bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EA-MAC: A QoS Aware Emergency Adaptive MAC Protocol for Intelligent Scheduling of Packets in Smart Emergency Monitoring Applications
Authors: Jayaram Asokan , Deb Sanjoy
Published: January 2020

The evolution of the wireless sensor network (WSN) in recent years has reached its greatest heights and applications are increasing day by day, one such application is Smart Emergency Monitoring Systems (SMESs) which is in vision of implementation in every urban and rural areas. The implementation of WSN architecture in the Smart Monitoring Systems needs an intelligent scheduling mechanism that efficiently handles the high traffic load as well as the emergency traffic load without sacrificing the energy efficiency of the network. However, the traditional scheduling algorithms such as First Come First Served (FCFS), Round Robin, and Shortest Job First (SJF) cannot meet the requirements of high traffic load in SMESs. To address these shortcomings, this paper presents Emergency Adaptive Medium Access Control protocol (EA-MAC), a fuzzy priority scheduling based Quality-of-service (QoS)-aware medium access control (MAC) protocol for hierarchical WSNs. EA-MAC protocol employs the most powerful fuzzy logics to schedule the sensor nodes with both normal and emergency traffic load without any data congestion, and packet loss and maintaining the better QoS which is considered to be more important in SMESs applications. Moreover, a novel rank-based clustering mechanism in EA-MAC protocol prolongs the network lifetime by minimizing the distance between the Cluster Head (CH) and the Base Station (BS). Both analytical and simulation models demonstrate the superiority of the EA-MAC protocol in terms of energy consumption, transmission delay and data throughput when compared with the existing Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based MAC protocols such as LEACH protocol and Cluster Head Election Mechanism-Based On Fuzzy Logic (CHEF) protocol.
Nonlinear Controller: Voltage Controlled PFC-Based Fuzzy MDPSM Controller with Predictive Input Voltage
Authors: Thangam R. , Joy Vasantha Rani S. P.
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the design of a fuzzy rule-based MDPSM controlled buck converter is analyzed. Power factor improvement and harmonic minimization for the buck converter connected through the variable load with a fuzzy rule are discussed and simulated. The MDPSM controlled converter is supplied with 230[Formula: see text]V and reaches 15[Formula: see text]V as output. The converter output, always connected with nonlinear loads, causes less power factor with more harmonics and gives less power quality. Active PFC with a fuzzy-based voltage controlled power factor controller is designed to reduce total harmonics and to raise the power factor value equal to unity. The fuzzy-based MDPSM controller was designed using MATLAB Simulink. Controller output waveforms are examined and analyzed with other controller performances. The converter is rated with 2[Formula: see text]mA, 0.5[Formula: see text]mH and 212[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]F values with output power 48[Formula: see text]W. The converter is tested for different resistive loads and inductive loads.
Bivariate representation and conjugacy class zeta functions associated to unipotent group schemes, II: Groups of type F, G, and H
Authors: Lins de Araujo Paula Macedo
Published: January 2020

This is the second of two papers introducing and investigating two bivariate zeta functions associated to unipotent group schemes over rings of integers of number fields. In the first part, we proved some of their properties such as rationality and functional equations. Here, we calculate such bivariate zeta functions of three infinite families of nilpotent groups of class [Formula: see text] generalizing the Heisenberg group of ([Formula: see text])-unitriangular matrices over rings of integers of number fields. The local factors of these zeta functions are also expressed in terms of sums over finite hyperoctahedral groups, which provide formulae for joint distributions of three statistics on such groups.
Cosmology of a generalised version of holographic dark energy in presence of bulk viscosity and its inflationary dynamics through slow roll parameters
Authors: Chakraborty Gargee , Chattopadhyay Surajit
Published: January 2020

This study reports a reconstruction scheme of a Dark Energy (DE) model with higher-order derivative of Hubble parameter, which is a particular case of Nojiri–Odintsov holographic DE (HDE) [S. Nojiri and S. D. Odintsov, Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 38 (2006) 1285.] that unifies phantom inflation with the acceleration of the universe on late-time. The reconstruction has been carried out in the presence of bulk viscosity, where the bulk-viscous pressure has been taken as a function of Hubble parameter. Ranges of cosmic time [Formula: see text] have been derived for quintessence, cosmological constant and phantom behaviour of the equation-of-state (EoS) parameter. In the viscous scenario, the reconstruction has been carried out in an interacting and noninteracting situations and in both the cases stability against small perturbations has been observed. Finally, the slow roll parameters have been studied and a scope of exit from inflation has been observed. Also, the availability of quasi-exponential expansion has been demonstrated for interacting viscous scenario and a study through tensor-to-scalar ratio has ensured consistency of the model with the observational bound by Planck. Alongwith primordial fluctuations, the interacting scenario has been found to generate strong dissipative regime.
Black hole solutions in gravity with nonminimal derivative coupling and nonlinear material fields
Authors: Stetsko Mykola M.
Published: January 2020

Scalar–tensor theory of gravity with nonlinear electromagnetic field, minimally coupled to gravity is considered and static black hole solutions are obtained. Namely, power-law and Born–Infeld nonlinear Lagrangians for the electromagnetic field are examined. Since the cosmological constant is taken into account, it allowed us to investigate the so-called topological black holes. Black hole thermodynamics is studied, in particular temperature of the black holes is calculated and examined and the first law of thermodynamics is obtained with help of Wald’s approach.
A Multi-Model Based Approach for the Detection of Subtle Structural Damage Considering Environmental Variability
Authors: Lakshmi K.
Published: January 2020

Minor structural damages like incipient cracks are difficult to detect as they alter the structural stiffness marginally. It is difficult to extract the features of minor damage, from the measured time history responses, which are usually contaminated by measurement noise. Also, the effect of environmental/operational variabilities often misleads the damage diagnostic process, especially for subtle damages. To tackle all the above challenges in detecting and locating the minor incipient damage, an automated multi-model based data-driven technique is proposed in this paper. It is based on the fact that a subtle damage alters only some structural modes, while the others remain unaltered. Hence, the proposal here is to decompose the measured time-history response into the modal components and then reconstruct the signal using only the modal components with the damage sensitive features. The reconstructed signal is used in damage diagnosis. As an improved version of the second-order blind identification, the blind source separation technique is proposed in this paper for signal decomposition and a crisp automated algorithm is presented for isolating the modal components with damage sensitive features. The autoregressive moving average with exogenous input model with the cepstral distance as the damage index is employed for localizing the damage. The proposed multi-model approach is completely automated. Numerical studies have been carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Also, experimental studies have been conducted to ensure the practicality of the proposed technique.
On the quest for generalized Hamiltonian descriptions of 3D-flows generated by the curl of a vector potential
Authors: Esen Oğul , Guha Partha
Published: January 2020

We examine Hamiltonian analysis of three-dimensional advection flow [Formula: see text] of incompressible nature [Formula: see text] assuming that the dynamics is generated by the curl of a vector potential [Formula: see text]. More concretely, we elaborate Nambu–Hamiltonian and bi-Hamiltonian characters of such systems under the light of vanishing or non-vanishing of the quantity [Formula: see text]. We present an example (satisfying [Formula: see text]) which can be written as in the form of Nambu–Hamiltonian and bi-Hamiltonian formulations. We present another example (satisfying [Formula: see text]) which we cannot able to write it in the form of a Nambu–Hamiltonian or bi-Hamiltonian system while it can be manifested in terms of Hamiltonian one-form and yields generalized or vector Hamiltonian equations [Formula: see text].
Natural Template-Derived 3D Porous Current Collector for Dendrite-free Lithium Metal Battery
Authors: Zhang Wenyang , Li Jialin , Chen Haixia , Jin Huixin , Li Pan , Zhang Youjian , Xu Cheng , Zhao Shimeng , Du Yiqun , Zhang Jianxin
Published: January 2020

Metallic lithium (Li) is an outstanding anode for high-energy storage devices, but dendrite growth impedes its practical application. Herein, similar to molding process of mooncake, a facile strategy of templated etching has been developed to manufacture three dimensional (3D) current collectors with hierarchical pore structures and biomimetic surfaces derived from natural templates. By using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as duplicate templates, 3D surface morphologies of natural surfaces can be printed on Cu foil, and the resuable templates facilitate mass production. By comparison, the 3D porous current collectors largely improve Li deposition behavior and suppress dendrite growth. They exhibit excellent electrochemical performances: high Coulombic efficiency (CE), long life spans of more than 1000[Formula: see text]h and good cycling performance. The templated etching method overcomes the energy/time-consuming disadvantages of past pore-creating methods and will boost the commercialization of lithium metal batteries.
Thin Film of TiO2–ZnO Binary Mixed Nanoparticles as Electron Transport Layers in Low-Temperature Processed Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Dan , Ni Jian , Guan Jiayi , Zhou Xiaojun , Zhang Shuaiyuan , Zhang Yaofang , Huang Qian , Cai Hongkun , Li Juan , Zhang Jianjun
Published: January 2020

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have become one of the highly promising candidates for photovoltaic technologies because of their low processing cost, rapid-growing power conversion efficiency and easy preparation process. Electron transfer layer (ETL) plays an important role in exciton separation and charge transport for perovskite devices. A TiO2–ZnO binary mixed nanoparticle (NP) ETL, which can be prepared in low-temperature hydrothermal method, was proposed. By analyzing the XRD and SEM, the incorporation of mixed NPs thin film improved the interfacial stability of ZnO/perovskite and prevented the perovskite layer from being decomposed as compared to the pure ZnO NPs thin film. Furthermore, UV spectrum and EIS results show that TiO2–ZnO mixed NP ETL has high transmittance and maintains good electrical properties of pure ZnO NPs basically. Finally, the efficiency of perovskite device based on TiO2–ZnO mixed NP ETL was improved to 15%. Our research provides a simple way for the application of ZnO in PCSs.
Application of Mg-Al-LDH@MgFe2O4 Nanocomposite Supported on Gold Micron-Dendrites as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Ethanol Oxidation
Authors: Taei Masoumeh , Fouladgar Masoud , Hasanpour Foroozan , Hasheminasab Fatemeh
Published: January 2020

Mg-Al-LDH@MgFe2O4 nanocomposite was synthesized and was applied to enhance efficiency of gold micron-dendrites/glassy carbon electrode (Mg-Al-LDH@MgFe2O4/AuNDs/GCE) for oxidation of ethanol. Based on the results, Mg-Al-LDH@MgFe2O4/AuNDs showed a current density of 29.4[Formula: see text]mA cm[Formula: see text], which was 1.6 times higher than that on the surface of AuNDs/GCE. Also, long-term stability of the studied electrode showed that the nanocomposite improves CO-poisoning tolerance of the AuNDs. Accordingly, the Mg-Al-LDH@MgFe2O4/AuNDs catalyst exhibits an excellent potential for application in alkaline ethanol fuel cells.
Random electric field strength distribution in lead-free relaxor ferroelectrics caused by barium content
Authors: Dul’kin Evgeniy , Zhai Jiwei , Roth Michael
Published: January 2020

Curie temperature behavior of BaxSr[Formula: see text]TiO3 ferroelectrics ceramic ([Formula: see text]) in dependence on bias field is detected by means of acoustic emission. Curie temperature exhibits nontrivial V-shape effect with threshold field of 0.3[Formula: see text]kV/cm, equivalent to random electric fields strength. This random field strength is compared with those in BaxSr[Formula: see text]TiO3 relaxor ferroelectrics ([Formula: see text], 0.7, 0.8) obtained previously, as well as with those determined from mean domain sizes in BaxSr[Formula: see text]Nb2O6 relaxor ferroelectrics ([Formula: see text], 0.39, 0.6). It is estimated that the random field strength of Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text]TiO3 is 30 times stronger than those of Ba[Formula: see text]Sr[Formula: see text]Nb2O6 and it is shown that the random field strengths of both BaxSr[Formula: see text]TiO3 and BaxSr[Formula: see text]Nb2O6 obey the same exponential law in dependence on barium content.
Charge-Aware Duty Cycling Methods for Wireless Systems under Energy Harvesting Heterogeneity
Authors: Zhang Jianhui , Zheng Siwen , Zhang Tianhao , Wang Mengmeng , Li Zhi
Published: January 2020

Recent works have designed systems containing tiny devices to communicate with harvested ambient energy, such as the ambient backscatter and renewable sensor networks. These systems often encounter the heterogeneity and randomness of ambient energy. Meanwhile, the energy storage unit, such as the battery or capacitor, has the inherent property of imperfect charge efficiency λ (λ ≤ 1), which is usually low when the power of the ambient energy is weak or variable. These features bring new challenges in using the harvested energy efficiently. This article calls it the
stochastic duty cycling problem
and studies it under three cases—offline, online, and correlated stochastic duty cycling—to maximize utilization efficiency. We design an offline algorithm
1
for the offline case with optimal performance. An approximation algorithm with the ratio 1 −
e
−γ
is designed for the online case. By adding initial negotiation among devices, we present a correlated algorithm and prove its approximation ratio theoretically. Experiment evaluation on our real energy harvesting platform shows that the offline algorithm performs over the other two algorithms. The correlated algorithm may not perform over the online one under the impacts of the three metrics: heterogeneity, charge efficiency, and energy harvesting probability.
ahoi
Authors: Renner Bernd-Christian , Heitmann Jan , Steinmetz Fabian
Published: January 2020

The recent development of small, cheap AUVs enables a plethora of underwater near- and inshore applications. Among these are monitoring of wind parks, detection of pollution sources, water-quality inspection, and the support of divers during disaster management. These tasks profit from online reporting, control, and AUV swarm interaction; yet they require underwater communication. Unfortunately, commercial devices are prohibitively expensive and typically closed-source, hampering their application in affordable products and research. Therefore, we developed the open-source
ahoi
acoustic modem. It is (i) small enough to be carried by micro AUVs, (ii) consumes little enough energy to not diminish operation times of its host, (iii) comes at an attractive unit cost below $600, (iv) can reliably communicate at distances of 150 m and more, and (v) supports ranging without additional hardware. Due to its modular build, the modem can be customized and is suitable as research platform to analyze, e.g., MAC and routing protocols. We conducted extensive real-world studies and present results of communication range, packet reception rate, ranging accuracy, and efficient and reliable self-localization. Finally, we draw conclusions regarding acoustic communication, ranging, and localization with inexpensive and low-power devices that go beyond a particular device. Our study, hence, encompasses general insights, observations, and recommendations.
Distinct effects of thermal treatments after lengthening contraction on mechanical hyperalgesia and exercise-induced physiological changes in rat muscle
Authors: Tsuboshima Katsuyuki , Urakawa Susumu , Takamoto Kouichi , Taguchi Toru , Matsuda Teru , Sakai Shigekazu , Mizumura Kazue , Ono Taketoshi , Nishijo Hisao
Published: January 2020

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common but displeasing event induced by excessive muscle use or unaccustomed exercise and characterized by tenderness and movement-related pain in the exercised muscle. Thermal therapies, either icing or heating applied to muscles immediately after exercise, have been used as therapeutic interventions for DOMS. However, the mechanisms of their analgesic effects, and physiological and metabolic changes in the muscle during thermal therapy, remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of both thermal treatments on mechanical hyperalgesia of DOMS and physiological and muscle metabolite changes using the rat DOMS model induced by lengthening contraction (LC) to the gastrocnemius muscle. Heating treatment just after LC induced analgesic effects, while rats with icing treatment showed mechanical hyperalgesia similar to that of the LC group. Furthermore, increased physiological responses (e.g., muscle temperature and blood flow) following the LC were significantly kept high only in the rats with heating treatment. In addition, heating treatment increased metabolites involved in the improvement of blood flow and oxidative metabolisms in the exercised muscle. The results indicated that heating treatment just after LC has analgesic effects on DOMS, which might be mediated partly through the improvement of muscle oxidative metabolisms by changes in metabolites and elevated physiological responses.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Physiological effects of thermal therapy in the muscle and its mechanisms of analgesic effects remain unclear. The results indicated that heating, but not icing, treatment just after lengthening contractions induced analgesic effects in the rat muscle. Increases in hemodynamics, muscle temperature, and metabolites such as nicotinamide were more prominent in heating treatment, consistent with improvement of muscle oxidative metabolisms, which might reduce chemical factors to induce mechanical hyperalgesia.
The proarrhythmic features of pathological cardiac hypertrophy in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte cultures
Authors: Neshati Zeinab , Schalij Martin J. , de Vries Antoine A. F.
Published: January 2020

Different factors may trigger arrhythmias in diseased hearts, including fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, hypoxia, and inflammation. This makes it difficult to establish the relative contribution of each of them to the occurrence of arrhythmias. Accordingly, in this study, we used an in vitro model of pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH) to investigate its proarrhythmic features and the underlying mechanisms independent of fibrosis or other PCH-related processes. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte (nr-vCMC) monolayers were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to create an in vitro model of PCH. The electrophysiological properties of PMA-treated and control monolayers were analyzed by optical mapping at day 9 of culture. PMA treatment led to a significant increase in cell size and total protein content. It also caused a reduction in sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2 level (32%) and an increase in natriuretic peptide A (42%) and α1-skeletal muscle actin (34%) levels, indicating that the hypertrophic response induced by PMA was, indeed, pathological in nature. PMA-treated monolayers showed increases in action potential duration (APD) and APD dispersion, and a decrease in conduction velocity (CV; APD30 of 306 ± 39 vs. 148 ± 18 ms, APD30 dispersion of 85 ± 19 vs. 22 ± 7 and CV of 10 ± 4 vs. 21 ± 2 cm/s in controls). Upon local 1-Hz stimulation, 53.6% of the PMA-treated cultures showed focal tachyarrhythmias based on triggered activity ( n = 82), while the control group showed 4.3% tachyarrhythmias ( n = 70). PMA-treated nr-vCMC cultures may, thus, represent a well-controllable in vitro model for testing new therapeutic interventions targeting specific aspects of hypertrophy-associated arrhythmias.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (nr-vCMCs) led to induction of many significant features of pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH), including action potential duration prolongation and dispersion, which provided enough time and depolarizing force for formation of early afterdepolarization (EAD)-induced focal tachyarrhythmias. PMA-treated nr-vCMCs represent a well-controllable in vitro model, which mostly resembles to moderate left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) rather than severe LVH, in which generation of a reentry is the putative mechanism of its arrhythmias.
Performance Sensitivity to the High-Order Statistics of Time Interval Variables in Cellular Networks
Authors: Cruz-Pérez Felipe A. , Hernandez-Valdez Genaro , Rico-Páez Andrés , Castellanos-López Sandra L. , Miranda-Tello José R. , Pérez-Sánchez Grethell G. , Vázquez-Cerón Ernesto R.
Published: January 2020

Cell dwell time (DT) and unencumbered interruption time (IT) are fundamental time interval variables in the teletraffic analysis for the performance evaluation of mobile cellular networks. Although a diverse set of general distributions has been proposed to model these time interval variables, the effect of their moments higher than the expected value on system performance has not been reported in the literature. In this paper, sensitivity of teletraffic performance metrics of mobile cellular networks to the first three standardized moments of both DT and IT is investigated in a comprehensive manner. Mathematical analysis is developed considering that both DT and IT are phase-type distributed random variables. This work includes substantial numerical results for quantifying the dependence of system level performance metrics to the values of the first three standardized moments of both DT and IT. For instance, for a high mobility scenario where DT is modeled by a hyper-Erlang distribution, we found that call forced termination probability decreases around 60% as the coefficient of variation (CoV) and skewness of DT simultaneously change from 1 to 20 and from 60 to 2, respectively. Also, numerical results confirm that as link unreliability increases the forced termination probability increases while both new call blocking and handoff failure probabilities decrease. Numerical results also indicate that for low values of skewness, performance metrics are highly sensitive to changes in the CoV of either the IT or DT. In general, it is observed that system performance is more sensitive to the statistics of the IT than to those of the DT. Such understanding of teletraffic engineering issues is vital for planning, designing, dimensioning, and optimizing mobile cellular networks.
Characteristics and Management of Spinal Tuberculosis in Tuberculosis Endemic Area of Guizhou Province: A Retrospective Study of 597 Patients in a Teaching Hospital
Authors: Wang Peng , Liao Wenbo , Cao Guangru , Jiang Yongyan , Rao Jingcheng , Yang Yi
Published: January 2020

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is an endemic disease in Guizhou. Spinal TB accounts for approximately 50% cases of skeletal TB. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and management of patients treated for spinal TB in a certain hospital and to provide guidance for the prevention and treatment of spinal TB. Methods. The clinic records of all patients diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis in a teaching hospital between January 2010 and December 2018 were collected. The epidemiology, clinical characteristics, imaging and laboratory findings, treatment methods, and prognosis were recorded and analyzed. Results. During this nine‐year period, 597 patients with spinal TB were identified. There were 313 males and 284 females with an average age of 43 years. The largest number of patients fell in the age group of 21–30 years; mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis in the hospital was 17 months. Back pain was the main clinical manifestation (89.34%). The most common imaging technique was computed tomography (CT, 96.80%), followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 84.01%). Majority of the lesions involved the lumbar spine (47.30%), followed by the thoracic spine (40.95%). 178 (29.82%) patients in this study had varying degrees of neurological impairment. 22.78% of the patients selected conservative treatment, and surgical treatment was performed in 483 patients (80.90%). Conclusions. The incidence of spinal TB was generally on the rise throughout the study period. After diagnosed with spinal TB, all patients got appropriate treatment and achieved good efficacy, but most of the patients did not pay much attention to the disease and receive timely treatment. Thus, it is essential to strengthen the TB preventive strategies, improve the health awareness of residents and universal resident health examination.
Acute Kidney Injury Outcomes of Elderly and Nonelderly Patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in a Developing Country
Authors: Pongsittisak Wanjak , Phonsawang Kashane , Jaturapisanukul Solos , Prommool Surazee , Kurathong Sathit
Published: January 2020

Background. Aging is associated with a high risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), and the elderly with AKI show a higher mortality rate than those without AKI. In this study, we compared AKI outcomes between elderly and nonelderly patients in a university hospital in a developing country. Materials and Methods. This retrospective cohort study included patients with AKI who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. The patients were divided into the elderly (eAKI; age ≥65 years; n = 158) and nonelderly (nAKI; n = 142) groups. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, principle diagnosis, renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirement, hospital course, and in-hospital mortality were recorded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results. The eAKI group included more females, patients with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, and patients with more comorbidities than the nAKI group. The etiology and staging of AKI were similar between the two groups. There were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality (p=0.338) and RRT requirement (p=0.802) between the two groups. After adjusting for covariates, the 28-day mortality rate was similar between the two groups (p=0.654), but the 28-day RRT requirement was higher in the eAKI group than in the nAKI group (p=0.042). Conclusion. Elderly and nonelderly ICU patients showed similar survival outcomes of AKI, although the elderly were at a higher risk of requiring RRT.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Type 2 Diabetes in Elderly Patients Aged 45-80 Years at Kanungu District
Authors: Asiimwe Debrah , Mauti Godfrey O. , Kiconco Ritah
Published: January 2020

Background. Type 2 diabetes is a worldwide disaster including in Uganda, specifically in Kanungu District which had a rise in diabetic patients in 2018/2019 as compared to the 2017/2018 financial year. This research was determined to access the prevalence and risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes on elderly patients aged 45-80 years attending Kanungu Health Centre IV, Kanungu District. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients aged 45-80 years attending Kanungu Health Centre IV from June to August 2019. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was determined by the blood sugar of patients. Questionnaires were used to collect data for factors associated with type 2 diabetes. Data were statistically analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25 (SPSS Inc., USA) at P<0.05. Results. The overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 18.7% among the tested patients. 22.8% of diabetic patients were females as 7.8% were males. The age group most affected by diabetes was 61-65 years. Alcoholism, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and family history were found to be significantly associated with type 2 diabetes at P value < 0.05. Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes observed in this study compared to studies done in previous years which raise a public health concern. This study also found that females and patients aged 61-65 years were most affected by diabetes. Lastly, the presence of family history for diabetes, overweight, and being obese increases the chances of acquiring type 2 diabetes.
Spatial Distribution and Temporal Trends of Rainfall Erosivity in Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China
Authors: Liu Huiying , Zhang Guanhua , Zhang Pingcang , Zhu Shengnan
Published: January 2020

Rainfall erosivity is a key factor to predict soil erosion rate in universal soil loss equation (USLE) and revised USLE (RUSLE). Understanding rainfall erosivity characteristics, especially its spatial distribution and temporal trends, is essential for soil erosion risk assessment and soil conservation planning. In this study, the spatial-temporal variation of rainfall erosivity in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) of China during 1960–2010, at annual and seasonal scales, was explored based on daily rainfall data from 40 stations (26 meteorological stations and 14 hydrologic stations). The Mann–Kendall test and Co–kriging interpolation method were applied to detect the temporal trends and spatial patterns. The results showed that TGRA’s annual rainfall erosivity increased from west, south, and east to the north-central, ranging from 3647.0 to 10884.8 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1 with an average value of 6108.1 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1. The spatial distribution of summer and autumn rainfall erosivity was similar to the pattern of annual rainfall erosivity. Summer is the most erosive season among four seasons, accounting for 53% of the total annual rainfall erosivity, and winter is the least erosive season. July is the most erosive month with an average of 1327.3 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1, and January is the least erosive month. Mean rainfall erosivity was 5969.2 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1 during 1960–2010, with the lowest value of 3361.0 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1 in 1966 and highest value of 8896.0 MJ·mm·ha−1·h−1 in 1982. Mann–Kendall test showed that the annual rainfall erosivity did not change significantly across TGRA. Seasonal rainfall erosivity showed a significant decrease in autumn and insignificant decrease in summer and winter. Monthly rainfall erosivity in TGRA showed insignificant increases from Jun to Jul and then underwent decreases from Aug to Nov. and from Dec to Feb and it rose again in Feb reaching a 0.01 level significance. The daily rainfall data of supplemental stations is very useful to interpolate rainfall erosivity map, which could help to find the credible maximum and minimum value of TGRA. In total, the findings could provide useful information both for soil erosion prediction, land management practices, and sediment control project of TGRA.
Leaf Gas Exchange and Root Nodulation Respond to Planting Density in Soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill]
Authors: Mwamlima Louis Hortensius , Pamela Ouma Josephine , Kimutai Cheruiyot Erick
Published: January 2020

Planting density influences structural characteristics and affects mineral nutrient acquisition, irradiance and photosynthesis amongst plants. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of planting density on leaf gas exchange and nodulation of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill). The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 5 by 2 factorial treatment arrangement and was replicated three times. Planting density (10, 12, 20, 40, and 80 plants m−2) and soybean varieties (EAI 3600 and DPSB 19) were first and second factors, respectively. Collected data were subjected to analysis of variance in GENSTAT. Significantly different treatment means were separated using Tukey’s honestly significant difference test at 0.05 significance level. Higher planting density significantly increased (p<0.001) interception of photosynthetically active radiation. Increasing number of plants per unit area significantly (p<0.001) reduced root nodulation, stomata conductance, sub-stomatal CO2 concentration, photosynthetic and transpiration rates. Total chlorophyll content was not responsive to planting density though concentration of chlorophyll “a” content was significantly (p<0.005) higher at lower plant density than at higher plant density. Soil moisture status increased with reduction in plant density. Indeterminate variety DPSB 19 had higher rates of stomata conductance, photosynthesis and sub-stomatal CO2 concentration compared to determinate variety EAI 3600.
Inclusion Relations between α-Modulation Spaces and Triebel–Lizorkin Spaces
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Baddour Hasan , Darrag Boushra
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we obtain conditions of the inclusion relations between α-modulation spaces and Triebel–Lizorkin spaces.
Exploiting TCR Recognition of Shared Hotspot Oncogene-encoded Neoantigens
Authors: Olivera Irene , Etxeberria Iñaki , Bolaños Elixabet , Gato-Cañas María , Melero Ignacio
Published: January 2020

T-cell recognizable p53 hotspot mutations offer opportunities for immunotherapy and immune monitoring. Recognition of p53 mutations by peripheral blood CD8 and CD4 T lymphocytes has been revealed.

See related article by Malekzadeh et al., p. 1267
Minimization of real power loss by enhanced teaching learning based optimization algorithm
Authors: Lenin K.
Published: January 2020

This paper presents an Enhanced Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (ETLBO) algorithm for solving reactive power flow problem. Teaching-learning process is an iterative process where in the continuous interaction takes place for the transfer of knowledge. Movements of trial solutions will investigate the internally final stages. Up gradation of the algorithm has been done through by adding weight in the learner values. Projected ETLBO algorithm has been tested in standard IEEE 57,118 bus systems and power loss has been reduced efficiently.
Estimation of nonlinear systems parameters
Authors: Benyassi Mohamed , Brouri A.
Published: January 2020

In this paper, an identification method is proposed to determine the nonlinear systems parameters. The proposed nonlinear systems can be described by Wiener systems. This structure of models consists of series of linear dynamic element and a nonlinearity block. Both the linear and nonlinear parts are nonparametric. In particular, the linear subsystem of structure entirely unknown. The considered nonlinearity function is of hard type. This latter can have a dead zone or with preload. These nonlinear systems have been confirmed by several practical applications. The suggested approach involves easily generated excitation signals.
Advanced teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm for actual power loss reduction
Authors: Kanagasabai Lenin
Published: January 2020

In this work Advanced Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization algorithm (ATLBO) is proposed to solve the optimal reactive power problem. Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) optimization algorithm has been framed on teaching learning methodology happening in classroom. Algorithm consists of “Teacher Phase”, “Learner Phase”. In the proposed Advanced Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization algorithm non-linear inertia weighted factor is introduced into the fundamental TLBO algorithm to manage the memory rate of learners. In order to control the learner’s mutation arbitrarily during the learning procedure a non-linear mutation factor has been applied. Proposed Advanced Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization algorithm (ATLBO) has been tested in standard IEEE 14, 30 bus test systems and simulation results show the proposed algorithm reduced the real power loss effectively.
Taking One Step Back in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Loaiza Natalia , Hartgers Merel L. , Reeskamp Laurens F. , Balder Jan-Willem , Rimbert Antoine , Bazioti Venetia , Wolters Justina C. , Winkelmeijer Maaike , Jansen Hans P.G. , Dallinga-Thie Geesje M. , Volta Andrea , Huijkman Nicolette , Smit Marieke , Kloosterhuis Niels , Koster Mirjam , Svendsen Arthur F. , van de Sluis Bart , Hovingh G. Kees , Grefhorst Aldo , Kuivenhoven Jan Albert
Published: January 2020

Objective:

STAP1
, encoding for STAP1 (signal transducing adaptor family member 1), has been reported as a candidate gene associated with familial hypercholesterolemia. Unlike established familial hypercholesterolemia genes, expression of
STAP1
is absent in liver but mainly observed in immune cells. In this study, we set out to validate
STAP1
as a familial hypercholesterolemia gene.

Approach and Results:

A whole-body
Stap1
knockout mouse model (
Stap1
−/−
) was generated and characterized, without showing changes in plasma lipid levels compared with controls. In follow-up studies, bone marrow from
Stap1
−/−
mice was transplanted to
Ldlr
−/−
mice, which did not show significant changes in plasma lipid levels or atherosclerotic lesions. To functionally assess whether
STAP1
expression in B cells can affect hepatic function, HepG2 cells were cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from heterozygotes carriers of
STAP1
variants and controls. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from
STAP1
variant carriers and controls showed similar
LDLR
mRNA and protein levels. Also, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) uptake by HepG2 cells did not differ upon coculturing with peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from either
STAP1
variant carriers or controls. In addition, plasma lipid profiles of 39 carriers and 71 family controls showed no differences in plasma LDL cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a) levels. Similarly, B-cell populations did not differ in a group of 10
STAP1
variant carriers and 10 age- and sex-matched controls. Furthermore, recent data from the UK Biobank do not show association between
STAP1
rare gene variants and LDL cholesterol.

Conclusions:

Our combined studies in mouse models and carriers of
STAP1
variants indicate that
STAP1
is not a familial hypercholesterolemia gene.
Statins Disrupt Macrophage Rac1 Regulation Leading to Increased Atherosclerotic Plaque Calcification
Authors: Healy Abigail , Berus Joshua M. , Christensen Jared L. , Lee Cadence , Mantsounga Chris , Dong Willie , Watts Jerome P. , Assali Maen , Ceneri Nicolle , Nilson Rachael , Neverson Jade , Wu Wen-Chih , Choudhary Gaurav , Morrison Alan R.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

Calcification of atherosclerotic plaque is traditionally associated with increased cardiovascular event risk; however, recent studies have found increased calcium density to be associated with more stable disease. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzymeA reductase inhibitors or statins reduce cardiovascular events. Invasive clinical studies have found that statins alter both the lipid and calcium composition of plaque but the molecular mechanisms of statin-mediated effects on plaque calcium composition remain unclear. We recently defined a macrophage Rac (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate)–IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta) signaling axis to be a key mechanism in promoting atherosclerotic calcification and sought to define the impact of statin therapy on this pathway.

Approach and Results:

Here, we demonstrate that statin therapy is independently associated with elevated coronary calcification in a high-risk patient population and that statins disrupt the complex between Rac1 and its inhibitor RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor), leading to increased active (GTP bound) Rac1 in primary monocytes/macrophages. Rac1 activation is prevented by rescue with the isoprenyl precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Statin-treated macrophages exhibit increased activation of NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells), increased IL-1β mRNA, and increased Rac1-dependent IL-1β protein secretion in response to inflammasome stimulation. Using an animal model of calcific atherosclerosis, inclusion of statin in the atherogenic diet led to a myeloid Rac1-dependent increase in atherosclerotic calcification, which was associated with increased serum IL-1β expression, increased plaque Rac1 activation, and increased plaque expression of the osteogenic markers, alkaline phosphatase and RUNX2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2).

Conclusions:

Statins are capable of increasing atherosclerotic calcification through disinhibition of a macrophage Rac1–IL-1β signaling axis.
High‐Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein Discordance With Atherogenic Lipid Measures and Incidence of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Primary Prevention: The ARIC Study
Authors: Quispe Renato , Michos Erin D. , Martin Seth S. , Puri Rishi , Toth Peter P. , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Banach Maciej , Virani Salim S. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Jones Steven R. , Elshazly Mohamed B.
Published: January 2020

Background

Inflammation is an independent causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (
ASCVDs
). However, whether hs
CRP
(high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein) is prognostic across various levels of atherogenic lipid measures such as low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and total cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in primary prevention is unknown.

Methods and Results

We studied 9748
ARIC
(Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study participants who were free of
ASCVD
at baseline (visit 4, 1996–1998) and had measurements of lipids, apolipoprotein B, and hs
CRP
. We used multivariable adjusted Cox models to estimate the risk of incident
ASCVD
events associated with hs
CRP
levels (less than/greater than or equal to median) in individuals where triple lipid measures combined (low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol + non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol + apolipoprotein B) or quadruple measures combined [triple + total cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol] were less than versus greater than or equal to median cut points. Mean age of participants was 62.6±5.6 years; 59% women, 22% black. There were 1574
ASCVD
events over median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 18.4 (12.8–19.5) years, and discordance between hs
CRP
and lipid measures was prevalent in 50% of the population. hs
CRP
greater than or equal to median (2.4 mg/L), compared with less than median, was associated with an increased risk of
ASCVD
in individuals with less than median levels of the triple (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33; 95%
CI
, 1.09–1.60) and quadruple (adjusted hazard ratio,1.47; 95%
CI
, 1.18–1.85) lipid measures. Such increased risk was consistent among individuals with low (<7.5%) or high (≥7.5%) estimated risk by the pooled cohort equation. There were no interactions by sex, diabetes mellitus, or statin use.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that inflammation is independently associated with
ASCVD
regardless of atherogenic lipid levels and pooled cohort equation risk score in individuals without known
ASCVD
.
Selective interspecific information use in the nest choice of solitary bees
Authors: Loukola Olli J. , Gatto Elia , Híjar-Islas Ana C. , Chittka Lars
Published: January 2020

Most of the studies on learning in bees have focused on the foraging context; we know little about the preferences and cognitive processes in nest-site selection, especially in solitary bees. The majority of the bee species are solitary and in contrast to eusocial bees, solitary bees’ cognition and social information use have remained largely unstudied. Solitary cavity-nesting mason bees (Osmia spp.) are an ideal system to study interspecific information use in nest choice in the wild as many species share similar nesting requirements. Here, we show that the blue mason bee (O. caerulescens) and the orange-vented mason bee (O. leaiana) examine hallmarks of parasitization of the nests of red mason bees (O. bicornis) before deciding where to establish their own nests. They were also presented with contextual cues (geometric symbols) that could be linked to parasitization by observational learning. Subjects subsequently had the choice of nesting in a nest site marked by the symbol that matched, or did not match, the one seen at the parasitized or healthy nest. We show that the bees copied and rejected the symbol of the examined nest manipulated to exhibit successful and unsuccessful nesting, respectively. We conclude that solitary bees use interspecific information in their nest-site selection. In contrast with current theories of species coexistence, niche overlap between species may dynamically change depending on the observed success of surrounding individuals.
Fair and Equitable Treatment in Saudi Bilateral Investment Treaties
Authors: Alshahrani Sarah
Published: January 2020

Fair and equitable treatment (FET) is one of the general principles included in bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and it is as important as the expropriation clause. Recent investment tribunal practice has shown that FET is one of the most frequently invoked provisions. All Saudi BITs include an old version of the FET clause. However, the vagueness and ambiguity of FET can hold the country liable when it enacts measures in the public interest, and, therefore, a thorough analysis of the best formulation of FET is necessary in order to achieve predictability and certainty for both the investor and the host state, in addition to the need to widen the police power of host states.
Rediscovery of Hansenomysis lucifugus (Faxon, 1893) (Crustacea, Mysida, Petalophthalmidae) in the eastern Pacific
Authors: HENDRICKX MICHEL E. , HERNÁNDEZ-PAYÁN JOSÉ-CARLOS
Published: January 2020

The deep-water mysid, Hansenomysis lucifugus (Faxon, 1893), previously known only from the type locality off the Galapagos Islands, is rediscovered off western Mexico. A complete description is provided based on this new material. The new records correspond to a series of 15 adult females and increase the known distribution of this species by over 30° of latitude to the north, to 30°51.26’N–116°42.18’W. Although no precise depth range in the water column is known for this species, it has been collected in localities where total depth was at least 1848 m.
A new diurnal gecko in the genus Gonatodes (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) from Margarita Island, Venezuela
Authors: RIVERO-BLANCO CARLOS , SCHARGEL WALTER E.
Published: January 2020

We describe a new species of diurnal gecko, Gonatodes machelae sp. nov., from Cerro El Copey, Margarita Island, Venezuela. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of the following characters: small size, subcaudal pattern C (1’1’’), typically three lateral scale rows on the digits, and aspects of coloration. The new species exhibits polychromatism similar to what has been described in some other species of Gonatodes. It is found in humid forests and shrublands from about 450 m to 900 m above sea level.