bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“That's when the relationship shifted”: Relational and communicative turning points in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Authors: Cooper R. Amanda , Pitts Margaret J. , Harwood Jake
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the relational turning points experienced by caregiving spouses across the trajectory of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Data were collected using a modified version of the retrospective interviewing technique which facilitated close analysis of relational turning points and the role of communication in shaping and managing these turning points. Caregiving spouses described nine relational turning points across the disease trajectory. The turning points coalesced under four broad changes in the marital relationship: my spouse has dementia, from spouse to caregiver, my spouse is gone, and transcending dementia through love. Participants used five communication strategies to manage their relationships: having open and intimate conversations, avoiding confrontation, avoiding bringing attention to symptoms, engaging in daily conversations and activities, and communicating love and affection. Findings reveal the specific turning points that mark relational change across the disease trajectory and caregiving spouses' strategies to maintain their relationship through this prolonged end‐of‐life transition.
Applications of Stochastic Orders and Stochastic Functions in Inventory and Pricing Problems
Authors: Feng Qi , Shanthikumar J. George
Published: November 2021

Uncertainties involved in decision making often impose challenges to our ability of modeling and analyzing the reality. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how one can go beyond the conventional optimization thinking, via taking a stochastic viewpoint, to push the boundaries of the analysis. We review the basic notions of stochastic orders and stochastic functions, with which the conventional (deterministic) way of modeling can be generalized. Based on the orders among distribution functions associated with random variables, we can treat the input–output relationship as stochastic functions in our models. This viewpoint, leads to extended functional properties in the stochastic sense. Taking the existing models involving inventory and pricing decisions, we show how the stochastic notions are powerful in simplifying and generalizing the analysis, as well as generating new insights.
Service Operations for Mixed Autonomous Paradigm: Lane Design and Subsidy
Authors: Lu Lan , Zhu Zheng , Guo Pengfei , He Qiao‐Chu
Published: November 2021

This study aims to examine and design operational strategies for mixed flows of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and human‐driven vehicles (HVs). We propose a stylized model wherein utilitarian individuals either drive HVs or take privately operated AVs that are collectively dispatched. In the baseline mixed policy where AVs and HVs share the same lanes, we find that AVs under‐join the traffic (queue) while HVs over‐join. We identify a “crowding‐out effect” such that AVs will tend to mitigate the over‐joining HVs and reduce overall congestion/throughput. To improve the traffic efficiency of the baseline mixed policy, we consider a fully dedicated policy in which both AVs and HVs are segregated to different lanes and a partially dedicated policy in which only AVs enjoy dedicated lanes. We find that dedicated policies outperform the mixed policy in both social welfare and the aggregate throughput when the platooning effect is moderate or strong. Exact conditions are derived for the selection of fully dedicated policy and partially dedicated policy. Furthermore, we find that a carefully designed subsidy is necessary for the dedicated policy to simultaneously improve the social welfare and the throughput when the platooning effect is very weak. These results shed interesting light on the policy regulation for the emerging mixed autonomous paradigm: a dedicated policy with proper lane design and subsidy (if necessary) will improve both social welfare and aggregate throughput.
Genetic testing and insurance implications: Surveying the US general population about discrimination concerns and knowledge of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Authors: Prince Anya E. R. , Uhlmann Wendy R. , Suter Sonia M. , Scherer Aaron M.
Published: November 2021

Globally, due to public concerns of genetic discrimination, some countries and insurance industries have adopted policies restricting insurer use of genetic information, such as the US Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). This study reports on a combined analysis of two surveys assessing public knowledge of GINA and concerns of genetic discrimination in a diverse US sample (N = 1616). We focus on whether occupation, genetic testing history, and insurance status are correlated with knowledge of GINA or concerns of discrimination. While bivariate analysis identified some populations with higher subjective/objective knowledge and concern relative to counterparts, multivariable regression identified very few significant associations with outcomes of interest. Overall, this study highlights a lack of awareness and understanding of GINA, even among subpopulations hypothesized to have greater knowledge of the law. These findings have implications for the broader debate around insurer use of genetic information.
Dynamic version of Okun’s law in the EU15 countries—The role of delays in the unemployment‐output nexus
Authors: Obst Thomas
Published: November 2021

This paper estimates Okun's law in the EU15 countries between 1980 and 2018. It employs different versions with a focus on the dynamic part of the short‐run relationship. We find that the negative relationship between unemployment and output generally holds over time. However, Okun's coefficient varies substantially across countries. The dynamic version can shed light on different country estimates found in the literature. The paper argues that lag effects need to be considered to avoid possible misspecification. A mixed‐lag structure indirectly controls for potential missing explanatory variables such as the role of labour market institutions.
Human–buffalo conflicts and intimacies in ‘modernising’ Nepal
Authors: Fuller Sascha
Published: November 2021

In Nepal ‘development’ (bikas) frames local socio‐cultural practices, including gendered and environmental practices, with lasting gendered and ecological outcomes. This tension is at the heart of everyday life in Ludigaun, a Bahun (high caste Hindu) village in West Nepal. Utilising a framework of a local familiar tension between ‘traditional’ ideas/practices and those imagined through ‘modernity’, I draw on ethnographic material describing a year‐long family conflict over keeping buffalo, to allow the tension and contradictions inherent in village life – of gender, generations, and caste – and their articulation with national and global relations – to come into focus. For an older generation of women, their work and relationships with buffalo are at stake, presenting an uncertain future and a possible crisis of identity and of place. I argue that the relationship between these women and their buffalo extends beyond material needs and is a crucial emotional attachment; it is an intimate ‘mode of care’ that is integral to village social reproduction. Women's work with buffalo (although it has no positive status of its own) demonstrates the older generation of women are not passive but active players in constituting caste, gendered and social status identities. Keeping buffalo is fundamental to the ways in which and older generation of Bahun women exert their influence. Building on the work of Campbell (Animals in Person: Cultural Perspectives on Human–Animal Intimacies, 2005b, pp. 79–100; Living Between Juniper and Palm: Nature, Culture and Power in the Himalayas, 2013), Tsing (The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins, 2015), Harraway (Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene, 2016) and Govindrajan (Animal Intimacies: Interspecies Relatedness in India’s Central Himalayas, 2018), the human–buffalo relationship presented here demonstrates the human–animal relationship as a key relationship of value to Bahun women at a time when the out‐migration phenomenon has taken their children away. I argue that in this way, and at a time when human–environment relationships are increasingly disembedded, human–buffalo relationships in West Nepal emphasise a unity between humans and their environment and remind us that intimacy and becoming are multispecies affairs.
Letermovir conversion after valganciclovir treatment in cytomegalovirus high‐risk abdominal solid organ transplant recipients may promote development of cytomegalovirus‐specific cell mediated immunity
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R , Kleiboeker Hanna , Garg Neetika , Parajuli Sandesh , Mandelbrot Didier A , Odorico Jon S , Saddler Christopher M , Smith Jeannina A
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the association of conversion from valganciclovir to letermovir on cytomegalovirus‐specific cellular immunity.

Methods

Adult patients were included if they received a kidney or liver transplant between 8/1/2018‐12/31/20, developed symptomatic, high‐level CMV viremia and were converted to letermovir 480 mg daily as monotherapy after treatment with ganciclovir‐derivatives for a minimum of 4 weeks and had subsequent CMV cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) testing via ICS assay by flow cytometry (Viracor Eurofins T Cell Immunity Panel).

Results

Seven patients met inclusion criteria; 87.5% were male and recipients of a kidney transplant. All patients were CMV high risk (D+/R‐). Mean time from transplant to CMV disease was 200 ± 91 days. Peak viral load (VL) during CMV treatment was 540,341 ± 391,211 IU/mL. Patients received a mean of 30 ± 24 weeks (range: 4‐78 weeks) of therapy with ganciclovir‐derivatives at induction doses prior to letermovir introduction. The median absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at letermovir initiation was 400/μL (IQR 575) and the median VL was 51.6 (range: ND‐490) IU/mL. Most patients (n = 5/7, 71.4%) experienced an increase in VL 1 and/or 2 weeks after conversion to letermovir. All patients had positive CMI per ICS assay after conversion. Patients received a mean of 10.3 ± 6.9 weeks of letermovir prior to having a positive result. Median ALC at positivity was 900/μL. Immunosuppression was not further reduced from initiation of letermovir to demonstration of CMV CMI. No patient had progressive replication or breakthrough disease while maintained on letermovir and three patients (42.9%) underwent antiviral withdrawal without recurrence at the last follow‐up.

Conclusion

In this case series of abdominal transplant recipients with severe or persistent CMV infection, patients developed CMV‐specific CMI after conversion to letermovir monotherapy. These data suggest that using letermovir in place of valganciclovir for secondary prophylaxis may address the lack of efficacy previously seen with this approach, as well as the issues that plague antiviral withdrawal with systematic monitoring. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate this effect in a more controlled research environment with serial CMI testing to elucidate the optimal duration of letermovir when used in this way
Scientific and psychosocial ethical considerations for initial clinical trials of kidney xenotransplantation
Authors: Hurst Daniel J. , Padilla Luz A. , Cooper David K.C. , Paris Wayne
Published: November 2021

The initial clinical trials of pig solid organ xenotransplantation (XTx) are drawing closer and could begin in the coming years. The first clinical trials may aim to transplant genetically‐modified pig kidneys into adult humans. The impetus for beginning these first‐in‐human trials is the severe lack of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation and the number of patients with end‐stage renal disease currently on transplant waitlists, which in the USA approaches 100 000. The majority of patients on the kidney transplant waitlist receive continuous renal replacement therapy. In the United States, for patients on the kidney waitlist, the median wait‐time to receive a deceased human donor organ is approximately 4.5 years for patients aged 45–74, with a 5‐year mortality (or removal from the waitlist because of deteriorating health) of approximately 40%. XTx has the potential to reduce the kidney waitlist morbidity and mortality while improving quality of life. By focusing on scientific and psychosocial criteria, we present ethical considerations of certain inclusion and exclusion criteria for these first‐in‐human clinical trials that we suggest have not yet been fully explored.
ARE YOU WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE? COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE PROBLEM OF DIVINE SELF‐AUTHENTICATION
Authors: McFarlane Andrew
Published: November 2021

A vital axiom of Reformed theology is that God is who God claims to be, and that he acts to “self‐authenticate” his identity to humans through the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. But how ought theologians to represent and make sense of the multiform nature of divine self‐authentication (DSA)? And can their models account for the various kinds of evidence God utilizes in acts of DSA, or explain why doubt and deception about divine identity persists despite it? Operating at the intersection of theology and computer science, this study examines how modern authentication technologies can deepen theological reflection upon the nature, evidence, and efficacy of DSA. It proposes that computer authentication “trust systems”: (1) offer a valuable schematic for representing the variegated structural patterns inherent in DSA; (2) shed critical light on the forms and functions of evidence used in DSA; and (3) provide strategies and practical measures for offsetting the continuing risk of deception about human and divine identity.
Designing and Testing a Closed-Loop Magnetically Actuated Laser Scanning System for Tissue Ablation
Authors: Mohammadbagherpoor Hamed , Acemoglu Alperen , Mattos Leonardo S. , Caldwell Darwin , Johnson James J. , Muth John , Grant Edward
Published: November 2021

Biomedical robotic systems continue to hold unlimited potential for surgical procedures. Robotized laser endoscopic tools provide surgeons with increased accuracy in the laser ablation of tissue and tumors. The research here catalogs the design and implementation of a new laser endoscopic tool for tissue ablation. A novel feature of this new device is the inclusion of a feedback loop that measures the position of the laser beam via a photodetector sensor. The scale of this new device was governed by the dimensions of the photodetector sensor. The tip of the laser's fiber optic cable is controlled by the torque interaction between permanent magnet rings surrounding the fiber-optic and the custom-designed solenoid coils. Prior to building the physical test-bed, the system was modeled and simulated using comsol software. In preclinical trials, the physical experimental results showed that the designed prototype laser scanner system accurately tracks different ablation patterns and gives a consistent output position for the laser beam; however, the heat diffusion into the tissue around the desired line of the geometric shape would give wider ablation margins than was desirable.
The $$D_s^+ \rightarrow a_0(980) e^+ \nu _e$$ reaction and the $$a_0(980)-f_0(980)$$ mixing
Authors: Lin Jia-Xin , Li Jia-Ting , Jiang Sheng-Juan , Liang Wei-Hong , Oset E.
Published: November 2021

We perform a study of the $$D_s^+ \rightarrow a_0(980)(f_0(980)) e^+ \nu _e$$

D
s
+

→

a
0

(
980
)

(

f
0

(
980
)

)

e
+

ν
e

reactions investigating the different sources of isospin violation which make the production of the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

possible. We find that loops involving kaons in the production mechanism provide a source of isospin violation since they do not cancel due to the different mass of charged and neutral kaons, but we also find that the main source comes from the breaking of isospin in the meson-meson transition T matrices, which contain information on the nature of the low lying scalar mesons. The reaction is thus very sensitive to the nature of the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

and $$f_0(980)$$

f
0

(
980
)

resonances. Our results are consistent with the present upper bound for $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

production and only a factor three smaller, indicating that future runs with more statistics should find actual numbers for this reaction from where we can learn more about the origin of the scalar resonances and their nature.
Simulation Result of Gallium Indium Nitride Solar Cells
Authors: wu jin
Published: November 2021

InGaN can reach all values of bandgap from 3.42 to 0.7eV, which covers almost the entire solar spectrum. This study is to understand the influence of each parameter of the solar cell for an improved optimization of performance. The yield obtained for a reference cell is 12.2 % for optimal values of doping of the layers. For generation and recombination, performance of the cell varies with these settings. III nitrides have a high absorption coefficient, a very thin layers of material are sufficient to absorb most of the light.
Mitochondrial Transplantation Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury: Possible Involvement of Mitochondrial Component Separation
Authors: Xie Qiang , Zeng Jun , Zheng Yongtao , Li Tianwen , Ren Junwei , Chen Kezhu , Zhang Quan , Xie Rong , Xu Feng , Zhu Jianhong
Published: November 2021

Background. Mitochondrial dysfunctions play a pivotal role in cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury. Although mitochondrial transplantation has been recently explored for the treatment of cerebral I/R injury, the underlying mechanisms and fate of transplanted mitochondria are still poorly understood. Methods. Mitochondrial morphology and function were assessed by fluorescent staining, electron microscopy, JC‐1, PCR, mitochondrial stress testing, and metabolomics. Therapeutic effects of mitochondria were evaluated by cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis levels in a cellular hypoxia‐reoxygenation model. Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model was applied to assess the mitochondrial therapy in vivo. Transcriptomics was performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Mitochondrial fate tracking was implemented by a variety of fluorescent labeling methods. Results. Neuro‐2a (N2a) cell‐derived mitochondria had higher mitochondrial membrane potential, more active oxidative respiration capacity, and less mitochondrial DNA copy number. Exogenous mitochondrial transplantation increased cellular viability in an oxygen‐dependent manner, decreased ROS and apoptosis levels, improved neurobehavioral deficits, and reduced infarct size. Transcriptomic data showed that the differential gene enrichment pathways are associated with metabolism, especially lipid metabolism. Mitochondrial tracking indicated specific parts of the exogenous mitochondria fused with the mitochondria of the host cell, and others were incorporated into lysosomes. This process occurred at the beginning of internalization and its efficiency is related to intercellular connection. Conclusions. Mitochondrial transplantation may attenuate cerebral I/R injury. The mechanism may be related to mitochondrial component separation, altering cellular metabolism, reducing ROS, and apoptosis in an oxygen‐dependent manner. The way of isolated mitochondrial transfer into the cell may be related to intercellular connection.
An Immune Atlas of Nephrolithiasis: Single-Cell Mass Cytometry on SIRT3 Knockout and Calcium Oxalate-Induced Renal Injury
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Ling , Zhang Ti , Gao Xiaomin , Wang Zeyu , Ming Shaoxiong , Fang Ziyu , Liu Min , Dong Hao , Zhu Baoyi , Liao Junhao , Zeng Jianwen , Peng Yonghan , Gao Xiaofeng
Published: November 2021

Background. As a common urological disease with a high recurrence rate, nephrolithiasis caused by CaOx may elicit a strong immunologic response. We present a CyTOF-based atlas of the immune landscape in nephrolithiasis models to understand how the immune system contributes to, and is affected by, the underlying response caused by SIRT3 knockout and CaOx inducement. Materials and Methods. We performed a large-scale CyTOF analysis of immune cell abundance profiles in nephrolithiasis. The immunophenotyping data were collected from four different mouse models, including the SIRT3 wild-type or knockout, including and excluding CaOx inducement. Unsupervised analysis strategies, such as SPADE and viSNE, revealed the intrarenal resident immune components and the immune alterations caused by SIRT3 knockout and CaOx-induced renal injury. Results. An overview analysis of the immune landscape identified T cells and macrophages as the main immune cell population in nephrolithiasis models. Highly similar phenotypes were observed among CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, including cells expressing Ki67, Ly6C, Siglec-F, and TCRβ. Macrophages expressed a characteristic panel of markers with varied expression levels including MHC II, SIRPα, CD11c, Siglec-F, F4/80, CD64, and CD11b, indicating more subtle differences in marker expression than T cells. The SIRT3KO/CaOx and SIRT3WT/CaOx groups exhibited global differences in the intrarenal immune landscape, whereas only small differences existed between the SIRT3KO/CaOx and SIRT3KO/Ctrl groups. Among the major immune lineages, the response of CD4+ T cells, NK cells, monocytes, and M1 to CaOx inducement was regulated by SIRT3 expression in contrast to the expression changes of B cells, DCs, and granulocytes caused by CaOx inducement. The panel of immune markers influenced by CaOx inducement significantly varied with and without SIRT3 knockout. Conclusion. In a CaOx-induced nephrolithiasis model, SIRT3 has a critical role in regulating the immune system, especially in reducing inflammatory injury. The characteristic panel of altered immune clusters and markers provides novel insights leading to improved prediction and management of nephrolithiasis.
Adaptive Similarity Function with Structural Features of Network Embedding for Missing Link Prediction
Authors: Zhang Chuanting , Shang Ke-Ke , Qiao Jingping
Published: November 2021

Link prediction is a fundamental problem of data science, which usually calls for unfolding the mechanisms that govern the micro‐dynamics of networks. In this regard, using features obtained from network embedding for predicting links has drawn widespread attention. Although methods based on edge features or node similarity have been proposed to solve the link prediction problem, many technical challenges still exist due to the unique structural properties of networks, especially when the networks are sparse. From the graph mining perspective, we first give empirical evidence of the inconsistency between heuristic and learned edge features. Then, we propose a novel link prediction framework, AdaSim, by introducing an Adaptive Similarity function using features obtained from network embedding based on random walks. The node feature representations are obtained by optimizing a graph‐based objective function. Instead of generating edge features using binary operators, we perform link prediction solely leveraging the node features of the network. We define a flexible similarity function with one tunable parameter, which serves as a penalty of the original similarity measure. The optimal value is learned through supervised learning and thus is adaptive to data distribution. To evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm, we conduct extensive experiments on eleven disparate networks of the real world. Experimental results show that AdaSim achieves better performance than state‐of‐the‐art algorithms and is robust to different sparsities of the networks.
Research on the Controlling Effect of NPR Cables for Anti‐Dip Slope Based on the Numerical Simulation
Authors: Zhang Xiaohu , Wang Hongjian , Tao Zhigang , Zhu Chun
Published: November 2021

As the scale and depth of mines increase, large deformations of high‐steep slopes progressively become prominent. Compared with the ordinary cables, negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) cables can provide a constant resistance force and high deformation inhibition during slope deformation, avoiding the occurrence of slope instability hazards. Consequently, the control effects on the toppling failures of slopes were necessary to be researched. Changshanhao open‐pit gold mine was taken as an example; based on the field geological investigation and rock mechanics testing, a three‐dimensional engineering geological model of open‐pit mine was constructed. Subsequently, the stability of open pit in current situation and final boundary situation was estimated with FLAC3D software, for the potential slope vulnerable areas to be comprehensively identified. Finally, the control effects of ordinary cables and NPR cables on the instable W13 slope section were compared and studied through FLAC3D simulations, and the reinforcement effects of NPR cable on the anti‐dip slope were proved as significant; meanwhile, the corresponding reinforcement methods in the failure mine areas were proposed, laying a reference for the instability failure control and reinforcement of similar anti‐dip slopes.
Evaluation of Self-Directed Learning in Nursing Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Nazarianpirdosti Mohammad , Janatolmakan Maryam , Andayeshgar Bahareh , Khatony Alireza
Published: November 2021

Background. Self-directed learning plays an important role in nursing education and is associated with academic achievement, communication self-efficacy, assertiveness, responsibility, and students’ clinical competencies. This study was conducted to analyze the existing research on the level of self-directed learning in nursing students. Methods. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all studies that had examined the level of self-directed learning in nursing students until March 2, 2020, were searched in Science Direct, Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. In the meta-analysis section, I2 index and the random effects model were used. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 2) was used for data analysis. Results. The mean score of self-directed learning in 12 articles with 3830 samples was 156.73 ± 1.47 out of 200 (95% CI: 153.3–160.1). These scores were 153.50 ± 2.71 (95% CI: 148.18–158.82) and 154.67 ± 1.32 (95% CI: 157.50–159.32) in the male and female students, respectively. There was a significant relationship between self-directed learning and sample size, year of study, and semester (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The mean self-directed learning in nursing students was at a moderate level, which does not seem to be sufficient. Given the positive role of self-directed learning in nursing education, it is essential that nursing professors teach self-directed learning skills to students via training courses.
A Study of Magnetic/Nonmagnetic Nanoparticles Fluid Flow under the Influence of Nonlinear Thermal Radiation
Authors: Shaukat Ayesha , Mushtaq Muhammad , Farid Saadia , Jabeen Kanwal , Akram Muntazir Rana Muhammad
Published: November 2021

The present research work scrutinizes numerical heat transfer in convective boundary layer flow having characteristics of magnetic (

Fe

3

O

4

) and nonmagnetic (

Al

2

O

3

) nanoparticles synthesized into two different kinds of Newtonian (water) and non-Newtonian (sodium alginate) convectional base fluids of casson nanofluid which integrates the captivating effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and magnetic field embedded in a porous medium. The characterization of electrically transmitted viscous incompressible fluid is taken into account within the Casson fluid model. The mathematical formulation of governing partial differential equations (PDEs) with highly nonlinearity is renovated into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by utilizing the suitable similarity transform that constitutes nondimensional pertinent parameters. The transformed ODEs are tackled numerically by implementing

b
v
p
4
c

in MATLAB. A graphical illustration for the purpose of better numerical computations of flow regime is deliberated for the specified parameters corresponding to different profiles (velocity and temperature). To elaborate the behavior of Nusselt and skin friction factor, a tabular demonstration against the distinct specific parameters is analyzed. It is perceived that the velocity gradient of Newtonian fluids is much higher comparatively to non-newtonian fluids. On the contrary, the thermal gradient of non-Newtonian fluid becomes more condensed than that of Newtonian fluids. Graphical demonstration disclosed that the heat transfer analysis in non-Newtonian (sodium alginate)-based fluid is tremendously influenced comparatively to Newtonian (water)-based fluid, and radiation interacts with the highly denser temperature profile of non-Newtonian fluid in contrast to that of Newtonian fluid. Through such comparative analysis of magnetic or nonmagnetic nanoparticles synthesized into distinct base fluids, a considerable enhancement in thermal and heat transfer analysis is quite significant in many expanding engineering and industrial phenomenons.
Nonviscous Oblique Stagnation Point Flow towards Riga Plate
Authors: Akbar Sobia , Hussain Azad
Published: November 2021

Purpose. The flow of nonviscous Casson fluid is examined in this study over an oscillating surface. The model of the fluid flow has been inspected in the presence of oblique stagnation point flow. The scrutiny is subsumed for the Riga plate by considering the effects of magnetohydrodynamics. The Riga plate is considered as an electromagnetic lever which carries eternal magnets and a stretching line up of alternating electrodes coupled on a plane surface. We have considered nonboundary layer two-dimensional incompressible flow of the fluid. The fluid flow model is analyzed in the fixed frame of reference. Motivation. The motivation of achieving more suitable results has always been a quest of life for scientists; the capability of determining the boundary layer of flow on aircraft which either stays laminar or turns turbulent has encouraged the researcher to study compressible flow in depth. The compressible fluid with boundary layer flow has been utilized by numerous researchers to reduce skin friction and enhance thermal and convectional heat exchange. Design/Approach/Methodology. The attained partial differential equations will be critically inspected by using suitable similarity transformation to transform these flows thrived equations into higher nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE). Then, these equations of motion are intercepted by mathematical techniques such as the bvp4c method in Maple and Matlab. The graphical and tabular representation of different parameters is also given. Findings. The behavior of

β

and modified Hartmann number

M

increases by positively increasing the values of both parameters for

F

η

, while

ω

decreases with increasing the values of

ω

for

F

η

. The graph of

β

shows upward behavior for distinct values for both

G

η

and

G

′

η

for velocity portray. Prandtl number and

β

for the temperature profile of

θ

η

and

θ

1

η

goes downward with increasing parameters.
[Retracted] Visual Sensing Human Motion Detection System for Interactive Music Teaching
Authors: Chang Xunyun , Peng Liangqing
Published: November 2021

The purpose is to study the interactive teaching mode of human action recognition technology in music and dance teaching under computer vision. The human action detection and recognition system based on a three‐dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network (CNN) is established. Then, a human action recognition model based on the dual channel is proposed on the basis of CNN, and the visual attention mechanism using the interframe differential channel is introduced into the model. Through experiments, the performance of the system in the process of human dance image recognition based on the Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) dataset is verified. The results show that the dual‐channel 3D CNN human action recognition system can achieve high accuracy in the first few rounds of training after the frame difference channel is added, the error can be reduced quickly, and the convergence can start quickly; the recognition accuracy of the system on KTH dataset is 96.6%, which is higher than that of other methods; for 3 × 3 × 3 basic convolution kernel, the best performance of the classification network can be obtained by pushing forward 0.0091 seconds in the calculation. Thereby, the dual‐channel 3D CNN recognition system has good human action recognition accuracy in the dance interactive teaching mode of music teaching.
Comprehensive Methodology to Evaluate Parasitic Energy Consumption for Different Types of Dual-Axis Sun Tracking Systems
Authors: Tan Ming-Hui , Wang Tze-Koon , Wong Chee-Woon , Chong Kok-Keong , Lim Boon-Han , Yew Tiong-Keat , Tan Woei-Chong , Lai An-Chow
Published: November 2021

A dual-axis sun tracking system is an essential strategy to maximize the optical efficiency of harnessing solar energy. However, there is no significant study yet to optimize the net performance of the photovoltaic (PV) or concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system equipped with a dual-axis sun tracking system. Parasitic energy loss associated with the power consumption of the sun tracking system is one of the major concerns for the solar industrial players. To address this issue, a comprehensive methodology has been developed to evaluate the yearly cumulative range of motion for dual-axis sun tracking systems in the cases of with and without fixed parking positions across the latitudes ranging from 45°N to 45°S. The parasitic energy consumptions have been investigated for three selected types of dual-axis sun tracking systems, i.e., the azimuth-elevation sun tracking system (AE-STS), polar dual-axis sun tracking system (PD-STS), and horizontal dual-axis sun tracking system (HD-STS). The simulated results indicate that the dual-axis sun tracking system with the nonfixed parking (or stow) position has lower yearly cumulative parasitic energy consumption with respect to the sun tracking system with a fixed parking position. Lastly, our simulation result has shown that the parasitic energy consumption of the sun tracking is relatively smaller to that of the electrical energy generated by the concentrator photovoltaic system with the ratio between 0.15% and 0.29% for AE-STS, between 0.15% and 0.30% for PD-STS, and between 0.17% and 0.35% for HD-STS.
Optimization of Noise Transfer Path Based on the Composite Panel Acoustic and Modal Contribution Analysis
Authors: Liu Qiang , Zhou Xuanyi , Zhu Jianxin , Gong Xiaoping
Published: November 2021

The noise of a cab directly affects the comfort and labor efficiency of the operators. The optimization of the structure‐borne transmission path can obviously reduce the cab noise. The method of panel acoustic contribution analysis (PACA) is used to reduce structure noise. However, most studies only consider the panel acoustic contribution of a single frequency, without considering the contribution of major frequencies synthesis to confirm the optimized panels. In this paper, a novel method is proposed based on composite panel acoustic and modal contribution analysis and noise transfer path optimization in a vibro‐acoustic model. First, the finite element model (FEM) and the acoustic model are established. Based on the acoustic transfer vector (ATV) method, a composite panel acoustic contribution analysis method is proposed to identify the panels affecting the noise of the field point. Combined with the modal acoustic contribution of the modal acoustic transfer vector (MATV) method, the noise field point is confirmed in the area which has the most significant influence. Second, the optimization algorithm NLOPT which is a nonlinear optimization is applied to design the areas. The noise transfer path optimization with vibroacoustic coupling response can quickly determine the optimal thickness of the panels and reduce low‐frequency noise. The effectiveness of the proposed method is applied and verified in an excavator cab. The sound pressure level (SPL) the driver’s right ear (DRE) decreased obviously. The acoustic analysis of the composite panel acoustic contribution and modal acoustic contribution can more accurately recognize an optimized area than the traditional PACA. This method can be applied in the optimization of the structure‐borne transmission path for construction machinery cab and vehicle body.
Research on Practical Intelligent Mode of Digital Image Economy Based on Improved Genetic Multilayer Neural Network
Authors: Guo Min , Song Liying , Ilyas Muhammad
Published: November 2021

In the context of economic globalization and digitization, the current financial field is in an unprecedented complex situation. The methods and means to deal with this complexity are developing towards image intelligence. This paper takes financial prediction as the starting point, selects the artificial neural network in the intelligent algorithm and optimizes the algorithm, forecasts through the improved multilayer neural network, and compares it with the traditional neural network. Through comparison, it is found that the prediction success rate of the improved genetic multilayer neural network increases with the increase of the dimension of the input image data. This shows that, by adding more technical indicators as the input of the combined network, the prediction efficiency of the improved genetic multilayer neural network can be further improved and the advantage of computing speed can be maintained.
Identification and Potential Mechanisms of a 7-MicroRNA Signature That Predicts Prognosis in Patients with Lower-Grade Glioma
Authors: Liu Zhizheng , Meng Hongliang , Fang Miaoxian , Guo Wenlong
Published: November 2021

Background. Lower-grade glioma is an intracranial cancer that may develop into glioblastoma with high mortality. The main objective of our study is to develop microRNA for LGG patients which will provide novel prognostic biomarkers along with therapeutic targets. Methods. Clinicopathological data of LGG patients and their RNA expression profile were downloaded through The Cancer Genome Atlas Relevant expression profiles of RNA, and clinicopathological data of the LGG patients had been extracted from the database of “The Cancer Genome Atlas.” Differential expression analysis had been conducted for identification of the differentially expressed microRNAs as well as mRNAs in LGG samples and normal ones. ROC curves and K–M plots were plotted to confirm performance and for predictive accuracy. For the confirmation of microRNAs as an independent prognostic factor, an independent prognosis analysis was conducted. Moreover, target differentially expressed genes of these identified prognostic microRNAs that were extracted and protein-protein interaction networks were developed. Moreover, the biological functions of signature were determined through Genome Ontology analysis, genome pathway analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes. Results. 7-microRNA signature was identified that has the ability of categorization of individuals with LGG into high- and low-risk groups on the basis of significant difference in survival during training and testing cohorts (P < 0.001). The 7-microRNA signature had appeared to be robust in predictive accuracy (all AUC> 0.65). It was also approved with multivariate Cox regression along with some traditional clinical practices that we can use 7-microRNA signature for therapeutic purposes as a self-regulating predictive OS factor (P < 0.001). KEGG and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses reported that 7-microRNAs had mainly developed in important pathways related with glioma, e.g., the “cAMP signaling pathway,” “glutamatergic synapses,” and “calcium signaling pathway”. Conclusion. A newly discovered 7-microRNA signature could be a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment for LGG patients.
On the Exact Values of HZ-Index for the Graphs under Operations
Authors: Alrowaili Dalal Awadh , Javed Saira , Javaid Muhammad
Published: November 2021

Topological index (TI) is a function from the set of graphs to the set of real numbers that associates a unique real number to each graph, and two graphs necessarily have the same value of the TI if these are structurally isomorphic. In this note, we compute theHZ−indexof the four generalized sum graphs in the form of the various Zagreb indices of their factor graphs. These graphs are obtained by the strong product of the graphsGandDkG, whereDk∈Sk,Rk,Qk,Tkrepresents the four generalized subdivision-related operations for the integral value ofk≥1andDkGis a graph that is obtained by applyingDkonG. At the end, as an illustration, we compute theHZ−indexof the generalized sum graphs for exactlyk=1and compare the obtained results.
Enhancing Feature Point‐Based Video Watermarking against Geometric Attacks with Template
Authors: Lv Zhongze , Guan Hu , Huang Ying , Zhang Shuwu , Zheng Yang
Published: November 2021

As the Internet and communication technologies have developed quickly, the spread and usage of online video content have become easier, which results in major infringement problems. While video watermarking may be a viable solution for digital video content copyright protection, overcoming geometric attacks is a significant challenge. Although feature point‐based watermarking algorithms are expected to be very resistant to these attacks, they are sensitive to feature region localization errors, resulting in poor watermark extraction accuracy. To solve this issue, we introduce the template to enhance the location accuracy of feature point‐based watermarking. Furthermore, a scene change‐based frame allocation method is presented, which arranges the template and the watermark to be embedded into different frames and eliminates their mutual interference, enhancing the performance of the proposed algorithm. According to the experimental results, our algorithm outperforms state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of robustness against geometric attacks under close imperceptibility.
Regional Atmospheric Light Optimisation Algorithm for Heterogeneous Image Dehazing
Authors: Wu Haoqiang , Fu Yiran , Zha Quanxing , Chen Aidong , Jing Hongyuan
Published: November 2021

Under foggy and other severe weather conditions, image acquisition equipment is not effective. It often produces an image with low contrast and low scene brightness, which is difficult to use in other image-based applications. The dark channel prior dehazing algorithm will cause the brightness of the image to decrease and sometimes introduce halos in the sky area. To solve this problem, we proposed a region similarity optimisation algorithm based on a dark channel prior. First, a vector comprising RGB layer dark channel value was obtained as the original atmospheric ambient light, and then, the proposed regional similarity linear function was used to adjust the atmospheric ambient light matrix. Next, the transmittance of different colour channels was derived and the multichannel soft matting algorithm was employed to produce more effective transmittance. Finally, the atmospheric ambient light and transmittance were substituted into the atmospheric scattering model to calculate clean images. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperformed the existing mainstream dehazing algorithms in terms of both visual judgement and quality analysis with nonhomogeneous haze datasets. The algorithm not only improves the image details but also improves the brightness and saturation of the dehazing result; therefore, the proposed algorithm is effective in the restoration of the hazy image.
The Prognostic Value of the Albumin to Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Ratio in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Zhang Feng , Quan Bing , Li Miao , Lu Shenxin , Li Jinghuan , Chen Rongxin , Yin Xin
Published: November 2021

Albumin to gamma-glutamyltransferase ratio (AGR) is a newly developed biomarker for the prediction of patients’ prognosis in solid tumors. The purpose of the study was to establish a novel AGR-based nomogram to predict tumor prognosis in patients with early-stage HCC undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA). 394 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had received RFA as initial treatment were classified into the training cohort and validation cohort. Independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. The value of AGR was evaluated by the concordance index (

C

-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and likelihood ratio tests (LAT). Logistic regression and nomogram were performed to establish the pretreatment scoring model based on the clinical variables. As a result,

AGR
=
0.63

was identified as the best cutoff value to predict overall survival (OS) in the training cohort. According to the results of multivariate analysis, AGR was an independent indicator for OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In both training cohort and validation cohort, the high-AGR group showed better RFS and OS than the low-AGR group. What is more, the

C

-index, area under the ROC curves, and LAT

χ

2

values suggested that AGR outperformed the Child-Pugh (CP) grade and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade in terms of predicting OS. The AGR, AKP, and tumor size were used to establish the OS nomogram. Besides, the results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve analysis displayed that both nomograms in the training and validation cohorts performed well in terms of calibration. Therefore, the AGR-based nomogram can predict the postoperative prognosis of early HCC patients undergoing RFA.
Influence of Nanographite on Dry Sliding Wear Behaviour of Novel Encapsulated Squeeze Cast Al-Cu-Mg Metal Matrix Composite Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Natrayan L. , Ravichandran M. , Veeman Dhinakaran , Sureshkumar P. , Jagadeesha T. , Mammo Wubishet Degife
Published: November 2021

This paper investigates the dry sliding wear behaviour of squeeze cast Al-Cu-Mg reinforced with nanographite metal matrix composites. The experimental study employed the Taguchi method. The Taguchi method plays a significant role in analyzing aluminium matrix composite sliding tribological behaviour. Specifically, this method was found to be efficient, systematic, and simple relative to the optimization of wear and friction test parameters such as load (10, 20, and 30), velocity (0.75, 1.5, and 2.25 m/s), and nanographite (1, 3, and 5 wt%). The optimization and results were compared with the artificial neural network. An orthogonal array L27 was employed for the experimental design. Analysis of variance was carried out to understand the impact of individual factors and interactions on the specific wear rate and the coefficient of friction. The wear mechanism, surface morphologies, and composition of the composites have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results indicated that wt% addition of nanographite and increase of sliding speed led to a decrease in the coefficient of friction and wear rate of tested composites. Furthermore, individual parameter interactions revealed a smaller impact. The interactions involved wt% of nano-Gr and sliding speed, sliding speed and normal load, and wt% of nano-Gr and normal load. This inference was informed by the similarity between the results obtained ANN, ANOVA, and the experimental data.