bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Levels of MMP-1 in Degenerated Disks Can Be Mitigated by Signaling Peptides from Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Hingert Daphne , Nawilaijaroen Phonphan , Ekström Karin , Baranto Adad , Brisby Helena
Published: August 2020

Degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in intervertebral disks (IVDs) during IVD degeneration plays a vital role in low back pain (LBP). In healthy IVDs, synthesis and degradation of ECM are kept in balance by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs. MMPs are enzymes responsible for ECM degradation, and their expression levels are known to increase in degenerated disks. However, the exact pathophysiological concentration of MMP-1 in the degenerated disks of patients with chronic LBP has not been reported previously. Factors secreted by human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have shown positive results in cell therapy of degenerated disks. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological MMP-1 concentration (in ng/mL) in degenerated disk tissue and to evaluate if conditioned media (CM) from hMSCs could mitigate the effects of MMP-1 at the detected levels in a 3D in vitro disk cell (DC) pellet model. Tissue levels of MMP-1 were quantified in disk tissue collected from 6 chronic LBP patients undergoing surgery. DC pellet cultures were performed to investigate the effects of MMP-1 alone and the effects of conditioned media (CM) in the presence of MMP-1. MMP-1 was introduced in the pellets on day 14 at concentrations of 5, 50, or 100 ng/mL. The pellets were harvested on day 28 and evaluated for cell viability, proliferation, and ECM production. The mean concentration of MMP-1 in disk tissue was 151 ng/mL. Results from pellet cultures demonstrated a higher number of viable cells, glycosaminoglycan production, and ECM accumulation in the CM group even in the presence of MMP-1 compared to the controls. However, the level decreased with increasing MMP-1 concentration. The results demonstrated that CM has the ability to mitigate matrix degradation property of MMP-1 up to 50 ng/mL suggesting that CM could potentially be used to treat early stages of disk degeneration.
A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of the S1P Receptor Agonist KRP203 in Patients with Moderately Active Refractory Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Radeke Heinfried H. , Stein Jürgen , Van Assche Gert , Rogler Gerhard , Lakatos Peter L. , Muellershausen Florian , Moulin Pierre , Jarvis Philip , Colin Laurence , Gergely Peter , Kruis Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

Background and Aims: KRP203 is a potent oral agonist of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype 1 that induces the sequestration of peripheral lymphocytes, thereby potentially reducing the number of activated lymphocytes circulating to the gastrointestinal tract. Methods: We conducted a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, proof-of-concept study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of KRP203 in patients with moderately active 5-aminosalicylate-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1.2 mg KRP203 or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Primary efficacy variable was clinical remission, defined as partial Mayo Score 0–1 and modified Baron Score 0–1 with rectal bleeding subscore 0. Results: KRP203 was safe and well tolerated overall. The most common adverse events (AEs) were gastrointestinal disorders and headache. Importantly, no KRP203-related cardiac AEs were reported. Total peripheral lymphocytes and selectively affected lymphocyte subtypes decreased, causing marked decreases in naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and also in B cells. Clinical remission occurred in 2/14 (14%) patients under KRP203, compared with 0/8 (0%) under placebo. Conclusions: Overall, KRP203 was safe and well tolerated by patients with UC. Importantly, no cardiac AEs were reported. Although KRP203 did not meet the minimum clinically relevant threshold for efficacy, the results may suggest that KRP203 treatment is superior to placebo. However, in this small study population, the difference was insignificant. Based on these data, studies with an improved design and a larger population should be considered.
Atypical Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome due to Oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Cabozantinib: First Case Report
Authors: Patwari Anannya , Bhatlapenumarthi Vineel , Pascual Sheila K.
Published: August 2020

We report here a rare case of atypical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) due to oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib. No case reports of such have been found in our literature search. The patient, a 70-year-old female with metastatic renal cell cancer on oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib, was brought into the emergency room because of confusion and seizures, found to have elevated blood pressure and atypical MRI findings consistent with PRES due to cabozantinib.
Prediction of Cerebral Hyperperfusion after Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Anastomosis by Three-Dimensional-Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Adult Patients with Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Nishizawa Taketo , Fujimura Miki , Katsuki Masahito , Mugikura Shunji , Tashiro Ryosuke , Sato Kenichi , Tominaga Teiji
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Superficial temporal artery (STA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) anastomosis is an effective surgical procedure for adult patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) and is known to have the potential to prevent cerebral ischemia and/or hemorrhagic stroke. Cerebral hyperperfusion (CHP) syndrome is one of the serious complications of this procedure that can result in deleterious outcomes, such as delayed intracerebral hemorrhage, but the prediction of CHP before revascularization surgery remains challenging. The present study evaluated the diagnostic value of preoperative three-dimensional (3D)-time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for predicting CHP after STA-MCA anastomosis for MMD. Materials and Methods: The signal intensity of the peripheral portion of the intracranial major arteries, such as the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), MCA, and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) ipsilateral to STA-MCA anastomosis, on preoperative MRA was graded (0–2 in each vessel) according to the ability to visualize each vessel on 97 affected hemispheres in 83 adult MMD patients. Local cerebral blood flow (CBF) at the site of anastomosis was quantitatively measured by N-isopropyl-p-[123I]-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography 1 and 7 days after surgery, in addition to the preoperative CBF value at the corresponding area. Then, we investigated the correlation between the preoperative MRA score and the development of CHP. Results: The CHP phenomenon 1 day after STA-MCA anastomosis (local CBF increase over 150% compared with the preoperative value) was evident in 27 patients (27/97 hemispheres; 28%). Among them, 8 (8 hemispheres) developed CHP syndrome. Multivariate analysis revealed that the hemispheric MRA score (0–6), the summed ACA, MCA, and PCA scores for the affected hemisphere, was significantly associated with the development of CHP syndrome (p = 0.011). The hemispheric MRA score was also significantly correlated with the CHP phenomenon, either symptomatic or asymptomatic (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The signal intensity of the intracranial major arteries, including the ACA, MCA, and PCA, on preoperative 3D-TOF MRA may identify adult MMD patients at higher risk for CHP after direct revascularization surgery.
Impact of Age and Sex on α-Syn (α-Synuclein) Knockdown-Mediated Poststroke Recovery
Authors: Chelluboina Bharath , Kim Taehee , Mehta Suresh L. , Kim Joo-Yong , Bathula Saivenkateshkomal , Vemuganti Raghu
Published: August 2020

Background and Purpose:

Increased expression of α-Syn (α-Synuclein) is known to mediate secondary brain damage after stroke. We presently studied if α-Syn knockdown can protect ischemic brain irrespective of sex and age.

Methods:

Adult and aged male and female mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. α-Syn small interfering RNA (siRNA) was administered intravenous at 30 minutes or 3 hour reperfusion. Poststroke motor deficits were evaluated between day 1 and 7 and infarct volume was measured at day 7 of reperfusion.

Results:

α-Syn knockdown significantly decreased poststroke brain damage and improved poststroke motor function recovery in adult and aged mice of both sexes. However, the window of therapeutic opportunity for α-Syn siRNA is very limited.

Conclusions:

α-Syn plays a critical role in ischemic brain damage and preventing α-Syn protein expression early after stroke minimizes poststroke brain damage leading to better functional outcomes irrespective of age and sex.
The Global Macroeconomic Impacts of COVID-19: Seven Scenarios
Authors: McKibbin Warwick , Fernando Roshen
Published: August 2020

COVID-19 has disrupted the Chinese economy and is spreading globally. The evolution of the disease and its economic impacts are highly uncertain, making formulation of appropriate macroeconomic policy responses challenging. This paper explores seven plausible scenarios of COVID-19 and the macroeconomic outcomes using a global hybrid DSGE/CGE general equilibrium model. The results demonstrate that even a contained outbreak could significantly impact the global economy in the short run. Economic costs could be significantly avoided with greater investment in public health systems in all economies, particularly in economies where health care systems are less developed and population density is high.
Upeneus floros, a new goatfish from South Africa and Mozambique, with updated taxonomic accounts for U. guttatus and U. pori and a key to Western Indian Ocean Upeneus species (Mullidae)
Authors: UIBLEIN FRANZ , GOUWS GAVIN , LISHER MARK , MALAUENE BERNARDINO S.
Published: August 2020

The highly diverse goatfish genus Upeneus (Mullidae) requires enhanced attention regarding the possible occurrence of undescribed species in insufficiently explored regions. This study focuses on the South-Western Indian Ocean region (SWIO), and on the so-called japonicus-group, a taxonomic species group of Upeneus. Based on in-situ observations and collections in Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the Floros goatfish, U. floros n. sp., is described. Detailed comparative studies of colour patterns and morphological characters of all other 13 japonicus-group species were undertaken as well as COI barcoding. The new species occurs in the coastal area between Angoche, N Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal and partly overlaps in distribution with two similar species, U. guttatus, widely distributed in the Indo-W Pacific, and U. saiab, assumed to be endemic in a small area off Angoche. Two additional japonicus-group species occurring in the SWIO, U. seychellensis from the Seychelles Bank and U. pori from the Mediterranean Sea (as Lessepsian migrant), Northern Red Sea and Madagascar, were also compared. Because specimens as well as in-situ photographs of U. floros have been erroneously identified as either U. guttatus or U. pori during previous studies, updated taxonomic accounts and diagnoses are provided for these species taking size-related and population differences into account. For U. pori, of which a single preserved specimen from SW Madagascar was known so far, a new record from NE Madagascar is reported based on three specimens and a fresh-colour photo. Upeneus floros can be distinguished from U. guttatus and U. pori by a combination of three characters: head length, first dorsal-fin height and number of gill rakers. Upeneus guttatus can be distinguished from the other two species by disproportionally higher anterior dorsal-fin spines vs. a proportional decrease of dorsal-fin spines in height, barbels mostly yellow vs. white or creamy-white, and slightly fewer pectoral-fin rays. COI barcoding detected a clear distinction between U. guttatus and U. floros and U. pori, respectively, but no significant divergence between the two latter species. COI barcoding also failed to differentiate several other Upeneus species which are clearly distinguished morphologically. Possible interrelationships between species distribution patterns and physical oceanography are discussed. An identification key for the 22 WIO Upeneus species is provided.
Design of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Lighting System and Its Application in Garden Landscape Decoration
Authors: Liu Hailiang , Cheng Jiade , Yusuf Asnidar Hanim
Published: August 2020

Light Emitting Diode (LED) is widely used in garden landscape decoration because of its small size, low power, concentrated light, and the capability of showing more vivid colors. While designing the LED lighting system, considering that a single Advanced RISC Machine (ARM)-based control
system cannot achieve large-scale LED display, and a single Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based control system cannot control the lighting system well, an LED system with the combination of ARM processor-FPGA is proposed. In this system, the ARM processor is used as the major control
component. The Linux system realizes remote monitoring and intelligent management of image data. In addition, FPGA is used for LED data output. The lighting system consists of a major control node and a lighting node. The nodes are connected in parallel through a chain network. The major control
node uses an ARM Cortex processor and is equipped with a Linux operating system. The lighting node uses ARM + FPGA hardware architecture. During the experiments, the LED lighting system is tested first. The results show that the reading and writing speed is fast. The LED display screen meets
the lighting requirements. This LED lighting system is used for night lighting of garden landscapes. During the brightness test, the brightness of lighting objects and the background is used as research objects. Experiments have proved that the ratio of the lighting object brightness to the
background brightness between (Yu, M. and Li, X., 2012. A little current k-factor method for measuring junction temperature of aviation lighting power led. Guangxue Jishu/Optical Technique, 38(3), pp.371–375; Monas, A., Verma, A., Gawari, A. and Paswan, R. S., 2016. Portable network
monitor using arm processor. Procedia Computer Science, 92, pp.493–497.) is suitable for night lighting of garden landscape decoration, which will not bring discomfort to people who enjoy night scenery.
Micro-Nano Electro-Optic Modulator Structure Based on the Si/SiGe/Si Material
Authors: Feng Song , Xue Bin
Published: August 2020

The modulation power consumption and the modulation efficiency are the key parameters of the electro-optic modulator, which directly affect the electro-optic modulator's photoelectric properties. Improving the performance of the electro-optic modulator, a micro-nano electro-optic modulator
structure based on the Si/SiGe/Si material is proposed in this paper, which has low power consumption and high efficiency. After the plasma dispersion effects and the thermo-optic effects are analyzed, we can know that the performance of the electro-optic modulator could be affected by the
carrier concentration and the temperature of modulator. Silicon Germanium (SiGe) material is attached to the common Silicon (Si) electro-optic modulator, and a large injection ratio is obtained from the Si/SiGe/Si double hetero-junction. With the modulation region's carrier concentration rise,
and the working voltage and the power consumption of modulator all are reduced. The jugged active region structure is attached to the common Si electro-optic modulator, and the probability of inelastic collision among carriers is decreased, so the temperature rise of modulator can be reduced.
The thermal-optic effects are weakened, and the modulation efficiency is increased. The simulation results show that the working voltage of the jugged SiGe modulator is less than that of the Silicon modulator at the same refractive index differences, and the jugged SiGe modulator has lower
modulation power consumption; the jugged SiGe modulator's effective refractive index differences are more than the Silicon modulator's effective refractive index differences at the same working voltage, and the jugged SiGe modulator has higher modulation efficiency. Therefore, this jugged
SiGe modulator is a micro-nano electro-optic modulator with lower power consumption and higher efficiency.
Adjustable Coupled Optoelectronic Oscillator Based on Double Frequency Output
Authors: Zhang Weijia , Zhang Wei , Hao Dongning
Published: August 2020

At present, the research and development of high-speed communication technology and the more detailed division of communication frequency band have become the hot spots all over the world, which also puts forward a greater technical challenge to the down-conversion system in the receiver.
However, the key to the signal receiving performance of down-conversion system is the local vibration performance. Low phase noise, tunable wideband and strong anti-electromagnetic interference have become the new directions for the future research on oscillator. Compared with the traditional
microwave local oscillator, the technical advantage of the optoelectronic oscillator is more obvious, and more research and development space is left for the development of the new frequency band of communication technology in the future. The tunable coupling optoelectronic oscillator based
on the double frequency output designed in this paper uses the equivalent light source of the ring path to replace the laser, and the wavelength interval of the output spectrum is changed by adjusting the length difference of the optical fiber cavity of the ring path filter. At the same time,
by adjusting the bias voltage of the double-output intensity modulator, the oscillator suppresses the fundamental frequency signal and achieves the output of the two-frequency signal. After the test, it can be known that when the optical carrier wavelength of the oscillator is 1551 nm, the
tuning range of the output fundamental frequency is 1.8–9 GHZ; The output range of double frequency is 3.6–18 GHz, the output power is greater than 10 dBm, and the phase noise changes slightly at different output frequencies, which is about –102 dBc/Hz.
Bilayer Low-Temperature-Processed Metal Oxides as Electron Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells with Over 18% Efficiency
Authors: Zuo Zhaoyang , Yue Chunguo , Qiao Xun , Meng Dongrong
Published: August 2020

Solar cells which can generate electricity from absorbing sunlight is one of the most promising clean energy devices nowadays. During the last decade, a new type solar cell named metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSC) has undergo a tremendous development and now becoming a superstar
in photovoltaic field. However, most of the high-efficiency PSC is made based on a high-temperature-processed (over 500 °C) TiO2 electron transporting materials (ETM), which hinders the further commercialization of this technology. Therefore, developing a low-temperature-processed
ETM to replace the current TiO2 is urgently required in the PSC research field. In this work, the low-temperature-processed ZnO layer has been used as ETM first. It is found that the perovskite film spin-coated on the ZnO layer is not totally converted to perovskite with a little
amount of residue PbI2, which is bad for PSCs. To solve this problem, we employed a ZnO/SnO2 bilayer as ETM to enhance the contact between ETM and perovskite film. It is clearly observed that the formation of perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) on
ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM is feasible and no PbI2 remining in the perovskite film after thermal annealing, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. We further conduct Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) measurements of the films. The AFM images of CH3NH3PbI3
films deposited on ZnO and ZnO/SnO2 show that perovskite film is smoother on ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM. Furthermore, it is found that the PSC based on ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM shows a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.0% compared to the 14.9% obtained in
the control device based on pristine ZnO ETM. The enhancement of device performance with ZnO/SnO2 bilayer device is due to the improvement of device photovoltaic parameters. It is found that the fill factor of the target device with ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM is 80.7%, significantly
improved from 69.2% of the control device based on pristine ZnO layer. This can be ascribed to the efficient charge extraction ability of ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM as demonstrated by the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of CH3NH3PbI3 spin coated on ZnO/SnO2
bilayer. The PL signal of perovskite on ZnO/SnO2 bilayer has an obvious blue shift, indicating that the perovskite on ZnO/SnO2 bilayer has less defects compared to perovskite in ZnO layer. Finally, by using the ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM, we successfully fabricated
a large-area PSC with an active area of 1.2 cm2, exhibiting a PCE of 9.3%. Our results show a great potential of the ZnO/SnO2 bilayer ETM for both PSC and other optoelectronic devices.
Data Processing Platform of Cloud Computing and Its Performance Analysis Based on Photoelectric Hybrid Interconnection Architecture
Authors: Ren Zhimin
Published: August 2020

Data processing platform is the core support platform of cloud computing. The use of electric interconnection architecture will increase the complexity of network topology, while optical interconnection architecture is ideal, so cloud computing platform based on optical interconnection
has become a research hotspot. The distributed optical interconnection architecture of cloud computing data processing platform is focused on. Combining the hybrid mechanism of optical circuit switching and electric packet switching, it can meet a variety of traffic requirements. Meanwhile,
it improves the switching mechanism, communication strategy, and router structure. Moreover, considering that the hybrid optoelectronic interconnection architecture can improve the network delay and throughput, but there is still a problem of network consumption. Combined with the network
characteristics of the data processing platform (wireless mesh structure) of cloud computing, the network topology algorithm is studied, and the relationship between the topology and the maximum number of allocable channels is analyzed. Furthermore, the equation of topological reliability
calculation is defined, and the optimization model of topological design is proposed, according to which the data processing platform of cloud computing is further optimized under the photoelectric hybrid interconnection architecture. During the experiment, before topology optimization, by
changing the message length, it is found that adding optical circuit switching can help achieving large capacity and new type of transmission, and can effectively reduce the time delay. After topology optimization structure is adopted, the photoelectric hybrid-data processing platform of cloud
computing without topology optimization is compared. It is found that under different reliability constraints, the throughput and end-to-end delay of the network are significantly improved, which proves that the data processing platform of cloud computing based on the photoelectric hybrid
interconnection architecture is a feasible cloud computing platform.
Anti-Fog Imaging and Ship Positioning and Berthing Method Based on Solar-Blind Ultraviolet Optical Electronic Signal
Authors: Zhu Xi , Li Xiang , Cao Xun , Yue Tao , Yan Feng
Published: August 2020

The foggy environment, particularly in the dense fog, would significantly weaken the general optical imaging capability. In such condition, common optical imaging methods could hardly recognize targets and self-position in an effective manner, severely impacting ship berthing operation.
Targeted at ship berthing in foggy days and based on zero background interference of solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) optical electronic signal, calibration and imaging positioning method based on solar-blind UV imagers were studied here, achieving three-dimension positioning with high precision.
Direct imaging and accurate positioning for assisting in ship berthing could be realized at the same time. In this article, local positioning effect in the foggy environment was evaluated by applying solar-blind UV imaging band. The measurement results verify that accurate positioning could
be achieved in the foggy environment by solar-blind UV anti-fog imaging positioning approach to satisfy demands of ship berthing in foggy days.
The Effect of Individual Layer Thickness on Chemical Ordering of Ni-Based Multilayers
Authors: Zhang Chao , Xie Lishuai , Zhang Dongdong
Published: August 2020

The microstructural evolution of magnetron sputtered Ni-based multilayers with different individual layer thicknesses h is investigated. The average grain size of multilayers and formation of chemical ordered Ni3Al phase are dependent on h in annealed Ni-based
multilayer system which are disclosed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Transformation of chemical ordering in the annealed multilayers is facilitated by large grains with lower density of grain boundaries when h ≥ 40 nm. On the contrary, when h <
40 nm, the retained disordered FCC Ni(Al) phase in the annealed Ni-based multilayers is attributed to the twin interface. The ordering mechanism can be explained by interface-controlled formation and migration of vacancies.
Enhanced Performance of Fabry–Perot Tunable Filter by Groove Geometry Design of Double Folded Cantilever
Authors: Ding Yifan , Hou Haigang , Huang Qingwei , Liu Junlin , Hussain Shahid , Qiao Guanjun
Published: August 2020

Different grooves (v-shaped groove, trapezoidal groove and rectangular groove) are introduced into the traditional double-folded cantilever of Fabry–Perot Tunable Filter (FPTF) for the optical sensor. Using finite element simulation, the influence of groove geometry on
the voltage–displacement relationship, stress distribution and reflector flatness of the FPTF are studied. The results show that the reflector supported by double folded cantilever with rectangular groove has a maximal displacement of 0.88 μm under 8 V driving voltage, which
is 95% higher than double folded cantilever without groove. At 0.5 μm, the best flatness (warping angle of reflector) is only 0.0032° for reflector supported by double folded cantilever with rectangular groove, where the generated maximal stress in the double folded cantilever
is 8.49 MPa. Compared with other double folded cantilevers with v-shaped groove, trapezoidal groove and without groove, the unique properties of double folded cantilever with rectangular groove are attributed to lower elastic modulus. The double folded cantilever with rectangular groove
enlarges displacement results in wide range of bandpass wavelength of FPTF, and a best flatness to enhance the monochrome of bandpass wavelength.
Determinants of Legislation on Social Health Insurance in Transition Countries
Authors: Choi Sungkyoung , Sohn Myongsei , Jeong Hyoung-Sun , Kim Soyoon
Published: August 2020

This study aims to address the question: Why did transition countries enact laws related to social health insurance (SHI) at different times, even though they experienced dissolution of the Soviet Union at the same time in the early 1990s? We used Ragin’s fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate the configurations of causal conditions that affected the speed of developing SHI-related legislation in 24 post-socialist countries. The potential causal conditions were health status, economic status, level of governance, level of democracy, issue salience, and number of medical professionals. We found 3 pathways that led to the enactment of SHI-related laws and 1 pathway that inhibits enactment. The key factors impacting enactment of SHI-related laws were non-corrupt governments and realization of democracy. In addition, medical professionals’ involvement in policymaking could be the factor to enact SHI-related laws. Further research is needed for more in-depth analysis regarding what the laws specifically include, type of health insurance systems that were adopted based on the laws, and if the legislation contributed toward achieving universal health coverage.
The Model of Population Transition in Vietnam in Relation to Europe and Asia: A Quantitative Approach
Authors: Nghia Ha Trong
Published: August 2020

This paper analyses the population transition model for Vietnam, based on Grover’s five stages of population transition. Compatible with the transitional model of Western Europe and other advanced Asian countries, this process in Vietnam has some significant differences: (a) the initial shift or transition of fertility of the population in Vietnam is later than in Asian countries by about 13 years while compared to Europe it is nearly 108 years later; and (b) while the period of initial transition of mortality in Vietnam may not be very different from other Asian countries, it is more than 100 years later than in European countries, especially those in Western Europe. One of the main factors influencing the late transition of Vietnam’s population process is, of course, colonialism and the consecutive wars (1945–1954 and 1955–1975). After 1975, Vietnam’s population was stable as industrialisation and urbanisation led to the development of health services, education and an urban lifestyle, as well as effective population policies.
Travel Branding in Tourism 4.0: Case Study Vietnam Travel
Authors: Van Hoang Thi , Hieu Vo Minh
Published: August 2020

A smart travel brand today is not only an advertising marketing channel but also requires businesses to adapt and focus on brand value. Branding plays a role in shaping customer search behavior which means an effectively personalized brand helps travel businesses find potential customers and develop specific services to maintain business advantages. This article contributes some ideas about building a tourism brand today that is personalized through story and awareness in the context of digital competition, where customers play a central role both of providers of recommendations and consumers of the recommended story.
Myocardial ischemia from previously placed autologous pericardial roll conduits
Authors: Nakayama Yuki , Shinkawa Takeshi , Hoki Ryogo , Kobayashi Kei , Yamagishi Masaaki , Niinami Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

We report two cases of symptomatic cardiac ischemia caused by left coronary artery compression. One was a 16-year-old boy with history of the Ross procedure, aortic root aneurysm, and right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit stenosis. The other was a 32-year-old woman with history of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect repair and a giant right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit aneurysm. In both cases, the left coronary artery was compressed by the previously placed valved autologous pericardial roll right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit. Conduit replacement without direct coronary intervention relieved the coronary ischemia. Early diagnosis and relief of external compression avoided potentially fatal outcomes.
Textile-based compression therapy in managing chronic oedema: Complex interactions
Authors: Kankariya Nimesh , Laing Raechel M , Wilson Cheryl A
Published: August 2020

Background

Compression is a common therapy for management of chronic disease, including oedema of the lower limb. Modern compression interventions exert pressure on the lower limb through use of one or more materials which exert pressure against the limb over time. Where these materials are textiles, they range from elastic to inelastic, and are produced using knitting, weaving, or other textile technologies which can be manipulated to control performance properties. Thus, understanding of both the materials/textiles and the human body is needed if the most appropriate compression device and treatment strategy is to be used. Neither is independent of the other. This review aims to enhance understanding of critical textile performance properties and how selection of textiles may affect treatment efficacy when managing chronic oedema of the lower limb.

Method

Relevant papers for review were identified via PubMed Central® library, and Google Scholar using keywords associated with textile-based treatments of the oedematous lower limb and wider interdisciplinary factors.

Results

Assessment of the disorder, the severity of oedema, and location of fluid accumulation are required to inform treatment of chronic oedema. While the need to understand the patient is well established (e.g. age, sex, body mass index, skin thickness and colour, patient compliance with treatment), information about preferred compression systems and material structures, and inherent properties of these, is generally lacking.

Conclusion

Greater detail about materials used (e.g. fabric structure, number and order of layers, fibre content) and patient diagnosis (e.g. underlying cause, severity, location of oedema; patient age and sex; evidence of compliance with treatment; pressure exerted; lower leg shape, size, and properties of the tissue) is needed to facilitate advances in efficacy of compression treatment. Reduced limb swelling with a textile-based treatment occurs simultaneously with changes to the textile itself. Textiles cannot be considered inert.
Impact of multicenter unified enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection measures on nosocomial infections among patients in intensive care units
Authors: Huang Jing , Cui Can , Zhou Shuli , Chen Ming , Wu Hao , Jin Ronghua , Chen Xinyue
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Most Chinese hospitals have customized environmental cleaning policies and systems, with limited data availability based on evidence-based medicine. This study investigated the relationship between multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and ICU surface bacterial contamination status.

Methods

This cross-sectional study comprised MDRO screening in ICU patients using bacterial cultivation by chromogenic medium; samples were collected before (control group) and after implementation of enhanced cleaning (cleaning group). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify and analyze microorganisms; the relationships of MDRO colonization with infection and environmental bacteria were analyzed.

Results

In total, 196 patients were enrolled in the study (104 and 92 in control and cleaning groups, respectively); 1042 MDROs were subjected to screening before and after cleaning. After cleaning, the rate of MDRO detection on surfaces of frequently touched objects in ICUs decreased from 31.77% to 13.32%. There were fewer MDRO homologues in the cleaning group than in the control group. Moreover, the cleaning group had a shorter ICU stay and significantly lower mortality rate.

Conclusions

Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection could reduce environmental MDRO accumulation and suppress MDRO colonization in ICUs, thereby reducing nosocomial infections and improving adverse patient outcomes.
Performance Analyses of Information-Based Managed Lane Choice Decisions in a Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Guo Xiaoyu , Peng Yongxin , Ashraf Sruthi , Burris Mark W.
Published: August 2020

Connected vehicle (CV) technology can connect, communicate, and share information between vehicles, infrastructure, and other traffic management systems. Recent research has examined and promoted CV and connected automated vehicle (CAV) technology on managed lane systems to increase capacity and reduce congestion, as managed lane systems could be equipped with advanced infrastructure relatively quickly. However, the effect on travel considering, information-based managed lane choice decisions in a CV environment is not clear. Therefore, this research analyzed the potential effects on a managed lane system with connected vehicles considering several travel behavior elements, including drivers’ willingness to reroute and their choice of managed lanes based on individual travel time savings. This study analyzed the potential effects on a managed lane system by assigning different market penetration rates (0%, 10%, 50%, 100%) of CVs and informing CV drivers about travel time savings for a 10-mi stretch at 5-min intervals. How the traffic performance measurements (i.e., throughput, travel time saving, average speed and average travel time) vary under different market penetration rates of CVs is then investigated. Two major conclusions are reached: (i) although information exchange was assumed to be instantaneous between vehicles and the system, there existed a response time (or time delay) in the macroscopic traffic reflection; (ii) managed lane use may decrease, when travel time information becomes available, since drivers perceive they are saving more travel time than they actually do save.
Multiple Uses of Big Data for Model Validation and Express Lanes Traffic Forecasts
Authors: Sarvepalli Amar , Davis Barbara
Published: August 2020

This paper highlights a variety of uses for Big Data when developing project forecasts and model validations. In most travel models, validation often refers to estimating model volumes close to the observed highway counts. While this is an established practice for producing reasonable confidence in the model, these statistics are often not sufficient to build confidence in the project forecast. This is especially true for investment-grade level traffic and revenue forecasts for projects involving congestion pricing. This paper explores the application of Big Data to validate subarea models in multiple dimensions: subarea district-to-district origin-destination (O-D) flows; corridor segment-to-segment O-D flows; and trip length distribution by O-D types for the I-4 Ultimate Express Lanes Study. Additionally, the paper reviews historical O-D flows to determine the peak seasonal flow and appropriate O-D data to use in model validation and seed tables for Origin-Destination Matrix Estimation (ODME). In addition to model validation, the expanded Big Data O-D trips were assigned to multiple paths for each O-D pair built via Google Directions API to study the eligible corridor trips and the alternative corridors competing with the project. Furthermore, spatiotemporal distributions from Big Data were used to develop time-dependent trip tables for the Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) model. Several international tourist attractions located along the I-4 Ultimate Corridor serve high visitor and weekend traffic, and Big Data was used to analyze and develop a weekend distribution model. Each of these modules involves some form of observed data, all coming from one source, “Big Data.”
Xonotlite and Hillebrandite as Model Compounds for Calcium Silicate Hydrate Seeding in Cementitious Materials
Authors: John Elisabeth , Lehmann Christian , Stephan Dietmar
Published: August 2020

The demand for more environmentally friendly cement with no disadvantages in relation to hydration activity has led to the development of various additives to accelerate cement hydration. As calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) is the major hydration product of cement and is responsible for its mechanical properties, it plays an outstanding role in the discussion of nanoparticle additives. Nevertheless, the investigation of its mechanism of action is complicated by the similarity of its properties to those of the C-S-H that forms as an initial hydration product. Crystalline C-S-H phases, on the other hand, can be easily distinguished from the original hydration products, which makes them a valuable model compound for studying the mechanisms of nucleation seeding in cementitious materials. In this paper, the effect of crystalline types of C-S-H as nucleation seeds are presented. Xonotlite and hillebrandite were thoroughly characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR) and were then used as an admixture for alite pastes. Low-vacuum SEM images of the hydrated pastes revealed that xonotlite can significantly promote the visible etch pit formation on C3S clinker particles, which was not found to be true for hillebrandite. Whether the phases act as a nucleation site is assumed to be strongly dependent on the mineralogy: hillebrandite appeared to be heavily overgrown, but xonotlite did not show any hydration products on its surfaces after the same hydration time of up to 24 h. The diverse effect of the minerals was confirmed by the accelerating behavior in isothermal heat flow calorimetry and by XRD.
Transacting Business and Transforming Communities: The Mission Statements of Community Foundations Around the Globe
Authors: Sloan Margaret F.
Published: August 2020

Analyzing mission statements from 1,420 community foundations, this research aims to determine whether community foundations portray themselves as primarily transactional or transformational in their leadership style. Results indicate that approximately half of the community foundations present themselves as transformational dominant although about a third demonstrate transactional dominance. The well-established leadership categories of transformational and transactional (a) give us a new way to explore community foundations’ roles in their communities, (b) help us better understand the way community foundations perceive themselves and their leadership, and (c) provide a mechanism to assess how community foundations are presenting their missions to their communities. In addition, by examining organizations as the unit of analysis, this research answers long-standing calls in leadership studies to consider levels of analysis beyond the individual.
Development of variable-configuration wheeled driving system for enhancing the obstacle-crossing ability of unmanned vehicles
Authors: Wang Wen-Hao , Xu Xiao-Jun , Xu Hai-Jun , Sun Cheng-Liang
Published: August 2020

A variable-configuration wheeled driving system is proposed to improve the obstacle-crossing abilities of unmanned vehicles. The effects of the wheel load on the wheels’ obstacle-crossing abilities are analysed using statics theory. Similarly, the effects of the suspension’s stiffness and the adhesion coefficient on the vehicle’s obstacle-crossing ability are analysed. Numerical calculation results show that a higher wheel lift height leads to improved obstacle-crossing abilities. A strategy to adjust the system configuration during obstacle crossing is designed with the wheel lift height acting as the optimisation target. The variable-configuration strategy is verified and the optimal adjustment of the middle axle is determined through simulations. An obstacle-crossing experiment shows that a vehicle can cross a 1-m step obstacle when the proposed variable-configuration strategy is applied. The obstacle-crossing ability of the unmanned vehicle can thus be greatly enhanced.
Uptake, retention, and outcomes in a demonstration project of pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in public health centers in Senegal
Authors: Sarr Moussa , Gueye Daouda , Mboup Aminata , Diouf Ousmane , Bao Mame D Bousso , Ndiaye Anna Julienne , Ndiaye Birahim P , Hawes Stephen E , Tousset Eric , Diallo Abdoulaye , Jones Fatima , Kane Coumba T , Thiam Safiatou , Ndour Cheikh T , Gottlieb Geoffrey S , Mboup Souleymane
Published: August 2020

The Senegal pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Demonstration Project was an open-label cohort study assessing the delivery of daily oral PrEP to HIV-negative female sex workers (FSWs) in four Ministry of Health (MoH)-run clinics in Dakar, Senegal. We assessed uptake, retention in care, and adherence over up to 12 months of follow-up as well as HIV infection rates. Between July and November 2015, 350 individuals were approached and 324 (92.6%) were preliminarily eligible. Uptake was high, with 82.4% of eligible participants choosing to enroll and take PrEP. The mean age of those enrolled was 37.7 years (SD = 8.7), and approximately half had not attended school (41.2%). Among the 267 participants who were prescribed PrEP, 79.9 and 73.4% were retained in PrEP care at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Older age among FSWs was found to be the only significant predictor of lower discontinuation. We did not find significant differences in retention by site, education, condom use, or HIV risk perception. There were no new HIV infections at follow-up. Our results showed evidence of high interest in PrEP and very good PrEP retention rates among FSWs at 12-month follow-up when offered in MoH-run clinics, with older age as the only significant predictor of higher PrEP retention. This highlights the role that these clinics can play in expanding PrEP access nationwide.
A Welcome, A Warning, and A Wish: On Entering a Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice in the Year 2020
Authors: Alexander Bryant Keith
Published: August 2020

After the cancelation of the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (2020) due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the substantive content of my presentation for the plenary, “Higher Education in the Time of Trump: Resistance and Critique” came into confluence with my invitation to deliver the 2020 Keynote to the 17th Incoming Cohort of the doctorate program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice, School of Education, Loyola Marymount University. This presentation delivered via ZOOM on June 18, 2020, calls forth a broader confluence of our current political climate under the “leadership” of Donald J. Trump, COVID-19, and national social justice activism linked with the Black Lives Matter Movement. Truly we are living protest and recovery in repressive times with a connectivity between the three. This message is both particular and plural to the audience that it was originally presented, and now to a diverse readership in these repressive times.