bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of e-waste particle on mechanical behavior of particulate reinforced epoxy matrix composite
Authors: Venkatakrishnan R , Pabhakaran R , NarmadaDevi N
Published: October 2020

The effect of E-Waste particle on mechanical behavior of particulate reinforced epoxy resin composite has been studied. E-wastes are recycled by crushing and make it as filler particles. The E waste filler materials are added to thermosetting polymers of epoxy resins. The fabricated composites were composed of reinforcement as glass fiber (woven and chopped type), matrix materials as epoxy resin and E waste as filler materials. The samples are prepared along the basics of filler material of electronic waste added with liquid polymer as percentage ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20 % of resin. The composite samples are fabricated by conventional method of hand layup process. The dispersion of electronic waste particles content efficiency was observed through the diagnosis of their microstructure through SEM images. Hence laminate composite with 15% filler content can be optimizes when compared to other three laminated composite samples.
Thermal performance of nanoparticle enhanced phase change material in a concentric cylindrical enclosure
Authors: Bala Akash M , Harish R , Shyam Kumar M.B.
Published: October 2020

This paper presents the flow and heat transfer characteristics of melting behavior of phase change material (PCM) in the presence of nanoparticles. The melting process occurs in a concentric cylindrical enclosure filled with PCM (ice) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. The inner and outer walls of the concentric cylinder are considered as hot and cold walls and maintained at a constant wall temperature. The problem is modeled as unsteady, two-dimensional turbulent multiphase flow using the Eulerian multiphase model and SST k-ω turbulence model. The numerical simulation is performed using Ansys Fluent 19.2. The primary and secondary phases are specified with thermo-physical properties of ice and aluminum oxide. The transient melting behavior of PCM is investigated for different nanoparticle volume concentrations by varying the temperature difference between the hot and cold walls of concentric enclosure. The results are analyzed by plotting the streamline, velocity and temperature contours. The results indicate that the dispersion of aluminum oxide nanoparticles into phase change material increases the heat transfer rate and decreases the melting temperature of PCM. The results also indicate that the melting rate and thermal performance are significantly enhanced with increase in volume concentrations and temperature difference.
Numerical simulation of melting behavior of nano-enhanced phase change material in differentially heated cavity
Authors: Harish S , Harish R , Shyam Kumar M B
Published: October 2020

The melting and solidification process in enclosures filled with phase change materials has wide applications in metal casting, thermal energy storage, building insulation and battery thermal management. In the current study, the melting and heat transfer characteristics of Nano Enhanced Phase Change Material (NEPCM) are numerically investigated in a differentially heated square cavity. The NEPCM consists of ice as the phase change material (PCM) into which Single Walled Carbon Nano-tubes (SWCNT) particles of uniform size is dispersed. The left and right walls of the enclosed cavity are maintained at a constant wall temperature and considered as hot and cold walls and the remaining walls are treated as adiabatic and the simulation is performed using Ansys Fluent 19.2. The temperature difference between the hot and cold walls are varied and further investigations are performed by considering the effects of nanoparticle volume fraction on the melting behavior of NEPCM. The results are analyzed by plotting the stream function, melting interface temperature and velocity contours. The results indicate that the addition of SWCNT nanoparticles significantly influences the heat transfer characteristics and melting rate of phase change material. It is also found that the increase in nanoparticle volume fraction enhances the average melting and heat transfer rate of phase change material. The present results are validated and are in excellent agreement with the benchmark results available in literature.
Growth of Green Building Sector and Sustainable Life
Authors: Ganesh Viswanathan , Senthilmurugan S.
Published: October 2020

From the early 2000’s, the knowledge of sustainable building had been raised gradually; hence its implication was also seen in many countries. It had made a revolution in Construction industry. Over Few decades many engineers and architects are doing vigorous research on sustainable engineering and Energy Efficiency. On the other hand we will be discussing about DC Buildings as they are scalable, affordable and flexible. This paper helps us to understand the concept of green building and net zero building. This paper also focuses on the need for green building and net zero building in the modern day. Here a multidisciplinary approach to a green and net zero building be discussed.
Improved Dynamic Performance of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor using Maximum Torque Per Ampere with reduced number of switches
Authors: Sai Meghana G. , Krishna Kumari N. , Ravi Kumar D.
Published: October 2020

To attain the excellent dynamic performance of any drive the torque ripples must be as minimum as possible. Otherwise which leads to oscillations in a speed profile and hence results in poor performance of a drive. The proposal of this work is to reduce as minimum as possible in torque ripples of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) by means of a Five Level Space Vector Modulation (SVM). The SVM is used to generate gate pulses for an Inverter. Maximum Torque per Ampere (MTPA) is considered which ensures minimum ohmic losses. To reduce the reduces number of switching states and hence switching losses and to generate gate pulses to a five level inverter, three level inverter using SVM is taken as a reference. To verify the designed system, a simulator is implemented in MATLAB software environment and a comparison of results with and without MTPA control is being shown. Results clearly show that torque ripple, THD of motor phase voltage and current are greatly reduced under MTPA control.
Sustainable Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete under Ambient Curing – Durability Properties
Authors: Jithendra C , Elavenil S
Published: October 2020

In this study, industrial by-products like fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and silica fume were used to develop the sustainable Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC) under ambient curing. The combination of source materials is kept constant such as 50% fly ash, 30% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and 20% silica fume, respectively. In the series of experiments, sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution of 1.75M is kept constant. The Solution/Binder (SB) ratio has been varied such as 0.65, 0.68 and 0.70. Rapid Chloride Permeability Test (RCPT), water absorption and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) of SCGC are measured at 28 days. The test results indicated that, the durability properties were inimically affected with increase in SB ratio and better properties observed with low content SB ratio. This because of increase in Silica (Si) content in the concrete undergoes slow polymerization process at ambient curing. The optimum mix with 0.65 SB ratio is identified with better results and considered for further studies.
A Comprehensive Review of Biodiesel Production Method and Characterization from Microalgae
Authors: Kale Bhojraj N. , Patle S. D.
Published: October 2020

In India, the road transportation sector mostly depends only on petro-diesel. Progressively increasing prices at the same time fast diminishing rate plays a vital role in pursuit of alternative to petroleum diesel. Lots of research been carried out to explore economical as well as technical viable alternative source to petro-diesel. The sources broadly divided in to edible and non-edible category among which conversion of edible oil into biodiesel was not at all feasible in India. So most of the research been focused on nonedible oil sources for example Jatropha, Jojoba, Polanga, Karanja, Cottonseed, Neem, and Kusum. The oil per acre yield, growth rate and oil content percentage for these sources was not pretty good. In this scenario biodiesel from microalgae may be the better alternative source for petro-diesel for the developing country like India. This article is an attempt, to explain the biodiesel production method from algae along with its characterization. In addition, the comparative analysis of an important characteristic in tabular form between algae and other sources given for better understanding.
Modeling of an intellectual system for assessing the environmental safety of irrigated lands using fuzzy logic methods
Authors: Kuzmin V A , Tokarev K E , Yu Rudenko A , Pleshchenko T V
Published: October 2020

The article is attempted to use the mathematical apparatus of fuzzy logic for processing the initial data of the model of an intellectual system for assessing the environmental safety of irrigated agricultural land and assessing the risks arising in the course of economic activity in the conditions of differentiated placement of crops. There is a proposed scheme for formalizing indicators set at a qualitative level which is based on membership functions. To determine the form of the membership function, limit, critical and high values of the level of environmental safety are identified. When describing model elements, we use a set of fuzzy situations that characterize the space of possible states of these elements, as well as a set of relationships between them. The assignment of communications that fuzzily is characterized the degree of influence between the typical states of pairs of elements allows the formation of production models in the form of a variety of fuzzy rules. The quantitative result of the interaction of elements is determined on the basis of fuzzy inference. The representation of the proposed model allows us to obtain an integrated assessment of the state of environmental safety of land and comparative characteristics of the magnitude of security threats are based on their automated assessment. The implementation of the proposed model allows us to obtain an integrated assessment of the state of environmental safety of land and comparative characteristics of the magnitude of security threats based on their automated assessment. Zoning environmental security threats are based on model. The developed model allows us to formulate recommendations on the set of necessary measures to prevent damage and minimize losses, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of their execution in each specific case.
Organization of water accounting and water saving of irrigation water based on world experience in the conditions of changing climate
Authors: Koshkarova T S , Medvedeva L N , Novikov A A , Voyevodina L A
Published: October 2020

Researh allowed to determine that value of water resources and competition for access to them would increase due to climate change. That is why role of fair and accurate water distribution to consumers both between different sectors of the economy and within them will increase (for example agricultural industry). Modern examples of water metering automation in irrigation systems demonstrate that partial automation is most often used, which uses SCADA technologies. It is still important to create a system for accounting for water consumption and distribution, consisting of several levels with the use of modern technological solutions, including SCADA technology, in the region or at the level of the water supply reclamation organization. No less important is the question of correlation of modern irrigation technology with the possibilities of irrigation systems.
Mathematical model of the hybrid wind-photovoltaic plant cost calculations
Authors: Yu Rudenko A , Melikov A V , Nekhoroshev D D , Filippov M V
Published: October 2020

The article is described a new approach that allows to find the optimal solution to the problem of hybrid plant cost calculations of low and medium power facilities based on renewable energy sources. The calculation is performed using a multivariate analysis of the obtained results. The need to search for the system optimal configuration with maximum capacity at minimum cost is determined by the major setback to use of renewable energy sources, such as the high cost of equipment. Initial data for math model as an example of the Hybrid Plant cost calculation was from nature conditions in Volgograd and cost equipment in the demonstration Zone of Volgograd State Agricultural University. The demo zone was created in the educational research and production center of University for conducting experiments on the self-generated power supply of the facility management.
Experimental research on energy dissipation based on damping of magnetic fluid
Authors: Yang Wenrong , Su Jianzheng , Wei Dejie , Zhang Yumeng , Chen Ying , Yang Qingxin , Yang Xiaorui
Published: October 2020

Energy dissipation of tall building structures suffering frequent violent shaking under strong excitation is a key research topic for the safety of such buildings. In this paper, a new-type tuned magnetic fluid damper with copper balls immersed is proposed to reduce the vibration under different excitation frequencies. First, the natural frequency of the damper was deduced by the Kinetic equations of magnetic fluid, and the sizes of the copper balls in the damper were determined by constructing the equivalent damping ratio model. Meanwhile, the viscosity changes of the magnetic fluid with different magnetic fields were obtained by establishing the finite element simulation of the magnetic field and carrying out the magnetic-viscous experiment about the magnetic fluid. The kinetic energy of magnetic fluid and copper balls were obtained by constructing dynamic finite element simulation model. The vibration experiment was carried out to verify the damping effect of the damper. Finally, the conversion of dissipated energy in the process of energy dissipation was analyzed by building fitting functions, and then analyzed in combination with the simulation results. The experimental results showed that the amplitude attenuation of horizontal vibration was obvious under the action of the damper when the excitation frequency was close to the natural frequency of the damper. In addition, most dissipated energy was converted into the kinetic energy of magnetic fluid and copper balls.
Empirical formulation for small circular electron fields
Authors: Khan Imran , Kumar Sunil , Kumar Sushil , Datta Tuhin , Koranga Bipin Singh
Published: October 2020

An empirical model for small circular electron fields was developed. This can be of great help in the treatment planning process for small circular electron fields. A complete dosimetric analysis of the circular fields defined by electron cutouts diameters (2 cm–9 cm) was done for nominal electron energies ranging between 6 MeV and 20 MeV using a 3D water phantom and a pin-point ion chamber. Properties studied included depth dose, in-air inverse-square fall-off, and beam profiles. The Varian Clianc 2100 C accelerator was modelled, benchmarked and Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code for the small circular cutouts. A simple exponential model was found to accurately predict the very important therapeutic depth (90% of Dmax) for the small circular field size within an accuracy of better than 2 mm in most cases. The model has only two parameters (d90 and ‘b’). Also, the penumbra widths (90% of the off-axis profiles) of these small circular electron fields were studied and least square fitted to a simple quadratic model. Full dosimetric profiles of these small circular electron fields were further studied using the benchmarked Monte Carlo simulations. This study presents a simple model to predict the very important therapeutic depth (90% of Dmax) and a recipe to develop such an electron treatment model for any linear accelerator system. Such predictions can be extremely valuable and time saving prior to treatment planning involving not only small circular shaped electron fields but also irregularly shaped electron fields.
PhotoniQLAB: a framework for simulating photonic quantum information processing experiments
Authors: Wu Zhihao , Wu Junjie , Huang Anqi
Published: October 2020

Simulators for photonic quantum information processing (PQIP) experiments are essentially different with currently available quantum-circuit simulators. In PQIP experiments, photons are usually encoded by multiple degrees of freedom, some of which are multi-level or even infinite-level. Moreover, the evolution of indistinguishable photons cannot be described elegantly by the model used in quantum-circuit simulators. A simulator focusing on PQIP experiments is urgently needed, as it plays an important role in PQIP experiments designing and verification. We developed PhotoniQLAB, an object-oriented framework designed for simulating PQIP experiments, which provides a virtual-lab user experience. The core simulation unit is a computer algebraic system based on the second quantization method. PhotoniQLAB only requires users to enter the structure information of a target PQIP experiment to conduct a simulation, as it can understand the topological structure by itself. The mathematical foundation and technical details of PhotoniQLAB are discussed in the paper. The performance of PhotoniQLAB, which is analyzed and used to simulate several experimental schemes in this paper, has been shown to be efficient enough for near-term PQIP experiments. PhotoniQLAB shows its flexibility and universality, through simulating more than 60 existing PQIP experiments in published papers. We believe that PhotoniQLAB will become a fundamental PQIP software infrastructure facilitating the analyses and designs of PQIP experiments.
Correlating AGP on a quantum computer
Authors: Khamoshi Armin , Evangelista Francesco A , Scuseria Gustavo E
Published: October 2020

For variational algorithms on the near term quantum computing hardware, it is highly desirable to use very accurate ansatze with low implementation cost. Recent studies have shown that the antisymmetrized geminal power (AGP) wavefunction can be an excellent starting point for ansatze describing systems with strong pairing correlations, as those occurring in superconductors. In this work, we show how AGP can be efficiently implemented on a quantum computer with circuit depth, number of CNOTs, and number of measurements being linear in system size. Using AGP as the initial reference, we propose and implement a unitary correlator on AGP and benchmark it on the ground state of the pairing Hamiltonian. The results show highly accurate ground state energies in all correlation regimes of this model Hamiltonian.
Influence of the CaO/SiO2 molar ratio on the technological properties of alkali-activated fly ash mortar with quicklime
Authors: Pandini Nathalia Toffoli , Dias Dylmar Penteado , Rangel João Victor Silva
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the CaO/SiO2 molar ratio on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of alkali-activated fly ash with quicklime and assess the technical viability of the mortar with the highest compressive strength. Eight mortars were prepared, with a fixed sand to combined activator/precursor ratio of 3:1, varying the CaO/SiO2 ratio from 0.25 to 2.00 every 0.25. The doses that resulted in the highest and lowest compressive strength were CaO/SiO2 = 0.75 and 2.00, respectively, which reached 17.9 and 3.8 MPa at 28 days. Analytical techniques were performed to identify the products formed and the morphological differences in order to justify the variation in mechanical strength between mortars. EDS/SEM showed the formation of C-S-H, C-A-S-H and CH as well as other compounds in the mortars. XRD demonstrated greater CH formation in the mortars with the highest CaO/SiO2 molar ratio and CaCO3 in all the mortars, indicating that all the samples underwent carbonation. The TG/DTG results confirmed the presence of C-S-H, CH and CaCO3 phases in the mortars. Mercury intrusion porosimetry showed a significant difference in porosity between mortars with the highest (15.4%) and lowest (4.6%) compressive strength, confirming that this parameter also justifies mechanical strength differences.
5 GHz high gain slotted SIW epsilon near zero antenna array for wireless communications
Authors: George Dibin Mary , Chandroth Aanandan
Published: October 2020

New types of antennas such as Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) antennas are being used for high frequency applications. In this paper, the development of an array of novel slotted SIW epsilon near zero (ENZ) antenna is presented. Due to the limited fabrication facilities, the study is conducted in the 5 GHz band. The effective permittivity falls to zero at the cut off frequency of the waveguide. This impact is utilized to make an effective ENZ material in an ENZ super tunnelling waveguide. The design of 1 × 2, 1 × 4 antenna array is presented. The design of microstrip power dividers for feeding the array element is discussed. The presented antenna array achieve higher gain than the previously designed antennas. The prototype of the 1 × 4 SIW ENZ antenna array is fabricated and the measurement results are compared with the simulated studies. This work pertains to investigation on the array of SIW antennas for millimetre wave applications.
Longitudinal plasma p-tau217 is increased in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Mattsson-Carlgren Niklas , Janelidze Shorena , Palmqvist Sebastian , Cullen Nicholas , Svenningsson Anna L , Strandberg Olof , Mengel David , Walsh Dominic M , Stomrud Erik , Dage Jeffrey L , Hansson Oskar
Published: October 2020

Plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at threonine-217 (p-tau217) is a candidate tool to monitor Alzheimer’s disease. We studied 150 cognitively unimpaired participants and 100 patients with mild cognitive impairment in the Swedish BioFINDER study. P-tau217 was measured repeatedly for up to 6 years (median three samples per person, median time from first to last sample, 4.3 years). Preclinical (amyloid-β-positive cognitively unimpaired, n = 62) and prodromal (amyloid-β-positive mild cognitive impairment, n = 49) Alzheimer’s disease had accelerated p-tau217 compared to amyloid-β-negative cognitively unimpaired (β  =  0.56, P < 0.001, using linear mixed effects models) and amyloid-β-negative mild cognitive impairment patients (β  =  0.67, P < 0.001), respectively. Mild cognitive impairment patients who later converted to Alzheimer’s disease dementia (n = 40) had accelerated p-tau217 compared to other mild cognitive impairment patients (β  =  0.79, P < 0.001). P-tau217 did not change in amyloid-β-negative participants, or in patients with mild cognitive impairment who did not convert to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. For 80% power, 109 participants per arm were required to observe a slope reduction in amyloid-β-positive cognitively unimpaired (71 participants per arm in amyloid-β-positive mild cognitive impairment). Longitudinal increases in p-tau217 correlated with longitudinal worsening of cognition and brain atrophy. In summary, plasma p-tau217 increases during early Alzheimer’s disease and can be used to monitor disease progression.
Maturation of the Olfactory Sensory Neuron and Its Cilia
Authors: McClintock Timothy S , Khan Naazneen , Xie Chao , Martens Jeffrey R
Published: October 2020

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are bipolar neurons, unusual because they turn over continuously and have a multiciliated dendrite. The extensive changes in gene expression accompanying OSN differentiation in mice are largely known, especially the transcriptional regulators responsible for altering gene expression, revealing much about how differentiation proceeds. Basal progenitor cells of the olfactory epithelium transition into nascent OSNs marked by Cxcr4 expression and the initial extension of basal and apical neurites. Nascent OSNs become immature OSNs within 24–48 h. Immature OSN differentiation requires about a week and at least 2 stages. Early-stage immature OSNs initiate expression of genes encoding key transcriptional regulators and structural proteins necessary for further neuritogenesis. Late-stage immature OSNs begin expressing genes encoding proteins important for energy production and neuronal homeostasis that carry over into mature OSNs. The transition to maturity depends on massive expression of one allele of one odorant receptor gene, and this results in expression of the last 8% of genes expressed by mature OSNs. Many of these genes encode proteins necessary for mature function of axons and synapses or for completing the elaboration of non-motile cilia, which began extending from the newly formed dendritic knobs of immature OSNs. The cilia from adjoining OSNs form a meshwork in the olfactory mucus and are the site of olfactory transduction. Immature OSNs also have a primary cilium, but its role is unknown, unlike the critical role in proliferation and differentiation played by the primary cilium of the olfactory epithelium’s horizontal basal cell.
Pro-calcifying analysis of uraemic serum from patients treated with medium cut-off membrane in a prospective, cross-over study
Authors: Ciceri Paola , Tettamanti Giorgia , Galassi Andrea , Magagnoli Lorenza , Fabresse Nicolas , Alvarez Jean-Claude , Massy Ziad A , Messa Piergiorgio , Cozzolino Mario
Published: October 2020

Background

The retention of a large number of solutes that are normally excreted or metabolized by the kidney is responsible for the symptoms typical in uraemic patients. These molecules are defined as uraemic toxins and can be classified into three groups: small water-soluble molecules, middle molecules and protein-bound toxins. Recently, efforts were put towards developing dialysis membranes that allow the removal of large middle molecules without clinically relevant albumin loss. These membranes are the medium cut-off (MCO) membranes that allow the removal of middle molecules up to ∼50 000 Da.

Methods

We performed a prospective, open-label, controlled, cross-over pilot study comparing expanded haemodialysis (HDx) (novel MCO membrane Theranova 400) and conventional haemodialysis (HD) in 20 prevalent HD patients. Ten patients used conventional HD high-flux dialyser and 10 patients used HDx for 3 months; later the patients switched and received the other treatment for a further 3 months. We then analysed the pro-calcifying effect of uraemic serum in a model of high phosphate(Pi)–induced calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Results

In this study, every patient was the control of himself and, interestingly, we found a tendency of less pro-calcifying potential from HDx-treated patients’ serum compared with HD. Studying pathogenetic processes involved in high Pi–induced calcium deposition, we found that uraemic serum of HDx-treated patients induced less VSMC necrosis compared with uraemic serum of HD patients. Nevertheless, no differences were found between the different dialytic treatments in the serum potential to induce apoptosis and to modulate the expression of a panel of genes involved in VSMC simil-osteoblastic differentiation such as bone morphogenetic protein 2, runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin, matrix Gla protein, osteopontin, elastin and collagen I α1. In an effort to characterize the difference in uraemic toxin profile during the two different dialytic treatments, we measured a panel of 10 uraemic toxins and 3 precursors, finding a significant increased removal during HDx of 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid, tryptophane and some of its metabolites, such as 3-indoxyl sulphate, indole 3-acetic acid and kynurenine.

Conclusions

These preliminary data are promising, although larger patients’ groups are needed to better understand the effects of HDx on vascular calcification.
Biological Variation of Cardiac Troponins in Health and Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Diaz-Garzon Jorge , Fernandez-Calle Pilar , Sandberg Sverre , Özcürümez Mustafa , Bartlett William A , Coskun Abdurrahman , Carobene Anna , Perich Carmen , Simon Margarita , Marques Fernando , Boned Beatriz , Gonzalez-Lao Elisabet , Braga Federica , Aarsand Aasne K ,   the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group on Biological Variation and Task Group for the Biological Variation Database
Published: October 2020

Background

Many studies have assessed the biological variation (BV) of cardiac-specific troponins (cTn), reporting widely varying within-subject BV (CVI) estimates. The aim of this study was to provide meta-analysis-derived BV estimates for troponin I (cTnI) and troponin T (cTnT) for different sampling intervals and states of health.

Methods

Relevant studies were identified by a systematic literature search. Studies were classified according to their methodological quality by the Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC). Meta-analyses of BIVAC-compliant studies were performed after stratification by cTn isoform, exclusion of results below the limit of detection, states of health, and sampling interval to deliver reference change values (RCV), index of individuality (II) and analytical performance specifications (APS) for these settings.

Results

Sixteen and 15 studies were identified for cTnI and cTnT, respectively, out of which 6 received a BIVAC grade A. Five studies had applied contemporary cTnI assays, but none contemporary cTnT. High-sensitivity (hs-) cTnI and cTnT delivered similar estimates in all settings. Long-term CVI estimates (15.1; 11.3%) derived from healthy individuals were higher than short-term (4.3%; 5.3%) for hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT, respectively, although confidence intervals overlapped. Estimates derived from diseased subjects were similar to estimates in healthy individuals for all settings.

Conclusions

This study provides robust estimates for hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT applicable for different clinical settings and states of health, allowing for the use of RCV both to aid in the diagnosis of myocardial injury and for prognosis. BV-based APS appear too strict for some currently available technologies.
Impact of Diet on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms: An Adolescent Viewpoint
Authors: Zangara Megan T , Bhesania Natalie , Liu Wei , Cresci Gail A M , Kurowski Jacob A , McDonald Christine
Published: October 2020

Background

Dietary modification shows promise as therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, it is unknown whether adolescents are interested in a dietary approach.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey of adolescents with IBD ages 14–21 on disease knowledge, dietary habits, and perceptions of diet therapy.

Results

A total of 132 subjects (48.5% female), mean age of 17.8 years and median disease length of 5 years (range 0, 16), completed the survey. Diet was perceived as a symptom trigger by 59.8% of subjects, and 45.4% had tried using diet as a treatment for symptom resolution, often without physician supervision and with limited success. Subjects experiencing active disease symptoms as determined by Manitoba IBD Index were more likely to be currently modifying their diet compared to subjects without active disease symptoms (odds ratio = 4.11, confidence interval = 1.58, 10.73, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Adolescents with IBD perceive a relationship between diet and disease symptoms and are interested in dietary modification as a symptom management option.
The age of randomized clinical trials: three important aspects of randomized clinical trials in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy with examples from lipid, diabetes, and antithrombotic trials
Authors: Drexel Heinz , Lewis Basil S , Rosano Giuseppe M C , Saely Christoph H , Tautermann Gerda , Huber Kurt , Dopheide Joern F , Kaski Juan Carlos , Mader Arthur , Niessner Alexander , Savarese Gianluigi , Schmidt Thomas A , Semb AnneGrete , Tamargo Juan , Wassmann Sven , Per Kjeldsen Keld , Agewall Stefan , Pocock Stuart J
Published: October 2020

This review article aims to explain the important issues that data safety monitoring boards (DSMB) face when considering early termination of a trial and is specifically addressed to the needs of clinical and research cardiologists. We give an insight into the overall background and then focus on the three principal reasons for stopping trials, i.e. efficacy, futility, and harm. The statistical essentials are also addressed to familiarize clinicians with the key principles. The topic is further highlighted by numerous examples from lipid trials and antithrombotic trials. This is followed by an overview of regulatory aspects, including an insight into industry–investigator interactions. To conclude, we summarize the key elements that are the basis for a decision to stop a randomized clinical trial (RCT).
IDseq—An open source cloud-based pipeline and analysis service for metagenomic pathogen detection and monitoring
Authors: Kalantar Katrina L , Carvalho Tiago , de Bourcy Charles F A , Dimitrov Boris , Dingle Greg , Egger Rebecca , Han Julie , Holmes Olivia B , Juan Yun-Fang , King Ryan , Kislyuk Andrey , Lin Michael F , Mariano Maria , Morse Todd , Reynoso Lucia V , Cruz David Rissato , Sheu Jonathan , Tang Jennifer , Wang James , Zhang Mark A , Zhong Emily , Ahyong Vida , Lay Sreyngim , Chea Sophana , Bohl Jennifer A , Manning Jessica E , Tato Cristina M , DeRisi Joseph L
Published: October 2020

Background

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has enabled the rapid, unbiased detection and identification of microbes without pathogen-specific reagents, culturing, or a priori knowledge of the microbial landscape. mNGS data analysis requires a series of computationally intensive processing steps to accurately determine the microbial composition of a sample. Existing mNGS data analysis tools typically require bioinformatics expertise and access to local server-class hardware resources. For many research laboratories, this presents an obstacle, especially in resource-limited environments.

Findings

We present IDseq, an open source cloud-based metagenomics pipeline and service for global pathogen detection and monitoring (https://idseq.net). The IDseq Portal accepts raw mNGS data, performs host and quality filtration steps, then executes an assembly-based alignment pipeline, which results in the assignment of reads and contigs to taxonomic categories. The taxonomic relative abundances are reported and visualized in an easy-to-use web application to facilitate data interpretation and hypothesis generation. Furthermore, IDseq supports environmental background model generation and automatic internal spike-in control recognition, providing statistics that are critical for data interpretation. IDseq was designed with the specific intent of detecting novel pathogens. Here, we benchmark novel virus detection capability using both synthetically evolved viral sequences and real-world samples, including IDseq analysis of a nasopharyngeal swab sample acquired and processed locally in Cambodia from a tourist from Wuhan, China, infected with the recently emergent SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion

The IDseq Portal reduces the barrier to entry for mNGS data analysis and enables bench scientists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians to gain insight from mNGS datasets for both known and novel pathogens.
Current status of cancer immunotherapy for gynecologic malignancies
Authors: Nishio Hiroshi , Iwata Takashi , Aoki Daisuke
Published: October 2020

Recent cancer immunotherapy development with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shown durable clinical responses in a wide variety of tumor types. These drugs targeting programmed cell death 1, its ligand programmed death ligand 1 and cytotoxic T cell lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 have revolutionized the field of cancer treatment. It is of significant interest in optimizing the immunotherapy for cancer patients beyond the conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Many clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of various combined regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors have been reported and are in progress. Among gynecologic malignancy, endometrial cancers have distinct subtypes with microsatellite instability-high status and polymerase ɛ mutation. These types have been shown to immunogenic tumors and appropriated candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitors. Also, recurrent cervical cancer showed a promising objective response with single anti-PD1 Ab treatment. Despite their definite outcome and considerable potential of immunotherapy, not all patients received a survival benefit and further understanding of human tumor immunology is essential to improve this type of therapy. In this review, we have summarized the updated results of clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy for gynecologic malignancies and discussed the future perspectives.
A Music Therapy Respite Program for Caregivers of Individuals With Memory Loss
Authors: Wellman Becky
Published: October 2020

Music therapy has been a known positive and impactful intervention for adults with memory loss, but previous research and program reports have focused mainly on residents in long-term care facilities. In this study, a caregiver survey was utilized to learn how Music Therapy Respite, a community-based drop-in program, benefited caregivers and their care partner and if this changed based on attendance in a professionally led support group. One hundred twenty-eight surveys were collected over 23 sessions in a 4-month period. Survey results showed that stress and anxiety decreased and mood changed for the better for both caregivers and group participants, but attendance in the support group did not significantly impact these changes. Future research with more rigor, consistency, and additional measures such as changes in cognitive testing, and individual responses within sessions is needed to clearly define community-based benefit, needs, and full impact of music therapy for this population.
A forum on synthetic biology: meet the great challenges with new technology
Authors: Zhao Weijie
Published: October 2020

Synthetic biology aims to redesign and reconstruct living systems for understanding life or for useful real-world applications. In the past two decades, scientists have been able to use engineered living systems to produce many kinds of products from bioplastics to drugs, to construct a minimal bacterium with a fully synthetic genome and to store huge amount of information within a cell. And in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, the synthetic biology community became one of the major forces to develop effective diagnostic approaches as well as the drugs and vaccines, to rapidly cope with this great challenge with the state-of-the-art technologies in their hands. In this panel discussion held on 3rd August 2020, eleven pioneering synthetic biologists from six countries across four continents gathered to discuss the development trend, challenges and biosafety issues concerning synthetic biology.

George Church Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT, USA

Paul Freemont Professor of Structural Biology in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College and a member of the Science Advisory Board of Tierra Biosciences, UK

Akihiko Kondo Professor in School of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Department of Chemical Science and Engineering at Kobe University, Japan

Christina Smolke Professor of Bioengineering and of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University and CEO of Antheia Inc., USA

Xian-En Zhang Professor at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Chenli Liu (Chair) Professor and Director of Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Jim Collins Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering & Science and Professor of Biological Engineering at MIT, USA

Jay Keasling Professor of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, USA

Sang Yup Lee Dean of KAIST Institutes and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea

Claudia Vickers Director of the Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology at Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia

Guoping Zhao Professor at the Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Older Persons With HIV
Authors: Sangarlangkarn Aroonsiri , Appelbaum Jonathan S
Published: October 2020

With increased longevity related to the advent of antiretroviral therapy, there are increasing proportions of older persons with HIV (PWH). Prior studies have demonstrated increased prevalence of geriatric syndromes in older PWH and recommended the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in this population. However, there is currently no peer-reviewed literature that outlines how to perform the CGA in PWH in the clinical setting. In this article, we offer a review on how to perform the CGA in PWH, outline domains of the CGA and their importance in PWH, and describe screening tools for each domain focusing on tools that have been validated in PWH, are easy to administer, and/or are already commonly used in the field of geriatrics.
Phylogenetic Analysis Revealed the Dissemination of Closely Related EpidemicVibrio choleraeO1 Isolates in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam
Authors: Morita Masatomo , Okada Kazuhisa , Yamashiro Tetsu , Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Roobthaisong Amonrattana , Wongboot Warawan , Chantaroj Siriporn , Tu Nguyen Dong , Xangsayarath Phonepadith , Sithivong Noikaseumsy , Noilath Khambai , Vongdouangchanh Arounnapha , Kuroda Makoto , Hamada Shigeyuki , Izumiya Hidemasa , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: October 2020

We performed whole-genome sequencing of Vibrio cholerae O1 isolates from Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, where cholera outbreaks occurred, to determine their genetic lineages. Core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates located in same lineage without regional clusters, which suggests that closely related strains circulated in Southeast Asia.
Emergence of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in objectively measured sleep–wake patterns in early infancy: results of the Rise & SHINE study
Authors: Yu Xinting , Quante Mirja , Rueschman Michael , Ash Tayla , Kaplan Emily R , Guo Na , Horan Christine M , Haneuse Sebastien , Davison Kirsten , Taveras Elsie M , Redline Susan
Published: October 2020

Study Objectives

To characterize objectively assessed sleep–wake patterns in infants at approximately 1 month and 6 months and examine the differences among infants with different racial/ethnic backgrounds and household socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

Full-term healthy singletons wore an ankle-placed actigraph at approximately 1 month and 6 months and parents completed sleep diaries. Associations of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic indices with sleep outcomes were examined using multivariable analyses. Covariates included sex, birth weight for gestational age z-score, age at assessment, maternal education, household income, bed-sharing, and breastfeeding.

Results

The sample included 306 infants, of whom 51% were female, 42.5% non-Hispanic white, 32.7% Hispanic, 17.3% Asian, and 7.5% black. Between 1 month and 6 months, night sleep duration increased by 65.7 minutes (95% CI: 55.4, 76.0), night awakenings decreased by 2.2 episodes (2.0, 2.4), and daytime sleep duration decreased by 73.3 minutes (66.4, 80.2). Compared to change in night sleep duration over this development period for white infants (82.3 minutes [66.5, 98.0]), night sleep increased less for Hispanic (48.9 minutes [30.8, 66.9]) and black infants (31.6 minutes [−5.9, 69.1]). Night sleep duration also increased less for infants with lower maternal education and household income. Asian infants had more frequent night awakenings. Adjustment for maternal education and household income attenuated all observed day and night sleep duration differences other than in Asians, where persistently reduced nighttime sleep at 6 months was observed.

Conclusions

Racial/ethnic differences in sleep emerge in early infancy. Night and 24-hour sleep durations increase less in Hispanic and black infants compared to white infants, with differences largely explained by SES.
Algorithm for automatic detection of self-similarity and prediction of residual central respiratory events during continuous positive airway pressure
Authors: Oppersma Eline , Ganglberger Wolfgang , Sun Haoqi , Thomas Robert J , Westover M Brandon
Published: October 2020

Study Objectives

Sleep-disordered breathing is a significant risk factor for cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. High loop gain (HLG) is a driving mechanism of central sleep apnea or periodic breathing. This study presents a computational approach that identifies “expressed/manifest” HLG via a cyclical self-similarity feature in effort-based respiration signals.

Methods

Working under the assumption that HLG increases the risk of residual central respiratory events during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the full night similarity, computed during diagnostic non-CPAP polysomnography (PSG), was used to predict residual central events during CPAP (REC), which we defined as central apnea index (CAI) higher than 10. Central apnea labels are obtained both from manual scoring by sleep technologists and from an automated algorithm developed for this study. The Massachusetts General Hospital sleep database was used, including 2466 PSG pairs of diagnostic and CPAP titration PSG recordings.

Results

Diagnostic CAI based on technologist labels predicted REC with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 ± 0.03. Based on automatically generated labels, the combination of full night similarity and automatically generated CAI resulted in an AUC of 0.85 ± 0.02. A subanalysis was performed on a population with technologist-labeled diagnostic CAI higher than 5. Full night similarity predicted REC with an AUC of 0.57 ± 0.07 for manual and 0.65 ± 0.06 for automated labels.

Conclusions

The proposed self-similarity feature, as a surrogate estimate of expressed respiratory HLG and computed from easily accessible effort signals, can detect periodic breathing regardless of admixed obstructive features such as flow limitation and can aid the prediction of REC.
Evolution of macroglands and defensive mechanisms in Leiuperinae (Anura: Leptodactylidae)
Authors: Ferraro Daiana Paola , Pereyra Martín Oscar , Topa Pascual Emilio , Faivovich Julián
Published: October 2020

Anurans show a wide variety of anti-predator mechanisms, and the species of the Neotropical clade Leiuperinae display several of them. Most species of Edalorhina, Physalaemus and Pleurodema show eyespots, hidden bright colours, macroglands in a inguinal/lumbar position, defensive behaviours and/or chemical defence. We conducted a histological analysis of dorsal and lumbar skin and revised the colour patterns, defensive behaviours and glandular secretions to study the diversity and evolution of anti-predator mechanisms associated with macroglands. We describe 17 characters and optimize these in a phylogenetic hypothesis of Leiuperinae. In the most recent common ancestor of Edalorhina + Engystomops + Physalaemus + Pleurodema, a particular type of serous gland (the main component of macroglands) evolved in the lumbar skin, along with the absence of the Eberth–Katschenko layer. A defensive behaviour observed in leiuperines with macroglands includes four displays (‘crouching down’ behaviour, rear elevation, body inflation and eye protection), all present in the same ancestor. The two elements associated with aposematism (hidden bright colours and eyespots) evolved independently in several species. Our results provide phylogenetic evidence for the startle-first hypothesis, which suggests that behavioural displays arise as sudden movements in camouflaged individuals to avoid predatory attacks, before the origin of bright coloration.