bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing and testing community-based tuberculosis (TB) screening intervention to increase TB referral, case detection and knowledge among sexual minority people in urban Bangladesh: a mixed-method study protocol
Authors: Sarwar Golam , Reza Masud , Khan Mohammad Niaz Morshed , Gourab Gorkey , Rahman Mahbubur , Rana A K M Masud , Khan Shaan Muberra , Irfan Samira Dishti , Ahmed Shahriar , Banu Rupali Sisir , Banu Sayera , Khan Sharful Islam
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Although Bangladesh is a country of generalised tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, the HIV prevalence is low among general populations, and 3.9% among key populations. Despite the high possibility of HIV–TB coinfection, scientifically tested approaches for increasing TB case detection among sexual minority people are yet to be developed and implemented in Bangladesh. Such approaches could foster service delivery linkages between communities and the government health system. Findings of this experimental research are likely to provide new insights for programme managers and policy planners for adopting a similar approach in order to enhance TB referral, thus ultimately increasing TB case detections and reducing the likelihood of TB-related mortalities and morbidities, irrespective of HIV status.

Methods and analysis

This operational research will follow a quasi-experimental design, applying both qualitative and quantitative methods, in two drop-in centres in three phases. Phase 1 will encompass baseline data collection and development of a community-based TB screening approach. In phase 2, the newly developed intervention will be implemented, followed by end-line data collection in phase 3. Qualitative data collection will be continued throughout the first and second phases. The baseline and end-line data will be compared both in the intervention and comparison areas to measure the impact of the intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. The findings will be disseminated through diverse scientific forums including peer-reviewed journals, presentation at conferences and among the policy-makers for policy implication. The study started in January 2019 and will continue until June 2020.
Rationale and design of a prospective, observational, multicentre study on the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in adults with congenital heart disease and atrial arrhythmias: the PROTECT-AR study
Authors: Kartas Anastasios , Doundoulakis Ioannis , Ntiloudi Despoina , Koutsakis Athanasios , Kosmidis Diamantis , Rampidis Georgios , Apostolopoulou Sotiria , Frogoudaki Alexandra , Tzifa Afrodite , Avramidis Dimosthenis , Ntzoyvara Olga , Liori Sotiria , Mousiama Tereza , Mouratoglou Sophia Anastasia , Karvounis Haralambos , Giannakoulas George
Published: September 2020

Introduction

The risk for stroke in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is increased, especially in the setting of commonly ensuing atrial arrhythmias (AA), namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia. Data are limited regarding treatment with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in long-term studies involving patients with ACHD and AA.

Methods and analysis

PReventiOn of ThromboEmbolism in Adults with Congenital HearΤ disease and Atrial aRrhythmias is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-interventional cohort study designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in ACHD with AA in a ‘real-world’ setting. Eligible patients will be evaluated by the means of available registries and clinical counter. The study aims to accumulate approximately 500 patient-years of exposure to apixaban as part of routine care. Enrolment will take place at four ACHD centres in Greece. The first patient was enrolled in July 2019. The primary efficacy endpoint is a composite of stroke, systemic or pulmonary embolism and intracardiac thrombosis. The primary safety endpoint is major bleeding, according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding criteria.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the institutional review board/independent ethics committee at each site prior to study commencement. All patients will provide written informed consent. Results will be disseminated at scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT03854149; Pre-results.
So near yet so far: why won’t the UK prescribe medical cannabis?
Authors: Nutt David , Bazire Steve , Phillips Lawrence D , Schlag Anne Katrin
Published: September 2020

Although cannabis-based products for medicinal use are now legal in the UK, it is still challenging for patients to gain access, and only very few National Health Service prescriptions have been written to date. This paper attempts to make sense of why the UK lags behind so many other countries which also have legalised medical cannabis. From consulting with parents and patients, prescribers, pharmacists and decision-makers it seems that there are a series of distinct barriers to prescribing that need to be overcome in order to improve patient access to medical cannabis in the UK. These include concerns about the perceived lack of scientific evidence. To alleviate these concerns, we highlight the importance of patient-centred approaches including patient-reported outcomes, pharmacoepidemiology and n=1 trials, which can contribute to the development of the evidence base for medical cannabis. We hope that this paper will help policymakers and prescribers understand the challenges to prescribing and so help them develop approaches to overcome the current situation which is detrimental to patients.
Sociodemographic and lifestyle predictors of incident hospital admissions with multimorbidity in a general population, 1999–2019: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort
Authors: Luben Robert , Hayat Shabina , Wareham Nicholas , Pharoah Paul P , Khaw Kay-Tee
Published: September 2020

Background

The ageing population and prevalence of long-term disorders with multimorbidity are a major health challenge worldwide. The associations between comorbid conditions and mortality risk are well established; however, few prospective community-based studies have reported on prior risk factors for incident hospital admissions with multimorbidity. We aimed to explore the independent associations for a range of demographic, lifestyle and physiological determinants and the likelihood of subsequent hospital incident multimorbidity.

Methods

We examined incident hospital admissions with multimorbidity in 25 014 men and women aged 40–79 in a British prospective population-based study recruited in 1993–1997 and followed up until 2019. The determinants of incident multimorbidity, defined as Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3, were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models for the 10-year period 1999–2009 and repeated with independent measurements in a second 10-year period 2009–2019.

Results

Between 1999 and 2009, 18 179 participants (73% of the population) had a hospital admission. Baseline 5-year and 10-year incident multimorbidities were observed in 6% and 12% of participants, respectively. Age per 10-year increase (OR 2.19, 95% CI 2.06 to 2.33) and male sex (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.47) predicted incident multimorbidity over 10 years. In the subset free of the most serious diseases at baseline, current smoking (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.15), body mass index >30 kg/m² (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.70) and physical inactivity (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.29) were positively associated and plasma vitamin C (a biomarker of plant food intake) per SD increase (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.91) inversely associated with incident 10-year multimorbidity after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, social class, education, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure and cholesterol. Results were similar when re-examined for a further time period in 2009–2019.

Conclusion

Age, male sex and potentially modifiable lifestyle behaviours including smoking, body mass index, physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake were associated with increased risk of future incident hospital admissions with multimorbidity.
Two chair test: a substitute of 6 min walk test appear cardiopulmonary reserve specific
Authors: Bhattacharyya Parthasarathi , Saha Dipanjan , Paul Mintu , Ganguly Dhiman , Mukherjee Biswarup , Roy Chowdhury Sushmita , RoyChoudhury Sourav , Agarwal Pawan , Halder Indranil , Ghosh Roy Debanu , Ray Shuvanan
Published: September 2020

Background

A simple and efficient exercise test possible in a small space is welcome to supplement 6 min walk test (6MWT) that demands a 100 feet corridor to perform.

Methods

The proposed two chair test (2CT) makes a person to sit and move five times between two chairs placed face to face at 5 feet apart and note the changes in pulse-rate (PR) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) at every 10 s for 2 min after that. Comparison of the post-exercise measurements (PR and SpO2) with a repeat performance in same patients was done for reproducibility and doing the same after 6MWT and 2CT in another set of patients was meant for for acceptability. The statistical analysis was made on moment to moment change, mean maximal difference and mean cumulative difference for the measurements using p value, z-score, r value and principal component analysis (PCA).

Findings

A total of 40 and 60 volunteers were included for testing reproducibility and acceptability. On both the sets, the difference in most of comparisons between the measured variable (PR and SpO2) showed the p values remaining insignificant (>0.05), and z-score being <1 SD of the corresponding other and the correlation coefficients (r) remaining excellent (>0.9). Furthermore, the PCA shows complete overlapping. The post-exercise changes did not corelate the walking distance in 6MWT.

Interpretation

The proposed 2CT demands small space and appears reproducible and comparable with 6MWT in terms of its post-exercise impact on PR and SpO2. This novel test also appears more of cardiopulmonary reserve specific.
Critical analysis of the utility of initial pleural aspiration in the diagnosis and management of suspected malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Mercer Rachel Mary , Varatharajah Rebecca , Shepherd Gillian , Lu Qiang , Castro-Añón Olalla , McCracken David J , Dudina Alexandra , Addala Dinesh , Tsikrika Stamatoula , George Vineeth , Banka Radhika , Asciak Rachelle , Hassan Maged , Hallifax Robert , Bedawi Eihab O , Shute Janis Kay , Rahman Najib M
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Current guidelines recommend an initial pleural aspiration in the investigation and management of suspected malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) with the aim of establishing a diagnosis, identifying non-expansile lung (NEL) and, at times, providing a therapeutic procedure. A wealth of research has been published since the guidelines suggesting that results and outcomes from an aspiration may not always provide sufficient information to guide management. It is important to establish the validity of these findings in a ‘real world’ population.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients who underwent pleural fluid (PF) sampling, in a single centre, over 3 years to determine the utility of the initial aspiration.

Results

A diagnosis of MPE was confirmed in 230/998 (23%) cases, a further 95/998 (9.5%) were presumed to represent MPE. Transudative biochemistry was found in 3% of cases of confirmed MPE. Positive PF cytology was only sufficient to guide management in 45/140 (32%) cases. Evidence of pleural thickening on CT was associated with both negative cytology (χ21df=26.27, p<0.001) and insufficient samples (χ21df=10.39, p=0.001). In NEL 44.4% of patients did not require further procedures after pleurodesis compared with 72.7% of those with expansile lung (χ21df=5.49, p=0.019). In patients who required a combined diagnostic and therapeutic aspiration 106/113 (93.8%) required further pleural procedures.

Conclusions

An initial pleural aspiration does not achieve either definitive diagnosis or therapy in the majority of patients. A new pathway prioritising symptom management while reducing procedures should be considered.
Development and validation of a machine learning-based prediction model for near-term in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19
Authors: Parchure Prathamesh , Joshi Himanshu , Dharmarajan Kavita , Freeman Robert , Reich David L , Mazumdar Madhu , Timsina Prem , Kia Arash
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To develop and validate a model for prediction of near-term in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19 by application of a machine learning (ML) algorithm on time-series inpatient data from electronic health records.

Methods

A cohort comprised of 567 patients with COVID-19 at a large acute care healthcare system between 10 February 2020 and 7 April 2020 observed until either death or discharge. Random forest (RF) model was developed on randomly drawn 70% of the cohort (training set) and its performance was evaluated on the rest of 30% (the test set). The outcome variable was in-hospital mortality within 20–84 hours from the time of prediction. Input features included patients’ vital signs, laboratory data and ECG results.

Results

Patients had a median age of 60.2 years (IQR 26.2 years); 54.1% were men. In-hospital mortality rate was 17.0% and overall median time to death was 6.5 days (range 1.3–23.0 days). In the test set, the RF classifier yielded a sensitivity of 87.8% (95% CI: 78.2% to 94.3%), specificity of 60.6% (95% CI: 55.2% to 65.8%), accuracy of 65.5% (95% CI: 60.7% to 70.0%), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 85.5% (95% CI: 80.8% to 90.2%) and area under the precision recall curve of 64.4% (95% CI: 53.5% to 75.3%).

Conclusions

Our ML-based approach can be used to analyse electronic health record data and reliably predict near-term mortality prediction. Using such a model in hospitals could help improve care, thereby better aligning clinical decisions with prognosis in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Inside minds, beneath diseases: social cognition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal spectrum disorder
Authors: Lillo Patricia , Caramelli Paulo , Musa Gada , Parrao Teresa , Hughes Ricardo , Aragon Andres , Valenzuela Daniel , Cea Gabriel , Aranguiz Rafael , Guimarães Henrique Cerqueira , Rousseff Laura , Gambogi Leandro Boson , Mariano Luciano Inácio , Teixeira Antônio Lúcio , Slachevsky Andrea , de Souza Leonardo Cruz
Published: September 2020

Objective

To compare social cognition performance between patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and those patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).

Methods

We included 21 participants with ALS, 20 with bvFTD and 21 healthy controls who underwent a comprehensive cognitive battery, including the short version of the Social Cognition and Emotional Assessment (Mini-SEA), which comprises the
faux pas
test and Facial Emotion Recognition Test (FERT); Mini-Mental State Examination; Frontal Assessment Battery; lexical fluency (F-A-S), category fluency (animals/minute), digit span (direct and backwards) tests and the Hayling test. A post hoc analysis was conducted with the patients with ALS divided into two subgroups: patients without cognitive impairment (ALScn; n=13) and patients with cognitive impairment (ALSci; n=8).

Results

No significant difference was noted between participant groups in terms of the age, sex and education. ALS-total group and patients with bvFTD had similar disease durations. Patients with ALSci performed poorly when compared with controls with regard to the FERT (p<0.001), the
faux pas
(p<0.004) and the Mini-SEA (p<0.002) total scores. Moreover, patients with bvFTD performed poorly in comparison with controls in executive and social cognition tests. The performance of patients with ALSci was similar to that of patients with bvFTD, while the performance of patients with ALScn was similar to that of controls.

Discussion

Our findings support a cognitive continuum between ALS and bvFTD and shed light on the cognitive heterogeneity of ALS, expanding its possible neuropsychological profiles.
Mechanical properties of bamboo after exposure to low temperatures
Authors: Leclair Isa-Bella , Noel Martin
Published: September 2020

Interest in bamboo as a building material has recently expanded beyond regions traditionally associated with its use. Advantages of bamboo over conventional building materials include a short harvesting time and competitive mechanical properties. This research evaluates the extent to which colder climates may affect the viability of bamboo as a building material in countries with shorter construction seasons. Phyllostachys edulis (Moso) bamboo samples were subjected to freeze–thaw (FT) cycles under wet and dry conditions, and over 100 small-scale tests were performed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests suggest that FT cycles did not significantly affect tensile properties or shear strength perpendicular-to-culm, nor the mechanical properties of samples tested in dry conditions. However, FT in wet conditions resulted in a statistically significant reduction in compressive and shear parallel-to-culm strength of 18% and 21%, respectively. The results suggest that bamboo may be a potentially viable building material in colder climates if protected against excessive moisture ingress.
Potential foraging niche release in insectivorous bat species relatively unaffected by white-nose syndrome?
Authors: Mayberry Heather W. , McMillan M. Reese , Chochinov A. Vikram , Hinds Joshua C. , Ratcliffe John M.
Published: September 2020

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has rendered four of Ontario’s species endangered, while leaving the other four species relatively unaffected. The causes and extent of the declines have been widely studied. The influence on remaining bat species has not. Comparing acoustic data recorded ∼10 years apart, we evaluated how species in southeastern Ontario, Canada, use different foraging habitats pre- and post-WNS detection. We observed activity declines in now-endangered species over open fields (small-footed myotis, Myotis leibii (Audubon and Bachman, 1842); little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus (Le Conte, 1831); northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis (Trouessart, 1897); tricolored bat, Perimyotis subflavus (F. Cuvier, 1832)) and speculate that the reduction of the once most common species (M. lucifugus) may have resulted in other species searching for prey in habitat once dominated by M. lucifugus. That is, these changes may have allowed greater presence in open field and clutter or edge environments by the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1796)) and three migratory species (silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte, 1831); red bat, Lasiurus borealis (Müller, 1776); hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1796)). However, our results also suggest that (i) while the decline of most resident bat species due to WNS may have relaxed competition for relatively unaffected species in some, but not all habitats, that (ii) sensory and biomechanical constraints may limit prey exploitation by these less-affected bat species in these habitats.
Transcriptional enhancers: from prediction to functional assessment on a genome-wide scale
Authors: Tobias Ian C. , Abatti Luis E. , Moorthy Sakthi D. , Mullany Shanelle , Taylor Tiegh , Khader Nawrah , Filice Mario A. , Mitchell Jennifer A.
Published: September 2020

Enhancers are cis-regulatory sequences located distally to target genes. These sequences consolidate developmental and environmental cues to coordinate gene expression in a tissue-specific manner. Enhancer function and tissue specificity depend on the expressed set of transcription factors, which recognize binding sites and recruit cofactors that regulate local chromatin organization and gene transcription. Unlike other genomic elements, enhancers are challenging to identify because they function independently of orientation, are often distant from their promoters, have poorly defined boundaries, and display no reading frame. In addition, there are no defined genetic or epigenetic features that are unambiguously associated with enhancer activity. Over recent years there have been developments in both empirical assays and computational methods for enhancer prediction. We review genome-wide tools, CRISPR advancements, and high-throughput screening approaches that have improved our ability to both observe and manipulate enhancers in vitro at the level of primary genetic sequences, chromatin states, and spatial interactions. We also highlight contemporary animal models and their importance to enhancer validation. Together, these experimental systems and techniques complement one another and broaden our understanding of enhancer function in development, evolution, and disease.
Electromagnetic response to high-frequency gravitational waves having additional polarization states: distinguishing and probing tensor-mode, vector-mode and scalar-mode gravitons
Authors: Li Fang-Yu , Wen Hao , Fang Zhen-Yun , Li Di , Zhang Tong-Jie
Published: September 2020

Gravitational waves (GWs) from extra dimensions, very early universe, and some high-energy astrophysical processes might have at most six polarization states: tensor- and nontensor-mode gravitons. The peak regions or partial peak regions (of the amplitudes or energy densities) of some of such GWs are just distributed in the GHz or higher frequency band, which would be an optimal frequency band for the electromagnetic (EM) response to such high-frequency GWs (HFGWs). In this paper we investigate the EM response to the HFGWs, and for the first time we obtain the concrete form of analytic solutions of the perturbative EM fields caused by all six possible polarizations of the HFGWs in the background stable EM fields and in the proposed three dimensional synchro-resonance system (3DSR system), respectively. It is found that all such six polarizations may in principle show separability and detectability. Moreover, the detection frequency band ($$\sim 10^{8}$$

∼

10
8

to $$10^{12}$$

10
12

Hz or higher) of the signal photon fluxes by the 3DSR system and the observation frequency range ($$\sim 7\times 10^{7}$$

∼
7
×

10
7

to $$3\times 10^{9}$$

3
×

10
9

Hz) of the signals by the FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, China) have a certain overlapping property, and thus their coincidence experiments in the future for observations will have high complementarity.
BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CRISIS RESEARCH
Authors: HSU CHIEN-LUNG , CHIANG CHUN-HAO
Published: September 2020

The global financial crisis that followed Lehman Brothers’ declaration of bankruptcy in September 2008 critically highlighted the significance of research on systemic risk and macro-prudential supervision. Accordingly, this paper mainly analyzed the relationship between financial crises and the article output in financial crisis research through the application of bibliometrics. The occurrence of a financial crisis leads to changes in the output of articles on crisis and risks. Hence, we focused on bibliographic coupling (e.g., co-authorship, co-occurrence), data classification by risk type in this study (e.g., market risk, credit risk) and citation analysis (e.g., top 1% cited paper). Meanwhile, the analysis indicated the most relevant disciplines in financial crisis research. For example, the number of top 1% cited articles and citations, MARKET RISK documents and citations published the most papers. In other words, the market risk is valued in the financial risk literature.
BRST–BFV and BRST–BV descriptions for bosonic fields with continuous spin on R1,d−1
Authors: Burdík Č. , Pandey V. K. , Reshetnyak A.
Published: September 2020

Gauge-invariant descriptions for a free bosonic scalar field of continuous spin in a [Formula: see text]-dimensional Minkowski space–time using a metric-like formulation are constructed on the basis of a constrained BRST–BFV approach we propose. The resulting BRST–BFV equations of motion for a scalar field augmented by ghost operators contain different sets of auxiliary fields, depending on the manner of a partial gauge-fixing and a resolution of some of the equations of motion for a BRST-unfolded first-stage reducible gauge theory. To achieve an equivalence of the resulting BRST-unfolded constrained equations of motion with the initial irreducible Poincaré group conditions of a Bargmann–Wigner type, it is demonstrated that one should replace the field in these conditions by a class of gauge-equivalent configurations. Triplet-like, doublet-like constrained descriptions, as well as an unconstrained quartet-like non-Lagrangian and Lagrangian formulations, are derived using both Fronsdal-like and new tensor fields. In particular, the BRST–BV equations of motion and Lagrangian using an appropriate set of Lagrangian multipliers in the minimal sector of the respective field and antifield configurations are constructed in a manifest way.
On interpolations between Jordanian twists
Authors: Meljanac D. , Meljanac S. , Škoda Z. , Štrajn R.
Published: September 2020

We consider two families of Drinfeld twists generated from a simple Jordanian twist further twisted with 1-cochains. Using combinatorial identities, they are presented as a series expansion in the dilatation and momentum generators. These twists interpolate between two simple Jordanian twists. For an expansion of a family of twists [Formula: see text], we also show directly that the 2-cocycle condition reduces to previously proven identities.
Resonances ϕ(1020) and ϕ(1680) contributions for the three-body decays B+ → Ds+KK̄
Authors: Ma Ai-Jun
Published: September 2020

We study the resonances [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] contributions for the three-body decays [Formula: see text] in the perturbative QCD approach. The branching ratios for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are predicted to be [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. The decay [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] decays into [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], has the branching fraction [Formula: see text], which is about [Formula: see text] of the result for [Formula: see text].
Dynamical structures of solitons and some new types of exact solutions for the (2+1)-dimensional DJKM equation using Lie symmetry analysis
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Kumar Amit
Published: September 2020

This paper is devoted to obtaining some new types of exact solutions of the (2+1)-dimensional Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa (DJKM) equation utilizing the Lie symmetry method. All the Lie symmetries, infinitesimal generators, and possible geometric vector fields have been obtained by using the invariance condition of the group-theoretic method. Meanwhile, the Lie symmetry reductions and explicit exact solutions are obtained by a one-dimensional (1D) optimal system. All the obtained exact solutions are absolutely new and completely different from the earlier established results in the literature. Moreover, the dynamical behavior of obtained solitons like doubly solitons, dark solitons, kink wave, curved shaped multi-solitons, parabolic waves, solitary waves, and annihilation of elastic multi-soliton profiles is depicted graphically via interesting 3D-shapes. That will be widely used to provide many more attractive complex physical phenomena in the fields of plasma physics, statistical physics, fiber optics, fluid dynamics, condensed matter physics, and so on. Finally, we have verified all the achieved soliton solutions through symbolic computations with Mathematica.
Multi-Mode Haptic Display of Image Based on Force and Vibration Tactile Feedback Integration
Authors: Tian Lei , Song Aiguo , Chen Dapeng
Published: September 2020

In order to enhance the sense of reality haptic display based on image, it is widely expected to express various characteristics of the objects in the image using different kinds of haptic feedback. To this end, a multi-mode haptic display method of image was proposed in this paper, including the multi-feature extraction of image and the image expression with various types of haptic rendering. First, the device structure integrating force and vibrotactile feedbacks was designed for multi-mode haptic display. Meanwhile, the three-dimensional geometric shape, detail texture and outline of the object in the image were extracted by various image processing algorithms. Then, a rendering method for the object in the image was proposed based on the psychophysical experiments on the piezoelectric ceramic actuator. The 3D geometric shape, detail texture and outline of the object were rendered by force and vibration tactile feedbacks, respectively. Finally, these three features of the image were haptic expressed simultaneously by the integrated device. Haptic perception experiment results show that the multi-mode haptic display method can effectively improve the authenticity of haptic perception.
A Routing Optimization Method Based on ACA for FANETs
Authors: Wei Xing , Yang Hua
Published: September 2020

Routing algorithm is an important factor and a key technology for Flying Ad hoc Networks (FANETs), which can safeguard FANET network communication. In FANETs, the fast-changing nature of FANET network topology makes the traditional Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) network routing algorithm not directly usable, which leads to challenges for the design of routing algorithms. In this paper, when the FANET nodes need to communicate, the route search program performs route search based on the ant colony algorithm, so as to obtain a stable route with high efficiency. Making use of NS3 for simulation of ACA, Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), and Ad hoc On demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV), the results of simulation show that ACA can improve FANET performance.
Linearity Improvement of Bulk Driven Floating Gate OTA Using Cross-Bulk and Quasi-Bulk Techniques
Authors: Dubey Tanmay , Bhadauria Vijaya
Published: September 2020

In this paper, two highly linear OTAs are presented using a combination of three linearization techniques: floating gate, bulk driven, and source degeneration. In the first OTA, bulk driven floating gate MOSFETs are used as input transistors. The input signal given at the bulk terminals of these input transistors are in the opposite phase of the input signal provided to one of the gates of the respective floating gate MOSFET. This cross-coupling method resulted in a highly linear voltage-to-current conversion at the cost of reduced transconductance. In the second proposed OTA, this reduction in transconductance is restored by using novel quasi-bulk floating gate MOSFETs as input transistors while maintaining the improved linearity. Both the OTAs are designed and simulated using 180 nm CMOS design library and powered with [Formula: see text]0.5[Formula: see text]V dual power supply. The process variation and mismatch effects on both the OTAs are examined using corner and Monte Carlo analysis. The layouts of the proposed OTAs are also presented and workability is confirmed using post-layout simulations.
Tattooing and the Tattoo Number of Graphs
Authors: KOK JOHAN , NADUVATH SUDEV
Published: September 2020

Consider a network D of pipes which have to be cleaned using some cleaning agents, called brushes, assigned to some vertices. The minimum number of brushes required for cleaning the network D is called its brush number. The tattooing of a simple connected directed graph D is a particular type of the cleaning in which an arc are coloured by the colour of the colour-brush transiting it and the tattoo number of D is a corresponding derivative of brush numbers in it. Tattooing along an out-arc of a vertex v may proceed if a minimum set of colour-brushes is allocated (primary colours) or combined with those which have arrived (including colour blends) together with mutation of permissible new colour blends, has cardinality greater than or equal to [Formula: see text].
On the b-Chromatic Sum of Mycielskian of Km, n, Kn and Cn
Authors: LISNA P. C. , SUNITHA M. S.
Published: September 2020

A b-coloring of a graph G is a proper coloring of the vertices of G such that there exists a vertex in each color class joined to at least one vertex in each other color classes. The b-chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by φ(G), is the largest integer k such that G has a b-coloring with k colors. The b-chromatic sum of a graph G(V, E), denoted by φ′(G) is defined as the minimum of sum of colors c(v) of v for all v ∈ V in a b-coloring of G using φ(G) colors. The Mycielskian or Mycielski, μ(H) of a graph H with vertex set {v1, v2,…, vn} is a graph G obtained from H by adding a set of n + 1 new vertices {u, u1, u2, …, un} joining u to each vertex ui(1 ≤ i ≤ n) and joining ui to each neighbour of vi in H. In this paper, the b-chromatic sum of Mycielskian of cycles, complete graphs and complete bipartite graphs are discussed. Also, an application of b-coloring in image processing is discussed here.
Rocking Response of Free-Standing Rigid Blocks on Slopes
Authors: Lv Yang , Sun Xiaohui , Ling Jing , Chouw Nawawi
Published: September 2020

Structure, equipment, statue or storage cask may experience free-standing rocking on slopes because of the nonuniform settlement of the base, construction error or foundation failure. The free-standing rigid block on a slope subjected to one-sine pulse excitation and earthquake motions is examined in this paper. First, considering the free-standing rigid block on a slope, the overturning acceleration spectrum under one-sine pulse is built. The spectrum covers two overturning modes, i.e. overturning with one impact either before or after the excitation and overturning without impact. Then the influences of the slope on the overturning acceleration spectrum are discussed in depth. The analytical solution is compared with the numerical solution based on both linear and nonlinear formulations. It reveals that the safe region of the minimum overturning acceleration spectrum between mode 1 and mode 2 depends on the angle of the slope. Further, the block on a slope is subjected to the Tianjin, Kobe and Northbridge earthquake motions. By simplifying the main pulse of the motions to one-sine pulse, although the overturning acceleration spectrum fails to predict the overturning acceleration of the block subjected to real earthquake motions, it can provide some guidelines to predict the practical performance of the rocking structures.
Automorphism group and fixing number of the orthogonality graph based on rank one upper triangular matrices
Authors: Ou Shikun , Fan Yanqi , Tian Fenglei
Published: September 2020

The orthogonality graph [Formula: see text] of a ring [Formula: see text] is the undirected graph with vertex set consisting of all nonzero two-sided zero divisors of [Formula: see text], in which for two vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (needless distinct), [Formula: see text] is an edge if and only if [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] be the set of all [Formula: see text] matrices over a finite field [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] the subset of [Formula: see text] consisting of all rank one upper triangular matrices. In this paper, we describe the full automorphism group, and using the technique of generalized equivalent canonical form of matrices, we compute the fixing number of [Formula: see text], the induced subgraph of [Formula: see text] with vertex set [Formula: see text].
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF SKELETAL MUSCLE BASED ON METABOLISM PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: WANG MONAN , HAN JIALIN , YANG QIYOU
Published: September 2020

Skeletal muscle energy metabolism plays a very important role in controlling movement of the whole body and has important theoretical guidance for making exercise training plans and losing weight. In this paper, we developed a mathematical model of skeletal muscle excitation–contraction pathway based on the energy metabolism that links excitation to contraction to explore the effects of different metabolic energy systems on calcium ion changes and the force during skeletal muscle contraction. In this paper, a membrane potential model, a calcium cycle model, a cross-bridge dynamics model and an energy metabolism model were established. Finally, the physiological phenomenon of calcium ion transport and calcium ion concentration change of the sarcoplasm was simulated. The results show that the phosphagen system has the fastest metabolic rate and the phosphagen system has the largest impact on the explosive power of skeletal muscle exercise. The specific characteristics of the three metabolic energy systems supporting skeletal muscle movement in vivo were also analyzed in detail.
Jacobi analysis of a segmented disc dynamo system
Authors: Liu Aimin , Chen Biyu , Wei Yuming
Published: September 2020

In this paper, Jacobi stability of a segmented disc dynamo system is geometrically investigated from viewpoint of Kosambi–Cartan–Chern (KCC) theory in Finsler geometry. First, the geometric objects associated to the reformulated system are explicitly obtained. Second, the Jacobi stability of equilibria and a periodic orbit are discussed in the light of deviation curvature tensor. It is shown that all the equilibria are always Jacobi unstable for any parameters, a Lyapunov stable periodic orbit falls into both Jacobi stable regions and Jacobi unstable regions. The considered system is not robust to small perturbations of the equilibria, and some fragments of the periodic orbit are included in fragile region, indicating that the system is extremely sensitive to internal parameters and environment. Finally, the dynamics of the deviation vector and its curvature near all the equilibria are presented to interpret the onset of chaos in the dynamo system. In a physical sense, magnetic fluxes and angular velocity can show irregular oscillations under some certain cases, these oscillations may reveal the irregularity of magnetic field’s evolution and reversals.
Subdivision Surfaces — Boundary Element Accelerated by Fast Multipole for the Structural Acoustic Problem
Authors: Chen Leilei , Lu Chuang , Zhao Wenchang , Chen Haibo , Zheng Changjun
Published: September 2020

A novel boundary element method based on subdivision surfaces is applied to simulate wave scattering problems governed by the Helmholtz equation. The Loop subdivision scheme widely used in the CAD (computer aided design) field is applied to represent the geometric model and approximate physical field variables. The novelty of this work is that it is the first time to apply the fast multipole method for subdivision surface boundary element method to accelerate the solution of the system of equations. It is demonstrated that the subdivision surfaces boundary element method based on the Loop subdivision scheme performs well in terms of accuracy, and automatically provides multiresolution subdivision hierarchy models to meet the requirements of different precision. This approach is then applied to several real-world applications to illustrate the potential for integrated engineering analysis.
Human Mobility and Crime: Theoretical Approaches and Novel Data Collection Strategies
Authors: Browning Christopher R. , Pinchak Nicolo P. , Calder Catherine A.
Published: September 2020

This review outlines approaches to explanations of crime that incorporate the concept of human mobility—or the patterns of movement throughout space of individuals or populations in the context of everyday routines—with a focus on novel strategies for the collection of geographically referenced data on mobility patterns. We identify three approaches to understanding mobility–crime linkages: ( a) Place and neighborhood approaches characterize local spatial units of analysis of varying size with respect to the intersection in space and time of potential offenders, victims, and guardians; ( b) person-centered approaches emphasize the spatial trajectories of individuals and person–place interactions that influence crime risk; and ( c) ecological network approaches consider links between persons or collectivities based on shared activity locations, capturing influences of broader systems of interconnection on spatial- and individual-level variation in crime. We review data collection strategies for the measurement of mobility across these approaches, considering both the challenges and promise of mobility-based research for criminology.
Pharmacogenomics of Antiretroviral Drug Metabolism and Transport
Authors: Yu Zaikuan J. , Mosher Eric P. , Bumpus Namandjé N.
Published: September 2020

Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced morbidity and mortality for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Individual tailoring of antiretroviral regimens has the potential to further improve the long-term management of HIV through the mitigation of treatment failure and drug-induced toxicities. While the mechanisms underlying anti-HIV drug adverse outcomes are multifactorial, the application of drug-specific pharmacogenomic knowledge is required in order to move toward the personalization of HIV therapy. Thus, detailed understanding of the metabolism and transport of antiretrovirals and the influence of genetics on these pathways is important. To this end, this review provides an up-to-date overview of the metabolism of anti-HIV therapeutics and the impact of genetic variation in drug metabolism and transport on the treatment of HIV. Future perspectives on and current challenges in pursuing personalized HIV treatment are also discussed.
Synthetic Data
Authors: Raghunathan Trivellore E.
Published: September 2020

Demand for access to data, especially data collected using public funds, is ever growing. At the same time, concerns about the disclosure of the identities of and sensitive information about the respondents providing the data are making the data collectors limit the access to data. Synthetic data sets, generated to emulate certain key information found in the actual data and provide the ability to draw valid statistical inferences, are an attractive framework to afford widespread access to data for analysis while mitigating privacy and confidentiality concerns. The goal of this article is to provide a review of various approaches for generating and analyzing synthetic data sets, inferential justification, limitations of the approaches, and directions for future research.
Magnitude of Induced Abortion and Associated Factors among Female Students of Hawassa University, Southern Region, Ethiopia, 2019
Authors: Sahile Addisu Tadesse , Beyene Mieraf Shiferaw
Published: September 2020

Objectives. This study was aimed at assessing the magnitude of induced abortion and associated factors among students in Hawassa University, southern region, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 422 students selected on the bases of a probability simple random sampling method. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Analysis was made with SPSS 20. Descriptive summary and inferential statistics (binary logistic regression) were used with a 95% CI and P value of less than 5% as a level of significance. Findings were presented in tables, figure, and texts. Confidentiality of information was also secured. Results. The prevalence of induced abortion in the study setting was 68.7% (95% CI: 64.15%-73.2%). Participants who used emergency contraceptives had 12 times higher odds of undergoing abortion than those who did not use emergency contraceptives at AOR: 11.95, 95% CI: 5.615-25.326, P<001. Conclusions. A higher prevalence of induced abortion was observed in the study setting. Contraceptive use was the predictor of induced abortion identified. Concerned bodies were recommended to work on the identified determinant of induced abortion in the study setting.
Effectiveness of the Strategies Implemented in Sri Lanka for Controlling the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Erandi K. K. W. H. , Mahasinghe A. C. , Perera S. S. N. , Jayasinghe S.
Published: September 2020

In order to bring the new coronavirus pandemic in the country under control, the government of Sri Lanka implemented a set of control strategies including social distancing, quarantine, lockdowns, travel restrictions, and isolation of villages. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the overall control process with the aid of classical compartment models and network models. Our results indicate that the prevailing control strategies are effective with at least 50% contact rate reduction or with at least 40% isolation of the contact history of infected population.
Magnitude and Determinants of Perinatal Mortality in Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Debelew Gurmesa Tura
Published: September 2020

Despite several efforts globally, the problem of perinatal mortality remained an unsolved agenda. As a result, it continued to be an essential part of the third sustainable development goals to end preventable child deaths by 2030. With a rate of 33 per 1000 births, Ethiopia has the highest level of perinatal mortality in the world. Thus, determining the magnitude and identifying the determinants are very crucial for evidence-based interventions. A community-based longitudinal study was conducted in Southwest Ethiopia among 3474 pregnant women to estimate the magnitude of perinatal mortality. Then, a case-control study among 120 cases and 360 controls was conducted to identify the determinants of perinatal mortality. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables having a significant association with perinatal mortality at p<0.05. The perinatal mortality rate was 34.5 (95% CI: 28.9, 41.1) deaths per 1000 births. Attending ≥4 ANC visits (AOR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.91), having good knowledge on key danger signs (AOR=0.27; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.75), and having a skilled attendant at birth (AOR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.61) were significantly associated with a reduction of perinatal mortality. Being a primipara (AOR=3.38; 95% CI: 1.90, 6.00), twin births (AOR=5.29; 95% CI: 1.46, 19.21), previous history of perinatal mortality (AOR=3.33; 95% CI: 1.27, 8.72), and obstetric complication during labor (AOR=4.27; 95% CI: 2.40, 7.59) significantly increased perinatal mortality. In conclusion, the magnitude of perinatal mortality in the study area was high as compared to the national target for 2020. Care during pregnancy and childbirth and conditions of pregnancy and labor were identified as determinants of perinatal mortality. Hence, interventions need to focus on increasing knowledge of danger signs and utilization of skilled maternity care. Special emphasis needs to be given to mothers with a previous history of perinatal mortality, twin pregnancies, and having obstetric complications.
Train-Induced Fluctuating Pressure and Resultant Dynamic Response of Semienclosed Sound Barriers
Authors: Zheng Jing , Li Qingliang , Li Xiaozhen , Luo Yunke
Published: September 2020

This paper reports on train-induced fluctuating pressure and consequent dynamic response of semienclosed sound barriers (SESBs), a novel type of sound barriers. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model and a finite element (FE) model were established. The in situ vibration measurement of the SESB was introduced for the first time. Pressure-induced vibrations were extracted from the measured results. The analyzing process of the pressure-induced vibration below 20 Hz is verified. Influencing factors of the pressure and vibrations, including train running on the near- or far-line and the length effect of total top plates, were finally discussed with the dimensionless method. Results show that the distribution of pressure is significantly different, but the vibration laws are similar whether the train is running on the near- or far-line. The longer is the total length of the top plates, the larger are the pressure and vibration on the inner surface.