bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Track, Hotspot and Frontier of International MOOC Research 2008–2018 — A Scientometric Analysis Based on SCI and SSCI
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhao Liang
Published: July 2020

The aim of this paper is to objectively present the development and trend of international MOOC research. Metadata taken from 660 literature records is used to visualize the state of MOOC research. The records were published between 2008 and 2018, and Citespace software is employed to visualize key data about the research contained on the SCI and SSCI platform. It has the following findings. First, since 2012, the number of international MOOC research papers and cited frequency has shown an upward trend. The research force was mainly concentrated in North America, Europe and Asia, and the publishing institutions were mainly concentrated in Universities of various countries, and formed a more obvious international cooperation network. Second, journals such as [Formula: see text]INT REV RES OPEN DIS[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]COMPUTERS & EDUCATION[Formula: see text] are the foundational literatures of MOOC research. George Siemens, Stephen Downes, John Daniel and others have made important contributions to the foundation research of MOOC. Third, Breslow, Liyanagunawardena et al. were cited more frequently and formed eight research clusters such as teaching interaction, relativism/behaviorism theory, individualized learning and diversified education. Fourth, distance education, online learning, learning situation analysis, curriculum construction and platform construction are the hot topics of international MOOC research in the recent decade. Fifth, the development of international MOOC has spread to various disciplines and promoted the interdisciplinary research of environment, biology, medicine, philosophy, psychology and other disciplines.
The solubility graph associated with a finite group
Authors: Akbari B. , Lewis Mark L. , Mirzajani J. , Moghaddamfar A. R.
Published: July 2020

The solubility graph associated with a finite group [Formula: see text] is a simple graph whose vertices are the elements of [Formula: see text], and there is an edge between two distinct elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] is a soluble subgroup of [Formula: see text]. We examine some properties of solubility graphs.
Exterior and symmetric (co)homology of groups
Authors: Bardakov Valeriy G. , Neshchadim Mikhail V. , Singh Mahender
Published: July 2020

The paper investigates exterior and symmetric (co)homologies of groups. We introduce symmetric homology of groups and compute exterior and symmetric (co)homologies of some finite groups. We also compare the classical, exterior and symmetric (co)homologies. Finally, we derive restriction and corestriction homomorphisms for exterior cohomology.
Tau invariants for balanced spatial graphs
Authors: Vance Katherine
Published: July 2020

In 2003, Ozsváth and Szabó defined the concordance invariant [Formula: see text] for knots in oriented 3-manifolds as part of the Heegaard Floer homology package. In 2011, Sarkar gave a combinatorial definition of [Formula: see text] for knots in [Formula: see text] and a combinatorial proof that [Formula: see text] gives a lower bound for the slice genus of a knot. Recently, Harvey and O’Donnol defined a relatively bigraded combinatorial Heegaard Floer homology theory for transverse spatial graphs in [Formula: see text], extending HFK for knots. We define a [Formula: see text]-filtered chain complex for balanced spatial graphs whose associated graded chain complex has homology determined by Harvey and O’Donnol’s graph Floer homology. We use this to show that there is a well-defined [Formula: see text] invariant for balanced spatial graphs generalizing the [Formula: see text] knot concordance invariant. In particular, this defines a [Formula: see text] invariant for links in [Formula: see text]. Using techniques similar to those of Sarkar, we show that our [Formula: see text] invariant is an obstruction to a link being slice.
Spectral asymptotics for a class of integro-differential equations arising in the theory of fractional Gaussian processes
Authors: Nazarov Alexander I.
Published: July 2020

We study spectral problems for integro-differential equations arising in the theory of Gaussian processes similar to the fractional Brownian motion. We generalize the method of Chigansky–Kleptsyna and obtain the two-term eigenvalue asymptotics for such equations. Application to the small ball probabilities in [Formula: see text]-norm is given.
Center cyclicity for some nilpotent singularities including the ℤ2-equivariant class
Authors: García Isaac A.
Published: July 2020

This work concerns with polynomial families of real planar vector fields having a monodromic nilpotent singularity. The families considered are those for which the centers are characterized by the existence of a formal inverse integrating factor vanishing at the singularity with a leading term of minimum [Formula: see text]-quasihomogeneous weighted degree, being [Formula: see text] the Andreev number of the singularity. These families strictly include the case [Formula: see text] and also the [Formula: see text]-equivariant families. In some cases for such families we solve, under additional assumptions, the local Hilbert 16th problem giving global bounds on the maximum number of limit cycles that can bifurcate from the singularity under perturbations within the family. Several examples are given.
Extended TQFTs via generators and relations I: The extended toric code
Authors: Bartlett Bruce , Goosen Gerrit
Published: July 2020

In his PhD thesis [G. Goosen, Oriented 123-tqfts via string-nets and state-sums, PhD thesis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (2018)], Goosen combined the string-net and the generators-and-relations formalisms for arbitrary once-extended 3-dimensional topological quantum field theories (TQFTs). In this paper, we work this out in detail for the simplest nontrivial example, where the underlying spherical fusion category is the category of [Formula: see text]-graded vector spaces. This allows us to give an elementary string-net description of the linear maps associated to 3-dimensional bordisms. The string-net formalism also simplifies the description of the mapping class group action in the resulting TQFT. We conclude the paper by performing some example calculations from this viewpoint.
Every 2-Segal space is unital
Authors: Feller Matthew , Garner Richard , Joachim Kock , Proulx May U. , Weber Mark
Published: July 2020

We prove that every 2-Segal space is unital.
Prokaryote autoimmunity in the context of self-targeting by CRISPR-Cas systems
Authors: Lenskaia Tatiana , Boley Daniel
Published: July 2020

Prokaryote adaptive immunity (CRISPR-Cas systems) can be a threat to its carriers. We analyze the risks of autoimmune reactions related to adaptive immunity in prokaryotes by computational methods. We found important differences between bacteria and archaea with respect to autoimmunity potential. According to the results of our analysis, CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria are more prone to self-targeting even though they possess fewer spacers per organism on average than archaea. The results of our study provide opportunities to use self-targeting in prokaryotes for biological and medical applications.
Four-dimensional vector multiplets in arbitrary signature (II)
Authors: Cortés V. , Gall L. , Mohaupt T.
Published: July 2020

Following the classification up to isomorphism of [Formula: see text] Poincaré Lie superalgebras in four dimensions with arbitrary signature obtained in a companion paper, we present off-shell vector multiplet representations and invariant Lagrangians realizing these algebras. By dimensional reduction of five-dimensional off-shell vector multiplets, we obtain two representations in each four-dimensional signature. In Euclidean and neutral signature, these representations can be mapped to each other by a field redefinition induced by the action of the Schur group on the space of superbrackets. In Minkowski signature, we show that the superbrackets underlying the two vector multiplet representations belong to distinct open orbits of the Schur group and are therefore inequivalent. Our formalism allows to answer questions about the possible relative signs between terms in the Lagrangian systematically by relating them to the underlying space of superbrackets.
Rate of convergence to the Circular Law via smoothing inequalities for log-potentials
Authors: Götze Friedrich , Jalowy Jonas
Published: July 2020

The aim of this paper is to investigate the Kolmogorov distance of the Circular Law to the empirical spectral distribution of non-Hermitian random matrices with independent entries. The optimal rate of convergence is determined by the Ginibre ensemble and is given by [Formula: see text]. A smoothing inequality for complex measures that quantitatively relates the uniform Kolmogorov-like distance to the concentration of logarithmic potentials is shown. Combining it with results from Local Circular Laws, we apply it to prove nearly optimal rate of convergence to the Circular Law in Kolmogorov distance. Furthermore, we show that the same rate of convergence holds for the empirical measure of the roots of Weyl random polynomials.
Australian Veterans of the Middle East Conflicts 2001–2010: Select Reproductive Health Outcomes Part 2 — Prenatal, Fetal, and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Warner Rachelle , Avery Jodie C. , Neuhaus Susan , Davies Michael J.
Published: July 2020

Background: Following on from Part 1 of these companion articles, which described the maternal and paternal cohort of the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Census Study, this manuscript aims to describe fetal and infant characteristics and outcomes from the self-report data, including live deliveries, stillbirths, all other pregnancy losses, and unknown outcomes.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed on the clinical variables where data were reported. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, percentiles) were used to describe the occurrence of adverse gestational outcomes. Odds ratios were also calculated for perinatal outcomes. Infant characteristics and outcomes were evaluated using statistical analysis software IBM SPSS v26.

Results: There were 15,417 pregnancies reported by respondents to the MEAO Census Study. Of these, 74% (11,367) resulted in a live delivery, 0.75% in a stillbirth, and 20% in another type of pregnancy loss (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, termination). The unadjusted odds of an adverse perinatal outcome were higher in the MEAO Census population than in the general Australian population, notably stillbirth (OR = 3.11, 95% CI 2.56–3.80), perinatal death (OR = 3.80, 95% CI 3.26–4.44), and neonatal death (OR = 5.43, 95% CI 4.27–6.91). There were 499 cases of birth defects reported and 85 cases of childhood cancer in the MEAO population. The unadjusted odds of childhood cancer were slightly higher (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 0.09–3.28) in the MEAO population, and the unadjusted odds of birth defects were lower (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.40–0.68). The male:female infant sex ratio of babies born to respondents was 102 (5939 males:5823 females).

Conclusions: The MEAO Census Study presents a generally reassuring picture of reproductive health for women serving in the Australian Defence Force with regards to the risk of pregnancy loss and perinatal outcomes. The increased odds of perinatal and neonatal death and stillbirth are worthy of further study and evaluation, as is the increase in likelihood of childhood cancer in the offspring of MEAO veterans.
Capturing information on curves and surfaces from their projected images
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Kabata Yutaro , Saji Kentaro
Published: July 2020

Obtaining complete information about the shape of an object by looking at it from a single direction is impossible in general. In this paper, we theoretically study obtaining differential geometric information of an object from orthogonal projections in a number of directions. We discuss relations between (1) a space curve and the projected curves from several distinct directions, and (2) a surface and the apparent contours of projections from several distinct directions, in terms of differential geometry and singularity theory. In particular, formulae for recovering certain information on the original curves or surfaces from their projected images are given.
Direct Least Absolute Deviation Fitting of Ellipses
Authors: Zhou Gang , Zhong Kai , Li Zhongwei , Shi Yusheng
Published: July 2020

Scattered data from edge detection usually involve undesired noise which seriously affects the accuracy of ellipse fitting. In order to alleviate this kind of degradation, a method of direct least absolute deviation ellipse fitting by minimizing the ℓ1 algebraic distance is presented. Unlike the conventional ℓ2 estimators which tend to produce a satisfied performance on ideal and Gaussian noise data, while do a poor job for non-Gaussian outliers, the proposed method shows very competitive results for non-Gaussian noise. In addition, an efficient numerical algorithm based on the split Bregman iteration is developed to solve the resulting ℓ1 optimization problem, according to which the computational burden is significantly reduced. Furthermore, two classes of ℓ2 solutions are introduced as the initial guess, and the selection of algorithm parameters is studied in detail; thus, it does not suffer from the convergence issues due to poor initialization which is a common drawback existing in iterative-based approaches. Numerical experiments reveal that the proposed method is superior to its ℓ2 counterpart and outperforms some of the state-of-the-art algorithms for both Gaussian and non-Gaussian artifacts.
Dynamic Analysis and Chaos Control of Bertrand Triopoly Based on Differentiated Products and Heterogeneous Expectations
Authors: Zhao Liuwei
Published: July 2020

Price competition has become a universal commercial phenomenon nowadays. This paper considers a dynamic Bertrand price game model, in which enterprises have heterogeneous expectations. By the stability theory of the dynamic behavior of the Bertrand price game model, the instability of the boundary equilibrium point and the stability condition of the internal equilibrium point are obtained. Furthermore, bifurcation diagram, basin of attraction, and critical curve are introduced to investigate the dynamic behavior of this game. Numerical analysis shows that the change of model parameters in a dynamic system has a significant impact on the stability of the system and can even lead to complex dynamic behaviors in the evolution of the entire economic system. This kind of complex dynamic behavior will cause certain damage to the stability of the whole economic system, causing the market to fall into a chaotic state, which is manifested as a kind of market disorder competition, which is very unfavorable to the stability of the economic system. Therefore, the chaotic behavior of the dynamical system is controlled by time-delay feedback control and the numerical analysis shows that the effective control of the dynamical system can be unstable behavior and the rapid recovery of the market can be stable and orderly.
Performance of Point-of-Care Testing Compared with the Standard Laboratory Diagnostic Test in the Measurement of HbA1c in Indonesian Diabetic and Nondiabetic Subjects
Authors: Berbudi Afiat , Rahmadika Nofri , Tjahjadi Adi Imam , Ruslami Rovina
Published: July 2020

Objective. This study is aimed at investigating if point-of-care testing for HbA1c (POCT-HbA1c) using the HemoCue® HbA1c 501 system could be an alternative method for diabetes screening and monitoring to replace the HbA1c measurement in a standard diagnostic laboratory. Design. This was a cross-sectional study to assess the agreement between POCT and a standard laboratory measurement method for determining the level of HbA1c. Setting and Participants. In total, 108 participants were recruited to participate in this study, consisting of 61 diabetics and 47 nondiabetics. The diabetic group comprised 37 females and 24 males, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and undergoing diabetes treatment at several community health care centres in Bandung, West Java. The nondiabetic group consisted of 15 female and 32 male patients of several community health care centres and healthy volunteers. Sample Collection and Analysis. A venous blood sample was taken for routine HbA1c analysis by the diagnostic laboratory method. For the POCT-HbA1c, a blood sample was taken from the fingertip at the same time and analysed with the HemoCue® HbA1c 501 system. Outcome Measures. The HbA1c results of both methods were compared and analysed with a Bland-Altman agreement plot. The sensitivity and specificity of the POCT-HbA1c data were also compared with those of the standard diagnostic results. Results. Based on the Bland-Altman plot, the HbA1c level for 100 out of 108 (92.59%) subjects analysed by the POCT-HbA1c was within the range of the 95% limit of agreement. Compared with the standard diagnostic assay, the sensitivity of the POCT-HbA1c was 97.83% and its specificity was 77.42%. Conclusions. The high sensitivity and accuracy of POCT-HbA1c indicate that it is a potential method for diabetes screening and monitoring to replace the routine diagnostic laboratory HbA1c measurement, especially when a rapid result is required.
An Inhibitor of DRP1 (Mdivi‐1) Alleviates LPS‐Induced Septic AKI by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Liu Ruijin , Wang Si-cong , Li Ming , Ma Xiao-hui , Jia Xiao-nan , Bu Yue , Sun Lei , Yu Kai-jiang
Published: July 2020

Mitochondria play an essential role in energy metabolism. Oxygen deprivation can poison cells and generate a chain reaction due to the free radical release. In patients with sepsis, the kidneys tend to be the organ primarily affected and the proximal renal tubules are highly susceptible to energy metabolism imbalances. Dynamin‐related protein 1 (DRP1) is an essential regulator of mitochondrial fission. Few studies have confirmed the role and mechanism of DRP1 in acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by sepsis. We established animal and cell sepsis‐induced AKI (S‐AKI) models to keep DRP1 expression high. We found that Mdivi‐1, a DRP1 inhibitor, can reduce the activation of the NOD‐like receptor pyrin domain‐3 (NLRP3) inflammasome‐mediated pyroptosis pathway and improve mitochondrial function. Both S‐AKI models showed that Mdivi‐1 was able to prevent the mitochondrial content release and decrease the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome‐related proteins. In addition, silencing NLRP3 gene expression further emphasized the pyroptosis importance in S‐AKI occurrence. Our results indicate that the possible mechanism of action of Mdivi‐1 is to inhibit mitochondrial fission and protect mitochondrial function, thereby reducing pyroptosis. These data can provide a potential theoretical basis for Mdivi‐1 potential use in the S‐AKI prevention.
CHA2DS2‐VASc Score as a Predictor for Left Atrial Thrombus or Spontaneous Echo Contrast in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Sun Ping , Guo Zhi Hao , Zhang Hong Bin
Published: July 2020

Objective. This meta‐analysis aimed at exploring the predictive value of CHA2DS2‐VASc score for the left atrial thrombus (LAT) or left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Chinese core journals of the CNKI and Wanfang databases were searched to identify all the relevant papers that were published up to January 2020. The data were extracted for pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), heterogeneity, subgroup, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis. Results. Overall, 15 studies containing 6223 patients with NVAF were enrolled. All studies were evaluated for LAT, and 12 studies were evaluated for LASEC. The pooled analysis using a random‐effects model showed that a high CHA2DS2‐VASc score was related with LAT/LASEC (pooled OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.35–1.88, P < 0.001) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 76.9%, P < 0.001) and LAT (pooled OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.44–2.33, P < 0.001) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 79.4%, P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that the sample size may be the main source of heterogeneity. Although the Begg’s funnel plot based on 15 studies for LAT/LASEC (P = 0.029) and 12 studies for LAT (P = 0.046) indicated the presence of publication bias among the included studies, the trim‐and‐fill method verified the stability of the pooled outcomes. In addition, sensitivity analysis indicated that all effects were stable. Conclusion. The results of this meta‐analysis showed that the CHA2DS2‐VASc score is related with LAT and LASEC in patients with NVAF. However, more studies are warranted to address this issue.
JPEG Lifting Algorithm Based on Adaptive Block Compressed Sensing
Authors: Zhu Yongjun , Liu Wenbo , Shen Qian , Wu Yin , Bao Han
Published: July 2020

This paper proposes a JPEG lifting algorithm based on adaptive block compressed sensing (ABCS), which solves the fusion between the ABCS algorithm for 1-dimension vector data processing and the JPEG compression algorithm for 2-dimension image data processing and improves the compression rate of the same quality image in comparison with the existing JPEG-like image compression algorithms. Specifically, mean information entropy and multifeature saliency indexes are used to provide a basis for adaptive blocking and observing, respectively, joint model and curve fitting are adopted for bit rate control, and a noise analysis model is introduced to improve the antinoise capability of the current JPEG decoding algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed method has good performance of fidelity and antinoise, especially at a medium compression ratio.
Low UGP2 Expression Is Associated with Tumour Progression and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hu Qiuyue , Shen Shen , Li Jianhao , Liu Liwen , Liu Xin , Zhang Yingying , Zhou Yongjian , Zhu Weiwei , Yu Yan , Cui Guangying
Published: July 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumour associated with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis worldwide. Uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2 (UGP2), a key enzyme in glycogen biosynthesis, has been reported to be associated with the occurrence and development of various cancer types. However, its diagnostic value and prognostic value in HCC remain unclear. The present study observed that UGP2 expression was significantly downregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels in HCC tissues. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that UGP2 may be an indicator for the diagnosis of HCC. In addition, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression multivariate analyses indicated that UGP2 is an independent prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) in patients with HCC. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) suggested that gene sets negatively correlated with the survival of HCC patients were enriched in the group with low UGP2 expression levels. More importantly, a significant correlation was identified between low UGP2 expression and fatty acid metabolism. In summary, the present study demonstrates that UGP2 may contribute to the progression of HCC, indicating a potential therapeutic target for HCC patients.
Response of Tropical African Macroinvertebrates with Varying Tolerances to Different Levels of Nitrate and Phosphate
Authors: Elias Julius Daud
Published: July 2020

Acute toxicity test was performed to determine the sensitivity of Neorpela spio, Baetis harrisoni, and Tubifex spp. to nitrates (NO3-N) and phosphates (PO4-P) with different concentrations after 96 hours of exposure time. The observed lethal effects and/or mortality increased with concentration and exposure time among tested species of different sensitivities. The results demonstrated that both nitrate and phosphate are toxic to the three studied organisms under the test conditions, with Neorpela spio displaying the highest acute effect in water with nitrate and phosphate compared with Baetis harrisoni and Tubifex spp. The 100% cumulative mortality was experienced at 3.2 mg NO3-N/L and 2.4 mg PO4-P/L for N. spio, 5.6 mg NO3-N/L and 4.8 mg PO4-P/L for B. harrisoni, and 128 mg NO3-N/L and 24 mg PO4-P/L for T. spp. However, N. spio and B. harrisoni showed high mortality at the Tanzanian nitrate recommended lower and maximum limits of 10 and 75 mg NO3-N/L, respectively, for drinking water and significant mortality at the recommended limits of nitrite (20 mg NO3-N/L) and phosphorus (6 mg PO4-P/L) concentrations for municipal and industrial wastewaters. Therefore, there is a need for these Tanzanian recommended nitrate ranges for drinking water of 10 to 75 mg NO3-N/L and 20 mg NO3-N/L and 6 mg PO4-P/L for municipal and industrial wastewaters to be refined for the betterment of protecting both human health and riverine organisms.
New Periodic Wave, Cross-Kink Wave, Breather, and the Interaction Phenomenon for the (2 + 1)-Dimensional Sharmo–Tasso–Olver Equation
Authors: Ma Hongcai , Zhang Caoyin , Deng Aiping
Published: July 2020

In this paper, with the aid of symbolic computation, several kinds of exact solutions including periodic waves, cross-kink waves, and breather are proposed by using a trilinear form for the (2 + 1)-dimensional Sharmo–Tasso–Olver equation. Then, by combing the different forms, the interactions between a lump and one-kink soliton and between a lump and periodic waves are generated. Moreover, the dynamic characteristics of interaction solutions are analyzed graphically by selecting suitable parameters with the help of Maple.
Uncertainty Analysis for Return Trajectory of Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing Reusable Launch Vehicle
Authors: Zhao Jian , Li Haiyang , He Xiangyue , Huang Yuechen , Liu Jianghui
Published: July 2020

The uncertainties during the return trajectory of vertical takeoff and vertical landing reusable launch vehicle weaken the ability of precision landing and make the return process more challenging. This paper is devoted to quantifying the probability uncertainty of return trajectory with uncertain parameters. The uncertainty model of return multi-flight-phase under the uncertainties of initial flight path angle, axial aerodynamic coefficient, and atmospheric density is established using the generalized polynomial chaos expansion method. By parameterizing random uncertainties and introducing random parameters into the uncertainty model, the uncertainty analysis problem of return trajectory is transformed into stochastic trajectory approximation problem. The coefficients of the polynomial basis function are solved by the stochastic collocation method. Then state solutions, statistical properties, and global sensitivity with Sobol index are established based on coefficients. The simulation results show the efficiency and accuracy of this method compared with the Monte Carlo method, the evolution process of main output parameters under random parameters, and relative importance for random parameters. Through the uncertainty analysis of the return trajectory, the robustness of return trajectory can be quantified, which is contributed to improving the safety, reliability, and robustness of recovery and landing mission.
Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Gout: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Li Lianju , Xing Yuling , Cheng Tiantian , Ren Shaohui , Ma Huijuan
Published: July 2020

Aims. Although several epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of gout, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we systematically retrospected available observational studies to clarify the impact of DM on the risk of gout. Methods. Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for relevant articles from inception to 2 March 2020. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The multivariate adjusted relative risks (aRR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled based on a random-effect model. Cochran’s Q test and I2 were used to evaluate heterogeneity. Results. Five studies involving 863,755 participants were included in our meta-analysis. DM was associated with a lower risk of gout (aRR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.73) but had a high heterogeneity (I2=89.2%). Metaregression analysis revealed that the types of DM were the source of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis by types of DM showed that the risk of gout was significantly lower in type 1 DM (T1DM) (aRR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.63) than in type 2 DM (T2DM) (aRR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.74). Furthermore, when stratified according to gender in DM, sex-specific association was found. The inverse association was observed in males only (aRR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.77) and not in females (aRR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.05). Further stratified based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in DM, raised A1C levels were associated with a reduced risk of gout in patients with DM. Conclusions. This meta-analysis indicated that DM was related to a lower risk of gout, and the protective effect of DM on the risk of gout was stronger in males, T1DM, or DM with high HbA1c levels. However, more prospective cohort studies are required to confirm these results.
Existence and Compactness Results for a System of Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Guendouz Cheikh , Lazreg Jamal Eddine , Nieto Juan J. , Ouahab Abdelghani
Published: July 2020

The existence and uniqueness, boundedness, and continuous dependence of solutions for fractional differential equations with Caputo fractional derivative is proven by Perov’s fixed point theorem in vector Banach spaces. We study the existence and compactness of solution sets and the u.s.c. of operator solutions.
Ginsenoside Rg3 Inhibits the Growth of Osteosarcoma and Attenuates Metastasis through the Wnt/β‐Catenin and EMT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Mao Xiaohan , Jin Yaqian , Feng Tianyu , Wang Hao , Liu Dan , Zhou Zhangxu , Yan Qi , Yang Huini , Yang Jieru , Yang Jing , Ye Yan , Su Yuxi , Zuo Guowei
Published: July 2020

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), which is extracted from the roots of the traditional Chinese herb Panax ginseng, plays a tumor suppression role in various malignant tumors. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the role of Rg3 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS and at exploring the underlying mechanisms. Cell viability and proliferation were observed by MTT assay and crystal violet staining. The migration and invasion of cells were measured by wound‐healing assay and Transwell method. Signaling pathway screening was investigated using luciferase reporter gene assay. qRT‐PCR and western blot were performed to measure the expression of molecules involved in cell epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Results suggested that Rg3 could not only inhibit proliferation but also hamper the migration and invasion of OS. qRT‐PCR and western blot demonstrated that a reduced level of MMP2/MMP7/MMP9 was induced after Rg3 treatment. In addition, the expression levels of proteins related to EMT and the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway were downregulated. In summary, our data revealed that Rg3 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS cells. This effect of Rg3 might be mediated by downregulating MMP2, MMP7, and MMP9 expression and suppressing EMT as well as the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Thus, Rg3 might be a potential agent for the treatment of OS.
Dysmenorrhea and Associated Factors among Polish Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Barcikowska Zofia , Wójcik-Bilkiewicz Karolina , Sobierajska-Rek Agnieszka , Grzybowska Magdalena Emilia , Wąż Piotr , Zorena Katarzyna
Published: July 2020

Purpose. The aim of the research was to conduct an assessment of the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated factors among Polish women. Patients and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Polish women using an online questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 23 ± 4 years. Out of the total of 1,317 women who took part in the study, 1,127 were included in the analysis, and 190 were excluded due to incomplete answers. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions that were grouped into three parts. The first concerned sociodemographic data such as age, weight, education, and residence (urban or rural). The second part of the questionnaire pertained to the factors of dysmenorrhea (premenstrual syndrome, age of menarche, and family history of dysmenorrhea.). In the third part, the women were asked about their diet, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and physical activity. Results. Dysmenorrhea affected 94% of the interviewed women. Dysmenorrhea was most likely to occur among respondents whose mothers had a history of dysmenorrhea (p<0.005). Significant relationship between the occurrence of dysmenorrhea among respondents and their sisters was also observed (p<0.005). The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was significantly higher in women reporting dysmenorrhea (p<0.005). Other significant factors associated with dysmenorrhea were age of menarche (p<0.005), stress frequency (p=0.005), lack of physical activity (p=0.037), and self-esteem (p=0.042). However, in the respondents, no significant relationship was observed between dysmenorrhea and diet, smoking, body mass index, and alcohol intake. Conclusion. The study points to the fact that the problem of dysmenorrhea affects many Polish women. Women with dysmenorrhea were characterized with a family history of dysmenorrhea, occurrence of PMS, early age of menarche, stressful lifestyle, lack of physical activity, and low self-esteem. We suggest that further assessment of factors contributing for dysmenorrhea among women is necessary.
An Extended Fuzzy TODIM Approach for Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making with Dual-Connection Numbers
Authors: Irvanizam Irvanizam , Usman Tarmizi , Iqbal Muhd , Iskandar Taufiq , Marzuki Marzuki
Published: July 2020

The TODIM is a decision-making method that can examine the psychological behavior of decision-makers (DMs). However, the traditional TODIM method has still not been having the ability to overcome fuzzy information such as interval values and linguistic variables. This paper proposes an extended TODIM decision-making model for multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) problems in a linguistic environment using dual-connection numbers (DCNs). The extended model uses linguistic variables in which the values of alternatives and criteria for both of them are formatted in the triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs) to express the uncertain information. First, some definitions and basic operators of the TFNs and DCNs are introduced. Then, the way how to convert fuzzy information in forms of the TFNs into DCNs and the step how to transform each criterion weight value into a crisp value using the defuzzification of Minkowski are demonstrated. Furthermore, the traditional TODIM is improved to address MADM problems with DCNs, and detailed calculation steps in determining decisions are explained. Finally, an illustrative example which is a cadre selection problem is applied to demonstrate the conformity and validity of the extended TODIM method and to compare it with some other methods.
Experimental Study on Static Load of Large‐Diameter Piles in Nonuniform Gravel Soil
Authors: Zhao Baoyun , Wang Xiaoping , Yang Mijia , Liu Dongyan , Liu DongSheng , Sun Shuguo
Published: July 2020

With the development of tourism, the number of multistorey buildings in mountain areas is increasing gradually, and the requirements of the form and bearing capacity of foundation in landslide areas are getting more demanding than ever. In‐situ testing of rock and soil mass in slope area has important practical significance for improving the stability of building foundation. Taking a project in Baishi Mountain located in southwest of China as an example, firstly, the geological structure and mechanical properties of soil are analyzed. Then, two types of pile foundations, i.e., empty‐bottom pile foundations and solid‐bottom pile foundations, are designed based on the characteristics of the geological structure for carrying out the static load test on pile foundation. The test results are as follows: (a) the load settlement curve (Q‐S) of the empty‐bottom test pile shows a steep drop, while the Q‐S curve of the solid‐bottom test pile shows a gradual change, showing that the end‐bearing friction pile’s property and the ultimate bearing capacity of the solid‐bottom pile are higher than those of the empty‐bottom pile. (b) The maximum lateral friction of the four test piles is 139.158 kPa, 148.015 kPa, 150.828 kPa, and 154.956 kPa, respectively. (c) The shaft skin resistance under ultimate load is coming close to the maximum value, and the maximum values are 9.792 mm, 7.939 mm, 9.881 mm, and 14.97 mm, respectively. Research results can serve as design bases for the pile foundation of multistorey buildings located in landslide areas of Baishi Mountain in the southwest of China and also as references for the engineering application of pile foundation in similar geological fracture areas.
Pristimerin Exacerbates Cellular Injury in Conditionally Reprogrammed Patient-Derived Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by Aggravating Mitochondrial Impairment and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress through EphB4/CDC42/N-WASP Signaling
Authors: Tang Yubo , Lei Yiyan , Huang Shuai , Li Zhangyan , Chen Xiangtian , Luo Honghe , Cheng Chao , Chen Jie , Zou Xuenong , Chen Xiao
Published: July 2020

Lung cancer is the most common and lethal malignant disease for which the development of efficacious chemotherapeutic agents remains an urgent need. Pristimerin (PRIS), a natural bioactive component isolated from various plant species in the Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae families, has been reported to exhibit outstanding antitumor effects in several types of cells. However, the underlying mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here, we reported the novel finding that PRIS significantly suppressed lung cancer growth in conditionally reprogrammed patient-derived lung adenocarcinoma cells (CRLCs). We demonstrated that PRIS inhibited the cell viabilities, migrative and invaded abilities, and capillary structure formation of CRLCs. Furthermore, our results clarified that PRIS induced mitochondrial dysfunction through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and caspase-4, and expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proteins. Inhibition of ER stress by 4-PBA (4-phenylbutyric acid, a specific ER stress inhibitor) or CHOP siRNA transfection ameliorated PRIS-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and intrinsic apoptosis. The present study also provides mechanistic evidence that PRIS suppressed the EphB4/CDC42/N-WASP signaling pathway, which is required for mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic apoptosis, activation of ER stress, and stimulation of caspase-4 induced by PRIS, and consequently resulting in suppressed cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis in CRLCs. Taken together, by providing a mechanistic insight into the modulation of ER stress-induced cell death in CRLCs by PRIS, we suggest that PRIS has a strong potential of being a new antitumor therapeutic agent with applications in the fields of human lung adenocarcinoma.
Initial Tracking Parameter Estimation of Magnetic Ship Based on PSO
Authors: Ma Jianfei , Ding Kai , Yan Bing , Dong Wen
Published: July 2020

We consider the problem of tracking a surface magnetic ship as it travels in a straight line path with the exertion of a magnetometer located at the seabed. Note that the initial filter parameters are prior information and the tracking performance depends on the initial filter parameters, and traditional estimation of initial filter parameters is to apply the filter bank algorithm, but there are several obvious defects in this method. In this paper, a novel algorithm based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed to estimate initial parameters of the filter, and the model of uniformly magnetized ellipsoid is adopted to fit the magnetic field of the ship. The simulation results show that, under the condition of no prior information, the estimated ship parameters based on the observation of the single-observer are invalid, whereas the estimated ship parameters based on the observation of the double-observer are valid. Further, the estimated results of real-world recorded magnetic signals show that the ship parameters estimated by PSO based on the double-observer are also valid, as the estimated parameters are used as the initial parameters of the unscented Kalman filter (UKF), and a ship can be tracked effectively by the UKF filter. Moreover, the estimated half focal length can be used as a feature to distinguish noise environment, ships with different sizes, and mine sweepers.
Experimental Study of Day-to-Day Route-Choice Behavior: Evaluating the Effect of ATIS Market Penetration
Authors: Liu Shixu , Guo Lidan , Easa Said M. , Yan Hao , Wei Heng , Tang Yingnuo
Published: July 2020

This paper examines the travelers’ day-to-day route-choice behavior with Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) through laboratory-like experimental method. Five groups of route-choice behavior experiments are designed to simulate actual daily behavior of travelers. In the experiment, subjects are provided with different levels of the complete road network information to simulate the proportion of subjects equipped with ATIS equipment (i.e., ATIS market penetration) and choose the routes repeatedly. The subject’s route-choice behavior under different proportions of complete road network information is analyzed, and the strategy of releasing such complete information is determined when the performance of road network system is the best. The Braess network which consists of three routes was used in the experiment and analysis. The results show that the fluctuation of traffic flow runs through the entire experiments, but it tends to converge to user equilibrium. When the market penetration is 75%, both the fluctuation of traffic flow and the tendency of subjects to change routes are the smallest, so the road network system is the most stable. This interesting result indicates that releasing traffic information to all travelers is not the best. Other results show that the travel times of the three routes in the five groups of experiments tend to converge to and finally fluctuate around user-equilibrium travel time. With the increase in ATIS market penetration, the average travel time of subjects in each round tends to increase. The overall trend of the five groups of experiments is that as the number of route switches increases, the average travel time increases. The results also indicate that releasing traffic information to all travelers cannot weaken the Braess Paradox. On the contrary, the more travelers are provided with traffic information, the less likely it will weaken the Braess Paradox.
Prognostic Value of DNA Methylation-Driven Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Study Based on Methylation and Transcriptome Analyses
Authors: Hu Maolin , Xie Jiangling , Hou Huiming , Liu Ming , Wang Jianye
Published: July 2020

Background. Few previous studies have comprehensively explored the level of DNA methylation and gene expression in ccRCC. The purpose of this study was to identify the key clear cell renal cell carcinoma- (ccRCC-) related DNA methylation-driven genes (MDG) and to build a prognostic model based on the level of DNA methylation.Methods. RNA-seq transcriptome data and DNA methylation data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Based on the MethylMix algorithm, we obtain ccRCC-related MDG. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to investigate the correlation between patient overall survival and the methylation level of each MDG. Finally, a prognosis risk score was established based on a linear combination of the regression coefficient derived from the multivariate Cox regression model (β) multiplied with the methylation level of the gene.Results. 19 ccRCC-related MDG were identified. Three MDG (NCKAP1L, EVI2A, and BATF) were further screened and integrated into a prognostic risk score model,risk score=3.710∗methylation level of NCKAP1L+−3.892∗methylation level of EVI2A+−3.907∗methylation level of BATF. The risk model was independent from conventional clinical characteristics as a prognostic factor for ccRCC (HR=1.221, 95% confidence interval: 1.063–1.402, andP=0.005). The joint survival analysis showed that the gene expression and methylation levels of the prognostic genes EVI2A and BATF were significantly related with prognosis.Conclusion. This study provided an important bioinformatics foundation for in-depth studies of ccRCC DNA methylation.
Conjugate Cellular Automata and Neural Network Approach: Failure Load Prediction of Masonry Panels
Authors: Glushakova Iuliia , Liu Qihan , Zhang Yu , Zhou Guangchun
Published: July 2020

The intricate interplay between the microscopic constituents and their macroscopic properties for masonry structures complicates their failure analysis modelling. A composite strategy incorporating neural network (NN) and cellular automata (CA) is developed to predict the failure load for masonry panels with and without openings subjected to lateral loadings. The discretized panels are modelled by the CA methodology using nine neighbour cells, which derive their state values from geometric parameters and opening location placement for the panels. An identification coefficient dictated by these geometric parameters and experimental data is fed together as the input training data for the NN. The NN uses a backpropagation algorithm and two hidden layers with sigmoid activation functions to predict failure loads. This method achieves greater accuracy in prediction when compared with the yield line and finite elemental analysis (FEA) methods. The results attained elucidate the feasibility of the current methodology to complement conventional approaches such as FEA to provide additional insight into the failure mechanism of masonry panels under varied loading conditions.
Effects of Kamishoyosan, a Traditional Japanese Medicine, on Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled, Double‐Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Takamatsu Kiyoshi , Ogawa Mariko , Higuchi Tsuyoshi , Takeda Takashi , Hayashi Kunihiko , Mizunuma Hideki
Published: July 2020

Objective. Kampo medicine, a traditional Japanese medicine, is widely used in Japan, especially in the field of menopause medicine. However, few studies have shown evidence‐based effects. This study aimed to confirm the effects of kamishoyosan on menopausal symptoms with a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind clinical trial. Methods. Subjects were randomly allocated to groups that received either kamishoyosan (n = 101) or a placebo resembling kamishoyosan (n = 104). The primary outcomes were the change in the number of hot flashes, depression scores, improvements of anxiety, quality of life (QOL), and menopausal symptoms before and 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of treatment with the study drug. The secondary outcome was drug safety. Results. After 8 weeks, the number of hot flashes decreased after treatment in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. The changes in SDS scores showed the same results. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in assessments with the STAI, SF‐36, and JSOG menopausal index. No serious adverse effect was reported. Conclusions. This first placebo‐controlled double‐blind randomized trial with kamishoyosan demonstrated that it was safe and had some effects on climacteric symptoms, but not significant compared with placebo. Some problems, such as placebo effects, in the study of Kampo therapy for menopausal symptoms, were revealed. This trial is registered with the trial registration number. UMIN 000006042.