bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Application of Rapid Dewatering for Tailings Containing Sodium Silicate: Laboratory and Industrial Test Results
Authors: Sun Guoquan , Zhou Keping , Kang Qian , Wang Daolin , Xiao Chongchun
Published: February 2020

Focusing on the tailings containing high sodium silicate (water glass), this study conducted laboratory experiments and semi‐industrial tests of flocculation and sedimentation for rapid tailings dewatering. Various reagent combinations, lime and anionic flocculant (APAM) (L&A), sulfuric acid and APAM (S&A), and calcium chloride and APAM (C&A), were tested. The results show that (i) all the three combinations presented a good effect in the laboratory experiments, and the relatively optimum dosages were L&A of 2 kg/t & 30 g/t, S&A of 2.6 kg/t & 20 g/t, and C&A of 3 kg/t & 30 g/t. (ii) The overflow water of the L&A group became turbid after 10 hours, and the pH increased to 14. While, for the S&A and C&A groups, the solid content in overflow wastewater (SCOW) fluctuated over time but could be mostly controlled in 300 ppm. The pH declined from 7 to 4 with time in the S&A group, and it was 7‐8 in the C&A group. (iv) Thus, a backfill system with dewatering technology based on the C&A combination was designed. In the field application, the overflow water was recycled with the SCOW of less than 250 ppm and the pH of 7.5, while the underflow concentration was greater than 70 wt.%. The achievement provides a way to utilize the tailings containing sodium silicate effectively and environmentally, which will reduce the tailings dam on the Earth.
Malignant Phyllodes Tumor in an Adolescent Female: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Makar Gabriel S. , Makar Michael , Ghobrial Joanna , Bush Kathryn , Gruner Ryan Allen , Holdbrook Thomas
Published: February 2020

Primary breast neoplasms are rare in adolescent females, most of which are benign. Phyllodes tumors constitute a remarkably small subset of breast neoplasms (0.3-0.9%) with malignant phyllodes tumors being even more uncommon. Malignant phyllodes tumors tend to progress rapidly though only 1.5% metastasize. They are also associated with a higher rate of recurrence than their benign counterparts, underlying the importance of adequate surgical margins. It is therefore imperative to be able to identify these tumors early allowing for prompt resection and close follow-up. Here, we present the rare case of a 17-year-old female presenting with a rapidly enlarging breast mass, which was ultimately found to be a malignant phyllodes tumor. We further performed a review of the literature to highlight only 22 other cases reported in adolescent females.
Sensory Sub‐ and Suprathreshold TENS Exhibit No Immediate Effect on Postural Steadiness in Older Adults with No Balance Impairments
Authors: Rugelj Darja , Vidovič Marko , Vauhnik Renata
Published: February 2020

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been reported to attenuate postural sway; however, the results are inconclusive, with some indicating the effect and others not. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of sensory sub‐ and suprathreshold low‐frequency TENS applied through the plantar surface and posterior aspect of shanks on postural sway. In a group of healthy community‐dwelling older adults, TENS was delivered with two different current intensities: (1) subsensory which is below conscious perception and (2) suprasensory threshold which is within the range of conscious perception. Frequencies of the TENS stimulation were sweeping from 5 to 180 Hz and were delivered through the plantar surface and posterior shanks of both legs. Postural sway was measured with a force platform in eyes‐open and eyes‐closed conditions. To evaluate potential fast adaptability to TENS stimuli, the results were evaluated in two time intervals: 30 seconds and 60 seconds. The results indicated that TENS with the chosen frequencies and electrode placement did not affect postural sway in both the sub‐ and suprathreshold intensities of TENS, in eyes‐open and eyes‐closed conditions, and in 30‐second and 60‐second time intervals. In conclusion, given that in this study sub‐ and suprathreshold TENS applied via the plantar surface of the feet did not attenuate postural sway, it would be easy to conclude that this type of electrical stimuli is ineffective and no further research is required. We must caution against this, given the specificity of the electrode placements. We recommend that future research be performed consisting of individuals with balance impairments and with different positions of electrodes.
Evaluation of Mechanical Performances of Stents with 38 mm Length in Long Lesion
Authors: Yue Xiaoting , Guo Jiacheng , Zhang Jianchao , Cao Chang , Zhang Zenglei , Shen Deliang , Tang Junnan , Zhang Jinying
Published: February 2020

Objective. Single stent with 38 mm length has emerged as a potential solution for long lesion treatment using PCI. However, long stents need to come over a longer lesion length combined with a higher incidence of tortuous calcification, requiring a stent to provide superior transport and compliance and reduce elastic retraction. Here, we evaluated the mechanical performances of the existing four types of drug eluting stents with 38 mm length, which could provide guidance for clinicians to choose the proper stents for the patients. Methods. The stents with 38 mm length from XIENCE Xpedition (Abbott, US), SYNERGY (Boston Scientific, US), FIREHAWK (Microport, China), and HELIOS (HELIOS, China) were collected. Mechanical parameters of stents including crossing ability, compliance, elastic recoil, and longitudinal strength were performed. Results. The resistance force of stents from XIENCE Xpedition was smaller than FIREHAWK (p < 0.05), which indicates that the stent from XIENCE Xpedition has better crossing ability. The ratio of stent diameter reduction from both XIENCE Xpedition and SYNERGY was less than 3% with no statistical difference. In addition, the elastic recoil percentage of stents from SYNERGY, XIENCE Xpedition, FIREHAWK, and HELIOS was 1.16%, 2.62%, 3.66%, and 4.19%, respectively, indicating that SYNERGY had better elastic recoil compared to FIREHAWK and HELIOS (p < 0.05). Moreover, the stent from XIENCE Xpedition had less displacement under pressure with the best longitudinal strength (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The evaluation of mechanical properties for the stent with 38 mm length including crossing ability, compliance, elastic recoil, and longitudinal strength could provide reference index for more accurately clinical application for long lesion treatment.
Bionics Design of Artificial Leg and Experimental Modeling Research of Pneumatic Artificial Muscles
Authors: Xie Hualong , Li Zhijie , Li Fei
Published: February 2020

In the research and development of intelligent prosthesis, some of performance test experiments are required. In order to provide an ideal experimental platform for the performance test of intelligent prosthesis, a heterogeneous biped walking robot model is proposed. Artificial leg is an important part of heterogeneous biped walking robot, and its main function is to simulate the disabled a healthy normal gait, which provides intelligent bionic legs gait to follow the target trajectory. The pneumatic artificial muscles (PAM) have good application in the artificial leg. The bionic design of artificial leg mainly includes the structure of hip joint, knee joint, and ankle joint, adopting the four-bar mechanism as the mechanical structure of the knee joint, and PAM are used as the driving source of the knee joint. Secondly, the PAM performance test platform is built to establish the relationship among output force, shrinkage rate, and input pressure under the measured isobaric conditions, and the mathematical model of PAM is established. Finally, the virtual prototype technology is used to build a joint simulation platform, and PID control algorithm is used for verification simulation. The results show that the artificial leg can follow the target trajectory.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Deficiency Improves Endothelial Function and Cardiovascular Injury in Deoxycorticosterone Acetate/Salt‐Hypertensive Mice
Authors: Cai Ruiping , Hao Yun , Liu Yue-Yang , Huang Lei , Yao Yang , Zhou Ming-Sheng
Published: February 2020

It has been shown that the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) plays a role in the development of hypertension and end‐stage renal diseases. We hypothesize that TNFα contributes to endothelial dysfunction and cardiac and vascular injury in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt‐hypertensive mice. The wild‐type or TNFα‐deficient mice were uninephrectomized and implanted with DOCA pellet treatment for 5 weeks; the mice were given either tap water or 1% NaCl drinking water. DOCA mice developed hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP): 167 ± 5 vs. 110 ± 4 mmHg in control group, p < 0.05), cardiac and vascular hypertrophy, and the impairment of endothelium‐dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (EDR). TNFα deficiency improved EDR and lowered cardiac and vascular hypertrophy with a mild reduction in SBP (152 ± 4 vs. 167 ± 5 mmHg in DOCA group, p < 0.05) in DOCA mice. The mRNA expressions of the inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα, interleukin 1β (IL1β), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1), and monocyte/macrophage marker F4/80 were significantly increased in the aorta of DOCA‐hypertensive mice; TNFα deficiency reduced these inflammatory gene expressions. DOCA‐hypertensive mice also exhibited an increase in the vascular oxidative fluorescence intensities, the protein expressions of gp91phox and p22phox, and the fibrotic factors transforming growth factor β and fibronectin. TNFα deficiency reduced oxidative stress and fibrotic protein expressions. The DOCA mice also showed a decrease in the protein expression of eNOS associated with increased miR155 expression; TNFα deficiency prevented a decrease in eNOS expression and an increase in miR155 expression in DOCA mice. These results support the idea that TNFα significantly contributes to vascular inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and injury in hypertension.
Could a Personalized Strategy Using Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation be an Advantage for Elderly Patients? A Systematic Review of the Literature and Multidisciplinary Opinion
Authors: Tagliaferri Luca , Lancellotta Valentina , Colloca Giuseppe , Marazzi Fabio , Masiello Valeria , Garganese Giorgia , Kovács György , Valentini Vincenzo , Gambacorta Maria Antonietta
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Elderly patients are underrepresented from a majority of clinical trials and the choice of the best treatment becomes a challenge. The optimal treatment should be personalized and based on a multidisciplinary approach that includes radiation oncologists, surgeons, geriatricians, medical oncologists, social workers, and support services. The global evaluation of the patients and the creation of nomograms may facilitate the definition of long-term treatment benefits minimizing the use of unnecessary therapy. Material and Method. A systematic research using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library was performed to identify full articles analyzing the efficacy of APBI in elderly patients with breast cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for ongoing or recently completed trials, and PROSPERO was searched for ongoing or recently completed systematic reviews. Results. Seven papers fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The number of evaluated patients was 405 and the median age was 77.7 years. The disease-free survival (DFS) range was 96.1%–100%, the grade 3-4 toxicity range was 0%–6.6%, the cancer-specific survival (CSS) range was 97.9%–100%, and the overall survival (OS) range was 87%–100%. All studies reported excellent/good cosmetic results in a range of 74% to 99%. Conclusion. Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) results in a safe and effective substitute for the adjuvant external beam radiotherapy in selected elderly early-stage breast cancer patients. Based on the relatively low toxicity, APBI should be advised in selected patients with life expectancies larger than 5–10 years.
Forecasting-Aided Monitoring for the Distribution System State Estimation
Authors: Carcangiu S. , Fanni A. , Pegoraro P. A. , Sias G. , Sulis S.
Published: February 2020

In this paper, an innovative approach based on an artificial neural network (ANN) load forecasting model to improve the distribution system state estimation accuracy is proposed. High-quality pseudomeasurements are produced by a neural model fed with both exogenous and historical load information and applied in a realistic measurement scenario. Aggregated active and reactive powers of small or medium enterprises and residential loads are simultaneously predicted by a one-step ahead forecast. The correlation between the forecasted real and reactive power errors is duly kept into account in the definition of the estimator together with the uncertainty of the overall measurement chain. The beneficial effects of the ANN-based pseudomeasurements on the quality of the state estimation are demonstrated by simulations carried out on a small medium-voltage distribution grid.
trans‐Cinnamaldehyde Reverses Depressive‐Like Behaviors in Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Rats by Inhibiting NF‐κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway
Authors: Wang Meng , Yan Shuguang , Zhou Yongxue , Xie Pei
Published: February 2020

trans‐Cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is the main active component extracted from Cinnamomum cassia (C. cassia), which has many pharmacological effects, such as anti‐inflammation, lowering blood glucose, and improving nerve function. However, there is no report of TCA in the treatment of depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antidepressant‐like effect of TCA and the mechanism of NF kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by TCA. We divided 40 rats into the control group, CUMS group, FLU group, and the TCA group. The activation of the NF‐κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats in each group was observed. After the treatments with FLU and TCA, the sucrose consumptions in rats increased significantly and the immobility time in forced swimming was decreased significantly compared to the CUMS group. The expression of TLR4, NF‐κB‐1, p‐p65, TNF‐α, NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 proteins in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was decreased, and the expression of IL‐1β, IL‐18, and TNF‐α in serum was downregulated compared to the CUMS group. Similar to FLU, TCA reverses the depression‐like behaviors in rats, which indicates that TCA has a significant antidepressant‐like effect. The mechanism of the antidepressant property of TCA might be that it inhibits the activation of the NF‐κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of CUMS rats.
The Impact of Gross Motor Function on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Chandra Pani Sharat , AlEidan Saja Fahad , AlMutairi Rawan Nasser , AlAbsi AlJawharah Ali , Nasser AlMuhaidib Dalal , Faisal AlSulaiman Hessa , Waleed AlFraih Najd
Published: February 2020

Background. There is evidence that gross motor function impacts the health-related quality of life of young adults with cerebral palsy. This study aimed to assess gross motor function, oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and the relationship between them in young adults with cerebral palsy. Methods. The sample comprised 46 individuals aged between 13 and 17 years with Gross Motor Function Classification Scores (GMFCS) ranging from level I to level III. The individuals and their parents were administered an Arabic version of the child perception questionnaire for adolescents. Parental and child perception scores, DMFT, and gingival index were compared across GMFCS levels using the one-way ANOVA and Scheffe’s post hoc test. Results. Children with level III GMFCS had a significantly higher child perception score (CPQ) and parental perception score (PPQ) than those with level I or level II scores. There was a significant association between function (GMFCS) and the CPQ score in children (p=0.016). No significant associations were found between the CPQ score and either dental caries (DMFT) or gingival bleeding (GI) scores. Children with GMFCS level III had a significantly higher DMFT (p=0.002) and GI (p=0.001) scores. Conclusion. Motor function has a significant impact on both the oral health and the OHRQoL of adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy.
Heat Capacity and Thermodynamic Properties of Cesium Pentaborate Tetrahydrate
Authors: Sun Kangrui , Li Panpan , Li Long , Guo Yafei , Deng Tianlong
Published: February 2020

This paper reports the molar heat capacities of β-CsB5O8·4H2O, which were measured by an accurate adiabatic calorimeter from 298 to 373 K with a heating rate of 0.1 K/min under nitrogen atmosphere. Neither phase transition nor thermal anomalies were observed. The molar heat capacity against temperature was fitted to a polynomial equation of Cp,m (J·mol−1·K−1) = 618.07702 + 39.52669[T − (Tmax + Tmin)/2]/(Tmax − Tmin)/2] − 3.46888[(T − (Tmax + Tmin)/2)/(Tmax − Tmin)/2]2 + 7.9441[(T − (Tmax+ Tmin)/2)/(Tmax − Tmin)/2]3. The relevant thermodynamic functions of enthalpy (HT − H298.15), entropy (ST − S298.15), and Gibbs free energy (GT − G298.15) of cesium pentaborate tetrahydrate from 298 to 375 K of 5 K intervals are also obtained on the basis of relational expression equations between thermodynamic functions and the molar heat capacity.
High Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis
Authors: Liu Yong-Lin , Lu Jie-Kai , Yin Han-Peng , Xia Pei-Shan , Qiu Dong-Hai , Liang Man-Qiu , Qu Jian-Feng , Chen Yang-Kun
Published: February 2020

Background. The relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains unclear. This study assessed whether high NLR is associated with HT in this population. Methods. Data were prospectively collected for continuous patients with AIS treated with IVT and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical variables included age, sex, vascular risk factors, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, onset-to-treatment time, and initial hematologic and neuroimaging findings. HT was confirmed by imaging performed within 3 days after IVT. Symptomatic HT (sHT) was defined as NIHSS score increased by 4 points compared with that on admission according to previously published criteria. The NLR value was based on the blood examination before IVT, and high NLR was defined as ≥75th percentile. Results. The study included 285 patients (201 (70.5%) males, the mean age was 62.3 years (range 29–89)). Seventy-two (25.3%) patients presented with HT, including three (1.1%) with sHT. The median NLR was 2.700 (1.820–4.255, interquartile range). Seventy-one (24.9%) patients had a high NLR (≥4.255) on admission. Univariate analysis indicated that patients with HT had higher NIHSS scores (P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP), platelet counts, lymphocyte counts, and NLR (P<0.05), as well as a greater prevalence of high NLR than those without HT (37.5% vs. 20.7% and P=0.004). Patients with HT were more likely to have hypertension and AF. As lymphocyte counts and high NLR were highly correlated, we used two logistic regression models. In model 1 (with high NLR), NIHSS score on admission (odds ratio (OR) = 1.110, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.015–1.044, and P=0.001), AF (OR = 3.986, 95% CI = 2.095–7.585, and P<0.001), and high NLR (OR = 2.078, 95% CI = 1.078–4.003, P=0.029, sensitivity 0.375, and specificity 0.793) were significant predictors of HT. In model 2 (with lymphocyte counts), NIHSS score on admission (OR = 1.111, 95% CI = 1.050–1.175, and P<0.001), AF (OR = 3.853, 95% CI = 2.048–7.248, and P<0.001), and lymphocyte counts (OR = 0.522, 95% CI = 0.333–0.819, and P=0.005) were significantly associated with HT. Conclusions. High NLR could be a useful marker for predicting HT in AIS patients after IVT.
Partial Observer Decision Process Model for Crane-Robot Action
Authors: Khan Asif , Li Jian Ping , Haq Amin ul , Nazir Shah , Ahmad Naeem , Varish Naushad , Malik Asad , Patel Sarosh H.
Published: February 2020

The most common use of robots is to effectively decrease the human’s effort with desirable output. In the human-robot interaction, it is essential for both parties to predict subsequent actions based on their present actions so as to well complete the cooperative work. A lot of effort has been devoted in order to attain cooperative work between human and robot precisely. In case of decision making , it is observed from the previous studies that short-term or midterm forecasting have long time horizon to adjust and react. To address this problem, we suggested a new vision-based interaction model. The suggested model reduces the error amplification problem by applying the prior inputs through their features, which are repossessed by a deep belief network (DBN) though Boltzmann machine (BM) mechanism. Additionally, we present a mechanism to decide the possible outcome (accept or reject). The said mechanism evaluates the model on several datasets. Hence, the systems would be able to capture the related information using the motion of the objects. And it updates this information for verification, tracking, acquisition, and extractions of images in order to adapt the situation. Furthermore, we have suggested an intelligent purifier filter (IPF) and learning algorithm based on vision theories in order to make the proposed approach stronger. Experiments show the higher performance of the proposed model compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Prognostic Value of Hyperechoic Echo Halo in cN0 Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma and Its Correlation with Age and Gender
Authors: Zheng Xiaojuan , Jiang Yunwen , Zhao Chenyin , Peng Minxia , Qian Liyong
Published: February 2020

Purpose. To investigate the pathology and prognostic value of hyperechoic echo halo in cN0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the relationship between age, gender, and the formation of abnormal hyperechoic echo halo and cervical lymph node metastasis. Data of 97 patients who underwent surgical treatment for the first time for single PTMC between April 2016 and March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The boundary status of the PTMC was determined preoperatively. Grayscale values of the nodular center, hyperechoic echo halo, and normal thyroid tissue were acquired with Adobe Photoshop CS6 software. The histopathology of the boundary and status of the cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Formation of abnormal hyperechoic halo and cervical lymph node metastasis in relation to age and gender were explored. The abnormal hyperechoic halo mainly represents cancer cell infiltration with reactive hyperplasia of inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue. In the hyperechoic halo group, the grayscale values for the nodular center, hyperechoic echo halo, and normal thyroid tissue were 1552.6 ± 578.6, 5792.0 ± 747.6, and 3582.7 ± 759.0, respectively (P < 0.05). The cervical lymph node metastasis rate was significantly lower in patients with hyperechoic halo (15.0%) than in those without (41.6%; P < 0.05) and significantly higher in those aged <45 years (53.3%) than in those aged ≥45 years (28.4%; P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between gender and cervical lymph node metastasis or between age, gender, and hyperechoic halo formation (P > 0.05). cN0 PTMC patients with abnormal hyperechoic halo and age >45 years have a significantly reduced risk of cervical lymph node metastasis and relatively good prognosis.
NCaAC: Network Coding-Aware Admission Control for Prioritized Data Dissemination in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Wang Shujuan , Zhang Qian , Lu Shuguang
Published: February 2020

Vehicular Ad hoc NETworks (VANETs) are becoming an important part of people’s daily life, as they support a wild range of applications and have great potential in critical fields such as accident warning, traffic control and management, infotainment, and value-added services. However, the harsh and stringent transmission environment in VANETs poses a great challenge to the efficient and effective data dissemination for VANETs, which is the essential in supporting and providing the desired applications. To resolve this issue, Instantly Decodable Network Coding (IDNC) technology is applied to stand up to the tough transmission conditions and to advance the performance. This paper proposes a novel admission control method that works well with any IDNC-assisted data dissemination algorithm, to achieve fast and reliable data dissemination in VANETs. Firstly, the proposed admission control strategy classifies the safety-related applications as high priority and the user-related applications as low priority. It then conducts different admission policies on these two prioritized applications’ data. An artfully designed network coding-aware admission policy is proposed to regulate the flow of low-priority data requests and to prevent the network from congestion, through comparing the vectorized distances between the data requests and the encoding packets. Moreover, the carefully planned admission strategy is benefit for maximizing the network coding opportunities by inclining to admit requests which can contribute more to the encoding clique, thus further enhancing the system performance. Simulation results approve that the proposed admission control method achieves clear advantages in terms of delay, deadline miss ratio, and download success ratio.
Jordan Form-Based Algebraic Conditions for Controllability of Multiagent Systems under Directed Graphs
Authors: Liu Shuai , Ji Zhijian , Ma Huizi
Published: February 2020

Based on the Jordan form of system matrix, this paper discusses algebraic conditions for the controllability of the multiagent network system with directed graph from two aspects: leader-follower network attribute and coupling input disturbance. Leader-follower network attribute refers to the topology structure and information communication among agents. Coupling input disturbance includes the number of external coupling inputs and the selection of leader nodes. When the leader-follower network attribute is fixed, the selection method of coupling input disturbance is studied for the controllability, and when the coupling input disturbance is known, we derive necessity and sufficiency conditions to determine the controllability. The reliability of theoretical results is verified by numerical examples and model simulation. Besides, the generally perfect controllability is introduced, that is, the system is always controllable regardless of the number and the locations of leaders. In practical engineering applications, the perfectly controllable topology can improve the system fault tolerance and accelerate the commercialization process, which has a profound significance for promoting the modernization process.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water from Wuhai and Lingwu Sections of the Yellow River: Concentrations, Sources, and Ecological Risk
Authors: Liu Yun , Bu Qingwei , Cao Hongmei , Zhang Handan , Liu Chuansheng , He Xiaofan , Yun Mengqi
Published: February 2020

In this study, concentrations, sources, and ecological risk of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 41 surface water samples collected from Wuhai and Lingwu sections of the Yellow River were investigated. The results showed that total PAH concentrations varied from 27.5 ng/L to 234 ng/L and from 135 ng/L to 265 ng/L in surface water of Wuhai and Lingwu sections, respectively. Source identification was performed by using principal component and multiple linear regression analysis. PAHs in Wuhai section of the Yellow River were mainly from coal combustion (35%) and vehicle exhausts (34%). Ecological risk of PAHs to aquatic organisms was assessed by applying the probabilistic risk assessment method. The results showed that the probabilities of exceeding the chronic toxicity for 5% of the species were 28% and 32% for PAHs in surface water from Wuhai and Lingwu sections, respectively. It has been demonstrated that there is an urgent need for environmental managers to take measures to reduce the ecological risk of PAHs in the aquatic environment in both Wuhai and Lingwu sections of the Yellow River.
Typology of Sounding Curves and Lithological 1D Models of Mineral Prospecting and Groundwater Survey within Crystalline Basement Rocks in the East of Cameroon (Central Africa) Using Electrical Resistivity Method and Koefoed Computation Method
Authors: Gouet Daniel Hervé , Meying Arsène , Ekoro Nkoungou Harlin Leonid , Assembe Stephane Patrick , Njandjock Nouck Philippe , Ndougsa Mbarga Théophile
Published: February 2020

Resistivity method using seventy-sixth (976) Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings along forty-one (41) profiles are conducted in the Batouri and Ngoura subdivisions, East region of Cameroon, to investigate the subsurface layering, mineral potential, and groundwater resource characteristics. Results of quantitative and qualitative interpretation of data using Koefoed computation method reveal two to five layers having geometrical and electrical characteristics of geological layer models: topsoil (0.5 m<ep<3 m; 600<ρ<3000 Ω.m), lateritic soils (3<ep<20 m; 1000<ρ<4000 Ω.m); conductive layer (5<ep<110 m; 100<ρ<1000 Ω.m); fractured/weathered granite (20<ep<60 m; 1000/5000<ρ<3000/9000 Ω.m); clayey layer (5<ep<20 m; 600/1500<ρ<2000/3500 (dry) Ω.m); and fresh granites (ρ>4000 Ω.m). From the qualitative interpretation of VES curves, the subsurface layering is depicted by nine (09) types of sounding curves (G, H, A, QH, KH, HK, HA, HKH, and KHK) characterizing the vertical changes and the typology of sounding curves in the East Cameroon crystalline basements. The lithology of the subsurface is dominated (more than 80%) by geoelectrical and lithological 1D models derived by the H, QH, KH, HK, HA, HKH, and KHK curve types. These models are characterized by the presence of conductive layers and fractured/weathered granites derived from tectonic activities of the region. Also, the resistivity method (VES) applied in this study bring information about variation of the resistivity with depth, geological structures, fractures, and rupture zones in the underground until 120 m depth. These abovementioned information reveal proper hydrogeological and mining conditions for an efficient evaluation of the mineral potential and groundwater resources.
Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth‐Promoting Endophytic Bacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa SK1 from Lilium lancifolium
Authors: Khan Mohammad Sayyar , Gao Junlian , Chen Xuqing , Zhang Mingfang , Yang Fengping , Du Yunpeng , Moe The Su , Munir Iqbal , Xue Jing , Zhang Xiuhai
Published: February 2020

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium that has immense potential to be used as an environmentally friendly replacement of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In the present study, Paenibacillus polymyxa SK1 was isolated from bulbs of Lilium lancifolium. The isolated endophytic strain showed antifungal activities against important plant pathogens like Botryosphaeria dothidea, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium fujikuroi. The highest percentage of growth inhibition, i.e., 66.67 ± 2.23%, was observed for SK1 against Botryosphaeria dothidea followed by 61.19 ± 3.12%, 60.71 ± 3.53%, and 55.54 ± 2.89% against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium fujikuroi, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. The metabolite profiling of ethyl acetate fraction was assessed through the UHPLC‐LTQ‐IT‐MS/MS analysis, and putative identification was done with the aid of the GNPS molecular networking workflow. A total of 29 compounds were putatively identified which included dipeptides, tripeptides, cyclopeptides (cyclo‐(Leu‐Leu), cyclo(Pro‐Phe)), 2‐heptyl‐3‐hydroxy 4‐quinolone, 6‐oxocativic acid, anhydrobrazilic acid, 1‐(5‐methoxy‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2‐piperidin‐1‐ylethane‐1,2‐dione, octadecenoic acid, pyochelin, 15‐hydroxy‐5Z,8Z,11Z, 13E‐eicosatetraenoic acid, (Z)‐7‐[(2R,3S)‐3‐[(2Z,5E)‐Undeca‐2,5‐dienyl]oxiran‐2‐yl]hept‐5‐enoic acid, arginylasparagine, cholic acid, sphinganine, elaidic acid, gossypin, L‐carnosine, tetrodotoxin, and ursodiol. The high antifungal activity of SK1 might be attributed to the presence of these bioactive compounds. The isolated strain SK1 showed plant growth‐promoting traits such as the production of organic acids, ACC deaminase, indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, nitrogen fixation, and phosphate solubilization. IAA production was strongly correlated with the application of exogenous tryptophan concentrations in the medium. Furthermore, inoculation of SK1 enhanced plant growth of two Lilium varieties, Tresor and White Heaven, under greenhouse condition. In the light of these findings, the P. polymyxa SK1 may be utilized as a source of plant growth promotion and disease control in sustainable agriculture.
Evolutionary Hyperheuristics for Location-Routing Problem with Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery
Authors: Zhao Yanwei , Leng Longlong , Zhang Jingling , Zhang Chunmiao , Wang Wanliang
Published: February 2020

This paper presents an evolution-based hyperheuristic (EHH) for addressing the capacitated location-routing problem (CLRP) and one of its more practicable variants, namely, CLRP with simultaneous pickup and delivery (CLRPSPD), which are significant and NP-hard model in the complex logistics system. The proposed approaches manage a pool of low-level heuristics (LLH), implementing a set of simple, cheap, and knowledge-poor operators such as “shift” and “swap” to guide the search. Quantum (QS), ant (AS), and particle-inspired (PS) high-level learning strategies (HLH) are developed as evolutionary selection strategies (ESs) to improve the performance of the hyperheuristic framework. Meanwhile, random permutation (RP), tabu search (TS), and fitness rate rank-based multiarmed bandit (FRR-MAB) are also introduced as baselines for comparisons. We evaluated pairings of nine different selection strategies and four acceptance mechanisms and monitored the performance of the first four outstanding pairs in 36 pairs by solving three sets of benchmark instances from the literature. Experimental results show that the proposed approaches outperform most fine-tuned bespoke state-of-the-art approaches in the literature, and PS-AM and AS-AM perform better when compared to the rest of the pairs in terms of obtaining a good trade-off of solution quality and computing time.
Circadian Rhythm of Deaths in a Cardiology Department: A Five-Year Analysis
Authors: Vicent Lourdes , González-Casal David , Bruña Vanesa , Devesa Carolina , García-Carreño Jorge , Sousa-Casasnovas Iago , Juárez Miriam , Fernández-Avilés Francisco , Martínez-Sellés Manuel
Published: February 2020

Background: Previous studies have described a circadian pattern of death from cardiovascular causes with a morning peak. Our aim is to describe the daytime oscillations in mortality in hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Our retrospective registry including all patients who died in the Cardiology Department, including the cardiac intensive care unit, Madrid, Spain. Results: From a total of 500 patients, time of death was registered in 373 (74.6%), which are the focus of our study; 354 (70.8%) died in the cardiac intensive care unit and 146 (29.2%) in the conventional ward. Mean age was 74.2 ± 13.1 years, and 239 (64.1%) were male. Cardiovascular causes were the leading cause of death (308 patients; 82.6%). Mortality followed a circadian biphasic pattern with a peak at dawn (00.00–05.59 a.m.: 104 patients [27.9%]) and in the afternoon (12.00–17.59 p.m.: 135 patients [36.2%]), irrespective of the cause of death. The peak of mortality occurred in the afternoon (12.00–17.59 p.m.) in the case of cardiovascular mortality (119 deaths [38.6%]) and in the evening (18.00–23.59 p.m.) for non-cardiovascular deaths (21 deaths [32.3%], p = 0.03). This pattern was present regardless from the place of death (conventional ward or cardiac intensive care unit) and also throughout the four seasons. Conclusions: Mortality in hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases follows a circadian biphasic pattern.
Do Rodapé à Rodapé: crítica literária e contemporaneidade
Authors: Hossne Andrea Saad
Published: February 2020

No início do século XXI, pesquisadores ligados majoritariamente à USP, sobretudo à área de Teoria Literária e Literatura Comparada, fundada por Antonio Candido, criaram e publicaram uma revista de crítica de literatura brasileira contemporânea que, desde o título, Rodapé (referência à atividade do crítico nos rodapés de jornais), dialogava com a obra de Candido. No centenário do autor, busca-se uma reflexão acerca desse diálogo no que ele teve de problemático e nas questões que enseja para as relações entre crítica e literatura contemporânea.
Differences in Diagnostic Evaluation in Women and Men After Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Bruce Samuel S. , Merkler Alexander E. , Bassi Meenakshi , Chen Monica L. , Salehi Omran Setareh , Navi Babak B. , Kamel Hooman
Published: February 2020

Background

Sex differences have been found in stroke risk factors, incidence, treatment, and outcomes. There are conflicting data on whether diagnostic evaluation for stroke may differ between men and women.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective cohort study using inpatient and outpatient claims between 2008 and 2016 from a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. We included patients ≥65 years old and hospitalized with ischemic stroke, defined by
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
(

ICD
‐9‐
CM

) and

ICD
‐10‐
CM

diagnosis codes. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between female sex and the odds of diagnostic testing and specialist evaluation, adjusted for age, race, and number of Charlson comorbidities. Among 78 822 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 58.3% (95%
CI
, 57.9–58.6%) were women. Female sex was associated with decreased odds of intracranial vessel imaging (odds ratio [
OR
]: 0.94; 95%
CI
, 0.91–0.97), extracranial vessel imaging (
OR:
0.89; 95%
CI
, 0.86–0.92), heart‐rhythm monitoring (
OR:
0.92; 95%
CI
, 0.87–0.98), echocardiography (
OR:
0.92; 95%
CI
, 0.89–0.95), evaluation by a neurologist (
OR:
0.94; 95%
CI
, 0.91–0.97), and evaluation by a vascular neurologist (
OR:
0.94; 95%
CI
, 0.90–0.97), after adjustment for age, race, and comorbidities. These findings were unchanged in separate sensitivity analyses excluding patients who died during the index hospitalization or were discharged to hospice and excluding patients with atrial fibrillation diagnosed before their index stroke.

Conclusions

In a nationally representative cohort of Medicare beneficiaries, we found that women with acute ischemic stroke were less likely to be evaluated by stroke specialists and less likely to undergo standard diagnostic testing compared with men.
A Compositional Neural Architecture for Language
Authors: Martin Andrea E.
Published: February 2020

Hierarchical structure and compositionality imbue human language with unparalleled expressive power and set it apart from other perception–action systems. However, neither formal nor neurobiological models account for how these defining computational properties might arise in a physiological system. I attempt to reconcile hierarchy and compositionality with principles from cell assembly computation in neuroscience; the result is an emerging theory of how the brain could convert distributed perceptual representations into hierarchical structures across multiple timescales while representing interpretable incremental stages of (de)compositional meaning. The model's architecture—a multidimensional coordinate system based on neurophysiological models of sensory processing—proposes that a manifold of neural trajectories encodes sensory, motor, and abstract linguistic states. Gain modulation, including inhibition, tunes the path in the manifold in accordance with behavior and is how latent structure is inferred. As a consequence, predictive information about upcoming sensory input during production and comprehension is available without a separate operation. The proposed processing mechanism is synthesized from current models of neural entrainment to speech, concepts from systems neuroscience and category theory, and a symbolic-connectionist computational model that uses time and rhythm to structure information. I build on evidence from cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling that suggests a formal and mechanistic alignment between structure building and neural oscillations, and moves toward unifying basic insights from linguistics and psycholinguistics with the currency of neural computation.
No Solidarity without Loyalty: Why Do Member States Violate EU Migration and Asylum Law and What Can Be Done?
Authors: Goldner Lang Iris
Published: February 2020

The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it will display an ever-increasing phenomenon of Member States’ infringements of EU migration and asylum law as an instance of the violation of the principle of solidarity and discuss the reasons behind it. It will be suggested that EU inter-state solidarity is just as much about respecting EU law, as it is about helping each other, as the latter cannot subsist without the former. Second, the paper will consider whether the existing mechanisms of reducing the number of violations are sufficient and discuss the new mechanisms that are being developed—particularly the rule of law conditionality and other conditionality instruments. When addressing the reasons behind the frequent violations, the text will identify two groups of reasons, the first group being applicable to the whole of EU law, and the second one specifically to EU migration and asylum law. In this context, Member States’ violations will be construed as the process of political withdrawal or retrenchment from certain parts of the commonly adopted EU migration and asylum law. This will be explained by relying on the notion of “spillback” or disintegration (as opposed to further European integration based on the neofunctionalist concept of “spillover” effect into more policy areas) and on the concepts of “exit” and “voice” conceived by Albert Hirschman and developed further by Joseph Weiler in his seminal work “The Transformation of Europe”.
Mergers or State Aid: Firms in Difficulty Trade-off to Avoid Bankruptcy
Authors: Rey Juliette
Published: February 2020

This article analyzes one aspect of the trade-off between state aid and mergers faced by ailing firms when they want to avoid bankruptcy. It questions the existence of strategic aid made with the unique goal of influencing the competition authority’s beliefs regarding the competition. To analyze those aids, we create a model in which an authority is trying to deter strategic aid while being uninformed about competition. We show that when firms in difficulty know about the authority’s beliefs regarding competition, they implement strategic aid. The authority is able to deter them, but has to choose between deterring them and maximizing firms’ survival. When firms do not know the authority’s beliefs, strategic aid exists, and the authority is not able to minimize the percentage of aid. Nevertheless, the authority is efficient since simulations show that less than 1% of firms in difficulty are implementing strategic aid, thanks to this policy.
Impact of Extended- Versus Intermittent-Infusion Cefepime on Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Cosimi Reese A. , Howe Zachary W. , Saum Lindsay M.
Published: February 2020

Background: Pharmacodynamic models support potential improved antimicrobial pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic goal attainment in patients treated with extended-infusion (EI) versus intermittent-infusion (II) cefepime. Small clinical studies demonstrate inconsistent findings in patient outcomes, necessitating a deeper review of this administration method. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing patients receiving EI versus II cefepime between September 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary objectives included length of hospital and ICU stay, time to defervescence, duration of therapy, duration of mechanical ventilation, and readmission rate. Subgroup analyses for the primary objective were conducted based on comorbid burden and isolate susceptibilities. Results: No statistically significant differences were noted in the 645 included patients for the primary outcome between the EI and II groups (7.8% vs 10.4%, P = .32). Median length of stay was 9 days (IQR 12) versus 11 days (IQR 14) ( P = .30), respectively. In addition, statistical significance was not seen in any of the subgroups for the primary outcome including patients with APACHE II score ≥ 20 (17.4% vs 30.6%, P = .26) and for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.9% vs 20.0%, P = .23) or Enterobacteriaceae (11.1% vs 20.0%, P = .13) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 4. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were noted between EI and II groups, although benefits in specific subpopulations may exist when these results are correlated with findings from studies examining alternative antipseudomonal beta lactams.
Habitability in Berthing Compartments and Well-Being of Sailors Working on U.S. Navy Surface Ships
Authors: Matsangas Panagiotis , Shattuck Nita Lewis
Published: February 2020

Objective

The study had two objectives: (a) to assess the prevalence of sleep-related habitability concerns in the berthing compartments of U.S. Navy surface ships and (b) to assess whether habitability issues in berthing compartments affected the sleep and well-being of crew members.

Background

The importance of habitability for human well-being is recognized. Little is known, however, about the association between habitability factors in the sleeping/berthing compartments and sailor well-being in operational conditions.

Method

Fit-for-duty sailors ( N = 1,269; from six ships) participated in this naturalistic and longitudinal study. Sailors reported habitability factors affecting their sleep and completed four standardized questionnaires to assess daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, and mood. Sleep was assessed through wrist-worn actigraphy and activity logs.

Results

Noise, ambient temperature, poor bedding conditions, and ambient light were the most frequently reported factors of concern. Compared to their peers with fewer complaints, sailors with more habitability-related complaints were more likely to have elevated daytime sleepiness (by 23%) and to report insomnia symptoms (145%) and lower sleep quality (21%). Sailors who reported more habitability-related issues also tended to sleep longer. Individuals with more complaints about habitability also tended to report worse mood (total mood disturbance, tension/anxiety, depression, fatigue, and confusion/bewilderment).

Conclusion

Habitability-related complaints are associated with sailor well-being and sleep. Future studies should expound on the various detrimental factors that degrade conditions in berthing compartments and negatively impact crew well-being.

Application

Habitability in berthing compartments of surface ships is associated with sailors’ daytime sleepiness, insomnia severity, mood, and sleep attributes. Ship designers should take these findings into consideration and investigate viable and cost-effective methods to mitigate the problems we identified.
Book review: Poverty, Chronic Poverty and Poverty Dynamics: Policy Implications by Aasha Kapur Mehta, Shashank Bhide, Anand Kumar and Amita Shah
Authors: Arora Dolly
Published: February 2020

Poverty, Chronic Poverty and Poverty Dynamics: Policy Implications by Aasha Kapur Mehta, Shashank Bhide, Anand Kumar and Amita Shah (Eds.), Singapore: Springer, 2018, XXIX, 254 pp., EU 114.39 (Hardcover); ₹1176 (Kindle edition in India). ISBN: 978-981-13-0676-1; eBook ISBN: 978-981-13-0677-8.