bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of the effects of laser peripheral iridotomy and cataract surgery on anterior chamber angle parameters in primary angle closure suspect patients
Authors: Parajuli Sanket , Sharma Sadhana , Adhikary Rabindra , Malla Deekshya , Shrestha Ruchi , Shakya Prasansa , Parajuli Sashank
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Prophylactic laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and cataract surgery are considered the primary treatments for primary angle closure suspect (PACS) as they have proven effectiveness in widening the iridocorneal angle and addressing the underlying anatomical issues associated with this condition. The objective of this study is to compare the impact of LPI and cataract surgery on anterior chamber angle parameters, aiming to fill the existing research gap.

Methodology

A prospective comparative study was conducted, involving 76 eyes of 61 patients. The study focused on patients diagnosed with PACSs and early cataract. The patients received treatment either through LPI or cataract surgery. Comprehensive eye examination was performed, including gonioscopy and anterior segment parameters were measured using anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (ASOCT). Follow-up examinations were conducted at 1 week and 1 month after the procedures, which included ASOCT and gonioscopy performed during the 1-month follow-up.

Results

All anterior chamber angle parameters increased significantly after treatment in both groups, including trabecular iris angle (TIA), angle opening distance at 250, 500 and 750 µm (AOD 250, AOD500, AOD750), trabecular iris surface area at 500 and 750 µm (TISA500, TISA750) and angle recess area at 500 and 750 µm from scleral spur (ARA500, ARA750) (p<0.05 for all). Moreover, all these parameters were greater after cataract surgery than after LPI (p<0.05 for all).

Conclusion

Compared with LPI, cataract extraction resulted in a wider anterior chamber angle. Moreover, no residual angle closure was observed after cataract extraction, which could morphologically prevent the progress of angle closure. Thus, cataract extraction is superior to LPI in PACSs with early cataract in widening the anterior chamber angle.
Firearm homicides among hispanics and white non-hispanics: measuring disparities
Authors: Weigend Vargas Eugenio , Hsieh Hsing-Fang , Lee Daniel B , Goldstick Jason E.
Published: August 2023

Firearm homicides are increasing in the United States, and firearm homicides are a critical driver of racial health disparities. One such disparity that has received limited attention is excess firearm homicides among Hispanics, relative to White Non-Hispanics; comprehensively characterising this disparity is the purpose of this brief report. Using data from CDC WONDER, we examined temporal trends (2012–2021) in firearm homicide rate disparities between Hispanics and White Non-Hispanics in the U.S. Focusing on recently elevated rates (2018–2021), we estimated this disparity across demographics (gender, age, urbanicity, and race), and across U.S. states. These data clearly show nearly universal excess firearm homicide among Hispanics, relative to White Non-Hispanics, with larger differences among men, younger age groups, and in metropolitan areas. Similarly, nearly all states show higher rates of firearm homicide among Hispanics, relative to White Non-Hispanics, though the magnitude of the difference varies substantially.
Multidimensional energy poverty and acute respiratory infection in children under 5 years of age: evidence from 22 low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Stevens Merel , Yang-Huang Junwen , Nieboer Daan , Zhou Shuang , Osman Kwabena Agyapong , Raat Hein , van Grieken Amy
Published: August 2023

Background

In low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), energy poverty has predominantly been studied from the unidimensional perspective of indoor air pollution. Acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children under 5 years of age is the most important disease associated with indoor air pollution attributable to solid fuel use in LMICs. This study aimed to extend the existing knowledge on the association between energy poverty and ARI among children under 5 years of age in LMICs, by adopting a multidimensional perspective.

Methods

Using Demographic and Health Surveys from 22 LMICs, data from 483 088 children were analysed (mean age 2.00 years (SD 1.41); 51.3% male). Energy poverty was measured using the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) (range 0–1), which comprises five dimensions of essential energy services. Binary logistic regression models were conducted to study the association between MEPI and ARI, adjusting for child, maternal, household and environmental characteristics.

Results

A 0.1 increase in MEPI score was associated with greater odds of ARI (aOR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.07). Likewise, MEPI indicators using biomass for cooking (aOR 1.15; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.23) and lack of access to electricity (aOR 1.17; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.26), entertainment/education appliances (aOR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.13) and household appliances (aOR 1.12; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.21) were associated with greater odds of ARI.

Conclusion

Multidimensional energy poverty was associated with greater odds of ARI in children under 5 years of age living in 22 LMICs. Hence, our findings justify the design and implementation of interventions that address energy poverty from a multidimensional perspective, integrating energy affordability and accessibility.
Experimental characterization of the LUPIN Rem counter in monoenergetic neutron fields
Authors: Cirillo Andrea , Caresana Marco
Published: August 2023

The LUPIN is a Rem counter for neutron dosimetry in pulsed radiation fields, i.e., those fields whose intensity varies greatly on short timescales with respect to the characteristic time of the utilized detector. This work describes the characterization of the energy response of the instrument. The response function was calculated with the Monte Carlo code MCNP6, representing the geometry and material composition of the LUPIN and simulating an irradiation in expanded and aligned monoenergetic neutron fields. The calculated response was validated in the monoenergetic fields of the National Physical Laboratory. The agreement between the calculated and measured responses is satisfactory, with a maximum discrepancy of 5%.
Mangiferin Protects against Angiotensin-II-Enhanced Hypertrophic Markers and Apoptosis in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Chang Chih-Chia , Tsai Kun-Ling , Cheng Hui-Ching , Chou Wan-Ching , Huang Yu-Ting , Hsieh Pei-Ling , Lee Shin-Da
Published: August 2023

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy accompanies numerous cardiovascular diseases, and the intervention of cardiac hypertrophy is an important issue to prevent detrimental consequences. Mangiferin (MGN) is a glucosylxanthone found in Mangifera indica, which exhibits anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Various studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective potential of MGN, but the mechanisms behind its beneficial effects have not been fully revealed. Here, angiotensin-II (Ang-II) was used to induce cardiac hypertrophy, and we examined cell size, expression of hypertrophy markers (e.g., ANP, BNP, and [Formula: see text]-MHC), and oxidative stress (e.g., the ratio of NADPH/NADP[Formula: see text], the expression of p22phox and p67phox, and ROS and SOD production) of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, we assessed the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling (e.g., p38 and ERK) and the NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65/iNOS axis. Additionally, an annexin V/PI assay was employed to evaluate whether MGN administration can attenuate Ang-II-elicited apoptosis. Lastly, the expression of Ang-II type 1 receptor (AT1) was measured to confirm its involvement in MGN-mediated protection. Our results showed that treatment with MGN attenuated the Ang-II-induced cell size, expression of hypertrophy markers, and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. MGN also abrogated the activation of MAPK signaling and the NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65/iNOS axis. Additionally, MGN prevented apoptosis and downregulated the elevation of AT1 in cardiomyocytes that had been exposed to Ang-II. Altogether, these results demonstrated the potential of using MGN to ameliorate the Ang-II-associated cardiac hypertrophy, which may be due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through suppression of MAPK signaling and the NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65/iNOS axis.
Motion In-Betweening with Phase Manifolds
Authors: Starke Paul , Starke Sebastian , Komura Taku , Steinicke Frank
Published: August 2023

This paper introduces a novel data-driven motion in-betweening system to reach target poses of characters by making use of phases variables learned by a Periodic Autoencoder. Our approach utilizes a mixture-of-experts neural network model, in which the phases cluster movements in both space and time with different expert weights. Each generated set of weights then produces a sequence of poses in an autoregressive manner between the current and target state of the character. In addition, to satisfy poses which are manually modified by the animators or where certain end effectors serve as constraints to be reached by the animation, a learned bi-directional control scheme is implemented to satisfy such constraints. The results demonstrate that using phases for motion in-betweening tasks sharpen the interpolated movements, and furthermore stabilizes the learning process. Moreover, using phases for motion in-betweening tasks can also synthesize more challenging movements beyond locomotion behaviors. Additionally, style control is enabled between given target keyframes. Our proposed framework can compete with popular state-of-the-art methods for motion in-betweening in terms of motion quality and generalization, especially in the existence of long transition durations. Our framework contributes to faster prototyping workflows for creating animated character sequences, which is of enormous interest for the game and film industry.
Physics-based Motion Retargeting from Sparse Inputs
Authors: Reda Daniele , Won Jungdam , Ye Yuting , van de Panne Michiel , Winkler Alexander
Published: August 2023

Avatars are important to create interactive and immersive experiences in virtual worlds. One challenge in animating these characters to mimic a user's motion is that commercial AR/VR products consist only of a headset and controllers, providing very limited sensor data of the user's pose. Another challenge is that an avatar might have a different skeleton structure than a human and the mapping between them is unclear. In this work we address both of these challenges. We introduce a method to retarget motions in real-time from sparse human sensor data to characters of various morphologies. Our method uses reinforcement learning to train a policy to control characters in a physics simulator. We only require human motion capture data for training, without relying on artist-generated animations for each avatar. This allows us to use large motion capture datasets to train general policies that can track unseen users from real and sparse data in real-time. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach on three characters with different skeleton structure: a dinosaur, a mouse-like creature and a human. We show that the avatar poses often match the user surprisingly well, despite having no sensor information of the lower body available. We discuss and ablate the important components in our framework, specifically the kinematic retargeting step, the imitation, contact and action reward as well as our asymmetric actor-critic observations. We further explore the robustness of our method in a variety of settings including unbalancing, dancing and sports motions.
Two-Way Coupling of Skinning Transformations and Position Based Dynamics
Authors: Wu Yuhan , Umetani Nobuyuki
Published: August 2023

Skinning transformations enable digital characters to be animated with minimal user input. Physics simulations can improve the detailed dynamic movement of an animated character; however, such details are typically added in the post-processing stage after the overall animation is specified. We propose a novel interactive framework that unifies skinning transformations and kinematic simulations using position-based dynamics (PBD). Our framework allows an arbitrarily skinned character to be partially manipulated by the user, and a kinematic physics solver automatically complements the behavior of the entire character. This is achieved by introducing new steps into the PBD algorithm: (i) lightweight optimization to identify the skinning transformations, which is similar to inverse kinematics, and (ii) a position-based constraint to restrict the PBD solver to the complementary subspace of the skinning deformation. Our method combines the best of the two methods: the controllability and shape preservation of the skinning transformation, and the efficiency, simplicity, and unconditional stability of the PBD solver. Our interface allows novices to create vibrant animations without tedious editing.
Multi-Interest Multi-Round Conversational Recommendation System with Fuzzy Feedback Based User Simulator
Authors: Shen Qi , Wu Lingfei , Zhang Yiming , Pang Yitong , Wei Zhihua , Xu Fangli , Long Bo , Pei Jian
Published: August 2023

Conversational recommendation system (CRS) is able to obtain fine-grained and dynamic user preferences based on interactive dialogue. Previous CRS assumes that the user has a clear target item, which often deviates from the real scenario. The user may have a clear single preference for some attribute types (e.g., brand) of items, while for other attribute types (e.g., color), the user may have multiple preferences or even no clear preferences, which leads to multiple acceptable items under multiple combinations of attribute instances. Furthermore, previous works assume that users would provide clear responses to any questions asked by the system. And, they also assume that users would be dedicated to the target item, that is, user would answer “yes” to the attribute corresponding to the target item and answer “no” to other attributes. However, users’ responses to attributes are not completely dependent on target items, but also influenced by users’ inherent interests. Besides, for some over-specific or equivocal questions, the feedback of user might not be clear (“yes”/“no”) and user might give some fuzzy response like “I don’t know”. To address the aforementioned issues, we first propose a more realistic conversational recommendation learning setting, namely Multi-Interest Multi-round Conversational Recommendation (MIMCR), where users may have multiple interests in attribute instance combinations and accept multiple items with partially overlapped combinations of attribute instances. To effectively cope with MIMCR, we propose a novel learning framework, namely Multiple Choice questions based on Multi-Interest Policy Learning. Moreover, we further propose a more realistic User-centric User Simulator with Fuzzy Feedback (UUSFF), which naturally calibrates the user response with additional fuzzy feedback based on user’s inherent preference. To better match the new scenario UUSFF, we propose a simple but effective adaption method for different backbones. Extensive experimental results on several datasets demonstrate the superiority of our methods for the proposed settings.
Design of Enhanced Reversible 9T SRAM Design for the Reduction in Sub-threshold Leakage Current with14nm FinFET Technology
Authors: Praveen Pushkar , Singh R. K.
Published: August 2023

Power dissipation is considered one of the important issues in low power Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit design and is related to the threshold voltage. Generally, the sub-threshold leakage current and the leakage power dissipation are increased by reducing the threshold voltage. The overall performance of the circuit completely depends on this leakage power dissipation because this leakage and power consumption causes the components that are functioning by the battery for a long period to be washed-out rapidly. In this research, the reversible logic gate-based 9T static random access memory (SRAM) is designed in 14nm FinFET technology to reduce leakage power consumption in memory related applications. The Schmitt-trigger (ST)-based 9T SRAM cell is designed to attain high read-write stability and low power consumption using a single bit line structure. The reversible logic gates of Feynman (FG) and Fredkin gate (FRG) are combined to develop a row and column decoder in an SRAM design to diminish the leakage power. Moreover, the transistor stacking effect is applied to the proposed memory design to reduce the leakage power in active mode. The proposed reversible logic and transistor stacking based SRAM design is implemented in Tanner EDA Tool version 16.0. It also performs both read and write operations using the proposed circuit. The performance measures of read access time (RAT), write access time (WAT), read, write, and static power by varying supply voltage and temperature, delay and stability analysis (read/write static noise margin) are examined and compared with existing SRAM designs.
Testing Abstractions for Cyber-Physical Control Systems
Authors: Mandrioli Claudio , Nyberg Carlsson Max , Maggio Martina
Published: August 2023

Control systems are ubiquitous and often at the core of Cyber-Physical Systems, like cars and aeroplanes. They are implemented as embedded software that interacts in closed loop with the physical world through sensors and actuators. As a consequence, the software cannot just be tested in isolation. To close the loop in a testing environment and root causing failure generated by different parts of the system, executable models are used to abstract specific components. Different testing setups can be implemented by abstracting different elements: The most common ones are model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and real-physics-in-the-loop. In this article, we discuss the properties of these setups and the types of faults they can expose. We develop a comprehensive case study using the Crazyflie, a drone whose software and hardware are open source. We implement all the most common testing setups and ensure the consistent injection of faults in each of them. We inject faults in the control system and we compare with the nominal performance of the non-faulty software. Our results show the specific capabilities of the different setups in exposing faults. Contrary to intuition and previous literature, we show that the setups do not belong to a strict hierarchy, and they are best designed to maximize the differences across them rather than to be as close as possible to reality.
Improved Efficiency Droop of 370 nm UV LEDs with ITO/Au/ITO Structure
Authors: Fan Xiaomeng , Xu Shengrui , Huang Yuzhi , Liu Weiguo , Tao Hongchang , Zhang Jincheng , Hao Yue
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a method of indium-tin oxide/Au/indium-tin oxide (IAI) structure as transparent conductive layers (TCLs) to improve the current spreading and suppress efficiency droop of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) is investigated. The morphology and distribution of Au clusters formed by annealing are investigate by atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. Compared with the UV-LED without Au clusters, the forward voltage of UV-LED is reduced by 5.9% at 20 mA, light output power and wall plug efficiency increase by 64.2% and 84.2% at 300 mA for the UV-LED with IAI structure as the thickness of the Au interlayer is 1 nm. In addition, light emission distribution results show that by inserting Au interlayer, current distributes more uniform and the current spreading characteristics of UV-LED are improved. Ultimately, efficiency droop of the LED has been suppressed.
“Local control”: another core concept of physiology
Authors: R. Shannon Thomas , Michael Joel
Published: August 2023

Local control of many physiological phenomena occurs to meet the needs of certain systems and to enable these systems to meet the episodic challenges that occur. The mechanisms by which local control is exerted include locally released chemical messengers, physical stimuli acting on the structures, and local neural networks. Examples of important local controls are present throughout the body.
Persistence and expansion of hypoxia detected by pimonidazole adduct immunostaining during progression of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic mice
Authors: Inada Akari , Fukatsu Atsushi
Published: August 2023

This study provides new insights into hypoxia during the long course of diabetic nephropathy development. Hypoxia was persistently localized only in limited areas and its distribution differed significantly from that of hypoxia-inducible factors. These findings suggests that in the long course of diabetic nephropathy development, increased energy requirements and limited blood supply may lead to relative ischemia and induction of local and persistent hypoxia, which may contribute in part to the loss of nephrons.
Retinal Progenitor Cells Exhibit Cadherin-Dependent Chemotaxis across Transplantable Extracellular Matrix of In Vitro Developmental and Adult Models
Authors: Markey Miles W. , Pena Caroline D. , Venkatesh Tadmiri , Cai Li , Vazquez Maribel
Published: August 2023

Retinal degeneration is an escalating public health challenge, as diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa cause irreversible vision loss in millions of adults each year. Regenerative medicine has pioneered the development of stem cell replacement therapies, which treat degeneration by replacing damaged retinal neurons with transplanted stem-like cells (SCs). While the collective migration of SCs plays critical roles during retinal development, our understanding of collective SC behaviors within biomaterials transplanted into adult tissue remains understudied. This project examines the potential therapeutic impacts of collective SC migration during transplantation by correlating the expression of cadherin, cell-cell cohesion molecules that maintain intercellular communication during development, with receptor proteins of chemoattractant molecules prevalent in degenerated adult tissue. Experiments examine these well-conserved biomechanisms by using two different model organisms: Drosophila melanogaster, a seminal model for retinal development, and Mus, an important preclinical model for transplantation. Results indicate that SCs from both animal models significantly upregulate cadherin expression to achieve more directed collective migration towards species-specific chemoattractants and exhibit longer distance motility upon different extracellular matrix substrates.
The Weight Allocation Method of Component Based on the Mutual Influence
Authors: Hu Zhixi , Ma Yanfang , Gao Xiaotong
Published: August 2023

Components play a pivotal role in component‐based software, with certain components being crucial in realizing the software’s overall functionality. The importance of component is usually characterized using the weight value of component. How to get the weight value is a problem that needs to be studied. Traditionally, the weight value can be denoted by an expert’s evaluation. However, the importance of components can vary depending on their interactions within different combination structures. Therefore, it becomes necessary to consider the mutual influence resulting from component interactions when determining component weights, in addition to expert evaluations. In this study, we first establish an influence value model that captures the interactions between components within various combinations. Subsequently, we propose a comprehensive weight allocation method for components by integrating expert evaluations with the influence values obtained from the component interactions, using an evidence‐based information fusion approach. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our method by implementing a scenic spot ticket purchase system. This approach is more reasonable than the single method and can provide software developers with a more comprehensive analysis of component importance, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Parental Satisfaction towards Care Given at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Associated Factors in Comprehensive and Referral Hospitals of Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Sileshi Eden , Mohammed Bedria , Eshetu Derese , Dure Aster , Bante Agegnehu , Mersha Abera , Geltore Teketel Ermias
Published: August 2023

Background. Patient satisfaction is an important aspect of the quality of care in the inpatient setting. In neonatal intensive care units, parents’ satisfaction and their experiences are fundamental to assessing clinical practice and improving the quality of care delivered to infants. Hence then, it reduces infant mortality rates globally. In Ethiopia, few studies address the level of parental satisfaction towards care given at neonatal intensive care unit and no single study was done in the study area. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing parental satisfaction towards care given at neonatal intensive care unit and associated factors in comprehensive and referral hospitals of southern Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 parents who visited neonatal intensive care from March 28 to April 28, 2022. The data were assorted via a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using ODK collect version and exported to SPSS window version 25 for further cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with parental satisfaction with care given at the neonatal intensive care unit. The adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to show the strength of the association, and a

P

value < 0.05 was used to declare the cutoff point to determine the level of significance. Results. In this study, 63% (95% CI: 58%, 68%) of the parents were satisfied with the care given at the neonatal intensive care unit. Factors associated with parental satisfaction towards care given at neonatal intensive care unit were parents with no formal education (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07-0.31), availability of necessary information using direction indicator (AOR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.85-5.31), and availability of enough chairs in waiting area (AOR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.81-5.87). Conclusion. Nearly two-thirds of the parents were satisfied with the care given at the neonatal intensive care unit. The availability of enough chairs in the waiting area and the creation of direction indicators are key issues to improve parental satisfaction towards their neonatal care.
Improved Private Data Protection Scheme for Blockchain Smart Contracts
Authors: Hu Sheng
Published: August 2023

Data security and privacy protection are critical challenges that constrain the advancement of edge computing. Similarly, blockchain technology faces constraints in addressing security issues linked with edge computing due to its scalability limitations. To tackle these challenges and promote the development of blockchain technology, this paper presents a scheme that enhances privacy data protection in blockchain smart contracts using edge computing and a master-slave multichain architecture. Firstly, we propose a master-slave multichain architecture based on the traditional single chain and integrate it with a three-layer edge computing structure to address security issues on the edge side. We also design a signature authentication scheme utilizing ECC integrated with blockchain encryption technology. Secondly, we incorporate the role-based access control (RBAC) model with smart contracts to finely divide user privileges, construct an interdomain role-based access control (ID-RBAC) model, and provide detailed access authentication process designs for both within and between domains. Finally, experimental results demonstrate that our proposed scheme can effectively resist various attacks, significantly improve algorithm efficiency, and maintain a system overhead of less than 160 p, with a maximum transaction throughput of nearly 310 tx/s.
Taguchi Optimization on the Biooil Extraction from Fresh Water Algae (Spirogyra) Using Soxhlet Apparatus
Authors: Aravind S. , Barik Debabrata
Published: August 2023

The present investigation is aimed at maximizing the biooil yield (BOY) from the algal species Spirogyra by solvent extraction method with a nonpolar solvent n-hexane using a Soxhlet apparatus. Also, this present work is aimed at acquiring optimal physiochemical properties such as kinematic viscosity and iodine value of the biooil produced from the algae. To carry out this work, the Taguchi technique with the L9 orthogonal array (OA) was used. With the L9 OA, nine sets of experiments were directed as per the design matrix, and the results were analyzed using the Taguchi method with the help of Minitab 16 software. The results generated from this optimization process showcased that the BOY from the Spirogyra was found to be a maximum of 26.86% with the particle size (PS) being 0.462 μm, the response time (RT) of 60 minutes, the solvent ratio (SR) of 1 : 10, and the extraction temperature (ET) of 75°C. The optimal set of input parameters for the optimal output response kinematic viscosity of 1.92 mm2/s was found to be achieved with the PS being 0.462 μm, 60 minutes of RT, the SR of 1 : 15, and the ET of 75°C. Similarly, the optimal set of input parameters for the optimal output response iodine value was found to be at 0.322 μm PS, 120 minutes of RT, an SR of 1 : 5, and an ET of 75°C. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the output responses exposed that the PS exhibited a major impact on the BOY and kinematic viscosity and the contribution levels of 76.68 and 51.7%, respectively.
Characterization of an Iron-Copper Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework for Adsorption of Methyl Orange in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Yang Xiuzhen , Wang Changye , Zhou Bin , Cheng Shuangchan
Published: August 2023

Iron-based organic frame material MIL-53 (Fe) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method with Cu2+ incorporated to obtain bimetallic composite MIL-53 (Fe, Cu). The structure and morphology of the material were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, FTIR, XPS, and zeta potential. The adsorption performance of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange was tested under a variety of conditions, including the effects of pH and material dosage, by the static adsorption test. The results show that under the condition of pH = 7, a temperature of 30°C, and an adsorbent dosage of 20 mg, the removal rate of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) for methyl orange can reach more than 96% within 4 h, and the maximum adsorption capacity after fitting by the thermodynamic model can reach 294.43 mg/g, showing the excellent adsorption performance of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange. In addition, by exploring the adsorption mechanism of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange, it is found that the adsorption of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange depends on chemical adsorption, as evidenced by combining Fe3+ and Cu2+ in the material with methyl orange molecules to form complexes to achieve adsorption. While the specific surface area of the material had no obvious effect on adsorption, the effects of pH, temperature, and concentration were explored. At a pH of 6.5, greater adsorption occurred at higher temperatures, as determined by thermodynamic model fitting, as well as with higher initial methyl orange molecule concentration.
Sintomas do Porvir: o Compendium Musicae de Descartes entre o Renascimento e o Barroco
Authors: Fortes Fabrício Pires
Published: August 2023

O artigo visa estabelecer uma interpretação das ideias apresentadas por Descartes em seu Compendium Musicae como expressivas da transição entre os períodos renascentista e barroco na música. Parte-se de uma análise comparativa da música desses dois períodos, assim como de algumas ideias filosóficas e científicas que circundaram a transição entre eles, e busca-se identificar ideias vinculadas a ambos no Compendium. De acordo com os resultados dessa análise, argumenta-se que, se do ponto de vista da teoria e da prática musical, a obra se encontra ainda vinculada ao estilo renascentista, no que diz respeito ao fundo filosófico e científico, ela apresenta ideias comumente associadas ao Barroco.
Metabolomic Profiling of Cholesterol Efflux Capacity in a Multiethnic Population: Insights From MESA
Authors: Hunter Wynn G. , Smith Alexander G. , Pinto Rui C. , Saldanha Suzanne , Gangwar Anamika , Pahlavani Mandana , Deodhar Sneha , Wilkins John , Pandey Ambarish , Herrington David , Greenland Philip , Tzoulaki Ioanna , Rohatgi Anand
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Impaired cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a novel lipid metabolism trait associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms underlying CEC variation are unknown. We evaluated associations of circulating metabolites with CEC to advance understanding of metabolic pathways involved in cholesterol efflux regulation.

METHODS:

Participants enrolled in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) who underwent nuclear magnetic resonance metabolome profiling and CEC measurement (N=3543) at baseline were included. Metabolite associations with CEC were evaluated using standard linear regression analyses. Repeated ElasticNet and multilayer perceptron regression were used to assess metabolite profile predictive performance for CEC. Features important for CEC prediction were identified using Shapley Additive Explanations values.

RESULTS:

Greater CEC was significantly associated with metabolite clusters composed of the largest-sized particle subclasses of VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), as well as their constituent apo A
1
, apo A
2
, phospholipid, and cholesterol components (β=0.072–0.081;
P
<0.001). Metabolite profiles had poor accuracy for predicting in vitro CEC in linear and nonlinear analyses (R
2
<0.02; Spearman ρ<0.18). The most important feature for CEC prediction was race, with Black participants having significantly lower CEC compared with other races.

CONCLUSIONS:

We identified independent associations among CEC, the largest-sized particle subclasses of VLDL and HDL, and their constituent apolipoproteins and lipids. A large proportion of variation in CEC remained unexplained by metabolites and traditional clinical risk factors, supporting further investigation into genomic, proteomic, and phospholipidomic determinants of CEC.
Overcoming harmonic hurdles: Genuine beta-band rhythms vs. contributions of alpha-band waveform shape
Authors: Schaworonkow Natalie
Published: August 2023

Beta-band activity in the human cortex as recorded with noninvasive electrophysiology is of diverse origin. In addition to genuine beta-rhythms, there are numerous nonsinusoidal alpha-band rhythms present in the human brain, which will result in harmonic beta-band peaks. This type of activity has different temporal and response dynamics than genuine beta-rhythms. Here, it is argued that in the analysis of higher-frequency rhythms, the relationship to lower-frequency rhythms needs to be clarified. Only in that way we can arrive at strong, methodologically valid interpretations of potential functional roles and generative mechanisms of neural oscillations.
Review of Chalcovietnamicus Marusik, 1991, with description of four new species (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini)
Authors: YU KUN , HOANG QUANG DUY , MADDISON WAYNE P. , ZHANG JUNXIA
Published: August 2023

The euophryine genus Chalcovietnamicus Marusik, 1991, a member of the Laufeia group of genera, is reviewed, and four new species from southern China and Southeast Asia are described with both sexes: Chalcovietnamicus logunovi Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov., C. marusiki Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov., C. terbakar Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov. and C. weihangi Yu & Zhang, sp. nov.. The monotypic genus Junxattus Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2012 syn. nov. is considered as a junior synonym of Chalcovietnamicus Marusik, 1991, and Parvattus Zhang & Maddison, 2012 is revalidated and removed from synonymy with Chalcovietnamicus Marusik, 1991. The previously unknown female of C. vietnamensis (Żabka, 1985) is described based on specimens from Vietnam and Singapore. All species of Chalcovietnamicus are assigned to two species groups (daiqini-group and vietnamensis-group), except C. naga Logunov, 2020 that is herein considered as an incertae sedis.
The Use of Music Therapy in Meeting the Multidimensional Needs of Hospice Patients and Families
Authors: Hilliard Russell E.
Published: August 2023

This article presents four case studies which demonstrate the use of music therapy in assisting palliative care patients and families cope with grief and loss, pain and anxiety, disorientation and dementia, lack of meaning, and hopelessness. Music therapy techniques are illustrated and patient-related goals are defined within the case studies. A review of the literature supports the use of music therapy in palliative care, and a variety of qualitative and quantitative studies are reported in the article.
Evaluation of the Association Between Sociodemographic Status and Breast Screening Volumes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Provincial, Population-Based Organized Breast Screening Program
Authors: Bentley Helena , Raveinthiranathan Nivedha , Mar Colin , Tang Terry , Regier Dean A. , Chi Kim , Simkin Jonathan , Kellow Zina , Yong-Hing Charlotte J. , Woods Ryan R.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

We sought to evaluate the association between patient sociodemographic status and breast screening volumes (BSVs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large, population-based breast screening program that serves a provincial population of over 5 million. Methods: All patients who completed breast screening between April 1st, 2017 and March 31st, 2021 were eligible to participate. An average of 3 annual periods between April 1st, 2017 and March 31st, 2020 were defined as the pre-COVID period while the period between April 1st, 2020 and March 31st, 2021 was defined as the COVID-impacted period. The Postal CodeOM Conversion File Plus was applied to map patient residential postal codes to 2016 census standard geographical areas, which provided information on community size, income quintile and dissemination areas. Dissemination areas were subsequently linked to the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD).

Results

Overall BSV was reduced by 23.0% during the COVID-impacted period as compared to the pre-COVID period. Percent reductions in BSVs were greatest among younger patients aged 40 to 49 years (31.3%) and patients residing in communities with a population of less than 10,000 (27.0%). Percent reduction in BSV was greatest among patients in the lowest income quintile (28.1%). Percent reductions in BSVs were greatest for patients in the most deprived quintiles across all 4 dimensions of the CIMD.

Conclusion

Disproportionate reductions in BSVs were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic among younger patients, patients residing in rural communities, patients in lower income quintiles, and patients in the most deprived quintiles across all 4 dimensions of the CIMD.
Numerical investigation on vortex cooling flow and heat transfer characteristics for gas turbine blade with variable coolant chamber cross-sectional shapes
Authors: Li Hongwei , Gao Ruihan , Du Changhe , Hong Wenpeng
Published: August 2023

In this paper, according to the actual size of gas turbine blade interior space, eight vortex cooling models with different cross-sectional shapes of coolant chambers are established. Rectangular, Circle, Trapezoidal up, Trapezoidal down, Ellipse up, Ellipse down, Sine up and Sine down are the eight coolant chamber shapes. Functions of variable coolant chamber structures on vortex cooling flow and heat exchange characteristics are numerically analyzed by verifying the Standard k- ω turbulence model and conducting grid independence analysis. Research results show that the heat exchange ability of Sine up coolant chamber is the best compared with the other coolant chambers. The cool air enters the vortex chamber at a faster speed and impacts on the target surface to form a high-pressure area and a low-temperature swirl. The more the cool air moves downstream, the greater the turbulent kinetic energy becomes, which is more conducive to the heat transfer. Therefore, Sine up coolant chambers have the highest thermal performance factor. Due to the low drag coefficient and high target surface average Nusselt number of Ellipse up, its thermal exchange performance is second only to that of Sine up. Circle coolant chamber will not bring favorable factors to engineering application because of the slowest flow speed and the worst heat exchange capacity. For Trapezoidal up and Trapezoidal down, the flow velocity, pressure distribution, turbulent kinetic energy intensity and heat transfer uniformity are almost the same as Rectangle coolant chamber. The models of Ellipse down and Sine down coolant chambers exhibit less turbulent kinetic energy strength to heat transfer and higher temperature in the vortex chamber, and it is not suggested for cooling system optimal design.
South Korean members’ experiences on the LPGA Tour: The first decade after Se Ri Pak's appearance in 1998
Authors: Lim Seungyup , Diacin Michael , Love Adam
Published: August 2023

This study explored the experiences and perceptions of South Korean players on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour with respect to stereotyping and discrimination. Specifically, we investigated South Korean Tour members’ perspectives about interactions with their fellow golfers, LPGA officials, and members of the media. A combination of group and individual interviewers with 11 South Korean women who played on the LPGA Tour were conducted, and data were analysed using Hatch’s nine-step inductive analysis method. Researchers identified six themes based on patterns in participants’ responses regarding their experiences. These themes included: (a) inconsistent enforcement of rules regarding use of native language during tournament play; (b) inconsistent enforcement of rules regarding interactions with parents; (c) lack of English fluency impact upon pro-am experiences; (d) limited media coverage; and (e) lack of English fluency limiting self-advocacy. Participants perceived that their race and lack of English fluency impacted their overall experiences, in particular the treatment they received from other tour members, tour officials, and the media. Participants’ perspectives demonstrate the prevalence of the “yellow peril” and “perpetual foreigner” stereotypes during this era of the LPGA Tour.
Investigation of the effect of breathing exercise on invasive pain associated with arteriovenous fistula cannulation in hemodialysis patients: Randomized controlled, single-blind study
Authors: Caglar Sila , Ozen Nurten
Published: August 2023

Background:

Pain due to puncture during arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation is a very important symptom that affects the quality of life in patients undergoing continuous hemodialysis (HD) therapy. The aim in this study is to examine the effect of breathing exercise applied for long-term on invasive pain experienced during AVF cannulation in HD patients.

Methods:

This randomized controlled, single-blind design study was conducted in a private dialysis center in Istanbul between November 2021 and April 2022. The patients in the intervention group were given breathing exercises before fistula cannulation during 12 HD sessions. Before the dialysis nurse performed the cannulation procedure, the patient was told by the researcher to perform breathing exercises and the exercise was completed after intervention for the cannulation. No intervention was made for the patients in the control group. Pain was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) by a nurse who is not involved in the study. Mann-Whitney U Test, Chi-Square Test, Fisher’s Exact Test, Friedman Test for repeated measurements were used in statistical analysis of data.

Findings:

The study was completed with a total of 112 patients, 59 in the intervention group and 53 in the control group. It was determined that the VAS scores of the patients in the intervention group were statistically significantly lower than the patients in the control group from the first measurement to the twelfth measurement ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

It was determined that the breathing exercise applied before the AVF cannulation reduced the invasive pain experienced during cannulation.
Genomic Characterization of Endosymbiotic Bacteria Associated With Helicoverpa armigera in Iran Using Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Sheibani Parinaz , Jamshidi Manizheh , Khakvar Reza , Nematollahi Sevil
Published: August 2023

Several species of the Helicoverpa genus have been recognized as major agricultural pests from different regions of the world, among which Helicoverpa armigera species has been reported as the most destructive and cosmopolitan species in most regions of the world, including Iran. This pest is a polyphagous species and can cause damage to more than 120 plant species. Studying the internal microbiome of pests is very important in identifying species’ weaknesses and natural enemies and potential biological control agents. For genomic characterization of the microbial community associated with H armigera, the whole genome of insect larvae collected from vegetable fields in the northwest of Iran was sequenced using next-generation sequencing Illumina platform. Finally, about 2 GB of raw data were obtained. Using the MetaPhlAn2 pipeline, it was predicted that 2 endosymbiont bacterial species including Buchnera aphidicola and Serratia symbiotica were associated with H armigera. Alignment of reference strains sequences related to both endosymbiotic bacteria with raw data and subsequently, assembly analyses resulted in 2 genomes with 657 623 bp length with GC content of 27.4% for B aphidicola and 1 595 135 bp length with GC content of 42.90% for S symbiotica. This research is the first report on the association of B aphidicola and S symbiotica as endosymbiotic bacteria with H armigera worldwide.
A Case of Pericarditis and Pericardial Masses Associated With Mycobacterium Paragordonae
Authors: Jinah Rehman , Ryan Tammy , Sibbald Matthew
Published: August 2023

Tuberculosis is a common cause of pericarditis worldwide and has been associated with pericardial masses. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are uncommonly associated with cardiac disease, having primarily been described in cases of endocarditis. Here we describe a case of an immunocompetent patient with Mycobacterium paragordonae infection causing pericarditis with a large effusion containing pericardial masses. The patient presented with chest pain, hypoxia and biochemical evidence of inflammation (CRP 216.1 mg/L). This report illustrates a rare case of pericarditis with pericardial masses associated with non-tuberculous mycobacteria and the first example of pericarditis associated with M. paragordonae.