bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on Spinal Cord Injury Treatment With Glucocorticoids Using VOSviewer
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li An-An , Xiao Shi-Ning , Zhong Nan-Shan , Tong Wei-Lai , Wang Shi-Jiang , Liu Jia-Ming , Liu Zhi-Li
Published: August 2022

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating physical and social consequences for patients. Systemic administration of methylprednisolone (MP) at a higher dosage though can reduce neurological deficits following acute SCI. Still, this treatment regimen is controversial, owing to the apparent dose-related side effects and relatively minor improvement in neurological function. Therefore, this study aimed at the bibliometric analysis of published literature related to SCI treatment, which may lead to future research trends.

Methods

The literature published relating to SCI and using glucocorticoids for its treatment between 1982 and 2022 was collected and scanned in the Web of Science collection database using the keywords glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, MP, corticosteroids, and SCI, followed by using VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis of these articles.

Results

A total of 1,848 published articles and 7,448 authors on SCI and glucocorticoid usage were identified. The SCI total link strength accounts for 1,341, and MP for 762 has a strong link to neuroprotection and inflammation. The mean citation count for the top 20 most-cited articles was 682 (range: 358–1,828), where most of these were descriptive studies having focused on clinical features. The Journal of Neurotrauma was the highest-ranked journal with 6,010 citations. A total of 69 articles were published by Michael G Fehlings from the University of Toronto with 6,092 citations. The University of Toronto has published 90-related manuscripts with 7,632 citations. In contrast, 800 articles were published in the United States, with 39,633 citations and total link strength of 5,714. The second-ranked country was China, with 241 published articles and 3,403 citations.

Conclusions

The research published on applying MP in treating SCI has increased with time. Although the United States has made a significant global contribution to this important field of research, it requires rigorous clinical trials designed to verify the therapeutic role of MP in SCI and its appropriate dosage to find solutions for neurological recovery.
Traumatic brain injury hospitalizations in Belgium: A brief overview of incidence, population characteristics, and outcomes
Authors: Van Deynse Helena , Cools Wilfried , Depreitere Bart , Hubloue Ives , Ilunga Kazadi Carl , Kimpe Eva , Pien Karen , Van Belleghem Griet , Putman Koen
Published: August 2022

Background

There is a need for complete and accurate epidemiological studies for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Secondary use of administrative data can provide country-specific population data across the full spectrum of disease.

Aim

This study aims to provide a population-based overview of Belgian TBI hospital admissions as well as their health-related and employment outcomes.

Methods

A combined administrative dataset with deterministic linkage at individual level was used to assess all TBI hospitalizations in Belgium during the year 2016. Discharge data were used for patient selection and description of injuries. Claims data represented the health services used by the patient and health-related follow-up beyond hospitalization. Finally, social security data gave insight in changes to employment situation.

Results

A total of 17,086 patients with TBI were identified, with falls as the predominant cause of injury. Diffuse intracranial injury was the most common type of TBI and 53% had injuries to other body regions as well. In-hospital mortality was 6%. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days, with 20% being admitted to intensive care and 28% undergoing surgery. After hospitalization, 23% had inpatient rehabilitation. Among adults in the labor force pre-injury, 72% of patients with mild TBI and 59% with moderate-to-severe TBI returned to work within 1 year post-injury.

Discussion

Administrative data are a valuable resource for population research. Some limitations need to be considered, however, which can in part be overcome by enrichment of administrative datasets with other data sources such as from trauma registries.
Publication trends of research on COVID-19 and host immune response: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Xia Yun , Yao Ren-qi , Zhao Peng-yue , Tao Zheng-bo , Zheng Li-yu , Zhou Hui-ting , Yao Yong-ming , Song Xue-min
Published: August 2022

Introduction

As the first bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 and immune responses, this study will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research advances. We attempt to summarize the scientific productivity and cooperation across countries and institutions using the bibliometric methodology. Meanwhile, using clustering analysis of keywords, we revealed the evolution of research hotspots and predicted future research focuses, thereby providing valuable information for the follow-up studies.

Methods

We selected publications on COVID-19 and immune response using our pre-designed search strategy. Web of Science was applied to screen the eligible publications for subsequent bibliometric analyses. GraphPad Prism 8.0, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were applied to analyze the research trends and compared the contributions of countries, authors, institutions, and journals to the global publications in this field.

Results

We identified 2,200 publications on COVID-19 and immune response published between December 1, 2019, and April 25, 2022, with a total of 3,154 citations. The United States (611), China (353), and Germany (209) ranked the top three in terms of the number of publications, accounting for 53.3% of the total articles. Among the top 15 institutions publishing articles in this area, four were from France, four were from the United States, and three were from China. The journal Frontiers in Immunology published the most articles (178) related to COVID-19 and immune response. Alessandro Sette (31 publications) from the United States were the most productive and influential scholar in this field, whose publications with the most citation frequency (3,633). Furthermore, the development and evaluation of vaccines might become a hotspot in relevant scope.

Conclusions

The United States makes the most indispensable contribution in this field in terms of publication numbers, total citations, and H-index. Although publications from China also take the lead regarding quality and quantity, their international cooperation and preclinical research need to be further strengthened. Regarding the citation frequency and the total number of published articles, the latest research progress might be tracked in the top-ranking journals in this field. By analyzing the chronological order of the appearance of retrieved keywords, we speculated that vaccine-related research might be the novel focus in this field.
Research on the Impact of Actual Tax Bearing Rate on the Financial Performance of Enterprises
Authors: Dong Yao , Liang Chen , Wanyin Zhong
Published: August 2022

This paper is based on financial data analysis of 241 listed pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises in China, we study the different effects of different tax reduction policies on the financial performance of enterprises in the short term and long term. Through the verification of practical examples, it could be found that the implementation of a tax reduction policy can indeed play a positive role in the financial performance of enterprises, and the reduction of income tax significantly improves the short-term financial performance of enterprises. However, the tax reduction of turnover tax significantly enhances the long-term financial performance of enterprises, and the effect of tax reduction on the financial performance of state-owned enterprises is better than that of non-state-owned enterprises. Generally speaking, tax reduction policy has a better effect on the financial performance of non-state-owned enterprises and enterprises in central and western regions than state-owned enterprises and enterprises in eastern regions.
Effect of short inter-pregnancy interval on perinatal outcomes among pregnant women in North-west Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Gurmu Leta , Wakgari Negash , Kolola Tufa , Danusa Kababa Temesgen
Published: August 2022

Background

Inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) is the elapse of time between the end of one pregnancy and the conception of another pregnancy, while birth to pregnancy interval, is the time gap between live birth and the conception of the next pregnancy. Hence, this study assessed the effects of short inter-pregnancy intervals on perinatal outcomes among women who gave birth in public health institutions of Assosa zone, North-west Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based prospective cohort study was conducted among 456 mothers who visited health facilities for the fourth antenatal care appointment (152 exposed and 304 non-exposed). Women who gave their recent birth with the pregnancy interval of <24 months or/and had an abortion history of <6 months were considered as exposed otherwise non-exposed. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews by using questionnaires and checklists. The collected data was entered using Epi-data and exported to STATA for analysis. A log-binomial regression model was used to identify the effect of short inter-pregnancy intervals on the perinatal outcomes.

Results

The overall incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes is 24%. Mothers who had short inter-pregnancy intervals have two times the risk to develop low birth weight (RR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.16–3.82), and low Apgar score (RR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.06–2.69). Similarly, the risk to develop small for gestational age (RR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.19–7.54), and preterm birth (RR: 3.14, 95%CI: 1.05–4.66) was about 3 times among mothers who had short inter-pregnancy interval compared to mothers who had an optimal inter-pregnancy interval.

Conclusion

Short inter-pregnancy interval increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low Apgar score. Health Policy makers, National health managers and health care providers should work on increasing the awareness of optimal inter-pregnancy intervals and postpartum family planning utilization to reduce the effect of short inter-pregnancy intervals on adverse perinatal outcomes.
Diagnostic biosignature transformation under simulated martian radiation in organic-rich sedimentary rocks
Authors: Roussel A. , McAdam A. C. , Graham H. V. , Pavlov A. A. , Achilles C. N. , Knudson C. A. , Steele A. , Foustoukos D. I. , Johnson S. S.
Published: August 2022

As we look for traces of ancient life on Mars, we need to consider the impact of ionizing radiation in the biosignature preservation process. Here, we irradiated two organic rich terrestrial samples (Enspel and Messel shales) that have Martian analog mineralogies, with simulated cosmic rays to a dose of 0.9 MGy, equivalent of 15 million years of radiation exposure on the Martian surface. We compared a range of biosignatures before and after exposure, including total organic carbon, bulk stable carbon isotope ratios, diagnostic lipid biomarkers (hopanes and steranes), and Raman signatures akin to those collected by the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument on Perseverance. While we did not observe a significant difference in total organic carbon, bulk stable carbon isotopes, or Raman G-band signatures, we found that five lipid biomarkers decreased by a factor of two to three in the Enspel shale. This degree of degradation exceeds current predictions by existing models or experimental studies in organic rich samples and challenges our current understanding of complex biosignatures under ionizing irradiation.
A Story of Developing the Idea of Plasma-Sheet Flow Braking
Authors: Shiokawa Kazuo
Published: August 2022

This paper reports a story of developing the idea of Earthward ion flow braking in the near-Earth plasma sheet and its relationship with substorm onset processes. This idea and the data that support it are the basis for today’s two competing models for substorms: the near-Earth neutral-line model and the current disruption model. The idea was developed when the author was staying at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) from July 1996 to June 1997. The story addresses the colleagues and mentors who had contributed to the development of this idea. The lessons learned from this story are also summarized for students and early-career scientists for their development of new scientific ideas.
Usage of biological chitosan against the contamination of post-harvest treatment of strawberries by Aspergillus niger
Authors: El-araby Abir , El Ghadraoui Lahsen , Errachidi Faouzi
Published: August 2022

Developing bioactive food packaging, capable of extending the shelf life of fruits, has received increasing attention in recent years. The present study highlights the interest in post-harvest treatment for strawberries with chitosan as a preservation solution. Chitosan extraction was carried out from shrimp shells (Parapenaeus longirostris), composed of chitin, using citric acid during the demineralization step. Extracted chitosan was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of amino group (-NH2) in the obtained chitosan was confirmed by infrared (IR) spectral data. Deacetylation degree (DD), which has a value of 80.86%, was determined by FTIR spectra. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) showed two peaks of crystalline character, characteristic of extracted chitosan, approximately at 20° and 30° (2θ). Extracted chitosan morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and showed a relatively smooth top surface and fibrous structures. Chitosan, acetic acid, and their interaction effects were evaluated on Aspergillus niger mycelial growth strain isolated from spoiled strawberries. Chitosan revealed a strong anti-fungal activity, dose-dependent (from 0 to 3%), on Aspergillus niger mycelial growth, while acetic acid showed moderate anti-fungal activity against the Aspergillus niger strain. Agri-food application was carried out using chitosan solubilized in acetic acid as a post-harvest treatment tool for the prolongation of shelf life of strawberries (by using an experimental design). Coating, with the developed preservative solution, significantly reduced microbial spoilage in strawberries. Treated strawberries retained their initial pigmentation for a longer period when compared to untreated strawberries. The treatment carried out maintained the cellular structures of treated strawberries during the storage period and thus extended the shelf life of strawberries which is considered very susceptible to reduce post-harvest losses.
Reconstruction of facial defects using a pre-expanded scalp flap: A description of the method used and outcomes of 43 patients
Authors: Ding Jianke , Chu Feifei , Tang Yinke , Liu Shiqiang , Zeng Xianhui , Yang Qing , Ma Xianjie
Published: August 2022

Background

A technique for reconstructing facial units with matching colour, similar texture and sufficient contour is ideal for patients with various facial defects. The current report aimed to present the experience of the authors in facial reconstruction using pre-expanded scalp flaps combined with laser hair removal.

Methods

From January 2014 to August 2021, 43 patients with different facial defects, such as post-burn scar and congenital nevus, were treated using this surgical technique that involved tissue expansion, scalp flap transfer and laser hair removal. Facial defects were artificially classified into three regions (forehead, n = 19; cheek, n = 15; and lips and chin, n = 9). Pedicle delaying and division were performed in patients who underwent reconstruction with pedicled flaps.

Results

Of the included patients, one presented with haematoma, one with infection and three had distal necrosis after expanded scalp flap transfer. The donor site was primarily closed in all patients. Further, all patients were successfully treated without major complications. The texture, colour and contour of the scalp flap after laser hair removal matched well with the surrounding skin tissues at 2–30-month follow-up.

Conclusion

Reconstruction using pre-expanded scalp flaps combined with laser hair removal is an effective and reliable option for facial reconstruction with excellent colour and texture match.
Adaptive Transition Gait Planning of Snake Robot Based on Polynomial Interpolation Method
Authors: Liu Xiongding , Lin Guangjie , Wei Wu
Published: August 2022

This paper mainly studies the transition gait planning by updating the parameters of snack robot motion control function through ROS nodes, including a straight running gait into a turning gait. In the practical scenario, when changing the control parameters, the joint angle of the snake robot will increase or decrease sharply, and the angular velocity and angular acceleration of the driving joints will also change, which results in oscillation and sideslip of the body. In the turning scene, the visual tracking will loss if the head joint of the snake robot causes the lateral movement and oscillation. To solve those problems, firstly, the dynamic model of the snake robot’s gait of serpentine movement is established. Then, we propose a method based on polynomial interpolation compensation to solve the body oscillation and sideslip caused by nodes updating. To further improve the efficiency of snake robot’s gait switching, an optimal dichotomy interpolation time search is proposed to realize the snake robot’s adaptive transition gait. Finally, some simulation experiments are verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Shock-Induced Vibration of Composite Truss Core Sandwich Plates with Distributed Nonlinear Absorbers by Optimal Locations
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Weixing , Luo Zhong , Chen Jianen , Guo Xiangying
Published: August 2022

In order to solve the problems of limited installation space and strict additional quality, the effects of internal distributed nonlinear energy sinks (NES) considering optimal locations on a composite truss core sandwich plate are investigated in this paper. Choose five NESs here and inset them in the different places of the sandwich plate to suppress the vibration of the plate, which is excited by a half-wave shock. The coupled dynamic equations of the system are derived by the principle of conservation of energy. Then, the vibration-control performances of five NESs are discussed by numerical simulation. The distributions of the five NESs are analyzed, and the optimal position distributions are obtained. Based on the optimal location, the transient responses of the system are studied. Moreover, the performances of five NESs and a single NES are compared in different dimensions. Finally, it is found that the selection of parameters has a great impact on the effectiveness of the five NESs. The new distribution way is introduced to improve the suppression effects of the five NESs in the sandwich plate.
Aircraft Lateral-Directional Aerodynamic Parameter Identification and Solution Method Using Segmented Adaptation of Identification Model and Flight Test Data
Authors: Wang Lixin , Zhao Rong , Zhang Yi
Published: August 2022

Current aerodynamic parameter identification methods take the consistency between the response of the motion model reconstructed with the identified aerodynamic parameters and flight data as an optimization index. Since there is only one index constraint in aerodynamic parameter optimization, and more than ten aerodynamic parameters to be identified simultaneously have different sensitivity to the optimization index, the accuracy of identification results of parameters with low sensitivity is poor, especially for those with small absolute value. To solve these problems, a new idea, having aerodynamic parameters solved by balance equations and identified in stages, is proposed. Based on the motion characteristics of different lateral-directional maneuvers, the scheme of combined maneuvers is designed, and the step-by-step identification procedure is established. An estimation method of angular acceleration with angular velocity equivalent model is proposed to solve the problem that angular acceleration cannot be measured directly. A lateral-directional aerodynamic parameter identification method using segmented adaptation of flight data and identification models is established based on the identifiability of flight data. The lateral-directional aerodynamic parameter identification results of a large civil aircraft show the identification results can be obtained with higher accuracy by adopting the proposed identification method and the flight test scheme.
An Algorithm for Calculating Apple Picking Direction Based on 3D Vision
Authors: Gao Ruilong , Zhou Qiaojun , Cao Songxiao , Jiang Qing
Published: August 2022

Research into autonomous (robotic) apple picking has not yet resolved the problem of finding the optimal picking orientation. Robotic picking efficiency, in terms of picking all available apples without loss or damage, remains low. This paper proposes a method of determining the optimal picking orientation relative to the target fruit and adjacent branches from the point cloud of the apple and the surrounding space. The picking mechanism is then able to avoid branches and accurately grasp the target apple in order to pick it. The apple is first identified by the YOLOv3 target detection algorithm, and a point cloud of the fruit and the space surrounding it is obtained. The random sample consensus algorithm RANSAC is used for sphere fitting, and the fruit is idealized as a sphere. RANSAC also idealizes the branch as a line that is fitted to the branch bearing the target apple in the point cloud around it. The distance between the line of the branch and the fruit centroid is constrained in fitting to ensure identification of the branch/line closest to the apple/sphere. The best apple picking orientation is determined from the positional relationship between the straight branch/line and the center of the apple/sphere. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated using apples with various orientations on growing trees. The average angle error between the calculated picking direction vector and the expected direction vector was 11.81°, and the standard deviation was 13.65°; 62.658% of the determinations erred by ≤10°, and 85.021% erred by ≤20°. The average time for estimating the orientation of an apple was 0.543 s. The accuracy and speed of the algorithm enabled the robotic picker to operate at a speed that matches that of a human apple picker.
Feedlot Factors Influencing the Incidence of Dark Cutting in Australian Grain-Fed Beef
Authors: Steel Cameron C. , Lees Angela M. , Tarr Garth , Dunshea Frank R. , Bowler Des , Cowley Frances , Warner Robyn D. , McGilchrist Peter
Published: August 2022

It has been well-established that dark cutting (DC) is a multifactorial issue that is associated with numerous animal and management factors. However, there is limited understanding of the feedlot-based factors that contribute to the influence of DC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of climate, animal, and feedlot factors on the incidence of pH non-compliance in Australian grain-fed cattle. For this study, feedlot and abattoir records from 142,228 individual cattle over a 1-year period were investigated. These data incorporated records from seven feedlots that consigned cattle to three abattoirs. The average incidence of DC in these carcasses was 2.8%. The production factors that were associated with increased risk of DC included feedlot, sex, hormone growth promotants (HGP), cattle health, and days on feed (DOF). Additionally, DC also increased by reduced solar radiation (SR, W/m2), lower wind speeds (WS, m/s), increased ambient temperature (TA, °C), higher rainfall, a higher average temperature–humidity index (THI), and increased duration of time above heat-load-index threshold of 86 (HLI ≥ 86) during the 7 days prior to feedlot departure. This study identified the feedlot factors that increase the risk of DC from a feedlot-management perspective.
New Data on Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) plagiostoma Wedl, 1861 (Nematoda, Rictulariidae) Parasite of the Algerian Hedgehog Atelerix algirus Linnaeus, 1758 (Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae) from the Canary Islands
Authors: Miquel Jordi , Ribas Alexis , Pino-Vera Román , Izquierdo-Rodríguez Elena , Martín-Carrillo Natalia , Feliu Carlos , Foronda Pilar
Published: August 2022

A redescription of the rictulariid nematode Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) plagiostoma Wedl, 1861, is made by means of light and scanning electron microscopy, including the first data on male specimens. The morphologic study was based on specimens recovered from two Algerian hedgehogs (Atelerix algirus) from Tenerife and Gran Canaria islands (Canary Archipelago, Spain). The main characteristics of P. (P.) plagiostoma males are the presence of 49–53 pairs of cuticular projections, the presence of one or two midventral precloacal fans (generally one), and the size of two unequal spicules, measuring 98–123 µm (right spicule) and 185–236 µm (left spicule). The cloacal papillae are arranged according to the Ascaridida type. They include two precloacal pairs, an unpaired precloacal papilla, one pair lateral to the cloaca, six postcloacal pairs, and a pair of phasmids near the tail tip. Females are mainly characterized by the presence of 71–77 pairs of cuticular projections, with 43–46 pairs of prevulvar combs, by the differentiation from combs to spines at the level of or slightly posterior to the vulva and by the position of the vulva, located posteriorly to the esophagus–intestine junction. Clear differences were found between P. (P.) plagiostoma and related species of the subgenus P. (Pterygodermatites).
A Comprehensive Study of the Quality of Fat-Tailed Sheep Carcasses in Greece
Authors: Argyriadou Angeliki , Tsitsos Anestis , Stylianaki Ioanna , Vouraki Sotiria , Kallitsis Theodoros , Economou Vangelis , Arsenos Georgios
Published: August 2022

Sheep farming in Greece is focused on milk production. Meat is considered a by-product and consists mainly light carcasses of undefined quality. The main challenge of the sector is to ensure sustainability, and hence efforts are towards efficient use of available resources, including undervalued carcasses of local fat-tailed sheep. The objective here was twofold: (i) to assess the carcass quality of fat-tailed sheep slaughtered at different live weights and (ii) to compare them with carcasses from thin-tailed sheep. In total, 146 fat-tailed and 97 thin-tailed dairy sheep were used. They belonged to five live-weight categories (LWC), representing 25%, 35%, 50%, 70% and 100% of mature body weight. Carcass length/weight/yield/pH and wither height were recorded. Muscle fiber minimum Feret’s diameter and meat color/tenderness/moisture/lipid and protein content were determined. Sex and LWC differences in fat-tailed sheep were assessed. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to compare with thin-tailed sheep, considering the effects of LWC, sex and their interactions with sheep population (fat-tailed/thin-tailed). Most traits were significantly different (p < 0.05) between groups of fat-tailed sheep. Carcass yield of fat-tailed sheep was significantly higher compared to thin-tailed (p < 0.01). Interactions of sheep population with LWC or sex affected wither height, carcass pH, meat color and tenderness (p < 0.05). Fat-tailed sheep meat quality is equal or higher compared to thin-tailed. Finishing weights corresponding to 50 and 70% LWC may improve capitalization of fat-tailed carcasses.
Azithromycin through the Lens of the COVID-19 Treatment
Authors: Kournoutou Georgia G. , Dinos George
Published: August 2022

Azithromycin has become famous in the last two years, not for its main antimicrobial effect, but for its potential use as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19 infection. Initially, there were some promising results that supported its use, but it has become clear that scientific results are insufficient to support such a positive assessment. In this review we will present all the literature data concerning the activity of azithromycin as an antimicrobial, an anti-inflammatory, or an antivirus agent. Our aim is to conclude whether its selection should remain as a valuable antivirus agent or if its use simply has an indirect therapeutic contribution due to its antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activity, and therefore, if its further use for COVID-19 treatment should be interrupted. This halt will prevent further antibiotic resistance expansion and will keep azithromycin as a valuable anti-infective therapeutic agent.
Are the Newer Carbapenems of Any Value against Tuberculosis
Authors: Gonzalo Ximena , Drobniewski Francis
Published: August 2022

Our aim was to assess whether newer carbapenems with a better administration profile than meropenem (ertapenem, faropenem and tebipenem) were more effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis including M/XDRTB and determine if there was a synergistic/antagonistic effect with amoxicillin or clavulanate (inhibitor of beta-lactamases that MTB possesses) in vitro. Whilst meropenem is given three times a day intravenously, ertapenem, though given parenterally, is given once a day, faropenem and tebipenem are given orally. Eighty-two clinical drug-sensitive and -resistant MTB strains and a laboratory strain, H37Rv, were assessed by a microdilution methodology against ertapenem, faropenem, tebipenem and meropenem with and without amoxicillin or clavulanic acid. Ertapenem showed a limited activity. The addition of amoxicillin and clavulanate did not translate into significant improvements in susceptibility. Sixty-two isolates (75.6%) exhibited susceptibility to faropenem; the addition of amoxicillin and clavulanate further reduced the MIC in some isolates. Faropenem showed a limited activity (MIC of 8 mg/L or lower) in 21 strains completely resistant to meropenem (MIC of 16 mg/L or higher). Fifteen of the meropenem-resistant strains were susceptible to tebipenem. Carbapenems’ activity has been reported extensively. However, there remains uncertainty as to which of them is most active against TB and what the testing methodology should be.
Distinct Roles of Nrf1 and Nrf2 in Monitoring the Reductive Stress Response to Dithiothreitol (DTT)
Authors: Wufuer Reziyamu , Fan Zhuo , Yuan Jianxin , Zheng Ze , Hu Shaofan , Sun Guiyin , Zhang Yiguo
Published: August 2022

Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2, encoded by Nfe2l2) has been accepted as a key player in redox regulatory responses to oxidative or reductive stresses. However, relatively little is known about the potential role of Nrf1 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 1, encoded by Nfe2l1) in the redox responses, particularly to reductive stress, although this ‘fossil-like’ factor is indispensable for cell homeostasis and organ integrity during the life process. Herein, we examine distinct roles of Nrf1 and Nrf2 in monitoring the defense response to 1,4–dithiothreitol (DTT, serving as a reductive stressor), concomitantly with unfolded protein response being induced by this chemical (also defined as an endoplasmic reticulum stressor). The results revealed that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were modestly increased in DTT-treated wild-type (WT) and Nrf1α−/− cell lines, but almost unaltered in Nrf2−/−ΔTA or caNrf2ΔN cell lines (with a genetic loss of transactivation or N-terminal Keap1-binding domains, respectively). This chemical treatment also enabled the rate of oxidized to reduced glutathione (i.e., GSSG to GSH) to be amplified in WT and Nrf2−/−ΔTA cells, but diminished in Nrf1α−/− cells, along with no changes in caNrf2ΔN cells. Consequently, Nrf1α−/−, but not Nrf2−/−ΔTA or caNrf2ΔN, cell viability was reinforced by DTT against its cytotoxicity, as accompanied by decreased apoptosis. Further experiments unraveled that Nrf1 and Nrf2 differentially, and also synergistically, regulated DTT-inducible expression of critical genes for defending against redox stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, we also identified that Cys342 and Cys640 of Nrf1 (as redox-sensing sites within its N-glycodomain and DNA-binding domain, respectively) are required for its protein stability and transcription activity.
Effect of Freeze-Thaw Damage on the Physical, Mechanical, and Acoustic Behavior of Sandstone in Urumqi
Authors: Xu Junce , Pu Hai , Sha Ziheng
Published: August 2022

The Urumqi area in China is a seasonally cold region, and the rock structures in the region are susceptible to freeze-thaw (F-T) weathering. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of F-T on the physical, mechanical, and fracture behavior of sandstone from Urumqi. The acoustic emission method (AE) was used to determine the stress thresholds for the initiation and development of cracks in the samples under cyclic F-T action. The results suggested that parameters such as P-wave velocity, elastic modulus, and peak stress presented a significant negative correlation with F-T damage, while porosity exhibited a close positive correlation. The elastic modulus of the sample was more sensitive to the F-T action with the smallest half-life (27 cycles) and the largest decay factor (0.0254). In addition, the stress threshold for micro-cracks development and macro-cracks initiation in the samples decreased with increasing F-T damage. After 30 F-T cycles, the stress threshold for micro-cracks propagation in the samples decreased from 20.73 MPa to 5.02 MPa by approximately 76%. The normalized stress threshold for the macro-cracks initiation was also decreased from 0.93 to 0.71. Moreover, the macro-cracks damage zone of the samples showed an increasing trend with F-T damage, from 7% under natural conditions to 29% after 30 cycles. It is concluded that F-T action lowers the stress thresholds for cracks development in sandstone in the Urumqi area, posing serious safety concerns for mass rock engineering in this area.
Studies on δ-Bi2O3 Based Nanocrystalline Glass-Ceramics Stabilized at Room Temperature by Novel Methods
Authors: Kruk-Fura Paulina , Garbarczyk Jerzy E.
Published: August 2022

This study demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to prepare nanocrystalline δ-Bi2O3 that is stable at room temperature by twin-rollers and free cooling methods, using a ceramic crucible. The phase composition of prepared samples and upper limit of the thermal stability of nanograins confined in an amorphous matrix were determined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The average size of crystallites and the microstructure of studied samples was determined by SEM and XRD methods. The average grain size varied from 38 to 85 nm, depending on the preparation technique; however, it was also observed that agglomerations consisted of smaller crystallites ca. 10–30 nm. Using the EDX method, it was found that a crucial role in the preparation of nanocrystalline δ-Bi2O3 glass-ceramics was played by Si and Al impurities and their glass forming oxides from ceramic crucible. By impedance spectroscopy (IS), the temperature dependencies of electric conductivity (via oxygen ions) were studied and the activation energies of conductivity were determined.
Exploratory Research on Satisfaction Degree in Distance Education
Authors: Zhou Guoqiang , Yang Lijun , Liu Wenzhen , Shi Jiachen , Shen Jun
Published: August 2022

In order to solve the education problems caused by teachers and students’ unavoidable absence in school during the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of online education activities were carried out by Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunication in early March. To explore students and teachers’ degree of satisfaction with distance education, this paper investigates multiple dimensions such as students’ degree of satisfaction with teachers, the regional living standard, educational resources and negative factors that reduce the students’ degree of satisfaction, etc. Furthermore, the attitude of teachers toward distance education may be partially reflected by the arrangement of live classes. All of the statistics are analyzed by comparing the distribution of votes. The results show that the degree of satisfaction by students and teachers with distance education is generally high but varies in areas with different living standards. In addition, we find that students are more sensitive to the lack of a learning atmosphere.
Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Violent Sloshing Flows Using a Single Degree of Freedom Approach
Authors: Martinez-Carrascal Jon , González-Gutiérrez L. M. , Calderon-Sanchez Javier
Published: August 2022

In this work, the most fundamental aspects of an aeronautical sloshing problem have been studied using an alternative and simplified model. This model consists of a single degree of freedom version of the original problem which keeps the essence of the fluid structure interaction and also the most relevant physical aspects of the industrial case. Two independent methodologies have been used: first an experimental rig has been designed to measure and visualize different magnitudes of the problem and also a smoothed particle hydrodynamics formulation has been adapted to obtain a local representation of the flow interaction. Two very different fluids in terms of viscosity have been tested, and the differences in terms of the characteristics of the sloshing regimes, free surface fragmentation and relative kinetic energy have been described and compared. Apart from the comparison of the results obtained by both methodologies in terms of tank acceleration, sloshing forces and free surface evolution, a deep study of the sloshing force has been performed. This study focuses on a deeper understanding of the different aspects that constitute the sloshing force, such as its synchronization with the tank movement, the relation to the movement of the liquid’s center of mass and the physical projection of the force on the pressure and viscous parts. Additionally, a reconstruction of the sloshing force as a sum of the pressure signal recorded by a finite number of pressure sensors has been also performed.
Improving Deep Mutual Learning via Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Lukman Achmad , Yang Chuan-Kai
Published: August 2022

Knowledge transfer has become very popular in recent years, and it is either based on a one-way transfer method used with knowledge distillation or based on a two-way knowledge transfer implemented by deep mutual learning, while both of them adopt a teacher–student paradigm. A one-way based method is more simple and compact because it only involves an untrained low-capacity student and a high-capacity teacher network in the knowledge transfer process. In contrast, a two-way based method requires more training costs because it involves two or more low-cost network capacities from scratch simultaneously to obtain better accuracy results for each network. In this paper, we propose two new approaches, namely full deep distillation mutual learning (FDDML) and half deep distillation mutual learning (HDDML), and improve convolutional neural network performance. These approaches work with three losses by using variations of existing network architectures, and the experiments have been conducted on three public benchmark datasets. We test our method on some existing KT task methods, showing its performance over related methods.
Holding Our Nerves—Experiments in Dispersed Collective Silence, Waking Sleep and Autotheoretical Confession
Authors: Denton Grace
Published: August 2022

As part of my practice-based research, I host a monthly radio show based on the principle of ‘waking sleep’, resulting in a largely silent experiment in dispersed communion with an audience. Silence—though frowned upon in standard broadcasting—has long been a feature of artworks from Marina Abramović (1973–present), to John Cage’s 4′33 (1952), to Gillian Wearing’s Sixty MinutesSilence (1996). The power of collective silence is harnessed by many doctrines: in Quaker meetings for worship, in the practice of Zen Buddhism, and in the Memorial observance of a minute’s silence. The practice of ‘waking sleep’ was coined by Ned Hallowell M.D. as a means of refreshing the brain and combatting the effects of ADHD. It is simply the act of letting the mind wander, without feeding it the next dopamine hit from a stimulant like a conversation or screen-scroll. Holding My Nerve is a radio show, and an ongoing autotheoretical artwork. It is part-field recording, part-endurance performance, and tracks my research process as it evolves. Using transcripts of the show, diaristic writing, and reflections on art history and my past works, this article explores the often-fraught relationships between autotheory, visual art, neurodivergence, and practice-based research.
Study on Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Control and Reduction Potential in the Pesticide Industry in China
Authors: Wang Na , Shi Mali , Wu Shengmin , Guo Xinyan , Zhang Xiaohui , Ni Ni , Sha Sha , Zhang Houhu
Published: August 2022

The pesticide industry is one of the primary industries with large and complex VOC emissions. The present study examined the emission characteristics and whole-process control of VOCs in the pesticide industry in China by reviewing pollutant discharge permits, questionnaires, and site investigations. After evaluating the effectiveness of current treatment technologies, the potential of VOC emission reduction in China was analyzed. The results indicate that there are 41 key VOC substances in the pesticide industry that should be given considerable attention. Among treatment facilities, incineration was found to be the most efficient technology, with a removal rate of 53–98% and coverage rate of 23.3%. Multistage absorption–adsorption is a universal technology that had a removal rate of 35–95% and coverage rate of 64.14%. Multistage absorption was used most frequently, with a coverage rate of 71.99%, but its removal rate was between 16 and 85%. Pesticide factories were divided into three levels according to their pollution control capability; the comprehensive removal rates of benchmark, moderate, and poor factories were 81%, 46%, and 8%, respectively, and the emission reduction ratios for high, moderate, and low targets were 41.55%, 32.12%, and 24.32% with corresponding emission reduction costs of $0.653, $0.505, and $0.038 billion/year. The results and prospects from this study will provide support for policy development in industrial VOC emission control in China during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period.
On the Distribution of Kurepa’s Function
Authors: Fabiano Nicola , Gardašević-Filipović Milanka , Mirkov Nikola , Todorčević Vesna , Radenović Stojan
Published: August 2022

Kurepa’s function and his hypothesis have been investigated by means of numerical simulation. Particular emphasis has been given to the conjecture on its distribution, that should be one of a random uniform distribution, which has been verified for large numbers. A convergence function for the two has been found.
A Deep Learning Approach for Liver and Tumor Segmentation in CT Images Using ResUNet
Authors: Rahman Hameedur , Bukht Tanvir Fatima Naik , Imran Azhar , Tariq Junaid , Tu Shanshan , Alzahrani Abdulkareeem
Published: August 2022

According to the most recent estimates from global cancer statistics for 2020, liver cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women. Segmenting the liver is difficult, and segmenting the tumor from the liver adds some difficulty. After a sample of liver tissue is taken, imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), and ultrasound (US), are used to segment the liver and liver tumor. Due to overlapping intensity and variability in the position and shape of soft tissues, segmentation of the liver and tumor from computed abdominal tomography images based on shade gray or shapes is undesirable. This study proposed a more efficient method for segmenting liver and tumors from CT image volumes using a hybrid ResUNet model, combining the ResNet and UNet models to address this gap. The two overlapping models were primarily used in this study to segment the liver and for region of interest (ROI) assessment. Segmentation of the liver is done to examine the liver with an abdominal CT image volume. The proposed model is based on CT volume slices of patients with liver tumors and evaluated on the public 3D dataset IRCADB01. Based on the experimental analysis, the true value accuracy for liver segmentation was found to be approximately 99.55%, 97.85%, and 98.16%. The authentication rate of the dice coefficient also increased, indicating that the experiment went well and that the model is ready to use for the detection of liver tumors.
Current Concentrations of Zn, Cu, and As in Piggery Wastewater Compromise Nutrient Removals in Microalgae–Bacteria Photobioreactors Due to Altered Microbial Communities
Authors: Collao Javiera , García-Encina Pedro Antonio , Blanco Saúl , Bolado-Rodríguez Silvia , Fernandez-Gonzalez Nuria
Published: August 2022

The treatment of pig manure is a major environmental issue, and photobioreactors containing consortia of microalgae and bacteria have proven to be a promising and sustainable treatment alternative. This work studies the effect of Cu, Zn and As, three toxic elements frequently present in piggery wastewater, on the performance and microbiome of photobioreactors. After dopage with Zn (100 mg/L), Cu (100 mg/L), and As (500 µg/L), the high biomass uptake of Zn (69–81%) and Cu (81–83%) decreased the carbon removal in the photobioreactors, inhibited the growth of Chlorella sp., and affected heterotrophic bacterial populations. The biomass As uptake result was low (19%) and actually promoted microalgae growth. The presence of Cu and As decreased nitrogen removal, reducing the abundance of denitrifying bacterial populations. The results showed that metal(loid)s significantly affected 24 bacterial genera and that they did not recover after exposure. Therefore, this study makes an important contribution on the impact of the presence of metal(loid)s in piggery wastewater that compromises the overall performance of PBRs, and so, the environmental and health impact of treated effluents.
Taphonomic and Diagenetic Pathways to Protein Preservation, Part II: The Case of Brachylophosaurus canadensis Specimen MOR 2598
Authors: Ullmann Paul V. , Ash Richard D. , Scannella John B.
Published: August 2022

Recent recoveries of peptide sequences from two Cretaceous dinosaur bones require paleontologists to rethink traditional notions about how fossilization occurs. As part of this shifting paradigm, several research groups have recently begun attempting to characterize biomolecular decay and stabilization pathways in diverse paleoenvironmental and diagenetic settings. To advance these efforts, we assessed the taphonomic and geochemical history of Brachylophosaurus canadensis specimen MOR 2598, the left femur of which was previously found to retain endogenous cells, tissues, and structural proteins. Combined stratigraphic and trace element data show that after brief fluvial transport, this articulated hind limb was buried in a sandy, likely-brackish, estuarine channel. During early diagenesis, percolating groundwaters stagnated within the bones, forming reducing internal microenvironments. Recent exposure and weathering also caused the surficial leaching of trace elements from the specimen. Despite these shifting redox regimes, proteins within the bones were able to survive through diagenesis, attesting to their remarkable resiliency over geologic time. Synthesizing our findings with other recent studies reveals that oxidizing conditions in the initial ~48 h postmortem likely promote molecular stabilization reactions and that the retention of early-diagenetic trace element signatures may be a useful proxy for molecular recovery potential.