bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bi-directional Relationship Between Childhood Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS
Authors: Ajari Esther Ejiroghene , Adewale Boluwatife Adeleye
Published: March 2021

: Childhood malnutrition, a disorder broadly classified into overnutrition and undernutrition, is highly prevalent globally, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. Several studies have highlighted the bidirectional relationship between this disorder and HIV/AIDS, another disease with a high global prevalence. This relationship is quite complex. Links have been established between the disease entities on the individual, family and household level. Opportunistic infections and diseases associated with HIV, antiretroviral therapy and its adverse effects have also been implicated in this relationship. The key implicated variables includes frequency of disease occurrence, morbidity and mortality rate, and disease transmission rate. This paper reviews existing literatures on the subject matter, identifies key knowledge gaps, and recommends the need for further study of this complex relationship in order to close the gaps and inform decisions in healthcare.
Creating Communities of Life Science Innovation in the US: History of Critical Factors That Helped the BioHealth Capital Region Emerge
Authors: Darmody Brian , Bendis Richard
Published: March 2021

Advancements in biotechnology are recognized as one of the most important scientific achievements of the 20th Century.  The emergence of biotechnology profoundly impacted the health of the world, and the economic vitality of regions where bio clusters and bioresearch parks grew.  This article explores some of the historical and policy implications undergirding this development in the United States and the importance of alignment of life science research activity, public policies, and leadership to build place-based communities of biotechnology innovation.
Education as Framed Sense-Making A Design Based Research contribution to the theory and practice of play in higher education
Authors: Møller Hasse , Skov Signe Smedegaard
Published: March 2021

Building on domain-specific theories and a case study on play and higher education (Møller, 2020), we developed a 'Frame-Pedagogy' design: a model that fuses views on education and play by focusing on their common denominators: framing and sense-making. It explores the connection between play and higher education through three perspectives on educational experience: Academic content as fact, as toy and as tool. We tested and adapted our design by exploring it across two months on a teacher training course. In this paper, we present both iterations of the model as well as student accounts on their perceived meaning and learning outcome related to the course. We conclude that a multiple-frame-approach to education that includes play holds great potential for corresponding with the needs of future professional settings.
DEL IV: Planlagt sommerhusbyer: Sidste efterkrigstid
Authors: Bro Henning
Published: March 2021

Del IV belyser hovedstadsmetropolens sommerhusbyer i den sidste efterkrigtsid, de regionale udfordringer, der fulgte deraf, og hvorledes offentlige myndigheder forsøgte at inddæmme dem.
Expanding the University Music Ensemble: Lessons from an Intercultural Collaboration
Authors: Pearse D. Linda
Published: March 2021

Universities are increasingly aware of the need to re-envision curricula in order to engage with Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and pedagogical approaches. University music programs, focused on the delivery of Western art music curricula, often struggle to implement meaningful engagement with Indigenous knowledge that goes beyond gestures. What practical steps can educators take to crack the seemingly impervious fabric of settler-colonial art music performance education? I draw on experiences from within an intercultural artistic collaboration of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists and scholars in order to articulate pedagogical strategies applicable to university music performance ensemble classes.
Decolonizing Desires and Unsettling Musicology: A Settler’s Personal Story of Researching and Teaching Indigenous Music at an American University
Authors: Woloshyn Alexa
Published: March 2021

For those of us with decolonial desires, the university classroom is a potential space of disruption and reorganization. Our courses, course materials, teaching tools, students, and our own bodies and minds are all technologies that can subvert the colonial machine (la paperson 2017). In the first section, I contextualize my decolonial desires as a non-U.S.-citizen settler Canadian musicologist in the United States. The work of David Garneau, Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Andrea Smith, Eve Tuck, and K. Wayne Yang illuminates my positionality and power. In the second section, I provide an example of one way I’m disrupting the typical curricula and classroom experiences in a Euro-American classical music school. I discuss my course entitled “North American Indigenous Music Seminar” (NAIMS), including the course structure and content, and decolonizing strategies. Student responses to interviews about the course are interspersed with the discussion of my seminar plans and challenges to claims of “decolonization.” Their responses reveal some successes and many limits for anti-colonial and decolonial work in a single-semester course.
Building Relationships, Sustaining Communities: Decolonial Directions in Higher Ed Bluegrass Pedagogy
Authors: Stimeling Travis D. , Enriquez Sophia M.
Published: March 2021

Recent debates about bluegrass music’s place in higher education have highlighted anxieties about the historic role that institutions of higher education have played in cultural colonization, erosion, and destruction. Using examples from the bluegrass band at a large Appalachian public university, this essay considers how the “bluegrass jam” might facilitate meaningful conversations about identity in a region subjected to colonial-style extraction for nearly three centuries. At the same time, this article problematizes the nature of the university’s simultaneous support of regional culture and the propagation of resource extraction and environmental decay.
Decolonization in “Wild Schools”: Local Music Pedagogies in Indonesia’s Taman Siswa School System
Authors: Irwin Gillian
Published: March 2021

Ten years after theTaman Siswa(Garden of Students) schools were founded in 1922, the Dutch colonial government declared themWilde Scholen(Wild Schools) for operating without government certification. Taman Siswa educators resisted the designation, eventually repealing the ordinance, as an act of rebellion against colonization. Decades after Indonesia achieved independence, Taman Siswa continues to work towards decolonization by focusing on student self-governance and local wisdom, two core pedagogies of Taman Siswa founder Ki Hadjar Dewantara that are practised daily in music classrooms. Ultimately, I argue for a closer examination of Taman Siswa as an educational institution striving for decolonization in complex regional, national, and global systems.
Reflets de la colonialité dans la scène des musiques nouvelles
Authors: Dharmoo Gabriel
Published: March 2021

Certains membres de la scène des musiques nouvelles souhaitent en décentrer ses racines eurocentriques et en critiquer ses tendances colonialistes. Avant même de discuter des stratégies qui pourraient constituer un cadre décolonisateur, il est utile d’identifier comment la colonialité se reflète dans cette scène. L’auteur, lui-même membre actif de celle-ci, partage des pistes de réflexion portant sur l’homogénéité culturelle du milieu, les questions d’accès, l’héritage de la musique classique, le concept de l’excellence européenne, la présomption d’universalité, la coexistence de statuts de légitimité et de marginalité, la relation ambigüe avec l’appropriation culturelle et les fondements de l’attribution du mérite.
El Sinemuriense superior: cronozonas Obtusum y Oxynotum en Asturias, España. Ammonoideos y correlación con otras cuencas del oeste de Europa
Authors: COMAS-RENGIFO María José , GOY Antonio , PIÑUELA Laura , GARCÍA-RAMOS José Carlos , SUÁREZ VEGA Luis Carlos , PAREDES Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Se estudia la cronoestratigrafía, biosedimentación y, en particular, la sucesión de los ammonoideos que, con un registro relativamente pobre, se encuentra en varias secciones del Sinemuriense superior (cronozonas Obtusum y Oxynotum) de la costa de Asturias, entre la Playa de Peñarrubia (Gijón) y la Playa de Vega (Ribadesella). Si se exceptúa el límite inferior de la cronozona Obtusum, todas las unidades cronoestratigráficas han podido ser caracterizadas con bastante precisión. En la cronozona Obtusum (subcronozonas Obtusum y Stellare) se suceden en el tiempo siete especies de Asteroceras (A. aff. confusum-A. confusum-A. obtusum-A. cf. margaritoides-A. stellare-A. blakei) y Aegasteroceras (A. sagittarium), que de forma puntual pueden estar asociadas a escasos Epophioceras, Xipheroceras, Promicroceras y Cymbites. La subcronozona Denotatus se caracteriza por la sucesión de tres especies de Eparietites (E. undaries-E. impendens-E. glaber) asociadas a raros Promicroceras. En la cronozona Oxynotum se registran Palaeoechioceras, Gagaticeras (G. cf. exortum-G. gagateum) y Oxynoticeras (O. simpsoni) en la subcronozona Simpsoni y Oxynoticeras (O. oxynotum) asociado a Cheltonia (C. accipitris) en la subcronozona Oxynotum. En la parte media y superior de esta subcronozona, se registran asimismo escasos Paroxynoticeras y escasos Bifericeras y Gleviceras. En el aspecto paleobiogeográfico, la sucesión obtenida es típica de la Provincia del NO Europeo con la inclusión de algunos elementos más propios de la Provincia Mediterránea en la parte media y superior de la cronozona Obtusum (Asteroceras cf. suevicum, E. glaber) y en la parte media de la cronozona Oxynotum (Paroxynoticeras salisburgense).
The Oresme sequence: The generalization of its matrix form and its hybridization process
Authors:   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of State of Ceara – IFCE, Mangueira Milena Carolina dos Santos , Vieira Renata Passos Machado ,   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of State of Ceara – IFCE, Alves Francisco Regis Vieira ,   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of State of Ceara – IFCE, Catarino Paula Maria Machado Cruz ,   University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro – UTAD
Published: March 2021

This article deals with the generalization of the matrix form of the Oresme sequence, extending it to the field of integers. In addition, the two valid generating matrices were discussed, through the permutation of the rows and columns, respectively, totaling two valid matrices of Oresme for the left-hand side, and two more generating matrices of Oresme for the right-hand side. In addition, a new Oresme sequence was introduced, given through the hybridization process of these numbers, obtaining mathematical properties and theorems, inherent to this process.
How to sum powers of balancing numbers efficiently
Authors:   Stellenbosch University, Prodinger Helmut
Published: March 2021

Balancing numbers possess, as Fibonacci numbers, a Binet formula. Using this, partial sums of arbitrary powers of balancing numbers can be summed explicitly. For this, as a first step, a power B_n^l is expressed as a linear combination of B_{mn}.
On the k-Mersenne–Lucas numbers
Authors:   Mohamed Seddik Ben Yahia University, Chelgham Mourad , Boussayoud Ali ,   Mohamed Seddik Ben Yahia University
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we will introduce a new definition of k-Mersenne–Lucas numbers and investigate some properties. Then, we obtain some identities and established connection formulas between k-Mersenne–Lucas numbers and k-Mersenne numbers through the use of Binet’s formula.
Why Architects Draw
Authors: Robbins Edward
Published: March 2021

The centerpiece of Robbins's provocative investigation consists ofcase study narratives based on interviews with nine architects, adeveloper-architect, and an architectural engineer. The narratives areillustrated by the architects' drawings from projects in Japan,England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the United States, fromconception through realization.

For nearly twenty years Edward Robbins, an anthropologist, has been studying and writing about the system of architectural education and practice in this country and abroad. In this book he examines the social uses of architectural drawing: how drawing acts to direct both the conception and the production of architecture; how it helps architects set an agenda, define what is important about a design, and communicate with their colleagues and clients; and how it embodies claims about the architect's role, status, and authority. The centerpiece of Robbins's provocative investigation consists of case study narratives based on interviews with nine architects, a developer-architect, and an architectural engineer. These narratives from a broad range of practitioners and schools of thought, including leading contemporary architects, offer a rare opportunity to compare different views about the use of drawings. The narratives are illustrated by the architects' drawings (some never before published) from projects in Japan, England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the United States, from conception through realization. Included are orthographic and axonometric projections, perspectives, elevations, plans, sections, working drawings, sketches, schematics, construction, and finished drawings.
Habitat suitability of cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico using an ecological niche modeling approach
Authors: Ramírez-León M. Rafael , García-Aguilar María C. , Romo-Curiel Alfonsina E. , Ramírez-Mendoza Zurisaday , Fajardo-Yamamoto Arturo , Sosa-Nishizaki Oscar
Published: March 2021

Background

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is a semi-enclosed sea where the waters of the United States, Mexico and Cuba converge. Al least 21 species of cetaceans inhabit it. The only mysticete (baleen whale) is found in the northeast (U.S. waters). The distribution of the 20 species of odontocetes (toothed cetaceans) is well understood in U.S. waters, but practically unknown in Mexican and Cuban waters. In this study we used sighting data from several odontocete species to construct habitat suitability maps in order to identify geographical regions suitable for high diversity throughout the GOM.

Methods

Historical datasets of georeferenced sightings from across the GOM were used to implement the maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) to model the habitat suitability of each species. Five environmental predictors were used, selected for their influence over the occurrence of cetaceans: two oceanographic predictors (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-aconcentration), and three bathymetric predictors (depth, slope, and distance to 200-m isobath). A spatial approach based on the habitat suitability maps was used to identify the suitable regions.

Results

Only 12 species were modeled, which were the ones with the minimum sample size required. The models performed well, showing good discriminatory power and slight overfitting. Overall, depth, minimum sea surface temperature, and bottom slope were the most contributing predictor in the models. High suitability areas of 10 species were located on the continental slope, and four suitable regions were identified: (1) the Mississippi Canyon and the Louisiana-Texas slope in the northern GOM, (2) the west Florida slope in the east-northeastern GOM, (3) the Rio Grande slope in the west-northwestern GOM, and (4) the Tamaulipas-Veracruz slope in the west-southwestern GOM.

Conclusions

We were able to detect four geographic regions in the GOM where a high diversity of odontocetes is expected, all located on the continental slope. Although the methodology to identify them (spatial overlap) is a very conservative approach, it is useful for conservation and management purposes. The paucity of data did not allow all species to be modeled, which highlights the importance of establishing transboundary monitoring programs.
Impact of work environment perceptions and communication satisfaction on the intention to quit: an empirical analysis of nurses in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsufyani Abdulaziz M. , Almalki Khalid E. , Alsufyani Yasir M. , Aljuaid Sayer M. , Almutairi Abeer M. , Alsufyani Bandar O. , Alshahrani Abdullah S. , Baker Omar G. , Aboshaiqah Ahmad
Published: March 2021

Objective

In consideration of the current nursing shortage in Saudi Arabia, we aimed to investigate the association among perceptions of work environment, communication satisfaction, and intentions to quit nursing profession among nurses. In addition, we aimed to investigate the mediating effect of communication satisfaction on the association between nurses’ perception of work environment and their intentions to quit nursing profession.

Methods

This predictive correlational study was conducted at one of the major hospitals in Saudi Arabia from January 2020 to March 2020. It included a convenience sample of 367 full-time registered nurses who completed three types of close-ended questionnaires. We used IBM SPSS version 24.0 to analyze the collected data. Regression analyses were used to test the study’s hypotheses. All regression assumptions were assessed and confirmed. Significance for all tests was set at p ≤ .05.

Results

The findings indicated an affirmative association between work environment perception and communication satisfaction (b = .764, p < .05) among nurses. In addition, findings showed that work environment perception (b = −.187, p < .05) and communication satisfaction (b = −.226, p < .05) have negative impacts on the nurses’ intentions to quit; indicating that as work environment perception or communication satisfaction increases, the intention to quit decreases among nurses. Further, a mediation effect of communication satisfaction on the relationship between work environment perception and intention to quit was confirmed.

Conclusion

This study presents a novel conceptual framework developed based on the literature about the predisposing factors for nurses’ intentions to quit nursing profession. Our results suggest that work environment perception and communication satisfaction among the most contributing factors for nurses resignation. Effective communication was established as a crucial factor for establishing attractive and healthy working environment. Nursing managers can benefit by applying these findings to develop appropriate strategies to inhibit the shortage of nurses in Saudi Arabia.
RNA-seq analysis of antibacterial mechanism of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil against Escherichia coli
Authors: Yu Yutian , Dong Jie , Wang Yanlu , Gong Xi
Published: March 2021

Background

Transcriptome analysis plays a central role in elucidating the complexity of gene expression regulation in Escherichia coli. In recent years, the overuse of antibiotics has led to an increase in antimicrobial resistance, which greatly reduces the efficacy of antibacterial drugs and affects people’s health. Therefore, several researchers are focused on finding other materials, which could replace or supplement antibiotic treatment.

Methods

E. coli was treated with water, acetone and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils, respectively. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the dry weight and the wet weight of the cells. To explore the antibacterial mechanism of the oil, the RNA-Seq analysis was adopted under three different treatments. Finally, the expression of related genes was verified by Quantitative PCR.

Results

In this study, we showed that the C. Camphora essential oil exerted a strong antibacterial effect. Our results showed that the inhibitory efficiency increased with increasing of the concentration of essential oil. RNA-seq analysis indicated that the essential oil inhibited the growth of E. coli by inhibiting the metabolism, chemotaxis, and adhesion, meanwhile, life activities were maintained by enhancing E. coli resistance reactions. These results are contributed to uncover the antimicrobial mechanisms of essential oils against E. coli, and the C. Camphora essential oil could be applied as an antibacterial agent to replace or ally with antibiotic.
Hepatoprotective and Hematological Effects of Solanum melongena (Garden Egg), Solannum lycopersicum (Tomato) and Daucus carrots Subsp. Sativus (Carrot) Extracts against Lead Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats
Authors: Amaechi Dennis , Ekpe I. P. , Edet E. D. , Madu M. C.
Published: March 2021

Background of the Study: Lead effects were assessed by analyzing the impacts of the extract on the liver enzyme concentrations and hematology parameters.

Materials and Methods: Thirty five male wistar rats weighing 85-110 g were distributed into five groups consisting of seven rats each. Group I served as control group, group II served as the test group, groups III, IV and V served as treatment groups. Lead acetate solution was given to the rats orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg of fruit extracts for 14 days. On day 15, biochemical analysis were carried out.

Results: Effects of extracts showed that ALT,AST and ALP concentration in group II was observed to be significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control and treatment groups with values. The hematology results showed that lead did not cause a significant reduction in the packed cell volume, white blood cell and red blood cell counts. However, the group treated with carrot and garden egg showed slight increase in RBC and WBC count when compared with the positive and negative control groups.

Conclusion: From the results above, it showed that the fruits extract have hematopoietic potentials and hence aid in the hepatoprotection of the liver of lead induced Wistar rats.
Teaching MBA and EMBA Students in Asia: Using Case Method and Online Education Software for Strategic Management
Authors: Lu Lung-Tan
Published: March 2021

Aims: MBA and EMBA students in higher power distance countries such as Taiwan used to listen lectures, not to express their opinions and discuss issues at classes openly. We used case method and online education software for teaching David's (2015) Strategy-Formulation Analytical Framework at the course of Strategic Management. MBA and EMBA students in Taiwan were pleased to submit their opinions by the on-line software; therefore, teachers can lead them to solve problems by discussing cases.

Study Design:  We used the case method and online educational software to teach Strategy-Formulation Analytical Framework for MBA and EMBA students in a university in Taiwan.

Place and Duration of Study: Studies carried out at one university in Taiwan between 2016 and 2017.

Methodology: Our sample came from around 40 MBA and EMBA students who attended Strategic Management courses in a university in Taiwan.

Results: At the end of the courses, MBA and EMBA students can use the David’s Strategy-Formulation Analytical Framework in other industries such as tourism and higher education industries.

Conclusion: Teaching in higher power distance countries are quite difficult to use case method since most students has been trained to listen teachers' lectures from primary schools. Although some students would be asked to answer questions, but most of the students in class felt it's not their business. Combining case methods and online education software may allow all students in class to submit their opinions and listen to other's opinions. We recommend teachers in Asian countries with high power distance and low individualism, such as China, Japan and Korea use this teaching method.
A General Algorithm of the Boundary Integral Method for Solving Laplace’s Mixed Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Pal Rajesh Kumar , Kothiyal Pradeep , Nigam Deependra
Published: March 2021

Boundary elements have emerged as a powerful alternative to finite elements particularly in cases where better accuracy is required. The most important features of boundary elements however is that it only requires descretization of the surface rather than the volume. Here, A general algorithm of the boundary integral method has been formulated for solving elliptic partial differential equations. The broad applicability of the approach is illustrated with a problem of practical interest giving the solution of the Laplace equation for potential flow with mixed boundary problems. The results and patterns are shown in tables and figures and compared well with Brebbia [1] are found in good agreement.
A Study on the Inhibitory Potential of Dpp-Iv Enzyme by Lobeline through In silico and In vivo Approaches
Authors: Sabbagh Ghalia , Kurdi Boushra , Khayata Warid , Lahdo Raghda
Published: March 2021

Aims: To evaluate the inhibitory activity of Lobeline natural alkaloid against dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) enzyme by in silico and in vivo experiments.

Study Design: Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Lobeline alkaloid.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria, between March 2020 and December 2020.

Methodology: in silico study was carried out using iGEM docking software to predict the binding affinity of lobeline with DPP IV enzyme in comparison with the reference synthetic compound Sitagliptin. Then in vivo experiment was performed on HFD/alloxan induced diabetic mice to evaluate the anti hyperglycemic effect of lobeline. After treatment duration of 21 days, FBG and the inhibitory effect on DPP IV enzyme activity were measured.

Results: Lobeline bound efficiently to the active site of DPP IV enzyme and consumed less binding energy than Sitagliptin. This finding was confirmed by the in vivo study.

Administration of lobe line at a dose of 25 mg/kg in HFD/alloxan induced diabetic mice produced a significant reduction in blood glucose level and in DPP IV activity compared to the diabetic control group (P value> .01).

Conclusion: Lobe line could be a good candidate to be developed as a natural compound for treating diabetes mellitus.
Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Tuberculosis Activity of Extracts of Detarium senegalense Bark and Root
Authors: Olatunji Kazeem Toyosi , Aliyu Adamu , Ya’aba Yakubu , Mohammed Shehu Busu , Oladosu Peters
Published: March 2021

Tuberculosis [TB] remains one of the major global health threats leading to morbidity and mortality. Detarium senegalense J. F. Gmelin belongs to a group of medicinal plants that are used by traditional medicine healers for the treatment of venereal diseases, urogenital infections, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, stomach-ache, intestinal worms, diarrhea, bronchitis, tuberculosis, convulsion, malaria and leprosy. The present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-tuberculosis effect of different solvent extracts of Detarium senegalense bark and root against attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis [BCG]. The crude extracts [n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, methanol] of the plant parts were successively extracted and tested in vitro by broth microdilution technique against M. bovis. The result shows that the crude extracts inhibited the growth of M. bovis at concentrations ranging from 7.8 – 250 μg/mL. The ethyl-acetate extract of Detarium Senegalense bark was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of M. bovis with a minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of 7.8 µg/mL while the ethyl-acetate and methanol extract of the plant’s root had MICs of 250 µg/mL. This study demonstrates the efficacy of extracts of Detarium senegalense bark and root as potential agents in the management of the tuberculosis disease.
Role of T2 Mapping Sequences using MR Imaging in Evaluation of Knee Joint Articular Cartilage
Authors: Abokamer Eman Magdy , Taiema Atef Hamad , Hafez Kamal Mohamed , Dawoud Rasha Mahmoud
Published: March 2021

Background: Cartilage mapping using Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 is a functional scanning procedure without invasion delivering cartography of the cartilage T2 relaxation time without using of any contrast. It is tissue anisotropy sensitive, and compositional data on the collagen network of cartilage, content of water and concentration of proteoglycans are provided by it. This study used MR scanning technique to assess the T2 mapping sequence role in diagnosis of articular cartilage lesions of knee joint.

Patients and Methods: This prospective trial was done to utilize sagittal T2 mapping sequence for assessment of articular cartilage of knee joint on 1.5 T MR. The material of this study included thirty (30) patients. The study included 24/30 cases presented by knee pain, 6/30 cases presented by knee pain following trauma, 10/30 cases presented by limitation of movement and 7/30 cases presented by knee swelling. As each patient had a single conventional MRI examination of the knee followed by a single sagittal T2 maps, 30 MRI examinations and 30 corresponding T2 maps were analyzed.

Results: The addition of sagittal T2 maps to standard views improved accuracy in diagnosing cartilage affection in early osteoarthritis. there are 69 (57.5%) lesions diagnosed as grade 0 by MRI only VS 24 (20%) lesions diagnosed as grade 0 by MRI with T2 mapping sequence and 34 (28.3%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1 by MRI only VS 77 (64.2%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1 by MRI with T2 mapping sequence. there is 46 (38.3%) lesions diagnosed as grade 1a by MRI with T2 mapping sequence which diagnosed grade 0 by MRI only.

Conclusions: This imaging plane seems to provide a useful addition to standard MR imaging when osteoarthritis is suspected specially among the young population.
Enhanced Die Attach Process Defect Recognition on QFN Leadframe Packages
Authors: Salcedo Marque Ryan , Gablan Alyssa Grace , Dinglasan Jerome , Gomez Frederick Ray
Published: March 2021

Advanced packaging at the back-end semiconductor manufacturing characterizes various equipment capabilities per device requirement. High resolution imaging for inspection system during die attach process has gained its interest to feature automated selections during in-line processing. Increasing yet stringent requisites of today’s applications give us leading indicators of market’s demand at more functionality in a smaller and complex package. In light with the technology trend, vision inspection system is a well-known challenge. Instead of using a high magnification microscope off-line after assembly processing, leadframe inspection feature uses optical image-based system to recognize real-time feedback on lead-related defects. Such leadframe inspection activation provides good accuracy, monitoring process integrity in real-time for quad-flat no-leads (QFN) leadframe packages. This paper presents how leadframe inspection at die attach machine takes advantage of simultaneous detection of early die attach defect manifestations.
Clinical Presentation of Carcinoma of Thyroid and Its Treatment Options
Authors: Laghari Ahsan Ali , Khaskheli Ghulam Akbar , Shaikh Aijaz Ahmed , Munir Ambreen , Baloch Tufail Ahmed , Dalwani Abdul Ghafoor
Published: March 2021

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation of carcinoma of thyroid and its treatment modalities at tertiary care Hospital.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Place and Duration: This study was conducted in Liaquat university of Medical and health sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad, Pakistan, during two years from July 2017 to June 2020.

Patients and Methods: All the patients with age range between 20 to 80 years having swelling in front of neck according to clinical examination with hard inconsistency along with change of voice lymphadenopathy, difficulty in swallowing and breathing, patients diagnosis with malignancy according to FNAC and CT, and either of gender were included. FNAC was done in each patient except toxic goiter, diffuse goiter and multinodular goiter with dominant nodules. Patients those were diagnosed with stage I and II, underwent surgical treatment and remaining were referred to oncology department for new adjuvant therapy and then surgeries were done if possible. All the data was recorded in study proforma and data analysis was done by using SPSS data analysis software version 20.

Results: Out of all cases of suspicious of carcinoma thyroid, 70% were females.

Neck swelling was in all of the cases, followed by pain, cervical lymphadenopathy, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy with change of voice, swallowing difficulty, cyanosis and pathological fracture. According to tumor staging, most of the cases were found with benign tumor, followed by 5 cases with stage I, three cases with stage II, three patients presented with stage IV and one was seen with secondary’s from malignant melanoma. Most of the cases 70.0% underwent subtotal and near total thyroidectomies Eight patients were initially operated having stage I and II of malignancy and remaining 7 patients of stage III and IV were referring to oncology department for further management.

Conclusion: In the conclusion of this study the neck swelling was the commonest clinical presentation. Surgical decision making and the operative planning is one of the new challenges. Mostly patients underwent subtotal and near total thyroidectomies having benign presentation and patients those had stage I and II of malignancy were initially operated, while patients of stage III and IV including secondary were referred to oncology.
The role of SAMM50 in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: from genetics to mechanisms
Authors: Li Zuyin , Shen Weixing , Wu Gang , Qin Changjiang , Zhang Yijie , Wang Yupeng , Song Guohe , Xiao Chao , Zhang Xin , Deng Guilong , Wang Ruitao , Wang Xiaoliang
Published: March 2021

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation. SAMM50 encodes Sam50, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein involved in the removal of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial morphology and regulation of mitophagy. Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms of SAMM50 have been reported to be correlated with NAFLD. However, the contribution of SAMM50 polymorphisms to the occurrence and severity of fatty liver in the Chinese Han cohort has rarely been reported. Here, we investigated the association between SAMM50 polymorphisms (rs738491 and rs2073082) and NAFLD in a Chinese Han cohort, as well as the mechanistic basis of this association. Clinical information and blood samples were collected from 380 NAFLD cases and 380 normal subjects for the detection of genotypes and biochemical parameters. Carriers of the rs738491 T allele or rs2073082 G allele of SAMM50 exhibit increased susceptibility to NAFLD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14–1.71, P = 0.001; OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.05–1.62, P = 0.016, respectively] and are correlated with elevated serum triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels. The presence of the T allele (TT + CT) of rs738491 (P < 0.01) or G allele (AG + GG) of rs2073082 (P = 0.03) is correlated with the severity of fatty liver in the NAFLD cohort. In vitro studies indicated that SAMM50 gene polymorphisms decrease its expression and SAMM50 deficiency results in increased lipid accumulation as a result of a decrease in fatty acid oxidation. Overexpression of SAMM50 enhances fatty acid oxidation and mitigates intracellular lipid accumulation. Our results confirm the association between the SAMM50 rs738491 and rs2073082 polymorphisms and the risk of fatty liver in a Chinese cohort. The underlying mechanism may be related to decreased fatty acid oxidation caused by SAMM50 deficiency.
H2O2 Electrogeneration from O2 Electroreduction by N‐Doped Carbon Materials: A Mini‐Review on Preparation Methods, Selectivity of N Sites, and Prospects
Authors: Ding Yani , Zhou Wei , Gao Jihui , Sun Fei , Zhao Guangbo
Published: March 2021

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the 100 most paramount chemicals in the world, which has been widely used in industrial synthesis, pulp and bleaching, semiconductor cleaning, medical sterilizing, environmental treatments, and energy storage. Among various H2O2 production methods, anthraquinone process has intrinsic drawbacks such as energy‐intensive and environmental pollution while 2‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides an economic, efficient, and nonhazardous alternative process to realize the in situ production of H2O2 instead. Recently, heteroatom‐doped carbon electrocatalysts, especially the nitrogen‐doped ones, receive special attention due to the tunability on selectivity, activity, and stability towards ORR. In this review, the preparation methods on N‐doped carbon‐based electrocatalysts with different nitrogen forms are systematically classified, the mechanism of specific nitrogen morphology acting on two‐electron ORR is discussed, especially the selectivity, and the factors (pH, nitrogen content, active surface site density, physical properties of carbon substrates) affecting the ORR selectivity of N‐doped electrocatalysts are analyzed. Moreover, the preparation of H2O2 with N‐doped carbon materials in different experimental systems is also summarized. Finally, the development direction of H2O2 synthesis by 2‐electron ORR is prospected, and the suggestions from the aspects of production technology, testing method, and theoretical research are put forward.
Indene Derived Phosphorus‐Thioether Ligands for the Ir‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Olefins with Diverse Substitution Patterns and Different Functional Groups
Authors: Margalef Jèssica , Biosca Maria , de la Cruz‐Sánchez Pol , Caldentey Xisco , Rodríguez‐Escrich Carles , Pàmies Oscar , Pericàs Miquel A. , Diéguez Montserrat
Published: March 2021

A family of phosphite/phosphinite‐thioether ligands have been tested in the Ir‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a range of olefins (50 substrates in total). The presented ligands are synthesized in three steps from cheap indene and they are air‐stable solids. Their modular architecture has been crucial to maximize the catalytic performance for each type of substrate. Improving most Ir‐catalysts reported so far, this ligand family presents a broader substrate scope, covering different substitution patterns with different functional groups, ranging from unfunctionalized olefins, through olefins with poorly coordinative groups, to olefins with coordinative functional groups. α,β‐Unsaturated acyclic and cyclic esters, ketones and amides were hydrogenated in enantioselectivities ranging from 83 to 99% ee. Enantioselectivities ranging from 91 to 98% ee were also achieved for challenging substrates such as unfunctionalized 1,1′‐disubstituted olefins, functionalized tri‐ and 1,1′‐disubstituted vinyl phosphonates, and β‐cyclic enamides. The catalytic performance of the Ir‐ligand assemblies was maintained when the environmentally benign 1,2‐propylene carbonate was used as solvent.

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Highly Sensitive, Ultrafast, and Broadband Photo‐Detecting Field‐Effect Transistor with Transition‐Metal Dichalcogenide van der Waals Heterostructures of MoTe2 and PdSe2
Authors: Afzal Amir Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Zahir , Dastgeer Ghulam , Ahmad Aqrab ul , Park Byoungchoo
Published: March 2021

Recently, van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) based on transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted significant attention owing to their superior capabilities and multiple functionalities. Herein, a novel vdWH field‐effect transistor (FET) composed of molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) and palladium diselenide (PdSe2) is studied for highly sensitive photodetection performance in the broad visible and near‐infrared (VNIR) region. A high rectification ratio of 6.3 × 105 is obtained, stemming from the sharp interface and low Schottky barriers of the MoTe2/PdSe2 vdWHs. It is also successfully demonstrated that the vdWH FET exhibits highly sensitive photo‐detecting abilities, such as noticeably high photoresponsivity (1.24 × 105 A W−1), specific detectivity (2.42 × 1014 Jones), and good external quantum efficiency (3.5 × 106), not only due to the intra‐TMD band‐to‐band transition but also due to the inter‐TMD charge transfer (CT) transition. Further, rapid rise (16.1 µs) and decay (31.1 µs) times are obtained under incident light with a wavelength of 2000 nm due to the CT transition, representing an outcome one order of magnitude faster than values currently in the literature. Such TMD‐based vdWH FETs would improve the photo‐gating characteristics and provide a platform for the realization of a highly sensitive photodetector in the broad VNIR region.
Direct Prediction of Phonon Density of States With Euclidean Neural Networks
Authors: Chen Zhantao , Andrejevic Nina , Smidt Tess , Ding Zhiwei , Xu Qian , Chi Yen‐Ting , Nguyen Quynh T. , Alatas Ahmet , Kong Jing , Li Mingda
Published: March 2021

Machine learning has demonstrated great power in materials design, discovery, and property prediction. However, despite the success of machine learning in predicting discrete properties, challenges remain for continuous property prediction. The challenge is aggravated in crystalline solids due to crystallographic symmetry considerations and data scarcity. Here, the direct prediction of phonon density‐of‐states (DOS) is demonstrated using only atomic species and positions as input. Euclidean neural networks are applied, which by construction are equivariant to 3D rotations, translations, and inversion and thereby capture full crystal symmetry, and achieve high‐quality prediction using a small training set of examples with over 64 atom types. The predictive model reproduces key features of experimental data and even generalizes to materials with unseen elements, and is naturally suited to efficiently predict alloy systems without additional computational cost. The potential of the network is demonstrated by predicting a broad number of high phononic specific heat capacity materials. The work indicates an efficient approach to explore materials' phonon structure, and can further enable rapid screening for high‐performance thermal storage materials and phonon‐mediated superconductors.
Current approaches to management of high‐risk multiple myeloma
Authors: Goldman‐Mazur Sarah , Kumar Shaji K.
Published: March 2021

The median overall survival in multiple myeloma is rapidly approaching 10 years; however, in nearly a fifth of patients the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, the modern‐day management of myeloma patients should be individualized, with a more intense and continuous approach in these high‐risk patients. This includes first‐line treatment based on multi‐drug combinations employing the most effective drug combinations, upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (in eligible patients with tandem transplantation being a consideration), and maintenance based on proteasome inhibitor‐based combinations. This paper reviews the results of recent retrospective analyses and clinical trials, but also gives a glance into the future by presenting the ongoing trials.
Dynamic Protease Activation on a Multimeric Synthetic Protein Scaffold via Adaptable DNA‐Based Recruitment Domains
Authors: Mashima Tsuyoshi , Rosier Bas J. H. M. , Oohora Koji , de Greef Tom F. A. , Hayashi Takashi , Brunsveld Luc
Published: March 2021

Hexameric hemoprotein (HTHP) is employed as a scaffold protein for the supramolecular assembly and activation of the apoptotic signalling enzyme caspase‐9, using short DNA elements as modular recruitment domains. Caspase‐9 assembly and activation on the HTHP platform due to enhanced proximity is followed by combinatorial inhibition at high scaffold concentrations. The DNA recruitment domains allow for reversible switching of the caspase‐9 assembly and activity state using short modulatory DNA strands. Tuning of the recruitment domain affinity allows for generating kinetically trapped active enzyme complexes, as well as for dynamic repositioning of caspases over scaffold populations and inhibition using monovalent sink platforms. The conceptual combination of a highly structured multivalent protein platform with modular DNA recruitment domains provides emergent biomimicry properties with advanced levels of control over protein assembly.
A comparative study on the influences of whisker and conventional carbon nanotubes on the electrical and thermal conductivity of polyether ether ketone composites
Authors: Li Shu , Wen Fengyu , Sun Cong , Wang Zhenyang , Chen Rui , He Qingxia , Mu Jianxin
Published: March 2021

In this study, the electrical and thermal conductivity of polyether ether ketone (PEEK)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different types, namely whisker CNTs (Wh‐CNTs) and conventional CNTs were compared. PEEK/CNTs composites were melt mixed in PEEK via two screw extrusion technology. Moreover, the effects of different methods for mixing of PEEK/Wh‐CNTs, namely, dry mixing, wet mixing and melt mixing, were compared. The electrical and thermal properties were analyzed. A high thermal conductivity value of about 0.741 W/(m K) could be obtained upon loading with 10 wt% Wh‐CNTs and the PEEK/Wh‐CNTs composites had low volume resistivity value of 10.96 Ω cm at 10 wt% loading via melt mixing. Thermal conductivity values of 1.066 W/(m K) (out‐of‐plane) and 1.50 W/(m K) (in‐plane) were achieved with 10 wt% loading by wet mixing. Experimental results of out‐of‐plane thermal conductivity were more consistent with the Nan model. PEEK/Wh‐CNTs composites prepared by wet mixing exhibited higher thermal conductivity than the composites mixed using the two other methods. As the content of Wh‐CNTs in wet mixed PEEK/Wh‐CNTs nanocomposites increased, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) was improved. The PEEK/Wh‐CNTs composites were 0.6 mm thick and showed an EMI SE of 21.5 dB.
Epidemiology of Scleritis in the United Kingdom From 1997 to 2018: Population‐Based Analysis of 11 Million Patients and Association Between Scleritis and Infectious and Immune‐Mediated Inflammatory Disease
Authors: Braithwaite Tasanee , Adderley Nicola J. , Subramanian Anuradhaa , Galloway James , Kempen John H. , Gokhale Krishna , Cope Andrew P. , Dick Andrew D. , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Denniston Alastair K.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To estimate 22‐year trends in the prevalence and incidence of scleritis, and the associations of scleritis with infectious and immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (I‐IMIDs) in the UK.

Methods

The retrospective cross‐sectional and population cohort study (1997–2018) included 10,939,823 patients (2,946 incident scleritis cases) in The Health Improvement Network, a nationally representative primary care records database. The case–control and matched cohort study (1995–2019) included 3,005 incident scleritis cases and 12,020 control patients matched by age, sex, region, and Townsend deprivation index. Data were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression, multivariable logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, Townsend deprivation index, race/ethnicity, smoking status, nation within the UK, and body mass index. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.

Results

Scleritis incidence rates per 100,000 person‐years declined from 4.23 (95% CI 2.16–6.31) to 2.79 (95% CI 2.19–3.39) between 1997 and 2018. The prevalence of scleritis per 100,000 person‐years was 93.62 (95% CI 90.17–97.07) in 2018 (61,650 UK patients). Among 2,946 patients with incident scleritis, 1,831 (62.2%) were female, the mean ± SD age was 44.9 ± 17.6 years (range 1–93), and 1,257 (88.8%) were White. Higher risk of incident scleritis was associated with female sex (adjusted IRR 1.53 [95% CI 1.43–1.66], P < 0.001), Black race/ethnicity (adjusted IRR 1.52 [95% CI 1.14–2.01], P = 0.004 compared to White race/ethnicity), or South Asian race/ethnicity (adjusted IRR 1.50 [95% CI 1.19–1.90], P < 0.001 compared to White race/ethnicity), and older age (peak adjusted IRR 4.95 [95% CI 3.99–6.14], P < 0.001 for patients ages 51–60 years versus those ages ≤10 years). Compared to controls, scleritis patients had a 2‐fold increased risk of a prior I‐IMID diagnosis (17 I‐IMIDs, P < 0.001) and significantly increased risk of subsequent diagnosis (13 I‐IMIDs). The I‐IMIDs most strongly associated with scleritis included granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Behçet’s disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Conclusion

From 1997 through 2018, the UK incidence of scleritis declined from 4.23 to 2.79/100,000 person‐years. Incident scleritis was associated with 19 I‐IMIDs, providing data for rational investigation and cross‐specialty engagement.