bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New approach of prediction of recurrence in thyroid cancer patients using machine learning
Authors: Kim Soo Young , Kim Young-Il , Kim Hee Jun , Chang Hojin , Kim Seok-Mo , Lee Yong Sang , Kwon Soon-Sun , Shin Hyunjung , Chang Hang-Seok , Park Cheong Soo
Published: October 2021

Although papillary thyroid cancers are known to have a relatively low risk of recurrence, several factors are associated with a higher risk of recurrence, such as extrathyroidal extension, nodal metastasis, and BRAF gene mutation. However, predicting disease recurrence and prognosis in patients undergoing thyroidectomy is clinically difficult. To detect new algorithms that predict recurrence, inductive logic programming was used in this study.

A total of 785 thyroid cancer patients who underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy and were treated with radioiodine were selected for our study. Of those, 624 (79.5%) cases were used to create algorithms that would detect recurrence. Furthermore, 161 (20.5%) cases were analyzed to validate the created rules. DELMIA Process Rules Discovery was used to conduct the analysis.

Of the 624 cases, 43 (6.9%) cases experienced recurrence. Three rules that could predict recurrence were identified, with postoperative thyroglobulin level being the most powerful variable that correlated with recurrence. The rules identified in our study, when applied to the 161 cases for validation, were able to predict 71.4% (10 of 14) of the recurrences.

Our study highlights that inductive logic programming could have a useful application in predicting recurrence among thyroid patients.
Combined effects of acupuncture and auricular acupressure for relieving cancer-related fatigue in patients during lung cancer chemotherapy
Authors: Li Han , Liu Huan
Published: October 2021

Background:

Increasing attention has been paid to acupuncture and auricular acupressure as alternative strategies for cancer related fatigue (CRF) management. Therefore, we design this systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and auricular acupressure for relieving CRF in patients during lung cancer chemotherapy.

Methods:

From the inception to August 2021, the Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched using the key phrases “acupuncture”, “auricular acupressure”, and “lung cancer” for all relevant trials. Trials that compared acupuncture (including electroacupuncture) and auricular acupressure with acupuncture alone were included. The primary outcome was the measurement of the CRF symptoms. Secondary outcome measures were physical activity, quality of life, and adverse events. A P value of <.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results:

It will be the first such study and will obtain evidence for utilizing acupuncture and auricular acupressure for lung cancer patients.

Conclusion:

Combined acupuncture and auricular acupressure may be effective for relieving CRF in patients during lung cancer chemotherapy.
Gas exchange threshold to guide exercise training intensity of older individuals during cardiac rehabilitation
Authors: Kominami Kazuyuki , Nishijima Hirotaka , Imahashi Keiko , Katsuragawa Toko , Murakami Mitsuyo , Akino Masatoshi
Published: October 2021

The gas exchange threshold (GET), which is determined during incremental exercise (Inc-Ex) testing, is often considered a safe training intensity for cardiac rehabilitation. However, there are only a limited number of reports on the actual implementation of this method. We assessed the applicability of GET-guided exercise using a constant load exercise (CL-Ex) protocol.

We recruited 20 healthy older individuals (healthy, age: 69.4 ± 6.8 years) and 10 patients with cardiovascular diseases or risk factors (patient, age: 73.0 ± 8.8 years). On day 1, we determined the GET during symptomatic maximal Inc-Ex. On day 2, CL-Ex at work rate (watt: W) where the GET manifested during Inc-Ex (therefore, not corrected for the known oxygen response delay) was maintained for 20 minute. Arterialized blood lactate (BLa) levels were also determined.

Oxygen uptake reached a steady state in all participants, with a mean respiratory exchange ratio of < 1.0. The mean BLa at the GET during Inc-Ex was 1.51 ± .29 mmol·l−1 in the healthy group and 1.78 ± .42 mmol·L−1 in the patient group, which was about .5 mmol·L−1 above the resting level. During CL-Ex, BLa increased significantly over the value at the GET (Inc-Ex). However, it reached a steady-state level of 2.65 ± 1.56 (healthy) and 2.53 ± 0.95 (patient) mmol·L−1. The %peak oxygen uptake, %peak heart rate, and %heart rate reserve during CL-Ex were 58.8 ± 11.5, 71.8 ± 10.3, and 44.9 ± 17.4, respectively. All participants could complete CL-Ex with mean perceived exertion ratings (Borg/20) of 11.8 ± 1.3 (healthy) and 12.2 ± 1.3 (patient). These heart rate-related indices and exertion ratings were all within the recommended international guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation.

CL-Ex at the GET appears to be the optimal exercise intensity for cardiac rehabilitation.
Yuquan pill enhance the effect of Western medicine in treatment diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Liu Le , Zhang Ye , Zhu Zhiyue , Yu Ziyang , Bao Pengjie , Nan Zheng
Published: October 2021

Background:

Diabetic nephropathy is glomerular sclerosis caused by diabetic microvascular disease, which is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. At present, the traditional treatment of diabetic nephropathy is mainly based on the control of blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and other basic treatments using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, the clinical reports of relying solely on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/ angiotensin receptor blocker to delay the course of diabetic nephropathy are not optimistic. Yuquan pill (YQP), a classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has clinical reports that it can effectively assist in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy with minimal side effects. However, there has been no systematic review of the YQP in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This article systematically evaluated the effectiveness and safety of YQP clinical applications.

Methods:

The database search include seven databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Wanfang database. The search date was set as a randomized controlled trial from the establishment of the database to April 21, 2021. The main outcome indicators include urinealbumin excretion rate, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, Total effective rate. The analysis software uses Stata 15.

Results:

This study will analyze multiple outcome indicators such as clinical efficacy, urinary albumin excretion rate, blood creatinine value, urea nitrogen, and symptom scores. Provides a the latest evidence for YQP in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Conclusion:

The results of this study will provide evidence for the efficacy of YQP in the treatment of DN.

INPLASY Registration number:

INPLASY202150030.
Efficacy and safety of Huangkui capsule for diabetic nephropathy
Authors: An Wenrong , Huang Yanqin , Chen Shouqiang , Teng Tao , Liu Juan , Xu Yunsheng
Published: October 2021

Background:

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is 1 of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the world. Huangkui capsule, extracted from Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medic (AM), has been widely used to treat DN. However, there is no consensus on the efficacy of Huangkui capsule for DN. This study aims to perform meta-analysis to systematically review the efficacy and safety of Huangkui capsule.

Methods:

The following 9 electronic databases will be comprehensively searched: PubMed, web of science, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Wanfang data, and Chinese BioMedicine Literature Database. The retrieval time is from their inception to May 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 reviewers independently completed the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and data synthesis. Review Manager Version 5.3 software will be used to conduct meta-analysis.

Results:

This study provides a high-quality synthesis to assess the efficacy of Huangkui capsule for treating diabetic nephropathy.

Conclusion:

The result of this systematic review will provide objective evidence-based basis to judge the effectiveness and safety of Huangkui capsule on diabetic nephropathy.
Erythropoietin therapy improves endothelial function in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease and anemia (EARNEST-CKD)
Authors: Lim Jina , Yu Chung Jo , Yu Hoon , Ha Sang Jin
Published: October 2021

Background:

This study investigated whether administering erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) improves endothelial function in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia.

Methods:

This single-center, prospective, single-arm comparison study enrolled patients with non-dialysis CKD (stages 4-5) and hemoglobin levels <10 g/dL. ESA administration followed the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guideline. The primary endpoint was the change in flow-mediated dilatation after ESA administration in individual patients. The secondary endpoints were changes in 6-minute walk test results, blood pressure, New York Heart Association class, and echocardiographic parameters. The echocardiographic parameters examined included chamber quantification, Doppler parameters, and systolic and diastolic function parameters.

Results:

Initially, 13 patients were screened, but 2 discontinued due to either heart failure or voluntary withdrawal. The mean flow-mediated dilatation values significantly increased by 10.59% (from 1.36% ± 1.91% to 11.95% ± 8.11%, P = .001). Echocardiographic findings showed that the left ventricular mass index decreased by 11.9 g/m2 (from 105.8 ± 16.3 to 93.9 ± 19.5 g/m2, P 
= 
.006), and the left atrial volume index decreased by 10.8 mL/m2 (from 50.1 ± 11.3 to 39.3 ± 11.3 mL/m2, P = .004) after 12 weeks of ESA administration. There were no significant differences between pre- and post-ESA treatment 6-minute walk test results. No significant side effects were observed during the study period.

Conclusions:

This is the first clinical study to demonstrate that an ESA improves endothelial dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left atrial volume in patients with non-dialysis CKD. Thus, ESAs may be considered as adjunctive therapy for reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
Climate, buildings’ envelope design and energy patterns: improving energy performance of new buildings in Kuwait
Authors: Almufarrej Abdulrahman M. , Erfani Tohid
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The two main contributing factors that control the overall buildings’ energy performance are the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and the envelope design. Environmental design guidelines that consider these two factors aim to lower energy consumption. However, they are regional and climate-sensitive. This study aims to investigate how three main buildings’ envelope design variables (orientation, compactness and window to wall ratio) impact the overall building’s energy consumption within Kuwait’s regional and climate conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study simulate the energy consumption of typically shaped buildings by varying their geometry between a square to a rectangular floor plan. This study analyse the associated energy usage and provide early-stage envelope design guidance specific to the country’s conditions, to make informed decisions towards environmentally conscious buildings.

Findings

The analysed envelope variables have the potential to reduce energy consumption by 40%, and the possibility to reduce HVAC system capacity by 30%. In contrast to the general guidance in literature and standards, the simulation results demonstrate that less compact building forms perform on occasions better than the most compact ones.

Originality/value

The objective of this paper is to quantify the energy consumption rates for buildings located within the Arabian Peninsula, an under-studied region with potentially high interest considering three main envelope design variables. The buildings’ yearly energy consumption patterns are unique and suggest different envelope design considerations, compared to other regions with different climate conditions. This emphasises the importance of regional guidelines for the different factors associated with energy and buildings’ environmental performance.
Sensor number and placement optimization for detection and localization of damage in a suspension bridge using a hybrid ANN-PCA reduced FRF method
Authors: Cherid Djamila , Bourahla Nouredine , Laghoub Mohamed Said , Mohabeddine Anis
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Despite the fast progress in structural health monitoring (SHM), the efficient use in practice of emerging techniques for large civil engineering structures is still a challenge. This paper outlines a practical framework to optimize both the number and the locations of sensors to measure frequency response functions (FRFs) that will be processed and used to predict the location and the damage level in a model of an existing suspension bridge.

Design/methodology/approach

Sensors number and placement (SNPO) procedure is proposed and carried out on a 3D FE model of the 502 m long Oued Dib suspension bridge (Algeria) to determine the degrees of freedom (DOFs) that will receive the sensors. For this purpose, accessible candidate positions on the model are first determined and then reduced by taking the DOFs with the lowest values of the Fisher information matrix (FIM) associated with each of the DOFs taken individually. A genetic algorithm with an objective function equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the non-diagonal elements of the MAC matrix and a mutation function that allows increasing and decreasing the number of the chromosomes (sensors) of the individuals showed stable convergence to optimal solutions. FRFs at sensor positions generated from the 3D FE model and altered with artificial noise to simulate experimental conditions have been used to constitute a database to train and test a feed-forward neural network.

Findings

A framework for SHM integrating a genetic algorithm to optimize both the number and placement of the sensors on the structure.

Research limitations/implications

The procedure can be applied only for single predefined/potential damage detection.

Practical implications

The evidence from this study suggests that the proposed procedure provides a consistent framework to implement a SHM scheme for existing large infrastructures.

Social implications

Vital infrastructures require special structural protection that can be achieved through effective SHM. This study contributes to the deployment of SHM for existing civil engineering structures.

Originality/value

In addition to the integrated SHM framework proposed in this study, the latter includes an efficient genetic algorithm capable to optimize both the number and the placement of the sensors.
The benefit of late readings in patch testing depends both on allergen and patient characteristics
Authors: Forkel Susann , Schubert Steffen , Dickel Heinrich , Gina Michal , Schröder‐Kraft Claudia , Vieluf Dieter , Brans Richard , Kreft Burkhard , Wurpts Gerda , Geier Johannes , Buhl Timo
Published: October 2021

Background

Patch test (PT) readings are recommended after 48 h and 72 h (D3). An additional day 7 (D7) reading has been suggested by some, although data on efficient patient selection are scarce.

We investigated positive D7 reactions regarding (i) allergens in the baseline series and additional PT series of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (DKG) and (ii) characteristics of the patients tested.

Methods

Retrospective, multicentre analysis of 190 allergens derived from 17 DKG test series in 4687 patients with an additional D7 reading. Patients were patch tested with the baseline series and additional series, if required. Occurrence of novel D7 reactions as well as increasing skin reactions from D3 to D7 was analysed separately.

Results

Depending on the allergen tested, waiving D7 readings would have missed 4.4–26.8% of positive PT results. Patch test series with the highest number of novel D7 reactions were baseline series, metal series, and leather/shoe series. New positive reactions on D7 were associated with age over 50 years and with a negative irritant control containing sodium lauryl sulphate. Of note, application of the PT allergens for 48 h instead of 24 h was positively associated with late PT reactions.

Conclusion

Within the most frequently tested allergens, without late readings, on average 11.7% of sensitizations would have been missed. Novel late reacting allergens were identified. This study comprehensively dissects patient‐, allergen‐ and test‐dependent parameters in support for D7 readings. We propose to always consider late readings individually based on effort‐benefit considerations.
In silico genome‐wide gene‐based association analysis reveals new genes predisposing to coronary artery disease
Authors: Zorkoltseva Irina , Shadrina Alexandra , Belonogova Nadezhda , Kirichenko Anatoly , Tsepilov Yakov , Axenovich Tatiana
Published: October 2021

Genome‐wide association study (GWAS) have identified more than 300 single nucleotide polymorphisms at 163 independent loci associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is no full understanding about the causal genes for CAD and the mechanisms of their action. We aimed to perform a post GWAS analysis to identify genes whose polymorphism may influence the risk of CAD. Using the UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics, we performed a gene‐based association analysis. We found 63 genes significantly associated with CAD due to their within‐gene polymorphisms. Many of these genes are well known. Some known CAD genes such as FURIN and SORT1 did not show the gene‐based association because their variants had low GWAS signals or gene‐based association was inflated by the strong GWAS signal outside the gene. For several known CAD genes, we demonstrated that their effects could be explained not only or not at all by their own variants but by the variants within the neighboring genes controlling their expression. Using several bioinformatics techniques, we suggested potential mechanisms underlying gene‐CAD associations. Three genes, CDK19, NCALD, and ARHGEF12 were not previously associated with CAD. The role of these genes should be clarified in further studies.
Is YouTubeTM an adequate source of oral hygiene education for orthodontic patients?
Authors: Topsakal Kübra Gülnur , Duran Gökhan Serhat , Görgülü Serkan , Eser Misir Selcen
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The present study aims to assess the quality, reliability and content of the information provided by the YouTubeTM videos on oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, to reveal the efficacy of the videos for patients and to help dentists who use this platform as a source to guide their patients accurately.

Method

In the beginning, it was found that the most common search term on oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment in Google Trends was ‘how to clean braces'. A total of 150 videos containing keywords were reviewed, and 56 videos were assessed within the scope of the study. Videos were analysed for reliability score, content analysis and GQS criteria.

Results

According to the results, the mean video length was statistically significantly greater in rich‐content videos than in poor‐content videos (p = 0.024). In addition, the reliability score of rich‐content videos was statistically significantly higher than that of poor‐content videos (p = 0.026). Likewise, the GQS of rich‐content videos was statistically significantly higher than that of poor‐content videos (p < 0.001). However, the number of views, the number of likes, the number of dislikes, the number of comments, the number of days since upload, the interaction index and the view rate did not statistically significantly differ by content categories (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The present study concluded that the YouTubeTM videos providing oral hygiene education for patients receiving or scheduled for orthodontic treatment had poor content and overall medium quality. The instantaneous data collection was one of the study's limitations.
AraC‐type regulators HilC and RtsA are directly controlled by an intestinal fatty acid to regulate Salmonella invasion
Authors: Chowdhury Rimi , Pavinski Bitar Paulina D. , Adams Myfanwy C. , Chappie Joshua S. , Altier Craig
Published: October 2021

Invasion of the intestinal epithelium is an essential but energetically expensive survival strategy and is, therefore, tightly regulated by using specific cues from the environment. The enteric pathogen Salmonella controls its invasion machinery through the elegant coordination of three AraC‐type transcription activators, HilD, HilC, and RtsA. Most environmental signals target HilD to control invasion, whereas HilC and RtsA are known only to augment these effects on HilD. Here we show that a fatty acid found in the murine colon, cis‐2‐hexadecenoic acid (c2‐HDA), represses Salmonella invasion by directly targeting HilC and RtsA, in addition to HilD. c2‐HDA directly binds each of these regulators and inhibits their attachment to DNA targets, repressing invasion even in the absence of HilD. Fatty acid binding, however, does not affect HilC and RtsA protein stability, unlike HilD. Importantly, we show that HilC and RtsA are highly effective in restoring HilD production and invasion gene expression after elimination of the repressive fatty acid c2‐HDA. Together, these results illuminate a precise mechanism by which HilC and RtsA may modulate invasion as Salmonella navigates through different regions of the intestine, contributing to our understanding of how this enteric pathogen senses and adapts to a diverse intestinal environment while maintaining its virulence.
Deep learning for osteoarthritis classification in temporomandibular joint
Authors: Jung Won , Lee Kyung‐Eun , Suh Bong‐Jik , Seok Hyun , Lee Dae‐Woo
Published: October 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a diagnostic support tool using pretrained models for classifying panoramic images of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) into normal and osteoarthritis (OA) cases.

Subjects and Methods

A total of 858 panoramic images of the TMJ (395 normal and 463 TMJ‐OA) were obtained from 518 individuals from January 2015 to December 2018. The data were randomly divided into training, validation, and testing sets (6:2:2). We used pretrained Resnet152 and EfficientNet‐B7 as transfer learning models. The accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, area under the curve, and gradient‐weighted class activation mapping (grad‐CAM) of both trained models were evaluated. The performances of the trained models were compared to that of dentists (both TMD specialists and general dentists).

Results

The classification accuracies of ResNet‐152 and EfficientNet‐B7 were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. The trained models exhibited the highest accuracy in OA classification. In the grad‐CAM analysis, the trained models focused on specific areas in osteoarthritis images where erosion or osteophyte were observed.

Conclusions

The artificial intelligence model improved the diagnostic power of TMJ‐OA when trained with two‐dimensional panoramic condyle images and can be effectively applied by dentists as a screening diagnostic tool for TMJ‐OA.
Comparing public servants' behavior in South Korea and the United States: How emotional labor moderates the relationship between organizational commitment and job performance
Authors: Yang Seung‐Bum , Guy Mary E.
Published: October 2021

The relationship between organizational commitment and job performance matters in public service delivery, and so does the emotive dimension of the citizen—state interaction. However, public management theories and principles must take national culture into account, because comparative investigation reveals limits to generalizability across cultures. This study provides an example. It examines the link between commitment and performance as well as the moderating effect of emotional labor for public service workers in Korea and the United States. Probably due to the differing effect of collectivist versus individualist norms, findings reveal that authentic emotive expression bolsters the relationship between organizational commitment and job performance in Korea, while its opposite, inauthentic emotive expression weakens the link between commitment and performance in the United States.

공공서비스를 전달하는 과정에서 조직몰입과 직무성과의 관계는 중요한 문제이며, 이에 못지않게 시민‐국가 상호작용에 있어서 감정적 차원 또한 중요한 문제이다. 공공관리 이론이나 원리를 연구할 때 국가차원의 문화를 고려할 필요가 있는데, 이는 비교연구의 수행이 서로 다른 문화들을 일반화하는 데 따른 한계점을 파악할 수 있게 해 주기 때문이다. 본 연구는 이러한 측면에서 하나의 본보기를 제시한다. 이 연구는 몰입과 성과의 관계를 고찰할 뿐만 아니라 감정노동의 조절효과를 미국과 한국의 공공부문 종사자들을 통하여 살펴본다. 본 연구의 결과는 한국의 공공조직에서 진성 감정표현이 조직몰입과 직무성과를 강화해 줄 수 있으며, 이와는 대조적으로 미국의 공공조직에서는 비진성 감정표현이 몰입과 성과의 관계를 약화시킬 수 있다는 점을 보여준다. 이러한 결과는 집단주의 문화와 개인주의 문화가 서로 다른 영향을 미친 것으로 보인다.
Social affiliation moderates the link between depressive symptoms and heart rate variability in healthy middle‐aged and older individuals: An intensive ecologic momentary assessment study
Authors: Liu Huiying , Chen Beizhuo , Wang Yao , Zhao Xinyi , Hu Jian
Published: October 2021

Depressive symptoms have been associated with lower cardiac autonomic control, thus contributing to cardiovascular diseases, especially among older adults. Interpersonal factors have been found to attenuate physiologic stress responses, but little is known about whether these factors (e.g., perceived affiliation) would moderate the relation of depressive symptoms and cardiovascular activation. The present research aimed to investigate the interplay of depressive symptoms and momentary‐assessed interpersonal perceptions on cardiac vagal tone as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). The sample consisted of 78 late middle‐aged and older community‐dwelling participants (48.7% male, mean age = 59.15 years). Participants reported on depressive symptoms and other personal characteristics by questionnaire. Perceptions of interpersonal affiliation, ambulatory HRV, and contextual variables were recorded using ecologic momentary assessment and portable electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device throughout 1 week (with a maximum of seven times daily). Multilevel analyses found that depressive symptoms were correlated with lower HRV, whereas momentary interpersonal perceptions of higher affiliation were associated with elevated HRV. A significant association was revealed between depressive symptoms and momentary affiliation perceptions on HRV. When individuals were involved in social interactions with higher affiliation, the effect of depressive symptoms on reducing HRV was attenuated. These findings suggested that the effects of subthreshold depressive symptoms on vagal control of the heart could be altered by the quality of interpersonal experiences.
Social Media, Populism, and COVID-19: Weibo Users’ Reactions to Anti-Chinese Discourse
Authors: Catalano Theresa , Wang Peiwen
Published: October 2021

US government communication about the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the ‘Chinese virus’ discourse adopted by Donald Trump and his administration, has led to real-world violence and triggered heated discussions across social media sites, including Sina Weibo (aka Chinese Twitter). The current study explores the relationship between populism and social media by examining how Sina Weibo users respond to Trump’s communication on the virus. Employing multimodal critical discourse analysis, we examine both visual and verbal strategies used to build counter-discourses that challenge the use of terms such as ‘Chinese virus’. Findings demonstrate the potential of Weibo as a platform of resistance and site where users contest social injustice and racism, but also as a dangerous space in which populist discourses can yield more populist discourses which influence public sentiment and potentially government policies and international relations.
Overall Greater Demands on the Musculoskeletal System at Multiple Walking Speeds in Service Members With Lower Limb Loss
Authors: Wasser Joseph G. , Acasio Julian C. , Miller Ross H. , Hendershot Brad D.
Published: October 2021

Individuals with lower limb loss often walk with altered/asymmetric movement mechanics, postulated as a catalyst for development of low back and knee pain. Here, the authors simultaneously investigated trunk-pelvic movement patterns and lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics among 38 males with traumatic, unilateral lower limb loss (23 transtibial and 15 transfemoral), and 15 males without limb loss, at a self-selected and 2 standardized (1.0 and 1.6 m/s) speeds. Individuals with versus without lower limb loss walked with greater trunk range of motion in the frontal and transverse planes at all speeds (despite ∼10% slower self-selected speeds). At all speeds, individuals with versus without limb loss exhibited +29% larger medial ground reaction forces, and at 1.6 m/s also exhibited +50% to 110% larger vertical hip power generation, +27% to 80% larger vertical hip power absorption, and +21% to 90% larger medial–lateral hip power absorption. Moreover, pervasive biomechanical differences between transtibial versus transfemoral limb loss identify amputation-level movement strategies. Overall, greater demands on the musculoskeletal system across walking speeds, particularly at the hip, knee, and low back, highlight potential risk factors for the development/recurrence of prevalent secondary musculoskeletal conditions (eg, joint degeneration and pain) following limb loss.
Proliferation of Excised Juice Vesicles of Lemon in vitro
Authors: Kordan Herbert A.
Published: October 2021

Juice vesicles from mature lemon fruits will proliferate
in vitro
for indefinite periods. The comparatively simple tissue grows on a synthetic nutrient medium almost entirely inorganic in composition.
Tryptophan Loading and Excretion of 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in Normal and Schizophrenic Subjects
Authors: Kopin Irwin J.
Published: October 2021

In contrast to the findings of Zeller
et al.
, schizophrenic patients did not differ from normal control subjects in the rate of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion either before or after oral administration of L-tryptophan. The excretion of 5-HIAA may be directly related to dietary tryptophan since feeding-problem schizophrenic patients excreted less 5-HIAA than either of the well-fed groups. This was not related to pyridoxin deficiency.
Value of X-ray Films of Hand and Wrist in Human Identification
Authors: Greulich William Walter
Published: October 2021

As seen in the x-ray film, the individual bones of the hand and wrist differ sufficiently in form from one person to another so that such films can be valuable aids in establishing personal identification in either the living or the dead.
Initiation of Flower Buds in Rhododendron after Application of Growth Retardants
Authors: Stuart Neil W.
Published: October 2021

Vegetative terminals of azalea (
Rhododendron
spp.) plants of varying ages initiated flower buds promptly after application of the chemical growth retardants, tributyl-2,4-dichlorobenzylphosphonium chloride (phosfon) and (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), as soil drenches. This response occurred under environmental conditions which prevented or limited flower bud initiation in untreated plants. Normal flowering followed exposure of the treated plants to dormancy-breaking cool storage.
Senescence Inhibition and Respiration
Authors: Dedolph R. R. , Wittwer S. H. , Tuli V.
Published: October 2021

Freshly harvested asparagus spears treated with N
6
-benzyladenine and then held in the dark at 21°C for 136 hours showed a lower respiration rate, as measured by CO
2
evolution, than nontreated spears. Associated with the lower respiration rate were proportional decreases in postharvest spear elongation and weight loss through desiccation.
Dosimetry of Atomic Bomb Radiation in Hiroshima by Thermoluminescence of Roof Tiles
Authors: Higashimura Takenobu , Ichikawa Yoneta , Sidei Tunahiko
Published: October 2021

Thermoluminescence dosimetry is a powerful tool for obtaining the distribution of gamma dose, heretofore unknown, from the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Roof tiles irradiated by the bombs show intense thermoluminescence, and the radiation dose for samples irradiated below 100 r by the bomb can be measured by this method.
Trail Marking Substance of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant: Source and Potency
Authors: Moser John C. , Blum Murray S.
Published: October 2021

The trail-marking substance of
Atta texana
(Buckley) is formed in the true poison gland and deposited by the sting. This attractant is initially produced by teneral workers. The substance obtained from mature, large workers is the most potent.
Auditory Sensitivity of the Monkey
Authors: Stebbins W. C. , Green S. , Miller F. L.
Published: October 2021

Auditory thresholds for pure tones were determined in monkeys (three
Macaca irus
and one
Macaca nemestrina
) by the psychophysical method of constant stimuli after the animals had been trained by operant conditioning procedures. Their audible frequency range was found to extend from below 60 hertz to 40 or 45 kilohertz.
Food Production: Technology and the Resource Base
Authors: Wittwer S. H.
Published: October 2021

Despite a growing population and increasing demands of that population for improved diets, it appears that the world is not close to universal famine. There is enough food now produced to feed the world's hungry. That people are malnourished or starving is a question of distribution, delivery, and economics, not agricultural limits. The problem is putting the food where the people are and providing an income so that they can buy it.

As to the future, there are clouds on the far horizon. Only increased scientific and technological innovation, coupled with a change in human behavior and in national policy with regard to increased investments in agricultural research, can avert a growing food and population crisis. Only scientists develop new technology. Only farmers produce food. Motivation and incentives are important both for scientific discovery and food production.

Agricultural research is also a process. There is no finite beginning or end. It is a continuing search to unravel mysteries.

We must force the pace of agricultural development, but technology must be tailored to local conditions. This can be done by scientists who also know how to farm. Individual dedication and sustained government commitments are important.

Rapidity of information transfer and of acceptance of technology is also crucial. There is a wide gap between progress in research and the point of application for human benefit. What accounts for the vast time differences in rapidity of technology acceptance? The current avalanche of new knowledge coupled with problems of food, feed, and fiber supplies, and issues of availability, preservation, protection, renewability, and costs of resources should bring to the front the urgency of rapid information transfer and reassessment of information systems for agricultural and other renewable resources.
Sampling Zooplankton: Correction
Authors: Roemmich Dean , McGowan John
Published: October 2021

We have learned that there is an internal inconsistency in the zooplankton dataset used in our report "Climatic warming and the decline of zooplankton in the California Current" (3 Mar., p. 1324) (
1
). The data file we used, written from the archive maintained by the National Marine Fisheries Service, was found to change at the end of 1977, without notation, from values of zooplankton normalized by sample volume to raw values of zooplankton volume. Because the series was treated uniformly, pre-1978 data were incorrectly normalized a second time, while post-1978 data were handled correctly. This boosted pre-1978 values by up to a factor of 2. Correction of this error does not change the conclusions of our report. There has been a large decrease in zooplankton biomass during the past 43 years, which is likely related to the concurrent warming of the upper 100 meters. However, the correction does reduce the magnitude of the observed downward trend in zooplankton.

Cruise-by-cruise averages of log-transformed data show the decline of zooplankton volume (Fig. 1A; see figure 2A in our report), which is especially prominent from 1978 to the present. Average values over all cruises in a year were transformed back to natural units by taking the inverse logarithm (Fig. 1B). The average zooplankton volume over the final 7 years of the survey (1987-1993) was 70% lower than the average over 1951-1957. The reduction was approximately uniform with respect to distance from shore, possibly intensifying slightly offshore (Fig. 1C; see figure 3A in our report).

[See figure in the pdf file]
5.7% Increase Catches NIH By Surprise
Authors: Marshall Eliot
Published: October 2021

The truce between Congress and the White House that ended the federal government shutdown contained a welcome surprise for NIH: a budget for fiscal year 1996 that is 5.7% higher than last year's level. NIH was one of 18 agencies given special budget status, which will allow them to operate for the rest of the fiscal year. The increase matches the amount approved by the House of Representatives last year; it is substantially higher than either the Clinton Administration or the Senate had sought.
Tampering Allegations Stall Science Law
Authors: Allakhverdov Andrey
Published: October 2021

Moscow—A law designed to establish an overarching framework for Russian science may be in jeopardy. A compromise version of the legislation was passed by the Duma, Russia's parliament, last year, but some wording was apparently changed before it went to President Boris Yeltsin for his signature. It has been alleged that the changes were designed to strengthen the status of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Yeltsin has ordered an investigation, and if the changes are more than minor corrections, he could veto the law.
Planets Remind Astronomers of Home
Authors: Glanz James
Published: October 2021

San Antonio—Two new planets have been detected orbiting other stars, in the Big Dipper and the constellation Virgo. They are attracting intense interest because they look more like the planets in our own solar system than the one other extrasolar planet detected so far, which practically skims the surface of its parent star. The new planets are both giants, several times more massive than Jupiter, but they orbit at seemly distances and one may even have a temperate climate.
Chemicals Behind Gulf War Syndrome?
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: October 2021

Ever since the Gulf War ended 5 years ago, there have been disputes about what—if anything—caused the mysterious collection of symptoms, more commonly known as Gulf War Syndrome, reported by some of the war's veterans. Recent toxicological studies in chickens suggest that they may be the result of neurological damage, caused by two or more of the insecticide and anti-nerve gas chemicals used in the war acting together. Much more work will be needed to confirm that idea, however.
Partisan Battle Mars Markup of Joint Authorization Bill
Authors: Lawler Andrew
Published: October 2021

The House Science Committee has passed a bill to authorize programs in 1997 for most civilian, nonmedical federal research. The bill would spend $1.2 billion less than what President Clinton has requested and $600 million below what those agencies can spend this year, although it would boost basic research spending by about $250 million over current levels. The agreement, which could be voted on by the entire House as early as next week, was the product of a rancorous, 9-hour debate that demonstrates a widening rift between Republicans and Democrats on many science and technology issues.
Science Gains in Final '96 Budget
Authors: Lawler Andrew
Published: October 2021

With only 5 months to go in the fiscal year, President Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress finally agreed on a 1996 budget. And the wait paid off for some of those science agencies lurching along on temporary spending bills since October, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Commerce.
Panel Wants to Break R&D Barrier
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: October 2021

Hundreds of millions of couples worldwide lack adequate contraception, and this situation leads to over 50 million abortions each year, according to a new report by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Yet pharmaceutical companies have all but abandoned R&D programs in this area. The report recommends several ways for the U.S. government, industry, and international health organizations to prod new research efforts. They include: reforming U.S. product liability law, including contraceptives in health insurance coverage, and pooling contraceptive purchasing funds from international health agencies to create a large market. But the report's authors as well as outside observers acknowledge that most of these recommendations will face stiff opposition.
A Correction
Authors: Sumner F. B.
Published: October 2021

May I be allowed to call attention to a printer's error in my article entitled "Some Reasons for Saving the Genus," which was published in SCIENCE for June 18, 1915? The concluding sentence (p. 902) was rendered entirely ineffective by the omission of a line. The sentence should read: "In this conflict the 'general biologist' should, I think, lend his support to that faction which shows the higher regard for the interests of the scientific public."
The Reform of the Calendar
Authors: Wylie Charles Clayton
Published: October 2021

Persons who are interested in an immediate reform of the calendar might well confine their efforts to a readjustment of the lengths of the months. A few minor changes would make possible simplifications of benefit to every one.

Those making a study of perpetual calendars, expecting to eventually secure the adoption of one, should consider not only the "no-week" day, but also the "intercalary week."
Solubility of Uric Acid in the Blood
Authors: Gibbs Owen S.
Published: October 2021

Direct evidence is given which shows that the uric acid occurring in fowl's blood is in a specially soluble form.
A Belt Paper Kymograph with a Three Speed Gear Shift
Authors: McLaughlin Alvah R.
Published: October 2021

1. Herein has been described and illustrated a belt paper kymograph, electrically driven, and provided with a three speed gear shift.

2. By the use of this gear shift the operator may instantaneously change the speed of his paper from intermediate to high speed which is four times faster or to low speed which is four times slower.

3. By the arrangement of gears here shown no clutch or clutch lever is needed, and the operator may readily alter the speed by the use of either hand.

4. Although this gear box may appear somewhat complicated and difficult to construct it was built by junior and senior college students in mechanical engineering.
The Products of the Cyclizing Dehydration of 1-Beta-Phenylethylcyclohexanol-1 and the Synthesis of Spirocyclohexane-1,1-Indanone-3
Authors: Levitz Meyer , Perlman David , Bogert Marston T.
Published: October 2021

(1) Spirocyclohexane-1,1-indanone (VI) has been found among the oxidation products of the hydrocarbon mixture which results when 1-
beta
-phenylethylcyclohexanol-1 is dehydrated, or when 1-
beta
-phenylethylcyclohexene is cyclized by aluminum trichloride, and its constitution has been proved by synthesis.

(2) Its oxime melts at 137-137.8° (corr.). The oxime of m.p. 187.5°, reported by Cook et al. therefore must be derived from some other ketone, perhaps the trans-ketoöctahydrophenanthrene, since we were unable to isolate any oxime of m.p. 177°, the figure which they reported for this compound.
A high-performance ammonia plasma-treated WO3 @carbon felt electrode for vanadium redox flow batteries
Authors: Xiang Weizhe , Xu Jian , Zhang Yiqiong , Fu Hu , Zhu Xiaobo , Lou Xuechun , Qin Chengpeng , Ding Mei , Jia Chuankun
Published: October 2021

Due to the pressing need for harnessing renewable energy, sizable energy storage technologies have become increasingly critical, among which vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are considered as one of the promising technologies. However, the lack of high-performance electrodes hinders the development of VRFBs. Herein, we report a new ammonia plasma-treated WO3@carbon felt as a high-performance electrode for VRFBs. The ammonia plasma introduces not only N-contained functional groups but also oxygen deficiencies on WO3, which provide additional active sites and improve the conductivity, leading to high catalysis for both cathodic and anodic vanadium redoxes. As a result, the energy efficiency and the power density of the VRFB increase from 78.9% to 86% and from 365.5 mWcm[Formula: see text] to 389.6 mWcm[Formula: see text], respectively. Moreover, the energy efficiency of composite electrodes remains stable for more than 300 cycles. This study provides a new strategy for designing cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and high-performance electrodes for future VRFBs.
Privacy-preserving Secure Media Streaming for Multi-user Smart Environments
Authors: Carpentieri Bruno , Castiglione Arcangelo , De Santis Alfredo , Palmieri Francesco , Pizzolante Raffaele
Published: October 2021

Over the last years, our lifestyle has been positively upset by the sudden advent of technology. The Internet of Things (IoT), offering universal and ubiquitous connectivity to both people and objects, revealed to be the silver bullet for enabling a vast number of previously unexpected applications. In particular, media streaming providers are growing in business and scope, and we can forecast that soon, video streaming will substitute TV broadcasting activities. With the increasing success of multi-user smart environments, empowered by new-generation smart devices and IoT architectures, multimedia contents (i.e., images and videos) need to be effectively accessed anytime and anywhere. Recent advances in computer vision technologies have made the development of intelligent monitoring systems for video surveillance and ambient-assisted living. Such a scenario permits better integration among technologies, multimedia content, and end-users. However, there are several challenges, and some are still open. More precisely, due to the sensitivity of some multimedia content (e.g., video-surveillance streams), it is paramount to preserve users’ privacy. Again, it is necessary to guarantee the integrity of usage rights during any multimedia transmission process, starting from the video encoding phase. In this way, the private content is disclosed only when the stream is decoded on the other endpoint, by the legitimate user.

In this article, we present a secure video transmission strategy that can address the challenges mentioned above. The proposed strategy takes advantage of both watermarking and video scrambling techniques to make it possible for the secure and privacy-preserving transmission of multimedia streaming. Through our proposal, multimedia streaming is of low quality and thus unusable. However, it can be fully recovered and enjoyed only by authorized users. Finally, due to its low complexity and energy-efficiency, our proposal is particularly suitable for onboard implementations.