bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OPTIMIZING THE TLD-100H READOUT SYSTEM UNDER VARIOUS RADIOACTIVE I-131 DOSES VIA THE REVISED TAGUCHI DYNAMIC QUALITY LOSS FUNCTION
Authors: PAN LUNG-FA , LE YINGYI , YEN YU-CHEN , WENG JUI-HUNG , CHEN CHIEN-YI , LIANG CHUN-CHIEH , PAN LUNG-KWANG
Published: December 2020

The TLD-100H readout system performance under various radioactive I-131 exposure doses was optimized by four key factors via the revised Taguchi dynamic quality loss function. Taguchi dynamic analysis and the orthogonal array reorganizing the essential factors are crucial for the optimization of the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) readout system given strict criteria of multiple irradiated environments and long-term exposure for calibrated TLDs. Accordingly, 96 TLD-100H chips were selected and randomly categorized into three batches with eight groups (four TLD chips in each group). Four factors, namely (1) initial temperature, (2) heating rate, (3) maximal temperature, and (4) TLD preheat time before reading were organized into eight combinations according to Taguchi suggestion, whereas each factor was preset at two levels. All 96 [Formula: see text] chips were put in three concentric circles with 30, 60, and 90 cm radii for 48 h, surrounding the radioactive 150[Formula: see text]mCi ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]MBq) I-131 capsule and exposed to the cumulative doses of 88.2, 18.6, and 8.6[Formula: see text]mSv for the respective radii, accordingly. The TLD readings obtained from each group were analyzed to derive the sensitivity, coincidence, and reproducibility, then those were reorganized to draw four fish-bone-plots for the optimization. The optimal option for the TLD readout system implied the combination of A1 (a [Formula: see text]C initial temperature), B1 (a [Formula: see text]C/s heating rate), C1 (a [Formula: see text]C maximal temperature), and D2 (a 15[Formula: see text]s preheat time), which was further verified by the follow-up measurements. The dominant factors were A (initial temperature) and B (heating rate), whereas C (maximal temperature) and D (preheat time) were minor and provided negligible contributions to the system performance optimization.
Effect of Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections on Osteoporotic Fracture and Bone Mineral Density in Elderly Women with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kim Minsoo , Bak Jiwon , Kim Sejin , Son Hee-Jeong , Kang Seong-Sik , Hue Jin , Hwang Byeongmun , Lee Seung Koo
Published: December 2020

The incidence of osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to increase with aging. DM is associated with osteoporotic fractures and decreased bone mineral metabolism. However, no studies have compared the effects of DM on the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fracture after epidural steroid injections (ESIs). The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between ESI and BMD changes in elderly women with and without DM. The medical records of elderly women who underwent ESI were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had radiographic and BMD assessments performed before and after receiving lumbar ESIs. A total of 172 patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of DM. The duration of BMD monitoring was 16.1 and 16.8 months in the non-DM and DM groups, respectively. The mean total number of ESIs was 3.4 and 3.2, and the mean cumulative administered dose of glucocorticoids (dexamethasone) was 17 and 16 mg in the non-DM and DM groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between baseline and posttreatment BMD in the lumbar spine, total femur, and femoral neck region in either group. The incidence of osteoporotic fractures at the hip joint and thoracolumbar spine was not significantly different in both groups. ESIs could be used without concerns regarding osteoporosis and fractures in elderly women with DM if low doses of glucocorticoids are used.
Detection of CD39 and a Highly Glycosylated Isoform of Soluble CD73 in the Plasma of Patients with Cervical Cancer: Correlation with Disease Progression
Authors: Muñóz-Godínez Ricardo , de Lourdes Mora-García María , Weiss-Steider Benny , Montesinos-Montesinos Juan José , del Carmen Aguilar-Lemarroy Adriana , García-Rocha Rosario , Hernández-Montes Jorge , Azucena Don-López Christian , Ávila-Ibarra Luis Roberto , Torres-Pineda Daniela Berenice , Molina-Castillo Gabriela , Chacón-Salinas Rommel , Vallejo-Castillo Luis , Pérez-Tapia Sonia Mayra , Monroy-García Alberto
Published: December 2020

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the main factor in the development of cervical cancer (CC). The presence of immunosuppressive factors plays an important role in the development of this type of cancer. To determine whether CD39 and CD73, which participate in the production of immunosuppressive adenosine (Ado), are involved in the progression of CC, we compared the concentrations and hydrolytic activity of these ectonucleotidases in platelet-free plasma (PFP) samples between patients with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) (

n
=
18

), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) (

n
=
12

), and CC (

n
=
19

) and normal donors (NDs) (

n
=
15

). The concentrations of CD39 and CD73 in PFP increased with disease progression (

r
=
0.5929

,

p
<
0.001

). The PFP of patients with HSILs or CC showed the highest concentrations of CD39 (2.3 and 2.2 times that of the NDs, respectively) and CD73 (1.7 and 2.68 times that of the NDs, respectively), which were associated with a high capacity to generate Ado from the hydrolysis of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). The addition of POM-1 and APCP, specific inhibitors of CD39 and CD73, respectively, inhibited the ADPase and AMPase activity of PFP by more than 90%. A high level of the 90 kD isoform of CD73 was detected in the PFP of patients with HSILs or CC. Digestion with endoglycosidase H and N-glycanase generated CD73 with weights of approximately 90 kD, 85 kD, 80 kD, and 70 kD. In addition, the levels of transforming grow factor-β (TGF-β) in the PFPs of patients with LSIL, HSIL and CC positively correlated with those of CD39 (

r
=
0.4432

,

p
<
0.001

) and CD73 (

r
=
0.5786

,

p
<
0.001

). These results suggest that persistent infection by HR-HPV and the concomitant production of TGF-β promote the expression of CD39 and CD73 to favor CC progression through Ado generation.
Quantifying Dynamic Flow of Emergency Department (ED) Patient Managements: A Multistate Model Approach
Authors: Chaou Chung-Hsien , Chiu Te-Fa , Pan Shin-Liang , Yen Amy Ming-Fang , Chang Shu-Hui , Tang Petrus , Lai Chao-Chih , Wang Ruei-Fang , Chen Hsiu-Hsi
Published: December 2020

Background. Emergency department (ED) crowding and prolonged lengths of stay continue to be important medical issues. It is difficult to apply traditional methods to analyze multiple streams of the ED patient management process simultaneously. The aim of this study was to develop a statistical model to delineate the dynamic patient flow within the ED and to analyze the effects of relevant factors on different patient movement rates. Methods. This study used a retrospective cohort available with electronic medical data. Important time points and relevant covariates of all patients between January and December 2013 were collected. A new five-state Markov model was constructed by an expert panel, including three intermediate states: triage, physician management, and observation room and two final states: admission and discharge. A day was further divided into four six-hour periods to evaluate dynamics of patient movement over time. Results. A total of 149,468 patient records were analyzed with a median total length of stay being 2.12 (interquartile range = 6.51) hours. The patient movement rates between states were estimated, and the effects of the age group and triage level on these movements were also measured. Patients with lower acuity go home more quickly (relative rate (RR): 1.891, 95% CI: 1.881–1.900) but have to wait longer for physicians (RR: 0.962, 95% CI: 0.956–0.967) and admission beds (RR: 0.673, 95% CI: 0.666–0.679). While older patients were seen more quickly by physicians (RR: 1.134, 95% CI: 1.131–1.139), they spent more time waiting for the final state (for admission RR: 0.830, 95% CI: 0.821–0.839; for discharge RR: 0.773, 95% CI: 0.769–0.776). Comparing the differences in patient movement rates over a 24-hour day revealed that patients wait longer before seen by physicians during the evening and that they usually move from the ED to admission afternoon. Predictive dynamic illustrations show that six hours after the patients’ entry, the probability of still in the ED system ranges from 28% in the evening to 38% in the morning. Conclusions. The five-state model well described the dynamic ED patient flow and analyzed the effects of relevant influential factors at different states. The model can be used in similar medical settings or incorporate different important covariates to develop individually tailored approaches for the improvement of efficiency within the health professions.
Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Investigate the Mechanisms of Huazhuojiedu Decoction to Treat Chronic Atrophic Gastritis
Authors: Hao Xinyu , Liu Yu , Zhou Pingping , Jiang Qian , Yang Zeqi , Xu Miaochan , Liu Shaowei , Zhang Shixiong , Wang Yangang
Published: December 2020

Background. Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is an important stage in the normal gastric mucosa’s transformation into gastric cancer. Huazhuojiedu decoction (HZJD), a Chinese herbal preparation, has proven clinically effective to treat CAG. However, few studies have explored the mechanism of HZJD in CAG treatment. Purpose. This study aimed to shed light on the mechanisms underlying HZJD decoction CAG treatment using a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation. Methods. The active components of HZJD decoction were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. Their targets were predicted through the SwissTargetPrediction database. Disease targets were screened using the GeneCards database. The disease and drug prediction targets were intersected to select the common potential therapeutic targets, which then were input into the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes to build a protein‐protein interaction network. The “herb‐compound‐target‐disease” and the “herb‐target‐pathway” network diagrams were constructed in Cytoscape 3.3.0. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of effective targets were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. Finally, the core targets were preliminarily verified by CAG rat model. The gastric mucosa’s histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin‐eosin staining. The expressions of MAPK1, AKT1, TNF, VEGFA, and EGFR were detected by western blot and quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Results. A total of 155 nodes, including 20 putative targets of HZJD decoction, were selected as core hubs based on topological importance and were closely associated with the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptotic process, and cancer‐related pathways (AKT1, TNF, VEGFA, and EGFR) in CAG. Further animal experiments showed that the expression of AKT1 in CAG rats was significantly increased, which was suppressed by HZJD decoction. TNF and VEGFA expression increased in the model group, but did not change in the HZJD group. MAPK1 and EGFR expression showed no significant differences among control, model, and HZJD groups. Conclusion. Taken together, the results suggest that the components of HZJD decoction can alleviate and prevent the severity of gastric precancerous lesions via AKT1 inhibition in CAG.
An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis with Colombian Studies on the Effect of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Parameters
Authors: Alvarez Leidy , Contreras Javier , Giraldo Mónica
Published: December 2020

Background. It is postulated that cocoa solids possess cardioprotective capacity by various mechanisms. In the different cocoa studies evaluating cardiovascular disease, there are no conclusive data on the role it plays in controlling the lipid profile and anthropometric variables, perhaps because the concentration of cocoa, the geographical origin of the population, and the different concentrations supplied lead to a high heterogeneity of results. This study aims to estimate the effect of consuming cocoa-rich chocolate compared to placebo on the lipid profile and anthropometric variables based on data from three clinical trials conducted in Colombia. Methods. Meta-analysis of individual data from three randomized clinical trials conducted in Colombia. The entire population of the primary studies was included, which was reassigned into intervention groups if they consumed 50 grams of 70% concentrated cocoa or placebo, which was considered to be cocoa-free or with a concentration less than 50 grams. The variables at the beginning of the study were analyzed with medians, interquartile ranges, means, and deviations according to whether they met the normality assumption. Multiple imputations were used to manage missing data and were analyzed using the two approaches proposed for this type of study, that of one and two stages. In the two-stage approach, the data were weighted on a conventional Forrest plot, while in the one-stage approach, linear regressions with mixed models were applied. This study is governed by the regulations described in the 2013 Declaration of Helsinki and by article 11 of Resolution 8430 of 1993, which classifies it as a risk-free study. Results. A total of 275 participants were included, who consumed cocoa or placebo for 81 days on average; 52.7% were female and few smoked at the time of the intervention (31/275). Physical activity performed in number of hours per week was comparable between the intervention groups. When evaluating total cholesterol, low-density cholesterol (LDL), high-density cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides, abdominal circumference, and final body mass index with both the one-stage and two-stage approaches, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions. According to the results obtained in the meta-analysis, the consumption of cocoa in the Colombian population does not seem to significantly modify variables such as lipid profile, abdominal circumference, and body mass index. This conclusion according to the quality of the evidence has a weak recommendation and a low-to-moderate certainty. However, the analysis through the two proposed approaches yielded similar results.
Chaos on Discrete Neural Network Loops with Self-Feedback
Authors: Chen Yuanlong , Wu Xiaoying
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the complex dynamical behaviors in a discrete neural network loop with self-feedback are studied. Specifically, an invariant closed set of the system of neural network loops is built and the subsystem restricted on this invariant closed set is topologically conjugate to a two-sided symbolic dynamical system which has two symbols. In the end, some illustrative numerical examples are given to demonstrate our theoretical results.
Sequential Properties over Negative Pauli Pascal Table
Authors: Choi Eunmi , Jo Jiin
Published: December 2020

For polynomials

x
+
y

i

and

x
+
y

−
i

satisfying the noncommutative multiplication

y
x
=
−
x
y

, let

C

−
1

and

N

−
1

be the arithmetic tables, respectively. We investigate sequential properties of various diagonal sums over the tables

C

−
1

and

N

−
1

and prove that they are types of interlocked Fibonacci sequence and Padovan sequence.
Probiotics in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis for Children: A Case-Based Review
Authors: Disamantiaji Ashila Putri , Izza Endang Farihatul , Soelaeman Muhamad Faza , Sembiring Tannia , Louisa Melva
Published: December 2020

Background. Atopic dermatitis or eczema is one of the most common dermatologic problems, especially in children. Several studies have hypothesized that alteration of gut-colonizing microbes might have induced and conditioned the development of the disease. Thus, modulation of microbial diversity and abundance might help alleviate symptoms and conditions for patients. Given the ability of commensal and symbiotic microorganisms in modulating the immune system, probiotics administration has been studied in previous research in the management of eczema. However, until today, there are conflicting results between studies making inconclusive recommendations towards probiotics supplementation in the management of atopic dermatitis. This case-based review was done to assess and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics supplementation in the management of eczema in children. Method. An electronic database search was conducted in PubMed-NCBI, Cochrane, EBSCO, ProQuest, and SCOPUS in March 2020. Individual studies and reviews were then gathered for screening using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included studies were then critically appraised for their validity and importance. Result. A total of 5 studies, all of which were RCTs, were included in this review. Out of all the studies included, 4 showed no clinically significant improvements in using probiotics in the management of eczema in children as they did not pass the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of eczema severity as determined by SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis). Conclusion. Supplementation of probiotics in the management of eczema in children does not show a clinically relevant difference vs. standard treatment in reducing eczema severity.
Assessment of Plasma Sodium to Potassium Ratio, Renal Function, Markers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Endothelial Dysfunction in Nigerian Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Ekun Oloruntoba A. , Daniel Folasade , Adebola Philip , Ajibare Adeola , Ekun Oyeronke O. , Omogoroye Oluwafunso O , Ilori Oluwafemi S. , Oluwasayo Bankole J. , Oshundun Mary F. , Oyegbami Sade R.
Published: December 2020

Background. This study investigated plasma sodium/potassium ratio, markers of oxidative stress, renal function, and endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive Nigerians. Materials and Methods. Five hundred forty-nine volunteers consisting of three hundred and twenty-four hypertensive and two hundred twenty-five controls participated in this study. Blood samples were collected from the participants and were analyzed for electrolytes, markers of oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, renal function, and inflammation, using ion-selective electrodes, spectrophotometric, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. Results. The mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were significantly elevated among the hypertensive group when compared with control (

p
<
0.001

). The mean sodium increased, while potassium and bicarbonate (HCO3−) decreased (

p
<
0.001

) in hypertensive volunteers. The sodium-potassium ratio (Na+/K+) and urea were raised (

p
<
0.001

) in the hypertensive group when compared with the control. Glutathione, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide (NO), and catalase were significantly reduced (

p
<
0.001

) while malondialdehyde (MDA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and ferritin were raised significantly (

p
<
0.001

) in hypertensive participants. The odds of hypertension and its complications increased (

p
<
0.001

) with an increase in BMI, Na+/K+, hs-CRP, MDA, and ferritin and a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Conclusion. An increase in Na+/K+, urea, hs-CRP, ferritin, MDA, and BMI and a decrease in eGFR, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase were associated with an increased risk of hypertension complication. Abnormal values of markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function could impact deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system among hypertensive Nigerians. A decreased bicarbonate possibly suggests an occult acid-base imbalance among hypertensive volunteers.
Machine Learning Techniques for Quantification of Knee Segmentation from MRI
Authors: More Sujeet , Singla Jimmy , Abugabah Ahed , AlZubi Ahmad Ali
Published: December 2020

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is precise and efficient for interpreting the soft and hard tissues. Moreover, for the detailed diagnosis of varied diseases such as knee rheumatoid arthritis (RA), segmentation of the knee magnetic resonance image is a challenging and complex task that has been explored broadly. However, the accuracy and reproducibility of segmentation approaches may require prior extraction of tissues from MR images. The advances in computational methods for segmentation are reliant on several parameters such as the complexity of the tissue, quality, and acquisition process involved. This review paper focuses and briefly describes the challenges faced by segmentation techniques from magnetic resonance images followed by an overview of diverse categories of segmentation approaches. The review paper also focuses on automatic approaches and semiautomatic approaches which are extensively used with performance metrics and sufficient achievement for clinical trial assistance. Furthermore, the results of different approaches related to MR sequences used to image the knee tissues and future aspects of the segmentation are discussed.
Dynamic Knowledge Inference Based on Bayesian Network Learning
Authors: Wang Deyan , AmrilJaharadak Adam , Xiao Ying
Published: December 2020

On the basis of studying datasets of students' course scores, we constructed a Bayesian network and undertook probabilistic inference analysis. We selected six requisite courses in computer science as Bayesian network nodes. We determined the order of the nodes based on expert knowledge. Using 356 datasets, the K2 algorithm learned the Bayesian network structure. Then, we used maximum a posteriori probability estimation to learn the parameters. After constructing the Bayesian network, we used the message-passing algorithm to predict and infer the results. Finally, the results of dynamic knowledge inference were presented through a detailed inference process. In the absence of any evidence node information, the probability of passing other courses was calculated. A mathematics course (a basic professional course) was chosen as the evidence node to dynamically infer the probability of passing other courses. Over time, the probability of passing other courses greatly improved, and the inference results were consistent with the actual values and can thus be visualized and applied to an actual school management system.
Exploiting Sharing Join Opportunities in Big Data Multiquery Optimization with Flink
Authors: Gao Xiao-Yan , Sahal Radhya , Chen Gui-Xiu , Khafagy Mohammed H. , Omara Fatma A.
Published: December 2020

Multiway join queries incur high-cost I/Os operations over large-scale data. Exploiting sharing join opportunities among multiple multiway joins could be beneficial to reduce query execution time and shuffled intermediate data. Although multiway join optimization has been carried out in MapReduce, different design principles (i.e., in-memory Big Data platforms, Flink) are not considered. To bridge the gap of not considering the optimization of Big Data platforms, an end-to-end multiway join over Flink, which is called Join-MOTH system (J-MOTH), is proposed to exploit sharing data granularity, sharing join granularity, and sharing implicit sorts within multiple join queries. For sharing data, our previous work, Multiquery Optimization using Tuple Size and Histogram (MOTH) system, has been introduced to consider the granularity of sharing data opportunities among multiple queries. For sharing sort, our previous work, Sort-Based Optimizer for Big Data Multiquery (SOOM), has been introduced to consider the implicit sorts among join queries. For sharing join, additional modules have been tailored to the J-MOTH optimizer to optimize sharing work by exploiting shared pipelined multiway join among multiple multiway join queries. The experimental evaluation has demonstrated that the J-MOTH system outperforms the naive and the state-of-the-art techniques by 44% for query execution time using TPC-H queries. Also, the proposed J-MOTH system introduces maximal intermediate data size reduction by 30% in average over Hadoop-like infrastructures.
Accelerated Depreciation Tax Credit and Corporate Financialization Based on the PSM-DID Model
Authors: Ma Chunguang , Bei Hongjun , Wang Chuner , Chen Guihua
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we use the data of China’s manufacturing listed companies from 2009 to 2018, adopt the method of propensity score matching and double difference (PSM-DID) to solve the sample’s selective bias, and select the accelerated depreciation policy of fixed assets issued by China in 2014 as a quasi-natural experiment to verify the robustness of the empirical results, which will affect the R&D investment of manufacturing enterprises and the structural tax reduction of China. This paper makes an empirical study on the effect of fixed asset investment to restrain the financialization of manufacturing enterprises. The results show that (1) accelerated depreciation policy of fixed assets significantly promotes the R&D investment and fixed asset investment of enterprises and reduces the level of enterprise financialization; (2) accelerated depreciation of fixed asset local tax policy, through guiding the R&D investment, fixed asset investment, and deferred income tax acquisition of enterprises. It guides the investment of enterprises to the real economic field, thus reducing the financial assets of enterprises. The investment has restrained the financial trend of real enterprises. The conclusion of this paper is of practical significance to support the formulation and implementation of the national structural tax reduction policy and to clarify the regulatory role and mechanism of the structural tax reduction policy.
Determination of Number of Infected Cells and Concentration of Viral Particles in Plasma during HIV-1 Infections Using Shehu Transformation
Authors: Higazy M. , Aggarwal Sudhanshu , Hamed Y. S.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the authors determine the number of infected cells and concentration of infected (viral) particles in plasma during HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type one) infections using Shehu transformation. For this, the authors first defined some useful properties of Shehu transformation with proof and then applied Shehu transformation on the mathematical representation of the HIV-1 infection model. The mathematical model of HIV-1 infections contains a system of two simultaneous ordinary linear differential equations with initial conditions. Results depict that Shehu transformation is very effective integral transformation for determining the number of infected cells and concentration of viral particles in plasma during HIV-1 infections.
Dynamic Analysis of High-Speed Helical Gear Transmission in Pure Electric Vehicle Gearbox
Authors: Zhang Yanchao , Du Jinfu , Mao Jin , Xu Min
Published: December 2020

This study is to systematically analyze the influences of time-varying meshing stiffness (TVMS) and meshing impact on the dynamic characteristics of high-speed gear transmission in the two-stage pure electric vehicle (PEV) gearbox, as well as the effect of tooth surface modification on the vibration control. First, the dynamic model was established, and the TVMS and meshing impact were calculated. Then, the vibration characteristics of single-stage and two-stage helical gear transmission were analyzed under three different excitation conditions, excitation of TVMS, excitation of meshing impact, and excitation of both. The results show that the effect of rotating speed on the system vibration is not significant outside the resonant region under the excitation of TVMS, while the effect of meshing impact becomes the main exciting component with the increasing rotating speed. The vibrations of the two gear pairs interact with each other; the vibration frequency of one gear pair contains both its meshing frequency and the coupling frequency of the other gear pair. Tooth surface modification in the input-stage gear pair can reduce the vibration of both the input- and the output-stage obviously; that is, more attention should be paid to the input-stage gear pair in the modification design of PEV gearbox.
Influence of Stress Sensitivity on Water-Gas Flow in Carbonate Rocks
Authors: Fu Shuaishi , Zhang Lianjin , Li Yingwen , Lan Xuemei , Askari Roohollah , Wang Junjie , Wen Wen , Li Xinze , Cai Shaobin , Wang Ke , Liu Jie , Wang Yushu , Yang Yongfei
Published: December 2020

Carbonate reservoirs significantly contribute to exploitation. Due to their strong heterogeneity, it is of great significance to study core seepage capacity and gas-water two-phase flow of reservoirs with various pore structures under different stresses for productivity prediction, gas reservoir development, and reservoir protection. We utilize micrometer-resolution X-ray tomography to obtain the digital rocks of porous, fractured-porous, and fractured-vuggy carbonate rocks during pressurized process and depressurization. The Lattice Boltzmann method and pore network model are used to simulate the permeability and gas-water two-phase flow under different confining pressures. We show that at the early stage of pressure increase, fractures, vugs, or large pores as the main flow channels first undergo compaction deformation, and the permeability decreases obviously. Then, many isolated small pores are extruded and deformed; thus, the permeability reduction is relatively slow. As the confining pressure increases, the equal-permeability point of fractured-porous sample moves to right. At the same confining pressure, the water saturation corresponding to equal-permeability point during depressurization is greater than that of pressurized process. It is also proved that the pore size decreases irreversibly, and the capillary force increases, which is equivalent to the enhancement of water wettability. Therefore, the irreversible closure of pores leads to the decrease of permeability and the increase of gas-phase seepage resistance, especially in carbonate rocks with fractures, vugs, and large pores. The findings of this study are helpful to better understand the gas production law of depletion development of carbonate gas reservoirs and provide support for efficient development.
Management and Fractal Analysis of Desiccation Cracks of Soils with Acid Contamination
Authors: Wang Xin , Yang Binbin , Jin Lichuang , Zhang Zepeng , Xu Xinyang
Published: December 2020

Soil pollution due to acid contamination changes the chemical state of the soil and affects the water evaporation and desiccation cracking characteristics of the soil. The contamination of soils is becoming a serious problem due to increases in manufacturing, construction, and industrial activities, especially in and around urban areas. Soil pollution has become a global issue with serious and harmful impacts on the environment. The purpose of this paper is to present a study on the evaporation characteristics of soil contaminated with different acid concentrations. The result indicates that water evaporation in soils can be divided into three stages: the steady rate of evaporation, deceleration of evaporation, and residual evaporation stages. With increases in acid concentration, there is critical water content at which the rate of evaporation starts to decrease with increase in the duration of evaporation. Surface crack development in soils with different acid concentrations can be divided into three stages: initial cracking, crack development, and crack stabilization. When the acid concentration is higher than 0.4 mol/L, the initial cracking and stabilization stages disappear, and cracks continue to develop until they become stable.
Adaptive Attention with Consumer Sentinel for Movie Box Office Prediction
Authors: Feng Kaicheng , Liu Xiaobing
Published: December 2020

To improve the movie box office prediction accuracy, this paper proposes an adaptive attention with consumer sentinel (LSTM-AACS) for movie box office prediction. First, the influencing factors of the movie box office are analyzed. Tackling the problem of ignoring consumer groups in existing prediction models, we add consumer features and then quantitatively analyze and normalize the box office influence factors. Second, we establish an LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) box office prediction model and inject the attention mechanism to construct an adaptive attention with consumer sentinel for movie box office prediction. Finally, 10,398 pieces of movie box office dataset are used in the Kaggle competition to compare the prediction results with the LSTM-AACS model, LSTM-Attention model, and LSTM model. The results show that the relative error of LSTM-AACS prediction is 6.58%, which is lower than other models used in the experiment.
Chatter Stability Prediction Method of the Spindle-Tool Holder-Tool System with Interface Contact Characteristics
Authors: Cui Li , Su Yin
Published: December 2020

To predict chatter stability and suppress chatter vibration, a chatter stability prediction method for the spindle-tool holder-tool system with interface contact characteristics is constructed. A five-DOF model is constructed to determine the spindle-bearing interface dynamic contact stiffness considering the coupling effect of spindle and bearing. A fractal multiscale tool holder-spindle interface dynamic stiffness model is proposed considering time-varying cutting force. The fractal dimensions and cutting force coefficient parameters are identified from the power spectrum experiments and cutting force tests. The cutting force is solved according to the milling stability model. Dynamic model of the spindle-tool holder-tool system is found by the finite element method. Based on extended Floquet theory, chatter stability of the spindle system is studied. Effect of interface parameters, radial cutting depth, and feed rate on milling stability is researched. Milling force tests and milling stability tests are performed in order to verify the reliability of the method. Results find that the increase of front bearing preload and spindle-tool holder’s interference fit are effective to improve the milling stability. The optimal feed rate and the critical radial cutting depth are found. The model proposed in this paper can be used as an instruction for predicting and suppressing the chatter vibration and optimizing cutting parameters and also is helpful for designing the spindle-tool holder-tool system.
Different Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus between Cervical and Esophageal Cancers: A Study in Both High‐Incidence Areas, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Zheng Yi , Fan Yage , Zeng Yan , Liu Shiyu , Gao Limin
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study is to reveal the certain human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution between cervical cancer and esophageal cancer in the both high‐incidence geographic regions. For this study, we collected and detected the infection of HPV in 120 paraffin‐embedded esophageal tissues and 152 paraffin‐embedded cervical tissues, respectively. The esophageal tissues include 40 normal epithelium (ENOR), 26 dysplasia (DYS), and 54 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The cervical tissues consisted of 40 normal epithelium (CNOR), 53 intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and 59 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Both esophageal and cervical tissues collected in this study came from the same area, in which both the ESCC and CSCC were in high incidence, Xinjiang province, China. HPV GenoArray test kits were served to analyze the HPV infection. The result shows that among the 59 CSCC tissues, the total infection rate of HPV was 98.3% (58/59). The positive rate of HPV‐16 infection was 63.8% (37/58). It indicated that HPV‐16 is the most common infection among all of the high‐risk HPV. The multiple infection rate was 19.0% (11/58). Among the 54 ESCC, a total of 7 genotypes were detected. The total infection rate of HPV was 61.1% (33/54). The positive rate of HPV‐16 infection was 63.6% (21/33). The multiple infection rate was 6.1% (2/33). Our result shows that high‐risk‐type HPV‐16 was associated with both cervical cancer and esophageal cancer, which play a role in the high‐incidence area in Xinjiang. We hope that our results could point out the direction for the treatment strategy of HPV‐associated cancer, cervical cancer, and esophageal cancer and for the application of HPV vaccines in the future.
Aα-Spectral Characterizations of Some Joins
Authors: Wu Tingzeng , Zhou Tian
Published: December 2020

LetGbe a graph withnvertices. For every realα∈0,1, writeAαGfor the matrixAαG=αDG+1−αAG, whereAGandDGdenote the adjacency matrix and the degree matrix ofG, respectively. The collection of eigenvalues ofAαGtogether with multiplicities are called theAα-spectrum ofG. A graphGis said to be determined by itsAα-spectrum if all graphs having the sameAα-spectrum asGare isomorphic toG. In this paper, we show that some joins are determined by theirAα-spectra forα∈0,1/2 or 1/2,1.
Inadvertent Inguinal Sarcoma Excision during Hernia Surgery: Outcomes, Gender Analysis, and Prevention
Authors: Lawrenz Joshua M. , Norris James P. , Tan Marcus C. , Shinohara Eric T. , Block John J. , Davis Elizabeth J. , Keedy Vicki L. , Halpern Jennifer L. , Holt Ginger E. , Schwartz Herbert S.
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Inadvertent excision of a soft tissue sarcoma during hernia surgery is a preventable clinical scenario that leads to unnecessary patient morbidity. Prior series are few, which only include male patients with little focus on prevention. The purpose of this study is to report the presenting features and outcomes of both male and female patients who underwent inadvertent inguinal sarcoma excision during hernia surgery. Methods. A retrospective analysis of a single sarcoma referral center identified 33 patients who were referred for definitive treatment. Patients were divided into three clinically relevant groups based on intraoperative diagnosis, sex, and location of the mass relative to the inguinal ligament. T-tests and Fisher’s exact tests were performed to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Kaplan–Meier modeling was performed to assess sarcoma-specific survival. Results. Females were younger (47 years vs. 61 years,

p
=
0.003

) and had smaller sarcomas (6.7 cm vs. 11 cm,

p
=
0.012

) compared to males. Only two sarcomas (2/33, 6%) were <4 cm in size. The majority of sarcomas in females were above the inguinal ligament (12/14, 86%). Twenty-nine (88%) underwent definitive R0 excision. The mean number of surgeries per patient was three (range 1–13), with nineteen (58%) patients requiring flap reconstruction and six (18%) requiring vascular bypass. Five patients locally recurred (15%) at a mean of 38 months after definitive excision (range 5–128 months). Overall sarcoma-specific disease-free survival was 64%, with no difference between males (80 ± 11%) and females (59 ± 17%) (

p
=
0.885

). Mean follow-up was 75 months (range 5–212). Conclusion. This is the second largest study regarding inadvertent inguinal sarcoma excision and the first to include females. When a suspected hernia is >4 cm, irreducible, firm, and is growing, especially in females, consider obtaining preoperative advanced three-dimensional imaging (CT or MRI) that can differentiate a neoplasm from a hernia.
An Economic Cost Assessment on HALEU Fuels for Small Modular Reactors
Authors: Carlson Liam , Wu Zeyun , Olson James , Liu Li (Emily)
Published: December 2020

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are currently being considered as future investments for commercial entities due to perceived advantages over traditional large-scale power reactors, particularly their considerably lower capital costs. One strategy for lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of SMRs is to increase their burnup by utilizing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels, which range from 5 to 20 weight percent (w/o) of U-235. By increasing fuel enrichment to HALEU levels, with higher specific fuel costs compared to standard enrichment, a plant may achieve an increased capacity factor by extending its fuel cycle and thereby reducing average yearly fuel supply costs. It is expected that the benefits of optimizing fuel enrichment to extend a reactor’s fuel cycle outweigh the added cost due to more expensive fuel. In this paper, the net benefit of extending an SMR’s fuel cycle by enriching uranium fuel to HALEU levels was estimated using 2017 nuclear fuel production market data with NuScale’s 160 MWt SMR design as a case study. It was found that, for NuScale’s design, plant LCOE decreased with increasing cycle length enabled by higher fuel enrichment. It was also observed that doubling cycle time from 24 months to 48 months netted each reactor a 1.23 $/MWh reduction in LCOE. The total savings for a 12-module SMR design were estimated to be around $5,840,000 per year. Therefore, utilizing HALEU fuel in SMRs can vastly improve their economic efficiency.
DeepCF: A Deep Feature Learning-Based Car-Following Model Using Online Ride-Hailing Trajectory Data
Authors: Xie Yizhen , Ni Qichao , Alfarraj Osama , Gao Haoran , Shen Guojiang , Kong Xiangjie , Tolba Amr
Published: December 2020

The car-following model describes the microscopic behavior of the vehicle. However, the existing car-following models set the drivers’ reaction time to a fixed value without considering its dynamics. In order to improve the accuracy of car-following model, this paper proposes Deep Feature Learning-based Car-Following Model (DeepCF), a car-following model based on fatigue driving and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). The model is composed of the drivers’ reaction time model and the car-following decision algorithm. First, we regard driving fatigue as the starting point to study the influence of driving time and the acceleration of the preceding vehicle on the drivers’ reaction time, and develop a coarse-grained drivers’ reaction time model. Secondly, considering the impact of fatigue driving on car-following decisions, we utilize GAN to generate a driving decision database based on reaction time and use Euclidean distance as a decision search indicator. Finally, we conduct experiments on a real data set, and the results indicate that our DeepCF model is superior to baseline models.
Association and Prediction of Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Asymptomatic Patients
Authors: Bae Ye Seul , Ko Yeon Seo , Yun Jae Moon , Eo Ah Young , Kim HaJin
Published: December 2020

Background. The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing in the general population. This study evaluated the association between NAFLD and significant coronary stenosis in asymptomatic adults and evaluated sex-based differences. Methods. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study in participants without previous cardiovascular diseases who visited the Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center for a health checkup between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. NAFLD was diagnosed on sonography, while coronary artery stenosis (CAS) was assessed on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Results. We obtained 3,693 participants who met the inclusion criteria, and 3,449 of them had no significant stenosis. Among the participants with significant stenosis, the prevalence of NAFLD was 59.4% (145 patients). The prevalence of NAFLD was 47.26% in male participants, which was higher than that in female participants. The association between NAFLD and significant CAS persisted after adjusting for age, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, and Framingham risk factors. The correlation between NAFLD and significant coronary stenosis appeared to be stronger in women than in men, but the absolute risk was higher in men than in women. Conclusion. NAFLD was strongly associated with CAS. We should be alert about an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with NAFLD and more intensively provide primary prevention by performing tests to detect subclinical atherosclerosis.
Intelligent Detection and Recovery of Missing Electric Load Data Based on Cascaded Convolutional Autoencoders
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Yuanyi , Ruan Wei , Gao Qiang , Ying Guode , Dong Li
Published: December 2020

Under the background of Energy Internet, the ever-growing scale of the electric power system has brought new challenges and opportunities. Numerous categories of measurement data, as the cornerstone of communication, play a crucial role in the security and stability of the system. However, the present sampling and transmission equipment inevitably suffers from data missing, which seriously degrades the stable operation and state estimation. Therefore, in this paper, we consider the load data as an example and first develop a missing detection algorithm in terms of the absolute difference sequence (ADS) and linear correlation to detect any potential missing data. Then, based on the detected results, we put forward a missing recovery model named cascaded convolutional autoencoders (CCAE), to recover those missing data. Innovatively, a special preprocessing method has been adopted to reshape the one-dimensional load data as a two-dimensional matrix, and hence, the image inpainting technologies can be conducted to address the problem. Also, CCAE is designed to reconstruct the missing data grade by grade due to its priority strategy, which enhances the robustness upon extreme missing situations. The numerical results on the load data of the Belgium grid validate the promising performance and effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
The Role of Sex in Malaria-COVID19 Coinfection and Some Associated Factors in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Onosakponome E. O. , Wogu M. N.
Published: December 2020

Objectives. Data on the coinfection of malaria and COVID-19 is highly limited especially in Africa due to the novel nature of the pandemic COVID-19. Malaria and COVID-19 share striking similarities in their symptoms. A cross-sectional randomized study was conducted to investigate the role of sex in the coinfection of malaria and COVID-19 as well as some associated factors in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods. Ethical approval was obtained from the Rivers State Health and Ethics Committee before the commencement of this study, and the study was conducted at the COVID-19 Treatment Center Medical Laboratory, Rivers State, Nigeria. Intravenous blood samples from three hundred randomly selected consenting study participants were examined for Plasmodium species using Giemsa microscopy, while pretested questionnaires were used to obtain data on sex, risk factors, and symptoms. All data generated were analyzed statistically using the Chi-square test with a

P
<
0.05

value considered significant. Results. All study participants had Plasmodium species (100% prevalence) with varying parasite loads, and P. falciparum was the only species observed. Study participants (irrespective of sex) with low and high parasitaemia had the highest and least prevalence, respectively (

P
>
0.05

). Male study participants experienced more symptoms than females (

P
>
0.05

) except for sore throat which had an equal value among males and females. Travel history was the only risk factor that showed significant association with sex, and males had a higher value than females (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Malaria and COVID-19 are major public health issues in Nigeria; more researches on these diseases especially in epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine production are vital.