bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gradient Descent Optimization Algorithms for Decoding SCMA Signals
Authors: Vidal-Beltrán Sergio , López Bonilla José Luis , Piñón Fernando Martínez , Yalja-Montiel Jesús
Published: October 2020

Recently, technologies based on neural networks (NNs) and deep learning have improved in different areas of Science such as wireless communications. This study demonstrates the applicability of NN-based receivers for detecting and decoding sparse code multiple access (SCMA) codewords. The simulation results reveal that the proposed receiver provides highly accurate predictions based on new data. Moreover, the performance analysis results of the primary optimization algorithms used in machine learning are presented in this study.
Lifetime Assessment of the Technological Equipment for a Robotic Workplace
Authors: Bocko Jozef , Delyová Ingrid , Frankovský Peter , Neumann Vojtech
Published: October 2020

In technical practice, problems associated with material fatigue often arise. These problems can be caused by errors in the stages of design, production or use of the structure, e.g., by incorrect determination of service life, incorrect dimensioning of construction details, incorrect welds, etc. In the case of welds, such issues may be caused due to the fact that the base material is not welded through or due to the presence of a fistula inside the weld, the presence of slags or cracks inside the weld, etc. The task of the designer is to design a technological unit that meets all the requirements of future users. Components have to be designed for fatigue so that there is an acceptable level of probability that their operation will be satisfactory during their operation life. One of the most common causes of failure of welded joints is fatigue. Fatigue design life is understood to be the reference period of time during which the structure is required to serve safely and not to fail with an acceptable probability. This article deals with the assessment of service life of a welded supporting structure of technological equipment. The structure was subjected to strength analysis. The obtained FEA results were needed to plot the extreme amplitudes of the stresses. Based on the obtained stress vibrations and the welds used, the service life of the structure was assessed by means of the standard.
Nonlinear Resonance Analysis of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators Under Thermal and Isothermal Conditions
Authors: Alibakhshi Amin , Heidari Hamidreza
Published: October 2020

In this paper, nonlinear resonance characteristics of a dielectric elastomer actuator are investigated with special consideration on the thermal effects. A finite thermo-elasticity model based on the Gent model is constructed to analyze the vibrational response of the system. The equation of motion is derived via the Euler–Lagrange method. The multiple scales method and the Taylor series expansion are used to solve the governing equation. Nonlinear resonant responses of the system such softening/hardening and jump are explored. Furthermore, the influences of different system parameters including temperature, limiting stretch, damping, mechanical load, relative permittivity and voltage on the frequency response curves are explored. The results are compared with those obtained in the isothermal state, and those solved by numerical methods. It is found that both softening and hardening-type nonlinearities occur in the system in both non-thermal and thermal conditions.
A generalized stochastic competitive system with Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process
Authors: Tian Baodan , Yang Liu , Chen Xingzhi , Zhang Yong
Published: October 2020

A generalized competitive system with stochastic perturbations is proposed in this paper, in which the stochastic disturbances are described by the famous Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. By theories of stochastic differential equations, such as comparison theorem, Itô’s integration formula, Chebyshev’s inequality, martingale’s properties, etc., the existence and the uniqueness of global positive solution of the system are obtained. Then sufficient conditions for the extinction of the species almost surely, persistence in the mean and the stochastic permanence for the system are derived, respectively. Finally, by a series of numerical examples, the feasibility and correctness of the theoretical analysis results are verified intuitively. Moreover, the effects of the intensity of the stochastic perturbations and the speed of the reverse in the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process to the dynamical behavior of the system are also discussed.
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Authors: MENDELSOHN ROBERT
Published: October 2020

The crowning achievement of the many published papers and books that William Nordhaus has published on climate change is the development of a simple Integrated Assessment Model of climate change. Embedding natural science insights into an economic framework reveals one can “solve” this difficult problem “for the greatest good, for the greatest number, and for the longest time”. Making certain that all the pieces are empirically based, and fit tightly together, and are internally consistent reveals this to be a masterpiece in the fine art of Integrated Assessment.
Children and Screens
Authors: Hassinger-Das Brenna , Brennan Sarah , Dore Rebecca A. , Golinkoff Roberta Michnick , Hirsh-Pasek Kathy
Published: October 2020

Since the advent of television in the 1950s, parents, educators, researchers, and policy makers have been concerned about the effects of screen time on children's development. Then, when computers became widely used, a new wave of interest in the positive and negative effects of this new medium was generated. Within the past 15 years, the development of the smartphone and tablet has completely changed the landscape of screen time. This review examines the current state of the research regarding the relation between children (from infancy to age 8 years) and screens. Using principles from the Science of Learning as a guide, we invite content creators and researchers to create a new wave of the digital revolution, one in which we need to prompt rather than substitute for social interaction.
Adaptive weighting of taste and odor cues during flavor choice
Authors: Maier Joost X. , Elliott Victoria E.
Published: October 2020

The authors demonstrate that rats make choices about which flavor solution (i.e., taste-odor mixture) to consume by weighting the individual taste and odor components according to the reliability of the information they provide about which solution is the preferred one. A similar weighting operation underlies multisensory cue combination in other domains and offers novel insight into the computations underlying multisensory flavor perception and food choice behavior.
Ant Colony Optimization-Based Streaming Feature Selection: An Application to the Medical Image Diagnosis
Authors: Fahad Labiba Gillani , Tahir Syed Fahad , Shahzad Waseem , Hassan Mehdi , Alquhayz Hani , Hassan Rabia
Published: October 2020

Irrelevant and redundant features increase the computation and storage requirements, and the extraction of required information becomes challenging. Feature selection enables us to extract the useful information from the given data. Streaming feature selection is an emerging field for the processing of high-dimensional data, where the total number of attributes may be infinite or unknown while the number of data instances is fixed. We propose a hybrid feature selection approach for streaming features using ant colony optimization with symmetric uncertainty (ACO-SU). The proposed approach tests the usefulness of the incoming features and removes the redundant features. The algorithm updates the obtained feature set when a new feature arrives. We evaluate our approach on fourteen datasets from the UCI repository. The results show that our approach achieves better accuracy with a minimal number of features compared with the existing methods.
Phytochemical Fingerprinting and Activity of Extracts from the Leaves of Dolichos kilimandscharicus (Fabaceae) on Jurkat‐T Cells
Authors: Sithole Simbarashe , Mushonga Paul , Nhamo Llewellyn N. R. , Fru Chi Godloves , Mukanganyama Stanley
Published: October 2020

Plants are a source of over a quarter of the prescription drugs currently in use worldwide. Zimbabwe has a rich plant biodiversity with only a limited number reported for the treatment of cancer. The leaf extracts of Dolichos kilimandscharicus were selected for the screening of their antiproliferative efficacy and cytotoxicity effects. This plant has increasingly been used by local folk as a treatment for cancer or cancer‐related symptoms though its bioactivity has not been scientifically determined. This investigation also sought to identify constituent compounds in the crude extract preparations responsible for their antiproliferative efficacy. The antiproliferative effects of six‐leaf extracts on Jurkat‐T in vitro were investigated using the Trypan blue exclusion assay. The extracts were tested with increasing concentration, using chlorambucil as a standard anticancer drug. Cytotoxicity of extracts was determined against RAW 264.7 cells using a colorimetric tetrazolium‐based assay. In additionthe ability of the extracts to induce apoptosis was determined for the most potent leaf extracts. The order of potency of the leaf extracts of D. kilimandscharicus against Jurkat‐T cell line was found to be MeOH < Ethyl Acetate < DCM: MeOH < EtOH with IC50s of 33.56, 30.44, 22.93, and 21.59 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the most potent extracts exhibited very low cytotoxicity against all the tested cells. D. kilimandscharicus leaf extracts induced apoptosis in the Jurkat‐T cells as was shown by DNA fragmentation. UPLC‐MS analysis of crude extracts led to the identification of 23 compounds from the ethanol extract and these may be responsible for the observed antiproliferative effects. Rutin, quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, hispidulin, kaempferol derivatives, as well as caffeoylquinic acid are some of the compounds identified in the extracts. The results of this study showed that the ethanol and ethyl acetate leaf extracts of D. kilimandscharicus have antiproliferative activity against Jurkat‐T cells and may act by inducing apoptosis.. The current findings offer supporting evidence for the use of these plant species in the treatment of cancer in ethnomedicinal practices.
Mast Cell Degranulation and Adenosine Release:Acupoint Specificity for Effect of Electroacupuncture on Pituitrin‐Induced Acute Heart Bradycardia in Rabbits
Authors: Wang Xuezhi , Huang Meng , Yang Hongwei , Zhang Di , Yao Wei , Xia Ying , Ding Guanghong
Published: October 2020

Acupuncture is a medical modality based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, and its effect is relatively dependent on acupoint specificity. However, there is little knowledge on acupoint specificity versus acupuncture outcomes because of the deficiency of rigorous investigation on this topic, which has impeded the growing legitimacy of acupuncture in the mainstream of medicine as an evidence‐based therapy. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to clarify this critical issue. The present study aims to verify the phenomenon of acupoint specificity in acupuncture‐induced cardiovascular regulation and explore the biological mechanism by measuring mast cells’ degranulation and adenosine release. This study was conducted to explore the specificity of acupoints in an acute bradycardia rabbit model. After electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at PC6, PC control (con) 1, PC con 2, LU7, LI11, and nonacupoint, only the PC6 group showed a significant improvement in relative heart rate as compared to that of the model group. There was no significant difference between the relative heart rate of other EA groups and that of the model group. Historical results also showed that the ratio of degranulated mast cells in PC6 was significantly higher than other acupoints and control points. From the results of high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a transient elevation of adenosine concentration during EA was only observed on acupoints and control points (P < 0.05) along the pericardium meridian. The EA‐induced adjustment on acute bradycardia exhibits a relative specificity of acupoints, which may be related to mast cell degranulation and adenosine release in local acupoint areas. Increased degranulation of mast cells and augmentation of adenosine release during EA may be the mechanisms for PC6 having significantly better acupuncture effects than other acupoints and nonacupoints.
Striving towards Normality in Daily Life: A Qualitative Study of Patients Living with Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour in Long-Term Clinical Remission
Authors: Fauske Lena , Hompland Ivar , Lorem Geir , Hall Kirsten Sundby , Bondevik Hilde
Published: October 2020

Background. This study explored how patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) experience the psychosocial challenges associated with their disease and its treatment, as well as how that experience influenced their practical, relational, vocational, and existential life. Methods. This qualitative study has an explorative design and applied a phenomenological and hermeneutical approach. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with 20 patients with metastatic GIST in long-term clinical remission. The gathered data were interpreted using a thematic analysis. Results. Living with metastatic GIST, as well as the side effects of the required medication, led to changes that limited the participants’ daily life. They expressed how tiredness, impaired memory, and physical challenges were among the detrimental impacts of the disease on their family life, vocational life, social life, and leisure time. Adjustments were necessary to ensure they had sufficient energy to cope with the practical and relational aspects of everyday life. Feelings of uncertainty stemming from drug resistance, disease progression, and the possibility of early death were also experienced as challenging. Half the participants stated that it was difficult to keep negative mental health issues at bay, and all of them considered the time spent waiting for their scheduled follow-up scan to be burdensome. Conclusions. It is important to focus increased attention on how the daily practical and psychosocial life of patients with chronic cancer, including metastatic GIST, is affected by their disease. Doing so might provide health-care workers with clues regarding how best to guide and support such patients throughout their emotional journey and, therefore, to improve their quality of life. As new medical treatments can also prolong survival and induce long-term clinical remission in relation to several other forms of metastatic cancer, the findings concerning GIST reported in this study might have widespread implications.
Effect of Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) on Sepsis Induced by Cecal Ligation Puncture and Its Relevance to Spleen
Authors: Xie Dong-ping , Zhou Geng-biao , Chen Rui-lan , Qin Xiao-lian , Du Jiong-dong , Zhang Yan , Weng Yan-na , Mai Shu-tao , Lai Fang , Han Yun
Published: October 2020

Background. Acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (LI11), and Tianshu (ST25) is commonly used in septic patients by traditional Chinese physicians. The protective effect of acupuncture at ST36 on the intestinal barrier is associated with Cholinergic Anti‐Inflammatory Pathway (CAIP). However, its detailed mechanism and whether acupuncture at LI11 and ST25 have similar effects to ST36 remain unclear. Aim. To explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36, LI11, and ST25 on septic rats and investigate the role of the spleen in the treatment of EA at ST36. Methods. A septic rat model caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and a postsplenectomy (SPX) CLP rat model were established. Rats were divided into nine groups depending on different treatments. Serum levels of TNF‐α, IL‐10, D‐lactic acidosis (D‐LA), double amine oxidase (DAO), and T‐lymphocyte subgroup level in intestinal lymph nodes were compared. Results. EA could not improve the 2‐day survival of CLP rats. For CLP rats, EA at ST36 and LI11 significantly decreased the levels of TNF‐α, IL‐10, DAO, and D‐LA in serum and normalized intestinal T‐cell immunity. For SPX CLP rats, EA at ST36 failed to reduce serum concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐10, and D‐LA but increased the values of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ cells and Treg/Th17 cells. Conclusions. EA at ST36 and LI11, respectively, could alleviate inflammation reaction, protect the intestinal barrier, and maintain intestinal T‐cell function in septic rats. Spleen participated in the protective effect of EA at ST36 in sepsis.
Mathematical Modelling of HIV-HCV Coinfection Dynamics in Absence of Therapy
Authors: Mayanja Edison , Luboobi Livingstone S. , Kasozi Juma , Nsubuga Rebecca N.
Published: October 2020

Globally, it is estimated that of the 36.7 million people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 6.3% are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Coinfection with HIV reduces the chance of HCV spontaneous clearance. In this work, we formulated and analysed a deterministic model to study the HIV and HCV coinfection dynamics in absence of therapy. Due to chronic stage of HCV infection being long, asymptomatic, and infectious, our model formulation was based on the splitting of the chronic stage into the following: before onset of cirrhosis and its complications and after onset of cirrhosis. We computed the basic reproduction numbers using the next generation matrix method. We performed numerical simulations to support the analytical results. We carried out sensitivity analysis to determine the relative importance of the different parameters influencing the HIV-HCV coinfection dynamics. The findings reveal that, in the long run, there is a substantial number of individuals coinfected with HIV and latent HCV. Therefore, HIV and latently HCV-infected individuals need to seek early treatment so as to slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS and latent HCV to advanced HCV.
Increased Risk of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Eastern China: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and a Case–Control Study
Authors: Yu Yang , Guo Dong , Qu Tingting , Zhao Shuchao , Xu Chang , Wang Longlong , Wang Zhongjun , Fu Haiyang , Zhang Xiangyan , Zhou Na
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in eastern China. Therefore, 287 primary CRC patients and 287 age‐matched healthy control subjects were recruited to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and identify the risk factors of infection. Enzyme‐linked immunoassays were used to test for anti‐T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies. Forty‐six (16%) samples were positive for anti‐T. gondii IgG antibodies in patients with CRC, compared with 26 (9.1%) in the healthy controls, a significant difference (P = 0.007). By contrast, eight (2.8%) patients tested positive for T. gondii IgM antibodies, compared with three (1.1%) in the controls, a difference that was not significant (P = 0.13). Multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that a rural residence (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.15–7.01; P = 0.024) and treatment with chemotherapy (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.02–4.57; P = 0.045) were risk factors for T. gondii infection in patients with CRC. Thus, T. gondii infection is serious in patients with CRC, and a rural residence and treatment with chemotherapy are independent risk factors for infection by this parasite. Therefore, medical professionals should be aware of this pathogen in patients with CRC, and the causes of T. gondii infection in these patients need to be explored further.
[Retracted] 1′H‐Indole‐3′‐Carbonyl‐Thiazole‐4‐Carboxylic Acid Methyl Ester Blocked Human Glioma Cell Invasion via Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor’s Regulation of Cytoskeletal Contraction
Authors: Zhao Lijiao , Shu Qiuting , Sun Hui , Ma Yunlong , Kang Dandan , Zhao Yating , Lu Jing , Gong Pei , Yang Fan , Wan Fang
Published: October 2020

Blocking glioma cell invasion has been challenging due to cancer cells that can swiftly switch their migration mode, and agents that can block more than one migration mode are sought after. We found that small molecule 2‐(1H‐indole‐3‐carbonyl)‐thiazole‐4‐carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE), an endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist, can block more than one mode of glioma cell migration, based on cultured cell behavior captured by videos. Data from wound‐healing assays and mouse xenograft glioma models corroborated ITE’s migration‐inhibiting effects while knocking down AHR by siRNA abolished these effects. To identify genes that mediated ITE‐AHR’s effect, we first collected gene expression changes upon ITE treatment by RNA‐seq, then compared them against literature reported migration‐related genes in glioma and that were potentially regulated by AHR. MYH9, a component of nonmuscle myosin IIA (NMIIA), was confirmed to be reduced by ITE treatment. When MYH9 was overexpressed in the glioma cells, a good correlation was observed between the expression level and the cell migration ability, determined by wound‐healing assay. Correspondingly, overexpression of MYH9 abrogated ITE’s migration‐inhibiting effects, indicating that ITE‐AHR inhibited cell migration via inhibiting MYH9 expression. MYH9 is essential for cell migration in 3D confined space and not a discovered target of AHR; the fact that ITE affects MYH9 via AHR opens a new research and development avenue.
Prevalence of Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in a Public General Hospital, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study Design
Authors: Ayele Ebud , Gebreayezgi Guesh , Mariye Teklewoini , Bahrey Degena , Aregawi Gebrekiros , Kidanemariam Gebregziabher
Published: October 2020

Background. Undernutrition is a global health problem, particularly in pregnant women. Despite the limited studies performed in different parts of Ethiopia, the information about the prevalence of undernutrition of pregnant women in the current study area is not documented. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors in pregnant women. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Tigray region from August 01 to December 30, 2018. Study subjects were selected by systematic sampling technique from the respective hospitals. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were cleaned and entered using Epi-Data version 3.1 and then exported to statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 23.0 for analysis. Multivariate analyses were carried out, and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CI and significance level (pvalue) <0.05 were considered. Results. Out of the total 844 selected pregnant women, 840 participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 99.5%; of this, respondent’s undernutrition prevalence was found to be 40.6% with 95% confidence interval (38.93% and 42.27%). Agriculture as occupation (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.5), women who wanted the pregnancy (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.448), no history malaria during pregnancy (AOR = 0.291, 95%: (0.152, 0.555)), coffee intake during pregnancy (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.69), and hemoglobin < 11 g/dl (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 3.09, 7.8) were the factors that were significantly associated with undernutrition,pvalue (<0.05). Conclusion. In this study, occupation, history of having malaria during pregnancy, wanted type pregnancy, coffee intake during pregnancy, and hemoglobin < 11 g/dl were factors significantly associated with undernutrition in pregnant mothers. So, healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders should give special focus on these factors.
On the Discrete Orlicz Electrostaticq-Capacitary Minkowski Problem
Authors: Feng Yibin , Zhou Yanping
Published: October 2020

We establish the existence of solutions to the Orlicz electrostaticq-capacitary Minkowski problem for polytopes. This contains a new result of the discreteLpelectrostaticq-capacitary Minkowski problem forp<0and1<q<n.
Comparative Assessment of the Antioxidant Activities among the Extracts of Different Parts of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels in Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Zhu Tingting , Zuo Wenjian , Yan Jia , Wen Pan , Pei Zhisheng , Lian Huiyong , Yang Hyeong-Cheol
Published: October 2020

Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels (wampee) is an outstanding natural plant with medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to compare the cytoprotective effects of four parts of wampee under oxidative stress. The aqueous extracts of leaf, peel, pulp, and seed were tested for the proliferation effects on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells and the protective effects in the hydrogen peroxide‐induced HGF model. Furthermore, the total glutathione assay and identification of rutin by high‐performance liquid chromatography were carried out to attempt to determine whether the cytoprotective effects were related to the total glutathione (GSH) stability and rutin content. The results showed that all of the extracts had no cytotoxicity to HGF at tested concentrations ranging from 50 to 5000 μg/ml during 24 h, and the leaf, pulp, and seed extracts increased proliferation of HGF at relatively high concentrations. All the extracts except for the seed extract significantly decreased the production of reactive oxygen species, and the peel extracts exhibited the most effective antioxidant effect. The leaf extract had the highest anticytotoxicity and GSH stabilization effect in the HGF challenged with hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the relative content of rutin in peel and leaf extracts was higher than that in pulp and seed. The results of GSH assay and rutin identification suggest that different cellular protective effects among the four parts of wampee are partially related to the GSH stabilization and rutin content. These findings provide a scientific basis for the antioxidant effect‐related biological activities of wampee extracts.
Analysis of Traffic Evolution on Road Networks of a Roundabout
Authors: Muleta Tolesa Hundesa , Obsu Legesse Lemecha
Published: October 2020

In this paper, the analyses of traffic evolution on the road network of a roundabout having three entrances and three exiting legs are conducted from macroscopic point of view. The road networks of roundabouts are modeled as a merging and diverging types 1×2 and 2×1 junctions. To study traffic evolution at junction, two cases have been considered, namely, demand and supply limited cases. In each case, detailed mathematical analysis and numerical tests have been presented. The analysis in the case of demand limited showed that rarefaction wave fills the portion of the road network in time. In the contrary, in supply limited case, traffic congestion occurs at merging junctions and shock wave propagating back results in reducing the performance of a roundabout to control traffic dynamics. Also, we illustrate density and flux profiles versus space discretization at different time steps via numerical simulation with the help of Godunov scheme.
Preparation of Reed Straw‐Based Panels Bonded by Soy‐Based Adhesives: Optimization via Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Yingjie Zhang , Wang Yong , Lou Wanli , Fan Dongbin
Published: October 2020

The optimization of manufacturing conditions for reed straw‐based particleboard by soy‐based adhesive was performed through response surface methodology. The interactions of various conditions, including adhesive amount, hot‐pressing temperature, and hot‐pressing time on wet internal bonding strength were investigated. A 3‐level‐3‐factor Box–Behnken design was used to test the optimal preparation conditions of reed straw particleboard. The polynomial regression model for manufacturing conditions had a very significant level (p < 0.01). In addition, the determination coefficient (R2) and the adjust determination coefficient () of this model were found to be 0.969 and 0.9292, respectively. The conditions optimized by the model were 25% of adhesive amount, 138°C of hot‐pressing temperature, and 27 min of hot‐pressing time. Under the optimal conditions, validation tests were performed, and the average value of parallel experiments was 0.17 ± 0.02 MPa. Moreover, the thickness swelling of water absorption after soaking and mechanical properties (MOE and MOR) of samples prepared under optimized conditions were further measured, which all met the requirement of Type P6 particleboard. It could provide an efficient method for massive production of reed straw particleboard.
Comparative Analysis of Acral Melanoma in Chinese and Caucasian Patients
Authors: Huang Kai , Xu Yu , Gabriel Emmanuel M. , Misra Subhasis , Chen Yong , Bagaria Sanjay P. , Kimyai Asadi Arash
Published: October 2020

Background. Acral melanoma (AM) is a rare subtype of melanoma, which is one of the least common in Caucasian patients but is a common subtype of melanoma in Chinese patients. It is unclear if prognosis differs between Chinese and Caucasian patients diagnosed with AM. The aim of our study is to investigate patient characteristics and survival differences between Chinese and Caucasian AM patients. Methods. Two large institutional melanoma databases from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) and Mayo Clinic enterprise were retrospectively reviewed from 2009 to 2015. Clinicopathologic and survival data were collected and analyzed between the two groups. The primary outcome was disease-specific survival (DSS) and was calculated using the Kaplan Meier (KM) method. Results. The Chinese group presented with more advanced disease compared with Caucasians: thicker Breslow depth (median 3.0 mm vs. 1.2 mm,

p
=
0.003

), more ulcerated disease (66.1% vs. 29%;

p
<
0.001

), and advanced stages (stage II/III 84.3% vs. 37.1%;

p
<
0.001

). No significant difference was identified in terms of age at diagnosis, location, histologic subtypes, or node positive rate. The 5-year DSS rate was 68.4% and 73% (

p
=
0.56

) in Chinese and Caucasians AM patients, respectively. Male gender, Breslow thickness, ulceration, and positive sentinel lymph nodes were independent poor prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. Conclusions. There appears to be no difference in stage-stratified survival between Chinese and Caucasians, supporting the implementation of clinical trials for AM that could include both Chinese and Caucasian patients.
Decomposition of Cyanide from Gold Leaching Tailingsby Using Sodium Metabisulphite and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Hou Dongzhuang , Liu Lang , Yang Qixing , Zhang Bo , Qiu Huafu , Ruan Shishan , Chen Yue , Li Hefu
Published: October 2020

Cyanidation is widely used by most gold mine worldwide and will remain prevail in years (or decades) to come, while cyanide is hazardous, toxic pollutants whose presence in wastewater and tailings can seriously affect human and its environment; hence, it is necessary to control these contaminants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects through the investigation of changes in pH, concentration, and contact time, and the optimal conditions were obtained. It has been proven that the decomposition of cyanide in solution and tailings increased as the alkalinity in the presence of 0.5 g/L Na2S2O5. An increase in H2O2 (30%) concentration (from 1 to 4 mL/L) increased the decomposition in solution, while the effect on removing cyanide was better when pH was 9 than 8 and 10 in tailings. The cyanide in tailings decreased in the first 4 h and increased after 4 h. The effective and economic conditions for maximum decomposition of cyanide from leach tailings are first treated in 0.5 g/L Na2S2O5 at pH 10 for 3 hours and then 2 mL/L H2O2 (30%) is added to the tailings at pH 9 for 4 hours through comparative study. The findings provide the basis to optimize the decomposition of cyanide from gold leaching tailings in mining or backfilling by using the synergetic effect of Na2S2O5 and H2O2.
The Effect of Hedysarum multijugum Maxim.-Chuanxiong rhizoma Compound on Ischemic Stroke: A Research Based on Network and Experimental Pharmacology
Authors: Yang Kailin , Zeng Liuting , Ge Anqi , Shi Yongmei , Zhu Xiaofei , Liu Wenlong , Ge Jinwen
Published: October 2020

Background. Hedysarum multijugum Maxim.-Chuanxiong rhizoma compound (HCC) is a common herbal formula modified from Buyang Huanwu decoction. Clinical trials have demonstrated its therapeutic potential for ischemic stroke (IS). However, the mechanism of HCC remains unclear. Methods. The HCC’s components were collected from the TCMSP database and TCM@Taiwan database. After that, the HCC’s compound targets were predicted by PharmMapper. The IS-related genes were obtained from GeneCards, and OMIM and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) data of HCC’s targets and IS genes were obtained from the String database. After that, the DAVID platform was applied for Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and pathway enrichment analysis and the Cytoscape 3.7.2 was utilized to construct and analyze the networks. Finally, a series of animal experiments were carried out to validate the prediction results of network pharmacology. The expressions of GRP78, p-PERK, and CHOP proteins and mRNAs in different time periods after HCC intervention were detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and RT-qPCR. Results. A total of 440 potential targets and 388 IS genes were obtained. The results of HCC-IS PPI network analysis showed that HCC may regulate IS-related targets (such as ALB, AKT1, MMP9, IGF1, and CASP3), biological processes (such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation modules, hypoxia modules, regulation of neuronal apoptosis and proliferation, and angiogenesis), and signaling pathways (such as PI3K-Akt, FoxO, TNF, HIF-1, and Rap1 signaling). The animal experiments showed that HCC can improve the neurobehavioral scores and protect the neurons of IS rats (

P
<
0.05

). HCC inhibited the expression of p-PERK in the PERK pathway from 12 h after surgery, significantly promoted the expression of GRP78 protein, and inhibited the expression of CHOP protein after surgery, especially at 24 h after surgery (

P
<
0.05

). The results of RT-qPCR showed that HCC can significantly reduce the expression of CHOP mRNA in the neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus 72 h after MCAO (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. HCC may achieve a role in the treatment of IS by intervening in a series of targets, signaling pathways, and biological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and angiogenesis.
Capacity of Cone‐Shaped Hollow Flexible Reinforced Concrete Foundation (CHFRF) in Sand under Horizontal Loading
Authors: Li Shanshan , Zhang Yukun , Li Dayong
Published: October 2020

The cone‐shaped hollow flexible reinforced concrete foundation (CHFRF) is an innovative type of mountain wind turbine foundation, which outperforms the regular mountain wind turbine foundation in reducing the steel and concrete and protecting the surrounding vegetation for the cavity absorbs soil obtained from excavating the foundation pit. Moreover, the rubber layer installed between the wall of CHFRF and the surrounding ground increases foundation flexibility and releases the larger overturning moment induced by wind. The rubber layer is made of alternately laminated rubber and steel. The objectives of this research are to study the lateral bearing behaviors of the CHFRF under monotonic and cyclic lateral loading in sand by model tests and FEM simulations. The results reveal that the CHFRF rotates during loading; and, in the ultimate state, the rotation center is located at a depth of approximately 0.6–0.65 times the foundation height and is 0.15–0.18 times the diameter of the foundation away from its centerline as well. The lateral bearing capacity of the CHFRF improves with the increase of embedded depth and vertical load applied to the foundation. Moreover, compared to the CHFRF without the rubber layer, the rubber layer can reduce the earth pressure along the wall of CHFRF by 22% and decrease the deformed range of the soil surrounding the foundation, revealing that it can reduce the loads transferred to the surrounding soil for extending the service life of the foundation. However, the thickness and stiffness of the rubber layer are important factors influencing the lateral bearing capacity and the energy dissipation of the foundation. Moreover, it should be noted that the energy dissipation mainly comes from the steel of the rubber layer rather than rubber.
Vagal Flexibility during Exercise: Impact of Training, Stress, Anthropometric Measures, and Gender
Authors: de Souza Perciliany Martins , Rosário Nacha Samadi Andrade , de Castro Pinto Kelerson Mauro , Assunção Poliana Elisa , de Oliveira Fernando Luiz Pereira , Bearzoti Eduardo , Souza Gabriela Guerra Leal
Published: October 2020

We evaluated the effect of physical training, stress, anthropometric measures, and gender upon the reactivity and recovery of the heart rate variability (HRV) during a cardiorespiratory test. Professors (N=54) were evaluated using the following: physical training: time, frequency, and length of physical exercise; resting heart rate (HR); maximum HR; and recovery HR; stress: stress symptoms, work stress, vital events, and perceived stress; anthropometric measures: body mass index, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and fat percentage (FP); and HRV before, during, and after the test. The HRV decreased during and increased after the test. Increased recovery HR was associated with the decreased vagal output during the test, and decreased recovery HR was associated with the increased posttest vagal input. The higher the work control and stress symptoms of men and the higher the perceived stress for both genders, the lower the vagal output during the test. The lower stress symptom and work control of men and the lower work demand of women were associated with the posttest vagal increase. The increased WC and decreased WHR of men were associated with the lower vagal output during the test and the lower posttest vagal increase. The lower FP also was associated with the greater recovery.
Levels and Clinical Significance of Regulatory B Cells and T Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Dong Qiaofeng , Li Guosheng , Fozza Claudio , Wang Shuli , Yang Shuhuan , Sang Yuqi , Liu Xinguang , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2020

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematological malignancy, whose immunological mechanisms are still partially uncovered. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) and CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are subgroups of immunoregulatory cells involved in modulating autoimmunity, inflammation, and transplantation reactions. Herein, by studying the number and function of Breg and Treg cell subsets in patients with AML, we explored their potential role in the pathogenesis of AML. Newly diagnosed AML patients, AML patients in complete remission, and healthy controls were enrolled. Flow cytometry was used to detect percentages of Bregs and Tregs. ELISA was conducted to detect IL‐10 and TGF‐β in plasma. The mRNA levels of IL‐10 and Foxp3 were measured with RT‐qPCR. The relationship of Bregs and Tregs with the clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. There was a significant reduction in the frequencies of Bregs and an increase of Tregs in newly diagnosed AML patients compared with healthy controls. Meanwhile, patients in complete remission exhibited levels of Bregs and Tregs comparable to healthy controls. Furthermore, compared with healthy controls and AML patients in complete remission, newly diagnosed AML patients had increased plasma IL‐10 but reduced TGF‐β. IL‐10 and Foxp3 mRNA levels were upregulated in the newly diagnosed AML patients. However, there were no significant differences in IL‐10 and Foxp3 mRNA levels between patients in complete remission and healthy controls. Bregs and Tregs have abnormal distribution in AML patients, suggesting that they might play an important role in regulating immune responses in AML.
Texture Feature-Based Classification on Transrectal Ultrasound Image for Prostatic Cancer Detection
Authors: Huang Xiaofu , Chen Ming , Liu Peizhong , Du Yongzhao
Published: October 2020

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Early detection of prostate cancer is the key to successful treatment. Ultrasound imaging is one of the most suitable methods for the early detection of prostate cancer. Although ultrasound images can show cancer lesions, subjective interpretation is not accurate. Therefore, this paper proposes a transrectal ultrasound image analysis method, aiming at characterizing prostate tissue through image processing to evaluate the possibility of malignant tumours. Firstly, the input image is preprocessed by optical density conversion. Then, local binarization and Gaussian Markov random fields are used to extract texture features, and the linear combination is performed. Finally, the fused texture features are provided to SVM classifier for classification. The method has been applied to data set of 342 transrectal ultrasound images obtained from hospitals with an accuracy of 70.93%, sensitivity of 70.00%, and specificity of 71.74%. The experimental results show that it is possible to distinguish cancerous tissues from noncancerous tissues to some extent.
Dynamic Safety Management on the Key Equipment of Coal Gasification Based on Dbt-Dbn Method
Authors: Gao Han , Duo Yili , Sun Tie , Yang Xuefeng
Published: October 2020

Gasifier system is one of the important components of coal gasification device. The technical characteristics of this system mainly lie in the following facts as huge technical scale and high complexity, and there is a dynamic correlation between the failure modes of gasification equipment. Traditional safety analysis methods such as fault tree and bow-tie diagram suffer from drawbacks as being static and ineffective in handling uncertainty, which hamper their application to risk analysis of process systems. This paper presents a newly developed model based on Dynamic Bow-Tie (DBT) and Dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) for quantitative dynamic risk assessment of gasifier system. In the meantime, in order to cope with the uncertainty of the failure data, fuzzy numbers and the defuzzification method are used to transform the experts' language into the failure rates. The results showed that dynamic risk assessment can solve the difficulties dealing with complex dynamic systems which have process variables and characteristics such as multiple, failure correlations, and noncoherence. And it also has important theoretical significance and application value for coal chemical industry to improve the scientificity of risk assessment.
Study on the Influence of Road Geometry on Vehicle Lateral Instability
Authors: Yin Yanna , Wen Huiying , Sun Lu , Hou Wei
Published: October 2020

According to the accident analysis of vehicles in the curve, the skidding, rollover, and lateral drift of vehicles are determined as means to evaluate the lateral stability of vehicles. The utility truck of rear-wheel drive (RWD) is researched, which is high accident rate. Human-vehicle-road simulation models are established by CarSim. Through the orthogonal experiment method, the effects of different road geometries, speed, and interaction factors between road geometries on vehicle lateral stability are studied. In this paper, skidding risk of the vehicle is characterized by the Side-way Force Coefficient (SFC). Rollover risk of the vehicle is characterized by lateral acceleration and the load transfer ratio. Lateral drift risk of the vehicle is characterized by the sideslip angle of wheels. The results of orthogonal analysis reveal that the maximum tire-road friction coefficient and speed are highly significant in skidding of the vehicle. The effects of the combination of horizontal alignment and superelevation on vehicle skidding are important. The effects of horizontal alignment and speed on vehicle rollover risk are highly significant. The effects of superelevation on vehicle rollover risk are significant. The effects of the interaction of horizontal alignment and superelevation are also important on vehicles’ rollover risk. The speed and the maximum tire-road friction coefficient have highly significant effect on the vehicle’s lateral drift. The superelevation has a significant effect on the vehicle’s lateral drift. The effects of the interaction of horizontal alignment and superelevation and longitudinal slope are also important on the lateral drift of the vehicle.
JAK3 and TYK2 Serve as Prognostic Biomarkers and Are Associated with Immune Infiltration in Stomach Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Meng Lingkai , Ding Ling , Yu Yue , Li Wang
Published: October 2020

Background. Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The Janus kinases (JAKs) play a significant part in cellular biological process, inflammation, and immunity. The roles of JAKs in STAD are still not systematically described. Methods. A series of bioinformatics tools were used to clarify the role of JAKs in STAD. Results. JAK3/TYK2 levels were significantly increased in STAD during subgroup analyses based on gender, tumor grade, cancer stages, and nodal metastasis status. STAD patients with high levels of JAK3/TYK2 had poor overall survival, postprogression survival, and first progression. Immune infiltration revealed a significant correlation between JAK3/TYK2 expression and the abundance of immune cells as well as immune biomarker expression in STAD. JAK3/TYK2 was associated with the adaptive immune response, chemokine signaling pathway, and JAK‐STAT signaling pathway. Conclusions. JAK3 and TYK2 serve as prognostic biomarkers and are associated with immune infiltration in STAD.
Frequentist and Bayesian Regression Approaches for Determining Risk Factors of Child Mortality in Ghana
Authors: Iddrisu Abdul-Karim , Tawiah Kassim , Bukari Francis Kwame , Kumi Williams
Published: October 2020

Background. Child mortality is a global health problem. The United Nations’ 2018 report on levels and trends on child mortality indicated that under‐five mortality is one of the major public health problems in Ghana with a rate of 60 deaths per 1000 live births. To further mitigate this problem, it is important to identify the drivers of under‐five mortality in order to achieve the United Nations SDG Goal 3 target 2. Methods. In this study, we investigated the effects of some selected risk factors on child mortality using data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic Health Survey. We modelled the relationship between child mortality and the risk factors using a logistic regression model under the frequentist and Bayesian frameworks. We used the Metropolis‐Hastings Algorithm to simulate parameter estimates from the posterior distributions, and statistical analyses were carried out using STATA version 14.1. Results. Results from the frequentist framework are in line with those from the Bayesian framework. The results showed an increased risk of death among children who were delivered through caesarean and reduced relative odds of death among children whose sizes are average or large at birth and whose mothers have formal education. Conclusions. There is a need for improved health facilities for better health‐care for mothers and children. Education should, among other things, emphasise on the need for mothers to go for regular check‐ups during antinatal and postnatal periods for improved mother and child health.