bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rampant C→U Hypermutation in the Genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses: Causes and Consequences for Their Short- and Long-Term Evolutionary Trajectories
Authors: Simmonds P.
Published: June 2020

The wealth of accurately curated sequence data for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), its long genome, and its low substitution rate provides a relatively blank canvas with which to investigate effects of mutational and editing processes imposed by the host cell. The finding that a large proportion of sequence change in SARS-CoV-2 in the initial months of the pandemic comprised C→U mutations in a host APOBEC-like context provides evidence for a potent host-driven antiviral editing mechanism against coronaviruses more often associated with antiretroviral defense. In evolutionary terms, the contribution of biased, convergent, and context-dependent mutations to sequence change in SARS-CoV-2 is substantial, and these processes are not incorporated by standard models used in molecular epidemiology investigations.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients Can Contaminate Their Surroundings: an Environment Sampling Study
Authors: Wei Li , Lin Ji , Duan Xiaofei , Huang Wenzhi , Lu Xiaojun , Zhou Juan , Zong Zhiyong
Published: June 2020

Although it has been well recognized that the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be acquired by exposure to fomites, surprisingly, the contamination of patients’ surroundings by SARS-CoV-2 is largely unknown, as there have been few studies. We performed an environmental sampling study for 13 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients and found extensive contamination of patients’ surroundings. In particular, we found that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients contaminated their surroundings and therefore imposed risks for other people. Environment cleaning should be emphasized in negative-pressure rooms. The findings may be useful to guide infection control practice to protect health care workers.
Relationships between sites of abdominal pain and the organs involved: a prospective observational study
Authors: Yamashita Shun , Tago Masaki , Katsuki Naoko E , Nishi Tomoyo M , Yamashita Shu-ichi
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent chief complaints in primary care settings. The aim of the present study was to determine the positive likelihood ratios (PLRs) and negative likelihood ratios (NLRs) of the relationships between the sites of abdominal pain and the organs involved.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

A single tertiary centre, a university hospital in Japan.

Participants

A total of 2591 new outpatients visited the Department of General Medicine at a university hospital from April 2017 to March 2018. Of these, 326 patients aged ≥20 years with abdominal pain were enrolled.

Results

Sites of abdominal pain were classified into 11 categories including nine different abdominal sections, ‘generalised abdomen’ and ‘site-indeterminate’. The PLRs between ‘right subcostal’ and ‘liver and biliary tract’; between ‘right subcostal’ and ‘musculoskeletal’ ; between ‘epigastric’ and ‘oesophagus, stomach and duodenum’; between ‘right or left flank’ and ‘urinary tract’; between ‘left flank’ and ‘dermatological’; and between ‘mid-lower’ and ‘intestinal’ ranged from 2.17 to 4.14. The PLRs between ‘epigastric’ and ‘urinary tract’; between ‘mid-lower’ and ‘liver and biliary tract’; between ‘periumbilical’ and ‘urinary tract’; and between ‘generalised abdomen’ and ‘oesophagus, stomach and duodenum’ were low, ranging from 0.17 to 0.25. The NLR ranged from 0.5 to 1.5, excluding the relationship between ‘left flank’ and ‘dermatological’.

Conclusion

The presence of pain at right subcostal, epigastric, right or left flank and mid-lower sites might be useful for identifying the organs involved. Additionally, the presence of pain at mid-lower, epigastric, periumbilical and generalised abdominal sites might be helpful for denying the involvement of some organs. Some sites of abdominal pain can be indicative of the organs involved.

Trial registration number

UMIN000037686
Disturbing medical findings in war-related traumatic amputation patients: a clinical descriptive study from Gaza
Authors: Heszlein-Lossius Hanne Edoy , Ismail Anas , Al-Borno Yahya , Shaqqoura Samar , Skaik Nashwa , Hinnawi Iman Al , Matar Mahmoud , Gilbert Mads
Published: June 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore possible long-term negative health effects of injuries sustained by modern weaponry.

Setting

The study was conducted in Gaza’s main hospital, Al-Shifa Hospital.

Participants

During the last 10 to 15 years, thousands of civilian Palestinians in Gaza have survived numerous military incursions, but with war-related traumatic injuries caused by explosive weapons. It is unclear to which extent the injuries sustained by such modern weaponry may increase survivors’ risks of negative long-term health effects and serious illness. We have reported mechanisms and severity of injury, demographics and psychosocial status among 254 Palestinian patients in Gaza with war-related extremity amputations. Among the same amputees, subgroups of patients presented a variety of alarming symptoms and findings. 94 patients received further diagnostic clinical exploration, radiology imaging and clinical chemistry laboratory tests at the main clinical centre in Gaza, the Al-Shifa Hospital.

Results

Nine out of ten of the referred patients were young (median 31.5 years) males (88/94, 92.6%). Ultrasound imaging revealed that 19 of 90 patients (20%) had fatty liver infiltration, 3 patients had lung nodules and 10 patients had lung atelectasis on chest CT. Twelve had remaining shrapnel(s) in the chest, five patients had shrapnel(s) in the abdomen and one in the scrotum. We found shrapnel(s) in the amputation stumps of 26 patient’s amputated limbs, while 8 patients had shrapnel in the non-amputated limb. Three patients had liver lesions. Nineteen patients had elevated liver enzymes, 32 patients had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and 12 were anaemic. Two patients tested positive for hepatitis C virus and three were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV). One of the 19 patients with fatty liver tested positive for HBV. Two of the patients with fatty liver infiltration had elevated glycatedhaemoglobin levels and confirmed diabetes mellitus type II.

Conclusion

Nearly half (44, 8%) had remaining metal fragments from explosives of unknown composition harboured in various parts of their bodies. All patients identified with lesions and nodules are being followed up locally. As of now, we cannot anticipate the long-term health consequences of living with metal residuals from modern explosive weapons embedded in body organs and tissue.
Electronic cigarette use among university students aged 18–24 years in New Zealand: results of a 2018 national cross-sectional survey
Authors: Wamamili Ben , Wallace-Bell Mark , Richardson Ann , Grace Randolph C , Coope Pat
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To examine electronic cigarette use, reasons for use and perceptions of harm among university students.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

University students across New Zealand.

Methods

We analysed data from a 2018 cross-sectional survey of university students, weighted to account for undersampling and oversampling by gender and university size. χ2 tests were used to compare e-cigarette use, reasons for use and perceptions of harm by age, gender, ethnicity and cigarette smoking.

Participants

The sample comprised 1476 students: 62.3% aged 18–20 years, 37.7% aged 21–24 years; 38.6% male, 61.4% female; 7.9% Māori and 92.1% non-Māori.

Results

40.5% of respondents (95% CI 37.9 to 43.1) reported ever, 6.1% (4.9–7.4) current and 1.7% (1.1–2.5) daily use. Regardless of frequency, 11.5% of vapers had vaped daily for ≥1 month, 70.2% of whom used nicotine-containing devices; 80.8% reported not vaping in indoor and 73.8% in outdoor smoke-free spaces. Among ever vapers, curiosity (67.4%), enjoyment (14.4%) and quitting (2.4%) were common reasons for vaping. 76.1% (73.4–78.7) of respondents believed e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes.

More males than females reported vaping (ever, current, daily and daily for ≥1 month), nicotine use and belief that e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes. More participants aged 18–20 years reported not vaping in outdoor smoke-free spaces, vaping out of curiosity and belief that e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes, while more participants aged 21–24 years vaped daily for ≥1 month and for enjoyment. More Māori than non-Māori ever vaped. More cigarette smokers than non-smokers vaped (ever, current, daily and daily for ≥1 month), used nicotine and vaped to quit, while more non-smokers did not vape in smoke-free spaces and vaped out of curiosity.

Conclusions

Our results suggest high prevalence of e-cigarette ever and current use, particularly among males and smokers. Many vaped out of curiosity and perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes.
The EX-FRAIL CKD trial: a study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of a home-based EXercise programme for pre-frail and FRAIL, older adults with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Nixon Andrew Christopher , Bampouras Theodoros M , Gooch Helen J , Young Hannah M L , Finlayson Kenneth William , Pendleton Neil , Mitra Sandip , Brady Mark E , Dhaygude Ajay P
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Frailty is highly prevalent in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with adverse health outcomes including falls, poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL), hospitalisation and mortality. Low physical activity and muscle wasting are important contributors to physical frailty in adults with CKD. Exercise training may improve physical function and frailty status leading to associated improvements in health outcomes, including HRQOL. The EX-FRAIL CKD trial aims to inform the design of a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) that investigates the effectiveness of a progressive, multicomponent home-based exercise programme in prefrail and frail older adults with CKD.

Methods and analysis

The EX-FRAIL CKD trial is a two-arm parallel group pilot RCT. Participants categorised as prefrail or frail, following Frailty Phenotype (FP) assessment, will be randomised to receive exercise or usual care. Participants randomised to the intervention arm will receive a tailored 12-week exercise programme, which includes weekly telephone calls to advise on exercise progression. Primary feasibility outcome measures include rate of recruitment, intervention adherence, outcome measure completion and participant attrition. Semistructured interviews with a purposively selected group of participants will inform the feasibility of the randomisation procedures, outcome measures and intervention. Secondary outcome measures include physical function (walking speed and Short Physical Performance Battery), frailty status (FP), fall concern (Falls Efficacy Scale-International tool), activities of daily living (Barthel Index), symptom burden (Palliative care Outcome Scale-Symptoms RENAL) and HRQOL (Short Form-12v2).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by a National Health Service (NHS) Regional Ethics Committee and the NHS Health Research Authority. The study team aims to publish findings in a peer-reviewed journal and presents the results at relevant national and international conferences. A summary of findings will be provided to participants, a local kidney patient charity and the funding body.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN87708989.
Distance travelled to hospital for emergency laparotomy and the effect of travel time on mortality: cohort study
Authors: Salih Tom , Martin Peter , Poulton Tom , Oliver Charles M , Bassett Mike G , Moonesinghe S Ramani
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To evaluate whether distance and estimated travel time to hospital for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy is associated with postoperative mortality.

Design

National cohort study using data from the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit.

Setting

171 National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales.

Participants

22 772 adult patients undergoing emergency surgery on the gastrointestinal tract between 2013 and 2016.

Main outcome measures

Mortality from any cause and in any place at 30 and 90 days after surgery.

Results

Median on-road distance between home and hospital was 8.4 km (IQR 4.7–16.7 km) with a median estimated travel time of 16 min. Median time from hospital admission to operating theatre was 12.7 hours. Older patients live on average further from hospital and patients from areas of increased socioeconomic deprivation live on average less far away.

We included estimated travel time as a continuous variable in multilevel logistic regression models adjusting for important confounders and found no evidence for an association with 30-day mortality (OR per 10 min of travel time=1.02, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.06, p=0.512) or 90-day mortality (OR 1.02, 95 % CI 0.97 to 1.06, p=0.472).

The results were similar when we limited our analysis to the subgroup of 5386 patients undergoing the most urgent surgery. 30-day mortality: OR=1.02 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.10, p=0.574) and 90-day mortality: OR=1.01 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.08, p=0.858).

Conclusions

In the UK NHS, estimated travel time between home and hospital was not a primary determinant of short-term mortality following emergency gastrointestinal surgery.
Utility of an infectious and tropical disease histopathology diagnostic review service
Authors: Yue Sum Yu Pansy , Lucas Sebastian B , Brown Michael , Chiodini Peter L , Walker Stephen L , Mahadeva Ula
Published: June 2020

Aim

To assess the utility of a London-based infectious and tropical disease histopathology diagnostic review service.

Methods

The original and specialist review histopathology reports of 457 samples from over 3 years of referrals were compared retrospectively.

Results

Overall 329 (72.0%) showed no significant difference; 34 (7.4%) showed a non-clinically significant difference; and 94 (20.6%) showed a clinically significant difference. Of the 94 clinically significant discrepancies, 46 (48.9%) were incorrectly suspected infections; 19 (20.2%) were missed infections; 8 (8.5%) were different infections; and in 20 (21.3%), the specialist review yielded more specific identification of an organism or a more correct assessment of its viability.

Conclusions

A review of histopathology cases by an infectious disease (ID) histopathology referral centre has yielded a 20.6% clinically significant error rate. Measures to improve training in ID histopathology in the UK are discussed.
Development, internal validation and calibration of a risk score to predict survival in patients withEGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ng Isaac KS , Kumarakulasinghe Nesaretnam Barr , Syn Nicholas L , Soo Ross Andrew
Published: June 2020

Aims

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are first-line molecularly targeted therapies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who carry sensitisingEGFRmutations, due to its superior survival outcomes compared with conventional chemotherapy regimens. In this study, we sought to identify clinical, immune and biochemical variables with prognostic significance in this patient subgroup and incorporate them into a nomogram-based risk score.

Methods

A total of 199 patients withEGFRmutation-positive, advanced NSCLC (defined as stage IV at initial diagnosis or incurable disease recurrence) treated with first-line EGFR TKI therapy were retrospectively profiled. Univariable and multivariable survival analyses were conducted, with variables from the multivariable model with the highest Harrell’s Concordance (C) Index selected for inclusion in the subsequent survival nomogram. Internal validation and internal calibration of our prognostic nomogram were also performed.

Results

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and lung/pleural metastasis were independent predictors of unfavourable overall survival in all three multivariable models. A survival nomogram was generated based on the multivariable model with the highest Harrell’s C Index, incorporating the following 11 variables: white cell count, haemoglobin, LDH, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, ethnicity (Chinese vs non-Chinese), Karnofsky-Performance Status (score of ‘90–100’ or ‘70–80’ vs ‘0–60’), Charlson Comorbidity Index (≥3, or 2, or 1 vs 0), neurological symptoms, brain, lung/pleural and adrenal metastases.

Conclusion

We identified serum LDH as an independent predictor of unfavourable clinical outcomes in patients with advanced,EGFRmutation-positive NSCLC. We further developed a robust nomogram-based risk score that incorporates clinical, biochemical and immune variables that can provide more targeted prognostication and management in this patient subgroup.
Sporadic vestibular schwannoma: a molecular testing summary
Authors: Sadler Katherine V , Bowers Naomi L , Hartley Claire , Smith Philip T , Tobi Simon , Wallace Andrew J , King Andrew , Lloyd Simon K W , Rutherford Scott , Pathmanaban Omar N , Hammerbeck-Ward Charlotte , Freeman Simon , Stapleton Emma , Taylor Amy , Shaw Adam , Halliday Dorothy , Smith Miriam Jane , Evans D Gareth
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Cases of sporadic vestibular schwannoma (sVS) have a low rate of association with germline pathogenic variants. However, some individuals with sVS can represent undetected cases of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) or schwannomatosis. Earlier identification of patients with these syndromes can facilitate more accurate familial risk prediction and prognosis.

Methods

Cases of sVS were ascertained from a local register at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine. Genetic analysis was conducted in NF2 on blood samples for all patients, and tumour DNA samples when available. LZTR1 and SMARCB1 screening was also performed in patient subgroups.

Results

Age at genetic testing for vestibular schwannoma (VS) presentation was younger in comparison with previous literature, a bias resulting from updated genetic testing recommendations. Mosaic or constitutional germline NF2 variants were confirmed in 2% of patients. Pathogenic germline variants in LZTR1 were found in 3% of all tested patients, with a higher rate of 5% in patients <30 years. No pathogenic SMARCB1 variants were identified within the cohort. Considering all individuals who received tumour DNA analysis, 69% of patients were found to possess two somatic pathogenic NF2 variants, including those with germline LZTR1 pathogenic variants.

Conclusions

Undiagnosed schwannoma predisposition may account for a significant minority of apparently sVS cases, especially at lower presentation ages. Loss of NF2 function is a common event in VS tumours and may represent a targetable common pathway in VS tumourigenesis. These data also support the multi-hit mechanism of LZTR1-associated VS tumourigenesis.
Mechanical thrombectomy of right internal carotid artery terminus occlusion using the ADAPT technique: impact of aspiration on parent vessel
Authors: Dossani Rimal Hanif , Tso Michael K , Waqas Muhammad , Rai Hamid H , Rajah Gary B , Siddiqui Adnan H
Published: June 2020

The impact of ADAPT—“a direct aspiration first pass technique”—on intracranial vasculature is not well understood, since the change of arterial diameter is often not visible during aspiration. We present a unique case in which the impact of aspiration on the parent vessel was visualized due to a previously deployed Neuroform Atlas stent and a Pipeline embolization device. The patient presented with right internal carotid artery occlusion. An aspiration catheter was advanced over the microcatheter system and corked into the clot, located within the stents in proximal M1. The stents were seen to collapse both during electronic pump and hand aspiration with no evidence of stent migration. This demonstrates that it is crucial to engage the clot interface with the tip of the aspiration catheter while performing ADAPT. Placing the aspiration catheter remote from the clot may result in collapse of the artery proximal to the clot with subsequent ADAPT failure.(video 1)

video 1.
Evaluation of a non‐invasive screening approach to determine hepatitis E virus status of pig farms
Authors: Risalde Maria A , Rivero‐Juarez Antonio , Frias Mario , Olivas Israel , Lopez‐Lopez Pedro , García‐Bocanegra Ignacio , Brieva Teresa , Caballero‐Gómez Javier , Camacho Angela , Fernández‐Molera Vicente , Gómez‐Villamandos José C , Rivero Antonio
Published: June 2020

Background

Identifying pig farms infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a key aspect to implement surveillance programmes for this emerging zoonotic agent. Detection of HEV in blood has several drawbacks, including animal handling, economic costs and animal stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a non‐invasive screening approach for determining the HEV status of pig farms under different management systems.

Methods

Forty stool samples randomly collected from the pen floor of 17 intensive pig farms and the yard of nine extensive ones were tested for HEV RNA. The invasive method used to confirm the HEV status of the farm was HEV RNA analysis of serum samples randomly collected from 40 animals on each farm.

Results

Twenty‐one HEV‐positive farms were detected by invasive and non‐invasive methods. No positive serum or stool samples were detected on five intensive farms. A high intertest agreement (K =1; P<0.00001) was observed between both methodologies, showing the stool screening approach a 100 per cent of sensitivity and specificity with respect to the invasive method. Likewise, a significant negative relationship was observed between the HEV within‐farm prevalence and the number of the first HEV‐positive stool sample found (Spearman's rho=−0.64; P=0.0004). This negative relationship was higher in intensively managed farms.

Conclusion

This non‐invasive screening approach could be reliably applied in a large‐scale surveillance programme for determining the HEV status of pig farms under different management systems.
Changes in c-fos and p-CREB signaling following exposure to forced swim stress or exogenous corticosterone during morphine-induced place preference are dependent on glucocorticoid receptor in the basolateral amygdala
Authors: Razavi Yasaman , Karimi Sara , Karimi-Haghighi Saeideh , Hesam Soghra , Haghparast Abbas
Published: June 2020

Neural circuitry comprising the nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala (AMY), and hippocampus (HIP) are the main components of the reward circuit. Our previous behavioral data showed that forced swim stress (FSS) and corticosterone administration could inhibit the acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), and this effect was blocked by intra-basolateral amygdala (BLA) administration of RU38486, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist. Therefore, we tried to evaluate the effect of intra-BLA administration of the GR antagonist during the conditioning phase on the c-fos and p-CREB/CREB ratio expression in the AMY, NAc, PFC, and HIP of rats that underwent FSS or received exogenous corticosterone (10 mg/kg; i.p.) before morphine injection (5 mg/kg; s.c.) during 3 conditioning days. Our results showed that morphine-induced CPP could increase c-fos level and p-CREB/CREB ratio in all regions (except in the HIP). In addition, c-fos expression was elevated by FSS in all regions and blockade of GR decreased this effect. In the PFC, in addition to FSS, corticosterone could raise c-fos expression, which was blocked by RU38486. In conclusion, it seems that the intra-BLA administration of RU38486 differently modulates the effect of morphine-induced CPP on the expression of c-fos and p-CREB/CREB ratio in animals that underwent FSS or corticosterone administration.
Sovateltide (IRL-1620) affects neuronal progenitors and prevents cerebral tissue damage after ischemic stroke
Authors: Ranjan Amaresh K. , Briyal Seema , Khandekar Divya , Gulati Anil
Published: June 2020

Stimulation of endothelin B receptors by its agonist IRL-1620 (INN, sovateltide) provides neuroprotection and neurological and motor function improvement following cerebral ischemia. We investigated the effect of sovateltide on stem and progenitor cells mediated neural regeneration and its effect on the cerebral tissue repair and restoration of neurological and motor function. Sovateltide (5 μg/kg) was injected intravenously in permanent middle cerebral artery occluded (MCAO) rats at 4, 6, and 8 h at days 0, 3, and 6. Neurological and motor function tests were carried out pre-MCAO and at day 7 post-MCAO. At day 7, significantly reduced expression of neuronal differentiation markers HuC/HuD and NeuroD1 was seen in MCAO + vehicle than sham rats. Sovateltide treatment upregulated HuC/HuD and NeuroD1 compared to MCAO + vehicle and their expression was similar to sham. Expression of stem cell markers Oct 4 and Sox 2 was similar in rats of all of the groups. Significantly reduced infarct volume and DNA damage with recovery of neurological and motor function was observed in sovateltide-treated MCAO rats. These results indicate that sovateltide initiates a regenerative response by promoting differentiation of neuronal progenitors and maintaining stem cells in an equilibrium following cerebral ischemic stroke.
PANDA as midrapidity detector for a future HESR Collider at FAIR
Authors: Frankfurt Leonid , Strikman Mark , Larionov Alexei , Lehrach Andreas , Maier Rudolf , van Hees Hendrik , Spieles Christian , Vovchenko Volodymyr , Stoecker Horst
Published: June 2020

Exciting new scientific opportunities are presented for the PANDA detector at the High Energy Storage Ring in the redefined $$\overline{\text {p}} \text {p}(A)$$

p
¯

p

(
A
)

collider mode, HESR-C, at the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Europe. The high luminosity, $$L \sim 10^{31}$$

L
∼

10
31

cm$$^{-2}$$

-
2

s$$^{-1}$$

-
1

, and a wide range of intermediate and high energies, $$\sqrt{s_{\text {NN}}}$$

s
NN

up to 30 GeV for $$\overline{\text {p}} \text {p}(A)$$

p
¯

p

(
A
)

collisions will allow to explore a wide range of exciting topics in QCD, including the study of the production of excited open charm and bottom states, nuclear bound states containing heavy (anti)quarks, the interplay of hard and soft physics in the dilepton production, probing short-range correlations in nuclei, and the exploration of the early, complete $$\overline{\text {p}}$$

p
¯

-p- annihilation phase, where an initially pure Yang–Mills gluon plasma is formed.
Direct CP violation in internal W-emission dominated baryonic B decays
Authors: Hsiao Y. K. , Tsai Shang-Yuu , Rodrigues Eduardo
Published: June 2020

The observation of CP violation has been experimentally verified in numerous B decays but is yet to be confirmed in final states with half-spin particles. We focus our attention on baryonic B-meson decays mediated dominantly through internal W-emission processes and show that they are promising processes to observe for the first time the CP violating effects in B decays to final states with half-spin particles. Specifically, we study the $$\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^0(\rho ^0)$$B¯0→pp¯π0(ρ0) and $$\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^+\pi ^-$$B¯0→pp¯π+π- decays. We obtain $$\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^0)=(5.0\pm 2.1)\times 10^{-7}$$B(B¯0→pp¯π0)=(5.0±2.1)×10-7, in agreement with current data, and $$\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\rho ^0)\simeq \mathcal{B}(\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^0)/3$$B(B¯0→pp¯ρ0)≃B(B¯0→pp¯π0)/3. Furthermore, we find $$\mathcal{A}_{CP}(\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^0,p\bar{p}\rho ^0,p\bar{p}\pi ^+\pi ^-) =(-16.8\pm 5.4,-12.6\pm 3.0,-11.4\pm 1.9)\%$$ACP(B¯0→pp¯π0,pp¯ρ0,pp¯π+π-)=(-16.8±5.4,-12.6±3.0,-11.4±1.9)%. With measured branching fractions $$\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}^0\rightarrow p\bar{p}\pi ^0,p\bar{p}\pi ^+\pi ^-)\sim \mathcal{O}(10^{-6})$$B(B¯0→pp¯π0,pp¯π+π-)∼O(10-6), we point out that $$\mathcal{A}_{CP}\sim -(10-20)\%$$ACP∼-(10-20)% can be new observables for CP violation, accessible to the Belle II and/or LHCb experiments.
ROLE OF FRICTION ENERGY AND TRIBO-REDUCTION IN ABRASIVE WEAR OF ALUMINA–TITANIA COATINGS
Authors: MEHAR SANKET , SAPATE S. G. , VASHISHTHA N. , BAGDE P.
Published: June 2020

This paper addresses friction energy-induced reduction of TiO2 during abrasive wear and friction of alumina–titania coatings with different TiO2 content. Alumina–13% titania and alumina–40% titania coatings were deposited by atmospheric plasma spray technique. An improvement in fracture toughness and better densification of coatings was observed with an increase in titania content. Alumina–40% titania coating showed lower friction coefficient and higher abrasive wear resistance than alumina–13% titania coating. An increase in friction energy was associated with enhanced reduction of TiO2 to Ti2O3 and an increase in the extent of gamma alumina to alpha alumina phase conversion. These observations along with structural and mechanical properties of coatings could explain differences in tribological response of these coatings. Friction energy parameter (FEP) was used to identify different regimes of wear and degradation mode of coatings.
Generation of summand absorbing submodules
Authors: Izhakian Zur , Knebusch Manfred , Rowen Louis
Published: June 2020

An [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] over a semiring [Formula: see text] lacks zero sums (LZS) if [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text]. More generally, a submodule [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is “summand absorbing” (SA), if, for all [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] These relate to tropical algebra and modules over (additively) idempotent semirings, as well as modules over semirings of sums of squares. In previous work, we have explored the lattice of SA submodules of a given LZS module, especially, those that are finitely generated, in terms of the lattice-theoretic Krull dimension. In this paper, we consider which submodules are SA and describe their explicit generation.
Exploration of Desirability Function Analysis-Based Particle Swarm Optimization for Magnetic Abrasive Finishing of Mild Steel
Authors: Singh Rajneesh Kumar , Gangwar Swati , Singh D. K.
Published: June 2020

Analysis of surface roughness, temperature and hardness of the finished surface is beneficial to retain the desired surface finish of the workpiece via the magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process. In this work, “change in roughness” ([Formula: see text]Ra), “raise in temperature” ([Formula: see text]) and “change in hardness” ([Formula: see text]) were opted for the multi-objective meta-heuristic optimization to minimize their impact on the finished surface of mild steel. Taguchi [Formula: see text] orthogonal array was used to obtain the experimental data on mild steel. The desirability fitness function (DFF) was developed to convert multi-responses to a single response. Finally, particle swarm optimization (PSO) was used for a higher-level decision-making and a meta-heuristic optimization approach, i.e. desirability function analysis-based PSO (PSO-DFA), was developed to obtain the best performance condition for surface finish. The best optimal setting obtained by using PSO-DFA included a working gap of 1.5[Formula: see text]mm, an abrasive weight of 15[Formula: see text]g, a voltage of 6[Formula: see text]V and a rotational speed of 50[Formula: see text]rpm. This setting has been selected based on the highest PSO-DFA value predicted by the meta-heuristic optimization approach and improved by 38.20% in comparison with DFA, that shows a satisfactory performance.
Designing a Bi-Objective Closed-Loop Supply Chain Problem with Shortage and All Unit Discount: “Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II” and “Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization”
Authors: Pirnagh Masoomeh Vazifeh , Davari-Ardakani Hamed , Pasandideh Seyed Hamid Reza
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, due to environmental issues, government rules and economic interests have increased attention to the collection and recovery of products, which has led to the formation of new concepts such as reverse and closed-loop supply chains. The implementation of the closed-loop supply chain as a solution to sustainable development is expanding from one hand and increasing the profitability of companies on the other. For this purpose, a mathematical model was developed to design an integrated closed-loop supply chain network, which is a combination of two-problem localization problems and flow optimization. The proposed model was designed to minimize network costs and to maximize the level of responsiveness to customers. The cost parameters of establishing centers in this model are uncertain; to overcome the model’s uncertainties, stochastic programming is used. In the mathematical model, supplier, manufacturer, distributor and customer in the direct supply chain and collection/rehabilitation, destruction, recycling centers and, second-type distribution center for sale of second-hand products as well as second-hand products customers in the reverse flow are considered, to be closer to the real today world. This model is multi-periodic mix integer nonlinear programming where the shortage has allowed. To motivate and encourage customers to buy more, in addition to getting closer to the real world and it happens more in practice, is considered all units of discount for transportation cost in the forward flow. To solve this model Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) is using. The parameter tuning was done using the Taguchi method. Then, the important criteria for measurement and comparison of performance algorithms have used, including the Mean Ideal Distance, Diversification Metric, Number of Pareto-optimal Solutions, and the Quality Metric. Results of the Comparative metrics show that NSGA-II outperforms MOPSO in almost all cases in achieving the best trade-off solutions.
Particle Swarm Optimization and Machinability Aspects during Turning of Hardened D3 Steel
Authors: Rath Debabrata , Panda Sumanta , Mishra Ankan , Pal Kamal
Published: June 2020

Metal cutting processes are associated with excessive forces, friction and heat generation due to continuous intensive contact between the active cutting tools and the work which degrades the machined surface quality. The hardened tool steel having excellent wear resistance property receives an extensive promotion, investigation and application in the die manufacturing industries. In this research, the machinability of hardened AISI D3 tool steel has been investigated using TiN-coated Al2[Formula: see text](C,N) ceramic tool inserts as per Taguchi’s [Formula: see text] orthogonal design of experiments is in horizontal turning under the dry condition. The experimental dataset was used for the regression model development of primary process outputs as well as mean cutting force using the response surface methodology (RSM) which was found to be significant. The parametric interaction effects on each process output were studied along with with chip morphology in detail. The cutting force as well as material removal rate was found to be significantly influenced by depth of cut, whereas machined surface quality was primarily dependent on tool feed rate. The wider with less prominent saw tooth chips got changed to narrower saw-tooth form with intensive shear bands at higher feed rates. Finally, an attempt has been made to develop an optimal parametric setting using particle swarm optimization technique to achieve minimum surface roughness and maximum material removal rate at less cutting force. The optimal parametric setting was high cutting speed (308[Formula: see text]m/min), high tool feed rate (0.08[Formula: see text]mm/rev) with medium depth of cut (0.6[Formula: see text]mm) to achieve each objective. This evolutionary particle swarm optimization technique was found to be highly accurate (within 8% error) as per validation experiment.
Effect of Groove Designs on Residual Stress and Transverse Shrinkage in GMAW and PGMAW of A333 Seamless Steel Pipes
Authors: Mishra Rohit , Kumar Upadhyay Avani , Singla Amneesh , Singh Yashvir
Published: June 2020

The effectiveness of weld joints primarily depends on the fusion of base metal, minimum heat-affected zone (HAZ) and lesser residual stresses. The severity of thermomechanical effects e.g. weld shrinkages and residual stresses is significantly minimized by narrow gap welding technique over the traditional welding. This work describes the welding of A333 Grade 3 steel pipes by the application of GMAW and PGMAW techniques. The analysis is made to capture the effects of groove designs on residual stress and transverse shrinkage. The process parameters used for the analysis are voltage, current and welding speed. In this work, narrow groove design using PGMAW process is capable of reducing the number of passes and area of weld deposit by 35–40% by volume. In PGMAW, decrement in residual stresses is observed with a narrow groove compared to conventional V groove technique. The results are validated by metallurgical and mechanical investigation of welded joints. This work will help other researchers to understand the effect of narrow gap welding using an optimum number of passes for thick pipes.
Optimization of A-TIG Welding Process Using Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Azadi Moghaddam Masoud , Kolahan Farhad
Published: June 2020

Flux-assisted tungsten inert gas welding process, also known as activated tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding, is extensively used in order to improve the performance of the conventional TIG welding process. In this study, the orthogonal array Taguchi (OA-Taguchi) method, regression modeling, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm have been used to model and optimize the process responses in A-TIG welding process. Welding current (I), welding speed (S) and welding gap (G) have been considered as process input variables for fabricating AISI316L austenitic stainless steel specimens. Depth of penetration (DOP) and weld bead width (WBW) have been taken into account as the process responses. In this study, SiO2, nano-particle has been considered as an activating flux. To gather required data for modeling, statistical analysis and optimization purposes, OA-Taguchi based on the design of experiments (DOE) has been employed. Then the process responses have been measured and their corresponding signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio values have been calculated. Different regression equations have been applied to model the responses. Based on the ANOVA results, the most fitted models have been selected as an authentic representative of the process responses. Furthermore, the welding current has been determined as the most important variable affecting DOP and WBW with 68% and 88% contributions, respectively. Next, the SA algorithm has been used to optimize the developed models in such a way that WBW is minimized and DOP is maximized. Finally, experimental performance evaluation tests have been carried out, based on which it can be concluded that the proposed procedure is quite efficient (with less than 4% error) in modeling and optimization of the A-TIG welding process.
Destruction phenomena in ferroactive materials
Authors: Khasbulatov Sidek , Cherpakov Aleksander , Parinov Ivan , Andryushin Konstantin , Shilkina Lidiya , Aleshin Vladimir , Andryushina Inna , Mardaliev Balabek , Gordienko David , Verbenko Iliya , Reznichenko Larisa
Published: June 2020

The results of a comprehensive study of the crystal structure, grain structure, and strength properties of ceramic bismuth ferrite with rare earth elements (REE) obtained by two-stage solid-phase synthesis followed by sintering using conventional ceramic technology are presented. The reasons for the formation of low mechanical strength and the development of destruction phenomena in solid solutions with small REE ([Formula: see text] Å) are considered: Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu. The causes of the observed phenomena associated with the composite-like structure of the studied media and, as a consequence, the occurrence of local stresses of structural elements that provoke crack formation are established. A source of the latter are also the structural features of the grain landscape. The conclusion is made about the appropriateness of taking into account the information obtained when developing devices based on BiFeO3/REE multiferroics.
Investigation of Structural and Dielectric Properties of Polycrystalline PbMg1∕3 Ti1∕3W1∕3O3 Tungsten Perovskite
Authors: Achary P. Ganga Raju , Choudhary R. N. P. , Parida S. K.
Published: June 2020

Lead magnesium tungsten titanate PbMg[Formula: see text] Ti[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text]O3 was prepared by adopting a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The sample has tetragonal crystal structure having average crystallite size 45.1325[Formula: see text]nm calculated using Scherer’s relation and the average grain size is about 40[Formula: see text]nm from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) measurement. Measurements of dielectric permittivity ([Formula: see text]) and loss ([Formula: see text]) have been investigated, both as a function of frequency (1[Formula: see text]kHz to 5[Formula: see text]MHz) and temperature (25–[Formula: see text]C) and the results showed the presence of interfacial polarization of the material. The dielectric spectra with frequency and temperature suggest that the prepared sample is semiconducting in nature following the NTCR behavior. The complex impedance results showed the contribution of grain and grain boundaries in the conduction mechanism. The activation energies were determined from the ac conductivity data in the temperature ranges of 200–[Formula: see text]C and 360–[Formula: see text]C. It has been observed that with the rise of frequency and temperature, the activation energy increases in the sample. The greater value of the activation energy always supports the conduction mechanism due to hopping of the charge carriers. The semicircular arcs of Cole–Cole plots confirm that the sample is semiconducting in nature which supports our dielectric results.
Soft-HaT
Authors: Alam Md Mahbub , Nahiyan Adib , Sadi Mehdi , Forte Domenic , Tehranipoor Mark
Published: June 2020

A hardware Trojan is a malicious modification to an integrated circuit (IC) made by untrusted third-party vendors, fabrication facilities, or rogue designers. Although existing hardware Trojans are designed to be stealthy, they can, in theory, be detected by post-manufacturing and acceptance tests due to their physical connections to IC logic. Manufacturing tests can potentially trigger the Trojan and propagate its payload to an output. Even if the Trojan is not triggered, the physical connections to the IC can enable detection due to additional side-channel activity (e.g., power consumption). In this article, we propose a novel hardware Trojan design, called
Soft-HaT
, which only becomes physically connected to other IC logic after activation by a software program. Using an electrically programmable fuse (E-fuse), the hardware can be “re-programmed” remotely. We illustrate how Soft-HaT can be used for offensive applications in system-on-chips. Examples of Soft-HaT attacks are demonstrated on an open source system-on-chip (OrpSoC) and implemented in Virtex-7 FPGA to show their efficacy in terms of stealthiness.
Modeling and Analysis of Dynamic Social Ties in D2D Collaborative Video Transmission
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhang Zufan , Zeng Tian , Li Xiaoke
Published: June 2020

Social networks are one of the main carriers of information diffusion. Changes in social ties will affect the quality of Device-to-Device (D2D) communications especially the video transmission. For further improving the communication utility of users, it is of great significance to effectively integrate D2D communications and social networks. To this end, this paper utilizes a stochastic approach to modeling and analysis of dynamic social ties in D2D collaborative video transmission. Specifically, a stochastic mathematical model is established and analyzed, in which the combined effect of many factors such as interest, geographical position, career, social class, value system, and interaction is considered. Based on the Brownian motion theory, the strength of social ties among social individuals with time is studied. Next, the reliability function and adaptive parameter estimation are performed. Finally, some examples are conducted to illustrate the main results of this paper, from which one can see that the proposed model has a good predictive ability of the changing trend of social ties.
Analysis and Improvement on an Authentication Protocol for IoT-Enabled Devices in Distributed Cloud Computing Environment
Authors: Kang Baoyuan , Han Yanbao , Qian Kun , Du Jianqi
Published: June 2020

Recently, a number of authentication protocols integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing have been proposed for secure access control on large-scale IoT networks. In this paper, we carefully analyze Amin et al.’s authentication protocol for IoT-enabled devices in distributed cloud computing environment and find that Amin et al.’s protocol is vulnerable to several weaknesses. The main shortcoming of Amin et al.’s protocol is in authentication phase; a malicious cloud server can counterfeit the cloud server chosen by a user, and the control server cannot find this counterfeit. To overcome the shortcomings of Amin et al.’s protocol, we propose an improved protocol. In the registration phase of the improved protocol, the pseudoidentity and real identity of a user or a cloud server are bundled up with the control server’s secret numbers. This measure can effectively prevent impersonation attack. We also compare the improved protocol with several existing authentication protocols in security and computational efficiency.
Protection against UVB-Induced Photoaging by Nypa fruticans via Inhibition of MAPK/AP-1/MMP-1 Signaling
Authors: Choi Hee-Jeong , Alam Md Badrul , Baek Mi-Eun , Kwon Yoon-Gyung , Lim Ji-Young , Lee Sang-Han
Published: June 2020

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is major causative factor in skin aging. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of a 50% ethanol extract from Nypa fruticans (NF50E) against UVB-induced skin aging. The results indicated that NF50E exerted potent antioxidant activity (IC50 = 17.55 ± 1.63 and 10.78 ± 0.63 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS-radical scavenging activity, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that pengxianencin A, protocatechuic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, and kaempferol were components of the extract. In addition, the extract exhibited elastase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 17.96 ± 0.39 μg/mL). NF50E protected against UVB-induced HaCaT cell death and strongly suppressed UVB-stimulated cellular reactive oxygen species generation without cellular toxicity. Moreover, topical application of NF50E mitigated UVB-induced photoaging lesions including skin erythema and skin thickness in BALB/C mice. NF50E treatment inhibited UVB-induced collagen degradation as well as MMP-1 and IL-1β expressions and significantly stimulated SIRT1 expression. Furthermore, the extract treatment markedly suppressed the activation of NF-κB and AP-1 (p-c-Jun) by deactivating the p38 and JNK proteins. Taken together, current data suggest that NF50E exhibits potent antioxidant potential and protection against photoaging by attenuating MMP-1 activity and collagen degradation possibly through the downregulation of MAPK/NF-κB/AP-1 signaling and SIRT1 activation.