bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A nomogram for predicting the readmission within 6 months after treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Li Dongyun , Lin Ying , Dong Wenjing , Hu Yalei , Li Ke
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To explore predictors for readmission within 6 months of ACS patients, and to build a prediction model, and generate a nomogram.

Methods

The retrospective cohort study included 498 patients with ACS in the Second Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital between January 2016 and March 2019. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) and two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) analysis were used to investigate predictors for readmission within 6 months. The cohort was randomly divided into training cohort to develop a prediction model, and the validation cohort to validate the model. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the calibration curve was used to assess discriminative power and calibration.

Results

Eighty-three ACS patients were readmitted within six months, with a readmission rate of 16.67%. Predictors included ACS type, treatment, hypertension, SUA, length of stay, statins, and adverse events occurred during hospitalization were used to form a six-month readmission prediction model for readmission within 6 months in ACS patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.788 (95%CI: 0.735–0.878) and 0.775 (95%CI: 0.686–0.865) in the training cohort and the validation cohort, respectively. Calibration curves showed the good calibration of the prediction model. Decision-curve analyses and clinical impact curve also demonstrated that it was clinically valuable.

Conclusion

We used seven readily available predictors to develop a prediction model for readmission within six months after treatment in ACS patients, which could be used to identify high-risk patients for ACS readmission.
A stratified adaptive two-stage design with co-primary endpoints for phase II clinical oncology trials
Authors: Cabarrou Bastien , Leconte Eve , Sfumato Patrick , Boher Jean-Marie , Filleron Thomas
Published: October 2022

Background

Given the inherent challenges of conducting randomized phase III trials in older cancer patients, single-arm phase II trials which assess the feasibility of a treatment that has already been shown to be effective in a younger population may provide a compelling alternative. Such an approach would need to evaluate treatment feasibility based on a composite endpoint that combines multiple clinical dimensions and to stratify older patients as fit or frail to account for the heterogeneity of the study population to recommend an appropriate treatment approach. In this context, stratified adaptive two-stage designs for binary or composite endpoints, initially developed for biomarker studies, allow to include two subgroups whilst maintaining competitive statistical performances. In practice, heterogeneity may indeed affect more than one dimension and incorporating co-primary endpoints, which independently assess each individual clinical dimension, would therefore appear quite pertinent. The current paper presents a novel phase II design for co-primary endpoints which takes into account the heterogeneity of a population. 

Methods

We developed a stratified adaptive Bryant & Day design based on the Jones et al. and Parashar et al. algorithm. This two-stage design allows to jointly assess two dimensions (e.g. activity and toxicity) in two different subgroups. The operating characteristics of this new design were evaluated using examples and simulation comparisons with the Bryant & Day design in the context where the study population is stratified according to a pre-defined criterion.

Results

Simulation results demonstrated that the new design minimized the expected and maximum sample sizes as compared to parallel Bryant & Day designs (one in each subgroup), whilst controlling type I error rates and maintaining a competitive statistical power as well as a high probability of detecting heterogeneity.

Conclusions

In a heterogeneous population, this two-stage stratified adaptive phase II design provides a useful alternative to classical one and allows to identify a subgroup of interest without dramatically increasing sample size. As heterogeneity is not limited to older populations, this new design may also be relevant to other study populations such as children or adolescents and young adults or the development of targeted therapies based on a biomarker.
Antibiotic prescribing patterns at children’s outpatient departments of primary care institutions in Southwest China
Authors: Wang Wenju , Yu Shitao , Zhou Xunrong , Wang Lei , He Xun , Zhou Hanni , Chang Yue
Published: October 2022

Background

Inappropriate use of antibiotics in children is common in many countries. The purpose of the study was to explore patterns of antibiotic prescribing in children’s outpatient clinics in primary care institutions in a province of southwest China.

Methods

We obtained electronic prescription data from 75 primary care institutions in Guizhou province in 2020. The classification of incorrect spectrum of antibiotics, unnecessary use and combined use of antibiotics was based on the Guiding Principle of Clinical Use of Antibiotics (2015, China) and guidelines from the USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential risk factors for inappropriate use of antibiotics were identified using bivariate analyses. The generalized estimation equation was used to identify independent predictors of inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Results

A total of 158,267 antibiotic prescriptions were retrieved. Acute upper respiratory tract infections were the most common diseases, accounting for 74.9% of all prescriptions. The main antibiotic group used was penicillins (63.7%), followed by cephalosporins (18.8%). Of 137,284 visits, 18.3% of antibiotic prescriptions were appropriate and the percentage of unnecessary use, incorrect spectrum of antibiotics and combined use of antibiotics was 76.9, 2.4 and 2.4%, respectively. Physicians with lower professional titles and more than 40 years of work duration were relatively more likely to prescribe inappropriate antibiotics.

Conclusion

The inappropriate use of antibiotics in children is still prominent in primary care institutions of southwest China. The education and training of physicians and caregivers in these institutions should be strengthened.
Mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate for third-trimester stillbirth induction: a 5-year experience from Shanghai
Authors: Xue Rui-Hong , Li Juan , Yao Yong-Li , Huang Run-Jie , Ma Jue , Zhang Lin
Published: October 2022

Objective

To review and analyze the efficacy and safety of mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate for induction of stillbirth in the third trimester.

Methods

All patients with stillbirth in late pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks) in a university-affiliated maternity center from October 2016 to September 2021 were included in this study. After exclusion, patients were divided into ethacridine lactate and non-ethacridine lactate groups according to induction methods. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the risks of complications.

Results

We identified 122 patients that experienced stillbirth (5’ Apgar score = 0) in third-trimester from the 5-year total deliveries in the hospital, among whom 39 stillbirths that resulted from termination of pregnancy for severe fetal anomalies and 1 stillbirth that was in twin pregnancy were excluded. Thus, 82 cases with stillbirths (dead before induction) were included in the analyses. In the 82 cases, 49 (59.76%) accepted intra-amniotic ethacridine lactate induction with 47 (95.92%, 47/49) successfully induced. No statistical difference was observed in induction failure rate between ethacridine dosage groups of < 75mg and ≥ 75mg (0/25, vs. 2/24, respectively; P > 0.05). The ethacridine lactate induction group showed no increased risks in complications (6.12%, 3/49), compared with non-ethacridine lactate group (12.12%, 4/33) (P = 0.35, OR, 0.47, 95%CI, 0.10 to 2.27).

Conclusion

Mifepristone combined with ethacridine lactate is a safe and low-risk induction method for patients with stillbirth in the third trimester.
Interventions supporting cancer patients in making decisions regarding participation in clinical trials - a systematic review
Authors: Hillersdal Line , Nielsen Zandra Engelbak , Nørmark Ane Taudorf , Knoop Ann , Piil Karin
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Existing research on the perspectives of patients with cancer and health care professionals indicates that patient decision making on cancer clinical trial participation is a complex process and may be poorly understood, possibly compromising their decision to participate. This systematic review investigates interventions that support patients in their decision-making processes regarding whether to participate or not and assesses the qualities of the interventions, measures used and related outcomes.

Methods

Six databases were systematically searched and only studies evaluating interventions that support the decision making of adult patients offered to enter a cancer clinical trial were included. Ten articles met the criteria and were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach.

Results

The research focus of the included studies reflected the multifactorial nature of what constitutes support for patient decision making in terms of entering a cancer clinical trial. However, most interventions were based on the hypothesis that more information leads to support in decision making, and did not take other factors, such as the relationship to the clinical staff or relatives, the patients’ strong hope for therapeutic benefit or other existential needs into account. The interventions were primarily based on a specific tool, executed once, which seems to imply that decisions need only to be supported once and not at several time points throughout the decision process, and did not assess the importance of a patient’s family- or social relations. Moreover, few interventions focused on the patients’ counselling experience or assessed patient preferences in relation to decision making.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate a lack of research on interventions to support patients’ decision making that takes other factors, apart from improving knowledge of trials, into account. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of decision support interventions to improve the experience of support in adult patients with cancer. Interventions that take patient preferences in relation to decision making and the social context of decision processes into account need to be developed and assessed.
Liver-specific lncRNA FAM99A may be a tumor suppressor and promising prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Mo Meile , Ma Xiaoyun , Luo Yihuan , Tan Chao , Liu Bihu , Tang Peng , Liao Qian , Liu Shun , Yu Hongping , Huang Dongping , Zeng Xiaoyun , Qiu Xiaoqiang
Published: October 2022

Background

Increasing evidence shows that liver-specific long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We identified a novel liver-specific lncRNA, FAM99A, and examined its clinical significance and biological functions in HCC.

Methods

The expression level and clinical value of FAM99A in HCC were examined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and were further verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) in our HCC cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were also applied to identify independent prognostic indicators for HCC patients. Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the effects of FAM99A on the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HCC cells in vitro. A subcutaneous xenograft tumor model was implemented to determine the effect of FAM99A on the tumor growth of HCC cells in vivo. RNA pull-down and mass spectrometry assays were performed to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms of FAM99A in HCC.

Results

The three public online databases and qRT–PCR data showed that FAM99A was frequently downregulated in HCC tissues and inversely correlated with microvascular invasion and advanced histological grade of HCC patients. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that decreased FAM99A was significantly associated with poor overall survival of HCC patients based on TCGA database (P = 0.040), ICGC data portal (P < 0.001), and our HCC cohort (P = 0.010). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model based on our HCC cohort suggested that FAM99A was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival for HCC patients (hazard ratio: 0.425, P = 0.039). Upregulation of FAM99A suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion capacities of HCC cells in vitro, and knockdown of FAM99A had the opposite effects. A subcutaneous xenograft tumor model demonstrated that overexpression of FAM99A significantly inhibited the tumor growth of HCC cells in vivo. Seven tumor-related proteins (PCBP1, SRSF5, SRSF6, YBX1, IGF2BP2, HNRNPK, and HNRNPL) were recognized as possible FAM99A-binding proteins by the RNA pull-down and mass spectrometry assays.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that FAM99A exerts cancer-inhibiting effects on HCC progression, and it may be a promising prognostic indicator for HCC patients.
Frequency, proportion of PF-ILD, and prognostic factors in patients with acute exacerbation of ILD related to systemic autoimmune diseases
Authors: Enomoto Noriyuki , Naoi Hyogo , Mochizuka Yasutaka , Isayama Takuya , Tanaka Yuko , Fukada Atsuki , Aono Yuya , Katsumata Mineo , Yasui Hideki , Mori Kazutaka , Karayama Masato , Hozumi Hironao , Suzuki Yuzo , Furuhashi Kazuki , Fujisawa Tomoyuki , Inui Naoki , Nakamura Yutaro , Suda Takafumi
Published: October 2022

Background

Acute exacerbation (AE) of systemic autoimmune disease-related interstitial lung diseases (SAID-ILD) is less common than AE of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and the details of AE-SAID-ILD have not been elucidated, but the prognosis is similarly devastating. This study was undertaken to determine the incidences of AE-ILD in each SAID and to elucidate the proportion of progressive fibrosing (PF)-ILD in AE-SAID-ILD.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed data for patients with SAID-ILD who were diagnosed and observed at our hospital between 1999 and 2020.

Results

Two hundred and thirty-two patients with SAID-ILD were enrolled, with a mean observation period of 100.2 months. AE-SAID-ILD was found in 25 patients (10.78%), mainly in patients with RA (17 patients, 68%) and elderly male patients with a smoking history. The overall incidence of AE-SAID-ILD was 1.29%/person-year, and the incidence for each SAID was as follows: RA 2.193, microscopic polyarteritis (MPA) 3.203, systemic sclerosis (SSc) 2.277, primary Sjögren syndrome 0.426, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis 0.222. The incidence of AE of RA/MPA/SSc-ILD was significantly higher than that of other AE-SAID-ILD (p < 0.001). Five of 25 patients (20%) fulfilled the criteria for PF-ILD. The 90-day survival rate was 48.0%, and a higher neutrophil count at AE (HR 13.27, 95%CI 2.447–246, p = 0.001) and early commencement of long-duration direct haemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilised fibre column (HR 0.105, 95%CI 0.005–0.858, p = 0.035) were significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

The incidence of AE-SAID-ILD was significantly higher in patients with RA, MPA, or SSc than in patients with other SAID. Furthermore, even in patients with AE-SAID-ILD, the proportion of PF-ILD just before AE was not high (20%).
Implementation of a soft grading system for chemistry in a Moodle plugin
Authors: Plyer Louis , Marcou Gilles , Perves Céline , Schurhammer Rachel , Varnek Alexandre
Published: October 2022

We report a novel approach for grading chemical structure drawings for remote teaching, integrated into the Moodle platform. Typically, existing online platforms use a binary grading system, which often fails to give a nuanced evaluation of the answers given by the students. Therefore, such platforms are unevenly adapted to different disciplines. This is particularly true in the case of chemical structures, where most questions simply cannot be evaluated on a true/false basis. Specifically, a strict comparison of candidate and expected chemical structures is not sufficient when some tolerance is deemed acceptable. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a grading workflow based on the pairwise similarity score of two considered chemical structures. This workflow is implemented as a Moodle plugin, using the Chemdoodle engine for drawing structures and communicating with a REST server to compute the similarity score using molecular descriptors. The plugin (https://github.com/Laboratoire-de-Chemoinformatique/moodle-qtype_molsimilarity) is easily adaptable to any academic user; both embedding and similarity measures can be configured.
Altered acetyl-CoA metabolism presents a new potential immunotherapy target in the obese lung microenvironment
Authors: Rosario Spencer R. , Smith Randall J. , Patnaik Santosh K. , Liu Song , Barbi Joseph , Yendamuri Sai
Published: October 2022

Contrary to the “obesity paradox,” which arises from retrospective studies relying on body mass index to define obesity, epidemiologic evidence suggests central or visceral obesity is associated with a higher risk for the development of lung cancer. About 60% of individuals at high risk for developing lung cancer or those already with early-stage disease are either overweight or obese. Findings from resected patient tumors and mouse lung tumor models show obesity dampens immune activity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) encouraging disease progression. In line with this, we have observed a marked, obesity-specific enhancement in the presence and phenotype of immunosuppressive regulatory T (Treg) cells in murine tumors as well as the airways of both humans and mice. Leveraging direct metabolomic measurements and robust inferred analyses from RNA-sequencing data, we here demonstrate for the first time that visceral adiposity alters the lung microenvironment via dysregulated acetyl-CoA metabolism in a direction that facilitates immune suppression and lung carcinogenesis.
Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Authors: Gilbertson Marie L. J. , Ketz Alison C. , Hunsaker Matthew , Jarosinski Dana , Ellarson Wesley , Walsh Daniel P. , Storm Daniel J. , Turner Wendy C.
Published: October 2022

Background

Dispersal is a fundamental process to animal population dynamics and gene flow. In white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus), dispersal also presents an increasingly relevant risk for the spread of infectious diseases. Across their wide range, WTD dispersal is believed to be driven by a suite of landscape and host behavioral factors, but these can vary by region, season, and sex. Our objectives were to (1) identify dispersal events in Wisconsin WTD and determine drivers of dispersal rates and distances, and (2) determine how landscape features (e.g., rivers, roads) structure deer dispersal paths.

Methods

We developed an algorithmic approach to detect dispersal events from GPS collar data for 590 juvenile, yearling, and adult WTD. We used statistical models to identify host and landscape drivers of dispersal rates and distances, including the role of agricultural land use, the traversability of the landscape, and potential interactions between deer. We then performed a step selection analysis to determine how landscape features such as agricultural land use, elevation, rivers, and roads affected deer dispersal paths.

Results

Dispersal predominantly occurred in juvenile males, of which 64.2% dispersed, with dispersal events uncommon in other sex and age classes. Juvenile male dispersal probability was positively associated with the proportion of the natal range that was classified as agricultural land use, but only during the spring. Dispersal distances were typically short (median 5.77 km, range: 1.3–68.3 km), especially in the fall. Further, dispersal distances were positively associated with agricultural land use in potential dispersal paths but negatively associated with the number of proximate deer in the natal range. Lastly, we found that, during dispersal, juvenile males typically avoided agricultural land use but selected for areas near rivers and streams.

Conclusion

Land use—particularly agricultural—was a key driver of dispersal rates, distances, and paths in Wisconsin WTD. In addition, our results support the importance of deer social environments in shaping dispersal behavior. Our findings reinforce knowledge of dispersal ecology in WTD and how landscape factors—including major rivers, roads, and land-use patterns—structure host gene flow and potential pathogen transmission.
Alliance A071401: Phase II Trial of Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibition in Meningiomas With Somatic NF2 Mutations
Authors: Brastianos Priscilla K. , Twohy Erin L. , Gerstner Elizabeth R. , Kaufmann Timothy J. , Iafrate A. John , Lennerz Jochen , Jeyapalan Suriya , Piccioni David E. , Monga Varun , Fadul Camilo E. , Schiff David , Taylor Jennie W. , Chowdhary Sajeel A. , Bettegowda Chetan , Ansstas George , De La Fuente Macarena , Anderson Mark D. , Shonka Nicole , Damek Denise , Carrillo Jose , Kunschner-Ronan Lara J. , Chaudhary Rekha , Jaeckle Kurt A. , Senecal Francis M. , Kaley Thomas , Morrison Tara , Thomas Alissa A. , Welch Mary R. , Iwamoto Fabio , Cachia David , Cohen Adam L. , Vora Shivangi , Knopp Michael , Dunn Ian F. , Kumthekar Priya , Sarkaria Jann , Geyer Susan , Carrero Xiomara W. , Martinez-Lage Maria , Cahill Daniel P. , Brown Paul D. , Giannini Caterina , Santagata Sandro , Barker Frederick G. , Galanis Evanthia
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

Patients with progressive or recurrent meningiomas have limited systemic therapy options. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibition has a synthetic lethal relationship with NF2 loss. Given the predominance of NF2 mutations in meningiomas, we evaluated the efficacy of GSK2256098, a FAK inhibitor, as part of the first genomically driven phase II study in recurrent or progressive grade 1-3 meningiomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients whose tumors screened positively for NF2 mutations were treated with GSK2256098, 750 mg orally twice daily, until progressive disease. Efficacy was evaluated using two coprimary end points: progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6) and response rate by Macdonald criteria, where PFS6 was evaluated separately within grade-based subgroups: grade 1 versus 2/3 meningiomas. Per study design, the FAK inhibitor would be considered promising in this patient population if either end point met the corresponding decision criteria for efficacy.

RESULTS

Of 322 patients screened for all mutation cohorts of the study, 36 eligible and evaluable patients with NF2 mutations were enrolled and treated: 12 grade 1 and 24 grade 2/3 patients. Across all grades, one patient had a partial response and 24 had stable disease as their best response to treatment. In grade 1 patients, the observed PFS6 rate was 83% (10/12 patients; 95% CI, 52 to 98). In grade 2/3 patients, the observed PFS6 rate was 33% (8/24 patients; 95% CI, 16 to 55). The study met the PFS6 efficacy end point both for the grade 1 and the grade 2/3 cohorts. Treatment was well tolerated; seven patients had a maximum grade 3 adverse event that was at least possibly related to treatment with no grade 4 or 5 events.

CONCLUSION

GSK2256098 was well tolerated and resulted in an improved PFS6 rate in patients with recurrent or progressive NF2-mutated meningiomas, compared with historical controls. The criteria for promising activity were met, and FAK inhibition warrants further evaluation for this patient population.
Human Capital Depreciation and Returns to Experience
Authors: Dinerstein Michael , Megalokonomou Rigissa , Yannelis Constantine
Published: October 2022

Human capital can depreciate if skills are unused. But estimating human capital depreciation is challenging, as worker skills are difficult to measure and less productive workers are more likely to spend time in nonemployment. We overcome these challenges with new administrative data on teachers’ assignments and their students’ outcomes, and quasi-random variation from the teacher assignment process in Greece. We find significant losses to output, as a one-year increase in time without formal employment lowers students’ test scores by 0.05 standard deviations. Using a simple production model, we estimate a skill depreciation rate of 4.3 percent and experience returns of 6.8 percent. (JEL I21, J24, J45, J64, J65)
Production and characterization of graphene-based polymer nanolaminates
Authors: Παύλου Χρήστος
Published: October 2022

Οι εντυπωσιακές μηχανικές, ηλεκτρικές και θερμικές ιδιότητες του γραφενίου το καθιστούν ως το πλέον ιδανικό υποψήφιο για την χρήση του ως μέσο ενίσχυσης για την παραγωγή ελαφριών, υψηλής αντοχής σύνθετων υλικών τα οποία θα είναι ικανά να εμφανίσουν ενδιαφέρουσες φυσικές ιδιότητες καθώς ταυτόχρονα θα παρουσιάζει την δυνατότητα για πολλαπλές λειτουργίες. Μέχρι στιγμής, η κύρια μορφή γραφενίου που χρησιμοποιείται για την παραγωγή γραφενικών σύνθετων υλικών σε ευρεία κλίμακα, είναι αυτή με την μορφή των απομονωμένων νιφάδων γραφενίου (π.χ.GNPs). Ωστόσο, η συνολική μηχανική απόδοση των συνθέτων αυτών είναι κατώτερη των προσδοκιώνΓια να ξεπεραστεί το ζήτημα αυτό, μια εναλλακτική επιλογή, είναι με την ενσωμάτωση μέσα σε πολυστρωματικά πολυμερή μεγάλου μεγέθους γραφενικών φύλλων, τα οποία έχουν παραχθεί μέσω χημικής εναπόθεσης ατμών. Σε αυτή την διδακτορική διατριβή προτείνεται μια νέα προσέγγιση για την παραγωγή μακροσκοπικών νανοσύνθετων νανολαμινικών υλικών με βάση το γραφένιο χημικής εναπόθεσης ατμών (CVD graphene), συνδυάζοντας την παρασκευή υπέρλεπτων πολυμερικών μεμβράνων με τις μεθόδους υγρής μεταφοράς του γραφενίου. Συγκεκριμένα με την παραγωγή εξαιρετικά λεπτών μεμβρανών (<500nm) παρήχθησαν μακροσκοπικά νανολαμινικά σύνθετα υλικά που έχουν την δυνατότητα να ξεπεράσουν τα τρέχοντα σύνθετα υλικά αναφοράς με βάση το γραφένιο, στις μηχανικές (Eeff~847.7GPa), ηλεκτρικές ιδιότητες (μέχρι τα 25000 S/m) αλλά και τις θερμικές ιδιότητες (μέχρι 15 W/mK). Επιπλέον, τα υλικά αυτά παρουσιάζουν πολύ-λειτουργικές δυνατότητες όπως η θωράκιση στην ηλεκτρομαγνητική ακτινοβολία (~60dB) όπου με τον συσχετισμό του πάχους και της πυκνότητας εξάγεται το μέγεθος της απόλυτης αποτελεσματικότητας θωράκισης (absolute shielding effectiveness SEEt ~ 350000 dB cm2 g-1) όπου και αποκτήθηκε μια από τις μεγαλύτερες τιμές στην βιβλιογραφία που έχουν παρουσιαστεί ως τώρα. Επιπρόσθετα, σε επιλεγμένο δείγμα, μελετήθηκε το φαινόμενο Joule και τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν είναι ενθαρρυντικά για την δυνατότητα χρήσης αυτών των μεμβρανών ως ελαφριών και εύκαμπτων θερμαντικών στοιχείων.
Κομοτηνή
Authors: Τσίκλη Αγάπη
Published: October 2022

Η παρούσα διατριβή ασχολείται με τη μελέτη της πολυπολιτισμικότητας στοναστικό χώρο της Κομοτηνής. Η έννοια της «πολυπολιτισμικότητας» χρησιμοποιείται στηνσυγκεκριμένη μελέτη ως ένα κοινωνικό δεδομένο για τον αστικό χώρο της Κομοτηνής αφούη μειονοτική παρουσία, η οποία είναι αναγνωρισμένη από τη διεθνή συνθήκη της Λωζάνης,μαρτυρά την ύπαρξη μιας (τουλάχιστον) πολιτισμικής ομάδας με διαφορετική γλώσσα καιθρησκεία (δομικά χαρακτηριστικά εθνοπολιτισμικού προσδιορισμού) που διαφοροποιείταιαπό τον υπόλοιπο εθνικό κορμό. Βασική υπόθεση εργασίας αποτελεί η άποψη ότι στηνΚομοτηνή, οι διασταυρούμενες κοινωνικές σχέσεις μεταξύ των εθνοπολιτισμικών ομάδων,τα δίκτυα των οποίων έχουν με τον καιρό κατασκευαστεί, παίρνουν χωρική μορφή καικαθορίζουν την οργάνωση του αστικού χώρου σε γειτονιές. Υπό αυτό το πρίσμα,η πολυπολιτισμικότητα είναι συνυφασμένη άμεσα με την έννοια της γειτονιάς, με τηντελευταία να αποτελεί ιστορικά τον κατεξοχήν γεωγραφικό χώρο εθνοπολιτισμικήςέκφρασης, λειτουργώντας ως το χωροκοινωνικό πλαίσιο αναφοράς κάθε εθνοπολιτισμικήςομάδας που κατοικεί στην πόλη. Πολυπολιτισμικότητα, κοινωνικές σχέσεις και γειτονιέςδιαπλέκονται σε μια χωρική σχέση αλληλεξάρτησης με τη δυνατότητα να επηρεάζουν τοδομημένο περιβάλλον και το στρατηγικό σχεδιασμό της Κομοτηνής.Συνδυάζοντας την παραπάνω άποψη με το γεγονός ότι τη δεκαετία του 1990 πουκάνει την εμφάνισή της στο δημόσιο λόγο η «πολυπολιτισμικότητα», ως επίσημη πλέονπολιτική για τη διαχείριση της ετερότητας στην πόλη, παρατηρείται μια έξαρσησυγκρότησης σωματείων και πολιτιστικών συλλόγων στην περιοχή, η έρευνα πεδίουεστιάζει στις πολιτισμικές πρακτικές και δράσεις που υλοποιούνται στην Κομοτηνή μέσααπό τη συγκρότηση των πολιτών σε πολιτιστικές ομάδες (σύλλογοι και σωματεία) και στοντρόπο που οι πρωταγωνιστές αυτής της κίνησης διαπραγματεύονται την ετερότητα τουπολιτισμικού τοπίου μέσω συλλογικών αιτημάτων προγραμματικού και πολεοδομικούχαρακτήρα. Κατά τη διαδικασία της διερεύνησης της χωρικής οργάνωσης της πόλης σεγειτονιές, πραγματοποιήθηκαν συνεντεύξεις με πληροφορητές και πληροφορήτριες μέλησυλλόγων/ εθελοντικών οργανώσεων της μειονότητας και της πλειονότητας πουδραστηριοποιούνται στην Κομοτηνή, με σκοπό να αναδειχθεί ο πολύπλοκος κοινωνικόςιστός της πόλης και τα ιδιαίτερα κοινωνικά, ιστορικά, πολιτικά και έμφυλα χαρακτηριστικάπου συγκροτούν την Κομοτηνή και διαμορφώνουν επί της ουσίας το περιεχόμενο της«πολυπολιτισμικής κοινωνίας».
Community social responsibility of continued and appropriate use of silver amalgam as dental restorative material in southern India: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vasthare Ramprasad , Ballal Nidambur Vasudev , Nayak Prajna P , Kamath Pujan , Singla Nishu , Hegde Thrisha
Published: October 2022

Background: For more than 150 years, dental amalgam (DA) has been popular as a dental restorative material. Yet, many organisations oppose its use due to perceived toxicity and environmental concerns. Hence, this study aimed to explore the continued use of DA from a South Indian dental practitioners’ perspective.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among fifty-two private and public dental practitioners of Udupi district in Southern India. A self‑administered questionnaire was distributed, that involved assessment of their preferences, continuation of use and concerns of using DA as a restorative material. Percentage contribution of each variable was calculated. Preferences for continuation of use of silver amalgam based upon the age, experience and mercury toxicity as a risk factor were analysed using Students-t test and Chi-square test.  Results: The majority of dentists were satisfied (87%) with the results of the DA, found minimal failures (96%) and found DA more economical (89%). More than half (54%) of the participants reported that they would not continue the use of DA owing to mercury toxicity and environmental concerns. Dentists with higher age and longer clinical experience preferred continuation of DA.

Conclusions: In spite of satisfaction with DA for its minimal failure, longevity and affordability, the authors found that a majority of practitioners did not prefer its continued usage. This highlights their concerns over mercury toxicity and soft tissue lesions and accentuates their community social responsibility. There is also an urgent need to educate dentists on mercury hygiene, mercury waste management and disposal.
Insights into an innovative point of care ultrasound curriculum for Ontario primary maternity care providers
Authors: Johnston Bronte K. , Darling Elizabeth , Malott Anne , Kras Susan , Bernacci Carol , Thomas Laura , Murray-Davis Beth
Published: October 2022

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has increasingly been used by midwives worldwide. In 2018, the scope of midwifery care in Ontario was expanded to include POCUS to allow practitioners to provide more comprehensive care. In response to the scope expansion, a new continuing POCUS education course was created in collaboration with faculty and clinicians from obstetrics, midwifery, and medical radiation sciences. The continuing education sonography course focused on fostering the knowledge, skills and judgment Ontario midwives required to safely perform these new POCUS skills. The course included online modules, a two-day hands-on bootcamp workshop, and a clinical practicum under the supervision of a sonographer to confirm competency across the three trimesters of pregnancy. The first cohort of 17 learners completed the course in Fall 2019, the new curriculum was well received by learners for its many benefits into learning and applying bedside sonography to clinical care. This paper outlines our process for POCUS curriculum development and implementation in pregnancy care. This POCUS continuing education course should continue to be offered in the future to give more practitioners the ability to perform point of care pregnancy scans.
Актуальные проблемы современной исторической науки: учебно-методическое пособие
Authors: BARINOVA E. , GUSKOV E.
Published: October 2022

The textbook is designed for students Master's degree program "Pedagogical Education", focus / profile "Historical Education". It allows you to systematize the mastering of the material in the classroom and organize independent work in preparation for the exam and Writing an essay. The manual contains an outline of course chapters, posted Extended practical lesson plans with recommended literature, exemplary questions for the exam, as well as textbooks and study guides, recommended for studying the course and preparing for certification.
Corrections and comments on MARTINS-SILVA (2022) “Checklist of Aquatic Heteroptera genera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado Biome), with family and genera identification key”
Authors: Moreira Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo , Floriano Carla Fernanda Burguez , Stefanello Fabiano , Rodrigues Higor Daniel Duarte
Published: October 2022

Recently, Martins-Silva (2022) published the article entitled “Checklist of Aquatic Heteroptera genera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado Biome), with family and genera identification key”. The paper provides information on which genera of aquatic Heteroptera would occur in the Cerrado biome and an identification key to families and genera, based on specimens deposited in the Aquatic Invertebrates Collection of the University of Brasília, Brazil. However, it presents many problems, including misidentifications, lack of care with references, scientific names and taxonomic authorities, and poor grammar, syntax and spelling. Here, we express our concern about this paper and provide identification corrections for specimens figured in it whenever possible.
O pojęciu interpretacji w filozofii. Uwagi metodologiczne
Authors: Rolewski Jarosław
Published: October 2022

Odczyt wygłoszony podczas 517. posiedzenia Oddziału Toruńskiego Polskiego Towarzystwa Filozoficznego w dniu 13 stycznia 2022 roku.
Nadzieja skowana niepewnością. Wokół myśli Lwa Szestowa
Authors: Prokopski Jacek Aleksander
Published: October 2022

NADZIEJA SKOWANA NIEPEWNOŚCIĄ

WOKÓŁ MYŚLI LWA SZESTOWA

 

W artykule, odwołując się do egzystencjalnych przemyśleń Lwa Szestowa nad ludzkim losem, Bogiem i przeznaczeniem świata, nie zapominając o rosyjskiej duszy filozofa, starano się uwyraźnić problem ludzkiej nadziei. Nadziei, która odnajdywana jest w prawdach opartych na sprzecznościach. Nie są to bowiem abstrakcyjne, wypolerowane prawdy rozumu, lecz prawdy egzystencjalne, rządzące się szczególnymi prawidłami. Mianowicie takimi, które spoczywają poza obszarem pewności naszej egzystencji. W tym sensie oczywiste jest, iż myśliciel żąda od filozofii rzeczy niemożliwej, by językiem nauki orzekała o tym, co filozofią nie jest. Szestow zostaje więc oceniony jako ten, który „myśli poza logiką i filozofią”, co sytuuje go w realnej opozycji do cechu akademickich filozofów. Dla nich to, jako zdeklarowanych racjonalistów, Szestowowskie „myślenie poza myśleniem” oznaczało brak pewności i zagubienie. Paradoksalnie właśnie tam, w „chaosie” braku spekulatywnych rozwiązań, w przerażającej egzystencji Hioba i jemu podobnych, Szestow odnajduje drogę nadziei na odnalezienie prawdy wiecznej, prowadzącej do wrót zbawienia.   

 

Słowa kluczowe:

Nadzieja, niepewność, tajemnica, paradoks, prawda, filozofia, poznanie, system, egzystencja, Bóg, racjonalizm, irracjonalizm, możliwe, niemożliwe, metafizyka, idealizm, materializm.
CORRELATING STRUCTURE TO DAMPING AND STIFFNESS IN GRAPHENE OXIDE FILMS
Authors: JAYATILAKA, GEHAN , NTSOANE WILLIAM , MOHAMMADI MOHAMMAD MOEIN , TEHRANI MEHRAN
Published: October 2022

Graphene oxide (GO) films have a great potential for aerospace, electronics, and renewable energy applications due to their low cost and unique properties. For structural applications, they can achieve an exceptional combination of damping and stiffness. This study investigates the effect of packing density, reduction, and water removal on stiffness and damping of graphene oxide films. GO sheets dispersed in water are passed through a filter and deposited on a removable substrate. Through variations of the film fabrication process, films of both GO and reduced GO (rGO) are produced with varying levels of packing. Heat treatment is also used to remove the water in half of the films. The degree of packing is assessed through film density calculations. Microscopy as well as Raman and X-ray spectroscopy are used to measure the degree of packing while Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is used to quantity mechanical damping and storage modulus of specimens in tension. Correlating mechanical properties to structure of films revealed new understanding of damping and stress transfer mechanisms in these materials. Optimal structures resulted in superior combinations of stiffness (18 GPa) and damping (0.14), potentially paving the way for using GO based films in advanced structural applications.
THE DETERMINATION OF A 3D LENGTH SCALE USING LONG RECONSTRUCTED FIBER PATHS
Authors: SCHEY MATHEW , STAPLETON SCOTT E.
Published: October 2022

Carbon fiber reinforced composites often exhibit large amounts of property scatter. Attempts at understanding composite property scatter have led researchers to generate many 2D models which ignore the 3D phenomenon of entanglement. Previous studies of entanglement have suggested it is correlated to a length scale, but have not had large enough samples to determine its size. In this study, fiber paths of long, entangled, continuous fibers were extracted from CT data of an automotive grade, heavy tow composite. Descriptive metrics of these fiber paths were used to quantify the entanglement as a function of position along the fiber direction. Using this data, several minimum length scales for capturing the behavior of multiple descriptors were determined. These length scales revealed where statistical representation of 3D fiber models provides superior information to that of 2D models.
EXPERIMENTAL CALIBRATION OF RANDOMNESS IN ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED CONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED COMPOSITES
Authors: TEKER AYTAC , PITZ EMIL , POCHIRAJU KISHORE V.
Published: October 2022

This paper presents an experimental analysis of the uncertainty in physical and mechanical properties of fused filament fabrication (FFF) parts that are reinforced with continuous carbon fibers (CCF). The goal of this work is to quantify modulus uncertainty in composites specimens printed on a commercially available continuous carbon filament 3D printer. The specimens that are analyzed in this paper are fabricated of a nylon-based material as the thermoplastic matrix and CCF as the reinforcing material. The test specimens are designed with four unique set of stacking sequences, which are categorized as SS #1, a combination of symmetric 0°and 90°layers, SS #2, a combination of symmetric ±45°layers, SS #3, a combination of symmetric 0°, ±45 °, and 90°and SS #4, a combination of non-symmetric ±45°layers. In each category, a total of 15 specimens are manufactured through FFF. A load-unload tensile test is performed for each specimen using an extensometer and digital image correlation (DIC) for strain analysis. Elastic Modulus (Exx) values of the specimens are determined and compared within each specimen to analyze the uncertainty. Also, strain variability is analyzed among the specimens using the DIC results.
RAPID AND SCALABLE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF THERMOSET POLYMER COMPOSITES
Authors: DOJAN CARTER , ZIAEE MORTEZA , YOURDKHANI MOSTAFA
Published: October 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) has recently been transformed into a robust manufacturing paradigm for rapid, cost-effective, and reliable manufacturing of fiberreinforced thermoset polymer composites. Among various AM techniques, direct ink writing (DIW) technique offers exceptional ability for constructing scalable 3D composite structures with a high resolution and rapid production rates. In the conventional DIW technique, composite parts are created by thermal post-curing of a thermoset resin ink in an oven at elevated temperatures to obtain a highly crosslinked polymer network. The long and energy-intensive curing processes often required for curing the monomer limits the applications of this approach to layer-by-layer printing of simple 2D geometries. In addition, the conventional approach is not suited to creating large structures, as the uncured material in the earliest deposited layers reaches a flow state, resulting in loss of print fidelity or even the collapse of printed parts. Alternative in-situ curing approaches during the printing process are promising for highrate and scalable AM of thermoset polymer composites. To date, a handful of AM techniques based on in-situ curing have been developed using UV-curable thermoset resins. However, these techniques are not yet applicable for creating structural components due to the poor mechanical performance of the matrix, as well as incomplete curing of the resin in the presence of light absorbing reinforcements. In this work, we present a novel technique that can realize fast and energy-efficient fabrication of high-performance polymer composites using a thermoresponsive thermoset resin system. Our technique involves feeding resinous inks filled with discontinuous carbon fiber (CF) reinforcements from the nozzle of a printing robot and directing thermal stimulus toward the extruded material. The thermal stimulus is configured to rapidly and locally heat the composite material and instantaneously rigidize the extruded material. Using our novel printing technique, we demonstrate AM of tall composite structures using conventional layer-by-layer printing, which is difficult to achieve using existing techniques. In addition, instantaneous and localized curing of the thermoset matrix resin allows for the manufacturing of freeform structures (in-air printing), eliminating the need for support materials and tooling. We have shown that we can manufacture fully cured, void-free, and high-performance composites with printing speeds up to 1.5 m/min without requiring post‐treatment or post‐curing steps.
A DATA-DRIVEN MECHANICAL PROPERTY PREDICTION IN EPOXY/GLASS FIBER COMPOSITE
Authors: RABBY MONJUR MORSHED , VADLAMUDI VAMSEE , RAIHAN RASSEL
Published: October 2022

Fiber reinforced epoxy based composite materials are widely used in aircraft, marine, and automotive structures to minimize weight and increase performance. Typically, the mechanical performance of a composite part has so far been inspected using destructive testing, which is both expensive and time consuming. The mechanical properties of a composite are influenced by the curing process and its parameters, particularly the mechanical tensile modulus of the polymer, which rises as crosslink density rises and is influenced by curing temperature and holding time. It is, however, critical to manufacture epoxy-based composites with a higher crosslinking density by using the proper and uniform curing temperature. After fabricating the composite part, the most important step is to inspect the mechanical strength. In this study, we have presented a non-destructive quality inspection technique by merging Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy data with supervised learning algorithms to predict the tensile strength of the cured composite sample based on the sample’s dielectric state variables. Different samples were made using different curing temperature to ensure variability in tensile strength data. A total of 15 features based on the Dielectric characteristics of the sample has been used in the algorithm. In this case, a classifier algorithm has been utilized, which predicts tensile strength based on which subset it belongs to. Overall, an estimation of the mechanical strength can be obtained by measuring the dielectric characteristic using an AC current frequency sweep which is a time-saving and nondestructive procedure and fitting the data in a supervised learning algorithm.
NEAR ZERO-WASTE MANUFACTURING OF CARBON FIBER-REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES
Authors: BARNETT PHILIP R. , HMEIDAT NADIM S. , PENUMADU DAYAKAR
Published: October 2022

Organosheet composite scrap made from polyphenylene sulfide reinforced with long recycled carbon fibers was reprocessed to produce compression molding compounds. No additional polymer was added to the process, making this a demonstration of closed-loop recyclability in composites manufacturing. The recyclate, produced by hammer-milling organosheet trimmings, was sieved and the resulting particulate geometry was measured to predict the fiber length in the molded composites. Tensile testing of the composites revealed that high stiffness parts (tensile modulus greater than 13 GPa) can be achieved using particulate molding compounds, but that tensile strength was significantly degraded. Still, the isotropic molded composites exhibited a greater than 18.8% increase in tensile strength over the neat polymer. Evaluation of the composite microstructure via optical microscopy revealed that fiber packing played a significant role in the tensile strength of the particulate composites, indicating that microstructural heterogeneity should be avoided to maximize the properties of composites made of recycled organosheet waste.
A 3D THERMO-MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED ALIGNED DISCONTINUOUS FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES
Authors: NIAZI SINA , NAJMEDDINE AIMANE , SHAKIBA MARYAM
Published: October 2022

This work investigates the effects of thermal residual stresses due to curing processes on the mechanical and failure responses of additively manufactured aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composites (DFRCs). A micro-mechanical framework is used for finite element simulation of damage and failure in the three-dimensional (3-D) representation of the DFRCs under both mechanical and thermal loadings. In this numerical framework, accurate constitutive equations are utilized to explicitly simulate the fibers, matrix, and fiber/matrix interfaces within the composite’s microstructure. All parameters of the micro-mechanical model are defined based on a recently developed 3-D printed aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced thermoset. The coupled thermo-mechanical model on the commercially available nonlinear finite element software ABAQUS is used to accurately model the response of the studied DFRC when exposed to different curing temperatures and to mechanical loading. Intermediate fibers’ aspect ratios (FARs) and low fibers’ volume fraction are used, which are suitable for 3-D printed aligned DFRCs. The curing-induced residual stresses are then studied, and the effects of different curing processes on the onset of different damage types and on the stress-strain response up to final failure are predicted. Also, the effect of the perfect versus cohesive interfacial bonding on the DFRC’s performance is examined. This work reveals that the DFRCs’ responses are significantly affected when thermal residual stresses due to curing are considered, and therefore, provides guidance for better design, manufacturing, and analysis of such composites.