bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Two Parallel Offsetting Algorithms Free from Conflicts Between Threads
Authors: Inui Masatomo ,   Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Ibaraki University  4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan, Ishii Daiki , Umezu Nobuyuki
Published: November 2021

Offset computation for expanding a polyhedral object by an offset radius is a fundamental geometric process frequently used in manufacturing applications. This process combined with the triple-dexel representation solid model has become popular because of its robustness and compatibility with parallel processing using a graphics processing unit (GPU). In parallel geometric processing, conflicts between threads must be avoided. Thus, we propose a novel parallel offsetting algorithm free from conflicts between threads. The triple-dexel model is a combination of x-, y-, and z-axis-aligned dexel models. Each dexel model is defined based on an orthogonal grid given on a coordinate plane. We subdivide the grid into several sub-grids of a fixed size in advance. For each sub-grid, a block of GPU threads is assigned. As each GPU thread always processes different dexel elements from the other threads in this method, no conflict occurs. Our research group has previously presented a parallel offset computation algorithm for a polyhedral solid model that also uses a triple-dexel representation model and a GPU. In the previous algorithm, the surface polygons of the model are classified into several groups in advance. The parallel offset computation of multiple polygon groups is realized by selecting groups of polygon in which the offset processing of the polygons does not affect one another. This selection process is time-consuming. Computational experiments were performed to analyze the performance difference between the current algorithm and our previous algorithm. In our experiments, the current algorithm achieved speedups of 1.4 times to 3.2 times compared to our previous offsetting algorithm.
Surrounding Structure Estimation Using Ambient Light
Authors: Mir Bilal Ahmed , Sasaki Tohru , Nagahata Yusuke , Yamabe Eri , Miwa Naoya , Terabayashi Kenji ,   Graduate School of Science and Engineering for Education, University of Toyama 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan,   Department of Mechanical and Intellectual Systems Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
Published: November 2021

Image measurement technology – widely used in present society – has made substantial progress. It involves processes such as image input, target extraction, and measurement of the extracted region to obtain information from an image. These processes are computationally intensive because they require a large amount of information such as complex features, which is often an obstacle to improving and speeding up image processing tasks. In contrasts, living organisms easily recognize their own surroundings in real time. In cognitive science research studies, for example, visual affordance studies have shown that organisms perceive and recognize their surrounding environment and objects from ambient light, which is formed by reflected and scattered light in the environment. By applying this natural mechanism to image measurement technology, it is possible to obtain the information necessary to recognize the surrounding environment by observing ambient light without necessarily detecting or recognizing the object. In this study, we propose a direct method of assessing the surrounding environment by capturing ambient light as luminance.
Feasibility Study of Performance Assessment Gauge for Freeform Measurement
Authors: Watanabe Mari , Matsuzaki Kazuya , Sato Osamu , Fukuhara Yoshiya , Terasawa Masato ,   Dimensional Standards Group, Research Institute for Engineering Measurement, National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Tsukuba Central 3, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8563, Japan,   Turbine Global Products Integration Division, Turbomachinery Headquarters, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Ltd., Takasago, Japan
Published: November 2021

Recent product components have been designed as a combination of complex forms for advanced functionality. Such high degree-of-freedom forms are shaped by various manufacturing processes. In the industrial supply chain, the deviation of a manufactured form from its designed form must be verified to ensure product quality. Three-dimensional (3D) measuring systems are typically used for verification. To validate the product manufacturing performance accurately, a measurement procedure that can derive the measurands of forms with small measurement uncertainty is necessitated. For simple geometries such as flats, spheres, and cylinders, precise measurement and uncertainty evaluation methods have been established; however, those for complex forms are still being developed. In this study, measurement uncertainty is assessed by measuring a calibrated gauge and comparing the measured with calibrated values. Several gauges configured with basic geometric elements have been proposed as a reference for complex form measurements, and some issues remain. Some of the gauges do not sufficiently simulate the forms of actual product components, whereas other gauges are difficult to calibrate with small uncertainties. Herein, we discuss a possible approach for solving these problems in the metrology of complex forms using 3D measuring systems. First, a new gauge concept is proposed. The gauge is designed by extracting the complex features of the actual product form and segmenting the gauge’s form into various circular arc curvatures. The geometric parameters are well calibrated, and the measurable angular range of the curvature is not limited. A representative gauge based on this concept is described. Next, a robust and small-uncertainty calibration method for complex-form objects is described. The area encompassing the target cross-section is measured, and an envelope is generated on the probe tip mechanical surface from the probe tip centers to determine the measured surface. Finally, the calibration and measurement uncertainty evaluation for the geometric parameters of the new gauge are quantitatively presented. It is verified that the proposed calibration procedure is applicable to freeform measurements, and that both simple and complex forms can be measured within a 1.5 μm uncertainty.
A Novel Method for 3D Nanoscale Tracking of 100 nm Polystyrene Particles in Multi-Wavelength Evanescent Fields Microscopy – Absolute Difference Height Verification –
Authors: Blattler Aran , Khajornrungruang Panart , Suzuki Keisuke , Saenna Soraya ,   Graduate School of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka-shi, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan,   Advanced Mechanical Division, Department of Intelligent and Control Systems, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Japan
Published: November 2021

Total internal reflection is an optical imaging technique for nanoparticle tracking and observation employing the scattered light from an evanescent field near the interface or reference surface. Generally, the nanoparticle behavior is the three-dimensional Brownian motion in an aqueous medium. The motion can be traced by an optical microscopy, but it cannot be traced by an electron microscopy technique. In the three-dimensional nanoparticle moving position, the X and Y positions are parallel to the surface, which can be traced by the general microscopy techniques. However, the height position Z of a nanoparticle perpendicular to the surface could not be traced without the longitudinal scanning method. Here, a novel method is proposed to investigate the 3D position of nanoparticles by applying multi-wavelength evanescent fields microscopy, which has a high spatial resolution in the Z-direction without longitudinal scanning. This paper focuses on the verification of measurement in the Z-direction. A piezoelectric actuator was employed to control the nanoparticle displacement in height Z. Standard polystyrene 100 nm particles were randomly adhered on a spherical tip that connected with the piezoelectric actuator. The spherical tip was essentially made from an optical adhesive (n = 1.348) with a refractive index close to the water for decreasing the unnecessary signal from the tip-self during nanoparticle observation in the water. The proposed method could obtain the multi-wavelength scattering lights from the observed nanoparticles by an 8-bit color camera with higher than 50 frames per second recording to investigate the 3D nanoscale tracking. The X and Y positions of nanoparticles were determined by the centroid of the scattering light intensities. The height Z was determined from the logarithm ratios between the detected scattering light intensities of both wavelengths. The measurement repeatability of the absolute difference in height between nanoparticles could be measured less than ±16 nm by using the proposed method. The penetration height measurability range was approximated at 250 nm from the reference surface.
Fast Cutter Accessibility Analysis Using Ray Tracing Cores of GPU
Authors: Inui Masatomo ,   Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Ibaraki University 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan, Kaba Kohei , Umezu Nobuyuki
Published: November 2021

In the cutter path computation for the five-axis machining, it takes much time to determine proper cutter postures in machining. We propose a novel method for calculating all possible cutter postures that can be used in machining mold’s surface without collisions in a short time. In determining the cutter postures for each cutting point, intersection detection between a line segment and a set of polygons is frequently carried out. Latest graphics processing units (GPUs) are equipped with a hardware called ray tracing (RT) cores dedicated to image processing in the 3D computer graphics. We use this RT core technology for accelerating the intersection detection and consequently reducing the time and cost necessary in the cutter posture determination. We also present the numerical experiments conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Flexible Fiber Conditioner for Fine Conditioning of Polishing Pad and its Evaluation in Chemical Mechanical Polishing: Verification of SUS-FFC on Soft Urethane Foam Pad and Proposal of PEEK-FFC
Authors: Uneda Michio , Takahashi Naoki , Fujita Takashi , Arai Yutaro ,   Kanazawa Institute of Technology 3-1 Yatsukaho, Hakusan, Ishikawa 924-0838, Japan,   Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Japan,   Showa Industries International Co., Ltd., Hirakata, Japan
Published: November 2021

Polishing pad conditioning is essential for achieving stable chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). While diamond disk conditioners (DDCs) are often applied, flexible fiber conditioners (FFCs) have been proposed as a new conditioning tool. FFCs are intended for roughening the pad surface appropriately by bundling fine wire fibers. Our previous study demonstrated the fine conditioning characteristics of FFCs for a hard urethane foam pad. In this study, the conditioning characteristics of an FFC are compared with those of a DDC. First, we evaluate the conditioning performance of an FFC using SUS fibers on a soft urethane foam pad. The result indicates that on a soft pad, the SUS-FFC can restore the pad surface asperities more finely, as confirmed via the stabilized number of contact points based on contact image and luminance value distribution analyses. Subsequently, for a metal-contamination-free FFC process intended for semiconductor CMP, we develop an FFC fabricated using polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and verify its performance via the CMP test of a silicon oxide film. It is shown that the hard pad can be conditioned using the developed PEEK-FFC; this implies that a stable removal rate can be realized immediately after pad break-in conditioning.
Tool Path Generation for Five-Axis Controlled Machining of Free-Form Surfaces Using a Barrel Tool Considering Continuity of Tool Postures
Authors: Suzuki Tomonobu , Okamoto Ken , Morishige Koichi ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering and Intelligent Systems, Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering,
The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan,   Department of Machinery and Production Engineering, Nagano Prefecture Nanshin Institute of Technology, Minamiminowa, Japan
Published: November 2021

This study aims to improve the efficiency of free-form surface machining using a five-axis controlled machine tool and a barrel tool. The barrel tool has cutting edges with curvatures smaller than its radius; thus, its pick feed width is larger than that of a conventional ball end mill with the same tool radius. Therefore, the machining efficiency can be improved. Barrel tools can be effectively utilized in a five-axis controlled machine tool. When five-axis controlled machining, tool interference may occur, which should be avoided during actual machine operation. Additionally, a sudden change in tool posture adversely affects the quality of the machined surface. This paper proposes a method to obtain the cutting points that render cusp heights below the target value. A method for generating an interference-free tool path, in which the tool posture changes continuously, is also proposed. The usefulness of the developed methods was confirmed through machining simulations.
Clinical Presentation of Foramen Magnum Meningioma Masqueraded by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Bahrami Eshagh , Parvaresh Mansour , Fattahi Arash , Farzan Abdolnaser , Kazemi Foad
Published: November 2021

Case:

Meningioma is the second most common intracranial tumor. We present 2 cases of foramen magnum meningioma (FMM) that was first operated on with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Conclusion:

During the diagnostic assessment of CTS and recalcitrant CTS, a more proximal etiology of nerve compression should be considered, including FMM. If a more proximal cause of nerve dysfunction is suspected, cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging may be beneficial to evaluate a patient for spinal etiology.
Bilateral Pedicle Fractures at Contiguous Segments in a Low Trauma Setting
Authors: Piple Amit S , Keyes David C , Carmouche Jonathan J
Published: November 2021

Case:

A 74-year-old patient with a history of osteoporosis presented with a 2-month history of lower back pain after low-energy trauma. Imaging revealed bilateral subacute L4 and L5 pedicle fractures—the first reported case of this low-energy mechanism of bilateral contiguous-segment pedicle fractures.

Conclusion:

Bilateral pedicle fractures have infrequently been reported in the literature. There have been a few reports of bilateral pedicle fractures because of isolated osteoporosis, and these have all been single level. The current report presents an unusual fragility fracture pattern that can be conservatively managed.
Treatment of Infected Nonunion of Distal Radius with Concurrent Distal Radioulnar Joint Disruption
Authors: K. M. Ponnanna , Shah Rahul Hemant
Published: November 2021

Case:

A 37-year-old farmer presented with previously operated open type 2 infected nonunion of distal radius. A wrist-spanning external fixator was applied after implant removal, debridement, and postoperative antibiotics for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks' follow-up, a volar locking plate and bone grafting for the gap nonunion over distal radius and the modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure for distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) were performed. The patient had excellent results at 3 years' follow-up.

Conclusion:

Distal radius nonunion with disrupted DRUJ can be treated with internal fixation, and the modified Sauve-Kapandji technique provided thorough debridement is performed.
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopaedic Residency Program Social Media Utilization
Authors: Holderread Brendan M. , Liu Jonathan , Wininger Austin E. , Harris Joshua D. , Liberman Shari R.
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented challenge for orthopaedic surgery residency applicants when away rotations were canceled and interviews were held virtually. The authors hypothesized that (1) Instagram would have more total social media accounts compared with Twitter or Facebook, (2) most social media accounts on all platforms would be created during 2020, and (3) the average number of Instagram followers would be higher among highly ranked programs.

Methods:

A list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs (n = 202) that were ranked by reputation was acquired from Doximity. Public Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter profiles of orthopaedic surgery residency programs were identified through a manual search. Variables assessed on each social media platform were all available summary statistics provided by the social media platform. Instagram accounts were categorized into 5 tiers based on numeric reputation ranking, with 40 programs in each tier (except tier 5 with 42 programs). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Goodness-of-fit regression values were calculated for observed trends.

Results:

One-hundred seventy-four social media accounts were identified. There was a higher percentage of Instagram accounts (66.1%) compared with Facebook (13.2%) or Twitter (20.7%). From 2010 to 2020, an exponential increase (R2 = 0.88) of social media accounts was observed during 2020. Instagram profiles (77.2%, 98/115 [95 in 2020, 3 in 2021]) were created after the cancelation of away rotations in May 2020. Instagram profiles had 1,029 ± 522.4 average followers, more than Facebook and Twitter. Tier 1 residency programs had the largest average follower count with 1,462.4 ± 584.3 followers.

Conclusion:

Social media presence increased exponentially during 2020. Instagram was the social media platform with the most accounts. Many Instagram accounts were created during 2020, and most were created after away rotations were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instagram accounts averaged the most followers. Top tier orthopaedic residency programs had a greater number of accounts and average followers than lower tier programs.
Dinámica territorial de pandemia COVID-19 en la provincia de Córdoba Argentina
Authors: Buffalo Luciana , Rydzewski Ana Laura
Published: November 2021

En este artículo, se analiza la distribución de casos en el territorio de la provincia de Córdoba Argentina, entre marzo y noviembre del 2020, en relación a las políticas implementadas de aislamiento y flexibilización articulados con las prácticas sociales con incidencia en la circulación de la enfermedad. En la provincia de Córdoba, la enfermedad ha seguido un patrón variable en términos temporales, pero con similitudes espaciales asociadas a características territoriales que actúan como condicionantes y a políticas públicas de restricción de actividades productivas y movilidad, que repercutieron en la dinámica de la pandemia. El diseño metodológico de análisis espacial, se realizo a partir de un sistema de información geográfica basado en el uso de software libre (Qgis) que permitió trabajar con la localización de casos covid positivos, su temporalidad y al mismo tiempo asociar ese análisis, con información cualitativa y cuantitativa de las características del territorio provincial (áreas comerciales, situación demográfica, características socio económicas de la población, instituciones para adultos mayores, entre otras). El análisis realizado, acompañado de cartografía témporo-espacial permitió generar información para la toma de decisiones en el ámbito público en tiempo real, articulando el conocimiento geográfico con la epidemiología y la estadística aplicada a la salud.
Genetic Variability and Association Among Bulb Yield and Yield Related Traits of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Genotypes at Bishoftu Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia
Authors: Bebela Bayisa Kabe , Yusuf Zekeria , Petros Yohannes
Published: November 2021

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is the second most important Allium species next to onion (Allium cepa L. in the world and from Africa, Ethiopia is ranked second most garlic produce next to Egypt. It is one of the most important vegetable crops in Ethiopia and is used as a component of food, cash and has also a tremendous use in the formulation of local medicines. Among abiotic factors affecting garlic production and productivity using garlic genotype which is susceptible for different biotic and abiotic agents contributed huge yield loss in agriculture center. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variability in garlic genotypes, to determine association among traits and estimate the direct and indirect effects of traits on bulb yield. The field evaluation of 34 genotypes and 2 released varieties (G-HL and Chefe) was conducted in 6x6 Triple Lattice Design at Bishoftu Agricultural Research Center during January 2020 to May 2020. Results of analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant differences among genotypes for 18 traits. The variation observed among genotypes for bulb yield ranged from 43.80 to 147.20 kg ha-1. The six genotypes had mean performances higher than the highest performing check variety (G-HL=99.5Kg ha-1). Generally, the results of this study showed the presence of variations among genotypes for agro-morphology traits with a wide range of genetic distances that could allow selection and/or hybridization of genotypes after the results of this study are confirmed across locations and over the years.
Sharing the effort of the European Green Deal among countries
Authors: Steininger Karl , Williges Keith , Meyer Lukas , Maczek Florian , Riahi Keywan
Published: November 2021

In implementing the Green Deal to align with the Paris Agreement, the EU has increased its climate ambition and is currently negotiating how the increased mitigation effort should be distributed among Member States. Such partitioning of targets among subsidiary entities is becoming a major challenge for implementation of climate policies around the globe. We contrast the recent EU Commission proposal - an ad-hoc decision based on a singular country attribute - with transparent and reproducible methods based on three ethical principles. We go beyond traditional effort-sharing literature and explore allocations representing an aggregated least regret compromise between different country perspectives. While the current EU proposal represents a nuanced compromise for many countries, for others a further redistribution could be considered equitable. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach for the necessary modifications to the effort sharing targets for 2030 among EU Member States.
Comprehensive and Clinically Accurate Head and Neck Organs at Risk Delineation via Stratified Deep Learning: A Large-scale Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Guo Dazhou , Ge Jia , Ye Xianghua , Yan Senxiang , Xin Yi , Song Yuchen , Huang Bing-shen , Hung Tsung-Min , Zhu Zhuotun , Peng Ling , Ren Yanping , Liu Rui , Zhang Gong , Mao Mengyuan , Chen Xiaohua , Lu Zhongjie , Li Wenxiang , Yuzhen Chen , Huang Lingyun , Xiao Jing , Harrison Adam , Lu Le , Lin Chien-Yu , Jin Dakai , Ho Tsung-Ying
Published: November 2021

Accurate organ at risk (OAR) segmentation is critical to reduce the radiotherapy post-treatment complications. Consensus guidelines recommend a set of more than 40 OARs in the head and neck (H&N) region, however, due to the predictable prohibitive labor-cost of this task, most institutions choose a substantially simplified protocol by delineating a smaller subset of OARs and neglecting the dose distributions associated with other OARs. In this work we propose a novel, automated and highly effective stratified OAR segmentation (SOARS) system using deep learning to precisely delineate a comprehensive set of 42 H&N OARs. SOARS stratifies 42 OARs into anchor, mid-level, and small & hard subcategories, with specifically derived neural network architectures for each category by neural architecture search (NAS) principles. We built SOARS models using 176 training patients in an internal institution and independently evaluated on 1327 external patients across six different institutions. It consistently outperformed other state-of-the-art methods by at least 3-5% in Dice score for each institutional evaluation (up to 36% relative error reduction in other metrics). More importantly, extensive multi-user studies evidently demonstrated that 98% of the SOARS predictions need only very minor or no revisions for direct clinical acceptance (saving 90% radiation oncologists workload), and their segmentation and dosimetric accuracy are within or smaller than the inter-user variation. These findings confirmed the strong clinical applicability of SOARS for the OAR delineation process in H&N cancer radiotherapy workflows, with improved efficiency, comprehensiveness, and quality.
Efficacy and safety of systemic treatment combined with local consolidative radiation therapy to primary tumor and all oligometastatic sites for elderly patients with synchronous oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Hu Xiaolong , Li Hongqi , Liu Hefei , Kang Xiaoli , Wang Xuan , Pang Haifeng , Liu Chen , Zhang Jianchun , Wang Yingjie
Published: November 2021

Objective Our objective is to implement local consolidative radiation therapy (LCRT) to the primary tumors and all oligometastatic sites in elderly patients with synchronous oligometastatic NSCLC and evaluate its long-term efficacy and safety.Patients and Methods All patients were older than 65 years at initial diagnosis and had pathologically confirmed NSCLC with a total of less than or equal to 5 metastases through imaging diagnosis. LCRT to the primary tumors and all oligometastatic sites to evaluate its OS, PFS, and toxicity.Results A total of 115 elderly patients with synchronous oligometastatic NSCLC (≤ 5 metastases) were enrolled, including 33 elderly patients who received LCRT to the primary tumors and all oligometastatic sites (all-LCRT group), 38 elderly patients who received LCRT to either primary tumor or oligometastatic sites (part-LCRT group) and 44 elderly patients did not receive any LCRT (non- LCRT group). The median follow-up time was 34 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12 months for all-LCRT group, 9 months for part-LCRT group, and 6 months for non-LCRT group (p<0.001). The median overall survival (OS) in All-LCRT group, Part-LCRT group, and non-LCRT group was 28 months, 21 months, and 13 months, respectively (p<0.001). The survival differences among the three groups reached statistical significance for the survival analyses. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that LCRT for primary tumor (HR=0.21, 95%CI: 0.12-0.36, p<0.001), good ECOG PS (HR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.33-0.79, p=0.003), T1-2 stage (HR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.37-0.93, p=0.023), and peripheral lung cancer (HR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.41-0.97, p=0.036) were independent prognostic factors for better OS. Most patients experienced grade 1-2 toxicity, very few had grade 3 toxicity, no grade 4 or higher toxicity occurred, and no treatment-related death occurred.Conclusion Elderly patients with synchronous oligometastatic NSCLC were treated with LCRT to the primary tumors and all oligometastatic sites, which may improve their survival with tolerable toxicity.
A case of autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia with a novel mutation in the LDLRAP1 gene
Authors: Nikasa Parisa , Rabbani Bahareh , Hejazi Mohammad Saeid , Firouzi Ata , Baharvand Hossein , Totonchi Mehdi , Mahdieh Nejat
Published: November 2021

Background: Autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) is a rare monogenic disorder resulting from mutations of the LDLRAP1 gene, which leads to elevated LDL-C levels. Here, using whole exome sequencing (WES), we describe a 22-year-old Iranian female who carries a novel nonsense mutation in LDLRAP1. Methods: Genetic investigations were performed for the patient and her family. She showed LDL-C level of 720 mg/dL since the age of 11 years. At the age of 13 years old, aortic valve repair surgery was performed due to severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS). At the age of 17, along with prescription of rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe, coronary angiography displayed the presence of serious stenotic lesions of the coronary arteries and also aortic valve, making the patient eligible for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Results: Genetic analysis showed the presence of a previously unreported homozygous LDLRAP1 gene variant, c.649G>T, generating a nonsense mutation at amino acid 217, shortening the ARH protein from 308 to 217 amino acid, which removes AP-2 binding domain of ARH, as an important part in LDL uptake.Conclusion: During a 10-year treatment, we observed a 74% reduction in LDL-C level. Despite the treatment with maximal dose of rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe, the results of coronary angiography demonstrated severe supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) resulted in significant stenotic lesions of the coronary arteries and aortic valve. This highlights the importance of WES in early diagnosis of ARH, and it is proposed to prevent or at least delay the onset of the cardiovascular events.
An emerging coral disease outbreak decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality
Authors: Alvarez-Filip Lorenzo , González-Barrios F. , Pérez-Cervantes Esmeralda , Molina-Hernandez Ana , Estrada-Saldívar Nuria
Published: November 2021

Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration of coral reefs, linked to major declines in coral abundance, reef functionality, and reef-related ecosystems services1-3. An outbreak of a new disease is currently rampaging through the populations of the remaining reef-building corals across the Caribbean region. The outbreak was first reported in Florida in 2014 and reached the northern Mesoamerican reef by summer 2018, where it spread across the ~ 450-km reef system only in a few months4. Rapid infection was generalized across all sites and mortality rates ranged from 94% to < 10% among the 21 afflicted coral species. This single event further modified the coral communities across the region by increasing the relative dominance of weedy corals and reducing reef functionality, both in terms of functional diversity and calcium carbonate production. This emergent disease is likely to become the most lethal disturbance ever recorded in the Caribbean, and it will likely result in the onset of a new functional regime where key reef-building and complex branching acroporids (a genus apparently unaffected) will once again become conspicuous structural features in reef systems with yet even lower levels of physical functionality.
Consideration regarding tensions in a contact
Authors: S S Ghimisi
Published: November 2021

The paper presents the existent tension at the contact level: sphere-plane. In the same time we describe the dependence of these tension by different factors of influence. The obtained relations are without dimension and in this way we can analyze better the punctual contact. For this we have made a sizing of the relations used in specialized literature, and based on these, we deduced the dependencies of the tensions of the various influence factors of the contact.
A Study of the Feasibility of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles in Black Sea
Authors: O Tărăbuță
Published: November 2021

An underwater vehicle designed for industrial use in the Black Sea has to tackle two specific characteristics of it, given by its enclosed nature: the strong vertical stratification and the high content of hydrogen sulfide at greater depths. These particular environmental conditions impose also new approaches of design and technology for construction. The innovation foreseen of our study is the very concept of a universal underwater vehicle, based on modular design. Currently, unmanned underwater vehicles are controlled in two main ways, either autonomously (AUV) or by data transfer through an umbilical cable (ROV). Despite the fact AUV and ROV have many common characteristics they are used separately and are disjoint throughout their life cycle. To increase the technical performances and economic efficiency of such vehicles, we planned to design a universal carrier platform able to support different modules. Based on the common carrier sub-system, DCUV (Dual Controlled Underwater Vehicles) can be assembled as an AUV, controlled autonomously and by radio when surfaced. After its recovery and transfer of the sea data recorded during its evolution as an AUV, the specific modules (sensors and battery) are replaced with functional modules needed to change it into an ROV, which can be then remotely controlled towards the contacts of interest. The concept of providing DCUV with a common propulsion unit will be eased by designing of an innovative multi-control system that will integrate data from sensors and human operator with the propulsion motors and end effectors, based on state-of- the-art microcontrollers and their appropriate programming.
Uma Abordagem de Processamento Estatístico de Sinais para Detecção de Ilhamento
Authors: Lima Robson Rosserrani , Cerqueira Augusto Santiago , Ribeiro Paulo Fernando , Ferreira Danton Diego
Published: November 2021

Este artigo apresenta um método para detecção de ilhamento em geração distribuída (GD) baseado em processamento estatístico de sinais. Foi utilizado um modelo em MathWorks Simulink de uma matriz fotovoltaica (PV) de 250 kW conectada à rede de distribuição para simular o comportamento do sinal de tensão trifásico no ponto de acoplamento comum (PAC) sob a operação nominal, condição de ilhamento e condição de falta usando diferentes composições de carga. Foi utilizada a Análise de Componentes Principais para extrair os eventos transitórios dos sinais de tensão e então foram utilizados cumulantes de segunda, terceira e quarta ordens para gerar parâmetros e os melhores foram selecionados utilizando a Razão Discriminante de Fisher (RDF). Foi observado que, para esta configuração, usando apenas o primeiro atraso do cumulante de segunda ordem, foi alcançada uma taxa de detecção de 100% para as condições de ilhamento e também para a classificação da ocorrência de falta, independentemente da diferença de potência entre a carga e a GD.
Image Super Resolution Using Generative Adversarial Networks and non-Paired Strategy
Authors: Moreira Letícia Karolina , Romero Marcelo , Ribeiro Manassés
Published: November 2021

The quality of images obtained from video surveillance systems is a decisive aspect when performing investigations at the Forensic Science. Features such as scars, tattoos, and skin marks are great examples of details that allow to consolidate an investigation at certain scenarios in which there is the necessity to identify individuals captured in a video or image footage. However, the low quality of images could affect the results of the investigations. In this sense, this work proposes the study of a computational model to address the problem of increasing the resolution of Low-Resolution (LR) images, also known as the problem of super-resolution of images. The main idea is to train a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) so that it can be able to enhance low-quality images. The hypothesis is that a variant model of a GAN, named Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network (SRGAN), is capable to produce High-Resolution (HR) images from LR ones. The proposed methodology is based on experimental research with the aid of the hypothetical deductive method, where two well-recognised state of art methods were used, which proposes the use of convolutional neural networks and deep learning. For the model validation, were conducted four different experiments: two to avail the capacity of the GAN to produce images with enhanced resolution and two other experiments to evaluate the quality of the results produced by the SRGAN. The quantitative results of our experiments are promising, with performances that are similar to those obtained by state-of-the-art approaches. Moreover, the qualitative results based on performing a visual analysis of the images produced by our approach suggest a interesting performance in terms of visual quality.
A Transfer Learning Approach for the Tattoo Detection Problem
Authors: Silva Rodrigo Tchalski , Lopes Heitor Silvério
Published: November 2021

Tattoos are still poorly explored as a biometrics factor for human identification, especially in public security, where tattoos can play an important role for identifying criminals and victims. Tattoos are considered a soft biometrics, since they are not permanent and can change along time, differently from hard biometrics traits (fingerprint, iris, DNA, etc). The identification of tattoos are not simple, since they do not have a definite pattern or location. This fact increases the complexity of developing models to address this problem. In addition, the tattoo identification roadmap is very complex, including several steps and, in each step, specific methods need to be developed. Among the several problems identified in this roadmap, we tacked the identification problem, which is defined as: given an image of a person, determine if there is a tattoo or not. We present a deep learning model based on transfer learning for the tattoo detection problem. We also used data augmentation to improve the diversity of the training sets so as to achieve better classification accuracy. Along the work two new datasets for tattoo detection were created. Several comparative experiments were done to evaluate the diversity of images in the datasets, and the accuracy of the proposed model. Results were very promising, achieving an accuracy of 95.1% in the test set, and a F1-score of 0.79 in an external dataset. Overall, results were satisfactory, given the complexity of the problem. Future work will focus on expanding the datasets created and addressing the other problems of the tattoo roadmap.
Classificação de Sinais Temporais de Sonar Passivo utilizando Redes Neurais Convolucionais
Authors: Souza Marlon Jovenil , Seixas José Manoel , Moura Junior Natanael Nunes
Published: November 2021

O oceano é atualmente explorado em vários níveis. Devido ao interesse crescente pelo mundo no ambiente marinho, surge a necessidade de compreendê-lo melhor através da acústica submarina. Sinais irradiados no meio submarino podem ser detectados e classificados por diversos sistemas. As Redes Neurais Artificiais, em especial as chamadas Redes profundas são ótimas ferramentas de apoio para o estudo desses sinais. Neste artigo é proposto dois modelos de Redes Neurais Artificiais, Multilayer Perceptron e Convolutional Neural Network, a fim de classificar sinais de navios provenientes de um sistema de Sonar Passivo fornecidos pela Marinha do Brasil. Outros trabalhos desenvolvidos com esta base de dados analisam o sinal no domínio da frequência, entretanto este artigo visa uma análise no domínio do Tempo. Os resultados obtidos serão analisados utilizando algumas figuras de méritos já estabelecidas no meio acadêmico. Através delas é possível constatar que o classificador baseado em modelos profundos obteve um melhor desempenho de classificação dos sinais se comparado com o classificador de rede rasas.
Potential Implications of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2 Blockades on Neuroinflammation in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Paul Deepraj , Mohankumar Suresh K. , Thomas Rhian S. , Kheng Chai B. , Basavan Duraiswamy
Published: November 2021

Background:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been reported as a portal
for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Consequently,
scientific strategies to combat coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) were targeted to arrest
SARS-CoV-2 invasion by blocking ACE2. While blocking ACE2 appears a beneficial approach to
treat COVID-19, clinical concerns have been raised primarily due to the various intrinsic roles of
ACE2 in neurological functions. Selective reports indicate that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) upregulate ACE2 levels. ACE2 metabolizes
angiotensin II and several peptides, including apelin-13, neurotensin, kinetensin, dynorphin,
(des-Arg9) bradykinin, and (Lys-des-Arg9)-bradykinin, which may elicit neuroprotective effects.
Since ARBs and ACEIs upregulate ACE2, it may be hypothesized that patients with hypertension
receiving ARBs and ACEIs may have higher expression of ACE2 and thus be at a greater risk of severe
disease from the SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, recent clinical reports indicate the beneficial
role of ARBs/ACEIs in reducing COVID-19 severity. Together, this warrants a further study
of the effects of ACE2 blockades in hypertensive patients medicated with ARBs/ACEIs, and their
consequential impact on neuronal health. However, the associations between their blockade and
any neuroinflammation also warrant further research.

Objective:

This review collates mechanistic insights into the dichotomous roles of ACE2 in SARSCoV-
2 invasion and neurometabolic functions and the possible impact of ACE2 blockade on neuroinflammation.

Conclusion:

It has been concluded that ACE2 blockade imposes neuroinflammation.
The Therapeutic Potential of MAPK/ERK Inhibitors in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Pashirzad Mehran , Khorasanian Reihaneh , Fard Maryam Mahmoudi , Arjmand Mohammad-Hassan , Langari Hadis , Khazaei Majid , Soleimanpour Saman , Rezayi Majid , Ferns Gordon A. , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Avan Amir
Published: November 2021

:

The MAPK/ERK signaling pathway regulates cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation,
angiogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance. Mutations and up-regulation of components
of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, as well as over-activation of this critical signaling
pathway, are frequently observed in colorectal carcinomas. Targeting the MAPK/ERK signaling
pathway, using specific pharmacological inhibitors, elicits potent anti-tumor effects, supporting the
therapeutic potential of these inhibitors in the treatment of CRC. Several drugs have recently been
developed for the inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway in preclinical and clinical settings, such as
MEK162 and MK-2206. MEK1/2 inhibitors demonstrate promising efficacy and anticancer activity
for the treatment of this malignancy. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role
of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of CRC and the potential clinical value
of synthetic inhibitors of this pathway in preventing CRC progression for a better understanding,
and hence, better management of colorectal cancer.
Comparison of Metformin-sulfonylurea and Metformin-acarbose Combination
Therapies on Glycemic Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sauriasari Rani , Wafa Wafa , Septini Renni
Published: November 2021

Objective:

Pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus features various combinations
of treatments, with different therapies providing different levels of effectiveness. In clinical
settings, choices are driven by cost, effectiveness, and safety considerations, and these choices are
still under question in Indonesia. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of metformin-sulfonylurea
and metformin-acarbose combination therapies on glycemic parameters in patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods:

This study was carried out at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Jakarta and utilized a retrospective
cohort study design. Participants had consumed the same drug without switching for six
months and were divided into a metformin-sulfonylurea group (n = 100) and a metformin-acarbose
group (n = 100). The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by considering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c),
two hours postprandial glucose, and fasting blood glucose.

Results:

After six months’ consumption, there were no statistical differences between results for
the metformin-sulfonylurea and metformin-acarbose groups in terms of change of HbA1c (p =
0.062), controlled two hours postprandial blood glucose (p = 0.649), and controlled fasting blood
glucose (p = 0.282). Regular exercise was the most significant factor for constant/decreased
HbA1c, whereas being male and following a diet were the most significant factors for controlled
two hours postprandial blood glucose and fasting blood glucose, respectively.

Conclusion:

Based on the analysis performed, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness
of six months’ consumption of metformin-sulfonylurea and metformin-acarbose on HbA1c,
two hours postprandial blood glucose, and fasting blood glucose.
Technological Developments and Quality of Life in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Patients: A Review of the Modern Insulin Analogues, Continuous Glucose
Monitoring and Insulin Pump Therapy
Authors: Benioudakis Emmanouil , Karlafti Eleni , Kalaitzaki Argyroula , Kaiafa Georgia , Savopoulos Christos , Didangelos Triantafyllos
Published: November 2021

Background:

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease,
which is characterized by an increased prevalence worldwide, which, in fact, tends to take extensive
dimensions. The recent rapid development of science and technology has significantly contributed
to the improvement of the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus, both in achieving the
required euglycaemic regulation and reducing the psychological burden associated with the disease,
consequently improving the quality of life of the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods:

A literature review from 2010, related to the contribution of the modern insulin analogues,
continuous glucose monitoring and the insulin pump, was performed using Scopus, ScienceDirect
and PubMed databases.

Results:

Studies included in the review support a direct and indirect association of technological innovations
with the quality of life. The use of type 1 diabetes mellitus technology was negatively associated
with the frequency of the hypoglycaemias and the value of the glycosylated hemoglobin,
while at the same time, the development and use of the related technology were highly associated
with an improvement in the quality of life.

Conclusion:

Patients’ quality of life is an indicator of the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus,
and it is just as important as glycaemic regulation. Through this review, it was concluded that a better
quality of life of T1DM patients was associated with the improvement of glycosylated hemoglobin
and hypoglycemic episodes.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Parotid Gland: Unusual Entity and Diagnostic Pitfalls
Authors: LIU XIAOQIN , LIAO XIAOYAN , ZHANG DONGWEI
Published: November 2021

Background: Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (PA) of the salivary gland with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) component is extremely rare and can be easily misdiagnosed as a benign PA or SCC (primary or metastatic). Case Report: A 75-year-old male who had no significant past medical history, presented with a rapid growing right parotid gland mass. A fine needle aspiration revealed malignant cells. Following partial parotidectomy, a 2.4 cm ill-defined mass was grossly identified. Microscopically, it showed a keratinizing SCC with adjacent component of residual PA. Immunohistochemically, the malignant tumor cells were positive for p40, p63 and CK5. The residual PA was focally positive for CAM5.2, SMA, p63 and S100. The pathological features were consistent with SCC ex PA. The patient was well at the 7 month-follow-up post-surgery. Conclusion: SCC ex PA is a rare entity that can be mistaken for a benign PA with squamous metaplasia, or primary or metastatic SCC. It behaves aggressively and has high recurrence and metastasis rate. Awareness of this disease and the diagnostic pitfalls are essential to avoid misinterpretation in difficult cases.