bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometry-Based Crosstalk Reduction in CNT Interconnects
Authors: Sathyakam P. Uma , Mallick P. S. , Singh Paridhi
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes novel triangular cross-sectioned geometry of carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles for crosstalk and delay reduction in CNT bundle interconnects for VLSI circuits. First, we formulate the equivalent single conductor (ESC) transmission line models of the interconnects. Through SPICE analysis of the ESC circuits, we find the propagation delays of the proposed CNT bundles. Next, we model the capacitively coupled interconnects for crosstalk analysis. It is found that the coupling capacitance of triangular CNT bundle is 29% lesser than the traditionally used square CNT bundles. Further, the crosstalk-induced delay of triangular interconnects is found to be 30% lesser when compared to square bundle interconnects. The reduction in delay is found to increase as the number of CNTs in the bundle increases. So, we suggest that triangular CNT bundles are the most suitable candidates as global interconnects.
The consistency strength of hyperstationarity
Authors: Bagaria Joan , Magidor Menachem , Mancilla Salvador
Published: July 2019

We introduce the large-cardinal notions of [Formula: see text]-greatly-Mahlo and [Formula: see text]-reflection cardinals and prove (1) in the constructible universe, [Formula: see text], the first [Formula: see text]-reflection cardinal, for [Formula: see text] a successor ordinal, is strictly between the first [Formula: see text]-greatly-Mahlo and the first [Formula: see text]-indescribable cardinals, (2) assuming the existence of a [Formula: see text]-reflection cardinal [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] a successor ordinal, there exists a forcing notion in [Formula: see text] that preserves cardinals and forces that [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-stationary, which implies that the consistency strength of the existence of a [Formula: see text]-stationary cardinal is strictly below a [Formula: see text]-indescribable cardinal. These results generalize to all successor ordinals [Formula: see text] the original same result of Mekler–Shelah [A. Mekler and S. Shelah, The consistency strength of every stationary set reflects, Israel J. Math. 67(3) (1989) 353–365] about a [Formula: see text]-stationary cardinal, i.e. a cardinal that reflects all its stationary sets.
Flexural Buckling Strength of Tapered-I-Section Steel Columns Based on ANSI/AISC-360-16
Authors: Bai Rui , Liu Si-Wei , Chan Siu-Lai , Yu Feng
Published: July 2019

Steel tapered-I-columns are popular in modern buildings due to its material efficiency and the convenience in construction. For evaluating the flexural buckling strength of these columns, the current design methods with empirical and idealized assumptions are sometimes unreliable, especially for slender columns with significant tapering ratios. To accurately calculate the flexural buckling resistance, this paper proposes a numerical framework for tapered-I-sections. The direct analysis method (DM) with the non-prismatic high-order beam-column elements considering the factors, including the second-order effects, the geometric imperfections, and the residual stresses is developed. A new shape-function representing the most critical initial out-of-straightness curve of a tapered member is adopted. An advanced non-prismatic beam-column element incorporating this imperfection shape-function named the curved tapered-three-hinges (TTH) element is derived. With the availability of the internal degree-of-freedoms, the one-element-per-member (OEPM) modeling method is permitted. Sequentially, a series of parametric studies using the proposed numerical method are conducted for generating the buckling curves for the non-prismatic columns with various tapered-stiffness ratios. The sophisticated finite-element method is adopted to verify the proposed numerical framework. Based on the proposed numerical approach, the design method in ANSI/AISC-360-16 is modified for tapered-I-section columns.
Extending the Visibility of Dichromats Using Histogram Equalization of Hue Value Defined for Dichromats
Authors: Miyazaki Daisuke , Taomoto Sayaka , Hiura Shinsaku
Published: July 2019

Dichromats lack one of the three cone cells, which detects red, green, and blue lights. For example, red-green color blinds cannot distinguish the color between red, yellow, and green. In order to extend the ability of dichromats to recognize the color difference, we proposed a method to expand the color difference when observed by dichromats. We have defined a hue variable for dichromats and implemented to our algorithm. We applied the histogram equalization to the hue of dichromats in order to enlarge the color difference recognized by dichromats. We have applied our method to RGB color image, and shown its performance at the experimental section.
Effective Descriptors for Human Action Retrieval from 3D Mesh Sequences
Authors: Veinidis Christos , Danelakis Antonios , Pratikakis Ioannis , Theoharis Theoharis
Published: July 2019

Two novel methods for fully unsupervised human action retrieval using 3D mesh sequences are presented. The first achieves high accuracy but is suitable for sequences consisting of clean meshes, such as artificial sequences or highly post-processed real sequences, while the second one is robust and suitable for noisy meshes, such as those that often result from unprocessed scanning or 3D surface reconstruction errors. The first method uses a spatio-temporal descriptor based on the trajectories of 6 salient points of the human body (i.e. the centroid, the top of the head and the ends of the two upper and two lower limbs) from which a set of kinematic features are extracted. The resulting features are transformed using the wavelet transformation in different scales and a set of statistics are used to obtain the descriptor. An important characteristic of this descriptor is that its length is constant independent of the number of frames in the sequence. The second descriptor consists of two complementary sub-descriptors, one based on the trajectory of the centroid of the human body across frames and the other based on the Hybrid static shape descriptor adapted for mesh sequences. The robustness of the second descriptor derives from the robustness involved in extracting the centroid and the Hybrid sub-descriptors. Performance figures on publicly available real and artificial datasets demonstrate our accuracy and robustness claims and in most cases the results outperform the state-of-the-art.
Modeling and analyzing dynamics of malaria transmission with host immunity
Authors: Cai Li-Ming , Li Zhaoqing , Liu Jinliang
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we investigate a compartmental model for malaria transmission, where the host individuals are distributed according to their immune status. The acquired immunity of malaria is usually booted upon each exposure and gradually declines between the consecutive bouts of the disease. It is assumed that the recovered host individuals may be reinfected due to the immunity waning over time. The existence and stability of equilibria in the system, and the effect of the immunity status on dynamics of the system, are investigated, respectively. The phenomena of multiple endemic equilibria in our model are also observed. Our obtained results show that malaria may keep recurring under the first lower prevalence, however, when malaria is spreading in a population, it may remain at a different endemic level under suitable control strategies.
Brief review on learning-based methods for optical tomography
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhang Guanglei
Published: July 2019

Learning-based methods have been proved to perform well in a variety of areas in the biomedical field, such as biomedical image segmentation, and histopathological image analysis. Deep learning, as the most recently presented approach of learning-based methods, has attracted more and more attention. For instance, massive researches of deep learning methods for image reconstructions of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been reported, indicating the great potential of deep learning for inverse problems. Optical technology-related medical imaging modalities including diffuse optical tomography (DOT), fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), bioluminescence tomography (BLT), and photoacoustic tomography (PAT) are also dramatically innovated by introducing learning-based methods, in particular deep learning methods, to obtain better reconstruction results. This review depicts the latest researches on learning-based optical tomography of DOT, FMT, BLT, and PAT. According to the most recent studies, learning-based methods applied in the field of optical tomography are categorized as kernel-based methods and deep learning methods. In this review, the former are regarded as a sort of conventional learning-based methods and the latter are subdivided into model-based methods, post-processing methods, and end-to-end methods. Algorithm as well as data acquisition strategy are discussed in this review. The evaluations of these methods are summarized to illustrate the performance of deep learning-based reconstruction.
Monopoles and confinement: New results and state of the art
Authors: Di Giacomo Adriano
Published: July 2019

The mechanism of colour confinement by dual superconductivity of the [Formula: see text] vacuum is discussed. Its gauge invariant formulation and the recent improvements in its lattice verification are reported.
Charmed dibaryon resonances in the potential quark model
Authors: Oka Makoto , Maeda Saori , Liu Yan-Rui
Published: July 2019

Charmed dibaryon states with the spin-parity [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] are predicted for the two-body [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text]) systems. We employ the complex scaling method for the coupled channel Hamiltonian with the [Formula: see text]-CTNN potentials, which were proposed in our previous study. We find four sharp resonance states near the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] thresholds. From the analysis of the binding energies of partial channel systems, we conclude that these resonance states are Feshbach resonances. We compare the results with the [Formula: see text] resonance states in the heavy quark limit, where the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] thresholds are degenerate, and find that they form two pairs of the heavy-quark doublets in agreement with the heavy quark spin symmetry.
Singular structure of the QED effective action
Authors: Fayzullaev B. A.
Published: July 2019

The equations for the QED effective action derived in Ref. 3 are considered using singular perturbation theory. The effective action is divided into regular and singular (in coupling constant) parts. It is shown that expression for the regular part coincides with usual Feynman perturbation series over coupling constant, while the remainder has essential singularity at the vanishing coupling constant: [Formula: see text]. This means that in the frame of quantum field theory it is impossible “to switch off” electromagnetic interaction in general and pass on to “free electron”.
Nuclear astrophysics and resonant reactions: Exploring the threshold region with the Trojan Horse Method
Authors: La Cognata M. , Cherubini S. , Gulino M. , Lamia L. , Pizzone R. G. , Romano S. , Spitaleri C. , Tumino A.
Published: July 2019

Resonant reactions play an important role in astrophysics as they might significantly enhance the cross section with respect to the direct reaction contribution and alter the nucleosynthetic flow. Moreover, resonances bear information about states in the intermediate compound nucleus formed in the reaction. However, nuclear reactions in stars take place at energies well below [Formula: see text] MeV and the Coulomb barrier, exponentially suppressing the cross section, and the electron screening effect, due to the shielding of nuclear charges by atomic electrons, make it very difficult to provide accurate input data for astrophysics. Therefore, indirect methods have been introduced; in particular, we will focus on the Trojan Horse Method. We will briefly discuss the theory behind the method, to make clear its domain of applicability, the advantages and the drawbacks, and two recent cases will be shortly reviewed: the [Formula: see text] reaction, which is an important fluorine destruction channel in the proton-rich outer layers of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and the [Formula: see text] reactions, which play a critical role in astrophysics to understand stellar burning scenarios in carbon-rich environments.
Nuclear physics and its role for describing the early universe
Authors: Pizzone R. G. , Spartá R. , La Cognata M. , Lamia L. , Spitaleri C. , Bertulani C. A. , Tumino A.
Published: July 2019

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) requires several nuclear physics inputs and nuclear reaction rates. An up-to-date compilation of direct cross sections of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]He and [Formula: see text]He reactions is given, being these ones among the most uncertain bare-nucleus cross sections. An intense experimental effort has been carried on in the last decade to apply the Trojan Horse Method (THM) to study reactions of relevance for the BBN and measure their astrophysical S(E)-factor. The reaction rates and the relative error for the four reactions of interest are then numerically calculated in the temperature ranges of relevance for BBN [Formula: see text]. These value were then used as input physics for primordial nucleosynthesis calculations in order to evaluate their impact on the calculated primordial abundances and isotopical composition for H, He and Li. New results on the [Formula: see text]He reaction rate were also taken into account.These were compared with the observational primordial abundance estimates in different astrophysical sites. Reactions to be studied in perspective will also be discussed.
Optical properties of magnetized black hole in plasma
Authors: Ahmedov Bobomurat , Turimov Bobur , Stuchlík Zdeněk , Tursunov Arman
Published: July 2019

We study in the weak field limit the gravitational lensing by spherically symmetric compact object immersed in an asymptotically uniform magnetic field in the presence of plasma and our approach is based on the medium modified Hamiltonian one. We show that the magnetized plasma in the environment of compact object may lead to split of the Einstein cross, creating additional lensed components. Finally we calculate magnification and time delay related to the individual images.
Basement-hosted sand injectites: use of field examples to advance understanding of hydrocarbon reservoirs in fractured crystalline basement rocks
Authors: Siddoway C. S. , Palladino G. , Prosser G. , Freedman D. , Duckworth W. Cody
Published: July 2019

Sedimentary injectites hosted within basement rocks, where preserved on land, offer a means to investigate the geometry, extent, dimensions and spacing of fractures that form an interconnected network within faulted/fractured crystalline host rock. Hydrocarbon occurrences within fractured basement are of high interest following the success of basement-targeted exploration in the North Sea and UK continental shelf. In some cases, these settings lack direct access to the fractured basement that constitute the crystalline-rock reservoir, due to the presence of a thick sedimentary cover. For this reason, we investigated two regional-scale crystalline-rock-hosted systems of sedimentary injectites and sediment-filled fractures that occupy basement fracture arrays within granitoids. Localities are in the Serre massif of Calabria, Italy and the Front Range of Colorado (USA). The injected sediment within fractures acts as a natural ‘proppant’ that maintained open pathways for fluid migration or accumulation. Study of the arrays of sediment-filled fractures and faults advances our understanding of unconventional fluid migration pathways, controls upon the porosity and permeability, and the potential of crystalline basement rock to act as a hydrocarbon reservoir.
Large-Scale Frequent Episode Mining from Complex Event Sequences with Hierarchies
Authors: Ao Xiang , Shi Haoran , Wang Jin , Zuo Luo , Li Hongwei , He Qing
Published: July 2019

Frequent Episode Mining (FEM), which aims at mining frequent sub-sequences from a single long event sequence, is one of the essential building blocks for the sequence mining research field. Existing studies about FEM suffer from unsatisfied scalability when faced with complex sequences as it is an NP-complete problem for testing whether an episode occurs in a sequence. In this article, we propose a scalable, distributed framework to support FEM on “big” event sequences. As a rule of thumb, “big” illustrates an event sequence is either very long or with masses of simultaneous events. Meanwhile, the events in this article are arranged in a predefined hierarchy. It derives some abstractive events that can form episodes that may not directly appear in the input sequence. Specifically, we devise an event-centered and hierarchy-aware partitioning strategy to allocate events from different levels of the hierarchy into local processes. We then present an efficient special-purpose algorithm to improve the local mining performance. We also extend our framework to support maximal and closed episode mining in the context of event hierarchy, and to the best of our knowledge, we are the first attempt to define and discover hierarchy-aware maximal and closed episodes. We implement the proposed framework on Apache Spark and conduct experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of the proposed approach and show that we can find practical patterns when taking event hierarchies into account.
Representations of Monotone Boolean Functions by Linear Programs
Authors: Oliveira Mateus De Oliveira , Pudlák Pavel
Published: July 2019

We introduce the notion of monotone linear programming circuits (MLP circuits), a model of computation for partial Boolean functions. Using this model, we prove the following results.
1

(1) MLP circuits are superpolynomially stronger than monotone Boolean circuits.

(2) MLP circuits are exponentially stronger than monotone span programs over the reals.

(3) MLP circuits can be used to provide monotone feasibility interpolation theorems for Lovász-Schrijver proof systems and for mixed Lovász-Schrijver proof systems.

(4) The Lovász-Schrijver proof system cannot be polynomially simulated by the cutting planes proof system.

Finally, we establish connections between the problem of proving lower bounds for the size of MLP circuits and the field of extension complexity of polytopes.
Scientific Discovery Games for Biomedical Research
Authors: Das Rhiju , Keep Benjamin , Washington Peter , Riedel-Kruse Ingmar H.
Published: July 2019

Over the past decade, scientific discovery games (SDGs) have emerged as a viable approach for biomedical research, engaging hundreds of thousands of volunteer players and resulting in numerous scientific publications. After describing the origins of this novel research approach, we review the scientific output of SDGs across molecular modeling, sequence alignment, neuroscience, pathology, cellular biology, genomics, and human cognition. We find compelling results and technical innovations arising in problem-oriented games such as Foldit and Eterna and in data-oriented games such as EyeWire and Project Discovery. We discuss emergent properties of player communities shared across different projects, including the diversity of communities and the extraordinary contributions of some volunteers, such as paper writing. Finally, we highlight connections to artificial intelligence, biological cloud laboratories, new game genres, science education, and open science that may drive the next generation of SDGs.
Zinc-Induced SUMOylation of Dynamin-Related Protein 1 Protects the Heart against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Bian Xiyun , Xu Jingman , Zhao Huanhuan , Zheng Quan , Xiao Xiaolin , Ma Xiaofang , Li Yanxia , Du Xinping , Liu Xiaozhi
Published: July 2019

Background. Zinc plays a role in mitophagy and protects cardiomyocytes from ischemia/reperfusion injury. This study is aimed at investigating whether SUMOylation of Drp1 is involved in the protection of zinc ion on cardiac I/R injury. Methods. Mouse hearts were subjected to 30 minutes of regional ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion (ischemia/reoxygenation (I/R)). Infarct size and apoptosis were assessed. HL-1 cells were subjected to 24 hours of hypoxia and 6 hours of reoxygenation (hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)). Zinc was given 5 min before reperfusion for 30 min. SENP2 overexpression plasmid (Flag-SENP2), Drp1 mutation plasmid (Myc-Drp1 4KR), and SUMO1 siRNA were transfected into HL-1 cells for 48 h before hypoxia. Effects of zinc on SUMO family members were analyzed by Western blotting. SUMOylation of Drp1, apoptosis and the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and mitophagy were evaluated. Results. Compared with the control, SUMO1 modification level of proteins in the H/R decreased, while this effect was reversed by zinc. In the setting of H/R, zinc attenuated myocardial apoptosis, which was reversed by SUMO1 siRNA. Similar effects were observed in SUMO1 KO mice exposed to H/R. In addition, the dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is a target protein of SUMO1. The SUMOylation of Drp1 induced by zinc regulated mitophagy and contributed to the protective effect of zinc on H/R injury. Conclusions. SUMOylation of Drp1 played an essential role in zinc-induced cardio protection against I/R injury. Our findings provide a promising therapeutic approach for acute myocardial I/R injury.
The Shear Strength and Dilatancy Behavior of Wheat Stored in Silos
Authors: Zeng Changnv , Wang Yuke
Published: July 2019

This paper focuses on the shear and dilatancy behavior of wheat stored in silos with various densities and normal stresses. The goal is to find a quantitative relationship modeling the peak friction angle and maximum dilatancy angle of wheat stored in silos. A total of 48 direct shear tests were carried out to research the evolution of shear and dilatancy of stored wheat in silos. It is revealed that strength of wheat in bulk attributes to the combination of frictional and dilatant during shearing, in particular attributing to its elliptic shape. An increase in relative density enhances the peak friction angle as well as the dilation. The relationships between relative density, peak friction angle, and dilatancy angle were presented based on the tests data and Bolton’s theory. Then an advanced model is developed to evaluate the peak shear behavior of wheat stored in silos considering the dilatancy of the stored wheat. It is a practical method to predict the strength and dilatancy behavior of wheat stored in silos.
Study on Dynamic Characteristics of Deep Siltstone under High Static Stress and Frequent Dynamic Disturbance
Authors: Cheng Lu-ping , Wang Chun , Tang Li-zhong , Wang Cheng , Xiong Zhu-qiang , Wei Shi-ming , Chen Yuan , Liu Tao , Wei Yong-heng
Published: July 2019

The mechanical characteristics of siltstone under high static load and frequent dynamic disturbance were investigated by the improved split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), which is used to simulate the failure phenomenon of the extracted ore drift owing to high stress concentration and blasting disturbance in Dongguashan copper mine at the depth of more than 900 m. The maximum dynamic strain, dynamic stress, and dynamic deformation modulus of rock of each impact were researched to provide theoretical basis for mining production. The results show that the dynamic stress‐strain curves of siltstone before the peak stress present two characteristics of linear and nonlinear variation and different degrees of resilience after the peak stress under high static stress and frequent dynamic disturbance. The strain rate rises in a linear trend with the increasing times of dynamic disturbance, but the value of the strain rate is approximately constant in the process of one impact. With the increase of the strain rate, the maximum dynamic strain rises at the same static stress, while the peak dynamic stress and dynamic deformation modulus decrease linearly. Because the inner stored elastic energy of rock determines the value of resilient strain after unloading, the elastic energy may increase with the increase of static axial stress in a certain range and then the resilient strain increases. Accumulative times of dynamic disturbance and static axial stress show the relationship that the former is obviously reduced with the increase of the later.
Galectin-1, -4, and -7 Were Associated with High Activity of Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Vilar Kamila de Melo , Pereira Michelly Cristiny , Dantas Andrea Tavares , Rêgo Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo , Pitta Ivan da Rocha , Marques Claudia Diniz Lopes , Gonçalves Rafaela Silva Guimarães , Júnior Laurindo Ferreira da Rocha , Duarte Ângela Luzia Branco Pinto , Pitta Maira Galdino da Rocha
Published: July 2019

Background. Due to the variety of functions that galectins (Gal) possess, it is clear that they participate in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although some studies demonstrate their functions, there is still no correlation with the clinical data of the disease, having the physiological meaning still unknown. Objectives. To compare serum levels of Gal-1, -4, and -7 in patients with RA and healthy controls and to correlate them with clinical parameters. Methods. Serum samples were collected from patients with RA and healthy donors to determine the serum levels of Gal-1, -4, and -7. Results. Serum levels of Gal-1, -4, and -7 were significantly higher in RA patients compared to controls. We evaluated disease activity (CDAI) with serum levels of galectins and found that patients who were high in disease activity had high levels of galectin compared to the moderate activity group. Galectin-4 had higher levels in patients who were in high activity when compared to the group in remission or low activity. Evaluating the activity of the individual disease (DAS28), patients in high individual activity had high levels of Gal-4 when compared to the group in remission or low activity. We also found an association between positive rheumatoid factor and Gal-1 and Gal-4 levels. Conclusion. Our results show for the first time the relationship between serum levels of galectin and the clinical parameters of patients with RA. Demonstrating their role in pathogenesis, new studies with galectins are needed to assess how they function as a biomarker in RA.
Microbiological and Physicochemical Characterization of Hospital Effluents before and after Treatment with Two Types of Sawdust
Authors: Elmountassir Rabea , Bennani Bahia , Miyah Youssef , Fegousse Ahlam , El Mouhri Ghita , Oumokhtar Bouchra , Khatouf Mohammed , Elkarrach Karima , Benjelloun Touimi Ghita , Lahrichi Anissa
Published: July 2019

Physicochemical and microbiological analyses of liquid hospital effluents have demonstrated that they are loaded with organic and inorganic pollutants then discharged into the sewerage networks without treatment. The aim of this study is to suggest an effective solution for their treatment. Column filtration is an adequate method to reduce the pollutant load which makes it possible to have a rate of abatement of 97% and 79% by filtering the pollutant material using sawdust of catia and red sawdust, respectively, with a filter bed height equal to 13 cm. Physicochemical parameters such as chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nitrate, ammonia, phosphorus, electrical conductivity and the bacteriological parameters like fecal coliforms, Streptococci, and Staphylococci have been measured. The analysis of heavy metals displays compliance with the World Health Organization standards. The red sawdust and catia sawdust have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
Characterization of the Buccula, Rostrum, Stridulatory Sulcus, Scutellum, and External Female Genitalia ofTriatoma carcavalloi(Jurberg, Rocha & Lent, 1998),Triatoma circummaculata(Stål, 1859), andTriatoma rubrovaria(Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)
Authors: Cardozo de Almeida Margareth Alves Ribeiro , Freitas Simone Patrícia Carneiro , de Oliveira Maria Luiza Ribeiro , de Lima Nathanielly Rocha Casado , Ferreira Rangel Elizabeth , Reis Santos-Mallet Jacenir
Published: July 2019

In Brazil,Triatoma rubrovaria(Blanchard, 1843) is the most important species in epidemiological terms in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, due to its wide geographical distribution in this state, followed byT. carcavalloi(Jurberg, Rocha & Lent, 1998) andT. circummaculata(Stål, 1859). Structural analysis of the ventral region of the head (rostrum and buccula), thorax (stridulatorium sulcus and scutellum), and external female genitalia of adults ofT. rubrovaria,T. carcavalloi, andT. circummaculatais described here. Scutellum, head, rostrum, and part of the thorax (prosternum) containing the stridulatory sulcus, in both male and female, and the sixth abdominal segment of the female, containing the external genitalia, were processed for scanning electron microscopy studies as routine. Morphological differences in the analyzed structures for all the threeTriatomaspecies studied were detected under scanning electron microscopy. This study confirms the grouping of theT. rubrovaria, T. carcavalloi,andT. circummaculatain ‘T. rubrovariasubcomplex’ by their morphological similarities.
Sulfatases, in Particular Sulf1, Are Important for the Integrity of the Glomerular Filtration Barrier in Zebrafish
Authors: Schenk Heiko , Masseli Anna , Schroder Patricia , Bolaños-Palmieri Patricia , Beese Michaela , Hegermann Jan , Bräsen Jan Hinrich , Haller Hermann
Published: July 2019

The 6-O-endosulfatases (sulfs) are important enzymatic components involved in the regulation of heparan sulfate by altering the sulfatation pattern. Specifically in the kidney, sulfs have been implicated in the glomerular podocyte-endothelial cell crosstalk and in the preservation of the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) in different mouse models. Since it has been shown that in zebrafish larvae, Sulf1, Sulf2a, and Sulf2b are expressed in the pronephric kidney we set out to establish if a reduction in sulf expression leads to GFB dysfunction. Here, we show that a reduced sulf expression following morpholino (MO) induced knockdown in zebrafish larvae promotes damage to the GFB leading to renal plasma protein loss from the circulation. Moreover, a combined knockdown of Sulf1, Sulf2a, and Sulf2b is associated with severe morphologic changes including narrowing of the fenestration between glomerular endothelial cells as well as thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and podocyte foot process effacement, suggesting that glomerular damage is an underlying cause of the circulatory protein loss observed after MO injection. Additionally, we show that a decrease in sulf expression reduces the bioavailability of VegfA in the glomerulus of the pronephros, which may contribute to the structural changes observed in the glomeruli of morphant fish. Furthermore, consistent with previous results, knockdown of the sulfs is associated with arteriovenous malformations in particular in the tail region of the larvae. Overall, taken together our results suggest that 6-O-endosulfatases are important in the preservation of GFB integrity and a reduction in their expression levels induces phenotypic changes that are indicative of renal protein loss.
Synthesis of SAPO-34 Using Different Combinations of Organic Structure-Directing Agents
Authors: Doan Tuan , Nguyen Khang , Dam Phong , Vuong Thanh Huyen , Le Minh Thang , Thanh Huyen Pham
Published: July 2019

The effects of different mixtures of organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs) on the formation of SAPO-34 structure have been investigated. Different OSDAs, namely, triethylamine (TEA), tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH), and morpholine (Mor) and their combinations were used to synthesize SAPO-34 by a hydrothermal method. The template concentration was optimized by eliminating the competing phases to obtain the purest form of SAPO-34 phase. The as-synthesized samples were analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM/EDS, FT-IR, surface area/pore volume measurements, NH3-TPD, TG/DTA, and 29Si NMR MAS. The selection of template notably impacts the crystal size and physicochemical characteristics of as-synthesized SAPO-34. The sample prepared with 3 Mor : 3 TEA : 1 TEAOH exhibited the highest total acidity, smallest crystal size below 3 µm, and high surface area up to 697 m2/g.
Effect of Airfoil Concavity on Wind Turbine Blade Performances
Authors: Ma Jianlong , Duan Yafan , Zhao Ming , Lv Wenchun , Wang Jianwen , Meng Ke Qilao , Ren Yongfeng
Published: July 2019

Although the optimization of wind turbine blade aerodynamic performance has achieved fruitful results, whether airfoil concavity, an important method for preventing flow separation, is also feasible for improving the aerodynamic performance has not been confirmed scientifically. Thus, we selected the blade of a small horizontal‐axis wind turbine as a research model and proposed an optimization method based on airfoil concavity near the trailing edge of the blade suction surface. The experimental results showed that airfoil concavity improved blade aerodynamic performance by 3–15%. Subsequently, its effects on the sound pressure level within the wake flow field were investigated using an acoustic array, and the results suggested that the sound pressure level was reduced by 9.6–15.8%. Lastly, a modal test of the rotor blade was conducted. Although the natural frequencies of the 1st and 2nd order vibrations had hardly changed, their vibrational stiffness were increased by 7 and 4.9%, respectively, which indicated that airfoil concavity significantly improved structural robustness.
Application of Saline Infusion Sonocolpography in Diagnosis and Treatment of Perforated Transverse Vaginal Septum
Authors: Ono Ayumi , Kisu Iori , Iijma Tomoko , Senba Hiroshi , Matsuda Kiyoko , Katayama Motoko , Iura Ayaka , Miura Yumiko , Hirao Nobumaru
Published: July 2019

Transverse vaginal septum (TVS) is a particularly rare vaginal anomaly, and diagnosis is often difficult in a genital examination. We herein present a case of perforated TVS for which successful diagnosis and treatment were achieved using a new technique referred to as saline infusion sonocolpography. A 32-year-old female presented with primary infertility. Speculum examination revealed a blind vaginal canal with two pinpoint perforating holes. Foley catheters with inflated balloon were inserted into the two apertures, and then normal saline was injected through the catheters to distend the vaginal pouch. This procedure of saline infusion sonocolpography revealed the uterine cervix and vaginal pouch and permitted diagnosis of perforated TVS of the upper vagina. The septum was excised and a normal cervix was ascertained. The patient had no complication such as agglutination of the vagina postoperatively. This case suggests that saline infusion sonocolpography may be useful for diagnosis and treatment of TVS.
Study on the Effect of the Oil-Water Ratio on the Rheological Properties of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC)
Authors: Su Xiaoming , Lian Zhanghua , Yuan Yuan
Published: July 2019

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is widely used in water-base drilling fluid as tackifier because of its good fluidity, stability, prop-carrying capacity, and good reservoir protection, while it has insufficient rheological property under higher temperature. In order to make use of its advantages and improve thermal stability, an innovative method that HEC was dissolved in the emulsion was proposed. Research indicated that compared with traditional water solution, the oil-water emulsion as solution could effectively improve the rheological properties and thermal stability. The oil-water ratio has an obvious effect on rheological properties. Firstly, with the decrease in the oil-water ratio, the apparent viscosity and shear stress were decreased; secondly, under constant oil-water ratio or temperature, the larger the shear rate, the lower the apparent viscosity, and the greater the shear strength; lastly under extremely low shear rate, HEC emulsion’s viscosity peaked at more than 50000 mPa·s, which can effectively solve the problem of sand carrying difficulty and being easy to form sand bed in horizontal well and high angle hole. In addition, the emulsifying stability was degradative with the increase in the oil-water ratio. The degradation was not obvious when the oil-water ratio was less than 30 : 70. On the contrary, the performance deteriorated drastically when the oil-water ratio was greater than 30 : 70. The separator liquid was more than 2 cm and was even about 1/3 when the oil-water was 50 : 50. On the basis of analysis of the experimental results, we can see that oil-water emulsion could effectively improve the rheological stability and thermal stability of HEC and the optimal oil-water ratio was 30 : 70. This study provided a new thought for application of HEC or other polymers in drilling fluid.
Intervention Mechanisms of Xinmailong Injection, a Periplaneta Americana Extract, on Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Basic Researches
Authors: Lin Shan-Shan , Liu Chun-Xiang , Wang Xian-Liang , Mao Jing-Yuan
Published: July 2019

Background. At present, the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in the world are facing severe challenges. Xinmailong injection, which is derived from the animal medicine Periplaneta Americana, has certain advantages in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular disease. This study systematically evaluated the basic research reports of Xinmailong Injection on cardiovascular disease and made its pharmacological mechanisms more clear. Methods. Basic research reports on the intervention mechanisms of Xinmailong Injection on cardiovascular disease in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (No. 2, 2019), CNKI, Wan Fang, and VIP databases were searched. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to February 2019. The literature was screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then the data were extracted and a descriptive analysis of the pharmacological mechanisms of Xinmailong Injection on cardiovascular disease was performed. Results. Finally, twenty-two basic research reports were included. The intervention mechanisms of Xinmailong Injection on cardiovascular disease mainly includes the following: inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction; regulating autophagy; promoting Ca2+ influx by activating excitability of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC); inhibiting overexpressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to regulate the dynamic balance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs); inhibiting the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), protein kinase B (AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) proteins and overexpression of the downstream transcription factor GATA4 in the nucleus; regulating vascular endothelial factors and so on. Conclusions. Xinmailong Injection can protect cardiomyocytes and maintain the normal function of the heart in various ways, thus effectively preventing the development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, Xinmailong Injection has great potential for clinical application, and more basic researches need to be carried out to explore the medicinal value of Xinmailong Injection.
Usefulness of Haemoglobin Level Combined with CAMI-STEMI Score for Predicting MACCE in Patients with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction after PCI
Authors: Tang Chengchun , Luo Erfei , Wang Dong , Yan Gaoliang , Qiao Yong , Zhu Boqian , Liu Bo , Hou Jiantong
Published: July 2019

Anaemia and high haemoglobin levels are common in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, but the effect of the haemoglobin level on the prognosis of STEMI patients remains in dispute. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score in STEMI patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We included 360 STEMI patients who underwent PCI. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the first haemoglobin value after PCI. Clinical characteristics and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) during the follow-up period were recorded. The incidence of MACCE in the 3 groups increased with a decrease in the haemoglobin level. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI and that anaemia was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 6 months and 1 year after PCI. A high haemoglobin level was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 1 year after PCI. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the haemoglobin level, CAMI-STEMI score, and haemoglobin level combined with CAMI-STEMI score predicting the occurrence of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI were 0.604, 0.614, and 0.639, respectively. In conclusion, The CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI. The haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score improved the predictive value of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI.Trial Registration. This trial was a prospective cohort study and registered withChiCTR-ROC-17011542.
The Modulus of Nearly Uniform Smoothness in Orlicz Sequence Spaces
Authors: Zhang Shaoyong , Zhang Meiling , Zhan Yujia
Published: July 2019

It is well known that the modulus of nearly uniform smoothness related with the fixed point property is important in Banach spaces. In this paper, we prove that the modulus of nearly uniform smoothness in Köthe sequence spaces without absolutely continuous norm is ΓX(t)=t. Meanwhile, the formula of the modulus of nearly uniform smoothness in Orlicz sequence spaces equipped with the Luxemburg norm is given. As a corollary, we get a criterion for nearly uniform smoothness of Orlicz sequence spaces equipped with the Luxemburg norm. Finally, the equivalent conditions of R(a,l(Φ))<1+a and RW(a,l(Φ))<1+a are given.
Solution of the Ill‐Posed Semiparametric Regression Model Based on Singular Value Modification Restriction
Authors: Zhou Yan , Jin Fengxiang , Ma Depeng
Published: July 2019

We propose a solution of the ill‐posed semi‐parametric regression model based on singular value modification restriction, aimed at the ill‐posed problem of the normal matrix which may occur in the process of solving the semiparametric regression model. First, the coefficient matrix is decomposed into singular values, and the smaller singular values are selected according to the criterion (in the singular value matrix, σ1 > σ1 > ⋯>σr > ⋯σn). Second, the relatively smaller singular values are modified by the biased parameter to suppress the magnification of the estimated variance so as to effectively reduce the variance of parameter estimation, reduce the introduction of deviation and obtain more reliable parameter estimation. The results of the numerical experiments show that the improved singular value modification restriction method can not only overcome the effect of the ill‐posed normal matrix on the parameter estimation solution but also correctly separate the systematic errors and improve the accuracy of semiparametric regression model calculation results.
A Case of Immunotherapy-Induced Colitis Complicated by Perforation and Treated with Infliximab Postoperatively
Authors: Delasos Lukas , Desai Aakash , Lopetegui Lia Nerea , Kethireddy Nikhila , Ray Carolyn
Published: July 2019

The advent of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in medical oncology has led to an increase in hospitalizations for immune-related adverse effects. Severe colitis has been reported in approximately 5% of patients treated with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, such as ipilimumab. Standard management for those with severe colitis includes administration of systemic corticosteroids with the reservation of antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, such as infliximab, if there has been no improvement. Rarely, immunotherapy-induced colitis can become life-threatening and result in bowel perforation requiring surgical intervention. Yet, there are no specific recommendations for medical management following colectomy in these situations. In cases of severe colitis from Crohn’s disease, postoperative treatment with infliximab has been found to be safe when administered shortly after intestinal resection. However, there remains limited data to support administration of infliximab following bowel perforation due to immunotherapy-induced colitis. Our case illustrates management of a severe adverse reaction to checkpoint inhibitor therapy and the need to further evaluate the role of infliximab postoperatively in patients who develop colitis complicated by bowel perforation.
Some Developments and New Insights for Microseismic/Acoustic Emission Source Localization
Authors: Dong Longjun , Zou Wei , Sun Daoyuan , Tong Xiaojie , Li Xibing , Shu Weiwei
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this review is to discuss the development of the methods in microseismic/acoustic emission (AE) source localization and detail the principles of the mainly developed methods. The important applications of the microseismic/AE in engineering practice and the history of the source localization (from the initial Geiger method of localization to the later double‐difference method) are introduced briefly in the beginning of the review. The factors that influence the accuracy of source locating are discussed in Section 2 to provide references on how to improve the accuracy of the localization methods. Then, the main localization methods in the history of the source and AE research have been classified into four parts (i.e., the localization methods for single event, the joint inversion methods, the relative localization methods, and the localization methods in spatial domain); each part is extended and systematically reviewed, respectively, from Sections 3 to 6, where the merit and demerit of the methods are discussed. Finally, a brief summary and some aspects of prospective research are presented.