bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANTICORROSION AND REPAIR BEHAVIOR OF REC–SiO2 SILANE FILM ON CARBON STEEL
Authors: TANG JIABIN , YAO YIHE , GUO MANLI , JIANG JIBO , CONG HAISHAN , CHEN YUKAI , SUN YAOXIN , KONG YUE , HAN SHENG
Published: July 2021

The synergistic effect of Ce[Formula: see text] and SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) composite silane film on the corrosion resistance of carbon steel was researched. The preparation method of silane film is mainly hydrolysis of bis-1,2-(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-560) under acidic conditions and condensation reaction. EDX and SEM were employed to analyze the element distribution and morphological characteristics of the coating, which confirmed the coatings were crack-free and even distribution of surface elements. The chemical bond structure characteristics of the silane film on carbon steel were analyzed by XPS, and compared with the silane film after ultrasound. It proved the bonding force of the silane film. The best corrosion current density of the silane film containing cerium is 4.65 [Formula: see text]Acm[Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] obtained by simulating the corrosion circuit through Zsimpwin software is 22.02[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]. On this basis, by adding different concentrations of SiO2 NPs, the corrosion current density can reach a minimum of 0.70 [Formula: see text]Acm[Formula: see text]. The simulated polarization curve [Formula: see text] was 65.13[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]. In the long-term open-circuit potential test, the potential of the silane film containing rare earth cerium increased to 38[Formula: see text]mV at a certain stage, which proves the self-healing performance of the film.
A tensor product approach to compute 2-nilpotent multiplier of p-groups
Authors: Fasihi F. , Jafari S. Hadi
Published: July 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a group given by a free presentation [Formula: see text]. The 2-nilpotent multiplier of [Formula: see text] is the abelian group [Formula: see text] which is invariant of [Formula: see text] [R. Baer, Representations of groups as quotient groups, I, II, and III, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 58 (1945) 295–419]. An effective approach to compute the 2-nilpotent multiplier of groups has been proposed by Burns and Ellis [On the nilpotent multipliers of a group, Math. Z. 226 (1997) 405–428], which is based on the nonabelian tensor product. We use this method to determine the explicit structure of [Formula: see text], when [Formula: see text] is a finite (generalized) extra special [Formula: see text]-group. Moreover, the descriptions of the triple tensor product [Formula: see text], and the triple exterior product [Formula: see text] are given.
Primary-space Adaptive Control Variates Using Piecewise-polynomial Approximations
Authors: Crespo Miguel , Jarabo Adrian , Muñoz Adolfo
Published: July 2021

We present an unbiased numerical integration algorithm that handles both low-frequency regions and high-frequency details of multidimensional integrals. It combines quadrature and Monte Carlo integration by using a quadrature-based approximation as a control variate of the signal. We adaptively build the control variate constructed as a piecewise polynomial, which can be analytically integrated, and accurately reconstructs the low-frequency regions of the integrand. We then recover the high-frequency details missed by the control variate by using Monte Carlo integration of the residual. Our work leverages importance sampling techniques by working in primary space, allowing the combination of multiple mappings; this enables multiple importance sampling in quadrature-based integration. Our algorithm is generic and can be applied to any complex multidimensional integral. We demonstrate its effectiveness with four applications with low dimensionality: transmittance estimation in heterogeneous participating media, low-order scattering in homogeneous media, direct illumination computation, and rendering of distribution effects. Finally, we show how our technique is extensible to integrands of higher dimensionality by computing the control variate on Monte Carlo estimates of the high-dimensional signal, and accounting for such additional dimensionality on the residual as well. In all cases, we show accurate results and faster convergence compared to previous approaches.
Mid-Air Drawing of Curves on 3D Surfaces in Virtual Reality
Authors: Arora Rahul , Singh Karan
Published: July 2021

Complex 3D curves can be created by directly drawing mid-air in immersive environments (Augmented and Virtual Realities). Drawing mid-air strokes precisely on the surface of a 3D virtual object, however, is difficult, necessitating a projection of the mid-air stroke onto the user “intended” surface curve. We present the first detailed investigation of the fundamental problem of 3D stroke projection in VR. An assessment of the design requirements of real-time drawing of curves on 3D objects in VR is followed by the definition and classification of multiple techniques for 3D stroke projection. We analyze the advantages and shortcomings of these approaches both theoretically and via practical pilot testing. We then formally evaluate the two most promising techniques
spraycan
and
mimicry
with 20 users in VR. The study shows a strong qualitative and quantitative user preference for our novel stroke
mimicry
projection algorithm. We further illustrate the effectiveness and

utility of stroke mimicry to draw complex 3D curves on surfaces for various artistic and functional design applications.
On the Distributed Complexity of Large-Scale Graph Computations
Authors: Pandurangan Gopal , Robinson Peter , Scquizzato Michele
Published: July 2021

Motivated by the increasing need to understand the distributed algorithmic foundations of large-scale graph computations, we study some fundamental graph problems in a message-passing model for distributed computing where k ≥ 2 machines jointly perform computations on graphs with
n
nodes (typically, n >> k). The input graph is assumed to be initially randomly partitioned among the
k
machines, a common implementation in many real-world systems. Communication is point-to-point, and the goal is to minimize the number of communication
rounds
of the computation.

Our main contribution is the
General Lower Bound Theorem
, a theorem that can be used to show non-trivial lower bounds on the round complexity of distributed large-scale data computations. This result is established via an information-theoretic approach that relates the round complexity to the minimal amount of information required by machines to solve the problem. Our approach is generic, and this theorem can be used in a “cookbook” fashion to show distributed lower bounds for several problems, including non-graph problems. We present two applications by showing (almost) tight lower bounds on the round complexity of two fundamental graph problems, namely,
PageRank computation
and
triangle enumeration
. These applications show that our approach can yield lower bounds for problems where the application of communication complexity techniques seems not obvious or gives weak bounds, including and especially under a stochastic partition of the input.

We then present distributed algorithms for PageRank and triangle enumeration with a round complexity that (almost) matches the respective lower bounds; these algorithms exhibit a round complexity that scales superlinearly in
k
, improving significantly over previous results [Klauck et al., SODA 2015]. Specifically, we show the following results:

PageRank:
We show a lower bound of Ὼ(n/k
2
) rounds and present a distributed algorithm that computes an approximation of the PageRank of all the nodes of a graph in Õ(n/k
2
) rounds.

Triangle enumeration:
We show that there exist graphs with
m
edges where any distributed algorithm requires Ὼ(m/k
5/3
) rounds. This result also implies the first non-trivial lower bound of Ὼ(n
1/3
) rounds for the
congested clique
model, which is tight up to logarithmic factors. We then present a distributed algorithm that enumerates all the triangles of a graph in Õ(m/k
5/3
+ n/k
4/3
) rounds.
ASTRO
Authors: Petrolo Riccardo , Shaikhanov Zhambyl , Lin Yingyan , Knightly Edward
Published: July 2021

We present the design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of ASTRO, a modular end-to-end system for distributed sensing missions with autonomous networked drones. We introduce the fundamental system architecture features that enable agnostic sensing missions on top of the ASTRO drones. We demonstrate the key principles of ASTRO by using on-board software-defined radios to find and track a mobile radio target. We show how simple distributed on-board machine learning methods can be used to find and track a mobile target, even if all drones lose contact with a ground control. Also, we show that ASTRO is able to find the target even if it is hiding under a three-ton concrete slab, representing a highly irregular propagation environment. Our findings reveal that, despite no prior training and noisy sensory measurements, ASTRO drones are able to learn the propagation environment in the scale of seconds and localize a target with a mean accuracy of 8 m. Moreover, ASTRO drones are able to track the target with relatively constant error over time, even as it moves at a speed close to the maximum drone speed.
Utilization of the repeated squat-stand model for studying the directional sensitivity of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship
Authors: Labrecque Lawrence , Smirl Jonathan D. , Brassard Patrice
Published: July 2021

Repeated squat-stand maneuvers are able to examine the directional sensitivity of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship. These maneuvers induce stable physiological cyclic changes where brain blood flow changes with blood pressure increases are buffered more than blood pressure decreases. These results highlight the importance of considering directional blood pressure changes within cerebral autoregulation.
Impact of cutaneous blood flow on NIR-DCS measures of skeletal muscle blood flow index
Authors: Bartlett Miles F. , Akins John D. , Oneglia Andrew P. , Brothers R. Matthew , Wilkes Dustin , Nelson Michael D.
Published: July 2021

We used passive whole body heat stress, in combination with local intradermal botulinum toxin type A treatment, to experimentally manipulate cutaneous blood flow and investigate its impact on NIR-DCS measures of skeletal muscle BFI at rest and during exercise. Collectively, the results show that cutaneous blood flow, which was augmented in response to passive whole body heat stress, markedly affects NIR-DCS-derived BFI, such that the BFI signal becomes dominated by changes in cutaneous red blood cell flux.
Effects of aging on conditional visuomotor learning for grasping and lifting eccentrically weighted objects
Authors: Rao Nishant , Mehta Neha , Patel Pujan , Parikh Pranav J.
Published: July 2021

We studied whether older adults are able to predictively modulate digit position using arbitrary color cues indicating object center of mass location for dexterous manipulation. Older adults showed an impaired ability to modulate digit position using the color cues when compared with young adults. Interestingly, similar impairments were not found when same older individuals learned the task using implicit knowledge. Our findings suggest an age-related impairment specifically in the conditional learning mechanisms for dexterous manipulation.
Effect of the Sound Source Position Error on Distribution Characteristics of Underwater Shock Wave Bunching Sound Field
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Li Hongbing , Li Ning , Lei Kaizhuo
Published: July 2021

Curved reflection bunching technique of underwater plasma sound source (UPSS) uses the geometric characteristics of the curved reflector to reflect and bunching intense sound shock wave, so the center position error of the sound source is one of the important factors affecting the bunching performance of the shock wave. In this paper, the cause of the sound source position error is analyzed in detail, and nonlinear finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA (dynamic analysis software developed by LSTC) is used to establish the model of the shock wave bunching sound field. Through numerical simulations, the shock wave bunching sound field distribution characteristics under the influence of different position errors are comprehensively simulated, and the bunching performance of the shock wave and its influence law are deeply analyzed according to the simulation results. It provides guidance for reasonably controlling the machining error and installation error of the reflector and discharge electrode, estimating the effective discharge times of the discharge electrode, and formulating the design process.
Accurate Recognition Method of Human Body Movement Blurred Image Gait Features Using Graph Neural Network
Authors: Yu Yang
Published: July 2021

In view of the problems of low precision, poor quality, and long time of gait feature recognition due to the influence of human body movement environment on the recognition process of the current gait feature recognition method of human body movement blurred image, a new method of gait feature recognition based on graph neural network (GNN) method is proposed. The gait features of human movement blurred images were extracted, and the fusion clustering recognition of the GNN algorithm was used to locate the gait features of human movement blurred images. The gait features of human body movement blurred images were located by the GNN method. According to the contour feature point info of the human body movement blurred image, the standard deviation of gait feature location of the human body movement blurred image was calculated, the gait feature of the blurred image of human body movement was reconstructed, and the gait recognition of the human body movement blurred image was achieved. The results show that the extraction of human movement is good, with high positioning confidence, good recognition quality, average recognition accuracy of 92%, and greatly shortened recognition time.
Dynamic Analysis of a Fault Planetary Gear System under Nonlinear Parameter Excitation
Authors: Han Jianchao , Liu Yinghui , Liang Lei , Zhao Yang , Zhang Huibo
Published: July 2021

In order to facilitate lubrication and avoid the gear stuck due to thermal expansion, there needs to be a gap between the tooth profiles. As a strong nonlinear factor, the backlash will affect the motion state of the planetary gear system. When the gear failures occur, the motion state of the system will accordingly change. In this study, the meshing stiffness of the gear pair with tooth tip chipping fault is calculated by combining the analytic geometry method and the potential energy method. Then, a new nonlinear dynamic model including tooth backlash, time‐varying mesh stiffness, and manufacturing error is established to study the dynamic response of the system. The equations of motion are derived by the Lagrangian method and solved by the numerical integration method. Taking the excitation frequency and tooth backlash as the variation parameters, respectively, the dynamic characteristics of the system are analyzed by comparing the global bifurcation diagrams between the health system and the fault system, and the path of the system into chaos is revealed. At the same time, the local characteristics of the system are revealed through the phase diagrams and Poincaré maps. The results show that with the variation of excitation frequency and tooth backlash, the fault system presents a more complex motion state. This study can provide the theoretical support for dynamic design and fault diagnosis of planetary gear transmission systems under the environment of gear fault‐prone.
Herbal Medicines Targeting the Improved β-Cell Functions and β-Cell Regeneration for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wickramasinghe Akurange Sujeevi Dammadinna , Kalansuriya Pabasara , Attanayake Anoja Priyadarshani
Published: July 2021

There is an increasing trend of investigating natural bioactive compounds targeting pancreatic β-cells for the prevention/treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). With the exploration of multiple mechanisms by which β-cells involve in the pathogenesis of DM, herbal medicines are gaining attention due to their multitasking ability as evidenced by traditional medicine practices. This review attempts to summarize herbal medicines with the potential for improvement of β-cell functions and regeneration as scientifically proven by in vivo/in vitro investigations. Furthermore, attempts have been made to identify the mechanisms of improving the function and regeneration of β-cells by herbal medicines. Relevant data published from January 2009 to March 2020 were collected by searching electronic databases “PubMed,” “ScienceDirect,” and “Google Scholar” and studied for this review. Single herbal extracts, polyherbal mixtures, and isolated compounds derived from approximately 110 medicinal plants belonging to 51 different plant families had been investigated in recent years and found to be targeting β-cells. Many herbal medicines showed improvement of β-cell function as observed through homeostatic model assessment-β-cell function (HOMA-β). Pancreatic β-cell regeneration as observed in histopathological and immunohistochemical studies in terms of increase of size and number of functional β-cells was also prominent. Increasing β-cell mass via expression of genes/proteins related to antiapoptotic actions and β-cell neogenesis/proliferation, increasing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via activating glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2) receptors, and/or increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels were observed upon treatment of some herbal medicines. Some herbal medicines acted on various insulin signaling pathways. Furthermore, many herbal medicines showed protective effects on β-cells via reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation. However, there are many unexplored avenues. Thus, further investigations are warranted in elucidating mechanisms of improving β-cell function and mass by herbal medicines, their structure-activity relationship (SAR), and toxicities of these herbal medicines.
Study on the Aging Time Variation Law of Mechanical Properties of the Laminated Rubber Bearing in Coastal Bridges considering Frictional Slip
Authors: Li Yue , Gao Chongming , Li Chong , Li Qian
Published: July 2021

As an important support member in the structural system of coastal bridges, the frictional slip and the rubber aging of laminated rubber bearings will affect the service safety of the overall structure in earthquakes. In order to investigate the mechanical properties aging law of the rubber bearings considering frictional slip in the coastal bridges, a frictional slip experiment was carried out on the laminated rubber bearings. Moreover, the influence of rubber aging on the mechanical properties of the bearings with various shape coefficients was analyzed by the finite element method during the 100 years of service life of bridges. The results indicate that (1) the horizontal and vertical stiffness of the bearing increase linearly with the aging time of the rubber. The amplification of the bearing stiffness also grows with the shape coefficient of the bearing. (2) The frictional slip initiation displacement of the bearing grows with the rubber aging time. Furthermore, the larger the shape coefficient of the bearing is, the more the frictional slip initiation displacement of the bearing increases. (3) With the increase of the aging time, the equivalent viscous damping ratio of the bearing continues to increase and more energy is consumed by frictional slip. For the bearing with the shape coefficient of 16.38, the equivalent viscous damping ratio at 100 years of rubber aging time is 1.17 times higher than that of the initial state of the bearing, and 33.21% more energy is consumed through frictional slip. Given that the marine environment accelerates rubber aging and changes the mechanical properties, the effects of the frictional slip and rubber aging properties of the laminated rubber bearings on the seismic dynamic response of bridges should be considered in the seismic design of coastal bridges.
Determinants of Undernutrition among Adult Tuberculosis Patients Receiving Treatment in Public Health Institutions in Shashemane Town, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Anbese Adane , Egeta Gudina , Mesfin Frehiwot , Arega Sadore Abinet
Published: July 2021

Background. Undernutrition and tuberculosis are the major concerns of underdeveloped regions of the world. Tuberculosis makes undernutrition worse and undernutrition weakens immunity, thereby increasing the likelihood that latent tuberculosis will develop into active disease. Nevertheless, little has been understood about undernutrition among patients with infectious disease like tuberculosis in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of undernutrition and its determinants among tuberculosis patients in Shashemane public health institutions, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two public hospitals and ten health centers of Shashemane Town from March 12, to April 12, 2017, among 368 adult tuberculosis patients on treatment follow-up. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and anthropometric data were collected. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.3 computer software and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariable logistic regression analyses were done to assess the association between outcome variable at bivariate analysis, and multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess factors that were independently associated with undernutrition. Odds ratios along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to measure the strength of the association, and level of statistical significance was declared at

P

value ≤0.05. Result. The overall magnitude of undernutrition among adult tuberculosis patients in this study was 28.8% (95% CI = 0.25–0.34). Patients in the age group of forty-five and above ((AOR = 3.39, 95% CI = (1.6–7.18)), residents in rural area ((AOR = 1.95, 95% CI = (1.07–3.54)), those with problem with eating ((AOR = 2.361, 95% CI = (1.332–4.185)), and those who are not on food supplementation ((AOR = 2.21, 95% CI = (1.06–4.58)) were significantly at higher risk of undernutrition. Conclusion. The magnitude of undernutrition in the study setting was found to be significantly higher. Age greater than forty-five, living in rural area, and lack of nutritional care and support were identified as the factors associated with undernutrition. Thus, relevant actors should give attention to fast nutritional intervention together with standard therapeutic regimen in the management of pulmonary tuberculosis patients to curb their nutritional derangement.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Banana Pseudostem Hydrolysate to Produce Bioethanol
Authors: Legodi Lesetja Moraba , LaGrange Daniel Coenrad , Jansen van Rensburg Elbert Lukas , Ncube Ignatious
Published: July 2021

Banana pseudostem (BPS) is an agricultural waste with a high holocellulose content, which, upon hydrolysis, releases fermentable sugars that can be used for bioethanol production. Different pretreatment methods, namely, 3% (w/v) NaOH, 5% (v/v) H2SO4, and liquid hot water, applied on the BPS resulted in the availability of 52%, 48%, and 25% cellulose after treatment, respectively. Saccharification of the pretreated BPS with 10 FPU/g dry solids (29.3 mg protein/g d.s) crude enzyme from Trichoderma harzianum LMLBP07 13-5 at 50°C and a substrate loading of 10 to 15% released 3.8 to 21.8 g/L and from T. longibrachiatum LMLSAUL 14-1 released 5.4 to 43.5 g/L glucose to the biomass. Ethanol was produced through separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) of alkaline pretreated BPS hydrolysate using Saccharomyces cerevisiae UL01 at 30°C and 100 rpm. Highest ethanol produced was 17.6 g/L. Banana pseudostem was shown as a potentially cheap substrate for bioethanol production.
Measurement and Analysis of Roadway Deformation and Stress under Mining‐Induced Stress
Authors: Cui Jianfeng , Wang Weijun , Jia Qian , Peng Gang , Wu Hai
Published: July 2021

Small coal pillars, which are used to protect roadways, have a significant influence on mining operations and roadway stability and safety. Consequently, the optimal width of coal pillars that provides suitable performance under mining‐induced stress must be determined accurately. Based on the deformation data of the surrounding rock along the gob roadway of the 13318 working face in Xieqiao Coal Mine, we analyzed the surface deformation data of the roadway and the displacement of the deep surrounding rock of the roadway under the action of mining‐induced stress herein. The separation fractures of the low side of the roadway can be divided into four zones: 0–2 m, 2–5 m, 5–9 m, and 9–11 m. The absolute displacement of the surrounding rock relative to the center of the roadway in the 0–2 m zone was large, and the displacement region in the side of the roadway extended from 0 m to 11 m. The separation fractures of the high side of the roadway can be divided into three zones: 0–3 m, 3–5 m, and 5–5.5 m. The absolute displacement of the surrounding rock relative to the center of the roadway in the 0–3 m zone was large, whereas the deformation separation of the coal pillar was small. The surrounding rock in the 5–5.5 m zone also exhibited absolute displacement relative to the center of the roadway. Furthermore, the stress increased faster on the low side of the roadway than the high side; the core stress region on the high side occurred at approximately 3 m, whereas that on the low side occurred at approximately 8 m. The findings obtained herein can help determine the optimal preset width of small pillars.
Peripheral Artery Tonometry Reveals Impaired Endothelial Function before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Periprocedural Myocardial Injury
Authors: Chen Zhangwei , Zhou You , Yin Jiasheng , Gao Qinglai , Chen Ao , Xia Yan , Lu Danbo , Huang Dong , Qian Juying , Ge Junbo
Published: July 2021

Background. Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) is a most common complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Microembolization and inflammation underlying PMI could lead to coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and vice versa. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) assessed by peripheral artery tonometry (PAT) has been considered as a noninvasive method to assess endothelial function and CMD, which could be useful to predict PMI. Methods. 268 patients suspected with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and scheduled for elective coronary angiography were enrolled. RHI was measured by using the Endo-PAT2000™ device before angiography. The association among RHI, PMI, and cardiovascular events was further assessed. Results. In this cohort, 189 patients (70.5%) were diagnosed with CAD and 119 patients (44.4%) underwent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Compared with patients without CAD, CAD patients had lower RHI (1.88 ± 0.55 vs. 2.02 ± 0.58,

P
<
0.05

). Patients with PMI had a lower RHI before angiography (1.75 ± 0.37 vs. 1.95 ± 0.50,

P
<
0.05

). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of RHI revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.61, with a sensitivity of 62.7% and specificity of 50.0% to predict PMI. Moreover, we found that CAD patients with RHI ≤ 1.81 had a higher incidence of composite cardiac events after stenting (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–10.22,

P
<
0.05

). Conclusions. RHI assessment through PAT could be a promising method to predict PMI before the procedure. RHI is associated with increased risk of long-term adverse cardiac events after DES implantation.
Development of Attenuated Total Reflectance Mid-Infrared (ATR-MIR) and Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy for the Determination of Resistant Starch Content in Wheat Grains
Authors: Wang Rong , Wei Xia , Wang Hongpan , Zhao Linshu , Zeng Cengli , Wang Bingrui , Zhang Wenying , Liu Luxiang , Xu Yanhao
Published: July 2021

The chemical method for the determination of the resistant starch (RS) content in grains is time-consuming and labor intensive. Near-infrared (NIR) and attenuated total reflectance mid-infrared (ATR-MIR) spectroscopy are rapid and nondestructive analytical techniques for determining grain quality. This study was the first report to establish and compare these two spectroscopic techniques for determining the RS content in wheat grains. Calibration models with four preprocessing techniques based on the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm were built. In the NIR technique, the mean normalization + Savitzky–Golay smoothing (MN + SGS) preprocessing technique had a higher coefficient of determination (Rc2 = 0.672;Rp2 = 0.552) and a relative lower root mean square error value (RMSEC = 0.385; RMSEP = 0.459). In the ATR-MIR technique, the baseline preprocessing method exhibited a better performance regarding to the values of coefficient of determination (Rc2 = 0.927;Rp2 = 0.828) and mean square error value (RMSEC = 0.153; RMSEP = 0.284). The validation of the developed best NIR and ATR-MIR calibration models showed that the ATR-MIR best calibration model has a better RS prediction ability than the NIR best calibration model. Two high grain RS content wheat mutants were screened out by the ATR-MIR best calibration model from the wheat mutant library. There was no significant difference between the predicted values and chemical measured values in the two high RS content mutants. It proved that the ATR-MIR model can be a perfect substitute in RS measuring. All the results indicated that the ATR-MIR spectroscopy with improved screening efficiency can be used as a fast, rapid, and nondestructive method in high grain RS content wheat breeding.
The Beneficial Role of Auricular Point Pressure in Insomnia and Anxiety in Isolated COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Luo Yueming , Ling Chuanren , Liu Yangchen , Deng Chong , Waaga-Gasser Ana Maria , Chen Minggui , He Zehui , Chen Erhui , Wei Lin , Luo Shimiao , Gong Xiaozhen , Ye Hong , Zhu Jing , Song Shan , Wang Qiuting , Li Shunmin , Gasser Martin , Lin Meizhen
Published: July 2021

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes psychological distress and can have a negative impact on the general mental health and rehabilitation in affected patients under currently implemented isolation guidelines. Auricular point pressure (APP) as well-established technique in traditional Chinese medicine may help to relieve sleep disturbance and anxiety in COVID-19 patients. Methods. During the early phase of the epidemic/pandemic, patients were enrolled in this study (02/2020 until 03/2020 n = 84). They were strictly isolated on specific wards at the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine in Hubei. The retrospective cohort study design included two groups. Group A patients were treated with an auricular point pressure (APP) in addition to standard intensive care medicine while Group B participants (No-APP) received routine nursing measures alone. Treatment outcome was measured using the St. Mary’s Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMH) Score and the 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Both scores were measured in each patient at baseline and on the discharge day. Results. The SMH score and sleep status changed in APP patients at the end of the treatment period when compared with No-APP patients (

P
<
0.01

). APP-treated patients demonstrated lower GAD-7 scores than No-APP controls (

P
<
0.01

). Further, no significant differences in safety or adverse events between the APP and No-APP groups were observed. Conclusion. The results from our snapshot study during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic/pandemic suggest that auricular point pressure could be a simple and effective tool to relieve insomnia and situational anxiety in hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 and kept under disconcerting conditions of isolation.
Image Encryption with Fusion of Two Maps
Authors: Abanda Yannick , Tiedeu Alain , Kom Guillaume
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we propose a fusion technique for image encryption combining two maps and generate a new optimized map by fusing Hartley and Duffing chaotic oscillators. In order to measure and quantify the amount of chaos present in data sequences, the resultant map is tested by a new method of nonlinear time series analysis. This test ensures its robustness during its use to construct an encrypted image when combined with some mathematical function that we have designed. The cryptosystem was tested on images such as Lena, Barbara, Mandrill, and Man. The results were compared to those in the literature and proved satisfactory.
Phytomedicine from Middle Eastern Countries: An Alternative Remedy to Modern Medicine against Candida spp Infection
Authors: Alam Mohammad Zubair , Ahmad Khan Mohd Sajjad
Published: July 2021

Candida spp are capable of infecting both normal and immunocompromised individuals. More recently, Candida infections have spread considerably in healthcare settings, especially in intensive care units, where it is the most frequently encountered pathogen. Candida albicans is the commonest species encountered, although infections by non-albicans species have also risen in the past few years. The pathogenicity of Candida is credited to its aptitude to change between yeast and hyphal modes of growth. Candida spp produce biofilms on synthetic materials that protect them and facilitate drug resistance and act as a source for chronic and recurrent infections. Primarily, azoles antifungal agents are utilized to treat Candida infection that targets the ergosterol synthesis pathway in the cell wall. The development of antifungal resistance in Candida species is a major reason for treatment failure, and hence, there is a need to develop newer antifungal molecules and/or modifications of existing antifungals to make them more effective and less toxic. This has led researchers to oversee the plants to discover newer antimicrobials. Middle Eastern countries are well known for their landscape ranging from dry and sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains. However, they comprise enormous plant diversity with over 20,000 different species showing various types of bioactivities, such as anticancer, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities. Especially, the antifungal potential of these phytoproducts could be exploited in the clinical setting for therapy. The present review examines some of the promising alternative natural compounds that have been tested and found effective in treating Candida infections in vitro in some Middle Eastern countries.
A Perspective View of Cotton Leaf Image Classification Using Machine Learning Algorithms Using WEKA
Authors: Patil Bhagya M. , Burkpalli Vishwanath
Published: July 2021

Cotton is one of the major crops in India, where 23% of cotton gets exported to other countries. The cotton yield depends on crop growth, and it gets affected by diseases. In this paper, cotton disease classification is performed using different machine learning algorithms. For this research, the cotton leaf image database was used to segment the images from the natural background using modified factorization-based active contour method. First, the color and texture features are extracted from segmented images. Later, it has to be fed to the machine learning algorithms such as multilayer perceptron, support vector machine, Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, AdaBoost, and K-nearest neighbor. Four color features and eight texture features were extracted, and experimentation was done using three cases: (1) only color features, (2) only texture features, and (3) both color and texture features. The performance of classifiers was better when color features are extracted compared to texture feature extraction. The color features are enough to classify the healthy and unhealthy cotton leaf images. The performance of the classifiers was evaluated using performance parameters such as precision, recall, F-measure, and Matthews correlation coefficient. The accuracies of classifiers such as support vector machine, Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, AdaBoost, and K-nearest neighbor are 93.38%, 90.91%, 95.86%, 92.56%, and 94.21%, respectively, whereas that of the multilayer perceptron classifier is 96.69%.
Huxie Huaji Ointment Induced Apoptosis of Liver Cancer Cells In Vivo and In Vitro by Activating the Mitochondrial Pathway
Authors: Cai Yuan , Du Qing , Deng Tian-Hao , Shen Bing-Bing , Peng Yan-Mei , Zeng Pu-Hua , Yu Song-Ren
Published: July 2021

Huxie Huaji (HXHJ) Ointment is a famous traditional Chinese medicinal prescription and is commonly used for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by boosting immunity and detoxification. However, the scientific evidence for the effect of HXHJ Ointment on hepatocellular carcinoma and the underlying molecular mechanism are lacking. The present study aimed to identify the effects of HXHJ Ointment on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo as well as investigating the mechanistic basis for the anticancer effect of HXHJ ointment. First, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to verify the composition of HXHJ Ointment and quality control. Second, in vitro, Cell Counting Kit (CCK8) cell viability assay and Hoechst 33342 staining assay were performed to explain the cell apoptosis. The protein levels of tumor suppressor protein (p53), B-cell lymphoma 2 gene (Bcl-2), cytochrome C (Cyt-C), and aspartate proteolytic enzyme-3 (caspase-3) were examined by immunofluorescence. Finally, in vivo, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in hepatocellular carcinoma samples. Western blots and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the anticancer properties of HXHJ ointment. The results in vitro showed that 20% HXHJ Ointment serum could significantly inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation, increased tumor suppressor gene p53, downregulated antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, promoted the release of mitochondrial Cyt-C, activated caspase-3, and induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that HXHJ Ointment could effectively inhibit tumor growth in nude mice xenotransplanted with HepG2 cells, changed the morphology of tumor cells, and regulated the expression of apoptosis-related protein pathway p53/Bcl-2/Cyt-C/caspase-3. HXHJ Ointment can significantly inhibit the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of p53/Bcl-2/Cyt-C/caspase-3 signaling pathway to induce cell mitochondrial apoptosis.
Thyroid Nodules Located in the Lower Pole Have a Higher Risk of Malignancy than Located in the Isthmus: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Duman Gulhan , Sariakcali Baris
Published: July 2021

Purpose. The aim of our study is to investigate whether thyroid nodules (TNs) localization has value as a predictor of malignancy. Ultrasonography provides very valuable information in the evaluation of TNs, but it does not correlate perfectly with histopathologic findings. Therefore, studies that will include new diagnostic methods that can improve these unknowns can be welcomed gratefully. Methods. This study was carried out retrospectively in a tertiary care center from September 2016 to January 2020. The study included 862 adult patients who have one or more nodules. Ultrasonography of characteristics of nodules such as echogenicity, content, margins, calcifications, size, and localization was recorded. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed on dominant and suspicious 1142 nodules. Results. The patients were composed of 692 (80.3%) females and 170 (19.7%) males. Compared to nodules located in the isthmus; the malignancy risk increased 8.39 (OR: 8.39 (2.34–30.12),

p

 = 0.001) times in the lower pole, 4.27 (OR: 4.27 (1.16–15.72),

p

 = 0.029), times in the middle pole, 8.09 (OR: 8.09 (2.11–30.94),

p

 = 0.002) times in the upper pole, and 7.63 (OR: 7.63 (1.95–29.81),

p

 = 0.003) times in the nodules covering the whole of the lobe. Although the most nodular location was in the middle pole, the risk of malignancy was less than that in the lower and upper poles. Conclusions. Unlike the other localization studies, we found a higher risk of malignancy in the lower and similarly upper thyroid poles. Besides well-defined malignancy indicators in the literature and guidelines, localization information is promising for this purpose in the future.
Heat Transfer Potentiality and Flow Behavior in a Square Duct Fitted with Double-Inclined Baffles: A Numerical Analysis
Authors: Boonloi Amnart , Jedsadaratanachai Withada
Published: July 2021

Numerical analysis of heat transfer mechanisms and flow topologies for the heat exchanger square channel (HESC) installed with the double-inclined baffles (DIB) is reported. The main objective of the present research is to study the influences of DIB height to duct height (

b
/
H
=
0.05
–
0.30

), DIB distance to duct height (

P
/
H
=
1
–
1.5

), and flow attack angle (

α
=

30

°

 
and
 

45

°

) on the flow topologies, heat transfer features, and thermal performances. The Reynolds numbers (based on the entry HESC around 100–2000) are analyzed for the present problem. The numerical models of the HESC installed with the DIB are solved with finite volume method (commercial code). The simulated results of the HESC installed with the DIB are reported in forms of flow topologies and heat transfer characteristics. The Nusselt numbers (Nu), friction factors (

f

), and thermal enhancement factors (TEF) of the HESC placed with the DIB are offered. As the numerical results, it is seen that the DIB produces the vortex streams and impinging streams in all cases. The vortex streams and impinging streams disturb the thermal boundary layer on the HESC walls that is a key motive for the growth of heat transfer rate. The best TEF of the HESC installed with the DIB is about 3.87 at

P
/
H
=
1

,

α
=

30

°

,

Re
=
2000

, and

b

/

H

=

0.15

. Additionally, the TEF contours, which help to design the HESC inserted with the DIB, are performed.
Adulteration of the Herbal Weight Loss Products by the Illegal Addition of Synthetic Antiobesity Medications: A Pilot Study
Authors: Firozian Farzin , Nili-Ahmadabadi Amir , Moradkhani Shirin , Moulaei Miad , Fasihi Zohreh , Ahmadimoghaddam Davoud
Published: July 2021

Background. Some anorexic agents are used to fraudulent augmentation herbal weight loss formulations. This study was designed to evaluate the potential existence of illicit substances in 63 herbal weight loss formulations collected from local apothecaries in Hamadan, Iran. Methods. The thin-layer chromatography method was applied for the primary screening of potential illicit substances in the samples. The positive samples were analyzed using an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography method. Results. The results showed that 26.98% of the samples contained 17.76 ± 6.02 mg/cap of sibutramine. Daily therapeutic dose intake of sibutramine is in the range of 5 to 15 mg daily. Conclusion. Since apothecaries have advised consumers to take at least two capsules a day, it seems that the blood concentration of sibutramine will likely rise beyond the therapeutic concentration and become toxic. Therefore, the usage of such products could pose serious risks to consumers’ health.
The Combination of Tradition and Future: Data-Driven Natural-Product-Based Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Miao Zhijun , Bai Jinwei , Shen Li , Singla Rajeev K.
Published: July 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in elderly people. The personalized diagnosis and treatment remain challenges all over the world. In recent years, natural products are becoming potential therapies for many complex diseases due to their stability and low drug resistance. With the development of informatics technologies, data-driven natural product discovery and healthcare is becoming reality. For PD, however, the relevant research and tools for natural products are quite limited. Here in this review, we summarize current available databases, tools, and models for general natural product discovery and synthesis. These useful resources could be used and integrated for future PD-specific natural product investigations. At the same time, the challenges and opportunities for future natural-product-based PD care will also be discussed.
Protective Effects of Anwulignan against HCl/Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Ulcer in Mice
Authors: Liu Jiawei , Lin Huijiao , Yuan Liwei , Wang Dan , Wang Chunmei , Sun Jinghui , Zhang Chengyi , Chen Jianguang , Li He , Jing Shu
Published: July 2021

Gastric ulcer is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Anwulignan (AN) is a major active component of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of AN against the acute gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in mice. The mice were given HCl/ethanol by gavage to establish an acute gastric ulcer model. Then, the serum and gastric tissue samples were taken for biochemical analyses. The results showed that the pretreatment with AN could significantly reduce the gastric ulcer index (GUI) and increase the ulcer inhibition rate, indicating that AN can protect against gastric ulcers. AN showed its antioxidant roles by decreasing the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and anti-inflammatory roles by decreasing the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and increasing the content of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) in both serum and gastric tissue. Furthermore, AN also activated the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and inhibited the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. AN improves the acute gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in mice, which may be mainly through its antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effect.
Cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses and the Risk of Keratinocyte Carcinomas
Authors: Rollison Dana E. , Amorrortu Rossybelle P. , Zhao Yayi , Messina Jane L. , Schell Michael J. , Fenske Neil A. , Cherpelis Basil S. , Giuliano Anna R. , Sondak Vernon K. , Pawlita Michael , McKay-Chopin Sandrine , Gheit Tarik , Waterboer Tim , Tommasino Massimo
Published: July 2021

Cutaneous human papillomavirus (cuHPV) infections may be novel targets for skin cancer prevention and treatment, but critical information regarding the development of virus-positive skin cancers following cuHPV infection has been lacking. In this study, baseline cuHPV infection was measured by serology and viral DNA detection in eyebrow hairs (EBH) and forearm skin swabs (SSW) among 1,008 individuals undergoing routine skin cancer screening exams and followed for incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC). Baseline β-HPV detection, particularly in SSW, significantly predicted cuSCC (HR = 4.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–18.66), whereas serologic evidence of past β-HPV infection was not associated with cuSCC. Less than 5% of baseline β-HPV types detected in SSW were present in subsequent cuSCC tumors, and cuHPV detected in SSW with higher mean fluorescence intensity values were more likely to be present in cuSCC compared with those with lower levels (P < 0.001). β-HPV-positive cuSCC occurred more often in areas of highly sun-damaged skin than did β-HPV-negative cuSCC. Overall, no clear patterns were observed between baseline β-HPV detection and subsequent development of BCC, or between baseline γ-HPV detection and either cuSCC or BCC. Collectively, these results demonstrate that β-HPV detection in SSW is a significant predictor of cuSCC risk, although evidence suggests only a small subset of cuSCC is etiologically linked to β-HPV infection.

Significance:

β-HPV positivity may be a useful biomarker for identifying individuals who could benefit from increased screening or novel cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma prevention strategies.