bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Design for Testability Approach of Reversible Logic Circuits
Authors: Mondal Joyati , Deb Arighna , Das Debesh K.
Published: August 2020

Reversible circuits have been extensively investigated because of their applications in areas of quantum computing or low-power design. A reversible circuit is composed of only reversible gates and allow computations from primary inputs to primary outputs and vice-versa. In the last decades, synthesis of reversible circuits received significant interest. Additionally, testing of these kinds of circuits has been studied which included different fault models and test approaches dedicated for reversible circuits only. The analysis of testability issues in a reversible circuit commonly involves the detection of the missing gate faults that may occur during the physical realizations of the reversible gates. In this paper, we propose a design for testability (DFT) technique for reversible circuits in which the gates of a circuit are clustered into different sets and the gates from each cluster are then connected to an additional input line where, the additional line acts as an extra control input to the corresponding gate. Such arrangement makes it possible to achieve [Formula: see text] fault detection in any reversible circuit with a small increase in quantum cost. Experimental evaluations confirm that the proposed DFT technique incurs less quantum cost overhead with [Formula: see text] fault detection compared to existing DFT techniques for reversible circuits.
Rings whose cyclics are U-modules
Authors: Ibrahim Yasser , Koşan M. Tamer , Quynh Truong Cong , Yousif Mohamed
Published: August 2020

A right [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] is called a [Formula: see text]-module if, whenever [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are submodules of [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] there exist two direct summands [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The class of [Formula: see text]-modules is a strict and simultaneous generalization of quasi-continuous, square-free and automorphism-invariant modules. In this paper we study the rings whose cyclics are [Formula: see text]-modules, extending many of the known results on the subject and providing new ones.
Cohomology of BiHom-associative algebras
Authors: Das Apurba
Published: August 2020

Bihom-associative algebras have been recently introduced in the study of group hom-categories. In this paper, we introduce a Hochschild type cohomology for bihom-associative algebras with suitable coefficients. The underlying cochain complex (with coefficients in itself) can be given the structure of an operad with a multiplication. Hence, the cohomology inherits a Gerstenhaber structure. We show that this cohomology also control corresponding formal deformations. Finally, we introduce bihom-associative algebras up to homotopy and show that some particular classes of these homotopy algebras are related to the above Hochschild cohomology.
Data informed solution estimation for forward-backward stochastic differential equations
Authors: Bao Feng , Cao Yanzhao , Yong Jiongmin
Published: August 2020

Forward-backward stochastic differential equation (FBSDE) systems were introduced as a probabilistic description for parabolic type partial differential equations. Although the probabilistic behavior of the FBSDE system makes it a natural mathematical model in many applications, the stochastic integrals contained in the system generate uncertainties in the solutions which makes the solution estimation a challenging task. In this paper, we assume that we could receive partial noisy observations on the solutions and introduce an optimal filtering method to make a data informed solution estimation for FBSDEs.
Reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces on manifolds: Sobolev and diffusion spaces
Authors: De Vito Ernesto , Mücke Nicole , Rosasco Lorenzo
Published: August 2020

We study reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS) on a Riemannian manifold. In particular, we discuss under which condition Sobolev spaces are RKHS and characterize their reproducing kernels. Further, we introduce and discuss a class of smoother RKHS that we call diffusion spaces. We illustrate the general results with a number of detailed examples. While connections between Sobolev spaces, differential operators and RKHS are well known in the Euclidean setting, here we present a self-contained study of analogous connections for Riemannian manifolds. By collecting a number of results in unified a way, we think our study can be useful for researchers interested in the topic.
A Comparative Formulation Development and Evaluation of Tazarotene Ethosomal and Transfersomal Gel for Effective Management of Acne
Authors: Piumitali Bera , Neeraj Upmanyu , Rupal Dubey , Kumar Pandey Arun
Published: August 2020

Acne vulgaris is the most prevalent disorder in the period before puberty when increased adrenal androgen level causes enlargement of the sebaceous glands and it increased the production of sebum on the face, chest, and back. This disease is caused due to interaction between many causative agents or pathogenic components which lead to formation of the acne and those are seborrhea, follicular hyper keratinization, microbial formation of pilosebaceous unit by Propionibacterium acne and arrival of inflammatory mediators. Tazarotene is a well-known retinoid related to vitamin A that belongs to an acetylenic class of retinoid, used in the management of acne. Oral administration of Tazarotene causes changes in bone morphology after prolonged exposure to high doses, which also exhibit teratogenicity but this does not occur with topical delivery. Ethosomes are non-invasive delivery carriers enabling drugs to reach to the bottom of the skin layers and/or the system and transfersomes are the self-adaptable ultra-deformable flexible elastic bilayer vesicles composed of phospholipids able to penetrate through the pores of skin even smaller than its size. Present research aims the comparative evaluation of ethosomal and transfersomal gels loaded with Tazarotene in the treatment of acne. In the present study, ethosomes and transfersomes were formulated by the cold method and hand-shaking method, respectively, followed by loading of Tazarotene and development into gel formulation. The formulated gel samples were evaluated for in vitro release study, in vitro permeation study, in vitro anti-acne study, in vivo percutaneous permeation study by CLSM, and in vivo anti-acne study. The results proved that both the formulated ethosomal and transfersomal gels have better permeation through the skin but ethosomal gel showed better release in comparison to transfersomal gel, also final gels exhibited the anti-acne potentiality.
Fast and simple algorithms for counting dominating sets in distance-hereditary graphs
Authors: Lin Min-Sheng
Published: August 2020

Counting dominating sets (DSs) in a graph is a #P-complete problem even for chordal bipartite graphs and split graphs, which are both subclasses of weakly chordal graphs. This paper investigates this problem for distance-hereditary graphs, which is another known subclass of weakly chordal graphs. This work develops linear-time algorithms for counting DSs and their two variants, total DSs and connected DSs in distance-hereditary graphs.
Analytical simulation of dynamic characteristics of seat system with nonlinear suspension considering friction effects
Authors: Zhao Leilei , Yu Yuewei , Zhou Changcheng , Li Xiaohan , Huang Dehui
Published: August 2020

The friction inevitably exists in the nonlinear suspension system for seats. It affects dynamic characteristics of the seat with the nonlinear suspension system. Analysis of the influences of the friction on the seat vibration responses is helpful to improve comfort. Moreover, it is also an important part of promoting the industrialization application of the nonlinear suspension system for seats. In order to verify the influences, a model of the seat with the nonlinear suspension system considering friction effects was established by combining experiments. Based on the model, by using the harmonic balance method, the analytical formulas of the seat frequency-domain vibration response considering friction effects were deduced, and the influences of the friction on the frequency response characteristics of the system were simulated and analyzed. Moreover, the influences of the friction on the time-domain response characteristics were investigated. The results show that the existence of the friction can help to reduce the vibration in the peak region and to increase the system stability, however, it is not conducive to the improvement of the seat comfort under random road conditions.
Some patterned matrices with independent entries
Authors: Bose Arup , Saha Koushik , Sen Priyanka
Published: August 2020

Patterned random matrices such as the reverse circulant, the symmetric circulant, the Toeplitz and the Hankel matrices and their almost sure limiting spectral distribution (LSD), have attracted much attention. Under the assumption that the entries are taken from an i.i.d. sequence with finite variance, the LSD are tied together by a common thread — the [Formula: see text]th moment of the limit equals a weighted sum over different types of pair-partitions of the set [Formula: see text] and are universal. Some results are also known for the sparse case. In this paper, we generalize these results by relaxing significantly the i.i.d. assumption. For our models, the limits are defined via a larger class of partitions and are also not universal. Several existing and new results for patterned matrices, their band and sparse versions, as well as for matrices with continuous and discrete variance profile follow as special cases.
Order Exposure and Liquidity Coordination: Does Hidden Liquidity Harm Price Efficiency?
Authors: Cebiroğlu Gökhan , Hautsch Nikolaus , Horst Ulrich
Published: August 2020

We show that the excessive use of hidden orders causes artificial price pressures and abnormal asset returns. Using a simple game-theoretical setting, we demonstrate that this effect naturally arises from mis-coordination in trading schedules between traders, when suppliers of liquidity do not sufficiently disclose their trade intentions. As a result, hidden liquidity can increase trading costs and induce excess price fluctuations unrelated to information. Using NASDAQ order book data, we find strong empirical support and illustrate that hidden liquidity is higher if bid–ask spreads are smaller and relative tick sizes are higher.
Towards an Accessible Use of a Brain-Computer Interfaces-Based Home Care System through a Smartphone
Authors: Sun Koun-Tem , Hsieh Kai-Lung , Syu Syuan-Rong
Published: August 2020

This study proposes a home care system (HCS) based on a brain-computer interface (BCI) with a smartphone. The HCS provides daily help to motor-disabled people when a caregiver is not present. The aim of the study is two-fold: (1) to develop a BCI-based home care system to help end-users control their household appliances, and (2) to assess whether the architecture of the HCS is easy for motor-disabled people to use. A motion-strip is used to evoke event-related potentials (ERPs) in the brain of the user, and the system immediately processes these potentials to decode the user’s intentions. The system, then, translates these intentions into application commands and sends them via Bluetooth to the user’s smartphone to make an emergency call or to execute the corresponding app to emit an infrared (IR) signal to control a household appliance. Fifteen healthy and seven motor-disabled subjects (including the one with ALS) participated in the experiment. The average online accuracy was 81.8% and 78.1%, respectively. Using component N2P3 to discriminate targets from nontargets can increase the efficiency of the system. Results showed that the system allows end-users to use smartphone apps as long as they are using their brain waves. More important, only one electrode O1 is required to measure EEG signals, giving the system good practical usability. The HCS can, thus, improve the autonomy and self-reliance of its end-users.
Determinants of Virologic Failure among Adult HIV Patients on First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy at Waghimra Zone, Northern Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Emagnu Abrham , Abay Zenahebezu , Bulti Abera Balcha , Animut Yaregal
Published: August 2020

Introduction. The primary goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to reduce the viral load in HIV-infected patients to promote quality of life, as well as to reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality. A high rate of virologic failure was reported in Waghimra Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, in viral load assessment conducted among HIV-infected patients on ART in the Amhara region. However, there is limited evidence on the determinants of virological failure in the study area. This study aimed to identify the determinants of virological failure among HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in Waghimra zone, Northern Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. An institutional-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from May 21 to June 30, 2019. Cases were people living with HIV (PLHIV) on ART who had already experienced virological failure; controls were those without virological failure. Data were extracted from 92 cases and 184 controls through chart review using a pretested and structured checklist. The data were entered using Epi Info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with virological failure, and variables with a P value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. This study revealed that poor adherence to ART (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.17, 8.31), taking ART for longer than five years (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.17, 8.25), having drug toxicity (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.54, 7.23), age of PLHIV ≥ 35 years (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.29,4.64), and recent CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.52, 6.13) were factors associated with virologic failure. Conclusion and Recommendation. This study showed that poor adherence to treatment, longer duration on ART, experiencing drug toxicity, older age, and recent CD4 <200 cell/mm³ are factors that increase the risk of virologic failure.
Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Cardiac Differentiation, Reprogramming, and Regenerative Therapies
Authors: Liang Jialiang , Wu Min , Chen Chen , Mai Mingjie , Huang Jinsong , Zhu Ping
Published: August 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in mechanisms of heart development and regenerative therapies such as the use of pluripotent stem cells. The roles of ROS mediating cell fate are dependent on the intensity of stimuli, cellular context, and metabolic status. ROS mainly act through several targets (such as kinases and transcription factors) and have diverse roles in different stages of cardiac differentiation, proliferation, and maturation. Therefore, further detailed investigation and characterization of redox signaling will help the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ROS during different cellular processes and enable the design of targeted strategies to foster cardiac regeneration and functional recovery. In this review, we focus on the roles of ROS in cardiac differentiation as well as transdifferentiation (direct reprogramming). The potential mechanisms are discussed in regard to ROS generation pathways and regulation of downstream targets. Further methodological optimization is required for translational research in order to robustly enhance the generation efficiency of cardiac myocytes through metabolic modulations. Additionally, we highlight the deleterious effect of the host’s ROS on graft (donor) cells in a paracrine manner during stem cell-based implantation. This knowledge is important for the development of antioxidant strategies to enhance cell survival and engraftment of tissue engineering-based technologies. Thus, proper timing and level of ROS generation after a myocardial injury need to be tailored to ensure the maximal efficacy of regenerative therapies and avoid undesired damage.
Positive Solution for the Integral and Infinite Point Boundary Value Problem for Fractional-Order Differential Equation Involving a Generalized ϕ-Laplacian Operator
Authors: Benkaci-Ali Nadir
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we establish the existence of nontrivial positive solution to the following integral-infinite point boundary-value problem involving ϕ-Laplacian operator D0+αϕx,D0+βux+fx,ux=0,x∈0,1,D0+σu0=D0+βu0=0,u1=∫01 gtutdt+∑n=1n=+∞ αnuηn, where ϕ:0,1×R→R is a continuous function and D0+p is the Riemann-Liouville derivative for p∈α,β,σ. By using some properties of fixed point index, we obtain the existence results and give an example at last.
Effect of Total Flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata Bunge on the Expression of p‐JAK1‐and p‐STAT1‐Related Proteins in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Wang Yan-jun , Li Yang , Wang Xue-lin , Li Xin-ze , Chen Yan-wen , Yang Ling-ling , Ming Hai-xia
Published: August 2020

Objective. The study aimed to explore the effect of total flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata Bunge (FOFB) on the expression of p‐JAK1/p‐STAT1 and SOCS3 proteins in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods. Rats model with IPF was established by one‐off intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM, 5 mg/kg). After 14 days, the same volume of low dose (100 mg/kg), medium dose (200 mg/kg), and high dose (400 mg/kg) of FOFB and prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) as positive control drugs, as well as normal saline, were orally administered to rats once a day for 28 consecutive days. Subsequently, the degree of fibrosis and alveolitis in rat lung tissue was observed, respectively, by HE and Masson staining. Further more, observing the ultrastructure of lung tissue by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the detection of JAK/STAT pathway related indicators including p‐JAK1, p‐STAT1, and SOCS3 with immunohistochemistry and SOCS3 with real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) was performed. Results. Compared with the BLM group, the degree of alveolitis and fibrosis improved significantly, and the expression of p‐JAK1 and p‐STAT1 decreased; conversely, the expression of SOCS3 increased in the treatment group. Conclusion. IPF causes high expression of p‐JAK1 and p‐STAT1 and low expression of SOCS3. FOFB can play a role in the treatment of IPF via upregulating SOCS3 and downregulating p‐JAK1 and p‐STAT1.
Infrastructure and Flight Consolidation Efficiency of Public and Private Brazilian International Airports: A Two-Stage DEA and Malmquist Index Approach
Authors: Pacagnella Junior Antonio Carlos , Hollaender Paulo Sodre , Mazzanati Giovanni Vitale , Bortoletto Wagner Wilson
Published: August 2020

Air transportation is a paramount element within the transport infrastructure of any country. In recent years, several factors have led to an increased demand in the civil aviation industry in Brazil, putting pressure on the country’s airport infrastructure, which by itself justifies industry-related efficiency studies. Although the airport efficiency analysis is widely discussed in the literature, studies aiming to compare public and private Brazilian international airports are still scarce. The main objective of this study is to comparatively analyze the efficiency of public and private Brazilian international airports. To do so, efficiency was studied under two mathematical approaches: the two-stage DEA model and the Malmquist Index. Subsequent statistical analyses show a significant difference in efficiency between government-managed airports and those under concession to the private sector.
Lactoferrin Coating Improves the Antibacterial and Osteogenic Properties of Alkali-Treated Titanium with Nanonetwork Structures
Authors: Yin Derong , Hong Yonglong , Chen Luyuan , Komasa Satoshi , Yang Yuanyuan , Zhang Honghao , Yan Sifan , Nishizaki Hiroshi , Kusumoto Tetsuji , Sui Wen , Kawazoe Takayoshi , Okazaki Joji
Published: August 2020

Titanium and its alloys are the main dental implant materials used at present. The biological properties of pure titanium can be further improved by surface treatment methods. Alkali treatment of pure titanium at room temperature can form nanonetwork structures (TNS) on the surface, which has better osteoinductive ability than pure titanium. However, TNS does not possess antimicrobial properties, and bacterial infection is one of the main reasons for the failure of dental implant therapy. Therefore, it was the focus of our research to endow TNS with certain antimicrobial properties on the premise of maintaining its osteoinductive ability. Because of its excellent broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and because it promotes osteoblast-like cell growth, lactoferrin (LF) was considered a promising prospect as a surface biological treatment material. In this study, bovine LF of physiological concentration was successfully coated on the surface of TNS to form the TNS-LF composite material. Results from in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that TNS-LF had better osteoinductive ability than TNS. Bacterial attachment and biofilm formation were also significantly decreased on the surface of TNS-LF. Therefore, this study has provided an experimental basis for the development of osteoinduction-antimicrobial composite implant materials for dental applications.
Thermal Hydraulic and Neutronics Coupling Analysis for Plate Type Fuel in Nuclear Reactor Core
Authors: Ye Linrong , Wang Mingjun , Wang Xin’an , Deng Jian , Xiang Yan , Tian Wenxi , Qiu Suizheng , Su G. H.
Published: August 2020

The thermal hydraulic and neutronics coupling analysis is an important part of the high-fidelity simulation for nuclear reactor core. In this paper, a thermal hydraulic and neutronics coupling method was proposed for the plate type fuel reactor core based on the Fluent and Monte Carlo code. The coupling interface module was developed using the User Defined Function (UDF) in Fluent. The three-dimensional thermal hydraulic model and reactor core physics model were established using Fluent and Monte Carlo code for a typical plate type fuel assembly, respectively. Then, the thermal hydraulic and neutronics coupling analysis was performed using the developed coupling code. The simulation results with coupling and noncoupling analysis methods were compared to demonstrate the feasibility of coupling code, and it shows that the accuracy of the proposed coupling method is higher than that of the traditional method. Finally, the fuel assembly blockage accident was studied based on the coupling code. Under the inlet 30% blocked conditions, the maximum coolant temperature would increase around 20°C, while the maximum fuel temperature rises about 30°C. The developed coupling method provides an effective way for the plate type fuel reactor core high-fidelity analysis.
Prevalence and Predictors of Contraceptives Use among Women Aged (15–49 years) with Induced Abortion History in Ghana
Authors: Salifu Mohammed Gazali , Mohammed Kamaldeen
Published: August 2020

Background. The incidence of abortion in Ghana ranges from 27 per 1000 to 61 per 1000 women, causing gynecological complications and maternal mortality. The use of modern contraceptives and its associated factors among women aged 15–49 years have been documented. However, utilization of modern contraceptives specifically among women with induced abortion history is underreported. This study therefore aimed at determining the proportion and identifying predictors of contraceptives use in this underreported population. Methods. This study used secondary data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) for the analysis. The analysis is on a weighted sample of 3,039 women aged (15–49 years) with a history of induced abortion. Both descriptive and inferential methods were employed. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to assess statistical associations between the outcome variable and the predictors. Statistical significance was set at 95% confidence interval and p values ≤0.05. Results. Out of the 3,039 participants, 37% (95% CI: 34.6, 38.84) used contraceptives. We identified women’ age, union, place of residence, knowledge of fertile period, total pregnancy outcomes, and region as strong significant (95% CI, p≤0.05) predictors of post induced abortion contraceptives use. Conclusion. Contraceptives use among this vulnerable population is low. Therefore, there is a need to provide widespread access to postabortion contraception services and enhance efforts to efficiently integrate safe abortion practices law into health services in Ghana.
The Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ghasemi Hooman , Khaledi-Paveh Behnam , Abdi Alireza , Jalali Rostam , Salari Nader , Vaisi-Raygani Aliakbar , Mohammadi Masoud
Published: August 2020

Background. Migraine is a severe and debilitating neurologic disorder and is claimed to be the sixth disabling illness in the world. This study aimed to determine the overall prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with migraine through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods. To identify and select related studies, the Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, SID, IranDoc, Web of Science, Knowledge Network System Medline (PubMed), and Google Scholar databases were searched. All related cross-sectional studies, published in English or Persian language between January 2000 and December 2019 and using the keywords such as migraine, restless leg syndrome, sleep disorder, RLS, and migraine disorder, were collected. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the I2 index, and the data analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Results. Analysis was conducted on the reported results of the final 12 articles with the total sample size of 15196. The overall prevalence of RLS in patients with migraine was 16.3% (95% CI: 12.6–20.8%). The prevalence of RLS migraine patients decreased with increasing the sample size, and the prevalence of RLS migraine patients increased with increasing the research year, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion. This study highlights that RLS is high in patients with migraine, and therefore, the clinicians should be aware of its incidence and take preventive measures.
The Effect of Static Blasting Materials on Coal Structure Changes and Methane Adsorption Characteristics
Authors: Cui Xiao , Zhang Jiayong , Guo Liwen , Gong Xuemin
Published: August 2020

Methane in coal seam is always under the dynamic process of adsorption and desorption. It has been demonstrated that the static blasting technology is an effective way to extract methane from coal. Although it is of great significance to understand the role of static blasting materials on methane extraction, the change of methane during static blasting is not well understood due to limited research studies. In this paper, we took the reaction pressure and heat from the hydration of the static blasting materials as the main factors. Microstructure changes in the static blasting materials and coal were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and mercury injection. Changes of methane adsorption and adsorption rate before and after the static blasting were also measured. Our results demonstrated that the static blasting materials entered the microcracks of the coal body and the porosity of the coal was increased by heat expansion, improving methane migration. During the blasting process, methane began to desorb from the coal and its adsorption content was decreased. In contrast, the adsorption of methane was increased after the reaction. However, methane adsorption rate is higher than that of raw coal, indicating that the adsorbed methane is easier to convert into free methane, which is conducive to emission. This is of great significance to methane extraction and the safety of mines.
Clinical Presentations of Lumbar Disc Degeneration and Lumbosacral Nerve Lesions
Authors: Liyew Worku Abie
Published: August 2020

Lumbar disc degeneration is defined as the wear and tear of lumbar intervertebral disc, and it is mainly occurring at L3-L4 and L4-S1 vertebrae. Lumbar disc degeneration may lead to disc bulging, osteophytes, loss of disc space, and compression and irritation of the adjacent nerve root. Clinical presentations associated with lumbar disc degeneration and lumbosacral nerve lesion are discogenic pain, radical pain, muscular weakness, and cutaneous. Discogenic pain is usually felt in the lumbar region, or sometimes, it may feel in the buttocks, down to the upper thighs, and it is typically presented with sudden forced flexion and/or rotational moment. Radical pain, muscular weakness, and sensory defects associated with lumbosacral nerve lesions are distributed on lower extremities, the buttock, lower abdomen, and groin region. A lumbosacral plexus lesion presents different symptoms in the territories of the lumbar and sacral nerves. Patients with lumbar plexus lesion clinically present with weakness of hip flexion, knee extension, thigh adduction, and sensory loss in the lower abdomen, inguinal region, and over the entire medial, lateral, and anterior surfaces of the thigh and the medial lower leg, while sacral plexus lesion presents clinical symptoms at nerve fibers destined for the sciatic nerve, common peroneal nerve, and pudendal nerve. Weakness of ankle inversion, plantar flexion, and foot drop are the main clinical manifestations of the sacral plexus lesion area. Numbness and decreased sensation are also present along the anterolateral calf and dorsum of the foot. On examination, foot eversion is usually stronger than foot dorsiflexion. The patients may also present with pain and difficulty of bowel movements, sexual dysfunction assessments, and loss of cutaneous sensation in the areas of the anal canal, anus, labia major, labia minor, clitoris, penis, and scrotum.
Role of the Platelets and Nitric Oxide Biotransformation in Ischemic Stroke: A Translative Review from Bench to Bedside
Authors: Bladowski Maciej , Gawrys Jakub , Gajecki Damian , Szahidewicz-Krupska Ewa , Sawicz-Bladowska Anna , Doroszko Adrian
Published: August 2020

Ischemic stroke remains the fifth cause of death, as reported worldwide annually. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) manifesting with lower nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability leads to increased vascular tone, inflammation, and platelet activation and remains among the major contributors to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Moreover, temporal fluctuations in the NO bioavailability during ischemic stroke point to its key role in the cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation, and some data suggest that they may be responsible for the maintenance of CBF within the ischemic penumbra in order to reduce infarct size. Several years ago, the inhibitory role of the platelet NO production on a thrombus formation has been discovered, which initiated the era of extensive studies on the platelet-derived nitric oxide (PDNO) as a platelet negative feedback regulator. Very recently, Radziwon-Balicka et al. discovered two subpopulations of human platelets, based on the expression of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS-positive or eNOS-negative platelets, respectively). The e-NOS-negative ones fail to produce NO, which attenuates their cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway and—as result—promotes adhesion and aggregation while the e-NOS-positive ones limit thrombus formation. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a competitive NOS inhibitor, is an independent cardiovascular risk factor, and its expression alongside with the enzymes responsible for its synthesis and degradation was recently shown also in platelets. Overproduction of ADMA in this compartment may increase platelet activation and cause endothelial damage, additionally to that induced by its plasma pool. All the recent discoveries of diverse eNOS expression in platelets and its role in regulation of thrombus formation together with studies on the NOS inhibitors have opened a new chapter in translational medicine investigating the onset of acute cardiovascular events of ischemic origin. This translative review briefly summarizes the role of platelets and NO biotransformation in the pathogenesis and clinical course of ischemic stroke.
Knowledge Framework and Evolution of Fuzzy Portfolio Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Zhou Wei , Gu Qinen , Yu Dongping
Published: August 2020

Recently, wide applications of fuzzy set theory have attracted the attention of both researchers and practitioners. Fuzzy portfolio develops as a new area in the research field of investment portfolio. This paper investigates the major research hotspots, development trend, and evolution of fuzzy portfolio, which provides a systematic review of the current fuzzy portfolio literature. CiteSpace, the most commonly used bibliometrics software, is used in this article. According to the 602 articles with 15132 references, several conclusions can be summarized as follows: (1) Fuzzy portfolio becomes increasingly interdisciplinary with the connections among “Computer Science” and so on. (2) Most contributive authors are Markowitz and Zadeh. (3) South China University of Technology makes excellent performance in this research area and China is the most influential country. (4) European Journal of Operations Research is the cradle of plenty of crucial fuzzy portfolio investigations. (5) We find some research hotspots helpful to make scientific predictions of future trends by analyzing the keywords. By utilizing the effective bibliometric methods, we provide a comprehensive analysis and deep insights into the fuzzy portfolio research, enabling the individuals, especially the new beginners who are interested in this area to learn fuzzy portfolio, which will be of great help for their future explorations.
High Clostridium difficile Infection among HIV-Infected Children with Diarrhea in a Tertiary Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Seugendo Mwanaisha , Hokororo Aldofine , Kabyemera Rogatus , Msanga Delfina R. , Mirambo Mariam M. , Silago Vitus , Groß Uwe , Mshana Stephen E.
Published: August 2020

Clostridium difficile causes a million of illnesses each year worldwide and can affect people of all ages. Limited data exist on the prevalence of C. difficile infections (CDI) among children below five years of age in developing countries. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence, associated factors, and outcome of the Clostridium difficile infection among children with diarrhea attending a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. Stool samples were collected and cultured anaerobically to isolate Clostridium difficile, followed by C. difficile toxin A and B assay and ribotyping. A total of 301 children with diarrhea were enrolled. A total of 22 (7.31%, 95% CI: 0.89-0.95) nonrepetitive stool samples were positive for Clostridium difficile. Eighteen (81%) of C. difficile isolates were toxigenic, and 16 (72.7%) had unknown ribotypes. Independent predictors of positive C. difficile were as follows: positive HIV status, hospital stay of more than four days, high stool leukocyte count, and watery stool. Clostridium difficile-positive children had significantly higher median duration of the diarrhea than those without C. difficile. Clinicians should consider C. difficile as a possible cause of diarrhea in children living in developing countries and institute appropriate management to prevent associated morbidities and mortalities. Furthermore, there is a need of joint effort to improve C. difficile diagnosis and surveillance in developing countries to establish the unknown epidemiology of CDI in these countries.
Review on Selection and Experiment Method of Commonly Studied Simulated Radionuclides in Researches of Nuclear Waste Solidification
Authors: Li Jingwei , Xu Dong , Wang Wenlong , Wang Xujiang , Mao Yanpeng , Zhang Chao , Jiang Wen , Wu Changliang
Published: August 2020

Although many types of simulated radionuclides have been widely used as a substitute for actual nuclear waste in the studies of nuclear waste solidification, the understanding of the applicability and validity of simulated radionuclides is still insufficient. In particular, the selection and use of simulated radionuclides, which can play a decisive role in the accuracy of the experimental results, still lack unified or integrated references. This paper provides a critical review on the selection, experimental methods, and applicability of the most commonly studied simulated radionuclides, followed by a careful discussion and recommendation of simulated radionuclides suitable for different solidified bodies. The main factors (e.g., temperature, pH, and atmosphere) affecting the choice of simulated radionuclides were analyzed in detail. This work helps to integrate the selection and use of simulated radionuclides, and it will be beneficial for improving the effectiveness of nuclide solidification research.
Analytical Solutions for Nonlinear Dispersive Physical Model
Authors: Ma Wen-Xiu , Ali Mohamed R. , Sadat R.
Published: August 2020

Nonlinear evolution equations widely describe phenomena in various fields of science, such as plasma, nuclear physics, chemical reactions, optics, shallow water waves, fluid dynamics, signal processing, and image processing. In the present work, the derivation and analysis of Lie symmetries are presented for the time-fractional Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation (FBBM) with the Riemann–Liouville derivatives. The time FBBM equation is reduced to a nonlinear fractional ordinary differential equation (NLFODE) using its Lie symmetries. These symmetries are derivations using the prolongation theorem. Applying the subequation method, we then use the integrating factor property to solve the NLFODE to obtain a few travelling wave solutions to the time FBBM.
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Terrestrial Evapotranspiration in the Upper Taohe River Basin from 2001 to 2018 Based on MOD16 ET Data
Authors: Cheng Lizhen , Yang Meixue , Wang Xuejia , Wan Guoning
Published: August 2020

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an essential component of watershed hydrological cycle. Spatial-temporal variations analyses of evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration (PET) have remarkable theoretical and practical significances for understanding the interaction between climate changes and hydrological cycle and optimal allocation of water resources under global warming background. The MODIS-estimated ET agreed well with basin evapotranspiration from water balance principle methods in the study. The spatiotemporal variations results based on MOD16 ET data showed the following: (1) multiyear mean ET and PET were 464.2 mm and 1192.2 mm, and annual ET showed an upward trend at a rate of 3.48 mm/a, while PET decreased significantly at a rate of −8.18 mm/a. The annual ET trend showed a complemental relationship with PET; (2) at the seasonal scale, ET was highest in summer and least in winter, while PET was higher in spring and summer. The change of ET and PET in spring and summer had a great contribution to the annual variations; (3) ET and PET in the northern part were significantly stronger than those in the western and southern parts; (4) ET in cropland increased significantly, while PET decreased obviously in grass and forest; (5) changes of ET and PET were closely related to climatic factors. The rise in temperature caused the increase in ET and the decrease of wind speed contributed more to the decrease in PET. The results can provide a scientific basis for water resources planning and management.
Self-Directed Learning: A Core Concept in Adult Education
Authors: Loeng Svein
Published: August 2020

In adult education, the concept of self-directed learning has great importance. This term arose in the field of adult education in the 1970s and is still a widely used term in the field. Annual symposiums have been held by the International Society for Self-Directed Learning since 1986, dedicated to the promotion of self-directed learning. The society also publishes an international journal of self-directed learning. A term of more recent origin is self-regulation, used by some authors sometimes interchangeably with self-direction. This review article focuses on the term self-directed learning, which is the term most frequently used in adult education. Many consider the tendency for self-direction to be a fundamental difference between children and adults in a learning situation. This article deals with some factors that affect the understanding of self-directed learning. At the beginning is given a short case story and an account for different perceptions of self-directed learning. This is followed by a clarification of different aspects of self-directed learning, such as why it is advisable, what affects the tendency to self-directed learning, and if self-direction is essentially innate or learned. The situational aspect is dealt with separately as a relatively self-contained aspect of self-directed learning. The presentation is based on a literature study.
A Predictive Model for Super-Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: The QQ-LAE Score
Authors: Liu Xi , Hu Yiran , Hua Wei , Yang Shengwen , Gu Min , Niu Hong-Xia , Ding Li-Gang , Wang Jing , Zhang Shu
Published: August 2020

Objectives. It is important to identify super-responders who can derive most benefits from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to establish a scoring model that can be used for predicting super-response to CRT. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 387 CRT patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for super-response (defined as an absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥15% at 6-month follow-up) and to create a score model. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis was conducted to assess associations with the long-term endpoint (defined as cardiac death/heart transplant, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, or all-cause death) across the score categories at follow-up. Results. Among 387 patients, 109 (28.2%) met super-response. In multivariable analysis, 5 independent predictors (QQ-LAE) were identified: prior no fragmented QRS (odds ratio (OR) = 3.10 (1.39, 6.94)), QRS duration ≥170 ms (OR = 2.37 (1.35, 4.12)), left bundle branch block (OR = 2.57 (1.04, 6.37)), left atrial diameter <45 mm (OR = 3.27 (1.81, 5.89)), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension <75 mm (OR = 4.11 (1.99, 8.48)). One point was attributed to each predictor, and three score categories were identified. The proportion of super-response after 6-month CRT implantation in patients with scores 0–3, 4, and 5 was 14.6%, 40.3%, and 64.1%, respectively (P<0.001). Patients with score 5 had an 88% reduction in the risk of cardiac death/heart transplant (P=0.042), a 71% reduction in the risk of HF hospitalization (P=0.048), and an 89% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality (P=0.028) compared to patients with scores 0–3. Conclusions. The QQ-LAE score can be used for prediction of super-response to CRT and selection of most suitable patients in clinical practices.
Gut Microbiota Profile in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Based on 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhou He , Zhao Xue , Sun Lin , Liu Yujia , Lv You , Gang Xiaokun , Wang Guixia
Published: August 2020

The gut microbiota has been presumed to have a role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Significant changes in the microbial composition of T1D patients have been reported in several case-control studies. This study is aimed at systematically reviewing the existing literature, which has investigated the alterations of the intestinal microbiome in T1D patients compared with healthy controls (HCs) using 16S ribosomal RNA-targeted sequencing. The databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched until April 2019 for case-control studies comparing the composition of the intestinal microbiome in T1D patients and HCs based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality. Ten articles involving 260 patients with T1D and 276 HCs were included in this systematic review. The quality scores of all included studies were 6–8 points. In summary, a decreased microbiota diversity and a significantly distinct pattern of clustering with regard to β-diversity were observed in T1D patients when compared with HCs. At the phylum level, T1D was characterised by a reduced ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in the structure of the gut community, although no consistent conclusion was reached. At the genus or species level, T1D patients had a reduced abundance of Clostridium and Prevotella compared with HCs, whereas Bacteroides and Ruminococcus were found to be more enriched in T1D patients. This systematic review identified that there is a close association between the gut microbiota and development of T1D. Moreover, gut dysbiosis might be involved in the pathogenesis of T1D, although the causative role of gut microbiota remains to be established. Further well-controlled prospective studies are needed to better understand the role of the intestinal microbiome in the pathogenesis of T1D, which may help explore novel microbiota-based strategies to prevent and treat T1D.
STAP Optimization of Airborne Phased Array Radar in Nonuniform Environment Based on EFA Algorithm
Authors: Tang Bin , Zheng Xiaoxia , Liu Mingxin , Fang Mengxu
Published: August 2020

EFA (extended factored approach) algorithm is the main method of space-time adaptive processing technology (STAP) for airborne phased array radar, but it is faced with many problems, such as large number of samples and large amount of calculation. Therefore, this paper uses a method of spatial data dimensionality reduction processing based on cyclic iterative calculation to optimize its STAP. The final experimental results show that, after spatial data dimensionality reduction processing optimization, the STAP performance of EFA algorithm is further expanded in the range of sample number adaptation; especially in the case of small sample number, the optimized STAP performance has been basically close to the ideal compared with other optimization schemes; tap performance also proves that the optimization scheme in this paper has better convergence speed and STAP performance.
Analysis of Correlation between the Seven Important Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Virulence Factors and Drug Resistance in Patients with Gastritis
Authors: Oktem-Okullu Sinem , Cekic-Kipritci Zehra , Kilic Elif , Seymen Nogayhan , Mansur-Ozen Nesteren , Sezerman Ugur , Gurol Yesim
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between seven important H. pylori virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in patients with gastritis. H. pylori strains isolated from 33 patients with gastritis were examined. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by GenoType® HelicoDR (Hain Life Science, Germany) test kit and RT-PCR. The virulence-factors were determined using conventional PCR. 39% of patients were resistant for clarithromycin and 27% of patients were resistant for fluoroquinolone. 15% of patients were resistant to both clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone. The H. pylori vacA m1/s2 genotype was the most frequent allelic combination. Patients were possessed the vacA s1, m1 (6.1%); s1, m2 (6.1%); s2, m1 (15.1%); and s2, m2 (3.0%) genotypes. 94% of patients with gastritis were positive for H. pylori napA gene. Also, there were no dupA gene-positive gastritis patients. There was no significant correlation between the vacA, cagA, oipA, hpaA, babA, napA, dupA, ureA, ureB virulence genes, clarithromycin, and fluoroquinolone resistance. Herein, we report that the relationship between the H. pylori napA gene and gastritis. Although we found a correlation between H. pylori virulence factor and clinical outcome, there is a need for further studies to enlighten the relation between H. pylori virulence genes and antibiotic resistance.