bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shortest Path Computing in Directed Graphs with Weighted Edges Mapped on Random Networks of Memristors
Authors: Fernandez Carlos , Vourkas Ioannis , Rubio Antonio
Published: March 2020

To accelerate the execution of advanced computing tasks, in-memory computing with resistive memory provides a promising solution. In this context, networks of memristors could be used as parallel computing medium for the solution of complex optimization problems. Lately, the solution of the shortest-path problem (SPP) in a two-dimensional memristive grid has been given wide consideration. Some still open problems in such computing approach concern the time required for the grid to reach to a steady state, and the time required to read the result, stored in the state of a subset of memristors that represent the solution. This paper presents a circuit simulation-based performance assessment of memristor networks as SPP solvers. A previous methodology was extended to support weighted directed graphs. We tried memristor device models with fundamentally different switching behavior to check their suitability for such applications and the impact on the timely detection of the solution. Furthermore, the requirement of binary vs. analog operation of memristors was evaluated. Finally, the memristor network-based computing approach was compared to known algorithmic solutions to the SPP over a large set of random graphs of different sizes and topologies. Our results contribute to the proper development of bio-inspired memristor network-based SPP solvers.
Leader Election Requires Logarithmic Time in Population Protocols
Authors: Sudo Yuichi , Masuzawa Toshimitsu
Published: March 2020

This paper shows that every leader election protocol requires logarithmic stabilization time both in expectation and with high probability in the population protocol model. This lower bound holds even if each agent has knowledge of the exact size of a population and is allowed to use an arbitrarily large number of agent states. This lower bound concludes that the protocol given in [Sudo et al., SSS 2019] is time-optimal in expectation.
Green composites based on high density polyethylene and recycled coffee gunny: Morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties
Authors: Shih Yeng-Fong , Kotharangannagari Venkata Krishna , Chen Ruo-Mei
Published: March 2020

In this study, recycled coffee gunny (RCG) was used to reinforce high density polyethylene (HDPE). Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was added as a compatibilizer. Moreover, the RCG was chemically treated to enhance the compatibility between fiber and HDPE matrix. A series of RCG reinforced composites were prepared and the effects of MAPE and chemical modification of RCG on the mechanical and thermal properties of HDPE were investigated. The results of thermal and mechanical properties of composites revealed that the increments of heat deflection temperature, tensile strength, and impact strength of HDPE were 16[Formula: see text]C, 19.64% and 43.63% by the addition of modified coffee gunny, respectively. It reveals that the HDPE was reinforced with the coffee gunny, and thus can effectively reuse the discarded resources.
Content-Based Attention Network for Person Image Generation
Authors: Liu Xiongfei , Li Bengao , Chen Xin , Zhang Haiyan , Zhan Shu
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes a novel method for person image generation with arbitrary target pose. Given a person image and an arbitrary target pose, our proposed model can synthesize images with the same person but different poses. The Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are the major part of the proposed model. Different from the traditional GANs, we add attention mechanism to the generator in order to generate realistic-looking images, we also use content reconstruction with a pretrained VGG16 Net to keep the content consistency between generated images and target images. Furthermore, we test our model on DeepFashion and Market-1501 datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed network performs favorably against state-of-the-art methods.
Raising crosscap number while lowering unknotting number
Authors: Kerian A.
Published: March 2020

We explore the relationship between two knot invariants, unknotting number and crosscap number. Specifically, we present two infinite families of knots with a specific crossing change that lowers the unknotting number while raising the crosscap number. One of these families is hyperbolic. This is a non-orientable parallel of Scharlemann and Thompson’s 1988 result for orientable surfaces.
Integral metaplectic modular categories
Authors: Deaton Adam , Gustafson Paul , Mavrakis Leslie , Rowell Eric C. , Poltoratski Sasha , Timmerman Sydney , Warren Benjamin , Zhang Qing
Published: March 2020

A braided fusion category is said to have Property F if the associated braid group representations factor through a finite group. We verify integral metaplectic modular categories have property F by showing these categories are group-theoretical. For the special case of integral categories [Formula: see text] with the fusion rules of [Formula: see text] we determine the finite group [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text] is braided equivalent to [Formula: see text]. In addition, we determine the associated classical link invariant, an evaluation of the 2-variable Kauffman polynomial at a point.
On Hurwitz zeta function and Lommel functions
Authors: Dixit Atul , Kumar Rahul
Published: March 2020

We obtain a new proof of Hurwitz’s formula for the Hurwitz zeta function [Formula: see text] beginning with Hermite’s formula. The aim is to reveal a nice connection between [Formula: see text] and a special case of the Lommel function [Formula: see text]. This connection is used to rephrase a modular-type transformation involving infinite series of Hurwitz zeta function in terms of those involving Lommel functions.
The Ramanujan–Dyson identities and George Beck’s congruence conjectures
Authors: Andrews George E.
Published: March 2020

Dyson’s famous conjectures (proved by Atkin and Swinnerton-Dyer) gave a combinatorial interpretation of Ramanujan’s congruences for the partition function. The proofs of these results center on one of the universal mock theta functions that generate partitions according to Dyson’s rank. George Beck has generalized the study of partition function congruences related to rank by considering the total number of parts in the partitions of [Formula: see text]. The related generating functions are no longer part of the world of mock theta functions. However, George Beck has conjectured that certain linear combinations of the related enumeration functions do satisfy congruences modulo 5 and 7. The conjectures are proved here.
On the problem of Pillai with k-generalized Fibonacci numbers and powers of 3
Authors: Ddamulira Mahadi , Luca Florian
Published: March 2020

For an integer [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the [Formula: see text]-generalized Fibonacci sequence which starts with [Formula: see text] (a total of [Formula: see text] terms) and for which each term afterwards is the sum of the [Formula: see text] preceding terms. In this paper, we find all integers [Formula: see text] with at least two representations as a difference between a [Formula: see text]-generalized Fibonacci number and a power of [Formula: see text]. This paper continues the previous work of the first author for the Fibonacci numbers, and for the Tribonacci numbers.
Amorphous Carbon Nanocages by Thermal CVD Synthesis from the Precursor of Phenol, and their Excellent Adsorbility for Dye
Authors: Lv Yingying , Lin Jiayu , Ma Yihong , Peng Siyan , Yang Liusai , Yu Leshu
Published: March 2020

The use of adsorption capacity of porous and large-surface-area materials is an important approach to treat dye-containing effluents. In this study, the porous carbon nanocages (CNCs) were synthesized from the precursor of phenol in home-made chemical vapor deposition (CVD) setup at 600–1000°C, and were convincingly characterized. The as-prepared CNCs are amorphous, porous and hollow, and have the size of 50–100[Formula: see text]nm in width, 100–200[Formula: see text]nm in length and several nm in thickness, causing to the large surface area of 800[Formula: see text]m2/g and pore volume of 1.63[Formula: see text]cm3/g. The growth of amorphous-like CNCs was related to the thermolysis species of phenol. Interestingly, each CNC has large volume hollow coelom and small opening (a typical ink bottle pore), being in favor of adsorption but in disfavor of desorption, thus it is very fit for acting as the adsorbent of dye. As expected, the products showed excellent adsorbility of rhodamine B when compared with the most used activated carbon having straight and slit pore structures, displaying broad application prospects in removing dye from wastewater.
A Core–Shell Polyethyleneimine-Mediated Apoptosis-Related Gene Delivery for Anti-Tumor Therapy
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Qiao , Chen Minhui , Wang Yun , Lei Yu , Huang Wei , Meng Minsi , Lu Yue
Published: March 2020

An apoptosis-related gene loaded to the core–shell delivery system has been fabricated to give effective tumor therapy. The gene delivery system consists of the hydrophobic poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and plasmid DNA (pDNA) loaded branched polyethyleneimine (PEI). The BBC3 gene is related to cell apoptosis and constructed in the mammal plasmid vector under the CMV promoter for overexpression. The amphiphilic PEI-PMMA nanoparticle (NP) has been developed as a DNA loaded carrier of low cytotoxicity and enhanced stability. The average NP size was 330[Formula: see text]nm with a narrow distribution. The [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mV of the zeta potential in water showed the effect of negatively charged DNA aggregation. Gel retardation assay showed the complete PEI/pDNA (N:P) binding ratio was 125:1. The MCF-7 cancer cell line was transfected with the delivery complexes, followed by the MTT assay to evaluate anti-tumor therapy. The results showed that BBC3 gene loaded PEI-PMMA complexes have significant cancer cell inhibition. Taken together, BBC3 genes expressed after 48[Formula: see text]h transfection with PEI-PMMA NPs, and this gene therapy delivery system has cancer cells inhibition as low as 8[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL in vitro.
Three-Dimensional MoS2/Graphene Hybrid Aerogel as Free-Standing, High-Performance Electrode for Supercapacitor
Authors: Meng Zhaolei , He Xiaojian , Han Song , Hu Zijian
Published: March 2020

Carbon materials are generally employed as supercapacitor electrodes due to their low- cost, high-chemical stability and environmental friendliness. However, the design of carbon structures with large surface area and controllable porous structure remains a daunt challenge. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) hybrid aerogel with different contents of MoS2 nanosheets in 3D graphene aerogel (MoS2-GA) was synthesized through a facial hydrothermal process. The influences of MoS2 content on microstructure and subsequently on electrochemical properties of MoS2-GA are systematically investigated and an optimized mass ratio with MoS2: GA of 1:2 is chosen to achieve high mechanical robustness and outstanding electrochemical performance in the hybrid structure. Due to the large specific surface area, porous structure and continuous charge transfer network, such MoS2-GA electrodes exhibit high specific capacitance, good rate capability and excellent cyclic stability, showing great potential in large-scale and low-cost fabrication of high-performance supercapacitors.
Construction of highly efficient non-enzymatic glucose sensors based on micro-spherical Ni-metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Chen Junli , Yin Haoyong , Zhao Shumin , Gong Jianying , Ji Zhenguo , Nie Qiulin , Wang Ling
Published: March 2020

The Ni-metal-organic frameworks microspheres (Ni-BTC) were prepared and used directly to construct non-enzymatic glucose sensors. The Ni-BTC sensors displayed much higher glucose sensing performance than that of Ni-MOFs derived NiO, which showed wide detection regions of 5–3000[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M and 3500–6000[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M with the sensitivity of 932.68[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]mM[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and 273.04[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]mM[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text], respectively. Moreover, it also displayed good selectivity and favorable sensing feasibility for serum analysis. The high performance of the non-enzymatic glucose detection on Ni-BTC may be due to the highly efficient charge transfers during the electrocatalytic glucose oxidation process.
Fabrication and electrochemical performance of nickel oxide nanoparticles anchored titanium dioxide nanotube array hybrid electrode
Authors: Bao Wenyun , Wu Ye , Xie Yibing , Yao Chen
Published: March 2020

Nickel oxide-titania nanotube array hybrid grown on titanium substrate (NiO–TiO2/Ti) is designed as supercapacitor electrode for energy-storage application. The electroactive NiO is fully incorporated into independent titania nanotubes to form NiO–TiO2 nanotube array hybrid through differential pulse voltammetry electrodeposition process and thermal dehydration process. NiO nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on TiO2 nanotube walls to keep open pore mouth of nanochannels. The charge transfer resistance at the interface of electrode/electrolyte is highly declined from 76.3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] of TiO2/Ti to 1.1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] of NiO–TiO2/Ti. The electrochemical performance is highly improved from the electrical double-layer capacitance of 0.16[Formula: see text]mF[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] for TiO2/Ti to Faradaic capacitance of 18.75[Formula: see text]mF[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] for NiO–TiO2/Ti in 1.0[Formula: see text]M KOH electrolyte due to high electroactivity of NiO. The capacitance retention after 1000 cycles achieves 83.86% for NiO–TiO2/Ti and 97.49% for TiO2/Ti. The highly electrochemical stability of TiO2/Ti contributes to high cycling stability of NiO–TiO2/Ti in a continuous charge–discharge process. The superior capacitance of NiO–TiO2/Ti nanotube array hybrid is mostly attributed to its accessible redox reactive sites of NiO nanoparticles on TiO2 nanotube walls. NiO–TiO2/Ti nanotube array hybrid can act as a promising energy-storage electrode material.
Geodetic global domination in corona and strong product of graphs
Authors: Xaviour X. Lenin , Chellathurai S. Robinson
Published: March 2020

A set S of vertices in a connected graph [Formula: see text] is called a geodetic set if every vertex not in [Formula: see text] lies on a shortest path between two vertices from [Formula: see text]. A set [Formula: see text] of vertices in [Formula: see text] is called a dominating set of [Formula: see text] if every vertex not in [Formula: see text] has at least one neighbor in [Formula: see text]. A set [Formula: see text] is called a geodetic global dominating set of [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] is both geodetic and global dominating set of [Formula: see text]. The geodetic global domination number is the minimum cardinality of a geodetic global dominating set in [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we determine the geodetic global domination number of the corona and strong products of two graphs.
Experimental and finite element analysis on determining the fatigue life of pb-free solder joint (Sn-0.5Cu-3Bi-1Ag) used in electronic packages under harmonic loads
Authors: Jayesh S. , Elias Jacob
Published: March 2020

Electronic packages that are used these days are exposed to different types of vibration loadings in their usage environment. This vibration exposure can be categorized as harmonic and random vibrations. When reliability assessment of modern electronic systems is considered, vibration loading has an important role to play. One of the biggest challenges facing today is the accurate and rapid assessment of fatigue life under the vibration loading. Conventional solder joints were made of lead-tin alloy. According to many environment legislations and rules, lead is prohibited as an ingredient in the solder alloy. The reason for the prohibition of the usage of the lead is that it poisons the environment. In this study, Sn-0.5Cu-3Bi-1Ag is used as the lead-free solder alloy. Fatigue life prediction of electronic package containing SAC405 is conducted with the aid of vibration testing and Finite element analysis under harmonic vibration loading. A specially designed Plastic Ball Grid Array Package (PBGA) component is mounted on Printed Circuit Board (PCB). It is taken as a test vehicle for the vibration test. The test vehicle is excited by a sinusoidal vibration. The frequency of this excitation equals the fundamental frequency of the test vehicle and it is continued till the component fails. Since the solder balls are very small for direct measurement, Finite Element analysis (FEA) is used for noting down the stresses. The stress versus failures cycles (S-N) curve is made by relating both the stresses on the solder balls obtained and the number of failure cycles from vibration analysis. The fatigue life of the component can be estimated from the generated S-N curve. It is analyzed that the methodology is effective in predicting the component’s life. Hence, the reliability of electronic package can be improved.
Land subsidence and uplift related to groundwater extraction in Wuxi, China
Authors: Wang Guang-ya , Zhu Jin-qi , Zhang Dan , Wu Jian-qiang , Yu Jun , Gong Xu-long , Gou Fu-gang
Published: March 2020

Wuxi City is located in the Yangtze River Delta region, China and is underlain by a multi-layered aquifer system in porous Quaternary deposits. Groundwater extraction, mainly from the second confined aquifer, has led to severe regional land subsidence. The ground surface started to recover after the restriction and, ultimately, the banning of groundwater pumping. This paper reports the results of long-term surveys, groundwater piezometric head (GPH) measurements and the monitoring of ground surface deformation by levelling and borehole extensometers. The subsidence is attributed to the compression of both the aquifer and aquitards in the porous strata. The spatial characteristics of subsidence are related not only to the distribution of the GPH, but also to the thickness and compressibility of different strata, the distance from the pumped aquifer and the distribution of pumping. There was a temporal lag in subsidence relative to groundwater drawdown. The uplift is related to a period of recovery following the peak pumping period and groundwater recovery subsequent to the restriction and/or banning of groundwater pumping. The uplift was <10 mm under these two conditions, although the GPH recovered to >40% of the previous maximum at the Qianzhou borehole extensometer station.
A distributed heat pulse sensor network for thermo-hydraulic monitoring of the soil subsurface
Authors: Abesser Corinna , Ciocca Francesco , Findlay John , Hannah David , Blaen Philip , Chalari Athena , Mondanos Michael , Krause Stefan
Published: March 2020

Fibre optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is used increasingly for environmental monitoring and subsurface characterization. Combined with heating of metal elements embedded within the fibre optic cable, the temperature response of the soil provides valuable information from which soil parameters such as thermal conductivity and soil moisture can be derived at high spatial and temporal resolution, and over long distances.

We present a novel active distributed temperature sensing (A-DTS) system and its application to characterize spatial and temporal dynamics in soil thermal conductivity along a recently forested hillslope in Central England, UK. Compared with conventional techniques (needle probe surveys), A-DTS provided values with a similar spread although lower on average. The larger number of measurement points that A-DTS provides at higher spatial and temporal resolutions and the ability to repeat surveys under different meteorological or hydrological conditions allow for a more detailed examination of the spatial and temporal variability of thermal conductivities at the study site. Although system deployment time and costs are higher than with needle probes, A-DTS can be extremely appealing for applications requiring long-term monitoring, at high temporal repeatability, over long (kilometres) distances and with minimum soil disturbance, compared with one-off spatial surveys.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Measurement and monitoring collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/measurement-and-monitoring
The Strange Metal State of the Electron-Doped Cuprates
Authors: Greene Richard L. , Mandal Pampa R. , Poniatowski Nicholas R. , Sarkar Tarapada
Published: March 2020

An understanding of the high-temperature copper oxide (cuprate) superconductors has eluded the physics community for over thirty years and represents one of the greatest unsolved problems in condensed matter physics. Particularly enigmatic is the normal state from which superconductivity emerges, so much so that this phase has been dubbed a “strange metal.” In this article, we review recent research into this strange metallic state as realized in the electron-doped cuprates with a focus on their transport properties. The electron-doped compounds differ in several ways from their more thoroughly studied hole-doped counterparts, and understanding these asymmetries of the phase diagram may prove crucial to developing a final theory of the cuprates. Most of the experimental results discussed in this review have yet to be explained and remain an outstanding challenge for theory.
Discrete Time Crystals
Authors: Else Dominic V. , Monroe Christopher , Nayak Chetan , Yao Norman Y.
Published: March 2020

Experimental advances have allowed for the exploration of nearly isolated quantum many-body systems whose coupling to an external bath is very weak. A particularly interesting class of such systems is those that do not thermalize under their own isolated quantum dynamics. In this review, we highlight the possibility for such systems to exhibit new nonequilibrium phases of matter. In particular, we focus on discrete time crystals, which are many-body phases of matter characterized by a spontaneously broken discrete time-translation symmetry. We give a definition of discrete time crystals from several points of view, emphasizing that they are a nonequilibrium phenomenon that is stabilized by many-body interactions, with no analog in noninteracting systems. We explain the theory behind several proposed models of discrete time crystals, and compare several recent realizations, in different experimental contexts.
Moving Object Classification Using 3D Point Cloud in Urban Traffic Environment
Authors: Zhang MingFang , Fu Rui , Guo YingShi , Wang Li
Published: March 2020

Moving object classification is essential for autonomous vehicle to complete high-level tasks like scene understanding and motion planning. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for classifying moving objects into four classes of interest using 3D point cloud in urban traffic environment. Unlike most existing work on object recognition which involves dense point cloud, our approach combines extensive feature extraction with the multiframe classification optimization to solve the classification task when partial occlusion occurs. First, the point cloud of moving object is segmented by a data preprocessing procedure. Then, the efficient features are selected via Gini index criterion applied to the extended feature set. Next, Bayes Decision Theory (BDT) is employed to incorporate the preliminary results from posterior probability Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier at consecutive frames. The point cloud data acquired from our own LIDAR as well as public KITTI dataset is used to validate the proposed moving object classification method in the experiments. The results show that the proposed SVM-BDT classifier based on 18 selected features can effectively recognize the moving objects.
A Safety Collision Avoidance Algorithm Based on Comprehensive Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Y. J. , Du F. , Wang J. , Ke L. S. , Wang M. , Hu Y. , Yu M. , Li G. H. , Zhan A. Y.
Published: March 2020

Aiming at the requirements of vehicle safety collision avoidance system, a safety collision avoidance algorithm based on environmental characteristics and driver characteristics is proposed. By analyzing the relationship between collision avoidance time and the environment, a safety time model is established. In the established safety time model, parameters based on driver characteristics are added, which increases the flexibility of the algorithm. The algorithm can adapt to more different driving conditions and give appropriate warning thresholds. After simulation and comparison with other algorithms, the algorithm proposed in this paper can satisfied the requirements of reducing vehicle collision risk. The effectiveness and feasibility of the algorithm are verified, and the safety of vehicle driving can be improved.
The Prognostic Significance of Tumor Deposit Count for Colorectal Cancer Patients after Radical Surgery
Authors: Zheng Kuo , Zheng Nanxin , Xin Cheng , Zhou Leqi , Sun Ge , Wen Rongbo , Zhang Hang , Yu Guanyu , Bai Chenguang , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2020

Background. The prognostic value of tumor deposit (TD) count in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients has been rarely evaluated. This study is aimed at exploring the prognostic value of TD count and finding out the optimal cutoff point of TD count to differentiate the prognoses of TD-positive CRC patients. Method. Patients diagnosed with CRC from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, were analyzed. X-tile program was used to identify the optimal cutoff point of TD count in training cohort, and a validation cohort was used to test this cutoff point after propensity score matching (PSM). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the risk factors of survival. Results. X-tile plots identified 3 (P<0.001) as the optimal cutoff point of TD count to divide the patients of training cohort into high and low risk subsets in terms of disease-specific survival (DSS). This cutoff point was validated in validation cohort before and after PSM (P<0.001, P=0.002). More TD count, which was defined as more than 3, was validated as an independent risk prognostic factor in univariate and multivariate analysis (P<0.001). Conclusion. More TD count (TD count≥4) was significantly associated with poor disease-specific survival in CRC patients.
The Effects of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate on Frequency of T and NK Cells in Patients with Cervical Cancer Treated Using Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Fuqing , Yao Mengxia , Lin Zhiping , Chen Yili , Jiang Hui , Zeng Meina , Chen Wenhua
Published: March 2020

Background. Immune dysfunction can occur after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery for cancer. We investigated whether preoperative oral carbohydrate affected the postoperative percentages of T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) and natural killer (NK) cells in patients with cervical cancer treated with NAC and surgery. Methods. This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with cervical cancer treated by radical hysterectomy with PLND at the Gynecologic Oncology Department of Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital (China) between January 2018 and December 2018. Patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment method: NAC (two cycles, surgery 1 month later), NAC+CHO (chemotherapy and surgical methods same as with the NAC group but with 300 mL of oral carbohydrate administered 2 h before surgery), and non‐NAC (surgery alone). Percentages of NK, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells were evaluated by flow cytometry the day after the first admission, just before surgery, immediately after tracheal tube removal, and the day after surgery. This trial is registered with NCT03872635 at clinicaltrials.com. Results. The final analysis included 77 patients (non‐NAC group, n = 26; NAC group, n = 25; and NAC‐CHO group, n = 26). Baseline characteristics and preoperative NK, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cell percentages were similar between groups. Postoperatively, all groups exhibited reductions in NK, CD3+, and CD4+ cell percentages and increases in CD8+ cell percentages (all P < 0.05). The changes in NK, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cell percentages were attenuated in the NAC‐CHO group (P < 0.05 vs. both other groups). Conclusion. Preoperative oral carbohydrate can improve the postoperative populations of NK and T cells after the treatment of cervical cancer by NAC and surgery.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Rolling Bearings Using Electrostatic Monitoring Based on Two-Stage Information Fusion Stochastic Filtering
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Anchen
Published: March 2020

The accurate prediction of the remaining useful life (RUL) of rolling bearings is of great significance for a rational formulation of maintenance strategies and the reduction of maintenance costs. According to the two-stage nonlinear degradation characteristics of rolling bearing operation, this paper proposes a prognosis model based on modified stochastic filtering. First, multiple features reextracted from the time domain, frequency domain, and complexity angles, and the baseline Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is established using the normal operating data after spectral regression. The Bayesian-inferred distance (BID) is used as a quantitative indicator to reflect the bearing performance degradation degree. Then, taking multiparameter fusion results as input, the relationship between BID and remaining life is established by the two-stage stochastic filtering model to realize online dynamic remaining useful life prediction. The method in this paper overcomes the difficulty of accurately defining the failure threshold of rolling bearing. At the same time, it reduces the computational burden, avoiding the need of calculating the joint probability distribution for high-dimensional data. Finally, the proposed method has been verified experimentally to have high precision and engineering application value.
Isoflurane Postconditioning Upregulates Phosphorylated Connexin 43 in the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model and Is Probably Associated with the TGF‐β1/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Yin Jiangwen , Liu Xuejiao , Wang Ruixue , Ge Mingyue , Xie Liping , Zhai Jingwen , Dai Zhigang , Li Yan , Wang Sheng
Published: March 2020

Aim. Connexin 43 (Cx43) has been identified to be important for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury as well as protection from it. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between phosphorylated Cx43 (p‐Cx43), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1)/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, and isoflurane postconditioning (ISPOC), which has effects on brain injury in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was induced in 96 male Sprague‐Dawley rats, weighing 250‐300 g. The rats were randomized into 12 groups, namely, sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/I/R, I/R+1.5% ISPOC, I/R+LY2157299 (blocker of TGF‐β1), I/R+LY2157299+1.5% ISPOC, I/R+Ro318220 (inhibitor of p‐Cx43), I/R+Ro318220+1.5% ISPOC, I/R+18β‐GA (activator of p‐Cx43), I/R+18β‐GA+1.5% ISPOC, I/R+1.5%ISPOC+LY2157299+Ro318220, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 1.5% ISPOC+DMSO. The protective effect of 1.5% ISPOC was tested by neurological deficit scoring and 2,3,5‐triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining (TTC staining). The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) method and hematoxylin‐eosin (HE) staining were used to observe apoptosis of CA1 cells in the hippocampus. The function of protein synthesis in neurons was tested by Nissl staining. Expression levels of TGF‐β1, Smad2/3, phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p‐Smad2/3), Cx43, and phosphorylated Cx43 (p‐Cx43) were measured by Western blot, immunofluorescence (IF), and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Results. Neurological deficit scores, brain infarct volume, and damaged neurons in the I/R group significantly increased compared to those in the sham group (P < 0.05). However, in the ISPOC group, damage of the brain was significantly ameliorated (P < 0.05). qRT‐PCR showed more p‐Cx43 mRNA expression in the hippocampal tissue of the ISPOC group than of the I/R group (P < 0.05). Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed similar changes in p‐Cx43 protein levels of both groups. The expression levels of related proteins (TGF‐β1 and p‐Smad2/3) both increased in the ISPOC group (P < 0.05), whereas total Smad2/3 and total Cx43 expression did not change in all groups. However, when a TGF‐β1 inhibitor (LY2157299) was applied, expression levels of p‐Cx43 significantly decreased as well as neuronal density (P < 0.05). By contrast, expression levels of TGF‐β1 did not change significantly after the application of a p‐Cx43 inhibitor (Ro318220) or the p‐Cx43 activator 18β‐GA (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Isoflurane postconditioning (ISPOC) may alleviate cerebral I/R injury through upregulating the expression of p‐Cx43, and the TGF‐β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway may be involved in the process.
Electroacupuncture Alleviates Bladder Overactivity via Inhabiting Bladder P2X3 Receptor
Authors: Feng Qi-fan , Zhang An-dong , Xing Man , Wang Xi , Ming Shu-ren , Chen Yue-lai
Published: March 2020

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely applied for overactive bladder, but the mechanism of its action remains to be clarified. This study was aimed to investigate EA regulating the effect of purinergic signaling in the OAB of rats. Electroacupuncture (continuous wave, 30 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to stimulate the Ciliao point (BL32) and the Huiyang point (BL35) of rats. Results showed that when the P2X3 receptor in bladder peripheral level and the spinal cord central level was involved in the bladder micturition reflex of the afferent signaling, intravenous administration P2X3 antagonist AF‐353 can significantly inhibit urination in naive rats and OAB of rats and increase bladder volume and micturition pressure. EA stimulation alleviated bladder overactivity significantly and after the P2X3 receptor was blocked, the EA effect was weakened. EA stimulation can effectively reduce the P2X3 mRNA and protein expression in OAB of rats, spinal cord (L6‐S1), and DRG (L6‐S1) and can significantly reduce the number of positive P2X3 cells in OAB of rats, spinal cord (L6‐S1), and DRG (L6‐S1). These findings suggest that EA stimulation could alleviate bladder overactivity, and the function is closely related to the inhabited P2X3 receptor in the bladder.
Pricing of Power Exchange Option with Jumps under the Double Risk of Exchange and Default
Authors: Xiang Kaili , Hu Peng , Shen Jie
Published: March 2020

Power exchange option is an exotic option which combines power option and exchange option. In this paper, we consider the pricing of the power exchange option under exchange rate volatility risk and issuing company bankruptcy risk. Meanwhile, considering the major events between the two countries, we add the Poisson jump process to the option model in order to reflect the impact of sudden factors on the price of transnational derivatives in the international market. According to the no-arbitrage principle, a mathematical model for pricing such problems is established, and explicit solutions are obtained. The numerical examples show that the model established in this paper is effective.
A Parameter-Optimized DBN Using GOA and Its Application in Fault Diagnosis of Gearbox
Authors: Gai Jingbo , Shen Junxian , Wang He , Hu Yifan
Published: March 2020

Aiming at the problems of poor self-adaptive ability in traditional feature extraction methods and weak generalization ability in single classifier under big data, an internal parameter-optimized Deep Belief Network (DBN) method based on grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) is proposed. First, the minimum Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in the network training is taken as the fitness function, in which GOA is used to search for the optimal parameter combination of DBN. After that the learning rate and the number of batch learning in DBN which have great influence on the training error would be properly selected. At the same time, the optimal structure distribution of DBN is given through comparison. Then, FFT and linear normalization are introduced to process the original vibration signal of the gearbox, preprocess the data from multiple sensors and construct the input samples for DBN. Finally, combining with deep learning featured by powerful self-adaptive feature extraction and nonlinear mapping capabilities, the obtained samples are input into DBN for training, and the fault diagnosis model for gearbox based on DBN would be established. After several tests with the remaining samples, the diagnosis rate of the model could reach over 99.5%, which is far better than the traditional fault diagnosis method based on feature extraction and pattern recognition. The experimental results show that this method could effectively improve the self-adaptive feature extraction ability of the model as well as its accuracy of fault diagnosis, which has better generalization performance.
The miR-582/CD1B Axis Is Involved in Regulation of Dendritic Cells and Is Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Jun , Jin Hui , Xi Yanfeng , Guo Jian , Jin Yi , Jiang Da
Published: March 2020

The involvement of immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of lung cancer has been extensively studied. However, the potential molecular mechanisms through which the tumor immune response affects drug resistance are still unclear. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated deviations in the immune cell landscape among patients with different stages of lung adenocarcinoma to identify key microRNAs and their targets associated with patient outcomes. CIBERSORT was used for estimating the proportions of immune cells in various lung tissues. Significantly different adaptive and innate immune cell types, including memory B cells, CD8+ T cells, resting dendritic cells, and resting mast cells, were selected. Comparative studies and survival analyses were carried out. We found that potential genes and microRNAs involved in immune responses were associated with patient outcomes. Specifically, miR-582/CD1B, which are involved in resting and activated dendritic cells, may be potential novel biomarkers for immunotherapy. An independent dataset of miRNA microarray profiles was used to validate the expression of mature miR-582-5p in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Alternative treatments, including immunotherapies and chemotherapy, are urgently needed to improve outcomes in patients with lung cancer. Thus, our findings could provide insights into the selection of novel microRNAs targeting immune genes and could improve the efficacy of immunotherapy by disrupting tumor function and promoting immune infiltration in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.
Knowledge on Food Safety and Food-Handling Practices of Street Food Vendors in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ghana
Authors: Addo-Tham Raymond , Appiah-Brempong Emmanuel , Vampere Hasehni , Acquah-Gyan Emmanuel , Gyimah Akwasi Adjei
Published: March 2020

Street foods have become a major source of cooked food for most households and individuals in many developing countries including Ghana. However, the rising concern about food-borne illness has questioned the knowledge of the street food vendors to constitute safety practices for food handling. This study assessed the knowledge of street food vendors on food safety and food-handling practices in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ghana. The study used a cross-sectional mixed approach involving 340 participants selected by simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect data and analyzed using STATA version 12. The results indicated that 98.8% of the food vendors had good knowledge on food safety and handling. The knowledge on food safety was associated with training (pvalue ≤0.011), license status (pvalue ≤0.002), marital status (pvalue <0.001), and religion (pvalue ≤0.038). Good food-handling practices were associated with training (pvalue ≤0. 001) and license (pvalue ≤0.002) and not their educational levels. The study found training of food vendors as the most effective way to increase knowledge on food safety and enhance food-handling practices. The study recommended for collaborations of municipal assemblies with other agencies to strengthen, sustain, and organize regular training programs for new entrants and existing food vendors as well as retraining of trainers to equip them adequately with knowledge and skills to enable them effectively facilitate training programs for food vendors.
Optimization and Experimental Study of an Intelligent Bamboo-Splitting Machine Charging Manipulator
Authors: Liu Tian-Hu , Wen Yong-Lu , Li Gui-Qi , Nie Xiang-Ning
Published: March 2020

A nonautomatic bamboo-splitting machine must charge with material and change tools manually. However, manual charging is very dangerous. An intelligent bamboo-splitting machine can feed automatically and change tools intelligently and has broad application prospects. A charging manipulator is an important part of an intelligent bamboo-splitting machine. The size of the manipulator was optimized here using a genetic algorithm. The capture rate, centering rate, and dynamic characteristics of an intelligent bamboo-splitting machine charging manipulator, in which key factors were considered, were experimentally studied. First, three different manipulators, with arm lengths at 210, 220, and 230 mm, were developed. Then, the bamboo materials were divided into three gradients (60–85, 85–110, and 110–135 mm) according to diameter ranges. Accelerators were used to measure the manipulator arm dynamic characteristics, and a high-speed charge-coupled device was used to record the grasping process. Experimental results showed that the manipulator capture rate with an arm length of = 220 mm was as high as 100%, but that of manipulators with arm lengths of = 210 and 230 mm was 96 and 98.67%, respectively. Thus, the manipulator with a 220 mm arm length showed better performance than the other two manipulators. Trend curves of the influence of material diameter on capture time were similar to an exponential function.
Characterization and Outcome of Two Pediatric Intensive Care Units with Different Resources
Authors: Abdelatif Rania G. , Mohammed Montaser M. , Mahmoud Ramadan A. , Bakheet Mohamed A. M. , Gima Masafumi , Nakagawa Satoshi
Published: March 2020

Background. The pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in developing countries have a higher mortality outcome due to a wide variety of causes. Identifying differences in the structure, patient characteristics, and outcome between PICUs with different resources may add evidence to the need for incorporating more PICUs with limited resources in the contemporary critical care research to improve the care provided for severely ill children. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted at Egyptian and Japanese PICUs as examples of resource-limited and resource-rich units, respectively. We collected and compared data of nonsurgical patients admitted between March 2018 and February 2019, including the patients’ demographics, diagnosis, PICU length of stay, outcome, predicted risk of mortality using pediatric index of mortality-2 (PIM-2), and functional neurological status using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale. Results. The Egyptian unit had a lower number of beds with a higher number of annual admission/bed than the Japanese unit. There was a shortage in the number of the skilled staff at the Egyptian unit. Nurse : patient ratios in both units were only similar at the nighttime (1 : 2). Most of the basic equipment and supplies were available at the Egyptian unit. Both actual and PIM-2 predicted mortalities were markedly higher for patients admitted to the Egyptian unit, and the mortality was significantly associated with age, severe sepsis, and PIM-2. The length of stay was shorter at the Egyptian unit. Conclusion. The inadequate structure and the burden of more severely ill children at the Egyptian unit appear to be the most important causes behind the higher mortality at this unit. Increasing the number of qualified staff and providing cost-effective equipment may help in improving the mortality outcome and the quality of care.
Research on Traffic Congestion Based on System Dynamics: The Case of Chongqing, China
Authors: Su Yingsheng , Liu Xin , Li Xuejun
Published: March 2020

With the rapid development of society, urban traffic congestion has gradually become an important social problem that many cities need to solve. For Chongqing, traffic congestion not only affects residents’ normal travel but also brings more serious environmental pollution. Aiming at the problem of urban traffic congestion and automobile exhaust pollution, this paper adopts the system dynamics method to establish a model for studying urban traffic congestion system from the perspectives of private cars, trucks, and public transportation. First, we determine city motor vehicle trips as an indicator of the degree of traffic congestion in this paper. Second, we analyze the causal relationship between the growth of private cars, the travel of trucks, public transportation, population, and other factors and then build a model and test the stability of the model. Then, we add some practical policies to the model for policy analysis. Finally, it is concluded that the private car restriction policy is effective in controlling the amount of private car travel, and the purchase restriction policy controls the growth of the number of private cars from the root cause, but the development of public transportation is the most effective treatment measure in the long run.
Improved Deep Feature Learning by Synchronization Measurements for Multi-Channel EEG Emotion Recognition
Authors: Chao Hao , Dong Liang , Liu Yongli , Lu Baoyun
Published: March 2020

Emotion recognition based on multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is a key research area in the field of affective computing. Traditional methods extract EEG features from each channel based on extensive domain knowledge and ignore the spatial characteristics and global synchronization information across all channels. This paper proposes a global feature extraction method that encapsulates the multichannel EEG signals into gray images. The maximal information coefficient (MIC) for all channels was first measured. Subsequently, an MIC matrix was constructed according to the electrode arrangement rules and represented by an MIC gray image. Finally, a deep learning model designed with two principal component analysis convolutional layers and a nonlinear transformation operation extracted the spatial characteristics and global interchannel synchronization features from the constructed feature images, which were then input to support vector machines to perform the emotion recognition tasks. Experiments were conducted on the benchmark dataset for emotion analysis using EEG, physiological, and video signals. The experimental results demonstrated that the global synchronization features and spatial characteristics are beneficial for recognizing emotions and the proposed deep learning model effectively mines and utilizes the two salient features.