bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Hour-Ahead Solar Irradiance Forecasting Models Based on LSTM Network
Authors: Huang Xiaoqiao , Zhang Chao , Li Qiong , Tai Yonghang , Gao Bixuan , Shi Junsheng
Published: August 2020

The intermittence and fluctuation character of solar irradiance places severe limitations on most of its applications. The precise forecast of solar irradiance is the critical factor in predicting the output power of a photovoltaic power generation system. In the present study, Model I-A and Model II-B based on traditional long short-term memory (LSTM) are discussed, and the effects of different parameters are investigated; meanwhile, Model II-AC, Model II-AD, Model II-BC, and Model II-BD based on a novel LSTM-MLP structure with two-branch input are proposed for hour-ahead solar irradiance prediction. Different lagging time parameters and different main input and auxiliary input parameters have been discussed and analyzed. The proposed method is verified on real data over 5 years. The experimental results demonstrate that Model II-BD shows the best performance because it considers the weather information of the next moment, the root mean square error (RMSE) is 62.1618 W/m2, the normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) is 32.2702%, and the forecast skill (FS) is 0.4477. The proposed algorithm is 19.19% more accurate than the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) in terms of RMSE.
Hybrid Depth-Separable Residual Networks for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Zhao Cuijie , Zhao Hongdong , Wang Guozhen , Chen Hong
Published: August 2020

At present, the classification of the hyperspectral image (HSI) based on the deep convolutional network has made great progress. Due to the high dimensionality of spectral features, limited samples of ground truth, and high nonlinearity of hyperspectral data, effective classification of HSI based on deep convolutional neural networks is still difficult. This paper proposes a novel deep convolutional network structure, namely, a hybrid depth-separable residual network, for HSI classification, called HDSRN. The HDSRN model organically combines 3D CNN, 2D CNN, multiresidual network ROR, and depth-separable convolutions to extract deeper abstract features. On the one hand, due to the addition of multiresidual structures and skip connections, this model can alleviate the problem of over fitting, help the backpropagation of gradients, and extract features more fully. On the other hand, the depth-separable convolutions are used to learn the spatial feature, which reduces the computational cost and alleviates the decline in accuracy. Extensive experiments on the popular HSI benchmark datasets show that the performance of the proposed network is better than that of the existing prevalent methods.
Structural Optimization of Ship Lock Heads during Construction Period considering Concrete Creep
Authors: Su Chao , Bai Jiawei
Published: August 2020

Traditional structural optimization is mainly based on the assumption that the materials are elastic, which cannot represent real stress fields in structures. In this study, the genetic algorithm, big bang-big crunch algorithm, and hybrid big bang-big crunch algorithm were employed to optimize the design factors of ship lock heads during concrete construction. The optimization goal was to determine the minimum volume of concrete. The factors considered included the hydration heat, the early-stage creep, and the transient deformation under external loads. In the finite element analysis, three types of boundary conditions were considered. The whole construction process was simulated, and the maximum tensile and compressive stresses, the stability, and the overturning of the lock head were examined. Based on the finite element analysis, to reduce the consumption of memory, a set of implicit recursive equations were used to calculate the thermal creep stress. Thirty-four design variables were distinguished for optimization. A case study on the optimization of a ship lock head was used to demonstrate the optimization process. The optimization results showed that the hybrid big bang-big crunch algorithm was more effective, and some conclusions were derived.
Optimal Statistical Feature Subset Selection for Bearing Fault Detection and Severity Estimation
Authors: Grover Chhaya , Turk Neelam
Published: August 2020

The performance of bearing fault detection systems based on machine learning techniques largely depends on the selected features. Hence, selection of an ideal number of dominant features from a comprehensive list of features is needed to decrease the number of computations involved in fault detection. In this paper, we attempted statistical time-domain features, namely, Hjorth parameters (activity, mobility, and complexity) and normal negative log likelihood for Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for the first time in addition to 26 other established statistical features for identification of bearing fault type and severity. Two datasets are derived from a publicly available database of Case Western Reserve University to identify the capability of features in fault identification under various fault sizes and motor loads. Features have been investigated using a two-step approach—filter-based ranking with 3 metrics followed by feature subset selection with 11 search techniques. The results indicate that the set of features root mean square, geometric mean, zero crossing rate, Hjorth parameter—mobility, and normal negative log likelihood for GMM outperforms other features. We also compared the diagnostic performance of normal negative log likelihood for GMM with the established feature normal negative log likelihood for single Gaussian. The selected set of statistical features is validated using ensemble rule-based classifiers and showed an average accuracy of 96.75% with proposed statistical features subset and 99.63% with all 30 features. F-measure and G-mean scores are also calculated to investigate their performance on datasets with class imbalance. The diagnostic effectiveness of the features was further validated on a bearing dataset obtained from an operating thermal power plant. The results obtained show that our newly proposed feature subset plays a major role in achieving good classification results and has a future potential of being used in a high-dimensional dataset with multidomain features.
Investigation Report of cVDPV2 Outbreak in Bokh Woreda of Dollo Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Sufa Diriba , Gerema Urge
Published: August 2020

Background. Poliovirus isolates detected in persons or in the environment can fall into three major categories: wild, Sabin and Sabin-like, or vaccine-derived. Detection of wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus may constitute an emergency, which can be categorized as an event that can lead to an outbreak, depending on characteristics of the isolate and the context in which it appears. The aim of the study was investigation report of cVDPV2 outbreak in Bokh woreda of Dollo Zone, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. Methods. A team of experts drawn from different organizations was deployed to Bokh woreda to make detailed field investigation from May 25 to June 17, 2019. By using standard World Health Organization polio outbreak investigation checklist, document review of surveillance, immunization, and clinical data related to the case was made. Key informant’s interview was made to health professionals, managers, parents of case, woreda and kebele leaders, religious leaders, and HEWs related to acute flaccid paralysis outbreak. Result. The notified AFP case was a 39-month-old female from Angalo kebele of Bokh woreda, Dollo Zone. On 19th May 2019, the patient developed high grade fever and was taken to Angalo Health Post on 20th May 2019. As per the examination by a health extension worker, the child had high grade fever and neck stiffness with preliminary diagnosis of meningitis for which ceftriaxone injection was prescribed. Contact sample was taken from three children on 28th May 2019 and 29th May 2019 and was sent to Addis Ababa National Polio Laboratory. All contact stool samples were found to be positive for poliovirus type 2 and referred for sequencing in National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa, the Regional Polio Reference Laboratory. Conclusion and Recommendation. The clinical presentation of the cases is compatible with poliovirus infection, improving the quality and coverage of supplementary polio immunization activities through proper planning; strict supervision and follow-up can reduce the occurrence of acute flaccid paralysis.
Modeling and 1 : 1 Internal Resonance Analysis of Cable-Stayed Shallow Arches
Authors: Lv Jiangen , Yang Zhicheng , Chen Xuebin , Wu Quanke , Zeng Xiaoxia
Published: August 2020

In this paper, an analytical model of a cable-stayed shallow arch is developed in order to investigate the 1 : 1 internal resonance between modes of a cable and a shallow arch. Integrodifferential equations with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities are used to model the in-plane motion of a simple cable-stayed shallow arch. Nonlinear dynamic responses of a cable-stayed shallow arch subjected to external excitations with simultaneous 1 : 1 internal resonances are investigated. Firstly, the Galerkin method is used to discretize the governing nonlinear integral-partial-differential equations. Secondly, the multiple scales method (MSM) is used to derive the modulation equations of the system under external excitation of the shallow arch. Thirdly, the equilibrium, the periodic, and the chaotic solutions of the modulation equations are also analyzed in detail. The frequency- and force-response curves are obtained by using the Newton–Raphson method in conjunction with the pseudoarclength path-following algorithm. The cascades of period-doubling bifurcations leading to chaos are obtained by applying numerical simulations. Finally, the effects of key parameters on the responses are examined, such as initial tension, inclined angle of the cable, and rise and inclined angle of shallow arch. The comprehensive numerical results and research findings will provide essential information for the safety evaluation of cable-supported structures that have widely been used in civil engineering.
Acute Bacterial Suppurative Thyroiditis following Fine Needle Aspiration: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Htet Zaw Win , Tai E. Shyong , Yang Samantha Peiling
Published: August 2020

Background. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules is a simple, reliable, and inexpensive procedure performed on suspicious thyroid nodules found in thyroid ultrasound (US). Acute bacterial suppurative thyroiditis is an uncommon complication of FNA which, however, can be life threatening. Case Presentation. A 49-year-old lady presented with fever and neck pain 1 month after FNA with biochemical evidence of thyrotoxicosis. Repeat US of the thyroid showed interval enlargement of the thyroid nodule, and the culture of the cystic fluid of repeat FNA grew Propionibacterium acnes. She responded well to bedside aspiration and 2 weeks of antibiotic therapy without requiring surgical intervention. Discussion. Acute bacterial suppurative thyroiditis following FNA has been increasingly reported in immunocompetent hosts. There are 2 peculiar features in our case: a smoldering course caused by an indolent organism and a significant time lag between initial FNA and clinical presentation. On literature review, it was found that the onset of acute bacterial suppurative thyroiditis after FNA can range from a few days to up to 3 months. Clinicians should be aware of this complication even if FNA has been performed a few months ago. Thyroid US and US-guided FNA are useful initial investigations. Conventional management of acute bacterial suppurative thyroiditis has been surgery combined with antimicrobial therapy. However, recently, a more conservative approach has been reported to be effective in the treatment of acute bacterial suppurative thyroiditis as well. Conclusion. Proper infection control practices are necessary in performing the FNA. Initial management (conservative versus surgical) of acute bacterial thyroiditis should be based on the patient’s clinical status and the extent of infective focus.
Oral and Topical Centella asiatica in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Dry Skin: A Three‐Arm Prospective Randomized Double‐Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Legiawati Lili , Bramono Kusmarinah , Indriatmi Wresti , Yunir Em , Setiati Siti , Jusman Sri Widia A. , Purwaningsih Erni H. , Wibowo Heri , Danarti Retno
Published: August 2020

Introduction. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) is related to skin disorders, particularly dry skin. Pathogenesis of dry skin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rises from the chronic hyperglycemia causing an increase in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress. Combination of oral and topical Centella asiatica (CA) is expected to treat dry skin in T2DM patients more effectively through decreasing N(6)‐carboxymethyl‐lysine (CML) and interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Methods. A three‐arm prospective, double‐blind, randomized, controlled study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the oral and topical CA extract in 159 T2DM patients with dry skin. The subjects were divided into the CA oral (CAo) 2 × 1.100 mg + CA topical (CAt) 1% ointment group, oral placebo (Plo) + CAt group, and Plo and topical placebo (Plt) group. Dry skin assessment was performed on day 1, 15, and 29, while evaluation of CML, IL‐1α, and SOD activity was on day 1 and 29. Result. Effectivity of CAo + CAt combination was assessed based on HbA1c and random blood glucose (RBG). In well‐controlled blood glucose, on day 29, the percentage of SRRC decrement was greater in the CAo + CAt group compared to the control group (p = 0.04). SCap value in the CAo + CAt group was greater than that in the control group (p = 0.01). In the partially controlled blood glucose, increment of SOD activity in the CAo + CAt group was greater than that in the control group (p = 0.01). There were medium‐to‐strong correlation between CML with SOD (r = 0.58, p < 0.05) and IL‐1α with SOD (r = 0.70, p < 0.05) in well‐controlled blood glucose. Systemic and topical adverse events were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion. CAo and CAt combination can be used to significantly improve dry skin condition through increasing SOD activity in T2DM patients with controlled blood glucose.
Complex Dynamic Analysis for Game Model under Different Regulatory Levels in China’s Housing Rental Market
Authors: Mu Lingling , Qin Xiangyu , Li Yuan , Liu Ping
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we construct an evolutionary game model of government and real estate operators (long-term apartment rental companies) in the housing rental market in the context of financial institutions and public participation in regulation and analyze the effects of different regulatory levels of financial institutions and the public on the evolutionary results through model solving and numerical simulation. The results show that, under five different levels of supervision, financial institutions and the public have different evolutionary and stable strategies; financial institutions’ participation in supervision can effectively reduce the cost of government supervision and promote the government’s evolution towards strict supervision. It is difficult for real estate operators to evolve naturally towards keeping their promises when the probability of the social public or financial institutions participating in regulation is low. Only when the probability of social public and financial institutions participating in regulation reaches a certain level will real estate operators be inclined to keep their promises.
Chitosan-Reinforced MFC/NFC Aerogel and Antibacterial Property
Authors: Yang Huanlei , Zhang Shuxin , Yan Jinhua
Published: August 2020

MFC/NFC aerogel has water sensitivity, and it should be improved in strength in water before application. Chitosan was investigated as a MFC/NFC aerogel reinforcing agent in this paper. The reinforced aerogel showed slightly tighter structure and very good water stability and mechanical strength. FTIR disclosed the chemical bonds formed between chitosan and cellulose. Nanoparticles of silver (Ag-NPs) were loaded using the reinforced aerogel. The excellent Ag-NP monodistribution on the aerogel was expressed by TEM. Both chitosan-reinforced Ag-NPs loaded MFC aerogel and NFC aerogel and expressed great antibacterial activity, though reinforced MFC aerogel exhibited better properties, like higher BET, lighter density, more Ag-NP loading, and better distribution, than NFC aerogel in this research. Chitosan-reinforced MFC aerogel is a good potential substrate for nanoparticle loading and biocomposite making.
Casing Damage Prediction Model Based on the Data-Driven Method
Authors: Tan Chaodong , Yan Wei , Tang Qing , Wu Hua , Bu Hongguang , Kambi Said Juma , Liu Jiankang
Published: August 2020

Casing damage caused by sand production in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs often results in oil wells unable to produce normally. However, due to the complex mechanism of sheath damage caused by sand production, there is no more mature technology for predicting the risk of casing damage in advance. Data-driven method can better integrate various factors and use a large amount of historical data to solve complex classification prediction problems. In this paper, XGBoost and LightGBM algorithms are used to establish casing damage prediction models, and 13 model application experiments are carried out to optimize the set of casing damage factors. These two algorithms are used to calculate the feature importance of each factor and determine the final set of factors. The evaluation results of five key metrics show that both prediction models show good performance, and the prediction accuracy is 0.99 for the XGBoost model and 0.94 for the LightGBM model. Applying the established prediction model can determine reasonable range of the maximum daily liquid production of a single layer (Qlmax) to reduce the probability of casing damage. In addition, at certain Qlmax, increasing the perforation density can significantly reduce the probability of casing damage. Therefore, increasing the perforation density can achieve high production without causing casing damage.
Wave Motion Analysis in Plane via Hermitian Cubic Spline Wavelet Finite Element Method
Authors: Xue Xiaofeng , Wang Xinhai , Wang Zhen , Xue Wei
Published: August 2020

A plane Hermitian wavelet finite element method is presented in this paper. Wave motion can be used to analyze plane structures with small defects such as cracks and obtain results. By using the tensor product of modified Hermitian wavelet shape functions, the plane Hermitian wavelet shape functions are constructed. Scale functions of Hermitian wavelet shape functions can replace the polynomial shape functions to construct new wavelet plane elements. As the scale of the shape functions increases, the precision of the new wavelet plane element will be improved. The new Hermitian wavelet finite element method which can be used to simulate wave motion analysis can reveal the law of the wave motion in plane. By using the results of transmitted and reflected wave motion, the cracks can be easily identified in plane. The results show that the new Hermitian plane wavelet finite element method can use the fewer elements to simulate the plane structure effectively and accurately and detect the cracks in plane.
Trends of Hydroclimate Variables in the Upper Huai River Basin: Implications of Managing Water Resource for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Girma Abel , Yan Denghua , Wang Hao , Song Xinshan , Qin Tianlin , Dorjsuren Batsuren , Gedefaw Mohammed , Abiyu Asaminew , Fikir Dagim , Wang Jianwei , Yadamjav Otgonbayar
Published: August 2020

The present study attempted to investigate the trends of mean annual temperature, precipitation, and streamflow changes to determine their relationships in the upper Huai river basin. The Mann–Kendall (MK), Sen’s slope test estimator, and innovative trend detection (ф) (ITA) methods were used to detect the trends. According to the findings, average annual precipitation shows a descending trend (ф = −0.17) in most stations. An increasing trend was found only in Fuyang station (ф = 1.02). In all stations, the trends of mean annual temperature (ф = 0.36) were abruptly increased. During the past 57 years, the mean air temperature has considerably increased by 12°C/10a. The river streamflow showed a dramatic declining trend in all stations for the duration of the study period (1960–2016) (ф = −4.29). The climate variability in the study region affects the quantity of the streamflow. The river streamflow exhibits decreasing trends from 1965 onwards. The main possible reason for the declining stream flow in the study area is the declining amount of precipitation on some specific months due to the occurrence of climate change. The outcomes of this study could create awareness for the policymakers and members of the scientific community, informing them about the hydroclimatic evolutions across the study basin, and become an inordinate resource for advanced scientific research.
Heart Risk Failure Prediction Using a Novel Feature Selection Method for Feature Refinement and Neural Network for Classification
Authors: Javeed Ashir , Rizvi Sanam Shahla , Zhou Shijie , Riaz Rabia , Khan Shafqat Ullah , Kwon Se Jin
Published: August 2020

Diagnosis of heart disease is a difficult job, and researchers have designed various intelligent diagnostic systems for improved heart disease diagnosis. However, low heart disease prediction accuracy is still a problem in these systems. For better heart risk prediction accuracy, we propose a feature selection method that uses a floating window with adaptive size for feature elimination (FWAFE). After the feature elimination, two kinds of classification frameworks are utilized, i.e., artificial neural network (ANN) and deep neural network (DNN). Thus, two types of hybrid diagnostic systems are proposed in this paper, i.e., FWAFE-ANN and FWAFE-DNN. Experiments are performed to assess the effectiveness of the proposed methods on a dataset collected from Cleveland online heart disease database. The strength of the proposed methods is appraised against accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Experimental outcomes confirm that the proposed models outperformed eighteen other proposed methods in the past, which attained accuracies in the range of 50.00–91.83%. Moreover, the performance of the proposed models is impressive as compared with that of the other state-of-the-art machine learning techniques for heart disease diagnosis. Furthermore, the proposed systems can help the physicians to make accurate decisions while diagnosing heart disease.
Simulation Study on Dynamics of Hydraulic Turbines Used in Drilling Engineering
Authors: Zeng Yijin , Wang Jin , Ding Shidong , Zhou Haobo , Zang Yanbin , Li Fangtao
Published: August 2020

Hydroturbines have a very wide range of applications, which are commonly found in wind turbines, water turbines, aero engines, etc. This paper provided a detailed turbine design and a design method of turbine blade shape. Using the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) method, based on the realizable k-ɛ turbulence model and Euler multiphase flow model, the effects of different external loads, blade numbers, blade installation angles, and flow rates on the force condition of turbine and the influence of different solid contents, particle sizes, and densities on turbine performance were studied. The simulation results show that, under the action of fluid, when the starting torque of turbine is larger than the external load, the turbine starts to move, the angular velocity increases until it remains constant, the absolute value of impact force decreases, and the impact torque decreases until it is equal to the external load; while the starting torque of turbine is smaller than the external load, the turbine stays still. The increase of the particle size, content, and density of the solid phase will lead to an increase in the torque and pressure drop of the turbine and ultimately leads to the increase of turbine input, output power, and efficiency.
Enigmatic Rapidly Enlarging Nasal Mass That Is Not Cancer
Authors: Shrivastava Trilok , Li Lin , Tanwar Sonia , Nasim Rabab , Gullas Vincent , Pescatore Jay , Nelson Michael
Published: August 2020

Cutaneous blastomycosis is not rare, but progressively enlarging nasal mass as the only presentation with nondiagnostic biopsy results, presence of pulmonary fibrosis, nodules and lymphadenopathy, and urinary sediments, as well as ANA and p-ANCA positivity, can make things more cryptic than expected.
Simultaneous Determination of Phenolic Acids, Anthraquinones, Flavonoids, and Triterpenes of Cynomorii Herba in Different Harvest Times by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Jin Hua , Tang Ge , Li Jin , Ma Lin , Li Yuhong , Chang Yan-xu
Published: August 2020

A sensitive and accurate method was developed for the simultaneous determination of twelve components including phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, protocatechuic acid, and ferulic acid), flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, rutin, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, and epicatechin gallate), anthraquinones (emodin), and triterpenes (ursolic acid) in Cynomorii herba in different harvest times by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Eclipse plus C18 (3.0 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) column at 40°C. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid with a gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL·min −1. Under the optimized conditions, there was good linear relation (r ≥ 0.9944) and satisfactory precision (RSD values less than 5.65%). The recoveries of the twelve components were in the range of 93.5–105%. Moreover, the limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.003 to 21 ng mL−1 for the twelve analytes. In conclusion, the validated method was successfully applied to analyze the change regularity of the twelve components of Cynomorii herba in different harvest times. It provides a theoretical basis for choosing the suitable harvesting time of Cynomorii herba.
Effect of Clay on Internal Erosion of Clay‐Sand‐Gravel Mixture
Authors: Liang Chen , Guo-dong Cai , Jia-hui Gu , Ye-fei Tan , Cheng Chen , Zi-xue Yin
Published: August 2020

In this study, a one‐dimensional seepage test apparatus was used to investigate the effect of clay on the critical hydraulic gradient, hydraulic conductivity, migration of fine particles in soil, and percentage of fine particle loss during the internal erosion of clay‐sand‐gravel mixture, compared with clean gravel. The critical hydraulic gradient and fine sand loss percentage of the clay‐sand‐gravel mixture decreased, and critical flow velocity and the hydraulic conductivity increased. Six clay‐sand‐gravel mixture samples with different clay contents were used to evaluate the effect of different clay contents on internal erosion. As the percentage of clay mass to fine particle mass increases from 0% to 25%, the critical hydraulic gradient of soil samples decreases by nearly half and the fine sand loss percentage decreases from 13.73% to 3.48%. Overall, clay has a significant effect on the development of internal erosion of clay‐sand‐gravel mixture. And attention should be paid in engineering project; clay‐sand‐gravel mixture with a small amount of clay is more likely to be damaged than clean gravel.
Global Convergence of a Modified Two-Parameter Scaled BFGS Method with Yuan-Wei-Lu Line Search for Unconstrained Optimization
Authors: Li Pengyuan , Wang Zhan , Luo Dan , Pham Hongtruong
Published: August 2020

The BFGS method is one of the most efficient quasi-Newton methods for solving small- and medium-size unconstrained optimization problems. For the sake of exploring its more interesting properties, a modified two-parameter scaled BFGS method is stated in this paper. The intention of the modified scaled BFGS method is to improve the eigenvalues structure of the BFGS update. In this method, the first two terms and the last term of the standard BFGS update formula are scaled with two different positive parameters, and the new value of yk is given. Meanwhile, Yuan-Wei-Lu line search is also proposed. Under the mentioned line search, the modified two-parameter scaled BFGS method is globally convergent for nonconvex functions. The extensive numerical experiments show that this form of the scaled BFGS method outperforms the standard BFGS method or some similar scaled methods.
The Analysis of Estrogen-Degrading and Functional Metabolism Genes in Rhodococcus equi DSSKP-R-001
Authors: Tian Kejian , Meng Fanxing , Meng Qi , Gao Yan , Zhang Lili , Wang Le , Wang Yuqing , Li Xue , Huo Hongliang
Published: August 2020

Estrogen contamination is recognized as one of the most serious environmental problems, causing widespread concern worldwide. Environmental estrogens are mainly derived from human and vertebrate excretion, drugs, and agricultural activities. The use of microorganisms is currently the most economical and effective method for biodegradation of environmental estrogens. Rhodococcus equi DSSKP-R-001 (R-001) has strong estrogen-degrading capabilities. Our study indicated that R-001 can use different types of estrogen as its sole carbon source for growth and metabolism, with final degradation rates above 90%. Transcriptome analysis showed that 720 (E1), 983 (E2), and 845 (EE2) genes were significantly upregulated in the estrogen-treated group compared with the control group, and 270 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated across all treatment groups. These DEGs included ABC transporters; estrogen-degrading genes, including those that perform initial oxidation and dehydrogenation reactions and those that further degrade the resulting substrates into small molecules; and metabolism genes that complete the intracellular transformation and utilization of estrogen metabolites through biological processes such as amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In summary, the biodegradation of estrogens is coordinated by a metabolic network of estrogen-degrading enzymes, transporters, metabolic enzymes, and other coenzymes. In this study, the metabolic mechanisms by which Rhodococcus equi R-001 degrades various estrogens were analyzed for the first time. A new pollutant metabolism system is outlined, providing a starting point for the construction of engineered estrogen-degrading bacteria.
An Integrated Method for Fire Risk Assessment in Residential Buildings
Authors: Mi Hongfu , Liu Yaling , Wang Wenhe , Xiao Guoqing
Published: August 2020

Building fires are characterized by high uncertainty, so their fire risk assessment is a very challenging task. Many indexes and parameters related to building fires are ambiguous and uncertain; as a result, a flexible and robust method is needed to process quantitative or qualitative data and update existing information when new data are available. This paper presents a novel model to deal with the uncertainty of the residential building fire risk and systematically optimize its performance effectiveness. The model includes fuzzy theory, evidence reasoning theory, and expected utility methods. Fuzzy analysis hierarchy process is applied to analyze the residential building fire risk index system and determine the weights of the risk indexes, while the evidence reasoning operator is used to synthesize them. Three buildings were selected as a case study to illustrate the proposed fire risk model. The results show that the fire risk level of three buildings corresponds to “moderate” or below which is consistent with the previous study. These results also truly reflect the actual situation of fire safety in these residential buildings. The application of this model provides a powerful mathematical framework for cooperative modeling of the fire risk assessment system and allows data to be analyzed step by step in a systematic manner. It is expected that the proposed model could provide managers and researchers with flexible and transparent tools to effectively reduce the fire risk in the system.
Nf1-Mutant Tumors Undergo Transcriptome and Kinome Remodeling after Inhibition of either mTOR or MEK
Authors: Pucciarelli Daniela , Angus Steven P. , Huang Benjamin , Zhang Chi , Nakaoka Hiroki J. , Krishnamurthi Ganesh , Bandyopadhyay Sourav , Clapp D. Wade , Shannon Kevin , Johnson Gary L. , Nakamura Jean L.
Published: August 2020

Loss of the tumor suppressor NF1 leads to activation of RAS effector pathways, which are therapeutically targeted by inhibition of mTOR (mTORi) or MEK (MEKi). However, therapeutic inhibition of RAS effectors leads to the development of drug resistance and ultimately disease progression. To investigate molecular signatures in the context of NF1 loss and subsequent acquired drug resistance, we analyzed the exomes, transcriptomes, and kinomes of Nf1-mutant mouse tumor cell lines and derivatives of these lines that acquired resistance to either MEKi or mTORi. Biochemical comparisons of this unique panel of tumor cells, all of which arose in Nf1+/− mice, indicate that loss of heterozygosity of Nf1 as an initial genetic event does not confer a common biochemical signature or response to kinase inhibition. Although acquired drug resistance by Nf1-mutant tumor cells was accompanied by altered kinomes and irreversibly altered transcriptomes, functionally in multiple Nf1-mutant tumor cell lines, MEKi resistance was a stable phenotype, in contrast to mTORi resistance, which was reversible. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Nf1-mutant tumors represent a heterogeneous group biochemically and undergo broader remodeling of kinome activity and gene expression in response to targeted kinase inhibition.
Strongyloides stercoralis Gastric Ulcer: A Rare Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Costa Silva Ryan , Carvalho Joana Rita , Crespo Ricardo , Martins Joana Rosa , Zózimo Nídia , Tato Marinho Rui
Published: August 2020

Strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. Gastrointestinal manifestations typically include duodenitis, chronic enterocolitis, and malabsorption, while gastric involvement is very rare. In this case report, the ­authors present a case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a gastric ulcer with a challenging etiological diagnosis. In Portugal, there have been reports in the past century of autochthonous cases of S. stercoralis infection suggesting endemic zones, but with the current sanitation infrastructure strongyloidiasis is thought to be rare. A 56-year-old Caucasian male smoker with a history of significant weight loss presented to the emergency department with hema­temesis and abdominal pain. Upper endoscopy revealed a giant gastric ulcer with a macroscopic appearance suggestive of malignancy. Further investigation with CT scan highlighted gastric wall thickness and a spiculated lung lesion in the upper right lobe without lymph node involvement or metastatic disease. Bronchoscopy with bronchial brushing was performed. Histological examination identified squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and the patient was referred to Oncological Pneumology. Gastric ulcer biopsies ruled out malignancy and identified fragments of nematodes with inflammatory infiltrates and fibrinogranulocytic exudate, suggestive of S. stercoralis. Accordingly, the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis was made and further confirmed with molecular methods and serology. The giant gastric ulcer was affirmed to be caused by S. stercoralis infection and the patient was treated with ivermectin with improvement of epigastric pain. On reevaluation 6 weeks later the patient was asymptomatic, had gained weight, parasitological stool examinations were negative, and upper endoscopy showed complete ulcer healing. Further tests were done targeting risk factors for strongyloidiasis, and in addition to the presence of malignancy, other underlying causes for immunosuppression were ruled out. In this case report strongyloidiasis was manifested by gastric involvement with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient who was subsequently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Post-Infarct Dystonia
Authors: Tambirajoo Kantharuby , Furlanetti Luciano , Samuel Michael , Ashkan Keyoumars
Published: August 2020

Dystonia secondary to cerebral infarcts presents months to years after the initial insult, is usually unilateral and causes significant morbidity. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is established as the most frequent target in the management of the dystonic symptoms. We report our experience with subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS in 3 patients with post-infarct dystonia, in whom GPi DBS was not confidently possible due to the presence of striatal infarcts. Two patients had unilateral STN DBS implantation, whereas the third patient had bilateral STN DBS implantation for bilateral dystonic symptoms. Prospectively collected preoperative and postoperative functional assessment data including imaging, medication and neuropsychology evaluations were analyzed with regard to symptom improvement. Median follow-up period was 38.3 months (range 26–43 months). All patients had clinically valuable improvements in dystonic symptoms and pain control despite variable improvements in the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia rating scores. In our series, we have demonstrated that STN DBS could be an alternative in the management of post-infarct dystonia in patients with abnormal striatal anatomy which precludes GPi DBS. A multidisciplinary team-based approach is essential for patient selection and management.
Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A German Single-Center Experience
Authors: Maus Volker , Drescher Finn , Goertz Lukas , Weber Anushe , Weber Werner , Fischer Sebastian
Published: August 2020

Background and Purpose: Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are abnormal shunts between dural arteries and dural venous sinus or cortical veins. We report our experience with endovascular therapy of primary complex DAVFs using modern embolic agents. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients with DAVFs treated between 2015 and 2019. Patient demographics and technical aspects including the use of embolic agent, access to the fistula, number of treatments, occlusion rates, and complications were addressed. Angiographic treatment success was defined as complete occlusion (CO) of the DAVF. Results: Fifty patients were treated endovascularly. Median age was 61 years and 66% were men. The most common symptom was pulsatile tinnitus in 17 patients (34%). The most frequent location of the DAVF was the transverse-sigmoid sinus (40%). Thirty-six fistulas (72%) had cortical venous reflux. Nonadhesive and adhesive liquid agents were used in 92% as a single material or in combination. CO was achieved in 48 patients (96%). In 28 individuals (56%), only 1 procedure was necessary. Nonadhesive liquid agents were exclusively used in 14 patients (28%) with CO attained in every case. For CO of tentorial DAVFs, multiple sessions were more often required than at the other locations (55 vs. 14%, p = 0.0051). Among 93 procedures, the overall complication rate was 3%. The procedure-related mortality rate was 0%. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of intracranial DAVFs is feasible, safe, and effective with high rates of CO. In more than half of the patients, the DAVF was completely occluded after a single procedure. However, in tentorial DAVFs, multiple sessions were more often required.
Association between Satisfaction with Dialysis Treatment and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Cirillo Luigi , Toccafondi Alessandro , Cutruzzulà Roberta , Miraglia Raineri Alessandra , Pernazza Matteo , Fiasella Susanna , Dattolo Pietro
Published: August 2020

Introduction: CKD is associated with a reduction of patients’ health-related quality of life. Considering the time spent in dialysis, satisfaction with care is essential for patients QOL. Objective: Since the possible association between satisfaction with the dialysis care and QOL has never been studied, in this study, we explore this plausible link. Methods: One hundred three patients on hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) filled-in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs). QOL was assessed by Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 and satisfaction by Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease (CHOICE) questionnaire. The analysis was conducted on patient-level, considering for single patient sociodemographic characteristics and presence of depression/anxiety. One-way ANOVA was used to compare QOL mean scores for patients who answered “excellent” and for those who answered “other ratings” in CHOICE questionnaire and the Pearson χ2 test to compare the patients’ characteristics between these 2 groups of patients. Results: The analysis showed a significant positive association between PREM and PROM scores for 8 out of 23 CHOICE items. Six of them were related to the figure of nephrologist, 1 to dialysis access site, and 1 to the social worker support. Significant association (p < 0.05) were between frequency of seeing nephrologist and physical component plus mental component, accuracy of information from nephrologist and burden of disease, accuracy of instructions from nephrologist and burden of disease, coordination between nephrologist and other physicians plus mental component, attention to cleanliness of access site and mental component, amount of dialysis information from staff and burden of disease, information from staff when choosing between HD or PD and physical component plus burden of disease, and ease of seeing social worker and burden of disease. Conclusions: The study provides support for the relationship between the care satisfaction and QOL, highlighting the central role of the nephrologist-patient communication in the QOL of dialysis patients.
Identification of Seasonal Variations of Antibodies against PR-10-Specific Epitopes Can Be Improved Using Peptide-Phage Display
Authors: Ramírez Caballero Lisbeth , Kny Christoph , Treudler Regina , Simon Jan C. , Kern Karolin , Jappe Uta , Szardenings Michael
Published: August 2020

Background: In pollinosis patients, allergen-specific antibody titers show seasonal variations. Little is known about these variations at the epitope level. Objectives: We aimed at investigating seasonal variations on the level of allergen epitope recognition in patients with Bet v 1-related food allergy using a peptide phage display approach. Methods: Serum samples collected over 1 year from 4 patients of the placebo arm of the birch-associated soya allergy immunotherapy trial were included. To identify epitopes from Bet v 1-related food allergens, patient sera were used in peptide phage display experiments. In silico analysis of enriched allergen-related motifs was performed. Results: We identified epitope motifs related to Bet v 1 and its homologs in soya and hazelnut (Gly m 4 and Cor a 1, respectively) that were enriched in accordance with birch and hazel pollen exposure. Within several weeks after the birch pollen season peak, the pattern of identified epitope motifs differed considerably among patients. Data for amino acid preferences in homologous Bet v 1 and Cor a 1 epitope motifs identified for one of the investigated patients suggest changes in concentration or specificity of serum antibodies for the Cor a 1 epitope motif. Conclusions: Peptide phage display data suggest an impact of birch and hazel pollen exposure on the recognition pattern of Bet v 1-like allergen epitopes. Epitope-oriented analyses could provide deeper, personalized details regarding the allergen epitope recognition influenced by pollen exposure beyond the capability of current methods.
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF DIPTEROCARP SPECIES PLANTED ON ABANDONED MINING AREA IN SOUTHERN THAILAND
Authors: Wongprom Jetsada
Published: August 2020

Dominant Dipterocarp trees hold a significant importance in the ecology and economics of the declining tropical forests of Asia. Of equal importance is the restoration of these Dipterocarp forest using the technique of matching species with silvicultural practices. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the Acacia mangium nurse trees on the survival and growth of six Dipterocarp species planted on abandoned mining areas in the Phangnga Forestry Research Station, Thailand, namely; Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb., Dipterocarpus gracilis Blume, Hopea odorata Roxb., Shorea gratissima (Wall. ex Kurz) Dyer, Shorea roxburghii G. Don, and Parashorea stellata Kurz. The approximately 1.5-year-old Dipterocarp seedlings were planted at a 6-year-old A. mangium plantation cover and at open plots. The survival rate, diameter at root collar (D0), total height (H) and the relative growth rate (RGR) of D0 and H of the seedlings were compared. Soil samples at the open and the A. mangium plots were collected and its physical and chemical properties were analyzed. The results indicated that the survival rates of the Dipterocarps planted at the A. mangium plot were higher than those at the open plots. The survival rates (75-100%) of the 1 to 3-year-old D. alatus, H. odorata, S. gratissima, S. roxburghii, and P. stellata were relatively high at the A. mangium plot, but not for D. gracilis. The D0 of S. roxburghii, D. alatus, H. odorata, and P. stellata were higher at the A. mangium plot. However, the D0 and H of S. roxburghii, D. alatus, and H. odorata at the open plot were high and similar to that of the A. mangium plot. RGRD0 and RGRH of S. roxburghii, D. alatus, and H. odorata were high both at the A. mangium and the open plots. Generally, the Dipterocarp seedlings were growing better under the A. mangium nurse trees, thus suggesting the possibility of their improved survival and growth in mined out areas. Moreover, the findings also suggest that S. roxburghii, D. alatus, and H. odorata can be planted at open areas with poor soil conditions and extreme environments. Lastly, thinning interventions are also needed to improve the growth of Dipterocarp trees.
SOIL PROPERTIES AND TREE COMPOSITION IN A 27-YEAR OLD Acacia mangium Willd. PLANTATION ON ABANDONED MINING AREA AT PHANGNGA FORESTRY RESEARCH STATION
Authors: Wongprom Jetsada , Poolsiri Roongreang , Diloksumpun Sapit , Ngernsaengsaruay Chatchai
Published: August 2020

In order to validate the important role of Acacia mangium plantation in mining rehabilitation, a study was conducted on the soil properties and tree composition in a 27-year-old A. mangium plantation growing on sandy (S27) and clay (C27) soil types, as well as a mixed plantation (MP) growing on clay soil type. The results were compared with those grown on an abandoned mining area (AB), a secondary forest (SF) and a primary forest (PF), at the Phangnga Forestry Research Station, Thailand. Three 40 x 40 m permanent plots were established and soil samples were randomly collected from depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-50 cm, in each of the S27, C27, MP, AB, SF, and PF. The bulk density values in the S27, C27, and MP were lower than that in AB and was similar to those in SF and PF, particularly, the top soil. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic matter, exchangeable potassium, and magnesium contents in the S27, C27, and MP were higher than that in AB, but were lower than those in SF and PF, indicating that the soil development in the S27, C27, and MP was slower than in the SF and PF. This lower bulk density values and higher soil nutrient contents were positively contributed by the A. mangium plantation. The Shannon-Wiener index obtained for S27 (1.43), C27 (2.51), and MP (2.77) were lower than that for the SF (3.86). The similarity indices of the tree species found in S27, C27, MP, and PF were low, ranging from 5.83-8.00, indicating that the development of the forest community was slow compared to SF (31.03). Enrichment planting with poorly dispersed shade tolerant trees has increased the diversity and improved the forest structure in the mined out areas and other similarly degraded lands.