bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Chlorhexidine and Herbal Mouthwash as a Preprocedural Rinse in Reducing Dental Aerosols: A Microbiological Study
Authors: Nayak Sangeeta Umesh , Kumari Anushka , Rajendran Valliammai , Singh Vijendra Pal , Hegde Ashwini , Pai Keshava K.
Published: May 2020

Objective. The risk to dentists, assistants, and patients of infectious diseases through aerosols has long been recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of commercially available preprocedural mouth rinses containing 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate, Befresh™ herbal mouthwash, and water in reducing the levels of viable bacteria in aerosols. Materials & Methods. This was a single-center, double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized, three-group parallel design study. 30 patients (10 patients in each group) were recruited in the study. Patient rinsed mouth with 10 ml of CHX, 10 ml Befresh™, or 10 ml water. All the patients underwent supragingival ultrasonic scaling for a minimum of 30 min. The aerosol collection was done using a blood agar plate. The blood agar plates were kept approximately 12 inches from the patient’s mouth. The microbial culture was analyzed. The colony-forming unit (CFU) counting in all three groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA test to compare among the groups (p value <0.001). The intergroup comparison was done using the post hoc Tukey test. Result. There was a marked reduction in the CFU in the CHX group in all three areas. This was followed by Befresh™ (Sagar Pharmaceuticals) mouthwash. There was no reduction in the CFU of the water group. Conclusion. This study proves that a regular preprocedural mouth rinse could significantly reduce the majority bacteria present in aerosols generated by the use of an ultrasonic unit, and Befresh™ mouth rinse was found to be equally effective in reducing the aerosol contamination to 0.2% CHX gluconate.
Solely MRI-Guided Cardiac Catheterization for Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension in a Pregnant Lady with Undiagnosed Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Tzifa Aphrodite , Polymerou Ioannis , Loggitsi Dimitra
Published: May 2020

Pregnancy in women with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) can be poorly tolerated. Amongst pregnant women with CHD and pulmonary hypertension (PH), the mortality rate can be as high as 30%. Cardiac catheterization procedures for assessment of haemodynamics and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) are often required in this patient population for risk stratification. However, during the first few weeks of pregnancy, this should better be avoided due to the known adverse effects of the ionizing radiation to the immature fetus. In this setting, a solely MRI-guided catheterization may present as a better alternative.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Multisite Musculoskeletal Symptoms among District Hospital Nurses in Haiphong, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Hai , Hoang Duc Luan , Hoang Thi Giang , Pham Minh Khue , Bodin Julie , Dewitte Jean Dominique , Roquelaure Yves
Published: May 2020

Background. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are commonly observed among workers around the world. These diseases not only affect the health of workers, their quality of life, and their performance, but the effects of such diseases also represent a great burden for the health and social systems. These issues are even more prevalent in developing countries, and nurses are no exception. Many studies worldwide have shown a high prevalence of work‐related MSDs in each body position among nurses. However, there are very few studies that have mentioned multisite musculoskeletal symptoms (MMS). Objectives. To describe the prevalence and characteristics of MMS among district hospital nurses in Haiphong, Vietnam. Material and Methods. A cross‐sectional study was carried out on 1179 nurses working in all 15 district hospitals using the Modified Nordic Questionnaire at 9 anatomical sites on the body (neck, shoulder/upper arm, elbow/forearm, wrist/hand, upper back, lower back, hip/thigh, knee/lower leg, and ankle/foot). The following main indicators were calculated: the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) (at least 1 of 9 sites), MMS (two or more sites), and widespread musculoskeletal symptoms (WMS) (MS of the upper limb, the lower limb, and the back or the neck). Results. The prevalence of MS during the past 12 months and symptoms lasting for at least 30 days was 60.6% and 17.2% in men and 77.6% and 21.5% in women, respectively. The lower back, neck, upper back, and shoulder/upper arm were the most common sites affected. In terms of MMS, the prevalence was 37.6% in men and 57.1% in women during the past 12 months while 8.6% of men and 11.3% of women reported that symptoms lasted for at least 30 days. The prevalence of MMS tended to increase with age, seniority, having a history of musculoskeletal diseases, and in nurses working in district hospitals located in urban areas. Nearly 90% of MMS concerned two or three anatomical regions during the past 12 months, and almost 80% of MMS lasting at least 30 days involved two or three anatomical regions. The prevalence of WMS was 10.4% in men and 18.6% in women during the past 12 months and 0.9% in men and 2.1% in women lasting at least 30 days. Conclusions. This study showed the high prevalence of MMS and WMS among nursing staff. Further and more extensive research is needed to improve our understanding of multisite musculoskeletal symptoms and act as the foundation for developing preventive measures for nurses.
The Role of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) in Normotensive and Preeclamptic Black South African Women
Authors: Phoswa Wendy N. , Naicker Thajasvarie , Ramsuran Veron , Moodley Jagidesa
Published: May 2020

Introduction. Interleukin 17A has been implicated in the pathophysiology of both human immune deficiency virus and preeclampsia. This study evaluated serum levels of IL-17A based on pregnancy type, gestational age, HIV status, and duration of HAART. Material and Methods. A sample size of 250 was analysed: normotensives (n=150; N) and preeclamptics (n=100; PE). Normotensives were further stratified into HIV negative (n=90), HAART-acute (n=30), and HAART-chronic (n=30). The PE group was divided into early onset (n=50; EOPE) and late onset (n=50; LOPE). The EOPE and LOPE groups were subdivided into HIV negative (n=30), HAART-acute (n=10), and HAART-chronic (n=10). Analysis of IL-17A was performed using a multiple Bio-Plex immunoassay method. Results. Pregnancy type: the levels of IL-17A were increased in PE compared to N (P=0.0014). Gestational age: the levels of IL-17A were increased in EOPE compared to N group (P=0.0113). A significant increase in the levels of IL-17A in LOPE compared to N was observed (P=0.0063). HIV status: the levels of IL-17A were increased in PE compared to N (P=0.0114) and in EOPE compared to N groups (P=0.0071). HAART duration: the concentration of IL-17A was increased in HAART-chronic PE compared to N groups (P=0.0062). There was also an increase in the levels of IL-17A in EOPE compared to N (P=0.0029). Conclusion. The study demonstrates that IL-17A is involved in the pathophysiology of PE and that in the presence of HIV infection, chronic HAART administration predisposes women to the development of EOPE.
A Weakly Supervised Method for Mud Detection in Ores Based on Deep Active Learning
Authors: Huang Zhijian , Li Fangmin , Luan Xidao , Cai Zuowei
Published: May 2020

Automatically detecting mud in bauxite ores is important and valuable, with which we can improve productivity and reduce pollution. However, distinguishing mud and ores in a real scene is challenging for their similarity in shape, color, and texture. Moreover, training a deep learning model needs a large amount of exactly labeled samples, which is expensive and time consuming. Aiming at the challenging problem, this paper proposed a novel weakly supervised method based on deep active learning (AL), named YOLO-AL. The method uses the YOLO-v3 model as the basic detector, which is initialized with the pretrained weights on the MS COCO dataset. Then, an AL framework-embedded YOLO-v3 model is constructed. In the AL process, it iteratively fine-tunes the last few layers of the YOLO-v3 model with the most valuable samples, which is selected by a Less Confident (LC) strategy. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively detect mud in ores. More importantly, the proposed method can obviously reduce the labeled samples without decreasing the detection accuracy.
Volatile Components of Haplophyllum canaliculatum Boiss. by Different Extraction Procedures
Authors: Ahadi Nastaran , Torabbeigi Marzieh , Aghaiee Meibodei Zahra , Safatian Fatemeh
Published: May 2020

Volatile components of Haplophyllum canaliculatum Boiss. grown in Iran were extracted by hydrodistillation (HD), solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The components were analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. The extraction time and temperature for HS-SPME, microwave, power, and exposure time of extraction for SFME were optimized. Twenty-five compounds that represent 99.88% of total compounds in the oil were obtained by the HD method, and the major components for this method were identified as β-pinene (18.90%), 1,8-cineole (13.94%), and piperitone (12.22%). However, piperitone (34.50%), caryophyllene oxide (9.94%), and a-eudesmol were the main compounds among twenty-one constituents, representing 99.89% of the total composition that were characterized in volatiles extracted by the SFME method. Moreover, thirteen compounds, representing 99.95% of the total constituents, were characterized in volatile fraction extracted by the HS-SPME method, which were dominated by β-pinene (21.13%), a-pinene (13.07%), limonene (11.65%), and δ-2-carene (10.23%) as major constituents.
Analysis of Perceived Value and Travelers’ Behavioral Intention to Adopt Ride-Hailing Services: Case of Nanjing, China
Authors: Lu Ke , Wang Xuefen
Published: May 2020

This study explored travelers’ behavioral intention to adopt ride-hailing services. With regard to perceived value, several factors related to perceived benefit and perceived sacrifice were considered. Moreover, subjective norm and perceived policy support were further introduced into the concept model. After the construction of the concept model, an empirical analysis was put forward to test the hypotheses proposed. In addition, the effect of sociodemographic factors and usage frequency was further investigated. The empirical analysis was based on a survey that put forward in Nanjing, China. The results demonstrate that perceived value is positively related to behavioral intention. And factors of perceived benefit are related to perceived value positively, while factors of perceived sacrifice have a negative effect on perceived value.
Automatic Detection of Slow Conducting Channels during Substrate Ablation of Scar-Related Ventricular Arrhythmias
Authors: Alcaine Alejandro , Jáuregui Beatriz , Soto-Iglesias David , Acosta Juan , Penela Diego , Fernández-Armenta Juan , Linhart Markus , Andreu David , Mont Lluís , Laguna Pablo , Camara Oscar , Martínez Juan Pablo , Berruezo Antonio
Published: May 2020

Background. Voltage mapping allows identifying the arrhythmogenic substrate during scar-related ventricular arrhythmia (VA) ablation procedures. Slow conducting channels (SCCs), defined by the presence of electrogram (EGM) signals with delayed components (EGM-DC), are responsible for sustaining VAs and constitute potential ablation targets. However, voltage mapping, as it is currently performed, is time-consuming, requiring a manual analysis of all EGMs to detect SCCs, and its accuracy is limited by electric far-field. We sought to evaluate an algorithm that automatically identifies EGM-DC, classifies mapping points, and creates new voltage maps, named “Slow Conducting Channel Maps” (SCC-Maps). Methods. Retrospective analysis of electroanatomic maps (EAM) from 20 patients (10 ischemic, 10 with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy) was performed. EAM voltage maps were acquired during sinus rhythm and used for ablation. Preprocedural contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (Ce-CMR) imaging was available for the ischemic population. Three mapping modalities were analysed: (i) EAM voltage maps using standard (EAM standard) or manual (EAM screening) thresholds for defining core and border zones; (ii) SCC-Maps derived from the use of the novel SCC-Mapping algorithm that automatically identify EGM-DCs measuring the voltage of the local component; and (iii) Ce-CMR maps (when available). The ability of each mapping modality in identifying SCCs and their agreement was evaluated. Results. SCC-Maps and EAM screening identified a greater number of SCC entrances than EAM standard (3.45 ± 1.61 and 2.95 ± 2.31, resp., vs. 1.05 ± 1.10; p<0.01). SCC-Maps and EAM screening highly correlate with Ce-CMR maps in the ischemic population when compared to EAM standard (Lin’s correlation = 0.628 and 0.679, resp., vs. 0.212, p<0.01). Conclusion. The SCC-Mapping algorithm allows an operator-independent analysis of EGM signals showing better identification of the arrhythmogenic substrate characteristics when compared to standard voltage EAM.
Antitumor Effects of Curcumin and Glycyrrhetinic Acid‐Modified Curcumin‐Loaded Cationic Liposome by Intratumoral Administration
Authors: Chang Mingxiang , Wu Meimei , Li Hanmin
Published: May 2020

Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenolic compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa and shows a line of active biological functions, but its application has been limited and questioned because of its low solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid metabolism. In terms of antitumor effect, these disadvantages can be overcome by intratumoral injection. In this study, we present the intratumoral injection of curcumin and glycyrrhetinic acid‐modified curcumin‐loaded cationic liposome (GAMCLCL) in H22 tumor‐bearing mice. The experimental results demonstrated that curcumin exhibited positive antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo by intratumoral injection, but its activities were much weaker than GAMCLCL and adriamycin. Compared with free curcumin, GAMCLCL showed much better effects in improving the blood parameters (WBC, RBC, PLT, ALT, CRE, and LDH), inhibiting tumor growth, reducing tumor microvascular density, downregulating the expression of VEGF‐protein and mRNA, and upregulating the expression of caspase‐3 protein and mRNA in H22 tumor tissues. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the antitumor effect of high‐dose GAMCLCL was similar to adriamycin. In conclusion, the experimental results demonstrated that free curcumin possessed definite antitumor efficacy, but its antitumor activities were weaker, and some strategies should be adopted to overcome its disadvantages, improve, and ensure its clinical efficacy.
A Complexity Analysis of User Interaction with Hotel Robots
Authors: Zhong Lina , Yang Liyu , Rong Jia , Li Xiaonan
Published: May 2020

Service robots have been introduced to hotel industry in the past decade and received various feedback on their performance. To provide better service, one needs to understand how the hotel customers look at the service robots. Understanding their interests, motivation, and behaviors in human-robot interaction is the key to develop high-quality services and improve robot’s performance. This is the first work to study human-robot interaction in hotels in China. Frequent pattern mining and social network analysis techniques are used in this work to find out useful suggestions to both hotel management and robot manufactory. Turning on and off lights, TV, curtain, and window screens are popular services that most of the hotel customers preferred during their stays. Service robots are also found to entertain customers to carry out repeated commands for fun or to kill time. Customers also showed various motivations to stay in hotel rooms by calling different commands.
A Hybrid Spatiotemporal Deep Learning Model for Short-Term Metro Passenger Flow Prediction
Authors: Zhang Hao , He Jie , Bao Jie , Hong Qiong , Shi Xiaomeng
Published: May 2020

The primary objective of this study is to predict the short-term metro passenger flow using the proposed hybrid spatiotemporal deep learning neural network (HSTDL-net). The metro passenger flow data is collected from line 2 of Nanjing metro system to illustrate the study procedure. A hybrid spatiotemporal deep learning model is developed to predict both inbound and outbound passenger flows for every 10 minutes. The results suggest that the proposed HSTDL-net achieves better prediction performance on suburban stations than on urban stations, as well as generating the best prediction accuracy on transfer stations in terms of the lowest MAPE value. Moreover, a comparative analysis is conducted to compare the performance of proposed HSTDL-net with other typical methods, such as ARIMA, MLP, CNN, LSTM, and GBRT. The results indicate that, for both inbound and outbound passenger flow predictions, the HSTDL-net outperforms all the compared models on three types of stations. The results suggest that the proposed hybrid spatiotemporal deep learning neural network can more effectively and fully discover both spatial and temporal hidden correlations between stations for short-term metro passenger flow prediction. The results of this study could provide insightful suggestions for metro system authorities to adjust the operation plans and enhance the service quality of the entire metro system.
Coordination Scheduling of Wind-Hydropower Generation and Profit Allocation Based on Shapley Value Method
Authors: Quan Yi , Jiang Min , Sun Hongjun , Yuan Xiaohui , He Li , Fu Bo
Published: May 2020

The volatility of wind makes the forecasting of wind speed unreliable. The inaccurate forecast in wind speed always leads to generation imbalance and causes Wind Generating Companies’ (WGenCOs) losses in the intrahour market. In contrast to wind power, Hydrogenerating Companies (HGenCOs) can utilize the reservoir volume to settle the fluctuation of water inflow easily. When treated as a specialized Spinning Reserve (SR) unit for wind power, hydropower can help to settle the generation imbalance and obtain more profit in the power market for both power plants. In this paper, the author establishes a coordination scheduling model of wind-hydro alliance which covers the day-ahead market and the intrahour market. First, to evaluate the deviation of the wind-hydro generation in the intrahour market, an imbalance charge rule considering each period of schedule horizon is constructed. Second, the author introduces two parameters to control the resources that hydropower can use to coordinate with wind power. Finally, the author introduces the Shapley value method to allocate the profit of the alliance which comprises several independent entities fairly. For the simulation of uncertainties, the scenario-based approach is used to simulate the water inflow of a reservoir considering the Monte Carlo (MC) method. The wind speed for the intrahour market is forecasted with the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Simulations are implemented, and the results show that when treated as an SR unit for wind power, hydropower can diminish the imbalance charges significantly and will improve the revenue of the wind-hydro alliance. Furthermore, the coordination operation also helps reduce the spillage of the reservoir and the curtailment of the wind power to achieve better utilization of renewable energy.
Fatal Retroperitoneal Hematoma in a Patient Receiving Enoxaparin for Bilateral Pulmonary Emboli
Authors: Sexe Jordan , McCarthy Robin , Dara Navid , Brown Lyon , Dutta Gaurav
Published: May 2020

Venous thromboembolism occurs when a deep vein thrombosis travels to the lungs and forms a pulmonary embolism. Low-molecular-weight heparins are a mainstay in the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism and should be initiated promptly due to substantial morbidity and mortality. A rare side effect of low-molecular-weight heparins is major bleeding, which also carries a significant morbidity and mortality rate. Here, we present a case of a fatal retroperitoneal hematoma in a patient being treated with enoxaparin for bilateral pulmonary emboli.
Effects of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Stem Bark of Alstonia boonei De Wild. (Apocynaceae) on Dextran Sodium Sulfate‐Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Wistar Rats
Authors: Adjouzem Carine Flore , Gilbert Ateufack , Mbiantcha Marius , Yousseu Nana William , Matah Marthe Mba Vanessa , Djuichou Nguemnang Stephanie Flore , Tsafack Eric Gonzal , Atsamo Albert Donatien
Published: May 2020

Among the most exploited species in Cameroon, Alstonia boonei is widely used in African medicine for the relief of several pathologies including gastrointestinal disorders. This study was conducted in order to assess the effects of aqueous and methanol stem‐bark extracts of Alstonia boonei on DSS‐ (dextran sodium sulfate‐) induced intestinal colitis and to determine its antioxidant potential. The classes of secondary metabolites present in these extracts were determined by chemical screening. The production of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β, and PGE2 was performed by in vitro ELISA analysis. Anticolitis effects were determined using an in vivo model of ulcerative colitis induced by DSS. The colitis was induced with a double dose of DSS (3% and 1%), and the aqueous and methanol extracts were administered orally from the 6th day after commencement of induction. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of six classes of secondary metabolites in these crude extracts: tannins, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, and phenols. Methanol and aqueous extracts of Alstonia boonei significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β, and PGE2 production stimulated by LPS. Both extracts at all doses significantly reduced (P < 0.01, P < 0.001) the signs of DSS‐induced colitis in the Wistar rats by decreasing inflammation and chronic colon damage. In addition, the extracts significantly (P < 0.001) reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in the colon and significantly (P < 0.01) increased superoxide dismutase and catalase and reduced glutathione (P < 0.05). Both extracts showed greater activity than the reference substance (prednisolone 4 mg/kg) used in this study. This study has demonstrated that aqueous and methanol extracts of Alstonia boonei stem bark have healing properties against colitis experimentally induced by DSS in rats.
Dynamic Model for Scheduling Crew Shifts
Authors: Graf Vojtech , Teichmann Dusan , Horinka Jiri , Dorda Michal
Published: May 2020

In regular as well as nonscheduled air transport, extraordinary situations occasionally occur, which may fundamentally disrupt the flight schedule. Fundamental disruptions of flight schedules affect not only passengers but also the airline. One of the areas that are negatively affected by the disruption is the crew plan. Due to extraordinary events, it happens that a flight is delayed, and the crew will not be at the destination airport at the prescribed time and the airline will not be able to assign it on further flights according to the original plan. Such situations can be resolved either by deploying any other available crew or by delaying the flight appropriately until the previously planned crew is available. Assigning a new crew entails additional costs for the airline, as it has to assign more flight staff than had been originally planned. Furthermore, delayed flights lead to paying passengers financial compensation, incurring additional costs for airlines. Therefore, it is important that the airline is able to resolve any irregularity situations so that the additional costs incurred to deal with the irregularity situations are kept at a minimum. The paper presents one possible approach, a mathematical model that can be used to solve such a situation. The presented mathematical model may be the basis for the decision support system of the operations center worker who is responsible for the operational management of flight crews. The model will primarily aim at smaller airlines that cannot afford expensive software and often rely on manual solutions. However, a manual solution may not always be the best, as the operator, who plans the processes, may not consider all the constraints. Another important factor that makes the decision processes more difficult is that it is usually necessary to decide in a short period of time. The solution proposed in this paper will allow the operator to make a quick decision that will also be the most advantageous for the airline. This is because the proposed method is an exact approach, which guarantees finding the optimum solution. In this article, we are only dealing with pilot crews.
Study on Vibration Characteristics of Polishing Rod for Polishing Aeroengine Blade with Abrasive Cloth Wheel
Authors: Xian Chao , Shi Yaoyao , Lin Xiaojun , Liu De
Published: May 2020

The vibration of grinding tools is very essential to the performance of parts and the safety of machine tools. However, the vibrationis rarely studied in the process of polishing aeroengine blade with abrasive cloth wheel. Polishing force is measured by dynamometer in the process of polishing aeroengine blade with abrasive cloth wheel, and the time-domain expressions of polishing force are obtained. Time-domain and frequency-domain vibration solutions of position at which the abrasive cloth wheel is installed under the coupling of axial force and normal force are obtained by the simulation method. The results show that the total displacement is approximately equal to the displacement in the normal direction. The frequency-domain characteristics of axial force and normal force are similar. The frequency-domain characteristics of vibration in x, y, and z directions are similar. The component frequencies of polishing force are not the same as the component frequencies of rod vibration, which means the vibration is not stable. The range of spindle speed to avoid resonance in polishing process is calculated.
Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Alkylresorcinols from Different Cereal Products
Authors: Tian Shuangqi , Sun Yue , Chen Zhicheng , Zhao Renyong
Published: May 2020

Cereal products are the most important dietary source for energy intake and several bioactive compounds with high concentrations in the bran and the germ. Different cereal products provide a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals, namely, phenolic acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, alkylresorcinols, benzoxazines, phytosterols, and lignans. The bioactive substance alkylresorcinols (ARs) present in the whole cereal can inhibit enzyme activity, prevent bacterial or fungal infection, reduce cholesterol absorption, prevent cancer, and resist oxidation. In this paper, we discussed the biological activity of ARs in whole cereal products. Understanding the effects of processing on cereal phytochemicals will help us to develop improved processes for processing cereal foods with higher retention rates of bioactive compounds.
Angle Closure Glaucoma in Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Pradhan Chandni , Khadka Simanta , Joshi Purushottam
Published: May 2020

Background. Angle closure glaucoma (ACG) whether primary or secondary lens induced has rare occurrence in cases with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Method. Five patients with history of diminished vision, ocular pain, and nyctalopia were clinically evaluated. Four patients had unilateral presentations of circumciliary congestion, corneal edema, and high intraocular pressure (IOP), while one had bilateral presentation, respectively. Anterior chambers were shallow; fundoscopy revealed the features of RP and gonioscopy affirmed closed angles in all the cases. The management strategies were individualized based on the specific ocular condition. Result. The raised IOP were not well controlled with conventional medical treatment. Neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) was performed in two patients and in the fellow eye in other two patients as a prophylactic measure. Phacoemulsification surgery with implantation of intraocular lens (IOL) was performed in three patients, whereas phacoemulsification only without IOL and trabeculectomy performed in one patient. Among them, two patients had subluxated lens, where one was managed with capsular tension ring and the other was left aphakic, respectively. However, the vision was not improved significantly in these patients. Conclusion. RP may be associated with ACG in rare instances. In these patients, angle closure-related high IOP can have a detrimental effect on the pre-existing visual impairment. However, this can be prevented by thorough clinical examination and timely intervention in those susceptible eyes.
Robust Optimization Model for Photovoltaic Power Producer’s Bidding Decision-Making in Electricity Market
Authors: Liu Lifeng , Gao Huisheng , Wang Yuwei , Sun Wei
Published: May 2020

With the deepening of electricity market (EM) reform and the high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) energy in power system, the uncertainties of a PV power output and fluctuation of EM prices would bring substantial financial risks for PV power producers (PPPs). This paper proposed a robust optimization model for PPP’s power bidding decision-making. Specifically, the random PV power outputs are modeled by the uncertainty set, which need no probabilistic information and can fully depict the continuous range of uncertainties. Subsequently, with respect to any scenario for day-ahead EM prices, PPP’s optimal power bidding strategy is obtained under the worst-case realization within the uncertainty set, which guarantees the robustness in resisting the negative impact of random PV power outputs on PPP’s profit. Moreover, a reformulation approach was introduced for equivalently transforming our model into a tractable framework. Simulation was implemented to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying our proposed model.
Revisiting Spatiotemporal Changes in Global Urban Expansion during 1995 to 2015
Authors: Zhang Yang , Wang Huiying , Xie Peng , Rao Yingxue , He Qingsong
Published: May 2020

This study used global land-use data interpreted from remote sensing images to quantitatively analyze the spatial and temporal changes in global urban expansion over the past 20 years, as well as the source, rate of expansion, and urban growth patterns of newly added urban land (NAUL) around the world. Some main conclusions included the following. (1) Globally, NAUL was mainly derived from agriculture, grassland, and forest. These three types of land use contributed 68.93%, 10.10%, and 9.76%, respectively, to the land sources for NAUL. (2) Eight countries/regions (CRs)—India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Philippines, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Vietnam—had significant potential for future urban growth and were designated as the “Emerging Urban Growth G8.” Also, Africa will continue to lead global urbanization after Asia. (3) Global urban expansion was still in a typical stage of edge expansion. Urban expansion in Oceania was the most aggregated, whereas in Asia, it was the most diffuse. (4) Apart from African CRs, the urban expansion rate in most CRs was higher than the population urbanization rate, so urbanization does not pose a significant threat to global food security. In addition, for CR with NAUL>1,000 km2, the level of economic development had a positive effect compact urban development. This study mapped large-scale urban expansion using unified data, a unified definition of urban boundaries, and over a unified time span.
Protective Impacts of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract against Methotrexate‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis on Mouse Spleen
Authors: Soliman Mohamed Mohamed , Al-Osaimi Saad Hommod , HassanMohamed Essam , Aldhahrani Adil , Alkhedaide Adel , Althobaiti Fayez , Mohamed Wafaa Abdou
Published: May 2020

Objective. The current study was aimed to examine the possible ameliorative impacts of MO leaf extract (MOLE) against MTX‐induced alterations on oxidative stress of mouse spleen and explore the possible molecular mechanism that controls such impacts. Methods. Adult male mice were allocated into 4 groups: control, Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE), MTX, and MOLE plus MTX. Mice received MOLE orally for a week before MTX injection and continued for 12 days. Serum and spleen were sampled for biochemical and quantitative gene expressions. Results. As compared with the MTX‐injected group, MOLE effectively reduced the changes in total proteins, spleen MDA, SOD and catalase activities, and changes in serum antioxidants levels. Moreover, there is downregulation of antioxidant genes (SOD and catalase) and antiapoptotic genes (XIAP and Bcl‐xl) along with upregulation in Bax and caspase‐3 mRNA (apoptotic genes) in the MTX‐injected group. MTX induced changes in IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐10 expression. MOLE restored and ameliorated the changes induced in biochemical, antioxidants, apoptosis, and apoptosis associated genes that were induced by MTX intoxication. Conclusion. Current findings indicated that pretreatment with MOLE to MTX‐intoxicated mice showed the potential usage of MO for oxidative stress and apoptosis treatment.
Complicated Relationship between Genetic Mutations and Phenotypic Characteristics in Transient and Permanent Congenital Hypothyroidism: Analysis of Pooled Literature Data
Authors: Long Wei , Zhou Lingna , Wang Ying , Liu Jiaxuan , Wang Huaiyan , Yu Bin
Published: May 2020

Purpose. Mutations and phenotypic characteristics remain unclear in patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), and no study concerning whether the outcome of transient CH (TCH) or permanent CH (PCH) is determined by mutations has been reported. Methods. We searched the literature up to April 2019. Eligible studies and data extraction were performed. We estimated the relationship between mutations and phenotypic characteristics in pooled patients with CH. Results. Two hundred forty-one cases were pooled from 41 eligible studies. The thyroid morphology, classification of mutated genes, and types of mutations were different between 94 patients with TCH and 147 patients with PCH. Heterozygous missense mutations prevailed in PAX8, TSHR, FOXE1, and NKX2-5, and patients with these mutated genes had a higher risk of PCH (OR = 37.38, 95% CI 5.04–277.21, P<0.001). TCH and PCH have equal shares in patients with mutated DUOX2 or DUOXA2. Dual-site and multisite mutations were frequently detected in DUOX2. High phenotypic heterogeneity was observed in mutated DUOX2 even in the same mutations. However, there was no relationship found between mutations and transient or permanent outcome in patients with mutated DUOX2. Conclusion. Transient or permanent outcomes were influenced by the biological function of mutated genes instead of types of mutations among patients with CH. Patients whose mutations were related to thyroid dysgenesis (TD) were more likely to have PCH. The relationship between mutations and phenotypic characteristics is complicated, and phenotypic characteristics may be affected by mutations and other factors.
Surface Subsidence Control during Deep Backfill Coal Mining: A Case Study
Authors: Li Baiyi , Zhou Nan , Qi Wenyue , Li Ailing , Cui Zhizhong
Published: May 2020

Deep resource exploitation is imperative, but it is facing with more complicated mining environment and more dangerous mining disturbances to induce the potential catastrophe process. Solid backfill technology, which can control the strata movement and prevent potential hazards, has been used as the primary method in deep mining for surface subsidence control and ecosystem protection. In this study, taking backfill mining area no. 930 in the Tangkou coal mine as background, the probability integral model was adopted to predict the surface subsidence at different mining depths and filling ratios. The filling ratio was designed for deep mining based on the regression analysis of the predicted surface subsidence results. The study shows that the backfilling ratio at the Tangkou deep coal mining area should be controlled at a level greater than 82.5%, and the mining damage to the surface under this condition was analyzed. Furthermore, control strategies for deep backfill mining are proposed in which the backfill density can be enhanced by optimizing the tamping machine, material composition, and tamping process. Finally, the measurement of the backfill mass and surface subsidence showed that the actual filling ratio was controlled at 82.57%, which ensures adequate protection of the surface buildings during the mining process.
A Multidomain Spectral Method for Analysis of Interior Vibroacoustic Systems with Segmented Boundaries
Authors: Zhang Zhenguo , Yu Haiting , Duan Ningyuan , Hua Hongxing
Published: May 2020

Spectral methods have previously been applied to analyze a multitude of vibration and acoustic problems due to their high computational efficiency. However, their application to interior structural acoustics systems has been limited to the analysis of a single plate coupled to a fluid-filled cavity. In this work, a general multidomain spectral approach is proposed for the eigenvalue and steady-state vibroacoustic analyses of interior structural-acoustic problems with discontinuous boundaries. The unified formulation is derived by means of a generalized variational principle in conjunction with the spectral discretization procedure. The established framework enables one to easily accommodate complex systems consisting of both a structure assembly and a built-up cavity with moderate geometric complexities and to effectively analyze vibroacoustic behaviors with sufficient accuracy at relatively high frequencies. Two practical examples are chosen to demonstrate the flexibility and efficiency of the proposed formulation: a built-up cavity backed by an assembly of multiple connected plates with arbitrary orientations and a thick irregular elastic solid coupled with a heavy acoustic medium. Comparison to finite element simulations and convergence studies for these two examples illustrate the considerable computational advantage of the method as compared to finite element procedures.
Proportion and Associated Factors of Low Vision among Adult Patients Attending at University of Gondar Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Gondar Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Tegegn Melkamu Temeselew , Belete Gizachew Tilahun , Ferede Ayanaw Tsega , Assaye Aragaw Kegne
Published: May 2020

Introduction. Low vision is a worldwide health problem in both developing and developed countries. A national survey of low vision and blindness in Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of low vision was 3.7% and that of blindness was 1.6%, whereas there is no evidence in the study area. Purpose. The study was aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of low vision at the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 727 study participants with a systematic random sampling technique from April 18 to May 16, 2019. Data were collected through the use of a structural questionnaire and physical eye examination. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7, and analysis was performed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. The binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with low vision, and variables with a P value of <0.05 in a multivariable binary logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Results. A total of 715 study participants have participated in this study with a mean age of 49.39 ± 19.93 years. The prevalence of low vision was 35.7% (95% CI: 32.3, 39.3). Being female (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.28), no formal educational level (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.02), history of cataract surgery (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.53, 4.36), and age ≥ 70 years (AOR: 3.96; 95% CI: 2.21, 7.10) were significantly associated with low vision. Conclusion and Recommendation. The prevalence of low vision found in this study was high as compared with the national and global magnitude. Older age, being female, previous history of cataract surgery, and no formal education were independently and significantly associated with low vision. Cataract and uncorrected refractive errors were identified as the main causes of low vision. Therefore, it requires a plan to provide an eye care education to the community, increasing the quality of cataract surgery and refractive service for the community in the catchment area.
Experimental Study on Impact Absorption Capacity of Various Expanded Materials for Rock Shed
Authors: Kurihashi Yusuke , Kogure Naochika , Nitta Shin-ichi , Komuro Masato
Published: May 2020

In recent years, there has been a continuous increase in the intensity of natural disasters. Slope disasters such as rock falls occur along coastlines and in mountainous regions. Rock shed structures are implemented as measures to prevent rock fall damage; however, these structures deteriorate over time, and their impact resistance also decreases. As a supplementary measure, a method employing foam material as a cushioning material has been used in practical applications. However, the effect of the compressive strength characteristics on the cushioning performance of foamed materials has not been studied thus far. Therefore, in this study, falling-weight impact-loading tests involving various fall heights were performed to examine the absorption performance of various expanded materials. Moreover, we examined the case where core slabs were layered to effectively exploit the absorption performance of the expanded materials. The results of this study are summarized as follows: (1) the transmitted impact penetration stress-strain curves right under the loading points of various expanded materials exhibit properties similar to those obtained from the results of material testing. However, in the case of expanded materials with high compressive strengths, the compressive stress from the results of material testing tends to be lower. (2) In the case of expanded materials with high compressive strengths, with and without core slabs, the distribution of the transmitted impact stress is large, and the energy absorption capacity is high. (3) In this experiment, the energy absorption capacity was found to double when core slabs are layered, regardless of the type of expanded material used. This suggests that expanded materials with high compressive strengths may contribute towards a higher improvement in energy absorption capacities, by using layered core slabs.
Quantum Gravity Correction to Hawking Radiation of the 2+1-Dimensional Wormhole
Authors: Gecim Ganim , Sucu Yusuf
Published: May 2020

We carry out the Hawking temperature of a 2+1-dimensional circularly symmetric traversable wormhole in the framework of the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). Firstly, we introduce the modified Klein-Gordon equation of the spin-0 particle, the modified Dirac equation of the spin-1/2 particle, and the modified vector boson equation of the spin-1 particle in the wormhole background, respectively. Given these equations under the Hamilton-Jacobi approach, we analyze the GUP effect on the tunneling probability of these particles near the trapping horizon and, subsequently, on the Hawking temperature of the wormhole. Furthermore, we have found that the modified Hawking temperature of the wormhole is determined by both wormhole’s and tunneling particle’s properties and indicated that the wormhole has a positive temperature similar to that of a physical system. This case indicates that the wormhole may be supported by ordinary (nonexotic) matter. In addition, we calculate the Unruh-Verlinde temperature of the wormhole by using Kodama vectors instead of time-like Killing vectors and observe that it equals to the standard Hawking temperature of the wormhole.
Analysis of a Novel Two-Lane Hydrodynamic Lattice Model Accounting for Driver’s Aggressive Effect and Flow Difference Integral
Authors: Qi Xinyue , Ge Hongxia , Cheng Rongjun
Published: May 2020

In the actual traffic environment, the driver’s aggressive driving behaviors are closely related to the traffic conditions at the next-nearest grid point at next time step. The driver adjusts the acceleration of the driving vehicle by predicting the density of the front grid points. Considering the driver’s aggressive effect and the relative flow difference integral, a novel two-lane lattice hydrodynamic model is presented in this paper. The linear stability method is used to analyze the current stability of the new model, and the neutral stability curve is obtained. The nonlinear analysis of the new model is carried out by using the theory of perturbations, and the mKdV equation describing the density of the blocked area is derived. The theoretical analysis results are verified by numerical simulation. From the analysis results, it can be seen that the driver’s aggressive effect and the relative flow difference integral can improve the stability of traffic flow comprehensively.
Multivariate Prediction Model of Strength and Acoustic Emission Energy considering Parameter Correlation of Coal or Rock
Authors: Li Shuncai , Li Daquan , Zhang Nong
Published: May 2020

Due to the heterogeneity of the internal structure and the different external loading conditions, the mechanical and acoustic emission (AE) characteristic parameters of coal and rock are discrete in the process of loading until failure, and many repeated and destructive tests need to be completed to obtain the performance parameters. It is of theoretical significance to explore the correlation of various parameters and to establish multiparameter regression models of coal rock strength and AE characteristics for predicting the strength and acoustic emission characteristic parameters of coal rock and reducing the repeated tests. For the coal sample from a coal seam of Longde Coal Mine in China, the mass density of coal samples and the acoustic velocity in the samples before loading are measured at first, and their respective coefficient of variation is analyzed. Then, the stress‐strain curve and the time history curve of AE characteristic parameters are obtained by the uniaxial compression AE test of each coal sample according to the different loading rates. The influence of loading rate, mass density, and acoustic velocity on the mechanical and AE energy parameters of coal sample is analyzed by the section morphology of the coal sample after failure, the three‐dimensional location map of AE, and the scanning micrograph of the electron microscope. Based on the least‐square method, the multiple regression models of compressive strength, elastic modulus, and the maximum AE energy are established by mass density, acoustic velocity, and loading rate of coal samples. The results indicate that, for the coal samples from the same geological source, the obtained regression models can, respectively, predict the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and the maximum AE energy according to the predesigned loading rate, the acoustic velocity, and mass density of coal samples measured before loading, without too many repeated loading failure tests.
Packet Reordering Metrics to Enable Performance Comparison in IP-Networks
Authors: Torres-Jr Pedro Rodrigues , Ribeiro Eduardo Parente
Published: May 2020

Despite the existence of several metrics to perform measurements on out-of-order packets, few works have used these metrics for comparative purposes. A potential reason for this is that the use of these simple singleton metrics makes it difficult to analyze all the effects of packet reordering. On the other hand, more complete metrics are represented in a vectorial manner, making comparative analysis challenging. In this paper, we present a scenario for testing and describe a methodology for conducting experiments to compare network paths with respect to unordered packets. The results of several simulations explore simple packet reordering metrics derived from vector metric that may allow future work to be benchmarked against. We demonstrated the behaviour of some TCP congestion control algorithms by adjusting different levels of reordering. We highlight good results with the Entropy reorder metric.