bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inguinal endometriosis: a differential diagnosis of right groin swelling in women of reproductive age
Authors: Fong Katie Nga Yee , Lau Tiffany Wing See , Mak Clarence Chi Chuen , Lui Ka Wing
Published: August 2019

We reported a case of right inguinal endometriosis in a 41-year-old woman with unremarkable surgical and gynaecological history. She presented with right groin swelling for a month since her last menstrual period. Clinically the swelling was first diagnosed as inguinal hernia and later histologically proven to be endometriosis.
Mystery of neck lump: an uncommon presentation of urachal cancer
Authors: Sahu Kamal Kant , Pandey Deepali , Mishra Ajay Kumar , O’Shea James , Chen Yayan , McGregor Bradley
Published: August 2019

We present the case of a 55-year-old male patient who presented with palpable cervical lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy showed metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. Imaging showed a bladder mass following which he underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour. Histopathological evaluation of mass confirmed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell features. Immunohistochemistry was suggestive of metastatic urachal cancer. He agreed for enrollment in a clinical trial, however soon after 1st cycle, he developed immune pneumonitis requiring high dose steroids. On follow-up, MRI brain was done for evaluation of headache which showed metastatic intracranial disease. He completed radiotherapy following which he was started on FOLFOX chemo regimen (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin).
An extremely rare and atypical paediatric presentation of a maxillary sinus haemangioma in the UK
Authors: Iacovidou Aphrodite , Acharya Vikas , Joshi Devavrata , Taghi Ali
Published: August 2019

We present a rare and unusual case of a 16-year-old girl, with no significant medical history, presenting with right nasal obstruction and suspected sinusitis with occasional epistaxis and haemoptysis. On examination, she had a mass lesion in the right nasal cavity, with no evidence of other pathology on assessment of the ears, nose, throat or head and neck. A CT scan revealed an opacified right maxillary sinus with polypoidal mucosa, extending and passing through the accessory ostium into the right nasal cavity. Examination under anaesthesia with functional endoscopic sinus surgery and excision of the lesion was subsequently undertaken. Histological analysis confirmed the mass lesion as a haemangioma. This case report is the first to present a maxillary haemangioma presenting as nasal obstruction with intermittent sinusitis symptoms in a child. The authors discuss the incidence, presentation and management of maxillary haemangiomas in the paediatric population.
Tomoelastography for non-invasive detection and treatment monitoring in acute appendicitis
Authors: Marticorena Garcia Stephan Rodrigo , Hamm Bernd , Sack Ingolf
Published: August 2019

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of the acute abdomen syndrome and can be treated either surgically or conservatively with antibiotics. This case demonstrates the first time use of mechanics based MRI by tomoelastography with generation of quantitative maps of tissue stiffness (shear wave speed in m/s) and tissue fluidity (shear modulus loss angle, in rad) in a case of uncomplicated acute appendicitis with antibiotic treatment at (i) baseline, (ii) the end of treatment (EOT) and (iii) the 10 day follow-up after EOT. Baseline maps of stiffness and fluidity revealed to the naked eye the extent of intestinal inflammation by markedly increased values of stiffness and fluidity (2.56±0.12 m/s, 1.37±0.24 rad) compared with normal values, indicating the immediate response to antibiotic treatment at EOT (1.47±0.28 m/s, 0.80±0.11 rad) and persistent normalisation at follow-up (1.54±0.22 m/s, 0.92±0.22 rad). Tomoelastography is a non-invasive, quantitative imaging method for mechanics based characterisation and follow-up of acute appendicitis.
Severe scurvy in a patient with eosinophilicoesophagitis
Authors: Weitzel Kristina , Moon Nabeel
Published: August 2019

While scurvy is considered to be a rare disease in the modern era, the disease still presents in certain populations with nutritional deficiencies such as those with poor nutritional absorption secondary to gastrointestinal disorders and in patients with poor nutritional intake. We present a case of scurvy in a patient who had eosinophilic oesophagitis which limited his oral intake. He presented with the classic symptoms of scurvy including a perifollicular rash, arthralgia, gingivitis and anaemia. He was treated with intravenous vitamin C initially followed by an oral course after which he showed improvement. This case demonstrates that it is important to consider vitamin C deficiency in patients with who present with anaemia and bleeding stigmata specifically in those who have poor nutritional intake. Furthermore, additional consideration should be given to patients with malnutrition as part of the preoperative evaluation.
Spontaneous splenic rupture: a rare first presentation of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Dunphy Louise , Abbas Syed Hussain , Patel Arjun , Tebala Giovanni
Published: August 2019

Spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) is a rare but potentially life-threatening entity. It can be due to neoplastic, infectious, haematological, inflammatory and metabolic causes. An iatrogenic or an idiopathic aetiology should also be considered. Depending on the degree of splenic injury and the haemodynamic status of the patient, it can be managed conservatively. A 61-year-old man presented to the emergency department with an acute abdomen, hypovolaemic shock and clotting abnormalities. However, his focused assessment with sonography for trauma showed no evidence of an aortic aneurysm, rupture or dissection. Further investigation with a CT angiogram aorta confirmed a subcapsular splenic haematoma with free fluid in the pelvis and a mass in the superior pole of the spleen. He was diagnosed with an SSR. He was initially managed non-operatively. However, his repeat CT showed an enlarging haematoma and he underwent embolisation of his splenic artery. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of his splenic mass confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This paper will discuss the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and management of SSR. Furthermore, it provides an important clinical lesson to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for splenic injury in patients presenting with left upper quadrant abdominal pain radiating to the shoulder. This case also reinforces the importance of close observation and monitoring of those individuals treated conservatively for signs of clinical deterioration.
Comparative outcomes of inpatients with lung collapse managed by bronchoscopic or conservative means
Authors: Toolsie Omesh Gopal , Adrish Muhammad , Zaidi Syed Arsalan Akhter , Diaz-Fuentes Gilda
Published: August 2019

Background

Although the incidence and prevalence of atelectatic lung collapse is unknown, such events are common among inpatients, and there are no guidelines for optimally instituting bronchoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with complete or near-complete lung collapse managed via interventional flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy or a conservative approach.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of all adult patients admitted to BronxCare Health System between January 2011 and October 2017 with a diagnosis of lung collapse/atelectasis. The primary outcome was radiological resolution. Timing of bronchoscopy relative to radiological resolution and mortality served as secondary outcomes.

Results

Of the 177 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 149 (84%) underwent bronchoscopy and 28 (16%) were managed through conservative measures only. A significantly greater number of patients in the bronchoscopy group achieved complete or near-complete resolution on chest X-ray, compared with the conservative group (p=0.007). Timing of bronchoscopy had no impact on the rate of radiological resolution, and mortality in the two groups was similar. New endobronchial malignancies were identified in 21 patients (14%).

Conclusions

Our data support the central role of bronchoscopy in instances of complete or near-complete lung collapse, ensuring better radiological outcomes. Judicious use of conservative management is warranted to avoid missing significant pathology. A prime consideration in this setting is obstructive malignancy.
On the Hamiltonian and Hamilton–Jacobi equations for metric gravity
Authors: Frolov Alexei M.
Published: August 2019

The closed system of Hamiltonian equations is derived for all tensor components of a free gravitational field gαβ and corresponding momenta πγδ in metric general relativity. The Hamilton–Jacobi equation for a free gravitational field gαβ is also derived and discussed. In general, all methods and procedures based on the Hamiltonian and Hamilton–Jacobi approaches are very effective in actual applications to many problems known in metric general relativity.
Real representatives of equisingular strata of simple quartic surfaces
Authors: Aktaş Çi̇sem Güneş
Published: August 2019

We develop an algorithm detecting real representatives in equisingular strata of projective models of [Formula: see text]-surfaces. We apply this algorithm to spatial quartics and find two new examples of real strata without real representatives. As a by-product, we also give a new proof for the only previously known example of plane sextics.
Right noetherian semigroups
Authors: Miller Craig , Ruškuc Nik
Published: August 2019

A semigroup [Formula: see text] is right noetherian if every right congruence on [Formula: see text] is finitely generated. In this paper, we present some fundamental properties of right noetherian semigroups, discuss how semigroups relate to their substructures with regard to the property of being right noetherian, and investigate whether this property is preserved under various semigroup constructions.
Inflation in anisotropic brane universe using tachyon field
Authors: Sengupta Rikpratik , Paul Prasenjit , Paul Bikash Chandra , Ray Saibal
Published: August 2019

Cosmological solution to the gravitational field equations in the generalized Randall–Sundrum model for an anisotropic brane with Bianchi-I geometry and perfect fluid as matter sources has been considered. The matter on the brane is described by a tachyonic field. The solution admits inflationary era and at a later epoch the anisotropy of the universe washes out. We obtain two classes of cosmological scenario: in the first case, universe evolves from singularity and in the second case, universe expands without singularity.
IR quantum gravity solves naturally cosmic acceleration and its coincidence problem
Authors: Anagnostopoulos Fotios K. , Kofinas Georgios , Zarikas Vasilios
Published: August 2019

The novel idea is that the undergoing accelerated expansion of the universe happens due to infrared quantum gravity modifications at intermediate astrophysical scales of galaxies or galaxy clusters, within the framework of Asymptotically Safe gravity. The reason is that structures of matter are associated with a scale-dependent positive cosmological constant of quantum origin. In this context, no extra unproven energy scales or fine-tuning are used. Furthermore, this model was confronted with the most recent observational data from a variety of probes, and with the aid of Bayesian analysis, the most probable values of the free parameters were extracted. Finally, the model proved to be statistically equivalent with [Formula: see text]CDM, and thus being able to resolve naturally the concept of dark energy and its associated cosmic coincidence problem.
Evolutionary Spectra Estimation of a Nonstationary Process Based on a Single Sample
Authors: Huang Zifeng , Gu Ming
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes a novel method for estimating the evolutionary power spectral density (EPSD) of a nonstationary process based on a single sample. In the proposed method, a sample of a nonstationary process is decomposed into several components with a new binomial fitting decomposition (BFD). The EPSD of each component can be estimated using a newly proposed time-varying standard deviation estimation method and short-time Thomson multiple-window spectrum estimation method. The EPSD of the analyzed nonstationary sample is obtained by combining the EPSDs of all components. Via a comprehensive numerical study, the applicability of the proposed EPSD estimation method (for estimating the EPSD of a nonstationary process) is analyzed and compared with those by the Priestley method and wavelet-based method. The numerical results indicate that the estimated EPSD by the proposed method is more consistent with the corresponding theoretical one than those by the other two methods. Finally, the EPSDs of Storm Ampil, measured atop the Shanghai World Financial Center, are analyzed by the proposed method.
Unital locally matrix algebras and Steinitz numbers
Authors: Bezushchak Oksana , Oliynyk Bogdana
Published: August 2019

An [Formula: see text]-algebra [Formula: see text] with unit [Formula: see text] is said to be a locally matrix algebra if an arbitrary finite collection of elements [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text] lies in a subalgebra [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] of the algebra [Formula: see text], that is isomorphic to a matrix algebra [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. To an arbitrary unital locally matrix algebra [Formula: see text], we assign a Steinitz number [Formula: see text] and study a relationship between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Evolutive and Kinematic Limit Analysis Algorithms for Large-Scale 3D Truss-Frame Structures: Comparison Application to Historic Iron Bridge Arch
Authors: Ferrari Rosalba , Cocchetti Giuseppe , Rizzi Egidio
Published: August 2019

Two new computational algorithms for the Limit Analysis (LA) of large-scale 3D truss-frame structures recently proposed by the authors are reconsidered and adapted for a comparison prediction of the elastoplastic response of a strategic beautiful historic infrastructure, namely the Paderno d’Adda bridge (or San Michele bridge), a riveted wrought iron railway viaduct that was built in northern Italy in 1889. The first LA algorithm traces a fully exact evolutive piece-wise linear elastoplastic response of the structure, up to plastic collapse, by reconstructing the true sequence of activation of made-available plastic joints (as a generalization of plastic hinges), in the true spirit of LA. The second LA algorithm develops an independent kinematic iterative approach apt to directly determine the plastic collapse state, in terms of collapse load multiplier and plastic mechanism, based on the upper-bound theorem of LA. Specifically, the marvelous doubly built-in parabolic arch of the bridge is analyzed, under a static loading configuration at try-out stage, and its elastoplastic response is investigated, in terms of evolutive load-displacement curve, collapse load multiplier and plastic collapse mechanism. The two LA algorithms are found to much effectively run and perform, despite the rather large size of the computational model, with a number of dofs in the order of four thousands, by achieving good corresponding matches in terms of the estimate of the load-bearing capacity and of the collapse characteristics of the arch substructure, showing this to constitute a well-set structural element. Moreover, the direct kinematic method displays a rather dramatic performance, in truly precipitating from above onto the collapse load multiplier and rapidly adjusting to the collapse mode, in very few iterations, by a considerable saving of computational time, with respect to the complete evolutive elastoplastic analysis. This shall open up the way for further adoption of such advanced LA tools, with LA regaining a new momentum within the modern optimization analysis of structural design and form-finding problems.
On the values of representation functions III
Authors: Jiang Xing-Wang
Published: August 2019

For a set [Formula: see text] of nonnegative integers, let [Formula: see text] denote the number of solutions to [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be the set of all nonnegative integers [Formula: see text] with an even number of ones in the binary representation of [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be a positive integer such that [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. In 2011, Chen proved that, if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we improve the lower bound by proving that [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text].
[1,2]-Domination in generalized Petersen graphs
Authors: Beggas Fairouz , Turau Volker , Haddad Mohammed , Kheddouci Hamamache
Published: August 2019

A vertex subset [Formula: see text] of a graph [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-dominating set if each vertex of [Formula: see text] is adjacent to either one or two vertices in [Formula: see text]. The minimum cardinality of a [Formula: see text]-dominating set of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is called the [Formula: see text]-domination number of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, the [Formula: see text]-domination and the [Formula: see text]-total domination numbers of the generalized Petersen graphs [Formula: see text] are determined.
Risks to the Public
Authors: Neumann Peter G.
Published: August 2019

Edited by PGN (Risks Forum Moderator, with contribu- tions by others as indicated. Opinions are individual rather than organizational, with usual disclaimers implied. We ad- dress problems relating to software, hardware, people, and other circumstances relevant to computer systems. Ref- erences (R i j) to the online Risks Forum denote RISKS vol i number j. Cited RISKS items generally identify contributors and sources, together with URLs. Official RISKS archives are available at www.risks.org, with nice html formatting and search engine courtesy of Lindsay Mar- shall at Newcastle:; http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/i.j.html (also ftp://www.sri.com/risks). CACM Inside Risks: http://www.csl.sri.com/neumann/insiderisks.html
A Closer Look at the Minimum‐Variance Portfolio Optimization Model
Authors: Dai Zhifeng
Published: August 2019

Recently, by imposing the regularization term to objective function or additional norm constraint to portfolio weights, a number of alternative portfolio strategies have been proposed to improve the empirical performance of the minimum‐variance portfolio. In this paper, we firstly examine the relation between the weight norm‐constrained method and the objective function regularization method in minimum‐variance problems by analyzing the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions of their Lagrangian functions. We give the range of parameters for the two models and the corresponding relationship of parameters. Given the range and manner of parameter selection, it will help researchers and practitioners better understand and apply the relevant portfolio models. We apply these models to construct optimal portfolios and test the proposed propositions by employing real market data.
Eggshell-Derived Nanohydroxyapatite Adsorbent for Defluoridation of Drinking Water from Bofo of Ethiopia
Authors: Workeneh Kifle , Zereffa Enyew Amare , Segne Toshome Abdo , Eswaramoorthy Rajalakshmanan
Published: August 2019

Fluoride has become a notable toxicological environmental hazard worldwide because it is often found in groundwater. In the present study, hydroxyapatite adsorbent was synthesized from eggshell waste to remove fluoride from aqueous solution. XRD, FT-IR, and TGA techniques were used to characterize the prepared adsorbent. Batch adsorption studies were performed to examine the adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite such as the effect of the initial pH of the solution, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial fluoride concentration. The fluoride ion-selective electrode was used to determine the fluoride removal efficiency. 98.8% of fluoride was removed at pH 3.0, but at pH ~7.0, 85% of fluoride was removed; it shows that the fluoride adsorption is pH dependent. The adsorption isotherm studies (Langmuir and Freundlich models) and the experimental results for the removal of fluoride showed that the Langmuir model was more favorable and the reaction followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. In real water samples, the prepared hydroxyapatite derived from eggshell exhibited 81% removal efficiency. Our results indicate that eggshell waste-derived hydroxyapatite may be an alternative source for defluoridation in developing countries.
Capacity Allocation and Compensation in a Dual‐Channel Supply Chain under Uncertain Environment
Authors: Yang Jiaquan , Zhang Xumei , Huang Yating , Su Jiafu , Tsai Sang-Bing , Chang Li-Chung , Wang Jiangtao
Published: August 2019

The dual‐channel supply chain is widely adopted by main manufacturers, potentially incurring channel conflicts between the traditional retail channel which is owned by the independent retailer and the online channel which is directly managed by the manufacturer. The purpose of this paper is to deal with the scenario where channel conflicts may arise under production capacity uncertainty, when the manufacturer tends to privilege the direct selling channel over the retail selling channel. To achieve the goal, this paper establishes a Stackelberg game model consisting of a manufacturer and a retailer, studies the scenario where the manufacturer satisfies the direct selling channel first in the presence of capacity uncertainty, employs the decision optimization and the backward induction method to find the optimal inventory decision in the direct selling channel and the optimal order quantity decision making in the retail selling channel, and designs a compensation mechanism aiming to coordinate the channel conflict in the decentralized decision‐making process. Results show that the optimal decisions aiming to maximize the expected profit of each supply chain member are not able to maximize the expected profit of entire dual‐channel supply chain. However, when the manufacturer compensates the retailer’s profit loss based on the unsatisfied order and, in the meantime, adjusts the wholesale price to prevent the retailer which obtains the compensation from increasing order significantly, the compensation mechanism can coordinate the decision of each supply chain member, mitigate the channel conflict, maximize the expected profit of entire dual‐channel supply chain, and achieve the Pareto improvement of supply chain members’ expected profit in the decentralized decision‐making process.
Creation of Structural Polymer Composite Materials for Functional Application Using Physicochemical Modification
Authors: Kolosov Aleksandr E. , Sivetskii Volodymyr I. , Kolosova Elena P. , Vanin Volodymyr V. , Gondlyakh Aleksandr V. , Sidorov Dmytro E. , Ivitskiy Igor I.
Published: August 2019

The various aspects of physicochemical modification of the components of structural materials of functional application based on classical composites and nanocomposites are analyzed. Potential applications of such materials are briefly described. Ultrasonic cavitation treatment is considered as a basic method of physical modification when obtaining the indicated classes of composites. The influence of ultrasonic treatment modes on the technological and operational properties of reactoplastic polymers, as well as on the hardening of reinforced composites based on them, is investigated. Technical means of ultrasonic cavitation processing of liquid binders and polymer composites based on them are briefly described. An effective spectrum of interrelated structural and technological parameters of ultrasonic treatment has been characterized, which is established by calculation and experimentally-statistically. The design issues of the technological processes of obtaining polymer composites of functional application are analyzed. The efficiency of creating carbon fiber composite materials, as well as the prospects for creating of these materials based on reinforcing fabric with nanomodified fillers, is described. The methods of obtaining functional nanomodified carbon-composites with improved physicomechanical and operational properties, in particular with increased strength and electrical conductivity, are characterized. The effectiveness of the ultrasonic treatment and production of nanomodified thermoplastic composite materials by extrusion method is considered. Some issues of forming products from intelligent polymer composites are analyzed. The results of the survey can be used in the design of advanced technologies for the creation of functional polymer composites of functional application.
Burden, Positive Aspects, and Predictive Variables of Caregiving: A Study of Caregivers of Patients with Pediatric Glaucoma
Authors: Zhu Yingting , Gao Jinyun , Li Xinyan , Yang Qiongman , Lian Yu , Xiao Huiming , Huang Wenmin
Published: August 2019

Purpose. To determine the presence of burden and positive aspects among caregivers of patients with pediatric glaucoma (PG) and to establish whether they were influenced by the characteristics of the caregivers and the patients. Method. This study was designed to be cross-sectional and descriptive. The Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and the Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC) questionnaires were used to evaluate the caregivers. The demographic data of the enrolled participants were also collected. The CBI and the PAC scores were analyzed in relation to each other and different characteristics of the patients with PG and their caregivers through a generalized linear regression model. Result. Most of enrolled 57 caregivers were found to act with a moderate level of burden and benefits. The emotional subscale score of the CBI is negatively related to the aggregate score of the PAC and to that of outlook on life. Moreover, patients with a longer duration of disease and caregivers who were female, had jobs, had lower education levels, and had lower household incomes have qualities that are positively related to the summary score of the CBI. However, no factors we collected were significantly related to the PAC score. Conclusion. The results suggest that caregivers perceive positive and negative experiences in the care and support of patients suffering from PG. In addition, we should pay more attention to the caregivers with a high risk of experiencing caregiver burden, especially females with jobs and also with lower incomes and lower levels of education.
Movement Law and Discriminant Method of Key Strata Breakage Based on Microseismic Monitoring
Authors: Li Yang , Yang Tianhong , Song Weidong , Yu Ling
Published: August 2019

Because of the unique natural geography, geological structure, and ecological environment, there are serious geological disasters and environmental damage caused by the high‐intensity mining in Western China. It seriously restricts the development of coal resources and the protection of ecological environment. In order to fully capture the law of key stratum breakage with high‐intensity mining, the IMS microseismic system was introduced into Xiaojihan coal mine which is a typical high‐intensity mining mine in Western China, and the whole process dynamic monitoring was carried out. The process of key stratum breakage was analysed by MS data, which were in agreement with the pressure analysis results of the hydraulic support of the working face. The results showed that there were the obvious forewarning characteristics in microseismic event number, energy release, energy index, Schmidt number, coefficient of seismic response, and b value when the key stratum was breaking. Then, a method to discriminate the breakage of key stratum was proposed by using the forewarning characteristics, which could provide the guidance for prevention and control of geological hazards in the working face with high‐intensity mining.
Correlation between Serum IL-35 Levels and Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Li Yuxuan , Yao Lutian , Liu Siyan , JishengWu  , Xia Liping , Shen Hui , Lu Jing
Published: August 2019

Objective. IL-35 was reported as a crucial anti-inflammatory cytokine and could efficiently regulate bone metabolism in murine collagen-induced arthritis model. However, the relationship between IL-35 and bone health in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been clarified. In this study, the aim was to explore the correlations between IL-35 and bone loss in postmenopausal women with RA. Methods. The study included 76 postmenopausal women with RA and 53 healthy postmenopausal women as healthy controls (HCs). Serum IL-35 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine 1-4 and at total hip was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-isomerised carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX), and 25-(OH) VitD3 were measured by turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay. Results. Serum IL-35 levels were increased compared with HCs, and it positively correlated with BMD and 25-(OH) VitD3 and negatively correlated with β-CTX in postmenopausal women with RA. Furthermore, serum IL-35 levels in the increased ALP group were higher than those in the normal ALP group. Conclusions. IL-35, an important anti-inflammatory cytokine, may participate in the pathogenesis of bone loss in postmenopausal women with RA.
Content‐Based Image Retrieval and Feature Extraction: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Latif Afshan , Rasheed Aqsa , Sajid Umer , Ahmed Jameel , Ali Nouman , Ratyal Naeem Iqbal , Zafar Bushra , Dar Saadat Hanif , Sajid Muhammad , Khalil Tehmina
Published: August 2019

Multimedia content analysis is applied in different real‐world computer vision applications, and digital images constitute a major part of multimedia data. In last few years, the complexity of multimedia contents, especially the images, has grown exponentially, and on daily basis, more than millions of images are uploaded at different archives such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. To search for a relevant image from an archive is a challenging research problem for computer vision research community. Most of the search engines retrieve images on the basis of traditional text‐based approaches that rely on captions and metadata. In the last two decades, extensive research is reported for content‐based image retrieval (CBIR), image classification, and analysis. In CBIR and image classification‐based models, high‐level image visuals are represented in the form of feature vectors that consists of numerical values. The research shows that there is a significant gap between image feature representation and human visual understanding. Due to this reason, the research presented in this area is focused to reduce the semantic gap between the image feature representation and human visual understanding. In this paper, we aim to present a comprehensive review of the recent development in the area of CBIR and image representation. We analyzed the main aspects of various image retrieval and image representation models from low‐level feature extraction to recent semantic deep‐learning approaches. The important concepts and major research studies based on CBIR and image representation are discussed in detail, and future research directions are concluded to inspire further research in this area.
High‐Accuracy Multiscale Simulation of Three‐Dimensional Squeezing Carbon Nanotube‐Based Flow inside a Rotating Stretching Channel
Authors: Seyedi S. Hadi , Nemati Saray Behzad , Ramazani Ali
Published: August 2019

Enhancing the heat transfer rate using nanofluids is of great interest to engineers and scientists. This research aims to study the heat and mass transfer analysis of three‐dimensional squeezing carbon nanotube‐ (CNT‐) based nanofluid flow inside a rotating stretching channel. The upper wall of the channel is assumed to have a reciprocating movement, and the lower wall is assumed to be stationary and permeable. Also, radiative effects are taken into account using the Taylor series approximation. The momentum and energy equations are transformed into a coupled system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations utilizing similarity solutions. A new multiscale and accurate method was developed to solve the achieved nonlinear systems of equations. Water is chosen as the base fluid; single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are added to it, and then two types of nanofluids were created. The effect of different variables such as the concentration of nanotubes, nanotube’s type, suction parameter, rotation parameter, squeezing number, Eckert number, and radiation parameter on the velocity and temperature profiles is investigated. Our results reveal that the temperature profile is an increasing function of the squeezing number, suction, rotation, and radiation parameters when the upper wall moves towards the lower one.
Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Home Blood Pressure and Indoor Temperature in Winter
Authors: Umishio Wataru , Ikaga Toshiharu , Kario Kazuomi , Fujino Yoshihisa , Hoshi Tanji , Ando Shintaro , Suzuki Masaru , Yoshimura Takesumi , Yoshino Hiroshi , Murakami Shuzo ,   on behalf of the SWH Survey Group
Published: August 2019

Mortality due to cardiovascular disease rises sharply in winter. Known as excess winter mortality, this phenomenon is partially explained by cold exposure-induced high blood pressure. Home blood pressure, especially in the morning, is closely associated with cardiovascular disease risk. We conducted the first large nationwide survey on home blood pressure and indoor temperature in 3775 participants (2095 households) who intended to conduct insulation retrofitting and were recruited by construction companies. Home blood pressure was measured twice in the morning and evening for 2 weeks. The relationship between home blood pressure and indoor temperature in winter was analyzed using a multilevel model with 3 levels: repeatedly measured day-level variables (eg, indoor ambient temperature and quality of sleep), nested within individual-level (eg, age and sex), and nested within household level. Cross-sectional analyses involving about 2900 participants (1840 households) showed that systolic blood pressure in the morning had significantly higher sensitivity to changes in indoor temperature (8.2 mm Hg increase/10°C decrease) than that in the evening (6.5 mm Hg increase/10°C decrease) in participants aged 57 years (mean age in this survey). We also found a nonlinear relationship between morning systolic blood pressure and indoor temperature, suggesting that the effect of indoor temperature on blood pressure varied depending on room temperature range. Interaction terms between age/women and indoor temperature were significant, indicating that systolic blood pressure in older residents and women was vulnerable to indoor temperature change. We expect that these results will be useful in determining optimum home temperature recommendations for men and women of each age group.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm
. Unique identifier: UMIN000030601.
Long Noncoding RNA–DACH1 (Dachshund Homolog 1) Regulates Cardiac Function by Inhibiting SERCA2a (Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase 2a)
Authors: Cai Benzhi , Zhang Yang , Zhao Yue , Wang Jin , Li Tingting , Zhang Yiyuan , Jiang Yuan , Jin Xuexin , Xue Genlong , Li Penghui , Sun Yilin , Huang Qihe , Zhang Xiaofang , Su Wanzhen , Yang Ying , Sun Yangyang , Shi Ling , Li Xingda , Lu Yanjie , Yang Baofeng , Pan Zhenwei
Published: August 2019

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with various cardiovascular diseases. Restoration of cardiac function is critical in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with HF. Long noncoding RNAs are widely involved in the development of multiple cardiac diseases, whereas their role in regulating cardiac function remains unclear. In this study, we found that the expression of long noncoding RNA–DACH1 (dachshund homolog 1) was upregulated in the failing hearts of mice and human. We tested the hypothesis that the intronic long noncoding RNA of DACH1 (LncDACH1) can participate in the regulation of cardiac function and HF. Transgenic overexpression of LncDACH1 in the cardiac myocytes of mice led to impaired cardiac function, reduced calcium transient and cell shortening, and decreased SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a) protein expression. In contrast, conditional knockout of LncDACH1 in cardiac myocytes resulted in increased calcium transient, cell shortening, SERCA2a protein expression, and improved cardiac function of transverse aortic constriction induced HF mice. The same qualitative data were obtained by overexpression or knockdown of LncDACH1 with adenovirus carrying LncDACH1 or its siRNA. Moreover, therapeutic administration of adenovirus carrying LncDACH1 siRNA to transverse aortic constriction mice abolished the development of HF. Mechanistically, LncDACH1 directly binds to SERCA2a. Overexpression of LncDACH1 augments the ubiquitination of SERCA2a. LncDACH1 upregulation impairs cardiac function by promoting ubiquitination-related degradation of SERCA2a.
Soluble Endoglin As a Marker for Preeclampsia, Its Severity, and the Occurrence of Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Leaños-Miranda Alfredo , Navarro-Romero Claudia Stephanny , Sillas-Pardo Liliana Janet , Ramírez-Valenzuela Karla Leticia , Isordia-Salas Irma , Jiménez-Trejo Luis Manuel
Published: August 2019

Preeclampsia is characterized by an imbalance in angiogenic factors, including sEng (soluble endoglin). However, the relationship of sEng with the severity of preeclampsia, clinical, and laboratory parameters, and the occurrence of adverse outcomes are not fully elucidated. We studied 1002 women with preeclampsia. Serum concentrations of sEng were measured by ELISA. Serum sEng levels were significantly different (
P
<0.001) in patients with preeclampsia than in healthy pregnancy. In addition, these factors were markedly different in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count syndrome and eclampsia than in patients with preeclampsia with or without severe features (
P
<0.001) and in patients with preeclampsia with severe features than in those without severe features (
P
<0.001). sEng correlated positively with blood pressure, proteinuria, and levels of creatinine, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase; and inversely with gestational age, infant’s birth weight, and platelets counts (
P
<0.001 for all). The risk of combined and specific adverse outcomes (pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, placental abruption, hepatic hematoma or rupture, maternal death, cerebral hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, preterm delivery, small for gestational age infant, and need for endotracheal intubation, positive inotropic drug support, and hemodialysis) was higher in patients with sEng values in the highest quartile (odds ratio ≥3.1) compared with the lowest quartile. Patients in the highest quartile of sEng were more likely to deliver early compared with those in the lowest quartile (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.91–2.84). We concluded that circulating concentrations of sEng seem to be a suitable marker to assess the severity of preeclampsia and are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes.
Degeneration of the Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle After Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke
Authors: Kim Joon Sung , Kim Se-Hong , Lim Seong Hoon , Im Sun , Hong Bo Young , Oh Jeehae , Kim Youngkook
Published: August 2019

Background and Purpose—

Deafferentation of the cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway has been proposed as a key mechanism of crossed cerebellar diaschisis. Although the cerebellum receives afferent stimuli from both cortico-ponto-cerebellar and spinocerebellar pathways, evidence on whether spinocerebellar deafferentation contributes to a hypofunctional cerebellum is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether changes in the spinocerebellar pathway occur after middle cerebral artery stroke.

Methods—

Twenty-three patients admitted to our inpatient rehabilitation facility and 23 age-matched healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled. Patients’ functional ambulation category was determined and the Medical Research Council muscle scale test of the lower limb muscles was performed at admission and discharge. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the corticospinal tract and the inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP), as the final route of the dorsal spinocerebellar pathway, were compared between the groups. The FA laterality indices of the ICP and corticospinal tract were calculated as follows: (FA
affected
−FA
unaffected
)/(FA
affected
+FA
unaffected
). Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression models were used to determine the associations between the FA laterality indices and ambulatory function.

Results—

The FAs of the corticospinal tract and ICP were lower in the patient group than in the control group. The FA laterality index of the corticospinal tract was not correlated with the functional ambulation category or Medical Research Council muscle scale score at admission or discharge. The FA laterality index of the ICP at the pontomedullary junction was positively correlated with the functional ambulation category and Medical Research Council muscle scale scores of all hemiplegic lower limb muscles at admission and discharge. The FA laterality index of the ICP at the pontomedullary junction was independently associated with the functional ambulation category according to the multivariate regression models.

Conclusions—

ICP degeneration occurs in the subacute and early chronic phase of middle cerebral artery stroke. The lower FA laterality index of the ICP was indicative of poorer ambulatory and lower limb function.
Debt Litigation and the Performance of Law Courts in Eighteenth-Century Portugal
Authors: Rodrigues Lisbeth
Published: August 2019

Theoretically, the extent to which the eighteenth-century Portuguese legal system was able to enforce loan contracts should be evident from the duration of the court proceedings and the execution of the collateral that secured the loans. Yet, data from a newly assembled data set that includes the contracts established by the Lisbon Misericórdia—the major lay brotherhood in Portugal and a leading creditor in the city—as well as 990 lawsuits from its private court of law (exclusive jurisdiction) have a different story to tell about the complex mechanisms behind the lending activities of the institution. Notwithstanding the reasonably rapid resolution of its cases and its routinely successful execution of collateral, the Misericórdia’s law court was powerless to solve the problem of default or to safeguard lenders’ property rights. The membership of creditors and debtors in the Misericórdia tended to undermine cooperation rather than enhance it, challenging the assumption that cohesive groups hold high levels of social capital.
A k–ε Turbulence Model for the Stable Atmosphere
Authors: Zeng Xiping , Wang Yansen , MacCall Benjamin T.
Published: August 2019

A realizable k–ε turbulence model of incompressible fluid is extended for the stable atmosphere after taking account of the buoyancy damping of gravity waves. The new model is consistent with the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory on the stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over a horizontally uniform surface. The model is incorporated into an ABL model to simulate mean flow against observations. Its ABL-model output is compared with the Leipzig dataset, showing the turbulence model works well for a stable ABL. Specifically, the ABL model properly replicates 1) the mixing length, turbulent viscosity, and mean wind; 2) a significant decrease of the mixing length with height in the upper ABL and thus a reasonable altitude of the ABL top; and 3) a sensitivity of the mixing length and turbulent viscosity to atmospheric stability.
A Precipitation-Based Index for Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations
Authors: Wang Shuguang
Published: August 2019

Characteristic patterns of precipitation-associated tropical intraseasonal oscillations, including the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO), are identified using local empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation data as a function of the day of the year. The explained variances of the EOF analysis show two peaks across the year: one in the middle of the boreal winter corresponding to the MJO and the other in the middle of summer corresponding to the BSISO. Comparing the fractional variance indicates that the BSISO is more coherent than the MJO during the TRMM period. Similar EOF analyses with the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) confirm this result and indicate that the BSISO is less coherent before the TRMM era (1979–98). In contrast, the MJO exhibits much less decadal variability. A precipitation-based index for tropical intraseasonal oscillation (PII) is derived by projecting bandpass-filtered precipitation anomalies to the two leading EOFs as a function of day of the year. A real-time version that approximates the PII is further developed using precipitation anomalies without any bandpass filtering. It is further shown that this real-time PII index may be used to diagnose precipitation in the subseasonal forecasts.
El Niño–Related Summer Precipitation Anomalies in Southeast Asia Modulated by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation
Authors: Fan Yi , Fan Ke , Zhu Xiuhua , Fraedrich Klaus
Published: August 2019

How the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) affects El Niño–related signals in Southeast Asia is investigated in this study on a subseasonal scale. Based on observational and reanalysis data, as well as numerical model simulations, El Niño–related precipitation anomalies are analyzed for AMO positive and negative phases, which reveals a time-dependent modulation of the AMO. 1) In May–June, the AMO influences the precipitation in southern China (SC) and the Indochina peninsula (ICP) by modulating the El Niño–related air–sea interaction over the western North Pacific (WNP). During negative AMO phases, cold sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) over the WNP favor the maintaining of the WNP anomalous anticyclone (WNPAC). The associated southerly (westerly) anomalies on the northwest (southwest) flank of the WNPAC enhance (reduce) the climatological moisture transport to SC (the ICP) and result in wetter (drier) than normal conditions. In contrast, during positive AMO phases, weak SSTAs over the WNP lead to limited influence of El Niño on precipitation in Southeast Asia. 2) In July–August, the teleconnection impact from the North Atlantic is more manifest than that in May–June. During positive AMO phases, the warmer than normal North Atlantic favors anomalous wave trains, which propagate along the “great circle route” and result in positive pressure anomalies over SC, consequently suppressing precipitation in SC and the ICP. During negative AMO phases, the anomalous wave trains tend to propagate eastward from Europe to Northeast Asia along the summer Asian jet, exerting limited influence on Southeast Asia.