bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responsibilization through regulatory intermediaries in informal markets: Examining the governance of prostitution in India
Authors: Goyal Yugank
Published: January 2020

“Independent” sex work outside red light areas in big cities in developing countries is an understudied phenomenon. Through a survey of independent sex workers in Delhi, India, this paper sheds light on the governance of independent prostitution. It shows that in the sex work industry, which is informal in nature and faces a complex legal architecture, regulatory intermediaries (RIs) drive both regulation and responsibilization strategies. On behalf of the state, the police act as regulatory intermediaries, implementing hierarchical regulation. In red light areas, sex workers' collectives and solidarity networks operate as RIs on behalf of workers. But in independent sex work, it is pimps who act as intermediaries for workers, driving their responsibilization strategies. Independent sex workers take up the services of pimps even though they charge hefty fees, in large part because pimps can negotiate their protection from the police. I examine several characteristics of the relationships between prostitutes, pimps, clients, and the police, and refine the RIT model of regulatory intermediaries (Abbott et al. 2017) in the context of prostitution in a developing country.
The sedimentology of an ephemeral fluvial–aeolian succession
Authors: Priddy Charlotte L. , Clarke Stuart M.
Published: January 2020

Ephemeral fluvial systems are commonly associated with arid to semi‐arid climates. Although their complex sedimentology and depositional settings have been described in much detail, depositional models depicting detailed lateral and vertical relationships, and interactions with coeval depositional environments, are lacking compared to well‐recognized meandering and braided fluvial systems. This study critically evaluates the applicability of current models for ephemeral fluvial systems to an ancient arid fluvial example of the Lower Jurassic Kayenta Formation of the Colorado Plateau, USA. The study employs detailed sedimentary logging, palaeocurrent analysis and photogrammetric panels across the regional extent of the Kayenta. A generic model that accounts for the detailed sedimentology of a sandy arid ephemeral fluvial system (drawing upon both ancient and geomorphological studies) is developed, along with analysis of the spatial and temporal interactions with the aeolian setting. Results show that the ephemeral system is dominated by laterally and vertically amalgamated, poorly channelized to sheet‐like elements, with abundant upper flow regime flat beds and high sediment load structures formed between periods of lower flow regime conditions. Through interaction with a coeval aeolian system, most of the fluvial deposits are dominated by sand‐grade sediment, unlike many modern ephemeral fluvial systems that contain a high proportion of conglomeratic and/or finer grained mudstone and siltstone deposits. During dominantly fluvial deposition, high width to thickness ratios are observed for channelized and sheet‐like elements. However, with increasing aridity, the aeolian environment becomes dominant and fluvial deposition is restricted to interdune corridors, resulting in lower width to thickness ratio channels dominated by flash‐flood and debris‐flow facies. The data presented here, coupled with modern examples of ephemeral systems and flood regimes, suggest that ephemeral flow produces and preserves distinctive sedimentological traits that can not only be recognized in outcrops, but also within core.
Becoming Malay: The Politics of the Cham Migration to Malaysia
Authors: Nakamura Rie
Published: January 2020

This paper is about the Cham migration to Malaysia. The Cham people are descendants of Champa, which existed along the central coast of Vietnam between the second and nineteenth centuries. The Muslim Cham came to Malaysia as refugees from mainland Southeast Asia after the establishment of the communist regimes in Vietnam and Cambodia in the 1970s. This paper is one of the outcomes of a nine‐month study among the Cham that initially looked for stories of a hypothetical community called the ‘Zomia of the sea’. However, the research findings instead indicated that the Cham were especially selected by the Malaysian authorities and brought into that country for some political purpose. The paper discusses the political reasons behind the acceptance of the Cham people by the Malaysian nation as Melayu‐Champa and examines the process of the Cham refugees' integration into the Malay community. It concludes that the Cham refugees were able to rearticulate who they were by reinterpreting their lost polity of Champa as forming part of an ancient Malay civilization. This was made possible by their being included in the state discourse of the greater Malay world and Malay superiority.
Sikh Diaspora Nationalism in Canada
Authors: Shahed Kalam
Published: January 2020

A collective memory of the pre‐colonial, colonial and post‐colonial periods in India underpins Sikh identity and mobilization for peaceful protest as well as militant activity. Developing within a dominant Hindu socio‐political milieu, Sikh nationalism of the twentieth and twenty‐first centuries can be viewed as reactive as much as it remained primordial and ethno‐religious in nature. Sikh nationalism among the diaspora Sikh community in Canada, which portrays a distinctive Sikh ethnic and national identity, as well as the accompanying call by many activists for the creation of an independent Sikh state (Khalistan) in India, saw a marked increase from the 1980s. Sikh diaspora nationalism in Canada has also nurtured a remarkable political and social mobilization for greater community awareness and political participation. An examination of Sikh diaspora nationalism reveals that ‘civic’ and ‘ethnic’ nationalism have become intertwined, existing in parallel. Canadian multiculturalism helped both to sustain the movement and to tame the associated militancy, opening up space for debate and accommodation. Canadian Sikhs have demonstrated remarkable economic and political success in creating a vibrant community in Canada, which is often overlooked by the mainstream media.
The Intersectional Dynamics of Political Violence and Gender in the Kurdish Conflict
Authors: Orhan Mehmet
Published: January 2020

What is the relationship between social, historical, and political dynamics and gender in the use of violence? This research uses the Kurdish conflict to examine this question. On the basis of empirical examples about Kurdish women, it focuses on ethnic identity, patriarchy, social class, generation, and politicization within their historical and spatial variations. It argues that gender dynamics do not operate alone but intersect in many ways with these dynamics to influence political violence. It concludes that the way these dynamics engage with each other depends on the subjectivation process taking place within a historically contingent horizon.
Post‐Truth and the Production of Ignorance
Authors: Kempner Joanna
Published: January 2020

This essay is written in response to Fujimura and Holmes’s piece “Staying the Course,” published in the December 2019 special issue of Sociological Forum—Resistance in the Twenty‐First Century.
How do vascular plants perform photosynthesis in extreme environments? An integrative ecophysiological and biochemical story
Authors: Fernández‐Marín Beatriz , Gulías Javier , Figueroa Carlos M. , Iñiguez Concepción , Clemente‐Moreno María J. , Nunes‐Nesi Adriano , Fernie Alisdair R. , Cavieres Lohengrin A. , Bravo León A. , García‐Plazaola José I. , Gago Jorge
Published: January 2020

In this work, we review the physiological and molecular mechanisms that allow vascular plants to perform photosynthesis in extreme environments, such as deserts, polar and alpine ecosystems. Specifically, we discuss the morpho/anatomical, photochemical and metabolic adaptive processes that enable a positive carbon balance in photosynthetic tissues under extreme temperatures and/or severe water‐limiting conditions in C3species. Nevertheless, only a few studies have described thein situfunctioning of photoprotection in plants from extreme environments, given the intrinsic difficulties of fieldwork in remote places. However, they cover a substantial geographical and functional range, which allowed us to describe some general trends. In general, photoprotection relies on the same mechanisms as those operating in the remaining plant species, ranging from enhanced morphological photoprotection to increased scavenging of oxidative products such as reactive oxygen species. Much less information is available about the main physiological and biochemical drivers of photosynthesis: stomatal conductance (gs), mesophyll conductance (gm) and carbon fixation, mostly driven by RuBisCO carboxylation. Extreme environments shape adaptations in structures, such as cell wall and membrane composition, the concentration and activation state of Calvin–Benson cycle enzymes, and RuBisCO evolution, optimizing kinetic traits to ensure functionality. Altogether, these species display a combination of rearrangements, from the whole‐plant level to the molecular scale, to sustain a positive carbon balance in some of the most hostile environments on Earth.
Evaluating the process of cross‐European migration: Beyond cultural capital
Authors: Shubin Sergei
Published: January 2020

The paper explores different ways of thinking about evaluating cultural resources in East–West migration in Europe and broader international migration. It goes beyond the dominant Bourdieusian approaches used to evaluate migration in terms of cultural capital, which tend to measure migrants’ cultural competencies as calculable entities and overlook emergent regimes of value often leading to the exclusion of itinerant people. The paper draws on the ideas of Gilles Deleuze and Friedrich Nietzsche to reformulate value in relation to transnational cultural resources, re‐think distance in negotiation of cultural preferences, and highlight spatio‐temporal uncertainty of evaluation. It unsettles the attempts to represent cultural resources of migrants solely in relation to the external system of values, determined in relation to Bourdieu's habitus. It argues that in the process of migration habitus mediates what things are valued, converted, and exchanged in different contexts, but obscures emergent, affective practices and attitudes. To attend to these mobile practices, the paper explores evaluations as “ways of being” and highlights active or becoming evaluation that expresses the migrants’ relational movement with the world. Using a range of qualitative examples from a long‐term study of Eastern European migration to Scotland, it questions the placement of evaluation in relation to a region and specific type of migration. The paper challenges the existence of a self‐defining migrant subject making evaluations and highlights the emergence of hybrid arrangements of people, memories, and things in migration. It considers how such migration “assemblages” redefine “minor” in existing systems of cultural validation and expand cultural con/dis‐junctions. It highlights temporal and spatial uncertainty of evaluation and expresses multiple evaluating claims in migration that are not teleological or subordinated to consciousness. It concludes with conceptual observations about the use of “nomadic” thinking, the language of multiplicity, non‐representation, and immanent production of difference in migration research.
Key sectors in input–output production networks: An application to Brexit
Authors: Giammetti Raffaele , Russo Alberto , Gallegati Mauro
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the first detailed and holistic description of the European production network (EPN) and provides different rankings of the most "systemically important" industries involved in Brexit. Employing techniques of complex networks analysis and input–output traditional tools, the study identifies those industries that are key in the complex structure of the UK‐EU trade relationships. The method developed would help policymakers to better understand which tariff would have a more distortive impact, which export sector should be pushed, which imports should be safeguarded. Such information may have foremost importance in the negotiations between the UK and EU. Our findings suggest that Brexit would be not just a problem for the UK, as it is often portrayed, but any form of Brexit could propagate affecting the global production system.
Improving Parenting to Promote School Readiness: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Books Can…© Public Library Program
Authors: Taylor Michelle , Pratt Megan E , Gaias Larissa M , VanHuisstede Lauren , Gal-Szabo Diana E
Published: January 2020

The present study examines associations between parents’ involvement in an enhanced storytime program and parenting knowledge and efficacy for supporting their child’s socioemotional development and book reading. Books Can…© was developed by a public library to teach parents important child development information and strategies for supporting their child’s socioemotional learning. Parents and their young children participated in a 6-week interactive program that included book reading, songs, interactive activities, and parenting tips. Parents (n =119) completed questionnaires both prior to and after participating in the program. Multilevel general linear models compared responses to survey items before and after the program, indicating significant increases in parent knowledge, attitudes, and reading behavior by the end of the program. This study provides preliminary support documenting the benefits of the Books Can…© program. Moreover, results highlight public libraries and enhanced storytime programs as meaningful settings for promoting family involvement in children’s early learning.
When and how self-cleaning of superhydrophobic surfaces works
Authors: Geyer Florian , D’Acunzi Maria , Sharifi-Aghili Azadeh , Saal Alexander , Gao Nan , Kaltbeitzel Anke , Sloot Tim-Frederik , Berger Rüdiger , Butt Hans-Jürgen , Vollmer Doris
Published: January 2020

We monitor the self-cleaning process on a single-particle level and quantify the involved forces.
Anisotropic dynamics and kinetic arrest of dense colloidal ellipsoids in the presence of an external field studied by differential dynamic microscopy
Authors: Pal Antara , Martinez Vincent A. , Ito Thiago H. , Arlt Jochen , Crassous Jérôme J. , Poon Wilson C. K. , Schurtenberger Peter
Published: January 2020

Differential dynamic microscopy is used to study the arrest transition in concentrated suspensions of colloidal ellipsoids.
Access to tetracyclic aromatics with bridgehead metals via metalla-click reactions
Authors: Lu Zhengyu , Zhu Qin , Cai Yuanting , Chen Zhixin , Zhuo Kaiyue , Zhu Jun , Zhang Hong , Xia Haiping
Published: January 2020

The first π-conjugated tetracyclic-fused aromatics with bridgehead metals have been achieved by metalla-click reactions.
Imaging an unsupported metal–metal bond in dirhenium molecules at the atomic scale
Authors: Cao Kecheng , Skowron Stephen T. , Biskupek Johannes , Stoppiello Craig T. , Leist Christopher , Besley Elena , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Kaiser Ute
Published: January 2020

Single dirhenium molecules with changeable metal–metal bond order are formed and imaged in situ using state-of-the-art TEM tech.
Biophysical and biomolecular interactions of malaria-infected erythrocytes in engineered human capillaries
Authors: Arakawa Christopher , Gunnarsson Celina , Howard Caitlin , Bernabeu Maria , Phong Kiet , Yang Eric , DeForest Cole A. , Smith Joseph D. , Zheng Ying
Published: January 2020

Engineered human capillaries reveal distinct contributions of hemodynamics and cytoadhesion in malaria parasite sequestration.
Ultrafast optically induced spin transfer in ferromagnetic alloys
Authors: Hofherr M. , Häuser S. , Dewhurst J. K. , Tengdin P. , Sakshath S. , Nembach H. T. , Weber S. T. , Shaw J. M. , Silva T. J. , Kapteyn H. C. , Cinchetti M. , Rethfeld B. , Murnane M. M. , Steil D. , Stadtmüller B. , Sharma S. , Aeschlimann M. , Mathias S.
Published: January 2020

We reveal that optical excitation of heterogeneous materials by ultrashort light pulses induces ultrafast intersite spin transfer.
Nearly room temperature ferromagnetism in a magnetic metal-rich van der Waals metal
Authors: Seo Junho , Kim Duck Young , An Eun Su , Kim Kyoo , Kim Gi-Yeop , Hwang Soo-Yoon , Kim Dong Wook , Jang Bo Gyu , Kim Heejung , Eom Gyeongsik , Seo Seung Young , Stania Roland , Muntwiler Matthias , Lee Jinwon , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Jo Youn Jung , Lee Jieun , Min Byung Il , Jo Moon Ho , Yeom Han Woong , Choi Si-Young , Shim Ji Hoon , Kim Jun Sung
Published: January 2020

A theoretically designed van der Waals ferromagnet Fe
4
GeTe
2
is synthesized and shows the nearly room temperature ferromagnetism.
Real-time observation of water radiolysis and hydrated electron formation induced by extreme-ultraviolet pulses
Authors: Svoboda Vít , Michiels Rupert , LaForge Aaron C. , Med Jakub , Stienkemeier Frank , Slavíček Petr , Wörner Hans Jakob
Published: January 2020

The earliest stages of hydrated electron formation are revealed by femtosecond extreme ultraviolet photoelectron imaging.
Direct light–induced spin transfer between different elements in a spintronic Heusler material via femtosecond laser excitation
Authors: Tengdin Phoebe , Gentry Christian , Blonsky Adam , Zusin Dmitriy , Gerrity Michael , Hellbrück Lukas , Hofherr Moritz , Shaw Justin , Kvashnin Yaroslav , Delczeg-Czirjak Erna K. , Arora Monika , Nembach Hans , Silva Tom J. , Mathias Stefan , Aeschlimann Martin , Kapteyn Henry C. , Thonig Danny , Koumpouras Konstantinos , Eriksson Olle , Murnane Margaret M.
Published: January 2020

Femtosecond light pulses can directly and nearly instantaneously manipulate spins in half-metallic Heusler materials.
Airway brush cells generate cysteinyl leukotrienes through the ATP sensor P2Y2
Authors: Ualiyeva Saltanat , Hallen Nils , Kanaoka Yoshihide , Ledderose Carola , Matsumoto Ichiro , Junger Wolfgang G. , Barrett Nora A. , Bankova Lora G.
Published: January 2020

Aeroallergens and ATP elicit cysteinyl leukotrienes from nasal brush cells through the purinergic receptor P2Y2.
Gasdermin E–mediated target cell pyroptosis by CAR T cells triggers cytokine release syndrome
Authors: Liu Yuying , Fang Yiliang , Chen Xinfeng , Wang Zhenfeng , Liang Xiaoyu , Zhang Tianzhen , Liu Mengyu , Zhou Nannan , Lv Jiadi , Tang Ke , Xie Jing , Gao Yunfeng , Cheng Feiran , Zhou Yabo , Zhang Zhen , Hu Yu , Zhang Xiaohui , Gao Quanli , Zhang Yi , Huang Bo
Published: January 2020

GSDME-mediated target cell pyroptosis by CAR T cells activates macrophages to release proinflammatory cytokines for CRS.
Detrimental association between quadriceps strength and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in elderly adults
Authors: Chen Yuan-Yuei , Wang Chung-Ching , Kao Tung-Wei , Yang Hui-Fang , Sun Yu-Shan , Chen Wei-Liang
Published: January 2020

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants primarily from the incomplete combustion of organic materials. Myriads of studies have reported the associations between PAH exposure with several adverse health outcomes. However, no previous study had explored the relationship between PAH exposure with muscle strength in the elderly population. In the present study, we included 473 elderly adults who were obtained from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2001–2006). PAH metabolites were measured in urine samples. Muscle strength was determined as the isokinetic strength of the quadriceps. Pertinent variables were analyzed by various standard measurements. The association between PAH exposure and muscle strength was examined using multivariable linear regression models. After fully adjusting for covariables, PAH metabolites had a negative relationship with muscle strength, especially 3-fluorene (β = –0.021, 95% CI: –0.042, 0.000) and 2-fluorene (β = –0.020, 95% CI: –0.034, –0.005). Notably, the relationship remained significant in males, but not in females. PAH exposure is associated with decreased muscle strength in the US elderly population. Further studies are needed to bring to light the underlying mechanisms for these findings. In addition, it is important to provide interventions and determine strategies for treating the adverse impact of PAH exposure on dynapenia.

Novelty PAH exposure is associated with decreased muscle strength in elderly adults. The adverse impact remains in males.
Abnormal persistence of the chorioallantoic membrane is associated with severe developmental abnormalities in freshwater turtles
Authors: Langer Sarah V. , Kapron Carolyn M. , Davy Christina M.
Published: January 2020

Development in oviparous reptiles requires the correct formation and function of extra-embryonic membranes in the egg. In 2017, we incubated 2583 eggs from five species of freshwater turtle during a long-term ecological study and opened eggs that failed to hatch. We described a previously unreported developmental anomaly: the retention of an extra-embryonic membrane around 7 turtles (1 Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera (Le Sueur, 1827)), 1 Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758)), and 5 Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817))) that were alive but unhatched >14 days after their clutch mates had emerged. We investigated the association between retention of this membrane and the exhibition of other developmental deformities of varying severity, and we tested whether this novel abnormality was associated with reduced fertility or hatching success in affected clutches. Consultation of ∼150 years of literature suggests that we observed persistence of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM; also called the chorioallantois). Our data suggest that clutches where at least one turtle exhibits a persistent CAM may also exhibit slightly reduced fertility or hatch success in the rest of the clutch compared with conspecific clutches that do not contain this anomaly. Future research should investigate the factors predicting CAM retention and other developmental abnormalities.
Prediction of Viscoelastic Pavement Responses under Moving Load and Nonuniform Tire Contact Stresses Using 2.5-D Finite Element Method
Authors: Wu Chaoyang , Wang Hao , Zhao Jingnan , Jiang Xin , Yanjun Qiu , Yusupov Bekhzad
Published: January 2020

This study developed two-and-half dimensional (2.5-D) finite element method (FEM) to predict viscoelastic pavement responses under moving loads and nonuniform tire contact stresses. The accuracy of 2.5-D FEM was validated with two analytical solutions for elastic and viscoelastic conditions. Compared to three-dimensional (3-D) FEM, the computational efficiency of the 2.5-D method was greatly improved. The effects of loading pattern and speed on pavement surface deflection and strain responses were analyzed for asphalt pavements with four different asphalt layer thicknesses. The analyzed pavement responses included surface deflections, maximum tensile strains in the asphalt layer, and maximum compressive strains on top of subgrade. The loading patterns have influence on the mechanical responses. According to the equivalent rule, the point load, rectangle type, and sinusoid-shape contact stresses were studied. It was found that the point load caused much greater pavement responses than that of the area-based loading. When the tire loading was simplified as uniform contact stress in rectangular area, the maximum tensile strains in the asphalt layer varied with the width/length ratio of contact area. Additionally, it was shown that the dynamic responses of pavement structure induced by the sinusoid-shape contact stresses and realistic nonuniform stresses were quite similar to each other in all the cases. The pavement strain responses decreased as the speed increased due to viscoelastic behavior of asphalt layer. The study results indicate that asphalt pavement responses under moving load can be calculated using the proposed 2.5-D FEM in a fast manner for mechanistic-empirical pavement design and analysis.
Isolated Pauci-Immune Pulmonary Capillaritis Associated with Hydrocarbon Inhalation and Marijuana Smoking: An Unusual Case of Severe Hypoxemia
Authors: Oh Jason S. , Wong Uni , Bajaj Divyansh , Hines Stella E.
Published: January 2020

We present a case report of a patient with Isolated pauci-immune pulmonary capillaritis (IPIPC). A 40-year-old male presented with acute onset severe hypoxemic respiratory failure. He had just returned home from work as a cabinetmaker, where he experienced inhalational exposure to hydrocarbons and solvents, and had smoked a marijuana cigarette. He was hypotensive, and his chest imaging showed bilateral dependent infiltrates. His hypoxemia made little improvement after conventional ventilator support and broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy and he was considered too unstable to tolerate diagnostic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. His laboratory evaluation initially showed microscopic hematuria which later cleared, but other tests including serologic autoimmune assessment were negative, and he did not have any traditional risk factors for vasculitis. A video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with pulmonary capillaritis on histopathology. He was diagnosed with IPIPC and initiated on immunosuppressive therapy. He was soon liberated from mechanical ventilation and improved to hospital discharge. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage from Goodpasture’s Syndrome has manifested following inhalation of hydrocarbons and following smoking. This has not previously been reported with IPIPC. Given the lack of other findings and risk factors, his IPIPC was likely associated with occupational exposures to hydrocarbons as a cabinetmaker compounded by marijuana smoking.
Development and Validation of a Photoplethysmography System for Noninvasive Monitoring of Hemoglobin Concentration
Authors: Liu Hongyun , Peng Fulai , Hu Minlu , Shi Jinlong , Wang Guojing , Ai Haiming , Wang Weidong
Published: January 2020

Background. Traditional invasive hemoglobin (Hb) detection led to delayed diagnosis, operational inefficiency, incorrect critical decision making, and uncomfortable patient experience. To facilitate real-time total hemoglobin (tHb) monitoring, a portable prototype of a noninvasive Hb detection system was developed, and the accuracy of Hb predicted based on partial least squares (PLS) as well as backpropagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models was validated. Results. The prototype was combined with a signal processing circuit and a spectrophotometric probe containing 8 wavelength LEDs light source and photodiode array. Laboratory invasive Hb (Lab_tHb) and spot check Hb measurements with PLS (SpHb_PLS) and BP (SpHb_BP) methods were obtained simultaneously by hematology analyzer and the designed system. The invasive and noninvasive estimates of the Hb levels were analyzed using Spearman correlation as well as Bland–Altman plot and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A total of 238 volunteers had attempted laboratory invasive and noninvasive spot check Hb measurements. Mean Lab_tHb, SpHb_PLS, and SpHb_BP were 13.6 ± 1.80 g/dL, 13.5 ± 1.07 g/dL, and 13.6 ± 1.06 g/dL, respectively. Noninvasive SpHb_PLS (r = 0.61, p<0.001) and SpHb_BP (r = 0.62, p<0.001) had a strong correlation with invasive tHb values. The Bland–Altman plot showed excellent consistency between the proposed noninvasive methods and laboratory invasive reference. In ROC analysis, PLS and BP models were good at predicting Hb ≥ 12 g/dL with area under the curve of 0.828 and 0.824, respectively. Observed differences between invasive and noninvasive Hb measurements displayed no significant correlation with perfusion index values. Conclusions. The result confirmed that noninvasive Hb monitoring had an excellent correlation with traditional invasive Hb measurement. Furthermore, it is suggested that the developed prototype has the potential for the noninvasive detection of Hb concentration with the methods of PLS and BP-ANN.
Supplementation with Korean Red Ginseng Improves Current Perception Threshold in Korean Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Park Kahui , Kim YuSik , Kim Junghye , Kang Shinae , Park Jong Suk , Ahn Chul Woo , Nam Ji Sun
Published: January 2020

Background. Many Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in Korea take Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) for various reasons. In this study, we investigated the effects of KRG administration on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in T2DM patients. Methods. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomly allocated to either the placebo or KRG group and took corresponding tablets for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes were changes in current perception threshold (CPT) at week 24. Secondary outcomes were altered fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and various metabolic and inflammatory markers at week 24. Results. Sixty-one patients completed the study. The CPT of the lower extremities at various frequencies exhibited significant improvements at week 24 in the KRG group. Other metabolic parameters were not altered after 24 weeks in both groups. In the subgroup analysis, CPT levels were improved in those with a longer diabetes duration or who already had neuropathy at the beginning of the study, and insulin resistance was improved in patients with a shorter diabetes duration. Conclusion. Twenty-four week administration of KRG in T2DM patients resulted in a significant improvement in neuropathy, especially in those with a longer diabetes duration. A further, larger population study with a longer follow-up period is warranted to verify the effects of KRG on diabetic neuropathy.
Wearable Measurement of ECG Signals Based on Smart Clothing
Authors: Li Ming , Xiong Wei , Li Yongjian
Published: January 2020

Smart clothing that can measure electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and monitor the health status of people meets the needs of our increasingly aging society. However, the conventional measurement of ECG signals is complicated and its electrodes can cause irritation to the skin, which makes the conventional measurement method unsuitable for applications in smart clothing. In this paper, a novel wearable measurement of ECG signals is proposed. There are only three ECG textile electrodes knitted into the fabric of smart clothing. The acquired ECG signals can be transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth, and they can also be sent out to a PC terminal by a smartphone via WiFi or Internet. To get more significant ECG signals, the ECG differential signal between two electrodes is calculated based on a spherical volume conductor model, and the best positions on the surface of a human body for two textile electrodes to measure ECG signals are simulated by using the body-surface potential mapping (BSPM) data. The results show that position 12 in the lower right and position 11 in the upper left of the human body are the best for the two electrodes to measure ECG signals, and the presented wearable measurement can obtain good performance when one person is under the conditions of sleeping and jogging.
Oscillometrically Measured Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity Reveals Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis in a Middle‐Aged, Apparently Healthy Population
Authors: Böcskei Renáta Marietta , Benczúr Béla , Müller Veronika , Bikov András , Székely Andrea , Kahan Thomas , Lenkey Zsófia , Husznai Róbert , Cziráki Attila , Illyés Miklós
Published: January 2020

Background. Asymptomatic atherosclerosis is a common entity even at young age. Studies have suggested a strong relationship between increased arterial stiffness and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (ACA) in general population, particularly in those with high cardiovascular risk, but no data exist from a younger population free from recognized cardiovascular disease. Hypothesis. We hypothesized there is an association between ACA and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) in middle‐aged, apparently healthy, normotensive population to reveal increased cardiovascular risk. Methods. We examined the relationship between ACA and PWVao in 236 apparently healthy, asymptomatic, normotensive, middle‐aged subjects (age 47 ± 8 years; 52% women). PWVao was measured with the oscillometric method (Arteriograph). ACA was assessed by carotid artery ultrasonography. Results. ACA was present in 51 subjects. Subjects with ACA were older (p < 0.009), more likely to be smokers (p < 0.001), and had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP, 128 ± 9 vs. 125 ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.048) and PWVao (9.3 ± 1.6 vs. 7.9 ± 1.3 m/s, p < 0.001) than subjects without ACA. In a stepwise logistic regression analysis, only PWVao (odds ratio: 1.88, p < 0.001), smoking habit (odds ratio 3.79, p = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 1.05, p = 0.046), and diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio: 0.94, p = 0.038) were independently associated with ACA. PWVao >8.3 m/s identified ACA with a 71% sensitivity, 65% specificity, 36% positive and 89% negative predictive value, 2.04 relative risk, and 4.54 odds ratio, respectively. Conclusions. PWVao measured by the Arteriograph proved to be an independent marker of ACA. Our study may reveal high CV risk, detected as increased PWVao, which according to our study is related in a very high probability to asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in apparently healthy, young, and middle‐aged subjects.
Vitamin D and Demyelinating Diseases: Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Authors: Rodney Cady , Rodney Sherriann , Millis Richard M.
Published: January 2020

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in all ages regardless of climate or geographical location and evidence is emerging that the incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing worldwide. Women make up a large proportion of autoimmune disease diagnoses, underscoring the importance of fully elucidating the complex synergistic relationships between estrogens and vitamin D. Vitamin D receptor-activating drugs appear to enhance remyelination in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO). This review is intended to update health practitioners about the potential role of vitamin D deficiency demyelination and to motivate future research on dietary recommendations for vitamin D in preventing and treating demyel1nating diseases.
Tailorable Hydrogel Improves Retention and Cardioprotection of Intramyocardial Transplanted Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Mice
Authors: Chen Youhu , Li Congye , Li Chengxiang , Chen Jiangwei , Li Yan , Xie Huaning , Lin Chen , Fan Miaomiao , Guo Yongzhen , Gao Erhe , Yan Wenjun , Tao Ling
Published: January 2020

Background

Poor engraftment of intramyocardial stem cells limits their therapeutic efficiency against myocardial infarction (
MI
)‐induced cardiac injury. Transglutaminase cross‐linked Gelatin (Col‐Tgel) is a tailorable collagen‐based hydrogel that is becoming an excellent biomaterial scaffold for cellular delivery in vivo. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Col‐Tgel increases retention of intramyocardially‐injected stem cells, and thereby reduces post‐
MI
cardiac injury.

Methods and Results

Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (
ADSC
s) were co‐cultured with Col‐Tgel in a 3‐dimensional system in vitro, and Col‐Tgel encapsulated
ADSC
s were observed using scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Vitality, proliferation, and migration of co‐cultured
ADSC
s were evaluated. In addition, mice were subjected to
MI
and were intramyocardially injected with
ADSC
s, Col‐Tgel, or a combination thereof.
ADSC
s engraftment, survival, cardiac function, and fibrosis were assessed. In vitro
MTT
and Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays demonstrated that
ADSC
s survive and proliferate up to 4 weeks in the Col‐Tgel. In addition,
MTT
and transwell assays showed that
ADSC
s migrate outside the edge of the Col‐Tgel sphere. Furthermore, when compared with
ADSC
s alone, Col‐Tgel‐encapsulated
ADSC
s significantly enhanced the long‐term retention and cardioprotective effect of
ADSC
s against
MI
‐induced cardiac injury.

Conclusions

In the current study, we successfully established a 3‐dimensional co‐culture system using
ADSC
s and Col‐Tgel. The Col‐Tgel creates a suitable microenvironment for long‐term retention of
ADSC
s in an ischemic area, and thereby enhances their cardioprotective effects. Taken together, this study may provide an alternative biomaterial for stem cell‐based therapy to treat ischemic heart diseases.
Effect of Process Parameters on the Particle Size Distribution of Paclitaxel Nanocrystals
Authors: Arvind Gannimitta , Prathima Srinivas , Reddy Atla Venkateshwar
Published: January 2020

The main intention of this work was to study the effect of process variables on the particle size distribution of paclitaxel nanocrystals. Paclitaxel nanocrystals were prepared by using anti-solvent precipitation method. Box Behnken design was used to optimize the process parameters
including the Ratio (v/v) of two phases (A), Ulatrasonication time in min (B) and Surfactant concentration (%w/v) (C). A response surface methodology comprising 17 runs was carried out to optimize the nanocrystal formulation of paclitaxel. Two dependent variables particle
size and polydispersity index (PDI) were identified as responses. Polynomial equations and response surface curves were used to relate the dependent and independent variables. The optimization model predicted a mean particle size of 147.653 nm and PDI of 0.1706 with A, B and
C levels of 5, 15 min and 0.03% w/v respectively. The observed values were in close agreement with the predicted values. The optimized batches of nanocrystals were analyzed by FTIR, DSC and XRPD techniques. The optimized batch revealed irregular morphology as assessed by transmission
electron microscopy and was crystalline as determined by thermal analysis and XRPD studies. Paclitaxel nanocrystals exhibited a considerable increase in solubility as well as dissolution rate in comparison with the pure drug. The present work thoroughly explored the influence of process parameters
on the physicochemical characteristics of the produced drug nanocrystals.
Recirculation Flow of Nanofluid Through Periodic Nanotube with Hexagonal Cross-Section
Authors: Hasan Md. Nazmul , Mahmud Asif , Khan Md. Shakhaoath , Huda Md. Azmol , Islam Nazmul
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we have investigated the recirculation flow of a nanofluid in the developed flow zones of an infinite periodic nanotube with a hexagonal cross-section. A numerical analysis is commenced to identify the existence of single and double recirculation zones for various geometric
parameters. The boundary element method (BEM) has been formulated for an unbound interim nanotube for solving the governing equations. We have developed the codes for the BEM method in FORTRAN 90, and the graphs have been plotted in MATLAB 2016. We have various geometric parameters to inaugurate
circumstances for the onset of recirculation. We have found recirculation flow through this type of periodic tube for a set of geometric parameters such as amplitude, wavelength and throat radius etc. Firstly recirculation flow in the expansion region of the nanotube is prophesied to arrive
beyond a critical amplitude and second order recirculation zone is also predicted for still higher amplitudes. The recirculation flow has great importance in the application, for example, it can be used in the particle separation process.
Hydrodynamics Study of Oil–Water Flow in Coiled Flow Inverter
Authors: Dey Anshumaan , Mandal Monisha M.
Published: January 2020

The present numerical study is an effort to examine the hydrodynamics characteristics of two immiscible liquids (oil and water) flowing in different tubes. i.e., straight, coiled and Coiled Flow Inverter (CFI) tube of equal dimensions. CFI is a novel device in which fluid flow inversion
takes place at uniform interval length of tube. The effect of oil-water viscosity ratio (µoil/µwater = 1.6 and 30) on velocity contours, phase distribution and pressure drop in the different tubes were investigated. The present work show that
flow pattern of oil–water flows was changed from stratified to annular flows at higher water volume fraction for µoil/µwater = 1.6 in CFI. Phase inversion of oil–water flow was observed in CFI at higher viscosity ratio (µoil/µwater
= 30). There was remarkable reduction in pressure drop with the increment in volume fraction of water flowing in coiled as well as CFI. CFI being more compact can be efficiently used in industries as chemical reactor, heat exchanger, mixer, etc.
Exploring Titanium Material for Developing High Energy/High Power Battery for Strategic Defense Applications
Authors: John Shibu , Natarajan S. , Pathanjali G. A.
Published: January 2020

Commercial Pure (CP) grade-2 titanium is a choice material for the construction of Silver Oxide Zinc reserve-battery components like battery containers, cell casings, electrolyte bladder housings, etc. The above-said components are either not directly exposed to electrolyte or have
limited duration exposure, e.g., the cell-case is filled with electrolyte just before operational use, by transferring the stored electrolyte from the electrolyte tanks, using pressurized gas. There is a need to widen the application CP grade-2 titanium material for the construction of electrolyte
tank-reservoir in reserve batteries, where long storage requirement exists. Therefore, a study was undertaken on the corrosion behavior of CP grade-2 titanium material, with the known concentration of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), as used in reserve battery applications. The samples for the conduct
of the experiment were carefully prepared by TIG welding procedure. Material characterization studies were undertaken by macro and microstructural analysis using optical microscope (OM), phase analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Further, different corrosion
studies like immersion test, salt spray test, potentiodynamic polarization studies, and surface morphology studies were undertaken. The results of all the above studies revealed that CP grade-2 titanium material with weld joints if prepared with the standardized procedure, can be effectively
used in the construction of electrolyte tanks for Silver Oxide Zinc based Reserve Batteries for meeting strategic defense applications.
Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Naphthalene Diimide
Authors: Paul Samir C. , Cammarata Vince
Published: January 2020

Functionalization of metal nanoparticles with surface ligands effects their growth, shape and size as well as the optical and electronic properties. The change of optical property of the nanoparticles due to their surface ligand is an important field of nanoparticles application. Here
we repot functionalization and characterization of metal nanoparticles with redox active naphthalene diimide (NDI). Silver neodecanoate and gold (I) sodium thiosulfate were used to synthesize silver and gold nanoparticles respectively, in presence of DPA-NDI-SH (where DPA = diphenylamine)
in a single reaction vessel. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl formamide (DMF) were used as both solvent and reducing agent for Ag and Au nanoparticles, respectively. Analyses by XRD, TEM and FT-IR indicated well dispersed naphthalene diimide coated nanoparticles. Also the optical properties
of the nanoparticles showed a red shift of plasmon band due to charge transfer between surface molecule and core structure interface. On the basis of this optical property, these hybrid nanostructure could be useful to design nano optoelectronic devices.
Development of Poly(aspartic-co-glutamic acid) Green Antiscalant for Calcium Carbonate Scale Inhibition
Authors: Barkade S. S. , Bansod P. G. , Doss V. R. , Mardikar S. P.
Published: January 2020

The performance of heat exchangers and water cooling systems is mainly affected by the major problem of calcium carbonate/sulphate based scale formation. Herein present paper, we are reporting synthesis, characterization and performance of novel aspartic-co-glutamic acid based polymer
system as a green antiscalant. Aspartic-co-glutamic acid based polymer was developed using aspartic acid and glutamic acid as reactants and phosphoric acid as catalyst. Effect of different operating parameters viz. temperature, molar concentration of reactants, reaction time, etc. was studied
thoroughly. The as-synthesized material was characterized by various physicochemical characterization techniques including fourier transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The scale inhibition properties of the as-synthesised
product were studied with respect to calcium carbonate at various pH and temperature range. Experimental results unveil that at 200 ppm concentration, the anti-scaling property of the as-synthesized material was found to be close to that of commercial antiscalant (KT-RO).
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using a Terrestrial Weed Mucuna bracteata DC and Their Adsorption Study on Reactive Red 120
Authors: Mahalaxmi N. , Ramasamy E. V.
Published: January 2020

An eco-friendly method of silver nanoparticle (SNPs) synthesis is presented by utilizing a terrestrial weed, Mucuna bracteata DC. This plant based nanoparticles are effectively reducing anionic dye, Reactive Red 120 by adsorption—an effective method of dye removal from
effluents. The method enables the rapid synthesis of SNPs at ambient conditions without any use of hazardous chemicals. The characterization of nanoparticles with UV-visible spectrophotometer indicated the absorption peak at 299 of blue shift; SEM and TEM analysis has revealed the presence
of particles with spherical morphology of about 30–80 nm in size; The X-ray diffraction and EDAX studies confirmed the presence of silver atoms; The FT-IR spectra indicated the role of hydroxyl functional groups and amino group of the phyto extract, are responsible for the reduction
and stabilizing silver ions in to SNPs. The dye removal results showed that the adsorption process increases when the concentration of nanoparticles increases. The adsorption process obeys Langmuir isotherm (R2 value were 0.994 and RL value lies between
0 and 1) and pseudo second order kinetics (R2 value were 0.998) more effectively. The isotherm and kinetic model confirmed that Mucuna bracteata based SNPs can be used as a suitable adsorbent for the removal of dyes from effluents.
EEG Signals Classification Using Support Vector Machine
Authors: Ridouh Abdelhakim , Boutana Daoud , Bourennane Salah
Published: January 2020

We address with this paper some real-life healthy and epileptic EEG signals classification. Our proposed method is based on the use of the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). For each EEG signal, five wavelet decomposition level is applied which allow
obtaining five spectral sub-bands correspond to five rhythms (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and gamma). After the extraction of some features on each sub-band (energy, standard deviation, and entropy) a moving average (MA) is applied to the resulting features vectors and then used as inputs to
SVM to train and test. We test the method on EEG signals during two datasets: normal and epileptics, without and with using MA to compare results. Three parameters are evaluated such as sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to test the performances of the used methods.