bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multicenter laparoscopic evaluation of the peritoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Hara Kazuaki , Io Hiroaki , Wakabayashi Keiichi , Maeda Takuya , Kanda Reo , Nakata Junichiro , Maeda Kunimi , Sengoku Hironobu , Machida Michio , Kojima Kuniaki , Sakamoto Kazuhiro , Tomino Yasuhiko , Suzuki Yusuke
Published: March 2020

Laparoscopic findings have been used to confirm peritoneal degenerations in peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy. This study evaluated morphological changes in the peritoneum and their clinical relevance in patients undergoing PD. Laparoscopic findings at the rectovesical peritoneum were evaluated and scored using an imaging system at the time of PD catheter removal in this multicenter study. Angiogenesis evaluated by the vascular score (VS), color changes score (CCS), plaque score (PS), PD duration, history of peritonitis, dialysate/plasma creatinine (D/P Cr) levels, and age at PD termination were statistically analyzed. The VS of patients with PD duration more than 96 months was significantly decreased compared with that of the other patients and was negatively correlated with D/P Cr levels at PD termination. The CCS for patients with PD duration more than 96 months were significantly higher than those for the other patients and positively correlated with D/P Cr levels at PD termination. The PS of patients with recurring peritonitis were significantly higher than those of the other patients. Diminished vascularity and increased color changes in the peritoneum may be predictive of D/P Cr levels with peritoneal degradation. Laparoscopic evaluation of the abdominal cavity can provide detailed information about peritoneal injury.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Mali and Mauritania: Understanding Trends and Evaluating Policies
Authors: Cetorelli Valeria , Wilson Ben , Batyra Ewa , Coast Ernestina
Published: March 2020

Despite international commitments to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), very little is known about the effectiveness of national policies in contributing to the abandonment of this harmful practice. To help address this gap in knowledge, we apply a quasi‐experimental research design to study two west African countries, Mali and Mauritania. These countries have marked similarities with respect to practices of FGM/C, but differing legal contexts. A law banning FGM/C was introduced in Mauritania in 2005; in Mali, there is no legal ban on FGM/C. We use nationally representative survey data to reconstruct trends in FGM/C prevalence in both countries, from 1997 to 2011, and then use a difference‐in‐difference method to evaluate the impact of the 2005 law in Mauritania. FGM/C prevalence in Mauritania began to decline slowly for girls born in the early 2000s, with the decline accelerating for girls born after 2005. However, a similar trend is observable in Mali, where no equivalent law has been passed. Additional statistical analysis confirms that the 2005 law did not have a significant impact on reducing FGM/C prevalence in Mauritania. These findings suggest that legal change alone is insufficient for behavioral change with regard to FGM/C. This study demonstrates how it is possible to evaluate national policies using readily available survey data in resource‐poor settings.
Spatial release from masking in a bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Authors: Popov Vladimir V. , Supin Alexander Ya. , Gvozdeva Alisa P. , Nechaev Dmitry I. , Tarakanov Mikhail B. , Sysueva Evgeniya V.
Published: March 2020

The impact of maskers on the receiving beam of a bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was investigated using the auditory evoked potential (AEP) method. The test signal was a train of tone pips with a 64 kHz carrier frequency. The stimulus produced AEPs as a sequence of waves replicating the pip rate: the rate following response (RFR). The masker was band-limited noise, with a passband of 45 to 90 kHz and a level of 105 dB re 1 μPa. Masker azimuths were at 0°, ±30°, ±60°, and ±90° relative to the head midline. The receiving beam was evaluated in terms of the RFR threshold dependence on the signal azimuth. The masked thresholds were higher than the baseline thresholds, which appeared mostly as a shift rather than a deformation in the receiving beam. The largest threshold shift appeared when the masker source was located in the most sensitive direction (zero azimuth); at lateral masker source positions, the threshold shift decreased. When the masker source was not at the head midline, the masked thresholds were higher at signal positions ipsilateral to the masker source than at positions contralateral to the masker source. The largest asymmetry was observed at the 30° masker azimuth in conjunction with the ±30° and ±120° signal azimuths; the asymmetries were 5.6 and 8.1 dB, respectively. This masking asymmetry was lower than expected from the previously found interaural intensity difference, which may be explained by the conflict between the test signal and the masker when it appeared at a binaural level of the auditory system.
Group behavior and tolerance of Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in response to tones of differing pulse repetition rate
Authors: Currie Helen A. L. , White Paul R. , Leighton Timothy G. , Kemp Paul S.
Published: March 2020

Behavioral guidance systems are commonly used in freshwater fish conservation. The biological relevance of sound to fish and recorded responses to human-generated noise supports the viability of the use of acoustics as an effective stimulus in such technologies. Relatively little information exists on the long-term responses and recovery of fish to repeated acoustic exposures. In a controlled laboratory study, the response and tolerance of Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) shoals to tonal signals (150 Hz of 1 s pulse duration) differing only in temporal characteristics (“continuous,” “slow,” “intermediate,” or “fast” pulse repetition rate) were investigated. In comparison to independent control groups, fish increased their mean group swimming speed, decreased inter-individual distance, and became more aligned in response to the onset of all four acoustic treatments. The magnitude of response, and time taken to develop a tolerance to a treatment differed according to pulse repetition rate. Groups were found to have the greatest and longest lasting response to tone sequences tested in this study when they were pulsed at an intermediate rate of 0.2 s−1. This study illustrates the importance of understanding the response of fish to acoustic signals, and will assist toward the development of longer-term effective acoustic guidance systems.
An analytical model for broadband sound transmission loss of a finite single leaf wall using a metamaterial
Authors: Vazquez Torre Javier Hernan , Brunskog Jonas , Cutanda Henriquez Vicente
Published: March 2020

Acoustic metamaterials (AM) have emerged as an academic discipline within the last decade. When used for sound insulation, metamaterials can show high transmission loss at low frequencies, despite having low mass per unit area. This paper investigates the possibility of using AMs to increase the sound insulation of finite single leaf walls (SLWs), focusing on the coincidence effect problem. Formulas are derived using a variational technique for the forced sound transmission of finite SLWs with a coupled array of single degree of freedom resonators. An analytical model is presented for this simple case, and the effects of the band gap in sound transmission and radiation are analyzed. Moreover, the influence of each parameter is studied, especially the presence of losses, giving way to an optimized way of designing this type of structure using constrained parameter optimization. Numerical validations are performed and discussed. Finally, some conclusions are drawn regarding the effectiveness of the proposed model, including possible applications.
Endocrine response to simulated U.S. Navy mid-frequency sonar exposures in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Houser Dorian S. , Martin Steve , Crocker Daniel E. , Finneran James J.
Published: March 2020

Little information exists on endocrine responses to noise exposure in marine mammals. In the present study, cortisol, aldosterone, and epinephrine levels were measured in 30 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) before and after exposure to simulated U.S. Navy mid-frequency sonar signals (3250–3450 Hz). Control and exposure sessions, each consisting of ten trials, were performed sequentially with each dolphin. While swimming across the experimental enclosure during exposure trials, each dolphin received a single 1-s exposure with received sound pressure levels (SPLs, dB re 1 μPa) of 115, 130, 145, 160, 175, or 185 dB. Blood samples were collected through behaviorally conditioned, voluntary participation of the dolphins approximately one week prior to, immediately following, and approximately one week after exposure were analyzed for hormones via radioimmunoassay. Aldosterone was below detection limits in all samples. Neither cortisol nor epinephrine showed a consistent relationship with received SPL, even though dolphins abandoned trained behaviors after exposure to the highest SPLs and the severity of behavioral changes scaled with SPL. It remains unclear if dolphins interpret high-level anthropogenic sound as stressful, annoying, or threatening and whether behavioral responses to sound can be equated to a physiological (endocrine) response.
Separation of overlapping sources in bioacoustic mixtures
Authors: Izadi Mohammad Rasool , Stevenson Robert , Kloepper Laura N.
Published: March 2020

Source separation is an important step to study signals that are not easy or possible to record individually. Common methods such as deep clustering, however, cannot be applied to signals of an unknown number of sources and/or signals that overlap in time and/or frequency—a common problem in bioacoustic recordings. This work presents an approach, using a supervised learning framework, to parse individual sources from a spectrogram of a mixture that contains a variable number of overlapping sources. This method isolates individual sources in the time-frequency domain using only one function but in two separate steps, one for the detection of the number of sources and corresponding bounding boxes, and a second step for the segmentation in which masks of individual sounds are extracted. This approach handles the full separation of overlapping sources in both time and frequency using deep neural networks in an applicable manner to other tasks such as bird audio detection. This paper presents method and reports on its performance to parse individual bat signals from recordings containing hundreds of overlapping bat echolocation signals. This method can be extended to other bioacoustic recordings with a variable number of sources and signals that overlap in time and/or frequency.
Diversity and Genetic Basis for Carbapenem Resistance in a Coastal Marine Environment
Authors: Dewi Dewa A. P. Rasmika , Götz Barbara , Thomas Torsten
Published: March 2020

Resistance against the “last-resort” antibiotics of the carbapenem family is often based on the production of carbapenemases, and this has been frequently observed in clinical samples. However, the dissemination of carbapenem resistance (CR) in the environment has been less well explored. Our study shows that CR is commonly found in a range of bacterial taxa in the coastal aquatic environment and can involve the exchange of novel metallo-β-lactamases from typical environmental bacteria to potential human pathogens or vice versa. The outcomes of this study contribute to a better understanding of how aquatic and marine bacteria can act as reservoirs and vectors for CR outside the clinical setting.
Subtype Diversity of Influenza A Virus in North American Waterfowl: a Multidecade Study
Authors: Diskin Elena R. , Friedman Kimberly , Krauss Scott , Nolting Jacqueline M. , Poulson Rebecca L. , Slemons Richard D. , Stallknecht David E. , Webster Robert G. , Bowman Andrew S.
Published: March 2020

Wild aquatic birds are the primary natural reservoir of influenza A viruses (IAVs) and are therefore responsible for the dispersal and maintenance of IAVs representing a broad range of antigenic and genetic diversity. The aims of IAV surveillance in waterfowl not only relate to understanding the risk of spillover risk to humans, but also to improving our understanding of basic questions related to IAV evolution and ecology. By evaluating several decades of surveillance data from wild aquatic birds sampled along North American migratory flyways, we discovered an annual trend of increasing subtype diversity during southbound migration, peaking on southern wintering grounds. Winter sampling revealed the highest proportion of mixed and rare infections that suggest higher opportunity for spillover. These findings allow improvements to surveillance efforts to robustly capture IAV diversity that will be used for vaccine development and cultivate a more thorough understanding of IAV evolution and persistence mechanisms.
Observational retrospective study of UK national success, risks and costs for 319,105 IVF/ICSI and 30,669 IUI treatment cycles
Authors: Bahadur Gulam , Homburg Roy , Bosmans Judith E , Huirne Judith A F , Hinstridge Peter , Jayaprakasan Kanna , Racich Paul , Alam Rakib , Karapanos Ioannis , Illahibuccus Afeeza , Al-Habib Ansam , Jauniaux Eric
Published: March 2020

Objective

To compare success rates, associated risks and cost-effectiveness between intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

The UK from 2012 to 2016.

Participants

Data from Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s freedom of information request for 2012–2016 for IVF/ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)and IUI as practiced in 319 105 IVF/ICSI and 30 669 IUI cycles. Direct-cost calculations for maternal and neonatal expenditure per live birth (LB) was constructed using the cost of multiple birth model, with inflation-adjusted Bank of England index-linked data. A second direct-cost analysis evaluating the incremental cost-effective ratio (ICER) was modelled using the 2016 national mean (baseline) IVF and IUI success rates.

Outcome measures

LB, risks from IVF and IUI, and costs to gain 1 LB.

Results

This largest comprehensive analysis integrating success, risks and costs at a national level shows IUI is safer and more cost-effective than IVF treatment.

IVF LB/cycle success was significantly better than IUI at 26.96% versus 11.49% (p<0.001) but the IUI success is much closer to IVF at 2.35:1, than previously considered. IVF remains a significant source of multiple gestation pregnancy (MGP) compared with IUI (RR (Relative Risk): 1.45 (1.31 to 1.60), p<0.001) as was the rate of twins (RR: 1.58, p<0.001).

In 2016, IVF maternal and neonatal cost was £115 082 017 compared with £2 940 196 for IUI and this MGP-related perinatal cost is absorbed by the National Health Services. At baseline tariffs and success rates IUI was £42 558 cheaper than IVF to deliver 1LB with enhanced benefits with small improvements in IUI. Reliable levels of IVF-related MGP, OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), fetal reductions and terminations are revealed.

Conclusion

IUI success rates are much closer to IVF than previously reported, more cost-effective in delivering 1 LB, and associated with lower risk of complications for maternal and neonatal complications. It is prudent to offer IUI before IVF nationally.
Prevalence of the Braf P.V600E Variant in Patients with Colorectal Cancer from Mexico and Its Estimated Frequency in Latin American and Caribbean Populations
Authors: Hernández-Sandoval Jesús Arturo , Gutiérrez-Angulo Melva , Magaña-Torres María Teresa , Alvizo-Rodríguez Carlos Rogelio , Ramírez-Plascencia Helen Haydee Fernanda , Flores-López Beatriz Armida , Valenzuela-Pérez Jesús Alonso , Peregrina-Sandoval Jorge , Moreno-Ortiz José Miguel , Domínguez-Valentín Mev , de la Luz Ayala-Madrigal María
Published: March 2020

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of the somatic BRAF p. V600E in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Mexico and compare it with those estimated for Latin American and Caribbean populations. One hundred and one patients with CRC with AJCC stages ranging I-IV from Western Mexico were included, out of which 55% were male and 61% had AJCC stage III-IV, with a mean age of 60 years. PCR-Sanger sequencing was used to identify the BRAF p. V600E variant. In addition, a systematic literature search in PubMed/Medline database and Google of the 42 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean led to the collection of information on the BRAF p. V600E variant frequency of 17 population reports. To compare the BRAF variant prevalence among populations, a statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism V.6.0. We found that 4% of patients with CRC were heterozygous for the p. V600E variant. The χ2 test showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in p. V600E detection when comparing with other Latin American and Caribbean CRC populations, except for Chilean patients (p=0.02). Our observational study provides the first evidence on the frequency of BRAF p. V600E in patients with CRC from Western Mexico, which is 4%, but increases to 7.8% for all of Latin America and the Caribbean. The patient mean age and genetic descent on the observed frequencies of the variant in populations could influence the frequency differences.
Facial myokymia in inherited peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndrome
Authors: Camelo Clara Gontijo , Silva André Macedo Serafim , Moreno Cristiane Araújo Martins , Matsui-Júnior Ciro , Heise Carlos Otto , Pedroso José Luiz , Zanoteli Edmar
Published: March 2020

Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndrome comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases, clinically characterised by myokymia, fasciculation, muscle cramps and stiffness. The causes are either immune mediated or non-immune mediated. Non-immune-mediated forms are mostly genetic, relating to two main genes:KCNQ2andKCNA1. Patients withKCNQ2gene mutations typically present with epileptic encephalopathy, benign familial neonatal seizures and myokymia, though occasionally with purely peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. We report a woman with marked facial myokymia and distal upper limb contractures whose mother also had subtle facial myokymia; both had the c.G620A (p.R207Q) variant in theKCNQ2gene. Patients with familial myokymia and peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndrome should be investigated forKCNQ2variants. This autosomal dominant condition may respond to antiepileptic medications acting at potassium channels.
Behavioral Activity Recognition Based on Gaze Ethograms
Authors: De Lope Javier , Graña Manuel
Published: March 2020

Noninvasive behavior observation techniques allow more natural human behavior assessment experiments with higher ecological validity. We propose the use of gaze ethograms in the context of user interaction with a computer display to characterize the user’s behavioral activity. A gaze ethogram is a time sequence of the screen regions the user is looking at. It can be used for the behavioral modeling of the user. Given a rough partition of the display space, we are able to extract gaze ethograms that allow discrimination of three common user behavioral activities: reading a text, viewing a video clip, and writing a text. A gaze tracking system is used to build the gaze ethogram. User behavioral activity is modeled by a classifier of gaze ethograms able to recognize the user activity after training. Conventional commercial gaze tracking for research in the neurosciences and psychology science are expensive and intrusive, sometimes impose wearing uncomfortable appliances. For the purposes of our behavioral research, we have developed an open source gaze tracking system that runs on conventional laptop computers using their low quality cameras. Some of the gaze tracking pipeline elements have been borrowed from the open source community. However, we have developed innovative solutions to some of the key issues that arise in the gaze tracker. Specifically, we have proposed texture-based eye features that are quite robust to low quality images. These features are the input for a classifier predicting the screen target area, the user is looking at. We report comparative results of several classifier architectures carried out in order to select the classifier to be used to extract the gaze ethograms for our behavioral research. We perform another classifier selection at the level of ethogram classification. Finally, we report encouraging results of user behavioral activity recognition experiments carried out over an inhouse dataset.
Temporal Backpropagation for Spiking Neural Networks with One Spike per Neuron
Authors: Kheradpisheh Saeed Reza , Masquelier Timothée
Published: March 2020

We propose a new supervised learning rule for multilayer spiking neural networks (SNNs) that use a form of temporal coding known as rank-order-coding. With this coding scheme, all neurons fire exactly one spike per stimulus, but the firing order carries information. In particular, in the readout layer, the first neuron to fire determines the class of the stimulus. We derive a new learning rule for this sort of network, named S4NN, akin to traditional error backpropagation, yet based on latencies. We show how approximated error gradients can be computed backward in a feedforward network with any number of layers. This approach reaches state-of-the-art performance with supervised multi-fully connected layer SNNs: test accuracy of 97.4% for the MNIST dataset, and 99.2% for the Caltech Face/Motorbike dataset. Yet, the neuron model that we use, nonleaky integrate-and-fire, is much simpler than the one used in all previous works. The source codes of the proposed S4NN are publicly available at https://github.com/SRKH/S4NN .
The Connectivity of Exchanged Folded Hypercube
Authors: Ning Wantao
Published: March 2020

Based on exchanged hypercube, a new interconnection network, exchanged folded hypercube, was proposed recently. It has better properties than other variations of hypercube in some areas. In this work we will show that its connectivity and edge-connectivity are equal to its minimum degree.
Parallel Nesterov Domain Decomposition Method for Elliptic Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Okoubi Firmin Andzembe , Koko Jonas
Published: March 2020

We study a parallel non-overlapping domain decomposition method, based on the Nesterov accelerated gradient descent, for the numerical approximation of elliptic partial differential equations. The problem is reformulated as a constrained (convex) minimization problem with the interface continuity conditions as constraints. The resulting domain decomposition method is an accelerated projected gradient descent with convergence rate [Formula: see text]. At each iteration, the proposed method needs only one matrix/vector multiplication. Numerical experiments show that significant (standard and scaled) speed-ups can be obtained.
Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors synthesized in graphite crucibles for enhanced reducing atmosphere
Authors: Hsiao Chih-Wei , Oi Mitsuo , Shibai Koki , Murai Kei-Ichiro , Moriga Toshihiro , Shih Shao-Ju
Published: March 2020

We easily synthesized a pure calcium silicon nitride phosphor powder, Ca2Si5N8:Eu[Formula: see text] from starting materials stable in air, using a graphite crucible to provide reducing conditions at a comparatively lower calcination temperature (1400[Formula: see text]C) and shorter reaction time (8 h) under an atmospheric pressure. At 150[Formula: see text]C, the nitride phosphor still retained 77% of its original emission intensity at room temperature.
Overlapped repair performance for carbon–PPS composites in vacuum-assisted thermal bonding
Authors: Park Soo-Jeong , Lee Kyo-Moon , Park Seong-Jae , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: March 2020

An overlapped repair with a continuous bonding area, was applied to carbon–PPS thermoplastic composites, and their strength recovery rate and failure behavior under mechanical loading were analyzed. This overlapped model has been designed to prevent the common and fundamental failures in conventional repair technologies through utilization of the volume fraction properties of continuous fibers. The same material was used for the parent and repair, and adhesion occurred via reversible thermal properties of the thermoplastic PPS polymer, without using additional adhesives. Under tensile and flexural loading, thickness ratios of 30% and 50% (damaged depth to the total thickness of the laminate) resulted in high strength recovery rates of 96% and 94%, respectively. The overlapped, bonded area on the surface of the parent material is the path of external load transfer between the parent and repair materials, maintaining uniform stress dispersion and increasing the fracture resistance.
Analysis of residual stress in welding parts of cryogenic materials for LNG storage tank
Authors: Park Chang Wook , Yoon Sung Won , Cho Je Hyoung , Kim Yun Hae
Published: March 2020

Research in LNG fueled ships are actively underway in the world. Accordingly, various materials were widely used as materials for storage tanks for ultra-low temperatures, and high manganese steel for ultra-low temperature was recently developed. In this paper, the transient thermal and residual stress analysis of the welding of 9% nickel steel and high manganese steel are presented. 9% nickel steel tended to have higher transverse direction stress and longitudinal direction stress than high manganese steel.
A study on the lightweight design of lift structure by composite materials
Authors: Bae Sung-Youl , Yoon Sung-Min , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this study is to reduce the weight of elevator components in order to save energy and apply the findings to the new drive-type elevator system. Structural design has been carried out for two lightweight elevator models in which the damped aluminum laminate (DAL) and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are utilized for the elevator walls, respectively. The structural designs of the new elevator walls are based on the bending stiffness of the existing steel walls. The aluminum elevator model is designed to exhibit a bending stiffness similar to that of the existing steel elevator, while the CFRP model is designed to possess 20% of the existing wall bending stiffness considering that the tensile strength in the fiber direction is about nine times higher than that of the existing structural steel material. DAL and CFRP are applied to the elevator walls, respectively, and aluminum sandwich structures are applied to the ceiling and platform of two kinds of lightweight elevator models. It has been ascertained that the aluminum elevator model is about 40% lighter than the existing steel elevator, and the CFRP elevator model is about 50% lighter than the existing elevator. In order to evaluate the structural integrity of the newly designed elevator model, the criteria presented in the elevator inspection guideline are applied. The designed elevator model is confirmed to satisfy the strength and stiffness criteria presented in the elevator inspection parameter.
A study on mechanical properties after bonded repair of sandwich composite materials
Authors: Kim Sunghoon , Ha Jongrok , Yoon Seongwon , Kim Myunghyun
Published: March 2020

In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to determine the efficiency of repair methods for sandwich composites used as hull materials in leisure ships. The method was applied to external, scarf, and step patch repairs using an epoxy bond. The load was described in terms of the hogging and sagging moments applied to the hull by waves. Static and fatigue tests were performed to derive the recovery rate of repaired specimens. The experimental results indicated that the recovery rate of specimens with the scarf patch was the highest at 91.80% when the hogging moment was applied. However, the difference in the recovery rate between hogging and sagging moments was the lowest for specimens with the step patch, and the recovery rate was high at 89.96% and 85.15%, respectively.
Continuous manufacturing of 3D patterned hybrid film via a roll-to-roll process with UV curing
Authors: Jung Jaehan
Published: March 2020

A strategy for continuous fabrication of a microscale 3D-patterned hybrid composite film composed of alumina and acrylate resin was developed using roll-to-roll production. Conventional thermal curing was replaced with a UV curing procedure to facilitate rapid and economical processing. A seamless engraved soft urethane mold was first produced using a patterned metal roll. Subsequently, alumina and acrylate resin were cured on the engraved mold via UV irradiation to produce patterned hybrid films. The dispersion of alumina particles in acylate resin was enhanced by utilizing amine acrylate. Photopolymerization was measured using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the soft engraved mold and the patterned hybrid film was investigated using scanning electron microscopy.
Removal characteristics of shop-primer paint by laser energy density in Q-switching fiber laser cleaning
Authors: Kim Ji-Eon , Han Myoung-Soo , Kim Jong-Do
Published: March 2020

In this study, we performed laser cleaning using a Q-switching fiber laser to remove the shop-primer paint and the oxide layer. An analysis of the surface cleaned by laser was carried out at various energy densities. The results showed that the oxide layer on the steel surface was not removed at a relatively low energy density, whereas the base metal was damaged under excessive energy density. We confirmed that it was essential to select an appropriate energy density for efficiently removing only the paint and the oxide layer without damaging the base metal in laser cleaning.
Tribological characteristics of high strength low alloy steel under various environmental conditions
Authors: Bae Mun Ki , Lim Ho Gi , Park Yeong Min , Kim Seock Sam , Kim Tae Gyu
Published: March 2020

High strength low alloy steel has excellent heat resistance and high strength. As it is commonly used as gun barrel material, a long service life and superior wear resistance are necessary for steel components. Here we investigated the wear characteristics of high strength low alloy steel surfaces under various environmental conditions, using a pin-on-disk wear test. Oxidation and wear debris effects on the coefficient of friction (COF) of the alloy steel were examined under air and argon (Ar) gas flow at atmospheric conditions.
Social Recommendation Combining Trust Relationship and Distance Metric Factorization
Authors: Ye Ming , Deng Yuanle
Published: March 2020

The recommender system predicts user preferences by mining user historical behavior data. This paper proposes a social recommendation combining trust relationship and distance metric factorization. On the one hand, the recommender system has a cold start problem, which can be effectively alleviated by adding social relations. Simultaneously, to improve the problem of sparse trust matrix, we use the Jaccard similarity coefficient and the Dijkstra algorithm to reconstruct the trust matrix and explore the potential user trust relationship. On the other hand, the traditional matrix factorization algorithm is modeled by the user item potential factor dot product, however, it does not satisfy the triangle inequality property and affects the final recommender effect. The primary motivator behind our approach is to combine the best of both worlds, mitigate the inherent weaknesses of each paradigm. Combining the advantages of the two ideas, it has been demonstrated that our algorithm can enhance recommender performance and improve cold start in recommender systems.
RESEARCH ON DESIGN AND CONTROL OF A NEW TYPE FLEXIBLE JOINT WITH VARIABLE STIFFNESS
Authors: LIU YUBIN , LIU GANGFENG , CAI RUOFAN
Published: March 2020

Aiming at non-linear problems existing in the principle of variable stiffness of robot joints, a class crank-slider and planetary gear mechanism are presented. The spring is pre-compressed by using the inter-agency geometric relations of fulcrum movement. The approximate linear variation of stiffness about fulcrum offset is realized. The problems of mechanism clearance, operational stability, and compact space are solved. The joint stiffness calculation method is derived, and the relationship between key parameters and stiffness outputs is analyzed. The stiffness control strategy is researched on, and a trajectory generator is designed based on Taylor series expansion. Static stiffness identification and dynamic stiffness following experiment are designed to test joint stiffness and position characteristics. The feasibility of joint is verified to achieve stiffness and position continuous adjustment within a certain range. This type of joint can be used in the field of medical treatment and rehabilitation to solve the problems of safety and environmental adaptability in the application process.
Construction of three interval frame scaling sets
Authors: Yadav G. C. S. , Dwivedi Amita
Published: March 2020

In this paper, a construction of three interval frame scaling sets is described and certain classes of normalized tight frame wavelet sets are also constructed with the help of these three interval frame scaling sets. We also generalize this construction to obtain [Formula: see text]-interval frame scaling sets.
A twisted generalization of the classical Dedekind sum
Authors: Isaacson Brad
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we express three different, yet related, character sums in terms of generalized Bernoulli numbers. Two of these sums are generalizations of sums introduced and studied by Berndt and Arakawa–Ibukiyama–Kaneko in the context of the theory of modular forms. A third sum generalizes a sum already studied by Ramanujan in the context of theta function identities. Our methods are elementary, relying only on basic facts from algebra and number theory.
Effect of HCl+LiF Etching Process on Electrochemical Performance of Ti3C2
Authors: Huang Yuhua , Li Weiwei , Mei Bingchu , Yang Yu , Liu Zuodong
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the effects of etching temperature and concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the exfoliating process and the electrochemical performance of LIBs were systematically explored. The transformation from Ti3AlC2 to Ti3C2 was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectra. The suitable conditions of preparing Ti3C2 MXene though HCl and lithium fluoride (LiF) were obtained. Besides, the in-situ oxidation conditions of Ti3C2 during the etching process were studied. The TiO2/Ti3C2 was beneficial to improve the specific capacity from 125[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] to 150[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 1 C.
An Intelligent Model for Facial Skin Colour Detection
Authors: Yen Chih-Huang , Huang Pin-Yuan , Yang Po-Kai
Published: March 2020

There is little research on the facial colour; for example, choice of cosmetics usually was focused on fashion or impulse purchasing. People never try to make right decision with facial colour. Meanwhile, facial colour can be also a method for health or disease prevention. This research puts forward one set of intelligent skin colour collection method based on human facial identification. Firstly, it adopts colour photos on the facial part and then implements facial position setting of the face in the image through FACE++ as the human facial identification result. Also, it finds out the human face collection skin colour point through facial features of the human face. The author created an SCE program to collect facial colour by each photo, and established a hypothesis that uses minima captured points assumption to calculate efficiently. Secondly, it implements assumption demonstration through the Taguchi method of quality improvement, which optimized six point skin acquisition point and uses average to calculate the representative skin colour on the facial part. It is completed through the Gaussian distribution standard difference and CIE 2000 colour difference formula and uses this related theory to construct the optimized program FaceRGB. This study can be popularized to cosmetics purchasing and expand to analysis of the facial group after big data are applied. The intelligent model can quickly and efficiently to capture skin colour; it will be the basic work for the future fashion application with big data.
Acute Heart Failure as a First Presentation of Pheochromocytoma Complicated with “Inverted” Takotsubo Syndrome
Authors: Spapen Jerrold , de Filette Jeroen , Lochy Stijn , Spapen Herbert
Published: March 2020

Takotsubo syndrome is a rare but emerging form of acute reversible myocardial injury characterized by transient systolic LV dysfunction, often related to emotional or physical stress. Pheochromocytoma is increasingly recognised as another possible trigger. Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-secreting tumour arising from chromaffin cells within the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglia. The pathognomonic quartet of paroxysmal hypertension, palpitations, headache, and diaphoresis is rarely present, and diagnosis is often delayed. We describe a 43-year-old formerly healthy patient with an adrenal pheochromocytoma, presenting as an “inverted” takotsubo syndrome complicated with acute heart failure and pulmonary oedema.
Paleofluid Fingerprint as an Independent Paleogeographic Correlation Tool: An Example from Pennsylvanian Sandstones and Neighboring Crystalline Rocks (Tisia Composite Terrane, S Hungary)
Authors: Fintor Krisztián , Varga Andrea
Published: March 2020

In the basement areas of the southern Pannonian Basin, Central Europe (Tisia Composite Terrane, Hungary), Variscan blocks are essential components. The existing paleogeographic reconstructions, however, are often unclear and contradictory. This paper attempts to give a contribution for paleogeographic correlation of the Tisia using paleohydrological features (e.g., vein mineralization types, inclusion fluid composition and origin) of the Pennsylvanian continental succession and neighboring crystalline complexes. Vein-type mineralization in the studied samples dominantly forms blocky morphological types with inclusion-rich quartz and carbonate crystals. The evolution of hydrothermal mineralization and host rock alteration in the study area comprises three major stages. The first one is characterized by chloritization, epidotization, and sericitization of metamorphic rocks together with subsequent formation of Ca-Al-silicate and quartz-sulfide veins (clinopyroxene-dominant and epidote-dominant mineralization). The related fluid inclusion record consists of high-temperature and low-salinity aqueous inclusions, corresponding to a reduced retrograde-metamorphic fluid phase during the Late Westphalian (~310 Ma). The next mineralization stage can be related to a generally oxidized alkaline fluid phase with a cross-formational character (hematite-rich alkali feldspar-dominant and quartz-dolomite veins). High-salinity primary aqueous inclusions probably were originated from the Upper Permian playa fluids of the region. The parent fluid of the third event (ankerite-hosted inclusions) was derived from a more reductive and low-salinity environment and can represent a post-Variscan fluid system. Fluid evolution data presented in this paper support that the W Tisia (Mecsek–Villány area) belonged to the Central European Variscan belt close to the Bohemian Massif up to the Early Alpine orogenic phases. Its original position is presumably to the northeast from the Bohemian Massif at the Late Paleozoic, north to the Moravo-Silesian Zone. The presented paleofluid evolution refines previous models of the paleogeographic position of the Tisia and puts constraints on the evolution of the Variscan Europe.
Shear Wave Elastography versus Strain Elastography in Diagnosing Parathyroid Adenomas
Authors: Cotoi Laura , Amzar Daniela , Sporea Ioan , Borlea Andreea , Navolan Dan , Varcus Flore , Stoian Dana
Published: March 2020

Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare elastographic means in parathyroid adenomas, using shear wave elastography and strain elastography. Methods. This prospective study examined 20 consecutive patients diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid adenoma, confirmed by biochemical assay, technetium-99 sestamibi scintigraphy, and pathology report, after parathyroid surgery. All patients were examined on conventional 2B ultrasound, 2D shear wave elastography, and strain elastography. We determined using 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) the elasticity index (EI) in parathyroid adenoma, thyroid parenchyma, and surrounding muscle and examined using strain elastography the parathyroid adenoma, and determined the strain ratio with the thyroid tissue and muscle tissue. Results. All patients had positive sestamibi scintigraphy and underwent surgery, with confirmation of parathyroid adenoma in all cases. The mean parathormone (PTH) value before surgery was 153.29 pg/ml (36.5, 464.8) and serum calcium concentration was 10.5 mg/dl (9, 11.5). We compared using 2D-SWE and strain elastography parathyroid adenoma with thyroid tissue and with surrounding muscle. The mean EI measured by SWE in parathyroid adenoma was 4.74 ± 2.74 kPa and in thyroid parenchyma was 11.718 ± 4.206 kPa (mean difference = 6.978 kPa, p<0.001), and the mean EI value in muscle tissue was 16.362 ± 3.829 kPa (mean difference = 11.622, p<0.001). Using ROC analysis, we found that an EI below 7 kPa correctly identifies parathyroid tissue. We evaluated parathyroid adenomas using strain elastography by color mapping and strain ratio as a semiquantitative measurement; however, we could not find any statistical correlation comparing the strain ratio obtained from the parathyroid adenoma with the thyroid tissue (p=0.485). Conclusion. Ultrasound elastography is a helpful tool in identifying parathyroid adenomas. A cutoff value below 7 kPa can be used in 2D-SWE. Color maps in strain elastography without adding strain ratio can be used, parathyroid adenoma being identified as score 1 in the Rago criteria.
A Displacement Frequency Response Function‐Based Approach for Locating Damage to Building Structures
Authors: Kao Ching-Yun , Chen Xuan-Zhi , Hung Shih-Lin
Published: March 2020

Frequency response function (FRF) data can provide considerably more information on damage in the desired frequency range as compared to modal data extracted from a very limited range around resonances. Among structural health monitoring techniques, FRF‐based methods have the potential to locate structural damage. Conventional structural damage detection technology collects structural response data using contact systems, such as displacement or acceleration transducers. However, installing these contact systems can be costly in terms of labor, cost, and time. Several noncontact measurement technologies, such as optical, laser, radar, and GPS, have been developed to overcome these obstacles. Given the rapid advances in optical imaging hardware technology, the use of digital photography in structural monitoring systems has attracted considerable attention. This study develops a displacement FRF‐based approach to locate damage to building structures. The proposed damage location index, CurveFRFDI, improves the sensitivity of SubFRFDI, which is a substructure FRF‐based damage location index proposed by Lin et al. (2012). Moreover, the feasibility of applying the proposed approach to locate damage to building structures using displacement measured by a digital camera combined with digital image correlation techniques is also investigated in this study. A numerical example and an experimental example are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of using the proposed approach to locate damage to building structures for single and multiple nonadjacent damage locations.
Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Activities of a Polysaccharide from Ligustrum vicaryi L. Fruit
Authors: Liu Shuling , Wang Litao , Ren Qiang , Wang Jianan , Li Yanzhi , Wang Guanghui , Gao Huijie , Du Rui , Qin Wei
Published: March 2020

Ligustrum vicaryi L. is a hybrid of Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk. var. aureo-marginatum and Ligustrum vulgale L., belonging to the Oleaceae family. It is often used as an ornamental shrub due to its golden leaves. However, its medical value is yet to be discovered. Recently, plant polysaccharides have attracted comprehensive attention owing to their biological properties, including immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to extract, purify, and characterize the polysaccharide from the Ligustrum vicaryi L. fruit and investigate its immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The Ligustrum vicaryi L. fruit polysaccharide (LVFP) was obtained by ultrasonic extraction, ethanol precipitation, macroporous resin separation, and dialysis bag purification. The physicochemical properties of the LVFP were elucidated using Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry, high‐performance ion chromatography, and high‐performance gel filtration chromatography. The results indicated that the LVFP consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and glucose in a ratio of 1.79 : 7.55 : 4.58 : 1.54, and its molecular weight was 88,949 Da. The immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of the LVFP were investigated using a cyclophosphamide‐ (Cy‐) induced immunosuppressed mouse model. The results demonstrated that the LVFP significantly increased spleen and thymus indexes, enhanced the phagocytic function of neutrophils, activated B and T lymphocytes, and upregulated serum levels of IL‐10 and TNF‐α. Moreover, we observed that the LVFP relieved Cy‐induced liver damage by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐px) levels. These results suggested that the LVFP has the immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities, therefore laying a foundation for the application of the LVFP in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.
On Periodic Dividends for the Classical Risk Model with Debit Interest
Authors: Dong Hua , Zhao Xianghua
Published: March 2020

A periodic dividend problem is studied in this paper. We assume that dividend payments are made at a sequence of Poisson arrival times, and ruin is continuously monitored. First of all, three integro-differential equations for the expected discounted dividends are obtained. Then, we investigate the explicit expressions for the expected discounted dividends, and the optimal dividend barrier is given for exponential claims. A similar study on a generalized Gerber–Shiu function involving the absolute time is also performed. To demonstrate the existing results, we give some numerical examples.
Laugier–Hunziker Syndrome in an 8-Year-Old Boy with Scleral Melanocytosis, Lingual Pigmentation, Labial Pigmentation, and Melanonychia Striata
Authors: Leung Alexander K. C. , Leong Kin Fon , Barankin Benjamin , Lam Joseph M.
Published: March 2020

Laugier–Hunziker syndrome is a rare, acquired disorder characterized by mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation and melanonychia striata with no underlying systemic abnormalities. We report an 8-year-old boy with Laugier–Hunziker syndrome who presented with melanonychia striata affecting all the fingernails and toenails, macular pigmentation on the tongue and the lower lip, and scleral melanocytosis. Melanonychia striata rarely affect all the twenty nails, and scleral melanocytosis has rarely been reported in association with Laugier–Hunziker syndrome. Laugier–Hunziker syndrome occurs predominately in adults. Our patient is the youngest reported patient with Laugier–Hunziker syndrome.