bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ground Level Isoprenoid Exchanges Associated with Pinus pinea Trees in A Mediterranean Turf
Authors: Mu Zhaobin , Llusià Joan , Peñuelas Josep
Published: July 2020

The emissions of isoprenoids, a kind of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), from soils is not well characterized. We quantified the exchange of isoprenoids between soil with litter and atmosphere along a horizontal gradient from the trunks of the trees, in a Mediterranean Pinus pinea plantation with dry and green needle litter to open herbaceous turf during mornings at mid-summer. Further, potential associated drivers were identified. Isoprenoid emissions were greatest and most diverse, and also can be roughly estimated by litter dry weight near the trunk, where the needle litter was denser. The composition of emitted isoprenoid by needle litter was different than the composition previously described for green needles. Low exchange rates of isoprenoids were recorded in open turf. Isoprenoid exchange rates were correlated positively with soil temperature and negatively with soil moisture. Given the variations in ground emissions with soil, vegetation, microorganisms, and associated interactions, we recommend widespread extensive spatio-temporal analysis of ground level BVOC exchanges in the different ecosystem types.
A Non-Intrusive Stochastic Isogeometric Analysis of Functionally Graded Plates with Material Uncertainty
Authors: Dsouza Shaima M. , Varghese Tittu Mathew , Budarapu P. R. , Natarajan S.
Published: July 2020

A non-intrusive approach coupled with non-uniform rational B-splines based isogeometric finite element method is proposed here. The developed methodology was employed to study the stochastic static bending and free vibration characteristics of functionally graded material plates with inhered material randomness. A first order shear deformation theory with an artificial shear correction factor was used for spatial discretization. The output randomness is represented by polynomial chaos expansion. The robustness and accuracy of the framework were demonstrated by comparing the results with Monte Carlo simulations. A systematic parametric study was carried out to bring out the sensitivity of the input randomness on the stochastic output response using Sobol’ indices. Functionally graded plates made up of Aluminium (Al) and Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) were considered in all the numerical examples.
The Platelet Concentrates Therapy: From the Biased Past to the Anticipated Future
Authors: Kawase Tomoyuki , Mubarak Suliman , Mourão Carlos Fernando
Published: July 2020

The ultimate goal of research on platelet concentrates (PCs) is to develop a more predictable PC therapy. Because platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a representative PC, was identified as a possible therapeutic agent for bone augmentation in the field of oral surgery, PRP and its derivative, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), have been increasingly applied in a regenerative medicine. However, a rise in the rate of recurrence (e.g., in tendon and ligament injuries) and adverse (or nonsignificant) clinical outcomes associated with PC therapy have raised fundamental questions regarding the validity of the therapy. Thus, rigorous evidence obtained from large, high-quality randomized controlled trials must be presented to the concerned regulatory authorities of individual countries or regions. For the approval of the regulatory authorities, clinicians and research investigators should understand the real nature of PCs and PC therapy (i.e., adjuvant therapy), standardize protocols of preparation (e.g., choice of centrifuges and tubes) and clinical application (e.g., evaluation of recipient conditions), design bias-minimized randomized clinical trials, and recognize superfluous brand competitions that delay sound progress. In this review, we retrospect the recent past of PC research, reconfirm our ultimate goals, and discuss what will need to be done in future.
Isolation of Antidiabetic Withanolides from Withania coagulans Dunal and Their In Vitro and In Silico Validation
Authors: Maher Saima , Choudhary M. Iqbal , Saleem Farooq , Rasheed Saima , Waheed Imran , Halim Sobia Ahsan , Azeem Muhammad , Abdullah Iskandar Bin , Froeyen Matheus , Mirza Muhammad Usman , Ahmad Sarfraz
Published: July 2020

Withania coagulans (W. coagulans) is well-known in herbal medicinal systems for its high biological potential. Different parts of the plant are used against insomnia, liver complications, asthma, and biliousness, as well as it is reported to be sedative, emetic, diuretic, antidiabetic antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antihyperglycemic, cardiovascular, immuno-suppressive and central nervous system depressant. Withanolides present in W. coagulans have attracted an immense interest in the scientific field due to their diverse therapeutic applications. The current study deals with chemical and biological evaluation of chloroform, and n-butanol fractions of W. coagulans. The activity-guided fractionation of both extracts via multiple chromatographic steps and structure elucidation of pure isolates using spectroscopies (NMR, mass spectrometry, FTIR and UV-Vis) led to the identification of a new withanolide glycoside, withacogulanoside-B (1) from n-butanol extract and five known withanolides from chloroform extract [withanolid J (2), coagulin E (3), withaperuvin C (4), 27-hydroxywithanolide I (5), and ajugin E (6)]. Among the tested compounds, compound 5 was the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitor with IC50 = 66.7 ± 3.6 µM, followed by compound 4 (IC50: 407 ± 4.5 µM) and compound 2 (IC50: 683 ± 0.94 µM), while no antiglycation activity was observed with the six isolated compounds. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding potential and binding site interactions of these compounds as α-glucosidase inhibitors. Consequently, this study provides basis to discover specific antidiabetic compounds from W. coagulans.
The First Human Clinical Trial on the Skin Depigmentation Efficacy of Glycinamide Hydrochloride
Authors: Boo Yong Chool , Jo Da Jung , Oh Chang Min , Lee Shin Young , Kim Young Mi
Published: July 2020

A previous study identified certain low molecular anti-melanogenic peptides that share a common sequence with α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) and end with a glycinamide moiety. Glycinamide itself also showed anti-melanogenic activity in cell-based assays, but neither glycine nor acetyl glycinamide were active, which indicated a special structure and activity relationship. The aim of this study was to examine the skin depigmentation efficacy of glycinamide hydrochloride in human subjects. The primary skin irritation potential of glycinamide hydrochloride was evaluated by patch testing in 30 human subjects. The skin depigmentation efficacy of glycinamide hydrochloride was evaluated in a double-blinded clinical test in 21 human subjects. The test product and a control product were applied to designated sites on the right or left side of the face twice daily for eight weeks. Skin color parameters, i.e., the melanin index, the L* value (representing skin lightness), a* value (redness), and b* value (yellowness) were measured using instruments. The individual topology angle (ITAo, representing skin color) was calculated from L* and b values. The degree of skin pigmentation was visually assessed by two testers. The primary skin irritation test showed that a solution containing glycinamide hydrochloride up to 10% did not induce any adverse skin responses. In the efficacy test, the test product significantly reduced the melanin index, and increased L* value and ITAo after two weeks of application relative to the baseline value at the start of the test. It also significantly lowered the degree of pigmentation after 6 weeks of application, relative to the baseline value. Differences in the melanin index, L* value, ITAo and the degree of pigmentation between the test and control groups became statistically significant after six weeks or eight weeks of application. No signs of skin irritation were observed during the efficacy test. The present study suggests that glycinamide hydrochloride has great potential to be used in the control of skin hyperpigmentation.
Safety and Use of MLC601/MLC901 (NeuroAiDTM) in Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Cohort Study from the NeuroAiD Safe Treatment Registry
Authors: Kumar Ramesh , Abu Bakar Azizi , Thanabalan Jegan , Paramasvaran Sanmugarajah , Toh Charng Jeng , Jaffar Ainul , Fadzil Farizal , Kamalanathan Palaniandy , Soon Bee Hong , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy
Published: July 2020

Background: MLC601/MLC901 (NeuroAiD™) is a combination of natural products shown to be safe and to aid neurological recovery after brain injuries, especially ischemic stroke. Few studies have investigated NeuroAiD in primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The NeuroAiD Safe Treatment (NeST) Registry explores NeuroAiD use in the real-world setting. This cohort study aimed to assess its use and safety in ICH. Methods: The online NeST Registry of subjects with ICH given NeuroAiD prospectively collected clinical data at baseline and monthly visits (V) 1 to 3. Outcome measures included compliance, side effects, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Short Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (SOMCT). Results: Sixty-six subjects were included. NeuroAiD was well-tolerated with fair compliance over three months. Two non-serious side effects were reported. Mean scores significantly improved on all outcome scales. The proportion of subjects with favorable outcomes significantly improved from baseline to V3: NIHSS 0–4, from 12% to 59% (p < 0.0001); GCS 13–15, from 64% to 88% (p = 0.007); mRS 0–1, from 9% to 37% (p = 0.004); and SOMCT score 0–8, from 44% to 68% (p = 0.029). Conclusions: NeuroAiD in the real-world setting was safe and showed potential for a sustained positive effect on neurological recovery after ICH.
Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Coating of Chitosan Nanocomposite Film Using Plasma-Mediated Deposition of Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon (a–C:H) Layers
Authors: Schlebrowski Torben , Kassab Zineb , El Achaby Mounir , Wehner Stefan , Fischer Christian B.
Published: July 2020

The substitution of petroleum-based polymers with naturally derived biopolymers may be a good alternative for the conservation of natural fossil resources and the alleviation of pollution and waste disposal problems. However, in order to be used in a wide range of applications, some biopolymers’ properties should be enhanced. In this study, biocompatible, non-toxic, and biodegradable chitosan (CS) film and CS reinforced with 10 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals (CN–CS) were coated with amorphous hydrogenated carbon layers (a–C:H) of different thickness. To investigate the effect of the nano-reinforcement on the a–C:H layer applied, mild radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) was used to coat the CS and its CN–CS bio-nanocomposite film. Both the surface characteristics and the chemical composition were analyzed. The surface morphology and wettability were examined by ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements (CA), respectively. Hereby, the relationship between sp2/sp3 ratios on a macroscopic scale was also evaluated. For the investigation of the chemical composition, the surface sensitive synchrotron X-ray radiation techniques near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) were used.
Recombinant Human Soluble Thrombomodulin Suppresses Monocyte Adhesion by Reducing Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endothelial Cellular Stiffening
Authors: Okamoto Takayuki , Kawamoto Eiji , Usuda Haruki , Tanaka Tetsuya , Nikai Tetsuro , Asanuma Kunihiro , Suzuki Koji , Shimaoka Motomu , Wada Koichiro
Published: July 2020

Endothelial cellular stiffening has been observed not only in inflamed cultured endothelial cells but also in the endothelium of atherosclerotic regions, which is an underlying cause of monocyte adhesion and accumulation. Although recombinant soluble thrombomodulin (rsTM) has been reported to suppress the inflammatory response of endothelial cells, its role in regulating endothelial cellular stiffness remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of anticoagulant rsTM on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endothelial cellular stiffening. We show that LPS increases endothelial cellular stiffness by using atomic force microscopy and that rsTM reduces LPS-induced cellular stiffening not only through the attenuation of actin fiber and focal adhesion formation but also via the improvement of gap junction functionality. Moreover, post-administration of rsTM, after LPS stimulation, attenuated LPS-induced cellular stiffening. We also found that endothelial cells regulate leukocyte adhesion in a substrate- and cellular stiffness-dependent manner. Our result show that LPS-induced cellular stiffening enhances monocytic THP-1 cell line adhesion, whereas rsTM suppresses THP-1 cell adhesion to inflamed endothelial cells by reducing cellular stiffness. Endothelial cells increase cellular stiffness in reaction to inflammation, thereby promoting monocyte adhesion. Treatment of rsTM reduced LPS-induced cellular stiffening and suppressed monocyte adhesion in a cellular stiffness-dependent manner.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Expression as a New Hallmark of Advanced Endometriosis
Authors: Sobstyl Małgorzata , Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej Paulina , Grywalska Ewelina , Korona-Głowniak Izabela , Sobstyl Anna , Bednarek Wiesława , Roliński Jacek
Published: July 2020

Recent evidence suggests that immunological aspects play a pivotal role in this disorder. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is crucial in recognizing microbial infections and mediating innate immune response. The objective of our study was to rate with flow cytometry the levels of several subsets of dendritic cells, monocytes, and basic peripheral blood lymphocytes expressing TLR2, aiming at the determination of a possible correlation between the expression of TLR2 and the clinical outcomes of endometriosis in 40 patients and 40 age-matched healthy women. Our study showed the importance of TLR2 expression, mainly on myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and B cells in patients with endometriosis. Both mDCs BDCA1+CD19-TLR2+ and B lymphocytes CD19+TLR-2+ proved useful in the differentiation of affected individuals with stages 3–4 of the disease (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve /AUC/ = 0.96, p < 0.0001 for mDCs; AUC = 0.78, p = 0.0001 for B lymphocytes), and those presenting adhesion (AUC = 0.92, p < 0.0001 for mDCs; AUC = 0.82, p < 0.0001 for B lymphocytes) or infertility (AUC = 0.83, p < 0.0001 for mDCs; AUC = 0.73, p = 0.006 for B lymphocytes). Our findings suggest that the levels of TLR2-expressing cells, particularly mDCs and B lymphocytes, may be an effective biomarker of endometriosis, because the disease currently lacks clinically useful noninvasive biomarkers enabling early and cost-effective diagnosis.
Electrochemical Sensors Coupled with Multivariate Statistical Analysis as Screening Tools for Wine Authentication Issues: A Review
Authors: Geană Elisabeta-Irina , Ciucure Corina Teodora , Apetrei Constantin
Published: July 2020

Consumers are increasingly interested in the characteristics of the products they consume, including aroma, taste, and appearance, and hence, scientific research was conducted in order to develop electronic senses devices that mimic the human senses. Thanks to the utilization of electroanalytical techniques that used various sensors modified with different electroactive materials coupled with pattern recognition methods, artificial senses such as electronic tongues (ETs) are widely applied in food analysis for quality and authenticity approaches. This paper summarizes the applications of electrochemical sensors (voltammetric, amperometric, and potentiometric) coupled with unsupervised and supervised pattern recognition methods (principal components analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least square (PLS) regression, artificial neural network (ANN)) for wine authenticity assessments including the discrimination of varietal and geographical origins, monitoring the ageing processes, vintage year discrimination, and detection of frauds and adulterations. Different wine electrochemical authentication methodologies covering the electrochemical techniques, electrodes types, functionalization sensitive materials and multivariate statistical analysis are emphasized and the main advantages and disadvantages of using the proposed methodologies for real applications were concluded.
Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Calcium Carbonate Particles: A New Topical Formulation
Authors: Marto Joana , Nunes Andreia , Martins Ana Margarida , Carvalheira João , Prazeres Pedro , Gonçalves Lídia , Marques Alexandre , Lucas António , Ribeiro Helena Margarida
Published: July 2020

Pickering emulsions are systems composed of two immiscible fluids stabilized by solid organic or inorganic particles. Pickering emulsions are particularly useful in cosmetics, where the surfactants are unwanted, as well as in the pharmaceutical field, where transdermal and/or dermal drug delivery is difficult to achieve and controlled drug release is desired. Here, we studied calcium carbonate particles as stabilizers of Pickering emulsions for topical use. An optimized formulation was obtained using a Quality by Design approach. First, a screening experiment was performed to identify the formulation and process critical variables that affect the quality properties of the Pickering emulsion. The optimization of the production was then studied by establishing the design space. The final formulation was hereinafter investigated regarding the pH, rheological properties, and in vitro cytotoxicity assays. The results showed the formulation had a pH compatible with human skin and a shear thinning behavior. Moreover, this formulation showed a strong network structure, with a suitable spreadability on the skin, allowing an easy application. The in vitro assays were performed to assess the potential cytotoxicity of the calcium carbonate-stabilized emulsion and the particles themselves, and the results revealed that the formulation did not significantly affect the cell viability. In conclusion, the use of calcium carbonate particles as a stabilizer ingredient contributed to achieve an eco-friendly Pickering emulsion.
Facile Synthesis of Ultralight and Porous Melamine-Formaldehyde (MF) Resin-Derived Magnetic Graphite-Like C3N4/Carbon Foam with Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Behavior
Authors: Zhao Yihan , Zhang Yao , Li Ru , Wang Zhaoshun , Lou Zhichao , Li Yanjun
Published: July 2020

Society demands effective electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers that are lightweight, with a broad absorption band and strong absorption, to solve excessive electromagnetic radiation. Herein, ultralight magnetic graphite-like C3N4/carbon foam (MCMF) was fabricated via impregnating polymerized melamine formaldehyde (MF) foams in Fe3O4 nanoparticle solution, followed by in situ pyrolysis at 1000 °C. MCMF possesses porous architectures consisting of graphitic C3N4/carbon and CFe15.1. The magnetic particles (α-Fe, Fe3O4 and Fe3C) were formed and modified on the internal skeleton surface. The EMW absorption capacity of MCMF is better than the that of carbonized MF foam without Fe3O4 (CMF), possessing excellent absorption behavior, with a minimum RL value of −47.38 dB and a matching thickness as thin as 3.90 mm. The corresponding effective absorbing bandwidth is as broad as 13.32 GHz. Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) polarization and the residual loss are proved to be beneficial for such superior absorption behavior. Besides, graphitic C3N4 enriches the interface polarization effect and the electromagnetic matching effect. The microporous structures are beneficial for increasing EMW propagation, resulting in internal multiple reflections and scatterings, which are also beneficial for EMW attenuation.
Does the Keele STarT Back Screening Tool Contribute to Effectiveness in Treatment and Cost and Loss of Follow-Up of the Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy for Patients with Low Back Pain?
Authors: Tsuge Takahiro , Takasaki Hiroshi , Toda Michio
Published: July 2020

Background: Mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT) and the stratified approach using the Keele STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) are examples of stratified low back pain (LBP) management. We investigated whether the medium–high risk in SBST can contribute to the time and sessions until discharge from MDT (Question 1) and to the loss of follow-up before identifying a promising management strategy (Question 2). Methods: A retrospective chart study was conducted. Multiple regression modeling was constructed using 10 independent variables, including whether the SBST was medium–high risk or not for Question 1, and the 9/10 independent variables for Question 2. Results: The data of 89 participants for Question 1 and 166 participants for Question 2 were analyzed. SBST was not a primary contributing factor for Question 1 (R2 = 0.17–0.19). The model for Question 2 included SBST as a primary contributing factor and the shortest distance from the patient address to the hospital as a secondary contributing factor (93.4% correct classification). Conclusion: SBST status was not a primary contributing factor for time and sessions until discharge from MDT, but was a critical factor for the loss of MDT follow-up before identifying a promising management strategy.
Ovarian Gynandroblastoma with a Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumor Component in a Postmenopausal Woman
Authors: Hwang Soohyun , Kim Byoung-Gie , Song Sang Yong , Kim Hyun-Soo
Published: July 2020

Ovarian gynandroblastoma (GAB) is an extremely rare sex cord-stromal tumor showing morphological evidence of both female (granulosa cell tumor) and male (Sertoli–Leydig cell tumor (SLCT)) components. Almost all GAB cases have been reported in children, adolescents, or women of reproductive age, and most of them typically have adult granulosa cell tumors as the female component. In contrast, GAB with a juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) component is a very rare condition; to the best of our knowledge, only one case of GAB with JGCT in a postmenopausal woman has been reported. In this report, we present an extremely rare case of ovarian GAB with JGCT in an elderly patient. A 65-year-old woman presented with an abdominal mass. Abdominopelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large multiseptated cystic mass measuring 20 cm. No peritoneal seeding, lymph node enlargement, or hematogenous metastasis was identified. Laboratory test showed a slight elevation of serum CA 125 level (37.1 U/mL). Based on the preoperative clinical impression of ovarian cancer, she underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Grossly, the ovarian mass had a smooth and glistening surface without excrescences. The cut sections showed yellow-to-tan solid areas with foci of necrosis, myxoid degeneration, and hemorrhage, as well as multilocular cystic cavities filled with serosanguinous fluid. Histologically, the female component was characterized by JGCT displaying nodular growth patterns with follicle-like structures of various shapes and sizes. Most of the microcysts contained eosinophilic or basophilic secretions. The JGCT cells had indistinct cell borders, an abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, and round-to-oval hyperchromatic nuclei with many mitotic figures. The SLCT component consisted predominantly of intermediately differentiated Sertoli cells forming lobulated solid nodules. They were arranged in cords, solid tubules, or nests, and possessed oval-to-spindle-shaped darkly stained nuclei and scant cytoplasm. In several foci, well-formed Sertoli cell tubules were loosely aggregated within areas of moderately differentiated SLCT. In summary, we described GAB in a postmenopausal woman with JGCT and SLCT as the female and male components, respectively. This is the second case of GAB with JGCT occurring in an elderly patient. Our findings can help pathologists and clinicians make accurate histological diagnoses of GAB with a JGCT component and plan an adequate treatment strategy for this rare tumor.
The Role of Mental Health Conditions in the Diagnosis of Neurocognitive Impairment in People Living with HIV
Authors: Portilla-Tamarit Irene , Ruiz-Robledillo Nicolás , Díez-Martínez Marcos , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario , Alcocer-Bruno Cristian , Portilla Joaquín
Published: July 2020

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed mental health conditions (UMHC) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) on antiretroviral treatment and with long-term suppressed HIV viremia, and its association with neurocognitive impairment (NCI). A cross-sectional observational study on HIV subjects, ≥18 years old, on stable antiretroviral treatment and with HIV viral load <50 copies/mL was carried out. Patients with known comorbidities, substances abuse, anxiety or depression were excluded. UMHC were evaluated by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III and NCI by Frascati criteria. The association between NCI and sociodemographic, clinical HIV variables and mental health conditions was analyzed. Further, the relationship between mental health conditions scores and NCI diagnosis was evaluated. Eighty patients were included, 37.5% had at least one undiagnosed mental health condition, and 26.3% had NCI. The most frequent mental health conditions were: anxiety (21.3%); bipolar disorder (11.3%); and substance dependence (8.8%). Only longer time since HIV diagnosis (p = 0.030) and at least one mental health condition diagnosis (p = 0.002) showed an association with NCI. Participants with NCI presented higher scores in anxiety, alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress. Undiagnosed mental health conditions are frequent in PLWHIV. These disorders cannot be identified by HIV clinicians or basic screening questionnaires, and they are not usually self-reported by patients. UMHC could act as confounders in the evaluation of NCI.
Single-Session Percutaneous Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the Aspirex®S Device Plus Stenting for Acute Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis: Safety, Efficacy, and Mid-Term Outcomes
Authors: Loffroy Romaric , Falvo Nicolas , Guillen Kévin , Galland Christophe , Baudot Xavier , Demaistre Emmanuel , Fréchier Léo , Ledan Frédérik , Midulla Marco , Chevallier Olivier
Published: July 2020

To assess the safety, efficacy and mid-term outcomes of single-session percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for acute symptomatic iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using the Aspirex®S device. Retrospective review of 30 patients (women, 23; mean age, 45.5 ± 19.9 years; range, 17–76) who underwent PMT with the 10-French Aspirex®S device (Straub Medical AG, Wangs, Switzerland) for acute DVT between December 2015 and March 2019. Procedures were performed by popliteal (n = 22) or jugular (n = 7) approach, or both (n = 1). Mean time from diagnosis to PMT was 5.5 ± 4.6 days (range, 2–11). Successful thrombus removal and venous patency restoration were achieved in all patients (100%). Fluid removal was 307.8 ± 66.1 mL (range, 190–410). Additional venous stenting rate was 100%. Mean procedural time was 107.3 ± 33.9 min (range, 70–180). No major complication occurred. The patient’s postprocedural course was uneventful in all cases, with hospital discharge within 2 days in 83.3%. Early in-stent rethrombosis occurred within 1 week in 3 patients, successfully managed by endovascular approach. Secondary stent patency rate was 86.7% at a mean follow-up of 22.3 ± 14.2 months (range, 6–48), as assessed by Duplex ultrasound. Single-session of PMT using the Aspirex®S device is a safe and effective therapeutic option in patients presenting with acute symptomatic iliofemoral DVT.
Frequency and Clinical Review of the Aberrant Obturator Artery: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Granite Guinevere , Meshida Keiko , Wind Gary
Published: July 2020

The occurrence of an aberrant obturator artery is common in human anatomy. Detailed knowledge of this anatomical variation is important for the outcome of pelvic and groin surgeries requiring appropriate ligation. Familiarity with the occurrence of an aberrant obturator artery is equally important for instructors teaching pelvic anatomy to students. Case studies highlighting this vascular variation provide anatomical instructors and surgeons with accurate information on how to identify such variants and their prevalence. Seven out of eighteen individuals studied (38.9%) exhibited an aberrant obturator artery, with two of those individuals presenting with bilateral aberrant obturator arteries (11.1%). Six of these individuals had an aberrant obturator artery that originated from the deep inferior epigastric artery (33.3%). One individual had an aberrant obturator artery that originated directly from the external iliac artery (5.6%).
Effect of Self-Oscillation on Escape Dynamics of Classical and Quantum Open Systems
Authors: Li Minggen , Bao Jingdong
Published: July 2020

We study the effect of self-oscillation on the escape dynamics of classical and quantum open systems by employing the system-plus-environment-plus-interaction model. For a damped free particle (system) with memory kernel function expressed by Zwanzig (J. Stat. Phys. 9, 215 (1973)), which is originated from a harmonic oscillator bath (environment) of Debye type with cut-off frequency wd, ergodicity breakdown is found because the velocity autocorrelation function oscillates in cosine function for asymptotic time. The steady escape rate of such a self-oscillated system from a metastable potential exhibits nonmonotonic dependence on wd, which denotes that there is an optimal cut-off frequency makes it maximal. Comparing results in classical and quantum regimes, the steady escape rate of a quantum open system reduces to a classical one with wd decreasing gradually, and quantum fluctuation indeed enhances the steady escape rate. The effect of a finite number of uncoupled harmonic oscillators N on the escape dynamics of a classical open system is also discussed.
Deep Learning for Stock Market Prediction
Authors: Nabipour M. , Nayyeri P. , Jabani H. , Mosavi A. , Salwana E. , S. Shahab
Published: July 2020

The prediction of stock groups values has always been attractive and challenging for shareholders due to its inherent dynamics, non-linearity, and complex nature. This paper concentrates on the future prediction of stock market groups. Four groups named diversified financials, petroleum, non-metallic minerals, and basic metals from Tehran stock exchange were chosen for experimental evaluations. Data were collected for the groups based on 10 years of historical records. The value predictions are created for 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 days in advance. Various machine learning algorithms were utilized for prediction of future values of stock market groups. We employed decision tree, bagging, random forest, adaptive boosting (Adaboost), gradient boosting, and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural networks (ANN), recurrent neural network (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). Ten technical indicators were selected as the inputs into each of the prediction models. Finally, the results of the predictions were presented for each technique based on four metrics. Among all algorithms used in this paper, LSTM shows more accurate results with the highest model fitting ability. In addition, for tree-based models, there is often an intense competition between Adaboost, Gradient Boosting, and XGBoost.
Performance Analysis and Constellation Design for the Parallel Quadrature Spatial Modulation
Authors: Mohaisen Manar , Holoubi Tasnim , Abuhmed Tamer
Published: July 2020

Spatial modulation (SM) is a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique that achieves a MIMO capacity by conveying information through antenna indices, while keeping the transmitter as simple as that of a single-input system. Quadrature SM (QSM) expands the spatial dimension of the SM into in-phase and quadrature dimensions, which are used to transmit the real and imaginary parts of a signal symbol, respectively. A parallel QSM (PQSM) was recently proposed to achieve more gain in the spectral efficiency. In PQSM, transmit antennas are split into parallel groups, where QSM is performed independently in each group using the same signal symbol. In this paper, we analytically model the asymptotic pairwise error probability of the PQSM. Accordingly, the constellation design for the PQSM is formulated as an optimization problem of the sum of multivariate functions. We provide the proposed constellations for several values of constellation size, number of transmit antennas, and number of receive antennas. The simulation results show that the proposed constellation outperforms the phase-shift keying (PSK) constellation by more than 10 dB and outperforms the quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes by approximately 5 dB for large constellations and number of transmit antennas.
Asymptotic Capacity Results on the Discrete-Time Poisson Channel and the Noiseless Binary Channel with Detector Dead Time
Authors: Wang Ligong
Published: July 2020

This paper studies the discrete-time Poisson channel and the noiseless binary channel where, after recording a 1, the channel output is stuck at 0 for a certain period; this period is called the “dead time.” The communication capacities of these channels are analyzed, with main focus on the regime where the allowed average input power is close to zero, either because the bandwidth is large, or because the available continuous-time input power is low.
Numerical and Experimental Study of Topographic Speed-Up Effects in Complex Terrain
Authors: Uchida Takanori , Sugitani Kenichiro
Published: July 2020

Our research group is developing computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based software for wind resource and energy production assessments in complex terrain called RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University (RIAM)-Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain), based on large eddy simulation (LES). In order to verify the prediction accuracy of RIAM-COMPACT, we conduct a wind tunnel experiment that uses a two-dimensional steep ridge model with a smooth surface. In the wind tunnel experiments, airflow measurements are performed using an I-type hot-wire probe and a split film probe that can detect forward and reverse flows. The results of the numerical simulation by LES are in better agreement with the wind tunnel experiment using the split film probe than the results of the wind tunnel experiment using the I-type hot wire probe. Furthermore, we calculate that the two-dimensional ridge model by changing the length in the spanwise direction, and discussed the instantaneous flow field and the time-averaged flow field for the three-dimensional structure of the flow behind the model. It was shown that the eddies in the downwind flow-separated region formed behind the two-dimensional ridge model were almost the same size in all cases, regardless of the difference in the length in the spanwise direction. In this study, we also perform a calculation with a varying inflow shear at the inflow boundary. It was clear that the size in the vortex region behind the model was almost the same in all the calculation results, regardless of the difference in the inflow shear. Next, we conduct wind tunnel experiments on complex terrain. In the wind tunnel experiments using a 1/2800 scale model, the effect of artificial irregularities on the terrain surface did not significantly appear on the airflow at the hub height of the wind turbine. On the other hand, in order to investigate the three-dimensional structure of the airflow in the swept area in detail, it was clearly shown that LES using a high-resolution computational grid is very effective.
A Data-Driven Approach for Lithology Identification Based on Parameter-Optimized Ensemble Learning
Authors: Sun Zhixue , Jiang Baosheng , Li Xiangling , Li Jikang , Xiao Kang
Published: July 2020

The identification of underground formation lithology can serve as a basis for petroleum exploration and development. This study integrates Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) with Bayesian Optimization (BO) for formation lithology identification and comprehensively evaluated the performance of the proposed classifier based on the metrics of the confusion matrix, precision, recall, F1-score and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The data of this study are derived from Daniudui gas field and the Hangjinqi gas field, which includes 2153 samples with known lithology facies class with each sample having seven measured properties (well log curves), and corresponding depth. The results show that BO significantly improves parameter optimization efficiency. The AUC values of the test sets of the two gas fields are 0.968 and 0.987, respectively, indicating that the proposed method has very high generalization performance. Additionally, we compare the proposed algorithm with Gradient Tree Boosting-Differential Evolution (GTB-DE) using the same dataset. The results demonstrated that the average of precision, recall and F1 score of the proposed method are respectively 4.85%, 5.7%, 3.25% greater than GTB-ED. The proposed XGBoost-BO ensemble model can automate the procedure of lithology identification, and it may also be used in the prediction of other reservoir properties.
A Photovoltaic Power Curtailment Method for Operation on Both Sides of the Power-Voltage Curve
Authors: Riquelme-Dominguez Jose Miguel , Martinez Sergio
Published: July 2020

Massive integration of non-dispatchable energy into electric power systems is a challenging task. Electric power systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable in terms of frequency stability, as renewable energy displaces conventional synchronous generation from the energy mix. For this reason, grid codes are starting to demand different ancillary services from renewable generators, such as frequency control. In contrast to wind generators, which can deliver to the grid part of the kinetic energy stored in their rotating mass, photovoltaic generators must provide this service using batteries or power curtailment methods. The latter approach is preferable regarding the initial investment and its implementation cost, and several methods have been presented in the literature for this purpose. However, there is no consensus in which is the most appropriate side for operating the photovoltaic system in the curtailed mode. As both possible options have advantages and drawbacks, this paper proposes a novel photovoltaic power curtailment strategy that allows operation on both sides of the power-voltage curve depending on the needs. Moreover, in order to estimate the output characteristic of the photovoltaic system, a real-time nonlinear least squares curve fitting is applied. The proposed methodology has been tested in a simulation environment and the results show that this strategy achieves the requested active power reserves, regardless of the operation side.
Key Elements of the White-Backed Woodpecker’s (Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi) Habitat in Its European South-Western Limits
Authors: Urkijo-Letona Ainhoa , Cárcamo Susana , Peña Lorena , Fernández de Manuel Beatriz , Onaindia Miren , Ametzaga-Arregi Ibone
Published: July 2020

In the last decade, the population of the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi) (WBW) in Navarre has been reduced mainly due to the loss of suitable habitat for this species from intensive forest management, leading almost to its extinction. This study aimed to identify the key structural elements of breeding habitats of the WBW and analyze their effect on the composition of the saproxylic fungi community within the habitats. In the Special Area of Conservation, namely Quinto Real in Navarre, 20 circular plots (500 m2) and 10 transects (150–300 m) were located inside and outside WBW territories. Within each sample plot, forest structure, deadwood, microhabitats, regeneration, and saproxylic fungi community were studied. The results showed that the key elements in the WBW territories were high trees, high diversity of deadwood (with a high presence of big and late-decay deadwood), high snag volume, and high microhabitat diversity. Although the past management is also evident in the variability of some of those characteristics, this species is well adapted to different structural and compositional conditions of the territory. The saproxylic fungi community was richer among the WBW territories, and in those areas, the presence of Fomes fomentarius was high, compared to non-WBW territories where it was not present. In conclusion, to maintain and protect the studied population, it is necessary to implement sustainable management that guarantees the conservation of the key elements for the WBW territories (structural heterogeneity and high deadwood diversity) in order to increase the suitability of the habitat for WBWs.
Effects of Garlic Powder and Salt on Meat Quality and Microbial Loads of Rabbit Burgers
Authors: Mancini Simone , Mattioli Simona , Nuvoloni Roberta , Pedonese Francesca , Dal Bosco Alessandro , Paci Gisella
Published: July 2020

The aim of the research study was to evaluate the effects of a common culinary spice such as garlic powder and salt addition on the quality and microbial shelf life of rabbit meat burgers. Rabbit burgers were evaluated for pH, the colour parameters, the water holding capacity and microbial loads during storage time of seven days at 4 °C. Four different formulations of burgers (n = 180 in total) were tested as control samples (only meat, C), burgers with garlic powder (at 0.25%, G), burgers with salt (at 1.00%, S) and burgers with both garlic powder and salt (0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, GS). As results, it was highlighted that garlic powder and salt addition significant affected pH, water holding capacity and some colour parameters of burgers. In particular, salt affected the pH of the raw burgers, leading to lower values that partially influenced all the colour parameters with higher a* values of S burgers. The mix of garlic powder and salt (GS burgers) showed mixed effects even if more closed to the G burgers than S ones. Salt expressed its properties of binding water molecules reducing drip and cooking losses in S and GS burgers. No variations in microbial loads were highlighted in relation to the formulations. Storage time affected all the parameters, highlighting a deterioration of the burgers’ quality and an increase of the microbial loads.
A National-Scale Assessment of Population and Built-Environment Exposure in Tsunami Evacuation Zones
Authors: Paulik Ryan , Craig Heather , Popovich Benjamin
Published: July 2020

Evacuation zones are a critical tool for mitigating loss of life in tsunami events. In New Zealand, tsunami evacuation zones are implemented by emergency management agencies at regional or sub-regional scales, providing national coverage for populated coastlines at risk to tsunami inundation. In this study, we apply the exposure component of a risk model framework (RiskScape) to deliver a first national-scale assessment of New Zealand’s population and built-environment exposure in tsunami evacuation zones. Usually-resident populations, buildings, land and transport network components are identified at an asset level and enumerated at national and regional scales. Evacuation zones are occupied by just under 10% of New Zealand’s population, residing in 399,000 residential buildings. These are supported by a further 5400 critical buildings and 6300 km of road transport network. Approximately 40% of exposed populations and buildings occupy evacuation zones expected to be inundated once every 500 years. This includes over 150,000 people in highly vulnerable age groups, i.e., children and elderly. The complex arrangement of built environments highlights a need for disaster risk managers to proactively identify and prepare populations for evacuation based on their vulnerability to harm from tsunami and ability to access resources for recovery after the event.
A School Nurse Competency Framework for Continuing Education
Authors: Shin Eun Mi , Roh Young Sook
Published: July 2020

Background: This study develops a school nurse competency framework for continuing education based on focus group interviews and a literature review. Methods: This study uses a qualitative content analysis with 12 school nurses. Six school nurses verify the content validity for the competency framework for continuing education using the content validity index. Results: School nurse competencies are defined as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of school nurses to provide safe school nursing. Six core competencies are identified. These include the ability to (1) provide patient-centered care; (2) communicate and collaborate with students, teaching staff, and community resources; (3) think critically for evidence-based practice; (4) implement school health services and programs; (5) integrate legal and ethical nursing practice, and (6) conduct health education. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and implement continuing education programs for school nurses based on the training needs and competency indicators identified in this study.
The Applicability of the Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor to Simultaneously Monitor Soil Water Content and Biomass in an Acacia mearnsii Forest
Authors: Vather Thigesh , Everson Colin S. , Franz Trenton E.
Published: July 2020

Soil water content is an important hydrological parameter, which is difficult to measure at a field scale due to its spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) is a novel and innovative approach to estimate area-averaged soil water content at an intermediate scale, which has been implemented across the globe. The CRNS is moderated by all hydrogen sources within its measurement footprint. In order to isolate the soil water content signal from the neutron intensity, the other sources of hydrogen need to be accounted for. The CRNS’s applications are not only limited to soil water content estimation, as it can potentially be used to monitor biomass. The Two-Streams clear-felling provided the unique opportunity to monitor the cosmic ray neutron intensities before, during, and after the clear-felling. The cadmium-difference method was used to obtain the pure thermal and epithermal neutron intensities from the bare and moderated detectors. The study concluded that the presence of biomass within the site reduced the epithermal neutron intensity by 12.43% and the N0 value by 13.8%. The use of the neutron ratio to monitor biomass was evaluated and changes in the neutron ratio coincided with biomass changes and resulted in a high correlation (R2 of 0.868) with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and (R2 of 0.817) leaf area index (LAI). The use of the CRNS to simultaneously monitor soil water content and biomass will be beneficial in providing more reliable soil water content estimates, provide biomass estimates at a field scale, and aid in understanding the dynamics between soil water content and vegetation.