bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic characterization and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolated from food, humans and veterinary-related sources in Brazil
Authors: Vilela Felipe Pinheiro , Rodrigues Dália dos Prazeres , Allard Marc William , Falcão Juliana Pfrimer
Published: December 2021

Aims

To characterize the genetic relatedness, phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance and plasmid content of 80 Salmonella Infantis strains isolated from food, humans and veterinary sources from 2013 to 2018 in Brazil.

Methods and results

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis showed major clusters containing 50% and 38.8% of the strains studied respectively. Multilocus sequence typing assigned all strains to ST32. Disk-diffusion revealed that 90% of the strains presented resistant or intermediate resistant profiles and 38.8% displayed multidrug resistance. Resistance genes for aminoglycosides (aac(6′)-Iaa; aadA12; aph(3″-Ib; aph(6)-Id), β-lactams (blaTEM-1; blaCTX-M-8; blaCMY-2), trimethoprim (dfrA8), tetracycline (tet(A)), amphenicols (floR), sulfonamide (sul2), efflux pumps (mdsA; mdsB), chromosomal point mutations in gyrB, parC, acrB and pmrA were detected. Strains harboured IncI, IncF, IncX, IncQ, IncN and IncR plasmids.

Conclusions

The presence of a prevalent S. Infantis subtype in Brazil and the high antimicrobial resistance rates reinforced the potential hazard of this serovar for the public health and food safety fields.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This is the first study characterizing a large set of S. Infantis from Brazil by whole-genome sequencing, which provided a better local and global comprehension about the distribution and characteristics of this serovar of importance in the food, human and veterinary fields.
Pandemic Politics: The European Union in Times of the Coronavirus Emergency
Authors: Tesche Tobias
Published: December 2021

This article provides an assessment of the EU institutions' response to the coronavirus pandemic. By building on a synthesis of the new intergovernmentalism and the emergency politics approach it contends that the effectiveness and legitimacy of de novo bodies like the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have fallen prey to its intergovernmental decision‐making structure, whereas the ECB has proven to be more resilient. The European Commission as the traditional engine of European integration was able to fill the gap with its large‐scale recovery instrument termed ‘Next Generation EU’ and via the creation of a temporary loan‐based instrument to support national short‐term work schemes (SURE). The historic July 2020 European Council produced policy outputs such as the ‘emergency brake’ and the diluted ‘rule of law mechanism’ that have the potential to deepen the rift between polarized member states.
Labor Market Integration and Fiscal Competition
Authors: KIIASHKO SERGII , KOPIEC PAWEŁ
Published: December 2021

This paper studies the long‐run impact of international labor mobility on a union of countries with an integrated labor market. We build a multicountry model populated by overlapping generations of households with endogenous cross‐country migration flows. Independent governments use fiscal measures to compete for labor. The model is calibrated to match the empirical economic and migration patterns in the European Union. We find that the fiscal‐competition motive has a quantitatively significant impact on optimal fiscal policy, decreasing the average debt‐to‐GDP ratio by 12 percentage points (p.p.) and the average labor income tax by 1 p.p. relative to the no‐competition scenario.
Influence of sleep fragmentation and fatigue on turnover of female nurses working rotating shifts
Authors: Chang Wen‐Pei , Wang Chia‐Hui
Published: December 2021

Aims and objectives

To investigate whether the sleep quality and fatigue of female nurses working rotating shifts could be used to predict future turnover status.

Background

Female nurses working rotating shifts often suffer from sleep problems and fatigue, and the turnover rates of nurses are generally higher than those of other hospital personnel.

Design

A prospective study.

Methods

We recruited a total of 198 female nurses working rotating shifts from December 2017 to March 2019. The nurses completed the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) scale and wore an actigraph for seven consecutive days in order to collect their sleep parameters. Their turnover status was tracked until 31 May 2021 at which time 55 participants (27.8%) had resigned. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyse the factors influencing turnover. In addition, the study adhered to the STROBE checklist.

Results

The results revealed significant differences between the nurses in the still‐working group and the resigned group in terms of the sleep quality parameters sleep efficiency (SE) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) as well as CIS scores. WASO was significantly correlated with intensity of fatigue, and fatigue was common among all of the nurses working rotating shifts. As time progressed, the sleep quality parameter WASO and CIS scores could be used to predict turnover status after 2.4 years.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated more sleep fragmentation and poor sleep efficiency in the resigned group. Sleep fragmentation was highly correlated with fatigue, and sleep fragmentation and fatigue could be used to predict turnover status.

Relevance to clinical practice

We suggest that relevant hospital management pay more attention to the sleep conditions and fatigue of female nurses working rotating shifts when arranging personnel and schedules and offer them more understanding.
T‐tapping in Standard Southern British English: An ‘elite’ sociolinguistic variant?
Authors: Alderton Roy
Published: December 2021

Social class is one of the key axes of sociolinguistic variation, but the speech of those at the top of the class spectrum—the elite—is rarely studied. While T‐glottalling has spread widely across British English accents, a competing variant—T‐tapping—has attracted little scholarly attention in the United Kingdom. This article presents a study of elite speech by examining sociolinguistic variation in T‐tapping among adolescent speakers of Standard Southern British English. Data were collected from interviews with teenagers aged 16–19 at two schools in Hampshire, UK. T‐tapping is led by those who previously attended private school and is used more by boys than girls in formal speech. The findings suggest that T‐tapping may be used to index a combination of authority and informality, which is invoked by elite speakers to assert themselves from a position of privilege while maintaining an image of openness and approachability.
Lactating sows fed whey protein supplement has eventually increased the blood profile of piglets
Authors: Sampath Vetriselvi , Park Jae Hong , Shanmugam Sureshkumar , Kim In Ho
Published: December 2021

Background

The intension of this study was to examine the effect of dietary whey protein supplementation on the reproduction performance, growth performance and blood profile of sow and their offspring. From Day 114 of lactation to 21 days of weaning, a total of 21 sows (n = 7/ treatment) (Landrace × Yorkshire) were blocked according to average parity (2.4) and allocated to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: (i) CON–corn–soybean meal based basal diet, (ii) WPC‐CON + 0.047% WPC whey protein concentrate (WPC) and (iii) WPH‐CON + 0.02% whey protein hydrolysate (WPH).

Results

The reproduction performance of sows was not affected by WPC or WPH supplementation. However, piglets that were born to WPC and WPH group sows showed higher body weight at birth (p = 0.057) and at weaning (p = 0.018). After farrowing, WPC and WPH group sows showed decreased (p = 0.043) RBC count and total iron‐binding count (TIBC) (p = 0.046), whereas at the end of the experiment, the blood profile including red blood cells, iron, haemoglobulin and TIBC was significantly increased (p =0.042, 0.049, 0.051 and 0.052 respectively) in WPC group piglets compared to the CON and WPH groups.

Conclusion

Based on the positive impact on the blood profile of piglets, we conclude that whey protein supplement could serve as a potential energy source to suit lactating sows that could eventually benefit the performance of their offspring.
Psychometric properties of the Telepsych User Experience Scale (TUES)
Authors: Blanchard Brittany E. , Johnson Morgan , Hawrilenko Matt , Bechtel Jared M. , Shushan Stephanie , Fortney John C.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To develop and psychometrically evaluate a brief measure of the telemental health experience among people receiving psychiatric and psychological care—the Telepsych User Experience Scale (TUES).

Methods

The TUES was administered at 6 months to 364 study participants who screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder and/or bipolar disorder and used telepsych services. The factor structure of the TUES was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Psychometric testing of the final scale examined (1) internal reliability, (2) criterion validity, (3) convergent validity, and (4) test‐retest reliability using omega coefficients, negative binomial regression, and correlations, respectively. A week after the 12‐month follow‐up survey was completed, a retest was administered to 29 patients to assess reliability.

Findings

Factor analytic methods indicated a single latent factor (user experience) and correlated error variance (method effect of item wording) for 2 items. To enhance clinical utility, we removed the 2 negatively worded items, resulting in a 5‐item scale. Confirmatory analyses indicated excellent fit of the final model, which retained the best performing items from each hypothesized construct. The TUES demonstrated evidence of internal consistency (omega = 0.88‐0.90), convergent validity, (r = 0.58), and criterion validity through telepsych engagement (incidence rate ratio = 1.19, P < .001), though test‐retest reliability was unacceptable (r = 0.41).

Conclusion

The TUES is a pragmatic instrument with evidence of validity and internal reliability. Replication is necessary, but this initial psychometric evaluation suggests the TUES is a promising, brief yet comprehensive measure of telemental health user experience with clinical populations in rural settings.
“Why Can't I See My Friends and Family?”: Children's Questions and Parental Explanations About Coronavirus
Authors: Haber Amanda S. , Kumar Sona C. , Puttre Hannah , Dashoush Nermeen , Corriveau Kathleen H.
Published: December 2021

Question‐explanation exchanges in parent–child interactions foster children's early learning, especially when children are inquiring about unobservable scientific phenomena such as the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19). As with other unobservable entities, children must rely on adults to acquire knowledge about COVID‐19. Yet, we know very little about what children understand about COVID‐19 or its consequences. In our study, we explored developmental changes in children's questions about COVID‐19 and parents' explanations. Parents (n = 182) of children (aged 3–8) completed an online survey, which included demographic information, parents' explanations, and children's questions. Parents' explanations referenced germs, used illness analogies, and mentioned mitigation strategies. Most of children's COVID‐related questions focused on the consequences of COVID‐19. Whereas older children asked more about death, younger children asked about loss of activities. The findings advance our understanding of the impact of COVID‐19 on parents and children.
Long‐term care nurses’ perceptions of a good death for people with dementia: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Nasu Katsumi , Fukahori Hiroki , Miyashita Mitsunori
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The number of people with dementia (PwD) dying in long‐term care (LTC) settings is expected to increase. However, effective care strategies to promote a good death for PwD remain unclear. This study aimed to explore nurses’ perceptions of a good death for PwD in LTC settings for older adults.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 19 nurses providing end‐of‐life care in LTC settings for older adults in Japan. The transcribed texts were analysed using inductive content analysis.

Results

We identified two themes: (1) ambiguity and (2) preparedness. Participants perceived that there was ambiguity regarding a good death for PwD and emphasised the need for preparedness of those around PwD for a good death. Five categories represented preparedness: (a) reaffirming the original personality before dementia; (b) respecting that PwD change; (c) interpreting and fulfilling obscure desires, feelings, and sensations; (d) providing care consistent with an agreed‐upon natural death process; and (e) maintaining relationships.

Conclusion

Long‐term care nurses should encourage families and multidisciplinary team members, including the nurses themselves, to prepare for a good death of the PwD. Future research should focus on healthcare professionals’ perspectives on advance care planning in the early stages of dementia, as well as the perceptions of PwD, their family members and other healthcare professionals regarding the natural death process.
Successful short‐term sperm cryopreservation in brown‐marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) with the utility of ultra‐freezer (−80°C)
Authors: Yang Sen , Chen Xinghan , Fan Bin , Hua Yanglin , Meng Zining
Published: December 2021

Production of cryopreserved semen in fish generally requires liquid nitrogen (LN), which is not always easily available in remote areas. To reduce reliance on LN, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether electric freezer could be a feasible LN‐free alternative to cryopreserve brown‐marbled grouper sperm. After loading, semen straws were put directly into freezers (−30 or −80°C) for freezing and then transferred to LN for storage. Compared with the conventional LN vapour freezing (straws were put horizontally 3 cm above the surface of LN), there was a significant reduction in all tested post‐thaw sperm quality parameters in samples frozen at −30°C for 10 min, including kinetic parameters (total motility: 85.0% vs. 48.6%), viability (84.7% versus 51.7%), high mitochondrial membrane potential (86.4% vs. 63.7%), ATP content (106.9 nM/109 cells vs. 72.9 nM/109 cells) and hatching rate (86.3% vs. 45.7%), accompanied with an increasing lipid peroxidation level (MDA content: 11.9 nM/109 cells vs. 4.9 nM/109 cells). In contrast, frozen with −80 °C ultra‐freezer (10 min or 12 hr) produced similar sperm quality parameters to those using LN, except that temporary storage (12 hr) at −80°C yielded lower average path velocity. In conclusion, this study confirmed that −80°C ultra‐freezer is an effective alternative to LN for sperm freezing in brown‐marbled grouper.
Performance of innovative materials as recruitment substrates for coral restoration
Authors: Leonard Camille , Hédouin Laetitia , Lacorne Margaux C. , Dalle Julien , Lapinski Matthieu , Blanc Philippe , Nugues Maggy M.
Published: December 2021

Artificial reefs and, more recently, ecoengineering are frequently advocated as possible tools to counteract the loss of tropical coral reefs worldwide. Despite increasing availability of novel materials, there is limited understanding of how different materials and their physical and chemical properties can influence coral recruitment success and early benthic community development. This study investigated the efficacy of several innovative materials as recruitment substrates for corals and other sessile benthic communities. Stacks of vertically oriented tiles made of eight innovative materials and two common (control) materials were deployed for 6 months during major coral spawning events on the forereef of Mo'orea, French Polynesia. Tiles were separated from their neighbors by 15 mm to mimic cryptic habitats that are sheltered from predation and typically favored by coral recruits. Six innovative materials, including 3D printed concrete, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with chitosan coating, fiberglass polymer, and flax‐based polylactic acid, produced similar coral recruitment to control materials (Portland concrete and PVC). Two materials (porous concrete and ceramic foam) produced lower recruitment. Porous concrete was characterized by a high abundance of non‐coralline encrusting red algae, which negatively correlated with coral recruitment, while ceramic foam was prone to erosion. The results suggest the structural micro‐complexity and durability of an artificial material and the composition of the benthic communities colonizing it can strongly influence coral recruitment. This study highlights several innovative materials as suitable recruitment substrates for coral restoration and provides a better understanding of the properties of artificial materials that are critical for coral recruitment success.
“Togetherness in loneliness” ‐ experiences of a group activity for families with a child suffering from cancer as described from the parents’ perspective
Authors: Blom Andersson Carina , Karlsson Ann‐Kristin , Bergsten Ulrika
Published: December 2021

Background

When a child is afflicted by a life‐threatening disease, it places a huge burden on the family.

Aim

To gain a deeper understanding of parents’ experiences of psycho‐social support in a group activity for families with children and adolescents suffering from cancer.

Method

Data were collected by means of focus group interviews with 10 parents from eight families with children treated for cancer during the period 2011–2017. The interviews were transcribed and analysed in accordance with qualitative content analysis.

Results

An overarching theme”Togetherness in loneliness” emerged, highlighting the importance of sharing experiences, based on the main categories: “a clearing house” and “a meeting place”. A clearing house was described as a place for sharing experiences on equal terms and a short cut to care contacts. A meeting place was depicted as a temporary home, a place for recuperation, but that sharing also had a cost.

Discussion

The results revealed that the parents of children suffering from cancer experienced the group activity for such families as an important support during the treatment period. The group served as an arena for mutual support and exchange of experiences, but it was also an easy way for the participants to access psychosocial support at an early stage of the cancer treatment. There was a risk that the participants would be unable to cope with sharing the anxiety and setbacks experienced by others, something that might be difficult to foresee when joining the group.
First detection of human pathogenic variant of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in field‐collected Haemaphysalis longicornis, Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Price Keith J. , Ayres Bryan N. , Maes Sarah E. , Witmier Bryn J. , Chapman Holly A. , Coder Brooke L. , Boyer Christian N. , Eisen Rebecca J. , Nicholson William L.
Published: December 2021

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive species associated with human pathogens, has spread rapidly across the eastern USA. Questing H. longicornis ticks recovered from active surveillance conducted from 1 May to 6 September, 2019 throughout Pennsylvania were tested for rickettsial pathogens. Of 265 ticks tested by PCR for pathogens, 4 (1.5%) were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed two positives as A. phagocytophilum–human agent variant. This is the first reported detection of A. phagocytophilum–human pathogenic strain DNA in exotic H. longicornis collected in the USA.
Heat Exposure and Physiological Changes among Cooks
Authors: Anua Siti Marwanis , Ismail Mohd Nizamuddin , Mohd Nordin Mohd Amierul Aieman , Naim Faridah , Hamzah Nurul Ainun , Abdul Samad Nurul Izzah
Published: December 2021

Cooks who are exposed to heat produced from stoves when working in the kitchen are at risk of thermal stress and heat-related illness. Physiological changes such as increased heart rate, sweat production and blood pressure may also affect them. This study aimed to determine the area heat exposure levels and physiological changes including core body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate during pre-, mid- and post-shift among cooks and its association, and to compare the mean difference of physiological changes between the shifts. This cross-sectional study utilised the purposive sampling method and recruited 30 cooks from food stalls and cafeterias in Kelantan. Area heat measurements were collected from 14 sites (7 inside and 7 outside the USM Health Campus). Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitor was mounted on a tripod at 1.1 m height near the source of heat for 8 hours. The core body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate were taken three times per day during pre-, mid- and post-shift for physiological changes measurement. Respondents’ personal information, health history, work description, and symptoms of heat-related illness were collected using a questionnaire. The overall WBGT area levels at each sampling site were homogeneously distributed. There was significant increase in core body temperature and heart rate from pre-shift to post-shift. However, there was no significant correlation (p>0.05) between heat exposure (WBGT index) established with the physiological changes. This may suggest that the increase in core body temperature and heart rate might be attributed to other factors and needed further investigation.
A revised mechanism of action of hyperaldosteronism‐linked mutations in cytosolic domains of GIRK4 (KCNJ5)
Authors: Shalomov Boris , Handklo‐Jamal Reem , Reddy Haritha P. , Theodor Neta , Bera Amal K. , Dascal Nathan
Published: December 2021

G protein‐gated, inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRK) mediate inhibitory transmission in brain and heart, and are present in the adrenal cortex. GIRK4 (KCNJ5) subunits are abundant in the heart and adrenal cortex. Multiple mutations of KCNJ5 cause primary aldosteronism (PA). Mutations in the pore region of GIRK4 cause loss of K+ selectivity, Na+ influx and depolarization of zona glomerulosa cells followed by hypersecretion of aldosterone. The concept of selectivity loss has been extended to mutations in cytosolic domains of GIRK4 channels, remote from the pore. We expressed aldosteronism‐linked GIRK4R52H, GIRK4E246K and GIRK4G247R mutants in Xenopus oocytes. Whole‐cell currents of heterotetrameric GIRK1/4R52H and GIRK1/4E246K channels were greatly reduced compared with GIRK1/4WT. Nevertheless, all heterotetrameric mutants retained full K+ selectivity and inward rectification. When expressed as homotetramers, only GIRK4WT, but none of the mutants, produced whole‐cell currents. Confocal imaging, single‐channel and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) analyses showed: (1) reduction of membrane abundance of all mutated channels, especially as homotetramers, (2) impaired interaction with Gβγ subunits, and (3) reduced open probability of GIRK1/4R52H. VU0529331, a GIRK4 opener, activated homotetrameric GIRK4G247R channels, but not GIRK4R52H or GIRK4E246K. In the human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line (HAC15), VU0529331 and overexpression of heterotetrameric GIRK1/4WT, but not overexpression of GIRK1/4 mutants, reduced aldosterone secretion. Our results suggest that, contrary to pore mutants of GIRK4, non‐pore mutants R52H and E246K mutants are loss‐of‐function rather than gain‐of‐function/selectivity‐loss mutants. Hence, GIRK4 openers may be a potential course of treatment for patients with cytosolic N‐ and C‐terminal mutations.

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Key points

Mutations in GIRK4 (KCNJ5) G protein‐gated channels cause primary aldosteronism, a major cause of secondary hypertension. The primary mechanism is believed to be loss of K+ selectivity.

R52H and E246K, aldosteronism‐causing mutations in cytosolic N‐ and C‐ termini of GIRK4, were reported to cause loss of K+ selectivity.

We show that R52H, E246K and G247R mutations render homotetrameric GIRK channels non‐functional. In heterotetrameric context with GIRK1, these mutations impair membrane expression, interaction with Gβγ and open probability, but do not alter K+ selectivity or inward rectification.

In the human aldosterone‐secreting cell line, a GIRK4 opener and overexpression of heterotetrameric GIRK1/4WT, but not overexpression of GIRK1/4 mutants, reduced aldosterone secretion.

Aldosteronism‐causing mutations in the cytosolic domain of GIRK4 are loss‐of‐function mutations rather than gain‐of‐function, selectivity‐loss mutations. Deciphering of exact biophysical mechanism that impairs the channel is crucial for setting the course of treatment.
Study Of The Influence Of Hypoxia On The Formation Of Erythrocytes From Induced Pluripotent Human Stem Cells
Authors: Sekenova А.Y , Kumasheva V.Т , Muhlis Sh.Е. , Оgay V.B.
Published: December 2021

The production of erythrocytes from human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is considered one of the solutions to the deficiency of donor blood in transfusion medicine. The disadvantage of using HSC is the difficulty in multiplying in the required amount for use in transfusion. In this regard, pluripotent stem cells that can be multiplied in sufficient quantity may become a source of functional erythrocytes. The aim of this work was to study the effects of hypoxia on the formation of erythrocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in ex vivo conditions. For the obtaining the erythroid bodies (EB), human iPSCs were cultured in induction medium containing human plasma and SCF, VEGF, BMP-4, TPO, EPO, interleukins IL-3 and IL-6 (20 days). EB treated with collagenase and cultured in a 96-well suspension culture plate under normoxia (21% O2) and hypoxia (2% O2) conditions in IMDM medium containing 20% ​​human plasma, SCF, IL-3, Epo, insulin and heparin. Erythroid maturation was evaluated by Giemsastaining and flow cytometry analysis ofCD235α. As a result of PSC differentiation, EBs with spherical morphology and sizes from 120 to 300 µm were obtained. Analysis for erythroid maturation showed that the number of mature erythrocytes with expression of CD235α after hypoxia averaged 56%, and after normoxia 19.3% of the total number of analyzed cells. The size of erythrocytes formed from iPSCs averaged 7 μm, which corresponds to the mature form of this type of cells. Thus, the obtained results of the study indicate that hypoxia plays a significant role in erythropoiesis, increasing the level of erythrocyte formation from human iPSCs.
Inexpensive Multipatient Respiratory Monitoring System for Helmet Ventilation During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   The Princeton Open Ventilation Monitor Collaboration, Bourrianne Philippe , Chidzik Stanley , J. Cohen Daniel , Elmer Peter , Hallowell Thomas , Kilbaugh Todd J. , Lange David , Leifer Andrew M. , Marlow Daniel R. , Meyers Peter D. , Normand Edna , Nunes Janine , Oh Myungchul , Page Lyman , Periera Talmo , Pivarski Jim , Schreiner Henry , Stone Howard A. , Tank David W. , Thiberge Stephan , Tully Christopher
Published: December 2021

Helmet continuous positive applied pressure is a form of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) that has been used to provide respiratory support to COVID-19 patients. Helmet NIV is low-cost, readily available, provides viral filters between the patient and clinician, and may reduce the need for invasive ventilation. Its widespread adoption has been limited, however, by the lack of a respiratory monitoring system needed to address known safety vulnerabilities and to monitor patients. To address these safety and clinical needs, we developed an inexpensive respiratory monitoring system based on readily available components suitable for local manufacture. Open-source design and manufacturing documents are provided. The monitoring system comprises flow, pressure, and CO2 sensors on the expiratory path of the helmet circuit and a central remote station to monitor up to 20 patients. The system is validated in bench tests, in human-subject tests on healthy volunteers, and in experiments that compare respiratory features obtained at the expiratory path to simultaneous ground-truth measurements from proximal sensors. Measurements of flow and pressure at the expiratory path are shown to deviate at high flow rates, and the tidal volumes reported via the expiratory path are systematically underestimated. Helmet monitoring systems exhibit high-flow rate, nonlinear effects from flow and helmet dynamics. These deviations are found to be within a reasonable margin and should, in principle, allow for calibration, correction, and deployment of clinically accurate derived quantities.
Evaluation of a Pneumatic Vest to Treat Symptoms of ARDS Caused by COVID-19
Authors: Ambrose Alexander B. , Detelich Joshua F. , Weinmann Maxwell , Hammond Frank L.
Published: December 2021

Critical care patients who experience acute respiratory distress syndrome are commonly placed on mechanical ventilators to improve oxygen delivery and overall gas exchange of the pulmonary system. With the pulmonary inflammation accompanying acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), patients experience significant alterations in ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) ratios resulting in lower blood oxygenation. In severe cases, patients are typically rotated into a prone position to facilitate improved blood flow to portions of the lung that were not previously participating in the gas exchange process. However, proning a patient increases the risk of complications, requires up to seven hospital staff members to carry out, and does not guarantee an improvement in the patient's condition. The low-cost V/Q vest presented here was designed to reproduce the effects of proning while also requiring less hospital staff than the proning process. Additionally, the V/Q Vest helps hospital staff predict whether patients would respond well to a proning treatment. A pilot study was conducted on nine patients with ARDS from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The average increase in oxygenation with the V/Q Vest treatment for all patients was 19.7±38.1%. Six of the nine patients responded positively to the V/Q Vest treatment, exhibiting increased oxygenation. The V/Q Vest also helped hospital staff predict that three of the five patients that were proned would experience an increase in oxygenation. An increase in oxygenation resulting from V/Q Vest treatment exceeded that of the proning treatment in two of these five proned patients.
Active particle tracking microrheology using artificial thermal noise
Authors: Kale Shalaka K. , Petruska Andrew J. , Samaniuk Joseph R.
Published: December 2021

Passive particle-tracking microrheology (PTM) uses inherent Brownian motion of colloidal probe particles to characterize the mechanical properties of materials at micrometer and submicrometer length scales. In higher modulus materials (G* > 101 Pa), the particle experiences restricted Brownian motion such that its displacements during reasonable observation time scales drop below the spatial resolution of a typical optical microscope (∼10 nm). Thus, the passive PTM technique is generally limited to low modulus materials (G* ∼ 100 Pa). To overcome this, we have developed a form of active microrheology using electromagnetic tweezers that induce an artificial thermal noise on a superparamagnetic particle in the form of a random white noise signal. This signal imparts stochastic forces that drive resolvable displacements, which are greater than what is observed from thermal energy (kT) alone. The main advantage of this technique over traditional active microrheological methods is that the induced random motion of the particle allows one to use hydrodynamic models to obtain material functions without needing to measure a defined strain field. We implement the artificial thermal noise approach with a 35.1 Pa s Newtonian fluid and measure viscosities that are an order of magnitude higher than the typical passive PTM limit (100 Pa s).
Theory of Holomorphic Maps of Two-Dimensional Complex Manifolds to Toric Manifolds and Type-A Multi-String Theory
Authors: Chekeres O. , Losev A. S. , Mnev P. , Youmans D. R.
Published: December 2021

We study the field theory localizing to holomorphic maps from a complex manifold of complex dimension 2 to a toric target (a generalization of A model). Fields are realized as maps to $${{(\mathbb{C}\text{*})}^{N}}$$ where one includes special observables supported on (1,1)-dimensional submanifolds to produce maps to the toric compactification. We study the mirror of this model. It turns out to be a free theory interacting with $${{N}_{{{\text{comp}}}}}$$ topological strings of type A. Here, $${{N}_{{{\text{comp}}}}}$$ is the number of compactifying divisors of the toric target. Before the mirror transformation, these strings are vortex (actually, holomortex) strings.
Hydrodynamic behaviour of velocity of applied magnetic field on unsteady MHD Couette flow of dusty fluid in an annulus
Authors: Jha Basant K. , Gambo Dauda
Published: December 2021

This research work inspects mass transport phenomenon of Saffman’s dusty fluid model for transient magnetohydrodynamics fluid flow of a binary mixture passing through an annular duct. Particularly, effort has been devoted to theoretically explore the role of velocity of applied magnetic field. Here, our treatment of the governing momentum equations accountable for the flow is done using the classical Laplace transform technique and Riemann-Sum Approximation. The effects of the physical parameters such as time, relaxation time parameter, radii ratio, Hartmann number, variable mass parameter and velocity of applied magnetic field on the fluid phase velocity, dust phase velocity and skin friction have been illustrated pictorially. It is concluded that contrary to the known classical effect of boosting Hartmann number on velocity, both components of flow (fluid and dust phase) and skin friction are seen to be heightened with an overwhelming presence of velocity of applied magnetic field. For large time, it is anticipated that higher profiles for velocity and skin friction are seen with fluid phase and an accelerated moving wall.
Concepts and revised models for Phanerozoic orogenic gold deposits
Authors: Mortensen J. K. , Craw D. , MacKenzie D. J.
Published: December 2021

Existing published models for orogenic gold deposits (OGDs) do not adequately describe or explain most deposits of Phanerozoic age, and there are numerous reasons why Phanerozoic OGDs might differ significantly from older deposits. We subdivide Phanerozoic OGDs into four main subtypes, based on a number of descriptive criteria, including tectonic setting, lithological siting, and characteristics of the mineralization in each subtype. The four subtypes are: (1) crustal-scale fault-associated (CSF) subtype, (2) sediment-hosted orogenic gold (SHOG) subtype, (3) forearc (FA) subtype, and (4) syn- and late tectonic dispersed (SLTD) subtype. Lead isotopic studies suggest that Pb and other metals in all but the FA subtype were likely derived from relatively small source reservoirs in the middle or upper crust. OGDs formed in large, lithologically and structurally homogeneous regions will tend to be of the same subtype; however, in geologically complex orogenic belts it is common to find two or more subtypes that formed at approximately the same time. Based on the synthesis of global OGDs of Phanerozoic age, districts containing CSF or SHOG subtype deposits appear to have the best potential for hosting multiple large deposits. FA subtype deposits form in a relatively uncommon tectonic setting (accretionary forearc, possibly overlying a subducting spreading ridge) and are likely to be rare. SLTD subtype OGDs are the most common, but most are small and uneconomic, although they commonly generate substantial alluvial gold deposits.
Duodenal mucosal resurfacing with a GLP-1 receptor agonist increases postprandial unconjugated bile acids in patients with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes
Authors: Meiring Suzanne , Meessen Emma C. E. , van Baar Annieke C. G. , Holleman Frits , Nieuwdorp Max , Olde Damink Steven W. , Schaap Frank G. , Vaz Fred M. , Groen Albert K. , Soeters Maarten R. , Bergman Jacques J. G. H. M.
Published: December 2021

Glycemic and metabolic improvements are seen in patients with type 2 diabetes after replacing their insulin therapy with DMR and GLP-1. These changes are accompanied by changes in postprandial bile acid concentrations: increased unconjugated and secondary bile acids.
Construction of Enterprise Management Business Model Based on Internet of Things RFID Technology
Authors: Chen Fang
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a new tag anticollision algorithm. On the basis of the common query tree algorithm, this algorithm increases the number of query bits, so that the algorithm has a faster tag identification amount in the state of full time slots. Collision bit and total response bit are used to estimate the number of tags, and combined with the highest collision bit to determine whether it is continuous, the number of query crosses is adaptively adjusted, and a variable bit dynamic query tree tag anticollision algorithm is designed. In conjunction with the settlement environment, improvements have also been made in the status of the identified tags. The new algorithm has improved progress in reducing idle time slots and reducing search depth. Under the premise of ensuring stability, the recognition efficiency of the algorithm is improved. From the perspective of different dimensions of corporate network and marketing dynamic capabilities, based on the strength of network relationships and product development processes, it can promote value creation model innovation in business model innovation. That is, when the network partners communicate very frequently, they can provide new ideas and resources for enterprise product development and creation and then can better integrate innovation through product innovation, quality improvement, product development cycle shortening, and development advance management. Typed products and resources are put into the operation process of the industrial chain of product output to better create new products for customers and lay the foundation for realizing the innovation of corporate value creation models. Based on the network density and customer relationship process, it can promote the value proposition model innovation in the business model innovation. Enterprise business model innovation should not only pay attention to the collaborative innovation between different elements within the enterprise but also pay attention to the overall coordination mechanism of the company’s external interest network, pay attention to the different value propositions of stakeholders through the enterprise network, and cultivate the enterprise’s rapid response to market changes. Network centrality has the greatest positive impact on the supply chain process. The company develops new products, manages customer relationships across departments, and implements supply chain management across departments.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chondrocyte Glutamine Metabolism to Alleviate Osteoarthritis Progression
Authors: Jiang Kai , Jiang Ting , Chen Yang , Mao Xinzhan
Published: December 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) had a high incidence in people over 65 years old, and there is currently no drug that could completely cure it. This study is aimed at studying the role of exosomes in regulating glutamine metabolism in the treatment of OA. First, we identified the exosomes extracted from the mouse OA model’s bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). In vitro, compared with the control group, the cell apoptosis in the OA group increased, while the cell proliferation of the OA group was suppressed. After exosomal treatment, cell apoptosis and cell proliferation were reversed. Inflammatory factors (TNFα, IL-6), glutamine metabolic activity-related proteins (c-MYC, GLS1), glutamine, and GSH/GSSG were increased in the OA group. The overexpression of c-MYC reduced the therapeutic effect of exosomes. At the same time, we found that chondrocyte functional factors (collagen II, Aggrecan) were improved under the treatment of exosomes. However, oe-c-MYC reversed the therapeutic effect of exosomes. In vivo, we found that the running capacity of the mice in the OA group was reduced, and the cartilage tissue was severely damaged. In addition, TNFα, IL-6, and chondrocyte apoptosis increased, while the metabolism of collagen II, Aggrecan, and glutamate decreased in the OA group. After exosomal treatment, the mice’s exercise capacity, tissue damage, inflammation, and chondrocyte function were improved, and glutamate metabolism was increased. This study showed that exosomes regulated the level of chondrocyte glutamine metabolism by regulating c-MYC, thereby alleviating OA.
Recursive Sample Scaling Low-Rank Representation
Authors: Gao Wenyun , Li Xiaoyun , Dai Sheng , Yin Xinghui , Abhadiomhen Stanley Ebhohimhen
Published: December 2021

The low-rank representation (LRR) method has recently gained enormous popularity due to its robust approach in solving the subspace segmentation problem, particularly those concerning corrupted data. In this paper, the recursive sample scaling low-rank representation (RSS-LRR) method is proposed. The advantage of RSS-LRR over traditional LRR is that a cosine scaling factor is further introduced, which imposes a penalty on each sample to minimize noise and outlier influence better. Specifically, the cosine scaling factor is a similarity measure learned to extract each sample’s relationship with the low-rank representation’s principal components in the feature space. In order words, the smaller the angle between an individual data sample and the low-rank representation’s principal components, the more likely it is that the data sample is clean. Thus, the proposed method can then effectively obtain a good low-rank representation influenced mainly by clean data. Several experiments are performed with varying levels of corruption on ORL, CMU PIE, COIL20, COIL100, and LFW in order to evaluate RSS-LRR’s effectiveness over state-of-the-art low-rank methods. The experimental results show that RSS-LRR consistently performs better than the compared methods in image clustering and classification tasks.
Designing an Efficient Emergency Response Airborne Mapping System with Multiple Sensors
Authors: Shen Chaoyong , Lin Zongjian , Zhou Shaoqi , Luo Xuling , Zhang Yu
Published: December 2021

Multisource remote sensing data have been extensively used in disaster and emergency response management. Different types of visual and measured data, such as high-resolution orthoimages, real-time videos, accurate digital elevation models, and three-dimensional landscape maps, can enable producing effective rescue plans and aid the efficient dispatching of rescuers after disasters. Generally, such data are acquired using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with multiple sensors. For typical application scenarios, efficient and real-time access to data is more important in emergency response cases than in traditional application scenarios. In this study, an efficient emergency response airborne mapping system equipped with multiple sensors was designed. The system comprises groups of wide-angle cameras, a high-definition video camera, an infrared video camera, a LiDAR system, and a global navigation satellite system/inertial measurement unit. The wide-angle cameras had a visual field of 85° × 105°, facilitating the efficient operation of the mapping system. Numerous calibrations were performed on the constructed mapping system. In particular, initial calibration and self-calibration were performed to determine the relative pose between different wide-angle cameras to fuse all the acquired images. The mapping system was then tested in an area with altitudes of 1000 m–1250 m. The biases of the wide-angle cameras were small bias values (0.090 m, −0.018 m, and −0.046 m in the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively). Moreover, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) along the planer direction was smaller than that along the vertical direction (0.202 and 0.294 m, respectively). The LiDAR system achieved smaller biases (0.117, −0.020, and −0.039 m in the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively) and a smaller RMSE in the vertical direction (0.192 m) than the wide-angle cameras; however, RMSE of the LiDAR system along the planar direction (0.276 m) was slightly larger. The proposed system shows potential for use in emergency response systems for efficiently acquiring data such as images and point clouds.
Comparative Study of Thermal Performance of Different Nanofluids in a Double Backward-Facing Step Channel: A Numerical Approach
Authors: Rana Shailendra , Dura Hari Bahadur , Bhattrai Sudip , Shrestha Rajendra
Published: December 2021

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are conducted to study forced convection flow of different water-based nanofluids (ZnO, Al2O3, and SiO2) with volume fractions (

ϕ

) = 0–5% and fixed nanoparticle size (dp) = 20 nm for Reynolds numbers (Re) = 50–225 over a double backward-facing step with an expansion ratio (ER) = 2 under constant heat flux (q″ = 3000 W/m2) condition using the finite volume method. Results indicate that the local Nusselt number increases with volume fraction and Reynolds number for all working fluids. In comparison to water, the maximum heat transfer augmentation of about 21.22% was achieved by using water-SiO2 nanofluid at Re = 225 with

ϕ

 = 5% and dp = 20 nm. Under similar conditions, the Al2O3 and ZnO nanofluids demonstrated 14.23% and 11.86% augmentation in heat transfer in comparison to water. The skin friction coefficient decreases with the increase in Re for all working fluids. No significant differences are observed in the values of skin friction coefficient among all working fluids at a particular Re. These results indicate that the heat transfer enhancement has been achieved with no increased energy requirements. In addition, the velocity increases with the rise in Re, with SiO2 nanofluid exhibiting the highest velocity as compared to other working fluids.
The Characterizations of WG Matrix and Its Generalized Cayley–Hamilton Theorem
Authors: Liu Na , Wang Hongxing
Published: December 2021

Based on the core-EP decomposition, we use the WG inverse, Drazin inverse, and other inverses to give some new characterizations of the WG matrix. Furthermore, we generalize the Cayley–Hamilton theorem for special matrices including the WG matrix. Finally, we give examples to verify these results.