bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Modified Micro-Macro Constitutive Model for Porous Rocks with Pressure-Sensitive Matrix by considering a New Hardening Law
Authors: Yang Tiansen , Zhu Wei , Xu Qingqing , Pei Yabin , Liu Sili , Shi Chong , Zhang Jin
Published: May 2021

This paper aims mainly at providing an incremental elastoplastic constitutive model for heterogeneous porous rock-like materials in the frame of micromechanics. The studied material is considered to be made up of randomly distributed spherical pores embedded in a pressure-sensitive solid matrix obeying Drucker–Prager yield function. The effective elastic properties of porous rocks are obtained by the use of Mori and Tanaka homogenization scheme, which are on function of the bulk and shear moduli of the solid matrix and of the value of porosity. For the macroscopic nonlinear phase, a limit analysis-based macroscopic criterion is adopted to derive the basic constitutive rule by considering an associated plastic flow rule. In order to capture the typical hardening effects of rocks, an originally proposed hardening function of the solid matrix is also taken into consideration, which is related on the accumulated equivalent plastic strain. In order to verify its accuracy, the proposed micro-macro constitutive model is implemented by a numerical procedure including elastic predictions and plastic corrections and compared to experimental results of triaxial compression tests of sandstone with different confining pressures. It is observed that the numerical simulation is in accord with the experimental data, indicating that the obtained model is able to predict the main mechanical behaviours of rock-like materials.
Study of the Effect of the Earthworm (Aporrectodea molleri) Cutaneous Excreta on Bacterial Growth
Authors: Yakkou Lamia , Houida Sofia , Raouane Mohammed , Amghar Souad , El Harti Abdellatif
Published: May 2021

The effect on the bacterial growth of Aporrectodea molleri cutaneous excreta has given very satisfactory results. The cutaneous excreta were obtained using the electrical stimulation technique, recently developed by our laboratory. This technique made it possible to collect the excreta in sufficient quantities while ruling out any possible interference with the chemical constituents of the soil. The effectiveness of cutaneous excreta, tested as culture media at different concentrations on bacterial growth, was justified not only by the high growth rates but also by the concentrations used, which were several times lower than those of the conventional medium (nutrient agar). Indeed, the maximum growth rate recorded by E. coli and P. fluorescens is, respectively, 1.32 times and 2.99 times greater than that observed on the conventional medium. These higher levels are obtained at optimal excretion concentrations which are, respectively, 8 times and 133.33 times lower than the concentration of the conventional medium. The efficacy interval that delimited the excretion concentrations tested covers 8 successive concentrations ranging from 0.0075% to 1% for P. fluorescens, while for E. coli, this interval covers only three concentrations ranging from 0.06% at 0.25%. The growth rates of P. fluorescens are always higher than those of E. coli. The higher efficiency of excretions on the growth of P. fluorescens shows that this strain is more suited to use these excretions as a source of nutrients and to react positively to the stimulation of growth. These results, obtained in vitro, prove that, in the natural environment, the production of lubricating and viscous cutaneous excretions does not only have the role of facilitating the movement and digging of galleries by earthworms but also of enriching the soil in nutrients and growth factors with high added values for the activation and development of plant growth-promoting bacteria essential for soil fertility.
The Method of Determining Excavation Damaged Zone by Acoustic Test and the Application in Engineering Cases
Authors: Sun Qian-Cheng , Guo Hao-Sen , Xu Zhi-Hua , Liu Yue , Xu Xiao
Published: May 2021

It is very important to accurately determine the depth of excavation damaged zone for underground engineering excavation and surrounding rock stability evaluation, and it can be measured by acoustic test, but there is no quantitative method for analysis of the results, and it relies heavily on the experience of engineers, which leads to the low reliability of the results and also limits the application of the acoustic method. According to substantial field test data and the feedback of surrounding rock support parameters, the boundary method is proposed to determine the depth of excavation damaged zone in surrounding rock based on the relation between the ultrasonic velocity of measured point and the background wave velocity of rock mass. When the method is applied to the columnar jointed rock mass of Baihetan and the deep‐buried hard rock of Jinping, the excavation damaged zone was well judged. The results in the Baihetan project show that the proposed method of determining excavation damage zone by the acoustic test can well demonstrate the anisotropy characteristics of the columnar jointed rock mass, and the damage evolution characteristics of jointed rock mass at the same position can also be obtained accurately. Moreover, the method also can accurately reveal the damage evolution process of the deep‐buried hard rock under the condition of high ground stress, which proved the applicability of this method in jointed or nonjointed rock masses.
Physics Informed by Deep Learning: Numerical Solutions of Modified Korteweg-de Vries Equation
Authors: Bai Yuexing , Chaolu Temuer , Bilige Sudao
Published: May 2021

In this paper, with the aid of symbolic computation system Python and based on the deep neural network (DNN), automatic differentiation (AD), and limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) optimization algorithms, we discussed the modified Korteweg-de Vries (mkdv) equation to obtain numerical solutions. From the predicted solution and the expected solution, the resulting prediction error reaches10−6. The method that we used in this paper had demonstrated the powerful mathematical and physical ability of deep learning to flexibly simulate the physical dynamic state represented by differential equations and also opens the way for us to understand more physical phenomena later.
An Improved Recommendation Method Based on Content Filtering and Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Fu Lei , Ma XiaoMing
Published: May 2021

With the popularization of the Internet and the prevalence of online marketing, e‐commerce systems provide enterprises with unlimited display space and provide customers with more product choices, while its structure is becoming increasingly complex. The emergence and application of the network marketing recommendation system have greatly improved this series of problems. It can effectively retain customers, prevent customer loss, and increase the cross‐selling volume of the e‐commerce system. However, the current network marketing recommendation system is still immature in practical applications, and the problem of data sparseness is serious. The problem of user interest drift is not well dealt with, resulting in poor recommendation quality and poor real‐time recommendation. Therefore, this paper proposes an online marketing recommendation algorithm based on the integration of content and collaborative filtering. First, content‐based methods are used to discover users’ existing interests. After that, the mixed similarity model of content and behaviour is used to find the similar user group of the target user, predict the user’s interest in the feature words, and discover the user’s potential interest. Then, the user’s existing interest and potential interest are merged to obtain a user interest model that is both personalized and diverse. Finally, the similarity between the marketing content and the fusion model is calculated to form a set of user ratings combined with characteristics and then clustered through K‐means to finally achieve recommendation. Experiments have proved that this method has good recommendation performance.
Occurrence of Candida albicans in Periodontitis
Authors: Jabri Brahim , Iken Maryem , Achmit Mohamed , Rida Sana , Ennibi Oum Keltoum
Published: May 2021

Background. Periodontal diseases are the result of an imbalance between the microbiota and immune defense. The role of yeast in the pathogenesis of these diseases has been studied. This study aims to assess the occurrence of Candida albicans in periodontitis. Materials and Methods. Fifty subjects were recruited for the study (15 healthy individuals and 35 periodontitis subjects). The periodontal examination and plaque sampling were carried out for all patients. Candida albicans identification was based on culture, direct examination, and polymerase chain reaction. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results. Twenty percent of the diseased group harbored Candida albicans which was slightly higher than in the healthy group (7%), suggesting that, under normal conditions, yeast does not grow easily in subgingival sites. However, no significant difference between the healthy and periodontitis groups (p=0.23) was found. Our results also indicated that the presence of Candida albicans was neither gender nor age related in the studied groups. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that Candida albicans occurs in periodontitis. More studies are needed to clarify the potential role of this yeast in different stages and forms of the disease.
Insulin Knowledge, Handling, and Storage among Diabetic Pilgrims during the Hajj Mass Gathering
Authors: Yezli Saber , Yassin Yara , Mushi Abdulaziz , Balkhi Bander , Khan Anas
Published: May 2021

Background. Diabetes is one of the most common underlying health conditions among Hajj pilgrims. Many diabetics manage their condition using insulin, which requires appropriate storage conditions to maintain its stability and effectiveness. We aimed to investigate insulin knowledge, storage, and handling among diabetic pilgrims during Hajj to identify specific areas for improvement. Method. Adult diabetic pilgrims from 22 countries were interviewed using a structured questionnaire during the 2019 Hajj. Results. The study enrolled 277 diabetic pilgrims with a mean age of 58.4 years (

SD
=
10.4

, range: 20-83) and male : female ratio of 1.6 : 1. Most participants (86.4%) were literate and reported using insulin for a mean of 7.1 years (

SD
=
5.3

, range: 1-23). Over 95% of pilgrims brought their insulin with them from their country of origin, where they also received most of their insulin storage information, mainly from physicians (77.8%) and pharmacists (59.6%). Pilgrims’ knowledge regarding insulin storage was just above average (

mean
 
knowledge
 
score
=
0.51

;

SD
=
0.23

). Pilgrims who were literate and previously received education on insulin storage, those with a higher level of education, and those with a longer duration of insulin therapy, had significantly higher knowledge scores. Pilgrims’ storage and handling of their insulin during Hajj also varied depending on the stages of their pilgrimage journey. Conclusion. Inadequate knowledge and inappropriate practices regarding insulin handling and storage were identified among diabetic Hajj pilgrims, which could compromise the quality of insulin and lead to health hazards. Improving diabetic pilgrims’ knowledge of diabetes management, including insulin storage, will be beneficial during the pilgrimage and beyond.
Preparation and Characterization of MUC-30-Loaded Polymeric Micelles against MCF-7 Cell Lines Using Molecular Docking Methods and In Vitro Study
Authors: Nasongkla Norased , Tuchinda Patoomratana , Munyoo Bamroong , Eawsakul Komgrit
Published: May 2021

MUC-30 is a hydrophobic compound which is active against the MCF-7 cancer cell line. In this study, MUC-30 was loaded in polymeric micelles to improve the water solubility and release rate. For prolonged MUC-30 release, MUC-30 was encapsulated in polymeric micelles using PEG-b-PLA and PEG-b-PCL as materials. Micelles prepared with 1 : 9

w

per

w

ratios by film hydration achieved the highest entrapment efficiency (EE%). The EE% of MUC-30-loaded PEG-b-PCL micelles was approximately 30% greater than that of PEG-b-PLA micelles, due to the different H-bond formations between MUC-30 and the polymer membrane (PCL, 4; PLA, 3). The cytotoxic activity of MUC-30 against EGFR theoretically presented 399.31 nM (IC50 = 282.26 ng/mL) by molecular docking. In vitro cytotoxic activity of MUC-30 was confirmed by MTT assay. MUC-30 (IC50 = 11 ± 0.39 ng/mL) showed three-fold higher activity over MUC-30-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles (IC50 = 37 ± 1.18 ng/mL) and two-fold higher over PEG-b-PCL micelles (IC50 = 75 ± 3.97 ng/mL). This was due to the higher release rate of MUC-30 from PEG-b-PLA micelles compared to PEG-b-PCL micelles. Therefore, MUC-30-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles could be a promising candidate for breast cancer chemotherapy.
Analysis of Biofilm‐Related Genes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Vaginal Candida albicans and Non‐Candida albicans Species
Authors: Mohammadi Faezeh , Hemmat Nima , Bajalan Zahra , Javadi Amir
Published: May 2021

Background. Vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida species is a prevalent fungal infection among women. It is believed that the pathogenesis of Candida species is linked with the production of biofilm which is considered a virulence factor for this organism. The aim of this study was molecular identification, antifungal susceptibility, biomass quantification of biofilm, and detection of virulence markers of Candida species. Methods. We investigated the molecular identification of 70 vaginal isolates of Candida species, antifungal resistance to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole according to CLSI M27‐A3 and M27‐S4, biofilm formation, and frequency analysis of biofilm‐related ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes. Results. Our findings showed that the most common yeast isolated from vaginal discharge was C. albicans (67%), followed by the non‐Candida albicans species (33%). All C. albicans complex isolates were confirmed as C. albicans by HWP‐PCR, and all isolates of the C. glabrata complex were revealed to be C. glabrata sensu stricto using the multiplex PCR method. FLC resistance was observed in 23.4% of C. albicans and 7.7% of C. glabrata. The resistance rate to ITC was found in 10.6% of C. albicans. The frequency of ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes among Candida species was 67.1%, 80%, and 81.4%, respectively. Biofilm formation was observed in 54.3% of Candida species, and the highest frequency detected as a virulence factor was for the ALS3 gene (97.3%) in biofilm‐forming species. Discussion. Our results showed the importance of molecular epidemiology studies, investigating antifungal susceptibility profiles, and understanding the role of biofilm‐related virulence markers in the pathogenesis of Candida strains.
Analyzing the Synergy between HCI and TRIZ in Product Innovation through a Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Chen Shaohan , Kamarudin Khairul Manami , Yan Shihua
Published: May 2021

The boundary between tangible and digital products is getting more fused while rapidly evolving systems for interaction require novel processes that allow for rapidly developed designs, evaluations, and interaction strategies to facilitate efficient and unique user interactions with computer systems. Accordingly, the literature suggests combining creativity enhancement tools or methods with human-computer interaction (HCI) design. The TRIZ base of knowledge appears to be one of the viable options, as shown in the fragmental indications reported in well-acknowledged design textbooks. The goal of this paper is to present a systematic review of the literature to identify and analyze the published approaches and recommendations to support the synergy between HCI and TRIZ from the perspective of product innovation related to HCI, with the aim of providing a first comprehensive classification and discussing about observable differences and gaps. The method followed is the guidelines related to systematic literature review methods. As results, out of 444 initial results, only 17 studies reported the outcomes of the synergy between HCI and TRIZ. The 7 of these studies explored the feasibility of the combination of HCI and TRIZ. The 10 studies attempted to combine and derive approaches in these two fields, and the outcomes defined 3 different integration strategies between HCI and TRIZ. Some conclusions achieved are that the generic solutions to support the synergy between HCI and TRIZ are still rare in the literature. The extraction and combination of different tools caused the randomization of the evaluation criteria, and the performance of the proposals has not been comprehensively evaluated. However, the findings can help inform future developments and provide valuable information about the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches.
Evaluation of Cruise Ship Supply Logistics Service Providers with ANP-RBF
Authors: Huang Liling , Tan Yong , Guan Xu
Published: May 2021

To overcome challenges like market dynamic configuration, information integration, and quick response, it is necessary to build an efficient, stable, and well-coordinated supply chain relationship for cruise ship supply. This requires building of a solid evaluation index system of logistics service providers (LSPs) in the cruise ship supply chain. In this paper, we introduce an evaluation index system that consists of four dimensions, based on the characteristics of cruise ship supply and the connotation and type of cruise ship supply LSPs. The four dimensions are business level, collaborative capacity, service price, and information level, including ten subcriteria. We first establish an evaluation decision model for the interdependence and feedback relationship between the criteria by using analytic network process (ANP) for weight definition of each index; then, we use Super Decisions software to simulate the results, combine RBF neural network training and validation, and extract implicit knowledge and laws. We propose an incremental algorithm that can effectively avoid the influence of subjective factors and increase the dynamic nature of evaluation. The results show that the ANP-RBF method has strong practicability in the evaluation of cruise ship supply LSPs.
Heteroclinic Cycles Imply Chaos and Are Structurally Stable
Authors: Wu Xiaoying
Published: May 2021

This paper is concerned with the chaos of discrete dynamical systems. A new concept of heteroclinic cycles connecting expanding periodic points is raised, and by a novel method, we prove an invariant subsystem is topologically conjugate to the one-side symbolic system. Thus, heteroclinic cycles imply chaos in the sense of Devaney. In addition, if a continuous differential map

h

has heteroclinic cycles in

ℝ

n

, then

g

has heteroclinic cycles with

h
−
g

C

1

being sufficiently small. The results demonstrate

C

1

structural stability of heteroclinic cycles. In the end, two examples are given to illustrate our theoretical results and applications.
Deep Visual Semantic Embedding with Text Data Augmentation and Word Embedding Initialization
Authors: He Hai , Yang Haibo
Published: May 2021

Language and vision are the two most essential parts of human intelligence for interpreting the real world around us. How to make connections between language and vision is the key point in current research. Multimodality methods like visual semantic embedding have been widely studied recently, which unify images and corresponding texts into the same feature space. Inspired by the recent development of text data augmentation and a simple but powerful technique proposed called EDA (easy data augmentation), we can expand the information with given data using EDA to improve the performance of models. In this paper, we take advantage of the text data augmentation technique and word embedding initialization for multimodality retrieval. We utilize EDA for text data augmentation, word embedding initialization for text encoder based on recurrent neural networks, and minimizing the gap between the two spaces by triplet ranking loss with hard negative mining. On two Flickr-based datasets, we achieve the same recall with only 60% of the training dataset as the normal training with full available data. Experiment results show the improvement of our proposed model; and, on all datasets in this paper (Flickr8k, Flickr30k, and MS-COCO), our model performs better on image annotation and image retrieval tasks; the experiments also demonstrate that text data augmentation is more suitable for smaller datasets, while word embedding initialization is suitable for larger ones.
Correlation between Thyroid Homeostasis and Obesity in Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Research
Authors: Zhou Yu , Ke Sujie , Wu Kejun , Huang Jingze , Gao Xuelin , Li Beibei , Lin Xiaoying , Liu Xiaohong , Liu Xiaoying , Ma Li , Wang Linxi , Wu Li , Wu Lijuan , Xie Chengwen , Xu Junjun , Wang Yanping , Liu Libin
Published: May 2021

Objective. It remains unknown whether obesity has an effect on the pituitary-thyroid feedback control axis in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). We aimed to investigate the association of thyroid homeostasis with obesity in a SCH population. Methods. Our study consisted of a community-based and cross-sectional study from the Epidemiological Survey of Thyroid Diseases in Fujian Province, China. A total of 193 subjects with SCH (90 males and 103 females) without a history of treatment of thyroid disease, such as surgery, radiation, and thyroid hormone or antithyroid medication, were included in the present study. Indices of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) were measured. Results. Our results showed that the secretory capacity of the thyroid gland (SPINA-GT) and Jostel’s thyrotropin index (TSHI) were negatively correlated with BMI, WC, and WHtR, whereas the reciprocal of the thyrotroph thyroid hormone resistance index (TTSI-1) was positively correlated with BMI (all

p
<
0.05

). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, iodine status, and glucolipid metabolism, the associations between TSHI, TTSI (reciprocal transformation), and BMI still persisted (all

p
<
0.05

). Conclusions. These results suggest that low levels of thyroid homeostasis indexes may be associated with overall obesity in SCH, rather than central adiposity.
Hyers-Ulam Stability and Existence Criteria for the Solution of Second-Order Fuzzy Differential Equations
Authors: Jamal Noor , Sarwar Muhammad , Khashan M. Motawi
Published: May 2021

In this paper, existence, uniqueness, and Hyers-Ulam stability for the solution of second-order fuzzy differential equations (FDEs) are studied. To deal a physical model, it is required to insure whether unique solution of the model exists. The natural transform has the speciality to converge to both Laplace and Sumudu transforms only by changing the variables. Therefore, this method plays the rule of checker on the Laplace and Sumudu transforms. We use natural transform to obtain the solution of the proposed FDEs. As applications of the established results, some nontrivial examples are provided to show the authenticity of the presented work.
Analysis of Environmental Controls on the Quasi-Ocean and Ocean CO2 Concentration by Two Intelligent Algorithms
Authors: Zhou Jialu , Li Xiaoqiang , Wang Wenfeng , Chen Xi
Published: May 2021

Previous studies have demonstrated CO2 absorption by soils in arid regions, where the absorbed CO2 is conjectured to be finally sequestrated in the “subterranean ocean”—groundwater. This study compares environmental controls of ocean CO2 concentration (surface ocean pCO2) and quasi-ocean CO2 concentration (deep-soil pCO2). We aim to explore the latent relationship, both linear and nonlinear between the environmental variables, and CO2 concentration, utilizing two intelligent algorithms—the partial least linear regression (PLSR) algorithm and the artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm. For quasi-ocean CO2 concentration, RPD <1.4 and R2 <40%. While for ocean CO2 concentration, RPD >1.4 and R2 is 99.7%. Linear relationships between the considered environmental controls and ocean CO2 concentration are proved; however, there is no evident relationship between most of the considered environmental controls and quasi-ocean CO2 concentration. Groundwater level is proved to be a relatively important environmental control on the quasi-ocean CO2 concentration, suggesting groundwater discharge/recharge as a significant modulator of soil CO2 absorption in arid regions.
Influence of Inlet Duct Length on the Hydraulic Performance of the Waterjet Propulsion Device
Authors: Chen Xionghuan , Cheng Li , Wang Chuan , Luo Can
Published: May 2021

This study uses a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental research to explore the influence of the length of the inlet duct on the hydraulic performance of the water jet propulsion pump device. By extending the oblique, straight, and long pipe section of the inlet duct, six sets of schemes were designed. The research results show that as the length of the inlet duct increases, the head, thrust, and inlet duct efficiency of the water jet propulsion pump first increase and then decrease, reaching the maximum value in scheme 4, but it has little effect on the efficiency of the entire water jet propulsion system. In addition, after extending the obliquely straight long pipe section of the inlet flow channel, the velocity distribution of the outlet section of the flow channel is gradually uniform, and the absolute value of the vorticity first increases and decreases, but the uniformity of the velocity distribution and the weighted average angle change little. This research enriches the research theory of the inlet duct and also provides a reference for the selection of inlet duct length and its performance optimization.
[Retracted] Predicting Course Grade through Comprehensive Modelling of Students’ Learning Behavioral Pattern
Authors: Hooshyar Danial , Yang Yeongwook
Published: May 2021

While modelling students’ learning behavior or preferences has been found as a crucial indicator for their course achievement, very few studies have considered it in predicting achievement of students in online courses. This study aims to model students’ online learning behavior and accordingly predict their course achievement. First, feature vectors are developed using their aggregated action logs during a course. Second, some of these feature vectors are quantified into three numeric values that are used to model students’ learning behavior, namely, accessing learning resources (content access), engaging with peers (engagement), and taking assessment tests (assessment). Both students’ feature vectors and behavior model constitute a comprehensive students’ learning behavioral pattern which is later used for prediction of their course achievement. Lastly, using a multiple criteria decision‐making method (i.e., TOPSIS), the best classification methods were identified for courses with different sizes. Our findings revealed that the proposed generalizable approach could successfully predict students’ achievement in courses with different numbers of students and features, showing the stability of the approach. Decision Tree and AdaBoost classification methods appeared to outperform other existing methods on different datasets. Moreover, our results provide evidence that it is feasible to predict students’ course achievement with a high accuracy through modelling their learning behavior during online courses.
Development and Validation of a Method for the Analysis of Zinc Oxide in Cosmetic Matrices by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Benavides Luis F. , Marín Juan D. , Rosales Cristian , García Johnbrynner
Published: May 2021

A fast and simple method for the extraction and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) quantification of ZnO in different cosmetic matrices, including lipsticks, water-in-oil foundations, and oil-in-water creams, was developed and validated, according to the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention guidelines. The sample preparation consisted of an ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extraction of ZnO followed by digestion with 1 M nitric acid (HNO3). Samples were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). Specificity, linearity, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantification (LOQ), sensitivity, precision, and accuracy parameters were studied. The robustness of the method was evaluated with a five-variable Youden–Steiner model. The method was specific for ZnO, and the extraction procedure did not affect the stability of the signal compared to the background. The method was linear in the range 0.2–1.0 mg/L with LOD/LOQ values equal to 0.0156 (mg·L−1)/0.0473 (mg·L−1), 0.0098 (mg·L−1)/0.0297 (mg·L−1), 0.0113 (mg·L−1)/0.0341 (mg·L−1), and 0.0131 (mg·L−1)/0.0397 (mg·L−1), respectively, for raw material, lipstick, liquid foundation, and emulsion matrices. Regarding precision, the %RSD values were below 3.0% for repeatability and intermediate precision. Global reproducibility RSD was below 8.0% for all matrices. The percentage of recovery was not statistically different from 100% in all cases. The final concentration was found to be a critical variable for all matrices except for the raw material. The variables associated with the extraction step (ethanol volume, bath temperature, and extraction time) were critical in the extraction of liquid foundations and cream emulsions. The method reduces the number and concentration of mineral acids spent on the digestion of ZnO, and its application is extendable to raw materials. This development is an adequate tool for routine analysis and cosmetic quality control of chemically different products that contain ZnO as ultraviolet radiation (UV) filter, to guarantee regulatory compliance and ensure the safety and efficacy of products delivered to consumers.
Inhibition of SDF‐1/CXCR4 Axis to Alleviate Abnormal Bone Formation and Angiogenesis Could Improve the Subchondral Bone Microenvironment in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Qin Hanjun , Zhao Xingqi , Hu Yan Jun , Wang Shengnan , Ma Yunfei , He Siying , Shen Ke , Wan Haoyang , Cui Zhuang , Yu Bin
Published: May 2021

The pathogenesis of the osteoarthritis (OA) is complex. Abnormal subchondral bone metabolism is an important cause of this disease. Further understanding on the pathology of the subchondral bone in OA may provide a new therapy. This research is about to investigate the role of SDF‐1 in the subchondral bone during the pathological process of OA. In vitro, Transwell was used to test the migratory ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Western blot presented the protein level after SDF‐1 treatment in BMSCs and HUVESs. Alizarin red was used to assess the ability of osteogenic differentiation. To inhibit SDF‐1 signaling pathway in vivo, AMD3100 (SDF‐1 receptor blocker) was continuously delivered via miniosmotic pump for 4 weeks in mice after performing anterior cruciate ligament transaction surgery. Micro‐CT, histology staining, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and TRAP staining were used to assess the role of SDF‐1 on osteogenesis and angiogenesis in the subchondral bone. Our results showed that SDF‐1 could recruit BMSCs, activate the p‐ERK pathway, and enhance osteogenic differentiation. SDF‐1 promoted the ability of proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs by activating the ERK and AKT signaling pathways. In an animal study, inhibition of SDF‐1/CXCR4 axis could significantly reduce subchondral osteogenesis differentiation and H‐type vessel formation. Furthermore, the AMD3100‐treated group showed less cartilage destruction and bone resorption. Our research shows that SDF‐1 alters the microenvironment of the subchondral bone by promoting osteoid islet formation and abnormal H‐type angiogenesis in the subchondral bone, resulting in articular cartilage degeneration.
Electrochemical Performance Improvement of the Catalyst of the Methanol Microfuel Cell Using Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Kazemi Nasrabadi Mohammad , Ebrahimi-Moghadam Amir , Kumar Ravinder , Nabipour Narjes
Published: May 2021

In this research, the electrocatalytic activity of platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes and carbon black in methanol oxidation reaction has been investigated. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of a single passive direct methanol fuel cell run by these two different electrocatalysts has been reported. Physical characterization and electrochemical tests reveal the superiority of PtRu on carbon nanotubes. Based on the voltammetry outcomes, it was found that methanol oxidation reaction kinetics has been improved on the nanotube-supported catalyst. The current density of oxidation reaction has increased up to 62% in nanotube sample compared to carbon black-supported one. The electrochemical test results have shown that the carbon nanotubes increase the performance of the microfuel cell by 37% at maximum power density, compared to the carbon black. Moreover, the resistance of the samples supported by carbon nanotubes to poisonous intermediate species has been found 3% more than carbon black-supported one. According to the chronoamperometry test results, it was concluded that the performance and sustainability of the carbon nanotube electrocatalyst show a remarkable improvement compared to carbon black electrocatalyst in the long term.
More General Form of Interval-Valued Fuzzy Ideals of BCK/BCI-Algebras
Authors: Muhiuddin G. , Al-Kadi D. , Mahboob A.
Published: May 2021

The concepts of interval-valued

∈
,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy subalgebras, interval-valued

∈
,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy ideals, and interval-valued

∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy ideals are introduced, and related properties are studied. Many examples are given in support of these new notions. Furthermore, interval-valued

∈
,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy commutative ideals are defined, and some important properties are discussed. For a BCK-algebra

X

, it is proved that every interval-valued

∈
,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy commutative ideal of BCK-algebra

X

is an interval-valued

∈
,
∈
∨

κ

∗

˜

,

q

κ
˜

-fuzzy ideal of

X

, but the converse need not be true, in general, and then a counterexample is constructed.
[Retracted] Analysis of Multigene Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma in Zunyi
Authors: Ma Qingqing , Ma Dengming , Lin Mu , Gong Yadong , Han Xiaojing , Chen Yunhua , Tang Zhu , Liu Mubo
Published: May 2021

Objective. Driver gene mutation in lung adenocarcinoma patients in Zunyi and its relationship with clinical features were probed in this investigation. Methods. In total, with 244 patients with lung adenocarcinoma as study subjects, including 141 males and 103 females, amplification‐refractory mutation system‐polymerase chain reaction (ARMS‐PCR) was utilized for detecting multigene mutations. Subsequently, the relationship between gene mutation and clinical characteristics was analyzed. Results. The total mutation rate of driver genes was 65.17%, including 48.36% EGFR, 6.15% KRAS, 5.74% ALK, 2.05% HER‐2, 1.23% ROS1, 0.82% RET, 0.41% NRAS, and 0.41% BRAF. Among EGFR mutations, 47.46% were EGFR‐19‐deletion, 42.37% EGFR‐21‐L858R mutation, 4.24% EGFR‐20‐T790M mutation, 2.54% EGFR‐21‐L861Q mutation, 2.54% EGFR‐20‐insertion, and 0.85% EGFR‐18‐G719X mutation. Both female patients and nonsmoking patients with lung adenocarcinoma had a higher rate of EGFR mutation. Additionally, 15 patients with multiple mutations in EGFR, including 13 patients with 2 mutations in EGFR and 2 patients with 3 mutations in EGFR, were found. Conclusion. Among driver gene mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma in Zunyi, EGFR mutation has the highest incidence, followed by ALK fusion and KRAS mutation. Although both mutations and multisite mutations in the other driver genes account for a low proportion, they still have great clinical significance. Multigene mutation detection contributes to the rapid screening of patients with lung adenocarcinoma who respond to targeted therapy.
Some Hardy-Type Inequalities for Superquadratic Functions via Delta Fractional Integrals
Authors: Hanif Usama , Nosheen Ammara , Bibi Rabia , Khan Khuram Ali , Moradi Hamid Reza
Published: May 2021

In this paper, Jensen and Hardy inequalities, including Pólya–Knopp type inequalities for superquadratic functions, are extended using Riemann–Liouville delta fractional integrals. Furthermore, some inequalities are proved by using special kernels. Particular cases of obtained inequalities give us the results on time scales calculus, fractional calculus, discrete fractional calculus, and quantum fractional calculus.
STQ-SCS: An Efficient and Secure Scheme for Fine-Grained Spatial-Temporal Top-
k
Query in Fog-Based Mobile Sensor-Cloud Systems
Authors: Min Jie , Liang Junbin , Ma Xingpo , Chen Hongling
Published: May 2021

With the emergence of the fog computing and the sensor-cloud computing paradigms, end users can retrieve the desired sensory data generated by any wireless sensor network (WSN) in a fog-based sensor-cloud system transparently. However, the fog nodes and the cloud servers may suffer from many kinds of attacks on the Internet and become semitrusted, which threatens the security of query processing in the system. In this paper, we investigated the problem of secure, fine-grained spatial-temporal Top-

k

query in fog-based mobile sensor-cloud systems (FMSCSs) and proposed a novel scheme named STQ-SCS to tackle the problem based on the virtual grid construction and the size-order encryption-binding techniques. STQ-SCS can preserve the privacy of the sensed data items and their scores and make end users verify the completeness of the query results of fine-grained spatial-temporal Top-

k

queries with a 100% successful rate even if the fog nodes and the cloud servers are not totally trustworthy. Besides the good security performance, simulation results indicate that STQ-SCS is also an efficient scheme that incurs a much lower communication cost than the state-of-the-art schemes on securing fine-grained spatial-temporal Top-

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query in FMSCSs.
Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study on the Potential Mechanism of Yi-Qi-Huo-Xue-Tong-Luo Formula in Treating Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Lin Yixuan , Shen Chuqiao , Wang Fanjing , Fang Zhaohui , Shen Guoming
Published: May 2021

Objective. To investigate the potential mechanism of action of Yi-Qi-Huo-Xue-Tong-Luo formula (YQHXTLF) in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods. Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used in this study. Firstly, the active ingredients and the corresponding targets of YQHXTLF were retrieved using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) platform; subsequently, the targets related to DPN were retrieved using GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Pharmgkb, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) and Drugbank databases; the common targets of YQHXTLF and DPN were obtained by Venn diagram; afterwards, the “YQHXTLF Pharmacodynamic Component-DPN Target” regulatory network was visualized using Cytoscape 3.6.1 software, and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the potential targets using R 3.6.3 software. Finally, molecular docking of the main chemical components in the PPI network with the core targets was verified by Autodock Vina software. Results. A total of 86 active ingredients and 229 targets in YQHXTLF were screened, and 81 active ingredients and 110 targets were identified to be closely related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy disease. PPI network mapping identified TP53, MAPK1, JUN, and STAT3 as possible core targets. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these targets are mostly involved in AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, TNF signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. The molecular docking results showed that the main chemical components of YQHXTLF have a stable binding activity to the core pivotal targets. Conclusion. YQHXTLF may act on TP53, MAPK1, JUN, and STAT3 to regulate inflammatory response, apoptosis, or proliferation as a molecular mechanism for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, reflecting its multitarget and multipathway action, and providing new ideas to further uncover its pharmacological basis and mechanism of action.
MMP Inhibitors and Dentin Bonding: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kiuru O. , Sinervo J. , Vähänikkilä H. , Anttonen V. , Tjäderhane L.
Published: May 2021

Objectives. Resin-dentin bond strength decreases over time. This reduction is related to the loss of hybrid layer integrity. Collagenolytic enzymes, especially matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are responsible for the degradation of the collagen matrix of the hybrid layer. Various MMP inhibitors with the ability to prevent enzymatic degradation have been identified. This study aimed to systematically review the literature for studies which evaluated the effect of MMP inhibitors on the immediate and aged dentin bond strengths. Study SelectionScreening and analysis were carried out by two reviewers. Two databases were searched, and from a total of 740 articles, 43 were accepted for full review. 21 articles with 0.2%–2% chlorhexidine (CHX) treatments were included for meta-analysis. A risk of bias assessment was performed on all studies chosen for meta-analysis. A variety of MMP inhibitors have been studied, CHX being the most widely used. Conclusions. A clear trend for a lower loss of dentin bond strength was observed with different MMP inhibitors. In meta-analysis, no significant difference was seen between the CHX and control in the immediate bond strengths. Bond strengths in the CHX group were significantly higher than the control group after aging (

P
<
0.001

). The percentage of fractures occurring at the adhesive interface increased after aging. Five out of 21 studies included in the meta-analysis had high and the rest medium risk of bias. More long-term studies with lower risks of bias should be carried out to increase the reliability of results. Clinical RelevanceThe use of MMP inhibition with chlorhexidine can be recommended to increase the longevity of resin-dentin bond strength.
Crack Detection in Plate‐Like Structures Using Modal Strain Energy Method considering Various Boundary Conditions
Authors: Le Thanh-Cao , Ho Duc-Duy , Huynh Thanh-Canh , Bach Van-Sy
Published: May 2021

Among vibration‐based damage detection methods, one of the effective approaches for damage localization is the modal strain energy method. In this paper, the modal strain energy method is developed for damage detection in plate‐like structures with various boundary conditions. Firstly, the theory of the modal strain energy method is briefly outlined. In order to overcome the limitation of measuring points, a central difference method is newly employed to compute the partial differential terms in the modal strain energy formula. Finite element analysis is conducted on an aluminum thin plate to obtain the mode shapes before and after the occurrence of damage. Feasibility of the proposed method is verified by investigating plates with different types of boundary conditions. A damage index is presented to identify the location and extent of crack in the plate‐like structures. The analytical results show that the proposed method accurately identifies the crack in the plate structure with various types of boundary conditions by using appropriate mode shapes and damage threshold.
Performance Characteristics of a Cooking Stove Improved with Sawdust as an Insulation Material
Authors: Okino Jasper , Komakech Allan John , Wanyama Joshua , Ssegane Herbert , Olomo Elly , Omara Timothy
Published: May 2021

In developing countries, energy demand from biomass has increased due to exponential population growth. This has translated into voluminous quantities of wood being used. The situation is exacerbated by the popular use of inefficient stoves with low thermal insulation, hence contributing to deforestation. In this study, the performance of a cooking stove improved with sawdust as an insulation material was assessed. An insulated fire stove prototype of 26 cm saucepan diameter was designed, constructed, and cast with sawdust and clay in a ratio of 1 : 1 (as the first layer) and sawdust alone as the second layer. The developed stove was tested using a water boiling test to establish its operating performance. The thermal efficiency of the stove was assessed using indigenous wood fuels used in rural Uganda (Senna spectabilis, Pinus caribaea, and Eucalyptus grandis). Computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate the temperature and velocity fields within the combustion chamber and for generating temperature contours of the stove. Obtained results indicated that S. spectabilis had the highest thermal efficiency of 35.5 ± 2.5%, followed by E. grandis (25.7 ± 1.7%) and lastly P. caribaea (19.0 ± 1.2%) in the cold start phase when compared with traditional stoves. The stove remained cold as hot air was restricted to the combustion chamber with decreasing temperature contours toward the outer wall up to the ambient temperature. The velocity flow remained constant as the chamber was colored green throughout due to the shielding of the stove with sawdust as insulation. The heat flux generated indicated that a thick layer of 6 cm or more could ensure good insulation, and this could be further reduced by introducing more sawdust. The designed stove has the potential to reduce biomass consumption and emissions when compared to traditional cookstoves. The inclusion of a chimney draught in the fire stove prototype could reduce smoke and increase thermal efficiency. Further studies should focus on minimizing the thickness of the clay-sawdust (first) layer and increasing the thickness of the sawdust layer to reduce the weight of the fire stove.
BP Neural Network Improved by Sparrow Search Algorithm in Predicting Debonding Strain of FRP‐Strengthened RC Beams
Authors: Li Guibing , Hu Tianyu , Bai Dawei
Published: May 2021

To prevent debonding failure of FRP‐ (fiber reinforced polymer‐) strengthened RC (reinforced concrete) beams, most codes proposed models for debonding strain limitation of FRP reinforcements. However, only a few factors that affect debonding failure are considered in the models. The experimental results show that these models cannot accurately evaluate debonding strain and have a large variability. In order to improve the accuracy of predicting the debonding strain of FRP‐strengthened RC beams, a BP neural network model was developed based on the sparrow search algorithm (SSA). To predict the debonding strain of FRP reinforcements, the established neural network model was trained and simulated through experimental data. The results show that the coefficient of variation of the present SSA‐BP neural network model is 13%. The main factors affecting debonding strain are the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, stirrup reinforcement ratio, and concrete strength, which are not considered in the code models. The present model has better prediction accuracy and more robustness than the traditional BP neural network and the code models.