bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Modeling of Slip Flow and Heat Transfer Over Microcylinders With Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Mu Zhiyu , Wu Huiying
Published: February 2019

In this paper, a lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is established to simulate the gaseous fluid flow and heat transfer in the slip regime under the curved boundary condition. A novel curved boundary treatment is proposed for the LB modeling, which is a combination of the nonequilibrium extrapolation scheme for the curved boundary and the counter-extrapolation method for the macroscopic variables on the curved gas–solid interface. The established numerical model can accurately predict the velocity slip and temperature jump of the microscale gas flow on the curved surface, which agrees well with the analytical solution for the microcylindrical Couette flow and heat transfer. Then, the slip flow and the heat transfer over the single microcylinder are numerically studied in this work. It shows that the velocity slip and the temperature jump are obviously influenced by the Knudsen number and the Reynolds number, and the local Nusselt number depends on which gas rarefaction effect (velocity slip or temperature jump) is dominant. An increase in the Prandtl number leads to a decrease in the temperature jump, which enhances the heat transfer on the microcylinder surface. The numerical simulation of the flow and heat transfer over two microcylinders in tandem configuration are carried out to investigate the wake interference effect. The results show that the slip flow and heat transfer characteristics of the downstream microcylinder are influenced by the wake region behind the upstream cylinder as the spacing is small.
Effect of Power-Law Fluid Behavior on Nusselt Number of a Circular Disk in the Forced Convection Regime
Authors: Mishra P. , Patel S. A. , Trivedi M. , Chhabra R. P.
Published: February 2019

Forced convection heat transfer is investigated from a thin disk in power-law fluids over wide range of conditions such as: Reynolds number, 1 ≤ Re ≤ 100, Prandtl number, 1 ≤ Pr ≤ 100, power-law index, 0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1.8, and disk thickness to diameter ratio, t/D = 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.075. The wide range of values of the power-law index spanned here covers both shear-thinning as well as shear-thickening fluid behavior. These results also elucidate the influence of the type of thermal boundary conditions, i.e., constant wall temperature condition (CWT) and constant heat flux condition (CHF) prescribed on the disk surface. Extensive results are presented in terms of the local and average Nusselt numbers to delineate the effect of each of the influencing parameters, Re, Pr, n, t/D for each thermal boundary condition. Limited results are also included here at vanishingly small values of the Peclet number to understand the behavior in the creeping flow condition. Finally, the present numerical results on the average Nusselt number have been consolidated in the form of a predictive equation to facilitate the interpolation of the present data for intermediate values of the parameters and/or a priori estimation of the average Nusselt number in a new application.
High-density energy storage in Si-doped hafnium oxide thin films on area-enhanced substrates
Authors: Kühnel Kati , Czernohorsky Malte , Mart Clemens , Weinreich Wenke
Published: February 2019

Capacitors based on 10 nm antiferroelectric silicon-doped hafnium oxide (Si:HfO2) thin films are investigated in terms of energy storage efficiency, cycling endurance, and reliability. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) on an area-enhanced substrate with large-scale arrays of deep-trench structures is used to significantly increase the energy density, yielding a value of 450 μJ/cm2 and an energy storage efficiency of 67% at a voltage of 3 V. High breakdown fields are obtained, and the reliability measurement indicates that more than 90% of the devices survive three years when subjected to an operating voltage of 3 V. The film stoichiometry is optimized in terms of energy storage properties to achieve an antiferroelectric-like hysteresis loop with low fatigue during electric field cycling and uniform electrical characteristics throughout the 300 mm wafer. Si:HfO2 is a promising material for novel integrated energy storage applications, as it combines CMOS compatible manufacturing, high scalability, and conformal deposition using ALD.
MoO3 films grown on polycrystalline Cu: Morphological, structural, and electronic properties
Authors: Macis Salvatore , Aramo Carla , Bonavolontà Carmela , Cibin Giannantonio , D’Elia Alessandro , Davoli Ivan , De Lucia Mario , Lucci Massimiliano , Lupi Stefano , Miliucci Marco , Notargiacomo Andrea , Ottaviani Carlo , Quaresima Claudio , Scarselli Manuela , Scifo Jessica , Valentino Massimo , De Padova Paola , Marcelli Augusto
Published: February 2019

In this work, the authors investigated MoO3 films with thickness between 30 nm and 1 μm grown at room temperature by solid phase deposition on polycrystalline Cu substrates. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy revealed the presence of a homogenous MoO3 film with a “grainlike” morphology, while Raman spectroscopy showed an amorphous character of the film. Nanoindentation measurements evidenced a coating hardness and stiffness comparable with the copper substrate ones, while Auger electron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and secondary electron spectroscopy displayed a pure MoO3 stoichiometry and a work function ΦMoO3 = 6.5 eV, 1.8 eV higher than that of the Cu substrate. MoO3 films of thickness between 30 and 300 nm evidenced a metallic behavior, whereas for higher thickness, the resistance–temperature curves showed a semiconducting character.
Resurrecting Old β-Lactams: Potent Inhibitory Activity of Temocillin against Multidrug-ResistantBurkholderiaSpecies Isolates from the United States
Authors: Zeiser Elise T. , Becka Scott A. , Barnes Melissa D. , Taracila Magdalena A. , LiPuma John J. , Papp-Wallace Krisztina M.
Published: February 2019

Burkholderiaspp. are opportunistic human pathogens that infect persons with cystic fibrosis and the immunocompromised.
Epidemiological Typing of Serratia marcescens Isolates by Whole-Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing
Authors: Rossen John W. A. , Dombrecht Jill , Vanfleteren Diederik , De Bruyne Katrien , van Belkum Alex , Rosema Sigrid , Lokate Mariette , Bathoorn Erik , Reuter Sandra , Grundmann Hajo , Ertel Julia , Higgins Paul G. , Seifert Harald
Published: February 2019

Serratia marcescens
is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen. It is notorious for its increasing antimicrobial resistance and its potential to cause outbreaks of colonization and infections, predominantly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
The Pseudoknot Region of the 5′ Untranslated Region Is a Determinant of Viral Tropism and Virulence of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus
Authors: Zhu Zixiang , Yang Fan , Cao Weijun , Liu Huanan , Zhang Keshan , Tian Hong , Dang Wen , He Jijun , Guo Jianhong , Liu Xiangtao , Zheng Haixue
Published: February 2019

This study demonstrates that the deletion in the PK region occurred naturally in the FMDV genome. The isolated O/ME-SA/PanAsia lineage FMDV with an 86-nt deletion in the PK region showed a pig-adapted characteristic that could cause clinical signs in swine but not bovines. Compared to the wild-type FMDV strain, which possesses full infection capacity in both swine and bovines, the recombinant virus with the 86-nt deletion in the PK region is deficient in causing disease in bovines. Deletion of the previously reported 43 nt in the PK region also led to significantly decreased pathogenicity of FMDV in bovines. This study indicates that the PK region is a novel determinant of the tropism and virulence of FMDV.
Gene Expression Changes with Minor Effects on the Population Average Have Major Effects on the Occurrence of Cells with Extreme Protein Concentrations
Authors: Svenningsen Mikkel Skjoldan , Semsey Szabolcs , Mitarai Namiko
Published: February 2019

The cell-to-cell heterogeneity in a bacterial population provides a rich response to environmental changes and robust survival of an isogenic population. Especially, the rare, extreme phenotypes can be important for survival under transient lethal conditions.
Endocytic Markers Associated with the Internalization and Processing of
Aspergillus fumigatus
Conidia by BEAS-2B Cells
Authors: Clark Helen R. , Powell Allison B. , Simmons Kelsey A. , Ayubi Tariq , Kale Shiv D.
Published: February 2019

Conidia from the fungus
Aspergillus fumigatus
are notorious for their ability to stay airborne. This characteristic is believed to allow conidia to penetrate into the cleanest environments. Several hundred conidia are thought to be inhaled each day by a given individual and then expelled by mucociliary clearance. Given that airway epithelial cells make up a significant portion of the pulmonary-air interface, we set out to determine the percentage of conidia that are actually internalized after initial contact with airway epithelial cells. We determined this through an
in vitro
assay using an immortalized bronchial airway epithelial cell line known as BEAS-2B. Our results suggest a small fraction of conidia are internalized by BEAS-2B cells, while the majority stay adherent to the surface of cells or are washed away during sample processing. Internalization of conidia was observed at 6 h postchallenge and not prior. Our data also indicate conidia are rendered metabolically inactive within 3 h of challenge, suggesting BEAS-2B cells process a large number of conidia without internalization in this early time frame. We have also identified several host endocytosis markers that localize around internalized conidia as well as contribute to the processing of conidia. Understanding how these host endocytosis markers affect the processing of internal and/or external conidia may provide a novel avenue for therapeutic development.
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension associated with pachymeningeal enhancement in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): an extremely rare presenting feature
Authors: Radhakrishnan Shrivarthan , Surendran Deepanjali , Barathi Deepak , Bammigatti Chanaveerappa
Published: February 2019

A 16-years-old girl presented to our institution with history of severe bilateral headache for 5 days associated with vomiting. She also had fever for 2 months without any localising symptoms and skin lesions for 1 month. Examination revealed erythematous rash over bridge of nose and ear lobes, ulcer over hard palate and tenderness of small joints of both hands. Systemic examination was unremarkable except for bilateral papilloedema. Investigations revealed anaemia, leucopenia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Cranial imaging revealed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement with subdural effusion. Lumbar puncture revealed no abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid except low opening pressure. Antinuclear antibody was 4+ with anti-Sm antibody positive. She was diagnosed to have spontaneous intracranial hypotension associated with pachymeningeal enhancement secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus. She showed dramatic improvement with steroid and azathioprine therapy. She continues to be asymptomatic after 2 years of follow-up.
Symptom burden in malignant and non-malignant disease on admission to a palliative care unit
Authors: See David , Le Brian , Gorelik Alexandra , Eastman Peter
Published: February 2019

Background

There is increasing recognition that patients with non-malignant diseases have comparable physical and psychosocial symptom burden to patients with cancer. There is currently limited data directly comparing symptom burden between these patient groups.

Objective

To investigate differences in symptom burden between patients with malignant and non-malignant conditions admitted to a palliative care unit (PCU).

Method

A cross-sectional study involving 186 patients admitted to a PCU was undertaken. Patients were dichotomised into malignant or non-malignant disease categories. Symptom burden at admission was assessed using the Symptom Assessment Scale and Palliative Care Problem Severity Score. Group differences in symptoms were analysed using univariate and multivariate approaches.

Results

One hundred patients (53.8%) had cancer, with upper gastrointestinal the most common type (18.0%). Among the 86 patients with non-malignant disease, neurological conditions were most prevalent (40.7%). Patients admitted with non-malignant diseases were older, more functionally impaired and more likely to be deteriorating or terminal. A malignant diagnosis was associated with a higher likelihood of clinician-assessed pain, patient-assessed pain, fatigue, psychological/spiritual symptoms and other symptoms. However, when adjusted for confounders, disease category ceased to be a significant predictor of symptom burden. Younger patients experienced worse pain and patients in terminal phase experienced less symptom burden.

Conclusion

Symptom burden was similar between patients with malignant and non-malignant disease after adjustment for confounders. Further research is needed to understand the palliative care needs of patients with non-malignant disease.
Age-disparate partnerships and HSV-2 among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: implications for HIV infection risk
Authors: Maughan-Brown Brendan , George Gavin , Beckett Sean , Evans Meredith , Lewis Lara , Cawood Cherie , Khanyile David , Kharsany Ayesha B M
Published: February 2019

Objective

There is an urgent need to understand high HIV-infection rates among young women in sub-Saharan Africa. While age-disparate partnerships have been characterised with high-risk sexual behaviours, the mechanisms through which these partnerships may increase HIV-risk are not fully understood. This study assessed the association between age-disparate partnerships and herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection, a factor known to increase HIV-infection risk.

Methods

Cross-sectional face-to-face questionnaire data, and laboratory HSV-2 and HIV antibody data were collected among a representative sample in the 2014/2015 household survey of the HIV Incidence Provincial Surveillance System in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Among 15–24-year-old women who reported having ever had sex (n=1550), the association between age-disparate partnerships (ie, male partner ≥5 years older) and HSV-2 antibody status was assessed using multivariable Poisson regression models with robust variance. Analyses were repeated among HIV-negative women.

Results

HSV-2 prevalence was 55% among 15–24-year-old women. Women who reported an age-disparate partnership with their most recent partner were more likely to test HSV-2 positive compared with women with age-similar partners (64% vs 51%; adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR):1.19 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.32, p<0.01)). HSV-2 prevalence was also significantly higher among HIV-negative women who reported age-disparate partnerships (51% vs 40 %; aPR:1.25 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.50, p=0.014)).

Conclusions

Results indicate that age-disparate partnerships are associated with a greater risk of HSV-2 among young women. These findings point towards an additional mechanism through which age-disparate partnerships could increase HIV-infection risk. Importantly, by increasing the HSV-2 risk, age-disparate partnerships have the potential to increase the HIV-infection risk within subsequent partnerships, regardless of the partner age-difference in those relationships.
On the representation type of subcategories of derived categories
Authors: Zhang Chao
Published: February 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite-dimensional [Formula: see text]-algebra. In this paper, we mainly study the representation type of subcategories of the bounded derived category [Formula: see text]. First, we define the representation type and some homological invariants including cohomological length, width, range for subcategories. In this framework, we provide a characterization for derived discrete algebras. Moreover, for a finite-dimensional algebra [Formula: see text], we establish the first Brauer–Thrall type theorem of certain contravariantly finite subcategories [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], that is, [Formula: see text] is of finite type if and only if its cohomological range is finite.
Everywhere vanishing polynomial functions
Authors: Chakraborty Sagnik
Published: February 2019

If [Formula: see text] is a finite commutative ring, it is well known that there exists a nonzero polynomial in [Formula: see text] which is satisfied by every element of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we classify all commutative rings [Formula: see text] such that every element of [Formula: see text] satisfies a particular monic polynomial. If the polynomial, satisfied by the elements of [Formula: see text], is not required to be monic, then we can give a classification only for Noetherian rings, giving examples to show that the characterization does not extend to arbitrary commutative rings.
ACCURATE DETECTION OF SEIZURE USING NONLINEAR PARAMETERS EXTRACTED FROM EEG SIGNALS
Authors: VICNESH JAHMUNAH , HAGIWARA YUKI
Published: February 2019

Electroencephalography (EEG) is the graphical recording of electrical activity along the scalp. The EEG signal monitors brain activity noninvasively with a high accuracy of milliseconds and provides valuable discernment about the brain’s state. It is also sensitive in detecting spikes in epilepsy.

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools allow epilepsy to be diagnosed by evading invasive methods. This paper presents a novel CAD system for epilepsy using other linear features together with Hjorth’s nonlinear features such as mobility, complexity, activity and Kolmogorov complexity. The proposed method uses MATLAB software to extract the nonlinear features from the EEG data. The optimal features are selected using the statistical analysis, ANOVA (analysis of variance) test for classification. Once selected, they are fed into the decision tree (DT) for the classification of the different epileptic classes.

The proposed method affirms that four nonlinear features, Kolmogorov complexity, singular value decomposition, mobility and permutation entropy are sufficient to provide the highest accuracy of 93%, sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 88% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 94%, with the DT classifier.

The mean value is the highest in the ictal stage for the Kolmogorov complexity proving it to have the best variation. It also has the highest [Formula: see text]-value of 300.439 portraying it to be the best parameter that is favourable for the clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, when used together with the DT classifier, for a duration of 23.6[Formula: see text]s of EEG data.
Dynamics of Trade Specialization and Trade Performance of ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement
Authors: Oberoi Sumit
Published: February 2019

In the present era of globalization, trade is always considered as an indispensable catalyst for the growth and development of any nation. The present study examines the trade performance and degree of trade specialization of India and ASEAN members for the pre- and post-AIFTA period at Harmonized Standard (HS) 6-digit level of product classification. The study evaluates the data sources viz. United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN COMTRADE), United Nation Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) and trade map to evaluate the trade specialization of India and ASEAN members by using Lafay Index (LFi) approach. The present study found that though India experiences a shift from low specialized economy towards a more competitive and specialized one, still, it faces a competitive disadvantage from ASEAN members for distinctive industry levels. The study suggests that India should confront issues such as technological dissemination, diversification of merchandise manufactured, quality sophistication and reliability at different industry levels which constrain higher degree of trade specialization.
Approximating Ocean Acoustic Fields with Finite Basis Function Series for Autonomous Vehicle Applications
Authors: Bogdan Caitlin C. , Grace Sheryl M. , Gregory McDaniel J.
Published: February 2019

Algorithms that enable acoustic sensing vehicles to autonomously map acoustic fields are being developed, but some require an analytical representation of the data collected from the acoustic field with specific continuity properties. One optimal control technique that has these requirements and has been used in autonomous acoustic sensing algorithms is Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle (PMP). Given that most real-world fields are modeled by numerical methods, the need to create continuous analytical representations from data is a hurdle in realistic applications of these autonomous algorithms. In this work, finite series of basis functions are used to solve this problem. The basis functions are selected to meet the criteria of the PMP, and are used to approximate the field from the data collected. While this approach meets the criteria of the algorithm, it can be a computationally expensive approach for complex fields and large datasets. This paper looks at the trade off between accuracy and computational time, for different frequencies and levels of field complexity. A previously published ocean profile developed from data taken off the island of Elba is used in the normal mode software, Kraken, to generate the acoustic fields used to test this method. The candidate basis functions considered are trigonometric functions analogous to finite Fourier series, and Legendre polynomials. The Legendre polynomials are shown to have higher accuracy when used with a dynamically selected exclusion range at low frequencies and a cubic spline interpolation method for generating intermediate data points at higher frequencies. Run times are calculated and while both candidate basis functions are shown to meet the requirements of the PMP algorithm, the Legendre polynomials require the least amount of run time.
Political Opportunities and China’s Proposing Behavior in the G20
Authors: Liu Hongsong
Published: February 2019

In global economic governance, political consensus reached by the G20 members plays an important role of defining governance ideas and governance directions as well as steering and boosting collective actions. Political opportunities are essential for the G20 members’ successful efforts to place their preferences into the political consensus of G20. This paper analyzes how the G20 members place their preferences into the political consensus of G20 through the lens of political opportunity, and provides a relatively detailed demonstration on China’s practice of proposing policy initiatives and placing its preferences into the political consensus of G20 by examining the cases of International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota reform and international financial regulation reform.
Effect of bariatric surgery on plasma GDF15 in humans
Authors: Kleinert Maximilian , Bojsen-Møller Kirstine N. , Jørgensen Nils B. , Svane Maria S. , Martinussen Christoffer , Kiens Bente , Wojtaszewski Jørgen F.P. , Madsbad Sten , Richter Erik A. , Clemmensen Christoffer
Published: February 2019

Bariatric surgery results in marked body weight loss and improves type 2 diabetes in most patients with obesity. The growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has recently emerged as a novel satiety factor. To begin to understand whether GDF15 is involved in mediating the effects of bariatric surgery on body weight and glycemia in humans, we measured plasma GDF15 in patients with obesity ( n = 25) and in patients with obesity and diabetes ( n = 22) before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. GDF15 was increased 1 wk after RYGB compared with before surgery (689 ± 45 vs. 487 ± 28 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and GDF15 remained elevated at 3 mo (554 ± 37 pg/ml, P < 0.05), at 1 yr (566 ± 37 pg/ml, P < 0.05), and at 2.5–4 yr (630 ± 50 pg/ml, P < 0.001) after RYGB surgery. Both age and insulin sensitivity correlated with GDF15 before the surgery ( r = 0.46, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.34, P < 0.001, respectively). These correlations disappeared at 2.5–4 yr following the surgery. Conversely, weight loss magnitude correlated with GDF15, measured 2.5–4 yr postsurgery ( r = 0.21, P < 0.0055). In summary, circulating GDF15 increases and correlates with body weight loss following RYGB surgery.
Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber-Reinforced Fly Ash-Soil Mixture
Authors: Li Lihua , Zhang Jiang , Xiao Henglin , Hu Zhi , Wang Zhijie
Published: February 2019

In recent years, applications of different types of solid waste in fiber-reinforced soil are developed to improve the strength of soil. This study presents an experimental investigation of mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber-reinforced fly ash-soil mixtures. A series of direct shear tests and unconfined compression tests were carried out. The effects of fly ash content and fiber content on compaction characteristics, shear strength, strength parameters, and unconfined compressive strength of the reinforced soil are investigated and discussed. Results reveal that when the fly ash content of the specimen exceeds 20% and the curing period exceeds 14 days, specimens become more brittle in the unconfined compression tests. It can be deduced that 30% fly ash and 1% fiber provide the optimum content, and the inclusion of fiber reinforcement has positive benefits on the mechanical properties of the reinforced soil to a certain extent.
Flavonol 7-O-Glucoside Herbacitrin Inhibits HIV-1 Replication through Simultaneous Integrase and Reverse Transcriptase Inhibition
Authors: Áy Éva , Hunyadi Attila , Mezei Mária , Minárovits János , Hohmann Judit
Published: February 2019

Here we report the evaluation of the antiretroviral effect of two flavonoid 7-O-glucosides, herbacitrin (1) and gossypitrin (2), together with quercetin (3), a well-studied flavonol. Antiviral activity of the flavonoids was assessed by analyzing HIV-1 p24 core protein levels in the supernatants of HIV-1 infected MT-4 and MT-2 cell cultures. The compounds showed mild to weak cytotoxic activities on the host cells; herbacitrin was the strongest in this regard (CC50=27.8 and 63.64 μM on MT-4 and MT-2 cells, respectively). In nontoxic concentrations, herbacitrin and quercetin reduced HIV-1 replication, whereas gossypitrin was ineffective. Herbacitrin was found to inhibit reverse transcriptase at 21.5 μM, while it was a more potent integrase inhibitor already active at 2.15 μM. Therefore, our observations suggest that herbacitrin exerts antiretroviral activity through simultaneously acting on these two targets of HIV-1 and that integrase inhibition might play a major role in this activity.
Febuxostat and Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cuenca John A. , Balda Javier , Palacio Ana , Young Larry , Pillinger Michael H. , Tamariz Leonardo
Published: February 2019

Background. Febuxostat is approved in the United States for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout. In November 2017 the FDA released a warning alert on a possible link between febuxostat and cardiovascular disease (CVD) reported in a single clinical trial. Objective. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis and assess the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients receiving febuxostat compared to a control group. Methods. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE database for studies published up until March 2018. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared febuxostat to control groups including placebo and allopurinol. We calculated the pooled relative risk (RR) of MACE and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. Our search yielded 374 potentially relevant studies. Among the 25 RCTs included in the systematic review, 10 qualified for the meta-analysis. Among the 14,402 subjects included, the median age was 54 years (IQR 52-67) and 90% were male (IQR 82-96); 8602 received febuxostat, 5118 allopurinol, and 643 placebo. The pooled RR of MACE for febuxostat was 0.9; 95% CI 0.6-1.5 (p= 0.96) compared to the control. The RR of CV-related death for febuxostat was 1.29; 95% CI 1.01-1.66 (p=0.03). Conclusions. Compared with other SU-lowering treatments, febuxostat does not increase or decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease but may increase the risk of CVD death. More RCTs measuring cardiovascular safety as a primary outcome are needed to adequately evaluate the risk of CVD with febuxostat.
Alternate Low-Rank Matrix Approximation in Latent Semantic Analysis
Authors: Horasan Fahrettin , Erbay Hasan , Varçın Fatih , Deniz Emre
Published: February 2019

The latent semantic analysis (LSA) is a mathematical/statistical way of discovering hidden concepts between terms and documents or within a document collection (i.e., a large corpus of text). Each document of the corpus and terms are expressed as a vector with elements corresponding to these concepts to form a term-document matrix. Then, the LSA uses a low-rank approximation to the term-document matrix in order to remove irrelevant information, to extract more important relations, and to reduce the computational time. The irrelevant information is called as “noise” and does not have a noteworthy effect on the meaning of the document collection. This is an essential step in the LSA. The singular value decomposition (SVD) has been the main tool obtaining the low-rank approximation in the LSA. Since the document collection is dynamic (i.e., the term-document matrix is subject to repeated updates), we need to renew the approximation. This can be done via recomputing the SVD or updating the SVD. However, the computational time of recomputing or updating the SVD of the term-document matrix is very high when adding new terms and/or documents to preexisting document collection. Therefore, this issue opened the door of using other matrix decompositions for the LSA as ULV- and URV-based decompositions. This study shows that the truncated ULV decomposition (TULVD) is a good alternative to the SVD in the LSA modeling.
Spatiotemporal Changes in Extreme Precipitation and Its Dependence on Topography over the Poyang Lake Basin, China
Authors: Li Xianghu , Hu Qi
Published: February 2019

Spatiotemporal changes in extreme precipitation at local scales in the context of climate warming are overwhelmingly important for prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters and also provide critical information for effective water resources management. In this study, the variability and trends of extreme precipitation in both time and space in the Poyang Lake basin over the period of 1960–2012 are analyzed. Also, changes in precipitation extremes with topography are investigated, and possible causes are briefly discussed. The results show that extreme precipitation over the Poyang Lake basin is intensified during the last 50 years, especially the increasing trends are more significant before the end of the 1990s. Moreover, high contribution rates of extreme precipitation to the total rainfall (40–60%) indicated that extreme precipitation plays an important role to the total water resources in this area. The precipitation extremes also exhibited a significant spatial dependence in the basin. The northeastern and eastern areas are exposed to high risk of flood disaster with the higher frequency of extreme precipitation events. In addition, the distribution of precipitation extremes had a clear dependence on elevation, and the topography is an important factor affecting the variability of extreme precipitation over the Poyang Lake basin.
A Study of Galvanic Corrosion in Stagnant Ammonium Bisulfide Solution
Authors: Al-Mazeedi H. A. , Al-Farhan A. , Tanoli N. , Abraham L.
Published: February 2019

Galvanic corrosion of carbon steel (CS) coupled to four different alloys, namely, 316 SS, 321 SS, Incoloy 825, and 2205 SS, was studied in deaerated 3.5% ammonium bisulfide solution (ABS) at 60°C by electrochemical techniques under stagnant condition. The electrochemical work included the measurements of the potential of separate alloys as well as the measurements of galvanic potential and galvanic current as a function of time and Evans (polarization) diagrams of coupled metals. The impact of galvanic coupling on the anodic and cathodic reaction rates was determined. It was found that the CS suffered galvanic corrosion when it was coupled to all of the selected alloys but at different rates; so, it is recommended to avoid the galvanic coupling of CS with any of the noble alloys in stagnant deaerated 3.5% ABS at 60°C. Results indicated that the best alloy to be used with the CS in stagnant deaerated 3.5% ABS solution at 60°C is SS 2205 since the galvanic couple has the lowest CR with a less negative Ecorr value, indicating that CS corrodes at a lower rate when it is coupled to SS2205 in this environment.
Deflection Mechanism and Treatment Technology of Permanent Derrick of Freeze Sinking on Deep Alluvium
Authors: Yao Zhishu , Liu Mingkai , Wang Xiaojian , Tang Bin , Xue Weipei
Published: February 2019

Aiming at the problems of deflection and operation safety of permanent derrick of freeze sinking shafts, the mechanism analysis of uneven settling of the derrick foundations in frost‐thawed soil was conducted. In addition, research on ground stabilization and derrick deviation rectification technologies was also studied in this paper based on the engineering practice of derrick of auxiliary shaft in the Dingji Coal Mine. Firstly, since the soil texture and artificial freeze temperature field are uneven, the bearing capacity and compression modulus of soil mass decrease after freeze thawing, resulting in uneven settlement of the foundation soil of the derrick footing and causing the deflection of the derrick. The finite element numerical analysis indicates that, in the event of uneven settling, the greatest tensile stress in the derrick structure of Dingji auxiliary shaft increased by 39.83% and the largest pressure stress increased by 33.33%. Secondly, this study used sleeve valve pipe single‐fluid static pressure grouting technology to reinforce the foundation of the derrick footing. The reinforced depth of grouting is 32 m, and every derrick foundation has adopted three circles of grouting holes for grouting reinforcement. Meanwhile, the hydraulic synchronous jacking system was used to rectify the deviation of the derrick, restoring the centre line of derrick ascension to the original design state. Finally, the practice of grouting, foundation consolidation, and derrick deviation rectification projects of the Dingji auxiliary shaft suggest that, after grouting reinforcement, the rate of foundation settlement is gradually decreased and tends to be stable. This has resulted in uniform settlement, and through four basic jacking, the deflection of the derrick has been corrected to its initial design state.
Rosiglitazone, a Ligand to PPARγ, Improves Blood Pressure and Vascular Function through Renin-Angiotensin System Regulation
Authors: Sánchez-Aguilar María , Ibarra-Lara Luz , Del Valle-Mondragón Leonardo , Rubio-Ruiz María Esther , Aguilar-Navarro Alicia G. , Zamorano-Carrillo Absalom , Ramírez-Ortega Margarita del Carmen , Pastelín-Hernández Gustavo , Sánchez-Mendoza Alicia
Published: February 2019

Rosiglitazone (RGZ), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand, has been reported to act as insulin sensitizer and exert cardiovascular actions. In this work, we hypothesized that RGZ exerts a PPARγ–dependent regulation of blood pressure through modulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-type 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1-7)/angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT2R) axis in an experimental model of high blood pressure. We carried on experiments in normotensive (Sham) and aortic coarctation (AoCo)-induced hypertensive male Wistar rats. Both sham and AoCo rats were treated 7 days with vehicle (V), RGZ (5 mg/kg/day), or RGZ+BADGE (120 mg/kg/day) post-coarctation. We measured blood pressure and vascular reactivity on aortic rings, as well as the expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) proteins. We found that RGZ treatment in AoCo group decreases blood pressure values and improves vascular response to acetylcholine, both parameters dependent on PPARγ-stimulation. RGZ lowered serum angiotensin II (AngII) but increased Ang-(1-7) levels. It also decreased 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-2dG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and improved the antioxidant capacity. Regarding protein expression of RAS, RGZ decreases ACE and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and improved ACE2, AT2R, and Mas receptor in AoCo rats. Additionally, anin silicoanalysis revealed that 5′UTR regions of RAS and PPARγshare motifs with a transcriptional regulatory role. We conclude that RGZ lowers blood pressure values by increasing the expression of RAS axis proteins ACE2 and AT2R, decreasing the levels of AngII and increasing levels of Ang-(1-7) in a PPARγ-dependent manner. Thein silicoanalysis is a valuable tool to predict the interaction between PPARγand RAS.
The Role of RNA Polymerase II Contiguity and Long-Range Interactions in the Regulation of Gene Expression in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Eiselleova Livia , Lukjanov Viktor , Farkas Simon , Svoboda David , Stepka Karel , Koutna Irena
Published: February 2019

The eukaryotic nucleus is a highly complex structure that carries out multiple functions primarily needed for gene expression, and among them, transcription seems to be the most fundamental. Diverse approaches have demonstrated that transcription takes place at discrete sites known as transcription factories, wherein RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is attached to the factory and immobilized while transcribing DNA. It has been proposed that transcription factories promote chromatin loop formation, creating long-range interactions in which relatively distant genes can be transcribed simultaneously. In this study, we examined long-range interactions between thePOU5F1gene and genes previously identified as beingPOU5F1enhancer-interacting, namely,CDYL,TLE2,RARG, andMSX1(all involved in transcriptional regulation), in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and their early differentiated counterparts. As a control gene,RUNX1was used, which is expressed during hematopoietic differentiation and not associated with pluripotency. To reveal how these long-range interactions betweenPOU5F1and the selected genes change with the onset of differentiation and upon RNAP II inhibition, we performed three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-FISH) followed by computational simulation analysis. Our analysis showed that the numbers of long-range interactions between specific genes decrease during differentiation, suggesting that the transcription of monitored genes is associated with pluripotency. In addition, we showed that upon inhibition of RNAP II, long-range associations do not disintegrate and remain constant. We also analyzed the distance distributions of these genes in the context of their positions in the nucleus and revealed that they tend to have similar patterns resembling normal distribution. Furthermore, we compared data createdin vitroand in silico to assess the biological relevance of our results.
Using a Support Vector Machine Based Decision Stage to Improve the Fault Diagnosis on Gearboxes
Authors: Monteiro Rodrigo P. , Cerrada Mariela , Cabrera Diego R. , Sánchez René V. , Bastos-Filho Carmelo J. A.
Published: February 2019

Gearboxes are mechanical devices that play an essential role in several applications, e.g., the transmission of automotive vehicles. Their malfunctioning may result in economic losses and accidents, among others. The rise of powerful graphical processing units spreads the use of deep learning-based solutions to many problems, which includes the fault diagnosis on gearboxes. Those solutions usually require a significant amount of data, high computational power, and a long training process. The training of deep learning-based systems may not be feasible when GPUs are not available. This paper proposes a solution to reduce the training time of deep learning-based fault diagnosis systems without compromising their accuracy. The solution is based on the use of a decision stage to interpret all the probability outputs of a classifier whose output layer has the softmax activation function. Two classification algorithms were applied to perform the decision. We have reduced the training time by almost 80% without compromising the average accuracy of the fault diagnosis system.
Performance of Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committees to Disease Outbreaks in Arua District, West Nile Region
Authors: Afayo Robert , Buga Muzamil , Alege John Bosco , Akugizibwe Pardon , Atuhairwe Christine , Taremwa Ivan Mugisha
Published: February 2019

The Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committees (EPPRCs) are at the heart of preventing outbreaks from becoming epidemics by controlling the spread. Evidence-based information regarding factors associated with the performance of EPPRCs in preparedness and response to disease outbreaks is needed in order to improve their performance. A cross-sectional study involving 103 EPPRC members was carried out in Arua district, West Nile region, between the months of July and December 2014. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the chi-square test was used to establish associations. Forty-eight percentage of EPPRC members showed a moderate level of preparedness, and only 39.8% of them had a moderate level of response. The performance drivers of preparedness and response were dependent on presence of a budget (χ2 = 10.281,p=0.002), availability of funds (χ2 = 5.508,p=0.019), adequacy of funds, (χ2 = 11.211,p=0.008), support given by health development partners (χ2 = 19.497,p=0.001), and motivation (χ2 = 20.065,p<0.001). Further, membership duration (χ2 = 13.776,p=0.001) and respondent cadre (χ2 = 12.538,p=0.005) had a significant association. Based on these findings, there is a big gap in the preparedness and response ability, all of which are dependent on the financial gap to the Committees. To this, funding for preparedness and response is a critical aspect to respond and contain an outbreak.
Ilececum: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Tang Shou-jiang , Wu Ruonan
Published: February 2019

For gastrointestinal endoscopists, the ileocecum is the finishing line during colonoscopy and it is identified by three endoscopic landmarks: terminal ileum, ileocecal valve, and the appendiceal orifice. Although ileal intubation is recommended during routine screening colonoscopy, it is not required in most cases of screening colonoscopy. Ileal intubation is indicated in certain circumstances such as suspected inflammatory bowel disease and GI bleeding. There is much pathology that can be observed within the ileocecum. Careful and systematic examination should be stressed during GI endoscopic training and practice. In this review, the authors demonstrate its anatomy, endoscopic findings, and pathologies.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Characterization of Two Patient-Specific Systemic-to-Pulmonary Shunts before and after Operation
Authors: Zhang Neichuan , Yuan Haiyun , Chen Xiangyu , Liu Jiawei , Jian Qifei , Huang Meiping , Zhang Kai
Published: February 2019

Studying the haemodynamics of the central shunt (CS) and modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (MBTS) benefits the improvement of postoperative recovery for patients with an aorta-pulmonary shunt. Shunt configurations, including CS and MBTS, are virtually reconstructed for infants A and B based on preoperative CT data, and three-dimensional models of A, 11 months after CS, and B, 8 months after MBTS, are reconstructed based on postoperative CT data. A series of parameters including energy loss, wall shear stress, and shunt ratio are computed from simulation to analyse the haemodynamics of CS and MBTS. Our results showed that the shunt ratio of the CS is approximately 30% higher than the MBTS and velocity distribution in the left pulmonary artery (LPA) and right pulmonary artery (RPA) was closer to a natural development in the CS than the MBTS. However, energy loss of the MBTS is lower, and the MBTS can provide more symmetric pulmonary artery (PA) flow than the CS. With the growth of infants A and B, the shunt ratio of infants was decreased, but maximum wall shear stress and the distribution region of high wall shear stress (WSS) were increased, which raises the probability of thrombosis. For infant A, the preoperative abnormal PA structure directly resulted in asymmetric growth of PA after operation, and the LPA/RPA ratio decreased from 0.49 to 0.25. Insufficient reserved length of the MBTS led to traction phenomena with the growth of infant B; on the one hand, it increased the eddy current, and on the other hand, it increased the flow resistance of anastomosis, promoting asymmetric PA flow.
Design and Realize a Snake-Like Robot in Complex Environment
Authors: Liu Bingqi , Liu Mingzhe , Liu Xianghe , Tuo Xianguo , Wang Xing , Zhao Shibo , Xiao Tingting
Published: February 2019

Aiming at high performance requirements of snake-like robots under complex environment, we present a control system of our proposed design which utilizes a STM32 as the core processor and incorporates real-time image acquisition, multisensor fusion, and wireless communication technology. We use Solidworks to optimize the design of head, body, and tail joint structure of the snake-like robot. The system is a real-time system with a simple-circuit structure and multidegrees of freedom are attributed to the flawless design of control system and mechanical structure. We propose a control method based on our simplified CPG model. Meanwhile, we improve Serpenoid control function and then investigate how different parameters affect the motion gait in terms of ADAMS emulation. Finally, experimental results show that the snake-like robot can tackle challenging problems including multi-information acquisition and processing, multigait stability, and autonomous motion and further verify the reliability and accuracy of the system in our combinatory experiments.
Simultaneous Quantification of Methotrexate and Its Metabolite 7-Hydroxy-Methotrexate in Human Plasma for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Authors: Ren Xinxin , Wang Zhipeng , Yun Yunlei , Meng Guangyi , Zhang Xialan , Ding Huamin , Xu Ying , Bai Hansheng , Liu Jing , Li Xia , Gao Shouhong , Huang Lifeng , Chen Wansheng
Published: February 2019

Objective. To establish and validate a simple, sensitive, and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of methotrexate (MTX) and its major metabolite 7-hydroxy-methotrexate (7-OH-MTX) in human plasma. Method. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax C18 column (3.5 μm, 2.1 × 100 mm) using a gradient elution with methanol (phase B) and 0.2% formic acid aqueous solution (phase A). The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min with analytical time of 3.5 min. Mass spectrometry detection was performed in a triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometer under positive ion mode with the following mass transitions: m/z 455.1/308.1 for MTX, 471.0/324.1 for 7-OH-MTX, and 458.2/311.1 for internal standard. The pretreatment procedure was optimized with dilution after one-step protein precipitation. Results. The calibration range of methotrexate and 7-OH-MTX was 5.0-10000.0 ng/mL. The intraday and interday precision and accuracy were less than 15% and within ±15% for both analytes. The recovery for MTX and 7-OH-MTX was more than 90% and the matrix effect ranged from 97.90% to 117.60%. Conclusion. The method was successfully developed and applied to the routine therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX and 7-OH-MTX in human plasma.