bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluid Flow Characteristics of a Co-Flow Fluidic Slot Jet Thrust Augmentation Propulsion System
Authors: Garrett Brian , Ahmed Kareem
Published: October 2020

The UAV industry is booming with investments in research and development on improving UAV systems. Current UAV machines are developed according to the quadcopter design which consists of a rotary propulsion system providing lift needed for flight. This design has some flaws; namely safety concerns and noise/vibration production both of which come stem from the rotary propulsion system. As such, a novel propulsion system using slip stream air passed through high performance slot jets is proposed and an analysis of the fluid characteristics is presented in this report.

The test section for the experiment is developed using 3D printed ABS plastic airfoils modified with internal cavities where pressurized air is introduced and then expelled through slot jets on the pressure side of the airfoils. Entrainment processes develop in the system through high momentum fluid introduction into a sedentary secondary fluid. Entrainment is governed by pressure gradients and turbulent mixing and so turbulent quantities that measure these processes are extracted and analyzed according to the independent variable’s effects on these quantities. Pitot probe testing extracted one dimensional fluid information and PIV analysis is used to characterize the two-dimensional flow aspects.

High slot jet velocities are seen to develop flows dominated by convection pushing momentum mixing downstream reducing the mixing in the system while low slot jet speeds exhibit higher mass fluxes and thrust development. Confinement spacing is seen to cause a decrease in flow velocity and thrust as the spacing is decreased for high speed runs. The most constricted cross sectional runs showed high momentum mixing and developed combined self-similar flow through higher boundary layer interactions and pressures, but this also hurts thrust development by minimizing secondary flows. The Angle of Attack of the assembly proved to be the most important variable. Outward angling showed the influence of coanda effects but also demonstrated the highest bulk fluid flow with turbulence driven momentum mixing. Inward angling created combined fluid flow downstream with high momentum mixing upstream driven by pressure. Minimal mixing is seen when the airfoils are not angled, and high recirculation zones occur along the boundaries. The optimal setup is seen when the airfoils are angled outwards where the highest thrust and bulk fluid movement is developed driven by the turbulent mixing induced by the increasing cross sectional area of the system.
Assessment of Computational Fluid Dynamics for Predicting Possible Cavitation and Choked Flow Inside Excess Flow Valves
Authors: Banazadeh-Neishabouri Nafiseh , Shirazi Siamack A. , Smalley Jud , Lybarger Mike
Published: October 2020

Cavitation and choked flow conditions can occur when high-pressure drops are encounters in various types of valves, which prevent them to work properly and may cause severe erosion damage inside the valves that decrease their lifetime. Prediction of these critical conditions leads to the prevention of cavitation and helps to improve the design of the valve geometries to delay and prevent these critical flow conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool that can be used to simulate flow conditions and to predict the incipient of cavitation and consequently choked flow in the valve through solving the Time Averaged Navier-Stokes equations under multi-phase flow conditions. Therefore, CFD simulations have been conducted for two types of excess flow valves. The mixture multi-phase flow solution method along with the k-ε realizable turbulence model has been utilized to solve the behavior of vapor flow inside the valve and simulate the cavitation phenomenon. It was observed that CFD could capture the inception of cavitation and choked flow inside the valve successfully. Simulated CFD results also indicated a good agreement with experimental data that were obtained under lower pressure drop conditions. The effects of various inlet pressures on the cavitation intensity have been also studied, and it was concluded that at higher inlet pressure with constant pressure outlet the cavitation strength is greater than lower inlet pressures.
Analyzing Walkability Through Biometrics: Insights Into Sustainable Transportation Through the Use of Eye-Tracking Emulation Software
Authors: Hollander Justin B. , Sussman Ann , Lowitt Peter , Angus Neil , Situ Minyu
Published: October 2020

Background: Understanding more about the unseen side of our responses to visual stimuli offers a powerful new tool for transportation planning. Traditional transportation planning tends to focus on the mobility of vehicles rather than on opportunities to encourage sustainable transport modes, like walking. Methods: Using eye-tracking emulation software, this study measured the unconscious visual responses people have to designs and layouts in new built environments, focusing on what makes streets most walkable. Results: The study found key differences between the way the brain takes in conventional automobile-oriented residential developments versus new urbanist layouts, with the former lacking key fixation points. Conclusion: The study’s discoveries significantly explain why new urbanist layouts promote walking effortlessly and conventional automobile-oriented residential developments cannot.
Sensing Host Arginine Is Essential for
Leishmania
Parasites’ Intracellular Development
Authors: Goldman-Pinkovich Adele , Kannan Sriram , Nitzan-Koren Roni , Puri Madhu , Pawar Harsh , Bar-Avraham Yael , McDonald Jacquelyn , Sur Aakash , Zhang Wen-Wei , Matlashewski Greg , Madhubala Rentala , Michaeli Shulamit , Myler Peter J. , Zilberstein Dan
Published: October 2020

In this study, we report that the ability of the human pathogen
Leishmania
to sense and monitor the lack of arginine in the phagolysosome of the host macrophage is essential for disease development. Phagolysosomes of macrophages are the niche where
Leishmania
resides and causes human leishmaniasis. During infection, the arginine concentration in the phagolysosome decreases as part of the host innate immune response. An arginine sensor on the
Leishmania
cell surface activates an arginine deprivation response pathway that upregulates the expression of a parasite arginine transporter (AAP3). Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of the
AAP3
locus to show that this response enables
Leishmania
parasites to successfully compete with the host macrophage in the “hunger games” for arginine.
HapX, an Indispensable bZIP Transcription Factor for Iron Acquisition, Regulates Infection Initiation by Orchestrating Conidial Oleic Acid Homeostasis and Cytomembrane Functionality in Mycopathogen Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Peng Yue-Jin , Wang Jia-Jia , Lin Hai-Yan , Ding Jin-Li , Feng Ming-Guang , Ying Sheng-Hua
Published: October 2020

Conidial maturation and germination are highly coupled physiological processes in filamentous fungi that are critical for the pathogenicity of mycopathogens. Compared to the mechanisms involved in conidial germination, those of conidial reserves during maturation are less understood. The insect-pathogenic fungus
Beauveria bassiana
, as a representative species of filamentous fungi, is important for applied and fundamental research. In addition to its conserved roles in fungal adaptation to iron status, the bZIP transcription factor HapX acts as a master regulator involved in conidial virulence and regulates fatty acid/lipid metabolism. Further investigation revealed that the Δ9-fatty acid desaturase gene (
Ole1
) is a direct downstream target of HapX. This study reveals the HapX-Ole1 pathway involved in the fatty acid/lipid accumulation associated with conidial maturation and provides new insights into the startup mechanism of infection caused by spores from pathogenic fungi.
Mercury isotopes track the cause of carbon perturbations in the Ediacaran ocean
Authors: Fan Haifeng , Fu Xuewu , Ward Jack F. , Yin Runsheng , Wen Hanjie , Feng Xinbin
Published: October 2020

The unusual carbon biogeochemical cycling that occurred in the Ediacaran (ca. 635–541 Ma) ocean may have been critical for ocean oxygenation and Ediacaran life evolution. However, the triggers of the peculiar Ediacaran carbonate carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) excursions are not well understood. Because mercury (Hg) has a strong affinity for organic carbon, we measured Hg isotope compositions (δ202Hg and Δ199Hg) from Ediacaran marine sediments of South China and South Australia to better understand the causes of the Ediacaran δ13Ccarb excursions. During two local positive δ13Ccarb excursions in the Doushantuo Formation, gradually decreasing Δ199Hg and increasing δ202Hg trends are primarily ascribed to enhanced terrestrial input. Decreasing δ202Hg in both the Doushantuo and Wonoka Formations during the latter part of the Shuram negative δ13Ccarb excursion demonstrates the significant, and potentially widespread, contribution of upwelling Hg associated with dissolved organic carbon (Hg-DOC) from the open deep ocean. New Hg isotope data also suggest that a large Hg-DOC reservoir may have been present in the open ocean continuously from the early to mid–late Ediacaran Period (ca. 635–551 Ma), buffering ocean oxygenation at that time.
Supplemental Material: Seismicity trends and detachment fault structure at 13°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Parnell-Turner Ross , al. et
Published: October 2020

Additional information and figures describing the acquisition and processing of the micro-earthquake data set, including links to data repository and 3-D visualization of the earthquake catalog.
Paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction in a localised squamous cell oesophageal cancer with paracrine G-CSF production
Authors: Azzam Omar , Hewavitharana Chandra Hewavitharana , Fermoyle Soraya , Prentice David
Published: October 2020

A 51-year-old-man presented with symptoms and baseline investigations suggestive of an infective process. Most strikingly, there was a pronounced neutrophil predominant leucocytosis. Lack of a clinical and biochemical response to empirical antibiotic therapy, prompted imaging for a deep-seated infective process, incidentally uncovering a gastro-oesophageal junction tumour. Resection of the tumour was followed by rapid resolution of the leucocytosis. He remains in clinical remission since tumour resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. Cancer-associated leukemoid reactions in non-disseminated tumours are rare. The role of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes both in the peripheral blood and the tumour itself is discussed herein. There is increasing recognition of the importance of the non-cancer cellular components of the tumour microenvironment. Myeloid suppressor cells are a subset of PMN leucocytes which play a role in tumour progression.The role of these cells and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is highlighted in this case.
Complete resolution of arrhythmia-induced hydrops fetalis in utero
Authors: Narayanan Monisha , Dhuka Sypara , Alapati Srilatha , Kauffman Robert P
Published: October 2020

A 21-year-old G3P2011 Caucasian woman at 27 weeks’ gestation presented with fetal tachyarrhythmia between 240 and 270 beats per minute. Fetal supraventricular tachycardia, abdominal ascites, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion indicated hydrops fetalis. Management with digoxin and flecainide converted the fetus to sinus rhythm and resolved the ascites and pleural effusion within 4 days of treatment. Flecainide was discontinued at 31 weeks’ gestation due to elevated liver enzymes. Intrahepatic cholestasis was treated with ursodiol. Caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks’ gestation. Neonatal echocardiogram revealed a bicuspid aortic valve with mild regurgitation and a patent foramen ovale, and the infant showed no subsequent evidence of tachyarrhythmia or hydrops after delivery. Treatment of hydrops fetalis in the antenatal period is complex, and early diagnosis and treatment can quickly resolve supraventricular tachycardia-induced hydrops fetalis.
Management of hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Simha Vinaya
Published: October 2020

Hypertriglyceridemia is one of the most common lipid abnormalities encountered in clinical practice. Many monogenic disorders causing severe hypertriglyceridemia have been identified, but in most patients triglyceride elevations result from a combination of multiple genetic variations with small effects and environmental factors. Common secondary causes include obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, alcohol misuse, and various commonly used drugs. Correcting these factors and optimizing lifestyle choices, including dietary modification, is important before starting drug treatment. The goal of drug treatment is to reduce the risk of pancreatitis in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular disease in those with moderate hypertriglyceridemia. This review discusses the various genetic and acquired causes of hypertriglyceridemia, as well as current management strategies. Evidence supporting the different drug and non-drug approaches to treating hypertriglyceridemia is examined, and an easy to adopt step-by-step management strategy is presented.
Exploring the concept of problematic khat use in the Gurage community, South Central Ethiopia: a qualitative study
Authors: Mihretu Awoke , Fekadu Abebaw , Habtamu Kassahun , Nhunzvi Clement , Norton Sam , Teferra Solomon
Published: October 2020

Objective

This study aimed to explore how problematic khat use is characterised in the Gurage community in South Central Ethiopia.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

Gurage community in South Central Ethiopia.

Participants

We conducted indepth interviews with 14 khat users and 5 non-khat users, and three focus group discussions with khat users.

Methods

All participants were selected purposively based on their exposure to khat or khat use. We used an interview guide to explore the perceptions of participants about khat use and problematic khat use. We analysed the data thematically using OpenCode V.4.03 software. We used iterative data collection and analysis, triangulation of methods, and respondent validation to ensure scientific rigour.

Findings

We identified three major themes: sociocultural khat use, khat suse (khat addiction) and negative consequences of khat use. Sociocultural khat use included a broad range of contexts and patterns, including use of khat for functional, social, cultural and religious reasons. Khat addiction was mainly explained in terms of associated khat withdrawal experiences, including harara/craving and inability to quit. We identified mental health, sexual life, physical health, social and financial negative consequences of khat use. The local idiom jezba was used to label a subgroup of individuals with khat suse (khat addiction).

Conclusion

The study has identified what constitutes normative and problematic khat use in the Gurage community in South Central Ethiopia. Problematic khat use is a broad concept which includes frequency, reasons, contexts, negative consequences and addiction to khat. Insights generated can be used to inform future studies on the development of tools to measure problematic khat use.
Association of dietary patterns and practices on metabolic syndrome in adults with central obesity attending a mission hospital in Kenya: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Okube Okubatsion Tekeste , Kimani Samuel , Waithira Mirie
Published: October 2020

Objective

Dietary patterns and practices can predispose or protect against metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans. Despite the growing problem of MetS in adults, the underpinning dietary behaviour is poorly understood. We determined the dietary patterns and practices relevant to MetS in adults with central obesity attending a mission hospital in Kenya.

Study design

Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting

Outpatient clinic of a mission-based hospital in Nairobi.

Participants

Adults (N=404) aged 18–64 years diagnosed with central obesity as per the International Diabetes Federation definition for MetS.

Primary outcomes

Anthropometric measurements, clinical-biochemical markers and dietary components, quantity and frequency of food intake, as well as time-lapse between consumption of dinner and sleeping.

Results

A high (87.2%) prevalence of MetS was observed for respondents who reported consumption of large amount of carbohydrates (p<0.001), proteins (p<0.001), processed/fast foods (p<0.001) and sugar (p=0.009). Frequent consumption of legumes (p<0.001), nuts (p<0.001), fruits (p<0.001) and vegetables (p=0.021) was linked to reduced MetS. Additionally, longer interval between eating dinner and going to bed was associated with reduced MetS.

Conclusion

Regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, as well as observing sometime after eating dinner before sleeping, was the dietary pattern significantly associated with a lower risk of MetS. Whereas, consumption of a large quantity of carbohydrates, proteins, processed/fast foods and sugar is likely to predispose to MetS. The findings underscore the need to focus on specific dietary intake patterns including frequency, quantity, quality and variety for MetS prevention and management. The MetS-related interventions could be implemented during individual consultation, group and community health messaging sessions.
Evaluating the long-term effects of a data-driven approach to reduce variation in emergency department pathology investigations: study protocol for evaluation of the NSW Health Pathology Atlas of variation
Authors: Scowen Craig , Wabe Nasir , Eigenstetter Alex , Lindeman Robert , Miao Melissa , Westbrook Johanna I , Georgiou Andrew
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Variation in test ordering is a major issue in Australia and globally with significant financial and clinical impacts. There is currently a lack of research identifying and remediating variation in the use of pathology tests in emergency departments (EDs). In 2019, NSW Health Pathology introduced the Pathology Atlas of Variation that uses a data-driven tool (the Atlas Analytical Model) to investigate test order variation across New South Wales (NSW) and engage with local health districts (LHDs) to reduce variation. The objectives of this study are to evaluate whether this data-driven approach is associated with: (1) a reduction in test order variation; (2) improvements in patient outcomes and (3) cost benefits, for the five most frequent ED presentations.

Methods and analysis

This is a large multisite study including 45 major public hospitals across 15 LHDs in NSW, Australia. The Atlas Analytical Model is a data analytics and visualisation tool capable of providing analytical insights into variation in pathology investigations across NSW EDs, which will be used as feedback to inform LHDs efforts to reduce variation. Interrupted time series analyses using 2 years pre Atlas (2017–2018) and 2 years post Atlas (2021–2022) data will be conducted. Study data will be obtained by linking hospital and laboratory databases. Funnel plots will be used to identify EDs with outlying pathology test ordering practices. The outcome measures include changes in test ordering practices, ED length of stay, hospital admission and cost benefits (total pathology costs per ED encounter).

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethical approval from the NSW Population and Health Service Research Ethics Committee (reference, 2019/ETH00184). The findings of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated via presentations at conferences. We will also engage directly with key stakeholders to disseminate the findings and to inform policies related to pathology testing in the ED.
Case-comparison study protocol for gauging effects of neighbourhood trends and sickness: examining the perceptions of transit-Induced gentrification in Prince George’s County
Authors: Roberts Jennifer D , Tehrani Shadi O , Isom, Jr Roger , Stone Eric A , Brachman Micah L , Garcia Valerie Newsome
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Impoverished neighbourhoods and communities of colour often bear the brunt of unintended transit-oriented development (TOD) impacts. These impacts have been known to come in the form of transit-induced gentrification (TIG), a socioeconomic by-product of TOD defined as a phenomenon that occurs when the provision of transit service, particularly light rail transit (LRT), ‘up-scales’ nearby neighbourhood(s) and displaces existing residents. Consequently, TIG or even the perception of TIG can impact health outcomes (eg, anxiety) and social determinants of health (SDOH) (eg, crime).

Methods/Analysis

In 2022, the purple line (PL), a 16.2 mile LRT line, is opening in Prince George’s County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, comprised of over 80% African American and Hispanic residents. By taking advantage of this natural experiment, we are proposing the GENTS (Gauging Effects of Neighborhood Trends and Sickness: Examining the Perceptions of Transit-Induced Gentrification in Prince George’s County) Study in order to evaluate perceived TIG and associated health outcome and SDOH changes, at two points in time, among Prince George’s County adults in a prospective case-comparison design during the pre-PL LRT period. Descriptive analysis and latent growth curve modelling will be used to examine these changes over time.

Ethics and Dissemination

Ethics approval has been granted by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board. The GENTS Study will identify temporal changes in perceived TIG, health outcomes and SDOH among case and comparison residents before the completion and operation of the PL LRT, an under researched period of TOD. The dissemination of GENTS Study findings will be able to address research questions and policy issues that are specifically tailored to PG County while also providing more effective procedural solutions for other regions undergoing TOD and TIG risks.
Protocol of a randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of medication optimisation in elderly inpatients: medication optimisation protocol efficacy for geriatric inpatients (MPEG) trial
Authors: Ie Kenya , Hirose Masanori , Sakai Tsubasa , Motohashi Iori , Aihara Mari , Otsuki Takuya , Tsuboya Ayako , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Hashi Hikari , Inoue Eisuke , Takahashi Masaki , Komiya Eiko , Itoh Yuka , Tsuchida Tomoya , Kurosu Eri , Albert Steven M , Okuse Chiaki , Matsuda Takahide
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Whether medication optimisation improves clinical outcomes in elderly individuals remains unclear. The current study aims to evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary team-based medication optimisation on survival, rehospitalisation and unscheduled hospital visits in elderly patients.

Methods and analysis

We report the protocol of a single-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. The enrolled subjects will be medical inpatients, aged 65 years or older, admitted to a community hospital and receiving five or more regular medications. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive either an intervention for medication optimisation or the usual care. The intervention will consist of a multidisciplinary team-based medication review, followed by a medication optimisation proposal based on the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to the Right Treatment criteria and an implicit medication optimisation protocol. Medication optimisation summaries will be sent to primary care physicians and community pharmacists on discharge. The primary outcome will be a composite of death, unscheduled hospital visits and rehospitalisation until 48 weeks after randomisation. Secondary outcomes will include each of the primary endpoints, the number of prescribed medications, quality of life score, level of long-term care required, drug-related adverse events, death during hospitalisation and falls. Participants will be followed up for 48 weeks with bimonthly telephone interviews to assess the primary and secondary outcomes. A log-rank test stratified by randomisation factors will be used to compare the incidence of the composite endpoint. The study was initiated in 2019 and a minimum of 500 patients will be enrolled.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of St. Marianna University School of Medicine (No. 4129). The results of the current study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

UMIN000035265
Evaluation of the LFA-REAL clinician-reported outcome (ClinRO) and patient-reported outcome (PRO): data from the Peruvian Almenara Lupus Cohort
Authors: Ugarte-Gil Manuel Francisco , Gamboa-Cardenas Rocio Violeta , Reátegui-Sokolova Cristina , Pimentel-Quiroz Victor Román , Zeña-Huancas Paola , Elera-Fitzcarrald Claudia , Garcia-Hirsh Samira , Gil Luciana , Pastor-Asurza Cesar Augusto , Rodriguez-Bellido Zoila , Merrill Joan , Askanase Anca D , Alarcon Graciela , Perich-Campos Risto Alfredo
Published: October 2020

Objective

The Lupus Foundation of America Rapid Evaluation of Activity in Lupus (LFA-REAL) clinician-reported outcome (ClinRO) and the LFA-REAL patient-reported outcome (PRO) were developed in order to capture manifestations of SLE from the perspective of both the clinician and the patient. The aim of this study is to compare the LFA-REAL ClinRO and PRO with other lupus disease activity measures.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of patients from a single-centre cohort was performed using Spearman’s correlation. Disease activity measures included were LFA-REAL ClinRO (range 0–1400), LFA-REAL PRO (range 0–1200), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), clinical SLEDAI-2K and Physician Global Assessment (PGA, range 0–100).

Results

Two hundred and twenty-seven patients with SLE were studied. The mean age was 46.3 (SD: 13.8); 212 (93.4%) were female. The mean (SD) LFA-REAL ClinRO was 25.4 (34.7), LFA-REAL PRO was 241.1 (187.6), PGA was 11.9 (15.4), SLEDAI-2K was 2.3 (3.3) and clinical SLEDAI-2K was 1.6 (2.9). The LFA-REAL ClinRO correlated with PGA (r=0.758, p<0.001), SLEDAI-2K (r=0.608, p<0.001) and clinical SLEDAI-2K (r=0.697, p<0.001); the LFA-REAL PRO correlated modestly with PGA (r=0.160, p=0.016), SLEDAI-2K (r=0.121, p=0.069), clinical SLEDAI-2K (r=0.143, p=0.031) and LFA-REAL ClinRO (r=0.161, p=0.015).

Conclusions

The LFA-REAL ClinRO and the LFA-REAL PRO had good and weak correlations, respectively, with several physician-based disease activity measures in a cross-sectional study, suggesting their potential usefulness in establishing disease severity. Longitudinal studies will be required to determine their value in monitoring patients with SLE.
Effects of adding ivabradine to usual care in patients with angina pectoris: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Maagaard Mathias , Nielsen Emil Eik , Sethi Naqash Javaid , Ning Liang , Yang Si-hong , Gluud Christian , Jakobsen Janus Christian
Published: October 2020

Objective

To determine the impact of ivabradine on outcomes important to patients with angina pectoris caused by coronary artery disease.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review. We included randomised clinical trials comparing ivabradine versus placebo or no intervention for patients with angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease published prior to June 2020. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, Cochrane methodology, Trial Sequential Analysis, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, and our eight-step procedure. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, serious adverse events and quality of life.

Results

We included 47 randomised clinical trials enrolling 35 797 participants. All trials and outcomes were at high risk of bias. Ivabradine compared with control did not have effects when assessing all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.04; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.13), quality of life (standardised mean differences −0.05; 95% CI −0.11 to 0.01), cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.07; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.18) and myocardial infarction (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.16). Ivabradine seemed to increase the risk of serious adverse events after removal of outliers (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.11) as well as the following adverse events classified as serious: bradycardia, prolonged QT interval, photopsia, atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Ivabradine also increased the risk of non-serious adverse events (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.16). Ivabradine might have a statistically significant effect when assessing angina frequency (mean difference (MD) 2.06; 95% CI 0.82 to 3.30) and stability (MD 1.48; 95% CI 0.07 to 2.89), but the effect sizes seemed minimal and possibly without any relevance to patients, and we identified several methodological limitations, questioning the validity of these results.

Conclusion

Our findings do not support that ivabradine offers significant benefits on patient important outcomes, but rather seems to increase the risk of serious adverse events such as atrial fibrillation and non-serious adverse events. Based on current evidence, guidelines need reassessment and the use of ivabradine for angina pectoris should be reconsidered.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018112082.
Syncope in pulmonary embolism: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Richmond Craig , Jolly Hannah , Isles Chris
Published: October 2020

Objective

To determine the prevalence of syncope or collapse in pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted. We examined the frequency with which syncope or collapse (presyncope) occurred alone or with other symptoms and signs in an unselected series of 224 patients presenting to a district general hospital with PE between September 2012 and March 2016. Confirmation of PE was by CT pulmonary angiogram in each case.

Results

Our cohort of 224 patients comprised 97 men and 127 women, average age 66 years with age range of 21–94 years. Syncope or collapse was one of several symptoms and signs that led to a diagnosis of PE in 22 patients (9.8%) but was never the sole presenting feature. In descending order, these other clinical features were hypoxaemia (17 patients), dyspnoea (12), chest pain (9), tachycardia (7) and tachypnoea (7). ECG abnormalities reported to occur more commonly in PE were found in 13/17 patients for whom ECGs were available. Patients with PE presenting with syncope or collapse were judged to have a large clot load in 15/22 (68%) cases.

Conclusion

Syncope was a frequent presenting symptom in our study of 224 consecutive patients with PE but was never the sole clinical feature. It would be difficult to justify routine testing for PE in patients presenting only with syncope or collapse.
Axial-tensor Meson family at $$T\ne 0$$
Authors: Süngü J. Y. , Türkan A. , Sertbakan E. , Veliev E. Veli
Published: October 2020

The mass and decay constants of $$\rho _2,~\omega _2$$

ρ
2

,

ω
2

and a missing member in the $$ 2^{--} $$

2

-
-

nonet along with their first excited states are analyzed by the Thermal QCD sum rules approach, including QCD condensates up to dimension five. Mass and decay constant values of these mesons are stable from $$T=0$$

T
=
0

up to  $$T \cong 120 ~\mathrm {MeV}$$

T
≅
120

MeV

. However, after this threshold point, our numerical analyses indicates that they begin to diminish with increasing temperature. When we compare the hadronic parameters with their vacuum values, masses of these mesons and their first excited states decrease between (1–13%) from the PDG data and (10–26%) for the decay constants. However they diminish in the interval of (9–26%) and (2–34%) respectively with regards to Regge Trajectory Model data. We expect our numerical results will be confirmed by future heavy-ion collision experiments.
Electroweak corrections to the angular coefficients in finite-$$p_T$$ Z-boson production and dilepton decay
Authors: Frederix Rikkert , Vitos Timea
Published: October 2020

We present next-to-leading order (NLO) electroweak corrections to the dominant five angular coefficients parametrizing the Drell–Yan process in the Z-boson mass peak range for finite-$$p_T$$

p
T

vector boson production. The results are presented differentially in the vector boson transverse momentum. The Lam–Tung violating difference $$A_0-A_2$$

A
0

-

A
2

is examined alongside the coefficients. A single lepton transverse momentum cut is needed in the case of electroweak corrections to avoid a double singularity in the photon induced diagrams, and the dependence on the value of this cut is examined. We compare the electroweak corrections to the angular coefficients to the NLO QCD corrections, including the single lepton cut. The size of the single lepton cut is found to affect the two coefficients $$A_0$$

A
0

and $$A_2$$

A
2

to largest extent. The relative size of the electroweak corrections to the coefficients is moderate for all single lepton cut values, and by extrapolation to the inclusive results, is moderate also for the full dilepton phase space case. However, for the Lam–Tung violation, there is a significant contribution from the electroweak corrections for low $$p_T$$

p
T

of the lepton pair.
On the number of same order classes of non-abelian subgroups of a finite group
Authors: Meng Wei , Yang Guifang , Lu Jiakuan
Published: October 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite group and [Formula: see text] denote the set of the prime divisors of [Formula: see text]. The symbol [Formula: see text] denotes the number of same order classes of all non-abelian subgroups of [Formula: see text]. Firstly, the finite groups with [Formula: see text] are classified completely. Secondly, the lower bounds on [Formula: see text] are obtained by the functions of [Formula: see text]. In particular, it is showed that [Formula: see text] for non-solvable groups [Formula: see text]. Finally, the structure of groups with [Formula: see text] is investigated.
On the surjectivity of certain word maps on SU(2)
Authors: Khoi Vu The , Toan Ho Minh
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we study the word map [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a word in the free group [Formula: see text] of rank 2. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the surjectivity of the word map by using the trace polynomials.

As applications of our method, we give example of word [Formula: see text] for which the word map is not surjective. For families of words belonging to [Formula: see text] of the form [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] we can tell whether the word map is surjective or not.
The Chinese Developmental State: Threats, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: SZÉKELY-DOBY ANDRÁS
Published: October 2020

Over the last 40 years, China’s development has been breath-taking. Its poor, centrally planned economy has been transformed into a middle-income capitalist one with a strong resemblance to highly successful East Asian economies like Taiwan and South Korea. It is argued here that China had become a developmental state by the mid-1990s, showing most features of its predecessors. At the same time, differences such as its huge size, socialist past, and structural problems have made it increasingly clear that China’s rapid growth rate is unsustainable. Instead of a strong and confident great power, one can only see a vulnerable giant with an inevitably decelerating economy.
Effects of Magnetic Fields on PN Junctions in Piezomagnetic–Piezoelectric Semiconductor Composite Fibers
Authors: Liang Chao , Zhang Chunli , Chen Weiqiu , Yang Jiashi
Published: October 2020

We study the electromechanical and electrical behaviors of a PN junction in a multiferroic composite fiber, consisting of a piezoelectric semiconductor (PS) layer between two piezomagnetic (PM) layers, under a transverse magnetic field. Based on the derived one-dimensional model for multiferroic composite semiconductor structures, we obtain the linear analytical solution for the built-in potential and electric field in the junction when there is no applied voltage between the two ends of the fiber. When a bias voltage is applied over the two ends of the fiber, a nonlinear numerical analysis is performed for the current–voltage relation. Both a homogeneous junction with a uniform PS layer and a heterogeneous junction with two different PSs on different sides of the junctions are studied. It is found that overall the homogeneous junction is essentially unaffected by the magnetic field, and the heterojunction is sensitive to the magnetic field with potential applications in piezotronics.
Time Domain Identification Method for Random Dynamic Loads and its Application on Reconstruction of Road Excitations
Authors: Li Kun , Liu Jie , Wen Jing , Lu Cheng
Published: October 2020

A time domain method for identifying random dynamic loads is proposed based on spectral decomposition and regularization, which to some extent makes up for the deficiency of frequency domain methods. The random dynamic loads are descripted with their time domain mean functions and covariance matrix, which can intuitively reflect the statistical characteristics of the loads. Therein the random dynamic load identification is transformed into the load mean function identification and covariance matrix reconstruction. The forward identification models are mainly established based on Green’s kernel function method, and then spectral decomposition is conducted to transform the identification of load covariance matrix into a series of identifications of eigenvectors. To overcome the ill-posedness in the inverse process, the least-square QR iterative regularization is adopted. Two numerical examples and an application on the reconstruction of road excitations acting on a vehicle are studied to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Thermal Buckling of Graphene Platelets Toughening Sandwich Functionally Graded Porous Plate with Temperature-Dependent Properties
Authors: Xu Mingnan , Li Xinping , Luo Yi , Wang Gang , Guo Yunhua , Liu Tingting , Huang Junhong , Yan Ge
Published: October 2020

Thermal buckling of graphene platelets (GPLs) reinforced sandwich functionally graded porous (SWFGP) plate with temperature-dependent (TD) properties is investigated. The studied plate is composed of two homogeneous face layers and one functionally graded porous core. Two types of porosity distribution with uniformly distributed GPL reinforcement are included. Based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory, Hamilton principle and Galerkin procedure are employed to build the analytical framework. Uniform, linear, and nonlinear thermal loads along the thickness direction are considered. Subsequently, an iterative procedure is introduced to find out the critical buckling temperature of the plate with the temperature dependence considered. Verifications are conducted to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method. Several parametric analyses are investigated in detail where the effects of porosity, GPL weight fraction, geometric configuration, and the boundary condition on the thermal buckling of the plates are discussed.
Novel Mathematical-Statistical Models for the Distribution of Fatigue Life and Residual Strength for Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Hu Jiqiang , Ji Chunming , Chen Shuai , Li Shuai , Wang Bing , Zhou Zhengong
Published: October 2020

For the distribution prediction of fatigue life and residual strength of fiber reinforced polymer composites, the existing models have the disadvantages of imprecision, instability and single applicability. A novel S–N curve model and a residual strength degradation model were first developed, which are independent and uncorrelated. After verifying their reliability, the statistical distribution models of fatigue life and residual strength were further derived and verified by using experimental data from literature. Compared with the other models, the proposed models can perfectly predict the probability distribution of fatigue life and residual strength under different materials, stacking sequences and stress levels, showing excellent prediction accuracy, stability and applicability.
Methods and Criterion for Adaptive Ice Accretion Simulation: Mesh Boundary Merge and Reconstruction
Authors: Li Zhao , Tong Xiaoyan , Sun Jing , Jiang Feng , Yang Guangjun , Xiao Jingping , Shi Yu
Published: October 2020

The strong coupling effect of two-phase flow and ice accompanies the ice accretion process of aircraft and wind turbine in damp and cold environment. A method based on the Eulerian two-phase flow, domain discretization of finite volume method (FVM) and finite element method (FEM), and fluid–solid coupling for numerical simulation of ice accretion is presented in this paper. In addition, the icing process of two-dimensional (2D) ice accretion on airfoils is investigated. It is found that the difference between simulation results and experimental data comes from the phase changes of local collection efficiency [Formula: see text], which is a function of local vortex strength and changes with time. Furthermore, with the ice accretion, it is easy to generate a negative or distortion grid because of the inappropriate mesh boundary merge and reconstruction, leading to an inaccurate ice prediction result. Based on the influence region of icing accretion and capturing the complex flow characteristics of the near-wall region, a dynamic and partition adaptive grid reconstruction strategy between macroscopic ice layer and microscopic ice crystal growth process is established. This is then used to build the ice accretion step adjustment strategy for multi-step simulation method under different icing conditions. The droplet collection efficiency distribution is modified by considering the vortex structure in the near-wall region. For verification purposes, multi-step simulation results for ice accretion of NACA0012 airfoil and large camber and strong separation airfoil under specified icing conditions are compared with the corresponding experimental data and some previously predicted results. The results of quantitative comparison of ice shape indicate that the current calculation method has better consistency with the experimental data, especially for glaze ice. The similarity of ice shape is more than 20% higher than the previous prediction results, showing that the time-space adaptive adjustment strategy has good robustness and accuracy for ice prediction.
On dominions and varieties of bands
Authors: Abbas Shabnam , Ashraf Wajih , Shah Aftab Hussain
Published: October 2020

We have shown that a variety of left(right) normal bands is closed in some homotypical varieties. Further, we partially generalize a result of Isbell from the class of commutative semigroups to some generalized classes of commutative semigroups by showing that dominion of such semigroups belongs to same classes.
On a Newton-type method under weak conditions with dynamics
Authors: Singh Manoj Kumar , Singh Arvind K.
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we present new cubically convergent Newton-type iterative methods with dynamics for solving nonlinear algebraic equations under weak conditions. The proposed methods are free from second-order derivative and work well when [Formula: see text]. Numerical results show that the proposed method performs better when Newton’s method fails or diverges and competes well with same order existing method. Fractal patterns of different methods also support the numerical results and explain the compactness regarding the convergence, divergence, and stability of the methods to different roots.
Seismic-scale geometries and sequence-stratigraphic architecture of Early Cretaceous syn-post rift carbonate systems, Presalt Section, Brazil
Authors: Minzoni M. , Cantelli A. , Thornton J. , Wignall B.
Published: October 2020

Regional and detailed seismic stratigraphic analyses of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) presalt carbonate sections from offshore Brazil reveal the complex stratigraphic architecture of late- and post-rift lacustrine carbonate systems. The lateral and vertical distribution of calibrated seismic facies within this framework highlights the evolution through time of the carbonate system and bathymetry of the host lacustrine basin. Despite the simple, largely abiotic and microbial components, lacustrine carbonate accumulations formed complex geometries that closely resemble those observed from marine systems, suggesting that a downward-tapering carbonate production profile must have occurred. The complexity of the stratigraphic architecture reflects lateral variations in subsidence patterns combined with the interference of the basement topography, palaeowind directions and basinal filling patterns. Well-imaged clinoforms several hundred metres high attest to both the existence of significant lake-bottom topography, locally in excess of 800 m, and the occurrence of deep water at time of deposition. Platform margin trajectory and vertical and lateral architecture of clinoform packages through time reveal distinct sequence boundaries that can be correlated in detail only locally, demonstrating the impact of syndepositional tectonics, and possibly recurrent isolation of smaller lakes during lowstands. Depositional models from this study fill a gap in current understanding of lacustrine carbonate systems and offer a template for exploration and appraisal of the presalt play.
Fast Distributed
k
NN Graph Construction Using Auto-tuned Locality-sensitive Hashing
Authors: Eiras-Franco Carlos , Martínez-Rego David , Kanthan Leslie , Piñeiro César , Bahamonde Antonio , Guijarro-Berdiñas Bertha , Alonso-Betanzos Amparo
Published: October 2020

The
k
-nearest-neighbors (
k
NN) graph is a popular and powerful data structure that is used in various areas of Data Science, but the high computational cost of obtaining it hinders its use on large datasets. Approximate solutions have been described in the literature using diverse techniques, among which Locality-sensitive Hashing (LSH) is a promising alternative that still has unsolved problems. We present Variable Resolution Locality-sensitive Hashing, an algorithm that addresses these problems to obtain an approximate
k
NN graph at a significantly reduced computational cost. Its usability is greatly enhanced by its capacity to automatically find adequate hyperparameter values, a common hindrance to LSH-based methods. Moreover, we provide an implementation in the distributed computing framework Apache Spark that takes advantage of the structure of the algorithm to efficiently distribute the computational load across multiple machines, enabling practitioners to apply this solution to very large datasets. Experimental results show that our method offers significant improvements over the state-of-the-art in the field and shows very good scalability as more machines are added to the computation.