bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of a Spool-Block Atwood System
Authors: El Idrissi Abdallah , Calabrese Dominic , Hickox Tyler
Published: February 2020

For many years, Atwood’s machine has been used to demonstrate, illustrate, or verify Newton’s laws in introductory physics courses. It consists of two objects of different mass that are fastened to the ends of a string that hangs over a pulley. In an idealized situation, one assumes that pulley friction, the string’s mass, and changes in the string’s length are negligible. Cases in which the pulley’s mass is non-negligible may be considered. Advanced students can investigate non-ideal cases in which the string’s mass or friction is not negligible or cases in which the masses swing. Computer-based data acquisition tools allow quick and accurate measurements of the acceleration of the objects in the Atwood machine. They enable an instructor to ask probing questions regarding this apparatus while quickly verifying its prevailing physical principles through simple measurements. Two interesting questions that one can ask are: Question (1): “What is the acceleration of the objects in an Atwood machine when both objects are of equal mass with one being an unraveling spool?”Question (2): “Is it possible to determine a mass ratio in which the acceleration of the spool is non-zero while the acceleration of the other object is zero?”
Helmholtz Resonator in Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Koval’aková Mária , Kladivová Mária , Gibová Zuzana
Published: February 2020

The acoustic resonance in four glass Helmholtz resonators with diameters of 70, 52, 40, and 32 mm was detected in the frequency range of 360 to 1700 Hz using the simple experimental setup presented in this paper. The measured amplitudes of acoustic pressure required correction since the sound pressure amplitude of the loudspeaker used was not constant over the whole frequency range. The plots of the corrected acoustic pressure amplitude against frequency (resonance curves) showed expected amplitude enhancement (resonance) around the declared resonance frequencies of the resonators used. Fitting the theoretical dependence for the displacement amplitude of forced oscillations as a function of frequency to the plots of the corrected acoustic pressure amplitude against frequency provided the values of natural frequencies and damping constants of the resonators. The presented setup can be included in laboratory experiments or in a modified version as a demonstration experiment in physics lectures for undergraduate students.
Charged Particle Pickup Tube Detector Used in Experimental Applications and Classroom Demonstrations
Authors: Nerem Robert R. , James David
Published: February 2020

Acharge pickup detector was developed at the University of Colorado for use in classroom demonstrations and in the dust accelerator at the Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres and Cosmic Dust (IMPACT). The detector can be used in a physics classroom to help high school and introductory-level physics students connect electromagnetic phenomena with measurement techniques that are common to experimental physics and in electronics courses to demonstrate the use of a charge-sensitive amplifier (CSA). Construction of a similar detector would develop students’ basic machining and electronics skills, which are crucial in most undergraduate experimental physics opportunities. The detector is designed to nondestructively determine the velocity and charge of particles. The detector is compact (8.6 cm x 5.4 cm x 4.1 cm), simple, and lightweight. It is built with off-the-shelf components with simple machining, resulting in a low-cost (∼$100) detector that maintains the high sensitivity (0.2 fC) necessary for characterization of most hypervelocity dust particles, as well as a wide variety of other applications accessible to introductory-level physics students such as charged particles in a dust storm, pith balls, or charged raindrops. This paper focuses on both characterization of the detector using the accelerator at IMPACT and the basics of the undergraduate-level physics principles, electronics principles, mechanical design, and lab applications.
Double Ring Stand Interference
Authors: Bell Michael Scott
Published: February 2020

Double-slit interference is a difficult phenomenon for students to grasp in an introductory physics course. A thorough understanding of constructive and destructive interference is critical, but even with such an understanding, visualizing exactly how an interference pattern is formed by light passing through two slits can still be a challenge for students. Here, we describe a simple demonstration that seems to have improved our students’ understanding of this phenomenon. The required materials are readily available in nearly any physics classroom or lab, and the demonstration can easily be constructed in 5 to 10 minutes.
Model Comparison in the Introductory Physics Laboratory
Authors: Blais Brian S.
Published: February 2020

Model comparison is at the heart of all scientific methodologies. Progress is made in science by constructing many models (possibly of different complexities), testing them against measurements, and determining which of them explain the data the best. It is my observation, however, that in many introductory physics labs we provide students with the materials and methods to verify the “correct” model of the experiment they are performing, e.g. measuring “g” or verifying the period of a pendulum. In this way, we do our students a disservice and don’t allow them to experience the richness and creativity that constitutes the scientific enterprise. Limiting the lab to the “correct” model can have its uses—for example, getting the students to practice the proper methods to measure lengths and times or to support the specific theory covered in the lecture portion of the class. However, when students perform these labs, they come to view these activities as repetitive and mechanical, reinforcing the notion that science concerns not the true exploration of nature but simply the verification of what we already know. By verifying what we already know, the laboratory experience does not improve overall understanding and can mislead students about the methods of science overall.
Tilting motion and the moment of inertia of the smartphone
Authors: Kaps A. , Stallmach F.
Published: February 2020

Smartphones and their internal sensors offer new options for an experimental access to teach physics at secondary schools and universities. Especially in the field of mechanics, a number of smartphone-based experiments are known illustrating, e.g., linear and pendulum motions as well as rotational motions using the internal MEMS accelerometer and gyroscope, respectively.
SMAC mimetics and RIPK inhibitors as therapeutics for chronic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Jensen Simone , Seidelin Jakob Benedict , LaCasse Eric Charles , Nielsen Ole Haagen
Published: February 2020

Although mainly investigated as anticancer therapies, SMAC mimetics and RIPK inhibitors may fight chronic inflammation.
Discordance between Etravirine Phenotype and Genotype-Based Predicted Phenotype for Subtype C HIV-1 from First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy Failures in South Africa
Authors: McCormick Kevin D. , Penrose Kerri J. , Brumme Chanson J. , Harrigan P. Richard , Viana Raquel V. , Mellors John W. , Parikh Urvi M. , Wallis Carole L.
Published: February 2020

Etravirine (ETR) is a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) used in treatment-experienced individuals. Genotypic resistance test-interpretation systems can predict ETR resistance; however, genotype-based algorithms are derived primarily from HIV-1 subtype B and may not accurately predict resistance in non-B subtypes. The frequency of ETR resistance among recombinant subtype C HIV-1 and the accuracy of genotypic interpretation systems were investigated. HIV-1
LAI
containing full-length RT from HIV-1 subtype C-positive individuals experiencing virologic failure (>10,000 copies/ml and >1 NNRTI resistance-associated mutation) were phenotyped for ETR susceptibility.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Harveyi Clade Bacterium Isolated from Lolliguncula brevis Squid
Authors: Septer Alecia N. , Speare Lauren , Coleman Collin K. , Smith Stephanie , Dorsey Coby , Wilson Travis , Gifford Scott M.
Published: February 2020

Vibrio
species of the Harveyi clade are commonly found in free-living and host-associated marine habitats. Here, we report the draft genome sequence for a Harveyi clade bacterium,
Vibrio
sp. strain LB10LO1, which was isolated from the Atlantic brief squid
Lolliguncula brevis
.
Draft Genome Sequence of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens IPLA 37004, a Human Intestinal Strain That Does Not Produce Equol from Daidzein
Authors: Vázquez Lucía , Flórez Ana Belén , Mayo Baltasar
Published: February 2020

Equol is an intestinal bacterial metabolite derived from the isoflavone daidzein and has beneficial health effects. Most equol producers belong to the family
Coriobacteriaceae
, which includes species such as
Adlercreutzia equolifaciens
. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
A. equolifaciens
IPLA 37004, a human isolate that does not produce equol.
Drag-based aerodynamic braking system for the Hyperloop: a numerical study
Authors: Uddin Mohammed Raihan , Saniat Tahsin Sejat , Salehin Sayedus , Rahman Md. Hamidur
Published: February 2020

The Hyperloop promises to revolutionize the transport infrastructure of the 21st century by reducing travel time and allowing people to reach transonic speed on land. It carries with it the hope of a sustainable transportation system during an era of global energy crisis. Overall passenger safety in a high-speed pod necessitates a reliable braking system. This paper introduces the possibility of utilizing aerodynamic drag in the Hyperloop, anticipated to operate at high Mach and low Reynolds flow regime, to attenuate the speed of the pod. Numerical analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of incorporating an aerodynamic brake at different pod velocities (100, 135, and 150 m/s) and deployment angles (30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°). A detailed comparison between the proposed aerodynamic braking system (AeBS) and existing braking systems for the Hyperloop has been presented in this paper. The results demonstrate an increase in drag value of the pod by 3.4 times using a single 0.15 m2brake plate. When the brake plate was fully deployed at a pod velocity in excess of 112 m/s, the aerodynamic drag-based braking systems was shown to be more effective than the contemporary eddy current braking system.
The CKM unitarity problem: a trace of new physics at the TeV scale?
Authors: Belfatto Benedetta , Beradze Revaz , Berezhiani Zurab
Published: February 2020

After the recent high precision determinations of $$V_{us}$$Vus and $$V_{ud}$$Vud, the first row of the CKM matrix shows more than $$4\sigma $$4σ deviation from unitarity. Two possible scenarios beyond the Standard Model can be investigated in order to fill the gap. If a 4th non-sequential quark $$b'$$b′ (a vector-like weak isosinglet) participates in the mixing, with $$\vert V_{ub'} \vert \sim 0.04$$|Vub′|∼0.04, then its mass should be no more than 6 TeV or so. A different solution can come from the introduction of the gauge horizontal family symmetry $$SU(3)_\ell $$SU(3)ℓ acting between the lepton families and spontaneously broken at the scale of about 6 TeV. Since the gauge bosons of this symmetry contribute to muon decay in interference with Standard Model, the Fermi constant is slightly smaller than the muon decay constant so that unitarity is recovered. Also the neutron lifetime problem, that is about $$4\sigma $$4σ discrepancy between the neutron lifetimes measured in beam and trap experiments, is discussed in the light of the these determinations of the CKM matrix elements.
The transition rates of an isotropic quantum charged oscillator in the presence of external fields
Authors: Chegini F. , Kheirandish F. , Setare M. R.
Published: February 2020

In this work, explicit expressions for the transition rates of an isotropic quantum charged harmonic oscillator in the vicinity of a perfectly conducting half-space under the influence of an external classical source are obtained. In the absence of external sources, it is shown that the decay rate of an initially exited state of the oscillator is a periodic function in terms of the normalized distance to the plate. The modified transition rates in the presence of external classical sources are obtained in the large-time limit indicating a contribution proportional to the squared module of the Fourier transform of the external source. In the absence of the conducting plate and external sources, the results are in agreement with the free space case. The problem is generalized to the case of a real conducting half-space.
A Flexible High-Level Fusion for an Accurate Human Action Recognition System
Authors: Mahjoub Amel Ben , Atri Mohamed
Published: February 2020

Action recognition is a very effective method of computer vision areas. In the last few years, there has been a growing interest in Deep learning networks as the Long Short–Term Memory (LSTM) architectures due to their efficiency in long-term time sequence processing. In the light of these recent events in deep neural networks, there is now considerable concern about the development of an accurate action recognition approach with low complexity. This paper aims to introduce a method for learning depth activity videos based on the LSTM and the classification fusion. The first step consists in extracting compact depth video features. We start with the calculation of Depth Motion Maps (DMM) from each sequence. Then we encode and concatenate contour and texture DMM characteristics using the histogram-of-oriented-gradient and local-binary-patterns descriptors. The second step is the depth video classification based on the naive Bayes fusion approach. Training three classifiers, which are the collaborative representation classifier, the kernel-based extreme learning machine and the LSTM, is done separately to get classification scores. Finally, we fuse the classification score outputs of all classifiers with the naive Bayesian method to get a final predicted label. Our proposed method achieves a significant improvement in the recognition rate compared to previous work that has used Kinect v2 and UTD-MHAD human action datasets.
The first Brauer–Thrall conjecture over one-dimensional local rings
Authors: Bahlekeh Abdolnaser , Fotouhi Fahimeh Sadat
Published: February 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a one-dimensional commutative Noetherian complete local ring. Assume that the cohomology annihilator [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-primary. We use the notion of Gabriel–Roiter (co)measure in the category of maximal Cohen–Macaulay [Formula: see text]-modules and prove that, if there is an infinite set [Formula: see text] of indecomposable maximal Cohen–Macaulay [Formula: see text]-modules of bounded multiplicity, then there are indecomposable maximal Cohen–Macaulay modules of arbitrary large multiplicity which are cogenerated by modules in [Formula: see text]. This, in particular, guarantees the validity of the first Brauer–Thrall-type theorem for the category of maximal Cohen–Macaulay [Formula: see text]-modules.
Generalized Cline’s formula and common spectral property
Authors: Chen Huanyin , Abdolyousefi Marjan Sheibani
Published: February 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be an associative ring with an identity and suppose that [Formula: see text] satisfy [Formula: see text] If [Formula: see text] has generalized Drazin (respectively, p-Drazin, Drazin) inverse, we prove that [Formula: see text] has generalized Drazin (respectively, p-Drazin, Drazin) inverse. In particular, as applications, we obtain new common spectral property of bounded linear operators over Banach spaces.
Ti3C2Tx-Based Electrodes with Enhanced Pseudocapacitance for High-Performance Lithium-ion Batteries
Authors: Zheng Rudong , Wu Lili , Zhao Jiabao , Zhu Chuncheng , Gao Hong
Published: February 2020

Ti3C2Tx, a new type of two-dimensional material, is a prospective anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for its low lithium-ion diffusion barrier, high conductivity and many other excellent properties. In this paper, multilayer Ti3C2Tx and delaminated Ti3C2Tx samples are prepared by etching Ti3AlC2 powder with HF and [Formula: see text], respectively. We explore the application of the two samples in LIBs, and analyze their electrochemical behavior and kinetic mechanism. At the current densities of 0.1[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], the delaminated Ti3C2Tx electrode delivered higher capacities of 255[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] than multilayer Ti3C2Tx electrode (100[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]). Even after 1000 cycles, the specific capacity of the delaminated Ti3C2Tx is still up to 205[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 1[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. This work proves the great potential of the delaminated Ti3C2Tx for lithium-ion storage.
r-Hued coloring of planar graphs without short cycles
Authors: Bu Yuehua , Wang Xiaofang
Published: February 2020

A [Formula: see text]-hued coloring of a graph [Formula: see text] is a proper [Formula: see text]-coloring [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for any vertex [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-hued chromatic number of [Formula: see text], written [Formula: see text], is the minimum integer [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] has a [Formula: see text]-hued coloring. In this paper, we show that [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is a planar graph without [Formula: see text]-cycles or if [Formula: see text] is a planar graph without [Formula: see text]-cycles and no [Formula: see text]-cycle is intersect with [Formula: see text]-cycles, [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text].
A Society Relearning How to Talk with Itself
Authors: Jarvis Jeff
Published: February 2020

In the hopes of technologists and optimists, the internet promised to connect humankind, to bring freedom of expression and creativity to all, to make institutions more open, equitable, accountable, and ultimately democratic. But malign actors exploited the net's openness, and institutions found themselves threatened in a borderless world they could not master. And so government and media are trying to regulate and restrain a phenomenon that is still too new to fully understand, without sufficient research and evidence of the harm they think they are answering. The internet is not, as it is commonly understood, a medium filled with content to be edited (or censored). It is a mechanism for connection that is enabling a post-Gutenberg, post-textual, post-mass society to relearn how to hold a conversation with itself. Government, media, and other institutions must create flexible, responsive, open frameworks not to eliminate allegedly harmful speech but instead to enable, improve, and protect the public conversation.
Can Technology Support Democracy?
Authors: Schuler Douglas
Published: February 2020

The utopian optimism about democracy and the internet has given way to disillusionment. At the same time, given the complexity of today's wicked problems, the need for democracy is critical. Unfortunately democracy is under attack around the world, and there are ominous signs of its retreat. How does democracy fare when digital technology is added to the picture? Weaving technology and democracy together is risky, and technologists who begin any digital project with the conviction that technology can and will solve “problems” of democracy are likely to be disappointed. Technology can be a boon to democracy if it is
informed
technology. The goal in writing this essay was to encourage people to help develop and cultivate a rich democratic sphere. Democracy has great potential that it rarely achieves. It is radical, critical, complex, and fragile. It takes different forms in different contexts. These forms are complex and the solutionism promoted by the computer industry and others is not appropriate in the case of democracies. The primary aim of technology in the service of democracy is not merely to make it easier or more convenient but to improve society's
civic intelligence
, its ability to address the problems it faces effectively
and
equitably.
Roaming Reactions and Dynamics in the van der Waals Region
Authors: Suits Arthur G.
Published: February 2020

Roaming reactions were first clearly identified in photodissociation of formaldehyde 15 years ago, and roaming dynamics are now recognized as a universal aspect of chemical reactivity. These reactions typically involve frustrated near-dissociation of a quasibound system to radical fragments, followed by reorientation at long range and intramolecular abstraction. The consequences can be unexpected formation of molecular products, depletion of the radical pool in chemical systems, and formation of products with unusual internal state distributions. In this review, I examine some current aspects of roaming reactions with an emphasis on experimental results, focusing on possible quantum effects in roaming and roaming dynamics in bimolecular systems. These considerations lead to a more inclusive definition of roaming reactions as those for which key dynamics take place at long range.
CD90+CD146+ identifies a pulmonary mesenchymal cell subtype with both immune modulatory and perivascular-like function in postnatal human lung
Authors: Wang Limei , Dorn Patrick , Zeinali Soheila , Froment Laurène , Berezowska Sabina , Kocher Gregor J. , Alves Marco P. , Brügger Melanie , Esteves Blandina I. O. , Blank Fabian , Wotzkow Carlos , Steiner Selina , Amacker Mario , Peng Ren-Wang , Marti Thomas M. , Guenat Olivier T. , Bode Peter K. , Moehrlen Ueli , Schmid Ralph A. , Hall Sean R. R.
Published: February 2020

Our understanding of mesenchymal cell subsets and their function in human lung affected by aging and in certain disease settings remains poorly described. We use a combination of flow cytometry, prospective cell-sorting strategies, confocal imaging, and modeling of microvessel formation using advanced microfluidic chip technology to characterize mesenchymal cell subtypes in human postnatal and adult lung. Tissue was obtained from patients undergoing elective surgery for congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) and other airway abnormalities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In microscopically normal postnatal human lung, there was a fivefold higher mesenchymal compared with epithelial (EpCAM+) fraction, which diminished with age. The mesenchymal fraction composed of CD90+ and CD90+CD73+ cells was enriched in CXCL12 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα) and located in close proximity to EpCAM+ cells in the alveolar region. Surprisingly, alveolar organoids generated from EpCAM+ cells supported by CD90+ subset were immature and displayed dysplastic features. In congenital lung lesions, cystic air spaces and dysplastic alveolar regions were marked with an underlying thick interstitium composed of CD90+ and CD90+PDGFRα+ cells. In postnatal lung, a subset of CD90+ cells coexpresses the pericyte marker CD146 and supports self-assembly of perfusable microvessels. CD90+CD146+ cells from COPD patients fail to support microvessel formation due to fibrinolysis. Targeting the plasmin-plasminogen system during microvessel self-assembly prevented fibrin gel degradation, but microvessels were narrower and excessive contraction blocked perfusion. These data provide important new information regarding the immunophenotypic identity of key mesenchymal lineages and their change in a diverse setting of congenital lung lesions and COPD.
Nitrite attenuates mitochondrial impairment and vascular permeability induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in the lung
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Noda Kentaro , Philips Brian , Velayutham Murugesan , Stolz Donna B. , Gladwin Mark T. , Shiva Sruti , D’Cunha Jonathan
Published: February 2020

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is directly related to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and a major obstacle in lung transplantation (LTx). Nitrite ([Formula: see text]), which is reduced in vivo to form nitric oxide (NO), has recently emerged as an intrinsic signaling molecule with a prominent role in cytoprotection against I/R injury. Using a murine model, we provide the evidence that nitrite mitigated I/R-induced injury by diminishing infiltration of immune cells in the alveolar space, reducing pulmonary edema, and improving pulmonary function. Ultrastructural studies support severe mitochondrial impairment in the lung undergoing I/R injury, which was significantly protected by nitrite treatment. Nitrite also abrogated the increased pulmonary vascular permeability caused by I/R. In vitro, hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) exacerbated cell death in lung epithelial and microvascular endothelial cells. This contributed to mitochondrial dysfunction as characterized by diminished complex I activity and mitochondrial membrane potential but increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Pretreatment of cells with nitrite robustly attenuated mtROS production through modulation of complex I activity. These findings illustrate a potential novel mechanism in which nitrite protects the lung against I/R injury by regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics and vascular permeability.
Meta-analysis of biological variables’ impact on spinal motoneuron electrophysiology data
Authors: Highlander Morgan M. , Allen John M. , Elbasiouny Sherif M.
Published: February 2020

Experimental, methodological, and biological variables must be accounted for statistically to maximize accuracy and comparability of published neuroscience data. However, accounting for all variables is nigh impossible. Thus we aimed to identify particularly influential variables within published neurological data, from cat, rat, and mouse studies, via a robust statistical process. Our goal was to develop tools to improve rigor in the collection and analysis of data. We strictly constrained experimental and methodological variables and then assessed four key biological variables within motoneuron research: species, age, sex, and cell type. We quantified intraexperimental and interexperimental variances in 11 commonly reported electrophysiological properties of spinal motoneurons. We first assessed variances without accounting for biological variables and then reassessed them while accounting for all four variables. We next assessed variances with all possible combinations of these four variables. We concluded that some motoneuron properties have low intraexperimental, but high interexperimental, variance; that individual motoneuron properties are impacted differently by biological variables; and that some unexplained variances still remain. We report here the optimal combinations of biological variables to reduce interexperimental variance for all 11 parameters. We also rank each parameter by intra- and interexperimental consistency. We expect these results to assist with design of experimental and analytical methods, and to support accuracy in simulations. Furthermore, although demonstrated on spinal motoneuron electrophysiology literature, our approach is applicable to biological data from all fields of neuroscience. This approach represents an important aid to experimental design, comparison of reported data, and reduction of unexplained variance in neuroscience data.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our meta-analysis shows the impact of species, age, sex, and cell type on lumbosacral motoneuron electrophysiological properties by thoroughly quantifying variances across literature for the first time. We quantify the variances of 11 motoneuron properties with consideration of biological variables, thus providing specific insights for motoneuron modelers and experimenters, and providing a general methodological template for the quantification of variance in neurological data with the consideration of any experimental, methodological, or biological variables of interest.
Study on the Influence of Bending Angle of Multipoint Stretch-Bending of Profiles on Section Distortion of Parts
Authors: Liang Jicai , Liao Yanfei , Li Yi , Liang Ce
Published: February 2020

The ABAQUS finite element simulation software was used to simulate the flexible 3D multipoint stretch-bending (MPSB) forming process of aluminum profiles. The influence of bending angle on the section distortion was investigated. The results show that the type of rectangular section distortion during horizontal bending and vertical bending is different. The bulging rate and the depression rate increase with the increase in horizontal bending angles; when the vertical bending angle is less than 15°, the depression rate of the horizontally curved section is effectively reduced. When α is equal to 30°, β is less than 15° which can effectively reduce the depression rate caused by horizontal bending to the profile. When α is less than 30°, the depression rate which is caused by horizontal bending can be reduced through the vertical bending angle, with 5° than 15°; the vertical bending process changes the distortion pattern of the profile; the depression rate and the bulging rate increase with the increase of the vertical bending angle. Through the support vector regression and selecting the parameter group c = 1.5, g = 0.05, the distortion rate of different angles in the common range is further expanded, and the quality control curve is drawn by combining the test results and prediction results which determine the depression rate as 2%, 2.5%, and 3% processing boundary. Using this curve to predict the distortion rate of the profile is instructive in the actual processing.
An Uncommon Case of Plasma Cell Mucositis of the Tongue in a Young Man
Authors: Antonelli Alessandro , Averta Fiorella , Diodati Federica , Muraca Danila , Brancaccio Ylenia , Mignogna Chiara , Giudice Amerigo
Published: February 2020

Plasma cell mucositis (PCM) is an unusual plasma cell proliferative disorder of the upper aerodigestive tract. It is a rare disease, and its etiology is not yet known with variable clinical features. Symptoms include dysphagia, oral pain, and swelling. We described a case of PCM involving the tongue of a 14-year-old man. In the first place, several diagnostic hypotheses were proposed, most of them discarded for incompatibility with blood and laboratory tests. This disease rarely manifests itself on the tongue, especially in young patients with no comorbidities. The management of PCM is mainly aimed at reducing the symptoms, and in our report, the treatment involved the use of systemic prednisone with an improvement of the quality of life. At 1-year follow-up, there was no recurrence of the disease. Many therapeutic treatments are able to stabilize but not able to induce a complete remission. PCM is considered an uncommon benign disorder with a favorable prognosis and should be considered in the differential diagnosis with other inflammatory or neoplastic conditions.
Simultaneous Determination of Malachite Green, Chloramphenicols, Sulfonamides, and Fluoroquinolones Residues in Fish by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chen Yongping , Xia Sudong , Han Xianqin , Fu Zhiru
Published: February 2020

A fast-analytical method using simplified extraction has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 42 compounds from 4 different classes of veterinary drugs (amphenicols, triphenylmethane, fluoroquinolones, and sulfonamides) in fish by reverse phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The selection of extraction reagents was optimized using different types of microfiltration membrane, mobile phase, and LC column. Samples were extracted using 0.4% hydrochloric acid in acetonitrile and ethyl acetate and then were cleaned up using solid-phase extraction Cleanert Alumina N columns (500 mg) and Oasis hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridges. The chromatographic separation was performed on a XR-ODS C8 column using a mobile phase of (A) 0.1% formic acid and 2 mM ammonium acetate and (B) 0.1% formic acid acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.25 mL·min−1. The results indicated 67.7–112.8% recovery of 42 compounds with an intra- and interday relative standard deviations less than 10%. The limits of quantification for analytes were in the range of 0.3–1.0 μg kg−1 for samples which were satisfactory to support future surveillance monitoring. The method applicability was checked by analyzing 30 fish samples collected from local markets. Two fish samples surpassed the established MRL of 100 μg kg−1 with values of 104 μg kg−1 and 112 μg kg−1.
Pulchinenosides from Pulsatilla Chinensis Increase P‐Glycoprotein Activity and Induce P‐Glycoprotein Expression
Authors: Liu Yali , Zhang Ling , Wei Shaofeng , Cai Jinyang , Zang Zhenzhong , Wang Meng , Su Dan , Gerk Phillip M.
Published: February 2020

Five pulchinenosides (pulchinenoside B3, pulchinenoside BD, pulchinenoside B7, pulchinenoside B10, and pulchinenoside B11) isolated from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge) Regel saponins extract exhibited strong antitumor activities but poor gastrointestinal absorption properties. The enteric induction of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) is understood to restrict the oral bioavailability of some pharmaceutical compounds and lead to adverse drug reactions. Therefore, the present investigation was intended to delineate the impacts of pulchinenosides on cellular P‐gp function and expression using Sf9 membrane vesicles and LS180 cells as a surrogate of human intestinal epithelial cells. Preliminary cytotoxic studies showed that 10 μM was an acceptable concentration for cytotoxicity and antiproliferation studies for all pulchinenosides using the alamarBlue assay. The cell cycle of LS180 cells detected by flow cytometry was not significantly influenced after 48 hours of coincubation with 10 μM of pulchinenosides. In the presence of pulchinenosides, the ATP‐dependent transport of N‐methyl‐quinidine mediated by P‐glycoprotein was stimulated significantly. The upregulation of P‐glycoprotein and mRNA levels was found by Western blot and real‐time PCR analysis in LS180 cells. Parallel changes indicate that all pulchinenosides are exposed to pulchinenosides‐mediated transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, pulchinenosides could induce P‐glycoprotein expression and directly increase its functional activity.
Text Data Security and Privacy in the Internet of Things: Threats, Challenges, and Future Directions
Authors: Khadam Umair , Iqbal Muhammad Munwar , Alruily Meshrif , Al Ghamdi Mohammed A. , Ramzan Muhammad , Almotiri Sultan H.
Published: February 2020

In our daily life, Internet-of-Things (IoT) is everywhere and used in many more beneficial functionalities. It is used in our homes, hospitals, fire prevention, and reporting and controlling the environmental changes. Data security is the crucial requirement for IoT since the number of recent technologies in different domains is increasing day by day. Various attempts have been made to cater the user’s demands for more security and privacy. However, a huge risk of security and privacy issues can arise among all those benefits. Digital document security and copyright protection are also important issues in IoT because they are distributed, reproduced, and disclosed with extensive use of communication technologies. The content of books, research papers, newspapers, legal documents, and web pages are based on plain text, and the ownership verification and authentication of such documents are essential. In the current domain of the Internet of Things, limited techniques are available for ownership verification and copyright protection. In the said perspective, this study includes the discussion about the approaches of text watermarking, IoT security challenges, IoT device limitations, and future research directions in the area of text watermarking.
Predicting the Performance of Rural Banks in Ghana Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Awoin Emmanuel , Appiahene Peter , Gyasi Frank , Sabtiwu Abdulai
Published: February 2020

The idea of rural banks was introduced as a result of limited commercial bank branches in rural areas to mobilize their resources for rural development. It is also believed that financial institutions such as rural banks are powerful tools for mitigating poverty. Nevertheless, some of these banks are rather increasing the burden of people through illegal activities and mismanagement of resources. Assessing banks’ performance using a set of financial ratios has been an interesting and challenging problem for many researchers and practitioners. Identification of factors that can accurately predict a firm’s performance is of great interest to any decision-maker. The study used ARB’s financial ratios as its independent variables to assess the performance of rural banks and later used random forest algorithm to identify the variables with the most relevance to the model. A dataset was obtained from the various banks. This study used three decision tree algorithms, namely, C5.0, C4.5, and CART, to build the various decision tree predictive models. The result of the study suggested that the C5.0 algorithm gave an accuracy of 100%, followed by the CART algorithm with an accuracy of 84.6% and, finally, the C4.5 algorithm with an accuracy of 83.34 on average. The study, therefore, recommended the usage of the C5.0 predictive model in predicting the financial performance of rural banks in Ghana.
Antiliver Fibrosis Screening of Active Ingredients from Apium graveolens L. Seeds via GC‐TOF‐MS and UHPLC‐MS/MS
Authors: Qiao Ming , Yang Jianhua , Zhao Yao , Zhu Yi , Wang Xiaomei , Wang Xinling , Hu Junping
Published: February 2020

Although several studies have been performed on Apium graveolens L.(celery) seeds, their antiliver fibrosis effects remain to be unexplored. Firstly, we detected the effects of celery seeds extracted with different concentrations of aqueous ethanol on the proliferation of HSC‐LX2 cells. Then, we detected the effects of fractions of the optimal effect extract on the proliferation and apoptosis of HSC‐LX2 cells. Finally, the compounds of petroleum ether (PP), ethyl acetate (PE), n‐butyl alcohol (PB), and water fractions (PW) of the optimal effect extract were determined by GC‐TOF‐MS and UHPLC‐MS/MS, to confirm the potentially antifibrotic compounds combined with pharmacodynamic experiment of monomer compounds in vitro. The results revealed that 60% ethanol extract of celery seeds (60‐extract) exhibited remarkable inhibition effect on the proliferation of HSC‐LX2 cells compared with 95% ethanol and aqueous extract. Besides, it validated that the inhibition rates of PP, PE, PB, and PW on the proliferation of HSC‐LX2 cells were 75.14%, 73.52%, 54.09%, and 43.36%, and their percentage of apoptotic cells were 37.5%, 4.3%, 0.7%, and 0.1% at high doses, respectively. Additionally, it was manifested that apigenin, aesculetin, and butylphthalide have major contribution to the overall compounds of celery seeds, and the inhibition effects on the cell proliferation clearly elevated with increase in their contents. In essence, apigenin, aesculetin, and butylphthalide may hopefully become the natural products of antiliver fibrosis, which laid a foundation for the subsequent development of celery seeds as antiliver fibrosis drugs.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Diagnostic Experience in a Reference Hospital: A Case Series
Authors: López Panqueva Rocio del Pilar , Suarez-Zamora David A. , Barrera-Herrera Luis E. , Rolón Cadena Mariam
Published: February 2020

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, usually located in sun-exposed skin, with aggressive behavior and with high recurrence risk and metastatic disease. In Latin America, case series have been published, and it does not exceed 32 patients in 10 years, and in Colombia, there are case reports. We present a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study in patients diagnosed with MCC in the Department of Pathology and Laboratories at the University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá(FSFB) between January 2003 and December 2018. We present the demographic, clinical, and pathological variables of these patients, as well as a literature review.
Clostridioides Difficile Infection Is a Rare Cause of Infectious Pouchitis
Authors: Kayal Maia , Tixier Emily , Plietz Michael , Radcliffe Marlana , Rizvi Anam , Riggs Alexa , Trivedi Parth , Khaitov Sergey , Sylla Patricia , Greenstein Alexander , Dubinsky Marla C. , Grinspan Ari
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The true incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients with an ileal pouch is unknown, and there is little published on its associated risk factors. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the rate and risk factors of CDI in pouch patients. Methods: This was a retrospective review conducted at a single tertiary care inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center. All ulcerative colitis or IBD-unspecified (IBD-U) patients who underwent total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis for medically refractory disease or dysplasia between 2008 and 2017 were identified. Symptomatic patients tested for CDI were included. Demographic, disease, and surgical characteristics were collected. Nonparametric methods were used to compare continuous outcomes, and χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare patients with and without CDI as appropriate. Results: A total of 154 pouch patients had postoperative C. difficilestool testing for symptoms of fever, urgency, increased stool frequency, hematochezia, incontinence, and abdominal and/or pelvic pain. CDI was diagnosed in 11 (7.1%) patients a median of 139 days (IQR 34–1,170) after the final surgical stage. Ten patients (90.9%) received oral vancomycin for 10 days and 1 patient (9.1%) received oral metronidazole for 2 weeks. Ten patients (90.9%) reported improvement in symptoms at completion of therapy. Nine patients (81.8%) were retested for CDI for recurrent symptoms and found to be negative. No patient had CDI recurrence. There was no significant difference in demographic and surgical characteristics, previous antibiotic or proton pump inhibitor use, or previous hospital admission among the patients with and without CDI. Conclusions: CDI is a rare cause of infectious pouchitis and treatment with oral vancomycin improves symptoms.
Exploratory Analysis to Identify Candidates Benefitting from Combination Therapy of Transarterial Chemoembolization and Sorafenib for First-Line Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Wang Zhexuan , Wang Enxin , Bai Wei , Xia Dongdong , Ding Rong , Li Jiaping , Wang Qiuhe , Liu Lei , Sun Junhui , Mu Wei , Zhao Hui , Pan Xingnan , Shao Guoliang , Zhu Xiaoli , Yin Guowen , Shi Haibin , Wu Jianbing , Lin Zhengyu , Yang Shufa , Liu Jueshi , Wang Wenhui , Zhu Xu , Lv Yong , Li Jing , Chen Hui , Wang Wenjun , Li Kai , Yuan Xulong , Yu Tanlei , Yuan Jie , Li Xiaomei , Niu Jing , Yin Zhanxin , Xia Jielai , Fan Daiming , Han Guohong
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The benefits of combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib (TACE-S) over TACE alone for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. Yet, such populations are heterogeneous in terms of baseline characteristics. Objective: To investigate the predictors of survival benefits from added sorafenib and identify the potential candidates for TACE-S. Methods: This multicenter observational study was conducted in 17 Chinese tertiary hospitals for patients with unresectable, liver-confined HCC. Eligible patients with performance status score of ≤1 and Child-Pugh score of ≤7 were treated with TACE or TACE-S. Interactions between treatment and baseline variables were evaluated to find indicators for survival benefits, based on which the patients were stratified. Multivariate models adjusted for baseline characteristics or propensity score were used to compare overall survival (OS) and time to tumor progression (TTP). Results: From January 2009 to December 2015, 1,719 consecutive patients received TACE (n = 1,406) or TACE-S (n = 313). Although TACE-S compared with TACE improved TTP (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.75, p = 0.008), no difference in OS was observed (adjusted HR 0.87, p = 0.090). Nevertheless, the tumor burden (sum of maximum diameter of largest tumor [cm] and tumor number) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score independently predicted the survival benefits from added sorafenib (interaction p< 0.001). For patients with either moderate tumor burden (7–13) or low ALBI score (no more than –2.8) defined as candidates, TACE-S prolonged OS (adjusted HR 0.73, p = 0.003) and TTP (adjusted HR 0.72, p = 0.014) compared to TACE alone, whereas its superiority disappeared in non-candidates. Conclusions: Not all unresectable HCC patients but those with moderate tumor burden or low ALBI score achieve survival benefits from TACE-S compared with TACE alone. Future randomized controlled trials focusing on the subset are warranted.
Neurocognitive Underpinnings of Aggressive Predation in Economic Contests
Authors: Rojek-Giffin Michael , Lebreton Mael , Scholte H. Steven , van Winden Frans , Ridderinkhof K. Richard , De Dreu Carsten K. W.
Published: February 2020

Competitions are part and parcel of daily life and require people to invest time and energy to gain advantage over others and to avoid (the risk of) falling behind. Whereas the behavioral mechanisms underlying competition are well documented, its neurocognitive underpinnings remain poorly understood. We addressed this using neuroimaging and computational modeling of individual investment decisions aimed at exploiting one's counterpart (“attack”) or at protecting against exploitation by one's counterpart (“defense”). Analyses revealed that during attack relative to defense (i) individuals invest less and are less successful; (ii) computations of expected reward are strategically more sophisticated (reasoning level k = 4 vs. k = 3 during defense); (iii) ventral striatum activity tracks reward prediction errors; (iv) risk prediction errors were not correlated with neural activity in either ROI or whole-brain analyses; and (v) successful exploitation correlated with neural activity in the bilateral ventral striatum, left OFC, left anterior insula, left TPJ, and lateral occipital cortex. We conclude that, in economic contests, coming out ahead (vs. not falling behind) involves sophisticated strategic reasoning that engages both reward and value computation areas and areas associated with theory of mind.
On the Nonexistence of Verb-Stranding VP-Ellipsis
Authors: Landau Idan
Published: February 2020

An increasingly popular analysis of object gap sentences in many languages derives them in two steps: (a) V-raising out of VP, and (b) VP-ellipsis of the remnant, stranding the verb (V-stranding VP-ellipsis, VSVPE). For Hebrew, Hindi, Russian, and Portuguese, I show this analysis to be inadequate. First, it undergenerates elliptical objects in various environments, and second, it overgenerates nonexisting adjunct-including readings. For all the problematic data, simple argument ellipsis provides a unified explanation. The absence of VSVPE in languages that do allow V-raising and Aux-stranding VP-ellipsis raises an intriguing problem for theories addressing the interaction of head movement and ellipsis.