bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Administration of Intravenous Furosemide in Patients with Acute Infection: Patient Characteristics and Impact on In-Hospital Outcome
Authors: Levi Nir , Bnaya Alon , Wolak Arik , Shavit Linda , Jaffal Sabre , Amsalem Itshak , Hitter Rafael , Wolak Talya
Published: May 2023

Intravenous (IV) fluid is frequently used to treat patients who have been admitted with an acute infection; among these patients, some will experience pulmonary congestion and will need diuretic treatment. Consecutive admissions to the Internal Medicine Department of patients with an acute infection were included. Patients were divided based on IV furosemide treatment within 48 h after admission. A total of 3556 admissions were included: In 1096 (30.8%), furosemide was administered after ≥48 h, and in 2639 (74.2%), IV fluid was administered within <48 h. Mean age was 77.2 ± 15.8 years, and 1802 (50.7%) admissions were females. In a multivariable analysis, older age (OR 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00–1.01]), male gender (OR 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63–0.86]), any cardiovascular disease (OR 1.51 [95% CI, 1.23–1.85]), congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR 2.81 [95% CI, 2.33–3.39), hypertension (OR 1.42 [95% CI, 1.22–1.67]), respiratory infection (OR 1.38 [95% CI, 1.17–1.63]), and any IV fluid administration (OR 3.37 [95% CI, 2.80–4.06]) were independently associated with furosemide treatment >48 h after hospital admission. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with furosemide treatment (15.9% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.001). Treatment with furosemide in patients admitted with an infection was found to be associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased in-hospital mortality.
Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly U.S. Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of Treatment Trends and Comparison of Complication Rates after Joint Replacement, Open Reduction and Internal Fixation, and Non-Surgical Management
Authors: Walter Nike , Szymski Dominik , Riedl Moritz , Kurtz Steven M. , Alt Volker , Lowenberg David W. , Lau Edmund C. , Rupp Markus
Published: May 2023

Proximal humerus fracture (PHF) treatment remains challenging. Multiple therapy options exist, and the optimal choice of management has been increasingly discussed in the literature. The aim of this study was to (1) analyze trends in the propensity of proximal humerus fracture treatments and (2) compare complication rates after joint replacement, surgical repair, and non-surgical treatment in terms of mechanical complications, union failure, and infection rates. In this cross-sectional study, patients aged 65 years or older with proximal humerus fractures occurring between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019 were identified from Medicare physician service claims records. The Kaplan–Meier method with the Fine and Gray adjustment was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rates for malunion/nonunion, infection, and mechanical complications for the following treatment categories: shoulder arthroplasty, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and non-surgical treatment, respectively. Semiparametric Cox regression was performed incorporating 23 demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic covariates to determine risk factors. Between 2009 through 2019, conservative procedures decreased by 0.9%. ORIF procedures decreased from 9.51% (95% CI: 8.7–10.4) to 6.95% (95% CI: 6.2–7.7), whereas shoulder arthroplasties rose from 1.99% (95% CI: 1.6–2.4), to 5.45% (95% CI: 4.8–6.2). PHFs managed through ORIF were associated with higher union failure rates compared to conservatively treated fractures (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.15–1.5, p < 0.001). The risk of developing an infection was increased after joint replacement compared to ORIF (2.66% vs. 1.09%, HR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.46–2.98, p < 0.001). Mechanical complications were more common after joint replacement (6.37% vs. 4.85%, HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.32–2.09, p < 0.001). Complication rates differed significantly across treatment modalities. This should be considered when choosing a management procedure. Vulnerable elderly patient cohorts could be identified, and the optimization of modifiable risk factors might lead to a decrease of complication rates in both surgically and non-surgically treated patients.
Reduction in Total Production Cycle Time by the Tool Holder for the Automated Cutting Insert Quick Exchange and by the Double Cutting Tool Holder
Authors: Vasilko Karol , Murčinková Zuzana
Published: May 2023

The time taken to exchange a cutting tool and the actual machining time are the components in a total production cycle time for a part, that affects productivity. Automated plate exchange systems strive for the simplest possible principles to achieve the shortest possible tool exchange time with sufficient accuracy. The tool holder in the presented article is based on the principle of a combination of translational, rotational movement, and stop surfaces by using a single pull–push rod for simple control. The article provides alternative tool holder designs and turning results of such holders using Rz-f dependence. The results of the time reduction are satisfactory and give a prerequisite for using a tool holder for the automated exchange of triangular cutting inserts. Moreover, the article provides the approach to reduce the mentioned total production cycle time by a reduction in the actual machining time for a part by use of tooltip radii, not by increasing the cutting speed. The triangular cutting insert can have three tooltips of three different tooltip radii for roughing and finishing. In addition, for reduction of the actual machining time, the double cutting tool with both the small tooltip radius for rouging and the large tooltip radius for finishing is presented. The double tool holders showed a 2.4-times reduction in the actual machining time for a part with Rz = 20 µm.
An Interpretable Gray Box Model for Ship Fuel Consumption Prediction Based on the SHAP Framework
Authors: Ma Yiji , Zhao Yuzhe , Yu Jiahao , Zhou Jingmiao , Kuang Haibo
Published: May 2023

Shipping companies and maritime organizations want to improve the energy efficiency of ships and reduce fuel costs through optimization measures; however, the accurate fuel consumption prediction of fuel consumption is a prerequisite for conducting optimization measures. In this study, the white box models (WBMs), black box models (BBMs), and gray box models (GBMs) are developed based on sensor data. GBMs have great potential for the prediction of ship fuel consumption, but the lack of interpretability makes it difficult to determine the degree of influence of different influencing factors on ship fuel consumption, making it limited in practical engineering applications. To overcome this difficulty, this study obtains the importance of GBM input characteristics for ship fuel consumption by introducing the SHAP (SHAPley Additive exPlanations) framework. The experimental results show that the prediction performance of the WBM is much lower than that of the BBM and GBM, while the GBM has better prediction performance by applying the a priori knowledge of WBMs to BBMs. Combining with SHAP, a reliable importance analysis of the influencing factors is obtained, which provides a reference for the optimization of ship energy efficiency, and the best input features for fuel consumption prediction are obtained with the help of importance ranking results.
Path Planning of an Unmanned Surface Vessel Based on the Improved A-Star and Dynamic Window Method
Authors: Hu Shunan , Tian Shenpeng , Zhao Jiansen , Shen Ruiqi
Published: May 2023

In order to ensure the safe navigation of USVs (unmanned surface vessels) and real-time collision avoidance, this study conducts global and local path planning for USVs in a variable dynamic environment, while local path planning is proposed under the consideration of USV motion characteristics and COLREGs (International Convention on Regulations for Collision Avoidance at Sea) requirements. First, the basis of collision avoidance decisions based on the dynamic window method is introduced. Second, the knowledge of local collision avoidance theory is used to study the local path planning of USV, and finally, simulation experiments are carried out in different situations and environments containing unknown obstacles. The local path planning experiments with unknown obstacles can prove that the local path planning algorithm proposed in this study has good results and can ensure that the USV makes collision avoidance decisions based on COLREGs when it meets with a ship.
No Observed Effects of Subsea Renewable Energy Infrastructure on Benthic Environments
Authors: Smyth David , Kregting Louise
Published: May 2023

For the tidal energy industry to move forward to commercialisation, understanding the interaction between the environment and tidal energy converters (TEC) is essential. The benthic environment may be particularly vulnerable to development by changing the existing physical and ecological characteristics. To assess measurable changes of the infrastructural and operation activity of the Deep Green subsea TEC known as the kite, developed by Minesto, benthic surveys were carried out in the Narrows, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. At the Minesto site and two other locations, scientific divers carried out circular cardinal-direction benthic camera surveys prior to and after five years of operation. A diverse assemblage of sessile, vagile and mobile species associated with substrate types were identified. No significant changes at any of the sites were recorded in the abundance of species, substrate type or species diversity over the five-year period. The results show that no impact on benthic communities was detected as a result of the operation and deployment of the infrastructure associated with the technology.
Open-Heart Cardio-Thoracic Biological Valve Replacement Following Complicated Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Klotzka Aneta , Woźniak Patrycja , Misterski Marcin , Rodzki Michał , Puślecki Mateusz , Jemielity Marek , Grygier Marek , Araszkiewicz Aleksander , Iwańczyk Sylwia , Buczkowski Piotr
Published: May 2023

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is currently becoming the method of choice in high-risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Post-TAVI complications are more common owing to the increasing use of the method. The majority of TAVI complications derive from concomitant aortic stenosis with moderate/severe aortic insufficiency, paravalvular leak, and atrioventricular block. The contemporary TAVI qualification process includes a thorough echocardiography and angio-CT of the aorta, which is crucial in assessing valve measurements, determining the position of the coronary arteries branching from the aorta, and choosing the optimal valve size. We present the case report of an 81-year-old patient admitted to our hospital because of exacerbation of the clinical condition and development of pulmonary edema a few days after TAVI. Despite the reduction of the initial leak, an echocardiographic examination revealed the remaining severe paravalvular aortic leakage. We performed open-heart cardio-thoracic surgery, explanted the TAVI valve, and implanted the biological prosthesis (Edwards Perimount Magna size 25). Introduction of new interventional treatment approaches and the availability of imaging tools have substantially reduced the incidence of significant paravalvular leak and offered a better prognosis for patients undergoing TAVI.
Neuroendocrine Influencers and Associated Factors That Shape Jaw Movement and Growth in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Management: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Radiographic Evidence
Authors: Farook Taseef Hasan , Dudley James
Published: May 2023

Objective. To investigate the influence of endogenous and exogenous neuroendocrine analogues on the range and motion of jaw movement, mandibular growth, and factors affecting condylar guidance in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders using clinical assessment and radiographic imaging. Material and Methods. Eligible articles were extracted from eleven databases in early 2023 and screened following PRISMA protocols. Certainty of evidence and potential biases were assessed using the GRADE approach. Results. Nineteen articles were screened, with four deemed to be of high quality, eight of moderate quality, and the remaining seven of low to very low quality. Corticosteroids improve maximal incisal opening but not TMJ disorder symptoms. Higher doses worsen jaw movement and cause osseous deformity. Growth hormone affects occlusal development, and delayed treatment affects arch width. Sex hormone correlation with TMJ disorder is complex, with some studies showing a correlation between menstrual cycle phases and pain/limited mobility. Conclusions. The evaluation of neuroendocrine influencers in relation to jaw movement in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders involves the complex interplay of potentially confounding factors that each require careful consideration to ensure accurate diagnoses and evaluations.
Increased Red Blood Cell Distribution Predicts Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation
Authors: Saad Elias , Maamoun Basheer , Nimer Assy
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be related to underlying chronic inflammation. Our aim is to investigate the relationship of different complete blood count (CBC) parameters such as hemoglobin level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean platelet volume (MPV) or RDW with COPD exacerbation severity. Methods: In the present retrospective analysis, consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of “COPD Exacerbation” between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015 were evaluated. Results: The study population included 804 patients with COPD exacerbation. The maximal partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood (PaCO2) during hospital stay was significantly higher in patients with high MCV (p < 0.001), and in patients with a high RDW (p < 0.001). The hospitalization duration was significantly longer in patients with high RDW (p < 0.001) and in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p < 0.001). CRP levels strongly correlated to RDW (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that different CBC parameters, such as MCV and RDW, are in correlation with the severity of acute exacerbation of COPD reflected by the PaCO2 level and the duration of hospitalization. Furthermore, we also found a positive correlation between RDW and CRP levels. This finding supports the hypothesis that RDW is a good biomarker of acute inflammation.
An Assessment of the Benefits of Optimizing Working Capital and Profitability: Perspectives from DJIA30 and NASDAQ100
Authors: Eldomiaty Tarek , Eid Nourhan , Taman Farida , Rashwan Mohamed
Published: May 2023

The objective of this paper goes beyond the boundaries of an exploratory analysis to operationalize the association between corporate working capital and return on assets. This paper optimizes the impact of the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) on Return on Assets (ROA). The paper develops a mathematical formulation that connects the components of CCC to ROA. The sample includes the non-financial firms listed in DJIA30 and NASDAQ100. The data covers the quarterly periods from June 1992 to March 2018. The paper uses standard statistical tests including linearity (RESET), the Hausman test for fixed and random effects, and the Breusch–Pagan/Cook–Weisberg test for heteroskedasticity. The estimation is carried out using the GLS estimator. This study finds: (a) the optimal, rather than observed, components of CCC are robust and coherent, (b) if firms were to optimize the components of CCC, the ROA improves significantly, (c) the positive estimates of size show that the components of CCC help firms grow, (d) the effects of either observed or optimal CCC on ROA are reached in the short term (four quarters), (e) the results show that observed as well as optimal CCC are able to detect the structural break in the 2008 financial crisis, and (f) the results of a logit analysis show that the optimization algorithm results in significant increases in ROA that are associated with increases in degree of financial leverage and decreases in short-term debt ratio. This paper contributes to the related literature in two ways. First, the paper develops a mathematical structure that associates corporate CCC and ROA in a way that offers a guide to corporate financial managers regarding structural management of corporate CCC. Second, the paper examines the impacts of optimized CCC on ROA.
How Destination City and Source Landholding Factors Influence Migrant Socio-Economic Integration in the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region
Authors: Liu Xuanyu , Wang Zehong , Liu Yungang , Zhu Zhigang , Hu Jincan , Yang Gao , Wang Yuqu
Published: May 2023

Few studies have analyzed the mixed effects of city size and land factors at the macro level on migrant socio-economic integration. On the basis of survey data on migrants in the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region (PRDMR), this study developed a system of multidimensional indicators for analyzing the degree of migrant socio-economic integration and factors influencing it. This study demonstrated the following: (1) The overall degree of socio-economic integration of migrants in the PRDMR was low. Factors including city size, hometown landholding, year of birth, education level, gender, and migratory duration exerted effects of varying extents on the degree of the socio-economic integration of migrants. (2) Better job positions were offered and infrastructure was more developed in first-tier cities, so the degree of migrant economic integration was higher, and the sense of identity was stronger in first-tier cities. Given the low housing prices in second-tier cities, migrants therein were more likely to buy a house and achieve family integration, and the degree of their social integration was stronger. (3) In terms of source landholding factors, the degree of socio-economic integration was relatively low among the migrants who owned arable land and homesteads, and who were born outside Guangdong Province. The study tries to measure the socio-economic integration of immigrants more comprehensively and provide reference for the implementation of differentiated socio-economic integration policies and land transfer policies in the immigration and emigration areas.
Identification of the Forest Cover Growth on Landscape Level from Aerial Laser Scanning Data
Authors: Sivák Miroslav , Kardoš Miroslav , Kadlečík Roman , Chudá Juliána , Tomaštík Julián , Tuček Ján
Published: May 2023

Aerial laser scanning technology has excellent potential in landscape management and forestry. Due to its specific characteristics, the application of this type of data is the subject of intensive research, with the search for new areas of application. This work aims to identify the boundaries of forest stands, and forest patches on non-forest land. The research objectives cover the diversity of conditions in the forest landscapes of Slovakia, with its high variability of tree species composition (coniferous, mixed, deciduous stands), age, height, and stand density. A semi-automatic procedure was designed and verified (consisting of the creation of a digital terrain model, a digital surface model, and the identification of peaks and contours of tree crowns), which allows after identification of homogeneous areas of forest stands and/or forest patches (areas covered with trees species canopy) with selected parameters (height, crown size, gap size), with high accuracy. The applicability of the proposed procedure increases the use of freely available ALS data (provided by the Office of Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre of the Slovak Republic) and freely distributable software tools (QGIS, CloudCompare).
Quantitative Analysis of Seasonality and the Impact of COVID-19 on Tourists’ Use of Urban Green Space in Okinawa: An ARIMA Modeling Approach Using Web Review Data
Authors: Yang Ruochen , Liu Kun , Su Chang , Takeda Shiro , Zhang Junhua , Liu Shuhao
Published: May 2023

We employed publicly available user-generated content (UGC) data from the website Tripadvisor and developed an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model using the R language to analyze the seasonality of the use of urban green space (UGS) in Okinawa under normal conditions and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The seasonality of the use of ocean-area UGS is primarily influenced by climatic factors, with the peak season occurring from April to October and the off-peak season from November to March. Conversely, the seasonality of the use of non-ocean-area UGS remains fairly stable throughout the year, with a relatively high number of visitors in January and May. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted visitor enthusiasm for travel, resulting in significantly fewer actual postings compared with predictions. During the outbreak, use of ocean-area UGS was severely restricted, resulting in even fewer postings and a negative correlation with the number of new cases. In contrast, for non-ocean-area UGS, a positive correlation was observed between the change in postings and the number of new cases. We offer several suggestions to develop UGS management in Okinawa, considering the opportunity for a period of recovery for the tourism industry.
Analysis of Net Primary Productivity of Retired Farmlands in the Grain-for-Green Project in China from 2011 to 2020
Authors: Xie Yuanming , Ma Zemeng , Fang Mingjie , Liu Weiguo , Yu Feiyan , Tian Jiajing , Zhang Shuoxin , Yan Yan
Published: May 2023

The Grain-for-Green Project (GFGP), one of the largest ecological restoration projects in China, has made a significant contribution to carbon neutrality. However, the quantitative contribution to climate change and the driving forces of the carbon sequestration of retired farmlands remains unclear. To analyze the carbon dynamics of the retired farmlands and their driving forces, GlobeLand30 databases were used to identify retired farmlands from 2001 to 2020; in addition, net primary productivity (NPP) of the identified lands was estimated with the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA). Results showed that 131,298 km2 of farmlands were retired from 2001 to 2010 (L01–10), and 130,225 km2 were retired from 2011 to 2020 (L11–20). The largest areas of retired farmlands were South Central China (24%) in L01–10 and Northwest China (22%) in L11–20. The annual NPP increment of retired farmlands was the highest and most significant in Southwest China (26,455–28,783 GgC·year−1 for retired farmlands in L01–10 and 21,320–23,303 GgC·year−1 in L11–20). In this study, NPP had significantly positive correlations with temperature and precipitation as well as significant constraint relationships with rural population density and animal husbandry output value. The findings could provide suggestions for the further implementation of the GFGP and other restoration projects.
An Example of Linguistic Stylization in Spanish Musical Genres: Flamenco and Latin Music in Rosalía’s Discography
Authors: Fernández de Molina Ortés Elena
Published: May 2023

Studies on stylistic change in music argue that when singers use stylistic devices in their songs, they have one purpose: to represent their image and their artistic and social identity. In this paper we focus on the singer Rosalía, a Catalan artist who sings flamenco and Latin music. These two musical genres are associated with innovative varieties of Spanish, but this singer is not a speaker of this variety (she uses the Spanish spoken in Catalonia, a conservative variety). So, we want to know whether, when she sings, she linguistically adapts to the associated phenomena of flamenco and Latin music. In order to carry out this work, we have collected two oral corpora: the first is Rosalía’s discography and the second is 40 min of interviews in Spain and America. In our analyses we have verified that, indeed, when Rosalía sings, she uses indexicalized phenomena of the genres. However, in the interviews she keeps her vernacular variety, Catalan, although we have observed signs of accommodation to American Spanish, which also reveal a significant change in the singer’s idiolect.
Lubrication Condition Monitoring in EHD Line Contacts of Thrust Needle Roller Bearing Using the Electrical Impedance Method
Authors: Maruyama Taisuke , Radzi Faidhi , Sato Tsutomu , Iwase Shunsuke , Maeda Masayuki , Nakano Ken
Published: May 2023

In this study, we developed the electrical impedance method which simultaneously measures the thickness and breakdown ratio of oil films in elastohydrodynamic (EHD) line contacts within thrust needle roller bearings. Initially, we theoretically demonstrated that the oil film thickness and breakdown ratio can be simultaneously measured using the complex impedance that is produced when an AC voltage is applied to EHD line contacts. To verify the measurement accuracy of the electrical method, we monitored the oil film thickness of a thrust needle roller bearing and compared it with the theoretical value. The results revealed that the oil film thickness was thinner than the theoretical value immediately after starting the test, with the breakdown ratio being greater than 0 (indicating mixed lubrication); however, the breakdown ratio decreased over time, and the oil film thickness nearly matched the theoretical value one hour after starting the test, when it is believed that running-in wear is complete (i.e., breakdown ratio ≈ 0). Furthermore, following the test, after examining the race surface, we confirmed that running-in wear had indeed occurred. These results suggest that the developed method can monitor the lubrication conditions in EHD line contacts, such as those in thrust needle roller bearings, in detail.
Tribological Effects of Metalworking Fluids in Cutting Processes
Authors: Pape Florian , Poll Gerhard , Ellersiek Lars , Denkena Berend , Liu Haichao
Published: May 2023

An understanding of the proper application of metalworking fluids (MWFs) is necessary for their implementation in efficient production processes. In addition, the knowledge of the process-related aspect of chip transport and the macroscopic cooling effect, the characteristics and properties of lubricant film formation, and the cooling conditions in the secondary shear zone on the chip surface, i.e., in the direct vicinity of the material separation, represent a combined fundamental scientific issue within production engineering. The aim is to transfer methods from the field of tribology of machine elements, which have already led to a considerable gain in knowledge in this discipline, to machining and to couple them with already established approaches to machining. In the case of roller bearings, the contact pressure is in the range as the pressure in the contact zone between the cutting insert and chip. Due to this, established methods might be transferred to the cutting process. In addition to classical pin-on-plate and pin-on-ring friction investigations, film thickness measurements were carried out and compared to machining tests. The coefficient of friction determined in the planing test rig is 0.48 for dry cutting, while it is 0.47 for wet cutting. These two values are much larger than the CoF with MWFs measured on the two tribometers. It is shown that the boundary friction of MWF especially influences the machining process. Thus, additives in MWF might have a high significance in machining.
Characterisation of the Contact between Cross-Country Skis and Snow: A Micro-Scale Study Considering the Ski-Base Texture
Authors: Kalliorinne Kalle , Persson Bo N. J. , Sandberg Joakim , Hindér Gustav , Larsson Roland , Holmberg Hans-Christer , Almqvist Andreas
Published: May 2023

In winter sports, the equipment often comes into contact with snow or ice, and this contact generates a force that resists motion. In some sports, such as cross-country skiing, this resistive force can significantly affect the outcome of a race, as a small reduction in this force can give an athlete an advantage. Researchers have examined the contact between skis and snow in detail, and to fully understand this friction, the entire ski must be studied at various scales. At the macro scale, the entire geometry of the ski is considered and the apparent contact between the ski and the snow is considered and at the micro-scale the contact between the snow and the ski-base textures. In the present work, a method for characterising the contact between the ski-base texture and virtual snow will be presented. Six different ski-base textures will be considered. Five of them are stone-ground ski bases, and three of them have longitudinal linear textures with a varying number of lines and peak-to-valley heights, and the other two are factory-ground “universal” ski bases. The sixth ski base has been fabricated by a steel-scraping procedure. In general, the results show that a ski base texture with a higher Spk value has less real contact area, and that the mutual differences can be large for surfaces with similar Sa values. The average interfacial separation is, in general, correlated with the Sa value, where a “rougher” surface exhibits a larger average interfacial separation. The results for the reciprocal average interfacial separation, which is related to the Couette type of viscous friction, were in line with the general consensus that a “rougher” texture performs better at high speed than a “smoother” one, and it was found that a texture with high Sa and Spk values resulted in a low reciprocal average interfacial separation and consequently low viscous friction. The reciprocal average interfacial separation was found to increase with increasing real contact area, indicating a correlation between the real area of contact and the Couette part of the viscous friction.
Bias Due to Averaging the Logistic and SI Models
Authors: Wallace Dorothy I.
Published: May 2023

Modelers have choices in how they approach a problem, with different approaches potentially leading to different outcomes. Sometimes one approach gives a consistently lower (or higher) result than another. The theorem and corollaries in this study show that if the logistic equation or, equivalently, the SI model, are perturbed at time zero by a range of values with mean zero, the resulting trajectories must average to a value below (for logistic and I) or above (for S) the solution with average initial condition. The proof of the theorem shows that this phenomenon is the result of algebraic properties of the nonlinear quadratic term, although we note it can be extended to a larger class of systems. More importantly it shows that the only necessary criterion is that the perturbations average to zero. The source of them and the properties of their distribution does not matter to the result of the theorem but does affect the magnitude of the proven difference.
Chaos and Cellular Automata-Based Substitution Box and Its Application in Cryptography
Authors: Shafique Arslan , Khan Kashif Hesham , Hazzazi Mohammad Mazyad , Bahkali Ismail , Bassfar Zaid , Rehman Mujeeb Ur
Published: May 2023

Substitution boxes are the key factor in symmetric-key cryptosystems that determines their ability to resist various cryptanalytic attacks. Creating strong substitution boxes that have multiple strong cryptographic properties at the same time is a challenging task for cryptographers. A significant amount of research has been conducted on S-boxes in the past few decades, but the resulting S-boxes have been found to be vulnerable to various cyberattacks. This paper proposes a new method for creating robust S-boxes that exhibit superior performance and possess high scores in multiple cryptographic properties. The hybrid S-box method presented in this paper is based on Chua’s circuit chaotic map, two-dimensional cellular automata, and an algebraic permutation group structure. The proposed 16×16 S-box has an excellent performance in terms of security parameters, including a minimum nonlinearity of 102, the absence of fixed points, the satisfaction of bit independence and strict avalanche criteria, a low differential uniformity of 5, a low linear approximation probability of 0.0603, and an auto-correlation function of 28. The analysis of the performance comparison indicates that the proposed S-box outperforms other state-of-the-art S-box techniques in several aspects. It possesses better attributes, such as a higher degree of inherent security and resilience, which make it more secure and less vulnerable to potential attacks.
A Discrete Integral Sliding Manifold for a Nonlinear System with Time Delay: An Event-Triggered Scheme
Authors: Benyazid Yassine , Fnadi Mohamed , Nouri Ahmed Said
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a new approach to integral sliding mode control for discrete nonlinear systems with time delay. The approach is based on an event-triggered scheme and is applied to Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy models. In the first step, a new integral sliding function is constructed, which avoids the limited assumptions of most existing fuzzy sliding mode control schemes. The design parameter matrices defining the sliding surface are obtained by solving linear matrix inequalities. In the second step, an event trigger-based integral sliding mode control protocol is developed to ensure the state trajectories of the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems with time delays. Finally, the proposed strategies are evaluated through a simulation example to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Synchronization Analysis of Linearly Coupled Systems with Signal-Dependent Noises
Authors: Ren Yanhao , Luo Qiang , Lu Wenlian
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we propose methods for analyzing the synchronization stability of stochastic linearly coupled differential equation systems, with signal-dependent noise perturbation. We consider signal-dependent noise, which is common in many fields, to discuss the stability of the synchronization manifold of multiagent systems and linearly coupled nonlinear dynamical systems under sufficient conditions. Numerical simulations are performed in the paper, and the results show the effectiveness of our theorems.
A Mathematical Study for the Transmission of Coronavirus Disease
Authors: Satar Huda Abdul , Naji Raid Kamel
Published: May 2023

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic’s development has presented significant societal and economic challenges. The carriers of COVID-19 transmission have also been identified as asymptomatic infected people. Yet, most epidemic models do not consider their impact when accounting for the disease’s indirect transmission. This study suggested and investigated a mathematical model replicating the spread of coronavirus disease among asymptomatic infected people. A study was conducted on every aspect of the system’s solution. The equilibrium points and the basic reproduction number were computed. The endemic equilibrium point and the disease-free equilibrium point had both undergone local stability analyses. A geometric technique was used to look into the global dynamics of the endemic point, whereas the Castillo-Chavez theorem was used to look into the global stability of the disease-free point. The system’s transcritical bifurcation at the disease-free point was discovered to exist. The system parameters were changed using the basic reproduction number’s sensitivity technique. Ultimately, a numerical simulation was used to apply the model to the population of Iraq in order to validate the findings and define the factors that regulate illness breakout.
The Fuzzy Width Theory in the Finite-Dimensional Space and Sobolev Space
Authors: Xu Yanyan , Sun Lu , Li Hao , Chen Guanggui
Published: May 2023

This paper aims to fuzzify the width problem of classical approximation theory. New concepts of fuzzy Kolmogorov n-width and fuzzy linear n-width are introduced on the basis of α-fuzzy distance which is induced by the fuzzy norm. Furthermore, the relationship between the classical widths in linear normed space and the fuzzy widths in fuzzy linear normed space is discussed. Finally, the exact asymptotic orders of the fuzzy Kolmogorov n-width and fuzzy linear n-width corresponding to a given fuzzy norm in finite-dimensional space and Sobolev space are estimated.
Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus Inhibits Inflammatory Response, Both In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Wang Lingzhi , Oliveira Catarina , Li Qiu , Ferreira Andreia S. , Nunes Cláudia , Coimbra Manuel A. , Reis Rui L. , Martins Albino , Wang Chunming , Silva Tiago H. , Feng Yanxian
Published: May 2023

Fucoidan has been reported to present diverse bioactivities, but each extract has specific features from which a particular biological activity, such as immunomodulation, must be confirmed. In this study a commercially available pharmaceutical-grade fucoidan extracted from Fucus vesiculosus, FE, was characterized and its anti-inflammatory potential was investigated. Fucose was the main monosaccharide (90 mol%) present in the studied FE, followed by uronic acids, galactose, and xylose that were present at similar values (3.8–2.4 mol%). FE showed a molecular weight of 70 kDa and a sulfate content of around 10%. The expression of cytokines by mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) revealed that the addition of FE upregulated the expression of CD206 and IL-10 by about 28 and 22 fold, respectively, in respect to control. This was corroborated in a stimulated pro-inflammatory situation, with the higher expression (60 fold) of iNOS being almost completely reversed by the addition of FE. FE was also capable of reverse LPS-caused inflammation in an in vivo mouse model, including by reducing macrophage activation by LPS from 41% of positive CD11C to 9% upon fucoidan injection. Taken together, the potential of FE as an anti-inflammatory agent was validated, both in vitro and in vivo.
Understudied Hyperphosphatemia (Chronic Kidney Disease) Treatment Targets and New Biological Approaches
Authors: Anand Ajeeta , Aoyagi Hideki
Published: May 2023

Hyperphosphatemia is a secondary disorder of chronic kidney disease that causes vascular calcifications and bone-mineral disorders. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, renal damage requires first-priority medical attention for patients with COVID-19; according to a Johns Hopkins Medicine report, SARS-CoV-2 can cause renal damage. Therefore, addressing the research inputs required to manage hyperphosphatemia is currently in great demand. This review highlights research inputs, such as defects in the diagnosis of hyperphosphatemia, flaws in understanding the mechanisms associated with understudied tertiary toxicities, less cited adverse effects of phosphate binders that question their use in the market, socioeconomic challenges of renal treatment and public awareness regarding the management of a phosphate-controlled diet, novel biological approaches (synbiotics) to prevent hyperphosphatemia as safer strategies with potential additional health benefits, and future functional food formulations to enhance the quality of life. We have not only introduced our contributions to emphasise the hidden aspects and research gaps in comprehending hyperphosphatemia but also suggested new research areas to strengthen approaches to prevent hyperphosphatemia in the near future.
Medication Adherence and Its Influencing Factors among Patients with Heart Failure: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Jarrah Mohamad , Khader Yousef , Alkouri Osama , Al-Bashaireh Ahmad , Alhalaiqa Fadwa , Al Marzouqi Ameena , Qaladi Omar Awadh , Alharbi Abdulhafith , Alshahrani Yousef Mohammed , Alqarni Aidah Sanad , Oweis Arwa
Published: May 2023

Background and objectives: The chronic nature of heart failure requires long-lasting consumption of various medications. Despite the therapeutic benefits of heart failure medications, about 50% of patients with heart failure don’t adequately adhere to their medications as prescribed globally. This study aimed to determine medication adherence levels among Jordanians with heart failure and its influencing factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 164 patients with heart failure attending cardiac clinics in the north of Jordan. The Medication Adherence Scale was used to measure medication adherence. Results: Overall, 33.5% of patients had high adherence, and 47% had partial to poor adherence. The proportion of patients with good to high adherence was significantly higher among patients younger than 60 years, having >high school level of education, being married, living with somebody, and having insurance. Conclusions: Patient-centered approach, targeting age, level of education, marital status, and health insurance coverage, should be developed using evidence-based guidelines to enhance adherence to medication and health outcomes in Jordanian patients with heart failure. The development and implementation of new and feasible strategies, particularly suited to Jordan’s healthcare system capabilities, is important to improve medication adherence.
Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement in Children: Initial Experience with a “2+1”-Port Laparoscopic-Assisted Technique
Authors: David Vlad-Laurentiu , Mussuto Elisa , Stroescu Ramona-Florina , Gafencu Mihai , Boia Eugen-Sorin
Published: May 2023

The placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) is currently a common procedure in pediatric surgeon practice, and the search for the ultimate technique never stops. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our experience with the laparoscopic PDC placement approach, performing a “2+1” (“two plus one”) technique, where the “+1” trocar is placed in an oblique manner, pointing toward the Douglas pouch when passing through the abdominal wall. This tunnel is further used to place and maintain the proper position of the PDC. Materials and methods: We assessed a cohort of five children who underwent laparoscopic-assisted PDC placement between 2018 and 2022. Results: This procedure is a simple, relatively quick, and safe technique for PDC placement. Furthermore, in our experience, concomitant omentectomy is necessary to reduce the risk of catheter obstruction and migration due to omental wrapping. Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach allows for improved visualization and more accurate placement of a catheter inside the abdominal cavity. Concomitant omental excision is necessary to prevent PDC malfunction and migration.
Mitigation of Physical Aging of Polymeric Membrane Materials for Gas Separation: A Review
Authors: Bakhtin Danila S. , Sokolov Stepan E. , Borisov Ilya L. , Volkov Vladimir V. , Volkov Alexey V. , Samoilov Vadim O.
Published: May 2023

The first commercial hollow fiber and flat sheet gas separation membranes were produced in the late 1970s from the glassy polymers polysulfone and poly(vinyltrimethyl silane), respectively, and the first industrial application was hydrogen recovery from ammonia purge gas in the ammonia synthesis loop. Membranes based on glassy polymers (polysulfone, cellulose acetate, polyimides, substituted polycarbonate, and poly(phenylene oxide)) are currently used in various industrial processes, such as hydrogen purification, nitrogen production, and natural gas treatment. However, the glassy polymers are in a non-equilibrium state; therefore, these polymers undergo a process of physical aging, which is accompanied by the spontaneous reduction of free volume and gas permeability over time. The high free volume glassy polymers, such as poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne), polymers of intrinsic microporosity PIMs, and fluoropolymers Teflon® AF and Hyflon® AD, undergo significant physical aging. Herein, we outline the latest progress in the field of increasing durability and mitigating the physical aging of glassy polymer membrane materials and thin-film composite membranes for gas separation. Special attention is paid to such approaches as the addition of porous nanoparticles (via mixed matrix membranes), polymer crosslinking, and a combination of crosslinking and addition of nanoparticles.
Development of Thin Film Fabrication Using Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Sasani Ghamsari Morteza
Published: May 2023

Due to their versatility, thin metal films are being used in many modern technologies, such as optoelectronics, microelectronics, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, sensors, actuators, and food packaging [...]
Simultaneous Improvement in Strength and Ductility of TC4 Matrix Composites Reinforced with Ti1400 Alloy and In Situ-Synthesized TiC
Authors: He Ni , Li Mingjia , Sun Guodong , Xu Junjie , Li Mingyang , Dong Longlong , Zhang Yusheng
Published: May 2023

To overcome the tradeoff between strength and ductility of materials and obtain titanium matrix composites with excellent mechanical properties, in this study, the in situ-synthesized TiC particles and Ti-Al-V-Mo-Cr (Ti1400) alloy-reinforced Ti6Al4V (TC4) matrix composites ((Ti1400 + TiC)/TC4) were fabricated by low-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering. The inhomogeneous distribution of TiC particles and Ti1400 alloy, as well as the compositional and structural transition zone, were characterized. The TiC/TC4 composite displayed a significantly higher yield strength and tensile strength compared to the TC4 alloy. However, the total elongation of the TiC/TC4 composite was only 57% of that in the TC4 alloy. In contrast, the (Ti1400 + TiC)/TC4 composites exhibited noticeably higher total elongation than the TiC/TC4 composite. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the composite increased with the increase in Ti1400 alloy content. The increase in strength can be attributed to solid solution strengthening and fine grain strengthening. The compositional and structural transition zone, formed by element diffusion, provided a better interface combination between the reinforcements and TC4 matrix. In the transition zone and Ti1400 region, a large number of α/β interfaces can effectively alleviate the stress concentration, and the increase in the β phase can bear more plastic deformation, which is conducive to improving the elongation of the composite. As a result, the (Ti1400 + TiC)/TC4 composites exhibited simultaneous improvements in strength and ductility.
Design and Optimization of Hemispherical Resonators Based on PSO-BP and NSGA-II
Authors: Liu Jinghao , Li Pinghua , Zhuang Xuye , Sheng Yunlong , Qiao Qi , Lv Mingchen , Gao Zhongfeng , Liao Jialuo
Published: May 2023

Although one of the poster children of high-performance MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) gyroscopes, the MEMS hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG) is faced with the barrier of technical and process limits, which makes it unable to form a resonator with the best structure. How to obtain the best resonator under specific technical and process limits is a significant topic for us. In this paper, the optimization of a MEMS polysilicon hemispherical resonator, designed by patterns based on PSO-BP and NSGA-II, was introduced. Firstly, the geometric parameters that significantly contribute to the performance of the resonator were determined via a thermoelastic model and process characteristics. Variety regulation between its performance parameters and geometric characteristics was discovered preliminarily using finite element simulation under a specified range. Then, the mapping between performance parameters and structure parameters was determined and stored in the BP neural network, which was optimized via PSO. Finally, the structure parameters in a specific numerical range corresponding to the best performance were obtained via the selection, heredity, and variation of NSGAII. Additionally, it was demonstrated using commercial finite element soft analysis that the output of the NSGAII, which corresponded to the Q factor of 42,454 and frequency difference of 8539, was a better structure for the resonator (generated by polysilicon under this process within a selected range) than the original. Instead of experimental processing, this study provides an effective and economical alternative for the design and optimization of high-performance HRGs under specific technical and process limits.