bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavy alcohol consumption before and after negative life events in late mid-life: longitudinal latent trajectory analyses
Authors: Agahi Neda , Morin Lucas , Virtanen Marianna , Pentti Jaana , Fritzell Johan , Vahtera Jussi , Stenholm Sari
Published: September 2021

Background

People who experience negative life events report more heavy alcohol consumption compared with people without these experiences, but little is known about patterns of change within this group. This study aims to identify trajectories of heavy alcohol consumption before and after experiencing either divorce, or severe illness or death in the family. Furthermore, the aim is to examine characteristics of individuals belonging to each trajectory.

Methods

Longitudinal study of public sector employees from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study with up to 5 years of annual follow-ups (n=6783; eligible sample n=1393). Divorce and severe illness or death in the family represented negative life events. Heavy alcohol consumption was categorised as >14 units/week.

Results

Based on latent trajectory analysis, three trajectories of heavy drinking were identified both for divorce and for severe illness or death in the family: ‘No heavy drinking’ (82% illness/death, 75% divorce), ‘Constant heavy drinking’ (10% illness/death, 13% divorce) and ‘Decreasing heavy drinking’ (7% illness/death, 12% divorce). Constant heavy drinkers surrounding illness or death in the family were more likely to be men, report depression and anxiety and to smoke than those with no heavy drinking. Constant heavy drinkers surrounding divorce were also more likely to be men and to report depression compared with those with no heavy drinking.

Conclusions

Most older workers who experience divorce or severe illness or death in the family have stable drinking patterns regarding heavy alcohol consumption, that is, most do not initiate or stop heavy drinking.
Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Pneumonia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Gupta Samiksha , Padappayil Rana Prathap , Bansal Agam , Daouk Salim , Brown Brent
Published: September 2021

Tocilizumab is an interleukin receptor inhibitor that has been used in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. There are recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs that evaluated the effectiveness of tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 not requiring mechanical ventilation. RCTs comparing tocilizumab with the standard of care treatment in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not requiring mechanical ventilation at the time of administration were included for analysis. The primary outcome was a composite of mechanical ventilation or 28-day mortality and the secondary outcomes were 28-day mortality and major adverse events. A total of 6 RCTs were included for the analysis. Tocilizumab was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the primary composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or 28-day mortality (risk ratio (RR): 0.83 (95% CI: 0.74 to 0.92, I2=0, tau2=0). Treatment with tocilizumab did not show a statistically significant reduction in 28-day mortality (RR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.76 to 1.07), I2=0, tau2=0) and rate of serious adverse events (RR: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.62 to 1.10), I2=0, tau2=0). Tocilizumab was associated with a decrease in the incidence of primary outcome, that is, mechanical ventilation or death at 28 days in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Self-management intervention to reduce pulmonary exacerbations by supporting treatment adherence in adults with cystic fibrosis: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wildman Martin J , O’Cathain Alicia , Maguire Chin , Arden Madelynne A , Hutchings Marlene , Bradley Judy , Walters Stephen J , Whelan Pauline , Ainsworth John , Buchan Iain , Mandefield Laura , Sutton Laura , Tappenden Paul , Elliott Rachel A , Hoo Zhe Hui , Drabble Sarah J , Beever Daniel
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Recurrent pulmonary exacerbations lead to progressive lung damage in cystic fibrosis (CF). Inhaled medications (mucoactive agents and antibiotics) help prevent exacerbations, but objectively measured adherence is low. We investigated whether a multi-component (complex) self-management intervention to support adherence would reduce exacerbation rates over 12 months.

Methods

Between October 2017 and May 2018, adults with CF (aged ≥16 years; 19 UK centres) were randomised to the intervention (data-logging nebulisers, a digital platform and behavioural change sessions with trained clinical interventionists) or usual care (data-logging nebulisers). Outcomes included pulmonary exacerbations (primary outcome), objectively measured adherence, body mass index (BMI), lung function (FEV1) and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). Analyses were by intent to treat over 12 months.

Results

Among intervention (n=304) and usual care (n=303) participants (51% female, median age 31 years), 88% completed 12-month follow-up. Mean exacerbation rate was 1.63/year with intervention and 1.77/year with usual care (adjusted ratio 0.96; 95% CI 0.83 to 1.12; p=0.64). Adjusted mean differences (95% CI) were in favour of the intervention versus usual care for objectively measured adherence (9.5% (8.6% to 10.4%)) and BMI (0.3 (0.1 to 0.6) kg/m2), with no difference for %FEV1(1.4 (−0.2 to 3.0)). Seven CFQ-R subscales showed no between-group difference, but treatment burden reduced for the intervention (3.9 (1.2 to 6.7) points). No intervention-related serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

While pulmonary exacerbations and FEV1did not show statistically significant differences, the intervention achieved higher objectively measured adherence versus usual care. The adherence difference might be inadequate to influence exacerbations, though higher BMI and lower perceived CF treatment burden were observed.
Emerging regulatory challenges of next-generation synthetic biology
Authors: Sheahan Taylor , Wieden Hans-Joachim
Published: September 2021

Cell-free synthetic biology is a rapidly developing biotechnology with the potential to solve the world’s biggest problems; however, this promise also has implications for global biosecurity and biosafety. Given the current situation of COVID-19 and its economic impact, capitalizing on the potential of cell-free synthetic biology from an economic, biosafety, and biosecurity perspective contributes to our preparedness for the next pandemic, and urges the development of appropriate policies and regulations, together with the necessary mitigation technologies. Proactive involvement from scientists is necessary to avoid misconceptions and assist in the policymaking process.
Inhibition of microRNA-297 alleviates THLE-2 cell injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via sirtuin 3
Authors: Yue Yuan , Du Zhilin , Tao Jie , Shi Lei
Published: September 2021

It has been acknowledged that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) assume a critical role in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) – induced hepatocyte injury. Therefore, cell experiments were performed in this study to investigate the mechanism of miR-297 in H/R-induced hepatocyte injury with the involvement of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). Initially, transformed human liver epithelial-2 (THLE-2) cells were utilized for H/R challenge. After miR-297 antagomir and NLRP3 adenovirus vector delivery, THLE-2 cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT, EdU, and TUNEL assays, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to evaluate the levels of apoptosis-related indicators (Bax and Bcl-2) and inflammation-related indicators (interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-10), Western blot analysis to detect NLRP3, and cleaved caspase-1 expression. The binding relation between miR-297 and SIRT3 was examined using dual-luciferase assay. The results showed that miR-297 antagomir repressed the apoptosis and inflammation induced by H/R treatment in THLE-2 cells. Mechanistically, miR-297 antagomir diminished the extent of IκBα and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation in H/R-induced THLE-2 cells by targeting SIRT3. Furthermore, NLRP3 overexpression normalized the promoting effects of miR-297 antagomir on proliferation and its inhibitory effects on apoptosis and inflammation in H/R-induced THLE-2 cells. In summary, our results elucidated that miR-297 antagomir repressed H/R-induced THLE-2 cell injury via SIRT3 promotion and NLRP3 inactivation.
Neutrino energy-loss rate in 331β model
Authors: Binh D. T. , Hue L. T. , Binh V. H. , Long H. N.
Published: September 2021

We evaluate the stellar energy-loss rates [Formula: see text] due to the production of neutrino pair in 3-3-1 models. The energy loss rate [Formula: see text] is evaluated for different values of [Formula: see text] in which [Formula: see text] is a parameter used to define the charge operator in the 331 models. We show that the contribution of dipole moment to the energy loss rate is small compared to the contribution of new natural gauge boson [Formula: see text]. The correction [Formula: see text] compared with that of Standard Model is evaluated and do not exceed 14% and is highest with [Formula: see text]. Of all the evaluated models, model with [Formula: see text] give a relative large [Formula: see text] correction for the mass of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] GeV. This mass range is within the searching range for [Formula: see text] boson at LHC.
Detrended Correlogram Method for Non-Stationary Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Zebende G. F. , Guedes E. F.
Published: September 2021

A correlogram is a statistical tool that is used to check time-series memory by computing the auto-correlation coefficient as a function of the time lag. If the time-series has no memory, then the auto-correlation must be close to zero for any time lag, otherwise if there is a memory, then the auto-correlations must be significantly different from zero. Therefore, based on the robust detrended cross-correlation coefficient, [Formula: see text], we propose the detrended correlogram method in this paper, which will be tested for some time-series (simulated and empirical). This new statistical tool is able to visualize a complete map of the auto-correlation for many time lags and time-scales, and can therefore analyze the memory effect for any time-series.
A Smoothing Scheme for Seismic Wave Propagation Simulation with a Mixed FEM of Diffusionized Wave Equation
Authors: Imai Ryuta , Kasui Naoki , Yamada Masayuki , Hada Koji , Fujiwara Hiroyuki
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we propose a smoothing scheme for seismic wave propagation simulation. The proposed scheme is based on a diffusionized wave equation with the fourth-order spatial derivative term. So, the solution requires higher regularity in the usual weak formulation. Reducing the diffusionized wave equation to a coupled system of diffusion equations yields a mixed FEM to ease the regularity. We mathematically explain how our scheme works for smoothing. We construct a semi-implicit time integration scheme and apply it to the wave equation. This numerical experiment reveals that our scheme is effective for filtering short wavelength components in seismic wave propagation simulation.
Synthesis and properties of covalently linked di-p-benzihomoporphyrin-BODIPY conjugates
Authors: Sengupta Rima , Tiwari Shubham , Ravikanth Mangalampalli
Published: September 2021

Two mono meso-functionalized [20]di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrins containing [Formula: see text]-formylphenyl and [Formula: see text]-iodophenyl groups at meso-position respectively were synthesized by condensing one equivalent of appropriate tetrapyrrane with one equivalent of [Formula: see text]-formyl benzaldehyde/[Formula: see text]-iodo benzaldehyde in CH2Cl2 under mild acid catalyzed conditions. The meso-formylphenyl and meso-iodophenyl functionalized di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrins were used to synthesize two covalently linked di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrins-BODIPY conjugates. The meso-formylphenyl-functionalized di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin was converted to corresponding meso-dipyrrolyl substituted di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin by treating with excess pyrrole under acid catalyzed conditions. In the next step, the meso-dipyrrolyl di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin was subjected to oxidation followed by BF2 complexation to afford the directly linked di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin-BODIPY conjugate. The meso-iodophenyl functionalized di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin was coupled with ethynyl-functionalized BODIPY under mild Pd(0) coupling condition to synthesize diphenylethyne-bridged di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin-BODIPY conjugate. The two conjugates were characterized by HR-MS, NMR, absorption, electrochemical, fluorescence and DFT studies. The spectral and electrochemical studies indicated that the two constituents, di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin and BODIPY units in the conjugates interact weakly and retain their individual characteristic features. DFT studies indicated a possibility of charge transfer between di-[Formula: see text]-benzihomoporphyrin and BODIPY units in conjugates.
Evaluation of grain growth exponent by Monte Carlo simulation in polycrystalline materials
Authors: Rajendra P. , Phaneesh K. R. , Ramesha C. M. , Nagaral Madeva , Auradi V
Published: September 2021

In metallurgy, the microstructure study is very important to evaluate the properties and performances of a material. The Monte Carlo method is applied in so many fields of Engineering Science and it is a very effective method to examine the topology of the computer-simulated structures and exactly resembles the static behavior of the atoms. The effective 2D simulation was performed to understand the grain growth kinetics, under the influence of second phase particles (impurities) is a base to control the microstructure. The matrix size and [Formula: see text]-states are optimized. The grain growth exponent was investigated in a polycrystalline material using the [Formula: see text]-state Potts model under the Monte Carlo simulation. The effect of particles present within the belly of grains and pinning on the grain boundaries are observed. The mean grain size under second phase particles obeys the square root dependency.
Thallo – Scheduling for High-Performance Large-Scale Non-Linear Least-Squares Solvers
Authors: Mara Michael , Heide Felix , Zollhöfer Michael , Nießner Matthias , Hanrahan Pat
Published: September 2021

Large-scale optimization problems at the core of many graphics, vision, and imaging applications are often implemented by hand in tedious and error-prone processes in order to achieve high performance (in particular on GPUs), despite recent developments in libraries and DSLs. At the same time, these hand-crafted solver implementations reveal that the key for high performance is a problem-specific schedule that enables efficient usage of the underlying hardware. In this work, we incorporate this insight into Thallo, a domain-specific language for large-scale non-linear least squares optimization problems. We observe various code reorganizations performed by implementers of high-performance solvers in the literature, and then define a set of basic operations that span these scheduling choices, thereby defining a large scheduling space. Users can either specify code transformations in a scheduling language or use an autoscheduler. Thallo takes as input a compact, shader-like representation of an energy function and a (potentially auto-generated) schedule, translating the combination into high-performance GPU solvers. Since Thallo can generate solvers from a large scheduling space, it can handle a large set of large-scale non-linear and non-smooth problems with various degrees of non-locality and compute-to-memory ratios, including diverse applications such as bundle adjustment, face blendshape fitting, and spatially-varying Poisson deconvolution, as seen in Figure 1. Abstracting schedules from the optimization, we outperform state-of-the-art GPU-based optimization DSLs by an average of 16× across all applications introduced in this work, and even some published hand-written GPU solvers by 30%+.
A Large-scale Benchmark and an Inclusion-based Algorithm for Continuous Collision Detection
Authors: Wang Bolun , Ferguson Zachary , Schneider Teseo , Jiang Xin , Attene Marco , Panozzo Daniele
Published: September 2021

We introduce a large-scale benchmark for
continuous collision detection (CCD)
algorithms, composed of queries manually constructed to highlight challenging degenerate cases and automatically generated using existing simulators to cover common cases. We use the benchmark to evaluate the accuracy, correctness, and efficiency of state-of-the-art continuous collision detection algorithms, both with and without minimal separation.

We discover that, despite the widespread use of CCD algorithms, existing algorithms are (1) correct but impractically slow; (2) efficient but incorrect, introducing false negatives that will lead to interpenetration; or (3) correct but over conservative, reporting a large number of false positives that might lead to inaccuracies when integrated in a simulator.

By combining the seminal interval root finding algorithm introduced by Snyder in 1992 with modern predicate design techniques, we propose a simple and efficient CCD algorithm. This algorithm is competitive with state-of-the-art methods in terms of runtime while conservatively reporting the time of impact and allowing explicit tradeoff between runtime efficiency and number of false positives reported.
Geopolitical Risk and Stock Market Volatility in Emerging Economies: Evidence from GARCH-MIDAS Model
Authors: Yang Menglong , Zhang Qiang , Yi Adan , Peng Peng
Published: September 2021

Previous studies have found that geopolitical risk (GPR) caused by geopolitical events such as terrorist attacks can affect the movements of asset prices. However, the studies on whether and how these influences can explain and predict the volatility of stock returns in emerging markets are scant and emerging. By using the data from China’s CSI 300 index, we provide some evidence on whether and how the GPR factors can explain and forecast the volatility of stock returns in emerging economies. We employed the GARCH-MIDAS model and the model confidence set (MCS) to investigate the mechanism of GPR’s impact on the China stock market, and we considered the GPR index, geopolitical action index, geopolitical threat index, and different country-specific GPR indices. The empirical results suggest that except for a few emerging economies such as Mexico, Argentina, Russia, India, South Africa, Thailand, Israel, and Ukraine, the global and most of the regional GPR have a significant impact on China’s stock market. This paper provides some evidence for the different effects of GPR from different countries on China’s stock market volatility. As for predictive potential, GPRAct (geopolitical action index) has the best predictive power among all six types of GPR indices. Considering that GPR is usually unanticipated, these findings shed light on the role of the GPR factors in explaining and forecasting the volatility of China’s market returns.
The Intraoperative Use of a Portable Cone-Beam Computed Tomography System for the Diagnosis of Intraperitoneal Bladder Perforation
Authors: Choksi Ankur , Press Benjamin , Nawaf Cayce , Longyear Shannon , Ferrante Marc , Martin Thomas V.
Published: September 2021

Background. Intraoperative imaging for endourologic procedures is generally limited to single-plane fluoroscopic X-ray. The O-arm™ is a mobile cone-bean CT scanner that may have applications in urologic surgeries. Case Presentation. We present a case of an 85-year-old male with radiation cystitis and recurrent gross hematuria who was identified to have a bladder perforation on cystoscopy during emergent clot evacuation. Single-view fluoroscopic evaluation was inconclusive as to whether an intraperitoneal bladder perforation occurred. A portable cone-beam CT scan was used to acquire a 3-D CT cystogram, which demonstrated intraperitoneal contrast extravasation, confirming the diagnosis of an intraperitoneal bladder perforation. Conclusion. We report the first use of a portable cone-beam CT scanner to perform an intraoperative CT cystogram to diagnose an intraperitoneal bladder perforation and guide surgical management.
Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Oil Attenuates LPS-Induced BEAS-2B Cell Activation and Inflammation by Inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Hou Jing , Wang Jun , Meng Jingyi , Zhang Xiaoting , Niu Yuanjing , Gao Jianping , Bai Yun’e , Zhou Jiangtao
Published: September 2021

Background. Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed oil (ZBSO) is a natural essential oil derived from the seeds of the Chinese medicinal plant Zanthoxylum bungeanum, which has been investigated for antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known regarding the effects of ZBSO in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods. In this study, lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an in vitro model of COPD, and cytotoxicity was detected by a cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Griess test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot, immunofluorescence, and molecular docking analyses were used to investigate the effects of ZBSO and its potential mechanisms. Results. The results showed that LPS promoted the expression of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), suggesting that LPS can induce inflammation and oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells. ZBSO inhibits the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in BEAS-2B cells. The molecular docking results indicated that active components in ZBSO could successfully dock with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and p65. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses further demonstrated that ZBSO repressed protein expression associated with the TLR4/MyD88/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Conclusions. ZBSO reduced the inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by LPS by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby suppressing COPD. ZBSO may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for COPD treatment.
BLSTM-Based Adaptive Finite-Time Output-Constrained Control for a Class of AUSs with Dynamic Disturbances and Actuator Faults
Authors: Huang Shiyi , Rong Lulu , Chang Xiaofei , Wang Zheng , Yuan Zhaohui , Wei Caisheng
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a BLSTM-based adaptive finite-time control structure has been constructed for a class of aerospace unmanned systems (AUSs). Firstly, a novel neural network structure possessing both the time memory characteristics and high learning speed, broad long short-term memory (BLSTM) network, has been constructed. Secondly, several nonlinear functions are utilized to transform the tracking errors into a novel state vector to guarantee the output constraints of the AUSs. Thirdly, the fractional-order control law and the corresponding adaptive laws are designed, and as a result, the adaptive finite-time control scheme has been formed. Moreover, to handle the uncertainties and the faulty elevator outputs, an inequality of the multivariable systems is utilized. Consequently, by fusing the output of the BLSTM, the transformation of the tracking errors, and the adaptive finite-time control law, a novel BLSTM-based intelligent adaptive finite-time control structure has been established for the AUSs under output constraints. The simulation results show that the proposed BLSTM-based adaptive control algorithm can achieve favorable control results for the AUSs with multiple uncertainties.
A Method of CT Image Denoising Based on Residual Encoder-Decoder Network
Authors: Liu Yali
Published: September 2021

Low-dose computed tomography (CT) has proved effective in lowering radiation risk for the patients, but the resultant noise and bar artifacts in CT images can be a disturbance for medical diagnosis. The difficulty of modeling statistical features in the image domain makes it impossible for the existing methods that directly process reconstructed images to maintain the detailed texture structure of images while reducing noise, which accounts for the failure in CT diagnostic images in practical application. To overcome this defect, this paper proposes a CT image-denoising method based on an improved residual encoder-decoder network. Firstly, in our approach, the notion of recursion is integrated into the original residual encoder-decoder network to lower the algorithm complexity and boost efficiency in image denoising. The original CT images and the postrecursion result graph output after recursion are used as the input for the next recursion simultaneously, and the shallow encoder-decoder network is recycled. Secondly, the root-mean-square error loss function and perceptual loss function are introduced to ensure the texture of denoised CT images. On this basis, the tissue processing technology based on clustering segmentation is optimized considering that the images after improved RED-CNN training will still have certain artifacts. Finally, the experimental results of the TCGA-COAD clinical data set show that under the same experimental conditions, our method outperforms WGAN in average postdenoising PSNR and SSIM of CT images. Moreover, with a lower algorithm complexity and shorter execution time, our method is a significant improvement on RED-CNN and is applicable for actual scenarios.
Evaluation of Ion Beam Behavior in 50 W Class RF Ion Thruster
Authors: Nguyen Huong T. T. , Vu Hoai-Duc , Shin Jichul
Published: September 2021

Phenomenological behavior of ion beam acceleration through the grid system in 50 W class RF ion thruster has been investigated using PIC simulation and evaluated by experimental test using Faraday probe. Beam trajectory for various grid voltages reveals that the metal engine cover of the ion thruster which is needed to seal RF coil around the discharge chamber affects the beam divergence angle. Simulation result shows that the divergence angle increases by 10.52% mainly because of the larger radial electric field in the presence of the metal engine cover. The divergence angle increases as the accelerator grid voltage increases. The current density distribution measured by the Faraday probe shows a bigger divergence angle with the engine cover installed. For the test cases with mass flow rates from 3 sccm to 4 sccm at the RF power of about 50 W, the current density distribution exhibits the 2nd peak at the radial position about 4 cm from the centerline.
Effect of Huanglian Decoction on the Intestinal Microbiome in Stress Ulcer (SU) Mice
Authors: Zhang Qi , Guo Jing-Jing , Yau Yuen-Ming , Wang Ying-Jie , Cheng Yan-Bin , Tuo Xuan , Yang Zong-Bao , Qian Lin-Chao
Published: September 2021

Background. Stress ulcer (SU) is a serious gastrointestinal mucosal lesion under acute stress. Huanglian decoction is a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription, which has been used to treat digestive system diseases for thousands of years. Many clinical cases have proved that Huanglian decoction has a good effect on SU. Some studies have shown that the intestinal bacteria will be changed accordingly when the gastrointestinal mucosa is damaged. However, there are few published reports on the effect of the intestinal microbiome with SU mice that were treated by Huanglian decoction. In this study, we investigated the effect of the fecal microbiome in mice with SU by the 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Methods. Male KM mice were induced by cold-restraint stress except for the normal control group and then treated by Huanglian decoction (Group HD) and Esomeprazole magnesium solution (Group ES) separately for 7 days. 16S rDNA sequencing technology analysis was applied to evaluate the changes of bacterial flora in mice feces. And, histopathological methods and molecular biological detection methods were also performed. Results. Huanglian decoction could help to repair the gastric mucosal injury and regulate the relative content of TNF-α and IL-1β. Moreover, Huanglian decoction could increase the relative abundance of intestinal probiotics in the intestine of mice with SU, especially in Verrucomicrobiae and Akkermansia. Conclusions. Huanglian decoction might effectively promote the repair of gastrointestinal mucosal injury and regulate the number and species of intestinal bacteria to maintain the stability of gastrointestinal microecology.
Unique Fixed-Point Results in Fuzzy Metric Spaces with an Application to Fredholm Integral Equations
Authors: Shamas Iqra , Rehman Saif Ur , Aydi Hassen , Mahmood Tayyab , Ameer Eskandar
Published: September 2021

This paper aims at proving some unique fixed-point results for different contractive-type self-mappings in fuzzy metric spaces by using the “triangular property of the fuzzy metric”. Some illustrative examples are presented to support our results. Moreover, we present an application by resolving a particular case of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind.
Crashworthy Examination of a Newly Proposed Impact Attenuator Design: Experimental Testing and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Prasetya Laksmana Widi , Prabowo Aditya Rio , Ubaidillah Ubaidillah , Hadi Syamsul , Hidajat Raymundus Lulus Lambang Govinda , Tuswan Tuswan , Adiputra Ristiyanto
Published: September 2021

The impact attenuator is a safety vehicle system designed to absorb the kinetic energy from a collision that is converted into deformation and ensures the deceleration level acting on the human body remains low. In this paper, we propose that the impact attenuator be fabricated with used cans, which are easy to obtain. Compared to fabricating cylinders through machining and other production processes using new material, the application of used cans may reduce production costs by approximately IDR 500,000 (USD 34.50) for one attenuator structure, while the attenuator still meets the weight criterion, i.e., it has to be light to improve acceleration and fuel efficiency. As a type of metal waste product, food cans are often fabricated from aluminum and other metal alloys. These products are widely used in our lives; if they are not recycled, they can potentially pollute the environment as waste. Given these problems and considering the use of environmentally friendly materials, lightweight used cans were chosen as materials for the proposed impact attenuator design. In the initial study, the verification and validation tests of the impact attenuator shell and used cans show good agreement between the numerical and experimental impact tests. The proposed impact attenuator design under the predetermined parameters showed that used cans of aluminum 6063 series can be recommended as an alternative material in this system.
Rigorous Assessment of Guidelines on COVID-19-Related Thrombotic or Thromboembolic Disease: Implications for Clinical Practice of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Liang Jingyi , Wang Zhufeng , Xie Jiaxing , Liang Hanwen , Liang Jiamin , Jiang Mei , Li Shiyue
Published: September 2021

Purpose. Severe COVID-19 patients were prone to develop venous thromboembolism. Unfortunately, to date, there is no evidence of any effective medications for thromboembolism in COVID-19. The management of the disease relies on symptomatic and supportive treatments, giving rise to a variety of guidelines. However, the quality of methodology and clinical recommendations remains unknown. Materials and Methods. We searched Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, websites of international organizations and medical societies, and gray literature databases. Four well-trained appraisers independently evaluated the quality of eligible guidelines and extracted recommendations using well-recognized guideline appraisal tools. Furthermore, recommendations were extracted and reclassified according to a composite grading system. Results. The search identified 23 guidelines that offered 108 recommendations. Guidelines scored average on AGREE II criteria, with Scope and Purpose and Clarity of Presentation highest. Only five (22%) guidelines provided high-quality recommendations. The existed clinical recommendations were inconsistent in terms of prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of thromboembolic disease to some extent. Conclusion. Current guidelines for COVID-19 thromboembolism are generally of low quality, and clinical recommendations on thromboembolism are principally supported by insufficient evidence. There is still an urgent need for more well-designed clinical trials as evidence to prevent adverse events and improve prognosis during COVID-19 treatment.
Thermal Maturation Regime Revisited in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China
Authors: Huang Haiping , Zhang Hong , Li Zheng , Liu Mei
Published: September 2021

To the accurate reconstruction of the hydrocarbon generation history in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China, core samples of the Eocene Shahejie Formation from 3 shale oil boreholes were analyzed using organic petrology and organic geochemistry methods. The shales are enriched in organic matter with good to excellent hydrocarbon generation potential. The maturity indicated by measured vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) falls in the range of 0.5–0.9% and increases with burial depth in each well. Changes in biomarker and aromatic hydrocarbon isomer distributions and biomarker concentrations are also unequivocally correlated with the thermal maturity of the source rocks. Maturity/depth relationships for hopanes, steranes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, constructed from core data indicate different well locations, have different thermal regimes. A systematic variability of maturity with geographical position along the depression has been illustrated, which is a dependence on the distance to the Tanlu Fault. Higher thermal gradient at the southern side of the Dongying Depression results in the same maturity level at shallower depth compared to the northern side. The significant regional thermal regime change from south to north in the Dongying Depression may exert an important impact on the timing of hydrocarbon maturation and expulsion at different locations. Different exploration strategies should be employed accordingly.
Common Fixed-Point Theorems in the Partial
b
-Metric Spaces and an Application to the System of Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Nazam Muhammad , Hamid Zahida , Al Sulami Hamed , Hussain Aftab
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we investigate the conditions for the existence of the common fixed points of generalized contractions in the partial

b

-metric spaces endowed with an arbitrary binary relation. We establish some unique common fixed-point theorems. The obtained results may generalize and improve earlier fixed-point results. We provide examples to illustrate our findings. As an application, we discuss the common solution to the system of boundary value problems.
A Tristage Adaptive Biased Learning for Artificial Bee Colony
Authors: Jiang Qiaoyong , Ma Yueqi , Lin Yanyan , Cui Jianan , Liu Xinjia , Wu Yali , Wang Lei
Published: September 2021

In recent ten years, artificial bee colony (ABC) has attracted more and more attention, and many state-of-the-art ABC variants (ABCs) have been developed by introducing different biased information to the search equations. However, the same biased information is employed in employed bee and onlooker bee phases, which will cause over exploitation and lead to premature convergence. To overcome this limit, an effective framework with tristage adaptive biased learning is proposed for existing ABCs (TABL + ABCs). In TABL + ABCs, the search direction in the employed bee stage is guided by learning the ranking biased information of the parent food sources, while in the onlooker bee stage, the search direction is determined by extracting the biased information of population distribution. Moreover, a deletion-restart learning strategy is designed in scout bee stage to prevent the potential risk of population stagnation. Systematic experiment results conducted on CEC2014 competition benchmark suite show that proposed TABL + ABCs perform better than recently published AEL + ABCs and ACoS + ABCs.
Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Hydrothermal Methods and Spectroscopic Investigation of Ultraviolet Radiation Protective Properties
Authors: Bulcha Bekele , Leta Tesfaye Jule , Anatol Degefa , Shanmugam R. , Dwarampudi L. Priyanka , Nagaprasad N. , Bhargavi V. L. Nirmal , Krishnaraj Ramaswamy
Published: September 2021

Ultraviolet radiation causes damages to the human body, such as skin ageing, skin cancer, and allergies throughout the world. Applying zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in sunscreen products (like cloths or textiles) to protect human skin by absorbing the ultraviolet radiations that emerged from the sun. The main aim of this study is to investigate both absorbance and transmittance characteristics of the untreated and treated cotton textiles. For ZnO NPs using hydrothermal methods, they were made from Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and NaOH at a constant annealing temperature of 300°C. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to analyze the produced ZnO NPs. From the FT-IR result, ZnO NPs were observed in the region of 400-600 cm-1. Wurtzite hexagonal structure of ZnO NPs with the average crystal size

32
±
49

 nm was observed from XRD results. Flowers in the shape of synthesized ZnO NPs were observed from SEM images. The UV-vis penetration peaks were identified at 264 nm and 376 nm, with energy band gaps of 4.68 and 3.536 eV, respectively. When compared to bulk ZnO, the energy band gap of ZnO NPs was blue-shifted due to the impact of quantum confinement. The peaks in UV-vis absorption were caused by an electronic transition from the valiancy to the conduction bands. The high energy band shows high absorbance of the synthesis sample in the case of 264 nm. The ZnO NPs were manufactured and applied to 100% of raw cotton to impart sunscreen action to both untreated and treated cotton fabrics. The performance of treatment has been evaluated utilizing UV-vis spectroscopy through quantifying ultraviolet protective factors (UPF) and percentage of transmitted (%T) radiations. The treated cotton textiles have 61.50% UPF while 2.65% ultraviolet radiations were transmitted. In other words, untreated cotton textiles have 1.63% UPF while 74.56% ultraviolet radiation was transmitted. Therefore, the treated cotton textiles have excellent protection categories when compared to untreated cotton textiles.
Critical Dynamic Stress and Accumulative Deformation Evolution of Embankment Silty Clay Subjected to Cyclic Freeze‐Thaw
Authors: Wang Lina , Weng Zhiyu , Wang Tianliang , Liu Qiang , Li Guoyu , Zhao Yingying
Published: September 2021

In cold regions, the permanent settlement of embankment is mainly caused by the repeated freeze‐thaw process and long‐term repeated train loads. Meanwhile, the critical dynamic stress (σdcr) is an important parameter index for determining embankment stability. Therefore, the accumulative permanent deformation evolution and critical dynamic stress of embankment soil subjected to cyclic freeze‐thaw were studied using dynamic triaxial tests. Firstly, a numerical model for calculating critical dynamic stress considering the repeated freeze‐thaw process was proposed, which shows that the critical dynamic stress of embankment soil rapidly decreases in the first two repeated freeze‐thaw cycles, whereas it tends to be stable after the subsequent freeze‐thaw process. Next, based on the normalization of the critical dynamic stress, an explicit model for predicting accumulative plastic strain (εp) of embankment soil was established. The above model considers freeze‐thaw times, repeated dynamic stress amplitude (σd), and loading times, in which all material parameters of Qinghai‐Tibet silty clay were presented. Thus, the critical dynamic stress and accumulative plastic strain models established in this paper can be applied to judge the embankment stability and predict the embankment settlement induced by train loads in cold regions.
Detection and Location of Malicious Nodes Based on Homomorphic Fingerprinting in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Zhiming , Yang Yu , Yang Wei , Wu Fuying , Li Ping , Xiong Xiaoyong
Published: September 2021

The current detection schemes of malicious nodes mainly focus on how to detect and locate malicious nodes in a single path; however, for the reliability of data transmission, many sensor data are transmitted by multipath in wireless sensor networks. In order to detect and locate malicious nodes in multiple paths, in this paper, we present a homomorphic fingerprinting-based detection and location of malicious nodes (HFDLMN) scheme in wireless sensor networks. In the HFDLMN scheme, using homomorphic fingerprint and coding technology, the original data is divided into n packets and sent to the base station along n paths, respectively; the base station determines whether there are malicious nodes in each path by verifying the validity of the packets; if there are malicious nodes in one or more paths, the location algorithm of the malicious node is implemented to locate the specific malicious nodes in the path; if all the packets are valid, the original data is recovered. The HFDLMN scheme does not need any complex evaluation model to evaluate and calculate the trust value of the node, nor any monitoring nodes. Theoretical analysis results show that the HFDLMN scheme is secure and effective. The simulation results demonstrate promising outcomes with respect to key parameters such as the detection probability of the malicious path and the locating probability of the malicious node.
Copula-Based Method for Estimating the Minimum Void Ratio Parameters of Tailings Deposits
Authors: Li Hao , Tang Yichuan , Li Shibo , Ma Jianquan , Zhao Xiaojie
Published: September 2021

The pore ratio is an important parameter affecting the stability and safety of tailings reservoirs; however, the relationship between the pore ratio and physical properties of tailings sand has not been researched in-depth. In this paper, using the tailings from a tungsten mine in southern Shaanxi as a case study, the correlation between the minimum void ratio and related parameters is analyzed, based on laboratory test data, and the optimal marginal distribution function of the parameters is determined. The Gumbel-Hougard copula function that best describes the correlation between parameters is identified, and it is used to establish the joint probability distribution model of the three parameters, and the guarantee rate

α

is introduced to estimate and analyze the minimum void ratio. The results show that the optimal edge distribution of the fine particle content and specific gravity follows a truncated normal distribution, and the optimal edge distribution of the minimum void ratio follows a logarithmic normal distribution. According to AIC criterion, the Gumbel-Hougard copula is the best three-dimensional copula function to fit the minimum void ratio and related parameters. When the guarantee rate

α

is 0.485, the joint probability distribution model achieves optimal performance in terms of estimating the minimum void ratio. The maximum error of the estimation is 1.99%, which is verified through data, and the estimation meets the requirements for practical engineering. The method proposed in this paper uses the existing measured data to establish a joint probability distribution model and combines the collected fine particle content and specific gravity data with the guarantee rate to estimate the minimum void ratio, providing a novel basis for the study of the physical properties of tailings.
Investigation and Analysis of the Key Objectives of WFAS “Technical Specifications of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for the Drafting”
Authors: Chen Zhong-Jie , Huo Jin , Wang Xiao-Yu , Zhang Yi , Hu Jing , Gao Qi , Wu Xiao-Dong , Wang Jing-Jing
Published: September 2021

Objective. To determine the key objectives of WFAS “Technical Specifications of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for the Drafting” (hereinafter referred to as General Rules). Methods. From the medical institutions, colleges, and scientific research organizations at major levels in China and overseas, leading researchers and experts in the field of acupuncture-moxibustion standardization, as well as some experienced foreign specialists in acupuncture-moxibustion, were selected as the respondents. The questionnaire was prepared by using the website of Questionnaire Star, and 60 links of the questionnaire were sent out through e-mail. Excel was used to set up the database and conduct statistical analysis. Results. Fifty-one valid questionnaires were collected with effective recovery rate of 85%, involving 9 countries (China, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, United States, and Canada) from 3 continents. Most experts agreed with us on the target people, structural elements, and text structure proposed in General Rules and held that the General Rules should emphasize the safety and international applicability and should stipulate in details the common problems (contraindications, indications, taboo crowd, target people, therapeutic effects) of various techniques and the specific contents of technical operation (manipulating techniques, selection of patient’s body position and treated areas, disinfection and environmental requirements, selection of acupuncture-moxibustion instruments, cautions, needle retention time, treatment frequency, precise location of the acupoints, treatment course) in order to enhance the practicality and operability. Conclusion. The key objectives of General Rules mainly include target people, structural elements, text structure, safety requirements, common technical problems of acupuncture-moxibustion, and specific details of technical manipulations.
Region-Growing Algorithm on CT Angiography Images for Detection of Gynecological Malignant Tumor
Authors: Wen Yufang , Su Dongfang , Lin Qing
Published: September 2021

This paper aimed to explore pelvic lymphadenectomy for gynecological malignant tumors guided by computed tomography angiography (CTA) images under region-growing algorithm (RGA). 100 cases of malignant tumor patients who received pelvic lymphadenectomy in hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were analyzed. Patients were classified into control group (CTA image) and experimental group (RGA-based CTA image), each with 50 cases. The overall accuracy (OA) of the pelvic CT image segmentation parameters under RGA, the watershed segmentation algorithm (WA), and the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm (SIOA) was compared. Comparisons of segmentation parameters, denoising performance, and CT imaging of patients as well as diagnosis rate and total efficiency rate were carried out. The results showed that overall accuracy (OA) of RGA was considerably higher versus watershed segmentation algorithm (WA) and swarm intelligence optimization algorithm (SIOA). However, false positive rate (FPR) and false negative rate (FNR) of RGA were greatly lower than those of other algorithms. RGA greatly improved the accuracy of pelvic tumor detection. The peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of RGA was superior to that of WA and SIOA, but differences in edge preservation index (EPI) value were not significant. The diagnosis rate of the experimental group was 48/50 (96%), while the diagnosis rate by manual means was 38/50 (76%). For the diagnosis rate and total efficiency, results of the experimental group were evidently higher in contrast to the control group (

P
<
0.05

). In conclusion, under RGA, CTA image-guided pelvic lymphadenectomy had good segmentation accuracy and denoising performance, and it was superior in total efficiency and diagnosis rate, which was worthy of clinical promotion.