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{
"title": "Distinguishing Invasive from Chronic Pulmonary Infections: Host Pentraxin 3 and Fungal Siderophores in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids",
"abstract": "The multiple forms of pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus species are the most common respiratory mycoses. Although invasive, the analysis of diagnostic biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is a clinical standard for diagnosing these conditions. The BALF samples from 22 patients with proven or probable aspergillosis were assayed for human pentraxin 3 (Ptx3), fungal ferricrocin (Fc), and triacetylfusarinine C (TafC) in a retrospective study. The infected group included patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and chronic aspergillosis (CPA). The BALF data were compared to a control cohort of 67 patients with invasive pulmonary mucormycosis (IPM), non-Aspergillus colonization, or bacterial infections. The median Ptx3 concentrations in patients with and without aspergillosis were 4545.5 and 242.0 pg/mL, respectively (95% CI, p < 0.05). The optimum Ptx3 cutoff for IPA was 2545 pg/mL, giving a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100, 98, 95, and 100%, respectively. The median Ptx3 concentration for IPM was high at 4326 pg/mL. Pentraxin 3 assay alone can distinguish IPA from CPA and invasive fungal disease from colonization. Combining Ptx3 and TafC assays enabled the diagnostic discrimination of IPM and IPA, giving a specificity and PPV of 100%.",
"corpus_id": 253508241
} | {
"title": "Humoral Immunity Against Aspergillus fumigatus",
"abstract": "Aspergillus fumigatus is one the most ubiquitous airborne opportunistic human fungal pathogens. Understanding its interaction with host immune system, composed of cellular and humoral arm, is essential to explain the pathobiology of aspergillosis disease spectrum. While cellular immunity has been well studied, humoral immunity has been poorly acknowledge, although it plays a crucial role in bridging the fungus and immune cells. In this review, we have summarized available data on major players of humoral immunity against A. fumigatus and discussed how they may help to identify at-risk individuals, be used as diagnostic tools or promote alternative therapeutic strategies. Remaining challenges are highlighted and leads are given to guide future research to better grasp the complexity of humoral immune interaction with A. fumigatus.",
"corpus_id": 259111698
} | {
"title": "Plasticity of Lgr5-Negative Cancer Cells Drives Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer",
"abstract": "Summary Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) express Lgr5 and display extensive stem cell-like multipotency and self-renewal and are thought to seed metastatic disease. Here, we used a mouse model of colorectal cancer (CRC) and human tumor xenografts to investigate the cell of origin of metastases. We found that most disseminated CRC cells in circulation were Lgr5− and formed distant metastases in which Lgr5+ CSCs appeared. This plasticity occurred independently of stemness-inducing microenvironmental factors and was indispensable for outgrowth, but not establishment, of metastases. Together, these findings show that most colorectal cancer metastases are seeded by Lgr5− cells, which display intrinsic capacity to become CSCs in a niche-independent manner and can restore epithelial hierarchies in metastatic tumors.",
"corpus_id": 212709036
} |
{
"title": "Randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study of diclofenac diethylamine 2.32% gel applied twice daily versus diclofenac diethylamine 1.16% gel applied four times daily in patients with acute ankle sprain",
"abstract": "Background Diclofenac diethylamine (DDEA) gel has demonstrated efficacy for treatment of ankle sprains in both the 1.16% four-times-daily (QID) and 2.32% twice-daily (BID) formulations. The objective of this study was to compare, for the first time, the efficacy of DDEA 2.32% gel BID and DDEA 1.16% gel QID. Methods This was a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, active-controlled, parallel-group study conducted in China from October 2019 to November 2020, designed to determine the noninferiority of DDEA 2.32% gel BID relative to DDEA 1.16% gel QID for treatment of grade I–II ankle sprain. At study entry, patients must have had pain on movement (POM) ≥50 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), and not received any pain medication. The primary efficacy endpoint was the noninferiority of DDEA 2.32% gel BID vs DDEA 1.16% gel QID for POM as assessed by the patient using the 100-mm VAS, conducted on day 5. Secondary endpoints included measures of ankle tenderness, joint function, swelling, and patient-reported pain intensity and pain relief. Results A total of 302 patients were randomized and 95.4% completed the study. The mean (SD) change in POM from baseline to day 5 using the 100-mm VAS was − 42.8 mm (19.7 mm) with DDEA 2.32% gel BID and − 43.1 mm (18.1 mm) with DDEA 1.16% gel QID for the per-protocol population. The least squares mean difference (DDEA gel 2.32% – DDEA gel 1.16%) at this timepoint was 1.11 mm (95% CI − 3.00, 5.22; P = 0.595), and the upper limit (5.22 mm) of the 95% CI was less than the noninferiority margin of 13 mm, demonstrating that DDEA 2.32% gel BID was noninferior to DDEA 1.16% gel QID. Similar trends were seen for the secondary efficacy endpoints. There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events or adverse events adjudicated as being treatment related. All treatment-related adverse events were dermatological; one patient discontinued from the DDEA 2.32% gel BID arm due to application-site inflammation. Conclusions DDEA 2.32% gel BID offers a convenient alternative to DDEA 1.16% gel QID, with similar pain reduction and relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and tolerability. Trial registration NCT04052620.",
"corpus_id": 255095982
} | {
"title": "Traumeel vs. diclofenac for reducing pain and improving ankle mobility after acute ankle sprain: A multicentre, randomised, blinded, controlled and non-inferiority trial",
"abstract": "Acute ankle sprains are common and activity limiting injuries, and topical diclofenac gel has proven efficacy in alleviating pain and restoring function. This trial aimed to compare a topical natural agent, Traumeel with topical diclofenac gel (1%) in the management of acute ankle sprain.",
"corpus_id": 1192607
} | {
"title": "Evidence review for the 2016 International Ankle Consortium consensus statement on the prevalence, impact and long-term consequences of lateral ankle sprains",
"abstract": "Lateral ankle sprains (LASs) are the most prevalent musculoskeletal injury in physically active populations. They also have a high prevalence in the general population and pose a substantial healthcare burden. The recurrence rates of LASs are high, leading to a large percentage of patients with LAS developing chronic ankle instability. This chronicity is associated with decreased physical activity levels and quality of life and associates with increasing rates of post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis, all of which generate financial costs that are larger than many have realised. The literature review that follows expands this paradigm and introduces emerging areas that should be prioritised for continued research, supporting a companion position statement paper that proposes recommendations for using this summary of information, and needs for specific future research.",
"corpus_id": 206881736
} |
{
"title": "Genomics Analysis to Identify Multiple Genetic Determinants That Drive the Global Transmission of the Pandemic ST95 Lineage of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC)",
"abstract": "Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a pathogen that causes host extraintestinal diseases. The ST95 E. coli lineage is one of the dominant ExPEC lineages in humans and poultry. In this study, we took advantage of extensive E. coli genomes available through public open-access databases to construct a detailed understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of ST95. We used a high variability of accessory genomes to highlight the diversity and dynamic traits of ST95. Isolates from diverse hosts and geographic sources were randomly located on the phylogenetic tree, which suggested that there is no host specificity for ST95. The time-scaled phylogeny showed that ST95 is an ancient and long-lasting lineage. The virulence genes, resistance genes, and pathogenicity islands (PAIs) were characterized in ST95 pan-genomes to provide novel insights into the pathogenicity and multidrug resistance (MDR) genotypes. We found that a pool of large plasmids drives virulence and MDR. Based on the unique genes in the ST95 pan-genome, we designed a novel multiplex PCR reaction to rapidly detect ST95. Overall, our study addressed a gap in the current understanding of ST95 ExPEC genomes, with significant implications for recognizing the success and spread of ST95.",
"corpus_id": 254428495
} | {
"title": "Chicken-source Escherichia coli within Phylogroup F Shares Virulence Genotypes and is Closely Related to Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) Causing Human Infections.",
"abstract": "ExPEC is an important pathogen that causes diverse infection in the humans extraintestinal sites. Although avian-source phylogroup F E. coli isolates hold a high level of virulence traits, few studies have systematically assessed the pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of E. coli isolates within phylogroup F. A total of 1332 E. coli strains were recovered from chicken colibacillosis in China from 2012 to 2017. About 21.7% of chicken-source E. coli isolates were presented in phylogroup F. We characterized phylogroup F E. coli isolates both genotypically and phenotypically. There was a widespread prevalence of ExPEC virulence-related genes among chicken-source E. coli isolates within phylogroup F. ColV/BM plasmid-related genes (i.e. hlyF, mig-14p, ompTp, iutA, and tsh) occurred in the nearly 65% phylogroup F E. coli isolates. Population structure of chicken-source E. coli isolates within phylogroup F were revealed and contained several dominant STs (such as ST59, ST354, ST362, ST405, ST457, and ST648). Most chicken-source phylogroup F E. coli held the property to produce biofilm, and exhibited strongly swimming and swarming motilities. Our result showed that the complement resistance of phylogroup F E. coli isolates was closely associated with its virulence genotype. Our research further demonstrated the zoonotic potential of chicken-source phylogroup F E. coli isolates. The phylogroup F E. coli isolates were able to cause multiple diseases in animal models of avian colibacillosis and human infections (sepsis, meningitis, and UTI). The chicken-source phylogroup F isolates, especially dominant ST-types, might be recognized as a high-risk foodborne pathogen. This was the first study to identify that chicken-source E. coli isolates within phylogroup F were associated with human ExPEC pathotypes and exhibited zoonotic potential.",
"corpus_id": 220850910
} | {
"title": "Neutrophils and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells: an emerging battleground in cancer therapy",
"abstract": "Neutrophils are central mediators of innate and adaptive immunity and first responders to tissue damage. Although vital to our health, their activation, function, and resolution are critical to preventing chronic inflammation that may contribute to carcinogenesis. Cancers are associated with the expansion of the neutrophil compartment with an escalation in the number of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) in the peripheral circulation and tumor microenvironment. Although phenotypically similar to classically activated neutrophils, PMN-MDSC is pathologically activated and immunosuppressive in nature. They dynamically interact with other cell populations and tissue components and convey resistance to anticancer therapies while accelerating disease progression and metastatic spread. Cancer-associated neutrophilia and tumor infiltration of neutrophils are significant markers of poor outcomes in many cancers. Recently, there has been significant progress in the identification of molecular markers of PMN-MDSC providing insights into the central role of PMN-MDSC in the local tumor microenvironment as well as the systemic immune response in cancer. Further advances in sequencing and proteomics techniques will improve our understanding of their diverse functionalities and the complex molecular mechanisms at play. Targeting PMN-MDSC is currently one of the major focus areas in cancer research and several signaling pathways representing possible treatment targets have been identified. Positive results from preclinical studies clearly justify the current investigation in drug development and thus novel therapeutic strategies are being evaluated in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the involvement of PMN-MDSC in cancer initiation and progression and their potential as therapeutic targets and clinical biomarkers in different cancers.",
"corpus_id": 248508356
} |
{
"title": "Comparison of micronutrient-intake of lactatingmothers from the Hlabisa district in KwaZulu-Natalusing two different dietary intake methods",
"abstract": "INTRODUCTION: The objective of this research study was to analyze previously collected dietary intake data using multiple 24-hour dietary recalls and semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ’s) in a group of HIV-positive and HIV-negative breastfeeding women from a rural region in KwaZulu-Natal in order to compare the intake of selective micronutrients obtained with the two instruments. Identifying the pattern of food intake and the contribution of different foods to the micronutrient intake in this population group will contribute to possible recommendations aimed at dietary changes to improve dietary micronutrient intake. This study was designed as a sub-study of a longitudinal prospective cohort study and subjects (N=108) were lactating mothers enrolled in a cohort which investigated the combined effect of HIV-infection and breastfeeding on women’s nutritional status. METHOD: A locally constructed FFQ and 24h-recall were used to collect dietary intake data from 108 subjects on three occasions, (~6 weeks, 14and 24-weeks post partum). Analysis was done using the Food Finder ProgramTM2. Micronutrients under investigation were iron, zinc, copper, selenium, vitamin A, B6, C, D and E, thiamin, riboflavin and folic acid and were selected on their relevance in HIV (AIDS). Descriptive statistics was used to determine the consumption of food items as percentage of all food items consumed and to calculate mean, mode, median and range of serving sizes for the ten food items most frequently consumed (measured with the 24h and FFQ respectively). Data was not normally distributed (indicated by the paired t-test and confirmed with a RM ANOVA nonparametric test). The F-value was determined (using Wilcoxon matched pairs test) and the significance of the difference between the micronutrient intakes measured with the two instruments (p<0.05) calculated. To investigate the strength of the correlation between the two dietary intake measures, Spearman’s correlation coefficients were determined for the nutrients under investigation. The significance level for these measurements was 95% (p<0.05).",
"corpus_id": 72991427
} | {
"title": "Studies of vitamins and minerals and HIV transmission and disease progression.",
"abstract": "HIV-1 infection is having a devastating impact on people in developing countries. Poor nutrition and HIV-related adverse health outcomes contribute to a vicious cycle that may be slowed down by using nutritional interventions, including vitamins and minerals. Among children, periodic supplementation with vitamin A starting at 6 mo of age has been shown to be beneficial in reducing mortality and morbidity among both HIV-infected and uninfected children. Limited data exist on the role of other nutrient supplements among children. Among HIV-infected adults, the safety and the efficacy of vitamin A supplements need further study, although adequate dietary intake of this essential nutrient is recommended. Multivitamin supplements were efficacious in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes and early childhood infections, and is currently provided to pregnant HIV-infected pregnant women in many programs. The efficacy of such supplements among HIV-negative pregnant women needs further study. Daily multivitamin supplements were found to reduce HIV disease progression among men and women in several observational studies and randomized trials, and to provide an important low-cost intervention that could be provided to adults in early stages of HIV disease to prolong the time before antiretroviral therapy is recommended. Next, research priorities include examining the roles of minerals, including selenium, in HIV infection, as well as determining the safety and the efficacy of micronutrient supplements among individuals who are advanced in their disease and who are receiving antiretroviral therapy.",
"corpus_id": 4495137
} | {
"title": "Conventional mesophilic vs. thermophilic anaerobic digestion: a trade-off between performance and stability?",
"abstract": "A long-term comparative study using continuously-stirred anaerobic digesters (CSADs) operated at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures was conducted to evaluate the influence of the organic loading rate (OLR) and chemical composition on process performance and stability. Cow manure was co-digested with dog food, a model substrate to simulate a generic, multi-component food-like waste and to produce non-substrate specific, composition-based results. Cow manure and dog food were mixed at a lower - and an upper co-digestion ratio to produce a low-fiber, high-strength substrate, and a more recalcitrant, lower-strength substrate, respectively. Three increasing OLRs were evaluated by decreasing the CSADs hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 20 to 10 days. At longer HRTs and lower manure-to-dog food ratio, the thermophilic CSAD was not stable and eventually failed as a result of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) accumulation/degradation, which was triggered by the compounded effects of temperature on reaction rates, mixing intensity, and physical state of LCFAs. At shorter HRTs and upper manure-to-dog food ratio, the thermophilic CSAD marginally outperformed the biomethane production rates and substrate stabilization of the mesophilic CSAD. The increased fiber content relative to lipids at upper manure-to-dog food ratios improved the stability and performance of the thermophilic process by decreasing the concentration of LCFAs in solution, likely adsorbed onto the manure fibers. Overall, results of this study show that stability of the thermophilic co-digestion process is highly dependent on the influent substrate composition, and particularly for this study, on the proportion of manure to lipids in the influent stream. In contrast, mesophilic co-digestion provided a more robust and stable process regardless of the influent composition, only with marginally lower biomethane production rates (i.e., 7%) for HRTs as short as 10 days (OLR = 3 g VS/L-d).",
"corpus_id": 47870
} |
{
"title": "Earnings management and electoral cycle in Brazilian municipalities",
"abstract": "The accruals basis of accounting is gradually being implemented in the Brazilian public sector, which has increased the use of estimates. Although the judgments’ main objective is to contribute to decision-making, they can also be used to manage perceptions on performance. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the electoral cycle and earnings management practices in Brazilian municipalities. Tests based on frequency distribution were conducted, indicating a discontinuity around zero earnings and suggesting that municipalities with ‘small surpluses’ present higher levels of discretionary accruals. Finally, we gathered empirical evidence of an increase in the level of earnings management in the pre-electoral periods, which is mitigated in environments with strong political competition. The empirical findings indicate a correlation between earnings management practices and the electoral cycle. The study contributes to a growing literature about earnings management in the public sector, helping to identify circumstances that can lead to opportunistic behavior by public managers, especially in relation to elections.",
"corpus_id": 254483229
} | {
"title": "A influência dos ciclos políticos nos investimentos públicos em infraestrutura: um estudo nos estados brasileiros no período de 2003 a 2014",
"abstract": "This study aims to evaluate whether political cycles, considering the governments’ ideological bias, have significant impact on the decision-making regarding the allocation of public investments in infrastructure in the States of Brazil. The study used information of Brazilian States from the period between 2003 and 2014 in order to cover three political cycles. The method used was panel fixed effects regression which allows to identify characteristics of the States that are not clear and constant in time. The results show there is influence of the electoral cycle, if considering that ideological differences are connected to electoral cycles. Left-wing and center parties tend to invest more in infrastructure in pre-election periods when compared to right-wing parties. This result also contributes to the literature because it shows that cycles can be more influential depending on the party that is governing. A counter-intuitive result worthwhile mentioning is the negative impact of expenditures in infrastructure when the Governor belongs to the same political party as the President. For this variable, a positive impact was expected.",
"corpus_id": 157288778
} | {
"title": "Observational and experimental studies on sleep duration and aggression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.",
"abstract": "Short sleep duration has been linked to higher levels of aggression. To synthetize all available research on this association, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. We included observational and experimental studies, using various measures of sleep duration and aggression. Eighty eligible papers were identified, describing 82 studies comprising a total number of 76.761 participants. Meta-analysis of results was possible for 60 studies. Pooled observational results on the association between sleep duration and aggression showed a correlation estimate of -0.16 (95%CI -0.19, -0.12; I2 = 83.9%) and an odds ratio estimate of 1.83 (95%CI 1.47, 2.28; I2 = 0.0%). For experimental studies, the pooled Standardized Mean Difference after manipulation of sleep duration was -0.37 (95%CI -0.80, 0.05; I2 = 89.05%) for controlled designs and -0.34 (95%CI -0.54, -0.14; I2 = 89.05%) for pre-post designs. Effect estimates were stronger for individuals with psychological vulnerabilities and younger persons. Exclusion of studies with low methodological quality strengthened the effect estimate in experimental but not in observational studies. To conclude, short sleep duration is associated with higher levels of aggression, with observational research strongly supporting the association and experimental studies providing mixed results. More well-designed prospective and experimental studies are needed to establish causality and optimize treatment, especially for individuals with psychological vulnerabilities.",
"corpus_id": 251546251
} |
{
"title": "Qubit-oscillator relationships in the open quantum Rabi model: the role of dissipation",
"abstract": "Abstract Using a dissipative quantum Rabi model, we study the dynamics of a slow qubit coupled to a fast quantum harmonic oscillator interacting with a bosonic bath from weak to strong and ultra-strong coupling regimes. Solving the quantum Heisenberg equations of motion, perturbative in the internal coupling between qubit and oscillator, we derive functional relationships directly linking the qubit coordinates in the Bloch sphere to oscillator observables. We then perform accurate time-dependent Matrix Product State simulations and compare our results both with the analytical solutions of the Heisenberg equations of motion, and with numerical solutions of a Lindblad master equation, perturbative in the external coupling between oscillator and environment. Indeed, we show that, up to the strong coupling regime, the qubit state accurately fulfils the derived functional relationships. We analyse in detail the case of a qubit starting with generic coordinates on the Bloch sphere of which we evaluate the three components of the Bloch vector through the averages of oscillator observables. Interestingly, a weak to intermediate oscillator coupling to the bath is able to simplify the Bloch vector evaluation since qubit-oscillator relationships are more immediate. Moreover, by monitoring the qubit fidelity with respect to free limit, we find the parameter regime where the combined effect of internal and external couplings is able to hinder the reliable evaluation of the qubit Bloch vector. Finally, in the ultra-strong coupling regime, non-Markovian effects become robust and the dynamics of qubit and oscillator are inextricably entangled making the qubit Bloch vector evaluation difficult. Graphical Abstract",
"corpus_id": 256194055
} | {
"title": "Quantum phase transition of many interacting spins coupled to a bosonic bath: Static and dynamical properties",
"abstract": "By using worldline and diagrammatic quantum Monte Carlo techniques, matrix product state and a variational approach \\`a la Feynman, we investigate the equilibrium properties and relaxation features of a quantum system of $N$ spins antiferromagnetically interacting with each other, with strength $J$, and coupled to a common bath of bosonic oscillators, with strength $\\alpha$. We show that, in the Ohmic regime, a Beretzinski-Thouless-Kosterlitz quantum phase transition occurs. While for $J=0$ the critical value of $\\alpha$ decreases asymptotically with $1/N$ by increasing $N$, for nonvanishing $J$ it turns out to be practically independent on $N$, allowing to identify a finite range of values of $\\alpha$ where spin phase coherence is preserved also for large $N$. Then, by using matrix product state simulations, and the Mori formalism and the variational approach \\`a la Feynman jointly, we unveil the features of the relaxation, that, in particular, exhibits a non monotonic dependence on the temperature reminiscent of the Kondo effect. For the observed quantum phase transition we also establish a criterion analogous to that of the metal-insulator transition in solids.",
"corpus_id": 232417407
} | {
"title": "Exactly solvable gravitating perfect fluid solitons in (2 + 1) dimensions",
"abstract": "A bstractThe Bogomolnyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) baby Skyrme model coupled to gravity is considered. We show that in an asymptotically flat space-time the model still possesses the BPS property, i.e., admits a BPS reduction to first order Bogomolnyi equations, which guarantees that the corresponding proper energy is a linear function of the topological charge. We also find the mass-radius relation as well as the maximal mass and radius. All these results are obtained in an analytical manner, which implies the complete solvability of this selfgravitating matter system.If a cosmological constant is added, then the BPS property is lost. In de Sitter (dS ) space-time both extremal and non-extremal solutions are found, where the former correspond to finite positive pressure solutions of the flat space-time model. For the asymptotic anti-de Sitter (AdS ) case, extremal solutions do not exist as there are no negative pressure BPS baby Skyrmions in flat space-time. Non-extremal solutions with AdS asymptotics do exist and may be constructed numerically. The impact of the negative cosmological constant on the mass-radius relation is studied. We also found two potentials for which exact multi-soliton solutions in the external AdS space can be obtained. Finally, we elaborate on the implications of these findings for certain three-dimensional models of holographic QCD.",
"corpus_id": 54577257
} |
{
"title": "Examining acute pelvic pains among patients in two selected hospitals in in the western Region of Ghana",
"abstract": "Pelvic pain is one of the commonest Out-Patient Department (OPD) cases in most hospital. Comparably, women experience pains in one or two parts of the body which may be due to excess stretch of the muscles, minor or major accidents and old age than men. The main objective of the study was to examine acute pelvic pains among patients in the Effia-Nkwanta and European hospitals in Takoradi. Descriptive survey was employed for the study. The population of the study comprises all patients who were undergoing pelvic ultrasound at Effia-Nkwanta and European hospitals in Takoradi as part of their management plan for pelvic disease or pain. A purposive sampling technique convenience sampling were used to select 400 patients for the study. The study employed the collection of previous pelvic ultrasound reports and reports obtained during the time of the study to obtain the data from the Radiologic Department at select hospitals with the SAL-30 A (Toshiba, Japan) and Philips Clear Vue real time ultrasound machines. The study found out that females are prone to pelvic pain than males, the most common presenting pathologies that cause pelvic pain are uterine fibroid, PID, Ectopic pregnancy, follicular cyst, BPH, Cystitis, colitis and Appendicitis and the organs that are mostly affected in cases of pelvic pain are uterus, ovaries, prostate, colon and bladder. It was therefore recommended that patients should be educated and encouraged to report to the hospital when there is any sign or symptom of pelvic pain.",
"corpus_id": 259128766
} | {
"title": "Uterine fibroid characteristics and sonographic pattern among Ghanaian females undergoing pelvic ultrasound scan: a study at 3-major centres",
"abstract": "BackgroundUterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours affecting premenopausal women and are often associated with considerable hospitalization and morbidity.The purpose of this study was to identify the uterine fibroid characteristics and sonographic patterns of uterine fibroids among Ghanaian women undergoing abdomino-pelvic or pelvic ultrasound scan at three major diagnostic centres. The outcome is expected to help in appropriate policy formulation in women care in Ghana.MethodA total of two hundred and forty four (244) women were evaluated between November 2011–February 2012, using identical 2–5 MHz curvilinear probe of Philips HD3 ultrasound machines at three major diagnostic centers in Ghana, using a trans-abdominal pelvic approach.ResultsThe range, mean and standard deviation (SD) of the patients’ ages were 14–54 years, 31.89 years and ± 7.92 respectively. The majority, 57.8 % of the fibroids were intramural with only 4.4 % noted as sub-mucosal. Most (55.6 %) of the fibroids were located in more than one part of the uterus. The most popular (55.6 %) echo pattern of the various fibroid nodules was mixed echogenicity.ConclusionThe sonographic patterns of uterine fibroids among Ghanaian women have been assessed at three major diagnostic centres. The study shows that most Ghanaian women who have fibroids have degenerative fibroid nodules as these nodules demonstrate mixed echo patterns on ultrasound. The findings may aid in appropriate diagnosis and interventions in the country.",
"corpus_id": 382858
} | {
"title": "Diagnosis and Treatment of NMO Spectrum Disorder and MOG-Encephalomyelitis",
"abstract": "Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoantibody mediated chronic inflammatory diseases. Serum antibodies (Abs) against the aquaporin-4 water channel lead to recurrent attacks of optic neuritis, myelitis and/or brainstem syndromes. In some patients with symptoms of NMOSD, no AQP4-Abs but Abs against myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein (MOG) are detectable. These clinical syndromes are now frequently referred to as “MOG-encephalomyelitis” (MOG-EM). Here we give an overview on current recommendations concerning diagnosis of NMOSD and MOG-EM. These include antibody and further laboratory testing, MR imaging and optical coherence tomography. We discuss therapeutic options of acute attacks as well as longterm immunosuppressive treatment, including azathioprine, rituximab, and immunoglobulins.",
"corpus_id": 53047124
} |
{
"title": "Efficacy of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.",
"abstract": "OBJECTIVES\nAlthough cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been recommended the initial therapy for insomnia, its clinical usage remains limited due to the lack of therapists. Digital CBT-I (dCBT-I) can potentially circumvent this problem. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of dCBT-I for adults with insomnia.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSystematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception till 5 March 2020 was conducted. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing dCBT-I with controls (wait-list/treatment-as-usual/online education) in adults with insomnia were eligible. The primary outcome was insomnia severity index (ISI) at post-intervention, short-term follow-up (ranging 4 weeks to 6 months) and 1-year follow-up. Mean differences were pooled using the random-effects model.\n\n\nRESULTS\n94 articles were assessed full-text independently by two team members and 33 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 4719 and 4645 participants were randomised to dCBT-I and control respectively. dCBT-I significantly reduces ISI at post-intervention with mean difference -5.00 (95% CI -5.68 to -4.33, p < 0.0001) (I2 = 79%) compared to control. The improvements were sustained at short-term follow-up, -3.99 (95% CI -4.82 to -3.16, p < 0.0001) and 1-year follow-up, -3.48 (95% CI -4.21 to -2.76, p < 0.0001). Compared to dCBT-I, face-to-face CBT-I produced greater improvement in ISI, 3.07 (95% CI 1.18 to 4.95, p = 0.001). However, this was within the non-inferiority interval of 4 points on ISI.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThis meta-analysis provides strong support for the effectiveness of dCBT-I in treating insomnia. dCBT-I has potential to revolutionise the delivery of CBT-I, improving the accessibility and availability of CBT-I content for insomnia patients worldwide.",
"corpus_id": 221807033
} | {
"title": "The effect of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in people with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnoea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.",
"abstract": "Comorbid insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA) is a highly prevalent and debilitating sleep disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) may be an appropriate treatment for COMISA; however, no previous study has systematically reviewed and meta-analysed literature reporting on the effect of CBTi in people with COMISA. A systematic literature search was conducted across PsychINFO and PubMed (n = 295). In all, 27 full-text records were independently reviewed by at least two authors. Forward- and backward-chain referencing, and hand-searches were used to identify additional studies. Authors of potentially eligible studies were contacted to provide COMISA subgroup data. In total, 21 studies, including 14 independent samples of 1040 participants with COMISA were included. Downs and Black quality assessments were performed. A meta-analysis including nine primary studies measuring the Insomnia Severity Index indicated that CBTi is associated with a large improvement in insomnia severity (Hedges' g = -0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.35, -0.43). Subgroup meta-analyses indicated that CBTi is effective in samples with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (five studies, Hedges' g = -1.19, 95% CI -1.77, -0.61) and treated OSA (four studies, Hedges' g = -0.55, 95% CI -0.75, -0.35). Publication bias was evaluated by examining the Funnel plot (Egger's regression p = 0.78). Implementation programmes are required to embed COMISA management pathways in sleep clinics worldwide that currently specialise in the management of OSA alone. Future research should investigate and refine CBTi interventions in people with COMISA, including identifying the most effective CBTi components, adaptations, and developing personalised management approaches for this highly prevalent and debilitating condition.",
"corpus_id": 257364292
} | {
"title": "THE GENERATION OF SENSORY EXPECTATION BY EXTERNAL CUES AND ITS EFFECT ON SENSORY PERCEPTION AND HEDONIC RATINGS: A REVIEW",
"abstract": "Expectations are generated by a variety of factors. We indicate a flow chart for the role of expectations at the point of choice and in influencing sensory perception at the time of consumption. We review the sparse literature on how advertising, packaging and information generate sensory expectations. The application of various theories to explain the observed effects of sensory expectations are reviewed. There is overwhelming evidence for assimilation-contrast effect, although no studies have been specifically designed to detect it. Finally we review the reasons why individuals might differ in the way that expectations influence sensory perception. These reasons include ideas from persuasion literature and private body consciousness. A number of behavioral hypothesis that follow from these theories are developed.",
"corpus_id": 143493287
} |
{
"title": "Vapor–Liquid Equilibria of Quaternary Systems of Interest for the Supercritical Antisolvent Process",
"abstract": "In the Supercritical Antisolvent process (SAS), the thermodynamic behavior of complex multicomponent systems can influence the particles’ morphology. However, due to the limited thermodynamic data for multicomponent systems, the effect of solutes is often neglected, and the system is considered as pseudo-binary. It has been demonstrated that the presence of a solute can significantly influence the thermodynamic behavior of the system. In particular, when the SAS process is adopted for the production of drug/polymer coprecipitated microparticles, the effect of both the drug and the polymer in the solvent/CO2 mixture should be considered. In this work, the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), used as the carrier, and of the liposoluble vitamins menadione (MEN) and α-tocopherol (TOC), as model drugs, was investigated as a deviation from the fundamental thermodynamic behavior of the DMSO/CO2 binary system. Vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) were evaluated at 313 K, with a PVP concentration in the organic solution equal to 20 mg/mL. The effect of the presence of PVP, MEN, and TOC on DMSO/CO2 VLE at 313 K was studied; furthermore, the effect of PVP/MEN and PVP/TOC, at a polymer/drug ratio of 5/1 and 3/1, was determined. Moreover, SAS precipitation experiments were performed at the same polymer/drug ratios using a pressure of 90 bar. Thermodynamic studies revealed significant changes in phase behavior for DMSO/CO2/PVP/TOC and DMSO/CO2/PVP/MEN systems compared to the binary DMSO/CO2 system. From the analysis of the effect of the presence of a single compound on the binary system VLE, it was noted that PVP slightly affected the thermodynamic behavior of the system. In contrast, these effects were more evident for the DMSO/CO2/TOC and DMSO/CO2/MEN systems. SAS precipitation experiments produced PVP/MEN and PVP/TOC microparticles, and the obtained morphology was justified considering the quaternary systems VLE.",
"corpus_id": 254310366
} | {
"title": "Formation of Fine Particles from Curcumin/PVP by the Supercritical Antisolvent Process with a Coaxial Nozzle",
"abstract": "The production of fine particles via the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO2) antisolvent process was carried out. The experiments were conducted at temperatures of 40–60 °C and pressures of 8–12 MPa with a 15 mL min–1 carbon dioxide (CO2) and 0.5 mL min–1 feed solution flow rate. As a feed solution, the curcumin and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) powder were dissolved in acetone and ethanol at concentrations of 1.0 mg mL–1 and 2.0–4.0% in weight, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images described that most of the precipitated particle products have spherical morphologies with a size of less than 1 μm. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra exhibited that the curcumin structural properties did not shift after the SC–CO2 antisolvent process. Moreover, the PVP addition in the curcumin particle products can enhance the curcumin dissolution in distilled water significantly.",
"corpus_id": 214968946
} | {
"title": "A new molecular imprinted PEDOT glassy carbon electrode for carbamazepine detection.",
"abstract": "An electrochemical sensor for the detection of carbamazepine was fabricated by the electropolymerization of PEDOT on glassy carbon electrodes. Molecular imprinted polymer sites were synthesized by cyclic voltammetry on the electrodes' surfaces providing high selectivity and sensitivity towards carbamazepine molecules. Scanning electron microscopy validated the formation of the polymer. Extraction of carbamazepine from the polymer was performed by immersion in acetonitrile and validated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy along with cyclic voltammetry experiments comparing pre- and post-template extraction data. Further cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry tests aided in characterizing the electrodes' response to carbamazepine concentration in PBS solution with [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- as a redox pair/mediator. The limits of detection and quantification were found to be 0.98 x 10-3 M and 2.97 x 10-3 M respectively. The biosensor was highly sensitive to carbamazepine molecules in comparison to non-imprinted electrodes, simple to construct and easy to operate.",
"corpus_id": 232121720
} |
{
"title": "TÜRKİYE'S FOREIGN AID TO AFRICA UNDER AK PARTY: A CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH",
"abstract": "Türkiye pursued a Western-cantered foreign policy from the Second World War to the beginning of the 2000s. However, in the early 2000s, the country attempted to restore Ottoman heritage by turning East under the banner of neo-Ottomanism. Türkiye's geopolitical and historical characteristics have played a strategic role in pursuing multifaceted foreign policy. Türkiye's relations with Africa improved throughout the 1990s, peaking during the AK Party's reign. Turkish-African relations have political, economic, and cultural dimensions. Foreign aid, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the most important components of Türkiye's soft power on the continent. Ankara now implements humanitarian and development projects in more than 40 African countries through state agencies and non-governmental organizations such as TIKA and IHH. \nUsing constructivism, this study attempts to investigate the driving factors behind Türkiye's foreign aid to Africa during the AK Party era. Consequently, this article concluded that Türkiye's foreign policy toward Africa, especially foreign aid, is primarily shaped by historical, social, religious, and cultural values. Türkiye's status as the Ottoman Empire's heir and a member of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC), along with 28 African countries, allows the country to interact with the continent on historical, social, religious, and cultural levels.",
"corpus_id": 259785546
} | {
"title": "Turkey in South-South cooperation: new foreign policy approach in Africa",
"abstract": "It is a fair treatment, without any exaggeration, to argue that the rise of Turkey in Africa in multiple areas as an actor is rather novel for foreign policy of Ankara. From development assistance to economy, politics to security, Turkey is now an influential player in African politics. Turkey’s Africa policy has more meaning than a normal foreign policy relation. It is also a mature deepening of South- South cooperation (SSC) in Turkish foreign policy. One of the most novel parts of Turkey’s foreign policy since 2002 is its endeavor to be part of the South-South cooperation and increase its visibilities in development aid projects. This involvement - both at state and NGO levels - is particularly palpable on the African continent. Rather than following the footsteps of other countries, such as traditional donors, Ankara has been trying to develop its own understanding and implementation - the Turkish way - based on experiences mostly gained from Balkans and Central Asian republics. These dimensions explain Turkey’s development policy at ideational, societal and institutional levels in Somalia and beyond in Africa. Religion along with trade is one of the key drivers of this policy at societal and state levels. At ideational front, there has been a new geographical imagination in Turkey that sees Africa from a totally different perspective comparing to a decade ago.",
"corpus_id": 158068225
} | {
"title": "Turkey’s Erdoğan: leadership style and foreign policy audiences",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Political leaders appeal to home audiences as well as ‘others’ beyond the state’s borders. Using leadership trait analysis, in the example of Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this paper questions if and why a leader can exhibit different leadership traits and styles at home and away. The paper is concerned with how Erdoğan's leadership traits and style connect to Turkish foreign policy between March 2003 and May 2013. First, two profiles of Erdoğan are assessed from the interviews he gave to domestic and foreign press. The paper then reports Erdoğan’s profiles by distinguishing between different Western, Eastern, European, American, and Middle Eastern audiences. Based on these profiles, this paper argues that Erdoğan has two different profiles at home and away. Furthermore, it finds that Erdoğan’s profile from his foreign policy interviews with American news outlets stand out from his other profiles. Among other traits, Erdoğan’s task focus changes noticeably among audiences.",
"corpus_id": 151059297
} |
{
"title": "Synthesis, Characterization, DNA/HSA Interaction, and Cytotoxic Activity of a Copper(II) Thiolate Schiff Base Complex and Its Corresponding Water-Soluble Stable Sulfinato–O Complex Containing Imidazole as a Co-ligand",
"abstract": "A Cu(II) thiolato complex [CuL(imz)] (1) (H2L = o-HOC6H4C(H)=NC6H4SH-o) and the corresponding water-soluble stable sulfinato–O complex [CuL′(imz)] (2) (H2L′ = o-HOC6H4C(H)=NC6H4S(=O)OH) were synthesized and characterized using physicochemical techniques. Compound 2 is found to be a dimer in the solid state as characterized using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. XPS studies clearly showed the differences in the sulfur oxidation states in 1 and 2. Both compounds are found to be monomers in solution as revealed from their four-line X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectra in CH3CN at room temperature (RT). 1–2 were tested to assess their ability to exhibit DNA binding and cleavage activity. Spectroscopic studies and viscosity experiments suggest that 1–2 bind to CT-DNA through the intercalation mode having moderate binding affinity (Kb ∼ 104 M–1). This is further supported by molecular docking studies of complex 2 with CT-DNA. Both complexes display significant oxidative cleavage of pUC19 DNA. Complex 2 also showed hydrolytic DNA cleavage. The interaction of 1–2 with HSA revealed that they have strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA by a static quenching mechanism (kq ∼ 1013 M–1 s–1). This is further complemented by Förster resonance energy transfer studies that revealed binding distances of r = 2.85 and 2.75 nm for 1 and 2, respectively, indicating high potential for energy transfer from HSA to complex. 1–2 were capable of inducing conformational changes of HSA at secondary and tertiary levels as observed from synchronous and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. Molecular docking studies with 2 indicate that it forms strong hydrogen bonds with Gln221 and Arg222 located near the entrance of site-I of HSA. 1–2 showed potential toxicity in human cervical cancer HeLa cells, lung cancer A549 cells, and cisplatin-resistant breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and appeared to be most potent against HeLa cells (IC50 = 2.04 μM for 1 and 1.86 μM for 2). In HeLa cells, 1–2 mediated cell cycle arrest in S and G2/M phases, which progressed into apoptosis. Apoptotic features seen from Hoechst and AO/PI staining, damaged cytoskeleton actin viewed from phalloidin staining, and increased caspase-3 activity upon treatment with 1–2 collectively suggested that they induced apoptosis in HeLa cells via caspase activation. This is further supported by western blot analysis of the protein sample extracted from HeLa cells treated with 2.",
"corpus_id": 259230955
} | {
"title": "Mixed Ligand Mononuclear Copper(II) Complex as a Promising Anticancer Agent: Interaction Studies with DNA/HSA, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies",
"abstract": "The isolated copper(II) complex [CuL(o-phen)]·H2O (1) [H2L = o-HO-C6H4C(H)=N-C6H4-SH-o, o-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] was structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. 1 in CH3CN at liquid nitrogen temperature displayed a characteristic monomeric X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum having a tetragonal character with g∥ = 2.1479 and g⊥ = 2.0691 and A∥ ≈ 18.0 mT and A⊥ ≤ 3.9 mT, respectively. 1 showed a strong binding affinity toward calf thymus DNA as reflected from its intrinsic binding constant (Kb = 7.88 × 105 M–1), and its competitive displacement of ethidium bromide suggested an intercalative DNA-binding mode (Kapp = 1.32 × 106 M–1). This was confirmed from the viscosity study that showed an increase in the viscosity of DNA with an increasing concentration of 1. Complex 1 is highly efficient in promoting oxidative and hydrolytic DNA cleavage (kobs = 1.987 h–1). 1 showed a strong binding affinity with the carrier protein human serum albumin (HSA) (Ka = 5.22 × 105 M–1). A high bimolecular quenching constant kq = 2.29 × 1013 M–1s–1 indicated a static quenching mechanism involved in the fluorescence quenching of HSA by 1. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer theory suggested that the distance (r = 3.52 nm) between 1 and HSA is very close. Molecular docking studies suggested that 1 primarily binds to HSA in subdomain IIA. A protein–ligand interaction profiler was used to visualize hydrophobic, hydrogen bonds, and π–cation interactions between HSA and 1. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay using HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells showed a significant in vitro anticancer activity of 1 (IC50 2.63 and 2.68 μM, respectively). Nuclear staining assays suggested apoptotic cell death in HeLa cells treated with 1. The effect of 1 on the cytoskeletal actin filaments visualized using phalloidin staining showed extensive destruction of actin filaments. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that 1 inhibits the growth of HeLa cells through cell cycle arrest in the S phase. Western blot analysis showed upregulation in the expression of apoptotic marker proteins caspase 3, p53, and Bax. These results collectively indicate that 1 induces apoptosis by promoting DNA damage and has a high potential to act as an anticancer agent.",
"corpus_id": 249653678
} | {
"title": "Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structure, DNA and HSA Interactions, and Anticancer Activity of a Mononuclear Cu(II) Complex with a Schiff Base Ligand Containing a Thiadiazoline Moiety",
"abstract": "A mononuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(HL)(o-phen)]·H2O (1) [H3L =, o-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] was isolated from methanol, and its X-ray single-crystal structure was determined. Frozen glass X-band EPR of 1 in dimethylformamide (DMF) at LNT showed a spectrum that is characteristic of a monomeric tetragonal character with g∥ = 2.164, g⊥ = 2.087, A∥ = 19.08 mT, and A⊥ ≤ 4 mT. Electronic spectroscopic studies using calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) showed strong binding affinity of 1 as reflected from its intrinsic binding constant (Kb) value of 2.85 × 105 M–1. Competitive behavior of 1 with ethidium bromide (EB) displayed intercalative binding of DNA (Kapp= 1.3 × 106 M–1). The compound displayed significant oxidative cleavage of pUC19 DNA. The interaction between HSA and complex 1 was examined by employing fluorescence and electronic absorption spectroscopic experiments. The secondary and tertiary structures of HSA were found to be altered as suggested by three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence experiments. The affinity of 1 to bind to HSA was found to be strong as indicated from its value of the binding constant (Ka = 2.89 × 105 M–1). Intrinsic fluorescence of the protein was found to be reduced through a mechanism of static quenching as suggested from the kq (2.01 × 1013 M–1 s–1) value, the bimolecular quenching constant. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process may also be accounted for such a high kq value. The r value (2.85 nm) calculated from FRET theory suggested that the distance between complex 1 (acceptor) and HSA (donor) is quite close. Complex 1 primarily bound to HSA in subdomain IIA as suggested by molecular docking studies. IC50 values (0.80 and 0.43 μM, respectively) obtained from the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with HeLa and MCF7 cells suggested remarkable in vitro anticancer activity of 1. Nuclear dual staining assays revealed that cell death occurred via apoptosis in HeLa cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation caused apoptosis induction. On treatment with a 5 μM dose of 1 in HeLa cells, the cell population significantly increased in the G2/M phase, while it was decreased in G0/G1 and S phases as compared to the control, clearly indicating G2/M phase arrest.",
"corpus_id": 245870143
} |
{
"title": "A Nurse-Led mHealth Self-Management Program (mChemotherapy) for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study",
"abstract": "Background The global pandemic has caused breast cancer (BC) patients who are receiving chemotherapy to face more challenges in taking care of themselves than usual. A novel nurse-led mHealth program (mChemotherapy) is designed to foster self-management for this population. The aim of the pilot study is to determine the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of an mChemotherapy program for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The objective also is to evaluate the preliminary effects of this program on adherence to app usage, self-efficacy, quality of life, symptom burden, and healthcare utilization among this group of patients. Methods This is a single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study that includes one intervention group (mChemotherapy group) and one control group (routine care group). Ninety-four breast cancer patients who commence chemotherapy in a university-affiliated hospital will be recruited. Based on the Individual and Family Self-management Theory, this 6-week mChemotherapy program, which includes a combination of self-regulation activities and nurse-led support, will be provided. Data collection will be conducted at baseline, week 3 (T1), and week 6 (T2). A general linear model will be utilized for identifying the between-group, within-group, and interaction effects. Qualitative content analysis will be adopted to analyze, extract, and categorize the interview transcripts. Discussions Breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are a population that often experiences a heavy symptom burden. During the pandemic, they have had difficulties in self-managing the side effects of chemotherapy due to the lack of face-to-face professional support. An mChemotherapy program will be adopted through a self-regulation process and with the provision of nurse-led real-time professional support for these patients. If proven effective, BC patients who engage in this program will be more likely to take an active role in managing their symptoms, take responsibility for their own health, and subsequently improve their self-efficacy and adherence to the use of the app.",
"corpus_id": 251281165
} | {
"title": "Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries",
"abstract": "This article provides an update on the global cancer burden using the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Worldwide, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases (18.1 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths (9.9 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) occurred in 2020. Female breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases (11.7%), followed by lung (11.4%), colorectal (10.0 %), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (5.6%) cancers. Lung cancer remained the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%), followed by colorectal (9.4%), liver (8.3%), stomach (7.7%), and female breast (6.9%) cancers. Overall incidence was from 2‐fold to 3‐fold higher in transitioned versus transitioning countries for both sexes, whereas mortality varied <2‐fold for men and little for women. Death rates for female breast and cervical cancers, however, were considerably higher in transitioning versus transitioned countries (15.0 vs 12.8 per 100,000 and 12.4 vs 5.2 per 100,000, respectively). The global cancer burden is expected to be 28.4 million cases in 2040, a 47% rise from 2020, with a larger increase in transitioning (64% to 95%) versus transitioned (32% to 56%) countries due to demographic changes, although this may be further exacerbated by increasing risk factors associated with globalization and a growing economy. Efforts to build a sustainable infrastructure for the dissemination of cancer prevention measures and provision of cancer care in transitioning countries is critical for global cancer control.",
"corpus_id": 231804598
} | {
"title": "Application of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement to publications on endoscopic treatment for vesicoureteral reflux.",
"abstract": "OBJECTIVE\nFollowing an increasing number of submissions on endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), the Journal of Pediatric Urology sought to establish a quality guideline that would enable reviewers to select the best papers for publication in the journal. The \"Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology\" (STROBE) Statement, established in 2007, is a 22-item checklist designed to assist with clear reporting of observational studies. This checklist includes a description of methodological items and instructions on how to use them to transparently report observational studies. The aim of the present study was to apply the STROBE principle to observational studies about endoscopic management of VUR, and to establish a \"check-list\" to assist authors with good-quality submissions.\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nThe 22 STROBE criteria were listed and applied to publications on endoscopic treatment by utilizing examples from the current literature, with additional suggestions about how future studies could build upon the information already published on the subject.\n\n\nRESULTS\nBased on this strategy, a checklist that is particular to endoscopic treatment studies was produced as a guideline for authors and reviewers.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nApplication of the STROBE statement principles, in combination with key VUR data, will allow better quality submissions and a higher chance of positive reviews and acceptance rates.",
"corpus_id": 35686100
} |
{
"title": "Benefits of Mobile Contact Tracing on COVID-19: Tracing Capacity Perspectives",
"abstract": "For effectively suppressing COVID-19’s spread, contact tracing has been widely used to identify, isolate, and follow-up with those who have come in close contact with an infected person (or “close contacts”). Traditionally, contact tracers in local health offices interview an infected person to identify visited places (or hotspots) and then check any close contacts. For the accurate recall of travel history, several countries including South Korea corroborate multiple data sources, such as cell location or credit card transactions (1). Beside this traditional approach, various mobile apps were introduced to help improve travel history tracking including automated GPS tracking (e.g., Israel’s HaMagen) and manual place QRcode scanning (e.g., New Zealand’s NZ COVID Tracer and Korea’s KI Pass). Alternatively, mobile apps maintain individuals’ “encounter history” (instead of place visit history) by leveraging peerto-peer wireless beaconing (i.e., self-announcing its presence to nearby devices) with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in smartphones, such as Google-Apple’s Exposure Notification and Singapore’s BlueTrace and TraceTogether. This encounter history can be used later to judge whether a user had a risky encounter with an infected person. We argue that traditional manual contact tracing can be greatly improved by leveraging the wisdom of crowds. Local community members install mobile apps to self-collect “breadcrumbs” for contact tracing, such as GPS traces, place QR-codes, and wireless encounter histories, which can offer near real-time assessment (2). However, there is a systematic lack of adoption of mobile apps in many countries, and success stories of mobile apps are scarce. This is partly because local health authorities are unsure about the benefits of mobile apps, mostly worrying that a lack of app adoption fails to achieve digital herd immunity (3). We emphasize the importance of adopting contact tracing apps via “contact tracing capacity modeling.” Our model clearly demonstrates that the adoption of contact tracing model apps can potentially increase contact tracing capacity. Furthermore, this capacity increment thanks to crowd participation will greatly help local authorities to better handle confirmed cases in the early or late phases of the pandemics. In the following, we present our approach of contact tracing capacity modeling and its benefits for contact tracing. We then discuss practical challenges related to application adoptions by citizens and health authorities as well as technical implementation issues.",
"corpus_id": 232264948
} | {
"title": "Reopening Society and the Need for Real-Time Assessment of COVID-19 at the Community Level.",
"abstract": "Through May 13, 2020, approximately 1.39 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in the United States (by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and more than 4.3 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported from 188 countries.1 There is an urgent need for COVID-19 data, including community-level incidence, spectrum of disease, diagnostictestpenetration,andproportionofthecommunitywith protectiveimmunitytosevereacuterespiratorysyndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (herd immunity). These data are vital to understanding where communities are on the continuum of COVID-19 cumulative incidence and prevalence and how nonpharmaceutical interventions can be titratedtoreopenbusinessandsociety.Real-timeincidence and seroepidemiologic data are also essential to plan scenarios for the development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Cross-sectional community surveys combined with seroepidemiology can help inform the present and help navigate the path forward.",
"corpus_id": 218647586
} | {
"title": "The Novel Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, is Highly Contagious and More Infectious Than Initially Estimated",
"abstract": "The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a recently emerged human pathogen that has spread widely since January 2020. Initially, the basic reproductive number, R0, was estimated to be 2.2 to 2.7. Here we provide a new estimate of this quantity. We collected extensive individual case reports and estimated key epidemiology parameters, including the incubation period. Integrating these estimates and high-resolution real-time human travel and infection data with mathematical models, we estimated that the number of infected individuals during early epidemic double every 2.4 days, and the R0 value is likely to be between 4.7 and 6.6. We further show that quarantine and contact tracing of symptomatic individuals alone may not be effective and early, strong control measures are needed to stop transmission of the virus.",
"corpus_id": 211069359
} |
{
"title": "Quality of Work life Among the Paediatricians Graduated from Master of Medicine (MMed) of Universiti Sains Malaysia",
"abstract": "Introduction: Malaysian Paediatricians suffer from psychological challenges and stresses, but unfortunately, their quality of work life (QWL) has yet to be studied. This study aims to explore the QWL score and its predictors among the qualified paediatricians of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: A cross-sectional study using a validated QWL questionnaire was performed from June to December 2022. The graduates of Master of Medicine in Paediatrics (USM) were invited to participate in the study, through an online built QWL questionnaire. Reminders were sent a few times to increase the response rate. The QWL was used due to a good internal consistency with Cronbach alpha of 0.95. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the sociodemographic characteristics. The variables for QWL were determined using logistic regression analysis. Results: The study included the participation of 123 paediatricians. Majority of the participants were Malay (87.8%), Muslim (90%) and married (78%). Among all participants, 53.6% has good QWL score. Factors that associated with good QWL were married status (p= 0.02) and higher salary (p=0.012). Individuals whose are married and having higher income are 3.2 and 5.2 times respectively more likely to have good QWL. Conclusion: More than half of qualified paediatricians had good QWL and necessary steps should be strived at improving these factors for a better work-life balance.",
"corpus_id": 259778014
} | {
"title": "Tackling burnout among senior clinicians: the paediatrician",
"abstract": "Consultant paediatrician Anna Baverstock talks to Helen Jones about why she loves her specialty and her work helping senior clinicians to model good wellbeing practices",
"corpus_id": 218598034
} | {
"title": "Diagnostic Yield of One-Time Colonoscopy vs One-Time Flexible Sigmoidoscopy vs Multiple Rounds of Mailed Fecal Immunohistochemical Tests in Colorectal Cancer Screening.",
"abstract": "BACKGROUND & AIMS\nWe compared the diagnostic yields of colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA total of 30,007 asymptomatic persons, 50-74 years old, were invited for CRC screening in the Netherlands. Participants were assigned to groups that received 4 rounds of FIT (mailed to 15,046 participants), once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy (n=8407), or once-only colonoscopy (n=6600). Patients with positive results from the FIT (≥10 μg Hb/g feces) were referred for colonoscopies. Patients who underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy were referred for colonoscopy if they had a polyp of ≥10 mm; adenoma with ≥25% villous histology or high-grade dysplasia; sessile serrated adenoma; ≥3 adenomas; ≥20 hyperplastic polyps; or invasive CRC. The primary outcome was number of advanced neoplasias detected (diagnostic yield) by each test. Secondary outcomes were number of colonoscopies needed to detect advanced neoplasia and number of interval CRCs found during each primary screening test. Patients with interval CRCs (detected between a negative result from a screening colonoscopy and next scheduled colonoscopy) were found through linkage with Netherlands Cancer Registry. Advanced neoplasias were defined as CRC, adenomas ≥ 10 mm, adenomas with high-grade dysplasia, or adenomas with a villous component of at least 25%.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe cumulative participation rate was significantly higher for FIT screening (77%) than for flexible sigmoidoscopy (31%; P<.001) or colonoscopy (24%; P<.001). The percentage of colonoscopies among invitees was higher for colonoscopy (24%) compared to FIT (13%; P<.001) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (3%; P<.001). In the intention to screen analysis, the cumulative diagnostic yield of advanced neoplasia was higher with FIT screening (4.5%; 95% CI 4.2-4.9) than with colonoscopy (2.2%; 95% CI, 1.8-2.6) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (2.3%; 95% CI, 2.0-2.7). In the as-screened analysis, the cumulative yield of advanced neoplasia was higher for endoscopic screening with colonoscopy (9.1%; 95% CI, 7.7-10.7) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (7.4%; 95% CI, 6.5-8.5) than with the FIT (6.1%; 95% CI, 5.7-6.6). All 3 screening strategies detected a similar proportion of patients with CRC. Follow-up times differed for each test (median 8.3 years for FIT and flexible sigmoidoscopy and 5.8 years for colonoscopy). Proportions of patients that developed interval CRC were 0.13% for persons with a negative result from the FIT, 0.09% for persons with a negative result from flexible sigmoidoscopy, and 0.01% for persons with a negative result from colonoscopy.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nMailed multiple-round FITs detect significantly more advanced neoplasias, on a population level, compared with once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy screening. Significantly fewer colonoscopies are required by individuals screened by multiple FITs.",
"corpus_id": 201042283
} |
{
"title": "The Impact of Corona-Virus Pandemic Effected the Air Pollution in India",
"abstract": ": In a country like India, where the major decease are been caused because of the Air pollution, which has affected around 4 million lives because of this pollution only, the cause of the rise in Air pollution is not only from the factories but also the vehicles which use to run on the streets as corona-virus can stay in the air for around 30 minutes, which can cause problems to millions of lives moving on the street, mostly the poor. In India air pollution has rated to almost least in the past 20 years which has contributed to the break from spreading.In India, Delhi and other most populated states stated a drastic downfall in Air pollution with about 60 percent decline in air pollution of PM - 2.5 particularly known as “fine particulate matters” in Delhi when compared with 2019 while the pollution control in other countries couldn’t see much change and which has also seen a rise in corona-virus cases.In this paper we have analyzed the impact of rising in the number of the corona-virus cases concerning the most polluted cities to state the actual scenario that is air pollution leads to a rise in a pandemic situation. This paper is primarily based on secondary sources of data collection including the state-wise downfall in the level of air pollution, impact on the environment from the deadly disease i.e. Corona-virus, prospects, impact on the health of the individual",
"corpus_id": 234834800
} | {
"title": "Evidence on the impact of sustained exposure to air pollution on life expectancy from China’s Huai River policy",
"abstract": "This paper's findings suggest that an arbitrary Chinese policy that greatly increases total suspended particulates (TSPs) air pollution is causing the 500 million residents of Northern China to lose more than 2.5 billion life years of life expectancy. The quasi-experimental empirical approach is based on China’s Huai River policy, which provided free winter heating via the provision of coal for boilers in cities north of the Huai River but denied heat to the south. Using a regression discontinuity design based on distance from the Huai River, we find that ambient concentrations of TSPs are about 184 μg/m3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 61, 307] or 55% higher in the north. Further, the results indicate that life expectancies are about 5.5 y (95% CI: 0.8, 10.2) lower in the north owing to an increased incidence of cardiorespiratory mortality. More generally, the analysis suggests that long-term exposure to an additional 100 μg/m3 of TSPs is associated with a reduction in life expectancy at birth of about 3.0 y (95% CI: 0.4, 5.6).",
"corpus_id": 3221729
} | {
"title": "A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family cluster",
"abstract": "Summary\n \n Background\n An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Affected patients were geographically linked with a local wet market as a potential source. No data on person-to-person or nosocomial transmission have been published to date.\n \n \n Methods\n In this study, we report the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and microbiological findings of five patients in a family cluster who presented with unexplained pneumonia after returning to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, after a visit to Wuhan, and an additional family member who did not travel to Wuhan. Phylogenetic analysis of genetic sequences from these patients were done.\n \n \n Findings\n From Jan 10, 2020, we enrolled a family of six patients who travelled to Wuhan from Shenzhen between Dec 29, 2019 and Jan 4, 2020. Of six family members who travelled to Wuhan, five were identified as infected with the novel coronavirus. Additionally, one family member, who did not travel to Wuhan, became infected with the virus after several days of contact with four of the family members. None of the family members had contacts with Wuhan markets or animals, although two had visited a Wuhan hospital. Five family members (aged 36–66 years) presented with fever, upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, or diarrhoea, or a combination of these 3–6 days after exposure. They presented to our hospital (The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen) 6–10 days after symptom onset. They and one asymptomatic child (aged 10 years) had radiological ground-glass lung opacities. Older patients (aged >60 years) had more systemic symptoms, extensive radiological ground-glass lung changes, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and increased C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The nasopharyngeal or throat swabs of these six patients were negative for known respiratory microbes by point-of-care multiplex RT-PCR, but five patients (four adults and the child) were RT-PCR positive for genes encoding the internal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and surface Spike protein of this novel coronavirus, which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of these five patients' RT-PCR amplicons and two full genomes by next-generation sequencing showed that this is a novel coronavirus, which is closest to the bat severe acute respiatory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses found in Chinese horseshoe bats.\n \n \n Interpretation\n Our findings are consistent with person-to-person transmission of this novel coronavirus in hospital and family settings, and the reports of infected travellers in other geographical regions.\n \n \n Funding\n The Shaw Foundation Hong Kong, Michael Seak-Kan Tong, Respiratory Viral Research Foundation Limited, Hui Ming, Hui Hoy and Chow Sin Lan Charity Fund Limited, Marina Man-Wai Lee, the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association South China Microbiology Research Fund, Sanming Project of Medicine (Shenzhen), and High Level-Hospital Program (Guangdong Health Commission).",
"corpus_id": 210886211
} |
{
"title": "Identification of Virus-Induced Proteins in Cells Productively Infected with Simian Virus 40",
"abstract": "The number and molecular weight of the structural polypeptides of highly purified simian virus 40 (SV40) were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Six different polypeptides were found, two of which (VP1 and VP2) comprise the bulk of the viral capsid proteins. The pattern of protein synthesis in productively infected CV-1 cells was studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Identification of virus-induced proteins in the infected CV-1 cells was achieved in double-labeling experiments by electrophoresis with purified labeled SV40 capsid proteins. Four of these proteins (VP1 and VP4) could be classified as components of the virion because their synthesis occurred after the onset of viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication and because they were inhibited by arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C). Appearance of two other virus-induced proteins was not prevented by ara-C; one of them did not comigrate in the electrophoresis with purified virion polypeptides, and both could be detected before the onset of viral DNA synthesis. These latter two proteins were classified on the basis of these criteria as nonvirion capsid proteins (NCVP1 and NCVP2).",
"corpus_id": 19379396
} | {
"title": "Protective immunity of grass carp induced by DNA vaccine encoding capsid protein gene (vp7) of grass carp reovirus using bacterial ghost as delivery vehicles",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is one of the most pathogenic aquareovirus and can cause lethal hemorrhagic disease in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). However, management of GCRV infection remains a challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to find effective means for the control of its infection. The uses of bacterial ghost (BG, non‐living bacteria) as carriers for DNA delivery have received considerable attentions in veterinary and human vaccines studies. Nevertheless, there is still no report about intramuscular administration of bacterial ghost‐based DNA vaccines in fish. In the current study, a novel vaccine based on Escherichia coli DH5&agr; bacterial ghost (DH5&agr;‐BG), delivering a major capsid protein gene (vp7) of grass carp reovirus encoded DNA vaccine was developed to enhance the efficacy of a vp7 DNA vaccine against GCRV in grass carp. The grass carp was injected intramuscularly by different treatments ‐i) naked pcDNA‐vp7 (containing plasmid 1, 2.5 and 5 &mgr;g, respectively), ii) DH5&agr;‐BG/pcDNA‐vp7 (containing plasmid 1, 2.5 and 5 &mgr;g, respectively) and iii) naked pcDNA, DH5&agr;‐BG or phosphate buffered saline. The immune responses and disease resistance of grass carp were assessed in different groups, and results indicated that the antibody levels, serum total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and immune‐related genes were significantly enhanced in fish immunized with DH5&agr;‐BG/pcDNA‐vp7 vaccine (DNA dose ranged from 2.5 to 5 &mgr;g). In addition, the relative percentage survival were significantly enhanced in fish immunized with DH5&agr;‐BG/pcDNA‐vp7 vaccine and the relative percentage survival reached to 90% in DH5&agr;‐BG/pcDNA‐vp7 group than that of naked pcDNA‐vp7 (42.22%) at the highest DNA dose (5 &mgr;g) after 14 days of post infection. Moreover, the level of pcDNA‐vp7 plasmid was higher in DH5&agr;‐BG/pcDNA‐vp7 groups than naked pcDNA‐vp7 groups in muscle and kidneys tissues after 21 days. Overall, those results suggested that DH5&agr; bacterial ghost based DNA vaccine might be used as a promising vaccine for aquatic animals to fight against GCRV infection. HIGHLIGHTSE. coli DH5&agr; ghost was used as carrier to prepare a novel DNA vaccine in grass carp.Immunization with DH5&agr;/pcDNAvp7 induced stronger immune response than naked pcDNAvp7.Immunization with DH5&agr;/pcDNAvp7 enhanced disease resistance against GCRV in fish.Bacterial ghost based DNA vaccine had prospects for application to aquatic vaccine.",
"corpus_id": 7282247
} | {
"title": "Transposition of ampicillin resistance from RP4 to other replicons",
"abstract": "SummaryThe ampicillin resistance (β-lactamase) determinant of RP4 can be transposed onto various other replicons genetically unrelated to RP4 including several but not all R factors.Plasmids which acquire this resistance show an increase in molecular weight. They also acquire the ability to transpose the ampicillin resistance to further replicons.",
"corpus_id": 13375672
} |
{
"title": "Parenting and Chinese Adolescents’ Multidimensional Prosocial Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Sympathy",
"abstract": "Abstract In this study, the prediction of maternal and paternal parenting behaviors to 1527 (59.27% female, age ranged between 11 and 18 years old) Chinese adolescents’ multidimensional prosocial behaviors, and the moderating role of adolescents’ sympathy were examined. Data were collected in 2019. Adolescents reported their perceived parenting practices, their own sympathy and prosocial tendencies using online questionnaires. Results from path models in Mplus indicated care and autonomy granting of both parents were uniquely and positively associated with adolescents’ various prosocial behaviors. Paternal control was also positively associated with adolescents’ public prosocial behaviors. Further, adolescents’ sympathy moderated the association between paternal autonomy granting to adolescents’ altruistic prosocial behaviors, as well as between paternal control and adolescents’ compliant and emotional prosocial behaviors. Our study contributed novel information regarding the roles of maternal and paternal parenting and sympathy in Chinese adolescents’ diverse prosocial behaviors. Replications with longitudinal design are needed.",
"corpus_id": 259949062
} | {
"title": "Relations Among Parenting, Culture, and Prosocial Behaviors in U.S. Mexican Youth: An Integrative Socialization Approach.",
"abstract": "We examined the longitudinal relations among parental socialization practices-including acceptance or harsh parenting and ethnic socialization-ethnic identity, familism, and prosocial behaviors in a sample of U.S. Mexican youth. Participants included 462 U.S. Mexican adolescents (Mage at Wave 1 = 10.4 years old; 48.1% female), their mothers, and fathers at the 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th grades. Results showed that maternal and paternal ethnic socialization predicted several forms of prosocial behaviors via ethnic identity and familism. Fathers', but not mothers', harsh parenting and acceptance had direct links to specific forms of prosocial behaviors. This study suggests the need for culturally informed theories that examine the reciprocal relations between two distinct domains of cultural socialization.",
"corpus_id": 231945077
} | {
"title": "Religious Support as a Contribution to Face the Effects of Social Isolation in Mental Health During the Pandemic of COVID-19",
"abstract": "Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has required measures to contain the contagion, including social isolation. However, this and other factors have caused mental health problems, both in patients and health professionals and in family members or asymptomatic population. Religious support can be an ally for this type of confrontation. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, spiritual/religious care has been restricted and insufficient. When accessible to patients and frontline professionals, they are offered by virtual means, almost always by recorded media and made available in bulk. This essay argues, based on references in the areas of psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, biosafety, and military, that the face-to-face and personalized relationship between religious leaders, patients, health professionals, family members, and faith communities is as essential as possible for the dignified treatment victims, referral to spiritual needs and resilience of society, in addition to contributing to the improvement of the immune response of all. Practical examples are cited in the areas of military chaplaincy and hospital civilian chaplaincy. The essay also proposes the adoption of protocols already published by WHO and other safety measures such as the use of robotics and the recruitment/training of mass chaplains. In addition to contributing to the improvement of COVID-19 pandemic coping processes, the study also contributes to improving the delivery of spiritual/religious care as an ally to physical and mental, individual, and collective health.",
"corpus_id": 230774245
} |
{
"title": "Unitarity cuts of the worldsheet",
"abstract": "We compute the imaginary parts of genus-one string scattering\namplitudes. Following Witten’s i\\varepsiloniε\nprescription for the integration contour on the moduli space of\nworldsheets, we give a general algorithm for computing unitarity cuts of\nthe annulus, Möbius strip, and torus topologies exactly in\n\\alpha'α′.\nWith the help of tropical analysis, we show how the intricate pattern of\nthresholds (normal and anomalous) opening up arises from the worldsheet\ncomputation. The result is a manifestly-convergent representation of the\nimaginary parts of amplitudes, which has the analytic form expected from\nCutkosky rules in field theory, but bypasses the need for performing\nlaborious sums over the intermediate states. We use this representation\nto study various physical aspects of string amplitudes, including their\nbehavior in the (s,t)(s,t)\nplane, exponential suppression, decay widths of massive strings, total\ncross section, and low-energy expansions. We find that planar annulus\namplitudes exhibit a version of low-spin dominance: at any finite\nenergy, only a finite number of low partial-wave spins give an\nappreciable contribution to the imaginary part.",
"corpus_id": 251799899
} | {
"title": "Natural boundaries for scattering amplitudes",
"abstract": "Singularities, such as poles and branch points, play a crucial role in investigating the analytic properties of scattering amplitudes that inform new computational techniques. In this note, we point out that scattering amplitudes can also have another class of singularities called natural boundaries of analyticity. They create a barrier beyond which analytic continuation cannot be performed. More concretely, we use unitarity to show that 2 \\to 22→2 scattering amplitudes in theories with a mass gap can have a natural boundary on the second sheet of the lightest threshold cut. There, an infinite number of ladder-type Landau singularities densely accumulates on the real axis in the center-of-mass energy plane. We argue that natural boundaries are generic features of higher-multiplicity scattering amplitudes in gapped theories.",
"corpus_id": 253018811
} | {
"title": "Towards closed strings as single-valued open strings at genus one",
"abstract": "We relate the low-energy expansions of world-sheet integrals in genus-one amplitudes of open- and closed-string states. The respective expansion coefficients are elliptic multiple zeta values (eMZVs) in the open-string case and non-holomorphic modular forms dubbed ‘modular graph forms (MGFs)’ for closed strings. By inspecting the differential equations and degeneration limits of suitable generating series of genus-one integrals, we identify formal substitution rules mapping the eMZVs of open strings to the MGFs of closed strings. Based on the properties of these rules, we refer to them as an elliptic single-valued map which generalizes the genus-zero notion of a single-valued map acting on MZVs seen in tree-level relations between the open and closed string.",
"corpus_id": 224814316
} |
{
"title": "Human pathways in animal models: possibilities and limitations",
"abstract": "Abstract Animal models are crucial for advancing our knowledge about the molecular pathways involved in human diseases. However, it remains unclear to what extent tissue expression of pathways in healthy individuals is conserved between species. In addition, organism-specific information on pathways in animal models is often lacking. Within these limitations, we explore the possibilities that arise from publicly available data for the animal models mouse, rat, and pig. We approximate the animal pathways activity by integrating the human counterparts of curated pathways with tissue expression data from the models. Specifically, we compare whether the animal orthologs of the human genes are expressed in the same tissue. This is complicated by the lower coverage and worse quality of data in rat and pig as compared to mouse. Despite that, from 203 human KEGG pathways and the seven tissues with best experimental coverage, we identify 95 distinct pathways, for which the tissue expression in one animal model agrees better with human than the others. Our systematic pathway-tissue comparison between human and three animal modes points to specific similarities with human and to distinct differences among the animal models, thereby suggesting the most suitable organism for modeling a human pathway or tissue.",
"corpus_id": 231757024
} | {
"title": "The Year of the Rat: The Rat Genome Database at 20: a multi-species knowledgebase and analysis platform",
"abstract": "Abstract Formed in late 1999, the Rat Genome Database (RGD, https://rgd.mcw.edu) will be 20 in 2020, the Year of the Rat. Because the laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, has been used as a model for complex human diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders and arthritis, among others, for >150 years, RGD has always been disease-focused and committed to providing data and tools for researchers doing comparative genomics and translational studies. At its inception, before the sequencing of the rat genome, RGD started with only a few data types localized on genetic and radiation hybrid (RH) maps and offered only a few tools for querying and consolidating that data. Since that time, RGD has expanded to include a wealth of structured and standardized genetic, genomic, phenotypic, and disease-related data for eight species, and a suite of innovative tools for querying, analyzing and visualizing this data. This article provides an overview of recent substantial additions and improvements to RGD’s data and tools that can assist researchers in finding and utilizing the data they need, whether their goal is to develop new precision models of disease or to more fully explore emerging details within a system or across multiple systems.",
"corpus_id": 207946670
} | {
"title": "Effective and meaningful participation or limited participation? A study of South African health committee legislation",
"abstract": "Abstract Background: Health committees are participatory structures providing community input in health systems. Community participation is a critical tenant in the Alma-Ata Declaration and the Right to Health. In South Africa, national and provincial legislation provides for health committees to be established at all primary health care facilities. Aims: This paper aims to analyze whether the Western Cape Health Facility Boards and Committees Act (2016) is likely to result in effective and meaningful participation consistent with a Primary Health Care (PHC) and human rights approach to participation. The paper also explores whether the provincial Act addresses challenges identified in practice. Methods: The methods consist of an analysis of the Western Cape Health Facility Boards and Committees Act, which is then compared to the international PHC and human rights approach to participation. Findings from an explorative mixed-methods study with health committees in Cape Town are used to discuss whether the Act addresses shortcomings identified in practised participation. Findings and analysis: The paper found that the current legislation is unlikely to lead to effective and meaningful participation. First, the roles prescribed in the Act are narrowly defined. They resemble roles practised and are inconsistent with right-based and PHC frameworks. Second, though the Act provides support, which the empirical research demonstrates is necessary, the support is insufficient, and often contingent. Third, the Act conceptualizes health committees as structures appointed by the Provincial Minister of Health; a formation process likely to lead to structures that do not adequately represent community interests. Conclusions: The paper argues that the Western Cape legislation is unlikely to lead to effective and meaningful participation. It suggests using international PHC and human rights frameworks and national policy documents to restructure health committee participation in the Act and the National Health Insurance Bill.",
"corpus_id": 235382075
} |
{
"title": "Research on Erosion Wear of Slotted Screen Based on High Production Gas Field",
"abstract": "Erosion wear is a common failure form of slotted screen in service. In this paper, based on CFD software and sand production data of a gas field in the Tarim Basin, the particle velocity and shear force at the slot of the flow field in the sieve tube were studied to determine the maximum area of erosion; at the same time, the velocity, viscosity, particle size and concentration of sand-carrying fluid were analyzed by orthogonal test, and the regression model of multi-factor maximum erosion rate was established. ① Through the analysis of the four factors on the degree of dependent variables, the order of the primary and secondary factors are: sand-carrying liquid flow rate, particle concentration, fluid viscosity, particle diameter, the effect of fluid viscosity and particle diameter on erosion rate is relatively small; ② According to the analysis of variance and range, the combination scheme of minimum erosion generation is obtained, and the calculation model of the erosion rate of the slotted screen is established. In order to reduce the erosion and abrasion in the actual oil and gas production process, the reasonable flow control and precise sand control method design and precision selection can be adopted; it provides a design basis for sand control and long-term effects of production in high-yield gas field.",
"corpus_id": 251707439
} | {
"title": "Simulation Research on the Erosion of Slotted Screen for the Unconsolidated Sand Formation",
"abstract": "Research on the flow low in the slot of the slotted screen used in the unconsolidated sand formation is conducted with computational fluid dynamics method. Research on the erosion and corrosion of the slotted screen is presented with the calculation of flow field and the introduction of erosion model established by the Erosion and Corrosion Research Center of Tula. Moreover, the slot erosion characters and the maximum erosion with different production pressure difference and sand content are given. The result shows that: (1) the maximum value of the flow rate and the erosion appears at the horn mouth of the slotted screen; If the production pressure difference is enlarged, the amount of sand that flows into the inner of the screen will increase and the flow rate of the sand will increase sharply, which worsens the erosion of the screen; (2) the degree of the erosion of the slotted screen grows exponentially with the increase of the production pressure difference and initially increases and then decreases with the increasing of the sand content; the degree of the erosion reaches the peak value when the sand content is ten percent; and (3) the main erosion region is the middle part of the slot, and this region widens with the increasing of production pressure difference. The lower part of the screen is more damaged than the upper part.",
"corpus_id": 138199774
} | {
"title": "Improvements of Particle Near-Wall Velocity and Erosion Predictions Using a Commercial CFD Code",
"abstract": "The determination of a representative particle impacting velocity is an important component in calculating solid particle erosion inside pipe geometry. Currently, most commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes allow the user to calculate particle trajectories using a Lagrangian approach. Additionally, the CFD codes calculate particle impact velocities with the pipe walls. However, these commercial CFD codes normally use a wall function to simulate the turbulent velocity field in the near-wall region. This wall-function velocity field near the wall can affect the small particle motion in the near-wall region. Furthermore, the CFD codes assume that particles have zero volume when particle impact information is being calculated. In this investigation, particle motions that are simulated using a commercially available CFD code are examined in the near-wall region. Calculated solid particle erosion patterns are compared with experimental data to investigate the accuracy of the models that are being used to calculate particle impacting velocities. While not considered in particle tracking routines in most CFD codes, the turbulent velocity profile in the near-wall region is taken into account in this investigation, and the effect on particle impact velocity is investigated. The simulation results show that the particle impact velocity is affected significantly when near-wall velocity profile is implemented. In addition, the effects of particle size are investigated in the near-wall region of a turbulent flow in a 90 deg sharp bend. A CFD code is modified to account for particle size effects in the near-wall region before and after the particle impact. It is found from the simulations that accounting for the rebound at the particle radius helps avoid nonphysical impacts and reduces the number of impacts by more than one order-of-magnitude for small particles (25 μm) due to turbulent velocity fluctuations. For large particles (256 μm), however, nonphysical impacts are not observed in the simulations. Solid particle erosion is predicted before and after introducing these modifications, and the results are compared with experimental data. It is shown that the near-wall modification and turbulent particle interactions significantly affect the simulation results. Modifications can significantly improve the current CFD-based solid particle erosion modeling.",
"corpus_id": 121616989
} |
{
"title": "Exploring Quantum Simpson-Type Inequalities for Convex Functions: A Novel Investigation",
"abstract": "This study seeks to derive novel quantum variations of Simpson’s inequality by primarily utilizing the convexity characteristics of functions. Additionally, the study examines the credibility of the obtained results through the presentation of relevant numerical examples and graphs.",
"corpus_id": 259718790
} | {
"title": "Some New Simpson’s and Newton’s Formulas Type Inequalities for Convex Functions in Quantum Calculus",
"abstract": "In this paper, using the notions of qκ2-quantum integral and qκ2-quantum derivative, we present some new identities that enable us to obtain new quantum Simpson’s and quantum Newton’s type inequalities for quantum differentiable convex functions. This paper, in particular, generalizes and expands previous findings in the field of quantum and classical integral inequalities obtained by various authors.",
"corpus_id": 238730787
} | {
"title": "Incidence and Implications of Twin Gestational Surrogacy at Two Large U.S. Military Hospitals: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.",
"abstract": "INTRODUCTION\nIndividuals seeking a gestational surrogate often turn to U.S. military dependents due to favorable insurance coverage. Surrogate pregnancies, including multiple gestations, may be at increased risk for adverse outcomes. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of surrogacy in a twin population conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART), assess the impact on the military healthcare system, and determine if there is an increased rate of complications in twin surrogacy pregnancies.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nWe conducted a 10-year retrospective cohort study of ART-conceived twin gestations at two military hospitals. Charts were reviewed for demographic data, surrogacy status, and obstetric complications. Number of prenatal visits and formal sonograms were tabulated for surrogate pregnancies. Complication rates were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOver the 10-year period, 36 of the 249 pregnancies were identified as gestational surrogates, equating to a rate of 14.4%. Surrogate mothers were younger than non-surrogates (29.58 years vs. 33.11 years, P < .001). Care of surrogate pregnancies required a total of 306 prenatal visits and 98 formal ultrasounds. The incidence of gestational diabetes was higher among surrogates compared to other ART-conceived twin pregnancies at 27.8% vs. 12.2% (P < .05), while other complications did not significantly differ.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nApproximately one in seven ART-conceived twin gestations were surrogacy pregnancies, requiring significant clinical resources. The incidence of gestational diabetes was higher among surrogate gestations.",
"corpus_id": 246700156
} |
{
"title": "The interferon-related developmental regulator 1 is used by human papillomavirus to suppress NFκB activation",
"abstract": "High-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs) infect keratinocytes and successfully evade host immunity despite the fact that keratinocytes are well equipped to respond to innate and adaptive immune signals. Using non-infected and freshly established or persistent hrHPV-infected keratinocytes we show that hrHPV impairs the acetylation of NFκB/RelA K310 in keratinocytes. As a consequence, keratinocytes display a decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production and immune cell attraction in response to stimuli of the innate or adaptive immune pathways. HPV accomplishes this by augmenting the expression of interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (IFRD1) in an EGFR-dependent manner. Restoration of NFκB/RelA acetylation by IFRD1 shRNA, cetuximab treatment or the HDAC1/3 inhibitor entinostat increases basal and induced cytokine expression. Similar observations are made in IFRD1-overexpressing HPV-induced cancer cells. Thus, our study reveals an EGFR–IFRD1-mediated viral immune evasion mechanism, which can also be exploited by cancer cells. Human papillomavirus employs immune evasion strategies to establish a long-term infection. Here the authors show that the virus in the EGFR-dependent manner induces IFRD1, which blocks NFκB activating acetylation, and that this process can be suppressed by the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab.",
"corpus_id": 16442229
} | {
"title": "CD40-Mediated Amplification of Local Immunity by Epithelial Cells Is Impaired by HPV",
"abstract": "The interaction between the transmembrane glycoprotein surface receptor CD40 expressed by skin epithelial cells (ECs) and its T-cell–expressed ligand CD154 was suggested to exacerbate inflammatory skin diseases. However, the full spectrum of CD40-mediated effects by ECs underlying this observation is unknown. Therefore, changes in gene expression after CD40 ligation of ECs were studied by microarrays. CD40-mediated activation for 2 hours stimulated the expression of a coordinated network of immune-involved genes strongly interconnected by IL8 and TNF, whereas after 24 hours anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic genes were upregulated. CD40 ligation was associated with the production of chemokines and the attraction of lymphocytes and myeloid cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Thus, CD40-mediated activation of ECs resulted in a highly coordinated response of genes required for the local development and sustainment of adaptive immune responses. The importance of this process was confirmed by a study on the effects of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection to the EC's response to CD40 ligation. HPV infection clearly attenuated the magnitude of the response to CD40 ligation and the EC's capacity to attract PBMCs. The fact that HPV attenuates CD40 signaling in ECs indicates the importance of the CD40-CD154 immune pathway in boosting cellular immunity within epithelia.",
"corpus_id": 18951411
} | {
"title": "The chromatin landscape of Th17 cells reveals mechanisms of diversification of regulatory and pro-inflammatory states",
"abstract": "Th17 cells are a heterogenous cell population consisting of non-pathogenic Th17 cells (npTh17) that contribute to tissue homeostasis and pathogenic Th17 cells (pTh17) that are potent mediators of tissue inflammation. To reveal regulatory mechanisms underlying Th17 heterogeneity, we performed combined ATAC-seq and RNA-seq and discovered substantial differences in the chromatin landscape of npTh17 and pTh17 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Compared to other CD4+ T cell subsets, npTh17 cells share accessible chromatin programs with Tregs, and pTh17 cells have an intermediate profile spanning features of npTh17 cells and Th1 cells. Integrating single-cell ATAC-seq and single-cell RNA-seq, we inferred self-reinforcing and mutually exclusive regulatory networks controlling the different cell states and predicted transcription factors (TFs) shaping the chromatin landscape of Th17 cell pathogenicity. We validated one novel TF, BACH2, which promotes immunomodulatory npTh17 programs and restrains pro-inflammatory Th1-like programs in Th17 cells and showed genetic evidence for protective variants in the human BACH2 locus associated with multiple sclerosis. Our work uncovered mechanisms that regulate Th17 heterogeneity, revealed shared regulatory programs with other CD4+ T cell subsets, and identified novel drivers of Th17 pathogenicity as potential targets to mitigate autoimmunity.",
"corpus_id": 247170720
} |
{
"title": "Sedation for endoscopy: the safe use of propofol by general practitioners",
"abstract": "istered cyanocobalamin 0.5 mL (500 g). Her macrocytic anaemia resolved with ongoing monthly injections. After one year of treatment, the patient described an episode of delayed urticaria after a routine cyanocobalamin injection. The skinprick and intradermal tests were repeated, with negative reactions to cyanocobalamin, and wheal-and-flare reactions to hydroxycobalamin. She has since tolerated monthly intramuscular cyanocobalamin for over 12 months. Vitamin B12 allergy is rare, but has been reported. Positive results of basophil histamine release assay and skin testing suggest an IgE-mediated mechanism. Desensitisation is therefore theoretically possible; however, anaphylaxis during desensitisation has occurred.3 In Australia, both hydroxycobalamin (Neo-cytamen, David Bull) and cyanocobalamin (Cytamen, David Bull) are available. The excipients of each preparation are identical — sodium chloride, glacial acetic acid, and sterile water. Although the risk of severe allergy is low, adequate facilities for resuscitation should be available when parenteral vitamin B12 is administered. One approach to dealing with vitamin B12 allergy is to use the alternative compound after skin testing to exclude crossreactivity. If cross-reactivity occurs, then desensitisation may be considered. Alternatively, oral administration of vitamin B12 may also be used. 4",
"corpus_id": 30127286
} | {
"title": "Sedation for endoscopy: the safe use of propofol by general practitioner sedationists",
"abstract": "Objective: To determine the incidence of adverse events related to an endoscopy sedation regimen that included propofol, delivered by general practitioner (GP) sedationists.",
"corpus_id": 24387384
} | {
"title": "RETINAL VASCULAR CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA: Review and New Theory.",
"abstract": ": Retinal vascular disease has the potential to affect hundreds of millions of people, with the inherent risk of vision loss related to cystoid macular edema. Although there have been histologic evaluation of eyes having cystoid macular edema, the most recent paper was published more than 30 years ago. In retinal vascular cystoid macular edema fluorescein angiography, a modality that images the superficial vascular plexus, shows increased leakage. Optical coherence tomography angiography has provided unprecedented resolution of retinal vascular flow in a depth resolved manner and demonstrates areas of decreased or absent flow in the deep vascular plexus colocalizing with the cystoid spaces. There has been a large amount of research on fluid management and edema in the brain, much of which may have analogues in the eye. Interstitial flow of fluid as managed by Müller cells may occur in the retina, comparable in some ways to the bulk flow in brain parenchyma, which is managed by astrocytes. Absent blood flow in the deep retinal plexus may restrict fluid management strategies in the retina, to include transport of excess fluid out of the retina into the blood by Müller cells. Application of this theory may help in increasing understanding of the pathophysiology of retinal vascular cystoid macular edema and may lead to new therapeutic approaches.",
"corpus_id": 25050482
} |
{
"title": "JUSTIFICATION FOR USING A VARIABLE DEBORAH NUMBER FUNCTION OF THE SHEAR-RATE TO CHARACTERISE VISCOELASTIC FLOWS",
"abstract": "In experimental studies involving flows of viscoelastic liquids it is customary to characterise the observed behaviour with a variable Deborah number, function of a typical shear-rate , instead of a naturally- . . defined fixed Deborah number, . Since this choice does not arise naturally from application of dimensional analysis to the governing equations, we seek a justification from analytical solutions for simpler flows. In this work we take a fully-developed duct flow for which an analytical solution is available, and by analysis we seek whether the solution can be expressed in terms of where is a characteristic shear . . rate in the flow. We find that the solution can indeed be expressed in terms of . . charact.",
"corpus_id": 55513727
} | {
"title": "On vortex development in viscoelastic expansion and contraction flows",
"abstract": "Abstract Vortex structure and formation are investigated for both expansion and contraction flows of viscoelastic fluids concentrating on a class of constitutive models due to Phan-Thien and Tanner. Expansion flows are treated in both two and three dimensions, and viscoelasticity is observed to suppress vortex activity. Two-dimensional contraction flows are analysed for highly elastic solutions. Different geometric aspect ratios, levels of inertia and elasticity are considered for these various flows and lip vortices are observed under certain circumstances.",
"corpus_id": 122200874
} | {
"title": "The Malaysian Food Barometer Open Database: An Invitation to Study the Modernization of Malaysian Food Patterns and Its Economic and Health Consequences",
"abstract": "Citation: Poulain J-P, Tibère L, Mognard E, Laporte C, Fournier T, Noor IM, Dasgupta A, Alem Y, Naidoo K, Dupuy A, Rochedy A, Nair PK and Ragavan NA (2022) The Malaysian Food Barometer Open Database: An Invitation to Study the Modernization of Malaysian Food Patterns and Its Economic and Health Consequences. Front. Nutr. 8:800317. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.800317 The Malaysian Food Barometer Open Database: An Invitation to Study the Modernization of Malaysian Food Patterns and Its Economic and Health Consequences",
"corpus_id": 246037283
} |
{
"title": "Minimal Realizations of Input–Output Behaviors by LPV State-Space Representations With Affine Dependence",
"abstract": "This letter makes the first steps towards a behavioral theory of LPV state-space representations with only affine dependence on the scheduling signal, by characterizing minimality of such state-space representations. We show that minimality is equivalent to observability, and that minimal realizations of the same behavior are isomorphic. Finally, we establish a formal relationship between minimality of LPV state-space representations with an affine dependence on the scheduling signal and minimality of LPV state-space representations with a dynamic and meromorphic dependence on the scheduling signal.",
"corpus_id": 258685485
} | {
"title": "Comparison of LPV and nonlinear system theory: A realization problem",
"abstract": "Abstract The paper explores the utilization of the nonlinear realization theory to address the problem of transforming linear parameter-varying input–output (LPV-IO) equations into a state-space form with static dependence on the so-called scheduling parameter. The necessary and sufficient solvability conditions are given, and three additional subclasses of LPV-IO equations are suggested that are guaranteed to have a realization of the considered type.",
"corpus_id": 5871051
} | {
"title": "On two problems about sobriety of topological spaces",
"abstract": "Abstract In this paper, we answer two problems concerning sobriety. One concerns the existence of a closed set lattice whose Scott space is non-sober. Another is about the reflectivity of a category of k-bounded sober spaces. We also prove some sufficient conditions for the Scott space of a dcpo to be k-bounded well-filtered.",
"corpus_id": 233552754
} |
{
"title": "Residents manage dynamic plant communities: Change over time in urban vegetation",
"abstract": "Introduction Integrated social and ecological processes shape urban plant communities, but the temporal dynamics and potential for change in these managed communities have rarely been explored. In residential yards, which cover about 40% of urban land area, individuals make decisions that control vegetation outcomes. These decisions may lead to relatively static plant composition and structure, as residents seek to expend little effort to maintain stable landscapes. Alternatively, residents may actively modify plant communities to meet their preferences or address perceived problems, or they may passively allow them to change. In this research, we ask, how and to what extent does residential yard vegetation change over time? Methods We conducted co-located ecological surveys of yards (in 2008, 2018, and 2019) and social surveys of residents (in 2018) in four diverse neighborhoods of Phoenix, Arizona. Results 94% of residents had made some changes to their front or back yards since moving in. On average, about 60% of woody vegetation per yard changed between 2008 and 2018, though the number of species present did not differ significantly. In comparison, about 30% of woody vegetation changed in native Sonoran Desert reference areas over 10 years. In yards, about 15% of woody vegetation changed on average in a single year, with up to 90% change in some yards. Greater turnover was observed for homes that were sold, indicating a “pulse” of management. Additionally, we observed greater vegetation turnover in the two older, lawn-dominated neighborhoods surveyed despite differences in neighborhood socioeconomic factors. Discussion These results indicate that residential plant communities are dynamic over time. Neighborhood age and other characteristics may be important drivers of change, while socioeconomic status neither promotes nor inhibits change at the neighborhood scale. Our findings highlight an opportunity for management interventions, wherein residents may be open to making conservation-friendly changes if they are already altering the composition of their yards.",
"corpus_id": 254764092
} | {
"title": "Evaluating the effects of turf-replacement programs in Los Angeles",
"abstract": "Abstract Water utilities incentivize turf replacement to promote water conservation, but the effects of such programs have received limited evaluations. In 2014, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) undertook an unprecedented investment to incentive turf replacement throughout Southern California in response to a serious Statewide drought. MWD devoted $350 million to the program, resulting in more than 46,000 rebate payments (25,000 in Los Angeles County) to remove 15.3 million square meters of turf. The program implementation provided a unique opportunity to address research gaps on turf replacement implementation. We analyzed socioeconomic and spatial trends of program participants and assessed landscape changes from turf replacement using a random sample of properties (4% of LA County participants in 2014–16). Specifically, we used a novel and cost-effective approach Google Earth Street View to characterize landscapes in front yards and created a typology of land cover types. Results showed: post-replacement landscapes had a diversity of land cover types – diverse yards with several land cover types, as well as more homogenous yards with a single land cover such as woodchips, bare soil, gravel, and artificial turf. Analysis also indicated some evidence of “neighborhood adoption” effects. We describe the need for longitudinal studies to understand long-term effects of turf replacement and associated water use, and suggest that water utilities should also evaluate results in backyards, which requires site visits. This study provides a novel contribution that can be replicated over space and time to further knowledge of turf replacement program implementations and evaluation.",
"corpus_id": 92212059
} | {
"title": "Development and validation of a morphological model for multiple sediment classes",
"abstract": "Abstract The complexity of sediment dynamics in aquatic systems can be better understood by applying numerical models. The development of a comprehensive morphological model is presented in this paper. The model aims to predict the sediment transport and bed evolution in natural systems composed of different sediment types. The morphological model was implemented in MOHID, a modelling system that solves the three-dimensional hydrodynamics and advection-diffusion transport of suspended sediments. Multiple sediment classes were taken into account (non-cohesive and cohesive) considering the effects of sediment mixtures and bed consolidation on resistance to erosion. To represent bottom stratigraphy, the bottom column can be divided into several layers. The key points of the simulated processes are discussed in this paper. Model results are assessed in six test cases through comparison with analytic solutions or experimental data. The outcomes demonstrate the model׳s capacity to simulate the transport dynamics of non-cohesive and cohesive sediments. The speed up of morphological changes by an acceleration factor permitted modelling bed evolution for long time periods. Moreover, a test case for the Tagus Estuary demonstrated the model׳s capacity for generating realistic sediment distribution based on the local hydrodynamic conditions. Limitations in the availability of bed composition data can be overcome by considering a warm-up run to provide realistic initial conditions for further predictions of morphological developments.",
"corpus_id": 135036213
} |
{
"title": "The democratic credentials of youth parliaments. The case of the Belgian Jeugd Parlement Jeunesse",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Youth parliaments have been conceived as means to reconnect young people with politics, give them a voice in public debates, and ultimately boost the legitimacy of parliaments as democratic institutions. However, to contribute to the overall quality of democracy, youth parliaments must also reflect certain democratic principles in their own organisation. This paper identifies five principles to assess the democratic credentials of youth parliaments: the quality of representation, quality of participation, openness of the agenda, meaningful impact, and enlightened understanding, and applies them to the Belgian Jeugd Parlement Jeunesse (JPJ). Our results show that the JPJ offers a safe space for open and respectful political discussion among youngsters, but faces difficulties in generating impact and guaranteeing representativeness among the participants. The latter limits the JPJ’s potential to close the widening gap between young people and politics.",
"corpus_id": 212915921
} | {
"title": "Generating Democratic Legitimacy through Deliberative Innovations: The Role of Embeddedness and Disruptiveness",
"abstract": "Democratic deliberation is claimed to improve the legitimacy of democratic decision making. However, deliberation’s beneficial effects do not come about easily. If deliberative innovations want to contribute to the legitimacy of political decision making, they have to reflect the principles of legitimacy in their own functioning. In this paper, we set out to assess the input and output legitimacy of four deliberative events, and determine which are the favourable conditions for their legitimacy. Based on a comparison of the British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly, the Belgian G1000, the Dutch Burgerforum, and the Irish We The Citizens, we argue that the institutional embeddedness of deliberative innovations strongly affect their claims to legitimacy, but also that their disruptive potential is unrelated to legitimacy.",
"corpus_id": 157523380
} | {
"title": "The Early Stage of COVID-19 Outbreak in Greece: A Review of the National Response and the Socioeconomic Impact",
"abstract": "Greece is a European-Union country, of around 10 million people, located in the southeast part of Europe. The economy is recovering from a long period of deep recession, due to the economic crisis that started in 2008. The economic problems greatly influenced the structure and resources of the healthcare system of the country. In addition to the economic challenges, the country has been facing a refugee crisis, characterized by many overcrowded hotspots and tensions with neighboring Turkey. The COVID-19 outbreak arrived in Greece on 26 February 2020, at the time that Athens had declared a state of emergency at the Greek/Turkish border. From this point in time the government enforced a series of measurements, aiming to contain the epidemic and avoid the collapse of the healthcare system. The vast majority of the general population complied to the measures and consequently Greece’s death toll was low. The impacts of the outbreak are expected to be, as everywhere worldwide, multifaceted and to affect many parts of the economic, social and political life of the country.",
"corpus_id": 230813370
} |
{
"title": "Timely Management of Simultaneous Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Near-Death Experience",
"abstract": "Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is a situation that rarely occurs. The patient can have various presentations, from dyspnoea and chest pain to significant respiratory failure. Although it causes lung collapse in nearly two thirds of cases, early diagnosis and treatment are of the utmost importance. Here, we present the case of an 18-year-old boy who presented with complaints of sudden onset respiratory distress. He was immediately put on mechanical ventilation. He was diagnosed with simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax on chest X-ray. He needed bilateral intra-thoracic drainage, following which a video-assisted thoracoscopy was done on the left side.",
"corpus_id": 256652287
} | {
"title": "Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax: a case report.",
"abstract": "A 21-year-old active duty Airman Basic presented to the Emergency Department with complaints of dyspnea that started 48 hours before admission. He was on his third day of antibiotics for presumed bronchitis. He denied any history of smoking. No history existed of thoracic trauma, scuba diving, or altitude exposure. His medical history was unremarkable. The family history revealed the death of his mother at the age of 33 from unknown lung complications. Physical examination showed the patient to be a tall, thin man. He was afebrile, mildly tachycardic, and normotensive. He was in no apparent distress with a respiratory rate of 16. His trachea was palpated in the midline, and examination of the chest revealed distant breath sounds on the right with mildly diminished sounds on the left. A chest x-ray was obtained in the Emergency Department that revealed complete pneumothorax on the right with a 10% to 15% pneumothorax on the left and no mediastinal shift. A 28 Fr chest tube was placed in the right fifth interspace with resolution of the right-sided pneumothorax, but persistent left-sided pneumothorax. A second 28 Fr chest tube was placed into the left chest. A computed tomography (CT) scan was obtained on hospital day number 2, which revealed a small right apical infiltrate and bilateral cylindrical bronchiectasis. No underlying emphysematous change or bullous disease was identified. The patient demonstrated no persistent air leaks after 48 hours, and he was taken for a right open thoracotomy and mechanical pleurodesis. Intraoperative findings were multiple filmy adhesions of the right upper, middle, and lower lobes to the parietal pleura with no significant blebs visualized. The right lower lobe contained a thin fibrinous peel that was released with decortication. Mechanical pleurodesis was performed using a Ray-Tec sponge.",
"corpus_id": 37499188
} | {
"title": "Bronchoscopic management of prolonged air leak.",
"abstract": "Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) with prolonged air leak (PAL) is most often, though not always, a sequela of lung resection. When this complication occurs post-operatively, it is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Surgical closure of the defect is considered the definitive approach to controlling the source of the leak, but many patients with this condition are suboptimal operative candidates. Therefore there has been active interest for decades in the development of effective endoscopic management options. Successful use of numerous bronchoscopic techniques has been reported in the literature largely in the form of retrospective series and, at best, small prospective trials. In general, these modalities fall into one of two broad categories: implantation of a device or administration of a chemical agent. Closure rates are high in published reports, but the studies are limited by their small size and multiple sources of bias. The endoscopic procedure currently undergoing the most systematic investigation is the placement of endobronchial valves. The aim of this review is to present a concise discussion on the subject of PAL and summarize the described bronchoscopic approaches to its management.",
"corpus_id": 32659247
} |
{
"title": "Deep Brain Stimulation Reduces Conflict-Related Theta and Error-Related Negativity in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.",
"abstract": "OBJECTIVES\nObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder with alterations of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops and impaired performance monitoring. Electrophysiological markers such as conflict-related medial frontal theta (MFT) and error-related negativity (ERN) may be altered by clinically effective deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior limb of the internal capsule and nucleus accumbens (ALIC/NAc). We hypothesized that ALIC/NAc DBS modulates electrophysiological performance monitoring markers.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nFifteen patients (six male) with otherwise treatment-refractory OCD receiving ALIC/NAc DBS performed a flanker task with EEG recordings at three sessions: presurgery, and at follow-up with DBS on and off. We examined MFT, ERN, and task performance. Furthermore, we investigated interrelations with clinical efficacy and the explored the influence of the location of individual stimulation volumes on EEG modulations.\n\n\nRESULTS\nMFT and ERN were significantly attenuated by DBS with differences most pronounced between presurgery and DBS-on states. Also, we observed reaction time slowing for erroneous responses during DBS-off. Larger presurgery ERN amplitudes were associated with decreased clinical efficacy. Exploratory anatomical analyses suggested that stimulation volumes encompassing the NAc were associated with MFT modulation, whereas ALIC stimulation was associated with modulation of the ERN and clinical efficacy.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nALIC/NAc DBS diminished MFT and ERN, demonstrating modulation of the medial frontal performance monitoring system in OCD. Furthermore, our findings encourage further studies to explore the ERN as a potential predictor for clinical efficacy.",
"corpus_id": 236156852
} | {
"title": "FastField: An open-source toolbox for efficient approximation of deep brain stimulation electric fields",
"abstract": "Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical therapy to alleviate symptoms of certain brain disorders by electrically modulating neural tissues. Computational models predicting electric fields and volumes of tissue activated are key for efficient parameter tuning and network analysis. Currently, we lack efficient and flexible software implementations supporting complex electrode geometries and stimulation settings. Available tools are either too slow (e.g. finite element method–FEM), or too simple, with limited applicability to basic use-cases. This paper introduces FastField, an efficient open-source toolbox for DBS electric field and VTA approximations. It computes scalable e-field approximations based on the principle of superposition, and VTA activation models from pulse width and axon diameter. In benchmarks and case studies, FastField is solved in about 0.2s, ~ 1000 times faster than using FEM. Moreover, it is almost as accurate as using FEM: average Dice overlap of 92%, which is around typical noise levels found in clinical data. Hence, FastField has the potential to foster efficient optimization studies and to support clinical applications.",
"corpus_id": 214724948
} | {
"title": "Left Prefrontal Connectivity Links Subthalamic Stimulation with Depressive Symptoms",
"abstract": "Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN‐DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) not only stimulates focal target structures but also affects distributed brain networks. The impact this network modulation has on non‐motor DBS effects is not well‐characterized. By focusing on the affective domain, we systematically investigate the impact of electrode placement and associated structural connectivity on changes in depressive symptoms following STN‐DBS, which have been reported to improve, worsen, or remain unchanged.",
"corpus_id": 214770086
} |
{
"title": "Bayesian model comparison in gravitational wave data analysis",
"abstract": "We estimate the probability of detecting a gravitational wave signal from coalescing compact binaries in simulated data from a ground-based interferometer detector of gravitational radiation using Bayesian model selection. The simulated waveform of the chirp signal is assumed to be a spin-less Post-Newtonian (PN) waveform of a given expansion order, while the searching template is taken to be either of the same PN family as the simulated signal or one level below its PN expansion order. Within the Bayesian framework we estimate the detection probabilities and the statistical uncertainties due to noise as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the posterior distributions of the parameters characterizing the chirp signal. Our analysis indicates that the detection probabilities are not compromised when simplified models are used, while the accuracies in the determination of the parameters can be significantly worsened.",
"corpus_id": 120551453
} | {
"title": "Use and abuse of the Fisher information matrix in the assessment of gravitational-wave parameter-estimation prospects",
"abstract": "The Fishermatrix formalism is used routinely in the literature on gravitational-wave detection to characterize the parameter-estimation performance of gravitational-wave measurements, given parametrized models of the waveforms, and assuming detector noise of known colored Gaussian distribution. Unfortunately, the Fisher matrix can be a poor predictor of the amount of information obtained from typical observations, especially for waveforms with several parameters and relatively low expected signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), or for waveforms depending weakly on one or more parameters, when their priors are not taken into proper consideration. In this paper I discuss these pitfalls; show how they occur, even for relatively strong signals, with a commonly used template family for binary-inspiral waveforms; and describe practical recipes to recognize them and cope with them. Specifically, I answer the following questions: (i) What is the significance of (quasi-)singular Fisher matrices, and how must we deal with them? (ii) When is it necessary to take into account prior probability distributions for the source parameters? (iii) When is the signal-to-noise ratio high enough to believe the Fisher-matrix result? In addition, I provide general expressions for the higher-order, beyond-Fisher-matrix terms in the 1/SNR expansions for the expected parameter accuracies.",
"corpus_id": 23100
} | {
"title": "Alternative perspective on the control of transpiration by radiation",
"abstract": "Stomatal responses to light are important determinants for plant water use efficiency and for general circulation models, but a mechanistic understanding of these responses remains elusive. A recent study [Pieruschka R, Huber G, Berry JA (2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:13372–13377] concluded that stomata respond to total absorbed radiation rather than red and blue light as previously thought. We tested this idea by reexamining stomatal responses to red and blue light and to IR radiation. We show that responses to red and blue light are not consistent with a response to total absorbed radiation and that apparent stomatal responses to IR radiation are explainable as experimental artifacts. In addition, our data and analysis provide a method for accurately determining the internal temperature of a leaf.",
"corpus_id": 3046266
} |
{
"title": "Scintillation properties and mechanism in Lu0.8Y0.2AlO3:Ce",
"abstract": "Abstract In this paper we present results of light yield, light pulse shape and low-temperature thermoluminescence (ltTL) measurements of Lu 0.8 Y 0.2 AlO 3 :Ce (0.4 and 0.55%) crystals. The light output was measured as between 1510±50 and 2190±70 phe/MeV and energy resolution at 662 keV ranged over 10–21% FWHM. Light pulse shapes consisted of two decay components, 20.0±1 ns (65%) and about 160 ns (35%). Performed ltTL measurements revealed three major peaks at 109, 160 and 195 K. A correlation between 109 and 160 K peaks and low light yield was observed.",
"corpus_id": 122189865
} | {
"title": "Comparative study of light yield non-proportionality and energy resolution properties of Ce-doped LaBr3 and LuYAP scintillator crystals",
"abstract": "Abstract The purpose of this work is to compare the light yield non-proportionality and energy resolution of Ce-doped LaBr3 (LaBr3:Ce) and Lu0.7Y0.3AlO3 (LuYAP:Ce) scintillator crystals at the energy range from 356 keV to 1,332 keV. The result showed that the LaBr3:Ce detector has an energy resolution of 4.0% that is better than that of 8.3% for LuYAP:Ce at the gamma ray energy 662 keV (137Cs source). Moreover, the LaBr3:Ce and LuYAP:Ce scintillators have intrinsic resolution of 2.2% and 5.4%, respectively at the gamma ray energy 662 keV. However, the energy resolution of LaBr3:Ce depends on the characteristic of LaBr3:Ce and the type of PMT. From LuYAP:Ce it was found that the energy resolution depended on the characteristic of LuYAP:Ce and the type of PMT at high energy. But in low energy, the energy resolution depends on the characteristic of LuYAP:Ce only. Both crystals showed the trend of energy resolution, intrinsic resolution and statistical resolution are linear function with 1 / E . . At the gamma – ray energy 662 keV (137Cs source) the LaBr3:Ce showed the light yield of 46,381 ph/MeV, which is higher than that of 12,934 ph/MeV obtained from LuYAP:Ce. The light yield non-proportionality of the LaBr3:Ce and LuYAP:Ce scintillator was measured at the energy range from 356 keV to 1,332 keV. The results showed the non-proportionality within 1% of both crystals. It can be concluded that the LaBr3:Ce and LuYAP:Ce have good proportionality at this energy range.",
"corpus_id": 126327762
} | {
"title": "Cerium-bound excitions and fluorescence quenching effects in cerium doped LaLuO3 single crystals",
"abstract": "Abstract A new cerium-doped crystal has been grown and its fluorescence properties have been investigated through laser and synchrotron spectroscopies. While the crystal exhibits an efficient blue fluorescence when excited in the near UV absorption bands, its fluorescence is strongly quenched when excited in the fundamental absorption regions. This phenomenon is interpreted by a model involving the formation of cerium-bound excitons, their lowest excited state lying closely in energy from the emitting state of Ce3+. The role played by the 4f level of lutetium in the scintillation efficiency of cerium-doped lutetium-based oxide crystals is discussed through the comparison of both systems LaLuO3 : Ce and LuAlO3 : Ce.",
"corpus_id": 97863453
} |
{
"title": "Alleviation of arthritis through prevention of neutrophil extracellular traps by an orally available inhibitor of protein arginine deiminase 4",
"abstract": "Protein arginine deiminases (PAD) 4 is an enzyme that catalyzes citrullination of protein and its role in autoimmune diseases has been established through clinical genetics and gene knock out studies in mice. Further, studies with PAD4 – deficient mice have shown that PAD4 deficiency does not lead to increased infection or immune suppression, which makes PAD4 an attractive therapeutic target for auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. PAD4 has critical enzymatic role of promoting chromatin decondensation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation that is associated with a number of immune-mediated pathological conditions. Here, we present a non-covalent PAD4 inhibitor JBI-589 with high PAD4 isoform selectivity and delineated its binding mode at 2.88 Å resolution by X-ray crystallography. We confirmed its effectiveness in inhibiting NET formation in vitro. Additionally, by using two mouse arthritis models for human rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the well-known disease associated with PAD4 clinically, we established its efficacy in vivo. These results suggest that JBI-589 would be beneficial for both PAD4 and NET-associated pathological conditions.",
"corpus_id": 257106756
} | {
"title": "The virtues and vices of protein citrullination",
"abstract": "The post-translational modification of proteins expands the regulatory scope of the proteome far beyond what is achievable through genome regulation. The field of protein citrullination has seen significant progress in the last two decades. The small family of peptidylarginine deiminase (PADI or PAD) enzymes, which catalyse citrullination, have been implicated in virtually all facets of molecular and cell biology, from gene transcription and epigenetics to cell signalling and metabolism. We have learned about their association with a remarkable array of disease states and we are beginning to understand how they mediate normal physiological functions. However, while the biochemistry of PADI activation has been worked out in exquisite detail in vitro, we still lack a clear mechanistic understanding of the processes that regulate PADIs within cells, under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge, highlights some of the unanswered questions of immediate importance and gives a perspective on the outlook of the citrullination field.",
"corpus_id": 249435767
} | {
"title": "PD-1 suppresses TCR-CD8 cooperativity during T-cell antigen recognition",
"abstract": "Despite the clinical success of blocking its interactions, how PD-1 inhibits T-cell activation is incompletely understood, as exemplified by its potency far exceeding what might be predicted from its affinity for PD-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1). This may be partially attributed to PD-1’s targeting the proximal signaling of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and co-stimulatory receptor CD28 via activating Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatases (SHPs). Here, we report PD-1 signaling regulates the initial TCR antigen recognition manifested in a smaller spreading area, fewer molecular bonds formed, and shorter bond lifetime of T cell interaction with peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) in the presence than absence of PD-L1 in a manner dependent on SHPs and Leukocyte C-terminal Src kinase. Our results identify a PD-1 inhibitory mechanism that disrupts the cooperative TCR–pMHC–CD8 trimolecular interaction, which prevents CD8 from augmenting antigen recognition, explaining PD-1’s potent inhibitory function and its value as a target for clinical intervention. The mechanistic detail of how PD-1 inhibits T cell activation is lacking. Here, the authors show PD-1 suppresses the cooperative TCR–pMHC–CD8 interaction by inhibiting TCR proximal signalling.",
"corpus_id": 234484584
} |
{
"title": "Genetic bioaugmentation with triclocarban-catabolic plasmid effectively removes triclocarban from wastewater.",
"abstract": "Triclocarban, one of the emerging pollutants, has been accumulating, and it is frequently detected in wastewater. Due to its toxicity and persistence, the efficient removal of triclocarban from wastewater systems is challenging. Genetic bioaugmentation with transferable catabolic plasmids has been considered to be a long-lasting method to clean up pollutants in continuous flow wastewater treatment systems. In this study, bioaugmentation with Pseudomonas putida KT2440, harboring the transferrable triclocarban-catabolic plasmid pDCA-1-gfp-tccA2, rapidly converted 50 μM triclocarban in wastewater into 3,4-dichloroaniline and 4-chloroaniline, which are further mineralized more easily. RT-qPCR results showed that the ratio of the copy number of pDCA-1-gfp-tccA2 to the cell number of strain KT2440 gradually increased during genetic bioaugmentation, suggesting horizontal transfer and proliferation of the plasmid. By using DNA stable isotope probing (SIP) and amplicon sequencing, OTU86 (Escherichia-Shigella), OTU155 (Citrobacter), OTU5 (Brucella), and OTU15 (Enterobacteriaceae) were found to be the potential recipients of the plasmid pDCA-1-gfp-tccA2 in the wastewater bacterial community. Furthermore, three transconjugants in the genera of Escherichia, Citrobacter, and Brucella showing triclocarban-degrading abilities were isolated from the wastewater. This study develops a new method for removing triclocarban from wastewater and provides insights into the environmental behavior of transferrable catabolic plasmids in bacterial community in wastewater systems.",
"corpus_id": 250719219
} | {
"title": "A two-component monooxygenase for continuous denitration and dechlorination of chlorinated 4-nitrophenol in Ensifer sp. strain 22-1.",
"abstract": "The environmental fates of chlorinated 4-nitrophenols, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (2,6-DCNP) and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol (2C4NP), mediated via microbial catabolism have attracted great attention due to their high toxicity and persistence in the environment. In this study, a strain of Ensifer sp. 22-1 that was capable of degrading both 2,6-DCNP and 2C4NP was isolated from a halogenated aromatic-contaminated soil sample. A gene cluster cnpBADCERM was predicted to be involved in the catabolism of 2,6-DCNP and 2C4NP based on genome sequence analysis. A two-component monooxygenase CnpAB, composed of an oxygenase component (CnpA) and a reductase component (CnpB), was confirmed to catalyze the continuous denitration and dechlorination of 2,6-DCNP and 2C4NP to 6-chlorohydroxyquinol (6-CHQ) and hydroxyquinol (HQ), respectively. Knockout of cnpA resulted in the complete loss of the capacity for strain 22-1 to degrade 2,6-DCNP and 2C4NP. Homologous modeling and docking showed that Val155∼Ala159, Phe206∼Pro209 and Phe446∼Arg461 of CnpA participated in the formation of the FAD-binding pocket, and Arg101, Val155 and Asn447 formed hydrogen bonds with 2,6-DCNP/2C4NP in the substrate-binding pocket. This work characterized a new two-component monooxygenase for 2,6-DCNP and 2C4NP, and enriched our understanding of the degradation mechanism of chlorinated nitrophenols (CNPs) by microorganisms.",
"corpus_id": 234360990
} | {
"title": "Silicon Naphthalocyanine Tetraimides: Cathode Interlayer Materials for Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells.",
"abstract": "Naphthalocyanine derivatives (SiNcTI-N and SiNcTI-Br) were firstly used as excellent cathode interlayer materials (CIMs) in organic solar cells, via introducing four electron-withdrawing imide groups and two hydrophilic alkyls . Both of them showed deep LUMO energy levels (below -3.90 eV), good thermal stability (T d > 210 °C), and strong self-doping property. The SiNcTI-Br CIM displayed high conductivity (4.5 × 10 -5 S cm -1 ) and electron mobility (7.81 × 10 -5 cm 2 V -1 s -1 ), which could boost the efficiencies of the PM6:Y6-based OSCs over a wide range of CIM layer thicknesses (4 - 25 nm), with maximum efficiency of 16.71%.",
"corpus_id": 235609953
} |
{
"title": "In-process optical monitoring of contamination in an additively manufactured titanium alloy",
"abstract": "In-process optical monitoring has led to impressive enhancements in the quality control of metallic parts made by wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Identification of material defects during a WAAM process gives an opportunity to reduce post-process inspection, to pause the deposition to address the defect problem or terminate the process to save resources. This is of importance in the aerospace sector, where inferior quality components can have significant cost penalties. Many process factors, including deposition parameters, WAAM equipment, feedstock, the surrounding atmosphere and contaminants can all contribute to create a defect in the component. The contaminants can be introduced as organics (oils / grease) or inorganic elements coming from the deposition atmosphere, the WAAM system itself or the feedstock material. Contamination by tungsten (originating in the plasma torch electrode) is a particular concern as its melting point, 3422C, is much higher than that of titanium alloy (1674C for Ti-6Al-4V)[1]. Within the WAAM melt pool, a solidified drop of tungsten can remain dissolved which could result in a defect in the final part under tensile loading. Here, we demonstrate the development of an optical emission spectroscopy system to identify tungsten as a contaminant. Spectra were obtained from the plasma during the process using a spectrometer with an integration time of 110ms. Data analysis was undertaken to average over longer timescales, and unambiguously identify the emission lines of contaminating tungsten.",
"corpus_id": 259017433
} | {
"title": "Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing",
"abstract": "Depositing large components (>10 kg) in titanium, aluminium, steel and other metals is possible using Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing. This technology adopts arc welding tools and wire as feedstock for additive manufacturing purposes. High deposition rates, low material and equipment costs, and good structural integrity make Wire+Arc Additive Manufacturing a suitable candidate for replacing the current method of manufacturing from solid billets or large forgings, especially with regards to low and medium complexity parts. A variety of components have been successfully manufactured with this process, including Ti–6Al–4V spars and landing gear assemblies, aluminium wing ribs, steel wind tunnel models and cones. Strategies on how to manage residual stress, improve mechanical properties and eliminate defects such as porosity are suggested. Finally, the benefits of non-destructive testing, online monitoring and in situ machining are discussed.",
"corpus_id": 53705668
} | {
"title": "Controllably Engineering Mesoporous Surface and Dimensionality of SnO2 toward High‐Performance CO2 Electroreduction",
"abstract": "Currently, the precise control of the architecture and surface of functional materials for high‐performance still remains a great challenge. Here, a feasible approach is presented to synchronously manipulate mesoporous surface and dimensionality of SnO2 catalysts into hierarchically mesoporous nanosheets and nanospheres within one simple reaction system. By adjustment of the hydrophobic chain length of different fluorinated surfactants, 0D SnO2 nanospheres with average size of 165 nm, and 2D SnO2 ulthrathin nanosheets with thickness of 22.5 nm with the distinct dimensionalities are separately obtained (one stone, two birds), both of which are well decorated with ordered mesopore arrays on their surfaces (pore size of 16 nm). The following calcination gave rise to the formation of hierarchically mesopores (5 and 16 nm, respectively) with high crystallization and improved surface area (96.8 m2 g−1). The resultant mesoporous SnO2 nanosheets as catalyst for CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2 RR) exhibit excellent selectivity, with a high Faraday efficiency (FE) of HCOOH reaching up to 90.0% at −1.3 V and C1 FE of 97.4% at −1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, as well as long‐term stability, which is among the best performance compared to reported SnO2 materials, thanks to the collective contributions of the unique architecture and mesoporous structure.",
"corpus_id": 225506851
} |
{
"title": "Addressing nurses' prolonged grief due to the COVID-19 pandemic",
"abstract": "Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in physical and emotional tolls on healthcare workers and caregivers, which have caused prolonged grief disorder and persistent complex bereavement disorder. Highlighting key learnings from healthcare workers' experiences during the pandemic, this article outlines self-care strategies to help nurses better prepare for future healthcare emergencies. Highlighting key learnings from healthcare workers' experiences during the pandemic, this article outlines self-care strategies to help nurses address prolonged grief disorder and persistent complex bereavement disorder and better prepare for future healthcare emergencies.",
"corpus_id": 255126390
} | {
"title": "Code Lavender: Designing Healthcare Spaces to Enhance Caregiver Wellness",
"abstract": "The Year of the Nurse and COVID-19 will go down in history as being one of the most taxing times on our healthcare system and healthcare workers. No one could have predicted the ripple effect of the pandemic on medical equipment, personal protective equipment, caregiver demand, patient isolation, and clinician burnout. While caregiver wellness has been a subject discussed by healthcare designers in the past, it warrants a fresh discussion and a review of the current practices in healthcare organizations.",
"corpus_id": 231944290
} | {
"title": "FGF23 and its role in X-linked hypophosphatemia-related morbidity",
"abstract": "BackgroundX-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is an inherited disease of phosphate metabolism in which inactivating mutations of the Phosphate Regulating Endopeptidase Homolog, X-Linked (PHEX) gene lead to local and systemic effects including impaired growth, rickets, osteomalacia, bone abnormalities, bone pain, spontaneous dental abscesses, hearing difficulties, enthesopathy, osteoarthritis, and muscular dysfunction. Patients with XLH present with elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), which is thought to mediate many of the aforementioned manifestations of the disease. Elevated FGF23 has also been observed in many other diseases of hypophosphatemia, and a range of animal models have been developed to study these diseases, yet the role of FGF23 in the pathophysiology of XLH is incompletely understood.MethodsThe role of FGF23 in the pathophysiology of XLH is here reviewed by describing what is known about phenotypes associated with various PHEX mutations, animal models of XLH, and non-nutritional diseases of hypophosphatemia, and by presenting molecular pathways that have been proposed to contribute to manifestations of XLH.ResultsThe pathophysiology of XLH is complex, involving a range of molecular pathways that variously contribute to different manifestations of the disease. Hypophosphatemia due to elevated FGF23 is the most obvious contributor, however localised fluctuations in tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), pyrophosphate, calcitriol and direct effects of FGF23 have been observed to be associated with certain manifestations.ConclusionsBy describing what is known about these pathways, this review highlights key areas for future research that would contribute to the understanding and clinical treatment of non-nutritional diseases of hypophosphatemia, particularly XLH.",
"corpus_id": 73469904
} |
{
"title": "Quantum Big Bounce of the isotropic Universe via a relational time",
"abstract": "We analyze the canonical quantum dynamics of the isotropic Universe in a metric approach by adopting a self-interacting scalar field as relational time. When the potential term is absent we are able to associate the the expanding and collapsing dynamics of the Universe with the positive and negative frequency modes that emerge in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. On the other side, when the potential term is present a non-zero transition amplitude from positive to negative frequency states arises, as in the standard relativistic scattering theory below the particle creation threshold. In particular, we are able to compute the transition probability for an expanding Universe that emerges from a collapsing regime both in the standard quantization procedure and in the polymer formulation. The probability distribution results similar in the two cases and its maximum takes place when the mean values of the momentum essentially coincide in the in-going and out-going wave packets, as it would take place in a semiclassical Big Bounce dynamics.",
"corpus_id": 255942774
} | {
"title": "Modelling Quintessential Inflation in Palatini-Modified Gravity",
"abstract": "We study a model of quintessential inflation constructed in R2-modified gravity with a non-minimally coupled scalar field, in the Palatini formalism. Our non-minimal inflaton field is characterised by a simple exponential potential. We find that successful quintessential inflation can be achieved with no fine-tuning of the model parameters. Predictions of the characteristics of dark energy will be tested by observations in the near future, while contrasting with existing observations provides insights on the modified gravity background, such as the value of the non-minimal coupling and its running.",
"corpus_id": 247362623
} | {
"title": "Clocks and Trajectories in Quantum Cosmology",
"abstract": "We consider a simple cosmological model consisting of an empty Bianchi I Universe, whose Hamiltonian we deparametrise to provide a natural clock variable. The model thus effectively describes an isotropic universe with an induced clock given by the shear. By quantising this model, we obtain various different possible bouncing trajectories (semiquantum expectation values on coherent states or obtained by the de Broglie–Bohm formulation) and explicit their clock dependence, specifically emphasising the question of symmetry across the bounce.",
"corpus_id": 246240280
} |
{
"title": "Relationship between expression of topoisomerase II isoforms and intrinsic sensitivity to topoisomerase II inhibitors in breast cancer cell lines.",
"abstract": "Topoisomerase II is a key target for many anti-cancer drugs used to treat breast cancer. In human cells there are two closely related, but differentially expressed, topoisomerase II isoforms, designated topoisomerase II alpha and beta. Here, we report the production of a new polyclonal antibody raised against a fragment of the C-terminal domain of the 180 kDa form of topoisomerase II (the beta isoform), which does not cross-react with the 170 kDa form (the alpha isoform). Using this antibody, together with a polyclonal antibody specific for the 170 kDa isoform of topoisomerase II, we have examined the relationship between the sensitivity of a panel of human breast cancer cell lines to different classes of topoisomerase II inhibitors and cellular levels of the topoisomerase II alpha and beta proteins. We found that sensitivity to amsacrine showed a correlation with the level of expression of topoisomerase II alpha protein, and that sensitivity to etoposide showed a similar correlation with the level of expression of topoisomerase II beta protein. There was also a relationship between sensitivity of these cell lines to mitoxantrone and the cellular level of both isoforms of topoisomerase II. No relationship was found between the level of mRNA for topoisomerase II alpha or beta, and either sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to topoisomerase II inhibitors or the level of topoisomerase II protein expression.",
"corpus_id": 18812685
} | {
"title": "Systematic polypharmacology and drug repurposing via an integrated L1000-based Connectivity Map database mining",
"abstract": "Drug repurposing aims to find novel indications of clinically used or experimental drugs. Because drug data already exist, drug repurposing may save time and cost, and bypass safety concerns. Polypharmacology, one drug with multiple targets, serves as a basis for drug repurposing. Large-scale databases have been accumulated in recent years, and utilization and integration of these databases would be highly helpful for polypharmacology and drug repurposing. The Connectivity Map (CMap) is a database collecting gene-expression profiles of drug-treated human cancer cells, which has been widely used for investigation of polypharmacology and drug repurposing. In this study, we integrated the next-generation L1000-based CMap and an analytic Web tool, the L1000FWD, for systematic analyses of polypharmacology and drug repurposing. Two different types of anti-cancer drugs were used as proof-of-concept examples, including histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and topoisomerase inhibitors. We identified KM-00927 and BRD-K75081836 as novel HDAC inhibitors and mitomycin C as a topoisomerase IIB inhibitor. Our study provides a prime example of utilization and integration of the freely available public resources for systematic polypharmacology analysis and drug repurposing.",
"corpus_id": 56174125
} | {
"title": "Crystal chemistry of CuBa2Can−1CunOy( n = 4, 5, 6) superconductors",
"abstract": "Abstract The crystal structures of Cu-based superconductors CuxBa2Can−1CunOy and (Cu,C)Ba2Can−1CunOy with n = 4, 5, 6 have been investigated using intensity data collected on the single-crystal X-ray four-circle diffractometer. The Cu-site occupancy x in the deficient Cu(1)O2 sheet between two BaO layers increases from 0.62 to 0.73 accompanied by a decrease in the c-axis length in CuxBa2Ca3Cu4Oy. The thickness of the charge reservoir-layer block decreases with decreasing c-axis length from 8.421(4) A for c = 18.0016(39) A to 8.373(3) A for c= 17.9434(8) A in CuBa2Ca3Cu4Oy, and from 8.405(2) A for c = 21.1546(14) A to 8.34(1) A for c = 21.0784(15) A in CuBa2Ca4Cu5Oy, respectively, while the thickness of the superconducting-layer block unchanged in both series. From the results of the structure refinement and chemical analysis, we propose a general formula (CuxC1−x−δ)Ba2Can−1CunOy for these nonstoichiometric compounds, not only for the CuxBa2Can−1CunOy series but also for the carbonate-containing (Cu,C)Ba2Can−1CunOy compounds, where δ equals the vacancy content in the defect site.",
"corpus_id": 95935484
} |
{
"title": "Acceptability of short message service (SMS) as a tool for malaria treatment adherence in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Background: Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide, and patient adherence to prescribed antimalarials is essential for effective treatment. Methods: This cross-sectional study, with in-depth telephone interviews, analyzed participants’ perceptions of short message service (SMS) in adherence to treatment. Results: Five thematic categories emerged: decreased forgetfulness, the novelty of the tool, easy-to-understand language, the impact of SMS messages during treatment, and suggestions for improvement and complaints. Conclusions: SMS could assist patients in adhering to prescribed antimalarials.",
"corpus_id": 258860276
} | {
"title": "Attempting rigour and replicability in thematic analysis of qualitative research data; a case study of codebook development",
"abstract": "BackgroundNavigating the world of qualitative thematic analysis can be challenging. This is compounded by the fact that detailed descriptions of methods are often omitted from qualitative discussions. While qualitative research methodologies are now mature, there often remains a lack of fine detail in their description both at submitted peer reviewed article level and in textbooks. As one of research’s aims is to determine the relationship between knowledge and practice through the demonstration of rigour, more detailed descriptions of methods could prove useful. Rigour in quantitative research is often determined through detailed explanation allowing replication, but the ability to replicate is often not considered appropriate in qualitative research. However, a well described qualitative methodology could demonstrate and ensure the same effect.MethodsThis article details the codebook development which contributed to thematic analysis of qualitative data. This analysis formed part of a mixed methods multiphase design research project, with both qualitative and quantitative inquiry and involving the convergence of data and analyses. This design consisted of three distinct phases: quantitative, qualitative and implementation phases.Results and conclusionsThis article is aimed at researchers and doctoral students new to thematic analysis by describing a framework to assist their processes. The detailed description of the methods used supports attempts to utilise the thematic analysis process and to determine rigour to support the establishment of credibility. This process will assist practitioners to be confident that the knowledge and claims contained within research are transferable to their practice. The approach described within this article builds on, and enhances, current accepted models.",
"corpus_id": 85565073
} | {
"title": "Plasmodium vivax Relapse Rates Following Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Reflect Previous Transmission Intensity",
"abstract": "Abstract From 2003 through 2009, 687 of 2885 patients (23.8%) treated for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in clinical studies in Myanmar or on the Thailand-Myanmar border had recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria within 63 days, compared with 18 of 429 patients (4.2%) from 2010 onward (risk ratio [RR], 0.176; 95% confidence interval, .112–.278; P < .0001). Corresponding data from 42 days of follow-up revealed that 820 of 3883 patients (21.1%) had recurrent P. vivax malaria before 2010, compared with 22 of 886 (2.5%) from 2010 onward (RR, 0.117; 95% CI, .077–.177; P < .0001). This 6-fold reduction suggests a recent decline in P. vivax transmission intensity and, thus, a substantial reduction in the proportion of individuals harboring hypnozoites.",
"corpus_id": 59412431
} |
{
"title": "Do you want to retain your relevant knowledge? The role of contextual factors in the banking sector",
"abstract": "Purpose\nRetaining critical knowledge is relevant for all organizations, knowledge-intensive ones in particular. Failure to do so can, in the worst case, lead to an organization being unable to act. Acknowledging the role of context in this regard, the purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge retention (KR) in the banking sector of a developing country. A particular focus is placed on exploring various contextual factors that influence the retention of critical knowledge taking into consideration the setting.\n\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nFollowing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers from private and public banks in Pakistan. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.\n\n\nFindings\nThe findings suggest that the existence of a collectivist society, gender differences, few job opportunities, power distance and the late IT Boom are vital factors to be considered regarding KR in the setting studied. The findings are summarized in a conceptual framework that highlights critical factors of KR to be studied in a broader context and which are viewed as relevant for informing future research in this underdeveloped area of knowledge management (KM).\n\n\nResearch limitations/implications\nThe data were collected from a small number of individuals working in different banks in only one country. Future studies should consider research designs across multiple organizations involving more people representing different roles, functions and age groups.\n\n\nOriginality/value\nExisting KM research has emphasized the role of context while research on KR is underdeveloped in this regard. By exploring different contextual factors this study advances current understanding in the KM domain.",
"corpus_id": 256979256
} | {
"title": "Improving knowledge retention in the cross-border mergers of the telecommunications industry of Lesotho",
"abstract": "This article has been extracted from the larger PhD study which sought to investigate how knowledge retention (KR) may be improved in the context of cross-border mergers of the telecommunication industry of Lesotho. This is a quantitative case study research that triangulated interviews and questionnaires as instruments of data collection. The results for the study indicated that although there were no formal policies in place that guided the retention of knowledge, somehow knowledge was retained during the merger process. On the other hand, a considerable amount of valuable knowledge may have been lost because employees who either left the organisation during the process or those who were apparently forced to resign just left the organisation with no proper KR arrangement. The findings of the study also showed that the Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) merger was accompanied by a high staff turnover resulting from both forced and voluntary resignations.",
"corpus_id": 249971265
} | {
"title": "Effects of political networking capability and strategic capability on exploratory and exploitative innovation: evidence from traditional manufacturing firms in China",
"abstract": "PurposeThis study examines the effect of political networking capability (PNC) and strategic capability on exploratory innovation/exploitative innovation through the mediation of absorptive capability (AC).Design/methodology/approachUsing empirical survey data collected from 153 traditional manufacturing firms (TMFs) in China, the authors apply partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) combined with mediation analyses to test hypotheses.FindingsPNC has a higher impact on exploratory innovation than exploitative innovation through AC. The authors thus provide novel empirical insights into independent variables of firms' ambidextrous innovation and their implementation mechanisms.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors highlight a unique situation of China and contribute to the literature on PNC and AC. The findings demonstrate that AC plays an important role in configuring government-obtained external resources into new products, thus influencing ambidextrous innovation strategic decisions.Practical implicationsTMFs' executives should enhance PNC to obtain more resources to conduct exploratory and exploitative innovation. Government officials and policymakers should strengthen the supervision of TMFs' innovation activities and adopt effective measures to ensure that TMFs could conduct more exploratory innovation as governments expected.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights by bridging research gaps in the literature and advances the insights of how TMFs' PNC/strategic capability directly and indirectly fosters exploratory and exploitative innovation via the mediating role of AC in China.",
"corpus_id": 245919817
} |
{
"title": "Beyond ingredients: Supramolecular structure of lipid droplets in infant formula affects metabolic and brain function in mouse models",
"abstract": "Human milk beneficially affects infant growth and brain development. The supramolecular structure of lipid globules in human milk i.e., large lipid globules covered by the milk fat globule membrane, is believed to contribute to this effect, in addition to the supply of functional ingredients. Three preclinical (mouse) experiments were performed to study the effects of infant formula mimicking the supramolecular structure of human milk lipid globules on brain and metabolic health outcomes. From postnatal day 16 to 42, mouse offspring were exposed to a diet containing infant formula with large, phospholipid-coated lipid droplets (structure, STR) or infant formula with the same ingredients but lacking the unique structural properties as observed in human milk (ingredient, ING). Subsequently, in Study 1, the fatty acid composition in liver and brain membranes was measured, and expression of hippocampal molecular markers were analyzed. In Study 2 and 3 adult (Western style diet-induced) body fat accumulation and cognitive function were evaluated. Animals exposed to STR compared to ING showed improved omega-3 fatty acid accumulation in liver and brain, and higher expression of brain myelin-associated glycoprotein. Early exposure to STR reduced fat mass accumulation in adulthood; the effect was more pronounced in animals exposed to a Western style diet. Additionally, mice exposed to STR demonstrated better memory performance later in life. In conclusion, early life exposure to infant formula containing large, phospholipid-coated lipid droplets, closer to the supramolecular structure of lipid globules in human milk, positively affects adult brain and metabolic health outcomes in pre-clinical animal models.",
"corpus_id": 257221376
} | {
"title": "The relationship between breastfeeding and motor development in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.",
"abstract": "CONTEXT\nThe importance and benefits of breastfeeding in children are well recognized, and it may improve motor development. Motor skills are fundamental to childhood development. Although some studies report a positive association between breastfeeding and motor development in children, others have suggested that these differences could be influenced by confounding variables.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nTo estimate the degree to which breastfeeding duration and exclusivity is associated with motor development in children. Thus, a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis was conducted.\n\n\nDATA SOURCES\nMEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception to June 2021.\n\n\nDATA EXTRACTION\nThe most adjusted relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) reported by included studies were used. The \"breastfeeding duration\" category defined by each study was used as the reference category. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed based on the duration of breastfeeding.\n\n\nDATA ANALYSIS\nEighteen published studies were included in the systematic review and 14 studies in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the effect size (ES) for exclusively breastfed vs never breastfed children was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.41, I2 = 90.3%), and the ES for children breastfed for any length vs never breastfed children was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.10, I2 = 88.0%). The remaining groups studied did not show significant differences in outcomes.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nAlthough our data suggest that breastfeeding may improve motor development in children, more studies are needed because publication bias has been detected. Nevertheless, our results support the promotion of breastfeeding.",
"corpus_id": 247679228
} | {
"title": "Causative agents of urinary tract infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns at a referral center in Western India: An audit to help clinicians prevent antibiotic misuse",
"abstract": "Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain one of the most common infections in community and susceptibility of uropathogens to commonly used antimicrobials has declined over years. It is important to periodically study susceptibility patterns of uropathogens, so that empiric treatment can be determined using recent data, helping improve patient outcomes. Methods: Urine samples received by the laboratory for culture and susceptibility testing over a period of 3 months were analyzed and included in this study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on cultured isolates. Results: Of total 3,151 urine samples received, 3,066 were processed, and organisms were isolated from 1,401 (45.69%) samples. Isolation rate from male and female urine samples was 45.29% and 46.32%, respectively. The most commonly isolated organism was Escherichia coli (36.11%), followed by Candida spp. (18.56%), and Klebsiella spp. (18.06%). E. coli was most susceptible to meropenem (91.89%) and imipenem (91.69%). Klebsiella spp. was most susceptible to imipenem(75.89%) and meropenem(75.49%). Susceptibility of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. to nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin was 72.33%, 32.02%, and 18.97%, and 51.77%, 27.27%, and 22.13%, respectively. Candida spp. was most susceptible to amphotericin B (97.30%). Conclusion: Treatment for UTIs should be determined based on current local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogens to minimise therapeutic failures and prevent antibiotic misuse.",
"corpus_id": 85494841
} |
{
"title": "Big Data: Observing The Development of A Modern Field",
"abstract": "we asked what the computer system and indeed the infrastructural facilities are that enable well-known manufacturers like Search results, Search engines, Google, Bestbuy.com, Fb, Twitter, LinkedIn, Netflix, etc. to provide such increased solutions as they do. These would be tools but instead services have been using almost all morning. What enables the rising efficiency of Translation, the right Retail selections, the Researchgate connect ideas, and the blockbuster Houses of Secrets series on Vimeo. Of obviously, to motivate our daily job, we need to visualise someone far larger than just the windows os we use at house or at a local company. Though Big Data's origins as a buzzword are not very old, the process of it becoming a scientific framework that encompasses many sources of study, intellectually stimulating not only those that are obviously linked, like technology management, facts and figures, and machine learning, but also others that are less apparent, like social psychology, ethics, epistemology, etc., seems to have taken a long time.This effort has been motivated by three objectives: creating our own definition and comprehension of big data; gaining experiences utilizing tools that use similar advances; and determining how engaged Europe is in addressing the new difficulties big data offers.",
"corpus_id": 260172333
} | {
"title": "The Recent Technologies to Curb the Second-Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic",
"abstract": "Different epidemics, specially Coronavirus, have caused critical misfortunes in various fields like monetary deprivation, survival conditions, thus diminishing the overall individual fulfillment. Various worldwide associations and different hierarchies of government fraternity are endeavoring to offer the necessary assistance in eliminating the infection impacts but unfortunately standing up to the non-appearance of resources and expertise. In contrast to all other pandemics, Coronavirus has proven to exhibit numerous requirements such that curated appropriation and determination of innovations are required to deal with the vigorous undertakings, which include precaution, detection, and medication. Innovative advancements are essential for the subsequent pandemics where-in the forthcoming difficulties can indeed be approached to such a degree that it facilitates constructive solutions more comprehensively. In this study, futuristic and emerging innovations are analyzed, improving COVID-19 effects for the general public. Large data sets need to be advanced so that extensive models related to deep analysis can be used to combat Coronavirus infection, which can be done by applying Artificial intelligence techniques such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), and Computer vision to varying processing files. This article aims to furnish variation sets of innovations that can be utilized to eliminate COVID-19 and serve as a resource for the coming generations. At last, elaboration associated with future state-of-the-art technologies and the attainable sectors of AI methodologies has been mentioned concerning the post-COVID-19 world to enable the different ideas for dealing with the pandemic-based difficulties.",
"corpus_id": 236150325
} | {
"title": "Differences in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes caused by distraction and overspeed behaviors: considering temporal shifts and unobserved heterogeneity in prediction.",
"abstract": "Distraction and overspeed behaviors are acknowledged as two significant contributors to single-vehicle motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities resulting from which are severe and critical issues in Pakistan. To explore the temporal instability and differences in the factors determining the injury severities between single-vehicle motorcycle crashes caused by distraction and overspeed behaviors, this study estimated two groups of random parameter logit models with heterogeneity in means and variances. Single-vehicle motorcycle crash data in Rawalpindi city between 2017 and 2019 was used for model estimation, and a wide variety of explanatory variables relating to the rider, roadways, environments, and temporal attributes was simulated in the models. The current study considered three possible crash injury severity outcomes: minor injury, severe injury and fatal injury. Likelihood ratio tests were conducted to explore the temporal instability and non-transferability. Marginal effects were also calculated to further reveal temporal instability of the variables. Except for several variables, the most significant factors reported temporal instability and non-transferability, manifested as the effects varied from year to year and across different crashes. Moreover, out-of-sample prediction was also implemented to capture temporal instability and non-transferability between distraction and overspeed crash observations. The non-transferability between motorcycle crashes caused by distraction and overspeed behaviors provides insights into developing differentiated countermeasures and policies targeted at preventing and mitigating single-vehicle motorcycle crashes caused by the two risk-taking behaviors.",
"corpus_id": 258214461
} |
{
"title": "Effect of Buffer Gas Influence on Magnetically-Induced Transitions in 87Rb Atoms, D2 Line",
"abstract": "Unusual magnetically-induced (MI) transitions Fg =1 → Fe = 3 of the 87Rb atoms, D2 lines, forbidden in the absence of magnetic field but becoming significant in magnetic fields >500 G have been studied. The effect of the buffer gas of neon on MI transitions was studied using the process of resonant absorption of laser radiation in a nanocell (NC) with Rb atomic vapors with an NC thickness L = 390 nm and a buffer gas of neon with the pressures of 6 and 20 Torr. The use of NC enables to achieve high spectral resolution and selectively study the MI transitions. It was found that the addition of neon to the cell results in a decrease in the amplitude of the MI transition and its spectral broadening (for some optical processes, the addition of a buffer gas results in an improvement of the parameters). The optimal power of a CW laser for the effective formation of the MI transitions was found to be equal to 10 μW.",
"corpus_id": 255435997
} | {
"title": "Laser Spectroscopy Basic Concepts And Instrumentation",
"abstract": "Thank you for downloading laser spectroscopy basic concepts and instrumentation. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look hundreds times for their favorite readings like this laser spectroscopy basic concepts and instrumentation, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some infectious virus inside their laptop.",
"corpus_id": 64509443
} | {
"title": "Optical read-out of Coulomb staircases in a moiré superlattice via trapped interlayer trions",
"abstract": "Moiré patterns with a superlattice potential can be formed by vertically stacking two layered materials with a relative twist or lattice constant mismatch. In transition metal dichalcogenide-based systems, the moiré potential landscape can trap interlayer excitons (IXs) at specific atomic registries. Here, we report that spatially isolated trapped IXs in a molybdenum diselenide/tungsten diselenide heterobilayer device provide a sensitive optical probe of carrier filling in their immediate environment. By mapping the spatial positions of individual trapped IXs, we are able to spectrally track the emitters as the moiré lattice is filled with excess carriers. Upon initial doping of the heterobilayer, neutral trapped IXs form charged IXs (IX trions) uniformly with a binding energy of ~7 meV. Upon further doping, the empty superlattice sites sequentially fill, creating a Coulomb staircase: stepwise changes in the IX trion emission energy due to Coulomb interactions with carriers at nearest-neighbour moiré sites. This non-invasive, highly local technique can complement transport and non-local optical sensing techniques to characterize Coulomb interaction energies, visualize charge correlated states, or probe local disorder in a moiré superlattice. Moiré-trapped interlayer excitons in a transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayer serve as a sensitive optical probe of carrier filling in their immediate environment to characterize the doping of the moiré superlattice.",
"corpus_id": 231749890
} |
{
"title": "SMOTEC: An Edge Computing Testbed for Adaptive Smart Mobility Experimentation",
"abstract": "Smart mobility becomes paramount for meeting net-zero targets. However, autonomous, self-driving and electric vehicles require more than ever before an efficient, resilient and trustworthy computational offloading backbone that expands throughout the edge-to-cloud continuum. Utilizing on-demand heterogeneous computational resources for smart mobility is challenging and often cost-ineffective. This paper introduces SMOTEC, a novel open-source testbed for adaptive smart mobility experimentation with edge computing. SMOTEC provides for the first time a modular end-to-end instrumentation for prototyping and optimizing placement of intelligence services on edge devices such as augmented reality and real-time traffic monitoring. SMOTEC supports a plug-and-play Docker container integration of the SUMO simulator for urban mobility, Raspberry Pi edge devices communicating via ZeroMQ and EPOS for an AI-based decentralized load balancing across edge-to-cloud. All components are orchestrated by the K3s lightweight Kubernetes. A proof-of-concept of self-optimized service placements for traffic monitoring from Munich demonstrates in practice the applicability and cost-effectiveness of SMOTEC.",
"corpus_id": 260091570
} | {
"title": "Collective Intelligence using 5G: Concepts, Applications, and Challenges in Sociotechnical Environments",
"abstract": "Distributed intelligence is a well-known approach for optimizing interactions among numerous smart devices that interconnect and operate together as Internet of Things (IoT) systems. A modern form of human-machine collective intelligence emerges when humans interact with IoT systems in sociotechnical environments such as smart homes. Fifth-generation (5G) communication networks are designed for high-speed reliable wireless connectivity and expected to boost IoT and (distributed) collective intelligence by revolutionizing human–device–human interactions. In this paper, we contribute a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art sociotechnical environments that exhibit collective intelligence, supported by 5G-enabled IoT. We discuss the latest developments in 5G and their implications for collective intelligence. Further, we explain the key challenges for using 5G to support collective intelligence, e.g., data processing, security, and radio resource management. Finally, we describe four practical applications of collective intelligence to sociotechnical environments—road traffic control, unmanned aerial vehicles, electrical load demand response, and augmented democracy.",
"corpus_id": 249837745
} | {
"title": "Distributed and Collective Intelligence for Computation Offloading in Aerial Edge Networks",
"abstract": "Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with integrated computing platforms can be used to provide computing offloading services for ground user equipments (UEs) with limited local computing capabilities, especially in remote areas. In this paper, we focus on the task offloading in an aerial edge network (AEN) assisted by a UAV. We aim at minimizing the sum energy consumption of all UEs by the joint optimization of the task offloading decisions and the UAV position under the constraints of the latency and the total energy of UAV. The formulated optimization problem is a mixed-integer nonconvex problem and involves coupling of many optimization variables. To address this challenge, we first transform the original optimization problem into a linear convex optimization problem via reformulation linearization technology, and then the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm is proposed to achieve the approximate optimal solution. Numerical results confirm that the proposed ADMM algorithm can effectively reduce the total of energy consumption of UEs and ensure the continuous operation of the UEs.",
"corpus_id": 247880185
} |
{
"title": "Barriers to accessing psychological treatment for medium to high risk male young offenders",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Within the young offender population, rates of personality disorder and mood disorders are considerably higher than both the general and adult offender population. Despite this high level of need and high risk of harm, psychological services within prisons are widely underutilized. Little is known about the barriers to accessing treatment for young offenders. This study investigated barriers to accessing psychological treatment for male young offenders detained in a UK prison. There were 128 participants, aged 18–21. A cross-sectional design compared self-reported barriers and psychological distress for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and White young offenders not accessing treatment, as well as those who were. A preference for self-reliance, a lack of trust in the prison system, lengthy waiting times and a general reluctance to talk about emotions were the most commonly cited barriers. BME young offenders not engaged in treatment reported significantly more barriers to accessing treatment than BME young offenders who were engaged in treatment, but both BME groups had equal levels of psychological distress. There was no significant difference between BME and White young offenders in the number of barriers reported, including stigma barriers. Future research should evaluate interventions to increase access for this marginalised population.",
"corpus_id": 217129952
} | {
"title": "Why Do Some Jail Inmates Not Engage in Treatment and Services?",
"abstract": "Jail inmates represent a high-risk, multineed population. Why do some jail inmates not access available programs and services? Drawn from a longitudinal study, 261 adults were assessed shortly upon incarceration and reassessed prior to transfer or release from a county jail. Of the participants in need of treatment, 18.5% did not participate in any formal treatment programs or religious programs and services. Untreated inmates were disproportionately young and male and less likely to report preincarceration cocaine dependence. Treatment participation varied little as a function of race or symptoms of mental illness. The most common reason for nonparticipation was the belief that one would not be around long enough to participate in programs. Other reasons were both institution-related and person-related in nature, including doubts about treatment efficacy, stigma concerns, lack of motivation, and lack of programs, especially addressing mental illness.",
"corpus_id": 32534670
} | {
"title": "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.",
"abstract": "1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s). 2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others. 3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental. 4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).",
"corpus_id": 150206326
} |
{
"title": "Head-To-Head Comparison of PET and Perfusion Weighted MRI Techniques to Distinguish Treatment Related Abnormalities from Tumor Progression in Glioma",
"abstract": "Simple Summary This meta-analysis provides a first head-to-head comparison of PET and perfusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (PWI) in the surveillance of post-treatment gliomas in order to distinguish tumor progression (TP) from treatment-related abnormalities (TRA). Although various reviews have been published on the use of either PET or PWI in this setting, no meta-analysis to date provides a head-to-head comparison of both techniques. The findings of this paper illuminate the strengths and limitations of each technique and enable clinicians to take more evidence-based decisions in their daily practice with regard to the imaging surveillance of gliomas. Abstract The post-treatment imaging surveillance of gliomas is challenged by distinguishing tumor progression (TP) from treatment-related abnormalities (TRA). Sophisticated imaging techniques, such as perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI PWI) and positron-emission tomography (PET) with a variety of radiotracers, have been suggested as being more reliable than standard imaging for distinguishing TP from TRA. However, it remains unclear if any technique holds diagnostic superiority. This meta-analysis provides a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of the aforementioned imaging techniques. Systematic literature searches on the use of PWI and PET imaging techniques were carried out in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and the reference lists of relevant papers. After the extraction of data on imaging technique specifications and diagnostic accuracy, a meta-analysis was carried out. The quality of the included papers was assessed using the QUADAS-2 checklist. Nineteen articles, totaling 697 treated patients with glioma (431 males; mean age ± standard deviation 50.5 ± 5.1 years) were included. The investigated PWI techniques included dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). The PET-tracers studied concerned [S-methyl-11C]methionine, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG), O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET) and 6-[18F]-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine ([18F]FDOPA). The meta-analysis of all data showed no diagnostic superior imaging technique. The included literature showed a low risk of bias. As no technique was found to be diagnostically superior, the local level of expertise is hypothesized to be the most important factor for diagnostically accurate results in post-treatment glioma patients regarding the distinction of TRA from TP.",
"corpus_id": 258581666
} | {
"title": "Simultaneously acquired PET and ASL imaging biomarkers may be helpful in differentiating progression from pseudo-progression in treated gliomas",
"abstract": "The aim of this work was investigating the methods based on coupling cerebral perfusion (ASL) and amino acid metabolism ([18F]DOPA-PET) measurements to evaluate the diagnostic performance of PET/MRI in glioma follow-up. Images were acquired using a 3-T PET/MR system, on a prospective cohort of patients addressed for possible glioma progression. Data were preprocessed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM), including registration on T1-weighted images, spatial and intensity normalization, and tumor segmentation. As index tests, tumor isocontour maps of [18F]DOPA-PET and ASL T-maps were created and metabolic/perfusion abnormalities were evaluated with the asymmetry index z-score. SPM map analysis of significant size clusters and semi-quantitative PET and ASL map evaluation were performed and compared to the gold standard diagnosis. Lastly, ASL and PET topography of significant clusters was compared to that of the initial tumor. Fifty-eight patients with unilateral treated glioma were included (34 progressions and 24 pseudo-progressions). The tumor isocontour maps and T-maps showed the highest specificity (100%) and sensitivity (94.1%) for ASL and [18F]DOPA analysis, respectively. The sensitivity of qualitative SPM maps and semi-quantitative rCBF and rSUV analyses were the highest for glioblastoma. Tumor isocontour T-maps and combined analysis of CBF and [18F]DOPA-PET uptake allow achieving high diagnostic performance in differentiating between progression and pseudo-progression in treated gliomas. The sensitivity is particularly high for glioblastomas. • Applied separately, MRI and PET imaging modalities may be insufficient to characterize the brain glioma post-therapeutic profile. • Combined ASL and [18F]DOPA-PET map analysis allows differentiating between tumor progression and pseudo-progression.",
"corpus_id": 232424184
} | {
"title": "Clear Air Turbulence Observed Across a Tropopause Fold Over the Drake Passage—A Case Study",
"abstract": "An aircraft turbulence encounter over the Drake Passage is investigated by combining unique high‐frequency flight level data, vertical profiles of a near‐simultaneous radiosonde profile and numerical results from global and regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. Meteorological analysis reveals an intense polar low propagating from the Bellinghausen Sea toward the Drake Passage. A small and deep stratospheric intrusion formed a tropopause fold that promoted strong upper‐level frontogenesis and enhanced shear and horizontal deformation of the upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric (UTLS) airflow. In this region, the Basic HALO Measurement and Sensor System (BAHAMAS) aboard the HALO research aircraft flying at FL450 detected large peak‐to‐peak variations in all meteorological parameters. The computed Energy dissipation rate (EDR) values (cubic root of the eddy dissipation rate) indicate moderate to severe turbulence. The location of this turbulence encounter was well‐predicted by the clear air turbulence (CAT) indices derived from the NWP results. The enhanced CAT indices emphasize the large shear and horizontal deformation of the airflow as the cause of the turbulence. Horizontal and vertical energy spectra calculated from the 10 Hz BAHAMAS data show a well‐defined energy cascade toward small scales with Kolmogorov scaling. Maximum EDR values of about 0.35 derived both from the spectra and structure functions for the wind speed agree quantitatively very well. In addition, the structure functions support the detection of turbulent atmospheric conditions with signatures of flow anisotropy generated by enhanced thermal stratification in the UTLS. The scales involved are between the buoyancy length scale LB ≈ 1,500 m and the Ozmidov scale LO ≈ 111 m.",
"corpus_id": 246585246
} |
{
"title": "Reply.",
"abstract": "We appreciate the comments by Drs. Lanthier and Leclercq on our recent study that examined hepatocyte-specific function of transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β ) signaling in the development of diet-induced fatty liver disease. sensitivity, but not peripheral insulin sensitivity. 8 These factors appear to play a role specifically in the liver. Nutrition overload causes adipose tissue dysfunction and inflammation that release adipokines known to function as pro- or anti-inflammatory mediators. These cytokines associated with peripheral IR also travel to the liver and may enhance liver inflammation and hepatocyte dysfunction. On the contrary, inflammatory cytokines released from KCs and hepatocytes in fatty liver disease may reach peripheral adipose tissues, which affect peripheral insulin sensitivity. In addition, as pointed out by Drs. Lanthier and Leclercq, altered hepatic IR can directly modulate systemic IR. Our previous study demonstrated that choline-deficient L-amino-acid (CDAA) diet-fed animals show mild IR, as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of IR, similar to that of CSAA diet-fed animals. 9 It is possible that similar induction of peripheral IR is associated",
"corpus_id": 242864755
} | {
"title": "The Clinical Implications of Body Surface Area as a Poor Proxy for Cardiac Output",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Background Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM), routinely used to characterize the degree of hemodynamic obstruction caused by a prosthetic heart valve, is associated with adverse patient outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR). In the common definition of PPM, the opening area of the valve is related to the patients’ cardiac output, by indexing effective orifice area (EOA) with body surface area (BSA). The aim of this study is to assess the implications of using BSA as a proxy for cardiac output. Methods 744 patients with normal LV function underwent echocardiographic assessment after surgical AVR. To validate the use of BSA as a proxy for cardiac output, the relation between these variables was analyzed. The effects of BSA on the classification of PPM (EOAi < 0.85 cm2/m2) and the presence of hemodynamic obstruction (mean gradient ≥ 20 mmHg and/or Doppler velocity index < 0.35) were estimated. Results There was a weak correlation between BSA and cardiac output (r: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.22;0.35), and cardiac output was not proportional to BSA (Cardiac output = 1.5 x BSA +1.9). As a result, the increased risk of patients with a large BSA to be labelled with PPM (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.5,11 per m2 BSA), was not reflected by a significantly higher risk of hemodynamic obstruction (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.5,4.9 per m2 BSA). Conclusions The current definition of PPM results in a systematic overestimation of hemodynamic obstruction in patients with a larger BSA, and we recommend cautious use in this subgroup. Abbreviations: AVR: Aortic valve replacement; BMI: Body mass index; BSA: Body surface area; EOA: Effective orifice area; EOAi: Indexed effective orifice area; LVOT: Left ventricular outflow tract; PERIGON: PERIcardial SurGical AOrtic Valve ReplacemeNt Pivotal Trial; PPM: Prosthesis-patient mismatch; TTE: Transthoracic echocardiography; VARC-2: Valve Academic Research Consortium-2.",
"corpus_id": 238729388
} | {
"title": "Clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection: A single-center Chinese experience",
"abstract": "Background and Objective: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCD) remains a rare and important cause of coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and angiographic features in SCD and to evaluate the treatment and long-term prognosis of this condition in China. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 118 Chinese patients with SCD confirmed by coronary angiography. Clinical and angiographic features, treatment modalities and outcomes of SCD were estimated. Results: The overall prevalence of SCD was 0.15%. Age was 57 ± 10 years; 86% patients were men; 75% presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); 72% had concomitant atherosclerotic CAD. SCD often affected right coronary artery (RCA) and caused a short dissection (< 20mm). A conservative therapy was used in 28% of patients and revascularization in 72% (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] 57%; coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] 15%). Only one patient died during hospitalization due to multiple organ failure after CABG. During a median follow-up of 43 months (range, 1 - 158 months), 32 patients had a new-onset ACS, 9 received revascularization (7 PCI and 2 CABG), and 8 died. The Kaplan-Meier estimated 12-year rates of freedom from cardiac death and ACS were both higher in revascularization versus conservative therapy (78% versus 57%; P = 0.023; 48% versus 25%, P = 0.014). No significant difference was found in freedom from revascularization between the two therapies. Conclusions: In China, SCD was usually associated with atherosclerosis and predominantly affected male population. SCD often affected RCA and caused a short dissection. In-hospital mortality rate was low regardless of therapeutic strategy. However, a significantly better long-term prognosis was observed in the revascularization compared with conservative therapy.",
"corpus_id": 78090898
} |
{
"title": "Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of longneck croaker Pseudotolithus typus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)",
"abstract": "Abstract The complete mitogenome of Pseudotolithus typus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) is analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The 16,502 nucleotides of assembled mitogenome has 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the 1 putative control region. Incomplete stop codons were found in seven genes (ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, CytB, ATPase6). The phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. typus is closely related to P. elongatus. This study will provide useful information to understand the evolutionary and phylogenetic exploration of the family Sciaenidae.",
"corpus_id": 212766893
} | {
"title": "The complete mitochondrial genome of bobo croaker Pseudotolithus elongatus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)",
"abstract": "Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudotolithus elongatus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) is determined based on NGS technology. The assembled mitogenome is a 16,497 bp in length containing a typical set of the 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNA genes, and the 1 putative control region. The overall base composition is A (27.8%), T (25.3%), G (16.1%), and C (30.8%) with an A-T content of 53.1%. The phylogenetic analysis of 36 mitogenomes from the GenBank indicated that P. elongatus is closely related to the Aplodinotus grunniens. This mitogenome information of the P. elongatus would be useful to understand evolutionary and phylogenetic analysis of the family Sciaenidae fishes.",
"corpus_id": 204156130
} | {
"title": "Environmental DNA enables detection of terrestrial mammals from forest pond water",
"abstract": "Terrestrial animals must have frequent contact with water to maintain their lives, implying that environmental DNA (eDNA) originating from terrestrial animals should be detectable from places containing water in terrestrial ecosystems. Aiming to detect the presence of terrestrial mammals using forest water samples, we applied a set of universal PCR primers (MiMammal, a modified version of fish universal primers) for metabarcoding mammalian eDNA. After verifying the primers’ usefulness in silico and using water samples from zoo cages of animals with known species compositions, we collected five 500-ml water samples from ponds in two cool-temperate forests in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Using eDNA extracted from the water samples, we constructed amplicon libraries using MiMammal primers for Illumina MiSeq sequencing. MiMammal metabarcoding yielded a total of 75,214 reads, which we then subjected to data pre-processing and taxonomic assignment. We thereby detected species of mammals common to the sampling areas, including deer (Cervus nippon), mouse (Mus musculus), vole (Myodes rufocanus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), rat (Rattus norvegicus) and shrew (Sorex unguiculatus). Previous applications of the eDNA metabarcoding approach have mostly been limited to aquatic/semiaquatic systems, but the results presented here show that the approach is also promising even in forest mammal biodiversity surveys.",
"corpus_id": 6121099
} |
{
"title": "Bowman Layer Onlay Graft for Reducing Fluctuation in Visual Acuity After Previous Radial Keratotomy.",
"abstract": "PURPOSE\nTo describe the clinical outcome of a first patient undergoing Bowman layer (BL) transplantation with an onlay graft to reduce fluctuation in visual acuity and refractive error after previous radial keratotomy (RK) surgery.\n\n\nMETHODS\nIn 2018, a 66-year-old woman presented with complaints of long-standing diurnal fluctuation in best-spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) after RK in 1983. After the removal of host epithelium, a BL graft was positioned onto the host cornea. BSCVA, Scheimpflug-based corneal tomography, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography were evaluated up to 12 months postoperatively.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. After surgery, the subjective complaints of visual fluctuation were reduced from 10 to 3 on a scale from 1 to 10. BSCVA (20/40; 0.5) did not change from preoperative to postoperative. Corneal tomography showed an overall central corneal steepening of 5.9 diopters. Biomicroscopy, Scheimpflug imaging, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a completely epithelialized and well-integrated graft, with some minor epithelial remnants located in the preexisting keratotomy incisions.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nBL onlay grafting may have the potential to manage patients with subjective complaints of diurnal fluctuation in visual acuity after previous RK.",
"corpus_id": 218520163
} | {
"title": "Collagen Crosslinking After Radial Keratotomy",
"abstract": "Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) after previous radial keratotomy (RK) in patients with decreasing visual acuity and/or diurnal visual fluctuations. Methods: The charts of all patients who had undergone CXL because of a worsening corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and/or diurnal visual fluctuations after RK were reviewed retrospectively. Uncorrected distance visual acuity, CDVA, manifest refraction, and corneal topography were recorded preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. Results: Nine eyes of 6 patients that had undergone an RK 15 to 23 years before the CXL were included in the study. In 5 patients (8 out of 9 eyes), discontinuation of diurnal visual fluctuation was reported between 6 and 12 months after the CXL. The mean uncorrected distance visual acuities pre and 12 months after the CXL were 0.7 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and 0.6 logMAR, respectively (P = 0.3). The mean CDVAs pre and 12 months after the CXL were 0.2 logMAR and 0.1 logMAR (P = 0.5), respectively. The mean average keratometry pre and 12 months after the CXL were 40.1 and 39.1 diopters (P = 0.06), respectively. The mean corneal astigmatism values pre and 12 months after the CXL were 2.3 and 1.9 diopters (P = 0.06), respectively. The mean manifest refraction spherical equivalents (MRSEs) before and 12 months after the CXL were +1.4 and +2.5 (P = 0.1), respectively. Conclusions: CXL is a safe and effective method to restore corneal stability in eyes with a history of RK. However, some of the effect that was achieved at the 6-month visit was blunted at the 12-month visit. Therefore, a longer follow-up is necessary to validate these findings.",
"corpus_id": 205659980
} | {
"title": "Thermal Grill Illusion in Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Case-Control Study",
"abstract": "Purpose This study aimed to use thermal grill illusion (TGI), an experimental model of pain processing and central mechanisms, to evaluate the perception of TGI-related sensations or pain in patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Patients and Methods The perception of TGI (warmth/heat, cold, unpleasantness, pain, burning, stinging, and prickling) was examined in 66 patients with CLBP and compared with that in 22 healthy participants. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores for CLBP, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) scores were obtained from the included patients with CLBP. Results The CLBP group showed a less intense perception of TGI for sensations of warmth/heat, unpleasantness, and pain than the control group. The CLBP group felt burning sensations lesser than the control (2.77 vs 4.55, P=0.016). In the CLBP group, there were significant correlations between the ODI and the degree of unpleasantness (r=0.381, P=0.002) and prickling sensation (r=0.263, P=0.033). There were also significant correlations between the mental component score of the SF-12 and the degree of warmth/heat (r=−0.246, P=0.046), unpleasantness (r=−0.292, P=0.017), pain (r=−0.292, P=0.017), and burning sensations (r=−0.280, P=0.023). Conclusion Our results may be useful for clinicians to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs or interventions to manage centralized LBP.",
"corpus_id": 258776625
} |
{
"title": "Effect of carbonated beverages on the color stability of bulk and flowable composite resin",
"abstract": "Tooth discoloration is considered as one of the most common dental problems among people, and in dentistry, the most common cases are claimed after the restoration. Therefore, in this research, we aim to evaluate the effect of carbonated beverages on the color stability of bulk and flowable composite resin. For the study, 12 composite disc samples were made using the standard dimensions of 10 mm diameter and 2 mm thick. To find the color stability, we used a VITA Easyshade spectrophotometer. We used two different composites of bulk fill and flowable composite resin; the composite brand we used was Tetric ecom plus; as an immersion medium, we used two different carbonated beverages, and the chosen beverages were Appy Fizz and 7Up. 24-h and 7-day postimmersion color stability was evaluated. In the results of postimmersion, we have found the Delta E value for 24 h immersion of flowable and bulk fill composite as 5.8115 and 7.4378, respectively; similarly, the Delta E value for 7 days immersion of flowable and bulk fill composite was 9.9559 and 10.1028, respectively. Using the independent “t”-test, we found that the significance is 0.633 and 0.328, which was statistically not significant. In the present study, when immersed in Appy Fizz juice and 7Up juice, bulk fill composite resins have shown greater discoloration when compared to flowable composite resin material. Thus, the flowable composite resin samples were more color stable.",
"corpus_id": 254278752
} | {
"title": "Targeting Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) with Murraya koengii bio-compounds: An in-silico approach.",
"abstract": "Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a B lymphotrophic herpesvirus associated with various forms of tumors, exhibits several latency phases with expressed EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1). In the search of novel EBV-inhibiting targets, to curb the menace of EBV-borne lymphotropic transformations, EBNA-1 protein might serve as a best target for novel antiviral natural compounds. This study is thus aimed to explore the inhibitory potential of Muuraya koengii bioactive compounds isomahanine, murrayanol and mahanimbine against the EBNA-1 of EBV. 3D structure of EBNA-1 was retrieved from the PDB data bank with further optimization of both the protein and ligands. In-silico inhibitory potential of the selected M. koengii bio-compounds against EBNA-1 as well as the molecular properties of the derivatives against EBNA-1 were assessed. Murrayanol seems to be a potent inhibitory drug to target EBNA-1 with a promising binding energy of -7.21 with two hydrogen bonds. Drug likeliness parameters recorded murrayanol to be the most promising of the tested compounds, followed by isomahanine. Molecular docking evaluations show that EBNA-1 might be inhibited with M. koengii biocompounds. Keywords: EBV; EBNA; M. koengii; in-silico.",
"corpus_id": 212741593
} | {
"title": "Impact of Confinement on the Reduction of Pollution and Particulate Matter Concentrations. Reflections for Public Transport Policies",
"abstract": "Different initiatives have been implemented to improve air quality in large cities, such as encouraging travel by sustainable modes of transport, promoting electro-mobility, or the car-free day. However, to date, we have not found statistics that indicate to what extent the concentration levels of particulate matter PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants decrease as a result of public policy. We used official data from the Chilean Government’s national air quality information system (SINCA) for the Santiago metropolitan region and estimated the impact of the confinement by COVID-19 on the ambient concentration average values of NOx gases and particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, which are the main air pollutants produced by the transport sector after CO2. We found that in general there are significant differences between the average levels of gas emissions for 2020 compared to 2019. In particular, we found that, for the months of total confinement May-July, the monthly average levels decreased between 7% and 19% for particulate matter PM2.5, between 18% and 50% for PM10 and between 34% and 48% for NOx. With the return to the new normality, these improvements in ambient concentration levels may be affected by the increase in private transport trips, due to the reluctance of citizens to return to mass public transport. Our results, therefore, represent the maximum impact that can be expected in reducing ambient concentration levels in the city of Santiago of Chile when a mobility reduction of gasoline vehicles is implemented. The reduction of PM2.5, PM10 and NOx was no more than 7%, 18% and 34%, respectively. The average concentration of PM2.5 decreased by 7–19% compared to previous years. The average concentration of PM10 decreased by 18% and 50% compared to previous years. Concentrating commuting on public transport would help reduce levels of PM10 and PM2.5.",
"corpus_id": 254848944
} |
{
"title": "Establishing an Academic–Community Partnership to Explore the Potential of Barbers and Barbershops in the Southern United States to Address Racial Disparities in HIV Care Outcomes for Black Men Living With HIV",
"abstract": "Black men comprise most new HIV infections in the Southern United States and have worse HIV outcomes than their non-Black counterparts. We developed an academic–community partnership in Nashville, Tennessee, to explore opportunities to improve HIV outcomes for Black men. We recruited barbers to an HIV training and focus group discussion about prevention and potential barber/barbershop-based strategies to address HIV-related needs for Black men. We assessed HIV knowledge and stigma with validated scales and conducted thematic analysis on discussion transcripts. HIV-related stigma was low (1.8 of 15 points [SD = 1.69]) among 13 participants of unknown HIV status (12 men and one woman). HIV knowledge increased among eight (67%) participants after receiving a brief HIV didactic. Participants described general health care barriers (e.g., the social norm that Black men do not go to the doctor until they are “damn near dead”), fears about unwanted HIV disclosure when seeking HIV testing or care, and community fears about negative stereotypes associated with HIV. Participants expressed enthusiasm about receiving more HIV-related training and utilizing communication skills and client/community relationships to serve as health educators and navigators. Barbers highlighted opportunities to disseminate HIV information in barbershops and combine HIV interventions with other health issues, such as COVID-19, and suggested that these interventions may help reduce HIV-related stigma. Our findings suggest that barbers and barbershops are an underutilized resource for disseminating HIV-related health information and engaging Black men in HIV and other important prevention and care activities such as COVID-19.",
"corpus_id": 256695320
} | {
"title": "Health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in U.S. barbershops and hair salons- a systematic review",
"abstract": "African American adults suffer disproportionately from obesity-related chronic diseases, particularly at younger ages. In order to close the gap in these health disparities, efforts to develop and test culturally appropriate interventions are critical. A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted to identify and critically evaluate health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in barbershops and hair salons. Subject headings and keywords used to search for synonyms of ‘barbershops,’ ‘hair salons,’ and ‘African Americans’ identified all relevant articles (from inception onwards) from six databases: Academic Search Ultimate, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science (Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index). Experimental and quasi-experimental studies for adult (> 18 years) African Americans delivered in barbershops and hair salons that evaluated interventions focused on risk reduction/management of obesity-related chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes were included. Analyses were conducted in 2020. Fourteen studies met criteria for inclusion. Ten studies hosted interventions in a barbershop setting while four took place in hair salons. There was substantial variability among interventions and outcomes with cancer the most commonly studied disease state (n = 7; 50%), followed by hypertension (n = 5; 35.7%). Most reported outcomes were focused on behavior change (n = 10) with only four studies reporting clinical outcomes. Health promotion interventions delivered in barbershops/hair salons show promise for meeting cancer screening recommendations and managing hypertension in African Americans. More studies are needed that focus on diabetes and obesity and utilize the hair salon as a site for intervention delivery. PROSPERO CRD42020159050.",
"corpus_id": 237056033
} | {
"title": "Community engagement in dissemination and implementation models: A narrative review",
"abstract": "Background: Responding to the growing demand for scientific understanding of adoption and uptake of evidence-based interventions (EBIs), numerous dissemination and implementation (“D&I”) models have been proposed in the extant literature. This review aimed to identify community-specific constructs with the potential to help researchers engage community partners in D&I studies or deploy EBIs. Methods: We identified 74 D&I models targeting community-level changes. We built on Tabak et al.’s narrative review that identified 51 D&I models published up to 2012 and identified 23 D&I models published between 2012 and 2020 from the Health Research & Practice website (16 models) and PubMed database (7 models). Three coders independently examined all 74 models looking for community-specific engagement constructs. Results: We identified five community engagement constructs: (1) Communication, (2) Partnership Exchange, (3) Community Capacity Building, (4) Leadership, and (5) Collaboration. Of the 74 models, 20% reflected all five constructs; 32%, four; 22%, three; 20%, two; and 5%, only one. Few models with strong community content have been introduced since 2009. Conclusion: This article bridges the community-engaged and D&I research literature by identifying community engagement constructs reflected in existing D&I models, targeting community-level changes. Implications for future research and practice are discussed. Plain language summary Responding to the growing demand for scientific understanding of adoption and uptake of evidence-based interventions (EBIs), numerous dissemination and implementation (“D&I”) models have been proposed. This review aimed to identify community-specific constructs with the potential to help researchers engage community partners in D&I studies or deploy EBIs. We identified 74 D&I models targeting community-level changes, published between 2012 and 2020. Three coders independently examined all 74 models looking for community-specific engagement constructs. We identified five community engagement constructs: (1) Communication, (2) Partnership Exchange, (3) Community Capacity Building, (4) Leadership, and (5) Collaboration. Of the 74 models, 20% reflected all five constructs; 32%, four; 22%, three; 20%, two; and 5%, only one. This article identified community engagement constructs reflected in existing D&I models targeting community-level changes. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.",
"corpus_id": 234082530
} |
{
"title": "Citizens’ Perception of Smart Cities: A Case Study",
"abstract": "The 21st century is considered to be “The Century of Cities”. By the end of this century, over 80% of the global population is expected to be living in urban areas. To become smart, a city should develop an approach of services that will focus mainly on citizens to be the primary beneficiaries of the services offered by a Smart City. In this work, we present through a survey of 545 participants, the citizens’ perception about the smart city concept and reveal the Greek and Cypriot citizens’ level of knowledge regards to a Smart City’s actions, applications, and elements. The final results of this study revealed several interesting outcomes. Firstly, this study showed that Cypriot citizens seem to know better what a “Smart City” is compared to Greek citizens, secondly, the study revealed that a large number of participants do not believe that any efforts have been made in their city in order to become “smart” and finally, regards to the most important challenges for the development of a smart city, the survey disclose that the cooperation of the private and public sector is the biggest challenge that needs to be tackled so as citizens can move towards a “smarter” future.",
"corpus_id": 233648310
} | {
"title": "IoT Device Firmware Update over LoRa: The Blockchain Solution",
"abstract": "More and more Internet of Things (IoT) devices are deployed around the world, due to the convenience and extra functionality they enable. This growth, while great for the industry as a whole, has come at a price with respect to ensuring and maintaining security and privacy. Having that in mind, one of the most common solutions to the IoT security problem is to update the devices frequently. Recently, LoRa Alliance has released a new specification (FUOTA) on how to perform firmware updates using LoRa technology. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based framework to securely update the firmware of the IoT devices using the LoRa communication protocol. As a first step, we perform an evaluation of the firmware update procedure using different network sizes and different firmware sizes. The evaluation shows that there is a need to use more gateways that will collaborate to increase the reliability and the performance of the firmware update process.",
"corpus_id": 221475719
} | {
"title": "Fuzzy Similarity Measures Approach in Benchmarking Taxonomies of Threats against SMEs in Developing Economies",
"abstract": "There are various threats that militate against SMEs in developing economies. However, most SMEs fall on the conservative \"TV News Effect\" of most-publicized cyber- threats or incidences, with disproportionate mitigation measures. This paper endeavors to establish a taxonomy of threat agents to fill in the void. Various fuzzy similarity measures based on multi-attribute decision-making techniques have been employed in the evaluation. The taxonomy offers a panoramic view of cyber-threats in assessing mission-critical assets, and serves as a benchmark for initiating appropriate mitigation strategies. SMEs in developing economies were strategically interviewed for their expert opinions on various business and security metrics. The study established that natural disasters, which are perennial in most developing economies, are the most critical cyber-threat agent, whilst social engineering is the least critical threat. 1",
"corpus_id": 55781370
} |
{
"title": "Tuki Ayllpanchik (our beautiful land): Indigenous ecology and farming in the Peruvian highlands",
"abstract": "Based on ethnographic research with an Indigenous community in Junín, Peru, and involving over 21 participants, this article explores the link between Indigenous lands, environmental knowledge, cultural practices, and education. Drawing from traditional ecological knowledge and nature-mediated education, Indigenous community spaces as vital learning spaces are highlighted. Through the lens of family and community-scale farming, this article also discusses critical perspectives on Indigenous agricultural traditions, lessons in subsistence farming, food and notions of success for students, and globalisation. Finally, an argument is made for educational development to acknowledge the breadth of Indigenous ecological issues, to prioritize Indigenous lands, languages, and cultural practices, and to support collaborative research that underscores Indigenous epistemologies.",
"corpus_id": 255163186
} | {
"title": "Ethnography and Language Policy",
"abstract": "Foreword, Courtney Cazden Preface Acknowledgements ENTRY INTO CONVERSATION Introducing Ethnography and Language Policy, Teresa L. McCarty ETHNOGRAPHY AND LANGUAGE POLICY CASES AND CONTEXTS, PART I 1. Critical Ethnography and Indigenous Language Survival - Some New Directions in Language Policy Research and Praxis, Teresa L. McCarty 2. \"How Are You Hopi if You Can't Speak It?\" - An Ethnographic Study of Language as Cultural Practice among Contemporary Hopi Youth, Sheilah E. Nicholas 3. Diaspora Communities, Language Maintenance, and Policy Dilemmas, A. Suresh Canagarajah 4. Reconstructing Ethnography and Language Policy in Colonial Namibian Schooling: Historical Perspectives on St. Mary's High School at Odibo, Rodney Hopson INTERLUDE - COMMENTARIES ON PART I Language Ideologies, Ethnography, and Ethnology: Directions in Anthropological Approaches to Language Policy, Perry Gilmore Language, Globalization, and the State: Issues for the New Policy Studies, James Collins ETHNOGRAPHY AND LANGUAGE POLICY CASES AND CONTEXTS, PART II 5. International Migration and Quichua Language Shift in the Ecuadorian Andes, Kendall A. King and Marleen Haboud 6. Exploring Biliteracy in Maori-Medium Education: An Ethnographic Perspective, Richard Hill and Stephen May 7. U.S. Latinos and the Learning of English: The Metonymy of Language Policy, Mary Carol Combs, Norma Gonzalez, and Luis C. Moll 8. Critical Perspectives on Language-in-education Policy: The Corsican Example, Alexandra Jaffe 9. Languages, Texts, and Literacy Practices: An Ethnographic Lens on Bilingual Vocational Education in Wales, Marilyn Martin-Jones 10. Researching-Texting Tensions in Qualitative Research: Ethics in and around Textual Fidelity, Selectivity, and Translations, Vaidehi Ramanathan SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION The Ethnography of Language Policy, Nancy H. Hornberger and David Cassels Johnson About the Contributors Author Index Subject Index",
"corpus_id": 220863537
} | {
"title": "The game as strategy for approach to sexuality with adolescents: theoretical-methodological reflections.",
"abstract": "OBJECTIVE\nTo describe the Papo Reto [Straight Talk] game and reflect on its theoretical-methodological basis.\n\n\nMETHOD\nAnalytical study on the process of elaboration of the Papo Reto online game, destined to adolescents aged 15-18 years, with access to the Game between 2014 and 2015.\n\n\nRESULTS\nthe interactions of 60 adolescents from Belo Horizonte and São Paulo constituted examples of the potentialities of the Game to favor the approach to sexuality with adolescents through simulation of reality, invention and interaction. Based on those potentialities, four thinking categories were discussed: the game as pedagogic device; the game as simulation of realities; the game as device for inventive learning; and the game empowering the interaction.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nBy permitting that the adolescents take risks on new ways, the Game allows them to become creative and active in the production of senses, in the creation of their discourses and in the ways of thinking, feeling and acting in the sexuality field.",
"corpus_id": 22037326
} |
{
"title": "HORIZON: A High-Resolution Panorama Synthesis Framework",
"abstract": "Panorama synthesis aims to generate a visual scene with all 360-degree views and enables an immersive virtual world. If the panorama synthesis process can be semantically controlled, we can then build an interactive virtual world and form an unprecedented human-computer interaction experience. Existing panoramic synthesis methods mainly focus on dealing with the inherent challenges brought by panoramas' spherical structure such as the projection distortion and the in-continuity problem when stitching edges, but is hard to effectively control semantics. The recent success of visual synthesis like DALL.E generates promising 2D flat images with semantic control, however, it is hard to directly be applied to panorama synthesis which inevitably generates distorted content. Besides, both of the above methods can not effectively synthesize high-resolution panoramas either because of quality or inference speed. In this work, we propose a new generation framework for high-resolution panorama images. The contributions include 1) alleviating the spherical distortion and edge in-continuity problem through spherical modeling, 2) supporting semantic control through both image and text hints, and 3) effectively generating high-resolution panoramas through parallel decoding. Our experimental results on a large-scale high-resolution Street View dataset validated the superiority of our approach quantitatively and qualitatively.",
"corpus_id": 252780229
} | {
"title": "Simple and Effective Synthesis of Indoor 3D Scenes",
"abstract": "We study the problem of synthesizing immersive 3D indoor scenes from one or a few images. Our aim is to generate high-resolution images and videos from novel viewpoints, including viewpoints that extrapolate far beyond the input images while maintaining 3D consistency. Existing approaches are highly complex, with many separately trained stages and components. We propose a simple alternative: an image-to-image GAN that maps directly from reprojections of incomplete point clouds to full high-resolution RGB-D images. On the Matterport3D and RealEstate10K datasets, our approach significantly outperforms prior work when evaluated by humans, as well as on FID scores. Further, we show that our model is useful for generative data augmentation. A vision-and-language navigation (VLN) agent trained with trajectories spatially-perturbed by our model improves success rate by up to 1.5% over a state of the art baseline on the mature R2R benchmark. Our code will be made available to facilitate generative data augmentation and applications to downstream robotics and embodied AI tasks.",
"corpus_id": 247996848
} | {
"title": "COCO: The Experimental Procedure",
"abstract": "We present a budget-free experimental setup and procedure for benchmarking numerical \noptimization algorithms in a black-box scenario. \nThis procedure can be applied with the COCO benchmarking platform. \nWe describe initialization of and input to the algorithm and touch upon the \nrelevance of termination and restarts.",
"corpus_id": 1637533
} |
{
"title": "Parametric modeling of energy filtering by energy barriers in thermoelectric nanocomposites",
"abstract": "We present a parametric modeling of the thermoelectric transport coefficients based on a model previously used to interpret experimental measurements on the conductivity, σ, and Seebeck coefficient, S, in highly Boron-doped polycrystalline Si, where a very significant thermoelectric power factor (TPF) enhancement was observed. We have derived analytical formalism for the transport coefficients in the presence of an energy barrier assuming thermionic emission over the barrier for (i) non-degenerate and (ii) degenerate one-band semiconductor. Simple generic parametric equations are found that are in agreement with the exact Boltzmann transport formalism in a wide range of parameters. Moreover, we explore the effect of energy barriers in 1-d composite semiconductors in the presence of two phases: (a) the bulk-like phase and (b) the barrier phase. It is pointed out that significant TPF enhancement can be achieved in the composite structure of two phases with different thermal conductivities. The TPF enhancement is estimated as a function of temperature, the Fermi energy position, the type of scattering, and the barrier height. The derived modeling provides guidance for experiments and device design.",
"corpus_id": 121938015
} | {
"title": "Recent Progress in Multiphase Thermoelectric Materials",
"abstract": "Thermoelectric materials, which directly convert thermal energy to electricity and vice versa, are considered a viable source of renewable energy. However, the enhancement of conversion efficiency in these materials is very challenging. Recently, multiphase thermoelectric materials have presented themselves as the most promising materials to achieve higher thermoelectric efficiencies than single-phase compounds. These materials provide higher degrees of freedom to design new compounds and adopt new approaches to enhance the electronic transport properties of thermoelectric materials. Here, we have summarised the current developments in multiphase thermoelectric materials, exploiting the beneficial effects of secondary phases, and reviewed the principal mechanisms explaining the enhanced conversion efficiency in these materials. This includes energy filtering, modulation doping, phonon scattering, and magnetic effects. This work assists researchers to design new high-performance thermoelectric materials by providing common concepts.",
"corpus_id": 239472258
} | {
"title": "Transversal parasitic oscillation suppression in high gain pulsed Fe2+:ZnSe laser at room temperature",
"abstract": "Abstract The performance of a room temperature high gain solid-state Fe2+:ZnSe laser was investigated. Causes and affecting factors of Transversal Parasitic Oscillation (TPO) were analyzed theoretically. The results indicate that TPO could be suppressed by reducing pump spot size or coating graphite around the active element. Corresponding experiments were made on Fe2+:ZnSe laser pumped by a non-chain pulsed HF laser, and the results demonstrate that the combination of reducing spot size and coating graphite can successfully overcome gain depletion problem due to TPO in high gain Fe2+:ZnSe lasers. At room temperature, the output energy of Fe2+:ZnSe laser reached 502 mJ, and the slope efficiency, measured with respect to the input pump energy, was 32.6%. An average power of 21.7 W was obtained at a pulse repetition rate of 50 Hz.",
"corpus_id": 212974860
} |
{
"title": "Priestly playwright, secular priest: William Drury’s Latin and English drama",
"abstract": "This article examines the literary career of the secular priest William Drury, with an emphasis on his drama. The Latin plays which he wrote for performance at the English College in Douai are among the best-known English Catholic college dramas of the Stuart era; markedly different from the Jesuit drama which dominates the corpus of British Catholic college plays, they suggest conscious dissociation from that imaginative tradition. Hierarchomachia: or the Anti-Bishop, a satirical closet drama which intervenes in the controversy surrounding the legitimacy and extent of England’s Catholic episcopacy, can also be attributed to Drury. In both his Latin and English drama, Drury draws imaginative stimulus from his ideological opposition to Jesuits and other regulars. Yet his characteristic blend of didacticism and comedy, and his sympathy for the plight of all English Catholics—surely fomented by the death of his Jesuit brother in the notorious “Fatal Vesper”—point to broader priestly concerns.",
"corpus_id": 244434910
} | {
"title": "Representing England in Rome: Sermons from the Early Modern English College to Popes and Cardinals",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT This article explores how preaching at the English College in Rome, c.1580–1603, can illuminate questions of national identity, Anglo-Italian exchanges, inter-confessional conflict and the symbiotic relationship of religious and national identities for English Catholics. It investigates in detail texts from a hitherto little-studied manuscript at the English College, Rome, whose large collection of homiletic and other rhetorical texts offers an unequalled insight into preaching at the College and adds valuably to our knowledge of preaching in Counter-Reformation Rome. The article looks at how English College preachers dealt with subjects such as persecution and martyrdom, England's ‘apostasy’, England's history and relations with Rome, and their place in the international Church. It reveals how the College and its members positioned themselves in both their English and their Roman contexts.",
"corpus_id": 232050753
} | {
"title": "In Search of Shakespeare",
"abstract": "Almost 400 years after his death, William Shakespeare is still acclaimed as the world's greatest writer, and yet the man himself remains shrouded in mystery. In this absorbing historical detective story, the acclaimed broadcaster and historian Michael Wood takes a fresh approach to Shakespeare's life, brilliantly recreating the turbulent times through which the poet lived: the age of the Reformation, the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot and the colonization of the Americas. Drawing on an extensive range of sources, Michael Wood takes us back into Elizabethan England to reveal a man who is the product of his time - a period of tremendous upheaval that straddled the medieval and modern worlds. Using a wealth of unexplored archive evidence the author vividly conjures up the neighbourhoods of the Elizabethan London where Shakespeare lived and worked during his glittering career. Full of fresh insights and fascinating new discoveries, this book presents us with a Shakespeare for the twenty-first century: a man of the theatre, a thinking artist, playful and cunning who held up a mirror to his age, but who was also, as his friend Ben Jonson said, 'not of an age, but for all time'.",
"corpus_id": 190589817
} |
{
"title": "On the explicit formulation of reliability assessment of distribution systems with unknown network topology: Incorporation of DG, switching interruptions, and customer-interruption quantification",
"abstract": "This paper presents an original approach for the evaluation of reliability of active distribution networks with unknown topology. Built upon novel reformulations of conventional definitions for distribution reliability indices, the dependence of system-oriented reliability metrics on network topology is explicitly formulated using a set of mixed-integer linear expressions. Unlike previously reported works also modeling mathemat-ically the relationship between reliability assessment and network topology, the proposed approach allows considering the impact of distributed generation (DG) while accounting for switching interruptions. Moreover, for the first time in the emerging closely related literature, the nonlinearity and nonconvexity of the customer average interruption duration index are precisely characterized. The proposed mixed-integer linear model is suitable for various distribution optimization problems in which the operational topology of the network is not specified a priori. Aiming to exemplify its potential applicability, the proposed formulation is incorporated into a distribution reconfiguration optimization problem. The effectiveness and practicality of the proposed approach are numerically illustrated using various test networks.",
"corpus_id": 251272998
} | {
"title": "Optimization Model-Based Reliability Assessment for Distribution Networks Considering Detailed Placement of Circuit Breakers and Switches",
"abstract": "Requirements of economic and reliability criteria are often stressed simultaneously in operating and planning models for distribution systems. However, conventional reliability evaluation algorithms are hard to be integrated to these optimization models analytically. Recently, several optimization model-based reliability assessment methods have been proposed, which can be embedded into such models. Nevertheless, the detailed placement and actions of circuit breakers and switches are ignored or oversimplified in these methods, leading to an inconsistency with the real world situation. Thus, we propose a new optimization model-based reliability assessment method that fully considers detailed placement and actions of circuit breakers and switches in distribution networks. Based on fictitious fault flows, strategies for tripping circuit breakers to cut fault current, operating switches to isolate the fault and processing post-fault network reconfiguration are linearly modeled as constraints. Therefore, this method can be easily integrated into operating and planning models of distribution networks. Case studies on 54-node, 85-node, 137-node and 417-node distribution networks show the scalability and efficiency of the proposed model.",
"corpus_id": 216464051
} | {
"title": "Operational risk assessment with smart maintenance of power generators",
"abstract": "Abstract Preventive maintenance plan of generators is essential to ensure the availability of electricity supply in a power system. There are several types of preventive plans of which the periodic preventive maintenance (PPM) and reliability-centred maintenance (RCM) are most popular in the power system industry. Nevertheless, these plans do not consider the operational factors and optimum maintenance efforts that could maximize the net benefit. This paper proposes an innovative Smart Maintenance (SM) model that leads to an effective maintenance plan. The proposed approach is advanced through three main concepts: 1. Markov chains to describe the component’s reliability; 2. Fuzzy logic to determine the component’s operational risk; and 3. Maintenance exertion degree to define the impact of maintenance over the component’s failure rate. The smart maintenance problem is solved using the Accelerated Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (AQPSO) in conjunction with the Sequential Median Latin Hypercube (SMLH) sampling. The case studies justify the effectiveness of the proposal and its superiority over the PPM and RCM in realises extended benefits.",
"corpus_id": 209794738
} |
{
"title": "Understanding nonlinear composition dependency of enantioselectivity in chiral separation using mixed micelle.",
"abstract": "HYPOTHESIS\nMixtures of chiral and achiral building blocks of supramolecules exhibit interesting cooperative phenomena, indicated by the nonlinear composition dependence of the chiral properties. However, the nonlinear composition dependence of the enantioselectivity of mixed micelles is not well understood. It was hypothesized that in-depth understanding can be achieved by carefully investigating the composition dependence of the properties.\n\n\nEXPERIMENTS\nIn this work, the nonlinear composition dependence of the enantioselectivity was found for the mixed micelle of achiral and chiralN-acyl amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Capillary electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, surface tension measurement, and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to investigate the mechanisms.\n\n\nFINDINGS\nFour mechanisms that could be causing the nonlinearity were investigated: (i) synergistic and antagonistic interactions of the surfactants; (ii) the chiral transfer from chiral to achiral surfactant; (iii) differences in the retention factor; and (iv) cooperative chiral recognition of the chiral and achiral surfactant. The investigation of the composition dependency of critical micelle concentration (CMC) and molar circular dichroism revealed that the effect of (i) and (ii) was negligibly small. The newly derived equations for (iii) and (iv) revealed that (iii) and (iv) have a major or medium effect on the nonlinear enantioselectivity.",
"corpus_id": 250634461
} | {
"title": "Chiral capillary electrophoresis",
"abstract": "Abstract The implications of chirality in different environments are already well known and reported extensively in the literature. Capillary Electrophoresis, a separation technique that only requires few nanoliters of sample, has demonstrated its potential for chiral analysis in the past years. The aim of this article is to provide an overview on the fundamentals and characteristics of Chiral Capillary Electrophoresis as well as the main advances and trends in this topic. Special attention is paid to the most recent technological and methodological developments achieved mainly in the most employed separation mode (Electrokinetic Chromatography). The most noteworthy and recent applications reported on the enantiomeric separation and determination of compounds in pharmaceutical, food, biomedical, environmental or forensic samples will also be critically overviewed. The characteristics of the developed methodologies will be detailed in Tables and future trends will also be discussed.",
"corpus_id": 213647037
} | {
"title": "The impact of R1 resection for colorectal liver metastases on local recurrence and overall survival in the era of modern chemotherapy: An analysis of 1,428 resection areas",
"abstract": "Background: It is still unclear whether a positive surgical margin after resection of colorectal liver metastases remains a poor prognostic factor in the era of modern perioperative chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative chemotherapy has an impact on reducing local recurrence after R1 resection, and the impact of local recurrence on overall survival. Methods: Between 2000 and 2014, a total of 421 patients underwent resection for colorectal liver metastases at our unit after preoperative chemotherapy. The overall number of analyzed resection areas was 1,428. Results: The local recurrence rate was 12.8%, significantly higher after R1 resection than after R0 (24.5% vs 8.7%; P < .001). These results were also confirmed in patients with response to preoperative chemotherapy (23.1% after R1 vs 11.2% after R0; P < .001). At multivariate analysis, R1 resection was the only independent risk factor for local recurrence (P < .001). At the analysis of the 1,428 resection areas, local recurrence significantly decreased according to the increase of the surgical margin width (from 19.1% in 0 mm margin to 2.4% in ≥10 mm). At multivariable logistic regression analysis for overall survival, the presence of local recurrence showed a significant negative impact on 5‐year overall survival (P < .001). Conclusion: Surgical margin recurrence after modern preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases was still significantly higher after R1 resection than it was after R0 resection. Local recurrence showed a negative prognostic impact on overall survival. R0 resection should be recommended whenever technically achievable, as well as in patients treated by modern preoperative chemotherapy.",
"corpus_id": 53773877
} |
{
"title": "Electroencephalographic Effective Connectivity Analysis of the Neural Networks during Gesture and Speech Production Planning in Young Adults",
"abstract": "Gestures and speech, as linked communicative expressions, form an integrated system. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have suggested that neural networks for gesture and spoken word production share similar brain regions consisting of fronto-temporo-parietal brain regions. However, information flow within the neural network may dynamically change during the planning of two communicative expressions and also differ between them. To investigate dynamic information flow in the neural network during the planning of gesture and spoken word generation in this study, participants were presented with spatial images and were required to plan the generation of gestures or spoken words to represent the same spatial situations. The evoked potentials in response to spatial images were recorded to analyze the effective connectivity within the neural network. An independent component analysis of the evoked potentials indicated 12 clusters of independent components, the dipoles of which were located in the bilateral fronto-temporo-parietal brain regions and on the medial wall of the frontal and parietal lobes. Comparison of effective connectivity indicated that information flow from the right middle cingulate gyrus (MCG) to the left supplementary motor area (SMA) and from the left SMA to the left precentral area increased during gesture planning compared with that of word planning. Furthermore, information flow from the right MCG to the left superior frontal gyrus also increased during gesture planning compared with that of word planning. These results suggest that information flow to the brain regions for hand praxis is more strongly activated during gesture planning than during word planning.",
"corpus_id": 255649726
} | {
"title": "Topography of Movement-Related Delta and Theta Brain Oscillations",
"abstract": "The aim of this study was to analyse the high density EEG during movement execution guided by visual attention to reveal the detailed topographic distributions of delta and theta oscillations. Twenty right-handed young subjects performed a finger tapping task, paced by a continuously transited repeating visual stimuli. Baseline corrected power of scalp current density transformed EEG was statistically assessed with cluster-based permutation testing. Delta and theta activities revealed differences in their spatial properties at the time of finger tapping execution. Theta synchronization showed a contralateral double activation in the parietal and fronto-central regions, while delta activity appeared in the central contralateral channels. Differences in the spatiotemporal topography between delta and theta activity in the course of movement execution were identified on high density EEG.",
"corpus_id": 235450482
} | {
"title": "Using interictal seizure-free EEG data to recognise patients with epilepsy based on machine learning of brain functional connectivity",
"abstract": "Abstract Most seizures in adults with epilepsy occur rather infrequently and as a result, the interictal EEG plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and classification of epilepsy. However, empirical interpretation, of a first EEG in adult patients, has a very low sensitivity ranging between 29–55 %. Useful EEG information remains buried within the signals in seizure-free EEG epochs, far beyond the observational capabilities of any specialised physician in this field. Unlike most of the existing works focusing on either seizure data or single-variate method, we introduce a multi-variate method to characterise sensor level brain functional connectivity from interictal EEG data to identify patients with generalised epilepsy. A total of 9 connectivity features based on 5 different measures in time, frequency and time-frequency domains have been tested. The solution has been validated by the K-Nearest Neighbour algorithm, classifying an epilepsy group (EG) vs healthy controls (HC) and subsequently with another cohort of patients characterised by non-epileptic attacks (NEAD), a psychogenic type of disorder. A high classification accuracy (97 %) was achieved for EG vs HC while revealing significant spatio-temporal deficits in the frontocentral areas in the beta frequency band. For EG vs NEAD, the classification accuracy was only about 73 %, which might be a reflection of the well-described coexistence of NEAD with epileptic attacks. Our work demonstrates that seizure-free interictal EEG data can be used to accurately classify patients with generalised epilepsy from HC and that more systematic work is required in this direction aiming to produce a clinically useful diagnostic method.",
"corpus_id": 233549344
} |
{
"title": "A new aspect of Chevrel compounds as positive electrodes for magnesium batteries",
"abstract": "Chevrel compounds are regarded as potential positive-electrode materials for magnesium rechargeable batteries, but their redox potential is only about 1.2 V vs. Mg/Mg2+. In this work, we show logically and experimentally that the redox potential of Chevrel compounds can be as high as about 2–3 V vs. Mg/Mg2+. A crucial basis for this is that Cu cations can be extracted from CuxMo6S8 at around 1.2–1.6 V vs. Mg/Mg2+ in the conventional electrolyte (Grignard-reagent/tetrahydrofuran) while the anodic dissolution of Cu metal can occur above about 1.7 V vs. Mg/Mg2+ in the same electrolyte, which means that the chemical potential of Cu in Chevrel compounds is higher than that in pure Cu metal. This thermodynamic conflict inevitably compels us to consider a certain interaction with the solvent, rather than simple deintercalation from the compound, which is discussed throughout the paper. With the use of large-molecule solvents or ionic liquids, we have observed an intriguing relaxation phenomenon, where the cations move to find more stable sites, which directly indicates that the Chevrel compounds have several sites for cations.",
"corpus_id": 96707321
} | {
"title": "Reversibility of electrochemical magnesium deposition from Grignard solutions",
"abstract": "The reversibility of electrochemical magnesium deposition from Grignard reagents was investigated with regard to potential application of magnesium as a negative electrode in rechargeable batteries. The reoxidation rate depends on the morphology of the magnesium deposit which is controlled by the substrate material. Good results were obtained using silver or gold substrates. Magnesium deposits on these materials was found to be of smooth and compact morphology. A nearly complete electrochemical reoxidation and a low self-discharge were observed.",
"corpus_id": 96864344
} | {
"title": "Confirmation of the domino-cascade model by lifepo4/fepo 4 precession electron diffraction",
"abstract": "A recent transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method using precession electron diffraction (PED) was used to obtain LiFePO4 and FePO 4 phase mapping at the nanometer-scale level on a large number of particles of sizes between 50 and 300 nm in a partially charged cathode. Despite the similarity of the two phases (the difference of lattice parameters is <5%), the method gives clear results that have been confirmed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy (EFTEM/EELS) experiments. The PED maps show that the particles are either fully lithiated or fully delithiated and, therefore, bring a strong support to the domino-cascade model at the nanoscale level (scale of a particle). A core-shell model or spinodal decomposition at mesoscale (scale of agglomerates of particles) is possible. Size effects on the transformation are also discussed. © 2011 American Chemical Society.",
"corpus_id": 137037654
} |
{
"title": "Mortality from diseases of the circulatory system in Brazil and its relationship with social determinants focusing on vulnerability: an ecological study",
"abstract": "Deaths from diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases are declining, but slowly in developing countries, emphasizing its probable relationship with determinants of social vulnerability. To analyze the temporal progression of mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases from 1980 to 2019 and the association of the rates with the Municipal Human Development Index and Social Vulnerability Index in Brazil. We estimated the crude and standardized mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases and analyzed the relationship between the obtained data and the Municipal Human Development Index and Social Vulnerability Index. Data on deaths and population were obtained from the DATASUS. The Municipal Human Development Index and the Social Vulnerability Index of each federative unit were extracted from the websites Atlas Brazil and Atlas of Social Vulnerability, respectively. The age-standardized mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases showed a downward trend nationwide, which was unequal across the federative units. There was an inversely proportional relationship between the standardized mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases and the Municipal Human Development Index. The downward mortality trend was observed when the indices were greater than 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. The Social Vulnerability Index was directly proportional to the standardized mortality rates of diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases. An upward mortality trend was observed with a Social Vulnerability Index greater than 0.35. Social determinants represented by the Municipal Human Development Index and the Social Vulnerability Index were related to mortality from diseases of the circulatory system and ischemic heart diseases across the Brazilian federative units. The units with most development and least social inequalities had the lowest mortality from these causes. The most vulnerable die the most.",
"corpus_id": 250479120
} | {
"title": "Evidence of large systematic differences between countries in assigning ischaemic heart disease deaths to myocardial infarction: the contrasting examples of Russia and Norway.",
"abstract": "BACKGROUND\nThere is considerable variation in mortality rates from myocardial infarction (MI) across high-income countries, some of which may be artefactual.\n\n\nMETHODS\nTime trends in mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and MI were analysed for a set of high-income countries from the end of the 1970s. Using individual-level mortality data from Russia (2005-2017) and Norway (2005-2016), we investigated factors associated with the proportion of total IHD deaths certified as due to MI.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn most countries, MI mortality rates have dramatically declined from the 1970s. However, the share of MI in total IHD deaths varies substantially across countries. In Russia, only 12% of IHD deaths had MI assigned as the underlying cause vs 63% in Norway. IHD deaths occurring outside of hospital without autopsy were far less likely to be assigned as MI in Russia (2%) than in Norway (59%).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nAlthough established international criteria for MI require specific clinical or post-mortem evidence, it appears that certifying specialists in different countries may interpret these criteria differently. At one extreme, Russian doctors may only assign MI as a cause of death when there is specific pathophysiological evidence. At the other extreme, their counterparts in Norway may be willing to specify MI as the cause even when this evidence is not available. Internationally established criteria for MI diagnosis are challenging to apply for out-of-hospital deaths. Differences between countries in how certifiers interpret these criteria may account for at least some of the international variation in MI mortality rates.",
"corpus_id": 237481010
} | {
"title": "The human functional connectome in neurodegenerative diseases: relationship to pathology and clinical progression",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Introduction Neurodegenerative diseases can be considered as ‘disconnection syndromes,’ in which a communication breakdown prompts cognitive or motor dysfunction. Mathematical models applied to functional resting-state MRI allow for the organization of the brain into nodes and edges, which interact to form the functional brain connectome. Areas covered The authors discuss the recent applications of functional connectomics to neurodegenerative diseases, from preclinical diagnosis, to follow up along with the progressive changes in network organization, to the prediction of the progressive spread of neurodegeneration, to stratification of patients into prognostic groups, and to record responses to treatment. The authors searched PubMed using the terms ‘neurodegenerative diseases’ AND ‘fMRI’ AND ‘functional connectome’ OR ‘functional connectivity’ AND ‘connectomics’ OR ‘graph metrics’ OR ‘graph analysis.’ The time range covered the past 20 years. Expert opinion Considering the great pathological and phenotypical heterogeneity of neurodegenerative diseases, identifying a common framework to diagnose, monitor and elaborate prognostic models is challenging. Graph analysis can describe the complexity of brain architectural rearrangements supporting the network-based hypothesis as unifying pathogenetic mechanism. Although a multidisciplinary team is needed to overcome the limit of methodologic complexity in clinical application, advanced methodologies are valuable tools to better characterize functional disconnection in neurodegeneration.",
"corpus_id": 256389140
} |
{
"title": "Progress in the Preparation of Metal Oxide Electrodes for the Electrochemical Treatment of Organic Wastewater: A Short Review",
"abstract": "The direct discharge of untreated organic wastewater poses significant threats to the environment and to human health. To address these threats, electrocatalytic oxidation technology has emerged as a key solution for organic wastewater treatment. Building on research conducted over the past three years, this review highlights the considerable advantages of electrocatalytic oxidation technology in the context of organic wastewater treatment, with a particular emphasis on the application of metal oxide electrodes. The review also provides a summary of the primary methods used in the preparation of such electrodes. Subsequently, the applications of both single-metal-oxide electrodes and metal oxide composite electrodes in organic wastewater treatment are summarized. Finally, we discuss the future development of metal oxide electrodes.",
"corpus_id": 259912360
} | {
"title": "The New Materials for Battery Electrode Prototypes",
"abstract": "In this article, we present the performance of Copper (Cu)/Graphene Nano Sheets (GNS) and C—π (Graphite, GNS, and Nitrogen-doped Graphene Nano Sheets (N—GNS)) as a new battery electrode prototype. The objectives of this research are to develop a number of prototypes of the battery electrode, namely Cu/GNS//Electrolyte//C—π, and to evaluate their respective performances. The GNS, N—GNS, and primary battery electrode prototypes (Cu/GNS/Electrolyte/C—π) were synthesized by using a modified Hummers method; the N-doped sheet was obtained by doping nitrogen at room temperature and the impregnation or the composite techniques, respectively. Commercial primary battery electrodes were also used as a reference in this research. The Graphite, GNS, N—GNS, commercial primary batteries electrode, and battery electrode prototypes were analyzed using an XRD, SEM-EDX, and electrical multimeter, respectively. The research data show that the Cu particles are well deposited on the GNS and N—GNS (XRD and SEM—EDX data). The presence of the Cu metal and electrolytes (NH4Cl and MnO2) materials can increase the electrical conductivities (335.6 S cm−1) and power density versus the energy density (4640.47 W kg−1 and 2557.55 Wh kg−1) of the Cu/GNS//Electrolyte//N—GNS compared to the commercial battery (electrical conductivity (902.2 S cm−1) and power density versus the energy density (76 W kg−1 and 43.95 W kg−1). Based on all of the research data, it may be concluded that Cu/GNS//Electrolyte//N—GNS can be used as a new battery electrode prototype with better performances and electrical activities.",
"corpus_id": 255738760
} | {
"title": "Integrating Reactive Chlorine Species Generation with H2 Evolution in a Multifunctional Photoelectrochemical System for Low Operational Carbon Emissions Saline Sewage Treatment.",
"abstract": "Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) suffer from high carbon emissions and are inefficient in removing emerging organic pollutants (EOPs). Consequently, we have developed a low operational carbon emissions multifunctional photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for saline sewage treatment to simultaneously remove organic pollutants, ammonia, and bacteria, coupled with H2 evolution. A reduced BiVO4 (r-BiVO4) photoanode with enhanced PEC properties, ascribed to constructing sufficient oxygen vacancies and V4+ species, was synthesized for the aforementioned technique. The PEC/r-BiVO4 process could treat saline sewage to meet local WWTPs' discharge standard in 40 min at 2.0 V vs Ag/AgCl and completely degrade carbamazepine (one of EOPs), coupled with 633 μmol of H2 production; 93.29% reduction in operational carbon emissions and 77.82% decrease in direct emissions were achieved by the PEC/r-BiVO4 process compared with large-scale WWTPs, attributed to the restrained generation of CH4 and N2O. The PEC system activated chloride ions in sewage to generate numerous reactive chlorine species and facilitate •OH production, promoting contaminants removal. The PEC system exhibited operational feasibility at varying pH and total suspended solids concentrations and has outstanding reusability and stability, confirming its promising practical potential. This study proposed a novel PEC reaction for reducing operational carbon emissions from saline sewage treatment.",
"corpus_id": 253267797
} |
{
"title": "Neuronal chemokines: new insights into neuronal communication after injury",
"abstract": "During the last years, research has highlighted the importance of chemokines in the nervous system, governing a wide range of processes (MesquidaVeny et al., 2021). This is evidenced for example by the crucial role played by CXCL12 during cortical development, or the homeostatic role of neuronal CX3CL1, preventing microglial activation. We are now certain that many chemokines and their receptors are widely expressed in neurons, and growing evidence has shown them as fundamental players in direct neuronal communication, both during homeostasis and after insult.",
"corpus_id": 257491422
} | {
"title": "Reversible CD8 T cell–neuron cross-talk causes aging-dependent neuronal regenerative decline",
"abstract": "Aging is associated with increased prevalence of axonal injuries characterized by poor regeneration and disability. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In our experiments, RNA sequencing of sciatic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) revealed significant aging-dependent enrichment in T cell signaling both before and after sciatic nerve injury (SNI) in mice. Lymphotoxin activated the transcription factor NF-κB, which induced expression of the chemokine CXCL13 by neurons. This in turn recruited CXCR5+CD8+ T cells to injured DRG neurons overexpressing major histocompatibility complex class I. CD8+ T cells repressed the axonal regeneration of DRG neurons via caspase 3 activation. CXCL13 neutralization prevented CXCR5+CD8+ T cell recruitment to the DRG and reversed aging-dependent regenerative decline, thereby promoting neurological recovery after SNI. Thus, axonal regeneration can be facilitated by antagonizing cross-talk between immune cells and neurons. Description T cells in the elderly touch a nerve With age, the ability to bounce back from nervous system injuries becomes increasingly limited. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying aging-dependent regenerative decline remain poorly understood. Zhou et al. used RNA sequencing and imaging to study dorsal root ganglia in a mouse model of sciatic nerve injury (see the Perspective by Gaudenzio and Liblau). Compared with younger mice, injured DRG sensory neurons in older mice expressed higher levels of the chemokine CXCL13, which attracted CXR5+CD8+ T cells. T cell–neuron cross-talk activated caspase 3, which impaired pAKT, and pS6 signaling causing regenerative failure. When caspase 3, CXCR5, or CXCL13 was therapeutically targeted, the authors were able to restore neuronal regeneration and recovery in older mice to levels comparable to their younger counterparts. —STS Neuron–CD8 T cell interactions fuel aging-associated reductions in neuronal regeneration after injury. INTRODUCTION Axonal regeneration and neurological functional recovery are extremely limited in the elderly. Consequently, injuries to the nervous system are typically followed by severe and long-term disability. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying aging-dependent regenerative failure is poor, hindering progress in the development of effective therapies for neurological repair. To facilitate the design of repair strategies, there is a pressing need to identify critical molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause regenerative failure in aging. RATIONALE Aging causes a broad spectrum of modifications in cell signaling, including changes in metabolism, immunity, and overall tissue homeostasis, which play key roles in nervous system physiology and response to insults. Thus, we hypothesized that injuries to the aged nervous system would be followed by unique molecular and cellular modifications that would contribute to aging-dependent regenerative decline. To this end, molecular and cellular signatures associated with aging and injury to the nervous system were systematically investigated by performing RNA sequencing from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in a well-established model of sciatic nerve injury in young versus aged mice. Insight into these mechanisms could allow the discovery of previously unrecognized molecular targets to counteract aging-dependent regenerative decline. RESULTS Initial analysis of RNA sequencing data identified that aging was mainly associated with a marked increase in T cell activation and signaling in DRG after sciatic nerve injury in mice. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that aging was associated with increased inflammatory cytokines including lymphotoxins in DRG both preceding and following sciatic nerve injury. Specifically, we found that lymphotoxin β was required for the phosphorylation of NF-κB that drives the expression of the chemokine CXCL13 in DRG sensory neurons. CXCL13 attracted CD8+ T cells that expressed the CXCL13 receptor CXCR5 in proximity to neurons that act as antigen-presenting cells by overexpressing major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) after a sciatic nerve injury. The engagement of CXCR5+CD8+ T cells with MHC I–expressing sensory neurons activated caspase 3, which impaired pAKT and pS6 signaling, leading to regenerative failure. Pharmacological antagonism of caspase 3 activation reversed regenerative failure in aged animals and restored pAKT and pS6 expression. Adoptive transfer experiments including comparison between Cxcr5−/− and wild-type cells directly implicated CXCR5+CD8+ T cells in restricting axonal regeneration after sciatic injury in the aged animals. Finally, neutralization of CXCL13 with monoclonal antibodies antagonized the recruitment of CXCR5+CD8+ T cells to the DRG and restored the regenerative ability of sciatic sensory axons in aged mice to levels comparable to those found in young animals. CXCL13 antagonism also significantly promoted skin reinnervation and neurological recovery of sensory function. CONCLUSION We have identified an aging-dependent mechanism that relies on the CXCL13-dependent recruitment and activation of CXCR5+CD8+ T cells in proximity to sensory neurons that restrict axonal regeneration after nerve injury after communication with MHC I–presenting DRG neurons. CXCL13 antagonism with humanized monoclonal antibodies can revert regenerative decline and promote neurological recovery in aged mice, suggesting a pathway that could be exploited in future therapies. Sequence of events leading to aging-dependent regenerative failure in injured sensory neurons. (1) Lymphotoxin β activates NF-κB; (2) phosphorylated NF-κB increases CXCL13 expression; (3) CXCR5+CD8+T cells are recruited into the DRG parenchyma; (4 and 5) sciatic axonal injury activates injury signals; (6) MHC I is presented by DRG neurons; (7) CXCR5+CD8+ T cells engage with MHC I and activate neuronal caspase 3; (8) cleaved caspase 3 reduces pAKT and pS6, leading to regenerative failure.",
"corpus_id": 248749736
} | {
"title": "Protein disulfide isomerase modulation of TRPV1 controls heat hyperalgesia in chronic pain.",
"abstract": "Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) plays a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by mediating protein folding via catalyzing disulfide bond formation, breakage, and rearrangement in the endoplasmic reticulum. Increasing evidence suggests that PDI can be a potential treatment target for several diseases. However, the function of PDI in the peripheral sensory nervous system is unclear. Here we report the expression and secretion of PDI from primary sensory neurons is upregulated in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. Deletion of PDI in nociceptive DRG neurons results in a reduction in inflammatory and neuropathic heat hyperalgesia. We demonstrate that secreted PDI activates TRPV1 channels through oxidative modification of extracellular cysteines of the channel, indicating that PDI acts as an unconventional positive modulator of TRPV1. These findings suggest that PDI in primary sensory neurons plays an important role in development of heat hyperalgesia and can be a potential therapeutic target for chronic pain.",
"corpus_id": 247983654
} |
{
"title": "ON MADHYA PRADESH POWER SECTOR REFORMS",
"abstract": "The Indian power sector value chain can be broadly segmented into the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors. The availability of electricity is very much important in attracting investment as well as economic growth. Hence if a state has made significant improvement in the reducing power deficit then that state must have shown better economic growth. Madhya Pradesh is also among the fastest-growing states in the country. Economic growth is a result of many factors, and the availability of electricity is one of them. In this survey paper, we are focusing on the reforms of the power sector for MPSEB (Madhya Pradesh state electricity board). This paper gives a brief review of the Indian power sector, Madhya Pradesh state electricity board, need of power sector reforms, infrastructure, and also discussed the recent REWA solar plant project of Madhya Pradesh which enhances the MP POWER",
"corpus_id": 235236468
} | {
"title": "Current status, policies and future perspectives of Indian power sector moving towards deregulation",
"abstract": "This Restructuring and deregulation of the electricity industry is a movement with the aim of achieving lower prices to customers through cost savings. The deregulation of electric power systems in many parts of the world has changed the mechanism of electricity pricing. India is in the processing on restructuring in power sector. Power planning will play an important role in the successful power reform and essential for Indian economic growth. Only a financially and commercially sound power sector can attract new investments. In Indian power sector, restructuring will substantially change power planning, especially the methodology of the power generation expansion planning. The evolution of power restructuring and deregulation policies in India needed to be considered to produce full benefits from power utility deregulation. An important possible effect of deregulation may be a reduction in maintenance and in new investments. This paper emphasizes the current strategies and policies made by the Indian government towards deregulation.",
"corpus_id": 7147137
} | {
"title": "Efficiency of Electricity Distribution Utilities in India: A Data Envelopment Analysis",
"abstract": "The study makes an effort to measure the relative efficiency of electricity distribution utilities (DUs) of 17 unbundled states in India using a Frontier tool, viz. data envelopment analysis. The model with constant returns to scale is applied to evaluate the relative efficiency of different sample DUs. The input‐orientation measure has been used to calculate the efficiency score of 40 DUs for the year 2012–2013. It is observed that there is existence of inefficiency in 29 out of the 40 sample utilities. These inefficient utilities have the potential to become efficient utilities by benchmarking against the most efficient utilities. In order to supply the same output, these utilities need to reduce their use of inputs to the level of most productive scale size. The regulators need to pay special attention to enhance the efficiency of these inefficient DUs by exploring alternative approaches like incentive‐based regulation.",
"corpus_id": 156979019
} |
{
"title": "Evaluating efficiency and ranking of suppliers using non-radial super-efficiency data envelopment analysis with uncontrollable factors",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Supply chain management (SCM) has been received much attention from academics and corporates. Effective and sustainable SCM require proper efficiency evaluation of suppliers. Such evaluation can be performed using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Classical DEA models presume all inputs and outputs are under the control of suppliers’ management, as well as the models cannot provide a complete ranking of efficient and inefficient suppliers. However, in SCM and other real-managerial problems, some inputs and/or outputs may be uncontrollable (outside management control). Thus, this paper proposes a super efficiency of slacks-based measure (SE-SBM) approach that can handle uncontrollable factors. The proposed approach can distinguish between efficient and inefficient suppliers and identify their rankings. The discriminating power of the proposed approach is due to it concurrently deals with input excesses and output shortfalls to improve inefficient suppliers, as well as input savings and output surpluses of efficient suppliers to maintain their efficient status.",
"corpus_id": 257681359
} | {
"title": "An integrated bi-objective data envelopment analysis model for measuring returns to scale",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Classical efficiency studies on data envelopment analysis (DEA) consider all its inputs and outputs are desirable factors and real valued-data. Additionally, the DEA models only focus either on input-oriented projection minimizing inputs for an inefficient decision making unit (DMU) while keeping outputs at their maximum level, or output-oriented projection maximizing outputs under the present level of input consumption. To simultaneously deal with input excesses and output shortfalls maximizing both projections, this paper proposes a bi-objective DEA model in the context of undesirable factors and mixed integer requirements. These factors and requirements were integrated into the objective function and constraints of the existing bi-objective models. In addition, the proposed model estimates the returns to scale of DMUs that depends on the projections of input reduction and output augmentation. The applicability and usefulness of the proposed model were tested using the dataset of 39 Spanish airports retrieved from the literature. Besides, the proposed model was compared with the three existing bi-objective DEA models in the literature to test its validity.",
"corpus_id": 235524589
} | {
"title": "Assessing Hybrid Solar-Wind Potential for Industrial Decarbonization Strategies: Global Shift to Green Development",
"abstract": "The global energy mix is shifting from fossil fuels to combinations of multiple energy storage and generation types. Hybrid energy system advancements provide opportunities for developing and deploying innovative green technology solutions that can further reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This study examined the impact of an increasing share of wind and solar electricity production on reducing carbon intensity by controlling coal and lignite domestic consumption and the production of refined oil products in a world aggregated data panel. Data covering the last three decades were used for the analysis by the ARDL bounds testing approach. The results showed that an increasing share of wind and solar electricity production would be helpful to decrease carbon intensity in the short and long term. On the other hand, a 1% increase in coal and domestic lignite consumption increased carbon intensity by 0.343% in the short run and 0.174% in the long run. The production of refined oil products decreases carbon intensity by 0.510% in the short run and 0.700% in the long run. However, refining oil products is associated with positive and negative environmental externalities. The positive aspect depends upon the removal of harmful pollutants and the production of cleaner-burning fuels, while the negative part is related to the operational side of refineries and processing plants that may release contaminants into the atmosphere, affecting global air and water quality. Hence, it is crucial to improve processing and refining capacity to produce better-refined oil products by using renewable fuels in energy production. It is proposed that these are the most cost-effective pathways to achieve industrial decarbonization.",
"corpus_id": 244156583
} |
{
"title": "The NPU-Elevoc Personalized Speech Enhancement System for Icassp2023 DNS Challenge",
"abstract": "This paper describes our NPU-Elevoc personalized speech enhancement system (NAPSE) for the 5th Deep Noise Suppression Challenge at ICASSP 2023. Based on the superior two-stage model TEA-PSE 2.0, our system particularly explores better strategy for speaker embedding fusion, optimizes the model training pipeline, and leverages adversarial training and multi-scale loss. According to the results, our system is tied for the 1st place in the headset track (track 1) and ranked 2nd in the speakerphone track (track 2).",
"corpus_id": 257496795
} | {
"title": "TEA-PSE: Tencent-Ethereal-Audio-Lab Personalized Speech Enhancement System for ICASSP 2022 DNS Challenge",
"abstract": "This paper describes Tencent Ethereal Audio Lab – Northwestern Polytechnical University personalized speech enhancement (TEA-PSE) system submitted to track 2 of the ICASSP 2022 Deep Noise Suppression (DNS) challenge. Our system specifically combines the dual-stage network which is a superior real-time speech enhancement framework with the ECAPA-TDNN speaker embedding network which achieves state-of-the-art performance in speaker verification. The dual-stage network aims to decouple the primal speech enhancement problem into multiple easier sub-problems. Specifically, in stage 1, only the magnitude of the target speech is estimated, which is incorporated with the noisy phase to obtain a coarse complex spectrum estimation. To facilitate the formal estimation, in stage 2, an auxiliary network serves as a post-processing module, where residual noise and interfering speech are further suppressed and the phase information is effectively modified. With the asymmetric loss function to penalize over-suppression, more target speech is preserved, which is helpful for both speech recognition performance and subjective sense of hearing. Our system reaches 3.97 in overall audio quality (OVRL) MOS and 0.69 in word accuracy (WAcc) on the blind test set of the challenge, which outperforms the DNS baseline by 0.57 OVRL and ranks 1st in track 2.",
"corpus_id": 249437259
} | {
"title": "Remaining effect of long-term soil tillage on plant biomass yield and water erosion in a Cambisol after transition to no-tillage",
"abstract": "Abstract No-tillage combined with soil cover by plant residues is important strategy to reduce soil erosion caused by cultivation methods that involve soil tillage. However, the impact that history of soil disturbance caused by tillage has on plant production and water erosion after the establishment of no-tillage requires a detailed assessment. This research aimed to evaluate the residual effect of soil managed for 23 years with different intensities of mechanical preparation on vegetable biomass yield and soil and water losses by erosion after transition to no-tillage, in a Cambisol in southern Brazil. For three years (2015–2018), the following treatments were evaluated: NT1) long-term no-tillage, conducted for 23 years (control); NT2) no-tillage established after 23 years of cultivation under alternation of different tillage; NT3) no-tillage established after 23 years of cultivation under minimum tillage (scarification with chisel plough followed by harrowing); NT4) no-tillage established after 23 years of cultivation under conventional tillage (plowing with disc plough followed by two harrowings); and NT5) no-tillage established after 23 years of soil kept uncovered and without cultivation (bare soil). During this research, in all treatments, a cover crop mixture was grown in the winter and maize in the summer. Rainfall characteristics, water erosion and dry vegetable biomass (DVB) of the crops were evaluated in plots of 3.5 × 22.1 m, with an average slope of 0.102 m m−1. The history of long-term soil tillage influenced plant biomass yield and affected the effectiveness of no-tillage in reducing soil erosion and runoff after its establishment. NT1 had a large accumulated DVB, significantly (p NT3 = NT2 > NT1. Water losses by runoff were greater in NT3, NT4 and NT5 and lowest value occurred in NT1 (p",
"corpus_id": 237682158
} |
{
"title": "Quick response circuit for low-power LDO voltage regulators to improve load transient response",
"abstract": "In this work, we propose a quick response circuit to improve the load transient response of fully low dropout voltage linear regulator (LDO) which is operable with a very low power consumption. Simulating by HSPICE with 0.35 mum CMOS technology shows that we can achieve the transient responses with less transient overshoot or undershoot when driving large current loads. Comparing to the generic LDO, for example, in case of 1 muF decoupling capacitor, about 95% output drop and 27% settling time for 0.1 mA to 100 mA load current and 88% output overshoot and 63% settling time for 100 mA to 0.1 mA load current have been together improved. The proposed circuit only dissipates low static power, so we could achieve the above LDO with only 3.3 muA consuming current at V out + 1 V and 150 mA load current. V out is the output voltage of the regulator.",
"corpus_id": 17991511
} | {
"title": "LDO Regulator with Feedback Network Improved Transient Response",
"abstract": "In this paper, we propose LDO regulator with improved transient using a simple feedback structure in conventional LDO regulator. This proposed circuit has the feedback structure which reduces the response time of overshoot appeared in the output of conventional LDO regulator. Therefore, this LDO regulator can be a more stable operation. Thus, the proposed feedback structure is to operate such as conventional LDO regulator without changing the area, it complements the disadvantage of LDO regulator with noise in the output. This circuit was designed to using a Dongbu Hitek 0.18um CMOS process.",
"corpus_id": 63969762
} | {
"title": "A low noise, high power supply rejection low dropout regulator for wireless system-on-chip applications",
"abstract": "This paper presents a novel two-stage low dropout regulator (LDO) that minimizes output noise via a pre-regulator stage and achieves high power supply rejection via a simple subtractor circuit in the power driver stage. The LDO is fabricated with a standard 0.35mum CMOS process and occupies 0.26 mm2 and 0.39mm2 for single and dual output respectively. Measurement showed PSR is 60dB at 10kHz and integrated noise is 21.2uVrms ranging from 1kHz to 100kHz",
"corpus_id": 13564165
} |
{
"title": "Multicriteria approach to prioritize forest restoration areas for biodiversity conservation in the eastern Amazon.",
"abstract": "Due to the global magnitude of forest degradation and deforestation and the high cost of ecological restoration, several approaches have been used to prioritize conservation or restoration areas based on different objectives and criteria. The present work aims to develop a multicriteria approach to defining forest restoration priority areas in the Itacaiúnas River basin, eastern Amazon, that maximizes the criteria equitably. The selected criteria were: improve forest connectivity, provide climatic refuges for biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of deforestation on streamflow, and improve the probability of natural regeneration. A strong difference between selected areas was observed when the criteria of forest connectivity and mitigate the impact on streamflow were considered separately, but greater equity among the criteria was achieved using the multicriteria approach. The most priority areas were concentrated near protected areas. The method used provides a flexible framework, and different criteria or subarea selections can be applied for different purposes to facilitate adaptive management. Analyzing forest restoration prioritization on rural properties can provide guidance for conserving and restoring biodiversity at the landscape scale while complying with legal requirements.",
"corpus_id": 250230407
} | {
"title": "Exploring spatio-temporal change in global land cover using categorical intensity analysis",
"abstract": "The rates of land degradation and urbanization has increased worldwide during the past century. Herein, we evaluate the spatio-temporal changes in global land cover via categorical intensity analysis of the European Space Agency’s climate change initiative (ESA-CCI) data for the period 1992 to 2018. Specifically, we evaluated intensity analysis at the category level for five time intervals, namely 1992–1997, 1997–2002, 2002–2007 and 2007–2012, 2012–2018. We also, evaluate the decrease and increase in the land cover at continental and climate zone. The study evaluates the following land cover categories: Cropland, Forest, SGO (Shrubland, Grassland, and Other), Urban, Bare areas, and WIS (Water, ice, and snow). After accuracy assessment, the global land-cover map for 2009 from the GlobCover data is selected, and a reclassified version of this map is used as a verification tool for comparison with the reclassified study data. The analysis of changes over the last 26 years shows that the loss for Cropland are dormant during the first and second time intervals, but active during the third, fourth, and fifth time intervals. By contrast, Forest experienced loss during all time intervals, and SGO experienced active loss only during the second time interval. Urban is the only category that experienced active gain during all time intervals. The present study also indicates that urbanization has and converted land in temperate regions during the past 26 years. Additionally, in South America and the tropical regions, the expansion of Cropland is the largest contributor to the decline in Forests and SGO.",
"corpus_id": 233561770
} | {
"title": "Restoring forests as a means to many ends",
"abstract": "An urgent need to replenish tree canopy cover calls for holistic approaches Earth is approaching environmental thresholds that, if crossed, will create serious disruptions to ecosystems, economies, and society (1). To avoid the devastating effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, humanity must protect and restore native ecosystems (2). International conventions and organizations support forest restoration as a method for mitigating hazardous environmental shifts, but questions remain as to where and how to focus such restoration efforts. On page 76 of this issue, Bastin et al. (3) describe a new approach that advances our understanding of global tree distribution.",
"corpus_id": 195804244
} |
{
"title": "Understanding the Downstream Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sonographers and Vascular Technologists: Healthcare Heroes’ Kryptonite!",
"abstract": "Objective: This work aimed to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the work of sonographers and vascular technologists. Materials and Methods: A follow-up questionnaire was sent to an established registry of ultrasonography users who opted into a longitudinal research study examining worker health and wellbeing. Multiple questions related to the general impacts of COVID-19 on sonography work practices, workload, and considerations of remaining or leaving their current job were included; responses to these questions were descriptively tabulated. Participants indicated specific changes that occurred and provided general comments related to COVID-19 impacts in two free-text questions. These comments were qualitatively analyzed by two sonographers who used an interpretive grounded theory approach to formatively code and memo the comments. Four summative interviews were conducted with participants who represented varied practice areas to gain deeper insights into the experiences expressed by the total respondent pool. Qualitative coding of the free-text responses and interview transcripts was completed independently by the two sonographers using the Sonography Work Systems (SWS) framework, and the full research team contributed to the interpretation of the findings. Results: A total of 1389 ultrasonography users completed the questionnaire. The pandemic changed the ways in which examinations were performed for approximately half of the respondents. A higher or somewhat higher workload was noted by 48% of the sample, while only 10% experienced a lower or somewhat lower workload. Components of the work system were a major concern for respondents, and a lack of support from supervisors and hospital administration was a key finding. Participants felt limited in their ability to provide care, experienced posttraumatic stress, and reported a lack of reciprocity, which were all underscored as undesirable outcomes. Conclusion: Sonographers and vascular technologists suffered negative consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most marked outcome was the undesirable effects on the work system, which resulted in the need for these workers to engage in herculean efforts over a sustained period. Findings suggest that these health care heroes may have experienced physical and mental harm while trying to provide health care services, despite numerous institutional challenges.",
"corpus_id": 259368885
} | {
"title": "Impact of the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US Healthcare Workers: Results from the HERO Registry",
"abstract": "The HERO registry was established to support research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US healthcare workers. Describe the COVID-19 pandemic experiences of and effects on individuals participating in the HERO registry. Cross-sectional, self-administered registry enrollment survey conducted from April 10 to July 31, 2020. Participants worked in hospitals (74.4%), outpatient clinics (7.4%), and other settings (18.2%) located throughout the nation. A total of 14,600 healthcare workers. COVID-19 exposure, viral and antibody testing, diagnosis of COVID-19, job burnout, and physical and emotional distress. Mean age was 42.0 years, 76.4% were female, 78.9% were White, 33.2% were nurses, 18.4% were physicians, and 30.3% worked in settings at high risk for COVID-19 exposure (e.g., ICUs, EDs, COVID-19 units). Overall, 43.7% reported a COVID-19 exposure and 91.3% were exposed at work. Just 3.8% in both high- and low-risk settings experienced COVID-19 illness. In regression analyses controlling for demographics, professional role, and work setting, the risk of COVID-19 illness was higher for Black/African-Americans (aOR 2.32, 99% CI 1.45, 3.70, p < 0.01) and Hispanic/Latinos (aOR 2.19, 99% CI 1.55, 3.08, p < 0.01) compared with Whites. Overall, 41% responded that they were experiencing job burnout. Responding about the day before they completed the survey, 53% of participants reported feeling tired a lot of the day, 51% stress, 41% trouble sleeping, 38% worry, 21% sadness, 19% physical pain, and 15% anger. On average, healthcare workers reported experiencing 2.4 of these 7 distress feelings a lot of the day. Healthcare workers are at high risk for COVID-19 exposure, but rates of COVID-19 illness were low. The greater risk of COVID-19 infection among race/ethnicity minorities reported in the general population is also seen in healthcare workers. The HERO registry will continue to monitor changes in healthcare worker well-being during the pandemic. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04342806",
"corpus_id": 232173066
} | {
"title": "Towards Resilient Chapel: Design and implementation of a transparent resilience mechanism for Chapel",
"abstract": "The exponential increase of components in modern High Performance Computing (HPC) systems poses a challenge on their resilience: predictions of time between failures on ExaScale systems range from hours to minutes, yet the prevalent HPC programming model today does not tolerate faults. In this paper, we describe the design and prototype implementation of transparent resilience support for Chapel [1], a parallel HPC language with focus on scalability, portability and productivity, following the Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) [2] programming model.",
"corpus_id": 114601982
} |
{
"title": "Low-temperature direct electrochemical splitting of H2S",
"abstract": "Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising decarbonized fuels. However, its applicability is limited due to the ecological constraints of its production. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is widely available in oil and gas reservoirs and has the potential of becoming an energetically favorable source of hydrogen. Nevertheless, its electrochemical separation into H2 and elemental sulfur has not been successfully achieved at the industrial scale, due to sulfur poisoning of the electrodes at the sulfur oxidation half-reaction. This review highlights the progress of the direct electrolytic separation of H2S below the sulfur dew point, where the sulfur poisoning effect becomes more prominent. The article discusses the different technologies and approaches explored to improve the energy efficiency and stability of H2S electrolytic systems, including the recent use of nanostructured electrodes and novel sulfur solvents as electrolytes.",
"corpus_id": 255497913
} | {
"title": "State of the art two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks: Prospects from rational design and reactions to applications for advanced energy storage technologies",
"abstract": "Abstract In recent years, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted considerable attention due to their fantastic features and multiple potential applications in many areas. Aromatic subunits are linked by versatile linkages using the bottom-up strategy, endowing COFs with well-defined structures, precisely controlled pores, and versatile functional groups. So far, COFs have exhibited outstanding performances and great potentials in many applications. However, well-summarized reports about the recent advances of COFs, especially for energy-related research, are still lacking. Herein, we give a review of the state-of-the-art developments of COFs for energy storage, and especially focus on the two-dimensional (2D) COFs. First of all, various building blocks and linkages, as well as the synthetic strategies, are summarized and discussed in detail. Later, the up-to-date achievements of applying COFs for advanced energy storage technologies are presented. Lastly, the perspectives and critical challenges for COFs are proposed.",
"corpus_id": 238669279
} | {
"title": "A Novel Cost Optimization Strategy for SDN-Enabled UAV-Assisted Vehicular Computation Offloading",
"abstract": "Vehicular computation offloading is a well-received strategy to execute delay-sensitive and/or compute-intensive tasks of legacy vehicles. The response time of vehicular computation offloading can be shortened by using mobile edge computing that offers strong computing power, driving these computation tasks closer to end users. However, the quality of communication is hard to guarantee due to the obstruction of dense buildings or lack of infrastructure in some zones. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), therefore, have become one of the means to establish communication links for the two ends owing to its characteristics of ignoring terrain and flexible deployment. To make a sensible decision of computation offloading, nevertheless vehicles need to gather offloading-related global information, in which Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has shown its advances in data collection and centralized management. In this paper, thus, we propose an SDN-enabled UAV-assisted vehicular computation offloading optimization framework to minimize the system cost of vehicle computing tasks. In our framework, the UAV and the Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server can work on behalf of the vehicle users to execute the delay-sensitive and compute-intensive tasks. The UAV, in a meanwhile, can also be deployed as a relay node to assist in forwarding computation tasks to the MEC server. We formulate the offloading decision-making problem as a multi-players computation offloading sequential game, and design the UAV-assisted Vehicular computation Cost Optimization (UVCO) algorithm to solve this problem. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm can make the offloading decision to minimize the Average System Cost (ASC).",
"corpus_id": 226643227
} |
{
"title": "A nomogram model for predicting ocular GVHD following allo-HSCT based on risk factors",
"abstract": "Objective To develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (coGVHD) in patients after allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods This study included 61 patients who survived at least 100 days after allo-HSCT. Risk factors for coGVHD were screened using LASSO regression, then the variables selected were subjected to logistic regression. Nomogram was established to further confirm the risk factors for coGVHD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the performance of the predictive model with the training and test sets. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by using logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 61 patients, 38 were diagnosed with coGVHD. We selected five texture features: lymphocytes (LYM) (OR = 2.26), plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA) (OR = 1.19), CD3 + CD25 + cells (OR = 1.38), CD3 + HLA-DR + cells (OR = 0.95), and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) (OR = 1.44). The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the nomogram with the training and test sets were 0.979 (95% CI, 0.895–1.000) and 0.969 (95% CI, 0.846–1.000), respectively.And the Hosmer–Lemeshow test was nonsignificant with the training ( p = 0.9949) and test sets ( p = 0.9691). Conclusion We constructed a nomogram that can assess the risk of coGVHD in patients after allo-HSCT and help minimize the irreversible loss of vision caused by the disease in high-risk populations.",
"corpus_id": 256191653
} | {
"title": "Development and validation of a novel predictive model and web calculator for evaluating transfusion risk after spinal fusion for spinal tuberculosis: a retrospective cohort study",
"abstract": "Objectives The incidence and adverse events of postoperative blood transfusion in spinal tuberculosis (TB) have attracted increasing attention. Our purpose was to develop a prediction model to evaluate blood transfusion risk after spinal fusion (SF) for spinal TB. Methods Nomogram and machine learning algorithms, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), multilayer perceptron (MLP), Naive Bayesian (NB), k-nearest neighbors (K-NN) and random forest (RF), were constructed to identified predictors of blood transfusion from all spinal TB cases treated by SF in our department between May 2010 and April 2020. The prediction performance of the models was evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation. We calculated the average AUC and the maximum AUC, then demonstrated the ROC curve with maximum AUC. Results The collected cohort ultimately was consisted of 152 patients, where 56 required allogeneic blood transfusions. The predictors were surgical duration, preoperative Hb, preoperative ABL, preoperative MCHC, number of fused vertebrae, IBL, and anticoagulant history. We obtained the average AUC of nomogram (0.75), SVM (0.62), k-NM (0.65), DT (0.56), NB (0.74), MLP (0.56) and RF (0.72). An interactive web calculator based on this model has been provided ( https://drwenleli.shinyapps.io/STTapp/ ). Conclusions We confirmed seven independent risk factors affecting blood transfusion and diagramed them with the nomogram and web calculator.",
"corpus_id": 237629508
} | {
"title": "Tocilizumab Prevents Progression of Early Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease",
"abstract": "Tocilizumab (TCZ) has demonstrated lung function preservation in 2 randomized controlled trials in early systemic sclerosis (SSc). This effect has yet to be characterized in terms of radiographically evident quantitative lung involvement. We undertook this study to assess the impact of TCZ on lung function preservation in a post hoc analysis, stratifying treatment arms according to the degree of lung involvement.",
"corpus_id": 231804424
} |
{
"title": "Review of the potential application of bacteria in self-healing and the improving properties of concrete/mortar",
"abstract": "Abstract Calcium carbonate precipitation, caused by the metabolic activity of bacteria, is a good idea to improve concrete performance. This study was aimed at investigating the effect on using bacteria for healing the cracks and improving the concrete properties by introducing effective parameters in this field. Because knowing these parameters, it can help fill existing gaps and in achieving high-quality bacterial concrete in future studies. The effects of the type of the bacteria, the nutrients, the concentration of the bacteria, and methods of introducing bacteria in concrete were also studied. By reducing the structural pores, the bacterial participation at the concentration of 105–107 cells/ml has led to an increase in the compressive strength by up to 42.5% and a decrease in the penetration of chloride by up to 69%. Moreover, the evaluated efficiency of the crack healing by encapsulation was higher in this method than the other methods.",
"corpus_id": 236314831
} | {
"title": "Utilization of sandstone waste in cement mortar for sustainable production of building materials through biomineralization",
"abstract": "Sandstone waste generated during stone cutting and processing is a major environmental problem. In this study, different ratios of sandstone powder was utilized as a cement replacement and the mortar specimens were treated with bacteria to enhance the durability properties. With replacement ratio of sandstone powder (10% to 40%), strength loss was observed in all the sandstone-modified mortars. Due to bacterial treatment in CSB10, CSB20, CSB30 and CSB40 specimens, compressive strength was increased by 11%, 12.8%, 17% and 6%, respectively compared to their respective controls. Water absorption rate was significantly reduced and lower sorptivity coefficient was recorded in bacterial treated specimens. In bacterial treated CSB30 specimens, compressive strength recovery (17%) and reduced sorptivity coefficient (0.002) were observed. Present study results suggest that microbial treatment of sandstone modified mortar with a 30% replacement ratio of cement is a possible solution for utilizing stone waste in the construction industry.",
"corpus_id": 252060423
} | {
"title": "A Comparative Study of Protective Schemes for Shield Tunneling Adjacent to Pile Groups",
"abstract": "Shield tunneling adjacent to pile groups is always an unavoidable problem in urban metro construction. A case was found in the project of Tianjin Metro Line 7, where a shield tunnel would be constructed near the existing pile groups of Shiyou Bridge. The whole shield tunnel is close to pile groups, and the minimum distance is only 0.8 m. Therefore, four kinds of protective schemes are proposed in this paper. It is vital to select an appropriate protective scheme to guarantee the safety during the tunnel construction. In this study, the main mechanical characteristic and physical parameters of site soil were obtained through laboratory tests. Besides, the three-dimensional finite element method was carried out to compare and analyze the effectiveness of the protective schemes in mitigating the effects of tunneling on adjacent pile groups. The results show that the deep-hole grouting scheme has better control effect on the lateral deformation and bending moment of piles, while the pile foundation underpinning scheme has better effectiveness on reducing the settlement of bridge structure and ground deformation. Finally, the deep-hole grouting reinforcement scheme will be adopted to ensure the shield passing through the pile groups smoothly.",
"corpus_id": 210913586
} |
{
"title": "A semi-supervised method for fast prediction of chaotic motions in nonintegrable systems",
"abstract": "We propose to use a semi-supervised learning technique to quickly estimate the stability of chaotic dynamical systems by utilizing longand short-term numerical integrations jointly. To determine the stability of a chaotic Hamiltonian system, pure long-term numerical integration is the most reliable method, which is however computationally expensive. When applying to the dynamic aperture (DA) evaluation of a diffraction-limited synchrotron light source and a lepton collider, this semi-supervised method can approximately distinguish the regular and chaotic trajectories of particles from their one-turn trajectories with up to 90% accuracy. We demonstrate that the needed computation time can be reduced by an order of magnitude when applying this method to the DA optimization of a diffraction-limited synchrotron light source. This model-independent method is not limited to a particular physical model such as a storage ring beam dynamics, thus are directly transferable to other chaotic dynamical systems.",
"corpus_id": 235794999
} | {
"title": "Machine Learning-Based Classification of Vector Vortex Beams.",
"abstract": "Structured light is attracting significant attention for its diverse applications in both classical and quantum optics. The so-called vector vortex beams display peculiar properties in both contexts due to the nontrivial correlations between optical polarization and orbital angular momentum. Here we demonstrate a new, flexible experimental approach to the classification of vortex vector beams. We first describe a platform for generating arbitrary complex vector vortex beams inspired to photonic quantum walks. We then exploit recent machine learning methods-namely, convolutional neural networks and principal component analysis-to recognize and classify specific polarization patterns. Our study demonstrates the significant advantages resulting from the use of machine learning-based protocols for the construction and characterization of high-dimensional resources for quantum protocols.",
"corpus_id": 218562694
} | {
"title": "Pymoo: Multi-Objective Optimization in Python",
"abstract": "Python has become the programming language of choice for research and industry projects related to data science, machine learning, and deep learning. Since optimization is an inherent part of these research fields, more optimization related frameworks have arisen in the past few years. Only a few of them support optimization of multiple conflicting objectives at a time, but do not provide comprehensive tools for a complete multi-objective optimization task. To address this issue, we have developed pymoo, a multi-objective optimization framework in Python. We provide a guide to getting started with our framework by demonstrating the implementation of an exemplary constrained multi-objective optimization scenario. Moreover, we give a high-level overview of the architecture of pymoo to show its capabilities followed by an explanation of each module and its corresponding sub-modules. The implementations in our framework are customizable and algorithms can be modified/extended by supplying custom operators. Moreover, a variety of single, multi- and many-objective test problems are provided and gradients can be retrieved by automatic differentiation out of the box. Also, pymoo addresses practical needs, such as the parallelization of function evaluations, methods to visualize low and high-dimensional spaces, and tools for multi-criteria decision making. For more information about pymoo, readers are encouraged to visit: https://pymoo.org.",
"corpus_id": 211076047
} |
{
"title": "Two-Stage Hybrid-Field Beam Training for Ultra-Massive MIMO Systems",
"abstract": "In this paper, by considering both the near field and far field, the beam training is investigated for an ultra-massive multiple-input-multiple-output system with a partially-connected hybrid combing structure. As the Rayleigh distance decreases quadratically with the reduction of the antenna number, the near-field effect of subarrays is much weaker than that of the whole array. Motivated by this, far-field channel steering vectors of a subarray are used to approximate its near-field channel steering vectors. Then a two-stage hybrid-field beam training scheme that works for both the near field and far field is proposed. In the first stage, each subarray independently uses multiple far-field channel steering vectors for analog combining. In the second stage, for each codeword in a predefined hybrid-field codebook, a dedicated digital combiner is designed to combine the output of the analog combiner from the first stage. Then, from the hybrid-field codebook, the codeword corresponding to the dedicated digital combiner that achieves the largest combining power is selected. Note that the dedicated digital combiners can be obtained offline before the beam training and the combining power can be computed in parallel. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can approach the performance of the hybrid-field beam sweeping but with considerable reduction in training overhead.",
"corpus_id": 252469679
} | {
"title": "Hierarchical Codebook based Multiuser Beam Training for Millimeter Massive MIMO",
"abstract": "In this paper, multiuser beam training based on hierarchical codebook for millimeter wave massive multi-input multi-output is investigated, where the base station (BS) simultaneously performs beam training with multiple user equipments (UEs). For the UEs, an alternative minimization method with a closed-form expression (AMCF) is proposed to design the hierarchical codebook under the constant modulus constraint. To speed up the convergence of the AMCF, an initialization method based on Zadoff-Chu sequence is proposed. For the BS, a simultaneous multiuser beam training scheme based on an adaptively designed hierarchical codebook is proposed, where the codewords in the current layer of the codebook are designed according to the beam training results of the previous layer. The codewords at the BS are designed with multiple mainlobes, each covering a spatial region for one or more UEs. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchical codebook design schemes and show that the proposed multiuser beam training scheme can approach the performance of the beam sweeping but with significantly reduced beam training overhead.",
"corpus_id": 221941692
} | {
"title": "Near-Field Channel Estimation for Extremely Large-scale MIMO with Hybrid Precoding",
"abstract": "Extremely large-scale multiple-input-multiple-output (XL-MIMO) with hybrid precoding is a promising technique to meet the high rate requirements for future 6G. To realize efficient precoding, accurate channel estimation is essential. Existing channel estimation algorithms with low pilot overhead heavily rely on the channel sparsity in angle domain, which is achieved by the classical far-field planar-wavefront assumption. However, this sparsity is not available, due to the non-negligible near-field spherical-wavefront property in XL-MIMO. Therefore, existing far-field estimation schemes will suffer from severe performance loss. To address this problem, in this paper, we study the near-field channel estimation by exploiting the polar-domain sparsity. Specifically, unlike the classical angle-domain representation that only considers the angle information of channel, we propose a polar-domain representation, which simultaneously accounts both the angle and distance information. In this way, the near-field channel also exhibits sparsity in polar domain. Exploiting this polar-domain sparsity, we propose an polar-domain simultaneous orthogonal matching pursuit (P-SOMP) algorithm to efficiently estimate the near-field channel. Finally, simulations are provided to verify the effectiveness of our schemes.",
"corpus_id": 246479364
} |
{
"title": "Observational Evidence of a Magnetic Flux Rope Eruption Associated with the X3 Flare on 2002 July 15",
"abstract": "We present the study of an eruption from the low solar atmosphere (photosphere/chromosphere) as seen in Transition Region and Coronal Explorer 1600 Å images and with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Michelson Doppler Imager. The eruption reached its maximum at 20:08 UT on 2002 July 15 in the NOAA Active Region 10030 (N19°, W01°), accompanied by an X3 flare and followed by a fast-halo coronal mass ejection. The main observational results from the data are as follows: (1) the erupting plasma was in a rapidly rising, twisted ropelike structure; (2) the eruption occurred just preceding the onset of its driven flare; and (3) the morphology and magnetic flux of one slender footpoint (~9000 km in length) of the rope developed rapidly on the photosphere. This structure disappeared in white light and in the magnetograms within 60 minutes. This evidence supports the erupting flux rope model. Our data favor the idea that a catastrophic loss of MHD equilibrium can be the primary driving mechanism for the rapid ejection of a flux rope. This conclusion is based on the judgment that the ambient fields of the flux rope were partly opened as a result of the magnetic reconnection.",
"corpus_id": 123665359
} | {
"title": "Eruption of a Flux Rope on the Disk of the Sun: Evidence for the Coronal Mass Ejection Trigger?",
"abstract": "The first evidence of acceleration of a flux rope from the disk of the Sun using the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is presented. A distinct blueshifted emission component (-480 km s-1) was observed by the EUV spectrometer on SOHO at the start of the impulsive phase of an X2.3 flare. There is a halo coronal mass ejection associated with this event. Based on a sequence of velocity measurements, we determine the acceleration of the erupting material. These results are supported by simultaneous EUV imaging data from the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer spacecraft, which shows the projected motion of the flux rope. The CDS spectra reveal an initial rapid acceleration phase (3.5 km s-2), followed by a transition to a more gradual acceleration (0.68 km s-2). This may indicate energy input via explosive reconnection.",
"corpus_id": 122529356
} | {
"title": "Artificial wind: a new framework to construct simple and efficient upwind shock-capturing schemes",
"abstract": "Using a concept of artificial wind having its roots in the Galilean invariance of hydrodynamic equations, we propose a new framework to design upwind shock-capturing schemes. Its application results in simple, efficient, and accurate schemes retaining their simplicity for a broad range of hydrodynamic problems. The global, local, and differential artificial wind approaches are subsequently elaborated. Test results demonstrate efficiency and accuracy of the new schemes in comparison with the Godunov scheme and its second-order extension. The relationship between the artificial wind approach and some existing schemes is also discussed.",
"corpus_id": 121390513
} |
{
"title": "Loaded paraquaton polymeric nanocapsules and evaluation for cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats.",
"abstract": "Present work was conducted to prepare and evaluate, loaded paraquat nano-hydrogels using chitosan, sodium polytriphosphate, and xanthan via ionic gelification method. The fabricated L-PQ formulations were analyzed for surface morphology and functional groups using SEM and FTIR, respectively. The stability of the synthesized nanoparticle was, also, analyzed in terms of diameter size, zeta potential, dispersion index, and pH. Furthermore, the cardiotoxicity effects of the synthesized nanogels were investigated on Wistar rats in terms of enzymatic activity, echocardiographic, and histological analysis. The proper stability of the prepared formulation was also confirmed by diameter size, zeta potential, dispersion index, and pH. The efficiency of encapsulation was about 90±3.2% and the release of PQ in the loaded nanogel was about 90±2.3%. A decrease in ST (shortening time) segment by formulated PQ, either in peritoneal or gavage exposure pathway, indicates the effectiveness of the capsule layer against the penetration of toxin into the body.",
"corpus_id": 257045928
} | {
"title": "Environmental fate and ecotoxicology of paraquat: a California perspective",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT The herbicide paraquat belongs to the group of the bipyridylium salts. In California, it is used primarily for control of broad-leaved grasses in fruit orchards and plantations, as a cotton defoliant, and for inter-row control in many crop and non-crop areas. In plants, paraquat causes the formation of reactive radicals leading to cell membrane damage and ultimately rapid desiccation. Soil clay minerals have a greater influence on paraquat adsorption and inactivation compared with soil organic matter following an application. Degradation mechanisms include photolysis, chemical, and microbial degradation, but these processes are generally extremely slow. In California during 2000–2014, paraquat was used primarily for the cultivation of almonds, cotton, alfalfa, and grapes: median value for an application and annual mass applied statewide were 0.53 kg ion/ha and 280 Mg, respectively. Paraquat was undetected in groundwater as a non-point source pollutant. Detections in surface waters (0.42–3.6 μg/L) were <1%. In earthworms and other invertebrates there is limited paraquat accumulation as toxic effects are mitigated via soil inactivation. Paraquat is among the most embryotoxic contaminants for bird eggs, but not to adult; it causes toxic and teratogenic effects in amphibians, and toxic effects in honeybees, fish, and other aquatic species.",
"corpus_id": 52059546
} | {
"title": "2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.",
"abstract": "AIM\nThe \"2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure\" replaces the \"2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure\" and the \"2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.\" The 2022 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with heart failure.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant clinical trials and research studies, published through September 2021, were also considered. This guideline was harmonized with other American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines published through December 2021. Structure: Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2022 heart failure guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with heart failure, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests. Many recommendations from the earlier heart failure guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. Value statements are provided for certain treatments with high-quality published economic analyses.",
"corpus_id": 247865601
} |
{
"title": "Predictors and population health outcomes of persistent high GP turnover in English general practices: a retrospective observational study",
"abstract": "Objective English primary care faces significant challenges, including ‘persistent high turnover’ of general practitioners (GPs) in some partnerships. It is unknown whether there are specific predictors of persistent high turnover and whether it is associated with poorer population health outcomes. Design A retrospective observational study. Methods We linked workforce data on individual GPs to practice-level data from Hospital Episode Statistics and the GP Patient Survey (2007–2019). We classified practices as experiencing persistent high turnover if more than 10% of GPs changed in at least 3 consecutive years. We used multivariable logistic or linear regression models for panel data with random effects to identify practice characteristics that predicted persistent high turnover and associations of practice outcomes (higher emergency hospital use and patient experience of continuity of care, access to care and overall patient satisfaction) with persistent high turnover. Results Each year, 6% of English practices experienced persistent high turnover, with a maximum of 9% (688/7619) in 2014. Larger practices, in more deprived areas and with a higher morbidity burden were more likely to experience persistent high turnover. Persistent high turnover was associated with 1.8 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.1) more emergency hospital attendances per 100 patients, 0.1 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.2) more admissions per 100 patients, 5.2% (95% CI −5.6% to −4.9%) fewer people seeing their preferred doctor, 10.6% (95% CI−11.4% to −9.8%) fewer people reporting obtaining an appointment on the same day and 1.3% (95% CI −1.6% to −1.1%) lower overall satisfaction with the practice. Conclusions Persistent high turnover is independently linked to indicators of poorer service and health outcomes. Although causality needs to be further investigated, strategies and policies may be needed to both reduce high turnover and support practices facing challenges with high GP turnover when it occurs.",
"corpus_id": 256107078
} | {
"title": "Patients treated at practices with high GP turnover have worse outcomes, finds study",
"abstract": "Researchers from the University of Manchester analysed more than 7500 English practices each year from 2007 to 2019 (annual average 7526) and found that 6% had a high turnover of GPs, defined as more than 10% of GPs (full time equivalent) leaving the practice each year over three consecutive years. The number of practices affected has also increased over time, from 2.7% in 2009 (with a high turnover in 2007, 2008, and 2009) to 6.3% in 2019 (high turnover in 2017, 2018, and 2019).",
"corpus_id": 256106191
} | {
"title": "The efficacy and safety of roxadustat treatment for anemia in patients with kidney disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review",
"abstract": "Background Anemia is a common complication for patients with kidney disease. Roxadustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (PHI), which is a newly approved oral drug for anemia. We performed this study to build evidence regarding efficacy and safety of roxadustat in kidney disease patients with or without dialysis. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and clinicaltrials.gov from the inception to July 20, 2020. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared roxadustat with placebo or other therapies in the treatment of anemia in kidney disease patients were included. Data were extracted from eligible studies and pooled in a meta-analysis model using RevMan5.3 and stata13.0 software. Results Eight RCTs with 1010 patients were included in our analysis. We found that roxadustat significantly increased hemoglobin (Hb) level (1.10 g/dL, 95% CI [0.52 g/dL, 1.67 g/dL], p = 0.0002), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) (58.71 µg/dL, 95% CI [44.10 µg/dL, 73.32 µg/dL], p < 0.00001), iron level (9.28 µg/dL, 95% CI [0.11 µg/dL, 18.45 µg/dL], p = 0.05) compared with control group in kidney disease patients. In addition, our result showed that a significant reduction in hepcidin level (− 31.96 ng/mL, 95% CI [− 35.05 ng/mL, − 28.87 ng/mL], p < 0.00001), ferritin (− 44.82 ng/mL, 95% CI [− 64.42 ng/mL, − 25.23 ng/mL], p < 0.00001) was associated with roxadustat. No difference was found between roxadustat and control group in terms of oral iron supplementation, adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), infection, myocardial infraction, stroke, heart failure and death. Conclusions Roxadustat has higher mean Hb level than placebo or EPO. Due to the short follow-up period and the lack of critical data, more RCTs are needed to prove long-term safety and effectiveness of roxadustat in the future.",
"corpus_id": 230112025
} |
{
"title": "Extended precise integration solution to layered transversely isotropic unsaturated poroelastic media under harmonically dynamic loads",
"abstract": "Abstract A fully coupled dynamic model is presented in this paper by considering the effect of matric suction, varying parameters in connection with saturation, stratification and transverse isotropy. This model can describe separate flows of two immiscible fluids in layered transversely isotropic unsaturated poroelastic media subjected to harmonically dynamic loads. The ordinary differential matrix equations of this model are derived based on Hankel integral transform and a series of algebraic manipulations. Then the final solution is obtained by conducting the extended precise integration method, and further verified against the existing solution. Numerical examples are carried out to demonstrate the effects of saturation, transversely isotropic parameters, angular frequency and soil thickness on dynamic behavior of unsaturated porous media.",
"corpus_id": 226327991
} | {
"title": "Thermo-mechanical performance of layered transversely isotropic media around a cylindrical/tubular heat source",
"abstract": "We develop a new numerical model based on a precise integration method to investigate the coupled thermo-mechanical performance of layered transversely isotropic media around a cylindrical/tubular heat source. To obtain the relational matrices of the extended precise integration method, we first convert the governing equations of the problem into ordinary differential matrix equations through the Laplace–Hankel transform. Then, the cylindrical heat source is divided into a series of plane heat sources, and the plane temperature load term is added to the state vector between layer elements. By combining the layer elements, we build a layered transversely isotropic numerical model containing a cylindrical heat source in the transformed domain. Finally, we solve the model in the transformed domain and obtain the solution of the problem in the real domain through the Laplace–Hankel transform inversion. The accuracy of this method is verified by comparing the solutions with the results of the analytical method and the finite element method. Then, we study the influence of the anisotropy of thermal parameters, the embedded depth, the length/radius ratio, the type of heat source and the stratification of the medium on the thermo-mechanical coupled performance.",
"corpus_id": 133710508
} | {
"title": "Fines adsorption on nanoparticle-coated surface",
"abstract": "Fluid flow through porous media is inherently associated with the detachment and migration of fine particles. The migration of fine particles and ensuing clogging is the main reason of flow rate decrease in porous media. Nanoparticle coating can be a promising method to prevent fines’ detachment and migration by changing electrical surface forces between the pore wall surface and the fine particles. In this study, the attraction and adhesion forces of the nanoparticle-coated surface are measured by atomic force microscope. The effect of the nanoparticle coating on the fines adsorption efficiency is then investigated. The results show that there is an increase in the adhesion force on the nanoparticle-coated surface and the significant improvement of the fines adsorption capacity by the nanoparticle coating. The research results are relevant to other research areas whenever migrating fines cause engineering problems.",
"corpus_id": 132919305
} |
{
"title": "The influence of role models on young adults purchase",
"abstract": "This study explores the influence of direct (parents) and vicarious (celebrities) role models on young consumer’s purchase intention and behavior in Malaysia. The study partially replicates previous studies conducted in the west while exploring the eastern perspective. The data was collected using convenience sampling. Respondents were mostly undergraduate students at a public university in Sarawak, Malaysia. They were asked to respond to a structured questionnaire which was based on previous studies conducted in the same area. Regression analysis was carried out to estimate the impact of role model influence on purchase intention and behavior. The results indicate that both direct and vicarious role model significantly influence purchase intention. However finding do suggests that the direct role model does not influence purchasing behavior. This study significantly contributes in understanding the role model influence on ever growing youth market in Malaysia.",
"corpus_id": 73580712
} | {
"title": "Factors affecting smartphone purchase decisions of generation-Y",
"abstract": "Smartphones have become an indispensable part of daily life of GenerationY. Currently, Generation-Y accounts for the biggest proportion of the Malaysian population, and they are the main users of smartphones. The main objective of this research is to determine the factors influencing the smartphone purchase decisions of Generation-Y. Based on a literature review and survey, this study finds seven factors that influence smartphone purchase decisions: brand, convenience, dependency, price, social influence, product feature and social needs. The research used a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale for data collection and a sample of 152 respondents (Generation-Y) from the Kuching region of Malaysia. We find evidence that social influence, product feature, and brand image have significant positive impacts on the smartphone purchasing decisions. Other factors, such as convenience, dependency, price and social needs were statistically insignificant.",
"corpus_id": 186257142
} | {
"title": "Research on Performance-oriented Perceptual Image Evaluation Method for Cus Tomized Products",
"abstract": "The demand for mechanical products design has increased from the functional level to the emotional level. The function of mechanical products is no longer the only focus. The performance of mechanical products, especially customized products, has attracted more and more attention. The perceptual image is the impression of the user on the performance of the product, which determines whether the product can meet the high-level emotional needs of the user. A performance-oriented method for evaluating the perceptual image of customized products is presented. The main basis for verifying the performance of products is real-time acquired physiological signals of customers. To evaluate the physiological signals of customers, the objective evaluation method and subjective evaluation results are employed, which is able to reflect the performance of customized products accurately. This study takes evaluation of high-speed elevator's ride performance as an example. By wavelet packet transform and random forest algorithm, feature extraction and classification of collected passengers’ EEG signals in the elevator’s operation are respectively implemented. A perceptual image evaluation model of high-speed elevator’s ride performance is established and the reduction of EEG data characteristics is realized. According to the proposed method, passengers can express the pleasure or comfort quantitatively, which provides a new perspective for exploring the evaluation method based on the perceptual image.",
"corpus_id": 226657977
} |
{
"title": "Can reference governors outperform tube-based predictive control?",
"abstract": "This paper makes comparisons between a reference governor scheme and a tube-based MPC algorithm for a simple tracking problem with output disturbances. The key aim is to consider the extent to which a tube based approach is merited in this scenario, or whether the same feasibility assurances and good performance can be obtained with a far simpler approach. The main features, properties, and general setup of both methods are described and compared. The tracking performance of both algorithms are analysed.",
"corpus_id": 259978580
} | {
"title": "A One-Step Approach to Computing a Polytopic Robust Positively Invariant Set",
"abstract": "A procedure and theoretical results are presented for the problem of determining a minimal robust positively invariant (RPI) set for a linear discrete-time system subject to unknown, bounded disturbances. The procedure computes, via the solving of a single LP, a polytopic RPI set that is minimal with respect to the family of RPI sets generated from a finite number of inequalities with pre-defined normal vectors.",
"corpus_id": 14245797
} | {
"title": "Cooperative Computation Offloading for Multi-Access Edge Computing in 6G Mobile Networks via Soft Actor Critic",
"abstract": "Driven by numerous emerging services and applications of mobile devices, multi-access edge computing (MEC) is regarded as a promising technique for massive Internet of Things (IoT) with 6G mobile networks to alleviate core network congestion and reduce service latency. However, the conventional MEC suffers from the infrastructure without the cloud server (CS) and cooperation of multiple edge servers (ESs), which cannot deal with the large-scale computation tasks in the ultra-dense smart environments. This paper investigates the issue of the cooperative computation offloading for MEC in the 6G era. The proposed MEC system allows the cooperation of edge-cloud and the cooperation of edge-edge to address the limitation of single ES and the nonuniform distribution of computation task arrival among multiple ESs. To support low-latency services, we model the cooperative computation offloading problem as a Markov decision process, and propose two intelligent computation offloading algorithms based on Soft Actor Critic (SAC), i.e., centralized SAC offloading and decentralized SAC offloading. Evaluation results show that the proposed algorithms outperform the existing computation offloading algorithms in terms of service latency.",
"corpus_id": 236630194
} |
{
"title": "Development and validation of the male postcoital affect scale for heterosexual men.",
"abstract": "OBJECTIVE\nThe aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Male Postcoital Affect Scale (MPAS), which was developed to assess positive postcoital feelings in men.\n\n\nMETHODS\nAfter a pilot study, we validated our scale on a sample of American heterosexual men, who answered our questionnaire on the internet through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). We tested the reliability using internal consistency. The validity was examined by assessing content, face and construct validity by testing the association between our scale, the Experience in Close Relationships Scale and other instruments.\n\n\nRESULTS\nA total of 484 volunteers were included in the study. Cronbach's α for the scale was 0.83. Our scale was negatively correlated with Attachment Avoidance, r(482) = -.36, p < .001) and Perceived Stress Scale, r(482) = -.18, p<0.001, and positively correlated with sexual satisfaction, r(482) = .18, p <0.001.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe Male Postcoital Affect Scale is a reliable and valid tool to assess positive postcoital feelings in men.",
"corpus_id": 256870945
} | {
"title": "Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation",
"abstract": "This is the classic edition of an influential psychological study performed and written by nationally recognized expert and her associates that has revolutionized the current knowledge of attachment behavior. It would be impossible for developmental psychologists to not have come across Ainsworth’s contribution to Bowlby-Ainsworth developmental attachment theory. The purpose of this volume is to educate and deepen understanding of researchers, primary and allied heath care providers, and trainees through reporting methods and key results of Mary Ainsworth’s landmark Baltimore longitudinal study from observation of infant-mother interaction and attachment behavior. In addition to 1978 edition, this book features new information on the 4 caregiving and interaction scales developed by Mary Ainsworth from observations of 9-monthold to 12-month-old infants making them easily accessible to interested individuals. The Baltimore project beautifully illustrated the nature of the child’s relationship to his or her primary caregiver and emphasized the importance of early experience. In a meticulous yet succinct volume, the authors provide a comprehensive resource to researchers and practitioners that addresses available research studies that have used the Strange-Situation Procedure (SSP). The logic, flow, and comprehensive coverage of chapters with great analogies used to demonstrate theoretical background enable readers, even those who are beginners to attachment theory, to build a foundation in attachment theory, viewed as a secure base relationship. The SSP is described as a laboratorybased unfamiliar situation used to observe the child’s response to his/her mother’s and stranger’s behaviors. Children’s behaviors are then organized and grouped into classificatory system. Normative patterns of behavior linked to different social situations, types of statistical analyses used, and the reasoning behind these decisions are further explained. Individual differences are also addressed in detail. Review of other studies that had conducted SSP to address various variables such as neonatal separation, twins versus singletons, demographics, low birth weight, maternal attitudes and mother-infant interaction, and working versus nonworking mothers provide broader understanding of the ways patterns of attachment may or may not differ in these populations. These findings would also be of interest for infant and developmental psychologists, early childhood education specialists, primary care and developmental-behavioral pediatricians, family therapists, social workers with counseling roles, and early intervention in-home specialists/therapists. Readers, especially researchers and practitioners, will appreciate wideranging components, including instruction to the mother, coding instruction, scoring systems, and maternal caregiving and interaction scales. This volume contains clear tables of quantitative research findings and perfect illustration of the Strange Situation. The gaps in this otherwise outstanding volume are due to the authors’ decision to focus on their main samples and review of studies that directly addressed one-year-olds and preschoolers. Undoubtedly, this innovative work has had a significant impact on prevention and intervention beyond the scope of what could be included in this volume. An additional section on clinical implication and a review of how patterns of attachment apply to adopted children would have improved clinical utility. In conclusion, Ainsworth and team have provided an excellent framework describing attachment theory and how attachment behaviors are quantitatively measured through SSP. This is a “must have” for pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, and in-home therapists whose clinical care and research focuses on early childhood development, particularly social development. This book will also be of special interest to trainees, residents, fellows, and graduate students from various professional disciplines who will gain a deeper appreciation of attachment patterns, which can influence clinical encounters with young children and enhance the way care is provided in lieu of the importance of attachment figure and the child’s interaction with that attachment figure. Disclosure: The author declares no conflict of interest.",
"corpus_id": 147960125
} | {
"title": "Mediating role of personality traits in the association between multi-dimensional adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms among older adults: A 9-year prospective cohort study.",
"abstract": "BACKGROUND\nTo explore the mediating role of personality traits in the correlation between multi-dimensional adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depressive symptoms in older adults.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis cohort study used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and included 4050 older adults without depressive symptoms in 2010-2011. Multi-dimensional ACEs were evaluated in 2006-2007. Personality traits were assessed using the Midlife Development Inventory in 2010-2011. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale during 2012-2019. Cox proportional hazard model was used to explore the associations between ACEs and depressive symptoms. The package named \"mediation\" in R was used to test mediating role of personality traits.\n\n\nRESULTS\nACEs in each dimension significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms (all P-values < 0.05). The association of maltreatment (18.18 %) and household dysfunction (19.69 %) with depressive symptoms was significantly mediated by neuroticism. The correlation between poor parent-child bonding and depressive symptoms was significantly mediated by neuroticism (19.43 %), conscientiousness (4.84 %), and extroversion (8.02 %).\n\n\nLIMITATIONS\nACEs were retrospectively assessed based on participants' memories, which may induce recall bias.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nMaltreatment and household dysfunction may induce depressive symptoms by increasing neuroticism. Poor parent-child bonding may induce depressive symptoms by increasing neuroticism and reducing conscientiousness and extraversion. In addition to reducing the occurrence of ACEs, reducing neuroticism of individuals with maltreatment and household dysfunction in childhood, and reducing neuroticism, and increasing conscientiousness and extraversion of individuals with poor parent-child bonding in childhood might help to decrease their risk of depressive symptoms.",
"corpus_id": 257709471
} |
{
"title": "Rapid diagnostic method for transplutonium isotope production in high flux reactors",
"abstract": "Transplutonium isotopes are scarce and need to be produced by irradiation in high flux reactors. However, their production is inefficient, and optimization studies are necessary. This study analyzes the physical nature of transplutonium isotope production using ^252Cf, ^244Cm, ^242Cm, and ^238Pu as examples. Traditional methods based on the Monte Carlo burnup calculation have the limitations of many calculations and cannot analyze the individual energy intervals in detail; thus, they cannot support the refined evaluation, screening, and optimization of the irradiation schemes. After understanding the physical nature and simplifying the complexity of the production process, we propose a rapid diagnostic method for evaluating radiation schemes based on the concepts “single energy interval value (SEIV)” and “energy spectrum total value (ESTV)”. The rapid diagnostic method not only avoids tedious burnup calculations, but also provides a direction for optimization. The optimal irradiation schemes for producing ^252Cf, ^244Cm, ^242Cm, and ^238Pu are determined based on a rapid diagnostic method. Optimal irradiation schemes can significantly improve production efficiency. Compared with the initial scheme, the optimal scheme improved the production efficiency of ^238Pu by 7.41 times; ^242Cm, 11.98 times; ^244Cm, 65.20 times; and ^252Cf, 15.08 times. Thus, a refined analysis of transplutonium isotope production is conducted and provides a theoretical basis for improving production efficiency.",
"corpus_id": 257758894
} | {
"title": "Yield of long-lived fission product transmutation using proton-, deuteron-, and alpha particle-induced spallation",
"abstract": "The transmutation of long-lived fission products through spallation induced by light nuclides was investigated for the purpose of determining the feasibility of this approach for long-lived fission products, in both economic and environmental terms. The cross-section data were obtained from the TALYS Evaluated Nuclear Data Library (TENDL). A thick target model was used to study the consumption of the target isotopes in the transmutation process. The transmutation yield was calculated using the highest beam intensity available with the China initiative accelerator-driven system. It was found that the light nuclide-induced spallation reaction can significantly reduce the radio toxicity of the investigated long-lived fission products. Using the transmutation target made of elemental LLFP and the proton beam with an intensity of 5 mA, the consumption of 90Sr\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{90} \\mathrm {Sr}$$\\end{document}, 93Zr\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{93} \\mathrm {Zr}$$\\end{document}, 107Pd\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{107} \\mathrm {Pd}$$\\end{document}, or 137Cs\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{137} \\mathrm {Cs}$$\\end{document} can reach approximately 500 g per year.",
"corpus_id": 239687442
} | {
"title": "A new numerical method for solving the Boltzmann transport equation using the PN method and the discontinuous finite elements on unstructured and curved meshes",
"abstract": "Abstract This document presents a new numerical scheme dealing with the Boltzmann transport equation. This scheme is based on the expansion of the angular flux in a truncated spherical harmonics function and the discontinuous finite element method for the spatial variable. The advantage of this scheme lies in the fact that we can deal with unstructured, non-conformal and curved meshes. Indeed, it is possible to deal with distorted regions whose boundary is constituted by edges that can be either line segments or circular arcs or circles. In this document, we detail the derivation of the method for 2D geometries. However, the generalization to 2D extruded geometries is trivial.",
"corpus_id": 199131274
} |
{
"title": "Understanding the inclination of South Indian nursing graduates in using mobile learning applications",
"abstract": "BACKGROUND: Clinical-based mobile learning courses have great demand among the nursing graduates as learners look for possibilities to update skills. The present study explores the feasibility, familiarity, utility, and attitude of nursing graduates of South India toward mobile learning applications (m-apps). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online-based cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in May 2021 among the South Indian nursing graduates of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, using a questionnaire consisting 49 items categorized under six sections with items related to socio-demographic information; m-app usage; online learning experience; preference in using m-apps for learning purposes before COVID-19 and during COVID-19; students' engagement through e-learning; and anxiety related to online assessment. Descriptive and inferential (ANOVA, Chi-square, and t test) statistical data analysis were done using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: A total of 447 student nurses responded. The result shows that most of them, 96% (432) used android phones and 94% (422) owned a mobile. Age was highly influencing mobile learning application (m-learning apps) usage; students of less than 20 years of age used applications more frequently and possessed more educational applications. Majority of them, 84% (377) of them had started using m-learning apps only after COVID. 57.7% (249) commonly used m-learning apps for acquiring nursing knowledge resources, nursing exam preparatory, and drug resources. Students rated high for the interactive nature of these m-learning apps, while abundant learning materials and usage with ease were rated as other attractive features. Sixty-six percent (305) had mostly downloaded these apps from Google Play Store. CONCLUSION: The findings would help the m-learning application developers to offer customize solutions to address learning gaps that prevail among the South Indian nursing graduates and help with sustainable growth.",
"corpus_id": 258331325
} | {
"title": "Nurses Burnout, Resilience, and Its Association With Socio-Demographic Factors During COVID-19 Pandemic",
"abstract": "Background In the recent pandemic, nurses have faced workload and being exposed to burnout. Resilience helps address work-related psychological problems such as stressful events and burnout. According to the roles of nurses in the healthcare system, we investigated the relationship between resiliency and burnout in nurses. Material and Methods In this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, 364 nurses participated from April to June 2021. Census sampling was used to recruit participants. Maslach burnout inventory (MBI), Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CDRISC), and a demographic check-list were utilized to collect data. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U-test, correlation analysis, and generalized linear model were applied accordingly. Results Overall, the findings showed that nurses had severe symptoms of burnout and a moderate level of resilience. The two domains of burnout, emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment had a significantly negative correlation with resilience (r = −0.442, p < 0.001 and r = −0.351, p = 0.03, respectively). Linear regression showed that demographic characteristics (Hospital type, ward type, gender, and overtime) were the major predictors of the 3 sub-categories of burnout. A significant negative correlation was observed between burnout and resilience highlighting the role of resilience in reducing burnout (P < 0.05). Conclusion In order to help nurses to tackle and endure burnout in pandemic times, there is a need to implement national and local policies to help them accordingly.",
"corpus_id": 245908681
} | {
"title": "SARS/MERS/SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks and Burnout Syndrome among Healthcare Workers. An Umbrella Systematic Review",
"abstract": "The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is putting a severe strain on all healthcare systems. Several occupational risk factors are challenging healthcare workers (HCWs) who are at high risk of mental health outcomes, including Burnout Syndrome (BOS). BOS is a psychological syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses concerning BOS and coronavirus (SARS/MERS/SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks was carried out on PubMed Central/Medline, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, and Epistemonikos databases. Data relating to COVID-19 is insufficient, but in previous SARS and MERS outbreaks about one-third of HCWs manifested BOS. This prevalence rate is similar to the figure recorded in some categories of HCWs exposed to chronic occupational stress and poor work organization during non-epidemic periods. Inadequate organization and worsening working conditions during an epidemic appear to be the most likely causes of BOS. Preventive care and workplace health promotion programs could be useful for protecting healthcare workers during pandemics, as well as during regular health activities.",
"corpus_id": 233424884
} |
{
"title": "Tobacco-Based Vaccines, Hopes, and Concerns: A Systematic Review",
"abstract": "Emerging infectious diseases have vigorously devastated the global economy and health sector; cost-effective plant-based vaccines (PBV) can be the potential solution to withstand the current health economic crisis. The prominent role of tobacco as an efficient expression system for PBV has been well-established for decades, through this review we highlight the importance of tobacco-based vaccines (TBV) against evolving infectious diseases in humans. Studies focusing on the use of TBV for human infectious diseases were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and science direct from 1995 to 2021 using the keywords Tobacco-based vaccines OR transgenic tobacco OR Nicotiana benthamiana vaccines AND Infectious diseases or communicable diseases. We carried out a critical review of the articles and studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Of 976 studies identified, only 63 studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included, which focused on either the in vitro, in vivo, or clinical studies on TBV for human infectious diseases. Around 43 in vitro studies of 23 different infectious pathogens expressed in tobacco-based systems were identified and 23 in vivo analysis studies were recognized to check the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates while only 10 of these were subjected to clinical trials. Viral infectious pathogens were studied more than bacterial pathogens. From our review, it was evident that TBV can be an effective health strategy to combat the emerging viral infectious diseases which are very difficult to manage with the current health facilities. The timely administration of cost-effective TBV can prevent the outburst of viral infections, thereby can protect the global healthcare system to a greater extent.",
"corpus_id": 254844318
} | {
"title": "Regulation of Molecular Farming Products.",
"abstract": "The regulation of molecular farming is a complex topic because plants and plant-based systems are relative newcomers among the many production platforms available for recombinant proteins. The regulations specific for different types of product (human/veterinary pharmaceuticals and medical devices, cosmetics, diagnostics, and research reagents) must therefore be overlaid with the regulations governing hitherto unfamiliar production platforms, and this must be achieved in different jurisdictions that handle genetically modified organisms (and genetically modified plants in particular) in very different ways. This chapter uses examples of different product types and production methods in three different jurisdictions (the USA, the EU, and Canada) to demonstrate some of the challenges facing the regulatory authorities.",
"corpus_id": 249064074
} | {
"title": "Investigating Constraints Along the Plant Secretory Pathway to Improve Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike Vaccine Candidate",
"abstract": "Given the complex maturation requirements of viral glycoproteins and the challenge they often pose for expression in plants, the identification of host constraints precluding their efficient production is a priority for the molecular farming of vaccines. Building on previous work to improve viral glycoprotein production in plants, we investigated the production of a soluble SARS-CoV-2 spike comprising the ectopic portion of the glycoprotein. This was successfully transiently expressed in N. benthamiana by co-expressing the human lectin-binding chaperone calreticulin, which substantially increased the accumulation of the glycoprotein. The spike was mostly unprocessed unless the protease furin was co-expressed which resulted in highly efficient processing of the glycoprotein. Co-expression of several broad-spectrum protease inhibitors did not improve accumulation of the protein any further. The protein was successfully purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration, although the purified product was heterogenous and the yields were low. Immunogenicity of the antigen was tested in BALB/c mice, and cellular and antibody responses were elicited after low dose inoculation with the adjuvanted protein. This work constitutes an important proof-of-concept for host plant engineering in the context of rapid vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses.",
"corpus_id": 245652514
} |
{
"title": "Early Detection and Classification of Tomato Leaf Diseases Using Powerful Deep Neural Networks",
"abstract": ": Tomatoes are one of the most important and consumable crops in the world. Tomatoes have a different amount of pieces depending on the fertilization method. Leaf diseases are a major factor affecting the quantity and quality of crop yields. Therefore, it is important to properly diagnose and classify these disorders. Various types of diseases affect tomato production. Early identification of these diseases reduces their impact on tomato plants and improves good yields. Various innovative methods for identifying and classifying specific diseases are widely used. The motivation for this work is to enable farmers to accurately identify diseases early and inform them about these diseases. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to effectively define and classify tomato diseases. Using Google Colab, we performed a full experiment on a dataset containing 3000 images of 9 different diseased tomato leaves and 1 healthy leaf. I will walk you through the whole process. First, the input image is preprocessed to segment the target regions of images from the original image. Second, the images are further processed using various hyper parameters of the CNN model. Finally, CNN extracts other features such as colors, textures and edges from his images. The results show that the predictions of his proposed model are 98.49% accurate.",
"corpus_id": 251384410
} | {
"title": "Automatic and Reliable Leaf Disease Detection Using Deep Learning Techniques",
"abstract": "Plants are a major source of food for the world population. Plant diseases contribute to production loss, which can be tackled with continuous monitoring. Manual plant disease monitoring is both laborious and error-prone. Early detection of plant diseases using computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) can help to reduce the adverse effects of diseases and also overcome the shortcomings of continuous human monitoring. In this work, we propose the use of a deep learning architecture based on a recent convolutional neural network called EfficientNet on 18,161 plain and segmented tomato leaf images to classify tomato diseases. The performance of two segmentation models i.e., U-net and Modified U-net, for the segmentation of leaves is reported. The comparative performance of the models for binary classification (healthy and unhealthy leaves), six-class classification (healthy and various groups of diseased leaves), and ten-class classification (healthy and various types of unhealthy leaves) are also reported. The modified U-net segmentation model showed accuracy, IoU, and Dice score of 98.66%, 98.5%, and 98.73%, respectively, for the segmentation of leaf images. EfficientNet-B7 showed superior performance for the binary classification and six-class classification using segmented images with an accuracy of 99.95% and 99.12%, respectively. Finally, EfficientNet-B4 achieved an accuracy of 99.89% for ten-class classification using segmented images. It can be concluded that all the architectures performed better in classifying the diseases when trained with deeper networks on segmented images. The performance of each of the experimental studies reported in this work outperforms the existing literature.",
"corpus_id": 236402350
} | {
"title": "A deep learning approach for RGB image-based powdery mildew disease detection on strawberry leaves",
"abstract": "Abstract In this study, Deep Learning (DL) was used to detect powdery mildew (PM), persistent fungal disease in strawberries to reduce the amount of unnecessary fungicide use, and the need for field scouts. This study optimised and evaluated several well-established learners, including AlexNet, SqueezeNet, GoogLeNet, ResNet-50, SqueezeNet-MOD1, and SqueezeNet-MOD2. Data augmentation was carried out from among 1450 healthy and infected leaf images to prevent overfitting and to consider the various shapes and direction of the leaves in the field. A total of eight clockwise rotations (0°; the original data, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°) was performed to generate 11,600 data points. Overall, the six DL algorithms that were used in this study showed on average of >92% in classification accuracy (CA). ResNet-50 gave the highest CA of 98.11% in classifying the healthy and infected leaves; however, considering the computation time, AlexNet had the fastest processing time, at 40.73 s, to process 2320 images with a CA of 95.59%.When considering the memory requirements for hardware deployment, SqueezeNet-MOD2 would be recommended for PM detection on strawberry leaves with a CA of 92.61%.",
"corpus_id": 233374898
} |
{
"title": "Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation and Estimated Oxygen Extraction Ratio as Predictive Markers of Major Adverse Events in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease",
"abstract": "Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO 2 ) determined by near-infrared spectroscopy, monitoring both arterial and venous blood oxygenation of the brain, could reflect the balance between oxygen delivery and consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the predictabilities of ScO 2 and estimated oxygen extraction ratio (eO 2 ER) with outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study was a two-center, retrospective study of patients at 12 months of age or younger with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery. The primary outcome was a composite of one or more major adverse events (MAEs) after surgery: death from any cause, circulatory collapse that needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Based on the assumptions of arterial to venous blood ratio, eO 2 ER was calculated. A total of 647 cases were included in this study. MAEs occurred in 16 patients (2.5%). There were significant differences in post-bypass ScO 2 [46.61 (40.90, 52.05) vs. 58.52 (51.52, 66.08), p < 0.001] and post-bypass eO 2 ER [0.66 (0.60, 0.78) vs. 0.52 (0.43, 0.61), p < 0.001] between patients with MAEs and patients without MAEs. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of post-bypass ScO 2 was 0.818 (95% confidence interval: 0.747–0.889), AUROC of post-bypass eO 2 ER was 0.783 (0.697–0.870) and AUROC of post-bypass maximum serum lactate level was 0.635 (0.525–0.746). Both ScO 2 and eO 2 ER, especially after weaning off bypass, are acceptable predictive markers for predicting MAEs after cardiac surgery in infants. (227 words).",
"corpus_id": 258028171
} | {
"title": "Cerebral near‐infrared spectroscopy insensitively detects low cerebral venous oxygen saturations after stage 1 palliation",
"abstract": "Background: Measurement of cerebral venous oxyhemoglobin saturation (ScvO2) is considered a gold standard in assessing the adequacy of tissue oxygen delivery (DO2) after the stage 1 palliation (S1P), with SvO2 <30% often representing severely compromised DO2. Regional oxygenation index (rSO2) based on near‐infrared resonance spectroscopy (NIRS) frequently is used to screen for compromised DO2, although its sensitivity to detect severe abnormalities in SvO2 is uncertain. Methods: ScvO2 was measured by co‐oximetry from the internal jugular vein as clinically indicated in 73 neonates after S1P. These values were compared with cerebral rSO2 (FORE‐SIGHT; CASMED) via mixed effects model linear regression, Bland‐Altman analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Because NIRS devices measure a composite of arterial and venous blood, we calculated an rSO2‐based ScvO2 designed to remove arterial contamination from the rSO2 signal: rSO2‐based ScvO2 = (rSO2 − arterial oxygen saturation × 0.3)/0.7. Results: Among 520 time‐matched pairs of ScvO2 and cerebral rSO2, the slope of the relationship between rSO2 and ScvO2 (after we adjusted for effects of hemoglobin) was 0.37 ± 0.04 with only modest correlation (r2 = 0.39), and mean bias of +8.26. When ScvO2 was <30%, cerebral rSO2 was <30 in less than 1%, <40 less than 1%, and <50 in 45.7% of data points; specificity of rSO2 in the same range is >99%. Correction of rSO2 for arterial contamination significantly decreased mean bias (+3.03) and improved the sensitivity of rSO2 to detect ScvO2 <30 to 6.5% for rSO2 <30, 29% for rSO2 <40, and 77.4% for rSO2 <50. Conclusions: Cerebral rSO2 in isolation should not be used to detect low ScvO2, because its sensitivity is low, although correction of rSO2 for arterial contamination may improve sensitivity. Cerebral rSO2 of 50 or greater should not be considered reassuring, though values below 30 are specific for low ScvO2.",
"corpus_id": 25280327
} | {
"title": "Identification of targetable kinases in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis",
"abstract": "Background Tyrosine kinase activation plays an important role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we analyzed the expression of 612 kinase-coding and cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing to identify potential therapeutic targets for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods Thirteen samples from five patients with IPF (Cases 1–5) and eight samples from four patients without IPF (control) were included in this study. Six of the thirteen samples were obtained from different lung segments of a single patient who underwent bilateral pneumonectomy. Gene expression analysis of IPF lung tissue samples (n = 13) and control samples (n = 8) was performed using SureSelect RNA Human Kinome Kit. The expression of the selected genes was further confirmed at the protein level by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Gene expression analysis revealed a correlation between the gene expression signatures and the degree of fibrosis, as assessed by Ashcroft score. In addition, the expression analysis indicated a stronger heterogeneity among the IPF lung samples than among the control lung samples. In the integrated analysis of the 21 samples, DCLK1 and STK33 were found to be upregulated in IPF lung samples compared to control lung samples. However, the top most upregulated genes were distinct in individual cases. DCLK1 , PDK4 , and ERBB4 were upregulated in IPF case 1, whereas STK33 , PIM2 , and SYK were upregulated in IPF case 2. IHC revealed that these proteins were expressed in the epithelial layer of the fibrotic lesions. Conclusions We performed a comprehensive kinase expression analysis to explore the potential therapeutic targets for IPF. We found that DCLK1 and STK33 may serve as potential candidate targets for molecular targeted therapy of IPF. In addition, PDK4, ERBB4, PIM2, and SYK might also serve as personalized therapeutic targets of IPF. Additional large-scale studies are warranted to develop personalized therapies for patients with IPF.",
"corpus_id": 237887507
} |
{
"title": "Superbalance of holographic entropy inequalities",
"abstract": "The domain of allowed von Neumann entropies of a holographic field theory carves out a polyhedral cone — the holographic entropy cone — in entropy space. Such polyhedral cones are characterized by their extreme rays. For an arbitrary number of parties, it is known that the so-called perfect tensors are extreme rays. In this work, we constrain the form of the remaining extreme rays by showing that they correspond to geometries with vanishing mutual information between any two parties, ensuring the absence of Bell pair type entanglement between them. This is tantamount to proving that besides subadditivity, all non-redundant holographic entropy inequalities are superbalanced, i.e. not only do UV divergences cancel in the inequality itself (assuming smooth entangling surfaces), but also in the purification thereof.",
"corpus_id": 211076054
} | {
"title": "Holographic coarse-graining: correlators from the entanglement wedge and other reduced geometries",
"abstract": "There is some tension between two well-known ideas in holography. On the one hand, subregion duality asserts that the reduced density matrix associated with a limited region of the boundary theory is dual to a correspondingly limited region in the bulk, known as the entanglement wedge. On the other hand, correlators that in the boundary theory can be computed solely with that density matrix are calculated in the bulk via the GKPW or BDHM prescriptions, which require input from beyond the entanglement wedge. We show that this tension is resolved by recognizing that the reduced state is only fully identified when the entanglement wedge is supplemented with a specific infrared boundary action, associated with an end-of-the-world brane. This action is obtained by coarse-graining through a variant of Wilsonian integration, a procedure that we call holographic rememorization, which can also be applied to define other reduced density or transition matrices, as well as more general reduced partition functions. We find an interesting connection with AdS/BCFT, and, in this context, we are led to a simple example of an equivalence between an ensemble of theories and a single theory, as discussed in recent studies of the black hole information problem.",
"corpus_id": 245769843
} | {
"title": "Holographic entropy cone in AdS-Vaidya spacetimes",
"abstract": "We examine the five-region holographic entropy cone inequalities for the special case of the AdS$_3$-Vaidya metric for a variety of boundary configurations. This is done by numerically solving the geodesic equation in the bulk for various boundary configurations. In all the cases we examine, we find that all the inequalities are satisfied when the bulk satisfies the null energy condition, while the inequalities are all violated when the bulk spacetime violates the null energy condition. A proof of the five-region holographic entropy cone inequalities for the dynamical bulk case remains an open problem--our results provide evidence that these inequalities hold for dynamical bulk spacetimes.",
"corpus_id": 143422041
} |
{
"title": "Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in herpetofauna in Central Appalachia",
"abstract": "Leptospirosis is a water borne zoonotic disease of global significance that is caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira. Pathogenic leptospires live in the kidneys of reservoir or infected animals and are shed in their urine contaminating water, soil, etc. Rodents are considered the primary reservoir of leptospirosis, but little is known about the role of herpetofauna (non‐avian reptiles and amphibians) in the epidemiology of the disease. To address this, various species of amphibians and reptiles in the Cumberland Gap Region of the Central Appalachia were screened for the presence of Leptospira spp. Kidneys harvested from of a total of 116 amphibians and reptiles belonging to seven species of snakes, seven species of salamanders, seven species of frogs/toads, seven species of turtles and one species of lizards were tested using a highly specific TaqMan based qPCR that targets lipl32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Overall, 15 of the tested 116 amphibians and reptiles were positive (12.9%; 95% CI: 7.4%–20.4%). Of the 101 amphibians, 11 were positive (10.9%; 95% CI: 5.6%–18.7%), and 4 of the 15 reptiles tested positive (26.7%; 95% CI: 7.8%–55.1%). The amplified gene fragments of lipl32 from qPCR positive kidneys were sequenced and found to be identical with known pathogenic Leptospira spp. These results suggest that although the proportion of reptiles and amphibians transmitting pathogenic Leptospira spp. within the environment may be low as compared to rodents, they pose a risk to other susceptible hosts that share their habitats and may have role in maintaining a baseline infection in the environment.",
"corpus_id": 246632277
} | {
"title": "Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) as a reservoir for Leptospira spp.",
"abstract": "Leptospira spp. are re-emerging zoonotic pathogens. Previous research has found that Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans shed leptospires in their urine, suggesting that they could play a role in transmitting pathogen within an aquatic ecosystem. This study investigated whether a population of wild Blanding’s turtles known to be exposed to Leptospira spp. actively shed the pathogen under natural conditions. Blood samples were collected for serologic testing and to assess the health of the turtles. Free catch urine was collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. All turtles were seropositive for Leptospira spp. and 73.5% (25/34) of the urine samples were PCR positive. All animals appeared clinically healthy and showed no apparent signs of disease. This study confirms that wild Blanding’s turtles can actively shed Leptospira spp. in their urine and suggests that they may play a role in the epidemiology of this disease in habitats in which they reside.",
"corpus_id": 174817866
} | {
"title": "Potential seed dispersers: a new facet of the ecological role of Boa constrictor constrictor Linnaeus 1758",
"abstract": "Abstract: The boa (Boa constrictor) is considered a top predator and its diet includes a wide variety of birds, mammals, and other reptiles, all related directly to their availability in the environment inhabited by the snake. Seven boas were found roadkilled on highways adjacent to conservation units in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte state, in northeastern Brazil. Their digestive tract was analyzed to identify food items and classify them according to their orientation in the tract. Among the food items found, the white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) and the black-and-white tegu (Salvator merianae) were ingested head-first, while teeth of a punaré (Thrichomys laurentius) and a Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii) and hairs of an unidentified rodent were found in the intestinal tract. In addition, two novel items were identified: the plain-breasted ground-dove (Columbina minuta), which were ingested tail-first, and carnauba palm seeds (Copernicia prunifera). The orientation of the prey (head-first or tail-first) followed what was expected for each type of prey. In addition, the presence of carnauba palm seeds indicates that, while being a top predator, the boa may also be a potential disperser of seeds, which would constitute a previously unrecorded ecological role for this species.",
"corpus_id": 202860649
} |
{
"title": "Optoelectronic Properties and Surface Plasmon Polaritons of CdO/Ag/CdO Multilayer Films Deposited by DC Pulsed Magnetron Sputtering",
"abstract": "The optoelectronic characteristics and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) of nanostructured CdO/Ag/CdO multilayer films prepared by DC pulsed magnetron sputtering were inspected. The multilayer films were deposited with different Ag metallic interlayer thickness ranging from 2 nm to 20 nm. It was observed that the CdO single-layer has high transmittance and it decreased from 85% to 70% in the visible range as the Ag metallic interlayer thickness increased from 2 nm to 20 nm. The CdO/Ag (20nm)/CdO multilayer film has the lowest transmittance and highest reflection in the NIR. The mobility, charge carrier concentration and the conductivity increased as the Ag metallic interlayer increased. The energy gap decreased from 2.77 eV for CdO single-layer to 2.44 eV for CdO/Ag (20nm)/CdO multilayer film. The CdO/Ag (16nm)/CdO multilayer film recorded the highest figure of merit value of 2.45 × 10-3 Ω-1, which acts as an electrode in optoelectronic applications. The absorption of light was interpreted by the creation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) modes along Ag/CdO interface. It was found that the CdO/Ag/CdO multilayer films could be employed as SPPs nano-waveguide for telecommunication applications at excitation wavelengths of 775 nm and 1550 nm.",
"corpus_id": 235364458
} | {
"title": "ZnO thin films prepared by RF plasma chemical vapour transport for self-cleaning and transparent conducting coatings",
"abstract": "ZnO thin films were prepared by chemical vapour transport method in inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The films were synthesized at different substrate positions and various oxygen/argon ratios. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that all the synthesized films at different positions are mixture of hexagonal ZnO and hexagonal Zn phases. The relative peak integrated intensity (RPII) of the ZnO phase is 83.6, 25.3 and 45.3%, for positions 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Morphology of ZnO films was found to be sensitive to substrate position. Flat flakes, bended nanowires (NWs) and nanoparticles morphologies are observed for positions 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The sample synthesized at 1 is stoichiometric, whereas the samples prepared in positions 2 and 3 are sub-stoichiometric. The films prepared at positions 1 and 3 have relatively high transmittance and low reflectance values, whereas the film prepared at position 2 has low transmittance and high reflectance. The ZnO film prepared at position 2 is hydrophobic with water contact angle of 112.2°, which can be used as self-cleaning coating. For ZnO films prepared with various O2 ratios, the RPII was 83.2, 88.0, 96.4 and 100% for films prepared with 10, 20, 30 and 40%, respectively. With increasing O2 ratio, the nanograins became bigger and the stoichiometry improved. The transmittance and optical bandgap increased, whereas the reflectance and refractive index decreased with increase in O2 ratio. The ZnO film synthesized with 30% O2 ratio has the highest figure of merit (FOM) value; thus, this film may be considered as the best ZnO film for transparent conducting coating applications.",
"corpus_id": 233177037
} | {
"title": "A study on the eating habits of adolescents in Thiruvananthapuram City, Kerala",
"abstract": "Today, adolescents are more independent and have their own food decisions and choices. Many adolescents experience a progressive development and this will gradually augment in frequent appetite. They also need healthy foods to meet their growth demands. Adolescents are prone to eat more meals away from home than their younger siblings. The choice and timing of the meal, will be purely based on their convenience. Maintaining good nutrition throughout a child's teenage years is fundamental for their health and wellbeing. To maintain healthy balance, adolescents, should practice eating regular meals, engage in doing compulsory daily physical activity, and eating a wide variety of foods. Objective: The present study aims to find out the present dietary habits of adolescents and their socioeconomic background in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. Method: Three hundred adolescents in the age group of 13-15 years(middle adolescents) studying in the eighth and ninth classes of various schools in Thiruvananthapuram city of Kerala state were randomly selected using stratified random sampling method. A detailed and structured questionnaire, a food habit and three separate checklist for assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice on eating habits were used for the study. Result and Discussion: The obtained data were statistically analysed using SPSS 16.0. From the study, it was found that the prevalence of under weight was found to be common among the adolescents irrespective of gender. The result also throws light on the emergency to address the health status of adolescents.",
"corpus_id": 184859624
} |
{
"title": "GraphMLP: A Graph MLP-Like Architecture for 3D Human Pose Estimation",
"abstract": "Modern multi-layer perceptron (MLP) models have shown competitive results in learning visual representations without self-attention. However, existing MLP models are not good at capturing local details and lack prior knowledge of human body configurations, which limits their modeling power for skeletal representation learning. To address these issues, we propose a simple yet effective graph-reinforced MLP-Like architecture, named GraphMLP, that combines MLPs and graph convolutional networks (GCNs) in a global-local-graphical unified architecture for 3D human pose estimation. GraphMLP incorporates the graph structure of human bodies into an MLP model to meet the domain-specific demand of the 3D human pose, while allowing for both local and global spatial interactions. Furthermore, we propose to flexibly and efficiently extend the GraphMLP to the video domain and show that complex temporal dynamics can be effectively modeled in a simple way with negligible computational cost gains in the sequence length. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MLP-Like architecture for 3D human pose estimation in a single frame and a video sequence. Extensive experiments show that the proposed GraphMLP achieves state-of-the-art performance on two datasets, i.e., Human3.6M and MPI-INF-3DHP. Code and models are available at https://github.com/Vegetebird/GraphMLP.",
"corpus_id": 249642510
} | {
"title": "3D Human Pose Estimation via Graph Extended Spatio-Temporal Convolutional Network",
"abstract": "3D human pose estimation is an important premise for human behavior analysis and understanding, which has a wide range of applications in intelligent transportation, human-computer interaction, and animation production. Most existing works focus on extracting the feature relationship between frames by combining spatio-temporal information to reduce the error of attitude reconstruction. However, the majority of them often suffer from insufficient joint correlation characteristics. To address this problem, we propose a Graph Expand Spatiotemporal Convolutional Network, named GESC-Net, to improve the limitation of extracting human spatial structure features. To better enrich the feature of extracting local information, we develop a learnable symmetric connection (LSC) block in the spatial structure. Moreover, a CbAttantion block is also designed to obtain a larger view of the acquisition of global structure and get more effective features. We evaluate our approach on two standard benchmark datasets: Human3.6M and HumanEva-I. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation results demonstrate that the GESC-Net can achieve better 3D human posture estimation than existing state-of-the-art methods.",
"corpus_id": 259362946
} | {
"title": "Co-delivery of IL-12 cytokine gene and cisplatin prodrug by a polymetformin-conjugated nanosystem for lung cancer chemo-gene treatment through chemotherapy sensitization and tumor microenvironment modulation.",
"abstract": "The combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy has been indicated as a promising approach for cancer therapy. However, this combination strategy is still faced a challenge by the lack of suitable carriers to co-loaded chemotherapeutic drug and gene into one single nanoplatform. In this study, a tumor-targeted HC/pIL-12/polyMET micelleplexes were developed for the co-loading and co-delivery of cisplatin (CDDP) and plasmid encoding interleukin-12 gene (pIL-12), which would be utilized to generate synergistic actions through chemotherapy sensitization and microenvironment modulation. The HC/pIL-12/polyMET exhibited desirable particle size, superior serum stability, effective intracellular CDDP release and pIL-12 transfection efficiency. More important, the HC/pIL-12/polyMET generated the enhanced LLC cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction efficiency. The long-circulating HC/pIL-12/polyMET micelleplexes promoted the accumulation of CDDP and pIL-12 in tumor site, which resulted in significantly inhibiting the growth of lung cancer, and prolonging the overall survival of tumor-bearing mice. The underlying immune mechanism demonstrated the combination of CDDP and pIL-12 activated immune effector cells to release IFN-γ and induced M1-type differentiation of tumor-related macrophages, thereby generating synergistic chemoimmunotherapy effect. Taken together, this study may provide an effective strategy for drug/gene co-delivery and cancer chemoimmunotherapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Chemoimmunotherapy has been indicated as an approach to improve efficacy of cancer therapy. Herein, a tumor-targeted micelleplexes (HC/pIL-12/polyMET) were developed for the co-delivery of cisplatin (CDDP) and plasmid encoding IL-12 gene (pIL-12), which can employ the synergistic effects through chemotherapy sensitization and microenvironment modulation. The HC/pIL-12/polyMET exhibited desirable particle size, superior serum stability, high gene transfection efficiency and antitumor activity on tumor cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction. More importantly, the long-circulating HC/pIL-12/polyMET micelleplexes could effectively accumulate in tumor sites and then rapidly release the CDDP and pIL-12, significantly inhibit the growth of lung cancer. This strategy provides a new concept for chemo-gene combination with a strengthened overall therapeutic efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy.",
"corpus_id": 233390047
} |
{
"title": "A probabilistic stationary speed–density relation based on Newell’s simplified car-following model",
"abstract": "Probabilistic models describing macroscopic traffic flow have proven useful both in practice and in theory. In theoretical investigations of wide-scatter in flow–density data, the statistical features of flow density relations have played a central role. In real-time estimation and traffic forecasting applications, probabilistic extensions of macroscopic relations are widely used. However, how to obtain such relations, in a manner that results in physically reasonable behavior has not been addressed. This paper presents the derivation of probabilistic macroscopic traffic flow relations from Newell’s simplified car-following model. The probabilistic nature of the model allows for investigating the impact of driver heterogeneity on macroscopic relations of traffic flow. The physical features of the model are verified analytically and shown to produce behavior which is consistent with well-established traffic flow principles. An empirical investigation is carried out using trajectory data from the New Generation SIMulation (NGSIM) program and the model’s ability to reproduce real-world traffic data is validated.",
"corpus_id": 17975863
} | {
"title": "A stochastic model of traffic flow: Theoretical foundations",
"abstract": "Abstract In a variety of applications of traffic flow, including traffic simulation, real-time estimation and prediction, one requires a probabilistic model of traffic flow. The usual approach to constructing such models involves the addition of random noise terms to deterministic equations, which could lead to negative traffic densities and mean dynamics that are inconsistent with the original deterministic dynamics. This paper offers a new stochastic model of traffic flow that addresses these issues. The source of randomness in the proposed model is the uncertainty inherent in driver gap choice, which is represented by random state dependent vehicle time headways. A wide range of time headway distributions is allowed. From the random time headways, counting processes are defined, which represent cumulative flows across cell boundaries in a discrete space and continuous time conservation framework. We show that our construction implicitly ensures non-negativity of traffic densities and that the fluid limit of the stochastic model is consistent with cell transmission model (CTM) based deterministic dynamics.",
"corpus_id": 13939570
} | {
"title": "Moments of Markov-Switching Models",
"abstract": "Abstract In this paper we have focused on the class of regime-switching time series models with regimes determined by unobservable variables, concretely Markov-switching models. We have derived 2nd central moment of the MSW models for two cases-state-independent and state-dependent model",
"corpus_id": 76658744
} |
{
"title": "Structured analysis dictionary learning based on discriminative Fisher pair",
"abstract": "In analysis dictionary learning (ADL) algorithms, the row vectors (profiles) of the analysis coefficient matrix and analysis atoms are always one-to-one correspondence, and the analysis information of atoms could be represented by their corresponding profiles. However, the analysis atoms and their corresponding profiles are seldom jointly explored to formulate a discrimination term. In this paper, we exploit the analysis atoms and profiles to design a structured discriminative ADL algorithm for image classification, called structured analysis dictionary learning based on discriminative Fisher pair (SADL-DFP). Specifically, we explicitly provide the definitions of the profile and the newly defined profile block, which are used to illustrate the analysis mechanism of the ADL model. Then, the discriminative Fisher pair (DFP) model is designed by using the Fisher criterion of analysis atoms and profiles, which can enhance the inter-class separability and intra-class compactness of the analysis atoms and profiles. Since the profiles and analysis atoms can be updated alternatively and interactively, our DFP model can further encourage the analysis atoms to analyze the same-class training samples as much as possible. In addition, a robust multiclass classifier is simultaneously learned by utilizing the label information of the training samples and analysis atoms in our SADL-DFP algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed SADL-DFP algorithm can outperform many state-of-the-art dictionary learning algorithms on multiple datasets with both deep learning-based features and hand-crafted features.",
"corpus_id": 234838565
} | {
"title": "Adaptive locality sensitive analysis representation learning via K-SVD algorithm",
"abstract": "Recent years, analysis representation learning and its applications for classification have been well explored and applied, due to its flexible representation ability and low classification complexity. With a learned analysis dictionary, test samples can be transformed into a sparse subspace for classification efficiently. However, the underlying locality of sample data has rarely been explored and reliably married with analysis representation learning to enhance the discriminative capability of the classifier. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive locality-sensitive analysis representation learning model for pattern classification (ALAR). It considers the intrinsic geometric properties by imposing adaptive weighted constrained graph regularization to uncover the geometric structure of the image data. Through the learned analysis dictionary, we transform the image to a new and compact space where the manifold assumption can be further guaranteed. Thus, the local geometrical structure of images can be preserved in sparse representation coefficients. Moreover, the ALAR model is iteratively solved by the synthesis K-SVD and gradient technique. Experimental results on image classification validate the performance superiority of our ALAR model.",
"corpus_id": 259262956
} | {
"title": "Region Graph Embedding Network for Zero-Shot Learning",
"abstract": ",",
"corpus_id": 225994151
} |
{
"title": "Methods for Assessing Spillover in Network-Based Studies of HIV/AIDS Prevention among People Who Use Drugs",
"abstract": "Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) interventions among people who use drugs (PWUD) often have spillover, also known as interference or dissemination, which occurs when one participant’s exposure affects another participant’s outcome. PWUD are often members of networks defined by social, sexual, and drug-use partnerships and their receipt of interventions can affect other members in their network. For example, HIV interventions with possible spillover include educational training about HIV risk reduction, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or treatment as prevention. In turn, intervention effects frequently depend on the network structure, and intervention coverage levels and spillover can occur even if not measured in a study, possibly resulting in an underestimation of intervention effects. Recent methodological approaches were developed to assess spillover in the context of network-based studies. This tutorial provides an overview of different study designs for network-based studies and related methodological approaches for assessing spillover in each design. We also provide an overview of other important methodological issues in network studies, including causal influence in networks and missing data. Finally, we highlight applications of different designs and methods from studies of PWUD and conclude with an illustrative example from the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) in Athens, Greece.",
"corpus_id": 256933621
} | {
"title": "Analytic Advances in Social Networks and Health in the Twenty-First Century",
"abstract": "The study of social networks is increasingly central to health research for medical sociologists and scholars in other fields. Here, we review the innovations in theory, substance, data collection, and methodology that have propelled the study of social networks and health from a niche subfield to the center of larger sociological and scientific debates. In particular, we contextualize the broader history of network analysis and its connections to health research, concentrating on work beginning in the late 1990s, much of it in this journal. Using bibliometric and network visualization approaches, we examine the subfield’s evolution over this period in terms of topics, trends, key debates, and core insights. We conclude by reflecting on persistent challenges and areas of innovation shaping the study of social networks and health and its intersection with medical sociology in the coming years.",
"corpus_id": 248024013
} | {
"title": "The Problem of Narcissism in Psychoanalytic Organizations: The Insularity of Power",
"abstract": "The author reviews a facet of the history of psychoanalytic institutes from the perspective of Freud's defensive idealisations and grandiosity against narcissistic vulnerabilities that contributed to organizational difficulties. The idealizations and grandiosity were expressed in a rigid, repetitive preoccupation with protecting psychoanalysis through use of secrecy, insularity, control of power, and intolerance of diverse opinions of others. Eventually, insulating power became institutionalized, and it has interfered with a more consonant expression of the humane processes of psychoanalysis in the activities of psychoanalytic organizations. Over the past 20 years, however, several events have allowed analysts to use their increased knowledge of narcissism to tolerate their narcissistic vulnerabilities so they could use this understanding in their practice, in their psychoanalytic organizations, and in their lives. One effect of this development is that psychoanalytic organizations are undergoing constructive changes.",
"corpus_id": 144440478
} |
{
"title": "Reliability analysis and selective maintenance for multistate queueing system",
"abstract": "The reliability theory of the multi-state system (MSS) has received considerable attention in recent years, as it is able to characterize the multi-state property and complicated deterioration process of systems in a finer way than that of binary-state system. In general, the performance of the task processing type MSS is typically measured by an operation time (processing speed). Whereas, considering the queueing phenomenon caused by the random arrival and processing of tasks, some other criteria should be taken into account to evaluate the quality of service (QoS) and the profit of stakeholders, such as waiting time, service and abandon rate of tasks and consequent profit rate. In this article, we focus on the queueing process of tasks and analyse the performance and reliability of MSS in an M/M/2 queueing model, which is referred to as a multi-state queueing system (MSQS). Two kinds of deterioration are studied including the gradual degradation of servers and the sudden breakdown of the whole system. A performance assessment function is defined to obtain the profit rate of MSQS in different performance states. Based on the proposed performance function, the selective maintenance method is studied to optimize the accumulated profit under the constraint of maintenance resource and time.",
"corpus_id": 237643811
} | {
"title": "Performance Analysis of Preemptive Priority Retrial Queueing System with Disaster under Working Breakdown Services",
"abstract": "In this investigation, a novel sort of retrial queueing system with working breakdown services is introduced. Two distinct kinds of customers are considered, which are priority and ordinary customers. The normal busy server may become inadequate due to catastrophes at any time which cause the major server to fail. At a failure moment, the major server is sent to be fixed and the server functions at a lower speed (called the working breakdown period) during the repair period. The probability generating functions (PGF) of the system size is found using the concepts of the supplementary variable technique (SVT). The impact of parameters in system performance measures and cost optimization are examined numerically.",
"corpus_id": 104293496
} | {
"title": "Status of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep in the state of Rondônia",
"abstract": "The objective of this study was to evaluate the status of gastrointestinal parasites in a group of sheep, in the state of Rondônia. The research was carried out in a commercial herd in the Municipality of Vilhena, RO. Sheep Santa Inês crossbred of different sexes (males and females) and categories (lamb, sheep and lamb) were used, from which stool samples were collected monthly from the rectal bulb and analyzed by counting eggs per gram of feces (OPG) and oocysts per gram of feces (OOPG). It was also carried out the coproculture of this material for the identification of helminth and protozoan species. The environment in terms of rainfall, relative humidity and temperature was evaluated over the study period. The variables were analyzed descriptively. The relative humidity and rainfall increased as a function of the evaluation periods, while the ambient temperature decreased. The sheep were infected with helminths, with higher counts in the months of October and November. The genera of helminths identified in the samples collected were Haemonchus spp., Strongyloides spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. Oocysts of Eimeria spp. were verified in all animals evaluated independently of the animal category. There were differences in the incidence of helminths and protozoa as a function of the animal category and with the advancement of the evaluation period lambs represented the category most susceptible to parasitism.",
"corpus_id": 209585635
} |
{
"title": "Effects of Al Doping with Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles on Structural, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties",
"abstract": "Zinc ferrite nanoparticles have wide range of the applications in the field of Electronics, Optoelectronics, Magnetics, Solar cell, Photocatalysts. With Al doping we modify their structural, magnetic and electrical properties of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4). In the present studies, zinc ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by sol gel method using glycine as combustion agent. The effects of Al doping concentration on the structural, morphological, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of zinc ferrites were studied. In x-ray diffraction patterns analysis confirmed the formation of the cubic spinel structure. We characterise scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) in the current work to examine the morphology of the nanomaterials. The UV-Vis optical investigation showed that Al+3 doping increased absorbance and significantly decreased energy band gap value (1.90 eV-2.01 eV). The magnetic properties of zinc ferrite NPs were studied by using vibrating samples magnetometer which showed samples of pure zinc ferrites and Al-doped zinc ferrite with paramgnetism. Dielectric properties were studied from impedance analyser. When aluminium concentration increases in the zinc ferrites, dielectric characteristic results were obtained in which dielectric constant (ɛ'), dielectric loss (ɛ'') and tangent loss decreased. Also when frequency increases above all three dielectric parameters remains stable at high frequency. The obtained results of pure and Al doped Zn ferrite are useful for high frequency applications.",
"corpus_id": 256452241
} | {
"title": "Sequential Synthesis Methodology Yielding Well-Defined Porous 75%SrTiO3/25%NiFe2O4 Nanocomposite",
"abstract": "In this research, we reported on the formation of highly porous foam SrTiO3/NiFe2O4 (100−xSTO/xNFO) heterostructure by joint solid-state and sol-gel auto-combustion techniques. The colloidal assembly process is discussed based on the weight ratio x (x = 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 wt %) of NiFe2O4 in the 100−xSTO/xNFO system. We proposed a mechanism describing the highly porous framework formation involving the self-assembly of SrTiO3 due to the gelation process of the nickel ferrite. We used a series of spectrophotometric techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption isotherms method, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and dielectric measurements, to investigate the structural, morphological, optical, magnetic, and dielectric properties of the synthesized samples. As revealed by FE-SEM analysis and textural characteristics, SrTiO3-NiFe2O4 nanocomposite self-assembled into a porous foam with an internally well-defined porous structure. HRTEM characterization certifies the distinctive crystalline phases obtained and reveals that SrTiO3 and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were closely connected. The specific magnetization, coercivity, and permittivity values are higher in the 75STO/25NFO heterostructure and do not decrease proportionally to the amount of non-magnetic SrTiO3 present in the composition of samples.",
"corpus_id": 245725093
} | {
"title": "Metal–organic frameworks based on multicarboxylate linkers",
"abstract": "Abstract When designing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), linker design is one of the most important factors in constructing a wide variety of structures. Judicious choice of linker size, geometry, and connectivity can create diverse structures and topologies, which can aid in the quest to design MOFs with both high stability and permanent porosity. Multi-connected linkers have become a focus in the MOF community, as high connectivity can improve stability and tunability of frameworks. In particular, multicarboxylate ligands have been reported extensively in the literature to construct stable MOFs with versatile pore environments, which can be termed as metal-multicarboxylate frameworks (MMCFs). These structures have great application potential in gas adsorption and separation, catalysis, and sensing. Herein, we review the literature on multicarboxylate linkers (nCOOH ≥ 3) in MOF systems and their applications, with specific emphasis on how high linker connectivity affects properties of MOFs such as topology, porosity, stability, and functionality.",
"corpus_id": 224844683
} |
{
"title": "Attitude and Behavior of People Towards Visiting the Hospital During the Pandemic",
"abstract": "Introduction: Visiting the hospital is important as a part of check-up in avoiding the major risks of unknown and serious diseases irrespective of any pandemic. Our study aims to understand the attitude and behaviour of common people towards visiting the hospital during COVID-19 pandemic in two major hotspot states of India namely Maharashtra and Karnataka. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July-august 2021 among the population of two states. A total of 636 respondents completed the survey and returned electronically. Data were analysed using suitable statistical tools to achieve the objective of the study. Results: 74.8% of the respondents were not ready to visit the hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic unless the symptoms were serious. On the other hand, 25.2% of the of respondents were willing to go to the hospitals. The top three reasons for the reduction in visits are fear of getting infected in the hospitals by COVID-19 patients (72.6%), fear of stepping out of home (31.1%) and fear of COVID-19 infection by the lab equipment (24.5%). Conclusion: Overall the study revealed that there was a reduction in number of visits to the hospitals for common diseases in people after the pandemic started. But the people were still willing to go to the hospitals if they noticed any major symptoms or symptoms related to COVID-19. Our findings may be useful to develop strategies to address concerns in order to ensure that people do not get any serious illness because of the fear of COVID-19.",
"corpus_id": 237371120
} | {
"title": "Significant reduction in the visits to the emergency room department during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Greece",
"abstract": "Abstract COVID-19 pandemic caused a major crisis, affecting and straining health care systems, including some very advanced ones. The pandemic may have also indirectly affected access to health care for patients with other conditions, not related to COVID-19, even in countries not overwhelmed by an outbreak. We analyzed and compared visits to the emergency room (ER) department during the same calendar period of 2019 and 2020 (from March 1 to March 31 of each year) in our hospital, a medium size, tertiary center, located in the center of Athens, which is not a referral center for COVID-19. Total ER visits were reduced by 42.3% and the number of those requiring hospitalization by 34.8%. This reduction was driven by lower numbers of visits for low risk, non-specific symptoms and causes. However, there was a significant decrease in admissions for cardiovascular symptoms and complications (chest pain of cardiac origin, acute coronary syndromes, and stroke) by 39.7% and for suspected or confirmed GI hemorrhage by 54.7%. Importantly, number of ER visits for infections remained unchanged, as well as the number of patients that required hospitalization for infection management; only few patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. During the initial period of the pandemic and lock-down in Greece, there was a major decrease in the patients visiting ER department, including decrease in the numbers of admissions for cardiovascular symptoms and complications. These observations may have implications for the management of non-COVID-19 diseases during the pandemic.",
"corpus_id": 229351728
} | {
"title": "Effects of various doses of lubabegron on calculated ammonia gas emissions, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of beef cattle during the last 56 days of the feeding period",
"abstract": "Abstract Lubabegron (LUB; Experior, Elanco, Greenfield, IN, USA) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018 and is indicated for the reduction of ammonia (NH3) gas emissions·kg−1 body weight (BW) and hot carcass weight (HCW) when fed to feedlot cattle during the final 14 to 91 d of the finishing period. LUB demonstrates antagonistic behavior at the β 1 and β 2 receptor subtypes and agonistic behavior at the β 3 receptor subtype in cattle and is classified by the Center for Veterinary Medicine as a “beta-adrenergic agonist/antagonist.” This report describes a randomized complete block study that evaluated LUB dose (0, 1.5, 3.5, and 5.5 mg·kg−1 dry matter) during the last 56 d of the feeding period on calculated NH3 gas emissions, live weight, carcass weight, and associated ratios in beef feedlot cattle. Carcass characteristics, mobility, and health were also evaluated. All cattle received monensin and tylosin throughout the study. Ammonia gas emissions were calculated using the equation developed by Brown et al. (Brown, M. S., N. A. Cole, S. Gruber, J. Kube, and J. S. Teeter. 2019. Modeling and prediction accuracy of ammonia gas emissions from feedlot cattle. App. Anim. Sci. 35:347–356). The reduction in calculated cumulative NH3 gas emissions with LUB ranged from 1.3% to 11.0% (85 to 708 g/hd). When NH3 gas emissions were expressed on a live weight (unshrunk) and carcass weight basis, calculated NH3 gas emissions decreased by 3.0% to 12.8% and 3.8% to 14.6%, respectively. Daily dry matter intake was 2.3% greater (Ptrt < 0.05) for steers that received LUB. Average daily gain was 13.7% greater (Ptrt < 0.05; 1.68 vs. 1.91 kg), while gain efficiency was 10.8% greater (Ptrt < 0.05; 0.167 vs. 0.185) for steers fed LUB. Animal mobility was scored in the pen approximately 1 wk prior to harvest, when cattle were loaded on trucks scheduled for harvest, and at antemortem inspection during lairage. No treatment differences (Ptrt ≥ 0.170) were observed at any time for the percent of cattle receiving mobility scores of 1 or 2 (normal or minor stiffness but moving with the normal cattle, respectively). Cattle mobility scored as a 1 or 2 equaled or exceeded 92% at all times. Final BW and HCW increased (Ptrt < 0.05) 11.6 to 15.7 kg and 11.3 to 17.1 kg, respectively, in cattle receiving LUB compared to cattle receiving monensin plus tylosin alone.",
"corpus_id": 237533197
} |
{
"title": "Rapid Manufacturing of Highly Cytotoxic Clinical-Grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T Cell Products Covering SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants for Adoptive T Cell Therapy",
"abstract": "Objectives: Evaluation of the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell manufacturing for adoptive T cell transfer in COVID-19 patients at risk to develop severe disease. Methods: Antiviral SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detected in blood of convalescent COVID-19 patients following stimulation with PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select using Interferon-gamma Enzyme-Linked Immunospot (IFN-γ ELISpot), SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Analysis Kit (Whole Blood) and Cytokine Secretion Assay (CSA) and were characterized with respect to memory phenotype, activation state and cytotoxic potential by multicolor flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR and multiplex analyses. Clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell products were generated by stimulation with MACS GMP PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select using CliniMACS Prodigy and CliniMACS Cytokine Capture System (IFN-gamma) (CCS). Functionality of enriched T cells was investigated in cytotoxicity assays and by multiplex analysis of secreted cytotoxic molecules upon target recognition. Results: Donor screening via IFN-γ ELISpot allows for pre-selection of potential donors for generation of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. Antiviral T cells reactive against PepTivator SARS-CoV-2 Select could be magnetically enriched from peripheral blood of convalescent COVID-19 patients by small-scale CSA resembling the clinical-grade CCS manufacturing process and showed an activated and cytotoxic T cell phenotype. Four clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell products were successfully generated with sufficient cell numbers and purities comparable to those observed in donor pretesting via CSA. The T cells in the generated products were shown to be capable to replicate, specifically recognize and kill target cells in vitro and secrete cytotoxic molecules upon target recognition. Cell viability, total CD3+ cell number, proliferative capacity and cytotoxic potential remained stable throughout storage of up to 72 h after end of leukapheresis. Conclusion: Clinical-grade SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are functional, have proliferative capacity and target-specific cytotoxic potential. Their function and phenotype remain stable for several days after enrichment. The adoptive transfer of partially matched, viable human SARS-CoV-2-specific T lymphocytes collected from convalescent individuals may provide the opportunity to support the immune system of COVID-19 patients at risk for severe disease.",
"corpus_id": 248070928
} | {
"title": "Single-cell analysis reveals cell communication triggered by macrophages associated with the reduction and exhaustion of CD8+ T cells in COVID-19",
"abstract": "Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has become an ongoing pandemic. Understanding the respiratory immune microenvironment which is composed of multiple cell types, together with cell communication based on ligand–receptor interactions is important for developing vaccines, probing COVID-19 pathogenesis, and improving pandemic control measures. Methods A total of 102 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Clinical information, routine laboratory tests, and flow cytometry analysis data with different conditions were collected and assessed for predictive value in COVID-19 patients. Next, we analyzed public single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which offers the closest available view of immune cell heterogeneity as encountered in patients with varying severity of COVID-19. A weighting algorithm was used to calculate ligand–receptor interactions, revealing the communication potentially associated with outcomes across cell types. Finally, serum cytokines including IL6, IL1β, IL10, CXCL10, TNFα, GALECTIN-1, and IGF1 derived from patients were measured. Results Of the 102 COVID-19 patients, 42 cases (41.2%) were categorized as severe. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that AST, D-dimer, BUN, and WBC were considered as independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19. T cell numbers including total T cells, CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the severe disease group were significantly lower than those in the moderate disease group. The risk model containing the above mentioned inflammatory damage parameters, and the counts of T cells, with AUROCs ranged from 0.78 to 0.87. To investigate the molecular mechanism at the cellular level, we analyzed the published scRNA-seq data and found that macrophages displayed specific functional diversity after SARS-Cov-2 infection, and the metabolic pathway activities in the identified macrophage subtypes were influenced by hypoxia status. Importantly, we described ligand–receptor interactions that are related to COVID-19 serverity involving macrophages and T cell subsets by communication analysis. Conclusions Our study showed that macrophages driving ligand–receptor crosstalk contributed to the reduction and exhaustion of CD8 + T cells. The identified crucial cytokine panel, including IL6, IL1β, IL10, CXCL10, IGF1, and GALECTIN-1, may offer the selective targets to improve the efficacy of COVID-19 therapy. Trial registration : This is a retrospective observational study without a trial registration number. Video Abstract",
"corpus_id": 235773005
} | {
"title": "No association between types of unilateral mandibular condylar abnormalities and facial asymmetry in orthopedic‐treated patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis",
"abstract": "Introduction Dentofacial asymmetries are often observed in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvements. The aim of this split‐face study was to associate types of radiologic TMJ abnormalities with the degree of dentofacial asymmetry in patients with unilateral TMJ involvements assessed with cone‐beam computed tomography. Methods Forty‐seven JIA patients and 19 nonarthritic control subjects were included in the study. Normal condylar radiologic cone‐beam computed tomography appearance in at least 1 TMJ was the inclusion criterion for all patients with JIA. The contralateral TMJ was thereafter scored as either “normal,” “deformed,” or “erosive,” consistent with predefined criteria. Based on the bilateral radiologic TMJ appearances, 3 JIA groups were assigned: normal/normal, normal/deformed, and normal/erosive. The severity of the dentofacial asymmetry was compared between the JIA groups and control subjects. Dentofacial asymmetry was expressed as interside ratios and angular measurements. Results Eighty‐seven percent of the JIA patients were being treated or had previously received treatment with a functional orthopedic appliance at the time of the cone‐beam computed tomography. Significantly greater dentofacial asymmetries were observed in the 2 groups of JIA patients with unilateral condylar abnormalities (deformation or erosion) than in the other groups. A similar degree of dentofacial asymmetry was observed in JIA patients with bilateral normal TMJs and in the nonarthritic control group. Conclusions JIA patients with unilateral condylar abnormalities (deformation or erosion) exhibited significantly more severe dentofacial asymmetries than did the JIA patients without condylar abnormalities and the control subjects. We found the same degree of dentofacial asymmetry when dividing patients with condylar abnormalities into deformation and erosion groups. HighlightsDentofacial asymmetries often occur in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).Dentofacial development is affected more severely in patients with condylar abnormalities.Dysmorphic dentofacial development is not associated with a specific type of condylar abnormality.Combined condylar deformations and erosions were observed in one third of the TMJs in JIA patients.",
"corpus_id": 19078931
} |
{
"title": "Stimulation of entrepreneurs' innovative activity: evidence from Kazakhstan",
"abstract": "In recent years, Kazakhstan’s innovation policy has enjoyed a noticeable rally: ways to support innovation are being actively discussed, a suitable “toolbox” is developing, the susceptibility of decision-makers to the mechanisms for encouraging innovation is increasing. Nevertheless, effective levers of influence on business, in which innovation activity could manifest locally, have not been found yet. Although this does not change the overall economic situation. Following on from the results of a survey of various level business managers and factor analysis performed prior, the authors study the influence of incentive mechanisms on entity activities and their “inquiry” on the public policy content. The authors come to the conclusion that most of the tools to stimulate innovation entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan are currently aimed at successful market players, creating conditions for technological modernization of existing industries, and at improving the level of entrepreneurs’ business and technological competencies. According to a study conducted in Kazakhstan, it is necessary to increase the participation of universities, research institutes, local executive and legislative authorities in the development of management mechanisms and the promotion of innovation entrepreneurship.",
"corpus_id": 220792961
} | {
"title": "The Geographical Location as a Limitation for Starting Entrepreneurial Initiatives and Career Development",
"abstract": "From the perspective of entrepreneurship, the geographical location is one of the important barriers/prerequisites for business development. Its role and place in the development of family entrepreneurship and the career development of young people has been relatively poorly studied. The aim of this paper is to provide an emperical research on the influence of the geographical location for starting entrepreneurial initiatives and career development. The object of this research are students having major or minor classes in the field of entrepreneurship from Albania, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Russia and Serbia. The subject of this research is on their attitude for career development in the field of family entrepreneurship and their geographical location. A standartised printed questionnaire has been used with Lickert scale for collecting the answers, translated into the national language of the respondents. The results are given in tables to compare the student intentions and outline their similarities. This paper could help the involved twelve universities to improve their teaching methods in a way their students to perceive the advantages of the geographical location and become part of the the regional entrepreneurs and companies.",
"corpus_id": 253516466
} | {
"title": "Specifying Formative Constructs in Information Systems Research",
"abstract": "While researchers go to great lengths to justify and prove theoretical links between constructs, the relationship between measurement items and constructs is often ignored. By default, the relationship between construct and item is assumed to be reflective, meaning that the measurement items are a reflection of the construct. Many times, though, the nature of the construct is not reflective, but rather formative. Formative constructs occur when the items describe and define the construct rather than vice versa. \n \nIn this research, we examine whether formative constructs are indeed being mistaken for reflective constructs by information systems researchers. By examining complete volumes of MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research over the last 3 years, we discovered that a significant number of articles have indeed misspecified formative constructs. For scientific results to be valid, we argue that researchers must properly specify formative constructs. This paper discusses the implications of different patterns of common misspecifications of formative constructs on both Type I and Type II errors. To avoid these errors, the paper provides a roadmap to researchers to properly specify formative constructs. We also discuss how to address formative constructs within a research model after they are specified.",
"corpus_id": 26376826
} |
{
"title": "Microbial-assisted phytodegradation for the amelioration of pyrene-contaminated soil using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus oryzae with alfalfa and sunflower",
"abstract": "Environmental pollution caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) jeopardizes nature. PAHs are the most toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic pollutants and their cleanup is important for the environment. In the current research, to assess and evaluate three remediation strategies for pyrene removal from the soil, a pot experiment was performed: (a) bioremediation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus oryzae, (b) phytoremediation with sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and (c) microbial-assisted phytoremediation for the treatment of pyrene (700 mg kg−1). Results depict that P. aeruginosa significantly promoted the growth and tolerance of taken plants and reduced pyrene concentration in soil. Compared with those planted in pyrene-contaminated soil without inoculation. The highest percentage of pyrene removal was observed in P. aeruginosa inoculated alfalfa (91%), alfalfa inoculated with A. oryzae (83.96%), and without inoculation (78.20%). Moreover, alfalfa planted in P. aeruginosa augmented soil had the highest dehydrogenase activity (37.83 μg TPF g−1 soil h−1), and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (91.67 μg fluorescein g−1 dry soil). DHA and FDA are the indicators of bioaugmentation influence on the indigenous microbial activity of contaminated soil. As a result of the findings, the rhizospheric association of plants and microbes is beneficial for pyrene removal. Therefore, P. aeruginosa-assisted phytodegradation might be a more successful remediation technique for pyrene-contaminated soil than bioremediation and phytodegradation solely.",
"corpus_id": 259265224
} | {
"title": "Effect of pyrene-induced changes in root activity on growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.), and the health risks caused by pyrene in Chinese cabbage at different growth stages",
"abstract": "Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose a potential risk to ecological safety and human health. They have a range of effects on plant growth and there have been few reports on the health risks associated with ingestion of vegetable crops at different growth stages. Methodology In this study, a pot experiment in which Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris L.) were grown in a greenhouse for 75 days was used to investigate the dose–effect relationship of pyrene with plant growth and also the exposure risk for adults of ingestion of Chinese cabbage at different growth stages. Results The results showed that low doses of pyrene (5–45 mg kg −1 ) promoted plant growth (20–220% and 55–97% higher than control treatment for the root biomass and shoot biomass, respectively), but significant inhibition was observed at a high dose (405 mg kg −1 ) (41–66% and 43–91% lower than control treatment for the root biomass and shoot biomass, respectively). High doses of pyrene reduced soil bacterial abundance and diversity during the growth of Chinese cabbage, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the plant. The effects of pyrene on plant biomass were mainly attributed to changes in root activity induced by pyrene, as the relationship between soil pyrene concentration and biomass was similar to that between soil pyrene concentration and root activity. Furthermore, structural equation modeling analysis showed that pyrene altered growth of the vegetable by directly affecting root activity. The incremental lifetime cancer risk for adults is highest for ingestion of Chinese cabbage at the seedling stage, followed in decreasing order by the rosette stages and heading stages. Conclusions The health risk of consumers who have the possibility to ingest the Chinese cabbage planted in pyrene-contaminated soil would be decreased with the increasing growth periods. However, further studies are required to confirm the dose–effect relationship between pyrene concentration and Chinese cabbage growth on a field scale. Graphical Abstract",
"corpus_id": 245883736
} | {
"title": "Virtual reality three-dimensional echocardiographic imaging for planning surgical atrioventricular valve repair",
"abstract": "Objectives To investigate how virtual reality (VR) imaging impacts decision-making in atrioventricular valve surgery. Methods This was a single-center retrospective study involving 15 children and adolescents, median age 6 years (range, 0.33-16) requiring surgical repair of the atrioventricular valves between the years 2016 and 2019. The patients' preoperative 3-dimesnional (3D) echocardiographic data were used to create 3D visualization in a VR application. Five pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons completed a questionnaire formulated to compare their surgical decisions regarding the cases after reviewing conventionally presented 2-dimesnional and 3D echocardiographic images and again after visualization of 3D echocardiograms using the VR platform. Finally, intraoperative findings were shared with surgeons to confirm assessment of the pathology. Results In 67% of cases presented with VR, surgeons reported having “more” or “much more” confidence in their understanding of each patient's pathology and their surgical approach. In all but one case, surgeons were at least as confident after reviewing the VR compared with standard imaging. The case where surgeons reported to be least confident on VR had the worst technical quality of data used. After viewing patient cases on VR, surgeons reported that they would have made minor modifications to surgical approach in 53% and major modifications in 7% of cases. Conclusions The main impact of viewing imaging on VR is the improved clarity of the anatomical structures. Surgeons reported that this would have impacted the surgical approach in the majority of cases. Poor-quality 3D echocardiographic data were associated with a negative impact of VR visualization; thus. quality assessment of imaging is necessary before projecting in a VR format.",
"corpus_id": 233942359
} |
{
"title": "Effects of microcrystalline cellulose surface modification on the mechanical and thermal properties of polylactic acid composite films",
"abstract": "ABSTRACT Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), extracted from distiller’s grains by nitric acid-ethanol hydrolysis, was prepared for PLA composite films by solution casting. MCC based on the optimum comparison was characterised by particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the ultrasound combined sulphonation treatment was remarkable for the surface structure of MCC, compared with that modified by sulphonation and ultrasound methods. The MCC/PLA composite films were analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), mechanical properties and thermal resistance. The results show that the properties and performance of MCC/PLA composite film using ultrasound combined sulphonation treatment are obviously better than those of modified films by other methods. For the modified MCC/PLA composite film by sulphonation and ultrasound methods, the FT-IR analysis carried out a large number of hydroxyl groups that are hydrolysed, the tensile strength upped to 505.24 MPa and the thermal-decomposed temperature increased to 320°C from 260°C. The modified MCC would be a beneficial filling material for the properties of PLA composites.",
"corpus_id": 225048098
} | {
"title": "Preparation of microcrystalline cellulose from agricultural residues and their application as polylactic acid/microcrystalline cellulose composite films for the preservation of Lanzhou lily.",
"abstract": "Microcrystalline celluloses were isolated from four agricultural residues, including sweet sorghum stalk, Jerusalem artichoke stalk, grains stillage, and Chinese herb residue, and characterized in terms of physicochemical and structural properties. The obtained microcrystalline celluloses were composited with polylactic acid as a packing film for the preservation of Lanzhou lily. All the agricultural residues-derived microcrystalline celluloses were in cellulose Iβ structure with high purity and good thermal stability. Microcrystalline celluloses from sweet sorghum stalk had a higher degree of polymerization (327) and crystallinity (70.52 %) than others. The preservation effect of lily bulbs packaged by films were significantly improved indicated by the lessened weight loss rate and the meliorative hardness and whiteness, which ascribe to the repressed oxidation reactions. Polylactic acid/microcrystalline cellulose composite films prepared from sweet sorghum straw have been proved the most effective. This work could offer a value-added outlet for agricultural residues to produce microcrystalline celluloses-based biocompatible films for preservation of Lanzhou lily.",
"corpus_id": 254961199
} | {
"title": "Morphological changes of sterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose after periodate oxidation",
"abstract": "Periodate oxidation breaks the C2–C3 bond in the glucose repeat units of cellulose, forming two vicinal aldehyde groups. When the cellulose is partially oxidized, three products were generated after periodate oxidation: fibrous cellulose, sterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (SNCC) and dialdehyde modified cellulose. Thus, by periodate oxidation alone, we can produce nanocellulose. SNCCs were produced after 26, 42 and 84 h periodate oxidation. Their morphologies were examined by transmission electron microscopy, which show that the three SNCCs have similar diameters (5–10 nm). In contrast, the average length of SNCC decreases with aldehyde content: from approximately 590 nm after 26 h of oxidation to 100 nm for an oxidation period of 84 h. It indicates that the morphology of SNCC can be well controlled by the degree of periodate oxidation, which depends on the amount of periodate and the reaction time. Equivalent spherical diameters of SNCCs were also examined by dynamic light scattering, and the results correspond closely to the ones observed by TEM. The viscosities of SNCCs were measured by an Ubbelohde viscometer and compared with theory. Because the length of SNCC particles gradually reduces while their diameters remain almost the same, we propose that periodate reacts preferentially with the amorphous region of cellulose. After most of the amorphous regions have reacted, the reaction proceeds at the boundary of amorphous and crystalline regions, creating a reaction front that advances towards the crystalline regions, thus continually shortening them. Dynamic light scattering experiments on SNCC suspensions when adding cosolvents into them proved that SNCCs were sterically stabilized in water.",
"corpus_id": 101618489
} |
{
"title": "Biodegradation of benzo(a)pyrene by pseudomonas strains, isolated from petroleum refinery effluent: Degradation, inhibition kinetics and metabolic pathway.",
"abstract": "Benzo(a)pyrene, a five-ring polyaromatic hydrocarbon, originating from coal tar, crude oil, tobacco, grilled foods, car exhaust etc, is highly persistent in the environment. It has been classified as a Group I carcinogen, as on its ingestion in human body, diol epoxide metabolites are generated, which bind to DNA causing mutations and eventual cancer. Among various removal methods, bioremediation is most preferred as it is a sustainable approach resulting in complete mineralization of benzo(a)pyrene. Therefore, in this study, biodegradation of benzo(a)pyrene was performed by two strains of Pseudomonas, i. e WDE11 and WD23, isolated from refinery effluent. Maximum benzo(a)pyrene tolerance was 250 mg/L and 225 mg/L against Pseudomonas sp. WD23 and Pseudomonas sp. WDE11 correspondingly. Degradation rate constants varied between 0.0468 and 0.0513/day at 50 mg/L with half-life values between 13.5 and 14.3 days as per first order kinetics, while for 100 mg/L, the respective values varied between 0.006 and 0.007 L/mg. day and 15.28-16.67 days, as per second order kinetics. The maximum specific growth rate of strains WDE11 and WD23 was 0.3512/day and 0.38/day accordingly, while concentrations over 75 mg/L had an inhibitory effect on growth. Major degradation metabolites were identified as dihydroxy-pyrene, naphthalene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, salicylic acid, and oxalic acid, indicating benzo(a)pyrene was degraded via pyrene intermediates by salicylate pathway through catechol meta-cleavage. The substantial activity of the catechol 2,3 dioxygenase enzyme was noted during the benzo(a)pyrene metabolism by both strains with minimal catechol 1,2 dioxygenase activity. This study demonstrates the exceptional potential of indigenous Pseudomonas strains in complete metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene.",
"corpus_id": 256814951
} | {
"title": "Efficient anaerobic bioremediation of high-concentration benzo[a]pyrene in marine environments.",
"abstract": "Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a persistent organic pollutant that may accumulate in sea sediments after oil spill or BaP chemical leakage accidents, considerably harms marine ecosystems and human health. Previous studies have been predominantly focused on its degradation at low concentrations, while the remediation of BaP pollution with high concentrations was neglected. Additionally, the metabolic pathways associated with its anaerobic degradation remain unclear. As a first attempt, super-efficient systems for BaP anaerobic degradation were established, and the corresponding metabolic pathways were elucidated in this study. The results showed that the BaP removal rate in BaP-only system with initial concentrations of 200 mg/L reached 3.09 mg/(L·d) within 45 days. Co-solvent, acetone promoted anaerobic BaP degradation (4.252 mg/(L·d)), while dichloromethane showed a newly-discovered co-metabolic effect. In the system with 500 mg/L of BaP and dichloromethane addition, the removal rate increased drastically (14.64 mg/(L·d)) at 400 mg/L turn point of BaP. Additionally, the corresponding microbial community-level metabolic network was firstly proposed.",
"corpus_id": 233477192
} | {
"title": "Removal of 4-Chlorophenol by Bacillus flexus as free and immobilized system: Effect of process variables and kinetic study",
"abstract": "Abstract In this work, Bacillus flexus GS1 IIT (BHU) as free and immobilized cells on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used to remove 4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) from the synthetic wastewater. The effect of the process variables, namely process time, pH, temperature, and 4-CP concentration, were optimized and obtained as 7.0 days, 7.0, 30 °C, and 50 mg/L, respectively. At optimum conditions, the maximum removal efficiencies (REs) were obtained to be 90.34 and 78.12% for the immobilized and free cells, respectively, at 50 mg/L concentration of 4-CP. Furthermore, a packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) was continuously operated for 60 days with the immobilized LDPE. The maximum RE of 82.4% and elimination capacity (EC) of 29.6 mg/L/d were obtained at 50 mg/L of the initial concentration of 4-CP. The growth kinetic parameters for Bacillus sp. were obtained to be: μ m a x : 0.205 h−1, K s : 3.3 mg/L, K i : 220 mg/L for Aiba model; μ m a x : 0.197 h−1, K s : 1.4 mg/L, K i : 220 mg/L for Edward model; and m u m a x : 0.185 h−1, K s : 1.6 mg/L, K i : 200 mg/L for Andrew-Haldane model, respectively.",
"corpus_id": 234087620
} |