bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Alkali-Activated Materials with Photocatalytic and Bactericidal Properties Based on Ceramic Tile Waste
Authors: Bonilla Ashley , Villaquirán-Caicedo Mónica A. , Mejía de Gutiérrez Ruby
Published: December 2021

Ceramics tile wastes (CWs) were mechanically conditioned for the preparation of alkali-activated hybrid-cements from CW (90 wt.%) and Portland cement (10 wt.%) mixtures using sodium silicate (SS) + NaOH as alkaline activators. Molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 (6.3 to 7.7) and Na2O/SiO2 (0.07 to 0.16) were used. The cements were prepared at room temperature (25 °C) and characterized by mechanical and physical properties and microstructure. The optimized cement was used for the preparation of novel photoactivated composite materials by incorporating 5 and 10 wt.% TiO2 (Ti) and ZnO (Z) nanoparticles, and its self-cleaning and bactericidal properties were evaluated by means of the degradation of rhodamine-B (Rh-B) and the growth inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The results of this study showed that the 100SS-5Z and 50SS:50G-10Ti cements have an effective photocatalytic activity for Rh-B degradation of 98.4% and 76.4%, respectively, after 24 h. Additionally, the 100SS-5Z and 50SS:50G-10Ti cement pastes and their respective mortars were effective in inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial strains, evidenced by the formation of bacterial inhibition halos around the sample discs. Finally, these results are novel, and open the possibility of using constructions and demolition tile waste in high proportions for the elaboration of new rendering mortar with innovative properties.
Evaluation of Relationship between Grain Morphology and Growth Temperature of HgI2 Poly-Films for Direct Conversion X-ray Imaging Detectors
Authors: Xu Gang , Yao Ming , Zhang Mingtao , Zhu Jinmeng , Wei Yongxing , Gu Zhi , Zhang Lan
Published: December 2021

The relationship between depositing temperature and crystallinity of grain for HgI2 polycrystalline film with 170 cm2 in area deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) was investigated, considering the matches with readout matrix pixelation for female breast examination. The different depositing temperatures, 35, 40 and 45 °C, were carried out with the same source temperature, 100 °C, corresponding to 2–2.5 h of the growth period. The films deposited were investigated by XRD, SEM, and I–V. The results show that the grain size of the films grown increases with the depositing temperature from 35 to 45 °C. At 45 °C, the polycrystalline film has a preferred microcrystal orientation with 97.2% of [001]/[hkl] and grain size is about 180–220 μm. A 256 × 256 pixels X-ray image of a bolt, key, and wiring displacement was present distinctly with 50 keV with 6 mA current of X-ray generator. Our discussions on the relationship between depositing temperature and crystallinity of grain of film suggest that the higher growth temperature, the better crystallinity and excellent preferred microcrystal orientation of grain, however, with complementary bigger grain size. For matching readout matrix pixelation, the growth period of poly-films would be reduced appropriately for reasonable grain size and preventing the crack of films deposited.
Multicomponent Materials to Improve Solubility: Eutectics of Drug Aminoglutethimide
Authors: Saikia Basanta , Seidel-Morgenstern Andreas , Lorenz Heike
Published: December 2021

Here, we report the synthesis and experimental characterization of three drug-drug eutectic mixtures of drug aminoglutethimide (AMG) with caffeine (CAF), nicotinamide (NIC) and ethenzamide (ZMD). The eutectic mixtures i.e., AMG-CAF (1:0.4, molar ratio), AMG-NIC (1:1.9, molar ratio) and AMG-ZMD (1:1.4, molar ratio) demonstrate significant melting point depressions ranging from 99.2 to 127.2 °C compared to the melting point of the drug AMG (151 °C) and also show moderately higher aqueous solubilities than that of the AMG. The results presented include the determination of the binary melt phase diagrams and accompanying analytical characterization via X-ray powder diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Serum Lysyl Oxidase Levels and Lysyl Oxidase Gene Polymorphism in Ovarian Cancer Patients of Eastern Indian Population
Authors: Kumari Suchitra , Patro A. Raj Kumar , Mishra Baijayantimala , Jena Saubhagya Kumar , Singh Sweta
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: Lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays a dual role in carcinogenesis and studies show a higher risk of cancer in LOX G473A variants. The present study evaluated the pattern of LOX G473A polymorphism (rs1800449) and serum LOX levels in ovarian cancer patients. (2) Methods: Serum LOX levels were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A polymorphism of rs1800449 of LOX gene was detected by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Selected samples were sequenced for external validation. (3) Results: A majority of study participants were from low socio-economic status. Serum LOX level was significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients as compared to control. Serum LOX level in early-stage ovarian cancer was significantly lower as compared to advanced stage (FIGO stage III & IV). Wild type GG genotype was used as reference. Genotypes AA were associated with a significant risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (OR 3.208; p value- 0.033). A allele of rs1800449 polymorphism of LOX gene, the odds ratio was 1.866 (95% Confidence Interval 1.112–3.16) p value = 0.017 (4) Conclusions: A allele of rs1800449 polymorphism of LOX gene presents an increased risk of ovarian cancer in East Indian population. Serum LOX levels could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer.
Clinical Profile of 24 AIDS Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis in the HAART Era: A Report from an Infectious Diseases Tertiary Hospital in Western Romania
Authors: Marincu Iosif , Citu Cosmin , Vidican Iulia , Bratosin Felix , Mares Mihai , Suciu Oana , Frent Stefan , Bota Adrian Vasile , Timircan Madalina , Bratu Melania Lavinia , Grigoras Mirela Loredana
Published: December 2021

Management of cryptococcal infections among patients suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) represents a medical challenge. This retrospective study aims to describe the disease management and outcomes among 24 AIDS patients who suffered from Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. The parameters evaluated from our patients’ database records include epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, biochemical and microbiological analysis of patients’ cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), treatment profiles, and disease outcomes. All patients included in the study had a lymphocyte count of less than 200 CD4/mm3. Of the 24 patients included in this study, five had been diagnosed with HIV infection since childhood, after receiving HIV-infected blood transfusions. The most prominent symptom was fatigue in 62.5% of patients, followed by nausea/vomiting and headache. Seven patients had liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, while Kaposi sarcoma and cerebral toxoplasmosis were found in two patients. Six out of 24 patients died due to bacterial sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). High intracranial pressure was the strongest predictive factor for mortality (OR = 2.9), followed by ARDS (OR = 1.8), seizures at disease onset (OR = 1.4), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.2). Interestingly, patients younger than 40 years old had a significantly lower survival rate than that of the older patients. Before developing Cryptococcal meningitis, all patients had low adherence to the early ART treatment scheme and skipped the follow-up visits. All patients received a combination of amphotericin B and flucytosine as induction therapy, adding fluconazole for maintenance. Simultaneously, AIDS HAART was initiated at diagnosis of the cryptococcal infection. A combined regimen of antifungals and highly active antiretroviral therapy showed improved patient recovery with minor side effects.
Channel-Supermodular Entropies: Order Theory and an Application to Query Anonymization
Authors: Américo Arthur , Khouzani MHR , Malacaria Pasquale
Published: December 2021

This work introduces channel-supermodular entropies, a subset of quasi-concave entropies. Channel-supermodularity is a property shared by some of the most commonly used entropies in the literature, including Arimoto–Rényi conditional entropies (which include Shannon and min-entropy as special cases), k-tries entropies, and guessing entropy. Based on channel-supermodularity, new preorders for channels that strictly include degradedness and inclusion (or Shannon ordering) are defined, and these preorders are shown to provide a sufficient condition for the more-capable and capacity ordering, not only for Shannon entropy but also regarding analogous concepts for other entropy measures. The theory developed is then applied in the context of query anonymization. We introduce a greedy algorithm based on channel-supermodularity for query anonymization and prove its optimality, in terms of information leakage, for all symmetric channel-supermodular entropies.
Steam-Water Modelling and the Coal-Saving Scheduling Strategy of Combined Heat and Power Systems
Authors: Guo Junshan , Zheng Wei , Cong Zhuang , Shang Panfeng , Wang Congyu , Song Jiwei
Published: December 2021

China aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030. As a result, small-scale coal-fired combined heat and power (CHP) units and self-provided units are gradually shut down, and large-scale coal-fired CHP units are a solution to undertake the industrial heat loads. From the perspective of the industrial heat load allocation during the non-heating season, the problems regarding the coal-saving scheduling strategy of coal-fired CHP units are addressed. The steam-water equations of CHP units are established to analyze the heat-power coupling characteristics. The energy utilization efficiency, exergy efficiency and the coal consumption are analyzed. The optimization model of saving coal consumption is established and the adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization (AMPSO) is introduced to solve the above model. The 330 MW coal-fired CHP unit is taken as an example, and the results show that for the constant main flow rate, each increase of 1 t/h industrial steam extraction will reduce the power output by about 0.321 MW. The energy utilization efficiency and the exergy are mainly influenced by industrial steam supply and the power load, respectively. For the CHP system with two parallel CHP units, the unequal allocation of industrial heat load between two units saves more coal than equal allocation. The coal consumption can be reduced when the unit with lower power load undertakes more industrial heat load. In the typical day, the total coal consumption after optimization is 3203.92 tons, a decrease of 14.66 tons compared to the optimization before. The two CHP units in the case can benefit about 5,612,700 CHY extra in one year.
Short-Term Load Probabilistic Forecasting Based on Improved Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise Reconstruction and Salp Swarm Algorithm
Authors: Hu Tianyu , Zhou Mengran , Bian Kai , Lai Wenhao , Zhu Ziwei
Published: December 2021

Short-term load forecasting is an important part of load forecasting, which is of great significance to the optimal power flow and power supply guarantee of the power system. In this paper, we proposed the load series reconstruction method combined improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (ICEEMDAN) with sample entropy (SE). The load series is decomposed by ICEEMDAN and is reconstructed into a trend component, periodic component, and random component by comparing with the sample entropy of the original series. Extreme learning machine optimized by salp swarm algorithm (SSA-ELM) is used to predict respectively, and the final prediction value is obtained by superposition of the prediction results of the three components. Then, the prediction error of the training set is divided into four load intervals according to the predicted value, and the kernel probability density is estimated to obtain the error distribution of the training set. Combining the predicted value of the prediction set with the error distribution of the corresponding load interval, the prediction load interval can be obtained. The prediction method is verified by taking the hourly load data of a region in Denmark in 2019 as an example. The final experimental results show that the proposed method has a high prediction accuracy for short-term load forecasting.
Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Precooling on the Thermal Performance of a Borehole Heat Exchanger
Authors: Zhu Shuiping , Sun Jianjun , Zhong Kaiyang , Chen Haisheng
Published: December 2021

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), a high-efficiency and energy-saving air-conditioning technology that utilizes shallow geothermal resources for both heating and cooling, are a vital green energy system for residential and commercial buildings. Improving the performance of such a system was the focus of the current research. As soil temperature and thermal radius are two important aspects that affect the performance of ground source heat pump systems, we conducted a new numerical simulation to capture the changes in sensitive factors and propose the optimized paths. The numerical simulation analyzed the thermal characteristics of a borefield under different pre-cooling times and soil types. The results indicated the following: (1) The rate of the ground temperature change with pre-cooling during the discharging period had a faster rise than in the case without pre-cooling. The longer the precooling time was, the smaller the thermal radius became. In particular, when the precooling time was longer than 14 days, the decrease in the thermal radius rate percentages was less than 4%. (2) Among the three kinds of soils compared, the soils with lower thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity best suppressed the thermal interference effects. (3) Using a multivariate nonlinear function regression model, a simulation formula was proposed to predict- the thermal radius, which considered the factors of thermal diffusivity, precooling time, and discharging time. The prediction deviation was within 14.8%.
Potential Use of Constructed Wetland Systems for Rural Sanitation and Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in the Moroccan Context
Authors: Hdidou Meryem , Necibi Mohamed Chaker , Labille Jérôme , El Hajjaji Souad , Dhiba Driss , Chehbouni Abdelghani , Roche Nicolas
Published: December 2021

Located in a semi-arid to arid region, Morocco is confronting increasing water scarcity challenges. In the circular economy paradigm, the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is currently considered a possible solution to mitigate water shortage and pollution problems. In recent years, Morocco has made significative progress in urban wastewater treatment under the National Wastewater Program (PNA). However, rural sanitation has undergone significant delays. Therefore, an alternative technology for wastewater treatment and reuse in rural areas is investigated in this review, considering the region’s economic, social, and regulatory characteristics. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a simple, sustainable, and cost-effective technology that has yet to be fully explored in Morocco. CWs, indeed, appear to be suitable for the treatment and reuse of wastewater in remote rural areas if they can produce effluent that meets the standards of agricultural irrigation. In this review, 29 studies covering 16 countries and different types of wastewater were collected and studied to assess the treatment efficiency of different types of CWs under different design and operational parameters, as well as their potential application in agricultural reuse. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of conventional contamination such as organic matter and suspended solids is generally high. CWs also demonstrated a remarkable capacity to remove heavy metals and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, care products, etc. The removal of microbial contamination, on the other hand, is challenging, and does not satisfy the standards all the time. However, it can be improved using hybrid constructed wetlands or by adding polishing treatment. In addition, several studies reported that CWs managed to produce effluent that met the requirements of wastewater reuse in agriculture of different countries or organisations including Morocco.
Energy Acquisition of Solar-Powered Joint-Wing Aircraft Considering Mismatch Power Loss
Authors: Ji Xinzhe , Sun Kangwen , Guo Xiao , Sun Mou
Published: December 2021

Solar-powered aircraft can perform long-term flights with clean solar energy. However, the energy derived from solar irradiation is influenced by the time of year and latitude, which limits the energy acquisition ability of solar aircraft with a straight-wing configuration. Hence, unconventional configurations based on increasing wing dihedral to track the sun are proposed to improve energy acquisition at high-latitude regions in winter, which may involve power loss caused by mismatch in the photovoltaic system. However, mismatch loss is seldom considered and may cause energy to be overestimated. In this paper, the energy acquisition characteristics of a joint-wing configuration are presented based on the simulation of an energy system to investigate the mismatch power loss. The results indicate a 4~15% deviation from the frequently used estimation method and show that the mismatch loss is influenced by the curved upper surface, the severity of shading and the circuit configuration. Then, the configuration energy acquisition factor is proposed to represent the energy acquisition ability of the joint-wing configuration. Finally, the matching between the aircraft configuration and flight trajectory is analyzed, demonstrating that the solar-powered aircraft with an unconventional wing configuration is more sensitive to the coupling between configuration and trajectory.
Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Surface Water Quality in North-Eastern Poland
Authors: Puchlik Monika , Piekutin Janina , Dyczewska Katarzyna
Published: December 2021

This article presents the influence of climatic conditions on surface water quality. The research methodology, including physicochemical analysis from the Gołdapa and Bludzia rivers, is presented. The research lasted for two years. The results of the physicochemical studies of the Gołdapa and Bludzia rivers in early spring, spring, and autumn show that each of these seasons impacts the quality of surface waters. Moreover, it was proven that all the parameters are strongly correlated with the air temperature, the sum of daily precipitation, and water levels. For detailed analysis, the obtained results of own research were compared with meteorological and hydrological data from the last 15 years (2005–2021) for the region of north-eastern Poland. It was proven that temperature changes contribute to increased surface water pollution in the north-eastern part of Poland. Waters from areas that humans have not developed are of better quality than those that drain the urban area, which is reflected in the case of the superior quality of the Bludzia river compared to the Gołdapa river. The upward trend in temperature in the Gołdap region indicates that global warming will continue.
Global Dynamic Response of a Medium-Sized Floating Offshore Wind Turbine with Stall Regulation
Authors: Aye Moe Moe , Ritschel Uwe
Published: December 2021

In this paper, a two-bladed medium-sized floating wind turbine with variable speed and power regulation by stall is studied. For floating offshore wind turbines, the major challenges are related to the dynamical behavior of the system in response to combined wind and wave loading. Especially for smaller systems, the coupling of aerodynamic and wave forces may lead to large amplitude motions. Coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations are carried out in OpenFAST. The goal of the study is to investigate the global dynamic response of the hypothetical wind turbine with stall regulation. Stall regulation concept is proposed and the structural loads are computed and results are presented and discussed.
A Study on Directly Interconnected Offshore Wind Systems during Wind Gust Conditions
Authors: O’Donnell Cathal W. , Ebrahimi Salari Mahdi , Toal Daniel J.
Published: December 2021

An investigation of the effects of wind gusts on the directly interconnected wind generators is reported, and techniques toward the mitigation of the wind gust negative influences have been proposed. Using a directly interconnected system approach, wind turbine generators are connected to a single synchronous bus or collection grid without the use of power converters on each turbine. This bus can then be transformed for transmission onshore using High Voltage Alternating Current, Low-Frequency Alternating Current or High Voltage Direct Current techniques with shared power conversion resources onshore connecting the farm to the grid. Analysis of the potential for instability in transient conditions on the wind farm, for example, caused by wind gusts is the subject of this paper. Gust magnitude and rise time/fall time are investigated. Using pitch control and the natural damping of the high inertial offshore system, satisfactory overall system performance and stability can be achieved during these periods of transience.
Strong Viscosity Increase in Aqueous Solutions of Cationic C22-Tailed Surfactant Wormlike Micelles
Authors: Molchanov Vyacheslav S. , Rostovtsev Andrei V. , Shishkhanova Kamilla B. , Kuklin Alexander I. , Philippova Olga E.
Published: December 2021

The viscoelastic properties and structure parameters have been investigated for aqueous solutions of wormlike micelles of cationic surfactant erucyl bis(hydroxyethyl) methylammonium chloride with long C22 tail in the presence inorganic salt KCl. The salt content has been varied to estimate linear to branched transition conditions due to screening of the electrostatic interaction in the networks. The local cylindrical structure and low electrostatic repulsion was obtained by SANS data. The drastic power law dependencies of rheological properties on surfactant concentrations were obtained at intermediate salt content. Two power law regions of viscosity dependence were detected in semi-dilute solutions related to “unbreakable” and “living” micellar chains. The fast contour length growth with surfactant concentration demonstrated that is in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Analyzing and Forecasting Tourism Demand in Vietnam with Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Nguyen Le Quyen , Fernandes Paula Odete , Teixeira João Paulo
Published: December 2021

Vietnam has experienced a tourism expansion over the last decade, proving itself as one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The country received more than 18 million international tourists in 2019, compared to only 1.5 million twenty-five years ago. Tourist spending has translated into rising employment and incomes for Vietnam’s tourism sector, making it the key driver to the socio-economic development of the country. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, only 3.8 million international tourists visited Vietnam in 2020, plummeting by 78.7% year-on-year. The latest outbreak in early summer 2021 made the sector continue to hit bottom. Although Vietnam’s tourism has suffered extreme losses, once the contagion is under control worldwide, the number of international tourists to Vietnam is expected to rise again to reach pre-pandemic levels in the next few years. First, the paper aims to provide a summary of Vietnam’s tourism characteristics with a special focus on international tourists. Next, the predictive capability of artificial neural network (ANN) methodology is examined with the datasets of international tourists to Vietnam from 2008 to 2020. Some ANN architectures are experimented with to predict the monthly number of international tourists to the country, including some lockdown periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that, with the correct selection of ANN architectures and data from the previous 12 months, the best ANN models can be forecast for next month with a MAPE between 7.9% and 9.2%. As the method proves its forecasting accuracy, it would serve as a valuable tool for Vietnam’s policymakers and firm managers to make better investment and strategic decisions.
Analytical and Qualitative Study of Some Families of FODEs via Differential Transform Method
Authors: Neelma  , Eiman  , Shah Kamal
Published: December 2021

This current work is devoted to develop qualitative theory of existence of solution to some families of fractional order differential equations (FODEs). For this purposes we utilize fixed point theory due to Banach and Schauder. Further using differential transform method (DTM), we also compute analytical or semi-analytical results to the proposed problems. Also by some proper examples we demonstrate the results.
A Case Study on Polypharmacy and Depression in a 75-Year-Old Woman with Visual Deficits and Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Authors: Caamaño-Ponte José , Gómez Digón Martina , Pereira Pía Mercedes , de la Iglesia Cabezudo Antonio , Echevarría Canoura Margarita , Facal David
Published: December 2021

Depression is one of the most prevalent pathologies in older adults. Its diagnosis and treatment are complex due to different factors that intervene in its development and progression, including intercurrent organic diseases, perceptual deficits, use of drugs, and psycho-social conditions associated with the aging process. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman (who lives in the community) with a diagnosis of major depression with more than 10 years of history, analyzing her evolution and therapeutic approach.
Auditory Resonance: A Transdisciplinary Concept?
Authors: Goebel Rolf J.
Published: December 2021

Focusing on the influential work of the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa, as well as on selected positions in sound studies, this essay explores some aspects of auditory resonance, an over-determined concept exemplified by music that no single conceptual framework can exhaustively explain. For this reason, transdisciplinary research is especially productive in exploring the wide range of auditory resonance if it does not adhere to a seemingly all-inclusive theoretical self-definition but starts from an actual, singular experience. This subjective, even personal response to auditory resonance opens up various intersecting, supplementary, and often competing paradigms of critical analysis that interrogate any hegemonic claims to perspectives and insights potentially implied in single-disciplinary methodologies.
Post-Hypoxic Myoclonus Status following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest—Does It still Predict a Poor Outcome? A Retrospective Study
Authors: Brøchner Anne C. , Lindholm Peter , Jensen Margrethe J. , Toft Palle , Henriksen Finn L. , Lassen Jens F. , Mikkelsen Søren
Published: December 2021

In patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), the initial prehospital treatment and transfer of patients directly to intervention clinics—bypassing smaller hospitals—have improved outcomes in recent years. Despite the improved treatment strategies, some patients develop myoclonic status following OHCA, and this phenomenon is usually considered an indicator of poor outcome. With this study, we wanted to challenge this perception. The regional prehospital database in Odense in the Region of Southern Denmark was searched for patients with OHCA from the period of 2011–2016. All 900 patients presenting with a diagnosis of OHCA were included in the study. Patients surviving to the hospital and presenting with myoclonic status were followed for up to one year. Only 2 out of 38 patients with myoclonic status and status epilepticus verified by an EEG survived more than one year. Eleven out of 36 patients with myoclonic status but without status epilepticus survived for more than one year. We found no evidence that myoclonic status is an unmistakable sign of poor outcome when not associated with EEG-verified status epilepticus. The conclusion for clinicians involved in post-resuscitation care is that myoclonic status is uncomfortable to witness but does not necessarily indicate that further treatment is futile.
Gluteal Compartment Syndrome and Rhabdomyolysis after Prolonged Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy and Treatment Strategies Including Rehabilitation: A Case Report
Authors: Jeong Jae-Gyeong , Choi Seock Hwan , Kim Ae-Ryoung , Hwang Jong-Moon
Published: December 2021

Background: Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical symptom caused by the rapid release of intracellular components such as myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase into the blood circulation. It is commonly caused by muscular injury including compartment syndrome, infection, drugs, etc. Although it rarely occurs during surgery, the incidence may increase if risk factors such as long operation time, improper posture, and condition of being overweight exist. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old male patient complained of pain and weakness in the right hip area and several abnormal findings were observed in the blood sample, reflecting muscle injury and decreased renal function after prolonged urological surgery. He was confirmed as having rhabdomyolysis, which was caused by compartment syndrome of the right gluteal muscle. After the diagnosis, conservative cares were performed in the acute phase and rehabilitation treatments were performed in the chronic phase. After conservative treatment and rehabilitation, blood sample values returned to almost normal ranges and both level of pain and muscle strength were significantly improved. In addition, about 25 days after discharge, he almost recovered to pre-operative condition. Conclusion: Careful attention is required to prevent intraoperative compartment syndrome. It also suggests that not only medical treatment but also early patient-specific rehabilitation is important in patients with rhabdomyolysis after prolonged surgery.
Suspected Labour as a Reason for Emergency Medical Services Team Interventions in Poland—A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Rzońca Ewa , Bień Agnieszka , Wejnarski Arkadiusz , Gotlib Joanna , Bączek Grażyna , Gałązkowski Robert , Rzońca Patryk
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study was to present the characteristics of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team responses to calls regarding suspected labour in out-of-hospital settings in Poland. We performed a retrospective analysis of EMS team interventions in cases of suspected onset of labour outside a hospital setting. The analysis included 12,816 EMS team responses to calls regarding women in suspected labour in the period between January 2018 and December 2019. The mean age of the patients studied was 28.24 years (SD = 6.47). The majority of patients were at term (76.36%) and in their second pregnancy (29.96%). EMS teams were most often dispatched in the summer (25.95%) and in urban areas (63.26%). Most EMS teams were basic (68.99%) and interventions most often took place between 19:00 and 06:59 (63.14%). Significant differences were observed between preterm and term pregnant women attended by EMS teams in terms of variables such as the age of the patient, number of previous labours, history of miscarriage, presence of vaginal bleeding, time of year, location of call, type and composition of EMS team dispatched, urgency code and time of call, duration of intervention, selected emergency medical procedures performed and test results.
A Cluster Analysis Concerning the Behavior of Enterprises with E-Commerce Activity in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Scutariu Adrian-Liviu , Șuşu Ștefăniță , Huidumac-Petrescu Cătălin-Emilian , Gogonea Rodica-Manuela
Published: December 2021

The planning of activities of e-commerce enterprises and their behavior has been influenced by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The behavior of e-commerce enterprises has been highlighted at the level of EU countries through an analysis elaborated on four variables: the value of e-commerce sales, cloud computing services, enterprises that have provided training to develop/upgrade the ICT skills of their personnel, e-commerce, customer relationship management (CRM) and secure transactions. Using the hierarchical clustering method, analysis was carried out on these variables to identify certain economic and behavioral patterns of e-commerce activity from 2018 and 2020. The study of the relationships involved in the e-commerce activity of these enterprises is reflected in models of the economic behavior of 31 European states in relation to the targeted variables. The results show that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly manifested in the direction of the evolution of each indicator but differ from one country to another. The trends depend on the level of development and the particularities of each country’s economy in adapting to the repercussions reported in relation to the level of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is highlighted by the significant regrouping of countries in 2020 compared with 2018 in relation to the average values of the indicators. The results show that, in 2020, the most significant percentages of the value of e-commerce sales were recorded in Belgium, Ireland and Czechia, as in 2018. In e-commerce, customer relationship management and secure transactions, Denmark and Sweden were superior in 2020 to the countries mentioned above, which were dominant in 2018. For the other two indicators, Finland and Norway were the top countries included in the analysis in both years. The conclusion supports the continuous model of e-commerce enterprise behavior in order to meet the requirements of online customers.
What Makes GO-JEK Go in Indonesia? The Influences of Social Media Marketing Activities on Purchase Intention
Authors: Moslehpour Massoud , Ismail Taufiq , Purba Bey , Wong Wing-Keung
Published: December 2021

This research examines the relationship between social media marketing activities and purchase intention mediated by trust and brand image to confirm the constructs with practical applicability, specifically in a growing online ride-hailing service company. This study employs a quantitative approach with a causal research design to test the proposed hypotheses to identify interrelationships between each pair of constructs. Data collection was performed through a survey of 350 respondents via an online questionnaire as the primary data source distributed to social media users in Indonesia who had experienced using GO-JEK services. In addition, EFA, CFA, SEM, and bootstrapping methods were run to analyze these research data. Social media marketing, trust, and brand image affect consumers’ purchase intention significantly. Among the five dimensions of social media marketing, the findings show that two dimensions—namely, entertainment and word of mouth, bring the most significant direct effect on purchase intention. Trust and brand image mediate the relationship between social media marketing and purchase intention. This study suggests practical directions for organizations. First, it reveals the social media dimensions that directly encourage purchase intention among consumers. Second, it explains that trust and brand image can amplify each variable’s influence on the purchase intention among consumers. GO-JEK is an example of the online ride-hailing industry that causes the generalizability issue in different business contexts. Based on our findings, there are some practical directions for GO-JEK. First, it reveals the social media marketing dimensions that directly encourage purchase intention among consumers to use GO-JEK. Second, it explains that trust and brand image can amplify the influence of each variable on consumers’ purchase intention. Very few studies investigated social media marketing’s role in a GO-JEK business model in the Indonesian context. This research delivers in-depth insights into the significant factors that affect Indonesian consumers to decide which product they intend to buy through the influence of social media activities.
Analytical Aspects of the Theory of Tikhonov Systems
Authors: Besova Margarita , Kachalov Vasiliy
Published: December 2021

It is proved that the solutions of Tikhonov systems, in addition to having the property of a limiting transition, are pseudoholomorphic under certain conditions additional to the conditions of A.N. Tikhonov’s theorem. At the same time, the number of fast and slow variables can be anything. Both initial and boundary value problems for systems of this type are considered.
Rota–Baxter Operators on Cocommutative Weak Hopf Algebras
Authors: Wang Zhongwei , Guan Zhen , Zhang Yi , Zhang Liangyun
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we first introduce the concept of a Rota–Baxter operator on a cocommutative weak Hopf algebra H and give some examples. We then construct Rota–Baxter operators from the normalized integral, antipode, and target map of H. Moreover, we construct a new multiplication “∗” and an antipode SB from a Rota–Baxter operator B on H such that HB=(H,∗,η,Δ,ε,SB) becomes a new weak Hopf algebra. Finally, all Rota–Baxter operators on a weak Hopf algebra of a matrix algebra are given.
Robust Stabilization via Super-Stable Systems Techniques
Authors: Krasnova Svetlana A. , Kokunko Yulia G. , Utkin Victor A. , Utkin Anton V.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we propose a direct method for the synthesis of robust systems operating under parametric uncertainty of the control plant model. The developed robust control procedures are based on the assumption that the structural properties of the nominal system are conservated over the entire range of parameter changes. The invariant-to-parametric-uncertainties transformation of the initial model to a regular form makes it possible to use the concept of super-stable systems for the synthesis of a stabilizing feedback. It is essential that the synthesis of super-stable systems is carried out not on the basis of assigning eigenvalues to the matrix of the close-loop system, but in terms of its elements. The proposed approach is applicable to a wide class of linear systems with parametric uncertainties and provides a given degree of stability.
Three-Year Outcomes of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment in Polish Therapeutic Programs
Authors: Figurska Małgorzata , Rękas Marek
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives: Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is a chronic, progressive disease of the central part of the retina. Standard treatment for wAMD consists of multiple intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. The study goal was to evaluate the three-year effectiveness of wAMD treatment with aflibercept and ranibizumab as part of the therapeutic program in routine clinical practice. Materials and Methods: 1430 patients (possessing 1430 wAMD eyes) with median age of 78.0 years (71.0, 83.0) were enrolled in a non-randomized, retrospective, observational, multicenter study; 804 (56.2%) eyes were treatment-naïve. Therapy was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the treatment program (the fixed or pro re nata regimen). Results: After the first year of treatment, there was a gain of 2.03 (12.15) letters; after the second, 0.94 (13.72) (p ˂ 0.001); and after the third, 0.17 (14.05) (p ˂ 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the central retinal thickness. In the first year, the patients received 7.00 (5.00, 8.00) injections. In the following years, a significantly lower number of injections (4.00 (2.00, 5.00)) was administered. After the first year, there was a significant difference in the distribution of the best corrected visual acuity according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol, with more frequent values in the ranges > 35 ≤ 70 for this parameter and > 70 letters in the treatment naïve eye subgroup. After the first year, central retinal thickness in treatment-naïve eyes was significantly reduced. Conclusions: Regular treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration as part of the treatment program achieves functional stabilization and significant morphological improvement over a long-term, three-year follow-up, with significantly fewer injections needed after the first year of treatment.
Cellulose Acetate Membranes Modification by Aminosilane Grafting in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide towards Antibiofilm Properties
Authors: Tyrka Marcin , Nowak Mariusz , Misic Dusan , Półbrat Tomasz , Koter Stanisław , Trusek Anna , Zizovic Irena
Published: December 2021

The study explores the grafting of cellulose acetate microfiltration membranes with an aminosilane to attain antibiofilm properties. The grafting reaction was performed in the supercritical carbon dioxide used as a transport and reaction medium. The FTIR analyses and dissolution tests confirmed the covalent bonding between the aminosilane and polymer. The membranes’ microstructure was investigated using a dual-beam SEM and ion microscopy, and no adverse effects of the processing were found. The modified membranes showed a more hydrophilic nature and larger water permeate flow rate than the neat cellulose acetate membranes. The tests in a cross-filtration unit showed that modified membranes were considerably less blocked after a week of exposure to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli than the original ones. Microbiological investigations revealed strong antibiofilm properties of the grafted membranes in experiments with Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Enteritidis.
Towards Biohybrid Lung Development—Fibronectin-Coating Bestows Hemocompatibility of Gas Exchange Hollow Fiber Membranes by Improving Flow-Resistant Endothelialization
Authors: Pflaum Michael , Jurmann Sophie , Katsirntaki Katherina , Mälzer Marisa , Haverich Axel , Wiegmann Bettina
Published: December 2021

To provide an alternative treatment option for patients with end-stage lung disease, we aim for biohybrid lung development (BHL) based on hollow fiber membrane (HFM) technology used in extracorporeal membrane oxygenators. For long-term BHL application, complete hemocompatibility of all blood-contacting surfaces is indispensable and can be achieved by their endothelialization. Indeed, albumin/heparin (AH) coated HFM enables initial endothelialization, but as inexplicable cell loss under flow conditions was seen, we assessed an alternative HFM coating using fibronectin (FN). Therefore, endothelial cell (EC) adherence and viability on both coated HFM were analyzed by fluorescence-based staining. Functional leukocyte and thrombocyte adhesion assays were performed to evaluate hemocompatibility, also in comparison to blood plasma coated HFM as a clinically relevant control. To assess monolayer resistance and EC behavior under clinically relevant flow conditions, a mock circulation setup was established, which also facilitates imitation of lung-disease specific blood gas settings. Besides quantification of flow-associated cell loss, endothelial responses towards external stimuli, like flow exposure or TNFα stimulation, were analyzed by qRT-PCR, focusing on inflammation, thrombus formation and extracellular matrix production. Under static conditions, both coated HFM enabled the generation of a viable, confluent, non-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic monolayer. However, by means of homogenous FN coating, cell retention and physiologic gene regulation towards an improved hemocompatible-and extracellular matrix producing phenotype, was significantly superior compared to the inhomogeneous AH coating. In summary, our adaptable in-house FN coating secures the endothelial requirements for long-term BHL application and may promote monolayer establishment on all other blood contacting surfaces of the BHL (e.g., cannulae).
Four-Dimensional Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels Micro-Structured via Femtosecond Laser Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Tao Yufeng , Lu Chengchangfeng , Deng Chunsan , Long Jing , Ren Yunpeng , Dai Zijie , Tong Zhaopeng , Wang Xuejiao , Meng Shuai , Zhang Wenguang , Xu Yinuo , Zhou Linlin
Published: December 2021

Rapid fabricating and harnessing stimuli-responsive behaviors of microscale bio-compatible hydrogels are of great interest to the emerging micro-mechanics, drug delivery, artificial scaffolds, nano-robotics, and lab chips. Herein, we demonstrate a novel femtosecond laser additive manufacturing process with smart materials for soft interactive hydrogel micro-machines. Bio-compatible hyaluronic acid methacryloyl was polymerized with hydrophilic diacrylate into an absorbent hydrogel matrix under a tight topological control through a 532 nm green femtosecond laser beam. The proposed hetero-scanning strategy modifies the hierarchical polymeric degrees inside the hydrogel matrix, leading to a controllable surface tension mismatch. Strikingly, these programmable stimuli-responsive matrices mechanized hydrogels into robotic applications at the micro/nanoscale (<300 × 300 × 100 μm3). Reverse high-freedom shape mutations of diversified microstructures were created from simple initial shapes and identified without evident fatigue. We further confirmed the biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and tunable mechanics of the as-prepared hydrogels. Benefiting from the high-efficiency two-photon polymerization (TPP), nanometer feature size (<200 nm), and flexible digitalized modeling technique, many more micro/nanoscale hydrogel robots or machines have become obtainable in respect of future interdisciplinary applications.
Genomic Features and Construction of Streamlined Genome Chassis of Nisin Z Producer Lactococcus lactis N8
Authors: Qiao Wanjin , Liu Fulu , Wan Xing , Qiao Yu , Li Ran , Wu Zhenzhou , Saris Per Erik Joakim , Xu Haijin , Qiao Mingqiang
Published: December 2021

Lactococcus lactis is a commonly used fermenting bacteria in cheese, beverages and meat products. Due to the lack of simplified chassis strains, it has not been widely used in the fields of synthetic biology. Thus, the construction of lactic acid bacteria chassis strains becomes more and more important. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing, annotation and analysis of L. lactis N8. Based on the genome analysis, we found that L. lactis N8 contains two large plasmids, and the function prediction of the plasmids shows that some regions are related to carbohydrate transport/metabolism, multi-stress resistance and amino acid uptake. L. lactis N8 contains a total of seven prophage-related fragments and twelve genomic islands. A gene cluster encoding a hybrid NRPS–PKS system that was found in L. lactis N8 reveals that the strain has the potential to synthesize novel secondary metabolites. Furthermore, we have constructed a simplified genome chassis of L. lactis N8 and achieved the largest amount of deletion of L. lactis so far. Taken together, the present study offers further insights into the function and potential role of L. lactis N8 as a model strain of lactic acid bacteria and lays the foundation for its application in the field of synthetic biology.