bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A cirurgia de mastectomia e sua influência no âmbito biopsicossocial feminino
Authors: Louzada Matheus Augusto da Silva Belidio , Ribeiro Antonio da Silva
Published: July 2020

Objetivos: Identificar e descrever o impacto psicossocial em mulheres pós mastectomia para o tratamento de câncer descrito na literatura. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, de natureza qualitativa e cunho descritivo, que teve como base de dados do Pubmed e da Biblioteca Virtual de saúde: MEDLINE, LILACS e BDENF. Os critérios de inclusão foram: Textos completos disponíveis gratuitamente no recorte temporal de 5 anos (2016-2020). Foram excluídos materiais duplicados, em outros formatos e que não atendiam a temática. Emergiram 38 artigos e após analise utilizou-se 24 para construção do conteúdo. Resultados e discussões: Foram identificadas duas categorias temáticas: A feminilidade após a retirada da mama; O relacionamento afetivo-sexual. Considerações finais: Foi evidenciado que a cirurgia afeta diretamente a mulher, pois, os seios no Brasil são culturalmente apreciados como órgão sexual e de erotismo. A mastectomia interfere no aspecto biopsicossocial da mulher, fazendo-se necessário intervir em várias situações no processo de aceitação da autoimagem.
Atualizações metodológicas para estudo do novo mundo do trabalho: revisiting da escala de indicadores de prazer e sofrimento no trabalho
Authors: Evaristo Jorge Luiz de Souza , Mota Márcio de Oliveira , Batista-dos-Santos Ana Cristina
Published: July 2020

O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma revisiting da Escala de Indicadores de Prazer e Sofrimento no Trabalho (EIPST) publicada por Mendes (2007) no âmbito da Teoria da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho, tendo em vista as mudanças ocorridas nos últimos anos no mundo do trabalho, em especial, com o advento da Lei 13.467/2017 que regularizou diversas formas de trabalho não-tradicionais. Visa-se à atualização da EIPST; por conseguinte, adotou-se como procedimentos metodológicos: visita à literatura sobre as mudanças ocorridas no contexto laboral na contemporaneidade e a literatura pertinente as dimensões de prazer e sofrimento no trabalho; realização de pré-teste; aplicação do instrumento ajustado por meio do Google Forms (171 respostas); realização de análise fatorial exploratória no SPSS Statistics; e análise fatorial confirmatória no SPSS Amos. Os resultados indicaram a adequação dos modelos e dos novos construtos propostos para a escala: Assistência no Trabalho e Desamparo Profissional. Contudo, foram realizados ajustes nos modelos, seja pela exclusão de itens ou pela covariância dos erros. A atualização da escala traz relevante contribuição para o campo da psicologia social e do trabalho, bem como para a gestão que se proponha promotora de saúde e bem-estar dos trabalhadores, em novos contextos laborais. Com a utilização da mesma, se poderá avaliar riscos de adoecimento no trabalho, advindos de contextos com elevado grau de sofrimento dos trabalhadores, bem como, por outro lado, identificar quais dimensões são prováveis promotoras de saúde pela potencialização do prazer no trabalho.
Crambe meal in broiler feeding
Authors: Vieira Dayane Josiane , Pinheiro Sandra Regina Freitas , Barbosa Keila Abadia , Moreira Danielly Rodrigues Fernandes , Dourado Leilane Rocha Barros , Carvalho Débora Cristine de Oliveira
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of broilers fed a diet in which the total protein has been replaced by the protein of the crambe meal. The experiment was used 630 male chickens (Cobb® 500) from 8 to 42 days of age, distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments, six replications of 21 birds per plot. The treatments were: control diet (0%) and diets containing 3, 6, 9 and 12% of crambe meal protein in replacement of the total protein of the feed. The performance was evaluated in the initial phase (8 to 21 days), growth (22 to 42 days) and total (8 to 42 days). Carcass and cuts was evaluated at 43 days of age. Diets containing crambe meal promoted lower feed intake compared with to the control diet in all evaluated phases. For weight gain, a worse result was observed with increased inclusion of crambe protein, with a linear decrease compared to those who did not receive crambe in the total breeding period. It was found that for the total period the best feed conversion was obtained with 6% of the inclusion of crambe protein in comparison to the crambe-free diet. Carcass, breast and thigh weights decreased with a diet containing 12% of the crambe protein. The results indicate that it is possible to partially replace the crude protein of the feed up to 6% with the protein of the crambe meal.
The role of blocking serotonin 2C receptor by fluoxetine in the treatment of bulimia
Authors: Krzystanek Marek , Pałasz Artur
Published: July 2020

Fluoxetine serves as a primary drug for the pharmacological treatment of binge eating. Its activity usually consists in blocking 2C serotonin receptors. This may be considered to be controversial since agonists of this receptor are effective in pharmacological treatment of bulimia. Bulimia episodes occur as a result of a decrease in serotonergic activity in the central nervous system. The mechanism is clinically confirmed. Drugs which increase the activity of the serotonin system in suppressing binge eating proved effective. The anorexigenic effect of drugs which increase the activity of the serotonin system results from the stimulation of serotonin receptors and not from their blocking. Appetite regulation and binge eating are associated with the activity of the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. Experimental studies conducted so far prove that the increase in dopaminergic activity in the structures of the reward system is caused by stimulation, and not blocking, of serotonin 2C receptors. The anorexigenic effect of proserotonin drugs may also result from the stimulation of type 3 serotonin receptors and possibly 2C on neurons located in the nucleus of solitary tract. The psychopharmacological investigation conducted in this paper revealed the role of 5-HT2C receptors in the pathogenesis of bulimia nervosa and the mechanism of action of fluoxetine in the treatment of binge eating. Based on existing knowledge, the fact that fluoxetine blocks these receptors does not appear to play a significant role in appetite suppression. Due to few experimental works, the problem requires further research.
Saponin Formosanin C-Induced Ferritinophagy and Ferroptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Lin Pin-Lun , Tang Han-Hsuan , Wu Shan-Ying , Shaw Ning-Sing , Su Chun-Li
Published: July 2020

Ferroptosis, a recently discovered form of iron-dependent cell death, requires an increased level of lipid-reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ferritinophagy, a ferritin degradation pathway, depends on a selective autophagic cargo receptor (NCOA4). By screening various types of natural compounds, formosanin C (FC) was identified as a novel ferroptosis inducer, characterized by attenuations of FC-induced viability inhibition and lipid ROS formation in the presence of ferroptosis inhibitor. FC also induced autophagic flux, evidenced by preventing autophagic marker LC3-II degradation and increasing yellow LC3 puncta in tandem fluorescent-tagged LC3 (mRFP-GFP) reporter plasmid (ptfLC3) transfected cells when combined with autophagic flux inhibitor. It is noteworthy that FC-induced ferroptosis and autophagic flux were stronger in HepG2 cells expressing higher NCOA4 and lower ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) levels, agreeing with the results of gene expression analysis using CTRP and PRISM, indicating that FTH1 expression level exhibited a significant negative correlation with the sensitivity of the cells to a ferroptosis inducer. Confocal and electron microscopy confirmed the pronounced involvement of ferritinophagy in FC-induced ferroptosis in the cells with elevated NCOA4. Since ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death, our data suggest FC has chemotherapeutic potential against apoptosis-resistant HCC with a higher NCOA4 expression via ferritinophagy.
The Tractor-Cart System Controller with Fuzzy Logic Rules
Authors: Delavarpour Nadia , Eshkabilov Sulaymon , Bon Thomas , Nowatzki John , Bajwa Sreekala
Published: July 2020

Post-planting operations (e.g., fertilizing, cover crop planting) with a tractor and towed cart in standing crop (e.g., corn) are challenging. Tractor and cart should be kept within a certain boundary region to avoid crop damage. An automatic guidance system on the tractor is the solution of the issue; however, tractor’s auto-guidance does not guarantee the cart clear and exact following of the tractor. There is insufficient research in automatic control of a towed cart. Therefore, this research was undertaken to design a controller to manage lateral and longitudinal positions of a tractor-towed cart. A novel fuzzy logic based adaptive controller algorithm is proposed to control tractor-cart system steering with additional steering torque for the cart, ensuring that the entire system follows the desired trajectory within the set constraints. A hydraulic drive design for the cart was developed with a control principle to closely follow the tractor’s path and minimize damage to the plants. The proposed steering algorithm and designed controller were validated with interchangeable trajectory patterns via simulations in MATLAB/Simulink. The results demonstrated that the performances of the designed hydraulic drive and the accuracy of the proposed control algorithm were appropriate to steer the towed-cart with minimal damages on plant rows.
Impact of Ammonia-Based Aeration Control (ABAC) on Energy Consumption
Authors: Medinilla Victoria R. , Sprague Travis , Marseilles Jason , Burke Jerry , Deshmukh Shivaji , Delagah Saied , Sharbatmaleki Mohamadali
Published: July 2020

An Ammonia-Based Aeration Control (ABAC) system is installed in the primary aeration basins of a regional wastewater treatment facility. The energy consumption of the system of air blowers, measured in kilowatts per hour by an existing meter, is analyzed for seven months after the installation of the ABAC system and compared to system performance prior to commissioning of the ABAC system. Processed data, including volume flow rate, ammonia loading, and treatment equipment efficiency, are evaluated for periods before and after the ABAC system installation. Ammonia mass loading and air transfer ratio in the aeration basins are determined to be the leading factors affecting the performance of the ABAC system and thus impacting the metered energy consumption. The metered energy consumption data are normalized by the two calculated ratios, which reflect the change in ammonia loading and air transfer ratio. The normalized and metered energy consumption data are compared, and the results show a reduction in energy consumption since the installation of the ABAC system. A yearly savings of approximately 9 ± 1% in energy costs is estimated with the installation of the ABAC system. The savings in energy consumption calculated as well as the improvements in nitrification efficiency confirm the benefit of an ABAC system in reducing operation costs and enhancing process control.
Digital Field Mapping and Drone-Aided Survey for Structural Geological Data Collection and Seismic Hazard Assessment: Case of the 2016 Central Italy Earthquakes
Authors: Cirillo Daniele
Published: July 2020

In this work, a high-resolution survey of the coseismic ground ruptures due to the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence, performed through a dedicated software installed on a digital device, is strengthened by the analysis of a set of drone-acquired images. We applied this integrated approach to two active sections of the Mt Vettore active fault segment which, in the Castelluccio di Norcia plain (central Italy), were affected by surface faulting after the most energetic events of the sequence: the 24 August, Mw 6.0, Amatrice and 30 October, Mw 6.5, Norcia earthquakes. The main aim is to establish the range in which the results obtained measuring the same structures using different tools vary. An operating procedure, which can be helpful to map extensive sets of coseismic ground ruptures especially where the latter affects wide, poorly accessible, or dangerous areas, is also proposed. We compared datasets collected through different technologies, including faults attitude, dip-angles, coseismic displacements, and slip vectors. After assessing the accuracy of the results, even at centimetric resolutions, we conclude that the structural dataset obtained through remote sensing techniques shows a high degree of reliability.
Natural Frequency Characteristics of the Beam with Different Cross Sections Considering the Shear Deformation Induced Rotary Inertia
Authors: Wan Chunfeng , Jiang Huachen , Xie Liyu , Yang Caiqian , Ding Youliang , Tang Hesheng , Xue Songtao
Published: July 2020

Based on the classical Timoshenko beam theory, the rotary inertia caused by shear deformation is further considered and then the equation of motion of the Timoshenko beam theory is modified. The dynamic characteristics of this new model, named the modified Timoshenko beam, have been discussed, and the distortion of natural frequencies of Timoshenko beam is improved, especially at high-frequency bands. The effects of different cross-sectional types on natural frequencies of the modified Timoshenko beam are studied, and corresponding simulations have been conducted. The results demonstrate that the modified Timoshenko beam can successfully be applied to all beams of three given cross sections, i.e., rectangular, rectangular hollow, and circular cross sections, subjected to different boundary conditions. The consequence verifies the validity and necessity of the modification.
A Novel Relay Selection Scheme Based on Q-Learning in Multi-Hop Wireless Networks
Authors: Paek Min-Jae , Na Yu-Jin , Lee Won-Seok , Ro Jae-Hyun , Song Hyoung-Kyu
Published: July 2020

In wireless communication systems, reliability, low latency and power are essential in large scale multi-hop environment. Multi-hop based cooperative communication is an efficient way to achieve goals of wireless networks. This paper proposes a relay selection scheme for reliable transmission by selecting an optimal relay. The proposed scheme uses a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) based Q-learning relay selection scheme to select an optimal relay in multi-hop transmission. Q-learning consists of an agent, environment, state, action and reward. When the learning is converged, the agent learns the optimal policy which is a rule of the actions that maximize the reward. In other words, the base station (BS) knows the optimal relay to select and transmit the signal. At this time, the cooperative communication scheme used in this paper is a decode-and-forward (DF) scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system. The Q-learning in the proposed scheme defines an environment to maximize a reward which is defined as SNR. After the learning process, the proposed scheme finds an optimal policy. Furthermore, this paper defines a reward which is based on the SNR. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme has the same bit error rate (BER) performance as the conventional relay selection scheme. However, this paper proposes an advantage of selecting fewer relays than conventional scheme when the target BER is satisfied. This can reduce the latency and the waste of resources. Therefore, the performance of the multi-hop transmission in wireless networks is enhanced.
Non-Uniform Temperature Fields and Effects of Steel Structures: Review and Outlook
Authors: Xu Wucheng , Chen Deshen , Qian Hongliang
Published: July 2020

Due to the dynamic coupling effects of solar radiation, longwave radiation, convective heat transfer, shadows, and other factors, the temperature field and effect of steel structures are significantly non-uniform, differing from traditional concepts that regard the temperature variation of steel structures as a slow and uniform progress. This difference can hinder the correct understanding of the thermal behavior of steel structures and ignore some potential safety hazards. This paper provides a review of the studies for the non-uniform temperature field and effect of steel structures, and presents some outlooks on future developments on the basis of the current research situation. A summary of research on the temperature field and effect of space structures, bridges and radio telescopes initially establishes the basic cognitive framework for this field. In addition, then, the basic principles of the numerical simulation of temperature fields are introduced through heat transfer mechanism, and the experimental test methods of temperature and its effects are described based on typical test cases. Finally, with a view to the future, some suggestions and opinions are provided in consideration of deficiencies in the current research status. This paper hopes to provide some valuable references for future research in this field through research summary, method introduction and outlook.
A Comparison of Deep Learning Methods for ICD Coding of Clinical Records
Authors: Moons Elias , Khanna Aditya , Akkasi Abbas , Moens Marie-Francine
Published: July 2020

In this survey, we discuss the task of automatically classifying medical documents into the taxonomy of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), by the use of deep neural networks. The literature in this domain covers different techniques. We will assess and compare the performance of those techniques in various settings and investigate which combination leverages the best results. Furthermore, we introduce an hierarchical component that exploits the knowledge of the ICD taxonomy. All methods and their combinations are evaluated on two publicly available datasets that represent ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding, respectively. The evaluation leads to a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the models.
Scenario-Based Marine Oil Spill Emergency Response Using Hybrid Deep Reinforcement Learning and Case-Based Reasoning
Authors: Huang Kui , Nie Wen , Luo Nianxue
Published: July 2020

Case-based reasoning (CBR) systems often provide a basis for decision makers to make management decisions in disaster prevention and emergency response. For decades, many CBR systems have been implemented by using expert knowledge schemes to build indexes for case identification from a case library of situations and to explore the relations among cases. However, a knowledge elicitation bottleneck occurs for many knowledge-based CBR applications because expert reasoning is difficult to precisely explain. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a method using only knowledge to recognize marine oil spill cases. The proposed method combines deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with strategy selection to determine emergency responses for marine oil spill accidents by quantification of the marine oil spill scenario as the reward for the DRL agent. These accidents are described by scenarios and are considered the state inputs in the hybrid DRL/CBR framework. The challenges and opportunities of the proposed method are discussed considering different scenarios and the intentions of decision makers. This approach may be helpful in terms of developing hybrid DRL/CBR-based tools for marine oil spill emergency response.
Automatic Supervisory Controller for Deadlock Control in Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems with Dynamic Changes
Authors: Kaid Husam , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman , Li Zhiwu , Davidrajuh Reggie
Published: July 2020

In reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs), the architecture of a system can be modified during its operation. This reconfiguration can be caused by many motivations: processing rework and failures, adding new products, adding new machines, etc. In RMSs, sharing of resources may lead to deadlocks, and some operations can therefore remain incomplete. The objective of this article is to develop a novel two-step solution for quick and accurate reconfiguration of supervisory controllers for deadlock control in RMSs with dynamic changes. In the first step, the net rewriting system (NRS) is used to design a reconfigurable Petri net model under dynamic configurations. The obtained model guarantees boundedness behavioral property but may lose the other properties of a Petri net model (i.e., liveness and reversibility). The second step develops an automatic deadlock prevention policy for the reconfigurable Petri net using the siphon control method based on a place invariant to solve the deadlock problem with dynamic structure changes in RMSs and achieve liveness and reversibility behavioral properties for the system. The proposed approach is tested using examples in the literature and the results highlight the ability of the automatic deadlock prevention policy to adapt to RMSs configuration changes.
Dynamic Properties of Heart Fragments from Different Regions and Their Synchronization
Authors: Arai Shin , Lloyd Kento , Takahashi Tomonori , Mammoto Kazuki , Miyazawa Takashi , Tamura Kei , Kaneko Tomoyuki , Ishida Kentaro , Moriyama Yuuta , Mitsui Toshiyuki
Published: July 2020

The dynamic properties of the heart differ based on the regions that effectively circulate blood throughout the body with each heartbeat. These properties, including the inter-beat interval (IBI) of autonomous beat activity, are retained even in in vitro tissue fragments. However, details of beat dynamics have not been well analyzed, particularly at the sub-mm scale, although such dynamics of size are important for regenerative medicine and computational studies of the heart. We analyzed the beat dynamics in sub-mm tissue fragments from atria and ventricles of hearts obtained from chick embryos over a period of 40 h. The IBI and contraction speed differed by region and atrial fragments retained their values for a longer time. The major finding of this study is synchronization of these fragment pairs physically attached to each other. The probability of achieving this and the time required differ for regional pairs: atrium–atrium, ventricle–ventricle, or atrium–ventricle. Furthermore, the time required to achieve 1:1 synchronization does not depend on the proximity of initial IBI of paired fragments. Various interesting phenomena, such as 1:n synchronization and a reentrant-like beat sequence, are revealed during synchronization. Finally, our observation of fragment dynamics indicates that mechanical motion itself contributes to the synchronization of atria.
Ancient Evolutionary Origin of Intrinsically Disordered Cancer Risk Regions
Authors: Pajkos Mátyás , Zeke András , Dosztányi Zsuzsanna
Published: July 2020

Cancer is a heterogeneous genetic disease that alters the proper functioning of proteins involved in key regulatory processes such as cell cycle, DNA repair, survival, or apoptosis. Mutations often accumulate in hot-spots regions, highlighting critical functional modules within these proteins that need to be altered, amplified, or abolished for tumor formation. Recent evidence suggests that these mutational hotspots can correspond not only to globular domains, but also to intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), which play a significant role in a subset of cancer types. IDRs have distinct functional properties that originate from their inherent flexibility. Generally, they correspond to more recent evolutionary inventions and show larger sequence variations across species. In this work, we analyzed the evolutionary origin of disordered regions that are specifically targeted in cancer. Surprisingly, the majority of these disordered cancer risk regions showed remarkable conservation with ancient evolutionary origin, stemming from the earliest multicellular animals or even beyond. Nevertheless, we encountered several examples where the mutated region emerged at a later stage compared with the origin of the gene family. We also showed the cancer risk regions become quickly fixated after their emergence, but evolution continues to tinker with their genes with novel regulatory elements introduced even at the level of humans. Our concise analysis provides a much clearer picture of the emergence of key regulatory elements in proteins and highlights the importance of taking into account the modular organisation of proteins for the analyses of evolutionary origin.
Development of ssDNA Aptamers for Diagnosis and Inhibition of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H5N1
Authors: Kim Sang-Heon , Choi Jae-Woo , Kim A-Ru , Lee Sang-Choon , Yoon Moon-Young
Published: July 2020

Avian influenza (AI) has severely affected the poultry industry worldwide and has caused the deaths of millions of birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is characterized by high mortality and the ability to transmit from birds to humans. Early diagnosis is difficult because of the variation in pathogenicity and the genetic diversity between virus subtypes. Therefore, development of a sensitive and accurate diagnostic system is an urgent priority. We developed ssDNA aptamer probes to detect AI viruses. Through seven rounds of SELEX to search for a probe specific to the highly pathogenic AI virus subtype H5N1, we identified 16 binding aptamers and selected two with the highest binding frequency. These two aptamers had strong binding affinities and low detection limits. We found that they could bind more specifically to H5N1, as compared to other subtypes. Furthermore, these aptamers inhibited hemagglutination, which is caused by the virus surface protein hemagglutinin. Our results indicate that our screened aptamers are effective molecular probes for diagnosing H5N1 and can be used as therapeutic agents to inhibit viral surface proteins. Sensitive diagnosis and suppression of avian influenza will help maintain a stable and healthy livestock industry, as well as protect human health.
Phytochemical Targeting of STAT3 Orchestrated Lipid Metabolism in Therapy-Resistant Cancers
Authors: Tse Carmen , Warner Ashleigh , Farook Rufaik , Cronin James G
Published: July 2020

Lipids are critical for maintaining homeostasis and cellular metabolism. However, the dysregulation of lipid metabolism contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and is a hallmark of several cancer types. Tumours exist in a microenvironment of poor vascularization-depleted oxygen and restricted nutrients. Under these conditions, tumours have been shown to increasingly depend on the metabolism of fatty acids for sustained proliferation and survival. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a key role in cellular processes such as cell growth, apoptosis and lipid metabolism. Aberrant STAT3 activity, as seen in several cancer types, is associated with tumour progression and malignancy, in addition to propagating crosstalk between tumour cells and the microenvironment. Furthermore, STAT3-regulated lipid metabolism is critical for cancer stem cell self-renewal and therapy resistance. Plant-derived compounds known as phytochemicals are a potential source for novel cancer therapeutic drugs. Dietary phytochemicals are known to modulate key cellular signalling pathways involved in lipid homeostasis and metabolism, including the STAT3 signalling pathways. Targeting STAT3 orchestrated lipid metabolism has shown therapeutic promise in human cancer models. In this review, we summarize the antitumour activity of phytochemicals with an emphasis placed on their effect on STAT3-regulated lipid metabolism and their role in abrogating therapy resistance.
The Short Overview on the Relevance of Fatty Acids for Human Cardiovascular Disorders
Authors: Shramko Viktoriya S. , Polonskaya Yana V. , Kashtanova Elena V. , Stakhneva Ekaterina M. , Ragino Yuliya I.
Published: July 2020

This review presents existing evidence of the influence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Data are discussed regarding the roles of the most relevant fatty acids, such as myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2), α-linolenic (C18:3, ω-3), γ-linolenic (C18:3, ω-6), arachidonic (C20:4), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5), docosahexaenoic (C22:6), and docosapentaenoic (C22:5) acid. The accumulated knowledge has expanded the understanding of the involvement of fatty acids in metabolic processes, thereby enabling the transition from basic exploratory studies to practical issues of application of these biomolecules to CVD treatment. In the future, these findings are expected to facilitate the interpretation and prognosis of changes in metabolic lipid aberrations in CVD.
Molecular Changes in the Non-Inflamed Terminal Ileum of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Lee Ho-Su , Vancamelbeke Maaike , Verstockt Sare , Wilms Tom , Verstockt Bram , Sabino João , Ferrante Marc , Vermeire Séverine , Cleynen Isabelle
Published: July 2020

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease confined to the colon. Although the etiopathogenesis remains unknown, small bowel dysfunctions like histological and permeability alterations have been described in ulcerative colitis. We evaluated the molecular gene signature in the non-inflamed terminal ileum of 36 ulcerative colitis patients (7 active, with Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥2, and 29 inactive) as compared to 15 non-inflammatory bowel disease controls. Differential gene expression analysis with DESeq2 showed distinct expression patterns depending on disease activity and maximal disease extent. We found 84 dysregulated genes in patients with active extensive colitis and 20 in inactive extensive colitis, compared to controls. There was an overlap of 5 genes: REG1B, REG1A, MUC4, GRAMD2, and CASP10. In patients with left-sided colitis, ileal gene expression levels were similar to controls. Based on gene co-expression analysis, ileal changes in active ulcerative colitis patients were related to immune functions. The ileal changes in the inactive ulcerative colitis subjects converged into the maintenance of the intestinal barrier through increased mitochondrial function and dampened immune functions. In conclusion, we identified molecular changes in the non-inflamed ileum of ulcerative colitis that are dependent on colonic inflammation.
Role of HMGB1 in the Interplay between NETosis and Thrombosis in Ischemic Stroke: A Review
Authors: Kim Seung-Woo , Lee Ja-Kyeong
Published: July 2020

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) comprise decondensed chromatin, histones and neutrophil granular proteins and are involved in the response to infectious as well as non-infectious diseases. The prothrombotic activity of NETs has been reported in various thrombus-related diseases; this activity can be attributed to the fact that the NETs serve as a scaffold for cells and numerous coagulation factors and stimulate fibrin deposition. A crosstalk between NETs and thrombosis has been indicated to play a role in numerous thrombosis-related conditions including stroke. In cerebral ischemia, neutrophils are the first group of cells to infiltrate the damaged brain tissue, where they produce NETs in the brain parenchyma and within blood vessels, thereby aggravating inflammation. Increasing evidences suggest the connection between NETosis and thrombosis as a possible cause of “tPA resistance”, a problem encountered during the treatment of stroke patients. Several damage-associated molecular pattern molecules have been proven to induce NETosis and thrombosis, with high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) playing a critical role. This review discusses NETosis and thrombosis and their crosstalk in various thrombosis-related diseases, focusing on the role of HMGB1 as a mediator in stroke. We also addresses the function of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 with respect to the interplay with HMGB1 in NET-induced thrombosis.
Framework for Validation of Permanently Installed MEMS-Based Acquisition Devices Using Soft Sensor Models
Authors: Bartels Alain , Cripps Edward , Keating Adrian , Milne Ian , Travaglione Ben , Hodkiewicz Melinda
Published: July 2020

Asset integrity and predictive maintenance models require field data for an accurate assessment of an asset’s condition. Historically these data collected periodically in the field by technicians using portable units. The significant investment in inexpensive microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors mounted on untethered (energy-harvesting or battery-powered) microprocessors communicating wirelessly to the cloud is expected to change the way we collect asset health data. Permanently installed MEMS-based sensing units will enable near-real time data collection and reduce the safety exposure of technicians by eliminating the need to manually collect field data. With hundreds of MEMS-based sensing units expected to be installed at a single site it is vital to assure the data they produce and maintain them cost effectively. An asset management framework for validation of MEMS-based sensing units for condition monitoring and structural integrity (CM&SI) applications is proposed. An integral part of this framework is the proposed use of soft sensor models to replace technician inspections in the field. Soft sensor models are used in the process industry to stabilize product quality and process operations but there are few examples in asset management applications. The contributions of this paper are twofold. Firstly, we use an interdisciplinary approach drawing on electronics, process control, statistics, machine learning, and asset management fields to describe the emerging field of permanently installed MEMS-based sensing units for CM&SI. Secondly, we development a framework for assuring validation of the data these sensing units generate.
Implementation of a New Strongly-Asymmetric Algorithm and Its Optimization
Authors: Jimbo Koki , Iriyama Satoshi , Regoli Massimo
Published: July 2020

A new public key agreement (PKA) algorithm, called the strongly-asymmetric algorithm (SAA-5), was introduced by Accardi et al. The main differences from the usual PKA algorithms are that Bob has some independent public keys and Alice produces her public key by using some part of the public keys from Bob. Then, the preparation and calculation processes are essentially asymmetric. This algorithms has several free parameters more than the usual symmetric PKA algorithms and the velocity of calculation is largely dependent on the parameters chosen; however, the performance of it has not yet been tested. The purpose of our study was to discuss efficient parameters to share the key with high speeds in SAA-5 and to optimize SAA-5 in terms of calculation speed. To find efficient parameters of SAA-5, we compared the calculation speed with Diffie–Hellman (D-H) while varying values of some parameters under the circumstance where the length of the secret shared key (SSK) was fixed. For optimization, we discuss a more general framework of SAA-5 to find more efficient operations. By fixing the parameters of the framework properly, a new PKA algorithm with the same security level as SAA-5 was produced. The result shows that the calculation speed of the proposed PKA algorithm is faster than D-H, especially for large key lengths. The calculation speed of the proposed PKA algorithm increases linearly as the SSK length increases, whereas D-H increases exponentially.
Indistinguishability and Negative Probabilities
Authors: de Barros J. Acacio , Holik Federico
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we examined the connection between quantum systems’ indistinguishability and signed (or negative) probabilities. We do so by first introducing a measure-theoretic definition of signed probabilities inspired by research in quantum contextuality. We then argue that ontological indistinguishability leads to the no-signaling condition and negative probabilities.
Enhancing Edge Attack Strategy via an OWA Operator-Based Ensemble Design in Real-World Networks
Authors: Feng Yuan , Ren Baoan , Zeng Chengyi , Yang Yuyuan , Liu Hongfu
Published: July 2020

Network disintegration has been an important research hotspot in complex networks for a long time. From the perspective of node attack, researchers have devoted to this field and carried out numerous works. In contrast, the research on edge attack strategy is insufficient. This paper comprehensively evaluates the disintegration effect of each structural similarity index when they are applied to the weighted-edge attacks model. Experimental results show that the edge attack strategy based on a single similarity index will appear limited stability and adaptability. Thus, motivated by obtaining a stable disintegration effect, this paper designs an edge attack strategy based on the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator. Through final experimental results, we found that the edge attack strategy proposed in this paper not only achieves a more stable disintegration effect on eight real-world networks, but also significantly improves the disintegration effect when applied on a single network in comparison with the original similarity index.
On Global Quantum Communication Networking
Authors: Djordjevic Ivan B.
Published: July 2020

Research in quantum communications networks (QCNs), where multiple users desire to generate or transmit common quantum-secured information, is still in its beginning stage. To solve for the problems of both discrete variable- and continuous variable-quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes in a simultaneous manner as well as to enable the next generation of quantum communication networking, in this Special Issue paper we describe a scenario where disconnected terrestrial QCNs are coupled through low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite quantum network forming heterogeneous satellite–terrestrial QCN. The proposed heterogeneous QCN is based on the cluster state approach and can be used for numerous applications, including: (i) to teleport arbitrary quantum states between any two nodes in the QCN; (ii) to enable the next generation of cyber security systems; (iii) to enable distributed quantum computing; and (iv) to enable the next generation of quantum sensing networks. The proposed QCNs will be robust against various channel impairments over heterogeneous links. Moreover, the proposed QCNs will provide an unprecedented security level for 5G+/6G wireless networks, Internet of Things (IoT), optical networks, and autonomous vehicles, to mention a few.
Fuzzy Evaluation of Crowd Safety Based on Pedestrians’ Number and Distribution Entropy
Authors: Zhang Xuguang , Yu Qinan , Wang Yuxi
Published: July 2020

Crowd video monitoring and analysis is a hot topic in computer vision and public management. The pre-evaluation of crowd safety is beneficial to the prediction of crowd status to avoid the occurrence of catastrophic events. This paper proposes a method to evaluate crowd safety based on fuzzy inference. Pedestrian’s number and distribution uniformity are considered in a fuzzy inference system as two kinds of attributes of a crowd. Firstly, the pedestrian’s number is estimated by the number of foreground pixels. Then, the distribution uniformity of a crowd is calculated using distribution entropy by dividing the monitoring scene into several small areas. Furthermore, through the fuzzy operation, the fuzzy system is constructed by using two input variables (pedestrian’s number and distribution entropy) and one output variable (crowd safety status). Finally, inference rules between the crowd safety state and the pedestrian’s number and distribution uniformity are constructed to obtain the pre-evaluation of the safety state of the crowd. Three video sequences extracted from different scenes are used in the experiment. Experimental results show that the proposed method can be used to evaluate the safety status of the crowd in a monitoring scene.
Dissipation Function: Nonequilibrium Physics and Dynamical Systems
Authors: Caruso Salvatore , Giberti Claudio , Rondoni Lamberto
Published: July 2020

An exact response theory has recently been developed within the field of Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics. Its main ingredient is known as the Dissipation Function, Ω. This quantity determines nonequilbrium properties like thermodynamic potentials do with equilibrium states. In particular, Ω can be used to determine the exact response of particle systems obeying classical mechanical laws, subjected to perturbations of arbitrary size. Under certain conditions, it can also be used to express the response of a single system, in contrast to the standard response theory, which concerns ensembles of identical systems. The dimensions of Ω are those of a rate, hence Ω can be associated with the entropy production rate, provided local thermodynamic equilibrium holds. When this is not the case for a particle system, or generic dynamical systems are considered, Ω can equally be defined, and it yields formal, thermodynamic-like, relations. While such relations may have no physical content, they may still constitute interesting characterizations of the relevant dynamics. Moreover, such a formal approach turns physically relevant, because it allows a deeper analysis of Ω and of response theory than possible in case of fully fledged physical models. Here, we investigate the relation between linear and exact response, pointing out conditions for the validity of the response theory, as well as difficulties and opportunities for the physical interpretation of certain formal results.
New Evidence Using a Dynamic Panel Data Approach: Cereal Supply Response in Smallholder Agriculture in Ethiopia
Authors: Tenaye Anbes
Published: July 2020

Increasing agricultural production is essential to improving food availability and farm household incomes in developing economies. This study investigated the dynamic supply responses of major cereal crops to price and nonprice factors in Ethiopia using the Ethiopian Rural Household Survey (ERHS) panel dataset from 1994 to 2009. According to the Nerlovian expectation and adjustment approach in conjunction with the system GMM (generalized method of moments) estimator, both the planted areas and produced yields of major crops (teff, wheat, and barley) are influenced by price and nonprice factors in Ethiopia. The supply of major cereal crops is affected positively by their own prices and negatively by the prices of substitute crops. Nonprice factors such as education, farm size, fertilizer, land quality, and precipitation also affect supply of major cereals. Both the short-term and long-term acreage and yield response elasticities of teff and barley are positive. Moreover, the adjustment coefficients are positive for teff, barley, and wheat. The results suggest that Ethiopian farmers are capable of analyzing market signals and responding positively to price increases of staple crops. The findings also imply that the Ethiopian agricultural sector has been responsive to the cereal price increases observed since 2006. The remarkable growth of Ethiopian agriculture over recent decades is partly explained by the increase in agricultural prices. This study recommends that a fine-tuned balance between government interventions and market solutions is important, in addition to improving farmers’ agronomic practices, for increasing agricultural production.
Optimizing a Secure Two-Way Network with Non-Linear SWIPT, Channel Uncertainty, and a Hidden Eavesdropper
Authors: Viet Tuan Pham , Ngoc Son Pham , Trung Duy Tran , Nguyen Sang Quang , Ngo Van Quang Binh , Vinh Quang Do , Koo Insoo
Published: July 2020

In this paper, the optimization of downlink beamforming vectors, uplink transmission power, and power-splitting factors is investigated for a secure two-way SWIPT network in the presence of a hidden eavesdropper and non-linear energy harvesting circuits over both perfect and imperfect channels. The eavesdropper is inactive, so its channel information is not available at the base stations (BSs). The purpose of artificial noise is to create downlink interference with the hidden eavesdropper as much as possible, while satisfying the quality of service for two-way communications. For perfect downlink channels, the semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique is exploited, and the optimal matrices are proven to satisfy rank-1 conditions, thus providing the optimal beamforming vectors. For imperfect downlink channel state information, we propose an iterative algorithm with a penalty function to obtain the approximate rank-1 matrices. On uplink, we attain the optimal transmission power for users receiving maximum ratio transmission beamforming at the BSs. Eventually, the numerical experiments show the superiority of the proposed scheme, compared to a conventional scheme, in terms of signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at the eavesdropper.
A 4-mW Temperature-Stable 28 GHz LNA with Resistive Bias Circuit for 5G Applications
Authors: Li Dongze , Xia Qingzhen , Huang Jiawei , Li Jinwei , Chang Hudong , Sun Bing , Liu Honggang
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a low power two-stage single-end (SE) 28 GHz low-noise amplifier (LNA) in 90 nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS technology for 5G applications. In this design, the influence of bias circuit is discussed. The 1200 Ω resistor which was adopted in bias circuit can feed DC voltage as well as keep whole circuit unconditionally stable. The gate bias points are set to 0.55 V to make the circuit low-power and temperature-stable. Measurement results illustrated that the LNA achieved a maximum small signal gain of 18.1 dB and an average 3.1 dB noise figure (NF) in operating frequency band. Measured S11 was below −10 dB between 25 GHz and 29 GHz and reverse isolation S12 was below −25 dB throughout the band. It consumed only 4 mW by proper selection of bias point with core area of 0.16 mm2 without pads. The fabricated LNA has demonstrated a gain variation of 3 dB and a NF variation of 1.9 dB from −40 °C to 125 °C with power variation of 0.8 mW. It suggests that the proposed SOI CMOS LNA can be a promising candidate for 5G applications.
The Impact of “Coal to Gas” Policy on Air Quality: Evidence from Beijing, China
Authors: Liu Zhe , Chen Xueli , Cai Jinyang , Baležentis Tomas , Li Yue
Published: July 2020

Air pollution has become an increasingly serious environmental problem in China. Especially in winter, the air pollution in northern China becomes even worse due to winter heating. The “coal to gas” policy, which uses natural gas to replace coal in the heating system in winter, was implemented in Beijing in the year 2013. However, the effects of this policy reform have not been examined. Using a panel dataset of 16 districts in Beijing, this paper employs a first difference model to examine the impact of the “coal to gas” policy on air quality. Strong evidence shows that the “coal to gas” policy has significantly improved the air quality in Beijing. On average, the “coal to gas” policy reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM10), particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) by 12.08%, 4.89%, 13.07%, 11.94% and 11.10% per year, respectively. We find that the “coal to gas” policy is more effective in areas with less energy use efficiency. The finding of this paper suggests that the government should continue to implement the “coal to gas” policy, so as to alleviate the air pollution in Beijing, China.