bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lubrication Performance of Helical Gear Pair Under Dynamic Load Based on Local Involute Profile
Authors: Liu Mingyong , Qu Yang , Hu Chenglong , Deng Enxi
Published: April 2021

The tribological properties of gear interface have been widely concerned in the past decades. In this study, based on the local involute profile and crown modification, a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication model is proposed for a helical gear pair. To discuss the influences of dynamic load on the tribological properties of helical gear pair, the dynamic mesh force of tooth surface is obtained by torsional vibration model. The influences of working conditions and surface roughness on the tribological properties of helical gear pair are investigated. The tribological properties are evaluated in terms of the average film thickness, friction coefficient, mechanical power loss etc. Results show that the dynamic effect of gears has a significant effect on the tribological properties, especially at a specific speed, such as resonance speed. In order to simulate gear lubrication accurately, it is recommended to adopt local involute tooth profile and consider tooth profile modification to calculate geometric clearance. The influence of input rotation speed on the dynamic characteristics and tribological properties of gear is more significant than that of input torque. The surface roughness significantly changes the distribution of interface pressure and film thickness. With the increase of roughness amplitude, the local fluctuation amplitude of pressure and film thickness increase and the dry contact occurs at the end of contact line. Meanwhile, the maximum subsurface stress moves toward the tooth surface, especial for the high frequency engineering roughness. This local stress concentration is harmful to the fatigue life of gear meshing process.
On the Bandwidth and Beam Profile Characteristics of a Simple Low-Frequency Collimated Ultrasound Beam Source
Authors: Greenhall J. , Chillara V. K. , Sinha D. N. , Pantea C.
Published: April 2021

We numerically investigate the bandwidth and collimation characteristics of ultrasound beams generated by a simple collimated ultrasound beam source that consists of a piezoelectric disk operated near its radial mode resonances. We simulate the ultrasound beam generated in a fluid medium as a function of the excitation frequency for two cases: (1) free piezoelectric disk that corresponds to zero-traction along the lateral edge and (2) fixed piezoelectric disk that corresponds to zero-displacement along the lateral edge. We present and discuss the physical mechanism underpinning the frequency-dependent collimation and bandwidth properties of the ultrasound beams. We observe that the collimated beam generated by the free disk repeatedly lengthens/shortens and also extends/retracts sidelobes with increasing frequency. Alternatively, fixing the piezoelectric disk results in a consistent beam profile shape across a broad range of frequencies. This facilitates generating broadband signals such as a Gaussian pulse or chirp, which are common in ultrasound imaging. Thus, the fixed piezoelectric disk finds application as a collimated ultrasound beam source in a wide range of applications including medical ultrasound imaging, scanning acoustic microscopy, sonar detection, and other nondestructive ultrasound inspection techniques.
Constrained dynamics of maximally entangled bipartite system
Authors: Bashir Asma , Wasay Muhammad Abdul
Published: April 2021

The classical and quantum dynamics of two particles constrained on$$S^1$$S1is discussed via Dirac’s approach. We show that when state is maximally entangled between two subsystems, the product of dispersion in the measurement reduces. We also quantify the upper bound on the external field$$\vec {B}$$B→such that$$\vec {B}\ge \vec {B}_{upper }$$B→≥B→upperimplies no reduction in the product of dispersion pertaining to one subsystem. Further, we report on the cut-off value of the external field$$\vec {B}_{cutoff }$$B→cutoff, above which the bipartite entanglement is lost and there exists a direct relationship between uncertainty of the composite system and the external field. We note that, in this framework it is possible to tune the external field for entanglement/unentanglement of a bipartite system. Finally, we show that the additional terms arising in the quantum Hamiltonian, due to the requirement of Hermiticity of operators, produce a shift in the energy of the system.
Long-Term Immunological and Virological Outcomes in Children Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy at Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Fenta Demissie Assegu , Wube Temesgen Bizuayehu , Nuru Metsihet Mohammed
Published: April 2021

Purpose. To determine immunological and virological failure and associated factors among children infected with human immunodeficiency virus receiving antiretroviral treatments at Hawassa University Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 273 HIV-infected children from July 1 to December 1, 2019. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and review of patient records. Blood samples for viral load and CD4 count were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Significance group comparison was done by the Kaplan-Meier log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to select significant factors of the variability between groups. Results. A total of 273 children, between the age ranges of 1 to 14 years, were included. Of these, 139 (50.9%) and 134 (49.1%) were males and females, respectively. Children from the rural area were almost five times more vulnerable for virological and immunological failure than those children from the urban area (

AOR
=
4.912

, (1.276-8.815),

P
=
0.032

). The overall viral load suppression was 196 (71.8%) with a good adherence of 226 (82.9%). Nonsuppressed HIV viral load was found to be 77 (28.2%) which had two times more viral load copies (

AOR
=
2.01

, (1.21–2.66),

P
=
0.001

) when compared to those who had suppressed viral load copies. The proportions of children who had immunological nonresponse were 45.6% (21 out of 46), 30.4% (14 out of 46), and 23.9% (11 out of 46) among children with baseline CD4 of <200, 201-500, and >500 cells/μl, respectively. Unimproved outcomes among females were noted for immunological and virological failure in this study (

AOR
=
1.901

, (1.038-3.481),

P
=
0.038

). Conclusion. In conclusion, the highly active antiretroviral treatment appeared highly effective in terms of immunological and virological long-term outcomes. However, viral suppression (71.8%) in our study was far apart from the UNAIDS target of 90% in 2020. For that reason, strengthening adherence counseling and early initiation of HAART is important.
Numerical Investigation on Time‐Dependent Deformation in Roadway
Authors: Sun Yuantian , Li Guichen , Zhang Junfei , Yao Bicheng , Qian Deyu , Huang Jiandong
Published: April 2021

The roadway deformation normally relates to time especially for underground coal roadway. The strength of soft coal is low, and therefore the deformation increases gradually under constant stress with time, which is called rheology deformation. In this study, based on a field case, the rock mass properties and deformation data of the roadway were obtained according to the field test. A 3D numerical model was then established, and the rheological deformation including horizontal and vertical deformation of the coal roadway was systematically analyzed. The results showed that the rheological deformation of horizontal sidewall accounts for almost 30% of the whole deformation, and the stable time for such roadway is around 60 days after excavation. The tendency of the roof deformation is similar to the sidewalls, and however, the floor deformation is different. Then the related suggestions for maintaining the stability of such roadway were proposed, which is useful in‐field application.
Distribution and Impact of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) on Weed Species Diversity in Maize Fields in Western Gojjam Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Million Dinberu , Nigatu Lisanework , Bekeko Zelalem , Legesse Hirpa
Published: April 2021

An investigative weed flora survey was conducted in parthenium-infested maize fields in West Gojjam Zone in 2019/2020. The objective was to investigate the distribution and impact of parthenium on species diversity. A survey was conducted on 90 fields using 2 m × 2 m (4 m2) quadrats (totally 270). A total of 110 weed species belonging to 27 families were identified out of these families. Asteraceae with 26 species (23.36%) and Poaceae with 18 species (16.36%) were abundant. The highest importance value (IV) was recorded by Ageratum conyzoides, Amaranthus hybridus, and Bidens pilosa, with 28.05, 19.18, and 13.16%, respectively, in no parthenium infestation level. The highest IV of 27.08, 17.71, and 16.44%, respectively, was shown by Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, and Galinsoga parviflora with 27.08, 17.71, and 16.44%, respectively, in very low parthenium infestation level. Ageratum conyzoides (29.38%), Bidens pilosa (24.10%), and Parthenium hysterophorus (22.68%) had the highest IV in low parthenium infestation level. Parthenium hysterophorus (91.32%), Ageratum conyzoides (17.19%), and Echinochloa colona (16.34%) had high IV in moderate parthenium infestation level. It is concluded that Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, Echinochloa colona, and Galinsoga parviflora were competitive over parthenium based on importance value, and this indicates to suggest parthenium as a biological management option.
An Efficient Traffic Incident Detection and Classification Framework by Leveraging the Efficacy of Model Stacking
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Khan Majid I. , Hussain Shahid , Habib Asad
Published: April 2021

Automatic incident detection (AID) plays a vital role among all the safety‐critical applications under the parasol of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) to provide timely information to passengers and other stakeholders (hospitals and rescue, police, and insurance departments) in smart cities. Moreover, accurate classification of these incidents with respect to type and severity assists the Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMSs) and stakeholders in devising better plans for incident site management and avoiding secondary incidents. Most of the AID systems presented in the literature are incident type‐specific, i.e., either they are designed for the detection of accident or congestion. While traveling along the road, one may come across different types of traffic incidents, such as accidents, congestion, and reckless driving. This necessitates that the AID system detects and classifies not only all the popular traffic incident types, but severity as well that is associated with these incidents. Therefore, this study aims to propose an efficient incident detection and classification (E‐IDC) framework for smart cities, by incorporating the efficacy of model stacking, to classify the incidents with respect to their types and severity levels. The experimental results showed that the proposed E‐IDC framework achieved performance gains of 5%–56% in terms of incident severity classification and 1%–14% in terms of incident type classification when applied with different classifiers. We have also applied the Wilcoxon test to benchmark the performance of our proposed framework that reflects the significance of our approach over existing individual incident predictors in terms of severity and type classification. Moreover, it has been observed that the proposed E‐IDC framework outperforms the existing ensemble technique, such as XGBoost used for the classification of incidents.
Optimization of Enterprise Labor Resource Allocation Based on Quality Optimization Model
Authors: Liang Gaoyang , Xu Long , Chen Liang
Published: April 2021

Companies take project‐based management as their organizational strategy, and project quality assurance plays a vital role in improving customer satisfaction and enhancing corporate image. Starting from the perspective of optimizing project quality, this paper assigns different quality influencing factors to each project and each task of the project, divides the labor resources shared by multiple projects in the enterprise according to the skill level, and transforms the problem of project quality optimization. The problem of the highest skill level of labor resources allocated to all projects of the enterprise is designed, and algorithms are designed to achieve the optimization of project quality through the optimal allocation of labor resources. The various links in this article are closely related to form a comprehensive, scientific, and systematic research system for optimal human resource allocation, human resource management, and development. Finally, case analysis is used to confirm the usability of the model and provide a quantitative method and perspective for project‐oriented companies to allocate workforce.
Multimedia Interaction-Based Computer-Aided Translation Technology in Applied English Teaching
Authors: Wu Hongxia
Published: April 2021

Multimedia interaction-based computer-aided translation (CAT) is an effective method for translating massive multimedia applications. It is an essential English learning tool for college students with majors in multimedia technology. English teachers need to properly guide their students to use CAT technology by improving the students’ English translation capabilities via reasonable setting of courses, selection of multimedia materials for teaching, and implementation of learning multimedia assessment. This paper proposes a semiautomatic evaluation method for a machine translation system based on fuzzy mathematics. It first discusses the characteristics of multimedia CAT software, describes its working principle, and proposes an optimization scheme suitable for translating teaching by analyzing its advantages and disadvantages. The author believes that only through the combination of multimedia interaction-based CAT teaching and traditional translation teaching we can better achieve the purpose of translation education to improve the quality and English-speaking talent.
Cardiac Phase Space Analysis: Assessing Coronary Artery Disease Utilizing Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Rabbat Mark G. , Ramchandani Shyam , Sanders William E.
Published: April 2021

The bridge of artificial intelligence to cardiovascular medicine has opened up new avenues for novel diagnostics that may significantly enhance the cardiology care pathway. Cardiac phase space analysis is a noninvasive diagnostic platform that combines advanced disciplines of mathematics and physics with machine learning. Thoracic orthogonal voltage gradient (OVG) signals from an individual are evaluated by cardiac phase space analysis to quantify physiological and mathematical features associated with coronary stenosis. The analysis is performed at the point of care without the need for a change in physiologic status or radiation. This review will highlight some of the scientific principles behind the technology, provide a description of the system and device, and discuss the study procedure, clinical data, and potential future applications.
Assessing the Filariasis Causing Parasites in Adult Mosquitoes and the Vector Mosquito Larval Breeding in Selected Medical Officer of Health Areas in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka
Authors: Pilagolla S. A. S. , Amarasinghe L. D.
Published: April 2021

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of filariasis causing parasites in adult mosquitoes and vector mosquito larval breeding in four Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. Adult female mosquitoes at their resting places were collected using a prokopack aspirator operated twice a day from 7.00 am to 8.00 am and 8.00 pm to 9 pm in predetermined dates. Microfilarial worms in dissected mosquitoes were morphologically identified. Nine species of mosquitoes, namely, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. gelidus, Armigeres subalbatus, Mansonia uniformis, Ma. annulifera, Aedes aegypti, and Ae. Albopictus, were captured. A total of 1194 mosquito larvae were collected that belonged into three genera, namely, Culex (62.73%), Armigeres (25.62%), and Mansonia (11.64%), from blocked drains, polluted drains, blocked canals, large polluted water bodies, stagnant water bodies, marsh lands, rice field mudflats, and concrete pits. Large polluted water bodies (Shannon-Wiener diversity index/H’ = 1.5591) were the most diversed habitat type. In breeding water, average pH mainly lied in between 6 and 8 and average dissolved oxygen ranged from 3 to 7 mg/L. Cx. quinquefasciatus and Armigeres subalbatus adult female mosquitoes captured from Kelaniya MOH area were positive for microfilariae and were identified as Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria repens, respectively. This study concludes possible lymphatic filariasis situation is in extremely very low level persistent (0.06%) where transmission cannot be sustained and is restricted only to isolated pockets in the study area. The zoonotic strains of filariasis causing subcutaneous dirofilariasis in humans by Dirofilaria repens is continuing to survive due to the presence of stray dogs that serve as reservoir hosts.
Patterns of Natural Selection on Mitochondrial Protein-Coding Genes in Lungless Salamanders: Relaxed Purifying Selection and Presence of Positively Selected Codon Sites in the Family Plethodontidae
Authors: Kakehashi Ryosuke , Kurabayashi Atsushi
Published: April 2021

There are two distinct lungless groups in caudate amphibians (salamanders and newts) (the family Plethodontidae and the genus Onychodactylus, from the family Hynobiidae). Lunglessness is considered to have evolved in response to environmental and/or ecological adaptation with respect to oxygen requirements. We performed selection analyses on lungless salamanders to elucidate the selective patterns of mitochondrial protein-coding genes associated with lunglessness. The branch model and RELAX analyses revealed the occurrence of relaxed selection (an increase of the dN/dSratio=ωvalue) in most mitochondrial protein-coding genes of plethodontid salamander branches but not in those of Onychodactylus. Additional branch model and RELAX analyses indicated that direct-developing plethodontids showed the relaxed pattern for most mitochondrial genes, although metamorphosing plethodontids had fewer relaxed genes. Furthermore, aBSREL analysis detected positively selected codons in three plethodontid branches but not in Onychodactylus. One of these three branches corresponded to the most recent common ancestor, and the others corresponded with the most recent common ancestors of direct-developing branches within Hemidactyliinae. The positive selection of mitochondrial protein-coding genes in Plethodontidae is probably associated with the evolution of direct development.
Electroacupuncture Alleviates Inflammation of Dry Eye Diseases by Regulating the α7nAChR/NF‐κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Ding Ning , Wei Qingbo , Deng Weimin , Sun Xinyi , Zhang Jie , Gao Weiping
Published: April 2021

Purpose. We tried to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can reduce inflammation of dry eye disease (DED) by regulating α7nAChR and inhibiting the NF‐κB signaling pathway. Methods. Healthy New Zealand white rabbits were treated with scopolamine hydrobromide (Scop) for 21 consecutive days to establish the DED animal model. After 21 days, EA, fluorometholone (Flu), and α7nAChR antagonist (α‐BGT) treatments were performed, and the Scop injection was continued until day 35. During treatment, the fluorescence staining of the corneal epithelium and the level of tear flow were observed. The influence of EA on the LG pathology and inflammatory factors ACh, α7nAChR, and NF‐κB was detected using the LG histopathology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cytokine protein chip technology, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot. Results. The EA stimulation can reduce the corneal epithelial damage and repair epithelial cell ultrastructure, promote the tear secretion, relieve the LG atrophy and decrease lipid droplet accumulation in LG acinar cell, and reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL‐1, MIP‐1b, TNF‐α, and IL‐8) in the LG. The protective effect of EA on the inflammation and the ocular surface is similar to the corticosteroid Flu. EA and Flu can upregulate the expression of the α7nAChR and downregulate the expression of NF‐κB. The α7nAChR antagonist α‐BGT can reverse the protective effect of EA on the LG and the inhibitory effect on the NF‐κB pathway and the expression of inflammatory factors but cannot affect the expression of Flu on the NF‐κB pathway and inflammatory factors. Conclusion. These results prove that EA can alleviate DEDs by stimulating the acupoints around the eyes. These beneficial effects are related to the upregulation of α7nAChR and the downregulation of NF‐κB in the LG. The protective effect of LG is mediated through the anti‐inflammatory pathway mediated by α7nAChR. EA can reduce the NF‐κB P65 nuclear transcription and reduce inflammatory factors by regulating α7nAChR. This expression indicates that the α7nAChR/NF‐κB signaling pathway may serve as a potential therapeutic target for EA to treat DEDs.
Effects of Location-Specific Meteorological Factors on COVID-19 Daily Infection in a Tropical Climate: A Case of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: Makama Ezekiel Kaura , Lim Hwee San
Published: April 2021

Insufficient information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has made it more difficult for the world to tackle its continuous implosion. Meteorological and environmental factors, in both laboratory and epidemiological studies, have been reported to affect the survival and transmission of the virus. In this study, the possible effects of location-specific meteorological parameters in a tropical climate on new daily COVID-19 infection (NDI) are investigated in Kuala Lumpur from 14 March 2020 to 31 August 2020. A generalized additive model (GAM) was imposed on ambient temperature (T) and absolute humidity (AH) to explore their nonlinear relationship with NDI. Piecewise linear regression was then used to further discern the relationships below and above the threshold values of both T and AH. The relationship between T and NDI, which was linear and statistically significant for T > 29.7°C, showed that each unit rise in temperature increases NDI by about 3.210% (CI: 1.372–7.976). AH had a more pronounced linear association with NDI for AH ≤ 22.6 g/m3 but tended to flatten the exposure-response curve above this value. A 1 g/m3 increase in AH increases NDI by 3.807% (CI: 2.064–5.732). Generally, the results indicated a positive association between T and NDI, particularly above 29.7°C, while the association with AH showed a stronger positive relationship below 22.6 g/m3. The implication of this is that COVID-19 could not be suppressed on account of warmer weather as such public health interventions remain imperative.
In Silico Analysis of High‐Risk Missense Variants in Human ACE2 Gene and Susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection
Authors: Saih Asmae , Baba Hana , Bouqdayr Meryem , Ghazal Hassan , Hamdi Salsabil , Kettani Anass , Wakrim Lahcen
Published: April 2021

SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus uses for entry to human host cells a SARS‐CoV receptor of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE2) that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin II into angiotensin (1‐7). To understand the effect of ACE2 missense variants on protein structure, stability, and function, various bioinformatics tools were used including SIFT, PANTHER, PROVEAN, PolyPhen2.0, I. Mutant Suite, MUpro, SWISS‐MODEL, Project HOPE, ModPred, QMEAN, ConSurf, and STRING. All twelve ACE2 nsSNPs were analyzed. Six ACE2 high‐risk pathogenic nsSNPs (D427Y, R514G, R708W, R710C, R716C, and R768W) were found to be the most damaging by at least six software tools (cumulative score between 6 and 7) and exert deleterious effect on the ACE2 protein structure and likely function. Additionally, they revealed high conservation, less stability, and having a role in posttranslation modifications such a proteolytic cleavage or ADP‐ribosylation. This in silico analysis provides information about functional nucleotide variants that have an impact on the ACE2 protein structure and function and therefore susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2.
Effect of Using Quinoa Flour (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) on the Physicochemical Characteristics of an Extruded Pasta
Authors: Torres Olga L. , Lema Mariana , Galeano Yessica V.
Published: April 2021

Quinoa is a promising raw material for the production of foods with high nutritional quality. This study used quinoa flour (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), egg white, and yucca starch to obtain an extruded pasta. By means of a proximate analysis, the nutritional content of the raw materials, uncooked and cooked pasta, was evaluated. The effects of quinoa flour on the protein composition, physical properties (color, texture, loss through cooking, water absorption, and swelling indices), moisture, DSC, and SEM were evaluated through its comparison with a commercial pasta (control) formulated with quinoa (PCQ). The values obtained during the study were subjected to a simple analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the interaction between the factors and the variables by using a statistical program. Incorporation of quinoa flour in the formulations (F1, F2, and F3) increased notoriously the protein content (

p
<
0.05

) and decreased the carbohydrate content, and no significant differences were observed for lipids and ash. The energy value increased due to the essential amino acids present in quinoa. The values obtained for

L
∗

,

a
∗

, and

b
∗

increased with the increase in quinoa flour, and significant differences for

b
∗

(

p
<
0.05

) were attributed to the characteristic color of quinoa, drying time, and moisture content. The lack of molecular interaction between starch and protein due to the conditions used in the extrusion process influenced the decrease in rupture strength, increase in the water absorption and swelling indices, and losses due to cooking (8 g/100 g) within an acceptable range. Consequently, affected by the enthalpy of fusion, the starch granules of the quinoa flour did not gelatinize, as observed in the SEM micrographs. The results obtained and the parameters used in the extrusion process influenced the characteristics of the pasta, indicating that quinoa flour is a promising raw material for obtaining gluten-free products.
The Effect of Dexmedetomidine in Combination with Bupivacaine on Sensory and Motor Block Time and Pain Score in Supraclavicular Block
Authors: Sane Shahryar , Shokouhi Shahram , Golabi Parang , Rezaeian Mona , Kazemi Haki Behzad
Published: April 2021

Background. Brachial plexus block is frequently recommended for upper limb surgeries. Many drugs have been used as adjuvants to prolong the duration of the block. This study aimed to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine with bupivacaine combination and only bupivacaine on sensory and motor block duration time, pain score, and hemodynamic variations in the supraclavicular block in upper extremity orthopedic surgery. Methods. This prospective, double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 60 patients, 20 to 60 years old. Patients were candidates for upper extremity orthopedic surgeries. The sensory and motor block were evaluated by using the pinprick method and the modified Bromage scale. The postoperative pain was assessed by utilizing a visual analog scale. Results. The mean onset time of sensory and motor block in patients receiving only bupivacaine was, respectively, 31.03 ± 9.65 min and 24.66 ± 9.2 min, and in the dexmedetomidine receiving group, it was about 21.36 ± 8.34 min and 15.93 ± 6.36 minutes. The changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were similar in both groups. The duration of sensory and motor block and the time of the first analgesia request in the intervention group were longer. Postoperative pain was lower in the intervention group for 24 hours (

P

 = 0.001). Conclusion. Dexmedetomidine plus bupivacaine reduced the onset time of sense and motor blocks and increased numbness and immobility duration. Also, dexmedetomidine reduced postoperative pain significantly with the use of bupivacaine for supraclavicular blocks. Trial Registration. IRCT, IRCT20160430027677N15. Registered 05/28/2019, https://www.irct.ir/trial/39463.
GEE‐TGDR: A Longitudinal Feature Selection Algorithm and Its Application to lncRNA Expression Profiles for Psoriasis Patients Treated with Immune Therapies
Authors: Tian Suyan , Wang Chi , Suarez-Farinas Mayte
Published: April 2021

With the fast evolution of high‐throughput technology, longitudinal gene expression experiments have become affordable and increasingly common in biomedical fields. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach is a widely used statistical method for the analysis of longitudinal data. Feature selection is imperative in longitudinal omics data analysis. Among a variety of existing feature selection methods, an embedded method—threshold gradient descent regularization (TGDR)—stands out due to its excellent characteristics. An alignment of GEE with TGDR is a promising area for the purpose of identifying relevant markers that can explain the dynamic changes of outcomes across time. We proposed a new novel feature selection algorithm for longitudinal outcomes—GEE‐TGDR. In the GEE‐TGDR method, the corresponding quasilikelihood function of a GEE model is the objective function to be optimized, and the optimization and feature selection are accomplished by the TGDR method. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are posttranscriptional and epigenetic regulators and have lower expression levels and are more tissue‐specific compared with protein‐coding genes. So far, the implication of lncRNAs in psoriasis remains largely unexplored and poorly understood even though some evidence in the literature supports that lncRNAs and psoriasis are highly associated. In this study, we applied the GEE‐TGDR method to a lncRNA expression dataset that examined the response of psoriasis patients to immune treatments. As a result, a list including 10 relevant lncRNAs was identified with a predictive accuracy of 70% that is superior to the accuracies achieved by two competitive methods and meaningful biological interpretation. A widespread application of the GEE‐TGDR method in omics longitudinal data analysis is anticipated.
Dynamic Simulation Analysis on Axle Spline of High‐Speed Train Gauge‐Change System
Authors: Bai Jinyi , Wang Wenjing , Zhou Pingyu , Wang Yuguang
Published: April 2021

Spline couplings are widely used in transmission systems to transfer torque due to their higher load carrying capacity and better durability performance. Most researches are conducted under static and quasistatic loading cases; however, very little is known about their contact behavior and stress distribution under dynamic loading cases, especially as a key transmission component between wheel and axle. In this paper, a 3D dynamic contact and impact analysis model of the wheel‐axle spline of high‐speed train gauge‐change system is employed in order to investigate the effect of driving velocity and assembling error and vibration on spline couplings. Three categories of loading cases are considered: (i) 0.3 m/s2 driving rate representing quasistatic loading case; (ii) 0.5 m/s2 driving rate representing normal loading case, and (iii) 1 m/s2 driving rate representing exceptional loading case. Aside from this, influence of spline misalignment, including radial misalignment and circumferential misalignment, has been investigated under normal loading case. Numerical results for surface integral contact analysis conducted by LS‐DYNA and MATLAB were presented and compared for the verification of the results.
MSOM: Efficient Mechanism for Defense against DDoS Attacks in VANET
Authors: Al-Mehdhara Mohammed , Ruan Na
Published: April 2021

The wireless nature of the Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET), a technology that offers facilities such as traffic management and safety services, makes it vulnerable to distributed denial‐of‐service (DDoS) attacks that exploit network communications and reduce network reliability and performance. This paper proposes a design of a secure VANET architecture using a Software‐Defined Networking (SDN) controller and Neural Network Self‐Organizing Maps (SOMs). In the proposed design, we adopt the SDN architecture by using its separation of the control plane from the data plane and adding intelligent capabilities to the VANET. To resolve the drawbacks of standard SOMs and to enhance the SOM’s efficiency, a Multilayer Distributed SOM (MSOM) model based on two levels of clustering and classification is used. Experimental results show that our solution can efficiently detect malicious traffic, prevent and mitigate DDoS attacks, and increase system security and recovery speed from the attacking traffic. Moreover, the proposed scheme achieves a high accuracy rate (99.67%). Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the MSOM regarding detection accuracy and other studied metrics.
Real-Time Data Scheduling of Flexible Job in Papermaking Workshop Based on Deep Learning and Improved Fuzzy Algorithm
Authors: Dang Shihong , Tang Wei
Published: April 2021

The traditional real-time data scheduling method ignores the optimization process of job data that leads to delayed delivery, high inventory cost, and low utilization rate of equipment. This paper proposes a novel real-time data scheduling method based on deep learning and an improved fuzzy algorithm for flexible operations in the papermaking workshop. The algorithm is divided into three parts: the first part describes the flexible job shop scheduling problem; the second part constructs the fuzzy scheduling model of flexible job data in papermaking workshop; and finally the third part uses a genetic algorithm to obtain the optimal solution of fuzzy scheduling of flexible job data in papermaking workshop. The results show that the optimal solution is obtained in 48 seconds at the 23rd attempt (iteration) under the application of the proposed method. This result is much better than the three traditional scheduling methods with which we compared our results. Hence, this paper improves the work efficiency and quality of papermaking workshop and reduces the operating cost of the papermaking enterprise.
High-Performance Server-Based Live Streaming Transmission Optimization for Sports Events in Smart Cities
Authors: Chen Si , Zhao Gang
Published: April 2021

Smart cities allow cities to run more efficiently and have been approved by a lot of cities. During the process of building smart cities, a large amount of data is generated. Particularly, live sports events have been regarded as the inalienable part of smart cities. However, with the improvement in the quality of life, people tend to obtain better watching experience in terms of sports events. For such purpose, this paper proposes the live streaming transmission optimization method based on high-performance server, called HPTO, including two main modules, that is, high-performance server optimization and transmission optimization. Specifically, for the server optimization, this paper devises a distributed storage strategy to avoid producing the internal disk fragments and improve the writing efficiency of sports videos. For the transmission optimization, this paper devises a deep-learning-based video compression strategy to save the storage space of server and accelerate the transmission of sports videos. In addition, this paper makes simulation experiments based on PyCharm. The experimental results show that HPTO has higher storage efficiency, smaller transmission time, and lower packet loss rate than benchmarks, which indicates that the proposed two aspects of optimization strategies (server optimization and transmission optimization) are efficient.
Biomarkers of Inflammation and Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Failure in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Benz Alexander P. , Aeschbacher Stefanie , Krisai Philipp , Moschovitis Giorgio , Blum Steffen , Meyre Pascal , Blum Manuel R. , Rodondi Nicolas , Di Valentino Marcello , Kobza Richard , De Perna Maria Luisa , Bonati Leo H. , Beer Jürg H. , Kühne Michael , Osswald Stefan , Conen David ,   the BEAT‐AF, Swiss‐AF Investigators
Published: April 2021

Background

Hospitalization for heart failure (HF) is very common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that biomarkers of inflammation can identify patients with AF at increased risk of this important complication.

Methods and Results

Patients with established AF were prospectively enrolled. Levels of hs‐CRP (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein) and interleukin‐6 were measured from plasma samples obtained at baseline. We calculated an inflammation score ranging from 0 to 4 (1 point for each biomarker between the 50th and 75th percentile, 2 points for each biomarker above the 75th percentile). Individual associations of biomarkers and the inflammation score with HF hospitalization were obtained from multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 3784 patients with AF (median age 72 years, 24% prior HF) were followed for a median of 4.0 years. The median (interquartile range) plasma levels of hs‐CRP and interleukin‐6 were 1.64 (0.81–3.69) mg/L and 3.42 (2.14–5.60) pg/mL, respectively. The overall incidence of HF hospitalization was 3.04 per 100 person‐years and increased from 1.34 to 7.31 per 100 person‐years across inflammation score categories. After multivariable adjustment, both biomarkers were significantly associated with the risk of HF hospitalization (per increase in 1 SD, adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11–1.34 for log‐transformed hs‐CRP; adjusted HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.35–1.62 for log‐transformed interleukin‐6). Similar results were obtained for the inflammation score (highest versus lowest score, adjusted HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.80–3.30;
P
value for trend <0.001).

Conclusions

Biomarkers of inflammation strongly predicted HF hospitalization in a large, contemporary sample of patients with AF.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02105844.
The neurobiology of environmentally induced stereotypic behaviours in captive animals: assessing the basal ganglia pathways and cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuitry hypotheses
Authors: Kitchenham Lindsey , Mason Georgia J.
Published: April 2021

The neurobiology of environmentally induced stereotypic behaviours (SBs) (e.g., pacing in zoo carnivores, crib-biting in horses, tail chasing in dogs) is hypothesized to involve altered functioning within the basal ganglia (‘Basal Ganglia (BG) Pathways Hypotheses’) and/or between the basal ganglia and cortex (‘Cortico-Striatal-Thalamo-Cortical (CSTC) Circuits Hypotheses’). We review four decades of relevant studies, critically assessing support for both hypotheses. Currently no BG Pathways or CSTC Circuits hypothesis is fully supported. While some results are partially consistent with some hypotheses (decreased subthalamic nucleus activity in deer mice and C58 mice); others (nucleus accumbens activity in mink and C57 mice) seem to reflect individual differences in SB, but not environmental effects. Yet others can be tentatively rejected: neither elevated striatal dopamine nor the cortico-striatal connection of the sensorimotor circuit seem to be involved for most species studied to date. Further research is now important for understanding the impact of captivity on animals’ functioning.
Mogami Tokunai’s wood collection from Hokkaido, Japan: an early record of Ainu wood culture
Authors: Baas Pieter , Fujii Tomoyuki , Kato Nobushige , Mertz Mechtild , Noshiro Shuichi , Thijsse Gerard
Published: April 2021

During the court journey to Edo (Tokyo) in 1826, the famous Japan explorer Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796–1866) met an old and wise mathematician, explorer, and ethnographer, Mogami Tokunai (1755–1836). Tokunai not only allowed Siebold to copy sensitive maps of disputed territories in Northern Japan, but also donated him a set of 45 Japanese wood samples, most of them decorated with paintings of the foliage of the trees from which the wood came, and later provided with interesting notes on their timber uses by the Ainu people in “Jezo” (or Ezo-chi, more or less equivalent with modern Hokkaido). Based mainly on earlier detailed studies by Prof. Takao Yamaguchi and Prof. Nobushige Kato, we will discuss this collection in the context of contemporary and later wood collections and its significance for forest products research in and beyond Japan. Other Japanese wood collections taken to the Netherlands by Siebold were used for the very first Ph.D. studies on wood anatomy in Leiden, and possibly also in Munich. Siebold’s most important disciple Ito Keisuke (or Ito “Keiske”, or “Keisuke Itoh”, 1803–1901) oversaw the decoration of a set of painted wood samples for teaching purposes in Tokyo in the 1880s. From the 1870s onwards, Japan was actively promoting its timber resources at World Expositions in Vienna, Philadelphia, and Paris. In the latter two venues with another special type of wood collection: sections mounted on the pages of a book, possibly inspired by a concept developed by the German forestry scientist Hermann Nördlinger.
The Patient Perspective: Evaluating the Accessibility of Transoral Robotic Surgery Online Resources
Authors: Xing Monica H. , Chai Raymond L.
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

The varied treatment options available to patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) can cause significant patient confusion. In particular, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become widely used for treatment of HPV-positive OPSCC. As patients commonly refer to the internet for additional information, we aim to evaluate the quality of online patient educational materials for TORS in comparison to other otolaryngology surgical procedures.

Methods:

The terms “transoral robotic surgery,” “glossectomy,” “thyroidectomy,” and “neck dissection” were searched on Google. Flesch reading ease, Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level, MD review rates, and PEMAT understandability and actionability were assessed for each search term. Google trends was used to determine search interest for each term between May 2015 and May 2020.

Results:

Of the 30 TORS websites that met inclusion criteria, the average FRE and FKGL scores were 40.74 and 11.60 (that of an average high school senior). The FRE and FKGL scores for TORS were all statistically significantly lower than those of all comparator search terms ( P < .05). Only 1 out of 30 TORS sites were MD reviewed, representing the lowest MD review rate across all search terms. Understandability and actionability scores for TORS were also the lowest across all search terms at 77.71% and 2.66%, respectively. TORS had the lowest search interest.

Conclusions:

In comparison to other common otolaryngology procedures, TORS websites are the least patient friendly. As TORS becomes a more widely used procedure, it is critical that TORS websites become higher quality resources that patients can reliably reference.
Is Transoral Robotic Surgery the Best Surgical Treatment for Lingual Thyroid? A Case-Report and Literature Review
Authors: D’Andréa Grégoire , Vairel Benjamin , Vandersteen Clair , Chabrillac Emilien , Vergez Sébastien , Bonnecaze Guillaume De
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

To highlight the specific outcomes of the current surgical procedures for lingual thyroid excision, for benign and malignant lesions.

Methods:

We carried out a systematic review of surgical treatments of lingual thyroid, according to the PRISMA method. We conducted our literature search in PubMed and Ovid. Data was collected concerning patient demographics, tumor characteristics, types of surgery performed, and specific intra- and postoperative outcomes of each procedure. Surgical procedures were classified in 4 categories: transcervical approaches, “invasive” transoral approaches (transmandibular and/or tongue splitting), “non-invasive” transoral approaches, and transoral robotic surgery. We detailed the transoral robotic surgical technique through a case report, along with a surgical video.

Results:

Of 373 peer-reviewed articles found, 40 provided adequate information on surgical management and outcomes for patients with lingual thyroid. “Non-invasive” transoral approaches and transoral robotic surgeries required significantly fewer tracheostomies than “invasive” transoral and transcervical approaches ( P < .001), while there was no statistical difference in the rate of surgical complications between each procedure.

Conclusions:

Transoral robotic surgery appears to be a feasible, effective, and fast solution for lingual thyroid excision, with excellent short- and long-term surgical outcomes.
Understanding the Mechanisms of Activity-based Workspaces: A Case Study
Authors: Eismann Tobias T. , Pakos Oscar , Rücker Marc , Meinel Martin , Maier Lukas , Voigt Kai-Ingo
Published: April 2021

In recent years an increasing number of organizations have started to rethink their physical work environments and recognized the value of having activity-based workspaces (ABWs). This allows employees to choose freely between several work environments based on their specific task. There is growing debate amongst researchers about the effects of ABWs on employee behavior, but companies are still not aware of the options available or the consequences of moving to an ABW layout. This single-case, exploratory study uses 36 interviews and multiple data sources in a German organization leading in use of ABWs to generate insight into this topic. We develop a taxonomy of ABWs and analyze how various design parameters affect how people perform in ABWs regarding communication, leadership, working style, and work performance. We relate these findings to previous research and develop a cause-effects framework of ABWs. Against these findings, we generate recommendations for future research and practice.
A theory-grounded text message–based intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in university students
Authors: Keahey Robin , White Nicole , Duchesne Annie , Pelletier Chelsea A
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a theory-grounded, text message–based intervention targeting sedentary behaviour among university students.

Design:

Single-group repeated measures design.

Setting:

Post-secondary institution in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods:

Data concerning students’ sedentary behaviour were collected via online survey completed at three time points over the course of one university semester: baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2) and 2-week follow-up (T3). The 6-week intervention comprised four weekly text messages delivered to participants’ mobile devices. Participants’ attitudes regarding the intervention were evaluated together with other measures including constructs in the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA). Sedentary behaviour and physical activity were measured using the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire (PASB-Q).

Results:

The intervention was generally well received by participants. Preliminary, observational data suggest some indices of user experience were statistically associated with behavioural outcomes and may inform future work. Hours per week of sedentary behaviour did not change across time points, whereas minutes per week of physical activity decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up.

Conclusion:

While study findings suggest minor modifications to the intervention may improve participants’ engagement, we demonstrated overall that a theory-grounded, text message–based intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour can be feasibly implemented. The efficacy of this intervention should be tested through a randomised control trial with a representative sample of the student population.