bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distributed consensus of multi-agent systems with increased convergence rate
Authors: Cao Ke-cai , Chai Yun , Liu Chenglin
Published: November 2020

Consensus problem with faster convergence rate of consensus problem has been considered in this paper. Adding more edges such as that connecting each agent and its second-nearest neighbor or changing the consensus protocol such as mixing asymptotic terms and terms of finite-time has been proved to be possible ways in increasing the convergence rate of multi-agent system in this paper. Based on analysis of Laplacian matrix, increasing of the convergence rate has been proved using the second-smallest eigenvalue for the first method. Concerning the second method, advantages of asymptotic consensus protocol and finite-time consensus protocol have been mixed together with the help of homogeneity function and theory of Lyapunov. Simulation results using matlab are also presented to illustrate the newly designed consensus protocols in increasing the convergence rate.
Optimization approach to the constrained regulation problem for linear continuous-time fractional-order systems
Authors: Si Xindong , Yang Hongli
Published: November 2020

This paper deals with the Constrained Regulation Problem (CRP) for linear continuous-times fractional-order systems. The aim is to find the existence conditions of linear feedback control law for CRP of fractional-order systems and to provide numerical solving method by means of positively invariant sets. Under two different types of the initial state constraints, the algebraic condition guaranteeing the existence of linear feedback control law for CRP is obtained. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the polyhedral set to be a positive invariant set of linear fractional-order systems are presented, an optimization model and corresponding algorithm for solving linear state feedback control law are proposed based on the positive invariance of polyhedral sets. The proposed model and algorithm transform the fractional-order CRP problem into a linear programming problem which can readily solved from the computational point of view. Numerical examples illustrate the proposed results and show the effectiveness of our approach.
Indigenization in a downgraded continuum: Ideologies behind phonetic variation in Namibian Afrikaans
Authors: Stell Gerald
Published: November 2020

This study generally looks at indigenization in languages historically introduced and promoted by colonial regimes. The case study that it presents involves Namibia, a Subsaharan African country formerly administered by South Africa, where Afrikaans was the dominant official language before being replaced by English upon independence. Afrikaans in Namibia still functions as an informal urban lingua franca while being spoken as a native language by substantial White and Coloured minorities. To what extent does the downranking of Afrikaans in Namibia co-occur with divergence from standard models historically located in South Africa? To answer this question, the study identifies variation patterns in Namibian Afrikaans phonetic data elicited from ethnically diverse young urban informants and links these patterns with perceptions and language ideologies. The phonetic data reveal divergence between Whites and Non-Whites and some convergence among Black L2 Afrikaans-speakers with Coloured varieties, while suggesting that a distinctive Black variety is emerging. The observed trends generally reflect perceived ethnoracial distinctions and segregation. They must be read against the background of shifting inter-group power relations and sociolinguistic prestige norms in independent Namibia, as well as of emergent ethnically inclusive Black urban identities.
Evaluation of efficacy of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. gel solution in methylcellulose-induced ocular hypertension in New Zealand white rabbits
Authors: Vaghela Jhanvi J. , Barvaliya Manish J. , Parmar Sugnesh J. , Tripathi Chandrabhanu R.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Aloe vera in the methylcellulose-induced ocular hypertension model.

Methods

Fifty-six rabbits were randomly divided into seven groups. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was raised by anterior chamber injection of 2% methylcellulose in all the groups except the normal control group. Disease control animals were treated with sterile water and active control with topical 0.5% timolol 12 hourly; 6 and 12% A. vera gel topical solutions 8 hourly were given in group IV and V, respectively; 6 and 12% A. vera gel solutions along with timolol were given in group VI and VII animals, respectively. Mean IOP values and percentage of reduction in IOP were compared at 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h.

Results

A. vera gel solutions (6 and 12%) showed a significant reduction in mean IOP from 4 to 2 h time points, respectively, whereas, A. vera gel solutions (6 and 12%) + timolol showed significant less mean IOP from a 30 min time point as compared with disease control. A. vera gel solutions (6 and 12%) showed 8.6 and 10.4% more reduction in IOP, respectively (66.8 ± 4.9% and 68.6 ± 5.4% vs. 58.2 ± 2.3%; p > 0.05), whereas 6 and 12% A. vera gel solutions along with timolol showed 14.5 and 16.2% more reduction in IOP, respectively (72.7 ± 4.7% and 74.4 ± 4.1% vs. 58.2 ± 2.3%; p < 0.05), than disease control group at 48 h.

Conclusions

Six and twelve percent A. vera gel solutions reduced the IOP effectively. Concurrent treatment with 12% A. vera gel and timolol produced the maximum reduction in IOP.
Spirometry in adult hypothyroid patients: a comparative study
Authors: Mohammed Rasha N. , Kadhum Haithem J. , Hashim Ali R.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Hypothyroidism adversely affects pulmonary function, which may improve by thyroxine therapy. Limited studies about the effect of hypothyroidism on spirometric parameters in adult patients were conducted in Basra, south of Iraq. Moreover, the effect of thyroxine therapy on spirometric parameters was not covered by these studies. In this study, pulmonary function in adult’s hypothyroid patients was evaluated by spirometry to detect any impairment, type of impairment, and to evaluate the effect of thyroxine therapy.

Methods

A comparative study was conducted in Al-Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center (FDEMC) in Al-Faiha teaching hospital, Basrah, Iraq. Subjects are divided into four groups: uncontrolled hypothyroid group (n=72), controlled hypothyroid group (n=60), newly diagnosed hypothyroid group (n=52), and control group (n=110). Spirometry was done to all subjects in sitting position, it’s repeated at least three times and the best result was recorded.

Results

A significantly (p<0.05) less spirometric parameters and more abnormal pulmonary function test (PFT) were noticed in hypothyroid groups, the reduction were more pronounced in the uncontrolled hypothyroid group. The abnormality in PFT was mostly of restrictive type. A significantly (p<0.05) negative correlation has been found between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and spirometric parameters, while the correlation of fT4 is significantly (p<0.05) positive with FVC% and FEV%.

Conclusion

In hypothyroidism, high TSH and low fT4 are recognized causes of a reduction in spirometric parameters. Therefore, spirometry can be used to detect pulmonary function changes in hypothyroidism.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles with green tea extract complex in the pancreas of rats against monosodium glutamate toxicity
Authors: Hamza Reham Z. , Al-Salmi Fawziah A. , El-Shenawy Nahla S.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Nanotechnology is an exciting field for investigators. Green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with Camellia sinensis extract complex are proved to be used in the treatment of the toxicity of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the liver, kidney, and testis of rats. Therefore, the synthesized complex of green nanoparticles using green tea extract (GTE) was tested against the toxicity of MSG on the pancreas.

Methods

The glucose and insulin levels were estimated as well as some biochemical parameters for evaluating the antioxidant status of the pancreas tissue. The histopathological change of the pancreas also has been determined.

Results

It indicates the biomedical capability of ZnO NPs/GTE to act as potent antidiabetic through decreasing blood glucose and increasing serum insulin also, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and enhancement of the antioxidant parameters.

Conclusions

The ZnO NPs/GTE enhanced the pancreatic cell and Langerhans islets as well lowered the sugar levels and stimulated insulin.
Rewriting Trauma: The Legacy of W.B. Yeats in Marina Carr’sBy the Bog of Cats . . .
Authors: He Chu
Published: November 2020

While a most original and creative playwright in contemporary Ireland, Marina Carr is still unmistakably influenced by her male predecessors. This article will argue that her most renowned workBy the Bog of Cats . . .(1998) is a bold rewriting of W. B. Yeats’sPurgatory(1938). Like Yeats’s play,BytheBogofCats . . .focuses on abandonment, betrayal, and murder as its main sources of trauma. While Carr’s play is a direct descendant fromPurgatoryin terms of its theme, plot, and symbolism, Carr rewrites Yeats’s pathetic, shiftless Old Man into a daring, strong, and responsible woman who may be embittered by her domestic trauma, but instead of escaping, she eventually faces up to her own guilt and crime. Hester is not a flat, helpless victim but a complex, well-rounded woman full of agency, passion, and honesty as well as vices. This way, Carr rewrites both the stereotypical stage image of Irish women and the unredeemable Old Man.
A Fallen-Soufflé Crisis inDinner with Friends
Authors: Dubost Thierry
Published: November 2020

InDinner with Friends(1999), which received the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2000, Donald Margulies stages two couples – one of them impacted by the other’s divorce – and he uses food to evaluate the characters’ response to a marital breakup. Sociologically, food and eating rituals help characterize communities and identities, and inDinner with Friends, the characters’ culinary choices become revelatory features of their bourgeois community. In the midst of a friendship crisis, Margulies uses culinary talks to examine East Coast intelligentsia. Beyond their specific approach to ethnic food, he sheds some light on the invisible consequences of their expertise as foodies, bearers of inflexible norms, who resort to soft power to assert their immutable principles. Viewed through the lens of Lauren Berlant’sCruel Optimism, the enactment of eating strategies – not to mention people’s capacity to cook a good meal – will serve to analyze connections between food and power. Beyond thematic aspects illustrating a crisis, Margulies’s dramatic use of food may reveal his aesthetic strategies in performing crisis.
Groups that have a partition by commuting subsets
Authors: Foguel Tuval , Hiller Josh , Lewis Mark L. , Moghaddamfar Alireza
Published: November 2020

Let 𝐺 be a nonabelian group.
We say that 𝐺 has an abelian partition if there exists a partition of 𝐺 into commuting subsets

A
1

,

A
2

,
…
,

A
n

A_{1},A_{2},\ldots,A_{n}

of 𝐺 such that

|

A
i

|

⩾
2

\lvert A_{i}\rvert\geqslant 2

for each

i
=

1
,
2
,
…
,
n

i=1,2,\ldots,n

.
This paper investigates problems relating to groups with abelian partitions.
Among other results, we show that every finite group is isomorphic to a subgroup of a group with an abelian partition and also isomorphic to a subgroup of a group with no abelian partition.
We also find bounds for the minimum number of partitions for several families of groups which admit abelian partitions – with exact calculations in some cases.
Finally, we examine how the size of a partition with the minimum number of parts behaves with respect to the direct product.
Authors and languages in a sociohistorical context: Basque religious literature in seventeenth-century France
Authors: Zuloaga Eneko , Krajewska Dorota
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we apply the methods of historical sociolinguistics to seventeenth-century religious literature in Basque. We explore issues related to macrosociolinguistics, and, in particular, the problem of contextualisation of authors and their works. As an example of this approach, we analyseDoctrina Christianaby Esteve Materra (published in 1617 and 1623), the first Basque Catholic catechism in the province of Labourd, in the northern part of the Basque Country. It marked the beginning of an intense period of publishing in Basque which lasted until the late seventeenth century. We place the book in the context of major religious movements in France at that time. Materra’s catechism was a response of the Catholic Church to the Reformation in the Basque Country, and was produced with the support of the Church authorities, which needed Basque to reach monolingual speakers. Notwithstanding, Materra’s catechism also attests to the development of a model of written language to be used in the Labourdin literature.
Women’s use and acceptability of guided imagery in a multi-behavior intervention focused on psychological stress, food cravings, and exercise
Authors: Giacobbi Peter , Phillips Kylie , Shawley Samantha , Nolan Richard , Johnson Kelsey , Misra Ranjita
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The purpose of this short report was to describe the experiences of 29 overweight or obese women (M
age = 44) who completed a multi-behavior guided imagery intervention that simultaneously targeted psychological stress, food cravings, and physical activity behavior.

Methods

Participants created tailored guided imagery scripts with health coaches for daily use as part of the 5 week randomized controlled wait-list trial. Post-intervention semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and content analyzed for common conceptual themes.

Results

The results showed that 83% of the participants stated they would continue using guided imagery, <7% would not, while the remaining 10% were unsure about future usage. The perceived usefulness varied across the three behaviors.

Conclusions

Guided imagery has the potential to simultaneously address multiple health behaviors. Our results shed light on how tailored guided imagery scripts can be used to help overweight and obese women manage or lose body weight.
Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamic Analysis of Flash Evaporation Process in Vacuum Ice Making
Authors: Zou Lingeng , Zhang Xuelai
Published: November 2020

Traditional equilibrium thermodynamics can only solve a few equilibrium processes composed of continuous stable equilibrium states. However, the vacuum flash evaporation process is a typical unsteady process. The study of non-equilibrium thermodynamics of the two-phase flow model is helpful to improve our understanding of the basic law of the flash evaporation process. Based on the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the flash chamber in the vacuum flash ice making system was studied in this paper, and the possibility of non-equilibrium steady state evaporation with superheat was obtained. The chemical potential difference between liquid water and water vapor under non-equilibrium steady state conditions was determined, and the corresponding evaporation entropy was calculated. It is shown that the results obtained by equilibrium thermodynamics are only related to the temperature difference, while the results obtained by non-equilibrium thermodynamics are not only related to the temperature difference, but also the state of the evaporation process. This is because non-equilibrium thermodynamics considers the cooling of liquid water and the evaporation of water vapor as a whole, taking into account the interaction between the two processes. However, the traditional equilibrium thermodynamics theory divides the steady state evaporation process into two independent processes and ignores the influence of each other.
Late diagnosis of 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency: the pivotal role of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry urinary steroid metabolome analysis and a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in the HSD3B2 gene
Authors: Fanis Pavlos , Neocleous Vassos , Kosta Konstantina , Karipiadou Aristea , Hartmann Michaela F. , Wudy Stefan A. , Karantaglis Nikolaos , Papadimitriou Dimitrios T. , Skordis Nicos , Tsikopoulos Georgios , Phylactou Leonidas A. , Roilides Emmanouil , Papagianni Maria
Published: November 2020

Objectives

3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) deficiency is a rare type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by recessive loss-of-function mutations in HSD3B2 gene.

Case presentation

We report an 8.5-year-old, 46XY, Roma boy with advanced adrenarche signs born to consanguineous parents. He was born at term with ambiguous genitalia. At 15 days of age, he underwent replacement therapy with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone due to a salt wasting (SW) crisis and adrenal insufficiency. At 3.5 years, he was admitted again with SW crisis attributed to the low – unadjusted to body surface area – hydrocortisone dose and presented with bilateral gynecomastia and adrenarche. At 8.5 years, his bone age was four years more advanced than his chronological age and he was prepubertal, with very high testosterone levels. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) urinary steroid metabolome analysis revealed the typical steroid metabolic fingerprint of 3β-HSD deficiency. Sequencing of the HSD3B2 gene identified in homozygosity the novel p.Lys36Ter nonsense mutation. Furthermore, this patient was found to be heterozygous for p.Val281Leu in the CYP21A2 gene. Both parents were identified as carriers of the p.Lys36Ter in HSD3B2.

Conclusions

A novel nonsense p.Lys36Ter mutation in HSD3B2 was identified in a male patient with hypospadias. 3β-HSD deficiency due to mutations in the HSD3B2 gene is extremely rare and the finding of a patient with this rare type of disorders of sex development (DSD) is one of the very few reported to date. The complexity of such diseases requires a multidisciplinary team approach regarding the diagnosis and follow-up.
Adverse effects of metabolic disorders in childhood on adult reproductive function and fertility in the male
Authors: Wagner Isabel Viola , Oliver Elizabeth , Dötsch Jörg , Söder Olle
Published: November 2020

Over the last 50 years, there has been a steady decline in fertility rates in humans, which has occurred in parallel with an increasing incidence of obesity and metabolic disorders. The potential impact of these disorders and plausible mechanisms by which they negatively influence male reproduction are only partly understood and published data are often controversial. Obesity is one of the most important health challenges worldwide and is becoming more prevalent in children and adolescents. Obesity, the metabolic syndrome and related co-morbidities can lead to impaired male reproductive function, including adverse effects on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis as illustrated by reduced sperm number and quality, decreased testosterone levels and elevated inflammatory markers. The incidence of diabetes mellitus type I is also dramatically increasing and may negatively impact spermatogenesis and testicular function, resulting in decreased serum testosterone and epididymal weight. In this review, we summarize and discuss the effects of metabolic diseases that typically develop during childhood and adolescence on later reproductive function and fertility. While impact on reproductive health is likely observed in both sexes, we have chosen to focus on the male in the current review. Specifically, we illustrate adverse effects of obesity, type 1 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance on sperm function and testosterone metabolism. Identification of pathophysiological mechanisms during childhood may open up new avenues for early prevention and treatment resulting in better reproductive outcomes and improved fertility rates during adulthood.
Diabetes distress in Indian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their mothers
Authors: Lohiya Nirali N. , Kajale Neha A. , Lohiya Nikhil N. , Khadilkar Vaman V. , Gondhalekar Ketan , Khadilkar Anuradha
Published: November 2020

Background

Children and their mothers, who are usually the primary caregivers, are likely to be distressed due to type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Objectives

(1) To assess diabetes-specific distress (DD) perceived by children and adolescents with T1DM and their mothers and association of distress between children and mothers. (2) To study the association of diabetes distress with glycemic control and disease duration.

Subjects

Children and adolescents with T1DM over eight years and their mothers.

Methods

Clinical data were recorded. DD was assessed by Problem Associated in Diabetes-Pediatric (PAID-Peds) (range 0–80) and Problem Associated in Diabetes-Parents Revised (PAID-PR) (range 0–72) questionnaires (higher scores indicate higher distress); administered to children and mothers, respectively. Sub-dimensions in questionnaires included diabetes-related emotional problems, and treatment-, food-, and social support-related problems. Correlation analysis (Spearman’s) was performed, and a paired t-test was used to compare PAID-Peds and PAID-PR (SPSS 25).

Results

Mean PAID-Peds and PAID-PR scores in 67 children and mothers were 24.4 ± 18.1 and 31.9 ± 21.5, respectively (p=0.009), and a significant correlation was noted between their scores (R=0.45, p=0.001). PAID-Peds score was positively associated with HbA1c (R=0.25, p=0.04). Diabetes-related emotional problems of mothers and children (R=0.38, p=0.003), treatment problems (R=0.5, p=0.001), and food problems (R=0.24, p=0.05) correlated positively. Subdimension scores were significantly different in children and mothers except in the social support domain.

Conclusion

DD was higher in mothers than children; higher distress in children was associated with poor metabolic control. Evaluation of DD needs to be performed in children with T1DM.
Effectiveness of basal LH in monitoring central precocious puberty treatment in girls
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , De Filippo Gianpaolo , Albertini Riccardo , Rendina Domenico , Messini Beatrice , Monti Claudio Maria , Bozzola Elena , Villani Alberto , Bozzola Mauro
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) is based on administration of GnRH agonists in order to suppress hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and thus induce the stabilization or regression of pubertal development. Our aim was to determine whether the single basal serum LH and/or FSH concentration could be an effective tool to assess the efficacy of treatment to suppress activation of hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Patients and methods

Serum LH and FSH were measured before and after the GnRH injection, as well as E2 basal levels in 60 girls with documented idiopathic CPP at diagnosis and 18 and 30 months after the beginning of therapy.

Results

At diagnosis, peaks of >5 IU/L of LH and of FSH were observed in 100 and 91.6% of girls, respectively, with basal LH values of <1 IU/L in 70% and basal FSH levels of <1 IU/L in 10%. E2 were <20 pg/mL in 36.6%. After 18 months, a suppressed peak (i.e. <3 IU/L) was recorded in 85% of girls (p<0.01) for LH and in 98.3% for FSH (p<0.01). Basal LH <1 IU/L was detected in 85% (p<0.01) and basal FSH ≤1 IU/L in 40% (p<0.01). Serum E2 ≤20 pg/mL was recorded in 61.6% (p<0.01). After 30 months, all patients showed LH suppressed peak (p<0.01) and 98.3% suppressed FSH peak (p<0.01). 100% showed basal LH concentrations <1 IU/L (p<0.01) and 38.3% FSH basal values <1 UI/mL (p<0.01). E2 ≤20 pg/mL was observed in 32.72% (p=NS).

Conclusions

Basal LH values are a reliable indicator of the efficacy of GnRHa therapy after 30 months of GnRHa therapy.
ATP synthase deficiency due to m.8528T>C mutation – a novel cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia requiring hemodialysis
Authors: Žigman Tamara , Šikić Katarina , Petković Ramadža Danijela , Mayr Johannes , Wortmann Saskia , Prokisch Holger , Ninković Dorotea , Dilber Daniel , Šarić Dalibor , Rubić Filip , Galić Slobodan , Slaviček Jasna , Belina Dražen , Fumić Ksenija , Barić Ivo
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Hyperammonemia in a newborn is a serious condition, which requires prompt intervention as it can lead to severe neurological impairment and death if left untreated. The most common causes of hyperammonemia in a newborn are acute liver failure and inherited metabolic disorders. Several mitochondrial disorders have been described as a cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia.

Case presentation

Here we describe a new case of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) synthase deficiency due to m.8528T>C mutation as a novel cause of severe neonatal hyperammonemia. So far six patients with this mutation have been described but none of them was reported to need hemodialysis in the first days of life.

Conclusion

This broadens the so far known differential diagnosis of severe neonatal hyperammonemia requiring hemodialysis.
Challenges of following patients with inherited metabolic diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional online survey study
Authors: Oge Enver Ece , Hopurcuoglu Duhan , Ahmadzada Seffa , Zubarioglu Tanyel , Aktuglu Zeybek Ayşe Cigdem , Kiykim Ertugrul
Published: November 2020

Objectives

There has been a recent worldwide outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Most of the health system capacity has been directed to COVID-19 patients, and routine outpatient clinics have been suspended. Chronic disease patients, such as inherited metabolic disorders (IMD), have had trouble accessing healthcare services.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with IMDs who were present for a follow-up at our clinic to address their problems during pandemic period. Our clinic’s Instagram and Facebook accounts were used to invite the participants. Three reminders were given between May 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020. Survey questions were analyzed using descriptive statics.

Results

A total of 213 patients completed our survey. Incomplete surveys were excluded, and 175 questionnaires were evaluated. Most of patients had a special diet, and 51% of them had some difficulty with their diet. The reported rate of using a special treatment was 38%, and most of these patients (91%) had no problem receiving these special therapies during this time. Parents who were wearing masks while caring for their child were very few (17%), but a vast majority of parents (73.7%) had high handwashing rates. None of the patients had a SARS-COV2 infection until this paper was written.

Conclusion

This is the first study that aims to determine the problems faced by patients with IMD during the COVİD-19 period. Considering that the pandemic will not immediately pass, recognizing the problems faced by patients with chronic diseases and developing solutions would help these patients avoid long-term damage.
Initial review of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection
Authors: Ogamba Ifeoma , Kliss Andrea , Rainville Nicole , Chuang Linus , Panarelli Erin , Petrini Joann , Zilberman Dimitry
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Data regarding the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge, however, there’s limited data in regard to maternal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of all pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within Nuvance Health system.

Methods

Data were abstracted from the medical records of each patient and descriptive analysis was performed. Variables included demographics, COVID testing results, symptoms, management, labor course, neonatal information, and complications.

Results

Total of 40 patients were identified. Average age was 29.6 years old, 35% were Hispanic, and approximately one in three patients had comorbidities. Of the patients who had repeated testing, the average number of days between first positive test and negative test was 36.8 days (± 19.9 days). Three out of four women reported symptoms. Of the 40 pregnant women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2, 25 of them delivered. About 84% of the women delivered after 37 weeks. Twelve percent of the women delivered under 33 and 6/7 weeks. Most patients had vaginal deliveries (68%) and the remaining had cesarean deliveries. Neonatal outcomes included: mean 1 and 5 min Apgar scores of 8 and 8.8, respectively and the mean birth weight was 3212 g. Twenty neonates were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and were all found to be negative.

Conclusions

Overall, with routine prenatal care and preventive measures, pregnant patients and neonates in our study had good outcomes. At this time, there appears to be no evidence of vertical transmission.
Experimental evidence supporting the overlapping distribution of core and exempt anaphors: Re-examination of long-distance boundcaki-casinin Korean
Authors: Kim Eun Hee , Yoon James
Published: November 2020

The Korean anaphorcaki-casin, which has been regarded as a local anaphor, has been shown to allow long-distance binding when local binding is not an option (Kim, Ji-Hye & James Yoon. 2009. Long-distance bound local anaphors in Korean: An empirical study of the Korean anaphorcaki-casin.Lingua119. 733–755). In this study, we examined the long-distance binding ofcaki-casinin domains where local binding is possible, and compare it with the long-distance binding ofcaki, the representative long-distance anaphor in Korean. Our investigation revealed that the availability of local binding does not rule out long-distance/exempt binding ofcaki-casin. The results imply that core and exempt binding may not be in complementary distribution, at least in Korean.
Direction and associated motion in Tibeto-Burman
Authors: Genetti Carol , Hildebrandt Kristine , Sims Nathaniel A. , Fawcett Alexia Z.
Published: November 2020

This study analyzes systems of direction and associated motion in 23 languages of the Tibeto-Burman family. Both direction and associated motion can be encoded by a range of grammatical strategies, including affixes, clitics, particles, serial-verb constructions, and auxiliary verbs. While some languages have only associated motion or direction, others have both, either via distinct subsystems, syntactic ambiguity, or context-dependent interpretation. While directional encodings can be interpreted as associated motion in some contexts, the reverse can also be true. Verbal semantics is key to the pragmatic interpretation of examples in context; some types of motion verbs are more compatible with directional interpretations and others with associated motion. In addition, certain types of motion verbs were found to be compatible with different temporal relationships that hold between the activity of the primary verb and the motional component. Finally, the grammatical role of the figure in such constructions depends on both the temporal relationship and the semantics of the verb.
An assessment of language attitudes as a mediator in the stereotypes–L2 motivation linkage
Authors: Nikitina Larisa , Furuoka Fumitaka
Published: November 2020

Applied linguists and language educators have long acknowledged the prominent role that language attitudes play in the process of selecting and learning an additional language. The current study examines a mediating role of language attitudes in the Stereotypes–L2 motivation linkage in the context of learning a foreign language, an area which remains comparatively underexplored. It provides a detailed description of – and rationale for – applying a statistical procedure based on the Baron–Kenny method, which is rarely used in applied linguistics research. The findings indicate that stereotypes and language attitudes had a positive impact on L2 motivation when the former two variables were examined separately in two different analyses. However, when all the three variables were analysed together, language attitudes were found to remain a motivational factor while the stereotypes ceased to be such. This suggests that stereotypes had an indirect effect on L2 motivation through language attitudes. Hence, language attitudes were a mediating variable in the Stereotypes–L2 motivation linkage assessed by the Baron–Kenny method. These findings have some pedagogical implications.
Free nonunitary Rota-Baxter family algebras and typed leaf-spaced decorated planar rooted forests
Authors: Wang Jinwei , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhu Zhicheng , Chen Dan
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we decorate leaves and edges of planar rooted forests simultaneously and use a part of them to construct free nonunitary Rota-Baxter family algebras. As a corollary, we obtain the construction of free nonunitary Rota-Baxter algebras.
Serum calcium levels correlates with coronary artery disease outcomes
Authors: Wang Mian , Yan Shaodi , Peng Yong , Shi Yu , Tsauo Jiay-Yu , Chen Mao
Published: November 2020

Background

Effect of serum calcium levels on prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is not well evaluated. We aimed to assess the associations of baseline serum calcium levels with both short-term and long-term outcomes in CAD patients.

Methods

This study included 3,109 consecutive patients with angiographically confirmed CAD. Patients were categorized into quartiles according to admission serum calcium. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine the association of serum calcium with mortality.

Results

Compared to patients in the lowest quartile of serum calcium, patients in upper quartiles were presented with lower all-cause mortality (Hazard ratios [HRs] were −0.636 [95% CI: −0.424 to −0.954], −0.545 [95% CI: −0.351 to −0.846] and −0.641 [95% CI: −0.450 to −0.913] for three upper quartiles versus lowest quartile respectively), cardiovascular mortality (HRs 0.594 [0.368−0.961], 0.261 [0.124–0.551] and 0.407 [0.229–0.725]), and in-hospital mortality (Odd ratios [ORs] 0.391 [0.188–0.812], 0.231 [0.072–0.501] and 0.223 [0.093–0.534]). Consistent associations between serum calcium and long-term mortality were also obtained in subgroup analysis of ACS patients, stable CAD patients and discharged patients.

Conclusions

Serum calcium is inversely associated with CAD and can independently predict both in-hospital and long-term mortality among CAD patients.
Biological properties and therapeutic effects of plant-derived nanovesicles
Authors: Di Gioia Sante , Hossain Md Niamat , Conese Massimo
Published: November 2020

Exosomes-like nanoparticles can be released by a variety of plants and vegetables. The relevance of plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) in interspecies communication is derived from their content in biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and miRNAs), absence of toxicity, easy internalization by mammalian cells, as well as for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative properties. Due to these interesting features, we review here their potential application in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver diseases, and cancer as well as their potentiality as drug carriers. Current evidence indicate that PDNVs can improve the disease state at the level of intestine in IBD mouse models by affecting inflammation and promoting prohealing effects. While few reports suggest that anticancer effects can be derived from antiproliferative and immunomodulatory properties of PDNVs, other studies have shown that PDNVs can be used as effective delivery systems for small molecule agents and nucleic acids with therapeutic effects (siRNAs, miRNAs, and DNAs). Finally, since PDNVs are characterized by a proven stability in the gastrointestinal tract, they have been considered as promising delivery systems for natural products contained therein and drugs (including nucleic acids) via the oral route.
Surface plasmon polariton pulse shaping via two-dimensional Bragg grating pairs
Authors: Crampton Kevin T. , Joly Alan G. , El-Khoury Patrick Z.
Published: November 2020

We demonstrate control over the spatial and temporal properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) launched from nanohole arrays in silver. The arrays provide wave vector matching to allow the conversion of free-space photons into counter-propagating SPPs. SPPs launched from multiple arrays interfere at well-defined spatial positions, and the interference fringes form an all-SPP periodic nano-optical grating which evolves in space and time as the SPPs propagate. The spatio-temporal characteristics of the optical grating can be tuned through various nanohole array parameters such as tilt angle, separation, and array width. In addition, we examine multiperiodic arrays (MPAs) consisting of arrays with different pitches placed adjacent to one another. This platform allows the temporal interference of SPPs with different central wavelengths to be tailored through the MPA geometric and structural parameters. The temporal interference serves as an encoded signal, whereby the frequency components can be controlled by the array properties.
The crystal structure of (5R,8R,9R,10R,12R,13R,14R)-12-hydroxy-4,4,8,10,14-pentamethyl-17-((R)-2,6,6-trimethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)tetradecahydro-3H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,6(2H)-dione, C30H48O4
Authors: Sun Ke-wei , Wang Hui-yun , Ma Guang-qun , Luo Qin , Wang Yun-Hui , Meng Qing-Guo
Published: November 2020

C30H48O4, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 12.34133(14) Å, b = 16.50759(15) Å, c = 26.8804(2) Å, V = 5476.23(9) Å3, Z = 8, R
gt(F) = 0.0422, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0990, T = 293 K.
Crystal structure of diaqua-bis(μ2-5-chloro-salicylato-κ3
O,O′:O′)-bis(5-chloro-salicylato-κ2
O,O′)-bis(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′) dilead(II) – water (1/2), C52H36C14N4O14Pb2·2(H2O)
Authors: Tang Zhiwei , Wen Decai
Published: November 2020

C52H36C14N4O14Pb2·2(H2O), triclinic,

P

1
‾

$P‾{1}$

(no. 2), a = 9.1186(4) Å, b = 12.8031(6) Å, c = 13.0111(6) Å, α = 63.504(4)°, β = 79.400(4)°, γ = 77.198(4)°, V = 1319.34(12) Å3, Z = 1, R

gt
(F) = 0.0342, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0554, T = 293 K.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[triqua-bis(μ
2-4-carboxy-2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylato-k3
N,O:O′)barium(II)] tetrahydrate, C14H14BaN12O15
Authors: Xie Wei , Li Rui , Wang Chuan-Qi
Published: November 2020

C14H14BaN12O15, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 21.787(4) Å, b = 6.7594(11) Å, c = 18.143(3) Å, β = 102.456(2)°, V = 2609.0(8) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0209, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0567, T = 296(2) K.
The crystal structure of 3,5-dichloro-6-diazo-2,4-dinitrocyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one, C6Cl2N4O5
Authors: Wang Haifang
Published: November 2020

C6Cl2N4O5, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 6.0044(6) Å, b = 8.9660(11) Å, c = 18.0544(18) Å, V = 971.97(18) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0501, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0987, T = 170.0 K.
The crystal structure of 3-ammonio-4-aminobenzoate, C7H8N2O2 – a second polymorph
Authors: Hosten Eric C. , Betz Richard
Published: November 2020

C7H8N2O2, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.9884(6) Å, b = 6.0490(4) Å, c = 12.1290(8) Å, β = 95.400(2)°, V = 656.54(8) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0340, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0978, T = 200 K.
Hyaluronic acid as a bioactive component for bone tissue regeneration: Fabrication, modification, properties, and biological functions
Authors: Xing Fei , Zhou Changchun , Hui Didi , Du Colin , Wu Lina , Wang Linnan , Wang Wenzhao , Pu Xiaobing , Gu Linxia , Liu Lei , Xiang Zhou , Zhang Xingdong
Published: November 2020

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely distributed in the human body, and it is heavily involved in many physiological functions such as tissue hydration, wound repair, and cell migration. In recent years, HA and its derivatives have been widely used as advanced bioactive polymers for bone regeneration. Many medical products containing HA have been developed because this natural polymer has been proven to be nontoxic, noninflammatory, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Moreover, HA-based composite scaffolds have shown good potential for promoting osteogenesis and mineralization. Recently, many HA-based biomaterials have been fabricated for bone regeneration by combining with electrospinning and 3D printing technology. In this review, the polymer structures, processing, properties, and applications in bone tissue engineering are summarized. The challenges and prospects of HA polymers are also discussed.
Antioxidant metal oxide nanozymes: role in cellular redox homeostasis and therapeutics
Authors: Singh Namrata
Published: November 2020

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity, generally referred to as ‘nanozymes’, find myriad potential in various biomedical fields. More importantly, the nanoparticles that can functionally mimic the activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes attract tremendous interest owing to their possible therapeutic candidature in oxidative stress-mediated disorders. Oxidative stress culminating due to excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and dysregulated cellular antioxidant machinery is implicated in the development and progression of various pathophysiological disorders such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the optimum essentiality of ROS due to its pivotal role in cell signaling evokes the requirement of novel artificial antioxidant enzymes that can circumvent the detrimental effects of enhanced ROS levels without perturbing the basal redox status of cells. In recent years, the fast emanating artificial enzymes, i.e. nanozymes with antioxidant enzyme-like activity, has made tremendous progress with their broad applications in therapeutics, diagnostic medicine, bio-sensing, and immunoassay. Among various antioxidant nanoparticles reported till-date, the metal oxide nanozymes have emerged as the most efficient and successful candidates in mimicking the activity of first-line defense antioxidant enzymes, i.e. superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. This review intends to exclusively highlight the development of representative metal oxide-based antioxidant nanozymes capable of maintaining the cellular redox homeostasis and their potential therapeutic significance.
Osservazioni su Philem. fr. 95 K.‑A. per la difesa del v. 2
Authors: Mastellari Virginia
Published: November 2020

The present contribution aims to investigate, from the point of view of text and content, fr. 95 K.‑A. of the comic author Philemon. The fragment, which likely belonged to the prologue of a comedy of name unknown, is spoken by Aere (perhaps an allegory), which provides a self-presentation of traits that are para-philosophical and, specifically, Presocratic. Line 2 of the fragment has been condemned by all editors to date, but through an analysis of the fragment’s textual tradition, the line’s syntactic structure and the parodic implications, it is proposed here to retain the line. Finally, reflections are offered also on line 3, considering it in accord with the textual choices adopted in relation to the preceding line.
Thermoelastic characterization of carbon nanotube reinforced PDMS elastomer
Authors: Paul Jinu
Published: November 2020

Internal energy and entropy contribution to the elasticity of carbon nanotube reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is evaluated using statistical theory of rubber elasticity. Stress–temperature measurements were performed and the data was used to calculate the internal energy contribution to elastic stress. Interesting aspects such as increase in energy and low entropy contribution to the elasticity of carbon nanotube reinforced PDMS is observed. This can be related t o the deformation behavior of the network chains of pristine elastomers and the directional reorientation of nanotube entanglements. While the entropy change is associated with reorientation or directional preference of the carbon nanotube entanglements, the internal energy change is associated with structural bending or stretching of the nanotubes. A reversible deformation of nanotube entanglements complements rubber like elasticity and the present study gives insights into the thermoelasticity of reinforced elastomers as well as the elastic behavior of carbon nanotube entanglements inside a polymer matrix.
Technique of pressurized intrathoracic aerosol chemotherapy (PITAC) for malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Drevet Gabrielle , Maury Jean-Michel , Bakrin Naoual , Tronc François
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a devastating evolution of several malignancies. Pressurized intrathoracic aerosol chemotherapy (PITAC) might be a novel therapy option in MPE.

Methods

PITAC is considered for patients with MPE with a performance status <2 and without other metastatic sites. General anesthesia is administered and a double-lumen bronchial tube is inserted. The patient is placed in a lateral decubitus position, and the operation is performed after ipsilateral lung exclusion. Two 12-mm balloon trocars are inserted—one in the seventh intercostal space in the mid-axillary line and one in the fifth intercostal space in the anterior axillary line. Extent of pleural disease and volume of MPE are documented. MPE is removed and parietal pleural biopsy are performed. An intrathoracic pressure of 12 mmHg CO2 is established, and a combination of Cisplatin (10.5 mg/m2 in a total volume of 150 cc NaCl 0.9%) and Doxorubicin (2.1 mg/m2 in a total volume of 50 cc NaCl 0.9%) are aerosolized via nebulizer in the pleural cavity. Vital signs and nebulization are remote-controlled. After 30 min, the remaining toxic aerosol is exhausted using a closed surgical smoke evacuation system. A 24Fr chest tube is inserted in postero-apical position with continuous negative pressure of 20 cm H2O. When needed, PITAC may be repeated every six weeks in alternate with systemic chemotherapy.

Results

In our hands, the technique above has shown to be feasible and safe.

Conclusions

Further studies are needed to assess the potential symptomatic and oncological benefits of PITAC in MPE.
Automated synthesis of the 16α-[18F]fluoroestradiol ([18F]FES): minimization of precursor amount and resulting benefits
Authors: Fedorova Olga , Orlovskaya Viktoriya , Nadporojskii Michail , Krasikova Raisa
Published: November 2020

The 16α-[18F]Fluoroestradiol ([18F]FES) is an established PET radiotracer for estrogen positive (ER+) breast cancer. Although the radiosynthesis is well-described, the majority of the published methods suffer from modest or irreproducible yields and time-intensive purification procedures. In view of the considerable clinical applications, development of a more efficient and faster synthesis of [18F]FES still remains a task of a significant practical importance. [18F]FES was produced by a direct nucleophilic radiofluorination of 3-O-methoxymethyl-16,17-O-sulfuryl-16-epiestriol (MMSE), followed by acidic hydrolysis using HCl/CH3CN. [18F]Fluoride retained on a QMA carb cartridge (46 mg) was eluted by solution of 1.2 mg of tetrabutylammonium tosylate (TBAOTs) in EtOH. After fluorination reaction (0.3 mg MMSE, 1 ml of CH3CN/100 °C, 5 min) [18F]FES was isolated by single-cartridge SPE purification using OASIS WAX 3cc, elution accomplished with aqueous ethanol of different concentrations. On а GE TRACERlab FX N Pro automated module [18F]FES (formulated in normal saline with 5% EtOH) was obtained in 33 ± 3% yield (n = 5, non-decay corrected) within 32 min. Reduction of precursor amount, exclusion of azeotropic drying step and simplification of purification make the suggested method readily adaptable to various automated synthesizers and offers significant cost decrease.