bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Evidence for a Mixed Composition of the Genus Myoxocephalus (Cottoidei: Cottidae) Necessitates Generic Realignment
Authors: Balakirev Evgeniy S. , Kravchenko Alexandra Yu. , Semenchenko Alexander A.
Published: September 2020

Sculpin fishes belonging to the family Cottidae represent a large and complex group, inhabiting a wide range of freshwater, brackish-water, and marine environments. Numerous studies based on analysis of their morphology and genetic makeup frequently provided controversial results. In the present work, we sequenced complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes and fragments of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of the fourhorn sculpin Myoxocephalus quadricornis and some related cottids to increase the power of phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses of this complex fish group. A comparison of the My. quadricornis mt genomes obtained by us with other complete mt genomes available in GenBank has revealed a surprisingly low divergence (3.06 ± 0.12%) with Megalocottus platycephalus and, at the same time, a significantly higher divergence (7.89 ± 0.16%) with the species of the genus Myoxocephalus. Correspondingly, phylogenetic analyses have shown that My. quadricornis is clustered with Me. platycephalus but not with the Myoxocephalus species. Completely consistent patterns of divergence and tree topologies have been obtained based on nuclear rDNA. Thus, the multi-gene data in the present work indicates obvious contradictions in the relationships between the Myoxocephalus and Megalocottus species studied. An extensive phylogenetic analysis has provided evidence for a closer affinity of My. quadricornis with the species of the genus Megalocottus than with the species of the genus Myoxocephalus. A recombination analysis, along with the additional GenBank data, excludes introgression and/or incorrect taxonomic identification as the possible causative factors responsible for the observed closer affinity between the two species from different genera. The above facts necessitate realignment of the genera Myoxocephalus and Megalocottus. The genetic data supports the two recognized genera, Myoxocephalus and Megalocottus, but suggests changing their compositions through transferring My. quadricornis to the genus Megalocottus. The results of the present study resolve the relationships within a complex group of sculpin fishes and show a promising approach to phylogenetic systematics (as a key organizing principle in biodiversity research) for a better understanding of the taxonomy and evolution of fishes and for supplying relevant information to address various fish biodiversity conservation and management issues.
The Poetics of Schism: Dostoevsky Translates Hamlet
Authors: Movsesian Arpi
Published: September 2020

F.M. Dostoevsky (1821–1881) never translated Shakespeare’s works into Russian, at least not in the common sense. His fascination, however, with Hamlet and his choices, led him to interrogate the cult of Hamlet in his own culture to better understand the political and philosophical schism of the nineteenth-century Russian intelligentsia, torn between Western and Populist ideals. Translatio, in the broader sense of “carrying over” Hamlet’s character, caught on a threshold, into the Russian context represents an important aspect of Dostoevsky’s re-interpretation of modern ethics. More immediately, this translatio is a call to the “old morality” of the 1840s generation of Russian intellectuals, who rejected notions of rational egoism and of the means justifying the ends. Dostoevsky’s schismatic hero, Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, is Dostoevsky’s reimagining of his own culture’s translation of Hamlet that produced extreme and radical forms of Hamlet. Raskolnikov mimics Hamlet’s conscience-stricken personality at war with itself but achieves a more ambiguous ending typical of Dostoevsky’s regenerative paradigm.
Predictors of Death Rate during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Feinhandler Ian , Cilento Benjamin , Beauvais Brad , Harrop Jordan , Fulton Lawrence
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a potentially fatal viral infection. This study investigates geography, demography, socioeconomics, health conditions, hospital characteristics, and politics as potential explanatory variables for death rates at the state and county levels. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Census Bureau, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Definitive Healthcare, and USAfacts.org were used to evaluate regression models. Yearly pneumonia and flu death rates (state level, 2014–2018) were evaluated as a function of the governors’ political party using a repeated measures analysis. At the state and county level, spatial regression models were evaluated. At the county level, we discovered a statistically significant model that included geography, population density, racial and ethnic status, three health status variables along with a political factor. A state level analysis identified health status, minority status, and the interaction between governors’ parties and health status as important variables. The political factor, however, did not appear in a subsequent analysis of 2014–2018 pneumonia and flu death rates. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 has a greater and disproportionate effect within racial and ethnic minority groups, and the political influence on the reporting of COVID-19 mortality was statistically relevant at the county level and as an interaction term only at the state level.
Disorders of Human Coenzyme Q10 Metabolism: An Overview
Authors: Hargreaves Iain , Heaton Robert A. , Mantle David
Published: September 2020

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has a number of vital functions in all cells, both mitochondrial and extramitochondrial. In addition to its key role in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, CoQ10 serves as a lipid soluble antioxidant, plays an important role in fatty acid, pyrimidine and lysosomal metabolism, as well as directly mediating the expression of a number of genes, including those involved in inflammation. In view of the central role of CoQ10 in cellular metabolism, it is unsurprising that a CoQ10 deficiency is linked to the pathogenesis of a range of disorders. CoQ10 deficiency is broadly classified into primary or secondary deficiencies. Primary deficiencies result from genetic defects in the multi-step biochemical pathway of CoQ10 synthesis, whereas secondary deficiencies can occur as result of other diseases or certain pharmacotherapies. In this article we have reviewed the clinical consequences of primary and secondary CoQ10 deficiencies, as well as providing some examples of the successful use of CoQ10 supplementation in the treatment of disease.
Microbial Analysis of Saliva to Identify Oral Diseases Using a Point-of-Care Compatible qPCR Assay
Authors: Paqué Pune N. , Herz Christopher , Jenzer Joël S. , Wiedemeier Daniel B. , Attin Thomas , Bostanci Nagihan , Belibasakis Georgios N. , Bao Kai , Körner Philipp , Fritz Tanja , Prinz Julia , Schmidlin Patrick R. , Thurnheer Thomas , Wegehaupt Florian J. , Mitsakakis Konstantinos , Peham Johannes R.
Published: September 2020

Oral health is maintained by a healthy microbiome, which can be monitored by state-of-the art diagnostics. Therefore, this study evaluated the presence and quantity of ten oral disease-associated taxa (P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola, F. nucleatum, C. rectus, P. intermedia, A. actinomycetemcomitans, S. mutans, S. sobrinus, oral associated Lactobacilli) in saliva and their clinical status association in 214 individuals. Upon clinical examination, study subjects were grouped into healthy, caries and periodontitis and their saliva was collected. A highly specific point-of-care compatible dual color qPCR assay was developed and used to study the above-mentioned bacteria of interest in the collected saliva. Assay performance was compared to a commercially available microbial reference test. Eight out of ten taxa that were investigated during this study were strong discriminators between the periodontitis and healthy groups: C. rectus, T. forsythia, P. gingivalis, S. mutans, F. nucleatum, T. denticola, P. intermedia and oral Lactobacilli (p < 0.05). Significant differentiation between the periodontitis and caries group microbiome was only shown for S. mutans (p < 0.05). A clear distinction between oral health and disease was enabled by the analysis of quantitative qPCR data of target taxa levels in saliva.
Care Dependency in Non-Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Vaes Anouk W. , Machado Felipe V.C. , Meys Roy , Delbressine Jeannet M. , Goertz Yvonne M.J. , Van Herck Maarten , Houben-Wilke Sarah , Franssen Frits M.E. , Vijlbrief Herman , Spies Yvonne , Van ’t Hul Alex J. , Burtin Chris , Janssen Daisy J.A. , Spruit Martijn A.
Published: September 2020

Background: A large sample of “mild” COVID-19 patients still experience multiple symptoms months after being infected. These persistent symptoms are associated with many clinically relevant outcomes, including poor health status and impaired functional status. To date, no information is available about care dependency. Therefore, we aimed to explore the level of care dependency and the need for assistance with personal care in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: Members of two Facebook groups for COVID-19 patients with persistent complaints in The Netherlands and Belgium, and from a panel of people who registered at a website of the Lung Foundation Netherlands, were assessed for demographics, pre-existing comorbidities, health status, and symptoms. In addition, patients were asked about their dependence on others for personal care before and after the infection. The level of care dependency was assessed with the Care Dependency Scale (CDS) in members of the Belgian Facebook group (n = 210). Results: The data of 1837 non-hospitalized patients (86% women; median (IQR) age: 47 (38–54)) were analyzed. Only a small proportion of patients needed help with personal care before COVID-19, but the care need increased significantly after the infection (on average 79 ± 17 days after the onset of symptoms; 7.7% versus 52.4%, respectively; p < 0.05). The patients had a median (IQR) CDS score of 72 (67–75) points, and 31% of the patients were considered as care-dependent (CDS score ≤ 68 points). Conclusions: COVID-19 has an important impact on care dependency in non-hospitalized patients. About three months after the onset of symptoms, a considerable proportion of non-hospitalized patients were to some degree dependent on others for personal care. This indicates that the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ daily lives is tremendous, and more attention is needed to identify optimal treatment strategies to restore patients’ independency.
Blood Pressure and Body Weight Have Different Effects on Pulse Wave Velocity and Cardiac Mass in Children
Authors: Genovesi Simonetta , Salvi Paolo , Nava Elisa , Tassistro Elena , Giussani Marco , Desimone Ilaria , Orlando Antonina , Battaglino Mariagrazia , Lieti Giulia , Montemerlo Massimo , Antolini Laura , Parati Gianfranco
Published: September 2020

Background: High blood pressure (BP) and excess weight can lead to early cardiovascular organ damage already in children. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) is the non-invasive gold standard method for assessing aortic stiffness, while carotid-radial PWV (cr-PWV) provides information on the distensibility of the upper limb arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of BP and BMI z-scores with arterial stiffness and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in a pediatric population. Methods: In 343 children (57.7% males; age ± SD 11.7 ± 2.9 years), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP, BMI, cf-PWV, cr-PWV and LVMI were measured. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the impact of BMI and SBP (or DBP) z-scores on cf-PWV, cr-PWV and LVMI. Results: About 21% of children were normal weight, 34% were overweight and 45% obese. Adjusted for possible confounders, SBP and DBP z-scores were significantly associated with cf-PWV (p < 0.001), while only DBP z-scores were related to cr-PWV (p < 0.01). BMI was neither associated with cf-PWV nor with cr-PWV values but was a strong predictor of LVMI (<0.001), whereas cardiac mass and BP z-scores were not related. Conclusions: Our study suggests that, in children, elevated BP values and excess weight may have different effects on the heart and the vessels in causing early cardiovascular alterations.
Optimized Identification of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Absence of Kidney Disease by Combining Different Electronic Health Data Resources and by Applying Machine Learning Strategies
Authors: Weber Christoph , Röschke Lena , Modersohn Luise , Lohr Christina , Kolditz Tobias , Hahn Udo , Ammon Danny , Betz Boris , Kiehntopf Michael
Published: September 2020

Automated identification of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD ≥ III) and of no known kidney disease (NKD) can support both clinicians and researchers. We hypothesized that identification of CKD and NKD can be improved, by combining information from different electronic health record (EHR) resources, comprising laboratory values, discharge summaries and ICD-10 billing codes, compared to using each component alone. We included EHRs from 785 elderly multimorbid patients, hospitalized between 2010 and 2015, that were divided into a training and a test (n = 156) dataset. We used both the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) and under the precision-recall curve (AUCPR) with a 95% confidence interval for evaluation of different classification models. In the test dataset, the combination of EHR components as a simple classifier identified CKD ≥ III (AUROC 0.96[0.93–0.98]) and NKD (AUROC 0.94[0.91–0.97]) better than laboratory values (AUROC CKD 0.85[0.79–0.90], NKD 0.91[0.87–0.94]), discharge summaries (AUROC CKD 0.87[0.82–0.92], NKD 0.84[0.79–0.89]) or ICD-10 billing codes (AUROC CKD 0.85[0.80–0.91], NKD 0.77[0.72–0.83]) alone. Logistic regression and machine learning models improved recognition of CKD ≥ III compared to the simple classifier if only laboratory values were used (AUROC 0.96[0.92–0.99] vs. 0.86[0.81–0.91], p < 0.05) and improved recognition of NKD if information from previous hospital stays was used (AUROC 0.99[0.98–1.00] vs. 0.95[0.92–0.97]], p < 0.05). Depending on the availability of data, correct automated identification of CKD ≥ III and NKD from EHRs can be improved by generating classification models based on the combination of different EHR components.
Effects of Smoking and Smoking Cessation on the Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: Sublette Marcus G. , Cross Tzu-Wen L. , Korcarz Claudia E. , Hansen Kristin M. , Murga-Garrido Sofia M. , Hazen Stanley L. , Wang Zeneng , Oguss Madeline K. , Rey Federico E. , Stein James H.
Published: September 2020

We evaluated associations of smoking heaviness markers and the effects of smoking cessation on the intestinal microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk factors in current smokers undertaking a quit attempt. Participants were current smokers enrolled in a prospective randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation therapies with visits at baseline, 2, and 12 weeks. Genomic DNA was extracted from fecal samples followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis using the QIIME2 software workflow. Relative abundances of bacterial taxa and alpha- and beta-diversity measures were used for comparisons. The 36 smokers were (mean (standard deviation)) 51.5 (11.1) years old (42% male) and smoked 15.1 (6.4) cigarettes per day for 22.7 (11.9) pack-years. Relative abundances of the phylum Actinobacteria correlated with pack-years (rho = −0.44, p = 0.008) and Cyanobacteria correlated with CO levels (rho = 0.39, p = 0.021). After 12 weeks, relative abundances of the phylum Bacteroidetes increased (pANCOVA = 0.048) and Firmicutes decreased (pANCOVA = 0.036) among abstainers compared to continuing smokers. Increases in alpha-diversity were associated with heart rates (rho = −0.59, p = 0.037), systolic blood pressures (rho = −0.58, p = 0.043), and C-reactive protein (rho = −0.60, p = 0.034). Smoking cessation led to minor changes in the intestinal microbiota. It is unclear if the proven health benefits of smoking cessation lead to salutary changes in the intestinal microbiota.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Fear-Less: A Stepped-Care Program to Manage Fear of Cancer Recurrence in People with Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Lynch Fiona A , Katona Lynda , Jefford Michael , Smith Allan Ben , Shaw Joanne , Dhillon Haryana M , Ellen Steve , Phipps-Nelson Jo , Lai-Kwon Julia , Milne Donna , Russell Lahiru , Dax Victoria , Diggens Justine , Kent Holly , Button-Sloan Alison , Elliott Jane , Shackleton Mark , Burridge Hayley , Ftanou Maria
Published: September 2020

Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have revolutionised treatment of metastatic melanoma and improved survival rates. However, survivors treated with novel therapies are vulnerable to high levels of fear of cancer recurrence or progression (FCR). Existing FCR interventions have rarely been trialled in people with advanced cancer. The current study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of Fear-Less: a stepped-care model to treat FCR in people with metastatic melanoma treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Sixty-one outpatients with metastatic melanoma were screened using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Short Form (FCRI-SF) and Fear of Progression Questionnaire Short Form (FoP-Q-SF). Survivors with subthreshold FCR were stratified to a self-management intervention while those with clinical levels of FCR were provided with an individual therapy, Conquer Fear. Survivor experience surveys and rescreening were administered post-intervention completion. Results indicated that Fear-Less was an acceptable and feasible FCR intervention. Results provided preliminary support for the potential impact of Fear-Less in reducing FCR. Fear-Less is a promising first step in providing an acceptable and feasible stepped-care model to treat FCR in survivors with metastatic disease.
The Genomics and Metagenomics of Asthma Severity (GEMAS) Study: Rationale and Design
Authors: Perez-Garcia Javier , Hernández-Pérez José M. , González-Pérez Ruperto , Sardón Olaia , Martin-Gonzalez Elena , Espuela-Ortiz Antonio , Mederos-Luis Elena , Callero Ariel , Herrera-Luis Esther , Corcuera Paula , Sánchez-Machín Inmaculada , Poza-Guedes Paloma , González García Luis Manuel , Ramírez-Martín Purificación , Pérez-Negrín Lorenzo , Izaguirre-Flores Hemily , Barrios-Recio Javier , Pérez-Rodríguez Eva , Alcoba-Florez Julia , Cañas José A. , Rodrigo Muñoz José M. , del Pozo Victoria , Korta-Murua Javier , Pérez Méndez Lina I. , Hernandez-Ferrer Mariano , Villar Jesús , Lorenzo-Diaz Fabian , Pino-Yanes Maria
Published: September 2020

Asthma exacerbations are a major contributor to the global disease burden, but no significant predictive biomarkers are known. The Genomics and Metagenomics of Asthma Severity (GEMAS) study aims to assess the role of genomics and the microbiome in severe asthma exacerbations. Here, we present the design of GEMAS and the characteristics of patients recruited from March 2018 to March 2020. Different biological samples and demographic and clinical variables were collected from asthma patients recruited by allergy and pulmonary medicine units in several hospitals from Spain. Cases and controls were defined by the presence/absence of severe asthma exacerbations in the past year (oral corticosteroid use, emergency room visits, and/or asthma-related hospitalizations). A total of 137 cases and 120 controls were recruited. After stratifying by recruitment location (i.e., Canary Islands and Basque Country), cases and controls did not differ for most demographic and clinical variables (p > 0.05). However, cases showed a higher proportion of characteristics inherent to asthma exacerbations (impaired lung function, severe disease, uncontrolled asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, and use of asthma medications) compared to controls (p < 0.05). Similar results were found after stratification by recruitment unit. Thereby, asthma patients enrolled in GEMAS are balanced for potential confounders and have clinical characteristics that support the phenotype definition. GEMAS will improve the knowledge of potential biomarkers of asthma exacerbations.
Psychological and Medical Characteristics Associated with Non-Adherence to Prescribed Daily Inhaled Corticosteroid
Authors: Toelle Brett G. , Marks Guy B. , Dunn Stewart M.
Published: September 2020

Medication non-adherence is associated with sub-optimal asthma control. Identification of medical and psychological characteristics associated with non-adherence is important to enable a targeted and personalized approach when working with patients and for the development of interventions to improve patient outcomes by improving medication adherence. We enrolled adults who had diagnosed asthma and who were prescribed daily inhaled corticosteroid medication. We used published and validated instruments to measure medical characteristics including asthma features, practical asthma knowledge and perceived involvement in care and psychological characteristics including anxiety, depression, optimism, and personality traits, to assess the relationship with medication non-adherence. A total of 126 participants provided data, with 64 (50.8%) of the participants identified as non-adherent. Multivariate analyses showed that younger age, high neuroticism scores and a previous asthma hospital admission were associated with non-adherence. Interestingly, depression was associated with a lower risk of non-adherence. This study showed that a personalized medicine approach would include interventions targeting those who are younger, who have been in hospital for asthma and who rate high on the neuroticism personality trait. Given the availability of effective medications for asthma, better understanding of the characteristics associated with non-adherence is important to enhance optimal self-management.
Radiomic Analysis of MRI Images is Instrumental to the Stratification of Ovarian Cysts
Authors: Lupean Roxana-Adelina , Ștefan Paul-Andrei , Feier Diana Sorina , Csutak Csaba , Ganeshan Balaji , Lebovici Andrei , Petresc Bianca , Mihu Carmen Mihaela
Published: September 2020

The imaging diagnosis of malignant ovarian cysts relies on their morphological features, which are not always specific to malignancy. The histological analysis of these cysts shows specific fluid characteristics, which cannot be assessed by conventional imaging techniques. This study investigates whether the texture-based radiomics analysis (TA) of magnetic resonance (MRI) images of the fluid content within ovarian cysts can function as a noninvasive tool in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Twenty-eight patients with benign (n = 15) and malignant (n = 13) ovarian cysts who underwent MRI examinations were retrospectively included. TA of the fluid component was undertaken on an axial T2-weighted sequence. A comparison of resulted parameters between benign and malignant groups was undertaken using univariate, multivariate, multiple regression, and receiver operating characteristics analyses, with the calculation of the area under the curve (AUC). The standard deviation of pixel intensity was identified as an independent predictor of malignant cysts (AUC = 0.738; sensitivity, 61.54%; specificity, 86.67%). The prediction model was able to identify malignant lesions with 84.62% sensitivity and 80% specificity (AUC = 0.841). TA of the fluid contained within the ovarian cysts can differentiate between malignant and benign lesions and potentially act as a noninvasive tool augmenting the imaging diagnosis of ovarian cystic lesions.
Spatial Transformation of a New City in 2006–2020: Perspectives on the Spatial Dynamics, Environmental Quality Degradation, and Socio—Economic Sustainability of Local Communities in Makassar City, Indonesia
Authors: Surya Batara , Hadijah Hadijah , Suriani Seri , Baharuddin Baharuddin , Fitriyah A. Tenri , Menne Firman , Rasyidi Emil Salim
Published: September 2020

The accelerated development of new urban areas has an impact on changes in the spatial use and complexity of ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to analyze (1) spatial transformation works as a determinant of changes in the social formation of local communities in the new city area of Metro Tanjung Bunga; (2) process of social interaction and social adaptation between immigrants and local communities in new social formations in the new city area of Metro Tanjung Bunga; and (3) the effect of spatial use, changes in social formation, and work differentiation on the socio-economic sustainability of local communities. The research method used involves a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were obtained by observation, in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. The results of the study show that spatial transformation has an impact on changing the single social formations of local communities into multiple social formations and transforming differences in modes of production between migrants and local communities into changes in the order of life of local communities. These changing interactions and social adaptations cause changes in the social structures and cultural patterns of local communities. Furthermore, changes in spatial use, social formation, and job differentiation have a significant effect on the socio-economic sustainability of local communities, with a coefficient of determination of 97.7%. This study recommends considering environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors followed by government decision-making for the future development of the new city area of Metro Tanjung Bunga, Makassar City.
Study of In Situ Foamed Fly Ash Geopolymer
Authors: Su Zijian , Hou Wei , Sun Zengqing , Lv Wei
Published: September 2020

Foamed fly ash geopolymer was synthesized in this work to produce geopolymeric lightweight concrete (GLWC). Fly ash was activated by sodium silicate solution, and aluminum powder was employed as an in situ chemical foaming agent. The synthesized pastes were cured at 40 °C for 28 days, with bulk densities of resultant GLWCs ranging from 600 to 1600 kg/m3. The resulting mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, microstructure, and reaction product were fully characterized. Results show that GLWC had higher mechanical strength than commercial aerated concrete and developed 80–90% of its corresponding 28 days strength after curing for 7 days. For densities from 1200 to 600 kg/m3, the thermal conductivity diminished from 0.70 to 0.22 W/mK, which is much better than that of its counterpart, ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed decent matrices comprising geopolymeric gel and unreacted fly ash.
Numerical Solution of Stieltjes Differential Equations
Authors: Fernández Francisco J. , Tojo F. Adrián F.
Published: September 2020

This work is devoted to the obtaining of a new numerical scheme based on quadrature formulae for the Lebesgue–Stieltjes integral for the approximation of Stieltjes ordinary differential equations. This novel method allows us to numerically approximate models based on Stieltjes ordinary differential equations for which no explicit solution is known. We prove several theoretical results related to the consistency, convergence, and stability of the numerical method. We also obtain the explicit solution of the Stieltjes linear ordinary differential equation and use it to validate the numerical method. Finally, we present some numerical results that we have obtained for a realistic population model based on a Stieltjes differential equation and a system of Stieltjes differential equations with several derivators.
Ridge Fuzzy Regression Modelling for Solving Multicollinearity
Authors: Kim Hyoshin , Jung Hye-Young
Published: September 2020

This paper proposes an α-level estimation algorithm for ridge fuzzy regression modeling, addressing the multicollinearity phenomenon in the fuzzy linear regression setting. By incorporating α-levels in the estimation procedure, we are able to construct a fuzzy ridge estimator which does not depend on the distance between fuzzy numbers. An optimized α-level estimation algorithm is selected which minimizes the root mean squares for fuzzy data. Simulation experiments and an empirical study comparing the proposed ridge fuzzy regression with fuzzy linear regression is presented. Results show that the proposed model can control the effect of multicollinearity from moderate to extreme levels of correlation between covariates, across a wide spectrum of spreads for the fuzzy response.
A New Automatic Tool Searching for Impossible Differential of NIST Candidate ACE
Authors: Liu Jingyi , Liu Guoqiang , Qu Longjiang
Published: September 2020

The ACE algorithm is a candidate of the Lightweight Cryptography standardization process started by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the USA that passed the first round and successfully entered the second round. It is designed to achieve a balance between hardware cost and software efficiency for both authenticated encryption with associated data (AEAD) and hashing functionalities. This paper focuses on the impossible differential attack against the ACE permutation, which is the core component of the ACE algorithm. Based on the method of characteristic matrix, we build an automatic searching algorithm that can be used to search for structural impossible differentials and give the optimal permutation for ACE permutation and other SPN ciphers. We prove that there is no impossible differential of ACE permutation longer than 9 steps and construct two 8-step impossible differentials. In the end, we give the optimal word permutation against impossible differential cryptanalysis, which is π′=(2,4,1,0,3), and a safer word XOR structure of ACE permutation.
The Singular Value Decomposition over Completed Idempotent Semifields
Authors: Valverde-Albacete Francisco , Peláez-Moreno Carmen
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we provide a basic technique for Lattice Computing: an analogue of the Singular Value Decomposition for rectangular matrices over complete idempotent semifields (i-SVD). These algebras are already complete lattices and many of their instances—the complete schedule algebra or completed max-plus semifield, the tropical algebra, and the max-times algebra—are useful in a range of applications, e.g., morphological processing. We further the task of eliciting the relation between i-SVD and the extension of Formal Concept Analysis to complete idempotent semifields (K-FCA) started in a prior work. We find out that for a matrix with entries considered in a complete idempotent semifield, the Galois connection at the heart of K-FCA provides two basis of left- and right-singular vectors to choose from, for reconstructing the matrix. These are join-dense or meet-dense sets of object or attribute concepts of the concept lattice created by the connection, and they are almost surely not pairwise orthogonal. We conclude with an attempt analogue of the fundamental theorem of linear algebra that gathers all results and discuss it in the wider setting of matrix factorization.
A New Extended Two-Parameter Distribution: Properties, Estimation Methods, and Applications in Medicine and Geology
Authors: Al-Mofleh Hazem , Afify Ahmed Z. , Ibrahim Noor Akma
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a new two-parameter generalized Ramos–Louzada distribution is proposed. The proposed model provides more flexibility in modeling data with increasing, decreasing, J-shaped, and reversed-J shaped hazard rate functions. Several statistical properties of the model were derived. The unknown parameters of the new distribution were explored using eight frequentist estimation approaches. These approaches are important for developing guidelines to choose the best method of estimation for the model parameters, which would be of great interest to practitioners and applied statisticians. Detailed numerical simulations are presented to examine the bias and the mean square error of the proposed estimators. The best estimation method and ordering performance of the estimators were determined using the partial and overall ranks of all estimation methods for various parameter combinations. The performance of the proposed distribution is illustrated using two real datasets from the fields of medicine and geology, and both datasets show that the new model is more appropriate as compared to the Marshall–Olkin exponential, exponentiated exponential, beta exponential, gamma, Poisson–Lomax, Lindley geometric, generalized Lindley, and Lindley distributions, among others.
Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Frameworks with Utility Function Design for Intermediate Deadline Assignment in Real-Time Distributed Systems
Authors: Lee Jinkyu
Published: September 2020

In real-time distributed systems, it is important to provide offline guarantee for an upper-bound of each real-time task’s end-to-end delay, which has been achieved by assigning proper intermediate deadlines of individual real-time tasks at each node. Although existing studies have succeeded to utilize mathematical theories of distributed computation/control for intermediate deadline assignment, they have assumed that every task operates in a cooperative manner, which does not always hold for real-worlds. In addition, existing studies have not addressed how to exploit a trade-off between end-to-end delay fairness among real-time tasks and performance for minimizing aggregate end-to-end delays. In this paper, we recapitulate an existing cooperative distributed framework, and propose a non-cooperate distributed framework that can operate even with selfish tasks, each of which is only interested in minimizing its own end-to-end delay regardless of achieving the system goal. We then propose how to design utility functions that allow the real-time distributed system to exploit the trade-off. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of the cooperative and non-cooperative frameworks along with the designed utility functions, via simulations.
Regularity in Topological Modules
Authors: Garcia-Pacheco Francisco Javier
Published: September 2020

The framework of Functional Analysis is the theory of topological vector spaces over the real or complex field. The natural generalization of these objects are the topological modules over topological rings. Weakening the classical Functional Analysis results towards the scope of topological modules is a relatively new trend that has enriched the literature of Functional Analysis with deeper classical results as well as with pathological phenomena. Following this trend, it has been recently proved that every real or complex Hausdorff locally convex topological vector space with dimension greater than or equal to 2 has a balanced and absorbing subset with empty interior. Here we propose an extension of this result to topological modules over topological rings. A sufficient condition is provided to accomplish this extension. This sufficient condition is a new property in topological module theory called strong open property. On the other hand, topological regularity of closed balls and open balls in real or complex normed spaces is a trivial fact. Sufficient conditions, related to the strong open property, are provided on seminormed modules over an absolutely semivalued ring for closed balls to be regular closed and open balls to be regular open. These sufficient conditions are in fact characterizations when the seminormed module is the absolutely semivalued ring. These characterizations allow the provision of more examples of closed-unit neighborhoods of zero. Consequently, the closed-unit ball of any unital real Banach algebra is proved to be a closed-unit zero-neighborhood. We finally transport all these results to topological modules over topological rings to obtain nontrivial regular closed and regular open neighborhoods of zero. In particular, if M is a topological R-module and m∗∈M∗ is a continuous linear functional on M which is open as a map between topological spaces, then m∗−1(int(B)) is regular open and m∗−1(B) is regular closed, for B any closed-unit zero-neighborhood in R.
Copper Flash Smelting Process Balance Modeling
Authors: Bacedoni María , Moreno-Ventas Ignacio , Ríos Guillermo
Published: September 2020

Process control in flash smelting is based on mass and energy balance from which the operational parameters (oxygen coefficient, oxygen enrichment, and flux demand) are obtained to achieve matte and slag with defined compositions and at defined temperatures. Mineral compositions of copper concentrates, and their blends, have been used in order to optimize the heat process balance. The classical balance methodology has been improved by using equations for molecular ratios and distribution coefficients that have been calculated using FactSage™. This paper describes the development of balance equations and compares their theoretical (equilibrium) results with industrial data logs of the smelting process.
Effects of Ce on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of LDX2101 Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Gong Wei , Wang Pengfei , Zhang Lei , Jiang Zhouhua
Published: September 2020

In the present study, the effects of rare earth metal (REM) Ce on the number, size distribution and type of inclusions, as well as the grain size, tensile and impact properties of LDX2101 duplex stainless steel, were investigated using thermodynamic analysis, optical microscope, image software, scanning electron microscope, tensile and impact testing machines. The results indicate that when the Ce content in steel is 0%, the main inclusions are irregular and large size Al2O3 and Al2O3-MnS. When the Ce content in steel is 0.005% or 0.02%, the inclusions are mainly spherical and small size inclusions CeAlO3, Ce2O2S and Ce2O3. With the increase in Ce content, the proportion of small size inclusions gradually increases; the number of inclusions per unit area decreases from 122 to 58 and the average grain size reduces from 16 ± 0.7 μm to 12 ± 0.3 μm. Moreover, the mechanical properties of steels are improved, and the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation are elevated by 4.69%, 2.83% and 4.9%, respectively. The impact fracture mode of steel without Ce is cleavage fracture, however, the fracture mode is transformed into a mixed fracture of cleavage and dimple after adding 0.005% and 0.02% Ce.
Probiotics: A Dietary Factor to Modulate the Gut Microbiome, Host Immune System, and Gut–Brain Interaction
Authors: Hori Tetsuji , Matsuda Kazunori , Oishi Kenji
Published: September 2020

Various benefits of probiotics to the host have been shown in numerous human clinical trials. These organisms have been proposed to act by improving the balance of the gut microbiota and enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids, as well as by interacting with host cells in the gastrointestinal tract, including immune cells, nerve cells, and endocrine cells. Although the stimulation of host cells by probiotics and subsequent signaling have been explained by in vitro experiments and animal studies, there has been some skepticism as to whether probiotics can actually interact with host cells in the human gastrointestinal tract, where miscellaneous indigenous bacteria coexist. Most recently, it has been shown that the ileal microbiota in humans after consumption of a fermented milk is occupied by probiotics for several hours, indicating that there is adequate opportunity for the ingested strain to stimulate the host cells continuously over a period of time. As the dynamics of ingested probiotics in the human gastrointestinal tract become clearer, further progress in this research area is expected to elucidate their behavior within the tract, as well as the mechanism of their physiological effects on the host.
Fusarium: Mycotoxins, Taxonomy, Pathogenicity
Authors: Stępień Łukasz
Published: September 2020

It has been over 200 years since Fusarium pathogens were described for the first time, and they are still in the spotlight of researchers worldwide, mostly due to their mycotoxigenic abilities and subsequent introduction of harmful metabolites into the food chain [...]
Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control
Authors: Rahman Md. Tanvir , Sobur Md. Abdus , Islam Md. Saiful , Ievy Samina , Hossain Md. Jannat , El Zowalaty Mohamed E. , Rahman AMM Taufiquer , Ashour Hossam M.
Published: September 2020

Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another. A zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin. This includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors have greatly influenced the emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses. As time goes on, there are more emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases. In this review, we reviewed the etiology of major zoonotic diseases, their impact on human health, and control measures for better management. We also highlighted COVID-19, a newly emerging zoonotic disease of likely bat origin that has affected millions of humans along with devastating global consequences. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis.
Kyasanur Forest Disease and Alkhurma Hemorrhagic Fever Virus—Two Neglected Zoonotic Pathogens
Authors: Bhatia Bharti , Feldmann Heinz , Marzi Andrea
Published: September 2020

Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) and Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) are tick-borne flaviviruses that cause life-threatening hemorrhagic fever in humans with case fatality rates of 3–5% for KFDV and 1–20% for AHFV, respectively. Both viruses are biosafety level 4 pathogens due to the severity of disease they cause and the lack of effective countermeasures. KFDV was discovered in India and is restricted to parts of the Indian subcontinent, whereas AHFV has been found in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In recent years, both viruses have spread beyond their original endemic zones and the potential of AHFV to spread through ticks on migratory birds is a public health concern. While there is a vaccine with limited efficacy for KFDV used in India, there is no vaccine for AHFV nor are there any therapeutic concepts to combat infections with these viruses. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about pathogenesis, vector distribution, virus spread, and infection control. We aim to bring attention to the potential public health threats posed by KFDV and AHFV and highlight the urgent need for the development of effective countermeasures.
Automated Identification of Mineral Types and Grain Size Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Deep Learning for Mineral Processing
Authors: Okada Natsuo , Maekawa Yohei , Owada Narihiro , Haga Kazutoshi , Shibayama Atsushi , Kawamura Youhei
Published: September 2020

In mining operations, an ore is separated into its constituents through mineral processing methods, such as flotation. Identifying the type of minerals contained in the ore in advance aids greatly in performing faster and more efficient mineral processing. The human eye can recognize visual information in three wavelength regions: red, green, and blue. With hyperspectral imaging, high resolution spectral data that contains information from the visible light wavelength region to the near infrared region can be obtained. Using deep learning, the features of the hyperspectral data can be extracted and learned, and the spectral pattern that is unique to each mineral can be identified and analyzed. In this paper, we propose an automatic mineral identification system that can identify mineral types before the mineral processing stage by combining hyperspectral imaging and deep learning. By using this technique, it is possible to quickly identify the types of minerals contained in rocks using a non-destructive method. As a result of experimentation, the identification accuracy of the minerals that underwent deep learning on the red, green, and blue (RGB) image of the mineral was approximately 30%, while the result of the hyperspectral data analysis using deep learning identified the mineral species with a high accuracy of over 90%.
Conceptual DFT-Based Computational Peptidology of Marine Natural Compounds: Discodermins A–H
Authors: Flores-Holguín Norma , Frau Juan , Glossman-Mitnik Daniel
Published: September 2020

A methodology based on the concepts that arise from Density Functional Theory named Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) was chosen for the calculation of some global and local reactivity descriptors of the Discodermins A–H family of marine peptides through the consideration of the KID (Koopmans in DFT) technique that was successfully used in previous studies of this kind of molecular systems. The determination of active sites of the studied molecules for different kinds of reactivities was achieved by resorting to some CDFT-based descriptors like the Fukui functions as well as the Parr functions derived from Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). A few properties identified with their ability to behave as a drug and the bioactivity of the peptides considered in this examination were acquired by depending on a homology model by studying the correlation with the known bioactivity of related molecules in their interaction with various biological receptors. With the further object of analyzing their bioactivity, some parameters of usefulness for future QSAR studies, their predicted biological targets, and the ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) parameters related to the Discodermins A–H pharmacokinetics are also reported.
Dependence of Biocatalysis on D/H Ratio: Possible Fundamental Differences for High-Level Biological Taxons
Authors: Zlatskiy Igor , Pleteneva Tatiana , Skripnikov Alexander , Grebennikova Tatiana , Maksimova Tatiana , Antipova Nadine , Levitskaya Olga , Makarova Mariia , Selivanenko Igor , Syroeshkin Anton
Published: September 2020

The kinetics of biological reactions depends on the deuterium/protium (D/H) ratio in water. In this work, we describe the kinetic model of biocatalytic reactions in living organisms depending on the D/H ratio. We show that a change in the lifetime or other characteristics of the vital activity of some organisms in response to a decrease or increase in the content of deuterium in the environment can be a sign of a difference in taxons. For animals—this is a curve with saturation according to the Gauss’s principle, for plants—it is the Poisson dependence, for bacteria a weakly saturated curve with a slight reaction to the deuterium/protium ratio toward increasing deuterium. The biological activity of the aquatic environment with reduced, elevated, and natural concentrations of deuterium is considered. The results of the study are presented in different vital indicators of some taxons: the bacteria kingdom—the colony forming units (CFU) index (Escherichia coli); animals—the activation energy of the death of ciliates (Spirostomum ambiguum), embryogenesis of fish (Brachydanio rerio); plants—germination and accumulation of trace elements Callisia fragrans L., sprouting of gametophores and peptidomics of moss Physcomitrella patens. It was found that many organisms change their metabolism and activity, responding to both high and low concentrations of deuterium in water.