bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic State Analysis of a Driven Magnetic Pendulum Using Ordinal Partition Networks and Topological Data Analysis
Authors: Myers Audun , Khasawneh Firas A.
Published: November 2020

The use of complex networks for time series analysis has recently shown to be useful as a tool for detecting dynamic state changes for a wide variety of applications. In this work, we implement the commonly used ordinal partition network to transform a time series into a network for detecting these state changes for the simple magnetic pendulum. The time series that we used are obtained experimentally from a base-excited magnetic pendulum apparatus, and numerically from the corresponding governing equations. The magnetic pendulum provides a relatively simple, non-linear example demonstrating transitions from periodic to chaotic motion with the variation of system parameters. For our method, we implement persistent homology, a shape measuring tool from Topological Data Analysis (TDA), to summarize the shape of the resulting ordinal partition networks as a tool for detecting state changes. We show that this network analysis tool provides a clear distinction between periodic and chaotic time series. Another contribution of this work is the successful application of the networks-TDA pipeline, for the first time, to signals from non-autonomous nonlinear systems. This opens the door for our approach to be used as an automatic design tool for studying the effect of design parameters on the resulting system response. Other uses of this approach include fault detection from sensor signals in a wide variety of engineering operations.
Optimum Design of an Archery Twin Round-Wheel Compound Bow
Authors: Denizhan Onur , Chew Meng-Sang
Published: November 2020

In this article, an optimization of a twin round-wheel compound bow is presented. Based on a previously published mathematical model of the kineto-elastic system, an objective function is introduced to maximize the stored potential energy in the compound bow limbs. The optimized design of the compound bow shows an increase in the potential energy stored for the same drawn distance. However, a slightly higher force is required and the initial position of string is slightly closer to the riser. Two different optimality criteria are also discussed.
Kinesthetic Perceptual Symmetry in Bi-Manual Interactions: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Mohanty Ronak R. , Adhikari Riddhi R. , Krishnamurthy Vinayak R.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we present a study to explore the symmetry of kinesthetic perception. Our goal is to add to the growing literature that investigates haptics technologies for therapeutic and rehabilitative applications. To this end, we study how selective activation/ deactivation of haptic (specifically force) feedback affects human perception during symmetric bi-manual (two-handed) spatial tasks. We conducted a simple experiment where healthy individuals are tasked with stretching a virtual spring using two symmetrically located haptics devices that provide an equal amount of resistive forces on each hand while pulling the spring. In this experiment, we implement four kinesthetic conditions, namely (1) feedback on both hands, (2) feedback only on dominant hand, (3) feedback only on non-dominant hand, and (4) no feedback as our control. Our first goal was to determine if there exists a range of spring stiffness in which the individual incorrectly perceives bi-manual forces when the feedback is deactivated on one hand. Subsequently, we also wanted to investigate what range of spring stiffness would lead to such perceptual illusions. Our studies show that not only does such a range exist, wide enough so as to be potentially utilized in future rehabilitative applications. Interestingly, we also observe that for few cases, symmetry can be independent of the kinesthetic perception.
Abebe Bikila: Portrait d’un Champion Olympique en Témoin de son Temps
Authors: Violette Louis
Published: November 2020

Dans le schème d’une histoire globale, cet article propose d’étudier la vie et la carrière sportive du marathonien Abebe Bikila au regard des transformations socio-culturelles de la décennie soixante. Pour ce faire, l’étude emprunte à un vaste panel de sources secondaires, à la presse d’époque, ainsi qu’aux archives du Comité international olympique. Elle s’articule autour de trois échelles d’analyse: l’individu et son réseau; les nations et leurs identités; l’Olympisme et la mondialisation. L’Ethiopien apparaît alors comme le symbole d’un nouvel ordre olympique, porté par la densification des échanges/transferts culturels, l’affirmation d’identités nationales renouvelées et l’internationalisation du CIO. À ce titre, l’histoire d’Abebe Bikila – athlète et témoin de son temps – est aussi celle d’une globalisation culturelle accélérée à l’aube du Second XXe siècle.
Histone demethylase LSD1 is critical for endochondral ossification during bone fracture healing
Authors: Sun Jun , Feng Heng , Xing Wenhui , Han Yujiao , Suo Jinlong , Yallowitz Alisha R. , Qian Niandong , Shi Yujiang , Greenblatt Matthew B. , Zou Weiguo
Published: November 2020

We provide the first genetic evidence that LSD1 in skeletal cells is critical for endochondral ossification during bone repair.
Metabolic determinants of cellular fitness dependent on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species
Authors: Kong Hyewon , Reczek Colleen R. , McElroy Gregory S. , Steinert Elizabeth M. , Wang Tim , Sabatini David M. , Chandel Navdeep S.
Published: November 2020

Mitochondrial complex I inhibition in the presence of a mito-antioxidant induces reductive stress, ISR, and cancer cell death.
3D tracking of extracellular vesicles by holographic fluorescence imaging
Authors: Liebel Matz , Ortega Arroyo Jaime , Beltrán Vanesa Sanz , Osmond Johann , Jo Ala , Lee Hakho , Quidant Romain , van Hulst Niek F.
Published: November 2020

Fluorescence holography visualizes 3D extracellular vesicles diffusion in live cells.
Atom interferometry with thousand-fold increase in dynamic range
Authors: Yankelev Dimitry , Avinadav Chen , Davidson Nir , Firstenberg Ofer
Published: November 2020

Dual simultaneous operation of atom interferometry increases dynamic range by orders-of-magnitude without compromising sensitivity.
lncRNA CTBP1-AS2 promotes proliferation and migration of glioma by modulating miR-370-3p–Wnt7a-mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Li Yongfeng , Zong Jin , Zhao Cong
Published: November 2020

Glioma is one of the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumors, with a poor 5-year survival rate. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CTBP1-AS2 has been shown to be correlated with the prognosis of cancer, but the role of CTBP1-AS2 in glioma and its concrete mechanism is fully unknown. The clinical data and tissues of glioma patients were analyzed. Cell viability and migration assays were performed. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were adopted for investigation of target protein expressions. Double luciferase assay was used to investigate the interaction between different elements. The lncRNA CTBP1-AS2 had increased expression profiles in tumor tissues, which is associated with poor prognosis. In detail, CTBP1-AS2 knockdown decreased proliferation and migration phenotypes in both U87-MG and LN229 cells. Moreover, CTBP1-AS2 knockdown suppressed the key epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers by downregulating Wnt7a-mediated signaling. Furthermore, miR-370-3p functioned as a link that could be absorbed by CTBP1-AS2, thus regulating Wnt7a expression. Lastly, the CTBP1-AS2–miR-370-3p–Wnt7a axis modulated EMT in glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. This study provides new insights that a novel lncRNA, CTBP1-AS2, regulates EMT of glioma by modulating the miR-370-3p–Wnt7a axis.
Simultaneous effects of nanosilica and basalt fiber on mechanical properties and durability of cementitious mortar: an experimental study
Authors: Razzaghian Ghadikolaee Mehrdad , Mirzaei Mehdi , Habibnejad Korayem Asghar
Published: November 2020

This study investigated the single and hybrid effects of nanosilica and basalt fiber on mechanical properties and durability of mortar. Results showed that basalt fiber could remarkably increase the indirect tensile strength, whereas the compressive strength and durability properties were not significantly improved by basalt fiber. However, incorporation of nanosilica in the mortar containing basalt fibers could acceptably compensate for this weakness of basalt fiber-reinforced mortar (BF) and remarkably improve not only the compressive strength and durability but also the indirect tensile strength compared to BF samples. According to the best results, samples containing 1% of nanosilica and 0.05% of basalt fiber improved the compressive strength, sorptivity, and water absorption by 37%, 48%, and 32%, respectively. Moreover, incorporation of 1% of nanosilica and 0.125% of basalt fiber increased the flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, and specific electrical resistivity by 29%, 27%, and 35%, respectively, compared to the control samples.
Long-term effects of prescribed burning, tree retention, and browsing on deciduous tree recruitment in European boreal forests
Authors: Hardenbol Alwin A. , den Herder Michael , Kouki Jari
Published: November 2020

Silvicultural practices, effective fire suppression, and increased browser densities have profoundly altered structural diversity in boreal forests. Prescribed burning and retention forestry may counteract losses in structural diversity in managed forests by maintaining a higher deciduous admixture. We constructed an experiment on 18 sites with three types of timber harvesting (uncut, cut with retention, and clearcut) and burned half of these sites. Subsequently, we established a herbivore treatment with three compartments (unfenced, fenced excluding moose (Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758)), and fenced excluding moose and hares (Lepus spp.)). In these compartments, we planted rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.), European aspen (Populus tremula L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings and monitored these for 17 years. Birch and rowan mortality were lower on cut and burned sites, with retention further enhancing birch survival on these sites. Retention without burning did not lower seedling mortality of any tree species. While browsing resulted in greater mortality on cut sites, burning appeared to greatly reduce browsing on birch and rowan. On mature uncut sites, seedlings of all tree species exhibited high mortality. Our findings show that deciduous tree recruitment can be improved through prescribed burning, particularly for birch and rowan, and that browsing impacts on deciduous trees depend on forest age.
Paradigm shifts in forestry and forest research: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Polinko Adam D. , Coupland Kathleen
Published: November 2020

Forestry literature often suggests that the scope of forestry and forest research has changed, though there is limited empirical evidence to support this hypothesis. We used a bibliometric approach to quantify changes in word frequency in titles of documents in the Web of Science category “forestry”. Single words and word pairs (bigrams) were extracted from a total of 150 679 documents across 651 sources that spanned the period of 1956–2019. We identified increasing and decreasing trends in word frequency, identified influential documents, and examined country of origin. The number of documents published in forestry research has increased annually, with the United States, Canada, and China producing the highest quantities. The most influential documents in the data set involved methodology, stand development, and climate change. Word frequencies revealed a shift in research away from sustained-yield-based forestry and towards a more interdisciplinary view of forests as ecologically important, dynamic systems. We argue that changes in research trends reflect a broader paradigm shift towards sustainable forest management.
BAO signatures in the 2-point angular correlations and the Hubble tension
Authors: Nunes Rafael C. , Bernui Armando
Published: November 2020

An observational tension on estimates of the Hubble parameter, $$H_0$$

H
0

, using early and late Universe information, is being of intense discussion in the literature. Additionally, it is of great importance to measure $$H_0$$

H
0

independently of CMB data and local distance ladder method. In this sense, we analyze 15 measurements of the transversal BAO scale, $$\theta _\mathrm{BAO}$$

θ
BAO

, obtained in a weakly model-dependent approach, in combination with other data sets obtained in a model-independent way, namely, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) information, 6 gravitationally lensed quasars with measured time delays by the H0LiCOW team, and measures of cosmic chronometers (CC). We find $$H_0 = 74.88_{-2.1}^{+1.9}$$

H
0

=
74
.

88

-
2.1

+
1.9

km s$${}^{-1}$$

-
1

Mpc$${}^{-1}$$

-
1

and $$H_0 = 72.06_{-1.3}^{+1.2}$$

H
0

=
72
.

06

-
1.3

+
1.2

km s$${}^{-1}$$

-
1

Mpc$${}^{-1}$$

-
1

from $$\theta _{BAO}$$

θ

BAO

+BBN+H0LiCOW and $$\theta _{BAO}$$

θ

BAO

+BBN+CC, respectively, in fully accordance with local measurements. Moreover, we estimate the sound horizon at drag epoch, $$r_\mathrm{d}$$

r
d

, independent of CMB data, and find $$r_\mathrm{d}=144.1_{-5.5}^{+5.3}$$

r
d

=
144
.

1

-
5.5

+
5.3

Mpc (from $$\theta _{BAO}$$

θ

BAO

+BBN+H0LiCOW) and $$r_\mathrm{d} =150.4_{-3.3}^{+2.7}$$

r
d

=
150
.

4

-
3.3

+
2.7

Mpc (from $$\theta _{BAO}$$

θ

BAO

+BBN+CC). In a second round of analysis, we test how the presence of a possible spatial curvature, $$\Omega _k$$

Ω
k

, can influence the main results. We compare our constraints on $$H_0$$

H
0

and $$r_\mathrm{d}$$

r
d

with other reported values. Our results show that it is possible to use a robust compilation of transversal BAO data, $$\theta _{BAO}$$

θ

BAO

, jointly with other model-independent measurements, in such a way that the tension on the Hubble parameter can be alleviated.
Development of Rapid Advice Guidelines for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Liang Ning , Li Huizhen , Wang Jingya , Jiao Liwen , Ma Yanfang , Wang Xiaohui , Liu Bin , Luo Xufei , Zhao Siya , Lv Meng , Cao Jin , Hu Wenpin , Zhang Hairong , Xiong Yibai , Tian Yaxin , Chen Yaolong , Wang Yanping , Shi Nannan
Published: November 2020

The worldwide spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus has become a profound threat to human health. As the use of medication without established effectiveness may result in adverse health consequences, the development of evidence-based guidelines is of critical importance for the clinical management of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This research presents methods used to develop rapid advice guidelines on treating COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We have followed the basic approach for developing WHO rapid guidelines, including preparing, developing, disseminating and updating each process. Compared with general guidelines, this rapid advice guideline is unique in formulating the body of evidence, as the available evidence for the treatment of COVID-19 with TCM is from either indirect or observational studies, clinical first-hand data together with expert experience in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, our search of evidence not only focuses on clinical studies of treating COVID-19 with TCM but also of similar diseases, such as pneumonia and influenza. Grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) methodology was adopted to rate the quality of evidence and distinguish the strength of recommendations. The overall certainty of the evidence is graded as either high, moderate, low or very low, and to give either “strong” or “weak” recommendations of each TCM therapy. The output of this paper will produce the guideline on TCM for COVID-19 and will also provide some ideas for evidence collection and synthesis in the future development of rapid guidelines for COVID-19 in TCM as well as other areas.
On Agemi-type structural conditions for a system of semilinear wave equations
Authors: Nishii Yoshinori , Sunagawa Hideaki
Published: November 2020

We consider a two-component system of cubic semilinear wave equations in two space dimensions satisfying the Agemi-type structural condition (Ag) but violating (Ag0) and (Ag[Formula: see text]). For this system, we show that small amplitude solutions are asymptotically free as [Formula: see text].
On the rarefaction waves of the two-dimensional compressible Euler equations for magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Chen Jianjun , Lai Geng , Sheng Wancheng
Published: November 2020

The expansion of a wedge of magnetic fluid into vacuum is studied in this paper. The magnetic fluid away from the sharp corner of a wedge expands into the vacuum as two plane-symmetric rarefaction waves, and the problem can be reduced to the interaction of these two rarefaction waves. In order to determine the flow in the interaction zone, we formulate a Goursat problem for the two-dimensional, self-similar Euler equations of magnetohydrodynamic. This system is of mixed type, and the type at each point is determined by the local fluid velocity and the local magneto-acoustic speed. We establish that the system is uniformly hyperbolic in the interaction zone when the half-angle of the wedge is less than some angle [Formula: see text], while the existence of a global classical solution to the Goursat problem is proven by a method of characteristic decomposition.
Remarks on Gorenstein Weak Injective and Weak Flat Modules
Authors: Zhao Tiwei , Xu Yunge
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we introduce Gorenstein weak injective and weak flat modules in terms of, respectively, weak injective and weak flat modules; the classes of Gorenstein weak injective and weak flat modules are larger than the classical classes of Gorenstein injective and flat modules. In this new setting, we characterize rings over which all modules are Gorenstein weak injective. Moreover, we discuss the relation between the weak cosyzygy and Gorenstein weak cosyzygy of a module, and also the stability of Gorenstein weak injective modules.
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Authors: Yang Panlong , Wu Tao , Dai Haipeng , Rao Xunpeng , Wang Xiaoyu , Wan Peng-Jun , He Xin
Published: November 2020

Due to the merit without requiring charging cable, wireless power transfer technology has drawn rising attention as a new method to replenish energy for Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks. In this article, we study the mobile charger scheduling problem for multi-node recharging with deadline constraints. Our target is to maximize the overall effective charging utility and minimize the traveling time for moving as well. Instead of charging only once over a scheduling cycle, we incorporate the multi-node charging strategy with deadline constraints, where charging spots and tour are jointly optimized. Specifically, we formulate the effective charging utility maximization problem as a monotone submodular function optimization subject to a partition matroid constraint, and we propose a simple but effective ½-approximation greedy algorithm. After that, we derive the result of global scheduling and present the grid-based
skip-substitute
operation to further save the traveling time, which can increase the charging utility. Finally, we conduct the evaluation for the performance of our scheduling scheme. The simulation and field experiment results show that our algorithm excels in terms of effective charging utility.
Dynamic Edge-coded Protocols for Low-power, Device-to-device Communication
Authors: Muzaffar Shahzad , Elfadel Ibrahim (Abe) M.
Published: November 2020

Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) has been a foundational receiver component in serial communications. Yet this component is known to add significant design complexity to the receiver and to consume significant resources in area and power. In the resource-limited world of constrained IoT nodes, the need of including CDR in the communication link is being re-assessed and new techniques for achieving reliable serial transmission without CDR have been emerging. These new techniques are distinguished by their use of transition edges rather than bit times for coding and detection. This article presents the design, implementation, and testing of a novel CDR-less transmission protocol that achieves significant improvements in data rate, reliability, packet security, and power efficiency with respect to state-of-the-art CDR-less techniques. The new protocol further tolerates significant jitters and clock discrepancies between transmitter and receiver. An FPGA and an ASIC (65 nm technology) implementation of the protocol have shown it to consume around 19μ W of power at a clock rate of 25 MHz, and to have a small footprint with a gate count of approximately 2,098 gates. In particular, the new protocol reduces area by more than 87% and power by more than 78% in comparison with CDR-based serial bit transfer protocols. Furthermore, the new protocol is shown to be versatile in its applications to available communication media, including wired, wireless, infrared, and human-body channels, under a variety of digital modulation schemes.
Investigating How Smartphone Movement is Affected by Lying Down Body Posture
Authors: Ikematsu Kaori , Oshima Haruna , Eardley Rachel , Siio Itiro
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we investigated how "lying down'' body postures affected the use of the smartphone user interface (UI) design. Extending previous research that studied body postures, handgrips, and the movement of the smartphone. We have done this in three steps; (1) An online survey that examined what type of lying down postures, participants, utilized when operating a smartphone; (2) We broke down these lying down postures in terms of body angle (i.e., users facing down, facing up, and on their side) and body support; (3) We conducted an experiment questioning the effects that these body angles and body supports had on the participants' handgrips. What we found was that the smartphone moves the most (is the most unstable) in the "facing up (with support)'' condition. Additionally, we discovered that the participants preferred body posture was those that produced the least amount of motion (more stability) with their smartphones.
Towards Rapid Prototyping of Foldable Graphical User Interfaces with Flecto
Authors: Khaddam Iyad , Vanderdonckt Jean , Dowaji Salah , Grolaux Donatien
Published: November 2020

Whilst new patents and announcements advertise the technical availability of foldable displays, which are capable to be folded to some extent, there is still a lack of fundamental and applied understanding of how to model, to design, and to prototype graphical user interfaces for these devices before actually implementing them. Without waiting for their off-the-shelf availability and without being tied to any physical foldable mechanism, Flecto defines a model, an associated notation, and a supporting software for prototyping graphical user interfaces running on foldable displays, such as foldable smartphone or assemblies of foldable surfaces. For this purpose, we use an extended notation of the Yoshizawa-Randlett diagramming system, used to describe the folds of origami models, to characterize a foldable display and define possible interactive actions based on its folding operations. A guiding method for rapidly prototyping foldable user interfaces is devised and supported by Flecto, a design environment where foldable user interfaces are simulated in 3D environment instead of in physical reality. We report on a case study to demonstrate Flecto in action and we gather the feedback from users on Flecto, using Microsoft Product Reaction Cards.
Collaborative Tabletops for Blind People
Authors: Mendes Daniel , Reis Sofia , Guerreiro João , Nicolau Hugo
Published: November 2020

Interactive tabletops offer unique collaborative features, particularly their size, geometry, orientation and, more importantly, the ability to support multi-user interaction. Although previous efforts were made to make interactive tabletops accessible to blind people, the potential to use them in collaborative activities remains unexplored. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a multi-user auditory display for interactive tabletops, supporting three feedback modes that vary on how much information about the partners' actions is conveyed. We conducted a user study with ten blind people to assess the effect of feedback modes on workspace awareness and task performance. Furthermore, we analyze the type of awareness information exchanged and the emergent collaboration strategies. Finally, we provide implications for the design of future tabletop collaborative tools for blind users.
Maps Around Me
Authors: Satriadi Kadek Ananta , Ens Barrett , Cordeil Maxime , Czauderna Tobias , Jenny Bernhard
Published: November 2020

Visual exploration of maps often requires a contextual understanding at multiple scales and locations. Multiview map layouts, which present a hierarchy of multiple views to reveal detail at various scales and locations, have been shown to support better performance than traditional single-view exploration on desktop displays. This paper investigates the extension of such layouts of 2D maps into 3D immersive spaces, which are not limited by the real-estate barrier of physical screens and support sensemaking through spatial interaction. Based on our initial implementation of immersive multiview maps, we conduct an exploratory study with 16 participants aimed at understanding how people place and view such maps in immersive space. We observe the layouts produced by users performing map exploration search, comparison and route-planning tasks. Our qualitative analysis identifies patterns in layoutgeometry (spherical, spherical cap, planar),overview-detail relationship (central window, occluding, coordinated) andinteraction strategy. Based on these observations, along with qualitative feedback from a user walkthrough session, we identify implications and recommend features for immersive multiview map systems. Our main findings are that participants tend to prefer and arrange multiview maps in a spherical cap layout around them and that they often rearrange the views during tasks.
Voltage-Dependent Photoluminescence of Carbon Dots
Authors: Wang Xudong , Yan Ping , Kerns Peter , Suib Steven , Loew Leslie M. , Zhao Jing
Published: November 2020

Carbon dots are fluorescent carbon-based nanoparticles with great potential in bioimaging because they offer multiple imaging windows owing to their excitation-dependent emission features. A recent theoretical study shows that emission of graphene quantum dots responds to external electric field due to Stark effect. Inspired by this work, we have demonstrated here the first experimental study of the Stark effect of fluorescent carbon dots synthesized via a soft-template method. The carbon dots exhibit excitation-dependent emission covering blue to orange emission range. After being encapsulated in artificial lipid bilayers, the carbon dots show voltage-sensitivity of fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity change per mV is comparable with that of commercial membrane potential sensing dyes. Our results demonstrate the great potential of carbon dots in membrane voltage sensing.
Mitochondrial metabolic manipulation by SARS-CoV-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with COVID-19
Authors: Ajaz Saima , McPhail Mark J. , Singh Keshav K. , Mujib Salma , Trovato Francesca M. , Napoli Salvatore , Agarwal Kosh
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the primary global health issue since its outbreak in December 2019. Patients with metabolic syndrome suffer from severe complications and a higher mortality rate due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We recently proposed that SARS-CoV-2 can hijack host mitochondrial function and manipulate metabolic pathways for their own advantage. The aim of the current study was to investigate functional mitochondrial changes in live peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with COVID-19 and to decipher the pathways of substrate utilization in these cells and corresponding changes in the inflammatory pathways. We demonstrate mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic alterations with an increase in glycolysis, and high levels of mitokine in PBMCs from patients with COVID-19. Interestingly, we found that levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 mitokine correlate with COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. These data suggest that patients with COVID-19 have a compromised mitochondrial function and an energy deficit that is compensated by a metabolic switch to glycolysis. This metabolic manipulation by SARS-CoV-2 triggers an enhanced inflammatory response that contributes to the severity of symptoms in COVID-19. Targeting mitochondrial metabolic pathway(s) can help define novel strategies for COVID-19.
Successful Treatment by Surgery and Lenvatinib of a Patient with Adrenal Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Nakamura Hajime , Takada Kohichi , Murase Kazuyuki , Sakamoto Hiroki , Hayasaka Naotaka , Ishikawa Kazuma , Ikeda Yuki , Yoshida Makoto , Iyama Satoshi , Kobayashi Ko , Shindo Tetsuya , Sugita Shintaro , Miyanishi Koji , Kobune Masayoshi , Masumori Naoya , Kato Junji
Published: November 2020

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is considered an indolent cancer, but some PTC patients do present with distant metastases and treatment strategies for such patients are not well established. Recently, lenvatinib, an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, has been introduced to treat patients with advanced PTC but carries a risk of serious adverse events such as hemorrhage. Here, we report a PTC patient with a left adrenal metastasis and lenvatinib-induced hemorrhage who underwent successful surgical resection and was subsequently treated with a lower dose of lenvatinib. The patient has now been in a stable state with no adverse events for nearly two years. This case highlights the importance of surgical resection of metastatic PTC and subsequent lenvatinib therapy, even when the tumor is at an advanced stage.
Circulating Interleukin-6 (but Not Other Immune Mediators) Associates with Criteria for Fried’s Frailty among Very Old Adults
Authors: Santos Morais Junior Gilberto , Ignacio Valenzuela Perez Diego , Cecília Tonet-Furioso Audrey , Gomes Lucy , Coelho Vilaça Karla Helena , Paulo Alves Vicente , Franco Moraes Clayton , Toledo Nóbrega Otávio
Published: November 2020

Background and Aim. Frailty is a geriatric condition resulting from physiological changes covering the musculoskeletal, immune, and neuroendocrine systems, leading to a greater inflammatory state. The present research aimed to investigate the association of components of Fried’s frailty (as well as of the phenotype as a whole) with total serum levels of a panel of inflammatory mediators. Methods. One hundred and sixty-one very old patients (aged ≥80 years) devoid of cognitive decline were eligible for analyses. Clinical and biochemical data along with physical and cognitive assessments encompassing dual-energy X-ray scans and hand dynamometry were adopted to investigate frailty criteria, while circulating immune mediators (IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα) were assessed using high-throughput flow cytometry. Results. Preliminarily, IL-6 correlated positively with waist-to-hip ratio and C-reactive protein and negatively with glycemia. In analyses controlled for these factors, serum levels of IL-6 were comparatively augmented among the very old participants with reduced grip strength (OR = 3.299; 95% CI 1.08–6.09;p=0.032) and among those with slow walk speed (OR = 2.460; 95% CI 1.16–7.05;p=0.022). Conclusions. Our study shows a strong negative correlation of IL-6 levels with Fried’s frailty components of grip strength and walk speed in very old adults, regardless of confounding factors.
Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Service Utilization among Pregnant Women in Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Zegeye Betregiorgis , Lemma Gorems , Balcha Abebe , Taderegew Mitku Mammo
Published: November 2020

Background. Targeting pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics provides a unique opportunity for implementing the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of newborn babies. The objective of this study was to assess the PMTCT service utilization rate and to characterize its reasons among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at selected public health facilities in Debre Berhan Town, Northern Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 355 pregnant women from May 1 to June 15, 2019. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique, and data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and standard deviation were reported using text, table, and graphs. Results. The mean ages of the respondents were 24 (±5.6) years, and the majority of the respondents (287 (80.8%)) were urban residents. In this study, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission service utilization rate was 86.8%. The most frequently mentioned reasons for not utilization of services were fear of stigma and discrimination (42.6%), fear of rejection by partner (19.1%), fear of positive test results (17.0%), lack of awareness (12.7%), and wastage of time (8.5%). Hence, continuous health education and comprehensive counseling are necessary to increase the awareness and reduce stigma, fear of the positive result, and partner rejection.
Investigation on Influences of  Two Discrete Methods on Galloping Characteristics of Iced Quad Bundle Conductors
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , Min Guangyun , Wu Chuan , Cai Mengqi
Published: November 2020

The partial differential galloping equation of iced quad conductors can be transformed into an ordinary differential galloping equation by two discrete methods: one is a direct discrete method and the other is an indirect discrete method. The two discrete methods are reasonable and effective and have their own advantages and disadvantages, but whether the two different discrete methods would cause the differences in galloping characteristics of the iced quad conductor has not been studied. Based on this concept, this paper studies this problem systematically. Firstly, based on the variational principle for Hamiltonian, the partial differential galloping equation with 3DOFs of the iced quad bundle conductor is derived and then two discrete methods are used to transform the partial differential galloping equation into an ordinary differential galloping equation. One is to use a direct method to transform partial differential galloping equation into an ordinary differential galloping equation, while the other is to use an indirect method to transform partial differential galloping equation into an ordinary differential galloping equation. Secondly, based on the wind tunnel test, the three‐component aerodynamic coefficients of each subconductor of the iced quad conductor are obtained, and the equivalent aerodynamic coefficients at the central axis of the quad bundle conductor are obtained by using a reasonable method. Then, the aerodynamic coefficients are fitted by Taylor rules and the aerodynamic coefficients of wind angle of attack which is 55° are used in the analysis of galloping characteristics of the iced quad conductor. Finally, based on the numerical method, the displacement response of the two discrete methods is obtained. By comparing the differences of the displacement response obtained by the two discrete methods, it is found that the two discrete methods have certain influences on the phase, frequency, and amplitude of the iced quad bundle conductor. By comparing the calculation process of these two discrete methods, it can be obtained that the calculation process of the direct discrete method is more complex and the calculation process of the indirect discrete method is simpler. By comparing the calculation results of these two discrete methods, the amplitude obtained by the indirect discrete method is bigger than that obtained by the direct discrete method, especially the amplitude in the torsional direction. The research conclusion of this paper can offer some guidance to civil and electric engineering.
Constructing a Risk‐Sharing Framework for Sponge City PPP Projects from the Perspective of the Individual Participant
Authors: Zhao Hui , Ma Shengbin , Bu Zehui
Published: November 2020

Construction of sponge city PPP projects is perceived as a feasible measure for achieving the sustainable urbanization. To ensure the success of sponge city PPP projects, reasonable sharing of risks among participants, which has remained scarce and unscientific, is becoming an urgent problem to be solved. In order to enable the individual participant to accurately grasp the situation of his own risks, specifically for the individual participant, this paper constructs a risk‐sharing framework for sponge city PPP projects. Firstly, this paper identifies critical risk factors by the Delphi method. The final risk evaluation index system is established from the perspectives of political risks, economic risks, construction risks, and operational risks, which include 16 secondary risk factors. Then, risk factors’ weights are determined based on a combination weight method (combining the G1 method and the C‐OWA operator). Next, in order to share risks reasonably, the first step is to obtain the risk factors that can be borne by one participant and define the risk factors that need to be shared among participants through the method of combining GCA method and TOPSIS method. The second step is to build a model based on the utility theory to determine the proportion of risks shared among participants. Finally, the sponge city PPP project in Qingshan demonstration area of Wuhan city as an example is employed to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the constructed risk‐sharing framework. All the aforementioned studies are expected to provide helpful references for reasonable risk sharing in sponge city PPP projects.
Investigation on the Ground Pressure Induced by Hard Roof Fracturing at Different Layers during Extra Thick Coal Seam Mining
Authors: Gao Rui , Yang Jingxuan , Kuang Tiejun , Liu Hongjie
Published: November 2020

The fracturing of hard roofs in different layers would result in complex ground pressure on the working face, such as supports collapsed and severe roadway deformation. However, the mechanism of the ground pressure induced by hard roof fracturing in different layers is still unclear. In the paper, a physical model of a 20 m extrathick coal seam mined with hard roofs existing was established based on the physical simulation similarity criterion. The overburden fracturing structure, abutment stress distribution, and failure characteristics of the coal body were monitored by a noncontact strain measurement system and resistance strain gauges, to reveal the mechanism of ground pressure induced by hard roof fracturing. Furthermore, on-site measurement was used to monitor and analyze the ground pressure affected by hard roofs in different levels. The results provide a theoretical basis for the control of ground pressure in extrathick coal seam mining with hard roofs.
Risk Assessment of Deep Foundation Pit Construction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Mathematics
Authors: Meng Guowang , Huang Jingsong , Wu Bo , Zhu Yanping , Xu Shixiang , Hao Jianhua
Published: November 2020

The construction risk of deep foundation pit (DFP) engineering is high, and accidents occur frequently. It is necessary to evaluate the risk of deep foundation pits before construction. At present, although there are many risk assessment methods, there is not one with strong applicability and high accuracy. Based on expert scoring, this paper analyses the risk from two aspects (the severity of consequences and the probability of occurrence), divides the severity of the consequences into five indexes, calculates the risk by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and sets the expert weight index so that the subjective expert scoring result can obtain the best possible objective calculation result. In addition, this paper uses the membership function from fuzzy mathematics to establish the level of risk and optimize the evaluation criteria of risk events. An engineering example is introduced, and the result of the risk assessment shows that the evaluation result R (risk value) obtained by the optimized risk assessment method in this paper is 7.9 and that the level of risk is grade III. The risk assessment method proposed in this paper has strong applicability and can obtain more accurate evaluation results. This method can provide a reference for the risk assessment of deep foundation pit engineering.
A Review of Artificial Intelligence Methods for Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis of Rolling Element Bearings for Induction Motor
Authors: AlShorman Omar , Irfan Muhammad , Saad Nordin , Zhen D. , Haider Noman , Glowacz Adam , AlShorman Ahmad
Published: November 2020

The fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) along with condition monitoring (CM) and of rotating machinery (RM) have critical importance for early diagnosis to prevent severe damage of infrastructure in industrial environments. Importantly, valuable industrial equipment needs continuous monitoring to enhance the safety, reliability, and availability and to decrease the cost of maintenance of modern industrial systems and applications. However, induction motor (IM) has been extensively used in several industrial processes because it is cheap, reliable, and robust. Rolling bearings are considered to be the main component of IM. Undoubtedly, any failure of this basic component can lead to a serious breakdown of IM and for whole industrial system. Thus, many current methods based on different techniques are employed as a fault prognosis and diagnosis of rolling elements bearing of IM. Moreover, these techniques include signal/image processing, intelligent diagnostics, data fusion, data mining, and expert systems for time and frequency as well as time-frequency domains. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have proven their significance in every field of digital technology. Industrial machines, automation, and processes are the net frontiers of AI adaptation. There are quite developed literatures that have been approaching the issues using signals and data processing techniques. However, the key contribution of this work is to present an extensive review of CM and FDD of the IM, especially for rolling elements bearings, based on artificial intelligent (AI) methods. This study highlights the advantages and performance limitations of each method. Finally, challenges and future trends are also highlighted.
Severe Pharyngodynia Followed by Migratory Polyarthritis and High Fever in Young Immigrants: Remember That Rheumatic Fever Is Still Relevant in 2020!
Authors: Azariadis Kalliopi , Giannoulis George , Gabeta Stella , Michail Anastasia , Zachou Kalliopi , Dalekos George N.
Published: November 2020

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is the immune-mediated sequelae of untreated group-A streptococcal infection. In this regard, rheumatic heart disease is the most prominent manifestation with devastating long-term complications. In the postantibiotic era, ARF is extremely rare in high-income countries; thus, its diagnosis might escape the clinicians’ notice. However, its incidence remains high not only in certain low- and middle-income regions with poor public health systems but also in socioeconomically vulnerable populations residing in high-income countries. Herein, we report two cases of ARF in young immigrant adults in order to highlight the need for increased clinical suspicion to establish a prompt and timely diagnosis of ARF and describe in detail its differential diagnosis and approach to treatment.
Seismic Fragility Analysis of Multispan Continuous Girder Bridges with Varying Pier Heights considering Their Bond‐Slip Behavior
Authors: Cao Yang , Liang Yan , Huai Chenzi , Yang Ji , Mao Ruimin
Published: November 2020

The bond‐slip effect has a great influence on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures and ignoring it will overestimate the seismic performance of the structures. Based on the low‐cyclic reversed loading experiment of a reinforced concrete column, this paper uses OpenSees to establish a nonlinear finite element model considering bond‐slip and verify its correctness. In this paper, a multispan continuous girder bridge with varying pier heights is taken as an example. Considering the effect of the bond‐slip behavior of steel bars, a refined finite element model based on the OpenSees platform is established to do the numerical simulation analysis. 10 seismic waves are selected from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) according to the site condition and modulate the amplitude to 150 waves. This paper uses the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and the second‐order reliability method to analyze the seismic fragility of bridge components and systems, respectively. Results show that the exceeding probability increases obviously when considering bond‐slip, and with the increase of seismic spectral acceleration, the influence of bond‐slip on the exceeding probability of components also increases; when bond‐slip is considered, the difference of system fragility between the upper and lower limits under four damage states is greater than that without bond‐slip.
Chicoric Acid Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via the AMPK/Nrf2/NFκB Signaling Pathway and Restores Gut Microbiota in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice
Authors: Ding Xiaoqin , Jian Tunyu , Li Jiawei , Lv Han , Tong Bei , Li Jing , Meng Xiuhua , Ren Bingru , Chen Jian
Published: November 2020

This study examines the effects of chicoric acid (CA) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in high-fat-diet- (HFD-) fed C57BL/6 mice. CA treatment decreased body weight and white adipose weight, mitigated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, and reduced hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, CA treatment reversed HFD-induced oxidative stress and inflammation both systemically and locally in the liver, evidenced by the decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) abundance, increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lowered in situ reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver, decreased serum and hepatic inflammatory cytokine levels, and reduced hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration in HFD-fed mice. In addition, CA significantly reduced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in palmitic acid- (PA-) treated HepG2 cells. In particular, we identified AMPK as an activator of Nrf2 and an inactivator of NFκB. CA upregulated AMPK phosphorylation, the nuclear protein level of Nrf2, and downregulated NFκB protein level both in HFD mice and PA-treated HepG2 cells. Notably, AMPK inhibitor compound C blocked the regulation of Nrf2 and NFκB, as well as ROS overproduction mediated by CA in PA-treated HepG2 cells, while AMPK activator AICAR mimicked the effects of CA. Similarly, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 partly blocked the regulation of antioxidative genes and ROS overproduction by CA in PA-treated HepG2 cells. Interestingly, high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA suggested that CA could increase Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and modify gut microbial composition towards a healthier microbial profile. In summary, CA plays a preventative role in the amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation via the AMPK/Nrf2/NFκB signaling pathway and shapes gut microbiota in HFD-induced NAFLD.