bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of in vitro and in vivo fidarestat metabolites: Toxicity and efficacy evaluation of metabolites
Authors: Borkar Roshan M. , Gajji Shankar , Mohammed Soheb A. , Srivastava Mithul , Reddy Velma Ganga , Jala Aishwarya , Asthana Shailendra , Kamal Ahmed , Banerjee Sanjay K. , Ragampeta Srinivas
Published: January 2021

The progression of diabetic complications can be prevented by inhibition of aldose reductase and fidarestat considered to be highly potent. To date, metabolites of the fidarestat, toxicity, and efficacy are unknown. Therefore, the present study on characterization of hitherto unknown in vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) is undertaken. In vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat have been identified and characterized by using LC/ESI/MS/MS and accurate mass measurements. To identify in vivo metabolites, plasma, urine, and feces samples were collected after oral administration of fidarestat to Sprague–Dawley rats, whereas for in vitro metabolites, fidarestat was incubated in human S9 fraction, human liver microsomes, and rat liver microsomes. Furthermore, in silico toxicity and efficacy of the identified metabolites were evaluated. Eighteen metabolites have been identified. The main in vitro phase I metabolites of fidarestat are oxidative deamination, oxidative deamination and hydroxylation, reductive defluroniation, and trihydroxylation. Phase II metabolites are methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, cysteamination, and glucuronidation. Docking studies suggest that oxidative deaminated metabolite has better docking energy and conformation that keeps consensus with fidarestat whereas the rest of the metabolites do not give satisfactory results. Aldose reductase activity has been determined for oxidative deaminated metabolite (F‐1), and it shows an IC50 value of 0.44 μM. The major metabolite, oxidative deaminated, did not show any cytotoxicity in H9C2, HEK, HEPG2, and Panc1 cell lines. However, in silico toxicity, the predication result showed toxicity in skin irritation and ocular irritancy SEV/MOD versus MLD/NON (v5.1) model for fidarestat and its all metabolites. In drug discovery and development research, it is distinctly the case that the potential for pharmacologically active metabolites must be considered. Thus, the active metabolites of fidarestat may have an advantage as drug candidates as many drugs were initially observed as metabolites.
Fright, attention, and joy while killing zombies in Virtual Reality: A psychophysiological analysis of VR user experience
Authors: Bender Stuart M. , Sung Billy
Published: January 2021

To date, research on the user experience of Virtual Reality (VR) games is sparse even though VR and immersive gaming experiences are emerging as a substantial consumer based within the videogame industry. Using facial electromyography and skin conductance response measurement, the current research presents the first psychophysiological evidence to show that: (1) VR games may heighten affective responses such as fear and arousal; (2) different levels of immersion in various gameplay modes may evoke higher affective responses; and (3) these heightened affective responses significantly correlate with users’ experience of enjoyment at the precise onset of the affective response. Due to the second‐by‐second nature of psychophysiological measurement, the study's findings also pinpoint a specific sequence (i.e., entrapment in a dark room) within the gameplay that significantly evoked nearly 2.5‐times higher fear with arousal as well as enjoyment. These findings contribute to the ongoing study of VR in the fields of media psychology, media studies, human‐computer interaction studies, and marketing by demonstrating the strong link between immersion, affective responses, and positive user experience toward a horror VR game and their marketing implications.
Empathy‐based marketing
Authors: Pedersen Carsten L.
Published: January 2021

Empathy, that is, the capacity of understanding another person's perspective and feelings, has conventionally been a pillar of marketing, as the discipline from its very inception has emphasized the importance of understanding and putting oneself in the shoes of customers. Yet, with an increasing focus on rationality, objectivity, and science, marketing has arguably become more empathy‐deprived. This is unfortunate, as the increasing objectification, specialization, and the resultant distancing and fragmentation of the marketing field make it proportionally essential to emphasize an empathetic approach to marketing. Here, I address this gap by (re)introducing an empathetic approach to marketing entitled empathy‐based marketing. Empathy‐based marketing addresses the increasing customer‐distancing and subdivision of the field of marketing, by focusing on an empathetic core, stimulating cross‐fertilization, and accentuating the general well‐being of the field. Beyond discussing what this paradigm is and why the field needs it, an agenda for future research is also outlined.
Confidence bias and advertising in imperfectly competitive markets
Authors: Schroeder Elizabeth , Tremblay Carol Horton , Tremblay Victor J.
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether an owner can enhance corporate profit by delegating responsibility to a chief executive officer who has a biased view of his or her marketing ability. We develop a model of imperfect competition where firms compete in advertising and output. Before competition takes place, each owner makes a strategic decision whether to hire a manager who is overconfident, underconfident, or rationally confident in their marketing ability. In a strategic setting, the results reveal that it is never optimal for owners to hire managers who are rationally confident. Owners will hire managers who are either overconfident or underconfident, depending upon whether advertising is constructive or combative.
Technical Note: Investigating interplay effects in pencil beam scanning proton therapy with a 4D XCAT phantom within the RayStation treatment planning system
Authors: den Boer Erik , Wulff Jörg , Mäder UIf , Engwall Erik , Bäumer Christian , Perko Zoltan , Timmermann Beate
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Pencil beam scanning (PBS) for moving targets is known to be impacted by interplay effects. Four‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT)‐based motion evaluation is crucial for understanding interplay and developing mitigation strategies. Availability of high‐quality 4DCTs with variable breathing traces is limited. Purpose of this work is the development of a framework for interplay analysis using 4D‐XCAT phantoms in conjunction with time‐resolved irradiation patterns in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). Four‐dimensional dynamically accumulated dose distributions (4DDDs) are simulated in an in‐silico study for a PBS liver treatment.

Methods

An XCAT phantom with 50 phases, varying linearly in amplitude each by 1 mm, was combined with the RayStation TPS (7.99.10). Deformable registration was used with time‐resolved dose calculation, mapping XCAT phases to motion signals. To illustrate the applicability of the method a two‐field liver irradiation plan was used. A variety sin4 type motion signals, varying in amplitude (1–20 mm), period (1.6–5.2 s) and phase (0–2π) were applied. Either single variable variations or random combinations were selected. The interplay effect within a clinical target (5 cm diameter) was characterized in terms of homogeneity index (HI5), with and without five paintings. In total 2092 scenarios were analyzed within RayStation.

Results

A framework is presented for interplay research, allowing for flexibility in determining motion management techniques, increasing reproducibility, and enabling comparisons of different methods. A case study showed the interplay effect was correlated with amplitude and strongly affected by the starting phase, leading to large variance. The average of all scenarios (single fraction) resulted in HI5 of 0.31 (±0.11), while introduction of five times layered repainting reduced this to 0.11(±0.03).

Conclusion

The developed framework, which uses the XCAT phantom and RayStation, allows detailed analysis of motion in context of PBS with comparable results to clinical cases. Flexibility in defining motion patterns for detailed anatomies in combination with time‐resolved dose calculation, facilitates investigation of optimal treatment and motion mitigation strategies.
Energy and Protein Intake After Return Home in Colorectal Surgery Patients With an Enhanced Recovery Program: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Hubert Mégane , Gabriel Dominique , El Khouda Soraya , Coster Marine , Routiaux Clara , Hans Gregory , Nihant Nicole , Joris Jean
Published: January 2021

Background

In patients scheduled for colorectal surgery with an enhanced recovery program (ERP), feeding after returning home has been insufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to measure energy and protein intake during the first month at home.

Methods

Seventy adult patients scheduled for colorectal surgery with ERP were included. Calorie and protein intakes were calculated, and body weight was measured preoperatively and 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after discharge home. Data are mean ± SD or median (interquartile range).

Results

Patient characteristics were age 60.0 ± 15.0 years, BMI = 25.9 ± 5.5 kg/m2, and colon/rectum of 56/14. The duration of hospitalization was 3 (2–5) days. Calorie and protein intakes (21.9 [17.7–28.6] kilocalorie per kilogram of ideal body weight [kcal/kg IBW] and 0.81 [0.61–1.14] g/kg IBW) were significantly reduced (P< .01) by 15% on day 3, compared with preoperative values, and then increased gradually to reach preoperative values after 1 month. Almost 50% of the patients failed to reach the calorie intake target of 25 kcal/kg IBW, and almost no patient reached the protein intake target of 1.5 g/kg IBW 30 days after discharge home. Weight loss after 30 days at home remained at −1.8 ± 2.7 kg.

Conclusions

Colorectal surgery, even in an ERP, is associated with energy and protein intake below the targets recommended for the rehabilitation phase and results in weight loss. Whether nutrition counseling and prolonged administration of protein‐enriched oral supplements could accelerate weight gain needs to be explored.
Anderson‐accelerated polarization schemes for fast Fourier transform‐based computational homogenization
Authors: Wicht Daniel , Schneider Matti , Böhlke Thomas
Published: January 2021

Classical solution methods in fast Fourier transform‐based computational micromechanics operate on, either, compatible strain fields or equilibrated stress fields. By contrast, polarization schemes are primal‐dual methods whose iterates are neither compatible nor equilibrated. Recently, it was demonstrated that polarization schemes may outperform the classical methods. Unfortunately, their computational power critically depends on a judicious choice of numerical parameters. In this work, we investigate the extension of polarization methods by Anderson acceleration and demonstrate that this combination leads to robust and fast general‐purpose solvers for computational micromechanics. We discuss the (theoretically) optimum parameter choice for polarization methods, describe how Anderson acceleration fits into the picture, and exhibit the characteristics of the newly designed methods for problems of industrial scale and interest.
Residual stress in fiber reinforced thermosetting composites: A review of measurement techniques
Authors: Seers Ben , Tomlinson Rachel , Fairclough Patrick
Published: January 2021

Residual stress is inherent in any fiber reinforced composite, created by the laminates processing route and high levels of anisotropy. The aim of this article is to provide an up to date review of the current state of the art in experimental techniques for the determination of residual stress in thermosetting fiber reinforced composites. Residual stress is considered at a micro‐mechanical, macro‐mechanical, and global scale as each require specific techniques to investigate and offer their own unique challenges to the designer. Many advances have been made in the experimental determination of residual stress in fiber reinforced composites since the last comprehensive review of the topic by Shokrieh in 2014. However, more work still needs to be done to develop a method that is applicable to all cases and can be applied as a universal standard. It remains a significant challenge to experimentally determine residual stress in thermosetting composites.
Analysis of arglabin and its derivatives using high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Adekenov Sergazy M. , Shamilova Saltanat T. , Khabarov Ilya A.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The chemical modification of arglabin, a natural sesquiterpene lactone, has garnered significant attention because it comprises a guaianolide structure that exhibits antitumour and immunomodulating properties. Its primarily derived from Artemisia glabella Kar. et Kir. Physicochemical characterisation of commercial anititumour drugs based on arglabin can be time‐consuming and expensive; thus, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is an optimal method to identify arglabin and its derivatives.

Aim

This study has a two‐fold objective: to develop a unified HPLC method for quality control of arglabin and its new hybrid molecules with alkaloids (cytisine, anabasine), and to study the relationship between their structures and chromatographic behaviours.

Materials and methods

To develop a selective method that ensures the quality of arglabin and its derivatives, HPLC was used with the Zorbax SB‐C18 analytical column. Dipole moments were calculated via the restricted Hartree–Fock method (RHF/6‐31G(d, p)) and the B3LYР density functional theory with full geometry optimisation by using the GAUSSIAN 03 W program.

Results

A novel analytical method has been developed using reversed‐phase (RP) HPLC, which is selective and allows reliable as well as quantitative determination of arglabin and its derivatives. To confirm the selectivity of the developed method, the chromatographic capacity factors and column selectivity were calculated. The relationship between retention time and structure (particularly, the nature of the substituent) was studied for the first time for arglabin and its derivatives using the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) quantum chemical method. The influence of the dipole moment on the retention time of arglabin and its derivatives was confirmed.

Conclusion

A novel unified quality control method using HPLC was developed to analyse arglabin, and its new hybrid molecules with alkaloids (cytisine and anabasine). For the first time, the relationship between the chromatographic behaviour in RP‐HPLC and the dipole moment for arglabin and its derivatives was revealed.
Identifying build orientation of 3D‐printed materials using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Strube Jan , Schram Malachi , Rustam Sabiha , Kennedy Zachary , Varga Tamas
Published: January 2021

The advent of additive manufacturing (AM) processes brought with it intense research into various materials and manufacturing processes. At the same time, the need for validation of material properties, as well as study and forecasting of aging, has arisen. Modern imaging techniques, like X‐ray computed tomography (XCT), are a convenient vehicle for such studies; however, the large datasets they produce require novel analysis techniques to efficiently extract critical information. In this paper, we present our work on developing a 3D extension of the ResNet architecture to distinguish between two build orientations of tensile bars produced by AM. Using only information from XCT, our method achieves a 99.3% correct classification at a misidentification of 1%.
Network marketing and state legitimacy in China: Regulating trust from physical workplaces to virtual spaces
Authors: Bruckermann Charlotte
Published: January 2021

Banned in China between 1998 and 2005, the reemergence of network marketing allows rural young women to distribute a wide range of consumer products across uneven rural–urban landscapes. The rhizomic distribution channels of network marketing long confounded Chinese legal and regulatory governance based on workplaces embedded in particular locations, a problem compounded by the rise of e‐commerce in the last decade. As network marketers and their potential clients maneuvered spatial inequalities, gender hierarchies, and financial exclusion, they confronted the subversion of long‐term mutuality and sociality to short‐term transactional exchanges, a process partially inverted by the move from physical to virtual retail and its digital rating systems. As the Chinese state sought to establish, monitor, and guarantee trust in economic activities by delimiting predatory schemes, its initial targeting of network marketing companies has given way to regulating the sellers themselves. In contrast to contexts where network marketing forges enterprising subjectivities of neoliberalism, however, Chinese salespersons prioritized meeting aspirations of an imagined pastoral state and idealized social relations over business transactions. By championing that earning trust forms the ultimate measure of success, the discourse of network salespersons and their potential customers rings with the ways that e‐commerce platforms and digital bureaucracy attempt to measure, evaluate, and regulate the trustworthiness of Chinese citizens.
Ultrasonochemically Modified Ag@TiO2 Nanocomposites as Potent Antibacterial Agent in the Paint Formulation for Surface Disinfection
Authors: Deshmukh Shamkumar P. , Koli Valmiki B. , Dhodamani Ananta G. , Patil Satish M. , Ghodake Vijay S. , Delekar Sagar D.
Published: January 2021

Advanced visible active antibacterial paint was developed by ultrasonochemically treated Ag@TiO2 NCs with varying content of Ag (1 wt. % to 5 wt. %) as a photoactive agent for antibacterial paint formulation for surface disinfection. Initially, the existence of the Ag@TiO2 NCs in the paint formulation and their impact with varying content of Ag in wt. % was studied through various spectroscopic studies. XRD analysis confirms the good crystalline nature of the Ag@TiO2 NCs after the paint formulation. UV visible spectroscopic study reveals the visible active properties of the antibacterial paint. Contact angle measurement study shows hydrophobic nature of the paint. Thereafter, Ag@TiO2 NCs with varying the content of Ag were used as a photoactive additive for the formulation of antibacterial powder paint through an industrial process. Finally, the 3 wt. % of Ag in the Ag@TiO2 NCs as an additive in the paint exhibits higher antibacterial activity against E. coli as compared with S. aureus bacteria's in the presence of visible light irradiation. It also confirmed after 72 hrs. that there was no leaching of the antibacterial paint on the coated substrates. Therefore, such nanocomposite based visible active antibacterial paint is efficient to use in healthcare for reducing hospital‐acquired infections.
Spectroscopic Measurement of Arc‐Discharge Argon Plasma Plume Injected into Water
Authors: Suzuki Ryujiro , Matsuoka Yuya , Hirotani Daisuke , Nezu Atsushi , Mori Shinsuke , Akatsuka Hiroshi
Published: January 2021

The electron temperature and the density of argon arc plasma plume injected into water were observed through optical emission spectroscopic measurement. Argon arc plasma jets were generated with a DC arc current of 40–200 A by a non‐transferred arc discharge plasma torch under atmospheric pressure, and ejected through a nozzle on the anode into water or gas‐phase argon. The electron temperature of the plasma plume was determined by the Boltzmann plot with line intensity measurement of atomic argon lines, while the electron density is examined with the Stark broadening measurement of Hα line. It was found that the electron temperature increased from approximately 6500–8000 K, and the electron density also increased up to the order of 1016cm−3, as the discharge current increased for the underwater argon arc plasma plume, both of which were observed at 20 mm in the downward direction from the plasma generator nozzle. In addition, the electron temperature of the underwater plasma plume was slightly lower than that of the gas‐phase argon plasma plume, while the electron density of the underwater plasma was slightly higher than that of the gas‐phase plume. Longitudinal variation of the electron temperature and density of the underwater plasma plume was also observed, and the lowering rate was found to depend on the arc discharge current. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
A Subband Adaptive Filtering for Distributed Active Noise Control Systems
Authors: Wang Lei , Chen Kean , Xu Jian
Published: January 2021

This study proposes an extension of the subband adaptive filtering technique to distributed active noise control systems and the details of the algorithm are presented. The computational requirements and convergence performance are examined for a network with a ring topology without constraints in communication. The proposed algorithm divides the signal of each node into several subbands to reduce the dynamic range of the spectrum and consequently accelerate the convergence speed. Since the subband decomposition contains a decimation process, the computational complexity is reduced as the number of subbands is increased. Simulations are conducted to compare different algorithms and an 8‐node network is studied in terms of noise reduction performance. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm for broadband active noise control and the convergence speed could be improved compared to the distributed multiple error filtered‐x (DMEFxLMS) algorithm. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Extension of gas into the abdominal wall secondary to recurrent coliform emphysematous cystitis in a diabetic dog
Authors: Humphreys William James Edward , Barton James , Batchelor Daniel , Mortier Jeremy R.
Published: January 2021

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a complicated lower urinary tract condition characterised by gas within the urinary bladder wall and lumen. It results from infection by gas‐producing microorganisms and has been reported in both diabetic and non‐diabetic dogs and cats with variable presentation. There are two case reports from the medical literature documenting subcutaneous extension of gas in people with EC, but this finding has never been reported in a veterinary patient. In this case, we identified abdominal wall emphysema as a complication of EC in a veterinary patient, secondary to recurrent urinary tract infection with Escherichia coli in a 10‐year‐old neutered female border collie with diabetes mellitus. Both radiography and ultrasonography were sensitive for the diagnosis of this condition and important in excluding retrograde extension of gas into the renal parenchyma.
Management of stormwater pollution using green infrastructure: The role of rain gardens
Authors: Sharma Rozi , Malaviya Piyush
Published: January 2021

Major modifications are needed in existing stormwater management practices to control floods in urban landscapes, protect natural ecosystems, and minimize infrastructural destruction due to stormwater hazards. Stormwater management combined with urban design can be the best solution to minimize urban flooding risks and promote a clean natural environment. Green infrastructure (GI) is an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional methods of stormwater management. Rain gardens, a GI, play a vital role in reducing rainwater volume and flow, prevent asset's destruction, remove pollutants from urban runoff, and recharge groundwater. Rain gardens can remove sediments, heavy metals, pathogens, nutrients, hydrocarbons from stormwater via several mechanisms. Various amendments in soil media help in delayed saturation, low sorption capacity, limited pollutant mobility, and bioaccumulation/biotransformation of metals/organic compounds in rain gardens. Soil media and plants play a vital role in the pollutant removal processes of rain gardens. Various plant‐based mechanisms and chemical processes like adsorption, reduction, sedimentation, cation‐exchange capacity, complexation, and so forth are involved in the removal of contaminants from stormwater. Construction and design considerations; different models of rain gardens; working mechanisms; performance assessment tools like capacity tests and synthetic runoff tests; removal of stormwater pollutants, and biphasic rain gardens have been critically discussed in this review. The state‐of‐the‐art review approaches to provide fundamental knowledge of rain gardens and in‐depth analyzes its potential as a stormwater management tool. Future directions on improving efficiencies of rain gardens have also been discussed for prospective researchers.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water
On the calibration of Astigmatism particle tracking velocimetry for suspensions of different volume fractions
Authors: Brockmann Philipp , Hussong Jeanette
Published: January 2021

In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time how Astigmatism Particle Tracking Velocimetry (APTV) can be utilized to measure suspensions dynamics. Measurements were successfully performed in monodisperse, refractive index matched suspensions of up to a volume fraction of $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

. For this, a small percentage ($$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

) of the particles is labeled with fluorescent dye acting as tracers for the particle tracking procedure. Calibration results show, that a slight deviation of the refractive index of liquid and particles leads to a strong shape change of the calibration curve with respect to the unladen case. This effect becomes more severe along the channel height. To compensate the shape change of the calibration curves the interpolation technique developed by Brockmann et al. (Exp Fluids 61(2): 67, 2020) is adapted. Using this technique, the interpolation procedure is applied to suspensions with different volume fractions of $$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

, $$\varPhi =4.73\%$$

Φ
=
4.73
%

, $$\varPhi =9.04\%$$

Φ
=
9.04
%

, $$\varPhi =12.97\%$$

Φ
=
12.97
%

, $$\varPhi =16.58\%$$

Φ
=
16.58
%

and $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

. To determine the effect of volume fraction on the performance of the method, the depth reconstruction error $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

and the measurement volume depth $$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

, obtained in different calibration measurements, are estimated. Here, a relative position reconstruction accuracy of $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

/$$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

= 0.90% and $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

/$$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

= 2.53% is achieved for labeled calibration particles in dilute ($$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

) and semi-dilute ($$\varPhi \approx 19.9\%$$

Φ
≈
19.9
%

) suspensions, respectively. The measurement technique is validated for a laminar flow in a straight rectangular channel with a cross-sectional area of 2.55 × 30 mm$$^2$$

2

. Uncertainties of 1.39% and 3.34% for the in-plane and 9.04% and 22.57% for the out-of-plane velocity with respect to the maximum streamwise velocity are achieved, at solid volume fractions of $$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

and $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

, respectively.
Ozone disrupts the communication between plants and insects in urban and suburban areas: an updated insight on plant volatiles
Authors: Masui Noboru , Agathokleous Evgenios , Mochizuki Tomoki , Tani Akira , Matsuura Hideyuki , Koike Takayoshi
Published: January 2021

Plant–insect interactions are basic components of biodiversity conservation. To attain the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the interactions in urban and in suburban systems should be better understood to maintain the health of green infrastructure. The role of ground-level ozone (O3) as an environmental stress disrupting interaction webs is presented. Ozone mixing ratios in suburbs are usually higher than in the center of cities and may reduce photosynthetic productivity at a relatively higher degree. Consequently, carbon-based defense capacities of plants may be suppressed by elevated O3more in the suburbs. However, contrary to this expectation, grazing damages by leaf beetles have been severe in some urban centers in comparison with the suburbs. To explain differences in grazing damages between urban areas and suburbs, the disruption of atmospheric communication signals by elevated O3via changes in plant-regulated biogenic volatile organic compounds and long-chain fatty acids are considered. The ecological roles of plant volatiles and the effects of O3from both a chemical and a biological perspective are presented. Ozone-disrupted plant volatiles should be considered to explain herbivory phenomena in urban and suburban systems.
Dense bone islands in pediatric patients: a case series study
Authors: Alfahad S. , Alostad M. , Dunkley S. , Anand P. , Harvey S. , Monteiro J.
Published: January 2021

Background

Dense Bone Islands (DBIs) are anatomic variants defined as radiopaque lesions consisting of hamartomatous cortical bone, often presenting as incidental radiographic findings. DBIs can also be known as idiopathic osteosclerosis, bone whorl, focal periapical osteopetrosis, bone scar and enostosis. We found a paucity of literature for management and reporting of this condition in children. For this reason, the authors describe sixteen cases of children and adolescents with dense bony islands and suggest a pathway for management.

Case series

Cases presented to the RNENT and Eastman Dental Hospital or private practice, either as chance findings or for diagnosis and treatment planning of undiagnosed radiopaque areas. The individuals were aged between 10 and 17 years; 6 boys and 10 girls. All radiographic reports described DBIs. Diagnoses were confirmed by a Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology Consultant and advised no intervention. In some cases, monitoring was advised. Caution in orthodontic tooth movement was advised for five patients.

Conclusion

DBIs are common findings that seldom require treatment; however, caution should be exercised when undertaking orthodontic movement in the area of a DBI due to a potential risk of root resorption. Accurate identification and multidisciplinary management are of utmost importance.
Free Vibration and Transmission Response Analysis for Torsional Vibration of Circular Annular Plate
Authors: Liu Wei , Sun HaiLong , Zhao Qiang
Published: January 2021

In this paper, free vibration and transmission response for the torsional vibration of circular annular plate are presented. To the author’s knowledge, few studies can be found for the torsional vibration from wave standpoint. For this purpose, in this study, natural frequencies for the torsional vibration of annular plate with clamped–clamped and free–free boundaries are calculated. The natural frequencies obtained by wave approach are compared with those derived by the classical method. Furthermore, transmissibility curves of the periodic annular model and Fibonacci annular model are analyzed. The finite element simulations are carried out to verify the theoretical results. Finally, the influence of inner radius and length ratio on the transmission response is also discussed. The obtained results are useful for the torsional vibration reduction of machinery structures.
Biodiesel production from slaughter wastes of broiler chicken: a potential survey in Iran
Authors: Faraji Mahyari Zahra , Khorasanizadeh Zeinab , Khanali Majid , Faraji Mahyari Khadijeh
Published: January 2021

Biodiesel is a kind of biofuels that can be mixed with diesel and used as fuel. Selecting cheap and available feedstock is a prominent step in producing biodiesel economically. This paper presents the pros and cons of biodiesel and its production methods. The diesel demand is significantly high in Iran, especially in the transportation sector; On the other hand, the amount of produced waste is significant in chicken slaughterhouses. Considering this type of feedstock as a source to produce biodiesel not only can reduce the associated environmental problems, but also can supply some of the diesel needs. Hence, this paper also estimates biodiesel production potential from poultry slaughter waste and its cost. Based on the results, 736 kilotonnes of poultry slaughter waste is produced annually in Iran, which can be used as feedstock to produce 112 million liters of biodiesel by transesterification process with the production cost of around 14,277 rial/liter; i.e. 30% of diesel demand in the transportation sector can be supplied by B2 (98% diesel and 2% biodiesel) or diesel demand growth in this sector converted to B20 to increase economical and environmental sustainability.
Forced free vibrations of a square plate
Authors: D’Alessio S. J. D.
Published: January 2021

The vibrations of a square plate with free edges that is forced at its center has been investigated experimentally and numerically. A two-step finite volume scheme is proposed and is tested against an exact solution to a related problem. The governing equation and numerical solution procedure were constructed to closely mimic the experiment. Good agreement was found between the numerical simulations and the experiments.
A space-fractional Pennes bioheat conduction model for skin tissue
Authors: Yang Jiangong , Sun Yifei
Published: January 2021

This study attempts to develop a modified Pennes bioheat conduction model for skin tissue, by using space-fractional derivative. The developed fractional model is applied to capture the thermal behaviour of the skin tissue subjected to heating and cooling procedures. It is found that with the increase of the fractional order, the predicted temperature of the skin tissue at the heating stage increases, while it decreases at the cooling stage. Irrespective of the value of the fractional order, the simulated temperature along the skin tissue at both heating and cooling stages became stable after several seconds thermal conduction. The fractional model reduces to the original Pennes model when the fractional order equals to two.
National trends in insulin resistance and β‐cell dysfunction among adults with prediabetes: NHANES 2001–2016
Authors: Zhang Hao‐Jie , Tan Xiao , Wang Ning‐Jian
Published: January 2021

Background

Insulin resistance is the central abnormality and mechanism underlying the progression of cardiometabolic‐based chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the trends in insulin resistance and β‐cell dysfunction from 2001 to 2016 among US adults with undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and normal glucose regulation and to provide sex‐specific information using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2001–2016.

Methods

Data from 14,481 participants aged over 20 years from 8 consecutive 2‐year cross–sectional cycles of the NHANES from 2001 to 2016 were used. Updated homoeostasis model assessment 2 (HOMA2: HOMA2%B for β‐cell function and HOMA2IR for insulin resistance) was used as a surrogate measure. We defined the upper sex‐specific tertile of HOMA2IR as insulin resistance and the lower corresponding tertile of HOMA2%B as low β‐cell function.

Results

In both sexes with undiagnosed diabetes, HOMA2%B (men, Ptrend = 0.118; women, Ptrend = 0.184) and HOMA2IR (men, Ptrend = 0.710; women, Ptrend = 0.855) remained stable over time. In the prediabetes group, both sexes exhibited significant increasing trends in HOMA2%B (men, Ptrend < 0.010; women, Ptrend < 0.010) and HOMA2IR (men, Ptrend < 0.010; women, Ptrend < 0.050). Adjusting for waist circumference mildly attenuated the trend in HOMA2IR and insulin resistance in men (Ptrend < 0.010), but it resulted in no significance in women (Ptrend = 0.196). In regard to normal glucose regulation, both sexes presented significant decreasing trends in low β‐cell function (men, Ptrend < 0.050; women < 0.010) and attenuated trends in insulin resistance (men, Ptrend = 0.196; women, Ptrend = 0.121).

Conclusions

Over 16 years, insulin resistance demonstrated an increasing trend in adult US population with prediabetes, while β‐cell function showed a compensatory increasing trend. Identifying people with prediabetes early and focusing on reducing insulin resistance as the intervention core, especially controlling central obesity, might increase the opportunity for cardiovascular and diabetes risk reduction.
Treatment of choledocolithiasis by laparoscopic exploration of the bile tract after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Authors: Vargas Avila Arcenio Luis , de Alba Cruz Israel , Flores Julian Vargas , Nagore Ancona Jesus Fernando , Cortazar Sánchez Carlos Arturo , Sánchez Diana Luis , Domínguez Rodríguez Jorge Alejandro , Molina Tabárez Karla Belén
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

There are three treatment options for choledocholithiasis: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy; laparoscopic exploration of the main bile duct with concomitant cholecystectomy; and open cholecystectomy with exploration of the main bile duct.

Material and methods:

A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was taken of patients with a diagnosis of cholecysto-choledocholithiasis that failed ERCP and who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the bile duct.

Results:

From January 2009 to December 2018, 2322 ERCP procedures were performed at Hospital Regional Ignacio Zaragoza, with a failed procedure rate of 3.2% which is equivalent to 75 patients; endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed on all 75 patients and 60 (80%) of these patients had cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis. Access to the bile duct through choledochotomy was required in all 75 patients, achieving successful stone extraction and bile duct clearance in 95%. Fifteen (20%) of these patients that had had laparoscopic cholecystectomy presented choledocholithiasis de novo more than two years after cholecystectomy. Nine patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 6 patients underwent open cholecystectomy. Patients averaged 6 hospital days post-procedure. Surgical times ranged from 150 min to 210 min.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic reoperation of the biliary tract is a reasonable alternative for patients with a history of previous biliary surgery who have failed the ERCP approach.

Highlights
Almond diversity and homozygosity define structure, kinship, inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium in cultivated germplasm, and reveal genomic associations with nut and seed weight
Authors: Pavan Stefano , Delvento Chiara , Mazzeo Rosa , Ricciardi Francesca , Losciale Pasquale , Gaeta Liliana , D’Agostino Nunzio , Taranto Francesca , Sánchez-Pérez Raquel , Ricciardi Luigi , Lotti Concetta
Published: January 2021

Almond [Prunus dulcisMiller (D.A. Webb)] is the main tree nut species worldwide. Here, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was applied to 149 almond cultivars from the ex situ collections of the Italian Council for Agricultural Research (CREA) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), leading to the detection of 93,119 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study of population structure outlined four distinct genetic groups and highlighted diversification between the Mediterranean and Californian gene pools. Data on SNP diversity and runs of homozygosity (ROHs) allowed the definition of kinship, inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay in almond cultivated germplasm. Four-year phenotypic observations, gathered on 98 cultivars of the CREA collection, were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and, for the first time in a crop species, homozygosity mapping (HM), resulting in the identification of genomic associations with nut, shell, and seed weight. Both GWAS and HM suggested that loci controlling nut and seed weight are mostly independent. Overall, this study provides insights on the almond cultivation history and delivers information of major interest for almond genetics and breeding. In a broader perspective, our results encourage the use of ROHs in crop science to estimate inbreeding, choose parental combinations minimizing the risk of inbreeding depression, and identify genomic footprints of selection for specific traits.
Shikonin inhibits proliferation of melanoma cells by MAPK pathway-mediated induction of apoptosis
Authors: Lee Jae Han , Han So Hee , Kim You Min , Kim Sung Hyun , Yoo Eun Seon , Woo Joong Seok , Jung Gi Hwan , Jung Soo Hyun , Kim Bum Seok , Jung Ji Youn
Published: January 2021

Shikonin, a natural product isolated from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, exhibits pharmacological effects against inflammation, ulcers, infections, and tumors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of shikonin on the human melanoma cell line, A375SM, and in an in vivo mouse xenograft model. We examined the anticancer effects of shikonin by in vitro experiments (MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stain, annexin V/ propidium iodide (PI) stain, and protein analysis of apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways). Further, the anticancer effect in vivo was confirmed through a xenograft model. Our results showed that shikonin inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, shikonin significantly increased nucleus and chromatin condensation and early/late apoptosis. Shikonin also increased the pro-apoptotic proteins and decreased the anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, shikonin was overexpressed in MAPK pathways. Investigation of the effects of shikonin in a mouse xenograft model not only showed decreased A375SM tumor volume but also increased apoptosis as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Furthermore, pathologic changes were not observed in the liver and kidney of mice. Collectively, the study indicated that shikonin inhibited the proliferation of the human melanoma cells by inducing apoptosis, mediated by MAPK pathway and that it is a potential candidate for an anticancer drug against melanoma cancer.
No evidence for brain renin–angiotensin system activation during DOCA-salt hypertension
Authors: Uijl Estrellita , Ren Liwei , Mirabito Colafella Katrina M. , van Veghel Richard , Garrelds Ingrid M. , Domenig Oliver , Poglitsch Marko , Zlatev Ivan , Kim Jae B. , Huang Stephen , Melton Lauren , Hoorn Ewout J. , Foster Don , Danser A.H. Jan
Published: January 2021

Brain renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation is thought to mediate deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension, an animal model for human primary hyperaldosteronism. Here, we determined whether brainstem angiotensin II is generated from locally synthesized angiotensinogen and mediates DOCA-salt hypertension. To this end, chronic DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats were treated with liver-directed siRNA targeted to angiotensinogen, the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist valsartan, or the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone (n = 6–8/group). We quantified circulating angiotensinogen and renin by enzyme-kinetic assay, tissue angiotensinogen by Western blotting, and angiotensin metabolites by LC-MS/MS. In rats without DOCA-salt, circulating angiotensin II was detected in all rats, whereas brainstem angiotensin II was detected in 5 out of 7 rats. DOCA-salt increased mean arterial pressure by 19 ± 1 mmHg and suppressed circulating renin and angiotensin II by >90%, while brainstem angiotensin II became undetectable in 5 out of 7 rats (<6 fmol/g). Gene silencing of liver angiotensinogen using siRNA lowered circulating angiotensinogen by 97 ± 0.3%, and made brainstem angiotensin II undetectable in all rats (P<0.05 vs. non-DOCA-salt), although brainstem angiotensinogen remained intact. As expected for this model, neither siRNA nor valsartan attenuated the hypertensive response to DOCA-salt, whereas spironolactone normalized blood pressure and restored brain angiotensin II together with circulating renin and angiotensin II. In conclusion, despite local synthesis of angiotensinogen in the brain, brain angiotensin II depended on circulating angiotensinogen. That DOCA-salt suppressed circulating and brain angiotensin II in parallel, while spironolactone simultaneously increased brain angiotensin II and lowered blood pressure, indicates that DOCA-salt hypertension is not mediated by brain RAS activation.
Performance evaluation of Nakagami‐m fading with impulsive noise
Authors: Ashraf Umer , Begh Gh. Rasool
Published: January 2021

The main motivation for considering noise to be Gaussian is the central limit theorem (CLT), which accounts for the perturbations that are additive in nature. However, a communication link may be severely affected due to the presence of potential non‐Gaussian sources of noise. This paper considers an important class of non‐Gaussian noise known as symmetric alpha‐stable (SS) noise. To this end, using binary phase‐shift keying (BPSK) modulation, the bit‐error rate (BER) performance of a communication link subjected to Nakagami‐m fading and SS noise is investigated by employing three approaches: exact, asymptotic and approximate. A closed‐form expression for the probability of error over Nakagami‐m fading subjected to bi‐parameter Cauchy–Gaussian mixture noise (BCGM) model is obtained. The effect of fading parameter (m) and impulsive index () on the BER is analyzed for different settings. The derived results corroborate with Monte Carlo simulations.
Low‐complexity sphere decoding for MIMO‐SCMA systems
Authors: Pan Zhipeng , Lei Jing , Wen Lei , Tang Chaojing , Wang Zhongfeng
Published: January 2021

Multiple‐input multiple‐output‐sparse code multiple access, a non‐trivial integration of sparse code multiple access and multiple‐input multiple‐output techniques, is able to achieve high spectrum efficiency and massive user connections. However, this integration also increases the complexity of signal detection. Here, the signal detection problem of multiple‐input multiple‐output sparse code multiple access is transformed into a tree search problem and use sphere decoding to detect the signal. By setting the initial radius to positive infinity, sphere decoding can achieve optimal maximum likelihood performance while the complexity is high. In order to further reduce the complexity of sphere decoding, a block‐wise sorted QR decomposition algorithm is proposed. Based on block‐wise sorted QR decomposition, the improved sphere decoding, namely block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding, is able to make the tree search more efficient. Since only the detection order of each user's signal has been changed, block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding can maintain the optimal maximum likelihood performance. Simulation results and complexity analysis show that block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding can achieve optimal performance and both hard‐output and soft‐output block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding have much lower complexity than joint message passing algorithm. Furthermore, given the same signal‐to‐noise ratio, the complexity of block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding decreases with the increase of receiving antennas, while the complexity of joint message passing algorithm increases linearly.