bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new feedback control scheme for the lattice hydrodynamic model with drivers’ sensory memory
Authors: Yicai Zhang , Min Zhao , Dihua Sun , Zhaomin Zhou , Dong Chen
Published: October 2020

With development of economy, the problem of traffic congestion is becoming more and more serious, which has caused economic losses and environmental pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to put forward reasonable solutions through the study of traffic flow theory. This paper proposes a new hydrodynamic model of traffic flow considering the drivers’ sensory memory and a new corresponding feedback control scheme. Through the stability analysis of the model, the stability conditions are derived. The obtained phase-plot shows that the sensory memory of drivers can affect the instability region, and the new feedback control term will reduce the unstable region. The numerical simulations by analyzing the short-term, long-term behaviors and hysteresis loop of traffic flow verify the impacts of the drivers’ sensory memory and the control sign.
Optimizing the scheme of bidirectional controlled quantum teleportation with a genuine five-qubit entangled state
Authors: Yuan Hao , Zhang Zhanjun
Published: October 2020

A bidirectional controlled quantum teleportation (BCQT) scheme was proposed by Yan Chen [Int. J. Theor. Phys. 53, 1454 (2014)] with a genuine five-qubit entangled state as quantum channel. In the scheme two remote participants have to perform some two-qubit joint operations to accomplish the BCQT task. Such joint operations are nonlocal and usually regarded as serious faults in some sense. To overcome them, in this paper we put forward an optimized version. Our scheme has the distinct advantages of degrading the necessary-operation complexity (i.e., both intensity and difficulty) and consuming fewer classical resources as well as owing higher intrinsic efficiency in contrast to Chen’s. Besides, it is feasible in experiment and applicable in the intending quantum network.
Cobimaximal neutrino mixing in the U(1)B−L extension with A4 symmetry
Authors: Vien V. V.
Published: October 2020

We propose a renormalizable [Formula: see text] extension of the Standard model with [Formula: see text] symmetry that leads to the successful cobimaximal lepton mixing ansatz, thus providing a predictive explanation for leptonic mixing observables. The smallness of the active neutrino masses and neutrino masses ordering are produced by the type-I seesaw mechanism at the tree-level. The obtained physical parameters are well consistent with the global fit of neutrino oscillation.1 The model is predictive in the sense that it reproduces the experimental values of neutrino parameters in which the reactor neutrino mixing angle [Formula: see text] get the best-fit value and the solar and atmospheric neutrino mixing angles have little deviations from the best-fit values given in Ref. 1, however, they are consistent with the other experimental results.[Formula: see text] The effective neutrino masses governing the neutrinoless double beta decay is predicted to be [Formula: see text] for normal hierarchy and [Formula: see text] for inverted hierarchy which are well consistent with the recent experimental limits on neutrinoless double beta decay.
A note on representations of welded braid groups
Authors: Bellingeri Paolo , Soulié Arthur
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we adapt the procedure of the Long-Moody procedure to construct linear representations of welded braid groups. We exhibit the natural setting in this context and compute the first examples of representations we obtain thanks to this method. We take this way also the opportunity to review the few known linear representations of welded braid groups.
Properties of Casson–Gordon’s rectangle condition
Authors: Kwon Bo-Hyun , Lee Jung Hoon
Published: October 2020

For a Heegaard splitting of a [Formula: see text]-manifold, Casson–Gordon’s rectangle condition, simply rectangle condition, is a condition on its Heegaard diagram that guarantees the strong irreducibility of the splitting; it requires nine types of rectangles for every combination of two pairs of pants from opposite sides. The rectangle condition is also applied to bridge decompositions of knots. We give examples of [Formula: see text]-bridge decompositions of knots admitting a diagram with eight types of rectangles, which are not strongly irreducible. This says that the rectangle condition is sharp. Moreover, we define a variation of the rectangle condition so-called the sewing rectangle condition that also can guarantee the strong irreducibility of [Formula: see text]-bridge decompositions of knots. The new condition needs six types of rectangles but more complicated than nine types of rectangles for the rectangle condition.
OPTIMAL LIQUIDATION TRAJECTORIES FOR THE ALMGREN–CHRISS MODEL
Authors: LØKKA ARNE , XU JUNWEI
Published: October 2020

We consider an optimal liquidation problem with infinite horizon in the Almgren–Chriss framework, where the unaffected asset price follows a Lévy process. The temporary price impact is described by a general function that satisfies some reasonable conditions. We consider a market agent with constant absolute risk aversion, who wants to maximize the expected utility of the cash received from the sale of the agent’s assets, and show that this problem can be reduced to a deterministic optimization problem that we are able to solve explicitly. In order to compare our results with exponential Lévy models, which provide a very good statistical fit with observed asset price data for short time horizons, we derive the (linear) Lévy process approximation of such models. In particular we derive expressions for the Lévy process approximation of the exponential variance–gamma Lévy process, and study properties of the corresponding optimal liquidation strategy. We then provide a comparison of the liquidation trajectories for reasonable parameters between the Lévy process model and the classical Almgren–Chriss model. In particular, we obtain an explicit expression for the connection between the temporary impact function for the Lévy model and the temporary impact function for the Brownian motion model (the classical Almgren–Chriss model), for which the optimal liquidation trajectories for the two models coincide.
Good codes from metacyclic groups II
Authors: Assuena Samir
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we consider semisimple group algebras [Formula: see text] of split metacyclic groups over finite fields. We construct left codes in [Formula: see text] in the case when the order [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are different primes such that [Formula: see text] extend the construction described in a previous paper, determine their dual codes and find some good codes.
Taylor-DBN: A new framework for speech recognition systems
Authors: Haridas Arul Valiyavalappil , Marimuthu Ramalatha , Sivakumar V. G. , Chakraborty Basabi
Published: October 2020

Speech recognition is a rapidly emerging research area as the speech signal contains linguistic information and speaker information that can be used in applications including surveillance, authentication, and forensic field. The performance of speech recognition systems degrades expeditiously nowadays due to channel degradations, mismatches, and noise. To provide better performance of speech recognition, the Taylor-Deep Belief Network (Taylor-DBN) classifier is proposed, which is the modification of the Gradient Descent (GD) algorithm with Taylor series in the existing DBN classifier. Initially, the noise present in the speech signal is removed through the speech signal enhancement. The features, such as Holoentropy with the eXtended Linear Prediction using autocorrelation Snapshot (HXLPS), spectral kurtosis, and spectral skewness, are extracted from the enhanced speech signal, which is fed to the Taylor-DBN classifier that identifies the speech of the impaired persons. The experimentation is done using the TensorFlow speech recognition database, the real database, and the ESC-50 dataset. The accuracy, False Acceptance Rate (FAR), False Rejection Rate (FRR), and Mean Square Error (MSE) of the Taylor-DBN for TensorFlow speech recognition database are 96.95%, 3.04%, 3.04%, and 0.045, respectively, and for real database, the accuracy, FAR, FRR, and MSE are 96.67%, 3.32%, 3.32%, and 0.0499, respectively. Similarly, for the ESC-50 dataset, the accuracy, FAR, FRR, and MSE are 96.81%, 3.18%, 3.18%, and 0.047, respectively. The results imply that the Taylor-DBN provides better performance as compared to the existing conventional methods.
A neighborhood prior constrained collaborative representation for classification
Authors: Li Yanting , Jin Junwei , Zhao Liang , Wu Huaiguang , Sun Lijun , Philip Chen C. L.
Published: October 2020

With the development of machine learning and computer vision, classification technology is becoming increasingly important. Due to the advantage in efficiency and effectiveness, collaborative representation-based classifiers (CRC) have been applied to many practical cognitive fields. In this paper, we propose a new neighborhood prior constrained collaborative representation model for pattern classification. Compared with the naive CRC models which approximate the test sample with all the training data globally, our proposed methods emphasize the guidance of the neighborhood priors in the coding process. Two different kinds of neighbor priors and the models’ weighted extensions are explored from the view of sample representation ability and relationships between the samples. Consequently, the contributions of different samples can be distinguished adaptively and the obtained representations can be more discriminative for the recognition. Experimental results on several popular databases can verify the effectiveness of our proposed methods in comparison with other state-of-the-art classifiers.
A note on gradient solitons on para-Kenmotsu manifolds
Authors: De Krishnendu , De Uday Chand
Published: October 2020

The purpose of the offering exposition is to characterize gradient Yamabe, gradient Einstein and gradient [Formula: see text]-quasi Einstein solitons within the framework of 3-dimensional para-Kenmotsu manifolds. Finally, we consider an example to prove the result obtained in previous section.
Singularities and dualities of pedal curves in pseudo-hyperbolic and de Sitter space
Authors: Li Yanlin , Zhu Yushu , Sun Qing-You
Published: October 2020

For the spherical unit speed nonlightlike curve in pseudo-hyperbolic space and de Sitter space [Formula: see text] and a given point P, we can define naturally the pedal curve of [Formula: see text] relative to the pedal point P. When the pseudo-sphere dual curve germs are nonsingular, singularity types of such pedal curves depend only on locations of pedal points. In this paper, we give a complete list of normal forms for singularities and locations of pedal points when the pseudo-sphere dual curve germs are nonsingular. Furthermore, we obtain the extension results in dualities, which has wide influence on the open and closed string field theory and string dynamics in physics, and can be used to better solve the dynamics of trajectory particle condensation process.
New models of normal motions of the inextensible curves according to type-1 Bishop frame in ℝ3
Authors: Mohamed Samah Gaber
Published: October 2020

In this work, we compute the time evolution equations (TEEs) of the type-1 Bishop frame of the curve. Also, we study the time evolution equations for type-1 Bishop curvatures (TEEBCs) as a system of partial differential equations (PDEs). Through this study, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the normal and binormal Bishop velocities. Also, we construct new models of normal motions of inextensible curves in [Formula: see text]. These models are constructed for curves that move according to the type-1 Bishop frame. Also, we make a comparison study between surfaces obtained by the motions of inextensible curves according to the two frames, the type-1 Bishop frame and the Frenet frame.
Geometric properties of a certain class of compact dynamical horizons in locally rotationally symmetric class II spacetimes
Authors: Sherif Abbas M. , Dunsby Peter K. S.
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we study the geometry of a certain class of compact dynamical horizons with a time-dependent induced metric in locally rotationally symmetric class II spacetimes. We first obtain a compactness condition for embedded [Formula: see text]-manifolds in these spacetimes, satisfying the weak energy condition, with non-negative isotropic pressure [Formula: see text]. General conditions for a [Formula: see text]-manifold to be a dynamical horizon are imposed, as well as certain genericity conditions, which in the case of locally rotationally symmetric class II spacetimes reduces to the statement that “the weak energy condition is strictly satisfied or otherwise violated”. The compactness condition is presented as a spatial first-order partial differential equation in the sheet expansion [Formula: see text], in the form [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the Gaussian curvature of [Formula: see text]-surfaces in the spacetime and [Formula: see text] is a real number parametrizing the differential equation, where [Formula: see text] can take on only two values, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Using geometric arguments, it is shown that the case [Formula: see text] can be ruled out and the [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]-dimensional sphere) geometry of compact dynamical horizons for the case [Formula: see text] is established. Finally, an invariant characterization of this class of compact dynamical horizons is also presented.
Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of OsCrMnSb and IrCrMnSb from Ab Initio Calculations
Authors: Abderrahim F. Z. , Ouahrani T. , Dergal M. , Mahmmoudi A.
Published: October 2020

The structural, elastic, electronic and magnetic properties of quaternary OsCrMnSb and IrCrMnSb Heusler alloys are performed employing ab initio electronic structure calculations. It has been identified that the YI type is the most stable structure among the three configurations for both OsCrMnSb and IrCrMnSb alloys in the magnetic state. The calculated cubic elastic constants show that these alloys fulfill the mechanical stability criteria. The band structures and density of state calculations reveal the half-metallic (HM) behavior of these alloys with a direct gap, and the half-metallicity is rather originated from the Cr-d states. Results on magnetic properties suggest that OsCrMnSb and IrCrMnSb are HM antiferromagnets. However, the inclusion of spin–orbit coupling affects strongly the IrCrMnSb alloy, losing its HM nature.
Element edge quadrature method for 4-node quadrilateral element for the evaluation of element stiffness matrix
Authors: Johnson Shyjo , Jeyapoovan T. , Nagarajan D.
Published: October 2020

This research paper focuses on the objective of developing a quadrature for evaluating the element stiffness matrix for the four-node quadrilateral element in finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed integration scheme is defined as an element edge method (EEM), which mimics the Gauss numerical integration scheme. This integration scheme consists of five sampling points and weights where four integration point locations are at the edges and one is at the center of the quadrilateral element. The proposed quadrature scheme has been tested using various benchmarked problems designed by various researchers to study the convergence of the results, accuracy of results, and stability of values.
Applying Visible Strong Equivalence in Answer-Set Program Transformations
Authors: Bomanson Jori , Janhunen Tomi , Niemelä Ilkka
Published: October 2020

Strong equivalence is one of the basic notions of equivalence that have been proposed for logic programs subject to the answer-set semantics. In this article, we propose a new generalization of strong equivalence (SE) that takes the visibility of atoms into account and we characterize it in terms of appropriately revised SE-models. Our design resembles (relativized) strong equivalence but is substantially different due to adopting a strict one-to-one correspondence of models from the notion of visible equivalence. We additionally tailor the characterization for more convenient use with positive programs and provide formal tools to exploit the tailored version also in the case of some programs that use negation. We illustrate the use of visible strong equivalence and the characterizations in showing the correctness of program transformations that make use of atom visibility. Moreover, we present a translation that enables us to automate the task of verifying visible strong equivalence for particular fragments of answer-set programs. We experimentally study the efficiency of verification when the goal is to check whether an extended rule is visibly strongly equivalent to its normalization, i.e., a subprogram expressing the original rule in terms of normal rules only. In the process, we verify the outputs of several real implementations of normalization schemes on a considerable number of input rules.
Bots in Social and Interaction Networks
Authors: Mendoza Marcelo , Tesconi Maurizio , Cresci Stefano
Published: October 2020

The rise of bots and their influence on social networks is a hot topic that has aroused the interest of many researchers. Despite the efforts to detect social bots, it is still difficult to distinguish them from legitimate users. Here, we propose a simple yet effective semi-supervised method that allows distinguishing between bots and legitimate users with high accuracy. The method learns a joint representation of social connections and interactions between users by leveraging graph-based representation learning. Then, on the proximity graph derived from user embeddings, a sample of bots is used as seeds for a label propagation algorithm. We demonstrate that when the label propagation is done according to pairwise account proximity, our method achieves
F
1 = 0.93, whereas other state-of-the-art techniques achieve
F
1 ≤ 0.87. By applying our method to a large dataset of retweets, we uncover the presence of different clusters of bots in the network of Twitter interactions. Interestingly, such clusters feature different degrees of integration with legitimate users. By analyzing the interactions produced by the different clusters of bots, our results suggest that a significant group of users was systematically exposed to content produced by bots and to interactions with bots, indicating the presence of a selective exposure phenomenon.
Notice of Withdrawal: Retinal Vasculature in Development and Diseases
Authors: Sun Ye , Smith Lois E.H.
Published: October 2020

This article was withdrawn on October 15, 2020, at the request of the journal editors, with agreement from the authors, owing to a substantial amount of unattributed or improperly cited text overlap with other sources. In accordance with Annual Reviews' commitment to transparency, the original PDF of the article remains available for download at https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034018.
Panoramic Display and Planning Simulation of Civil Engineering Project Based on Virtual Reality Technology
Authors: Wang Zheng , Liu Chang , Song Bin
Published: October 2020

In the traditional civil engineering industry, only abstract theoretical concepts are applied to express complex realistic contents, but this method of information transmission is sometimes very limited for engineering participants, because its expression is not comprehensive and specific and also makes the recipients have difficulty in understanding its information. The rise and development of virtual reality (VR) technology has become a good assistant to overcome this difficulty, providing an extremely effective means for displaying and simulating civil engineering project in real time. This paper introduced the methods and principles of VR platform system and structure dynamic analysis, conducted virtual scene design and three-dimensional modeling of civil engineering project, analyzed the synthetic debugging and simulation roaming of the virtual environment, proposed the engineering model of virtual construction process and planning structure calculation, discussed the realization method of virtual project management and visualization, and finally performed the simulation and its result analysis of panoramic display and planning of civil engineering project based on VR technology. The results show that the VR technology can simulate various environments and activities of civil engineering projects in advance, analyze the rationality of various schemes, and modify their different functional parameters, so it can achieve the simulation optimization of project planning, design, and construction.
Lipin1 Is Involved in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Encephalopathy through the PKD/Limk/Cofilin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xie Min , Wang Meijian , Liu Wei , Xu Min , Shang Pan , Jiang Dongqing , Ju Liping , Wu Fei , Sun Aili , Yu Shuyan , Zhuang Xianghua , Chen Shihong
Published: October 2020

Diabetic encephalopathy is a type of central diabetic neuropathy resulting from diabetes mainly manifested as cognitive impairments. However, its underlying pathogenesis and effective treatment strategies remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Lipin1, a phosphatidic acid phosphatase enzyme, on the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy. We found that in vitro, Lipin1 exerts protective effects on high glucose-induced reductions of PC12 cell viability, while in vivo, Lipin1 is downregulated within the CA1 hippocampal region in a type I diabetes rat model. Increased levels of Lipin1 within the CA1 region are accompanied with protective effects including amelioration of dendritic spine and synaptic deficiencies, phosphorylation of the synaptic plasticity-related proteins, LIM kinase 1 (p-limk1) and cofilin, as well as increases in the synthesis of diacylglycerol (DAG), and the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase D (p-PKD). These effects are associated with the rescue of cognitive disorders as shown in this rat model of diabetes. In contrast, knockdown of Lipin1 within the CA1 region enhanced neuronal abnormalities and the genesis of cognitive impairment in rats. These results suggest that Lipin1 may exert neuroprotective effects involving the PKD/Limk/Cofilin signaling pathway and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for diabetic encephalopathy.
Apitherapy for Parkinson’s Disease: A Focus on the Effects of Propolis and Royal Jelly
Authors: Ali Amira Mohammed , Kunugi Hiroshi
Published: October 2020

The vast increase of world’s aging populations is associated with increased risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is a widespread disorder characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which encompasses a wide range of debilitating motor, emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. PD threatens the quality of life of millions of patients and their families. Additionally, public welfare and healthcare systems are burdened with its high cost of care. Available treatments provide only a symptomatic relief and produce a trail of noxious side effects, which increase noncompliance. Hence, researchers have recently focused on the use of nutraceuticals as safe adjunctive treatments of PD to limit its progress and associated damages in affected groups. Propolis is a common product of the beehive, which possesses a large number of therapeutic properties. Royal jelly (RJ) is a bee product that is fed to bee queens during their entire life, and it contributes to their high physical fitness, fertility, and long lifespan. Evidence suggests that propolis and RJ can promote health by preventing the occurrence of age-related debilitating diseases. Therefore, they have been used to treat various serious disorders such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Some evolving studies used these bee products to treat PD in animal models. However, a clear understanding of the collective effect of propolis and RJ as well as their mechanism of action in PD is lacking. This review evaluates the available literature for the effects of propolis and RJ on PD. Whenever possible, it elaborates on the underlying mechanisms through which they function in this disorder and offers insights for fruitful use of bee products in future clinical trials.
Evaluating Railway Operation Safety Situation in China Based on an Improved TOPSIS Method: A Regional Perspective
Authors: Yan Xu , Peng Qiyuan , Yin Yong , Zhang Yongxiang , Zhong Qingwei
Published: October 2020

The evaluation of the railway operation safety situation is important for managers to ensure transportation safety and make control decisions. In this study, first, six situation indicators are designed from a regional perspective based on the characteristics of railway operation accidents, and the quantitative methods of these indicators are determined. Second, an improved technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is developed to evaluate the railway operation safety situation against the situation indicators. Based on the set-pair analysis (SPA) theory and cosine similarity measure (CSM), the comprehensive evaluation values and rankings of the safety situation are first calculated from the distance and trend levels for each period. Game theory is then employed to determine a more reasonable combined weight, and the values of the parameters involved in the situation indicators are also estimated. The real-life statistical accident data in a regional area of China from 2016 to 2018 are chosen as a case study to verify the proposed method. A brief analysis is conducted, resulting in suggestions for the evaluation results. Two groups of comparative experiments are designed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method. Finally, the quality of the evaluation results is verified through actual conditions and expert scoring. Some extensions and potential practical applications of this work are discussed.
The Effectiveness of Rapamycin Combined with Eltrombopag in Murine Models of Immune-Mediated Bone Marrow Failure
Authors: Ding Shaoxue , Liang Xiaowei , Zhang Tian , Fu Rong
Published: October 2020

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare disease characterized by severe pancytopenia and bone marrow failure. Most patients with AA respond to immunosuppressive therapy (IST), usually as antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA), but some relapse on CsA withdrawal or require long-term administration of CsA to maintain blood counts. Recent research has found that rapamycin (Rapa) was an effective therapy in mouse models of immune-mediated bone marrow failure. However, it has not achieved a satisfactory effect in clinical application. At present, many studies have confirmed that eltrombopag (ELT) combined with IST can improve the curative effect of AA patients. Then, whether Rapa combined Elt in the treatment of AA will acquire better efficacy than a single drug application remains unclear. In this study, an immune attack-mediated AA mouse model was constructed by total body irradiation (TBI) and allo-lymphocyte infusion. In our study, we tested the efficacy of Rapa combined with Elt as a new treatment in mouse models of immune-mediated bone marrow failure. It showed that treatment with Rapa in combination Elt in the AA mouse model ameliorated pancytopenia and extended animal survival in a manner comparable to the standard dose of CsA and Rapa alone. However, there was no significant improvement effect on the number and function of NK cells and their subsets, mDCs, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in AA mice after the therapy of Rapa combined with Elt compared with Rapa alone. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-10 of Tregs in AA mice increased significantly after the therapy of Rapa combined with Elt, but there was no significant difference in the number of Treg cells. We did not observe the difference in the curative effect of the Rapa group and CsA group, but for IL-10/Tregs ratio, the Rapa group was superior to the CsA group. And the IFN-r secretion of CD8+T cells in AA mice decreased significantly after the combination therapy of Rapa and Elt than Rapa alone. Compared with the AA group, the level of plasma IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α decreased significantly (

P
<
0.05

), but IL-10, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-1β increased significantly in the Rapa group (

P
<
0.05

). As for IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-2, IL-6, KC/GRO, and TNF-α, the therapy of Rapa combined with Elt showed a more significant effect than Rapa alone in AA mice. To some extent, this study had shown a relatively better synergistic effect in murine models of immune-mediated bone marrow failure after the combination therapy of Rapa and Elt, which was a promising clinical utility in SAA treatment.
A Unified Multiple Transport Mechanism Model for Gas through Shale Pores
Authors: Zeng Fanhui , Zhang Yu , Guo Jianchun , Ren Wenxi , Zhang Tao , Jiang Qifeng , Xiang Jianhua
Published: October 2020

Predicting apparent gas permeability (AGP) in nanopores is a major challenge for shale gas development. Considering the differences in the gas molecule-pore wall interactions in inorganic and organic nanopores, the gas transport mechanisms in shale remain unclear. In this paper, gas flow channels in shale, which are separated into inorganic pores and organic pores, are treated as nanotubes. Inorganic pores are assumed to be hydrophilic, and organic pores are assumed to be hydrophobic. In organic pores, multiple bulk free gas and surface adsorbed gas transport mechanisms are incorporated, while the bulk gas and water film are considered within inorganic pores. This paper presents a unified multiple transport mechanism model for both organic nanopores and inorganic nanopores. Unlike the earlier models, the presented models consider the absorption, stress dependence, real gas, and water storage effects on gas transport comprehensively for the entire flow regime. The results are validated with published data which is more in line with the real situation. The results show that (1) the AGP decreases gradually as the pore pressure decreases but that the decrease is sharp in small pores, (2) the AGP decreases dramatically when considering the real gas effect at 50 MPa in a 2 nm pore size, and (3) for a small pore size at the critical high-water saturation, AGP might increase suddenly as the flow regime changes from continuum flow to slip flow. The findings of this study can help for better understanding of the gas transport mechanisms for the entire flow regime in shale.
Analytic Feynman Integral and a Change of Scale Formula for Wiener Integrals of an Unbounded Cylinder Function
Authors: Young Sik Kim
Published: October 2020

We investigate the behavior of the unbounded cylinder function

F

x

=

∫
0
T

α

1

t

d
x

t

2
k

⋅

∫
0
T

α

2

t

d
x

t

2
k

⋅
⋯
⋅

∫
0
T

α

n

t

d
x

t

2
k

,
 
k
=
1,2
,
…

whose analytic Wiener integral and analytic Feynman integral exist, we prove some relationships among the analytic Wiener integral, the analytic Feynman integral, and the Wiener integral, and we prove a change of scale formula for the Wiener integral about the unbounded function on the Wiener space

C

0

0
,
T

.
The Dynamic Interrelationship of Environmental Factors and Foreign Direct Investment: Dynamic Panel Data Analysis and New Evidence from the Globe
Authors: Khan Hayat , Khan Itbar , Kim Oanh Le Thi , Lin Zhang
Published: October 2020

Studies on the role of renewable energy consumption and other environmental factors in carbon emission have got considerable attention recently, and they are predicted to get exaggerated in the coming decades. Energy usage increases economic growth and development of a country and backs to global warming and carbon emission which affect the local environment. For the prosperity of a country, it is felt crucial to measure the unavoidable impacts which effect environmental quality. Consequently, the current study investigates the interrelationship of renewable energy consumption, carbon dioxide emission, foreign direct investment, and economic growth in 190 countries of the world for the period of 1980 to 2018. By employing both static and dynamic models, the findings indicate that carbon emission, renewable energy consumption, foreign direct investment, and economic growth affect each other significantly whereas renewable energy consumption has been found beneficial for environmental quality; however, it decreases the inflow of FDI. RE has a decreasing impact, while FDI and carbon emission promote economic growth. The study suggests the promotion of renewable energy resources and policies related to FDI to promote the quality of the environment and achieve economic growth as well.
Relationship between Illness Perception and Depressive Symptoms among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in China: A Mediating Role of Coping Style
Authors: Li Jiarui , Qiu Xiaohui , Yang Xiuxian , Zhou Jiawei , Zhu Xiongzhao , Zhao Erying , Qiao Zhengxue , Yang Yanjie , Cao Depin
Published: October 2020

Objective. The aims of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in China and to explore how coping style influences the relationship between illness perception and depressive symptoms. Methods. Nine hundred and thirty-nine T2DM patients were recruited from a grade 3 Class A hospital in Harbin, China, and asked to complete a demographic questionnaire as well as the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ). Hierarchical linear regression analysis and the bootstrap method were preformed to examine if coping style influenced the relationship between illness perception and depression. Results. The majority of patients (73.59%) exhibited depressive symptoms, including 37.27% with moderate and 6.71% with severe depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were more frequent in patients with complications (

P
<
0.05

). A resignation coping style partially mediated the influence of illness perception on depressive symptoms. Conclusions. Interventions to improve coping style may reduce the prevalence or severity of depressive symptoms among T2DM patients, potentially enhancing treatment adherence and clinical outcome.
A Bayesian Best-Worst Method-Based Multicriteria Competence Analysis of Crowdsourcing Delivery Personnel
Authors: Li Longxiao , Wang Xu , Rezaei Jafar
Published: October 2020

Crowdsourcing delivery is becoming a prevalent tool for tackling delivery problems by building a large labor-intensive service network. In this network, the delivery personnel consist of a large number of people with a complex composition and high level of mobility, creating enormous challenges for the quality of service and the management of a crowdsourcing platform. Hence, we attempt to conduct a competence analysis to determine whether they can provide promised services with high quality, i.e., they are competent for their job. To this end, the competence theory is introduced, and a multicriteria competence analysis (MCCA) approach is developed. To illustrate the MCCA approach, a real-world case study is conducted involving a Chinese takeaway delivery platform, where the Bayesian best-worst method is used to determine the weights of the criteria based on the data collected from managers of the platform company. Also, the competence scores of the personnel involved are collected through surveys and data sources of the company. Given the weights and the competence scores, we use additive value function to identify the overall competence scores of them, which reflects the level of competence for their job. The results show that Skills is the most important competence, while Knowledge is the least important of the four competence dimensions. In subcriteria, four core elements are identified such as punctuality, customer service awareness, responsible, and goods intact. In addition to the importance of criteria, a ranking of a sample of personnel is provided, and almost half of the crowdsourcing delivery personnel’s competence is below the average and vary significantly, while the relationship between the competence level and some other variables is also discussed. Moreover, the developed MCCA approach in this paper can be applied to analyze the competence of personnel in many other industries as well.
Exercise Improves Lung Inflammation, but Not Lung Remodeling and Mechanics in a Model of Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis
Authors: El-Mafarjeh Elias , Martins Gisele Henrique Cardoso , Probst Jessica Jorge , Santos-Dias Alana , Oliveira-Junior Manoel Carneiro , de Barros Marcelo Paes , de Oliveira Luis Vicente Franco , de Andrade Leandro Damas , da Palma Renata Kelly , Moraes-Ferreira Renilson , de Camargo Hizume-Kunzler Deborah , Bachi André Luis Lacerda , Vieira Rodolfo P.
Published: October 2020

Introduction. Moderate aerobic exercise training accelerates the resolution of lung fibrosis in a model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, whether it can inhibit the development of lung fibrosis is unknown. Materials and Methods. C57Bl/6 mice were distributed into four groups: Control (Co), Exercise (Exe), Bleomycin (Bleo), and Bleomycin+Exercise (Bleo+Exe). A single bleomycin dose (1.5 UI/kg) was administered orotracheally and treadmill exercise started in the same day, enduring for 4 weeks, 5x/week, 60 minutes/session, at moderate intensity. Lung mechanics, systemic and pulmonary inflammation, and lung remodeling were evaluated. Lung homogenates were used to evaluate the antioxidant status. Results. Total cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils numbers, in agreement with IL-6 levels, were higher in the BAL and serum of Bleo group, compared to other groups. In addition, lung levels of LTB4 in Bleo were higher than other groups, whereas SOD activity and nitric oxide levels in exercised groups (Exe and Exe+Bleo) compared to the Bleo group. Lung GPX activity was lower in Bleo and Exe+Bleo groups compared to others. Exe and Exe+Bleo groups also showed higher IL-10 expression by lung macrophages than other groups, whereas TGF-β expression was higher in Exe, Bleo, and Exe+Bleo groups compared to control. CCR7 expression was induced only in the Exe group. However, exercise did not improve lung remodeling and mechanics, or serum and pulmonary levels of VEGF, IGF-1, and TGF-β. Conclusion. Aerobic exercise training initiated concomitantly with induction of pulmonary fibrosis reduces lung and systemic inflammation but fails to inhibit lung fibrosis and mechanics impairment.
Geochemical Characteristics of Soil Gas and Strong Seismic Hazard Potential in the Liupanshan Fault Zone (LPSFZ)
Authors: Zhou Huiling , Su Hejun , Zhang Hui , Li Chenhua , Ma Dongzheng , Bai Ronglong
Published: October 2020

Eight soil gas measurements were performed in the Liupanshan fault zone (LPSFZ) to observe the concentration and flux of soil gas radon (Rn) and CO2 in October 2017 and October 2018. By combining the historical strong earthquake background and modern seismic activity of the fault zone, the relation between the geochemical distribution characteristics of soil gas and the seismicity of the fault zone was studied herein. Furthermore, the strong seismic hazard potential of the fault zone was discussed. Results show that the concentration of soil gas Rn and CO2 considerably varies in the northern segment of the LPSFZ and is relatively stable in the southern segment. The spatial distribution of the concentration intensity and flux is strong in the north and weak in the south. However, the southern segment of the LPSFZ has a seismic gap that has not been ruptured by strong earthquakes with

Ms
≥
6.5

for the last 1400 years, whereas the seismic activity in the northern segment is relatively frequent, indicating that the fault zone locking degree of the southern segment is higher than that of the northern segment. This observation is completely consistent with the geochemical characteristic distribution of soil gas. Therefore, the southern segment of the LPSFZ should be considered a hazardous segment, where major or strong earthquakes can occur in the future.
Systemic Effects Induced by Hyperoxia in a Preclinical Model of Intra-abdominal Sepsis
Authors: García-Laorden M. Isabel , Rodríguez-González Raquel , Martín-Barrasa José L. , García-Hernández Sonia , Ramos-Nuez Ángela , González-García H. Celeste , González-Martín Jesús M. , Kacmarek Robert M. , Villar Jesús
Published: October 2020

Supplemental oxygen is a supportive treatment in patients with sepsis to balance tissue oxygen delivery and demand in the tissues. However, hyperoxia may induce some pathological effects. We sought to assess organ damage associated with hyperoxia and its correlation with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a preclinical model of intra-abdominal sepsis. For this purpose, sepsis was induced in male, Sprague-Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We randomly assigned experimental animals to three groups: control (healthy animals), septic (CLP), and sham-septic (surgical intervention without CLP). At 18 h after CLP, septic (

n
=
39

), sham-septic (

n
=
16

), and healthy (

n
=
24

) animals were placed within a sealed Plexiglas cage and randomly distributed into four groups for continuous treatment with 21%, 40%, 60%, or 100% oxygen for 24 h. At the end of the experimental period, we evaluated serum levels of cytokines, organ damage biomarkers, histological examination of brain and lung tissue, and ROS production in each surviving animal. We found that high oxygen concentrations increased IL-6 and biomarkers of organ damage levels in septic animals, although no relevant histopathological lung or brain damage was observed. Healthy rats had an increase in IL-6 and aspartate aminotransferase at high oxygen concentration. IL-6 levels, but not ROS levels, are correlated with markers of organ damage. In our study, the use of high oxygen concentrations in a clinically relevant model of intra-abdominal sepsis was associated with enhanced inflammation and organ damage. These findings were unrelated to ROS release into circulation. Hyperoxia could exacerbate sepsis-induced inflammation, and it could be by itself detrimental. Our study highlights the need of developing safer thresholds for oxygen therapy.
Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Fibromyalgia: Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Replicated Single-Case Design
Authors: Gómez-Pérez María Camino , García-Palacios Azucena , Castilla Diana , Zaragozá Irene , Suso-Ribera Carlos
Published: October 2020

Objective. Overall, the literature on the effectiveness of psychological treatments in general and those for fibromyalgia in particular has been dominated by research designs that focus on large groups and explore changes on average, so the treatment impact at the individual level remains unclear. In this quasi-experimental, replicated single-case design, we will test the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief acceptance and committed therapy intervention using ecological momentary assessment supported by technology. Methods. The sample comprised 7 patients (3 in the individual condition and 4 in the group condition) who received a brief, 5-week psychological treatment. Patient evolution was assessed one week prior to treatment onset and during the whole study with a smartphone app. Because ecological momentary assessment and the use of an app are not frequent practices in routine care, we also evaluated the feasibility of this assessment methodology (i.e., compliance with the app). Change was investigated with a nonoverlap of all pairs index. Outcomes were pain interference with sleep and social activities, fatigue, sadness, and pain intensity. Results. Patient change was not uniform across outcomes. Four patients (two in each condition) showed relatively moderate levels of change (approximately 60% nonoverlap in several outcomes). The remaining patients showed more modest improvements which affected a reduced number of outcomes. Based on nonoverlapping indices, there was no clear evidence in favor of any treatment format. Conclusions. An alternative design to large-scale trials, one that focuses on the individual change, exists and it can be implemented in pain research. The use of technology (e.g., smartphones) simplifies such designs by facilitating ecological momentary assessment. Based on our findings showing that changes were not homogeneous across patients or outcomes, more single-case designs and patient-centered analyses (e.g., responder and moderation analyses) are required.
A Rapid Bonding Method for Fabricating Mixing Microfluidic Chip Based on Micromachining Technology
Authors: Wang Junyao , Hou Qi , Liu Huan , Sun Qi , Yuan Hengyi
Published: October 2020

In this paper, a rapid bonding method is reported to fabricate a mixing microfluidic chip. The chip is composed of a glass upper plat and a polyurethane bottom plat. The upper plat with a microchannel is obtained through micromachining technology. And the bottom plat is manufactured via mixing the solution with the component of isocyanic acid and polyether polyol. The influence of the solution’s proportion on the contact angle and bonding force is investigated to enhance the hydrophilicity and the bonding strength. Furthermore, a mixing experiment is implemented to verify the chip’s bonding effect. The experimental results demonstrate that with increasing the proportions of isocyanic acid and polyether polyol, the contact angle and the bonding force increase at first and then decrease gradually. That is attributed to the variation of internal porous structure for different proportions. Considering the contact angle and the bonding force synthetically, the optimal proportion of 3.7 w/w is confirmed. The mixing efficiency is increased from 0.157 to 0.824. Compared with other bonding methods, the method in this paper has the advantages of high efficiency and high bonding strength.
Analysis of Lateral Dynamic Response of Caisson Foundation in Layered Clayey Soils considering Scour-Hole Dimensions
Authors: Tu Wenbo , Gu Xiaoqiang , Ma Xianfeng , Huang Dawei
Published: October 2020

As a cross-sea or river deep-water foundation, it is clear that the caisson foundation will be subjected to significant lateral dynamic loads due to winds or waves and suffer from scouring under its long-term effect. In order to obtain the scour effect on the dynamic response of the foundation, an analytical model describing the scour-hole effect in terms of scour depth, scour width, and slope angle was constructed. Combined with the nonlinear Winkler theory, a method for the dynamic response of the caisson foundation considering the scour-hole dimensions was proposed. Comparisons against the results from the dynamic FEM demonstrate the reliability of this method. The effects of the scour width, slope angle, and scour depth on the dynamic response of the caisson were discussed. The results show that the scour depth affects the dynamic displacement and resonant frequency of the foundation most, whereas the scour width does less and the slope angle does the least; the dynamic response of caisson can be approximated as the case of the slope angle 5° and the scour width 5B when the slope angle is less than 5° and the scour width is greater than 5B, respectively; the effects of scour width and slope angle on the dynamic response of caisson have the similar change pattern in the displacement and resonant frequency when the scour depth is different. However, the effect of amplitude on dynamic response shows a nonlinear increase trend when the scour depth is relatively large.