bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A spatial SIS model with Holling II incidence rate
Authors: Xie Wenhao , Liang Gongqian , Wang Wei , She Yanhong
Published: November 2019

A diffusive SIS epidemic model with Holling II incidence rate is studied in this paper. We introduce the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] first. Then the existence of endemic equilibrium (EE) can be determined by the sizes of [Formula: see text] as well as the diffusion rates of susceptible and infected individuals. We also investigate the effect of diffusion rates on asymptotic profile of EE. Our results conclude that the infected population will die out if the diffusion rate of susceptible individuals is small and the total population [Formula: see text] is below a certain level; while the two populations persist eventually if at least one of the diffusion rates of the susceptible and infected individuals is large.
Flip bifurcation and Neimark–Sacker bifurcation in a discrete predator–prey model with harvesting
Authors: Liu Wei , Jiang Yaolin
Published: November 2019

In this paper, a difference-algebraic predator–prey model is proposed, and its complex dynamical behaviors are analyzed. The model is a discrete singular system, which is obtained by using Euler scheme to discretize a differential-algebraic predator–prey model with harvesting that we establish. Firstly, the local stability of the interior equilibrium point of proposed model is investigated on the basis of discrete dynamical system theory. Further, by applying the new normal form of difference-algebraic equations, center manifold theory and bifurcation theory, the Flip bifurcation and Neimark–Sacker bifurcation around the interior equilibrium point are studied, where the step size is treated as the variable bifurcation parameter. Lastly, with the help of Matlab software, some numerical simulations are performed not only to validate our theoretical results, but also to show the abundant dynamical behaviors, such as period-doubling bifurcations, period 2, 4, 8, and 16 orbits, invariant closed curve, and chaotic sets. In particular, the corresponding maximum Lyapunov exponents are numerically calculated to corroborate the bifurcation and chaotic behaviors.
Determination of the equivalent properties of periodic heterogeneous composite plates using the structural genome approach
Authors: Jia Yiran , Lei Jincheng , Liu Zishun , Lee Heow Pueh
Published: November 2019

A structural genome (SG) is defined as the smallest structural building block of composite materials. In this study, we use the concept of structure genome to propose a simple approach for obtaining the equivalent mechanical properties of periodic heterogeneous composite plates. Firstly, an SG from the structural model of a periodic heterogeneous composite plate is extracted. Secondly, a python script is developed in commercial software ABAQUS to conveniently impose periodic boundary conditions and apply different loads on the SG as well as obtain the equivalent mechanical properties of the structural genome. To verify the proposed SG approach, numerical examples are presented and discussed for both linear and nonlinear elastic cases. The results show that this approach is efficient and the results are of sufficient precision to calculate the mechanical properties of both linear and nonlinear elastic periodic heterogeneous composite plates.
Evaluation of the weatherability of andesite aggregates in road pavements
Authors: Sangsefidi Ebrahim , Wilson Doug James , Black Philippa Margaret , Larkin Tam Joseph
Published: November 2019

Despite the fact that the in-service weathering process can cause undesirable changes to unbound granular materials (UGMs), there is no reliable preconstruction laboratory test method to evaluate their weatherability. Most existing durability tests do not take into account either the properties of the parent rock or in-service environmental conditions. This study proposes a series of modifications to the New Zealand standard weathering quality index (WQI) method to improve its effectiveness in evaluating the weatherability of two sources of andesitic UGM aggregates. The modifications proposed include adjusting the gradation of aggregates, the wetting and drying process, and the chemical composition and temperature of the weathering solution, so that they can be more representative of the conditions of the UGMs in the pavement structure. The quality and quantity of produced fines (passing the 75 
μ
m sieve), the physical degradation and the retained abrasion resistance of aggregates were also adopted to assess the weatherability of materials. It can be concluded that the standard WQI fails to evaluate the potential weatherability of andesite road aggregates. The findings also reveal the influence of the modified solution on both physical and chemical weathering of selected aggregates, and, as expected, marginal materials are more significantly affected.
Learning Linear Influence Models in Social Networks from Transient Opinion Dynamics
Authors: De Abir , Bhattacharya Sourangshu , Bhattacharya Parantapa , Ganguly Niloy , Chakrabarti Soumen
Published: November 2019

Social networks, forums, and social media have emerged as global platforms for forming and shaping opinions on a broad spectrum of topics like politics, sports, and entertainment. Users (also calledactors) often update their evolving opinions, influenced through discussions with other users. Theoretical models and their analysis on understanding opinion dynamics in social networks abound in the literature. However, these models are often based on concepts from statistical physics. Their goal is to establish specific phenomena like steady state consensus or bifurcation. Analysis of transient effects is largely avoided. Moreover, many of these studies assume that actors’ opinions are observed globally and synchronously, which is rarely realistic. In this article, we initiate an investigation into a family of novel data-driven influence models that accurately learn and fit realistic observations. We estimate and do not presume edge strengths from observed opinions at nodes. Our influence models are linear but not necessarily positive or row stochastic in nature. As a consequence, unlike the previous studies, they do not depend on system stability or convergence during the observation period. Furthermore, our models take into account a wide variety of data collection scenarios. In particular, they are robust to missing observations for several timesteps after an actor has changed its opinion. In addition, we consider scenarios where opinion observations may be available only for aggregated clusters of nodes—a practical restriction often imposed to ensure privacy. Finally, to provide a conceptually interpretable design of edge influence, we offer a relatively frugal variant of our influence model, where the strength of influence between two connecting nodes depends on the node attributes (demography, personality, expertise, etc.). Such an approach reduces the number of model parameters, reduces overfitting, and offers a tractable and explicable sketch of edge influences in the context of opinion dynamics. With six real-life datasets crawled from Twitter and Reddit, as well as three more datasets collected from in-house experiments (with 102 volunteers), our proposed system gives a significant accuracy boost over four state-of-the-art baselines.
Toward a Better Understanding of Behavioral Ethics in the Workplace
Authors: De Cremer David , Moore Celia
Published: November 2019

The emerging field of behavioral ethics has attracted much attention from scholars across a range of different disciplines, including social psychology, management, behavioral economics, and law. However, how behavioral ethics is situated in relation to more traditional work on business ethics within organizational behavior (OB) has not really been discussed yet. Our primary objective is to bridge the different literatures on ethics within the broad field of OB, and we suggest a full-fledged approach that we refer to as behavioral business ethics. To do so, we review the foundations and research foci of business ethics and behavioral ethics. We structure our review on three levels: the intrapersonal level, interpersonal level, and organizational level. For each level, we provide relevant research examples and outline where more research efforts are needed. We conclude by recommending future research opportunities relevant to behavioral business ethics and discuss its practical implications.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Patients with Severe Mental Illness Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Uganda
Authors: Agaba David Collins , Migisha Richard , Namayanja Rosemary , Katamba Godfrey , Lugobe Henry Mark , Aheisibwe Hillary , Twesigomwe Godfrey , Ashaba Scholastic
Published: November 2019

Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components which are the major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, is higher among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) compared to the general population. This is mainly due to the deleterious lifestyles characterized by physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and unhealthy diets common among patients with SMI as well as due to cardiometabolic effects of psychotropic medications. Despite these conditions being highly prevalent among patients with SMI, little attention is given to these conditions during routine reviews in the mental health clinics in most low-income countries including Uganda. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of MetS among patients with SMI at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda. Through a cross-sectional study at the mental health clinic of the hospital, we recruited 304 patients with SMI and evaluated them for MetS using the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. We defined the prevalence of MetS as the proportion of patients meeting the NCEP ATP III criteria. We used logistic regression to evaluate associations between MetS and independent variables. We included a total of 302 (44.37% male, 55.63% female) patients with a diagnosis of SMI in the analysis. The prevalence of MetS was 23.51% (95% CI 18.84–28.71). At multivariable logistic regression, age >40 years and long duration of mental illness (>10 years) were significantly associated with MetS. The prevalence of MetS is high among patients with psychiatric disorders, and thus metabolic screening, especially among the high-risk groups, is critical.
Experimental and Theoretical Analysis on the Dynamic Characteristics of Fused Filament Fabrication Plates
Authors: Jiang Shijie , Zhan Ming , Sun Mingyu , Dai Weibing , Zhao Chunyu
Published: November 2019

With the increasingly wide application of fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique, the built products are inevitably exposed to dynamic mechanical loading and vibration. However, there has been no systematic study in the literature on understanding and characterization of dynamic mechanical performance for FFF products. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of FFF plates are quantified, with the effect of different extrusion width taken into account. A dynamic model of the built plate with cantilever boundary conditions is established, and the inherent characteristics are predicted. Modal tests are then performed on these samples to obtain the measured data. Through the comparison between predictions and measurements, the theoretical model is validated. Different extrusion width makes the material properties of the plates different, resulting in different dynamic characteristics. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis on the samples confirms that the dynamic characteristic is deteriorated as the extrusion width decreases. This present work provides theoretical basis and technical support for further research in improving the dynamic performance of FFF products and helps extend the applications of this technique.
An API Semantics-Aware Malware Detection Method Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Ma Xin , Guo Shize , Bai Wei , Chen Jun , Xia Shiming , Pan Zhisong
Published: November 2019

The explosive growth of malware variants poses a continuously and deeply evolving challenge to information security. Traditional malware detection methods require a lot of manpower. However, machine learning has played an important role on malware classification and detection, and it is easily spoofed by malware disguising to be benign software by employing self-protection techniques, which leads to poor performance for existing techniques based on the machine learning method. In this paper, we analyze the local maliciousness about malware and implement an anti-interference detection framework based on API fragments, which uses the LSTM model to classify API fragments and employs ensemble learning to determine the final result of the entire API sequence. We present our experimental results on Ali-Tianchi contest API databases. By comparing with the experiments of some common methods, it is proved that our method based on local maliciousness has better performance, which is a higher accuracy rate of 0.9734.
Characterization of Prototype Formulated Particleboards from Agroindustrial Lignocellulose Biomass Bonded with Chemically Modified Cassava Peel Starch
Authors: Kariuki Stephen Warui , Wachira Jackson , Kawira Millien , Leonard Genson Murithi
Published: November 2019

Conventional methods of making particleboards utilize wood chips. This has resulted in a decrease in the tree cover due to the increase in wood demand. The effect has been climatic change. Wood is bound using phenol formaldehyde resin. Because of the decrease in the forest cover, alternative lignocellulose materials are required. In this study, lignocellulose materials used include sugarcane bagasse, maize stock, and rice husks. The cassava-starch mix with borax was used as a binder in particleboard formulation. The lignin content was determined, and its effect on properties of boards was investigated. The resultant composite material was molded at a pressure of 6.5 N/mm2 and at 30°C. The resultant particleboards had mean densities ranging from 0.604 to 0.611 g/cm3. The modulus of elasticity ranged from 2364.2 N/mm2 to 3329.93 N/mm2, modulus of rupture ranged from 13.55 N/mm2 to 14.83 N/mm2, and internal bonding ranged from 1.613 N/mm2 to 2.370 N/mm2. The performance of the board was dependent on the lignocellulose material used. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that main chemical bonding in the particleboard resulted from esterification of –COOH from lignocellulose and OH- from starch. The particleboards formulated were found to be of low-density-fibre standard used in a similar manner to the conventional low-density particleboards.
Mutual Impedance Properties in a Lossy Array Antenna
Authors: Tokarsky Peter L.
Published: November 2019

The impedance matrix of an arbitrary multiport array antenna with Ohmic losses was studied. It was assumed that the partial current distributions in the array, corresponding to the alternate exciting one of its terminals while the other ones are open-circuited, are known. Consideration of the power balance in the lossy array antenna has allowed ascertaining that its impedance matrix is a sum of the radiation resistance matrix and loss resistance matrix, which are in general case complex Hermitian matrices and only in some particular cases can be real. The theoretical statements obtained are confirmed by two numerical examples, where analysis of two lossy dipole arrays was performed. In the first example, the dipoles were located above the imperfect ground, which served as a source of losses, and in the second example, the same dipoles were located in free space, and the embedded parasitic element was the source of losses. The results of the analysis showed that the asymmetric placement of energy absorbers in the array antennas leads to the appearance of imaginary parts in the matrices of radiation and loss resistances, which allow one to correctly predict the behavior of the array radiation efficiency during beam scanning.
Application of the Electret in Alpha Radiation Sensor to Measure the Concentration of Radon in Selected Ambient Conditions
Authors: Gubanski Adam , Kupracz Jan , Kostyla Paweł , Kaczorowska Dominika , Wrobel Jerzy
Published: November 2019

A novel electret sensor, made from a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) foil, is proposed for monitoring of radon concentration in closed spaces. A triode air system was implemented to form the electret foil. In order to calibrate the electret sensor, the ionization chamber with the electret embedded at its bottom, was placed in an emanation chamber containing radon of known concentration. The change in the effective charge density of the electret resulting from the interaction of the electret sensor with ionizing radiation, make it possible to determine the degree of its response to the radon concentration in the examined environment. The electric charge of the electret sensor was evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the concentration measurement using a field chopper. The measurement of the value of the electric field between the electret and the reference electrode directly corresponds to the effective surface charge density of the electret. The measuring system was calibrated in values of the electret equivalent voltage of Uz. In order to assess the electret properties, both the thermostimulated charge relaxation (TSQ) method and the thermostimulated discharge current (TSDC) method were used to evaluate corresponding parameters. These investigations led to the optimization of the electret formation process for the maximum sensitivity to the effects of alpha particles resulting from radon radioactive decay.
Evaluation of Deep Learning Methods Efficiency for Malicious and Benign System Calls Classification on the AWSCTD
Authors: Čeponis Dainius , Goranin Nikolaj
Published: November 2019

The increasing amount of malware and cyberattacks on a host level increases the need for a reliable anomaly-based host IDS (HIDS) that would be able to deal with zero-day attacks and would ensure low false alarm rate (FAR), which is critical for the detection of such activity. Deep learning methods such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are considered to be highly suitable for solving data-driven security solutions. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the comparative analysis of such methods in order to evaluate their efficiency in attack classification as well as their ability to distinguish malicious and benign activity. In this article, we present the results achieved with the AWSCTD (attack-caused Windows OS system calls traces dataset), which can be considered as the most exhaustive set of host-level anomalies at the moment, including 112.56 million system calls from 12110 executable malware samples and 3145 benign software samples with 16.3 million system calls. The best results were obtained with CNNs with up to 90.0% accuracy for family classification and 95.0% accuracy for malicious/benign determination. RNNs demonstrated slightly inferior results. Furthermore, CNN tuning via an increase in the number of layers should make them practically applicable for host-level anomaly detection.
Caffeates and Caffeamides: Synthetic Methodologies and Their Antioxidant Properties
Authors: de Armas-Ricard Merly , Ruiz-Reyes Enrique , Ramírez-Rodríguez Oney
Published: November 2019

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants and include a variety of chemical structures, from simple molecules such as phenolic acids to condensed tannins and highly polymerized compounds. Caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) is one of the hydroxycinnamate metabolites more widely distributed in plant tissues. It is present in many food sources, including coffee drinks, blueberries, apples, and cider, and also in several medications of popular use, mainly those based on propolis. Its derivatives are also known to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial activities, and can contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. This review is an overview of the available information about the chemical synthesis and antioxidant activity of caffeic acid derivatives. Considering the relevance of these compounds in human health, many of them have been the focus of reviews, taking as a center their obtaining from the plants. There are few revisions that compile the chemical synthesis methods, in this way, we consider that this review does an important contribution.
Comparison between the Effects of Acupuncture Relative to Other Controls on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zheng Haizhen , Chen Rixin , Zhao Xiaofeng , Li Guanhui , Liang Yi , Zhang Hao , Chi Zhenhai
Published: November 2019

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with recurrent abdominal pain and altered defecation habits. We here attempted to determine the effect of acupuncture on IBS. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of science, and ClinicalTrials.gov till July 17, 2019 were searched. Outcomes were total efficacy rates, overall IBS symptom scores, or global quality of life scores. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI were calculated for meta-analysis. Results. We included 41 RCTs involving 3440 participants for analysis. 8 RCTs compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture, among which 3 trials confirmed the biological effects of acupuncture, especially in treating abdominal pain, discomfort, and stool frequency. No significant difference was found when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture, in terms of effects on IBS symptoms and quality of life (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI −0.26∼0.63, P=0.42; SMD = −0.10, 95% CI −0.31∼0.11, P=0.35), but the pooled efficacy rate data showed a better outcome for true acupuncture (RR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.01∼1.47, P=0.04), which was not supported by sensitivity analysis. Acupuncture was more effective relative to western medicine in alleviating IBS symptoms (RR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.12∼1.23, I2 = 0%, P<0.00001), whose effect might last 3 months. Besides, acupuncture as an adjunct to western medicine, Chinese medications, or tuina was superior over the single latter treatment (RR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.40, P=0.004; 1.19, 1.03 to 1.36, P=0.02; 1.36, 1.08 to 1.72, P=0.009, respectively), with high heterogeneities. Conclusions. Relative to sham controls, acupuncture showed no superiority for treating IBS, while the advantage over western medicine was significant. Acupuncture could be used as an adjunct in clinical settings to improve efficacy. Future high-quality and large-sample-size studies with adequate quantity-effect design need to be conducted.
Prx1-Expressing Progenitor Primary Cilia Mediate Bone Formation in response to Mechanical Loading in Mice
Authors: Moore Emily R. , Chen Julia C. , Jacobs Christopher R.
Published: November 2019

Increases in mechanical loading can enhance the addition of new bone, altering geometry and density such that bones better withstand higher forces. Bone-forming osteoblasts have long been thought to originate from progenitors, but the exact source is yet to be identified. Previous studies indicate osteogenic precursors arise from Prx1-expressing progenitors during embryonic development and adult fracture repair. However, it is unknown whether this cell population is also a source for mechanically induced active osteoblasts. We first identified that Prx1 is expressed in skeletally mature mouse periosteum, a thin tissue covering the surface of the bone that is rich in osteoprogenitors. We then traced Prx1 progenitor lineage using a transgenic mouse model carrying both a Prx1-driven tamoxifen-inducible Cre and a ROSA-driven lacZ reporter gene. Cells that expressed Prx1 when compressive axial loading was applied were detected within the cortical bone days after stimulation, indicating osteocytes are of Prx1-expressing cell origin. In addition, we evaluated how these cells sense and respond to physical stimulation in vivo by disrupting their primary cilia, which are antenna-like sensory organelles known to enhance mechanical and chemical signaling kinetics. Although Prx1-driven primary cilium disruption did not affect osteoblast recruitment to the bone surface, the relative mineral apposition and bone formation rates were decreased by 53% and 34%, respectively. Thus, this cell population contributes to load-induced bone formation, and primary cilia are needed for a complete response. Interestingly, Prx1-expressing progenitors are easily extracted from periosteum and are perhaps an attractive alternative to marrow stem cells for bone tissue regeneration strategies.
Altered Levels of mRNAs for Calcium-Binding/Associated Proteins, Annexin A1, S100A4, and TMEM64, in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Associated with Osteoporosis
Authors: Dera Ayed A. , Ranganath Lakshminarayan , Barraclough Roger , Vinjamuri Sobhan , Hamill Sandra , Mandourah Abdullah Y. , Barraclough Dong L.
Published: November 2019

Background. Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in the world. Since osteoporosis is clinically symptomless until the first fracture occurs, early diagnosis is critical. Calcium, along with calcium-binding and calcium-associated proteins, plays an important role in homeostasis, maintaining healthy bone metabolism. This study is aimed at investigating the level of calcium-binding/associated proteins, annexin A1, S100A4, and TMEM64, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells associated with osteoporosis and its clinical significance. Methods. The levels of mRNAs of annexin A1, S100A4, and TMEM64 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated among 48 osteopenia and 23 osteoporosis patients compared to 17 nonosteoporotic controls. Total RNAs were isolated from clinical samples, and quantitation of mRNA levels was performed using real-time quantitative PCR. Results. The levels of mRNAs for calcium-binding proteins, annexin A1 and S100A4, and calcium-associated protein, TMEM64, in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly reduced in osteopenia and osteoporosis patients compared with nonosteoporotic controls (one-way ANOVA, P<0.0001, P=0.039, and P=0.0195, respectively). Annexin A1 and TMEM64 mRNAs were also significantly reduced in female osteoporosis patients over the age of 50 years compared to nonosteoporotic controls (one-way ANOVA, P=0.004 and P=0.0037, respectively). ROC analysis showed that the reduction in the level of mRNA for annexin A1, S100A4, or TMEM64 in the patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells has a good diagnostic value for osteoporosis. Conclusions. The results show for the first time that calcium-binding/associated proteins, annexin A1 and TMEM64, could be future diagnostic biomarkers for osteoporosis.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5—A Probable Target of Kidney Renal Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Shuqiang , Hong Quan , Geng Xiaodong , Chi Kun , Cai Guangyan , Wu Di
Published: November 2019

Kidney renal papillary renal cell carcinoma (KIRP) accounts for 10–15% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The need to find more therapeutic targets for KIRP is urgent because most targeted drugs have limited effects on advanced KIRP. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) is a secreted protein related to cell proliferation, cell adhesion, cell migration, the inflammatory response and fibrosis; these functions are independent of IGF. In our study, we determined the expression and functions of IGFBP5 with data from the database of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We found that IGFBP5 is down regulated in KIRP kidney tissues compared to its expression in control tissues and that the expression of IGFBP5 is negatively related to patient survival. Bioinformatic analysis showed the probable processes and pathways involved in altered IGFBP5 expression, including blood vessel development, the cellular response to growth factor stimulus, the response to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and extracellular matrix organization. We proposed that VEGFA and TGF-β act as upstream regulatory factors of IGFBP5 and verified this in the Caki-2 cell line. Based on our results, we suggest that IGFBP5 might be a therapeutic target of KIRP.
Rhinoconjunctivitis among Adolescents in Kuwait and Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ziyab Ali H. , Ali Yaser M.
Published: November 2019

Rhinoconjunctivitis is a public health problem that causes major illness and disability worldwide. Epidemiological studies intended to determine the burden of rhinoconjunctivitis in Kuwait are limited. Hence, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents in Kuwait and explore its association with different risk factors. Schoolchildren aged 11–14 years (n = 3,864) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Parents completed questionnaires regarding their children’s clinical history and symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and relevant exposures. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation, and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The 12-month (current) prevalence estimates of rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, and severe rhinoconjunctivitis were 28.6% (1,040/3,643), 13.5% (497/3,689), and 1.2% (44/3,689), respectively. The prevalence of current rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms was higher in boys compared to girls (aPR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01–1.41). Parental history of rhinitis and asthma showed positive associations with rhinoconjunctivitis in offspring. Trend analyses showed that rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence decreased with increasing numbers of total siblings (aPR = 0.92, Ptrend<0.001) and older siblings (aPR = 0.90, Ptrend<0.001). Rhinoconjunctivitis is common among adolescents in Kuwait and its epidemiology is similar to that found in western countries.
Resolution of Osseous Sarcoidosis with Methotrexate
Authors: Kanner Christopher , Libman Bonita , Merchand Morgan , Lemos Diego
Published: November 2019

Though a relatively uncommon manifestation of sarcoidosis, some clinicians are tasked with managing osseous involvement of disease, and the optimal treatment approach in this setting is not well established. Previous studies have shown variable efficacy for osseous sarcoidosis utilizing multiple agents alone or in combination, often using imaging follow-up in conjunction with clinical assessment to evaluate response to treatment. We present a case of widespread skeletal involvement of sarcoidosis without evidence of concurrent pulmonary disease demonstrating marked clinical improvement and near-complete resolution of imaging abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following the use of methotrexate as the primary pharmacologic agent.
Diagnostic and Management Challenges of Caesarean Scar Ectopic Pregnancy in a Lower Middle Income Country
Authors: Asah-Opoku Kwaku , Oduro Nana Essuman , Swarray-Deen Alim , Mumuni Kareem , Koranteng Isaac Osei , Senker Rita Catherine , Rijken Marcus , Nkyekyer Kobinah
Published: November 2019

Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is defined as the implantation of the blastocyst in a previous Caesarean scar. It is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy. The incidence is however rising due to the increasing rates of Caesarean sections as well as in-vitro fertilization embryo-transfer. It can be diagnosed early by ultrasound. This remains a challenge in lower middle income countries where the availability of high resolution ultrasound and the skill for such sonography may be lacking. Misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis often leads to poor treatment outcomes. We present a case of a gravida 3 para 2 + 0 who had laparotomy for a caesarean scar pregnancy and highlight the challenges associated with diagnosis and management of this rare ectopic pregnancy in a lower middle income country.
Environmental Noise-Induced Effects on Stress Hormones, Oxidative Stress, and Vascular Dysfunction: Key Factors in the Relationship between Cerebrocardiovascular and Psychological Disorders
Authors: Hahad Omar , Prochaska Jürgen H. , Daiber Andreas , Münzel Thomas
Published: November 2019

The role of noise as an environmental pollutant and its adverse effects on health are being increasingly recognized. Beyond its direct effects on the auditory system (e.g., hearing loss and tinnitus induced by exposure to high levels of noise), chronic low-level noise exposure causes mental stress associated with known cardiovascular complications. According to recent estimates of the World Health Organization, exposure to traffic noise is responsible for a loss of more than 1.5 million healthy life years per year in Western Europe alone, a major part being related to annoyance, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbance. Underlying mechanisms of noise-induced mental stress are centered on increased stress hormone levels, blood pressure, and heart rate, which in turn favor the development of cerebrocardiovascular disease such as stroke, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Furthermore, traffic noise exposure is also associated with mental health symptoms and psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety, which further increase maladaptive coping mechanisms (e.g., alcohol and tobacco use). From a molecular point of view, experimental studies suggest that traffic noise exposure can increase stress hormone levels, thereby triggering inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways by activation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, uncoupling of endothelial/neuronal nitric oxide synthase inducing endothelial and neuronal dysfunction. This review elucidates the mechanisms underlying the relationship between noise exposure and cerebrocardiovascular and psychological disorders, focusing on mental stress signaling pathways including activation of the autonomous nervous system and endocrine signaling and its association with inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction.
Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 is Associated with Renal Function and Diabetic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Miaomiao , Zhao Bing , Xie Jing , Liang Yan , Yang Zaixing
Published: November 2019

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is an available tumor biomarker mainly for detecting ovarian cancer. However, it is unknown whether it can be a novel indicator for diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of serum HE4 as a novel biomarker for DKD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We enrolled 236 patients with T2DM and 82 healthy individuals. Serum HE4 was detected by ARCHITECT i2000 and compared between T2DM patients and healthy controls. The relationships between various variables and HE4 were analyzed by univariate or multivariate linear regression analyses. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the diagnostic performance of HE4 for DKD. The association between HE4 and DKD was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The serum HE4 level was significantly increased in T2DM patients (median, interquartile range (IQR), 69.7, 46.5–153.9, pM) compared with healthy control (median, IQR, 40.3 33.2–46.3, pM) (P<0.001). Furthermore, it was higher in those with DKD (median, IQR, 211.1, 141.6–367.4, pM) than those without DKD (median, IQR, 55.5, 42.7–79.6, pM) (P<0.001). The multivariable analysis showed that age, eGFR, HDL, CRP, and urea significantly independently correlated with HE4 level, while other variables did not. The ROC curve showed that the diagnostic performance of serum HE4 for DKD with 82.9 pM as the optimal cutoff value was good (AUC = 0.917, 95% CI: 0.872–0.961, P<0.001, with a sensitivity and specificity of 92.1% and 76.9%, respectively) in T2DM patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that increased HE4 level was a significant, independent risk factor for DKD (OR, 95% CI, 57.7, 3.0–1112.9, P<0.001) after adjusting for factors associated with HE4. Increased serum HE4 level is associated with decreased renal function and increased risks of DKD in patients with DM. It displays a good diagnostic value for DKD.
Rhizosphere Bacterial Community Characteristics over Different Years of Sugarcane Ratooning in Consecutive Monoculture
Authors: Gao Xiaoning , Wu Zilin , Liu Rui , Wu Jiayun , Zeng Qiaoying , Qi Yongwen
Published: November 2019

To understand dynamic changes in rhizosphere microbial community in consecutive monoculture, Illumina MiSeq sequencing was performed to evaluate the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA in the rhizosphere of newly planted and three-year ratooning sugarcane and to analyze the rhizosphere bacterial communities. A total of 126,581 and 119,914 valid sequences were obtained from newly planted and ratooning sugarcane and annotated with 4445 and 4620 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), respectively. Increased bacterial community abundance was found in the rhizosphere of ratooning sugarcane when compared with the newly planted sugarcane. The dominant bacterial taxa phyla were similar in both sugarcane groups. Proteobacteria accounted for more than 40% of the total bacterial community, followed by Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria. The abundance of Actinobacteria was higher in the newly planted sugarcane, whereas the abundance of Acidobacteria was higher in the ratooning sugarcane. Our study showed that Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium, Bryobacter, and Gemmatimonas were dominant genera. Moreover, the richness and diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial communities slightly increased and the abundance of beneficial microbes, such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptacidiphilus, in ratooning sugarcane were more enriched. With the consecutive monoculture of sugarcane, the relative abundance of functional groups related to energy metabolism, glycan biosynthesis, metabolism, and transcription were overrepresented in ratooning sugarcane. These findings could provide the way for promoting the ratooning ability of sugarcane by improving the soil bacterial community.
Influence of a Cell-Phone Conversation on Balance Performance in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study
Authors: Villafaina Santos , Gusi Narcis , Rodriguez-Generelo Sandra , Martin-Gallego Juan de Dios , Fuentes-García Juan Pedro , Collado-Mateo Daniel
Published: November 2019

Background. Altered balance is a common and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia. Previous studies have investigated balance under single-task conditions that do not reflect real-life situations. The present study evaluated the impact of a simultaneous cell-phone conversation on balance performance in a case-control cohort from Spain. Methods. A cross-sectional case-control study was performed in 34 women recruited from local self-help organizations and university facilities (n = 18 fibromyalgia cases; n = 16 healthy, pain-free controls). Participants performed the 30 s postural stability test, as implemented in the Biodex Balance System, under two conditions: (a) as a single task and (b) as a dual task, i.e., while holding a simultaneous cell-phone conversation with a technician. Intergroup differences in dual task costs were calculated. Findings. Compared with controls, women with fibromyalgia showed higher dual-task costs in balance variables, such as overall sway (pp value = 0.039) and anterior/posterior sway (p value = 0.007). In the dual-task condition, overall (p value = 0.004) and anterior/posterior (p value = 0.012) sway indices significantly decreased in women with fibromyalgia but not in controls. Interpretation. In women with fibromyalgia, balance performance was adversely impacted by the holding of a simultaneous cell-phone conversation. The inability to conduct two tasks simultaneously may be related to reduced attention and may increase the risk of falling in this population.
Mucormycosis Leading to Cerebral Edema and Cerebellar Tonsillar Herniation after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant: A Case Report
Authors: Jeurkar Chetan , Margetich Lauren , Sahin Ziver
Published: November 2019

Introduction. Mucormycosis following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) carries a very high mortality rate. Pulmonary mucormycosis often leads to systemic dissemination and eventual death. It is imperative for transplant providers to have a high level of suspicion for mucormycosis and initiate early treatment. Here, we present a 64-year-old woman who died of disseminated mucormycosis 13 days following her allogeneic HSCT. Case Presentation. A 64-year-old female with a history of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presented for allogeneic HSCT and passed away from intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to mucormycosis infection 13 days following her transplant. On autopsy, it was found she had angioinvasive mucormycosis in her frontal lobe leading to cerebral edema which eventually led to tonsillar herniation and brainstem infarction. Her lungs were the likely source of infectious dissemination. Discussion. This case represents an unusual course of events following HSCT in that no other published case shows tonsillar herniation resulting from mucormycosis-related intracerebral swelling. We also report this case because it is believed mucormycosis in HSCT patients is underreported. Additionally, our case highlights the importance of increased vigilance for mucormycosis in patients with prolonged neutropenia prior to HSCT and the potential link of voriconazole prophylaxis and increased risk for mucormycosis.
Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on Climatic Zones over the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Jeung Se Jin , Sung Jang Hyun , Kim Byung Sik
Published: November 2019

In assessing the impact of climate change, the use of a multimodel ensemble (MME) is required to quantify uncertainties between scenarios and produce downscaled outlines for the simulation of climate under the influence of different factors including topography. This study of climate change scenarios from 13 global climate models (GCMs) assesses the impacts of future climate change. Unlike South Korea, North Korea lacks studies using climate change scenarios of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and only recently did the country start the projection of extreme precipitation episodes. As such, one of the main purposes of this study is to predict changes in the average climatic conditions of North Korea in the future. The result of comparing downscaled climate change scenarios with observation data for a reference period indicates the high applicability of the MME. Furthermore, this study classifies climatic zones by applying the Köppen–Geiger climatic zones classification to the MME, which is validated for future precipitation and temperature. The result suggests that the continental climate that covers the inland area for the reference climate is expected to shift into the temperate climate. Moreover, the coefficient of variation (CV) in the temperature ensemble is particularly low for the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, and, accordingly, a high possibility of the shifting climatic zone of the coast is predicted.
Left Atrial Myxoma Presenting as Lateral Medullary (Wallenberg’s) Syndrome
Authors: Gupta Simran , Ayala Ricky , Desai Aakash , Modi Viraj I. , Nardino Robert J.
Published: November 2019

Myxomas are benign, primary tumors of the heart. Atrial myxomas can present with a variety of clinical features including dyspnea, orthopnea, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary or systemic emboli. Constitutional symptoms such as fever and weight loss may also be present. We report the case of a young female presenting with headache, facial numbness, and vertigo, who was found to have a posterolateral medullary stroke secondary to a large left atrial cardiac myxoma.
Explosion‐Induced Stress Wave Propagation in Interacting Fault System: Numerical Modeling and Implications for Chaoyang Coal Mine
Authors: Feng Xiaojun , Zhang Qiming , Ali Muhammad
Published: November 2019

Exploring the propagation of stress waves in rocks with preexisting discontinuities is of great importance to reveal rock and geological engineering problems, particularly dynamic disasters like earthquakes and rockbursts in underground coal mining. In this paper, six 3D models established with COMSOL Multiphysics are employed to explore the influence of two preexisting faults with different orientations on the propagation process of explosion‐induced stress waves and the reflection effect. Considering the propagation process of stress waves, the interactive effect between two different size faults is discussed. The results show that the dip angles of the preexisting fault and the differences of the elastic modulus, density, and Poisson’s ratio between faults and rocks have great influence on the distribution of stresses and strain‐energy density. Immediately after the stress wave induced by blasting arrived at preexisting fault A, a relatively high concentration of the strain‐energy density was observed at the last wave before passing through fault A. The presence of faults leads to the reflection of most of the blast energy. When the stress wave propagates across fault A, the strain energy stored in the stress wave becomes attenuated; thus, most strain energy was absorbed by the fault’s domain. Finally, the modeling results were implicated in Chaoyang Coal Mine to account for the distribution of the observed seismic events. This study has guiding significance for the attenuation law of stress waves passing through joint/fissure zones in geological engineering, earthquake engineering, and underground mining engineering.
Risk Factors for Trauma-Related Eviscerations: Analysis of 821 Cases
Authors: Jiang Zhaoxin , Yang Yao , Li Yujie , Yuan Miner , Li Cheng , Lin Xiaofeng
Published: November 2019

Evisceration is the end therapeutic approach for the treatment of severe ocular trauma cases, and it is a tremendous loss for patients. In this study, we explored the changing trends in the number of surgeries performed, demographic data and ocular features, and risks for early evisceration, aiming to provide more data for the additional prevention and management strategies for this catastrophic problem. This was a retrospective study that included patients who underwent ocular evisceration at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center between January 2013 and December 2017. A total of 1229 evisceration cases were reviewed, and only trauma-related eviscerations were analyzed. Etiology, demographic data, ocular features, and hospitalization time were evaluated. The total number of trauma-related eviscerations recorded in the past five years was 821 cases. The number of surgeries performed was almost constant each year (164 ± 17 cases); 35% of the patients were less than ten years old at the time of the original ocular injury and 69% of them were male. Endophthalmitis led to significantly early evisceration compared with cases without endophthalmitis (P<0.05). The group with a history of silicone oil tamponade showed a significantly longer surgical interval between trauma and evisceration than did the nonsilicone oil tamponade group (P<0.05). Day-case hospitalization for evisceration increased from 0% to 32% over the past five years. The results of the present study show that the number of ocular trauma-related eviscerations performed in the past five years was almost unchanged and boys under ten are highly susceptible. This study also demonstrates that endophthalmitis leads to significantly early evisceration, and silicone oil tamponade may postpone ocular atrophy. Based on the study data, day-case surgery is safe for evisceration management.