bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applications of Robust Regression Techniques: An Econometric Approach
Authors: Khan Dost Muhammad , Yaqoob Anum , Zubair Seema , Khan Muhammad Azam , Ahmad Zubair , Alamri Osama Abdulaziz
Published: May 2021

Consistent estimation techniques need to be implemented to obtain robust empirical outcomes which help policymakers formulating public policies. Therefore, we implement the least squares (LS) and the high breakdown robust least trimmed squares (LTS) regression techniques, while using econometric regression model based on a growth equation for the two countries, namely, India and Pakistan. We used secondary annual time series data which covers a long period of 41 years. The adequacy of the time series econometric model was checked through cointegration analysis and found that there is no spurious regression. Classical and robust procedures were employed for the estimation of the parameters. The empirical results reveal that the overall fit of the model improves in case of LTS technique, while the significance of the predictors changes significantly in cases of both countries due to the removal of outliers from the data. Thus, empirical findings exhibit that the results, obtained through LTS, are better than LS techniques.
Two Novel Bacillus Strains (subtilis and simplex Species) with Promising Potential for the Biocontrol of Zymoseptoria tritici, the Causal Agent of Septoria Tritici Blotch of Wheat
Authors: Allioui Nora , Driss Fatma , Dhouib Hanen , Jlail Lobna , Tounsi Slim , Frikha-Gargouri Olfa
Published: May 2021

Two novel Algerian field‐collected isolates were selected for their antifungal activity against Zymoseptoria tritici (teleomorph Mycosphaerella graminicola). The novel strains, termed Alg.24B1 and Alg.24B2, were identified as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus simplex since their respective nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were 100% and 99.93% identical to those of B. subtilis and B. simplex, respectively. The antifungal activities of Alg.24B1 and Alg.24B2 were evaluated by the well diffusion method and compared to those of other Bacillus species. The maximum activity was obtained after two days of confrontation of the bacterial strain supernatants with the fungus for Alg.24B1 and three days for Alg.24B2. Furthermore, the metabolites responsible for the antifungal activity of both strains were detected by the investigation of either gene presence (PCR) or molecule production (activity detection of lytic enzymes and HPLC detection of lipopeptides). Overall, this study showed that in addition to their ability to produce lytic enzymes (protease and β‐glucanase), both strains coproduce three types of lipopeptides viz. surfactin, iturin, and fengycin. Thus, the biofungicide activity of both strains may be a result of a combination of different mechanisms. Therefore, they had a great potential to be used as biocontrol agents to effectively manage septoria tritici blotch of wheat (STB).
Development of a Continuous Blood Pressure Measurement and Cardiovascular Multi-Indicator Platform for Asian Populations by Using a Back Propagation Neural Network and Dual Photoplethysmography Sensor Signal Acquisition Technology
Authors: Yen Chih-Ta , Chang Sheng-Nan , Cai Cheng-Yang
Published: May 2021

This study proposed a measurement platform for continuous blood pressure estimation based on dual photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors and a back propagation neural network (BPNN) that can be used for continuous and rapid measurement of blood pressure and analysis of cardiovascular-related indicators. The proposed platform measured the signal changes in PPG and converted them into physiological indicators, such as pulse transit time (PTT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), perfusion index (PI), heart rate (HR), and pulse wave analysis (PWA); these indicators were then fed into the BPNN to calculate blood pressure. The hardware of the experiment comprised 2 PPG components (i.e., Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and analog-to-digital converter [MCP3008]), which were connected using a serial peripheral interface. The BPNN algorithm converted the stable dual PPG signals acquired from the strictly standardized experimental process into various physiological indicators as input parameters and finally obtained the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). To increase the robustness of the BPNN model, this study input data of 100 Asian participants into the training database, including those with and without cardiovascular disease, each with a proportion of approximately 50%. The experimental results revealed that the mean and standard deviation of SBP were2.23±2.24 mmHg, with a mean squared error of 3.15 mmHg. The mean and standard deviation of DBP was3.5±3.53 mmHg, with a mean squared error of 4.96 mmHg. The proposed real-time blood pressure measurement system exhibited a mean accuracy of 98.22% and 95.58% for SBP and DBP, respectively.
Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dessalegn Mekonnen Birye
Published: May 2021

Background. Hepatitis C virus infection during pregnancy is associated with a high risk of maternal complications and poor birth outcomes. There are variable reports on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods. A comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar was conducted from April 03, 2020, to May 03, 2020. The quality of included article was evaluated by the JBI. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed using Cochrane Q and I2 test. The presence of publication bias was tested by funnel plots and Egger’s test. A random-effects meta-analysis was computed to determine the pooled prevalence of HCV infection among pregnant women. Results. Of 502 studies, 6 studies with a total of 2117 pregnant women were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 1.83% (95% CI: 0.61, 3.06). Besides, subgroup analysis revealed that the highest HCV prevalence among pregnant women was observed in Oromia region, 5.10% (95% CI: −0.53, 10.73). Conclusions. This study shows an intermediate level of HCV infection among pregnant women in Ethiopia. The finding suggests the need of implementing a routine hepatitis C virus screening program for all pregnant women, which enables women to access HCV antiviral treatment to minimize vertical transmission to the newborn infants. Moreover, national and regional health programs should mandate and monitor the screening procedures so as to reduce the risk of hepatitis C virus infection.
A Blockchain‐Based Vehicle Condition Recording System for Second‐Hand Vehicle Market
Authors: Jiang You-Ting , Sun Hung-Min
Published: May 2021

Due to the cheap price and decent performance of used cars, the second‐hand vehicle market is quite active in Taiwan. However, the vehicle information in the market of second‐hand vehicles is centralized at present. In other words, the vehicle information is still provided by the second‐hand vehicle dealers, which are not transparent and have no tampering cost. As the result, the authenticity, accuracy, and fairness of these second‐hand vehicle data are worth discussing. To solve the above problems, this paper proposed a trusted vehicle data source system based on blockchain technology. The system is built on the Ethereum platform with the private chain structure. With the help of our platform, a trusted third party (e.g., maintenance plant and government branch) can record vehicle information into Blockchain so the integrity of vehicle information can be maintained. Customers can easily query the relevant vehicle information through our system interface and avoid receiving fake vehicle information. This system is a Proof of Concept (PoC), and the feasibility is examined by evaluating transactions per second (TPS) of the proposed system.
Study of the Windowing and Overlap‐Add Operation for a Super‐Gaussian Random Vibration Test
Authors: Peng Yiming , Li Yang
Published: May 2021

Random vibration environmental testing employs the specified statistical properties of the real world vibration to reproduce the desired excitations on the shaker table for fatigue test purposes. Smooth and safe operation is the essential requirement for a long‐duration test. Traditionally, the windowing and overlap‐add (WOA) method is applied to the acceleration signals of the shaker table, and previous studies have indicated that this operation reduces the kurtoses of the processed signals. To protect the test equipment from abrupt changes in the input voltage, the WOA method is proposed to operate on the input voltage signals in a frame‐by‐frame form for super‐Gaussian environmental testing. To figure out the impacts of the proposed operation on the response kurtoses of a shaker table, we express the system transfer function in the time domain, and the WOA method is analysed considering the transfer function of a dynamic system. Based on the analysis, a further study is made to explain the mechanism of the kurtosis decrease due to the WOA method. Through the study, we find that the kurtosis reduction conclusion is not applicable to all types of super‐Gaussian signals, and the kurtoses can be invariable and even increased by allocating the positions of the high‐excursion peaks of super‐Gaussian signals when the WOA method is applied. A window function is recommended for zero‐memory nonlinear (ZMNL) transformation to move the positions of the high‐excursion peaks of a super‐Gaussian signal, providing a novel way of adjusting kurtosis when WOA method is applied. The proposed WOA method and window function are first verified in a single‐input‐single‐output (SISO) numerical simulation to test their effectiveness under different reference kurtoses. Then, they are evaluated in a two‐input‐two‐output shaker table test. The test results demonstrate that the proposed window function can prevent the kurtosis decrease with the application of the WOA method.
Modeling and Analysis of 3 MW Solar Photovoltaic Plant Using PVSyst at Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Authors: Faiz Faizan Ul Hassan , Shakoor Rabia , Raheem Abdur , Umer Farhana , Rasheed Nadia , Farhan Muhammad
Published: May 2021

Conventional means of electrical energy generation are costly, create environmental pollution, and demand a high level of maintenance and also going to end one day. This has made it crucial to exploit the untapped prospective of the environmentally friendly renewable energy resources. To address this problem, present research proposed an efficient, everlasting, and environment-friendly grid-connected PV system at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan (latitude: 29° 22′34″N, longitude: 71° 44′57 E). Bahawalpur is one of those sites where the potential of solar energy is immense. The global daily horizontal solar irradiance at the site is 1745.85 kWh/m2, having average solar irradiation of 5.9 kWh/m2 per day, and the ambient average temperature is about 25.7°C. In this research, the performance ratio and different power losses just like soiling, PV module losses, inverter, and losses due to temperature are taken into account and calculated by using PVSyst. The coal saving per day is 15369.3 kg which is equal to planting 147600 teak trees over a lifetime. The cost of the energy produced is 0.11 US $/kWh whereas in Pakistan the conventional energy tariff is 0.18 $/kWh. From the simulation results, the value of PR comes out 83.8%, and the CUF value is 16% with a total energy generation of 4908 MWh/year. The performance analysis of this grid-connected system would help in the designing, analysis, operation, and maintenance of the new grid-connected systems for different locations.
Nonlinear Normal Modes in a Two‐Stage Isolator Using a Modified Finite‐Element Galerkin Method
Authors: Li Cheng , Li Hongguang
Published: May 2021

A modified Galerkin method is proposed to approximate the nonlinear normal modes in a new type of a two‐stage isolator. Besides the displacement of payload and the force transmissibility of this typical nonlinear dynamic system, the nonlinear normal modes defined as invariant manifolds can provide more information about the nonlinear coupling between the system components when periodic motions corresponding to the normal modes of the system occur. The presented approach applies a combination of finite‐element discretization and Fourier series expansion for the approximate invariant manifolds. A Galerkin projection of the governing equations for the approximate invariant manifolds yields a set of nonlinear algebraic equations in expansion coefficients, which can be solved numerically with a general choice of zero as initial guess for the cases in this work. The resultant approximate solutions for the invariant manifolds can accurately describe the nonlinear interactions between system components in periodic motions of the specific nonlinear normal modes. In addition, one can solve the invariant manifolds for an annular domain of interest directly by this method, without considering other domain that includes the origin of phase space.
DAWM: Cost-Aware Asset Claim Analysis Approach on Big Data Analytic Computation Model for Cloud Data Centre
Authors: Mekala M. S. , Patan Rizwan , Islam SK Hafizul , Samanta Debabrata , Mallah Ghulam Ali , Chaudhry Shehzad Ashraf
Published: May 2021

The heterogeneous resource-required application tasks increase the cloud service provider (CSP) energy cost and revenue by providing demand resources. Enhancing CSP profit and preserving energy cost is a challenging task. Most of the existing approaches consider task deadline violation rate rather than performance cost and server size ratio during profit estimation, which impacts CSP revenue and causes high service cost. To address this issue, we develop two algorithms for profit maximization and adequate service reliability. First, a belief propagation-influenced cost-aware asset scheduling approach is derived based on the data analytic weight measurement (DAWM) model for effective performance and server size optimization. Second, the multiobjective heuristic user service demand (MHUSD) approach is formulated based on the CPS profit estimation model and the user service demand (USD) model with dynamic acyclic graph (DAG) phenomena for adequate service reliability. The DAWM model classifies prominent servers to preserve the server resource usage and cost during an effective resource slicing process by considering each machine execution factor (remaining energy, energy and service cost, workload execution rate, service deadline violation rate, cloud server configuration (CSC), service requirement rate, and service level agreement violation (SLAV) penalty rate). The MHUSD algorithm measures the user demand service rate and cost based on the USD and CSP profit estimation models by considering service demand weight, tenant cost, and energy cost. The simulation results show that the proposed system has accomplished the average revenue gain of 35%, cost of 51%, and profit of 39% than the state-of-the-art approaches.
A Thought-Provoking Case of Successfully Treated Carcinoma of the Head of the Pancreas with Metachronous Lung Metastasis: Impact of Distal Spleno-Renal Shunt for Regional Invasion on Long-Term Period after Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Aoyama Ryuhei , Hori Tomohide , Yamamoto Hidekazu , Harada Hideki , Yamamoto Michihiro , Yamada Masahiro , Yazawa Takefumi , Sasaki Ben , Tani Masaki , Sato Asahi , Katsura Hikotaro , Kamada Yasuyuki , Tani Ryotaro , Sasaki Yudai , Zaima Masazumi
Published: May 2021

When performing pancreaticoduodenectomy with resection of the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein and portal vein, division of the splenic vein may cause sinistral portal hypertension resulting in gastrointestinal bleeding, splenic congestion, and hypersplenism. To prevent these adverse events, it is important to intentionally decompress the splenic vein. This report is of a 68-year-old woman with stage IA carcinoma of the head of the pancreas who survived for more than six years following tumor resection and pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal splenorenal shunt. A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas that involved the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein, portal vein, and splenic vein. No unresectable cancer sites or distant metastases were detected. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with resection of the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein and portal vein was performed. The superior mesenteric vein and portal vein were anastomosed in the end-to-end fashion, and the remnant splenic vein was anastomosed to the superior aspect of the left renal vein in the end-to-side fashion. At 22 months after the initial surgery, the patient underwent partial lung resection for a metachronous lung metastasis. For 6 years after the initial surgery, the venous reconstructions have maintained their patency without any obstruction of splenic venous flow, and the patient has remained in good health without further metastases or recurrences. This case has shown the importance of early diagnosis of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, as appropriate and timely surgical management can result in good outcome. This patient responded well and remains alive six years following pancreaticoduodenectomy and preservation of the spleen with the use of a distal splenorenal shunt.
An Artificial-Intelligence- and Telemedicine-Based Screening Tool to Identify Glaucoma Suspects from Color Fundus Imaging
Authors: Bhuiyan Alauddin , Govindaiah Arun , Smith R. Theodore
Published: May 2021

Background and Objective. Glaucomatous vision loss may be preceded by an enlargement of the cup-to-disc ratio (CDR). We propose to develop and validate an artificial-intelligence-based CDR grading system that may aid in effective glaucoma-suspect screening. Design, Setting, and Participants. 1546 disc-centered fundus images were selected, including all 457 images from the Retinal Image Database for Optic Nerve Evaluation dataset, and images were randomly selected from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study and Singapore Malay Eye Study to develop the system. First, a proprietary semiautomated software was used by an expert grader to quantify vertical CDR. Then, using CDR below 0.5 (nonsuspect) and CDR above 0.5 (glaucoma suspect), deep-learning architectures were used to train and test a binary classifier system. Measurements. The binary classifier, with glaucoma suspect as positive, is measured using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC. Results. The system achieved an accuracy of 89.67% (sensitivity, 83.33%; specificity, 93.89%; and AUC, 0.93). For external validation, the Retinal Fundus Image Database for Glaucoma Analysis dataset, which has 638 gradable quality images, was used. Here, the model achieved an accuracy of 83.54% (sensitivity, 80.11%; specificity, 84.96%; and AUC, 0.85). Conclusions. Having demonstrated an accurate and fully automated glaucoma-suspect screening system that can be deployed on telemedicine platforms, we plan prospective trials to determine the feasibility of the system in primary-care settings.
Oilfield Water and Favorable Petroleum Exploration Targets for the Triassic Baikouquan Formation in the Slope of Mahu Depression, Junggar Basin
Authors: Tao Huifei , Qu Yongqiang , Wu Tao , Liu Bingbing
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we attempt to clarify the relationships between oilfield water and hydrocarbon distribution of the Triassic Baikouquan Formation, in the slope zone of Mahu depression, Junggar Basin, NW China, based on oilfield water mineralization degrees, diagenesis analysis, formation pressure coefficients, burial history, and thermal evolution processes. The results show that the study area can be divided into four zones according to the mineralization degrees, that is, (1) zone I: NaHCO3 + Na2SO4 type water with residual intergranular pores, porosity usually higher than 10%. The strata of zone I are generally buried shallow and influenced by leaching from atmospheric precipitation. This area contains normal edge and bottom water and has normal formation pressure coefficients (average 1.12); (2) zone II: CaCl2 type water with mainly compaction diagenesis, porosity usually less than 7% and high formation pressure coefficients (average 1.41); (3) zone III: NaHCO3 + CaCl2 type oilfield water with mainly feldspar dissolution diagenesis, porosity usually greater than 9% and high formation pressure coefficients (average 1.53); and (4) zone IV: CaCl2 type water, mainly compacted diagenesis with a few intergranular and feldspar dissolved pores, and high formation pressure coefficients (average 1.58). The mineralization degrees of the oilfield water in zone II, III, and IV are relatively high. The appearance of NaHCO3 type water in the deeply buried areas is usually related to oil and gas charging. Therefore, within the strata, deeply-buried areas (e.g., zone III), where NaHCO3 type water has been developed, are favorable targets for oil and gas exploration.
[Retracted] Gender‐Based Deep Learning Firefly Optimization Method for Test Data Generation
Authors: Zhang Wenning , Jiao Chongyang , Zhou Qinglei , Liu Yang , Xu Ting
Published: May 2021

Software testing is a widespread validation means of software quality assurance in industry. Intelligent optimization algorithms have been proved to be an effective way of automatic test data generation. Firefly algorithm has received extensive attention and been widely used to solve optimization problems because of less parameters and simple implement. To overcome slow convergence rate and low accuracy of the firefly algorithm, a novel firefly algorithm with deep learning is proposed to generate structural test data. Initially, the population is divided into male subgroup and female subgroup. Following the randomly attracted model, each male firefly will be attracted by another randomly selected female firefly to focus on global search in whole space. Each female firefly implements local search under the leadership of the general center firefly, constructed based on historical experience with deep learning. At the final period of searching, chaos search is conducted near the best firefly to improve search accuracy. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve better performance in terms of success coverage rate, coverage time, and diversity of solutions.
Mechanical Behavior of Damaged H‐Section Steel Structure
Authors: Hu Xibing , Chen Rui , Xiang Yuxuan , Chen Yafang , Li Qingshan
Published: May 2021

Steel structures are usually damaged by disasters. According to the influence law of the damage on the elastic modulus of steel obtained by the mechanical test of damaged steel, the average elastic moduli of H‐section steel members were analyzed. The equations for calculating the average elastic moduli of damaged H‐section steel members at different damage degrees were obtained. By using the analytical cross‐sectional method, the cross‐sectional M-Φ-P relationships and the dimensionless parameter equations of the H‐sections in the full‐sectional elastic distribution, single‐sided plastic distribution, and double‐sided plastic distribution were derived. On the basis of the cross‐sectional M-Φ-P relationships and dimensionless parameters of actual steel members, the approximate calculation equations for the damaged cross sections were obtained. The Newmark method was used to analyze the deformation of damaged steel columns. Analytical results show good agreement with the test results. The equations and methods proposed in this study have high computational accuracy, and these can be applied to the cross‐sectional M-Φ-P relationships and deformation calculation of damaged steel members.
Microstructure and Dry Friction of 2205 Dual‐Phase Steel during Solution Precipitation
Authors: Yang Weijie , Meng Wenjun , Dai Xiaobing
Published: May 2021

The friction and wear tests of 2205 dual‐phase steel with different solution temperatures were carried out, and the effects of solution temperature on the microstructure and friction and wear properties of the steel were determined. Results show that, as the solution temperature increases, the morphology of the austenite phase in 2205 duplex stainless steel gradually changes from fibrous strips to short rods and islands with a more uniform distribution. Additionally, the ferrite content increases with a rise in solution temperature, reaching 56.3% after solution treatment at 1160°C. It was also found that, between 1000°C and 1160°C, the friction coefficient curves of 2205 dual‐phase steel and silicon nitride balls have similar characteristics. Under 100 N dry friction, with the increase of solution temperature and oxygen distribution area, the wear mechanism of 2205 dual‐phase steel gradually expanded from local oxidation wear to adhesive wear and exfoliation wear.
Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Host Cytokine Gene Polymorphism with Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zeyaullah Md. , AlShahrani Abdullah M. , Ahmad Irfan
Published: May 2021

The global cancer burden of new cases of various types rose with millions of death in 2018. Based on the data extracted by GLOBOCAN 2018, gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of mortality related to cancer across the globe. Carcinogenic or oncogenic infections associated with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) are regarded as one of the essential risk factors for GC development. It contributes to the increased production of cytokines that cause inflammation prior to their growth in the host cells. Hp infections and specific types of polymorphisms within the host cells encoding cytokines are significant contributors to the hostʼs increased susceptibility in terms of the development of GC. Against the backdrop of such an observation is that only a small portion of the cells infected can become malignant. The diversities are a consequence of the differences in the pathogenic pathway of the Hp, susceptibility of the host, environmental conditions, and interplay between these factors. It is evident that hosts carrying cytokine genes with high inflammatory levels and polymorphism tend to exhibit an increased risk of development of GC, with special emphasis being placed on the host cytokines gene polymorphisms.
Biofilm Formation by Pathogens Causing Ventilator‐Associated Pneumonia at Intensive Care Units in a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Armor for Refuge
Authors: Baidya Sujata , Sharma Sangita , Mishra Shyam Kumar , Kattel Hari Prasad , Parajuli Keshab , Sherchand Jeevan Bahadur
Published: May 2021

Background. Emerging threat of drug resistance among pathogens causing ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) has resulted in higher hospital costs, longer hospital stays, and increased hospital mortality. Biofilms in the endotracheal tube of ventilated patients act as protective shield from host immunity. They induce chronic and recurrent infections that defy common antibiotics. This study intended to determine the biofilm produced by pathogens causing VAP and their relation with drug resistance. Methods. Bronchoalveolar lavage and deep tracheal aspirates (n = 70) were obtained from the patients mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours in the intensive care units of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, and processed according to the protocol of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2017 guidelines. Biofilm formation was determined using the microtiter plate method described by Christensen and modified by Stepanovoic et al. Results. Significant microbial growth was seen in 78.6% of the total samples with 52.7% monomicrobial, 45.5% polymicrobial, and 1.8% fungal infection. Among the 71 isolates obtained, bulk was gram‐negative (n = 64, 90.1%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31.0%) was the predominant isolate followed by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus baumannii complex (16.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.9%), Citrobacter freundii (15.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.0%), Escherichia coli (5.6%), Citrobacter koseri (2.8%), Enterococcus faecalis (1.4%), Burkholderia cepacia complex (1.4%), and Candida albicans (1.4%). Of the total isolates, 56.3% were biofilm producers. Multidrug‐resistant (MDR) organisms, extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL), and metallo‐β‐lactamase (MBL) producers were preeminent among the biofilm producers. The highest producer of biofilm was P. aeruginosa (19.7%). Among gram‐negative biofilm producers, 42.2% were MDR, 21.9% were ESBL producers, and 7.8% were MBL producers. Conclusion. Gram‐negative nonfermenter bacteria account for the bulk of nosocomial pneumonia. MDR, ESBL, and MBL production was preponderant among the biofilm producers. The rampant spread of drug resistance among biofilm producers is summoning novel interventions to combat multidrug resistance.
Detection and Intervention of Clinically Masquerading Inferior Mesenteric Artery AVMs
Authors: Pakray Amir , Hayden Nolan , Sokhandon Farnoosh , Olsen Johnathan
Published: May 2021

We demonstrate a rare case of inferior mesenteric artery arteriovenous malformations leading to ischemic colitis in a 76-year-old female. Our patient presented with three months of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Colonoscopy displayed diffuse mucosal vascular congestion while CTA and MRA displayed AVMs in the region of the IMA; however, cohesive clinical agreement on AVM from multiple specialties was difficult given its rare occurrence and nonspecific clinical, histopathologic, and directly visualized findings. The three noted dominant AVMs were eventually selected with coil and liquid embolization with successful cessation of symptoms and no major complications. Our discussion focuses on intervention and stressing the importance of radiologic findings, as IMA AVMs, rarely present as ischemic colitis and therefore can clinically masquerade as other etiologies.
News Information Platform Optimization Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Tan Hongyun , Li Yiping
Published: May 2021

The Internet of Things device online recommendation system has been applied in some Internet of Things operating companies and has achieved good results. In the process of designing and implementing the Internet of Things equipment online promotion system, this article uses the news information protocol transmission structure language to explain the use case analysis and activity diagram analysis of the Internet of Things equipment online promotion system and uses the Spring Hibernate (SH) integration framework in the field of the news information topology layer under the Internet of Things. Then, design and implement the technical architecture and main functional modules of the Internet of Things device online recommendation system, effectively improving the development efficiency and operating quality of the Internet of Things device online recommendation system. The system design concept and implementation ideas can be used as a reference for related industries when developing enterprise applications. This article uses the news information protocol transmission structure language to explain the demand analysis of the Internet of Things equipment online promotion system and mainly discusses the analysis of the use case of the Internet of Things equipment online promotion system and the analysis of core business activity diagrams. We completed the design of the Internet of Things device online promotion system based on the news information topology layer platform under the Internet of Things, mainly using the integration framework in the field of the news information topology layer under the Internet of Things to design the technical architecture of the Internet of Things device online promotion system, and design the Internet of Things of the function module structure and data table structure of the equipment online recommendation system. At the same time, they complete the realization of the main functions of the Internet of Things device online recommendation system; elaborate on the realization process of core modules such as Internet of Things device category management, Internet of Things device information management, announcement management, and device recommender management; and discuss the system testing process and application effects.
Application of Virtual Reality Based on 3D-CTA in Intracranial Aneurysm Surgery
Authors: Li Zhilei , Huo Guojin , Feng Yi , Ma Zhulin
Published: May 2021

As a popular technology in the field of human-computer interaction, virtual reality (VR) brings a brand new sensory experience to users by generating the environment. In recent years, while introducing the application of virtual reality technology, researchers have done a lot of work around virtual reality in many fields, such as the application of virtual reality technology in medical procedures. Combining the immersive and expandable features of virtual reality can improve the safety and accuracy of surgery. This article mainly introduces the application of 3D-CTA virtual reality technology in intracranial aneurysm surgery and aims to provide some ideas and directions for the improvement and progress of intracranial aneurysm surgery. This paper presents a research method based on virtual reality technology 3D-CTA in intracranial aneurysm surgery, including the application overview of 3D-CTA in intracranial aneurysm surgery and the virtual reality algorithm based on 3D-CTA for intracranial arteries. In addition, there is also the application of virtual reality CTA technology in the design of the intracranial aneurysm application system. Experimental results show that the average accuracy of 3D-CTA diagnosis based on virtual reality is 90.81%, and it can be put into use in the next step.
LSTMCNNsucc: A Bidirectional LSTM and CNN‐Based Deep Learning Method for Predicting Lysine Succinylation Sites
Authors: Huang Guohua , Shen Qingfeng , Zhang Guiyang , Wang Pan , Yu Zu-Guo
Published: May 2021

Lysine succinylation is a typical protein post‐translational modification and plays a crucial role of regulation in the cellular process. Identifying succinylation sites is fundamental to explore its functions. Although many computational methods were developed to deal with this challenge, few considered semantic relationship between residues. We combined long short‐term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) into a deep learning method for predicting succinylation site. The proposed method obtained a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.2508 on the independent test, outperforming state of the art methods. We also performed the enrichment analysis of succinylation proteins. The results showed that functions of succinylation were conserved across species but differed to a certain extent with species. On basis of the proposed method, we developed a user‐friendly web server for predicting succinylation sites.
Analyzing the Impact of Climate Factors on GNSS‐Derived Displacements by Combining the Extended Helmert Transformation and XGboost Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Liu Hanlin , Yang Linqiang , Li Linchao
Published: May 2021

A variety of climate factors influence the precision of the long‐term Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) monitoring data. To precisely analyze the effect of different climate factors on long‐term GNSS monitoring records, this study combines the extended seven‐parameter Helmert transformation and a machine learning algorithm named Extreme Gradient boosting (XGboost) to establish a hybrid model. We established a local‐scale reference frame called stable Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands reference frame of 2019 (PRVI19) using ten continuously operating long‐term GNSS sites located in the rigid portion of the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (PRVI) microplate. The stability of PRVI19 is approximately 0.4 mm/year and 0.5 mm/year in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. The stable reference frame PRVI19 can avoid the risk of bias due to long‐term plate motions when studying localized ground deformation. Furthermore, we applied the XGBoost algorithm to the postprocessed long‐term GNSS records and daily climate data to train the model. We quantitatively evaluated the importance of various daily climate factors on the GNSS time series. The results show that wind is the most influential factor with a unit‐less index of 0.013. Notably, we used the model with climate and GNSS records to predict the GNSS‐derived displacements. The results show that the predicted displacements have a slightly lower root mean square error compared to the fitted results using spline method (prediction: 0.22 versus fitted: 0.31). It indicates that the proposed model considering the climate records has the appropriate predict results for long‐term GNSS monitoring.
Efficient Data Transmission for Community Detection Algorithm Based on Node Similarity in Opportunistic Social Networks
Authors: Xiaokaiti Aizimaiti , Qian Yurong , Wu Jia
Published: May 2021

With the rapid development of 5G era, the number of messages on the network has increased sharply. The traditional opportunistic networks algorithm has some shortcomings in processing data. Most traditional algorithms divide the nodes into communities and then perform data transmission according to the divided communities. However, these algorithms do not consider enough nodes’ characteristics in the communities’ division, and two positively related nodes may divide into different communities. Therefore, how to accurately divide the community is still a challenging issue. We propose an efficient data transmission strategy for community detection (EDCD) algorithm. When dividing communities, we use mobile edge computing to combine network topology attributes with social attributes. When forwarding the message, we select optimal relay node as transmission according to the coefficients of channels. In the simulation experiment, we analyze the efficiency of the algorithm in four different real datasets. The results show that the algorithm has good performance in terms of delivery ratio and routing overhead.
Compact Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Stacked Patch Antenna for Microwave-Radio-Frequency Identification Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output Application
Authors: Zhang Enze , Michel Andrea , Nepa Paolo , Qiu Jinghui
Published: May 2021

A compact, low-profile, two-port dual-band circularly polarized (CP) stacked patch antenna for radio-frequency identification (RFID) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) readers is proposed, which employs the shared-aperture technique. The proposed antenna adopts a 1.524 mm thickness Rogers Ro4350b substrate with relative permittivity of 3.48. Two pairs of isolated ports are working at two microwave- (MW-) RFID bands (2.4–2.485 GHz and 5.725–5.875 GHz) with high port isolation of 25 dB and 30 dB, respectively. A shared metal slot layer is designed to separate two feeding structures of the lower band and upper band for port isolation enhancement as well as saving space. Corner-truncated square slot and patch configurations have been designed to obtain CP modes. In the lower and upper MW-RFID bands, the relative impedance bandwidths are 12.2% and 5.7%, and the maximum realized gains are higher than 7.3 dBic. Moreover, two-element configurations have been combined for an RFID MIMO system that occupies a dimension of 119 mm × 119 mm × 12.9 mm. The MIMO antenna performance of envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is lower than 0.03, and diversity gain is close to 10 dB.
Quando a burocracia liberal impede os pesquisadores de fazer seu trabalho. Tarefas periféricas e transbordamentos do trabalho
Authors: Goussard Lucie , Tiffon Guillaume
Published: May 2021

Este artigo trata dos efeitos da instalação da organização por projeto durante a pesquisa industrial. Apoiando-se sobre uma investigação levada a efeito numa grande empresa francesa do setor energético, associa entrevistas, observações e questionário, mostrando como essa organização do trabalho, promovida para tornar flexível o funcionamento das organizações e para aliviar os pesos burocráticos, ao contrário, transformou profundamente o trabalho dos pesquisadores e acrescentou ao cerne de seus ofícios o tempo consagrado à realização das “tarefas periféricas”. Para continuar, apesar de tudo, a fazer um trabalho de qualidade que tenha sentido e no qual eles se reconheçam, a maioria dos pesquisadores recorre então frequentemente a seu tempo particular, trabalhando mais longamente no escritório, mas também e, de mais a mais, em sua casa. Essas “organizações líquidas” secretam, assim, sobretrabalho: não somente elas transformam a natureza e as causas desse trabalho burocrático que se revela mais horizontal e descentralizado que no passado, mas o deslocam e o inviabilizam, mudando igualmente a natureza de seu custo, que passa assim de um “custo econômico”, arcado pela empresa, a um “custo subjetivo”, arcado, desta feita, pelos assalariados.
Nanoparticle‐Mediated Simultaneous Targeting of Mitochondrial Injury and Inflammation Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Ikeda Gentaro , Matoba Tetsuya , Ishikita Ayako , Nagaoka Kazuhiro , Nakano Kaku , Koga Jun‐ichiro , Tsutsui Hiroyuki , Egashira Kensuke
Published: May 2021

Background

The opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and inflammation cooperatively progress myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion (IR) injury, which hampers therapeutic effects of primary reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction. We examined the therapeutic effects of nanoparticle‐mediated medicine that simultaneously targets mitochondrial permeability transition pore and inflammation during IR injury.

Methods and Results

We used mice lacking cyclophilin D (CypD, a key molecule for mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening) and C‐C chemokine receptor 2 and found that CypD contributes to the progression of myocardial IR injury at early time point (30–45 minutes) after reperfusion, whereas C‐C chemokine receptor 2 contributes to IR injury at later time point (45–60 minutes) after reperfusion. Double deficiency of CypD and C‐C chemokine receptor 2 enhanced cardioprotection compared with single deficiency regardless of the durations of ischemia. Deletion of C‐C chemokine receptor 2, but not deletion of CypD, decreased the recruitment of Ly‐6C
high
monocytes after myocardial IR injury. In CypD‐knockout mice, administration of interleukin‐1β blocking antibody reduced the recruitment of these monocytes. Combined administration of polymeric nanoparticles composed of poly‐lactic/glycolic acid and encapsulating nanoparticles containing cyclosporine A or pitavastatin, which inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and monocyte‐mediated inflammation, respectively, augmented the cardioprotection as compared with single administration of nanoparticles containing cyclosporine A or pitavastatin after myocardial IR injury.

Conclusions

Nanoparticle‐mediated simultaneous targeting of mitochondrial injury and inflammation could be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of myocardial IR injury.
Impact of Coronary Calcification on Clinical Outcomes After Implantation of Newer‐Generation Drug‐Eluting Stents
Authors: Hemetsberger Rayyan , Abdelghani Mohammad , Toelg Ralph , Mankerious Nader , Allali Abdelhakim , Garcia‐Garcia Hector M. , Windecker Stephan , Lefèvre Thierry , Saito Shigeru , Slagboom Ton , Kandzari David , Koolen Jacques , Waksman Ron , Richardt Gert
Published: May 2021

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention of calcified lesions was associated with worse outcomes in the era of bare‐metal and first‐generation drug‐eluting stents. Data on percutaneous coronary intervention of calcified lesions with newer‐generation drug‐eluting stents are scarce. Therefore, we investigated the impact of lesion calcification on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with a bioresorbable‐polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent or a durable‐polymer everolimus‐eluting stent.

Methods and Results

Patients (n=2361) from BIOFLOW II, IV, and V trials were categorized into moderate/severe versus none/mild lesion calcification by a core laboratory. End points were target‐lesion failure (TLF) (cardiac death, target‐vessel myocardial infarction, or target‐lesion revascularization) and probable/definite stent thrombosis at 2 years. The agreement in calcification assessment between the operator and the core laboratory was weak (weighted κ, 0.23). Patients with moderate/severe calcification (n=303; 16%) had higher TLF (13.5% versus 8.4%;
P
=0.003) and stent thrombosis rates (2.1% versus 0.2%;
P
<0.0001), whereas target‐lesion revascularization was not different between the groups (5.0% versus 3.9%;
P
=0.302). After adjustment, calcification did not emerge as an independent predictor of TLF (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.37; 95% CI, 0.89–2.08;
P
=0.148) but did for target‐vessel myocardial infarction (aHR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03–2.68;
P
=0.037). TLF rates were similar between bioresorbable‐polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent and durable‐polymer everolimus‐eluting stent (12.6% versus 15.4%,
P
=0.482) in moderate/severe calcification. In none/mild calcification, the bioresorbable‐polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent showed lower TLF (7.5% versus 10.3%,
P
=0.045).

Conclusions

With newer‐generation drug‐eluting stents, moderate/severe lesion calcification was not associated with more TLF after adjustment for the higher risk of patients with coronary calcification, whereas the rate of target‐vessel myocardial infarction was higher. The bioresorbable‐polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent and durable‐polymer everolimus‐eluting stent were equally effective and safe in calcified lesions.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT01356888, NCT01939249, NCT02389946.
Calling site selection by male Boana punctata (Anura: Hylidae)
Authors: Martins Kleber S. , Ortega Zaida , Ferreira Vanda L.
Published: May 2021

Amphibian species require specific conditions for reproduction, such as cover structures and shelters, in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, which directly influence reproductive success. A careful selection of calling sites is an important process, driving life-history strategies and tactics in amphibians. Despite this, a significant knowledge gap on how different variables modulate amphibian microhabitat selection processes is noted. Thus, we aimed to: (1) describing the microhabitat use of adult neotropical Boana punctata males during the breeding season; and (2) quantitatively analyzing the selection process of five resource variables (i.e., vegetation cover, vegetation density, vegetation height, water depth, and distance to the water shore). We then compared the microhabitat selection of males that achieved spawning and that of males that did not achieve spawning. To quantify selection, we used a resource selection function approach, applying a case/control design where the calling site used by each male was paired to eight surrounding, unused locations. We found that males selected microhabitats with higher vegetation than surrounding areas for reproduction, which suggests territorialism, and selected microhabitats slightly (∼ 30 cm) inside the assessed ponds. Males also acted randomly with regard to the other variables, not influencing the males’ microhabitat selection. Microhabitat use of males successful in obtaining females to spawn was similar to that of males exhibiting mating failure. In addition to being of ecological interest, our study highlights that preserving tall vegetation and the ponds’ shores is important for the conservation of existing B. punctata urban populations.