bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision-Making Framework for an Effective Sanitizer to Reduce COVID-19 under Fermatean Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Shahzadi Gulfam , Ahmadini Abdullah Ali H.
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this article is to develop some general aggregation operators (AOs) based on Einstein’s norm operations, to cumulate the Fermatean fuzzy data in decision-making environments. A Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS), possessing the more flexible structure than the intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) and Pythagorean fuzzy set (PFS), is a competent tool to handle vague information in the decision-making process by the means of membership degree (MD) and nonmembership degree (NMD). Our target is to empower the AOs using the theoretical basis of Einstein norms for the FFS to establish some advantageous operators, namely, Fermatean fuzzy Einstein weighted averaging (FFEWA), Fermatean fuzzy Einstein ordered weighted averaging (FFEOWA), generalized Fermatean fuzzy Einstein weighted averaging (GFFEWA), and generalized Fermatean fuzzy Einstein ordered weighted averaging (GFFEOWA) operators. Some properties and important results of the proposed operators are highlighted. As an addition to the MADM strategies, an approach, based on the proposed operators, is presented to deal with Fermatean fuzzy data in MADM problems. Moreover, multiattribute decision-making (MADM) problem for the selection of an effective sanitizer to reduce coronavirus is presented to show the capability and proficiency of this new idea. The results are compared with the Fermatean fuzzy TOPSIS method to exhibit the potency of the proposed model.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Evaluation of Mifepristone for Treatment of Low-Risk Cesarean Scar Pregnancy
Authors: Xiong Xi , Gao Chun-yan , Ying De-mei , Yan Ping , Zhang Zhi-jia , Kuang Na , Tian Hong-ju , Luo Li , Long Shu-yu , Chen Zheng-qiong
Published: October 2020

Purpose. The effect of mifepristone for treatment of low-risk cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) was monitored by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods. Data were collected from 23 CSP patients with a 10-point risk score <5 (low-risk CSP) and from 23 intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) patients with a scar from a previous cesarean delivery. All patients were prescribed 75 mg mifepristone daily for 2 days and underwent transvaginal CEUS before and after administration of mifepristone. On the third day, uterine curettage was performed after transvaginal CEUS. Arrival time (AT), peak intensity (PI), and area under the curve (AUC) around the gestational sac were monitored by CEUS before and after application of mifepristone, and the rate of effective treatment was compared between the two patient groups. Results. No patients experienced side effects from either the CEUS procedure or the mifepristone treatment. Changes in AT, PI, and AUC index from before vs. after mifepristone treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups (all

p

values >0.05). There was also no significant difference in the rate of effective treatment between the two groups (95.65% in the CSP group vs. 100% in the IUP group;

p
>
0.05

). Conclusions. Based on monitoring by CEUS, the effect of mifepristone in low-risk CSP was comparable to that in IUP.
Eyes of Aniso-Axial Length Individuals Share Generally Similar Corneal Biometrics with Normal Eyes in Cataract Population
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen Tianhui , Deng Michael , Chen Jiahui , Jing Qinghe , Jiang Yongxiang
Published: October 2020

Aims. To determine the characteristics of corneal biometrics in eyes from aniso-axial length cataract patients compared with eyes from non-aniso-axial length individuals. Methods. This is a retrospective case series. Cataract patients with preoperative binocular measurements were recruited. A binocular axial difference of ≥1 mm was considered to indicate aniso-axial length. The anterior segmental biometrics were measured using Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Comparisons of biometrics were made among 4 eye conditions: the longer eyes from aniso-axial length patients, the shorter eyes from aniso-axial length patients, the longer eyes from non-aniso-axial length patients, and the shorter eyes from non-aniso-axial length patients. The aniso-axial length eyes were also stratified into 8 subgroups with axial length (AL) increments of 1 mm, and the biometrics of the subgroups were compared. Results. There was smaller anterior corneal astigmatism in the shorter aniso-axial length group than those in the longer aniso-axial length group (1.01 ± 0.70 D vs 1.12 ± 0.76 D,

P
=
0.031

). The longer aniso-axial length eyes had greater anterior corneal steep curvature (44.13 ± 1.69 D vs 43.87 ± 1.69 D,

P
=
0.009

) and anterior corneal astigmatism (1.12 ± 0.76 D vs 1.02 ± 0.69 D,

P
=
0.023

) compared with longer non-aniso-axial length subjects. Other corneal biometrics were similar between the aniso-axial length eyes and the non-aniso-axial length eyes. In the longer aniso-axial length group, the posterior corneal aberrations of eyes in the ≥5 mm subgroups were greater than those in the <5 mm subgroups (0.879 ± 0.183 μm vs 0.768 ± 0.178 μm for total aberrations,

P
<
0.001

; 0.228 ± 0.086 μm vs 0.196 ± 0.043 μm for high-order aberrations,

P
=
0.036

; 0.847 ± 0.173 μm vs 0.741 ± 0.179 μm for low-order aberrations,

P
=
0.001

). Conclusion. Eyes of aniso-axial length individuals share generally similar corneal biometrics with normal eyes in cataract population. Anterior corneal astigmatism of the longer eyes from the aniso-axial length cataract patients was higher than that of the longer eyes from the non-aniso-axial length individuals. Total posterior corneal aberrations of the longer aniso-axial length eyes increased when the binocular axial difference was over 5 mm.
Prevalence of Goiter and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age Group in Demba Gofa Woreda, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zekarias Befikaduwa , Mesfin Frehiwot , Mengiste Bezatu , Tesfaye Adane , Getacher Lemma
Published: October 2020

Background. Iodine deficiency disorder is a major public health problem in Ethiopia that is more common in women of reproductive age. However, it is not well addressed and there is a lack of information on its prevalence and associated factors in women of reproductive age group. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess goiter prevalence and associated factors among women of reproductive age in the Demba Gofa woreda, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was used among 584 randomly selected women in the reproductive age group from February 05 to April 20, 2016. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study kebeles, and a systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study samples. Data were collected through a pretested questionnaire, and the goiter examination was done clinically for each participant. The collected data were coded and entered into a computer for statistical analysis using EpiData version 3.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Variables with aPvalue ≤0.25 in bivariate logistic regression analysis were entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis, and finally, variables with aPvalue <0.05 in multivariate logistic regression were considered significantly associated with the dependent variable. Results. The total goiter rate was 43%, 95% CI = 39.2–46.9. Cassava consumption (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.03–4), salt wash before use (AOR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.1–11.3), salt use after >2 months of purchase (AOR: 11, 95% CI: 5–26), family history of goiter (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.4–15.8), and poor knowledge of iodized salt (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.5) were significant factors associated with goiter. Conclusion. Iodine deficiency was found to be severe in women of reproductive age in the study area. This showed that women of reproductive age, especially during pregnancy, are exposed to iodine deficiency and its adverse effects at delivery. Thus, they need urgent supplementation with iodine, improved access to foods rich in iodine, and intake of iodized salt. Additionally, health education should focus on the importance of iodized salt, the proper method of use, and the prevention of iodine deficiency, which are highly recommended to minimize the problem.
Stability Coordinated Control of Distributed Drive Electric Vehicle Based on Condition Switching
Authors: Jingbo Zhao , Jie Chen , Chengye Liu
Published: October 2020

The distributed drive electric vehicle is a complex hybrid system including discrete events and continuous events. In order to coordinate the longitudinal and lateral motion of the distributed drive electric vehicle, a hierarchical control method was proposed. In the upper layer, the body attitude tracking controller based on sliding mode control algorithm was established to accurately analyze the driving expectation and to track the longitudinal speed, the lateral speed, and the yaw rate of the vehicle. In the lower layer, the switching controller based on the hybrid theory was established to improve the driving stability under various working conditions. The switching controller can switch between control strategies according to the working conditions. The joint simulation was carried out under various working conditions using Simulink and CarSim software. The results showed that the controller can coordinate the longitudinal and lateral motion of the vehicle well in linear acceleration and sinusoidal acceleration conditions and can strictly track the driving expectation and maintain the desired body posture. And another, the controller can be switched according to the working conditions and control strategies accurately and smoothly and can ensure stable driving in the constant speed single lane change condition. The controller can reveal the continuous behavior characteristics of the vehicle and reflect the characteristics of discrete events by coordinating the longitudinal and lateral motion of the vehicle. It improves the stability and control performance of the distributed drive electric vehicle under various working conditions.
Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture‐Moxibustion Therapy on Chemotherapy‐Induced Leukopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Jin Huimin , Feng Yuqian , Xiang Yuying , Zhang Yiting , Du Wurong , Wasan Harpreet S. , Ruan Shanming , Huang Dawei
Published: October 2020

Background. Acupuncture‐moxibustion therapy (AMT), as an integral part of complementary and alternative medicine, has been used for centuries in treatment of numerous diseases. Nevertheless, there is no available supportive evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture‐moxibustion therapy in patients with chemotherapy‐induced leukopenia (CIL). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture‐moxibustion therapy in treating chemotherapy‐induced leukopenia. Methods. Relevant studies were searched in nine databases up to September 19, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of selected studies. Meta‐analysis of the pooled mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results. 17 studies (1206 patients) were included, and the overall quality of the included studies was moderate. In comparison with medical therapy, AMT has a better clinical efficacy for CIL (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17‐1.32; P < 0.00001) and presents advantages in increasing leukocyte count (MD, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.67–1.53; P < 0.00001). Also, the statistical results show that AMT performs better in improving the CIL patients’ Karnofsky performance score (MD, 5.92; 95% CI, 3.03–8.81; P < 0.00001). Conclusion. This systematic review and meta‐analysis provides updated evidence that AMT is a safe and effective alternative for the patients who suffered from CIL.
Energy Management for Energy Harvesting-Based Embedded Systems: A Systematic Mapping Study
Authors: Miao Xingyu , Ge Yongqi
Published: October 2020

Energy management for energy harvesting-based embedded systems (EHES) is an emerging field, which aims to collect renewable energy from the environment to power an embedded system. In this work, we use the systematic mapping method to study the relevant literature, with the objective of exploring and analysing the state of the art in energy management for EHES, as well as to provide assistance for subsequent literature reviews. To this end, we conducted extensive searches to find articles related to energy harvesting, embedded systems, energy consumption, and energy management. We searched for papers from January 2005 to July 2019 from three mainstream databases, ACM, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, and found more than 3000 papers about EHES. Finally, we selected 142 eligible papers. We have completed the system mapping research from five aspects, namely, (1) research type (validation research, evaluation research, solution proposal, philosophical paper, opinion, and experience), (2) research goals (application or theory), (3) application scenarios, (4) tools or methods, and (5) paper distribution, such as publication year and authors’ nationality. The results showed that the major research type of the EHES papers is validation research, accounting for 65%, which indicated research is still in the theoretical stage and many researchers focus on how to improve the efficiency of harvesting energy, develop a reasonable energy supply plan, and adapt EHES for real-world requirements. Furthermore, this work reviews the tools used for EHES. As the future development direction, it is indispensable to provide tools to EHES for research, testing, development, and so on. The results of our analysis provide significant contributions to understanding the existing knowledge and highlighting potential future research opportunities in the EHES field.
An Adaptive Chaotic Sine Cosine Algorithm for Constrained and Unconstrained Optimization
Authors: Ji Yetao , Tu Jiaze , Zhou Hanfeng , Gui Wenyong , Liang Guoxi , Chen Huiling , Wang Mingjing
Published: October 2020

Sine cosine algorithm (SCA) is a new meta-heuristic approach suggested in recent years, which repeats some random steps by choosing the sine or cosine functions to find the global optimum. SCA has shown strong patterns of randomness in its searching styles. At the later stage of the algorithm, the drop of diversity of the population leads to locally oriented optimization and lazy convergence when dealing with complex problems. Therefore, this paper proposes an enriched SCA (ASCA) based on the adaptive parameters and chaotic exploitative strategy to alleviate these shortcomings. Two mechanisms are introduced into the original SCA. First, an adaptive transformation parameter is proposed to make transformation more flexible between global search and local exploitation. Then, the chaotic local search is added to augment the local searching patterns of the algorithm. The effectiveness of the ASCA is validated on a set of benchmark functions, including unimodal, multimodal, and composition functions by comparing it with several well-known and advanced meta-heuristics. Simulation results have demonstrated the significant superiority of the ASCA over other peers. Moreover, three engineering design cases are employed to study the advantage of ASCA when solving constrained optimization tasks. The experimental results have shown that the improvement of ASCA is beneficial and performs better than other methods in solving these types of problems.
SEPT9 Gene Methylation as a Noninvasive Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Baoliang , Huang Hao , Huang Ronghai , Zhang Wei , Zhou Guangpeng , Wu Zhen , Lv Chunhua , Han Xiaoliang , Jiang Li , Li Yongjun , Li Baohua , Zhang Zhongtao
Published: October 2020

Background. Early detection appears to be the most effective approach to improve the overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the potential performance of plasma SEPT9 methylation (mSEPT9) as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of patients with HCC. Methods. A total of 373 subjects were included, and the group consisted of 104 HCC patients, 95 with an at-risk disease, and 174 healthy controls (HC). The methylation of mSEPT9 was determined using methylation-specific fluorescence quantitative PCR. The diagnostic performance of plasma mSEPT9 for HCC was assessed in a single-blind manner. Results. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that plasma mSEPT9 can be used to detect and discriminate HCC with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.961, a sensitivity of 82.7%, and specificity of 96.0% from HC. These results showed that plasma mSEPT9 had better diagnostic performance than serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) (AUROC 0.881, sensitivity 57.7%, and specificity 98.3%). Similar results were noted in the detection of early-stage HCC. When combined with serum AFP, the sensitivity increased to 91.3% and 87.7% for the detection of HCC and early-stage HCC,respectively. Notably, the levels of plasma mSEPT9 dramatically decreased after surgery (

P
=
0.001

). Conclusions. Plasma SEPT9 methylation might serve as a useful and noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC and can be used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of HCC treatment.
Joint Geosequential Preference and Distance Metric Factorization for Point-of-Interest Recommendation
Authors: Liu Chunyang , Liu Chao , Xin Haiqiang , Wang Jian , Liu Jiping , Xu Shenghua
Published: October 2020

Point-of-interest (POI) recommendation is a valuable service to help users discover attractive locations in location-based social networks (LBSNs). It focuses on capturing users’ movement patterns and location preferences by using massive historical check-in data. In the past decade, matrix factorization has become a mature and widely used technology in POI recommendation. However, the inner product of latent vectors adopted in matrix factorization methods does not satisfy the triangle inequality property, which may limit the expressiveness and lead to suboptimal solutions. Besides, the extreme sparsity of check-in data makes it challenging to capture users’ movement preferences accurately. In this paper, we propose a joint geosequential preference and distance metric factorization framework, called GeoSeDMF, for POI recommendation. First, we introduce a distance metric factorization method that is capable of learning users’ personalized preferences from a position and distance perspective in the metric space. Specifically, we convert the user-POI interaction matrix into a distance matrix and factorize it into user and POI dense embeddings. Additionally, we measure users’ personalized preference for the POI by using the Euclidean distance metric instead of the inner product. Then, we model the users’ geospatial preference by applying a geographic weight coefficient and model the users’ sequential preference by using the Euclidean distance of continuous check-in locations. Moreover, a pointwise loss strategy and AdaGrad algorithm are adopted to optimize the positions and relationships of users and POIs in a metric space. Finally, experimental results on three large-scale real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
A New Description of Transverse Momentum Spectra of Identified Particles Produced in Proton-Proton Collisions at High Energies
Authors: Yang Pei-Pin , Liu Fu-Hu , Sahoo Raghunath
Published: October 2020

The transverse momentum spectra of identified particles produced in high energy proton-proton

p
+
p

collisions are empirically described by a new method with the framework of the participant quark model or the multisource model at the quark level, in which the source itself is exactly the participant quark. Each participant (constituent) quark contributes to the transverse momentum spectrum, which is described by the TP-like function, a revised Tsallis–Pareto-type function. The transverse momentum spectrum of the hadron is the convolution of two or more TP-like functions. For a lepton, the transverse momentum spectrum is the convolution of two TP-like functions due to two participant quarks, e.g., projectile and target quarks, taking part in the collisions. A discussed theoretical approach seems to describe the

p
+
p

collisions data at center-of-mass energy

s

=
200
 
 
GeV

, 2.76 TeV, and 13 TeV very well.
Protective Factors Modulate the Risk of Beta Amyloid in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zhou Bin , Tanabe Kenichiro , Kojima Shinsuke , Teramukai Satoshi , Fukushima Masanori , Neuroimaging Initiative The Alzheimer’s Disease
Published: October 2020

Aim. To identify the factors protecting Abeta-positive subjects with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods. Subjects with MCI in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, with baseline data for neuropsychological tests, brain beta amyloid (Abeta), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), APOE genotyping, and 18F-FDG-PET (FDG), were included for analysis. Results. Elevated brain amyloid was associated with a higher risk of conversion from MCI to AD (41.5%) relative to Abeta levels of <1.231 (5.5%) but was not associated with conversion from NC to AD (0.0 vs. 1.4%). In the multivariate Cox regression analyses, elevated Abeta increased the risk of AD, while higher whole-brain cerebral glucose metabolism (CGM) assessed by FDG decreased the risk of AD in subjects with the same amount of Abeta. Even in the patients with heavily elevated brain amyloid, those with

FDG
>
5.946

had a lower risk of AD. ApoE4 carrier status did not influence the protective effect. Conclusion. Higher average CGM based on FDG modified the progression to AD, indicating a protective function. The results suggest that the inclusion of this CGM measured by FDG would enrich clinical trial design and that increasing CGM along with the use of anti-Abeta agents might be a potential prevention strategy for AD.
Loneliness Relates to Functional Mobility in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: The Look AHEAD Study
Authors: McCaffery Jeanne M. , Anderson Andrea , Coday Mace , Espeland Mark A. , Gorin Amy A. , Johnson Karen C. , Knowler William C. , Myers Candice A. , Rejeski W. Jack , Steinberg Helmut O. , Steptoe Andrew , Wing Rena R.
Published: October 2020

Objective. Little is known about the impact of loneliness on physical health among elderly individuals with diabetes. Here, we examined the relationship of loneliness with disability, objective physical function, and other health outcomes in older individuals with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. Method. Data are drawn from the Look AHEAD study, a diverse cohort of individuals (ages 61–92) with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes measured 5–6 years after a 10-year weight loss randomized, controlled trial. Results. Loneliness scores were significantly associated with greater disability symptoms and slower 4-meter gait speed (ps<0.01). Loneliness did not differ across treatment arms. Discussion. Overall, these results extend prior findings relating loneliness to disability and decreased mobility to older individuals with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Immunologic Biomarkers for Accurate Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infection in Patients with Malignancy: Procalcitonin in Comparison with C-Reactive Protein
Authors: Shokripour Mansoureh , Omidifar Navid , Salami Kourosh , Moghadami Mohsen , Samizadeh Babak
Published: October 2020

Purpose. To calculate the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels for the pathologic presence of microbes in the bloodstream of patients with malignancy, in comparison with blood culture. Methodology. Blood culture (by reference method) and assay results of PCT and CRP of febrile patients, with clinical suspicion to blood infections, were collected. Statistical aspects of PCT  and CRP tests were evaluated. Results. Data from 255 cases were gathered. The area under the curve for differentiating bacteremia from nonbacteremia for PCT (0.741) was superior to that of CRP (0.612). Amongst the different cutoffs of PCT and CRP, the cutoff of ≥1.17 ng/ml and >47 mg/l had the sensitivity of 75 and 58.3%, the best NPV of 91.5% and 81.3%, and the best specificity of 79.9% and 72.8%, respectively. Discussion. Despite statistically nonsignificant results, PCT seems to be a superior indicator to CRP for rejecting the presence of microorganism in bloodstream. For PCT, the cutoff value of 1.17 ng/ml (bacteremia from nonbacteremia) had the highest NPV value of 91.5% in malignant patients, suspicion of sepsis.
Diffuse Pancreatic Carcinoma with Hepatic Metastases
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Quan , Pham Ngoc Trinh Thi , Hoang Van Trung , Van Hoang Anh Thi , Huynh Chinh , Hoang Duc Thanh
Published: October 2020

Pancreatic cancer is one of the seven leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Diffuse pancreatic carcinoma is very rare and underreported in the literature. Many advances have been made in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer. However, most pancreatic cancer cases are detected at the terminal or metastatic stages. Therefore, timely diagnosis and therapeutic management are desirable goals for this disease. Although the proliferation of pancreatic cancer has been reduced by intervention, more work is needed to treat and prevent the disease. The purpose of this article is to present a case of a 54-year-old male with pancreatic cancer and to review the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of pancreatic tumors in general as well as pancreatic carcinoma in particular.
Oxidative, Reductive, and Nitrosative Stress Effects on Epigenetics and on Posttranslational Modification of Enzymes in Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Pérez-Torres I. , Soto M. E. , Castrejón-Tellez V. , Rubio-Ruiz M. E. , Manzano Pech L. , Guarner-Lans V.
Published: October 2020

Oxidative (OS), reductive (RS), and nitrosative (NSS) stresses produce carbonylation, glycation, glutathionylation, sulfhydration, nitration, and nitrosylation reactions. OS, RS, and NSS are interrelated since RS results from an overactivation of antioxidant systems and NSS is the result of the overactivation of the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO). Here, we discuss the general characteristics of the three types of stress and the way by which the reactions they induce (a) damage the DNA structure causing strand breaks or inducing the formation of 8-oxo-d guanosine; (b) modify histones; (c) modify the activities of the enzymes that determine the establishment of epigenetic cues such as DNA methyl transferases, histone methyl transferases, acetyltransferases, and deacetylases; (d) alter DNA reparation enzymes by posttranslational mechanisms; and (e) regulate the activities of intracellular enzymes participating in metabolic reactions and in signaling pathways through posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, the three types of stress may establish new epigenetic marks through these reactions. The development of cardiometabolic disorders in adult life may be programed since early stages of development by epigenetic cues which may be established or modified by OS, RS, and NSS. Therefore, the three types of stress participate importantly in mediating the impact of the early life environment on later health and heritability. Here, we discuss their impact on cardiometabolic diseases. The epigenetic modifications induced by these stresses depend on union and release of chemical residues on a DNA sequence and/or on amino acid residues in proteins, and therefore, they are reversible and potentially treatable.
Combining Finite Element and Analytical methods to Contact Problems of 3D Structure on Soft Foundation
Authors: Su Chao , Zhang Heng , Hu Shaopei , Bai Jiawei , Dai Jianjian
Published: October 2020

The computational efficiency and nonconvergence of the iteration are two main difficulties in contact problems, especially in the creep of the foundation. This paper proposes a method to analyze the structural soft foundation system affected by time. The methodology is an explicit method, combining the finite element method with the analytical method. The creep deformation of soft foundation is obtained based on Laplace transforms. The structural deformation contains the statically determinate structural deformation and rigid body displacement, solved by the finite method. The contact forces are calculated by the deformation coordination equations and equilibrium equations. The methodology is validated through augmented Lagrangian (AL) method. The results can clearly illustrate the local disengagement phenome, greatly overcome the nonconvergence of the iteration, and significantly improve computing efficiency.
Experimental Investigations on Electrical Charge of Precracked Rock Specimens under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: He Feng , Wang Zhenwei , Zhao Yangfeng , Song Gaofeng , Liu Bowen
Published: October 2020

The electrical charge characteristic of rock materials under compression is an important index for predicting the development of rock fractures and the failure of engineering structures. However, the charge behaviours of a preexisting rock sample have not been studied in depth. In this study, sandstone samples with a single fabricated precrack at different angles of inclination are prepared. The uniaxial compression tests are performed to study the charge behaviours associated with the initiation and propagation of secondary cracks, the mechanical properties, and the progressive failure of stressed rock samples. An improved analytical model based on the maximum tensile stress failure theory for brittle materials is also proposed for determining the crack growth paths of the single precrack rock samples under uniaxial compression. The friction factors of crack surfaces are computed. The results show that the step functions on the curves of charge accumulation over time correspond to the fluctuation of stress, indicating the initiation of microcracks. The sample with a crack inclination angle of

π
/
4

shows the largest amount of both the first charge and the total accumulation. The analytical model shows a positive relationship between the crack face friction factors and the charge accumulation. The analytical solution of the crack development angles shows good agreement with the experimental results. This work may provide reference for the similar studies regarding the correlation of charging behaviours to the compressed rock materials.
Comprehensive Ahead Prospecting of Tunnels in Severely Weathered Rock Mass Environments with High Water Inrush Risk: A Case Study in Shaanxi Province
Authors: Nie Lichao , Zhang Yongheng , Su Maoxin , Geng Yijun , Liu Zhengyu , Fan Kerui , Yan Bing , Shen Junfeng
Published: October 2020

The ahead geological prospecting of severely weathered surrounding rock in a tunnel is challenging due to complex geological conditions. Hence, the best approach is to use a variety of geophysical exploration methods. In this study, we have applied seismic, electrical resistivity (ER), and transient electromagnetic (TEM) methodologies for ahead prospecting of the highly weathered and complex surrounding rock at the diversion tunnel of the Hongyan River to Stone River Water Transfer Project in Shaanxi Province, China. The seismic method was employed to detect structural information for an area of 100 m from the front of the tunnel, the TEM method was used to obtain the resistivity information within 60 m, and the ER method was conducted to obtain detailed resistivity information over a range of 30 m. The integrated results generated a comprehensive interpretation of the geological body located within 100 m of the front of the tunnel. We divided this geological area into intact, severely weathered, and slightly weathered sections. Information on the water content of each section was also produced. The results of subsequent excavations are consistent with our results, proving the effectiveness and feasibility of a comprehensive approach for analyzing highly weathered and complex surrounding rock.
The Application Method of Nanobubble Conveyor on the Effect of Preventive Oral Hygiene
Authors: Lin Pei-Ju
Published: October 2020

There are various methods to generate nanobubbles, and in this study, we experimented using a nanobubble generator with a high-density of stainless steel mesh nozzle to deliver nanobubble water (normal water and two kinds of mouthwash) stream through a tooth tray to clean bacteria coated on the denture. It showed that with various combinations of motor speed settings and pore diameters, a clearing rate of 95% or more could be achieved, while in some combinations, a clearing rate of 100% was possible. This confirmed the plaque removing the function of the nanobubble water streams. The motor speed setting of the nanobubble generator directly influenced the flow velocity and nanobubble diameter of the water stream. However, the nanobubble dimensions were found to have a significant impact on plaque removal. The bubble diameters and plaque removal efficacy were as follows: the smaller the diameter, the slower the flow velocity and the better the plaque removal. The nanobubble formation of mouthwash was better on plaque removal, compared with the soaking method. From these results, we theorized that plaque removal is influenced by the dimension of nanobubbles; smaller bubble diameter led to improved plaque removal efficacy.
Overview of Legal and Policy Framework Approaches for Plastic Bag Waste Management in African Countries
Authors: Nyathi Brian , Togo Chamunorwa Aloius
Published: October 2020

Plastic bag waste is a major challenge in several African countries. As a way of reducing the detrimental effects posed by plastic bags, governments have adopted various approaches for plastic bag waste management that include levies, bans and or the combination of the two. Despite the adoption of anti-plastic bag policies in several African countries, there has been limited investigation regarding their effectiveness. Thus, the present paper reviews the effectiveness of legal and policy framework approaches for plastic bag waste management in African countries. This systematic review covers legal and policy framework approaches for plastic bag waste management in African countries since 2004 with a view to find their effectiveness. Data sources included peer-reviewed journal articles, websites, books, reports, and dissertations. The databases from which literature was retrieved included Elsevier, Taylor, Springer, institutional repository, and Google Scholar. The current paper argues that poorly enforced plastic bag legislation, resistance from stakeholders, and limited effective substitutes are major factors hindering effective plastic bag waste management in Africa. A six-step model developed by Patton and Sawicki assisted in evaluating plastic bag policies in varied African nations. The study concluded that the key to effective legislation is hinged on consistent enforcement and educating the public to attain environmental buy-in. African countries should adopt and implement the Patton and Sawicki six-step rationalist model to achieve effective plastic bag legislation. African governments should enlighten consumers about other alternatives that are more specific to African countries, especially bags made of raffia and leaves. The findings are limited in that there may be other relevant articles (beyond published articles) about policy and legal approaches for plastic bag waste management, which are not available in the public domain. Therefore, data reviewed may not be exhaustible.
Starch-Based Fishing Composite Fiber and Its Degradation Behavior
Authors: Yu Wenwen , Yang Fei , Wang Lei , Liu Yongli , Shi Jiangao
Published: October 2020

The starch-based fishing composite fibers were prepared by one-step reactive extrusion and melt spinning. The effects of starch contents on the microstructural, thermal, dynamic mechanical, and mechanical properties of starch-based composite fibers were studied. And the degradation behaviors in soil of the fibers were also investigated. The compatibility between starch and HDPE is improved significantly by grafting maleic anhydride (MA) using one-step reactive blending extrusion. As the starch content increased, the melting temperature and the crystallinity of the fibers gradually decreased due to fluffy internal structures. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the transition peak α in the high-temperature region was gradually weakened and narrowed with increasing starch content; moreover, a shoulder appeared on the low-temperature side of the α peak was assigned to the β-relaxation related to starch phase. In addition, the mechanical results showed the significant decrease in the breaking strength and increase in the elongation at break of the starch-based composite fibers as the starch content increased. After degradation in soil for 5 months, the surface of the composite fibers had been deteriorated, while flocculent layers were observed and a large number of microfibers appeared. And the weight loss rate of the starch-based composite fibers (5.2~34.8%) significantly increased with increasing starch content (50~90 wt%).
A Stochastic Model of Stress Evolution in a Bolted Structure in the Presence of a Joint Elastic Piece: Modeling and Parameter Inference
Authors: Haiek Mohammed , El Ansari Youness , Ben Said Amrani Nabil , Sarsri Driss
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we propose a stochastic model to describe over time the evolution of stress in a bolted mechanical structure depending on different thicknesses of a joint elastic piece. First, the studied structure and the experiment numerical simulation are presented. Next, we validate statistically our proposed stochastic model, and we use the maximum likelihood estimation method based on Euler–Maruyama scheme to estimate the parameters of this model. Thereafter, we use the estimated model to compare the stresses, the peak times, and extinction times for different thicknesses of the elastic piece. Some numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate different results.
Increasing Electrical Conductivity of Free-Standing Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Cathode for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Kim Huihun , Choe Seon-Hwa , Sadan Milan K. , Kim Changhyeon , Cho Kwon-Koo , Kim Ki-Won , Ahn Jou-Hyeon , Lee Younki , Ahn Hyo-Jun
Published: October 2020

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (S-PAN) is one of the best materials for addressing some of the intrinsic drawbacks of lithium–sulfur batteries, such as the intrinsic insulating properties of sulfur and the shuttle phenomenon. Moreover, while S-PAN nanofiber composites are flexible,
they still presents shortcomings, such as low rate capability, which is due to their semiconductor electrical conductivity. In this study, we prepared S-PAN webs with high electrical conductivity via electrospinning using conducting agents. Additionally, we analyzed the electrochemical properties
of the S-PAN webs prepared using various conducting agents (acetylene black, Ketjen black, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes). The specific capacity of the S-PAN web prepared using acetylene black was 740 mAh g–1 at the charge rate of 5 C. The excellent rate capability of
S-PAN prepared using acetylene black was attributed to its low electrical resistance and low charge transfer resistance.
Characterization of a HgI2 Dosimeter for the Monitoring System of Position Detection of Radioactive Sources in Gamma-Ray Projector
Authors: Kim Kyo-Tae , Kim Joo-Hee , Han Moo-Jae , Lee Soon-Sung , Heo Ye-Ji , Cho Gyu-Seok , Min Byung-In , Cho Heung-Lae , Kim Kum-Bae , Park Sung-Kwang
Published: October 2020

Fields that use non-destructive testing (NDT) invest significant amounts of time and resources toward building a radioactive source monitoring system, for preventing any potential radiation-related accidents. However, various elements that can cause potential radiation accidents due
to silicon-based photodiodes are involved. Therefore, research on new materials that can effectively detect high-energy gamma ray is necessary. This study focused on developing a new dosimeter material for a real-time monitoring system that can detect the location of a radioactive source.
It was confirmed that the fabricated HgI2 dosimeters have sufficient reproducibility and dose linearity for gamma rays. Based on these results, the HgI2 dosimeter was verified to satisfy the general requirements of NDT source-monitoring systems. These monitoring systems
are expected to be easily operable by workers and prevent potential radiation accidents.
The Effect of Si Doping or/and Ti Coating on the Electrochemical Properties of Ni-Rich NCA (LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2) Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Ha Tae-Hyun , Park Jun-Seok , Cho Gyu-Bong , Ahn Hyo-Jun , Kim Ki-Won , Ahn Jou-Hyeon , Cho Kwon-Koo
Published: October 2020

LiNixCoyAlzO2 (NCA) is one of the most promising candidates of cathode material for lithium ion batteries because of its high capacity, energy density, and low cost. However, Ni-rich NCA cathode materials suffer from side
reaction (formation of lithium carbonate and hydrogen fluoride attack) between electrolyte and surface of electrode and irreversible phase transition leading to capacity fading and thermal instability. These problems could be improved by coating and doping of transition metal elements. Si
doping contributes to stabilization of the unstable R-3m structure, and Ti coating is capable of prohibiting the direct physical contact of electrode with electrolyte. In this work, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) cathode materials coated or/and doped
by Ti and Si elements were fabricated by co-precipitation method using the ball-milling. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and WBCS3000
(WonA tech Co., Ltd.). The EIS and charge/discharge results of Si doped and Ti coated NCA exhibited the lowest resistance value (147.19 Ω) and capacity retentions of 88% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C.
Tunable Pearl Necklace Structured TiO2 Spheres on Carbon Nanotubes with Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance
Authors: Li Shengnan , Zhang Mu
Published: October 2020

Due to the low density and high conduction loss of carbonaceous materials, they have been considered as candidates for compositing electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. In this study, the well-designed CNT@TiO2 composites with pearl necklace structure were successfully
synthesized via a facile hydrolyzation method. The absorption performances of CNT@TiO2 under different loading ratio were characterized and showed significantly different performance on the electromagnetic wave absorption. The reflection loss value reaches to –47.5 dB in the
pearl necklace structured CNT@TiO2 composites obtained with a thickness of 1.6 mm at 11.2 GHz. An effective absorption bandwidth was found to reach to 4.2 GHz with a coating thickness of 1.4 mm. More, the absorption frequency range can be diverse by adjusting coating thickness.
We deduce that promising electromagnetic wave absorbing property of the composites is related to the interfacial polarization induced by pearl necklace structure, improved impedance matching, conduction loss and scattering within the materials.
Preparation of Cobalt–Chromium Alloy Planting Materials and Its Application in the Treatment of Gum Restoration
Authors: Yuan Jia , Wu Xinzhong , Shi Xiaolan , Xiao Feng , Xu Xiongjun
Published: October 2020

The preparation of cobalt–chromium alloy materials by different processes was studied and used to repair the full crown of experimental dogs. First, the casting method combined with 3D printing to obtain a cobalt–chromium alloy test piece, and the mechanical and microscopic
properties of the test piece were analyzed during the preparation process; And then, selective laser melting (SLM) was used to perform single-channel, single-layer, and multi-layer scanning on the specimens obtained based on this technology during the preparation process. Two kinds of samples
were selected from the cobalt–chromium test pieces obtained by the casting method, which were CS01 and CS02. And then selected one kind of sample from the cobalt–chromium test piece obtained by the SLM method, which was SLM01. Firstly, the roughness and contact angle of the planting
material were compared, and the saliva-streptococcus mutant cell culture solution was configured to compare the amount of cell adhesion on the surface of different planting materials. Finally, the planting materials were used to repair the dog's full crown and establish animal models. The
expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Ki67 and p53 genes in gingival cells before and after canine crown wearing were compared in gingival tissues. The test results show that the mechanical properties and microstructure of the cobalt–chromium alloy material obtained based on the casting method
meet the requirements. Based on the cobalt–chromium test piece obtained by the SLM method, the process parameters were optimized so that the corresponding density of the test piece reached 98.3%; Comparing roughness and surface contact angle, there was no statistical difference between
different planting materials (P > 0.05 ). At the same time, the number of Streptococcus mutant adhered to the surface of different specimens was not statistically significant (P > 0.05 ); In the expression of gingival tissue, the implant material was obtained based on the
SLM01 test piece, which promoted the decrease of Ki67 gene expression (P < 0.05 ), and also promoted the proliferation of other gingival cell genes (P < 0.05 ).
Preparation of Nanoparticles Modified by Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator and Its Adoption in Surgical Treatment of Thrombus Targeted Thrombolysis
Authors: Wei Feng , Cui Yan , Gao Xiang , Xie Jing
Published: October 2020

This research aimed to expand the nanomaterial-based drug loading method for the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) treatment of acute phase thrombolysis in ischemic stroke. In this research, the coprecipitation method was used to prepare Fe3O4 magnetic
nanomaterials. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) was coated on the surface of the nanomaterials. The nanomaterials were subjected to hydroxyl activation treatment so that it could be connected to rtPA. By EDC/NHSS method, rtPA was covalently attached to the surface of nanomaterials to form a composite
nanomaterial that was modified by rtPA, which was FPA-rtPA. Firstly, the material was characterized, then the pharmacokinetics of the material was evaluated. Finally, the thrombus targeting and thrombolytic properties of the material were analyzed. In the experiment, Fe3O4,
FPA, PAA, and FPA-PAA were monitored by FT-IR, the peak value of PAA at 1834 cm–1 meant C=O group, and PAA-FPA had a similar peak, each milligram of nanomaterial can be combined with 80.6 μg ± 1.4 μg of rtPA. In the pharmacokinetic test, the half-life
of FPA-rtPA was 90 min, which was much higher than the half-life of rtPA in the free state (P < 0.001), so it was suitable as a targeted thrombolytic preparation; the fluorescence intensity of the FPA-rtPA group combined with the fibrin blood clot was significantly stronger than
the FPA group, and rtPA-FPA can target fibrin thrombosis in the cerebral thrombosis model. After comparing the postoperative cerebral infarction area, the rtPA-FPA-based group of rats had a significant decrease in cerebral infarction area (P < 0.001), thus the nanomaterials had better
thrombolytic properties.