bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EEG Assessment in a 2-Year-Old Child with Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness: 3 Years’ Follow-up
Authors: Xu Gang , Sheng Qianqian , Xin Qinggang , Song Yanxin , Zhang Gaoyan , Yuan Lin , Zhao Peng , Liang Jun
Published: November 2020

A 2-year-old girl, diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and epilepsy following car trauma, was followed up for 3 years (a total of 15 recordings taken at 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19, 26, and 35 months). There is still no clear guidance on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of children with disorders of consciousness. At each appointment, recordings included the child’s height, weight, pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (pGCS), Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), Gesell Developmental Schedule, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram, frequency of seizures, oral antiepileptic drugs, stimulation with subject’s own name (SON), and median nerve electrical stimulation (MNS). Growth and development were deemed appropriate for the age of the child. The pGCS and Gesell Developmental Schedule provided a comprehensive assessment of consciousness and mental development; the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI ) in the β-band (13–25 Hz) can distinguish unresponsive wakefulness syndrome from minimally conscious state and confirm that the SON and MNS were effective. The continuous increase of delta-band power indicates a poor prognosis. Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) have a cumulative effect and seizures seriously affect the prognosis.
Probabilistic Assessment of Damage from Same Shock Response Spectra due to Variations in Damping
Authors: Maji Arup
Published: November 2020

Interpretation of field data from shock tests and subsequent assessment of product safety margins via laboratory testing are based on the shock response spectra (SRS). The SRS capture how a single degree of freedom (SDOF) structure responds to the shock at differing frequencies and, therefore, no longer contain the duration or other temporal parameters pertaining to the shock. A single duration can often be included in the technical specification or in the recreation of acceleration vs. time history from the specified SRS; however, there is little basis for that beyond technical judgment. The loss of such temporal information can result in the recreated SRS being the same while its effect on a system or component can be different. This paper attempts to quantify this deficiency as well as propose a simple method of capturing damping from shock waves that can allow the original waveform to be more accurately reconstructed from the SRS. In this study the decay rate associated with various frequencies that comprise the overall shock was varied. This variation in the decay rate leads to a variation in the acceleration vs. time history, which can be correlated to a “Damage Index” that captures the fatigue damage imparted to the object under shock. Several waveforms that have the same SRS but varying rates of decay for either high- or low-frequency components of the shock were investigated. The resulting variation in stress cycles and Damage Index is discussed in the context of the lognormal distribution of fatigue failure data. It is proposed that, along with the SRS, the decay rate is also captured to minimize the discrepancy between field data and representative laboratory tests.
Bodacious-Instance Coverage Mechanism for Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Ashraf Shahzad , Alfandi Omar , Ahmad Arshad , Khattak Asad Masood , Hayat Bashir , Kim Kyong Hoon , Ullah Ayaz
Published: November 2020

Due to unavoidable environmental factors, wireless sensor networks are facing numerous tribulations regarding network coverage. These arose due to the uncouth deployment of the sensor nodes in the wireless coverage area that ultimately degrades the performance and confines the coverage range. In order to enhance the network coverage range, an instance (node) redeployment-based Bodacious-instance Coverage Mechanism (BiCM) is proposed. The proposed mechanism creates new instance positions in the coverage area. It operates in two stages; in the first stage, it locates the intended instance position through the Dissimilitude Enhancement Scheme (DES) and moves the instance to a new position, while the second stage is called the depuration, when the moving distance between the initial and intended instance positions is sagaciously reduced. Further, the variations of various parameters of BiCM such as loudness, pulse emission rate, maximum frequency, grid points, and sensing radius have been explored, and the optimized parameters are identified. The performance metric has been meticulously analyzed through simulation results and is compared with the state-of-the-art Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA) and, one step above, the tuned BiCM algorithm in terms of mean coverage rate, computation time, and standard deviation. The coverage range curve for various numbers of iterations and sensor nodes is also presented for the tuned Bodacious-instance Coverage Mechanism (tuned BiCM), BiCM, and FOA. The performance metrics generated by the simulation have vouched for the effectiveness of tuned BiCM as it achieved more coverage range than BiCM and FOA.
Special Issue “Digital Twin Technology in the AEC Industry”
Authors: Zhang Jisong , Zhao Lihua , Ren Guoqian , Li Haijiang , Li Xiaofei
Published: November 2020

Sustainable building design has become a hot topic over the past decades. Many standards, databases, and tools have been developed for achieving a sustainable building. Not until recently have the importance of structural engineering and its contribution to sustainable building design been full recognised. However, due to the highly fragmented and diversity of knowledge across building and infrastructure domains, there is a lack of approach that can address all the sustainable issues within the structural design. This paper reviews the sustainable design from the perspective of structural engineering: (1) reviewing the current situation; (2) identifying the gaps and difficulties; and (3) making recommendations for future improvements. The strategies and indicators, as well as BIM‐enabled methodology, for sustainable structural design (SSD) are also discussed in a holistic way. The results of this investigation show that most of the methods are not doing well in terms of delivering a successful sustainable structural design. It is expected that the future BIM could probably provide such a platform to address these issues.
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection Complicated with Bacteremia in a 10-Month-Old Boy
Authors: Kamura Takuro , Tanaka Yuhei , Tsumura Naoya , Ohya Takashi , Okamatsu Yuki
Published: November 2020

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y. pseudotuberculosis) infection complicated with bacteremia rarely occurs. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection is also known to produce various symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease (KD) due to the production of Y. pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM), an exotoxin with superantigen activity. Moreover, it causes terminal ileitis and is responsible for appendix swelling. Here, we report a case of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection in a 10-month-old boy who was brought to our hospital due to fever, watery stool, and poor vitality. Abdominal echocardiography revealed wall thickening of the entire colon and appendix swelling; therefore, he was admitted and treated with antibiotics for bacterial enteritis or appendicitis. After the antibiotic administration, facial skin rashes and hand and foot edema developed. However, he had 5/6 major symptoms of KD and was diagnosed with Y. pseudotuberculosis infection because of its presence in the blood and stool cultures. Thereafter, antibacterial therapy improved his symptoms and increased the inflammatory response. After his hospital discharge, the skin on his fingers showed desquamation like that of KD. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection should be considered as a differential disease in KD, terminal ileitis, and appendicitis. Furthermore, its infection route and culture methods should also be carefully considered.
CirBiTree: Citrullination Site Inference Based on a Fuzzy Neural Network and Flexible Neural Tree
Authors: Song Chuandong , Wang Haifeng
Published: November 2020

Emerging evidence demonstrates that post-translational modification plays an important role in several human complex diseases. Nevertheless, considering the inherent high cost and time consumption of classical and typical in vitro experiments, an increasing attention has been paid to the development of efficient and available computational tools to identify the potential modification sites in the level of protein. In this work, we propose a machine learning-based model called CirBiTree for identification the potential citrullination sites. More specifically, we initially utilize the biprofile Bayesian to extract peptide sequence information. Then, a flexible neural tree and fuzzy neural network are employed as the classification model. Finally, the most available length of identified peptides has been selected in this model. To evaluate the performance of the proposed methods, some state-of-the-art methods have been employed for comparison. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is better than other methods. CirBiTree can achieve 83.07% in sn%, 80.50% in sp, 0.8201 in F1, and 0.6359 in MCC, respectively.
Machine Learning Approach to Quantity Management for Long-Term Sustainable Development of Dockless Public Bike: Case of Shenzhen in China
Authors: Zhou Qingfeng , Wong Chun Janice , Su Xian
Published: November 2020

Since the number of bicycles is critical to the sustainable development of dockless PBS, this research practiced the introduction of a machine learning approach to quantity management using OFO bike operation data in Shenzhen. First, two clustering algorithms were used to identify the bicycle gathering area, and the available bike number and coefficient of available bike number variation were analyzed in each bicycle gathering area’s type. Second, five classification algorithms were compared in the accuracy of distinguishing the type of bicycle gathering areas using 25 impact factors. Finally, the application of the knowledge gained from the existing dockless bicycle operation data to guide the number planning and management of public bicycles was explored. We found the following. (1) There were 492 OFO bicycle gathering areas that can be divided into four types: high inefficient, normal inefficient, high efficient, and normal efficient. The high inefficient and normal inefficient areas gathered about 110,000 bicycles with low usage. (2) More types of bicycle gathering area will affect the accuracy of the classification algorithm. The random forest classification had the best performance in identifying bicycle gathering area types in five classification algorithms with an accuracy of more than 75%. (3) There were obvious differences in the characteristics of 25 impact factors in four types of bicycle gathering areas. It is feasible to use these factors to predict area type to optimize the number of available bicycles, reduce operating costs, and improve utilization efficiency. This work helps operators and government understand the characteristics of dockless PBS and contributes to promoting long-term sustainable development of the system through a machine learning approach.
An Integrated Fault Identification Approach for Rolling Bearings Based on Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Packet Transform and Generalized Composite Multiscale Amplitude-Aware Permutation Entropy
Authors: Liu Wuqiang , Yang Xiaoqiang , Jinxing Shen
Published: November 2020

The health condition of rolling bearings, as a widely used part in rotating machineries, directly influences the working efficiency of the equipment. Consequently, timely detection and judgment of the current working status of the bearing is the key to improving productivity. This paper proposes an integrated fault identification technology for rolling bearings, which contains two parts: the fault predetection and the fault recognition. In the part of fault predetection, the threshold based on amplitude-aware permutation entropy (AAPE) is defined to judge whether the bearing currently has a fault. If there is a fault in the bearing, the fault feature is adequately extracted using the feature extraction method combined with dual-tree complex wavelet packet transform (DTCWPT) and generalized composite multiscale amplitude-aware permutation entropy (GCMAAPE). Firstly, the method decomposes the fault vibration signal into a set of subband components through the DTCWPT with good time-frequency decomposing capability. Secondly, the GCMAAPE values of each subband component are computed to generate the initial candidate feature. Next, a low-dimensional feature sample is established using the t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) with good nonlinear dimensionality reduction performance to choose sensitive features from the initial high-dimensional features. Afterwards, the featured specimen representing fault information is fed into the deep belief network (DBN) model to judge the fault type. In the end, the superiority of the proposed solution is verified by analyzing the collected experimental data. Detection and classification experiments indicate that the proposed solution can not only accurately detect whether there is a fault but also effectively determine the fault type of the bearing. Besides, this solution can judge the different faults more accurately compared with other ordinary methods.
Multiple‐Factor Influence on Air Quality of Road Motor Vehicles Tail Number Limit in Administrative Area of Beijing, China
Authors: Rajabov Bakhrom , Liu Lan , Rajabov Jamshid
Published: November 2020

From December 2, 2013, to October 31, 2019 (total 2160 days), Beijing official air quality data was used as the research object. The article analyzes the end of days 4 and 9 and the end of the nonrestricted 4 and 9 days, working and nonworking days, restricted and nonrestricted working days, long holidays (Spring Festival and National Day), and nonlong holidays (short holidays other than the Spring Festival and National Day and working days) of AQI, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3. According to the statistical analysis of the data, the air quality of the 4 and 9 limit is worse than that of the non-4 and 9 limit. Motor vehicles restricted in traffic had an objective effect on air AQI, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2, whereas there was almost no difference in O3. Some peak values of AQI, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, and NO2 on nonrestricted working days were significantly higher than those on restricted working days. At the same time, there was a peak time of the impact of motor vehicles on AQI, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, and NO2 in Beijing. This time should be between 3 and 5 days, or 72 and 120 hours.
cHybriDroid: A Machine Learning-Based Hybrid Technique for Securing the Edge Computing
Authors: Maryam Afifa , Ahmed Usman , Aleem Muhammad , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei , Arshad Islam Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Azhar
Published: November 2020

Smart phones are an integral component of the mobile edge computing (MEC) framework. Securing the data stored on mobile devices is very crucial for ensuring the smooth operations of cloud services. A growing number of malicious Android applications demand an in-depth investigation to dissect their malicious intent to design effective malware detection techniques. The contemporary state-of-the-art model suggests that hybrid features based on machine learning (ML) techniques could play a significant role in android malware detection. The selection of application’s features plays a very crucial role to capture the appropriate behavioural patterns of malware instances for a useful classification of mobile applications. In this study, we propose a novel hybrid approach to detect android malware, wherein static features in conjunction with dynamic features of smart phone applications are employed. We collect these hybrid features using permissions, intents, and run-time features (such as information leakage, cryptography’s exploitation, and network manipulations) to analyse the effectiveness of the employed techniques for malware detection. We conduct experiments using over 5,000 real-world applications. The outcomes of the study reveal that the proposed set of features has successfully detected malware threats with 97% F-measure results.
Generative Adversarial Network-based Missing Data Handling and Remaining Useful Life Estimation for Smart Train Control and Monitoring Systems
Authors: Lee Hyunsoo , Han Seok-Youn , Park Kee-Jun
Published: November 2020

As railway is considered one of the most significant transports, sudden malfunction of train components or delayed maintenance may considerably disrupt societal activities. To prevent this issue, various railway maintenance frameworks, from “periodic time-based and distance-based traditional maintenance frameworks” to “monitoring/conditional-based maintenance systems,” have been proposed and developed. However, these maintenance frameworks depend on the current status and situations of trains and cars. To overcome these issues, several predictive frameworks have been proposed. This study proposes a new and effective remaining useful life (RUL) estimation framework using big data from a train control and monitoring system (TCMS). TCMS data is classified into two types: operation data and alarm data. Alarm or RUL information is extracted from the alarm data. Subsequently, a deep learning model achieves the mapping relationship between operation data and the extracted RUL. However, a number of TCMS data have missing values due to malfunction of embedded sensors and/or low life of monitoring modules. This issue is addressed in the proposed generative adversarial network (GAN) framework. Both deep neural network (DNN) models for a generator and a predictor estimate missing values and predict train fault, simultaneously. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed GAN-based predictive maintenance framework, TCMS data-based case studies and comparisons with other methods were carried out.
Metabolomic Analysis of the Ameliorative Effect of Enhanced Proline Metabolism on Hypoxia-Induced Injury in Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Wang Jiacheng , Xue Zhimin , Hua Chunting , Lin Jun , Shen Zhida , Song Yinjing , Ying Hangying , Lv Qingbo , Wang Meihui , Zhou Binquan
Published: November 2020

Background. Coronary heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in humans. Its poor prognosis and high mortality are associated with myocardial ischemia, which leads to metabolic disorder-related cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Previous cardiovascular metabolomics studies in humans and mice have shown that proline metabolism is severely altered after cardiomyocyte hypoxia. Proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) is located on the inner mitochondrial membrane and is an enzyme that catalyzes the first step of proline catabolism, which plays an important role in improving the cellular redox state. In vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation can mimic in vivo myocardial ischemic injury. This study is aimed at investigating whether enhancing proline metabolism by overexpressing PRODH can ameliorate hypoxia-induced injury in cardiomyocytes and to reveal the related altered metabolites and mechanistic pathway via untargeted metabolomics analysis. Methods and Results. First, through public database analysis and RT-qPCR and western blot analyses in a cardiomyocyte hypoxia model, we found that the expression of the proline-degrading enzyme PRODH was downregulated after myocardial infarction and hypoxia exposure. Second, LDH assays, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), DHE staining, flow cytometric apoptosis analysis with DCFH and Annexin V-FITC/PI, and western blot analysis were used to assess the injury level in cardiomyocytes. Enhanced proline metabolism induced by PRODH overexpression reduced the levels of reactive oxidative stress and apoptosis, whereas PRODH knockdown had the opposite effects. Third, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that the protective effect was associated with significant changes in metabolism linked to sphingolipid signaling pathways, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, phosphocreatine, glutathione disulfide, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and ABC transporters. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated a protective effect of enhanced proline metabolism in cardiomyocytes under hypoxia, providing a novel strategy for exploring new treatments for coronary heart disease.
Topical Capsaicin for Treating Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
Authors: Aziz Ansar , Waheed Tayyab , Oladunjoye Olubunmi , Oladunjoye Adeolu , Hanif Midhat , Latif Fareena
Published: November 2020

Introduction. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), associated with chronic cannabis use, presents with cyclic abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. With increasing use of marijuana, the incidence of CHS is expected to increase. Most patients with CHS make frequent visits to the emergency room and are usually refractory to conventional treatment. We, therefore, present a case of CHS successfully treated with topical capsaicin application. Case Presentation. A 41-year-old female with a recent excess use of cannabis presented to the emergency department for evaluation of recurrent excruciating epigastric pain accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting. She had similar, milder symptoms a year ago and underwent endoscopic evaluation which was negative except for mild reflux esophagitis for which she was started on a proton pump inhibitor. On this presentation, basic laboratory workup, EKG, and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis were unremarkable. A detailed abdominal exam was only positive for mild epigastric tenderness. She was instructed to continue pantoprazole and pain medication and outpatient repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The patient returned the next day with extreme retching, nausea, and vomiting and was admitted for further evaluation. Intravenous fluids, antiemetics, and morphine were started for pain control with no symptomatic improvement. A diagnosis of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome was made based on history of chronic marijuana use and otherwise negative workup. A trial of topical capsaicin, over the epigastric region, was tried that provided dramatic relief within 24 hours. Repeat endoscopic evaluation had no evidence of ulcers, celiac disease, or esophagitis. She was discharged on topical capsaicin and counselled on marijuana abstinence, with no return of symptoms. Conclusion. Based on the dramatic resolution of symptoms with topical capsaicin, our case supports this promising intervention and provides an alternate approach to antiemetics and narcotics routinely used in patients with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome.
TBHQ-Overview of Multiple Mechanisms against Oxidative Stress for Attenuating Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity
Authors: Zhao Yuan-Ling , Zhao Wei , Liu Ming , Liu Lian , Wang Yun
Published: November 2020

Methamphetamine is a derivative of amphetamines, a highly addictive central stimulant with multiple systemic toxicity including the brain, heart, liver, lung, and spleen. It has adverse effects such as apoptosis and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Methamphetamine is a fatal and toxic chemical substance, and its lethal mechanism has been widely studied in recent years. The possible mechanism is that methamphetamine can cause cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity mainly by inducing oxidative stress so as to generate heat, eliminate people’s hunger and thirst, and maintain a state of excitement so that people can continue to exercise. According to many research, there is no doubt that methamphetamine triggers neurotoxicity by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and redox imbalance. This review summarized the mechanisms of methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity including apoptosis and blood-brain barrier breakdown through oxidative stress and analyzed several possible antioxidative mechanisms of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) which is a kind of food additive with antioxidative effects. As a nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) agonist, TBHQ may inhibit neurotoxicity caused by oxidative stress through the following three mechanisms: the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system, the astrocytes activation, and the glutathione pathway. The mechanism about methamphetamine’s toxic effects and its antioxidative therapeutic drugs would become a research hotspot in this field and has very important research significance.
Does Measurement of Corticospinal Tract Involvement Add Value to Clinical Behavioral Biomarkers in Predicting Motor Recovery after Stroke?
Authors: Lim Jong Youb , Oh Mi-Kyoung , Park Jihong , Paik Nam-Jong
Published: November 2020

Background. The prediction of motor recovery after stroke is an important issue, and various prediction models have been proposed using either clinical behavioral or neurological biomarkers. This study sought to identify the effects of clinical behavioral biomarkers combined with corticospinal tract (CST) injury measurement on the prediction of motor recovery after stroke. Methods. The region of interest was drawn on the normalized brain magnetic resonance imaging scans of patients with first-ever unilateral hemispheric stroke, and the degree of CST injury was calculated in a total of 67 such subjects. Patients who had initial minor deficits and showed a ceiling effect on motor recovery were excluded. To predict the follow-up Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scores, correlation and regression analyses were performed using various clinical behavioral biomarkers, including age, sex, lesion location, and initial FMA scores and CST injury measurements. Results. Only the initial FMA-upper extremity (UE) score was statistically correlated with the follow-up FMA-UE score at ≥2 months after the onset (adjusted

R

2

=
0.626

), and the relationship between CST injury and follow-up FMA-UE score was unclear (

n
=
53

). Hierarchical clustering between the initial and follow-up FMA-UE scores showed three clusters. After exclusion of a cluster with an initial FMA-UE ≥ 35, the prediction of the follow-up FMA-UE score was possible by incorporating the initial FMA-UE score and CST injury measurements (

n
=
39

). However, the explanatory power decreased (adjusted

R

2

=
0.445

), and the unique contribution of the CST injury (10.1%) was lower than that of the initial FMA-UE score (26.7%). With respect to the FMA-lower extremity score, CST injury was not related to recovery. Conclusions. Motor recovery of the upper and lower extremities after stroke could be predicted using the initial FMA score. CST injury was significant for the prediction of motor recovery of the upper extremity in patients with severe initial motor deficits (FMA-UE < 35); however, its portion of prediction of motor recovery was low. The prediction of poststroke motor recovery using the initial motor deficit was not improved by the addition of CST injury measurements.
A Novel Pricing Mechanism for User Coalition in Blockchain
Authors: Jiang Yi , Liu Xu , Dai Jun
Published: November 2020

As the blockchain platform is widely used as a new trading way, both participants and transaction volume in the blockchain projects have been growing by leaps and bounds. The generic mechanisms of ranking transaction priorities are heavily dependent on the transaction fees the users append into each transaction; then, all transactions are ranked in the nonincreasing order according to the transaction fee amounts, and the selected transactions will be packed into a new created block in order based on the ranking results. However, more complex influence factors more than transaction fees on transaction priority ranking results are not taken into consideration in the generic transaction priority ranking mechanisms, and a single user is the objective to create transactions in these mechanisms. In order to optimize the generic transaction priority ranking mechanisms and enrich transaction creation modes, a novel user-coalition-based transaction pricing mechanism (UCTPM) is proposed, and the user coalition quality score, user coalition contribution degree, and the transaction type demand degree are formulated and introduced into the UCTPM mechanism. Our research findings indicate that the UCTPM mechanism satisfies the economic attributes of budget balanced, individual rationality, and incentive compatibility when the user coalition contribution degree increases through theoretical proof and experimental analysis. Moreover, the UCTPM mechanism allows all the transactions to be processed more efficiently by experimental analysis.
Experimental Study on the Distribution Trends of Fouling on a Compressor Blade
Authors: Tang Jie , Gao Dianrong , Wang Liwen , Huo Jinjian
Published: November 2020

The formation of a scale on a compressor blade surface is inevitable, and the study of the distribution of the scale can provide effective guidance for the cleaning of a wing engine. Using the waste liquid collected from the engine during the wing water washing process as a data sample, the main components of compressor blade surface fouling were analysed, which included 49.9% SiO2, 14.5% FeO, 11.5% Al2O3, 9.4% CaO, etc. Based on JKR contact theory, a model for calculating the total thickness of the fouling layer on the blade surface was established. Through a simulation experiment on the fouling of a blade surface, the number of particulates deposited on the pressure surface was lower than the amount of the secondary deposition mass on the suction surface. From contrastive analysis of the results of perforation, the fouling is divided into three types: loose, dense, and transitional. The surface of a single blade can be divided into four different fouling areas. The parameters of the engine cleaning process can be designed according to the characteristics of the fourth area.
Numerical Simulation of Thrombolysis in Robot-Assisted Retinal Vein Cannulation
Authors: Li Shunlei , Pan Jiawen , Ji Juan , Wang Guanghang , Qi Baobao
Published: November 2020

Robot-assisted retinal cannulation is an eye surgical procedure which can dissolve the obstruction by using robot to inject anticoagulant into occluded vessel. The current research on the critical parameters of cannulation for human is scarce because of the immature technology. Considering the influence of microneedle, this work investigated the effects of drug concentration, injection velocity, injection position, and size of clot on cannulation by theoretical analysis and finite element analysis. For finite element analysis, the multiphysics continuum model was established to demonstrate species transport and reaction which simulates the entire lytic process of the occlusive clot, and four cell zones were established to describe the generation of plasmin (PLS) with the addition of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and fibrinolysis of clot by importing subroutines into each cell zone under the conditions of constant clot size and variable size, respectively. The results imply that the most efficient value of tPA concentration is 50 nM, injection velocity is 60 mm/s for clot length of 0.1 mm, and the best position to insert the cannula is 0.5 mm in front of the thrombus. For different clot lengths of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, the optimal range of tPA concentration and injection velocity is from 20 nM to 70 nM and from 40 mm/s to 60 mm/s, respectively, and explores the reasonable injection position of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm in front of clot in a vein of 100 μm. This conclusion can be used to perform robot-assisted cannulation surgery to improve fibrinolytic efficiency.
Expectant Management of a Critically Ill Pregnant Patient with COVID-19 with Good Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Alsayyed Farah , Hastings Victoria , Lederman Sanford
Published: November 2020

Background. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for a global pandemic that has significantly affected New York City. There is limited data about COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, especially in critically ill patients. Case. A 30-year-old female who presented at 26 weeks gestation with acute severe respiratory distress that required intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We had a high suspicion of COVID-19 disease despite repeated negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, with eventual positive COVID IgG antibody testing. Through an integration of obstetrical knowledge, critical care, and comparing outcomes from similar cases in the literature, we decided to expectantly manage her pregnancy and did not recommend administration of antenatal steroids. She was extubated after 23 days of mechanical ventilation and recovered from her respiratory illness. She had a full-term spontaneous vaginal delivery of a baby boy at 39 weeks gestation with excellent maternal and fetal outcomes at delivery. Conclusion. In the face of COVID-19, a new disease with unclear maternal and fetal outcomes to date, a collaboration of care teams is essential to navigate through the challenging decisions made, including timing of delivery, treatment options, and administration of steroids. Our paper is unique as there is no other published case report of a critically ill pregnant patient with COVID-19 in which delivery was deferred, and a full recovery was observed, with a vaginal delivery at term.
Nonclassical Axis of the Renin-Angiotensin System and Neprilysin: Key Mediators That Underlie the Cardioprotective Effect of PPAR-Alpha Activation during Myocardial Ischemia in a Metabolic Syndrome Model
Authors: Sánchez-Aguilar María , Ibarra-Lara Luz , del Valle-Mondragón Leonardo , Soria-Castro Elizabeth , Torres-Narváez Juan Carlos , Carreón-Torres Elizabeth , Sánchez-Mendoza Alicia , Rubio-Ruíz María Esther
Published: November 2020

The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) participates in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in heart failure. PPAR-alpha activation by fenofibrate reverts some of the effects caused by these pathologies. Recently, nonclassical RAS components have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and myocardial dysfunction; however, their cardiac functions are still controversial. We evaluated if the nonclassical RAS signaling pathways, directed by angiotensin III and angiotensin-(1-7), are involved in the cardioprotective effect of fenofibrate during ischemia in MetS rats. Control (CT) and MetS rats were divided into the following groups: (a) sham, (b) vehicle-treated myocardial infarction (MI-V), and (c) fenofibrate-treated myocardial infarction (MI-F). Angiotensin III and angiotensin IV levels and insulin increased the aminopeptidase (IRAP) expression and decreased the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the hearts from MetS rats. Ischemia activated the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II/angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) and angiotensin III/angiotensin IV/angiotensin receptor 4 (AT4R)-IRAP axes. Fenofibrate treatment prevented the damage due to ischemia in MetS rats by favoring the angiotensin-(1-7)/angiotensin receptor 2 (AT2R) axis and inhibiting the angiotensin III/angiotensin IV/AT4R-IRAP signaling pathway. Additionally, fenofibrate downregulated neprilysin expression and increased bradykinin production. These effects of PPAR-alpha activation were accompanied by a reduction in the size of the myocardial infarct and in the activity of serum creatine kinase. Thus, the regulation of the nonclassical axis of RAS forms part of a novel protective effect of fenofibrate in myocardial ischemia.
Design, Validation, and Comparative Analysis of a Private Bus Location Tracking Information System
Authors: Al-Hawari Feras , Al-Sammarraie Mohammed , Al-Khaffaf Taha
Published: November 2020

This paper addresses various aspects related to the design, development, and validation of a web-based information system that is intended to facilitate the management of a bus transportation service offered by a Jordanian university to its staff and students. Passengers can use this system to track bus trips to find out how far a desired bus is from a specific location. Also, they can know about arrivals and departures of buses managed using this system. Specifically, this work explores UI design, data structures, database design, system architecture, and development methods to realize the required features (e.g., user roles, bus setup, driver assignment, bus routes, bus schedules, and trip monitoring) in the proposed bus location tracking system. It also suggests using the free open-source API, rather than the proprietary Google Maps API, to develop the interactive maps. The system also records trip information and solicits passenger feedback to allow reviewing and analyzing that data to enhance the quality of service, reduce operation cost, and improve passenger satisfaction. The conducted comparative analysis results illustrate that the open-source API is accurate, fast, and responsive similar to the proprietary API. Furthermore, the user survey output confirms that the deployed system is easy to use, helpful, fast, responsive, and accurate.
Scale Effects of the Relationships between 3D Building Morphology and Urban Heat Island: A Case Study of Provincial Capital Cities of Mainland China
Authors: Qiao Zhi , Han Xiping , Wu Chen , Liu Luo , Xu Xinliang , Sun Zongyao , Sun Wei , Cao Qian , Li Linwan
Published: November 2020

In the process of rapid urbanization, urban heat island (UHI) effect has been showing more and more significant impacts on human well-being. Therefore, a more detailed understanding of the impact of three-dimensional (3D) building morphology on UHI effect across a continuum of spatial scales will be necessary to guide and improve the human settlement.This study selected 31 provincial capital cities of mainland China to analyze the impacts of the 3D building morphology, including the number, area, height, volume, and the surface area of the buildings, on the land surface temperature (LST). By exploring how the influence of 3D building morphology on LST changes with the increase of spatial scale (between 0 and 600 m radii), this study finally recognized which 3D building morphology index is the most significant index affecting LST in different cities, and which spatial scale these 3D building morphology indexes have the most significant impact on LST. The results showed that the building area is the most important 3D building morphology parameter affecting the LST, while the building height has the slightest influence on the LST. These effects are more significant in the spatial scale of 150 m–540 m, and the spatial scale increases with the increase of building areas in developed cities. These results highlight the necessity of considering fine-grained management in the governance and alleviating of the urban thermal environment through urban planning and urban renewal strategies.
Jisuikang Promotes the Repair of Spinal Cord Injury in Rats by Regulating NgR/RhoA/ROCK Signal Pathway
Authors: Wu Chengjie , Zhou Yuxin , Tu Pengcheng , Yang Guanglu , Zheng Suyang , Pan Yalan , Sun Jie , Guo Yang , Ma Yong
Published: November 2020

Jisuikang (JSK) is an herbal formula composed of many kinds of traditional Chinese medicine, which has been proved to be effective in promoting the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) after more than ten years of clinical application. However, the mechanisms of JSK promoting nerve regeneration are yet to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of JSK protecting neurons, specifically the regulation of NgR/RhoA/ROCK signal pathway. The motor function of rats was evaluated by the BBB score and inclined plate test, Golgi staining and transmission electron microscope were used to observe the microstructure of nerve tissue, and fluorescence double‐labeling method was used to detect neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we found that JSK could improve the motor function of rats with SCI, protect the microstructure (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and dendritic spine) of neurons, and reduce the apoptosis rate of neurons in rats with SCI. In addition, JSK could inhibit the expression of Nogo receptor (NgR) in neurons and the NgR/RhoA/ROCK signal pathway in rats with SCI. These results indicated JSK could improve the motor function of rats with SCI by inhibiting the NgR/RhoA/ROCK signal pathway, which suggests the potential applicability of JSK as a nerve regeneration agent.
In Defense of Scientific Phenomenologies
Authors: Giorgi Amedeo
Published: November 2020

Empiricism had dominated scientific activities for about three centuries but beginning with the 20th Century a new philosophy, phenomenology, began to develop and certain scientists who conducted research with humans began to turn to phenomenology as the basis for their scientific work rather than empiricism. What was known as the Utrecht School in Holland just after World War II, psychologists at Duquesne University during mid-twentieth century, pedagogists in Canada at about the same time and nurses later in the twentieth century all began to base their research on phenomenological philosophical principles rather than on empiricism. Certain philosophers criticized the approach of these scientists and offered their own praxis based directly on phenomenological philosophy. However, one of the members of the Duquesne University’s group strongly criticized the evaluation of his approach by the philosophers and demonstrated the significant errors of their criticism. The psychologist then clarified his scientific phenomenological approach toward psychological phenomena and emphasized the role of the phenomenological epoche’ and reduction for Husserlian scientific phenomenology.
A Not So Harmless Drudge
Authors: van Heertum Cis
Published: November 2020

This article discusses the survival of Adriaen Koerbagh’s Bloemhof, a controversial work confidently claimed to be rare in bibliographies and in antiquarian booksellers’ catalogues. So far, more than 70 copies have been found worldwide, in libraries and in private collections. Contemporary annotations provide additional biographical information on Koerbagh’s arrest and imprisonment. The reception of Bloemhof in Dutch and—mainly—German bibliographies is also discussed in the article. An appendix with surviving copies has been added.
The Revival of Palestinian Christianity
Authors: Marteijn Elizabeth S.
Published: November 2020

Palestinian Christians are a minority of approximately 1 or 2% in a context marked by conflict, expulsions, and ongoing emigration. Despite all this, Palestinian Christians have made a significant contribution to society in the spheres of politics, the arts, science, and social welfare. Moreover, from the 1980s onwards, this Palestinian context of struggle has also been the source for the emergence of a socially and politically committed contextual theology. This article analyses the development of Palestinian contextual theology by examining theological publications by Palestinian theologians. It identifies liberation, reconciliation, witness, ecumenism, and interfaith-dialogue as some of the dominant theological themes. What unites these publications is a theological engagement with the Palestinian Christian identity in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Gazan Christians: Pilgrimage Permits, Migration, and the Exchange of Precarity
Authors: Schmitt Kenny
Published: November 2020

This study casts light on the dynamics driving Christian migration from the Gaza Strip and its consequences. By analyzing the historical background and institutionalization of Palestinian movement restrictions—specifically the pilgrimage permit regime—the article explores the temporal and spatial entanglements of pilgrimage, migration, and politics. Since 2007, deteriorating conditions have led Gazan Christians to use temporary pilgrimage permits as a pretext to permanently escape the Strip. The article argues that this migration is driven by the overwhelming precarity of Gazan Christians’ life circumstances, a precarity that includes temporal and spatial, political and economic, religious and personal insecurities. Further, those who escape do not find themselves in a better situation; they experience geographic isolation and communal fragmentation within the West Bank. The process of Gazan Christian migration is best understood as the mere exchange of precarity.
Why Church Leaders Discourage Christians from Leaving Jordan: An Anti-Emigration Perspective
Authors: Schouten Lucy
Published: November 2020

Migration and refugee displacement are some of the most pressing issues facing the contemporary Middle East. Regional church leaders have cautioned against Christian emigration from ancient Middle Eastern churches to countries outside the Middle East; even Christian refugees who have already been displaced internally within the region are often discouraged from leaving. This article surveys some of the public statements that discourage Middle Eastern Christians from leaving the region, as presented from various denominational perspectives. Building on fieldwork conducted in Amman, Jordan, in 2018 and 2019, the article then argues that the attempts by Arab Anglican leaders in Jordan to dissuade church members from emigrating are based on a particular self-understanding of Middle Eastern Christianity that emphasizes an active, continuing Christian presence within the Middle East, as well as practices of unity among different Christian communities and longstanding coexistence with Muslim neighbors.
Oriental Orthodox Young Adults and Liturgical Participation: A Matter of Identity
Authors: Nasrallah Rima , Sonnenberg Ronelle
Published: November 2020

This qualitative research on young adults of the Armenian Apostolic and Syriac Orthodox Churches in Lebanon considers why participation in liturgy aids the identity formation of youth in both communities. By participating in liturgical rituals, these young adults express identities which transcend the limited spaces they inhabit. These spaces are influenced by the minority context in Lebanon, as well as by traumatic historic experiences of both Armenians and Syriacs. Such spaces stimulate the youths’ appreciation for their ancient traditions and their strong connection to other members of their church communities, both past and present. Their sense of belonging is rooted in ancient languages and narratives, and in the embodied rituals that open Armenian and Syriac young people up to the divine dimension of liturgy in church and in daily life. We argue that, for the research population, engagement in the liturgy is a matter of identity.
Morocco from a Colonial to a Postcolonial Era
Authors: Alaoui Fatima Zahrae Chrifi
Published: November 2020

Women of color have long used the transformative power of writing and theorizing through their bodies to speak back to the pervasive racist and sexist hierarchies in hegemonic cultures. I extend this argument in the specific context of Muslim feminism that is theorized outside orientalist and patriarchal frames of reference. In this article, I turn to a performative autoethnographic approach to look at the Moroccan era, ‘Now and Then,’ through my grandmother’s lens, that of a Moroccan woman erased from the written history of Morocco. Drawing on ‘theories of the flesh,’ I privilege my grandmother’s voice and her embodied experience that transmits her story of resistance and survival under French colonization. Through ‘fleshing,’ my Moroccan grandmother reclaims her lived experiences and deconstructs the hegemonic universalist knowledge of feminism and struggle. It is important to foreground the political urgency of surveying the theoretical frameworks of Arab and Muslim scholars in order to create new ways of understanding communication in postcolonial/neocolonial settings.
Early Germanic *hanha- ‘horse’ and *hanhistaz / *hangistaz ‘stallion’
Authors: Mees Bernard
Published: November 2020

Difficult etymologies in Germanic include that of *hanha- ‘horse’ and *hanhistaz / *hangistaz ‘stallion’. Reflections of the latter term are widely evidenced in the Old Germanic dialects while the former is attested onomastically on a late-fourth-century memorial from Burgundy and has also been claimed to be reflected in early runic epigraphy. Both terms appear to continue a remorphologised s-stem *hanhaz ~ *hangisō and have clear Celtic counterparts. The development in Germanic seems to reflect the prehistoric date of the loaning of the s-stem *hanhaz ~ *hangisō from Celtic.