bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LRS Bianchi type-I bouncing cosmological models in f(R,T) gravity
Authors: Bhardwaj Vinod Kumar , Dixit Archana
Published: September 2020

In this work, we have investigated the cosmological bouncing solution in LRS Bianchi-I space-time in framework of [Formula: see text] gravity. Our study in this paper is based on the modeling of matter bounce scenario in which the universe starts with a matter-dominated contraction phase and transitions into an ekpyrotic phase. Mathematical simulations have been done in the modified general theory of relativity in the form of [Formula: see text] theory proposed by Harko et al. [f(R, T) gravity, Phys. Rev. D 84 (2011) 024020], whose functional form is as [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is Ricci scalar, [Formula: see text] is trace of energy–momentum tensor and [Formula: see text] is constant. Taking the non-vanishing scale factor in LRS Bianchi-I space-time, the geometrical parameters such as Hubble parameter and deceleration parameter have been derived and their subsequent use in the expression of pressure, density and EoS parameter [Formula: see text] confirms qualitatively the initial conditions of the universe at the bounce. With the non-vanishing nature of scale factor, initial universe in finite means ruled out the initial singularity problem. The analysis of violation of energy conditions near the bouncing region and stability of the model shows that the matter bounce approach is highly unstable at the bounce but the rapid decay of perturbations away from the bounce supports the stability of the model.
A miniaturized fluorescence imaging device for rapid early skin cancer detection
Authors: Pan Jingyue , Liu Qingquan , Sun Hao , Zheng Weibo , Wang Peiru , Wen Long , Duan Junli , Xuan Zhiyi , Yu Xiang , Wang Shaowei , Wang Xiuli , Zhang Tao , Lu Wei
Published: September 2020

Fluorescence imaging is very useful for skin cancer lesions detection because of its properties of noninvasion and fast imaging. However, conventional fluorescence imaging devices’ excitation light source and camera are usually separated, which will cause problems such as complicated structure, large volume, and poor illumination homogeneity. In this paper, we introduce a miniature portable fluorescence imaging device to diagnose skin cancer. A coaxial design has been introduced to combine the exciting light source and fluorescence receiver as an integral part, which significantly reduces the size of the device and ensures illumination homogeneity. The volume of the device is less than [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm3 with weight of 150[Formula: see text]g, and the total power (including the excitation lamp) is only 1.5 W. It is used to detect the squamous cell carcinoma mice for demonstration. The results show that the location of the cancer lesions can be easily distinguished from the images captured by the device. It can be efficiently used to detect early skin tumors with noninvasion. It also has prospects to be integrated with other diagnostic methods such as ultrasound probe, for multiple diagnose of skin tumors thanks to its miniature size.
Director Industry Expertise and Voluntary Corporate Disclosure
Authors: Burns Natasha , Minnick Kristina , Raman Kartik
Published: September 2020

We examine if firms with directors with related industry expertise (DRIs), or directors that are supply chain partners, exhibit a greater propensity to forecast earnings, and improve the specificity and accuracy of forecasts. Using instrumental variables to mitigate endogeneity, we find that DRIs and supply chain partners possess unique insights which improve managerial forecasts especially when there is greater earnings uncertainty (innovations along the supply chain, poor performance, operating in volatile industries). We use director deaths as exogenous shocks to board composition and confirm results. Results indicate that DRIs play an informational role in enhancing voluntary disclosures and improving corporate transparency.
An Efficient Approach to the Simulation of Acoustic Radiation from Large Structures with FEM
Authors: Zarnekow Marc , Ihlenburg Frank , Grätsch Thomas
Published: September 2020

A new efficient method for the simulation of sound radiation from large vibrating structures with the Finite Element Method (FEM) is proposed. The acoustic radiation from the major radiating panels is simulated separately for each panel, using customized fluid domains that are weakly coupled to the vibrating structure. Thereby, a significant reduction of the model order is achieved, maintaining at the same time a high reliability of results for practical application. The pressure levels at arbitrary far-field microphone positions can be efficiently computed from the Equivalent Radiated Power functions that characterize the structural vibrations of the radiating panels.
Acoustic Shape Optimization Based on Isogeometric Wideband Fast Multipole Boundary Element Method with Adjoint Variable Method
Authors: Wang Jie , Zheng Changjun , Chen Leilei , Chen Haibo
Published: September 2020

A shape optimization approach based on isogeometric wideband fast multipole boundary element method (IGA WFMBEM) in 2D acoustics is developed in this study. The key treatment is shape sensitivity analysis by using the adjoint variable method under isogeometric analysis (IGA) conditions. A set of efficient parameters of the wideband fast multipole method has been identified for IGA boundary element method. Shape optimization is performed by applying the method of moving asymptotes. IGA WFMBEM is validated through an acoustic scattering example. The proposed optimization approach is tested on a sound barrier and two multiple structures to demonstrate its potential for engineering problems.
A Three-Dimensional Ring Model for Uncertainty Quantification in Natural Frequencies and Sound Radiation Characteristics of Tires
Authors: Liu Zhe , Zhao Wenchang , Sepahvand Kian K. , Wei Yintao , Marburg Steffen
Published: September 2020

Material and geometrical parameters of tires involve some degree of uncertainty mainly related to production processes. Accordingly, the associated structural responses are affected by these uncertainties. In this study, a novel theoretical ring model is presented to describe the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations as well as the steady-state response of tires, and then to evaluate the influence of the uncertainties in structural parameters on the natural frequencies and the sound radiation characteristics under uncertain excitations. The Hamilton principle is applied here to derive the governing equations. The modal superposition method is used to calculate the steady-state response of the tire. In the sound radiation analysis, the in-plane and out-of-plane bending and torsional vibrations under a set of harmonic unit forces and moments are treated as the source of noise generation. On this basis, the generalized polynomial chaos expansion method is then adopted to evaluate the influence of the uncertainty on the natural frequencies and the sound power. To obtain the unknown coefficients of the expansions, the nonintrusive probabilistic collocation method is employed. Moreover, considering the concept of linear independence of vectors, the number of collocation points is reduced. It is applied to investigate the impacts of the elastic and structural uncertainties on the natural frequencies of the tire. This yields an efficient simulation in terms of computational costs. Finally, the distributions of the sound power due to the forced vibration under the random concentrated line forces are given.
Submarine landslides: mapping the susceptibility in European seas
Authors: Innocenti C. , Battaglini L. , D'Angelo S. , Fiorentino A.
Published: September 2020

A map of susceptibility to submarine landslides in European seas has been developed using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) and landslide cartography acquired from European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Geology (
https://www.emodnet-geology.eu/
). A total of 15% landslide points were set aside and used as test data, while the remaining 85% were used for model training. Based on EMODnet bathymetry, 33 environmental maps including bathymetric position index (BPI), slope, features, flat curvature and profile curvature, all calculated at different spatial scales, were processed. In an iterative process, all the variables that were highly collinear and those that did not contribute significantly to the model were eliminated. In the end, the model was constructed using only bathymetry and the slope of the seabed. The elaborated model has an area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve (AUC) of 0.910 calculated on the training set and 0.911 on the test set, and the ROC curves are coincident. The slope is the variable that gives the greatest contribution to the model (82%), but without the contribution of depth (18%) the results degrade significantly. The susceptibility map correctly identifies all the main structures where the presence of landslides is known. The model shows a certain sensitivity to bathymetric acquisition noise.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Mapping the Geology and Topography of the European Seas (EMODnet) collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/EMODnet
Edge Estimation with Independent Set Oracles
Authors: Beame Paul , Har-Peled Sariel , Ramamoorthy Sivaramakrishnan Natarajan , Rashtchian Cyrus , Sinha Makrand
Published: September 2020

We study the task of estimating the number of edges in a graph, where the access to the graph is provided via an independent set oracle. Independent set queries draw motivation from group testing and have applications to the complexity of decision versus counting problems. We give two algorithms to estimate the number of edges in an
n
-vertex graph, using (i) polylog(
n
) bipartite independent set queries or (ii)
n
2/3
polylog(
n
) independent set queries.
Linking Neuronal Direction Selectivity to Perceptual Decisions About Visual Motion
Authors: Pasternak Tatiana , Tadin Duje
Published: September 2020

Psychophysical and neurophysiological studies of responses to visual motion have converged on a consistent set of general principles that characterize visual processing of motion information. Both types of approaches have shown that the direction and speed of target motion are among the most important encoded stimulus properties, revealing many parallels between psychophysical and physiological responses to motion. Motivated by these parallels, this review focuses largely on more direct links between the key feature of the neuronal response to motion, direction selectivity, and its utilization in memory-guided perceptual decisions. These links were established during neuronal recordings in monkeys performing direction discriminations, but also by examining perceptual effects of widespread elimination of cortical direction selectivity produced by motion deprivation during development. Other approaches, such as microstimulation and lesions, have documented the importance of direction-selective activity in the areas that are active during memory-guided direction comparisons, area MT and the prefrontal cortex, revealing their likely interactions during behavioral tasks.
Human Organoids for the Study of Retinal Development and Disease
Authors: Bell Claire M. , Zack Donald J. , Berlinicke Cynthia A.
Published: September 2020

Recent advances in stem cell engineering have led to an explosion in the use of organoids as model systems for studies in multiple biological disciplines. Together with breakthroughs in genome engineering and the various omics, organoid technology is making possible studies of human biology that were not previously feasible. For vision science, retinal organoids derived from human stem cells allow differentiating and mature human retinal cells to be studied in unprecedented detail. In this review, we examine the technologies employed to generate retinal organoids and how organoids are revolutionizing the fields of developmental and cellular biology as they pertain to the retina. Furthermore, we explore retinal organoids from a clinical standpoint, offering a new platform with which to study retinal diseases and degeneration, test prospective drugs and therapeutic strategies, and promote personalized medicine. Finally, we discuss the range of possibilities that organoids may bring to future retinal research and consider their ethical implications.
Direct Electrochemical Reduction of Acetochlor at Carbon and Silver Cathodes in Dimethylformamide
Authors: Couto Petro Ana G. , Thapa Bishnu , Karty Jonathan A. , Raghavachari Krishnan , Baker Lane A. , Peters Dennis G.
Published: September 2020

Cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential (bulk) electrolysis have been employed to investigate the direct electrochemical reduction of acetochlor (1) at carbon and silver cathodes in dimethylformamide. Voltammograms of 1 exhibit a single irreversible cathodic peak at both cathode materials. Catalytic properties of silver towards carbon–halogen bond cleavage are evidenced by a positive shift in the reduction of acetochlor as compared to the more inert glassy carbon electrode. Voltammograms in the presence of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), and comparisons of calculated relative interaction energies between acetochlor, possible intermediates, and deschloroacetochlor in the presence of different proton donors, suggest strong hydrogen-bonding interactions between HFIP and a carbanion intermediate. Addition of HFIP to electrolysis conditions promotes complete reduction at both cathode materials, with formation of deschloroacetochlor in high yields. In deuterium labelling studies, the use of DMF-d
7 led to no evidence for deuterium atom incorporation. However, when HFIP-OD or D2O were employed as a proton source, substantial amounts of deuterated deschloroacetochlor were observed. A mechanism for the reduction of acetochlor is proposed, in which radical intermediates do not play a significant role in reduction, rather a carbanion intermediate pathway is followed.
Review—Two-Dimensional Boron Carbon Nitride: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Angizi Shayan , Akbar Md Ali , Darestani-Farahani Maryam , Kruse Peter
Published: September 2020

Two-dimensional Boron Carbon Nitride (BCN) is a complex ternary system that has recently attracted great attention due to its ability to be tuned over a range of chemical, optical and electrical properties. In the last decade, BCN structures have been extensively researched for many energy-related applications, from supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries to electrocatalysts and sensors. However, the stoichiometry dependent properties of BCN as well as the difficult-to-control domain distribution of boron, carbon, and nitrogen atoms throughout the planes result in challenges for the fabrication of devices with reproducible performance. This review starts by discussing the fundamental properties of BCN as compared to its parent compounds (hexagonal boron nitride and graphene). Then the fabrication methods are comprehensively reviewed, analyzing each method’s advantages and shortcomings. This is followed by an explanation of BCN characteristics while particular attention is given to the surface chemistry and engineering of nanosheets. Applications of two dimensional BCN will also be reviewed to illustrate its significance over the last decade. Lastly, future trends and prospects of BCN structures will be reviewed, indicating on-going areas of research and the possible integration of BCN in semiconductor and energy-related applications.
EIS: Measurement Model Program
Authors: Watson William , Orazem Mark Edward
Published: September 2020

The measurement model is used to analyze electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data. The measurement model installation file works with the MS Windows operating system. With this program, you will be able to identify the stochastic error structure of your measurements, used to weight further regressions. You will be able to determine what part of your measurement is inconsistent with the Kramers-Kronig relations. You will be able to estimate capacitance and ohmic resistance, from which you can identify the characteristic frequency above which the geometry of the electrode may cause frequency dispersion. You will also be able to fit custom models to your data. The reference manual, reached from the Help Tab, also provides links to sample data, custom models, and Python code.Copyright ©2020, University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Thrombospondins in bone remodeling and metastatic bone disease
Authors: Carminati Laura , Taraboletti Giulia
Published: September 2020

Thrombospondins (TSPs) are a family of five multimeric matricellular proteins. Through a wide range of interactions, TSPs play pleiotropic roles in embryogenesis and in tissue remodeling in adult physiology as well as in pathological conditions, including cancer development and metastasis. TSPs are active in bone remodeling, the process of bone resorption (osteolysis) and deposition (osteogenesis) that maintains bone homeostasis. TSPs are particularly involved in aberrant bone remodeling, including osteolytic and osteoblastic skeletal cancer metastasis, frequent in advanced cancers such as breast and prostate carcinoma. TSPs are major players in the bone metastasis microenvironment, where they finely tune the cross talk between tumor cells and bone resident cells in the metastatic niche. Each TSP family member has different effects on the differentiation and activity of bone cells—including the bone-degrading osteoclasts and the bone-forming osteoblasts—with different outcomes on the development and growth of osteolytic and osteoblastic metastases. Here, we overview the involvement of TSP family members in the bone tissue microenvironment, focusing on their activity on osteoclasts and osteoblasts in bone remodeling, and present the evidence to date of their roles in bone metastasis establishment and growth.
LonP1 regulates mitochondrial network remodeling through the PINK1/Parkin pathway during myoblast differentiation
Authors: Huang Shiyuan , Wang Xiaona , Yu Jiale , Tian Yu , Yang Chenkai , Chen Yang , Chen Hua , Ge Hongshan
Published: September 2020

Myoblast differentiation is a crucial process for myogenesis. Mitochondria function as an energy-providing machine that is critical to this process, and mitochondrial dysfunction can prevent myoblasts from fusing into myotubes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic regulation of mitochondrial networks remain poorly understood. In the present study, we found that the PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin (an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase) pathway is activated at the early stage of myoblast differentiation. Moreover, downregulation of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and increased dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) resulted in loosely formed mitochondria during this period. Furthermore, selective knockdown of the mitochondrial matrix protein Lon peptidase-1 (LonP1) at the early stage of myoblast differentiation induced mitochondrial depolarization and suppressed the PINK1/Parkin pathway and reduced Mfn2 and Drp1 levels, which blocked mitochondrial remodeling and myoblast differentiation. Overall, these data demonstrate that LonP1 promotes myoblast differentiation by regulating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial remodeling.
Stability of motor cortex network states during learning-associated neural reorganizations
Authors: Ma Zhengyu , Liu Haixin , Komiyama Takaki , Wessel Ralf
Published: September 2020

The neural activity reorganizes throughout motor learning, but how this reorganization impacts the stability of network states is unclear. We used two-photon calcium imaging to investigate how the network states in layer 2/3 and layer 5 of forelimb motor and premotor cortex are modulated by motor learning. We show that motor cortex network states are layer-specific and constant regarding criticality during neural activity reorganization, and suggests that layer-specific constraints could be motivated by different functions.
Model-based detection of putative synaptic connections from spike recordings with latency and type constraints
Authors: Ren Naixin , Ito Shinya , Hafizi Hadi , Beggs John M. , Stevenson Ian H.
Published: September 2020

Detecting synaptic connections using large-scale extracellular spike recordings is a difficult statistical problem. Here, we develop an extension of a generalized linear model that explicitly separates fast synaptic effects and slow background fluctuations in cross-correlograms between pairs of neurons while incorporating circuit properties learned from the whole network. This model outperforms two previously developed synapse detection methods in the simulated networks and recovers plausible connections from hundreds of neurons in in vitro multielectrode array data.
Topographic heterogeneity of intrinsic excitability in mouse hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Sun Qian , Jiang Yu-Qiu , Lu Melissa C.
Published: September 2020

Area CA3 is a major hippocampal region that is classically thought to act as a homogeneous neural network vital for spatial navigation and episodic memories. Here, we report that CA3 pyramidal neurons exhibit marked heterogeneity of somatodendritic morphology and cellular electrical properties along both proximodistal and dorsoventral axes. These new results uncover a complex, yet orderly, pattern of topographic organization of CA3 neuronal features that may contribute to its in vivo functional diversity.
Neonatal near Miss and Its Predictors among Neonates Delivered at Debretabor General Hospital, Northern Ethiopia; A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Tassew Habtamu Abie , Kassie Fisseha Yetwale , Mihret Muhabaw Shumye
Published: September 2020

Background. In many low-resource countries, the progress of neonatal mortality reduction is very slow. The scenario is notably true in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. For every neonatal death, there are lots of near missed neonates. Generating evidences on the extent and predictors of neonatal near miss is a key step in neonatal mortality reduction efforts. However, there is limited evidence in this aspect in Ethiopia. Objective. This study is aimed at assessing the proportion of neonatal near miss and associated factors among neonates delivered at Debretabor General Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 neonates delivered at Debretabor General Hospital from July 1st, 2018, to June 30th, 2019. Both pragmatic and management criteria of definition of neonatal near miss were utilized. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the cards of the study participants. Data were extracted with structured and pretested checklist, entered in the EpiData, and then exported to SPSS version 20. Both descriptive and analytical procedures have been done. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and cross tabulations were carried out. The binary logistic regression model was fitted and variables with p value < 0.20 were entered in the multivariable logistic regression model. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with the corresponding 95% CI were computed. The level of significance has been claimed based on the adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and its p value of ≤0.05. Results. The proportion of neonates experiencing near miss was obtained to be 32.2% with 95% CI (28, 36). Rural residence (AOR=4.41; 95% CI: 2.57,7.55), incomplete ANC visit (AOR=3.16; 95% CI: 1.90,5.25), primiparous (AOR=2.55; 95% CI: 1.59,4.12), pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR=3.23; 95% CI: 1.19,8.78), premature rupture of membrane (AOR=4.65; 95% CI: 1.70,12,73), cephalic-pelvic disproportion (AOR=3.05; 95% CI: 1.32,7.01), and antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=4.95; 95% CI: 1.89,12.96) were the independent predictors of neonatal near-miss. Conclusion and Recommendations. The proportion of neonatal near miss was found to be high in the study setting. Most of the determinants of near miss are modifiable obstetric-related factors. Hence, stakeholders need to consider the aforesaid factors while they design interventions.
Construct Validity of Assessing Interest in STEM Content Scale
Authors: Srikoon Sanit , Apaivatin Ronnachit , Monsang Piyapong , Khamngoen Sujinta , Malaitao Thararat
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this research was to validate the assessing interest in STEM content scale. The sample in this research was 552 students in upper secondary school at Fangchanupathum School, Chiang Mai, Thailand, who validated the assessing interest in STEM content scale, which used a rating scale of four factors consisting of (1) science, (2) mathematics, (3) laboratorial skills, and (4) technology and 20 items. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the construct validity of the assessing interest in STEM content scale adapted from the study by Tyler-Wood, Knezek, and Christensen. The results confirmed that the construct validity of this assessing interest in STEM content scale had an excellent fit. They showed that the fitness index of validating the assessing interest in STEM content scale was X2 statistic of 163.679 (degree of freedom = 141, P value = 0.0928) and the X2/df ratio having a value of 1.160 indicating a good fit. The comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.991, and Tucker–Lewis coefficient (TLI) was 0.988. The root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) was 0.017. The standardized root mean residual (SRMR) was 0.047. All the indicators indicated that there was a good fit between the empirical data and the hypothetical measurement model.
Fecal Microbiome Alteration May Be a Potential Marker for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wu Juan , Zhang Cong , Xu Shuo , Xiang Chunjie , Wang Ruiping , Yang Dongqing , Lu Bin , Shi Liyun , Tong Ruimin , Teng Yuhao , Dong Wei , Zhang Junfeng
Published: September 2020

Although intestinal microbial dysbiosis was confirmed to be associated with many chronic diseases and health status through complicated interaction with the host, the effect on gastric cancer was less studied. In this study, we sequenced the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes of fecal bacteria and fungi, respectively, in 134 gastric cancer patients and 58 healthy controls matched by age and gender. Propensity score matching (PSM) was adopted for adjusting diet habits and lifestyle, and 44 patients and 44 healthy controls (matching population) were enrolled. Serum antibody to H. pylori and metabolites of the matching population were detected. The positive rates of antibody to H. pylori between the patients and the control group did not reach the statistical difference. LEfSe analysis indicated that bacteria were more stable than fungi when adjusting diet and lifestyle. Veillonella, Megasphaera, and Prevotella 7 genus and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. Salivarius, Bifidobacterium dentium, and Lactobacillus salivarius species in bacteria were related to the risk of gastric cancer and showed a good diagnostic value in distinguishing the patients from healthy controls. Streptococcus mitis showed a risk effect for gastric cancer; however, the effect turned into be protective after PSM. Serum L-alanine, L-threonine, and methionol were positively associated with Veillonella and Streptococcus and several fungi genus. Overall, our findings indicated that fecal microbiome constitution alteration may be associated with gastric cancer through influencing the amino acid metabolism.
Synthesis of Phthalimide Imine Derivatives as a Potential Anticancer Agent
Authors: Abdulrahman Hayman Sardar , Hassan Mohammed Mohamed , Al-Ani Lina A. , Ahmad Mohd Hafiz , Hashim Najihah M. , Yehye Wageeh A.
Published: September 2020

The outstanding evidence of phthalimide pharmacophore in securing enhanced biological activities had encouraged further research and development into phthalimide-based derivatives as potential new drugs. In this study, phthalimide core was hybridized with aldehydes giving integrated imines displaying different types of functionalities and at alternating positions. The resulting compounds, therefore, provide an innovative window to explore possible differential biological effects as antioxidants and anticancer agents. A total of sixteen compounds were synthesized, and each was verified by FT-IR, H NMR, C NMR, and MS characterization. Herein, a facile single-step synthesis method was employed substituting the conventional two-step chemical production routes. Among the sixteen tested compounds, the H7 compound with hydroxyl phenolic group has shown an eminent antioxidant activity with a 19.52% decrease to the IC50 value compared to that of the control standard BHT antioxidant. On the other hand, the halogenated H6 Schiff base structure was successful in securing effective cancer inhibition to both colon and breast cancer cell lines, while maintaining selective action toward normal tissues. Results have collectively indicated the importance and impactful effects of functional groups position and types within similar basic structures, in directing different biological outcomes.
Experimental Analysis of Deformation Mechanics and Stability of a Shallow‐Buried Large‐Span Hard Rock Metro Station
Authors: Li Wei , Bai Jiwen , Li Kexian , Zhang Shijie
Published: September 2020

Based on a certain Qingdao metro station, a large‐scale three‐dimensional model test has been carried out to investigate the stability of the surrounding rock masses (hard rock) and a large‐span metro station under different excavation methods and technologies. The model test includes an entire section excavation, an arch‐cover excavation, and a primary support arch‐cover excavation. Compared with the entire section excavation, the primary support arch‐cover method can effectively control the vault settlement and clearance convergence deformation of the surrounding rock masses, reducing them by 15–30%. The deformation itself goes through three stages: slow, abrupt, and stable. The excavation of the “middle hole” creates a drastic change in the tunnel vault during the arch‐cover excavation; however, the timely application of supports can effectively constrain the range of disturbance caused by the excavation and weaken the degree of load agglomeration of the surrounding rock masses.
Adaptive Fringe Projection for 3D Shape Measurement with Large Reflectivity Variations by Using Image Fusion and Predicted Search
Authors: Feng Wei , Tang Shaojing , Zhao Xiaodong , Sun Guodong , Zhao Daxing
Published: September 2020

There is always a great challenge for the structured light technique that it is difficult to deal with the surface with large reflectivity variations or specular reflection. This paper proposes a flexible and adaptive digital fringe projection method based on image fusion and interpolated prediction search algorithm. The multiple mask images are fused to obtain the required saturation threshold, and the interpolated prediction search algorithm is used to calculate the optimal projection gray-level intensity. Then, the projection intensity is reduced to achieve coordinate matching in the unsaturated condition, and the adaptive digital fringes with the optimal projection intensity are subsequently projected for phase calculation by using the heterodyne multifrequency phase-shifted method. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for measuring the high-reflective surface and unwrapping the phase in the local overexposure region completely. Compared with the traditional structured light measurement methods, our method can decrease the number of projected and captured images with higher modulation and better contrast. In addition, the measurement process only needs two prior steps and avoids hardware complexity, which is more convenient to apply to the industry.
The Effect of Metformin on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Overweight Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Guan Yuanyuan , Wang Dongjun , Bu Huaien , Zhao Tieniu , Wang Hongwu
Published: September 2020

Objective. Metformin is an important component of PCOS treatment. At present, the effect of metformin in overweight women with PCOS has not been evaluated. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to assess the effects of metformin in overweight women with PCOS and to analyze the effects of metformin in overweight women with PCOS. Methods. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases for studies published before March 2020. Randomized controlled trials were identified to study the effects of metformin in overweight women with PCOS. Data from studies including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), luteinizing hormone (LH), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin, testosterone, and androstenedione were pooled. Qualified trials were selected, and methodological quality was strictly assessed. Two reviewers chose the studies independently of each other. Results. Twelve trials were included. The intervention group and the control group had significant differences in the changes in body mass index (BMI) (WMD = −1.25, 95% CI (−1.60, −0.91), p<0.00001) and waist circumference (WC) (WMD = −1.41, 95% CI (−2.46, −0.37), p=0.008) after metformin. The comprehensive results show that, in all studies, overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with metformin had significantly improved endocrine and metabolic indicators, including testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, metformin did not regulate the secretion indexes of fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, sex hormone-binding globulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and androstenedione. Conclusions. Compared with control interventions, metformin appears to be an effective intervention for overweight women with PCOS.
Multicomponent Exercise Training Improves Gait Ability of Older Women Rather than Strength Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wolf Renata , Locks Rafaella R. , Lopes Paula B. , Bento Paulo C. B. , Rodacki André L. F. , Carraro Attilio N. , Pereira Gleber
Published: September 2020

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of multicomponent and strength training programs on dynamic balance, functional capacity, and gait ability in older women. Methods. Thirty individuals (67 ± 4.3 years; 30.6 ± 3.9 kg/m2) were trained for 12 weeks (3 times per week), following multicomponent (MG: exercises focusing on agility, balance, muscle strength, and aerobic) and strength programs (SG: lower limbs strength exercise). Results. Peak torque of hip flexors (p=0.020) and extensors (p=0.009) and knee flexors (p=0.001) of SG was greater than that of MG at posttraining. In addition, both groups increased peak torque of knee extensors (p=0.002) and plantar extensors with higher effect size for SG (d = −0.41 and −0.48), whereas MG presented higher effect size for plantar flexors muscles (d = −0.55). Only the SG improved the rate of torque development of knee extensors (29%; p=0.002), and this variable was also greater to SG than MG at posttraining (106%). The SG and MG improved dynamic balance although SG presented higher effect size (d = 0.61). Both groups improved the performance on 30 s sit to stand test (p=0.010) with higher effect size for MG (d = −0.54). Only the MG improved the stride length (4%; p=0.011) and gait speed (10%; p=0.024). In addition, the groups improved toe clearance (p=0.035) and heel contact (p=0.010) with higher effect sizes for MG (d = −0.066 and 1.07). Conclusion. Strength training should be considered to increase muscle function and dynamic balance in older women, whereas multicomponent training should be considered to increase functional capacity and gait ability in this population.
Method for Patching Three-Dimensional Surface Coverage Loopholes of Hybrid Nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Hao Zhanjun , Xu Hongwen , Dang Xiaochao , Qu Nanjiang
Published: September 2020

Target sensing and information monitoring using wireless sensor networks have become an important research field. Based on two-dimensional plane research, information monitoring, and transmission for three-dimensional curved target events, due to the uneven deployment of nodes and failures in sensor networks, there are a lot of coverage loopholes in the network. In this paper, a method of detecting and repairing loopholes in monitoring the coverage of three-dimensional surface targets with hybrid nodes is proposed. In the target monitoring area where the hybrid nodes are randomly deployed, the three-dimensional surface cube is meshed, and the coverage loopholes are gradually detected according to the method of computational geometry, and then, the redundant mobile nodes around the coverage loopholes are selected. According to the calculated distance to cover the moving direction and distance of the loophole, the virtual force is used to adjust the mobile nodes to repair the coverage loopholes. Simulation results show that compared with other algorithms, this algorithm has a higher utilization rate of mobile nodes, uses fewer nodes to complete coverage, reduces network coverage costs, meets the overall network coverage requirements, and has lower mobile energy consumption and longer network life. The actual scene further verifies the good connectivity and high coverage of the whole network.
Accessory Soleus Muscle: Two Case Reports with a Completely Different Presentation Caused by the Same Entity
Authors: Plečko Mihovil , Knežević Igor , Dimnjaković Damjan , Josipović Mario , Bojanić Ivan
Published: September 2020

Accessory soleus muscle (ASM) is a rare supernumerary anatomical variant that commonly presents as a posteromedial ankle swelling, which may become painful during physical activity. As it may mimic a soft tissue tumor, it is essential to differentiate this condition from ganglion, lipoma, hemangioma, synovioma, and sarcoma. However, ASM may also present with a painful syndrome, characterized by pain and paresthesia of the ankle and foot, mimicking the tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS). Two cases of ASM are presented in this article. The first case had a typical presentation with painful posteromedial ankle swelling. After the initial assessment, the diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ASM was treated by complete resection. The second case presented with pain and paresthesia in the right ankle and foot, but no swelling was noticeable. It was initially misdiagnosed by a rheumatologist and afterward overlooked on an MRI by a musculoskeletal radiology specialist and therefore mistreated by numerous physicians before being referred to our outpatient clinic. After further assessment, the diagnosis has been confirmed, and ASM was treated by complete resection combined with tarsal tunnel decompression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in which ASM caused symptoms but presented without posteromedial swelling. This might be due to a proximally positioned belly of the ASM, followed by a tendinous insertion on the medial side of the calcaneus.
A Lightweight Location-Aware Fog Framework (LAFF) for QoS in Internet of Things Paradigm
Authors: Shaheen Qaisar , Shiraz Muhammad , Hashmi Muhammad Usman , Mahmood Danish , zhiyu Zhu , Akhtar Rizwan
Published: September 2020

Realization of Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the scope of connectivity and reachability ubiquitously. Under the umbrella of IoT, every object which is smart enough to communicate with other object leads to the enormous data generation of varying sizes and nature. Cloud computing (CC) employs centralized data centres for the provisioning of remote services and resources. However, for the reason of being far away from client devices, CC has their own limitations especially for time and resource critical applications. The remote and centralized characteristics of CC often result in creating bottle necks, being latent, and hence deteriorate the quality of service (QoS) in the provisioning of services. Here, the concept of fog computing (FC) emerges that tends to leverage CC and end devices for data congestion and processing locally in a distributed and decentralized way. However, addressing latency and bottleneck issues for time critical applications are still challenging. In this work, a lightweight framework is proposed which employs the concept of fog head node that keeps track of other fog nodes in terms of user registrations and location awareness. The proposed lightweight location-aware fog framework (LAFF) persistently satisfies QoS by providing an accurate location-aware algorithm. A comparative analysis is also presented to analyse network usage, service time, latency, and RAM and CPU utilization. The comparison results depicts that the LAFF reduces latency, network use, and service time by 11.01%, 7.51%, and 14.8%, respectively, in contrast to the state-of-the-art frameworks. Moreover, considering RAM and CPU utilization, the proposed framework supersedes IFAM and TPFC targeting IoT applications. The RAM consumption and CPU utilization are reduced by 8.41% and 16.23% as compared with IFAM and TPFC, respectively, making the framework lightweight. Hence, the proposed LAFF improves QoS while accessing remote computational servers for the outsourced applications in fog computing.
Bubble Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bNCPAP): An Effective Low-Cost Intervention for Resource-Constrained Settings
Authors: Egesa Walufu Ivan , Waibi William Mugowa
Published: September 2020

Preterm birth complications are responsible for almost one-third of the global neonatal mortality burden, and respiratory distress syndrome remains the single most common cause of these preventable deaths. Since its inception, almost half a century ago, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) has evolved to become the primary modality for neonatal respiratory care in both the developed and developing world. Although evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness of low-cost bubble NCPAP in reducing newborn mortality, its widespread use is yet to be seen in resource-constrained settings. Moreover, many tertiary hospitals in developing countries still utilise an inexpensive locally assembled bNCPAP system of unknown efficacy and safety. This review provides a brief overview of the history, physiological benefits, indications, contraindications, and complications of bNCPAP. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of low-cost bNCPAP in the neonatal intensive care unit is also summarised. The article further details a locally assembled bNCPAP system used in resource-constrained settings and highlights the care package for neonates receiving bNCPAP, failure criteria, and strategies for weaning.
Effects of Fly Ash and Chemical Admixtures on the Rheological Properties of High‐Concentration Full‐Tailing Filling Slurry
Authors: Wang Fulin , Yang Faguang , Yuan Zhengping , Yang Shijiao
Published: September 2020

Good fluidity is the precondition to ensure the pipeline transportation of the filling slurry. The admixture in the filling slurry will affect the rheological properties of the slurry. In this paper, yield stress (YS), viscosity coefficient (VC), and expansion (ED) of the filling slurry were measured by the MCR52 rheometer and expansion tester, respectively, and the influence regularities of the three kinds of admixtures including fly ash (FA), polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PS), and polyethylene oxide (PEO) on the rheological properties of the filling slurry were obtained. The results show that when other conditions are fixed, the fluidity of the slurry becomes worse with the increase of the amount of fly ash but improves with the increase of the amount of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer; polyethylene oxide is not suitable for the improvement of the fluidity of the high‐concentration full‐tailing filling slurry, and the fluidity of the slurry becomes worse rapidly with the increase of the amount of polyethylene oxide.
EEG-Based Emotion Recognition: A State-of-the-Art Review of Current Trends and Opportunities
Authors: Suhaimi Nazmi Sofian , Mountstephens James , Teo Jason
Published: September 2020

Emotions are fundamental for human beings and play an important role in human cognition. Emotion is commonly associated with logical decision making, perception, human interaction, and to a certain extent, human intelligence itself. With the growing interest of the research community towards establishing some meaningful “emotional” interactions between humans and computers, the need for reliable and deployable solutions for the identification of human emotional states is required. Recent developments in using electroencephalography (EEG) for emotion recognition have garnered strong interest from the research community as the latest developments in consumer-grade wearable EEG solutions can provide a cheap, portable, and simple solution for identifying emotions. Since the last comprehensive review was conducted back from the years 2009 to 2016, this paper will update on the current progress of emotion recognition using EEG signals from 2016 to 2019. The focus on this state-of-the-art review focuses on the elements of emotion stimuli type and presentation approach, study size, EEG hardware, machine learning classifiers, and classification approach. From this state-of-the-art review, we suggest several future research opportunities including proposing a different approach in presenting the stimuli in the form of virtual reality (VR). To this end, an additional section devoted specifically to reviewing only VR studies within this research domain is presented as the motivation for this proposed new approach using VR as the stimuli presentation device. This review paper is intended to be useful for the research community working on emotion recognition using EEG signals as well as for those who are venturing into this field of research.