bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic Time-Frequency Characterization of Silicon Wafers at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Suh C. Steve , Rabroker G. Andrew , Burger Christian P. , Chona Ravinder
Published: March 2022

A methodology to characterize and quantify the thermo-mechanical properties of silicon wafers is presented. The method applies broadband Thermo-Acousto-Photonic (TAP) NDE techniques to both generate and detect analyzing guided Lamb waves in wafer structures. Optically induced, dispersive acoustic waves carry important information pertaining to the variation of mechanical properties due to temperature changes. To quantify the variation as functions of temperature, a spline-wavelet based fast integral wavelet transform is employed to identify the temporal progression of the multi-modal structure of dispersive waveguide modes. These results are then used to extract group velocities of particular frequency components of interest. Examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method on experimental data acquired using the Fiber Tip Interferometer (FTI) system developed at Texas A&M University.
Calibrated Fracture Process Zone Models for Polyimide/Metal Blisters
Authors: Shirani A. , Liechti K. M. , Boerio F. J.
Published: March 2022

The objective of this work was to determine the adhesive fracture energies associated with various interfaces that were produced by different methods of applying polyimide to an aluminum substrate. Due to the relatively small thicknesses of the polyimide films, blister tests were considered most appropriate. Nonetheless, a considerable amount of global yielding was anticipated (Shirani and Liechti, 1994), even for peninsula blisters. In order to make sure that extracted adhesive fracture values were not masked by global yielding effects, a fracture process zone modeling approach (Needleman, 1990 and Tvergaard and Hutchinson, 1993) was taken.
Systematic Design Techniques for High-Speed Propulsor Blades
Authors: Griffin Paul E. , Kinnas Spyros A.
Published: March 2022

This study uses a non-linear optimization method coupled with a vortex lattice cavitating propeller analysis method to design efficient propeller blades. Different constraints are imposed to improve propeller design. Several advancements in the method are shown, including the option for quadratic skew, user specified skew distribution, and a constraint limiting the minimum pressure in wetted regions of the blade. Results for a series of fully wetted runs demonstrate the effectiveness of the constraint on minimum pressure in preventing the onset of bubble or mid-chord cavitation. A comparison of a design in uniform inflow with a design in nonuniform inflow indicates that a propeller designed by the present method in non-uniform inflow has more favorable cavitating flow characteristics than a propeller design assuming uniform inflow. Results are also shown for a series of runs utilizing the cavity constraints. These results indicate that the present method can be used to improve on propeller designs by imposing constraints on the cavity area and cavity volume velocity harmonics, as well as by using a quadratic skew distribution.
Hole in one: Pathways to deterministic single-acceptor incorporation in Si(100)-2 × 1
Authors: Campbell Quinn , Baczewski Andrew D. , Butera R. E. , Misra Shashank
Published: March 2022

Stochastic incorporation kinetics can be a limiting factor in the scalability of semiconductor fabrication technologies using atomic-precision techniques. While these technologies have recently been extended from donors to acceptors, the extent to which kinetics will impact single-acceptor incorporation has yet to be assessed. To identify the precursor molecule and dosing conditions that are promising for deterministic incorporation, we develop and apply an atomistic model for the single-acceptor incorporation rates of several recently demonstrated molecules: diborane (B2H6), boron trichloride (BCl3), and aluminum trichloride in both monomer (AlCl3) and dimer forms (Al2Cl6). While all three precursors can realize single-acceptor incorporation, we predict that diborane is unlikely to realize deterministic incorporation, boron trichloride can realize deterministic incorporation with modest heating (50 °C), and aluminum trichloride can realize deterministic incorporation at room temperature. We conclude that both boron and aluminum trichloride are promising precursors for atomic-precision single-acceptor applications, with the potential to enable the reliable production of large arrays of single-atom quantum devices.
Synthesis of wind turbine trailing edge noise in free field
Authors: Mascarenhas David , Cotté Benjamin , Doaré Olivier
Published: March 2022

The proposed sound synthesis tool converts a physics-based frequency-domain model of wind turbine trailing edge noise to a time-domain signal while accounting for the appropriate time shift due to the propagation between the moving blades and the fixed observer. A window function that implements cross-fading between consecutive signal grains is proposed and a method to objectively estimate the influence of the synthesis parameters is described. As the synthesis tool is independent of the aerodynamic noise model, it can be readily adapted to auralize other noise sources such as turbulent inflow noise or stall noise.
Effect of Acetaminophen on Endurance Cycling Performance in Trained Triathletes in Hot and Humid Conditions
Authors: Wijekulasuriya Gyan A. , Coffey Vernon G. , Badham Luke , O’Connor Fergus , Sharma Avish P. , Cox Gregory R.
Published: March 2022

Purpose: The effect of acetaminophen (ACT, also known as paracetamol) on endurance performance in hot and humid conditions has been shown previously in recreationally active populations. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ACT on physiological and perceptual variables during steady-state and time-trial cycling performance of trained triathletes in hot and humid conditions. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind crossover design, 11 triathletes completed ∼60 minutes steady-state cycling at 63% peak power output followed by a time trial (7 kJ·kg body mass−1, ∼30 min) in hot and humid conditions (∼30°C, ∼69% relative humidity) 60 minutes after consuming either 20 mg·kg body mass−1 ACT or a color-matched placebo. Time-trial completion time, gastrointestinal temperature, skin temperature, thermal sensation, thermal comfort, rating of perceived exertion, and fluid balance were recorded throughout each session. Results: There was no difference in performance in the ACT trial compared with placebo (P = .086, d = 0.57), nor were there differences in gastrointestinal and skin temperature, thermal sensation and comfort, or fluid balance between trials. Conclusion: In conclusion, there was no effect of ACT (20 mg·kg body mass−1) ingestion on physiology, perception, and performance of trained triathletes in hot and humid conditions, and existing precooling and percooling strategies appear to be more appropriate for endurance cycling performance in the heat.
Rafael Halperin’s Contribution to Israel’s Emerging Body Culture
Authors: Carmi Udi
Published: March 2022

The concept of “muscular Judaism” coined by Max Nordau has been interpreted in different ways. For Nordau, the image of a Jew standing fit was a rebuttal to anti-Semites and the answer to Jews’ unmet aspirations for a national home. In practical terms, “muscular Judaism” translated into excellence in sport. As athletes, the Jews could make their mark and move from the fringes of society into the mainstream. This concept evolved over the years, reflecting changing times, shifts in global thinking and national needs. After the establishment of the state, Israeli society underwent a process of Americanization that was accompanied by a new understanding of muscular Judaism and body image. This article discusses three physical fitness trends that redefined the concept of muscular Judaism: gym training, bodybuilding, and catch wrestling. These were rooted in the American aesthetic ideal, a far cry from the ideology and collective socialist worldview prevalent in Israel.
A role for funders in fostering China’s research integrity
Authors: Tang Li
Published: March 2022

Despite recent progress, challenges remain
Jejunocolic fistula presenting as chronic diarrhoea from advanced lymphoma
Authors: Velasco, Jr. Rogelio N , Ando Mark M , Babaran Hashamiiya M , Manuntag Ma. Corazon C , Sacdalan Dennis Lee
Published: March 2022

Jejunocolic fistula, a late complication of intestinal lymphoma, is a rare entity with only five reported cases in the literature. We report a young male presenting with a left lateral neck mass 5 years ago which then progressed to superior vena cava syndrome. Despite receiving radiotherapy and two cycles of chemotherapy, there was still tumour progression. He presented with a 2-week history of diarrhoea, haematochezia and weight loss for which antibiotics provided no relief. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy showed a jejunocolic fistula. After discussion with the multidisciplinary team, nutritional upbuilding was initiated followed by exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection and anastomosis. On histopathology, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the jejunum and colon was noted. Despite receiving palliative chemotherapy, he still succumbed to disease progression. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of jejunocolic fistulas among patients with intestinal lymphomas to facilitate early multidisciplinary intervention.
Iatrogenic radial arteriovenous fistula closure via intraluminal compression in a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia
Authors: Luther Evan M , Huang Eric , King Hunter , Peterson Eric
Published: March 2022

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an arteriopathy of medium-sized vessels causing pathological arterial wall fragility. However, only minimal data exist on evaluating the risk of transradial access (TRA) in these patients. We describe the case of a woman in her 70s who underwent left middle meningeal artery embolisation for an acute-on-chronic subdural haematoma via right TRA. Radial angiography demonstrated significant FMD throughout the entire right upper extremity. To prevent radial spasm, a 23 cm sheath was placed without difficulty. However, follow-up angiography demonstrated the presence of a new radial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) just distal to the brachial bifurcation. Since no forearm haematoma or limb ischaemia developed, the procedure was continued transradially. After embolisation, the guide catheter was removed and follow-up angiography demonstrated resolution of the fistula. This case illustrates that, in the absence of concerning clinical signs, compression from the guide catheter alone may facilitate thrombosis of an acutely identified iatrogenic radial AVF.
Inpatient pharmacists using a readmission risk model in supporting discharge medication reconciliation to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions: a quality improvement intervention
Authors: Gallagher David , Greenland Maegan , Lindquist Desirae , Sadolf Lisa , Scully Casey , Knutsen Kristian , Zhao Congwen , Goldstein Benjamin A , Burgess Lindsey
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Reducing unplanned hospital readmissions is an important priority for all hospitals and health systems. Hospital discharge can be complicated by discrepancies in the medication reconciliation and/or prescribing processes. Clinical pharmacist involvement in the medication reconciliation process at discharge can help prevent these discrepancies and possibly reduce unplanned hospital readmissions.

Methods

We report the results of our quality improvement intervention at Duke University Hospital, in which pharmacists were involved in the discharge medication reconciliation process on select high-risk general medicine patients over 2 years (2018–2020). Pharmacists performed traditional discharge medication reconciliation which included a review of medications for clinical appropriateness and affordability. A total of 1569 patients were identified as high risk for hospital readmission using the Epic readmission risk model and had a clinical pharmacist review the discharge medication reconciliation.

Results

This intervention was associated with a significantly lower 7-day readmission rate in patients who scored high risk for readmission and received pharmacist support in discharge medication reconciliation versus those patients who did not receive pharmacist support (5.8% vs 7.6%). There was no effect on readmission rates of 14 or 30 days. The clinical pharmacists had at least one intervention on 67% of patients reviewed and averaged 1.75 interventions per patient.

Conclusion

This quality improvement study showed that having clinical pharmacists intervene in the discharge medication reconciliation process in patients identified as high risk for readmission is associated with lower unplanned readmission rates at 7 days. The interventions by pharmacists were significant and well received by ordering providers. This study highlights the important role of a clinical pharmacist in the discharge medication reconciliation process.
Comparing antibiotic prescribing between clinicians in UK primary care: an analysis in a cohort study of eight different measures of antibiotic prescribing
Authors: Van Staa Tjeerd , Li Yan , Gold Natalie , Chadborn Tim , Welfare William , Palin Victoria , Ashcroft Darren M , Bircher Joanna
Published: March 2022

Background

There is a need to reduce antimicrobial uses in humans. Previous studies have found variations in antibiotic (AB) prescribing between practices in primary care. This study assessed variability of AB prescribing between clinicians.

Methods

Clinical Practice Research Datalink, which collects electronic health records in primary care, was used to select anonymised clinicians providing 500+ consultations during 2012–2017. Eight measures of AB prescribing were assessed, such as overall and incidental AB prescribing, repeat AB courses and extent of risk-based prescribing. Poisson regression models with random effect for clinicians were fitted.

Results

6111 clinicians from 466 general practices were included. Considerable variability between individual clinicians was found for most AB measures. For example, the rate of AB prescribing varied between 77.4 and 350.3 per 1000 consultations; percentage of repeat AB courses within 30 days ranged from 13.1% to 34.3%; predicted patient risk of hospital admission for infection-related complications in those prescribed AB ranged from 0.03% to 0.32% (5th and 95th percentiles). The adjusted relative rate between clinicians in rates of AB prescribing was 5.23. Weak correlation coefficients (<0.5) were found between most AB measures. There was considerable variability in case mix seen by clinicians. The largest potential impact to reduce AB prescribing could be around encouraging risk-based prescribing and addressing repeat issues of ABs. Reduction of repeat AB courses to prescribing habit of median clinician would save 21 813 AB prescriptions per 1000 clinicians per year.

Conclusions

The wide variation seen in all measures of AB prescribing and weak correlation between them suggests that a single AB measure, such as prescribing rate, is not sufficient to underpin the optimisation of AB prescribing.
Flare rates and factors determining flare occurrence in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who achieved low disease activity or remission: results from a prospective cohort study
Authors: Hao Yanjie , Ji Lanlan , Gao Dai , Fan Yong , Geng Yan , Zhang Xiaohui , Li Guangtao , Zhang Zhuoli
Published: March 2022

Objective

To investigate the frequency and determinants of flare in Chinese patients with lupus, focusing on the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) tapering on flare in patients who achieved low disease activity or remission.

Methods

We collected baseline and follow-up data from all consecutive patients in a prospective lupus cohort between January 2017 and December 2020. We defined low disease activity using the lupus low disease activity status (LLDAS), applied the DORIS (Definitions of Remission in SLE) for remission criteria and then assessed flare using the SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index.

Results

Among a total of 185 patients enrolled, 139 exhibited low disease activity or remission with a median follow-up of 29.8 (21.2–35.2) months. The flare rates after achievement of LLDAS, clinical remission and complete remission on treatment were 0.23, 0.12 and 0.1 per patient-year, respectively. In contrast, the flare rate of patients who never achieved remission or LLDAS was 0.49 per patient-year. In patients with LLDAS or remission achievement, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lower C3 level at the time of first achieving LLDAS or clinical remission was an independent predictive factor for subsequent flares. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significantly lower flare-free survival during the subsequent follow-up in patients with GC withdrawal compared with those maintained on a low dose of prednisone (≤7.5 mg/day) (HR=6.94, 95% CI 1.86 to 25.86, p=0.004). However, no significant differences in flare were observed in patients maintained on different low doses of prednisone (>5 mg/day and ≤7.5 mg/day vs >2.5 mg/day and ≤5 mg/day vs >0 mg/day and ≤2.5 mg/day) (p=0.200).

Conclusions

Target achievement significantly lowered the rate of subsequent flare, from the perspective of both stricter targets and longer period in targets. C3 level was a strong predictor of flare in patients who have achieved treatment targets. Although GC tapering to minimal doses was feasible, its withdrawal may accelerate the risk of recurrence.
Association of opioid exposure before surgery with opioid consumption after surgery
Authors: Bicket Mark C , Gunaseelan Vidhya , Lagisetty Pooja , Fernandez Anne C , Bohnert Amy , Assenmacher Elizabeth , Sequeira Melwyn , Englesbe Michael J , Brummett Chad M , Waljee Jennifer F
Published: March 2022

Objective

To determine the effect of prescription opioid use in the year before surgery on opioid consumption after surgery.

Background

Recently developed postoperative opioid prescribing guidelines rely on data from opioid-naïve patients. However, opioid use in the USA is common, and the impact of prior opioid exposure on the consumption of opioids after surgery is unclear.

Methods

Population-based cohort study of 26,001 adults 18 years of age and older who underwent one of nine elective general or gynecologic surgical procedures between January 1, 2017 and October 31, 2019, with prospectively collected patient-reported data from the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) linked to state prescription drug monitoring program at 70 MSQC-participating hospitals on 30-day patient-reported opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents (OME) (primary outcome).

Results

Compared with opioid-naïve participants, opioid-exposed participants (26% of sample) consumed more prescription opioids after surgery (adjusted OME difference 12, 95% CI 10 to 14). Greater opioid exposure was associated with higher postoperative consumption in a dose-dependent manner, with chronic users reporting the greatest consumption (additional OMEs 32, 95% CI 21 to 42). However, for eight of nine procedures, 90% of opioid-exposed participants consumed ≤150 OMEs. Among those receiving perioperative prescriptions, opioid-exposed participants had higher likelihood of refill (adjusted OR 4.7, 95% CI 4.4 to 5.1), number of refills (adjusted incidence rate ratio 4.0, 95% CI 3.7 to 4.3), and average refill amount (adjusted OME difference 333, 95% CI 292 to 374)).

Conclusions

Preoperative opioid use is associated with small increases in patient-reported opioid consumption after surgery for most patients, though greater differences exist for patients with chronic use. For most patients with preoperative opioid exposure, existing guidelines may meet their postoperative needs. However, guidelines may need tailoring for patients with chronic use, and providers should anticipate a higher likelihood of postoperative refills for all opioid-exposed patients.
Additional biomass estimation alternatives: nonlinear two- and three-stage least squares and full information maximum likelihood for slash pine
Authors: Zhao Dehai , Lynch Thomas B. , Westfall James A. , Coulston John W.
Published: March 2022

A system of nonlinear biomass component equations was developed for slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) trees using an econometric approach in which endogenous right-hand-side variables were included in some equations. The system was fitted to component biomass data from 306 slash pine trees sampled in the southeastern United States with weighted two-stage (2SLS) and three-stage (3SLS) least squares and full information maximum-likelihood (FIML) estimation methods. The predictive performances of the system fitted with these three estimation methods were ranked based on an array of statistics, and the ranking follows the order of FIML > 3SLS > 2SLS. The new system performed as well or better than previously published biomass equation systems developed using the aggregation and disaggregation approaches and fitted to the same data. The results demonstrated that the econometric approaches such as FIML and 3SLS have the potential to be useful for tree biomass modeling.
Abundance of integrons in halophilic bacteria
Authors: Sonbol Sarah , Siam Rania
Published: March 2022

Integrons are genetic platforms used for expressing open reading frames (ORFs) arranged in gene cassettes. Excision and integration of gene cassettes are controlled by their associated integron integrase (IntI). Using IntegronFinder software, we analyzed all complete halophilic genomes available in the HaloDom database, along with selected partial halophilic genomes. We identified 18 new complete bacterial integrons and 46 clusters of attC sites lacking a neighboring integron integrase (CALINs). Different classes of insertion sequences (ISs) were also identified within and near integrons and CALINs, with an abundance of IS1182 elements and different ISs that can presumably mobilize adjacent genomic structures. Different promoters of intI genes (PintI) showed nearby binding sites for arginine repressor (ArgR), raising the possibility that IntI expression and recombination activity are regulated by these proteins. Our findings revealed the existence of new integrons in halophilic bacteria with possible adaptive roles.
Influence of tea-Pleurotus ostreatus intercropping on soil fungal diversity and community structure
Authors: Ma Zhanxia , Tanalgo Krizler C. , Xu Qiuli , Li Weitao , Wu Shanshan , Ji Qing , Pan Gengyun , Wang Ruifang
Published: March 2022

Understanding the relationship between soil fungal communities and soil function is vital to establish a sustainable and ecologically friendly tea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivation. However, there is limited research on the response of soil fungal communities to tea-fungus intercropping, particularly how it is related to soil biodiversity and fertility. Here, we assessed and compared the fungal communities using a metabarcoding technique, soil properties in three plantations (1, 2, and 5 yr of tea-Pleurotus intercropping plantations), and a 5 yr chemically fertilized monoculture plantation. We obtained a total of 3493 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from four tea plantations. Five hundred and ninety-three fungal OTUs are shared by all plantations, and the other 471 fungal OTUs are shared by three plantations. The largest number of OTUs was recorded in 5 yr tea-Pleurotus intercropped plantations (N = 2040), followed by 2 yr (N = 2024) and then 1 yr (N = 1471), while the chemically fertilized plantation recorded 1823 OTUs. Tea-Pleurotus intercropping showed a significant effect on the increased diversity of soil fungal diversity compared with the monoculture tea cultivations. Fungal groups Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mortierellomycota were the most abundant taxonomic groups recorded in all soil samples. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that fungal community composition in tea-Pleurotus intercropped plantations and monoculture tea plantations was significantly different. Besides, redundancy analysis revealed that soil nutrients significantly influence soil fungal community composition. Our results demonstrate that tea-Pleurotus intercropping may offer long-term benefits to soil biodiversity and sustainable benefits in the tea plantations.
Flavour and CP symmetries in the inverse seesaw
Authors: Hagedorn C. , Kriewald J. , Orloff J. , Teixeira A. M.
Published: March 2022

We consider an inverse seesaw mechanism of neutrino mass generation in which the Standard Model is extended by $$3+3$$

3
+
3

(heavy) sterile states, and endowed with a flavour symmetry $$G_f$$

G
f

, $$G_f=\Delta (3 \, n^2)$$

G
f

=
Δ

(
3

n
2

)

or $$G_f=\Delta (6 \, n^2)$$

G
f

=
Δ

(
6

n
2

)

, and a CP symmetry. These symmetries are broken in a peculiar way, so that in the charged lepton sector a residual symmetry $$G_\ell $$

G
ℓ

is preserved, while the neutral fermion sector remains invariant under the residual symmetry $$G_\nu =Z_2 \times CP$$

G
ν

=

Z
2

×
C
P

. We study the concrete setup, where the Majorana mass term for three of the sterile states conserves $$G_\nu $$

G
ν

, while the remaining mass terms (i.e. couplings of left-handed leptons and heavy sterile states, as well as the Dirac-type couplings among the latter) do not break the flavour or CP symmetry. We perform a comprehensive analysis of lepton mixing for different classes of residual symmetries, giving examples for each of these, and study in detail the impact of the additional sterile states on the predictions for lepton mixing. We further confront our results with those obtained in the model-independent scenario, in which the light neutrino mass matrix leaves the residual symmetry $$G_\nu $$

G
ν

intact. We consider the phenomenological impact of the inverse seesaw mechanism endowed with flavour and CP symmetries, in particular concerning effects of non-unitarity of the lepton mixing matrix (which strongly constrain the parameter space of the scenario), prospects for neutrinoless double beta decay and for charged lepton flavour violating processes.
Unveiling the robustness of porphyrin crystalline nanowires toward aggressive chemicals
Authors: Fazi L. , Raimondo L. , Bonanni B. , Fanfoni M. , Paolesse R. , Sgarlata A. , Sassella A. , Goletti C.
Published: March 2022

One of the keys for the development of porphyrin-based devices implies that their functionality must be robust and stable against external environmental factors. While the research has been mostly focused on the supramolecular aggregate interactions with target chemicals, the robustness of organic nanostructures in contaminating and even aggressive environments has not been diffusely investigated yet. The results here presented show that crystalline nanowires of meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin (H2TPP) and meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin-Zn(II) (ZnTPP) are insensitive to the exposure to a series of purposely chosen analytes (alcohols, alkanes and amines). Our finding suggests possible applications of the nanowires in organic-based devices (overwhelming the well-known intrinsic weakness of organic electronics), related to material stability through an appropriate material design and the opportunity offered by organic epitaxy.
SYNTHESIS, ELECTROCHEMICAL, ANTIMICROBIAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF FE AND NI MACROCYCLIC COMPLEXES
Authors: SHARMA VIVEK , KUMAR ANUJ
Published: March 2022

Macrocyclic compounds have got recognition in modern science and technologies because of their potential applications in energy, catalysis, material science, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical. The most interesting feature of macrocyclic complexes is their adjustable macrocyclic cavity which opens many possibilities for the development of various important fields. Herein, we synthesized two MN4-macrocyclic complexes (M = Fe(III) and Ni(II) by using template method, and characterized by employing multiple techniques like molar conductance, FTIR, UV–Vis and mass spectra. On the basis of characterization results, a saddle shaped octahedral geometry can be attributed to theses complexes. The “saddle shape” geometry of these complexes is due to the steric repulsions between the benzenoid and amidic moieties on the macrocyclic framework as suggested by theoretical investigations. Further, the electrochemical investigations carried out using cyclic voltammetry in methanol at the Pt electrode indicated that the unusual oxidation state of metal ion could stabilize the macrocyclic framework of the complex. Moreover, these complexes were also evaluated for their antibacterial activities against several pathogens using Gentamycin as standard drug. The results suggested that these complexes did have significant antimicrobial activity.
Similarity Research on the Action of a Centrifuge Scaled Near-Field Underwater Explosion on a Concrete Gravity Dam
Authors: Ma Shang , Wang Zhenqing , Li Shutao , Chen Yeqing , Zhu Qin , Min Benzhi
Published: March 2022

Concrete gravity dams are a common form of dams. The dynamic response analysis of concrete gravity dams under the action of underwater explosions is indispensable for survivability assessments. Due to the constraints of the environment and other conditions, an underwater explosion test of a prototype concrete gravity dam is difficult to achieve. The centrifuge scaled-down test that satisfies similarity theory provides a new way to study the dynamic response of underwater explosions on concrete gravity dams. In a near-field explosion, the shock wave of an underwater explosion will cause direct damage to the gravity dam, and the detonation products after the shock wave will aggravate the damage. Under the premise of verifying the concrete dynamic response material parameters and the fluid–solid coupling model of the underwater explosion, numerical calculations of the scaled underwater explosion model of the centrifuge and the prototype underwater explosion were carried out, and the similarity between the scaled dam response model of the underwater explosion centrifuge and the prototype was discussed. The analysis shows that the scaled-down centrifuge model can better reflect the local damage of the prototype dam subjected to shock waves. The difference between the scaled centrifuge model and the prototype model of underwater explosion damage to the dam is concentrated on the overall damage. The damage effect of detonation products on the prototype dam body is mainly concentrated in the middle and lower parts of the dam body, while the damage effect of detonation products on the dam body in the scaled-down model is mainly concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the dam body.
mCardia: A Context-Aware ECG Collection System for Ambulatory Arrhythmia Screening
Authors: Kumar Devender , Maharjan Raju , Maxhuni Alban , Dominguez Helena , Frølich Anne , Bardram Jakob E.
Published: March 2022

This article presents the design, technical implementation, and feasibility evaluation of

mCardia

—a context-aware, mobile
electrocardiogram
(ECG) collection system for longitudinal arrhythmia screening under free-living conditions. Along with ECG,

mCardia

also records active and passive contextual data, including patient-reported symptoms and physical activity. This contextual data can provide a more accurate understanding of what happens before, during, and after an arrhythmia event, thereby providing additional information in the diagnosis of arrhythmia. By using a plugin-based architecture for ECG and contextual sensing,

mCardia

is device-agnostic and can integrate with various wireless ECG devices and supports cross-platform deployment. We deployed the

mCardia

system in a feasibility study involving 24 patients who used the system over a two-week period. During the study, we observed high patient acceptance and compliance with a satisfactory yield of collected ECG and contextual data. The results demonstrate the high usability and feasibility of

mCardia

for longitudinal ambulatory monitoring under free-living conditions. The article also reports from two clinical cases, which demonstrate how a cardiologist can utilize the collected contextual data to improve the accuracy of arrhythmia analysis. Finally, the article discusses the lessons learned and the challenges found in the

mCardia

design and the feasibility study.
MARS: Assisting Human with Information Processing Tasks Using Machine Learning
Authors: Shen Cong , Qian Zhaozhi , Huyuk Alihan , Van Der Schaar Mihaela
Published: March 2022

This article studies the problem of automated information processing from large volumes of unstructured, heterogeneous, and sometimes untrustworthy data sources. The main contribution is a novel framework called Machine Assisted Record Selection (MARS). Instead of today’s standard practice of relying on human experts to manually decide the order of records for processing, MARS learns the optimal record selection via an online learning algorithm. It further integrates algorithm-based record selection and processing with human-based error resolution to achieve a balanced task allocation between machine and human. Both fixed and adaptive MARS algorithms are proposed, leveraging different statistical knowledge about the existence, quality, and cost associated with the records. Experiments using semi-synthetic data that are generated from real-world patients record processing in the UK national cancer registry are carried out, which demonstrate significant (3 to 4 fold) performance gain over the fixed-order processing. MARS represents one of the few examples demonstrating that machine learning can assist humans with complex jobs by automating complex triaging tasks.
Macromolecular Crowding Is More than Hard-Core Repulsions
Authors: Speer Shannon L. , Stewart Claire J. , Sapir Liel , Harries Daniel , Pielak Gary J.
Published: March 2022

Cells are crowded, but proteins are almost always studied in dilute aqueous buffer. We review the experimental evidence that crowding affects the equilibrium thermodynamics of protein stability and protein association and discuss the theories employed to explain these observations. In doing so, we highlight differences between synthetic polymers and biologically relevant crowders. Theories based on hard-core interactions predict only crowding-induced entropic stabilization. However, experiment-based efforts conducted under physiologically relevant conditions show that crowding can destabilize proteins and their complexes. Furthermore, quantification of the temperature dependence of crowding effects produced by both large and small cosolutes, including osmolytes, sugars, synthetic polymers, and proteins, reveals enthalpic effects that stabilize or destabilize proteins.Crowding-induced destabilization and the enthalpic component point to the role of chemical interactions between and among the macromolecules, cosolutes, and water. We conclude with suggestions for future studies.
Data-Driven Design and Autonomous Experimentation in Soft and Biological Materials Engineering
Authors: Ferguson Andrew L. , Brown Keith A.
Published: March 2022

This article reviews recent developments in the applications of machine learning, data-driven modeling, transfer learning, and autonomous experimentation for the discovery, design, and optimization of soft and biological materials. The design and engineering of molecules and molecular systems have long been a preoccupation of chemical and biomolecular engineers using a variety of computational and experimental techniques. Increasingly, researchers have looked to emerging and established tools in artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate with established approaches in chemical science to realize powerful, efficient, and in some cases autonomous platforms for molecular discovery, materials engineering, and process optimization. This review summarizes the basic principles underpinning these techniques and highlights recent successful example applications in autonomous materials discovery, transfer learning, and multi-fidelity active learning.
Identification of the Underlying Processes in Impedance Response of Sulfur/Carbon Composite Cathodes at Different SOC
Authors: Gerle Martina , Wagner Norbert , Häcker Joachim , Nojabaee Maryam , Friedrich Kasper Andreas
Published: March 2022

For lithium-sulfur batteries, porous carbon/sulfur composite cathodes are the primary solution to compensate the non-conductive nature of sulfur. The composition and structure of this class of cathodes are crucial to the electrochemical performance, achieved energy density and the stability of the cell. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is employed to investigate and correlate the electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries to the composition and microstructure of differently fabricated carbon/sulfur composite cathodes. A transmission line model is applied to identify different underlying electrochemical processes appearing in the impedance response of a range of porous carbon/sulfur cathodes. The integration of a lithium ring serving as a counter electrode coupled with advanced wiring has allowed an artifact-free recording of the cathode impedance at different states of charge with the aim to investigate the evolution of impedance during discharge/charge and the kinetics of charge transfer depending on the infiltration method and the utilized carbon host. It is shown that impedance response of this class of cathodes is highly diverse and the plausible underlying processes are discussed in details. To this end, quasi-solid-state and various polysulfide-based charge transfer mechanisms are identified and their time constants are reported.
CASCADE your teaching session!
Authors: Alshareef Maram
Published: March 2022

Medical education has seen a shift toward interactive teaching in small groups that actively involves students in learning. However, didactic teaching, despite drawbacks such as student isolation and low stimulation of critical thinking, is still a very commonly used teaching method. For didactic teaching to be effective, teachers must possess strategies and skills that enable them to teach effectively in large groups and increase students’ knowledge retention. This can be achieved if class sessions are planned in advance with the aim of making them interactive and engaging with all students. In the following article, I write about my experiences using the CASCADE method, an acronym of the words “create,” “assess,” “sequence,” “charisma,” “activate,” “discussion,” and “e-device,” which creates interactive didactic sessions.
Phylogenicity and Virulence Profiles of Clinical Escherichia coli Isolates in the Ho Teaching Hospital of Ghana
Authors: Deku John Gameli , Duedu Kwabena Obeng , Kinanyok Silas , Kpene Godsway Edem , Feglo Patrick Kwame
Published: March 2022

Background. Escherichia coli bacteria are Gram‐negative, non‐spore‐forming aerobes or facultative anaerobic rods. Some strains are pathogenic in men while others are commensals in the gut. The pathogenic strains cause a wide array of diseases by virtue of virulence factors. The commensal strains are generally categorized into phylogenetic groups A and B1. The aim of this study was to determine the association between phylogeny of E. coli isolates and virulence and sociodemographic characteristics of the study subjects. Method. This study was a cross‐sectional study carried out from July 2018 to June 2019. E. coli isolates obtained from different clinical specimens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to determine their phylogenetic groupings and virulence. Results. The majority of the isolates belonged to phylogroup A 101 (74.8%), and the predominant virulent gene was fimA (88.9%). There was no significant correlation between phylogenicity and virulence, except for chuA which was found in all isolates that belonged to phylogroups clade I and D. None of the 101 isolates that belonged to group A had the chuA virulence gene. There was a significant association between patient age category and phylogenetic groups B1 and D. Conclusions. This study assessed the relationship between the phylogenetic distribution and the virulence profile of clinical isolates of E. coli. The virulence of isolates belonging to phylogroup A, which are generally considered as commensals, is alarming. Measures must therefore be put in place to control the spread of these virulent E. coli.
The Prevalence of COVID‐19 Infection in Students and Staff at a Private University in Thailand by Rapid SARS‐CoV‐2 Antigen Detection Assay
Authors: Muangman Sunsiree , Pimainog Yaowaluk , Kunaratnpruk Supachai , Kanchanaphum Panan
Published: March 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to the suspension of all university courses which was followed directly by the implementation of online learning in Thailand. However, online learning was not suitable for all of Thailand. Rangsit University is a famous private university in Thailand and has been affected by this crisis, so it attempted to eliminate online learning by offering vaccination and antigen rapid screening tests to the students and staff who had to attend the university from July to September 2021. 93.71% of the students and staff from Rangsit University who attended the university from July to September 2021 were vaccinated. Only 1.18% of the students and staff were infected. The vaccines used were CoronaVac and AstraZeneca at 66.02% and 33.98%, respectively. The percentage of individuals that were infected after vaccination did not differ between the two vaccines. The percentage of people infected was 0.31% for CoronaVac and 0.29% for AstraZeneca. Other important factors that influenced the infection rate were the initial symptoms and the environment. Individuals who had initial symptoms and had visited areas with high‐risk factors had a high possibility of becoming infected. This research is intended to be useful for risk management during the COVID‐19 crisis.
Surface Defect Detection Method Based on Improved Attention Mechanism and Feature Fusion Model
Authors: Chen Yongbin , Wang Guitang , Fu Qinshen
Published: March 2022

Cylinder liners are important to automobile engines. The appearance quality will directly affect the life and safety of the engines. At present, the appearance quality inspection of cylinder liners mainly relies on manual visual judgment, which is easily affected by the subjective factors of inspectors. This paper studies improved machine vision to realize surface defect detection. It proposes the improvement of the attention mechanism and a feature fusion method to locate and classify the defect. Experiments show that the method proposed in this paper has improved both accuracy and speed, and it can detect defects in production and realize industrialization. At the same time, the method studied in this paper has the value of popularization and application for appearance defect detection in other fields.
Magnesium–Magnetic Field Synergy Enhances Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation into Osteoblasts Via the MAGT1 Channel
Authors: Wang Yifan , Wu Xin , Yang Wenjing , Feng Pei , Tan Wei , Deng Youwen , Shuai Cijun
Published: March 2022

Magnesium ion (Mg2+)‐based materials are known to exert osteogenic effects that can be enhanced by the bioelectrical properties of magnetic fields. In this study, we examined the effect of a medium‐strength static magnetic field (SMF), combined with a Mg2+‐containing medium, on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Mouse BMSCs were divided into a control group, 7.5 mM Mg2+ group, 15 mT SMF group, and 7.5 mM Mg2+ plus 15 mT SMF group. Osteoblast proliferation was measured using a Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay, whereas osteogenic differentiation was detected using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and western blot analysis, respectively. The number and size of calcium nodules were determined using Alizarin Red staining. Compared with those in the control group, the ALP activity, calcium nodule formation, and osteogenic protein expression were promoted in other groups. In particular, Mg2+‐SMF had a significant effect after 7 days of intervention and more effectively promoted BMSC differentiation and proliferation than either Mg2+ or the SMF alone, suggesting that Mg2+‐SMF synergistically contributed to osteogenic differentiation and cell proliferation. To examine their roles in bone differentiation, the Magt1 and Creb1 genes were silenced in BMSCs, and the findings indicated that the synergistic intervention with Mg2+ and magnetic fields might exert osteogenic effects via the MAGT1 channel and CREB1 protein. This study provides an experimental basis for a potential Mg2+‐SMF synergistic artificial bone material that could be clinically applied in the treatment of bone defects.
Seasonally Forced SIR Systems Applied to Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Bifurcations, and Chaos
Authors: Stollenwerk Nico , Spaziani Stefano , Mar Javier , Arrizabalaga Irati Eguiguren , Knopoff Damián , Cusimano Nicole , Anam Vizda , Shrivastava Akhil , Aguiar Maíra
Published: March 2022

Summary. We investigate models to describe respiratory diseases with fast mutating virus pathogens such that after some years the aquired resistance is lost and hosts can be infected with new variants of the pathogen. Such models were initially suggested for respiartory diseases like influenza, showing complex dynamics in reasonable parameter regions when comparing to historic empirical influenza like illness data, e.g., from Ille de France. The seasonal forcing typical for respiratory diseases gives rise to the different rich dynamical scenarios with even small parameter changes. Especially the seasonality of the infection leads for small values already to period doubling bifurcations into chaos, besides additional coexisting attractors. Such models could in the future also play a role in understanding the presently experienced COVID-19 pandemic, under emerging new variants and with only limited vaccine efficacies against newly upcoming variants. From first period doubling bifurcations, we can eventually infer at which close by parameter regions complex dynamics including deterministic chaos can arise.
Investigation of the Interaction Mechanism of Solid Particles under Shock Waves
Authors: Peng Xu , Wang Shunyao , Rao Guoning , Li Bin , Chen Wanghua
Published: March 2022

To deeply understand the interaction mechanism between the two phases, both shock wave experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are carried out to study the propagation of shock waves and the dispersion process of solid quartz sand particles. The results show that transmission and reflection occur during the interaction between the shock wave and particle. When the Mach number is 1.53, the incident pressure is 154.6 kPa and the reflected pressure is 342.4 kPa. The transmitted pressure rapidly decays due to the exchange of momentum and energy, the particle front gradually changes from horizontal to mushroom shape, and a rising three-dimensional annular vortex is formed obliquely above the particles due to the entrainment effect. The simulated and experimental results are in good agreement, thereby indicating the validity of the numerical model. In addition, based on the response surface method and a series of experimental data, a mathematical model of the dispersion distance of solid particles under the action of shock waves is proposed. It is beneficial for prediction and scientific research for the development of industrial systems.