bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BET 1: Everything in graduation: arterial/end-tidal CO2gradient and the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism
Authors: O'Rourke John , MacDonald Bethany
Published: June 2021

A short cut review was carried out to establish the diagnostic characteristics of alveolar dead space fraction (AVDSf) in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). This is calculated from the arterial and end-tidal CO2. Three papers were selected to answer the clinical question. The author, study type, relevant outcomes, results and weaknesses are tabulated. It is concluded that there is good evidence to support the use of AVDSf within a clinical prediction model to exclude a PE in patients when there is a low pretest probability. However, the specificity is not sufficient to support it as a ‘rule in’ test.
A Bayesian multistate approach to evaluate movements of an invasive freshwater estuarine-opportunist
Authors: Bunch Aaron J. , Hershey Henry , Reger Greg R. , Hoogakker Frederick J. , Donovan Brady S. , Farmer Troy M.
Published: June 2021

Coastal rivers and estuaries provide habitat and migratory corridors for freshwater estuarine-opportunists. We evaluated movement patterns of 61 blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in the tidal York and Rappahannock rivers in Virginia, USA with acoustic telemetry from July 2015 to June 2016. To evaluate river-specific movements, we utilized a multistate Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) model within a Bayesian framework to estimate probabilities of detection and transition (movement) among established salinity zones (i.e., tidal-fresh (0‰–0.5‰), oligohaline (>0.5‰–5‰), mesohaline (>5‰–18‰)). We considered flow as an environmental covariate. Despite high site fidelity in tidal-fresh zones, some individuals displayed movements into oligohaline and mesohaline habitats indicative of partial migration. Once downstream movement occurred, the probability of staying in the new salinity zone was higher than the probability of movements to other salinity zones. In the Rappahannock River only, movement upstream from mesohaline habitats was associated with below average flow. As flow increased, the probability of remaining in oligohaline and mesohaline zones increased. Our study shows blue catfish can move into downstream areas of tidal rivers with elevated salinities and that increased freshwater flow may allow them to remain in these habitats for extended durations.
Gravitational lens time-delay as a probe of a possible time variation of the fine-structure constant
Authors: Colaço L. R. , Gonzalez J. E. , Holanda R. F. L.
Published: June 2021

A new method based on large scale structure observations is proposed to probe a possible temporal variation of the fine-structure constant ($$\alpha $$
α
). Our analyses are based on time-delay of Strong Gravitational Lensing and Type Ia Supernovae observations. By considering the runaway dilaton scenario, where the cosmological temporal evolution of the fine-structure constant is given by $$\frac{\Delta \alpha }{\alpha } \approx -\gamma \ln {(1+z)}$$

Δ
α

α

≈
-
γ
ln

(
1
+
z
)

, we obtain limits on the physical properties parameter of the model ($$\gamma $$
γ
) at the level $$10^{-2}$$

10

-
2

($$1\sigma $$

1
σ

). Although our limits are less restrictive than those obtained by quasar spectroscopy, the approach presented here provides new bounds on the possibility of $$\frac{\Delta \alpha }{\alpha } \ne 0$$

Δ
α

α

≠
0

at a different range of redshifts.
How to Escape Supply Chain Dilemmas? Manufacturer Encroachment and Supplier Cost-Reduction Investment
Authors: Wang Qijun , Nie Jiajia , Xia Senmao
Published: June 2021

Component suppliers and manufacturers in a supply chain have long faced different dilemmas. The component supplier intends to adopt new technologies to reduce production costs, but the new technologies usually require significant investment costs. The encroachment into retailing can bring more revenue to manufacturers, but the significant costs of establishing and maintaining direct channels and the potential conflicting interests with the retailer might discourage the manufacturer’s encroachment. This study aims to address these dilemmas facing the component supplier and manufacturer by investigating an interesting scenario in which they both can obtain benefits. Within the given context, the manufacturer’s encroachment increases the order of the components, which motivates the supplier to make more technological investments to reduce production costs. The reduction of component costs enables suppliers and manufacturers to reduce the wholesale prices of components and final products. In this case, the manufacturer’s encroachment can benefit both the manufacturer and the retailer. This study is one of the first to investigate how the interaction between the manufacturer and supplier helps solve their respective dilemmas and provide benefits to the whole supply chain. Additionally, we extend the literature on manufacturer encroachment on retailers by considering supplier investment in cost-reduction production.
Code Clone Detection with Hierarchical Attentive Graph Embedding
Authors: Ji Xiujuan , Liu Lei , Zhu Jingwen
Published: June 2021

Code clone serves as a typical programming manner that reuses the existing code to solve similar programming problems, which greatly facilitates software development but recurs program bugs and maintenance costs. Recently, deep learning-based detection approaches gradually present their effectiveness on feature representation and detection performance. Among them, deep learning approaches based on abstract syntax tree (AST) construct models relying on the node embedding technique. In AST, the semantic of nodes is obviously hierarchical, and the importance of nodes is quite different to determine whether the two code fragments are cloned or not. However, some approaches do not fully consider the hierarchical structure information of source code. Some approaches ignore the different importance of nodes when generating the features of source code. Thirdly, when the tree is very large and deep, many approaches are vulnerable to the gradient vanishing problem during training. In order to properly address these challenges, we propose a hierarchical attentive graph neural network embedding model-HAG for the code clone detection. Firstly, the attention mechanism is applied on nodes in AST to distinguish the importance of different nodes during the model training. In addition, the HAG adopts graph convolutional network (GCN) to propagate the code message on AST graph and then exploits a hierarchical differential pooling GCN to sufficiently capture the code semantics at different structure level.

To evaluate the effectiveness of HAG, we conducted extensive experiments on public clone dataset and compared it with seven state-of-the-art clone detection models. The experimental results demonstrate that the HAG achieves superior detection performance compared with baseline models. Especially, in the detection of moderately Type-3 or Type-4 clones, the HAG particularly outperforms baselines, indicating the strong detection capability of HAG for semantic clones. Apart from that, the impacts of the hierarchical pooling, attention mechanism and critical model parameters are systematically discussed.
Who Could We Blame? The Impact of Strategic Orientations on the Failure of Financial Institutions
Authors: Vinh Vo Xuan , Le Tuan Quoc , Anh Nguyen Thi Lam , Luu Hiep Ngoc
Published: June 2021

We evaluate the impact of strategic orientation on the failure probability of financial institutions. Using the US credit union industry as the empirical setting, we find that credit unions which exhibit preferential treatment to borrowers are more likely to fail, whereas those who set operational strategies towards balancing the benefits between savers and borrowers experience a lower failure probability. The impacts appear to be more pronounced in small credit unions and in credit unions which have a lower operating experience. We also find that borrower-oriented credit unions generate lower interest margins while neutral behavior credit unions generate higher margins.
Corporate Governance and Working Capital Management — Inclusive Approach for Measuring the Firm Performance
Authors: Kayani Umar Nawaz , Silva Tracy-Anne De , Gan Christopher
Published: June 2021

The least effective working capital management and poor corporate governance resulted in the 2008 global financial crisis besides various other factors as highlighted by the prior studies. So far, the existing literature reveals that WCM and CG affect firm performance (FP) on an individual basis. However, the collective effect of working capital management and corporate governance on firm performance has been paid the least attention. This study investigates the collective effect of working capital management and corporate governance on firm performance for Australia and Hong Kong markets, being the top two markets in the Pacific region. For this purpose, a system generalized method of moments based on two steps is applied to address the endogeneity issue. The results establish that working capital management and corporate governance affect firm performance on an individual basis and then these individual effect results compliment the collective effect results. The limitation of the study is that it did not consider two stages of Least Squares Regression due to difficulty in the identification of instrumental variables for both explanatory variables. As a policy implication, firm manager may take the benefit of the findings of this study while devising financial policies to enhance firm performance. Future investors may use the findings of this study to make an informed decision on future investment in both markets.
Factors Driving Openness in China Trade: Corruption, Exchange Rate Volatility, and Macro Determinants
Authors: Nguyen Thong Trung , Huynh Toan Luu Duc , Wong Wing-Keung
Published: June 2021

Trade openness plays a critical role in the growth of China and its partners. Using a system generalized method of moments (system GMM) estimator and quantile regression, a new viewpoint is presented on trade openness in China for institutional and economic factors over 15 years with 192 economies. The empirical findings provide two contrasting views. Intriguingly, China is seeking to broaden this strategy to countries with less control over corruption and low political stability. By categorizing countries as advanced, emerging, and developing, the study provides the evidence that exchange rate volatility has a negative effect on trade openness, while investment, labor force, and broad money share a positive impact. This study suggests that Chinese policymakers should further boost financial reform to promote trade development. Other countries desirous of greater trade openness with China should have more efficient management of macroscopic economic factors. Finally, the study also examines the two main groups of international offshore financial center from econometric convergence test and club clustering for trade openness in China from the worldwide perspective.
Towards Source-Based Classification of Image Inpainting Techniques: A Survey
Authors: Sreelakshmy I. J. , Binsu C. Kovoor
Published: June 2021

Image inpainting is a process of reconstructing an incomplete image from the available information in a visually plausible way. In the proposed framework, existing image inpainting methods are classified in a new perspective. The information which is referred to, while reconstructing an image, is a critical factor of inpainting algorithms. Source of this information can be host image itself or an external source. The proposed framework broadly classifies inpainting algorithms into introspective and extrospective categories based on the source of information. Various parameters influencing the algorithms under these categories are identified in the proposed framework. A comprehensive list of all publicly available datasets along with the references are also summarized. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of the results obtained with the surveyed techniques is performed based on quantitative and qualitative parameters. The proposed framework aids the user in identifying the most suitable algorithm for various inpainting scenarios.
Theory of machine learning based on nonrelativistic quantum mechanics
Authors: Nieto-Chaupis Huber
Published: June 2021

The goal of this paper is the presentation of the elementary procedures that normally are done in nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics in terms of the principles of Machine Learning. In essence, this paper discusses Mitchell’s criteria, whose block fundamental dictates that the universal evolution of any system is composed by three fundamental steps: (i) Task, (ii) Performance and (iii) Experience. In this paper, the quantum mechanics formalism reflected on the usage of evolution operator and Green’s function are assumed to be part of mechanisms that are inherently engaged to the Machine Learning philosophy. The action for measuring observables through experiments and the intrinsic apparition of statistical or systematic errors are discussed in terms of “quantum learning”.
Illiberal Media in a Liberal Democracy: Examining Identity in Australia’s Mandarin Language News
Authors: JENSEN MICHAEL J. , CHEN TITUS C.
Published: June 2021

The regime of censorship in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) extends beyond its borders through the extraterritorial application of its media regulations to popular social media platforms like WeChat. This research investigates the effects of the PRC’s extraterritorial control of online content on the identity narratives and norms communicated by comparing Australia’s Special Broadcast Service (SBS) Mandarin language news and the news targeting Australian audiences published on popular WeChat Official Accounts (OAs). We find significant differences in the news content between these two platforms: SBS provides more political content and a focus on political and cultural integration, while WeChat pages tend to avoid political topics that are not otherwise press releases from the PRC and they encourage strong cultural ties with Mainland China. Finally, SBS tends to both inform and cultivate democratic political identities and identification with the Australian political system, whereas WeChat tends to differentiate the Chinese diaspora from the wider Australian community. We situate these findings within a wider understanding of PRC’s national security strategies and doctrine. Whether by requirement or practice, not only the WeChat OAs in Australia implement PRC’s communication controls, but the content on these pages also challenges the liberal democratic practices and norms and supports foreign influence and espionage in Australia.
Iris Localization Algorithm based on Effective Area
Authors: Yu Jinfeng , Zhang Lei , Wang Zhi
Published: June 2021

Iris localization is the most crucial part of the iris processing because its accuracy can directly affect the accuracy of biometric identification in subsequent steps. Yet, the quality of iris images may be sharply degraded due to interference from eyelashes and reflections during image acquisition, which can affect the localization accuracy adversely. To solve the problem, an iris localization algorithm based on effective area is proposed. First, YOLOv4 is used to crop the image to obtain the effective iris area, which is beneficial in improving the accuracy of subsequent localization. Furthermore, a method to remove reflective noise is proposed, which can effectively avoid the problem of noise interference in the process of inner boundary determination. Finally, aiming at the edge deviation caused by eyelashes, an outer boundary adjustment method is proposed. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves good performance in the localization of iris images of both good quality and noise interference and outperforms other state-of-the-art methods.
Chaotic Dynamics Analysis Based on Financial Time Series
Authors: Gu Zheng , Xu Yuhua
Published: June 2021

It is a common phenomenon in the field of financial research to study the dynamic of financial market and explore the complexity of financial system by using various complex scientific methods. In this paper, the chaotic dynamic properties of financial time series are analyzed. Firstly, the nonlinear characteristics of the data are discussed through the empirical analysis of agriculture index data; the daily agriculture index returns can be decomposed into the different scales based on wavelet analysis. Secondly, the dynamic system of some nonlinear characteristic data is established according to the Taylor series expansion form, and the corresponding dynamic characteristics are analyzed. Finally, the bifurcation diagram of the system shows complicated bifurcation phenomena, which provides a perspective for the analysis of chaotic phenomena of economic data.
[Retracted] A Comparative Study on Crack‐Healing Ability of Al2O3/SiC Structural Ceramic Composites Synthesized by Microwave Sintering and Conventional Electrical Sintering
Authors: Mohankumar Madhan , Shankar A. N. , Karthik T. S. , Saravanakumar R. , Oruganti Hemakesavulu , Venkatesa Prabhu S. , Rakesh N.
Published: June 2021

This study was conducted to assess and compare the crack‐healing ability of conventional electrical sintered and microwave sintered Al2O3/x wt. % SiC (x = 5, 10, 15, and 20) structural ceramic composites. The crack‐healing ability of both conventional electrical sintered and microwave sintered specimens was studied by introducing a crack of ∼100 µm length by Vickers’s indentation and conducting a heat treatment at 1200°C for dwell time of 1 h in air. The flexural or bending strength of sintered, cracked, and crack‐healed specimens was determined by three‐point bending test, and the phase variations by X‐ray diffraction and SEM micrographs before and after crack‐healing of both the sintering methods were studied and compared. The results show that almost all the specimens recovered their strength after crack‐healing, but the strength of microwave sintered Al2O3/SiC structural ceramic composites has been shown to be better than that of conventional electrical sintered Al2O3/SiC structural ceramic composites. The microwave sintered crack‐healed Al2O3/10 wt. % SiC specimen shows higher flexural strength of 794 MPa, which was 105% when compared with conventional electrical sintered Al2O3/10 wt. % SiC and crack‐healed Al2O3/10 wt. % SiC specimen. It was found by X‐ray diffractogram that before crack‐healing, all the conventional electrical sintered samples have SiO2 phase which reduce the crack‐healing ability and microwave sintered samples with 15 and 20 wt. % SiC show lesser SiO2 phase and 5 and 10 wt. % SiC samples have no SiO2 phase before crack‐healing. However, after crack‐healing treatment, all the samples have distinct SiO2 phase along with Al2O3 and SiC phases. Microwave sintered Al2O3/10 wt. % SiC specimen cracks were fully healed which was evident in SEM micrographs.
[Retracted] Computational Investigations of Fixed‐Free and Fixed‐Fixed Types Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube Mass Sensing Biosensor
Authors: Umapathi K. , Sangeetha Yalamanchili , Shankar A. N. , Vidhyalakshmi P. , Ramkumar R. , Balakumar S. , Magdalinmary D.
Published: June 2021

Using carbon nanotubes for sensing the mass in a biosensor is recently proven as an emerging technology in healthcare industry. This study investigates relative frequency shifts and sensitivity studies of various biological objects such as insulin hormone, immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most abundant type of antibody, and low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) masses using the single‐wall carbon nanotubes as a biomass sensor via continuum mechanics. Uniform distributed mass is applied to the single‐wall carbon nanotube mass sensor. In this study, fixed‐free and fixed‐fixed type single‐wall carbon nanotubes with various lengths of relative frequency shifts are studied. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis of fixed‐free and fixed‐fixed type CNT biological mass sensors is carried out. Moreover, mode shapes studies are performed. The sensitivity results show better, if the length of the single‐wall carbon nanotube is reduced.
A Survey on Adversarial Attack in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Kong Zixiao , Xue Jingfeng , Wang Yong , Huang Lu , Niu Zequn , Li Feng
Published: June 2021

With the rapid evolution of the Internet, the application of artificial intelligence fields is more and more extensive, and the era of AI has come. At the same time, adversarial attacks in the AI field are also frequent. Therefore, the research into adversarial attack security is extremely urgent. An increasing number of researchers are working in this field. We provide a comprehensive review of the theories and methods that enable researchers to enter the field of adversarial attack. This article is according to the “Why? → What? → How?” research line for elaboration. Firstly, we explain the significance of adversarial attack. Then, we introduce the concepts, types, and hazards of adversarial attack. Finally, we review the typical attack algorithms and defense techniques in each application area. Facing the increasingly complex neural network model, this paper focuses on the fields of image, text, and malicious code and focuses on the adversarial attack classifications and methods of these three data types, so that researchers can quickly find their own type of study. At the end of this review, we also raised some discussions and open issues and compared them with other similar reviews.
Research on Optimal Proportion and Performance of Cement‐Clay Slurry
Authors: Su Peili , Liu Feng , Yao Peng , Jia Yifei , Li Chong
Published: June 2021

For the cement‐clay slurry commonly used in dynamic water grouting, consider adding coal ash to optimize the performance of cement‐clay slag composite slurry and discuss the reaction mechanism of the slurry through microchemical element analysis; the orthogonal test was used to study the influence of various factors on material setting time, solidification ratio, water segregation rate, and the optimized ratio of the slurry that was obtained by integrating the unconfined compressive strength of grouting concretion body and slurry configuration cost. The results showed that the water‐solid ratio had the greatest influence on the comprehensive performance, followed by the amount of coal ash admixture. The best performance of the composite slurry was obtained with a water‐solid ratio of 0.8:1 and a cement:coal ash:clay:quicklime:sodium sulfate:water mass ratio of 1:0.45:0.20:0.05:0.07:1.32. Finally, by comparing the mechanical properties of the optimized slurry and the grouting concretion body, it is proved that the optimized slurry has superior performance to meet the general grouting project requirement.
Design and dSPACE Implementation of a Simplified Fuzzy Control of a DC-DC Three-Level Converter
Authors: Doubabi Hajar , Salhi Issam
Published: June 2021

The design of an efficient DC-DC converter depends critically on its suitable control. In this paper, a new simplified output tracking control strategy for a DC-DC three-level boost converter is presented. The proposed strategy is characterized by its good tracking performances, its simplicity of design, and the stability that is ensured over the entire operating range. Thanks to (i) the adopted Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy approach; (ii) the small-signal model derived under the large domain of operating conditions, and (iii) the proportional-integral (PI) controllers’ merit. After introducing the three-level boost converter topology, the operating principles and mathematical modeling are addressed. Then, the proposed output control strategy is developed based on the PI control and the TS fuzzy approximation. A controller ensuring the capacitor voltages balancing has been also introduced in this paper. Experimental results using dSPACE (DS1104) and a laboratory prototype of three-level boost converter demonstrate the flexibility of the proposed controller, its reference tracking capability, and its ability to satisfy the performance specification over the whole operating range of the system.
Dynamical Analysis of an SE2IR Information Propagation Model in Social Networks
Authors: Zhang Qian , Li Xianyong , Du Yajun , Zhu Jian
Published: June 2021

Due to the inequality of users’ (nodes’) status and the influence of external forces in the progress of the information propagation in a social network, the infected nodes hold different levels of propagation capacity. For this reason, the infected nodes are classified into two categories: the high influential infected nodes and the ordinary influential infected nodes which separately account for 20% and 80% by Pareto’s principle. By borrowing the SEIR epidemic model, this paper proposes an SE2IR information propagation model. Meanwhile, the global asymptotical stabilities of the spread-free equilibrium point and local spread equilibrium point are proved for this model. This paper also puts forward a series of information control strategies including perceived values of users, social reinforcement intensity, and information timeliness in the social network. Through simulation experiments without or with control strategies on a real company e-mail network dataset, this paper verifies the stability and correctness of the model and the feasibility and effectiveness of the control strategies in the information propagation process, presenting that the model is closer to the real process of the information propagation in the social network.
[Retracted] Analysis of Enterprise Human Resources Demand Forecast Model Based on SOM Neural Network
Authors: Zheng Jiafeng , Ma Ruijun
Published: June 2021

Human resource planning is the prerequisite of human resource management, and the basic work of human resource planning is to predict human resource demand. Scientific and reasonable human resource demand forecasting results can provide important data support for enterprise human resource planning and strategic decision‐making so that human resources management can play a better role in the realization of corporate goals. Because human resource demand is affected by many factors, there is a high degree of nonlinearity and uncertainty between each factor and personnel demand, as well as the incompleteness and inaccuracy of corporate human resource data. In this paper, the self‐organizing feature mapping (SOM) artificial neural network prediction model is selected as the prediction model, and the input and output process of sample data is converted into the optimal solution process of the nonlinear function. In the application of the model, the human resource demand prediction index system is used as the input of the SOM neural network and the total number of employees in the enterprise is used as the output so that the problem of nonlinear fitting between human resource demand‐influencing factors and human resource demand can be solved. Finally, through the empirical analysis of the enterprise, the model forecasting process is explained and the human resource demand forecast is realized.
Clinical Characteristics and Visual Outcomes in Patients with Intralenticular Foreign Bodies with Self-Sealing Corneal Penetrating Wounds
Authors: Su Zhitao , Wang Yuanqi , Yi Quanyong , Lin Lin , Lai Kairan , Ye Panpan , Wang Yao , Fang Xiaoyun
Published: June 2021

Purpose. Siderosis bulbi may occur as a result of retained intralenticular foreign bodies (ILFBs) that were missed during examination in patients with self-sealing wounds and without a significant decrease in visual acuity. This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of ILFBs with self-sealing corneal penetrating wounds. Methods. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with ILFBs and self-sealing corneal penetrating wounds, seen between October 2014 and September 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Data regarding the patient demographics, clinical features, surgical procedure, and initial and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were analyzed. Results. All patients were male with a mean age of 41 years. The foreign bodies passed through the cornea, sometimes through the iris, through the anterior capsule, and finally localized in the lens. All ILFBs were pointed and metallic objects and were successfully removed with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Anterior capsule violation was found in three eyes, but no posterior capsule rupture was found. The IOL was placed in a capsule bag in all the cases. The BCVA ranged from 20/200 to 20/25 preoperatively and improved to between 20/32 and 20/20 at the last follow-up visit. The IOLs were well-centered. Apart from posterior capsule opacity in four eyes, no other postoperative complications were found. Conclusions. In patients with a pointed metallic ILFB and self-sealing corneal penetrating wounds (with or without cataracts), early diagnosis and removal of the metallic ILFB combined with lens removal and IOL implantation may avoid late complications and achieve good visual outcomes.
Implications of Regionalizing Care in the Developing World: Impact of Distance to Referral Center on Compliance to Biopsy Recommendations in a Brazilian Prostate Cancer Screening Cohort
Authors: Freedland Alexis R. , Muller Roberto L. , Hoyo Cathrine , Turner Elizabeth L. , Moorman Patricia G. , Faria Eliney F. , Carvalhal Gustavo F. , Reis Rodolfo B. , Mauad Edmundo C. , Carvalho Andre L. , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: June 2021

Given growing specialization in medical care, optimal care may require regionalization, which may create access barriers. We tested this within a large prostate cancer (PC) screening program in Brazil. In 2004–2007, Barretos Cancer Hospital prospectively screened men for PC throughout rural Brazil. Men with abnormal screen were referred for follow-up and possible biopsy. We tested the link between distance from screening site to Barretos Cancer Hospital and risk of noncompliance with showing up for biopsy, PC on biopsy and, among those with PC, PC grade using crude and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among 10,467 men undergoing initial screen, median distance was 257 km (IQR: 135–718 km). On crude and multivariable analyses, farther distance was significantly linked with biopsy noncompliance (OR/100 km: 0.83,

P
<
0.001

). Among men who lived within 150 km of Barretos Cancer Hospital, distance was unrelated to compliance (OR/100 km: 1.09,

P
=
0.87

). There was no association between distance and PC risk or PC grade (all

P
>
0.25

). In Brazil, where distances to referral centers can be large, greater distance was related to reduced biopsy compliance in a PC screening cohort. Among men who lived within 150 km, distance was unrelated to compliance. Care regionalization may reduce access when distances are large.
A Method to Simulate the Migration and Accumulation of Hydrocarbon with Analogue Modeling
Authors: Cui Jian , Jia Dong , Wang Hongbin , Yin Hongwei , Wang Yanjun , Ma Delong , Wu Wujun , Jing Ziyan , Fan Xiaogen , Shen Li , Wu Xiaojun , Liu Wenqiang , Yang Xiulei
Published: June 2021

Subsurface migration and accumulation of oil and gas have interested researchers for a long time, but these processes may occur over very long geological periods and are difficult to observe directly, so experimental simulations are warranted. In this study, an experimental method was developed to model hydrocarbon migration in the subsurface structure. Oil migration was simulated in a sandbox model, and industrial CT scanning was used to observe both the internal geometry of the model and the oil migration pathways. In the sandbox model, a NaI solution was used to simulate water, white oil was used to simulate hydrocarbon, and fine quartz sand, glass bead, silica powder, and brown corundum were chosen to represent brittle crust, based on suitable material parameters. A NaI-saturated layered sandbox model was constructed with an along-strike basal discontinuity, which during compression allowed a simple anticline with doubly verging reverse faults to form. Oil was then released continuously at a low rate from an orifice under one limb of the anticline. Initially, the oil migrated vertically through the fault zone until it reached the top of the fault zone; it then migrated laterally along the core of the anticline, saturating a model reservoir by buoyancy and capillary force. This experimental analog helps to explain hydrocarbon migration and accumulation within the Anjihai and Santai anticlines in northwest China.
The Airway Volume Related to the Maxillo‐Mandibular Position Using 3D Analysis
Authors: Ravelo Víctor , Olate Gabriela , Muñoz Gonzalo , de Moraes Márcio , Olate Sergio
Published: June 2021

Objective. The aim of this research was to compare three cephalometric analyses and their correlation with the airway volume in subjects with different skeletal classes using 2D and 3D images. Study Design. Cross‐sectional descriptive study. Material and Method. Steiner, McNamara, and Ricketts analyses and the airway volume were compared in 115 subjects who were candidates for orthognathic surgery under diagnosis using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); 46 males (40%) and 69 females (60%) were included. The sagittal positions of the maxilla and mandible, the angulation of the mandibular plane, the sagittal positions of the upper and lower incisors, measurements of the largest or shortest airway area, and the volume were compared using Spearman’s test considering a p value < 0.05. Results. Differences were observed between the Steiner and McNamara techniques for the sagittal position of the maxilla (p = 0.01). For mandibular angulation, there was a greater difference between values for Steiner and Ricketts techniques (p = 0.001). In the upper incisor, the results for McNamara and Ricketts techniques were significantly different (p = 0.004). Analysing the airway, subjects with a class II skeletal pattern had a smaller volume than those with a class III pattern (p = 0.034). Conclusion. It may be concluded that skeletal class II patients have a significantly smaller airway volume than class III patients. The skeletal parameter does not always relate to the airway volume; however, the high mandibular angle could be related to the airway conditions.
Geotechnical Engineering Properties of Soils Solidified by Microbially Induced CaCO3 Precipitation (MICP)
Authors: Liu Jia , Li Gang , Li Xi’an
Published: June 2021

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) uses the metabolic function of microbes to carry out biochemical reactions with other substances in the environment. Through the controlled growth of inorganic minerals, soil particles are cemented and soil pores are filled to solidify the soil and reduce its permeability. Thus, the application of this technology was foreseen in geotechnical engineering and environment (building antiseepage, contaminated soil restoration, slope soil erosion, and sand liquefaction). In this review article, based on current research findings, the urea hydrolysis and the cementation mechanism of MICP are briefly described. The influences of factors such as enzyme activity, cementation solution concentration, pH, temperature, grouting method, and particle size on MICP‐treated soil are discussed. The engineering properties of MICP‐treated soils are evaluated, for instance, the strength, stiffness, liquefaction resistance, permeability, and durability. The applications of MICP technology in ground improvement, geotechnical seepage control, foundation erosion resistance, and fixation of heavy metals are summarized. Finally, future directions of the development of MICP technology are elucidated to provide a reference and guidance for the promotion of MICP technology in the geotechnical engineering field.
[Retracted] Natural Products for Neurodegeneration: Regulating Neurotrophic Signals
Authors: Uddin Md Sahab , Mamun Abdullah Al , Rahman Md Motiar , Jeandet Philippe , Alexiou Athanasios , Behl Tapan , Sarwar Md Shahid , Sobarzo-Sánchez Eduardo , Ashraf Ghulam Md , Sayed Amany A. , Albadrani Ghadeer M. , Peluso Ilaria , Abdel-Daim Mohamed M.
Published: June 2021

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are heterogeneous groups of ailments typically characterized by progressive damage of the nervous system. Several drugs are used to treat NDs but they have only symptomatic benefits with various side effects. Numerous researches have been performed to prove the advantages of phytochemicals for the treatment of NDs. Furthermore, phytochemicals such as polyphenols might play a pivotal role in rescue from neurodegeneration due to their various effects as anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiamyloidogenic agents by controlling apoptotic factors, neurotrophic factors (NTFs), free radical scavenging system, and mitochondrial stress. On the other hand, neurotrophins (NTs) including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT4/5, and NT3 might have a crucial neuroprotective role, and their diminution triggers the development of the NDs. Polyphenols can interfere directly with intracellular signaling molecules to alter brain activity. Several natural products also improve the biosynthesis of endogenous genes encoding antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 as well as NTFs such as glial cell and brain‐derived NTFs. Various epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the initiation of these genes could play an essential role in the neuroprotective function of dietary compounds. Hence, targeting NTs might represent a promising approach for the management of NDs. In this review, we focus on the natural product‐mediated neurotrophic signal‐modulating cascades, which are involved in the neuroprotective effects.
Remote Evaluation System of Tennis Batting Action Standard Based on Acceleration Sensor
Authors: Ji Yuliang , Ma Shunjiang
Published: June 2021

This paper studies the remote evaluation system of tennis batting action standard based on acceleration sensor, which aims to help improve the standard degree and technical level of tennis batting action. The system includes a data acquisition module to collect original signal data of tennis batting action by the acceleration sensor signal acquisition device in the bracelet and upload to the personal computer (PC) for storage, data preprocessing module to smooth original signal data and extract the key time and frequency domain features as the evaluation basis, and remote evaluation module to assess tennis batting action standard. We applied our system to five tennis trainees from the experimental university, and the results show that the batting action standard level of student c and student e is lower. Student c is weak mainly in the best position of the hitting point and the timing of the lead shot, while student e mainly shows poor performance in the timing of movement and the stability of the overall center of gravity. Compared with the proposed system or device, our system has a short real-time delay under the concurrent use of different types of users indicating stable and high real-time evaluation performance. More importantly, our system strictly protects the user’s privacy when uploading the user’s data remotely. In short, the evaluation results obtained by our system can be used as a scientific basis to improve the tennis batting action standard.
Field Test and Numerical Studies on Influences of PVD Spacing on Vacuum Treatment Effects of Dredged Slurry
Authors: Yu Yanming , Sheng Junhui , Shi Li , Hu Zhijun
Published: June 2021

A field test was conducted on vacuum treatment effects of a dredged slurry ground considering three PVD spacing, i.e., 700, 800, and 900 mm. The settlement and the pore water pressure dissipation were measured during the treatment period. As expected, the consolidation rate associated with closer PVD spacing case is higher than that of the larger spacing case. However, it is observed that the final and stable values of the settlement and the pore pressure dissipation of the close spacing case (e.g., 700 mm) are about 17% higher than the case of larger PVD spacing (e.g., 900 mm). The differences imply that enlarging the PVD spacing not only impedes the consolidation rate but also decreases the vacuum pressure in slurry. Numerical models incorporating the vacuum pressure attenuation effect and the clogging effect were established to reproduce the vacuum treatment process under the three PVD spacing. Good comparisons between the numerical and test results can be obtained given a proper account of vacuum attenuation and the clogging effect along the PVD depth. The comparison clarifies that, for vacuum treatment of slurry ground, the PVD spacing should be determined by due considerations both on the desired consolidation rate and on the pore water pressure that needs to be dissipated.
Native Valve Infective Endocarditis Caused by Histoplasma capsulatum in an Immunocompetent Host: The First Case in Asia and Literature Review in Asia and Australia
Authors: Amnuay Kamalas , Sirinawin Chayatat , Theerasuwipakorn Nonthikorn , Chattranukulchai Pairoj , Suankratay Chusana
Published: June 2021

Background. Infective endocarditis caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is extremely rare, occurring predominantly in individuals with prosthetic heart valves and HIV infection. To our knowledge, no case of H. capsulatum native valve endocarditis has been reported in Asia. Methodology. A descriptive study was carried out at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2020. Results. A previously healthy 34-year-old man developed fever, umbilicated skin lesions, oral ulcers, hoarseness of voice, severe weight loss, and progressive dyspnea over the course of one week. Facial umbilicated papules, nodular ulcers in his tongue and palate, a diastolic rumbling murmur at the mitral valve, diffuse fine crackles in both lungs, and engorged neck veins were detected during the examination. Skin scraping of the facial lesion revealed both extracellular and intracellular yeasts with buddings, 2–4 μm in size on Wright’s stain. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a left ventricular ejection fraction of 54 percent, severe rheumatic mitral stenosis, and multiple oscillating masses in the anterior mitral valve leaflet ranging in dimension from 1.5 to 2.4 cm. The HIV antibody test was negative. H. capsulatum endocarditis was diagnosed, and liposomal amphotericin B was administered. Due to cardiogenic shock, emergency open-heart surgery was conducted one day after admission. However, he died of multiorgan failure four days after the operation. The skin and vegetation cultures finally grew H. capsulatum after 1 week of incubation. Conclusions. To date, there has been handful of cases of H. capsulatum native valve endocarditis in non-HIV-infected patients. We report herein the first case in Thailand. Umbilicated skin lesions, especially combined with oral mucosal lesions, are a clinical clue that leads to the correct diagnosis of the causative organism.
Noncanonical Functions of C1s Complement Its Canonical Functions in Renal Cancer
Authors: Magrini Elena , Garlanda Cecilia
Published: June 2021

Complement activation contributes to tumor progression in several cancer types. In this issue, Daugan and colleagues propose complement component C1s and C4d as new markers of prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The mechanism of action of C1s involves both canonical and intracellular, noncanonical functions. The results provide new molecular targets to prevent tumor escape from immune surveillance, which leads to tumor progression.

See related article by Daugan et al., p. 891 (2).
Bronchoskopische Thermoablation beim Lungenkarzinom: Ermutigende Daten eines experimentellen Verfahrens
Authors: Hagmeyer Lars
Published: June 2021

Background: Bronchoscopic thermal vapour ablation (BTVA) is an established and approved modality for minimally invasive lung volume reduction in severe emphysema. Preclinical data suggest potential for BTVA in minimally invasive ablation of lung cancer lesions. Objectives: The objective of this study is to establish the safety, feasibility, and ablative efficacy of BTVA for minimally invasive ablation of lung cancers. Methods: Single arm treat-and-resect clinical feasibility study of patients with biopsy-confirmed lung cancer. A novel BTVA for lung cancer (BTVA-C) system for minimally invasive treatment of peripheral pulmonary tumours was used to deliver 330 Cal thermal vapour energy via bronchoscopy to target lesion. Patients underwent planned lobectomy to complete oncologic care. Pre-surgical CT chest and post-resection histologic analysis were performed to evaluate ablative efficacy. Results: Six patients underwent BTVA-C, and 5 progressed to planned lobectomy. Median procedure duration was 12 min. No major procedure-related complications occurred. All 5 resected lesions were part-solid lung adenocarcinomas with median solid component size 1.32 ± 0.36 cm. Large uniform ablation zones were seen in 4 patients where thermal dose exceeded 3 Cal/mL, with complete/near-complete necrosis of target lesions seen in 2 patients. Tumour positioned within ablation zones demonstrated necrosis in >99% of cross-sectional area examined. Conclusion: BTVA of lung tumours is feasible and well tolerated, with preliminary evidence suggesting high potential for effective ablation of tumours. Thermal injury is well demarcated, and uniform tissue necrosis is observed within ablation zones receiving sufficient thermal dose per volume of lung. Treatment of smaller volumes and ensuring adequate thermal dose may be important for ablative efficacy.
A construção de um "clássico": registro de uma vivência e Sobre arquitetura
Authors: Rocha Ricardo de Souza
Published: June 2021

A partir da ideia amplamente conhecida de “clássico”, como na expressão “livro clássico”, o presente artigo apresenta uma análise pormenorizada da nova edição do livro Registro de uma Vivência de Lúcio Costa. Esta nova edição do livro conta com um novo posfácio da historiadora e filósofa Sophia da Silva Telles, que propõe “paratextualmente” novos protocolos de leitura da obra, entendendo-a como uma obra “clássica”. Nesse sentido, a discussão se estabelece através da comparação da nova edição do livro Registro de uma Vivência com as duas edições de Sobre Arquitetura, livro inicialmente organizado por Alberto Xavier na década de 1960 e novamente publicado nos anos 1990.