bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Charged stars in 4D Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet gravity
Authors: Banerjee Ayan , Hansraj Sudan , Moodly Lushen
Published: September 2021

An alternative gravity theory that has attracted considerable attention recently is the novel four-dimensional Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (4EGB) gravity. This idea was proposed to bypass the Lovelock’s theorem and to permit nontrivial higher curvature effects on the four-dimensional local gravity. In this approach, the Gauss–Bonnet (GB) coupling constant $$\alpha $$
α
is rescaled by a factor of $$\alpha /(D -4)$$

α
/
(
D
-
4
)

in D dimensions and taking the limit $$D \rightarrow 4$$

D
→
4

. In this article, we analyze the effects of charge on static compact stars in the regularized 4D EGB gravity theory. Two classes of new exact solutions are found for a particular choice of the gravitational potential and assuming a relationship between the electric field intensity and the spatial potential. A graphical analysis indicates that the matter and electromagnetic variables are well behaved for specific values of the parameter space. Finally, based on physical grounds appropriate bounds on the model parameters we show that compact objects with the value of adiabatic index $$\gamma $$
γ
is consistent with expectations.
Method for measuring node importance in complex networks based on local characteristics
Authors: Ruan Yirun , Tang Jun , Wang Haoran , Guo Jinlin , Qin Wanting
Published: September 2021

Identifying critical nodes in complex networks has gained increasing attention in recent years. However, how to design an algorithm that has low computational complexity but can accurately identify important network nodes is still a challenge. Considering the role of structural holes in shaping communication channels, this paper presents an effective method based on local characteristics to identify critical nodes that play important roles in maintaining network connectivity. Our method considers the connections of a node as well as the connectivity of the neighborhood of the node. Through numerical simulations on various real-world networks, we have demonstrated that the proposed approach outperforms some other well-known heuristic algorithms in identifying vital nodes and leads to faster network collapse in target destruction.
Electronic and magnetic properties of bulk and surfaces half-Heusler alloy KCaB and its bulk thermoelectric properties
Authors: Khalaf Al-zyadi Jabbar M. , Abed Wed A. , Ati Ahmed Hamad
Published: September 2021

This paper discusses the structural, electronic, magnetic, and half-metallic properties of half-Heusler alloy KCaB. First-principles calculation based on density functional theory is successfully used to determine properties at bulk and on the (111) and (001) surfaces of KCaB. KCaB is half-metallic ferromagnet with a magnetic moment of 1 [Formula: see text] and an energy gap equal to 0.82 eV in the lower spin channel. The [Formula: see text]-type doped exhibits higher Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and figure of merit than the [Formula: see text]-type-doped KCaB at room-temperature 300 K. The half-metallic property is preserved in each of the ends Ca and B on the (111) surface and is lost in the ends K (111) and B and KCa (001) slab surface. The relaxation effect on the electronic spin states decreases the magnetic moment of some atoms on the end surface because the relaxation of the atomic sites is affected and the loss of the nearest neighbors affects exchange–correlation interactions. The surface end with Ca is more stable than the surface end with B on the (111) surface and can maintain the property of half metallic under relatively large stress.
What actually happens when you approach a gravitational singularity?
Authors: Scott Susan M. , Whale Ben W.
Published: September 2021

Roger Penrose’s 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes that his identification of the concepts of “gravitational singularity” and an “incomplete, inextendible, null geodesic” is physically very important. The existence of an incomplete, inextendible, null geodesic does not say much, however, if anything, about curvature divergence, nor is it a helpful definition for performing actual calculations. Physicists have long sought for a coordinate independent method of defining where a singularity is located, given an incomplete, inextendible, null geodesic, that also allows for standard analytic techniques to be implemented. In this essay, we present a solution to this issue. It is now possible to give a concrete relationship between an incomplete, inextendible, null geodesic and a gravitational singularity, and to study any possible curvature divergence using standard techniques.
RIEMANN–LIOUVILLE FRACTIONAL INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH FRACTIONAL NONLOCAL MULTI-POINT BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: AHMAD BASHIR , ALGHAMDI BADRAH , AGARWAL RAVI P. , ALSAEDI AHMED
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions for Riemann–Liouville fractional integro-differential equations equipped with fractional nonlocal multi-point and strip boundary conditions in the weighted space. The methods of our study include the well-known tools of the fixed point theory, which are commonly applied to establish the existence theory for the initial and boundary value problems after converting them into the fixed point problems. We also discuss the case when the nonlinearity depends on the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals of the unknown function. Numerical examples illustrating the main results are presented.
REGARDING NEW NUMERICAL RESULTS FOR THE DYNAMICAL MODEL OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVE
Authors: GAO WEI , VEERESHA P. , PRAKASHA D. G. , BASKONUS HACI MEHMET
Published: September 2021

The main purpose of the present investigation is to find the solution of fractional coupled equations describing the romantic relationships using [Formula: see text]-homotopy analysis transform method ([Formula: see text]-HATM). The considered scheme is a unification of [Formula: see text]-homotopy analysis technique with Laplace transform (LT). More preciously, we scrutinized the behavior of the obtained solution for the considered model with fractional-order, in order to elucidate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Further, for the different fractional-order and parameters offered by the considered method, the physical natures have been apprehended. The obtained consequences evidence that the proposed method is very effective and highly methodical to study and examine the nature and its corresponding consequences of the system of fractional order differential equations describing the real word problems.
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS FOR THE VARIABLE ORDER TWO-DIMENSIONAL REACTION SUB-DIFFUSION EQUATION: LINEAR AND NONLINEAR
Authors: ADEL MOHAMED
Published: September 2021

The applications and the fields that use the anomalous sub-diffusion equations cannot be easily listed due to their wide area. Sure, one of the main physical reasons for using and researching fractional order diffusion equations is to explain anomalous diffusion that occurs in transport processes through complex and/or disordered structures, such as fractal media. One of the important applications is their use in chemical reactions, where a single material continues to shift from a high concentration area to a low concentration area until the concentration across the space is equal. The mathematical model that describes these physical-chemical phenomena is called the reaction sub-diffusion equation. In our study, we try to solve the 2D variable order version of these equations (2DVORSE) (linear and nonlinear) by using an accurate numerical technique which is the variable weighted average finite difference method (WAFDM). We will analyze the stability of the resulting scheme by using a modified suitable version of the John Von Neumann procedure. Specific stability conditions that occur or some parameters in the resulting schemes are derived and checked. At the end of the study, numerical examples are simulated to check the stability and the accuracy of the proposed technique.
EXISTENCE THEORY TO A CLASS OF FRACTIONAL ORDER HYBRID DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: JAN MUHAMMAD NAEEM , ZAMAN GUL , AHMAD IMTIAZ , ALI NIGAR , NISAR KOTTAKKARAN SOOPPY , ABDEL-ATY ABDEL-HALEEM , ZAKARYA M.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we develop the theory of fractional order hybrid differential equations involving Riemann–Liouville differential operators of order [Formula: see text]. We study the existence theory to a class of boundary value problems for fractional order hybrid differential equations. The sum of three operators is used to prove the key results for a couple of hybrid fixed point theorems. We obtain sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions. Moreover, examples are also presented to show the significance of the results.
CAPUTO TYPE FRACTIONAL OPERATOR APPLIED TO HEPATITIS B SYSTEM
Authors: DIN ANWARUD , LI YONGJIN , YUSUF ABDULLAHI , ALI ALIYU ISA
Published: September 2021

In our research work, we develop the analysis of a noninteger-order model for hepatitis B (HBV) under singular type Caputo fractional-order derivative. We investigated our proposed system for an approximate or semi-analytical solution using Laplace transform along with decomposition techniques by Adomian polynomial of nonlinear terms and some perturbation techniques of Homotopy (HPM). The obtained solutions have been compared with each other against some real data by simulation via MATLAB. The graphical simulation in fractional form shows a better general result as compared to integer-order simulation.
Investment, Financing, Dividend, and Production Policies: Review and Integration
Authors: Lee Cheng Few , Lee Alice C.
Published: September 2021

The main purposes of this paper are (i) to review investment, financing, dividend, and production policies in some detail; (ii) to discuss how these four policies are interrelated and integrate these four policies into a composite policy; (iii) to discuss the impacts of financing, dividend, and production policies on the beta coefficient; and (iv) to develop hypotheses to be used for empirical studies on the interaction among financing, dividend, and production policies. A theoretical relationship between beta coefficient and financing, dividend, and production policies is developed. This paper gives an overall view of the four policies used in finance education and research for the last five decades.
Limit measures and ergodicity of fractional stochastic reaction–diffusion equations on unbounded domains
Authors: Chen Zhang , Wang Bixiang
Published: September 2021

This paper deals with invariant measures of fractional stochastic reaction–diffusion equations on unbounded domains with locally Lipschitz continuous drift and diffusion terms. We first prove the existence and regularity of invariant measures, and then show the tightness of the set of all invariant measures of the equation when the noise intensity varies in a bounded interval. We also prove that every limit of invariant measures of the perturbed systems is an invariant measure of the corresponding limiting system. Under further conditions, we establish the ergodicity and the exponentially mixing property of invariant measures.
Non-local probes of entanglement in the scale-invariant gravity
Authors: Pirmoradian R. , Reza Tanhayi M.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we study the generic action for the scale-invariant theory of gravity and then by making use of the holographic methods, we compute some specific holographic measures of entanglement. Precisely, we calculate the entanglement entropy, mutual and tripartite information and show that the mutual information is always positive while the tripartite information becomes negative. This indeed recovers the monogamy property of mutual information in this context.
General Analytical Solutions for Dynamic Load-Carrying Capacity of Brittle Materials Under an Arbitrary Incident Stress Wave
Authors: Yan Cheng , Liu Rui , Li Guoqiang , Ou Zhuocheng
Published: September 2021

In this study, two general solutions for the dynamic tensile load-carrying capacity of brittle materials subject to an arbitrary incident stress wave in the form of Fourier integrals are derived. In order to verify the general solutions, we reduce them to three particular solutions, respectively, i.e., trapezoidal pulse, quadratic pulse and cubic pulse. It is found that all of them can well capture the experimental trends in the previous studies. In between, the first two particular solutions can exactly accord with the two previous analytical solutions under the same boundary conditions, respectively. Therefore, for arbitrary tensile boundary pulses, the dynamic tensile strength of the brittle materials can be calculated from static parameters and characteristics of external loading. This study improves the credibility of the previous works that working on deriving the dynamic load-carrying capacity through analytical methods, and thus, consolidate their theoretical foundation. Meanwhile, on basis of the general solution, the relation between the dynamic tensile load-carrying capacity and strain rate can be further deduced by combining static parameters, hence, it could be inappropriate to claim the strain rate effect on tensile strength as an intrinsic material property anymore. In addition, we found that the process to obtain an explicit analytical solution becomes increasingly difficult with the increased complexity of waveform for an incident pulse, or even no explicit solution can be obtained.
Tunable electromagnetic interference shielding ability of MXene/chitosan/silver nanowire sandwich films
Authors: Wang Wei , Bing Xiaoyu , Zhou Yutong , Geng Miaomiao , Zhan Yanhu , Xia Hesheng , Chen Zhenming
Published: September 2021

The structural design of thin films is attracting attention in academia and industry in attempts to improve electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). In this study, MXene/chitosan/silver nanowire (AgNW) sandwich films, in which the AgNW core layer was bordered by two MXene/chitosan layers, were fabricated by vacuum-assisted filtration. Because of the interconnected AgNWs in the core layer and the aligned MXene sheets in the MXene/chitosan layers, the electrical conductivity of the sandwich film reached 11,459.1 S/m. Consequently, the sandwich film exhibited an SE value of 82.3 dB. What is more, when both the AgNW and MXene contents were 33.3%, the sandwich film’s EMI SE divided by its thickness was 26,167 dB/cm, which was much superior to the values reported for inorganic hybrid composites and polymer composites filled with hybrid fillers. Such a simple approach was proved to be an effective way for further structure design of thin films in EMI shielding field.
A Computationally Efficient Rayleigh–Ritz Model for Heterogeneous Oceanic Waveguides Using Fourier Series of Sound Speed Profile
Authors: Chowdhury A. D. , Bhattacharyya S. K. , Vendhan C. P.
Published: September 2021

The normal mode method is widely used in ocean acoustic propagation. Usually, finite difference and finite element methods are used in its solution. Recently, a method has been proposed for heterogeneous layered waveguides where the depth eigenproblem is solved using the classical Rayleigh–Ritz approximation. The method has high accuracy for low to high frequency problems. However, the matrices that appear in the eigenvalue problem for radial wavenumbers require numerical integration of the matrix elements since the sound speed and density profiles are numerically defined. In this paper, a technique is proposed to reduce the computational cost of the Rayleigh–Ritz method by expanding the sound speed profile in a Fourier series using nonlinear least square fit so that the integrals of the matrix elements can be computed in closed form. This technique is tested in a variety of problems and found to be sufficiently accurate in obtaining the radial wavenumbers as well as the transmission loss in a waveguide. The computational savings obtained by this approach is remarkable, the improvements being one or two orders of magnitude.
The role of globins in cardiovascular physiology
Authors: Keller T. C. Stevenson , Lechauve Christophe , Keller Alexander S. , Brooks Steven , Weiss Mitchell J. , Columbus Linda , Ackerman Hans , Cortese-Krott Miriam M. , Isakson Brant E.
Published: September 2021

Globin proteins exist in every cell type of the vasculature, from erythrocytes to endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and peripheral nerve cells. Many globin subtypes are also expressed in muscle tissues (including cardiac and skeletal muscle), in other organ-specific cell types, and in cells of the central nervous system (CNS). The ability of each of these globins to interact with molecular oxygen (O2) and nitric oxide (NO) is preserved across these contexts. Endothelial α-globin is an example of extraerythrocytic globin expression. Other globins, including myoglobin, cytoglobin, and neuroglobin, are observed in other vascular tissues. Myoglobin is observed primarily in skeletal muscle and smooth muscle cells surrounding the aorta or other large arteries. Cytoglobin is found in vascular smooth muscle but can also be expressed in nonvascular cell types, especially in oxidative stress conditions after ischemic insult. Neuroglobin was first observed in neuronal cells, and its expression appears to be restricted mainly to the CNS and the peripheral nervous system. Brain and CNS neurons expressing neuroglobin are positioned close to many arteries within the brain parenchyma and can control smooth muscle contraction and thus tissue perfusion and vascular reactivity. Overall, reactions between NO and globin heme iron contribute to vascular homeostasis by regulating vasodilatory NO signals and scavenging reactive species in cells of the mammalian vascular system. Here, we discuss how globin proteins affect vascular physiology, with a focus on NO biology, and offer perspectives for future study of these functions.
Distributed Policy Evaluation with Fractional Order Dynamics in Multiagent Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Dai Wei , Wang Wei , Mao Zhongtian , Jiang Ruwen , Nian Fudong , Li Teng
Published: September 2021

The main objective of multiagent reinforcement learning is to achieve a global optimal policy. It is difficult to evaluate the value function with high-dimensional state space. Therefore, we transfer the problem of multiagent reinforcement learning into a distributed optimization problem with constraint terms. In this problem, all agents share the space of states and actions, but each agent only obtains its own local reward. Then, we propose a distributed optimization with fractional order dynamics to solve this problem. Moreover, we prove the convergence of the proposed algorithm and illustrate its effectiveness with a numerical example.
Fruit Volatile Fingerprints Characterized among Four Commercial Cultivars of Thai Durian (Durio zibethinus)
Authors: Aschariyaphotha Wattana , Wongs-Aree Chalermchai , Bodhipadma Kitti , Noichinda Sompoch
Published: September 2021

Ripe durian fruits produce unique volatiles of pungent odor comprising esters, alcohols, ketones, and sulfur-containing compounds. Recently, “Chanthaburi 1” hybrid bred from 2 famous commercial cultivars of “Chanee” and “Monthong” claimed to be less fragrant during ripening, but there was no report. The present study compared the volatile profiles from 3 Thai commercial cultivars of “Kanyao,” “Chanee,” and “Monthong” compared to “Chanthaburi 1”, and the relationships of the cultivars were organized using the volatile fingerprints. Out of 41 volatile compounds detected by SPME/GC-MS in ripe durian flesh, 33 compounds were esters, but only 14 esters were found in “Chanthaburi 1.” Ripe flesh of most durian cultivars contains ethyl-2-methyl butanoate and ethyl hexanoate as the active volatiles. “Chanthaburi 1” contained fewer components with low odor activity value (OAV) of the volatiles. “Chanee” ripe flesh exhibited the strongest durian smell among the four varieties, whereas “Monthong” exhibited a strong apple-like fruity odor and “Kanyao” was more green fruity. Diethyl disulfide and 3, 5 dimethyl-1, 2, 4-trithiolane contributing pungent smells of garlic or onion were found only in “Chanthaburi 1” and “Monthong.” In terms of detected volatiles, “Kanyao” and “Chanee” were highly close when “Monthong” was apart. PCA analysis revealed that “Chanthaburi 1” contained ester compounds ancestrally related to the parents, “Chanee” in the component I and “Monthong” in the component II. These data could be beneficial for managing the status of Thai durians in global markets.
Periodic Solutions with Prescribed Minimal Period for
2
n
th-Order Nonlinear Discrete Systems
Authors: Shi Haiping , Luo Peifang , Huang Zan
Published: September 2021

In this paper, by using the critical point theory, some new results of the existence of at least two nontrivial periodic solutions with prescribed minimal period to a class of

2
n

th-order nonlinear discrete system are obtained. The main approach used in our paper is variational technique and the linking theorem. The problem is to solve the existence of periodic solutions with prescribed minimal period of

2
n

th-order discrete systems.
Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Adsorbed Gas and Gas Production in Shale Formations
Authors: Hu Zhiming , Duan Xianggang , Shao Nan , Xu Yingying , Chang Jin , Shen Rui , Chen Xueke
Published: September 2021

Adsorbed gas and free gas both exist in shale reservoirs simultaneously due to the unique nanoscale pore structure, resulting in the complex flow mechanism of gas in the reservoir during the development process. The dynamic performance analysis of shale reservoirs has mostly been conducted by the numerical simulation and theoretical model, while the physical simulation method for relevant research is seen rarely in the literature. Thus, in this paper, an experiment system was designed to simulate the degraded development experiments of shale, coal, and tight sandstone to reveal the output law of gas in different occurrence states of shale reservoirs and clarify the pressure propagation rules of different reservoirs, and then, adsorption gas and free gas production laws were studied by theoretical models. Research indicated the following: (1) The gas occurrence state is the main factor that causes the difference of the pressure drop rate and gas production law of shale, coal, and tight sandstone. During the early stage of the development of shale gas, the free gas is mainly produced; the final contribution of free gas production can reach more than 90%. (2) The static desorption and dynamic experiments confirm that the critical desorption pressure of adsorbed gas is generally between 12 and 15 MPa. When the gas reservoir pressure is lower than the critical desorption pressure in shale and coal formation, desorption occurs. Due to the slow propagation of shale matrix pressure, desorption of adsorbed gas occurs mainly in the low-pressure region close to the fracture surface. (3) The material balance theory of closed gas reservoirs and the one-dimensional flow model of shale gas have subsequently validated the production performance law of adsorbed gas and free gas by the physical simulation. Therefore, in the practical development of shale gas reservoirs, it is recommended to shorten the matrix supply distance, reduce the pressure in the fracture, increase the effective pressure gradient, and enhance the potential utilization of adsorbed gas as soon as possible to increase the ultimate recovery. The findings of this study can help for a better understanding of the shale reservoir utilization law so as to provide a reference for production optimization and development plan formulation of the shale gas reservoirs.
Construction of Corporate Investment Decision Support Model Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Song Jian-tao
Published: September 2021

Aiming at the problem of corporate investment decision support, this paper proposes and constructs a stock quality evaluation model based on deep learning and applies it to the stock quality evaluation of e-commerce enterprises. Firstly, LSTM neural network is used to construct the evaluation and prediction model. Secondly, the evaluation index system is constructed. Finally, the structure and parameters of the model are designed, and the prediction model is tested and evaluated through simulation experiments. The experiments prove that the model is reasonable and feasible, which can provide a reference for investors to make decisions.
Exploration of Unsteady Squeezing Flow through Least Squares Homotopy Perturbation Method
Authors: Qayyum Mubashir , Oscar Imbsat
Published: September 2021

Squeezing flow has many applications in different fields including chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering as these flows can be observed in many hydrodynamical tools and machines. Due to importance of squeezing flow, in this paper, an unsteady squeezing flow of a viscous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid which is passing through porous medium has been modeled and analyzed with and without slip effects at the boundaries. The least squares homotopy perturbation method (LSHPM) has been proposed to determine the solutions of nonlinear boundary value problems. To check the validity and convergence of the proposed scheme (LSHPM), the modeled problems are also solved with the Fehlberg–Runge–Kutta method (RKF45) and homotopy perturbation method (HPM) and residual errors are compared with LSHPM. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current problems have not been attempted before with LSHPM. Moreover, the impact of different fluid parameters on the velocity profile has been examined graphically in slip and no-slip cases. Analysis shows that the Reynolds number, MHD parameter, and porosity parameter have opposite effects in case of slip and no slip at the boundaries. It is also observed that nonzero slip parameter accelerates the velocity profile near the boundaries. Analysis also reveals that LSHPM provides better results in terms of accuracy as compared to HPM and RKF45 and can be effectively used for the fluid flow problems.
Research on Ignition Energy Characteristics and Explosion Propagation Law of Coal Dust Cloud under Different Conditions
Authors: Liu Tianqi , Jia Ruiheng , Sun Ruicheng , Tian Weiye , Wang Ning , Cai Zhixin
Published: September 2021

To study the ignition energy characteristics and explosion propagation law of coal dust cloud, a kind of coal dust cloud is studied through experiment and numerical simulation under different conditions. The result indicated that ignition delay time and dust spray pressure have obvious effects on the minimum ignition energy of coal dust cloud. CFD theory is used to simulate the explosion flame propagation. It is found that the simulation error of flame propagation distance is acceptable and the simulation result is consistent with the experimental result. When the spray pressure is 0.06 MPa, the flame propagation distance is the farthest, indicating that the turbulence of coal dust cloud is the largest at this condition. As the ignition temperature increases, the flame propagation distance continues to increase, proving that ignition temperature has an obvious effect on the flame propagation process of coal dust cloud explosion.
Generative Adversarial Network for Damage Identification in Civil Structures
Authors: Rastin Zahra , Ghodrati Amiri Gholamreza , Darvishan Ehsan
Published: September 2021

In recent years, many efforts have been made to develop efficient deep‐learning‐based structural health monitoring (SHM) methods. Most of the proposed methods employ supervised algorithms that require data from different damaged states of a structure in order to monitor its health conditions. As such data are not usually available for real civil structures, using supervised algorithms for the health monitoring of these structures might be impracticable. This paper presents a novel two‐stage technique based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) for unsupervised SHM and damage identification. In the first stage, a deep convolutional GAN (DCGAN) is used to detect and quantify structural damages; the detected damages are then localized in the second stage using a conditional GAN (CGAN). Raw acceleration signals from a monitored structure are used for this purpose, and the networks are trained by only the intact state data of the structure. The proposed method is validated through applications on the numerical model of a bridge health monitoring (BHM) benchmark structure, an experimental steel structure located at Qatar University, and the full‐scale Tianjin Yonghe Bridge.
Safety Profile, In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity, and In Vivo Antiulcerogenic Potential of Root Barks from Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae)
Authors: Konaté Kiessoun , Sanou Abdoudramane , Aworet-Samseny Raïssa R. R. , Benkhalti Fatiha , Sytar Oksana , Brestic Marian , Souza Alain , Dicko Mamoudou Hama
Published: September 2021

Annona senegalensis (Annonaceae) is a tropical shrub widely distributed in Burkina Faso. This plant is traditionally used as a medicine against many pathologies including typhoid fever, gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, and inflammatory and infectious diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiulcer properties of Annona senegalensis root bark extracts. Therefore, toxicity tests were first performed, followed by other biological tests. For this purpose, we first undertook to evaluate the toxicity tests before considering the other biological tests in a second step. The results showed that the extracted fractions had a significant effect for the different methods used (protein denaturation inhibition activity, hyaluronidase inhibition activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibition activity). However, of the extracted fractions used, the ethyl acetate fraction was the most anti-inflammatory fraction. The antiulcer activity was evaluated using the best bioactive fraction. The antiulcer effect of the ethyl acetate fraction may be due to both the reduction of gastric acid secretion and gastric cytoprotection. The results of this study also showed that the bioactive fraction reduced ethanol-induced ulceration and pyloric ligation in a dose-dependent manner, and at the highest dose (200 mg/kg), the effect was similar to that of the reference drug. In summary, the ethyl acetate fraction was found to have the best anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activities. The ethyl acetate fraction at a dose of 200 mg/kg also showed a rather interesting level of cytoprotection. The anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities could be due to the different secondary metabolites contained in the fractions extracted from Annona senegalensis, notably flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, and tannins. As the mechanisms of action are still little or not understood, we will consider in the future identifying the phytoconstituents and the mechanisms of action involved in the results.
Effect of BuShen JiangZhi Recipe on Atherosclerosis in ApoE−/- Mice by Regulating the Expression of Anpep via mmu_circRNA_22187
Authors: Yan Li , Jia Qingling , Cao Hui , He Pingyi , Xing Sanli , Huang Yan , Chen Chuan , Shen Dingzhu
Published: September 2021

The BuShen JiangZhi (BSJZ) recipe is a Chinese medicine compound with the effect of tonifying the kidney, replenishing essence, and lowering blood fat to unblock vessels. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the mechanism of BSJZ for effective intervention in the treatment of AS is related to mmu_circRNA_22187 and aminopeptidase N (Anpep). ApoE-/- mice were induced by a high-fat diet to replicate the AS model. 24 ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into model group (group M), BSJZ group (group BS), and 12 C57BL/6 mice of the same genetic background and same weeks of age as the normal control group (group C). Mice in the BS group were given an aqueous solution of BSJZ by gavage, while mice in groups C and M were given the same volume of distilled water. HE and Oil Red O staining were used to detect the pathomorphology and lipid accumulation of mouse aortic sinus. Arraystar version 2.0 mouse circRNA chip was used to scan with Agilent Scanner G2505C, and the differential circRNAs expression profile of mice aorta was obtained. Scatter plot, volcano plot, and cluster map, respectively, visualized the differentially expressed circRNAs, as well as the types of circRNAs and the chromosomes’ distribution, screened and compared the differentially expressed circRNAs intersection between groups by Venny software, and then combined ceRNA bioinformatics analysis to construct a ceRNA network. The results showed that BSJZ could significantly reduce the area of AS plaque and lipid accumulation in the aortic sinus of ApoE-/- mice induced by a high-fat diet. The bioinformatics analysis showed that mmu_circRNA_22187 may be a key circRNA of BSJZ intervention in the treatment of AS. Compared with group C, the expressions of Anpep mRNA and protein were upregulated in group M. After the intervention of BSJZ, the expressions of Anpep mRNA and protein were downregulated. Therefore, BSJZ could effectively treat AS which might be related to the regulation of mmu_circRNA_22187 and Anpep.
Hedyotis diffusa Willd. Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Downregulating AKT/mTOR Pathways
Authors: Huang Lingli , Xu Hui , Wu Tianyu , Li Gaofeng
Published: September 2021

Objective. Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (HDW) is a famous Chinese herbal medicine, traditionally used to treat cancer in China. Currently, the clinically used drugs for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still have poor efficacy and have many side effects. HDW has fewer side effects after taking it, so this study explores the inhibitory effect of HDW on HCC, which may become a promising drug for the treatment of HCC. Methods. HCC cell lines such as SMMC-7721, SK-hep1, and Hep-G2 were treated with Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (HDW), after which migration was detected via transwell, while the proliferation of these cells was detected via MTT, CCK-8, and colony formation assays. Furthermore, protein levels were evaluated by western blotting, and Hep-G2 cells were implanted in nude mice to establish a xenograft model to evaluate the antitumor effect of the drug. Results. HDW exhibited the ability to inhibit the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. And its anticancer mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma may be via AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, the drug use of HDW in the mouse model system has achieved a good effect. Importantly, it did not cause significant weight loss or hepatorenal toxicity. Conclusion. HDW can suppress the activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway in HCC cells, which may bring new light for the treatment of this kind of malignant tumor, but its exact mechanism still needs to be further explored.
Research on Key Algorithms of the Lung CAD System Based on Cascade Feature and Hybrid Swarm Intelligence Optimization for MKL‐SVM
Authors: Chang Jiayue , Li Yang , Zheng Hewei
Published: September 2021

Feature selection and lung nodule recognition are the core modules of the lung computer‐aided detection (Lung CAD) system. To improve the performance of the Lung CAD system, algorithmic research is carried out for the above two parts, respectively. First, in view of the poor interpretability of deep features and the incomplete expression of clinically defined handcrafted features, a feature cascade method is proposed to obtain richer feature information of nodules as the final input of the classifier. Second, to better map the global characteristics of samples, the multiple kernel learning support vector machine (MKL‐SVM) algorithm with a linear convex combination of polynomial kernel and sigmoid kernel is proposed. Furthermore, this paper applied the methods for speed contraction factor and roulette strategy, and a mixture of simulated annealing (SA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used for global optimization, so as to solve the problem that the PSO is easy to lose particle diversity and fall into the local optimal solution as well as improve the model’s training speed. Therefore, the MKL‐SVM algorithm is presented in this paper, which is based on swarm intelligence optimization is proposed for lung nodule recognition. Finally, the algorithm construction experiments are conducted on the cooperative hospital dataset and compared with 8 advanced algorithms on the public dataset LUNA16. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithms can improve the accuracy of lung nodule recognition and reduce the missed detection of nodules.
Experimental Study of a New Concrete Admixture and Its Function in Filling and Reinforcing Granite Fissures
Authors: Ru Songnan , Li Zuozhou , Liu Handong , Yu Huaichang , Wei Chunlei , Hu Guangzhu , Xue Fangfang , Wang Congxian , Wang Jialiang
Published: September 2021

A concrete admixture with water retention and superhydrophobic properties was developed according to the high tensile strength, fissure resistance, and antiseepage requirements of concrete linings. Capillary water absorption, early-age anticracking, cube compressive strength, and splitting tensile tests were employed to study the effects of the new concrete admixture on the basic performance of concrete. On this basis, a triaxial compression test was conducted on granite fissures filled with concrete containing the admixture; the stress-strain and failure characteristics under different admixture dosages, confining pressures, and fracture widths were analyzed, and the reinforcement effect of the concrete with the admixture on the fractured rock mass was studied. The results show that the admixture can effectively improve the ability of concrete to resist water and fissures, and the concrete with the admixture significantly reinforced the fractured rock mass. Therefore, it can be widely applied in filling and reinforcing fractured rock masses.
Numerical Simulation of the Performance of Applying Different Nanofluids in a Tube with a 90° Bend at the Center of the Tube
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Sokhal Gurpreet Singh , Khalilpoor Nima , AlibekIssakhov  , Mosavati Babak
Published: September 2021

This research manuscript addresses the study of the performance of a flat tube having a 90° bend under the flow of three different nanofluids such as copper oxide, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and aluminum oxide/water nanofluids at different inlet fluid temperatures and Reynolds numbers. The performance of the flat tube is analyzed under the Reynolds number between 5000 and 11000 and a fluid inlet temperature range of 35°C–50°C. The results obtained in this study show that the heat transfer coefficient increases with the increase in volume concentration as well as Reynolds number. The maximum heat transfer coefficient is obtained using multiwalled carbon nanotubes followed by copper oxide and then aluminum oxide. This study also illustrates that the friction factor increases with the increase in volume concentration and decrease in Reynolds number. The results of the numerical study have been validated with the help of an experimental study. The study has proved that the use of nanofluids instead of the conventional fluid can lead to reducing the size of the tube for the same amount of heat transfer which can prove the reduction of the size in heat transfer equipment. Furthermore, it is also observed in this study that the presence of the 90° bend in the flat tube improved the heat transfer performance due to the increased turbulence at the bent section of the tube.
Ship Target Detection Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv3 for Maritime Image
Authors: Chen Dehai , Sun Shiru , Lei Zhijun , Shao Heng , Wang Yuzhao
Published: September 2021

Accurate identification of ships is the key technology of intelligent transportation in water. At the same time, it also provides a judgment basis for water traffic safety control. This paper proposed a detection method of ships in water based on improved You Only Look Once version 3 (YOLOv3), which is called Feature Attention, Feature Enhancement YOLOv3 (AE-YOLOv3). The feature attention module was constructed by introducing the attention mechanism, which was embedded in Darknet-53 for feature recalibration, which improved the feature extraction ability of the model in the complex navigable background. For the problem of insufficient semantic information of low-level features in the feature fusion process, a feature enhancement module was constructed and applied to the feature fusion part to enhance the receptive field size of the corresponding feature layer and the correlation degree of feature extraction network. Experiments were carried out on the public SeaShips dataset. Experiments show that the detection accuracy is as high as 98.72%, which is better than that of other mainstream ship identification models, fully verifying the superiority of this method in the detection of waterborne traffic ships.
Economic Order Quantity Model with Weibull Distributed Deterioration under a Mixed Cash and Prepayment Scheme
Authors: Alshanbari Huda M. , El-Bagoury Abd Al-Aziz H. , Khan Md. Al-Amin , Mondal Soumen , Shaikh Ali Akbar , Rashid Abdur
Published: September 2021

Two distinct inventory models are investigated for a deteriorating item under the frequency of advertisement and market price‐sensitive aggregate demand where the deterioration percentage complies with Weibull distribution. In one model, the stock‐out environment is not studied, while another one handles the stock‐out situation by moderately backordering based upon the waiting time duration for the products. Advance payment, another realistic feature, is implemented by paying off a fraction of the acquisition cost amid single or many equal segments from the order placing moment to receiving moment whereas the remaining fraction is accomplished at the order delivery instant by the practitioner to the supplier. The utmost aim is computing the inventory policy along with the market price and marketing strategy to reach the highest total profit for both models. The models formulated here extend several inventory studies previously developed in the literature and suggest several important outcomes. This makes two exceedingly nonlinear and mixed‐integer optimization problems, which are elucidated by constructing two efficacious algorithms. Two numerical illustrations are accomplished to perceive the working competence of the algorithms and the consequences of the parameters on the practitioner’s optimal policy are highlighted in a tabular form executing a sensitivity examination. Based on the performed analyses, finally, some decision‐making salient findings are obtained.
A Study on Steel‐Concrete‐Steel Wall to Resist Perforation from Rigid Projectile Impact
Authors: Han Pengfei , Liu Jingbo , Fei Bigang , Wang Fei
Published: September 2021

A calculation method of SCS wall which is used in the third generation of nuclear power plants to resist perforation from rigid projectile based on energy method is proposed in this paper. The energy is divided into four parts including the energy dissipated by front steel plate, concrete, back steel plate, and tie bars. The method accounts for the perforation of the concrete and steel plates separately and accounts for the interaction between them, and a practical antiperforation calculation formula of SCS wall with tie bars is given. The most formular results are close to the test results and the FEM results with a deviation less than 10%, which shows that the calculation formula given in this paper is reasonable and credible to effectively evaluate the perforation failure of the SCS wall and carry out a relevant design. The energy dissipated by the steel plate is much larger than that of the tie bars through a comparative analysis of dissipated energy. The effects of various factors on perforation velocity are analyzed according to finite element calculation results, which can be roughly divided into three categories: the influence of the thickness of steel plate and distance of tie bar is the largest effect, followed by that of yield strength of steel plate, yield strength of tie bar and diameter of tie bar, and that of compressive strength of concrete is the smallest effect.
LOXL2 Inhibitor Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Atrial Fibrosis and Vulnerability to Atrial Fibrillation through Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 Smad2/3 Pathway
Authors: Wu Yingbiao , Can Jin , Hao Shuwen , Qiang Xun , Ning Zhongping
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced atrial fibrosis plays a vital role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) plays an essential role in matrix remodeling and fibrogenesis, indicating it may involve fibrosis-associated diseases. This study aims to elucidate the role of LOXL2 in AF, and its specific inhibitor can suppress Ang II-induced inflammatory atrial fibrosis and attenuate the enhanced vulnerability to AF. Methods: Male mice C57BL/6 were subcutaneously infused with either saline or Ang II (2 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. DMSO or LOXL2 inhibitor LOXL2-IN-1 hydrochloride (LOXL2-IN-1) at a dose of 100 μg/kg/day were intraperitoneally injected once daily for 4 weeks. Morphological, histological, and biochemical analyses were performed. AF was induced by transesophageal burst pacing in vivo. Results: Expression of LOXL2 was increased in serum of AF patients and Ang II-treated mice. LOXL2-IN-1 significantly attenuated Ang II-induced AF vulnerability, cardiac hypertrophy, atrial inflammation, and fibrosis. LOXL2-IN-1 suppressed Ang II-induced expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and collagen I and phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in atrial tissue. Conclusions: LOXL2 is a target of AF, and its inhibitor prevents atrial fibrosis and attenuated enhanced vulnerability to AF potentially through the TGF-β/Smad pathway.
Proactive versus Reactive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Why, When, and How?
Authors: Shmais Manar , Regueiro Miguel , Hashash Jana G.
Published: September 2021

Background: Up to a third of inflammatory bowel disease) patients show primary nonresponse to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biological therapy, and of those who respond, up to 40% develop secondary loss of response (LOR). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) plays a crucial role in assessing patients with LOR to guide therapy by giving more of the drug or switching to a different biological agent. Although reactive TDM is suggested or recommended by the majority of gastroenterology associations, proactive TDM seems to be more controversial. Summary: In this article, we discuss the updated guidelines on TDM and will also discuss the available data supporting proactive and reactive TDM in patients with Crohn’s disease and those with ulcerative colitis using the different available biological agents. Key Messages: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a valuable tool to aid in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy optimization. Reactive TDM is widely accepted in IBD patients with suspected loss of response, especially in those receiving antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents. Proactive TDM is emerging as a reasonable approach to patients initiated on anti-TNF therapy, specifically infliximab and, to some extent, adalimumab, particularly for patients with severe ulcerative colitis and fistulizing Crohn’s disease. Similarly, TDM may play a role in patients considering de-escalation from combination therapy. To date, proactive TDM is not widely applied to ustekinumab and vedolizumab and more data are required before this becomes part of clinical practice.