bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small and sick newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: global survey and thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ voices and experiences
Authors: Rao Suman P N , Minckas Nicole , Medvedev Melissa M , Gathara David , Y N Prashantha , Seifu Estifanos Abiy , Silitonga Alfrida Camelia , Jadaun Arun Singh , Adejuyigbe Ebunoluwa A , Brotherton Helen , Arya Sugandha , Gera Rani , Ezeaka Chinyere V , Gai Abdou , Gobezayehu Abebe Gebremariam , Dube Queen , Kumar Aarti , Naburi Helga , Chiume Msandeni , Tumukunde Victor , Medhanyie Araya Abrha , Plange-Rhule Gyikua , Shabini Josephine , Ohuma Eric O , Tadele Henok , W/Gebriel Fitsum , Hadgu Amanuel , Alamineh Lamesgin , Mehta Rajesh , Molyneux Elizabeth , Lawn Joy E
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting health systems globally. Maternity care disruptions have been surveyed, but not those related to vulnerable small newborns. We aimed to survey reported disruptions to small and sick newborn care worldwide and undertake thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ experiences and proposed mitigation strategies.

Methods

Using a widely disseminated online survey in three languages, we reached out to neonatal healthcare providers. We collected data on COVID-19 preparedness, effects on health personnel and on newborn care services, including kangaroo mother care (KMC), as well as disruptors and solutions.

Results

We analysed 1120 responses from 62 countries, mainly low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preparedness for COVID-19 was suboptimal in terms of guidelines and availability of personal protective equipment. One-third reported routine testing of all pregnant women, but 13% had no testing capacity at all. More than 85% of health personnel feared for their own health and 89% had increased stress. Newborn care practices were disrupted both due to reduced care-seeking and a compromised workforce. More than half reported that evidence-based interventions such as KMC were discontinued or discouraged. Separation of the mother–baby dyad was reported for both COVID-positive mothers (50%) and those with unknown status (16%). Follow-up care was disrupted primarily due to families’ fear of visiting hospitals (~73%).

Conclusion

Newborn care providers are stressed and there is lack clarity and guidelines regarding care of small newborns during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to protect life-saving interventions, such as KMC, threatened by the pandemic, and to be ready to recover and build back better.
Significant amelioration of hepatitis C virus infection in a hyperendemic area: longitudinal evidence from the COMPACT Study in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Pei-Chien , Huang Ching-I , Yeh Ming-Lun , Huang Chung-Feng , Hsieh Meng-Hsuan , Yang Jeng-Fu , Hsu Po-Yao , Liang Po-Cheng , Lin Yi-Hung , Jang Tyng Yuan , Hsieh Ming-Yen , Dai Chia-Yen , Lin Zu-Yau , Chen Shinn-Chern , Huang Jee-Fu , Yu Ming-Lung , Chuang Wan-Long , Chang Wen-Yu
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Tzukuan, located in the southwestern area of Taiwan, is an HCV hyperendemic area (>30%). This study aimed to assess the changing epidemiological characteristics of HCV infection and to evaluate the long-term outcomes after the implementation of public health strategies for two decades.

Design

A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Setting

A comprehensive care programme was implemented, namely COMPACT Study, in Tzukuan since 1997.

Participants

A total of 10 714 residents participated the screening.

Outcome measures

The HCV status, demographic and clinical profiles of the participants were recorded and validated annually from 2000 through 2019.

Results

The HCV infection prevalence rates were 21.1% (1076/5099) in 2000–2004, 18.8% (239/1269) in 2005–2009, 14.1% (292/2071) in 2010–2014 and 10.3% (234/2275) in 2015–2019 (p for trend test <0.0001). Among them, 1614 underwent repeated tests during the follow-up period. The annual incidence rates were 0.54% in 2005–2009, 0.4% in 2010–2014 and 0.22% in 2015–2019, respectively (p=0.01). In addition to old age, lower education level was a major risk factor for HCV infection across different periods. HCV infection prevalence rate among those illiterates reached 40.9%, followed by 28.5% in those with elementary school level, and <10% in those with high school or higher levels. The major risk factor has shifted from iatrogenic exposure in 2000–2009 to household transmission after 2010.

Conclusions

HCV infection has been decreasing and the epidemiological features are changing in the hyperendemic area by continuing education, prevention and treatment strategies.
Bugs and Brains, the Gut and Mental Health Study: a mixed-methods study investigating microbiota composition and function in anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Simpson Carra A , Schwartz Orli S , Eliby Djamila , Butler Catherine A , Huang Katherine , O"Brien-Simpson Neil , Callaghan Bridget L , Dashper Stuart G , Gooley Paul R , Whittle Sarah , Haslam Nick , Simmons Julian G
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Research has highlighted relationships between the micro-organisms that inhabit our gastrointestinal tract (oral and gut microbiota) with host mood and gastrointestinal functioning. Mental health disorders and functional gastrointestinal disorders co-occur at high rates, although the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. The Bugs and Brains Study aims to investigate complex relationships between anxiety/depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in two ways. First, its primary component will compare the gut and oral microbiota in females with anxiety/depression and/or IBS relative to controls, and investigate underlying physiological, endocrine and immune factors, as well as associations with diet and psychosocial factors. In an ancillary component, the study will also investigate gastrointestinal and mental health symptoms in a larger sample, and explore relationships with diet, exercise, oral health, substance use, medical history, early life adversity and psychosocial factors.

Methods and analysis

The Bugs and Brains Study aims to recruit 160 females to the primary component: (1) 40 controls; (2) 40 participants with a depressive/anxiety disorder, but no IBS; (3) 40 participants with IBS, but no depressive/anxiety disorder and (4) 40 participants with both depressive/anxiety disorder and IBS. Participation is completed within 1 month, and involves comprehensive questionnaires, anthropometrics, a diagnostic clinical interview, collection of two saliva samples, and stool, urine and hair samples. This study aims to use a systems biology approach to characterise oral and gut microbial compositionandfunction using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and nuclear MR spectroscopy. As part of the ancillary component, it will collect questionnaire data from 1000 participants aged 18–40 years, capturing mental health, gastrointestinal health, oral health, diet and psychosocial factors.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval was granted by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee (#1749221). All participants voluntarily provided informed consent. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.
Public and patient involvement in health data governance (DATAGov): protocol of a people-centred, mixed-methods study on data use and sharing for rare diseases care and research
Authors: de Freitas Cláudia , Amorim Mariana , Machado Helena , Leão Teles Elisa , Baptista Maria João , Renedo Alicia , Provoost Veerle , Silva Susana
Published: March 2021

Introduction

International policy imperatives for the public and patient involvement in the governance of health data coexist with conflicting cross-border policies on data sharing. This can challenge the planning and implementation of participatory data governance in healthcare services locally. Engaging with local stakeholders and understanding how their needs, values and preferences for governing health data can be articulated with policies made at the supranational level is crucial. This paper describes a protocol for a project that aims to coproduce a people-centred model for involving patients and the public in decision-making processes about the use and sharing of health data for rare diseases care and research.

Methods and analysis

This multidisciplinary project draws on an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study. A hospital-based survey with patients, informal carers, health professionals and technical staff recruited at two reference centres for rare diseases in Portugal will be conducted first. The qualitative study will follow consisting of semi-structured interviews and scenario-based workshops with a subsample of the participant groups recruited at baseline. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Inductive and deductive approaches will be combined to analyse the qualitative interviews. Data from scenario-based workshops will be iteratively compared using the constant comparison method to identify cross-cutting themes and categories.

Ethics and dissemination

The Ethics Committee for Health from the University Hospital Centre São João/Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto approved the study protocol (Ref. 99/19). Research findings will be disseminated at academic conferences and science promotion events, and through public meetings involving patient representatives, practitioners, policy-makers and students, a project website and peer-reviewed journal publications.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effect of ASPIRIN discontinuation after left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation: protocol of the ASPIRIN LAAO trial
Authors: Chen Mu , Wang Qunshan , Sun Jian , Zhang Peng-Pai , Li Wei , Mo Bin-Feng , Chen Tai-Zhong , Tang Xiaoli , Li Yi-Gang
Published: March 2021

Introduction

It is the common clinical practice to prescribe indefinite aspirin for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) post left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). However, aspirin as a primary prevention strategy for cardiovascular diseases has recently been challenged due to increased risk of bleeding. Therefore, aspirin discontinuation after LAAO in atrial fibrillation (ASPIRIN LAAO) trial is designed to assess the uncertainty about the risks and benefits of discontinuing aspirin therapy at 6 months postimplantation with a Watchman LAAO device in NVAF patients.

Methods and analysis

The ASPIRIN LAAO study is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled non-inferiority trial. Patients implanted with a Watchman device within 6 months prior to enrollment and without pre-existing conditions requiring long-term aspirin therapy according to current guidelines are eligible for participating the trial. Subjects will be randomised in a 1:1 allocation ratio to either the Aspirin group (aspirin 100 mg/day) or the control group (placebo) at 6 months postimplantation. A total of 1120 subjects will be enrolled from 12 investigational sites in China. The primary composite endpoint is stroke, systemic embolism, cardiovascular/unexplained death, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and coronary or periphery artery disease requiring revascularisation at 24 months. Follow-up visits are scheduled at 6 and 12 months and then every 12 months until 24 months after the last patient recruitment.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China (reference number XHEC-C-2018-065-5). The protocol is also submitted and approved by the institutional Ethics Committee at each participating centre. Results are expected in 2024 and will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT03821883.
Exploring correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse: a nationwide cross-sectional study of international migrants during the COVID-19 epidemic in China
Authors: Hall Brian J , Zhao Peizhen , Xiong Ming Zhou , Latkin Carl , Yang Bin , Wang Cheng
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems globally. With the increase of global migration, quantifying the health needs and key correlates of these outcomes is a global health priority. This study assessed migration characteristics, COVID-19 attitudes and the postmigration social environment as key correlates of depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse among international migrants in China.

Design

A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 17 February and 1 March 2020.

Setting

Links to the online survey were disseminated by migrant-focused community-based organisations through WeChat.

Participants

English speaking international migrants who met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were being born in a country outside of China, aged 18 years or over, cumulatively living in China for 1 month or more and staying in China between December 2019 and February 2020.

Outcome measures

Depression, quality of life and alcohol misuse.

Results

Regression models indicated that planning or considering leaving China due to COVID-19, lacking the confidence to protect themselves and not being confident that the epidemic would end soon was associated with greater depression, lower quality of life and greater levels of alcohol misuse. Worry about contracting COVID-19 and feeling helpless to prevent infection were associated with greater depression and lower quality of life. General perceived social support, and trust in Chinese people, institutions and systems were protective factors for depression and associated with higher reported quality of life.

Conclusions

This study identifies key correlates that, if adequately addressed through public health outreach, may safeguard migrant well-being during a public health emergency. Trust in people and systems within the postmigration environment is an important consideration for future public health planning efforts.
Effect of bromhexine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Authors: Tolouian Ramin , Mulla Zuber D , Jamaati Hamidreza , Babamahmoodi Abdolreza , Marjani Majid , Eskandari Raha , Dastan Farzaneh
Published: March 2021

Background: Bromhexine is a potent inhibitor of transmembrane serine protease 2 and appears to have an antiviral effect in controlling influenza and parainfluenza infection; however, its efficacy in COVID-19 is controversial.

Methods: A group of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were randomized using 1:1 allocation to either standard treatment lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon beta-1a or bromhexine 8 mg four times a day in addition to standard therapy. The primary outcome was clinical improvement within 28 days, and the secondary outcome measures were time to hospital discharge, all-cause mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, the temporal trend in 2019-nCoV reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction positivity and the frequency of adverse drug events within 28 days from the start of medication.

Results: A total of 111 patients were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial and data from 100 patients (48 patients in the treatment arm and 52 patients in the control arm) were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of this study, which was clinical improvement. There was no significant difference in the average time to hospital discharge between the two arms. There were also no differences observed in the mean intensive care unit stay, frequency of intermittent mandatory ventilation, duration of supplemental oxygenation or risk of death by day 28 noted between the two arms.

Conclusion: Bromhexine is not an effective treatment for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The potential prevention benefits of bromhexine in asymptomatic postexposure or with mild infection managed in the community remain to be determined.
Anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab inhibits triple-negative breast tumor growth by targeting GD2+ breast cancer stem-like cells
Authors: Ly Stanley , Anand Vivek , El-Dana Fouad , Nguyen Khoa , Cai Yiming , Cai Shirong , Piwnica-Worms Helen , Tripathy Debasish , Sahin Aysegul A , Andreeff Michael , Battula Venkata Lokesh
Published: March 2021

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with no effective standard therapy. Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSCs) in primary TNBCs are reported to be responsible for metastatic spread of the disease and resistance to chemotherapy, but no available therapeutic tools target BCSCs. We previously reported that the ganglioside GD2 is highly expressed on BCSCs and that inhibition of its expression hampers TNBC growth. We therefore hypothesized that the anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab (ch14.18) targets GD2+ BCSCs and inhibits TNBC growth.

Method

To test our hypothesis, we first determined GD2 expression via immunohistochemistry in frozen primary tumor samples from patients with TNBC (n=89). Then, we examined the effects of dinutuximab on TNBC cell adhesion, migration, and mammosphere formation in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo using TNBC cell-line and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.

Results

We found that GD2 was expressed in around 60% of primary TNBC tumors at variable levels and was associated with worse overall survival of patients with TNBC (p=0.002). GD2 was found to be expressed in tumors and stroma, but normal ducts and lobules in adjacent tissues have shown low or no GD2 staining, indicating that GD2 is potentially a novel biomarker for tumor and its microenvironment. Treatment with dinutuximab significantly decreased adhesion and migration of MDA-MB-231 and SUM159 TNBC cells. Moreover, dinutuximab treatment inhibited mTOR signaling, which has been shown to be regulated by GD2 in BCSCs. Dinutuximab also reduced tumor growth in nude mice bearing TNBC cell-line xenografts. Finally, dinutuximab in combination with activated natural killer cells inhibited tumor growth in a TNBC PDX model and improved overall survival of tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusions

Dinutuximab successfully eliminated GD2+ cells and reduced tumor growth in both in vivo models. Our data provide proof-of-concept for the criticality of GD2 in BCSCs and demonstrate the potential of dinutuximab as a novel therapeutic approach for TNBC.
Association between clot composition and stroke origin in mechanical thrombectomy patients: analysis of the Stroke Thromboembolism Registry of Imaging and Pathology
Authors: Brinjikji Waleed , Nogueira Raul G , Kvamme Peter , Layton Kennith F , Delgado Almandoz Josser E , Hanel Ricardo A , Mendes Pereira Vitor , Almekhlafi Mohammed A , Yoo Albert J , Jahromi Babak S , Gounis Matthew J , Patel Biraj , Abbasi Mehdi , Fitzgerald Seán , Mereuta Oana Madalina , Dai Daying , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Doyle Karen , Savastano Luis , Cloft Harry J , Haussen Diogo C , Al-Bayati Alhamza R , Mohammaden Mahmoud H , Pisani Leonardo , Rodrigues Gabriel Martins , Thacker Ike C , Kayan Yasha , Copelan Alexander , Aghaebrahim Amin , Sauvageau Eric , Demchuk Andrew M , Bhuva Parita , Soomro Jazba , Nazari Pouya , Cantrell Donald Robert , Puri Ajit S , Entwistle John , Polley Eric C , Kallmes David F
Published: March 2021

Background

We retrospectively evaluated the composition of retrieved clots from ischemic stroke patients to study the association between histological composition and stroke etiology

Methods

Consecutive patients enrolled in the Stroke Thromboembolism Registry of Imaging and Pathology (STRIP) were included in this study. All patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy and retrieved clots were sent to a central core lab for processing. Histological analysis was performed using martius scarlet blue (MSB) staining, and quantification for red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), fibrin and platelets was performed using Orbit Image Software. A Wilcoxon test was used for continuous variables and χ2test for categorical variables.

Results

1350 patients were included in this study. The overall rate of Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2c/3 was 68%. 501 patients received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) (37%). 267 patients (20%) had a large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) source, 662 (49%) a cardioembolic (CE) source, 301 (22%) were cryptogenic, and the remainder had other identifiable sources including hypercoagulable state or dissection. LAA thrombi had a higher mean RBC density (46±23% vs 42±22%, p=0.01) and a lower platelet density (24±18% vs 27±18%, p=0.03) than CE thrombi. Clots from dissection patients had the highest mean RBC density (50±24%) while clots from patients with a hypercoagulable state had the lowest mean RBC density (26±21%).

Conclusions

Our study found statistically significant but clinically insignificant differences between clots of CE and LAA etiologies. Future studies should emphasize molecular, proteomic and immunohistochemical characteristics to determine links between clot composition and etiology.
Endovascular reperfusion outcomes in patients with a stroke and low ASPECTS is highly dependent on baseline infarct volumes
Authors: Bouslama Mehdi , Barreira Clara M , Haussen Diogo C , Rodrigues Gabriel Martins , Pisani Leonardo , Frankel Michael R , Nogueira Raul G
Published: March 2021

Background

Patients with large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) and a low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) are often not offered endovascular therapy (ET) as they are thought to have a poor prognosis.

Objective

To compare the outcomes of patients with low and high ASPECTS undergoing ET based on baseline infarct volumes.

Methods

Review of a prospectively collected endovascular database at a tertiary care center between September 2010 and March 2020. All patients with anterior circulation LVOS and interpretable baseline CT perfusion (CTP) were included. Subjects were divided into groups with low ASPECTS (0–5) and high ASPECTS (6-10) and subsequently into limited and large CTP-core volumes (cerebral blood flow 30% >70 cc). The primary outcome measure was the difference in rates of 90-day good outcome as defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2 across groups.

Results

1248 patients fit the inclusion criteria. 125 patients had low ASPECTS, of whom 16 (12.8%) had a large core (LC), whereas 1123 patients presented with high ASPECTS, including 29 (2.6%) patients with a LC. In the category with a low ASPECTS, there was a trend towards lower rates of functional independence (90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-2) in the LC group (18.8% vs 38.9%, p=0.12), which became significant after adjusting for potential confounders in multivariable analysis (aOR=0.12, 95% CI 0.016 to 0.912, p=0.04). Likewise, LC was associated with significantly lower rates of functional independence (31% vs 51.9%, p=0.03; aOR=0.293, 95% CI 0.095 to 0.909, p=0.04) among patients with high ASPECTS.

Conclusions

Outcomes may vary significantly in the same ASPECTS category depending on infarct volume. Patients with ASPECTS ≤5 but baseline infarct volumes ≤70 cc may achieve independence in nearly 40% of the cases and thus should not be excluded from treatment.
The Capelin invasion: evidence for a trophic shift in Arctic Char populations from the Cumberland Sound region, Nunavut, Canada
Authors: Ulrich Kendra Lyn , Tallman Ross F.
Published: March 2021

Climate change is having myriad effects on Arctic marine ecosystems and food webs. Anadromous Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758), feed intensively at sea during summer. In Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, Canada, there has been a recent increased availability of a forage fish, Capelin. To investigate changes over time in Arctic Char foraging, we assessed Arctic Char trophic niche from 2002 to 2011 using stomach content analysis and stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of muscle tissue from two river/lake systems, Isuituq and Kipisa. We also compared population characteristics by calculating Fulton’s condition factor (K) and by fitting von Bertalanffy growth curves with length-at-age data. Results revealed Capelin were newly present in the diets of Arctic Char in 2011, describing a shift from a primarily invertebrate-based to a fish-based diet. No trend in δ15N over time suggests that the trophic level of Arctic Char has not changed; however, the δ15C for both systems converged in 2011 on a value suggestive of feeding on Capelin. Growth curves and length-at-age analyses suggest that foraging on Capelin may have increased individual growth. Changes in the growth and condition of Arctic Char in this region could have significant economic and cultural implications.
The influence of blue crab movement on mark–recapture estimates of recreational harvest and exploitation
Authors: Semmler Robert Francis , Ogburn Matthew Bryan , Aguilar Robert , North Elizabeth Watkins , Reaka Marjorie Lindquist , Hines Anson Hemingway
Published: March 2021

Despite the need to quantify total catch to support sustainable fisheries management, estimating harvests of recreational fishers remains a challenge. Harvest estimates from mark–recapture studies have proven valuable, yet animal movements and migrations may bias some of these estimates. To improve recreational harvest estimates, explore seasonal and spatial harvest patterns, and understand the influence of animal movement on exploitation rates, we conducted a mark–recapture experiment for the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fishery in Maryland waters of Chesapeake Bay, USA. Data were analyzed with standard tag-return methods and with revised equations that accounted for crab movement between reporting areas. Using standard calculations, state-wide recreational harvest was estimated to be 4.04 million crabs. When movement was included in the calculations, the estimate was 5.39 million, an increase of 34%. With crab movement, recreational harvest in Maryland was estimated to be 6.5% of commercial harvest, a finding consistent with previous effort surveys. The new methods presented herein are broadly applicable for estimating recreational harvest in fisheries that target mobile species and for which spatial variation in commercial harvest is known.
Primordial monopolium as dark matter
Authors: Vento Vicente
Published: March 2021

The existence of monopoles is a characteristic signature of Kaluza–Klein multidimensional theories. The topology of these solutions is extremely interesting. The existence of a dipole solution, which we have associated to a monopole–anti-monopole bound state, is the leitmotiv of this investigation. The dipole in its lowest energy state, which we here call also monopolium, is electromagnetically inert in free space interacting only gravitationally. Monopolium when interacting with time dependent magnetic fields acquires a time dependent induced magnetic moment and radiates. We have analyzed the most favorable astrophysical scenario for radiative monopolium and found that the amount of radiation is so small that is not detectable by conventional equipments. These findings suggest that Kaluza–Klein monopolium, if existent, would be a candidate for a primordial dark matter constituent.
The anomalous 21-cm absorption at high redshifts
Authors: Melia Fulvio
Published: March 2021

The EDGES collaboration has reported the detection of a global 21-cm signal with a plateau centered at 76 MHz (i.e., redshift 17.2), with an amplitude of $$500^{+200}_{-500}$$

500

-
500

+
200

 mK. This anomalous measurement does not comport with standard cosmology, which can only accommodate an amplitude $$\lesssim 230$$

≲
230

 mK. Nevertheless, the line profile’s redshift range ($$15\lesssim z\lesssim 20$$

15
≲
z
≲
20

) suggests a possible link to Pop III star formation and an implied evolution out of the ‘dark ages.’ Given this tension with the standard model, we here examine whether the observed 21-cm signal is instead consistent with the results of recent modeling based on the alternative Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker cosmology known as the $$R_{\mathrm{h}}=ct$$

R
h

=
c
t

universe, showing that – in this model – the CMB radiation might have been rethermalized by dust ejected into the IGM by the first-generation stars at redshift $$z\sim 16$$

z
∼
16

. We find that the requirements for this process to have occurred would have self-consistently established an equilibrium spin temperature $$T_{\mathrm{s}}\approx 3.4$$

T
s

≈
3.4

K in the neutral hydrogen, via the irradiation of the IGM by deep penetrating X-rays emitted at the termination shocks of Pop III supernova remnants. Such a dust scenario has been strongly ruled out for the standard model, so the spin temperature ($$\sim 3.3$$

∼
3.3

K) inferred from the 21-cm absorption feature appears to be much more consistent with the $$R_{\mathrm{h}}=ct$$

R
h

=
c
t

profile than that implied by $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM, for which adiabatic cooling would have established a spin temperature $$T_\mathrm{s}(z=17.2)\sim 6$$

T
s

(
z
=
17.2
)

∼
6

K.
Majorana phases in high-scale mixing unification hypotheses
Authors: AbdusSalam S. S. , Abyaneh M. Z. , Ghelichkhani F. , Noormandipour M.
Published: March 2021

For addressing the remarkable difference between neutrino and quark mixings, high-scale mixing relations (HSMR) or unification (HSMU) hypotheses were proposed. These phenomenology frameworks have been explored with respect to bounds from neutrino oscillations and relevant cosmological data. However there are caveats with regards to assessing the hypotheses’ compatibility with data in a statistically robust and convergent manner because most analysis employ a few sample of points in model parameters’ space. A remedy could be achieved by using Bayesian algorithms for the parameters’ space exploration. Using this approach, we made global fits of the HSMU and HSMR models to data and find compatible parameter regions, including for Majorana phases. The posterior samples could be used for studying correlations between neutrino observables and prospects for updates of related experiments.
MOLECULAR FUNCTIONALIZATION OF 2D MATERIALS
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ GONZÁLEZ MIRIAM C. , SASIKUMAR RAHUL , DE FEYTER STEVEN
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we give an overview of different chemical modifications that can be done on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials. We place emphasis on the diversity of reactions that have been proposed and are now available to surface scientists working in 2D materials field. Using mainly, but not exclusively, MoS2as example, reactions involving covalent and non-covalent interactions are discussed.
HDR Image Compression by Multi-Scale down Sampling of Intensity Levels
Authors: Swamy A. S. Anand , Shylashree N.
Published: March 2021

HDR images are inherently very large in size compared to normal images. Hence, storage and communication overheads of HDR images are expensive to be used in mobile devices. Hence, invariably image compression is adopted for HDR images. In this paper, HDR image compression is achieved by down sampling the intensity levels while maintaining the dynamic range same as that of the original. This aspect retains the edge information of the images almost intact. Spatial down-sampling process is used to reduce the number of intensity samples. Consequently, this operation lowers the bit depth required to store the corresponding index file which in turn results in image compression.
Optimizing OCTG Thread Manufacturing Operation Using Automation
Authors: Nair Prashant Unnikrishnan
Published: March 2021

The paper discusses a unique technique developed initially at Nation Institute of Technology, Surat that is remodeled in real-world applications. The concept consists primarily of a user-friendly software facilitating direct communication with any intelligent or learning system/robot operating under known parameters of motor specifications. Any software base permitting high level PC interface without ASCII interrupt can be used for easy programming. This allows for a learning operation mode where a prevention of time lag is enabled by stored machine data, captured through movements such movements can be physically made or taught via programs to the device and such learning aspects make the machine more efficient where the robot can either perform individual actions as needed or learn new methods for the same results and can perform a series of actions continuously. Using the stored data, the machine is also capable of autonomous movements based on the path of least resistance as calculated by the time it takes to perform an act.

Interfacing Technique Tool Machining Robot (ITTMR) was developed as robotic tool holder that can determine the shape and size of different OCTG pipes utilized in the downhole industry and enable it to machine appropriate threads on the pipe with no manual intervention.

The process thereby completely negates any possibility of human error which can otherwise cause heavy loss on finished equipment that are rendered unusable because of threading errors on almost nearly finished complex milled parts or assemblies that are pending threads as the final operation. The purpose of the software codes is to provide a user-friendly GUI that can communicate with any machine by pulling in appropriate ACNC programs and performing the required tasks associated with the operating system and specifications of the motors/mobilization equipment’s used. For the purpose of this paper, the software code is not provided.

Any firmware base that permits the usage of an ASCII interrupt can be used and for the purpose of this operation, an RS323 equivalent board will also suffice for basic operations, however a complex ITTMR system has been utilized. This paper solely addresses the technique of how the threading operation is performed and does not address the process of how the pipe is bought to the machine or other associated aspects of the software to retain any possible patent applications on the same.
Electronic structure and reactivity of heme bound insulin
Authors: Roy Madhuparna , Pal Ishita , Dey Chinmay , Dey Abhishek , Dey Somdatta Ghosh
Published: March 2021

Insulin resistance as well as insulin deficiency are said to be principal to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2Dm). Heme has also been suggested to play an important role in the disease etiology since many of the heme deficiency symptoms constitute the common pathological features of T2Dm. Besides, iron overload, higher heme iron intake and transfusion requiring diseases are associated with a higher risk of T2Dm development. In this study the interaction between these two key components i.e. heme and insulin has been studied spectroscopically under different conditions which include the effect of excess peptide as well as increasing pH. The resultant heme-insulin complexes in their reduced state are found to produce very little partially reduced oxygen species (PROS) on getting oxidized by molecular oxygen. The interaction between insulin and previously reported T2Dm relevant heme-amylin complex were also examined using absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy. The corresponding data suggest that insulin sequesters heme from heme-amylin to form the much less cytotoxic heme-insulin.
Binary organic nanoparticles with enhanced reactive oxygen species generation capability for photodynamic therapy
Authors: Weng Xiaofu , Bao Zhouzhou , Wei Xunbin
Published: March 2021

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) takes advantage of photosensitizers (PSs) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cell killing when excited by light. It has been widely used in clinic for therapy of multiple cancers. Currently, all the FDA-approved PSs, including porphyrin, are all small organic molecules, suffering from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) issues in biological environment and lacking tumor targeting capability. Nanoparticles (NPs) with size between 20[Formula: see text]nm and 200[Formula: see text]nm possess tumor targeting capability due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. It is urgent to develop a new strategy to form clinical-approved-PSs-based NPs with improved ROS generation capability. In this study, we report a strategy to overwhelm the ACQ of porphyrin by doping it with a type of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen to produce a binary NPs with high biocompatibility, and enhanced fluorescence and ROS generation capability. Such NPs can be readily synthesized by mixing a porphyrin derivative, Ce6 with a typical AIE luminogen, TPE-Br. Here, our experimental results have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of this strategy, endowing it a great potential in clinical applications.
On ring-like structures of lattice-ordered numerical events
Authors: Dorninger Dietmar , Länger Helmut
Published: March 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a set of states of a physical system. The probabilities [Formula: see text] of the occurrence of an event when the system is in different states [Formula: see text] define a function from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] called a numerical event or, more accurately, an [Formula: see text]-probability. Sets of [Formula: see text]-probabilities ordered by the partial order of functions give rise to so-called algebras of [Formula: see text]-probabilities, in particular, to the ones that are lattice-ordered. Among these, there are the [Formula: see text]-algebras known from probability theory and the Hilbert-space logics which are important in quantum-mechanics. Any algebra of [Formula: see text]-probabilities can serve as a quantum-logic, and it is of special interest when this logic turns out to be a Boolean algebra because then the observed physical system will be classical. Boolean algebras are in one-to-one correspondence to Boolean rings, and the question arises to find an analogue correspondence for lattice-ordered algebras of [Formula: see text]-probabilities generalizing the correspondence between Boolean algebras and Boolean rings. We answer this question by defining ring-like structures of events (RLSEs). First, the structure of RLSEs is revealed and Boolean rings among RLSEs are characterized. Then we establish how RLSEs correspond to lattice-ordered algebras of numerical events. Further, functions for associating lattice-ordered algebras of [Formula: see text]-probabilities to RLSEs are studied. It is shown that there are only two ways to assign lattice-ordered algebras of [Formula: see text]-probabilities to RLSEs if one restricts the corresponding mappings to term functions over the underlying orthomodular lattice. These term functions are the very functions by which also the Boolean algebras can be assigned to Boolean rings.
Trading volume and serial correlation in crude oil futures returns
Authors: Wang Hua , Huang Weige
Published: March 2021

Due to increasing speculation, crude oil futures are now becoming one of the highest traded commodities. This paper studies the relationship between trading volume and serial correlation in crude oil futures returns using high frequency data. We find that volume can positively predict the serial correlation in the short run (within an hour) but negatively predict the serial correlation in the midterm. The trading volume is not able to consistently predict serial correlation in the long run (more than a day). The results from our empirical studies are robust to a variety of controls and our study gives a new insight in the relation between volume and serial correlation of crude oil futures returns.
Korotaikha Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element, Northwestern Russia
Authors: Sobornov Konstantin
Published: March 2021

The Korotaikha Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element constitutes the northeastern part of the Timan–Pechora petroleum province. It has evolved through rifting, continental margin development, and a two-stage collisional phase related to the Uralian Orogeny in the Late Artinskian–Late Permian and the Pay-Khoy Orogeny in the Late Triassic. In the course of the later phase, the sedimentary cover was delaminated along the Upper Ordovician evaporites, which produced general uplift. The complex tectonostratigraphic history resulted in the deposition of an up to 15 km-thick sedimentary section that has all the essential ingredients for a prolific petroleum system, including the world-class Domanik source rock and a wide variety of structural and stratigraphic traps. Nevertheless, up to now, no commercial discoveries have yet been made. A review of the geological setting and petroleum habitat suggests that the petroleum systems development was more complex than was assumed previously. The amount of uplift and erosion related to the updip displacement on the salt detachment was underestimated. Reinterpretation of the available data shows the presence of large untested exploration opportunities including duplex thrust sheets and subsalt structures related to squeezed diapirs.
Potential Pb
2+
mobilization, transport, and sequestration in shallow aquifers impacted by multiphase CO
2
leakage: a natural analogue study from the Virgin River Basin in SW Utah
Authors: Plampin Michelle R. , Blondes Madalyn S. , Sonnenthal Eric L. , Craddock William H.
Published: March 2021

Geological carbon sequestration (GCS) is necessary to help meet goals for emissions reduction, but groundwater contamination may occur if CO
2
and/or brine were to leak out of deep storage formations into the shallow subsurface. For this study, a natural analogue was investigated: in the Virgin River Basin of SW Utah, water with moderate salinity and high CO
2
concentrations is leaking upwards into shallow aquifers that contain heavy-metal-bearing concretions. The aquifer system is comprised of the Navajo and Kayenta formations, which are pervasive across southern Utah and have been considered as a potential GCS injection unit where they are sufficiently deep. Numerical models of the site were constructed based on measured water chemistry and head distributions from previous studies. Simulations were used to improve understanding of the rate and distribution of the upwelling flow into the aquifers, and to assess the reactive transport processes that may occur if the upwelling fluids were to interact with a zone of iron oxide and other heavy metals, representing the concretions that are common in the area. Various mineralogies were tested, including one in which Pb
2+
was adsorbed onto ferrihydrite, and another in which it was bound within a solid mixture of litharge (PbO) and hematite (Fe
2
O
3
). Results indicate that metal mobilization depends strongly on the source-zone composition and that Pb
2+
transport can be naturally attenuated by gas-phase formation and carbonate-mineral precipitation. These findings could be used to improve risk assessment and mitigation strategies at geological carbon sequestration sites.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Geoscience for CO
2
storage collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/geoscience-for-co2-storage
A Real-time Interactive Visualizer for Large Classroom
Authors: Bhattacharya Samit , Shah Viral Bharat , Kumar Krishna , Biswas Ujjwal
Published: March 2021

In improving the teaching and learning experience in a classroom environment, it is crucial for a teacher to have a fair idea about the students who need help during a lecture. However, teachers of large classes usually face difficulties in identifying the students who are in a critical state. The current methods for classroom visualization are limited in showing both the status and location of a large number of students in a limited display area. Additionally, comprehension of the states adds cognitive load on the teacher working in a time-constrained classroom environment. In this article, we propose a two-level visualizer for large classrooms to address the challenges. In the first level, the visualizer generates a colored matrix representation of the classroom. The colored matrix is a quantitative illustration of the status of the class in terms of student clusters. We use three colors: red, yellow, and green, indicating the most critical, less critical, and the normal cluster on the screen, respectively. With tap/click on the first level, detailed information for a cluster is visualized as the second level. We conducted extensive studies for our visualizer in a simulated classroom with 12 tasks and 27 teacher participants. The results show that the visualizer is efficient and usable.
Plan Optimization to Bilingual Dictionary Induction for Low-resource Language Families
Authors: Nasution Arbi Haza , Murakami Yohei , Ishida Toru
Published: March 2021

Creating bilingual dictionary is the first crucial step in enriching low-resource languages. Especially for the closely related ones, it has been shown that the constraint-based approach is useful for inducing bilingual lexicons from two bilingual dictionaries via the pivot language. However, if there are no available machine-readable dictionaries as input, we need to consider manual creation by bilingual native speakers. To reach a goal of comprehensively create multiple bilingual dictionaries, even if we already have several existing machine-readable bilingual dictionaries, it is still difficult to determine the execution order of the constraint-based approach to reducing the total cost. Plan optimization is crucial in composing the order of bilingual dictionaries creation with the consideration of the methods and their costs. We formalize the plan optimization for creating bilingual dictionaries by utilizing Markov Decision Process (MDP) with the goal to get a more accurate estimation of the most feasible optimal plan with the least total cost before fully implementing the constraint-based bilingual lexicon induction. We model a prior beta distribution of bilingual lexicon induction precision with language similarity and polysemy of the topology as

and

parameters. It is further used to model cost function and state transition probability. We estimated the cost of all investment plans as a baseline for evaluating the proposed MDP-based approach with total cost as an evaluation metric. After utilizing the posterior beta distribution in the first batch of experiments to construct the prior beta distribution in the second batch of experiments, the result shows 61.5% of cost reduction compared to the estimated all investment plans and 39.4% of cost reduction compared to the estimated MDP optimal plan. The MDP-based proposal outperformed the baseline on the total cost.
Exploiting symmetry in the power flow equations using monodromy
Authors: Lindberg Julia , Boston Nigel , Lesieutre Bernard C.
Published: March 2021

We propose solving the power flow equations using monodromy. We prove the variety under consideration decomposes into trivial and nontrivial subvarieties and that the nontrivial subvariety is irreducible. We also show various symmetries in the solutions. We finish by giving numerical results comparing monodromy against polyhedral and total degree homotopy methods and giving an example of a network where we can find all solutions to the power flow equation using monodromy where other homotopy techniques fail. This work gives hope that finding all solutions to the power flow equations for networks of realistic size is possible.
Indirect podocyte injury manifested in a partial podocytectomy mouse model
Authors: Okabe Masahiro , Yamamoto Kazuyoshi , Miyazaki Yoichi , Motojima Masaru , Ohtsuka Masato , Pastan Ira , Yokoo Takashi , Matsusaka Taiji
Published: March 2021

This novel mosaic model has demonstrated that when a fraction of podocytes is injured, other podocytes are subjected to secondary injury. This spreading of injury may occur ubiquitously irrespective of the primary cause of podocyte injury, leading to end-stage renal failure. Understanding the molecular mechanism of secondary podocyte injury and its prevention is important for the treatment of progressive kidney diseases. This model will be a powerful tool for studying the indirect podocyte injury.