bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compressive Test Characteristics and Constitutive Relationship of Wet Polypropylene Macrofiber‐Reinforced Shotcrete
Authors: Li Fenghui , Cheng Yunhai , Wu Fei , Su Chang , Li Gangwei
Published: February 2021

Shotcrete is often subject to poor ductility and cracking problems, particularly under high stresses. In order to deal with these issues, the feasibility of adding polypropylene macrofibers to shotcrete was verified. To ascertain the supporting effect, dry shotcrete, wet shotcrete, and wet polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete (WPMS) were used as samples. Furthermore, the mechanical response characteristics thereof in uniaxial compression tests were compared and analyzed by acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. The results showed that the three materials were brittle, but the ductility, residual strength, and bearing capacity of polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete were significantly enhanced. The energy absorption value of plain shotcrete was higher in the cracking stage, while that of polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete was greater in the postpeak stage, which showed that the polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete had the characteristics of a high crack‐initiation strength and toughness. Besides, the energy release from fiber shotcrete occurred after the peak stress rather than near the peak stress. The average energy absorbed by polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete was significantly higher than that in dry shotcrete and wet shotcrete, which implied that polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete could mitigate the brittle instability of a shotcrete layer. A constitutive model of damage statistics was established based on the test data. The comparison between the experimental data and the fitting results can reflect the characteristics of the total stress‐strain curve of such shotcrete. The results provide a basis for the optimization of polypropylene macrofiber‐reinforced shotcrete layers.
Energy Efficiency Opposition‐Based Learning and Brain Storm Optimization for VNF‐SC Deployment in IoT
Authors: Xuan Hejun , Zhao Xuelin , Liu Zhenghui , Fan Jianwei , Li Yanling
Published: February 2021

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) can provide the resource according to the request and can improve the flexibility of the network. It has become the key technology of the Internet of Things (IoT). Resource scheduling for the virtual network function service chain (VNF‐SC) is the key issue of the NFV. Energy consumption is an important indicator for the IoT; we take the energy consumption into the objective and define a novel objective to satisfying different objectives of the decision‐maker. Due to the complexity of VNF‐SC deployment problem, through taking into consideration of the heterogeneity of nodes (each node only can provide some specific VNFs), and the limitation of resources in each node, a novel optimal model is constructed to define the problem of VNF‐SC deployment problem. To solve the optimization model effectively, a weighted center opposition‐based learning is introduced to brainstorm optimization to find the optimal solution (OBLBSO). To show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, numerous of simulation experiments have been conducted. Experimental results indicate that OBLBSO can improve the accuracy of the solution than compared algorithm.
Lexicographically Maximum Contraflow Problem with Vertex Capacities
Authors: Bhandari Phanindra Prasad , Khadka Shree Ram
Published: February 2021

The contraflow approach has been extensively considered in the literature for modeling evacuations and has been claimed, due to its lane-direction-reversal capability, as an efficient idea to speed up the evacuation process. This paper considers the contraflow evacuation model on network with prioritized capacitated vertices that allows evacuees to be held at intermediate spots too, respecting their capacities and priority order. In particular, it studies the maximum flow evacuation planning problem and proposes polynomial and pseudo-polynomial time solution algorithms for static network and dynamic multinetwork, respectively. A real dataset of Kathmandu road network with evacuation spaces is considered to implement the algorithm designed for dynamic multinetwork and to observe its computational performance.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Different Dentinal Desensitizing Agents: In Vitro Study
Authors: Farook Mohideen S. , Mahmoud Okba , Ibrahim Maysara Adnan , Berkathullah Marwah
Published: February 2021

Objectives. To evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of desensitizing agents in reducing dentine permeability. Methods. The efficacy of desensitizing agents in reducing dentine permeability by occluding dentine tubules was evaluated using a fluid filtration device that conducts at 100 cmH2O (1.4 psi) pressure, and SEM/EDX analyses were evaluated and compared. Forty‐two dentine discs (n = 42) of 1 ± 0.2 mm width were obtained from caries‐free permanent human molars. Thirty dentine discs (n = 30) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10): Group 1: 2.7% wt. monopotassium‐monohydrogen oxalate (Mp‐Mh oxalate), Group 2: RMGI XT VAR, and Group 3: LIQ SiO2. Dentine permeability was measured following treatment application after 10 minutes, storage in artificial saliva after 10 minutes and 7 days, and citric acid challenge for 3 minutes. Data were analysed with a repeated measures ANOVA test. Dentine discs (n = 12) were used for SEM/EDX analyses to acquire data on morphological changes on dentine surface and its mineral content after different stages of treatment. Results. Desensitizing agents’ application on the demineralized dentine discs exhibited significant reduction of permeability compared to its maximum acid permeability values. Mp‐Mh oxalate showed a significant reduction in dentine permeability (p < 0.05) when compared to RMGI XT VAR and LIQ SiO2. On SEM/EDX analysis, all the agents formed mineral precipitates that occluded the dentine tubules. Conclusions. 2.7% wt. monopotassium‐monohydrogen oxalate was significantly effective in reducing dentine permeability compared to RMGI XT VAR and LIQ SiO2.
Mechanical Properties of Sandstone Roof and Surrounding‐Rock Control of Mining Roadways Subject to Reservoir Water Disturbance
Authors: Ma Bin , Hu Zaiqiang , Chen Xingzhou , Chen Lili , Du Wei
Published: February 2021

Sandstone‐roofed roadways are susceptible to deformation and failure caused by reservoir‐water‐induced disturbances, thereby compromising human safety. Using rock‐mechanics testing techniques, numerical simulations, and engineering principles, this study investigates the strength, deformation, and pore‐structure characteristics of sandstone roofs as well as means to support the surrounding rock structure. The results obtained in this study reveal that the residual strain is proportional to the pore‐water pressure, which, in turn, causes a significant reduction in the elastic modulus during the unloading phase. Furthermore, an increase in the pore‐water pressure causes the shear failure of specimens in compression. The delay between crack initiation and specimen‐volume expansion decreases. Moreover, the specimen demonstrates increased deformation and failure responses to changes in the confining pressure, thereby resulting in accelerated conversion. Changes in water inflow can be correlated to crack initiation, propagation, and fracture. This water inflow gradually increases with an increase in the osmotic pressure. Correspondingly, the volumetric strain required for maximum water inflow undergoes a gradual decrease. The increased water inflow can be considered a precursor to specimen failure. In addition, fractures in the surrounding rock structures are mainly caused by joint dislocations. The increase in pore pressure promotes the development of dislocation fractures in the deep surrounding rocks. Subsequently, these fractures overlap with their open counterparts to form large fractures; this increases the roadway‐roof subsidence and layer separation of the shallow surrounding rocks, thereby further increasing the fracture count. Lastly, the use of high‐performance rock bolts, cable‐bolt reinforcements, and W‐shaped steel bands is expected to ensure the stability of rocks surrounding sandstone‐roofed roadways subject to water‐pressure disturbances.
Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Khat-Chewing Dynamics
Authors: Godifey Wubneh Kahsay , Mulaw Desta Fitsum , Amsalu Kahsay Hafte
Published: February 2021

Khat is a green leaf and greenish plant where its branches and leaves are chewed to discharge liquid having active chemicals that change the user’s mood. The purpose of this article is to develop and analyze a mathematical model that can be used to understand the dynamics of chewing Khat. The proposed model monitors the dynamics of five compartments, namely, a group of people who do not chew Khat, designated as

N

t

; a group of people who are surrounded by Khat chewers but do not chew at present and may chew Khat in the future, denoted this as

Σ

t

; a group of people who chew Khat, which is represented in

C

t

; a group of people contains individuals who consumed Khat quite temporarily for social, spiritual, and recreational purposes, and we describe this group in

T

t

; and a group of people those who constantly chew Khat, and they are denoted by

H

t

. We determined the Khat chewing generation number

R

c
0

using the next-generation matrix method, and we have examined the biological meaningfulness, mathematical wellposedness, and stability of both Khat chewing-free and Khat chewing-present equilibrium points of the model analytically. Numerical simulations were presented by solving our dynamical system using Matlabode45 to check the analytical results by considering parameter estimations. The results of this study show that, for

R

c
0

=
.00039

, the Khat chewing-free equilibrium point is stable, and it is unstable for

R

c
0

=
1.194

, and the Khat chewing-present equilibrium point is stable if

R

c
0

=
1.194

, and it is unstable if

R

c
0

=
.00039

. The stability of both equilibrium points implies that, for a high rate of conversion from non-Khat chewer to exposed groups

ρ

, the inflow of an insignificant number of Khat chewers to the community produces a significant number of Khat chewers , and if the return back from Khat chewing to the exposed group because of socio-economic, environmental, and religious influences

α

2

grows exponentially, the inflow of an insignificant number of Khat chewers to the community produces an insignificant number of Khat chewers. It is found that increasing the rate of conversion from non-Khat chewer to exposed groups

ρ

makes the disease eradication more challenging. We, therefore, strongly urge religious leaders, social committee leaders, elders, and health experts to teach their followers to reduce their Khat-chewing habits.
Calcific Uremic Arteriolopathy: A Case Series and Review from an Inner-City Tertiary University Center in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Omer Mohamed , Bhat Zeenat Yousuf , Fonte Nanette , Imran Nashat , Sondheimer James , Osman‐Malik Yahya
Published: February 2021

Background and Objectives. Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) is a rare complication seen, especially in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) with high morbidity and mortality. CUA treatment remains challenging. The study evaluated CUA's multifaceted treatment efficacy. Materials and Methods. 24 patients with CUA and on RRT were evaluated at Detroit Medical Center from 2007 to 2016. Skin biopsy was used in almost all patients, along with the radiological and clinical findings. The patient’s clinical and paraclinical data were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The effect of treatment modalities and the underlying hyperparathyroidism management were compared to the clinical outcomes using appropriate statistical tests. Results. Twenty-one patients were on hemodialysis, two patients received renal transplants, and one patient was on peritoneal dialysis. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent cause of ESRD. The parathyroid hormone level (PTH) was elevated in 22 patients. Fifteen patients were diagnosed 2 weeks or more prior to skin lesion onset. Twenty-two and thirteen patients received sodium thiosulphate and cinacalcet, respectively. Patients with lower PTH and the calcium-phosphate product levels had a relatively better outcome of CUA. Conclusions. A multifaceted approach may play a role in treating CUA. Referral to a nephrologist may aid in the early diagnosis and prompt management of CUA.
Infrared Small Target Detection Method Combined with Bilateral Filter and Local Entropy
Authors: Wang Zhonghua , Duan Siwei , Sun Chengli
Published: February 2021

According to the larger false alarm rate resulted from fluctuant clutter, a novel method combined with bilateral filter and local entropy is proposed for infrared small target detection in this paper. Firstly, the original image is respectively processed by bilateral filter and local entropy, and then the two processed images are fused by point product to generate the background suppression map. Secondly, the guided filter is used to further suppress the background and enhance the small target in the map. Thirdly, the small target is detected by the adaptive threshold in the filtered map. The theoretical analyses and experimental results show that the proposed method not only effectively suppresses the clutter background, depending on the edge preserving and denoising characteristics of bilateral filtering, but also effectively highlights the small target, relying on the sensitivity of local entropy to the abrupt gray region. Compared with other methods, it is demonstrated that the proposed method owns lower false alarm rate and higher detection rate.
[Retracted] A Novel Missense Variant in the Gene PPP2R5D Causes a Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Increased Phenotype
Authors: Yan Lulu , Shen Ru , Cao Zongfu , Han Chunxiao , Zhang Yuxin , Liu Yingwen , Yang Xiangchun , Xie Min , Li Haibo
Published: February 2021

PPP2R5D‐related neurodevelopmental disorder, which is mainly caused by de novo missense variants in the PPP2R5D gene, is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder with about 100 patients and a total of thirteen pathogenic variants known to exist globally so far. Here, we present a 24‐month‐old Chinese boy with developmental delay and other common clinical characteristics of PPP2R5D‐related neurodevelopmental disorder including hypotonia, macrocephaly, intellectual disability, speech impairment, and behavioral abnormality. Trio‐whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the causal gene variant. The pathogenicity of the variant was evaluated using bioinformatics tools. We identified a novel pathogenic variant in the PPP2R5D gene (c.620G>T, p.Trp207Leu). The variant is located in the variant hotspot region of this gene and is predicted to cause PPP2R5D protein dysfunction due to an increase in local hydrophobicity and unstable three‐dimensional structure. We report a novel pathogenic variant of PPP2R5D associated with PPP2R5D‐related neurodevelopmental disorder from a Chinese family. Our findings expanded the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of PPP2R5D‐related neurodevelopmental disorder.
Dynamic Response of Multitower Suspension Bridge Deck Pavement under Random Vehicle Load
Authors: Zhang Chenchen , Chen Leilei , Liu Gang , Qian Zhendong
Published: February 2021

Recently, the multitower suspension bridge has been widely used in long‐span bridge construction. However, the dynamic response of the deck and pavement system of the multitower suspension bridge under random vehicle load is still not clear, which is of great significance to steel‐bridge deck pavement (SBDP) design and construction. To reveal the mechanical mechanism of the steel‐bridge deck pavement of the multitower suspension bridge under traffic load, this paper analyzed the mechanical response of the pavement based on case study through the multiscale numerical approach and experimental program. Firstly, considering the full‐bridge effect of the multitower suspension bridge, the finite element model (FEM) of the SBDP composite structure was established to obtain key girder segments. Secondly, the influences of pavement layer, bending moment and torque, random traffic flow, and bridge structure on the stress of the girder segment were analyzed. Thirdly, the mechanical response of the pavement layer to the orthotropic plate under random vehicle load was studied. Finally, a full‐scale model of the experimental program was established to verify the numerical results. Results show that (1) the pavement layer reduced the stress of the steel‐box girder roof by about 10%. In the case of adverse bending moment and torque, the longitudinal and transverse stresses of the pavement layer were mainly concentrated in the stress concentration area near the suspender. Under the action of the random vehicle flow, the stress response of the pavement layer was increased by 40% compared with that under standard load. (2) Three‐tower and two‐span bridge structures have a great influence on the vertical deformation of the pavement layer under the action of vehicle load. Thus, the pavement material needs to have great deformation capacity. (3) The full‐bridge effect has a significant influence on the longitudinal stress of the local orthotropic plate, but a small influence on the transverse stress. (4) There is a good correlation between the experimental measurement results of the full‐size model and that of the numerical model. The research results can provide guidance for SBDP design and construction of the multitower suspension bridge.
Low Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D (25-OHD) and Hepatic Encephalopathy in HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Afifi Mohamed Abd Ellatif , Hussein Ahmed Mohamed , Rizk Mahmoud
Published: February 2021

Background. Patients with liver cirrhosis experience a large variety of metabolic disorders associated with more hepatic decompensation. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a significant complication in liver cirrhosis patients, presenting a wide spectrum of neuropsychological symptoms. A deficiency of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) in the general population is associated with a loss of cognitive function, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Aim of the Study. Our study aims to check the relationship between low serum 25-OHD and HE in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and assess its link with patient mortality. Patients and Methods. This study was observationally carried out on 100 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A—included 50 HCV-related cirrhotic patients with HE, and Group B—included 50 HCV-related cirrhotic patients without HE. Assessment of disease severity using the end-stage liver disease (MELD) model and Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) scores were done, and 25-OHD levels were measured. Comparison of vitamin D levels in different etiologies and different CTP categories was made using one-way ANOVA. Pearson’s correlation between the level of vitamin D and other biomarkers was applied. Results. There was a statistically significant Vitamin D level difference between the two groups. A lower level of vitamin D was observed in the HE group where the severe deficiency was 16%, while it was 6% in the other group and the moderate deficiency was 24% in HE group as compared to 10% in the other group. The insufficient vitamin D level represented 46% of the non-HE group while none of the HE group falls in this category. Vitamin D level was statistically higher in Grade 1 HE than in Grade 2 which is higher than in Grades 3 to 4. Vitamin D level was also significantly higher in those who improved from HE as compared to those who died. Conclusion. The lower levels of 25-OHD were associated with the higher incidence of HE in cirrhotic HCV patients. The worsening vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased severity of the liver disease, so vitamin D may be considered a prognostic factor for the severity of liver cirrhosis and high mortality rate in HE patients.
Optimization and Application of Spacing Parameter for Loosening Blasting with 24‐m‐High Bench in Barun Open‐Pit Mine
Authors: Yin Zuoming , Wang Desheng , Wang Xuguang , Dang Zhiheng , Li Wantao
Published: February 2021

In view of the near slope blasting in Barun open‐pit mine, which has merged sublevel mining, the operation safety conditions of middle‐sized and large equipment in the second phase expansion are poor and need urgent improvement. To increase the efficiency of expansion and reduce costs, a 24‐m‐high bench and large spacing parameter for loosening blasting are proposed. The analysis of the physical mechanism of the stress wave attenuation in the rock indicates that the cylindrical charge is equivalent to several spherical charges. Considering the pressure attenuation, reflection, transmission, and superposition of the spherical charge after the equivalence, a double exponential function correction equation of the stress wave attenuation is obtained based on the Mises strength criterion. The stress of any point in the rock medium with various spacing parameter is obtained by calculation. ANSYS/LS‐DYNA was used to simulate and study the stress distribution of a 24‐m‐high bench with various spacing parameter. Meanwhile, the accuracy of the correction equation was verified. The parameters of the high‐bench blasting with good effect and low cost were determined to be 15 m  ×  5.5 m, and field tests were carried out. Results show that the large spacing parameter for 24‐m‐high bench loosening blasting in Barun open‐pit mine is efficient and economical in medium‐hard rock blasting. This study provides a reference for the practical exploration of the expansion of high benches in open‐pit mines in China. The calculation error of the corrected double exponential function is near the numerical simulation result. It is suitable for all kinds of professional designers.
Punicalin Alleviates OGD/R-Triggered Cell Injury via TGF-β-Mediated Oxidative Stress and Cell Cycle in Neuroblastoma Cells SH-SY5Y
Authors: Yang Tiansong , Wang Qingyong , Qu Yuanyuan , Liu Yan , Feng Chuwen , Wang Yulin , Sun Weibo , Sun Zhongren , Zhu Yulan
Published: February 2021

Purpose. The research aimed to identify the active component from Punica granatum L. to alleviate ischemia/reperfusion injury and clarify the underlying mechanism of the active component alleviating ischemia/reperfusion injury. Materials and Methods. The SH-SY5Y cell model of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) was established to simulate the ischemia/reperfusion injury. According to the strategy of bioassay-guided isolation, the active component of punicalin from Punica granatum L. was identified. Flow cytometry and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the effects of OGD/R and/or punicalin on cell cycle arrest. Immunofluorescence assay was applied to assess the nucleus translocation. The relative content of ROS and GSH and the enzyme activities of CAT and SOD were examined using ELISA. Results. The data of bioassay-guided isolation showed that punicalin from Punica granatum L. could alleviate OGD/R-induced cell injury in SH-SY5Y cells. Flow cytometry analysis and Western blotting for probing the expression of CDK1, p-CDK1, cyclin B1, and p21 revealed that punicalin could relieve OGD/R-induced cell cycle G0/G1 arrest. Additionally, immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting for probing the expression of TGF-β and p-Smad2/p-Smad3 showed that punicalin could relieve the OGD/R-induced TGF-β/Smad pathway. Furthermore, the TGF-β/Smad pathway inhibitor of LY2157299 was employed to confirm that the TGF-β/Smad pathway is crucial to the effect of punicalin. At last, it was indicated that punicalin could relieve OGD/R-induced oxidative stress. Conclusion. Punicalin, an active component from Punica granatum L., was identified as a protective agent to alleviate the OGD/R-induced cell injury, which could exert the protective effect via TGF-β/Smad pathway-regulated oxidative stress and cell cycle arrest in SH-SY5Y cells.
The Clinical Value of CT Scans for the Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Fractures and Paraplegia
Authors: Jia Peng , Zhu Shan , Guo Lin
Published: February 2021

The early diagnosis and treatment of spinal fractures and paraplegia by CT scan is investigated in depth and its clinical value is discussed in this paper. In this paper, a novel circulatory generation adversarial network, Spine-GAN, is proposed for the diagnosis of various spinal diseases. The algorithmic model can fully automate the segmentation and classification of multiple spinal structures, such as intervertebral discs, vertebrae, and neuroforamina, simultaneously to intelligently generate a complete clinical diagnosis. The innovation of this method is that Spine-GAN not only overcomes the high variability and complexity of spinal structures in MRI images but also preserves the subtle differences between normal and abnormal spinal structures and dynamically learns obscure but important spatial pathological relationships between adjacent structures of the spine, thus overcoming the limitations of small datasets. Spine-GAN enables accurate segmentation, radiological classification, and pathological correlation representation of the three spinal diseases. Specifically, Spine-GAN achieves a pixel accuracy of 96.2% with a specificity and sensitivity distribution of 89.1% and 86%, respectively. The DMML-Net and Spine-GAN algorithm models have important applications and research values in the clinical diagnosis of spinal diseases and MRI image processing, as well as in the intelligent generation of medical image diagnostic reports, which are of great importance for the study of fine-grained image classification of pathological images. It also has a positive impact on the development of the software.
Clinical and Pain-Related Characteristics of Idiopathic First Bite Syndrome Induced by Taste in Japanese Patients without Diabetes: A Retrospective Study of Five Cases
Authors: Chiba Masatoshi , Hirotani Hiroaki , Takahashi Tetsu
Published: February 2021

Objective. First bite syndrome (FBS) is a condition in which the first bite of each meal causes parotid pain. Etiologies of FBS include prior surgery of the upper cervical region and, rarely, head and neck tumors. Idiopathic FBS rarely presents in patients without a history of surgery or evidence of an underlying tumor. Idiopathic FBS may be categorized into two subtypes: that in patients with diabetes and that in patients without diabetes. Idiopathic FBS in patients without diabetes may be overlooked or misdiagnosed because the condition has been described only in a few case reports. We aimed to identify the clinical and pain-related characteristics of idiopathic FBS in patients without diabetes. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of five patients without diabetes who were diagnosed with idiopathic FBS in our department between January 2010 and December 2016. Results. Four of the five patients were female, and the overall median age was 52 years (range: 13–61). All patients immediately experienced parotid pain upon tasting food without chewing. Addition of an acidic solution to the ipsilateral posterior third of the tongue evoked parotid pain. The median degree of pain intensity and interference with eating due to pain was 9 (range: 3–10) and 9 (range: 5–10) on a numerical rating scale of 0–10, respectively. Idiopathic FBS was bilateral in two patients. Two patients had tenderness on mild pressure over the affected parotid region. Two patients presented with ipsilateral idiopathic Horner’s syndrome. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that the characteristics of idiopathic FBS in patients without diabetes are largely consistent with those previously reported in postoperative FBS, supporting the notion that idiopathic FBS is a subtype of FBS. Thus, it is necessary to consider idiopathic FBS during the evaluation of facial pain triggered at the beginning of a meal.
A Chaotic Disturbance Wolf Pack Algorithm for Solving Ultrahigh‐Dimensional Complex Functions
Authors: Zhu Qiming , Wu Husheng , Li Na , Hu Jinqiang
Published: February 2021

The optimization of high‐dimensional functions is an important problem in both science and engineering. Wolf pack algorithm is a technique often used for computing the global optimum of a multivariable function. In this paper, we develop a new wolf pack algorithm that can accurately compute the optimal value of a high‐dimensional function. First, chaotic opposite initialization is designed to improve the quality of initial solution. Second, the disturbance factor is added in the scouting process to enhance the searching ability of wolves, and an adaptive step length is designed to enhance the global searching ability to prevent wolves from falling into the local optimum effectively. A set of standard test functions are selected to test the performance of the proposed algorithm, and the test results are compared with other algorithms. The high‐dimensional and ultrahigh‐dimensional functions (500 and 1000) are tested. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm features in good global convergence, high accuracy calculation, strong robustness, and excellent performance in high‐dimensional functions.
An Autotuning Cable-Driven Device for Home Rehabilitation
Authors: Rodríguez-León Jhon F. , Chaparro-Rico Betsy D. M. , Russo Matteo , Cafolla Daniele
Published: February 2021

Out of all the changes to our daily life brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most significant ones has been the limited access to health services that we used to take for granted. Thus, in order to prevent temporary injuries from having lingering or permanent effects, the need for home rehabilitation device is urgent. For this reason, this paper proposes a cable-driven device for limb rehabilitation, CUBE2, with a novel end-effector (EE) design and autotuning capabilities to enable autonomous use. The proposed design is presented as an evolution of the previous CUBE design. In this paper, the proposed device is modelled and analyzed with finite element analysis. Then, a novel vision-based control strategy is described. Furthermore, a prototype has been manufactured and validated experimentally. Preliminary test to estimate home position repeatability has been carried out.
Hospital Location Selection: A Systematic Literature Review on Methodologies and Applications
Authors: Gul Muhammet , Guneri Ali Fuat
Published: February 2021

The increased focus of people on the quality of health care in recent years has led hospital owners to develop strategies and policies to improve medical services through the establishment of new hospitals. For hospitals to be competitive, the hospitalʼs location and proximity to potential patients are considered crucial factors in establishing new hospitals. In this context, evaluating and selecting the most suitable hospital location to establish a new hospital from the multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) perspective is a priority for the entrepreneurs or government to gain a competitive advantage. Therefore, this study aims to present a systematic literature review of the hospital location selection problem considering the applied methods and application areas. The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis statement (PRISMA) are used as a reference framework. Initially, known electronic databases (Web of science, IEEEXplore, Scopus, Science direct, and Google Scholar) were searched up to the early 2021. A number of 47 articles are selected and analyzed under this systematic framework based on inclusion-exclusion points. State-of-the-art developments in adopting MCDM methods and their fuzzy extensions are summarized. All the articles have been examined in a systematic taxonomy to find answers to six research questions (trend, country of origin, outlet journal, MCDM methods used, MCDM environment and criteria type, and decision criteria used). Results show that (1) AHP and GIS-based MCDM models are the most contributing approaches to the solution of this problem, (2) location selection criteria are mostly cost, demand, environment, population, government, competition in the market, and distance to some important places, (3) the fuzzy structure is also preferred in addition to the MCDM structure depending on the crisp data type, and (4) the location selection criteria are mostly considered subjective. We pay attention to promising directions that can dominate future research in this field from a methodological or applicability perspective. This study shows the current views and opportunities for researchers and practitioners and acts as a guide to encourage more creative studies in this field.
Gastroduodenal Ulcerative Colitis in Association with Ulcerative Pancolitis
Authors: San Aye Khin , Lin Htun Lin , Win Thet Mar , Aye Mya Thida , Tin Drmyothettin , Aye Than Than
Published: February 2021

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, traditionally regarded as being limited to the colorectum. Although several gastroduodenal lesions have been reported in cases of UC, in general, duodenal lesions in UC are believed to be uncommon and gastric lesions in UC are a rare presentation. In this report, we presented a 66-year-old lady with upper GI presentation with gastroduodenal ulcerative colitis accompanying pancolonic UC.
Application of BRFP New‐Type Anchor Cable Material in High Slopes against Earthquakes
Authors: Wu Honggang , Wu Zhixin , Lei Hao , Lai Tianwen
Published: February 2021

To clarify the feasibility of BFRP (basalt fiber reinforced plastics) anchors instead of steel anchors in the seismic application of slopes under different vibration strengths, a series of shaking table tests were carried out to strengthen the slope using BFRP anchors and steel anchors, respectively. By studying the dynamic response recorded in the slope model and the observed experimental phenomena, the acceleration dynamic response and displacement spectrum dynamic response of the two slope models were analyzed. The test results show that the deformation stage of the slope reinforced by the two types of anchors is basically the same during the test, that is, elastic, plastic (potential sliding surface and plastic strengthening), and failure stages, respectively. The slope is in the elastic stage before the 0.2 g seismic wave, and it gradually enters the plastic stage after the 0.4 g seismic wave. However, the peak acceleration and displacement of the slope reinforced by steel anchors are greater than those of the slope reinforced by BFRP anchors under the same working conditions of seismic waves. In addition, we found that the acceleration response spectrum distribution curve of each measuring point in the short period has an obvious amplification effect along the elevation, and its predominant period has a forward migration phenomenon with the increase of the height of the measuring point, which also indicates that the higher frequency seismic wave has a greater impact on the top of the slope. The BFRP anchors, as a kind of flexible structure supporting slope, can effectively reduce the impact of seismic waves on the slope and attenuate seismic waves to a certain extent compared with steel anchors. Furthermore, the BFRP anchors can be deformed in coordination with the slope, which can improve the overall working performance of the slope, especially limit the dynamic response of the middle and lower slopes. These results can provide a theoretical guide for the seismic design of BFRP anchors for high slopes.
Reactive Power Optimization of Power System Based on Improved Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Chi Rui , Li Zheng , Chi Xuexin , Qu Zhijian , Tu Hong-bin
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a novel differential evolution (DE) algorithm, with its improved version (IDE) for the benchmark functions and the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem. Minimization of the total active power loss is usually considered as the objective function of the ORPD problem. The constraints involved are generators, transformers tapings, shunt reactors, and other reactive power sources. The aim of this study is to discover the best vector of control variables to minimize power loss, under the premise of considering the constraints system. In the proposed IDE, a new initialization strategy is developed to construct the initial population for guaranteeing its quality and simultaneously maintaining its diversity. In addition, to enhance the convergence characteristic of the original DE, two kinds of self-adaptive adjustment strategies are employed to update the scaling factor and the crossover factor, respectively, in which the detailed information about the two factors can be exchanged for each generation dynamically. Numerical applications of different cases are carried out on several benchmark functions and two standard IEEE systems, i.e., 14-bus and 30-bus test systems. The results achieved by using the proposed IDE, compared with other optimization algorithms, are discussed and analyzed in detail. The obtained results demonstrated that the proposed IDE can successfully be used to deal with the ORPD problem.
Modeling the Effect of External Computers and Removable Devices on a Computer Network with Heterogeneous Immunity
Authors: Bahashwan Walaa S. , Al-Tuwairqi Salma M.
Published: February 2021

This paper intends to investigate the impact of external computers and removable devices on virus spread in a network with heterogeneous immunity. For that purpose, a new dynamical model is presented and discussed. Theoretical analysis reveals the existence of a unique viral equilibrium that is locally and globally asymptotically stable with no criteria. This result implies that efforts to eliminate viruses are not possible. Therefore, sensitivity analysis is performed to have more insight into parameters’ impact on virus prevalence. As a result, strategies are suggested to contain virus spread to an acceptable level. Finally, to rationalize the analytical results, we execute some numerical simulations.
Moesin Is a Novel Biomarker of Endothelial Injury in Sepsis
Authors: Chen Yikun , Wang Jiajia , Zhang Lei , Zhu Jianjie , Zeng Yuanyuan , Huang Jian-an
Published: February 2021

Objective. Increased vascular permeability and inflammation are principal hallmark of sepsis. Moesin (MSN) is a membrane-associated cytoskeleton protein and crucial for the vascular endothelial function. This study is aimed at evaluating the role of MSN in endothelial injury during the process of sepsis. Methods. Serum MSN in septic patients was measured by ELISA. BALB/c mice were injected with different doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or underwent cecal ligation and single or double puncture (CLP) to mimic sublethal and lethal sepsis. After treatment, their serum MSN and PCT levels, wet to dry lung weights (W/D ratio), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein concentrations, and lung injury scores were measured. The impact of MSN silencing on LPS-altered Rock1/myosin light chain (MLC), NF-κB, and inflammatory factors in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs), as well as monolayer HMEC permeability, was tested in vitro. Results. Compared with healthy controls, serum MSN increased in septic patients and was positively correlated with SOFA scores and serum PCT levels in septic patients. LPS injection significantly increased serum the MSN and PCT expression, BALF protein levels, and W/D ratio, and the serum MSN levels were positively correlated with serum PCT, lung W/D ratio, and lung injury scores in mice. Similar results were obtained in the way of CLP modelling. LPS enhanced MSN, MLC, NF-κB phosphorylation, increased Rock1 expression, and inflammatory factors release in the cultured HMECs, while MSN silencing significantly mitigated the LPS-induced Rock1 and inflammatory factor expression, NF-κB, and MLC phosphorylation as well as the monolayer hyperpermeability in HMECs. Conclusions. Increased serum MSN contributes to the sepsis-related endothelium damages by activating the Rock1/MLC and NF-κB signaling and may be a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity of sepsis.
Exploring the Optimum Proactive Defense Strategy for the Power Systems from an Attack Perspective
Authors: Zhao Jinxiong , Zhang Xun , Di Fuqiang , Guo Sensen , Li Xiaoyu , Jing Xiao , Huang Panfei , Mu Dejun
Published: February 2021

Proactive defense is one of the most promising approaches to enhance cyber-security in the power systems, while how to balance its costs and benefits has not been fully studied. This paper proposes a novel method to model cyber adversarial behaviors as attackers contending for the defenders’ benefit based on the game theory. We firstly calculate the final benefit of the hackers and defenders in different states on the basis of the constructed models and then predict the possible attack behavior and evaluate the best defense strategy for the power systems. Based on a real power system subnet, we analyze 27 attack models with our method, and the result shows that the optimal strategy of the attacker is to launch a small-scale attack. Correspondingly, the optimal strategy of the defender is to conduct partial-defense.
Coexistence of Takayasu’s Arteritis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: de Almeida Martins Camilla , Caon Ana Elisa Rabe , Facanali Carolina Bortolozzo Graciolli , Sobrado Carlos Walter , Nahas Sergio Carlos , Pereira Rosa Maria Rodrigues , Margalit-Yehuda Reuma , Kopylov Uri , Queiroz Natalia Sousa Freitas
Published: February 2021

Background. Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic inflammatory granulomatous disorders that have rarely been concomitantly reported in case reports and small case series. Objective. We report a series of seven cases of TA and IBD association in two referral centers with a comprehensive review of literature. Methods. We analyzed retrospectively the electronic medical charts of TA-IBD patients at the University Hospital of São Paulo, Brazil, and at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Aviv University, Israel. Results. Overall, five patients had Crohn’s disease (DC) and two had ulcerative colitis (UC), and they were mostly female and non-Asian. All patients developed IBD first and, subsequently, TA. Two underwent colectomy and one ileocecectomy due to IBD activity, while three required cardiovascular surgery due to TA activity. Most patients are currently in clinical remission of both diseases with conventional drug treatment. Conclusion. Although the coexistence of TA and IBD is uncommon, both seem to be strongly associated through pathophysiological pathways.
Seepage Evolution Model of the Fractured Rock Mass under High Seepage Pressure in Dam Foundation
Authors: Zhao Erfeng , Jiang Yufeng
Published: February 2021

The seepage of the fractured rock mass in dam foundations involves complex fluid‐structure coupling behavior, due to practical hydrogeological conditions. In this work, the seepage characteristics of the fractured rock mass and their correlations with the structural permeable mediums are experimentally explored to reveal the cracking effect on the hydromechanical properties firstly. Subsequently, the tangential and the compression creep damage constitutive models are, respectively, established by introducing a nonlinear viscoplastic body to improve the Nishihara model. Afterwards, an innovative evolution equation of the permeability coefficient considering the creep damage is proposed. It can indicate the time effect of the porosity, the permeability, and damage variables of the fractured rock mass under the long‐term infiltration action of the hydraulic pressures. Ultimately, the proposed methods are applied to the seepage simulation on the dam foundation of the Longyangxia hydropower station and the significantly increased leakage is in good agreement with the measured values during the storage period. It was further confirmed that the crack expansion and penetration in the rock masses can be constantly intensified by the seepage pressures. The research results can provide a reference for engineering repair and supervision through controlling the permeability performance for long‐term operations.
Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Piper betle Leaf Extract and Its Application in Surgical Sutures
Authors: Thi Tran Quynh Mai , Thi Nguyen Hong Anh , Doan Van-Dat , Tran Quang-Hieu , Nguyen Van Cuong
Published: February 2021

Surgical site infection (SSI), mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), is considered the most frequent complication in a surgical patient. Globally, surgical site infection accounts for 2.5%-41.9% and even higher rates in developing countries. SSI affects not only the patient’s health but also the development of society. Like previous reports, a surgical suture increases the hazard of SSI due to its structure. The antibacterial suture is the most effective solution to decrease the SSI. Due to some unique properties, nano-zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) is one of the promising antibacterial agents for coating on the suture. In this study, we aim to synthesize the ZnO NPs using Piper betle leaf extract and used it to coat the suture. The effect of synthesis parameters on the size and morphology of ZnO NPs was studied as well. The UV-Vis spectrum indicated the formation of ZnO NPs with

λ

max

at around 370 nm. The volume of leaf extract plays a role in controlling the size and morphology of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The average particle size of as-synthesized ZnO NPs was around 112 nm with a hexagonal and spherical shape. Other than that, the results proved that ZnO NPs performed a high antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli with its antibacterial effectiveness up to 5 days. The ZnO NP-coated sutures also exhibited a high performance on bacterial inactivation. With key findings, this study made a tremendous contribution to lowering the burden on medical services in terms of medical treatment cost in developing countries.
ACE Inhibitor Induced Isolated Angioedema of the Small Bowel: A Rare Complication of a Common Medication
Authors: Squillante Marc D. , Trujillo Anna , Norton Joseph , Bansal Saurabh , Dragoo David
Published: February 2021

Angioedema is a subcutaneous or submucosal tissue swelling due to capillary leakage and transudation of fluid into the interstitial tissue. It can be localized or generalized as part of a widespread reaction known as anaphylaxis. Millions of people in United States and all over the world receive ACEI antihypertensive therapy. ACEI is known to cause angioedema with an incidence of 0.7 percent. We present a case of 40-year-old female who was started on lisinopril three days prior to presentation for newly diagnosed hypertension. She presented with nonspecific severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She denied having difficulty breathing or swelling anywhere in the body. On exam, she did not have facial, lip, tongue, or throat swelling. Her abdomen was tender without guarding or rigidity. Laboratory examination was unrevealing except for mild leukocytosis. Computed tomography scan (CT scan) of the abdomen with oral and IV contrast revealed a moderate amount of ascites with diffuse wall thickening, hyperenhancement, and mucosal edema of the entire small bowel. In the absence of any other pathology, matching history, and imaging findings highly suggestive of angioedema, she was diagnosed with isolated small bowel angioedema as a result of ACEI therapy. She was managed conservatively, and lisinopril was discontinued. A week later on follow-up, all her symptoms had resolved, and repeat CT scan showed resolution of all findings.