bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the tufa Thickness and Formation Age of Dyke at Sparkling Lake, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Sichuan Province
Authors: Cao Jun , Song Wei , Du Jie , Liu Ming , Yuan Maoke , Zhuo Manta
Published: November 2020

Jiuzhai Valley earthquake occurred on August 8, 2017 has resulted in significant impact at Jiuzhai Valley Scenic Area. Some geological landscapes were damaged to different degrees, and the most destroyed landscape at Jiuzhai Valley was the failure of Sparkling Lake’s Dyke, with the shimmering scenery of Sparkling Lake being wiped from the map. Although the earthquake led to the disappear of landscape, it also provides an unusual opportunity to study the formation and evolution of the Sparkling Lake’s Dyke. The author has the honor to participate in the study on the post-earthquake geological changes and reconstruction countermeasures of Jiuzhai Valley World Natural Heritage Site. After conducting comprehensive study on the Sparkling Lake’s Dyke, such as large-scale geological survey, geological profile survey, dronestagram, implementation of minor-caliber backpack drill and formation age, the author finds that the tufa thickness of the Sparkling Lake’s Dyke is 8m-22.78m, with glacial till at the under layer, the age of tufa via carbon-14 dating method (14C) is up to 4.3ka-27ka, and the rate of deposition of tufa is 2.25mm/a-9.35mm/a. The findings that deposition sequence of the Sparkling Lake’s Dyke cannot be attributed to simple bottom-up overlaying relation and no sequential deposition for the deposition of tufa at Jiuzhai Valley area since the very beginning can serve as the complete and accurate scientific basis for ecological restoration of the Sparkling Lake’s tufa dyke.
Research Progress of Sponge City in Actual Construction Project
Authors: Tang Ming , Hou Meifang , Guo Yu
Published: November 2020

Sponge city has good “elasticity” in adapting to environmental changes and responding to self-heating disasters caused by rainwater. Cities can absorb water, store water, seep, and purify water when it rains, and release and use the stored water when needed. Sponge city construction needs to seriously implement the development concept of “innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing” in order to accelerate the construction of the sponge city, improve the city’s ability to adapt to environmental changes and respond to natural disasters. The design and planning ideas of weakening the boundary between the city and the water will become the industry trend in the future, and let the cold concrete be replaced by vibrant greenery, which will not only help the natural circulation of water in the city, but also help the environment, and realize the harmonious coexistence of human and nature. This article discusses the development status of sponge city and related measures and indicators to provide a reference for the construction of sponge city.
Function Relationship Between Minimum Fresh Air Volume and Personnel Density Meeting the Standard Value of CO2 in Working Area
Authors: Wang Chengshun , Liu Yufeng , Liu Jiaqi
Published: November 2020

Reasonable fresh air volume can effectively improve indoor air quality and reduce building energy consumption. In order to achieve the comfortable and energy saving operation of air conditioning and ventilation system, the standard κ-ε turbulence model combined with wall function method is used to simulate and analyze the indoor velocity field, temperature field and CO2 concentration field under different fresh air volume by simulation software. The results show that increasing fresh air volume can improve indoor ventilation efficiency and reduce CO2 concentration; and based on the CO2 concentration, the function between the minimum fresh air volume and the density of indoor personnel is fitted to meet the requirement of comfort and health in indoor working area. The function tion is y = 5.980exp(x/0.343). 3.999.
Research on the Measurement of New Urbanization Level in Anhui Province from the Green Perspective
Authors: Sheng Jia , He Xiaoyu , Qiu Yingying , Miao Chuanqi
Published: November 2020

With the continuous deepening of the new urbanization process, some contradictions in its development process become increasingly obvious, among which the environmental problems are particularly prominent. People’s demands for green residential towns are further raised, and the concepts of ecological city, green town and sustainable development society are put forward. In this paper, new urbanization and “green” are linked to determine the concept and connotation of green new urbanization. Under the core connotation of the green perspective, the level of new urbanization in Anhui Province is analyzed from four levels of green economy, green environment, green living and green foundation, thus promote the healthy and benign development of new urbanization and provide an opportunity to improve the mechanism of regional ecological coordinated development.
Analysis of Sunshine Temperature Field and Temperature Effect of Prestressed Concrete Beam Bridge
Authors: Zhang Liuyu , He Shufa , Zhang Guitong , Zhou Jingwen , Huang Lezhou , Wang Zhiguo
Published: November 2020

Temperature stress is one of the important causes of concrete structure cracking. In order to study the development law of temperature field and temperature effect of prestressed concrete beam bridge under sunshine load, taking the construction of a prestressed concrete beam bridge as an example, ADINA finite element software was used for solid simulation and compared with the measured value. The results show that the temperature curve of each point inside and outside the beam is consistent with that of the ambient temperature, but it has some hysteresis. The temperature stress distribution of the beam body calculated by using the temperature gradient in the current code is approximately the same as the measured value. The top and bottom plates are compressed, and the web plate produces large tensile stress.
A New Classification and Description of Shale Pore System: from the Burial History Perspective
Authors: Zhao Tianyi , Yin Xia , Chen Gang , Tian Lingyu
Published: November 2020

Accurate micro-storage and mechanism of shale gas is important for defining and describing the adsorption characteristics, and for gas-in-place estimation. In this paper, reservoir forming process is divided into early stage and late stage, and the initial gas-water distribution in different stage is redefined. Different from the widely used solid-gas interface adsorption theory, the pore system in original shale reservoir is divided into solid-gas system and solid-liquid-gas system. Gas pores existing in organic matters belong to solid-gas system, and are classified into residual gas pores and metamorphic gas pores. Plant tissue pores in organic and mineral pores belong to solid-liquid-gas system. Their characteristics are described.
Research on and Application of Blasting Excavation Technology for Highway Cutting Under Complex Environment
Authors: Huang Xiqin , Zhang Xiaojun , Sun Junshan , Hao Haigang , Bai Rongshuai
Published: November 2020

Blasting construction is currently a relatively quick and efficient method of earthwork excavation, but harmful effects such as vibration and flying stones caused by blasting are an important issue that cannot be ignored. Presplitting blasting is an important construction method to control blasting vibration and protect adjacent buildings (structures). This article takes the pre-split blasting of the cutting near the beacon tower in Yangcheng Village as an example. From the discussion of blasting design and blasting effect analysis, the research on pre-split blasting is carried out. It has important reference significance for the design of similar blasting projects.
Experimental Study on Modification of Low-grade and Machine-made Sands
Authors: Zhao Shujing , Fu Rirong , Fu Peng , Pang Lufeng , Zhou Zaibo
Published: November 2020

In order to better apply low-grade and machine-made sands, this paper adopts the control test to investigate the influence of low-grade and machine-made sands with different proportions on motor fluidity, setting time and compressive strength, and modification effects of different mud inhibitors on low-grade and machine-made sands, proceeds the study on suitability of different kinds of fine low-grade and machine-made sands, and conducts the scale-up experiment in the concrete. The research results show that the content of fine low-grade and machine-made sands can substantially influence the water-reducing effects of polycarboxylate superplasticizer, affect the motor fluidity, compressive strength and setting time. After comparing different kinds of mud inhibitors, it turns out that HEDP has better effects, and can improve the low-grade and machine-made sands to certain degree; after comparing the polyethylene glycol (PEG) with different molecular weights, it turns out that the less the molecular weight is, the better the mud resistance effects are; PAANa has the best effects, and can remarkably improve the motor fluidity, prolong the setting time, enhance the compressive strength, and has better adaptability to different kinds of low-grade and machine-made sands, same significant application effects in concrete.
Study on Synthesis and Performance of Slump Retention Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer
Authors: Chen Guorong , Zhong Lina , Fang Yunhui , Ke Yuliang , Guo Yuanqiang , Lin Tianxing
Published: November 2020

A polycarboxylate superplasticizer with high slump retention capability was prepared and the effect of the ratio of acid to ether, L-type ascorbic acid and acrylic acid was discussed. The results showed that the optimum acid-ether ratio of the water reducing agent was 2.44, the amount of L-type ascorbic acid was 0.35, and the amount of acrylic acid was 9%. The results of C30 concrete test showed that the initial slump of PC-1 was slightly larger than that of the same kind of PC-2 and PC-3.
Research on Physical and Mechanical Indexes of Acidified Tailings Particles
Authors: Chen Wenzhao , Yao Xiangrong , Fan Jiaqing , Yang Kai , Zhu Feng , Jiang Yifan
Published: November 2020

Tailing acidification is a common objective phenomenon in sulfide mine tailings. In sulfide mines, the tailings sand particles are fine. With the accumulation of accumulation time, the sulfide minerals contained in the tailings will be oxidized to generate sulfate and sulfuric acid under the catalysis of oxidizing bacteria, water, oxygen and oxidant (such as Fe3+), and the acidic waste liquid will further undergo double decomposition reaction with metal oxides in the tailings to generate insoluble precipitates, which will weaken the shear strength of the tailings. It affects the stability of tailings. The author studies the stability of ore bodies after tailings acidification by laboratory experiments. It is found that tailings acidification will change the structural characteristics of soil and affect the shear strength of tailings soil itself.
Study on the technology of preparing foamed cement insulation board by using beneficiation tailings
Authors: Li Jiayuan , Yi Xiaolin , Kang Mengqi , Chen Jun , Deng Bing
Published: November 2020

In order to reuse the tailings of beneficiation, a novel method which mixes and foams cement, micronized tailings powder, calcium stearate, polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer, early strength superplasticizer, HPMC and hydrogen peroxide under certain conditions is proposed in this work. The results showed that the best ratio is as follows: water temperature 50°C, hydrogen peroxide content 6.5%, water to material ratio 0.5, early strength water reducing agent 1.5%, HPMC4/10000, polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer 0.1%, calcium stearate 1.6%, 17% of tailings fine powder. The foamed cement compressive strength is 0.71MPa, dry density less than 260 kg/m3, and no collapse phenomenon, which guarantees good performance.
Theoretical and Finite Element Analysis of Steel Corbel Columns under Eccentric Compression
Authors: Ji Jing , Kang Wei , Xu Ming , Li Zhihui , Jiang Liangqin
Published: November 2020

In order to study the stress characteristics of steel corbel column under eccentric pressure, the corbel column is regarded as a cantilever column for theoretical analysis based on engineering mechanics, and the analytical solution of structural stress of corbel column is obtained. The three-dimensional finite element models of three kinds of corbels are established by using ABAQUS software. The static analysis under eccentric load is carried out, and the stress distribution of corbel columns is obtained. The results show that changing the loading position will have a great impact on the stress state of the structure, and finding out the reasonable loading position can make the component better exert its mechanical performance. Finally, the reasonable loading position and structural measures of the single corbel column in this project are proposed, which can provide reference for similar projects.
Impact of Small Organic Molecules on the Degradation of Methylene Blue in VUV/UV Irradiation System
Authors: Geng Cong , Zhao Zhiwei , Du Jinying , Liang Zhijie
Published: November 2020

Generally, small organic molecules (SOM) in waters are always as the ·OH scavengers in the AOPs and reduce its efficiency. In this paper, the studies are focused on the impact of small organic molecules on the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in VUV/UV irradiation system. Results show that the degradation of MB in VUV/UV process were divided into two section: the inhibition and acceleration with SOM addition. MB completely degraded at 30 min in VUV/UV system with addition of SOM, but the degradation was significantly inhibited in UV/H2O2/SOM system. The result show that the formation of H2O2 in water under VUV/UV irradiation and the addition of SOM improved the generation of H2O2. The decomposition of H2O2 at the maximum accumulated contents accelerate the MB degradation. This study provides an efficient VUV/UV process for reduce the interference of SOM, which could be applied in water treatment.
Study on SO2 Absorption Characteristics in Two-stage Wet Desulfurization Process
Authors: Zhou Can , Zhang Qilong
Published: November 2020

The effect of the inlet SO2 concentration and the pH of the desulfurization slurry on the SO2 absorption efficiency was systematically studied on a two-stage falling film reactor test system. Studies have shown that the SO2 absorption efficiency has a positive correlation with the pH value of the slurry. In the entire pH range, the SO2 absorption efficiency increases with the increase of the pH value and decreases with the increase of the SO2 concentration, but in different pH value areas. the main influencing factors for controlling the SO2 absorption efficiency are different. In the low pH range(3.5∼5.5), the SO2 absorption efficiency is mainly controlled by the inlet SO2 concentration, and the pH value is a secondary factor. However, in the high pH area(5.5∼6.5)the SO2 absorption efficiency is mainly controlled by pH when the inlet SO2 concentration is≤4000mg/m3. When the inlet SO2 concentration is >4000mg/m3, the SO2 absorption efficiency is controlled by the inlet SO2 concentration and pH value.
Optimization Design of Propellant Charge for a Medium and Large Caliber High Chamber Pressure Gun
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Feng Qunshan , Nan Fengqiang , He Weidong , Liu Zhitao , Ma Yan
Published: November 2020

Taking a medium and large caliber high chamber pressure gun as the object and a single charge as an example, the optimization design model of the propellant charge of high chamber pressure gun was established by using the optimization theory, and the trajectory parameters of 100mm gun were optimized, and the optimal trajectory design scheme satisfying the constraints is obtained. The results of this paper have some guiding significance for the optimal design of propellant charge for high chamber pressure gun.
The Principle of Fuzzy Negative Association Rule and Its Experiment Simulation
Authors: Zhang Zhaopeng
Published: November 2020

Energy conservation optimization control is an important way to reduce the energy emission and save energy in coal-fired power plants. There is a large amount of potential knowledge and information in the massive data in the real-time historical database of thermal power plant, which can be used for the control of energy conservation and optimization. This paper is mainly around the fuzzy association rules based on the traditional method in power plant, the application of energy saving optimization control for fuzzy association rules in specific research, and the simulation test data of the power plant operation.
The Optical Design Principle of Twisted-Vertically Aligned Mode LCD
Authors: Chen Mei , Chen Xingwu , Song Qi , Li Dongze , Chang Tsung-Lung , Zhang Xin , Dou Hu , Meng Hong
Published: November 2020

Compared with normal VA mode LCD, twisted-vertically aligned (TVA) mode LCD gained more and more attention due to its high transmittance as well as high contrast ratio (CR). To realize the optimized electro-optical performance and low cost, this work revealed the optical design principle of TVA mode LCD by Jones Matrix and Computer simulations. Subsequently, the TVA mode sample with high transmittance under orthogonal polarizers was obtained by optimizing the design of the pixel electrode pattern and parameters of chiral LC materials.
Research on Mildew and Anticorrosion Technology of Mortar Admixture
Authors: Mu Xue Rui
Published: November 2020

The mortar admixture has a shorter storage period without preservatives. In order to prolong the storage period of the mortar admixture and the performance of the product is not affected, the anticorrosion research experiment of the mortar admixture product is carried out. Through this test, it can be seen that the higher the temperature of microorganisms under the condition of incomplete sealing outdoors, the faster the mildew cycle. Then by adding isothiazole preservatives to improve the mildew cycle and appearance changes of admixtures, by testing the number of colonies in the samples after adding preservatives and testing the performance of mortars, when the preservative content is 2.0‰, the inhibition bacteria effect is obvious. The experimental results show that the addition of preservatives can effectively inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, significantly prolong the mildew cycle of mortar admixtures, and have no effect on the performance of mortar admixtures.
Effect of V2O5 promoter on characteristics and performance of NiO/CeO2 catalyst in methane bi-reforming
Authors: Phuong Phan Hong , Cam Loc Luu , Tri Nguyen , Van Nguyen Thi Thuy , Anh Nguyen Phung , Duy Nguyen Phuc Hoang , Cuong Hoang Tien
Published: November 2020

In this work, a series of 10 wt% NiO/CeO2 catalysts (Ni/Ce) promoted by V2O5 with content varying in the range of 0–0.5 wt% was prepared by the co-impregnation method. The characteristics of the catalysts were investigated by several techniques including N2 physisorption (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), EDS mapping, carbon dioxide temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR). The activity of the catalyst was studied in the micro-flow system in a temperature range of 550 °C–800 °C, the feedstock composition CH4/CO2/H2O of 3.0/1.2/2.4 and the weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 30,000 ml.h−1.g−1. Adding V2O5 additive, on the one hand increases the reducibility and basicity of Ni/Ce catalyst, on the other hand reduces oxygen vacancies and increases the crystal size of CeO2, leading to various effects on catalyst activity depending on its content. Ni/Ce catalyst promoted with 0.3 wt% of V2O5 was the best among tested ones, on which at reaction temperature of 700 °C, the conversion of CH4 and CO2 reached 97% and 77% respectively, and the molar ratio of H2/CO was 2.1. Meanwhile, on non-promoted Ni/Ce catalyst, the corresponding quantities were 83%, 62% and 1.9, respectively. It is important to note that performance of both was stable for more than 30 h thanks to the better resistance to coke deposition and structural stability.
Two-step method for preparing calcium oxalate film on marble surface for stone protective
Authors: Zha Jianrui , Wei Shuya , Han Huarui , Wang Feng , Ma Qinlin
Published: November 2020

Calcium oxalate film was prepared by a novel two-step method on the surface of the marble substrate. The seed film was coated by a chemical reaction process, providing a good connection to the marble surface. Meanwhile, calcium oxalate solution was interwoven into the seed film to form a continuous network at room temperature. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis results indicated that the calcium oxalate film prepared by the two-step method showed a more intensive crystallinity degree and homogenous than that by the traditional oxalate treatment method (a scattered seed film). Subsequently, it was found such calcium oxalate film is feasible for preventing the marble substrate from chemical weathering. Furthermore, the change of the chromatic value, water absorption properties and adhesion strength of the marble substrates by the film is minimal. This method overcomes the limitations of traditional oxalate treatment process and has great potential for the protection of marble artifacts.
What religion is
Authors: Tweed Thomas A.
Published: November 2020

“What religion is,” argues that if religion matters, then definitions do too. Definitions of religion have practical implications and real-life effects. Many political constitutions, for example, use the word religion. But it is not always clear what it means. There are passionate debates about how to define religion, as looking at one court case involving ordinary religious practices linked with Africa shows. That case illustrates that definitions can be controversial. Those who have tried to characterize religion have used different metaphors to understand it and offered different judgments about whether it is helpful or harmful. What religion is can also be analyzed by considering important definitions, from more critical accounts by Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx to more sympathetic ones by William James and Émile Durkheim.
Writing oneself
Authors: Hamlin William M.
Published: November 2020

Did Montaigne invent the essay? “Writing oneself” reminds us that Montaigne was not the first author to add personal experience and reflection to nonfiction writing. Montaigne loved the moral essays of Plutarch, the letters of Seneca, and the writings of his contemporary, Erasmus. The title in French, Essais, could be read as assays or attempts. Indeed, the Essays became depictions of Montaigne’s cognitive processes at work. It is suggested that the hunger for expression and intimacy in Montaigne’s writing originated in the death of a beloved friend, with whom Montaigne might otherwise have expressed these thoughts in conversation.
Skepticism
Authors: Hamlin William M.
Published: November 2020

How does the identification of Montaigne as a skeptic coexist with his Roman Catholic beliefs and practice? “Skepticism” classifies the Montaignian approach as “Pyrrhonist”—a school of skepticism that prioritized investigation over conclusion. Having read the ancient thinkers, Montaigne was in a strong position to discuss skepticism in his influential essay “Apology for Raymond Sebond,” in which he conflated ideas from Academic and Pyrrhonian schools. Some critics have expressed a wish that Montaigne was willing to subject his Christian beliefs to his usual level of scrutiny, but for him to have falsified his faith would have obscured his overall mission—to be known and understood.
Defending Islam from the secular world order
Authors: Green Nile
Published: November 2020

Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, new hubs emerged in Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. “Defending Islam from the Secular World Order” compares the different approaches of these regions to protecting Islam during a period of worldwide secularism. Movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Tablighi Jamaat (Preaching Society) propagated activism and evangelism and, in some cases, the political idea of an Islamic state. Sufis had no equivalent organizations. International congresses and organizations promoted a combination of Salafi principles with the Wahhabism of Saudi Arabia. This variation of Islam was spread further by cheap air travel, with vastly increased numbers going on pilgrimages and promoting Salafi-Wahhabist attitudes on their return.
Pulmonary Pathology of COVID-19 Following 8 Weeks to 4 Months of Severe Disease: A Report of Three Cases, Including One With Bilateral Lung Transplantation
Authors: Aesif Scott W , Bribriesco Alejandro C , Yadav Ruchi , Nugent Summer L , Zubkus Dmitriy , Tan Carmela D , Mehta Atul C , Mukhopadhyay Sanjay
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Current knowledge of the pulmonary pathology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is based largely on postmortem studies. In most, the interval between disease onset and death is relatively short (<1 month). Information regarding lung pathology in patients who survive for longer periods is scant. We describe the pathology in three patients with severe COVID-19 who underwent antemortem examination of lung tissue at least 8 weeks after initial diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case series.

Results

The first patient developed acute respiratory failure and was started on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on day 21, with subsequent hemothorax. Debridement (day 38) showed extensive lung infarction with diffuse alveolar damage and Candida overgrowth. The second patient developed acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation that did not improve despite ECMO. Surgical lung biopsy on day 74 showed diffuse interstitial fibrosis with focal microscopic honeycomb change. The third patient also required ECMO and underwent bilateral lung transplantation on day 126. The explanted lungs showed diffuse interstitial fibrosis with focal microscopic honeycomb change.

Conclusions

This series provides histologic confirmation that complications of COVID-19 after 8 weeks to 4 months of severe disease include lung infarction and diffuse interstitial fibrosis.
What makes a fig: insights from a comparative analysis of inflorescence morphogenesis in Moraceae
Authors: Leite Viviane Gonçalves , Kjellberg Finn , Pereira Rodrigo Augusto Santinelo , Teixeira Simone Pádua
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Moraceae, the family of mulberry and fig trees, displays small homogeneous flowers but extremely diverse inflorescences ranging from simple and branched to complex and condensed. Inflorescences also vary in flower organization in the receptacle, in the degree of flower condensation and in receptacle shape. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the inflorescence morphogenesis of Moraceae species, to investigate whether clades with a similar pollination mode share the same patterns of inflorescence development and the developmental stages at which we observe the key changes resulting in the diversified inflorescence architecture that culminates in the Ficus syconium.

Methods

Inflorescences at different developmental stages were sampled from Brosimum gaudichaudii, Castilla elastica, Clarisia ilicifolia, Ficus pertusa, Maclura tinctoria and Morus nigra and processed for surface and anatomical analyses.

Key Results

The inflorescence morphogenesis of the studied species is highly variable. The shape of the inflorescence meristem (bulging, hemispheric or elongated), the initiation order and arrangement of flowers along the receptacle and the occurrence of bracts vary between related species. This diversity originates early during inflorescence development. Brosimum gaudichaudii, C. elastica and F. pertusa have flowers enclosed or immersed within the receptacle, although inflorescences begin their development as flat and open structures, as occurs in the other three study species.

Conclusion

Comparison of the inflorescence morphogenesis in Moraceae species allows us to infer that evolutionary ontogenetic changes driven by pollinators culminate in the enclosure of flowers inside the receptacle, as occurs in the Ficus syconium.
QSAR-assisted-MMPA to expand chemical transformation space for lead optimization
Authors: Fu Li , Yang Zi-Yi , Yang Zhi-Jiang , Yin Ming-Zhu , Lu Ai-Ping , Chen Xiang , Liu Shao , Hou Ting-Jun , Cao Dong-Sheng
Published: November 2020

Matched molecular pairs analysis (MMPA) has become a powerful tool for automatically and systematically identifying medicinal chemistry transformations from compound/property datasets. However, accurate determination of matched molecular pair (MMP) transformations largely depend on the size and quality of existing experimental data. Lack of high-quality experimental data heavily hampers the extraction of more effective medicinal chemistry knowledge. Here, we developed a new strategy called quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR)-assisted-MMPA to expand the number of chemical transformations and took the logD7.4 property endpoint as an example to demonstrate the reliability of the new method. A reliable logD7.4 consensus prediction model was firstly established, and its applicability domain was strictly assessed. By applying the reliable logD7.4 prediction model to screen two chemical databases, we obtained more high-quality logD7.4 data by defining a strict applicability domain threshold. Then, MMPA was performed on the predicted data and experimental data to derive more chemical rules. To validate the reliability of the chemical rules, we compared the magnitude and directionality of the property changes of the predicted rules with those of the measured rules. Then, we compared the novel chemical rules generated by our proposed approach with the published chemical rules, and found that the magnitude and directionality of the property changes were consistent, indicating that the proposed QSAR-assisted-MMPA approach has the potential to enrich the collection of rule types or even identify completely novel rules. Finally, we found that the number of the MMP rules derived from the experimental data could be amplified by the predicted data, which is helpful for us to analyze the medicinal chemical rules in local chemical environment. In summary, the proposed QSAR-assisted-MMPA approach could be regarded as a very promising strategy to expand the chemical transformation space for lead optimization, especially when no enough experimental data can support MMPA.
The Component Diagnosability of Hypercubes with Large-Scale Faulty Nodes
Authors: Zhang Shurong , Liang Dongyue , Chen Lin , Li Ronghua , Yang Weihua
Published: November 2020

The diagnosability is one of the most important measures of the reliability of networks. Consider the setting where there are large-scale failures that disconnect the network and result in many components. Then, the diagnosability is closely related to the number of components. In this paper, we define and study the $\boldsymbol{g}$-component diagnosability of network $\boldsymbol{G}$, which is denoted by $\boldsymbol{ct_g(G)}$ and has not been addressed before. $\boldsymbol{ct_g(G)}$ is the maximum number of nodes in the faulty node set $\boldsymbol{F}$ of $\boldsymbol{G}$ such that $\boldsymbol{G-F}$ has at least $\boldsymbol{g}$ components and diagnosis model can identify all nodes in $\boldsymbol{F}$. Under PMC and MM$^*$ diagnosis models, we show that, in the hypercube $\boldsymbol{Q_n\ (n\geq 7)}$, $\boldsymbol{ct_{g+1}(Q_n)=-(1/2)g^2+(n-3/2)g+n}$ when $\boldsymbol{g\leq n-1}$. Moreover, we determine the $\boldsymbol{(n+1)}$-component diagnosability $\boldsymbol{ct_{n+1}(Q_n)=n^2/2+n/2-2}$ for $\boldsymbol{n\geq 7}$.
A Profit-maximizing Mechanism for Query-based Data Trading with Personalized Differential Privacy
Authors: Cai Hui , Zhu Yanmin , Li Jie , Yu Jiadi
Published: November 2020

Data trading has attracted increasing attention over the years as a cost-effective business paradigm, probably producing a tremendous amount of economic value. However, the study of query-based trading in the user data market is still in the initial stage. To design a practical user data trading mechanism, we have to consider three major challenges: privacy concern, compensation cost minimization and revenue maximization in a Bayesian environment. By jointly considering these challenges, we propose a profit-maximizing mechanism for user data trading with personalized differential privacy, called READ, which comprised two components, READ-COST for cost minimization and READ-REV for revenue maximization. Especially, READ adopts personalized differential privacy to satisfy each data owner’s diverse privacy preferences. READ-COST greedily selects the most cost-effective data owner to achieve the sub-optimal data query cost. Given this query cost, READ-REV calculates the maximum expected revenue in a Bayesian setting. Through rigorous theoretical analysis and real-data based experiments, we demonstrate that READ achieves all desired properties and approaches the optimal profit.
Salient Object Detection Based on Multiscale Segmentation and Fuzzy Broad Learning
Authors: Lin Xiao , Wang Zhi-Jie , Ma Lizhuang , Li Renjie , Fang Mei-E
Published: November 2020

Saliency detection has been a hot topic in the field of computer vision. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that is based on multiscale segmentation and fuzzy broad learning. The core idea of our method is to segment the image into different scales, and then the extracted features are fed to the fuzzy broad learning system (FBLS) for training. More specifically, it first segments the image into superpixel blocks at different scales based on the simple linear iterative clustering algorithm. Then, it uses the local binary pattern algorithm to extract texture features and computes the average color information for each superpixel of these segmentation images. These extracted features are then fed to the FBLS to obtain multiscale saliency maps. After that, it fuses these saliency maps into an initial saliency map and uses the label propagation algorithm to further optimize it, obtaining the final saliency map. We have conducted experiments based on several benchmark datasets. The results show that our solution can outperform several existing algorithms. Particularly, our method is significantly faster than most of deep learning-based saliency detection algorithms, in terms of training and inferring time.
Unlinkable and Revocable Secret Handshake
Authors: Tian Yangguang , Li Yingjiu , Mu Yi , Yang Guomin
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we introduce a new construction for unlinkable secret handshake that allows a group of users to perform handshakes anonymously. We define formal security models for the proposed construction and prove that it can achieve session key security, anonymity and affiliation hiding. In particular, the proposed construction ensures that (i) anonymity against protocol participants (including group authority) is achieved since a hierarchical identity-based signature is used in generating group user’s pseudonym-credential pairs and (ii) revocation is achieved using a secret sharing-based revocation mechanism.
A standardized approach for the thoracic dissection in robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE)
Authors: Kingma B F , Read M , van Hillegersberg R , Chao Y K , Ruurda J P
Published: November 2020

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) is increasingly being adopted as the preferred surgical treatment for esophageal cancer, as it is superior to open esophagectomy and a good alternative to conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy. This paper addresses the technical details of the thoracoscopic phase of RAMIE, including the operating room set-up, patient positioning, port placement, and surgical steps.
How I do it: robotic-assisted Ivor Lewis esophagectomy
Authors: Heid Christopher A , Lopez Victor , Kernstine Kemp
Published: November 2020

Advances in minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgical technology, have led to improved outcomes in esophagectomy. In this article, we detail our approach to the robotic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.
Systematic Review of Factors Affecting Transition Readiness Skills in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Johnson Lara E , Lee Matthew J , Turner-Moore Rhys , Grinsted Tate Lydia R , Brooks Alenka J , Tattersall Rachel S , Jones Georgina L , Lobo Alan J
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] diagnosed before adulthood is increasing worldwide. Transition from paediatric to adult health care requires certain skills. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting these skills.

Methods

This review was registered on the PROSPERO database [CRD42019152272]. Inclusion criteria were: 1] studies of factors affecting transition readiness skills in patients with IBD; 2] written in English; 3] published since 1999. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsychINFO databases were searched between 1999 and 2019. Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

Results

Searches identified 822 papers. Sixteen papers were included. Age was positively associated with skills including disease knowledge and performing self-management behaviours [14 studies]. Improvement often occurs at 18; however, skill deficiency may still remain. Increased self-efficacy [confidence] was associated with greater disease knowledge and performing self-management behaviours [three studies]. Self-efficacy was positively correlated with transition duration [two studies] and health-related quality of life [r = 0.57, p <0.001] [one study], negatively correlated with depression [r = -0.57, p <0.001] and anxiety [r = -0.23, p = 0.03] [one study], and was associated with higher education level [two studies] and a family history of IBD [one study]. Females had higher self-management scores [three studies], and greater health care satisfaction was significantly associated with higher knowledge [one study]. Greater transition communication improved knowledge, self-management, and overall transition readiness [two studies].

Conclusions

Potentially modifiable factors have been identified that could be supported in the transitioning IBD population, to improve transition readiness. Identification of those with non-modifiable characteristics associated with poor readiness may aid targeted support.
Simple and additive diagnostic modalities for the screening of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Illes B , Agoston G , Gargani L , Szabo I , Polestyuk-Nemeth N , Varga A
Published: November 2020

Background

Nearly half of all patients with heart failure (HF) symptoms have an EF that is preserved (HFpEF). The prevalence of HFpEF is rising, with high morbidity, mortality. The diagnosis of HFpEF is particularly challenging. Lung ultrasound (LUS) and left atrial strain are promising screening and diagnostic tools to assess pulmonary congestion and left atrial dysfunction in patients with suspected HFpEF.

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between patients symptoms, pro-BNP level with LUS and left atrial strain, as well to assess the diagnostic power of B-lines in HFpEF population.

Methods

82 consecutive patients (57 women, mean age 70±6 years) with clinical signs of heart failure were prospectively enrolled. Exclusion criteria were: ejection fraction <55%, more than mild mitral and/or aortic valve disease, pulmonary disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension. Within one hour all patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation including left atrial strain analysis (peak atrial longitudinal strain-LASr), lung ultrasound assessment of B-lines on the anterolateral and posterior chest wall, and NT-proBNP levels.

Results

In 45 patients (54%) a significant number of B-lines (≥15) were observed. We found a positive correlation between the number of B-lines and NT-proBNP levels (p<0.0001, r=0.67), left atrial volume (p<0.0001, r=0.45), and LASr (p<0.005, r=−0.4). We also found week correlation between the number of B-lines and E/e' ratio (p<0.003, r=0.3), and between E/e' ratio and NT-proBNP level (p<0.05, r=0.2). We also assessed the diagnostic ability of B-lines to predict markedly elevated pro-BNP level (≥125pg/ml), AUC was 0.85, with specificity of 64% and sensitivity of 85% (Figure 1). The number of B lines also correlated with the H2FPEF score (p<0.001, r=0.4).

Conclusion

LUS is a simple, feasible tool to detect pulmonary congestion in HFpEF and it has an adequate diagnostic power to predict elevated NTpro-BNP level. LASr is promising too, which better reflects pulmonary congestion and elevated NT-proBNP values than the conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Figure 1. ROC curve Blines predict high NTproBNP

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None
Left atrial remodeling after Mitraclip implantation
Authors: Neri G , Aquila I , Albanese M , Panuccio G , Polimeni A , Sabatino J , Mascaro G , Spaccarotella C , Mongiardo A , Indolfi C
Published: November 2020

Objective

Changes in left atrial (LA) size and function are associated with major adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, and death. Reverse LA remodelling occurs after successful surgical mitral valve repair for severe MR. Changes in LA volumes after MV repair have reported in several studies. However, LA data are limited in the setting of transcatheter repair.

Materials an methods

From November 2016 to July 2018, clinical and echocardiographic data of 42 patients with mitral regurgitation who underwent Mitraclip implantation in our division were evaluated for LA function: LA global longitudinal strain (LA GLS); LAESV (Left atrial end-systolic volume), LAEDV (Left atrial end-diastolic volume); LA emptying Fraction at baseline, at 1 month, at 6 months and 1 year of follow up were assessed. The variation of continuous variables was evaluated using a student T test for paired data or the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test when appropriate. The categorical variables between two groups were evaluated using the chi-square test (χ2). P values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The etiology of the mitral regurgitation was primary in 33,3% and secondary in 66,7% of the included patients. The MR degree was 3+ in 21,4% of patients and 4+ in 78,6%. When compared to baseline at 6 months and 1 year a statistically significant reduction was observed for both LAESV (p<0.001) and LAEDV (p<0.001). At 6 months, compared to baseline, the LA GLS reached statistic relevance (p 0.05) with a significant improvement at 1 year (p 0.001). Finally, we did not find significant differences in LA emptying fraction at different time point analyzed.

Conclusions

A successful MitraClip procedure can reverse the process of LA remodeling within 12 months, and this can be detected by Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) through an improvement in the LA reservoir function. These data generate the hypothesis that the GLS, compared to conventional echocardiographic parameters, represents an advanced method that quantify atrial function in Mitraclip implanted patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public hospital(s)
Normal reference values of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left ventricular strain parameters in healthy adults
Authors: Nemes A , Kormanyos A , Kalapos A , Domsik P , Gyenes N , Ambrus N , Lengyel C
Published: November 2020

Introduction

At this moment, limited number of studies is defining normal reference value of three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE)-derived left ventricular (LV) strains. The present study aimed to quantify normal reference values of LV strains in healthy adult population in real clinical world settings in different age groups and to determine age- and gender-dependence of these parameters in a high volume single centre.

Methods

The present study comprised 296 healthy adult subjects from which 124 cases were excluded due to inferior image quality during a 6-year period. The remaining population was further divided into 4 subgroups based on age decades. The following groups of healthy subjects were examined based on their age: 18–29 years (mean age: 23.6±2.8 years, 45 males out of 94), 30–39 years (mean age: 33.7±2.8 years, 27 males out of 34), 40–49 years (mean age: 43.4±3.4 years, 11 males out of 17) and 50+ years (mean age: 56.4±5.3 years, 12 males out of 27). All subjects underwent a complete 2D echocardiographic and Doppler assessment with negative results. None of the healthy subjects showed more than grade 1 valvular regurgitation or significant stenosis on any valves.

Results

The mean LV radial (RS), circumferential (CS), longitudinal (LS), 3D (3DS) and area (AS) strains proved to be 27.7±8.8%, −28.6±4.8%, −16.9±2.4%, 30.2±8.8% and −41.4±4.9%, respectively. While global LV-RS and LV-3DS showed an increase-decrease-increase pattern, LV-CS, LV-LS and LV-AS were somewhat lower in older ages. Only global LV-LS showed gender-dependency with higher values in females. Although somewhat higher LV-RS and LV-3DS and lower LV-CS, LV-LS and LV-AS could be measured in males, clear gender-dependency could not be detected in different age decades. The measurements were performed between 2011 and 2017, when feasibility of 3DSTE analysis improved as the operators gained experience. The number of adequate measurements proved to be 172 out of 296 (58% success ratio) for the overall time-period. For the last year, the number of good quality measurements, therefore the success ratio improved significantly (47 out of 59, 80%, p=0.001).

Conclusions

Normal reference values of 3DSTE-derived global, segmental, mean segmental and regional LV strains have been determined in healthy adult subjects based on real-life clinical experience. Age-, gender- and functional non-uniformity of LV strains were also defined.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None