bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are patients with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorder so different?
Authors: Aubry-Rozier Bérengère , Schwitzguebel Adrien , Valerio Flore , Tanniger Joelle , Paquier Célia , Berna Chantal , Hügle Thomas , Benaim Charles
Published: August 2021

Diagnosing hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) remains challenging, despite new 2017 criteria. Patients not fulfilling these criteria are considered to have hypermobile spectrum disorder (HSD). Our first aim was to evaluate whether patients hEDS were more severely affected and had higher prevalence of extra-articular manifestations than HSD. Second aim was to compare their outcome after coordinated physical therapy. Patients fulfilling hEDS/HSD criteria were included in this real-life prospective cohort (November 2017/April 2019). They completed a 16-item Clinical Severity Score (CSS-16). We recorded bone involvement, neuropathic pain (DN4) and symptoms of mast cell disorders (MCAS) as extra-articular manifestations. After a standardized initial evaluation (T0), all patients were offered the same coordinated physical therapy, were followed-up at 6 months (T1) and at least 1 year later (T2), and were asked whether or not their condition had subjectively improved at T2. We included 97 patients (61 hEDS, 36 HSD). Median age was 40 (range 18–73); 92.7% were females. Three items from CSS-16 (pain, motricity problems, and bleeding) were significantly more severe with hEDS than HSD. Bone fragility, neuropathic pain and MCAS were equally prevalent. At T2 (20 months [range 18–26]) 54% of patients reported improvement (no difference between groups). On multivariable analysis, only family history of hypermobility predicted (favorable) outcome (p = 0.01). hEDS and HDS patients showed similar disease severity score except for pain, motricity problems and bleeding, and similar spectrum of extra-articular manifestations. Long-term improvement was observed in > 50% of patients in both groups. These results add weight to a clinical pragmatic proposition to consider hEDS/HSD as a single entity that requires the same treatments.
Emerging new climate extremes over Europe
Authors: Ossó Albert , Allan Richard P. , Hawkins Ed , Shaffrey Len , Maraun Douglas
Published: August 2021

Human society and natural systems are intrinsically adapted to the local climate mean and variability. Therefore, changes relative to the local expected variability are highly relevant for assessing impact and planning for adaptation as the climate changes. We analyse the emerging climate signal relative to the diagnosed internal variability (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N) of a set of recently published climate indices over Europe. We calculate the signal-to-noise ratio with respect to a recent baseline (1951–1983) which relates to recent societal experience. In this framework, we find that during the 2000–2016 period, many areas of Europe already experienced significant changes in climate extremes, even when compared to this recent period which is within living memory. In particular, the S/N of extreme temperatures is larger than 1 and 2 over 34% and 4% of Europe, respectively. We also find that about 15% of Europe is experiencing more intense winter precipitation events, while in summer, 7% of Europe is experiencing stronger drought-inducing conditions.
3D Ore Characterization as a Paradigm Shift for Process Design and Simulation in Mineral Processing
Authors: Guntoro Pratama Istiadi , Ghorbani Yousef , Rosenkranz Jan
Published: August 2021

Current advances and developments in automated mineralogy have made it a crucial key technology in the field of process mineralogy, allowing better understanding and connection between mineralogy and the beneficiation process. The latest developments in X‑ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) have shown a great potential to let it become the next-generation automated mineralogy technique. µCT’s main benefit lies in its capability to allow 3D monitoring of the internal structure of the ore sample at resolutions down to a few hundred nanometers, thus excluding the common stereological error in conventional 2D analysis. Driven by the technological and computational progress, µCT is constantly developing as an analysis tool and successively it will become an essential technique in the field of process mineralogy. This study aims to assess the potential application of µCT systems, for 3D ore characterization through relevant case studies. The opportunities and platforms that µCT 3D ore characterization provides for process design and simulation in mineral processing are presented.
A validation of QDAcity-RE for domain modeling using qualitative data analysis
Authors: Kaufmann Andreas , Krause Julia , Harutyunyan Nikolay , Barcomb Ann , Riehle Dirk
Published: August 2021

Using qualitative data analysis (QDA) to perform domain analysis and modeling has shown great promise. Yet, the evaluation of such approaches has been limited to single-case case studies. While these exploratory cases are valuable for an initial assessment, the evaluation of the efficacy of QDA to solve the suggested problems is restricted by the common single-case case study research design. Using our own method, called QDAcity-RE, as the example, we present an in-depth empirical evaluation of employing qualitative data analysis for domain modeling using a controlled experiment design. Our controlled experiment shows that the QDA-based method leads to a deeper and richer set of domain concepts discovered from the data, while also being more time efficient than the control group using a comparable non-QDA-based method with the same level of traceability.
Accuracy of half-guided implant placement with machine-driven or manual insertion: a prospective, randomized clinical study
Authors: Orban Kristof , Varga Endre , Windisch Peter , Braunitzer Gabor , Molnar Balint
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To compare the accuracy of implant placement performed with either a surgical motor or a torque wrench as part of a half-guided surgical protocol.

Materials and methods

Implant insertion with half-guided surgical protocol was utilized by surgical motor (machine-driven group) or torque wrench (manual group) in the posterior maxilla. After the healing period, accuracy comparison between planned and actual implant positions was performed based on preoperative cone beam computed tomography and postoperative digital intraoral scans. Coronal, apical, and angular deviations, insertion time, and insertion torque were evaluated.

Results

Forty patients were treated with 1 implant each; 20 implants were inserted with a surgical motor and 20 implants with a torque wrench. Global coronal and apical deviations were 1.20 ± 0.46 mm and 1.45 ± 0.79 mm in the machine-driven group, and 1.13 ± 0.38 mm and 1.18 ± 0.28 mm in the manual group (respectively). The mean angular deviation was 4.82 ± 2.07° in the machine-driven group and 4.11 ± 1.63° in the manual group. Mean insertion torque was 21.75 ± 9.75 Ncm in the machine-driven group, compared to 18.75 ± 7.05 Ncm in the manual group. Implant placement duration was 9.25 ± 1.86 s in the machine-driven group at a speed of 50 rpm, and 36.40 ± 8.15 s in the manual group.

Conclusion

No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of accuracy and mean insertion torque, while machine-driven implant placement was significantly less time-consuming.

Clinical relevance

Optimal implant placement accuracy utilized by half-guided surgical protocol can be achieved with both machine-driven and torque wrench insertion.

Trial registration

ID: NCT04854239
Bacterial translocation and microgap formation at a novel conical indexed implant abutment system for single crowns
Authors: Gehrke Peter , Burg Simon , Peters Ulrike , Beikler Thomas , Fischer Carsten , Rupp Frank , Schweizer Ernst , Weigl Paul , Sader Robert , Smeets Ralf , Schäfer Sogand
Published: August 2021

Objectives

A conometric concept was recently introduced in which conical implant abutments hold the matching crown copings by friction alone, eliminating the need for cement or screws. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the presence of microgap formation and bacterial leakage at the Acuris conometric restorative interface of three different implant abutment systems.

Material and methods

A total of 75 Acuris samples of three implant-abutment systems (Ankylos, Astra Tech EV, Xive) were subjected to microbiological (n = 60) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation (n = 15). Bacterial migration into and out of the conical coupling system were analyzed in an anaerobic workstation for 48, 96, 144, and 192 h. Bacterial DNA quantification using qrt-PCR was performed at each time point. The precision of the conometric coupling and internal fit of cemented CAD/CAM crowns on corresponding Acuris TiN copings were determined by means of SEM.

Results

qrt-PCR results failed to demonstrate microbial leakage from or into the Acuris system. SEM analysis revealed minute punctate microgaps at the apical aspect of the conometric junction (2.04 to 2.64 µm), while mean cement gaps of 12 to 145 µm were observed at the crown-coping interface.

Conclusions

The prosthetic morse taper connection of all systems examined does not allow bacterial passage. Marginal integrity and internal luting gap between the ceramic crown and the coping remained within the clinically acceptable limits.

Clinical relevance

Conometrically seated single crowns provide sufficient sealing efficiency, relocating potential misfits from the crown-abutment interface to the crown-coping interface.
Delirium in neurosurgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kappen P. R. , Kakar E. , Dirven C. M. F. , van der Jagt M. , Klimek M. , Osse R. J. , Vincent A. P. J. E.
Published: August 2021

Delirium is a frequent occurring complication in surgical patients. Nevertheless, a scientific work-up of the clinical relevance of delirium after intracranial surgery is lacking. We conducted a systematic review (CRD42020166656) to evaluate the current diagnostic work-up, incidence, risk factors and health outcomes of delirium in this population. Five databases (Embase, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central) were searched from inception through March 31st, 2021. Twenty-four studies (5589 patients) were included for qualitative analysis and twenty-one studies for quantitative analysis (5083 patients). Validated delirium screening tools were used in 70% of the studies, consisting of the Confusion Assessment Method (intensive care unit) (45%), Delirium Observation Screening Scale (5%), Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (10%), Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale (5%) and Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (5%). Incidence of post-operative delirium after intracranial surgery was 19%, ranging from 12 to 26% caused by variation in clinical features and delirium assessment methods. Meta-regression for age and gender did not show a correlation with delirium. We present an overview of risk factors and health outcomes associated with the onset of delirium. Our review highlights the need of future research on delirium in neurosurgery, which should focus on optimizing diagnosis and assessing prognostic significance and management.
Elevated expression of the RNA‐binding motif protein 43 predicts poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Yong , Liu Li-Li , Hu Rui , Sun Qi , Wen Xiao-Bo , Luo Rong-Zhen , Yan Shu-Mei
Published: August 2021

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play crucial roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA during numerous physiological and pathological processes, including tumor genesis and development. However, the role of RNA-binding motif protein 43 (RBM43) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been reported so far. The current study was the first to evaluate RBM43 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an independent cohort of 207 patients with ESCC, to explore its potential prognostic value and clinical relevance in ESCC. The results indicated that RBM43 protein levels were significantly elevated in ESCC tissues and increased RBM43 expression was associated with age and N categories. In addition, ESCC patients with high expression of RBM43 had shorter overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) than those with low RBM43 expression. Furthermore, when survival analyses were conducted at different clinical stages, overexpression of RBM43 was significantly correlated with shortened survival in patients with ESCC at early stages (TNM stage I–II and N0 stage). Cox regression analysis further proved that high RBM43 expression was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in ESCC patients. In conclusion, increased expression of RBM43 is correlated with malignant attributes to ESCC and predicts unfavorable prognosis, suggesting an effective prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
Ionosphere-weighted undifferenced and uncombined PPP-RTK: theoretical models and experimental results
Authors: Zha Jiuping , Zhang Baocheng , Liu Teng , Hou Pengyu
Published: August 2021

Precise ionospheric information, as like precise satellite orbits, clocks, and code/phase biases, is a critical factor for achieving fast integer ambiguity resolution in precise point positioning (PPP-AR). This study develops an ionosphere-weighted (IW) undifferenced and uncombined PPP real-time kinematic (PPP-RTK) network model using code and phase observations. We introduce between-station single-differenced ionospheric delay pseudo-observations to take advantage of the similar characteristics of ionospheric delays between two receivers tracking the same satellite. The estimable ionospheric parameters are commonly affected by the differential code bias referring to a particular receiver assigned as pivot, which facilitates the ionospheric interpolation at the user side. Then, the kinematic positioning performance of the IW PPP-RTK user model is analyzed and compared with those of PPP-AR without ionospheric corrections, RTK, and IW-RTK models during low and high solar activity days. The results show that for the PPP-RTK model, the positioning errors converge to thresholds of 2 cm for the horizontal components and 5 cm for the vertical component within 20 epochs, and the positioning errors become stable after an initialization of 20 epochs with root-mean-squared (RMS) values of approximately 0.47, 0.58 and 1.66 cm for the east, north and up components, respectively, which are superior to those of the other three models. Owing to the high ionospheric disturbance influence, the RMS values of the east and up components increase by approximately double and the mean time-to-first-fix increases by 61.5% for the PPP-RTK case.
Spatial distribution of invasive species: an extent of occurrence approach
Authors: Rodríguez-Casal Alberto , Saavedra-Nieves Paula
Published: August 2021

Ecological Risk Assessment faces the challenge of determining the impact of invasive species on biodiversity conservation. Although many statistical methods have emerged in recent years in order to model the evolution of the spatio-temporal distribution of invasive species, the notion of extent of occurrence, formally defined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, has not been properly handled. In this work, a novel and flexible reconstruction of the extent of occurrence from occurrence data will be established from nonparametric support estimation theory. Mathematically, given a random sample of points from some unknown distribution, we establish a new data-driven method for estimating its probability support S in general dimension. Under the mild geometric assumption that S is $$r-$$

r
-

convex, the smallest $$r-$$

r
-

convex set which contains the sample points is the natural estimator. A stochastic algorithm is proposed for determining an optimal estimate of r from the data under regularity conditions on the density function. The performance of this estimator is studied by reconstructing the extent of occurrence of an assemblage of invasive plant species in the Azores archipelago.
Effects of rural bus stops on travel time and reliability
Authors: Hansson Joel , Pettersson-Löfstedt Fredrik , Svensson Helena , Wretstrand Anders
Published: August 2021

Due to relatively low patronage levels, rural bus stops are sometimes questioned in order to improve travel time and reliability on regional bus services. Previous research into stop spacing has focused on urban areas, which means that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of bus stops in regional networks, with longer distances, higher speeds, and lower passenger volumes, in general. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by analysing the effects of bus stops on a regional bus service regarding average travel times, travel time variability, and on-time performance. This is done by statistical analysis of automatic vehicle location (AVL) data, using a combination of methods previously used for analysis of rail traffic and urban bus operations. The results reveal that bus stops that are only used sporadically have a limited impact on average travel times, in general. In contrast, they are all the more influential on travel time variability, and, in turn, on on-time performance. On the studied bus service, the number of stops made have a far greater impact on travel time variability than any of the other included variables, such as the weather or traffic conditions during peak hours. However, the results suggest that rural bus stops have a much lower impact than what we define as secondary bus stops in urban areas. Consequently, by primarily focusing on bus stop consolidation in urban areas, it is possible to significantly improve service reliability without impairing rural coverage.
Autophagy induced by H. pylori VacA regulated the survival mechanism of the SGC7901 human gastric cancer cell line
Authors: Luo Juan , Bai Luyan , Tao Jun , Wen Yu , Li Mingke , Zhu Yunzhen , Luo Sufeng , Pu Guangyu , Ma Lanqing
Published: August 2021

Background

Vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is an important virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). It was previously believed that VacA can trigger the cascade of apoptosis on mitochondria to lead to cell apoptosis. Recently, it was found that VacA can induce autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism by which VacA induces autophagy is largely unknown.

Objective

We aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of autophagy induced by H. pylori in gastric cancer cells and the effect of autophagy on the survival of gastric cancer cells.

Methods

The autophagy of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR in the treatment of VacA protein of H. pylori. The relationship between autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the proliferation of gastric cancer cells were studied by gene expression silences (siRNA) and CM-H2DCFDA (DCF) staining.

Results

The results showed that VacA protein secreted by H. pylori in the supernatant stimulated autophagy in SGC7901 cells. After VacA protein treatment, the mRNA expressions of BECN1, ATG7 and PIK3C3, were up-regulated. ATG7 silencing by siRNA inhibited VacA-induced autophagy. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that VacA protein increased ROS levels. Addition of the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) suppressed the levels of ROS, leading to inhibition of autophagy.

Conclusions

H. pylori VacA is a key toxin that induces autophagy by increased ROS levels. And our findings demonstrated that VacA significantly inhibited proliferation in SGC7901 cells.
Conceptual design and comparison of hybrid electric propulsion systems for small aircraft
Authors: Köhler Jo , Jeschke Peter
Published: August 2021

This paper presents a novel conceptual design method for electric and hybrid electric propulsion systems in small aircraft. The effects of key design parameters on the propulsion system performance are analyzed and the advantages and drawbacks of the investigated propulsion systems are discussed on the basis of two sets of thrust requirements. First, the general conceptual design algorithm is outlined. This is followed by a description of the three propulsion systems investigated: the fully electric; the parallel hybrid; and the conventional internal combustion engine. Scalable models of all required propulsion system components are presented, including weight estimation and operating characteristics. Afterwards, the conceptual design algorithm is exemplified for a reference two-seater motorized glider with a cruising speed of 140 kt and a maximum take-off mass of 1000 kg. Key design parameters are identified and their impact on propulsion system mass and cruise efficiency discussed. This study suggests that the parallel hybrid propulsion system is advantageous for high power ratios between take-off and cruise. For a power ratio of 4.5, either a relative cruise efficiency advantage of 12% or a maximum system mass advantage of 10% can be expected, depending on the propeller design. For the chosen cruise range of 300 km, the system mass of the fully electric propulsion system is at least 2.37 times higher when compared to the conventional propulsion system. In summary, a design method for hybrid electric propulsion systems is presented here which may be used for conceptual design. Furthermore, the suitability of the propulsion systems under investigation for different sets of thrust requirements is assessed, which may be helpful for aircraft designers.
Design and numerical simulation of ejector nozzles for very small turbojet engines
Authors: Schmidt R. , Hupfer A.
Published: August 2021

The examination of small turbojet engines for unmanned aviation systems is a main research activity at the Institute of Aeronautical Engineering at the Universität der Bundeswehr München. The special requirements for the design of these propulsion systems include compact installation size, high reliability and low acquisition costs. But the low overall efficiency, the high exhaust gas temperature and excessive noise emission limit the options for integration and mission profiles. The concept of the ejector nozzles offers a solution for further improving the propulsion system following the requirements. The secondary mass flow delivered from the ejector nozzle can not only reduce the exhaust gas temperature but also enhance the thrust. Ejector nozzles have been developed in combination with special mixer nozzles with the design goal of increasing the pumping performance and thrust augmentation. Both numerical and experimental investigations are conducted to study the mixing ability of the primary nozzle, the key to optimising the ejector performance.
Improved well logs clustering algorithm for shale gas identification and formation evaluation
Authors: Szabó N. P. , Braun B. A. , Abdelrahman M. M. G. , Dobróka M.
Published: August 2021

The identification of lithology, fluid types, and total organic carbon content are of great priority in the exploration of unconventional hydrocarbons. As a new alternative, a further developed K-means type clustering method is suggested for the evaluation of shale gas formations. The traditional approach of cluster analysis is mainly based on the use of the Euclidean distance for grouping the objects of multivariate observations into different clusters. The high sensitivity of the L2 norm applied to non-Gaussian distributed measurement noises is well-known, which can be reduced by selecting a more suitable norm as distance metrics. To suppress the harmful effect of non-systematic errors and outlying data, the Most Frequent Value method as a robust statistical estimator is combined with the K-means clustering algorithm. The Cauchy-Steiner weights calculated by the Most Frequent Value procedure is applied to measure the weighted distance between the objects, which improves the performance of cluster analysis compared to the Euclidean norm. At the same time, the centroids are also calculated as a weighted average (using the Most Frequent Value method), instead of applying arithmetic mean. The suggested statistical method is tested using synthetic datasets as well as observed wireline logs, mud-logging data and core samples collected from the Barnett Shale Formation, USA. The synthetic experiment using extremely noisy well logs demonstrates that the newly developed robust clustering procedure is able to separate the geological-lithological units in hydrocarbon formations and provide additional information to standard well log analysis. It is also shown that the Cauchy-Steiner weighted cluster analysis is affected less by outliers, which allows a more efficient processing of poor-quality wireline logs and an improved evaluation of shale gas reservoirs.
Prevalence of obesity and diabetes in older people with sarcopenia defined according to EWGSOP2 and FNHI criteria
Authors: Remelli Francesca , Maietti Elisa , Abete Pasquale , Bellelli Giuseppe , Bo Mario , Cherubini Antonio , Corica Francesco , Di Bari Mauro , Maggio Marcello , Rizzo Maria Rosaria , Rossi Andrea P. , Landi Francesco , Volpato Stefano ,   the GLISTEN Group Investigators, Brombo Gloria , Ortolani Beatrice , Savino Elisabetta , Maietti Elisa , Fisichella Alberto , Buttò Valeria , Zamboni Mauro , Caliari Cesare , Ferrari Elena , Orso Francesco , Sacco Flavia , Di Meo Maria Laura , Cerri Anna Paola , Motta Marco , Pittella Francesca , Bonfanti Alessandra , Fusco Sergio , Schepisi Roberto , Ferro Christian , Catalano Antonino , Caruso Stefano , Soraci Luca , Marchese Lorenzo , Agosta Luca , Basile Claudia , Coppola Carla , Dalise Anna Maria , Fava Ilaria , Catte Olga , Orru’ Maura , Salaris Paolo , Martone Anna Maria , Ortolani Elena , Salini Sara , dell’Aquila Giuseppina , Carrieri Barbara
Published: August 2021

Background

Although the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity is increasing, nowadays a universally accepted definition still does not exist. Because, this clinical entity is defined as the combination of obesity and sarcopenia, the diagnosis appears to be strictly linked to criteria used for sarcopenia and the available prevalence data are not uniform. To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in older persons according to EWGSOP2 and FNIH criteria. Second, to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes in patients with sarcopenia diagnosed by the two definitions.

Methods

Observational multicenter study performed in 2014 on older patients admitted to 12 Italian hospitals (GLISTEN Study). Data were collected through standardized questionnaires, which assessed: socio-demographic data, cognitive status, functional abilities, pharmacological therapy, comorbidities, and blood tests. Moreover, muscle mass and strength and physical performance were evaluated.

Results

Six hundred and ten were included in the analyses. Among sarcopenic patients, the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was 30.8% with FNIH and 0% with EWGSOP2 criteria. According to EWGSOP2 criteria, 23.7% of sarcopenic and 30.8% of non-sarcopenic patients were affected by diabetes (p = 0.101); otherwise, using FNIH criteria, 36.3% of sarcopenic and 26.9% of non-sarcopenic patients were diabetic (p = 0.030). After adjustment for potential confounders, diabetic patients had a 73% higher probability of being sarcopenic according to FNIH criteria (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.13–2.64).

Conclusions

The EWGSOP2 and FNIH sarcopenia criteria are differently related to the prevalence of obesity and diabetes. The EWGSOP2 criteria seem to be not suitable to identify people with sarcopenic obesity.
Stress and deformation analysis of gob-side pre-backfill driving procedure of longwall mining: a case study
Authors: Wu Rui , Zhang Penghui , Kulatilake Pinnaduwa H. S. W. , Luo Hao , He Qingyuan
Published: August 2021

At present, non-pillar entry protection in longwall mining is mainly achieved through either the gob-side entry retaining (GER) procedure or the gob-side entry driving (GED) procedure. The GER procedure leads to difficulties in maintaining the roadway in mining both the previous and current panels. A narrow coal pillar about 5–7 m must be left in the GED procedure; therefore, it causes permanent loss of some coal. The gob-side pre-backfill driving (GPD) procedure effectively removes the wasting of coal resources that exists in the GED procedure and finds an alternative way to handle the roadway maintenance problem that exists in the GER procedure. The FLAC3D software was used to numerically investigate the stress and deformation distributions and failure of the rock mass surrounding the previous and current panel roadways during each stage of the GPD procedure which requires "twice excavation and mining". The results show that the stress distribution is slightly asymmetric around the previous panel roadway after the “primary excavation”. The stronger and stiffer backfill compared to the coal turned out to be the main bearing body of the previous panel roadway during the "primary mining". The highest vertical stresses of 32.6 and 23.1 MPa, compared to the in-situ stress of 10.5 MPa, appeared in the backfill wall and coal seam, respectively. After the "primary mining", the peak vertical stress under the coal seam at the floor level was slightly higher (18.1 MPa) than that under the backfill (17.8 MPa). After the "secondary excavation", the peak vertical stress under the coal seam at the floor level was slightly lower (18.7 MPa) than that under the backfill (19.8 MPa); the maximum floor heave and maximum roof sag of the current panel roadway were 252.9 and 322.1 mm, respectively. During the "secondary mining", the stress distribution in the rock mass surrounding the current panel roadway was mainly affected by the superposition of the front abutment pressure from the current panel and the side abutment pressure from the previous panel. The floor heave of the current panel roadway reached a maximum of 321.8 mm at 5 m ahead of the working face; the roof sag increased to 828.4 mm at the working face. The peak abutment pressure appeared alternately in the backfill and the coal seam during the whole procedure of "twice excavation and mining" of the GPD procedure. The backfill provided strong bearing capacity during all stages of the GPD procedure and exhibited reliable support for the roadway. The results provide scientific insight for engineering practice of the GPD procedure.
Finite element modeling of multiple density materials of bone specimens for biomechanical behavior evaluation
Authors: Irarrázaval Sebastián , Ramos-Grez Jorge Andrés , Pérez Luis Ignacio , Besa Pablo , Ibáñez Angélica
Published: August 2021

The finite elements method allied with the computerized axial tomography (CT) is a mathematical modeling technique that allows constructing computational models for bone specimens from CT data. The objective of this work was to compare the experimental biomechanical behavior by three-point bending tests of porcine femur specimens with different types of computational models generated through the finite elements’ method and a multiple density materials assignation scheme. Using five femur specimens, 25 scenarios were created with differing quantities of materials. This latter was applied to computational models and in bone specimens subjected to failure. Among the three main highlights found, first, the results evidenced high precision in predicting experimental reaction force versus displacement in the models with larger number of assigned materials, with maximal results being anR2of 0.99 and a minimum root-mean-square error of 3.29%. Secondly, measured and computed elastic stiffness values follow same trend with regard to specimen mass, and the latter underestimates stiffness values a 6% in average. Third and final highlight, this model can precisely and non-invasively assess bone tissue mechanical resistance based on subject-specific CT data, particularly if specimen deformation values at fracture are considered as part of the assessment procedure.
Impact of repeated co-treatment with escitalopram and aripiprazole on the schizophrenia-like behaviors and BDNF mRNA expression in the adult Sprague–Dawley rats exposed to glutathione deficit during early postnatal development of the brain
Authors: Lech Marta A. , Kamińska Kinga , Leśkiewicz Monika , Lorenc-Koci Elżbieta , Rogóż Zofia
Published: August 2021

Background

Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that impaired endogenous synthesis of glutathione during early postnatal development plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, some studies have suggested that antidepressants are able to increase the activity of atypical antipsychotics which may efficiently improve the treatment of negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the influence of repeated co-treatment with escitalopram and aripiprazole on the schizophrenia-like behavior and BDNF mRNA expression in adult rats exposed to glutathione deficit during early postnatal development. Male pups between the postnatal days p5–p16 were treated with the inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, BSO (L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine) and the dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12,909 alone or in combination. Escitalopram and aripiprazole were given repeatedly for 21 days before the tests. On p90–92 rats were evaluated in the behavioral and biochemical tests.

Results

BSO given alone and together with GBR 12,909 induced deficits in the studied behavioral tests and decreased the expression of BDNF mRNA. Repeated aripiprazole administration at a higher dose reversed these behavioral deficits. Co-treatment with aripiprazole and an ineffective dose of escitalopram also abolished the behavioral deficits in the studied tests.

Conclusion

The obtained data indicated that the inhibition of glutathione synthesis in early postnatal development induced long-term deficits corresponding to schizophrenia-like behavior and decreased the BDNF mRNA expression in adult rats, and these behavioral deficits were reversed by repeated treatment with a higher dose of aripiprazole and also by co-treatment with aripiprazole and ineffective dose of escitalopram.
High Expression of Long Noncoding RNA NORAD is Associated With Poor Clinical Outcomes in Non-M3 Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Authors: Eslami Mohammad Masoud , Soufizomorrod Mina , Ahmadvand Mohammad
Published: August 2021

Objective/Background:

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA NORAD has been identified in human solid tumors. However, the expression profile of NORAD and its clinical implications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unclear. The current study aimed to explore the NORAD expression status and its clinical significance in non-M3 AML patients.

Methods:

NORAD expression was evaluated in 60 de novo non-M3 AML patients and 49 healthy individuals using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction method. The correlation between NORAD transcription levels and clinicopathologic characteristics was statistically studied.

Results:

Compared with the healthy controls, NORAD was consistently higher in non-M3 AML patients (p = .01). Furthermore, initial NORAD upregulation occurred more frequently in patients with unfavorable cytogenetic risk (p = .02). The non-M3 AML patients were divided into NORAD high-expressing (NORADhigh) and NORAD low- expressing (NORADlow) groups based on the median NORAD expression level. Univariate analyses revealed that patients with high expression levels of NORAD had relatively poor overall survival (p = .03) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = .01). Additionally, multivariate analysis highlighted that NORAD upregulation was an independent risk factor for RFS.

Conclusion:

Our observations indicate the fact that high expression of NORAD could be an unfavorable risk factor in non-M3 AML patients, and NORAD might be a novel therapeutic candidate for future treatments targeting AML.
Corporate Actors as Translators in Transnational Lawmaking
Authors: Sarfaty Galit A.
Published: August 2021

International legal scholars have long been concerned with the transnational lawmaking process, including the development, interpretation, and implementation of international norms. Yet there has been insufficient attention devoted to the micro-level details by which international law operates. Anthropologists can shed unique insights to this process by uncovering power dynamics, disaggregating institutions and actors, and revealing local practices on the ground. In this essay, I will analyze global supply chain governance through an ethnographic lens in order to examine the role of corporate actors as translators of international law. I argue that an anthropological approach can illuminate how corporations shape international law in practice by uncovering technologies of governance, relations of power, and chains of translation in the transnational lawmaking process.
Nobody there? On the non-existence ofnobodyin Mandarin Chinese and related issues
Authors: Paul Waltraud
Published: August 2021

The present article demonstrates how the so far unchallenged misanalysis within Chinese linguistics of a few, but central, data points has led to a distorted picture biasing,inter alia, the general typology ofwh-in-situ languages as well as the crosslinguistic study of Quantifier Phrases. This is the case forméi yǒu rén‘not exist person’,hěnshǎo yǒu rén‘rarely exist person’, andzhǐ yǒuDP ‘only exist DP’, which are not nominal projections equivalent of ‘nobody’, ‘only DP’, and ‘few people’ as currently assumed, but existential constructions: ‘there isn't anybody’, ‘there is only DP’, and ‘there are rarely people’. In addition, a subset of speakers has reanalyzedhěnshǎo (yǒu) rénwith a covertyǒu‘exist’ as a QPhěnshǎo rén‘few people’. A corpus study highlights the limited distribution ofhěnshǎo rén‘few people’, which shows that it is not on a par with its antonymhěn duō rén‘many people’.
Anatomy of a successful stewardship intervention: Improving perioperative prescribing in penicillin-allergic patients
Authors: Sexton Mary Elizabeth , Kuruvilla Merin Elizabeth , Wolf Francis A. , Lynde Grant C. , Wiley Zanthia
Published: August 2021

Objective:

To evaluate whether a series of quality improvement interventions to promote safe perioperative use of cephalosporins in penicillin-allergic patients improved use of first-line antibiotics and decreased costs.

Design:

Before-and-after trial following several educational interventions.

Setting:

Academic medical center.

Patients:

This study included patients undergoing a surgical procedure involving receipt of a perioperative antibiotic other than a penicillin or carbapenem between January 1, 2017, and August 31, 2019. Patients with and without a penicillin allergy label in their electronic medical record were compared with respect to the percentage who received a cephalosporin and average antibiotic cost per patient.

Methods:

A multidisciplinary team from infectious diseases, allergy, anesthesiology, surgery, and pharmacy surveyed anesthesiology providers about their use of perioperative cephalosporins in penicillin-allergic patients. Using findings from that survey, the team designed a decision-support algorithm for safe utilization and provided 2 educational forums to introduce this algorithm, emphasizing the safety of cefazolin or cefuroxime in penicillin-allergic patients without history of a severe delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

Results:

The percentage of penicillin-allergic patients receiving a perioperative cephalosporin improved from ∼34% to >80% following algorithm implementation and the associated educational interventions. This increase in cephalosporin use was associated with a ∼50% reduction in antibiotic cost per penicillin-allergic patient. No significant adverse reactions were reported.

Conclusions:

An educational antibiotic stewardship intervention produced a significant change in clinician behavior. A simple intervention can have a significant impact, although further study is needed regarding whether this response is sustained and whether an educational intervention is similarly effective in other healthcare systems.
Microbial burden on environmental surfaces in patient rooms before daily cleaning—Analysis of multiple confounding variables
Authors: Boyce John M. , Havill Nancy L. , Guercia Kerri A. , Moore Brent A.
Published: August 2021

Objectives:

Estimated levels of microbial burden on hospital environmental surfaces vary substantially among published studies. Cultures obtained during a cluster-controlled crossover trial of a quaternary ammonium (Quat) disinfectant versus an improved hydrogen peroxide (IHP) disinfectant provided additional data on the amount of microbial burden on selected surfaces.

Methods:

RODAC plates containing D/E neutralizing agar were used to sample a convenience sample of 5–8 high-touch surfaces in patient rooms on 2 medical wards, an intensive care unit, and a step-down unit at a large hospital. Before routine daily cleaning, samples were obtained in varying rooms over an 11-month period. RODAC plates (1 per surface sampled) were incubated for 72 hours, and aerobic colony counts per plate (ACCs) were determined. Statistical analysis was used to determine the potential impact on ACCs of study period, cleaning compliance rate, disinfectant used, ward, surface sampled, and isolation room status.

Results:

Overall, 590 cultures were obtained on Quat wards and 589 on IHP wards. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that mean ACCs differed significantly by site (P < .001), type of ward (P < .001), isolation room status (P = .039), and study period (P = .036). The highest mean ACCs per RODAC plate were on toilet seats (112.8), bedside rails (92.0), and bathroom grab bars (79.5).

Conclusions:

The combination of factors analyzed revealed that estimating microbial burden is complex and is affected by multiple factors. Additional studies should evaluate individual sites, ward types, cleaning and disinfection practices, and isolation room status.
Inertial effects on the flow near a moving contact line
Authors: Varma Akhil , Roy Anubhab , Puthenveettil Baburaj A.
Published: August 2021

The wetting or dewetting of a solid substrate by a liquid involves the motion of the contact line between the two phases. One of the parameters that govern the dynamics of the flow near a moving contact line is the local Reynolds number,

$\rho$

. At sufficient proximity to the moving contact line, where

$\rho \ll 1$

, the flow is dominated by viscous forces over inertia. However, further away from the contact line, or at higher speeds of motion, inertia is also expected to be influential. In such cases, the current contact line models, which assume Stokes flow and neglect inertia entirely, would be inaccurate in describing the hydrodynamic flow fields. Hence, to account for inertia, here we perform a regular perturbation expansion in

$\rho$

, of the streamfunction near the Stokes solution. We, however, find that the leading-order inertial correction thus obtained is singular at a critical contact angle of

$0.715 {\rm \pi}$

. We resolve this spurious mathematical singularity by incorporating the eigenfunction terms, which physically represent flows due to disturbances originating far from the contact line. In particular, we propose a stick slip on the solid boundary – arising from local surface heterogeneities – as the mechanism that generates these disturbance flows. The resulting singularity-free, inertia-corrected streamfunction shows significant deviation from the Stokes solution in the visco-inertial regime (

$\rho \sim 1$

). Furthermore, we quantify the effect of inertia by analysing its contribution to the velocity at the liquid interface. We also provide the leading-order inertial correction to the dynamic contact angles predicted by the classical Cox–Voinov model; while inertia has considerable effect on the hydrodynamic flow fields, we find that it has little to no influence on the dynamic contact angles.
Party Positions from Wikipedia Classifications of Party Ideology
Authors: Herrmann Michael , Döring Holger
Published: August 2021

We develop a new measure of party position based on a scaling of ideology tags supplied in infoboxes on political parties’ Wikipedia pages. Assuming a simple model of tag assignment, we estimate the locations of parties and ideologies in a common space. We find that the recovered scale can be interpreted in familiar terms of “left versus right.” Estimated party positions correlate well with ratings of parties’ positions from extant large-scale expert surveys, most strongly with ratings of general left–right ideology. Party position estimates also show high stability in a test–retest scenario. Our results demonstrate that a Wikipedia-based approach yields valid and reliable left–right scores comparable to scores obtained via conventional expert coding methods. It thus provides a measure with potentially unlimited party coverage. Our measurement strategy is also applicable beyond Wikipedia.
Lotteries and Overlapping Providences in Early America
Authors: Tomlin T. J.
Published: August 2021

What kind of world did early American men and women believe they were living in? Did God choose lottery winners or did intellectual, economic, and scientific insights engender more reasonable, skeptical, or secular formulations? Lotteries were a common and uncontroversial presence in early American economic and civic life, funding the construction of everything from bridges to churches. George Washington liked giving lottery tickets as gifts. Denmark Vesey purchased his freedom by winning a lottery. Although scholars have used the lottery and other forms of gambling to make important claims about class and culture in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, lotteries hold rich, untapped insights for American religious history. By offering a specific causal experience to explain, lotteries prompted answers from their participants, known as “adventurers,” about why things happened. Relying on firsthand accounts of lottery winners, correspondence among the managers who oversaw lotteries, promotional schemes designed to entice participation, and newspaper coverage, this article demonstrates providence's ongoing centrality to causality in eighteenth and early nineteenth-century America. Far from jettisoning an animated, meaningful universe with the aid of reason or in the face of debilitating doubt, lottery adventurers employed both longstanding and novel versions of providence to explain how the world worked and how God worked in the world.
Modified Mediterranean diet v. traditional Iranian diet: efficacy of dietary interventions on dietary inflammatory index score, fatigue severity and disability in multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Bohlouli Jalal , Namjoo Iman , Borzoo-Isfahani Mohammad , Poorbaferani Fariborz , Moravejolahkami Amir Reza , Clark Cain C. T. , Hojjati Kermani Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2021

Background:

Current evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeD) can reduce inflammation in chronic diseases; however, studies pertaining to relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the modiﬁed MeD (mMeD) in improving Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores, disability and fatigue severity, compared with traditional Iranian diet (TID), in RRMS patients.

Results:

Of the 180 patients enrolled, 147 participants were included in the ﬁnal analysis (n of mMeD = 68; n of TID = 79). Self-reported adherence was good (˜81 %). Dietary intakes of forty-five food parameters were assessed through the FFQ. The mMeD significantly reduced DII scores after 6 months (2·38 ± 0·21 to −1·87 ± 0·86, P < 0·001), but TID did not elicit any changes (2·21 ± 0·44 to 2·14 ± 1·01, P = 0·771). Additionally, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) total score decreased significantly (72·4 ± 17·2 to 63·9 ± 14·2, P < 0·001), whereas there was no considerable improvement for Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in the mMeD group.

Methods:

After initial screening (n 261), 180 RRMS patients were randomised to receive mMeD or TID (as control) for 6 months. DII score, EDSS and twenty-one-item MFIS were evaluated at baseline and trial cessation. Multivariate ANCOVA was conducted and adjusted for age, gender, body weight, BMI, education level, supplement use, family history and duration of MS.

Conclusion:

Adherence to mMeD, for 6 months, improved dietary inflammatory status and fatigue severity in RRMS patients; however, the TID did not positively impact dietary inflammation and MFIS score.