bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Replacement of Valproic Acid with New Anti-Seizure Medications in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy
Authors: Fujimoto Ayataka , Enoki Hideo , Hatano Keisuke , Sato Keishiro , Okanishi Tohru
Published: August 2022

Background: Little is known regarding the non-inferiority of new anti-seizure medications (ASMs) in terms of replacing valproic acid (VPA) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). We hypothesized that replacement of VPA with new ASMs would offer non-inferior or better control of seizure frequency. The purpose of this study was to compare epileptic seizure frequency between the subset of patients with IGE who were on VPA and the subset of patients with IGE who replaced VPA with new ASMs. Methods: Patients with IGE who were on or had been on VPA between January 2016 and March 2022 were divided into a group that replaced VPA with new ASMs (VPA-replace group) and a group that remained on VPA (VPA-continue group). We then compared the groups in terms of seizure frequency and myoclonus. Results: Of the 606 patients on VPA between January 2016 and March 2022, 156 patients with IGE were enrolled to this study (VPA-replace group, n = 68; VPA-continue group, n = 88). The VPA-replace group included significantly more females than the VPA-continue group (p < 0.001). The VPA-replace group also showed significantly higher seizure frequency before replacement (p < 0.001), but not after replacement (p = 0.074). Patients on monotherapy displayed improved seizure frequency with new ASMs (p < 0.001). Among the new ASMs, perampanel (PER) significantly improved seizure frequency (p = 0.002). Forty-two patients in the VPA-replace group who had myoclonus achieved significant improvements (p < 0.001). Among these, patients on PER monotherapy (p < 0.001) or PER + lamotrigine (0.016) showed significantly improved myoclonus scale scores. Conclusions: This study shows the non-inferiority of new ASMs compared to VPA, with better seizure control using new ASMs in subsets of patients with IGE on monotherapy.
Machine Learning Can Predict the Probability of Biologic Therapy in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Schöler David , Kostev Karel , Peters Maximilian , Zamfir Cosmin , Wolk Agnieszka , Roderburg Christoph , Loosen Sven H.
Published: August 2022

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is of high medical and socioeconomic relevance. Moderate and severe disease courses often require treatment with biologics. The aim of this study was to evaluate machine learning (ML)-based methods for the prediction of biologic therapy in IBD patients using a large prescription database. Methods: The present retrospective cohort study utilized a longitudinal prescription database (LRx). Patients with at least one prescription for an intestinal anti-inflammatory agent from a gastroenterologist between January 2015 and July 2021 were included. Patients who had received an initial biologic therapy prescription (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab) were categorized as the “biologic group”. The potential predictors included in the machine learning-based models were age, sex, and the 100 most frequently prescribed drugs within 12 months prior to the index date. Six machine learning-based methods were used for the prediction of biologic therapy. Results: A total of 122,089 patients were included in this study. Of these, 15,824 (13.0%) received at least one prescription for a biologic drug. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine had the best performance (accuracy = 74%) and was able to correctly identify 78.5% of the biologics patients and 72.6% of the non-biologics patients in the testing dataset. The most important variable was prednisolone, followed by lower age, mesalazine, budesonide, and ferric iron. Conclusions: In summary, this study reveals the advantages of ML-based models in predicting biologic therapy in IBD patients based on pre-treatment and demographic variables. There is a need for further studies in this regard that take into account individual patient characteristics, i.e., genetics and gut microbiota, to adequately address the challenges of finding optimal treatment strategies for patients with IBD.
How to Optimize ECLS Results beyond Ventricular Unloading: From ECMO to CentriMag® eVAD
Authors: Tarzia Vincenzo , Bagozzi Lorenzo , Ponzoni Matteo , Bortolussi Giacomo , Folino Giulio , Bianco Roberto , Zanella Fabio , Bottio Tomaso , Gerosa Gino
Published: August 2022

CentriMag® extracorporeal VAD support could represent a more physiological choice than conventional ECMO in primary cardiogenic shock. We therefore evaluated the outcome of patients with primary cardiogenic shock who were supported with CentriMag® extracorporeal VAD implantation versus conventional ECMO. We retrospectively reviewed all extracorporeal life supports implanted for primary cardiogenic shock between January 2009 and December 2018 at our institution. Among 212 patients, 143 cases (67%) were treated exclusively with ECMO (Group 1) and 69 cases (33%) with extracorporeal VAD implantation (Group 2, 48 of whom as conversion of ECMO). ECLS mean duration was 8.37 ± 8.43 days in Group 1 and 14.25 ± 10.84 days in Group 2 (p = 0.001), while the mean rates of the highest predicted flow were 61.21 ± 16.01% and 79.49 ± 18.42% (p = 0.001), respectively. Increasing mechanical support flow was related to in-hospital mortality and overall mortality in Group 1 (HR 11.36, CI 95%: 2.19–44.20), but not in Group 2 (HR 1.48, CI 95%: 0.32–6.80). High-flow ECMO patients had lower survival with respect to high-flow extracorporeal VAD patients (p = 0.027). In the setting of high-flow mechanical circulatory support, CentriMag® extracorporeal VAD optimized patient survival, granting long-term assistance and physiological circulation patterns.
Serum TSH and Daily Physical Activity in a Cohort of Nonagenarians: Results from the Mugello Study
Authors: Di Blasio Andrea , Di Dalmazi Giulia , Izzicupo Pascal , Bucci Ines , Giuliani Cesidio , Di Baldassarre Angela , Cecchi Francesca , Molino Lova Raffaele , Vannetti Federica , Napolitano Giorgio , Macchi Claudio
Published: August 2022

Background. The current literature does not furnish clear data concerning the relationship between thyroid function, sedentary time and daily physical activity (PA) in older adults with euthyroid condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum Thyrotropin-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), free Triiodothyronine (fT3) and free Thyroxine (fT4) with sedentary time and PA in a cohort of nonagenarians. Methods. A total of 108 nonagenarians (92.8 ± 3.2 years), participating in the Mugello Study, and with complete data on thyroid function, sedentary time, PA and sleeping (objectively collected through a multisensory device), were considered for the analysis. Results. Mainly, TSH negatively correlated with time spent lying down, and positively correlated with METs. fT4 levels were negatively associated with mean daily metabolic equivalents (METs) and with low-intensity PA practice (LIPAT), and positively associated with lying down and sleeping time. Similar results have been shown in the female sample. Mainly, participants with high-normal (third tertile) versus low-normal TSH (first tertile) had higher moderate-intensity PA (MIPAT) (p = 0.03). In the female sample, first TSH tertile had higher METs (p = 0.010), LIPAT (p = 0.02), MIPAT (p = 0.01) and lower time lying down (p = 0.04) than third TSH tertile. Conclusion. High-normal serum TSH and low-normal fT4 are associated with higher levels and intensity of daily PA, together with higher MIPAT continuity, in the oldest-old.
Cultural Intelligence: What Is It and How Can It Effectively Be Measured?
Authors: Sternberg Robert J. , Siriner Ilaria , Oh Jaime , Wong Chak Haang
Published: August 2022

We administered both maximum-performance and typical-performance assessments of cultural intelligence to 114 undergraduates in a selective university in the Northeast of the United States. We found that cultural intelligence could be measured by both maximum-performance and typical-performance tests of cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence as assessed by a maximum-performance measure is largely distinct from the construct as assessed by a typical-performance measure. The maximum-performance test, the Sternberg Test of Cultural Intelligence (SCIT), showed high internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Sections with problems from two content domains—Business (SCIT-B) and Leisure (SCIT-L) activities—were highly intercorrelated, suggesting they measured largely the same construct. The SCIT showed substantial correlations with another maximum-performance measure of cultural intelligence, Views-on-Culture. It also was correlated, at more modest levels, with fluid intelligence and personal intelligence tests. Factorially, the (a) maximum-performance cultural intelligence tests, (b) typical-performance cultural intelligence test and a test of openness to experience, and (c) fluid intelligence tests formed three separate factors.
Thermophilic Hydrocarbon-Utilizing Bacilli from Marine Shallow Hydrothermal Vents as Producers of Biosurfactants
Authors: Zammuto Vincenzo , Spanò Antonio , Nicolò Marco Sebastiano , Grillo Emanuela , Caccamo Maria Teresa , Magazù Salvatore , Cappello Simone , Gugliandolo Concetta
Published: August 2022

The exploitation of thermophilic hydrocarbon-utilizing bacilli could provide novel environmentally friendly surfactants. In this work, 80 thermophilic bacilli isolated from shallow hydrothermal vents of the Eolian Islands (Italy) were screened for their ability to utilize hydrocarbons and produce biosurfactants (BSs). Among them, 15 strains grew with kerosene or gasoline (2% v/v) as the only carbon and energy source, and most of them were positive to the methylene blue agar as prescreening assay for BSs production and displayed emulsifying activity. The cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from two selected strains, Bacillus licheniformis B3-15 and Bacillus horneckiae SBP3, were both surface active and able to emulsify different hydrocarbons and vegetable oils. BSs from B3-15 (910 mg L−1) and SBP3 (950 mg L−1) were chemically different surfactin-like lipopeptides, with specific mineral-, castor- and crude oil removal ability from the cotton matrix. CFSs from the 15 thermophilic strains, which harbor both lipolytic and surfactant abilities, could be suitable for industrial-based applications and environmental issues, such as oil recovery and removal from polluted areas or surfaces, (e.g., oil pipelines, bilge tankers, or industrial silos), whereas the crude BSs, as high-value compounds, may be used in different fields of application, as detergent, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Composition of Floating Marine Litter in Port Areas of the Island of Mallorca
Authors: Maglić Livia , Maglić Lovro , Grbčić Ana , Gulić Marko
Published: August 2022

The paper examines the sampling effectiveness of seabin devices and the composition of floating marine litter in port areas. Sampling was carried out from May to September 2021 in Port of Cristo and Port of Colonia de Sant Jordi on Mallorca Island, Spain. This is the first study of the composition of floating marine litter in the ports of Mallorca collected by seabin devices. During the study, 15,899 items and 336 kg of litter were collected and analyzed. The results indicate that seabin effectively collects floating litter from sea surfaces different in size (2 mm to 40 cm). Microplastics (60.8%) were the most commonly found litter, followed by soft plastic items > 5 mm (11.6%) and unidentified hard plastic items > 5 mm (9.6%). Significantly more marine litter was collected in the Port of Cristo (78.6%), compared to the collection of one device in the Port of Colonia de Sant Jordi (21.4%). Time series analysis showed that the average seasonal component was highest in May (68% above baseline). The linear time trend with an R2 of 52.25% indicated the acceptable significance of the model.
How Do Different Modes of Governance Support Ecosystem Services/Disservices in Small-Scale Urban Green Infrastructure? A Systematic Review
Authors: Razzaghi Asl Sina , Pearsall Hamil
Published: August 2022

As cities are facing environmental and societal challenges, including climate change, rapid urbanization, and the COVID-19 pandemic, scholars and policymakers have recognized the potential of small-scale urban green infrastructures (UGI), such as rain gardens and street trees, to support important ecosystem services (ES) during periods of crisis and change. While there has been considerable research on the design, planning, engineering, and ecology of small-scale UGI, the governance modes of such spaces to support ES and manage ecosystem disservices (EDS) have received significantly less research attention. In this article, we provide a systematic review to evaluate how different modes of governance support different ES in small-scale green infrastructure. We evaluated governance in six types of small-scale green infrastructure: small parks, community gardens, vacant lands, rain gardens, green roofs, and street trees. Our review examines the different characteristics of four new governance approaches, including adaptive, network, mosaic, and transformative to understand their bottom-up nature and applicability in governing ES/disservices of small-scale UGI. Each governance mode can be effective for managing the ES of certain small-scale UGI, given their associations with principles such as resilience thinking, connectivity, and active citizenship. Our synthesis highlights knowledge gaps at the intersection between governance arrangements and ES in small-scale UGI. We conclude with a call for further research on the environmental and contextual factors that moderate the linkages between governance modes and ES/EDS in different types of UGI.
Industrial and Agricultural Water Use Efficiency and Influencing Factors in the Process of Urbanization in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Zhao Jincai , Wang Yiyao , Zhang Xiufeng , Liu Qianxi
Published: August 2022

Improving water utilization efficiency can effectively alleviate the contradiction between water shortage and water demand in the process of rapid urbanization. The middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin, China, are characterized by water shortage. In order to improve water use efficiency, taking the 43 prefecture-level units in this region as the study area, industrial and agricultural water use efficiency is calculated based on the undesired SBM-DEA model. Then, the Tobit model is used to explore their influencing factors. The results show that the regional average agricultural water use efficiency is greater than the industrial water use efficiency. The temporal trend indicates that the agricultural water use efficiency shows a fluctuating upward trend, while industrial water use efficiency has a fluctuating downward trend. The gravity center of industrial water use efficiency moves from northwest to southeast in a “Z” shape, while the gravity center of agricultural water use efficiency moves westward as a whole. From the perspective of spatial patterns, the standard deviation ellipse of industrial water use efficiency shows that the industrial water use efficiency is higher in the east–west direction, while the agricultural water use efficiency is higher in the northwest–southeast direction. The improvement of urbanization level is conducive to the improvement of industrial water use efficiency; however, the development of urbanization has a significant inhibitory effect on improving agricultural water use efficiency.
An Integrated Approach of Machine Learning, Remote Sensing, and GIS Data for the Landslide Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Ullah Israr , Aslam Bilal , Shah Syed Hassan Iqbal Ahmad , Tariq Aqil , Qin Shujing , Majeed Muhammad , Havenith Hans-Balder
Published: August 2022

Landslides triggered in mountainous areas can have catastrophic consequences, threaten human life, and cause billions of dollars in economic losses. Hence, it is imperative to map the areas susceptible to landslides to minimize their risk. Around Abbottabad, a large city in northern Pakistan, a large number of landslides can be found. This study aimed to map the landslide susceptibility over these regions in Pakistan by using three Machine Learning (ML) techniques, specifically Linear Regression (LiR), Logistic Regression (LoR), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Several influencing factors were used to identify the potential landslide areas, including elevation, slope degree, slope aspect, general curvature, plan curvature, profile curvature, landcover classification system, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), soil, lithology, fault density, topographic roughness index, and road density. The weights of these factors were calculated using ML techniques. The weightage overlay tool is adopted to map the final output. According to three ML models, lithology, NDWI, slope, and LCCS significantly impact landslide occurrence. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) is applied to validate the performance of models, and the results show the AUC value of LiR (88%) is better than SVM (86%) and LoR (85%) models. ML models and final susceptibility map gives good accuracy, which can be reliable for the results. The study’s outcome provides baselines for policymakers to propose adequate protection and mitigation measures against the landslides in the region, and any other researcher can adopt this methodology to map the landslide susceptibility in another area having similar characteristics.
Prmt7 Downregulation in Mouse Spermatogonia Functions through miR-877-3p/Col6a3
Authors: Gao Hongmei , Zhang Mingrui , Guo Jiankang , Liu Zhiguo , Guo Fei , Wang Bingyuan , Mu Yulian
Published: August 2022

Protein arginine methyltransferases 7 (Prmt7) is expressed in male germ cells, including primordial germ cells, gonocytes, and spermatogonia. Our previous study demonstrated that Prmt7 downregulation reduced the proliferation of GC-1 cells (a cell line of mouse immortalized spermatogonia). However, how Prmt7 regulates spermatogonial proliferation through miRNA and the target gene remains elusive. Here, we experimentally reduced the Prmt7 expression in the GC-1 cells and subjected them to miRNA sequencing to explore the miRNA profile and its Prmt7-responsive members. In total, 48 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), including 36 upregulated and 12 downregulated miRNAs, were identified. After verifying the validity of sequencing results through qRT-PCR assays in randomly selected DEmiRNAs, we predicted the target genes of these DEmiRNAs. Next, we combined DEmiRNA target genes and previously identified differentially expressed genes between Prmt7 knockdown and control groups of GC-1 cells, which resulted in seven miRNA/target gene pairs. Among these miRNA/target gene pairs, we further detected the expression of Col6a3 (collagen type VI alpha 3) as the target gene of mmu-miR-877-3p. The results suggested that Prmt7 downregulation in mouse spermatogonia might function through miR-877-3p/Col6a3. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the role of Prmt7 in male germ cell development through miRNA and target genes.
The Changes in the Severity of Deep Neck Infection Post-UPPP and Tonsillectomy in Patients with OSAS
Authors: Hu Pin-Ching , Shih Liang-Chun , Chang Wen-Dien , Lai Jung-Nien , Liao Pei-Shao , Tai Chih-Jaan , Lin Chia-Der , Yip Hei-Tung , Shen Te-Chun , Tsou Yung-An
Published: August 2022

The main aim of this study is to compare the incidence rate and severity of deep neck infection (DNI) in patients post-UPPP+ T (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty plus tonsillectomy) and without UPPP+ T. We utilized the data derived from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2012. Patients who had undergone combined UPPP and tonsillectomy were selected using National Health Insurance (NHI) surgical order. Patients with DNI were selected using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM) code. A logistic regression model was applied for risk analysis. There were 1574 patients in the UPPP+ T cohort, and 6,296 patients who did not undergo combined UPPP and tonsillectomy for the control group. Our analysis showed that patients with an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) history constitute 76.1% (n = 1198) of the UPPP+ T cohort. Compared to the control group, there was no significantly increased incidence rate of DNI after UPPP+ T within 1–60 months. Patients undergoing combined UPPP and tonsillectomy had a lower intubation rate for DNI, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.47 (95% CI = 0.32–0.69). The combined UPPP and tonsillectomy does not increase the risk of DNI within 1–60 months. Furthermore, combined UPPP and tonsillectomy can reduce the severity for DNI by decreasing the intubation rate and length of hospitalization.
Central Venous Access and the Risk for Thromboembolic Events in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Rydell Harriet , Huge Ylva , Eriksson Victoria , Johansson Markus , Alamdari Farhood , Svensson Johan , Aljabery Firas , Sherif Amir
Published: August 2022

Thromboembolic events (TEE) are high-risk complications in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The purpose of the study was to investigate any differences in TEE-incidence, comparing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) versus a totally implanted port (PORT) as CVA (central venous access) during NAC. We identified 947 cystectomized MIBC-patients from four Swedish medical centers in 2009–2021. Inclusion criteria were cT2-T4aN0M0 and 375 patients were finally eligible and evaluated, divided into: NAC-administered (n = 283) resp. NAC-naïve-NAC-eligible (n = 92), the latter as tentative control group. Data on TEEs and types of CVA were retrospectively collected and individually validated, from final transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-B) to 30 days post-RC. Adjusted logistic regression and log rank test were used for statistical analyses. Amongst NAC-administered, 83% (n = 235) received PICCs and 15% (n = 42) PORTs. Preoperative TEEs occurred in 38 PICC-patients (16.2%) and in one PORT-patient (2.4%), with 47 individual events registered. We found a significantly increased odds ratio of TEE in NAC-administered PICC-patients compared to in PORT-patients (OR: 8.140, p-value: 0.042, 95% CI 1.078–61.455). Our findings indicate a greater risk for pre-RC TEEs with PICCs than with PORTs, suggesting favoring the usage of PORTs for MIBC-NAC-patients.
High-Temperature Solid Lubricants and Self-Lubricating Composites: A Critical Review
Authors: Ouyang Jia-Hu , Li Yu-Feng , Zhang Yun-Zhuo , Wang Ya-Ming , Wang Yu-Jin
Published: August 2022

Solid lubricants are described as solid materials of intentionally introduced or in situ formed on contact surfaces in relative motion for the purpose of lowering friction and wear and providing protection from damage. Solid lubricants and advanced self-lubricating materials are widely used in modern industries, especially in aerospace, aviation, automotive, metallurgy, materials forming, and machining industries, and have attracted great interest in lubrication applications under very severe circumstances such as elevated temperatures, heavy loads, ultrahigh vacuum, extreme radiation, strong oxidation, and chemical reactivity environments. Many efforts have been made to develop self-lubricating composites by a variety of material preparation techniques, which include powder metallurgy, physical/chemical vapor depositions, thermal spraying, electrodeposition, laser cladding, and additive manufacturing. Although several reviews on the development of high-temperature solid lubricants have been published, most of them only focus on a type of material, a specific process, or application. In this paper, a comprehensive review is provided to present the state-of-the-art progress in solid lubricants, self-lubricating composites/coatings, and their effective functions that can be used over a wide variety of environmental conditions, especially at elevated temperatures. The solid lubricants considered include representative soft metals, layered structure materials (e.g., graphite, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metallic dichalcogenides, MAX phase), chemically stable fluorides, binary or ternary metallic oxides, especially alkaline earth chromates, and sulfates, and synergistic effects from these solid lubricants. This paper also provides new insights into design considerations of environmental adaptive solid lubrication, and the challenges and potential breakthroughs are further highlighted for high-temperature solid lubrication applications.
Molecule-to-Material-to-Bio Nanoarchitectonics with Biomedical Fullerene Nanoparticles
Authors: Shen Xuechen , Song Jingwen , Kawakami Kohsaku , Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: August 2022

Nanoarchitectonics integrates nanotechnology with various other fields, with the goal of creating functional material systems from nanoscale units such as atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials. The concept bears strong similarities to the processes and functions seen in biological systems. Therefore, it is natural for materials designed through nanoarchitectonics to truly shine in bio-related applications. In this review, we present an overview of recent work exemplifying how nanoarchitectonics relates to biology and how it is being applied in biomedical research. First, we present nanoscale interactions being studied in basic biology and how they parallel nanoarchitectonics concepts. Then, we overview the state-of-the-art in biomedical applications pursuant to the nanoarchitectonics framework. On this basis, we take a deep dive into a particular building-block material frequently seen in nanoarchitectonics approaches: fullerene. We take a closer look at recent research on fullerene nanoparticles, paying special attention to biomedical applications in biosensing, gene delivery, and radical scavenging. With these subjects, we aim to illustrate the power of nanomaterials and biomimetic nanoarchitectonics when applied to bio-related applications, and we offer some considerations for future perspectives.
Effects of 5 wt.% Polycaprolactone, Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polyvinyltrimethoxysilane on the Properties of Ag/Zn/Mg Alloy
Authors: Rabiei Marzieh , Raziyan Motahareh Sadat , Ebrahimi-Kahrizsangi Reza , Nasiri Sohrab , Palevicius Arvydas , Janusas Giedrius , Vilkauskas Andrius
Published: August 2022

Mg-based alloys have several suitable properties for biomaterials, but they have major problems of being less antibacterial and have a low mechanical strength. To solve these problems, a new combination of Ag/Zn/Mg was prepared in this study, where the presence of Zn and Ag can help to increase the bioactivity. The use of 5 wt.% polymers consisting of PolyCaproLactone (PCL), PolyHydroxyButyrate (PHB) and PolyVinylTriMethoxySilane (PVTMS) is also investigated. DSC, XRD, TEM, FTIR, SEM, and EDAX analysis, as well as mechanical and bioactive behavior, were investigated to characterize the prepared composites. In the comparison, the best behavior was found when PHB was used. The results show that the strength values ranged from ~201 to 261 MPa.
Thermostructural Numerical Analysis of the Thrust Chamber of a Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine
Authors: Citarella Roberto , Ferraiuolo Michele , Perrella Michele , Giannella Venanzio
Published: August 2022

The numerical simulation of rocket engine thrust chambers is very challenging as several damaging phenomena, such as plasticity, low-cycle-fatigue (LCF) and creep occur during its service life. The possibility of simulating the thermostructural behavior of the engine, by means of non-linear finite element analyses, allows the engineers to guarantee the structural safety of the structure. This document reports the numerical simulations developed with the aim of predicting the thermostructural behaviour and the service life of the thrust chamber of a liquid-propellant rocket engine. The work represents a step ahead of previous researches by the authors, with particular reference to the addition of the Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) fatigue criterion, and to the implementation of a sub-modelling technique, for a more accurate assessment of the most critical section of the component. It was found that the equivalent plastic strains in the most critical nodes obtained through the sub-modelling technique were about 20% lower than those calculated without sub-modelling. Consistently with experimental tests from literature conducted on similar geometries, the most critical areas resulted to be on the internal surface of the chamber. The analyses demonstrated that the LCF damaging contribution was significant, with a life prediction for the thrust chamber of about 3400 cycles.
Low-Velocity Impact Resistance of Double-Layer Folded Sandwich Structure
Authors: Duan Yuechen , Zhan Zhiren , Zou Ting , Tie Ying , Cui Zhen , Wang Tingting
Published: August 2022

The folded sandwich structure might inevitably be impacted at low velocity when it is working, which will lead to the decline of the mechanical properties. The low-velocity impact resistance of the double-layer V-shaped aluminium folded sandwich structure is researched by the finite element method. It was found that the damage mode and the proportion of energy absorption of the double-layer and single-layer folded sandwich structures are different under low-velocity impact, and the impact stiffness and energy-absorbing capacity of the double-layer structure are better than those of the single-layer structure when the impact energy is small. In addition, in view of the low-velocity impact response characteristics of the double-layer V-shaped aluminum folded sandwich structure, two methods are proposed to improve its impact stiffness. Both methods ensure that the total mass of the structure remains unchanged. One method keeps the inner panel still and changes the wall thickness distribution of the top and bottom cores, and the wall thickness of the top core is increased. The other method keeps the wall thickness of the cores unchanged, and the inner panel is moved upward. From the finite element results, it can be seen that after increasing the wall thickness of the top core from 0.25 mm to 0.4 mm, the maximum impact distance of the impactor decreases by 30.3% when the impact energy is 5 J, and it decreases by 23.1% when the impact energy is 10 J, and with 20 J, it decreases by 14.5%. After reducing the height of the top core from 12.5 mm to 5 mm, the maximum impact distance of the impactor is reduced by 22.86% when the impact energy is 5 J, 21.85% when the impact energy is 10 J, and 20.51% when the impact energy is 40 J. The improvement is obvious. The two methods can increase the equivalent density of the top core, which can increase the stiffness of the top core. For the double-layer structure, the stiffness of the top core near the impact point has a greater influence on the low-velocity impact resistance of the entire structure.
VLA-SMILES: Variable-Length-Array SMILES Descriptors in Neural Network-Based QSAR Modeling
Authors: Nazarova Antonina L. , Nakano Aiichiro
Published: August 2022

Machine learning represents a milestone in data-driven research, including material informatics, robotics, and computer-aided drug discovery. With the continuously growing virtual and synthetically available chemical space, efficient and robust quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) methods are required to uncover molecules with desired properties. Herein, we propose variable-length-array SMILES-based (VLA-SMILES) structural descriptors that expand conventional SMILES descriptors widely used in machine learning. This structural representation extends the family of numerically coded SMILES, particularly binary SMILES, to expedite the discovery of new deep learning QSAR models with high predictive ability. VLA-SMILES descriptors were shown to speed up the training of QSAR models based on multilayer perceptron (MLP) with optimized backpropagation (ATransformedBP), resilient propagation (iRPROP‒), and Adam optimization learning algorithms featuring rational train–test splitting, while improving the predictive ability toward the more compute-intensive binary SMILES representation format. All the tested MLPs under the same length-array-based SMILES descriptors showed similar predictive ability and convergence rate of training in combination with the considered learning procedures. Validation with the Kennard–Stone train–test splitting based on the structural descriptor similarity metrics was found more effective than the partitioning with the ranking by activity based on biological activity values metrics for the entire set of VLA-SMILES featured QSAR. Robustness and the predictive ability of MLP models based on VLA-SMILES were assessed via the method of QSAR parametric model validation. In addition, the method of the statistical H0 hypothesis testing of the linear regression between real and observed activities based on the F2,n−2 -criteria was used for predictability estimation among VLA-SMILES featured QSAR-MLPs (with n being the volume of the testing set). Both approaches of QSAR parametric model validation and statistical hypothesis testing were found to correlate when used for the quantitative evaluation of predictabilities of the designed QSAR models with VLA-SMILES descriptors.
Propiedades inmunomoduladoras y antivibrio de extractos de plantas para manejar la salud del camarón Penaeus vannamei
Authors: Agurto Rodríguez María Gabriela , Rodríguez León Jennny Antonia , Domínguez Borbor Cristobal Leonardo , Tomalá Beltrán Cecilia Nelly , Malave Orrala Rosa María
Published: August 2022

Las vibriosis son enfermedades multifactoriales que causan pérdidas económicas en la industria camaronera. Como parte de un enfoque ecológico para su control, extractos acuosos de plantas generalmente reconocidas como seguras (GRAS): Allium sativum (290000 µg mL-1 ), Camellia sinensis (40000 µg mL-1 ), Morinda citrifolia (250000 µg mL-1 ) y Origanum vulgare (50 000 µg mL-1 ), fueron evaluados por sus propiedades antibacterianas, antioxidantes e inmunoestimulantes. Se inició el estudio evaluando las propiedades microbicidas de los extractos contra Vibrio spp. patógenos del camarón, así como sus características antioxidantes. Posteriormente, se encontró la concentración inhibitoria mínima y la concentración bactericida mínima (MBC) para determinar concentraciones subletales como parte de una estrategia antivirulencia. Los extractos mantuvieron la capacidad de interrumpir la bioluminiscencia y/o la formación de biopelículas en un amplio rango de dilución por debajo del MBC (alrededor de 10 a 50 veces el MBC); 1450 a 145 µg mL-1 para A. sativum, 2000 a 200 µg mL-1 para C. sinensis, 12500 a 1250 µg mL-1 para M. citrifolia y 2500 a 250 µg mL-1 para O. vulgare. Todos los extractos de plantas exhibieron características antioxidantes, modulando de manera diferencial la generación de superóxido según el extracto de la planta, sin afectar significativamente las tasas de generación de superóxido, a las concentraciones más bajas ensayadas. Los resultados más consistentes se obtuvieron del ensayo realizado con extracto de A. sativum, el cual exhibió poderosas propiedades para eliminar el superóxido de los hemocitos no estimulados en concentraciones que oscilaron entre 14500 y 1,45 µg mL-1 . En estanques de tierra experimentales (400 m2 , cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento), los camarones tratados con extractos de plantas añadidosal alimento en concentraciones inmunomoduladoras (A. sativum: 36 µg por g, M. citrifolia: 36 µg por g) exhibieron una melanosis reducida. Además, los camarones tratados con A. sativum tuvieron el mayor tamaño a la cosecha. Estos resultados indican que los extractos acuosos de A. sativum, C. sinensis, O. vulgare y M. citrifolia pueden promover la salud de los camarones debido a sus propiedades antioxidantes, inmunomoduladoras y antimicrobianas.
Pengaruh Growth Opportunity, Leverage, Firm Size dan Profitabilitas Terhadap Cash Holding (Studi Pada Perusahaan Sektor Barang dan Konsumsi yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Tahun 2017-2020)
Authors: Oktafiana Alifia Nur , Hidayat Solikul
Published: August 2022

This study aims to measure and determine the cash holding owned by the company. In addition, it is also to examine and determine the relationship between the effect of growth opportunity, leverage, firm size and profitability on cash holding in goods and consumption sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2017-2020. The analytical method used is descriptive statistical analysis, classical assumption test, multiple linear regression analysis and hypothesis testing using the SPSS application. Determination of the sample in this study using purposive sampling technique so that the number of research samples obtained is 68 companies. The results of this study indicate that growth opportunity has a positive significant  effect on cash holding. This means that the better the growth opportunity, the more cash holding will increase. Leverage has a negative significant effect on cash holding, meaning that the higher the leverage, the lower the cash holding. Firm size has no effect on cash holding. This means that the size of the company is not able to affect the cash holding. Profitability has a positive significant effect on cash holding. This means that the higher the profitability, the more cash holding will increase.
Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan, Sanksi dan Tarif Pajak Terhadap Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak UMKM di Jepara
Authors: Iriyanto Muhammad Sukron , Rohman Fatchur
Published: August 2022

The research conducted is quantitative. The data used in this research are subjective data. The source of data in this research is primary data. This study uses a quantitative method in the form of survey assessment in KPP Pratama Jepara. This study aims to determine the effect of service quality, tax sanctions and tax rates on UMKM taxpayer compliance in Jepara. The number of population used is based on MSME taxpayers registered at KPP Pratama Jepara, which is as many as 11,548 taxpayers. While the sample used is UMKM taxpayers who report the Annual SPT which amounted to 3,974. From the results of calculations using the Slovin formula, the number of taxpayers used as a sample is 97.54 or 100 Individual Taxpayers of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM). In this study, the method used to take samples using purposive sampling technique. The data analysis method used is multiple linear regression analysis with data analysis test consisting of data quality analysis and classical assumption test. In testing the hypothesis using the coefficient of determination test and statistical test f and statistical test t. Service quality has a positive and significant effect on taxpayer compliance in paying taxes at the Jepara KPP Pratama. Tax sanctions have a positive and significant effect on taxpayer compliance in paying taxes at KPP Pratama Jepara. Tax rates have a significant negative effect on taxpayer compliance in paying taxes at KPP Pratama Jepara.
Desenvolvimento Sustentável de Mudas Pré-Brotadas (MPB) de Cana-de-Açúcar Utilizando Ácido Indolbutirico de Sementes de Phaseolus vulgaris L. / Sustainable Development of Pre-Sprouted Seedlings (MPB) of Sugar Cane Using Indolbutyric Acid from Phaseolus vulgaris L. Seeds
Authors: Neto José da Silva , Rocha Eleusa Maria Ferreira , De Castro Rosa Betânia Rodrigues
Published: August 2022

Com o objetivo de aumentar a produção da cana-de-açúcar e diminuir os custos de implantação das lavouras, tem-se utilizado o sistema de mudas pré-brotadas (MPB). Nesse processo, o tolete da cana é fragmentado (mini toletes) com uma única gema. Nos tempos atuais a procura por técnicas agrícolas sustentáveis no setor sucroenergético tem levado a estudos que adotem substâncias naturais, que possam ser empregadas, por exemplo, no desenvolvimento das mudas. Sementes germinadas de feijão (Phaesolus vulgaris L.) são conhecidas por conterem ácido indolbutírico (AIB), um hormônio do grupo das auxinas, importante para a formação de raízes. Esse trabalho propôs avaliar se o extrato aquoso de Phaesolus vulgaris L. aplicado na gema da cana-de-açúcar para a produção as mudas MPB potencializam o crescimento dessas.  As mudas de MPB foram plantadas em substrato comercial, submetidas à imersão em extrato de sementes germinadas de feijão e avaliadas após 30 dias de plantio. O extrato utilizado favoreceu o desenvolvimento das mudas. Porém, a concentração de 500 g. L-1 indicou um crescimento expressivo.
Identificação de leveduras selvagens de um fermento de levedo industrial durante a produção de bioetanol – um biocombustível renovável / Identification of wild yeasts from an industrial yeast during the production of bioethanol - a renewable biofuel
Authors: Menezes Leonardo Henrique Queiroz , De Castro Rosa Betânia Rodrigues , Rocha Eleusa Maria Ferreira
Published: August 2022

A principal espécie utilizada para realizar a fermentação alcoólica é a levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Açúcares fermentáveis, como sacarose, glicose e frutose, são convertidos em etanol durante a fermentação alcoólica pela levedura S. cerevisiae. Durante o processo de fermentação, os microrganismos indesejáveis podem estar presentes, como as bactérias e leveduras nativas, podendo afetar a viabilidade da levedura, provocando prejuízos na fermentação e na produção do etanol industrial. Neste trabalho teve como objetivo principal a identificação de leveduras invasoras nativas durante o processo fermentativo. Uma amostra do fermento de levedo industrial foi inoculada em meios de cultura liquido e sólido, e incubada a 28˚C por 72 horas, após este período, foi observada a presença significativa de contaminações de leveduras nativas, as quais podem prejudicar o processo fermentativo e reduzir a produção final de etanol. Portanto, o monitoramento dos microrganismos contaminantes faz-se necessário no processo da fermentação alcoólica, garantindo um fermento saudável e de um alto rendimento econômico.
O pesadelo cinematográfico do morcego: os Batman’s de Tim Burton e Christopher Nolan / The Bat's cinematic nightmare: Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan's Batman
Authors: Leite Rebeca Cambaúva
Published: August 2022

Ao longo da última década, foi notável o crescente desenvolvimento de produções cinematográficas que possuem como origem de criação personagens heroicos ficcionais. O objetivo do estudo é identificar as transformações processuais entre a personagem Batman retratada pelos diretores Tim Burton e Christopher Nolan. O resultado revela personagens e narrativas com conceitos opostos, abordando a mesma personagem.
Da classificação dos solos: uma abordagem estatística – plataforma ferroviária – estudo de caso ferrovia centro atlântica
Authors: Almeida Bárbara Drumond , Da Silva Paulo Afonso Lopes , Da Rosa Artur Cortês , Guimarães Antônio Carlos Rodrigues
Published: August 2022

Grandes gastos com a manutenção da plataforma ferroviária se devem às falhas na capacidade de suporte das camadas que a compõe. Por isso a execução adequada e manutenção são fatores críticos das operações ferroviárias devido aos riscos de segurança e financeiros. Além disso, falhas da infraestrura culminam, muitas vezes, em paradas da operação, superestrutura danificada e até mesmo em acidentes. Este trabalho apresenta distribuição de ocorrência dos solos da Ferrovia Centro Atlântico no trecho entre as cidades de Ribeirão Preto e Ituverava no estado de São Paulo. O objetivo deste trabalho é relacionar o nível de adequação do solo em estudo, em relação à mecânica de pavimentos ao seu uso como camada de subleito compactado da plataforma ferroviária, por meio do estudo estatístico da classificação dos solos de acordo com o Sistema Unificado de Classificação dos Solos – SUCS, o Transportation Research Board – TRB e a metodologia MCT.
Cidadania ambiental e direitos humanos: impasses e alternativas
Authors: Castro Aline Vasques , Ferreira Patrícia Fortes Attademo , Soares Rafaella Cavalcante , Bentes Dorinethe dos Santos
Published: August 2022

O objetivo do presente trabalho é evidenciar os impasses e as alternativas na busca pela efetivação dos Direitos Humanos e a garantia da cidadania ambiental plena, analisando a cidadania em seu aspecto local, nacional e planetário, demonstrando a questão da responsabilidade planetária que cada cidadão possui e como pequenos atos desenvolvidos em coletividade, na própria comunidade, ajudam o indivíduo a se enxergar como cidadão local e planetário. O trabalho seguiu a vertente jurídico-sociológico e método da teoria dialética. Os resultados preliminares da pesquisa indicam que se o indivíduo fizer a sua parte estará contribuindo com a efetivação do exercício da cidadania ambiental planetária.
Globalização, desenvolvimento sustentável e cidadania: uma delicada relação
Authors: Castro Aline Vasques , Ferreira Patrícia Fortes Attademo , Soares Rafaella Cavalcante , Bentes Dorinethe dos Santos
Published: August 2022

Este projeto científico abordou os efeitos advindos pela globalização no mundo moderno e seus reflexos na sociedade, na geração de resíduos sólidos e na poluição ambiental. Para tal objetivo foi elaborada uma pesquisa qualitativa, análise documental, de dados e pesquisa de campo, para analisar in locu a efetivação da parceria pública entre a incorporadora MixCon, a Engenharia e a Associação dos Moradores do Parque Mosaico Amazônia, na fomentação e realização de atividades coletivas sustentáveis, como o plantio de 20 mil mudas de árvores e a limpeza, conservação e revitalização de 7 Km do Igarapé do Gigante.
Intussuscepção intestinal em paciente com Síndrome de Peutz-Jaghers: um relato de caso
Authors: Nicoletti Ana Luíza Alves , Matsumoto Karl , Albuquerque Natália Mariana Diógenes Silva de , Melo Mariana França Bandeira de
Published: August 2022

A intussuscepção intestinal é um evento raro em adultos, geralmente secundária a uma condição de base, e representa cerca de 1 a 5% dos casos de obstrução intestinal nessa faixa etária. Relatamos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 30 anos, portador de história familiar positiva e diagnóstico pessoal para síndrome de Peutz Jaghers, admitido com quadro de intussuscepção intestinal evidenciada em tomografia computadorizada de abdome. O mesmo foi submetido a laparotomia de urgência, com enterectomia de 120cm de intestino delgado e anastomose primária. Embora incomum, a associação entre intussuscepção intestinal em adultos e a síndrome de Peutz Jaghers é bem estabelecida. O tratamento é cirúrgico e envolve a ressecção da porção afetada. A decisão pela anastomose primária ou a confecção de ostomias dependerá das condições intraoperatórias e do paciente. Devido às possíveis complicações, como no caso relatado, é essencial o seguimento regular do paciente com a síndrome conforme as orientações e guidelines.
Equações polinomiais em livros didáticos no ensino médio: exploração, resolução e proposição de problemas
Authors: Silva Ledevande Martins da , Silva Jardielly Sousa Nunes da , Neves Samuel de Melo
Published: August 2022

Apresentaremos parte de um estudo do projeto de pesquisa PIBIC-EM (Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação Científica para o Ensino Médio) acerca da análise de livros didáticos do Ensino Médio sobre equações polinomiais. O presente artigo tem como objetivo investigar a abordagem da metodologia de ensino-aprendizagem através da exploração, resolução e proposição de problemas referente ao último capítulo do conteúdo de matemática presente nos livros textos de Ensino Médio. A pesquisa foi qualitativa, a partir da análise de cinco livros didáticos do Ensino Médio com um olhar sobre a temática das equações polinomiais (polinômios, funções e equações algébricas de n (enésimo) grau). Com finalidade de identificar potencialidades e possibilidades de trabalhar exploração, resolução e proposição de problemas de matemática a partir do recurso pedagógico do livro didático. Após, acuradas análises, percebemos que o livro didático de matemática do Ensino Médio é indispensável ao docente, podendo favorecer o fazer matemática na sala de aula via exploração, resolução e proposição de problemas com os conteúdos de polinômios, funções e equações polinomiais de n grau nos diversos contextos que foram analisados.