bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Inspection Robotic System for Spherical Tanks: Design, Analysis and Application
Authors: Li Jie , Liang Guoan , Zheng Kai , Gui Chao , Tu Chunlei , Wang Xingsong
Published: March 2022

Automated robot inspection for spherical tank is beneficial to improving work efficiency and reducing costs. This paper presents an inspection robotic system that integrates software and hardware. The designed inspection robot can adsorb and climb on the vertical surface of tanks, carrying some equipment and tools. The mechanical structure of the robot includes four magnetic wheels, two drive components, a vision component and a multi-layer robot frame. Modular magnetic wheels can be installed and replaced quickly and easily. Additional grinding mechanism, cleaning mechanism and detection mechanism are also designed to achieve automated inspection and maintenance. The robotic system software is developed to achieve the remote control and monitoring of the robot. The deep networks of Mask R-CNN are applied to intelligently identify weld seams. Force balance and obstacle-negotiation performance of the robot are analyzed and simulated. Climbing experiments results indicate that the robot can carry 10.1 kg payload and climb stably on the vertical tank wall. In obstacle-surmounting experiments, the robot could smoothly negotiate the weld seam with a height of 4 mm. The robotic system can identify weld seams in real time after training and learning, the identification time of each image is about 0.2-0.25s. The field tests on a 3000 m3 spherical tank were carried out to test the practicality of the robotic system. The application of this inspection robotic system can effectively improve the automated inspection and maintenance of spherical tanks.
Association of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio with Preterm Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Mu Yuju , Wang Hua
Published: March 2022

Background
There have been few studies on the relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We conducted a retrospective case-control study to investigate this relationship in preterm neonates.
Methods
A total of 199 preterm neonates diagnosed with NEC between January 2018 and January 2020 were included in this study. For each preterm infant with NEC that was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), controls were preterm neonates (matched for gestation and year of birth) who were not diagnosed with NEC. Exclusion criteria were post-maturity, small or large for gestational age (week of pregnancy), congenital major anomalies, and cyanotic congenital heart disease. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association between NLR and preterm NEC.
Results
This study included 93 preterm neonates with NEC and 106 matched controls. There were no significant differences in gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), age, sex, vaginal delivery (VD), chorioamnionitis (CA), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between groups. Compared with the control group, the lower and higher NLR levels in the NEC group were statistically different. Following univariate analysis, NLR was a risk factor for NEC (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.90; P = 0.042), and according to multivariate analysis, risk factors for NEC were NLR ≥ 3.20 and NLR < 1.60, within 1 week before NEC diagnosis. Thus, NLR values of ≥ 1.60 and < 3.20 were determined as the predictive cutoff values for protecting preterm infants from NEC (Model Ⅰ: OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.10–0.40; P < 0.001) and (Model Ⅱ: OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.00–0.40; P < 0.001].
Conclusions
NLR ≥ 1.60 and NLR < 3.20 were associated with a decreased risk of NEC in preterm infants.
Research feasibility and ethics in Scottish new-born blood spot archive.
Authors: Porteous David , Cunningham-Burley Sarah , McCartney Daniel , Campbell Archie , Flaig Robin , Orange Clare , Porteous Carol , Aitken Mhairi , Mulholland Ciaran , Davidson Sara , McCafferty Selina , Murphy Lee , Wrobel Nicola , McCafferty Sarah , Wallace Karen , StClair David , Kerr Shona , Hayward Caroline , McIntosh Andrew , Sudlow Cathie , Marioni Riccardo , Pell Jill , Miedzybrodzka Zosia
Published: March 2022

New-born heel prick blood spots are routinely used to screen for inborn errors of metabolism and life-limiting inherited disorders1. The Danish Newborn Screening Biobank (DNSB) has shown that nucleic acid, metabolic and protein assays are feasible on archived new-born dried blood spots2. Denmark is currently the only country in the world where nation-level linkage of such secondary data to health records is approved2. In the new era of health data science and predictive medicine, the potential value of secondary data from new-born blood spot archives merits wider ethical consideration and assessment of feasibility for public benefit. Early life exposures and behaviours set health trajectories in childhood and later life. The new-born blood spot is potentially well placed to create an unbiased and cost-effective population-level retrospective birth cohort study. Scotland has retained new-born blood spots, commonly known as Guthrie cards, for all children born since 1965, around 3 million in total. However, a moratorium on research access is currently in place, pending public consultation. We conducted a Citizens’ Jury, with Jurors delivering an agreed verdict that conditional research access to the Guthrie Cards was in the public interest. The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland authorised restricted lifting of the current research moratorium to allow a feasibility study. In support of a wider public consultation, Guthrie cards from consented Generation Scotland volunteers3,4 were retrieved and their potential for both epidemiological and biological research demonstrated.
Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis-Related Retinal Detachment by Prophylactic Argon Laser Demarcation in patients with AIDS in Myanmar
Authors: Hassman Lynn M. , Oo Khin Thida , Larochelle Marissa , Din Zaw Minn , Tun NiNi , Vitale Albert T. , Heiden David
Published: March 2022

Background: Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is the primary cause of AIDS-related blindness and remains a substantial cause of blindness in resource-limited settings. Retinal detachment (RD) occurs in approximately 1/3 of patients with CMV retinitis. There is limited capacity to treat retinal detachment in resource-limited settings, and retinal detachment commonly results in permanent profound vision loss. Prophylactic argon laser demarcation was widely used in the pre-HAART era in high income countries, and we here describe our experience with this safe, low-cost intervention to prevent blindness from CMV retinitis-related retinal detachment in a resource-limited setting, in the current era where effective antiretroviral therapy is available. Methods: A non-randomized retrospective observational cohort study was conducted over 4 years in patients on cART (combined antiretroviral therapy) and with inactive AIDS-related CMVR involving at least 25% of the retina, and who were treated with prophylactic argon laser demarcation (LD). The main outcomes were retinal detachment and loss of vision.Results: In a 45 eyes from 38 patients with inactive CMVR on cART for HIV/AIDS who underwent prophylactic laser demarcation, there were no retinal detachments and no loss of vision.Conclusion: In this series of patients at risk for CMVR-related retinal detachment who were treated with prophylactic laser demarcation, retinal detachment was prevented and visual acuity was maintained. Prophylactic argon laser demarcation is a safe, effective, and a realistically affordable intervention to reduce blindness in patients with AIDS-related CMV retinitis.
Multiphasic liquid flow as a universal tool for nanofabrication of diverse polymer morphologies
Authors: Bang Rachel , Roh Sangchul , Williams Austin , Stoyanov Simeon , Velev Orlin
Published: March 2022

Soft matter of synthetic and biological origin find application in a range of consumer products such as rheological modifiers, structural adhesion enhancers, nonwovens, and membranes1. The functionality of materials typically derives from their nano- and microscale structure and overall morphology1-3. Many fabrication techniques are capable of producing morphologies including particles4, fibers4,5, and membranes6,7. Yet, these techniques may be limited in producing a few specific morphologies and in fine-tuning nano- or microscopic features. Many are also resource and energy-intensive, restricting their potential as commercial processes8. Here, we explore interfacial polymer precipitation within sheared multiphasic systems. Through systematic investigation of critical processing parameters, we observe the fabrication of twelve unique polymer morphologies. We verify that the liquid shear-based technique is versatile and works well with chemically diverse polymers, showing potential as a universal tool for fabricating many morphologically distinct polymer structures by simple, scalable processes.
Surgical Treatments for Post-amputation Pain: Study Protocol for an International, Double-blind, Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Pettersen Emily , Sassu Paolo , Reinholdt Carina , Dahm Peter , Rolfson Ola , Björkman Anders , Innocenti Marco , Ortiz-Catalan Max
Published: March 2022

Background: Painful conditions such as neuroma pain, stump pain, and phantom limb pain (PLP) can manifest after amputation and are termed generally as post-amputation pain. The mechanisms underlying post-amputation pain are diverse and should be addressed accordingly. Different surgical treatment methods have shown potential for alleviating neuroma pain and at lesser degree stump pain and PLP. Two reconstructive surgical interventions, namely Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) and Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (RPNI), are gaining popularity in post-amputation pain treatment with promising results. However, these two methods have not been directly compared in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Here, we present a study protocol for a double-blind RCT to assess the effectiveness of TMR, RPNI, and a non-reconstructive procedure called neuroma transposition as an active control in alleviating neuroma pain, stump pain, and PLP. Methods: Seventy-five upper and lower limb amputees suffering from post-amputation pain, are recruited, and randomly assigned to one of the surgical interventions (TMR, RPNI, or neuroma transposition) in an equal allocation ratio. Complete evaluations are performed during a baseline period prior to the surgical intervention and follow-ups are conducted in short-term (one-, three-, six-, and twelve-months post-surgery) and in long-term (three- and five-years post-surgery). After the twelve-months follow-up, the study is unblinded for the evaluator and the participants. If the participant is unsatisfied with the outcome to treatment at that time, further treatment including one of the other procedures will be discussed in consultation with the clinical investigator.Discussion: A double-blind RCT is necessary for the establishment of evidence-based procedures, hence the motivation for this work. In addition, studies on pain are challenging due to the subjectivity of the experience and the lack of objective evaluation methods. Here, we mitigate this problem by including several different pain evaluation methods known to have clinical relevance. We decided to analyse the results using an adherence to protocol approach (per-protocol, PP), as this is more suitable than intention-to-treat (ITT) in pain studies with long-term follow-ups. This is because patients often experience initial pain relief post-surgery, but over time, gradually returns to pre-surgical levels. This could lead to misinterpretation of the clinical reality. We will instead report the actual values of pain and number of participants in each follow-up. Trial registration: ClincialTrials.gov, NCT05009394.
Prediction Of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Using Clinical Data And Machine Learning
Authors: Avval Atlas Haddadi , Pourkeshavarz Mozhgan , Sadeghi Hasan Allah , Mostafaei Shayan , Chamani Faraz , Fathollahi Mahmood Sheikh , Sadeghi Sarina , Mirdamadi Mahsa , Maleki Majid , Shiri Isaac , Oveisi Mehrdad
Published: March 2022

In this study, we aimed to predict postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) with the help of machine learning (ML) in cardiac operations.We prospectively gathered the preoperative and intraoperative data of 918 patients (random split: n=745 and n=173), who were candidates for elective cardiac surgeries. Patients were observed for any pulmonary complications 24, 48, and 72 hours after the surgery. Feature selection, univariate, and multivariate analysis were performed using an ML algorithm. We obtained the p-value and AUC with 95% CI for each feature and then all features together. We also utilized a Bayesian Network (BN) classifier.Among the 16 selected features, 12 features showed a significant effect on PPC prediction in the testing dataset (p<0.05). Peak expiratory flow rate was the most predictive feature (AUC = 0.75) in the testing dataset. Multivariate analysis showed that our features are highly robust in training (p-value<0.001, AUC=0.73) and testing (p-value=0.002, AUC=0.70) datasets. BN classifier showed that type of surgery, opium usage, renal dysfunction, and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases have the highest conditional probability with the occurrence of PPC.In conclusion, a combination of preoperative and postoperative features in patients can be used to predict PPCs in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries.
Calorimetry of a Quantum Phase Slip
Authors: Gümüs Efe , Majidi Danial , Nikolic Danilo , Raif Patrick , Karimi Bayan , Peltonen Joonas , Scheer Elke , Pekola Jukka , Courtois Hervé , Belzig Wolfgang , Winkelmann Clemens
Published: March 2022

In a Josephson junction, which is the central element in superconducting quantum technology, irreversibility arises from abrupt slips of the gauge-invariant quantum phase difference across the contact. A quantum phase slip (QPS) is often visualized as the tunneling of a flux quantum in the transverse direction to the superconducting weak link, which produces dissipation. Here, we detect the instantaneous heat release caused by a QPS in a Josephson junction using time-resolved electron thermometry on a nanocalorimeter, signaled by an abrupt increase of the local electronic temperature in the weak link and subsequent relaxation back to equilibrium. Beyond providing a cornerstone in experimental quantum thermodynamics in form of observation of heat in an elementary quantum process, this result sets the ground for experimentally addressing the ubiquity of dissipation, including that in superconducting quantum sensors and qubits.
A population antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 with differential neutralization activities towards the Delta and Omicron variants
Authors: Xiong Xiaoli , He Ping , Liu Banghui , Gao Xijie , Yan Qihong , Pei Rongjuan , Sun Jing , Chen Qiuluan , Hou Ruitian , Li Zimu , Zhang Yanjun , Zhao Jincun , Sun Hao , Feng Bo , Wang Qian , Yi Haisu , Hu Peiyu , Li Pingchao , Chen Zhilong , Niu Xuefeng , Zhong Xiaolin , Jin Liang , Liu Xiaofeng , Qu Kun , Ciazynska Katarzyna , Carter Andrew , Briggs John , Chen Jizheng , Liu Jinsong , He Jun , Chen Xinwen , Chen Ling
Published: March 2022

Population antibody response is believed to be important in selection of new variant viruses. We identified that SARS-CoV-2 infections elicit a population immune response mediated by a lineage of VH1-69 germline antibodies. The representative antibody R1-32 targets a novel semi-cryptic epitope defining a new class of RBD targeting antibodies. Binding to this non-ACE2 competing epitope leading to spike destruction impairing virus entry. Based on epitope location, neutralization mechanism and analysis of antibody binding to spike variants we propose that recurrent substitutions at 452 and 490 are associated with immune evasion of this population antibody response. These substitutions, including L452R found in the Delta variant, disrupt interaction mediated by the VH1-69 specific hydrophobic HCDR2 to impair antibody-antigen association allowing variants to escape. Lacking 452/490 substitutions, the Omicron variant is sensitive to this class of antibodies. Our results provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 variant genesis and immune evasion.
Prevention of Customer Churn Due To Issuance of Real-Time Coupons Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Seo Daeho , Choi Soobin , Yoo Yongmin
Published: March 2022

With the development of big data and deep learning technology, big data and deep learning technology have also been applied to the marketing field, which was a part of business administration. Customer churn management is one of the most important areas of marketing. In this paper, we proposed a method to prevent customer churn and increase purchase conversion rate by issuing customized discount coupons to customers with high churn rate based on big data in real time. In this paper, we proposed a method to prevent customer cancellation and increase purchase conversion rate by issuing customized discount coupons to customers with high cancellation rates in real time based on big data. After segmenting customer segments with two-dimensional segment analysis, a real-time churn rate estimation model based on clickstream data was generated for each segment. After that, we issued customized coupons to our customers. Finally, we tested the conversion rate and sales growth. A two-dimensional cluster analysis-based churn rate estimation combined with a recommendation system was found to be significantly more useful than the respective simple models. Using this proposed model, it is possible to increase sales by automatically estimating the customer’s cancellation probability and shopping propensity without the burden of marketing costs in the online shopping mall.
Study on high temperature fracture mechanism of tunnel surrounding rock considering heterogeneity of TC and CTE
Authors: LI Wei , Chen Wenhua
Published: March 2022

The entrance section of the high-speed railway tunnel in southern China has been in a state of high temperature for a long time and is subject to alternating temperature changes. The surrounding rock is heterogeneous characteristics. Under a large temperature difference environment, temperature stress will occur between mineral particles and mineral particles. When the temperature stress is greater than the tensile strength of the surrounding rock, it will cause the rock to crack. In order to analyze the mechanism of the tunnel surrounding rock crack disease:(1)Based on thermoelastic mechanics and Weibull distribution, considering heterogeneous of the coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE) of mineral cells, an improved hightemperature initiation mechanical model of heterogeneous rock is established.(2)Aiming at the heterogeneous of thermal conductivity(TC) of mineral cells, the Agari series-parallel model is introduced to improve the thermal conductivity of the model.(3)By changing the degree of heterogeneous of CTE and TC, considering the joint action of the local temperature gradient of the rock, the macroscopic and mesoscopic laws of the initiation mechanism of rock are studied.(4)Analyze the maximum principal stress and crack initiation temperature regions of sandstone and granite through engineering calculation examples. The results show that with the continuous increase of temperature load, the internal stress of the rock continues to increase. Under the action of temperature load, the peak strength of the rock increases with the increase of the rock homogeneity coefficient. Local
Effect Of Orbital Volume In Unilateral Orbital Fracture On Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Senarak Wirapha , Yongvikul Atapol , Ku Jeong-Kui , Kim Jae-Young , Huh Jong-Ki
Published: March 2022

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the relationship between the volume of the fractured and the normal orbit in patients with unilateral orbital fractures with and without traumatic optic neuropathy (TON).Subjects: Data of 25 patients with unilateral orbital fractures who underwent computer tomography between January 2016 and December 2020 were investigated. Emergency imaging was performed within 2 h of arrival at the emergency room. The subjects were categorized into two groups: unilateral orbital fractures with and without TON. Methods and Measures: The assessment of TON was performed during a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination by an ophthalmologist. The stereographic orbit was reconstructed and the volume was calculated. Other variables examined included age, sex, and cause of orbital trauma. The variables were compared using paired t-tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: The orbital volume of the non-fractured orbit was 27.50 ± 2.26 and 27.48 ± 2.64 cm3 in the groups with and without TON, respectively. The average volume of the fractured orbit in the TON group was 27.78 ± 2.56 cm3, and there was no significant volumetric difference between the fractured and non-fractured sides in this group. However, the average volume of the fractured orbit without TON was 28.76 ± 3.18 cm3, larger than that of the non-fractured orbit (p=0.016).Conclusions: Non-expansion of the fractured orbit was a risk factor for indirect TON in patients with unilateral orbital fractures. Volumetric analysis from primary imaging would expedite the diagnosis and treatment of TON, resulting in optimal outcomes.
An Augmented Certificateless Signcryption Model with Rapid Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem for IIoT-Cloud Data Security
Authors: VENKATESAN S. , RAJESHWARI K. RAJA , RAMAKRISHNAN M.
Published: March 2022

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is an advanced version of IoT that actuates the sensors for monitoring and controlling the devices of industrial systems. Cloud is also one of the most popular platform used for enabling the industrial data storage and retrieval operations. But, providing security to this environment is highly demanding and essential for ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of industrial data against the malicious users. Hence, many cryptographic based security models are developed in the conventional works, which intends to securely share and retrieve data in an encrypted form by using the private and public key par. Still, it facing the major problems of high computational cost, complexity, and time consumption for processing the operations. Thus, this paper intends to develop a new IIoT-cloud framework for ensuring the security industrial data by using the certificateless signcryption mechanism. For this purpose, an Augmented Certificateless Signcryption Model (ACSM) incorporated with the Rapid Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem (RECC) is developed in this work, which objects to enhance the security of IIoT-cloud systems with reduced computational cost and time consumption. Also, it helps to avoid the key escrow problem with the ensured security properties of confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and unforgeability. For validating the performance of this mechanism, various evaluation metrics have been utilized, and also the obtained results are compared with the recent state-of-the-art models.
Ponderosa Pine Introduction Methods Following a Stand Replacing Wildfire in the Laramie Mountains of Wyoming
Authors: Winters Stephanie , Diepen Linda T.A. van
Published: March 2022

Background
In July 2012, a lightning strike started the Arapaho Fire in the Laramie Mountains of Wyoming burning approximately 39,700 ha. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson) mortality due to the high-severity fire was 95% at the University of Wyoming’s Rogers Research Site. Ponderosa pine recruitment post high-severity wildfire is limited in semi-arid and mid-elevation forests in the Rocky Mountain region due to reduction of seed supplies from living trees, warm temperatures, and limited precipitation. Wildfire intensity and frequency is predicted to increase with climate change and ponderosa pine forests are incredibly susceptible to this dramatic shift. The purpose of this research was to determine the best restoration treatments for ponderosa pine regeneration and seedling survival in a Wyoming ponderosa pine forest post high-severity fire.
Results
Our results indicate that the pine introduction treatment ‘planted seedlings’ was the most effective restoration treatment in semi-arid, mid-elevation sites, although overall survival rates of seedlings were very low from initial planting numbers. None of logging methods resulted in improved survival of pine seedling or higher regeneration. The estimated mean percent moss cover was higher in the ‘no logging’ logging method and resulted in a lower mean percent bare ground. Overall, two years after implementation of the restoration treatments did not result in different vegetation communities.
Conclusions
Potential reasons for the lack of restoration effects on vegetation community variables at the Rogers Research Station are likely the large landscape heterogeneity with differing slopes and aspects coupled with the short time frame (2 years) since implementation of the restoration treatments at the site. Further research is needed to determine if restoration treatments will have greater impact on ponderosa pine survival and regeneration in the midterm (6–10) years post implementation. This research is applicable for national, state, and local land managers to implement impactful restoration practices post-wildfire.
Recommendations for Maternal Mortality Review Committees in the United States: A content analysis
Authors: Shahi Anamika , Holzer Jessica , Londhe Shilpa
Published: March 2022

Background: Every year up to 700 mothers die in the United States due to pregnancy complications; at least two-thirds of these deaths are preventable. Despite the presence of state-level Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), mortality rates have remained stagnant or increased in many places. Implementing best practices to improve MMRCs may help identify and address the causes of maternal mortality that may be preventable.Methods: We conducted a content analysis of evidence-based recommendations to improve MMRCs. Using a search of PubMed, we restricted our analysis to full-text papers published in English from 2010-2021 that included recommendations. Reviewer 1 (R1) analyzed the initial set of papers and removed any that did not meet the inclusion criteria. R1 coded the recommendations into categories. Reviewer 2 (R2) coded them separately. R1 and R2 then agreed to a common codebook and re-coded all papers for relevant themes.Results: Out of 322 articles identified in PubMed, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. The articles all acknowledged gaps in current MMRC practice and policies. Recommendations included ensuring representative and diverse committee representation, improving data quality and standardization, and performing in-depth review of cases of maternal death to look for social determinants of health. Several other themes arose regarding funding, support for, and review practices of MMRCs.Conclusion: This is the first study to collect evidence-based recommendations to improve MMRC effectiveness. We offer next steps and best practices to policymakers and MMRCs at a time when reducing maternal mortality rates is a national priority.
Technological shocks and its influence on renewable energy consumption-green growth: Do financial institutions mitigate some environmental burden?
Authors: Chao Tan , Yunbao Xu , Chengbo Dai , Bo Li , Usman Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Technology innovations and financial development are the tools to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the carbon neutrality process; however, such nexus has lacked evidence, particularly in top-polluting economies countries. The current study examines the effectiveness of technological innovation and financial institutions on renewable energy consumption and green growth in top-polluting economies by using the cross-sectional Autoregressive Distributive Lag (CS-ARDL) method over the period from 1991 to 2019. The findings show that in the long-run, technological progress and financial institutions are major drivers of renewable energy consumption of top-polluting economies. Moreover, the study shows that technological progress, financial institutions, education, and public spending foster green growth in top-polluting economies in long-run. Top-polluting economies need to improve energy technology innovation and financial institutions for achieving green growth and carbon neutrality targets.
Development of Open-sourced, Self-executable and GUI-based Application Tool Q-Check for Quality Prediction of Resistance Spot Weld using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Raziq Muhamad Aiman , Manurung Yupiter HP , Halim Suhaila Abd , Low Cheng Yee , Rohmad Muhammad Saufy , Dizon John RC , Kachinskyi Vladimir S
Published: March 2022

Optimizing Resistance spot welding (RSW), often used as a time and cost-effective process in many industrial sectors, is very time-consuming due to the obscurity inherent within process with numerous interconnected welding parameters. Small changes in values will give effect to the quality of welds which actually can be easily analysed using application tool. Unfortunately, existing software to optimize the parameters are expensive, licensed and inflexible which makes small industries and research centres refused to acquire. In this study, application tool using open-sourced and customized algorithm based on artificial neural networks (ANN) was developed to enable better, fast, cheap and practical predictions of major parameters such as welding time, current and electrode force on tensile shear load bearing capacity (TSLBC) and weld quality classifications (WQC). A supervised learning algorithm implemented in standard backpropagation neural network gradient descent (GD), stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) was constructed using TensorFlow with Spyder IDE in python language. All the display and calculation processes are developed and compiled in the form of graphical user interface (GUI) using Qt designer and PyQt5. The standalone capability was created with customized icon by using Pyinstaller to enable a self-execution in windows platform. Results showed that this low-cost application tool Q-Check based on ANN models can predict with 80% training and 20% test set on TSLBC with an accuracy of 87.220%, 92.865% and 93.670% for GD, SGD and LM algorithms respectively while on WQC 62.5% for GD and 75% for both SGD and LM. It is also expected that tool with flexible GUI can be widely used and enhanced by practitioner with minimum knowledge in the domain.
Effects of Slider, Tensioner Neurodynamic Mobilization Techniques and Stretching Exercises in patient with Chronic Discogenic Sciatica: A randomized, single blinded Comparative Study
Authors: Morsi Haytham , Nahass Bassem El , Ibrahim Mona
Published: March 2022

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the slider, tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques and stretching exercises on pain, ROM, and functional disability in patients with chronic discogenic sciatica.Design: A pre-test post-test three-armed comparative study designSetting: Outpatient clinics, faculty of physical therapy, Kafrelsheikh UniversityParticipants: 36 patients with unilateral chronic discogenic sciatica were randomly allocated into three equal groups: Group (A) slider neurodynamic mobilization Group (B) tensioner neurodynamic mobilizationGroup (C) stretching exercises of back extensors, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius musclesTreatment was given three sessions per week for two weeks.Outcome measures: all patients were examined by Visual Analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Modified-Modified Schober test (MMST) for lumbar flexion ROM, Goniometer for hip flexion and knee extension ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional assessment. Results: there were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the slider and tensioner groups compared to the stretching group for all variables. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the slider technique as compared to the tensioner technique regarding ROM of lumbar flexion (p = 0.03), hip flexion (p = 0.004), and knee extension (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Slider and tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques are more effective than stretching exercises in terms of reducing pain, increasing ROM, and improving function. Slider technique is more effective in ROM improvement.
The Association Between Preterm Birth and Prior Term Delivery Complications
Authors: Barbash-Hazan Shiri , Silber Ronit , Pardo Anat , Bergel-Bson Riki , Zuarez-Easton Sivan , Eisner Michal , Hadar Eran
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Our aim was to explore potential risk factors for Preterm birth (PTB) that had been associated with the patient's obstetric history and which had not been previously examined in depth.Methods: Retrospective analysis of all women who had their first, term, singleton delivery and their second delivery, between 2013 and 2020. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, including the rate of preterm birth in the following delivery, were compared among three different groups, based on complications occurring the first pregnancy: emergency end second stage cesarean, large for gestational age neonate and delivery which required a uterine and/or cervical revision. Results: There were 233 women of whom 77 underwent emergency end second stage cesarean delivery and 156 who underwent elective CD in their first delivery at term, with no difference in the rate of PTB between the two groups in the subsequent delivery (3.9% vs. 3.21%, p<0.72). There were 396 women with infants weighing more than 3.8kg and 5,136 women with infants weighing less than 3.8kg, in their first term delivery. These two groups did not differ in the rate of PTB in their subsequent delivery (1.52% vs. 2.94%, p<0.1). Finally, there were 298 women who underwent uterine and/or cervical revision who were compared to 5,234 women without these procedures, in their first term delivery. Again, there was no difference between these groups in the rate of PTB in the subsequent delivery (2.35% vs. 2.87%, p<0.72). Conclusion: Risk factors examined in our analysis did not emerge as risk factors for PTB.
Validation of Clinical Frailty Scale in Chinese Translation
Authors: Chou Yi-Chun , Tsou Hsiao-Hui , Chan Ding-Cheng (Derrick) , Wen Chiung-Jung , Lu Feng-Ping , Lin Kun-Pei , Wu Meng-Chen , Chen Yung-Ming , Chen Jen-Hau
Published: March 2022

Background
Identification of frailty is crucial to guide patient care for the elderly. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a reliable, synthesis and clinical judgment-based tool. However, a validated Chinese version of CFS (CFS-C) is lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the translation process of CFS into traditional Chinese and to evaluate its reliability and validity in a geriatric study population in Taiwan.
Methods
This cross-sectional study recruited 221 geriatric outpatients aged 65 years or older at a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. The Chinese version of CFS was produced following Brislin’s translation model. Weighted kappa for agreement and Kendall’s tau for correlation were used to assess inter-rater reliability (a subgroup of 52 outpatients) between geriatricians and one research assistant, and validity tests (221 outpatients) by comparing CFS-C with Fried frailty phenotype and Frailty Index based on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (FI-CGA). Correlation between CFS-C and other geriatric conditions were also assessed.
Results
The inter-rater reliability revealed moderate agreement (weighted kappa = 0.60) and strong correlation (Kendall’s tau = 0.67). For criterion validity, CFS-C categorisation showed fair agreement (weighted kappa = 0.37) and significant correlation (Kendall’s tau = 0.46) with Fried frailty phenotype, and higher agreement (weighted kappa = 0.51) and correlation (Kendall’s tau = 0.63) with FI-CGA categorisation. CFS-C was significantly correlated with various geriatric assessments, including functional disability, physical performance, hand grip, comorbidity, cognition, depression, and nutrition status. No significant correlation was found between CFS-C and appendicular muscle mass.
Conclusions
The CFS-C demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability in Chinese older adults in Taiwan. Development of CFS-C enhanced consistency and accuracy of frailty assessment, both in research and clinical practice.
Automated Recognition Of Pain In Cats
Authors: Feighelstein Marcelo , Shimshoni Ilan , Finka Lauren , Luna Stelio P.L. , Mills Daniel , Zamansky Anna
Published: March 2022

Facial expressions in non-human animals are closely linked to their internal affective states , with the majority of empirical work focusing on facial shape changes associated with pain. However, existing tools for facial expression analysis are prone to human subjectivity and bias, and in many cases also require special expertise and training. This paper presents the first comparative study of two different paths towards automatizing pain recognition in facial images of domestic short haired cats (n = 29), captured during ovariohysterectomy at different time points corresponding to varying intensities of pain. One approach is based on convolutional neural networks (ResNet50), while the other – on machine learning models based on geometric landmarks analysis inspired by species specific Facial Action Coding Systems (i.e. catFACS). Both types of approaches reach comparable accuracy of above 72%, indicating their potential usefulness as a basis for automating cat pain detection from images.
Miniaturization and Performance Enhancement of Super Wide Band Four Element MIMO Antenna using DNG Metamaterial for THz Applications
Authors: Kumari Ranjana , Tomar V. K. , Sharma Ankit
Published: March 2022

A compact semi-hexagonal-shaped MIMO antenna loaded with a planar SRR (split-ring resonator) structure is presented for Terahertz applications. The single radiating element consists of a semi-hexagonal shape metallic patch loaded with SRR-CC (Split ring ResonatorConnected C shape) metamaterial unit cell to enhance the impedance bandwidth as well as gain of the proposed antenna. The proposed antenna element can be easily extended into two-port and four-port MIMO antenna configurations. Four radiating elements of the proposed antenna are printed on 122.4*122.4 um 2 quartz substrate having a thickness of 10 um. The radiating elements are placed orthogonally to achieve high isolation and miniaturization in the MIMO system. The proposed antenna exhibits super-wide impedance bandwidth (S 11 ≤ -10dB) in the range of 0.9–10.1 THz (with fractional bandwidth of 168% at f 0 =5.5 THz) while isolation of antenna is more than 20 dB in the whole operating band. The peak gain of the antenna is 7.51dBi with more than 95% radiation efficiency in the entire band. The stable radiation pattern, high gain, high radiation efficiency, and good diversity performance of the proposed antenna make it suitable for many THz applications such as breast cancer detection, sugar measurement, drug detection.
Absorptive Capacity And Knowledge Management As Antecedents To Innovation Capability
Authors: Silvianita Anita , Pradana Mahir
Published: March 2022

Absorptive capacity has emerged as one of the most important concepts in the field of strategic management. It has been seen as an essential factor in forming innovation capability. However, the result may differ without the presence of knowledge management. This study discusses knowledge management’s role as a mediating variable to the relationships between types of absorptive capacity and innovation capability. We focused the research on young professionals, hence we gathered data from 180 alumni of Business Administration major who already have sufficient working experience to observe their knowledge management, absorptive capacity, and innovation capability. We used path analysis methodology with SmartPLS software as an assisting tool. Our result shows that realized absorptive capacity has a significant effect on innovation capability with the mediating role of knowledge management.
SenWave: Monitoring the Global Sentiments under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zhang Xiangliang , Yang Qiang , Alamro Hind , Albaradei Somayah , Salhi Adil , Lyu Xiaoting , Ma Changsheng , Alshehri Manal , Jaber Inji , Tifratene Faroug , Wang Wei , Gojobori Takashi , Duarte Carlos M. , Gao Xin
Published: March 2022

Since the first alert launched by the World Health Organization (5 January, 2020), COVID-19 has been spreading out to almost 200 countries and territories. As of January 23, 2022, in total, over 346 million confirmed cases and over 5.5 million deaths have been reported worldwide. This causes massive losses in the economy and jobs globally and confining about 58% of the global population. In this paper, we introduce SenWave, a novel sentimental analysis work using 106+ million collected tweets and Weibo messages to evaluate the global rise and falls of sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic. To make a fine-grained analysis on the feeling when we face this global health crisis, we annotate 10K tweets in English and 10K tweets in Arabic in 10 categories, including optimistic, thankful, empathetic, pessimistic, anxious, sad, annoyed, denial, official report, and joking. We then utilize an integrated transformer framework, called simpletransformer, to conduct multi-label sentimental classification by fine-tuning the pre-trained language model on the labeled data. Meanwhile, in order for a more complete analysis, we also translate the annotated English tweets into different languages (Spanish, Italian, and French) to generated training data for building sentiment analysis models for these languages. We provide detailed analysis and interesting discoveries on how the emotions evolve overtime. SenWave thus reveals the sentiment of global conversation in six different languages on COVID-19 (covering English, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic and Chinese), followed the spread of the epidemic. The conversation showed a remarkably similar pattern of rapid rise and slow decline over time across all nations, as well as on special topics like the herd immunity strategies, to which the global conversation reacts strongly negatively. Overall, SenWave shows that optimistic and positive sentiments increased over time, foretelling a desire to seek, together, a reset for an improved COVID-19 world. We share the dataset with public to help other social impact studies of Covid-19, and fine-grained sentimental analysis tasks.
Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels with the gut microbiota and metabolites in postmenopausal women in China
Authors: Gong Jinhua , He Lina , Zou Qinyuan , Zhao Yangyang , Zhang Bangzhou , Xia Rongmu , Chen Baolong , Cao Man , Gong Wenxiu , Lin Lin , Lin Xiujuan , Wang Guowei , Guo Muyun , He Jianquan , Xiao Chuanxing , Chen Jian
Published: March 2022

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is associated with an altered microbiota in older men. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels remains unknown in postmenopausal women. In this study, fecal microbiota profiles for 88 postmenopausal women in the high 25(OH)D (HVD) group (n=44) and the low 25(OH)D (LVD) group (n=44) were determined. An integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based metabolomics approach was applied to explore the association of serum 25(OH)D levels with the gut microbiota and fecal metabolic phenotype. Adjustments were made using several statistical models for potential confounding variables identified from the literature. Results: The results demonstrated that the community diversity estimated by the Observe, Chao1 and ACE indexes was significantly lower in the LVD group than in the HVD group. Additionally, two kinds of characteristic differences in the microflora were analyzed in the HVD group, and ten kinds of characteristic differences in the microflora were analyzed in the LVD group. We observed that some bacteria belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, F0332 and Gemella, were enriched in the LVD group, as were other genera, including Lachnoclostridium, UC5_1_2E3, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group and un_f_Lachnospiraceae. Christensenellaceae, Eggerthellaceae and Cloacibacillus were enriched in the HVD group. The L-pyroglutamic acid, inosine, and L-homocysteic acid levels were higher in the HVD group and were negatively correlated with the 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and cholic acid metabolic levels. Conclusions: These observations provide a better understanding of the relationships between serum 25(OH)D levels and the fecal microbiota and metabolites in postmenopausal women.
Fall Straw Incorporation with Plastic Film Cover Increases Corn Yield and Water Use Efficiency Under a Semi-Arid Climate
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Na Li , Sun Zhanxiang , Yin Guanghua , Zhang Yanqing , Bai Wei , Feng Liangshan , Yang John
Published: March 2022

Corn straw incorporation in soil has been regarded as an environment-friendly approach for straw utilization. However, the straw incorporation has been a challenge under a cold and dry climate due to a slow decomposition. This field study was to use a novel approach to incorporate corn straw into soil during fall season with plastic film cover, in an effort to enhance the straw degradation. Two-year field experiments were conducted in Northeast China to investigate the effects of four treatments: including 1) straw incorporation with film cover; 2) straw incorporation only; 3) film cover only; and 4) control, on soil properties and corn growth. Soils and corn plants were collected during the growing season and analyzed for soil temperature and moisture, straw degradation, corn biomass, grain yield, and water use efficiency. Results indicated that straw incorporation with film cover increased grain yield by 53% as compared to straw incorporation only and by 102% to control, but did not significantly differ from film cover only. The straw decomposition under film cover was 20% faster, significantly higher than that of the straw incorporation only treatment. In all cases, soil water content before planting, corn water uptake, and corn water use efficiency under straw incorporation with film cover were significantly higher than straw incorporation only and control, but did not significantly differ from film cover only. Surface film cover resulted in 10-day earlier corn tasseling in compared to treatments without film cover. This field study demonstrated that straw incorporation with film cover would enhance straw degradation in soil, improve soil properties, and increase corn yield and water use efficiency, which could be potentially used as the sustainable soil management practice in Northeast China.
Mais Médicos Program and Human Capital in Argentina: Brain Drain in the Health Sector?
Authors: González Fernando Antonio Ignacio , Cantero Lara Sofía , Szyszko Pablo Ariel , Bys Joel Heman
Published: March 2022

The Mais Médicos program (2013) tried to attract physicians to rural and peripheral areas of Brazil based on the international immigration of these professionals. Its creation generated widespread concern in the border areas of Argentina due to the potential brain drain (emigration of qualified professionals) in the health sector. In this paper we provide evidence on this topic. The identification strategy exploits the plausibly exogenous timing in the implementation of the program and the different levels of proximity of the Argentine provinces with respect to Brazil. The results suggest that, despite the widespread belief of a brain drain towards Brazil, the availability of physicians did not show a significant reduction, after the program, in the border areas. This is robust against multiple checks and placebos. From a territorial equity perspective, there is no evidence that the creation of the program has contributed to widening regional disparities in Argentina (i.e. fewer physicians in the poorest region).