bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Mechanism of Ginseng in the Treatment of Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Li Qiu-Yue , Hou Cheng-Zhi , Yang Li-Ping , Chu Xue-Lei , Wang Yuan , Zhang Ping , Zhao Yong
Published: July 2020

Background. Ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine, was used to prevent and treat many diseases such as diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. In recent years, there are some reports about the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma with ginseng monomer compounds, but there is no systematic study on the related core targets and mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma up to now. Therefore, this study systematically and comprehensively studied the molecular mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma based on network pharmacology and further proved the potential targets by A549 cell experiments for the first time. Methods. The targets of disease and drug were obtained from Gene database. Subsequently, the compound‐target network was constructed, and the core potential targets were screened out by plug‐in into Cytoscape. Furthermore, the core targets and mechanism of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma were verified by MTT test, cell scratch test, immunohistochemistry, and qRT‐PCR. Results. 1791 disease targets and 144 drug targets were obtained by searching the Gene database. Meanwhile, 15 core targets were screened out: JUN, MAPK8, PTGS2, CASP3, VEGFA, MMP9, AKT1, TNF, FN1, FOS, MMP782, IL‐1β, IL‐2, ICAM1, and HMOX1. The results of cell experiments indicate that ginseng could treat lung adenocarcinoma by cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In addition, according to the results of the 15 core targets by qRT‐PCR, JUN, IL‐1β, IL‐2, ICAM1, HMOX1, MMP9, and MMP2 are upregulated core targets, while PTGS2 and TNF are downregulated core targets. Conclusion. This study systematically and comprehensively studied 15 core targets by network pharmacology for the first time. Subsequently, it is verified that 9 core targets for ginseng treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, namely, JUN, IL‐1β, IL‐2, ICAM1, HMOX1, MMP9, MMP2, PTGS2, and TNF, are closely related to the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. This study has reference value for the clinical application of ginseng in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.
A Retrospective Study on the Morphology of Posterior Malleolar Fractures Based on a CT Scan: Whether We Ignore the Importance of Fracture Height
Authors: Wang Zhifeng , Yuan Chengjie , Zhu Genrui , Geng Xiang , Zhang Chao , Huang Jiazhang , Ma Xin , Wang Xu
Published: July 2020

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the respective correlation between the height (H) of a posterior malleolar fracture (PMF) and the involved area (S) of an articular surface and the presence of “die‐punch.” Methods. Patients with closed posterior malleolar fractures admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were selected, with complete X‐ray and 3D reconstruction CT imaging data. The gender, age, injured side, and surgical fixation methods of the patients were recorded. A preoperative ankle CT scan was performed, and the images were viewed through the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems). Simultaneously, the involved joint surface area (S) by the posterior malleolar fracture was measured, as well as the proportion of the fracture area to the total ankle joint area. On the sagittal reconstruction CT images, the height (H) of the posterior malleolar fracture was measured to compare the correlation between the height of the fracture and the area of the fracture, as well as the area ratio. Besides, according to the presence or absence of “die‐punch,” patients were divided into two groups: A and B. And each group was further divided into three subgroups according to age (16‐39 years old, 40‐59 years old, and ≥60 years old). The statistical differences in the height of fracture between the subgroups were compared. Results. A total of 48 patients, aged 16‐82 years, with an average age of 48.9 years, were included in this study, including 13 males and 35 females. There were 20 cases of left ankle injury and 28 cases of right ankle injury. The average height of the posterior malleolar fractures was 18.19 mm, the average area of the fracture was 202.28 mm2, and the average ratio of the fracture area to the total articular surface area was 17.84%. Besides, die‐punch was seen in 27 cases and not in 21 cases. The average height of fractures was 21.33 ± 5.38 mm in group A1, 14.38 ± 9.01 mm in group B1, 18.30 ± 7.95 mm in group A2, 14.48 ± 5.37 mm in group B2, 26.26 ± 6.73 mm in group A3, and 12.77 ± 3.07 mm in group B3. Conclusion. The height (H) of the posterior malleolar fractures is positively correlated with the fracture area (S) and the fracture area ratio (FAR). The posterior malleolar fractures with “die‐punch” tend to have a greater average height than that without “die‐punch.” In clinical work, orthopedic surgeons should not only pay attention to the size of the posterior malleolus fracture but also value its height, which hopefully could provide insight into the treatment and prognosis of PMF patients.
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange as a Treatment for Autoimmune Neurological Disease
Authors: Nieto-Aristizábal Ivana , Vivas Álvaro J. , Ruiz-Montaño Pablo , Aragón Cristian C. , Posso-Osorio Iván , Quiñones Jairo , Rivillas Julián Alejandro , Tobón Gabriel J.
Published: July 2020

Introduction. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is commonly used as treatment of certain autoimmune neurological diseases (ANDs), and its main objective is the removal of pathogenic autoantibodies. Our aim was to describe the clinical profile and the experience with the usage of TPE in patients with ANDs at our institution. Methods. This is an observational retrospective study, including medical records of patients with diagnosis of ANDs who received TPE, between 2011 and 2018. Characteristics of TPE, such as number of cycles, type of replacement solution, and adverse effects, were evaluated. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was applied to measure the clinical response after the therapy. Results. 187 patients were included with the following diagnoses: myasthenia gravis (MG), n = 70 (37%); Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), n = 53 (28.3%), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), n = 35 (18.7%); chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), n = 23 (12.2%); and autoimmune encephalitis (AE), n = 6 (3.2%). The most used types of replacement solution were albumin (n = 131, 70%) and succinylated gelatin (n = 45, 24%). All patients received a median of five cycles (IQR 5-5). Hypotension and hydroelectrolytic disorders were the main complications. After TPE, 99 patients (52.9%) showed improvement in the mRS scores and a statistical significance (p<0.05) was seen between the admission score and after TPE for every diagnosis except for CIDP. Conclusion. TPE has an adequate safety profile, and improvement in functionality in treated patients reflects its effectiveness.
An Optimal Portfolio Problem of DC Pension with Input-Delay and Jump-Diffusion Process
Authors: Xu Weixiang , Gao Jinggui
Published: July 2020

In this paper, an optimal portfolio control problem of DC pension is studied where the time interval between the implementation of investment behavior and its effectiveness (hereafter input-delay) is particularly focused. There are two assets available for investment: a risk-free cash bond and a risky stock with a jump-diffusion process. And the wealth process of the pension fund is modeled as a stochastic delay differential equation. To secure a comfortable retirement life for pension members and also avoid excessive risk, the fund managers in this paper aim to minimize the expected value of quadratic deviations between the actual terminal fund scale and a preset terminal target. By applying the stochastic dynamic programming approach and the match method, the optimal portfolio control problem is solved and the closed-form solution is obtained. In addition, an algorithm is developed to calculate the numerical solution of the optimal strategy. Finally, we have performed a sensitivity analysis to explore how the managers’ preset terminal target, the length of input-delay, and the jump intensity of risky assets affect the optimal investment strategy.
Convergence of Slice-Based Block Coordinate Descent Algorithm for Convolutional Sparse Coding
Authors: Li Jing , Yu Hui , Wei Xiao , Wang Jinjia
Published: July 2020

Convolutional sparse coding (CSC) models are becoming increasingly popular in the signal and image processing communities in recent years. Several research studies have addressed the basis pursuit (BP) problem of the CSC model, including the recently proposed local block coordinate descent (LoBCoD) algorithm. This algorithm adopts slice-based local processing ideas and splits the global sparse vector into local vector needles that are locally computed in the original domain to obtain the encoding. However, a convergence theorem for the LoBCoD algorithm has not been given previously. This paper presents a convergence theorem for the LoBCoD algorithm which proves that the LoBCoD algorithm will converge to its global optimum at a rate of O1/k. A slice-based multilayer local block coordinate descent (ML-LoBCoD) algorithm is proposed which is motivated by the multilayer basis pursuit (ML-BP) problem and the LoBCoD algorithm. We prove that the ML-LoBCoD algorithm is guaranteed to converge to the optimal solution at a rate O1/k. Preliminary numerical experiments demonstrate the better performance of the proposed ML-LoBCoD algorithm compared to the LoBCoD algorithm for the BP problem, and the loss function value is also lower for ML-LoBCoD than LoBCoD.
Soliton Solutions and Collisions for the Multicomponent Gross–Pitaevskii Equation in Spinor Bose–Einstein Condensates
Authors: Wang Ming , He Guo-Liang
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we investigate a five-component Gross–Pitaevskii equation, which is demonstrated to describe the dynamics of an F=2 spinor Bose–Einstein condensate in one dimension. By employing the Hirota method with an auxiliary function, we obtain the explicit bright one- and two-soliton solutions for the equation via symbolic computation. With the choice of polarization parameter and spin density, the one-soliton solutions are divided into four types: one-peak solitons in the ferromagnetic and cyclic states and one- and two-peak solitons in the polar states. For the former two, solitons share the similar shape of one peak in all components. Solitons in the polar states have the one- or two-peak profiles, and the separated distance between two peaks is inversely proportional to the value of polarization parameter. Based on the asymptotic analysis, we analyze the collisions between two solitons in the same and different states.
Analysis of the Acoustic Environment of Typical Residential Areas along a Light Rail Line Based on GIS
Authors: Zhao Yu , Yang Qingwei , Yuan Peiyin
Published: July 2020

The acoustic environment of urban residential areas is closely related to road traffic noise. More specifically, the effect of the light rail on the old residential area in Chongqing is potentially profound. Using geographic information system (GIS) to construct a map of the urban light rail’s influence on the acoustic environment of residential areas, the influence of noise can be determined. Very few studies exist on the impact of light rails on the acoustic environment of residential areas, and there is no literature on the impact of light rails on the acoustic environment of residential areas using GIS. In this study, the degree of influence of a light rail on nearby residential areas and the diffusion degree of light rail noise in these areas during various times of the day were analysed by measuring the objective indicators of acoustic landscape elements and evaluating subjective indicators. The layout mode of the residential areas and the light rail were superimposed, and other traffic noise influences were eliminated. This method provides a scientific basis for the planning, design, and reconstruction of residential areas.
Optimization-Based TOPSIS Method with Incomplete Weight Information under Nested Probabilistic-Numerical Linguistic Environment
Authors: Deng Yan , Wang Xinxin , Min Chao
Published: July 2020

With the development of the economic and technology, decision-making problems are more and more complex and uncertain. Experts have difficulty in expressing evaluation information because of different research background and insufficient cognition of knowledge structure. Attribute weight information has been often incomplete in decision-making problems. Considering that nested probabilistic-numerical linguistic term sets (NPNLTSs) are flexible to express qualitative and quantitative information, in this paper, we firstly establish an optimization model based on distance measures to obtain the attribute weight. Combined with a classical decision-making method, an optimization-based TOPSIS method with NPNLTSs is proposed to deal with complex decision-making problems. After that, a case study about the river health assessment is given to show the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method. Finally, some comparative analysis and discussion are provided from three aspects, including the impact for the results without weight optimization, the impact for the results under other uncertain environments, and the impact for the results using other decision-making methods. As a result, the proposed optimization-based TOPSIS method is effective and reliable. The optimization-based TOPSIS method proposed in this paper provides a new way to deal with uncertain and practical problems, which makes a technically sound contribution to the decision-making field.
A Placebo‐Controlled Study on the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome of Qi Stagnation and Dampness Obstruction Related to Atypical Antipsychotics with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Authors: Sun Fengli , Ren Zhibin , Jiang Yonghong , Fang Xiangming , Wang Naixin , Jin Weidong
Published: July 2020

Backgroud. To observe the effects of Liuyu decoction on qi stagnation and dampness obstruction syndrome of metabolic syndrome related to atypical antipsychotics . Methods. 154 schizophrenics who met both the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome and qi stagnation and dampness obstruction syndrome were randomly divided into 2 : 1 groups. The PANSS and Tess were assessed before treatment and at the end of first month, second month, and third month after treatment; blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and cholesterol were also measured at the same four time points. On the basis of continuous antipsychotic treatment, the study group took Liuyu decoction, and the control group took placebo. Results. Of the 154 cases, 102 were in the study group and 52 in the control group. Before and after treatment, there was a slight increase but no significant difference in blood pressure, blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, TG, DHL, and LHL in two groups (P > 0.05) and also between the two groups (P > 0.05). The body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and BMI in the study group decreased, while that in the control group increased from the dividing group to the end of study. At the end of the third month, there was a significant difference in the body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and BMI between the two groups (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, there was a significant difference in positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general symptoms, and PANSS in two groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The negative symptoms, general symptoms, PANSS, and TESS in the study group were lighter than that in the control group after treatment. Conclusion. Liuyu decoction is not only beneficial to the treatment in body constitution of metabolic syndrome in qi stagnation and dampness obstruction but also beneficial to the improvement of such patients’ mental symptoms and side effects.
Evaluation of the Effects of Schisandra chinensis on the Myocardium of Rats with Hyperthyroid Heart Disease by Using Velocity Vector Imaging Combined with the Estimation of p53 Expression and Calmodulin Activity
Authors: Hou Rui , Jin Xuanshun , Gao Yihua , Sun Dandan , Ma Weiping , Sun Puyin , Jin Chengzi
Published: July 2020

Schisandra chinensis (SC) is reported to improve myocardial ischemia. Velocity vector imaging (VVI) is a noninvasive technique for evaluating myocardial function in humans, while few reported on the application in animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the improved effects of SC on the myocardium of Sprague Dawley rats having hyperthyroid heart disease (HHD) using VVI technique. HHD models were established by injecting daily with subcutaneous levothyroxine (0.5 mg/kg). Then, the SC group was administered the aqueous extract of SC (2 g/kg) once daily, while the HHD and control (CON) groups were administered the same amount of distilled water daily. All the rats were provided the same amount of food and water daily, and the intervention was stopped after 28 days. The efficacy of SC in HHD rats was evaluated by ultrasound VVI. The serum total triiodothyronine level, total thyroxine level, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide expression, p53 expression, and calmodulin (CaM) activity were assessed by western blotting, Hematoxylin‐Eosin and Masson staining, and electron microscopy. The results indicated that SC significantly improved the systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, strain, systolic strain rate, and diastolic strain rate of the heart by significantly reducing p53 expression and CaM activity (P < 0.05), improving myocardial fibrosis in HHD rats. Also, VVI can be a valuable tool for the evaluation of myocardial function in HHD rats.
On Fuzzy Soft Linear Operators in Fuzzy Soft Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Faried Nashat , Ali Mohamed S. S. , Sakr Hanan H.
Published: July 2020

Due to the difficulty of representing problem parameters fuzziness using the soft set theory, the fuzzy soft set is regarded to be more general and flexible than using the soft set. In this paper, we define the fuzzy soft linear operatorT~in the fuzzy soft Hilbert spaceH~based on the definition of the fuzzy soft inner product spaceU~,·,·~in terms of the fuzzy soft vectorv~fGemodified in our work. Moreover, it is shown thatℂnA,ℝnAandℓ2Aare suitable examples of fuzzy soft Hilbert spaces and also some related examples, properties and results of fuzzy soft linear operators are introduced with proofs. In addition, we present the definition of the fuzzy soft orthogonal family and the fuzzy soft orthonormal family and introduce examples satisfying them. Furthermore, the fuzzy soft resolvent set, the fuzzy soft spectral radius, the fuzzy soft spectrum with its different types of fuzzy soft linear operators and the relations between those types are introduced. Moreover, the fuzzy soft right shift operator and the fuzzy soft left shift operator are defined with an example of each type onℓ2A. In addition, it is proved, onℓ2A, that the fuzzy soft point spectrum of fuzzy soft right shift operator has no fuzzy soft eigenvalues, the fuzzy soft residual spectrum of fuzzy soft right shift operator is equal to the fuzzy soft comparison spectrum of it and the fuzzy soft point spectrum of fuzzy soft left shift operator is the fuzzy soft open diskλ~<~1~. Finally, it is shown that the fuzzy soft Hilbert space is fuzzy soft self-dual in this generalized setting.
Photodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port‐Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic Appearance
Authors: Khalaf Ahmad Taha , Sun Yonghong , Wang Fang , Sheng Minmin , Li Yan , Liu Xiaoming
Published: July 2020

This study aims at exploring the clinical efficacy and sonographic changes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Hematoporphyrin Monomethyl Ether (HMME) for the treatment of port‐wine stains (PWS). Forty‐five patients with PWS were recruited between March 2017 and June 2018 from the Department of Dermatology of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Five cases were of the pink type, thirty‐nine cases were of the purple‐red type, and one case was of the thickened type. All patients received three treatment sessions of PDT. After covering normal skin outside the treated area, patients received an intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg HMME within 20 minutes. The affected areas were exposed to a 532 nm LED light and were kept vertically at a distance of 10 cm. The irradiation energy density was set between 80 and 110 J/cm2 in 15‐minute sessions. Intermittent power density adjustment was performed at a rate of 5 mW/cm2, and the treatment was withheld when the endpoint reaction appeared. Three follow‐ups were performed before and after treatment, respectively, and the efficacy, thickness, and density of skin before and after treatment were evaluated with high‐frequency ultrasound. The overall efficacy rate was 97.78% in forty‐five cases after treatment for three sessions. Efficacy was related to age (P = 0.029) and lesion severity (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in the efficacy between the groups of <18 years old, 18‐29 years old, and >29 years old (P = 0.029). A marked decrease in the numbers of distorted enlarged blood vessels per unit of the lesion was observed under high‐frequency ultrasound. There were significant differences in skin thickness and skin density before and after treatment (F = 14.528, 5.428, P < 0.001). The swelling was reported to varying degrees in the treated areas in 23 patients with cheek lesion and in 6 frontal lesions. Hyperpigmentation after inflammation was observed in four patients that faded spontaneously after two months. In conclusion, photodynamic therapy for the treatment of PWS using HMME is effective and safe with few adverse reactions. Moreover, monitoring the changes in skin thickness and density of lesion tissue using high‐frequency ultrasound can objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of HMME photodynamic therapy and provide the basis for the formulation of individualized photodynamic therapy.
Enhanced Mask R-CNN for Chinese Food Image Detection
Authors: Li Y. , Xu X. , Yuan C.
Published: July 2020

Food image detection plays an essential role in visual object detection, considering its applicability in solutions that improve people’s nutritional status and thus their health-care. At present, most food detection technologies are aimed at Western food and Japanese food, but few at Chinese foods. In this work, we exert effort to establish a Chinese food image dataset called CF-108 that can be used as an essential data basis for Chinese food image detection. The CF-108 dataset contains most Chinese dishes and covers large variations in presentations of the same category. In addition, we introduce a training architecture that replaces the traditional convolution in mask region convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) with depthwise separable convolution, namely, Mask R-DSCNN, to reduce the expensive computation cost. Experiments demonstrate that Mask R-DSCNN can significantly reduce resource consumption and improve Chinese food images’ detection efficiency without hurting too much accuracy.
Clinical Outcomes of Primary Posterior Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis in Postvitrectomy Cataract Eyes
Authors: Yu Mengting , Yan Duan , Wu Wenjie , Wang Yingbin , Wu Xinna
Published: July 2020

Purpose. To evaluate the safety and outcomes of primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PPCCC) combined with phacoemulsification in postvitrectomy eyes.Design. Retrospective case series.Methods. Twenty-one postvitrectomy eyes of 21 patients with cataract between April 2017 and December 2019 were enrolled. PPCCC through the cornea incision was performed before in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation. All patients were followed up for at least 3 months postoperatively. The outcome measures were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal endothelium cell counts (CECC), central macular thickness (CMT), the occurrence of intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO).Results. The mean age was 56.14 ± 9.76 years (ranging from 31 to 68). The mean Snellen CDVA was 20/400 preoperatively and improved to 20/67 postoperativelyP<0.001. No significant differences were found between IOPP=0.96and CMTP=0.42preoperatively and postoperatively. The mean CECC was 2571.8 ± 319.3 cells/mm2preoperatively and 2498.2 ± 346.3 cells/mm2postoperativelyP<0.05. Lens epithelium cells proliferation was confined to the peripheral capsular bag during a mean follow-up of 12.9 ± 10.5 months (ranging from 3 to 28 months). Intraoperative posterior capsule extension occurred in 1 eye (4%), although it did not affect the patient’s vision. No serious complications, including retinal detachment or endophthalmitis, were detected in any of the 21 cases.Conclusion. PPCCC through cornea incision combined with phacoemulsification may be a safe and practical alternative to prevent PCO in postvitrectomy eyes with cataract.
Observer-Based Control for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems Applied to Continuous Biochemical Reactors
Authors: Aguilar-López Ricardo , Tec-Caamal Edgar N. , Neria-González M. Isabel
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this paper is to present an observer-based control design with application to continuous bioreactors. For this purpose, phenomenological bioreactor models were represented by identified linear models plus unknown modelling error terms. Therefore, an uncertainty-based observer with a polynomial structure capable of estimating the unknown modelling error of the reactor representation is coupled to a linear input-output controller. The proposed methodology was evaluated in a sulphate reduction bioprocess and an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation process for butanol (biofuel) production, under continuous regimes. Experimentally validated mathematical models were considered for this purpose. A theoretical framework is presented to demonstrate the corresponding closed-loop stability of the systems, and numerical simulations were carried out to corroborate the satisfactory performance of the proposed methodology.
Research on the Deformation Mechanism and Directional Blasting Roof Cutting Control Measures of a Deep Buried High-Stress Roadway
Authors: Yang Xiaojie , Liu Chenkang , Sun Honglei , Yue Songlin , Ji Yuguo , Zhang Xingyu , Hou Lin
Published: July 2020

Affected by the mining activities of the working face, the surrounding rock of the roadway is easily deformed and destroyed. For deep buried roadways, the deformation and destruction of the surrounding rock is particularly prominent. Under the influence of in situ stress fluctuation, 3−1103 tailgate of the Hongqinghe coal mine was in a complex stress environment with a maximum stress exceeding 20 MPa. Affected by mining stress, the roadway behind the working face was seriously deformed. In order to alleviate the deformation of the roadway, directional blasting and cutting measures for the 3−1103 tailgate were adopted in this paper. The mechanism of crack propagation in single-row to three-hole directional blasting was revealed by numerical simulation. The blasted rock was divided into three regions according to the crack condition. The numerical analysis of the cutting heights of 0 m, 10 m, 12 m, and 14 m, respectively, showed the stress peaks of different cutting heights and the deformation law of the surrounding rock. The pressure relief effect was the best at 14 m cutting height. At this time, the peak stress was 39 MPa with the smallest roadway deformation. Based on numerical simulation and theoretical analysis results, engineering tests were carried out. Field monitoring showed that the deformation of the roadway was inversely proportional to the roof cutting height. The higher the cutting height is, the more preferential the roadway is to reach the stable state. It can be concluded that directional blasting can change the surrounding rock structure, control the deformation of the roadway, and play a role in pressure relief. It provides a new measure to control roadway deformation.
Bacterial Composition, Community Structure, and Diversity in Apis nigrocincta Gut
Authors: Lombogia Christian Apolinaris , Tulung Max , Posangi Jimmy , Tallei Trina Ekawati
Published: July 2020

Understanding the honeybee gut bacteria is an essential aspect as honeybees are the primary pollinators of many crops. In this study, the honeybee-associated gut bacteria were investigated by targeting the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA genes using the Illumina MiSeq. The adult worker was captured in an urban area in a dense settlement. In total, 83,018 reads were obtained, revealing six phyla from 749 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The gut was dominated by Proteobacteria (58% of the total reads, including Enterobacteriaceae 28.2%, Erwinia 6.43%, and Klebsiella 4.90%), Firmicutes (29% of the total reads, including Lactococcus garvieae 13.45%, Lactobacillus spp. 8.19%, and Enterococcus spp. 4.47%), and Actinobacteria (8% of the total reads, including Bifidobacterium spp. 7.96%). Many of these bacteria belong to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which was claimed to be composed of beneficial bacteria involved in maintaining a healthy host. The honeybee was identified as Apis nigrocincta based on an identity BLAST search of its COI region. This study is the first report on the gut microbial community structure and composition of A. nigrocincta from Indonesia.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Diterpenoids fromCelastrus orbiculatusin Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells
Authors: Jang Hyun-Jae , Kim Kang-Hoon , Park Eun-Jae , Kang Jeong A. , Yun Bong-Sik , Lee Seung-Jae , Park Chan Sun , Lee Soyoung , Lee Seung Woong , Rho Mun-Chual
Published: July 2020

Celastrus orbiculatusThunb has been known as an ethnopharmacological medicinal plant for antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Although various pharmacological studies ofC.orbiculatusextract has been reported, an anti-inflammatory mechanism study of their phytochemical constituents has not been fully elucidated. In this study, compounds1–17, including undescribed podocarpane-type trinorditerpenoid (3), were purified fromC.orbiculatusand their chemical structure were determined by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass (HRESIMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds1–17, nitric oxide (NO) secretion was evaluated in LPS-treated murine macrophages, RAW264.7 cells. Among compounds1–17, deoxynimbidiol (1) and new trinorditerpenoid (3) showed the most potent inhibitory effects (IC50: 4.9 and 12.6 μM, respectively) on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated NO releases as well as proinflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)α. Its inhibitory activity of proinflammatory mediators is contributed by suppressing the activation of nuclear transcription factor- (NF-)κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades including p65, inhibition of NF-κB (IκB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Therefore, these results demonstrated that diterpenoids1and3obtained fromC.orbiculatusmay be considered a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
The Physicomechanical Deterioration Characteristics and Mesoscopic Damage Analysis of Sandstone under Acidic Environment
Authors: Huo Runke , Qiu Tian , Liang Yanling , Li Shuguang , Qian Meiting
Published: July 2020

The physicomechanical deterioration characteristics of sandstone subjected to H2SO4, HCl, and H2O solutions of different pH values are studied by the method of long‐term accelerated immersion. The quantitative relationships between the damage variables based on CT (computer tomographic identification technology) numbers and the immersion time, the uniaxial compressive strength, the peak point strain, and the elastic modulus of rock samples are analyzed. The test results indicate that the pH value of immersion solutions, the dissolution rate of Ca2+ and Na+, and the quality change of rock samples show visible stage characteristics under acidic environment. With the soaking time extended, the pH value of solutions increases gradually, and the quality change of rock samples decreases gradually. The smaller the pH value of immersion solutions is, the higher the dissolution rate of Ca2+ and Na+ is. However, the cation dissolution rate under a weak acid environment with a high pH value has little difference with that under the distilled water (pH = 7). With the increase of the soaking time and the acidity, the compaction stage of rock samples becomes longer, the elastic stage becomes shorter, the deterioration degree of mechanical parameters becomes more extensive, and the destruction of sandstone samples shows ductility characteristics increasingly. The corrosion degree of corroded sandstone samples is quantitatively represented by microscopic damage variables based on CT numbers. The regression analysis results show that damage variables of acid‐corroded sandstone samples have a power function relationship with soaking time and an exponential function relationship with peak strength, peak point strain, and elastic modulus.
Best-Estimate Plus Uncertainty Framework for Multiscale, Multiphysics Light Water Reactor Core Analysis
Authors: Hou Jason , Avramova Maria , Ivanov Kostadin
Published: July 2020

Tremendous work has been done in the Light Water Reactor (LWR) Modelling and Simulation (M&S) uncertainty quantification (UQ) within the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) LWR Uncertainty Analysis in Modelling (UAM) benchmark, which aims to investigate the uncertainty propagation in all M&S stages of the LWRs and to guide uncertainty and sensitivity analysis methodology development. The Best-Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) methodologies have been developed and implemented within the framework of the LWR UAM benchmark to provide a realistic predictive simulation capability without compromising the safety margins. This paper describes the current status of the methodological development, assessment, and integration of the BEPU methodology to facilitate the multiscale, multiphysics LWR core analysis. The comparative analysis of the results in the stand-alone multiscale neutronics phase (Phase I) is first reported for understanding the general trend of the uncertainty of core parameters due to the nuclear data uncertainty. It was found that the predicted uncertainty of the system eigenvalue is highly dependent on the choice of the covariance libraries used in the UQ process and is less sensitive to the solution method, nuclear data library, and UQ method. High-to-Low (Hi2Lo) model information approaches for multiscale M&S are introduced for the core single physics phase (Phase II). In this phase, the other physics (fuel and moderator), providing feedback to neutronics M&S in a LWR core, and time-dependent phenomena are considered. Phase II is focused on uncertainty propagation in single physics models which are components of the LWR core coupled multiphysics calculations. The paper discusses the link and interactions between Phase II to the multiphysics core and system phase (Phase III), that is, the link between uncertainty propagation in single physics on local scale and multiphysics uncertainty propagation on the core scale. Particularly, the consistency in uncertainty assessment between higher-fidelity models implemented in fuel performance codes and the rather simplified models implemented in thermal-hydraulics codes, to be used for coupling with neutronics in Phase III is presented. Similarly, the uncertainty quantification on thermal-hydraulic models is established on a relatively small scale, while these results will be used in Phase III at the core scale, sometimes with different codes or models. Lastly, the up-to-date UQ method for the coupled multiphysics core calculation in Phase III is presented, focusing on the core equilibrium cycle depletion calculation with associated uncertainties.
Creation and Evaluation of an Endodontic Diagnosis Training Software
Authors: Al-Madi Ebtissam M. , Al-Bahrani Layla , Al-Shenaiber Rafif , Al-Saleh Samar A. , Al-Obaida Mohammad I.
Published: July 2020

Objective. The purpose of the study is to evaluate a user-friendly, comprehensive, fully integrated web- and mobile-based application that was specifically developed to guide learners and help them practice and train in pulpal and periapical diagnosis. Methods. The software was designed for assistance in the diagnosis of the pulpal and the periapical area. The software contained questions and tests, e.g., presence or absence of signs and symptoms, cold test, percussion, palpation, and radiographic examination that the user must answer to arrive at the final diagnosis. An electronic survey was prepared to evaluate the effectiveness, productivity, and accurateness of the software. The software and the electronic evaluation survey were sent by e-mail to dental students, endodontist, general dentists, and dental interns who study or work in four Saudi dental colleges. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result. A total of 203 questionnaires were completed. Results showed that 29% of the participants were highly satisfied with the software; 40% gave a very good rating about the application satisfaction, while only 2% reported a poor degree of satisfaction with the software. Results also showed that students accurately selected the correct diagnosis but received relatively low diagnostic proficiency scores because they did not request diagnostic data in a pattern similar to experts. Conclusion. In conclusion, the software is promising as an effective and efficient tool for teaching and assessing the diagnostic skills of learners.
A Compact Slotted Patch Hybrid-Mode Antenna for Sub-6 GHz Communication
Authors: Huang Bei , Li Mochao , Lin Weifeng , Zhang Jun , Zhang Gary , Wu Fugen
Published: July 2020

A compact hybrid-mode antenna is proposed for sub-6 GHz communication. The proposed antenna is composed of a slotted rectangular patch, a feeding dipole, and a balun. Three modes are sequentially excited in a shared patch to achieve a compact size. A prototype antenna with a major size of 0.48 λ0 × 0.31 λ0 × 0.16 λ0 (λ0 is the wavelength in the free space at the center of the operating frequency band) is fabricated and measured. The measured results demonstrate an impedance bandwidth of 56.87% from 2.97 GHz to 5.33 GHz and an average gain of approximately 8.00 dBi with 1 dB variation in the operating frequency band of 3.0–5.0 GHz. The proposed antenna can be an element for microbase stations in sub-6 GHz communication.
The Alleviative Effect of Vitamin B2 on Potassium Bromate‐Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Hassan Iftekhar , Ebaid Hossam , Alhazza Ibrahim M. , Al-Tamimi Jameel
Published: July 2020

Potassium bromate (PB) is a food enhancer, water disinfection by‐product, and a proven carcinogen. It elicits toxicities in the living organism due to exposure and in a dose‐dependent manner. The present study discourses the ameliorative efficacy of riboflavin (RF) in PB‐administered rodents. The animals were distributed into five treatment groups: control (group I), PB alone (group II, 150 mg/kg), RF alone (group III, 2 mg/kg), PB+RF1 (group IV, 150 mg/kg + 2 mg/kg), and PB+RF2 (group V, 150 mg/kg + 4 mg/kg). After the round of the treatment, the animals were sacrificed to collect their blood and liver samples for the detailed analysis. Group II depicted perturbed liver functions evidenced by altered serum and toxicity markers along with the disturbed redox balance. Also, these biochemical results were found harmonious with histopathological analysis and comet assay. However, group III showed no noticeable alteration in the same parameters, whereas the combination groups (IV and V) exhibited dose‐dependent amelioration in the PB‐induced toxicities. Interestingly, RF favored apoptosis concomitant with suppressing the necrosis in the PB‐challenged groups, as shown by the activity of caspase‐3 and lactate dehydrogenase. Histopathological analysis and comet assay further consolidate these results. Hence, RF has significant alleviative property against PB‐induced hepatotoxicity in vivo that can be used in the consumer items containing the toxicant.
Research on Meshing Characteristics of Shearer Walking Wheel Based on Rigid-Flexible Coupling
Authors: Wan Lirong , Ma Dejian , Zhang Xin
Published: July 2020

Frequent failure of the walking wheel seriously restricts the performance of the whole shearer. To reduce the failure rate and improve the working performance of the walking wheel, the meshing characteristics of the tooth pin are researched. The dynamic state equations of the walking wheel and the contact force model of tooth pin meshing are established. The rigid-flexible coupling simulation model of tooth pin meshing is built. The load distribution characteristics of the walking wheel are analyzed, as well as the effects of impact load amplitude and duration. Results show that the curve of the longitudinal load distribution coefficient (Kβ) of the contact area is W-shaped, with a maximum of 1.325 at the moment of a single tooth contact. The end of the transition curve is the most serious position of the longitudinal load imbalance at the tooth root. In addition, on the impact moment,Kβtends to decrease and maximum stress obviously increases with the increase in impact load under 40%; the material at the contact position will fail under an extra 39% instantaneous impact load. Furthermore, with the impact load of 30%, the influence of load impact duration under 0.5 s on the meshing characteristics of the walking wheel is relatively faint. The results provide some guidance for the design optimization of the walking wheel and provide a reference for improving the reliability of the shearer.
Which Neighborhood Destinations Matter in the Asian Context? The Role of Destinations in Older Adults’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors
Authors: Park Jong-Hwan , Park Jung-Hoon , Song Seunghwan , Lai Ting-Fu , Liao Yung
Published: July 2020

Background. Neighborhood destinations play important roles in daily activity levels of older adults. However, little is known about how specific destinations are associated with these activities and/or sedentary behaviors, especially in Asia. This study investigated how neighborhood destinations were associated with physical activity recommendations and excessive sedentary time among older adults. Methods. A telephone‐based survey was conducted to collect cross‐sectional data on the sociodemographic variables, residential neighborhoods, physical activities, and sedentary behaviors of 1,040 adults aged 65 years and above. Using data derived from Geographic Information Systems (GIS), an adjusted logistic regression was performed to examine the relationships between five neighborhood destination types (i.e., recreational facilities, utilitarian destinations, transit stops, temples, and schools) and both overall physical activity level and sedentary behavior. Results. Significant interactions related to physical activity and sedentary behavior were observed based on both gender and neighborhood destinations. After adjusting for potential confounders, older men living in neighborhoods containing higher numbers of temples were more likely to achieve physical activity recommendations (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.16–2.96). On the other hand, older women living in neighborhoods containing higher numbers of utilitarian destinations were more likely to engage in excessive sedentary time (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.12–2.56). Conclusions. In Asia, the presence of favorable local neighborhood temples may support physical activity levels for older men, while utilitarian destinations (which have previously been found to support activeness) may be related to excessive sedentary behaviors in older women.
Surface and New Building Deformation Analysis of Deep Well Strip Mining
Authors: Luan Yuanzhong , Dong Yue , Ma Yanhe , Weng Liyuan
Published: July 2020

Aiming at the problem of surface movement and long‐term stability of a work plane of deep well strip mining in Shandong Province, an observation station is set up on the surface of strip mining, and the surface deformation value during strip mining is measured with advanced measuring instruments; on the stable surface of the old mining area, the surface deformation monitoring work is also carried out for new buildings. In addition, the FLAC3D simulation method is used to determine the subsidence factor of different mining depth, mining width, mining length, and mining thickness, and the mathematical model between the subsidence factor and mining depth, mining width, mining length, and mining thickness is established. After the surface of the old goaf is basically stable after strip mining, the high‐rise buildings are built. By changing the size of the new buildings and the amount of the load imposed on the surface, the surface deformation is simulated and calculated, and the relationship between the different load positions, load sizes, loading building sizes, and the surface activated deformation is obtained. The measured value of the surface deformation confirms that the load of the new buildings can induce the activation of the old goaf and make the surface generate secondary deformation, but the activated deformation makes the new building within the range of 1, so the new building is safe.
Glyphosate-Resistant Canada Fleabane Control in Winter Wheat with Postemergence Herbicides
Authors: Soltani Nader , Shropshire C. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: July 2020

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of herbicide-resistant weeds, including glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes in Ontario, Canada. A total of six field experiments were conducted over a two-year period (2018 and 2019) to determine the control of GR Canada fleabane (Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.) with currently available herbicides for winter wheat in Ontario. Winter wheat was not injured with any of the herbicides evaluated. Among herbicides evaluated, pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil (preformulated), 2,4-D ester, halauxifen, fluroxypyr/halauxifen (preformulated) + MCPA, pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil/fluroxypyr (preformulated), pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil/thiencarbazone (preformulated), pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil/thiencarbazone + MCPA, and fluroxypyr/halauxifen + pyroxsulam + MCPA controlled GR Canada fleabane 94–100% at 8 weeks after application (WAA) and reduced density 95–100% and biomass 97–100%. Reduced GR Canada fleabane interference with pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil/thiencarbazone + MCPA increased winter wheat yield 27% compared to the weedy control. GR Canada fleabane interference had no adverse effect on winter wheat yield with all other treatments. Based on these results, herbicide treatments that include 2,4-D, pyrasulfotole, or halauxifen can adequately control GR Canada fleabane in winter wheat.