bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of epileptic EEG signals using sparse spectrum based empirical wavelet transform
Authors: Nishad A. , Upadhyay A. , Ravi Shankar Reddy G. , Bajaj V.
Published: October 2020

The unnatural activities of brain due to seizure events are analysed by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals which are captured from the brain. In this work, a methodology is proposed to classify the seizure EEG signals. In the proposed method, a novel sparse spectrum based empirical wavelet transform (SS‐EWT) is applied to decompose the EEG signal into coefficients. From the obtained SS‐EWT coefficients, the cross‐information potential and normalised energy are extracted as features. Then these features are ranked using the RELIEFF method to obtain significant features. After ranking, these features are fed into the k ‐nearest neighbour (k ‐NN) classifier to classify EEG signals corresponding to different brain activities. In this work, the first classification problem is the classification of the seizure (S), seizure‐free (F), and normal (Z) EEG signals in which obtained classification accuracy (Acc) is . The second classification problem is the classification of S and Z EEG signals in which Acc is achieved by the proposed method.
SiC‐based high‐gain DC–DC converters with fault ride‐through capability
Authors: Gurukumar Gangavarapu , Sai Krishna M.V. , Sundaramoorthy Kumaravel , Babaei Ebrahim
Published: October 2020

This study presents active switched passive network‐based high‐gain DC–DC converters. The active switched network is formulated using two inductors, one capacitor and two diodes. Hence, the network is named as a 2L–C–2D network. Using ten components, an asymmetric high‐gain DC‐DC converter is proposed. This converter achieves a gain of 29 at an 80% duty ratio. In the asymmetric converter structure by replacing the inductor by another 2L–C–2D network, the symmetric converter structure is proposed using 14 components. This converter structure achieves the gain of 49 at the same 80% duty ratio. Apart from increasing the voltage gain, the 2L–C–2D network helps to reduce the voltage and current stresses of the converter. The utilisation of two semiconductor switches in the proposed converter structures permits a fault ride‐through capability even when any one of the switches fails. Operations of the converters in continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) are discussed, and the boundary condition between CCM and DCM is derived. To limit the effect of parasitic elements on the converter performance, SiC‐based semiconductor devices are used in the 500 W hardware prototype. The maximum efficiency of 92.8% is achieved in the case of a symmetric converter.
Titanium in Shipbuilding and Other Technical Applications
Authors: Oryshchenko A.S. , Leonov V.P. , Mikhailov V.I. , Kuznetsov P.A. , Alexandrov A.V.
Published: October 2020

Aerospace industry is currently the major consumer of titanium in Russia. Shipbuilding is its second largest consumer. Oil and gas, chemical, pulp-and-paper and other industries use less titanium. In the Russian industrial sector titanium is geting more applicable. Since the 13th World Ti-2015 Conference the titanium application trends have persisted [1]. Among the major development trends of titanium alloys one should note the development of titanium alloys for deep-water marine facilities, case designs of small-size nuclear power plants, the development of additive technologies, the technologies of isostatic pressing, the development of titanium products by new production facilities, etc. Titanium is still considered an advanced structural material used for scientific and technical progress in different industrial sectors.
Machine Learning for Competitive Grain Growth Behavior in Additive Manufacturing Ti6Al4V
Authors: Li Jinghao , Sage Manuel , Zhou Xianglin , Brochu Mathieu , Zhao Yaoyao Fiona
Published: October 2020

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) technology is now changing the pattern of the high-end manufacturing industry, among which MAM fabricated Ti6Al4V has been far the most extensively investigated material and attracts a lot of research interests. This work established a deep neural network (DNN) to investigate the grain boundary in competitive grain growth for a bi-crystal system, the column β grains of Ti6Al4V as an example. Because of the limited number of experimental samples, the DNN is trained based on the data coming from the Geometrical Limited criterion. A series of direct energy deposition experiment using Ti6Al4V is carried out under the Taguchi experimental design. The grain boundary angles between the column grains are measured in the experiment and used to evaluate the accuracy of DNN.
FAST-forge of novel Ti-6Al-4V/Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo bonded, near net shape forgings from surplus AM powder
Authors: Levano Oliver , Weston Nicholas , Pope Jacob , Tudball Adam , Lunn David , Baxter Gavin , Jackson Martin
Published: October 2020

Titanium alloys are used extensively in the aerospace sector due to the good combination of high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosive resistance. Many aerospace components are exposed to extreme service stress states and temperatures, which in some applications could compromise the component’s performance if a single titanium alloy is used. A potential solution to this issue could be the combination of dissimilar titanium alloys in subcomponent regions, achieved through consolidating powders via field assisted sintering technology (FAST-DB) and subsequent hot forging (FAST-forge). In this paper, near net shape titanium-titanium alloy demonstrator components are produced from oversized AM powders in just two hybrid solid-state steps; FAST-DB and hot forging.
Titanium Ti6Al4V alloy reinforced by the addition of nano yttria stabilized zirconia fabricated by selective additive manufacturing: microstructure and mechanical investigations
Authors: HATTAL Amine , DJEMAI Madjid , FOUCHET Jean Jacques , CHAUVEAU Thierry , BACROIX Brigitte , HOCINI Azziz , DIRRAS Guy
Published: October 2020

Additive manufactured Ti6Al4V reinforced with nano yttria-zirconia (nYSZ) parts were fabricated using selective laser melting technology (SLM). The as-received Ti6Al4V powder and two powder mixtures of Ti6Al4V mixed with several nYSZ contents (1wt% and 2.5wt%) were prepared and then SLM processed. Parts were further subjected to a stress relief heat treatment. Besides, hot isostatic pressure (HIP) was used in order to eliminate residual porosities. The pycnometer-based technique was used to measure the mass density. XRD and EBSD analysis were performed to investigate the influence of nYSZ additions on the microstructure and subsequent mechanical properties via microhardness and compression tests. It was found that addition of nYSZ increases the density of the reinforced parts and produces a fine α martensite phase. Besides, the grain size was refined compared to that of heat treated Ti6Al4V. As a consequence, a significant increase in both the hardness and the compressive strength for the reinforced Ti6Al4V were obtained while the elongation to failure was kept. These improved mechanical properties are discussed in relation to the effect of nYSZ addition, which includes latice distortions and strengthening from grain size refinement and/or α formation.
Process variation in Selective Laser Melting of Ti-6Al-4V alloy
Authors: Chen Zhuoer , Lee Caroline , Cao Sheng , Lyu Xuerui , Wu Xinhua , Davies Chris
Published: October 2020

The present work explores the variation in Ti-6Al-4V part quality introduced by the key process operations of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process, the recoating, the gas flow, and the laser beam irradiation. Novel specimens and experiments were designed to characterize the differences in surface quality and thermal history as a function of part geometry and location on the build platform. The variation in the roughness of inclined surfaces shows a clear dependency on the laser incidence angle and the influence of gas flow on process by-products. The direction in which the laser beam traverse across the build area with respect to the gas flow direction also affects the surface quality. Thermal profiles were recorded by attaching thermocouples to the surface of the built part with various geometries. The measured temperature profiles show intense local fluctuations due to the rapid movement of the laser beam. The parts also experience a continuous heat treatment throughout the SLM process due to the low effective conductivity of the powder bed and continuous heat input by the laser.
Development of constitutive equations for hot working of titanium matrix composites
Authors: Du Lihua , Shi Zhusheng , Han Yuanfei , Shao Jie , Zheng Kailun , Li Yong , Lu Weijie
Published: October 2020

This research is devoted to modelling the viscoplastic deformation behaviour and microstructure evolution of particle reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) at hot working conditions. A series of Gleeble hot compression tests were conducted to obtain the stress-strain curves. According to the dominant mechanisms of TMCs during deformation, a set of mechanism-based constitutive equations was developed and fitted based on the experiment data. Lamellar alpha globularisation, dynamic recrystallization and damage were considered and incorporated into the constitutive equations to describe the viscoplastic flow behaviour.
Properties of Novel High Temperature Titanium Alloys for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Mantione John , Garcia-Avila Matias , Arnold Matthew , Bryan David , Foltz John
Published: October 2020

The attractive combination of strength and low density has resulted in titanium alloys covering 15 to 25% of the weight of a modern jet engine, with titanium currently being used in fan, compressor and nozzle components. Typically, titanium alloys used in jet engine applications are selected from the group of near alpha and alpha-beta titanium alloys, which exhibit superior elevated temperature strength, creep resistance and fatigue life compared to typical titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V. Legacy titanium alloys for elevated temperature jet engine applications include Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0.1Si and Ti-4Al-4Mo-2Sn-0.5Si. Improving the mechanical behavior of these alloys enables improved component performance, which is crucial to advancing jet engine performance.

As a world leader in supplying advanced alloys of titanium, nickel, cobalt, and specialty stainless steels, ATI is developing new titanium alloys with improved elevated temperature properties. These improved properties derive from precipitation of secondary intermetallics in alpha-beta titanium alloys. ATI has developed several new alpha-beta titanium alloy compositions which exhibit significantly improved elevated temperature strength and creep resistance. This paper will focus on the effects of chemistry and heat treat conditions on the microstructure and resulting elevated temperature properties of these new aerospace titanium alloys.
Aluminum- and Vanadium-free Titanium Alloys for Medical Applications
Authors: Haase Fabian , Siemers Carsten , Klinge Lina , Lu Cheng , Lang Patric , Lederer Stephan , König Till , Rösler Joachim
Published: October 2020

CP-Ti, Ti 6A l 4V (ELI), and Ti 6Al 7Nb are often used for manufacturing osteosynthesis products or implants. However, researches have revealed that Al and V can have detrimental effects on the human body. Therefore, several Al- and V-free near-α and (α+β) titanium alloys have been developed on the basis of CP-Ti Grade 4+ (Ti 0.4O 0.5Fe 0.08C). They should possess similar or better mechanical properties than Ti 6Al 4V (ELI) combined with an improved biocompatibility and good corrosion resistance. O, C, Fe, Au, Si, Nb, or Mo have been used as alloying elements, which are either already present in the human body or are biocompatible. Several of the studied alloys show a strength and ductility fulfilling the requirements of Ti 6Al 4V ELI as specified in ASTM F136. For instance, Ti 0.44O 0.5Fe 0.08C 2.0Mo exhibits a YTS of approx. 1005 MPa, an UTS of approx. 1015 MPa, and an elongation at rupture of at least 17%. Therefore, one or more of the studied alloys are promising candidates for replacing Ti 6Al 4V ELI in osteosynthesis and implant applications.
Effect of Mo, V and Zr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb alloys
Authors: Du Yujun , Liu Xianghong , Li Jinshan , Luo Wenzhong , He Yongsheng , Zhao Xiaohua , Wang Kaixuan
Published: October 2020

Small button ingots of Ti2AlNb alloys with different contents of Mo, V and Zr were melted by vacuum non-consumable arc furnace. Due to the rapid cooling rate during melting process, only β grains without precipitation were observed in most of the button ingots and no regular phenomenon was found. However, when the samples were heated to β phase region and then furnace cooled to room temperate, different morphologies and quantities of primary α phase and second O phase formed from the β grains of different samples. It is suggested that the morphology of α phase was changed from lamellar to quadrilateral with increasing V and the lath O increased with increasing Zr. Besides, the residual β/B2 phase increased with increasing Mo and V. The EDS results showed that Al and Zr were enriched in α phase whereas Nb, Mo and V were enriched in β/B2 phase. The micro-hardness of these samples before and after heat treatment was detected and the micro-hardness increased with increasing Zr and decreasing Mo and V.
High-Stress Compressive Creep Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloys with Different Microstructures
Authors: Dan Zhenhua , Lu Jiafei , Chang Hui , Qu Ping , Zhang Aifeng , Fang Zhigang , Dong Yuecheng , Wang Ying , Zhou Lian
Published: October 2020

Influence of initial microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloys on their compressive creep behavior at ambient temperature was investigated with applying compression stresses from 695 to 1092 MPa The experimental results show that the basketweave alloys have better compressive creep resistances than those duplex ones. The constitutive equations in steady-state compressive creeps of duplex or basketweave structure are calculated to be =2.77×10-15(σ-710)2.1 and =2.36×10-14(σ-740)1.7 by fitting the linear regression creep curves after uniaxial compression tests. The noticeable compressive creep strains occur when the applied compression stresses are higher than the threshold stresses, i.e. 710 MPa for duplex Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloys and 740 MPa for basketweave alloys. Microstructural analysis indicates that the creep deformation of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloys at ambient temperature is mainly controlled by dislocation slip. The creep behavior of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy with duplex microstructure is controlled by dislocation slip, like slip dislocations with a-type Burgers vector sliding on the basal or prismatic planes and a few c+a type dislocation sliding on the pyramidal planes. While creep mechanism for basketweave ones is dislocation glide controlled by c+a type Burgers vector sliding on the pyramidal planes and a-type sliding on the basal or prismatic planes.
Effect of Stress Ratio and Notch on Fatigue Strength of Commercial Pure Titanium
Authors: Toshiaki IWATA
Published: October 2020

Titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V are widely used in the aerospace domain worldwide; consequently, they have been extensively investigated, and the accumulated data has facilitated their use in the construction of structural members. In contrast, commercial pure (CP) Ti, which is cheaper than Ti alloys is widely used in the general industry, especially in the marine domain in Japan because it exhibits superior seawater corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, CP titanium has a strong anisotropy and consists of an hcp crystal structure; therefore, the strength data are insufficient owing to its short use history as a structural material, and some of its mechanical material properties remain unclear. Herein, the effect of mean stress and stress concentration on the fatigue strength of CP Grade 2 titanium was evaluated for the application range expansion of CP titanium. The results indicated that the fatigue limit in the longitudinal direction was 80–84% that in the transverse direction for smooth specimens. However, no significant difference was noted in the fatigue limit in both the directions for notched specimens. Furthermore, it was noted that it is necessary to apply at least Sa-0.5Su line to design the safe side in CP Grade 2 titanium.
Titanium alloy Ti-6242 for high temperature structural application. Static and dynamic mechanical properties and impact of ageing
Authors: MAX Bertrand , ALEXIS Joël , LARIGNON Céline , PERUSIN Simon
Published: October 2020

Increasing the efficiency of aero-engines by increasing the engines’ working temperatures requires, in turn, the adaptation of the materials used in structural parts surrounding the engines. Specifically, improvement of the mechanical properties, resistances to specific operational loading conditions and good durability are required in the targeted range of temperatures. Building upon work on titanium alloys that are resistant to high temperatures—already used by engine designers—studies have been carried out to find alloy + microstructure combinations that are likely to meet structural requirements. Guided by targeted mechanical specifications, various industrialized thermo-mechanical processes have been performed to produce Ti-6242 pancakes of different initial microstructures. For each manufacturing route investigated, the microstructure, tensile properties, crack propagation resistance and fracture toughness have been evaluated, either as-manufactured or after ageing for 5000 hours at 500°C. The different types of microstructures do not exhibit the same initial mechanical resistances, and the sensitivity of alloy Ti-6242 to high temperature ageing phenomena proves to be highly microstructure dependent. Nevertheless, among these different microstructures, some show properties that comply with targeted specifications and show interesting long duration thermal stability, which makes them promising candidates for future industrial future needs.
STRAIN INDUCED PHASE TRANSFORMATION IN Ti-15Mo β ALLOY
Authors: Wang Xiaoming , Li Bernard
Published: October 2020

β-Ti alloys have been chosen for biomedical applications attributed to a combination of high strength, high fatigue resistance, good corrosion resistance and more importantly low modulus closer than other metallic materials for implants and osseointegrated prosthesis to the cortical elastic modulus (4-30 GPa). However, the phase constituents and phase transformation are still under dispute. A Ti-15Mo alloy after severe cold plastic deformation is studied to reveal the phases and phase transformation by TEM techniques. Athermal ω phase was observed in all samples evidencing the high stability of ω phase compared to β phase. However, the β to ω transformation does not proceed to a completion in heat treatment. Strain induced phase transformation happens in cold-draw wires through a coordinated shuffle of atoms along the {2 1 1}planes of β phase leading to the reduction on the <1 1 1> directions. The atomic level of shear causes the transformation of β to ω. The transformation of β to athermal ω under a train is not in a stable state but having a variable crystal structure between β and ω.
Decomposition of the β phase at intermediate temperature in β-metastable Ti-5553 alloy
Authors: Goetz Morgan , Dehmas Moukrane , Appolaire Benoît , Aeby-Gautier Elisabeth , Andrieu Sandra , Billot Thomas
Published: October 2020

The present contribution focuses on the nature of the β → α transformation in Ti-5333 alloy at intermediate temperatures. It is indeed still unclear whether this transformation is only controlled by bulk diffusion or whether interfacial kinetics may play a role. To address this issue, we have combined SEM and STEM-EDX to measure the concentrations of Al, Cr, Mo, V and Fe in α intragranular precipitates as well as in the abutting β matrix, paying a particular attention to the concentrations at flat interfaces corresponding to the precipitates habit planes. The comparison with Calphad calculations suggests that interfaces are not at equilibrium during the thickening of the plates.
Gaseous thermochemical synthesis and characterization of mixed interstitial phases in the Ti-C-O system
Authors: Kværndrup Frederik Bojsen , Dahl Kristian V. , Ståhl Kenny , Somers Marcel A.J. , Winther Grethe , Christiansen Thomas L.
Published: October 2020

Titanium grade 2 thin foils were carbo-oxidized at 800 °C in a thermogravimetric analyzer in CO gas for 20 - 100 hours. The synthesized thin foils were characterized by infrared carbon determination for composition analysis, transmission X-ray diffraction (XRD), light optical microscopy (LOM) and nanoindentation. Thermodynamic equilibrium predictions were performed using ThermoCalc. Oxygen and carbon expanded h.c.p. α and NaCl type δ carbo-oxide were identified from the XRD patterns. Rietveld refinements of the XRD patterns revealed an increase in expansion of the h.c.p. α lattice from interstitially dissolved C and O: the c/a ratio increases from 1.588 for interstitially free h.c.p. α to 1.607 after 100 hours of exposure. The overall carbon and oxygen content after 100 hours was 4.2 wt% and 5.5 wt%, respectively; these overall compositions correspond to the two-phase α + δ region in the calculated ternary phase diagram. The microstructure from LOM revealed large grains of expanded α-phase and a surface zone consisting of porous δ carbo-oxide. The hardness, as determined by indentation, of the expanded α increased linearly with the c/a ratio, resulting in an increase to 11748 MPA after 100 hours exposure from 2193 MPa for the untreated Ti grade 2.
The Influence of Household Income on Survival following Posterior Fossa Tumor Resection at a Large Academic Medical Center
Authors: Blue Rachel , Detchou Donald K. , Dimentberg Ryan , Shultz Kaitlyn , Spadola Michael , McClintock Scott D. , Malhotra Neil R.
Published: October 2020

Objectives The present study examines the effect of median household income on mid- and long-term outcomes in a posterior fossa brain tumor resection population.

Design This is a retrospective regression analysis.

Setting The study conducted at a single, multihospital, urban academic medical center.

Participants A total of 283 consecutive posterior fossa brain tumor cases, excluding cerebellar pontine angle tumors, over a 6-year period (June 09, 2013–April 26, 2019) was included in this analysis.

Main Outcome Measures Outcomes studied included 90-day readmission, 90-day emergency department evaluation, 90-day return to surgery, reoperation within 90 days after index admission, reoperation throughout the entire follow-up period, mortality within 90 days, and mortality throughout the entire follow-up period. Univariate analysis was conducted for the whole population and between the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) socioeconomic quartiles. Stepwise regression was conducted to identify confounding variables.

Results Lower socioeconomic status was found to be correlated with increased mortality within 90 postoperative days and throughout the entire follow-up period. Similarly, analysis between the lowest and highest household income quartiles (Q1 vs. Q4) demonstrated Q4 to have significantly decreased mortality during total follow-up and a decreasing but not significant difference in 90-day mortality. No significant difference in morbidity was observed.

Conclusion This study suggests that lower household income is associated with increased mortality in both the 90-day window and total follow-up period. It is possible that there is an opportunity for health care providers to use socioeconomic status to proactively identify high-risk patients and provide additional resources in the postoperative setting.
Ophthalmology Education in COVID-19: A Remote Elective for Medical Students
Authors: DeVaro Sarah N. , Uner Ogul E. , Khalifa Yousuf M. , Graubart Emily B.
Published: October 2020

Background The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created obstacles for medical student education, as clinical rotations were temporarily halted. Recent literature shows online electives may provide an alternative learning platform. We developed a teleophthalmology student elective for rising third-year medical student (MS3) and fourth-year medical student (MS4) to continue teaching and exposure to the field.

Methods A 4-week remote elective was approved by Emory University School of Medicine and offered between April 18, 2020, and May 15, 2020, for rising MS3s and MS4s. The curriculum consisted of online self-study materials, student presentations, chart review assignments, case-based discussions with faculty, and telehealth experiences. All students were surveyed and tested with questions from United States Medical Licensing Examination World (UWorld) test bank at the end of the course.

Results A total of 18 students were enrolled, with 66.7% MS3 and 33.3% MS4 participants. The mean rating of fulfillment of course learning objectives was 8.1/10 (range, 6.7–8.8), with mean ratings of 8.2 for MS3s and 7.7 for MS4s. There was a significant increase in self-reported knowledge in ophthalmology, with an increase from 4.6 to 8.1 for MS3s (p = 0.002) and 6.7 to 8.0 for MS4s (p = 0.04). Students also reported higher interest in the field, with an increase from 4.9 to 7.8 for MS3s (p = 0.01) and 7.5 to 8.7 for MS4s (p = 0.1). The students performed significantly higher on the postcourse test (94.8%) than UWorld question bank users (74.1%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion Our novel ophthalmology elective significantly enhanced self-reported medical student knowledge and interest in the field during a crisis that required transition to remote learning. Further study of student telehealth experience and objective assessment is needed to improve online learning in ophthalmology.
The Longissimus Capitis Insertion as a Superficial Landmark for the Sigmoid Sinus: An Anatomical Study
Authors: Iwanaga Joe , Watanabe Koichi , Khan Pervez A. , Nerva John D. , Amenta Peter S. , Dumont Aaron S. , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: October 2020

Objective Many external anatomical landmarks have been used for approximating deeper, intracranial structures. Herein, we evaluate the attachment of the longissimus capitis (LC) on the mastoid process as a landmark for the underlying sigmoid sinus.

Methods Adult cadavers underwent dissection of the posterior occiput with special attention to the attachment of the LC muscle. Once the periphery of the muscle's tendon of attachment was determined, a burr hole was made in this area and evaluated internally for its relationship to the sigmoid sinus.

Results From an intracranial view, burr holes on all sides were over the sigmoid sinus and just slightly lateral to the center of the sinus. The distance from the midline to the medial border of the insertion of the LC had a mean of 63.0 ± 7.2 mm. The width of the tendon of insertion of the LC on the mastoid process had a mean of 17.6 ± 5.7 mm. The length of the tendon insertion of the LC had a mean of 14.7 ± 4.7 mm. The distance from the inferior border of the insertion of the LC to the tip of the mastoid process had a mean of 6.2 ± 4.5 mm.

Conclusion To our knowledge, use of the attachment site of the LC on the mastoid process as an external landmark for the underlying sigmoid sinus has not previously been reported. Based on our cadaveric findings, the sigmoid sinus is centered under the attachment of the LC regardless of the width of its tendon.
Beyond Expert Opinion: A Comparison of Antibiotic Regimens for Infectious Urinary Tract Pathology in Pregnancy
Authors: Krischak Madison K. , Rosett Heather A. , Sachdeva Sarika , Weaver Kristin E. , Heine Robert Phillips , Denoble Anna E. , Dotters-Katz Sarah K.
Published: October 2020

Objective Outside pregnancy, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) are first-line therapy (FLT) for lower urinary tract infections (LUTIs). Optimal antibiotics for LUTI have been extrapolated based on expert opinion. Progression to pyelonephritis and adverse obstetric outcomes were compared between women who received FLT and those given alternative antibiotics.

Methods This study includes a retrospective cohort of women with LUTI, including asymptomatic bacteriuria and acute cystitis at single health care system from July 2013 to May 2019. Women receiving FLT, defined as nitrofurantoin or SMZ-TMP, were compared with those receiving nonfirst-line therapy (nFLT). Primary outcome was progression to pyelonephritis. Secondary outcomes included pyelonephritis-related anemia, sepsis, length of stay, preterm birth (PTB), and low birth weight (LBW). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds of outcomes.

Results Of 476 women, 336 (70.6%) received FLT and 140 (29.4%) received nFLT. Women receiving FLT were more likely having BMI ≥ 40 (p = 0.04). Progression to pyelonephritis did not differ (5.8 vs. 8.2%; p = 0.44), nor did other pyelonephritis-related outcomes. After controlling for confounders, no difference in odds of progression to pyelonephritis was seen (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42, 2.49). FLT was not associated with PTB or LBW (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.29, 1.26) after controlling for confounders.

Conclusion Receipt of antibiotics other than nitrofurantoin or SMZ-TMP for LUTI in pregnancy was not associated with increased risk of progression to pyelonephritis, PTB, or LBW.
Modern portfolio theory with sharia: a comparative analysis
Authors: Sandwick John A. , Collazzo Pablo
Published: October 2020

Despite Muslims comprising a quarter of the world’s population, almost none of the $100 trillion in professionally managed global assets are sharia compliant. Constraints such as ESG and SRI are common among pension funds, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. Typical constraints include alcohol, tobacco, weapons and environmentally damaging activities. Such securities are excluded from morally constrained portfolios. Sharia applies the same, but adds one more key constraint: securities with debt-related features. Otherwise, sharia is identical to most ethical constraints. This study shows the results of constructing optimized, multi-asset, globally allocated portfolios while respecting sharia. The construction of these portfolios follows contemporary regulatory standards and professional best practices that evolved from investment theory. Results indicate multi-asset sharia portfolios have at least equal return and risk characteristics to conventional peers, or are perhaps in some ways superior. Many Muslims profess to care about sharia, including with their savings. This study provides insight for professional asset managers in applying sharia with modern portfolio theory, which could substantially enhance wealth and asset managers seeking business in this sector.
Proton beams from intense laser-solid interaction: Effects of the target materials
Authors: Geng Y. X. , Wu D. , Yu W. , Sheng Z. M. , Fritzsche S. , Liao Q. , Wu M. J. , Xu X. H. , Li D. Y. , Ma W. J. , Lu H. Y. , Zhao Y. Y. , He X. T. , Chen J. E. , Lin C. , Yan X. Q.
Published: October 2020

We report systematic studies of laser-driven proton beams produced with micrometer-thick solid targets made of aluminum and plastic, respectively. Distinct effects of the target materials are found on the total charge, cutoff energy, and beam spot of protons in the experiments, and these are described well by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations incorporating intrinsic material properties. It is found that with a laser intensity of 8 × 1019 W/cm2, target normal sheath acceleration is the dominant mechanism for both types of target. For a plastic target, the higher charge and cutoff energy of the protons are due to the greater energy coupling efficiencies from the intense laser beams, and the larger divergence angle of the protons is due to the deflection of hot electrons during transport in the targets. We also find that the energy loss of hot electrons in targets of different thickness has a significant effect on the proton cutoff energy. The consistent results obtained here further narrow the gap between simulations and experiments.
Influence of the trap potential waveform on surface oscillation and breakup of a levitated charged drop
Authors: Singh Mohit , Gawande Neha , Thaokar Rochish
Published: October 2020

A charged droplet can be electrodynamically levitated in air using a quadrupole trap by typically applying a sinusoidal electric field. When a charged drop is levitated, it exhibits surface oscillations simultaneously building charge density due to continuous evaporation and subsequently undergoes breakup due to Rayleigh instability. In this work, we examined large-amplitude surface oscillations of a sub-Rayleigh charged drop and its subsequent breakup, levitated by various applied signals such as sine, square, and ramp waveforms at various imposed frequencies, using high-speed imaging (recorded at 100 000–130 000 frames per second). It is observed that the drop surface oscillates in a sphere–prolate–sphere–oblate mode and seldom in a sphere–prolate-sphere mode depending on the intricate interplay of various forces due to charge(q), the intensity of the applied field (Λ), and the shift of the droplet from the geometric center of the trap (zshift). The Fast Fourier Transformation analysis shows that the droplet oscillates with the forced frequency irrespective of the type of the applied waveform. While in the sinusoidal case, the nonlinearities are significant, in the square and ramp potentials, there is an admittance of all the harmonic frequencies of the applied potential. Interestingly, the breakup characteristics of a critically charged droplet are found to be unaffected by the type of the applied waveform. The experimental observations are validated with an analytical theory as well as with the Boundary Integral simulations in the potential flow limit, and the results are found to be in a reasonable agreement.
VanPatten (1990)’s long and winding story and the nature of replication studies
Authors: Sanz Cristina , McCormick Timothy J.
Published: October 2020

VanPatten’s (1990) investigation of attention to form and meaning during input processing remains among the most cited and replicated studies in second language research. Early replications (Barcroft, 2001; Greenslade, Bouden, & Sanz, 1999; Wong, 2001) kept materials intact, changing modality or language, yielding comparable results. Later replications operationalized comprehension differently, changing text and assessment, and concluded even low proficiency learners can consciously process form, regardless of salience or meaning, without detriment to comprehension (Leow, Hsieh, & Moreno, 2008; Morgan-Short, Heil, Botero-Moriarty, & Ebert, 2012; Morgan-Short et al., 2018). This chapter compares these texts and assessments. Results suggest the new assessment obscures differences between proficiencies and modalities, and the new, more complex text hides task effects identified in the original strand.
Why does processing instruction work?
Authors: Leeser Michael J.
Published: October 2020

Research on processing instruction (PI) has shown that PI is an effective instructional intervention for learners of various languages and contexts. This chapter addresses a basic question: Why does PI work? In the first section, I provide an overview of the language faculty and discuss how PI differs from other research in terms of the nature of language. The second section explores how VanPatten’s model of input processing (VanPatten, 1996, 2004, 2020) can be understood within larger frameworks that integrate language processing and acquisition. The third section discusses the characteristics of PI and the findings of PI research within the wider context of growth within the language faculty. Finally, I conclude with thoughts on future directions of PI research.
Translation and the narratives of legitimacy
Authors: Al-Sharafi Abdul Gabbar , Al-Shehari Khaled
Published: October 2020

How legitimacy narratives in conflict zones are constructed and mediated through translation remains largely under-researched. This article investigates the strategies that the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, uses to construct narratives of legitimacy for the Houthi movement in his Security Council briefings on the conflict in Yemen and their Arabic translations. Using a combination of a narrative framework, which highlights the notion of agency, and a semiotic model of triadic signification, which highlights motivatedness in signification, this article identifies metonymization as a strategy in constructing such narratives of legitimacy, with three additional sub-strategies of labeling, naming, and selective appropriation. While the Arabic translations are generally faithful to their originals in terms of the strategies used, some demonstrate a remarkable departure from United Nations translation norms. These findings shed light on theoretical issues of translator agency under such norms, and the pedagogical implications of such agency are addressed.
Why is smell special?
Authors: Viberg Åke
Published: October 2020

Recent typological studies have described a number of languages with a rich inventory of abstract odor terms, which stand in stark contrast to Swedish and other European languages that are considered to have poor systems of such terms. However, there have been few thorough descriptions of the odor terms of any European language. This chapter presents a detailed corpus-based description of the noun lukt ‘smell’ and the verbs lukta ‘to smell’, stinka ‘to stink’, dofta ‘to smell good’ and osa ‘to smell of burnt fat’. In addition to the description of the lexico-grammatical structure, there is a detailed discussion of the way odor is talked about in Swedish based on word sketches. Unlike colors, which are treated as objective properties of physical objects, odors are often talked about as sensations that evoke affective reactions in humans. Odors are also often talked about as characteristic features of whole situations. The chapter ends with a discussion of what it is that makes smell special with respect to the other senses.
Syntactic patterns for Romanian olfactive verbs
Authors: Hill Virginia
Published: October 2020

Romanian olfactive verbs generate two readings: One that captures the physical olfactive perception, and one that expresses a cognitive/inferential process. While this is cross-linguistically unsurprising, the Romanian data are informative when it comes to the factors responsible for the two readings. In this respect, this chapter argues that we do not need two lexical entries for these interpretations, as the second one can be read off the syntactic configuration. Along these lines, the direct evidence for smelling is encoded lexically, whereas the indirect evidence involved in the inferential readings arises from the mapping of evidentiality as a formal feature [evid] at the edge of vP.
Self-Isolation: A Significant Contributor to Cannabis use during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bartel S. J. , Sherry S. B. , Stewart S. H.
Published: October 2020

Background

Emerging research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in self-reported isolation and loneliness in a large proportion of the population. This is particularly concerning given that isolation and loneliness are associated with increased cannabis use, as well as using cannabis to cope with negative affect. Objective: We investigated whether self-isolation due to COVID-19 and using cannabis to cope with depression were unique and/or interactive predictors of cannabis use during the pandemic, after controlling for pre-pandemic levels of cannabis use.

Method

A sample of 70 emerging adults (mean age = 23.03; 34.3% male) who used both alcohol and cannabis pre-pandemic completed measures of cannabis use (i.e., quantity x frequency) and a novel COVID-19 questionnaire between March 23 and June 15, 2020. Pre-pandemic cannabis use levels had been collected four months earlier.

Results

Linear regressions indicated self-isolation and coping with depression motives for cannabis use during the pandemic were significant predictors of pandemic cannabis use levels after accounting for pre-pandemic use levels. There was no interaction between coping with depression motives and self-isolation on cannabis use during the pandemic.

Conclusions

Those who engaged in self-isolation were found to use 20% more cannabis during the pandemic than those who did not. Our results suggest that self-isolation is a unique risk factor for escalating cannabis use levels during the pandemic. Thus, self-isolation may inadvertently lead to adverse public health consequences in the form of increased cannabis use.
Successful Treatment of Severe, Treatment Resistant GHB Withdrawal through Thiopental-Coma
Authors: Vos Cornelis F. , Pop-Purceleanu Monica , van den Berg Maarten J. W. , Schellekens Arnt F. A.
Published: October 2020

Background

In patients with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use disorder (GUD), withdrawal can have a fulminant course with rapid progression of severe, potentially life-threatening complications.

Case

We present a 45-year old man with severe GHB withdrawal, resistant to conventional treatment with pharmaceutical GHB, high doses of benzodiazepines and baclofen. GHB withdrawal finally responded to thiopental-induced coma therapy, with burst suppression pattern on electroencephalography (EEG). The patient fully recovered, without withdrawal or residual neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first case report in which barbiturates were used to induce a coma to treat severe, treatment resistant GHB withdrawal. This case suggests barbiturate coma therapy might be considered in severe GHB withdrawal which does not respond to conventional treatment.
Market-based instruments for ecosystem services: framework and case study in Lishui City, China
Authors: Gao Xiaolong , Xu Weihua , Hou Ying , Ouyang Zhiyun
Published: October 2020

Introduction:
 Effective provision of ecosystem services (ES) and improvements in well-being of residents can be realized through policy interventions of stakeholder behavior. Of the several policies, market-based instruments (MBIs) have become the focus of global attention.

Outcomes/others:
To couple the theory with practice and solve the key problem of unclear definition of property rights, the framework of MBIs is designed. First, property rights of market creation must be clearly defined, verifiable, transferable, enforceable, and have policy continuity. Then, four key characteristics of MBIs need to be considered in the case design, namely those involving ES, stakeholders, trading mechanisms, and guarantee mechanisms. The Pledge Financing of the Right of the Ecological Public Welfare Forest (PFREPWF) in Lishui City is a typical case of China’s current marketization, which is a supplement and improvement to the ecological compensation policy. Based on clearly defined contract rights, Lishui City has realized the integration of ecological compensation and credit creation.

Discussion:
The case design still has the problems of lack of quantification and lack of correlations with ES.

Conclusion:
The theoretical and practical analysis around the market mechanism has reference value for solving market failures and providing environmental services.
Decoding of voluntary and involuntary upper-limb motor imagery based on graph fourier transform and cross-frequency coupling coefficients
Authors: Feng Naishi , Hu Fo , Wang Hong , Gouda Mohamed Amin
Published: October 2020

Objective.
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology based on motor imagery (MI) control has become a research hotspot but continues to encounter numerous challenges. BCI can assist in the recovery of stroke patients and serve as a key technology in robot control. Current research on MI almost exclusively focuses on the hands, feet, and tongue. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to establish a four-class MI BCI system, in which the four types are the four articulations within the right upper limbs, involving the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. Approach.
Ten subjects were chosen to perform nine upper-limb analytic movements, after which the differences were compared in P300, movement-related potentials(MRPS), and event-related desynchronization/event-related synchronization under voluntary MI (V-MI) and involuntary MI (INV-MI). Next, the cross-frequency coupling (CFC) coefficient based on mutual information was extracted from the electrodes and frequency bands with interest. Combined with the image Fourier transform and twin bounded support vector machine classifier, four kinds of electroencephalography data were classified, and the classifier’s parameters were optimized using a genetic algorithm. Main results.
The results were shown to be encouraging, with an average accuracy of 93.2% and 92.2% for V-MI and INV-MI, respectively, and over 95% for any three classes and any two classes. In most cases, the accuracy of feature extraction using the proximal articulations as the basis was found to be relatively high and had better performance. Significance.
This paper discussed four types of MI according to three aspects under two modes and classed them by combining graph Fourier transform and CFC. Accordingly, the theoretical discussion and classification methods may provide a fundamental theoretical basis for BCI interface applications.
High voltage testing of functional dielectric coatings with thickness from 25 μm and more
Authors: Syasko V A , Musikhin A S
Published: October 2020

The high-voltage spark testing method for protective dielectric coatings is applied in almost all manufacturing areas and is governed by ISO, ASTM etc. However, they do not take into account high voltage generation (DC or AC) and its polarity, the impact of the environment and electric field inhomogeneity. A detailed analysis and modeling of the sparking process was carried out given the polarity of the applied control voltage and the design principles of creating a strongly inhomogeneous electric field in the interelectrode gap. The possibility of monitoring dielectric coatings with a thickness of 25 μm or more while reducing the control voltage without reducing the reliability of the results is shown, which is especially important when testing the continuity of paint coatings of large area objects.
The amplitude-sensitive eddy current method for investigation of the plastically deformed metal zone beneath the indent obtained by ball indentation
Authors: Zhgut D A , Khvostov A A , Chernova E A , Chernov D V , Marchenkov A Y
Published: October 2020

The paper presents the analysis of the results of plastic deformation zones obtained by the ball indentation into the surface of a non-magnetic metal plate using the amplitude-sensitive eddy current method. Calculation and experimental methods were used in the research. A two-dimensional finite-element model of an eddy current probe installed above a local plastically deformed zone on the metal plate surface was developed. The finite-element modelling of the electromagnetic field of eddy currents induced in the aluminium plate during multi-frequency excitation was made. It is found that the amplitude-sensitive eddy current method is appropriate not only to estimate the plastic deformation zone propagation depth, but also to detect a zone with the maximum stress values beneath the indent (hydrostatic core zone). An experimental verification of the proposed model was done. The specific zones in the deformed metal beneath the indent were detected by the eddy current method and the hydrostatic core size was evaluated.
Results of the application of the contact potential difference method to monitor NPP process equipment
Authors: Surin V I , Alwaheba A I , Beketov V G , Abu Gazal A A
Published: October 2020

The paper presents the results of nondestructive testing of process equipment of nuclear power plants a welding unit for the collector of steam generators PGV 1000M, the hull penetration and surfacing of the process pipe performed in the factory. The purpose of the study was to justify the possible use of contact potential difference at the stage of technological assembly and control of welded joints of steam generators in the factory, as well as to determine the prospects for using this method in operating conditions of process equipment.