bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Assessment of Artificial Aging on the Antifungal Activity of PMMA Denture Base Material Modified with ZrO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Hamid Shorouq Khalid , Alghamdi Lujain Ali , Alshahrani Faris A. , Khan Soban Q. , Matin Asif , Gad Mohammed M.
Published: May 2021

The antifungal effect of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs) incorporated into denture base material has been inadequately investigated; additionally, to the authors’ knowledge, no studies have assessed the influence of artificial aging on the antifungal activity of these particles. Methodology. Heat-polymerized acrylic resin disks were fabricated and divided into four groups (0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5% ZrO2NPs by weight). Antifungal activity was assessed using the direct culture and disk diffusion methods. Surface roughness and contact angles were measured using a profilometer and a goniometer, respectively. The artificial aging procedure was performed by repeating all tests at 7, 14, and 30 days following 2 rounds of thermocycling. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test (

p
<
0.05

). Results. The addition of ZrO2NPs significantly decreased the adhesion of Candida albicans with and without artificial aging procedures (

p
<
0.001

), while the disk diffusion methods did not reveal inhibition zones. ZrO2NP-modified specimens displayed significantly higher surface roughness compared to specimens in the control group (

p
<
0.05

) and showed the same behaviors with artificial aging procedures. The contact angle was significantly decreased in all modified groups in comparison to the control group (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The addition of ZrO2NPs to polymethylmethacrylate denture base material reduced the adhesion of Candida albicans with a long-term antifungal effect. With the addition of ZrO2NPs, contact angles were decreased and surface roughness was increased; 1% was the most appropriate concentration. Clinical significance. The addition of ZrO2NPs to denture base material confers a long-term antifungal effect and could be used as a possible method for preventing and treating denture stomatitis.
Full‐Duplex UAV Legitimate Surveillance System against a Suspicious Source with Artificial Noise
Authors: Yi Shen , Zhiwen Pan , Nan Liu , Xiaohu You
Published: May 2021

We propose a legal full‐duplex unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance system in the presence of the ground‐to‐ground suspicious link with antisurveillance technology. UAV performs passive surveillance and active jamming simultaneously, and the suspicious source with multiantenna employs artificial noise to avoid being monitored. In order to ensure effective surveilling, we adopt two beamforming schemes, namely, maximum ratio transmission (MRT)/receiving zero‐forcing (RZF) and transmitting zero‐forcing (TZF)/maximum ratio combing (MRC), for MIMO UAV. For the two beamforming schemes, we derive the surveilling nonoutage probability in a closed‐form expression and analyze the surveilling performance under different system environments. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation validates the correctness of the formula.
Synthesis, DNA-Binding, Anticancer Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Studies of Bishomoleptic and Trisheteroleptic Ru-Diimine Complexes Bearing 2-(2-Pyridyl)-quinoxaline
Authors: Balou Sofia , Zarkadoulas Athanasios , Koukouvitaki Maria , Marchiò Luciano , Efthimiadou Eleni K. , Mitsopoulou Christiana A.
Published: May 2021

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a bishomoleptic and a trisheteroleptic ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complex, namely, [Ru(bpy)2(2, 2′-pq)](PF6)2 (1) and [Ru(bpy) (phen) (2, 2′-pq)](PF6)2 (2), respectively, where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and 2, 2′-pq = 2-(2′-pyridyl)-quinoxaline. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, TGA, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, emission spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. Their structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 and 2 were crystalized in orthorhombic, Pbca, and monoclinic, P21/n systems, respectively. Various spectroscopic techniques were employed to investigate the interaction of both complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA). The experimental data were confirmed by molecular docking studies, employing two different DNA sequences. Both complexes, 1 and 2, bind with DNA via a minor groove mode of binding. MTT experiments revealed that both complexes induce apoptosis of MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells in low concentrations. Confocal microscopy indicated that 2 localizes in the nucleus and internalizes more efficiently in MCF-7 than in HEK-293.
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Improves Subnetwork Interactions in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Liu Aiping , Bi Huiling , Li Yu , Lee Soojin , Cai Jiayue , Mi Taomian , Garg Saurabh , Kim Jowon L. , Zhu Maria , Chen Xun , Wang Z. Jane , McKeown Martin J.
Published: May 2021

Background. Activating vestibular afferents via galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) has been recently shown to have a number of complex motor effects in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the basis of these improvements is unclear. The evaluation of network-level connectivity changes may provide us with greater insights into the mechanisms of GVS efficacy. Objective. To test the effects of different GVS stimuli on brain subnetwork interactions in both health control (HC) and PD groups using fMRI. Methods. FMRI data were collected for all participants at baseline (resting state) and under noisy, 1 Hz sinusoidal, and 70-200 Hz multisine GVS. All stimuli were given below sensory threshold, blinding subjects to stimulation. The subnetworks of 15 healthy controls and 27 PD subjects (on medication) were identified in their native space, and their subnetwork interactions were estimated by nonnegative canonical correlation analysis. We then determined if the inferred subnetwork interaction changes were affected by disease and stimulus type and if the stimulus-dependent GVS effects were influenced by demographic features. Results. At baseline, interactions with the visual-cerebellar network were significantly decreased in the PD group. Sinusoidal and multisine GVS improved (i.e., made values approaching those seen in HC) subnetwork interactions more effectively than noisy GVS stimuli overall. Worsening disease severity, apathy, depression, impaired cognitive function, and increasing age all limited the beneficial effects of GVS. Conclusions. Vestibular stimulation has widespread system-level brain influences and can improve subnetwork interactions in PD in a stimulus-dependent manner, with the magnitude of such effects associating with demographics and disease status.
Mechanical Modeling of Frozen Coarse‐Grained Materials Incorporating Microscale Investigation
Authors: Li Shan-Zhen , Tang Liang , Tian Shuang , Ling Xian-Zhang , Ye Yang-Sheng , Cai De-Gou
Published: May 2021

In the cold regions of China, coarse‐grained materials are frequently encountered or used as backfilling materials in infrastructure construction, such as dams, highways, railways, and mineral engineering structures. Effects of confining pressure (0.2, 0.5, and 1 MPa) and frozen temperature (−2, −5, −10, and −15°C) on the stress‐strain response and elastic modulus were investigated using triaxial compression tests. Moreover, the microscale structures of a coarse‐grained material were obtained by X‐ray computed tomography. The coarse‐grained material specimens exhibited strain‐softening and significant dilatancy behaviors during shearing. A modified model considering microstructures of the material was proposed to describe these phenomena. The predicted values coincided well with the experimental results obtained in this study and other literatures. The sensitivity analysis of parameters indicated that the model can simulate the initial hardening and post‐peak strain‐softening behavior of soils. And the transition of volume strain from contraction to dilatancy can also be described using this model. The results obtained in this study can provide a helpful reference for the analysis of frozen coarse‐grained materials in geotechnical engineering.
Mobility‐Aware Routing Algorithm for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Sirmollo Chalew Zeynu , Bitew Mekuanint Agegnehu
Published: May 2021

Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a group of wireless mobile nodes that create a temporary network without the help of any central administration or standard support services. Mobility of nodes determines the overall performance of MANET networks. High mobility of nodes causes frequent changes in the network topology, and this leads to link breakage and increases reinitiating of the route discovery process. MANETs commonly use broadcasting techniques for route discovery process. However, it can cause redundant rebroadcasts, packet collisions, and channel contention. The main objective of this paper is to design and develop the mobility‐aware routing algorithm (MARA) to enhance the performance of the routing protocol in MANETs. The proposed scheme allows mobile nodes to rebroadcast or discard received broadcasted messages. The decision is based on the combination of node speed, distance between nodes, and residual energy of nodes. These parameters are considered both in route request and route reply process to reduce the chance of link breakage and broadcast storm problems. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated based on the performance metrics: packet delivery ratio, average end‐to‐end delay, throughput, and routing overhead. We have used network simulator NS‐2 V‐2.35. The simulation results revealed that MARA outperforms ad hoc on‐demand distance vector (AODV), mobility and direction aware (MAD), and mobility and energy‐aware (MAE) routing protocols.
Evaluation Grids for Endodontics Preclinical Practical Activities
Authors: Dakkaki Jalila , Drouri Sofia , Dhoum Sara , Mayou Rachida , Jabri Mouna
Published: May 2021

Preclinical practical activities (PPAs) are an important part of undergraduate dental education. They are a type of teaching based on practical learning. As a result, the Department of Conservative Dentistry of the Faculty of Dentistry of Casablanca provides endodontic activity sessions for third-year students; the objective is to develop the students’ manual dexterity and prepare them for clinical practice. During these sessions, students are required to perform the various stages of endodontic treatment from taking preoperative radiographs to root canal filling, including the creation of the access cavity and root canal preparation. At the end of the treatment, the act performed is evaluated in its entirety. This evaluation is very often considered to be the final activity of a teaching course, which makes it possible to assess the knowledge and practical aptitude of each student. This approach allows neither the teacher to objectively evaluate the acts performed nor the student to identify his/her difficulties. Concerned by the pitfalls of the methods of evaluation adopted during these activities, we thought about the development of criterion-referenced evaluation grids in order to remedy the subjectivity of the teacher’s assessment and to enable the student to improve his learning.
The Effect of Biofeedback Therapy Combined with Comprehensive Nursing Intervention on the Quality of Life of Patients with Functional Constipation Based on Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Defecation
Authors: Kuang Zhongshao , Dai Shuangyuan , Xiao Yinjuan , Luo Weio , Tian Jing , Sharma Ashutosh , Tiwari Shailendra , Gupta Manish , Kaur Manjit , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: May 2021

In order to study the quality of life of patients with functional constipation based on dynamic magnetic resonance defecation, the biofeedback therapy combined with comprehensive nursing intervention was used to diagnose and treat the patients, so as to explore its clinical efficacy and its impact on patients’ quality of life. The obstructed defecation surgical treatment carries frequent recurrences, and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging defecography evaluated and elucidated the underlying anatomic features. This research selected 80 patients who came to our hospital for treatment of functional constipation and evaluated and recorded various clinical indicators before and after treatment in the form of questionnaire survey. The results showed that the clinical symptom scores of patients with functional constipation before and after treatment were greatly different

P
<
0.05

. Thus, the biofeedback therapy combined with comprehensive nursing intervention showed a good clinical effect in the treatment of patients with functional constipation and significantly improved the quality of life of patients, showing high clinical application and promotion value. A convenient diagnostic procedure is represented by the dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in females, especially pelvic floor organs dynamic imaging during defecation.
The Panorama of Cancer Genetics
Authors: Bader Joel S.
Published: May 2021

Cancer, a disease of the genome, is caused by a combination of germline predisposing variants and acquired somatic mutations. A unified view of heritable and acquired genetic factors will improve our understanding of cancer occurrence and progression. Fanfani and colleagues provide new insight into heritable cancer risk through a computational method that identifies genes and loci that contribute strongly to cancer heritability; many of these loci also harbor somatic drivers. Beyond improving cancer clinical outcomes, these methods will also be valuable across complex disorders by identifying regions responsible for missing heritability.

See related article by Fanfani et al., p. 2588
Estimated Health Care Utilization and Expenditures in Individuals With Heart Failure From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Authors: Klein Sharon , Jiang Shangqing , Morey Jacob R. , Pai Akila , Mancini Donna M. , Lala Anuradha , Ferket Bart S.
Published: May 2021

Background:

Heart failure (HF) constitutes a growing burden for public health and the US health care system. While the prevalence of HF is increasing, differences in health care utilization and expenditures within various sociodemographic groups remain poorly defined.

Methods:

We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to assess annual health care utilization and expenditures from 2012 to 2017. Health care utilization was based on the annual frequency of various health care encounters. Annual total and out-of-pocket expenditures were evaluated for hospital inpatient stays, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, office-based medical provider visits, prescribed medicines, dental visits, home health aid visits, and other medical expenses. We performed univariable and multivariable regression analysis based on patient characteristics including sociodemographic and comorbidity variables.

Results:

Our results showed that total health care expenditures among patients with HF were $21 177 (95% CI, $18 819–$24 736) per year as compared with $5652 (95% CI, $5469–$5837) in those without HF (
P
<0.001). Total expenditures within the population with HF were primarily being driven by expenditures associated with inpatient hospitalizations. Increasing number of comorbid conditions was associated with significant increases in total health care expenditures. Older age, female sex, earlier study years, number of comorbidities, higher level of education, and increasing family income brackets independently raised out-of-pocket expenditures.

Conclusions:

Our findings of increased health care utilization and expenditures based on sex, age, increasing number of comorbidities, wealthier income status, and increased education attainment level may be used for efforts aimed at better distributing health care resources to improve health outcomes in HF.
Mechanisms and Models in Heart Failure
Authors: Mann Douglas L. , Felker G. Michael
Published: May 2021

Despite multiple attempts to develop a unifying hypothesis that explains the pathophysiology of heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), no single conceptual model has withstood the test of time. In the present review, we discuss how the results of recent successful phase III clinical development programs in HFrEF are built upon existing conceptual models for drug development. We will also discuss where recent successes in clinical trials do not fit existing models to identify areas where further refinement of current paradigms may be needed. To provide the necessary structure for this review, we will begin with a brief overview of the pathophysiology of HFrEF, followed by an overview of the current conceptual models for HFrEF, and end with an analysis of the scientific rationale and clinical development programs for 4 new therapeutic classes of drugs that have improved clinical outcomes in HFrEF. The 4 new therapeutic classes discussed are ARNIs, SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, and myosin activators. With the exception of SGLT2 inhibitors, each of these therapeutic advances was informed by the insights provided by existing conceptual models of heart failure. Although the quest to determine the mechanism of action of SGLT2 inhibitors is ongoing, this therapeutic class of drugs may represent the most important advance in cardiovascular therapeutics of recent decades and may lead to rethinking or expanding our current conceptual models for HFrEF.
Heart Failure With Targeted Cancer Therapies
Authors: Hahn Virginia S. , Zhang Kathleen W. , Sun Lova , Narayan Vivek , Lenihan Daniel J. , Ky Bonnie
Published: May 2021

Oncology has seen growing use of newly developed targeted therapies. Although this has resulted in dramatic improvements in progression-free and overall survival, challenges in the management of toxicities related to longer-term treatment of these therapies have also become evident. Although a targeted approach often exploits the differences between cancer cells and noncancer cells, overlap in signaling pathways necessary for the maintenance of function and survival in multiple cell types has resulted in systemic toxicities. In particular, cardiovascular toxicities are of important concern. In this review, we highlight several targeted therapies commonly used across a variety of cancer types, including HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)+ targeted therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, androgen deprivation therapies, and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)/BRAF (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) inhibitors. We present the oncological indications, heart failure incidence, hypothesized mechanisms of cardiotoxicity, and potential mechanistic rationale for specific cardioprotective strategies.
Effect of Neprilysin Inhibition on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Late After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Docherty Kieran F. , Campbell Ross T. , Brooksbank Katriona J.M. , Dreisbach John G. , Forsyth Paul , Godeseth Rosemary L. , Hopkins Tracey , Jackson Alice M. , Lee Matthew M.Y. , McConnachie Alex , Roditi Giles , Squire Iain B. , Stanley Bethany , Welsh Paul , Jhund Pardeep S. , Petrie Mark C. , McMurray John J.V.
Published: May 2021

Background:

Patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction are at a high risk of developing heart failure. The addition of neprilysin inhibition to renin angiotensin system inhibition may result in greater attenuation of adverse LV remodeling as a result of increased levels of substrates for neprilysin with vasodilatory, antihypertrophic, antifibrotic, and sympatholytic effects.

Methods:

We performed a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-comparator trial comparing sacubitril/valsartan 97/103 mg twice daily with valsartan 160 mg twice daily in patients ≥3 months after myocardial infarction with a LV ejection fraction ≤40% who were taking a renin angiotensin system inhibitor (equivalent dose of ramipril ≥2.5 mg twice daily) and a β-blocker unless contraindicated or intolerant. Patients in New York Heart Association class ≥II or with signs and symptoms of heart failure were excluded. The primary outcome was change from baseline to 52 weeks in LV end-systolic volume index measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes included other magnetic resonance imaging measurements of LV remodeling, change in NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, and a patient global assessment of change questionnaire.

Results:

From July 2018 to June 2019, we randomized 93 patients with the following characteristics: mean age, 60.7±10.4 years; median time from myocardial infarction, 3.6 years (interquartile range, 1.2–7.2); mean LV ejection fraction, 36.8%±7.1%; and median NT-proBNP, 230 pg/mL (interquartile range, 124–404). Sacubitril/valsartan, compared with valsartan, did not significantly reduce LV end-systolic volume index; adjusted between-group difference, –1.9 mL/m
2
(95% CI, –4.8 to 1.0);
P
=0.19. There were no significant between-group differences in NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, LV end-diastolic volume index, left atrial volume index, LV ejection fraction, LV mass index, or patient global assessment of change.

Conclusions:

In patients with asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction late after myocardial infarction, treatment with sacubitril/valsartan did not have a significant reverse remodeling effect compared with valsartan.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03552575.
Mallomonas loricata sp. nov. (Synurales, Chrysophyceae), a new tropical species from section Planae
Authors: GUSEV EVGENIY , SHKURINA NATALIYA , KULIKOVSKIY MAXIM
Published: May 2021

A new species, Mallomonas loricata sp. nov., is described from Vietnam based on silica-scale morphology studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The species belongs to section Planae and has similar morphology to species from the Mallomonas matvienkoae complex. The new species is characterized by obovoid scales with a thick secondary layer with internal reticulation that covers almost whole surface of the scale. Scales of Mallomonas loricata were found at twenty-four localities of eight provinces in northern, central and southern areas of Vietnam. Scales of this new species have also been previously reported from Singapore and Malaysia. The distribution and habitat conditions of the new species are summarized.
Systematic review to the genus Liothorax (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)
Authors: DELLACASA MARCO , GORDON ROBERT D. , DELLACASA GIOVANNI
Published: May 2021

The genus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1859 is herein reviewed and considered to consist of 10 species. A key to species and diagnoses of each species are given to facilitate identification. Based on the study of type material, Aphodius bytinskisalzi Petrovitz, 1971 is placed as a junior synonym of A. isikdagensis Balthasar, 1952 and Aphodius nigroclavus Hinton, 1934 is placed as a junior synonym of A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. A lectotype is designated for A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. The following new combinations are formulated: Liothorax alternatus (Horn, 1870), Liothorax consociatus (Horn, 1887), Liothorax isikdagensis (Balthasar, 1952), Liothorax kraatzi (Harold, 1868), Liothorax levatus (Schmidt, 1907), Liothorax rusakovi (Gusakov, 2004), and Liothorax subaeneus (LeConte, 1857).
First records of Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in the Iberian Peninsula: an expanding alien species?
Authors: RIBA-FLINCH JOSEP M , LEZA MAR , GALLEGO DIEGO
Published: May 2021

Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Col.: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is an ambrosia beetle species native to subtropical Eastern Asia, with great concern due to its high invasive ability. This species has invaded 54 countries worldwide, including 4 European countries (Italy, France, Greece, and Spain); it was detected in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) in October 2019. In the present work, X. compactus is recorded for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula (Girona province, NE Spain); specimens were collected in Banyoles (August 2020, attacking twigs of Laurus nobilis and Liquidambar styraciflua) and Platja d’Aro (October 2020, attacking twigs of L. nobilis). Up-to-date information is presented about its geographical distribution, host plants, biology, symptoms, associate damages, and the possible origin of this species in Europe.
Four new species of the genus Rhodesiella from Xizang Autonomous Region, China (Diptera: Chloropidae)
Authors: CAI XIAODONG , YANG DING , NARTSHUK EMILIA P. , LIU XIAOYAN
Published: May 2021

The species of the genus Rhodesiella Adams, 1905 from Xizang of China are reviewed with the descriptions of the following four new species: R. arcuata sp. n., R. longiseta sp. n., R. perpendicularis sp. n. and R. uncata sp. n. A key to the species of Rhodesiella from Xizang is given. Comments and feature figures of new species are provided for identification. Neorhodesiella Cherian, 2002 is synonymized with Rhodesiella Adams, 1905.
Copper Modified Titania Nanocomposites with a High Photocatalytic Inactivation of Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhou Huang , He Feng-Jiao
Published: May 2021

As everyone knows, bacterial infectious diseases are serious hazards to human health in the world. Despite performing many methods towards the bacterial pollution, containing many detection and sterilization techniques, there is still a lack of effective means. Herein, a novel copper
modified titanium (Cu@TiO2) nanocomposites were resoundingly synthesized via the well-known sol-gel process, which revealed a significant antibacterial activity under the illumination of sunlight. The XRD, Raman spectroscopy and TEM images showed that the Cu@TiO2 nanocomposites
with a globular shape are anatase phase, Moreover, low temperature physical adsorption test and UV- visible spectrum indicate Cu0.01 @TiO2 owns a supernal specific area (80 m2/g) and the high visible light absorbing ability. Furthermore, the novel Cu@TiO2
nanocomposites showed an unprecedented photocatalytic capacity towards Escherichia Coli (E. coli) bacteria. In vitro, Cu@TiO2 nanocomposites can kill almost 98.7% E. coli under 60 min simulated solar light irradiation than that of TiO 2(31.3 %). This
study suggests that the Cu@TiO2 will be as a potential material for ameliorating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food detection.
A Review of the Antimicrobial Activity of Selenium Nanoparticles
Authors: Martínez-Esquivias Fernando , Guzmán-Flores Juan Manuel , Pérez-Larios Alejandro , González Silva Napoleón , Becerra-Ruiz Julieta Saraí
Published: May 2021

Antimicrobial resistance has become a severe problem for health systems worldwide, and counteractions are challenging because of the lack of interest of pharmaceutical companies in generating new and effective antimicrobial drugs. Selenium nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest
in treating bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses of clinical importance due to their high therapeutic efficacy and almost zero generation of adverse effects. Some studies have revealed that the antimicrobial activity of these nanoparticles is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species,
but more studies are needed to clarify their antimicrobial mechanisms. Other studies show that their antimicrobial activity is increased when the surface of the nanoparticles is functionalized with some biomolecules or when their surface carries a specific drug. This review addresses the existing
background on the antimicrobial potential offered by selenium nanoparticles against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites of clinical importance.
Preparation and Characterization of Mg Doped ZnAI2O4Spinel Nanoparticles
Authors: Sakthivel P. , Ramalingam R. Jothi , Pradeepa D. , Rathika S. , Dash Chandra Sekhar , Bhuvaneswari K. , Sundararajan M. , Subudhi Partha Sarathi , Al-Lohedan Hamad
Published: May 2021

In the present study, combustion technique is adopted to study the impact of Mg2+ion doping on ZnAI2O4nanoparticles (NPs). L-arginine is used as a fuel component. The Mg2+ions play a pivotal role in persuading various characteristics of ZnAI2O4NPs. Various characterization technqiues such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Thermo-gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were carried out in order to synthesize the nanoparticles. Single phase cubic spinel structure of ZnAl2O4(gahnite) formation was confirmed from the XRD characterization process of the nanoparticles. Estimated average crystallite size range of 11.85 nm to 19.02 nm was observed from Debye-Scherrer. Spherical morphology with uniform distributions was observed from HR-SEM characterization images. From the band gap studies, the attained band gap values were found to lie within 5.41 eV–4.66 eV range. The ZnAl2O4and Mg:ZnAl2O4NPs exhibited super-paramagnetic nature confirmed by magnetic measurements. The obtained results make ZnAl2O4and Mg:ZnAl2O4NPs appropriate for various optical, catalytic, energy and data storage applications.
Effects of Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Nitrate on mRNA and microRNA Expression in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells (HepG2)
Authors: Thai Sheau-Fung , Jones Carlton P. , Robinette Brian L. , Ren Hongzu , Vallanat Beena , Fisher Anna A. , Kitchin Kirk T.
Published: May 2021

In order to understand toxicity of nano silver, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were treated either with silver nitrate (AgNO3) or with nano silver capped with glutathione (Ag-S) at various concentration. Differentially expressed genelists for mRNA and microRNA were obtained through Illumina RNA sequencing and DEseq data analyses. Both treatments showed non-linear dose response relationships for mRNA and microRNA. Gene expression analysis showed signaling pathways common to both nano Ag-S and AgNO3, such as cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response and cancer related pathways. But, nano Ag-S caused signaling pathway changes that were not altered by AgNO3such as NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response inflammation, cell membrane signaling, and cell proliferation. Nano Ag-S also affected p53 signaling, survival, apoptosis, tissue repair, lipid synthesis, angiogenesis, liver fibrosis and tumor development. Several of the pathways affected by nano Ag-S are hypothesized as major contributors to nanotoxicity. MicroRNA target filter analysis revealed additional affected pathways that were not reflected in the mRNA expression response alone, including DNA damage signaling, genomic stability, ROS, cell cycle, ubiquitination, DNA methylation, cell proliferation and fibrosis for AgNO3; and cell cycle regulation, P53 signaling, cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, tissue repair and so on for nano Ag-S. These pathways may be mediated by microRNA repression of protein translation.Our study clearly showed that the addition of microRNA profiling increased the numbers of signaling pathways discovered that affected by the treatments on HepG2 cells and gave US a better picture of the effects of these reagents in the cells.
Controllable Synthesis of Modified Porous Anatase TiO2 with High Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Fan Mei-Qing , Yuan Heng-Yi , Qiu Cheng , Zhao Hong-Xia , Zeng Xu , Zhang Xiao-Fei , Ren Bo
Published: May 2021

In this study, we added ZrO2 and Y2O3 to stabilize the anatase TiO2 phase at higher temperatures. Composite mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2/Y2O3 (TZY) oxides were prepared by a sol-gel method, and triblockcopolymer
P123 and PEG was used as templates. The properties of the synthesized materials were characterized using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, N2 adsorption/desorption, and UV-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) methods et al. The samples prepared using P123 and PEG as double-template
exhibited smaller particles and a higher specific surface area than the samples prepared using P123 and PEG as single-template. Furthermore, crystal phase transition from anatase to rutile occurred later in the case of the double-template method. After introducing ZrO 2and Y2O3,
the crystal phase transition and the growth of crystallites were severely suppressed. The results indicated that the RhB degradation efficiency for the double-template method was 99.24%, while the RhB degradation efficiency with TZY/P123 and TZY/PEG samples was 97.43 and 98.18%, respectively.
Methyl Orange Adsorption onto Magnetic Fe3O4/Carbon (AC, GO, PGO) Nanocomposites
Authors: Hermosa Glemarie C. , Liao Chien-Shiun , Wang Sea-Fue , Sun Aidan An-Cheng
Published: May 2021

In this study, carbonaceous nanomaterials (Activated Carbon (AC), Graphene Oxide (GO) and Porous Graphene Oxide (PGO)) were synthesized and attached to Fe3O4 magnetic powder for the effective removal of synthetic Methyl Orange (MO). AC and GO were successfully
conjugated with Fe3O4 whilst PGO was not due to its surface functional groups. The morphology and chemical structure of the Fe3O4/Carbon nanocomposites were characterized by the N2 adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR),
X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Batch adsorption experiments were performed and showed significant removal efficiency of 90% at the first ten minutes for Fe3O4/AC
nanocomposite. Analysis of adsorption equilibrium revealed that AC/Fe3O4 is well fitted with Langmuir model, a homogeneous adsorption having an adsorption capacity of 270 mg/g. The GO/Fe3O4 can fit with both Langmuir and Freundlich models indicating
multilayer adsorption on the surface of the adsorbent with an adsorption capacity of 81.9 mg/g. In the case of adsorption kinetics, both adsorbents follow the pseudo second order kinetics model showing high F?2 values. Both adsorbents demonstrated advantageous superparamagnetic
properties for their easy recovery from aqueous solutions and prospective applications to toxic removal in water and wastewater.
Diagnosing surfzone impacts on inner-shelf flow spatial variability using realistic model experiments with and without surface gravity waves
Authors: Wu Xiaodong , Feddersen Falk , Giddings Sarah N.
Published: May 2021

Rip currents are generated by surfzone wave breaking and are ejected offshore inducing inner-shelf flow spatial variability (eddies). However, surfzone effects on the inner-shelf flow spatial variability have not been studied in realistic models that include both shelf and surfzone processes. Here, these effects are diagnosed with two nearly identical twin realistic simulations of the San Diego Bight over summer to fall where one simulation includes surface gravity waves (WW) and the other that does not (NW). The simulations include tides, weak to moderate winds, internal waves, submesoscale processes, and have surfzone width Lsz of 96(±41) m (≈ 1 m significant wave height). Flow spatial variability metrics, alongshore root mean square vorticity, divergence, and eddy cross-shore velocity, are analyzed in a Lsz normalized cross-shore coordinate. At the surface, the metrics are consistently (> 70%) elevated in the WW run relative to NW out to 5Lsz offshore. At 4Lsz offshore, WW metrics are enhanced over the entire water column. In a fixed coordinate appropriate for eddy transport, the eddy cross-shore velocity squared correlation betweenWWand NW runs is < 0.5 out to 1.2 km offshore or 12 time-averaged Lsz. The results indicate that the eddy tracer (e.g., larvae) transport and dispersion across the inner-shelf will be significantly different in the WW and NW runs. The WW model neglects specific surfzone vorticity generation mechanisms. Thus, these inner-shelf impacts are likely underestimated. In other regions with larger waves, impacts will extend farther offshore.
Peritonsillar Abscess Size as a Predictor of Medical Therapy Success
Authors: Urban Matthew J. , Masliah Jamie , Heyd Cameron , Patel Tirth R. , Nielsen Thomas
Published: May 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the success of sole medical therapy (MT) versus surgical therapy (ST) in patients with both clinically and radiographically confirmed peritonsillar abscess (PTA). To also determine treatment safety based on abscess size, and identify predictors of treatment failure.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cohort of 3 hospitals in a single academic health system. A total of 214 immunocompetent patients diagnosed with uncomplicated PTA underwent a contrasted CT scan of the neck. About 87 patients were treated with sole MT (intravenous antibiotics and steroids), and 127 patients were treated with ST (MT plus drainage).

Results:

Treatment failure occurred in 8.0% of the MT group and 7.9% of the ST group ( P = 1.00). In PTAs <2 cm, treatment failure occurred in 5.3% of the MT group and 5.0% of the ST group ( P = 1.00). In PTAs ≥2 cm, treatment failure occurred in 13.3% of the MT group and 9.0% treated with ST ( P = .53). Size ≥2 cm (OR – 3.46, P = .08) and IV clindamycin as sole IV antibiotic (OR – 2.46, P = .15) trended toward predicting treatment failure. In addition to those considered failures, 7.0% of the ST group returned to the ED with pain versus 0% of the MT group ( P = .01).

Conclusion:

Frequency of treatment failure was not significantly different among patients receiving MT and ST. Abscesses ≥2 cm in size were more likely to fail in both groups and ST was not statistically superior. Sole MT for uncomplicated PTA may help reduce unnecessary procedures and healthcare costs.
Investor-owned Health Care: The Hidden Blight on America’s “System”
Authors: Geyman John
Published: May 2021

Investor ownership of US health care has grown exponentially in the past 50 years through ever closer ties with Wall Street corporate interests. More recently, private equity firms have accelerated this process, invariably with harmful impacts on access to affordable care, its quality, and profiteering, with little accountability. These impacts are fueled by several concurrent trends: (1) increasing privatization, (2) consolidation and mergers, (3) increasing bureaucracy and waste, and (4) profiteering that may bleed into outright fraud. This article traces the uncontrolled growth of health care costs and prices in recent decades, together with documented examples across the health care delivery system whereby profit-driven, investor-owned interests have compromised patient care. These include hospitals, emergency care, nursing homes, mental health, and practices of such specialities as obstetrics–gynecology and ophthalmology. These practices have compromised patient care in the midst of a pandemic and economic downturn, as reflected by markers of a system needing reform. A larger role of government is called for, together with the advantages of Medicare for All in establishing health care as a human right, not a privilege based on ability to pay.
A review on high velocity compaction mechanism of powder metallurgy
Authors: Bai Yu , Li Lei , Fu Leijie , Wang Qiangfeng
Published: May 2021

High Velocity Compaction (HVC) is a key technology to realize the performance of powder metallurgy parts “three high and one low” (high density, high precision, high performance, and low cost). The main purpose of this paper is to summarize the research results at home and abroad on the forming mechanism, forming influencing factors and theoretical basis of high velocity compaction. This paper analyzes and summarizes the literature and monographs at home and abroad through literature research methods to obtain the research results of high velocity powder metallurgy compaction, so as to fully and correctly understand the research progress, development trends and application prospects of high velocity compaction. This paper expounds the technical characteristics, advantages and limitations of high velocity compaction, and analyzes and looks forward to its development trend, application prospect and expansion field, So as to provide reference and reference for the future research and application direction of high velocity compaction technology.
What is religious freedom and who has it?
Authors: Fox Jonathan
Published: May 2021

Religious freedom (RF) is important because it is posited to be a central element of liberal democracy and as having multiple additional benefits including increased security and economic prosperity. Yet, it is also a disputed concept and many liberal democracies restrict the freedoms of religious minorities. This study uses the Religion and State (RAS) dataset to examine the extent of RF in 183 countries based on six definitions of RF. The author examines whether religious minorities are restricted in a manner that the majority is not, regulation of the majority religion, and imposition of precepts of the majority religion on a country’s population. He finds that very few countries, including liberal democracies, meet any standard for RF, even when one allows for ‘loose’ standards where some violations of RF are allowed.
Effect of initial pressure of oblique-blowing airflow and folding-in airflow on yarn tucked-in in the pneumatic tucked-in selvedge apparatus
Authors: Liu Yisheng , Zhou Xinlei , Cheng Xiaoying , Liu Dandan
Published: May 2021

In this paper, numerical simulation and laboratory experiments were combined to research the tucked-in behavior of the yarn in the pneumatic tucked-in selvedge apparatus, and explore the effect of initial pressure of oblique-blowing airflow and folding-in airflow on yarn tucked-in. This work focused on the motion of a single yarn of which one end was fixed while the other was free. Initial pressures for oblique-blowing airflow and folding-in airflow were set as parameters. A numerical model was developed to simulate the process based on the one-way fluid–structure interaction. Then a laboratory experiment was carried out with the help of a high-speed camera to record the motion behaviors of yarns. The motions were compared with the simulation data and showed that the proposed numerical model can properly replicate the motion of yarn and its points in the airflow field. Each group of yarns with different initial pressures was able to be tucked-in and had an elongation. Increasing the initial pressures of oblique-blowing airflow from 0.3 MPa to 0.4 MPa and folding-in airflow from 0.35 MPa to 0.4MPa shortened the time for the yarn to complete the entire oblique-blowing and tucked-in process by 0.4625 ms, and extended the yarn elongation by 0.151 mm.
Mapping and making gangland: A legacy of redlining and enjoining gang neighbourhoods in Los Angeles
Authors: Bloch Stefano , Phillips Susan A.
Published: May 2021

We provide an example of how race- and place-based legacies of disinvestment initiated by New Deal Era redlining regimes under the auspices of the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) were followed by decades of anti-gang over-policing tactics at the scale of the neighbourhood. We show how HOLC-mediated and mapped redlining has sustained community disinvestment and stigmatisation wrought by unjust and racist social policy seen to this day in contemporary geographies of gang abatement in the form of mapped gang injunction ‘safety zones’. As we illustrate with the use of two case studies from Los Angeles – in South-Central LA and LA’s San Fernando Valley – it is overwhelmingly redlined neighbourhoods that have remained marginalised, becoming civilly enjoined ‘gang’ neighbourhoods faced with oppressive anti-gang policing tactics over the past few decades.
The constitution of the city and the critique of critical urban theory
Authors: Scott Allen J.
Published: May 2021

A theoretical account of the genesis and internal spatial structure of cities is given. The essence of the urbanisation process is described in terms of the following main developmental phases: (a) the emergence of relationships based on specialisation and interdependence in society; (b) the pre-eminent role of the division of labour within these relationships and its recomposition in dense spatial nodes of human activity; and (c) the concomitant formation of the networked intra-urban spaces of the city. These phases are then contextualised within three intertwined dimensions of urban materiality, namely, an internal dimension (the internal organisation and spatial dynamics of the city), a socially ambient dimension (the relational structure of society at large) and an exogenous dimension (the geographic outside of the city). In light of this account, an evaluative review of what I designate ‘the new critical urban theory’ is carried out, with special reference to planetary urbanisation, postcolonial urban theory and comparativist methodologies. I argue that while every individual city represents a uniquely complex combination of social conjunctures, there are nonetheless definite senses in which urban phenomena are susceptible to investigation at the highest levels of theoretical generality.
Promoting “Orderly and Sound Growth”: 1960s Debates Over Administering Public Transportation in Service of Mobility or Regional Planning
Authors: Freemark Yonah
Published: May 2021

This article reconstructs debates within the Kennedy and Johnson administrations regarding the management of U.S. public transportation. Should transit be treated as a component of the mobility system, or as a tool of land-use planning? In the midst of jurisdictional battles triggered by the formation of two new departments, officials fiercely disagreed about this question and adapted their practices to gain the upper hand. I document how interest in organizing metropolitan growth and concerns about destructive road projects helped justify national housing agencies managing transit programs beginning in 1961. But Congress shifted them to the Department of Transportation in 1968. This was due, I argue, to lingering racist, anti-urban sentiments about housing-agency programs benefiting low-income people and transportation officials previously focused on highways devoting newfound attention to multimodal projects. Despite a fleeting moment of attention to regional land-use and transportation policy, this change ultimately bifurcated and diminished federal planning oversight.
Asymptotic Standard Errors of Generalized Partial Credit Model True Score Equating Using Characteristic Curve Methods
Authors: Zhang Zhonghua
Published: May 2021

In this study, the delta method was applied to estimate the standard errors of the true score equating when using the characteristic curve methods with the generalized partial credit model in test equating under the context of the common-item nonequivalent groups equating design. Simulation studies were further conducted to compare the performance of the delta method with that of the bootstrap method and the multiple imputation method. The results indicated that the standard errors produced by the delta method were very close to the criterion empirical standard errors as well as those yielded by the bootstrap method and the multiple imputation method under all the manipulated conditions.