bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tolerance of peritoneal and residual renal function to intraperitoneal gadolinium‐based agents: An animal experimental study of magnetic resonance peritoneography
Authors: Dong Jing , Li Wenlu , Shu Jian , Lv Cheng , Gan Linwang , Bai Jiao
Published: November 2021

Background

MR (Magnetic resonance) peritoneography is sensible for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)‐related complications, which could offer excellent soft‐tissue contrast and allows a multiplanar imaging evaluation of complications. However, there is no study about the optimal concentration of the gadolinium‐based agents nor the side effects of gadolinium‐based agents on peritoneum and residual renal function.

Method

Five different groups of uremic rats and two groups of normal rats were injected with a 40‐ml mixture of peritoneal dialysate and gadolinium‐based agents at varying concentrations prior to MR peritoneography. Thereafter, MR image obtained was evaluated by two experienced radiologists blinded to the concentrations. Peritoneal morphology and thickness of the uremic rats were also assessed using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. Residual renal function was evaluated using serum creatinine levels and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of pathological kidney sections.

Results and Conclusion

The gadolinium‐based agents used in this experiment have no significant effect on residual renal function. There is no obvious difference in the image quality at the different gadolinium‐based agents concentration. Due to the adverse effects of gadolinium‐based agents in the previous studies, we suggest reducing the dose of gadolinium‐based agents during MR peritoneography to the lowest limits.
Disentangling dyadic and reputational perceptions of prosociality, aggression, and popularity in explaining friendship networks in early adolescence
Authors: Palacios Diego , Dijkstra Jan Kornelis , Berger Christian , Huisman Mark , Veenstra René
Published: November 2021

This study examined the differential effects of two forms of adolescents’ perceptions of peers’ prosociality, aggression, and popularity, on friendship selection. Individuals’ reports of their peers’ behaviors (dyadic perceptions) and the aggregated classmates’ reports (reputational perceptions) were disentangled. The findings indicated that adolescents were more likely to befriend classmates widely perceived as prosocial (reputational perception) and were less likely to befriend classmates they perceived as aggressive (dyadic perception). For popularity, the effect of dyadic perception disappeared when including the reputational perception. The findings highlight the differences between the dyadic and reputational perceptions of peer behavior. Not only dyadic perceptions of behaviors but also reputational perceptions exert a role in befriending peers.
Do Citizens use Sociodemographic Characteristics as Cues to Infer Candidate Issue Positions?
Authors: Däubler Thomas , Quoß Franziska , Rudolph Lukas
Published: November 2021

In open‐list proportional representation systems, choosing candidates based on issue proximity can improve policy congruence. However, in practice, voters may not know enough about individual candidates to do so. Hence, we examine whether voters infer individual positions from cues provided on ballots, namely age and residence. Studying the Swiss parliamentary elections of 2019, we focus on environmental policy, both a very salient issue and featuring considerable intra‐party heterogeneity of positions. We combine comprehensive candidate data with a representative voter survey and conduct a survey‐embedded experiment (N = 10,758). We find that citizens have indeed little knowledge of candidate positions. However, ballot cues predict policy differences among candidates within parties only to a limited extent, and the experiment does not suggest that voters use ballot information to predict positions directly. Instead, as suggested by additional analyses, citizens may perceive candidates who resemble their own sociodemographic profile as having positions closer to their own.
Power, identity and precarity: Sex workers’ “lived experience” of violence and social injustice in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Habiba , Subedi DB
Published: November 2021

This article applies an anthropological perspective of violence to critique and interrogate the concept of social justice. It analyses Bangladeshi sex workers’ “lived experience” of symbolic and structural violence in different social worlds—the community and family, and brothels—as a new framework for understanding social injustice. We find that violence and injustice exist in a complex web of power, identity, social structures and culture, shaped by power relations, discriminating social structures, and oppressive cultural norms which push the sex workers into the cycles of violence. These forms of violence impede an individual's capabilities, life chances and dignity, the factors that determine one's experience of social justice. From a social policy perspective, our study suggests that social justice to sex workers concerns, first and foremost, with addressing their needs for safety and security, thus, enabling them to experience equity, dignity, protection and human rights.
“That market has no quality”: Performative place frames, racialisation, and affective re‐inscriptions in an outdoor retail market in Amsterdam
Authors: van Eck Emil
Published: November 2021

This paper interrogates the performative and affective aspects of relational place‐making processes by which people construct the everyday geographies of public space. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in and around an outdoor retail market in Amsterdam, the research findings show that the hegemonic frame of this public space is deeply racialised, mediating the way in which traders, market managers, and visitors encounter one another on a daily basis. By drawing on a shift from a discursive conception of relational place‐making to a performative and affective one, the results show how racialised place frames come into being through day‐to‐day performative practices, and how this is confirmed and brokered by people confronted with racialised place discourses. The findings on traders social networks through which they sustain access to public space highlight the importance of attending to the affective dimensions of place‐making in academic work focused on place politics.
The role of nature contact and connectedness to nature as determinants of household water use: A case study from Spain
Authors: Ibáñez‐Rueda Nazaret , Guardiola Jorge , González‐Gómez Francisco
Published: November 2021

One of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 is to increase water use efficiency in all sectors. In the domestic sphere, water consumption is largely conditioned by the habits and behaviour of individuals. In this study, we investigate for the first time the influence of connectedness to and contact with nature on five different uses of water at home. Using ordered probit regressions with a sample of 874 students from the University of Granada (Spain), we found that connectedness to nature and nature contact is positively or non‐significantly related to different dimensions of water efficiency. The results indicate that in order to encourage pro‐environmental water use habits at home, efforts should be made to develop an ecocentric vision in schools and to promote school trips to explore and understand the nearest natural areas. These policies should be adapted to a wider international context as a way of addressing the global problem of water scarcity.
Genetically engineered pig kidney transplantation in a brain‐dead human subject
Authors: Cooper David K.C.
Published: November 2021

In September 2021, a kidney (with donor‐specific thymic tissue) from an α1, 3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout (GTKO) pig was transplanted into the groin (with anastomoses to the femoral vessels) of a brain‐dead subject by a surgical team at New York University Langone Health (NYU). It was reported to function immediately, passing urine and excreting creatinine. The experiment was terminated after 54 h and, during this period, the kidney did not show macroscopic features of rejection. Does this experiment provide information not available to us previously and does it move the field forward to clinical trials? The information provided was very limited, but the following points are worthy of note. (i) Numerous in vivo studies in nonhuman primates have predicted that the pig kidney would function immediately. (ii) Numerous in vitro studies have predicted that a GTKO pig kidney would not be rejected within the first few days after transplantation into a human subject. (iii) GTKO kidneys are not optimal for clinical transplantation, and the transplantation of a triple‐knockout (TKO) pig kidney would have been more relevant. (iv) There was no purpose in transplanting a “thymokidney” without pre‐transplant conditioning therapy and follow‐up for several months. (v) Because the native kidneys were retained, it is difficult to determine whether the function of the graft was sufficient to support life. (vi) The experiment was announced to the media rather than published in a peer‐reviewed medical journal (although hopefully this will follow), suggesting that it was primarily carried out to gain attention to the great potential of xenotransplantation (and/or possibly to NYU). In this respect the experiment was successful. Because of the very limited period of time for which a brain‐dead subject can be maintained in a metabolically and hemodynamically stable state, the value of experiments in such subjects will remain very limited. It is hoped that any future similar experiments will be planned to be more relevant to the clinical situation. Nevertheless, the report has stimulated public attention towards xenotransplantation which, unless there is an adverse response to what some might consider to be a bizarre experiment, should be of significant benefit to future progress.
MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM IN A NEW KEY
Authors: Hoelter Mark E.
Published: November 2021

In 1917 Rudolf Otto concluded his search for a non‐rational grounding for religion—not opposed to science but also not reducible to science. Reflecting on personal experience and engagement with world religions, Otto posited: all religions are rooted in a universal experience. He labeled this experience the mysterium tremendum et fascinosum—an experience so fascinating that one cannot not attend to it, and, at the same time, so humbling and inspiring it also has both awe and terror about it. Now Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary offers a neurological, “non‐rational” grounding for that mysterium. Neuroscientist, Patrick McNamara, and philosopher‐theologian, Wesley J. Wildman, expand, refine, and particularize McGilchrist's work. All of this together, besides playing Otto's original mysterium in a new key, holds implications for pro‐social intragroup and inter‐group work as well as for individual psychotherapeutic and spiritual growth and transformation.
Phase‐dependent local brain states determine the impact of image‐guided transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor network electroencephalographic synchronization
Authors: Momi Davide , Ozdemir Recep A. , Tadayon Ehsan , Boucher Pierre , Di Domenico Alberto , Fasolo Mirco , Shafi Mouhsin M. , Pascual‐Leone Alvaro , Santarnecchi Emiliano
Published: November 2021

Recent studies have synchronized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) application with pre‐defined brain oscillatory phases showing how brain response to perturbation depends on the brain state. However, none have investigated whether phase‐dependent TMS can possibly modulate connectivity with homologous distant brain regions belonging to the same network. In the framework of network‐targeted TMS, we investigated whether stimulation delivered at a specific phase of ongoing brain oscillations might favour stronger cortico‐cortical (c‐c) synchronization of distant network nodes connected to the stimulation target. Neuronavigated TMS pulses were delivered over the primary motor cortex (M1) during ongoing electroencephalography recording in 24 healthy individuals over two repeated sessions 1 month apart. Stimulation effects were analysed considering whether the TMS pulse was delivered at the time of a positive (peak) or negative (trough) phase of μ‐frequency oscillation, which determines c‐c synchrony within homologous areas of the sensorimotor network. Diffusion weighted imaging was used to study c‐c connectivity within the sensorimotor network and identify contralateral regions connected with the stimulation spot. Depending on when during the μ‐activity the TMS‐pulse was applied (peak or trough), its impact on inter‐hemispheric network synchrony varied significantly. Higher M1–M1 phase‐lock synchronization after the TMS‐pulse (0–200 ms) in the μ‐frequency band was found for trough compared to peak stimulation trials in both study visits. Phase‐dependent TMS delivery might be crucial not only to amplify local effects but also to increase the magnitude and reliability of the response to the external perturbation, with implications for interventions aimed at engaging more distributed functional brain networks.

Key points

Synchronized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulses with pre‐defined brain oscillatory phases allow evaluation of the impact of brain states on TMS effects.

TMS pulses over M1 at the negative peak of the μ‐frequency band induce higher phase‐lock synchronization with interconnected contralateral homologous regions.

Cortico‐cortical synchronization changes are linearly predicted by the fibre density and cross‐section of the white matter tract that connects the two brain regions.

Phase‐dependent TMS delivery might be crucial not only to amplify local effects but also to increase the magnitude and reliability of within‐network synchronization.
Isogeometric Shape Optimization for Design Dependent Loads
Authors: Pal Arkaprabho , Rakshit Sourav
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a new isogeometric formulation for shape optimization of structures subjected to design dependent loads. This work considers two types of design dependent loads, namely, surface loads like pressure where the direction and/or magnitude of force changes with the variation of boundary shape, and body forces that depend on the material layout. These problems have been mostly solved by topology optimization methods which are prone to difficulties in determination of the loading surface for pressure loads and problems associated with non-monotonous behavior of compliance and low density regions for body forces. This work uses an isogeometric shape optimization approach where the geometry is defined using non-uniform rational B-spline and the control point coordinates and control weights of the boundary are chosen as design variables. This approach accommodates the design dependent loads easily, in addition to its other advantages like exact geometry representation, local control, fewer design variables, excellent shape sensitivity, efficient mesh refinement strategies, and smooth results that can be integrated with computer aided design. Two classes of optimization problems have been discussed; they are minimum compliance problems subjected to volume constraint and minimum weight problems subjected to local stress constraints. These problems are solved using convex optimization programs. Hence, expressions for full sensitivities are derived which are new for structural shape optimization problems with design dependent loads. Some representative engineering examples are solved and compared with existing literature to demonstrate the application of the proposed method.
A New Implementation of ontostep: Flexible Generation of Ontology and Knowledge Graphs of express-Driven Data
Authors: Kwon Soonjo , Monnier Laetitia V. , Barbau Raphael , Bernstein William Z.
Published: November 2021

ontostep is a method to translate the STandard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) schema and its instances to an ontology and knowledge graphs represented in the web ontology language (owl). ontostep models can be integrated with any owl models to enrich their semantics. However, the current implementation has several limitations, mainly in (1) supporting the latest International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10303 schemas and (2) generating various representation types depending on the purpose of use. We present an improved implementation of ontostep to overcome these limitations. In this article, we demonstrate that the new implementation can successfully translate STEP schemas and instances in a faster and more flexible way, thus furthering the adoption of the full capabilities of ISO 10303. By encoding STEP entities in owl, we facilitate integration with other standards through knowledge graphs.
Full-Scale Dynamometer Tests of Composite Railway Brake Shoes: Effect of the Resin-Rubber Ratio on Friction Performance and Wear
Authors: Monreal Pablo , Harrison Neil , Perez-Costarrosa Eduardo , Zugasti Miguel , Madariaga Alberto , Clavería Isabel
Published: November 2021

Designing a friction material for a brake system entails considering the effects of each constituent and the interactions that they may present between them. In the present work, a characterization of the influence of the resin-rubber ratio in a brake block material is carried out. Railway brake shoes were produced and tested in a full-scale railway dynamometer in demanding conditions. The brake blocks had also their physical and mechanical properties tested. The progressive addition of resin was proven to heavily affect the friction level in dry and wet conditions. Interestingly, the use of 5% of resin showed significantly higher friction in wet conditions. This composition also presented a more severe metal pick-up. The nature of the binder also affected wear-rates (which were lower for lower resin contents) and the wear mechanism. The sample using only rubber presented thermal cracks and heavier delamination as specific failure modes. Differences in the microstructure of the friction materials were observed depending on the binder. About 5% of resin appears as a very interesting choice to avoid friction loss in wet environments without incurring high wear-rates, as long as metal pick-up is diminished by different means. Otherwise, 100% of rubber as a binder grants the instantaneous friction stability that is often threatened by thermal fade.
Supplemental Material: Whole-lithosphere shear during oblique rifting
Authors: Lutz Brandon , al. et
Published: November 2021

Description of kinematic reconstruction, reconstructions of the LAB and Moho depth gradients, and three supporting videos of the high-resolution kinematic reconstruction of Lutz (2021).
Identification of Marine Fungi-Based Antiviral Agents as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 by Molecular Docking, ADMET and Molecular Dynamic Study
Authors: Qaisar Mahnoor , Muhammad Shabbir , Iqbal Javed , Khera Rasheed Ahmad , Al-Sehemi Abdullah G. , Alarfaji Saleh S. , Khalid Muhammad , Hussain Fatima
Published: November 2021

The ongoing eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic instigated by severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has produce enormous damage to the world. The need of the hour is to stop this pandemic by inhibiting the main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2, which is primarily involved in viral replication. Our study aims to find potential inhibitors for MPro by docking marine fungi-based 90 antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2. Among these, 11 antiviral compounds (obeying Lipinski RO5) are selected from 90 docked antiviral compounds on the basis of binding energy range ([Formula: see text]6.4[Formula: see text]kcal/mol to [Formula: see text]9[Formula: see text]kcal/mol) and low inhibition constant values (0.23[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M to 2.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M) as compared with remdesivir (reference compound) toward MPro of SARS-CoV-2. Tryptoquivaline F, arisugacin B, and arisugacin A antiviral compounds exhibited effective hydrogen and hydrophobic (alkyl, [Formula: see text]-alkyl, and [Formula: see text]-anion) interactions and are expected to be potential protease inhibitors. Drug-likeness of these lead compounds are elaborated by boiled-egg and bioavailability radar map. The toxicity profile showed that the lead compounds L1, L2, and L3 have no AMES toxicity, skin sensitization, and cardiac toxicity. The RMSD graph proposed that all the complexes, i.e. L1, L2, and L3 are in the adequate RMSD range with the average value of 2.1[Formula: see text]Å. All the complex systems of L1, L2, and L3 showed fluctuations in the acceptable RMSF range of 1.5[Formula: see text]Å to 3[Formula: see text]Å. The molecular dynamics simulation proved the stability of docked complexes L1, L2, and L3 in the binding pocket of main protease. The average hydrogen count of all complexes is [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] H-bonds. The complexes L1-MPro, L2-MPro, and L3-MPro have an average value of [Formula: see text] as 22.44[Formula: see text]Å, 22.63[Formula: see text]Å, and 22.50[Formula: see text]Å, respectively. The lead compounds L1 (tryptoquivaline F), L2 (arisugacin b), and l3 (arisugacin A) in this study are the most promising inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease MPro, which are not reported in ealier studies. Our findings will evoke the scientific interest for their further in vitro and in vivo experimental studies.
Optimally Efficient Multi-party Fair Exchange and Fair Secure Multi-party Computation
Authors: Alper Handan Kılınç , Küpçü Alpteki̇n
Published: November 2021

Multi-party fair exchange (MFE) and fair secure multi-party computation (fair SMPC) are under-studied fields of research, with practical importance. In particular, we consider MFE scenarios where at the end of the protocol, either every participant receives every other participant’s item, or no participant receives anything. We analyze the case where a trusted third party (TTP) is optimistically available, although we emphasize that the trust put on the TTP is only regarding the
fairness
, and our protocols preserve the
privacy
of the exchanged items against the TTP. In the fair SMPC case, we prove that a malicious TTP can only harm fairness, but not
security
.

We construct an
asymptotically optimal
multi-party fair exchange protocol that requires a constant number of rounds (in comparison to linear) and

O(n
2
)

messages (in comparison to cubic), where
n
is the number of participating parties. In our protocol, we enable the parties to efficiently exchange any item that can be efficiently put into a verifiable encryption (e.g., signatures on a contract). We show how to apply this protocol on top of
any
SMPC protocol to achieve fairness with very little overhead (independent of the circuit size). We then generalize our protocol to efficiently handle any exchange topology (participants exchange items with arbitrary other participants). Our protocol guarantees fairness in its strongest sense: even if all
n-1
other participants are malicious and colluding with each other, the fairness is still guaranteed.
Semantic Structure in Deep Learning
Authors: Pavlick Ellie
Published: November 2021

Deep learning has recently come to dominate computational linguistics, leading to claims of human-level performance in a range of language processing tasks. Like much previous computational work, deep learning–based linguistic representations adhere to the distributional meaning-in-use hypothesis, deriving semantic representations from word co-occurrence statistics. However, current deep learning methods entail fundamentally new models of lexical and compositional meaning that are ripe for theoretical analysis. Whereas traditional distributional semantics models take a bottom-up approach in which sentence meaning is characterized by explicit composition functions applied to word meanings, new approaches take a top-down approach in which sentence representations are treated as primary and representations of words and syntax are viewed as emergent. This article summarizes our current understanding of how well such representations capture lexical semantics, world knowledge, and composition. The goal is to foster increased collaboration on testing the implications of such representations as general-purpose models of semantics.
Molecular Mechanism of Astragaloside IV in Improving Endothelial Dysfunction of Cardiovascular Diseases Mediated by Oxidative Stress
Authors: Meng Peipei , Yang Rui , Jiang Fenjun , Guo Jianbo , Lu Xinyu , Yang Tao , He Qingyong
Published: November 2021

Endothelial dysfunction, induced by oxidative stress, is an essential factor affecting cardiovascular disease. Uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) leads to a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) production, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, NO consumption, and NO synthesis. As a main active ingredient of astragalus, astragaloside IV can reduce the apoptosis of endothelial cells during oxidative stress. This review is aimed at exploring the mechanism of astragaloside IV in improving oxidative stress‐mediated endothelial dysfunction relevant to cardiovascular diseases. The findings showed that the astragaloside IV can prevent or reverse the uncoupling of eNOS, increase eNOS and NO, and enhance several activating enzymes to activate the antioxidant system. In‐depth validation and quantitative experiments still need to be implemented.
High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Physical Function, Prevents Muscle Loss, and Modulates Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation in Skeletal Muscle of Cerebral Ischemic Mice
Authors: Luo Lu , Liu Meixi , Xie Hongyu , Fan Yunhui , Zhang Jingjun , Liu Li , Li Yun , Zhang Qiqi , Wu Junfa , Jiang Congyu , Wu Yi
Published: November 2021

Although skeletal muscle is the main effector organ largely accounting for disability after stroke, considerably less attention is paid to the secondary abnormalities of stroke-related skeletal muscle loss. It is necessary to explore the mechanism of muscle atrophy after stroke and further develop effective rehabilitation strategy. Here, we evaluated the effects of high-intensity interval (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity aerobic training (MOD) on physical function, muscle mass, and stroke-related gene expression profile of skeletal muscle. After the model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was successfully made, the blood lactate threshold corresponding speed (SLT) and maximum speed (Smax) were measured. Different intensity training protocols (MOD<SLT;SLT<HIIT<Smax) were carried out for 3 weeks beginning at 7 days after MCAO in the MOD and HIIT groups, respectively. We found that both HIIT and MOD prevented stroke-related gastrocnemius muscle mass loss in MCAO mice. HIIT was more beneficial than MOD for improvements in muscle strength, motor coordination, walking competency, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Furthermore, HIIT was superior to MOD in terms of reducing lipid accumulation, levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in paretic gastrocnemius, and improving peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio, level of IL-10. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes among HIIT, MOD, and MCAO groups were highly associated with signaling pathways involved in inflammatory response, more specifically the I-kappaB kinase/NF-kappaB signaling. Following the outcome, we further investigated the infiltrating immune cells abundant in paretic muscles. The results showed that HIIT modulated macrophage activation by downregulating CD86+ (M1 type) macrophages and upregulating CD163+ (M2 type) macrophages via inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NFκB signaling pathway and exerting an anti-inflammatory effect in paretic skeletal muscle. It is expected that these data will provide novel insights into the mechanisms and potential targets underlying muscle wasting in stroke.
Text Data Mining Algorithm Combining CNN and DBM Models
Authors: Dai Rong
Published: November 2021

The special text has a lot of features, such as professional words, abbreviations, large datasets, different themes, and uneven distribution of labels. While the existing text data mining classification methods use simple machine learning models, it has a bad performance on text classification. To solve this drawback, a text data mining algorithm based on convolutional neural network (CNN) model and deep Boltzmann machines (DBM) model is proposed in this paper. This method combines the CNN and DBM models with good feature extraction to realize the double feature extraction. It can realize the tag tree by constructing the tag tree and design the effective hierarchical network to achieve classification. At the same time, the model can suppress the input noise on the classification. Experimental results show that the improved algorithm achieves good classification results in special text data mining.
Lycopene: Food Sources, Biological Activities, and Human Health Benefits
Authors: Khan Usman Mir , Sevindik Mustafa , Zarrabi Ali , Nami Mohammad , Ozdemir Betul , Kaplan Dilara Nur , Selamoglu Zeliha , Hasan Muzaffar , Kumar Manoj , Alshehri Mohammed M. , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: November 2021

As an antioxidant, lycopene has acquired importance as it prevents autoxidation of fats and related products. Tomatoes are an important agricultural product that is a great source of lycopene. It contains many vitamins and minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates and is associated with various positive effects on health. The antioxidant potential of tomatoes is substantially explained with lycopene compounds. Diet is a major risk factor for heart diseases which is shown as the most important cause of death in the world. It has been observed that the lycopene taken in the diet has positive effects in many stages of atherosclerosis. The serum lipid levels, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, blood pressure, and antioxidative potential are mainly affected by lycopene. These natural antioxidants, which can also enhance the nutritional value of foods, may lead to new ways if used in food preservation. In this review study, the antioxidant potential and cardiovascular protection mechanism of lycopene are discussed.
Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol Accelerates Recovery of Lumbar Disc Herniation among Elderly Patients Undergoing Discectomy via Promoting Gastrointestinal Function
Authors: Zuo Xiaohai , Wang Linbang , He Longzhu , Li Pei , Zhou Dandan , Yang Yiping
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol on the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with lumbar disc herniation after discectomy. A total of 179 patients with lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into the ERAS and non-ERAS groups. The non-ERAS group received routine nursing, and the ERAS group received ERAS strategy. The two groups were compared for general recovery indicators such as postoperative hemoglobin and prealbumin, satisfaction, and length of hospital stay. Gastrointestinal function was also evaluated, such as postoperative feeding time, intestinal chirping recovery time, intestinal exhaust gas recovery time, and complications such as ileus, nausea, and vomiting. The satisfaction of patients in the ERAS group (86.15 ± 2.43) was significantly higher than that in the non-ERAS group (77.19 ± 3.32), and the difference was statistically significant (

P
<
0.05

). The average time of eating in the ERAS group was 2.27 h after surgery. In addition, the amount of eating in the ERAS group was significantly better than that in the non-ERAS group, and the difference was statistically significant. In the ERAS group, intestinal chirping recovery time recovered to normal time, and exhaust recovery time and average defecation time were significantly shorter than those in the non-ERAS group. In the ERAS group, the average amount of hemoglobin and prealbumin decreased 3 days after operation, which was significantly lower than that in the non-ERAS group. To sum up, ERAS has an evident effect on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after discectomy of disc herniation, which can promote the recovery of patients.
New Traveling Wave Solutions and Interesting Bifurcation Phenomena of Generalized KdV-mKdV-Like Equation
Authors: Chen Yiren , Li Shaoyong
Published: November 2021

Using the bifurcation method of dynamical systems, we investigate the nonlinear waves and their limit properties for the generalized KdV-mKdV-like equation. We obtain the following results: (i) three types of new explicit expressions of nonlinear waves are obtained. (ii) Under different parameter conditions, we point out these expressions represent different waves, such as the solitary waves, the 1-blow-up waves, and the 2-blow-up waves. (iii) We revealed a kind of new interesting bifurcation phenomenon. The phenomenon is that the 1-blow-up waves can be bifurcated from 2-blow-up waves. Also, we gain other interesting bifurcation phenomena. We also show that our expressions include existing results.
From Penrose Equations to Zhang Neural Network, Getz–Marsden Dynamic System, and DDD (Direct Derivative Dynamics) Using Substitution Technique
Authors: Wu Dongqing , Zhang Yunong
Published: November 2021

The time-variant matrix inversion (TVMI) problem solving is the hotspot of current research because of its frequent appearance and application in scientific research and industrial production. The generalized inverse problem of singular square matrix and nonsquare matrix can be related to Penrose equations (PEs). The PEs implicitly define the generalized inverse of a known matrix, which is of fundamental theoretical significance. Therefore, the in-depth study of PEs might enlighten problem solving of TVMI in a foreseeable way. For the first time, we construct three different matrix error-monitoring functions based on PEs and propose the corresponding models for TVMI problem solving by using the substitution technique and ZNN design formula. In order to facilitate computer simulation, the obtained continuous-time models are discretized by using ZTD (Zhang time discretization) formulas. Furthermore, the feasibility and effectiveness of the novel Zhang neural network (ZNN) multiple-multiplication model for matrix inverse (ZMMMI) and the PEs-based Getz–Marsden dynamic system (PGMDS) model in solving the problem of TVMI are investigated and shown via theoretical derivation and computer simulation. Computer experiment results also illustrate that the direct derivative dynamics model for TVMI is less effective and feasible.
Two Classes of Infrasoft Separation Axioms
Authors: Al-shami Tareq M. , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: November 2021

One of the considerable topics in the soft setting is the study of soft topology which has enticed the attention of many researchers. To contribute to this scope, we devote this work to investigate two classes of separation axioms with respect to the distinct ordinary elements through one of the generalizations of soft topology called infrasoft topology. We first formulate the concepts of infra-

t
p

-soft

T

j

using total belong and partial nonbelong relations and then introduce the concepts of infra-

t
t

-soft

T

j

-spaces using total belong and partial nonbelong relations. To illustrate the relationships between them, we provide some examples. We discuss their fundamental properties and study their behaviors under some special types of infrasoft topologies. An extensive discussion is given for the transmission of these two classes between infrasoft topology and its parametric infratopologies. In the end, we demonstrate which ones have topological and hereditary properties, and we show their behaviors under the finite product of soft spaces.
Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms
Authors: Park Kyoung Sik
Published: November 2021

The medicinal herb Centella asiatica (L.) Urban known as gotu kola has been reported to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. In particular, a significant body of scientific research exists on the therapeutic properties of preparations of C. asiatica or its triterpenes in the treatment of skin diseases. The present study is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the beneficial effects of C. asiatica on skin diseases. Peer-reviewed articles on the potent dermatological effects of C. asiatica were acquired from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciFinder. This review provides an understanding of pharmacological studies which confirm the potent dermatological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. asiatica. This medicinal plant and its triterpenes include asiaticoside, madecassoside, and their aglycones, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. These compounds exert therapeutic effects on dermatological diseases such as acne, burns, atopic dermatitis, and wounds via NF-κB, TGF-β/Smad, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and STAT signaling in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, additional rigorously controlled long-term clinical trials will be necessary to confirm the full potential of C. asiatica as a therapeutic agent.
Correlation between TCM Syndromes and Type 2 Diabetic Comorbidities Based on Fully Connected Neural Network Prediction Model
Authors: Wang Yifei , Zhang Runshun , Pi Min , Xu Julia , Qiu Moyan , Wen Tiancai
Published: November 2021

Objective. To predict the major comorbidities of type 2 diabetes based on the distribution characteristics of syndromes, and to explore the relationship between TCM syndromes and comorbidities of type 2 diabetes. Methods. Based on the electronic medical record data of 3413 outpatient visits from 995 type 2 diabetes patients with comorbidities, descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the basic characteristics of the population, the distribution characteristics of comorbidities, and TCM syndromes. A neural network model for the prediction of type 2 diabetic comorbidities based on TCM syndromes was constructed. Results. Patients with TCM syndrome of blood amassment in the lower jiao were diagnosed with renal insufficiency with 95% test sensitivity. The patients with spleen deficiency combined with ascending counterflow of stomach qi and cold-damp patterns were diagnosed with gastrointestinal lesions with 92% sensitivity. The patients with TCM syndrome group of spleen heat and exuberance of heart fire were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes complicated with hypertension with a sensitivity of 91%. In addition, the prediction accuracy of combined neuropathy, heart disease, liver disease, and lipid metabolism disorder reached 70∼90% in TCM syndrome groups. Conclusion. The fully connected neural network model study showed that syndrome characteristics are highly correlated with type 2 diabetes comorbidities. Syndrome location is commonly in the heart, spleen, stomach, lower jiao, meridians, etc., while syndrome pattern manifests in states of deficiency, heat, phlegm, and blood stasis. The different combinations of disease location and disease pattern reflect the syndrome characteristics of different comorbidities forming the characteristic syndrome group of each comorbidity. Major comorbidities could be predicted with a high degree of accuracy through TCM syndromes. Findings from this study may have further implementations to assist with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetic comorbidities at an early stage.
Longitudinal Beam Dynamics for the Heavy-Ion Synchrotron Booster Ring at HIAF
Authors: Yin D. Y. , Liu J. , Shen G. D. , Du H. , Yang J. C. , Mao L. J. , Cai F. C. , Chai W. P.
Published: November 2021

To accelerate high-intensity heavy-ion beams to high energy in the booster ring (BRing) at the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) project, we take the typical reference particle 238U35+, which can be accelerated from an injection energy of 17 MeV/u to the maximal extraction energy of 830 MeV/u, as an example to study the basic processes of longitudinal beam dynamics, including beam capture, acceleration, and bunch merging. The voltage amplitude, the synchronous phase, and the frequency program of the RF system during the operational cycle were given, and the beam properties such as bunch length, momentum spread, longitudinal beam emittance, and beam loss were derived, firstly. Then, the beam properties under different voltage amplitude and synchronous phase errors were also studied, and the results were compared with the cases without any errors. Next, the beam properties with the injection energy fluctuation were also studied. The tolerances of the RF errors and injection energy fluctuation were dictated based on the CISP simulations. Finally, the effect of space charge at the low injection energy with different beam intensities on longitudinal emittance and beam loss was evaluated.
New Developments in Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Automotive Brake Pad Applications and Future Challenges
Authors: Selvaraj Senthil Kumaran , Ramesh Rathan , Narendhra Tharun M. V. , Agarwal Ishan Nilesh , Chadha Utkarsh , Paramasivam Velmurugan , Palanisamy Ponnusamy
Published: November 2021

The proper functioning of automotive brake pads is of utmost importance to ensure the safety of passengers. Therefore, brake pad materials must be chosen with utmost precision and care to ensure their optimal functioning for long durations. Through a thorough literature review, it is found that the materials used currently for this purpose pose multiple discrepancies. Therefore, it is imperative to shift our focus towards nanomaterials, as they are one of the essential novel materials in this field. This study discusses the multiple constituents used in commercial brake pads, their role in improving and stabilizing their operation, and their desired properties to achieve optimal functioning. Parallelly, this study also reviews some of the potential organic and carbon nanomaterials that could prove to provide tough competition to currently utilized materials for brake pad applications. From this review, the major future commercial brake pad materials obtained include the likes of banana peel powder, crab shell powder, coconut fibers, stark corn fibers, metal oxide composites, metal nitride composites, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and hybrid nanocomposites. These materials are studied on the basis of their performance under high-frictional force applications and analyzed by considering their mechanical, chemical, thermal, and tribological properties. Carbon nanotube-based composites showed improved tribological and braking performances making them more attractive than the materials in commercially available brake pads. In addition to these, the effects of usage of such nanomaterials on the environment and health are reviewed, in order to understand the feasibility of utilization of nanomaterials in automotive brake pad applications. From this analysis, this work suggests that there are a variety of nanomaterials that prove to be capable of automotive brake pad applications and, with further research and technological developments, would prove to be an asset to the automotive brake pad industry.
Failure Mechanism of Colluvial Landslide Influenced by the Water Level Change in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area
Authors: Cao Zhaodan , Tang Jun , Zhao Xiaoer , Zhang Yonggang , Wang Bin , Li Lichen , Guo Fei
Published: November 2021

The stability of the reservoir bank landslide is affected by a variety of external factors, and the fluctuation of reservoir water level is one of the important influencing factors. The Erdaohe landslide is a typically colluvial landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area with periodic reservoir water level fluctuations. According to landslide displacement data, the displacement of the Erdaohe landslide exhibits the significantly stepwise feature. Its failure mechanism was analyzed using strength reduction method by the FLAC3D package in the case of reservoir water level changes. The results indicate that the hydrodynamic pressure has an important impact on the initialization of the landslide failure. When reservoir water level rises rapidly or maintains constant at the lower level, the landslide stability would be higher. When the reservoir water level decreases rapidly or maintains constant at the higher level, the landslide stability will be smaller. When the reservoir water level was in the lowest elevation, the factor of safety (FS) reached the minimum value of 1.11. Findings in this paper can provide guidelines for the risk assessment of colluvial landslides.
Acute and Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Hamstring Tightness: A Pilot Study
Authors: Bazzaz-Yamchi Mahnaz , Naghdi Soofia , Nakhostin-Ansari Amin , Hadizadeh Monavar , Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin , Moghimi Ehsan , Hasson Scott
Published: November 2021

Background. Chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) is one of the common health issues. Hamstring tightness contributes to the development of LBP. This study aimed to investigate the acute and short-term effects of deep dry needling (DN) in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP and hamstring muscle tightness. Methods. A single-group pretest-posttest clinical study design was followed. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), passive knee extension (PKE) test, finger-floor distance (FFD) test, and functional rating index (FRI). Patients underwent one session of deep DN of three points on both hamstring muscles, each point for one minute. Patients were assessed before (T0), immediately after (T1), and one week after DN (T2). The FRI was assessed at T0 and T2. Results. Ten women with a mean age of 21.1 years (SD = 1.6) participated in the study. Significant large effect sizes in VAS pain reduction (d = 1.25) and PKE hamstring tightness were obtained (hamstring: right, d = 0.82; left, d = 0.88) at T2. Medium effect sizes were obtained for FFD (d = 0.45) and FRI (d = 0.72) at T2. Conclusion. A single session of deep DN improved pain and function and increased hamstring flexibility. This pilot study supports the use of DN in patients with LBP and hamstring tightness; however, future research with a rigorous study design of randomized controlled trial is required to confirm the findings. This trial is registered with IRCT20180511039612N1.
Processing and Characterization of Carbon Nanofibre Composites for Automotive Applications
Authors: Natrayan L. , Merneedi Anjibabu , Bharathiraja G. , Kaliappan S. , Veeman Dhinakaran , Murugan P.
Published: November 2021

Currently, numerous studies have shown that carbon nanofibres have mechanical properties that are replaced by other widely used fibres. The high tensile strength of the carbon fibres makes them ideal to use in polymer matrix composites. The high-strength fibres can be used in short form in a composite and mass-produced to meet the high demands of automotive applications. These composites are capable of addressing the strength requirement of nonstructural and structural components of the automotive industry. Due to these composite lightweight and high-strength weight ratios, the applications can be widely varying. The research for these materials is a never-ending process, as researchers and design engineers are yet to tap its full potential. This study fabricated phenolic resin with different wt% of carbon nanofibre (CNF). The percentage of the CNF as a filler material is varied from 1 to 4 wt%. Mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, and XRD were investigated. Phenolic resin with 4 wt% of carbon nanofibre (CNF) exhibits maximum tensile strength and hardness of 43.8 MPa and 37.8 HV.