bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Third-Order Shear Deformation Theory for Bending Behaviors of Rotating FGM Beams Resting on Elastic Foundation with Geometrical Imperfections in Thermal Environments
Authors: Van Dang Nguyen
Published: April 2021

Beam-shaped components in large mechanical structures such as propellers, gas turbine blades, engine turbines, rotating railway bridges, and so on, when operating, usually engage in rotational movement around the fixed axis. Studying the mechanical behavior of these structures has great significance in engineering practice. Therefore, this paper is the first investigation on the static bending of rotating functionally graded material (FGM) beams with initial geometrical imperfections in thermal environments, where the higher-order shear deformation theory and the finite element method (FEM) are exercised. The material properties of beams are assumed to be varied only in the thickness direction and changed by the temperature effect, which increases the correctness and proximity to technical reality. The numerical results of this work are compared with those of other published papers to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed theory and mechanical model used in this paper. A series of parameter studies is carried out such as geometrical and material properties, especially the rotational speed and temperature, to evaluate their influences on the bending responses of structures.
Ge-Gen-Jiao-Tai-Wan Affects Type 2 Diabetic Rats by Regulating Gut Microbiota and Primary Bile Acids
Authors: Chen Han , Yao Ye , Wang Wenbo , Wang Dongsheng
Published: April 2021

The Ge-Gen-Jiao-Tai-Wan (GGJTW) formula has been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China for a long time. Our previous study has proved that GGJTW could alleviate the type 2 diabetic symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the changes in gut microbiota and primary bile acids (PBAs) to determine the potential mechanisms of GGJTW in treating T2DM.The fecal transplant method and pseudogerm-free rats were used in our study.The16S rRNA gene sequencing method was used to analyze the changes in the intestinal flora, and PBAs in the colon contents were detected. Finally, the expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), G protein-coupled membrane receptor 5 (TGR5), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was assessed. Following GGJTW treatment, we observed a decrease in blood glucose levels and improvements in glucose tolerance and serum lipid levels. Furthermore, we found that GGJTW could regulate the composition of the gut microbiota and upregulate the diabetic beneficial phylum Firmicutes and bile-acid-related genus Lactobacillus. PBAs in the colon contents were increased in the GGJTW-treated group, accompanied by upregulated expression of the bile acid receptors FXR and TGR5 and increased concentrations of GLP-1. These results indicated that GGJTW could alleviate symptoms of type 2 diabetic rats by regulating the gut microbiota, promoting the production of PBAs, and upregulating the PBA-FXR/TGR5-GLP-1 pathway.
Increased miR-188-3p in Ovarian Granulosa Cells of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Dai Beibei , Jiang Jun
Published: April 2021

MicroRNA-target networks are often dysregulated in diseases. Our purpose is to investigate this dysregulation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Through the bioinformatics reanalysis of the public RNAseq dataset, we found that miR-188-3p was the miRNA with the highest induction rate, and indicated that miR-188-3p might have a rare function of upregulating its targeted expression. This discovery will increase our understanding of the pathology of PCOS and provide new targets for treatment strategies.
ColorEmo: Color Hunt with Affective Words
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Song Yi , Chen Yue , Su Chunduo , Hu Danqi
Published: April 2021

Color is a main channel to express emotions of an image. Selecting a good color scheme with color harmony and proper emotional expression is very important in many fields, such as design. There are many color palette tools to help users search, create, edit, save, and share color themes, but few tools are from the perspective of emotional expression and explicitly address the emotional effects of colors. In this paper, a color hunt system with affective words called ColorEmo is developed. Multiple types of input, including affective words, affective categories in image‐scale space, and main colors, are allowed for users with accurate emotional description. Based on the dataset with 428,924 color themes, the system provides rich candidates. The system is designed for user research experiments. The user‐friendly interactions are offered for easy color modifications. The affective matching and color harmony are evaluated in real time while changing colors. This system can be used in many scenarios of designs and applications.
Knockdown of Gastrin Promotes Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer Cells by Decreasing ROS Generation
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhu Jihai , Liu Jun , Ma Xueman , Zhao Jun , Su Zhanhai
Published: April 2021

Overexpressed gastrin is reported to promote oncogenesis and development of gastric cancer by inhibiting apoptosis of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our study is aimed at revealing the mechanism underlying the effect of gastrin on apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Gastrin‐interfering cell line was constructed by stably transfecting gastrin‐specific pshRNA plasmid to gastric cancer cell line BGC‐823. Then, differentially expressed proteins between untreated BGC‐823 and gastrin‐interfering BGC‐823 cell lines were detected by the iTRAQ technique. GO and KEGG analysis was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes that code these differentially expressed proteins. The Annexin V‐FITC staining assay was used to detect gastric cancer cell apoptosis. The DCFH‐DA fluorescent probe staining assay was used to measure intracellular ROS. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to analyze the mitochondria respiratory chain proteins and apoptosis‐related proteins. A total of 107 differentially expressed proteins were identified by iTRAQ. GO and KEGG analysis showed that proteins coded by the corresponding differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain, and the expression of three proteins (COX17, COX5B, ATP5J) was upregulated. The three proteins with higher scores were verified by Western blot. The apoptosis rate of the gastrin knockdown cancer cell was significantly increased; meanwhile, gastrin knockdown leads to increase of membrane potential and decrease of intracellular ROS production. Additionally, Bax was significantly increased, whereas NF‐κB‐p65 and Bcl‐2 were downregulated after knockdown of gastrin. Concomitantly, pretreatment with NAC reversed the effect of gastrin on the Bax and Bcl‐2 expression. Gastrin promotes the production of ROS from mitochondria, activates NF‐κB, and inhibits apoptosis via modulating the expression level of Bcl‐2 and Bax.
Solvency Evaluation Model of Insurance Company Based on Stochastic Differential Equation
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhu Ling
Published: April 2021

Solvency assessment is the core content of insurance supervision. In this paper, from the perspective of capital flow, the insurance company’s capital flow is regarded as a dynamic system, the stochastic differential equations model is established to describe its flow characteristics, and the existence of positive equilibrium point of the system is proved, as well as the conditions of stability at equilibrium point, that is, the requirements of the insurance company’s solvency. Furthermore, by using the numerical simulation method, we get the strategy of insurance companies to deal with the solvency shortage when facing the change of external environment, and the strategy of insurance company to deal with solvency shortage is obtained.
Accurate Volume Calculation Driven by Delaunay Triangulation for Coal Measurement
Authors: Liu Yong , Zheng Yanwei
Published: April 2021

Volume calculation from 3D point cloud is widely used in engineering and applications. The existing methods either have large errors or are time-consuming. This paper focuses on the coal measurement. Based on the triangular mesh generated from the point cloud, each triangle is projected downward to the base plane to form a voxel. We derive the calculation formula of voxel by an integral method, which is more efficient than the method of decomposing voxel into tetrahedrons and more accurate than slicing methods. Furthermore, this paper proposes a Delaunay triangulation-driven volume calculation (DTVC) method. DTVC does not preserve the Delaunay triangles but directly calculates the volume in the process of triangulation. It saves memory and running time. Experimental results show that DTVC has achieved a good balance between error and efficiency.
Experimental Study on Injuries to Animals Caused by a Gas Explosion in a Large Test Laneway
Authors: Li Runzhi , Zhang Zhigang , Si Rongjun , Wang Lei , Li Shengnan , Wu Weidong , Cao Jia , Ren Wenjie
Published: April 2021

Gas explosion accidents in underground coal mines caused a significant number of casualties. By using a large laneway test system, the damage to Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats at locations at different distances from the source of ignition along the direction of propagation of an explosion was investigated after 100 m3 of the gas‐air mixture was ignited and exploded. In this way, the data pertaining to explosion flames and explosion pressures at different propagation distances were obtained to investigate the propagation of explosion flames and explosion pressures along the laneway. Besides, the damage to SD rats at different propagation distances was statistically analyzed. Furthermore, the damage mechanism of explosion flames, explosion pressures, and hazardous gases on humans or animals was discussed. The results indicated that explosive blast injury induced by the gas explosion was the primary reason for the death of animals and SD rats at a distance equal to or greater than 80 m from the point of ignition under the effects of an explosive blast even though SD rats at a distance of 240 m were killed. During the explosion of 100 m3 of mixed gas, the explosion flames propagated 40 m from the point of ignition, and the SD rats in the cage located some 40 m from the point of ignition were subjected to combined damage involving being burned at high temperature and suffering the effects of the explosive blast. These findings provide a theoretical basis for emergency rescue and salvage after gas explosion accidents in underground coal mines.
Metformin and Probiotics Interplay in Amelioration of Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in an In Vitro and In Vivo Model of Hepatic Injury
Authors: Patel Farhin , Parwani Kirti , Patel Dhara , Mandal Palash
Published: April 2021

Alcohol-induced liver injury implicates inflammation and oxidative stress as important mediators. Despite rigorous research, there is still no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies for any stage of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Interestingly, metformin (Met) and several probiotic strains possess the potential of inhibiting alcoholic liver injury. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of combination therapy using a mixture of eight strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria, commercialized as Visbiome® (V) and Met in preventing the ethanol-induced hepatic injury using in vitro and in vivo models. Human HepG2 cells and male Wistar rats were exposed to ethanol and simultaneously treated with probiotic V or Met alone as well as in combination. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, inflammatory markers, lipid metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and oxidative stress were evaluated, using qRT-PCR, Oil red O staining, fluorimetry, and HPLC. In vitro, probiotic V and Met in combination prevented ethanol-induced cellular injury, ER stress, oxidative stress, and regulated lipid metabolism as well as inflammatory response in HepG2 cells. Probiotic V and Met also promoted macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype in ethanol-exposed RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In vivo, combined administration of probiotic V and Met ameliorated the histopathological changes, inflammatory response, hepatic markers (liver enzymes), and lipid metabolism induced by ethanol. It also improved the antioxidant markers (HO-1 and Nrf-2), as seen by their protein levels in both HepG2 cells as well as liver tissue using ELISA. Hence, probiotic V may act, in addition to the Met, as an effective preventive treatment against ethanol-induced hepatic injury.
Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria on the Mobile Phones and Computer Keyboards of Healthcare University Students in Ghana
Authors: Olu-Taiwo Michael , Laryea Christian Afotey , Kweku Mykels David , Forson Akua Obeng
Published: April 2021

Globally, mobile phones and computers (laptops and desktops) are indispensable part of human lives for communication, entertainment, and educational purposes. However, there are concerns about the increasing risk of bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistant trends from the surfaces of these devices. This study aims to assess bacterial contamination of mobile phones and computer keyboards and their resistant profile at the University of Ghana, Korle-Bu Campus, Accra. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2017 with 240 swabs collected from the surfaces of mobile phones and computer keyboards used by healthcare students. Swabs were cultured on MacConkey, blood, and mannitol salt agar. Bacteria identification was performed with a standard bacteriological method. A total of 91 bacterial isolates were obtained from the devices, and they were tested against 9 commonly used antibiotics by the Kirby–Bauer disc method. The study revealed mobile phones and computer keyboards had contamination levels of 83.3% and 43.3%. Bacteria isolated included Staphylococcus epidermidis (25.4%), Klebsiella spp. (12.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.2%), Escherichia coli (6.7%), Pseudomonas spp. (5.4%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.1%), and Enterobacter spp. (1.7%). Overall, 91 bacterial isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin (96.7%) and tetracycline (75.8%) and moderately resistant to chloramphenicol (49.5%) with lower resistance to cefotaxime (18.7%), ceftadizime (14.2%), ciprofloxacin (25.3%), and gentamycin (24.7%). Additionally, 45.1% of isolates were multidrug resistant. Findings from this study revealed mobile phones and computer keyboards of healthcare students in the university were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Hence, frequent hand hygiene and disinfection of mobile phones and computer keyboard surfaces is encouraged to minimize the spread of resistant bacteria pathogens.
Correlationship between Ki67, VEGF, and p53 and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in Liver Transplant Patients
Authors: Zhang Xia , Wu Zhixian , Peng Yonghai , Li Dongliang , Jiang Yi , Pan Fan , Li Yi , Lai Yanhua , Cui Zhongyuan , Zhang Kun
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who undergo orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are at risk for posttransplant tumor recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the expression of Ki67, VEGF, and p53 in HCC and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients, as well as their predictive value for HCC recurrence after OLT. Methods. 60 patients who underwent OLT and were found to have HCC in the liver explant. The expression of Ki67, VEGF, and p53 in HCC was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results. Ki67 was associated with the tumor number and the grade of differentiation at baseline. VEGF was associated with the diameter and number of tumors, tumor differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. p53 was associated with the tumor diameter and tumor encapsulation. The expression of Ki67, VEGF, and p53 in HCC was correlated with the tumor recurrence after OLT, respectively. Among them, VEGF was an independent predictor for tumor recurrence after OLT. Conclusion. Ki67, VEGF, and p53 are associated with the recurrence of HCC after OLT. VEGF independently predicts the recurrence of HCC.
A COVID-19 Patient Presenting with Pneumothorax
Authors: Abootalebi Seyyedeh Narjes , Shorafa Eslam , Abbaspour Alireza , Dehghani Seyed Sina , Forooghi Mehdi
Published: April 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that has affected millions of individuals across the world. It was officially declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Although most patients with COVID-19 manifest as viral pneumonia characterized by symptoms such as fever, dyspnea, and cough, atypical presentations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney or cardiac injury have been reported amongst COVID-19 patients. Bilateral and peripheral ground-glass and opacities are the hallmarks of COVID-19 infection on imaging exams. Herein, we aim to describe a COVID-19 patient who presented with shortness of breath, neck pain, chest pain, and bilateral pneumothorax in his imaging exam.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous, Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Areca Nut Fruit on Selected Bacteria
Authors: Jam Neda , Hajimohammadi Reza , Gharbani Parvin , Mehrizad Ali
Published: April 2021

Today, the tendency to use of natural preservatives to increase food security has expanded. In the present study, antibacterial effects of Areca Nut fruit extracts were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria using agar disc diffusion technique. Methanol, ethanol, and water were used as solvents for extraction by maceration method, and extracts were analyzed by GC‐MS. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using microtiter broth dilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Results revealed that all ATCC strains were significantly inhibited by ethanolic and methanolic extracts. Escherichia coli produced a significantly larger zone of inhibition for Gentamicin (35 ± 0.65 mm) and Penicillin (25 mm ± 0.56), while Enterobacter aerogenes produced smaller zone of inhibition for Gentamicin (20 ± 0.87 mm) and Penicillin (15 ± 0.87 mm). Also, methanolic extract had considerable antibacterial activity with MIC value of 1.56 mg/mL against Escherichia coli. All of extracts were used to evaluate antibacterial effects in prepared cake, and as a result, all pathogenies were the most sensitive by methanolic extract in 100 mg/L of concentration except Escherichia coli that were more sensitive by ethanolic extract. In conclusion, the Areca Nut fruit extracts may be used as a natural preservative in food industries. Future studies should focus on the effect of Areca Nut fruit extracts in bakery and drinking industries.
An Approach of Community Search with Minimum Spanning Tree Based on Node Embedding
Authors: Liu Jinglian , Wang Daling , Feng Shi , Zhang Yifei
Published: April 2021

Community search is a query‐oriented variant of community detection problem, and the goal is to retrieve a single community from a given set of nodes. Most of the existing community search methods adopt handcrafted features, so there are some limitations in applications. Our idea is motivated by the recent advances of node embedding. Node embedding uses deep learning method to obtain feature representation of nodes directly from graph structure automatically and offers a new method to measure the distance between two nodes. In this paper, we propose a two‐stage community search algorithm with a minimum spanning tree strategy based on node embedding. At the first stage, we propose a node embedding model NEBRW and map nodes to the points in a low‐dimensional vector space. At the second stage, we propose a new definition of community from the distance viewpoint, transform the problem of community search to a variant of minimum spanning tree problem, and uncover the target community with an improved Prim algorithm. We test our algorithm on both synthetic and real‐world network datasets. The experimental results show that our algorithm is more effective for community search than baselines.
Perceived Breast Cancer Risk among Female Undergraduate Students in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Osei Eric , Osei Afriyie Sandra , Oppong Samuel , Ampofo Emmanuel , Amu Hubert
Published: April 2021

Background. While breast cancer accounts for the highest mortality among women across the globe, little is known about its perceived risks among them. We examined the perceived risk of breast cancer among undergraduate female university students in Ghana. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey of 358 undergraduate female students at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana. Descriptive and inferential statistics comprising frequencies, percentages, chi-square, and binary logistic regression analyses were used in analysing the data collected. All analyses were done using STATA Version 13.1. Results. Seventy-three percent were aware of breast cancer and 45.2% out of this did not perceive themselves to be at risk of breast cancer. Academic year (

p
=
0.02

), school (

p
=
0.01

), knowledge of someone with breast cancer (

p
<
0.001

), family history of breast cancer (

p
<
0.001

), current use of oral pills/injectable contraception (

p
=
0.03

), history of breast cancer screening (

p
<
0.001

), and intention to perform breast self-examination (

p
<
0.001

) were the risk factors of breast cancer risk perception. Students without a family history of breast cancer were 90% less likely to perceive breast cancer risk (AOR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04–0.29) compared with those having a family history of breast cancer. Students who had never screened for breast cancer were also 62% less likely to perceive that they were at risk of breast cancer (AOR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04–0.29) compared with those who had ever screened for breast cancer. Conclusion. This study showed that female university students tend to estimate their breast cancer risk based on their experience of breast cancer. Students who have ever screened for breast cancer and those with the intention to perform breast self-examination in the future are more likely to perceive themselves as being at risk and thus take action to avoid getting breast cancer.
Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Presenting as Septic Shock with Multiorgan Failure
Authors: Aduroja Olufemi , Okudo Jerome , Padilla Angelica
Published: April 2021

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. While infections are usually mild, severe disease occurs in immunocompromised patients. Dissemination is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Because of the tendency of this disease to imitate many diseases, diagnosis may be difficult on presentation. We present a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a patient who was initially managed as miliary tuberculosis. In endemic areas, coccidioidomycosis is one of the two top differentials for miliary micronodular distribution on chest imaging. The patient was a recently diagnosed HIV positive patient and presented to the hospital with multiorgan failure, septic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. He rapidly deteriorated and died within three days of presentation at the emergency department.
Experimental Study on Permeability Coefficient in Layered Fine Tailings under Seepage Condition
Authors: Dong Tao , Cao Ping , Gui Rong , Lin Qibin , Liu Zhizhen
Published: April 2021

Nearly half of the tailings dams in China are in a state of high-security risks and overservice, and the safety of these tailings dams has always been a concern for relevant scholars. The seepage characteristics of tailings are one of the essential factors affecting the safety of tailings dam. Now, due to the improvement of mineral processing technology, there are many fine tailings dam; the study of the seepage characteristics of the tailings dam is no longer applicable. Fine-grained tailings form uneven deposition in these tailings dams, resulting in the permeability of tailings not conforming to the previous law. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the permeability of fine-grained tailings with uneven deposition. In this paper, the physical model of the simulated tailings dam is established to study the influence of the dry beach slope on the distribution and deposition law of fine tailings during discharge. The test results show that the average particle size of tailings decreases along the length of dry beach, showing the phenomenon of coarsening upstream and thinning downstream. Then, based on the data of fine tailings deposition, the variation characteristics of the permeability coefficient of layered tailings under stable and unstable seepage conditions are studied. The test results show that the variation process of tailings permeability coefficient can be divided into four stages: rapid compaction stage, slow compaction stage, failure stage, and stable stage. Under stable and unstable seepage conditions, the permeability coefficients of unstratified tailing sand are about 10% and 15% higher, respectively, than those in the initial state. The permeability coefficient of layered tailings formed by uneven settlement changes more obviously, which is about 12% and 20% higher than the initial state.
Fuzzy Multidimensional Assessment Approach of Travel Deprivation in Small Underdeveloped Cities: Case Study of Lhasa, China
Authors: Cheng Gang , Jiang Simin , Zhang Tao
Published: April 2021

In small, underdeveloped Chinese cities, the travel needs of economically disadvantaged residents have not been satisfactorily met for a long time, and thus, the problem of travel inequality has become increasingly serious. This study developed and applied a fuzzy multidimensional assessment approach of travel deprivation to assess the travel deprivations that arise because of this travel inequity. The resulting model includes both monetary and nonmonetary indicators, and involves multiple measurement items, dimensions, and related weights. Then, this fuzzy multidimensional assessment approach of travel deprivation is used to measure the travel deprivation in the underdeveloped, small city of Lhasa, China. The results identified both differences and similarities between different parts of the city. Among all measured dimensions, the following four dimensions cause strong travel deprivation: disposable income, travel service quality, travel time, and available transportation. Differences in the travel deprivation were identified between different parts of Lhasa, indicating multidimensional travel deprivation. Furthermore, an early warning analysis on travel deprivation and an assessment of different levels of residents’ travel deprivation in underdeveloped cities are presented. These findings provide an effective evaluation of the current situation of travel inequity in underdeveloped small cities.
Experimental Study on Fluid Properties of Cement-Fly Ash Slurry Subjected to Multifactors
Authors: Huang Tian , Huang Feng , Zhou Huifeng
Published: April 2021

There are many factors affecting the characteristics of cement-fly ash slurry in practical engineering. Thus, this paper studies the influence of multifactors on the fluid properties of cement-fly ash slurry based on water-cement ratio (

w
/
c

) (0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5), fly ash content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) and temperature (20°C, 40°C, 60°C, and 80°C). The bleeding ratio, initial setting time, final setting time, and viscosity were analyzed under coupling conditions. It is found that the water-cement ratio (

w
/
c

) is the main factor that affects the rheological properties and bleeding rate of slurry. The temperature affects the stability of the slurry in terms that the bleeding ratio of the slurry decreases as the temperature increases. The addition of fly ash enhances the stability of the slurry under different temperature conditions.
Machine Learning-Based Fault Diagnosis of Self-Aligning Bearings for Rotating Machinery Using Infrared Thermography
Authors: Mehta Ankush , Goyal Deepam , Choudhary Anurag , Pabla B. S. , Belghith Safya
Published: April 2021

Bearings are considered as indispensable and critical components of mechanical equipment, which support the basic forces and dynamic loads. Across different condition monitoring (CM) techniques, infrared thermography (IRT) has gained the limelight due to its noncontact nature, high accuracy, and reliability. This article presents the use of IRT for the bearing fault diagnosis. A two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform (2D-DWT) has been applied for the decomposition of the thermal image. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been used for the reduction of dimensionality of extracted features, and thereafter the most relevant features are accomplished. Furthermore, support vector machine (SVM), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) as the classifiers were considered for classification of faults and performance assessment. The results reveal that the SVM outperformed LDA as well as KNN. Noncontact condition monitoring shows a great potential to be implemented in determining the health of machine. The utilization of noncontact thermal imaging-based instruments has enormous potential in anticipating the maintenance and increased machine availability.
Temporary Kerato-Prosthesis to Resolve Traumatic Loss of a Healed Corneal Button
Authors: Balestrazzi Alessandra , Di Maggio Alessandro , Michieletto Paolo , Martone Gianluca , Balestrazzi Angelo
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study is to report a rare case of traumatic complete loss of a donor corneal button successfully resolved by a 24-h implantation of a temporary kerato-prosthesis. A healthy 30-year-old man with a history of prior penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) presented with an open globe following accidental contusive trauma with a ball, while he was playing football. At slit-lamp evaluation, complete dehiscence of the wound at the graft-host junction and complete corneal button loss was evident. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room, but a donor cornea was not available; therefore, a vitreo-retinal temporary kerato-prosthesis was implanted to close the eyeball until a new donor cornea was available. In case of complete dehiscence of the donor-host junction after PKP with corneal button loss, it is possible to use a temporary kerato-prosthesis to stabilize the eye and contain the intraocular structures. We recommend the availability of temporary vitreo-retinal kerato-prosthesis in the operating theatres of Corneal Surgical Units.
Voice for Health: The Use of Vocal Biomarkers from Research to Clinical Practice
Authors: Fagherazzi Guy , Fischer Aurélie , Ismael Muhannad , Despotovic Vladimir
Published: April 2021

Diseases can affect organs such as the heart, lungs, brain, muscles, or vocal folds, which can then alter an individual’s voice. Therefore, voice analysis using artificial intelligence opens new opportunities for healthcare. From using vocal biomarkers for diagnosis, risk prediction, and remote monitoring of various clinical outcomes and symptoms, we offer in this review an overview of the various applications of voice for health-related purposes. We discuss the potential of this rapidly evolving environment from a research, patient, and clinical perspective. We also discuss the key challenges to overcome in the near future for a substantial and efficient use of voice in healthcare.
The Future of Digital Health: Meeting Report
Authors: Kumar Priya , Clay Ieuan
Published: April 2021

At the end of 2020, Karger’s Digital Biomarkers, together with Evidation Health, produced a special issue entitled “The Future of Digital Health.” This brief meeting report provides an overview of the expert panel and workshop that were held in early 2021 to explore key topics raised in the special issue.
Suizidalitäts-Barometer: Ursachen und Behandlung suizidalen Erlebens und Verhaltens aus Laienperspektive
Authors: Denkler Nadine , Teismann Tobias
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund: Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, ein Meinungsbild über Ursachen und Behandlungsmöglichkeiten suizidalen Erlebens und Verhaltens aus Laiensicht zu erstellen. Probanden: Insgesamt nahmen 879 Personen (58,2% weiblich; Alter (Jahre): Mittelwert = 32,28, SD = 8,41) an einer internetbasierten Fragebogenstudie teil. Ergebnisse: Mehr als 90% der Befragten messen psychischen Erkrankungen, schwerwiegenden Lebensereignissen sowie den Wahrnehmungen keine Hoffnung zu haben, eine Last für andere und sozial isoliert zu sein, ursächliche Bedeutung für das Verständnis von Suiziden bei. Nahezu 100% halten eine Psychotherapie für eine angemessene Behandlung suizidalen Erlebens und Verhaltens. Die Zustimmungsraten zu verschiedenen Mythen über Suizidalität sind vergleichsweise niedrig (<20%). Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Die Gesamtbefundlage stellt sich als positiv heraus: Sowohl bedeutsame Risikofaktoren für suizidales Erleben und Verhalten als auch zentrale Behandlungsmöglichkeiten sind den Befragten weitgehend bekannt.
Evolving Cardiac Electrical Therapies for Advanced Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Sharif Zain I. , Galand Vincent , Hucker William J. , Singh Jagmeet P.
Published: April 2021

Symptomatic heart failure (HF) patients despite optimal medical therapy and advances such as invasive hemodynamic monitoring remain challenging to manage. While cardiac resynchronization therapy remains a highly effective therapy for a subset of HF patients with wide QRS, a majority of symptomatic HF patients are poor candidates for such. Recently, cardiac contractility modulation, neuromodulation based on carotid baroreceptor stimulation, and phrenic nerve stimulation have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and are emerging as therapeutic options for symptomatic HF patients. This state-of-the-art review examines the role of these evolving electrical therapies in advanced HF.
Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With an Inadequate Response to Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs at a Higher Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Hsu Chung‐Yuan , Su Yu‐Jih , Chen Jia‐Feng , Sun Chi‐Chin , Cheng Tien‐Tsai , Tsai Tzu‐Hsien , Lin Shang‐Hong , Chang Cheng‐Chieh , Chen Tien‐Hsing
Published: April 2021

Background

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It is believed that using disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to control inflammation can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated whether patients who responded differently to DMARDs might sustain different cardiovascular events.

Methods and Results

We designed a cohort study using the Chang Gung Research Database. We identified 7114 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. After strict exclusion criteria, we collected 663 individuals as an inadequate response to DMARDs group. Then, 2034 individuals were included as the control group. The end point was composite vascular outcomes, including acute coronary syndrome or ischemic stroke. We used the inverse probability of treatment weighting to keep the covariates between these 2 groups well balanced. We compared the risk of these outcomes using the Cox proportional hazards model. The mean follow‐up time was 4.7 years. During follow‐up, there were 7.5% and 6.4% of patients with composite vascular outcomes in the DMARD‐inadequate response and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the risk of composite vascular outcomes (95% CI, 0.94–1.41) and ischemic stroke (95% CI, 0.84–1.36). The risk of acute coronary syndrome was significantly higher in the DMARD‐inadequate response group (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.02–2.05).

Conclusions

Patients with DMARD‐inadequate response rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of developing acute coronary syndrome than those whose disease can be controlled by DMARDs.
Aspirin Alone Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Systematic Review and Patient‐Level Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Brouwer Jorn , Nijenhuis Vincent J. , Rodés‐Cabau Josep , Stabile Eugenio , Barbanti Marco , Costa Giuliano , Mahmoodi Bakhtawar K. , ten Berg Jurrien M.
Published: April 2021

Background

In patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation without an indication for oral anticoagulation, it is unclear whether single or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is necessary to minimize both the bleeding and thromboembolic risk. In this patient‐level meta‐analysis, we further investigate the effect of aspirin alone compared with DAPT for preventing both thromboembolic and bleeding events after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods and Results

We conducted a systematic review of all available randomized controlled trials comparing aspirin with DAPT. In total, 1086 patients were included across 4 eligible trials. The primary outcomes were the composite of all‐cause mortality, major or life‐threatening bleeding, stroke or myocardial infarction (first composite outcome), and the same composite excluding bleeding (second composite outcome), both tested at 30 days and 3 months. The first composite outcome occurred significantly less in the aspirin‐alone group at 30 days (10.3% versus 14.7%, odds ratio [OR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46–0.97,
P
=0.034) and 3 months (11.0% versus 16.5%, hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.94,
P
=0.02), compared with the DAPT group. The second composite outcome occurred in 5.5% and 6.6% at 30 days (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.50–1.38,
P
=0.47) and in 6.9% and 8.5% at 3 months in the aspirin‐alone group compared with the DAPT group (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.52–1.29,
P
=0.39), respectively.

Conclusions

In patients without an indication for oral anticoagulation undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, aspirin alone significantly reduced the composite of thromboembolic and bleeding events, and does not increase the composite of thromboembolic events after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, compared with DAPT.
Correction of the synonymy of a species of Longior Travassos & Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from a Cuban passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae)
Authors: MORFFE JANS , GARCÍA NAYLA
Published: April 2021

García & Coy (1994) described the hystrignathid nematode Longior alius García & Coy, 1994 parasitizing the passalid beetle Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869) from Guantánamo province, Eastern Cuba. Morffe & García (2011) continued the studies on Cuban Longior and described L. longior Morffe & García, 2011. Morffe et al. (2018) redescribed L. longior with the aid of SEM and molecular techniques. In their research the authors studied Longior individuals from the same host species and a locality close to the type locality of L. alius and compared their morphology, measurements and DNA markers with other material of L. longior. As a result of this analysis Morffe et al. (2018) concluded that L. alius and L. longior are conspecific and proposed L. alius as a synonym of L. longior.
Contributions to the knowledge of Neotropical Lycaenidae: taxonomy of Johnsonita Salazar & Constantino, 1995 with descriptions of seven new species (Theclinae: Eumaeini)
Authors: BÁLINT ZSOLT , BOYER PIERRE , CERDEÑA JOSÉ , LARICO JACKIE FARFÁN , LORENC-BRUDECKA JADWIGA , PRIETO CARLOS , PYRCZ TOMASZ W.
Published: April 2021

The Transandean-Andean genus Johnsonita Salazar & Constantino, 1995 is revised on the basis of wing and genitalia morphology. Apart from eight species formerly placed in Johnsonita (Thecla assula Draudt, 1919; Thecla auda Hewitson, 1867; Thecla catadupa Hewitson, 1869; Thecla chaluma Schaus, 1902, Thecla chlamydem Druce, 1907; Thecla pardoa d’Abrera, 1995; Johnsonita johnsoni Salazar & Constantino, 1995 and Johnsonita johnbanksi Bálint, 2003), seven new species are described: Johnsonita carpia Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador), Johnsonita iacinta Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita ianusca Bálint, Lorenc–Brudecka & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador), Johnsonita oxalida Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita subcunicula Bálint, Cerdeña & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita turquisca Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador) and Johnsonita zubkova Bálint, Boyer & Lorenc–Brudecka, sp. n. (Peru). One species, erroneously recorded from Bolivia under the name Thecla chaluma Schaus, 1902, is not formally described due to insufficient material. An identification key, type material revision, descriptions or redescriptions, and diagnosis for all the taxa recognized are given. Lectotypes for the nominal species Thecla assula Draudt, 1919 and Thecla chlamydem Druce, 1907 are designated. Male secondary wing characters are tabulated. A brief discussion on classification, life-history and male secondary characters of Johnsonita is presented.
Six new species of the spider genus Belisana (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Southeast Asia
Authors: ZHU WENHUI , LI SHUQIANG
Published: April 2021

Six new species belonging to Belisana Thorell, 1898 are described from Southeast Asia: Belisana bachma sp. nov. (Vietnam; male, female), B. cucphuong sp. nov. (Vietnam; male, female), B. jaegeri sp. nov. (Malaysia; male, female), B. kachin sp. nov. (Myanmar; male, female), B. putao sp. nov. (Myanmar; male) and B. tarang sp. nov. (Indonesia; male, female). These new species bring the total number of Belisana to 143 species worldwide.
Pycnogaster ribesiglesiasii, a new species of Ephippigerini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae) from Catalonia (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula)
Authors: OLMO-VIDAL JOSEP MARIA
Published: April 2021

A new species of the genus Pycnogaster Graells, 1851 is described from Catalonia (Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula). Pycnogaster ribesiglesiasii n. sp. was collected in the Plana d’Ancosa in a calcicolous stepic scrub dominated mainly by thyme (Thymus vulgaris). L. ribesiglesiasii is compared to P. sanchezgomezi Bolívar, 1897 from which it can be separated mainly by the shape of the male cerci, the titillators and the male calling song. In addition, in the females by the protuberance of the seventh (7th) sclerite and the shape of subgenital plate.
Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Modeling of Hydrometeor Refreezing
Authors: Tobin Dana M. , Kumjian Matthew R.
Published: April 2021

A unique polarimetric radar signature indicative of hydrometeor refreezing during ice pellet events has been documented in several recent studies, yet the underlying microphysical causes remain unknown. The signature is characterized by enhancements in differential reflectivity (ZDR), specific differential phase (KDP), and linear depolarization ratio (LDR), and a reduction in copolar correlation coefficient (ρhv) within a layer of decreasing radar reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization (ZH). In previous studies, the leading hypothesis for the observed radar signature is the preferential refreezing of small drops. Here, a simplified, one-dimensional, explicit bin microphysics model is developed to simulate the refreezing of fully melted hydrometeors, and coupled with a polarimetric radar forward operator to quantify the impact of preferential refreezing on simulated radar signatures. The modeling results demonstrate that preferential refreezing is insufficient by itself to produce the observed signatures. In contrast, simulations considering an ice shell growing asymmetrically around a freezing particle (i.e., emulating a thicker ice shell on the bottom of a falling particle) produce realistic ZDR enhancements, and also closely replicate observed features in ZH, KDP, LDR, and ρhv. Simulations that assume no increase in particle wobbling with freezing produce an even greater ZDR enhancement, but this comes at the expense of reducing the LDR enhancement. It is suggested that the polarimetric refreezing signature is instead strongly related to both the distribution of the unfrozen liquid portion within a freezing particle and the orientation of this liquid with respect to the horizontal.
A Portrait of Contrasts in Disaster Risk Response: A Post-Haiyan Study of Coron, Philippines
Authors: Ponce de Leon Inez Z.
Published: April 2021

Supertyphoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, causing massive damage and loss of lives. The media blamed the government for faulty warnings, including using the term “storm surge,” which people reportedly did not understand. As a result, the national agency tasked with disaster risk management recommended translating the term for better response in future storms. Such an approach shortchanges the complexity of risk construction and dismisses the possibility that different communities also have different understandings of risk. In this study, the researcher examined the special case of Coron, Palawan: a major tourist destination that is rarely hit by storms but that became the site of Haiyan’s last landfall. Guided by encoding–decoding theory, the researcher interviewed local government officials and carried out focus group discussions with representatives of two communities (whose names have been hidden under pseudonyms for this study): Central, close to the municipal center, and Island, a coastal village far away from potential aid and rescue. The researcher found a portrait of contrasts that split Coron: a mayor who surrendered all control and a risk management officer who planned for long-term hazard response—Island waiting for government instructions despite knowing about storm behavior and Central taking the initiative to create long-term solutions. Island also knew what storm surges were and did not need translation of the term. These findings show that risk constructions can differ even at the municipal level, which should prompt further research into the role of local knowledge in understanding risk and hazard warnings.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Robotic vs. Laparoscopic Hepatectomy: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study of American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database
Authors: Miller Henry P. , Hakim Abraham , Kellish Alec , Wozniak Marisa , Gaughan John , Sensenig Richard , Atabek Umur M. , Spitz Francis R. , Hong Young K.
Published: April 2021

Background

Robotic and laparoscopic hepatectomies having increased utilization as minimally invasive techniques are explored for hepatobiliary malignancies. Although the data on outcomes from these 2 approaches are emerging, the cost-benefit analysis of these approaches remains sparse. This study compares the costs associated with robotic vs. laparoscopic liver resections, taking into account 30-day complications.

Methods

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, a propensity-matched cohort of patients with laparoscopic or robotic liver resections between 2014 and 2017 was identified. Costs were assigned to perioperative variables, including operating room (OR) time, length of stay, blood transfusions, and 30-day complications. Cost estimates were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services billing data (2017), American Hospital Association data (2017), relevant literature, and local institutional cost data.

Results

In our matched cohort of 454 patients (227 per group), total costs associated with laparoscopic liver resections were estimated at $5.5 M ($24 K per patient) vs. $6.8 M ($29.8 K per patient) for robotic liver resections (21.3% difference, P < .001). The higher cost associated with robotic hepatectomies was related to blood transfusions ($22.0 K vs. $12.1 K, P = .02), length of stay ($2.05 M vs. $1.76 M, P = .046), and OR time ($4.01 M vs. $3.24 M, P < .0001).

Discussion

Robotic hepatectomies were associated with higher costs compared to laparoscopic hepatectomies. The 2 major contributors to the cost disparity were increased OR time and increased length of stay. Future studies are warranted to analyze high-volume Minimally Invasive Surgery surgeons’ impact in specialty centers on potentially mitigating this current cost disparity.