Rats were separated as non-exercised controls (Con), those euthanized immediately after (E-0) and 24 h after exhaustive exercise (E-24). Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), PON1 activities, and histological findings in LV and RV of the exhausted rats were evaluated. TAS and PON1 levels were lower in LVs compared with RVs of all groups. TOS levels were high in LVs compared with RVs of all groups. In LVs, TAS levels decreased significantly in the E-0 group while PON1 activity decreased in E-0 and E-24 groups compared with controls. In LVs, TOS levels decreased significantly in E-0 and E-24 groups, but in RVs a decrease was seen only in the E-0 group. cTnI levels increased significantly in the E-0 group and decreased to control levels in the E-24 group. Considering the histological and biochemical findings, exhaustive exercise affected the heart to the maximum during and just after exhaustion, and LV was influenced more than RV.
The tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib influences blood glucose and mRNA expression of GLUT4 and PPARs in the heart of rats with experimental diabetes
Authors: Hadova Katarina , Mesarosova Lucia , Kralova Eva , Doka Gabriel , Krenek Peter , Klimas Jan
Published: November 2020

Tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) may alter glycaemia and may be cardiotoxic with importance in the diabetic heart. We investigated the effect of multi-TKI crizotinib after short-term administration on metabolic modulators of the heart of diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by streptozotocin (STZ; 80 mg·kg–1, i.p.), and controls (C) received vehicle. Three days after STZ, crizotinib (STZ+CRI; 25 mg·kg–1 per day p.o.) or vehicle was administered for 7 days. Blood glucose, C-peptide, and glucagon were assessed in plasma samples. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), cardiac glucose transporters, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were determined in rat left ventricle by RT-qPCR method. Crizotinib moderately reduced blood glucose (by 25%, P < 0.05) when compared to STZ rats. The drug did not affect levels of C-peptide, an indicator of insulin secretion, suggesting altered tissue glucose utilization. Crizotinib had no impact on cardiac RTKs. However, an mRNA downregulation of insulin-dependent glucose transporter Glut4 in the hearts of STZ rats was attenuated after crizotinib treatment. Moreover, crizotinib normalized Ppard and reduced Pparg mRNA expression in diabetic hearts. Crizotinib decreased blood glucose independently of insulin and glucagon. This could be related to changes in regulators of cardiac metabolism such as GLUT4 and PPARs.
Stress correlation function and linear response of Brownian particles
Authors: Vogel Florian , Fuchs Matthias
Published: November 2020

We determine the non-local stress autocorrelation tensor in an homogeneous and isotropic system of interacting Brownian particles starting from the Smoluchowski equation of the configurational probability density. In order to relate stresses to particle displacements as appropriate in viscoelastic states, we go beyond the usual hydrodynamic description obtained in the Zwanzig-Mori projection-operator formalism by introducing the proper irreducible dynamics following Cichocki and Hess, and Kawasaki. Differently from these authors, we include transverse contributions as well. This recovers the expression for the stress autocorrelation including the elastic terms in solid states as found for Newtonian and Langevin systems, in case that those are evaluated in the overdamped limit. Finally, we argue that the found memory function reduces to the shear and bulk viscosity in the hydrodynamic limit of smooth and slow fluctuations and derive the corresponding hydrodynamic equations.

Graphical abstract
Photonic composite materials from cellulose nanorods and clay nanolayers
Authors: Trindade Ana C. , Carreto Miguel , Helgesen Geir , Knudsen Kenneth D. , Puchtler Florian , Breu Josef , Fernandes Susete , Godinho Maria Helena , Fossum Jon Otto
Published: November 2020

Cellulose nano crystals (CNCs) are promising materials for energy efficient buildings related to the control of reflectivity and heat absorption/reflection of light. In this sense it is important to improve CNCs films fire retardant properties, which can be achieved by adding clays. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and nanolayers obtained from Sodium Fluorohectorite (NaFh) synthetic clay are both known to form liquid crystalline phases in aqueous suspensions. CNCs form cholesteric phases, which structure is preserved after water evaporation, while dry NaFh nanolayers aligned films collapse. In this initial work, it is shown that CNCs are compatible with NaFh clay. We demonstrate that the liquid crystalline phase of CNCs in water is not destroyed by the presence of NaFh nanolayers. The NaFh nanolayers act as planar anchoring surfaces to the cellulose nanorods and, after evaporation of the water coloured films are obtained. The precursor solutions and the photonic films were investigated by Describe several techniques.
Diffusion and steady state distributions of flexible chemotactic enzymes
Authors: Agudo-Canalejo Jaime , Golestanian Ramin
Published: November 2020

Many experiments in recent years have reported that, when exposed to their corresponding substrate, catalytic enzymes undergo enhanced diffusion as well as chemotaxis (biased motion in the direction of a substrate gradient). Among other possible mechanisms, in a number of recent works we have explored several passive mechanisms for enhanced diffusion and chemotaxis, in the sense that they require only binding and unbinding of the enzyme to the substrate rather than the catalytic reaction itself. These mechanisms rely on conformational changes of the enzyme due to binding, as well as on phoresis due to non-contact interactions between enzyme and substrate. Here, after reviewing and generalizing our previous findings, we extend them in two different ways. In the case of enhanced diffusion, we show that an exact result for the long-time diffusion coefficient of the enzyme can be obtained using generalized Taylor dispersion theory, which results in much simpler and transparent analytical expressions for the diffusion enhancement. In the case of chemotaxis, we show that the competition between phoresis and binding-induced changes in diffusion results in non-trivial steady state distributions for the enzyme, which can either accumulate in or be depleted from regions with a specific substrate concentration.
Phantom dark energy from scalar-torsion coupling
Authors: Popławski Nikodem J.
Published: November 2020

We show that a scalar field without a kinetic term in the Lagrangian density, coupled to the covariant divergence of the torsion vector in the Einstein–Cartan theory of gravity, becomes kinetic in its general-relativistic equivalent formulation. The resulting kinetic term is negative: such a scalar field could be a source of phantom dark energy.
Firing patterns of the CA1 pyramidal neuron with geometric singular perturbation: a model study
Authors: Liu Yaru , Liu Shenquan
Published: November 2020

An investigation of CA1 pyramidal model is an important issue for applications, which is intimately related to the composition of ions in the extracellular environment and external stimulation. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the effects of different electrophysiological parameters such as muscarinic-sensitive potassium current activation variable and sustained sodium current inactivation variable on the firing sequence of model by numerical simulations. Furthermore, the paper also discusses that the temperature affects the firing of the CA1 model from direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) stimuli. It is found that the model exhibits excellent spiking and bursting patterns, even chaotic patterns occur. Meanwhile, generalized mixed oscillations emerge in the model. Additionally, the firing modes are depicted by providing the response curve (RC), inter-spike interval curve (ISI), phase diagram curve (PDC) and the number of spikes per burst curve (NC). Mathematically, the paper elaborates the results which are presented to obtain two lower dimensional subsystems, which govern the fast and slow dynamics for giving insight into the dynamic behaviors of the full 5D system based on the geometric singular perturbation theory (GSPT). Particularly, we analyse the phase diagrams of the CA1 model to understand the properties better. The present results may contribute to further understand the information processing of the CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Efficient photonic crystal fiber polarization splitters composed of gallium arsenide and nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Ding Yifeng , Liu Chao , Yang Lin , Lv Jingwei , Fu Guanglai , Li Xianli , Liu Qiang , Wang Famei , Sun Tao , Chu Paul K.
Published: November 2020

Two photonic crystal fiber (PCF) polarization beam splitters (PBSs) featuring ultra-short length and ultra-high extinction ratios at wavelengths of 1.31 [Formula: see text]m and 1.55 [Formula: see text]m are designed and investigated. Non-silicon materials, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and nematic liquid crystal (NLC), are incorporated into the structure to ensure operation of the splitters in the communication bandwidth. Based on the full-vector finite element method (FEM), numerical simulation is carried out to optimize the structural parameters systematically. Specifically, for the splitter operating at 1.31 [Formula: see text]m, the optimal optical fiber length, extinction ratio, and bandwidth are 27.87234 [Formula: see text]m, [Formula: see text] dB, and 152 nm, respectively. In comparison, the optimal fiber length, extinction ratio, and bandwidth of the splitter at the wavelength of 1.55 [Formula: see text]m are 15.59356 [Formula: see text]m, [Formula: see text] dB, and 200 nm, respectively. The results reveal that the splitters have great potential in environmental monitoring, biochemical detection, and optical communication.
Two efficient measurement device independent quantum dialogue protocols
Authors: Das Nayana , Paul Goutam
Published: November 2020

Quantum dialogue is a process of two-way secure and simultaneous communication using a single channel. Recently, a Measurement Device Independent Quantum Dialogue (MDI-QD) protocol has been proposed [A. Maitra, Measurement device independent quantum dialogue,Quantum Inf. Process. 16(12) (2017) 305]. To make the protocol secure against information leakage, the authors have discarded almost half of the qubits remaining after the error estimation phase. In this paper, we propose two modified versions of the MDI-QD protocol such that the number of discarded qubits is reduced to almost one-fourth of the remaining qubits after the error estimation phase. We use almost half of their discarded qubits along with their used qubits to make our protocol more efficient in qubits count. We show that both of our protocols are secure under the same adversarial model given in MDI-QD protocol.
Bianchi-I cosmology within f(T): Reconstruction method and dynamical study
Authors: Ainamon C. , Ganiou M. G. , Abadji H. F. , Houndjo M. J. S.
Published: November 2020

This paper is fundamentally devoted to the cosmological reconstruction and dynamic studying in homogeneous BIANCHI-I space-time under the [Formula: see text] background. Its content is supported by the fact that in the General Relativity description of the standard cosmological paradigm, the evolution from an anisotropic universe into an Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) one can be achieved by a period of inflationary expansion. Nowadays, modified gravity theories like [Formula: see text] are widely accepted to provide a real description of some universe evolution phases like inflation era, matter-dominated era, etc. So, we aim to examine here what [Formula: see text] gravity model can accommodate with an anisotropic universe, an expanding universe and even the transition between both evolutions. To reach this goal, we use a reconstruction method based on dynamic equations in Bianchi-I space-time by assuming a particular form for the metric anisotropy and by specifying some time functions describing average scale factor. Most of the obtained models are consistent with certain known results in the literature but other add new results in this work. In the second part of this work, the dynamical behaviors of the Bianchi-I space-time are addressed through the reconstruction of an autonomous dynamical system. For an aleatory choice of anisotropic fluid, the numerical analysis of the system shows that the metric anisotropy decreases with expansion. Then, an attractor point is reached and becomes unstable by the end of inflation. Such interesting properties found in this work on Bianchi-I space-time are often interpreted as graceful exit from inflation which doesn’t occur in ordinary FLRW space-time.
Impedance Model-Based Optimal Regulation on Force and Position of Bimanual Robots to Hold an Object
Authors: Huang Darong , Zhan Hong , Yang Chenguang
Published: November 2020

Bimanual robots have been studied for decades and regulation on internal force of the being held object by two manipulators becomes a research interest in recent years. In this paper, based on impedance model, a method to obtain the optimal target position for bimanual robots to hold an object is proposed. We introduce a cost function combining the errors of the force and the position and manage to minimize its value to gain the optimal coordinates for the robot end effectors (EE). To implement this method, two necessary algorithms are presented, which are the closed-loop inverse kinematics (CLIK) method to work out joint positions from desired EE pose and the generalized-momentum-based external force observer to measure the subjected force acting on the EE so as to properly compensate for the joint torques. To verify the effectiveness, practicality, and adaptivity of the proposed scheme, in the simulation, a bimanual robot system with three degrees of freedom (DOF) in every manipulator was constructed and employed to hold an object, where the results are satisfactory.
A Thermal Load Forecasting Algorithm Based on Trajectory Tracking
Authors: Ling Guo , Weiwei Du , Jiancheng Yang , Liping Wang , Ping Wan , Ling Liu
Published: November 2020

The heating load forecast provides a basis for saving heating energy. Considering the nonstationary, nonlinear, and large time-delay characteristics of thermal load, this paper introduces the trajectory tracking stability theory into the field of load forecasting and proposes a heuristic correction that can ensure the convergence of forecast errors and does not depend on the system prediction model algorithm. The Lyapunov method is used to derive an error convergence criterion that has nothing to do with the prediction model, and a heuristic correction algorithm is designed for the predicted value with error divergence trend to ensure the error convergence of the load forecast sequence.
Randomness for Nucleotide Sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Related Subfamilies
Authors: Chen Ray-Ming
Published: November 2020

The origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has been an important issue in tackling COVID-19. Research on these topics would enhance our knowledge of this virus and help us develop vaccines or predict its paths of mutations. There are many theoretical and clinical researches in this area. In this article, we devise a structural metric which directly measures the structural differences between any two nucleotide sequences. In order to explore the mechanisms of how the evolution works, we associate the nucleotide sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and its related families with the degrees of randomness. Since the distances between randomly generated nucleotide sequences are very concentrated around a mean with low variance, they are qualified as good candidates for the fundamental reference. Such reference could then be applied to measure the randomness of other Coronaviridae sequences. Our findings show that the relative randomness ratios are very consistent and concentrated. This result indicates their randomness is very stable and predictable. The findings also reveal the evolutional behaviours between the Coronaviridae and all its subfamilies.
Creep Mechanics of the High‐Stress Soft Rock under Grade Unloading
Authors: Huang Shunjie , Meng Xiangrui , Zhao Guangming , Li Yingming , Liu Gang , Dong Chunliang , Cheng Xiang , Xu Wensong , Liu Chongyan , Zhou Jun
Published: November 2020

In order to study the creep behavior of deep soft rock, gritstone was chosen as the research subject, and a rock triaxial rheometer (Rock 600‐50) and acoustic emission (AE) system (SH‐II) were used to carry out the grade unloading confining pressure creep test under a high‐stress level. The test results showed that the lateral creep behavior of the gritstone was more prominent than the axial creep under the initial high confining pressure. Under the same confining pressure, the creep strain rate (the direction the same as strain) of the gritstone decreases with the increase in axial pressure. As shown by the AE count, AE signals were generated throughout the entire test process, indicating that the creep was a “microdynamic” process. The creep behavior was characterized by a significant confining pressure effect. As the confining pressure was decreased, the degree of creep increases significantly. During the test, the AE energy increased on the whole but decreases during the creep phase. During the entire test process, the overall energy in the constant deviatoric stress grade unloading of the confining pressure was 45% higher than that in the constant axial pressure grade unloading. The degree of failure of the rock was different in these two unloading creep tests, and the constant axial pressure grade unloading of the confining pressure entails greater damage than the constant deviatoric stress grade unloading of the confining pressure. The main reason was that the former had a lower confining pressure level and longer creep process than the latter, and the sample was mainly characterized by creep damage and large cumulative damage, while the latter features mainly unloading damage. Through the inversion of the Burgers constitutive model and nonlinear damage constitutive model for the creep test curve, the nonlinear constitutive equation can better fit the accelerated creep stage, which suggested that this model can describe the accelerated creep characteristics of the high‐stress soft rock.
Unsteady MHD Bionanofluid Flow in a Porous Medium with Thermal Radiation near a Stretching/Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Irfan M. , Farooq M. Asif , Mushtaq A. , Shamsi Z. H.
Published: November 2020

This research aims at providing the theoretical effects of the unsteady MHD stagnation point flow of heat and mass transfer across a stretching and shrinking surface in a porous medium including internal heat generation/absorption, thermal radiation, and chemical reaction. The fundamental principles of the similarity transformations are applied to the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) that lead to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The transformed ODEs are numerically solved by the shooting algorithm implemented in MATLAB, and verification is done from MATLAB built-in solver bvp4c. The numerical data produced for the skin friction coefficient, the local Nusselt number, and the local Sherwood number are compared with the available result and found to be in a close agreement. The impact of involved physical parameters on velocity, temperature, concentration, and density of motile microorganisms profiles is scrutinized through graphs. It is analyzed that the skin friction coefficient enhances with increasing values of an unsteady parameter

A

, magnetic parameter

M

, and porosity parameter

Kp

. In addition, we observe that the density of a motile microorganisms profile enhances larger values of the bioconvection Lewis number

Lb

and Peclet number

Pe

and decreases with the increasing values of an unsteady parameter

A

.
Five-Year Trend Analysis of Malaria Prevalence in Dembecha Health Center, West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Haile Dessalegn , Ferede Aster , Kassie Bekalu , Abebaw Abtie , Million Yihenew
Published: November 2020

Background. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease known to cause significant numbers of morbidities and mortalities across the globe. In Ethiopia, its transmission is generally seasonal and highly unstable due to variations in topography and rainfall patterns. Studying the trends in malaria in different setups is crucial for area-specific evidence-based interventions, informed decisions, and to track the effectiveness of malaria control programs. The trend in malaria infections in the area has not been documented. Hence, this study aimed to assess the five-year trend in microscopically confirmed malaria cases in Dembecha Health Center, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara national regional state, Ethiopia. Methods. A health facility-based retrospective study was conducted in Dembecha Health Center from February to April 2018. All microscopically confirmed malaria cases registered between 2011/12 and 2015/16 were carefully reviewed from laboratory record books and analyzed accordingly. Results. A total of 12,766 blood films were requested over the last five years at Dembecha Health Center. The number of microscopically confirmed malaria cases was 2086 (16.34%). The result showed a fluctuating yet declining trend in malaria infections. The highest number of cases was registered in 2012/13, while the lowest was in 2015/16. Males and age groups >20 constituted 58.9% and 44.2% of the patients, respectively, being the hardest hit by malaria in the area. Malaria existed in almost every month and seasons. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species. The highest peak of malaria infections was observed in the late transition (October-December) 799 (38.3%) and early transition (May-June) 589 (28.2%) seasons. Conclusion. Although the results indicate a fluctuating yet declining trend, the prevalence of confirmed malaria cases in the area remains alarming and indicates a major public health burden. Therefore, close monitoring and intervention measures to control malaria infections in the area and also to tackle the dominant species, Plasmodium falciparum, are necessitated accordingly.
A New Approach for Unqualified Salted Sea Cucumber Identification: Integration of Image Texture and Machine Learning under the Pressure Contact
Authors: Wang Huihui , Zhang Xueyu , Li Pengpeng , Sun Jialiang , Yan Pengtao , Zhang Xu , Liu Yanqiu
Published: November 2020

At present, rapid, nondestructive, and objective identification of unqualified salted sea cucumbers with excessive salt content is extremely difficult. Artificial identification is the most common method, which is based on observing sea cucumber deformation during recovery after applying-removing pressure contact. This study is aimed at simulating the artificial identification method and establishing an identification model to distinguish whether the salted sea cucumber exceeds the standard by means of machine vision and machine learning technology. The system for identification of salted sea cucumbers was established, which was used for delivering the standard and uniform pressure forces and collecting the deformation images of salted sea cucumbers during the recovery after pressure removal. Image texture features of contour variation were extracted based on histograms (HIS) and gray level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM), which were used to establish the identification model by combining general regression neural networks (GRNN) and support vector machine (SVM), respectively. Contour variation features of salted sea cucumbers were extracted using a specific algorithm to improve the accuracy and stability of the model. Then, the dimensionality reduction and fusion of the feature images were achieved. According to the results of the models, the SVM identification model integrated with GLCM (GLCM-SVM) was found to be optimal, with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. In particular, the sensitivity reached 100%, demonstrating an excellent identification ability to excessively salted sea cucumbers of the optimized model. This study illustrated the potential for identification of salted sea cucumbers based on pressure contact by combining image texture of contour varying with machine learning.
Kinetics of Transesterification of Croton megalocarpus Oil Using Alkaline Earth Catalysts with Conventional and Microwave Heating
Authors: Kumar Anil , Kiriamiti Henry K.
Published: November 2020

Transesterification kinetics of Croton megalocarpus oil to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was studied using homogeneous NaOH and heterogeneous alkaline earth Nano MgO, MgO, Nano CaO, CaO, Reoxidized CaO, SrO, and BaO catalysts. Characteristic surface, bulk, and chemical properties of the heterogeneous catalysts were obtained which included surface area, pore properties, scanning electron micrography, X-ray diffraction, basic strength, and basicity. The catalyst porosity varied as Nano MgO > Nano CaO > MgO > CaO > CaO-RO > SrO > BaO and basicity as BaO > SrO > Nano CaO > CaO RO > CaO > Nano MgO > MgO. Catalysts NaOH, BaO, SrO, and Nano CaO gave a good FAME yield (>50%), and reaction order and rate constant have been reported for these catalysts, for both conventional heating and microwave irradiation. The overall reaction for NaOH was of 1st order for microwave irradiation with respect to triglyceride and of 2nd order with respect to triglyceride under conventional heating. For the heterogeneous catalysts, the overall reaction was of 3rd order, 2nd order with respect to triglyceride and 1st order with respect to methanol for both heating methods. Reaction rate constants for microwave irradiation were higher than those for conventional heating due to faster reaction rates under such heating. BaO was the most active heterogeneous catalyst, followed by SrO and Nano CaO, which was in accordance with their basicity.
Numerical Analysis of Heat Exchanger for Spray-Assisted Low-Temperature Desalination System
Authors: Muhunzi Amour Othman , Jande Yusufu Abeid Chande , Machunda Revocatus Lazaro
Published: November 2020

A numerical study for heat exchanger for spray-assisted low-temperature desalination system is presented for an existing low-temperature desalination unit at Arusha Technical College. This is aimed at recognizing the effect of mass flow and physical parameters like tube layout (diameter and length) on the overall heat transferred and the pressure drop in the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHX), as well as the impact of these parameters on the heat transfer coefficient and the overdesign of the STHX. Also, the study provides a suitable mathematical model for the replacement of the current condensation unit which tends to reduce energy consumption by reducing some of the electrical components in the system. A Math CAD model was developed using the Delaware method to obtain the mentioned parameters. The results show that at 0.8 kg/s flow rate a maximum heat transfer coefficient of 23212 W/m2K is achieved in a minimum diameter of 10 mm within a maximum tube length of 1000 mm heat exchanger and the pressure drop seems to be very low in a range of 0.328-0.957 Pa from all configurations. The configuration with 1000 mm tube length and 10 mm diameter performed well on the mass flow of 0.3 kg/s-0.8 kg/s by providing a suitable overall heat transfer coefficient of 2306-2539 W/m2K, while 12.8 is a maximum overdesign coefficient achieved on 0.8 kg/s mass flow. The study results show the possibility of using STHX instead of the current condensation unit in implementing a proposed system layout with the minimum effect of energy consumption.
Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction as the Initial Clinical Presentation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Rare and Severe Disorder
Authors: Nyabera Akwe , Elfishawi Mohanad , Cuevas Francisco , Riaz Fahad , Abrudescu Adriana
Published: November 2020

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a rarely recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We present a 36-year-old African American female, with only known past medical history of anemia, admitted for frequent vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever that had been ongoing for 5 days. Laboratory results revealed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Imaging revealed dilated small bowel loops, abdominal ascites, as well as mild bilateral hydroureteronephrosis without obstructing calculus. Serologic testing confirmed a diagnosis of SLE. The patient was placed on immunosuppressive therapy and responded well. IPO has previously been described as a rare finding in patients with SLE, with bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and lupus interstitial cystitis having been noted as common concomitant factors. One must have a high level of suspicion to recognize it as being one of the initial clinical presentations. Early recognition and appropriate management preclude unnecessary invasive procedures that do not take into account the pathophysiology of the condition and allow for appropriate management and return of peristaltic function.