bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decreasing cerebral palsy prevalence in multiple births in the modern era: a population cohort study of European data
Authors: Perra Oliver , Rankin Judith , Platt Mary Jane , Sellier Elodie , Arnaud Catherine , De La Cruz Javier , Krägeloh-Mann Ingeborg , Sweet David G , Bjellmo Solveig
Published: August 2020

Multiple births (twins or higher order multiples) are increasing in developed countries and may present higher risk for cerebral palsy (CP). However, few studies can reliably investigate trends over time because these outcomes are relatively rare.

Objective

We pooled data from European CP registers to investigate CP birth prevalence and its trends among single and multiple births born between 1990 and 2008.

Design

Population cohort study.

Setting

12 population-based registers from the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe collaboration.

Participants

4 446 125 single and multiple live births, of whom 8416 (0.19%) had CP of prenatal or perinatal origin.

Main outcomes

CP diagnosis ascertained in childhood using harmonised methods; CP subtype; Motor impairment severity among CP cases.

Results

The rate of multiple births increased from 1990. Multiples displayed higher risk for CP (RR=4.27, 95% CI 4.00 to 4.57). For singletons and multiples alike, risk for CP was higher among births of lower gestational age (GA) or birth weight (BW). However, CP birth prevalence declined significantly among very preterm (<32 weeks) and very low BW (<1500 g) multiples. Singletons and multiples with CP displayed similar severity of motor impairment.

Conclusions

Between 1990 and 2008, CP birth prevalence decreased steadily among multiples with low GA or BW. Furthermore, multiples with CP display similar profiles of severe motor impairment compared with CP singletons. Improvements in management of preterm birth since the 1990s may also have been responsible for providing better prospects for multiples.
Health insurance coverage for vulnerable children: two HIV orphans with Burkitt lymphoma and their quest for health insurance coverage in Kenya
Authors: Langat Sandra , Njuguna Festus , Kaspers Gertjan , Mostert Saskia
Published: August 2020

The United Nations and WHO have summoned governments from low-income and middle-income countries to institute universal health coverage and thereby improve their population’s healthcare access and outcomes. Until now, few countries responded favourably to this international plea. The HIV/AIDS epidemic, a major global public health challenge, resulted in over 11 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Extended families have taken responsibility for more than 90% of these children. HIV orphans are likely to be poorer and less healthy. Burkitt lymphoma is the most common childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. If orphans need lifesaving chemotherapy, appointing legal guardians becomes necessary to access health insurance. However, rules and regulations involved may be unclear and costly. This hinders its access for poor families who need it most. Uninsured children risk hospital detention over unpaid medical bills and have lower survival. Our case report depicts the quest for health insurance coverage of two HIV orphans with Burkitt lymphoma in Kenya.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration diagnosed by anti-Yo determination in a young woman with early breast cancer
Authors: Mirallas Oriol , Rezqallah Arón María Alejandra , Saoudi Gonzalez Nadia , Escrivá-de-Romaní Santiago
Published: August 2020

A 44-year-old woman diagnosed with a HER2 positive early breast cancer, receiving neoadjuvant treatment with paclitaxel and targeted agents, trastuzumab together with pertuzumab, presented to the emergency room with gait instability and upper right limb weakness. The neurological examination was compatible with cerebellar alteration showing right dissymmetry of the finger-nose and heel-knee manoeuvre. A head CT and a brain MRI were performed and negative. The electromyography showed alterations of the pyramidal pathway and somatosensory pathway. In order to determine the cause of the cerebellar affection, a lumbar puncture was performed. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis was non-specific, but the antineuronal anti-Yo antibody was positive, being diagnosed of a paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD). A positron emission tomography CT ruled out metastatic disease. The patient completed four cycles of antiHER2 blockade and weekly paclitaxel, achieving a complete pathological response. One year later, she maintains a complete remission but the PCD still prevails.
Diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in an 11-year-old girl with fever and sickle cell disease
Authors: Cannon Laura , Wang Endi , Becker Mara
Published: August 2020

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare lymphohistiocytic disorder which can cause prolonged fever and other systemic B symptoms including diffuse lymphadenopathy. Given its clinical presentation, there is often initial concern for lymphoma and diagnosis requires lymph node biopsy. It most frequently affects young women of Asian descent; it is less commonly encountered in paediatric patients. KFD is typically a benign, self-limited process, however, there is an association with development of systemic lupus erythematosus. Given its rarity, it remains unclear if KFD is associated with other chronic conditions. Here we present the third case of KFD occurring in a paediatric patient with sickle cell disease.
Aicardi syndrome in a prematurely born baby with retinopathy of prematurity: eye as a window to a systemic pathology
Authors: Aggarwal David , Majhi Debasmita , Padhi Tapas Ranjan
Published: August 2020

Many of the ophthalmic pathologies can co-exist and when taken together can at times give a clue to a life-threatening systemic condition. Presented here is a case of Aicardi syndrome in a prematurely born baby with retinopathy of prematurity . Early diagnosis by the ophthalmologist helped the baby for a timely neurological attention.
Implementing sustainable primary healthcare reforms: strategies from Costa Rica
Authors: Spigel Lauren , Pesec Madeline , Villegas del Carpio Oscar , Ratcliffe Hannah L , Jiménez Brizuela Jorge Arturo , Madriz Montero Andrés , Zamora Méndez Eduardo , Schwarz Dan , Bitton Asaf , Hirschhorn Lisa R
Published: August 2020

As the world strives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, countries must build robust healthcare systems founded on strong primary healthcare (PHC). In order to strengthen PHC, country governments need actionable guidance about how to implement health reform. Costa Rica is an example of a country that has taken concrete steps towards successfully improving PHC over the last two decades. In the 1990s, Costa Rica implemented three key reforms: governance restructuring, geographic empanelment, and multidisciplinary teams. To understand how Costa Rica implemented these reforms, we conducted a process evaluation based on a validated implementation science framework. We interviewed 39 key informants from across Costa Rica’s healthcare system in order to understand how these reforms were implemented. Using the Exploration Preparation Implementation Sustainment (EPIS) framework, we coded the results to identify Costa Rica’s key implementation strategies and explore underlying reasons for Costa Rica’s success as well as ongoing challenges. We found that Costa Rica implemented PHC reforms through strong leadership, a compelling vision and deliberate implementation strategies such as building on existing knowledge, resources and infrastructure; bringing together key stakeholders and engaging deeply with communities. These reforms have led to dramatic improvements in health outcomes in the past 25 years. Our in-depth analysis of Costa Rica’s specific implementation strategies offers tangible lessons and examples for other countries as they navigate the important but difficult work of strengthening PHC.
Prevention and treatment system of novel coronavirus infection in medical and health institutions: experience in West China Hospital of Sichuan University
Authors: Zhou Qiao , Yu He , Liang Zong-An , Yao Rong , Luo Feng-Ming , Liu Dan , Wang Ting , Ni Zhong , Zhong Ce-Jun , Jin Xiao-Dong
Published: August 2020

The novel coronavirus infection broke out in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and progressed to a global pandemic. We describe the measures taken by West China Hospital of Sichuan University to address the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the infection.
Improvement of ejection fraction and mortality in ischaemic heart failure
Authors: Perry Andrew S , Mann Douglas L , Brown David L
Published: August 2020

Objective

The frequency and predictors of improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in ischaemic cardiomyopathy and its association with mortality is poorly understood. We sought to assess the predictors of LVEF improvement ≥10% and its effect on mortality.

Methods

We compared characteristics of patients enrolled in The Surgical Treatment for Ischaemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial with and without improvement of LVEF ≥10% at 24 months. A logistic regression model was constructed to determine the independent predictors of LVEF improvement. A Cox proportional hazards model was created to assess the independent association of improvement in LVEF ≥10% with mortality.

Results

Of the 1212 patients enrolled in STICH, 618 underwent echocardiographic assessment of LVEF at baseline and 24 months. Of the patients randomised to medical therapy plus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), 58 (19%) had an improvement in LVEF >10% compared with 51 (16%) patients assigned to medical therapy alone (p=0.30). Independent predictors of LVEF improvement >10% included prior myocardial infarction (OR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.71, p=0.001) and lower baseline LVEF (OR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.97, p<0.001). Improvement in LVEF >10% (HR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.84, p=0.004) and randomisation to CABG (HR 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.90, p=0.004) were independently associated with a reduced hazard of mortality.

Conclusions

Improvement of LVEF ≥10% at 24 months was uncommon in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, did not differ between patients assigned to CABG and medical therapy or medical therapy alone and was independently associated with reduced mortality.

Trial registration number

NCT00023595.
Five simple reasons to discard DIP, or why we should stop calling dolphins big fish
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Sanjay , Aesif Scott W , Sansano Irene
Published: August 2020

The aim of this review is to explain why the term ‘desquamative interstitial pneumonia’ (DIP) should be discarded and replaced with modern terminology. Reason 1: DIP is a misnomer. Within a few years after the term was coined, it was shown that the airspace cells in DIP are macrophages not desquamated pneumocytes. Reason 2: As a result of overly simplistic and poorly defined histologic criteria, DIP is currently a mixed bag of smoking-related diseases and unrelated processes in never-smokers. Reason 3: DIP obfuscates the modern concept that smoking causes some forms of parenchymal lung disease. Despite the fact that >80% of cases of DIP are caused by smoking, it is currently classified as a ‘smoking-related idiopathic interstitial pneumonia’, an oxymoron. Reason 4: The premise that the presence of numerous macrophages within airspaces defines an entity creates problematic histologic overlap with other lung diseases that may feature prominent airspace macrophages. Reason 5: DIP is outdated. It was coined in 1965, when many entities in interstitial lung disease had not been described, smoking-related interstitial lung disease was an unknown concept, computed tomograms of the chest had not been introduced and immunohistochemistry was unavailable. We suggest a way forward, which includes eliminating the term DIP and separating smoking-related lung abnormalities (including accumulation of pigmented airspace macrophages) from cases characterised by numerous non-pigmented macrophages in never-smokers. The laudable goal of smoking cessation is not served well by muddying the relationship between smoking and lung disease with inaccurate, outdated terminology.
HITM-SURE: Hepatic immunotherapy for metastases phase Ib anti-CEA CAR-T study utilizing pressure enabled drug delivery
Authors: Katz Steven C , Moody Ashley E , Guha Prajna , Hardaway John C , Prince Ethan , LaPorte Jason , Stancu Mirela , Slansky Jill E , Jordan Kimberly R , Schulick Richard D , Knight Robert , Saied Abdul , Armenio Vincent , Junghans Richard P
Published: August 2020

In recent years, cell therapy technologies have resulted in impressive results in hematologic malignancies. Treatment of solid tumors with chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) has been less successful. Solid tumors present challenges not encountered with hematologic cancers, including high intra-tumoral pressure and ineffective CAR-T trafficking to the site of disease. Novel delivery methods may enable CAR-T therapies for solid tumor malignancies. A patient with liver metastases secondary to pancreatic adenocarcinoma received CAR-T targeting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Previously we reported that Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery (PEDD) enhanced CAR-T delivery to liver metastases 5.2-fold. Three doses of anti-CEA CAR-T were regionally delivered via hepatic artery infusion (HAI) using PEDD technology to optimize the therapeutic index. Interleukin-2 was systemically delivered by continuous intravenous infusion to support CAR-T in vivo. HAI of anti-CEA CAR-T was not associated with any serious adverse events (SAEs) above grade 3 and there were no on-target/off-tumor SAEs. Following CAR-T treatment, positron emission tomography-CT demonstrated a complete metabolic response within the liver, which was durable and sustained for 13 months. The response was accompanied by normalization of serum tumor markers and an abundance of CAR+ cells found within post-treatment tumor specimens. The findings from this report exhibit biologic activity and safety of regionally infused CAR-T for an indication with limited immune-oncology success to date. Further studies will determine how HAI of CAR-T may be included in multidisciplinary treatment plans for patients with liver metastases. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02850536.
Reversing the medical humanities
Authors: Scott-Fordsmand Helene
Published: August 2020

The paper offers the concept ofreversing the medical humanities. In agreement with the call from Kristevaet alto recognise the bidirectionality of the medical humanities, I propose moving beyond debates of attitude and aptitude in the application and engagement (either friendly or critical) of humanities to/in medicine, by considering a reversal of the directions of epistemic movement (a reversal of the flow of knowledge). I situate my proposal within existing articulations of the field found in the medical humanities meta-literature, pointing to a gap in the current terrain. I then develop the proposal by unfolding three reasons why we might gain something from exploring a reversed knowledge flow. First, a reversed knowledge flow seems to be an inherent—but still to be articulated—possibility in medical humanities and thus provides an opportunity for more knowledge. Second, the current unidirectionality of the field is founded on an inconsistency in the depiction of the connection between medicine and humanities, which risks creating the very divide that medical humanities set out to bridge. Practising a reversal may help avoid this divide. And third, a reversal might help rebalance the internal epistemic power, so as to motivate less external scepticism and in turn displace more external epistemic power towards medical humanities. I end the paper with a remark on precursors for a reversal, and ideas for where to go from here.
Estimating the price elasticity for cigarette and chewed tobacco in Pakistan: evidence from microlevel data
Authors: Nayab Durre , Nasir Muhammad , Memon Junaid Alam , Khalid Mahmood , Hussain Anwar
Published: August 2020

Background

While there is a large literature on the magnitude of price elasticity of cigarette demand, less is known about the same for chewed tobacco. Moreover, the studies on cigarette demand in Pakistan tend to ignore the heterogeneity in the smoking behaviour. This study estimates price elasticity for cigarette and chewed tobacco demand across different income groups, provinces and regions; and use these coefficients for simulating Pakistan’s tax policy and its impact on revenue and health outcomes.

Method

Deaton model was applied on the 2015–2016 Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey dataset to estimate price elasticities of different tobacco products.

Results

The demand for cigarettes is unitary elastic (−1.06), suggesting that a 1% increase in cigarette price would reduce its consumption by 1.06%. On the other hand, the demand for chewed tobacco is relatively inelastic (−0.55). Provincially, the own-price elasticity of cigarettes is negative and significant for all but Kyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province; whereas that of the chewed tobacco is negative and significant only for KP and Balochistan. Besides, the price elasticity of demand for both tobacco products is negative and significant only for lower income group and the rural region. The tax simulations favour a two-tiered tax system over the existing three-tiered system as the former will bring significantly better tax revenue and health outcomes.

Conclusions

While confirming the effectiveness of tax policies in curbing tobacco use, this study concludes that higher tobacco taxes could increase tax revenue and improve public health in Pakistan.
Impact of a recent tobacco tax reform in Argentina
Authors: González-Rozada Martín
Published: August 2020

The literature on policies for the control of the tobacco epidemic suggests that increasing excise taxes on the consumption of tobacco products is the most cost-effective policy. Cigarette tax structure in Argentina is very complex. All the tax bases for cigarette consumption taxes are related and, therefore, any modification of a tax affects the collection of the rest of the taxes. This is important given that funds raised by one of the taxes, the Special Tobacco Fund (FET), are allocated among the tobacco provinces according to the value of tobacco production. These provinces oppose in the congress to any reform that increase taxes on cigarette consumption that negatively affects these funds. In May 2016, the government decided to increase the rate of one of the taxes, the internal tax, from 60% to 75%. We study the impact on cigarettes’ demand price elasticity, consumption and tax revenues of this tobacco tax reform. Using an Error Correction Model, we estimate short-run and long-run demand price and income elasticities. We find that the tax reform of May 2016 induced an increase in the magnitude, in absolute value, of the short-run demand price elasticity and at the same time increased the funds collected by the FET. We simulate the effects of the tax reform over the government revenues and per-capita consumption of cigarettes showing that additional increments in taxes would increase revenues and diminish consumption of cigarettes.
Vernet’s syndrome (jugular foramen syndrome) secondary to osteoma of the tympanic bulla in a young male dog
Authors: Ruaux Craig , Champion Chris Paul , Pemberton Sarah , Munday John S
Published: August 2020

A one‐year‐old male neuter dog initially presented with clinical signs of pharyngitis and suspected oesophageal reflux. The dog subsequently developed unilateral (left side) Horner's syndrome. CT examination of the head and neck revealed a large mixed bone and soft tissue density lesion filling the majority of the left tympanic bulla and extending into the jugular foramen. Marked atrophy of the left sternocephalicus and brachiocephalicus muscles was present. Following recovery from anaesthesia, the dog suffered regurgitation and aspiration, resulting in respiratory and cardiac arrest. Given the imaging findings and grave prognosis, the dog's owners elected euthanasia. Autopsy examination revealed a tympanic bulla osteoma. The combination of cranial nerve IX, X and XI dysfunction, associated with disease of the jugular foramen, supports a diagnosis of Vernet's syndrome in this patient.
Dose escalation study of bovine lactoferrin in preterm infants: getting the dose right
Authors: Kaufman David A. , Berenz Andrew , Itell Hannah L. , Conaway Mark , Blackman Amy , Nataro James P. , Permar Sallie R.
Published: August 2020

Lactoferrin as a nutritional enteral supplement has emerged as a novel preventative therapy against serious infections in preterm infants, although neonatal studies have demonstrated variable results, in part due to the lack of pharmacokinetic data and differences in the products tested. We conducted a prospective, dose escalation (100, 200, and 300 mg·kg–1·day–1) safety study of bovine lactoferrin (Glanbia Nutritionals, USA) dissolved in sterile water (100 mg·mL–1) for 30 days in preterm infants with birth weight <1500 g. Safety related to adverse events (AEs), tolerability, and exposure-response of lactoferrin was assessed. We enrolled 31 patients [10, 10, and 11 patients, for the lactoferrin treatment groups (100, 200, and 300 mg·kg–1·day–1, respectively)] over a 10-month period. No AEs related to the study solution occurred, and lactoferrin was tolerated by each group. During lactoferrin supplementation, one bloodstream infection occurred in each group, but there were no incidences of urinary tract infections and no cases of necrotizing enterocolitis. Postnatal cytomegalovirus acquisition was detected in the group treated with 200 mg·kg–1·day–1 (n = 2). There were no adverse effects on hepatic, renal, or hematologic function. All of the patients survived to discharge. Bovine lactoferrin at doses up to 300 mg·kg–1·day–1 is safe in preterm infants. Future studies examining higher doses of lactoferrin, length of treatment, and potency of different products will aid in determining the optimal approach for the use of lactoferrin to prevent infections in preterm infants.
Perturbative and nonperturbative quasinormal modes of 4D Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet black holes
Authors: Aragón Almendra , Bécar Ramón , González P. A. , Vásquez Yerko
Published: August 2020

We study the propagation of probe scalar fields in the background of 4D Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet black holes with anti-de Sitter (AdS) asymptotics and calculate the quasinormal modes. Mainly, we show that the quasinormal spectrum consists of two different branches, a branch perturbative in the Gauss–Bonnet coupling constant $$\alpha $$α and another branch, nonperturbative in $$\alpha $$α. The perturbative branch consists of complex quasinormal frequencies that approximate the quasinormal frequencies of the Schwarzschild AdS black hole in the limit of a null coupling constant. On the other hand, the nonperturbative branch consists of purely imaginary frequencies and is characterized by the growth of the imaginary part when $$\alpha $$α decreases, diverging in the limit of null coupling constant; therefore they do not exist for the Schwarzschild AdS black hole. Also, we find that the imaginary part of the quasinormal frequencies is always negative for both branches; therefore, the propagation of scalar fields is stable in this background.
Anisotropic neutron stars with hyperons: implication of the recent nuclear matter data and observations of neutron stars
Authors: Rahmansyah A. , Sulaksono A. , Wahidin A. B. , Setiawan A. M.
Published: August 2020

Motivated by a recent report by Biwas and Bose (Phys Rev D 99:104002, 2019) that the observations of GW170817 to constrain the extent of pressure anisotropy in neutron stars within Bower–Liang anisotropic model, we systematically study the effects of anisotropic pressure on properties of the neutron stars with hyperons. The equation of state is calculated using the relativistic mean-field model with a BSP parameter set to determine nucleonic coupling constants and by using SU(6) and hyperon potential depths to determine hyperonic coupling constants. We investigate three models of anisotropic pressure known in literature namely Bowers and Liang (Astrophys J 88:657, 1974), Horvat et al. (Class Quant Grav 28:025009, 2011), and Cosenza et al. (J Math Phys (NY) 22:118, 1981). The reliability of the equation of state used is checked by comparing the parameters of the corresponding EOS to recent experimental data. The mass–radius, moment of inertia, and tidal deformability results of Bowers–Liang, Horvat et al., and Cosenza et al. anisotropic models are compared to the corresponding recent results extracted from the analysis of some NS observation data. We have found that the radii predicted by anisotropic NS are sensitive to the anisotropic model used and the results obtained by using the model proposed by Horvat et al. with anisotropic free parameter $$\varUpsilon ~\approx -$$Υ≈- 1.15 are relative compatible with all taken constraints.
Modeling multi-class disordered traffic flow subject to varying vehicle composition using the concept of traversable distance
Authors: Sreekumar M. , Mathew Tom V.
Published: August 2020

Disordered traffic stream at the microscopic level can be described as a permeable medium. Each vehicle is considered to traverse through a series of lateral gaps created by other vehicles. We develop a multi-class traffic flow model that considers such viable and accessible gaps for individual vehicle classes to traverse downstream. The model accounts for the varying shares of different vehicle classes. The concept of traversable distance and modified equilibrium speed functions are used to model the interplay among multiple vehicle classes. Using a higher order finite volume approximation method, evolution for a two-class traffic stream is shown. This model replicates prominent empirical characteristics exhibited by multi-class disordered traffic such as overtaking and creeping. Varying shares of smaller vehicles affect queue formation and discharge characteristics, and have significant impacts on roadway capacity. The model also could compute dynamic class-specific travel times at different vehicular compositions more realistically.
Viscoelasticity of Fractional Order: New Restrictions on Constitutive Equations with Applications
Authors: Atanacković Teodor M. , Janev Marko B. , Pilipović Stevan , Seleši Dora
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we analyze the restrictions on the coefficients in the constitutive equations of linear Viscoelasticity that follow from the Second Law of Thermodynamics under isothermal conditions. Especially, we analyze the constitutive equations in which fractional derivatives of real and complex order appear. We present the conditions that follow after application of the Bochner–Schwartz theorem. Conditions derived here, representing in certain cases a weak form of the Second law of Thermodynamics, are more general (weaker) than the classical Bagley–Torvik conditions widely used in Viscoelasticity Theory. Several examples that illustrate the theory are presented.
A METHOD TO CALCULATE THE AIS TRAUMA SCORE FROM A FINITE ELEMENT MODEL
Authors: BASTIEN C. , NEAL-STURGESS C. , CHRISTENSEN J. , WEN L.
Published: August 2020

In the real world, traumatic injuries are measured using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), however, such a scale cannot be computed to date or the injury precisely located by using human computer models. These models use stresses and strains to evaluate whether serious or fatal injuries are reached, which unfortunately bear no direct relation to AIS. This paper proposes to overcome this deficiency and suggests a unique Organ Trauma Model (OTM) able to calculate the risk to life of any organ injury, focussing in this case on real-life pedestrian head injuries. The OTM uses a power method, named Peak Virtual Power (PVP), and defines a brain white and gray matters trauma response as a function of impact direction and impact speed. The OTM was tested against four real-life pedestrian accidents and proved to predict the head trauma severity and location. In some cases, the method did however under-estimate the trauma by 1 AIS level because of post-impact haemorrhage which cannot be captured with Lagrangian Finite Element solvers. The OTM has the potential to create an important advance in vehicle safety by adding more information on the risk of head trauma.
Polynomials and reciprocals of Eisenstein series
Authors: Heim Bernhard , Neuhauser Markus
Published: August 2020

Hardy and Ramanujan introduced the Circle Method to study the Fourier expansion of certain meromorphic modular forms on the upper complex half-plane. These led to asymptotic results for the partition numbers and proven and unproven formulas for the coefficients of the reciprocals of Eisenstein series [Formula: see text], especially of weight 4. Berndt et al. finally proved them all. Recently, Bringmann and Kane generalized Petersson’s approach via Poincaré series, to handle the general case. We introduce a third approach. We attach recursively defined polynomials to reciprocals of Eisenstein series. This provides easy access to the signs of the Fourier coefficients of reciprocals of Eisenstein series, sheds some light on reciprocals of [Formula: see text] of general weight, and provides some upper and lower bounds for their growth.
Effects of pollution on individual size of a single species
Authors: Liu Bing , Song Le , Wang Xin , Kang Baolin
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we develop a single species evolutionary model with a continuous phenotypic trait in a pulsed pollution discharge environment and discuss the effects of pollution on the individual size of the species. The invasion fitness function of a monomorphic species is given, which involves the long-term average exponential growth rate of the species. Then the critical function analysis method is used to obtain the evolutionary dynamics of the system, which is related to interspecific competition intensity between mutant species and resident species and the curvature of the trade-off between individual size and the intrinsic growth rate. We conclude that the pollution affects the evolutionary traits and evolutionary dynamics. The worsening of the pollution can lead to rapid stable evolution toward a smaller individual size, while the opposite is more likely to generate evolutionary branching and promote species diversity. The adaptive dynamics of coevolution of dimorphic species is further analyzed when evolutionary branching occurs.
Human Resources and Skills as Drivers in Developing the Food Processing Sector: A Special Reference to Assam
Authors: KHATI PRIYANKA , KIM DONGUK
Published: August 2020

This study targets to discover the drivers of the food processing sector in Assam, which is one of the seven states in the North Eastern Region of India. In the earlier section of the study, it tends to discover the significance, challenges and constraints of the sector through various studies to find how important human resources and skills are in developing the sector. It, then, displays the overall performance and the status of North Eastern Region’s food processing sector whereby Assam is found to be the leading state in terms of output and productivity. With the discovery of Assam’s outstanding performance, this study analyzes the status of the region’s human resources and skills development and finally, proves that Assam’s food processing industry is better off due to its relatively advanced human resource.
RF-AMOC
Authors: Zhu Shaoyi , Huang Weiqing , Jia Chenggang , Wang Siye , Li Bowen , Zhang Yanfang
Published: August 2020

The use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in supply chain has been a fairly mature application in recent years, which can be extended to the field of carrier management for the inventory and access control of sensitive files and mobile storage medium. To address the inherent defects of false readings of RFID, we present RF-AMOC, a tag movement identification system that leverages the signal variation patterns between the opposite antennas and the tag to accurately determine whether someone takes the sensitive carrier out of the room or just the normal carrier usage activity in the room. Particularly, we focus on two kinds of signal variation modes:
Direct side
models, where the RSSI is sensed by one antenna on the tag side, and
obstruction side
models, where the RSSI is sensed by the other antenna that was obstructed by the person. Then, Pearson Coefficient and crest comparison algorithms are adopted to match the theoretical and actual RF-signal curves on the two sides, respectively. Additionally, a starting point acquisition method is proposed to extract the meaningful time period. A prototype of RF-AMOC is realized in two different environments with various persons, and the results validate that it is superior in terms of sensitivity and specificity with strong robustness.
Nanoparticle Toxicology
Authors: Yang Wen , Wang Lin , Mettenbrink Evan M. , DeAngelis Paul L. , Wilhelm Stefan
Published: August 2020

Nanoparticles from natural and anthropogenic sources are abundant in the environment, thus human exposure to nanoparticles is inevitable. Due to this constant exposure, it is critically important to understand the potential acute and chronic adverse effects that nanoparticles may cause to humans. In this review, we explore and highlight the current state of nanotoxicology research with a focus on mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle toxicity at organ, tissue, cell, and biomolecular levels. We discuss nanotoxicity mechanisms, including generation of reactive oxygen species, nanoparticle disintegration, modulation of cell signaling pathways, protein corona formation, and poly(ethylene glycol)-mediated immunogenicity. We conclude with a perspective on potential approaches to advance current understanding of nanoparticle toxicity. Such improved understanding may lead to mitigation strategies that could enable safe application of nanoparticles in humans. Advances in nanotoxicity research will ultimately inform efforts to establish standardized regulatory frameworks with the goal of fully exploiting the potential of nanotechnology while minimizing harm to humans.
Review—Thin-Film Transistors (TFTs) for Highly Sensitive Biosensing Applications: A Review
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Goyal Amit Kumar , Gupta Neha
Published: August 2020

This review manuscript presents Thin-Film Transistors (TFTs) for various highly sensitive biosensing applications. A low-cost, highly sensitive, early-stage diagnostic bio-sensing devices are vital for different biomedical and biological applications. Nanotechnology-based biosensor devices such as bioFET, thin-film transistor (TFT), etc. are used to overcome the problems of conventional health diagnostic approaches. Among them, TFT based biosensors have gained a lot of attention owing to high sensitivity, high-scalability, low power consumption, rapid electrical detection, low-cost mass production, and direct electrical readouts. Further to improve the sensitivity of TFT bases biosensor, transparent materials are frequently used in current biosensing research fields and it is found that indium tin oxide (ITO) is most favorable for biosensing applications. Thus, the amalgamation of ITO on TFT paves the way with the existing CMOS technology for early-stage diagnostic of protein-related diseases such as coronary artery disease, ovarian cancer, and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Runoff Purification Effects of Permeable Concrete Modified by Diatomite and Zeolite Powder
Authors: Liu Jun , Li Yanpeng
Published: August 2020

Diatomite and zeolite powder exhibit cellular structures that are beneficial to absorb pollutants in road surface runoff. In this work, the runoff purification effects of permeable concrete modified by diatomite and zeolite powder were studied. First, magnesium dihydroxide was used to modify diatomite; then the modified diatomite and the zeolite powder were innovatively adopted as binders to prepare permeable concrete. In addition, compressive strength, effective porosity, purification effect, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) tests, as well as gray correlation analysis, were carried out. Finally, the optimal dosages of modified diatomite and zeolite powder in permeable concrete were suggested. The results show that diatomite (modified diatomite) and zeolite powder can improve the compressive strength, effective porosity, and runoff purification effects of permeable concrete. In addition, the 10% modified diatomite and the 3% zeolite powder exhibit the highest correlation with the properties of modified permeable concrete.
Management of Voltage Profile and Power Loss Minimization in a Grid-Connected Microgrid System Using Fuzzy-Based STATCOM Controller
Authors: Yenealem Mezigebu Getinet , Ngoo Livingstone M. H. , Shiferaw Dereje , Hinga Peterson
Published: August 2020

The expansion of renewable energy is continuing powerfully. Electrical system ought to transmit power with diminished loss, improved power quality, and reliability while pleasing the need of customer’s load demand. Nevertheless, owing to the exhaustion of fossil fuels and their environmental impact, the availability of quality, stable, and reliable power in developing countries is worrying. Integrating a solar-wind based microgrid to the distribution network is the more feasible and best alternative solution to gratify the customer intensifying power demand while seeing the strict environmental regulations of generating power. However, the microgrid system connected in a distribution network has diverse problems and challenges. The problems comprise the development of voltage sag and swell, voltage unbalance, and power losses because of the intermittent nature of PV and wind resources. The objective of this study is to integrate microgrid system with STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) controller to ensure the higher power flow with enhanced voltage profile and reduced power loss. MATLAB/PSAT is used to model microgrid and STATCOM controller connected to the grid. Proportional integral (PI) and fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) are also applied to control the STATCOM. The effectiveness of STATCOM with microgrid integration is tested by connecting to the main distribution system using standard IEEE 30-bus system. Finally, it was observed that STATCOM raises the capacity of the distribution line and contributes to voltage profile improvements and power loss reduction.
Study on the Mechanism of Organic Matter Enrichment in Early Cambrian Marine Shales in the Lower Yangtze Area, South China: An Example Using Well JXY1
Authors: Cheng Sihong , Li Bin , Zhang Kun , Liu Weiwei , Peng Jun , Hou Mingcai , Wen Ming , Xia Qingsong , Wang Xin , Liu Xiaoxue , Zhong Li , Huang Yizhou , Liu Yongyang , Yuan Muhe , Yao Yue
Published: August 2020

The abundance of organic matter in shales, which has a direct effect on the hydrocarbon generation potential of shales, is an important organic geochemical parameter for evaluating shale gas reservoirs. The total organic carbon content (TOC content) in shale is controlled by the abundance of original sedimentary organic matter. Therefore, it is very important to study the mechanism of organic matter enrichment in shale. In this paper, the Lower Cambrian marine shales from the Lower Yangtze region are selected as the research subject, most of which originate from a typical area well called Well JXY1. The degree of pyritization (DOP) is used to characterize the redox environment of the water body, while the P/Al ratio is used to analyze the biological productivity of paleoseawater. The paleosalinity of seawater is calculated via carbon and oxygen isotope analysis. In addition, the early Cambrian hydrothermal activities were studied by using core description; Si, Al, Fe, and Mn elemental analysis; and oxygen isotope calculations. The results show that during the early Cambrian Wangyinpu sedimentary period, the seawater was an anaerobic water body with H2S, and the oxygen concentration was approximately 0 mL/L. In the middle stages of the Wangyinpu sedimentary period, the water body had the strongest reducibility and the highest biological productivity. Moreover, the paleoocean in this period between the Yangtze plate and the Cathaysian plate was greatly affected by hydrothermal activities, with temperatures ranging from 90°C to 120°C. Active hydrothermal activities promoted high biological productivity and an anaerobic environment, both of which were conducive to the preservation and enrichment of organic matter, resulting in extremely high TOC content in the Wangyinpu shales (from 6.5% to approximately 16%).
High-Precision Spotlight SAR Imaging with Joint Modified Fast Factorized Backprojection and Autofocus
Authors: Zhang Man , Li Haolin , Wang Guanyong
Published: August 2020

Fast factorized backprojection (FFBP) takes advantage of high accuracy of time-domain algorithms while also possessing high efficiency comparable with conventional frequency domain algorithms. When phase errors need to be compensated for high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, however, neither polar formatted subimages within FFBP flow nor the final Cartesian image formed by FFBP is suitable for phase gradient autofocus (PGA). This is because these kinds of images are not capable of providing PGA with a clear Fourier transform relationship (FTR) between image domain and range-compressed phase history domain. In this paper, we make some essential modifications to the original FFBP and present a scheme to incorporate overlapped-subaperture frame for an accurate PGA processing. The raw data collected by an airborne high-resolution spotlight SAR are used to demonstrate the performance of this algorithm.
Esthetic Rehabilitation Using Magnet-Retained Cheek Plumper Prosthesis
Authors: Rewari Alisha , Dabas Nupur , Sanan Reshu , Phogat Shefali , Phukela Sumit Singh , Vigarniya Monika
Published: August 2020

Summary. Prosthetic rehabilitation of a completely edentulous patient is no more confined to replacement of missing teeth. Long span of edentulism and ageing leads to loss of support of the facial musculature, which is of great concern in treating completely edentulous patients. Flaccid facial musculature eventually leads to sunken cheeks and unesthetic appearance, causing a negative impact on psychological well-being of the patient. The use of conventional complete dentures can restore the loss to some extent, but in some cases, additional support is required. The present clinical report exemplifies the use of magnet-retained detachable maxillary cheek plumper prosthesis in a completely edentulous patient with sunken cheeks.
A Modified Murine Calvarial Osteolysis Model Exposed to Ti Particles in Aseptic Loosening
Authors: Deng Zhantao , Wang Shuai , Li Mengyuan , Fu Guangtao , Liu Chang , Li Shuxian , Jin Jiewen , Lyu Feng-Juan , Ma Yuanchen , Zheng Qiujian
Published: August 2020

Aim. To investigate the different effects on osteolysis between commercial pure Ti particles and TiAl6V4 particles obtained from prosthesis of patients with aseptic loosening. Method. Scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction were used for the size test, chemical composition test, and phase analysis of two kinds of Ti particles. Microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) and 3‐dimensional reconstruction analysis were applied to analyze the bone loss quantitatively and radiologically. Hematoxylin‐eosin (HE) staining and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining were used to assess the histologic difference. Result. TiAl6V4 particles were constituted by FeO, Al45V7, and Al3Ti while pure Ti particles were constituted by Ti, Ti3O, and C4H7NO3. Similar particle size of nanoscale was detected of two Ti particles. A TiAl6V4 osteolysis model had more severe bone loss when scanned with micro‐CT and assessed by quantitative analysis. TiAl6V4 also presented deeper and wider calvarial bone loss in HE staining and more activated osteoclasts in TRAP staining. Conclusion. A mouse calvarial model is the most effective animal model for the primary in vivo research of aseptic loosening. Compared with commercial Ti particles, TiAl6V4 particles derived from prosthesis of an aseptic loosening patient had more severe bone loss and more activated osteoclast, which was more consistent with pathogenesis of aseptic loosening in vivo, had high success rate of establishment of a model, and was more desired in animal modeling.
An Overview on Linear Unmixing of Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Wei Jiaojiao , Wang Xiaofei
Published: August 2020

Hyperspectral remote sensing technology has a strong capability for ground object detection due to the low spatial resolution of hyperspectral imaging spectrometers. A single pixel that leads to a hyperspectral remote sensing image usually contains more than one feature coverage type, resulting in a mixed pixel. The existence of a mixed pixel affects the accuracy of the ground object identification and classification and hinders the application and development of hyperspectral technology. For the problem of unmixing of mixed pixels in hyperspectral images (HSIs), the linear mixing model can model the mixed pixels well. Through the collation of nearly five years of the literature, this paper introduces the development status and problems of linear unmixing models from four aspects: geometric method, nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), Bayesian method, and sparse unmixing.
Experimental Research on Chloride Erosion Resistance of Rubber Concrete
Authors: Zhu Ruonan , Pang Jianyong , Wang Tingya , Huang Xin
Published: August 2020

Chloride corrosion test was carried out in 4% NaCl solution to study the chloride corrosion resistance of rubber concrete. Rubber concrete was prepared by using 20 mesh, 1∼3 mm, and 3∼6 mm rubber particles instead of sand by 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of the cementitious material mass. The P‐wave velocity and compressive strength of rubber concrete were measured. The microstructure of rubber concrete corroded by chloride was analyzed by SEM. The micromorphology was compared with the macrofailure characteristics under uniaxial compression. The results show that the rubber concrete was still in the early stage of erosion. With the increase of immersion time at the age of 110 days, the P‐wave velocity and compressive strength of concrete were generally on the rise. Furthermore, during the period of erosion, the mechanical properties of rubber concrete increased with the increase of rubber particle size and decreased with the increase of the content. Therefore, when the rubber particle size was 3∼6 mm and the content was 5%, the antierosion performance was the best. This study has a certain guiding significance for the chloride corrosion resistance of rubber concrete.