bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional multi-mode microwave vortex beam generation enabled by spoof surface plasmon polaritons
Authors: Feng Hao , Ye Longfang , Zhang Yong , Li Weiwen , Chen Huanyang , Liu Qing Huo
Published: December 2020

The microwave spectrum has become more and more crowded, motivating the investigation of new techniques to increase the communication capacity. Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) have the capability for providing an extra degree of freedom to increase the channel and capacity of the wireless communication system. In this Letter, we demonstrate an effective route to achieving efficient bidirectional multi-mode microwave circularly polarized vortex beam generation enabled by spoof surface plasmon polariton (spoof SPPs, SSPPs). According to the dispersion relation of the SSPP waveguide and the radiation principle for a leaky-wave antenna, multi-OAM-mode vortex beams with different topological charges can be generated by changing the operating frequency without changing the structure. Interestingly, the emitter simultaneously radiates the right-hand circularly polarized and the left-hand circularly polarized vortex beams with opposite topological charge values upward and downward, respectively. Simulation and experimental results show that this planar SSPP vortex emitter has the advantages of single-fed, bidirectional, multi-mode, and integration compatibility.
An inexpensive microfluidic device for three-dimensional hydrodynamic focusing in imaging flow cytometry
Authors: Patel Yogesh M. , Jain Sanidhya , Singh Abhishek Kumar , Khare Kedar , Ahlawat Sarita , Bahga Supreet Singh
Published: December 2020

We present design, characterization, and testing of an inexpensive, sheath-flow based microfluidic device for three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing of cells in imaging flow cytometry. In contrast to other 3D sheathing devices, our device hydrodynamically focuses the cells in a single-file near the bottom wall of the microchannel that allows imaging cells with high magnification and low working distance objectives, without the need for small device dimensions. The relatively large dimensions of the microchannels enable easy fabrication using less-precise fabrication techniques, and the simplicity of the device design avoids the need for tedious alignment of various layers. We have characterized the performance of the device with 3D numerical simulations and validated these simulations with experiments of hydrodynamic focusing of a fluorescently dyed sample fluid. The simulations show that the width and the height of the 3D focused sample stream can be controlled independently by varying the heights of main and side channels of the device, and the flow rates of sample and sheath fluids. Based on simulations, we also provide useful guidelines for choosing the device dimensions and flow rates for focusing cells of a particular size. Thereafter, we demonstrate the applicability of our device for imaging a large number of RBCs using brightfield microscopy. We also discuss the choice of the region of interest and camera frame rate so as to image each cell individually in our device. The design of our microfluidic device makes it equally applicable for imaging cells of different sizes using various other imaging techniques such as phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy.
Dirac equation perspective on higher-order topological insulators
Authors: Schindler Frank
Published: December 2020

In this Tutorial, we pedagogically review recent developments in the field of non-interacting fermionic phases of matter, focusing on the low-energy description of higher-order topological insulators in terms of the Dirac equation. Our aim is to give a mostly self-contained treatment. After introducing the Dirac approximation of topological crystalline band structures, we use it to derive the anomalous end and corner states of first- and higher-order topological insulators in one and two spatial dimensions. In particular, we recast the classical derivation of domain wall bound states of the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) chain in terms of crystalline symmetry. The edge of a two-dimensional higher-order topological insulator can then be viewed as a single crystalline symmetry-protected SSH chain, whose domain wall bound states become the corner states. We never explicitly solve for the full symmetric boundary of the two-dimensional system but instead argue by adiabatic continuity. Our approach captures all salient features of higher-order topology while remaining analytically tractable.
Cold-induced RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) regulates the expression of Src-associated during mitosis of 68 kDa (Sam68) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) during heat stress-induced testicular injury
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Ke Dandan , Zou Liping , Li Nianyu , Wang Yingying , Fan Xiaorong , Zhu Changhong , Xia Wei
Published: December 2020

In this study, the ability of cold-induced RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) to regulate the expression of Src-associated during mitosis of 68 kDa (Sam68) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in the mouse testis and mouse primary spermatocytes (GC-2spd cell line) before and after heat stress was examined to explore the molecular mechanism by which CIRBP decreases testicular injury. A mouse testicular hyperthermia model, a mouse primary spermatocyte hyperthermia model and a low CIRBP gene-expression cell model were constructed and their relevant parameters were analysed. The mRNA and protein levels of CIRBP and Sam68 were significantly decreased in the 3-h and 12-h testicular heat-stress groups, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) protein expression was not significantly affected but phospho-ERK1/2 protein levels were significantly decreased. GC-2spd cellular heat-stress results showed that the mRNA and protein concentrations of CIRBP and Sam68 were reduced 48h after heat stress. In the low CIRBP gene-expression cell model, CIRBP protein expression was significantly decreased. Sam68 mRNA expression was significantly decreased only at the maximum transfection concentration of 50nM and Sam68 protein expression was not significantly affected. These findings suggest that CIRBP may regulate the expression of Sam68 at the transcriptional level and the expression of phospho-ERK1/2 protein, both of which protect against heat-stress-induced testicular injury in mice.
Revisiting the 1888 Centennial Drought
Authors: Ritman Mathilde E. H. , Ashcroft Linden C.
Published: December 2020

Droughts are a key feature of Australia’s climate and can lead to water shortages, crop failure and economic instability. Historical droughts are an important source of information to better understand recent droughts and how they might be managed. However, the majority of studies into Australian drought only consider dry periods in the 20th and 21st centuries. Here, a newly developed gridded rainfall dataset from the Bureau of Meteorology and a network of historical rainfall stations are used to re-examine the short but sharp Centennial Drought of 1888. The Centennial Drought is explored on a monthly scale, highlighting key periods of rainfall deficiency, and identifying the impacts of relevant atmospheric circulation patterns. The most significant rainfall declines occur in autumn and spring and are likely to be the result of an El Niño event, a positive Sub-Tropical Ridge intensity anomaly, and seasonal fluctuations of the Southern Annular Mode. Comparing the Centennial Drought to other short droughts of 1914–15, 1982–83 and 2017~ indicates that the magnitude of the rainfall deficiencies and widespread spatial extent are comparable, placing the Centennial Drought alongside some of the most severe short droughts in Australia’s colonial climate history.
A nonstandard type of affix reordering
Authors: Stoynova Natalia
Published: December 2020

This paper deals with the restrictive (limitative) markerkə̄n‘only’ in Ulcha (Southern Tungusic). This marker has nontrivial positional features: it can attach before inflectional suffixes (as a derivational affix) or after them (as an enclitic). One might see the process of affix reordering described inHaspelmath (1993)as “externalization of inflection”, when a former clitic becomes a derivational affix. However, there is evidence that the uses ofkə̄nafter inflection are innovative as compared to those before inflection, not vice versa, and this direction of diachronic development is very unexpected. In this paper, I propose an explanation for this nonstandard reordering pattern and show that in fact it has the same motivation and the same mechanisms as previously reported types of affix reordering.
The Orai1 inhibitor BTP2 has multiple effects on Ca2+ handling in skeletal muscle
Authors: Meizoso-Huesca Aldo , Launikonis Bradley S.
Published: December 2020

BTP2 is an inhibitor of the Ca2+ channel Orai1, which mediates store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Despite having been extensively used in skeletal muscle, the effects of this inhibitor on Ca2+ handling in muscle cells have not been described. To address this question, we used intra- and extracellular application of BTP2 in mechanically skinned fibers and developed a localized modulator application approach, which provided in-preparation reference and test fiber sections to enhance detection of the effect of Ca2+ handling modulators. In addition to blocking Orai1-dependent SOCE, we found a BTP2-dependent inhibition of resting extracellular Ca2+ flux. Increasing concentrations of BTP2 caused a shift from inducing accumulation of Ca2+ in the t-system due to Orai1 blocking to reducing the resting [Ca2+] in the sealed t-system. This effect was not observed in the absence of functional ryanodine receptors (RYRs), suggesting that higher concentrations of BTP2 impair RYR function. Additionally, we found that BTP2 impaired action potential–induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum during repetitive stimulation without compromising the fiber Ca2+ content. BTP2 was found to have an effect on RYR-mediated Ca2+ release, suggesting that RYR is the point of BTP2-induced inhibition during cycles of EC coupling. The effects of BTP2 on the RYR Ca2+ leak and release were abolished by pre-exposure to saponin, indicating that the effects of BTP2 on the RYR are not direct and require a functional t-system. Our results demonstrate the presence of a SOCE channels–mediated basal Ca2+ influx in healthy muscle fibers and indicate that BTP2 has multiple effects on Ca2+ handling, including indirect effects on the activity of the RYR.
Quantum dark solitons in ultracold one-dimensional Bose and Fermi gases
Authors: Syrwid Andrzej
Published: December 2020

Solitons are ubiquitous phenomena that appear, among others, in the description of tsunami waves, fiber-optic communication and ultracold atomic gases. The latter systems turned out to be an excellent playground for investigations of matter-wave solitons in a quantum world. This tutorial provides a general overview of the ultracold contact interacting Bose and Fermi systems in a one-dimensional space that can be described by the renowned Lieb–Liniger and Yang–Gaudin models. Both the quantum many-body systems are exactly solvable by means of the Bethe ansatz technique, granting us a possibility for investigations of quantum nature of solitonic excitations. We discuss in details a specific class of quantum many-body excited eigenstates called yrast states and show that they are strictly related to quantum dark solitons in the both considered Bose and Fermi systems.
Optimizing the magnetic properties of hard and soft materials for producing exchange spring permanent magnets
Authors: Petrecca Michele , Muzzi Beatrice , Oliveri Stefano Maria , Albino Martin , Yaacoub Nader , Peddis Davide , de Julián Fernández César , Innocenti Claudia , Sangregorio Claudio
Published: December 2020

The exploitation of the exchange coupling between hard and soft magnetic materials has been proposed for enhancing the magnetic performances of rare-earth free permanent magnets, with the aim of extending their use to all applications where moderate energy product (35–100 kJ m−3) is required. Strontium hexaferrite (SFO)/spinel ferrite composites seem particularly promising to achieve this target, although the conditions to maximize the effect while using techniques easily scalable to industrial production have not yet been identified. Within this framework, the optimization of the structural, chemical, and magnetic properties of the two moieties before the coupling procedure is crucial to enhance the energy product of the final composite. Here we report the syntheses of both nanometric SFO with high coercivity (ca. 525 kA m−1) and quasi-bulk saturation magnetization (68 Am2 kg−1) and a series of nanosized zinc-doped ferrite (Zn
x
Fe3−x
O4, 0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.4) through cheap, easily scalable and eco-friendly approaches. The structural and chemical stability of the two magnetic phases as a function of temperature were investigated up to 1100 °C, with the aim of finding the best compromise between preservation of the nanometric scale and magnetic properties. A very high-magnetization (106 Am2 kg−1) ferrite was obtained by annealing Zn0.3Fe2.7O4 nanopowder at the highest investigated temperature. A preliminary attempt at coupling the two phases, starting from a mixture of the nanopowders, was performed through a classic annealing process in the temperature range 500 °C–1100 °C. The adopted procedure allowed for obtaining an exchange coupled composite at 1100 °C where the two phases are intimately and homogeneously mixed, with micrometric (0.3–5 μm) and nanometric (up to 50 nm) spinel ferrite particles. Despite these promising results, no enhancement of the energy product was found, highlighting the need for further experimental efforts to improve the coupling procedure.
Transition between half-metal and ferromagnetic semiconductor induced by silicon vacancy in bulk non-metallic substrate supported silicene
Authors: Qian Yan , Kan Erjun , Deng Kaiming , Wu Haiping
Published: December 2020

It should be possible to generate silicene on bulk non-metallic substrates for most applications in electronic components. However, the introduction of different types of imperfections, which significantly change the properties of materials, is inevitable in experimental synthesis. The literature on the defective silicene generated on bulk non-metallic substrates is very limited, perhaps due to the lack of experimental fabrication. Thus, by using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the effect of silicon vacancies on the properties of silicene generated on a N-terminated cubic boron nitride (111) surface. The result shows that the silicon vacancies trigger a transition between the half-metal and the ferromagnetic semiconductor. With small vacancy ratios of 1:36 and 1:24, the ground-state models behave as ferromagnetic semiconductors and the band gaps are about 1.25 and 0.95 eV, respectively. When the vacancy ratio increases up to 1:6, the model turns into a ferromagnetic half-metal with a half-metallic gap of around 0.15 eV. The change of electronic structure is driven by the different electron transfers between the silicon layer and the substrate, i.e. different amounts of electrons are transferred from the silicon layer to the substrate when the vacancy ratio is altered. Our work could extend the applications of silicene in the nanoelectronic field.
Short-range ferromagnetic order due to Ir substitutions in single-crystalline Ba(Co1−
x
Ir
x
)2As2 (0 ⩽
x
⩽ 0.25)
Authors: Pakhira Santanu , Sangeetha N S , Smetana V , Mudring A-V , Johnston D C
Published: December 2020

The ternary-arsenide compound BaCo2As2 was previously proposed to be in proximity to a quantum-critical point where long-range ferromagnetic (FM) order is suppressed by quantum fluctuations. Here we report the effect of Ir substitutions for Co on the magnetic and thermal properties of Ba

(

C
o

1
−
x

I
r

x

)

2

A
s

2

(0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.25) single crystals. These compositions all crystallize in an uncollapsed body-centered-tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure with space group I4/mmm. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal clear signatures of short-range FM ordering for x ⩾ 0.11 below a nearly composition-independent characteristic temperature T
cl ≈ 13 K. The small variation of T
cl with x, thermomagnetic irreversibility between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetic susceptibility versus T, the occurrence of hysteresis in magnetization versus field isotherms at low field and temperature, and very small spontaneous and remanent magnetizations <0.01 μ
B/f.u. together indicate that the FM response arises from short-range FM ordering of FM spin clusters as previously inferred to occur in Ca(Co1−x
Ir
x
)2−y
As2. Heat-capacity C
p(T) data do not exhibit any clear feature around T
cl, consistent with the very small moments of the FM clusters. The C
p(T) in the paramagnetic temperature regime 25–300 K is well described by the sum of a Sommerfeld electronic contribution and Debye and Einstein lattice contributions where the latter lattice contribution suggests the presence of low-frequency optic modes associated with the heavy Ba atoms in the crystals.
Quantum Monte Carlo study of the Hubbard model with next-nearest-neighbor hopping t′: pairing and magnetism
Authors: Yang Shuhui , Ying Tao , Li Weiqi , Yang Jianqun , Sun Xiudong , Li Xingji
Published: December 2020

Using the finite-temperature determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) algorithm, we study the pairing symmetries of the Hubbard Hamiltonian with next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) hopping t′ on square lattices. By varying the value of t′, we find that the d-wave pairing is suppressed by the onset of t′, while the p + ip-wave pairing tends to emerge for low electron density and t′ around −0.7. Together with the calculation of the anti-ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic spin correlation function, we explore the relationship between anti-ferromagnetic order and the d-wave pairing symmetry, and the relationship between ferromagnetic order and the p + ip-wave pairing symmetry. Our results may be useful for the exploration of the mechanism of the electron pairing symmetries, and for the realization of the exotic p + ip-wave superconductivity.
An iterative phase-correction method for low-quality phase-shift images and its application
Authors: Chen Li , Yun Jin , Xu Zhang , Huan Zhao
Published: December 2020

To solve the issue of phase recovery from low-quality fringe images (where the low quality is caused by noise, non-linear intensity and surface reflectivity changes), an iterative phase-correction method is proposed. The high-phase-precision solution is achieved by regenerating the phase-shift-fringe images from the wrapped phase and performing iterative filtering. In general, compared with conventional methods, the proposed iterative phase-correction method has three main advantages: (a) it suppresses the influence of noise without interference from surface reflectivity; (b) it effectively improves the wrapped phase accuracy, thereby improving 3D measurement accuracy, and (c) it effectively recovers the absolute phase (determined by a multi-frequency heterodyne method) information of surfaces with very low or very high reflectivities, without the additional projection of phase-shift-fringe images. The effectiveness of the proposed iterative phase-correction method is verified by simulation and experiment. The proposed method, applied to binocularly structured light, can improve measurement accuracy and greatly improve the effectiveness of measurement of objects with drastic changes in reflectivity. Based on the calibration accuracy (without gamma calibration of the projector) described in this paper, the root-mean-square deviation of the measurement results for binocularly structured light can reach 0.0094 mm.
On the radiative heat loss and axis-switching phenomena of a decaying laser spark
Authors: Joarder Ratan , Vellala Srinivas L , Singh Awanish P , Syam S , Padhi Upasana P , Choudhury Siba Prasad
Published: December 2020

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of a decaying laser spark in gaseous nitrogen has been carried out in Cartesian co-ordinate. The simulation starts with the introduction of a laser pulse in the domain. Thermal equilibrium has been assumed throughout the numerical simulation involving the species N2, N, N+, e−. The boundary conditions are treated following characteristic property of the waves to ensure smooth transmission of the blast wave out of the computational domain. The previously unexplained axis-switching phenomenon of the breakdown region has been explained, and a qualitative comparison of the same with experimental schlieren images has been made. The total radiation loss, including the loss during the breakdown, has been calculated. The variation of inverse Bremsstrahlung radiation, black body radiation, and spectral radiation of atomic nitrogen with time have been shown separately. Additionally, the temporal variation of radiation intensity of atomic nitrogen over a wavelength range has been plotted. The total radiation loss has been found to be small compared to the deposited laser energy.
3D printed anti-icing and de-icing system based on CNT/GNP doped epoxy composites with self-curing and structural health monitoring capabilities
Authors: Cortés A , Sánchez Romate Xoan F , Jiménez-Suárez A , Campo M , Prolongo M G , Ureña A , Prolongo S G
Published: December 2020

The strain-sensing, self-curing and self-heating capabilities of a 3D printed circuit made of a graphene nanoplatelet and carbon nanotube reinforced resin, have been widely explored. These materials exhibit high Joule’s heating effect capabilities that can be used for post-curing processes. More specifically, the values of glass transition temperature reached by Joule’s heating post-curing were very similar to those obtained by conventional oven heating. The temperature profile along each individual ribbon was relatively homogeneous, being an indicative of a good nanoparticle dispersion, confirmed by field emission gun scanning electron microscope analysis. Furthermore, the proposed printed circuits showed excellent strain-sensing capabilities with a much higher strain sensitivity, with a gauge factor of 6–8, in comparison to conventional metallic gauges or bulk nanocomposites, with a gauge factor of around 2, showing also good linearity. In addition, the breakage of individual ribbons can be easily detected by the strain-sensing system as a sharp increase of the electrical resistance. Finally, temperature compensation tests showed that, in case of printed ribbon breakage, it is possible to keep constant the average temperature of the circuit by raising the applied voltage to avoid ice accretion. Thus, with none to two broken ribbons, the 3D printed circuit can act as an efficient anti-icing and de-icing system.
A Lamb wave-based crack evaluation method in plate-like structures using specular reflections and tip diffractions
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zeng Liang , Lin Jing , Shao Yongsheng
Published: December 2020

The comprehensive assessment of crack angle, length and profile could provide an important reference for the non-destructive evaluation of plate-like structures. In this paper, we aim at fully exploiting information carried by reflections, so that details of the crack could be displayed as much as possible. Firstly, the Lamb wave reflections from a crack are classified into specular waves and tip diffractions. Under the linear assumption of crack profile, the specular waves could be regarded as being transmitted from the mirror point of the actuator with respect to the crack line, thus the corresponding reflection points can be located with geometric methods. On the other hand, diffractions are used to visualize crack tips where a fusion strategy is adopted to get the localization image. Both reflection points and tips are not only interpolated to show the crack position and profile, but also linearly fitted to display the crack trend for the estimation of its length and angle. Numerical investigations and experiments are carried out on different cracks, and related parameters are also discussed. Results show that the proposed method could make an accurate crack evaluation and reconstruct a detailed crack shape.
The nature of the hydrogen interaction on the unreconstructed platinum (110) surface: ab-initio study
Authors: Hanh Tran Thi Thu
Published: December 2020

The theoretical description of the interaction of the hydrogen atoms on the unreconstructed platinum surface Pt(110) was studied within the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The most stable sites of the adsorbed hydrogen atom on the surface were confirmed: the H atom on the short bridge site (B), and the H atom on the top site (T). By performing the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for the obtained gas model parameterized by the DFT method, the abundance of B over T was presented. The 5% underestimation of the hydrogen interaction energy in this work compared with the Cyclic Voltammetry experiment was shown. It can be caused by the omission of the hydration effect in the simulation calculation.
Multivalent molecular tension probes as anisotropic mechanosensors: concept and simulation
Authors: Blanchard Aaron T , Salaita Khalid
Published: December 2020

Cells use protein-based mechanosensors to measure the physical properties of their surroundings. Synthetic tension sensors made of proteins, DNA, and other molecular building blocks have recently emerged as tools to visualize and perturb the mechanics of these mechanosensors. While almost all synthetic tension sensors are designed to exhibit orientation-independent force responses, recent work has shown that biological mechanosensors often function in a manner that is highly dependent on force orientation. Accordingly, the design of synthetic mechanosensors with orientation-dependent force responses can provide a means to study the role of orientation in mechanosensation. Furthermore, the process of designing anisotropic force responses may yield insight into the physical basis for orientation-dependence in biological mechanosensors. Here, we propose a DNA-based molecular tension sensor design wherein multivalency is used to create an orientation-dependent force response. We apply chemomechanical modeling to show that multivalency can be used to create synthetic mechanosensors with force response thresholds that vary by tens of pN with respect to force orientation.
Personal assessment of urban heat exposure: a systematic review
Authors: Nazarian Negin , Lee Jason KW
Published: December 2020

To fully address the multi-faceted challenges of urban heat, it is paramount that humans are placed at the center of the agenda. This is manifested in a recent shift in urban heat studies that aim to achieve a ‘human-centric’ approach, i.e. focusing on personalized characteristics of comfort, well-being, performance, and health, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all solutions and guidelines. The proposed article is focused on systematically reviewing personalized urban heat studies and detailing the objectives posed, methodologies utilized, and limitations yet to be addressed. We further summarize current knowledge and challenges in addressing the impact of personal heat exposure on human life by discussing the literature linked with urban heat studies at the human, building, and city scales. Lastly, this systematic review reveals the need for future evaluations focused on accuracy and standardization of human-centric data collection and analytics, and more importantly, addressing critical geographic and socio-economic knowledge gaps identified in the field.
A new auxetic structure with enhanced stiffness via stiffened elliptical perforations
Authors: Jafari Nedoushan Reza , Yu Woong-Ryeol
Published: December 2020

Auxetic materials, a class of metamaterials with negative Poisson’s ratio, have been extensively studied due to their attractive mechanical properties. In this study, an auxetic material was developed using new perforation shapes with stiffeners. Standard elliptical perforations were stiffened and analyzed by the finite-element method. Periodic boundary conditions were applied to the unit cell of the new shapes and their effective Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus were calculated. The finite-element analysis found that the proposed stiffened perforated sheets exhibited auxetic behavior and had enhanced stiffness compared with standard elliptically perforated sheets.
Effect of polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride content on physical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene composites
Authors: Jang Ji-un , Youn Sang Jun , Kim Seong Yun , Park Min
Published: December 2020

Polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) is known as an excellent interface modifier that can improve the interface between carbon fiber (CF) and PP. In this study, the effect of PP-g-MAH content on the physical properties of PP composites containing long-fiber CFs was investigated. It was confirmed that PP-g-MAH acted as an interface modifier between the interface between CF and PP, and when an appropriate amount of 10 wt% was incorporated, the tensile strength, tensile modulus, Izod impact strength, and heat deflection temperature were improved by 110%, 50%, 86.7% and 12.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the blending effect of PP-g-MAH, which is a low molecular weight, was greater than the compatibilizing effect when the PP-g-MAH content was mixed above the appropriate content, thereby reducing the physical properties. Therefore, the content of PP-g-MAH as the interface modifier must be designed to be the optimum content considering the CF content to be mixed in order to optimize the physical properties of the composite material.
Older patients’ perspectives toward lifestyle-related secondary cardiovascular prevention after a hospital admission—a qualitative study
Authors: Jepma Patricia , Snaterse Marjolein , Du Puy Simone , Peters Ron J G , op Reimer Wilma J M Scholte
Published: December 2020

Background

lifestyle-related secondary prevention reduces cardiac events and is recommended irrespective of age. However, motivation may be influenced by age and disease progression.

Objective

to explore older cardiac patients’ perspectives toward lifestyle-related secondary prevention after a hospital admission.

Methods

a generic qualitative design was used. Semi-structured interviews were performed with cardiac patients ≥ 70 years within 3 months after a hospital admission. The interview guide was based on the Attitudes, Social influence and self-Efficacy (ASE) model. All interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

eight themes emerged which were linked to the determinants of the ASE-model. The three themes (i) Perspectives are determined by general health and habits, (ii) feeling the threat as a motivator and (iii) balancing between health benefits and quality of life (QoL), were linked to attitude. Regarding social influence, the themes (iv) feeling both encouraged and hindered by family members, and (v) the healthcare professional says so, were identified. For the self-efficacy determinant, (vi) experiences from previous lifestyle changes, (vii) integrating advice in daily life and (viii) feeling limited by functional impairments, emerged as themes.

Conclusion

most older cardiac patients made no lifestyle modifications after the last hospital admission and balanced possible benefits against their QoL. Functional impairments frequently limit implementation, in particular of physical activity. Patients’ preferences and patient-centred outcomes focusing on QoL and functional independence may be the starting point when healthcare professionals discuss lifestyle modification in older patients. The involvement of family members may help patients to integrate lifestyle-related secondary prevention in daily life.
ANP32A promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the HMGA1/STAT3 pathway
Authors: Tian Zilu , Liu Zhiyi , Fang Xiaokang , Cao Kuan , Zhang Bin , Wu Rui , Wen Xin , Wen Quan , Shi Hengliang , Wang Renhao
Published: December 2020

Acidic leucine-rich nuclear phosphoprotein-32A (ANP32A) has been reported to play an essential role in the development and progression of various human cancers. However, its expression pattern and possible mechanism in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used western blot and immunohistochemical staining to detect protein expression. The effects of ANP32A on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells were examined using 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation, CCK-8, and transwell assays. RT-qPCR was performed to detect mRNA expression. The interaction between ANP32A and the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) mRNA was assessed using RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). The tumorigenicity of ANP32A was assessed by establishing a xenograft tumor model in Balb/c nude mice. We found that the ANP32A protein was expressed at high levels in patients with HCC, which was associated with a poor prognosis. Functional experiments revealed that the silencing of ANP32A inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, whereas overexpression of ANP32A promoted these processes. Further investigations indicated that ANP32A bound the HMGA1 mRNA and maintained its stability to promote the expression of HMGA1, thereby increasing the expression and activation of STAT3. Finally, a xenograft tumor model of Balb/c nude mice confirmed the tumorigenicity of ANP32A. This study found that ANP32A is up-regulated in patients with HCC and may accelerate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells by modulating the HMGA1/STAT3 pathway.
Dissociable Auditory Cortico-Cerebellar Pathways in the Human Brain Estimated by Intrinsic Functional Connectivity
Authors: Ren Jianxun , Hubbard Catherine S , Ahveninen Jyrki , Cui Weigang , Li Meiling , Peng Xiaolong , Luan Guoming , Han Ying , Li Yang , Shinn Ann K , Wang Danhong , Li Luming , Liu Hesheng
Published: December 2020

The cerebellum, a structure historically associated with motor control, has more recently been implicated in several higher-order auditory–cognitive functions. However, the exact functional pathways that mediate cerebellar influences on auditory cortex (AC) remain unclear. Here, we sought to identify auditory cortico-cerebellar pathways based on intrinsic functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging. In contrast to previous connectivity studies that principally consider the AC as a single functionally homogenous unit, we mapped the cerebellar connectivity across different parts of the AC. Our results reveal that auditory subareas demonstrating different levels of interindividual functional variability are functionally coupled with distinct cerebellar regions. Moreover, auditory and sensorimotor areas show divergent cortico-cerebellar connectivity patterns, although sensorimotor areas proximal to the AC are often functionally grouped with the AC in previous connectivity-based network analyses. Lastly, we found that the AC can be functionally segmented into highly similar subareas based on either cortico-cerebellar or cortico-cortical functional connectivity, suggesting the existence of multiple parallel auditory cortico-cerebellar circuits that involve different subareas of the AC. Overall, the present study revealed multiple auditory cortico-cerebellar pathways and provided a fine-grained map of AC subareas, indicative of the critical role of the cerebellum in auditory processing and multisensory integration.
Proficiency Testing to Assess Technical Performance for CTC-Processing and Detection Methods in CANCER-ID
Authors: Neves Rui P L , Ammerlaan Wim , Andree Kiki C , Bender Sebastian , Cayrefourcq Laure , Driemel Christiane , Koch Claudia , Luetke-Eversloh Merlin Verena , Oulhen Marianne , Rossi Elisabetta , Alix-Panabières Catherine , Betsou Fay , Farace Françoise , Riethdorf Sabine , Schlange Thomas , Wikman Harriet , Zamarchi Rita , Pantel Klaus , Terstappen Leon W M M , Stoecklein Nikolas H ,   for the CANCER-ID Consortium
Published: December 2020

Background

Multiple technologies are available for detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), but standards to evaluate their technical performance are still lacking. This limits the applicability of CTC analysis in clinic routine. Therefore, in the context of the CANCER-ID consortium, we established a platform to assess technical validity of CTC detection methods in a European multi-center setting using non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a model.

Methods

We characterized multiple NSCLC cell lines to define cellular models distinct in their phenotype and molecular characteristics. Standardized tumor-cell-bearing blood samples were prepared at a central laboratory and sent to multiple European laboratories for processing according to standard operating procedures. The data were submitted via an online tool and centrally evaluated. Five CTC-enrichment technologies were tested.

Results

We could identify 2 cytokeratin expressing cell lines with distinct levels of EpCAM expression: NCI-H441 (EpCAMhigh, CKpos) and NCI-H1563 (EpCAMlow, CKpos). Both spiked tumor cell lines were detected by all technologies except for the CellSearch system that failed to enrich EpCAMlow NCI-H1563 cells. Mean recovery rates ranged between 49% and 75% for NCI-H411 and 32% and 76% for NCI-H1563 and significant differences were observed between the tested methods.

Conclusions

This multi-national proficiency testing of CTC-enrichment technologies has importance in the establishment of guidelines for clinically applicable (pre)analytical workflows and the definition of minimal performance qualification requirements prior to clinical validation of technologies. It will remain in operation beyond the funding period of CANCER-ID in the context of the European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS).
What (if any) behaviour change techniques do government-led cybersecurity awareness campaigns use?
Authors: van Steen Tommy , Norris Emma , Atha Kirsty , Joinson Adam
Published: December 2020

With the surge in cyber incidents in recent years, many linked to human error, governments are quite naturally developing security campaigns to improve citizens’ security behaviour. However, it remains not only unclear how successful these campaigns are in changing behaviour, but also what established behaviour change techniques—if any—they employ in order to achieve this goal. To investigate this, we analysed 17 government-sponsored cybersecurity campaign materials. We coded the materials for their intervention functions according to the Behaviour Change Wheel and their behaviour change techniques in accordance with the Behavioural Change Technique Taxonomy (version 1). Our findings show that security campaigns are often focused on education and increasing awareness, under the assumption that as long as citizens are aware of the risk, and are provided with information on how to improve their security behaviour, behaviour will change. Additionally, there is a lack of published effectiveness studies investigating the direct effects of a governmental cybersecurity campaign. Proposed improvements to security campaigns are discussed.
Low-cost fitness and activity trackers for biometric authentication
Authors: Khan Saad , Parkinson Simon , Liu Na , Grant Liam
Published: December 2020

Fitness and activity tracking devices acquire, process and store rich behavioural data that are consumed by the end-user to learn health insights. This rich data source also enables a secondary use of being part of a biometric authentication system. However, there are many open research challenges with the use of data generated by fitness and activity trackers as a biometric source. In this article, the challenge of using data acquired from low-cost devices is tackled. This includes investigating how to best partition the data to deduce repeatable behavioural traits, while maximizing the uniqueness between participant datasets. In this exploratory research, 3 months’ worth of data (heart rate, step count and sleep) for five participants is acquired and utilized in its raw form from low-cost devices. It is established that dividing the data into 14-h segments is deemed the most suitable based on measuring coefficients of variance. Several supervised machine learning algorithms are then applied where the performance is evaluated by six metrics to demonstrate the potential of employing this data source in biometric-based security systems.
Case report of a ‘snake thrombus’ in the right heart: a rare finding on echocardiography
Authors: Bosman Nienke A.M. , Kuipers Remko S.
Published: December 2020

Background 

A right heart thrombus originating from an inferior vena cava thrombosis (IVCT) is a rare entity. In accordance with venous thromboembolism (VTE), IVCT can be categorized as primary or secondary. Secondary ICVT can be the result of a predisposing hypercoagulable state and/or from external compression on the inferior vena cava (IVC) such as in case of malignancies. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), amongst others, has been described in the context of secondary IVCT.

Case summary 

An 80-year-old man was presented in our emergency department with complaints of dyspnoea and oedema. Echocardiography revealed a large snake-like thrombus in the IVC extending into the right atrium. Subsequent computed tomography resulted in a diagnosis of an RCC. The patient was considered to be in too poor clinical condition for surgical removal. In the next days, his condition deteriorated, after which palliative care was initiated and the patient deceased at day 12 of admission.

Conclusion 

A right heart thrombus is a rare finding during echocardiography. This case demonstrates an incidental finding of a ‘snake thrombus’ in the IVC and right heart secondary to RCC. This case illustrates the importance and additional value of echocardiography in the setting of suspected right-sided heart failure.
Changing paradigm for treatment of heavily calcified coronary artery disease. A complementary role of rotational atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy with shockwave balloon: a case report
Authors: Tehrani Shana , Rathore Sudhir , Achan Vinod
Published: December 2020

Background

Management of heavily calcified coronary arteries is still a major challenge in interventional cardiology. Inadequate stent expansion in calcific lesions is the single most important predictor of stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an important tool to modify the calcium burden but is associated with limitations and requires specific skills. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a novel technique to treat calcified stenotic lesions and has been proposed as an alternative to RA with promising results.

Case summary

We report a case of a patient with severely calcified right coronary artery stenosis successfully treated with combination of RA and IVL.

Discussion

In this case, we demonstrate that the RA and IVL are complementary strategies, not sufficient on their own and not alternative to each other.
Intraoperative embolism of a right atrial myxoma: a case report
Authors: Papadopoulos Konstantinos , Alexiou Christos , Ozden Tok Ozge , Vannan Mani A
Published: December 2020

Background

Atrial myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumours. Clinical manifestations vary from constitutional symptoms, to valvular stenosis and embolic events, and surgical removal is the only suggested treatment.

Case summary

A 50-year-old female patient was referred to our centre for surgical excision of a reported right atrial mass. A transoesophageal echocardiographic exam revealed two right atrial masses and the surgical plan was total removal of both masses. However, during the operation the surgeons were not able to locate the larger of the two masses and embolization to the pulmonary trunk was considered as the most likely explanation in this setting. A control suction of the right ventricle and the proximal part of the pulmonary arteries was performed to check if the mass had embolized distally but this did not yield any mass. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit and remained stable for 2 h, until she developed an abrupt cardiogenic shock with signs of right heart failure. An emergent pulmonary computed tomography angiography demonstrated the embolized mass to the left pulmonary artery and the patient was retransferred to the operating room for emergent surgical removal of the mass. The patient showed immediate clinical and haemodynamic improvement after the removal of this mass and had an uneventful further hospitalization.

Discussion

Multiple right atrial myxomas are rarely reported and surgical excision requires experience, as in case of embolization immediate removal must be obtained to prevent from right ventricle distress and cardiogenic shock.
Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 in a child who underwent ventricular septal defect device closure: a case report
Authors: Bahaidarah Saud A , Dohain Ahmed M , Abdelmohsen Gaser , Alnajjar Abeer A , Al-Ata Jameel
Published: December 2020

Background

Studies about the incidence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are still significantly lower than those in adults. Moreover, data on the effect of COVID-19 in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are limited. To the best of our knowledge, this study first reported mortality in a child with CHD who acquired COVID-19.

Case summary

A 16-month-old boy presented to the emergency department due to shortness of breath, fever, cough, and poor oral intake. He tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). He required mechanical ventilation for rapidly progressing respiratory failure. The patient had a large mid-muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) that was closed percutaneously at the age of 13 months. Moreover, we followed his hospital sequelae from admission to death.

Discussion

This child had multiple risk factors, including malnutrition and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after late closure of the VSD. The pre-existing PH could have been aggravated by the lung condition associated with COVID-19 and the respiratory failure triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient presented with ventricular systolic dysfunction, elevated troponin serum levels and newly developed trifascicular block, which were indicative of myocardial injury. The elevated inflammatory markers and multi-organ dysfunction seem to corroborate multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which was described recently among paediatric patients with COVID-19.
High-altitude pulmonary edema
Authors: Woods Peter , Alcock Joe
Published: December 2020

Lay summary: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a potentially fatal disease of altitude, in which the lungs can become filled with fluid. In this article we explore the mechanisms causing this condition and how it can be viewed as a condition of a mismatch between current environment and evolutionary experience.