bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in haemodialysis patients and a matched cohort
Authors: Zhao Tianchen , Nishi-uchi Takamitsu , Omata Fumiya , Takita Morihito , Kawashima Moe , Nishikawa Yoshitaka , Yamamoto Chika , Kobashi Yurie , Kawamura Takeshi , Shibuya Kenji , Kazama Junichiro , Shineha Ryuzaburo , Tsubokura Masaharu
Published: November 2022

Objectives

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is a crucial intervention for infection control; however, the immune response to vaccination in dialysis patients has been reported to be moderate compared with healthy adults. There are few studies available on humoral response in immunised dialysis patients compared with well-matched control group, we conducted a prospective cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 antibody titres in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan since September 2021.

Participants

We compared the titres of both anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG and neutralising antibodies of 65 haemodialysis patients (dialysis group) with 500 residents in Soma, Fukushima (control group).

Methods

Coarsened exact matching was used to balance sex, age and days from the second dose between dialysis and control groups.

Results

Significant differences in the titres of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG and neutralising antibodies were observed between the dialysis and control groups; anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG: 168.35 (4.48–1074.29) AU/mL and 269.81 (4.72–945.96) AU/mL in dialysis and control groups, p=0.02, neutralising antibodies: 35.77 (2.94–826.06) AU/mL and 62.22 (0.00–535.57) AU/mL, p=0.007, respectively).

Conclusions

We observed significantly reduced anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 antibody and neutralising antibodies in haemodialysis patients compared with cohorts matched for duration after vaccination. Patients receiving haemodialysis should be carefully monitored for immunological responses to the vaccination and COVID-19 infection.
Improving ICSI success rates following root cause analysis and use of system behaviour charts: the devil is in the detail!
Authors: Woodland Emma , Carroll Michael
Published: November 2022

A fertility clinic observed a reduction in its fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) implantation rate key performance indicator (KPI) below benchmark threshold which was further monitored but did not improve. The clinic had been performing ICSI successfully for >16 years with good ICSI implantation rates meeting benchmark level. A root cause analysis (RCA) was conducted, including the input from an external observer, reviewing all systems and processes. A bundle of recommended changes was implemented as part of an improvement cycle with the aim to increase fresh ICSI implantation rates back to benchmark. Quality improvement (QI) methodology and tools were used including Statistical-Process-Control charts (BaseLine SAASoft). Measurements included standard clinical outcome data. KPIs were tracked following defined and controlled clinical and laboratory changes. Fresh ICSI implantation rates improved significantly (p=0.013, ChiSq). The improvement work was limited by its design of a plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle ‘intervention bundle’ as opposed to small PDSA cycles of single changes. Therefore, the improvement could not be attributed to any singular intervention within the bundle. It took longer than anticipated to see improvement due to the impact of the pandemic. The QI project highlighted the difficulty for clinics with low cycle volumes to sensitively monitor KPI’s in a timely and responsive way. The need to accumulate sufficient data to be confident of any trends/concerns means small clinics could be less responsive to any problems or too reactive to false positives. It is important to disseminate the learning from this improvement work because there is currently no agreed standardised optimal protocol for ICSI, resulting in clinics using slightly different approaches, and there are limited published reports where embryology KPI’s are tracked following defined and controlled laboratory/clinical changes. This project provides useful knowledge about ICSI improvement interventions and could be more effective within a larger clinic with higher cycle volumes.
Coronary CT and timing of invasive coronary angiography in patients ≥75 years old with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Ratcovich Hanna , Sadjadieh Golnaz , Linde Jesper J , Joshi Francis R , Kelbæk Henning , Kofoed Klaus F , Køber Lars , Hansen Peter Riis , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Elming Hanne , Gislason Gunnar Hilmar , Høfsten Dan Eik , Engstrøm Thomas , Holmvang Lene
Published: November 2022

Background

The ability of coronary CT angiography (cCTA) to rule out significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in older patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) is unclear since valid cCTA analysis may be limited by extensive coronary artery calcification. In addition, the effect of very early invasive coronary angiography (ICA) with possible revascularisation is debated.

Methods

This is a posthoc analysis of patients ≥75 years included in the Very Early vs Standard Care Invasive Examination and Treatment of Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Trial. cCTA was performed prior to the ICA. The diagnostic accuracy of cCTA was investigated. Presence of a coronary artery stenosis ≥50% by subsequent ICA was used as reference. Patients were randomised to a very early (within 12 hours of diagnosis) or a standard ICA (within 48–72 hours of diagnosis). The primary composite endpoint was 5-year all-cause mortality, non-fatal recurrent myocardial infarction or hospital admission for refractory myocardial ischaemia or heart failure.

Results

Of 452 (21%) patients ≥75 years, 161 (35.6%) underwent cCTA. 19% of cCTAs excluded significant CAD. The negative predictive value (NPV) of cCTA was 94% (95% CI 79 to 99) and the sensitivity 98% (95% CI 94 to 100). No significant differences in the frequency of primary endpoints were seen in patients randomised to very early ICA (at 5-year follow-up, n=100 (46.9%) vs 122 (51.0%), log-rank p=0.357).

Conclusion

In patients ≥75 years with NSTEACS, cCTA before ICA showed a high NPV. A very early ICA <12 hours of diagnosis did not significantly improve long-term clinical outcomes.
Analysis of total carbon emissions from transport in the world: A visibility graph network approach
Authors: Ji Haitao , Lan Longrui , Wang Lubing , Hu Jun , Zhu Sha , Lai Fujun , Feng Angzehua , Li Huijia
Published: November 2022

As a basic industry in the country’s development, the transportation industry has a significant relationship to its normal operation for developing and constructing the national economy. The increase in carbon emissions from transport is an increasingly growing problem, and countries worldwide are also taking measures to reduce emissions. Using time series data over the period from 1990 to 2016, this paper applies the visibility graph approach to transform it into a complex network and excavate some information about the data, then evaluates all countries based on the TOPSIS method. We find that the development of transportation is an important symbol to measure the degree of modernization of a country’s transportation, and low-income countries have lower carbon emissions due to slower transportation development. The results of transportation carbon emissions are especially encouraging for the Chinese government given its long-term and sustained efforts to expand railway and waterway infrastructure, and provide a new perspective for further research on the development trend of global transportation carbon emissions. Meanwhile, it is urgent to speed up the development and use of clean energy for economically developed countries.
On Doro’s conjecture for finite Moufang loops
Authors: Csörgő Piroska
Published: November 2022

In 1978, Doro, in his paper [S. Doro, Simple moufang loops, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 83 (1978) 377–392] published the following conjecture: If the nucleus of a Moufang loop is trivial, then the commutant is a normal subloop. By working in the multiplication group of the loop we prove that in case of finite Moufang loops with trivial nucleus, the commutant is normal if and only if it is trivial.
Convergence and error analysis of compressible fluid flows with random data: Monte Carlo method
Authors: Feireisl Eduard , Lukáčová-Medvid’ová Mária , She Bangwei , Yuan Yuhuan
Published: November 2022

The goal of this paper is to study convergence and error estimates of the Monte Carlo method for the Navier–Stokes equations with random data. To discretize in space and time, the Monte Carlo method is combined with a suitable deterministic discretization scheme, such as a finite volume (FV) method. We assume that the initial data, force and the viscosity coefficients are random variables and study both the statistical convergence rates as well as the approximation errors. Since the compressible Navier–Stokes equations are not known to be uniquely solvable in the class of global weak solutions, we cannot apply pathwise arguments to analyze the random Navier–Stokes equations. Instead, we have to apply intrinsic stochastic compactness arguments via the Skorokhod representation theorem and the Gyöngy–Krylov method. Assuming that the numerical solutions are bounded in probability, we prove that the Monte Carlo FV method converges to a statistical strong solution. The convergence rates are discussed as well. Numerical experiments illustrate theoretical results.
The role of hyperonic interactions in proto neutron stars
Authors: Zhao Xian-Feng
Published: November 2022

In this paper, how the hyperonic interaction affect the properties of proto neutron stars (PNSs) is studied with relativistic mean field theory. Corresponding to the same baryon density, in consideration of the hyperonic interaction, the [Formula: see text]-meson field strength increases, whereas the [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson field strengths, chemical potentials of neutrons and electrons, energy density and pressure all decrease. The influence of the interaction between hyperons on the center field strengths of mesons [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], the central chemical potential of neutrons and electrons, the central energy density and the central pressure increases with the increase of the PNS’s mass. As the hyperonic interaction is considered, the PNS’s mass [Formula: see text] decreases with respect to the same radius [Formula: see text], and the larger the PNS’s mass, the larger the radius reduction. Our results show that inside PNSs, [Formula: see text] hyperons do not appear, but baryons [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] do, whether the hyperonic interaction is considered or not. In consideration of the hyperonic interaction, the relative density of neutrons decreases, while those of hyperons [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] increase. The effect of hyperonic interaction on the center relative density of baryons increases as the PNS’s mass increases.
Effects of Ground Motion Duration on Seismic Damage of Bridge Isolation Bearings Based on Friction SDOF System
Authors: Wei Biao , Lu Andong , Yan Lu , Li Shanshan , Jiang Lizhong , Xiao Chun
Published: November 2022

It is generally perceived that ground motion duration has an effect on structural seismic response and damage, despite the neglect of current seismic codes. Based on friction SDOF systems, this paper investigates the duration effect of ground motions on seismic responses and damage of sliding bearings. Ground motions are divided into long-duration (LD) and short-duration (SD) cases, taking the significant duration of 25[Formula: see text]s as the boundary. Each case consists of natural records and spectrally equivalent artificial ground motions to decouple duration from other earthquake characteristics. Results from response history analyses implicate that duration has hardly any effect on seismic responses of the system exhibiting an approximate linear elasticity. Nevertheless, for systems with distinct frictional nonlinearity, selecting LD ground motions as seismic inputs usually leads to a conservative result. By performing incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), nonlinear systems in SD cases bear 10% higher damage risk than those in LD cases without considering the influence of temperature rise. The same is true for systems with a small friction coefficient of 0.005 when earthquakes are in the low intensity range. It was also found that damage exceedance probabilities of these small friction coefficient systems are almost unaffected by the duration as the peak ground acceleration increases to more than 0.6[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]. When the effect of temperature rise caused by friction is considered, the damage exceedance probability in LD cases is higher than SD cases. The damage probability of friction SDOF system under LD earthquake will be underestimated without considering the influence of temperature rise.
Generalized Second Einstein Relation in Heterogeneous Media and Population Growth Models
Authors: Fa Kwok Sau
Published: November 2022

Generalized second Einstein relation is obtained from a Fokker–Planck equation for a wide class of space-dependent coefficients. The relation is investigated for population growth models.
Approximation for a generalized Langevin equation with high oscillation in time and space
Authors: Su Dong , Wang Wei
Published: November 2022

This paper derives an approximation for a generalized Langevin equation driven by a force with random oscillation in time and periodic oscillation in space. By a diffusion approximation and the weak convergence of periodic oscillation function, the solution of the generalized Langevin equation is shown to converge in distribution to the solution of a stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) driven by time white noise.
Bohl–Perron theorem for random dynamical systems
Authors: Du Nguyen Huu , Cuong Tran Manh , Trang Ta Thi
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we consider the Bohl–Perron Theorem for linear random dynamical systems. We prove that the tempered exponential stability of a linear co-cycle is equivalent to the boundedness of solutions for inherit difference equation. Paper also proves a similar concept for co-cycle admitting a tempered exponential dichotomy.
On weakly ℋ-subgroups of finite groups III
Authors: Chen Ruifang , Zhao Xianhe
Published: November 2022

Let [Formula: see text] be a group. A subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called an [Formula: see text]-subgroup in [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, a subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called a weakly [Formula: see text]-subgroup in [Formula: see text] if there exists a normal subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-subgroup in [Formula: see text]. In this paper, some new criteria for a group to be [Formula: see text]-nilpotent and supersolvable are given.
The impact of simulation time in predicting binding free energies using end-point approaches
Authors: Sokouti Babak , Dastmalchi Siavoush , Hamzeh-Mivehroud Maryam
Published: November 2022

The profound impact of in silico studies for a fast-paced drug discovery pipeline is undeniable for pharmaceutical community. The rational design of novel drug candidates necessitates considering optimization of their different aspects prior to synthesis and biological evaluations. The affinity prediction of small ligands to target of interest for rank-ordering the potential ligands is one of the most routinely used steps in the context of virtual screening. So, the end-point methods were employed for binding free energy estimation focusing on evaluating simulation time effect. Then, a set of human aldose reductase inhibitors were selected for molecular dynamics (MD)-based binding free energy calculations. A total of 100[Formula: see text]ns MD simulation time was conducted for the ligand-receptor complexes followed by prediction of binding free energies using MM/PB(GB)SA and LIE approaches under different simulation time. The results revealed that a maximum of 30[Formula: see text]ns simulation time is sufficient for determination of binding affinities inferred from steady trend of squared correlation values (R2) between experimental and predicted [Formula: see text]G as a function of MD simulation time. In conclusion, the MM/PB(GB)SA algorithms performed well in terms of binding affinity prediction compared to LIE approach. The results provide new insights for large-scale applications of such predictions in an affordable computational cost.
Ferroelectric solid solutions with perovskite- and columbite-type components: From structures formation to domain and hysteresis phenomena
Authors: Moysa M. O. , Topolov V. Yu. , Andryushin K. P. , Nagaenko A. V. , Shilkina L. A. , Il’ina M. V. , Soboleva O. I. , Sahoo S. , Reznichenko L. A.
Published: November 2022

The paper reports results on the complex study on ferroelectric ceramics that represent solid solutions containing components with a perovskite-type or columbite-type structure. Solid solutions of a three-component (1[Formula: see text])[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]CdNb2O6 system are manufactured at [Formula: see text] = 0.05–0.20 and [Formula: see text] = 0.10. Domain structures in ceramic grains are studied. The consistency between experimental and calculated results is examined for coexisting phases split into non-180[Formula: see text] domains (mechanical twins) in the solid solution with [Formula: see text] = 0.15. A correlation between the internal structure (crystal, domain, granular, and defect) and fundamental electromechanical and polarization properties is stated for the studied three-component solid solutions.
Automated Security Assessments of Amazon Web Services Environments
Authors: Engström Viktor , Johnson Pontus , Lagerström Robert , Ringdahl Erik , Wällstedt Max
Published: November 2022

Migrating enterprises and business capabilities to cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) has become increasingly common. However, securing cloud operations, especially at large scales, can quickly become intractable. Customer-side issues such as service misconfigurations, data breaches, and insecure changes are prevalent. Furthermore, cloud-specific tactics and techniques paired with application vulnerabilities create a large and complex search space. Various solutions and modeling languages for cloud security assessments exist. However, no single one appeared sufficiently cloud-centered and holistic. Many also did not account for tactical security dimensions. This article, therefore, presents a domain-specific modeling language for AWS environments. When used to model AWS environments, manually or automatically, the language automatically constructs and traverses attack graphs to assess security. Assessments, therefore, require minimal security expertise from the user. The modeling language was primarily tested on four third-party AWS environments through securiCAD Vanguard, a commercial tool built around the AWS modeling language. The language was validated further by measuring performance on models provided by anonymous end users and a comparison with a similar open source assessment tool. As of March 2020, the modeling language could represent essential AWS structures, cloud tactics, and threats. However, the tests highlighted certain shortcomings. Data collection steps, such as planted credentials, and some missing tactics were obvious. Nevertheless, the issues covered by the DSL were already reminiscent of common issues with real-world precedents. Future additions to attacker tactics and addressing data collection should yield considerable improvements.
Vanadium Carbide Film Formed through Molten Salt Electrolysis of Sodium Metavanadate for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Hong Biao , Xiao Hansheng , Xiao Wei
Published: November 2022

The utilization of non-precious electrocatalysts is key-enabling to mitigate challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Herein, we report a vanadium carbide (VC) film generated from molten salt electrolysis of sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) on carbon cloth cathode. The VC forms on carbon cloth by spontaneous thermal nucleation and electrochemical growth. The molten salt electrolysis enhances the adhesion and electronic interaction of VC films with carbon cloth, resulting in an electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution with a low overpotential (97 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 and long-lasting stability (50 h) in acidic media. This work provides a molten salt electrolysis integrating preparation of electrocatalysts and value-added utilization of vanadium slag.
Electronic, Thermodynamic Stability, and Band Alignment Behavior of the CoVSi/NaCl Heterojunction
Authors: Amiri Maliheh , Boochani Arash , Nia Borhan Arghavani
Published: November 2022

We report the band discontinuity of the CoVSi/NaCl heterointerface. First principle calculations based on density functional theory using GGA, GGA + U, and GGA + mbJ approximations were applied to study the structural, electronic, and band alignment properties. Structural and thermodynamic stability studies indicate that this semiconductor - dielectric heterojunction can be synthesized experimentally in thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. The valence and conduction band offset values (VBO and CBO) were 0.74 and 3.02 eV, respectively. Also, the effective electron affinity parameter (χ
e) for both CoVSi and NaCl were calculated as ∼1.51 and ∼0.769 eV, respectively, using Anderson’s law. The study of the electronic structure expresses the occurrence of half-metallic ferromagnetic behavior with a narrow band gap of about 0.09 eV. In this heterojunction, electrons and holes were confined to the CoVSi layers, and conduction band minimum and valence band minimum were replaced in the CoVSi layers. This restriction, applied to load carriers on one side of the interface, significantly increases the light-material interaction in light-emission programs. Therefore, this heterojunction can be recommended for light-emitting applications and thin atomic layer materials with quantum confinement of charge carriers.
A modest change in housing temperature alters whole body energy expenditure and adipocyte thermogenic capacity in mice
Authors: Sadler Daniel G. , Treas Lillie , Sikes James D. , Porter Craig
Published: November 2022

Housing mice at 30°C reduced the basal and total energy expenditure compared with 24°C, which was accompanied by a reduction in brown adipose tissue UCP1 content. Proteomic profiling demonstrated the brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue proteomes were largely influenced by housing temperature and sex, respectively. Therefore, 30°C housing revealed sexual dimorphism in the white adipose tissue proteome that was largely absent in animals housed at 24°C.
Biomarkers of alveolar epithelial injury and endothelial dysfunction are associated with scores of pulmonary edema in invasively ventilated patients
Authors: Atmowihardjo Leila N. , Heijnen Nanon F. L. , Smit Marry R. , Hagens Laura A. , Filippini Daan F. L. , Zimatore Claudio , Schultz Marcus J. , Schnabel Ronny M. , Bergmans Dennis C. J. J. , Aman Jurjan , Bos Lieuwe D. J. ,   on behalf of the DARTS Consortium
Published: November 2022

Pulmonary edema is a central hallmark of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Endothelial dysfunction and epithelial injury contribute to alveolar-capillary permeability but their differential contribution to pulmonary edema development remains understudied. Plasma levels of surfactant protein-D (SP-D), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were measured in a prospective, multicenter cohort of invasively ventilated patients. Pulmonary edema was quantified using the radiographic assessment of lung edema (RALE) and global lung ultrasound (LUS) score. Variables were collected within 48 h after intubation. Linear regression was used to examine the association of the biomarkers with pulmonary edema. In 362 patients, higher SP-D, sRAGE, and Ang-2 concentrations were significantly associated with higher RALE and global LUS scores. After stratification by ARDS subgroups (pulmonary, nonpulmonary, COVID, non-COVID), the positive association of SP-D levels with pulmonary edema remained, whereas sRAGE and Ang-2 showed less consistent associations throughout the subgroups. In a multivariable analysis, SP-D levels were most strongly associated with pulmonary edema when combined with sRAGE (RALE score: βSP-D = 6.79 units/log10 pg/mL, βsRAGE = 3.84 units/log10 pg/mL, R2 = 0.23; global LUS score: βSP-D = 3.28 units/log10 pg/mL, βsRAGE = 2.06 units/log10 pg/mL, R2 = 0.086), whereas Ang-2 did not further improve the model. Biomarkers of epithelial injury and endothelial dysfunction were associated with pulmonary edema in invasively ventilated patients. SP-D and sRAGE showed the strongest association, suggesting that epithelial injury may form a final common pathway in the alveolar-capillary barrier dysfunction underlying pulmonary edema.
Defending against cerebellar disease
Authors: Shadmehr Reza
Published: November 2022

A hedge fund billionaire’s children are suffering from cerebellar disease. He invited a group of neuroscientists to plan a search for therapies. What resulted is the outline of an implantable neural emulator that might electronically replace the damaged part of the brain.
Neutrophils: As a Key Bridge between Inflammation and Thrombosis
Authors: Xu Pengxiang , Xin Liuyan , Xiao Xiaoping , Huang Yong , Lin Chuanming , Liu Xiaofang , Wei Haiyan , Xu Rong , Chen Yijian
Published: November 2022

Immunothrombosis is a mechanism of defense of the organism against pathogenic microorganisms that increases their recognition, limitation, and clearance and is part of the innate immune defense. Physiological immunothrombosis is beneficial to the body against the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, but when immunothrombosis is out of control, it is easy to cause thrombotic diseases, thus, causing unpredictable consequences to the body. Neutrophils play a pivotal role in this process. Understanding the mechanism of neutrophils in immune thrombosis and out-of-control is particularly important for the treatment of related thrombotic diseases. In this review, we studied the role of neutrophils in immune thrombosis and each link out of control (including endothelial cell dysfunction; activation of platelets; activation of coagulation factor; inhibition of the anticoagulation system; and inhibition of the fibrinolysis system).
A Method for Expanding the Training Set of White Blood Cell Images
Authors: Su Yang , Zang Yu , Su Qichen , Peng Ling
Published: November 2022

In medicine, the count of different types of white blood cells can be used as the basis for diagnosing certain diseases or evaluating the treatment effects of diseases. The recognition and counting of white blood cells have important clinical significance. But the effect of recognition based on machine learning is affected by the size of the training set. At present, researchers mainly rely on image rotation and cropping to expand the dataset. These methods either add features to the white blood cell image or require manual intervention and are inefficient. In this paper, a method for expanding the training set of white blood cell images is proposed. After rotating the image at any angle, Canny is used to extract the edge of the black area caused by the rotation and then fill the black area to achieve the purpose of expanding the training set. The experimental results show that after using the method proposed in this paper to expand the training set to train the three models of ResNet, MobileNet, and ShuffleNet, and comparing the original dataset and the method trained by the simple rotated image expanded dataset, the recognition accuracy of the three models is obviously improved without manual intervention.
Facilitators and Barriers That Transfemoral Amputees Experience in Their Everyday Life: A Norwegian Qualitative Study
Authors: Sørensen Inger Lise , Berg Geir V.
Published: November 2022

Background. Living with a lower limb amputation influences multiple facets of life due to altered function. Individuals achieve a varied level of function post amputation, depending on several variables like age, level of function prior to amputation, and available personal and environmental resources. Releasing the potential to live life to the fullest despite a disability is important to the individual. Objectives. The primary objective of this study is to identify barriers and facilitators for function which lower limb amputees experience in their lives several years after amputation, from the amputee’s perspective. This knowledge can contribute to further development of the clinical pathway for lower limb amputees in a Norwegian rehabilitation hospital. Methods. The study has a descriptive and exploratory qualitative design with a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Semistructured, individual interviews were conducted for data collection. Thematic analysis inspired by Braun and Clarke was used for data analysis. The sample consisted of eight transfemoral amputees (

70
±
6.9

(58-77 years)) living in the southern part of Norway. Average time since amputation was 11 years. Results. The results have been categorised into two main themes with subthemes: (1) facilitators: personal resources, a well-fitted prosthesis, rehabilitation, social network, balance in activity/rest, and accessibility and (2) barriers: walking distance, poorly fitted prosthesis, pain, comorbidities, climate/terrain/falling, reduced local competence on amputation, and pandemic. Conclusion. Lower limb amputees experience barriers in their everyday life, but they also develop strategies to cope with their disability. Clinical implications can include increased nutritional guidance, structural psychological mapping and follow-up, structured follow-ups over a significant period of time, and extended use of digital consultation.
Application of Cement-Based Carbon Fiber Material in Construction of Building Durability
Authors: Li Qiuhong , Li Yinlong , Zhang Yong , Han Yongrui
Published: November 2022

In order to solve the problem of drying shrinkage of cement-based carbon fiber materials in the early stage of hardening, the author proposes the application of cement-based carbon fiber materials in the construction of building durability. The author uses a self-designed fast ring test method to test and study the drying shrinkage performance of cement-based carbon fiber materials in the early stage of hardening. The results showed that the addition of MP-I and MP-II fibers, which can significantly reduce shrinkage cracking in plastic concrete, has little effect on preventing the shrinkage and cracking of concrete in the early stage of hardening. Mixed with a certain amount of steel fiber, carbon fiber, MH-I, and MPH-I hardened anticrack fiber, all have a better effect on preventing early water loss and drying shrinkage of hardening. The MH-I and MPH-I hardening anticracking fibers have an economical and feasible dosage, and the early water loss shrinkage and crack reduction rates of concrete hardening are 71.2% and 79.0%, respectively. MH-I fibers have no anticracking effect in the plastic stage and are only suitable for shrinkage and crack prevention of concrete in the early stage of hardening, while MPH-I hardened anticrack fibers have a 100% crack-reducing effect in the plastic stage, it is an engineering fiber material that can simultaneously prevent the plasticity and early hardening of concrete from shrinkage and cracking. The application of MPH-I hardened anticrack fiber is of great significance to improve the quality of structural engineering.
A Higher-Order Galerkin Time Discretization and Numerical Comparisons for Two Models of HIV Infection
Authors: Attaullah  , Yüzbaşı Şuayip , Alyobi Sultan , Yassen Mansour F. , Weera Wajaree
Published: November 2022

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects the immune system, particularly white blood cells known as CD4+ T-cells. HIV destroys CD4+ T-cells and significantly reduces a human’s resistance to viral infectious diseases as well as severe bacterial infections, which can lead to certain illnesses. The HIV framework is defined as a system of nonlinear first-order ordinary differential equations, and the innovative Galerkin technique is used to approximate the solutions of the model. To validate the findings, solve the model employing the Runge-Kutta (RK) technique of order four. The findings of the suggested techniques are compared with the results obtained from conventional schemes such as MuHPM, MVIM, and HPM that exist in the literature. Furthermore, the simulations are performed with different time step sizes, and the accuracy is measured at various time intervals. The numerical computations clearly demonstrate that the Galerkin scheme, in contrast to the Runge-Kutta scheme, provides incredibly precise solutions at relatively large time step sizes. A comparison of the solutions reveals that the obtained results through the Galerkin scheme are in fairly good agreement with the RK4 scheme in a given time interval as compared to other conventional schemes. Moreover, having performed various numerical tests for assessing the efficiency and computational cost (in terms of time) of the suggested schemes, it is observed that the Galerkin scheme is noticeably slower than the Runge-Kutta scheme. On the other hand, this work is also concerned with the path tracking and damped oscillatory behaviour of the model with a variable supply rate for the generation of new CD4+ T-cells (based on viral load concentration) and the HIV infection incidence rate. Additionally, we investigate the influence of various physical characteristics by varying their values and analysing them using graphs. The investigations indicate that the lateral system ensured more accurate predictions than the previous model.
Impact of Different Nanoparticles on Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants, Course, and Intensity of Photosynthesis
Authors: Jankovskis Lauris , Kokina Inese , Plaksenkova Ilona , Jermaļonoka Marija
Published: November 2022

The size of nanoparticles (NPs) allows them to accumulate in plants, and they affect plant growth by altering the size of leaves and roots and affecting their photosynthetic reactions by altering the composition of proteins in the electron transport chain, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and carbohydrate synthesis reactions. Plants play an important role on Earth as nutrient producers in all trophic food webs by producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and synthesizing edible carbohydrates during photosynthesis. In this study, Fe3O4 and ZnO NPs at various concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/l) were used to investigate the effect of NPs on plant morphological parameters and photosynthesis intensity, determining the amount of chlorophyll and the absorption of their light spectrum in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Fe3O4 (25 nm, 2 mg/l, and 4 mg/l) and ZnO (32 nm, 4 mg/l) significantly increased the leaf length of common wheat seedlings. However, Fe3O4 NPs (25 nm, 1 mg/l, and 4 mg/l) significantly reduced light absorption at 645 and 663 nm and the content of chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a, and total chlorophyll, but Fe3O4 (25 nm, 2 mg/l) significantly reduced the chlorophyll a content. In addition, ZnO NPs (32 nm, 1 mg/l) significantly increased the chlorophyll b content. This study has made a major contribution to understanding the effect of low concentrations of NPs on plant seedlings. Currently, NPs with high concentrations, starting at 10 mg/l, have been analysed in other studies, but in the environment, NPs enter plants in low concentrations as dust or through water droplets. Therefore, it is important to determine the potential impact of small concentrations of NPs on crops that are important for agriculture.
Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation of Several Flavonoids Predict Cyanidin as an Effective Drug Candidate against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
Authors: Shrestha Asmita , Marahatha Rishab , Basnet Saroj , Regmi Bishnu P. , Katuwal Saurav , Dahal Salik Ram , Sharma Khaga Raj , Adhikari Achyut , Chandra Basnyat Ram , Parajuli Niranjan
Published: November 2022

The in silico method has provided a versatile process of developing lead compounds from a large database in a short duration. Therefore, it is imperative to look for vaccinations and medications that can stop the havoc caused by SARS-CoV-2. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is required for the viral entry into the host cells, hence inhibiting the virus from fusing and infecting the host. This study determined the binding interactions of 36 flavonoids along with two FDA-approved drugs against the spike protein receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In addition, the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) approach was used to calculate the binding-free energy (BFE). Flavonoids were selected based on their in vitro assays on SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Our pharmacokinetics study revealed that cyanidin showed good drug-likeness, fulfilled Lipinski’s rule of five, and conferred favorable toxicity parameters. Furthermore, MD simulations showed that cyanidin interacts with spike protein and alters the conformation and binding-free energy suited. Finally, an in vitro assay indicated that about 50% reduction in the binding of hACE2 with S1-RBD in the presence of cyanidin-containing red grapes crude extract was achieved at approximately 1.25 mg/mL. Hence, cyanidin may be a promising adjuvant medication for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein based on in silico and in vitro research.
Federated Learning for Supply Chain Demand Forecasting
Authors: Wang Hexu , Xie Fei , Duan Qun , Li Jing
Published: November 2022

With the country’s policy support and the rapid development of Internet technology, the domestic consumption level has been escalating and the consumption structure has changed. The traditional retail industry cannot integrate all the relevant data due to data security and privacy protection concerns so that it is unable to adjust sales strategies in an accurate and timely manner. New retail has sounded the clarion call for the retail revolution. The supply chain demand forecasting is an important problem for the supply chain management. In this research, we propose a new retail supply chain commodity demand forecasting framework based on vertical federal learning, which solves the problems of data security and privacy faced by new retail theoretically and empirically. In experiments, we use datasets from different platforms (such as social platforms, e-commerce platforms, and retailers) in the same region for federated learning. The experiment results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm.
Shexiang Baoxin Pills Could Alleviate Isoproterenol-Induced Heart Failure Probably through its Inhibition of CaV1.2 Calcium Channel Currents
Authors: Wu Jianwei , Yu Juan , Qi Jianyong , Zhang Minzhou
Published: November 2022

Heart failure (HF) affects millions of patients in the world. Shexiang Baoxin Pills (SXB) are extensively applied to treat coronary artery diseases and HF in Chinese hospitals. However, there are still no explanations for why SXB protects against HF. To assess the protective role, we created the HF model in rats by isoproterenol (ISO) subcutaneous injection, 85 milligrams per kilogram body weight for seven days. Four groups were implemented: CON (control), ISO (HF disease group), CAP (captopril, positive drug treatment), and SXB groups. Echocardiography was used to evaluate rats’ HF in vivo. The human CaV1.2 (hCaV1.2) channel currents were detected in tsA-201 cells by patch clamp technique. Five different concentrations of SXB (5, 10, 30, 50, and 100 mg/L) were chosen in this study. The results showed that SXB increased cardiac systolic function and inhibited rats’ cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis induced by ISO. Subsequently, it was found that SXB was inhibited by the peak amplitudes of hCaV1.2 channel current (

P
<
0.01

). The SXB half inhibitory dosage was 9.09 mg/L. The steady-state activation curve was 22.8 mV depolarization shifted; while the inactivation curve and the recovery from inactivation were not affected significantly. In conclusion, these results indicated that SXB inhibited ISO-induced HF in rats and inhibited the hCaV1.2 channel current. The present study paved the way for SXB to protect itself from HF.
Giant Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma Arising in the Posterior Mediastinum. Report of Case and a Review
Authors: Amr Yousef S. , Saleh Mousa M. , Amr Samir S.
Published: November 2022

We present a case of a greatly enlarged giant ectopic parathyroid adenoma that weighed 43 grams, which was located in the posterior mediastinum of a 74-year-old man. The patient presented with generalized weakness and decreased level of consciousness. He was found to have elevated level of serum calcium (19.9 mg/dl), and a subsequent assay of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was greatly elevated (2234 pg/ml). We report the course of management and outcome of the patient and present a review of the literature on giant ectopic parathyroid adenomas in the posterior mediastinum.
The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index May Predict the Coronary Slow Flow Better Than High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Patients Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography
Authors: Karauzum Kurtulus , Karauzum Irem , Hanci Kaan , Gokcek Dogus , Gunay Beyzanur , Bakhshian Hussain , Sahin Tayfun , Ural Ertan
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives. The coronary slow flow (CSF) is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed opacification of nonobstructive epicardial coronary arteries. Chronic inflammation has been suggested to be mainly responsible for the underlying mechanism of CSF. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a relatively novel inflammation-based biomarker, derived from counts of peripheral neutrophils, platelets, and lymphocytes, and has been shown to predict clinical outcomes in various malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between SII and CSF. Methods. A total of 197 patients (102 patients with CSF; 95 patients with normal coronary flow) were included in this retrospective study. Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients were obtained from hospital records. Results. Patients with CSF had higher SII, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels compared with the control group. Body mass index (

p
=
0.022

, OR 1.151, 95% CI 1.121–1.299), low-density lipoprotein (

p
=
0.018

, OR 1.028, 95% CI 1.005–1.052), hsCRP (

p
=
0.044

, OR 1.161, 95% CI 1.004–1.343), and SII (

p
<
0.001

, OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003–1.026) were independent predictors of CSF in the multivariable analysis. The optimal cutoff value of SII in predicting CSF was >877 in ROC curve analysis (

p
<
0.001

, AUC = 0.892, 95% CI 0.848–0.936). This cutoff value of SII predicted the CSF with a sensitivity of 71.5% and specificity of 92.4%. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the mean TFC value and PLR, NLR, hsCRP, and SII. Conclusions. SII may be used as a better indicator for the prediction of CSF than hsCRP.
Practical Rules to Adjust the Numerical Overcurrent Functions of Protective Relays to Avoid Maloperation due to Inrush Currents of Downstream Distribution Transformers
Authors: Sorrentino Elmer
Published: November 2022

This article shows practical rules which were developed for the adjustment of Numerical Overcurrent Functions (NOCF) of microprocessor-based protective relays in order to avoid their maloperation due to Transformer Magnetizing Inrush Currents (TMIC). The TMIC waveforms are decaying and nonsinusoidal, and their effects are different on instantaneous, definite-time, or inverse-time NOCF; thus, specific rules are necessary for each type of NOCF. Experimental methods, specifically developed to perform tests of NOCF with TMIC, were applied to four commercial relays from different manufacturers. As each relay has different types of curves, a total of 26 inverse-time curves were included in the set of tests. In practice, the specific behavior of a relay cannot be assumed as known during the coordination of protection; therefore, the rules are based on the worst cases of results (i.e., in order to avoid the incorrect trip of any of the analyzed relays). The input data for the developed rules are the estimated cumulative RMS values of TMIC, assumed as known since there is a long tradition of their estimation. The estimated cumulative RMS values of TMIC, at different time intervals, should be divided by the numerical factors which were specifically proposed for each type of NOCF (to obtain suitable limits to avoid their inappropriate operation). In order to illustrate the application of the proposed rules, the solutions to two cases related to a simple example are shown at the end of this article.
Prognostic Value of Arterial Lactate Metabolic Clearance Rate in Moderate and Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Zeng Jiji , Wan Jianhua , He Wenhua , Zhu Yong , Zeng Hao , Liu Pi , Gong Min , Liu Fen , Shao Qiang , Xia Liang , Zhu Yin , Chen Youxiang , Lu Nonghua
Published: November 2022

Purpose. High lactate levels at hospital admission are significantly associated with poor prognosis in acute pancreatitis patients. Early high lactate clearance is a vital marker for predicting persistent organ failure and mortality in critical illness; however, its value in acute pancreatitis remains unclear. Method. Data were collected from patients who were diagnosed with moderately severe acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis from January 2017 to December 2020. Initial lactate (within 2 hours after admission) and repeat lactate at 24 hours after admission were measured to determine lactate clearance. Low clearance was defined as a reduction in repeat lactate of less than 30% compared to the first measurement. High clearance was defined as a repeat lactate decrease ≥30% of the first measurement or both first and second lactate levels <2 mmol/L. Baseline data, laboratory data, mortality rate, persistent organ failure rate, and other outcomes such as the incidence of septic pancreatic necrosis and sepsis and the length of hospital stay and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were compared in the low and high lactate clearance groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the value of lactate clearance for predicting death. Result. Among 4425 acute pancreatitis patients, 3040 patients were diagnosed with moderate or severe acute pancreatitis, and 1028 patients had initial lactate measured. Finally, 390 patients who had initial and 24-hour repeat lactate data were included in the study. Patients who had elevated initial lactate had poor outcomes, and 51 patients in the initial elevated lactate group died. In the lactate normalization group analysis, 293 patients had 24-hour lactate normalization; compared with patients in the nonnormalization group, they had a lower rate of mortality (12.6% vs. 33%). In the lactate clearance group analysis, 70 (21.9%) patients had a low clearance after 24 hours; compared with patients in the high clearance group, they had a higher rate of developing persistent multiorgan failure (

P
=
0.045

), and the incidence of death was higher (15% vs. 28.6%,

P
=
0.007

). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that 24-hour lactate clearance (OR: 2.007; 95% CI:1.032-3.903,

P
=
0.04

), elevated initial lactate (OR: 2.011; 95% CI:1.023-3.953,

P
=
0.043

), blood urea nitrogen (OR: 2.316; 95% CI:1.061-5.056,

P
=
0.035

), and white blood count (OR: 1.982; 95% CI:1.026-3.829,

P
=
0.042

) were independent predictors of hospital mortality. Conclusion. The 24-hour clearance of lactate is a reliable marker to predict the outcome of moderate and severe acute pancreatitis, and low lactate clearance may indicate that the patient’s condition will worsen, requiring aggressive treatments to improve patient outcomes.