bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term outcomes of busulfan plus melphalan-based versus melphalan 200 mg/m2 conditioning regimens for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gao Fei , Lin Mei-Si , You Jie-Shu , Zhang Min-Yue , Cheng Long , Lin Ke , Zhao Peng , Chen Qi-Yan
Published: November 2021

Background

High-dose melphalan (HDMEL, 200 mg/m2) is considered as the standard conditioning regimen for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM). However, whether the combination of melphalan with busulfan (BUMEL) conditioning outperforms HDMEL remains controversy. Accordingly, a systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to compare the outcomes of HDMEL and BUMEL-based conditioning regimens in newly diagnosed MM patients having undergone auto-HSCT.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library database until July 31, 2021, to identify all eligible studies comparing progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), optimal treatment response after auto-HSCT, duration of stem cell engraftment and incidence of toxic events between patients undergoing BUMEL-based and HDMEL conditioning regimens. Hazard ratio (HR), mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) corresponding to 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined to estimate outcomes applying RevMan 5.4 software. Publication biases were assessed by performing Egger’s test and Begg’s test by Stata 15 software.

Results

Ten studies with a total of 2855 MM patients were covered in the current meta-analysis. The results of this study demonstrated that patients having received BUMEL-based regimen was correlated with longer PFS (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.67~0.89, P = 0.0002) but similar OS (HR 1.08; 95% CI 0.92~1.26, P = 0.35) compared with those having received HDMEL. The differences of best treatment response after auto-HSCT and duration of neutrophil or platelet engraftment did not have statistical significance between the two groups of patients. With respect to adverse effects, the patients in BUMEL-based group were less frequently subject to gastrointestinal toxicity while the patients in HDMEL group less often experienced mucositis and infection. No significant difference was observed in hepatic toxicity between the two groups of patients.

Conclusions

In the present study, BUMEL-based conditioning was identified as a favorable regimen for a better PFS and equivalent OS as compared with HDMEL, which should be balanced against higher incidences of mucositis and infection. BUMEL-based conditioning is likely to act as an alternative strategy to more effectively improve auto-HSCT outcomes in MM.
Longitudinal analysis of FcRL5 expression and clonal relationships among classical and atypical memory B cells following malaria
Authors: Gonzales S. Jake , Bol Sebastiaan , Braddom Ashley E. , Sullivan Richard , Reyes Raphael A. , Ssewanyana Isaac , Eggers Erica , Greenhouse Bryan , Bunnik Evelien M.
Published: November 2021

Background

Chronic and frequently recurring infectious diseases, such as malaria, are associated with expanded populations of atypical memory B cells (MBCs). These cells are different from classical MBCs by the lack of surface markers CD21 and CD27 and increased expression of inhibitory receptors, such as FcRL5. While the phenotype and conditions leading to neogenesis of atypical MBCs in malaria-experienced individuals have been studied extensively, the origin of these cells remains equivocal. Functional similarities between FcRL5+ atypical MBCs and FcRL5+ classical MBCs have been reported, suggesting that these cells may be developmentally related.

Methods

Here, a longitudinal analysis of FcRL5 expression in various B cell subsets was performed in two children from a high transmission region in Uganda over a 6-month period in which both children experienced a malaria episode. Using B-cell receptor (BCR)-sequencing to track clonally related cells, the connections between IgM+ and IgG+ atypical MBCs and other B cell subsets were studied.

Results

The highest expression of FcRL5 was found among IgG+ atypical MBCs, but FcRL5+ cells were present in all MBC subsets. Following malaria, FcRL5 expression increased in all IgM+ MBC subsets analysed here: classical, activated, and atypical MBCs, while results for IgG+ MBC subsets were inconclusive. IgM+ atypical MBCs showed few connections with other B cell subsets, higher turnover than IgG+ atypical MBCs, and were predominantly derived from naïve B cells and FcRL5− IgM+ classical MBCs. In contrast, IgG+ atypical MBCs were clonally expanded and connected with classical MBCs. IgG+ atypical MBCs present after a malaria episode mainly originated from FcRL5+ IgG+ classical MBCs.

Conclusions

Collectively, these results suggest fundamental differences between unswitched and class-switched B cell populations and provide clues about the primary developmental pathways of atypical MBCs in malaria-experienced individuals.
Tea polyphenol modified, photothermal responsive and ROS generative black phosphorus quantum dots as nanoplatforms for promoting MRSA infected wounds healing in diabetic rats
Authors: Xu Shibo , Chang Linna , Hu Yanan , Zhao Xingjun , Huang Shuocheng , Chen Zhenhua , Ren Xiuli , Mei Xifan
Published: November 2021

Background

Healing of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infected deep burn wounds (MIDBW) in diabetic patients remains an obstacle but is a cutting-edge research problem in clinical science. Surgical debridement and continuous antibiotic use remain the primary clinical treatment for MIDBW. However, suboptimal pharmacokinetics and high doses of antibiotics often cause serious side effects such as fatal complications of drug-resistant bacterial infections. MRSA, which causes wound infection, is currently a bacterium of concern in diabetic wound healing. In more severe cases, it can even lead to amputation of the patient's limb. The development of bioactive nanomaterials that can promote infected wound healing is significant.

Results

The present work proposed a strategy of using EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) modified black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) as therapeutic nanoplatforms for MIDBW to achieve the synergistic functions of NIR (near-infrared)-response, ROS-generation, sterilization, and promoting wound healing. The electron spin resonance results revealed that EGCG-BPQDs@H had a more vital photocatalytic ability to produce singlet oxygen than BPQDs@H. The inhibition results indicated an effective bactericidal rate of 88.6% against MRSA. Molecular biology analysis demonstrated that EGCG-BPQDs significantly upregulated CD31 nearly fourfold and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) nearly twofold, which were beneficial for promoting the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and skin epidermal cells. Under NIR irradiation, EGCG-BPQDs hydrogel (EGCG-BPQDs@H) treated MIDBW area could rapidly raise temperature up to 55 °C for sterilization. The MIBDW closure rate of rats after 21 days of treatment was 92.4%, much better than that of 61.1% of the control group. The engineered EGCG-BPQDs@H were found to promote MIDBW healing by triggering the PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, which could enhance cell proliferation and differentiation. In addition, intravenous circulation experiment showed good biocompatibility of EGCG-BPQDs@H. No significant damage to major organs was observed in rats.

Conclusions

The obtained results demonstrated that EGCG-BPQDs@H achieved the synergistic functions of photocatalytic property, photothermal effects and promoted wound healing, and are promising multifunctional nanoplatforms for MIDBW healing in diabetics.

Graphical Abstract
Usability and performance validation of an ultra-lightweight and versatile untethered robotic ankle exoskeleton
Authors: Orekhov Greg , Fang Ying , Cuddeback Chance F. , Lerner Zachary F.
Published: November 2021

Background

Ankle exoskeletons can improve walking mechanics and energetics, but few untethered devices have demonstrated improved performance and usability across a wide range of users and terrains. Our goal was to design and validate a lightweight untethered ankle exoskeleton that was effective across moderate-to-high intensity ambulation in children through adults with and without walking impairment.

Methods

Following benchtop validation of custom hardware, we assessed the group-level improvements in walking economy while wearing the device in a diverse unimpaired cohort (n = 6, body mass = 42–92 kg). We also conducted a maximal exertion experiment on a stair stepping machine in a small cohort of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP, n = 5, age = 11–33 years, GMFCS I-III, body mass = 40–71 kg). Device usability metrics (device don and setup times and System Usability Score) were assessed in both cohorts.

Results

There was a 9.9 ± 2.6% (p = 0.012, range = 0–18%) reduction in metabolic power during exoskeleton-assisted inclined walking compared to no device in the unimpaired cohort. The cohort with CP was able to ascend 38.4 ± 23.6% (p = 0.013, range = 3–132%) more floors compared to no device without increasing metabolic power (p = 0.49) or perceived exertion (p = 0.50). Users with CP had mean device don and setup times of 3.5 ± 0.7 min and 28 ± 6 s, respectively. Unimpaired users had a mean don time of 1.5 ± 0.2 min and setup time of 14 ± 1 s. The average exoskeleton score on the System Usability Scale was 81.8 ± 8.4 (“excellent”).

Conclusions

Our battery-powered ankle exoskeleton was easy to use for our participants, with initial evidence supporting effectiveness across different terrains for unimpaired adults, and children and adults with CP.

Trial registration Prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04119063) on October 8, 2019.
Evolutionary genomics of APSE: a tailed phage that lysogenically converts the bacterium Hamiltonella defensa into a heritable protective symbiont of aphids
Authors: Boyd Bret M. , Chevignon Germain , Patel Vilas , Oliver Kerry M. , Strand Michael R.
Published: November 2021

Background

Most phages infect free-living bacteria but a few have been identified that infect heritable symbionts of insects or other eukaryotes. Heritable symbionts are usually specialized and isolated from other bacteria with little known about the origins of associated phages.Hamiltonella defensais a heritable bacterial symbiont of aphids that is usually infected by a tailed, double-stranded DNA phage named APSE.

Methods

We conducted comparative genomic and phylogenetic studies to determine how APSE is related to other phages and prophages.

Results

Each APSE genome was organized into four modules and two predicted functional units. Gene content and order were near-fully conserved in modules 1 and 2, which encode predicted DNA metabolism genes, and module 4, which encodes predicted virion assembly genes. Gene content of module 3, which contains predicted toxin, holin and lysozyme genes differed among haplotypes. Comparisons to other sequenced phages suggested APSE genomes are mosaics with modules 1 and 2 sharing similarities withBordetella-Bcep-Xylostella fastidiosa-like podoviruses, module 4 sharing similarities with P22-like podoviruses, and module 3 sharing no similarities with known phages. Comparisons to other sequenced bacterial genomes identified APSE-like elements in other heritable insect symbionts (Arsenophonusspp.) and enteric bacteria in the familyMorganellaceae.

Conclusions

APSEs are most closely related to phage elements in the genusArsenophonusand other bacteria in theMorganellaceae.
The association between fat-to-muscle ratio and metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liu Dixing , Zhong Jiana , Ruan Yuting , Zhang Zhen , Sun Jia , Chen Hong
Published: November 2021

Background

Altered body composition is known to be related to abnormal metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR) and metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) population.

Method

In total, 361 T2DM participants aged ≥ 18 years were included in our research. A bioelectrical impedance analyzer was applied to measure fat mass and muscle mass. FMR was calculated as body fat mass (kg) divided by muscle mass (kg). The performance of FMR to assess metabolic disorders in T2DM was conducted using ROC curves. The independent association between FMR and metabolic syndrome (MS) was tested by logistic regression analysis.

Results

The FMR was significantly higher in patients with MS than in those without MS (p < 0.001). The optimal FMR cutoff point for identifying MS was higher in females than in males (0.465 vs. 0.296, respectively). In addition, the areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for the evaluation of MS by FMR, fat mass, muscle mass, BMI and waist circumference were further compared, indicating that the AUC of FMR (0.843) was the largest among the five variables in females, but the AUC of waist circumference (0.837) was still the largest among other variables in males. Based on the derived FMR cutoff point, patients with a high FMR exhibited more cardiometabolic risk indicators (all p < 0.05). Using a low FMR as a reference, the relative risk of a high FMR for MS was 2.861 (95% CI 1.111–7.368, p = 0.029) in males and 9.518 (95% CI 2.615–34.638, p = 0.001) in females following adjustment for confounding factors.

Conclusions

The fat-to-muscle ratio is independently and positively associated with metabolic disorders in T2DM. FMR may serve as an optimal method for screening T2DM patients coupled with a high risk of abnormal metabolism, especially in females, providing a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications in Chinese type 2 diabetes.
Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Lodhia Jay , Magoma Joachim , Tendai Joylene , Msuya David , Suleiman Jamil , Chilonga Kondo
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and managed early.

Case presentation

A 29-year-old female (Chagga by tribe) presented with clinical features of intestinal obstruction 24 weeks into her second pregnancy. She had symptoms for one week. An emergency laparotomy was performed whereby gangrenous sigmoid volvulus was found; thus, it was resected and Hartmann’s colostomy was raised. Unfortunately, she experienced intrauterine fetal death post-operatively. She was discharged clinically stable.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and management can prevent adverse effects such as bowel ischemia and preterm labor. Because classic clinical and radiological features may not be evident, high degree of suspicion is warranted.
Methamphetamine facilitates HIV infection of primary human monocytes through inhibiting cellular viral restriction factors
Authors: Liu Yu , Meng Feng-Zhen , Wang Xu , Wang Peng , Liu Jin-Biao , Hu Wen-Hui , Young Won-Bin , Ho Wen-Zhe
Published: November 2021

Background

Methamphetamine (METH), a potent addictive psychostimulant, is highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. Clinically, METH use is implicated in alteration of immune system and increase of HIV spread/replication. Therefore, it is of importance to examine whether METH has direct effect on HIV infection of monocytes, the major target and reservoir cells for the virus.

Results

METH-treated monocytes were more susceptible to HIV infection as evidenced by increased levels of viral proteins (p24 and Pr55Gag) and expression of viral GAG gene. In addition, using HIV Bal with luciferase reporter gene (HIV Bal-eLuc), we showed that METH-treated cells expressed higher luciferase activities than untreated monocytes. Mechanistically, METH inhibited the expression of IFN-λ1, IRF7, STAT1, and the antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs: OAS2, GBP5, ISG56, Viperin and ISG15). In addition, METH down-regulated the expression of the HIV restriction microRNAs (miR-28, miR-29a, miR-125b, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-223, and miR-382).

Conclusions

METH compromises the intracellular anti-HIV immunity and facilitates HIV replication in primary human monocytes.
The regulatory mechanism of neutrophil extracellular traps in cancer biological behavior
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Yiyin , Wang Qianling , Wei Xiaoli , Wang Hua , Gu Kangsheng
Published: November 2021

As the predominant host defense against pathogens, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have attracted increasing attention due to their vital roles in infectious inflammation in the past few years. Interestingly, NETs also play important roles in noninfectious conditions, such as rheumatism and cancer. The process of NETs formation can be regulated and the form of cell death accompanied by the formation of NETs is regarded as “NETosis”. A large amount of evidence has confirmed that many stimuli can facilitate the release of NETs from neutrophils. Furthermore, it has been illustrated that NETs promote tumor growth and progression via many molecular pathways. Meanwhile, NETs also can promote metastasis in many kinds of cancers based on multiple studies. In addition, some researchs have found that NETs can promote coagulation and cancer-associated thrombosis. In the present review, it will highlight how NETosis, which is stimulated by various stimuli and signaling pathways, affects cancer biological behaviors via NETs. Given their crucial roles in cancer, NETs will become possible therapeutic targets for inhibiting proliferation, metastasis and thrombosis in cancer patients.
Association among dysmenorrhea and activity limitation and participation restrictions in adult women: a cross-sectional study, Brazil -2017
Authors: Brito dos Santos Luana , Ferreira Caroline Wanderley Souto , Gonçalves Caroline Gomes , de Oliveira Xavier Mikaela Aparecida , Dantas Jardelina Hermecina , Barbosa Isabelle Ribeiro , da Câmara Saionara Maria Aires , Dantas Diego
Published: November 2021

Background

The present study aims to analyse if dysmenorrhea is associated with activity limitations and participation restrictions in experencied by adult women.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study carried out with adult women recruited from primary health services in Brazil between 2016 and 2017. Dysmenorrhea was measured via a self-report and the activity limitation and participation restrictions was assessed by the World Health Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS2.0). Pain and level of physical activity were assessed, respectively, by the numerical pain rating scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. Associations between groups, dysmenorrhea and without dysmenorrhea (WD), were analysed by the median difference, Mann Whitney test, effect size measures and 95 % confidence interval. Statistical significance was p <0.05.

Results

The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 54 %. The pain lasted an average of three days or more (66 %). The average pain intensity, in the crisis period, was 6.1 ± 2.6, women who presented severe pain complaints were associated with considerable difficulties in their domains of mobility (p = 0.003; 2 = 0.115), participation (p = 0.030; 2 = 0.063) and total score (p = 0.012; 2 = 0.086), with a moderate effect size for all variables.

Conclusions

Severe dysmenorrhea was associated with higher scores of disabilities assessed by the WHODAS 2.0, especially in mobility, and participation domains.
Perspectives on extended-release naltrexone induction among patients living with HIV and opioid use disorder: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Hoffman Kim A. , Baker Robin , Fanucchi Laura C. , Lum Paula J. , Kunkel Lynn E. , Ponce Terashima Javier , McCarty Dennis , Jacobs Petra , Korthuis P. Todd
Published: November 2021

Background

The CHOICES study randomized participants with HIV and opioid use disorder (OUD) to HIV clinic-based extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), which requires complete cessation of opioid use, versus treatment-as-usual (i.e., buprenorphine, methadone). Study participants randomized to XR-NTX were interviewed to assess their experiences with successful and unsuccessful XR-NTX induction.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed with a convenience sample of study participants with HIV and OUD (n = 37) randomized to XR-NTX in five HIV clinics between 2018 and 2019. All participants approached agreed to be interviewed. Interviews were digitally recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Participants included women (43%), African Americans (62%) and Hispanics (16%), between 27 to 69 years of age. Individuals who completed XR-NTX induction (n = 20) reported experiencing (1) readiness for change, (2) a supportive environment during withdrawal including comfort medications, and (3) caring interactions with staff. Four contrasting themes emerged among participants (n = 17) who did not complete induction: (1) concern and anxiety about withdrawal including past negative experiences, (2) ambivalence about or reluctance to stop opioids, (3) concerns about XR-NTX effects, and (4) preferences for other medications.

Conclusions

The results highlight opportunities to improve initiation of XR-NTX in high-need groups. Addressing expectations regarding induction may enhance XR-NTX initiation rates.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03275350. Registered September 7, 2017. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03275350?term=extended+release+naltrexone&cond=Opioid+Use.
State of the art, recent advances, and challenges in the field of fungal mycelium materials: a snapshot of the 2021 Mini Meeting
Authors: Attias Noam , Livne Achiya , Abitbol Tiffany
Published: November 2021

Material development based on fungal mycelium is a fast-rising field of study as researchers, industry, and society actively search for new sustainable materials to address contemporary material challenges. The compelling potential of fungal mycelium materials is currently being explored in relation to various applications, including construction, packaging, “meatless” meat, and leather-like textiles. Here, we highlight the discussions and outcomes from a recent 1-day conference on the topic of fungal mycelium materials (“Fungal Mycelium Materials Mini Meeting”), where a group of researchers from diverse academic disciplines met to discuss the current state of the art, their visions for the future of the material, and thoughts on the challenges surrounding widescale implementation.
The role of ceRNA-mediated diagnosis and therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shi Yi , Liu Ji-Bin , Deng Jing , Zou Da-Zhi , Wu Jian-Jun , Cao Ya-Hong , Yin Jie , Ma Yu-Shui , Da Fu , Li Wen
Published: November 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide due to its high degree of malignancy, high incidence, and low survival rate. However, the underlying mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis remain unclear. Long non coding RNA (lncRNA) has been shown as a novel type of RNA. lncRNA by acting as ceRNA can participate in various biological processes of HCC cells, such as tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and drug resistance by regulating downstream target gene expression and cancer-related signaling pathways. Meanwhile, lncRNA can predict the efficacy of treatment strategies for HCC and serve as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. Therefore, lncRNA serving as ceRNA may become a vital candidate biomarker for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the epidemiology of HCC, including morbidity, mortality, regional distribution, risk factors, and current treatment advances, was briefly discussed, and some biological functions of lncRNA in HCC were summarized with emphasis on the molecular mechanism and clinical application of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory network in HCC. This paper can contribute to the better understanding of the mechanism of the influence of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA networks (ceRNETs) on HCC and provide directions and strategies for future studies.
Experimental and computational studies on activated Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) hulls for the adsorptive removal of herbicides from aqueous solution
Authors: Nyijime Thomas Aondofa , Ayuba Abdullahi Muhammad , Chahul Habibat Faith
Published: November 2021

Background

The excessive usage of herbicides to control herbs by farmers has become an issue of interest to the environmentalist due to the threat posed by such act to the ecosystem, and therefore, there is the need to curb such practices.The efficiency of Bambara groundnut shell for the removal of pendimethalin (PE) and paraquat dichloride (PQ) herbicides from aqueous solution was established in this work. The activated carbon was prepared via chemical activation method using trioxonitrate (v) acid by determining its void volume, moisture content, bulk density and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Batch adsorption techniques were set to optimize the adsorption parameters such as solution pH, adsorbate concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature in order to depict the best optimal conditions for the adsorption process. The adsorption process was examined in terms of its equilibrium data, kinetics, thermodynamics involved in the adsorption process as well as computational quantum chemical parameters evaluation.

Results

The batch adsorption experiments revealed that the amounts of PE and PQ adsorbed were found to vary with the contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH and initial concentration. The adsorption of PE and PQ decreased with increasing adsorbent dose but increases with increasing initial concentration of the PE and PQ solution. Isotherm studies revealed that the equilibrium data fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich model withR-squared values of 0.976, 0.993 and 0.909, 0.978 for PE and PQ, respectively, which implied that Langmuir isotherm had a better fit. This was also found to be an indication that the uptake of PE and PQ by ACBGNS occurred through monolayer adsorption on identical homogenous sites. Also, kinetic modeling results obtained showed that the pseudo-second-order model explained the adsorption kinetics of PE and PQ by ACBGNS best, which meant that chemisorption was the slowest step and, thus, the rate determining step. The positive value of ΔHand the positive value of ΔGshow the endothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption of PE and PQ ACBGNS.

Conclusion

Batch adsorption experiment and characterization of the ACBGNS have indicated that Bambara ground nut shell can be used to produce activated carbon that can be applied effectively for adsorption of PE and PQ from an aqueous solution. Computational studies results obtained from quantum chemical analysis are consistent with the experimental results obtained from this study.
The development of a machine-learning approach to construct a field-scale rock-physics transform
Authors: Gottschalk Ian , Knight Rosemary
Published: November 2021

The ability to relate geophysical measurements to the material properties of the subsurface is fundamental for the successful application of geophysical methods. Estimating the electrical resistivity from material properties can be challenging at many hydrogeologic field sites, which typically lack the spatial density and resolution of the measurements needed to develop an accurate rock-physics relationship. We have developed rock-physics transforms using the machine-learning method of gradient-boosted decision trees (GBDTs). We adopt as our study area the coastal Salinas Valley, in which saltwater intrusion results in changes in resistivity. We use measurements available in boreholes, including salinity and sediment type, to predict the resistivity. In some transforms, we include as predictors in the GBDT algorithm the location of each measurement and the aquifer corresponding to each measurement. We also explore incorporating the predictions of a baseline rock-physics transform as a prior term within the objective function of the GBDT algorithm to guide the predictions made by the machine-learning algorithm. The use of location and aquifer information improves the predictions of the GBDT transform by 28% compared with when location and aquifer information are not included. After the salinity, the easting of each measurement is the most important predictor, due to the spatial pattern of salinity changes in the area. The next most important predictor is the aquifer corresponding to each measurement. The benefit of including the baseline transform in the objective function is greatest for small data sets and when the accuracy of the baseline transform is already high. Finally, using the resistivity predicted by the GBDT, we generate 1D resistivity models, which we use to simulate the acquisition of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data. In most cases, the 1D resistivity models and the corresponding AEM data match well with the models and data corresponding to the resistivity measured in boreholes.
Seismic wave equation formulated by generalized viscoelasticity in fluid-saturated porous media
Authors: Ni Jun , Gu Hanming , Wang Yanghua
Published: November 2021

Biot’s theory of poroelasticity describes seismic waves propagating through fluid-saturated porous media, so-called two-phase media. The classic Biot’s theory of poroelasticity considers the wave dissipation mechanism as being the friction of relative motion between the fluid in the pores and the solid rock skeleton. However, within the seismic frequency band, the friction has a major influence only on the slow P-wave and an insignificant influence on the fast P-wave. To represent the intrinsic viscoelasticity of the solid skeleton, we incorporate a generalized viscoelastic wave equation into Biot’s theory for the fluid-saturated porous media. The generalized equation that unifies the pure elastic and viscoelastic cases is constituted by a single viscoelastic parameter, presented as the fractional order of the wavefield derivative in the compact form of the wave equation. The generalized equation that includes the viscoelasticity appropriately describes the dissipation characteristics of the fast P-wave. Plane-wave analysis and numerical solutions of our wave equation reveal that (1) the viscoelasticity in the solid skeleton causes the energy attenuation on the fast P-wave and the slow P-wave at the same order of magnitude and (2) the generalized viscoelastic wave equation effectively describes the dissipation effect of the waves propagating through the fluid-saturated porous media.
Using relative geologic time to constrain convolutional neural network-based seismic interpretation and property estimation
Authors: Di Haibin , Li Zhun , Abubakar Aria
Published: November 2021

Three-dimensional seismic interpretation and property estimation is essential for subsurface mapping and characterization, in which machine learning, particularly supervised convolutional neural network (CNN), has been extensively implemented for improved efficiency and accuracy in the past few years. However, in most seismic applications, the amount of available expert annotations often is limited, which raises the risk of overfitting a CNN, particularly when only seismic amplitudes are used for learning. In such a case, the trained CNN would have poor generalization capability, causing the interpretation and property results of obvious artifacts, limited lateral consistency, and thus restricted application to following interpretation/modeling procedures. Our study proposes addressing such an issue by using relative geologic time (RGT), which explicitly preserves the large-scale continuity of seismic patterns, to constrain a seismic interpretation and/or property estimation CNN. Such constrained learning is enforced twofold: (1) from the perspective of input, the RGT is used as an additional feature channel besides seismic amplitude, and more innovatively (2) the CNN has two output branches, with one for matching the target interpretation or properties and the other for reconstructing the RGT. In addition, multiplicative regularization is used to facilitate the simultaneous minimization of the target-matching loss and the RGT-reconstruction loss. The performance of such an RGT-constrained CNN is validated by two examples, facies identification in the Parihaka data set and property estimation in the F3 Netherlands data set. Compared with those purely from seismic amplitudes, the facies and property predictions using the proposed RGT constraint demonstrate significantly reduced artifacts and improved lateral consistency throughout a seismic survey.
“She Was Raised on Blood”
Authors: Dumas Raechel
Published: November 2021

Contemporary Japan has been widely identified as a scene of crisis marked by the breakdown of established sociocultural institutions and the subordination of identity and desire to ever-evolving technocapitalist whims. Japanese-horror (J-horror) media of this period reveals a collective concern with these cultural themes, routinely employing haunted technologies to elaborate the perils and possibilities of existence in a world of incertitude. This article examines Shimizu Takashi’s 2004 Marebito with attention to how the film develops a critique of the estranging forces of late capitalism and elaborates an alluring alternative, located in a return to what Derrida describes as the scene of humanity’s second trauma: “the Darwinian.” In doing so, the article traces how the drive for self-annihilation emerges in Marebito not only as a terrifying prospect but also as an occasion to forge intimate relationships with the repressed of culture.
Estratégia de aprendizagem tecnológica para inovação
Authors: Gomes Pedro Ivo
Published: November 2021

Este estudo contribui para o processo de aprendizado tecnológico para inovação em uma empresa do setor de automação industrial. Para isso, ele esclarece certas terminologias relacionadas à acumulação de capacidade tecnológica, aprendizado tecnológico e inovação industrial. Com base em estudo acadêmico em nível de especialização em aprendizagem tecnológica e gestão da inovação, o objetivo principal do estudo é simular, por meio da elaboração de um plano de ação, a escolha e aplicação de técnicas de aprendizagem tecnológica para inovação em uma empresa de automação industrial em o Brasil, analisando o cenário em que a empresa atua, as janelas de oportunidade identificadas pela diretoria da empresa, em particular a percepção da demanda por produtos e serviços baseados em plataformas de Internet das Coisas (IoT), Internet de Tudo (IoE) e, em geral, a Indústria 4.0 que ainda não foi atendida pelo mercado, servindo de base para a construção do plano de ação, apoiado por uma pesquisa bibliográfica de várias fontes de evidências sobre o desenvolvimento de capacidades tecnológicas para a inovação (Capacidades Tecnológicas para Inovação) orientada em torno o objetivo do estudo é permitir à empresa acumular capacidade tecnológica inovadora para a implementação de soluções que atendam às janelas de oportunidade apresentadas.
Ethical consumption
Authors: Κομνηνού Μαργαρίτα
Published: November 2021

Τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, τα άτομα καθώς και οι επιχειρήσεις –κυρίως όσοι ζουν και δραστηριοποιούνται σε προηγμένα καπιταλιστικά συστήματα– έχουν ολοένα και μεγαλύτερη επίγνωση του κοινωνικού πλαισίου της παραγωγής και, ως εκ τούτου, των επιπτώσεων που έχει η κατανάλωση στο περιβάλλον, στα ζώα και σε άλλους συνανθρώπους. Αυτή η αναστοχαστικότητα έχει απήχηση τόσο στους τομείς της παραγωγής (π.χ. πολιτικές εταιρικής κοινωνικής ευθύνης) όσο και στην κατανάλωση (π.χ. συστήματα σήμανσης όπως το δίκαιο εμπόριο και τα βιολογικά προϊόντα). Κάτω από αυτές τις συνθήκες γεννήθηκε ο «ηθικός καταναλωτής». Ενώ, ωστόσο, οι έννοιες της ηθικής και της πολιτικής κατανάλωσης υπάρχουν εδώ και αρκετό καιρό, η κατανόησή μας για το τι σημαίνει πραγματικά να είσαι «ηθικός» ως καταναλωτής σήμερα εξακολουθεί να είναι πολύ ασαφής.Σε αντίθεση με προηγούμενες μελέτες που αποδίδουν εκ των προτέρων συγκεκριμένες σημασίες και κριτήρια στην έννοια του ηθικού καταναλωτή, αυτή η μελέτη ακολουθεί μια προσέγγιση από-τα-κάτω που παρέχει χώρο στα άτομα να εκφράσουν τις δικές τους απόψεις για την ηθική κατανάλωση. Για τη βαθύτερη κατανόηση του υπό διερεύνηση φαινομένου, η έρευνα σχεδιάστηκε ως μελέτη περίπτωσης σε μια συγκεκριμένη γεωγραφική τοποθεσία Partick, της Γλασκώβης (Σκωτία). Αυτή η μελέτη χρησιμοποιεί πρωτογενή δεδομένα που προέρχονται από 20 εις βάθος συνεντεύξεις με αυτοπροσδιοριζόμενους ηθικούς καταναλωτές, 10 συνεντεύξεις και 15 ερωτηματολόγια με υπεύθυνους παντοπωλείων και υπεραγορών που λειτουργούν στην περιοχή, καθώς και 112 ερωτηματολόγια που συμπληρώθηκαν από καταναλωτές σε έρευνα δρόμου.Τα ευρήματα αμφισβητούν τη συμβατική κατανόηση της «ηθικής» στο πλαίσιο της κατανάλωσης. Το να είσαι ηθικός ως καταναλωτής εκτείνεται πέρα από την απλή αγορά προϊόντων και υπηρεσιών που διατίθενται «ηθικά» στην αγορά, ώστε να περιλαμβάνει διάφορες επιλογές τρόπου ζωής. Οι καταναλωτές εξέφρασαν ανησυχίες σχετικά με το βαθμό και τη φύση της αλλαγής που μπορεί να επιτύχει η συμβατική «ηθική κατανάλωση». Χρησιμοποιώντας πληροφορίες από αυτήν την έρευνα, η μελέτη κάνει μια εννοιολογική διάκριση μεταξύ του «ηθικού αγοραστή» (που αντιπροσωπεύει την πλευρά της ηθικής κατανάλωσης που καθοδηγείται από την αγορά) και του «ηθικού καταναλωτή» (που αντιπροσωπεύει τη δημιουργική, ενεργή και χειραφετημένη πλευρά του φαινομένου). Προτείνεται ότι η τελευταία επιτρέπει στην κατανάλωση, ως εργαλείο κοινωνικής αλλαγής, να αξιοποιήσει πλήρως τις δυνατότητές της, αφού ξεφεύγει από την κατασκευασμένη «ηθική» της αγοράς. Ανατροφοδοτώντας τα θεωρητικά πλαίσια της ηθικής και πολιτικής κατανάλωσης, αυτή η μελέτη υπογραμμίζει την ταξική και επιλεκτική μεροληψία που είναι ενσωματωμένη στο (πολύ ακριβό) εξιδανικευμένο μοντέλο ενός ηθικού τρόπου ζωής και, ως εκ τούτου, καλεί για τη συμπερίληψη διαφορετικών τύπων καταναλωτικής δράσης, όπως το downshifting, η κοινή χρήση αρχείων, ή ακόμα και η συλλογική κλοπή, που –μέχρι τώρα– είχαν παραμεληθεί.
The effect of dietary phosphorus load and food matrix on postprandial serum phosphate in hemodialysis patients: a pilot study
Authors: Byrne Fiona , Gillman Barbara , Palmer Brendan , Kiely Mairead , Eustace Joseph , Kearney Patricia , Davidson Fred , Shiely Frances
Published: November 2021

Background: Potential dietary strategies for controlling hyperphosphataemia include the use of protein sources with lower phosphorus bioavailability such as pulses and nuts, focus on phosphorus to protein ratios and the avoidance of all phosphate additives.

Methods: We conducted a controlled crossover feeding study in 8 haemodialysis (HD) patients to investigate the acute postprandial effect of a modified versus standard low phosphorus diet for one day on serum phosphate, potassium and intact parathyroid levels in prevalent HD patients. Each participant consumed the modified diet on one day and the standard diet on a second day one week apart. The modified diet included beef and less dairy, with a lower phosphorus to protein ratio, as well as plant-based protein, whole grains, pulses and nuts containing phytates which reduces phosphorus bioavailability. Both diets were tailored for each participant to provide 1.1g protein/kg ideal body weight. Participants provided fasting bloods before breakfast, a pre-prandial sample before the lunch time main meal and samples at one-hour intervals for the four hours after the lunch time main meal, for analysis of phosphate, potassium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH).

Results: At four hours post the lunch time main meal on each study day, individuals on the modified diet had serum phosphate readings 0.30 mmol/l lower than when on the standard diet (p-value = 0.015, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.57, -0.04). The corresponding change in serum potassium at four hours was a decrease of 0.675 mmol/l (p-value = 0.011, CI -1.25, -0.10).

Conclusions: Decreases in both serum phosphate and serum potassium readings on a modified low phosphorus diet encourage further larger studies to explore the possibility of greater food choice and healthier plant-based diets in HD patients. 

ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04845724 (15/04/2021)
E-HRM As a Human Resource Management Tool in the Digital Economy
Authors: Mitrofanova Elena , Mitrofanova Aleksandra
Published: November 2021

The article substantiates the need to create a new model of a personnel management system - electronic human resource management, which is an advanced business solution that provides full online support in the management of all processes, actions, data and information necessary for human resource management in a modern company, it is determined the essence and content, the goal, objectives, levels of electronic human resource management are shown, functions and results are shown, methods and opportunities for the implementation of electronic human resource management are proposed. It is shown that the introduction of electronic human resource management increases the efficiency of HR management processes by concentrating information about personnel in a centralized data bank, speeding up information processing, reducing errors and the amount of duplicate work, reducing less productive activities in the field of human resources and its reorientation to strategic tasks.
DEEP LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR WOVEN COMPOSITE ANALYSIS
Authors: FENG HAOTIAN , SUBRAMANIYAN SABARINATHAN , PRABHAKAR PAVANA
Published: November 2021

paper, we focus on exploring the relationship between weave patterns and their mechanical properties in woven fiber composites through Machine Learning. Specifically, we explore the interactions between woven architectures and in-plane stiffness properties through Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) and Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). Our research is important for exploring how woven composite’s pattern is related to its mechanical properties and accelerating woven composite design as well as optimization. We focus on two tasks: (1) Stiffness prediction: Predicting in-plane stiffness properties for given weave patterns. Our DCNN extracts high-level features through several convolutional and fully connected layers to determine the final predictions. (2) Weave pattern prediction: Predicting weave patterns for target stiffness properties, which can be treated as the reverse task of the first one. Due to many-to-one mapping between weave patterns and the composite properties, we utilize a Decoder Neural Network as our baseline model and compare its performance with GAN and Genetic Algorithm. We represent the weave patterns as 2D checkerboard models and use finite element analysis (FEA) to determine in-plane stiffness properties, which serve as input data for our ML framework. We show that: (1) for stiffness prediction, DCNN can predict stiffness values for a given weave pattern with relatively high accuracy (above 93%); (2) for weave pattern prediction, the GAN model gives the best prediction accuracy (above 92%) while Decoder Neural Network has the best time efficiency. HAOTIAN FENG
DISCOVERING FAILURE CRITERIA OF COMPOSITES BY SPARSE IDENTIFICATION AND COMPRESSED SENSING
Authors: TAO FEI , LIU XIN , DU HAODONG , YU WENBIN
Published: November 2021

A reliable design of a composite structure needs to consider the failure of the composites. Hashin failure criterion is one of the most popular phenomenological models in engineering practice due to its simplicity of application. Although remarkable success has been achieved from the Hashin failure criterion, it does not always fit the experimental results very well. Over the past few years, a few experimental failure data have been collected. It would be of interest to leverage the existing data to improve the prediction of failure criteria. In this paper, we proposed to apply a framework that combines sparse regression with compressed sensing to discover failure criteria from data. Following the phenomenological failure models, we divided the failure of composites into tensile and compressive fiber modes, tensile and compressive matrix modes. Two examples were studied with the proposed framework. The first example was presented to demonstrate the capability of the framework. The data was generated by the Hashin failure criterion and added various magnitudes of noise. The proposed framework was implemented to discover the failure criterion from the noised data. For the second example, the proposed method was used to discover failure criteria from the experimental data which are collected from the first world wide failure exercise (WWFE I). Both examples show that the proposed method can discover the failure criteria accurately.
EFFECTS OF AS-RECEIVED DEFECTS ON CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES PROPERTIES USING HIGH- FIDELITY MICROSTRUCTURES WITH PERIODIC BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: KHAFAGY, KHALED H. , CHATTOPADHYAY ADITI
Published: November 2021

The presence of microstructural defects in as-received specimens of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) significantly influences their constitutive response and damage, highlighting the importance of characterization and quantification of these defects for accurate assessment of damage and failure in the service environment. In a recent effort, the authors developed an algorithm to generate stochastic representative volume elements (SRVEs) of Carbon fiber Silicon-Carbide-Nitride matrix (C/SiNC) CMCs based on extensive multiscale material and defect characterization data. This paper implements this algorithm within a commercial finite element solver with periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) for high-fidelity micromechanics analysis and investigation of macroscopic material behavior of C/SiNC composites. Different loading directions are used to predict the global mechanical properties, and the results are in excellent agreement with theoretical (rule of mixture) predictions. Subsequently, the effects of as-received defects on the global and local responses are investigated. The results show that intratow porosity has pronounced degradation effects on the global elastic properties and results in complex stress localization patterns, which can be attributed to potential damage initiation sites.
EFFECT OF BOUNDARY CONDITIONS ON PROCESS- INDUCED STRESSES IN A PLAIN WEAVE UNIT CELL
Authors: BUKENYA K. , OLAYA M. N. , PINEDA E. J. , MAIARU M.
Published: November 2021

Woven polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are leveraged in aerospace applications for their desirable specific properties, yet they are vulnerable to high residual stresses during manufacturing and their complex geometry makes experimental results difficult to observe. Process modeling is needed to characterize the effects of the curing and predict end stress states. Finite element software can be used to model woven architectures, however accurate representation of processing conditions remains a challenge when it comes to selecting boundary conditions. The effect of BCs on process-induced stress within woven PMCs is studied. The commercial Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software Abaqus is coupled with user-written subroutines in a process modeling framework. A two-dimensionally (2D) woven PMC repeating unit cell (RUC) is modeled with TexGen and Abaqus. Virtual curing is imposed on the bulk matrix. The BC study is conducted with Free, Periodic, Flat, and Flat-Free configurations. Results show that the end stress state is sensitive to the boundary condition assumptions. Flat BC results show great agreement with Periodic BCs. Residual stress results from process modeling are then compared with a linear-elastic thermal cooldown analysis in Abaqus. Cooldown results indicate an overestimation in matrix stresses compared with process modeling.