bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Determinants of a Blunted Parathyroid Hormone Response in Young Saudi Women with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al Kadi Hanan
Published: September 2021

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the Saudi population. Increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion is an appropriate homeostatic response to correct the resultant hypocalcemia. However, not all vitamin D deficiency patients have increased PTH levels. This study determined the prevalence of a blunted PTH response to vitamin D deficiency among apparently healthy young Saudi women and assessed anthropometric and biochemical factors associated with this response by performing a secondary analysis of data obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted at the “Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis research.” Overall, 315 women (aged 20–45 years) with vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels <30 nmol/L) were included. They were divided into two groups according to the laboratory cutoff value of PTH (<7 or ≥7 pmol/L), and anthropometric and biochemical characteristics of both groups were compared. Women with a blunted PTH response (n = 62, 19.7%) had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (

P
<
0.001

) and smaller waist circumference (

P
=
0.001

). They also had significantly higher serum 25(OH)D (

P
=
0.001

), corrected serum calcium (

P
<
0.001

), and phosphate (

P
=
0.003

) levels than those with an elevated PTH response (n = 253, 80.3%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that lower BMI (OR = 0.925; 95% CI: 0.949–0.987) and higher 25(OH)D (OR = 1.068; 95% CI: 1.014–1.124) and serum calcium (OR = 8.600; 95% CI: 1.614–45.809) levels were significantly associated with a blunted PTH response (R2 = 0.178). A blunted PTH response to vitamin D deficiency is mainly observed among women with lower BMI. Higher serum calcium and 25(OH)D levels and lower BMI were significant predictors of a blunted PTH response, which may indicate that these subjects are adapting to lower 25(OH)D levels and maintaining normal calcium levels without the need to increase PTH secretion. The mechanisms underlying this adaptation are unclear, and future studies to explore these mechanisms are warranted.
Application of Configuration Force to Dynamic Crack of Shale under Hydration
Authors: Fan Heng , Zhao Xiaojiao , Ji Yu , Zhao Zhifeng , Qu Zhan
Published: September 2021

The natural microdefects of shale and the expansion of microcracks under hydration and overlying rock loadings are important for the wellbore stability. According to the conservation of energy, the force of the microdefects and microcracks under finite deformation is studied by the method of configuration force through the migrating control volume in the spatial observer. Under the hydration stress and rock pressure, the equation of hydration stress and its work in reference configuration has been obtained, and the equations of configuration forces and configuration moment have been established as a consequence of invariance under changes. The relationship between the configuration and deformation forces is determined by the second law. The energy dissipation equation of the crack tip has been deduced, which shows that the projection of the concentrated internal configuration body force at the crack tip in the opposite direction of the crack is equal to the energy dissipation of the crack tip per unit length. The inertial and internal parts of the concentrated configuration body force at the crack tip have been derived; it is indicated that the internal configuration force plays a leading role in the irreversible fracture process. Moreover, the energy release rate of shale under hydration is proved to depend on constitutive responses and hydration stress. In the theoretical system of configuration force, the migrating control volume at the crack tip contains inclusions, microcracks, microvoids, and heterogeneity of the rock itself. We use the configuration force theory to solve the problem of rock crack propagation and rock fracture. The factors considered are more comprehensive, which can better reflect the actual situation and provide a theoretical basis for the study of wellbore stability.
Novel Theorems and Algorithms Relating to the Collatz Conjecture
Authors: Schwob Michael R. , Shiue Peter , Venkat Rama
Published: September 2021

Proposed in 1937, the Collatz conjecture has remained in the spotlight for mathematicians and computer scientists alike due to its simple proposal, yet intractable proof. In this paper, we propose several novel theorems, corollaries, and algorithms that explore relationships and properties between the natural numbers, their peak values, and the conjecture. These contributions primarily analyze the number of Collatz iterations it takes for a given integer to reach 1 or a number less than itself, or the relationship between a starting number and its peak value.
Brief Negative Affect Focused Functional Imagery Training Abolishes Stress-Induced Alcohol Choice in Hazardous Student Drinkers
Authors: Bakou Alexandra Elissavet , Shuai Ruichong , Hogarth Lee
Published: September 2021

Introduction. Imagery-based stress management therapies are effective at reducing alcohol use. To explore the therapeutic mechanism, the current study tested whether brief functional imagery training linked to personal negative affect drinking triggers would attenuate sensitivity to noise stress-induced alcohol seeking behaviour in a laboratory model. Methods. Participants were UK-based hazardous student drinkers (N = 61, 80.3% women, aged 18–25) who reported drinking to cope with negative affect. Participants in the active intervention group (n = 31) were briefly trained to respond to personal negative drinking triggers by retrieving an adaptive strategy to mitigate negative affect, whereas participants in the control group (n = 30) received risk information about binge drinking at university. The relative value of alcohol was then measured by preference to view alcohol versus food pictures in two-alternative choice trials, before (baseline) and during noise stress induction. Results. There was a significant two-way interaction

p
<
.04

where the control group increased their alcohol picture choice from baseline to the noise stress test

p
<
.001

, whereas the active intervention group did not

p
=
.33

, and the control group chose alcohol more frequently than the active group in the stress test

p

=

.03

, but not at baseline

p
=
.16

. Conclusions. These findings indicate that imagery-based mood management can protect against the increase in the relative value of alcohol motivated by acute stress in hazardous negative affect drinkers, suggesting this mechanism could underpin the therapeutic effect of mood management on drinking outcomes.
Wavelet Transform Artificial Intelligence Algorithm-Based Data Mining Technology for Norovirus Monitoring and Early Warning
Authors: Fan Xucheng , Xue Na , Han Zhiguo , Wang Chao , Ma Heer , Lu Yaoqin
Published: September 2021

Norovirus monitoring and early warning can be used for diagnosis without etiological testing, and the treatment of this disease does not require the antibiotics. It often occurs in preschool children and affects their growth and development, so the coping measures for this disease are more prevention than treatment. In this study, the clinical data of 2133 children with diarrhea were collected. Based on the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm of wavelet transform, a related model for data mining and processing of children’s intestinal ultrasound images and stool specimens was constructed. Then, the norovirus infection trend was warned based on the wavelet analysis algorithm model. The results showed that the intestinal ultrasound image processed by the wavelet transform algorithm was clearer. The positive detection rate of norovirus in children with clinical diarrhea was as high as 59%, and the children had different degrees of body damage, of which the probability of compensatory metabolic acidosis was the highest. The epidemiological analysis found that children with norovirus infection were mainly concentrated in the age group under 2 years old and over 5 years old and showed a peak of infection in December. In summary, the intelligent algorithm based on wavelet transform can realize the noise reduction of intestinal ultrasound, and it should protect children with susceptible age and susceptible seasons to reduce the clinical infection rate of norovirus.
Roles of Suaeda vermiculata Aqueous‐Ethanolic Extract, Its Subsequent Fractions, and the Isolated Compounds in Hepatoprotection against Paracetamol‐Induced Toxicity as Compared to Silymarin
Authors: Mohammed Salman A. A. , Ali Hussein M. , Mohammed Hamdoon A. , Al-Omar Mohsen S. , Almahmoud Suliman A. , El-Readi Mahmoud Z. , Ragab Ehab A. , Sulaiman Ghassan M. , Aly Mohamed S. A. , Khan Riaz A.
Published: September 2021

Suaeda vermiculata, a halophyte consumed by livestock, is also used by Bedouins to manage liver disorders. The aqueous‐ethanolic extract of S. vermiculata, its subsequent fractions, and pure compounds, i.e., pheophytin‐A (1), isorhamnetin‐3‐O‐rutinoside (2), and quercetin (3), were evaluated for their hepatoprotective efficacy. The male mice were daily fed with either silymarin, plant aq.‐ethanolic extract, fractions, pure isolated compounds, or carboxyl methylcellulose (CMC) for 7 days (n = 6/group, p.o.). On the day 7th of the administrations, all, except the intact animal groups, were induced with hepatotoxicity using paracetamol (PCM, 300 mg/kg). The anesthetized animals were euthanized after 24 h; blood and liver tissues were collected and analysed. The serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels decreased significantly for all the S. vermiculata aq.‐ethanolic extract, fraction, and compound‐treated groups when equated with the PCM group (p < 0.0001). The antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased significantly (p < 0.05) for the silymarin‐, n‐hexane‐, and quercetin‐fed groups. Similarly, the catalase (CAT) enzyme level significantly increased for all the groups, except for the compound 2‐treated group as compared to the CMC group. Also, the glutathione reductase (GR) levels were significantly increased for the n‐butanol treated group than for the PCM group. The oxidative stress biomarkers, lipid peroxide (LP) and nitric oxide (NO), the inflammatory markers, IL‐6 and TNF‐α, and the kidney’s functional biomarker parameters remained unchanged and did not differ significantly for the treated groups in comparison to the PCM‐induced toxicity bearing animals. All the treated groups demonstrated significant decreases in cholesterol levels as compared to the PCM group, indicating hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects. The quercetin‐treated group demonstrated significant improvement in triglyceride level. The S. vermiculata aq.‐ethanolic extract, fractions, and the isolated compounds demonstrated their hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects, confirming the claimed traditional use of the herb as a liver protectant.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility among Diarrheic Patients Attending Private Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Kebede Ruhama , Alemayehu Haile , Medhin Girmay , Eguale Tadesse
Published: September 2021

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is one of the major causes of bacterial foodborne infection. It is mainly manifested by self‐limiting gastroenteritis in healthy individuals but can also cause severe complications including blood stream infection and mortality. The emergence of multidrug‐resistant strains of Salmonella is becoming a global public health concern. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of Salmonella, identifying serotypes involved, and investigating antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates among diarrheic patients attending private hospitals in Addis Ababa. We collected a total of 298 stool samples from diarrheic patients attending five private hospitals in Addis Ababa and isolated Salmonella according to standard microbiological techniques; the isolates were serotyped using slide agglutination and microplate agglutination techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolates was carried out using Kirby‐Bauer disc diffusion assay according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Fourteen stool samples (4.7%) were positive for Salmonella, and Salmonella Kiambu was the most dominant serovar (n = 7, 50%) followed by S. Saintpaul (n = 4, 28.6%) and S. Haifa (n = 2, 14.3%). Three (21.4%) of the isolates were resistant to sulfisoxazole and tetracycline each and 2 (14.3%) to ampicillin. Resistance to two antimicrobials was detected only in 2 (14.3%) of the isolates, and none of the isolates were resistant to more than two antimicrobials. In conclusion, the current study showed low prevalence of NTS in diarrheic patients attending private hospitals in Addis Ababa. Although multidrug resistance to several antimicrobials was not detected in the isolates, prudent use of antimicrobials is recommended to guaranty the long‐term use of the available antimicrobials.
Evaluation of Residual Monomers Eluted from Pediatric Dental Restorative Materials
Authors: Bezgin Tugba , Cimen Ceren , Ozalp Nurhan
Published: September 2021

Unreacted monomers eluted from resin‐based restorative materials have been considered a reason of local and systemic adverse reactions. This study was designed to determine the effect of finishing and polishing procedures on the elution of Bis‐GMA, TEGDMA, UDMA, and HEMA monomers from compomer and bulk‐fill composite resins. Bulk‐fill composite (3M ESPE GmbH, Seefeld, Germany) and compomer (Dentsply DeTrey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany) specimens with 3 × 4 mm diameters were prepared. The specimens were randomly divided into two groups, and finishing‐polishing procedures were applied only to the experimental groups. Release of residual monomers was analyzed by using High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) after 24, 48, and 72 hours. Repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were used for comparisons. Finishing and polishing procedures had a significant effect on reducing the quantity of UDMA release in the Filtek™ Bulk Fill composite and Bis‐GMA, HEMA, and TEGDMA in the Dyract XP compomer (p < 0.05). The restorative materials investigated here are not chemically stable after polymerization, and concentrations of eluted monomers may reach critical toxicity levels even after one restoration placement. Finishing and polishing procedures are mandatory to reduce residual monomers.
Ultrasound Image Features under Deep Learning in Breast Conservation Surgery for Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Hongxu , Liu Haiwang , Ma Lihui , Liu Jianping , Hu Dawei
Published: September 2021

This study was to analyze the effect of the combined application of deep learning technology and ultrasound imaging on the effect of breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. A deep label distribution learning (LDL) model was designed, and the semiautomatic segmentation algorithm based on the region growing and active contour technology (RA) and the segmentation model based on optimized nearest neighbors (ON) were introduced for comparison. The designed algorithm was applied to the breast-conserving surgery of breast cancer patients. According to the difference in intraoperative guidance methods, 102 female patients with early breast cancer were divided into three groups: 34 cases in W1 group (ultrasound guidance based on deep learning segmentation model), 34 cases in W2 group (ultrasound guidance), and 34 cases in W3 group (palpation guidance). The results revealed that the tumor area segmented by the LDL algorithm constructed in this study was closer to the real tumor area; the segmentation accuracy (AC), Jaccard, and true-positive (TP) values of the LDL algorithm were obviously greater than those of the RA and ON algorithms, while the false-positive (FP) value was significantly lower in contrast to the RA and ON algorithms, showing statistically observable differences (

P

 < 0.05); the actual resection volume of the patients in the W1 group was the closest to the ideal resection volume, which was much smaller in contrast to that of the patients in the W2 and W3 groups, showing statistical differences (

P

 < 0.05); the positive margins of the patients in the W1 group were statistically lower than those in the W2 and W3 groups (

P

 < 0.05). In addition, 1 patient in the W1 group was not satisfied with the cosmetic effect, 3 patients in the W2 group were not satisfied with the cosmetic effect, and 9 patients in the W3 group were not satisfied with the cosmetic effect. Finally, it was found that the ultrasound image based on the deep LDL model effectively improved the AC of tumor resection and negative margins, reduced the probability of normal tissue being removed, and improved the postoperative cosmetic effect of breast.
A Study on Mode Shape and Natural Frequency of Rotating Flexible Cracked Annular Thin Disk
Authors: Zhao Jinghe , Zhang Ying , Jiang Bo
Published: September 2021

As an important rotating component, the flexible annular thin disk is widely used in mechanical engineering. Cracks may occur in some weak disk parts, which will greatly shorten the equipment service life and even cause equipment failure. Due to the centrosymmetric structure of the flexible annular disk, two typical cracks are studied in this paper; one is radial crack parallel to diameter, including radial closed crack (RC‐crack) and radial opening crack (RO‐crack); the other one is vertical crack perpendicular to diameter, including circumferential crack (CF‐crack) and tangential crack (TG‐crack). The effect of crack parameters, such as crack length, direction, and position, on disk vibration characteristics are studied through theoretical simulation and experimental verification. The research shows that the effect of cracks on vibration characteristic gets more obvious with cracks extending in most cases, RO‐crack decreases the natural frequency obviously, and vertical cracks would affect mode shapes. In addition, the bigger the nodal diameter is, the more obvious the effect gets. Meanwhile, the most obvious effect appears in the mode of a nodal diameter locating on the crack. The research possesses some guiding significance in industrial production; by comparing with the vibration characteristics of the flawless disk, the integrity of the rotating flexible disk can be judged to prevent possible equipment damage.
Quality Evaluation of the Ready-to-Eat Avocado cv. Hass
Authors: Giuggioli Nicole Roberta , Chiaberto Gabriele , da Silva Thais Mendes
Published: September 2021

Consumer interest in avocado fruit has increased in the last decade in Europe. Nutritional and quality attributes affect the choice of these fruits, whose characteristics must also be maintained in the postharvest period. The preference regarding the feasibility of eating ripe fruits can assure and improve the success of the emerging marketing of avocados. The exposure of fruits to exogenous ethylene (C2H4) treatment can accelerate the process of fruit ripening. The aim of this work was at improving the existing knowledge about the quality traits of avocado cv. Hass fruits at the ready-to-eat stage. The most important qualitative traits (weight loss, dry matter content, hardness pulp, and external and internal fruit colour) were evaluated up to 96 hours, maintaining the fruit at two different temperatures, T1 (+8°C) and T2 (+17°C). A trained sensory panel was conducted at 96 hours to confirm the quality of avocado cv. Hass ripened with exogenous C2H4.
Cardiac Outpouchings: Definitions, Differential Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Approach
Authors: Scagliola Riccardo , Rosa Gian Marco , Seitun Sara
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims. Cardiac outpouchings encounter a series of distinct congenital or acquired entities (i.e. aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, diverticula, and herniations), whose knowledge is still poorly widespread in clinical practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview focusing on definition, differential diagnosis, and prognostic outcomes of cardiac outpouchings, as well as further insights on therapeutic options, in order to assist physicians in the most appropriate decision-making. Methods. The material reviewed was obtained by the following search engines: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Clinical Trials databases, from January 1966 until March 2021. We searched for the following keywords (in title and/or abstract): (“cardiac” OR “heart”) AND (“outpouching” OR “outpouch” OR “aneurysm” OR “pseudoaneurysm” OR “false aneurysm” OR “diverticulum” OR “herniation”). Review articles, original articles, case series, and case reports with literature review were included in our search. Data from patients with congenital or acquired cardiac outpouchings, from prenatal to geriatric age range, were investigated. Results. Out of the 378 papers initially retrieved, 165 duplicates and 84 records in languages other than English were removed. Among the 129 remaining articles, 76 were included in our research material, on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: (a) papers pertaining to the research topic; (b) peer-reviewed articles; (c) using standardized diagnostic criteria; and (d) reporting raw prevalence data. Location, morphologic features, wall motion abnormalities, and tissue characterization were found to have a significant impact in recognition and differential diagnosis of cardiac outpouchings as well as to play a significant role in defining their natural history and prognostic outcomes. Conclusions. Careful recognition of cardiac outpouchings remains a diagnostic challenge in clinical practice. Due to a broad cluster of distinctive and heterogeneous entities, their knowledge and timely recognition play a pivotal role in order to provide the most appropriate clinical management and therapeutic approach.
Signal Recognition for English Speech Translation Based on Improved Wavelet Denoising Method
Authors: Chen Zhuo
Published: September 2021

The signal corresponding to English speech contains a lot of redundant information and environmental interference information, which will produce a lot of distortion in the process of English speech translation signal recognition. Based on this, a large number of studies focus on encoding and processing English speech, so as to achieve high-precision speech recognition. The traditional wavelet denoising algorithm plays an obvious role in the recognition of English speech translation signals, which mainly depends on the excellent local time-frequency domain characteristics of the wavelet signal algorithm, but the traditional wavelet signal algorithm is still difficult to select the recognition threshold, and the recognition accuracy is easy to be affected. Based on this, this paper will improve the traditional wavelet denoising algorithm, abandon the single-threshold judgment of the original traditional algorithm, innovatively adopt the combination of soft threshold and hard threshold, further solve the distortion problem of the denoising algorithm in the process of English speech translation signal recognition, improve the signal-to-noise ratio of English speech recognition, and further reduce the root mean square error of the signal. Good noise reduction effect is realized, and the accuracy of speech recognition is improved. In the experiment, the algorithm is compared with the traditional algorithm based on MATLAB simulation software. The simulation results are consistent with the actual theoretical results. At the same time, the algorithm proposed in this paper has obvious advantages in the recognition accuracy of English speech translation signals, which reflects the superiority and practical value of the algorithm.
Analysis Model of the Impact of Refined Intervention in Operating Room on Patients’ Recovery Quality and Complications after Thoracic Surgery Based on Deep Neural Network
Authors: He Jun , Wen Jing
Published: September 2021

To improve the nursing effect in patients after thoracic surgery, this paper proposes a refined intervention method in the operating room based on traditional operating room nursing and applies this method to the nursing of patients after thoracic surgery. Moreover, this paper improves the traditional neural network algorithm and uses the deep neural network algorithm to process test data. In addition, it includes patients accepted by the hospital as samples for test analysis and formulates detailed intervention methods for the operating room. Finally, this paper collects the corresponding test data by setting up test and control groups and visually displays the data using mathematical statistics. The statistical parameters of the experiment in this paper include the quality of recovery, complications, satisfaction score, and recovery effect. The comparative test shows that the refined intervention in the operating room based on the neural network proposed in this paper can achieve a certain effect in the postoperative nursing of thoracic surgery, effectively promote the quality of recovery, and reduce the possibility of complications.
Effect of Eu3+ Concentration on the BaAl2O4/CaAl4O7: x% Eu3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 5.5) Mixed‐Phase Nanophosphors Synthesized Using Citrate Sol‐Gel Method
Authors: Mahman Bamba , Sithole Mpho Enoch
Published: September 2021

A series of undoped mixed‐phase BaAl2O4/CaAl4O7 (hereafter called BC) and doped BC: x% Eu3+ (0 < x ≤ 5.5) nanophosphors were successfully prepared by the citrate sol‐gel technique. Their structure, morphology, and optical properties were studied in detail by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD and SEM showed that all the BC:x% Eu3+ samples consisted of the crystalline structure of the mixed phases of both the BaAl2O4 and CaAl4O7 materials. The structure resembles more that of the BaAl2O4 than the CaAl4O7 phase. The TEM results suggest that the crystallite sizes are in the nanometer scale with rod‐like particles. PL results showed multiple emission peaks located at 436, 590, 616, 656, and 703 nm, which were assigned to the intrinsic defects within the BC matrix, 5D0 ⟶ 7F1, 5D0 ⟶ 7F2, 5D0 ⟶ 7F3, and 5D0 ⟶ 7F4 transitions of Eu3+, respectively. The decay curves evidently showed that the nanophosphors have persistent luminescence. The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) analysis revealed that doping has tuned the emission colour from blue to orange‐red. The results indicate that the Eu3+‐doped samples can potentially be used in the orange/red‐emitting phosphors.
Behavioral Activation (BA) in the Management of Depression in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome in Dubai
Authors: Shadan Sidra , Almarzooqi Sarah , Sultan Meshal A.
Published: September 2021

Depression has been commonly treated with psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy for several decades. Ongoing research in the field has suggested promise for behavioral activation (BA), a form of psychotherapeutic intervention, as a means of increasing engagement in adaptive activities and developing skills to counter avoidance in individuals suffering from depression. In this case report, we present the treatment course of BA for an adolescent with Down syndrome (DS), presenting with depression. A multidisciplinary approach was utilized in developing a personalized management plan for the patient since the initial presentation. Sessions at the outpatient psychiatry clinic alternated between in-person visits and virtual ones, due to circumstances associated with physical distancing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were included as integral parts of the management plan, and education, strategic implementation of BA, and barriers to care were discussed extensively to support the adolescent through the course of her treatment. Within 6 weeks of introducing BA, positive outcomes were noted in the patient, with the resolution of her clinical depression. In this report, we discuss BA further as a potentially effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with DS and intellectual disabilities.
[Retracted] Experimental Investigation and Optimization on Friction Stir Welding of Nylon 6A Using Taguchi and ANOVA with Microstructural Analysis
Authors: Seshu Kumar G. S. V. , Kumar Anshuman , Rajesh S. , Chekuri Rama Bhadri Raju , Adigo Amsalu Gosu
Published: September 2021

Friction stir welding is an environmentally friendly process of joining due to the nonusage of flux, or any shield gas, and it does not produce any harmful gases when compared to the joining process of fusion. Therefore, this article proposes an experimental investigation and optimization technique for studying the process of FSW on nylon 6A or polycaprolactam polymer composite plates. Specifically, the influence of input operating process parameters such as tool rotational speed (TRS), feed rate, and pitch values on the output response parameters like ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and hardness of welded joints is examined. In addition, L27 orthogonal array of Taguchi approach is employed for the optimization of design experiments of FSW parameters. The experimental setup is carried out with various process parameter combinations like 500 rpm, 1000 rpm, and 1500 rpm as TRS, and 30 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm as feed rate by varying the pitch values as 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. Further, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) is also employed for finding the significant parameters of input process using the regression analysis equations. Finally, microstructural analysis is used to assess the mixing or dispersing uniformity of composites effectively.
Occurrence of Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance of E. coli O157:H7 Isolated from the Beef Carcass of Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayenew Habtamu Yalew , Mitiku Birhan Agmas , Tesema Tesfaye Sisay
Published: September 2021

E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens. The aim of this study was to isolate E. coli O157:H7, determine virulence genes carried by the organism, and assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates from beef carcass samples at Bahir Dar city. Swab samples (n = 280) were collected from the carcass of cattle slaughtered at the abattoir and processed using sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime telluride and confirmed with latex agglutination test. A polymerase chain reaction was performed on isolates for the detection of virulence genes stx1, stx2, hlyA, and eae. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Of 280 samples processed, 25 (8.9%) isolates were positive. Out of 25 isolates subjected for molecular detection, 8 (32%) and 14 (56%) isolates possessed stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively; from those, 5 (20%) isolates had both genes for the production of Shiga toxins. Compared from other virulent genes relatively higher proportion of 18 (72%) isolates carried the hlyA gene. Only 5 (2%) isolates were positive for eae. Resistance was detected in all 25 (100%) isolates and 3 (12%) against clindamycin and trimethoprim, respectively. This study result highlights the potential threat to public health. The abattoir workers need to be aware about the pathogen and should follow appropriate practices to prevent contamination of meat intended for human consumption.
Reducing Fault Current by Using FACTS Devices to Improve Electrical Power Flow
Authors: Mehedi Ibrahim M. , Al Hasan Joy Jahin , Islam Md. Rafiqul , Hasan Nayeema , Al-Saggaf Ubaid M. , Milyani Ahmad H. , Iskanderani Ahmed I. , Abusorrah Abdullah , Rawa Muhyaddin , Bassi Hussain
Published: September 2021

Today, there is a large increase in the demand for electricity. The transmission and distribution networks, however, cannot fulfill unbound demands due to the scarcity of resources. Power lines have losses which make the situation more unfavorable for maximum power transfer. Implementing a flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) is one of the best ways to reduce line losses. This paper proposes a FACTS-based method for minimizing the fault current in the system. Switchgear and protection equipment also perform better when this is done. Moreover, due to the reduced fault current of the switched system, a larger amount of power can be transmitted. Static synchronous series compensator (SSSC), static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), and unified power flow controller (UPFC) are evaluated in this case. With STATCOM and UPFC, fault currents are significantly reduced. Furthermore, STATCOM and UPFC can also reduce the fault currents in the power system in addition to voltage regulation and power flow control. A MATLAB/Simulink model is used to evaluate the model’s feasibility.
Collapse Probability of Immediate and Special Moment Frames in Tehran under MCE
Authors: Kianmehr Alireza
Published: September 2021

Residential buildings in most cities, which make up the most significant percentage of buildings, generally contain the most financial and human losses in the face of strong earthquakes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of the collapse of intermediate and unique steel moment frames against maximum ground excitations. In this study, through the first two steps of PEER methodology, using four steel structural frames with intermediate and unique moment frames, after designing according to the codes of national building regulations of Iran and standard 2800, this probabilistic evaluation was used to ensure their safety against collapse. In the next step, to deepen the results, 7 other sites from Tehran were selected. Their hazard spectrum was used to calculate the probability of collapse. In the end, it was observed that, with the reduction of the number of structural floors, the IDA curves at the lower IM level become horizontal in this project. The results showed that some of the 5‐story steel structures under study in some parts of Tehran have a higher probability of collapse than acceptable.
SICEM: A Generation Approach of Band Combination for Hyperspectral Imagery Reconstitution Based on Space and Information Analyses
Authors: Chen Nian , Lu Kezhong , Zhou Hao
Published: September 2021

A band selection algorithm named space and information comprehensive evaluation model (SICEM) is proposed in this paper, which reconstitutes the hyperspectral imagery by building an optimal subset to replace the original spectrum. SICEM reduces the dimensions while keeping the vital information of an image, and these are accomplished through two phases. Specifically, the improved fast density peaks clustering (I‐FDPC) algorithm is employed to pick out the scattered bands in geometric space to generate a candidate set Uat first. Then, we conduct pruning in Uthrough iterative information analysis until the target set Ωis built. In this phase, we need to calculate comprehensive information score (CIS) for every member in Uafter assigning weights to the amount of information (AoI) and correlation. In each iteration, the band with highest score is selected into Ω, and the ones highly related to it will be removed out of Uvia a threshold. Compared with the four state‐of‐the‐art unsupervised algorithms on real‐world HSI datasets (IndianP and PaviaU), we find that SICEM has strong ability to form an optimal reduced‐dimension combination with low correlation and rich information and it performs well in discrete band distribution, accuracy, consistency, and stability.
College Oral English Teaching Reform Driven by Big Data and Deep Neural Network Technology
Authors: Liu Hui
Published: September 2021

The ultimate goal of English teaching is to cultivate the students’ ability to communicate information in English, master good language learning methods, and become independent language learners and users. Therefore, successful English language teaching needs to be achieved through language communication training between teachers and students and between students. This article investigates the importance of promoting the reform of oral English teaching in China’s English teaching environment. We believe that to promote the reform of oral English teaching, an oral teaching environment must be available. However, the current common problem in oral English teaching in colleges and universities is that the spoken conversation objects are not standard enough, or there is no person who can talk to. Therefore, an intelligent spoken dialogue system based on big data and neural network technology is particularly important, and the quality of dialogue depends on accurate spoken speech evaluation. We first extracted six features of pronunciation quality, fluency, content richness, topic relevance, grammar, and vocabulary richness. Secondly, we propose an evaluation model that connects specific TDNN layers in a feedforward manner, using the feature representation of target words in different TDNN layers, which can obtain richer context information and greatly reduce the amount of model parameters. Finally, we conducted a simulation experiment. The experimental results show that the proposed model is accurate in evaluating spoken English and can effectively assist the reform of spoken English teaching in colleges and universities, and its performance is better than SVM by 9.2%.
Influencing Factors of University Core Competence: An Empirical Study Based on the Entropy Weight Gray Relation Model
Authors: Shi Yongqing , Yang Xiaojiang
Published: September 2021

To measure the gray relation between the core competence of research universities and its influencing factors, this paper took the same period statistical data of the five research universities directly subordinate to the Ministry of Education of China as the research samples, all these five schools were shortlisted in the “World Top 300” rankings of USNews, QS, THE, and ARWU from 2014 to 2018, and the indicator systems of the four authoritative lists were taken as the basis; 30 representative indicators affecting the core competence of research universities were selected, and the gray relation model was adopted for the research; moreover, this paper applied the information entropy method to calculate the weight of each indicator and estimate the comprehensive gray relation between the core competence of research universities and the entire factor system. This research gives the rankings of the influencing factors of the core competence of research universities, and there is a 0.8485 degree comprehensive gray relation between the influencing factors and the core competence of research universities, which has further clarified the future development direction of research universities.
[Retracted] Effects of Pulsed Radiofrequency on Nerve Repair and Expressions of GFAP and GDNF in Rats with Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Zhu Qing , Yan Yi , Zhang Daying , Luo Qingtian , Jiang Cuihua
Published: September 2021

Objective. To study the effect of pulsed radio frequency (PRF) on nerve repair and the expression of GFAP and GDNF in rats with neuropathic pain. Methods. Thirty SPF healthy SD rats were randomly divided into control group (Group C), PSNL group (partial ligation of sciatic nerve) + sham group (Group PS), and PSNL group (partial ligation of sciatic nerve) + PRF group (Group PR), with 10 rats in each group. In group C, the right sciatic nerve was exposed without ligation. In the PS group, the model of neuropathic pain was established by partial ligation of sciatic nerve. The mice in the PR group were treated with PRF after establishing the neuropathic pain model. The general behavior of rats during the treatment was observed. The mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were measured before operation and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after operation. The content of inflammatory factors in nerve tissue was detected by ELISA. The pathological condition of nerve tissue was observed by HE. The gene and protein changes of GFAP and GDNF in nerve tissue were determined by QRT PCR and Western blot. Results. Rats in the control group were free to move and in good condition. In the PS group, there were different degrees of claudication, weakness of the lower limbs, lateral toe valgus, nerve injury, and other behavioral changes. After the pulsed radiofrequency in the PR group, the above symptoms decreased gradually with the prolongation of the treatment time. The mechanical pain sensitivity and thermal allodynia of the PS group were reduced after the operation. The mechanical pain sensitivity and thermal pain sensitivity of the PR group gradually increased with the prolongation of the treatment time, and the 14 days were basically close to the control group. The levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in ELISA were significantly higher in the PS group than in the control group, and the content in the PR group was gradually reduced, which was close to the control group. HE staining showed that the sciatic nerve fibers disappeared, and the formation of nerve cavities was obvious in the 14‐day PS group. The nerve fibers were found in the sciatic tissue of the PR group, and there was no obvious hemorrhagic edema and cell deformation. The expression of GFAP mRNA in the PS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and the PR group (p < 0.05), and the expression of GDNF was opposite (p < 0.05). The results of western blot showed that the expression of GFAP protein in the 14‐day PS group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The expression of the PR group decreased compared with the control group, and the expression of GDNF was opposite (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Pulsed radiofrequency ablation can promote neurological repair, promote GDNF, and reduce the expression of GFAP in rats with neuropathic pain.
On Facial Expression Recognition Benchmarks
Authors: Owusu Ebenezer , Kumi Jacqueline Asor , Appati Justice Kwame
Published: September 2021

Facial expression is an important form of nonverbal communication, as it is noted that 55% of what humans communicate is expressed in facial expressions. There are several applications of facial expressions in diverse fields including medicine, security, gaming, and even business enterprises. Thus, currently, automatic facial expression recognition is a hotbed research area that attracts lots of grants and therefore the need to understand the trends very well. This study, as a result, aims to review selected published works in the domain of study and conduct valuable analysis to determine the most common and useful algorithms employed in the study. We selected published works from 2010 to 2021 and extracted, analyzed, and summarized the findings based on the most used techniques in feature extraction, feature selection, validation, databases, and classification. The result of the study indicates strongly that local binary pattern (LBP), principal component analysis (PCA), saturated vector machine (SVM), CK+, and 10-fold cross-validation are the most widely used feature extraction, feature selection, classifier, database, and validation method used, respectively. Therefore, in line with our findings, this study provides recommendations for research specifically for new researchers with little or no background as to which methods they can employ and strive to improve.
Identification of Vital Hub Genes and Potential Molecular Pathways of Dermatomyositis by Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Ouyang Xueren , Zeng Yuning , Jiang Xiaotao , Xu Hua , Ning Yile
Published: September 2021

Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe symmetrical muscle dysfunction and pain. This study was aimed at discovering vital hub genes and potential molecular pathways of DM through bioinformatics analysis, which contributes to identifying potential diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers and targets. In this study, a total of 915 DEGs in DM samples including 167 upregulated genes and 748 downregulated genes were screened out by the limma package based on the GSE142807 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Furthermore, the results of Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these downregulated genes were highly associated with the immune‐related biological processes and pathways. Therefore, 41 genes closely related to DM were extracted for further study based on the subcluster analysis through the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) software plugin in Cytoscape. Ultimately, 10 hub genes (including ISG15, DDX58, IFIT3, CXCL10, and STAT1) were identified as the potential candidate biomarkers and targets. Besides, we found that the identified hub genes directly or indirectly communicated with each other via molecular signaling pathways on the protein and transcription level. In general, under the guidance of bioinformatics analysis, 10 vital hub genes and molecular mechanisms in DM were identified and the expression of proinflammatory factors and interferon family proteins and genes showed high association with DM, which might help provide a theoretical foundation for the development of point‐to‐point targeted therapy in the future treatment of DM.
College and the “Culture War”: Assessing Higher Education’s Influence on Moral Attitudes
Authors: Broćić Miloš , Miles Andrew
Published: September 2021

Moral differences contribute to social and political conflicts. Against this backdrop, colleges and universities have been criticized for promoting liberal moral attitudes. However, direct evidence for these claims is sparse, and suggestive evidence from studies of political attitudes is inconclusive. Using four waves of data from the National Study of Youth and Religion, we examine the effects of higher education on attitudes related to three dimensions of morality that have been identified as central to conflict: moral relativism, concern for others, and concern for social order. Our results indicate that higher education liberalizes moral concerns for most students, but it also departs from the standard liberal profile by promoting moral absolutism rather than relativism. These effects are strongest for individuals majoring in the humanities, arts, or social sciences, and for students pursuing graduate studies. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our results for work on political conflict and moral socialization.
Efficacy of Adenoidectomy for the Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children Older Than 7 Years of Age
Authors: Mahomva Chengetai , Anne Samantha , Roxbury Christopher
Published: September 2021

Objectives:

While adenoidectomy is the first-line surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in young children, evidence regarding its utility in older children is lacking. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of adenoidectomy in children 7 to 18 years old with regard to symptom control, postoperative medication use, and the need for additional surgery.

Methods:

Single-institution retrospective chart review of patients ages 7 to 18 undergoing adenoidectomy for CRS from 2009 to 2019. Patients with cystic fibrosis and ciliary disorders were excluded. Comorbidities, preoperative and postoperative symptoms (rhinorrhea, congestion, anosmia, and facial pain), medication use (antibiotics, antihistamines, nasal steroids, and irrigations), and Lund-Mackay scores were extracted. McNemar’s or Wilcoxon Rank Sum Tests were used to assess rates of symptom control and medication use. Fisher’s exact or Chi-square tests were used to assess for factors associated with symptom persistence.

Results:

Ninety-seven patients with a mean age of 9 years (range 7-18) were identified. Patients were shown to experience significantly decreased rates of rhinorrhea (64.9% vs 20.6%, <.001), congestion (95.9% vs 26.8%, <.001), facial pain (17.5% vs 3.1%, .001), use of nasal steroids (79.4% vs 36.1%, <.001), antihistamines (47.4% vs 20.6%, <.001), and number of antibiotics (median 1 vs 0, <.001) after adenoidectomy. No patient or disease factors were associated with symptom persistence. Nine patients (9.3%) required additional nasal surgery.

Conclusion:

In this cohort of older children with CRS with limited follow up, additional surgery is not routinely done following adenoidectomy, the results suggest that adenoidectomy alone may provide adequate symptom control and medication reduction.