bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and dispersion using optical coherence tomography for restoration of transparent works of art
Authors: Faluweki Mixon K. , Cheung C. S. , Liang Haida
Published: September 2023

We describe a novel in situ non-invasive and non-contact technique for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and dispersion of transparent solid materials using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The technique requires multi-angle OCT imaging. It gives typical precision of 0.02 for the refractive index and 0.03 $$\mu$$
μ
m$$^{-1}$$

-
1

for dispersion. The method can be applied to the restoration of modern sculptures made from plastics where it is important to have precise measurement of the refractive index of an object using a non-contact method, so that a resin-based adhesive with a matching refractive index could be found to restore a scratched or broken transparent works of art.
Infinite orthogonal exponentials for a class of Moran measures
Authors: Wu Sha , Liu Jing-Cheng
Published: September 2023

For a sequence [Formula: see text] of expanding matrices with [Formula: see text] and a sequence [Formula: see text] of finite digit sets with [Formula: see text], the Moran measure [Formula: see text] is defined by the infinite convolution [Formula: see text] and the convergence is in the weak sense. Under some additional assumptions, we show that [Formula: see text] contains an infinite orthogonal set of exponential functions if and only if there exists an infinite subsequence [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for any [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text]. This extends the results of [J. L. Li, A necessary and sufficient condition for the finite [Formula: see text]-orthogonality, Sci. China Math. 58 (2015) 2541–2548].
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)’s Changing Role in Shaping Singapore’s Evolving Work Compact
Authors: Ng Chee Meng
Published: September 2023

This paper provides insights on the key challenges tripartism will face as Singapore’s developmental context and social compact around work evolve. Specifically, it examines how NTUC’s role has evolved to address key challenges, especially during the pandemic. In doing so, it seeks to outline NTUC’s forward response of social dialogue towards longer term socioeconomic, demographic and other disruptive trends Singapore faces, including rapid technological change, skills obsolescence, workforce fragmentation and an ageing population, inviting individual stakeholders and partners to partake in consultation and policy co-creation for the future.
Enabling Graph Neural Networks for Semi-Supervised Risk Prediction in Online Credit Loan Services
Authors: Tang Hao , Wang Cheng , Zheng Jianguo , Jiang Changjun
Published: September 2023

Graph neural networks (GNNs) are playing exciting roles in the application scenarios where features are hidden in information associations. Fraud prediction of online credit loan services (OCLSs) is such a typical scenario. But it has another rather critical challenge, i.e., the scarcity of data labels. Fortunately, GNNs can also cope with this problem due to their good ability of semi-supervised learning by mining structure and feature information within graphs. Nevertheless, the gain of internal information is often too limited to help GNNs handle the extreme deficiency of labels with high performance beyond the basic requirement of fraud prediction in OCLSs. Therefore, adding labels from the experts, such as manually adding labels through rules, has become a logical practice. However, the existing rule engines for OCLSs have the confliction problem among continuously accumulated rules. To address this issue, we propose a Snorkel-based Semi-Supervised GNN (S3GNN). Under S3GNN, we specially design an upgraded version of the rule engines, called
Graph-Oriented Snorkel
(GOS), a graph-specific extension of Snorkel, a widely used weakly supervised learning framework, to design rules by subject matter experts (SMEs) and resolve confliction. In particular, in the graph of an anti-fraud scenario, each node pair may have multiple different types of edges, so we propose the
Multiple Edge-Types Based Attention
mechanism. In general, for the heterogeneous information and multiple relations in the graph, we first obtain the embedding of applicant nodes by aggregating the representation of attribute nodes, and then use the attention mechanism to aggregate neighbor nodes on multiple meta-paths to get ultimate applicant node embedding. We conduct experiments over the real-life data of a large financial platform. The results demonstrate that S3GNN can outperform the state-of-the-art methods, including the method of pilot platform.
Outbreak of Serratia marcescens in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mexico
Authors: Guel-Gomez Martha , Angulo-Zamudio Uriel A. , Leon-Sicairos Nidia , Flores-Villaseñor Hector , Mendívil-Zavala Edna , Plata-Guzmán Amparo , Martinez-Garcia Jesus J. , Angulo-Rocha Jorge , Ochoa-Espinoza Rosangela , Crespo-Palazuelos Paola , Bracamontes-Murillo Jesús , León-Ramírez Angel , Rodriguez-Ceceña Juan C. , Canizalez-Roman Adrian
Published: September 2023

Introduction. We describe an outbreak of Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) infection in the neonatal intensive care unit at Women’s Hospital in Sinaloa, Mexico. Methods. In April 2021, an outbreak of S. marcescens infection was identified. A case was identified as any patient who tested positive for S. marcescens and showed signs of an infectious process. Results. S. marcescens was isolated from the blood cultures of 15 neonates with clinical signs of neonatal sepsis. Statistical analysis showed that all neonates had an invasive medical device. The problem was controlled after hospital hygiene and sanitation measures were strengthened. Conclusion. The study provides evidence of an outbreak of nosocomial bacteremia due to the cross-transmission of S. marcescens. The findings highlight the need for hospitals to implement strict hygiene measures, especially regarding hand washing, to prevent future outbreaks.
Development of a Minimum Dataset for the Monitoring of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency: A GloBE-Reg Initiative
Authors: Chen Suet Ching , Bryce Jillian , Chen Minglu , Charmandari Evangelia , Choi Jin-Ho , Dou Xinyu , Gong Chunxiu , Hamza Rasha , Harvey Jamie , Hoffman Andrew R. , Horikawa Reiko , Johannson Gudmundur , Jorge Alexander Augusto de Lima , Miller Bradley S. , Roehrich Sebastian , Sävendahl Lars , Tseretopoulou Xanthippi , Vitali Diana , Wajnrajch Michael , Ahmed S.Faisal
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Although there are some recommendations in the literature on the assessments that should be performed in children on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy, the level of consensus on these measurements is not clear. The objective of the current study was to identify the minimum dataset (MDS) that could be measured in a routine clinical setting across the world, aiming to minimise burden on clinicians and improve quality of data collection. Methods: This study was undertaken by the growth hormone (GH) scientific study group in GloBE-Reg, a new project that has developed a common registry platform that can support long-term safety and effectiveness studies of drugs. Twelve clinical experts from 7 international endocrine organisations identified by the GloBE-Reg Steering Committee, 2 patient representatives, and representatives from 2 pharmaceutical companies with previous GH registry expertise collaborated to develop this recommendation. A comprehensive list of data fields routinely collected by each of the clinical and industry experts for children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was compiled. Each member was asked to determine the: (1) importance of the data field and (2) ease of data collection. Data fields that achieved 70% consensus in terms of importance qualified for the MDS, provided <50% deemed the item difficult to collect. Results: A total of 246 items were compiled and 27 were removed due to redundancies, with 219 items subjected to the grading system. Of the 219 items, 111 achieved at least 70% consensus as important data to collect when monitoring children with GHD on rhGH treatment. Sixty-nine of the 219 items were deemed easy to collect. Combining the criteria of importance and ease of data collection, 63 met the criteria for the MDS. Several anomalies to the MDS rule were identified and highlighted for discussion, including whether the patients were involved in current or previous clinical trials, need for HbA1c monitoring, other past medical history, and adherence, enabling formulation of the final MDS recommendation of 43 items; 20 to be completed once, 14 every 6 months, and 9 every 12 months. Conclusion: In summary, this exercise performed through the GloBE-Reg initiative provides a recommendation of the MDS requirement, collected through real-world data, for the monitoring of safety and effectiveness of rhGH in children with GHD, both for the current daily preparations and the newer long-acting GH.
ПЕДІАТРИЧНИЙ МУЛЬТИСИСТЕМНИЙ ЗАПАЛЬНИЙ СИНДРОМ, АСОЦІЙОВАНИЙ ІЗ COVID-2019 – НОВИЙ ВИКЛИК СУЧАСНОСТІ: ІСТОРИЧНІ АСПЕКТИ, ПІДХОДИ ДО ДІАГНОСТИКИ ТА ЛІКУВАННЯ
Authors: Усачова О. В.
Published: September 2023

Наведені сучасні дані про історію реєстрації та вивчення «Педіатричного мультисистемного запального синдрому, асоційованого із COVID-19» як нового виклику сучасній медицині. Описані кроки до розуміння, що це новий стан, який виникає у дітей після перенесеної коронавірусної хвороби. Наведені основні клініко-лабораторні ознаки цього синдрому, окреслені підходи до терапії дітей та наголошено на необхідності подальшого спостереження за станом серцево-судинної системи пацієнтів, які перенесли «Педіатричний мультисистемний запальний синдром, асоційований із COVID-19».
Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the urban park of Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Vieira-Silva Aline , Silva Amanda Pereira Duarte e , Accacio Gustavo de Mattos , Candia-Gallardo Carlos , Hingst-Zaher Erika
Published: September 2023

Green areas in urban landscapes are under strong anthropogenic pressure, and, at the same time are fundamental to maintaining biodiversity, as they provide resources for many animal and plant species. Knowing these species is fundamental for its maintenance and conservation, and inventories are extremely important for monitoring fauna and conserving it. Therefore, the goal of this research is to inventory the butterflies species in the park of the Instituto Butantan (Ibu), located in an urban area in the city of São Paulo, southeast Brazil. The surveys of butterflies were conducted through visual censuses from August 2017 to July 2019 and recorded a total of 324 butterfly species. The most speciose family was Hesperiidae, followed by Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae, and Papilionidae. Among the sampled species, there is Euselasia zara which is a new record for the state of São Paulo. Neither the species accumulation nor the richness estimator curves tended to reach an asymptote, suggesting that additional butterflies’ species will be recorded with more sampling effort on the site. Even with a flora composed mainly of exotic and ornamental plants, the park of Instituto Butantan exhibits a very rich butterfly community. This community exhibits a pattern of seasonally variation, with the peak of species richness related to the rainy season. When compared with Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira (USP), another nearby urban green area, which is larger, more heterogeneous and sampled over a longer period, it is possible to notice that the Ibu butterfly community is a subsample of this larger one. These results highlight the potential that urban parks have for the maintenance and conservation of butterfly species.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals That Adaptation of Human Aortic Endothelial Cells to Antiproliferative Therapies Is Modulated by Flow-Induced Shear Stress
Authors: Salazar-Martín Antonio G. , Kalluri Aditya S. , Villanueva Martin A. , Hughes Travis K. , Wadsworth Marc H. , Dao Tyler T. , Balcells Mercedes , Nezami Farhad R. , Shalek Alex K. , Edelman Elazer R.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Endothelial cells (ECs) are capable of quickly responding in a coordinated manner to a wide array of stresses to maintain vascular homeostasis. Loss of EC cellular adaptation may be a potential marker for cardiovascular disease and a predictor of poor response to endovascular pharmacological interventions such as drug-eluting stents. Here, we report single-cell transcriptional profiling of ECs exposed to multiple stimulus classes to evaluate EC adaptation.

METHODS:

Human aortic ECs were costimulated with both pathophysiological flows mimicking shear stress levels found in the human aorta (laminar and turbulent, ranging from 2.5 to 30 dynes/cm
2
) and clinically relevant antiproliferative drugs, namely paclitaxel and rapamycin. EC state in response to these stimuli was defined using single-cell RNA sequencing.

RESULTS:

We identified differentially expressed genes and inferred the TF (transcription factor) landscape modulated by flow shear stress using single-cell RNA sequencing. These flow-sensitive markers differentiated previously identified spatially distinct subpopulations of ECs in the murine aorta. Moreover, distinct transcriptional modules defined flow- and drug-responsive EC adaptation singly and in combination. Flow shear stress was the dominant driver of EC state, altering their response to pharmacological therapies.

CONCLUSIONS:

We showed that flow shear stress modulates the cellular capacity of ECs to respond to paclitaxel and rapamycin administration, suggesting that while responding to different flow patterns, ECs experience an impairment in their transcriptional adaptation to other stimuli.
Manifestation of Cognitive-emotional Conflict in Self-Attitude of High School Students of Different Sex
Authors: Vartanovа Irinа I.
Published: September 2023

Background. Despite a significant number of studies of self-attitude, the specifics of self-attitude in high school students of different sexes remains insufficiently studied due to the peculiarities of their conscious (cognitive) and emotional regulation. Objective. The target is to identify the relationship between the frequency of manifestations of cognitive-emotional conflict during the video dialogue with the parameters of self-attitude in high school students of different sexes. Methods. Manifestations of cognitive-emotional conflict were recorded in a video dialogue and identified on the basis of formalized integral expert assessments. During the dialogue, questions or approval of the methodology “Research of self-relationship” by S.R. Pantileev were pronounced aloud by the experimenter. The respondent had to answer aloud in detail, and after the answer spontaneous clarifying questions and remarks of the experimenter, uttered in order to provoke a cognitive-emotional conflict and to increase emotionality of the dialogue were possible. The dialogue was conducted by an experienced psychologist (woman). Sample. The study involved 37 people — schoolchildren, grades 8–11 (average age 15 years, standard deviation 1.5 years) from different cities of the Russian Federation (15 boys and 22 girls). Results. As a result of correlation analysis of 9 parameters of self-attitude and the frequency of occurrence of cognitive-emotional conflict, it was shown that the frequency of conflict is associated with the nature of self-attitude and has a pronounced gender specificity. It was revealed that boys have a significant correlation only with the scale "closedness — openness", while girls — with the scales "self-acceptance", "self-attachment", "internal conflict" and "self-accusation". Conclusions. It was found that the more are young men characterized by openness, reflection and self-criticism, the more often they manifest cognitive-emotional conflict in the experimental situation. In girls, the emergence of a cognitive-emotional conflict in a research situation is associated with a decrease in self-acceptance (a general negative background of self-perception), self-worth (dissatisfaction with oneself and the desire to change oneself), as well as a general high internal conflict and self-accusation. Practical application of the results. The results obtained are important both for differentiated education and for organizing more effective psychological support for students in the framework of educational work at school.
The study of children’s drawing as a phenomenon of artistic culture
Authors: Fomina Natalia N.
Published: September 2023

Background. Currently, there is a contradiction between the high guidelines of psychological and pedagogical science for the creative development of each student in the lessons of art disciplines and the traditional academic orientation of art curricula. It raises questions about the orientation of children to participate in competitions that require mental stress from the child, are held within a time frame for which it is impossible to create a meaningful work worthy of the author who is a subject of culture. The solution to the problem should be sought in referring to the historical experience of art pedagogy, when creativity of children was studied as a phenomenon of artistic culture, while the child was perceived as a participant in the cultural process. Objective. The aim is to reveal the method of studying children's drawing as a phenomenon of artistic culture. This method has been tested and reflected in scientific research and the results of children's artistic creativity during the period between years 1910 and 1920. Methods. Analysis of psychological, pedagogical and cultural literature on the problem, comparative comprehensive analysis of the results of artistic education and methodological documents. Results. The psychological and pedagogical value is shown. The collection of children's drawings formed by A.V. Bakushinsky and his colleagues during their work at the State Academy of Art Sciences (1921–1929), which is now part of the International Collection of Children’s Drawings of the Institute of Art Education and Cultural Studies of RAE, as part of his psychological and pedagogical heritage, is introduced into scientific circulation. The methods of systematization, description, study of children's creativity, analysis and generalization of the results of artistic development from the standpoint of artistic culture, psychology and pedagogy of his time are revealed. Conclusion. The research of A.V. Bakushinsky and his students represents an ideal model of a scientifically based system of aesthetic education aimed at development of an artistic culture of a person capable of creative invention in the field of a chosen area.
A Solution to the Subject(s) of Psalm 7:13–14
Authors: Foth Kevin
Published: September 2023

The antecedent(s) of the 3ms verbal forms and 3ms pronouns in Ps 7:13–14 have long puzzled scholars, stimulating a wide range of interpretations. This article proposes a new solution, that YHWH is the subject of the first line of verse 13 and the remainder of the 3ms forms in verses 13–14 refer to the enemy of the psalmist. This solution accounts for the available data of grammar and syntax in addition to the context of the overall poem, where the description of the enemy and the actions of YHWH have verbal and thematic echoes with the content in vv. 13–14.
Changes in Biblical Orthography Reflecting the Development of the Language
Authors: Ariel Chanan
Published: September 2023

It is well established in the literature that the vocalization of verbs in the Bible occasionally reflects late linguistic developments, specifically, changes in the Hebrew stem system during the Second Temple period, which affected the vocalization but not the consonantal orthography of the verb. This paper discusses five phenomena involving changes in the tense system, rather than the stem system, during the Second Temple period which are reflected in the orthography itself, namely, in the addition or omission of matres lectionis. I argue that the Second Temple scribes did not consider orthographical amendments involving matres lectionis as actual changes of the biblical text. As a result, they sometimes made such amendments, even in the conservative text of the Pentateuch. The five phenomena discussed here are examples of such amendments, reflecting changes in the Hebrew tense system during the Second Temple period. The reason tense-system developments are evident in the verbal orthography, while stem-system developments are not, is that the latter affected not only the vowels but also the consonants of the verbal forms, which the scribes avoided changing.
Unclear relationships in interference competition among three sympatric medium-sized carnivores in a heavy snowy environment
Authors: Watanabe Kazuma , Saito Masayuki U.
Published: September 2023

Interference competition, a category of interspecific competition, is a critical aspect of understanding the dynamics of carnivore communities, as it can result in a decline in the health and reduced opportunity for resource acquisition of one or both competing species. Heavy snowfall environments during winter are expected to exacerbate interference competition due to decreased food resources and limited foraging opportunities caused by snow cover. However, knowledge on interference competition in such environments is limited. Using camera traps with baits, we evaluated the interference competition among three sympatric medium-sized carnivores, red foxes, raccoon dogs, and Japanese martens, within a heavy snowfall region of northeastern Japan. As in previous studies, we hypothesized that body weight would serve as a determining factor for superiority in winter snow environments. Diel activity patterns using the visitation time to baits did not reveal any clear differences. Nevertheless, the daytime occurrence frequency of Japanese martens during the snowfall season was higher than that of the other two species, indicating inferiority to the other species. The analysis of time intervals between species visiting baits revealed no clear superiority among the target species. These findings suggest that the interspecific relationships among medium-sized carnivores in winter snowy environments are complex and not easily determined.
The Right Kind of Reason for the Wrong Kind of Thing
Authors: Makin Laura Tomlinson
Published: September 2023

This paper offers a novel solution to the Wrong Kind of Reason problem that afflicts Fitting-Attitude analyses of value. I argue that we can distinguish reasons of the right kind from reasons of the wrong kind by being clear about what our reasons are for. In Wrong Kind of Reason cases, our reason to have a certain affective attitude is a reason for an action, and it is this category-mistake that is the source of the problem.
The Mechanism of the Recovery of Impacted High Density Polyethylene Foam
Authors: Loveridge P. , Mills N.J.
Published: September 2023

The impact and recovery behaviour of three high density polyethylene (HDPE) closed cell foams were investigated. Impact stress strain curves were measured using a falling striker impact rig, then the recovery monitored from 10 s after the impact. The variation of the initial yield stress with foam density and temperature followed the expected models. Cell deformation was observed during compression and recovery in a Scanning Electron Microscope. Recovery occurs by the viscoelastic straightening of the buckled faces but it is incomplete due to some plastic deformation in the structure, so the faces remain slightly buckled. Some of the observed inhomogeneity of the cell deformation is due to the removal of cell faces in the sectioning for examination. There is little difference in the recovery dynamics as a result of changing the foam density.
Glycolysis of Flexible Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Simioni F. , Modesti M.
Published: September 2023

Flexible water blown polyurethanes are polymers with repeating urethane and urea groups. When they undergo heating in the presence of glycols the reaction of these groups leads to soluble products. The transesterification reaction of the urethane groups, that leads to the formation of new carbamate is faster than that of the urea groups. Carbamates in turn undergo aminolysis due to the amines formed in the glycolysis of the urea groups.

The use of ethylene glycol (EG) allows the process to be carried out with high polymer/glycol ratio (up to 4:1). A polyphase product is obtained with a top liquid phase mainly formed by the polyether polyol from the polymer, an intermediate liquid phase formed by the solution of carbamates, ureas and amines in EG and a bottom solid phase with compounds with prevalent urea bonds.
Graft Polyether Polyols Based on α-Methylstyrene and Acrylonitrile for Flexible Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Ionescu Mihail , Gosa Kristina , Mihalache Ioana , Zugravu Viorica , Carp Nicoleta
Published: September 2023

The radical grafting copolymerisation reaction of α-Methylstyrene (α-MeSt) and Acrylonitrile (AN) as compared with the usual grafting copolymerisation reaction of Styrene (St) and AN on the polyetheric chains of polyether polyols for polyurethanes, homopolymers of propyleneoxide (PO) or copolymers PO-ethyleneoxide (EO), has been studied. The effect of St substitution by α-MeSt, another cheap and accessible vinylic monomer, has been investigated, concerning the properties of the resultant graft polyethers and the physico-mechanical properties of the resultant flexible polyurethane foams. Special attention was paid to the solid fractions isolated from the polymer polyols proving that the the synthesized products are true graft copolymers and not a physical mixture between vinyl copolymers and polyether polyols. The substitution of St by MeSt leads to graft polyether polyols having a lower degree of grafting but with excellent stability and lower viscosity as compared with the corresponding products based on St-AN. The flexible polyurethane foams based on α-MeSt-AN graft polyethers have very good properties, comparable with those derived from St-AN graft polyethers, but the compression set has an unexpected lower value, better than those of the flexible foams derived from classical St-AN graft polyethers.
Wells, fields and the emergence of early-to-middle Holocene villages in the Huai River region, China: Contesting regional similarities and differences on prehistoric water management with new archaeological and palaeo-environmental evidence
Authors: Zhuang Yijie , Wei Xingtao , Zhuang Lina , Zhang Xiaohu , Xu Junjie
Published: September 2023

The history of water management is closely intertwined with evolution of social structures. In particular, the emergence of rice farming and transition to sedentary life contributed significantly to the development of water management practices, with increasing labour and economic investments to build and operate water-management infrastructures. Here we present archaeological, archaeobotanical and geoarchaeological evidence of early water management obtained from the excavations of three early-to-middle Holocene sites in the upper and middle Huai River region (UMHR), including Hanjing from Sihong County of Jiangsu Province and Xielaozhuang and Zhangwangzhuang from Luohe City and Zhumadian City of Henan Province. Our 14C dates suggest multiple episodes of regional inhabitation in the UMHR region. Our results also reveal that the wells at Xielaozhuang represent some of the earliest attempts to ensure water consumption in the village, and importantly, the rice-field-like structures at Hanjing and Zhangwangzhuang are evidence of a more systematic effort to modify and transform local landscapes for rice cultivation and related economic activities. In line with the results from published phytolith studies, we found that the early experiment of rice cultivation altered local soil and hydrological conditions at these sites. These early forms of rice fields share some similarities in micro-and-macro- morphologies and represent successful adaptations to the low-lying plains that continued to have fluctuating hydrological regimes. The construction and operation of these wells, moats and rice-field-like structures stimulated collaboration beyond individual households and groups in these early-to-middle Holocene villages in the UMHR region and thus would have had profound social and economic ramifications.
Paani Foundation: A Gamified Approach to Water Crisis in Rural India
Authors: Mody Pallavi , Srivastava Sushmita , KC Shyam
Published: September 2023

Maharashtra in India faced the dual challenge of drought and flooding as a result of variable rainfall and inadequate water management practices. Paani Foundation, an NGO, embarked on a mission to empower and mobilize people in order to combat the issue of water scarcity and drought in Maharashtra. They introduced the ‘Satyamev Jayate Water Cup Competition’, which employed a gamified approach to ignite ‘A Mass Movement to Combat the Environmental Crisis’. In this competition, villages vied with each other to amass as much water as possible during the rainy season by constructing reservoirs for rainwater harvesting. The remarkable success of this intervention in rural Maharashtra led to the question of whether it marked the dawn of a ‘Water Revolution’ in the country. How could a mass movement transform water-scarce villages into water-abundant ones?
Simulation optimal and design of 3-kW DC-DC converter for pure electric vehicles
Authors: Sun Gui-Bin , Zhou Shen , Chiu Yi-Jui , Lv Zhi-Rong
Published: September 2023

There are significant differences between pure electric vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles. High-power converters are required to meet the increased energy consumption requirements of loads within pure electric vehicles. A high-power integrated DC-DC converter is designed to meet the requirements of pure electric vehicles. First, the characteristics of LLC resonant converters are analyzed, and a fuzzy adaptive PID frequency conversion phase-shift soft switching control strategy is proposed. Second, the fuzzy controller is designed based on the MATLAB toolbox based on the characteristics of electric vehicle converters. Then, in order to further improve the efficiency of the converter, a planar transformer is proposed and optimized. It is found that with the increase in the switching frequency, the loss is smaller, which is more conducive to improving the efficiency. Simulation results show that zero-voltage switching and zero-current switching can be realized by using the proposed control strategy, and experimental results show that the proposed strategy is significantly more efficient under non-heavy-load conditions. The minimum and maximum efficiency values are 92% and 97.38%, respectively. The high-power converter ensures the normal operation of the load of pure electric vehicles. This work provides a method for developing high-power DC-DC converters and improving efficiency.
Consumption Habits of Recorded Music: Determinants of Flamenco Albums Acquisition
Authors: Heredia-Carroza Jesús , Palma Luis , de Sancha-Navarro Jesús , Chavarría-Ortiz Carlos
Published: September 2023

The article analyses the determinants of acquisition of flamenco albums. Flamenco is a musical genre recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage of humanity. A methodology divided into three phases has been used for this purpose: firstly, interviews with experts from the Spanish music industry where new variables are identified that can affect flamenco consumption habits; then 586 surveys of flamenco spectators who valued these variables and, finally, the application of econometric models to obtain the coefficients of the variables. The results show how the valuation of the composition, the performer and its virtuosity, of the existing trends, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the spectators directly affect the acquisition of flamenco-recorded music. The article contributes to the scarce empirical literature that relates the determinants of recorded music acquisition with traditional popular genres, by adding never studied before variables, focusing on the case of flamenco.

JEL Classification: C2; D2; Z1.

MSC2010: 00A65; 00A66.
Secukinumab Therapy in Refractory Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Nelson Meghan Corrigan , Manos Cynthia K.
Published: September 2023

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most common chronic rheumatologic condition in childhood, remains a cause of significant morbidity, particularly in those with spondyloarthropathy, including psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA). While secukinumab was recently approved for the treatment of children and adolescents with ERA and PsA, there is limited published data on its use in JIA, particularly in refractory cases, despite its efficacy in the treatment of adult arthritis. We aim to examine the use of this therapy in JIA in a single pediatric rheumatology center. A retrospective chart review was performed and 10 JIA patients who received treatment with secukinumab were identified. Data extracted included disease activity, patient demographics, comorbidities, medications, and laboratory data. Seven ERA, 2 PsA, and 1 poly JIA patient were treated with secukinumab at our center between April 2011 and July 2021. These patients had notably resistant disease, with a mean disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) failure rate of 3.8. One hundred percent of patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after being on at least 3 months of secukinumab therapy demonstrated improvement in their MRI findings. One patient developed a flare of uveitis while on secukinumab therapy, with no other adverse events recorded in our patients. Secukinumab therapy was recently approved for children and adolescents with ERA and PsA, and may offer an efficacious option given its demonstrated improvement in imaging and joint examination, as well as qualitative reports of pain, even in those who have failed other therapies. However, caution may be warranted in those with a history of uveitis and warrants further study.
Cardiopulmonary response to exercise in adults born very preterm
Authors: Delfrate Jacques , Girard-Bock Camille , Curnier Daniel , Perie Delphine , Cloutier Anik , Gascon Gabrielle , Landry Jennifer S. , Masse Benoît , Stickland Michael K. , Nuyt Anne Monique , Luu Thuy Mai
Published: September 2023

This study aims to compare cardiopulmonary response to aerobic exercise between young adults born very preterm, including a subgroup with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and term controls.

Seventy-one adults (18–29 years) born <30 weeks’ gestational age (24 with BPD) and 73 term controls were recruited. Assessment included cardiopulmonary exercise testing with impedance cardiography. We compared group differences in peak O2consumption (peak VO2) and in ventilatory and cardiovascular responses to exercise using linear regression analyses.

Preterm participants had reduced peak VO2(mean difference −2.7; 95% CI −5.3, −0.1 mL·kg−1lean body mass·min−1)versuscontrols. Those with BPD achieved lower peak work-rate compared to term controls (−21; 95% CI −38, −5 watts). There was no difference across groups in breathing reserve, ventilatory efficiency, peak heart rate and cardiac output. VO2to work-rate relationship (ΔVO2/ΔWR) was reduced in pretermversusterm. Peak systolic blood pressure and circulatory power (systolic blood pressure*VO2) were also lower in BPDversusterm controls. In the preterm group, longer NICU stay and lower peak cardiac output were associated with lower peak VO2.

Results suggest limitations with peripheral O2uptake in the muscle with reduced ΔVO2/ΔWR and peak circulatory power, but normal cardiac output. Investigations into skeletal muscle perfusion and O2use during exercise are warranted to better understand mechanisms of exercise limitation.
Critical assessment of on-premise approaches to scalable genome analysis
Authors: Al-Aamri Amira , Kamarul Azman Syafiq , Daw Elbait Gihan , Alsafar Habiba , Henschel Andreas
Published: September 2023

Background

Plummeting DNA sequencing cost in recent years has enabled genome sequencing projects to scale up by several orders of magnitude, which is transforming genomics into a highly data-intensive field of research. This development provides the much needed statistical power required for genotype–phenotype predictions in complex diseases.

Methods

In order to efficiently leverage the wealth of information, we here assessed several genomic data science tools. The rationale to focus on on-premise installations is to cope with situations where data confidentiality and compliance regulations etc. rule out cloud based solutions. We established a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative comparison between BCFtools, SnpSift, Hail, GEMINI, and OpenCGA. The tools were compared in terms of data storage technology, query speed, scalability, annotation, data manipulation, visualization, data output representation, and availability.

Results

Tools that leverage sophisticated data structures are noted as the most suitable for large-scale projects in varying degrees of scalability in comparison to flat-file manipulation (e.g., BCFtools, and SnpSift). Remarkably, for small to mid-size projects, even lightweight relational database.

Conclusion

The assessment criteria provide insights into the typical questions posed in scalable genomics and serve as guidance for the development of scalable computational infrastructure in genomics.
Identification of disease-related genes in Plasmodium berghei by network module analysis
Authors: Lin Junhao , Zeng Shan , Chen Qiong , Liu Guanghui , Pan Suyue , Liu Xuewu
Published: September 2023

Background

Plasmodium berghei has been used as a preferred model for studying human malaria, but only a limited number of disease-associated genes of P. berghei have been reported to date. Identification of new disease-related genes as many as possible will provide a landscape for better understanding the pathogenesis of P. berghei.

Methods

Network module analysis method was developed and applied to identify disease-related genes in P. berghei genome. Sequence feature identification, gene ontology annotation, and T-cell epitope analysis were performed on these genes to illustrate their functions in the pathogenesis of P. berghei.

Results

33,314 genes were classified into 4,693 clusters. 4,127 genes shared by six malaria parasites were identified and are involved in many aspects of biological processes. Most of the known essential genes belong to shared genes. A total of 63 clusters consisting of 405 P. berghei genes were enriched in rodent malaria parasites. These genes participate in various stages of parasites such as liver stage development and immune evasion. Combination of these genes might be responsible for P. berghei infecting mice. Comparing with P. chabaudi, none of the clusters were specific to P. berghei. P. berghei lacks some proteins belonging to P. chabaudi and possesses some specific T-cell epitopes binding by class-I MHC, which might together contribute to the occurrence of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM).

Conclusions

We successfully identified disease-associated P. berghei genes by network module analysis. These results will deepen understanding of the pathogenesis of P. berghei and provide candidate parasite genes for further ECM investigation.
Widening participation – recruitment methods in mental health randomised controlled trials: a qualitative study
Authors: Iflaifel Mais , Hall Charlotte L , Green Heidi R , Willis Andrew , Rennick-Egglestone Stefan , Juszczak Edmund , Townsend Mark , Martin Jennifer , Sprange Kirsty
Published: September 2023

Background

Barriers to mental health research participation are well documented including distrust of services and research; and stigma surrounding mental health. They can contribute to a lack of diversity amongst participants in mental health research, which threatens the generalisability of knowledge. Given the recent widespread use of the internet in medical research, this study aimed to explore the perspectives of key partners on the use of online (e.g. social media) and offline (e.g. in-person) recruitment as an approach to improving diversity in mental health randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

Face-to-face and online interviews/focus groups with researchers working in mental health and Patient and Public Involvement partners in the United Kingdom. Recordings were transcribed and analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

Results

Three focus groups and three interviews were conducted with a total N = 23 participants. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) recruitment reach; (2) Demographic factors that affect selection of recruitment method; (3) safety of technology, and; (4) practical challenges. Five main factors were identified that affect the choice of recruitment method: age, complexity of mental health problem and stigma, cultural and ethnicity differences and digital divide. The use of online methods was considered more accessible to people who may feel stigmatised by their mental health condition and with a benefit of reaching a wider population. However, a common view amongst participants was that online methods require closer data monitoring for quality of responders, are not fully secure and less trustworthy compared to offline methods that enable participants to build relationships with health providers. Funding, staff time and experience, organisational support, and technical issues such as spam or phishing emails were highlighted as practical challenges facing online recruitment. All participants agreed that using a hybrid approach tailored to the population under study is paramount.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the importance of offering a flexible and multifaceted recruitment approach by integrating online with offline methods to support inclusivity and widening participation in mental health research. The findings will be used to develop considerations for researchers designing RCTs to improve recruitment in mental health research.
Clinical features of retinopathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Park Su Hwan , Kim Sang Yoon , Park Sung Who , Byon Iksoo , Lee Seung Min
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical patterns of retinopathy in patients who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using wide-field fundus photography and slit-lamp fundus examination.

Methods

The medical records of patients aged ≥ 18 years who survived after receiving CPR and underwent wide-field fundus photography and slit-lamp fundus examination within 3 months were retrospectively analyzed. Fundus findings, including retinal hemorrhage and cotton wool spots, were investigated. The subjects were categorized into the retinopathy and non-retinopathy groups based on the presence of fundus findings. Systemic and CPR-related factors were analyzed to compare the two groups.

Results

Twenty eyes (10 patients) and 28 eyes (14 patients) were included in the retinopathy and non-retinopathy groups, respectively. The retinopathy group had longer CPR time than the non-retinopathy group (15 ± 11 min vs. 6 ± 5 min, p = 0.027). In the retinopathy group, retinal nerve fiber layer hemorrhage was observed in all eyes, and intraretinal hemorrhage was observed in 55% of the eyes. 80% of hemorrhages were located in the peripapillary or posterior pole. There were no interval changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and central retinal thickness for 6 months. The average remission periods of retinal hemorrhage and cotton wool spots were 6.8 ± 2.6 month and 5.6 ± 2.1 months, respectively. No retinopathy progression was observed.

Conclusion

The signs of retinopathy, such as retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, which are found after CPR, mainly occur in patients who receive longer time of CPR and improve over time.
Associations of socioeconomic status and obesity with hypertension in tibetan adults in a Chinese plateau area
Authors: Li Yajie , Li Jianbo , Nima Qucuo
Published: September 2023

Background

Previous studies have identified that socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity are associated with hypertension. However, their interaction on hypertension risk has not yet been assessed.

Methods

The study used data from 6,069 Tibetan residents in Chengguan District in Lhasa, the Chinese Tibetan autonomous region’s capital, based on a cohort study conducted from May 2018 to September 2019 in five provinces in southwest China. We used logistic regression models to assess the complex relations of SES and obesity with hypertension.

Results

Compared with individuals of high SES, low and moderate SES were positively associated with high risk of hypertension. SES and obesity have significant additive interaction on hypertension (general obesity by BMI: RERI = 1.33, P < 0.001; abdominal obesity by WC: RERI = 0.76, P < 0.001; abdominal obesity by WHtR: RERI = 0.96, P < 0.001). In people from the low and moderate SES segments, obesity was linked to an increased risk of hypertension, but the correlations were stronger in people from the moderate SES category. Compared with people of high SES and non obese, those with moderate SES and obesity had a higher risk of hypertension, and ORs were 4.38 (2.80, 6.84) for general obesity by BMI, 3.38 (2.05, 5.57) for abdominal obesity by WC, and 3.18 (1.57, 6.42) for abdominal obesity by WHtR.

Conclusion

There is an independent and additive interaction effect of obesity and SES on the risk of hypertension. People with obesity, especially those of moderate and low SES, should reduce weight and waist circumference, and pay more attention to blood pressure. Moreover, the government, health administration departments, and society should prioritize improving the socioeconomic status of the Tibetan population and addressing risk factors like obesity.
Clinical outcomes of minimally invasive duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection
Authors: Zu Guangchen , Chen Weibo , Wu Di , Zhang Yue , Chen Xuemin
Published: September 2023

Background

The procedure of total duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHRt) has been reported frequently, but rare in minimally invasive procedure, especially robotic-assisted operation. Here we share our experience and analyze the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive DPPHRt in the treatment of benign lesions or low-grade malignant tumors of the pancreatic head in this study.

Materials and methods

From October 2016 to January 2022, three patients received robot-assisted DPPHRt(RA-DPPHRt), and seventeen patients received laparoscopic DPPHRt(LDPPHRt). Data were retrospectively collected in terms of demographic characteristics (age, gender, body mass index, and pathological diagnosis), intraoperative variables (operative time, estimated blood loss), and post-operative variables (post-operative hospital stay, and complications).

Results

All 20 patients received minimally invasive total duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection successfully without conversion, including 8 males and 12 females. Pathological diagnosis suggested 1 case of serous cystadenoma (SCA), 4 cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) ,5 cases of mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), 4 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PNET), 2 cases of chronic pancreatitis (CP),4 case of solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT). The average operation time was (285.35 ± 95.13 min), ranging from 95 to 420 min. The average estimate blood loss was (196.50 ± 174.45ml) ,ranging from 10 to 600ml.The average post-operative hospital stay was(20.90 ± 14.44days),ranging from 8 to 54 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 10 patients (50%). A total of 5 patients (20%) suffered grade B or C pancreatic fistula. Two patients (10%) suffered from biliary fistula. Two patients (10%) suffered from delayed gastric emptying. One patient (5%) suffered from abdominal bleeding. The 90-day mortality was 0. No patient was observed tumor recurrence and new-onset diabetes but one developed diarrhea.

Conclusion

RA-DPPHRt or LDPPHRt provided a minimally invasive approach with good organ-preservation for patients with benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic head tumor. It is only recommended to be performed in high-volume pancreatic centers by experienced pancreatic surgeons.