bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy outcomes in women with significant valve disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ducas Robin Alexandra , Javier David A , D’Souza Rohan , Silversides Candice K , Tsang Wendy
Published: February 2020

Objective

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal/fetal outcomes in pregnant women with moderate/severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) from medium/higher Human Development Index (HDI) countries.

Methods

OvidSP platform databases were searched (1985-January 2019) to identify studies reporting pregnancy outcomes in women with moderate/severe VHD. The primary maternal outcome was maternal mortality. The primary fetal/neonatal outcome was stillbirth and neonatal death. Pooled incidences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of maternal/fetal outcomes could only be calculated from studies involving mitral stenosis (MS) or aortic stenosis (AS).

Results

Twelve studies on 646 pregnancies were included. Pregnant women with severe MS had mortality rates of 3% (95% CI, 0% to 6%), pulmonary oedema 37% (23%–51%) and new/recurrent arrhythmias 16% (1%–25%). Their stillbirth, neonatal death and preterm birth rates were 4% (1%–7%), 2% (0%–4%), and 18% (7%–29%), respectively. Women with moderate MS had mortality rates of 1%(0%–2%), pulmonary oedema 18% (2%–33%), new/recurrent arrhythmias 5% (1%–9%), stillbirth 2% (1%–4%) and preterm birth 10%(2%–17%).

Pregnant women with severe AS had a risk of mortality of 2% (0%–5%), pulmonary oedema 9% (2%–15%), and new/recurrent arrhythmias 4% (0%–7%). Their stillbirth, neonatal death and preterm birth rates were 2% (0%–5%), 3% (0%–6%) and 14%(4%–24%), respectively. No maternal/neonatal deaths were reported in moderate AS, however women experienced pulmonary oedema (8%; 0%–20%), new/recurrent arrhythmias (2%; 0%–5%), and preterm birth (13%; 6%–20%).

Conclusions

Women with moderate/severe MS and AS are at risk for adverse maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes. They should receive preconception counseling and pregnancy care by teams with pregnancy and heart disease experience.
Excess of singleton loss-of-function variants in Parkinson’s disease contributes to genetic risk
Authors: Bobbili Dheeraj Reddy , Banda Peter , Krüger Rejko , May Patrick
Published: February 2020

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with complex genetic architecture. Besides rare mutations in high-risk genes related to monogenic familial forms of PD, multiple variants associated with sporadic PD were discovered via association studies.

Methods

We studied the whole-exome sequencing data of 340 PD cases and 146 ethnically matched controls from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and performed burden analysis for different rare variant classes. Disease prediction models were built based on clinical, non-clinical and genetic features, including both common and rare variants, and two machine learning methods.

Results

We observed a significant exome-wide burden of singleton loss-of-function variants (corrected p=0.037). Overall, no exome-wide burden of rare amino acid changing variants was detected. Finally, we built a disease prediction model combining singleton loss-of-function variants, a polygenic risk score based on common variants, and family history of PD as features and reached an area under the curve of 0.703 (95% CI 0.698 to 0.708). By incorporating a rare variant feature, our model increased the performance of the state-of-the-art classification model for the PPMI dataset, which reached an area under the curve of 0.639 based on common variants alone.

Conclusion

The main finding of this study is to highlight the contribution of singleton loss-of-function variants to the complex genetics of PD and that disease risk prediction models combining singleton and common variants can improve models built solely on common variants.
‘Delusional’ consent in somatic treatment: the emblematic case of electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Bersani Giuseppe , Pacitti Francesca , Iannitelli Angela
Published: February 2020

Even more than for other treatments, great importance must be given to informed consent in the case of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In a percentage of cases, the symbolic connotation of the treatment, even if mostly and intrinsically negative, may actually be a determining factor in the patient’s motives for giving consent. On an ethical and medicolegal level, the most critical point is that concerning consent to the treatment by a psychotic subject with a severely compromised ability to comprehend the nature and objective of the proposed therapy, but who nonetheless expresses his consent, for reasons derived from delusional thoughts. In fact, this situation necessarily brings to light the contradiction between an explicit expression of consent, a necessary formality for the commencement of therapy, and the validity of this consent, which may be severely compromised due to the patient’s inability to comprehend reality and therefore to accept the proposal of treatment, which is intrinsic to this reality. With the use of an electric current, the symbolic experience associated with anaesthesia, and the connection to convulsions, ECT enters the collective consciousness. In relation to this, ECT is symbolic of these three factors and hooks on to the thoughts, fears, feelings and expectations of delusional patients. These are often exemplified in the violent intervention of the persecutor in the patient with schizophrenia, the expected punishment for the ’error’ committed for which the depressed patient blames himself and the social repression of the maniacal patient’s affirmation of his inflated self-esteem.
From undergraduate to postgraduate uses of the dead human body: consequential ethical shift
Authors: Jones D Gareth
Published: February 2020

The dependence of surgical training programmes on the supply of bodies by for-profit organisations places them at serious ethical risk. These risks, with their commodification of the bodies used in the programme, are outlined. It is concluded that this is not a satisfactory model for the trainees’ subsequent interaction with living patients and that a code of practice is required.
Global and regional burden of chronic respiratory disease in 2016 arising from non-infectious airborne occupational exposures: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Authors:   GBD 2016 Occupational Chronic Respiratory Risk Factors Collaborators
Published: February 2020

Objectives

This paper presents detailed analysis of the global and regional burden of chronic respiratory disease arising from occupational airborne exposures, as estimated in the Global Burden of Disease 2016 study.

Methods

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to occupational exposure to particulate matter, gases and fumes, and secondhand smoke, and the burden of asthma resulting from occupational exposure to asthmagens, was estimated using the population attributable fraction (PAF), calculated using exposure prevalence and relative risks from the literature. PAFs were applied to the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for COPD and asthma. Pneumoconioses were estimated directly from cause of death data. Age-standardised rates were based only on persons aged 15 years and above.

Results

The estimated PAFs (based on DALYs) were 17% (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 14%–20%) for COPD and 10% (95% UI 9%–11%) for asthma. There were estimated to be 519 000 (95% UI 441,000–609,000) deaths from chronic respiratory disease in 2016 due to occupational airborne risk factors (COPD: 460,100 [95% UI 382,000–551,000]; asthma: 37,600 [95% UI 28,400–47,900]; pneumoconioses: 21,500 [95% UI 17,900–25,400]. The equivalent overall burden estimate was 13.6 million (95% UI 11.9–15.5 million); DALYs (COPD: 10.7 [95% UI 9.0–12.5] million; asthma: 2.3 [95% UI 1.9–2.9] million; pneumoconioses: 0.58 [95% UI 0.46–0.67] million). Rates were highest in males; older persons and mainly in Oceania, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; and decreased from 1990 to 2016.

Conclusions

Workplace exposures resulting in COPD, asthma and pneumoconiosis continue to be important contributors to the burden of disease in all regions of the world. This should be reducible through improved prevention and control of relevant exposures.
Prognostic significance of LINC00460 overexpression in solid tumours: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dai Chen , Zhang Yan , Ni Hao , Kuang Yuting , Xu Zhihua
Published: February 2020

The prognostic value of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 460 (LINC00460) overexpression in human solid malignant tumours remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted the meta-analysis to systematically review and assess the evidence for the correlation between LINC00460 overexpression and clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) of patients with solid malignant tumour. An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biological Medical Literature database and WanFang database was applied to select eligible articles. Pooled ORs or HRs with their 95% CIs were calculated to estimate the effects. 9 eligible studies with a total of 935 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that high LINC00460 expression was associated with positive lymph node metastasis (positive vs negative: OR=2.97, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.05, p=0.812), advanced tumour-node-metastasis stage (III+IV vs I+II: OR=2.82, 95% CI 1.64 to 4.85, p=0.193) and poorer differentiation (high vs low: OR=0.60, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.99, p=0.569). Additionally, the overexpression of LINC00460 could predict a poorer OS (HR=1.57, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.77) and the shorter disease-free survival (HR=2.32, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.31). Furthermore, according to subgroup analysis and meta-regression results, the heterogeneity of current meta-analysis may be attributed to the differences of cancer type and follow-up months. High expression of LINC00460 could predict poor prognosis in patients with solid malignant tumour. LINC00460 may serve as potential prognostic biomarker for clinical outcomes in various human solid malignant tumours.
Suspected haemorrhagic cystitis in a dog as delayed complication after contrast‐enhanced computed tomography
Authors: Devriendt Nausikaa , van de Velde Norbert , Stock Emmelie , de Bakker Evelien , de Rooster Hilde
Published: February 2020

A 10‐month‐old female intact Australian shepherd dog was diagnosed with an intrapelvic mass. Blood and urinanalyses were unremarkable. A contrast‐enhanced CT scan was performed to define the extent of the mass. A large, expansile, heterogeneous mass, extending from the ventral aspect of the last lumbar vertebra until the second caudate vertebra and invading the vertebral canal at the lumbosacral junction with displacement of all organs in the caudal abdomen, was diagnosed. Two days after the CT scan, the dog was euthanased because of deterioration of clinical signs despite the start of multimodal analgesia. Necropsy and subsequent histology and immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of a plasmacytoma and haemorrhagic cystitis. The haemorrhagic cystitis was most likely caused by the contrast agent used for the CT scan that remained in the bladder for a prolonged time, secondary to subobstruction of the urethra.
The improving effects of biotin on hepatic histopathology and related apolipoprotein mRNA expression in laying hens with fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome
Authors: Huang Jiamei , Li Guyue , Cao Hongfeng , Yang Fei , Xing Chenghong , Zhuang Yu , Zhang Caiying , Liu Ping , Cao Huabin , Hu Guoliang
Published: February 2020

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a metabolic disease mostly observed in laying hens that causes an economic toll on the poultry industry. To investigate the improving effects of biotin on FLHS in laying hens, a total of 135 Hy-Line Brown layers of 300-d-old were randomly divided into three groups and treated for 60 d. The hens from these three groups were fed with different diets: control group (the basal diet), pathology group [high-energy-low-protein diet (HELP)], and treatment group (HELP containing a biotin dosage of 0.3 mg kg−1). The results showed that the mRNA expression level of apolipoprotein A I (apoA I) in pathology group significantly (P < 0.01) decreased on day 60 compared with the control group, while the mRNA level of apolipoprotein B100(apoB100) increased significantly in pathology group on day 30, whereas it decreased significantly on day 60 (P < 0.05). Significantly increased mRNA levels of apoA I and apoB100were observed in treatment group compared with the pathology group on days 30 and 60 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results indicated that biotin could effectively alleviate the pathological changes and abnormal expression of apoA I and apoB100induced by FLHS, which might closely relate to the ability of biotin to promote egg production.
Gravitational lensing by multi-polytropic wormholes
Authors: Sajadi S.N. , Riazi N.
Published: February 2020

We obtain static, asymptotically flat, multi-polytropic wormhole solutions in the framework of general relativity. We examine gravitational lensing in the presence of the wormhole and calculate the deflection angle for both weak and strong fields. We investigate microlensing in the weak field limit and obtain corresponding light curves for both galactic and extragalactic situations. We discuss the astrophysical motivation of considering the multi-polytropic equation of state that supports the wormhole geometry. Finally, we investigate the energy conditions.
Construction of three half-sib SSR linkage maps derived from overwintering cultivated rice and segregation distortion loci mapping
Authors: Liang Yongshu , Yan Chao , Qin Xiaojian , Nan Wenbin , Zhang Hanma
Published: February 2020

Segregation distortion is a common phenomenon that has been observed in genetics and plant breeding; however, the mechanism of segregation distortion is unknown. In the present study, three half-sib F2populations derived from three japonica overwinter (perennial) rice varieties (W1, W2, and W3) crossed to the indica rice variety Minghui725 (MH725) were developed to construct three half-sib linkage maps. We established linkage map lengths of 2032.8, 2317.4, and 2108.7 cM with average intervals of 20.1, 20.5, and 19.7 cM using 101, 113, and 107 SSR markers in W1/MH725, W2/MH725, and W3/MH725, respectively. Discrepancies in marker order and genetic linkage distance occurred in the three half-sib linkage maps due to segregation distortion. A total of 88 markers exhibited segregation distortion across the three linkage maps at P < 0.01 level, 42 segregation distortion loci (SDLs) were detected across the three half-sib populations and exhibited variable LOD value that ranged from 3.2 (SDL2f) to 30.1 (SDL5d), and 13 of the 42 SDLs were repeatedly located at the same chromosomal regions of the previously published hybrid sterility quantitative trait loci. Data from this study provide an extensive archive for investigating the genetic characteristic of overwintering cultivated rice and the future exploration and innovation of overwintering rice breeding.
Genus one Belyi maps by quadratic correspondences
Authors: Vidunas Raimundas , He Yang-Hui
Published: February 2020

We present a method of obtaining a Belyi map on an elliptic curve from that on the Riemann sphere. This is done by writing the former as a radical of the latter, which we call a quadratic correspondence, with the radical determining the elliptic curve. With a host of examples of various degrees, we demonstrate that the correspondence is an efficient way of obtaining genus one Belyi maps. As applications, we find the Belyi maps for the dessins d’enfant which have arisen as brane-tilings in the physics community, including ones, such as the so-called suspended pinched point, which have been a standing challenge for a number of years.
The Bloch equation for spin dynamics in electron storage rings: Computational and theoretical aspects
Authors: Heinemann Klaus , Appelö Daniel , Barber Desmond P. , Beznosov Oleksii , Ellison James A.
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we describe our work on spin polarization in high-energy electron storage rings which we base on the Full Bloch equation (FBE) for the polarization density and which aims towards the [Formula: see text] option of the proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) and the proposed Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC). The FBE takes into account non spin-flip and spin-flip effects due to synchrotron radiation including the spin-diffusion effects and the Sokolov–Ternov effect with its Baier–Katkov generalization as well as the kinetic-polarization effect. This mathematical model is an alternative to the standard mathematical model based on the Derbenev–Kondratenko formulas. For our numerical and analytical studies of the FBE, we develop an approximation to the latter to obtain an effective FBE. This is accomplished by finding a third mathematical model based on a system of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) underlying the FBE and by approximating that system via the method of averaging from perturbative ODE theory. We also give an overview of our algorithm for numerically integrating the effective FBE. This discretizes the phase space using spectral methods and discretizes time via the additive Runge–Kutta (ARK) method which is a high-order semi-implicit method. We also discuss the relevance of the third mathematical model for spin tracking.
An Efficient Data Gathering Technique Using Optimal Minimum Coverage Spanning Tree Algorithm in WSN
Authors: Nandagopal C. , Ramesh S. M.
Published: February 2020

A WSN system incorporates a gateway that provides wireless connectivity back to the wired world and distributed nodes. Many existing schemes were utilized for the purpose of increasing the data gathering capacity of sensor nodes from source to sink node. But the existing schemes suffered from maximum distance problem of reaching the sink node. Hence, to overcome those issues, we propose an energy efficient data gathering technique in WSN. Initially, in this paper, the sensor nodes are clustered using LEACH protocol. After the clustering process, cluster heads (CHs) are selected. These selected CHs in all the clusters are used for transferring the messages to the mobile node for data gathering. Then, optimal data transmission path is selected with the help of Optimal Minimum Covering Spanning Tree (OMST) algorithm. The OMST algorithm enhances data gathering and reduces the duration for reaching the sink node via selection of polling points. For reducing time complexity in MST, an efficient optimization algorithm is used. For an optimization purpose, particle gene swarm (PGS) model is used. From the experimental results, the proposed method achieved better results than the existing method in terms of energy, overhead, delay, delivery ratio, NLT and throughput.
Interference Elimination of Wall Fluctuation Pressure Test Signal of High-Speed Train Based on Phase Space Reconstruction and Vibration Interference Model
Authors: Deng Chao , Chen Chunjun , Sun Qi , Wang Dongwei , He Zhiying
Published: February 2020

Because of the complexity of high-speed train operation, the measured wall pressure of high-speed train will be affected by many factors, such as train vibration and environmental changes, which make the test signal inaccurate. The main interferences are the electromagnetic interference caused by the complicated electromagnetic environment and the sensor output interference caused by the train body vibration. In this paper, ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) combined with singular value decomposition (SVD) and the local projection de-noise algorithm with better effect on non-linear time series noise reduction are used to eliminate electromagnetic interference in test signal. Because of the frequency band aliasing of test signal and interference cause by vibration, it is difficult to eliminate vibration interference by the signal processing method. In this paper, a vibration interference model is established by model-train experiment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to eliminate the vibration interference in the test signal. Moreover, the theoretical guidance for accurately extracting the wall pressure of high-speed train has been put forward.
HG-SVNN: HARMONIC GENETIC-BASED SUPPORT VECTOR NEURAL NETWORK CLASSIFIER FOR THE GLAUCOMA DETECTION
Authors: KANSE SHILPA SAMEER , YADAV D. M.
Published: February 2020

Glaucoma has emerged as the one of the leading causes of blindness. Even though the diagnosis of this disease has not yet been found, the early detection can cure the glaucoma disease. Various works presented for the glaucoma detection have many disadvantages such as increased run time, complex architecture, etc., during the real-time implementations. This work introduces the glaucoma detection system based on the proposed harmonic genetic-based support vector neural network (HG-SVNN) classifier. The proposed system detects glaucoma in the database through four major steps, (1) pre-processing, (2) proposed hybrid feature extraction, (3) segmentation and (4) classification through the proposed HG-SVNN classifier. The proposed model uses both the statistical and the vessel features from the segmented and the pre-processed images to construct the feature vector. The proposed HG-SVNN classifier uses both the harmonic operator and the genetic algorithm (GA) for the neural network training. From the simulation results, it is evident that the proposed glaucoma detection system has better performance than the existing works with the values of 0.945, 0.9, 0.9333 and 0.86667 for the segmentation accuracy, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity metric.
Projectively equivalent Finsler metrics on surfaces of negative Euler characteristic
Authors: Lang Julius
Published: February 2020

We prove that on a surface of negative Euler characteristic, two real-analytic Finsler metrics have the same unparametrized oriented geodesics, if and only if they differ by a scaling constant and addition of a closed 1-form.
Analytical solution and numerical simulation of the thermal entrance region problem for laminar flow through a circular pipe
Authors: Belhocine Ali , Abdullah Oday Ibraheem
Published: February 2020

In this paper, the assumptions implicited in Leveque’s approximation are re-examined, and the variation of the temperature and the thickness of the boundary layer were illustrated using the developed solution. By defining a similarity variable, the governing equations are reduced to a dimensionless equation with an analytic solution in the entrance region. This report gives justification for the similarity variable via scaling analysis, details the process of converting to a similarity form, and presents a similarity solution. The analytical solutions are then checked against numerical solution programming by FORTRAN code obtained via using Runge–Kutta fourth order (RK4) method. Finally, other important thermal results obtained from this analysis, such as; approximate Nusselt number in the thermal entrance region was discussed in detail. A comparison with the previous study available in literature has been done and found an excellent agreement with the published data.
A superlinear numerical scheme for multi-term fractional nonlinear ordinary differential equations
Authors: Zhang Jingna , Gong Haobo , Arshad Sadia , Huang Jianfei
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we present a superlinear numerical method for multi-term fractional nonlinear ordinary differential equations (MTFNODEs). First, the presented problem is equivalently transformed into its integral form with multi-term Riemann–Liouville integrals. Second, the compound product trapezoidal rule is used to approximate the fractional integrals. Then, the unconditional stability and convergence with the order [Formula: see text] of the proposed scheme are strictly established, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the maximum and the second maximum fractional indexes in the considered MTFNODEs, respectively. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to support the theoretical results.
A fast finite difference/finite element method for the two-dimensional distributed-order time-space fractional reaction–diffusion equation
Authors: Zhang Yaping , Cao Jiliang , Bu Weiping , Xiao Aiguo
Published: February 2020

In this work, we develop a finite difference/finite element method for the two-dimensional distributed-order time-space fractional reaction–diffusion equation (2D-DOTSFRDE) with low regularity solution at the initial time. A fast evaluation of the distributed-order time fractional derivative based on graded time mesh is obtained by substituting the weak singular kernel for the sum-of-exponentials. The stability and convergence of the developed semi-discrete scheme to 2D-DOTSFRDE are discussed. For the spatial approximation, the finite element method is employed. The convergence of the corresponding fully discrete scheme is investigated. Finally, some numerical tests are given to verify the obtained theoretical results and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Simulation of nonlinear vibration responses of cab system subject to suspension damper complete failure for trucks
Authors: Zhao Leilei , Guo Jian , Yu Yuewei , Li Xiaohan , Zhou Changcheng
Published: February 2020

The strong vibration responses of the cab system can be restrained by the damper force and the friction of the suspensions for trucks. After the failures of dampers, especially in the case of the complete failure, the anti vibration effect of the friction is prominent. However, the nonlinear vibration response characteristics of the cab subject to the damper complete failure have not been revealed. In order to reveal the nonlinear vibration response characteristics, a dynamic model of the cab system was established and its vibration equations were given. The friction forces existing in the suspensions were determined by the bench test. The influences of the friction forces on the cab vibration under different amplitude harmonic inputs were investigated when the dampers completely fail. The cab vertical displacement changes with the excitation amplitude and the vibration represents various motion states, including the periodic motion, the quasi-periodic motion, and the chaotic motion. The simulation results show that when the dampers fail, the proper friction forces help to suppress the quasi-periodic motion and the chaotic motion of the cab and to reduce the amplitude of the periodic motion. The proper friction forces can make the cab movement far away from the chaos area. They also help to avoid the fatigue damage of the cab floor and suspension parts to improve the service life of the suspension parts and to reduce the maintenance cost of the cab suspensions.
Damage to Common Healthcare Polymer Surfaces from UV Exposure
Authors: Teska Peter , Dayton Roderick , Li Xiaobao , Lamb Jason , Strader Phillip
Published: February 2020

Healthcare-associated infections are a significant concern in acute care facilities across the US. Studies have shown the importance of a hygienic patient environment in reducing the risk of such infections. This has caused an increased interest in ultraviolet (UV-C) light disinfectant technology as an adjunct technology to provide additional pathogen reduction to environmental surfaces and patient care equipment (i.e., surfaces). It is also well known that UV-C light can cause premature degradation of materials, particularly certain plastic materials. However, there is little information in the literature regarding characterizing this degradation of plastics and other materials used for surfaces in healthcare. This study aims to evaluate multiple characterization techniques and propose a systematic approach to further understand early onset degradation of plastics due to UV-C exposure. Susceptibility and modes of degradation of multiple plastic materials were compared using the techniques evaluated. Ten grades of plastic materials were exposed to UV-C light in a manner consistent with standards given in the healthcare and furniture industry to achieve disinfection. These materials were characterized for visual appearance, chemical composition, surface roughness and hardness using light microscopy, spectrophotometry, contact angle analysis, infrared spectroscopy, profilometry and nanoindentation. All characterization methods were able to identify one or more specific degradation features from UV-C exposure covering different aspects of physicochemical properties of the surfaces. However, these methods showed different sensitivity and applicability to identify the onset of surface damage. Different types of surface materials showed different susceptibility and modes to degradation upon UV-C light exposure. UV-C disinfection can cause detectable damage to various surfaces in healthcare. A characterization approach consisting of physical and chemical characterizations is proposed in quantifying surface degradation of a material from UV-C exposure to address the complexity in modes of degradation and the varied sensitivity to UV-C from different materials. Methods with high sensitivity can be used to evaluate onset of damage or early stage damage.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON CHINESE CITIES
Authors: YUAN XIAO-CHEN , YANG ZHIMING , WEI YI-MING , WANG BING
Published: February 2020

There is a substantial concern for the economic impacts of global warming. This study identifies the effects of seasonal temperatures on total economic output in the cities of China, and then projects the changes in local economic performance under future climate and development scenarios. The results suggest that there are significant negative effects of warm seasonal temperature but positive effects of cold seasonal temperature on economic growth. These different effects increase as more lags of temperature are included. By 2090, the cities may have the average reduction of 44% in GDP per capita under RCP8.5, but some of them in Northeast China are predicted to get positive impacts under RCP2.6. The difference in the estimated aggregate impacts under the two RCPs could be as much as 24%. The poor cities are likely to have higher economic damages, which amplifies the economic inequality. Finally, the ranges of economic impacts projected by different climate models are presented.
Design, implementation and validation of advanced lattice techniques for pricing EAKO — European American Knock-Out option
Authors: Fabbri Mattia , Giribone Pier Giuseppe
Published: February 2020

The paper presents a series of advanced lattice methods aimed at evaluating an EAKO European-American Knock-Out contract. The first part of the paper deals with the numerical methods implemented for pricing: Binomial and Trinomial Stochastic trees, Adaptive Mesh Model, Pentanomial and Heptanomial lattice. In the second part, specific tests are designed to validate the code written in Matlab language. The study concludes by applying the most performing model to a real market case.
Development of an app for fluid dynamics simulations in small and large vessels
Authors: Fragomeni Gionata , Gaudio Lina Teresa
Published: February 2020

The rheological properties of the blood depend on numerous factors among which the geometry and the size of the conduit in which the blood circulates. The human body is made up by vessels having a different structure and characteristics, which depend on the function they perform, above all on the pressure they have to bear generated at the cardiac level.

So, a great criticality when approaching a study on blood flow behavior in the circulatory system is to use an appropriate mathematical model for the circulating fluid.

Though the CFD analysis (computational fluid dynamics), going to investigate what are the differences produced by the use of models in the study of vessels of different caliber can be a valid support in the study of vessel fluid dynamics, in particular if they are affected by pathologies.

In this regard, the aim of this work, is through the implementation of an application, to carry out a statistical analysis of the effects of different blood flow models in arteries to identifying a prediction about the percentage variation of the shear stress indices involved in the impact of atherosclerotic plaque.
The Effect of Transition Metal Oxide Addition on the Conductivity of Commercially Available Gd-Doped Ceria
Authors: Neuhaus Kerstin , Dolle Raimund , Wiemhöfer Hans-Dieter
Published: February 2020

The effect of addition of transition metal oxides on the charge transport of commercially available Gd-doped ceria (Ce0.9Gd0.1O2−δ
) was assessed with special emphasis on the electronic partial conductivity. The samples were doped by adding 2, 4 or 6 cat% of

CoO

4
/
3

or

FeO

3
/
2

,

or 2 mol% of the transition metal oxides V2O5, MnO2, and CuO, respectively. All samples with transition metal oxides showed predominant ionic conductivity at high temperatures and for all materials except for MnO2 addition, the electrical conductivity was slightly increased at temperatures ≤500 °C compared to pure CGO. For Co other than for Fe addition, the electronic conductivity strongly depends on the Co concentration. Also an increasing electronic conductivity with decreasing oxygen partial pressure from 10−8 to 10−4 bar at temperatures below 600 °C indicates the changing redox state of Co from divalent at low oxygen partial pressures to trivalent under ambient oxygen partial pressure. Additionally, it was found that 2 mol% of CuO already lead to a significantly decreased blocking effect of the grain boundaries in the temperature range below 500 °C.
A Vibration-Related Design Parameter Optimization Method for High-Speed Elevator Horizontal Vibration Reduction
Authors: Qiu Lemiao , Wang Zili , Zhang Shuyou , Zhang Lichun , Chen Jie
Published: February 2020

High-speed elevator horizontal vibration (HsEHV) is a problem that seriously affects ride comfort. To solve this problem, a design parameter optimization method for HsEHV reduction was studied. A dynamic equation of HsEHV was established, and its response value was calculated using a precise integration method. The influence of the design parameters on horizontal vibration was also analyzed. An optimization model of the design parameters for HsEHV reduction was constructed, and the response surface model of objective function (the peak-to-peak value of horizontal vibration acceleration) was constructed using Latin hypercube sampling. We adopted a multiobjective genetic algorithm to optimize the design parameters for horizontal vibration reduction and used the min-max standardization method to select an optimal solution set. Finally, a KLK2 high-speed elevator made by Canny Elevator Co., Ltd., was utilized as an example to analyze the influencing factors of HsEHV, optimize the design parameters to reduce horizontal vibration, and verify the optimized results using numerical calculation and prototype testing.
Reliability of the DIERS Formetric 4D Spine Shape Parameters in Adults without Postural Deformities
Authors: Degenhardt Brian F. , Starks Zane , Bhatia Shalini
Published: February 2020

The DIERS formetric 4D provides a safe method to monitor and track the progression of postural deformities over time. However, further evaluation of reliability is necessary. Reference values are also needed to indicate postural change. The current study examined the reliability of spine shape parameters produced by the formetric 4D in adults without postural abnormalities and established reference values to determine when real change occurs. Thirty participants were scanned during 1 week. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for 40 spine shape parameters for scans with participants stationary between scans, scans with repositioning between scans, and between days. Within‐day and between‐day standard error of measurement (SEM), absolute relative SEM, and smallest detectable change (SDC) were reported. ICC for stationary scans was excellent for 29 parameters, good for 10 parameters, and fair for 1 parameter. With repositioning, ICC was excellent for 27 parameters, good for 12 parameters, and fair for 1 parameter. Between days, ICC was excellent for 26 parameters, good for 10 parameters, and fair for 4 parameters. Within‐day SEM% was greater than 10% for 6 parameters. Within‐day SDC ranged from 1.80 to 25.03 units for a single scan and from 0.97 to 17.93 units for 6 scans. Between‐day SEM% was greater than 10% for 9 parameters. Between‐day SDC ranged from 1.44 to 28.24 units for a single scan and from 1.05 to 22.2 units for 6 scans. Thirty‐six of the 40 spine shape parameters from the DIERS formetric 4D reliably distinguished between participants over time. Reference values were established that can be used to track patient postural change over time. Future research should investigate the clinical relevance of these 40 spine shape parameters and determine when a clinically important change in posture occurs.
Wenxin Keli Regulates Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and Homeostasis and Improves Atrial Remodeling in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Gong Mengqi , Yuan Ming , Meng Lei , Zhang Zhiwei , Tse Gary , Zhao Yungang , Zhang Yue , Yuan Meng , Liang Xue , Fan Guanwei , Yan Gan-Xin , Li Guangping , Liu Tong
Published: February 2020

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of both atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Wenxin Keli (WXKL), an antiarrhythmic traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to prevent cardiac arrhythmias through modulation of cardiac ion channels. This study tested the hypothesis that WXKL can improve atrial remodeling in diabetic rats by restoring mitochondrial function. Primary atrial fibroblasts of neonatal SD rats were divided into four groups: control, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), H2O2+WXKL 1 g/L, and H2O2+WXKL 3 g/L groups. Intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial oxygen consumption were measured. SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, DM, and DM+WXKL groups. Rats in the DM+WXKL group were treated with daily gavage of WXKL at 3 g/kg. After eight weeks, echocardiography, hemodynamic examination, histology, electrophysiology study, mitochondrial respiratory function, and western blots were assessed. H2O2 treatment led to increased ROS and decreased intracellular MMP and mitochondrial oxygen consumption in primary atrial fibroblasts. WXKL improved the above changes. DM rats showed increased atrial fibrosis, greater left atrial diameter, lower atrial conduction velocity, higher conduction heterogeneity, higher AF inducibility, and lower mitochondrial protein expression, and all these abnormal changes except for left atrial diameter were improved in the DM+WXKL group. WXKL improves atrial remodeling by regulating mitochondrial function and homeostasis and reducing mitochondrial ROS in diabetic rats.
Physiological Significance of Ion Transporters and Channels in the Stomach and Pathophysiological Relevance in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yuan Dumin , Ma Zhiyuan , Tuo Biguang , Li Taolang , Liu Xuemei
Published: February 2020

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly invasive and fatal malignant disease that accounts for 5.7% of new global cancer cases and is the third leading cause of cancer‐related death. Acid/base homeostasis is critical for organisms because protein and enzyme function, cellular structure, and plasma membrane permeability change with pH. Various ion transporters are expressed in normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells and regulate gastric acid secretion, ion transport, and fluid absorption, thereby stabilizing the differentiation and homeostasis of gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Ion transporter dysfunction results in disordered ion transport, mucosa barrier dysfunction, and acid/base disturbances, causing gastric acid‐related diseases such as chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and GC. This review summarizes the physiological functions of multiple ion transporters and channels in the stomach, including Cl− channels, exchangers, sodium/hydrogen exchangers (NHEs), and potassium (K+) channels, and their pathophysiological relevance in GC.
Pylephlebitis Associated with Inferior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis Treated Successfully with Anticoagulation and Antibiotics in a 37-Year-Old Male
Authors: Abdallah Mohamed , Gohar Ahmad , Naryana Gowda Smitha , Abdullah Hafez M. , Al-hajjaj Ali
Published: February 2020

Pylephlebitis is a condition in which there is septic thrombophlebitis of the portal-mesenteric venous system. It is a rare condition that usually arises as a complication of an intra-abdominal infection or inflammation. Being rare, it may be overlooked as a differential in cases of abdominal pain when the more common causes have been excluded. We present a case of a 37-year-old Hispanic male who presented with acute abdominal pain and loose stools. He was initially treated for acute gastroenteritis but his clinical condition deteriorated. He was eventually diagnosed with pylephlebitis with associated inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis. He was successfully treated with IV antibiotics and warfarin. Pylephlebitis should not be overlooked as a differential in an appropriate clinic setting as it has a high mortality rate.
Bilevel Programming for Traffic Signal Coordinated Control considering Pedestrian Crossing
Authors: Li Dawei , Song Yuchen , Chen Qiong
Published: February 2020

With the rapid development of the subway, more and more people choose it as the main method of transportation. However, practically, the large number of pedestrians near some large metro stations can also correspondingly affect the traffic of motor vehicles on the roads adjacent to the stations. In this study, coordinated control of the traffic signal which considers the pedestrian crossing delay is studied based on this background. Firstly, the model of progression band in adjacent intersections is analyzed comprehensively, and the calculation formulas of progression bandwidth and the delay of vehicles which are from the progression of traffic flow under different conditions are given. Secondly, five different models of pedestrian delay are analyzed. Under different conditions of motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow, the Vissim fitting and proofreading are carried out and the optimal models under different conditions are obtained. Finally, the bilevel programming problem which fuses the above two models is determined; by coding an algorithm, it can be resolved. Furthermore, taking eight signalized intersections from Jiming Temple to Daxinggong along Nanjing Metro Line 3 as the actual background, the calculation and optimization of coordinated control are carried out. It is found that at the expense of the traffic efficiency of large intersections to a certain extent, a wider progression band can be formulated on the roads between them, and pedestrian delays can be reduced in general.
Invasive Group B Streptococcal Infection with Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome in a Postsplenectomy Patient
Authors: Mada Pradeep Kumar , Castano Gabriel , Joel Chandranesan Andrew Stevenson
Published: February 2020

The incidence of invasive group B streptococcal disease (GBS) in nonpregnant population is increasing. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 10 cases in every 100,000 nonpregnant adults each year, and 1 in 20 nonpregnant adults with serious GBS infections die. GBS infection is almost always associated with underlying risk factors such as diabetes mellitus or malignancy. We present a 47-year-old female with a remote history of splenectomy presented with toxic shock-like syndrome secondary to invasive GBS infection.
Molecular Epidemiology of GI.3 Norovirus Outbreaks from Acute Gastroenteritis Surveillance System in Taiwan, 2015–2019
Authors: Chiu Shu-Chun , Hsu Jia-Kai , Hu Szu-Chieh , Wu Ching-Yi , Wang Ying-Chin , Lin Jih-Hui
Published: February 2020

Norovirus is the leading cause of food‐borne disease outbreaks. We conducted this study to examine the incidence and molecular characteristics of norovirus genogroup I infections from acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in Taiwan. Between January 2015 and June 2019, 2121 acute gastroenteritis clusters were reported to Taiwan CDC, of which 351 (16.5%) clusters were positive for NoV GI, and GI.3 was the most prevalent (36.8%) during the study period. The GI.3 infections were significantly higher than non‐GI.3 infections in the age groups of 0–5 and 6–18 years. The phylogenetic analysis of the MCC tree revealed that VP1 genes were divided into 3 groups: the GI.P3‐GI.3 strains in Taiwan were genetically close to Japan and the GI.Pd‐GI.3 strains were segregated into 2 other groups which were genetically closely related to China. In addition, 7 GI.Pd‐GI.3 recombinants were identified circulating in Taiwan between 2018 and 2019, and the prevalence of GI.Pd‐GI.3 should be monitored to assess whether this could become the new predominant strains in neighboring Asian countries or other parts of the world. Both GI.P3‐GI.3 and GI.Pd‐GI.3 strains cocirculate, the recombination among these two lineages occurs frequently, contributing to the genetic diversity and multiple occurrences of different norovirus lineages, and their rapid evolution makes future control more difficult. Continued surveillance and timely interventions are critical to understand the complexity of norovirus gene variation and to monitor the new emerging norovirus strains.
Total Penectomy for Recurrent Chordoma of the Corpus Cavernosum
Authors: Eismann Lennert , Kess Sabine , Stief Christian G. , Strittmatter Frank
Published: February 2020

Chordomas are rare low malignant neoplasm arising from remnants of the notochord with predilection site of the clivus or the os sacrum. Standard therapy is radical excision and adjuvant radiation. Due to invasive growth and adjacent to vital structures resection is often incomplete, and therefore, local recurrence is frequent. First, to the best knowledge of our authors, we present a 70-year-old man with a recurrent chordoma infiltrating the corpus cavernosum. Asymptomatic recurrence was diagnosed by magnet resonance imaging according to the standard follow-up. Our interdisciplinary tumor board recommended surgical resection. We performed a total penectomy and perineal urethrostomy to achieve negative resection margins and preserve best quality of life for the patient.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Ischemic Proctitis and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome
Authors: Hadi Yousaf Bashir , Lindsay John , Naqvi Syeda Fatima Zehra , Al-Jaroushi Hatim
Published: February 2020

Ischemic colitis and proctitis is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and results from mesenteric vasculitis. Owing to diverse blood supply and presence of multiple collaterals, rectum is the least effected site in SLE enteritis. Ischemic proctocolitis as the presenting feature of SLE is exceedingly rare, with only three cases reported in the published scientific literature. We present the first case of SLE presenting as ischemic proctitis, leading to intraperitoneal hemorrhage and abdominal compartment syndrome. A young lady presented with ischemic proctitis and a hematoma masquerading as a pelvic mass, with subsequent development of massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage, shock, and rectal perforation. The patient required urgent surgery and was initiated on high-dose steroids.