bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Long-Term Intentions and Narratives in Autonomous Agents
Authors: Kronsted Christian , Neemeh Zachariah A. , Kugele Sean , Franklin Stan
Published: April 2021

Across various fields it is argued that the self in part consists of an autobiographical self-narrative and that the self-narrative has an impact on agential behavior. Similarly, within action theory, it is claimed that the intentional structure of coherent long-term action is divided into a hierarchy of distal, proximal, and motor intentions. However, the concrete mechanisms for how narratives and distal intentions are generated and impact action is rarely fleshed out concretely. We here demonstrate how narratives and distal intentions can be generated within cognitive agents and how they can impact agential behavior over long time scales. We integrate narratives and distal intentions into the LIDA model, and demonstrate how they can guide agential action in a manner that is consistent with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness. This paper serves both as an addition to the LIDA cognitive architecture and an elucidation of how narratives and distal intention emerge and play their role in cognition and action
Stepping on the Gas to a Circular Economy: Accelerating Development of Carbon-Negative Chemical Production from Gas Fermentation
Authors: Fackler Nick , Heijstra Björn D. , Rasor Blake J. , Brown Hunter , Martin Jacob , Ni Zhuofu , Shebek Kevin M. , Rosin Rick R. , Simpson Séan D. , Tyo Keith E. , Giannone Richard J. , Hettich Robert L. , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Leang Ching , Brown Steven D. , Jewett Michael C. , Köpke Michael
Published: April 2021

Owing to rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and oceans, climate change poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges globally. Technologies that enable carbon capture and conversion of greenhouse gases into useful products will help mitigate climate change by enabling a new circular carbon economy. Gas fermentation usingcarbon-fixing microorganisms offers an economically viable and scalable solution with unique feedstock and product flexibility that has been commercialized recently. We review the state of the art of gas fermentation and discuss opportunities to accelerate future development and rollout. We discuss the current commercial process for conversion of waste gases to ethanol, including the underlying biology, challenges in process scale-up, and progress on genetic tool development and metabolic engineering to expand the product spectrum. We emphasize key enabling technologies to accelerate strain development for acetogens and other nonmodel organisms.
From the Editor: Pushing Electrons (and Sometimes Ions or Molecules)
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: April 2021

Our Society draws from a community of scientists and engineers with a wide spectrum of technical backgrounds and research interests. Nonetheless, a common thread weaves through the Society membership in that the vast majority of us study electron transport or its many manifestations. Thus microelectronic devices, batteries, fuel cells, light-emitting diodes, water electrolyzers, and solar cells all crucially depend on electron transfer for their function.
Pennington Corner: Professional Societies…Where the Scientific Tale Unfolded
Authors: Calvo Roque J.
Published: April 2021

For 100 years, The Electrochemical Society has been providing scientists with a forum to exchange ideas and results, and through this forum the Society has effectively advanced electrochemistry and other related disciplines. ECS is only one of a number of professional societies with a distinguished history of service to the scientific community.
From the President: ECS – Similar to a Gourmet Sauce or a Memorable Wine
Authors: Spear Karl
Published: April 2021

As a Society, we are as diverse and complex as fine sauces and wines, and of the same high quality. Food and ECS? It’s no surprise to me that my mind associates ECS with food and drink.
Pennington Corner: Challenges
Authors: Calvo Roque
Published: April 2021

It does not matter if you are an individual, or whether you are a for-profit or non-profit organization, money is an obstacle or a challenge that sometimes has to be overcome to meet your objectives.
Free Radicals: Battlebots
Authors: Hall Dale
Published: April 2021

Thus begins another televised half-hour of Battlebots, a cable television show with a modest but enthusiastic audience who enjoy watching mechanized monsters locked in mortal combat. Every week, pairs of angry gizmos square off in three-minute bouts to decide which is the mightiest of them all.
The Organic and Biological Electrochemistry Division
Authors: Lessard Jean
Published: April 2021

The Organic and Biological Electrochemistry Division (O&BE) celebrated its 60th anniversary as a Division of The Electrochemical Society in the year 2000. The Division was originally called the Electro-Organic Division and was renamed the Organic and Biological Electrochemistry Division in 1972 to reflect the growing interest of its members in bioelectrochemistry and the increasing importance of this field of research and applications.
Dissociative Electron Transfer
Authors: Maran Flavio , Workentin Mark
Published: April 2021

Predicting the rate of chemical reactions on the basis of reorganization energies and driving force is a fundamental challenge in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. Considerable achievements in this regard have been reached in the area of electron transfer (ET) processes, thanks to the Marcus theory of ET and related treatments.
Theoretical Study of the Effects of Temperature Slip in LPCVD Systems
Authors: Hu Tailai
Published: April 2021

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 2002 Edward G. Weston Summer Research Fellowship.
Halogenated Closo-dodecacarborane Anions: Robust Cation Exchangers for Ionophore-Based Chemical Sensing
Authors: Peper Shane M.
Published: April 2021

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 2002 Colin Garfield Fink Summer Research Fellowship.
Interfaces Between Organic Semiconductor Materials and Metal Electrodes
Authors: Brian France C.
Published: April 2021

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 2002 Joseph W. Richards Summer Research Fellowship.
Predicting Potential-Dependent Electrode–Chemisorbate Vibrational Behavior from Density Functional Theory Calculations
Authors: Wasileski Sally A.
Published: April 2021

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 2002 F. M. Beckett Summer Research Fellowship.
Estradiol treatment or modest exercise improves hepatic health and mitochondrial outcomes in female mice following ovariectomy
Authors: Fuller Kelly N. Z. , McCoin Colin S. , Von Schulze Alex T. , Houchen Claire J. , Choi Michael A. , Thyfault John P.
Published: April 2021

OVX induces hepatic steatosis in sedentary mice which can be prevented by modest physical activity (VWR) and/or estradiol treatment. Estrogen impacts hepatic mitochondrial coupling in a substrate-specific manner. OVX mice have impaired fecal bile acid excretion, which was rescued with estradiol treatment.
CXCL1 Clone Evolution Induced by the HDAC Inhibitor Belinostat Might Be a Favorable Prognostic Indicator in Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Han Xin-le , Du Jun , Zheng Ya-dan , Dai Jia-jing , Lin Su-wen , Zhang Bing-yue , Zhong Fu-bo , Lin Zhe-guang , Jiang Shu-qi , Wei Wei , Fang Zheng-yu
Published: April 2021

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer due to its lack of treatment options. Patients with TNBC frequently develop resistance to chemotherapy. As epigenetic‐based antineoplastic drugs, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have achieved particular efficacy in lymphoma but are less efficacious in solid tumors, and the resistance mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, the GSE129944 microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was downloaded, and fold changes at the transcriptome level of a TNBC line (MDA‐MB‐231) after treatment with belinostat were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify the critical biological processes. Construction and analysis of the protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network were performed to screen candidate genes related to cancer prognosis. A total of 465 DEGs were identified, including 240 downregulated and 225 upregulated genes. The cytokine‐cytokine receptor pathway was identified as being significantly changed. Furthermore, the expression of CXCL1 was implicated as a favorable factor in the overall survival of breast cancer patients. With in vitro approaches, we also showed that belinostat could induce the expression of CXCL1 in another 2 TNBC cell lines (BT‐549 and HCC‐1937). We speculate that belinostat‐induced CXCL1 expression could be one of the results of the stress clone evolution of cells after HDACi treatment. These findings provide new insights into clone evolution during HDACi treatment, which might guide us to a novel perspective that various mutation‐targeted treatments should be implemented during the whole treatment cycle.
In Vitro and In Silico Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities of a Diterpene from Cousinia alata Schrenk
Authors: Zhanzhaxina Almira , Suleimen Yerlan , Metwaly Ahmed M. , Eissa Ibrahim H. , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Suleimen Raigul , Ishmuratova Margarita , Akatan Kydyrmolla , Luyten Walter
Published: April 2021

A biologically guided isolation of secondary metabolites from Cousinia alata Schrenk wild plant growing in Akmola region, Kazakhstan, led to the isolation of the bioactive diterpene grindelic acid (1). Six flavonoids were also isolated and identified as retusine (2), pachipodol (3), jaranol (4), penduletin (5), casticin (6), and 5, 7, 3′-trihydroxy-3, 4′-dimethoxyflavone (7). Penduletin (5) showed moderate cytotoxic activity assay. Grindelic acid exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against the Artemia salina nauplii and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella enteritidis. The presence of the essential pharmacophoric features of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in the structure of grindelic acid encouraged us to run a molecular docking study against the HDAC enzyme to understand its mechanism of action on a molecular level. Grindelic acid showed a binding mode of interaction similar to that of the cocrystallized ligand and exhibited good binding affinity against HDAC with the binding free energy of −18.70 kcal/mol. The structures of isolated compounds were determined by MS, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy methods. Compounds (1–7) were isolated for the first time from Cousinia genus.
Acute Generalized Peritonitis in a Peripheral Hospital Centre in Benin: Can It Be Managed by a Local General Practitioner?
Authors: Tobome Semevo Romaric , Hodonou Adrien Montcho , Wahide Anifa , Boukari Kadiri Alassan , Kponou Moïse , Bankole Christelle Hermione Elvire , Caronna Roberto
Published: April 2021

Background. Acute generalized peritonitis in resource-poor countries is still a health challenge due to late diagnosis, surgical delay, and specialists’ unavailability. These are the foremost determinants of surgical morbidity and mortality. We report the experience of a peripheral hospital in Benin not equipped with specialized surgeons. Methods. This is an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study including patients operated for acute generalized peritonitis at the Atacora Departmental Hospital Centre, Benin, where unfortunately CT scan and intensive care unit are still not available. Most of surgical activities were performed by a general practitioner with previous surgical training (but no surgical specialization). Age, gender, cause of peritonitis, surgical procedures, and postoperative outcome were evaluated. Results. Sixty-three patients were included. The mean age was 23.2 years and sex ratio M/F 1.5. The mean surgical delay was 26 hours (range: 6–92 hours). An ileal typhoid perforation was found in 40 patients (63.5%), and 35 of them (87.5%) underwent a primary perforation repair without bowel resection. 73% of surgical procedures were performed by the general practitioner. Morbidity was 34.9% and mortality was 14.3%. The average postoperative hospital stay was 12 days (range: 11–82 days). These results were comparable to those observed in the subgroup of patients (17 cases) operated by the general surgeons (morbidity 32.6%, mortality 13.0%, and average postoperative hospital stay 11 days, range: 1–58 days). Conclusion. Acute generalized peritonitis requires urgent management, and it can be effectively carried out, in a context of limited resources, by a general practitioner with surgical skills.
Occipital Nerve Blockade for the Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia-Like Acute Postcraniotomy Headache: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Wang Shaoheng , Han Xueye , Zhao Chunmei , Luo Fang
Published: April 2021

Objective. The therapeutic effectiveness and safety of occipital nerve blockade (ONB) on occipital neuralgia- (ON-) like acute postcraniotomy headache (ON-APCH) was evaluated. Background. Persistent occipital neuralgia is a subclassification of chronic postcraniotomy headache and has been investigated sporadically in previous publications. The long-lasting neuralgic pain significantly impairs postoperative recovery and quality of life. However, little is known regarding ON-APCH and its management. Methods. All data were retrospectively acquired from consultation records and electronic institutional medical documents. Forty-one patients, who developed drug-resistant ON-APCH after elective craniotomy and received ONB with lidocaine for diagnoses, were included in this study, all of whom were treated using dexamethasone and lidocaine. Pain intensity and ONB correlated complications and side effects were collected and analyzed at three different time points: before ONB, at 1 day after ONB, and at discharge. Results. Nineteen males and twenty-two females aged 49.6 ± 15.2 years were diagnosed with drug-resistant ON-APCH. The mean NRS was 8.0 ± 0.9 before ONB, which later significantly decreased to 2.1 ± 1.4 and 1.6 ± 0.6 at 1 day after ONB and on discharge, respectively. At 1 month after ONB, thirty patients (73%) obtained complete pain relief without medication. At 3 months after ONB, only two (5%) patients had to continue oral medications to maintain pain relief. No adverse effects or complications were observed immediately after, or within 3 months, of the nerve blockade. Conclusions. For drug-resistant ON-APCH, early occipital nerve blockade with dexamethasone and lidocaine is an effective and safe technique, which provides adequate pain relief and may prevent further development of persistent presentation of refractory ON.
Quasi‐Affine Transformation Evolutionary with Double Excellent Guidance
Authors: Sung Tien-Wen , Zhao Baohua , Zhang Xin
Published: April 2021

The Quasi‐Affine Transformation Evolutionary (QUATRE) algorithm is a swarm‐based collaborative optimization algorithm, which has drawn attention from researchers due to its simple structure, easy implementation, and powerful performance. However, it needs to be improved regarding the exploration, especially in the late stage of evolution, and the problem of easy falling into a local optimal solution. This paper proposes an improved algorithm named Quasi‐Affine Transformation Evolutionary with double excellent guidance (QUATRE‐DEG). The algorithm uses not only the global optimal solution but also the global suboptimal solution to guide the individual evolution. We establish a model to determine the guiding force by the distance between the global optimal position and the suboptimal position and propose a new mutation strategy through the double population structure. The optimization of population structure and the improvement of operation mechanisms bring more exploration for the algorithm. To optimize the algorithm, the experiments on parameter settings were made to determine the size of the subpopulation and to achieve a balance between exploration and development. The performance of QUATRE‐DEG algorithm is evaluated under CEC2013 and CEC2014 test suites. Through comparison and analysis with some ABC variants known for their strong exploration ability and advanced QUATRE variants, the competitiveness of the proposed QUATRE‐DEG algorithm is validated.
Extraction and Analysis of Dynamic Functional Connectome Patterns in Migraine Sufferers: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Nie Weifang , Zeng Weiming , Yang Jiajun , Shi Yuhu , Zhao Le , Li Ying , Chen Dunyao , Deng Jin , Wang Nizhuan
Published: April 2021

Migraine seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients because of its recurrence and the hypersensitivity to the environment that it causes. However, the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of migraine are not fully understood. We addressed this issue in the present study using an autodynamic functional connectome model (A-DFCM) with twice-clustering to compare dynamic functional connectome patterns (DFCPs) from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from migraine patients and normal control subjects. We used automatic localization of segment points to improve the efficiency of the model, and intergroup differences and network metrics were analyzed to identify the neural mechanisms of migraine. Using the A-DFCM model, we identified 17 DFCPs—including 1 that was specific and 16 that were general—based on intergroup differences. The specific DFCP was closely associated with neuronal dysfunction in migraine, whereas the general DFCPs showed that the 2 groups had similar functional topology as well as differences in the brain resting state. An analysis of network metrics revealed the critical brain regions in the specific DFCP; these were not only distributed in brain areas related to pain such as Brodmann area 1/2/3, basal ganglia, and thalamus but also located in regions that have been implicated in migraine symptoms such as the occipital lobe. An analysis of the dissimilarities in general DFCPs between the 2 groups identified 6 brain areas belonging to the so-called pain matrix. Our findings provide insight into the neural mechanisms of migraine while also identifying neuroimaging biomarkers that can aid in the diagnosis or monitoring of migraine patients.
Effects of Southwest Airlines on Carrier Profits and Entry Probabilities
Authors: Ren Junqiushi
Published: April 2021

This paper studies the effects of Southwest Airlines, the largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the U.S., on other carriers’ payoff functions and entry probabilities. A static entry game model is developed and estimated by viewing entry as an indicator of underlying profitability and making use of Nash Equilibrium. Results indicate that Southwest has a remarkable and negative impact on the payoffs of other carriers. This impact is firm-specific, with LCCs being more affected than full-service carriers (FSCs). Comparing the two service types, the results show that Southwest’s nonstop presence apparently imposes more downward pressure on opponents’ profits than its connecting presence. A counterfactual experiment is then conducted. Once Southwest is counterfactually removed, the probability of each carrier entering a market significantly changes. This paper examines Southwest’s impacts from a new perspective and extends literature on entry game estimation.
Influence of Steatite and Fly Ash on the Fresh‐Hardened Properties and Micromorphology of Self‐Compacting Concrete
Authors: Gnanaraj S. Christopher , Chokkalingam Ramesh Babu , Thankam G. Lizia , Pothinathan S. K. M.
Published: April 2021

This experimental study investigates the effect of steatite and fly ash on the fresh and hardened properties of self‐compacting concrete (SCC). Accordingly, ordinary Portland cement (53 grade) was replaced with various fractions of fly ash (10% and 20%) and with various percentages (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of steatite by weight of cement as a filling material. European guidelines for self‐compacting concrete guidelines were adopted for producing SCC. The fresh concrete properties were studied using the slump flow test, T500 test, L‐box test, and V‐funnel test, whereas the hardened properties of SCC were studied by the cube compression test, splitting tensile strength test, and flexural strength test on various days (7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 90 days). In addition to that, microstructural studies were carried out to justify the hardened concrete results. The result shows that the steatite content reduces the flow properties of concrete, whereas the fly ash content increases the flow properties. In terms of strength, addition of fly ash enhanced the later age strength, whereas up to 15% of replacement with steatite improved the compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, beyond which there is a fall in the strength parameters which is however higher than the control specimen.
Experimental Evaluation of the Accuracy of Biped Model to Predict the Kinematics during Walking
Authors: Zhang Yao , Song Zhigang
Published: April 2021

Biped models (BMs) have extensive applications in structural vibration, robotics, and sports medicine, but the differences between the walking kinematics simulated by the BM model and those measured through an experiment have not been comprehensively recognized. This paper used wireless inertial measurement units (IMUs) to monitor the acceleration of center of masses (COMs) of 6 volunteers walking under the conditions of natural and fixed‐knee gait. The observations were compared with the simulations from two typical BMs and also with the measurements from former research studies. The results show that when the step frequency is lower than 2.0 Hz, the peaks of acceleration simulated by BM are close to those observed in experiments and the errors are acceptable, while the step frequency is higher than 2.0 Hz, the discrepancy between the numerical and the experimental results is increasingly larger with higher step frequencies, and the errors can reach 60% at most. The comparison between numerical and experimental results indicates that the knee‐fixing assumption of BMs may lead to overestimating the peaks of accelerations, but this assumption fails to explain the different increasing rates with respect to step frequency. Further research studies about the accuracy of BMs and relative modification methods are expected for civil engineering applications.
Research on the Geostatic Stress Field Procedure under Complex Conditions
Authors: Wang Xue-yan , Yuan Yi-li , Hu Chang-ming , Mei Yuan
Published: April 2021

Geostatic stress field procedure is the first and the most important step for the numerical simulation of geotechnical engineering, which greatly influences the simulation results. Traditional methods often fail when the model is complex. In this paper, based on finite element method (FEM) software ABAQUS, failure reasons of four commonly used methods for the geostatic stress field are studied. According to the analysis results, a new set of methods, which can provide reasonable displacement and stress field results under complex conditions, is proposed. The proposed methods follow the principle that the stress of different materials should be obtained separately to avoid stress distortion. Then, the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method are verified through a comparison study and a specific application. This study provides a theoretical basis for the method of geostatic stress field procedure under complex condition and can serve as a reference for relevant studies.
The Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Regulated Cytokines for Pathological Neuropathic Pain in Chronic Compression of Dorsal Root Ganglion Model
Authors: Zhang Ye , Zhao Dan , Li Xutong , Gao Beiyao , Sun Chengcheng , Zhou Shaoting , Ma Yanhong , Chen Xuemei , Xu Dongsheng
Published: April 2021

Neuropathic pain is one of the important challenges in the clinic. Although a lot of research has been done on neuropathic pain (NP), the molecular mechanism is still elusive. We aimed to investigate whether the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was involved in NP caused by sustaining dorsal root ganglion (DRG) compression with the chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion model (CCD). Our RNA sequencing results showed that several genes related to the Wnt pathway have changed in DRG and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) after CCD surgery. Therefore, we detected the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in DRG and SCDH and found active β-catenin significantly upregulated in DRG and SCDH 1 day after CCD surgery and peaked on days 7-14. Immunofluorescence results also confirmed nuclear translocalization of active β-catenin in DRG and SCDH. Additionally, rats had obvious mechanical induced pain after CCD surgery and the pain was significantly alleviated after the application of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939. Furthermore, we found that the levels of proinflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were significantly elevated in CCD rat serum, while the levels of them were correspondingly decreased after the Wnt/β-catenin pathway being inhibited. The results of Spearman correlation coefficient analysis showed that the levels of TNF-α and IL-18 were negatively correlated with the mechanical withdrawal thresholds (MWT) after CCD surgery. Collectively, our findings suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of NP and may be an effective target for the treatment of NP.
mir-182-5p Regulates Cell Growth of Liver Cancer via Targeting RCAN1
Authors: Zheng Jianxing , Wu Dongyang , Wang Libing , Qu Fengzhi , Cheng Daming , Liu Xiaogang
Published: April 2021

Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an endogenous protein that is involved in the regulation of the occurrence and progression of a variety of cancers, but currently, people know little about its potential mechanism. This study investigated the function and mechanism of RCAN1 and miR-182-5p in liver cancer cells. In this study, reliable data demonstrated that RCAN1 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle progression of liver cancer. Additionally, the expression of RCAN1 was noted to be regulated by its upstream regulator miR-182-5p, and miR-182-5p was prominently highly expressed in liver cancer cells. Based on this, it was further proved through cell experiments that miR-182-5p facilitated cell growth of liver cancer through RCAN1 downregulation, showing that RCAN1 may be a fresh biomarker and target for diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.
Sea Cucumber‐Derived Peptides Alleviate Oxidative Stress in Neuroblastoma Cells and Improve Survival in C. elegans Exposed to Neurotoxic Paraquat
Authors: Lu Meng , Mishra Ajay , Boschetti Chiara , Lin Jing , Liu Yushuang , Huang Hongliang , Kaminski Clemens F. , Huang Zebo , Tunnacliffe Alan , Kaminski Schierle Gabriele S.
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress results when the production of oxidants outweighs the capacity of the antioxidant defence mechanisms. This can lead to pathological conditions including cancer and neurodegeneration. Consequently, there is considerable interest in compounds with antioxidant activity, including those from natural sources. Here, we characterise the antioxidant activity of three novel peptides identified in protein hydrolysates from the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Under oxidative stress conditions, synthetic versions of the sea cucumber peptides significantly compensate for glutathione depletion, decrease mitochondrial superoxide levels, and alleviate mitophagy in human neuroblastoma cells. Moreover, orally supplied peptides improve survival of the Caenorhabditis elegans after treatment with paraquat, the latter of which leads to the production of excessive oxidative stress. Thus, the sea cucumber peptides exhibit antioxidant activity at both the cellular and organism levels and might prove attractive as nutritional supplements for healthy ageing.
Initial Moving Mechanism of Densely‐Packed Particles Driven by a Planar Shock Wave
Authors: Lv Hua , Wang Zhongqi , Zhang Yunming , Li Jianping
Published: April 2021

The initial moving mechanism of densely packed particles driven by shock waves is unclear but vital for the next accurate calculation of the problem. Here, the initial motion details are investigated experimentally and numerically. We found that before particles show notable motion, shock waves complete reflection and transmission, and stress waves propagate downstream on particle skeleton. Due to the particle stress wave, particles successively accelerate and obtain an axial velocity of 6–8 m/s. Then, the blocked gas pushes the upstream particles integrally to move downstream, while the gas flow in the pores drags the downstream particles to separate dramatically and accelerate to the velocity of 60–70 m/s. This gas push‐drag dual mechanism transforms densely packed particles into a dense gas‐particle cloud, which behaves as the expansion phenomena of the dense particles.
Mapping Evapotranspiration of Agricultural Areas in Ghana
Authors: Aidoo Kenneth , Browne Klutse Nana Ama , Asare Kofi , Botchway Comfort Gyasiwaa , Fosuhene Samuel
Published: April 2021

Climate change is having an adverse effect on the environment especially in sub-Sahara Africa, where capacity for natural resource management such as water is very low. The scope of the effect on land use types have to be estimated to inform proper remedy. A combined estimation of transpiration and evaporation from plants and soil is critical to determine annual water requirement for different land use. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component in the world hydrological cycle, and understanding its spatial dimensions is critical in evaluating the effects it has on regional land use. A measure of this component is challenging due to variation in rainfall and environmental changes. The mapping evapotranspiration with high resolution and internalized calibration (METRIC) method is employed to create evapotranspiration map for land use, using remotely sensed data by satellite, processed, and analyzed in ArcGIS. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was related to the availability of water for vegetation on different land use, and the results indicate a high evapotranspiration for vegetated land use with high NDVI than land use with low NDVI.
Estimating the Asphalt Binder Film Thickness Using Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Spectroscopy
Authors: Karim Fazli , Hussain Jawad , Hafeez Imran
Published: April 2021

Asphalt binder film thickness has relation to mixing temperature and binder content in hot mix asphalt, which influences mixture’s performance. A significant variation in assessing the asphalt binder film thickness has been observed in the literature. Development of state of the art technology and Superpave specification requires the study of actual asphalt binder film thickness at micro‐level. This study estimates asphalt binder film thickness at micro‐level and compares results with those obtained through analytical models from the previous studies. The study utilizes different asphalt mixtures at various mixing temperatures and binder contents. The asphalt binder film thickness around the finest particles of 500 nm (0.5 micron) size in asphalt mastic was detected and measured by image analysis (using scanning electron microscope) and elemental analysis (using energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy) at magnifying power of ×30,000. The analytical estimation revealed that the asphalt binder film thickness for the aforementioned conditions varies from 9 μm to 13 μm, with a fair relationship to binder content and mixing temperature. However, results obtained from image analysis revealed that the asphalt binder film thickness varies from 0.5 μm to 2.4 μm, with no relation to binder content and mixing temperature. The image analysis showed that the asphalt mixtures mostly contain asphalt mortar and asphalt mastic, occurring in irregular shape. It was also found that the asphalt binder film does exist as a separate entity inside the asphalt mastic in the form of a band around the filler particles as non‐absorbed binder, which fills the approximate distance of 0.5 to 2.5 microns among filler particles.
Congenital Lumbar Hernia in an 8-Month-Old Boy
Authors: Mansy Mohamed , Kotb Mostafa , Abouheba Mohamed
Published: April 2021

Congenital lumbar hernias are uncommonly seen in the pediatric age group, with only about 60 cases reported in the literature. It is usually accompanied by a multitude of congenital anomalies involving different organ systems of the body. For instance, it may involve the ribs, spine, muscles, and the kidneys. Herein, we report a case of congenital lumbar hernia in an 8-month-old boy who underwent an operative repair using a mesh with an uneventful outcome.
Autologous Calvarial Bone Remodeling Technique for Small to Medium-Sized Cranial Defects in Young Children: The “Switch-Cranioplasty” Technique
Authors: Jain Sonal , Wang Shelly , Sandoval-Garcia Carolina , Ibrahim George M. , Robinson Walker L. , Ragheb John
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Reconstruction of cranial defects in children less than 2 years of age, particularly when there is an associated dural defect, is challenging due to the need to accommodate active skull growth, limited options for autologous bone graft and thin calvarial bones. We use a simple remodeling technique that exploits the normal dura’s inherent potential for new bone growth while covering the dural defect with adjacent skull. Case Presentation: We describe an alternating, two-piece craniotomy or “switch-cranioplasty technique” to repair an occipital meningocele. The two pieces of craniotomy bone flap created around the existing skull and dural defect are switched in the horizontal plane in order to cover the site of the defect and the abnormal dura of the meningocele closure. The area of the original skull defect is transposed laterally over the normal dura. The healing of the lateral skull defects is facilitated with autologous bone chips and dust and covered by periosteal flaps that stimulate spontaneous re-ossification. Discussion: The advantages of this technique are the use of autologous bone adjacent to the skull defect, incorporation of the autologous bone into the growing skull, an acceptable cosmetic and functional outcome in a simple manner. The indications can be extended to include small to medium-sized calvarial defects secondary to leptomeningeal cyst and trauma.
Headache due to Bilateral Subacute Subdural Hematomas following Intracranial Hypotension Caused by Cervical Disc Herniation
Authors: Steenstraten Iris , Mohamed Stephanie , Koppen Hille
Published: April 2021

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is caused by spinal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and typically causes orthostatic headache which is relieved by lying in a recumbent position. We describe the case of a 44-year-old male suffering from orthostatic headaches accompanied by symptomatic cervical disc herniation, for which he had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Computerized tomography of the brain at the emergency department 1 week after this procedure showed bilateral subacute subdural hematomas. In retrospect, the positional headache had been present for 3 months prior to the ACDF, and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine prior to the ACDF already showed signs of an extradural CSF collection indicating intracranial hypotension. This case highlights the possibility of SIH caused by a spinal dural leak due to cervical disc herniation.
Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children: A Chinese Cohort Study
Authors: Wu Dan , Chen Jiahui , Ling Chen , Chen Zhi , Fan Jianfeng , Sun Qiang , Meng Qun , Liu Xiaorong
Published: April 2021

Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare but critical illness. To this date, few studies have reported on the disease in Chinese children. Methods: We studied a Chinese pediatric cohort to delineate the clinical characteristics, genotypes, and prognosis. Ninety-one patients with aHUS were enrolled in this study. Results: Fifty-nine children (64.8%) had anti-complement-factor-H autoantibody-associated aHUS (anti-CFH aHUS). Of these children, 21 (46.7%) had complement factor-H-related protein 1 (CFHR1) homozygous deletion, and most patients with CFHR1 homozygous deletion also had complement factor-H-related protein 3 (CFHR3) homozygous deletions (76.2%). Using gene sequencing of 15 candidate genes, we identified 14 genetic variants in 46 aHUS patients, including 5 pathogenic or like pathogenic variants and 9 variants of uncertain significance. The average follow-up time was 46.1 ± 28 months. Among patients with anti-CFH aHUS, there was a correlation between CFHR1 homozygous deletion and patients with persistent proteinuria (odds ratio [OR] 6.954, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.033–46.821, p = 0.046). As of the last follow-up, ESRD or deaths occurred in 3.6% of the children with anti-CFH aHUS and 26.7% of children with aHUS who were negative for anti-CFH. Conclusions: Anti-complement-factor-H antibody positivity is the main cause of morbidity in Chinese children with aHUS. There may be a correlation between CFHR1 homozygous deletion and persistent proteinuria. Comprehensive assessment of anti-CFH antibodies and genetic variants is essential for the management of aHUS children.
Upper Eyelid Necrosis Secondary to Hordeolum: A Case Report
Authors: Rossetto Júlia D. , Forno Eliana A. , Morales Melina Correia , Moreira Julio Cesar , Ferrari Pedro V. , Herrerias Bruno T. , Hirai Flavio E. , Gracitelli Carolina P.B.
Published: April 2021

We reported a case of upper eyelid necrosis initially misdiagnosed as a preseptal cellulitis following a hordeolum externum resulting in great damage to the upper eyelid (anterior lamella). The infection was successfully treated with surgical cleansing, drainage, and endovenous antibiotics. Early treatment may avoid severe complications such as eyelid deformity, systemic involvement, and blindness.
Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features Presenting as Amyopathic Hypodermatitic Dermatomyositis: A Case Report
Authors: Mihailescu Maria L. , Edens Cuoghi , Hoffman Mark D.
Published: April 2021

Dermatomyositis (DM) and its variant, clinically amyopathic DM, are widely recognized entities. DM sine dermatitis, a variant without skin involvement, is less widely reported. DM with neither muscle nor skin manifestations has not been reported. We herein describe the first account of a patient with a myositis-specific antibody presenting with an array of clinical findings in the absence of both muscle and pathognomonic skin disease. This case report details the multidisciplinary assessment of an anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive individual with inflammatory polyarthropathy, mucocutaneous capillary changes, and evidence of interstitial lung disease but lacking overt skin and muscle disease. This presentation is paradoxically but appositely deemed to represent a unique form of DM, which may be best described as “amyopathic hypodermatitic dermatomyositis.” Early recognition and documentation of these cases will help to characterize this variant in the future, determine its frequency, and guide management.
Hydroxychloroquine Inhibits Cardiac Conduction in Aged Patients with Nonmalaria Diseases
Authors: Yu Yanting , Xu Jianteng , Xie Anni , Liu Sijia , Wang Xiaojian , Zhu Runzhang , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: April 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased focus on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), as doctors, the medical community, and policymakers around the world attempt to understand how the risks of HCQ weigh against unknown benefits. We aim to evaluate the effects of HCQ on cardiac conduction, thus contributing to the global understanding of implications of HCQ use. Methods: We reviewed 717 cases of nonmalaria patients treated with HCQ (302) or without HCQ (415) in our hospital from 2008 to 2019, analyzed the cardiac conduction recorded by electrocardiogram (122 vs. 180) including heart rate (HR), PR, and corrected-QT (QTc) intervals, and explored the relationship of cardiac conduction with age, HCQ dosage, HCQ duration, sex, and primary diseases in HCQ users. Results: The all-cause mortality is similar between HCQ and non-HCQ groups (4.0 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.85). Patients aged 45 years or older, not younger ones, have lower HR (80.1 ± 1.7 vs. 85.7 ± 1.8 bpm, p = 0.03) but longer PR (163 ± 3.4 vs. 146.6 ± 4.2 ms, p = 0.003) and QTc (417.8 ± 3.8 vs. 407.7 ± 2.7 ms, p = 0.03) in HCQ than those in non-HCQ. The age in the HCQ group is positively correlated with PR (R = 0.31, p < 0.01) and QTc (R = 0.34, p < 0.01) but not HR. HR, PR, and QTc are not related to HCQ dosage (0.1–0.6 g/day), HCQ duration (0.2–126 months), sex, primary diseases, and repeated exams. Conclusion: Age is the most important risk factor of HCQ on cardiac conduction in nonmalaria patients. Electrocardiogram monitoring is suggested in aged patients due to the effects of HCQ on HR, PR, and QTc.
Determinants of Malnutrition in Older Adults
Authors: Medeiros de Morais Cecilia
Published: April 2021

Background: The number of older adults is increasing rapidly. Malnutrition is a major problem in this age group, which may adversely affect health and quality of life. Several physiological, socioeconomic, and neuropsychological factors can lead to malnutrition. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults, and explore the associations of malnutrition risk with physiological, socioeconomic, and neuropsychological characteristics. Methods: This study is part of the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet study, a cross-sectional observational study in Greece, and study participants were 1831 urban-dwelling elderly individuals (mean age: 73.1 ± 5.9 y; 40.8% men). Risk for malnutrition was assessed with the Determine Your Nutritional Health checklist. Data on age, sex, level of education, marital status, depression, cognitive performance, body mass index, total energy intake, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were recorded. Correlations and multivariate analyses were performed between these variables and risk for malnutrition. Results: The estimated prevalence of moderate and high nutritional risks was 34.8% and 29.4%, respectively. Risk for malnutrition was associated with marital status (unmarried), increased body mass index, male sex, lower level of education, lower cognitive performance, and lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Nutritional screening should be performed frequently in all community-dwelling older adults. Health experts should perform nutritional screening in all community-dwelling older adults as part of secondary prevention, and nutrition counselling and support should be offered in those at risk for malnutrition.
Association between Temporary Housing Habitation after the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Mite Allergen Sensitization and Asthma Development
Authors: Oshikata Chiyako , Watanabe Maiko , Ishida Masatsugu , Kobayashi Seiichi , Hashimoto Kazuhiro , Kobayashi Naoki , Yamazaki Akiko , Konuma Rumi , Kaneko Takeshi , Kamata Yoichi , Kuriyama Shinichi , Yanai Masaru , Tsurikisawa Naomi
Published: April 2021

Introduction: We previously reported an increased prevalence of asthma in adults who lived in temporary housing after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The goal of the current study was to investigate changes in asthma prevalence and mite-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) titers in temporary housing residents during 2014–2019. Methods: By using the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, we diagnosed asthma in Ishinomaki city temporary housing residents aged 15 years or older. We then analyzed serum antigen-specific IgE levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), and Aspergillus fumigatus. Results: The prevalence of asthma exceeded 20% across all age-groups throughout the study period. The proportion of study participants with a “positive” antigen-specific IgE titer (i.e., ≥0.35 IUA/mL) was higher in asthmatics than in nonasthmatics for Der f and Der p but not for Aspergillus fumigatus. Among residents ≥50 years old who were diagnosed with asthma, the percentage with a Der f-specific IgE titer ≥0.10 IUA/mL was higher than the proportion with ≥0.35 IUA/mL. Among study participants, asthma onset occurred before the earthquake, during residence in shelters or temporary housing, and (starting in 2016) after moving out of temporary housing. The Der p-specific IgE level was positively correlated with the duration of temporary housing (p < 0.05, r = 0.41) and inversely correlated with the time elapsed since moving out of temporary housing (p < 0.05, r = −0.35). Conclusion: Mite allergen sensitization was found in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic temporary housing residents after the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami; asthma developed even after subjects moved out of temporary housing.
Sustainable governance in smart cities and use of supervised learning based opinion mining
Authors: Iqbal Hena , Paul Sujni , Khan Khaliquzzaman
Published: April 2021

Evaluation is an analytical and organized process to figure out the present positive influences, favourable future prospects, existing shortcomings and ulterior complexities of any plan, program, practice or a policy. Evaluation of policy is an essential and vital process required to measure the performance or progression of the scheme. The main purpose of policy evaluation is to empower various stakeholders and enhance their socio-economic environment. A large number of policies or schemes in different areas are launched by government in view of citizen welfare. Although, the governmental policies intend to better shape up the life quality of people but may also impact their every day’s life. A latest governmental scheme Saubhagya launched by Indian government in 2017 has been selected for evaluation by applying opinion mining techniques. The data set of public opinion associated with this scheme has been captured by Twitter. The primary intent is to offer opinion mining as a smart city technology that harness the user-generated big data and analyse it to offer a sustainable governance model.
Blood Pressure Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults
Authors: Banks Katherine , Kyinn Mabel , Leemaqz Shalem Y. , Sarkodie Eleanor , Goldstein Deborah , Irwig Michael S.
Published: April 2021

Gender-diverse people likely suffer from higher rates of cardiovascular disease than cisgender people. Studies on the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on blood pressure in adult transgender populations have been inconsistent. We sought to address knowledge gaps on this topic by conducting the largest and longest observational study to date using multiple blood pressure readings from a racially and ethnically diverse sample. We followed the blood pressure of 470 transgender and gender-diverse adult patients (247 transfeminine and 223 transmasculine; mean age, 27.8 years) seen at a Federally Qualified Health Center and an academic endocrinology practice, both in Washington DC. Blood pressure was measured at baseline and at multiple follow-up clinical visits up to 57 months after the initiation of GAHT. Our study found that within 2 to 4 months of starting GAHT, mean systolic blood pressure was lower in the trans feminine group by 4.0 mm Hg (
P
<0.0001) and higher in the trans masculine group by 2.6 mm Hg (
P
=0.02). These blood pressure changes were maintained during the whole follow-up period. There were no changes to diastolic blood pressure for either group. The prevalence of stage 2 hypertension decreased in the trans feminine group by 47% (
P
=0.001) within 2 to 4 months of GAHT. In conclusion, our data support routine blood pressure monitoring after the initiation of GAHT. Further research is needed on the effects of GAHT in older gender-diverse individuals and on optimal formulations of GAHT.