bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation: an overview of the recent updates
Authors: Shah Shikha , Baskaran Narayanan , Vinay Keshavamurthy , Bishnoi Anuradha , Parsad Davinder , Kumaran Muthu S.
Published: September 2023

Acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH), previously known as macular pigmentation of uncertain etiology (MPUE), is an umbrella concept that unifies the distinct but overlapping acquired dermal pigmentary disorders like lichen planus pigmentosus, ashy dermatosis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, Riehl’s melanosis and pigmented contact dermatitis. All of these disorders usually lack a clinically apparent inflammatory phase, are characterised by dermal pigmentation clinically and histologically, and have a variable protracted disease course. Recently, a proposal has been made to classify these disorders into those with and without contact sensitisation. Dermoscopy is essentially similar across the spectrum of these disorders, and is useful for diagnosis and therapeutic response monitoring. Scoring system has been validated for the same. The treatment of ADMH remains challenging, with multiple topicals, oral therapies including mycophenolate mofetil, and lasers tried. Need of the hour is randomised controlled trials to enhance the therapeutic armamentarium.
Formation and conversion of flavour related compounds of thermal cooked Ruditapes philippinarum soup
Authors: Li Jinyu , Ma Yunjiao , Xiao Feng , Fu Baoshang , Xu Xianbing
Published: September 2023

Thermal reactions affect flavour, but how different thermal reactions influence the flavour of cooked soup has rarely been investigated. Herein, the effect of heat treatment (0–50 min) at different temperatures (120, 140 and 160 °C) on Ruditapes philippinarum soup was studied. The acceptable heating of Ruditapes philippinarum soup was assigned at 140 °C for 30 min by human sensory evaluation and compound analysis. In addition, the detailed relationship between the formation of key volatile compounds and heating temperature was revealed by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) and the odour coding method. A total of 28 key volatile compounds were selected according to the results of variables important in the projection (VIP) and odour activity value (OAV). Whereas 3‐ethyl‐2,5‐dimethyl pyrazine and 2‐heptylfuran were the most important volatiles produced only in the thermal reaction at 140 °C and associated with cocoa and roasted nut odours. These results indicated the relationship between thermal reactions and flavour formation. The odour coding obtained from OAV could be as a reference benchmark for heating seafood soup products.
Highly efficient blue‐emitting phosphor via charge compensation strategy and its application for white LED lighting
Authors: Xu Yonghui , Yin Shuwen , Wu Xiudi , Zhong Chuansheng , Zhang Xibao , Zhou Liang , You Hongpeng
Published: September 2023

Highly efficient phosphors are indispensable for near‐ultraviolet (n‐UV) pumped white light emitting diodes (WLEDs). In this work, a novel blue emitting Sr6GdSc(BO3)6:0.08Ce3+ phosphor was synthesized, exhibiting a broadband blue emission (full width at half‐maximum (FWMH) = 133 nm) excited by 375 nm. Furthermore, the blue emission of Sr6GdSc(BO3)6:0.08Ce3+ was enhanced by 3.9 times through codoping Na+ ions due to the influence of charge compensation and micromorphology and size of phosphor particles. At the same time, the internal quantum efficiency was improved from 45.4% to 98.6% and the external quantum efficiency up to 75.0%. Finally, the 365 nm excited two WLED devices were constructed by integrating Sr6GdSc(BO3)6:0.08Ce3+, Sr6GdSc(BO3)6:0.08Ce3+,0.08Na+, commercial green and red phosphors with high color rendering index. These results reveal that the phosphors have prospective application in high‐quality warm white lighting.
Improved ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling effect of multielements co‐substituted BiFeO3 ceramics
Authors: Liu Lu , Zhu Xiao Li , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: September 2023

In the present work, the strategy of multielements co‐substitution for BiFeO3 ceramics was adopted to enhance the ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling effect where the effective radius of rare‐earth ions was equivalent to that of Sm3+. Differing from the case of Sm‐substituted BiFeO3 ceramics, the symmetry of the present ceramics changed from R3c to Pbnm directly without the formation of Pna21 with increasing RE‐substitution content. The ferroelectricity was significantly improved, and the saturated polarization−electric field (P‐E) hysteresis loop with Pr = 37.63 μC/cm2 was obtained in Bi0.95(La0.20Nd0.20Sm0.20Gd0.20Lu0.20)0.05FeO3 ceramics. The leakage current was reduced by almost six orders of magnitude in multielements co‐substituted BiFeO3 ceramics, which was much lower than that of BiFeO3 end‐member. Moreover, the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient αME of 0.96 mV/cm Oe was achieved in Bi0.86(La0.20Nd0.20Sm0.20Gd0.20Lu0.20)0.14FeO3 ceramics, which was larger than that of Sm‐substituted BiFeO3 ceramics. The strategy of multielements co‐substitution might provide a new approach to improving ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling effect in BiFeO3 ceramics, which could be physically interpreted as the results of the reduced leakage current and increased local polarization configuration caused by the multiple elements substitution.
Potential sources of time lags in calibrating species distribution models
Authors: Essl Franz , García‐Rodríguez Adrián , Lenzner Bernd , Alexander Jake M. , Capinha César , Gaüzère Pierre , Guisan Antoine , Kühn Ingolf , Lenoir Jonathan , Richardson David M. , Rumpf Sabine B. , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Thuiller Wilfried , Zurell Damaris , Dullinger Stefan
Published: September 2023

The Anthropocene is characterized by a rapid pace of environmental change and is causing a multitude of biotic responses, including those that affect the spatial distribution of species. Lagged responses are frequent and species distributions and assemblages are consequently pushed into a disequilibrium state. How the characteristics of environmental change—for example, gradual ‘press’ disturbances such as rising temperatures due to climate change versus infrequent ‘pulse’ disturbances such as extreme events—affect the magnitude of responses and the relaxation times of biota has been insufficiently explored. It is also not well understood how widely used approaches to assess or project the responses of species to changing environmental conditions can deal with time lags. It, therefore, remains unclear to what extent time lags in species distributions are accounted for in biodiversity assessments, scenarios and models; this has ramifications for policymaking and conservation science alike. This perspective piece reflects on lagged species responses to environmental change and discusses the potential consequences for species distribution models (SDMs), the tools of choice in biodiversity modelling. We suggest ways to better account for time lags in calibrating these models and to reduce their leverage effects in projections for improved biodiversity science and policy.
Early recurrences predict late therapy failure after pulsed field ablation of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Plank Karin , Bordignon Stefano , Urbanek Lukas , Chen Shaojie , Tohoku Shota , Schaack David , Hirokami Jun , Efe Tolga , Chun K.R. Julian , Schmidt Boris
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a new ablation technology for atrial fibrillation (AF). Data regarding early recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT) after PFA‐pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are sparse.

Methods

Consecutive patients with symptomatic AF were enrolled to undergo PFA‐PVI. A dedicated catheter delivering bipolar energy (1.9–2.0 kV) was used. Late recurrence (LR) was defined as documented AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) lasting more than 30 s after a 90‐day blanking period.

Results

Two hundred and thirty‐one patients (42% female, age 69 ± 12, 55% paroxysmal AF [PAF]) were included in this analysis. Median follow‐up time was 367 days (interquartile range: 253–400). Forty‐six patients (21%) experienced ERAT after a median of 23 days (46% in PAF and 54% in persistent AF [persAF]). Kaplan–Meier estimated freedom of AF/AT was 74.2% at 1 year, 81.8% for PAF, and 64.8% for persAF (p = .0079). Of patients experiencing ERAT, an LR was observed in 54%. There was no significant difference of LR between those who presented with very early ERAT (0–45 days) and those with ERAT (46–90 days) (p = .57). In multivariate analysis, ERAT (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.370; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.851–6.136; p < .001) and female sex (HR: 2.048; 95% CI: 1.114–3.768; p = .021) were the only independent predictors for LR.

Conclusions

ERAT could be recorded in 21% of patients after PFA‐PVI and was an independent predictor for LR. We found no difference in the rate of LRs among patients experiencing ERAT before or after 45 days.
Atrial fibrillation recurrences during the blanking period after catheter ablation with the laser balloon technique
Authors: Schiavone Marco , Gasperetti Alessio , Martignani Cristian , Montemerlo Elisabetta , Ciconte Giuseppe , Ziacchi Matteo , Arosio Roberto , Piazzi Elena , Spadotto Alberto , Ruggiero Diego , Angeletti Andrea , Pozzi Mattia , Biffi Mauro , Rovaris Giovanni , Forleo Giovanni Battista
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Regardless of the catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) strategy, the role of early recurrences during the blanking period (BP) is still unclear. Our aim was to evaluate atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) recurrences during the BP after CA with the laser‐balloon (LB) technique.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing LBCA were enrolled. Primary outcome of the study was the overall crude ATA recurrence rate during the BP. ATA recurrences after the BP and in‐hospital readmissions during the BP were deemed secondary outcomes.

Results

Two hundred and twenty‐four patients underwent CA with the LB. Median age was 63.0 (55.5–69.5) years and 74.1% were males. 28.6% were persistent AF patients, and 34.8% of patients were followed up with a loop recorder. 15.6% of patients experienced at least an ATA recurrence during the BP. Male sex, chronic heart failure, persistent AF, and recurrences during the BP were found to be associated with long‐term ATA recurrences. Recurrences during the BP remained associated with the outcome of interest at multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 12.393, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 3.699–41.865, p < .001). An association over time was found between early and late recurrences, with 73.7%, 45.5%, and 10.8% of patients presenting with recurrences at 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐month follow‐up being free from recurrences after the BP, respectively. 8.0% of patients were readmitted during the BP: 4.5% for AF electrical cardioversion, and 1.8% for CA of other atrial arrhythmias; no redo CA was performed.

Conclusion

After adjusting for confounders, ATA recurrences during the BP represent the most significant predictor of ATA recurrences after the BP, regardless of AF pattern.
Complex decision making in an intensive care environment: Perceived practice versus observed reality
Authors: Teele Sarah A. , Tremoulet Patrice , Laussen Peter C. , Danaher‐Garcia Nicole , Salvin Joshua W. , White Bobbie Ann A.
Published: September 2023

Rationale

Advancing our understanding of how decisions are made in cognitively, socially and technologically complex hospital environments may reveal opportunities to improve healthcare delivery, medical education and the experience of patients, families and clinicians.

Aims and Objectives

Explore factors impacting clinician decision making in the Boston Children's Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Methods

A convergent mixed methods design was used. Quantitative and qualitative data sources consisted of a faculty survey, direct observations of clinical rounds in a specific patient population identified by a clinical decision support system (CDSS) and semistructured interviews (SSIs). Deductive and inductive coding was used for qualitative data. Qualitative data were translated into images using social network analysis which illustrate the frequency and connectivity of the codes in each data set.

Results

A total of 25 observations of eight faculty‐led interprofessional teams were performed between 12 February and 31 March 2021. Individual patient characteristics were noted by faculty in SSIs to be the most important factor in their decision making, yet ethnographic observations suggested faculty cognitive traits, team expertise and value‐based decisions were more heavily weighted. The development of expertise was impacted by role modeling. Decisions were perceived to be influenced by the system and environment.

Conclusions

Clinician perception of decision making was not congruent with the observed behaviours in a complicated and dynamic system. This study identifies important considerations in clinical curricula as well as the design and implementation of CDSS. Our method of using social network analysis to visualize components of decision making could be adopted to explore other complex environments.
Connection abstract theory: An exercise in abstract theorizing after Bowlby
Authors: Bell David C.
Published: September 2023

This paper proposes connection abstract theory as a detailed abstract formulation of the volitional elements of John Bowlby's theory of child attachment and its expansion to include adult relationships. Connection abstract theory is a formal statement of causal connections within and between attachment and caregiving systems. It is so‐called to give an unambiguous name to the attachment–caregiving relationship. The analysis addresses some limitations traceable to the cultural background within which Bowlbian theory was developed. This paper rethinks these limitations by conceptualizing the emotional motivations for attachment and caregiving. In so doing, it goes beyond individual differences to focus on microfoundations of normative attachment and caregiving processes and expands the potential activators of attachment. Connection abstract theory asserts that caring is the emotion that motivates the caregiving system and that trust is the emotion that motivates the attachment system.
Shamanic alliance in the touristic borderzone: Strategic hospitality at Surama Eco‐Lodge in Guyana
Authors: Whitaker James Andrew
Published: September 2023

This article explores how villagers in Surama form alliances with outsiders through strategic hospitality within the touristic borderzone. Surama is a primarily Makushi village in Guyana. Tourism began during the 1990s and is now central to the village economy. Villagers' efforts to form relationships with certain visitors (particularly tourist leaders) as partners or yakos through hospitality reflect an ontological framework associated with shamanism. This involves relational modes of interaction that are common across Amazonia but have been underexamined in the context of tourism. However, Makushi alliances with outsiders in Surama are unique in their emphasis on mutuality and symmetry, which stems from past Makushi experiences of enslavement during the colonial encounter and antipathy towards asymmetric relations. Based on fieldwork involving interviews and participant observation in Surama, this article links debates in Amazonian ethnology and the anthropology of tourism to examine how villagers in Surama manage relations with tourists to obtain external resources.
Increasing Rates of Human Papillomavirus Catch‐Up Vaccination at a Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Pfingstag C. Shannon
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Catch‐up human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of adults aged 19 to 26 who were not vaccinated as children or adolescents may decrease rates of HPV‐associated cancer. The purpose of this project was to increase uptake of catch‐up HPV vaccination at a sexual and reproductive health clinic through the implementation of a multicomponent, systems‐based intervention.

Process

Catch‐up vaccination rates were recorded at an intervention health clinic and a comparison health clinic. A comparative, interrupted time series design was used to compare rates of catch‐up vaccination pre‐ and postintervention. Electronic health record prompts, in‐clinic education, and scheduling of a next visit at the current visit were implemented. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and regression analysis.

Outcomes

The proportion of all patients aged 19 to 26 who received an HPV vaccination rose at the intervention health clinic from 0.76% preintervention to 4.42% postintervention. At the intervention clinic there was a nonsignificant increase (4.47 minutes) in average daily patient cycle times between the pre‐ and postintervention periods (t(13) = 1.895, P = .075).

Discussion

Rates of catch‐up HPV vaccination increased significantly following the multicomponent, systems‐based intervention. Further iteration of the quality improvement process should examine the sustainability of the interventions and the effects of the intervention on vaccine series completion.
The Birth Bundle Project: A Rainier Valley Midwifery‐led Collaborative Care Initiative Offering Patients and Providers a Paradigm Shift to Impact Health Equity
Authors: Lawal Tara K. , Owen Jodilyn , Brown Andi Garcia , Effland Kristin J.
Published: September 2023

Innovative midwifery‐led collaborative care models have the potential to build on grassroots approaches to make transformative change within systems that work with families. Rainier Valley Midwives operates the Birth Bundle Project, a successful program that serves communities who are at higher risk for poor birth outcomes and face barriers to adequate medical, prenatal, and postpartum care, including Black, Indigenous, and persons of color. This project offers wraparound perinatal care services to provide a missing community of support to traditionally marginalized families before, during, and after birth while also bridging the gaps between midwives and physicians who attend births in different settings. By strengthening and formalizing the relationships between different types of perinatal providers including community‐based doulas and lactation support professionals, this midwifery‐led initiative improves the continuity and quality of care available to families including immigrant, refugee, and families of color in south Seattle, Washington.
Effect of customized abutment taper configuration on bone remodeling and peri‐implant tissue around implant‐supported single crown: A 3D nonlinear finite element study
Authors: Poovarodom Pongsakorn , Rungsiyakull Chaiy , Suriyawanakul Jarupol , Li Qing , Sasaki Keiichi , Yoda Nobuhiro , Rungsiyakull Pimduen
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The optimal configuration of a customized implant abutment plays a crucial role in promoting bone remodeling and maintaining the peri‐implant gingival contour. However, the biomechanical effects of abutment configuration on bone remodeling and peri‐implant tissue remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of abutment taper configurations on bone remodeling and peri‐implant tissue.

Materials and methods

Five models with different abutment taper configurations (10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, and 50°) were analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the biomechanical responses in peri‐implant bone and the hydrostatic pressure in peri‐implant tissue.

Results

The results demonstrated that the rate of increase in bone density was similar in all models. On the other hand, the hydrostatic pressure in peri‐implant gingiva revealed significantly different results. Model 10° showed the highest maximum and volume‐averaged hydrostatic pressures (69.31 and 4.5 mmHg), whereas Model 30° demonstrated the lowest values (57.83 and 3.88 mmHg) with the lowest excessive pressure area. The area of excessive hydrostatic pressure decreased in all models as the degree of abutment taper increased from 10° to 30°. In contrast, Models 40° and 50° exhibited greater hydrostatic pressure concentration at the cervical region.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the abutment taper configuration had a slight effect on bone remodeling but exerted a significant effect on the peri‐implant gingiva above the implant platform via hydrostatic pressure. Significant decreases in greatest and average hydrostatic pressures were observed in the peri‐implant tissues of Model 30°. However, the results indicate that implant abutment tapering wider than 40° could result in a larger area of excessive hydrostatic pressure in peri‐implant tissue, which could induce gingival recession.
Hypoxia dissociates HDAC6/FOXO1 complex and aggregates them into nucleus to regulate autophagy and osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Xu Yixin , Wang Yixin , Xiao Hui , Li Yongming
Published: September 2023

Objective

This research aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the periodontitis‐associated bone loss, with particular emphasis on the contributory role of hypoxic microenvironment in this process.

Background

Periodontitis generally causes alveolar bone loss and is often associated with a hypoxic microenvironment, which affects bone homeostasis. However, the regulating mechanism between hypoxia and jaw metabolism remains unclear. Hypoxia triggers autophagy, which is closely related to osteogenic differentiation, but how hypoxia‐induced autophagy regulates bone metabolism is unknown. HDAC6 and FOXO1 are closely related to bone metabolism and autophagy, respectively, but whether they are related to hypoxia‐induced bone loss and their internal mechanisms is still unclear.

Methods

Established rat nasal obstruction model and hypoxia cell model. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression and localization of HDAC6 and FOXO1 proteins, analysis of autophagic flux and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the autophagy level and observe the autophagosomes, co‐immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation were preformed to investigate the interaction of HDAC6 and FOXO1.

Results

Hypoxia causes increased autophagy and reduced osteogenic differentiation in rat mandibles and BMSCs, and blocking autophagy can attenuate hypoxia‐induced osteogenic differentiation decrease. Moreover, hypoxia dissociated the FOXO1‐HDAC6 complex and accumulated them in the nucleus. Knocking down of FOXO1 or HDAC6 alleviated hypoxia‐induced autophagy elevation or osteogenic differentiation reduction by binding to related genes, respectively.

Conclusion

Hypoxia causes mandibular bone loss and autophagy elevation. Mechanically, hypoxia dissociates the FOXO1‐HDAC6 complex and aggregates them in the nucleus, whereas HDAC6 decreases osteogenic differentiation and FOXO1 enhances autophagy to inhibit osteogenic differentiation.
Clinical diagnosis and outcome of cervicofacial cellulitis in pyrexic rabbits: six cases (2014‐2021)
Authors: Tournade C. , Dusick A. , Mans C.
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To assess the signalment, history, exam findings, diagnostics, treatment and outcome of rabbits diagnosed with pyrexia and concurrent cervicofacial cellulitis.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective evaluation of medical records of rabbits diagnosed with cervicofacial cellulitis and pyrexia based on physical exam, contrast‐enhanced CT, clinicopathology and microbiology findings.

Results

Six out of 1588 rabbits met the study inclusion criteria. Rabbits presented with a median age of 6 years (range, 8 months to 8 years) with a presenting complaint of anorexia or hyporexia. All rabbits had a rectal temperature >40.2°C (104.4°F). Physical exam and contrast‐enhanced CT revealed unilateral submandibular and ipsilateral cervical diffuse soft tissue swelling in five of six rabbits. No antemortem evidence of periodontal or dental disease was found on physical exam or CT. Leucopenia was present in five of six rabbits. A left shift with marked toxic changes was present in all four rabbits, for which blood smears were reviewed. Bacterial cultures of the aspirated subcutaneous soft tissue swelling culturedEscherichia coli,Pasteurella multocida,Granulicatella adiacens,Streptococcusspecies,Haemophilusspecies andBacteroidesspecies. Treatment was pursued in five rabbits, where all rabbits received supportive care and four of five rabbits received systemic antibiotics. One rabbit was euthanased following a diagnosis of cervicofacial cellulitis. Three out of five rabbits continued to decline clinically despite medical management, and thus, euthanasia was pursued within 24 hours of starting treatment. Two rabbits responded to initial treatment and developed subsequent multi‐focal abscessation. One rabbit was euthanased due to client cost constraints, and one rabbit died shortly after achieving clinical resolution of cervicofacial cellulitis.

Clinical Significance

Cervicofacial cellulitis should be considered a differential diagnosis in pyrexic rabbits with facial or cervical swelling with medical and surgical management pursued for therapy.
Evaluating the readability of recruitment materials in veterinary clinical research
Authors: McKenna Charly , Quigley Mindy , Webb Tracy L.
Published: September 2023

Background

Owner comprehension is vital to recruitment and study success, but limited information exists regarding the readability of public‐facing veterinary clinical trial descriptions.

Objectives

The current study sought to evaluate the readability of public‐facing online veterinary clinical trial descriptions from academic institutions and private referral practices.

Animals

None.

Methods

This prospective study assessed readability in a convenience sample of veterinary clinical trial study descriptions using 3 common methods: the Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level (F‐K), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and online Automatic Readability Checker (ARC). Results were compared across specialties and between academic and private institutions.

Results

Grade level and readability consensus scores (RCSs) were obtained for 61 online clinical trial descriptions at universities (n = 49) and private practices (n = 12). Average grade‐level RCS for study descriptions was 14.13 (range, 9‐21). Using Microsoft Word, the FRES score was higher in descriptions from universities compared to private practices (P = .03), and F‐K scores were lower in university compared to private practice descriptions (P = .03). FRES (P = .07), F‐K (P = .12), and readability consensus (P = .17) scores obtained from ARC were not different between institution types. Forty‐eight studies (79%) had RCSs over 12, equivalent to reading material at college or graduate school levels.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Similar to other areas in veterinary communication, the evaluated veterinary clinical trial descriptions used for advertising and recruitment far exceeded the recommended 6th‐grade reading level for medical information. Readability assessments are straightforward to conduct, and ensuring health literacy should be a customary best practice in veterinary medicine and clinical research.
Evaluation of right ventricular diastolic function, systolic function, and circulating galectin‐3 concentrations in dogs with pulmonary stenosis
Authors: Winter Randolph L. , Maneval Kara L. , Ferrel Claudio Serrano , Clark William A. , Herrold Emily J. , Rhinehart Jaylyn D.
Published: September 2023

Background

Cardiovascular diseases with increased right ventricular (RV) afterload induce RV diastolic and systolic dysfunction, and myocardial fibrosis in humans. Studies in dogs with pulmonary stenosis (PS) evaluating RV diastolic function and markers of myocardial fibrosis are lacking.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Dogs with PS have echocardiographic evidence of RV diastolic and systolic dysfunction and increased serum concentrations of galectin‐3 (Gal‐3), a surrogate biomarker for myocardial fibrosis.

Animals

Forty client‐owned dogs (10 controls, 30 with PS).

Methods

Prospective study. All dogs had systemic blood pressure measurement, serum biochemical analysis, echocardiography, and measurement of serum Gal‐3 concentration performed.

Results

Variables of RV diastolic function were obtained in 39/40 dogs. Trans‐tricuspid flow velocity in early diastole to trans‐tricuspid flow velocity in late diastole ratios (RV E/A) were lower (P < .001) in dogs with PS (median, 0.94; range, 0.62‐2.04) compared to controls (1.78; 1.17‐2.35). Trans‐tricuspid flow velocity in early diastole to tricuspid annular myocardial velocity in early diastole ratios (RV E/e′) were higher (P < .001) in dogs with PS (11.55; 4.69‐28) compared to control (6.21; 5.16‐7.21). Variables of RV systolic function were lower in dogs with PS (P = <.001). Serum Gal‐3 concentration was higher (P = .002) in dogs with PS (285.1 pg/mL; 94.71‐406.97) compared to control dogs (162.83 pg/mL; 52.3‐232.82).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs with PS have RV diastolic and systolic dysfunction, and increased Gal‐3 concentrations. These findings suggest the presence of RV myocardial fibrosis in dogs with PS, which could impact clinical management.
Effect of temperature on the growth, feeding performance, gonadal development, and nutritive compositions in the muscle of fry stream groupers, Acrossocheilus fasciatus
Authors: Zhao Bo , Shi Wei , Guo Yongyao , Chen Ye , Wang Handong , He Jinghong , Chu Zhangjie
Published: September 2023

To determine the optimal temperature in rearing of fry stream groupers, Acrossocheilus fasciatus, a total of 540 fry fish with an initial body weight of (0.57 ± 0.16) g, and body length of (4.08 ± 0.40) cm were randomly distributed to 18 15‐L tanks and reared at six different temperatures (12, 16, 20, 24, 26, and 28°C) for a period of 60 days. Fish were hand‐fed to satiation under all six different temperature treatments. At the end of the experiment, almost all the growth, feeding, and gonadal development parameters were higher in the 26°C group than in the rest of the groups. As temperature increased from 12 to 26°C, the specific growth rate and feeding efficiency of fry significantly increased (p < 0.05). When temperature reached 28°C, these parameters were significantly lower than in the 26°C group (p < 0.05). The histological structure of the gonads showed that in the 26°C group, a large number of sperm cells resided in the testis in a free condition, and many yolk granules aggregated together and formed plates in the ovary. This histological information indicated that the gonadal maturity of fish in the 26°C group was higher than that of the other groups. Thus showing a turning point of growth, feeding, and gonadal development in the 26°C group. In relation to the nutritive compositions of muscle tissue, fish reared at 16°C exhibited the highest content of amino acids and fatty acids. These parameters significantly (p < 0.05) decreased as the temperature increased from 16 to 28°C. The proportion of essential amino acids (EAA/NEAA) and unsaturation of fatty acids (∑UFA/FA) did not show significant temperature influence (p > 0.05). In conclusion, increases in temperature significantly improved the growth rate, feeding performance, and gonadal development rate of fry A. fasciatus. Regression analysis based on growth and feeding performance showed that the optimal temperature of rearing fry A. fasciatus was 23.81–26.57°C.
Confirmation of eosinophilic sialodochitis by terminal duct biopsy
Authors: Zheng Dan‐Ni , Ling Xiao‐Tong , Qu Liu‐Yang , Yang Jing , Zhang Jian‐Yun , Chen Yan , Liu Deng‐Gao , Yu Guang‐Yan
Published: September 2023

Objective

To analyse the histopathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis by using terminal duct biopsy.

Methods

Sixty‐five patients with suspected eosinophilic sialodochitis and four with chronic obstructive sialadenitis were prospectively enrolled. Clinical features, laboratory tests and sialograms were comparatively analysed. Terminal duct biopsy of the parotid or submandibular glands was performed concomitantly with endoscopy‐assisted duct dilatation to determine the histopathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis.

Results

Based on eosinophil quantification, the samples of suspected patients were scored as ‘definite’, ‘highly suspected’ and ‘negative’ in 26 (40%), 15 (23.1%) and 24 (36.9%) cases, respectively. Gland types and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were significantly different among these three groups. The proportions of itching glands, mucus plug exudations and elevated immunoglobulin E levels were higher in the ‘definite’ group than in the other two groups; however, the intergroup differences were insignificant. The primary pathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis were abundant eosinophils and lymphocytes infiltrated around the duct, degranulation of eosinophils, extensive fibrosis and scattered mastocytes. Periductal eosinophils were not found in cases of chronic obstructive sialadenitis.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that terminal duct biopsy is safe and valuable for the pathological confirmation of eosinophilic sialodochitis, and can be used simultaneously with endoscopy‐assisted duct dilatation.
Supply chain short‐term financing for responsible production at small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Chen Xiaole , Hsu Vernon N. , Lai Guoming , Li Yang
Published: September 2023

Companies have increasingly used supply chain financing instead of bank financing when engaging with financially constrained suppliers. We investigate the effectiveness of different financing mechanisms at supporting supply chain responsibility. We consider a decentralized supply chain where a buyer sources from a financially constrained supplier who borrows from either a bank or the buyer to finance his production. The buyer audits the supplier for responsibility compliance and will refuse to accept and pay for the order if the supplier fails the audit. We find that under conventional bank financing, the bank is concerned with the supplier's audit failure and will raise the interest rate. This not only hinders the supplier's compliance effort but also hurts the profitability of every stakeholder. In contrast, under buyer financing, the buyer may offer the supplier a low interest rate to motivate him to be more compliant when the supplier's collateral is of low value. However, if the supplier's collateral is of high value, the buyer may be tempted to set a high interest rate to exploit the supplier—leading to a reduction in supplier's compliance and supply chain profitability. Thus, we conclude that buyer (bank) financing is more preferable for encouraging responsibility when the supplier has low (high) collateral. Our findings suggest that buyer financing may not always be an effective approach for encouraging supply chain responsibility. As such, we propose an alternative mechanism under which the buyer offers a reward to the supplier if he passes the audit while the supplier continues to borrow from a bank. We prove that this combination of bank financing and buyer reward always improves the compliance level and in most cases increases the total supply chain profit. It is even more effective than buyer financing in encouraging responsibility especially when the supplier's collateral is of low value.
Effect of skinfold thickness on arm venous access port in cancer patients
Authors: Liu Zhimin , Li Laiyou , Liu Jiayin , Han Jing , Wu Kun , Zhang Jiemin , Shan Mei , Liang Junli
Published: September 2023

Background

Currently, skinfold thickness in studies on arm venous access ports and the effect of venous access port application are unknown.

Materials and Methods

A total of 256 cancer patients who underwent primary venous access port placement in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Two hundred fifty‐six patients were divided into normal skinfold thickness group and high skinfold thickness group according to skinfold thickness. The success rate of primary catheterization of arm venous port catheterization, catheterization operation time, catheterization length and incidence rate of adverse reactions were compared.

Results

There was no significant difference in the basic data between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the success rate of primary catheterization between the two groups (p > 0.05), the catheterization operation time in the normal skinfold thickness group was significantly lower than that in the high skinfold thickness group (p < 0.05), the total length of the implanted catheter in the normal skinfold thickness group was significantly lower than that in the high skinfold thickness group (p < 0.05), and the incidence of adverse reactions in the normal skinfold thickness group was significantly lower than that in the high skinfold thickness group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In cancer patients, skinfold thickness can significantly affect the application effect of arm venous port, and normal skinfold thickness for arm venous port has shorter operation time, total length of implanted catheter and lower incidence of adverse reactions.
Sustainability in Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Courses at 100 Universities
Authors: Tisdale Joan K. , Bielefeldt Angela R.
Published: September 2023

Mechanical engineers have an important role in contributing to a more sustainable future. However, the extent that sustainability is currently being integrated into mechanical engineering (ME) curricula is unclear. This research characterized sustainability integration in undergraduate ME courses at 100 universities. Criterion-based selection resulted in a range of institution types and geographic locations (including institutions outside the United States); 93 of the 100 programs were accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. For 90 institutions, the data came from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability for Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Course catalog information was used for ten additional schools, in addition to comparing catalog data to STARS for ten institutions. Overall, sustainability topics were found in at least one elective or required undergraduate ME course at 83 institutions; only 43 institutions included sustainability in at least one required ME course; 16 institutions offered ten or more ME courses that integrated sustainability topics. Courses with sustainability integration at the greatest number of institutions were thermodynamics, engineering design, introduction to engineering, and heat transfer. Few of these courses appeared to integrate all three sustainability pillars (environmental, social, and economic). Leading institutions for sustainability integrations across the curriculum were identified. This work offers a picture of sustainability incorporation in undergraduate mechanical engineering programs, with the hope of catalyzing greater and more visible sustainability integration in the future.
Validation of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering Optical Rake Measurement Techniques in Turbomachinery Applications and Boundary Layers
Authors: Powers Sean W. , Byun Gwibo , Lowe K. Todd
Published: September 2023

Filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS) is a non-intrusive, laser-based optical technique for measuring three-component velocity, static temperature, and static density with high spatial resolution and low uncertainty. FRS can be used to derive total values as well as turbomachinery efficiencies. The Virginia Tech team has been developing this seedless technique for simultaneous planar (or line) measurements to overcome the limitations associated with seed-based laser measurement techniques such as laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), particle image velocimetry (PIV), and Doppler global velocimetry (DGV) as well as limitations with physical probe rakes such as blockage and wake production. This technique is especially attractive in flow cases or environments where the aforementioned seed-based laser measurement techniques are limited or not possible. A combination of specially designed boundary layer total pressure probe rake measurements, FRS optical rake measurements, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results in the inlet of a Honeywell TFE731-2 turbofan are presented. Results show that all three techniques (FRS, probe, and CFD) match within approximately 2% root-mean-square error (RMSE). Inlet efficiency was derived and found to be within 2.3% difference for all three techniques.
Workspace, Singularity, and Dexterity Analyses of a Six-Degrees-of-Freedom SDelta Robot With an Orthogonal Base Platform
Authors: Toz Metin , Han Hasiaoqier , Angeles Jorge
Published: September 2023

The SDelta is a three-limb, six-degrees-of-freedom parallel kinematics machine, a pertinent candidate for high-speed operations by virtue of its simple architecture. The original design of the SDelta includes a planar base and moving platforms. Here, we propose a novel architecture for an improved SDelta, the orthogonal SDelta (OSD), with a cube-shaped orthogonal base platform. Inverse and forward position models are reported, along with singularity and dexterity analyses. Moreover, design parameters and mechanical constraints leading to a singularity-free workspace are provided. An evaluation of the system translational workspace and orientational capability, upon consideration of volume and dexterity, is included. The SDelta as well as a generic 6SPS mechanism (C, P, and S denote, respectively, the cylindrical, prismatic, and spherical kinematic pairs, the actuated pair is represented underlined, as P) are designed with the same parameters, then the performance of the SDelta, the OSD, and the 6SPS mechanisms are being compared. The results show that the orientational capability of the OSD is better than those of the 6SPS and the SDelta. Furthermore, the OSD has an average condition number of 2.9 over its translational workspace and 1.69 over a predefined effective regular workspace, which make the OSD a good candidate for operations that need both a high orientational capability and high dexterity.
Precessing Vortex Core Suppression in a Swirl Stabilized Combustor With Hydrogen Addition
Authors: Gupta Saarthak , Datta Anindya , Hemchandra Santosh , Boxx Isaac
Published: September 2023

Self-excited flow oscillations such as the precessing vortex core (PVC) in swirl nozzle combustion systems can significantly impact combustor operation by impacting unsteady dynamics, fuel-air mixing and emissions. The flow configuration studied is the PRECCINSTA swirl combustor operated in the fully premixed mode with CH4/H2 fuel mixtures at an equivalence ratio of 0.65, atmospheric pressure and a burner thermal power of 20 kW. Our prior experimental study showed the presence of strong coherent PVC oscillations in the non-reacting (NR) and pure CH4 cases. Enrichment of fuel with H2 causes the flame to attach onto the centrebody and the PVC vanishes. Large eddy simulation for the non-reacting case is used to obtain a time averaged flow state for global linear stability analysis (LSA). LSA reveals the presence of a wavemaker at the centrebody tip driving PVC oscillations. This suggests that flame attachment to the centrebody tip disrupts internal flow feedback driving the PVC and causes it to vanish. These conclusions are verified using complex network analysis (CNA) on the experimental data. For cases with a PVC the data yields correlation networks with small world characteristics. The position and spatial extent of the critical region at the centrebody tip are found to coincide with the wavemaker determined from LSA. For the H2 enriched cases with flames attached to the centrebody, the critical region vanishes, consistent with the result from LSA. These results show that PVC suppression is due to the disruption of the ‘wavemaker’ by flow dilatation induced by the flame rather than its impact on shear layer dynamics as suggested by prior local stability analyses that attempt to address these questions.
Experimental Investigation of the Stability of Liquid/Gaseous Ammonia-Fired Mono-Fuel Gas Turbine
Authors: Ohtomo Mitsuaki , Idota Yoshinori , Kasuga Shunsuke , Yasui Yoshinori , Iki Norihiko , Kurata Osamu , Inoue Takahiro , Fan Yong
Published: September 2023

Ammonia is a well-known hydrogen carrier with a lower laminar flame speed and larger heat of evaporation than hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline, diesel and kerosine. Therefore, a supply of a supporting gas substrate and an evaporator for vaporizing liquid ammonia are required to improve the combustion stability of ammonia-fired gas turbines. However, both devices increase capital costs and equipment area. To avoid these devices, mono-fuel and liquid ammonia-based 50 kW-class gas turbine systems have been suggested and demonstrated. For mono-fuel fired-combustion systems, supporting gas is required, particularly during the start-up operation, owing to the lower laminar flame speed of ammonia. In this study, an on-board gas reformer that supplies hydrogen as a supporting gas was developed. The suggested catalyst and reactor can supply sufficient amount of hydrogen with a higher laminar flame speed to start the gas turbine stably. To realize a liquid ammonia-based gas turbine, an innovative combustor structure with a pre-vaporization tube and a pre-combustion zone, in addition to a conventional pre/main combustion zone, was constructed. A portion of the liquid ammonia was supplied and evaporated in the pre-vaporization tube. The vaporized ammonia supplied from the pre-vaporization tube was combusted stably in the pre-combustion zone. The high-temperature combusted gas increased the temperature of the cooled gas owing to the evaporation of liquid ammonia in the main combustion zone. The proposed combustion strategy can realize power generation in liquid ammonia-fired mono-fuel gas turbines.
A Novel Estimation Method for Phase Transition Following High Temperature Creep Strain Rate of Single Crystal Ni Based Superalloys for Gas Turbine Blades via Combination of Discrete Cosine Transform and Maximum Entropy Method
Authors: Hiraguchi Hideo
Published: September 2023

It is well known that a single crystal Ni based super alloy has an interesting structure that the L12 γ′ phase cubes are regularly arranged at equal intervals in the face center cubic γ phase matrix. During the high temperature creep test, there are many γ′ phase cubes in the single crystal Ni based super alloys in the transient region. Moreover, the γ′ cubes begin to connect with one another in the lateral direction perpendicular to the tensile direction to be rafting structures in the steady state region and the accelerating region. However, there is no transient SEM photo of connecting the γ′ phase cubes with one another between the photo of γ′ phase cubes and that of γ′ rafting structures. Therefore, it is convenient for researchers to have a simulation method for metallographic changes using various metallographic charts in published papers and data bases. From the above, in this research, Metallographic changes of CMSX-4 which is a single crystal Ni based superalloy during the high temperature creep regions are studied by using metallographic charts of Miura, Kondo and Matsuo’s paper via the two dimensional discrete cosine transform (2D-DCT) and Maximum Entropy Method. This research provides that this new method could be a promising method to study metallographic changes coming up with the creep rate changes.