bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Intercalation Doping on the Conductivity of Multi-Layer Graphene Nanoribbon (MLGNR) in On-Chip Interconnects
Authors: Sharma Himanshu , Sandha Karmjit Singh
Published: December 2019

Graphene nanoribbons are considered potentially suitable and have exhibited excellent results in on-chip interconnects. In order to evaluate the different circuit impedance parameters of multi-layer graphene nanoribbons (MLGNRs), an electrical equivalent single conductor (ESC) along with an analytical model is proposed. On the basis of an electrical model, the impact of intercalation doping on the performance of MLGNRs at 32, 22, and 16[Formula: see text]nm technology nodes is discussed in this paper. Moreover, it is also discussed that the increase in intercalation doping increases the Fermi energy of the layers of the MLGNR, which increases its overall conductivity. The fact that the variation in the Fermi energy will have a considerable impact on the parasitic parameters of the MLGNR interconnect at three different technology nodes (32, 22, and 16[Formula: see text]nm) for variable global lengths (500–2000[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m) is also analyzed. To estimate and compare the performance in terms of delay and power delay product (PDP) of MLGNRs, the simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis (SPICE) simulation tool is used. The results also show that the increase in the Fermi energy improves the performance of MLGNRs in terms of delay and PDP at three different technology nodes. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of all three technology nodes is performed with the copper interconnect, and it is revealed that the MLGNR interconnect is considered to be a prominent material for the next-generation on-chip very-large-scale integration interconnects.
Twisted Hochschild homology of quantum flag manifolds: 2-cycles from invariant projections
Authors: Matassa Marco
Published: December 2019

We study the twisted Hochschild homology of quantum full flag manifolds, with the twist being the modular automorphism of the Haar state. We show that nontrivial [Formula: see text]-cycles can be constructed from appropriate invariant projections. Moreover, we show that [Formula: see text] has dimension at least rank [Formula: see text]. We also discuss the case of generalized flag manifolds and present the example of the quantum Grassmannians.
ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTIVE BLOOD CONCENTRATION READINGS FROM CLINICAL DATA ON PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE DISEASES AFTER DIGOXIN INTAKE: A PROJECTION BASED ON THE INVERSE PROBLEM ALGORITHM
Authors: LIN YA-HUI , HSIAO KAI-YU , CHANG YU-TENG , KITTIPAYAK SAMRIT , PAN LUNG-FA , PAN LUNG-KWANG
Published: December 2019

In this study, a projection of effective blood concentration (EBC) readings of digoxin is made using the inverse problem algorithm based on clinical data for patients with heart failure diseases. Seven factors, including body surface area (BSA), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) ion readings, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were compiled with nonlinear regression fit to develop a projection function having 29 terms obtained from an inverse problem algorithm via the default function run in STATISTICA. Accordingly, data collected from the clinical 168 heart failure patients were normalized to be included in same domain range ([Formula: see text]1 to +1), and then calculated by the specific algorithm to optimize the numerical solution to evaluate EBC readings of digoxin. The evaluated first-order regression fit owned an optimal loss function ([Formula: see text]) coupled with correlation coefficient [Formula: see text] = 0.892 and variance of 89.20%. Furthermore, 45 patients having similar clinical syndromes were also adopted to verify the projection and implied with high agreement. The BUN factor dominated the projection and defined as the most significant coefficient in the analysis, and K ion, MAP, BSA, and Mg ion factors exhibited minor contributions to the projection. The repeated trials to lower number of factors from seven to a smaller number (namely 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1) for simplifying method but resulting with unaccepted outcomes, with high loss function values and low linearity. However, the algorithm held its accuracy to handle the verified data that were out of the original bounds. The proposed algorithm demonstrated a useful analysis to handle the drug administration in pharmaceutical field.
DYNAMIC PATTERNS OF CENTER OF PRESSURE DURING WALKING IN DIFFERENT FOOT TYPES
Authors: HEO JAE-HOON , KWON YURI , JEON HYEONG-MIN , CHOI EUI-BUM , EOM GWANG-MOON
Published: December 2019

Although the risk of foot injuries during walking increases with the foot deformity, the dynamic mechanism is not clearly understood. This study aims at the investigation of dynamic change of center of pressure (COP) in different foot types. Contrasted by previous studies, this study analyzed COP in each gait phase, i.e., loading response, mid stance, terminal stance, and pre-swing. A total of 19 young males participated in this study and the resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP) angle was measured for the classification into three foot types. All participants performed level walking with shoes on. COP trajectory was normalized by foot width and length. In the loading response and mid stance phases COP of Pes Cavus located most laterally ([Formula: see text]). No difference among foot types existed at terminal stance and pre-swing phases ([Formula: see text]). Foot deformity is known to occur due to the abnormality of musculoskeletal system such as lower extremities muscles, bones, and ligaments. Because the role of musculoskeletal system differs between gait phases, this may have caused phase-dependent COP difference among different foot types.
BUILDING EFFICIENT COMPUTATIONAL CELLULAR AUTOMATA MODELS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS: BACKGROUND, APPLICATIONS, RESULTS, SOFTWARE, AND PATHOLOGIES
Authors: KROC JIŘÍ , JIMÉNEZ-MORALES FRANCISCO , GUISADO J. L. , LEMOS MARÍA CARMEN , TKÁČ JAKUB
Published: December 2019

Cellular automaton models of complex systems (CSs) are gaining greater popularity; simultaneously, they have proven the capability to solve real scientific and engineering applications. To enable everybody a quick penetration into the core of this type of modeling, three real applications of cellular automaton models, including selected open source software codes, are studied: laser dynamics, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and surface catalytic reactions.

The paper is written in a way that it enables any researcher to reach the cutting edge knowledge of the design principles of cellular automata (CA) models of the observed phenomena in any scientific field. The whole sequence of design steps is demonstrated: definition of the model using topology and local (transition) rule of a cellular automaton, achieved results, comparison to real experiments, calibration, pathological observations, flow diagrams, software, and discussions. Additionally, the whole paper demonstrates the extreme expressiveness and flexibility of massively parallel computational approaches compared to other computational approaches. The paper consists of the introductory parts that are explaining CSs, self-organization and emergence, entropy, and CA. This allows readers to realize that there is a large variability in definitions and solutions of this class of models.
Dependence Structure Analysis and VaR Estimation Based on China’s and International Gold Price: A Copula Approach
Authors: Liang Zhicheng , Wang Junwei , Lai Kin Keung
Published: December 2019

Since 2013, China has become the world’s largest gold producer and consumer. To gain the corresponding global pricing power in gold, many actions have been taken by China in recent years, including the International Board at Shanghai Gold Exchange, Shanghai-Hong Kong Gold Connect and Shanghai Gold Fix. Our work studies the dependence structure between China’s and international gold price and examines whether these moves are changing the dependence structure. We use GARCH-copula models to detect the dynamic dependence and tail dependence. The research period is set to contain the Financial Crisis in 2008, the dramatical plunge of gold price in 2013 and a series of black swan events in 2016. The empirical study shows that some event driven dependence structure breaks are statistically insignificant. And the time-varying Symmetrized Joe-Clayton copula is the best copula to model the dependence structure based on AIC value. Finally, an example of applications of this dependence structure is given by estimating the VaR of an equally weighted portfolio with a simulation-based method.
Dexterity, Sensitivity and Versatility: An Under Actuated Robotic Hand with Mechanical Intelligence and Proprioceptive Actuation
Authors: Zhang Xiaoguang , Zhu Taoyuanmin , Yamayoshi Itsui , Hong Dennis
Published: December 2019

A three-finger under actuated robotic hand with dexterous force control and inherent compliance is developed and tested. A simplified biomimetic finger design is generated and applied with mechanical intelligence principles carefully designed and embedded such that optimal trajectories for grabbing are naturally followed and the fingers can automatically conform to the goal object. A generalizable potential energy flow theory is then proposed to explain the mechanism behind the mechanical intelligence. The theory is also supported by experimental results. Quasi-direct drive actuators were developed to actuate the robotic hand with proprioceptive force sensing and inherent compliance. The hand performs delicate force-controlled manipulation with a simple compliance controller implemented.
Quantum state manifold and geometric, dynamic and topological phases for an interacting two-spin system
Authors: Amghar B. , Daoud M.
Published: December 2019

We consider a two-spin system of [Formula: see text] Heisenberg type submitted to an external magnetic field. Using the associated [Formula: see text] geometry, we investigate the dynamics of the system. We explicitly give the corresponding Fubini–Study metric. We show that for arbitrary pure initial states, the dynamics occurs on a torus. We compute the geometric phase, the dynamic phase and the topological phase. We investigate the interplay between the torus geometry and the entanglement of the two spins. In this respect, we provide a detailed analysis of the geometric phase, the dynamics velocity and the geodesic distance measured by the Fubini–Study metric in terms of the degree of entanglement between the two spins.
Thai dance exercises benefited functional mobility and fall rates among community-dwelling older individuals
Authors: Kaewjoho Chonticha , Mato Lugkana , Thaweewannakij Thiwabhorn , Nakmareong Saowanee , Phadungkit Supaporn , Gaogasigam Chitanongk , Amatachaya Sugalya
Published: December 2019

Background: With dramatic increase in the number of older individuals, special efforts have been made to promote the levels of independence and reduce fall rates among these individuals.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Thai dance exercises over 6 weeks on functional mobility and fall rates in community-dwelling older individuals.

Methods: Sixty-one community-dwelling older adults were interviewed and assessed for their demographics and fall data during 6 months prior to participation in the study. Then they completed the quasi-experimental Thai dance exercise program for 50 minutes[Formula: see text]day, 3 days[Formula: see text]week over 6 weeks. Their functional mobility relating to levels of independence and safety were assessed prior to training, at 3-week and 6-week training. After completing the program at 6 weeks, participants were prospectively monitored for fall data over 6 months.

Results: Participants improved their functional mobility significantly after 3- and 6-week training [Formula: see text]. The number of faller individuals obviously decreased from 35% [Formula: see text] prior to training to only 8% [Formula: see text] after training [Formula: see text].

Conclusion: The current findings further extend benefits of Thai dance as an alternative musical exercise program to promote levels of independence and safety among community-dwelling older adults.
Metal-rich tellurides PdTe1−xBix as functional materials: Catalytic behavior in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and bonding analysis
Authors: Zakharova Elena Yu. , Makhaneva Anastasiya Yu. , Kulikova Maya V. , Chudakova Maria V. , Ivantsov Mikhail I. , Dementyeva Oksana D. , Kuznetsov Alexey N.
Published: December 2019

A series of solid solutions in the PdTe–PdBi system with general formula [Formula: see text]Bix ([Formula: see text], 0.5, 0.67) with the structure based on the NiAs type were synthesized by a high-temperature ampoule technique. These compounds, along with their parent binaries, PdTe and PdBi, were tested as promoters for the standard Co/Al2O3 catalytic system in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. It is shown that the addition of PdTe and [Formula: see text]Bix to the standard catalyst increases both yield and selectivity with respect to the liquid phase. At the same time, the addition of PdBi does not only improve catalytic activity, but also slightly inhibits it. Another positive effect of the PdTe and [Formula: see text]Bix addition is the shift in the conversion products toward the diesel and wax fractions. Chemical bonding analysis in orbital and direct space indicates that the addition of Bi to PdTe might increase the localized bonding.
AN OPTION THEORETIC APPROACH TO MARKET EFFICIENCY
Authors: BHATTACHARYA RAJEEV R.
Published: December 2019

I use five separate measures of deviation from Put-Call Parity of options on a stock without splits or dividends as separate negative measures for market efficiency. I rely upon the theory of trading volume as a function of short sales costs, etc., and that of market efficiency as a function of trading volume, etc. derived by Bhattacharya (2019). I use Three-Stage Least Squares (3SLS) to estimate this structural system, separately for Nasdaq and non-Nasdaq U.S. stocks. I find, contrary to much previous theoretical and empirical work, that the impact of short sales costs & constraints on market efficiency is not significantly negative and that the impact of trading volume on market efficiency is not significantly positive, and my results are robust to various econometric specifications and financial economic assumptions.
ICNN
Authors: Neshatpour Katayoun , Homayoun Houman , Sasan Avesta
Published: December 2019

Modern and recent architectures of vision-based Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) have improved detection and prediction accuracy significantly. However, these algorithms are extremely computationally intensive. To break the power and performance wall of CNN computation, we reformulate the CNN computation into an iterative process, where each iteration processes a sub-sample of input features with smaller network and ingests additional features to improve the prediction accuracy. Each smaller network could either classify based on its input set or feed computed and extracted features to the next network to enhance the accuracy. The proposed approach allows early-termination upon reaching acceptable confidence. Moreover, each iteration provides a contextual awareness that allows an intelligent resource allocation and optimization for the proceeding iterations. In this article, we propose various policies to reduce the computational complexity of CNN through the proposed iterative approach. We illustrate how the proposed policies construct a dynamic architecture suitable for a wide range of applications with varied accuracy requirements, resources, and time-budget, without further need for network re-training. Furthermore, we carry out a visualization of the detected features in each iteration through deconvolution network to gain more insight into the successive traversal of the ICNN.
Designing and Evaluating a Customizable Head-mounted Vision Enhancement System for People with Low Vision
Authors: Zhao Yuhang , Szpiro Sarit , Shi Lei , Azenkot Shiri
Published: December 2019

Recent advances in head-mounted displays (HMDs) present an opportunity to design vision enhancement systems for people with
low vision
, whose vision cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. We aim to understand whether and how HMDs can aid low vision people in their daily lives. We designed
ForeSee
, an HMD prototype that enhances people’s view of the world with image processing techniques such as magnification and edge enhancement. We evaluated these vision enhancements with 20 low vision participants who performed four viewing tasks: image recognition and reading tasks from near- and far-distance. We found that participants needed to combine and adjust the enhancements to comfortably complete the viewing tasks. We then designed two input modes to enable fast and easy customization: speech commands and smartwatch-based gestures. While speech commands are commonly used for eyes-free input, our novel set of onscreen gestures on a smartwatch can be used in scenarios where speech is not appropriate or desired. We evaluated both input modes with 11 low vision participants and found that both modes effectively enabled low vision users to customize their visual experience on the HMD. We distill design insights for HMD applications for low vision and spur new research directions.
Robust Fake News Detection Over Time and Attack
Authors: Horne Benjamin D. , Nørregaard Jeppe , Adali Sibel
Published: December 2019

In this study, we examine the impact of time on state-of-the-art news veracity classifiers. We show that, as time progresses, classification performance for both unreliable and hyper-partisan news classification slowly degrade. While this degradation does happen, it happens slower than expected, illustrating that hand-crafted, content-based features, such as style of writing, are fairly robust to changes in the news cycle. We show that this small degradation can be mitigated using online learning. Last, we examine the impact of adversarial content manipulation by malicious news producers. Specifically, we test three types of attack based on changes in the input space and data availability. We show that static models are susceptible to content manipulation attacks, but online models can recover from such attacks.
Dobutamine reverses the cardio-suppressive effects of terlipressin without improving renal function in cirrhosis and ascites: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Israelsen Mads , Dahl Emilie Kristine , Madsen Bjørn Stæhr , Wiese Signe , Bendtsen Flemming , Møller Søren , Fialla Annette Dam , Jensen Boye L. , Krag Aleksander
Published: December 2019

Acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) are frequent complications in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. First-line treatment is terlipressin, which reverses HRS in ~40% of patients but also lowers cardiac output (CO). We aimed to investigate whether reversing the cardio-suppressive effect of terlipressin with the β-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine would increase CO and thereby increase the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We randomized 25 patients with cirrhosis, ascites, and impaired renal function (2:2:1): group A received terlipressin followed by the addition of dobutamine; group B received dobutamine and terlipressin as monotherapies; and group C received placebo. Renal and cardiac functions were assessed during 8 clearance periods of 30 min, and concentrations of vasoactive hormones were measured. Dobutamine as a monotherapy increased CO (1.03 L/min, P < 0.01) but had no significant effects on GFR. Renin ( P < 0.05), angiotensin II ( P < 0.005), and aldosterone ( P < 0.05) increased after dobutamine infusion. Terlipressin as a monotherapy improved GFR (18.9 mL·min−1·m−2, P = 0.005) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (14 mmHg, P = 0.001) but reduced CO (−0.92 L/min, P < 0.005) and renin ( P < .005). A combined treatment of dobutamine and terlipressin had a positive effect on CO (1.19 L/min, P < 0.05) and increased renin ( P < 0.005), angiotensin II ( P < 0.005), and aldosterone ( P < 0.05), but it had no significant effects on MAP or GFR. Dobutamine reversed the cardio-suppressive effect of terlipressin in cirrhosis, ascites, and impaired renal function. However, dobutamine reduced peripheral vascular resistance, activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and did not improve GFR compared with terlipressin as a monotherapy. Therefore, dobutamine cannot be recommended in cirrhosis and ascites.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that the cardio-suppressive effects of the vasopressin receptor agonist terlipressin can be reversed by dobutamine. This is a novel observation in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Furthermore, we show that dobutamine reduced the peripheral vascular resistance and activated the renin-angiotensin system, whereas renal function was not further improved by terlipressin alone.
Medullary and cortical thick ascending limb: similarities and differences
Authors: Bankir Lise , Figueres Lucile , Prot-Bertoye Caroline , Bouby Nadine , Crambert Gilles , Pratt J. Howard , Houillier Pascal
Published: December 2019

The thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL) is the first segment of the distal nephron, extending through the whole outer medulla and cortex, two regions with different composition of the peritubular environment. The TAL plays a critical role in the control of NaCl, water, acid, and divalent cation homeostasis, as illustrated by the consequences of the various monogenic diseases that affect the TAL. It delivers tubular fluid to the distal convoluted tubule and thereby affects the function of the downstream tubular segments. The TAL is commonly considered as a whole. However, many structural and functional differences exist between its medullary and cortical parts. The present review summarizes the available data regarding the similarities and differences between the medullary and cortical parts of the TAL. Both subsegments reabsorb NaCl and have high Na+-K+-ATPase activity and negligible water permeability; however, they express distinct isoforms of the Na+-K+-2Cl−cotransporter at the apical membrane. Ammonia and bicarbonate are mostly reabsorbed in the medullary TAL, whereas Ca2+and Mg2+are mostly reabsorbed in the cortical TAL. The peptidic hormone receptors controlling transport in the TAL are not homogeneously expressed along the cortical and medullary TAL. Besides this axial heterogeneity, structural and functional differences are also apparent between species, which underscores the link between properties and role of the TAL under various environments.
IL-6trans-signaling drives a STAT3-dependent pathway that leads to structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane
Authors: Yang Xiaoxiao , Yan Hao , Jiang Na , Yu Zanzhe , Yuan Jiangzi , Ni Zhaohui , Fang Wei
Published: December 2019

IL-6 is a vital inflammatory factor in the peritoneal cavity of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). The present study examined the effect of IL-6 trans-signaling on structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane. We investigated whether the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and the production of proangiogenic factors were controlled by IL-6 trans-signaling. Its role in the peritoneal alterations was detected in a mouse model. The morphology of HPMCs and levels of cytokines in PD effluent were also explored. Stimulation of HPMCs with the IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor complex (IL-6/S) promoted the EMT process of HPMCs depending on the STAT3 pathway. In a coculture system of HPMCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, IL-6/S mediated the production of VEGF and angiopoietins so as to downregulate the expression of endothelial junction molecules and finally affect vascular permeability. Daily intraperitoneal injection of high glucose-based dialysis fluid induced peritoneal fibrosis, angiogenesis, and macrophage infiltration in a mouse model, accompanied by phosphorylation of STAT3. Blockade of IL-6 trans-signaling prevented these peritoneum alterations. The fibroblast-like appearance of HPMCs ex vivo was upregulated in patients undergoing prevalent PD accompanied by increasing levels of IL-6, VEGF, and angiopoietin-2 in the PD effluent. Taken together, these findings identified a critical link between IL-6 trans-signaling and structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane, and it might be a potential target for the treatment of patients undergoing PD who have developed peritoneal alterations.
COX-2-derived prostaglandins as mediators of the deleterious effects of nicotine in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Rangarajan S. , Rezonzew G. , Chumley P. , Fatima H. , Golovko M. Y. , Feng W. , Hua P. , Jaimes E. A.
Published: December 2019

Tobacco smoking has been identified as a risk factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In previous studies, we showed that nicotine induces cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in vivo and in vitro and that the administration of nicotine in vivo worsens the severity of renal injury in a model of subtotal renal ablation. In the present study, we tested the role of COX-2-derived prostaglandins on the deleterious effects of nicotine in CKD. Sham and 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) rats received tap water or nicotine (100 μg/mL) in the drinking water for 12 wk. Additional groups also systemically received the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (1.5 mg·kg−1·day−1via osmotic minipump). The administration of nicotine worsened renal injury and proteinuria in 5/6Nx rats and increased proteinuria in sham rats. 5/6Nx rats had increased cortical production of the prostaglandins PGE2, PGI2, PGD2, and PGF2αand of thromboxane A2. In these rats, nicotine reduced the production of all prostaglandins examined except thromboxane A2. Treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 resulted in complete inhibition of all prostaglandins studied and ameliorated renal injury and proteinuria in 5/6Nx rats on nicotine but not in 5/6 Nx rats on tap water. Nicotine also reduced the expression of megalin in all groups examined, and this was partially prevented by COX-2 inhibition. In the present study, we showed that in CKD, nicotine worsens renal injury at least in part by producing an imbalance in the production of prostaglandins. This imbalance in the production of prostaglandins likely plays a role in the deleterious effects of smoking on the progression of CKD.
NBCe1-A is required for the renal ammonia and K+response to hypokalemia
Authors: Lee Hyun-Wook , Harris Autumn N. , Romero Michael F. , Welling Paul A. , Wingo Charles S. , Verlander Jill W. , Weiner I. David
Published: December 2019

Hypokalemia increases ammonia excretion and decreases K+excretion. The present study examined the role of the proximal tubule protein NBCe1-A in these responses. We studied mice with Na+-bicarbonate cotransporter electrogenic, isoform 1, splice variant A (NBCe1-A) deletion [knockout (KO) mice] and their wild-type (WT) littermates were provided either K+control or K+-free diet. We also used tissue sections to determine the effect of extracellular ammonia on NaCl cotransporter (NCC) phosphorylation. The K+-free diet significantly increased proximal tubule NBCe1-A and ammonia excretion in WT mice, and NBCe1-A deletion blunted the ammonia excretion response. NBCe1-A deletion inhibited the ammoniagenic/ammonia recycling enzyme response in the cortical proximal tubule (PT), where NBCe1-A is present in WT mice. In the outer medulla, where NBCe1-A is not present, the PT ammonia metabolism response was accentuated by NBCe1-A deletion. KO mice developed more severe hypokalemia and had greater urinary K+excretion during the K+-free diet than did WT mice. This was associated with blunting of the hypokalemia-induced change in NCC phosphorylation. NBCe1-A KO mice have systemic metabolic acidosis, but experimentally induced metabolic acidosis did not alter NCC phosphorylation. Although KO mice have impaired ammonia metabolism, experiments in tissue sections showed that lack of ammonia does impair NCC phosphorylation. Finally, urinary aldosterone was greater in KO mice than in WT mice, but neither expression of epithelial Na+channel α-, β-, and γ-subunits nor of H+-K+-ATPase α1- or α2-subunits correlated with changes in urinary K+. We conclude that NBCe1-A is critical for the effect of diet-induced hypokalemia to increase cortical proximal tubule ammonia generation and for the expected decrease in urinary K+excretion.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of a New Hydrogen-Bonded Charge-Transfer Complex of 2-Amino-4-methoxy-6-methylpyrimidine
Authors: Alghanmi Reem M.
Published: December 2019

A new hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer (HB-CT) complex formed between the donor 2-amino-4-methoxy-6-methylpyrimidine (AMMP) and theπ-acceptor 2,5-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone (DHBQ) was investigated in both solid and solution states. The investigation was conducted using UV-Vis, CHN, FTIR,1H NMR, XRD, and TG-DTA analyses. The molecular composition of the CT complex in MeOH was found to be 1 : 1. The formation constant (KCT), molecular extinction coefficient (ε), and several other spectroscopic physical parameters were evaluated at different temperatures. The thermodynamic properties of the CT interaction in MeOH were studied by calculating the enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°), and free energy (ΔG°). The thermodynamic parameters indicated that van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding occur between AMMP and DHBQ in MeOH. The CHN, FTIR, and TG-DTA measurements confirmed that the solid HB-CT complex forms in a 2 : 1 ratio, i.e., [(AMMP)2(DHBQ)], and exhibits high stability. Moreover, XRD analysis was used to establish that the mean particle size of the complex is 23 nm. Finally, the solid HB-CT complex was screened for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. It shows good activity against various bacterial and fungal species. Furthermore, the HB-CT complex exhibits good DPPH scavenging activity.
Radiological and Morphometric Features of Canalis Sinuosus in Russian Population: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Anatoly Avanesov , Sedov Yuri , Gvozdikova Evgeniya , Mordanov Oleg , Kruchinina Liudmila , Avanesov Karen , Vinogradova Anna , Golub Sergei , Khaydar Dalila , Hoang Nguyen Giao , Darawsheh Hadi M.
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is considered to be the most informative radiographic method for pre- and postoperative analysis of the maxillary anatomy and for avoiding further complication. Canalis sinuosus is one of such structures that damage can go along with bleeding and neurological symptomatology. The aim of the study was to investigate radiological and morphometric features of the canalis sinuosus in Russian population using CBCT technique. Materials and Methods. 150 CBCT scans of 61 males and 89 females aged from 24 to 80 years were retrospectively studied with different slice thickness and evaluated with regards to prevalence and diameter among age and gender groups in Russia. Results. CS prevalence in this study was 67%, and CS was most frequently presented in the lateral incisor region (33.5%). Women showed statistically higher CS prevalence (p<0.01) than the male group, and there was no statistically significant difference observed between occurrence and localization of CS and age groups. Conclusion. CBCT examination demonstrated good diagnostic efficiency in CS visualization, and the CS may have variations on its location and prevalence with statistically significant differences between the gender group and without significant differences among age groups and can depend on the population.
miR-509-5p Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Osteosarcoma by Targeting TRIB2
Authors: Guo Jiekun , Wu Qiang , Peng Xiaoming , Yu Bin
Published: December 2019

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common malignant bone tumors in adolescents with a poor prognosis. Though miR-509-5p has been reported as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers, the role of miR-509-5p in OS remains unclear. In this study, our result of real-time PCR (RT-PCR) showed that the expression of miR-509-5p was significantly decreased in OS tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-509-5p significantly suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in OS cell lines. Moreover, we identified tribbles homolog 2 (TRIB2) as the direct target of miR-509-5p. Knockdown of TRIB2 could inhibit the malignant capacity of OS cells. At last, we reported that TRIB2 could inhibit the bioactivity of the tumor suppressor gene p21 via blocking its transcriptional activity. Collectively, our study revealed that miR-509-5p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting TRIB2 in OS and thus could affect the activity of p21, suggesting that miR-509-5p is a novel preventive intervention for OS patients.
Effects of Adhesive Parameters on Dispersion Characteristics of Ultrasonic Guided Waves in Composite Pipes
Authors: Li Juanjuan , Han Yan
Published: December 2019

The aim of the investigation presented here was to understand how the viscosity parameters of an adhesive layer affect group velocity and attenuation of the double-layer adhered pipe. Various parameter combinations (attenuation of longitudinal wave and shear wave, pαL and qαT; thickness, d; and density, nρ) were utilized in order to generate different uncured degrees of the adhesive layer. In the frequency range 0∼500 kHz, the group velocity dispersion curves and attenuation dispersion curves were obtained from these models. Then, the group velocity and attenuation of the two commonly used modes, L0,2 and T0,1, were compared and analyzed. The results have shown that it is important to remark that little effect on group velocity was caused, and significant linear increases of attenuation occur with increase in q, d, and n. However, variable p had little effect on attenuation; more modes emerged when d increased or n decreased, causing difficulties on mode identification and signal processing. The numerical results provided a useful way to evaluate bonding quality by measuring the group velocity and attenuation in the pipelines.
Research on the Reasonable Width of the Waterproof Coal Pillar during the Mining of a Shallow Coal Seam Located Close to a Reservoir
Authors: Hu Mengling , Zhao Wenlong , Lu Zheng , Ren Jianxi , Miao Yanping
Published: December 2019

Retaining a waterproof coal pillar is the most effective water conservation method for coal seam mining close to a reservoir, and determining a reasonable width for the waterproof coal pillar has been a common problem among mining scholars for a considerably long time. In case of mining a 4−2 coal seam close to the Changjiagou Reservoir in the Zhangjiamao mine, the research methods of theoretical analysis, physical simulation using similar materials, and numerical simulation have been adopted to analyze the overburden strata mining failure features and the surface subsidence law. Additionally, the influences of the width of the coal pillar on the reservoir bank slope stability have been investigated. The results denote that a coal pillar can be divided into a mine‐pressure‐influenced zone, an effective waterproof zone, and a water‐level‐influenced zone with respect to water resistance. Furthermore, the width of the waterproof coal pillar was determined to be 107.41 m by theoretical analysis. The simulation test indicated that when the working face advanced close to the reservoir, the reservoir bank exhibited vertical downward as well as transverse abscission layer fractures and the divided topsoil slipped toward the reservoir. Subsequently, the judgment conditions required for determining the critical width of the waterproof coal pillar were proposed based on the requirements to prevent the reservoir bank slope from instability failure and the water gushing accident in goaf. The maximum width of the waterproof coal pillar when the top point on the slope surface experienced reverse horizontal displacement and several key points produced sharp vertical displacements or when the pore pressure in the coal seam roof and floor suddenly became 0 was considered to be the critical width. Furthermore, the critical width was determined to be 96 m via simulation analysis, verifying the rationality of the theoretical method. These results could provide a theoretical basis for determining the width of the waterproof coal pillar of the coal seam located close to a reservoir.
Effect of Ammonium Bicarbonate on Intercalation and Exfoliation of Graphite Materials
Authors: Yu Zhenzhu , Nan Fei , Su Lu , Zhang Shaofei , He Yan
Published: December 2019

Intercalation and exfoliation are key steps in the preparation of graphene by thermal exfoliation, and they determine the quality of the final product. Therefore, it is important to explore the influence of intercalation agents on the intercalation and exfoliation of graphite. In this article, ammonium bicarbonate is intercalated into graphite with different degrees of oxidation to form a graphite intercalation compound (GIC) by means of ultrasound and stirring. Then, they are exfoliated by being heated at high temperatures. After ammonium bicarbonate intercalation and heating treatment, XRD, TG, and BET show that the intercalation and exfoliation effect of graphite oxide (GO) is better than that of graphite (G) and expanded graphite (EG). The intercalation mechanism is that the ammonia molecule in ammonium bicarbonate solution contains a wedge-shaped structure and active point, which provides empty orbits for graphite electrons and forms edge intercalation through physical interaction at the same time.
Study of the Gastrointestinal Heat Retention Syndrome in Children: From Diagnostic Model to Biological Basis
Authors: Ma Xueyan , Mei Chencheng , Huang Ling , Bai Chen , Xu Jingnan , Wan Yuxiang , Zhen Jianhua , Li Zhuo , Cui Lijun , Liu Shaoyang , Liu Tiegang , Yu He , Gu Xiaohong
Published: December 2019

Gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome (GHRS) refers to a condition that is associated with increased gastrointestinal heat caused by a metabolic block in energy. It is common in children and is closely related to the occurrence and development of recurrent respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, recurrent functional abdominal pain, etc. However, there are no standardized diagnostic criteria to differentiate the GHRS. Therefore, this study is aimed to establish a diagnostic model for children’s GHRS and explore the possible biological basis by using systems biology to achieve. Furthermore, Delphi method and the clinical data of Lasso analysis were used to screen out the core symptoms. Nineteen core symptoms of GHRS in children were screened including digestive symptoms such as dry stool, poor appetite, vomiting, and some nervous system symptoms such as night restlessness and irritability. Based on the core symptoms, a GHRS diagnosis model was established using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method, and the accuracy of internal verification reached 93.03%. Relevant targets of the core symptoms in the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) were retrieved, and target interactions were linked through the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database, and core targets were selected after topological analysis using Cytoscape. Relevant biological processes and pathways were analyzed by applying the DAVID and KEGG databases. The enriched biological processes focused on the cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial metabolism, which were mainly associated with PI3K-AKT, MAPK network pathways, and the Wnt signaling pathway. In conclusion, we established a diagnosis model of GHRS in children based on the core symptoms and provided an objective standard for its clinical diagnosis. And, the Wnt signaling pathway and the estrogen receptor-activated PI3K-AKT and MAPK network pathways may play important roles in the GHRS processing.
Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis: What the Future Might Hold regarding Novel Biomarkers and Add-On Therapies
Authors: Fonseca Lucas José Sá da , Nunes-Souza Valéria , Goulart Marília Oliveira Fonseca , Rabelo Luiza Antas
Published: December 2019

Numerous rheumatologic autoimmune diseases, among which rheumatoid arthritis, are chronic inflammatory diseases capable of inducing multiple cumulative articular and extra-articular damage, if not properly treated. Nevertheless, benign conditions may, similarly, exhibit arthritis as their major clinical finding, but with short-term duration instead, and evolve to spontaneous resolution in a few days to weeks, without permanent articular damage. Such distinction—self-limited arthritis with no need of immunosuppressive treatment or chronic arthritis at early stages?—represents one of the greatest challenges in clinical practice, once many metabolic, endocrine, neoplastic, granulomatous, infectious diseases and other autoimmune conditions may mimic rheumatoid arthritis. Indeed, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis at early stages is a crucial step to a more effective mitigation of the disease-related damage. As a prototype of chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to oxidative stress, a condition in which the pool of reactive oxygen species increases over time, either by their augmented production, the reduction in antioxidant defenses, or the combination of both, ultimately implying compromise in the redox signaling. The exact mechanisms through which oxidative stress may contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of local (in the articular milieu) and systemic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, particularly at early stages, still remain to be determined. Furthermore, the role of antioxidants as therapeutic adjuvants in the control of disease activity seems to be overlooked, as a little number of short studies addressing this issue is currently found. Thus, the present review focuses on the binomialrheumatoid arthritis-oxidative stress, bringing insights into their pathophysiological relationships, as well as the implications of potential diagnostic oxidative stress biomarkers and therapeutic interventions directed to the oxidative status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The Incidence of Postoperative Complications after Gastrectomy Increases in Proportion to the Amount of Preoperative Visceral Fat
Authors: Okada Kazuyuki , Nishigori Tatsuto , Obama Kazutaka , Tsunoda Shigeru , Hida Koya , Hisamori Shigeo , Sakai Yoshiharu
Published: December 2019

Background. Visceral obesity is a risk factor for complications after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. However, it is unclear whether postoperative complications decrease with preoperative reduction of visceral fat without the achievement of a nonobese state. This is because previous studies have performed categorical comparisons of obesity and nonobesity. The current study was performed to estimate the impact of the preoperative visceral fat area (VFA) as a continuous variable on postoperative complications after gastrectomy. Methods. Consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy between June 2006 and August 2017 at the Kyoto University Hospital were included in this retrospective study. The VFA at the level of the umbilicus was measured using preoperative computed tomography. The relationship between postoperative complications and VFA was investigated with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results. total of 566 patients were included in the study. Their mean VFA was 110 ± 58 cm2, and postoperative complications occurred in 121 patients (21.4%). The larger the VFA (<50, 50–99, 100–149, and ≥150 cm2), the higher the incidence of postoperative complications (11%, 14%, 21%, and 38%, respectively, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the VFA was associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio: 1.009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004–1.013, P<0.001), with an incidence of postoperative complications that was 9% (95% CI: 4%–12%) higher for every 10 cm2 increase in the VFA. Conclusion. The incidence of postoperative complications after gastrectomy increases in proportion to an increase in the preoperative VFA.
Identification of Tomato Disease Types and Detection of Infected Areas Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks and Object Detection Techniques
Authors: Wang Qimei , Qi Feng , Sun Minghe , Qu Jianhua , Xue Jie
Published: December 2019

This study develops tomato disease detection methods based on deep convolutional neural networks and object detection models. Two different models, Faster R-CNN and Mask R-CNN, are used in these methods, where Faster R-CNN is used to identify the types of tomato diseases and Mask R-CNN is used to detect and segment the locations and shapes of the infected areas. To select the model that best fits the tomato disease detection task, four different deep convolutional neural networks are combined with the two object detection models. Data are collected from the Internet and the dataset is divided into a training set, a validation set, and a test set used in the experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed models can accurately and quickly identify the eleven tomato disease types and segment the locations and shapes of the infected areas.
A Runaway PRH/HHEX-Notch3–Positive Feedback Loop Drives Cholangiocarcinoma and Determines Response to CDK4/6 Inhibition
Authors: Kitchen Philip , Lee Ka Ying , Clark Danielle , Lau Nikki , Lertsuwan Jomnarong , Sawasdichai Anyaporn , Satayavivad Jutamaad , Oltean Sebastian , Afford Simon , Gaston Kevin , Jayaraman Padma-Sheela
Published: December 2019

Aberrant Notch and Wnt signaling are known drivers of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), but the underlying factors that initiate and maintain these pathways are not known. Here, we show that the proline-rich homeodomain protein/hematopoietically expressed homeobox (PRH/HHEX) transcription factor forms a positive transcriptional feedback loop with Notch3 that is critical in CCA. PRH/HHEX expression is elevated in CCA, and depletion of PRH reduces CCA tumor growth in a xenograft model. Overexpression of PRH in primary human biliary epithelial cells is sufficient to increase cell proliferation and produce an invasive phenotype. Interrogation of the gene networks regulated by PRH and Notch3 reveals that unlike Notch3, PRH directly activates canonical Wnt signaling. These data indicate that hyperactivation of Notch and Wnt signaling is independent of the underlying mutational landscape and has a common origin in dysregulation of PRH. Moreover, they suggest new therapeutic options based on the dependence of specific Wnt, Notch, and CDK4/6 inhibitors on PRH activity.

Significance:

The PRH/HHEX transcription factor is an oncogenic driver in cholangiocarcinoma that confers sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors.