bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of post-trauma complications in eight million trauma cases over a decade in the USA
Authors: Jakobsen Rasmus Kirial , Bonde Alexander , Sillesen Martin
Published: March 2021

Background

Trauma is associated with a significant risk of post-trauma complications (PTCs). These include thromboembolic events, strokes, infections, and failure of organ systems (eg, kidney failure). Although care of the trauma patient has evolved during the last decade, whether this has resulted in a reduction in specific PTCs is unknown. We hypothesize that the incidence of PTCs has been decreasing during a 10-year period from 2007 to 2017.

Methods

This is a descriptive study of trauma patients originating from level 1, 2, 3, and 4 trauma centers in the USA, obtained via the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database from 2007 to 2017. PTCs documented throughout the time frame were extracted along with demographic variables. Multiple regression modeling was used to associate admission year with PTCs, while controlling for age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and Injury Severity Score.

Results

Data from 8 720 026 trauma patients were extracted from the TQIP database. A total of 366 768 patients experienced one or more PTCs. There was a general decrease in the incidence of PTCs during the study period, with the overall incidence dropping from 7.0% in 2007 to 2.8% in 2017. Multiple regression identified a slight decrease in incidence in all PTCs, although deep surgical site infection (SSI), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and stroke incidences increased when controlled for confounders.

Discussion

Overall the incidence of PTCs dropped during the 10-year study period, although deep SSI, DVT, stroke, and cardiac arrest increased during the study period. Better risk prediction tools, enabling a precision medicine approach, are warranted to identify at-risk patients.

Level of evidence

III.
Erratum to: Forward Higgs production within high energy factorization in the heavy quark limit at next-to-leading order accuracy
Authors: Hentschinski M. , Kutak K. , van Hameren A.
Published: March 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-08902-6
Photon frequency shift in curvature-based Extended Theories of Gravity
Authors: Capozziello S. , Lambiase G. , Stabile A. , Stabile An.
Published: March 2021

We study the frequency shift of photons generated by rotating gravitational sources in the framework of curvature-based Extended Theories of Gravity. The discussion is developed considering the weak-field approximation. Following a perturbative approach, we analyze the process of exchanging photons between Earth and a given satellite, and we find a general relation to constrain the free parameters of gravitational theories. Finally, we suggest the Moon as a possible laboratory to test theories of gravity by future experiments which can be, in principle, based also on other Solar System bodies.
The controllable amplitude and shape of hyperfine spectra in a ladder-type three-level atomic system
Authors: Gao Huan-Qin , Yan Xiang-An , Han Yu-Jing , Xu Wan-Ting , Zhou Kang
Published: March 2021

We report experimentally the properties of the hyperfine spectra in [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] transitions of [Formula: see text]Rb. When the frequency of the coupling field is fixed between [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] transition and the probe scans the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] transitions, two-photon absorption (TPA) and electromagnetically induced transparent (EIT) peaks could be investigated simultaneously, and the amplitude of the peaks can be controlled by changing the temperature of rubidium atomic vapor cell and the probe field power. In particular, the probe field power plays a dual role in controlling the amplitude of the peaks. In the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] transitions with the open intermediate state [Formula: see text], with decrease of the coupling field power, our experimental results show a crossover from a convoluted line-shape to EIT when the probe is weak whereas a transformation from a convoluted line-shape to TPA with an enhanced probe power. Formation of the convoluted line-shape is explained by virtue of the dressed energy-level diagram.
Propagation of spiking regularity in feedforward networks with recurrent connections
Authors: Gao Tianshi , Deng Bin , Wang Jixuan , Wang Jiang , Yi Guosheng
Published: March 2021

The regularity of the inter-spike intervals (ISIs) gives a critical window into how the information is coded temporally in the cortex. Previous researches mostly adopt pure feedforward networks (FFNs) to study how the network structure affects spiking regularity propagation, which ignore the role of local dynamics within the layer. In this paper, we construct an FFN with recurrent connections and investigate the propagation of spiking regularity. We argue that an FFN with recurrent connections serves as a basic circuit to explain that the regularity increases as spikes propagate from middle temporal visual areas to higher cortical areas. We find that the reduction of regularity is related to the decreased complexity of the shared activity co-fluctuations. We show in simulations that there is an appropriate excitation–inhibition ratio maximizing the regularity of deeper layers. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that collective temporal regularity in deeper layers exhibits resonance-like behavior with respect to both synaptic connection probability and synaptic weight. Our work provides a critical link between cortical circuit structure and realistic spiking regularity.
A stop-band filter based on metal-medium-metal structure with molecular J-aggregates
Authors: Duan Gaoyan , Lang Peilin , Song Gang , Yu Li
Published: March 2021

A stop-band filter is discussed based on the strong coupling-like phenomenon in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures involving molecular J-aggregates. The structure is composed of a [Formula: see text]-shaped resonator, an input waveguide and an output waveguide. The finite element method (FEM) method is employed in simulation. The results show that the strong coupling phenomenon appears with the Molecular J-aggregates. The small variations in size of the whole structure have little effect on stop bandwidth of the transmission spectrum and the stop bandwidth of the transmission spectrum in the designed structures is mainly determined by the oscillation strength of molecular J-aggregates. The larger the oscillation length of molecular J-aggregates part is, the wider the stop-band is.
Seismic Reliability Analysis of Cable-Stayed Bridges Subjected to Spatially Varying Ground Motions
Authors: Zhang Jin , Chen Ke-Jian , Zeng Yong-Ping , Yang Zhen-Yu , Zheng Shi-Xiong , Jia Hong-Yu
Published: March 2021

To efficiently and accurately evaluate the seismic system reliability analysis (SSRA) of cable-stayed bridges subjected to spatially varying ground motions, a direct probabilistic framework was developed in this paper. First, the relevant methods for the structural seismic reliability were presented, including the multiplicative dimensional reduction method, maximum entropy method with fractional moments (FMs), and the product of conditional marginals (PCMs). Second, based on the OpenSees platform, the 3D finite element model of the cable-stayed bridge was established, along with the uncertain structural parameters, stochastic ground motions, and failure modes of each structural component under earthquake loading summarized. Third, considering the double uncertainties of the bridge and ground motions, the nonlinear time history analysis was conducted for the bridge under various scenarios. Finally, the nonlinear seismic response and fractional moment of the structural response were obtained. The maximum entropy method with FMswas used to get the probability density function (pdf) of the structural response, together with the failure probability and reliability index of each component. Considering the correlation between components, the PCMs was used to obtain the failure probability of the bridge under earthquake loadings, and some critical conclusions were drawn.
Γ∗-Relation on Fuzzy Hyperrings and Fundamental Ring
Authors: Firouzkouhi N. , Davvaz B.
Published: March 2021

Fundamental relation performs an important role on fuzzy algebraic hyperstructure and is considered as the smallest equivalence relation such that the quotient is a universal algebra. In this paper, we introduce a new fuzzy strongly regular equivalence on fuzzy hyperrings such that the set of the quotient is a ring that is non-commutative. Also, we introduce the concept of a complete part of a fuzzy hyperring and study its principal traits. At last, we convey the relevance between the fundamental relation and complete parts of a fuzzy hyperring.
Quo vadis Zeus
: is there a Zas shear zone on Naxos Island, Aegean Sea, Greece? A review of metamorphic history and new kinematic data
Authors: Peillod Alexandre , Tehler Elof , Ring Uwe
Published: March 2021

Detecting zones of considerable early-orogenic displacement in rather monotonous rock sequences which have undergone a late and pervasive tectonometamorphic overprint is challenging. It has been proposed that the alleged Zas shear zone in the passive margin sequence of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit on Naxos Island, Greece, separates amphibolite facies, non-high-pressure rocks (Koronos Unit) below the shear zone from Eocene high-pressure rocks (Zas Unit) above the shear zone. We review existing pressure–temperature data from the Koronos Unit and present new kinematic data from the anticipated Zas shear zone to evaluate the tectonic significance of this recently proposed structure. This has implications for unravelling the subduction history of rock units from tectonometamorphic datasets. Common to all pressure–temperature data from the Koronos Unit is a well-defined amphibolite facies equilibration stage at 8–11 kbar and 600–700°C, followed by initial near-isothermal to slightly prograde decompression and subsequent pronounced cooling. This segment of the high-temperature pressure–temperature loop is associated with top-to-the-NNE extensional deformation in the footwall of the Miocene Naxos–Paros detachment. Little is known about the metamorphism preceding the amphibolite facies overprint in the Koronos Unit. Our review shows that it is likely that the rocks experienced a prior high-pressure metamorphic overprint that is typical of rocks of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit. Our kinematic data show that the Zas shear zone contains variably deformed rocks with dominantly top-to-the-NNE shear sense indicators that developed under greenschist facies metamorphism in the footwall of the Naxos–Paros detachment. No significant offset can be detected across the Zas shear zone and the geology on either side of it does not support large-scale movement across the shear zone. We discuss a model in which the Zas shear zone is considered to be a minor zone of deformed schist near the biotite-in isograd of Miocene high-temperature metamorphism. We conclude that there is no need to tectonically subdivide the passive margin sequence of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit on Naxos.
Metagames and Hypergames for Deception-Robust Control
Authors: Bakker Craig , Bhattacharya Arnab , Chatterjee Samrat , Vrabie Draguna L.
Published: March 2021

Increasing connectivity to the Internet for remote monitoring and control has made cyber-physical systems more vulnerable to deliberate attacks; purely cyber attacks can thereby have physical consequences. Long-term, stealthy attacks such as Stuxnet can be described as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Here, we extend our previous work on hypergames and APTs to develop hypergame-based defender strategies that are robust to deception and do not rely on attack detection. These strategies provide provable bounds—and provably optimal bounds—on the attacker payoff. Strategies based on Bayesian priors do not provide such bounds. We then numerically demonstrate our approach on a building control subsystem and discuss next steps in extending this approach toward an operational capability.
Elastic Embedding through Graph Convolution-based Regression for Semi-supervised Classification
Authors: Dornaika F.
Published: March 2021

This article introduces a scheme for semi-supervised learning by estimating a flexible non-linear data representation that exploits Spectral Graph Convolutions structure. Structured data are exploited in order to determine non-linear and linear models. The introduced scheme takes advantage of data-driven graphs at two levels. First, it incorporates manifold smoothness that is naturally encoded by the graph itself. Second, the regression model is built on the convolved data samples that are derived from the data and their associated graph. The proposed semi-supervised embedding can tackle the problem of over-fitting on neighborhood structures for image data. The proposed Graph Convolution-based Semi-supervised Embedding paves the way to new theoretical and application perspectives related to the non-linear embedding. Indeed, building flexible models that adopt convolved data samples can enhance both the data representation and the final performance of the learning system. Several experiments are conducted on six image datasets for comparing the introduced scheme with some state-of-the-art semi-supervised approaches. This empirical evaluation shows the effectiveness of the proposed embedding scheme.
Nonlinear (Large-Amplitude Oscillatory Shear) Rheological Properties and Their Impact on Food Processing and Quality
Authors: Joyner Helen S.
Published: March 2021

Large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) testing has been increasingly used over the past several decades to provide a fuller picture of food rheological behavior. Although LAOS is relatively easy to perform on a wide variety of foods, interpretation of the resulting data can be difficult, as it may not be possible to link the results to food components, microstructural features or changes, or physicochemical properties. Several analysis methods have been developed to address this issue, but there is currently no standard method for foods. In food research, LAOS has mainly been used to investigate connections between food microstructures and rheological behaviors, although there have been some studies on connections between food LAOS behaviors and processing or sensory behaviors. LAOS has the potential to be a valuable tool for investigating food structure–function–texture relationships, but much work remains to develop these relationships, particularly in the area of connecting LAOS to sensory attributes.
Novel Nondestructive Biosensors for the Food Industry
Authors: Turasan Hazal , Kokini Jozef
Published: March 2021

An increasing number of foodborne outbreaks, growing consumer desire for healthier products, and surging numbers of food allergy cases necessitate strict handling and screening of foods at every step of the food supply chain. Current standard procedures for detecting food toxins, contaminants, allergens, and pathogens require costly analytical devices, skilled technicians, and long sample preparation times. These challenges can be overcome with the use of biosensors because they provide accurate, rapid, selective, qualitative, and quantitative detection of analytes. Their ease of use, low-cost production, portability, and nondestructive measurement techniques also enable on-site detection of analytes. For this reason, biosensors find many applications in food safety and quality assessments. The detection mechanisms of biosensors can be varied with the use of different transducers, such as optical, electrochemical, or mechanical. These options provide a more appropriate selection of the biosensors for the intended use. In this review, recent studies focusing on the fabrication of biosensors for food safety or food quality purposes are summarized. To differentiate the detection mechanisms, the review is divided into sections based on the transducer type used.
Cellular Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Eibl Regine , Senn Yannick , Gubser Géraldine , Jossen Valentin , van den Bos Christian , Eibl Dieter
Published: March 2021

Cellular agriculture is the controlled and sustainable manufacture of agricultural products with cells and tissues without plant or animal involvement. Today, microorganisms cultivated in bioreactors already produce egg and milk proteins, sweeteners, and flavors for human nutrition as well as leather and fibers for shoes, bags, and textiles. Furthermore, plant cell and tissue cultures provide ingredients that stimulate the immune system and improve skin texture, with another precommercial cellular agriculture product, in vitro meat, currently receiving a great deal of attention. All these approaches could assist traditional agriculture in continuing to provide for the dietary requirements of a growing world population while freeing up important resources such as arable land. Despite early successes, challenges remain and are discussed in this review, with a focus on production processes involving plant and animal cell and tissue cultures.
Electronic, Ionic, and Mixed Conduction in Polymeric Systems
Authors: Thomas Elayne M. , Nguyen Phong H. , Jones Seamus D. , Chabinyc Michael L. , Segalman Rachel A.
Published: March 2021

Polymers that simultaneously transport electrons and ions are paramount to drive the technological advances necessary for next-generation electrochemical devices, including energy storage devices and bioelectronics. However, efforts to describe the motion of ions or electrons separately within polymeric systems become inaccurate when both species are present. Herein, we highlight the basic transport equations necessary to rationalize mixed transport and the multiscale material properties that influence their transport coefficients. Potential figures of merit that enable a suitable performance benchmark in mixed conducting systems independent of end application are discussed. Practical design and implementation of mixed conducting polymers require an understanding of the evolving nature of structure and transport with ionic and electronic carrier density to capture the dynamic disorder inherent in polymeric materials.
Review—Trends in Recent Developments in Electrochemical Sensors for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Water Resources and Catchment Areas
Authors: Comnea-Stancu Ionela Raluca , van Staden Jacobus (Koos) Frederick , Stefan-van Staden Raluca-Ioana
Published: March 2021

In recent years the scientific community showed an increasing interest for implementing new, rapid, sensitive and cheaper detection methods that are far better than the classical methods of quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially with the progress in synthesis of nanomaterials that can be successfully used for the design of electrochemical sensors. This review aims to discuss the latest research activities of the last five years regarding the electrochemical sensing for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous resources and catchment areas.
Ion-Pair Facilitated Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Sensing of Cadaverine and Putrescine
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Arockiaraj M. , Esokkiya A. , Sudalaimani S. , Hansda Shekhar , Sivakumar C. , Sulaiman Yusran , Khan Mohammad Mansoob , Giribabu K.
Published: March 2021

Cadaverine and putrescine are well known biogenic amines for food spoilage, their presence along with histamine increases the food toxicity to manifold and rapid detection of these analytes remains challenging. To address these problems, poly(neutral red) (PNR) based electrochemical sensor for sensing of cadaverine and putrescine has been developed. Neutral red (NR) polymerised over glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been utilized for sensing of biogenic amines. Positively charged groups on PNR/GCE surface forms ion-pair complex with putrescine or cadaverine via diphosphate ion bridging which facilitates the sensing ability and the formation of ion-pair, as evidenced by DFT calculations. PNR/GCE exhibited detection ability in the range of 0.025 to 414μM with a limit of detection of 0.22μM and 0.25μM for cadaverine and putrescine, respectively. The developed non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for cadaverine and putrescine exhibited good anti-interference ability towards common ions and amino acids were studied. Demonstrated non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor method is simple and convenient for tracing biogenic amines in real samples like spoilage in fish specimen.
Effect of Carbon Support Characteristics on Fuel Cell Durability in Accelerated Stress Testing
Authors: Wang Chunmei , Ricketts Mark , Soleymani Amir Peyman , Jankovic Jasna , Waldecker James , Chen Jixin
Published: March 2021

Support carbon corrosion has been considered a major degradation mechanism impacting the fuel cell performance. A support corrosion accelerated stress test (AST) that consists of potential cycling between 1.0 V and 1.5 V at 35 °C and 70 °C, respectively has been performed at Ford to evaluate the durability of five membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which were made from suppliers’ catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) containing different carbon supports, catalyst loadings and compositions, ionomer/carbon (I/C) ratios, and ionomer equivalent weights (EWs). The carbon corrosion behaviors from these carbon supports were studied focusing on the carbon loss, voltage degradation at a fixed current density, electrochemical surface area (ECSA) loss, catalyst layer thickness reduction, catalyst dispersion change, and electrode porosity change after AST, with the aid of comprehensive post-mortem failure analysis. Although the MEAs performed differently in these characterizations, the cumulative percentage carbon loss became quite the same for four high-surface-area carbon supports at 70 °C. This is probably due to the strong direct oxidation of carbon at elevated temperature and high-potential window as long as carbon is available. Graphitized carbon presented outstanding support durability at high temperature than high-surface-area carbons. However, as temperature decreased, this advantage was no longer obvious. A database for carbon corrosion with failure analysis has been established in this work to support material and system strategy developments.
From the Editor: The New Leisure Class
Authors: Kelly Rob
Published: March 2021

Soon after I started as a faculty member in 1990, there was an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal. It described faculty members (at least in the U.S.) as the “New Leisure Class,” riffing off the book by Thorstein Veblen in which he coined the term conspicuous consumption. This topic has been revisited many times since, with statistics on the number of hours the average faculty member has contact with students in class and office hours used as evidence of a pretty cushy existence.
Websites of Note - Spring 2021
Authors: Suroviec Alice
Published: March 2021

Columnist Alice Suroviec presents a collection of websites that offer free textbooks.
Free Radicals: Winner Takes All
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: March 2021

“Winning isn’t everything; it is the only thing…” is the quote often attributed to the famous American football coach, Vince Lombardi. This column examines the near misses in public acclamation (e.g., Nobel Prize) of some otherwise famous scientists and engineers in solid state and allied pursuits.
Looking at Patent Law: Patenting a Solid State Lithium-Metal Battery–A Case Study
Authors: Taylor E. Jennings , Inman Maria
Published: March 2021

In this installment of the “Looking at Patent Law” series, we present a case study of the prosecution of a patent directed towards “Pulse Plating of Lithium Material in Electrochemical Devices” assigned to QuantumScape Corp. of San Jose, CA. This case was chosen to coincide with the focus of this issue of Interface on solid state energy conversion. The case illustrates overcoming novelty rejections by conducting an examiner interview to clearly understand the prior art issue and amending the claims accordingly to distinguish from the prior art. In addition, the case includes an election/restriction requirement due to multiple inventions claimed in the original patent application. This requirement resulted in three distinct patent applications with two patents issued and the third patent application currently pending. Finally, the case illustrates the factors considered in a non-publication request. With this case study, we hope to demystify the patent prosecution process and better prepare electrochemical and solid state scientists, engineers, and technologists to interact with their patent counsel regarding their inventions.
Solid State Aspects of Energy Conversion
Authors: Maggard Paul A.
Published: March 2021

Efficient energy conversion forms the foundation for harnessing our widespread, renewable sources of energy (e.g., solar, geothermal, wind, etc.) to meet the rising global energy demands of society. Most often, this conversion requires that the incident radiation, excess heat, or mechanical energy be transformed into transportable fuels or electrical power. Electrochemical reactions that occur at the interfaces of solids represent a common underlying strategy to drive the formation, storage, and/or release of energy. While usually simple in conceptualization, reactions at solid state interfaces are highly dependent on a plethora of parameters, including chemical composition, crystalline structure, particle morphology and microstructure, the orientation of the exposed surface facets, and so on. This special issue focuses on the many aspects of solid state chemistry that impact the efficiency of electroactive solids in energy conversion.
In Search of the “Perfect” Inorganic Semiconductor/Liquid Interface for Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan , Maggard Paul A. , O’Donnell Shaun
Published: March 2021

Arguably, one would be hard-pressed to envision a more ideal renewable energy conversion system than the solar splitting of water. The energy-rich product, hydrogen, may be stored and used later on-demand for generating power either via combustion or in a fuel cell. In scenarios where dioxygen is needed for respiration (e.g., space travel), CO2 may be used instead of water as the reactant feed. Both these applications require a photon absorber for capturing sunlight, and an inorganic semiconductor fulfills this function. Therefore, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system may be devised based on an n- or p-type semiconductor electrode in contact with the reactant fluid. On bandgap excitation of the photoelectrode, the generated holes or electrons respectively are used to drive the oxidation or reduction of the reactant species. In the case of water splitting, these are the OH- or H3O+ ions, respectively. In a CO2 photoreduction system, the corresponding species are OH- and (dissolved) CO2. In both cases, the analogy with a plant photosynthesis system is direct.
A Vision for Sustainable Energy: The Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE)
Authors: Dempsey Jillian L. , Heyer Catherine M. , Meyer Gerald J.
Published: March 2021

A new Solar Hub entitled the Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE) has been created to advance fundamental research on the production of liquid fuels from sunlight, water, nitrogen, and/or carbon dioxide. The Hub will undertake the construction and mechanistic study of hybrid photoelectrodes based on molecular catalysts integrated within solid state semiconductors in tailored microenvironments in order to achieve liquid solar fuel production. CHASE is centered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with partner institutions at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Emory University, North Carolina State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
Higher cardiac vagal activity predicts lower peripheral resistance 6 years later in European but not African Americans
Authors: Williams DeWayne P. , Thayer Julian F. , Halbert James D. , Wang Xiaoling , Kapuku Gaston
Published: March 2021

African Americans and European Americans differ in hemodynamics underlying long-term blood pressure regulation. Over 6 yr, African Americans show total peripheral resistance-mediated increases in blood pressure compared with European Americans. Higher heart rate variability predicts lower blood pressure and total peripheral resistance 6 yr later in European Americans but not African Americans.
Regenerative cross talk between cardiac cells and macrophages
Authors: Whitehead Alexander J. , Engler Adam J.
Published: March 2021

Immediately postnatal mammalian hearts are able to regenerate after infarction, but the cells, pathways, and molecules that regulate this behavior are unclear. By comparing RNA-Seq datasets from regenerative mouse hearts and older, nonregenerative hearts, we are able to identify biological processes that are hallmarks of regeneration. We find that sterile inflammatory processes are upregulated in nonregenerative hearts, initiating profibrotic gene programs 3 days after myocardial infarction that can cause myocardial disease.
NGF nanoparticles enhance the potency of transplanted human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for myocardial repair
Authors: Luo Wei , Gong Yanshan , Qiu Fan , Yuan Yi , Jia Wenwen , Liu Zhongmin , Gao Ling
Published: March 2021

NGF PLGA nanoparticles can exert a protective effect on hUCMSCs and promote the paracrine effects of hUCMSCs on angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte protection through TrkA-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, the same with free NGF. The application of NGF PLGA nanoparticles in the hUCMSC fibrin cardiac patches can significantly improve the retention of transplanted hUCMSCs and enhance their ability to reduce myocardial apoptosis and promote angiogenesis in the mouse heart after MI.
Sodium channelopathies of skeletal muscle and brain
Authors: Mantegazza Massimo , Cestèle Sandrine , Catterall William A.
Published: March 2021

Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate action potentials in nerve, skeletal muscle, and other electrically excitable cells. Mutations in them cause a wide range of diseases. These channelopathy mutations affect every aspect of sodium channel function, including voltage sensing, voltage-dependent activation, ion conductance, fast and slow inactivation, and both biosynthesis and assembly. Mutations that cause different forms of periodic paralysis in skeletal muscle were discovered first and have provided a template for understanding structure, function, and pathophysiology at the molecular level. More recent work has revealed multiple sodium channelopathies in the brain. Here we review the well-characterized genetics and pathophysiology of the periodic paralyses of skeletal muscle and then use this information as a foundation for advancing our understanding of mutations in the structurally homologous α-subunits of brain sodium channels that cause epilepsy, migraine, autism, and related comorbidities. We include studies based on molecular and structural biology, cell biology and physiology, pharmacology, and mouse genetics. Our review reveals unexpected connections among these different types of sodium channelopathies.
Step-by-Step Esthetic Rehabilitation with Chairside System
Authors: Kallala Rim , Chaouch Mohamed Habib , Nasr Karim , Courset Teva
Published: March 2021

In modern dentistry, Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is a promising technology that allows fabrication of prosthetic restorations through milling procedures. Over years, with the continuous improvement of technology, direct CAD/CAM or “chairside” technology is becoming a widespread approach which offers immediate rehabilitation with long-term rates reported by several studies compared to conventional techniques. All steps are generally carried out in the dental office during the same treatment session. The present paper is about a healthy female patient with a decayed 36 tooth which was restored by ceramic onlay using Planmeca’s PlanCAD system. Through the present clinical case, a detailed protocol of chairside technology would be presented from the digital impression to the milling process. It would detail impression steps. It would also highlight especially the virtual design confection of prosthetic restoration using a biogeneric model included in the software. It also illustrated tools which could be used by the dentist to perform the design. Also, some useful tips would be presented in order to perform the confection. On this subject, various studies showed the viability of such technology. To summarize, referring to previous studies, this promising technology allows especially time-saving and patient’s comfort compared to the indirect one.
Evaluation of Bacterial Load and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus from Ready-to-Eat Raw Beef in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia
Authors: Tsehayneh Bizuneh , Yayeh Taddesse , Agmas Birhan
Published: March 2021

Background. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important causes of food-borne intoxication and the most frequent antibiotic-resistant pathogen in the world. Regular evaluation of the current safety status of food is a proactive measure to minimize the possible danger of food-borne pathogens. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the bacterial load and antibiotic resistance profile of S. aureus from ready-to-eat raw beef in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia. Methodology. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to April 2019 by collecting a total of 101 raw beef samples from butcher shops using a simple random sampling method. Isolation and microbial load determination of S. aureus use were performed by conventional culture method and an antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted by using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method on the Mueller–Hinton agar. The data were analyzed by using STATA software version 12.0. Result. Out of 101 raw beef samples, 55 (54.45%) were positive for S. aureus with a mean bacterial count of 3.40 ± 0.63 (log10 cfu/g). About 13% of butcher shops had unacceptable and potentially dangerous (above 104 cfu/g) bacterial load. High S. aureus drug resistance was observed on penicillin (92.73%) followed by cefoxitin (74.5%), tetracycline (63.63%), and clindamycin (50.9%). On the other hand, there was the highest susceptibility for ciprofloxacin (100%) followed by gentamycin (90.91%) and erythromycin (87.27%). Multidrug resistance was also found in 54 (98%) of the isolates. Conclusion. In this study highly drug-resistant S. aureus was incriminated as the main meat contaminant in butcheries of Bahir Dar city. Therefore, appropriate antimicrobial use and staphylococcal control methods should be employed to prevent S. aureus intoxications in foods.
Using Machine Learning Algorithm to Describe the Connection between the Types and Characteristics of Music Signal
Authors: Sun Bo
Published: March 2021

Music classification is conducive to online music retrieval, but the current music classification model finds it difficult to accurately identify various types of music, which makes the classification effect of the current music classification model poor. In order to improve the accuracy of music classification, a music classification model based on multifeature fusion and machine learning algorithm is proposed. First, we obtain the music signal, and then extract various features from the classification of the music signal, and use machine learning algorithms to describe the type of music signal and the relationship between the features. The music classifier and deep belief network machine learning models in shallow logistic regression are established, respectively. Experiments were designed for these two models to verify the applicability of the model for music classification. By comparing the experimental results, it is found that the classification accuracy of the deep confidence network model is higher than that of the logistic regression model, but the number of iterations needed for its accuracy to converge is also higher than that of the logistic regression model. Compared with other current music classification models, this model reduces the time of constructing music classifier, speeds up the speed of music classification, and can identify various types of music with high precision. The accuracy of music classification is obviously improved, which verifies the superiority of this music classification model.
Optimization of Ultrasound Information Imaging Algorithm in Cardiovascular Disease Based on Image Enhancement
Authors: Shao Yongfu , Wu Jue , Ou Hongping , Pei Min , Liu Li , Movassagh Ali Akbar , Sharma Ashutosh , Dhiman Gaurav , Gheisari Mehdi , Asheralieva Alia
Published: March 2021

To improve the interpretability or perception of information in images for human viewers is the main goal of image enhancement. Aiming at the problem that image edges are difficult to determine due to artefacts, plaques, and vascular branches in cardiovascular ultrasound, an edge ultrasound imaging detection algorithm based on spatial-frequency-domain image enhancement is proposed to improve the clarity of ultrasound images. Firstly, this paper uses the space-frequency-domain enhancement algorithm to enhance the image. This algorithm overcomes the problem of low contrast of conventional algorithms. The enhanced data matrix is used as the cost matrix, and then, the heuristic image search method is used to search the image of the cost matrix. The results show that the use of spatial-frequency-domain image ultrasound imaging algorithm can improve the contrast and sharpness of ultrasound images of cardiovascular disease, which can make the middle edge of the image clearer, the detection accuracy rate is increased to 92.76%, and the ultrasound of cardiovascular disease is improved. The edge of the image gets accuracy. The paper confirms that the ultrasound imaging algorithm based on spatial-frequency-domain image enhancement is worthy of application in clinical ultrasound image processing. The performance of the proposed technique is 32.54%, 75.30%, 21.19%, 21.26%, and 11.10% better than the existing technique in terms of edge energy, detail energy, sharpness, contrast, and information entropy, respectively.
Distribution Law of Mining Stress of the Gob‐Side Entry Retaining in Deep Mining Thin Coal Seam
Authors: Qin Tao , Ren Kai , Jiang Chen , Duan Yanwei , Liu Zhi , Wang Lei
Published: March 2021

In order to explore the mining pressure development rule of gob‐side entry retaining during deep thin coal seam mining, FLAC3D numerical simulation is applied to analyze the stress distribution rule of gob‐side entry retaining, observing the left third working face of 49# coal seam in No. 8 mining area of Xinxing Coal Mine as the research object. The results show that the working face stress field is asymmetrical which is caused by the reserved roadway and the over goaf. After roadway tunneling, features of obvious stress redistribution are formed. The vertical and horizontal stress in the coal seam develop a U‐shaped distribution. The vertical stress in the roadway is less than that in the lower roadway, and the horizontal stress is half that in the lower roadway. The phenomenon of high stress “nucleation” appears and becomes more obvious in the process of working face advancing, and the nuclear body disappears after working face advanced to the boundary line. With the working surface advancing, the trend of horizontal stress of gob‐side entry retaining decreases gradually and the vertical stress of gob‐side entry retaining is less than the original rock stress. The research findings provide a basis for the supporting design of gob‐side entry retaining in the deep thin coal seam and the stability control of surrounding rock.
Comparison of Soft Tissue Changes Produced by Two Different Appliances on Mixed Dentition Children
Authors: Fareen Nashid , Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Khamis Mohd Fadhli , Mokhtar Norehan
Published: March 2021

Objective. This study was focused on comparing and analyzing the soft tissue changes induced by Reverse Twin‐Block (RTB) and Reverse Pull Face Mask (RPFM) in early and late mixed dentition Malay children having Class III malocclusion. Methods. This cross‐sectional study includes a total sample of 95 Malay children of both early (8‐9 years) and late (10‐11 years) mixed dentition stages. The comparison was between 49 samples treated by RTB and 46 samples treated by RPFM. Both pre‐ and posttreatment changes were assessed with Holdaway’s analysis using the CASSOS software. In each cephalogram, 71 anatomic landmarks were traced. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed for statistical evaluation. Results. Statistically significant changes were noticed in soft tissue facial angle, subnasale to H‐line, skeletal profile convexity, upper lip strain, H‐line angle, lower lip to H‐line, and inferior sulcus to H‐line measurements. Gender disparity was noticed in upper lip strain. Other significant changes were influenced by the type of appliance. However, the mean differences were minute to notice clinically. Age difference did not have any effect on the treatment changes. Conclusions. RPFM revealed treatment outcome with more protruded upper lip than RTB.
Optimal Design of Diversion Piers of Lateral Intake Pumping Station Based on Orthogonal Test
Authors: Zhou Jiren , Zhao Miaomiao , Wang Chuan , Gao Zhenjun
Published: March 2021

To explore the rectification parameters of the diversion piers optimized for the forebay of the pump station with a lateral angle of 45°, the orthogonal experiment and computational fluid dynamics methods are used to analyze the flow characteristics of the diversion piers under different parameter combinations. The flow pattern in the forebay of the side water inlet is improved. The rectification effect of the diversion piers under 16 schemes is analyzed, considering the length, width, radian, and relative height of the diversion piers. Combined with numerical simulation, a better rectification scheme is provided, and finally, a reasonable range of values for the rectification parameters of the forebay diversion pier of the side 45° bend angle pump station is obtained.
An Overlapping Phase Approach to Optimize Bus Signal Priority Control under Two-Way Signal Coordination on Urban Arterials
Authors: Liang Zijun , Xiao Yun , Flötteröd Yun-Pang
Published: March 2021

With the consideration of the uneven traffic volume distribution at intersections on urban arterials, this paper aims to minimize the overall passenger delay (buses and private vehicles) at intersections and identify the applicable conditions of the proposed method with field data. The overlapping phase-based signal control logic and the bus priority control algorithm under two-way signal coordination on arterial roads are proposed. The vehicular capacities and occupancies for buses and passenger cars are considered in the evaluation of the method performance. A field test was carried out at two major intersections on an arterial road in Hefei, China. With the test data, the proposed method is examined and the possible influencing factors are analyzed for identifying the corresponding applicable conditions. The analysis result shows that the application of the overlapping phase helps to provide a relatively flexible signal control for the varying traffic demands at intersections. Compared to the conventional phase, it isof more practical significance to consider overlapping phase and apply bussignal priority control under two-way signal coordination according to the condition of uneven traffic volumedistribution at intersections on urban arterials. The proposed method can effectively decrease the total passenger delay at the intersections on urban arterials under certain applicable conditions. The possible factors influencing the method applicability are identified as well. It is verified that bus signal priority control under the two-way signal coordination, based on overlapping phases, is more conducive to improving traffic efficiency on urban arterials. Regarding the influencing factors and the applicability of the proposed method, the results show that not all situations are conducive to decreasing passenger delay at intersections. The proposed method should be applied under certain applicable conditions and principles in order to efficiently and effectively improve the traffic efficiency on arterial roads.
Effects of Parallel Importation and Power Structures on Price Competition in Duopolistic Supply Chains
Authors: Rong Luqing , Xu Maozeng , Chen Xiaofeng , Lu Zhiping
Published: March 2021

Multinational manufacturers (MNMs) achieve significant gains from product quality and reputation in entering emerging markets while facing many operational risks, such as parallel importation (PI) and market power structures. This paper focuses on a duopolistic supply chain consisting of one MNM and one local manufacturer (LM) in an emerging market with low willingness-to-pay (WTP). Within the game analytical framework, we consider different market power structures and investigate the impact of PI on the manufacturers’ price competition, and we further discuss the MNM’s countermeasures in high and low WTP markets. We find that PI does not occur when the WTP ratio is below the threshold or the transaction cost is high. Power structures significantly affect the participant’s profitability, the LM’s gains are maximized if the MNM fully dominates the market, and the MNM loses the minimum if the LM exclusively rules the market. When in codominant structure, the parallel importer achieves maximum gains while the MNM’s profits rise in the market WTP ratio interval. PI activities boost the benefits for the LM and the parallel importer, whereas increasing transaction costs diminish those effects and promote the MNM’s profitability. PI promotes or deters price competition in duopolistic supply chains depending on power structures. In addition, increasing either the level of product substitution or quality perception restrains PI and improves the LM’s earnings, but the latter expands the MNM’s losses.
Bayesian Analysis of Record Statistic from the Inverse Weibull Distribution under Balanced Loss Function
Authors: Al-Duais Fuad S.
Published: March 2021

The main contribution of this work is to develop a linear exponential loss function (LINEX) to estimate the scale parameter and reliability function of the inverse Weibull distribution (IWD) based on lower record values. We do this by merging a weight into LINEX to produce a new loss function called weighted linear exponential loss function (WLINEX). We then use WLINEX to derive the scale parameter and reliability function of the IWD. Subsequently, we discuss the balanced loss functions for three different types of loss function, which include squared error (SE), LINEX, and WLINEX. The majority of previous scholars determined the weighted balanced coefficients without mathematical justification. One of the main contributions of this work is to utilize nonlinear programming to obtain the optimal values of the weighted coefficients for balanced squared error (BSE), balanced linear exponential (BLINEX), and balanced weighted linear exponential (BWLINEX) loss functions. Furthermore, to examine the performance of the proposed methods—WLINEX and BWLINEX—we conduct a Monte Carlo simulation. The comparison is between the proposed methods and other methods including maximum likelihood estimation, SE loss function, LINEX, BSE, and BLINEX. The results of simulation show that the proposed models BWLINEX and WLINEX in this work have the best performance in estimating scale parameter and reliability, respectively, according to the smallest values of mean SE. This result means that the proposed approach is promising and can be applied in a real environment.