bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-Parallel Manipulators: A Framework on How to Model Actuation Schemes and a Study of Their Effects on Singular Postures
Authors: Matone Ricardo , Roth Bernard
Published: February 2021

This paper is concerned with the modeling of actuation schemes and their effects on the singularities of in-parallel manipulators. We begin by presenting a framework on how to incorporate actuator location and drive mechanism into the kinematic model of in-parallel manipulators. We show how to obtain the model in joint (actuator) space given the corresponding representation in actuator (joint) space. Next we show that, for in-parallel manipulators, the locations of actuators can modify singular postures. We present necessary and sufficient conditions on how to transform a singular configuration into a non-singular one by simply changing actuators locations. Finally, we illustrate these concepts with the analysis and design of a five-bar in-parallel manipulator for which transmission ratios and drive mechanisms are selected in order to improve kinematic characteristics. The example illustrates the fact that the choice of actuation schemes influences the size, shape, and direction of the velocity ellipsoid. Consequently, this choice modifies the velocity distribution in the entire workspace.
Force Directed Design of Laparoscopic Forceps
Authors: Herder Just L.
Published: February 2021

Mechanical design usually applies a kinematic perspective. Desired motion is taken as point of departure for the type and dimension synthesis of a linkage. Next, actuators are added to enforce this motion at the desired velocity. In addition to this movement directed design approach, also desirable force configurations can provide a useful design perspective. Awareness of forces seems to stimulate the design of simple and efficient mechanisms. This paper aims to illustrate a simple form of a force directed design approach with an example from medical technology. A purely mechanical laparoscopic grasping instrument with extraordinary mechanical efficiency is presented, which enables surgeons to clearly perceive several physiological properties, such as stiffness of tissue and the pulse of arteries.
Cross-Over of Rope Around Drum in Multi-Layer
Authors: Luo Xu , Kokubo Kunio , Hongo Kaoru , Xia RungHain
Published: February 2021

Cross-over of rope wound on a drum in multi-layers, is analyzed by means of differential geometry and variational principle with movable boundaries. As a geometrically nonlinear problem of the linearly elastic rope, centerline of cross-over of rope is treated as a space curve, which is constrained by surface of the rope of the lower layer. Considering the parameters of the constraining surface, the bending energy of the cross-over and the virtual work of the non-conservative tensile force are obtained. Thereby the Euler equation of the variational problem is obtained, and is changed into an implicit form. Finally the expression for the centerline of the cross-over is formulated. An experiment is made to measure the central angle of the cross-over and the data are compared with the calculated value.
Design of a Novel Fixture for Part Referencing
Authors: Nederbragt Walter W. , Ravani Bahram
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a novel design for a practical tactile-sensing mechanical fixture. The fixture consists of two tactile-sensing surfaces, a cylindrical surface and a planar surface. A mathematical procedure is developed for constructing a reference frame using point-to-surface contact locations on the fixture and the geometry of the fixture. A numerical example is given to further illustrate the use of this approach. Finally, the design of the fixture is described and a picture of the laboratory demonstration unit is shown.
A Note on Trajectory Planning for Conservative Motion of Redundant Manipulators
Authors: Chyu Younker R. , Song Shin-Min
Published: February 2021

The conservative motion of a redundant manipulator has been a subject of research for many years. Up to the present time, a method which guarantees conservative motion for a redundant manipulator tracing an arbitrary trajectory has not been presented. Moreover, the implementation of any conservative motion trajectory planning in discrete time domain has not been adequately addressed. In this paper, a trajectory planning method which guarantees conservative motion and preserves minimum norm of joint rates for a redundant manipulator tracing a closed-loop trajectory is presented. This method includes two intermediate via points in each incremental movement so that the manipulator can precisely pass through, with constant joint accelerations, all incremental positions with minimum jerks. The tracking errors exist only at the via points but not at the incremental points. Thus, conservative motion is ensured. The overall tracking errors can be reduced by simply selecting a smaller increment. The presented method is simulated with a three-linked, planar redundant manipulator and the results are discussed.
Error Model for Rotating Reference Frame Sensors Employed in the Space Station Module, Rack-Insertion End-Effector
Authors: Brewer William V.
Published: February 2021

Flight dynamics projections depend on estimates of the mass and its location for everything launched. It has been decided that these estimates will be made with the assistance of measurements taken by sensors installed on the Rack Insertion End Effector (RIEE). This error model is used to estimate accuracy that might be expected from the titled sensor placement scheme, taken as a whole, given the errors of component sensors and their placement.
Numerical Synthesis of Binary Manipulator Workspaces Using the Fourier Transform on the Euclidean Motion Group
Authors: Kyatkin Alexander , Chirikjian Gregory S.
Published: February 2021

In this paper we apply the Fourier transform on the Euclidean motion group to solve problems in kinematic design of binary manipulators. We begin by reviewing how the workspace of a binary manipulator can be viewed as a function on the motion group, and how it can be generated as a generalized convolution product. We perform the convolution of manipulator densities, which results in the total workspace density of a manipulator composed of double the number of modules. We suggest an anzatz function which approximates the manipulator’s density in analytical form and has few free fitting parameters. Using the anzatz functions and Fourier methods on the motion group, linear and non-linear inverse problems (i. e. problems of finding the manipulator’s parameters which produce the total desired workspace density) are solved.
3D Collision-Free Trajectory Planning for Mobile Robot Based on Quadric Modeling
Authors: Hwang Kao-Shing , Tsai Ming-Dar , Ju Ming-Yi
Published: February 2021

A 3-D collision-free trajectory planning method for a mobile robot is proposed in the paper. The geometric shapes of the objects in the workspace are modeled as ellipsoids of 3-D quadric model for simple mathematical representation and easy geometric approximation. By a series of coordinate transformations between the mobile robot and obstacles, the collision detection problem in trajectory planning is reduced to test a point falling outside or inside the transformed ellipsoids, which models obstacles geometrically. Finally, the collision probability, which is defined by projecting the quadric ellipsoid onto a 3-D Gaussian distribution contour, plays a very significant role in search the optimal path through the defined objective function.
Design of a Tele-Robotic System for the Maintenance of Boiler Hoppers in Electric Power Plants
Authors: Saidi Kamel S. , Seo Jongwon , Sreenivasan S. V. , Haas Carl T. , Traver Alfred E.
Published: February 2021

The design of a novel tele-operated robotic device for clearing undesirable residues (known as clinkers) from the bottom of boiler hoppers in electric power plants is presented in this article. A key aspect of the problem that drives the design process is the fact that the environment inside the hopper is harsh and unstructured. The part of the device that goes into the boiler through a hatch door must be able to handle high temperatures, highly corrosive ash, and the possibility of large residues falling on the device which could lead to serious structural damage to the device. This has led to a new robot design which has all its sophisticated mechanical and control hardware located outside the boiler hopper access port. The only component that goes into the boiler is an inexpensive pole which is expendable and easily replaceable. Also, it can be pulled out from the hopper even if it is seriously damaged. A special insertion mechanism serves as a prismatic joint for inserting and extracting the pole. Forward (sensing) and inverse (control) kinematics problems that are unique to this new design are also presented. Finally, a discussion of the results from preliminary experimental testing in a laboratory setting is included.

An important component of the process of designing the robot was the inclusion of ideas from the currently practiced manual clinker clearing process. This was accomplished via periodic discussions with the plant workers who perform the manual process.
Determination of Principal Curvatures and Contact Ellipse for Profile Crowned Helical Gears
Authors: Feng Pin-Hao , Litvin Faydor L. , Townsend Dennis P. , Handschuh Robert F.
Published: February 2021

Helical gears with localized bearing contact of tooth surfaces achieved by profile crowning of tooth surfaces are considered. Profile crowning is analyzed through the use of two imaginary rack-cutters with mismatched surfaces. The goal is to determine the dimensions and orientation of the instantaneous contact ellipse from the principle curvatures of the pinion and gear tooth surfaces. A simplified solution to this problem is proposed based on the approach developed for correlation of principal curvatures and directions of generating and generated tooth surfaces. The equations obtained are applied to three cases of profile crowning where the normal profiles of the rack-cutters are: (i) parabolic curves: (ii) circular arcs; and (iii) a combination of a straight line for one of the rack-cutters and a parabolic curve or a circular arc for the mating rack-cutter. The gear drives can be the combination of a pinion generated by a parabolic curve or a circular arc and gear generated by one of three cases mentioned above.
Vibro-Acoustic Studies of Transmission Casing Structures
Authors: Crimaldi D. , Singh R.
Published: February 2021

Automotive transmission casing plates of irregular shape, with complex boundary conditions and non-uniform material properties, are experimentally and computationally studied to acquire a fundamental understanding of their dynamic and acoustic radiation characteristics. A modified flat cover is designed which simplifies the geometry while providing uniform thickness and material properties. Both covers (“real-life” and “laboratory”) are studied with free and bolted boundary conditions. In particular, the free boundary conditions are useful because they eliminate the cover-housing interaction allowing for a more detailed analysis of the cover plate. Finite element models for both covers under the free boundary conditions are developed and refined. Predicted natural frequencies and mode shapes are in excellent agreement with measured modal data. Then the finite element models are coupled with boundary element models to predict acoustic radiation properties. Predictions match well with measured acoustic directivity at resonant frequencies.
A Possible Strategy for Incorporating Edge Effects in Root Stress Estimation of Helical Gears
Authors: Kalluri Ravikiran , Houser Donald R.
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the development of a strategy to improve current root stress predictions at the edges of spur and helical gear teeth. Industry demands for higher power density gearboxes require maximum utilization of the load carrying capability of the gear. This requires an accurate understanding of the load distributions and the resulting root stresses. Current analytical methods for predicting root stresses include accurate but time-consuming three-dimensional finite element analysis and some special purpose gear programs. The special analysis programs are computationally faster but rely heavily on empirical mathematical formulations which do not easily lend themselves to the inclusion of edge effects. This effect is seen in the experimental and finite element results due to the difference in stiffness between the edges of helical gear teeth and increases with helix angle. Stress predictions from a state-of-the-art empirical program are compared with experimental and finite element results and a correction suggested for this discrepancy.
China delivers verdict on gene editing of babies
Authors: Cohen Jon , Normille Dennis
Published: February 2021

He Jiankui gets prison sentence, but legal proceedings fail to satisfy calls for transparency.
In two-person MRI, brains socialize at close range
Authors: Servick Kelly
Published: February 2021

In pursuit of natural interactions, researchers push the limits of neuroimaging.
In Russia, hypersonic rivalry feeds suspicions and arrests
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: February 2021

Researchers face treason charges for sharing research.
Technology Feature | Prints of pieces
Authors: Dove Alan
Published: February 2021

3D bioprinting allows researchers to construct increasingly elaborate living structures. A new generation of accessible tools has opened the field to many more labs.
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Surveillance in Pig Populations: Establishing Sampling Guidelines for Detection in Growing Pigs
Authors: Clavijo Maria Jose , Hu Dapeng , Krantz Seth , Cano Jean Paul , Pereira Maróstica Thairê , Henao-Diaz Alexandra , Poeta Silva Ana Paula S. , Hemker Deanne , Tapia Edgar , Zimmerman Silvia , Fano Eduardo , Polson Dale , Fitzgerald Robert , Tucker Alexander , Main Rodger , Wang Chong , Zimmerman Jeffrey J. , Rotolo Marisa L.
Published: February 2021

Antemortem detection ofMycoplasma hyopneumoniaeinfection in swine production systems has relied on antibody testing, but the availability of tests based on DNA detection and novel diagnostic specimens, e.g., tracheal swabs and oral fluids, has the potential to improveM. hyopneumoniaesurveillance. A field study was performed over a 14-week period during which 10 pigs in one pen at the center of a room with 1,250 6-week-old pigs housed in 46 pens were intratracheally inoculated withM. hyopneumoniae.
Intratracheal parathyroid gland: an unexpected diagnosis
Authors: Bryan Avery , Kurian Susan , Flowers Ashley B , Nathan Cherie Ann O
Published: February 2021

Ectopic or supernumerary parathyroid tissue has been generally described in the literature in cases found during workup for parathyroid adenoma. We present two unique cases of intratracheal parathyroid gland, a rare occurrence that has not yet been described in the literature. In both cases, the masses were found incidentally and showed no clinical or laboratory evidence of hyperparathyroidism. In both cases, surveillance was chosen as the method of treatment. We present this case series to increase awareness of this potential diagnosis.
Quality improvement time-saving intervention to increase use of a clinical decision support tool to reduce low-value diagnostic imaging in a safety net health system
Authors: Lee Bryanna , Mafi John , Patel Maitraya K , Sorensen Andrea , Vangala Sitaram , Wei Eric , Sarkisian Catherine
Published: February 2021

Importance

Electronic health record (EHR) clinical decision support (CDS) tools can provide evidence-based feedback at the point of care to reduce low-value imaging. Success of these tools has been limited partly due to lack of engagement by busy clinicians.

Objective

Measure the impact of a time-saving quality improvement intervention to increase engagement with a CDS tool for low back pain imaging ordering.

Design, setting and participants

We conducted a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences analysis at (BLINDED), examining back pain imaging orders from 29 May 2015 to 07 January 2016. The intervention site was (BLINDED) Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care Center (n=5736) and control sites included all other (BLINDED) hospitals and clinics (n=1621). In May 2015, the Department of Health Services installed a CDS tool that triggered a survey when clinicians ordered an imaging test, generating an ‘appropriateness score’ based on the American College of Radiology guidelines. Clinicians often bypassed the tool, resulting in ‘unscored’ tests.

Intervention

To increase clinician engagement with the tool and decrease the rate of unscored imaging tests, a new policy was implemented at the intervention site on 15 August 2015. If clinicians completed the CDS survey and scored an appropriateness score >3, they could forego a previously mandatory telephone call for pre-imaging utilisation review with the radiology department.

Main outcomes and measures

We used EHR data to measure pre–post-intervention differences in: (1) percentage of unscored tests and (2) percentage of tests with high appropriateness scores (>7).

Results

Percentage of unscored tests decreased from 69.4% to 10.4% at the intervention site and from 50.6% to 34.8% at the control sites (between-group difference: −23.3%, p<0.001). Percentage of high scoring tests increased from 26.5% to 75.0% at the intervention site and from 17.2% to 22.7% at the control sites (between-group difference: 19%, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Workflow time-saving interventions may increase physician engagement with CDS tools and have potential to improve practice patterns.
Development and evaluation of an illustrated paediatric leaflet ‘Coming to Hospital: a guide to what goes on’
Authors: Clark Elisha K R , Sanghavi Sanjana S , Farrell Stephen , Fritz Zoë
Published: February 2021

Background

A paediatric information leaflet was produced to better prepare patients for time spent in hospital and to improve experience by informing them what to expect.

Methods

The ‘Coming to Hospital’ leaflet was designed with input from paediatric research groups, and in collaboration with a children’s author and publishing company. A questionnaire to evaluate the leaflet was developed; face validity was established in a pilot. The real-time patient experience of these leaflets was evaluated on paediatric wards in a university hospital.

Results

The evaluation revealed that a significant majority of children ‘really liked’ the leaflet and found it helpful. 53 out of 72 of children reported that the leaflet made them feel ‘happy’ or ‘calm’, with no children responding that it made them feel ‘very worried’. The leaflet was found to be informative, well presented and reassuring. Many parents stated that they wished they had received the leaflet prior to their child’s first hospital visit. Suggestions for changes to the leaflet were minimal; it was considered to include all relevant information.

Conclusion

A leaflet designed by clinical staff, patients and a publishing company was welcomed by paediatric patients and their parents. Patients reported it made them feel calmer. Such a leaflet should be available widely to improve children’s experience of coming to hospital. Collaborations between clinicians, academics and publishing companies can produce positive results for the paediatric population.
Immediate versus delayed insertion of the copper intrauterine device after medical abortion at 17–20 gestational weeks: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Constant Deborah , Endler Margit , Grossman Daniel , Petro Gregory , Patel Malika
Published: February 2021

Introduction

This trial reports on use of the copper intrauterine device (IUD) after immediate compared with delayed insertion following medical abortion at 17–20 gestational weeks (GW).

Methods

This randomised controlled trial was conducted at one tertiary hospital and five community healthcare centres in Cape Town, South Africa. Eligible consenting women were randomised to immediate (within 24 hours) or delayed (3 weeks post-abortion) insertion of the copper IUD. Follow-up was at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Main outcomes were use of the original IUD and use of any IUD, including replacement IUDs at 6 weeks post-abortion. Secondary outcomes included rates of expulsion and malposition at 6 weeks, use of any IUD at 3 and 6 months, and acceptability of the IUD.

Results

We recruited and randomised 114 women admitted for elective medical abortion between August 2018 and June 2019. In the immediate and delayed study arms, respectively, 45/55 (82%) and 12/57 (21%) women received the IUD as planned. By intention-to-treat, 56% in the immediate and 19% in the delayed arms were using the original IUD at 6 weeks (p<0.001), and 76% in the immediate and 40% in the delayed arms were using any IUD (p<0.001). Complete expulsion or removal occurred in 32% in the immediate and 7% in the delayed arms (p=0.044).

Conclusions

Insertion of an IUD immediately after medical abortion at 17–20 GW results in increased use after 6 weeks compared with delayed insertion, however expulsion rates are higher than with interval insertion.

Clinical trials registration

NCT03505047), Pan African Trials Registry (www.pactr.org), 201804003324963
A connection between linearized Gauss–Bonnet gravity and classical electrodynamics II: Complete dual formulation
Authors: Baker Mark Robert
Published: February 2021

In a recent publication, a procedure was developed which can be used to derive completely gauge invariant models from general Lagrangian densities with [Formula: see text] order of derivatives and [Formula: see text] rank of tensor potential. This procedure was then used to show that unique models follow for each order, namely classical electrodynamics for [Formula: see text] and linearized Gauss–Bonnet gravity for [Formula: see text]. In this paper, the nature of the connection between these two well-explored physical models is further investigated by means of an additional common property; a complete dual formulation. First, we give a review of Gauss–Bonnet gravity and the dual formulation of classical electrodynamics. The dual formulation of linearized Gauss–Bonnet gravity is then developed. It is shown that the dual formulation of linearized Gauss–Bonnet gravity is analogous to the homogenous half of Maxwell’s theory; both have equations of motion corresponding to the (second) Bianchi identity, built from the dual form of their respective field strength tensors. In order to have a dually symmetric counterpart analogous to the nonhomogenous half of Maxwell’s theory, the first invariant derived from the procedure in [Formula: see text] can be introduced. The complete gauge invariance of a model with respect to Noether’s first theorem, and not just the equation of motion, is a necessary condition for this dual formulation. We show that this result can be generalized to the higher spin gauge theories, where the spin-[Formula: see text] curvature tensors for all [Formula: see text] are the field strength tensors for each [Formula: see text]. These completely gauge invariant models correspond to the Maxwell-like higher spin gauge theories whose equations of motion have been well explored in the literature.
Profiling Laboratory Biomarkers Associated with COVID-19 Disease Progression: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Khan Maria , Shah Noman , Mushtaq Hina , Jehanzeb Valeed
Published: February 2021

Background. There is clinical importance to investigate the disease progression through potential biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the significance of inflammatory markers in different categories of COVID-19 in admitted patients. Methods. In a single-center, observational study of 50 in-hospital patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, infection biomarkers, including hs-CRP, serum ferritin, serum creatinine, ALT, ALP, cardiac troponin-I, and IL-6 were analyzed. Results. The median age was 61.3 years. 70% (35) were male while 30% (15) were female. We noted significantly increased hs-CRP (9.32 mg/dL ± 10.03) and ferritin levels (982.3 ng/ml ± 601.9). A noteworthy increase was observed in neutrophil count (11.05 × 109/L) and a decrease was observed in lymphocyte count (0.27 × 109/L) (

P
<
0.05

), and the platelet count was borderline decreased (244.1 × 109/L). IL-6 levels were markedly increased in all admitted patients (100.2 pg/ml ± 122.2 pg/ml). Conclusion. The serum levels of CRP, troponin-I, ALP, ALT, serum creatinine, and ferritin are markedly increased in COVID-19 patients. Increased CRP and ferritin levels were also associated with secondary bacterial infection and poor clinical outcomes.
Uremic Toxins, Oxidative Stress, Atherosclerosis in Chronic Kidney Disease, and Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Wojtaszek Ewa , Oldakowska-Jedynak Urszula , Kwiatkowska Marlena , Glogowski Tomasz , Malyszko Jolanta
Published: February 2021

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and approximately half of all deaths among patients with CKD are a direct result of CVD. The premature cardiovascular disease extends from mild to moderate CKD stages, and the severity of CVD and the risk of death increase with a decline in kidney function. Successful kidney transplantation significantly decreases the risk of death relative to long‐term dialysis treatment; nevertheless, the prevalence of CVD remains high and is responsible for approximately 20‐35% of mortality in renal transplant recipients. The prevalence of traditional and nontraditional risk factors for CVD is higher in patients with CKD and transplant recipients compared with the general population; however, it can only partly explain the highly increased cardiovascular burden in CKD patients. Nontraditional risk factors, unique to CKD patients, include proteinuria, disturbed calcium, and phosphate metabolism, anemia, fluid overload, and accumulation of uremic toxins. This accumulation of uremic toxins is associated with systemic alterations including inflammation and oxidative stress which are considered crucial in CKD progression and CKD‐related CVD. Kidney transplantation can mitigate the impact of some of these nontraditional factors, but they typically persist to some degree following transplantation. Taking into consideration the scarcity of data on uremic waste products, oxidative stress, and their relation to atherosclerosis in renal transplantation, in the review, we discussed the impact of uremic toxins on vascular dysfunction in CKD patients and kidney transplant recipients. Special attention was paid to the role of native and transplanted kidney function.
A Novel Procedure to Pursue Aspired Procurement Negotiation Outcomes Using a Combined MADM Model
Authors: Yu Chien-Chou , Li Xiang , Lu Hui
Published: February 2021

In the modern global economy, public and private organizations frequently procure goods and services from external suppliers. As such, negotiations are essential to reach procurement agreements and thus achieve organizational objectives and meet criteria in a timely and economically efficient manner. However, numerous relevant studies have revealed that suboptimal agreements frequently occur in procurement negotiation (PN) settings, which negatively affect the realization of business objectives and criteria. This study proposes the addition of a novel procedure that integrates a combined multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) model into the PN framework to identify, measure, and depict suboptimal situations in the context of an influential network relation map (INRM). This approach enables visualized and systematic information to be continuously provided, thus helping to determine possible improvement initiatives for transitioning suboptimal agreements to aspired levels. A real numerical case study is used to demonstrate the practical application of the proposed procedure. The results reveal that by employing the combined MADM model, the proposed procedure can provide managers with a practical foundation for early identification of the critical factors/dimensions for continuous improvement of a negotiated agreement regardless of how or why a suboptimal agreement initially occurs.
Fixed Point Results for
C
-Contractive Mappings in Generalized Metric Spaces with a Graph
Authors: Chaira Karim , Kabil Mustapha , Kamouss Abdessamad
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we establish fixed point theorems for Chatterjea contraction mappings on a generalized metric space endowed with a graph. Our results extend, generalize, and improve many of existing theorems in the literature. Moreover, some examples and an application to matrix equations are given to support our main result.
ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ МІСЦЯ ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧНОГО ПРАВА В СУЧАСНІЙ СИСТЕМІ ПРАВА УКРАЇНИ
Authors: Kotvitska A. A. , Кubarieva I. V. , Volkova A. V. , Boldar G. E. , Cherkashyna A. V.
Published: February 2021

Мета роботи. Визначення місце фармацевтичного права в системі права України, аналіз його предмета, методу та системи на підставі загальнотеоретичних розробок про галузь права та законодавства.

Матеріали і методи. Дослідження проведено на основі опрацювання наукової та навчальної літератури, нормативно-правових актів. Використано методи аналізу, синтезу, узагальнення, системно-структурний, формально-логічний, порівняно-правовий, тлумачення правової норми.

Результати й обговорення. Встановлено, що у вітчизняній спеціальній літературі спостерігається недостатня кількість праць, присвячених вивченню юридичної природи фармацевтичного права. Обговорення цієї проблеми більш активно здійснюється зарубіжними науковцями, ніж українськими. Привертає увагу факт відсутності єдиного підхіду до розуміння предмета та методу фармацевтичного права. Ці питання іноді висвітлюються у загальнотеоретичних роботах у рамках наукової дискусії про можливість існування комплексних галузей права в системі права. Зроблено висновок, що вчені не досягли загальної точки зору щодо галузевої належності фармацевтичного права та законодавства. Частина дослідників вважають фармацевтичне право складовою частиною (підгалуззю) медичного або економічного (господарського) права, а інші визначають як самостійну комплексну галузь права або законодавства.

Висновки. Обґрунтована наукова позиція про те, що в сучасних умовах склалися підстави вважати фармацевтичне право самостійною комплексною галуззю права, предметом якої виступають управлінські, майнові та немайнові відносини, що виникають під час здійснення фармацевтичної діяльності, для регулювання яких використовуються методи субординації (імперативний) та координації (диспозитивний). Запропоновано поділ системи фармацевтичного права на Загальну та Особливу частини, розкрито інститути кожної з них.
Machine Learning–Derived Fractal Features of Shape and Texture of the Left Atrium and Pulmonary Veins From Cardiac Computed Tomography Scans Are Associated With Risk of Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation Postablation
Authors: Firouznia Marjan , Feeny Albert K. , LaBarbera Michael A. , McHale Meghan , Cantlay Catherine , Kalfas Natalie , Schoenhagen Paul , Saliba Walid , Tchou Patrick , Barnard John , Chung Mina K. , Madabhushi Anant
Published: February 2021

Background:

We hypothesized that computerized morphological analysis of the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) via fractal measurements of shape and texture features of the LA myocardial wall could predict atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after ablation.

Methods:

Preablation contrast computed tomography scans were collected for 203 patients who underwent AF ablation. The LA body, PVs, and myocardial wall were segmented using a semi-automated region growing method. Twenty-eight fractal-based shape and texture-based features were extracted from resulting segments. The top features most associated with postablation recurrence were identified using feature selection and subsequently evaluated with a Random Forest classifier. Feature selection and classifier construction were performed on a discovery cohort (D
1
) of 137 patients; classifiers were subsequently validated on an independent set (D
2
) of 66 patients. Dedicated classifiers to capture the fractal and morphological properties of LA body (C
LA
), PVs (C
PV
), and LA myocardial (C
LAM
) tissue were constructed, as well as a model (C
All
) capturing properties of all segmented compartments. Fractal-based models were also compared against a model employing machine estimation of LA volume. To assess the effect of clinical parameters, such as AF type and catheter technique, a clinical model (C
clin
) was also compared against C
All
.

Results:

Statistically significant differences were observed for fractal features of C
LA
, C
LAM
, and C
All
in distinguishing AF recurrence (
P
<0.001) on D
1
. Using the 5 top features, C
All
had the best prediction performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.81 [95% CI, 0.78–0.85]), followed by C
PV
(AUROC, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.74–0.80]), and C
LA
(AUROC, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.63–0.78]) on D
2
. The clinical parameter model C
clin
yielded an AUROC, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65–0.77), while the atrial volume model yielded an AUROC, 0.59. Combining C
All
and C
clin
on D
2
improved the AUROC to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82–0.93).

Conclusions:

Fractal measurements of the LA, PVs, and atrial myocardium on computed tomography scans were associated with likelihood of postablation AF recurrence.
The Curious Case of the Unrecognized turba of amīr Jirbāsh Qāshiq: New Dating and Attribution
Authors: Hamza Hani
Published: February 2021

The borderlines between the sacred and profane, and the living and the dead, are blurred in the Mamluk Northern Cemetery of Cairo like in no other place in Egypt. Sacred burial domes, prayer chapels, mosques, ṣūfī khanqās, and zawīyyas stood side by side with profane residential quarters, kitchens, latrines, stables, kutābs, and sabīls scattered around a ḥaūsh enclosed by a wall. The Northern Cemetery was dotted with over a hundred of such Mamluk turba complexes. Many perished, but thirty-six survived.

The majority of surviving turbas are identified with certainty, but a few have controversial attributions or doubtful dating. One surviving turba stands out as not being recognized at all, let alone given an attribution or date. This is the peculiar case of the turba of Jirbāsh Qāshiq (d. 861/1456), standing between the complexes of Īnāl and of Qurqumās at the edge of the Northern Cemetery.

The plan of Ῑnāl’s complex (855–60/1451–56) has a peculiar square area protruding uncomfortably to the west, now in semi ruins. It was identified empirically by the Comité in 1919 as courtyard C of the complex of Ῑnāl. None of the later studies challenged this attribution. This paper will discuss the vague attributions of three turbas in the area in general, and as a case study challenges the Comité’s attribution of the ḥaush C as part of Īnāl’s complex; it proposes that it is a separate turba for Jirbāsh Qāshiq. This conclusion is reached through reading of several waqf manuscripts, comparisons with other monuments of the same genre and era, biographical dictionaries, and chronicles. A plan and a three-dimensional re-construction of the turba are drawn as well.
Erratum: Potter, D. & Raiche, R. (2020) A New Combination in Holodiscus (Rosaceae, Amygdaloideae, Spiraeeae). Phytotaxa 477 (2): 284–290.
Authors: POTTER DANIEL , RAICHE ROGER
Published: February 2021

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Implementing a Parent Education Intervention in Colombia: Assessing Parent Outcomes and Perceptions Across Delivery Modes
Authors: Magaña Sandra , Tejero Hughes Marie , Salkas Kristen , Gonzales Wendy , Núñez Giselle , Morales Miguel , Garcia Torres Mariana , Moreno-Angarita Marisol
Published: February 2021

Knowledge and identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasing in Latin America, yet there are limited resources available to help families of children with ASD. For this study, researchers adapted and tested a parent educational program created for Latino immigrant parents of children with ASD in the United States to the needs of parents of children with ASD in Colombia. Parents were randomized into two intervention delivery modes, one led by parents and the other by students. All measures were self-reported by parents ( n = 20). Parents improved in understanding their child’s strengths and needs and frequency of using evidence-based strategies. Parents in the student-led group reported significantly lower depressive symptoms between baseline and follow-up. In focus groups, parents expressed satisfaction with the intervention and described ways they were using the information. This study demonstrated promising results to improve the experience of parents of children with ASD in Colombia.
“Just watching”: A qualitative analysis of non-players’ motivations for video game spectatorship
Authors: Orme Stephanie
Published: February 2021

This study explores the phenomenon of video game spectatorship from the perspective of a population I refer to as “just watchers.” Previous studies have tended to focus on game spectatorship from turn-taking “non-players” or live-streaming audiences, specifically. “Just watchers” are individuals who express no desire to play video games themselves, yet are avid spectators of others’ video game play, both virtually and in-person. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 27 participants, this study explores their motivations for gaming spectatorship, as well as their aversion to playing games themselves. Findings suggest the “work” of playing games, lack of skill, access to games, and toxic online communities are deterrents to playing games. Participants expressed that games spectatorship offers them narrative engagement that is distinct from traditional media, and that despite “just watching,” they tend to consider themselves as part of gaming culture.
A tutorial on cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access networks
Authors: Chaudhary Bhanu Pratap , Shankar Ravi , Mishra Ritesh Kumar
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we explore the possibilities and advantages of cooperative relaying with the addition of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). First, the possibilities of NOMA for fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks is discussed followed by the generalized structures for the cooperative NOMA. Then, advanced NOMA communication is investigated where NOMA is integrated with advanced transmission technologies for the further improvement in cooperative NOMA. Hereinafter, resource allocation is investigated and, finally, the major challenges and issues are highlighted.
Detecting industry clusters from the bottom up based on co-location patterns mining: A case study in Dongguan, China
Authors: Liu Zihui , Chen Xinyue , Xu Weipan , Chen Yimin , Li Xun
Published: February 2021

Industry cluster development is important to stimulate regional economy. Conventional spatial methods for detecting industry clusters use a pairwise manner to infer the co-location relationships of multiple industrial types or instances, which increases the difficulty of interpreting the results. This study proposes to use co-location patterns (CPs) mining method to directly capture the co-location of multiple industrial types from the bottom up without any conditions of data relations defined a priori. The method is applied in Dongguan, China, to investigate the industry cluster patterns at an intra-urban scale. At the city level, the results show prevalent CPs of information communication and technology industry and other associated sectors. At the sub-regional level, however, approximately 41% of the industrial CPs are different from those obtained at the city level. The local features of sub-regional industry clusters are associated with productions of, for instance, sporting goods and toys, digital instrument and office equipment, machine parts and woodware, and textile-related products.
A Simple Panel of IDH1 and P53 in Differential Diagnosis Between Low-Grade Astrocytoma and Reactive Gliosis
Authors: Geramizadeh Bita , Kohandel-Shirazi Mahsa , Soltani Ahmad
Published: February 2021

Background:

Reactive gliosis is a response of glial tissue to different types of injury such as brain abscess, trauma, hemorrhage, or even neoplastic process. In some circumstances, especially when the tissue biopsy is small, there may be difficulty to discriminate this reactive condition with low-grade diffuse astrocytoma (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II) by conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides, so some immunohistochemical and molecular markers have been introduced for this differential diagnosis. One of the important aspects of updated WHO classification in 2016 has been dividing some of the glial tumor according to IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1) mutation.

Objectives:

In this study, we tried to evaluate IDH1 and P53 mutation by immunohistochemistry as a simple and highly specific and sensitive method to differentiate low-grade astrocytoma and reactive gliosis.

Material and methods:

For 5 years (2013-2018), 50 cases of clinically documented reactive gliosis and 50 cases of low-grade astrocytoma were evaluated for the presence or absence of IDH1 and P53 mutation by immunohistochemistry.

Results:

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 was positive in 92% and 4% of the astrocytoma and reactive gliosis cases and P53 was positive in 90% and 4% of the cases with the final diagnosis of astrocytoma and reactive gliosis, respectively.

Discussion and conclusion:

Combination of P53 and IDH1 as an immunohistochemical panel showed specificity of 96% and sensitivity of 91% for differential diagnosis of reactive gliosis and low-grade astrocytoma. These 2 markers can be extremely helpful for this differential diagnosis.
Quantitative assessment of vascular density in diabetic retinopathy subtypes with optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Ghassemi Fariba , Fadakar Kaveh , Berijani Sahar , Babeli Ameneh , Gholizadeh Alireza , Sabour Siamak
Published: February 2021

Background

Quantitative assessment of vascular density (VD) of retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) in various stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD OCTA).

Methods

188 eyes of 97 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The macular OCTA (3x3mm) scan was performed and the computer algorithm assessed VD at the level of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC.

Results

All measured parameters were decreased in retinal VD at the more extreme stages of DR, with the exception of SCP foveal VD. There was a constant pattern of decrease in VD of CC from normal cases to cases of NDR and NPDR and then a slight increase occurred in the PDR stage but never touching the normal quantities. Age, fasting blood sugar, and years of diabetes mellitus were correlated with reduced VD in different segments. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively correlated with parafoveal VD at SCP and VD of foveal area at CC. VD of all subfields of macular area except foveal DCP VD showed reduced levels in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients compared to those without DME.

Conclusions

The findings of the study endorse retina VD changes as a potential biomarker for DR development before retinopathy becomes clinically evident. It seems that parafoveal VD of SCP and foveal VD of CC are good biomarkers to predict VA in the diabetic patients.
Analyzing brain structural differences among undergraduates with different grades of self-esteem using multiple anatomical brain network
Authors: Peng Bo , Pang Gaofeng , Saxena Aditya , Liu Yan , Hu Baohua , Wang Suhong , Dai Yakang
Published: February 2021

Background

Self-esteem is the individual evaluation of oneself. People with high self-esteem grade have mental health and can bravely cope with the threats from the environment. With the development of neuroimaging techniques, researches on cognitive neural mechanisms of self-esteem are increased. Existing methods based on brain morphometry and single-layer brain network cannot characterize the subtle structural differences related to self-esteem.

Method

To solve this issue, we proposed a multiple anatomical brain network based on multi-resolution region of interest (ROI) template to study the brain structural connections of self-esteem. The multiple anatomical brain network consists of ROI features and hierarchal brain network features that are extracted from structural MRI. For each layer, we calculated the correlation relationship between pairs of ROIs. In order to solve the high-dimensional problem caused by the large amount of network features, feature selection methods (t-test, mRMR, and SVM-RFE) are adopted to reduce the number of features while retaining discriminative information to the maximum extent. Multi-kernel SVM is employed to integrate the various types of features by appropriate weight coefficient.

Result

The experimental results show that the proposed method can improve classification accuracy to 97.26% compared with single-layer brain network.

Conclusions

The proposed method provides a new perspective for the analysis of brain structural differences of self-esteem, which also has potential guiding significance in other researches involved brain cognitive activity and brain disease diagnosis.
Gene function finding through cross-organism ensemble learning
Authors: Moro Gianluca , Masseroli Marco
Published: February 2021

Background

Structured biological information about genes and proteins is a valuable resource to improve discovery and understanding of complex biological processes via machine learning algorithms. Gene Ontology (GO) controlled annotations describe, in a structured form, features and functions of genes and proteins of many organisms. However, such valuable annotations are not always reliable and sometimes are incomplete, especially for rarely studied organisms. Here, we present GeFF (Gene Function Finder), a novel cross-organism ensemble learning method able to reliably predict new GO annotations of a target organism from GO annotations of another source organism evolutionarily related and better studied.

Results

Using a supervised method, GeFF predicts unknown annotations from random perturbations of existing annotations. The perturbation consists in randomly deleting a fraction of known annotations in order to produce a reduced annotation set. The key idea is to train a supervised machine learning algorithm with the reduced annotation set to predict, namely to rebuild, the original annotations. The resulting prediction model, in addition to accurately rebuilding the original known annotations for an organism from their perturbed version, also effectively predicts new unknown annotations for the organism. Moreover, the prediction model is also able to discover new unknown annotations in different target organisms without retraining.We combined our novel method with different ensemble learning approaches and compared them to each other and to an equivalent single model technique. We tested the method with five different organisms using their GO annotations: Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Bos taurus, Gallus gallus and Dictyostelium discoideum. The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the cross-organism ensemble approach, which can be customized with a trade-off between the desired number of predicted new annotations and their precision.A Web application to browse both input annotations used and predicted ones, choosing the ensemble prediction method to use, is publicly available at http://tiny.cc/geff/.

Conclusions

Our novel cross-organism ensemble learning method provides reliable predicted novel gene annotations, i.e., functions, ranked according to an associated likelihood value. They are very valuable both to speed the annotation curation, focusing it on the prioritized new annotations predicted, and to complement known annotations available.