bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MgO Functionalized Magnetic Activated Carbon Material for Efficient Removal of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Ren Zongli , Yang Zhao , Zhao Zhongwei , Yang Xuan
Published: April 2021

Malachite green (MG) pollution has a negative impact on human health. At present, the method of removing it is inconvenient to operate and the cost is high, which has aroused widespread concern. In this study, MgO functionalized magnetic activated carbon (MgO-mAC) prepared by the sol–gel method was used to remove MG in water. The physical and chemical properties of MgO-mAC were tested by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, BET and VSM. The effects of adsorbent dosage, solution pH, contact time, initial MG concentration and temperature on adsorption were studied by batch experiments. The adsorption kinetics data is well described by a pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data fits the Langmuir isotherm well. When the pH is 8 and the contact time is 360[Formula: see text]min, the maximum adsorption capacity of MG is 3809[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. In thermodynamic studies, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], MG adsorption is an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption process. The current synthesis method is simple in operation and cheap in raw materials, which can greatly reduce the cost of synthesis. Hence, the MgO-mAC material will be an effective adsorbent for removing MG from aqueous solutions.
Simplified 3D modelling method and its uncertainty analysis for adit fractures collected within short sampling windows
Authors: Zhang Wen , Wang Jia , Lou Junqing , Shan Bo , Liu Jinfeng , Wang Fengyan , Song Shengyuan
Published: April 2021

This study takes rock masses at the Songta Hydropower Station in SE China as examples to perform 3D discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling. Field fracture traces are collected from four adits (PD252, PD254, PD262 and PD264) with 1.6 m high sampling windows. The relationship between 3D fracture parameters and 2D collected trace information is investigated using data collected from short sampling windows. On the basis of this relationship, a simplified method is proposed to determine the 3D fracture density and disc diameter and generate 3D DFN. This method avoids the complex deduction processes of geometric fracture parameters, thereby simplifying 3D DFN modelling considerably. Although the method is developed on the basis of short-window collection, traditional data collected within a tall window are still applicable through the window dividing method. Short windows do not contain competent traces that reflect the structural information of rock masses. Therefore, errors are easily found during 3D DFN modelling. We propose a method to evaluate and reduce uncertainty effects. The uncertainties of fracture sets 1 and 2 are analysed by increasing the sampling size in a single structural domain, and the errors are acceptable.
Household Smoking Restrictions, Time to First Cigarette and Tobacco Dependence
Authors: Branstetter Steven A. , Krebs Nicolle , Muscat Joshua E. , Ward Kenneth
Published: April 2021

Objective. Environmental factors, such as household smoking restrictions (HSR), may impact a range of smoking-related outcomes. The current study examined the effects of various levels of HSR on smoking behaviors, including the number of cigarettes smoked per day and levels of nicotine dependence in a population of adult smokers. (1) Having specific HSR reduces the urges to smoke (path A); (2) having specific HSR reduces CPD (path B); (3) having specific HSR results in lower overall nicotine addiction (path C), and later, TTFC will be associated with (4) lower urges to smoke in the morning (path A’), (5) fewer CPD (path B’), and (6) lower levels of nicotine addiction (path C’).Method. Regression models using self-reported data from the Pennsylvania Adult Smoking Study (N= 353) were used. TTFC was measured minutes between waking and the first cigarette of the day. Household smoking restrictions were measured as follows: (1) full ban on smoking in the home, (2) partial ban, or (3) no ban.Results. Subjects with no household smoking restrictions had lower incomes and education than those with at least some household smoking restrictions; those with full bans smoked less and had an earlier TTFC than those with at least some household smoking restrictions. Smokers with a full ban had a later TTFC, mediated by fewer cigarettes per day and lower cravings. Among those with partial bans, there is no reduction in cigarettes per day and an increase in urges to smoke.Conclusions. Partial household smoking restrictions are no better than no household smoking restrictions with regard to cigarettes per day and TTFC, and may cause an increase in urges to smoke in the morning.
Effect of Fluid/Rock Interactions on Physical Character of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs during CO2 Flooding
Authors: Zhao Dongfeng , Yin Dandan
Published: April 2021

Structures of pore-throat and permeability alteration caused by precipitation and the dissolution of rock matrix are serious problems during CO2 flooding into reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Experiments were conducted under pressure boost and reduction conditions, which simulate CO2-brine scaling in different parts of the reservoir during CO2 flooding. And experiments on the dissolution and scaling of CO2-brine-rock were carried out. The results show that the pH of brine with CO2 under high pressure is small, and no precipitation is formed, so there is no precipitation generated near the gas injection well. Pressure drops sharply near the production well, CO2 dissolved in the formation fluid escapes in large quantities, pH increases, carbonate precipitates are generated, so inorganic scale is formed near the production well. The increase of permeability of core saturated high scale-forming ions is smaller than that of saturated no scale-forming ions brine after CO2 flooding. The accumulation and attachment of salt crystals were found in some large pores of the core with scale-forming ions water after CO2 flooding. The ratio of medium size pores decreased, while that of large and small pores increases, and the pore radius distribution differentiates toward polarization.
Statistical Analysis for Study of the Effect of Dark Clothing Color of Female Pedestrians on the Severity of Accident Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Hosseinian Seyed Mohsen , Najafi Moghaddam Gilani Vahid , Mirbaha Babak , Abdi Kordani Ali
Published: April 2021

The color and brightness of pedestrian clothing are among the factors that could increase the severity of their accidents due to the lack of visibility, especially at night. Today, as most Iranian females tend to wear hijab or dark clothing, the necessity of investigating female pedestrian accidents influenced by clothing color is important. Many studies have been performed to analyze the severity of pedestrian accidents, but a study has not yet been conducted to determine the effect of the dark clothing color of female pedestrians on the severity of accidents. Therefore, in this study, 12 independent variables affecting the severity of female pedestrian accidents such as clothing color, age, accident time, day, weather condition, education, pedestrian action, crossing facilities, crossing permit, job, road classification, and fault status were studied. Frequency analysis, Friedman test (FT), and Factor Analysis (FA) methods, as well as modeling methods of Multiple Logistic Regression (MLR) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) using Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Radius Basis Function (RBF), were used. Results indicated that clothing color had a significant influence on pedestrian accidents, and chador and dark clothing color increased the probability of accidents, especially at night. The MLP model had a better prediction percentage than the rest, the prediction accuracy of which was 94.6%. Finally, safety solutions were presented according to the results to reduce pedestrian accidents and increase road safety.
Basin of Attraction Analysis of New Memristor‐Based Fractional‐Order Chaotic System
Authors: Ding Long , Cui Li , Yu Fei , Jin Jie
Published: April 2021

Memristor is the fourth basic electronic element discovered in addition to resistor, capacitor, and inductor. It is a nonlinear gadget with memory features which can be used for realizing chaotic, memory, neural network, and other similar circuits and systems. In this paper, a novel memristor‐based fractional‐order chaotic system is presented, and this chaotic system is taken as an example to analyze its dynamic characteristics. First, we used Adomian algorithm to solve the proposed fractional‐order chaotic system and yield a chaotic phase diagram. Then, we examined the Lyapunov exponent spectrum, bifurcation, SE complexity, and basin of attraction of this system. We used the resulting Lyapunov exponent to describe the state of the basin of attraction of this fractional‐order chaotic system. As the local minimum point of Lyapunov exponential function is the stable point in phase space, when this stable point in phase space comes into the lowest region of the basin of attraction, the solution of the chaotic system is yielded. In the analysis, we yielded the solution of the system equation with the same method used to solve the local minimum of Lyapunov exponential function. Our system analysis also revealed the multistability of this system.
Teaching Evaluation Algorithm Based on Grey Relational Analysis
Authors: Zhang Xiaoying , Yang Xiuying , Yang Jing
Published: April 2021

Grey correlation analysis uses grey correlations to describe the strength, magnitude, and order of relationships among factors. The data sequence of the drmined data is used as a reference data string, and the data sequence matrix of each influence factor is used as a control data matrix to calculate the correlation between the data sequence and the reference of each factor in the control data matrix. The basic idea of quantitatively measuring the correlation between each factor and the object is to determine the similarity between the reference data sequence and the shape of multiple comparison data sequences and to determine whether the connection is strong. It reflects the degree of correlation between curves. In this paper, we examine the problem of evaluating the quality of undergraduate education by multiple indicators and establish a comprehensive evaluation model of the quality of undergraduate education in the 13 prefecture level cities by using the grey correlation analysis. The correlation coefficient of each index was obtained by the grey correlation analysis, the correlation number of each index was analyzed and ranked, and finally the improvement of the number of “advanced teachers” and the education of 13 prefectures were reduced as much as possible.
Similarity Evaluation on the Compound TCM Formulation “Huoling Shengji Granule” and Its Placebo by Intelligent Sensory Evaluation Technologies and the Human Sensory Evaluation Method Based on Critical Quality Attributes
Authors: Wu Mei , Guo Chengjie , Guo Ning , Zhang Tianyi , Wang Youjie , Wang Yuan , Lin Xiao , Wu Fei , Feng Yi
Published: April 2021

To evaluate the similarity of Huoling Shengji granule (HLG) and its placebo at both granules and solution status, the innovative methods that consist of intelligent sensory evaluation technologies and human sensory evaluation methods were developed based on critical quality attributes (CQAs) of granule. The CQAs for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) placebo granule were mainly divided into three categories: formulation attributes, visual attributes, and attributes of taste and smell. In this investigation, the novel intelligent sensory evaluation technologies including the physical property testing apparatus, computer vision system, color card, and electronic tongue (E-tongue) were employed for characterization of CQAs of HLG and its placebo. Meanwhile, human sensory evaluation by test panels was used to description the HLG and its placebo in terms of appearance, color, taste, and smell. On that basis, the similarity of placebo to CQAs of HLG was assessed by calculating the angle cosine values. The intelligent and human sensory evaluation results showed that the similarity values of HLG and its placebo about the CQAs at granule and solution status were all close to 1, which means that the two preparations have high similarities. In this study, the established similarity evaluation methods based on the CQAs were convenient and reliable, which can be utilized to evaluate the similarity of TCM granule and their placebo at granule and solution status, and demonstrated to be well applied in placebo-controlled trials.
1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Supplementation during Pregnancy Is Associated with Allergic Rhinitis in the Offspring by Modulating Immunity
Authors: Zhang Liqing , Ni Haifeng , Zhou Zhen , Yuan Xiaoyang , Xia Junbo , Jiang Bo , Li Yong
Published: April 2021

Background. Maternal supplementation with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) has immunologic effects on the developing fetus through multiple pathways. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of VD3 supplementation on immune dysregulation in the offspring during allergic rhinitis. Methods. Different doses of VD3 as well as control were given to pregnant female mice. Ovalbumin (OVA) challenge and aluminum hydroxide gel in sterile saline were used to induce allergic rhinitis in offspring mice. Nasal lavage fluids (NLF) were collected, and eosinophils were counted in NLF 24 hours after the OVA challenge. Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg subtype-relevant cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, TGF-β, and OVA-IgE levels from the blood and NLF of offspring mice, were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The Treg subtype was analyzed by flow cytometry. Treg cells were purified from offspring and were adoptively transferred to OVA-sensitized allogenic offspring mice. The outcomes were assessed in allogenic offspring. Results. Our data showed that VD3 supplementation significantly decreased the number of eosinophils, basophils, and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and NLF. The proportion of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs had a positive correlation with VD3 in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of serum IgE, IL-4, and IL-17 were decreased while the expressions of IFN-γ, IL-10, and TGF-β were significantly enhanced in VD3 supplementation groups. Adoptive transfer CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs of VD3 supplementation groups promoted Th1 and suppressed Th2 responses in the offspring during allergic rhinitis. Conclusion. Our findings indicated that low dose VD3 supply in pregnant mice’s diet suppressed Th2 and Th17 responses in allergic rhinitis by elevating the Th1 subtype and the proportion of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs in offspring. It suggested that low dose VD3 supply may have the potential to act as a new therapeutic strategy for allergic rhinitis.
Combined Effects of Heat and Mass Transfer on MHD Free Convective Flow of Maxwell Fluid with Variable Temperature and Concentration
Authors: Riaz Muhammad Bilal , Asgir Maryam , Zafar A. A. , Yao Shaowen
Published: April 2021

Heat and mass transfer combined effects on MHD natural convection for a viscoelastic fluid flow are investigated. The dynamics of the fluid are controlled by the motion of the plate with arbitrary velocity along with varying temperature and mass diffusion. The non-dimensional forms of the governing equations of the model are developed along with generalized boundary conditions and the resulting forms are solved by the classical integral (Laplace) transform technique/method and closed-form solutions are developed. Obtained generalized results are very important due to their vast applications in the field of engineering and applied sciences; few of them are highlighted here as limiting cases. Moreover, parametric analysis of system parameters

P

r

,
S
,

K

c

,

G

T

,

G

c

,
M
,

S

c

,
λ

is done via graphical simulations.
High‐Resolution Remote Sensing Image Classification with RmRMR‐Enhanced Bag of Visual Words
Authors: Chen Suting , Zhang Liangchen , Feng Rui , Zhang Chuang
Published: April 2021

A ReliefF improved mRMR (RmRMR) criterion‐based bag of visual words (BoVW) algorithm is proposed to filter the visual words that are generated with high information redundancy for remote sensing image classification. First, the contribution degree of each word to the classification is represented by its weighting parameter, which is assigned using the ReliefF algorithm. Next, the relevance and redundancy of each word are calculated according to the mRMR criterion with the addition of a dictionary balance coefficient. Finally, a novel dictionary discriminant function is established, and the globally discriminative small‐scale dictionary subsets are filtered and obtained. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm effectively reduces the amount of redundant information in the dictionary and better balances the relevance and redundancy of words to improve the feature descriptive power of dictionary subsets and markedly increase the classification precision on a high‐resolution remote sensing image.
Neutronic Performance of the VVER-1000 Reactor Using Thorium Fuel with ENDF Library
Authors: Reda Sonia M. , Gomaa Ibrahim M. , Bashter Ibrahim I. , Amin Esmat A.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, neutronic calculations and the core analysis of the VVER-1000 reactor were performed using MCNP6 code together with both ENDF/B-VII.1 and ENDF/B-VIII libraries. The effect of thorium introduction on the neutronic parameters of the VVER-1000 reactor was discussed. The reference core was initially filled with enriched uranium oxide fuel and then fueled with uranium-thorium fuel. The calculations determine the delayed neutron fraction βeff, the temperature reactivity coefficients, the fuel consumption, and the production of the transuranic elements during reactor operation. βeff and the Doppler coefficient (DC) are found to be in agreement with the design values. It is found that the core loaded with uranium and thorium has lower delayed neutron fraction than the uranium oxide core. The moderator temperature coefficients of the uranium-thorium core are found to be higher than those of the uranium core. Results indicated that thorium has lower production of minor actinides (MAs) and transuranic elements (mainly plutonium isotopes) compared with the relatively large amounts produced from the uranium-based fuel UO2.
Instability Mechanism of Extraction Structure in Whole Life Cycle in Block Caving Mine
Authors: Xia Zhi-Yuan , Tan Zhuo-Ying , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2021

In the whole life cycle of the extraction structure in block caving mine from the beginning of roadways excavation to the end of ore drawing, there are many factors affecting the stability of the extraction structure. The investigation in the mine site shows that the extraction structure often presents the law of repeated instability. In order to reveal the mechanism of repeated instability of the extraction structure, the whole life cycle of extraction structure can be divided into three stages, namely, the formation stage of extraction structure, the undercutting stage without initial caving, and the ore caving and drawing stage. The three-dimensional finite difference software FLAC3D was used to establish the numerical model of the extraction structure in the whole life cycle in the block caving method. The process of ore caving and ore drawing was replaced by manual excavation of the caving area above the undercut space and applying stress on the major apex. The stress and displacement evolution laws of the extraction structure in three stages of the whole life cycle were studied and compared with the instability characteristics of the extraction structure on mine site. The whole life cycle instability mechanism of the extraction structure in Tongkuangyu mine is revealed; the research results show that the extraction structure near the advancing undercut front is prone to producing compressive stress concentration under the action of the surrounding rock stress arch in the stope; if the rock mass shear failure condition is reached, the instability of the extraction structure occurs. The extraction structure near the advancing undercut front is gradually transferred to the area under the undercut space with undercut increase, and the tensile stress concentration gradually appears in the sidewall of ore loading roadway and the tip of major apex; if the tensile strength of the rock mass in the extraction structure is exceeded, the instability occurs again. It is helpful to reduce the probability of the instability of the extraction structure to promote the overburden ore caving as soon as possible after the undercutting begins.
Towards Taming the Bugs to Improve the Drugs for Breast Cancer
Authors: Sharma Dipali
Published: April 2021

The identification of microbial networks that are predictive of disease progression and response to therapy will not only increase our understanding of the connection between microbiota and breast cancer, but also pave the way for the development of novel microbiota-based therapeutic interventions. The study by Di Modica and colleagues points to the existence of specific microbiota in patients with HER2+ breast cancer that can influence their response to trastuzumab. This information can potentially be used to develop novel therapeutic regimens combining fecal microbiota transplant with standard cancer therapy.

See related article by Di Modica et al., p. 2195
Primary Chemotherapy in a 47-Year-Old Patient with Giant Ulcerative and Necrotizing Nonseminomatous Testicular Germ Cell Tumor
Authors: Stock Sophia , Marcon Julian , Chaloupka Michael , Becker Armin , Kunz Wolfgang G. , Ormanns Steffen , Pichler Theresia , Mumm Friederike H.A. , Holch Julian W. , Lindner Lars H.
Published: April 2021

Testicular cancer is a rare disease; however, cure rates are high for all tumor stages. Mostly, the disease is diagnosed in an early (local) stage. We report the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a giant nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. At the time of diagnosis, the patient demonstrated a necrotizing and ulcerating growing mass in the left scrotum with an approximate size of 22 × 18 cm. According to the prognostic classification of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG 1997), the patient exhibited a high-risk profile due to alpha-fetoprotein >10,000 ng/mL and lactate dehydrogenase >10× the upper limit of normal in serum. Primary orchiectomy was infeasible due to the tumor’s size, the patient’s poor general condition and initial intensive care unit treatment. Primary systemic chemotherapy was applied. After 3 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin, along with 1 cycle of cisplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide, tumor resection with histomorphological examination showed a complete pathological response. Despite the delayed initiation of the therapy, primary chemotherapy was completed timely and showed promising results. Reasons for the late hospitalization were personal responsibilities regarding his family. Better awareness and knowledge of testicular cancer among young men might prevent the here reported delay of medical consultation and avoid testicular tumors of such enormous size. Psychosocial assessment and distress management is important as an integral part of comprehensive care of testicular cancer patients.
The development of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for donkeys
Authors: Dalla Costa Emanuela , Dai Francesca , Murray Leigh Margaret Anne , Cannas Simona , Canali Elisabetta , Zanella Adroaldo José , Minero Michela
Published: April 2021

The donkey population has increased in the last 10 years, with an estimated 50 million donkeys currently worldwide. Donkey welfare, meanwhile, is an increasing global concern that receives close public scrutiny. However, multiple challenges are surrounding how donkey welfare is assessed and recorded. The Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) project is the first project, funded by the European Commission, intended to improve donkey welfare by developing a scientifically sound and practical on-farm welfare assessment protocol. The present study describes the procedure for the development of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for donkeys: 1) selection of promising welfare indicators; 2) research to cover gaps in knowledge; 3) stakeholder consultation; 4) testing the prototype protocol on-farm. The proposed two-level strategy improved on-farm feasibility, while the AWIN donkey app enables the standardized collection of data with prompt results. Although limitations are linked with a relatively small reference population, the AWIN welfare assessment protocol represents the first scientific and standardized approach to evaluate donkey welfare on-farm.
Escola Sem Partido e Ideologia de Gênero: reflexões sobre a educação e a luta pela construção de uma sociedade justa
Authors: Batista Neiza Cristina Santos , Atem Lou Muniz , Gemelgo Felipe de Almeida Kurosaki , Gonçalves Lucila de Jesus Mello , Nolasco Ligia Rufine , Rego Renato Otaviano do
Published: April 2021

Este artigo é resultado do esforço coletivo para a conclusão de uma disciplina de Preparação Pedagógica para o Ensino Superior, cuja sugestão foi um debate focado no eixo Educação e Gênero. A partir desta proposta, pretendemos problematizar o discurso da Escola sem Partido, projeto de lei que se diz politicamente neutro, mas se mostra, pelo contrário, aderido ao combate da chamada ideologia de gênero, carregando valores de moral e religião bem específicos, característicos de uma visão conservadora e de perpetuação das desigualdades de gênero. Para a discussão, retomamos principalmente a concepção da educação enquanto prática emancipadora, tal qual abordada por Adorno e Paulo Freire, pois ambos supõem sujeitos ativos e questionadores, potencialmente transformadores da sociedade e, portanto, com potencial para a superação do sexismo e machismo. Como conclusão, reafirmamos a educação como lócus privilegiado e fundamental para que possamos avançar em tantas questões relativas à violência e discriminações estruturais entre homens e mulheres.
Memorial da Resistência: um instrumento de políticas de memória, de educação em direitos humanos e de luta contra o esquecimento
Authors: Silva Alessandro Soares da , Braga Victória Lustosa
Published: April 2021

O presente artigo analisa o Memorial da Resistência de São Paulo como lugar de memória que ocupa um papel relevante nas políticas de memória e enfrentamento Nossa análise se dá a partir das noções de justiça, memória e verdade que conformam a ideia de justiça transicional. A criação do Memorial da Resistência de São Paulo é estratégica para que a história, a memória e a educação em direitos humanos possa contribuir na transmissão geracional e na reforma das instituições que sustentaram a ditadura brasileira, pois no instante em que outras visões do passado são reconhecidas e apresentadas à população, novas legitimidades são constituídas e a polissemia da verdade ganha vida e permite que um passado autoritário e antidemocrático se repita. Assim o memorial se constitui como um espaço de produção de consciência política e um instrumento de ação pública. Nesse sentido, o artigo possibilita refletir sobre em que medida um espaço museológico voltado à memória da ditadura militar é capaz de fornecer um conhecimento sobre as violações desse período que reflita diretamente em lutas e ações contínuas na defesa de direitos e de combate ao esquecimento e ao oficialismo.
Os Limites da Institucionalização Legal das Políticas Públicas na Concretização dos Direitos Culturais
Authors: Oliveira Danilo Junior de
Published: April 2021

O artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre o papel exercido pela institucionalização legal na estabilidade de políticas públicas voltadas à concretização dos direitos culturais. São analisados os contornos da falta de efetividade dos marcos legais que reconhecem a cultura no âmbito dos direitos fundamentais. A reflexão busca entender os impactos concretos da positivação formal. Para ilustrar a questão abordada é apresentado o processo de institucionalização do Sistema Nacional de Cultura e do Plano Nacional de Cultura.
Vascular Regenerative Capacity and the Obesity Paradox in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Mehta Anurag , Meng Qi , Li Xiaona , Desai Shivang R. , D’Souza Melroy S. , Ho Annie H. , Islam Shabatun J. , Dhindsa Devinder S. , Almuwaqqat Zakaria , Nayak Aditi , Alkhoder Ayman A. , Hooda Ananya , Varughese Anil , Ahmad Syed F. , Mokhtari Ali , Hesaroieh Iraj , Sperling Laurence S. , Ko Yi-An , Waller Edmund K. , Quyyumi Arshed A.
Published: April 2021

Objective:

The underlying pathobiology of the paradoxical relationship between obesity and adverse outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Our objective was to determine the association between obesity and circulating progenitor cell (CPC) counts—a measure of intrinsic regenerative capacity—in asymptomatic individuals and patients with CAD and its impact on the obesity paradox.

Approach and Results:

CPCs were enumerated by flow cytometry as CD45
med+
cells expressing CD34+, CD133+, and CXCR4+ epitopes in 672 asymptomatic individuals (50 years of age; 28% obese) and 1277 patients with CAD (66 years of age; 39% obese). The association between obesity and CPCs was analyzed using linear regression models. The association of obesity and CPCs with cardiovascular death/myocardial infarction events over 3.5-year follow-up in patients with CAD was studied using Cox models. Obesity was independently associated with 16% to 34% higher CPC counts (CD34+, CD34+/CD133+, and CD34+/CXCR4+) in asymptomatic individuals. This association was not attenuated by systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, or secretion but partly attenuated by cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. In patients with CAD, obesity was associated with 8% to 12% higher CPC counts and 30% lower risk of adverse outcomes. Compared with nonobese patients, only obese patients with high CPC counts (CD34+ cells ≥median, 1806 cells/mL) were at a lower risk (hazard ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.31–0.88]), whereas those with low counts (<median) were at a similar risk (hazard ratio, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.48–1.15]).

Conclusions:

Obesity is associated with higher CPC counts. The obesity paradox of improved outcomes with obesity in CAD is limited to patients with intact regenerative capacity who have high CPC counts.
Peripheral Sonification by Means of Virtual Room Acoustics
Authors: Groß-Vogt Katharina , Weger Marian , Frank Matthias , Höldrich Robert
Published: April 2021

Peripheral interaction is a new approach to conveying information at the periphery of human attention in which sound is so far largely underrepresented. We report on two experiments that explore the concept of sonifying information by adding virtual reverberation to real-world room acoustics. First, to establish proof of concept, we used the consumption of electricity in a kitchen to control its reverberation in real time. The results of a second, in-home experiment showed that at least three levels of information can be conveyed to the listeners with this technique without disturbing a main task being performed simultaneously. This number may be increased for sonifications that are less critical.
A Machine Learning Application Based on Giorgio Morandi Still-Life Paintings to Assist Artists in the Choice of 3D Compositions
Authors: Salimbeni Guido , Fol Leymarie Frederic , Latham William
Published: April 2021

The authors present a system built to generate arrangements of threedimensional models for aesthetic evaluation, with the aim being to support an artist in their creative process. The authors explore how this system can automatically generate aesthetically pleasing content for use in the media and design industry, based on standards originally developed in master artworks. They then demonstrate the effectiveness of their process in the context of paintings using a collection of images inspired by the work of the artist Giorgio Morandi (Bologna, 1890–1964). Finally, they compare the results of their system with the results of a well-known Generative Adversarial Network (GAN).
Hierarchical Dynamical Model for Multiple Cortical Neural Decoding
Authors: Liu Xi , Shen Xiang , Chen Shuhang , Zhang Xiang , Huang Yifan , Wang Yueming , Wang Yiwen
Published: April 2021

Motor brain machine interfaces (BMIs) interpret neural activities from motor-related cortical areas in the brain into movement commands to control a prosthesis. As the subject adapts to control the neural prosthesis, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), upstream of the primary motor cortex (M1), is heavily involved in reward-guided motor learning. Thus, considering mPFC and M1 functionality within a hierarchical structure could potentially improve the effectiveness of BMI decoding while subjects are learning. The commonly used Kalman decoding method with only one simple state model may not be able to represent the multiple brain states that evolve over time as well as along the neural pathway. In addition, the performance of Kalman decoders degenerates in heavy-tailed nongaussian noise, which is usually generated due to the nonlinear neural system or influences of movement-related noise in online neural recording. In this letter, we propose a hierarchical model to represent the brain states from multiple cortical areas that evolve along the neural pathway. We then introduce correntropy theory into the hierarchical structure to address the heavy-tailed noise existing in neural recordings. We test the proposed algorithm on in vivo recordings collected from the mPFC and M1 of two rats when the subjects were learning to perform a lever-pressing task. Compared with the classic Kalman filter, our results demonstrate better movement decoding performance due to the hierarchical structure that integrates the past failed trial information over multisite recording and the combination with correntropy criterion to deal with noisy heavy-tailed neural recordings.
Effect of Bilateral Opercular Syndrome on Speech Perception
Authors: Walker Grant M. , Rollo Patrick Sarahan , Tandon Nitin , Hickok Gregory
Published: April 2021

Speech perception ability and structural neuroimaging were investigated in two cases of bilateral opercular syndrome. Due to bilateral ablation of the motor control center for the lower face and surrounds, these rare cases provide an opportunity to evaluate the necessity of cortical motor representations for speech perception, a cornerstone of some neurocomputational theories of language processing. Speech perception, including audiovisual integration (i.e., the McGurk effect), was mostly unaffected in these cases, although verbal short-term memory impairment hindered performance on several tasks that are traditionally used to evaluate speech perception. The results suggest that the role of the cortical motor system in speech perception is context-dependent and supplementary, not inherent or necessary.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on an Israeli Acute Care Surgery Unit: Fewer Patients, More Disease
Authors: Maman Yossi , Lee Goldstein Adam , Neeman Uri , Lessing Yonatan , Orbach Lior , Sirhan Saad , Falk Ela , Lahat Guy
Published: April 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed and affected every aspect of health care. Like any catastrophic event, the stress on hospitals to maintain a certain level of function is immense. Acute surgical pathologies cannot be prevented or curtailed; therefore, it is important to understand patterns and outcomes during catastrophes in order to optimize care and organize the health care system.

Methods

In a single urban tertiary care center, a retrospective study examined the first complete lockdown period of Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was compared to the same time period the previous year.

Results

During the pandemic, time to hospitalization was significantly decreased. There was also an overall reduction in surgical admissions yet with a higher percentage being hospitalized for further treatment (69.2% vs 23.5%). The patients admitted during this time had a higher APACHE-II score and Charlson comorbidity index score. During the pandemic, time to surgery was decreased, there were less laparoscopic procedures, and more RBC units were used per patient. There were no differences in overall complications, except when sub-analyzed for major complications (9.7% vs 6.3%). There was no significant difference in overall in-house mortality or morbidity. Length of hospitalization was significantly decreased in the elderly population during the pandemic.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a significantly less number of patients presenting to the hospital, there was a higher percentage of those admitted needing surgical intervention, and they were overall sicker than the previous year.
Does Localization Technique Matter for Non-palpable Breast Cancers?
Authors: Chagpar Anees B. , Garcia-Cantu Carlos , Howard-McNatt Marissa M. , Gass Jennifer S. , Levine Edward A. , Chiba Akiko , Lum Sharon , Martinez Ricardo , Brown Eric , Dupont Elisabeth ,   on behalf of SHAVE2 authors
Published: April 2021

Background

There are several techniques for localization of non-palpable breast tumors, but comparisons of these techniques in terms of margin positivity and volume of tissue resected are lacking.

Methods

Between 2011-2013 and 2016-2018, 2 randomized controlled trials involving 10 centers across the United States accrued 631 patients with stage 0-3 breast cancer, all of whom underwent breast conserving surgery. Of these, 522 had residual non-palpable tumors for which localization was required. The localization technique was left to the discretion of the individual surgeon. We compared margin positivity and volume of tissue resected between various localization techniques.

Results

The majority of the patients (n = 465; 89.1%) had wire localization (WL), 50 (9.6%) had radioactive seed (RS) localization, and 7 (1.3%) had Savi Scout (SS) localization. On bivariate analysis, there was no difference in terms of margin positivity (37.8% vs. 28.0% vs. 28.6%, P = .339) nor re-excision rates (13.3% vs. 12.0% vs. 14.3%, P = .961) for the WL, RS, and SS groups, respectively. Further, the volume of tissue removed was not significantly different between the 3 groups (71.9 cm3 vs. 55.8 cm3 vs. 86.6 cm3 for the WL, RS, and SS groups, respectively, P = .340). On multivariate analysis, margin status was affected by tumor size (OR = 1.336; 95% CI: 1.148-1.554, P<.001) but not by type of localization ( P = .670).

Conclusions

While there are a number of methods for tumor localization, choice of technique does not seem to influence volume of tissue resected nor margin status.
Validating the Child Trauma Screen Among a Cross-Sectional Sample of Youth and Caregivers in Pediatric Primary Care
Authors: Lang Jason M. , Connell Christian M. , Macary Susan
Published: April 2021

Pediatric primary care providers have an important role in addressing the health effects of trauma, yet routine screening is rare. This study evaluated whether the 10-item Child Trauma Screen (CTS) could identify youth experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were 107 caregiver-youth pairs aged 7 to 17 years old, 55.8% male, and 76.4% Hispanic who were recruited at an urban pediatric primary care clinic. Youth and caregivers separately completed the CTS and the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 (RI-5) prior to their medical visit. Half of youth experienced at least one type of trauma, and one sixth reported elevated PTSD symptoms. The CTS was highly correlated with the RI-5 on PTSD symptom severity, and correctly classified 85% of youth based on likely PTSD diagnosis. The brief CTS can accurately identify youth suffering from PTSD symptoms, and may be particularly feasible to implement in busy primary care practices.
Untangling Eviction, Disadvantage, Race, and Social Processes: Neighborhood Factors Influencing Crime
Authors: Kirk Eileen M.
Published: April 2021

Eviction is concentrated in poor communities of color, and studies indicate eviction may affect social processes. Community and crime literature demonstrates that structural factors, such as socio-economic status and racial composition, are linked with crime and that social processes protect neighborhoods from crime. Therefore, eviction is likely concentrated in neighborhoods vulnerable to crime, but the connection between eviction and neighborhood violent crime has not yet been examined. Using data from Princeton University’s Eviction Lab National Database, the National Neighborhood Crime Study 2, and the Boston Neighborhood Survey, this Boston-based study is a first step in filling this knowledge gap. Findings indicate that eviction is positively associated with crime and partially explains why crime is concentrated in disadvantaged communities of color.
Introduction: The case for a value turn in childhood sociology
Authors: Gu Xiaorong
Published: April 2021

The sociology of childhood is currently at a crossroads for developing research agendas beyond the ‘new’ social studies of childhood of the 1980s and 1990s, which suffer from four problems: cultural relativism derived from binary conceptualizations of childhood, Northern normativity that ill-fits Southern realities, methodological issues related to the preferred child-centric and participatory research, and disengagement from mainstream sociological theories. In this article, based on a relational conceptualization of value, the author calls for a value turn that could open childhood theorization both to new forms of cultural analysis of social processes at the familial, national, and global scales, and to new forms of applied research on policy fronts such as childcare and education policies, civil society engagement, and parenting. Focusing on the value of children bridges the gap between childhood sociology and mainstream sociological theories. It also allows for thinking across analytical scales and methodological approaches, and decentralizes knowledge production about childhood from the discipline’s Euromerican-centric traditions.
Wide area monitoring, protection, and control application in islanding detection for grid integrated distributed generation: A review
Authors: Tshenyego Onkemetse , Samikannu Ravi , Mtengi Bokani
Published: April 2021

The assimilation of Distributed Generation (DG) into the electric power system (EPS) has become more attractive as the world is following a trend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by introducing more renewable energy forms resulting in high penetration scenarios. This high penetration of DGs brings several challenges to the protection philosophy of the EPS which compromises its reliability, availability, and efficiency. Under high DG penetration scenarios, conventional islanding detection methods (Idms) fail to detect an island as the grid loses its inertia to leverage a significant frequency and voltage mismatch necessary for Idms to effectively detect an islanding event. This has given rise to the birth of Artificial Intelligent (AI) methods that are found to perform better in islanding detection. AI Idms are computationally intensive and require a lot of data to operate accurately. Because the computational burden of these methods requires fast computing hardware, the current trend of AI Idms are integrated with Wide Area Monitoring, Protection, and Control (WAMPAC) system. This paper aims at reviewing all these Idms and the WAMPAC’s system latency when hosting AI Idms which are currently the best in islanding detection. This is done to determine if the WAMPAC system latency plus Idms computational time meet the islanding detection time specified by the IEEE Standard 1547 framework.
Religiosity as a moderator of ADHD-related antisocial behaviour and emotional distress among secular, religious and Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel
Authors: Novis-Deutsch Nurit , Dayan Haym , Pollak Yehuda , Khoury-Kassabri Mona
Published: April 2021

Background:

ADHD predicts higher levels of antisocial behaviour and distress while religiosity is related to lower levels of both. This raises the hitherto unexplored question of how these variables interact.

Aims:

The objective of this study was to explore how religious individuals with ADHD fare in terms of these psychosocial outcomes.

Method:

806 secular, religious and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish adults in Israel completed measures of ADHD symptoms and treatment, emotional strengths and difficulties, religious belonging, religious behaviour and antisocial behaviour.

Results:

Findings supported an additive-interactive model in which religiosity (a) correlates with lower levels of ADHD symptoms and diagnosis, (b) directly relates to less antisocial behaviour and less distress and (c) moderates the negative effects of ADHD on antisocial behaviour and distress. Findings further suggest that religious observance rather than religious belonging drives most of the moderating effect of religiosity, while religious belonging rather than religious observance drives negative attitudes towards ADHD.

Conclusions:

Implications include the importance of treating religious individuals with ADHD in a more nuanced manner and of providing more information on ADHD to religious communities.
Exploring the impact of a complex intervention for women with depression in contexts of adversity: A pilot feasibility study of COURRAGE-plus in South Africa
Authors: Burgess Rochelle A , Jeske Niklas , Rasool Shahana , Ahmad Ayesha , Kydd Anna , Ncube Mlilo Ncazelo
Published: April 2021

Background:

Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide but is often undertreated in low- and middle-income countries. Reasons behind the treatment gap vary, but many highlight a lack of interventions which speak to the socio-economic and structural realties that are associated to mental health problems in many settings, including South Africa. The COURRAGE-PLUS intervention responds to this gap, by combining a collective narrative therapy (9 weeks) intervention, with a social intervention promoting group-led practical action against structural determinants of poor mental health (4 weeks), for a total of 13 sessions. The overall aim is to promote mental health, while empowering communities to acknowledge, and respond in locally meaningful ways to social adversity linked to development of mental distress.

Aim:

To pilot and evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention – COURRAGE-PLUS on symptoms of depression as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among a sample of women facing contexts of adversity in Gauteng, South Africa.

Methods:

PHQ-9 scores were assessed at baseline, post collective narrative therapy (midline), and post social intervention (endline). Median scores and corresponding interquartile ranges were computed for all time points. Differences in scores between time points were tested with a non-parametric Friedman test. The impact across symptom severities was compared descriptively to identify potential differences in impact across categories of symptom severity within our sample.

Results:

Participants’ ( n = 47) median depression score at baseline was 11 (IQR = 7) and reduced to 4 at midline (IQR = 7) to 0 at endline (IQR = 2.5). The Friedman test showed a statistically significant difference between depression scores across time points, [Formula: see text](2) = 49.29, p < .001. Median depression scores were reduced to 0 or 1 Post-Intervention across all four severity groups.

Conclusions:

COURRAGE-PLUS was highly effective at reducing symptoms of depression across the spectrum of severities in this sample of women facing adversity, in Gauteng, South Africa. Findings supports the need for larger trials to investigate collective narrative storytelling and social interventions as community-based interventions for populations experiencing adversity and mental distress.