bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oscillatory brain activity associated with skin conductance responses in the context of risk
Authors: Ring Patrick , Keil Julian , Muthuraman Muthuraman , Wolff Stephan , Bergmann Til Ole , Probst Catharina , Neyse Levent , Schmidt Ulrich , van Eimeren Thilo , Kaernbach Christian
Published: August 2021

We studied neural oscillations associated with risk-sensitive skin conductance responses. Going beyond previous studies, we applied methods with high-temporal resolution to account for the temporal properties of the sympathetic activity. Preceding skin conductance peaks, we observed decreased occipital cortex oscillatory power and a relationship between the oscillatory power decrease and the skin conductance peak amplitude. Our study suggests an interaction between attention and emotion such as threat perception reflected in skin conductance responses.
Calculating TIN‐Based 3D Sight Distance and Its Evaluation on Drivers Free‐Flow Speed
Authors: Sahaf Ali , Abdoli Ali , Mohamadzadeh Moghaddam Abolfazl
Published: August 2021

Sight distance during driving may be limited by side factors such as mountain slopes or trees and buildings in horizontal curves and by the dome of the arc in vertical curves, and the night vision also can be limited in the sag vertical curves by the vehicle’s light. Analyzing driver’s sight distance in the road is very important for traffic safety. In this regard, in order to help the designer, the current rules and guidelines propose the two‐dimensional analysis model for the sight distance. In this analysis, the sight distance is calculated separately in the combination of horizontal and vertical curves, and the smallest amount is considered as the sight distance. While, after constructing and operating the road, drivers control their vehicle according to the conditions in their 3D space. Nowadays, given the remarkable advances in computer science, there are many possibilities for 3D modeling of the route. In this research, the goal is to calculate the three‐dimensional stopping sight distance at each spatial point by computer modeling the existing roads. The speed of various drivers with conventional riding vehicles under free traffic conditions was obtained by a GPS device. The results showed that, in places such as curves, given the provision of sufficient stopping sight distance, driver’s free‐flow speed reduces. Thus, another factor affecting the speed of the drivers is the curvature change rate. Finally, using nonlinear regression modeling a logical relationship was determined and extracted between the three factors of driver’s free‐flow speed, 3D stopping sight distance, and curvature change rate of the path.
An Efficient and Provable Multifactor Mutual Authentication Protocol for Multigateway Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Shuailiang , Du Xiujuan , Liu Xin
Published: August 2021

As the most popular way of communication technology at the moment, wireless sensor networks have been widely concerned by academia and industry and plays an important role in military, agriculture, medicine, and other fields. Identity authentication offers the first line of defence to ensure the security communication of wireless sensor networks. Since the sensor nodes are resource-limited in the wireless networks, how to design an efficient and secure protocol is extremely significant. The current authentication protocols have the problem that the sensor nodes need to execute heavy calculation and communication consumption during the authentication process and cannot resist node capture attack, and the protocols also cannot provide perfect forward and backward security and cannot resist replay attack. Multifactor identity authentication protocols can provide a higher rank of security than single-factor and two-factor identity authentication protocols. The multigateway wireless sensor networks’ structure can provide a larger communication coverage area than the single-gateway network structure, so it has become the focus of recent studies. Therefore, we design a novel multifactor authentication protocol for multigateway wireless sensor networks, which only apply the lightweight hash function and are given biometric information to achieve a higher level of security and efficiency and a larger communication coverage area. We separately apply BAN logic, random oracle model, and AVISPA tool to validate the security of our authentication protocol in Case 1 and Case 2. We put forward sixteen evaluation criteria to comprehensively evaluate our authentication protocol. Compared with the related authentication protocols, our authentication protocol is able to achieve higher security and efficiency.
Restorative Treatment of Amelogenesis Imperfecta with Prefabricated Composite Veneers
Authors: Novelli Claudio , Pascadopoli Maurizio , Scribante Andrea
Published: August 2021

This case report presents the use of prefabricated composite veneers for restorative treatment of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). This technique bridges the gap between a conventional direct technique and a conventional indirect technique and introduces an alternative semidirect restorative technique for AI patients. The aim of this case report is to describe restoration of a young girl with severe AI using prefabricated composite veneers and to discuss the benefits and limitations of this technique compared to the alternative restorative techniques.
Software-Defined Network Resource Optimization of the Data Center Based on P4 Programming Language
Authors: Peng Fei , Cao Tianjie
Published: August 2021

This paper makes use of the new architecture software-defined network (SDN) in the cloud data center based on P4 language to realize the flexible management and configuration of the network equipment to achieve (a) data center virtualization management and (b) data center resource optimization based on the P4 programming language. Furthermore, error tolerance of dynamic network optimization depends on the virtual machine (VM) online migration technology, and the load balancing mechanism has a very good flexibility. At the same time, the paper proposed a multipath VM migration strategy based on a quality of service (QoS) mechanism, which divides the VM migration resources into different QoS flows by network dynamic transmission and then selects valid forwarding for each flow path to migrate VMs. This ensures to improve the overall migration performance of VMs and ultimately the dynamic optimization of the network resources and their management. Our experimental evaluations show that the proposed model is approximately 13% and 17% better than the traditional state-of-the-art methods in terms of minimum migration time and the least downtime, respectively.
Research on the Incentive Mechanism of the Pension Service Supply Chain under Asymmetric Information
Authors: Chen Xiaohua
Published: August 2021

The information asymmetry between the pension service integrator and the pension service providers will affect the efficiency of the whole supply chain, and information sharing can solve this problem to a certain extent. To achieve information sharing, mutual trust is the first condition and mutual trust is also one of the important means of endogenous incentives. In this paper, the trust incentive coefficient is embedded in the principal-agent model. Considering the service capability coefficient, the communication degree coefficient, and the information sharing degree coefficient of the pension service providers, the trust incentive model of the supply chain of the pension service is constructed, the model is solved, and the conclusion is drawn. Finally, the correctness of the conclusion is verified by the numerical simulation using SAS software. The final results show that, under the condition of information asymmetry, the trust incentive coefficient of the pension service integrator to the pension service providers is positively correlated with the effort coefficient, the service capability coefficient, the communication coefficient, and the information sharing degree coefficient of the pension service providers, while it is positively correlated with the effort cost coefficient, the output sharing coefficient, and the risk aversion coefficient of the pension service providers. The variance of number and external environmental variables is negatively correlated. This research has shown that the trust is a means of incentive for pension service providers to share information. This research has a certain practical significance for improving the service efficiency of the pension services supply chain and optimizing the level of pension services.
Diversity Evolutionary Policy Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Liu Jian , Feng Liming
Published: August 2021

The reinforcement learning algorithms based on policy gradient may fall into local optimal due to gradient disappearance during the update process, which in turn affects the exploration ability of the reinforcement learning agent. In order to solve the above problem, in this paper, the cross‐entropy method (CEM) in evolution policy, maximum mean difference (MMD), and twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm (TD3) are combined to propose a diversity evolutionary policy deep reinforcement learning (DEPRL) algorithm. By using the maximum mean discrepancy as a measure of the distance between different policies, some of the policies in the population maximize the distance between them and the previous generation of policies while maximizing the cumulative return during the gradient update. Furthermore, combining the cumulative returns and the distance between policies as the fitness of the population encourages more diversity in the offspring policies, which in turn can reduce the risk of falling into local optimal due to the disappearance of the gradient. The results in the MuJoCo test environment show that DEPRL has achieved excellent performance on continuous control tasks; especially in the Ant‐v2 environment, the return of DEPRL ultimately achieved a nearly 20% improvement compared to TD3.
Changes in Soil Phosphorus Pools and Chemical Properties under Liming in Nitisols of Farawocha, South Ethiopia
Authors: Chulo Fikeremareyam , Laekemariam Fanuel , Kiflu Alemayehu
Published: August 2021

Understanding the nutrient dynamics in acid soil is fundamental to carry out proper management. The study was conducted to investigate phosphorus (P) pools and selected properties under different rates of lime for acid nitisols of Farawocha, Southern Ethiopia. Four lime rates incubated for a month in three replications were tested. The lime rates were 0 t/ha (0%), 5.25 t/ha (50%), 10.5 t/ha (100%), and 15.75 t/ha (150%). Lime requirement (LR) for 100% was calculated targeting soil pH of 6.5. Data on the P pools such as soluble P (P-sol) and bounded forms of P with iron (Fe-P), aluminum (Al-P), calcium (Ca-P), organic part (Org-P), residual P (Res-P), and total of P fractions were measured. In addition, changes in soil chemical properties such as pH, exchangeable acidity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), boron (B), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) were analyzed. The result showed that total P was 357.5 mg/kg. Compared to nontreated soil, liming at a rate of 15.75 t/ha significantly improved P-sol (34.2%, r2 = 0.88), Ca-P (61.6%, r2 = 0.92), and Res-P (195%, r2 = 0.94); however, it reduced Fe-P (58.5%, r2 = −0.83), Al-P (71%, r2 = −0.97), and Org-P (19.1%, r2 = 0.93). Overall, the P-associated fractions in the soil, regardless of the lime rates, were in the order of Org_P > Res_P > Fe_P > Ca_P > Al_P > P-sol. Liming raised soil pH by 2.1 units (4.5 to 6.6) over nonlimed soil, whereas it reduced exchangeable acidity from 4.18 to 0.23 meq/100 g soil. Available P, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn, and B contents were significantly improved with lime application. However, liming reduced Fe and Mn contents. In conclusion, these findings showed that liming facilitated the release of P from various pools, modified pH and exchangeable acidity, and resulted in beneficial changes for most of the soil chemical properties.
Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Rhabdomyolysis and COVID-19: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chetram Vishaka K. , Ahmad Akram I. , Farid Saira , Sood Tanuj
Published: August 2021

The viral infection causing COVID-19 most notably affects the respiratory system but can result in extrapulmonary clinical manifestations as well. Rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in the setting of COVID-19 is an uncommon complication of the infection. There is significant interest in this viral infection given its global spread, ease of transmission, and varied clinical manifestations and outcomes. This case report and literature review describes the symptoms, laboratory findings, and clinical course of a patient who developed AKI secondary to rhabdomyolysis and COVID-19, which will help clinicians recognize and treat this condition.
Recurrent Hemarthrosis following Resections of Benign Bone Tumors: A Case Report of Two Pediatric Cases
Authors: Barnes Ryan H. , Harter Dawn , Esther Robert J. , Kamath Ganesh V. , Vergun Anna D.
Published: August 2021

Introduction/Cases. Two pediatric patients presenting with benign bone tumors of the distal femur at the level of the suprapatellar fat pad developed late onset recurrent knee hemarthrosis following surgical treatment of the lesions. A sinus tract from the intramedullary bone to the knee capsule was discovered in both patients during surgical exploration. Resection of the sinus tract and full closure of the knee capsule resulted in no further recurrence. Conclusion. Postoperative knee effusions in patients following resection near the distal femur could represent hemarthrosis that require additional workup and treatment. Resection of the sinus tract successfully treats the hemarthrosis.
Influence of Storage Conditions on the Stability of Vitamin D3 and Kinetic Study of the Vitamin Degradation in Fortified Canola Oil during the Storage
Authors: Zareie Mina , Abbasi Azam , Faghih Shiva
Published: August 2021

Nowadays, fortified vegetable oils with vitamin D3 are widely available in different countries. In this study, the influence of storage conditions including light, air, storage temperature, and time on vitamin D3 retention in fortified canola oil was evaluated. Moreover, a kinetic study on vitamin D3 degradation in the oil was done. To this aim, fortified canola oil was prepared at two initial concentrations of 6.87 mg·kg−1 and 13.8 mg·kg−1 and then filled in transparent and dark-brown polyethylene terephthalate bottles at two filling levels of 50% and 100%. Samples were kept in two temperatures of 4°C and room temperature (27°C). The retention of vitamin D3 in different samples showed that the vitamin content was affected by the packaging type, storage temperature, and initial concentration. Vitamin D3 in the samples with a lower concentration of the vitamin which was stored in the refrigerator showed the highest retention (91%) after 70 days of storage, and the samples with higher initial concentration packed in transparent containers which were stored at room temperature (RT) showed the greatest loss (55.6%). Results of the kinetic study also showed that vitamin D3 was affected by storage condition. The half-life of the vitamin D3 differed from 96 to 577 days depending on the storage condition.
Tianma Formula Alleviates Dementia via ACER2-Mediated Sphingolipid Signaling Pathway Involving Aβ
Authors: Lin Haochang , Wu Sha , Weng Zhiying , Wang Hongyan , Shi Rui , Tian Menghua , Wang Youlan , He Haiyan , Wang Yuchuan , Liu Xuan , Jian Zhimin , Wei Fuqin , Wang Peng , Zhang Liuyi , Liu Yi , Guo Qiuzhe , Chen Chen , Yang Weimin
Published: August 2021

Objective. To reveal the molecular mechanism of the antagonistic effect of traditional Chinese medicine Tianma formula (TF) on dementia including vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to provide a scientific basis for the study of traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of dementia. Method. The TF was derived from the concerted application of traditional Chinese medicine. We detected the pharmacological effect of TF in VaD rats. The molecular mechanism of TF was examined by APP/PS1 mice in vivo, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in vitro, ELISA, pathological assay via HE staining, and transcriptome. Based on RNA-seq analysis in VaD rats, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and then verified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISA. The molecular mechanisms of TF on dementia were further confirmed by network pharmacology and molecular docking finally. Results. The Morris water maze showed that TF could improve the cognitive memory function of the VaD rats. The ELISA and histological analysis suggested that TF could protect the hippocampus via reducing tau and IL-6 levels and increasing SYN expression. Meanwhile, it could protect the neurological function by alleviating Aβ deposition in APP/PS1 mice and C. elegans. In the RNA-seq analysis, 3 sphingolipid metabolism pathway-related genes, ADORA3, FCER1G, and ACER2, and another 5 nerve-related genes in 45 key DEGs were identified, so it indicated that the protection mechanism of TF was mainly associated with the sphingolipid metabolism pathway. In the qPCR assay, compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of the 8 genes mentioned above were upregulated, and these results were consistent with RNA-seq. The protein and mRNA levels of ACER2 were also upregulated. Also, the results of network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were consistent with those of RNA-seq analysis. Conclusion. TF alleviates dementia by reducing Aβ deposition via the ACER2-mediated sphingolipid signaling pathway.
A Meta-Analysis of the Association between Diabetes Mellitus and Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution
Authors: Bai Fan , Luo Hui , Wang Liying , Zhu Linghui , Guan Yuanyuan , Zheng Yanfei , Li Lingru , Wang Qi
Published: August 2021

Objective. To explore the distribution of constitution types of diabetes mellitus (DM) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and to provide evidence-based medicine basis for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Methods. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and three Chinese databases were searched to include research literature on the relationship between diabetes and TCM constitution. The single rate study of cross-sectional literature was conducted with RStudio software, and the control meta-analysis of the diabetic and nondiabetic population was performed with Review Manager 5.3 software. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the studies’ data. The main outcomes included the distribution of constitutional types in the diabetic population and the odds ratio (OR) between the two. Effect sizes are expressed as proportions or ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. A total of 28,781 diabetic cases were included in 87 articles. Yin-deficiency, phlegm-dampness, and qi-deficiency accounted for 18% (95% CI (15%, 20%),

P
<
0.01

), 17% (95% CI (15%, 19%),

P
<
0.01

), and 13% (95% CI (11%, 15%),

P
<
0.01

) of the total diabetic cases. The risk of diabetes in people with yin-deficiency and phlegm-dampness was 3.06 (95% CI (1.38–6.78),

P
=
0.006

) and 1.89 (95%CI (1.05–3.42),

P
=
0.03

) times higher than that in those with other constitutions, respectively. The distribution of TCM constitution of DM patients varied significantly in different regions and ages. Conclusion. Yin-deficiency and phlegm-dampness are the common constitution types of diabetic people, and they may also be the risk factors of diabetes. Balanced constitution may be a protective factor of diabetes. More high-quality cohort and case-control studies need to be designed to provide more valuable evidence-based basis for assessing the correlation between DM and TCM constitution.
Vibration Behavior during Underground Drilling Based on an Innovative Measurement Method and the Application
Authors: Cheng Peng , Zhang Wenlong , Li Wenzhou , He Jie , Feng Youliang
Published: August 2021

Pressure relief drilling is one of the most common techniques to reduce the impact of rock burst, but the useful dynamic phenomena in the drilling process are ignored due to the lack of corresponding technical methods. Based on the fact, an innovative measurement method for vibration signals during the drilling construction by pneumatic drill rig is presented in this study. The acquisition and analysis of vibration signals show that the vibration information can reflect the drilling depth, the amplitude of different depth can reflect the pressure, and the vibration events of different depths can reflect the pressure relief effect. The method proposed in the study is of great significance to the supervision of the relief work quantity, the disclosure of the pressure situation, and the evaluation of the pressure relief effect.
Dynamic Spillover Effects of Investor Sentiment and Return between China and the United States
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zhang Lin , Meng Zhenghui , Wang Tewei
Published: August 2021

As the two largest economies in the world, the investor sentiment and stock return of China and the United States are the focus of global attention. In this paper, we study the dynamic spillover effects of investor sentiment and return between China and the United States. First, we use the relative price differences of 9 dual-listed companies in China and the United States simultaneously to verify whether investor sentiment affects stock returns. We find a significant positive correlation between the relative price difference of dual-listed companies and the difference of investor sentiment, indicating that the investor sentiment index indeed affects stock prices. Next, we construct the TVP-VAR model to study the dynamic spillover effects of investor sentiment and the return between China and the United States. Through the time-varying impulse response, we find investor sentiment has a significant dynamic impact on returns. Therefore, investment sentiment contagion and stock market linkage between China and the United States are obvious. In addition, we conduct various robust tests, and all results are consistent.
Mechanism of Fei-Xian Formula in the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis on the Basis of Network Pharmacology Analysis Combined with Molecular Docking Validation
Authors: Chen Xiao-Li , Tang Cheng , Xiao Qing-Ling , Pang Zhong-Hua , Zhou Dan-Dan , Xu Jin , Wang Qi , Zhao Ya-xi , Zhu Qi-Yong
Published: August 2021

Objective. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of Fei-Xian formula (FXF) in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis based on network pharmacology analysis combined with molecular docking validation. Methods. Firstly, ingredients in FXF with pharmacological activities, together with specific targets, were identified based on the BATMA-TCM and TCMSP databases. Then, targets associated with pulmonary fibrosis, which included pathogenic targets as well as those known therapeutic targets, were screened against the CTD, TTD, GeneCards, and DisGeNet databases. Later, Cytoscape was employed to construct a candidate component-target network of FXF for treating pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, for nodes within the as-constructed network, topological parameters were calculated using CytoHubba plug-in, and the degree value (twice as high as the median degree value for all the nodes) was adopted to select core components as well as core targets of FXF for treating pulmonary fibrosis, which were subsequently utilized for constructing the core network. Furthermore, molecular docking study was carried out on those core active ingredients together with the core targets using AutoDock Vina for verifying results of network pharmacology analysis. At last, OmicShare was employed for enrichment analysis of the core targets. Results. Altogether 12 active ingredients along with 13 core targets were identified from our constructed core component-target network of FXF for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. As revealed by enrichment analysis, the 13 core targets mostly concentrated in regulating biological functions, like response to external stimulus (from oxidative stress, radiation, UV, chemical substances, and virus infection), apoptosis, cell cycle, aging, immune process, and protein metabolism. In addition, several pathways, like IL-17, AGE-RAGE, TNF, HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, NOD-like receptor, T/B cell receptor, and virus infection-related pathways, exerted vital parts in FXF in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusions. FXF can treat pulmonary fibrosis through a “multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway” mean. Findings in this work lay foundation for further exploration of the FXF mechanism in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Kinematic Singularity and Bifurcation Analysis of Sidestay Landing Gear Locking Mechanisms
Authors: Xu Kui , Yin Yin , Yang Yixin , Nie Hong , Wei Xiaohui
Published: August 2021

A dual-sidestay landing gear is prone to locking failure in the deployed state due to the restriction of movement between two sidestays. However, the principle of its locking movement still remains unclear. The present study is aimed at investigating the synchronous locking performance of the dual-sidestay landing gear based on the singularity and bifurcation theory. From the perspective of the kinematic mechanism, the reason for high sensitivity to structural dimensions in the locking process is explained, and the locked position is investigated by employing the numerical continuation method in the case of a single-sidestay landing gear. Afterwards, the reason for the locking failure of the dual-sidestay landing gear is analyzed, and a kinematic optimization method for the synchronous locking is proposed. The results reveal that the lock links must reach the lower overcenter singular point to fully lock the landing gear, and the singular point is sensitively affected by structural parameters. Owing to the different positions of singular points, the movements of fore and aft sidestays seriously restrict each other, causing locking failure of the dual-sidestay landing gear. The singular points of two sidestays can be optimized to be approximately identical, making their movements more coordinated.
Determinants of Investment Timing of Government Venture Capital Guiding Funds in China
Authors: Cui Jing , Zhang Shuqin , Yin Xianan , Xu Kun
Published: August 2021

With the prosperity of venture capital, all kinds of government venture capital guiding funds have sprung up, and the scale is explosive growth. However, the current investment of government guiding funds in enterprises has not fundamentally solved the financial difficulties in the early development of enterprises. This study examines the determinants of investment timing of government guiding funds. We investigate this question using the data of China’s new three board companies that have been invested by government guiding funds in the year of 2015-2016. We find that government guiding funds enter the enterprises into developed areas earlier. The innovation ability and the market competitiveness of the invested enterprises are positively correlated with the investment timing of government guiding funds. There is no significant relationship between the investment proportion of government guiding funds and the timing of entering the enterprises. The research of this paper can provide theoretical reference for the subsequent optimization of the resource allocation and provide ideas and methods for the policy improvement and management optimization of government venture capital guiding funds in the future.
Assessing Frailty in the General Medical Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Malaysia: The FRAIL Scale or the Clinical Frailty Scale
Authors: Thiam Chiann Ni , Ooi Chin Yik , Seah Yin Kar , Chuan Deik Roy , Looi Irene , Ch’ng Alan Swee Hock
Published: August 2021

Background. Frailty potentially influences clinicians’ decision making on treatment provided they can select the appropriate assessment tools. This study aims to investigate the difference between the FRAIL scale and the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) in assessing frailty among community-dwelling older adults attending the General Medical Clinic (GMC) in Seberang Jaya Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. Methods. The medical records of 95 older patients (age ≥ 65) who attended the GMC from 16 December 2019 to 10 January 2020 were reviewed. Frailty was identified using the FRAIL scale and the CFS. Patient characteristics were investigated for their association with frailty and their difference in the prevalence of frailty by the FRAIL scale and CFS. Results. The CFS identified nonsignificant higher prevalence of frailty compared to the FRAIL scale (21/95; 22.1% vs. 17/95; 17.9%, ratio of prevalence = 1.235,

p
=
0.481

). Minimal agreement was found between the FRAIL scale and the CFS (Kappa = 0.272,

p
<
0.001

). Three out of 5 components of the FRAIL scale (resistance, ambulation, and loss of weight) were associated with frailty by the CFS. Higher prevalence of frailty was identified by the CFS in those above 70 years of age. The FRAIL scale identified more patients with frailty in ischaemic heart disease patients. Conclusion. Patient characteristics influenced the choice of the frailty assessment tool. The FRAIL scale and the CFS may complement each other in providing optimized care to older patients who attended the GMC.
Effect of Different Types of Middle Columns on the Seismic Performance of Single‐Story Subway Station Structure
Authors: Li Sheng , Zhuang Haiyang , Wang Wei , Jin Liguo , Dong Zhengfang
Published: August 2021

In view of the seismic weak component of the single‐frame‐type subway station structure, the three‐dimensional (3D) time‐domain nonlinear finite element static‐dynamic coupling analysis model of interaction between soil and subway station structure is established by, respectively, using rectangular reinforced concrete (RRC) columns, circular reinforced concrete (CRC) columns, and prefabricated concrete‐filled steel tube (CFST) columns with a quick‐connection device proposed in this article. This analysis model is further used to investigate the influence of different types of middle columns on the seismic response characteristics of the underground structure, such as the interstory displacement angle, seismic damage, and dynamic response. The results show that, compared with the rectangular columns, the circular columns with the equal moment of inertia suffer less damage in the earthquake and have better seismic performance. The prefabricated CFST columns can effectively ensure that the middle columns of the station structure are not severely damaged and can be replaced quickly after the earthquake, which improves the overall seismic performance of the subway station structure and the rapid recovery ability of the structural function after the earthquake.
Diagnostic Challenges of an Abdominal Pregnancy in the Second Trimester
Authors: Ranaei-Zamani Niccole , Palamarchuk Tetyana , Kapoor Swena , Kaler Mandeep K. , Atueyi Favour , Allen Rebecca
Published: August 2021

Abdominal pregnancies are a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, which presents a significant risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. We describe an unusual case of a late diagnosis of an abdominal pregnancy in the second trimester, which due to diagnostic challenges, was not detected on 1st trimester and subsequent antenatal ultrasound scans (USS). The abdominal pregnancy was later diagnosed at the repeat anomaly scan and confirmed with a pelvic MRI. This case of abdominal pregnancy is unique when compared to other reported cases, as the fetus was initially enclosed within the amniotic sac with normal liquor volume. Both transvaginal and transabdominal scans appeared to demonstrate an intrauterine pregnancy. The diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy was only made possible following rupture of the amniotic sac, leading to anhydramnios, which resulted in the repositioning of the fetus to the upper maternal abdomen. This case represents the challenges faced by obstetricians in diagnosing, managing, and counselling a woman when faced with an abdominal pregnancy.
Treating Measurement Errors in the Run Rule Schemes Integrated with Shewhart

X
¯

Chart
Authors: Shan TingTing , Huang WeiDong
Published: August 2021

In modern quality control applications, there often exist significant measurement errors because observations are measured quickly in time order. As a result, the errors influence the power of a control chart to detect a given change in the process parameter(s) of a quality characteristic. In this paper, by using a covariate error model, the properties of the Shewhart

X
¯

chart integrated with run rules are investigated when errors exist in the measurement of quality characteristic. Two metrics, the average run length and 95% quantile of the run length, are adopted to evaluate the chart’s performance for different mean shifts and sample sizes. Numerous simulations are conducted, and the results indicate that the errors in the measurement significantly affect the performance of the run rule

X
¯

chart, especially when the errors are large. To reduce this negative effect on the run rule

X
¯

chart, measuring more times of each item in each subgroup and increasing the coefficient in the covariate error model are shown to be good choices for practitioners.
High‐Precision Complementary Metamaterial Sensor Using Slotted Microstrip Transmission Line
Authors: Samad Abdul , Hu Wei Dong , Shahzad Waseem , Ligthart Leo. P. , Raza Hamid
Published: August 2021

Metamaterial‐based microwave sensor having novel and compact structure of the resonators and the slotted microstrip transmission line is proposed for highly precise measurement of dielectric properties of the materials under test (MUTs). The proposed sensor is designed and simulated on Rogers’ substrate RO4003C by using the ANSYS HFSS software. A single and accumulative notch depth of ‐44.29 dB in the transmission coefficient (S21) is achieved at the resonant frequency of 5.15 GHz. The negative constitutive parameters (permittivity and permeability) are extracted from the S‐parameters which are the basic property of metamaterials or left handed materials (LHMs). The proposed sensor is fabricated and measured through the PNA‐X (N5247A). The sensitivity analysis is performed by placing various standard dielectric materials onto the sensor and measuring the shift in the resonant frequencies of the MUTs. A parabolic equation of the proposed sensor is formulated to approximate the resonant frequency and the relative permittivity of the MUTs. A very strong agreement among the simulated, measured, and calculated results is found which reveals that the proposed sensor is a highly precise sensor for the characterization of dielectric properties of the MUTs. Error analysis is performed to determine the accuracy of the proposed sensor. A very small percentage of error (0.81%) and a very low standard deviation are obtained which indicate high accuracy of the proposed sensor.
Analysis of the Movement Characteristics of the Pump Valve of the Mine Emulsion Pump Based on the Internet of Things and Cellular Automata
Authors: Li Ran , Wang Dalong , Wei Wenshu , Li Shoubin
Published: August 2021

Studying the movement characteristics of the coalmine emulsion pump valve is of great significance for optimizing the dynamic response characteristics of the pump valve, reducing the hysteresis effect, and improving the volumetric efficiency. This article combines the Internet of Things (IoT) and cellular automata techniques to investigate the movement characteristics of the valve of the emulsion pump. Based on Adolf’s exact differential equation and Runge–Kutta iterative method, the movement displacement and movement of the pump valve spool speed curve are computed using Scilab software. We employ cellular automata and AMESim to establish the hydraulic system model of emulsion pump and analyze the movement characteristics of pump valve movement displacement, speed, stability, and closing hysteresis through simulation. Finally, the IoT techniques and a test device are used to evaluate the movement displacement of the pump valve. The experimental results verify the feasibility of using the proposed method to study the pump valve motion characteristics, greatly reduce the cost of testing and parameterized design, and contribute to the development of highly reliable and efficient emulsion pump valves.
Initial Geometrical Templates with Parameter Sets for Active Contour on Skin Cancer Boundary Segmentation
Authors: Bumrungkun Prachya , Chamnongthai Kosin , Patchoo Wisarn
Published: August 2021

For active-contour-based surgery systems, the success of skin cancer boundary segmentation depends on the initialization point of the snake model, which is a task originally performed by skillful experts, and on the parameters set for the algorithms of active contour. This paper proposes initial geometrical templates and parameter sets for the active contour on skin cancer boundary segmentation. To establish initial geometrical templates and parameter sets for the active contour, first, template candidates, which are geometrically designed by users in advance, are simply calculated based on similarity with a skin cancer boundary, and the candidate with the least difference is selected as an initial template. Initially, all candidate templates are performed before the test with some selected skin cancer samples by randomly varying needed parameters to determine parameter sets for each template. The parameter set is therefore implicitly selected as the suitable set with the selected initial template. Experiments with 227 skin cancer samples were performed based on our proposed initial templates and parameter sets, and the results show 99.46% accuracy, 97.43% sensitivity, and 99.87% specificity approximately in which accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were improved by 0.26%, 0.36%, and 0.26%, respectively, compared with the conventional method.
Isolated Bone Lesions in the Mandible and Maxilla of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Treated with Fractionated Stereotactic Low-Dose Radiotherapy: Case Report and 5-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Berberi Antoine , Aoun Georges , Aad Georges , Azar Elie
Published: August 2021

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a benign histiocytic disorder touching both genders and can occur at any age. It is currently classified by the Histiocyte Society as an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm of mixed cellularity. Clinically, it is illustrated by single or multiple osteolytic bone lesions associated with ulceration of the skin and soft tissues. Disease outcome is highly variable, depending on the degree of involvement. Bone pathologies are observed in 60% of cases as uni- or multifocal lesions. Several treatment modalities have been proposed and include surgical excision, intralesion steroid injection, chemotherapy, and low-dose radiotherapy. In this paper, we report a case of a 42-year-old male suffering from gingival swelling in the left side of his mandible and the right side of the maxilla. Clinical, radiological, and histological examinations confirm the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Hematological investigation, entire body CT scan, and bone scintigraphy confirmed the limitation of the lesions in the right maxilla and on the left mandible. The lesions were treated with fractionated stereotactic low-dose radiotherapy, 24 Gy in 16 fractions, by using a linear accelerator with a custom-made rigid mask for accurate immobilization of the head with confirmed precision, which allows noninvasive approaches. Complete remission was achieved clinically and radiologically after one year, and a panoramic X-ray after 5 years confirms the bone healing process. Fractionated stereotactic low-dose RT could be adopted as an effective treatment.
Reporting and Performance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Prediction Models: Based on TRIPOD Statement and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Liuqing , Wang Qiang , Cui Tingting , Huang Jinxin , Jin Hui
Published: August 2021

Background. The performance of risk prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was uncertain. The aim of the study was to critically evaluate the reports of transparent and external validation performances of these prediction models based on system review and meta-analysis. Methods. A systematic search of the Web of Science and PubMed was performed for studies published until October 17, 2020. The transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for the individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) tool was used to critically evaluate the quality of external validation reports for six models (CU-HCC, GAG-HCC, PAGE-B, mPAGE-B, REACH-B, and mREACH-B). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) values was to estimate the pooled external validating performance based on meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and metaregression were also performed to explore heterogeneity. Results. Our meta-analysis included 22 studies published between 2011 and 2020. The compliance of the included studies to TRIPOD ranged from 59% to 90% (median, 74%; interquartile range (IQR), 70%, 79%). The AUC values of the six models ranged from 0.715 to 0.778. In the antiviral therapy subgroups, the AUC values of mREACH-B, GAG-HCC, and mPAGE-B were 0.785, 0.760, and 0.778, respectively. In the cirrhosis subgroup, all models had poor discrimination performance (AUC < 0.7). Conclusions. A full report of calibration and handling of missing values would contribute to a greater improvement in the quality of external validation reports for CHB-related HCC risk prediction. It was necessary to develop a specific HCC risk prediction model for patients with cirrhosis.
Gene Body Methylation of the Lymphocyte-Specific GeneCARD11Results in Its Overexpression and Regulates Cancer mTOR Signaling
Authors: McGuire Michael H. , Dasari Santosh K. , Yao Hui , Wen Yunfei , Mangala Lingegowda S. , Bayraktar Emine , Ma Wencai , Ivan Cristina , Shoshan Einav , Wu Sherry Y. , Jonasch Eric , Bar-Eli Menashe , Wang Jing , Baggerly Keith A. , Sood Anil K.
Published: August 2021

Investigations into the function of nonpromoter DNA methylation have yielded new insights into epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of distinguishing between DNA methylation in discrete functional regions; however, integrated nonpromoter DNA methylation and gene expression analyses across a wide number of tumor types and corresponding normal tissues have not been performed. Through integrated analysis of gene expression and DNA methylation profiles, we examined 32 tumor types and identified 57 tumor suppressors and oncogenes out of 260 genes exhibiting a correlation of > 0.5 between gene body methylation and gene expression in at least one tumor type. The lymphocyte-specific gene CARD11 exhibits robust association between gene body methylation and expression across 19 of 32 tumor types examined. It is significantly overexpressed in kidney renal cell carcinoma (KIRC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor tissues in comparison with respective control samples; and is significantly associated with lower overall survival in KIRC. Contrary to its canonical function in lymphocyte NFκB activation, CARD11 activates the mTOR pathway in KIRC and LUAD, resulting in suppressed autophagy. Furthermore, demethylation of a CpG island within the gene body of CARD11 decreases gene expression. Collectively, our study highlights how DNA methylation outside the promoter region can impact tumor progression.

Implications:

Our study describes a novel regulatory role of gene body DNA methylation–dependent CARD11 expression on mTOR signaling and its impact on tumor progression.
Relationship Between a Plant‐Based Dietary Portfolio and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Findings From the Women's Health Initiative Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Glenn Andrea J. , Lo Kenneth , Jenkins David J. A. , Boucher Beatrice A. , Hanley Anthony J. , Kendall Cyril W. C. , Manson JoAnn E. , Vitolins Mara Z. , Snetselaar Linda G. , Liu Simin , Sievenpiper John L.
Published: August 2021

Background

The plant‐based Dietary Portfolio combines established cholesterol‐lowering foods (plant protein, nuts, viscous fiber, and phytosterols), plus monounsaturated fat, and has been shown to improve low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. No studies have evaluated the relation of the Dietary Portfolio with incident CVD events.

Methods and Results

We followed 123 330 postmenopausal women initially free of CVD in the Women's Health Initiative from 1993 through 2017. We used Cox proportional‐hazard models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI of the association of adherence to a Portfolio Diet score with CVD outcomes. Primary outcomes were total CVD, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Secondary outcomes were heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Over a mean follow‐up of 15.3 years, 13 365 total CVD, 5640 coronary heart disease, 4440 strokes, 1907 heart failure, and 929 atrial fibrillation events occurred. After multiple adjustments, adherence to the Portfolio Diet score was associated with lower risk of total CVD (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83–0.94), coronary heart disease (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78–0.95), and heart failure (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71–0.99), comparing the highest to lowest quartile of adherence. There was no association with stroke (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.87–1.08) or atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.87–1.38). These results remained statistically significant after several sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

In this prospective cohort of postmenopausal women in the United States, higher adherence to the Portfolio Diet was associated with a reduction in incident cardiovascular and coronary events, as well as heart failure. These findings warrant further investigation in other populations.
Changes in Stroke Hospital Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Palaiodimou Lina , Zand Ramin , Yaghi Shadi , Kamel Hooman , Navi Babak B. , Turc Guillaume , Benetou Vassiliki , Sharma Vijay K. , Mavridis Dimitris , Shahjouei Shima , Catanese Luciana , Shoamanesh Ashkan , Vadikolias Konstantinos , Tsioufis Konstantinos , Lagiou Pagona , Sfikakis Petros P. , Alexandrov Andrei V. , Tsiodras Sotirios , Tsivgoulis Georgios
Published: August 2021

Background and Purpose:

We systematically evaluated the impact of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on stroke care across the world.

Methods:

Observational studies comparing characteristics, acute treatment delivery, or hospitalization outcomes between patients with stroke admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic and those admitted before the pandemic were identified by Medline, Scopus, and Embase databases search. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for all outcomes.

Results:

We identified 46 studies including 129 491 patients. Patients admitted with stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be younger (mean difference, −1.19 [95% CI, −2.05 to −0.32];
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2
=70%) and more frequently male (odds ratio, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.01–1.22];
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2
=54%) compared with patients admitted with stroke in the prepandemic era. Patients admitted with stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic, also, had higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (mean difference, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.12–0.98];
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2
=90%), higher probability for large vessel occlusion presence (odds ratio, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.07–2.48];
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=49%) and higher risk for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.05–1.52];
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=55%). Patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher probability of receiving endovascular thrombectomy treatment (odds ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.05–1.47];
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=40%). No difference in the rates of intravenous thrombolysis administration or difference in time metrics regarding onset to treatment time for intravenous thrombolysis and onset to groin puncture time for endovascular thrombectomy were detected.

Conclusions:

The present systematic review and meta-analysis indicates an increased prevalence of younger patients, more severe strokes attributed to large vessel occlusion, and higher endovascular treatment rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients admitted with stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher in-hospital mortality. These findings need to be interpreted with caution in view of discrepant reports and heterogeneity being present across studies.