bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRACTAL ZAKHAROV–KUZNETSOV MODELS
Authors: WANG KANG-LE , WANG HAO , MUHAMMAD HANIF
Published: May 2021

In this work, two different varieties of Zakharov–Kuznetsov models are defined by the fractal derivative, and their variational principles are favorably designed by using the fractal semi-inverse transform method. A novel approximate technology is suggested to elucidate the two fractal models which show that the obtained results are in good agreement. Finally, an example is considered to present the approximate solution which admits that the present method is a very powerful tool for various types of fractal models.
BADLY APPROXIMABLE AND NONRECURRENT SETS FOR EXPANDING MARKOV MAPS
Authors: YUAN NA , LI BING , WU MIN
Published: May 2021

We consider the asymptotic behaviors of the orbits of an expanding Markov system [Formula: see text], and prove that the badly approximable set [Formula: see text] is of full Hausdorff dimension for any given sequence [Formula: see text]. Consequently, the Hansdorff dimension of the set of nonrecurrent points in the sense that [Formula: see text] is also full. The results can be applied to [Formula: see text]-transformations, Gauss maps and Lüroth maps, etc.
ENHANCING ADHESION STRENGTH AND WEAR PERFORMANCE OF ALCRN COATING ON COOL-WORK TOOL STEEL THROUGH INTRODUCING CRNX ADHESION LAYER
Authors: XIAO HUI , MENG XIANNA , NIE BINGYUE , KANG HAIYAN , LI CONG , WANG YI
Published: May 2021

Hard thin coating directly deposited on soft steel substrate often suffers low adhesion strength and load-bearing capacity. In this work, CrN[Formula: see text]-type adhesion layers (ALs) were introduced between hard AlCrN coating and soft cool-work tool steel substrate to enhance the adhesion strength and wear performance. The microstructure of CrN[Formula: see text] ALs prepared with different nitrogen pressure and its influence on adhesion strength and tribological properties were investigated. The results show that with the nitrogen pressure increase from 0.5 Pa to 3.0 Pa, the phase transformation sequences occurring in ALs are: Cr + Cr2N [Formula: see text] Cr2N + CrN [Formula: see text] CrN. The adhesion strength increases with the increase of nitrogen pressure due to the formation of CrN which provides better load support resistance than the fragile Cr2N and soft Cr. In addition, the adhesion strength of the samples with ALs is always higher than that of the one without ALs. The improvement of adhesion strength for samples with CrN[Formula: see text]-type ALs is beneficial for improving wear resistance, especially at high wearing loads.
2-D Analysis of Generalized Thermoelastic Porous Medium under the Effect of Laser Pulse and Microtemperature
Authors: Alharbi Amnah M. , Othman Mohamed I. A. , Abd-Elaziz Elsayed M.
Published: May 2021

The paper presents the analytical solutions for a generalized thermoelastic medium consisting of microtemperatures and voids subjected to a laser pulse loading the medium thermally. The 0.02 ps pulse duration of the non-Gaussian laser beam is apt for heating a homogenous isotropic elastic half-space. A method called the normal mode analysis is employed to evaluate numerically the effects of various variables such as the micro-temperature vector, variation in the fraction field of the volume, first heat flux moment tensor, temperature distribution on the stresses and displacement components of the medium. In addition, the graphical illustration of the physical response of the medium has been presented in the presence and absence of void parameters, as well as in the presence of laser pulse with two different acting periods.
Prologue to Frontier Modernity: Zhangjiakou (Kalgan) as a Gateway City for the Modern Western Expeditions in China
Authors: Tseng Chin-Yin
Published: May 2021

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed an age of expedition frenzy that had spread east as the Western explorers diverted their interest in Central Asia across the continent to Chinese Xinjiang, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia. To facilitate the planning and logistics of their expedition activities, Western explorers selected specific cities situated on the Chinese northern and western frontiers that were geographically suited to their needs and interests, as well as to serve as their temporary basecamps throughout the expedition period. Kalgan, the name by which the city of Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province is most known to Westerners, is a city with close to 2,000 years of history as a frontier trade zone since the Eastern Han Dynasty, emerged from these expedition activities as an embodiment of full-fledged urban modernity in the early 20th century. Railroads, postal services, telegram lines, banking systems, and customs were all established as necessary infrastructures, turning this historical frontier city into a practical “pivot” from which the expedition operations were managed, relayed, and communicated with the explorers’ respective home nations. Through photos, writings, and other types of housekeeping documents (i.e., cheques, telegrams, and balance sheets), this paper aims to examine the cultural memory of Kalgan against the modern Western expedition activities that had directly, or indirectly, stimulated the modernization of a frontier city, one that had historically been a gateway city where the Chinese heartland meets the outside world.
Action Logic is Undecidable
Authors: Kuznetsov Stepan
Published: May 2021

Action logic is the algebraic logic (inequational theory) of residuated Kleene lattices. One of the operations of this logic is the Kleene star, which is axiomatized by an induction scheme. For a stronger system that uses an

-rule instead (infinitary action logic), Buszkowski and Palka (2007) proved

-completeness (thus, undecidability). Decidability of action logic itself was an open question, raised by Kozen in 1994. In this article, we show that it is undecidable, more precisely,

-complete. We also prove the same undecidability results for all recursively enumerable logics between action logic and infinitary action logic, for fragments of these logics with only one of the two lattice (additive) connectives, and for action logic extended with the law of distributivity.
Small Circuits and Dual Weak PHP in the Universal Theory of p-time Algorithms
Authors: Krajíček Jan
Published: May 2021

We prove, under a computational complexity hypothesis, that it is consistent with the true universal theory of p-time algorithms that a specific p-time function extending

bits to

bits violates the dual weak pigeonhole principle: Every string

equals the value of the function for some

. The function is the truth-table function assigning to a circuit the table of the function it computes and the hypothesis is that every language in P has circuits of a fixed polynomial size

.
Higher-order Recursion Schemes and Collapsible Pushdown Automata: Logical Properties
Authors: Broadbent Christopher H. , Carayol Arnaud , Ong C.-H. Luke , Serre Olivier
Published: May 2021

This article studies the logical properties of a very general class of infinite ranked trees, namely, those generated by higher-order recursion schemes. We consider, for both monadic second-order logic and modal

-calculus, three main problems: model-checking, logical reflection (a.k.a. global model-checking, that asks for a finite description of the set of elements for which a formula holds), and selection (that asks, if exists, for some finite description of a set of elements for which an MSO formula with a second-order free variable holds). For each of these problems, we provide an effective solution. This is obtained, thanks to a known connection between higher-order recursion schemes and collapsible pushdown automata and on previous work regarding parity games played on transition graphs of collapsible pushdown automata.
A Malicious URL Detection Model Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Ren Xiaorui , Li Shuhao , Wang Bingyan , Zhang Jianyi , Yang Tao
Published: May 2021

With the development of Internet technology, network security is under diverse threats. In particular, attackers can spread malicious uniform resource locators (URL) to carry out attacks such as phishing and spam. The research on malicious URL detection is significant for defending against these attacks. However, there are still some problems in the current research. For instance, malicious features cannot be extracted efficiently. Some existing detection methods are easy to evade by attackers. We design a malicious URL detection model based on a dynamic convolutional neural network (DCNN) to solve these problems. A new folding layer is added to the original multilayer convolution network. It replaces the pooling layer with the k-max-pooling layer. In the dynamic convolution algorithm, the width of feature mapping in the middle layer depends on the vector input dimension. Moreover, the pooling layer parameters are dynamically adjusted according to the length of the URL input and the depth of the current convolution layer, which is beneficial to extracting more in-depth features in a wider range. In this paper, we propose a new embedding method in which word embedding based on character embedding is leveraged to learn the vector representation of a URL. Meanwhile, we conduct two groups of comparative experiments. First, we conduct three contrast experiments, which adopt the same network structure and different embedding methods. The results prove that word embedding based on character embedding can achieve higher accuracy. We then conduct the other three experiences, which use the same embedding method proposed in this paper and use different network structures to determine which network is most suitable for our model. We verify that the model designed in this paper has the highest accuracy (98%) in detecting malicious URL through these experiences.
A Prediction Model Based on Noninvasive Indicators to Predict the 8‐Year Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population‐Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Cai Xintian , Zhu Qing , Cao Yuanyuan , Liu Shasha , Wang Mengru , Wu Ting , Hong Jing , Ahmat Ayguzal , Aierken Xiayire , Li Nanfang
Published: May 2021

Background. The prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its associated complications has become a major priority of global public health. In addition, there is growing evidence that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram based on independent predictors to better assess the 8‐year risk of T2D in Japanese patients with NAFLD. Methods. This is a historical cohort study from a collection of databases that included 2741 Japanese participants with NAFLD without T2D at baseline. All participants were randomized to a training cohort (n = 2058) and a validation cohort (n = 683). The data of the training cohort were analyzed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method to screen the suitable and effective risk factors for Japanese patients with NAFLD. A cox regression analysis was applied to build a nomogram incorporating the selected features. The C‐index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration plot, decision curve analysis, and Kaplan‐Meier analysis were used to validate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model. The results were reevaluated by internal validation in the validation cohort. Results. We developed a simple nomogram that predicts the risk of T2D for Japanese patients with NAFLD by using the parameters of smoking status, waist circumference, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting blood glucose. For the prediction model, the C‐index of training cohort and validation cohort was 0.839 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.804‐0.874) and 0.822 (95% CI, 0.777‐0.868), respectively. The pooled area under the ROC of 8‐year T2D risk in the training cohort and validation cohort was 0.811 and 0.805, respectively. The calibration curve indicated a good agreement between the probability predicted by the nomogram and the actual probability. The decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusions. We developed and validated a nomogram for the 8‐year risk of incident T2D among Japanese patients with NAFLD. Our nomogram can effectively predict the 8‐year incidence of T2D in Japanese patients with NAFLD and helps to identify people at high risk of T2D early, thus contributing to effective prevention programs for T2D.
[Retracted] Promotion of Differentiating Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (BMSCs) into Cardiomyocytes via HCN2 and HCN4 Cotransfection
Authors: Luo Xue , Li Hongxiao , Sun Xiaolin , Zuo Qisheng , Li Bichun , Zhu Ye , Wei Wei , Gu Xiang
Published: May 2021

Aim. Investigation of the influences HCN2 and HCN4 has on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) on cardiomyocyte differentiation. Methods. Miniature adult pigs were used for bone marrow extraction and isolation of BMSCs. The identification of these BMSCs was done by using flow cytometry for the detection of expressed surface antigens CD45, CD11B, CD44, and CD90. Using HCN2 and HCN4 genes cotransfected into BMSCs as group HCN2+HCN4 while myocardial induction solution was used to induced BMSC differentiation in the BMSC induction group. Myocardial marker proteins α‐actin and cTnT were detected by immunofluorescence staining, while α‐actin, cTnT, and Desmin myocardial marker proteins expressed were detected by Western blot. The whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique was used to identify and detect cellular HCN2 channels, HCN4 channel current activation curve, and the inhibitory effect of CsCl on heterologous expression currents. Results. Flow cytometry results showed that CD45 and CD11B were expressed negatively while CD90 and CD44 were positive. Post HCN2 and HCN4 gene transfection, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot showed significantly increased HCN2, HCN4, α‐actin, and cTnT expressed in group HCN2+HCN4 were, which could be compared to the expression levels in the BMSC‐induced group. The HCN2+HCN4 group was able to document cell membrane channel ion currents that were similar to If properties. Conclusion. HCN2 and HCN4 overexpression can considerably enhance the MSC ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro and restore the ionic current.
Topologically Transitive and Mixing Properties of Set-Valued Dynamical Systems
Authors: Wong Koon Sang , Salleh Zabidin
Published: May 2021

We introduce and study two properties of dynamical systems: topologically transitive and topologically mixing under the set-valued setting. We prove some implications of these two properties for set-valued functions and generalize some results from a single-valued case to a set-valued case. We also show that both properties of set-valued dynamical systems are equivalence for any compact intervals.
A Dynamic Bayesian Network-Based Real-Time Crash Prediction Model for Urban Elevated Expressway
Authors: Liu Xian , Lu Jian , Cheng Zeyang , Ma Xiaochi
Published: May 2021

Traffic crash is a complex phenomenon that involves coupling interdependency among multiple influencing factors. Considering that interdependency is critical for predicting crash risk accurately and contributes to revealing the underlying mechanism of crash occurrence as well, the present study attempts to build a Real-Time Crash Prediction Model (RTCPM) for urban elevated expressway accounting for the dynamicity and coupling interdependency among traffic flow characteristics before crash occurrence and identify the most probable risk propagation path and the most significant contributors to crash risk. In this study, Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) was the framework of the RTCPM. Random Forest (RF) method was employed to identify the most important variables, which were used to build DBN-based RTCPMs. The PC algorithm combined with expert experience was further applied to investigate the coupling interdependency among traffic flow characteristics in the DBN model. A comparative analysis among the improved DBN-based RTCPM considering the interdependency, the original DBN-based RTCPM without considering the interdependency, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) was conducted. Besides, the sensitivity and strength of influences analyses were utilized to identify the most probable risk propagation path and the most significant contributors to crash risk. The results showed that the improved DBN-based RTCPM had better prediction performance than the original DBN-based RTCPM and the MLP based RTCPM. The most probable risk influencing path was identified as follows: speed on current segment (V) (time slice 2)⟶V (time slice 1)⟶speed on upstream segment (U_V) (time slice 1)⟶Traffic Performance Index (TPI) (time slice 1)⟶crash risk on current segment. The most sensitive contributor to crash risk in this path was V (time slice 2), followed by TPI (time slice 1), V (time slice 1), and U_V (time slice 1). These results indicate that the improved DBN-based RTCPM has the potential to predict crashes in real time for urban elevated expressway. Besides, it contributes to revealing the underlying mechanism of crash and formulating the real-time risk control measures.
Treatment Outcome of Epileptic Patients Receiving Antiepileptic Drugs in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yazie Taklo Simeneh , Kefale Belayneh , Molla Mulugeta
Published: May 2021

Background. The prevalence and incidence rate of epilepsy were found to be higher in low- and middle-income countries. Uncontrolled epilepsy has a high risk of disability, stigma, discrimination, human rights violations, and premature death. The available studies of controlled seizure in Ethiopia have showed inconsistent results which calls for systematic review and meta-analysis. Therefore, this review intended to show the pooled prevalence of controlled seizure among people with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drugs at outpatient department. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Hinnarri databases, and Google Scholar for grey literatures. Data were extracted with structured format prepared using Microsoft Excel and exported to Stata/MP 16.0 software for analyses. The

I

2

test was used to check the heterogeneity between primary studies with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. A total of 23 primary studies were included in the review showing the pooled prevalence of controlled seizure to be 46% (95% CI: 35, 56). A subgroup analysis of the primary studies showed a considerable variation in magnitude of seizure freedom by study regions, age groups, and seizure-free period. The highest prevalence was found in Addis Ababa 52% (95% CI: 29, 75), pediatric patients 77% (95% CI: 71, 83), and a seizure-free period of less than six months 58% (95% CI: 32, 83). On the other hand, the lowest prevalence of controlled seizure was found in Tigray 27% (95% CI: 11, 65), adult patients 43% (95% CI: 32, 54), and a seizure-free period of six or more 41% (95% CI: 32, 51). Higher frequency of seizure before treatment (2.23, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.31) and medication nonadherence (2.7, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.15) had statistically significant association with uncontrolled seizure. Conclusion. In this review, the prevalence of controlled seizure was found to be low. This warrants that clinicians should give more focus to epileptic patients regarding monitoring and evaluation of treatment outcome of epilepsy and factors that affect seizure control in routine clinical services. The use of standardized definition of controlled seizure, designing strategies to identify pharmacoresistant epilepsy and its treatment, and increasing medication adherence are recommended in Ethiopia. The review protocol has been registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42021215302.
S

∗
p

‐
b
-Partial Metric Spaces with some Results in Common Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Zidan A. M.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we introduce the notion of

S

∗
P

‐
b

-partial metric spaces which is a generalization each of

S
‐
b

-metric spaces and partial-metric space. Also, we study and prove some topological properties, to know the convergence of the sequences and Cauchy sequence. Finally, we study a new common fixed point theorem in these spaces.
[Retracted] Performance Management of Special Fund for Sports Industry Development in Jiangsu Province
Authors: Wen Yang , Chen Xu , Gu Tianyi , Yu Fangliang
Published: May 2021

In 2011, Jiangsu Province set up the guidance fund for sports industry. In 2016, Jiangsu Provincial Finance Department jointly issued the document with Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, which was changed to “Jiangsu Special Fund for Sports Industry Development.” By 2019, Jiangsu Province has funded 1,009 sports industry development projects with a total investment of 796.6 million yuan. The effect of the investment has attracted extensive attention from the government, society, and enterprises. Entrusted by Jiangsu Sports Industry Guidance Center, this research team spent one year on the performance research of 1,009 projects supported by special funds for the development of sports industry, from the construction of evaluation index system to the design, issuance, collection, and processing of questionnaires. Using the methods of literature, questionnaire, expert interview, and mathematical statistics, this paper takes the performance management of the special funds for the development of sports industry in Jiangsu Province as the research object, based on the investigation and analysis of the current situation of the special funds for the development of sports industry in Jiangsu Province. It analyzes the special funds from four aspects: the rate of funds in place, the ratio of funds pulled, the completion rate of project implementation, and the rate of fund prerecovery. Then, this paper expounds the current situation, effectiveness, and problems of the performance management of the special funds for the development of sports industry and puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions for improvement.
Prevalence of Early Postnatal-Care Service Utilization and Its Associated Factors among Mothers in Hawassa Zuria District, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yoseph Shambel , Dache Azmach , Dona Aregahegn
Published: May 2021

Background. A postnatal care given after childbirth is a critical care to promote health and to prevent complications of the mother and newborn. However, utilization of this service is low in Ethiopia, and little is known about its coverage and determinants. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of early postnatal-care service utilization and its associated factors among mothers in Hawassa Zuria district, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 February to 20 March 2020 in Hawassa Zuria District among randomly selected 320 mothers. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Data entered were into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression analysis with odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were conducted. A

P

value <0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Finally, the results were presented by texts, tables, and figures. Result. The prevalence of early postnatal-care service utilization was 29.7% (95% CI = 24.7, 35.5). Age below 25 years [AOR = 3.2 (95% CI = 1.37, 7.48)], having planned and supported pregnancy for last birth [AOR = 2.2 (95% CI = 1.13, 4.38)], having information about obstetric danger signs [AOR = 2.1 (95% CI = 1.25, 3.78)], and having positive attitude on use postnatal services [AOR = 3.5 (95% CI = 1.94, 6.32)] were factors associated with early postnatal-care utilization. Conclusion. The finding revealed that early postnatal-care utilization in the study area was low. Strengthening family planning services, giving information on obstetrics danger signs, and creating awareness about postnatal care will improve uptake of the service in a timely manner.
Coupling Relationship between Multistage Fluid Activity and Reservoir Abnormally High-Porosity Zones in the Songtao–Baodao Region, Qiongdongnan Basin
Authors: Chen Xu , Wang Yao , Su Ao
Published: May 2021

An abnormally high-porosity zone (AHPZ) is beneficial for petroleum exploration, especially for the deep tight reservoirs in a petroliferous basin. Because of lacking effective research methods, it is hard to analyze the formation process of AHPZs in different geological periods. From the perspective of the diagenetic fluid type and activity history, geochemical characteristics and fluid inclusions of diagenetic minerals were utilized to reconstruct the diagenetic fluid type and dynamic evolution. The ultimate goal is to study the genetic process of AHPZs in the Songtao–Baodao region of the Qiongdongnan basin, South China Sea. It was found that there are three sections of AHPZs at different burial depths, which are generally favorable for high-quality reservoirs. Moreover, it can be concluded that the AHPZs are closely related to multiple actions of various diagenetic fluids. The meteoric waters, organic acid, and thermal fluids facilitated the enlargement of porosity by dissolving minerals to form secondary pore spaces. The hydrocarbon fluids have positive effects on the preservation of pores by preventing cement from filling the pore space.
Research and Development of a Small-Scale Icing Wind Tunnel Test System for Blade Airfoil Icing Characteristics
Authors: Shi Lei , Feng Fang , Guo Wenfeng , Li Yan
Published: May 2021

In order to study the icing mechanism and anti-icing technology, a small low-speed reflux icing wind tunnel test system was designed and constructed. The refrigeration system and spray system were added to the small reflux low-speed wind tunnel to achieve icing meteorological conditions. In order to verify the feasibility of the test system, the flow field uniformity, temperature stability, and liquid water content distribution of the test section were tested and calibrated. On this basis, the icing tests of an aluminium cylinder, an NACA0018 airfoil, and an S809 airfoil were carried out, and the two-dimensional ice shape obtained by the test was compared with the two-dimensional ice shape obtained by the numerical simulation software. The results show that in the icing conditions and icing time studied, the parameters of the test system are stable, and the experimental ice shape is consistent with the simulated ice shape, which can meet the needs of icing research.
Downregulation of HBx Restrains Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of HepG2 Cells
Authors: Huang Chaoqun , Liu Wei , Zhao Xiaochuan , Zhao Libin , Wang Fuxiang
Published: May 2021

Liver cancer is a major contributor to cancer-related death with poor survival for sufferers. Meanwhile, Hepatic B virus X protein (HBx) and XB130 are likely to participate in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. However, the detailed mechanism of HBx/XB130 in liver cancer remains to be further investigated. Our study explored the effects of HBx/XB130 on liver cancer progression. HBx and XB130 expression was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. Overexpression of HBx and XB130 was found in liver cancer tissues and cells. Mechanistic study revealed that HBx could bind to and positively regulate XB130 in HepG2 cells. Subsequently, HBx expression was knocked down, while XB130 was overexpressed in HepG2 cells in order to observe the specific role of HBx/XB130 in liver cancer in vitro. Results of CCK-8, Transwell, wound healing, and colony formation assays suggested that HBx could mediate biological function of HepG2 cells by activating the XB130-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway. In summary, our data illustrate that inhibition of HBx effectively suppressed proliferation and metastasis and induced apoptosis of liver cancer cells, which might be partially reversed by XB130. HBx and XB130 may be potential targets for liver cancer pathogenesis.
Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for Coupled Impulsive Fractional Pantograph Differential Equations with Antiperiodic Boundary Conditions
Authors: Guida Karim , Ibnelazyz Lahcen , Hilal Khalid , Melliani Said
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we investigate the solutions of coupled fractional pantograph differential equations with instantaneous impulses. The work improves some existing results and contributes toward the development of the fractional differential equation theory. We first provide some definitions that will be used throughout the paper; after that, we give the existence and uniqueness results that are based on Banach’s contraction principle and Krasnoselskii’s fixed point theorem. Two examples are given in the last part to support our study.
A New Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method for Fractional Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Okundalaye Oluwaseun Olumide , Othman Wan Ainun Mior
Published: May 2021

Solving fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs) with an approximate analytical method has been widely studied by many authors, but to guarantee the convergence of the series solution has been a challenge. We solved this by integrating the Galerkin method of optimization technique into the whole region of the governing equations for accurate optimal values of control-convergence parameters

C
j
s

. The arbitrary-order derivative is in the conformable fractional derivative sense. We use Euler–Lagrange equation form of necessary optimality conditions for FOCPs, and the arising fractional differential equations (FDEs) are solved by optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM). The OHAM technique speedily provides the convergent approximate analytical solution as the arbitrary order derivative approaches 1. The convergence of the method is discussed, and its effectiveness is verified by some illustrative test examples.
Flecainide Toxicity Secondary to Accidental Overdose: A Pediatric Case Report of Two Brothers
Authors: Gardner Yelton Sarah E. , Leonard James B. , de la Uz Caridad M. , Wadia Rajeev S. , Barnes Sean S.
Published: May 2021

Flecainide is a class 1C antiarrhythmic with a narrow therapeutic window and thereby a high-risk medication for causing acute toxicity. Dysrhythmias secondary to flecainide ingestion are often refractory to antiarrhythmics and cardioversion, and patients commonly require extracorporeal support. We review the successful resuscitation of two brothers aged 2 and 4 who presented two years apart with unstable wide-complex tachyarrhythmia suspicious for severe flecainide toxicity. Each patient received sodium bicarbonate and 20% intravenous lipid emulsion with a full recovery. While extracorporeal support is often required following flecainide ingestion, we present two cases where it was avoided due to aggressive multimodal management with sodium bicarbonate, electrolyte repletion, and 20% intravenous lipid emulsion. In addition, avoidance of agitation-induced tachycardia may be beneficial.
Increased CD4+CD8+ Double-Positive T Cell in Patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Correlated with Disease Activity
Authors: Wang Sen , Shen Han , Bai Bing , Wu Jia , Wang Junjun
Published: May 2021

Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that invades lacrimal glands, salivary glands, and other exocrine glands, but its pathogenic mechanism is still unclear. CD4+CD8+ double-positive T (DPT) cells have been discovered in recent years to play an important role in autoimmune diseases and viral infections, but the frequency and significance of DPT in primary Sjogren’s syndrome are still unclear. This study detected the frequency of DPT in the peripheral blood of patients with pSS and detected the clinical indicators and cytokines in patients. We then analyzed the correlation between DPT and clinical indicators, cytokines, and disease activity scores. The results showed that the peripheral DPT frequency of pSS patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. The peripheral DPT frequency was negatively correlated with ESR, IgA, and IgG, and peripheral DPT frequency was positively correlated with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Analysis of DPT and pSS disease activity scores found that DPT frequency had a negative correlation with ESSDAI and SSDAI. This study suggests that peripheral DPT may play a protective role in pSS. The frequency of peripheral DPT cells can be used as an indicator for disease activity. Regulating the expression of peripheral DPT cells is expected to become a new strategy for treatment of pSS.
Comparison of the Donor Age-Dependent and In Vitro Culture-Dependent Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aging in Rat Model
Authors: Siennicka Katarzyna , Zołocińska Aleksandra , Dębski Tomasz , Pojda Zygmunt
Published: May 2021

Clinical experiments suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be useful for tissue repair therapies or treatment of the autoimmune disorders. There is still lack of consensus concerning the age limit of MSC donors, majority of researchers suggest the autologous MSC therapies of patients not exceeding age limit of 55-60 yrs. The purpose of our study was to compare the selected parameters of MSCs from adipose tissue (adipose stem cell, ASC) collected from young and old rats of ages corresponding to patient’s ages 25 yrs. and 80 yrs., respectively. The differences of parameters of ASCs from young and old animals were compared with the differences between ASCs from short-term (3 passage) and long-term (30 passage) in vitro culture. Cell morphology, surface marker expression, growth potential, metabolic activity, β-galactosidase activity, clonogenic potential, angiogenic potential, and differentiation ability of ASCs from young and aged animals and from in vitro cultures at 3rd and 30th passages were compared and analyzed. It may be concluded that ASCs may be applied for autologous transplantations in aged patients. Comparison of ASC aging dynamics depending on host aging or in vitro culture duration suggests that long-term in vitro culture may affect ASCs more than natural aging process of their host. We suggest that ASCs expanded in vitro prior to their clinical use must be carefully screened for the possible aging effects resulting not only from donor age, but from the duration of their in vitro culture.
Approximation Properties of New Modified Gamma Operators
Authors: Wu Yun-Shun , Cheng Wen-Tao , Zhou Wei-Ping , Deng Lun-Zhi
Published: May 2021

This paper is aimed at constructing new modified Gamma operators using the second central moment of the classic Gamma operators. And we will compute the first, second, fourth, and sixth order central moments by the moment computation formulas, and their quantitative properties are researched. Then, the global results are established in certain weighted spaces and the direct results including the Voronovskaya-type asymptotic formula, and point-wise estimates are investigated. Also, weighted approximation of these operators is discussed. Finally, the quantitative Voronovskaya-type asymptotic formula and Grüss Voronovskaya-type approximation are presented.
Strong Association of Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), and Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) with Diabetes: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Jilin Province, China
Authors: Zhang Fu-Liang , Ren Jia-Xin , Zhang Peng , Jin Hang , Qu Yang , Yu Yao , Guo Zhen-Ni , Yang Yi
Published: May 2021

Backgrounds. The prevalence of diabetes has increased with the increase of obesity, and finding indicators to predict diabetes risk has become an urgent need. The purpose of this study is to compare the correlation between four anthropometric indices and the prevalence of diabetes. Methods. A total of 4052 participants aged 40 years and above were selected in Dehui City, Jilin Province, using a multistage stratified whole group sampling method. Face-to-face interviews and physical examinations were conducted. Multivariate logistic analysis was used. The values of BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were divided into quartiles (Q1: <25%; Q2: ~25%; Q3: ~50%; and Q4: ~75%). The median of each quartile was used for a linear trend test. Results. For all four body fat-measuring indices of body mass index (adjusted OR: 3.300, 95% CI: 2.370, 4.595), WC (adjusted OR: 5.131, 95% CI: 3.433, 7.669), WHR (adjusted OR: 3.327, 95% CI: 2.386, 4.638), and WHtR (adjusted OR: 5.959, 95% CI: 3.922, 9.054), patients in the highest quartile were more likely to have diabetes than those in the lowest quartile. The areas under the curve of WHtR, WC, WHR, and BMI for diabetes were 0.683, 0.669, 0.654, and 0.629, respectively. In female participants, the areas under the curve of the waist-height ratio and WC were 0.710 (95% CI: 0.679-0.741) and 0.701 (95% CI: 0.670-0.732), respectively. Conclusions. The WC and WHtR were more closely related to diabetes than BMI and WHR among

study
 
participants
≥
40
 
years

of age, especially in females.
Single Standard Substance for the Simultaneous Determination of Eleven Components in the Extract of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)
Authors: Shen Menglan , Zhang Qiaoyan , Qin Luping , Yan Binjun
Published: May 2021

Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA), an herbal drug produced from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., is widely used in many herbal medicine prescriptions/preparations. Since the pharmacological effects of PRA come from multiple chemical components, it is important to establish a method for the determination of those components in PRA extracts with simple operation and low cost, which is more suitable to evaluate the quality of PRA extracts and optimize the extraction process. This work introduced the quantitative analysis of multicomponents with a single-marker (QAMS) method for the simultaneous determination of eleven bioactive components in PRA extracts, including gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, ethyl gallate, galloylpaeoniflorin, pentagalloylglucose, benzoic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, and paeonol. In the QAMS method established based on high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, only the reference substance of paeoniflorin was needed, and the other ten components were determined based on their relative correction factors (RCFs) to paeoniflorin. Moreover, the repeatability and robustness of the RCFs were studied with different column temperatures, detection wavelengths, flow rates, column types, and instruments. In method validation, good linearity (r > 0.999), stability, repeatability (RSD < 1.9%), and accuracy (recoveries within 96.1%–105.5%) were shown. Sample analyses showed that the QAMS method was consistent with the conventional external standard method. The established method provided a comprehensive, efficient, and low-cost tool for the routine quality evaluation of PRA extracts.
Staging Parkinson’s Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life
Authors: Santos García D. , De Deus Fonticoba T. , Paz González J. M. , Cores Bartolomé C. , Valdés Aymerich L. , Muñoz Enríquez J. G. , Suárez E. , Jesús S. , Aguilar M. , Pastor P. , Planellas L. L. , Cosgaya M. , García Caldentey J. , Caballol N. , Legarda I. , Hernández Vara J. , Cabo I. , López Manzanares L. , González Aramburu I. , Ávila Rivera M. A. , Catalán M. J. , Nogueira V. , Puente V. , García Moreno J. M. , Borrué C. , Solano Vila B. , Álvarez Sauco M. , Vela L. , Escalante S. , Cubo E. , Carrillo Padilla F. , Martínez Castrillo J. C. , Sánchez Alonso P. , Alonso Losada M. G. , López Ariztegui N. , Gastón I. , Kulisevsky J. , Blázquez Estrada M. , Seijo M. , Rúiz Martínez J. , Valero C. , Kurtis M. , de Fábregues O. , González Ardura J. , Ordás C. , López Díaz L. , Mir P. , Martinez-Martin P. , COPPADIS Study Group
Published: May 2021

Introduction. In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr’s motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient’s quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage. Materials and Methods. Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0–20; B: NMSS = 21–40; C: NMSS = 41–70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale. Results. A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (

p
<
0.0001

). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (

p
<
0.005

; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [n = 15] vs 2A [n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8;

p
<
0.0001

). Conclusion. The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the H&Y. Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles of Clinacanthus nutans as Antioxidant with Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effects
Authors: Chiu Hock Ing , Che Mood Che Nurul Azieyan , Mohamad Zain Nur Nadhirah , Ramachandran Muggundha Raoov , Yahaya Noorfatimah , Nik Mohamed Kamal Nik Nur Syazni , Tung Wai Hau , Yong Yoke Keong , Lee Chee Keong , Lim Vuanghao
Published: May 2021

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) previously synthesised using leaf (AgNP-L) and stem (AgNP-S) extracts of Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) were tested to evaluate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities. The AgNPs showed good inhibition against bacteria, but not fungi. The inhibition results showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with 11.35 mm (AgNP-L) and 11.52 mm (AgNP-S), while the lowest inhibition was against Escherichia coli (E. coli) with 9.22 mm (AgNP-L) and 9.25 mm (AgNP-S) in the disc diffusion method. The same trend of results was noted in the well diffusion method. The IC50 of AgNP-L and AgNP-S in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays was 417.05 μg/mL and 434.60 μg/mL, as well as 304.31 μg/mL and 326.83 μg/mL, respectively. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay showed that AgNP-L [872.389 μmol/L Fe(II)] and AgNP-S [612.770 μmol/L Fe(II)] exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) greater antioxidant activities than leaf extract (CNL) [152.260 μmol/L Fe(II)] and stem extract (CNS) [110.445 μmol/L Fe(II)] of C. nutans. The AgNPs were also proven to possess cytotoxic effects on the breast (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), and colon (HT-29) cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. AgNP-S and AgNP-L showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (117.43 μg/mL) and HT-29 (78.47 μg/mL), respectively. In conclusion, the biosynthesised AgNPs from aqueous extract leaves and stem of C. nutans have demonstrated promising potential towards antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity activities.
Quality of Life in Adult Patients Receiving Cervical Fusion for Fresh Subaxial Cervical Injury: The Role of Associated Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Korovessis Panagiotis , Mpountogianni Evangelia , Syrimpeis Vasileios , Andriopoulou Maria , Korovesis Alkis
Published: May 2021

Purpose. To study postoperative Health‐Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) after instrumented fusion for fresh subaxial cervical trauma and the effect of spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. From a total of 65 patients, 17 (26%) patients suffered on admission from SCI. Twenty‐five patients underwent anterior, 25 posterior, and 15 circumferential cervical surgery for a single cervical injury. Sagittal roentgenographic parameters were measured in 65 age‐matched asymptomatic controls and in patients on admission, eight months postoperatively and at final follow‐up (lower C2‐C7 curvature, cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), spinocranial angle (SCA), T1‐slope, neck tilt (NT), thorax inlet angle (TIA), cervical tilt (CT), cranial tilt (CrT), and occiput–C2 angle (C0‐C2)). In the last evaluation, SCI patients were compared with their counterparts without SCI using national validated HRQOL instruments (SF‐36 and neck disability index (NDI)). Results. Fusion included an average of 3 vertebrae (range 2‐4 vertebrae). All 65 patients were followed for an average of 5.5 years, (range 3‐7 years) postoperatively. In the last evaluation, 10 (15.4%) patients with incomplete SCI improved postoperatively at 1‐2 grades. At the last observation, patients with SCI showed poorer HRQOL scores than their counterparts without SCI. In particular, each SF‐36 domain score was correlated with SCA, T1‐slope, cSVA, and CT. At baseline, patients showed higher NT, CrT, and C0‐C2 angle than controls. Eight months postoperatively, cSVA, NT, TIA, and cranial tilt (CrT) were increased in patients. In the last observation, there was difference in the sagittal roentgenographic parameters between patients with SCI compared to those without SCI. Patients aged ≥55 years had postoperatively increased cSVA, NT, and CrT compared to their younger counterparts. Conclusion. At the final observation, HRQOL scores were lower in patients with SCI than in their non‐SCI counterparts, obviously because of the associated neurologic impairment. SF‐36 scores correlated with several sagittal roentgenographic parameters. These correlations should be taken in consideration by spine surgeons when performing cervical spine surgery for fresh cervical spine injuries.
Identification of Novel Compound Heterozygous MYO15A Mutations in Two Chinese Families with Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss
Authors: Wang Xiao-Hui , Xie Le , Chen Sen , Xu Kai , Bai Xue , Jin Yuan , Qiu Yue , Liu Xiao-Zhou , Sun Yu , Kong Wei-Jia
Published: May 2021

Congenital deafness is one of the most common causes of disability in humans, and more than half of cases are caused by genetic factors. Mutations of the MYO15A gene are the third most common cause of hereditary hearing loss. Using next-generation sequencing combined with auditory tests, two novel compound heterozygous variants c.2802_2812del/c.5681T>C and c.5681T>C/c.6340G>A in the MYO15A gene were identified in probands from two irrelevant Chinese families. Auditory phenotypes of the probands are consistent with the previously reported for recessive variants in the MYO15A gene. The two novel variants, c.2802_2812del and c.5681T>C, were identified as deleterious mutations by bioinformatics analysis. Our findings extend the MYO15A gene mutation spectrum and provide more information for rapid and precise molecular diagnosis of congenital deafness.
Efficient English Translation Method and Analysis Based on the Hybrid Neural Network
Authors: Wang Chuncheng
Published: May 2021

Neural machine translation has been widely concerned in recent years. The traditional sequential neural network framework of English translation has obvious disadvantages because of its poor ability to capture long-distance information, and the current improved framework, such as the recurrent neural network, still cannot solve this problem very well. In this paper, we propose a hybrid neural network that combines the convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) and introduce the attention mechanism based on the encoder-decoder structure to improve the translation accuracy, especially for long sentences. In the experiment, this model is implemented based on TensorFlow, and the results show that the BLEU value of the proposed method is obviously improved compared with the traditional machine learning model, which proves the effectiveness of our method in English-Chinese translation.