bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Interplay between Anticholinergic Burden and Anemia in Relation to 1-Year Mortality among Older Patients Discharged from Acute Care Hospitals
Authors: Corsonello Andrea , Soraci Luca , Corica Francesco , Lago Valeria , Misuraca Clementina , Onder Graziano , Volpato Stefano , Ruggiero Carmelinda , Cherubini Antonio , Lattanzio Fabrizia
Published: October 2021

Anticholinergic burden (ACB) and anemia were found associated with an increased risk of death among older patients. Additionally, anticholinergic medications may contribute to the development of anemia. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the prognostic interplay of ACB and anemia among older patients discharged from hospital. Our series consisted of 783 patients enrolled in a multicenter observational study. The outcome of the study was 1 year mortality. ACB was assessed by an Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden score. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin < 13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women. The association between study variables and mortality was investigated by Cox regression analysis. After adjusting for several potential confounders, ACB score = 2 or more was significantly associated with the outcome in anemic patients (HR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.13–3.40), but not non anemic patients (HR = 1.51, 95%CI = 0.65–3.48). An additive prognostic interaction between ACB and anemia was observed (p = 0.02). Anemia may represent a relevant effect modifier in the association between ACB and mortality.
Performance of Fetal Cardiac Volume Derived from VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-Aided AnaLysis) in Predicting Hemoglobin (Hb) Bart’s Disease
Authors: Thammavong Keooudone , Luewan Suchaya , Tongsong Theera
Published: October 2021

Objective: To determine the performance of fetal cardiac volume (CV) in the detection of fetal Hb Bart’s disease among fetuses at risk at 18–22 weeks of gestation and to compare the performance with those of cardiothoracic diameter ratio (CTR) and middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV). Methods: Fetuses at risk of Hb Bart’s disease between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation prospectively underwent echocardiography with acquisition of the volume datasets (VDS) of fetal heart, using 4D-cardiac STIC. Subsequently, off-line analysis was blindly performed to measure cardiac volume using the VOCAL technique. Results: A total of 502 fetuses at risk meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis, consisting of 117 (23.3%) fetuses with Hb Bart’s disease and 385 (76.7%) unaffected fetuses. The mean (±SD) gestational age at the time of ultrasound examination was 19.70 ± 1.3 weeks. In predicting fetal Hb Bart’s disease, CV, using a cut-off Z-score of 1.7, had a sensitivity of 94.9% and specificity of 94.0%. The performance of CV was slightly better than that of CTR but very superior to that of MCA-PSV (areas under curve: 0.988, 0.974 and 0.862, respectively). Conclusions: Fetal CV has a very high performance in predicting fetal Hb Bart’s disease at mid-pregnancy, comparable with CTR and much better than MCA-PSV.
A Systematic Review on Detraining Effects after Balance and Fall Prevention Interventions
Authors: Modaberi Shaghayegh , Saemi Esmaeel , Federolf Peter A. , van Andel Steven
Published: October 2021

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, lockdowns have been implemented to fight off infections in countries around the world. Whilst this measure is without a doubt effective against spreading infection, it might also decrease participation in exercise. For older adults, exercise is particularly important in the prevention of falls, and sudden detraining because of a lockdown or due to other causes might have detrimental consequences. This systematic review study aims to assess what is currently known on detraining effects for balance outcomes. Nine studies were included within this review. Results suggest that detraining effects could already be significant as early as 4 weeks after stopping the intervention. Programs that specifically focus on improving balance were more robust against detraining, with most positive effects still being present after 8 weeks. However, even with a specific focus on balance, studies started to show some signs of detraining. The current study is limited by the low number of included studies in the review, indicating a need to further confirm these results.
Design of Diamond Bits Water Passage System and Simulation of Bottom Hole Fluid Are Applied to Seafloor Drill
Authors: Wang Jialiang , Qian Dilei , Sun Yang , Peng Fenfei
Published: October 2021

The performance of the diamond bit directly affects the drilling efficiency of the seafloor drill. The drill bits used in land drilling are prone to abnormal wear, low coring efficiency, and large sample disturbance in marine exploration. At first, in this paper, the operation and formation characteristics of a seafloor drill are utilized to design a water passage system for bottom-jetting diamond bits based on the multi-objective optimization theory. Additionally, then, fluid dynamics theory and the effects of bit rotation on the flow field at the hole bottom were used to analyze the impact of structural and drilling parameters of the HQ-size bit on the flow field of the waterway system. The linear regression equation of the influence of drilling parameters on the bottom hole velocity field and pressure field is obtained. Finally, a field drilling test of the drill bit was carried out. Considering the effect of the grinding length ratio of the bit on the lopsided wear of the inner and outer diameters, the water passage system parameter design and maximum projection area of the cutting tooth are effective optimization goals to improve the normal service life of the bit. The flow field of the drilling fluid at the hole bottom becomes more turbulent and the efficiency of the carrying cuttings return decreases as the waterway height of the bit increases. The optimal bit rotation speed is 250–400 rpm. When drilling into conventional formations, the pump displacement should be controlled within the range of 50–80 L/min. When drilling into sediment formations, the pump displacement should be controlled within the range of 50–65 L/min. An on-site drilling test verified the rationality of the bit water passage system. This work may enrich the existing theories and designs of the water passage system.
Investigating Candida glabrata Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Mice Using Bioluminescence Imaging
Authors: Schrevens Sanne , Sanglard Dominique
Published: October 2021

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common and mainly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli. However, when patients have urinary catheters, fungal infections comprise up to 15% of these types of infections. Moreover, fungal UTIs have a high mortality, due to rapid spreading of the fungi to the kidneys. Most fungal UTIs are caused by Candida species, among which Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are the most common. C. glabrata is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast, phylogenetically quite close to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Even though it is commonly isolated from the urinary tract and rapidly acquires resistance to antifungals, its pathogenesis has not been studied extensively in vivo. In vivo studies require high numbers of animals, which can be overcome by the use of non-invasive imaging tools. One such tool, bioluminescence imaging, has been used successfully to study different types of C. albicans infections. For C. glabrata, only biofilms on subcutaneously implanted catheters have been imaged using this tool. In this work, we investigated the progression of C. glabrata UTIs from the bladder to the kidneys and the spleen. Furthermore, we optimized expression of a red-shifted firefly luciferase in C. glabrata for in vivo use. We propose the first animal model using bioluminescence imaging to visualize C. glabrata in mouse tissues. Additionally, this UTI model can be used to monitor antifungal activity in vivo over time.
Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation with or without Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Grajek Stefan , Kałużna-Oleksy Marta , Siller-Matula Jolanta M. , Grajek Maksymilian , Michalak Michał
Published: October 2021

The study aimed to assess the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and major adverse cardiac events during non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) compared to warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), both treated and not treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In a systematic search, we selected eight randomized clinical trials with a total of 81,943 patients. Dabigatran, compared to warfarin, significantly increased the risk of MI (relative risk [RR] 1.38, 95% CI 1.14–1.67), while the FXa inhibitors’ effect did not differ significantly from warfarin (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.86–1.09). The RR comparison between analyzed subgroups (dabigatran vs. FXa inhibitors) showed a significant difference (Chi2 = 9.51, df = 1, p = 0.002). In a network meta-analysis, dabigatran 110 mg b.i.d. increased the risk of MI compared to warfarin, apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban. Also, dabigatran 150 mg b.i.d. increased the risk of MI compared to warfarin, apixaban, and rivaroxaban. Moreover, we tried to estimate the treatment ranking of the best therapy for MI prevention in patients with AF treated with PCI. Rivaroxaban had a 90% probability of being ranked the best therapy for MI prevention, whereas dabigatran 110 mg had an 8.2% probability. Dabigatran 150 mg was the most effective in stroke prevention (94% probability). Each NOAC is associated with a different risk of MI. Furthermore, we should consider FXa inhibitors as the first line NOACs in AF and coronary artery disease patients. PROSPERO ID CRD42020179808.
Spatial Distribution Equilibrium and Relationship between Construction Land Expansion and Basic Education Schools in Shanghai Based on POI Data
Authors: Zhang Zhenchao , Luan Weixin , Tian Chuang , Su Min , Li Zeyang
Published: October 2021

Basic education is about improving the quality of life of a country’s population and promote social cohesions, and it is also an important factor in shaping a country and region’s person-to-person relationship. This study analyzes the spatial morphological patterns, aggregation characteristics, and distribution inequality among kindergarten, elementary, and junior high schools within districts in Shanghai, using point of interest data, kernel density estimation, Ripley’s K-function, location quotient, and grid analysis to investigate the effect on the distribution of schools using construction land growth data. The findings were as follows. (1) There was little difference in the spatial distribution characteristics of the three school types. They all exhibited the spatial distribution characteristics of core area clustering and the coexistence of multiple circadian layers, in which both the agglomeration size and the aggregation intensity showed the order of kindergarten > elementary school > junior high schools. The spatial distribution characteristics of the three types of schools are highly positively correlated with the population distribution. (2) Spatially, low-level schools were adjacent to high-level schools, and the structure of the three school types showed an uneven distribution overall. The aggregation characteristics of the seven inner districts within Shanghai were relatively balanced, while Pudong District showed the phenomenon of being “high in the southeast and low in the northeast”, and the suburban areas showed an uneven distribution of core district aggregation overall. (3) The longer the construction land growth cycle, the greater the density of school points, and the more consistent the distribution of school points with the direction of construction land expansion.
Phenological Variation in Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata): Implications for Seed Sourcing, Harvest, and Restoration
Authors: Prive Kathryn , Orr Matthew R. , Kilkenny Francis F. , Reuter Ronald J. , Prendeville Holly R.
Published: October 2021

To reduce maladaptation in cultivated seed lots, seed transfer zones (STZs) have been developed for grasslands and other habitats using morphological traits and phenological measurements that only capture the first day of events such as flowering and seed ripening. Phenology is closely linked to plant fitness and may affect genetic loss during harvests of seed raised for ecological restoration. Here, we measured the detailed phenologies of 27 populations from six STZs of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) (Pursh) Á. Löve (Poaceae) raised in a common garden to test whether existing STZs created using a combination of plant morphology and “first-day” phenological measurements adequately capture population-level variation in season-long, detailed phenologies. We also used detailed phenologies to test whether genetic losses may occur during single-pass harvests of commercial seed. Mixed and random effect models revealed differences in detailed reproductive phenology among populations within two of six STZs. The number of individual plants within an STZ not producing harvestable seed during peak harvest levels indicated that 10–27% of individuals from a seed lot could be excluded from a single-pass harvest. Although our findings generally support current STZ delineations for P. spicata, they point to the possible precautionary importance of sourcing from multiple populations and harvesting with multiple passes when resources permit.
Recent State Policy and Its Impact on Geopark Establishment and Operation in Slovakia
Authors: Lukáč Marián , Štrba Ľubomír , Černega Alexander , Khouri Samer
Published: October 2021

The geological evolution and structure of the territory of Slovakia plays a key role in the current geodiversity of the country. The importance of this key element of the environment is widely and most effectively represented in geoparks. This paper is devoted to the state policy of geopark establishment and operation in Slovakia. Despite the relatively well-established concept of geoparks in the world, its position is not entirely clear in Slovak legislation. So, both bottom-up initiatives and top-down strategies are not quite successful in geopark operations, especially when considering the sustainability of Slovak geoparks. The possible future position of geoparks in Slovakia, in terms of state policies, may be found (as discussed in this paper) in adopting specific legislation which will effectively support the development of these potential (geo)tourist areas, contributing to both sustainable tourism development and nature protection.
Evaluation of a Novel Dorsal-Cemented Technique for Atlantoaxial Stabilisation in 12 Dogs
Authors: Tabanez Joana , Gutierrez-Quintana Rodrigo , Kaczmarska Adriana , José-López Roberto , Nadal Veronica Gonzalo , Rotter Carina , Leblond Guillaume
Published: October 2021

Dorsal atlantoaxial stabilisation (DAAS) has mostly been described to treat atlantoaxial instability using low stiffness constructs in dogs. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and surgical outcome of a rigid cemented DAAS technique using bone corridors that have not previously been reported. The medical records of 12 consecutive dogs treated with DAAS were retrospectively reviewed. The method involved bi-cortical screws placed in at least four of eight available bone corridors, embedded in polymethylmethacrylate. Screw placement was graded according to their position and the degree of the breach from the intended bone corridor. All DAAS procedures were completed successfully. A total of 72 atlantoaxial screws were placed: of those, 51 (70.8%) were optimal, 17 (23.6%) were suboptimal, and 4 (5.6%) were graded as hazardous (including 2 minor breaches of the vertebral canal). Surgical outcome was assessed via a review of client questionnaires, neurological examination, and postoperative CT images. The clinical outcome was considered good to excellent in all but one case that displayed episodic discomfort despite the appropriate atlantoaxial reduction. A single construct failure was identified despite a positive clinical outcome. This study suggests the proposed DAAS is a viable alternative to ventral techniques. Prospective studies are required to accurately compare the complication and success rate of both approaches.
Ischemic Heart Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis—Two Conditions, the Same Background
Authors: Rezuș Elena , Macovei Luana Andreea , Burlui Alexandra Maria , Cardoneanu Anca , Rezuș Ciprian
Published: October 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most frequent inflammatory rheumatic diseases, having a considerably increased prevalence of mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). RA patients have an augmented risk for ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease. Increased cardiovascular (CV) risk is related to disease activity and chronic inflammation. Traditional risk factors and RA-related characteristics participate in vascular involvement, inducing subclinical changes in coronary microcirculation. RA is considered an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial dysfunction is a precocious marker of atherosclerosis (ATS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNFα, IL-1, and IL-6) play an important role in synovial inflammation and ATS progression. Therefore, targeting inflammation is essential to controlling RA and preventing CVD. Present guidelines emphasize the importance of disease control, but studies show that RA- treatment has a different influence on CV risk. Based on the excessive risk for CV events in RA, permanent evaluation of CVD in these patients is critical. CVD risk calculators, designed for the general population, do not use RA-related predictive determinants; also, new scores that take into account RA-derived factors have restricted validity, with none of them encompassing imaging modalities or specific biomarkers involved in RA activity.
Cardiac Transplantation and the Use of Cannabis
Authors: Shah Hirak , Fraser Meg , Agdamag Arianne C. , Maharaj Valmiki , Nzemenoh Bellony , Martin Cindy M. , Alexy Tamas , Garry Daniel J.
Published: October 2021

Cardiac transplantation requires the careful allocation of a limited number of precious organs. Therefore, it is critical to select candidates that will receive the greatest anticipated medical benefit but will also serve as the best stewards of the organ. Individual transplant teams have established prerequisites pertaining to recreational drug, tobacco, alcohol, and controlled substance use in potential organ recipients and post-transplantation. Legalization of cannabis and implementation of its prescription-based use for the management of patients with chronic conditions have been increasing over the past years. Center requirements regarding abstinence from recreational and medical cannabis use vary due to rapidly changing state regulations, as well as the lack of clinical safety data in this population. This is evident by the results of the multicenter survey presented in this paper. Developing uniform guidelines around cannabis use will be imperative not only for providers but also for patients.
Perspective on Stem Cell Therapy in Organ Fibrosis: Animal Models and Human Studies
Authors: Wiśniewska Joanna , Sadowska Agnieszka , Wójtowicz Anna , Słyszewska Magda , Szóstek-Mioduchowska Anna
Published: October 2021

Tissue fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components that result from the disruption of regulatory processes responsible for ECM synthesis, deposition, and remodeling. Fibrosis develops in response to a trigger or injury and can occur in nearly all organs of the body. Thus, fibrosis leads to severe pathological conditions that disrupt organ architecture and cause loss of function. It has been estimated that severe fibrotic disorders are responsible for up to one-third of deaths worldwide. Although intensive research on the development of new strategies for fibrosis treatment has been carried out, therapeutic approaches remain limited. Since stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), show remarkable self-renewal, differentiation, and immunomodulatory capacity, they have been intensively tested in preclinical studies and clinical trials as a potential tool to slow down the progression of fibrosis and improve the quality of life of patients with fibrotic disorders. In this review, we summarize in vitro studies, preclinical studies performed on animal models of human fibrotic diseases, and recent clinical trials on the efficacy of allogeneic and autologous stem cell applications in severe types of fibrosis that develop in lungs, liver, heart, kidney, uterus, and skin. Although the results of the studies seem to be encouraging, there are many aspects of cell-based therapy, including the cell source, dose, administration route and frequency, timing of delivery, and long-term safety, that remain open areas for future investigation. We also discuss the contemporary status, challenges, and future perspectives of stem cell transplantation for therapeutic options in fibrotic diseases as well as we present recent patents for stem cell-based therapies in organ fibrosis.
Identification of Novel Potential VEGFR-2 Inhibitors Using a Combination of Computational Methods for Drug Discovery
Authors: Al-Sanea Mohammad M. , Chilingaryan Garri , Abelyan Narek , Sargsyan Arsen , Hovhannisyan Sargis , Gasparyan Hayk , Gevorgyan Smbat , Albogami Sarah , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Farag Ahmed K. , Mohamed Ahmed A. B. , El-Damasy Ashraf K.
Published: October 2021

The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) is largely recognized as a potent therapeutic molecular target for the development of angiogenesis-related tumor treatment. Tumor growth, metastasis and multidrug resistance highly depends on the angiogenesis and drug discovery of the potential small molecules targeting VEGFR-2, with the potential anti-angiogenic activity being of high interest to anti-cancer research. Multiple small molecule inhibitors of the VEGFR-2 are approved for the treatment of different type of cancers, with one of the most recent, tivozanib, being approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the endogenous and acquired resistance of the protein, toxicity of compounds and wide range of side effects still remain critical issues, which lead to the short-term clinical effects and failure of antiangiogenic drugs. We applied a combination of computational methods and approaches for drug design and discovery with the goal of finding novel, potential and small molecule inhibitors of VEGFR2, as alternatives to the known inhibitors’ chemical scaffolds and components. From studying several of these compounds, the derivatives of pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one and isoindoline-1,3-dione in particular were identified.
One New Species and Two New Host Records of Apiospora from Bamboo and Maize in Northern Thailand with Thirteen New Combinations
Authors: Tian Xingguo , Karunarathna Samantha C. , Mapook Ausana , Promputtha Itthayakorn , Xu Jianchu , Bao Danfeng , Tibpromma Saowaluck
Published: October 2021

The genus Apiospora is known as a cosmopolitan genus, found across various substrates. In this study, four Apiospora taxa were obtained from the decaying stems of bamboo and maize in northern Thailand. Apiospora collections were compared with known species based on the morphological characteristics and the DNA sequence data of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the partial large subunit nuclear rDNA (LSU), the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1-α) and beta-tubulins (TUB2). Apiospora chiangraiense sp. nov. and two new host records (Ap. intestini and Ap. rasikravindra) are introduced here based on the morphological characteristics and multi-locus analyses. Additionally, thirteen species previously identified as Arthrinium are introduced as new combinations in Apiospora, viz., Ap. acutiapica, Ap. bambusicola, Ap. biserialis, Ap. cordylines, Ap. cyclobalanopsidis, Ap. euphorbiae, Ap. gelatinosa, Ap. locuta-pollinis, Ap. minutispora, Ap. pseudorasikravindrae, Ap. septate, Ap. setariae and Ap. sorghi.
Incorporation of Barium Ions into Biomaterials: Dangerous Liaison or Potential Revolution?
Authors: Kovrlija Ilijana , Locs Janis , Loca Dagnija
Published: October 2021

In the present manuscript, a brief overview on barium, its possible utilization, and the aftermath of its behavior in organisms has been presented. As a bivalent cation, barium has the potential to be used in a myriad of biochemical reactions. A number of studies have exhibited both the unwanted outcome barium displayed and the advantages of barium laden compounds, tested in in vitro and in vivo settings. The plethora of prospective manipulations covered the area of hydrogels and calcium phosphates, with an end goal of examining barium’s future in the tissue engineering. However, majority of data revert to the research conducted in the 20th century, without investigating the mechanisms of action using current state-of-the-art technology. Having this in mind, set of questions that are needed for possible future research arose. Can barium be used as a substitute for other biologically relevant divalent cations? Will the incorporation of barium ions hamper the execution of the essential processes in the organism? Most importantly, can the benefits outweigh the harm?
The Effect of Displacement Amplitude on Fretting Wear Behavior and Damage Mechanism of Alloy 690 in Different Gaseous Atmospheres
Authors: Xin Long , Kang Lanzheng , Bian Weiwei , Zhang Mengyang , Jiang Qinglei , Shoji Tetsuo
Published: October 2021

The effect of displacement amplitude on fretting wear behavior and damage mechanisms of alloy 690 in air and nitrogen atmospheres was investigated in detail. The results showed that in air, the friction coefficient gradually increased with the increase in displacement amplitude which conformed to the universal law. In nitrogen, however, it had the highest point at the displacement amplitude of 60 μm due to very strong adhesion. Whether in air or nitrogen, the wear volume gradually increased with the increase in displacement amplitude. The wear volume in air was larger than that in nitrogen except at 30 μm. At 30 μm, the wear volume in air was slightly smaller. With an increase in displacement amplitude, a transformation of fretting running status between partial slip, mixed stick-slip, and final gross slip occurred along with the change of Ft-D curves from linear, to elliptic, to, finally, parallelogrammical. Correspondingly, the fretting regime changed from a partial slip regime to a mixed regime to a gross slip regime. With the increase in displacement amplitude, the transition from partial slip to gross slip in nitrogen was delayed as compared with in air due to the strong adhesion actuated by low oxygen content in a reducing environment. Whether in air or nitrogen, the competitive relation between fretting-induced fatigue and fretting-induced wear was prominent. The cracking velocity was more rapid than the wear. Fretting-induced fatigue dominated at 30 μm in air but at 30–60 μm in nitrogen. Fretting-induced wear won the competition at 45–90 μm in air but at 75–90 μm in nitrogen.
Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized with the Peel Extract of Mango
Authors: Xing Yage , Liao Xingmei , Liu Xiaocui , Li Wenxiu , Huang Ruihan , Tang Jing , Xu Qinglian , Li Xuanlin , Yu Jinze
Published: October 2021

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from biological waste, as well as their excellent antibacterial properties, is currently attracting significant research attention. This study synthesized AgNPs from different mango peel extract concentrations while investigating their characteristics and antibacterial properties. The results showed that the AgNPs were irregular with rod-like, spherical shapes and were detected in a range of 25 nm to 75 nm. The AgNPs displayed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), showing a more significant impact when synthesized with 0.20 g/mL of mango peel extract. Therefore, the antibacterial effect of different diluted AgNP concentrations on the growth kinetic curves of E. coli and S. aureus after synthesis with 0.20 g/mL mango peel extract was analyzed. The results indicated that the AgNP antibacterial activity was higher against S. aureus than against E. coli, while the AgNP IC50 in these two strains was approximately 1.557 mg/mL and 2.335 mg/L, respectively. This research provides new insights regarding the use of postharvest mango byproducts and the potential for developing additional AgNP composite antibacterial materials for fruit and vegetable preservation.
A Comparative Analysis of Chemical, Thermal, and Mechanical Post-Process of Fused Filament Fabricated Polyetherimide Parts for Surface Quality Enhancement
Authors: Chueca de Bruijn Ariadna , Gómez-Gras Giovanni , Pérez Marco A.
Published: October 2021

Additive manufacturing technologies are increasingly being used in production systems because they shorten product development time and production cost, but surface integrity remains a limitation to meet the standards set by conventional manufacturing. In this research article, two chemical, one thermal, and three mechanical finishing operations are proposed to post-process fused filament fabricated Ultem 9085 parts. Their effects on the parts’ surface quality and dimensional accuracy (changes in their width, height, length, and mass) are examined through optical and electron scanning microscopy, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. Microscope evaluation has proven to be a powerful tool to observe apparent differences and understand the nature of different morphological changes. Results indicate that chemical and thermal treatments and ball burnishing are good candidates to significantly enhance the finish of the parts, despite requiring the use of solvents or provoking dimensional changes to the parts. The effects of abrasive mechanical treatments are more moderate at a macroscopic scale, but the surface of the filaments suffers the most remarkable changes.
Stability of Weld Pool and Elimination of Weld Defects in Aluminum Alloy Plasma Arc Keyhole Welding at Continuously Varying Positions
Authors: Cheng Wei , Ma Xinqiang , Zhang Junlin , Yan Zhaoyang , Jiang Fan , Chen Shujun
Published: October 2021

Mathematical statistics were used to study the stability of weld pool and the elimination of weld defects in aluminum alloy plasma arc keyhole welding at continuously varying positions. In the mathematical model, the mass transfer position and spatial welding position were taken as the input, and the shape of the welded joints (symmetry/deviation) was taken as the output. The results showed that the fitted curves of the front, back, and average deviations of the weld seam were all similar to the actual curves. According to the optimum results obtained in the experiment and the mathematical models, the mass transfer position only needs to be adjusted once (near to 30°) during the continuously varying positions, from vertical-up to horizontal welding. A breakthrough from fixed environmental variables to dynamic environmental variables in the process control of the keyhole weld pool was realized, which enabled the Al-alloy keyhole weld pool to resist the disturbance caused by gravity during variable position welding. The deviation of the welded joints of the whole plate was smaller than 0.5 mm, and the mechanical properties of the weld reached at least 85% compared to those of the base material, thus meeting the requirements of Al-alloy welding.
Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis Using TOPSIS and WSA Method for Quality of Life: The Case of Slovakia Regions
Authors: Coronicova Hurajova Jana , Hajduova Zuzana
Published: October 2021

Quality of life can be expressed as a highly subjective measure of happiness, which is an important part of many financial and non-financial decisions. The issue of quality of life, namely its quantification, is a current topic, evidenced by a number of literary sources in both foreign and domestic literature. The paper deals with this issue in the conditions of the Slovak Republic and studies the quality of life for each region of Slovakia with respect to the given indicators. In this paper, we deal with the use of the methods of multi-criteria analysis in evaluating the quality of life in Slovakia. The aim of this paper is to highlight that it is important to monitor the level of quality of life at the regional level and that one of the indicators influencing the quality of life in the region may be its location in relation to neighboring countries.
An Assessment Model for Wealth Management Banks Based on the Fuzzy Evaluation Method
Authors: Sun Chia-Chi
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 has led people to question numerous aspects of life, including family budgetary arrangements and wealth management. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many of us a financial curveball. Managing personal finances is important, particularly during a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the economic consequences are evident, financially induced stress caused by uncertainty is less visible. Individual wealth increments and firm size measures have brought a commensurate increment in their respective resources. Thus, monitoring these resources and coordinate investment exercises is necessary to preserve resource development. The best method to improve wealth management banks is to consider competitive preferences by designating a set of wealth management bank selections to oversee individuals’ wealth viably. This paper provides a step-by-step assessment guide for wealth management banks using multiple-criteria decision-making to illustrate the appropriateness of the proposed technique. We found that the two primary aspects of wealth management bank evaluations are transaction safety and professional financial knowledge. The proposed approach is relatively straightforward and appropriate for such key decision-making issues.
Ordered Vectorial Quasi and Almost Contractions on Ordered Vector Metric Spaces
Authors: Özeken Çetin Cemal , Çevik Cüneyt
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we define ordered vectorial quasi contractions. We show that ordered quasi contractions are ordered vectorial quasi contractions, but the reverse is not true. We also define ordered vectorial almost contractions and present fixed point theorems for this type of contractions. Hence, we disclose many results in the literature. With the help of examples, we illustrate the relationship between these two types of contractions and some others in the literature.
Stability Switches and Double Hopf Bifurcation Analysis on Two-Degree-of-Freedom Coupled Delay van der Pol Oscillator
Authors: Chen Yani , Qian Youhua
Published: October 2021

In this paper, the normal form and central manifold theories are used to discuss the influence of two-degree-of-freedom coupled van der Pol oscillators with time delay feedback. Compared with the single-degree-of-freedom time delay van der Pol oscillator, the system studied in this paper has richer dynamical behavior. The results obtained include: the change of time delay causing the stability switching of the system, and the greater the time delay, the more complicated the stability switching. Near the double Hopf bifurcation point, the system is simplified by using the normal form and central manifold theories. The system is divided into six regions with different dynamical properties. With the above results, for practical engineering problems, we can perform time delay feedback adjustment to make the system show amplitude death, limit loop, and so on. It is worth noting that because of the existence of unstable limit cycles in the system, the limit cycle cannot be obtained by numerical solution. Therefore, we derive the approximate analytical solution of the system and simulate the time history of the interaction between two frequencies in Region IV.
A Novel Analytic Framework of Technology Mining Using the Main Path Analysis and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory-Based Analytic Network Process
Authors: Huang Chi-Yo , Wang Liang-Chieh , Kuo Ying-Ting , Huang Wei-Ti
Published: October 2021

Tech mining is an analytical method of technology monitoring that can reveal technology trends in different industries. Patent databases are the major sources for information retrieval by tech mining methods. The majority of the commercially viable research and development results in the world can be found in patents. The time and cost of research and development can greatly be reduced if researchers properly analyze patents of prior arts. Appropriate analyses of patents also help firms avoid patent infringement while simultaneously developing new products or services. The main path analysis is a bibliometric method which can be used to derive the most dominant paths in a citation network of patents or academic works and has widely been adopted in tracing the development trajectory of a specific science or technology. Even though main path analysis can derive patent citation relationships and the weight associated with some specific arc of the citation network, the weights associated with patents and influence relationships among patents can hardly be derived based on methods of main path analysis. However, these influence relationships and weight can be crucial for defining research and development and patent aggregation strategies. Thus, the authors want to propose a novel analytic framework which consists of the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), the DEMATEL based Analytic Network Process (DANP) and the main path analysis. The proposed analytic framework can be used to derive the influence relationships and influence weights associated with the patents in a main path. Empirical cases based on the main path of a published work and the patent mining results of nanowire field effect transistors from the database of the United States Patent and Trademark Office will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed analytic framework. The analytic results of empirical research can be used as a basis for infringement evaluation, patent designing around and innovation.
Periodic Solutions in Slowly Varying Discontinuous Differential Equations: The Generic Case
Authors: Battelli Flaviano , Fečkan Michal
Published: October 2021

We study persistence of periodic solutions of perturbed slowly varying discontinuous differential equations assuming that the unperturbed (frozen) equation has a non singular periodic solution. The results of this paper are motivated by a result of Holmes and Wiggins where the authors considered a two dimensional Hamiltonian family of smooth systems depending on a scalar variable which is the solution of a singularly perturbed equation.
Application of Bayesian Approach to Reduce the Uncertainty in Expert Judgments by Using a Posteriori Mean Function
Authors: Vinogradova-Zinkevič Irina
Published: October 2021

Much applied research uses expert judgment as a primary or additional data source, thus the problem solved in this publication is relevant. Despite the expert’s experience and competence, the evaluation is subjective and has uncertainty in it. There are various reasons for this uncertainty, including the expert’s incomplete competence, the expert’s character and personal qualities, the expert’s attachment to the opinion of other experts, and the field of the task to be solved. This paper presents a new way to use the Bayesian method to reduce the uncertainty of an expert judgment by correcting the expert’s evaluation by the a posteriori mean function. The Bayesian method corrects the expert’s evaluation, taking into account the expert’s competence and accumulated long-term experience. Since the paper uses a continuous case of the Bayesian formula, perceived as a continuous approximation of experts’ evaluations, this is not only the novelty of this work, but also a new result in the theory of the Bayesian method and its application. The paper investigates various combinations of the probability density functions of a priori information and expert error. The results are illustrated by the example of the evaluation of distance learning courses.
AB-Net: A Novel Deep Learning Assisted Framework for Renewable Energy Generation Forecasting
Authors: Khan Noman , Ullah Fath U Min , Haq Ijaz Ul , Khan Samee Ullah , Lee Mi Young , Baik Sung Wook
Published: October 2021

Renewable energy (RE) power plants are deployed globally because the renewable energy sources (RESs) are sustainable, clean, and environmentally friendly. However, the demand for power increases on a daily basis due to population growth, technology, marketing, and the number of installed industries. This challenge has raised a critical issue of how to intelligently match the power generation with the consumption for efficient energy management. To handle this issue, we propose a novel architecture called ‘AB-Net’: a one-step forecast of RE generation for short-term horizons by incorporating an autoencoder (AE) with bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM). Firstly, the data acquisition step is applied, where the data are acquired from various RESs such as wind and solar. The second step performs deep preprocessing of the acquired data via several de-noising and cleansing filters to clean the data and normalize them prior to actual processing. Thirdly, an AE is employed to extract the discriminative features from the cleaned data sequence through its encoder part. BiLSTM is used to learn these features to provide a final forecast of power generation. The proposed AB-Net was evaluated using two publicly available benchmark datasets where the proposed method obtains state-of-the-art results in terms of the error metrics.
Compositional Data Modeling through Dirichlet Innovations
Authors: Makgai Seitebaleng , Bekker Andriette , Arashi Mohammad
Published: October 2021

The Dirichlet distribution is a well-known candidate in modeling compositional data sets. However, in the presence of outliers, the Dirichlet distribution fails to model such data sets, making other model extensions necessary. In this paper, the Kummer–Dirichlet distribution and the gamma distribution are coupled, using the beta-generating technique. This development results in the proposal of the Kummer–Dirichlet gamma distribution, which presents greater flexibility in modeling compositional data sets. Some general properties, such as the probability density functions and the moments are presented for this new candidate. The method of maximum likelihood is applied in the estimation of the parameters. The usefulness of this model is demonstrated through the application of synthetic and real data sets, where outliers are present.
Incremental DoE and Modeling Methodology with Gaussian Process Regression: An Industrially Applicable Approach to Incorporate Expert Knowledge
Authors: Voigt Tim , Kohlhase Martin , Nelles Oliver
Published: October 2021

The use of data-based models is a favorable way to optimize existing industrial processes. Estimation of these models requires data with sufficient information content. However, data from regular process operation are typically limited to single operating points, so industrially applicable design of experiments (DoE) methods are needed. This paper presents a stepwise DoE and modeling methodology, using Gaussian process regression that incorporates expert knowledge. This expert knowledge regarding an appropriate operating point and the importance of various process inputs is exploited in both the model construction and the experimental design. An incremental modeling scheme is used in which a model is additively extended by another submodel in a stepwise fashion, each estimated on a suitable experimental design. Starting with the most important process input for the first submodel, the number of considered inputs is incremented in each step. The strengths and weaknesses of the methodology are investigated, using synthetic data in different scenarios. The results show that a high overall model quality is reached, especially for processes with few interactions between the inputs and low noise levels. Furthermore, advantages in the interpretability and applicability for industrial processes are discussed and demonstrated, using a real industrial use case as an example.
EM Algorithm for Mixture Distributions Model with Type-I Hybrid Censoring Scheme
Authors: Tsai Tzong-Ru , Lio Yuhlong , Ting Wei-Chen
Published: October 2021

An expectation–maximization (EM) likelihood estimation procedure is proposed to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters in a mixture distributions model based on type-I hybrid censored samples when the mixture proportions are unknown. Three bootstrap methods are applied to construct the confidence intervals of the model parameters. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. Simulation results show that the proposed methods can perform well to obtain reliable point and interval estimation results. Three examples are used to illustrate the applications of the proposed methods.
A Vine Copula-Based Global Sensitivity Analysis Method for Structures with Multidimensional Dependent Variables
Authors: Bai Zhiwei , Wei Hongkui , Xiao Yingying , Song Shufang , Kucherenko Sergei
Published: October 2021

For multidimensional dependent cases with incomplete probability information of random variables, global sensitivity analysis (GSA) theory is not yet mature. The joint probability density function (PDF) of multidimensional variables is usually unknown, meaning that the samples of multivariate variables cannot be easily obtained. Vine copula can decompose the joint PDF of multidimensional variables into the continuous product of marginal PDF and several bivariate copula functions. Based on Vine copula, multidimensional dependent problems can be transformed into two-dimensional dependent problems. A novel Vine copula-based approach for analyzing variance-based sensitivity measures is proposed, which can estimate the main and total sensitivity indices of dependent input variables. Five considered test cases and engineering examples show that the proposed methods are accurate and applicable.
Prospective Mathematics Teachers Understanding of Classical and Frequentist Probability
Authors: Batanero Carmen , Begué Nuria , Álvarez-Arroyo Rocío , Valenzuela-Ruiz Silvia M.
Published: October 2021

Strengthening the teaching of probability requires an adequate training of prospective teachers, which should be based on the prior assessment of their knowledge. Consequently, the aim of this study was to analyse how 139 prospective Spanish mathematics teachers relate the classical and frequentist approaches to probability. To achieve this goal, content analysis was used to categorize the prospective teachers’ answers to a questionnaire with open-ended tasks in which they had to estimate and justify the composition of an urn, basing their answers on the results of 1000 extractions from the urn. Most of the sample proposed an urn model consistent with the data provided; however, the percentage that adequately justified the construction was lower. Although the majority of the sample correctly calculated the probability of an event in a new extraction and chose the urn giving the highest probability, a large proportion of the sample forgot the previously constructed urn model, using only the frequency data. Difficulties, such as equiprobability bias or not perceiving independence of trials in replacement sampling, were also observed for a small part of the sample. These results should be considered in the organisation of probabilistic training for prospective teachers.
Arcwise Connectedness of the Solution Sets for Generalized Vector Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Li Qiuying , Wang Sanhua
Published: October 2021

In this research, by means of the scalarization method, arcwise connectedness results were established for the sets of globally efficient solutions, weakly efficient solutions, Henig efficient solutions and superefficient solutions for the generalized vector equilibrium problem under suitable assumptions of natural quasi cone-convexity and natural quasi cone-concavity.