bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metastatic Tumors of the Oro-Facial Tissues: Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. A Clinico-Pathological and Immunohistochemical Study of Seven Cases
Authors: Capodiferro Saverio , Limongelli Luisa , Mastropasqua Mauro Giuseppe , Favia Gianfranco , Lajolo Carlo , Colella Giuseppe , Tempesta Angela , Maiorano Eugenio
Published: April 2020

Metastases to orofacial tissues are infrequent, their incidence being 1%–8% of malignant oral tumors, sometimes manifesting as the first clinical sign of an occult cancer. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the second most common metastatic carcinoma to the oro-facial tissues, involving the jawbones, gingiva, oral mucosa, tongue or salivary glands. Also, RCC frequently displays a prominent clear cell component, which may predominate in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma subtype (CCRCC) and histologically mimic many other clear cell tumors, both benign and malignant, which can be epithelial (from keratinizing epithelia, cutaneous adnexa, salivary glands and odontogenic epithelium), melanocytic or mesenchymal in origin. In view of the necessity for prompt and accurate diagnosis of such unusual neoplasms, we report on the salient clinico-pathological features of 7 CCRCC metastatic to the oro-facial tissues, and highlight their immunohistochemical profile, to more accurately discriminate this neoplasm from other tumors of the oral cavity with a prominent clear cell component.
Alcohol Hangover and Multitasking: Effects on Mood, Cognitive Performance, Stress Reactivity, and Perceived Effort
Authors: Benson Sarah , Ayre Elizabeth , Garrisson Harriet , Wetherell Mark A , Verster Joris C , Scholey Andrew
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of hangover on mood, multitasking ability, and psychological stress reactivity to cognitive demand. Using a crossover design and semi-naturalistic methodology, 25 participants attended the laboratory in the morning following a night of (i) alcohol abstinence and (ii) alcohol self-administration during a typical night out (with order counterbalanced across participants). They completed a four-module multitasking framework (MTF, a widely used laboratory stressor) and a battery of questionnaires assessing mood, hangover symptom severity, and previous night’s sleep. The effects of the MTF on mood and perceived workload were also assessed. Participants in the hangover condition reported significantly lower alertness and contentment coupled with a higher mental fatigue and anxiety. Multitasking ability was also significantly impaired in the hangover condition. Completion of the cognitive stressor increased reported levels of mental demand, effort, and frustration, and decreased perceived level of performance. MTF completion did not differentially affect mood. Lastly, participants rated their sleep as significantly worse during the night prior to the hangover compared with the control condition. These findings confirm the negative cognitive and mood effects of hangover on mood. They also demonstrate that hangover is associated with greater perceived effort during task performance.
Stability and Predictors of Poor 6-min Walking Test Performance over 2 Years in Patients with COPD
Authors: Sánchez-Martínez Mª Piedad , Bernabeu-Mora Roberto , Martínez-González Mariano , Gacto-Sánchez Mariano , Martín San Agustín Rodrigo , Medina-Mirapeix Francesc
Published: April 2020

Poor performance in the 6-min walk test (6MWT < 350 m) is an important prognostic indicator of mortality and risk of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about the stability of this state over time and what factors might predict a poor 6MWT performance. To determine the stability of 6MWT performance over a 2-year period in COPD patients participating in annual medical follow-up visits, and to assess the ability of several clinical, pulmonary, and non-pulmonary factors to predict poor 6MWT performance, we prospectively included 137 patients with stable COPD (mean age, 66.9 ± 8.3 years). The 6MWT was scored at baseline and 2-year follow-up. To evaluate clinical, pulmonary, and non-pulmonary variables as potential predictors of poor 6MWT performance, we used multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, weight, height, and 6MWT performance at baseline. Poor 6MWT performance was stable over 2 years for 67.4% of patients. Predictors of poor 6MWT performance included a five-repetition sit-to-stand test score ≤2 (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.22–7.42), the percentage of mobility activities with limitations (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07), and poor 6MWT performance at baseline (OR, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.88–11.43). Poor 6MWT performance status was stable for the majority of COPD patients. Lower scores on the five-repetition sit-to-stand test and a higher number of mobility activities with limitations were relevant predictors of poor 6MWT performance over 2 years. Prognostic models based on these non-pulmonary factors can provide non-inferior discriminative ability in comparison with prognostic models based on only pulmonary factors.
Intra-Cystic (In Situ) Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma: A Clinico-Pathological Study of 14 Cases
Authors: Capodiferro Saverio , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Limongelli Luisa , Mastropasqua Mauro , Tempesta Angela , Favia Gianfranco , Maiorano Eugenio
Published: April 2020

Aims: To report on the clinico-pathological features of a series of 14 intra-oral mucoepidermoid carcinomas showing exclusive intra-cystic growth. Materials and methods: All mucoepidermoid carcinomas diagnosed in the period 1990–2012 were retrieved; the original histological preparations were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and from selected cases, showing exclusive intra-cystic neoplastic components, additional sections were cut at three subsequent 200 m intervals and stained with Hematoxylin–Eosin, PAS, Mucicarmine and Alcian Blue, to possibly identify tumor invasion of the adjacent tissues, which could have been overlooked in the original histological preparations. Additionally, pertinent findings collected from the clinical charts and follow-up data were analyzed. Results: We identified 14 intraoral mucoepidermoid carcinomas treated by conservative surgery and with a minimum follow up of five years. The neoplasms were located in the hard palate (nine cases), the soft palate (two), the cheek (two) and the retromolar trigone (one). In all instances, histological examination revealed the presence of a single cystic space, containing clusters of columnar, intermediate, epidermoid, clear and mucous-producing cells, the latter exhibiting distinct intra-cytoplasmic mucin production, as confirmed by PAS, Mucicarmine and Alcian Blue stains. The cysts were entirely circumscribed by fibrous connective tissue, and no solid areas or infiltrating tumor cell clusters were detected. Conservative surgical resection was performed in all cases, and no recurrences or nodal metastases were observed during follow up. Conclusions: Mucoepidermoid carcinomas showing prominent (>20%) intra-cystic proliferation currently are considered low-grade tumors. In addition, we also unveil the possibility that mucoepidermoid carcinomas, at least in their early growth phase, may display an exclusive intra-cystic component and might be considered as in situ carcinomas, unable to infiltrate adjacent tissues and metastasize.
Anthropometric Variables as Predictors of Semen Parameters and Fertility Outcomes after Varicocelectomy
Authors: Abou Ghayda Ramy , El-Doueihi Robert Zakhia , Lee Jun Young , Bulbul Muhammad , Abou Heidar Nassib , Bulbul Jad , Asmar Samer , Hong Sung Hwi , Yang Jae Won , Kronbichler Andreas , Shin Jae Il
Published: April 2020

Varicocele is the most common correctable male infertility factor and varicocelectomy has been a mainstay in the management of infertility. However, the role of varicocelectomy as a treatment option has been controversial, and the scientific debate around it is still ongoing. Our study aimed to explore the role of anthropometric variables of infertile patients and their relation to sperm parameters following varicocelectomy. The outcome of 124 infertile patients who underwent open sub-inguinal varicocelectomy by a single surgeon over the last ten years was studied. Post varicocelectomy, four semen parameters (volume, total count, motility, and morphology) were analyzed and adjusted according to anthropometric variables including age, varicocele grade, and body mass index (BMI) of patients. Total count and motility were significantly improved after surgery. Varicocelectomy improved semen parameters, notably the count and the motility, especially in younger patients, lower grades of varicocele patients, and low BMI patients. In addition, BMI was positively correlated with volume in pre-varicocelectomy and post-varicocelectomy.
Clinical Features of Ocular Motility in Idiopathic Orbital Myositis
Authors: Kang Min Seok , Yang Hee Kyung , Kim Namju , Hwang Jeong-Min
Published: April 2020

Objective: To elucidate the clinical features of ocular motility and the risk factors for recurrence in idiopathic orbital myositis. Methods: The medical records of 31 patients diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation between 2003 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were initially treated with corticosteroids. Treatment outcome and ocular motility were noted. Results: Twenty-six patients (84%) had unilateral involvement and five patients (16%) were bilateral. Of the 31 patients, 22 patients (71%) showed ocular motility limitation. The mean grading scale of extraocular muscle (EOM) limitation was −1.65 ± 1.80. EOM limitation was found in the same direction of the most affected muscle in 14 patients (64%), while 8 patients (36%) showed duction limitation in the opposite direction. Nine patients (35%) suffered from recurrence. Recurrence was more likely to occur in patients with multiple muscle involvement (p < 0.001). The interval to relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of steroids was significantly shorter in patients with multiple recurrences compared to those with a single recurrence (1.8 ± 0.8 weeks versus 6.0 ± 1.4 weeks, p = 0.020). Conclusions: Idiopathic orbital myositis showed variable degrees of ocular motility limitation, and limitation in the same direction of the action of the affected muscle was more frequent. Recurrent myositis was more likely to have multiple muscle involvement. Rapid relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of steroids was a significant indicator of multiple recurrences.
Outcome Analysis of the Effects of Helmet Therapy in Infants with Brachycephaly
Authors: Choi Hyehoon , Lim Seong Hoon , Kim Joon Sung , Hong Bo Young
Published: April 2020

Brachycephaly has several potential deleterious effects, including malocclusion, sleep apnea, and abnormal posture. Nevertheless, the research regarding helmet therapy as a treatment strategy for brachycephaly is limited. Herein, we aimed to analyze the factors influencing the effects of helmet therapy in infants with brachycephaly. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 207 infants aged 3–14 months with a cranial index (CI) >90% who received helmet therapy between May 2016 and October 2019 and complied with the treatment protocol well. We used a multiple regression analysis to determine which factors affected the duration of therapy and a Jonckheere–Terpstra test to establish differences in the duration of helmet therapy according to age and severity. We identified brachycephaly severity (p < 0.001), asymmetry (p < 0.001), and age (p < 0.001) as factors affecting the duration of therapy. Helmet therapy might be effective for infants with moderate to severe brachycephaly, assuming good protocol compliance. In addition, younger treatment initiation age and less severe and less asymmetric brachycephaly significantly shorten the treatment duration.
Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in Adult Patients with Rheumatic Diseases—A Systematic Review
Authors: Schmalz Gerhard , Patschan Susann , Patschan Daniel , Ziebolz Dirk
Published: April 2020

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of adult patients with rheumatic diseases. Material and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed, including clinical studies on adults (aged at least 18 years) with a verified diagnosis of rheumatic disease. Results: 26 out of 41 clinical studies including rheumatoid arthritis (RA, seven studies), systemic sclerosis (SSc, five), Sjögren syndrome (SS, eight), Behcet disease (BD, four), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, one) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS, one) were found. In 15 studies, a healthy control group was recruited. The short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP 14) was most frequently applied. The majority of studies (14/15) reported worse OHRQoL in patients with rheumatic disease compared to healthy individuals. In particular, patients with SS (salivary flow and composition) or BD (oral ulcers) showed a relation between OHRQoL and disease-specific oral manifestations. Most studies investigating subscales of OHRQoL (5/6) found the subscale physical disability to be predominantly affected in patients with rheumatic diseases. About half of the studies reported impaired psychosocial aspects. Conclusion: Patients with rheumatic diseases exhibit reduced OHRQoL, especially in diseases with oral manifestations like SS and BD. Physical affections due to oral diseases and psychosocial impairments caused by disease-related parameters must be recognized within patient-centered dental care.
Severe Fatigue is Highly Prevalent in Patients with IPF or Sarcoidosis
Authors: Bloem Ada E. M. , Mostard Rémy L. M. , Stoot Naomi , Vercoulen Jan H. , Peters Jeannette B. , Janssen Daisy J. A. , Custers Jan W. H. , Spruit Martijn A.
Published: April 2020

In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) next to dyspnea, fatigue is expected to be the most prevalent symptom. Surprisingly, the prevalence of severe fatigue has been scarcely studied in ILD patients and limited information on its associated factors is available. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of severe fatigue in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or pulmonary sarcoidosis and to identify the relationship between fatigue, patient characteristics, and clinical parameters. In this cross-sectional study, fatigue (checklist individual strength-fatigue (CIS-Fat)), demographics, lung function, dyspnea (modified-Medical Research Council (mMRC)), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), anxiety/depression (hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-A/HADS-D)), catastrophizing (fatigue catastrophizing scale (FCS)), functional activity impairment (respiratory illness quality-of-life (QoL-RIQ-Activity)), and health status (EuroQol five-dimensional descriptive system (EQ-5D-5L)) were assessed in outpatients with ILD. Mean CIS-Fat scores were 34.1 (SD ± 11.2) in 59 IPF patients and 40.0 (12.3) in 58 sarcoidosis patients. Severe fatigue (SD ± ≥36 points) was present in IPF patients (47.5%) and sarcoidosis (69%). In IPF, CIS-Fat correlated strongly (ρ > 0.5; p < 0.01) with FCS, QoL-RIQ-Activity, and EQ-5D-5L-Health and moderately (0.3 < ρ < 0.5; p < 0.01) with EQ-5D-5L-Index, mMRC, and HADS-D. In sarcoidosis, CIS-Fat correlated strongly with EQ-5D-5L-Health, QoL-RIQ-Activity, EQ-5D-5L-Index, HADS-D, and mMRC and moderately with FCS and hospitalization <12 months. Severe fatigue is highly prevalent in ILD patients and is associated with dyspnea, depression, catastrophizing, functional activity impairments, and QoL.
Serum Omentin Levels in Patients with Prostate Cancer and Associations with Sex Steroids and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Borowski Artur , Siemińska Lucyna
Published: April 2020

Mechanisms linking obesity and prostate cancer (PC) include increased insulin signaling, persistent inflammation, and altered adipocytokines secretion. Previous studies indicated that omentin may play a potential role in cancerogenesis of different sites, including the prostate. In this study, we focused on the hormonal and metabolic characteristics of men recruited for prostate biopsy. We evaluated serum concentrations of adipocytokines and sex steroids where concentrations are related to the adiposity: omentin, leptin, testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the concentration of serum omentin in men with PC. We also investigated relationships between omentin, leptin, sex steroids, SHBG, age, and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: Our study was conducted on 72 patients with PC and 65 men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Both groups were compared for body mass index. Results: Comparing men with PC to subjects with BPH there were significantly higher serum concentrations of omentin, estradiol, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the former. Estradiol/testosterone ratio, which is a marker of testosterone to estradiol conversion, was also significantly higher in the PC group. MS was diagnosed in 47 men with PC and in 30 men with BPH, the prevalence was significantly higher in the PC group. When the subjects with PC were subdivided into two subgroups, the serum omentin did not differ between those with MS and without MS. In the overall sample serum, omentin was positively associated with age, SHBG, and leptin. A positive correlation was also found between omentin and estradiol/testosterone ratio, and negatively with testosterone/SHBG ratio. Positive correlations were noted between age and SHBG, PSA and estradiol/testosterone ratio. In our study, a drop of total testosterone and testosterone/SHBG ratio, due to age, was also demonstrated. Conclusions: In patients with prostate cancer, serum omentin may be a diagnostic indicator. Omentin levels do not correlate with estradiol or testosterone concentrations but they are related to the testosterone/SHBG ratio. Omentin is not associated with an increased likelihood of having metabolic syndrome in men with prostate cancer.
Metabolomic Analysis of Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Cardiovascular Adverse Events after Treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Caocci Giovanni , Deidda Martino , Noto Antonio , Greco Marianna , Simula Maria Pina , Mulas Olga , Cocco Daniele , Fattuoni Claudia , Mercuro Giuseppe , La Nasa Giorgio , Cadeddu Dessalvi Christian
Published: April 2020

Background: Cardiovascular adverse events (CV-AEs) are considered critical complications in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with second- and third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The aim of our study was to assess the correlation between metabolic profiles and CV-AEs in CML patients treated with TKIs. Methods: We investigated 39 adult CML patients in chronic-phase (mean age 49 years, range 24–70 years), with no comorbidities evidenced at baseline, who were consecutively identified with CML and treated with imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib, and ponatinib. All patients performed Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis and were divided into two groups (with and without CV-AEs). Results: Ten CV-AEs were documented. Seven CV-AEs were rated as 3 according to the Common Toxicity Criteria, and one patient died of a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta. The patients’ samples were clearly separated into two groups after analysis and the main discriminant metabolites were tyrosine, lysine, glutamic acid, ornithine, 2-piperdinecarboxylic acid, citric acid, proline, phenylalanine, threonine, mannitol, leucine, serine, creatine, alanine, and 4-hydroxyproline, which were more abundant in the CV-AE group. Conversely, myristic acid, oxalic acid, arabitol, 4-deoxy rithronic acid, ribose, and elaidic acid were less represented in the CV-AE group. Conclusions: CML patients with CV-AEs show a different metabolic profile, suggesting probable mechanisms of endothelial damage.
AMIC—Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis Technique in Patellar Cartilage Defects Treatment: A Retrospective Study with a Mid-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Tradati Daniele , De Luca Paola , Maione Alessio , Uboldi Francesco Mattia , Volpi Piero , de Girolamo Laura , Berruto Massimo
Published: April 2020

Background: Knee cartilage defects can be retrieved in 60% of patients undergoing knee arthroscopy, especially in the patellofemoral joint. Different techniques have been proposed to treat patellar defects, although most of them are associated with short-term results. In this study Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC), combining subchondral microfractures with a collagen membrane (type I and III collagen), was used in the treatment of isolated patellar cartilage defects. Methods: Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Subjective-International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), and Kujala score were collected at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, whereas the Tegner Activity Level Scale was determined preoperatively and at final follow-up (final-FU). The same postoperative management and rehabilitation protocol was adopted for all the patients. Results: Fourteen patients met the inclusion–exclusion criteria and were evaluated at a mean final-FU of 68.2 months (range 25.4–111.2). At 12 months, Kujala, IKDC, and VAS scores significantly increased in comparison to the preoperative assessment, whereas no statistically significant differences were reported between 12 months and final follow-up. Conclusion: This study demonstrated very good results throughout the follow-up, also in sports patients. The AMIC technique, together with an adequate rehabilitation protocol, can be considered as a reliable one-step alternative for the treatment of large isolated patellar cartilage defects.
Effects of the Enriched Sports Activities-Program on Executive Functions in Italian Children
Authors: Alesi Marianna , Giordano Giulia , Giaccone Marcello , Basile Michele , Costa Sebastiano , Bianco Antonino
Published: April 2020

Physical activity (PA) during childhood plays an important role in brain development. This role is played in both the structural domain, prefrontal cortex area, and in the functional domain, involving the higher cognitive functions, including the executive functions (EF). Working memory (WM), inhibition, and switching as fundamental EF were investigated in an Italian children sample before and after four months of an Enriched Sports Activities-Program (ESA-Program). EFs were assessed at pre-test and post-test using, respectively, the digit span test, the color word Stroop test, and the trail making test derived from Millisecond Software. The Italian sample was composed of 141 children aged 8.54 years. The intervention group (IG) was composed of 61 children and the control group (CG) of 80 children. Significant differences in WM (p < 0.05) were found in the IG following the ESA-Program intervention. Children’s performance improved both in forward digit span (FDS1 mean difference = 0.26; p = 0.04; FDS2 mean difference = 0.21; p = 0.01) and backward digit span (BDS2 mean difference = 0.14; p = 0.02). No significant improvements were observed for inhibition and switching processes (p > 0.05). Since this finding suggests that brain functioning is sensitive to lifestyle factors, such as PA, an essential goal for ESA-Program is to emphasize the importance of PA to enhance cognitive skills in childhood and prevent sedentary life.
Neutral, Negative, or Negligible? Changes in Patient Perceptions of Disease Risk Following Receipt of a Negative Genomic Screening Result
Authors: Stuttgen Kelsey , Pacyna Joel , Kullo Iftikhar , Sharp Richard
Published: April 2020

Most individuals who undergo genomic screening will receive negative results or results not sufficient to warrant a clinical response. Even though a majority of individuals receive negative results, little is known about how negative results may impact individuals’ perception of disease risk. Changes in risk perception (specifically reductions in perceived risk) may affect both probands and their family members if inaccurate information is communicated to family members. We surveyed patients who received negative results as part of their participation in a genomic screening study and assessed their perceptions of disease risk following receipt of results. Participants had either hyperlipidemia or colon polyps (or both) and received their negative genomic screening results by mail. Of 1712 total individuals recruited, 1442 completed the survey (84.2% completion rate). Approximately one quarter of individuals believed their risk for heart disease to be lower and approximately one third of individuals believed their risk for colon cancer to be lower after receiving and evaluating their negative genomic screening result. 78% of those who believed their risk for one or both diseases had declined had already shared or intended to share their result with family members. Our study suggests patients may interpret a negative genomic screening result as implying a reduction in their overall disease risk.
Detecting System Fault/Cyberattack within a Photovoltaic System Connected to the Grid: A Neural Network-Based Solution
Authors: Gaggero Giovanni Battista , Rossi Mansueto , Girdinio Paola , Marchese Mario
Published: April 2020

The large spread of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and the related cyber-security issues introduce the need for monitoring. The proposed work focuses on an anomaly detection strategy based on the physical behavior of the industrial process. The algorithm extracts some measures of the physical parameters of the system and processes them with a neural network architecture called autoencoder in order to build a classifier making decisions about the behavior of the system and detecting possible cyber-attacks or faults. The results are quite promising for a practical application in real systems.
Compressive Strength of Modified FRP Hybrid Bars
Authors: Urbański Marek
Published: April 2020

A new type of HFRP hybrid bars (hybrid fiber reinforced polymer) was introduced to increase the rigidity of FRP reinforcement, which was a basic drawback of the FRP bars used so far. Compared to the BFRP (basalt fiber reinforced polymer) bars, modification has been introduced in HFRP bars consisting of swapping basalt fibers with carbon fibers. One of the most important mechanical properties of FRP bars is compressive strength, which determines the scope of reinforcement in compressed reinforced concrete elements (e.g., column). The compression properties of FRP bars are currently ignored in the standards (ACI, CSA). The article presents compression properties for HFRP bars based on the developed compression test method. Thirty HFRP bars were tested for comparison with previously tested BFRP bars. All bars had a nominal diameter of 8 mm and their nonanchored (free) length varied from 50 to 220 mm. Test results showed that the ultimate compressive strength of nonbuckled HFRP bars as a result of axial compression is about 46% of the ultimate strength. In addition, the modulus of elasticity under compression does not change significantly compared to the modulus of elasticity under tension. A linear correlation of buckling load strength was proposed depending on the free length of HFRP bars.
A Hidden Markov Model to Address Measurement Errors in Ordinal Response Scale and Non-Decreasing Process
Authors: Naranjo Lizbeth , Esparza Luz Judith R. , Pérez Carlos J.
Published: April 2020

A Bayesian approach was developed, tested, and applied to model ordinal response data in monotone non-decreasing processes with measurement errors. An inhomogeneous hidden Markov model with continuous state-space was considered to incorporate measurement errors in the categorical response at the same time that the non-decreasing patterns were kept. The computational difficulties were avoided by including latent variables that allowed implementing an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo method. A simulation-based analysis was carried out to validate the approach, whereas the proposed approach was applied to analyze aortic aneurysm progression data.
Bohr Radius Problems for Some Classes of Analytic Functions Using Quantum Calculus Approach
Authors: Ahuja Om , Anand Swati , Jain Naveen Kumar
Published: April 2020

The main purpose of this investigation is to use quantum calculus approach and obtain the Bohr radius for the class of q-starlike (q-convex) functions of order α . The Bohr radius is also determined for a generalized class of q-Janowski starlike and q-Janowski convex functions with negative coefficients.
Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Investigation of Side Channel Pump: An Application of MUSIG Model
Authors: Zhang Fan , Chen Ke , Zhu Lufeng , Appiah Desmond , Hu Bo , Yuan Shouqi
Published: April 2020

This paper introduces a novel application of a multiphase flow model called the Multi-Size-Group model (MUSIG) to solve 3D complex flow equations in a side channel pump, in order to analyze the flow dynamics of the gas phase distribution and migration under different inlet gas volume fractions (IGVFs). Under different IGVF, the suction side is more likely to concentrate bubbles, especially near the inner radius of the impeller, while there is very little or no gas at the outer radius of the impeller. The diameter of bubbles in the impeller are similar and small for most regions even at IGVF = 6% due to the strong shear turbulence flow which eliminates large bubbles. Additionally, this method also can capture the coalescence and breakage evolution of bubbles. Once a mixture of fluid goes into the impeller from the inlet pipe, the large bubbles immediately break, which accounts for the reason why nearly all side channel pumps have the capacity to deliver gas–liquid two-phase flow. The results in this study provide a foundation and theoretical value for the optimal design of side channel pumps under gas–liquid two-phase conditions to increase their application.
Labelled Natural Deduction for Public Announcement Logic with Common Knowledge
Authors: Mohd Nasir Muhammad Farhan , Mior Othman Wan Ainun , Wong Kok Bin
Published: April 2020

Public announcement logic is a logic that studies epistemic updates. In this paper, we propose a sound and complete labelled natural deduction system for public announcement logic with the common knowledge operator (PAC). The completeness of the proposed system is proved indirectly through a Hilbert calculus for PAC known to be complete and sound. We conclude with several discussions regarding the system including some problems of the system in attaining normalisation and subformula property.
On Convergence Rates of Some Limits
Authors: Omey Edward , Cadena Meitner
Published: April 2020

In 2019 Seneta has provided a characterization of slowly varying functions L in the Zygmund sense by using the condition, for each y > 0 , x L ( x + y ) L ( x ) − 1 → 0 as x → ∞ . Very recently, we have extended this result by considering a wider class of functions U related to the following more general condition. For each y > 0 , r ( x ) U ( x + y g ( x ) ) U ( x ) − 1 → 0 as x → ∞ , for some functions r and g. In this paper, we examine this last result by considering a much more general convergence condition. A wider class related to this new condition is presented. Further, a representation theorem for this wider class is provided.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fucoxanthinol in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Cells through the NAAA-PEA Pathway
Authors: Jin Wenhui , Yang Longhe , Yi Zhiwei , Fang Hua , Chen Weizhu , Hong Zhuan , Zhang Yiping , Zhang Guangya , Li Long
Published: April 2020

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator with powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic functions. PEA can be hydrolyzed by a lysosomal enzyme N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA), which is highly expressed in macrophages and other immune cells. The pharmacological inhibition of NAAA activity is a potential therapeutic strategy for inflammation-related diseases. Fucoxanthinol (FXOH) is a marine carotenoid from brown seaweeds with various beneficial effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action of FXOH in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of FXOH in the NAAA–PEA pathway and the anti-inflammatory effects based on this mechanism. In vitro results showed that FXOH can directly bind to the active site of NAAA protein and specifically inhibit the activity of NAAA enzyme. In an LPS-induced inflammatory model in macrophages, FXOH pretreatment significantly reversed the LPS-induced downregulation of PEA levels. FXOH also substantially attenuated the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and markedly reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of FXOH on NO induction was significantly abolished by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) inhibitor GW6471. All these findings demonstrated that FXOH can prevent LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages, and its mechanisms may be associated with the regulation of the NAAA-PEA-PPAR-α pathway.
The Simulation and Optimization of an Electromagnetic Field in a Vertical Continuous Casting Mold for a Large Bloom
Authors: Zhang Lianwang , Xu Changjun , Zhang Jiazheng , Wang Tao , Li Jing , Li Shengli
Published: April 2020

The electromagnetic model of a large-bloom continuous casting was established to simulate the magnetic field. The model 3600 digital, high-precision, three-dimensional Gaussian meter was used to measure the internal magnetic field of mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS). The distribution of simulated magnetic field was basically consistent with that of the measured magnetic field; the accuracy of electromagnetic stirring model was verified. With the increase of current frequency, the electromagnetic force first increases and then decreases; when the current frequency is 9 Hz, the electromagnetic force reaches its maximum value. A bipolar electromagnetic stirring model is proposed; the influence of current intensity and distance were investigated. With the increase of current intensity of lower mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMSB), the internal magnetic intensity of upper mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMSA) gradually increases, and the middle region is gradually filled by magnetic field. With the increase of the distance, the range of the low-intensity magnetic field expands. When the current intensity of the M-EMSB is 320 A, and the distance is 400 mm, an 8 mT uniform magnetic field in the range of 1.2 m is formed. Compared with the traditional continuous casting electromagnetic agitator, the center equiaxial crystal of bipolar electromagnetic agitator increases from 30.3% to 49.5%.
Multiscale Simulation of Non-Metallic Inclusion Aggregation in a Fully Resolved Bubble Swarm in Liquid Steel
Authors: Kroll-Rabotin Jean-Sébastien , Gisselbrecht Matthieu , Ott Bernhard , May Ronja , Fröhlich Jochen , Bellot Jean-Pierre
Published: April 2020

Removing inclusions from the melt is an important task in metallurgy with critical impact on the quality of the final alloy. Processes employed with this purpose, such as flotation, crucially depend on the particle size. For small inclusions, the aggregation kinetics constitute the bottleneck and, hence, determine the efficiency of the entire process. If particles smaller than all flow scales are considered, the flow can locally be replaced by a plane shear flow. In this contribution, particle interactions in plane shear flow are investigated, computing the fully resolved hydrodynamics at finite Reynolds numbers, using a lattice Boltzmann method with an immersed boundary method. Investigations with various initial conditions, several shear values and several inclusion sizes are conducted to determine collision efficiencies. It is observed that although finite Reynolds hydrodynamics play a significant role in particle collision, statistical collision efficiency barely depends on the Reynolds number. Indeed, the particle size ratio is found to be the prevalent parameter. In a second step, modeled collision dynamics are applied to particles tracked in a fully resolved bubbly flow, and collision frequencies at larger flow scale are derived.
Predicting Continuous Chip to Segmented Chip Transition in Orthogonal Cutting of C45E Steel through Damage Modeling
Authors: Moris Devotta Ashwin , Sivaprasad P. V. , Beno Tomas , Eynian Mahdi
Published: April 2020

Machining process modeling has been an active endeavor for more than a century and it has been reported to be able to predict industrially relevant process outcomes. Recent advances in the fundamental understanding of material behavior and material modeling aids in improving the sustainability of industrial machining process. In this work, the flow stress behavior of C45E steel is modeled by modifying the well-known Johnson-Cook model that incorporates the dynamic strain aging (DSA) influence. The modification is based on the Voyiadjis-Abed-Rusinek (VAR) material model approach. The modified JC model provides the possibility for the first time to include DSA influence in chip formation simulations. The transition from continuous to segmented chip for varying rake angle and feed at constant cutting velocity is predicted while using the ductile damage modeling approach with two different fracture initiation strain models (Autenrieth fracture initiation strain model and Karp fracture initiation strain model). The result shows that chip segmentation intensity and frequency is sensitive to fracture initiation strain models. The Autenrieth fracture initiation strain model can predict the transition from continuous to segmented chip qualitatively. The study shows the transition from continuous chip to segmented chip for varying feed rates and rake angles for the first time. The study highlights the need for material testing at strain, strain rate, and temperature prevalent in the machining process for the development of flow stress and fracture models.
Effects of Powder Feed Rate on Formation of Fully Equiaxed β Grains in Titanium Alloys Fabricated by Directed Energy Deposition
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Zhang Siyu , Zheng Min , Ou Yongchao , Sui Shang , Chen Jing , Wang Xiaojian , Li Wei
Published: April 2020

A near β titanium alloy, Ti5Al2Sn2Zr4Mo4Cr, was fabricated by directed energy deposition (DED) with different powder feed rates to investigate the formation of fully equiaxed β grains. A two-dimensional numerical model was developed to investigate the thermal conditions of the molten pool. Experimental results showed that the formation of an epitaxial cellular structure at the bottom of the molten pool is almost unavoidable. An increase in the powder feed rate produces a moderate thermal condition and promotes the formation of equiaxed grains in a single cladding layer. However, it could not guarantee the formation of a fully equiaxed microstructure in a block sample. From a low to high powder feed rate, fully columnar, mixed equiaxed–columnar, and fully equiaxed microstructures were obtained. Grain morphology was also affected by the remolten process. Increasing the powder feed rate reduced the remolten depth and broke the continuity of the epitaxial cellular structure, leading to different grain morphologies.
Numerical Study on Cyclic Response of End-Plate Biaxial Moment Connection in Box Columns
Authors: Gallegos Marco , Nuñez Eduardo , Herrera Ricardo
Published: April 2020

The 2008 Wenchuan-China earthquake showed the importance of considering the bidirectional seismic action as a cause of failure in column hinge mechanisms. Subsequently, the large 2011 Tohoku-Japan earthquake revealed that Special Moment Frames buildings, made of tubular columns (Hollow Structural Section or Built-up Box Section) and rigid connections with I-beams, did not suffer serious damage. However, only the ConXtech® ConXL™ moment connection has been prequalified according to the (American Institute of Construction) AISC Seismic Provisions for use with tubular columns and the rest of connections do not consider biaxial resistance. The research reported herein investigated the cyclic response of box-columns joints, connected to I beams using the four-bolt extended endplate connection, subjected to bidirectional bending and axial load on the column. To conduct the study, complex nonlinear finite element models (FEMs) of several I beam to box column joint configurations were constructed and analyzed under cyclic loading using the ANSYS software. The results reveal that the failure is concentrated in the beams of all joint configurations except for the columns with axial load equal to 75% of the column capacity, where a combined failure mechanism is achieved. The energy dissipation capacity of joints with a greater number of beams is lower than joints with fewer beams. The bidirectional effect of the seismic action and the level of axial load must be considered to avoid the formation of a column-hinge fragile failure mechanism also the behavior exhibited by 3D joints is more realistic than 2D joints according to real structures.
Effects of Thermomechanical Treatment on Phase Transformation of the Ti50Ni49W1 Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Huang Tyau-Song , Ou Shih-Fu , Kuo Cheng-Hsien , Yang Cheng-Hsiu
Published: April 2020

The Ti50Ni49W1 alloy has a B2 ↔ 19’ martensitic transformation but slightly lower shape recovery than the Ti50Ni50 alloy. The B19’ martensite structure in the Ti50Ni49W1 has the lattice parameters a = 0.301 nm; b = 0.423 nm; c = 0.472 nm; and β = 97.5°. The hardness increment and transformation temperature depression of Ti50Ni49W1 are greater than those of Ti50Ni50 under the same degree of cold rolling and the same number of thermal cycles; owing to the Ti50Ni49W1; with higher inherent hardness from solidification strengthening of W atoms. Both thermal cycling and cold rolling on Ti50Ni49W1 also promotes R-phase transformation. The effects of thermal cycling and cold rolling on the martensitic transformation temperature (Ms) of the Ti50Ni49W1 alloy follow a linear trend; and the Ms decreased with the hardness.
Effect of Stress-Induced Martensite Stabilization on Acoustic Emission Characteristics and the Entropy of Martensitic Transformation in Shape Memory Ni51Fe18Ga27Co4 Single Crystal
Authors: Samy Nora Mohareb , Daróczi Lajos , Tóth László Zoltán , Panchenko Elena , Chumlyakov Yury , Surikov Nikita , Beke Dezső László
Published: April 2020

Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, and acoustic emission, AE, measurements were carried out for single crystals of quenched and stress-induced martensite stabilized (SIM-aged) shape memory Ni51Fe18Ga27Co4 alloy. The transformation temperatures were shifted to higher values, the forward (from austenite to martensite) and reverse transitions became sharper and the width of the hysteresis increased in the SIM-aged sample. The energy distributions of acoustic hits showed similar behaviour to those of the quenched sample and the energy exponents, characterizing the power law behaviour, were also similar. For SIM-aged alloys at heating, in accordance with the sharper (burst-like) transition observed in the DSC run, few high-energy solitary hits were observed, and these hits did not fit to the energy distribution function fitted for smaller energies. Thus, these high-energy events were attributed to high sudden jumps in the phase transition during heating. The effect of long-range order (by applying a heat treatment at 573 K for 6 h to transform the B2 austenite to ordered L21 structure) and the SIM-aging on the transformation entropy was also investigated by DSC. It was found that the entropy was about 36% smaller after SIM-aging of the quenched sample and it was practically unchanged after austenite stabilization.
Biological Filtering and Substrate Promiscuity Prediction for Annotating Untargeted Metabolomics
Authors: Hassanpour Neda , Alden Nicholas , Menon Rani , Jayaraman Arul , Lee Kyongbum , Hassoun Soha
Published: April 2020

Mass spectrometry coupled with chromatography separation techniques provides a powerful platform for untargeted metabolomics. Determining the chemical identities of detected compounds however remains a major challenge. Here, we present a novel computational workflow, termed extended metabolic model filtering (EMMF), that aims to engineer a candidate set, a listing of putative chemical identities to be used during annotation, through an extended metabolic model (EMM). An EMM includes not only canonical substrates and products of enzymes already cataloged in a database through a reference metabolic model, but also metabolites that can form due to substrate promiscuity. EMMF aims to strike a balance between discovering previously uncharacterized metabolites and the computational burden of annotation. EMMF was applied to untargeted LC–MS data collected from cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and murine cecal microbiota. EMM metabolites matched, on average, to 23.92% of measured masses, providing a > 7-fold increase in the candidate set size when compared to a reference metabolic model. Many metabolites suggested by EMMF are not catalogued in PubChem. For the CHO cell, we experimentally confirmed the presence of 4-hydroxyphenyllactate, a metabolite predicted by EMMF that has not been previously documented as part of the CHO cell metabolic model.
Semi-Automated Extraction of the Distribution of Single Defects for nMOS Transistors
Authors: Stampfer Bernhard , Schanovsky Franz , Grasser Tibor , Waltl Michael
Published: April 2020

Miniaturization of metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) is typically beneficial for their operating characteristics, such as switching speed and power consumption, but at the same time miniaturization also leads to increased variability among nominally identical devices. Adverse effects due to oxide traps in particular become a serious issue for device performance and reliability. While the average number of defects per device is lower for scaled devices, the impact of the oxide defects is significantly more pronounced than in large area transistors. This combination enables the investigation of charge transitions of single defects. In this study, we perform random telegraph noise (RTN) measurements on about 300 devices to statistically characterize oxide defects in a Si/SiO 2 technology. To extract the noise parameters from the measurements, we make use of the Canny edge detector. From the data, we obtain distributions of the step heights of defects, i.e., their impact on the threshold voltage of the devices. Detailed measurements of a subset of the defects further allow us to extract their vertical position in the oxide and their trap level using both analytical estimations and full numerical simulations. Contrary to published literature data, we observe a bimodal distribution of step heights, while the extracted distribution of trap levels agrees well with recent studies.