bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Better Evolutionary Program Repair
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Banzhaf Wolfgang
Published: January 2020

Bug repair is a major component of software maintenance, which requires a huge amount of manpower. Evolutionary computation, particularly genetic programming (GP), is a class of promising techniques for automating this time-consuming and expensive process. Although recent research in evolutionary program repair has made significant progress, major challenges still remain. In this article, we propose ARJA-e, a new evolutionary repair system for Java code that aims to address challenges for the search space, search algorithm, and patch overfitting. To determine a search space that is more likely to contain correct patches, ARJA-e combines two sources of fix ingredients (i.e., the statement-level redundancy assumption and repair templates) with contextual analysis-based search space reduction, thereby leveraging their complementary strengths. To encode patches in GP more properly, ARJA-e unifies the edits at different granularities into statement-level edits and then uses a lower-granularity patch representation that is characterized by the decoupling of statements for replacement and statements for insertion. ARJA-e also uses a finer-grained fitness function that can make full use of semantic information contained in the test suite, which is expected to better guide the search of GP. To alleviate patch overfitting, ARJA-e further includes a postprocessing tool that can serve the purposes of overfit detection and patch ranking. We evaluate ARJA-e on 224 real Java bugs from Defects4J and compare it with the state-of-the-art repair techniques. The evaluation results show that ARJA-e can correctly fix 39 bugs in terms of the patches ranked first, achieving substantial performance improvements over the state of the art. In addition, we analyze the effect of the components of ARJA-e qualitatively and quantitatively to demonstrate their effectiveness and advantages.
OPCIO
Authors: Ji Xiaoyu , Zhou Xinyan , Xu Miao , Xu Wenyuan , Dong Yabo
Published: January 2020

Battery lifetime is one of the main challenges that impedes the deployment of energy-constrained wireless networks, such as unattended Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems. To prolong battery lifetime, the duty-cycle mode is utilized in many IoT systems, especially in environment monitoring Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN). In duty-cycle mode, devices transmit packets during the active phase, which lasts for a short time, and sleeps the rest of the time. Prior research mainly focuses on energy efficiency in the active phase; energy consumption during the sleep phase, however, is always ignored, as it is assumed to have little margin to be optimized. In this work, we reveal that sleep phase can become a significant battery consumer due to the misconfiguration of General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins of micro-controllers. We propose OPCIO, which incorporates a genetic algorithm to obtain energy-efficient GPIO configurations automatically to squeeze the energy waste during the sleep phase. We prototype OPCIO on off-the-shelf devices and evaluate it on two ARM devices. Experiment results show that OPCIO can effectively find multiple low-power configurations that prolong the lifespans up to 10×.
Modification of Lithium Metal Anode and Solid-State Electrolyte Interface with a Gel Electrolyte
Authors: Renna Lawrence , Blanc Francois-Guillame , Giordani Vincent
Published: January 2020

Solid-state electrolytes are continually being explored for Li-ion batteries due to their enhanced safety and their enabling of high energy density active materials, particularly Li metal anodes. However, the interface between solid-state electrolytes and Li metal anodes are prone to high impedance due to poor contact, limiting their applicability. Introducing a thin gel polymer electrolyte interlayer to conformally coat solid electrolytes can improve the interfacial contact of Li metal anode and thus reduce the interfacial resistance. Here we used a plasticized poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolyte with high concentrations of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide lithium (LiTFSI) that show 100% amorphous character. These electrolytes show Li+ conductivity as high as σ = 2.9×10-4 S/cm at room temperature. We discovered by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with off-gas analysis in conjunction with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that the electrolyte films had absorbed N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) vapors to form a gel electrolyte. We incorporated the gel electrolyte as an interfacial modification layer between LLZO and Li metal electrodes and found a 58 times reduction in the area specific resistance (ASR) at room temperature.
Direct comparison of cervical and high thoracic spinal cord injury reveals distinct autonomic and cardiovascular consequences
Authors: Lujan Heidi L. , DiCarlo Stephen E.
Published: January 2020

A wide range of spinal cord levels (cervical 8–thoracic 6) project to the stellate ganglia (which provides >90% of sympathetic supply to the heart), with a peak at the thoracic 2 (T2) level. We hypothesize that despite the proximity of the lesions, high thoracic spinal cord injuries (i.e., T2–3 SCI) do not closely mimic the hemodynamic responses recorded with cervical SCI (i.e., C6–7 SCI). To test this hypothesis, rats were instrumented with an intra-arterial telemetry device (Data Sciences International PA-C40) for recording arterial pressure, heart rate, and locomotor activity as well as a catheter within the intraperitoneal space. After recovery, rats were subjected to complete C6–7 spinal cord transection ( n = 8), sham transection ( n = 4), or T2–3 spinal cord transection ( n = 7). After the spinal cord transection or sham transection, arterial pressure, heart rate, and activity counts were recorded in conscious animals, in a thermoneutral environment, for 20 s every minute, 24 h/day for 12 consecutive weeks. After 12 wk, chronic reflex- and stress-induced cardiovascular and hormonal responses were compared in all groups. C6–7 rats had hypotension, bradycardia, and reduced physical activity. In contrast, T2–3 rats were tachycardic. C6–7 rats compared with T2–3 and spinal intact rats also had reduced cardiac sympathetic tonus, reduced reflex- and stress induced cardiovascular responses, and reduced sympathetic support of blood pressure as well as enhanced reliance on angiotensin to maintain arterial blood pressure. Thus injuries above and below the peak level (T2) of spinal cord projections to the stellate ganglia have remarkably different outcomes.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Twelve consecutive weeks of resting hemodynamic data as well as chronic reflex- and stress-induced cardiovascular, autonomic, and hormonal responses were compared in spinal intact and C6–7 and T2–3 spinal cord-transected rats. C6–7 rats compared with T2–3 and spinal intact rats had reduced cardiac sympathetic tonus, reduced reflex- and stress-induced cardiovascular responses, and reduced sympathetic support of blood pressure as well as enhanced reliance on angiotensin to maintain arterial blood pressure. Thus injuries above and below the peak level (T2) of spinal cord projections to the stellate ganglia have remarkably different outcomes.
Left bundle branch block increases left ventricular diastolic pressure during tachycardia due to incomplete relaxation
Authors: Andersen Øyvind S. , Krogh Magnus R. , Boe Espen , Storsten Petter , Aalen John M. , Larsen Camilla K. , Skulstad Helge , Odland Hans H. , Smiseth Otto A. , Remme Espen W.
Published: January 2020

We investigated whether tachycardia in left bundle branch block (LBBB) decreases left ventricular (LV) diastolic distensibility and increases diastolic pressures due to incomplete relaxation, and if cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) modifies this response. Thirteen canines were studied at baseline heart rate (120 beats/min) and atrial paced tachycardia (180 beats/min) before and after induction of LBBB and during CRT. LV and left atrial pressures (LAP) were measured by micromanometers and dimensions by sonomicrometry. The time constant τ of exponential pressure decay and degree of incomplete relaxation at mitral valve opening (MVO) and end diastole (ED) based on extrapolation of the exponential decay were assessed. Changes in LV diastolic distensibility were investigated using the LV transmural pressure-volume (PV) relation. LBBB caused prolongation of τ ( P < 0.03) and increased the degree of incomplete relaxation during tachycardia at MVO ( P < 0.001) and ED ( P = 0.08) compared with normal electrical activation. This was associated with decreased diastolic distensibility seen as upward shift of the PV relation at MVO by 18.4 ± 7.0 versus 12.0 ± 5.0 mmHg, at ED by 9.8 ± 2.3 versus 4.7 ± 2.3 mmHg, and increased mean LAP to 11.4 ± 2.7 versus 8.5 ± 2.6 mmHg, all P < 0.006. CRT shifted the LV diastolic PV relation downwards during tachycardia, reducing LAP and LV diastolic pressures ( P < 0.03). Tachycardia in LBBB reduced LV diastolic distensibility and increased LV diastolic pressures due to incomplete relaxation, whereas CRT normalized these effects. Clinical studies are needed to determine whether a similar mechanism contributes to dyspnea and exercise intolerance in LBBB and if effects of CRT are heart rate dependent.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Compared with normal electrical conduction, tachycardia in left bundle branch block resulted in incomplete relaxation during filling, particularly of the late activated left ventricular lateral wall. This further resulted in reduced left ventricular diastolic distensibility and elevated diastolic pressures and thus amplified the benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy in this setting.
The Female Response to Seminal Fluid
Authors: Schjenken John E. , Robertson Sarah A.
Published: January 2020

Seminal fluid is often assumed to have just one function in mammalian reproduction, delivering sperm to fertilize oocytes. But seminal fluid also transmits signaling agents that interact with female reproductive tissues to facilitate conception and .pregnancy. Upon seminal fluid contact, female tissues initiate a controlled inflammatory response that affects several aspects of reproductive function to ultimately maximize the chances of a male producing healthy offspring. This effect is best characterized in mice, where the female response involves several steps. Initially, seminal fluid factors cause leukocytes to infiltrate the female reproductive tract, and to selectively target and eliminate excess sperm. Other signals stimulate ovulation, induce an altered transcriptional program in female tract tissues that modulates embryo developmental programming, and initiate immune adaptations to promote receptivity to implantation and placental development. A key result is expansion of the pool of regulatory T cells that assist implantation by suppressing inflammation, mediating tolerance to male transplantation antigens, and promoting uterine vascular adaptation and placental development. Principal signaling agents in seminal fluid include prostaglandins and transforming growth factor-β. The balance of male signals affects the nature of the female response, providing a mechanism of ‟cryptic female choiceˮ that influences female reproductive investment. Male-female seminal fluid signaling is evident in all mammalian species investigated including human, and effects of seminal fluid in invertebrates indicate evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Understanding the female response to seminal fluid will shed new light on infertility and pregnancy disorders and is critical to defining how events at conception influence offspring health.
Phylogenic Determinants of Cardiovascular Frailty, Focus on Hemodynamics and Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Michel Jean-Baptiste
Published: January 2020

The evolution of the circulatory system from invertebrates to mammals has involved the passage from an open system to a closed in-parallel system via a closed in-series system, accompanying the increasing complexity and efficiency of life’s biological functions. The archaic heart enables pulsatile motion waves of hemolymph in invertebrates, and the in-series circulation in fish occurs with only an endothelium, whereas mural smooth muscle cells appear later. The present review focuses on evolution of the circulatory system. In particular, we address how and why this evolution took place from a closed, flowing, longitudinal conductance at low pressure to a flowing, highly pressurized and bifurcating arterial compartment. However, although arterial pressure was the latest acquired hemodynamic variable, the general teleonomy of the evolution of species is the differentiation of individual organ function, supported by specific fueling allowing and favoring partial metabolic autonomy. This was achieved via the establishment of an active contractile tone in resistance arteries, which permitted the regulation of blood supply to specific organ activities via its localized function-dependent inhibition (active vasodilation). The global resistance to viscous blood flow is the peripheral increase in frictional forces caused by the tonic change in arterial and arteriolar radius, which backscatter as systemic arterial blood pressure. Consequently, the arterial pressure gradient from circulating blood to the adventitial interstitium generates the unidirectional outward radial advective conductance of plasma solutes across the wall of conductance arteries. This hemodynamic evolution was accompanied by important changes in arterial wall structure, supported by smooth muscle cell functional plasticity, including contractility, matrix synthesis and proliferation, endocytosis and phagocytosis, etc. These adaptive phenotypic shifts are due to epigenetic regulation, mainly related to mechanotransduction. These paradigms actively participate in cardio-arterial pathologies such as atheroma, valve disease, heart failure, aneurysms, hypertension, and physiological aging.
[Retracted] Protective Effects of Hydrogen on Myocardial Mitochondrial Functions in Septic Mice
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Dong Aili , Xie Keliang , Yu Yonghao
Published: January 2020

Enhancement of mitochondrial physiological function prevents sepsis‐induced dysfunction. The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which hydrogen (H2) affects mitochondrial function in a wild‐type (WT) and homozygous nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) knockout (KO, Nrf2−/−) murine model of sepsis. In myocardial tissues with severe sepsis, H2 gas treatment reduced mitochondrial dysfunction, whereas zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPPIX) negated these beneficial effects. H2 treatment upregulated the protein expression of mitofusin‐2 (Mfn2), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), and protein heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) in WT mice with severe sepsis but not in their Nrf2−/− counterparts, and this upregulation was inhibited in the presence of ZnPPIX. In conclusion, the mechanism by which H2 limits organ damage in mice with severe sepsis involves HO‐1, whereas the mechanism that limits severe sepsis‐related mitochondrial dysfunction involves both HO‐1 and Nrf2.
An Accelerating Convergence Rate Method for Moving Morphable Components
Authors: Lian Ruichao , Jing Shikai , He Zhijun , Shi Zefang , Song Guohua
Published: January 2020

In the structural topology optimization approaches, the Moving Morphable Components (MMC) is a new method to obtain the optimized structural topologies by optimizing shapes, sizes, and locations of components. However, the size of the mesh has a strong influence on the rate of which the component builds the initial topological configuration by moving. The influence may slow down the convergence rate. In this paper, a hierarchical mesh subdivision solution method that can accelerate the convergence rate for the MMC is developed. First, the coarse mesh is used as the starting point for the optimization problem, and the construction process of the initial topology structure is increased speed by accelerating the movement of components. Second, the optimized solution obtained by the coarse mesh is equivalently mapped to the same problem with a finer mesh and used to construct a good starting point for the next optimization. Finally, two-dimensional (2D) MBB beam example and three-dimensional (3D) short cantilever beam example are provided so as to validate that with the use of the proposed approach, demonstrating that this method can improve the convergence rate and the stability of the MMC method.
Postoperative Skeletal Stability and Pharyngeal Airway: Counterclockwise versus Clockwise Rotation during Mandibular Setback Surgery
Authors: Tseng Yu-Chuan , Hsiao Szu-Yu , Cheng Jung-Hsuan , Hsu Kun-Jung , Chen Chun-Ming
Published: January 2020

Purpose. To compare the effects of counterclockwise rotation (CCR) and clockwise rotation (CR) of the mandible on the pharyngeal airway during mandibular setback surgery. Materials and Methods. Serial cephalograms of 40 patients with mandibular prognathism, including 20 who underwent CCR and 20 who underwent CR, were taken at the following time intervals: preoperatively (T1), immediately postoperatively (T2), >1 year after surgery (T3), final surgical changes (T31), postoperative stability (T32), and immediate surgical change (T21). Changes in menton (Me) and hyoid (H) positions, soft palate width, soft palate length, soft palate angle and craniovertebral angle (C2C4‐SN), and pharyngeal airway spaces (nasal pharyngeal airway (NOP), uvula pharyngeal airway (UOP), tongue pharyngeal airway (TOP), and epiglottis pharyngeal airway (EOP)) were evaluated. Results. The mean Me (T31) setback for CCR and CR was 12.56 and 13.06 mm, respectively, with 2.41 mm upward and 3.29 mm downward, respectively. The vertical Me position of CR exhibited significant downward movement compared with that of CCR. The mean H setback results for CCR and CR were 4.42 and 5.75 mm, respectively, with 1.47 mm downward and 2.97 mm downward, respectively. The C4C2‐SN angles for CCR and CR increased by 2.68° and 3.65°, respectively, whereas their palatal angles increased by 2.35° and 5.25°, respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis (T31) revealed that for CCR, no pharyngeal airway spaces were significantly correlated with any measured variables. In CR, NOP was significantly correlated (r = 0.58) with the vertical Me position. Significant relapse (T32) was observed after CR in the horizontal (r = −0.72) and vertical (r = −0.82) Me positions. Conclusion. Pharyngeal airway space narrowed postoperatively, and its patency was appropriately maintained through natural physiological regulation of the craniovertebral angle (C2C4‐SN). Significant postoperative relapse was correlated with CR.
Electrical Behavior of Liquid Crystal Devices with Dielectric Nanoparticles
Authors: Marzal Vicente , Caño-García Manuel , Torres Juan Carlos , Quintana Xabier , Pérez Isabel , Garcia-Camara Braulio
Published: January 2020

Nowadays, the development of new devices based on liquid crystal (LC) materials requires improved tuning characteristics according to the application. One approach for this improvement is the use of nanomaterials with the capability of modifying the effective properties of the doped LC mixture. In this work, we analyze the electrical behavior of a titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle-doped liquid crystal cell using an equivalent circuit. The circuit parameters have been obtained using the impedance spectroscopy technique and time response measurements. The particularity of the samples designed is that the nanoparticles are not dispersed in the LC. Instead of that, nanoparticles are randomly deposited on one of the electrodes. Measurements show that the presence of the nanoparticles increases the temperature sensitivity of the equivalent cell capacitance and the capacitance difference between switched and nonswitched states. These results could be quite useful in the design of novel liquid crystal electronic devices and sensors.
Numerical Simulation of the Supporting Effect of Anchor Rods on Layered and Nonlayered Roof Rocks
Authors: Yuan Chao , Fan Lei , Cui Jian-feng , Wang Wei-jun
Published: January 2020

In order to clarify the influence of anchor bolts on the supporting effect of the layered weak roof and surrounding rock of nonlayered roof with good integrity, the mechanical model of the roadway with nonlayered homogeneous roof and layered weak roof was established using FLAC3D. The distribution characteristics of the stress field and the displacement field of the bolt support are analyzed, and the supporting effect of the bolt on the roof of two types of roadways is studied. The research results show that when the original rock stress is not considered, the bolt support shows obvious tensile, compressive stress areas and positive and negative displacement areas in the surrounding rock of the roof of the roadway; when the original rock stress is taken into account, the tensile and compressive stress zones and the positive and negative displacement zones of the anchor support in the surrounding rock of the roof plate disappear obviously. The effect of the bolt support on the stress field and plastic area of the surrounding rock of the two types of roadway roof is not obvious. However, it has a significant effect on suppressing discontinuous deformation such as delamination and sliding between layered roof rocks. The delamination phenomenon between rock layers disappeared obviously, and the range of each numerical curve of the displacement field of the surrounding rock in the anchoring area was significantly reduced. However, the effect of the anchor support on continuous deformation control such as elastoplastic deformation of roof rock of nonlayered roadway is very limited. There is almost no change in the displacement field curve in the depth of the roof‐surrounding rock. Only the shallow surrounding rock displacement field curve range has decreased.
Metabolism: A Novel Shared Link between Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sun Yanan , Ma Cao , Sun Hui , Wang Huan , Peng Wei , Zhou Zibo , Wang Hongwei , Pi Chenchen , Shi Yingai , He Xu
Published: January 2020

As a chronic metabolic disease, diabetes mellitus (DM) is broadly characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose. Novel epidemiological studies demonstrate that some diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing dementia compared with healthy individuals. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia and leads to major progressive deficits in memory and cognitive function. Multiple studies have identified an increased risk for AD in some diabetic populations, but it is still unclear which diabetic patients will develop dementia and which biological characteristics can predict cognitive decline. Although few mechanistic metabolic studies have shown clear pathophysiological links between DM and AD, there are several plausible ways this may occur. Since AD has many characteristics in common with impaired insulin signaling pathways, AD can be regarded as a metabolic disease. We conclude from the published literature that the body’s diabetic status under certain circumstances such as metabolic abnormalities can increase the incidence of AD by affecting glucose transport to the brain and reducing glucose metabolism. Furthermore, due to its plentiful lipid content and high energy requirement, the brain’s metabolism places great demands on mitochondria. Thus, the brain may be more susceptible to oxidative damage than the rest of the body. Emerging evidence suggests that both oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are related to amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology. Protein changes in the unfolded protein response or endoplasmic reticulum stress can regulate Aβ production and are closely associated with tau protein pathology. Altogether, metabolic disorders including glucose/lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein changes caused by DM are associated with an impaired insulin signal pathway. These metabolic factors could increase the prevalence of AD in diabetic patients via the promotion of Aβ pathology.
Efficacy of Gold Photothermal-Activated Shape Memory Polyurethane
Authors: Ward Christopher J. , Tonndorf Robert , Eustes Alicia , Auad Maria L. , Davis Edward W.
Published: January 2020

The addition of gold nanorods to a commercial polyurethane enabled shape memory behavior activation via infrared irradiation. The fraction of the set strain recovered was found to be dependent on the nanorod loading and irradiation intensity. A nanocomposite consisting of gold nanorods with an aspect ratio of ~3.25 and a diameter of ~11.5 nm and the polyurethane IROGRAN PS455-203 was prepared via a simple solution blending technique. Gold loadings up to 3.2 ppm by weight were evaluated. The glass transition temperature and melting point of the hard-segment phase was slightly depressed at the highest loading evaluated. Other thermal properties were not affected by the addition of gold nanorods. Also, the thermally activated shape memory behavior of the composite material was not affected by the presence of the gold nanorods.
A Novel Temporary Anchorage Device Aided Sectional Mechanics for Simultaneous Orthodontic Retraction and Intrusion
Authors: Venugopal Adith , Manzano Paolo , Rengalakshmi Sri
Published: January 2020

Closing spaces on light wires with inadequate knowledge and inappropriate mechanics can cause a “roller coaster” effect leading to an improper occlusion. Current knowledge of biomechanics, along with the incorporation of TADs, has made this process less challenging and more predictable. Resistance to sliding is considered the most prominent inhibitor of space closure in archwire-guided space closure or sliding mechanics, in turn delaying treatment duration considerably. In our case, resistance to sliding, primarily binding of the wire in the bracket slot, was nullified with the use of loop and sectional mechanics. This case report is aimed at showcasing the successful treatment of a young lady with a novel clinical setup to retract the canines into the premolar extraction space and simultaneously retract and intrude the anterior segment using sectional archwires and TADs in just under nine months. The current setup with sectional wires and TADs produced an uprighting, and an intrusive effect on the upper incisors during space closure. Additionally, the anchorage design avoided any significant change in the vertical dimension during sagittal correction of the Class II malocclusion. The occlusal plane remained almost stable with good amount of uprighting of the lower incisors following lower space closure too. The use of good biomechanical principles helped us achieve all the treatment goals and objectives in a very short period of time.
The Possible Anti‐Inflammatory Effect of Dehydrocostus Lactone on DSS‐Induced Colitis in Mice
Authors: Zhou Qing , Zhang Wei-xin , He Zong-qi , Wu Ben-sheng , Shen Zhao-feng , Shang Hong-tao , Chen Tuo , Wang Qiong , Chen Yu-gen , Han Shu-tang
Published: January 2020

Background. Dehydrocostus lactone (DL), one of the main active constituents in Aucklandia lappa Decne. (Muxiang), reported to have anti‐inflammatory, antiulcer, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the effect of DL on ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been reported. To analyze the anti‐inflammatory potential role of DL in UC, we provide a mechanism for the pharmacological action of DL. Methods. The experimental model of UC was induced by using oral administration of 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) with drinking water in BALB/c mice. Mesalazine (Mes, 0.52 g/kg/d), DL‐high doses (DL‐H, 20 mg/kg/d), DL‐middle doses (DL‐M, 15 mg/kg/d), DL‐low doses (DL‐L, 10 mg/kg/d) were gavaged once a day from day 4 to day 17. Disease activity index (DAI) was calculated daily. On day 18, mice were rapidly dissected and the colorectal tissues were used to detect the levels of UC‐related inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MCP‐1, MPO, SOD, IL‐6, IL‐17, and IL‐23), IL‐6/STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathway (iNOS, COX2, IL‐6, GP130, L‐17, and IL‐23), and colorectal mucosal barrier‐related regulatory factors (MUC2, XBP1s, and α‐defensins) by ELISA or qRT‐PCR. Results. DL reduced the colorectal inflammation histological assessment, decreased UC‐related inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MCP‐1, MPO, SOD, IL‐6, IL‐17, and IL‐23), downregulated IL‐6/STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathway (iNOS, COX2, IL‐6, GP130, L‐17, and IL‐23), repaired the key colorectal mucosal barrier protein‐MUC2, and inhibited the downstream pathway (XBP1s and α‐defensin). Conclusions. DL possessed the potential of anti‐inflammatory effect to treated colitis. The protective mechanism of DL may involve in reducing inflammation and improving colorectal barrier function via downregulating the IL‐6/STAT3 signaling.
The Chemresistive Properties of SiC Nanocrystalline Films with Different Conductivity Type
Authors: Semenov A. V. , Lubov D. V. , Kozlovskyi A. A.
Published: January 2020

We have demonstrated the ability of thin nanocrystalline SiC films with various types of conductivity to detect oxidative (O2), reducing gases (CO, CH4) with the maximum allowable concentrations for human safety. It was shown that n-nc-SiC films with electronic conductivity had a higher gas sensitivity Sn than p-nc-SiC films with hole conductivity sensivity Sp to the action of gases in a wide concentration range. So, for the maximum permissible concentrations of O2 (3%), CO (0.1%), CH4 (10%) the sensitivity ratio of the films Sn/Sp was 2.9; 4.8 and 10, respectively. For research, we used a simple resistor geometry optimizing which it is possible to significantly increase the sensitivity of films to gases in order to detect extremely low gas concentrations. Thus, based on nc-SiC films, it is possible to develop high-temperature gas sensors to detect reactive gases in a wide range of concentrations, including threshold allowable values.
Real-Time Optimal Approach and Capture of ENVISAT Based on Neural Networks
Authors: Li Hongjue , Dong Yunfeng , Li Peiyun
Published: January 2020

A neural network-based controller is developed to enable a chaser spacecraft to approach and capture a disabled Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT). This task is conventionally tackled by framing it as an optimal control problem. However, the optimization of such a problem is computationally expensive and not suitable for onboard implementation. In this work, a learning-based approach is used to rapidly generate the control outputs of the controller based on a series of training samples. These training samples are generated by solving multiple optimal control problems with successive iterations. Then, Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks are designed to mimic this optimal control strategy from the generated data. Compared with a traditional controller, the neural network controller is able to generate real-time high-quality control policies by simply passing the input through the feedforward neural network.
Carbon Tax and Trading Price on Power Plant with Carbon Capture and Storage under Incentive Regulation Theory
Authors: Zhang Huan , Xu Xinxin , Jiang Jianli , Zhang Meimei
Published: January 2020

This paper investigates how the government can develop subsidies or tax policies to incent power plants to effectively carry out carbon capture to reduce carbon emissions. According to the government’s incentive model for carbon capture power plants, the regulation mechanism is developed when government controls carbon emission. When regional or national carbon emission quota is tense, significant effect can be obtained when regulators make regulations to take off low efficiency power plants. In addition, it is verified that the regulators should not blindly pursue a reduction in carbon emissions regardless of the cost. Therefore, regulators need to pay more attention to control the costs of carbon capture equipment and technology. Finally, by parametric and numerical analyses, the conditions of the power plant to maximize corporate surplus are further studied.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Post Tuberculosis Lung after 30 Years of Treatment Completion
Authors: Arulanantham Arulprashanth , Jayarajah Umesh , Dharmasiri Rohitha , Jeyanthakumar Rasarathinam , Siriwardena Kamila Niroshan , Ilangamge Sujeewa
Published: January 2020

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer are becoming increasingly prevalent especially in developing countries. The occurrence of lung cancer after 30 years of completed pulmonary TB treatment is rare. We report a rare occurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the post TB lung after 30 years of completed pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. A 60-year-old male, an apparently healthy nonsmoker, presented with a community-acquired Klebsiella pneumonia. Imaging revealed a destroyed left lung with cavities with air-fluid levels. An enhancing lesion was noted at the left upper lobe, and a guided biopsy revealed a SCC. He was fit for surgery and underwent an open left pneumonectomy. The left lung was destroyed and cavitatory due to the previous tuberculosis. A peripherally located tumor was noted in the left upper lobe. Histology revealed a moderately differentiated keratinizing type SCC (pT4N0Mx). The negative cultures and histology excluded an active pulmonary tuberculosis. The postsurgical lung function at 1 month showed satisfactory improvement with good functional capacity. He was then referred to the oncologist for adjuvant therapy. The occurrence of post-TB lung cancer after 30 years in an otherwise healthy male without active TB suggests an increased long-term risk of cancer even in the absence of other robust risk factors. Therefore, the chronic inflammatory process in the diseased lung is probably the cause for lung cancer in the absence of active TB. Thus, we suggest long-term surveillance after completed pulmonary TB treatment even in otherwise healthy asymptomatic individuals.
A Survey on Perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Undergraduates in China
Authors: Xie Hui , Sang Tianqing , Li Wenting , Li Li , Gao Yankun , Qiu Wenli , Zhou Hongguang
Published: January 2020

In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is more widely known and used globally. This study was the first to investigate undergraduates’ attitude toward CAM, and influencing factors and barriers for students to use CAM. Students of five different grades in six universities of China were selected for this study from February to May 2019. First, the participants were divided into two groups based on their majors and fulfilled a previously validated 10‐item CAM Health Belief Questionnaire (CHBQ) to evaluate their attitudes toward CAM. Second, the chi‐square test was used to analyze the differences between the groups, and correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship of the data between the two groups. Third, we used frequency analysis to identify the types that students wanted to study and the barriers to use CAM. The overall mean score of the CHBQ was 48.87 ± 8.594, which was higher than that in other countries. The students in lower grades had a stronger desire to learn CAM than those in higher grades (89% vs 83%, p < 0.05). “Too time‐consuming and bad tastes,” “Western medicine was enough,” and “lack of relevant knowledge” were found to be the main interruptions for students to use CAM. 82.3% of students wanted CAM to be incorporated into the curriculum and desired to learn more about CAM. 72.3% of the students who had never learned CAM wanted to know more about CAM. 55.5% of the students were willing to recommend CAM. Most undergraduates desired to learn more about CAM. It is necessary to introduce or integrate CAM courses into the present curriculum, and it should be started in the lower grades. We hope this study can provide evidence for the authority in China to make appropriate changes and integrate CAM into the college curriculum.
An Intelligent Gesture Classification Model for Domestic Wheelchair Navigation with Gesture Variance Compensation
Authors: Bandara H. M. Ravindu T. , Priyanayana K. S. , Jayasekara A. G. Buddhika P. , Chandima D. P. , Gopura R. A. R. C.
Published: January 2020

Elderly and disabled population is rapidly increasing. It is important to uplift their living standards by improving the confidence towards daily activities. Navigation is an important task, most elderly and disabled people need assistance with. Replacing human assistance with an intelligent system which is capable of assisting human navigation via wheelchair systems is an effective solution. Hand gestures are often used in navigation systems. However, those systems do not possess the capability to accurately identify gesture variances. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to create an intelligent gesture classification system with a gesture model which was built based on human studies for every essential motion in domestic navigation with hand gesture variance compensation capability. Experiments have been carried out to evaluate user remembering and recalling capability and adaptability towards the gesture model. Dynamic Gesture Identification Module (DGIM), Static Gesture Identification Module (SGIM), and Gesture Clarifier (GC) have been introduced in order to identify gesture commands. The proposed system was analyzed for system accuracy and precision using results of the experiments conducted with human users. Accuracy of the intelligent system was determined with the use of confusion matrix. Further, those results were analyzed using Cohen’s kappa analysis in which overall accuracy, misclassification rate, precision, and Cohen’s kappa values were calculated.
Oroxylin A Reduces Vasoconstriction in Rat Aortic Rings through Promoting NO Production and NOS Protein Expression via Estrogen Receptor Signal Pathway
Authors: Qu Jingtian , Liu Fang , Zhang Xuezhu , Wang Jialong
Published: January 2020

Oroxylin A, a flavonoid, is naturally produced in many medicinal plants. Our previous study identified it as a phytoestrogen. Based on this, the present study investigated its vasoconstriction reducing effects and whether the action was mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER) signal pathway. Long‐term in vitro treatment with oroxylin A reduced Ach‐induced vasorelaxation and NE‐mediated or KCl‐mediated contractile responses in rat aortic rings. These effects were interfered by an ER inhibitor ICI 182,780. Rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were used to study the possible underlying mechanisms. Oroxylin A activated the ER signal pathway. In CMECs, it increased NO production and eNOS protein expression. In VSMCs, it promoted NO production and iNOS protein expression. These effects were also inhibited by ICI 182,780. Besides, oroxylin A stimulated ERα and ERβ protein expression in CMECs and VSMCs. All these findings suggest that the ER signal pathway takes part in the vasoconstriction reducing effects of oroxylin A.
Ingenious Solution for the Rank Reversal Problem of TOPSIS Method
Authors: Yang Wenguang
Published: January 2020

Although the classic TOPSIS method is very practical, there may be a problem of rank reversal in the addition, deletion, or replacement of the candidate set, which makes its credibility greatly compromised. Based on the understanding of the classical TOPSIS method, this paper establishes a new improved TOPSIS method called NR-TOPSIS. Firstly, the historical maximum and minimum values of all attribute indicators from a global perspective during the evaluation process are determined. Secondly, according to whether the attributes belong to the benefit attribute or cost attribute, standardization is carried out. And then, in the case where the historical values of attributes are determined, we re-fix the positive ideal solution and the negative ideal solution. At the same time, this paper gives the definition of ranking stable and proves that the NR-TOPSIS proposed satisfies ranking stable, which theoretically guarantees that the rank reversal phenomenon does not exist. Finally, in the verification of examples, the results are consistent with the theoretical analysis, which further support the theoretical analysis. The NR-TOPSIS method overcomes rank reversal, which is not only obviously superior to the classical TOPSIS method but also relatively superior to the R-TOPSIS method which has also overcome rank reversal. It is also superior to other reference methods due to its simple calculation.
Colloidal Influence Factor of Bioflocculant in Coagulation of Chromium and Nitrobenzene
Authors: Ma Renshi , Chen Guang , Liu Kai , Cheng Shihuan
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the flocculation capacity of activated sludge flocculant in chromium ion and nitrobenzene solutions. Besides comparing with activated carbon, we changed some potential factors which may influence the flocculation, such as solution pH value, reaction time, flocculant dosage, and solution initial concentration, and tested the flocculation capacity of this bioflocculant for both chromium and nitrobenzene. In addition, the flocculation of activated sludge after acidic or alkali modification for double solutions was also estimated. Compared with activated carbon, the activated sludge flocculant showed a good flocculation capacity for nitrobenzene, but poor flocculation for chromium following the initial concentration increase. The flocculation for nitrobenzene or chromium increased at initial stage and decreased gradually following the primary dosage of flocculant increase. The flocculation for nitrobenzene increased at the primary stage and decreased after peak, while the flocculation for chromium increased following the pH increase of both solutions. Although the flocculation for nitrobenzene decreased, the flocculation for chromium increased obviously, when we prolonged the reaction time. The flocculant showed a gradual increasing trend in double kinds of solution when they were heating. The flocculation for both nitrobenzene and chromium decreased after acid modification of activated sludge flocculant, while the flocculation increased after basic modification. The present research provided further theoretical basis of the biosorption of heavy metal waste water and nitrobenzene organic toxicants.
Discrete time reaching law based variable structure control for fast reaching with reduced chattering
Authors: Padmalatha Pournami , Thomas Susy
Published: January 2020

In this paper, a variable structure control law is proposed for discrete time sliding mode control so as to reduce both reaching time and quasi sliding mode band reduction. This new law is composed of two different sliding variable dynamics; one to achieve fast reaching and the other to counter its effect on widening the quasi sliding mode band. This is accomplished by introducing a boundary layer around the sliding surface about which the transformation of the sliding variable dynamics takes place. This provides the flexibility to choose the initial dynamics in such a way as to speed up the reaching phase and then at the boundary transform this dynamics to one that reduces the quasi sliding mode band. Thus, the law effectively coalesces the advantageous traits of hitherto proposed reaching laws that succeed in either the reduction of reaching phase or the elimination of quasi sliding mode band. The effectiveness of the proposed reaching law is validated through simulations.
Design and development of soft robotic hand for vertical farming in spacecraft
Authors: Suresh Aswath , Udupa Ganesha , Gaba Dhruv
Published: January 2020

For colonization in deep space we need to explore the feasibility of a bioregenerative system in microgravity or artificial gravity environments. The process has various complexities form ranging to biological obstacles to engineering limitations of the spacecraft. Concentration of microbes in the confinements of a spacecraft can be fatal for the crew. In this paper, a solution to the elevated microbial levels by farming using robots is discussed. The soft robotic arm is made up of Asymmetric Flexible Pneumatic Actuator (AFPA). The AFPA under internal pressure will curve in the direction of the side having greater thickness as the expansion of the thinner side (outside radius) will be more than thicker side (inside radius) due to differential expansion and moment induced due to eccentricity. Simulation results demonstrate that bending based on AFPA can meet the designed requirement of application. The AFPA is used for five fingers of the robotic hand. The safe, soft touch and gentle motion of the bellow (AFPA) gives the feel of real human hand. The internal pressure of the AFPA is controlled using a solenoid valve which is interfaced using an Arduino microcontroller for hand like moves. The bending of the fingers and degree of freedom (DOF) of the joints of the hand is controlled using an IMU and flex sensor. Wireless connection of the hand and the control system is implemented using XBee pro 60mW with a range of 1 miles. The pneumatic soft robotic hand is made up of solenoid valve, Mini Compressor, AFPA bellow, and Servos. This soft robotic hand has many advantages such as good adaptability, simple structure, small size, high flexibility and less energy loss. As an extension Manual control of the robot using a virtual reality environment and well as some possible aspects of an automated farming systems can be considered as future additions.
HIF-1α (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α) Promotes Macrophage Necroptosis by Regulating miR-210 and miR-383
Authors: Karshovska Ela , Wei Yuanyuan , Subramanian Pallavi , Mohibullah Rokia , Geißler Claudia , Baatsch Isabelle , Popal Aamoun , Corbalán Campos Judit , Exner Nicole , Schober Andreas
Published: January 2020

Objective:

Inflammatory activation changes the mitochondrial function of macrophages from oxidative phosphorylation to reactive oxygen species production, which may promote necrotic core formation in atherosclerotic lesions. In hypoxic and cancer cells, HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor) promotes oxygen-independent energy production by microRNAs. Therefore, we studied the role of HIF-1α in the regulation of macrophage energy metabolism in the context of atherosclerosis.

Approach and Results:

Myeloid cell–specific deletion of
Hif1a
reduced atherosclerosis and necrotic core formation by limiting macrophage necroptosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. In inflammatory bone marrow–derived macrophages, deletion of
Hif1a
increased oxidative phosphorylation, ATP levels, and the expression of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins and reduced reactive oxygen species production and necroptosis. microRNA expression profiling showed that HIF-1α upregulates
miR-210
and downregulates
miR-383
levels in lesional macrophages and inflammatory bone marrow–derived macrophages. In contrast to
miR-210
, which inhibited oxidative phosphorylation and enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production,
miR-383
increased ATP levels and inhibited necroptosis. The effect of miR-210 was due to targeting 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, which is essential in the β oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids.
miR-383
affected the DNA damage repair pathway in bone marrow–derived macrophages by targeting poly(ADP-ribose)-glycohydrolase (Parg), which reduced energy consumption and increased cell survival. Blocking the targeting of Parg by
miR-383
prevented the protective effect of
Hif1a
deletion in macrophages on atherosclerosis and necrotic core formation in mice.

Conclusions:

Our findings unveil a new mechanism by which activation of HIF-1α in inflammatory macrophages increases necroptosis through microRNA-mediated ATP depletion, thus increasing atherosclerosis by necrotic core formation.