bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emergence ofMaruca vitrataas a Major Pest of Food Legumes and Evolution of Management Practices in Asia and Africa
Authors: Srinivasan Ramasamy , Tamò Manuele , Malini Periasamy
Published: January 2021

Legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, has emerged as a major pest on food legumes in Asia and Africa. It is an oligophagous pest, feeding on over 70 species in Fabaceae. We examine the species complex in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, with an emphasis on molecular taxonomy. Studies on pheromone production and perception suggest the existence of pheromone polymorphism, especially in Asia and Africa. No Maruca-resistant varieties are available in the major food legumes including cowpea, pigeonpea, mungbean, and yard-long bean. Legume growers use chemical pesticides indiscriminately, leading to the development of pesticide resistance. However recent developments in habitat management, classical biocontrol with more efficient parasitoids, biopesticides, and judicious use of insecticides pave the way for sustainable management of M. vitrata, which can reduce the pesticide misuse. Active engagement of the private sector and policy makers can increase the adoption of integrated pest management approaches in food legumes.
Chemical Ecology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology of Insect Hydrocarbons
Authors: Blomquist Gary J. , Ginzel Matthew D.
Published: January 2021

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) consist of complex mixtures of straight-chain alkanes and alkenes, and methyl-branched hydrocarbons. In addition to restricting water loss through the cuticle and preventing desiccation, they have secondarily evolved to serve a variety of functions in chemical communication and play critical roles as signals mediating the life histories of insects. In this review, we describe the physical properties of CHCs that allow for both waterproofing and signaling functions, summarize their roles as inter- and intraspecific chemical signals, and discuss the influences of diet and environment on CHC profiles. We also present advances in our understanding of hydrocarbon biosynthesis. Hydrocarbons are biosynthesized in oenocytes and transported to the cuticle by lipophorin proteins. Recent work on the synthesis of fatty acids and their ultimate reductive decarbonylation to hydrocarbons has taken advantage of powerful new tools of molecular biology, including genomics and RNA interference knockdown of specific genes, to provide new insights into the biosynthesis of hydrocarbons.
The Interplay Between Viruses and RNAi Pathways in Insects
Authors: Bonning Bryony C. , Saleh Maria-Carla
Published: January 2021

As an overarching immune mechanism, RNA interference (RNAi) displays pathogen specificity and memory via different pathways. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is the primary antiviral defense mechanism against RNA viruses of insects and plays a lesser role in defense against DNA viruses. Reflecting the pivotal role of the siRNA pathway in virus selection, different virus families have independently evolved unique strategies to counter this host response, including protein-mediated, decoy RNA–based, and microRNA-based strategies. In this review, we outline the interplay between insect viruses and the different pathways of the RNAi antiviral response; describe practical application of these interactions for improved expression systems and for pest and disease management; and highlight research avenues for advancement of the field.
Population Dynamics of Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) Infesting Birds (Aves)
Authors: Galloway Terry D. , Lamb Robert J.
Published: January 2021

In the past 25 years, studies on interactions between chewing lice and their bird hosts have increased notably. This body of work reveals that sampling of live avian hosts, collection of the lice, and the aggregated distributions of louse infestations pose challenges for assessing louse populations. The number of lice on a bird varies among host taxa, often with host size and social system. Host preening behavior limits louse abundance, depending on bill shape. The small communities of lice (typically one–four species) that live on individual birds show species-specific patterns of abundance, with consistently common and rare species, and lower year-to-year population variability than other groups of insects. Most species of lice appear to breed continuously on their hosts, with seasonal patterns of abundance sometimes related to host reproduction and molting. Competition may have led to spatial partitioning of the host by louse species, but seldom contributes to current patterns of abundance.
Mechanisms of Resistance to Insecticidal Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
Authors: Jurat-Fuentes Juan Luis , Heckel David G. , Ferré Juan
Published: January 2021

Insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) are used in sprayable formulations or produced in transgenic crops as the most successful alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The most relevant threat to sustainability of Bt insecticidal proteins (toxins) is the evolution of resistance in target pests. To date, high-level resistance to Bt sprays has been limited to one species in the field and another in commercial greenhouses. In contrast, there are currently seven lepidopteran and one coleopteran species that have evolved practical resistance to transgenic plants producing insecticidal Bt proteins. In this article, we present a review of the current knowledge on mechanisms of resistance to Bt toxins, with emphasis on key resistance genes and field-evolved resistance, to support improvement of Bt technology and its sustainability.
The Impacts of Climate Change on Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Risk
Authors: Gilbert Lucy
Published: January 2021

Ticks exist on all continents and carry more zoonotic pathogens than any other type of vector. Ticks spend most of their lives in the external environment away from the host and are thus expected to be affected by changes in climate. Most empirical and theoretical studies demonstrate or predict range shifts or increases in ticks and tick-borne diseases, but there can be a lot of heterogeneity in such predictions. Tick-borne disease systems are complex, and determining whether changes are due to climate change or other drivers can be difficult. Modeling studies can help tease apart and understand the roles of different drivers of change. Predictive models can also be invaluable in projecting changes according to different climate change scenarios. However, validating these models remains challenging, and estimating uncertainty in predictions is essential. Another focus for future research should be assessing the resilience of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to climate change.
An integrated mathematical model of the cardiovascular and respiratory response to exercise: model-building and comparison with reported models
Authors: Sarmiento Carlos Andrés , Hernández Alher Mauricio , Serna Leidy Yanet , Mañanas Miguel Ángel
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a new cardiorespiratory model focused on the prediction of the healthy human response under rest and aerobic dynamic exercise conditions. Simulation results of cardiorespiratory variables are compared against experimental data and two of the most current and complete cardiorespiratory models.
Donor-specific phenotypic variation in hiPSC cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes impacts endothelial cell function
Authors: Turner Amy , Aggarwal Praful , Matter Andrea , Olson Benjamin , Gu C. Charles , Hunt Steven C. , Lewis Cora E. , Arnett Donna K. , Lorier Rachel , Broeckel Ulrich
Published: January 2021

The intracellular RNA and the miRNA content in exosomes are significantly different in hiPSC-CMs derived from LVH-affected individuals compared with those from unaffected individuals. Treatment of endothelial cells with these exosomes functionally affects cellular phenotypes in a donor-specific manner. These findings provide novel insight into underlying mechanisms of hypertrophic cell signaling between different cell types. With a growing interest in stem cells and exosomes for cardiovascular therapeutic use, this also provides information important for regenerative medicine.
Differential negative effects of acute exhaustive swim exercise on the right ventricle are associated with disproportionate hemodynamic loading
Authors: Lakin Robert , Debi Ryan , Yang Sibao , Polidovitch Nazari , Goodman Jack M. , Backx Peter H.
Published: January 2021

Acute exhaustive exercise differentially impacts the right ventricle (RV) versus left ventricle (LV), yet the underlying hemodynamic basis remains unclear. Using pressure-volume analyses and pressure-telemetry implantation in mice, we confirmed a marked disproportionate and persistent negative impact of exhaustive exercise on the RV. These differences in responses of the ventricles to exhaustive exercise are of clinical relevance, reflecting ∼2-fold greater hemodynamic RV loads versus LVs arising from massive (∼45 mmHg) increases in LV end-diastolic pressures at exhaustion.
Reduced Expression of Antimicrobial Protein Secretory Leukoprotease Inhibitor and Clusterin in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Authors: Huang Yanran , Wang Ming , Hong Yu , Bu Xiangting , Luan Ge , Wang Yang , Li Ying , Lou Hongfei , Wang Chengshuo , Zhang Luo
Published: January 2021

Introduction. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) constitute the first line of defense against pathogenic microorganisms in the airway. The association between AMPs and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) requires further investigations. This study is aimed at investigating the expression and regulation of major dysregulated AMPs in the nasal mucosa of CRSwNP. Methods. The expression of AMPs was analyzed in nasal tissue from patients with eosinophilic (E) CRSwNP and nonECRSwNP and healthy subjects using RNA sequencing. The 10 most abundant AMPs expressed differentially in CRSwNP patients were verified by real-time PCR, and of these, the expression and regulation of secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) and clusterin (CLU) were investigated further. Results. The 10 most abundant AMPs expressed differentially in CRSwNP compared to healthy control, regardless of subtypes, included BPIFA1, BPIFB1, BPIFB2, CLU, LTF, LYZ, and SLPI, which were downregulated, and S100A8, S100A9, and HIST1H2BC, which were upregulated. ELISA and immunofluorescence confirmed the decreased expression of SLPI and CLU levels in CRSwNP. SLPI is expressed in both nasal epithelial cells and glandular cells, whereas CLU is mainly expressed in glandular cells. AB/PAS staining further demonstrated that both SLPI and CLU were mainly produced by mucous cells in submucosal glands. Furthermore, the numbers of submucosal glands were significantly decreased in nasal polyp tissue of CRSwNP compared to nasal tissue of controls. SLPI was downregulated by TGF-β1 and IL-4 in cultured nasal tissues in vitro, while CLU expression was inhibited by TGF-β1. Glucocorticoid treatment for 2 weeks significantly increased the expression of all downregulated AMPs, but not LYZ. Additionally, budesonide significantly increased the expression of SLPI and CLU in cultured nasal tissues. Conclusion. The expression of major antimicrobial proteins is significantly decreased in nasal tissue of CRSwNP. The expression of SLPI and CLU is correlated with the numbers of submucosal glands and regulated by inflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoids.
The Use of Essential Oils and Their Isolated Compounds for the Treatment of Oral Candidiasis: A Literature Review
Authors: Ferreira Elba dos Santos , Rosalen Pedro Luiz , Benso Bruna , de Cássia Orlandi Sardi Janaina , Denny Carina , Alves de Sousa Simone , Queiroga Sarmento Guerra Felipe , de Oliveira Lima Edeltrudes , Almeida Freires Irlan , Dias de Castro Ricardo
Published: January 2021

In this literature review, we present the main scientific findings on the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) applicable for a new drug formulation to treat oral candidiasis. Seven literature databases were systematically searched for eligible in vitro and clinical trials. Selected articles were screened for biological activity, botanical species, phytochemical composition, study design, and methodological quality. A total of 26 articles were included in the review, of which 21 were in vitro studies and 5 clinical trials. The most promising EOs were obtained from Allium tubeorosum, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Coriandrum sativum L. Among the phytochemicals, citral and thymol were the most active. Clinical trials indicated that the EOs from Pelargonium graveolens and Zataria multiflora are potentially effective to treat oral candidiasis. Further nonclinical and clinical studies with these EO are warranted to determine their potential use and safety for the treatment of oral candidiasis.
China’s Auto Industry Upgrade Process Based on Aging Chain and Coflow Model
Authors: Zhang Baojian , Li Pengli , Zhou Huaguo , Yue Xiaohang
Published: January 2021

To protect energy resources and alleviate environmental pollution, many countries attach great importance to the transformation of traditional industries into clean energy industries. In this paper, fuel vehicles (FVs), hybrid vehicles (HVs), and electric vehicles (EVs) are included in the research. Then, based on the aging chain and coflow theory of SDs, we construct a dynamic matching model of the auto industry upgrade process and its energy consumption attributes. The simulation results of China’s auto industry show that (1) the upgrading of the auto industry is an evolutionary process from high energy consumption and high pollution to low energy consumption and no pollution and the transition from FVs and HVs to EVs will undergo two adjustments; (2) simply reducing energy supply does not have the expected impact on vehicle size and vehicle energy consumption intensity and only by adjusting the energy supply and upgrade ratios together, energy utilization efficiency can be improved; (3) market screening time has an impact on auto industry upgrade speed by affecting vehicle market share and dwell time; (4) China’s auto industry upgrade process should adhere to “problem‐oriented” and strengthen consumer guidance, technology innovation, and infrastructure construction. The conclusions can provide references for industrial policy adjustment and industrial structure optimization.
Social Networks through the Prism of Cognition
Authors: Michalski Radosław , Szymanski Boleslaw K. , Kazienko Przemysław , Lebiere Christian , Lizardo Omar , Kulisiewicz Marcin
Published: January 2021

Human relations are driven by social events—people interact, exchange information, share knowledge and emotions, and gather news from mass media. These events leave traces in human memory, the strength of which depends on cognitive factors such as emotions or attention span. Each trace continuously weakens over time unless another related event activity strengthens it. Here, we introduce a novel cognition‐driven social network (CogSNet) model that accounts for cognitive aspects of social perception. The model explicitly represents each social interaction as a trace in human memory with its corresponding dynamics. The strength of the trace is the only measure of the influence that the interactions had on a person. For validation, we apply our model to NetSense data on social interactions among university students. The results show that CogSNet significantly improves the quality of modeling of human interactions in social networks.
Comparison of Effects and Brain-Gut Regulatory Mechanisms of Acupuncture and Flunarizine for Migraine: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Ya-Nan , Sun Ming-Sheng , Ni Xi-Xiu , Tian Tian , Liu Lu , Li Xiao , Xu Tao , Zhou Si-Yuan , Chen Jiao , Liang Fan-Rong , Liu Ji-Xin , Zhao Ling
Published: January 2021

Background. As a central nervous system disease, migraine often coexists with gastrointestinal disorders, which suggests a disruption of brain-gut regulation. Clinical studies have confirmed that acupuncture and flunarizine not only alleviate migraine attacks but also substantially inhibit accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is still not clear how acupuncture and flunarizine regulate the interactions of brain, gut, and microbiome. Therefore, this study will combine neuroimaging technology and gut microbiota detection technology to explore and compare the effects and brain-gut modulating mechanisms of acupuncture and flunarizine for migraine. Methods. This randomized clinical trial will recruit 66 patients with migraine without aura. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to an acupuncture group or a control group. The acupuncture treatment strategy is based on experience from our previous study and consensus meetings with clinical experts. Patients will receive 12 sessions of manual acupuncture treatment (once every other day to a total of three times per week, followed by a 2-day break). Flunarizine will be administered at a dose of 5 mg daily in the control group. Participants in both groups will receive treatment for a period of 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in frequency of migraine attacks, and the secondary outcomes include the changes in migraine days (days on which migraine attacks occurred), average migraine severity, gastrointestinal symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life. Fresh stool samples will be collected, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing analysis will be used for gut microbiota. Magnetic resonance imaging will be applied to detect between-group changes in brain function. The abovementioned indicators will be collected at baseline, after a 4-week intervention, and at the 12-week follow-up. Discussions. From the perspective of brain-gut regulatory mechanisms, we will combine brain neuroimaging and gut microbiological data to partially reveal the similarities and differences of acupuncture and flunarizine on the treatment of migraine. The trial is registered with ChiCTR2000034417.
Ant Colony Optimization Using Common Social Information and Self‐Memory
Authors: Tamura Yoshiki , Sakiyama Tomoko , Arizono Ikuo
Published: January 2021

Ant colony optimization (ACO), which is one of the metaheuristics imitating real ant foraging behavior, is an eﬀective method to ﬁnd a solution for the traveling salesman problem (TSP). The rank‐based ant system (ASrank) has been proposed as a developed version of the fundamental model AS of ACO. In the ASrank, since only ant agents that have found one of some excellent solutions are let to regulate the pheromone, the pheromone concentrates on a specific route. As a result, although the ASrank can find a relatively good solution in a short time, it has the disadvantage of being prone falling into a local solution because the pheromone concentrates on a specific route. This problem seems to come from the loss of diversity in route selection according to the rapid accumulation of pheromones to the specific routes. Some ACO models, not just the ASrank, also suffer from this problem of loss of diversity in route selection. It can be considered that the diversity of solutions as well as the selection of solutions is an important factor in the solution system by swarm intelligence such as ACO. In this paper, to solve this problem, we introduce the ant system using individual memories (ASIM) aiming to improve the ability to solve TSP while maintaining the diversity of the behavior of each ant. We apply the existing ACO algorithms and ASIM to some TSP benchmarks and compare the ability to solve TSP.
Managing a Dual-Channel Supply Chain with Fairness and Channel Preference
Authors: Du Xianjin , Zhao Weijie
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates a dual-channel supply chain in which a manufacturer sells the product via an offline retailer or online store. The manufacturer sets the wholesale and online price, and the retailer decides the retail price with the retailer’s fairness preference and consumer’s online channel preference. Through investigating the combined impacts of fairness preference and channel preference on the enterprises’ operational strategies, this paper obtains some meaningful results. If a manufacturer thinks over the fairness preference, he decreases the wholesale price to mitigate a loss of retailer and benefit the supply chain design. The manufacturer intends to set up the online channel with a lower acceptance as the fairness preference grows. However, the gains from enhanced online channel acceptance cannot compensate for the manufacturer’s loss by the fairness effect that benefits the retailer. Moreover, the manufacturer cannot neglect the retailer’s fairness preference generating a “lose-lose” case for both members.
Existence Theorems on Advanced Contractions with Applications
Authors: Kim Sang Og , Nazam Muhammad
Published: January 2021

In this research article, by introducing a mapping

φ

defined on

0

,

∞

4

, with some axioms, we define two generalized contractions called

F

H

+

φ

-contractions and

φ

H

P

+

-contractions. We investigate their mutual relation and establish an existence theorem addressing

F

H

+

φ

-contractions with some applications.
An Impact of Psychological Stress on the Interplay between Salivary Oxidative Stress and the Classic Psychological Stress‐Related Parameters
Authors: Stojanović Nikola M. , Randjelović Pavle J. , Pavlović Dragana , Stojiljković Nenad I. , Jovanović Ivan , Sokolović Dušan , Radulović Niko S.
Published: January 2021

Both oxidative and psychological (mental) stress are the likely culprits for several acute and chronic health disturbances, and adequate tests mimicking that are needed. Herein, in controlled laboratory surroundings, a PEBL (Psychology Experiment Building Language) test battery was used to evoke stress‐related biological responses followed by tracking changes in saliva parameters. The study objectives were to determine the impact of psychological stress on selected salivatory parameters and to assess the correlation between the determined oxidative and stress parameters. The study was conducted on 36 healthy young subjects, mainly females (n = 24). Before and following the completion of a battery of four PEBL tests, subjects’ saliva samples were collected. Stress‐evoking changes in total antioxidant capacity and nitrite/nitrate levels, as oxidative stress parameters, and cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA), as parameters of psychological stress, were established and mutually correlated by comparing the values of the evaluated parameters pre‐ and post‐PEBL test. The results showed that there is no change in the total salivary antioxidant capacity (p > 0.05); however, there was a significant increase in nitrites/nitrates levels after the PEBL test (p = 0.007). On the other hand, the determined cortisol levels after the test battery were found to be statistically significantly increased (p = 0.025) when compared to the values obtained before the test, while the levels of IgA were found to be statistically significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The only statistically significant correlation between the changes in the studied parameters was found to be the one between cortisol and IgA levels (Spearman’s Rö = ‐0.4). These results suggest that the short‐term stress induced by the PEBL test does evoke changes in the salivary mental stress‐related parameters (an increase in cortisol and nitrite/nitrate levels, and a decrease in IgA), but not in the total antioxidant capacity. They also indicate that the constructed PEBL four‐test battery might represent an adequate laboratory stress‐inducing paradigm.
Development of a Hybrid Method to Predict the Slope Surface Deformation Utilizing the Time Series and GA‐Elman Models
Authors: Wang Gang , Fang Zheng , Xie Jiren , Du Na
Published: January 2021

A reliable prediction of the surface deformation of slopes is vital to better assess the fatalities and economic losses caused by landslides. Many prediction methods have been proposed to estimate the surface deformation of landslides with nonlinear characteristics. However, these methods have low accuracy and poor applicability. In this paper, a new hybrid method for surface deformation prediction was proposed, which was deduced from the Wavelet Analysis, Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Elman Algorithm. In this method, the slope surface deformation was decomposed into a trend component and a periodic component using the time series model, which were trained and predicted utilizing the GA‐Elman model. The predicted slope surface deformation was the combination of the trend component and the periodic component. Then, the predicted results of slope surface deformation through GA‐Elman were compared with the predicted results through Support Vector Machines (SVM), Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), Back Propagation (BP), and Genetic Algorithm‐Back Propagation (GA‐BP) models. The comparison was made with reference to the data retrieved from the on‐site slopes and the laboratory tests. The results revealed that the proposed method highlighted reliability and could be used with higher accuracy to forecast the slope surface deformation in the process of landslides.
Angle and Force Hybrid Control Method for Electrohydraulic Leveling System with Independent Metering
Authors: Liu Kailei , Kang Shaopeng , Cao Zhongliang , Liu Rongsheng , Ding Zhaoxuan
Published: January 2021

The electrohydraulic leveling system of the hydraulic press can realize automatic leveling control function. In order to eliminate the eccentric load force accurately, an electrohydraulic leveling system with independent metering is designed. Quasi-static behavior analysis of the leveling cylinders output forces performance is applied to the electrohydraulic leveling system with independent metering. The angle and force hybrid control method is proposed, and then the AMESim/Simulink cosimulation model is built. The HSIC controller and PID controller are used in the simulation, respectively. Simulation results show that both of the leveling angle control and leveling cylinders output forces control can be realized, simultaneously, and the HSIC controller has higher rapidity and smaller overshoot than the PID controller.
A Centralized Algorithm with Collision Avoidance for Trajectory Planning in Preflight Stage
Authors: Xiang Zheng , Zhang Wenqi , He Deyang , Tang Yu
Published: January 2021

In order to better understand pretactical phase flow management with the flight plan centralized processing at its core, based on the flight plan centralized processing system and track-based operation, the aircraft’s 4D trajectory planning challenges require a deeper level of analysis. Firstly, through establishing a flight performance prediction model, in which the flight plan data is extracted and the time when an aircraft passed a specified waypoint is calculated, a 4D flight prediction can be derived. Secondly, the air traffic flow of the waypoint is calculated, and a converging point along a flight route is selected. Through adjusting the time and speed of the aircraft passing this point, conflict between aircraft is avoided. Finally, the flight is verified by CCA1532, with the connecting flight plan centralized processing center set in line with the company’s requirements. The results demonstrate that according to flight plans, the 4D trajectory of the aircraft can be predicted with the nearest minute and second, and the flow of a total of 20 aircraft within one hour before and after the passage of CCA1532 at key point WADUK can be calculated. When there is a conflict of 88 s between the convergence point and flight B, the speed of B aircraft is adjusted from 789 km/h to 778 km/h, and the time of passing the WADUK point is increased by 7 s, thereby realizing the conflict-free trajectory planning of the two flights.
A Study on Mental Health Assessments of College Students Based on Triangular Fuzzy Function and Entropy Weight Method
Authors: Zhang Jing
Published: January 2021

The fuzziness and uncertainty of mental health assessments for college students lead to considerable challenges for psychological counselors in universities. Therefore, this paper proposes a method based on triangular fuzzy and entropy weights to evaluate the mental health of college students. This method not only reduces the interference of human factors but also realizes the quantification of the results of mental health evaluations among college students. The triangular fuzzy function and entropy weight were used to comprehensively evaluate the mental health of college students. The feasibility and rationality of the proposed method were verified by experiments on individual students and actual data from different colleges.
Analysis of Regional Economic Development Differences Based on Intelligent Hybrid Algorithm
Authors: Li Yanyan
Published: January 2021

The diversities in the natural, social, and human environment of various regions often lead to the differences in their regional economic development level and industrial structure and layout; moderate regional differences can mobilize economic vitality and improve development efficiency, but excessive differences may lead to social instability or even turbulence. Intelligent algorithms or their improved and hybrid algorithms can recently achieve more suitable solutions to practical problems of nonlinear, discrete, nondifferentiable, and multiple constraints. Therefore, this paper′s main point is on the analysis of regional economic development differences based on intelligent hybrid algorithms. On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous research works, this paper expounded the research status and significance of regional economic development differences analysis, elaborated the development background, current status, and future challenges of intelligent hybrid algorithms, introduced the methods and principles of principal component distance weighting algorithm and sequential quadratic programming algorithm, constructed a basic model for regional economic development differences based on intelligent hybrid algorithm, conducted the construction of analysis index system and the hybrid of intelligence algorithm, analyzed the regional economic development differences based on intelligent hybrid algorithm, performed the principal component analysis and time‐space change analysis of regional economic development, and finally carried out a simulation experiment and its result analysis. The study results show that the intelligent hybrid algorithm can simulate the intelligent behavior of certain groups in nature when analyzing the differences in regional economic development, so that it has essentially parallelism, high accuracy, and convergence speed. The study results of this paper provide a reference for further researches on the regional economic development differences analysis based on intelligent hybrid algorithm.
The Characteristics of Runoff Process Structure Changes under the Influence of Climate Change and Human Activities and the Decomposition of Contribution Rate of Impact Factors
Authors: Song Xiaoyuan , Zhu Zhongyuan , Xi XiaoKang , Zhang Guibin , Wang Hailong
Published: January 2021

The research of the runoff structure and its influencing factors in the Xilinhe River Basin not only provides indispensable basic data for the economic development, but also has long-term significance for the protection of grasslands. Based on the runoff data of Xilinhot Hydrological Station from 1960 to 2010 and the daily meteorological data of three surrounding weather stations from 1960 to 2010, the paper calculated the potential evapotranspiration with Penman’s formula and used the combination of Mann-Kendall and Pettitt to diagnose the variation points of characteristic value of runoff distribution during the year. The cumulant slope change rate method is used to quantitatively analyze the contribution rate of climate change and human activities to the uneven distribution coefficient and the complete adjustment coefficient of runoff during the year. The results show that (1) the monthly distribution of runoff in the Xilinhe River Basin is obviously “bimodal” during the year, and the uneven coefficient, complete adjustment coefficient, and concentration in the 2000s are significantly higher than those of 60s-90s. (2) In 1998, the coefficient of uneven distribution of runoff in the Xilinhe River Basin and the coefficient of complete adjustment both showed abrupt changes. (3) Climate change and human activities contributed 11.48% and 88.52% and 9.35% and 90.65% to the uneven distribution coefficient and the complete adjustment coefficient, respectively, of the runoff in the Xilinhe River Basin. Human activities are the main driving factors for changes in the distribution of runoff in the Xilinhe River Basin during the year.
Peri-Implant Tissue Adaptation after Implant Rehabilitation with Shoulderless Abutments with 24 Months of Follow-Up
Authors: Casula Luca , Gillone Alex , Musu Davide
Published: January 2021

An 11-year-old girl presented with agenesis of the maxillary lateral incisors. Orthodontic treatment was performed to close the midline diastema and create adequate space between the central incisors and canines to replace the missing maxillary lateral incisors on both sides. Two-piece implants were placed, and shoulderless abutments were prepared following the “biologically oriented preparation technique” (BOPT) protocol. The soft tissues were allowed to heal directly on the prosthetic emergence profile of the interim crown restorations after implant exposure. Two months later, the gingival tissue adapted to the prosthetic components in a specular manner. No complications were noted at 24 months. The BOPT protocol, originally described for natural teeth, may be applied to dental implants with shoulderless abutments.
Analysis of Stress and Deformation Characteristics of Deep‐Buried Phyllite Tunnel Structure under Different Cross‐Section Forms and Initial Support Parameters
Authors: Wu Hao , Yang Xiaohua , Cai Shichun , Zhao Binjing , Zheng Kunlong
Published: January 2021

Deep‐buried soft rock tunnels exhibit low strength and easy deformation under the influence of high ground stress. The surrounding rock of the soft rock tunnel may undergo large deformation during the construction process, thereby causing engineering problems such as the collapse of the vault, bottom heave, and damage to the supporting structure. The Chengwu Expressway Tunnel II, considered in this study, is a phyllite tunnel, with weak surrounding rock and poor water stability. Under the original design conditions, the supporting structure exhibits stress concentration and large deformation. To address these issues, three schemes involving the use of the double‐layer steel arch to support, weakening of the steel arch close to the excavation surface, and weakening of the steel arch away from the excavation surface to support were proposed. Using these schemes, the inverted radius was varied to explore its influence on different support schemes. For simulation, the values of the inverted radius selected were as follows: 1300 cm, 1000 cm, and 700 cm. The proposed support plan was simulated using FLAC3D, and the changes in the pressure between the initial support and surrounding rock, the settling of the vault, and the surrounding convergence were investigated. The numerical simulation results of monitoring the surrounding rock deformation show that the double‐layer steel arch can effectively reduce the large deformation of the soft rock well. When the stiffness of one of the steel arches was weakened, the support’s ability to control the deformation was weakened; however, it still showed reliable performance in controlling deformation. However, changing the radius of the invert had an insignificant effect on the deformation and force of the supporting structure.
The Influence of an Expansive Agent on the Performance of Cement‐Stabilized Coral Sand
Authors: Geng Jiuguang , Chen Mingyuan , Shang Tao , Xue Cheng , Chen Huaxin , Zhang Chao
Published: January 2021

Using coral sand as an aggregate to build the base layer of pavement on islands and along coasts in China has the potential to not only reduce construction costs and time but also lessen carbon emissions during transportation. Due to coral sand’s fragility, porosity, and high water absorption, the amount of cement is higher than that of ordinary cement‐stabilized gravel, which leads to the high strength but easy cracking of the base layer. The expansion agent is added to improve the shrinkage characteristics of cement‐stabilized coral sand. To ensure the validity of our results, the mixing ratio of cement‐stabilized coral sand was optimized according to its characteristics, and the effects of the cement content, the expansion agent type, and dosage on coral sand’s mechanical properties, dry shrinkage, and antiscour performance of cement‐stabilized coral sand were studied using an orthogonal test. The results indicate that cement content is one of the most important factors affecting compressive strength, scouring, and dry shrinkage. The optimal mix ratio of cement‐stabilized coral sand is 6% cement to 8% CAS expansion agent (accounting for cement), which is sufficient to meet the design criteria for heavy‐duty traffic subbases.
Preceptorship of Student Nurses in Ghana: A Descriptive Phenomenology Study
Authors: Ebu Enyan Nancy Innocentia , Boso Christian Makafui , Amoo Sarah Ama
Published: January 2021

Background. Preceptorship plays an integral part in the clinical training of nursing and midwifery students, especially in high-income countries where it is a well-accepted concept. However, in Ghana, most nurses and midwives do not view preceptorship as part of their role. Aim. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of preceptorship of student nurses and the challenges confronting the preceptorship role. Methods. A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted with 22 purposively selected preceptors aged 34 to 56 years from five clinical placement sites in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. Most of the participants had been preceptors for two to 18 years. In-depth interviews were conducted with the aid of a semistructured interview guide and analysed by qualitative thematic analysis inspired by Braun and Clarke’s description of the method. Results. The essence of the phenomenon has been captured in three main themes: (1) being excited about the role as it offered opportunities to learn and build relationship with students. (2) Encountering challenges including student’s unwillingness to learn, absenteeism, and disrespect and also lack of interest of staff to assist students, time constraints, workload, burnout, parallel schedules of preceptors, and large student numbers, and (3) the need for effective collaboration between educational institutions and hospitals. Conclusions. Though preceptors were excited about precepting student nurses, the challenges associated with it are multidimensional which requires effective collaboration between educational institutions and clinical placement sites.
Social Cognition in Patients with Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Seubert-Ravelo Ana Natalia , Yáñez-Téllez Ma Guillermina , Lazo-Barriga María Lizbeth , Calderón Vallejo Alejandra , Martínez-Cortés Carlos Eduardo , Hernández-Galván Adela
Published: January 2021

Social cognition (SC) deficits have been linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD) but have been less well researched than general cognitive processes, especially in early-onset PD (EOPD), despite this population often having greater social and family demands. Most studies focus on recognition of facial emotion, theory of mind (ToM), and decision-making domains, with limited research reporting on social reasoning. The main objective of this work was to compare SC ability across four domains: emotional processing, social reasoning, ToM, and decision-making between patients with EOPD and healthy controls. Twenty-five nondemented patients with EOPD and 25 controls matched for sex, age, and educational level were enrolled. A battery that included six SC tests was administered to all study participants; a decision-making scale was completed by participants’ partners. Statistically significant differences were found between patients with EOPD and controls in all subtests across the four SC domains studied. The EOPD group demonstrated worse performance on all tasks, with large effect sizes. Differences remained significant after adjusting for Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test scores for all SC subtests except the decision-making scale and the Iowa gambling task. No significant correlations between SC and other clinical PD variables were found. Our study shows that patients with EOPD perform significantly below controls in multiple SC domains affecting recognition of facial emotion, social reasoning, ToM, and decision-making. Only decision-making seems to be mediated by overall cognitive ability. The confounding or contributing effect of other clinical PD variables should be studied further.
Comparative Study on the Chemical Components and Gastrointestinal Function on Rats of the Raw Product and Licorice-Simmered Product of Polygala tenuifolia
Authors: Cui Yueli , Zhao Xin , Tang Yuqiu , Zhang Yanxue , Sun Le , Zhang Xuelan
Published: January 2021

The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Polygalaceae) (PT) has been listed as a nootropic, anti-inflammatory, and antipsychotic medicine that can cure insomnia. Raw PT (RPT) is toxic and must be processed before clinical use. Licorice-simmered PT (LPT) is one of the most common processed products. We conducted this study in order to investigate the differences in chemical components and gastrointestinal function between RPT and LPT. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and quantitative analysis to study the differences in the chemical components. Animal experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of PT on the gastrointestinal function of rats before and after simmering. Pathological sections of gastrointestinal tissues, serum hormone levels, and inflammatory cytokines were observed. The PCA results demonstrated that obvious separation was achieved between the RPT and LPT samples. Tenuifoliside B (TFSB), 3,6’-disinapoyl sucrose (DSS), tenuifoliose A (TFOA), tenuifoliose H (TFOH), onjisaponin B (OJB), onjisaponin Z (OJZ), and total saponins levels were decreased after licorice processing, while glomeratose A (GA) and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid (TMCA) levels were markedly increased. Compared to the control group, the RPT groups exhibited dramatically lower levels of gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), and substance P (SP) and markedly higher levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SS), but the LPT groups exhibited no significant differences in the above indexes. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gastrointestinal tissue were markedly increased in the low RPT (L-RPT), high RPT (H-RPT), and H-LPT groups, showing a certain inflammatory effect, but the inflammatory effect in the L-LPT group was relatively weak. Licorice simmering can effectively reduce the inhibitory effect of RPT on gastrointestinal function in rats and reduce damage to gastrointestinal tissue. This study provides a scientific basis for research on the processing mechanism and clinical application of PT.
Intestinal Obstruction in a Child with Massive Ascariasis
Authors: Turyasiima Munanura , Matovu Paul , Kiconco Gloria , Egesa Walufu Ivan , Sunday Phillip , Nakandi Lydia , Musa Kirya , Oluka Denis , Byendera Martin
Published: January 2021

Soil-transmitted helminths are so prevalent in the tropics and low developing countries. Pediatric clinical presentation of ascariasis, the most common helminth, as the intestinal obstruction is not only rare but also less described. We present a case of a 4-year-old girl with massive ascariasis. She presented with a 3-day history of acute abdominal pain associated with vomiting and an episode of passing long white roundworms, about 5 cm in length, through the nose. The child had mild constipation and passed pellets of hard stool once in the last 72 hours. She was in fair general condition at the examination but had significant findings on abdominal examination. On palpation, there was a soft mass localized in the left paraumbilical area and no tenderness, with normal bowel sounds on auscultation. Exploratory laparotomy was sanctioned where roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), saucepan full, were delivered through a 2.5 cm enterotomy incision. Postoperative management was carried out, and the child discharged on the 7th day of treatment including a 3-day course of albendazole 400 mg daily.
Certain Properties of the Modified Degenerate Gamma Function
Authors: Nantomah Kwara
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we prove some inequalities satisfied by the modified degenerate gamma function which was recently introduced. The tools employed include Holder’s inequality, mean value theorem, Hermite–Hadamard’s inequality, and Young’s inequality. By some parameter variations, the established results reduce to the corresponding results for the classical gamma function.
RGB‐D Human Action Recognition of Deep Feature Enhancement and Fusion Using Two‐Stream ConvNet
Authors: Liu Yun , Ma Ruidi , Li Hui , Wang Chuanxu , Tao Ye
Published: January 2021

Action recognition is an important research direction of computer vision, whose performance based on video images is easily affected by factors such as background and light, while deep video images can better reduce interference and improve recognition accuracy. Therefore, this paper makes full use of video and deep skeleton data and proposes an RGB‐D action recognition based two‐stream network (SV‐GCN), which can be described as a two‐stream architecture that works with two different data. Proposed Nonlocal‐stgcn (S‐Stream) based on skeleton data, by adding nonlocal to obtain dependency relationship between a wider range of joints, to provide more rich skeleton point features for the model, proposed a video based Dilated‐slowfastnet (V‐Stream), which replaces traditional random sampling layer with dilated convolutional layers, which can make better use of depth the feature; finally, two stream information is fused to realize action recognition. The experimental results on NTU‐RGB+D dataset show that proposed method significantly improves recognition accuracy and is superior to st‐gcn and Slowfastnet in both CS and CV.