bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing cognitive impairment following stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomised controlled studies of psychological interventions
Authors: Merriman Niamh A , Sexton Eithne , McCabe Grainne , Walsh Mary E , Rohde Daniela , Gorman Ashleigh , Jeffares Isabelle , Donnelly Nora-Ann , Pender Niall , Williams David J , Horgan Frances , Doyle Frank , Wren Maev-Ann , Bennett Kathleen E , Hickey Anne
Published: February 2019

Objective

Cognitive impairment is a pervasive outcome of stroke, reported in over half of patients 6 months post-stroke and is associated with increased disability and a poorer quality of life. Despite the prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment, the efficacy of existing psychological interventions for the rehabilitation of cognitive impairment following stroke has yet to be established. The aim of this study is to identify psychological interventions from non-randomised studies that intended to improve post-stroke cognitive function and establish their efficacy.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomised studies of psychological interventions addressing post-stroke cognitive impairment.

Data sources

Electronic searches were performed in the Pubmed, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases, the search dating from inception to February 2017.

Eligibility criteria

All non-randomised controlled studies and quasi-randomised controlled trials examining psychological interventions to improve cognitive function following stroke were included, such as feasibility studies, pilot studies, experimental studies, and quasi-experimental studies. The primary outcome was cognitive function. The prespecified secondary outcomes were functional abilities in daily life and quality of life.

Methods

The current meta-analyses combined the findings of seven controlled studies, examining the efficacy of psychological interventions compared with treatment-as-usual controls or active controls, and 13 one-group pre–post studies.

Results

Results indicated an overall small effect on cognition across the controlled studies (Hedges' g=0.38, 95% CI=0.06 to 0.7) and a moderate effect on cognition across the one-group pre–post studies (Hedges' g=0.51, 95% CI=0.3 to 0.73). Specific cognitive domains, such as memory and attention also demonstrated a benefit of psychological interventions.

Conclusions

This review provides support for the potential of psychological interventions to improve overall cognitive function post-stroke. Limitations of the study, in terms of risk of bias and quality of included studies, and future research directions are explored.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017069714.
Chest pain in general practice: a systematic review of prediction rules
Authors: Harskamp Ralf E , Laeven Simone C , Himmelreich Jelle CL , Lucassen Wim A M , van Weert Henk C P M
Published: February 2019

Objective

To identify and assess the performance of clinical decision rules (CDR) for chest pain in general practice.

Design

Systematic review of diagnostic studies.

Data sources

Medline/Pubmed, Embase/Ovid, CINAHL/EBSCO and Google Scholar up to October 2018.

Study selection

Studies that assessed CDRs for intermittent-type chest pain and for rule out of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) applicable in general practice, thus not relying on advanced laboratory, computer or diagnostic testing.

Review methods

Reviewers identified studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of the evidence (using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2)), independently and in duplicate.

Results

Eight studies comprising five CDRs met the inclusion criteria. Three CDRs are designed for rule out of coronary disease in intermittent-type chest pain (Gencer rule, Marburg Heart Score, INTERCHEST), and two for rule out of ACS (Grijseels rule, Bruins Slot rule). Studies that examined the Marburg Heart Score had the highest methodological quality with consistent sensitivity (86%–91%), specificity (61%–81%) and positive (23%–35%) and negative (97%–98%) predictive values (PPV and NPV). The diagnostic performance of Gencer (PPV: 20%–34%, NPV: 95%–99%) and INTERCHEST (PPV: 35%–43%, NPV: 96%–98%) appear comparable, but requires further validation. The Marburg Heart Score was more sensitive in detecting coronary disease than the clinical judgement of the general practitioner. The performance of CDRs that focused on rule out of ACS were: Grijseels rule (sensitivity: 91%, specificity: 37%, PPV: 57%, NPV: 82%) and Bruins Slot (sensitivity: 97%, specificity: 10%, PPV: 23%, NPV: 92%). Compared with clinical judgement, the Bruins Slot rule appeared to be safer than clinical judgement alone, but the study was limited in sample size.

Conclusions

In general practice, there is currently no clinical decision aid that can safely rule out ACS. For intermittent chest pain, several rules exist, of which the Marburg Heart Score has been most extensively tested and appears to outperform clinical judgement alone.
Norrie disease gene polymorphism in Indonesian infants with retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Siswanto J Edy , Ronoatmodjo Sudarto , Sitorus Rita S , Soemantri Ag , Setijaningsih Iswari , Sauer Pieter J J
Published: February 2019

Objective

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of blindness in newborn infants, which also occurs in low-income and middle-income countries. Why ROP progresses in some infants while it regresses in others is still presently unknown. Studies suggest that genetic factors might be involved. Mutations in the Norrie disease (ND) gene are suspected to be related to advanced ROP development. Indonesia is a country with relatively high incidence of ROP, yet the role of these genetic factors in the pathogenesis of ROP cases is still unknown. The study aimed to investigate the presence of mutations in ND on the X chromosome in infants with both non-advanced and advanced ROP in Indonesia.

Methods and Analysis

This is a case–control study of polymorphisms in six variants within the ND gene in exon 3, C597A, L108P, R121W, A105T, V60E and C110G, in preterm newborn infants in four major hospitals in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia.

Results

We included 162 preterm newborn infants. ROP was diagnosed in 83 infants, and 79 infants served as controls. Among those with ROP, 57 infants had type 2, while others had type 1. We did not find any gene polymorphisms in any of the infants with ROP nor in the control group.

Conclusion

We conclude that it is very unlikely that the six polymorphisms in exon 3 of the ND gene studied in this paper are involved in the development or progression of ROP in preterm infants in our population sample in Indonesia.
Prevalence and causes of childhood blindness in Huidong County, South China, primary ascertained by the key informants
Authors: Li Yanping , Yan Jianhua , Wang Zhonghao , Huang Wenyong , Huang Shengsong , Jin Ling , Zheng Yingfeng , Tan Xuhua , Yi Jinglin , Yip Jennifer , Xiao Baixiang
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The aim of this study is to ascertain the prevalence and causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment (BL/SVI) in Huidong, South China.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2017 in areas of 139 816 children at the age of 0–15 as the study subjects. We used the trained key informants (KIs) to do preliminary visual test in the communities and refer those children suspected with blindness or unable to count fingers with both eyes at 5 m to hospital for further examination by paediatric ophthalmologist for causes. The WHO’s definition of BL/SVI was used, as blindness is best-corrected visual acuity worse than 0.05 in better eye and SVI is equal to or better than 0.05 but worse than 0.1 in better eye.

Results

Three hundred and fourteen KIs were trained. In total, 42 children with BL/SVI were found, and among them over half (22, 52.4%) were due to posterior segment disorders by anatomic site and 18 (42.9%) children were potentially preventable; these included BL/SVI caused by factors at children’s development in intrauterine and after birth. This established the prevalence of BL/SVI was at 0.31/1000 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.34/1000).

Conclusion

A low prevalence of childhood blindness was documented in this study. Establishment of surveillance system for disabled children including those with BL/SVI and better health education on eye care to the public according to the surveillance outcomes would help to reduce avoidable children’s BL/SVI further in China.
Safety and efficacy of ambulatory management of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: a case series
Authors: Khan Fasih , Vali Yusuf , Naeem Muhammad , Reddy Raja
Published: February 2019

Introduction

The optimal management of pneumothorax remains undefined. There is a growing consensus that patients with spontaneous pneumothorax can be considered for ambulatory management with the use of a one-way valve. Despite this, there is little data on the outcomes of outpatient management of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP).

Methods

At our institution, selected patients with primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax who meet the predefined local criteria are managed on an ambulatory pathway. We prospectively evaluated our practice over a 3-year period and explore outcomes of patients with SSP using primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) as a comparator group.

Results

163 consecutive patients presenting to our hospital between September 2014 and July 2017 were evaluated using a predefined protocol. 111 (49 SSP and 62 PSP) were deemed suitable for outpatient management. Resolution on day 5 was similar between the two groups (65% in the SSP vs 79% in the PSP group; p=0.108). The mean drainage time was 5.84 days in SSP compared with 5.69 days in PSP, representing a difference of 0.15 days (95% CI −2.47 to 2.16; p=0.897). Complications such as infection and drain blockage/falling-out were scarce, with comparable pain and satisfaction scores across both groups. There were no deaths during this period. An estimated £86 796 ($113 920) was saved over the study period, equating to £1118.80 ($1550) per patient.

Discussion

This study suggests that outpatient management of selected patients with SSP may be effective, safe and cost-saving.
First‐opinion approach to the dachshund with intervertebral disc herniation
Authors: Dorn Marianne
Published: February 2019

Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is by far the most likely diagnosis for dachshunds presenting with no history of trauma and with both pain and pelvic limb paresis. A presumptive diagnosis of IVDH can usually be reached based on history and clinical examination, although mild cases can be challenging to differentiate from those with non‐spinal causes of pain. This article offers a practical approach to assessing and managing the painful dachshund in first‐opinion practice. It covers clinical decision‐making and the principles of non‐surgical treatment, emphasising the need for good monitoring and follow‐up. Recovery typically takes weeks to months; full recovery is not guaranteed, and recurrence is possible, so regardless of whether spinal surgery is performed, good communication between practitioner and owner is essential.
Reducing delay in patients with acute coronary syndrome and other time-critical conditions: a systematic review to identify the behaviour change techniques associated with effective interventions
Authors: Farquharson Barbara , Abhyankar Purva , Smith Karen , Dombrowski Stephan U , Treweek Shaun , Dougall Nadine , Williams Brian , Johnston Marie
Published: February 2019

Background

Time to treatment in many conditions, particularly acute coronary syndrome, is critical to reducing mortality. Delay between onset of symptoms and treatment remains a worldwide problem. Reducing patient delay has been particularly challenging. Embedding behaviour change techniques (BCTs) within interventions might lead to shorter delay.

Objective

To identify which BCTs are associated with reductions in patient delay among people with symptoms or conditions where time to treatment is critical.

Methods

The data sources were Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycINFO. Study eligibility criteria include intervention evaluations (randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and cohort studies) involving adults (aged >18 years) and including an outcome measure of patient delay up to August 2016. Study appraisal and synthesis methods include screening potential studies using a transparent, replicable process. Study characteristics, outcomes and BCTs were extracted from eligible studies.

Results

From 39 studies (200 538 participants), just over half (n=20) reported a significant reduction in delay. 19 BCTs were identified, plus 5 additional techniques, with a mean of 2 (SD=2.3) BCTs and 2 (SD=0.7) per intervention. No clear pattern between BCTs and effectiveness was found. In studies examining patient delay specifically, three of four studies that included two or more BCTs, in addition to the two most commonly used additional techniques, reported a significant reduction in delay.

Conclusions

Around half of the interventions to reduce prehospital delay with time-critical symptoms report a significant reduction in delay time. It is not clear what differentiates effective from non-effective interventions, although in relation to patient delay particularly additional use of BCTs might be helpful.

Trial registration number

CRD42014013106.
A framework for total productivity measurement of industrial construction projects
Authors: Ayele Selam , Fayek Aminah Robinson
Published: February 2019

Productivity measurement is a concern for both construction practitioners and researchers. In construction, productivity can be measured at three levels: activity, project, and industry. At the project level, previous studies focused on measuring the productivity of specific activities. In addition, existing project-level productivity metrics do not consider the effect of all resources used in a project. To effectively assess overall project performance, the productivity of all project activities and resources used must be taken into account. This study presents a framework that takes into consideration all resources used in a project and proposes a metric for measuring the total productivity of construction projects. A focus group session with experts, followed by questionnaire surveys, were used to assess the applicability of the framework. This paper makes a contribution by providing researchers and practitioners with a framework and tools for data collection and analysis of total construction project productivity.
Rigid framework section parameter optimization and optimization algorithm research
Authors: Hao Shangqing , Wang Xuewen , Xie Jiacheng , Yang Zhaojian
Published: February 2019

This article compares the optimization algorithms included with ANSYS Software for optimizing the dimensions of a large steel framework to minimize weight while maintaining stiffness. A finite element model of the structure was prepared, and the section parameters were optimized using the sub-problem and first-order algorithms. These reduce the weight of the structure by 33.8%. The sub-problem algorithm and the first-order algorithm are explained from the rationale, iteration method, and convergence criterion. According to the optimized result, these two algorithms were compared. The results show that the sub-problem algorithm is faster and can control the overall design space, and the first-order algorithm is more precise.
Deformation of singular fibers of genus two fibrations and small exotic symplectic 4-manifolds
Authors: Akhmedov Anar , Sakallı Sümeyra
Published: February 2019

We introduce the [Formula: see text]-nodal spherical deformation of certain singular fibers of genus two fibrations, and use such deformations to construct various examples of simply connected minimal symplectic [Formula: see text]-manifolds with small topology. More specifically, we construct new exotic minimal symplectic [Formula: see text]-manifolds homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] using combinations of such deformations, symplectic blowups, and (generalized) rational blowdown surgery. We also discuss generalizing our constructions to higher genus fibrations using [Formula: see text]-nodal spherical deformations of certain singular fibers of genus [Formula: see text] fibrations.
Contact round surgery and Lutz twists
Authors: Adachi Jiro
Published: February 2019

From the viewpoint of contact round surgery, the Lutz twist and the Giroux torsion on contact [Formula: see text]-manifolds are studied in this paper. It is proved that the Lutz twist along a transverse knot and that along a pre-Lagrangian torus are realized by contact round surgeries of index [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of contact [Formula: see text]-manifolds. This construction gives an important perspective on the Lutz twists. Both can be regarded as fiberwise connected sums with the compactified Lutz twist elements.
A Low-Power Clock Generator with a Wide Frequency Tuning Range and Low Temperature Variation: Analysis and Design
Authors: Fazel Ziba , Shokrekhodaei MaryamSadat , Atarodi Mojtaba
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a quadrature-clock generator based on a novel low-power ring oscillator with a wide frequency tuning range and low temperature variations. The proposed ring oscillator consists of two differential delay cells with a new controllable capacitive load of an MOS transistor. The wide tuning range is achieved due to transistor utilization in different regions and considering its resistance not to narrow down the frequency range. Delay cells are biased with a minimum possible value of a proportion to absolute temperature current to decrease frequency variations to temperature while the power consumption is kept low. The validation of the proposed methods is proved by circuit analysis. Post-layout simulation results of the proposed clock generator in 180[Formula: see text]nm CMOS technology are also presented. It exhibits a wide tuning range of 807 MHz to 2.66 GHz. The phase noise of the output signal is about [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dBc/Hz at 10[Formula: see text]MHz offset frequency. Frequency changes less than [Formula: see text] in the temperature range of [Formula: see text]C–[Formula: see text]C. The clock generator consumes 0.657[Formula: see text]mW of power. Results show improvement in comparison to the previous works.
A Fast On-Chip Adaptive Genetic Algorithm Processor for Evolutionary FIR Filter Implementation Using Hardware–Software Co-Design
Authors: Ranjith C. , Rani S. P. Joy Vasantha
Published: February 2019

Recent studies show the impact of genetic algorithms (GA) in the design of evolutionary finite impulse response (FIR) filters. Studies have shown hardware and software method of GA implementation for design. Hardware method improves speed due to parallelism, pipelining and the absence of the function calls compared to software implementation. But area constraint was the main issue of hardware implementation. Therefore, this paper illustrates a hardware–software co-design concept to implement an Adaptive GA processor (AGAP) for FIR filter design. The architecture of AGAP uses adaptive crossover and mutation probabilities to speed up the convergence of the GA process. The AGAP architecture was implemented using Verilog Hardware Description Language (HDL) and instantiated as a custom intellectual property (IP) core to the soft-core MicroBlaze processor of Spartan 6 (XC6SLX45-3CSG324I) FPGA. The MicroBlaze processor controls the AGAP IP core and other interfaces using Embedded C programs. The experiment demonstrated a significant 134% improvement in speed over hardware implementation but with a marginal increase in area. The complete evaluation and evolution of the filter coefficients were executed on a single FPGA. The system on chip (SoC) concept enables a robust and flexible system.
Prediction of Pareto Dominance Using an Attribute Tendency Model for Expensive Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Li Wenbin , Jiang Junqiang , Chen Xi , Guo Guanqi , He Jianjun
Published: February 2019

This paper proposes a novel surrogate-assisted multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, MOEA-ATCM, to solve expensive or black-box multi-objective problems with small evaluation budgets. The proposed approach encompasses a state-of-the-art MOEA based on a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm assisted by multi-fidelity optimization methods. A high-fidelity attribute tendency (AT) surrogate model was used to construct a linear decision space by introducing the knowledge of the objective space. A coarse model (CM) based on the AT model and correlation analyses of the objective functions and decision attributes were used to predict the Pareto dominance for candidates in the new decision space constructed by the AT model. Two major roles of MOEA-ATCM were identified: (1) the development of a new multi-fidelity surrogate-model-based method to predict Pareto dominance in a decision space that was then applied to MOEA, which does not need to dynamically update surrogate models in the optimization process and (2) the development of a Pareto dominance prediction method to obtain good nondominated solutions of expensive or black box problems with relatively few objective function evaluations. The advantages of MOEA-ATCM were verified by mathematical benchmark problems and a real-world multi-objective parameter optimization problem.
Object Detection Using Multiview CCA-Based Graph Spectral Learning
Authors: Guo Peng , Xie Guoqi , Li Renfa
Published: February 2019

Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in semi-supervised learning-based object detection. Object detection is usually accomplished by classification methods. Different from conventional methods, those usually adopt a single feature view or concatenate multiple features into a long feature vector, multiview graph spectral learning can attain simultaneously object classification and weight learning of multiview. However, most existing multiview graph spectral learning (GSL) methods are only concerned with the complementarities between multiple views but not with correlation information. Accurately representing image objects is difficult because there are multiple views simultaneously for an image object. Thus, we offer a GSL method based on multiview canonical correlation analysis (GSL-MCCA). The method adds MCCA regularization term to a graph learning framework. To enable MCCA to reveal the nonlinear correlation information hidden in multiview data, manifold local structure information is incorporated into MCCA. Thus, GSL-MCCA can lead to simultaneous selection of relevant features and learning transformation. Experimental evaluations based on Corel and VOC datasets suggest the effectiveness of GSL-MCCA in object detection.
Solving Traveling Salesman Problem by Using Combinatorial Artificial Bee Colony Algorithms
Authors: Karaboga Dervis , Gorkemli Beyza
Published: February 2019

Artificial bee colony (ABC) is a quite popular optimization approach that has been used in many fields, with its not only standard form but also improved versions. In this paper, new versions of ABC algorithm to solve TSP are introduced and described in detail. One of these is the combinatorial version of standard ABC, called combinatorial ABC (CABC) algorithm. The other one is an improved version of CABC algorithm, called quick CABC (qCABC) algorithm. In order to see the efficiency of the new versions, 15 different TSP benchmarks are considered and the results generated are compared with different well-known optimization methods. The simulation results show that, both CABC and qCABC algorithms demonstrate good performance for TSP and also the new definition in quick ABC (qABC) improves the convergence performance of CABC on TSP.
Cable knots do not admit cosmetic surgeries
Authors: Tao Ran
Published: February 2019

Two Dehn surgeries on a knot are called purely cosmetic if their surgered manifolds are homeomorphic as oriented manifolds. Gordon conjectured that nontrivial knots in [Formula: see text] do not admit purely cosmetic surgeries. In this paper, we confirm this conjecture for cable knots.
A geometric interpretation of the normal closure of the braid group Bn in the braid group of the torus Bn(T)
Authors: Pang Liming
Published: February 2019

It had been proved by Birman and Goldberg that the normal closure of the pure braid group [Formula: see text] in the pure braid group of the torus [Formula: see text] is the commutator subgroup [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we are going to study the case of full braid groups: i.e. the normal closure of [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text], which turns out to have an interesting geometric description.
EFFORT EXPENDITURE FOR CASH FLOW IN A MEAN-FIELD EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: DONNELLY RYAN , LEUNG TIM
Published: February 2019

We study a mean-field game framework in which agents expend costly effort in order to transition into a state where they receive cash flows. As more agents transition into the cash flow receiving state, the magnitude of all remaining cash flows decreases, introducing an element of competition whereby agents are rewarded for transitioning earlier. An equilibrium is reached if the optimal expenditure of effort produces a transition intensity which is equal to the flow rate at which the continuous population enters the receiving state. We give closed-form expressions which yield equilibrium when the cash flow horizon is infinite or exponentially distributed. When the cash flow horizon is finite, we implement an algorithm which yields equilibrium if it converges. We show that in some cases, a higher cost of effort results in the agents placing greater value on the potential cash flows in equilibrium. We also present cases where the algorithm fails to converge to an equilibrium.
Analysis of regularized Nyström subsampling for regression functions of low smoothness
Authors: Lu Shuai , Mathé Peter , Pereverzyev Sergiy
Published: February 2019

This paper studies a Nyström-type subsampling approach to large kernel learning methods in the misspecified case, where the target function is not assumed to belong to the reproducing kernel Hilbert space generated by the underlying kernel. This case is less understood in spite of its practical importance. To model such a case, the smoothness of target functions is described in terms of general source conditions. It is surprising that almost for the whole range of the source conditions, describing the misspecified case, the corresponding learning rate bounds can be achieved with just one value of the regularization parameter. This observation allows a formulation of mild conditions under which the plain Nyström subsampling can be realized with subquadratic cost maintaining the guaranteed learning rates.
Risk Prediction of Femoral Head Necrosis: A Finite Element Analysis Based on Fracture Mechanics
Authors: Li Honggeng , Li Fan , Liu Niansong , Li Pengfei
Published: February 2019

The aim of the present paper was to explore the effect of initial lesions on the course of femoral head necrosis. A fracture mechanics model of the femoral head was developed and validated using the computed tomography (CT) scan images of a healthy volunteer and material mechanics test results of fresh femur samples. The dynamic development of stresses and fractures of the femoral head with various initial lesions were simulated under various loads. The results showed that the initial lesion of the femoral head spreads faster and collapses deeper as the load increases. The location of the initial lesion has a significant effect on the collapse of the femoral head. The lesions in the anterior and lateral areas of the femoral head are more likely to accelerate the collapse of the femoral head than the lesions in other areas. This study is helpful in predicting the collapse risk and guiding the daily activities of patients with femoral head necrosis. Additionally, this study helps doctors to make better decisions about treatment options.
Some interactions of spherically symmetric massive scalar field with Brans–Dicke scalar field in Robertson–Walker universe
Authors: Singh Kangujam Priyokumar , Baruah Rajshekhar Roy
Published: February 2019

Here in this work, we investigated the possible cosmological consequences of the interaction of Brans–Dicke scalar field and massive scalar field by considering spherically symmetric Robertson–Walker metric. The present problem can also be treated as an extension work of [K. Priyokumar et al., Interaction of gravitational field and Brans–Dicke field, Res. Astron. Astrophys. 16(4) (2016) 64; K. Priyokumar and M. Dewri, Interaction of electromagnetic field and Brans–Dicke field, Chinease J. Phys. 54 (2016) 845]. The exact solutions of the field equations are obtained with seven different cases. The behavior of the model and their contribution to the process of the evolution are examined in detail from some explicit and reasonable values of free parameter. We also presented the variations of certain physical parameters versus cosmic time graphically to compare our solutions with the present observational findings. When we studied further, it is found that the cosmological term [Formula: see text] takes a great role in the accelerating expansion of our universe when both scalar fields are exponentially increasing functions of time, while the cosmological term will not appear in the case when both the scalar fields are exponentially decreasing functions of time. Also, the scalar field is seen to have a tendency to increase the expansion of the universe, thereby flattening the universe.
An extended theory of gravity in a modified Riemann’s geometry
Authors: Hova Hoavo , Yang Huanxiong , Owusu Samuel
Published: February 2019

In this work, we study the evolution of an isotropic universe in an extended theory of gravity obtained geometrically by transforming the normal-gauge Lyra displacement vector field [Formula: see text] as a complex vectorial function depending on a dynamical scalar field [Formula: see text]. By using the latest observational data, we observe that for [Formula: see text] the universe starts accelerating at the critical scale factor [Formula: see text] which corresponds to a redshift of [Formula: see text]. We also find that the dark energy fluid considered in this model is a generalized fluid with equation of state [Formula: see text].
Nonperturbative thermodynamic geometry of nonextensive statistics
Authors: Adli Fereshteh , Mohammadzadeh Hosein , Najafi Morteza Nattagh , Ebadi Zahra
Published: February 2019

Following our earlier work on the perturbative thermodynamic geometry of nonextensive quantum and classical gases [H. Mohammadzadeh, F. Adli and S. Nouri, Phys. Rev. E 94 (2016) 062118], we study [Formula: see text]-generalized Bose–Einstein, Fermi–Dirac and classical statistics nonperturbatively. We define [Formula: see text]-generalized polylogarithm functions and evaluate thermodynamics quantities such as internal energy and particle number. We construct the thermodynamic geometry of nonextensive Bose (Fermi) ideal gas and show that the thermodynamic curvature is positive(negative) in full physical range as the same as ordinary statistics. Also, we show that the thermodynamic geometry of nonextensive ideal classical gas is flat, similar to the ordinary one. Therefore, the nonextensive parameter does not change the nature of intrinsic statistical interactions. We argue that the nonextensive boson gas might be more stable than the boson gas due to conjectural interpretation of thermodynamic curvature. In the following, we extract the singular points of thermodynamic curvature of nonextensive Bose gas and relate it to the condensation. We evaluate some thermodynamic quantities such as heat capacities, compressibility and [Formula: see text]-dependent phase transition temperature. We show that the heat capacity is not differentiable at critical temperature, [Formula: see text] which is reduced by increasing nonextensive parameter [Formula: see text]. Moreover, the critical temperature and possibility of condensation is investigated for different values of nonextensive parameter in various dimensions.
Generating elastic solutions of the Einstein field equations from the Schwarzschild vacuum solution
Authors: Brito Irene
Published: February 2019

The problem of generating solutions of the Einstein field equations with an elastic energy–momentum tensor from the Schwarzschild vacuum solution by means of conformal transformations is analyzed. Applying the formulation of relativistic elasticity, suitable conformal factors are obtained for static and non-static elastic spacetime configurations and particular solutions are presented. This work shows that the technique used here permits generating new elastic matter solutions from a vacuum spacetime.
Stakeholders Perspectives on the Use of Indicators in Water Resources Planning and Related Strategic Environmental Assessment
Authors: Santos Coelho Rosa , Coelho Pedro S. , Antunes Paula , Ramos Tomás B.
Published: February 2019

Water resources planning is currently designed to meet emerging challenges and encompassing a more comprehensive and integrated water management. The main focus of current water resources planning is to promote good water resource conditions through the implementation of innovative water policies. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to characterize and assess the status of water resources, monitor the implementation of planned actions, disseminate information and support the decision-making process. Indicators are often regarded as appropriate tools for supporting these tasks, although their use in this context is not imperative. The present study intends to explore the stakeholder perspective on the role of indicators in the water resources planning and management processes and their strategic environmental assessment process using a Portuguese case study. To achieve this objective, semi-structured interviews with the various stakeholder groups involved were conducted. The treatment of the obtained data using content analysis shows that the interviewees consider indicators to be an essential tool for supporting water resources planning. Some participants express concerns and suggest changes to the selection models and to the communication and decision-support capacity of the sets of indicators used. All stakeholders in the process consider that improvements to the indicators to be used in future processes are possible. In light of the results, it can be concluded that there is a long way to go for indicators to be used to promote better communication with stakeholders and to support decision-making processes; simultaneously, they can form the basis for the review and development of the subsequent cycle of the planning process.
Impact Load Buffering Method Based on Stress Wave Attenuation Principle
Authors: Gan Lin , Zhang He , Zhou Cheng , Liu Lin
Published: February 2019

Rotating scanning motor is the important component of synchronous scanning laser fuze. High emission overload environment in the conventional ammunition has a serious impact on the reliability of the motor. Based on the theory that the buffer pad can attenuate the impact stress wave, a new motor buffering Isolation Method is proposed. The dynamical model of the new buffering isolation structure is established by ANSYS infinite element analysis software to do the nonlinear impact dynamics simulation of rotating scanning motor. The effectiveness of Buffering Isolation using different materials is comparatively analyzed. Finally, the Macht hammer impact experiment is done, the results show that in the experience of the 70,000[Formula: see text]g impact acceleration, the new buffering Isolation method can reduce the impact load about 15 times, which can effectively alleviate the plastic deformation of rotational scanning motor and improve the reliability of synchronization scanning system. A new method and theoretical basis of anti-high overload research for Laser Fuze is presented.
Choice Functions Generated by Mallows and Plackett–Luce Relations
Authors: Tagne Vidal Kamdem , Fotso Siméon , Fono Louis Aimé , Hüllermeier Eyke
Published: February 2019

The rationality and consistency of preference-based choice functions is often studied for (fuzzy) preference relations having specific properties, such as strong completeness, transitivity, or certain properties on triplets. In this paper, we turn our attention to another type of preference relation, namely relations that are induced as pairwise marginal of an underlying probability distribution on complete rankings (permutations) of all given alternatives. Such relations are necessarily reciprocal and, depending on the underlying distribution, obey additional structural properties. More specifically, we study relations induced by two important probability distributions, the Mallows and the Plackett–Luce distribution, which are well-known in the literature on statistics of rank data. Assuming preference relations of this kind, we study seven different choice functions and their four rationality and consistency properties.
Lower bounds for Mahler measure that depend on the number of monomials
Authors: Akhtari Shabnam , Vaaler Jeffrey D.
Published: February 2019

We prove a new lower bound for the Mahler measure of a polynomial in one and in several variables that depends on the complex coefficients and the number of monomials. In one variable, our result generalizes a classical inequality of Mahler. In [Formula: see text] variables, our result depends on [Formula: see text] as an ordered group, and in general, our lower bound depends on the choice of ordering.
Study of Methylene Blue Interaction with Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Vardevanyan Poghos O. , Antonyan Ara P. , Parsadanyan Marine A. , Shahinyan Mariam A. , Mikaelyan Marieta S.
Published: February 2019

The thiosine dye methylene blue (MB) interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied. MB was revealed to stabilize the native structure of HSA, since the denaturation temperature of the complexes is shifted to higher values in relation to that of the pure protein. It was also revealed that the absorption spectra of the complexes do not change noticeably, while in the fluorescence spectra the maximal intensity of MB decreases with the albumin concentration enhancement. Analysis of the obtained data allows to conclude that the main binding mode of MB to HSA, providing the stabilization of the protein native structure, is the electrostatic mechanism.
Study on the Effect of Cable Restrainers Stiffness on the Seismic Performance of Curved Viaducts Combined use of Steel Stoppers
Authors: Tian Qin , Hayashikawa Toshiro , Song Gu-Quan , Zhang Chun
Published: February 2019

This paper presents analysis to evaluate the efficiency of cable restrainers (CRs) stiffness on the seismic performance of curved viaducts combined use of steel stoppers at spatial multipoint. Based on the modified Hertz-damp model, considering the energy consumption the pounding phenomena at steel stoppers was exactly simulated. Considering the elasto-plastic constitutive model and shear stiffness, CRs were also modeled. The time history analysis method is used in this analysis, considering the geometrical and material non-linearities. The uniaxial yield criteria and kinematic strain hardening criteria are adopted. The constant average acceleration method is used for the dynamic response analysis. The results show that CRs combined with steel stoppers could mitigate the pounding forces at steel stoppers, displacements of the superstructures and the curvatures at pier bases by reducing the vibration difference between superstructures. The application of CRs with high stiffness can mitigate viaduct damage in earthquakes.
Preparation and microstructure of layered structure functional gradient cemented carbides
Authors: Zhou Xiangkui , Wang Yan , Wang Renru , Wang Kai , Wang Qiang , Liu Jianxiu , Xiao Zhiling
Published: February 2019

In this study, ultrafine WC powder was used as raw material, cubic carbonitrides Ti(C,N) and (W,Ti)C were added as gradient former, the cemented carbides with cubic carbide free layer (CCFL) structure was prepared by two-step sintering which was pre-sintering combined gradient sintering. The effect of gradient sintering temperature on the free-cubic layer structure formation and grain growth was studied. The results show that the layer structure gradient-cemented carbide with free-cubic phase in the surface can be prepared by two-step sintering when the ultrafine WC powder was used as raw material. However, many abnormal WC grains appeared after pre-sintering and gradient sintering. In the process of gradient sintering, with the increase of gradient sintering temperature, the thickness of free-cubic phase layer does not increase obviously, but the grain size of WC increases more, especially the number and size of abnormal WC grains growth increased.
A Representativeness Assessment of the Angell–Korshover 63-Station Network Sampling Based on Reanalysis Temperature Data
Authors: Shen Samuel S. P.
Published: February 2019

Global climate observations from ground stations require an evaluation of the effectiveness of a station network, which is often an assessment of the geometric distribution of [Formula: see text] points on a sphere. The representativeness of the Angell–Korshover 63-station network (AK-network) is assessed in this paper. It is shown that AK-network can effectively sample the January global average temperature data of the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis from 1948 to 2015 when estimating inter-decadal variations, but it has large uncertainties for estimating linear trends. This paper describes a method for the assessment, and also includes an iterative numerical algorithm used to search for the locations of 63 uniformly distributed stations, named U63. The results of AK-63 and U63 are compared. The Appendix explains a problem of searching for the optimal distribution of [Formula: see text] points on a unit sphere in three-dimensional space under the condition of the maximum sum of the mutual distances among the points. The core R code for finding U63 is included. The R code can generate various interesting configurations for different [Formula: see text], among which one is particularly surprising: The configuration of 20 points is not a dodecahedron although the configurations for [Formula: see text], and 12 are tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, and icosahedron, respectively.
Orchidopexy Results in the Recovery of Sperm in the Ejaculate of a Non-obstructive Azoospermic Adult with Bilateral Cryptorchidism — A Case Report
Authors: Duong Huy Quang , Tang Van Kim Hoang , Liperis Georgios , Khoa Le Dang
Published: February 2019

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis is one of the most common pediatric disorders of the male endocrine glands and the most typical congenital abnormality identified at birth. Bilateral cryptorchidism is frequently associated with azoospermia and male infertility. The standard therapy is the surgical repositioning of the testes (orchidopexy) within the scrotal sac after the age of six months to eighteen months. Current findings suggest that no sperm is recovered in the ejaculate, for patients with bilateral cryptorchidism, when the mean age at the time of orchidopexy is around 16 years and above. Here we report an unusual case of an adult patient with bilateral cryptorchidism and non-obstructive azoospermia for which orchidopexy resulted in the recovery of sperm in the ejaculate, improving his options for future fertility treatment.
Dependencies for Graphs
Authors: Fan Wenfei
Published: February 2019

What are graph dependencies? What do we need them for? What new challenges do they introduce? This article tackles these questions. It aims to incite curiosity and interest in this emerging area of research.
Data Provenance
Authors: Buneman Peter , Tan Wang-Chiew
Published: February 2019

Research into data provenance has been active for almost twenty years. What has it delivered and where will it go next? What practical impact has it had and what might it have? We provide speculative answers to these questions which may be somewhat biased by our initial motivation for studying the topic: the need for provenance information in curated databases. Such databases involve extensive human interaction with data; and we argue that the need continues in other forms of human interaction such as those that take place in social media.
A Robust Skewed Boxplot for Detecting Outliers in Rainfall Observations in Real-Time Flood Forecasting
Authors: Zhao Chao , Yang Jinyan
Published: February 2019

The standard boxplot is one of the most popular nonparametric tools for detecting outliers in univariate datasets. For Gaussian or symmetric distributions, the chance of data occurring outside of the standard boxplot fence is only 0.7%. However, for skewed data, such as telemetric rain observations in a real-time flood forecasting system, the probability is significantly higher. To overcome this problem, a medcouple (MC) that is robust to resisting outliers and sensitive to detecting skewness was introduced to construct a new robust skewed boxplot fence. Three types of boxplot fences related to MC were analyzed and compared, and the exponential function boxplot fence was selected. Operating on uncontaminated as well as simulated contaminated data, the results showed that the proposed method could produce a lower swamping rate and higher accuracy than the standard boxplot and semi-interquartile range boxplot. The outcomes of this study demonstrated that it is reasonable to use the new robust skewed boxplot method to detect outliers in skewed rain distributions.
An Assessment Model of Safety Production Management Based on Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method and Behavior‐Based Safety
Authors: Zhang Junqiao , Chen Xuebo , Sun Qiubai
Published: February 2019

To better guarantee the health and safety of employees and reduce the probability of occupational injuries and accidents, it is necessary to evaluate safety production management levels in enterprises. In this study, an evaluation index model was established for the safety production management of an oilfield enterprise. By utilizing an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE), this research is based on the characteristics of the oilfield enterprise and its behavior‐based safety (BBS) management. A comparison of the results of two FCEs shows that the unsafe behaviors of employees were considerably reduced, and the safety production management level was significantly increased. The results of the case study also verify that combining the FCE model and the BBS approach is effective. The combination of the AHP and FCE method with BBS management support aims to improve safety behavior and increase safety training and the identification of critical unsafe behavior, thus reducing occupational injuries and accidents.