bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Same Trade Openness Yet Different Environmental Quality — But Why?
Authors: Chang Shu-Chen , Chang Hsiao-Fen
Published: May 2020

This paper re-studies the relationship between trade openness and environmental pollution. Through the theoretical framework, there is a non-uniform effect of trade openness on environmental pollution. Utilizing four alternative measures of trade openness as threshold variables, this paper examines the effect of trade openness on environmental pollution. We adopt a regression with nonlinearity, in which our nonlinear model includes two regressions — a threshold model and an interaction-term model. Utilizing four alternative measures of trade openness, our threshold test shows a single-threshold effect on pollutant emissions, implying that there are two regimes: low- and high-corruption. Our empirical results show that for countries with high-corruption, increases in trade openness significantly reduce pollutants emissions whatever CO2 emissions or SO2 emissions, and the larger effects of trade openness on environmental quality. However, the impact of trade openness on pollution was not found in countries with low-corruption. This study suggests that further trade openness and reduced environmental degradation (i.e., decline in CO2 and SO2 emissions) are compatible rather than competing objectives, especially in high-corruption countries. Furthermore, our results also show that in low-corruption countries, the negative effects of income on CO2 emissions are statistically significant, but in high-corruption countries it is not so.
Security and Privacy Requirements for Cloud Computing in Healthcare
Authors: Ermakova Tatiana , Fabian Benjamin , Kornacka Marta , Thiebes Scott , Sunyaev Ali
Published: May 2020

Cloud computing promises essential improvements in healthcare delivery performance. However, its wide adoption in healthcare is yet to be seen, one main reason being patients’ concerns for security and privacy of their sensitive medical records. These concerns can be addressed through corresponding security and privacy requirements within the system engineering process. Despite a plethora of related research, security and privacy requirements for cloud systems and services have seldomly been investigated methodically so far, whereas their individual priorities to increase the system success probability have been neglected. Against this background, this study applies a systematic requirements engineering process: First, based on a systematic literature review, an extensive initial set of security and privacy requirements is elicited. Second, an online survey based on the best-worst scaling method is designed, conducted, and evaluated to determine priorities of security and privacy requirements.

Our results show that confidentiality and integrity of medical data are ranked at the top of the hierarchy of prioritized requirements, followed by control of data use and modification, patients’ anonymity, and patients’ control of access rights. Availability, fine-grained access control, revocation of access rights, flexible access, clinicians’ anonymity, as well as usability, scalability, and efficiency of the system complete the ranking. The level of agreement among patients is rather small, but statistically significant at the 0.01 level.

The main contribution of the present research comprises the study method and results highlighting the role of strong security and privacy and excluding any trade-offs with system usability. Enabling a richer understanding of patients’ security and privacy requirements for adopting cloud computing in healthcare, these are of particular importance to researchers and practitioners interested in supporting the process of security and privacy engineering for health-cloud solutions. It further represents a supplement that can support time-intensive negotiation meetings between the requirements engineers and patients.
The Inerter: A Retrospective
Authors: Smith Malcolm C.
Published: May 2020

This article provides an introduction and overview of the inerter concept and device. Careful attention is given to the distinction between the inerter as an ideal modeling element and devices that approximate the ideal behavior. The background is given to the formal definition of the inerter as a mechanical one-port with terminal forces proportional to the relative acceleration between them. Four major methods of construction are described and modeled. The discussion focuses particularly on the notion of terminals, the distinction between a device and an effect, sign reversals, back driving in geared systems, the conceptual aspects of the modeling step for inerter embodiments, and the problem of reverse engineering to discover a purpose. The article includes an analysis and discussion of the rotational inerter, a brief review of the ideas of passive network synthesis that led to the inerter concept, and an analysis and discussion of several examples of integrated mechanical devices. It concludes with an imaginary dialogue between the author and an interlocutor on the understanding and purpose of the inerter.
The Synergy Between Neuroscience and Control Theory: The Nervous System as Inspiration for Hard Control Challenges
Authors: Madhav Manu S. , Cowan Noah J.
Published: May 2020

Here, we review the role of control theory in modeling neural control systems through a top-down analysis approach. Specifically, we examine the role of the brain and central nervous system as the controller in the organism, connected to but isolated from the rest of the animal through insulated interfaces. Though biological and engineering control systems operate on similar principles, they differ in several critical features, which makes drawing inspiration from biology for engineering controllers challenging but worthwhile. We also outline a procedure that the control theorist can use to draw inspiration from the biological controller: starting from the intact, behaving animal; designing experiments to deconstruct and model hierarchies of feedback; modifying feedback topologies; perturbing inputs and plant dynamics; using the resultant outputs to perform system identification; and tuning and validating the resultant control-theoretic model using specially engineered robophysical models.
Race/Ethnicity over Fifty Years of Structural Differentiation in K–12 Schooling: Period-Specific and Life-Course Perspectives
Authors: Lucas Samuel R. , Molina Santiago J. , Towey John M.
Published: May 2020

In the United States, equally performing students of different racial/ethnic groups may have different prospects for enrollment in rigorous curricular positions. Over time, the processes and operation of curricular systems have changed, and those changes may matter for the existence of racial/ethnic differences in access. We first outline dimensions that distinguish forms of in-school structural differentiation. We then use those dimensions to describe in-school structural differentiation at different points in time in the United States. Next, the time-period-specific evidence on racial/ethnic inequality is outlined, thus embedding findings in historical time. Finally, we array findings on racial/ethnic inequality into life-course trajectories for studied cohorts, revealing that different cohorts may have documented differences in their experience with respect to race and curricular placement.
Cities of the Global South
Authors: Simone AbdouMaliq
Published: May 2020

This article considers the conundrums entailed in maintaining the notions of “city” and “Global South” in an era where urbanization is no longer epitomized by the city form and where the Global South as a distinctive geopolitical entity has largely been fractured into a multiplicity of domains and histories. Nevertheless, the compositions of contemporary urbanization processes engineer an urban world that is largely deterritorialized in terms of geographical and socio-technical specificity but simultaneously necessitates heterogeneous articulations across territories that open up spaces for the reiteration of many Souths. These potentially continue a long trajectory of solidarities and singularities among postcolonial urbanities. The article details the ways contemporary urbanization processes are composed via a heterogeneity of flows and corridors, while they are simultaneously reterritorialized through the elaboration of popular economies that express a partial disjuncture with capital-central logics of urbanization and the concretization of urbanization potentials embodied by long histories of struggle.
Suppression of Leakage Current in Proton-Conducting BaZr0.8Y0.2O3−δ Electrolyte by Forming Hole-Blocking Layer
Authors: Matsuzaki Yoshio , Tachikawa Yuya , Baba Yoshitaka , Sato Koki , Kojo Gen , Matsuo Hiroki , Otomo Junichiro , Matsumoto Hiroshige , Taniguchi Shunsuke , Sasaki Kazunari
Published: May 2020

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with proton-conducting solid electrolyte, instead of the oxide-ion conducting solid electrolyte have attracted attentions because of their high potential to reduce operating temperatures and to enhance the electrical efficiencies of SOFCs. In addition, the proton-conducting SOFCs with multistage electrochemical oxidation configuration will be promising technology for critically-high electric efficiencies. However, it is known that there are non-negligible charge -carriers other than protons in typical proton-conducting solid oxide electrolytes at relatively high temperatures. The existence of the partial conductivities of holes and/or electrons will cause the internal leakage current that consumes fuel but never generates any electrical power output. The higher ratio of the leakage current to external current will more deteriorate the electrical efficiency. In this study, the effects of blocking -layers formed on the air side surface of base electrolyte layer consisting of BaZr0.8Y0.2O3−δ
(BZY82) for suppressing the leakage current have been investigated by using electrochemical parameters of the partial conduction of the materials. The chemical potential profile and leakage current showed large dependence on the material of the blocking-layer. Lanthanum tungstate was found to play a role as unique and strong blocking-layer against the leakage current.
Development of Experimental Techniques for Parameterization of Multi-scale Lithium-ion Battery Models
Authors: Chen Chang-Hui , Brosa Planella Ferran , O’Regan Kieran , Gastol Dominika , Widanage W. Dhammika , Kendrick Emma
Published: May 2020

Presented here, is an extensive 35 parameter experimental data set of a cylindrical 21700 commercial cell (LGM50), for an electrochemical pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) model. The experimental methodologies for tear-down and subsequent chemical, physical, electrochemical kinetics and thermodynamic analysis, and their accuracy and validity are discussed. Chemical analysis of the LGM50 cell shows that it is comprised of a NMC 811 positive electrode and bi-component Graphite-SiOx negative electrode. The thermodynamic open circuit voltages (OCV) and lithium stoichiometry in the electrode are obtained using galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) in half cell and three-electrode full cell configurations. The activation energy and exchange current coefficient through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Apparent diffusion coefficients are estimated using the Sand equation on the voltage transient during the current pulse; an expansion factor was applied to the bi-component negative electrode data to reflect the average change in effective surface area during lithiation. The 35 parameters are applied within a P2D model to show the fit to experimental validation LGM50 cell discharge and relaxation voltage profiles at room temperature. The accuracy and validity of the processes and the techniques in the determination of these parameters are discussed, including opportunities for further modelling and data analysis improvements.
Effect of Electron Injection on Minority Carrier Transport in 10 MeV Proton Irradiated β-Ga2O3 Schottky Rectifiers
Authors: Modak Sushrut , Chernyak Leonid , Khodorov Sergey , Lubomirsky Igor , Ruzin Arie , Xian Minghan , Ren Fan , Pearton Stephen J.
Published: May 2020

We report the effect of extended duration electron beam exposure on the minority carrier transport properties of 10 MeV proton irradiated (fluence ∼1014 cm−2) Si-doped β-Ga2O3 Schottky rectifiers. The diffusion length (L) of minority carriers is found to decrease with temperature from 330 nm at 21 °C to 289 nm at 120 °C, with an activation energy of ∼26 meV. This energy corresponds to the presence of shallow Si trap-levels. Extended duration electron beam exposure enhances L from 330 nm to 726 nm at room temperature. The rate of increase for L is lower with increased temperature, with an activation energy of 43 meV. Finally, a brief comparison of the effect of electron injection on proton irradiated, alpha-particle irradiated and a reference Si-doped β-Ga2O3 Schottky rectifiers is presented.
Identification of scavenger receptor BI as a potential screening candidate for congenital primary adrenal insufficiency in humans
Authors: Hoekstra Menno
Published: May 2020

Glucocorticoids belong to the superfamily of steroid hormones that are synthesized from the common precursor cholesterol. Adrenal gland-derived glucocorticoids, e.g., cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents, contribute to various processes essential for normal daily life. Glucocorticoid deficiency, also referred to as primary adrenal insufficiency, therefore, often becomes evident early in life and can be present with hypoglycemia, a failure to thrive, recurrent development of infections, and neurological problems, such as seizures and coma. The majority of congenital primary adrenal insufficiency cases are caused by deleterious mutations in genes involved in the intracellular mobilization of cholesterol and the subsequent conversion of cholesterol into glucocorticoids. A significant number of glucocorticoid deficiency cases, however, cannot be explained by known genetic variations. This perspective highlights existing literature regarding the importance of lipoprotein-derived cholesterol acquisition through scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI/SCARB1) for the maintenance of an optimal adrenal glucocorticoid function in mice and humans. On the basis of the reviewed findings, it is suggested that the SCARB1 gene should be included in the standard glucocorticoid deficiency genetic screening panel to 1) facilitate knowledge development on the relative contribution of SR-BI-mediated cholesterol acquisition to steroid hormone synthesis in humans and 2) open up the possibility to reclassify glucocorticoid deficiency patients without a currently known genetic cause for concomitant treatment optimization.
Improving the Sound Source Identification Performance of Sparsity Constrained Deconvolution Beamforming Utilizing SFISTA
Authors: Shen Linbang , Chu Zhigang , Tan Long , Chen Debing , Ye Fangbiao
Published: May 2020

In this paper, an alternative sparsity constrained deconvolution beamforming utilizing the smoothing fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (SFISTA) is proposed for sound source identification. Theoretical background and solving procedures are introduced. The influence of SFISTA regularization and smoothing parameters on the sound source identification performance is analyzed, and the recommended values of the parameters are obtained for the presented cases. Compared with the sparsity constrained deconvolution approach for the mapping of acoustic sources (SC-DAMAS) and the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA), the proposed SFISTA with appropriate regularization and smoothing parameters has faster convergence speed, higher quantification accuracy and computational efficiency, and more insensitivity to measurement noise.
A Novel Seepage Safety Monitoring Model of CFRD with Slab Cracks Using Monitoring Data
Authors: Shi Zhongwen , Gu Chongshi , Zhao Erfeng , Xu Bo
Published: May 2020

The traditional regression model usually simulates the influence of water pressure and rainfall in the early stage based on experience, but it is not suitable. To solve this problem, the normal distribution curve is used to simulate the lagging effect of water pressure and rainfall on dam seepage. In view of problem of slab cracks, the influence of cracks on seepage is analyzed. In this paper, a safety monitoring model for concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD) seepage with cracks considering the lagging effect is proposed, in which slab cracks are considered as an influencing factor. The radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) optimized by genetic algorithm (GA) is used to establish a safety monitoring model for a CFRD seepage. Seepage of the dam is predicted by this model, whose results are similar to the monitoring data, which indicates that the method has certain applicability. Through the analysis of the proportion of factors affecting CFRD seepage, it is found that the rainfall component has the greatest impact on the total seepage, accounting for more than 50%, and the crack component accounts for about 10%. Finally, through the cloud model, the monitoring index of CFRD seepage is worked out, which has certain guiding significance for the treatment of abnormal seepage monitoring data.
Labelling Training Samples Using Crowdsourcing Annotation for Recommendation
Authors: Wang Qingren , Zhang Min , Tao Tao , Sheng Victor S.
Published: May 2020

The supervised learning-based recommendation models, whose infrastructures are sufficient training samples with high quality, have been widely applied in many domains. In the era of big data with the explosive growth of data volume, training samples should be labelled timely and accurately to guarantee the excellent recommendation performance of supervised learning-based models. Machine annotation cannot complete the tasks of labelling training samples with high quality because of limited machine intelligence. Although expert annotation can achieve a high accuracy, it requires a long time as well as more resources. As a new way of human intelligence to participate in machine computing, crowdsourcing annotation makes up for shortages of machine annotation and expert annotation. Therefore, in this paper, we utilize crowdsourcing annotation to label training samples. First, a suitable crowdsourcing mechanism is designed to create crowdsourcing annotation-based tasks for training sample labelling, and then two entropy-based ground truth inference algorithms (i.e., HILED and HILI) are proposed to achieve quality improvement of noise labels provided by the crowd. In addition, the descending and random order manners in crowdsourcing annotation-based tasks are also explored. The experimental results demonstrate that crowdsourcing annotation significantly improves the performance of machine annotation. Among the ground truth inference algorithms, both HILED and HILI improve the performance of baselines; meanwhile, HILED performs better than HILI.
Systematic Analysis of Environmental Chemicals That Dysregulate Critical Period Plasticity-Related Gene Expression Reveals Common Pathways That Mimic Immune Response to Pathogen
Authors: Smith Milo R. , Yevoo Priscilla , Sadahiro Masato , Readhead Ben , Kidd Brian , Dudley Joel T. , Morishita Hirofumi
Published: May 2020

The tens of thousands of industrial and synthetic chemicals released into the environment have an unknown but potentially significant capacity to interfere with neurodevelopment. Consequently, there is an urgent need for systematic approaches that can identify disruptive chemicals. Little is known about the impact of environmental chemicals on critical periods of developmental neuroplasticity, in large part, due to the challenge of screening thousands of chemicals. Using an integrative bioinformatics approach, we systematically scanned 2001 environmental chemicals and identified 50 chemicals that consistently dysregulate two transcriptional signatures of critical period plasticity. These chemicals included pesticides (e.g., pyridaben), antimicrobials (e.g., bacitracin), metals (e.g., mercury), anesthetics (e.g., halothane), and other chemicals and mixtures (e.g., vehicle emissions). Application of a chemogenomic enrichment analysis and hierarchical clustering across these diverse chemicals identified two clusters of chemicals with one that mimicked an immune response to pathogen, implicating inflammatory pathways and microglia as a common chemically induced neuropathological process. Thus, we established an integrative bioinformatics approach to systematically scan thousands of environmental chemicals for their ability to dysregulate molecular signatures relevant to critical periods of development.
Optimal Network Reconfiguration to Reduce Power Loss Using an Initial Searching Point for Continuous Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Thuan , Nguyen Thang Trung , Nguyen Ngoc Au
Published: May 2020

In this paper, an effective method to determine an initial searching point (ISP) of the network reconfiguration (NR) problem for power loss reduction is proposed for improving the efficiency of the continuous genetic algorithm (CGA) to the NR problem. The idea of the method is to close each initial open switch in turn and solve power flow for the distribution system with the presence of a closed loop to choose a switch with the smallest current in the closed loop for opening. If the radial topology constraint of the distribution system is satisfied, the switch opened is considered as a control variable of the ISP. Then, ISP is attached to the initial population of CGA. The calculated results from the different distribution systems show that the proposed CGA using ISP could reach the optimal radial topology with better successful rate and obtained solution quality than the method based on CGA using the initial population generated randomly and the method based on CGA using the initial radial configuration attached to the initial population. As a result, CGA using ISP can be a favorable method for finding a more effective radial topology in operating distribution systems.
The Healing Process and Functional Recovery of Neuroretina after Idiopathic Macular Hole Surgery without Internal Limiting Membrane Reversal Tamponade
Authors: Zhu Xinlei , Wang Jiaxing , Li Jianan , Chen Haoyu , Huang Bo , Yan Hua
Published: May 2020

Purpose. To investigate the healing process and functional recovery of neuroretina after idiopathic macular hole surgery, as well as analyzing the influencing factors. Methods. Thirty-six eyes of 31 patients with full-thickness idiopathic macular hole (IMH) were enrolled in this retrospective study. All of them were operated using 23-gauge or 25-gauge vitrectomy with inner limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was performed before surgery and after surgery to observe the structural changes of neuroretina. Results. Twenty eyes (55.56%) had the macular hole closed at 3 to 5 days after surgery (closed group), beginning from the inner retina based on OCT. Holes of 16 eyes (44.44%) remained unclosed and progressed to larger holes at 13 to 15 days (t = −2.811, P=0.013) after surgery (unclosed group). Compared with the eyes in the closed group, the eyes in the unclosed group had significantly larger hole diameter (t = −2.882, P=0.007). Postoperative BCVA was significantly improved in the closed group (t = 2.573, P=0.019) and not improved in the unclosed group (t = 0.606, P=0.554) at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion. Full-thickness IMHs could achieve anatomic closure 3 to 5 days after surgery with first-step inner retina tissue bridging. Otherwise, they were not able to achieve hole closure and opened to larger holes about 2 weeks postoperatively. Macular hole diameter was an important factor affecting the healing of the holes. The delayed restoration of fovea detachment and ellipsoid area deficiency were responsible for poor vision outcomes after surgery.
Intracranial Infections in Neurological Surgery: The Changes of Circular RNA Expression and Their Possible Function Mechanism
Authors: Niu Jiangtao , Xu Hongqi , Yang Bo
Published: May 2020

Background and Objective. Circular RNA (circRNA) often has high stability and has been widely studied as diagnostic markers in many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and various types of cancers. In this study, circRNA was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for central nervous system infection in neurological surgery. Methods. circRNA expression was analysed in six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from three patients of the infectious and noninfectious phases using an Arraystar Human circRNA Array. Differentially altered circRNAs were validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) in the 66 CSF samples of 33 patients of the infectious and noninfectious phases. t‐test was used for statistical analysis. A bioinformatics analysis was employed to investigate the function mechanism of the circRNAs. Results. Firstly, 142 circRNAs were found significantly different in 6 CSF samples of the infection and noninfection phases of 3 patients. Fourteen circRNAs with the top largest fold changes were chosen from the 142 circRNAs for PCR validation in the same 6 CSF samples of 3 patients. Three circRNAs were selected to be validated in 60 CSF samples of 30 patients using the PCR test. In infection CSF, an upregulated hsa_circRNA_402632 and downregulated hsa_circRNA_008636 and hsa_circRNA_405481 were confirmed by PCR test. A bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the function mechanism of the 3 circRNAs. hsa_circRNA_402632 is enriched in the insulin resistance pathway, the FoxO and AMPK signaling pathways are the most important pathways for hsa_circRNA_008636 gene expression, and hsa_circRNA_405481 is enriched in the endometrial cancer signaling pathway, Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, and TGF‐beta signaling pathway. Conclusions. hsa_circRNA_402632, hsa_circRNA_008636, and hsa_circRNA_405481 may be potential diagnostic markers for central nervous system infection after neurological surgery.
The Cataleptic, Asymmetric, Analgesic, and Brain Biochemical Effects of Parkinson’s Disease Can Be Affected by Toxoplasma gondii Infection
Authors: Taherianfard Mahnaz , Riyahi Moslem , Razavi Mostafa , Bavandi Zahedeh , Eskandari Roozbahani Narges , Namavari Mohammad Mehdi
Published: May 2020

Purpose. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor defects. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to examine whether catalepsy, asymmetry, and nociceptive behaviors; the Nissl‐body and neuron distribution; brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); malondialdehyde (MDA); total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels; and the percentage of dopamine depletion of striatal neurons in the rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be affected by Toxoplasma gondii (TG) infection. Methods. Fifty rats were divided into five groups: control (intact rats), sham (rats which received an intrastriatal injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF)), PD control (induction of PD without TG infection), TG control (rats infected by TG without PD induction), and PD infected (third week after PD induction, infection by TG was done). PD was induced by the unilateral intrastriatal microinjection of 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) and ELISA quantified dopamine, BDNF, MDA, and TAC in the striatum tissue. Cataleptic, asymmetrical, nociceptive, and histological alterations were determined by bar test, elevated body swing test, formalin test, and Nissl‐body and neuron counting in the striatal neurons. Results. The results demonstrated that PD could significantly increase the number of biased swings, descent latency time, and nociceptive behavior and decrease the distribution of Nissl‐stained neurons compared to the control and sham groups. TG infection significantly improved biased swing, descent latency time, nociceptive behavior, and the Nissl‐body distribution in striatal neurons in comparison to the PD control group. The striatal level of BDNF in the PD‐infected and TG control groups significantly increased relative to the PD control group. The striatal MDA was significantly higher in the PD control than other groups, while striatal TAC was significantly lower in the PD control than other groups. Conclusions. The current study indicates that TG infection could improve the cataleptic, asymmetric, nociceptive and behaviors; the level of striatal dopamine release; BDNF levels; TAC; and MDA in PD rats.
Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Root Extract of Kniphofia foliosa as a Template, Characterization, and Its Application on Drug Resistance Bacteria
Authors: Bekele Eneyew Tilahun , Gonfa Bedasa Abdisa , Zelekew Osman Ahmed , Belay Hadgu Hailekiros , Sabir Fedlu Kedir
Published: May 2020

Biogenic methods of synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using plant extracts have been given a great attention due to its nontoxicity and environmental friendliness. In this study, TiO2 NPs were synthesized from titanium tetrabutoxide and extract of root of Kniphofia foliosa. NPs of TiO2 were biosynthesized at different volume compositions of titanium tetrabutoxide to the plant extract with a ratio of 1 : 2, 1 : 1, and 2 : 1, respectively. These green synthesized NPs of TiO2 were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. TGA/DTA analysis has confirmed that the synthesized NPs of TiO2 were stable above the temperature of 500°C. The sharp and intense peaks at 2θ values of 25.3, 38.0, 47.9, 53.2, 54.8862, 62.7, 70.2, and 75.0 have confirmed formation of crystalline NPs of TiO2 in the sample of 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 ratios, and less crystalline samples for TiO2 NPs prepared in a 1 : 2 ratio. Comparison between FT-IR absorption bands of the plant extract and that of calcined NPs of TiO2 confirmed the purity of synthesized nanomaterials, except unavoidable adsorption of moisture on the surface of TiO2 NPs in an open air. The antibacterial activity of biosynthesized TiO2 NPs and that of ethanolic root extract of Kniphofia foliosa was investigated via the disc diffusion method against human pathogen bacteria strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Among the different ratios, TiO2 (1 : 1) NP shows better performance towards Gram-negative bacteria due to its smaller average crystalline size and uniform morphology observed in SEM image relative to the other two ratios of TiO2 NPs. Antibacterial activity of the ethanolic root extract of Kniphofia foliosa itself showed better performance towards Gram-negative bacteria than NPs of TiO2 that might be due to antibacterial activity of residue of ethanol left with the plant extract.
Time to Treatment Initiation and Survival in Adult Localized High-Grade Bone Sarcoma
Authors: Lawrenz Joshua M. , Featherall Joseph , Curtis Gannon L. , George Jaiben , Jin Yuxuan , Anderson Peter M. , Shepard Dale R. , Reith John D. , Rubin Brian P. , Nystrom Lukas M. , Mesko Nathan W.
Published: May 2020

Objective. Few studies have evaluated the prognostic implication of the length of time from diagnosis to treatment initiation in bone sarcoma. The purpose of this study is to determine if time to treatment initiation (TTI) influences overall survival in adults diagnosed with primary bone sarcoma. Methods. A retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database identified 2,122 patients who met inclusion criteria with localized, high-grade bone sarcoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2012. TTI was defined as length of time in days from diagnosis to initiation of treatment. Patient, disease-specific, and healthcare-related factors were also assessed for their association with overall survival. Kruskal-Wallis analysis was utilized for univariate analysis, and Cox regression modeling identified covariates associated with overall survival. Results. Any 10-day increase in TTI was not associated with decreased overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.00; P=0.72). No differences in survival were detected at 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years, when comparing patients with TTI = 14, 30, 60, 90, and 150 days. Decreased survival was significantly associated P<0.05 with patient ages of 51–70 years (HR = 1.66; P=0.004) and > 71 years (HR = 2.89; P<0.001), Charlson/Deyo score ≥2 (HR = 2.02; P<0.001), pelvic tumor site (HR = 1.58; P<0.001), tumor size >8 cm (HR = 1.52; P<0.001), radiation (HR = 1.81; P<0.001) as index treatment, and residing a distance of 51–100 miles from the treatment center (HR = 1.30; P=0.012). Increased survival was significantly associated P<0.05 with chordoma (HR = 0.27; P=0.010), chondrosarcoma (HR = 0.75; P=0.002), treatment at an academic center (HR = 0.64; P=0.039), and a private (HR = 0.67; P=0.006) or Medicare (HR = 0.71; P=0.043) insurer. A transition in care was not associated with a survival disadvantage (HR = 0.90; P=0.14). Conclusions. Longer TTI was not associated with decreased overall survival in localized, high-grade primary bone sarcoma in adults. This is important in counseling patients, who may delay treatment to receive a second opinion or seek referral to a higher volume sarcoma center.
Precise Asymptotics for Complete Integral Convergence under Sublinear Expectations
Authors: Wu Qunying
Published: May 2020

The aim of this paper is to study and establish the precise asymptotics for complete integral convergence theorems under a sublinear expectation space. As applications, the precise asymptotics for p0≤p≤2 order complete integral convergence theorems have been generalized to the sublinear expectation space context. We extend some precise asymptotics for complete moment convergence theorems from the traditional probability space to the sublinear expectation space. Our results generalize corresponding results obtained by Liu and Lin (2006). There is no report on the precise asymptotics under sublinear expectation, and we provide the method to study this subject.
Iterative Algorithm for Mappings Satisfying Bγ,μ Condition
Authors: Abdeljawad Thabet , Ullah Kifayat , Ahmad Junaid
Published: May 2020

In this article, we introduce a novel iterative algorithm to approximate fixed point of mappings with Bγ,μ condition. We establish some strong and weak convergence results in a uniformly convex Banach space. Using a numerical example, we compare the speed of the proposed algorithm with some leading iterative algorithms.
Mouse Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Paracrine Alleviates Renal Fibrosis in Diabetic Nephropathy by Reducing Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation and Cell Proliferation and Upregulating MMPs in Mesangial Cells
Authors: Li Hongde , Rong Pengfei , Ma Xiaoqian , Nie Wei , Chen Yan , Zhang Juan , Dong Qiong , Yang Min , Wang Wei
Published: May 2020

Transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) is currently considered a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanisms by which UC-MSCs ameliorate renal fibrosis in DN are not well understood. Herein, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of mouse UC-MSC infusion on kidney structural and functional impairment in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic mice. We found that the repeated injection with mUC-MSCs alleviates albuminuria, glomerulus injury, and fibrosis in DN mouse models. Next, mesangial cells were exposed to 5.6 mM glucose, 30 mM glucose, or mUC-MSC-conditioned medium, and then we performed western blotting, immunofluorescence, wound healing assay, and cell proliferation assay to measure extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), myofibroblast transdifferentiation (MFT), and cell proliferation. We demonstrated that mUC-MSC paracrine decreased the deposition of fibronectin and collagen I by inhibiting TGF-β1-triggered MFT and cell proliferation mediated by PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, and elevating the levels of MMP2 and MMP9. Importantly, we provided evidence that the antifibrosis role of mUC-MSC paracrine in DN might be determined by exosomes shed by MSCs. Together, these findings reveal the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs on renal fibrosis in DN and provide the evidence for DN cell-free therapy based on UC-MSCs in the future.
Suitability Evaluation for Land Reclamation of Nonmetallic Mines in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Tang Guobin , Zhang Zizhao , Lv Qianli , Hao Ruihua , Wang Kaikai
Published: May 2020

The ecological environment is fragile in Xinjiang, so it is necessary to carry out land reclamation for mines to restore its ecology. The premise of mines land reclamation is to determine the direction of land reclamation, which requires the suitability evaluation for land reclamation. In this paper, the evaluation index system and suitability evaluation model for land reclamation of nonmetallic mines in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were established. This model was established by using factor analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis and tested by back-substitution. First, using 149 units of 21 nonmetallic mines as research samples, the samples were divided into 4 categories by a combination of factor and cluster analysis. Then, the samples were trained using a discriminant analysis method to establish the corresponding land reclamation suitability evaluation model. This model was verified by back-substitution with an accuracy of 98.7%, and only 2 of 149 samples were misclassified. Finally, the evaluation model was applied to the Dabancheng Toga Solo limestone mine in Urumqi. Evaluation analysis of 15 land reclamation units of this mine showed satisfactory results. The evaluation model developed here could serve as a powerful complement to the evaluation of land reclamation suitability in Xinjiang.
A Time-Varying Gain Design Method for State Feedback Control of Upper Triangular Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Yin Yanmin
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a time-varying gain design method is used to investigate the state feedback control problem of upper triangular nonlinear systems. Firstly, the nonlinear term recognizes an incremental rate relying on the unknown constant and the function with respect to time. Then, a time-varying gain design method is utilized to construct a state feedback controller. With the help of a suitable coordinate transformation and a Lyapunov function, one obtains that all the signals of the closed-loop system converge to zero. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to display the effectiveness of the time-varying gain design method.
Exploring a Novel Electrical-Modeling-Based Route Planning for Vehicle Guidance
Authors: Callejas-Molina Rogelio Alejandro , Diaz-Carmona Javier , Vazquez-Leal Hector , Mayorga-Cruz Darwin , Lopez-Leal Raul
Published: May 2020

This work describes a novel Electrical-Modeling-Based Route Planner (EMBRP) for vehicle guidance within city street networks (maps), which uses an equivalent linear electrical circuit considering traffic flow direction, length, and other physical attributes of the streets as parameters for the mathematical model of the circuit branch resistances. Thus, modeling a city as an electrical circuit results in a system of linear equations, which are solved using a multifrontal method implemented in the Unsymmetric Multifrontal Pack (UMFPACK) library. In addition, a Modified Local Current Comparison Algorithm (MLCCA) is proposed with the aim to find a suitable route meeting the correct traffic flow direction. The EMBRP has the functionality to accept user-defined symbolic models in terms of street parameters extracted from a public database allowing different route planning applications. For instance, low-risk route planning schemes can be explored also routes with multiple origins and a single destination can be plotted using only a single simulation, among other possibilities. The EMBRP is illustrated through the description of nine real case studies. According to the obtained results, suitable planning routes and small computing times are achieved by this proposal. A performance comparison, in terms of memory consumption and computing time, among EMBRP, the heuristic A∗ algorithm and Hspice numeric engine is presented. The smallest computing time was achieved by the EMBRP. The EMBRP can be useful for engineers and researchers studying route planning techniques and new street models for specific applications.
A Novel Radial Basis Neural Network-Leveraged Fast Training Method for Identifying Organs in MR Images
Authors: Xu Min , Qian Pengjiang , Zheng Jiamin , Ge Hongwei , Muzic Raymond F.
Published: May 2020

We propose a new method for fast organ classification and segmentation of abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) images. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new type of high-tech imaging examination fashion in recent years. Recognition of specific target areas (organs) based on MR images is one of the key issues in computer-aided diagnosis of medical images. Artificial neural network technology has made significant progress in image processing based on the multimodal MR attributes of each pixel in MR images. However, with the generation of large-scale data, there are few studies on the rapid processing of large-scale MRI data. To address this deficiency, we present a fast radial basis function artificial neural network (Fast-RBF) algorithm. The importance of our efforts is as follows: (1) The proposed algorithm achieves fast processing of large-scale image data by introducing the ε-insensitive loss function, the structural risk term, and the core-set principle. We apply this algorithm to the identification of specific target areas in MR images. (2) For each abdominal MRI case, we use four MR sequences (fat, water, in-phase (IP), and opposed-phase (OP)) and the position coordinates (x, y) of each pixel as the input of the algorithm. We use three classifiers to identify the liver and kidneys in the MR images. Experiments show that the proposed method achieves a higher precision in the recognition of specific regions of medical images and has better adaptability in the case of large-scale datasets than the traditional RBF algorithm.
Effect of Hydrocortisone on Intradialytic Hypotension: A Preliminary Investigational Study
Authors: Alhawari Hussein H. , Alshelleh Sameeha , Alhawari Hussam H. , Alawwa Izzat Ahmad , AlRyalat Saif Aldeen , Mesmar Ahmad , Ojjoh Khaled , Alzoubi Karem H.
Published: May 2020

Introduction. Approximately 15 to 33% of all dialysis treatments are complicated by intradialytic hypotension (IDH). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the intravenous administration of hydrocortisone prior to HD treatment could prevent IDH or at least decrease the drop in the blood pressure resulting from IDH. Methods. This study was approved by our local ethics committee/IRB (2017/87) and by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (7/clinical/18). Additionally, it is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03465007). In this preliminary investigational study, we screened all chronic hemodialysis patients at our clinic who were 18 years of age or older (n = 82) for IDH. There were 14 patients included in the interventional part of this study; patients were given IV hydrocortisone for 3 consecutive HD sessions, followed or preceded by 3 intervention‐free sessions where they were given 5 ml of saline as a placebo. Results. The initial total sample size was 82 patients. The frequency of IDH at our clinic was 24.4%. Fourteen out of the 20 patients who were diagnosed with IDH agreed to enroll in the interventional part of our study. The mean age of the patients in the interventional part of our study was 53.5 years (±10.3). These patients included 5 (35.7%) men and 9 (64.3%) women. Upon comparing the number of hypotensive attacks with and without the hydrocortisone administration, we found a significant difference (p = 0.003) between the hydrocortisone and placebo treatments in which 12 (85.7%) patients had fewer IDH episodes with the hydrocortisone treatment than with placebo. Conclusion. This preliminary investigational study found that the administration of a stress dose of hydrocortisone prior to hemodialysis could be an effective measure for preventing or minimizing the risk of IDH episodes. Additional prospective studies on this subject are needed. Ruling out adrenal insufficiency in patients diagnosed with IDH is also crucial.
Analytical Solutions to the Caudrey-Dodd-Gibbon-Sawada-Kotera Equation via Symbol Calculation Approach
Authors: Gu Yongyi
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we derive analytical solutions of the Caudrey-Dodd-Gibbon-Sawada-Kotera (CDGSK) equation via symbol calculation approach. Applying the exp−φz-expansion method, we achieve the trigonometric, exponential, hyperbolic, and rational function solutions for the CDGSK equation. By choosing the appropriate parameters, we give some computer simulation to the analytical solutions of the CDGSK equation.
Effect of Rotation Speed on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction‐Stir‐Welded 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Wang Wenyang , Hu Ye , Wu Tong , Zhao Dan , Zhao Hongwei
Published: May 2020

In the present study, 1.86‐mm‐thick steel plates (UNS S32205) were friction‐stir‐welded at various rotation speeds of 300 to 600 rpm and a constant welding speed of 100 mm·min−1. The effect of rotation speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welds was researched. The welding temperature was recorded during friction stir welding (FSW), and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welds were assessed. The incomplete penetration defect was formed at 300 rpm due to the insufficient heat input, and macroscopic groove‐like defect was formed at 600 rpm because of the serious sticking of tool. Defect‐free welds were obtained at 350 to 500 rpm. The lower rotation speed corresponds to lower heat input during FSW, which resulted in finer recrystallized grains within the stirred zone and thermomechanically affected zone. The joint width was increased with the increasing rotation speed. Therefore, both the strength and hardness of the weld joints increased with the decreasing of rotation speed.
Immunologic and Clinical Failure of Antiretroviral Therapy in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus within Two Years of Treatment
Authors: Asgedom Solomon Weldegebreal , Maru Mahlet , Berihun Beletu , Gidey Kidu , Niriayo Yirga Legesse , Atey Tesfay Mehari
Published: May 2020

Background. Early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases human immunodeficiency virus‐ (HIV‐) related complications, restores patients’ immunity, decreases viral load, and substantially improves quality of life. However, antiretroviral treatment failure considerably impedes the merits of HAART. Objective. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of immunologic and clinical antiretroviral treatment failure. Methods. A cross‐sectional study design using clinical and immunologic treatment failure definition was used to conduct the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features of patients were retrieved from patients’ medical registry between the years 2009 and 2015. All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria in the study period were studied. Predictors of treatment failure were identified using Kaplan‐Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21 software, and the level of statistical significance was declared at a p value < 0.05. Results. A total of 770 were studied. The prevalence of treatment failure was 4.5%. The AZT‐based regimen (AHR = 16.95, 95% CI: 3.02‐95.1, p = 0.001), baseline CD4 count ≥ 301 (AHR = 0.199, 95% CI: 0.05‐0.76, p = 0.018), and bedridden during HAART initiation (AHR = 0.131, 95% CI: 0.029‐0.596, p = 0.009) were the predictors of treatment failure. Conclusion. The prevalence of treatment failure was lower with the risk being higher among patients on the AZT‐based regimen. On the other hand, the risk of treatment failure was lower among patients who started HAART at baseline CD4 count ≥ 301 and patients who were bedridden during HAART initiation. We recommend further prospective, multicenter cohort studies to be conducted to precisely detect the prevalence of treatment failure using viral load determination in the whole country.