bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Stress Markers among Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients
Authors: Stanek Agata , Brożyna-Tkaczyk Klaudia , Myśliński Wojciech
Published: July 2021

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic respiratory disorder, which can be present in up to 50% of the population, depending on the country. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways with consistent movement of the respiratory musculature during sleep. Apneas and hypopneas can lead to a decrease in oxygen saturation, an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, and subsequent arousals and sleep fragmentation caused by repetitive activation of the central nervous system. As a consequence, intermittent hypoxemia and consequent reoxygenation result in the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to systematic oxidative stress, which is postulated to be a key mechanism of endothelial dysfunction and increased risk for cardiovascular disorders in patients with OSA. In this review, various biomarkers of oxidative stress, including high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A, superoxide dismutase, cell‐free DNA, 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine, advanced oxidation protein products, lipid peroxidation products, receptor for advanced glycation end‐products, and thioredoxin are discussed. Biomarkers of oxidative stress have the potential to be used to assess disease severity and treatment response. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is one of the most common noninvasive treatments for OSA; it keeps the upper airways open during sleep. This reduces episodes of intermittent hypoxia, reoxygenation, and arousal at night. CPAP has been shown to have anti‐inflammatory properties and decrease oxidative stress. The administration of certain compounds, like vitamins A, C, and E as well as N‐acetylcysteine and allopurinol, can decrease oxidative stress markers. However, their role in the treatment of OSA remains unclear.
Health-Promoting Constituents and Selected Quality Parameters of Different Types of Kimchi: Fermented Plant Products
Authors: Korus Anna , Bernaś Emilia , Korus Jarosław
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and health-promoting constituents of several variants of kimchi obtained from Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, white radish, and cucumbers. The level of dry matter, total soluble solids, ash, total acidity, pH, dietary fiber, and vitamins C, B1, and B2, as well as total polyphenols (TP) and antioxidant activity AA (ABTS, DPPH) in kimchi, were determined. In addition, color parameters were determined (

L
∗
,
a
∗
,
b

∗

,

C
∗

, and

h

o

). Kimchi with the highest proportion of Chinese cabbage (63%) had the highest levels of dry matter (11.01 g), ash (2.57 g), and vitamins: C, B1, and B2 (51 mg, 52 μg, and 242 μg, respectively), expressed per 100 g of fresh weight. In addition, this product showed the highest total AA of 132.3 μmol Tx/g (ABTS) and 49.7 μmol Tx/g (DPPH) due to its high level of TP (194 mg/100 g). Cucumber-derived kimchi (85%) also had a high content of TP (147 mg/100 g) and high AA of 88.7 μmol Tx/g (ABTS) and 36.3 μmol Tx/g (DPPH). Additionally, stuffed kimchi from kohlrabi (88%) had the highest amounts of total dietary fiber, 3.65 g/100 g fresh weight. In all products, red (

a
∗

) and yellow (

b
∗

) were the dominant colors, with values of

L
∗

ranging between 32.63 and 53.16. In general, our studies have shown that depending on the raw materials used, kimchi is a good source of dietary fiber but also vitamins and polyphenols.
Changes in the Nutrient Composition of Barley Grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) and of Morphological Fractions of Sprouts
Authors: Ortiz Luis T. , Velasco Susana , Treviño Jesús , Jiménez Beatriz , Rebolé Almudena
Published: July 2021

The objectives of the current study were (1) to evaluate the effect of sprouting on protein, amino acids, fats, fatty acids, starch, total soluble carbohydrates, and ß-D-glucan content of barley grains and (2) to know the content of these nutrients in the morphological fractions of sprouts: green shoot, residual structure of sprouted grain (RSSG), residual structure of sprouted grain plus unsprouted grain (RSSG plus UG), and root fractions and to determine the proportion of each of these fractions (on fresh and dry basis) in the sprout biomass. Barley grain was sprouted in a commercial germination chamber for a period of 6 days. Raw grain was used as a control. Results showed that crude protein, ether extract, total soluble carbohydrates, and cellulose content increased, whereas starch and ß-D-glucan content decreased in sprouted when compared with the control grain. Amino acid and fatty acid profiles were also affected. Thus, aspartic acid, threonine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, lysine, and tryptophan content increased and only that of glutamic acid decreased after sprouting. Regarding fatty acids, an increase in the relative concentration of C18 : 0 and C18:3n-3 and a decrease in that of C18:1n-9 were detected. Partitioning of sprouted barley into three morphological component fractions showed that the residual structures of sprouted grains plus unsprouted grain fraction made up 82.9% and 93.6% of sprout biomass, on fresh and DM basis, respectively, and the remainder was provided by the root fraction, 10.3% and 3.2%, respectively, and by the green shoot fraction, 6.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The three morphological fractions differed in the content of the most analyzed nutrients.
RELAY Subgroup Analyses by EGFR Ex19del and Ex21L858R Mutations for Ramucirumab Plus Erlotinib in Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Nadal Ernest , Garon Edward B. , Nishio Makoto , Seto Takashi , Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Park Keunchil , Shih Jin-Yuan , Paz-Ares Luis , Frimodt-Moller Bente , Zimmermann Annamaria H. , Wijayawardana Sameera , Visseren-Grul Carla , Reck Martin ,   for the RELAY study investigators
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

In EGFR-mutated metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), outcomes from EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have differed historically by mutation type present, with lower benefit reported in patients with ex21L858R versus ex19del mutations. We investigated if EGFR-activating mutation subtypes impact treatment outcomes in the phase III RELAY study. Associations between EGFR mutation type and preexisting co-occurring and treatment-emergent genetic alterations were also explored.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with metastatic NSCLC, an EGFR ex19del or ex21L858R mutation, and no central nervous system metastases were randomized (1:1) to erlotinib (150 mg/day) with either ramucirumab (10 mg/kg; RAM+ERL) or placebo (PBO+ERL), every 2 weeks, until RECIST v1.1–defined progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary and exploratory endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), PFS2, time-to-chemotherapy (TTCT), safety, and next-generation sequencing analyses.

Results:

Patients with ex19del and ex21L858R mutations had similar clinical characteristics and comutational profiles. One-year PFS rates for ex19del patients were 74% for RAM+ERL versus 54% for PBO+ERL; for ex21L858R rates were 70% (RAM+ERL) versus 47% (PBO+ERL). Similar treatment benefits (ORR, DOR, PFS2, and TTCT) were observed in RAM+ERL–treated patients with ex19del and ex21L858R. Baseline TP53 comutation was associated with superior outcomes for RAM+ERL in both ex19del and ex21L858R subgroups. EGFR T790M mutation rate at progression was similar between treatment arms and by mutation type.

Conclusions:

RAM+ERL provided significant clinical benefit for both EGFR ex19del and ex21L858R NSCLC, supporting this regimen as suitable for patients with either of these EGFR mutation types.
Ceralasertib (AZD6738), an Oral ATR Kinase Inhibitor, in Combination with Carboplatin in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: A Phase I Study
Authors: Yap Timothy A. , Krebs Matthew G. , Postel-Vinay Sophie , El-Khouiery Anthony , Soria Jean-Charles , Lopez Juanita , Berges Alienor , Cheung S.Y. Amy , Irurzun-Arana Itziar , Goldwin Andrew , Felicetti Brunella , Jones Gemma N. , Lau Alan , Frewer Paul , Pierce Andrew J. , Clack Glen , Stephens Christine , Smith Simon A. , Dean Emma , Hollingsworth Simon J.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

This study reports the safety, tolerability, MTD, recommended phase II dose (RP2D), pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile, and preliminary antitumor activity of ceralasertib combined with carboplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors. It also examined exploratory predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.

Patients and Methods:

Eligible patients (n = 36) received a fixed dose of carboplatin (AUC5) with escalating doses of ceralasertib (20 mg twice daily to 60 mg once daily) in 21-day cycles. Sequential and concurrent combination dosing schedules were assessed.

Results:

Two ceralasertib MTD dose schedules, 20 mg twice daily on days 4–13 and 40 mg once daily on days 1–2, were tolerated with carboplatin AUC5; the latter was declared the RP2D. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥3) were anemia (39%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and neutropenia (25%). Dose-limiting toxicities of grade 4 thrombocytopenia (n = 2; including one grade 4 platelet count decreased) and a combination of grade 4 thrombocytopenia and grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 3 patients. Ceralasertib was quickly absorbed (tmax ∼1 hour), with a terminal plasma half-life of 8–11 hours. Upregulation of pRAD50, indicative of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation, was observed in tumor biopsies during ceralasertib treatment. Two patients with absent or low ATM or SLFN11 protein expression achieved confirmed RECIST v1.1 partial responses. Eighteen of 34 (53%) response-evaluable patients had RECIST v1.1 stable disease.

Conclusions:

The RP2D for ceralasertib plus carboplatin was established as ceralasertib 40 mg once daily on days 1–2 administered with carboplatin AUC5 every 3 weeks, with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies confirming pharmacodynamic modulation and preliminary evidence of antitumor activity observed.
FDA Approval Summary: Osimertinib for Adjuvant Treatment of Surgically Resected Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer, a Collaborative Project Orbis Review
Authors: Koch Abigail L. , Vellanki Paz J. , Drezner Nicole , Li Xiaoxue , Mishra-Kalyani Pallavi S. , Shen Yuan Li , Xia Huiming , Li Yangbing , Liu Jiang , Zirkelbach Jeanne Fourie , Palazov Elitza , Gamarian Aleksandr , Choo Qiuyi , Girčys Arūnas , Rohr Ulrich-Peter , Fesenko Nataliya , Spillman Dianne , Pazdur Richard , Beaver Julia A. , Singh Harpreet
Published: July 2021

On December 18, 2020, the FDA approved osimertinib as adjuvant therapy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test. The approval was based on the ADAURA study, in which 682 patients with NSCLC were randomized to receive osimertinib (n = 339) or placebo (n = 343). Disease-free survival (DFS) in the overall population (stage IB–IIIA) was improved for patients who received osimertinib, with an HR of 0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15–0.27; P < 0.0001. Median DFS was not reached for the osimertinib arm compared with 27.5 months (95% CI, 22.0–35.0) for patients receiving placebo. Overall survival data were not mature at the time of the approval. This application was reviewed under FDA's Project Orbis, in collaboration with Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration, Brazil ANVISA, Health Canada, Singapore Health Sciences Authority, Switzerland Swissmedic, and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. This is the first targeted therapy adjuvant approval for NSCLC and has practice-changing implications.
New Reference Values for Thyroid Volume and a Comprehensive Assessment for Influencing Factors in Chinese Adults with Iodine Sufficiency
Authors: Guo Wenxing , Tan Long , Dong Shuyao , Jin Ya , Zhu Mei , Wei Hongyan , Chen Yanting , Fan Lili , Du Cong , Zhang Wanqi
Published: July 2021

Objectives: The reference values for thyroid volume (Tvol) determined by ultrasound require supportive data of normal Tvol from local iodine-sufficient populations. This study aimed to explore new reference values for Tvol in Chinese adults and comprehensively evaluate the factors associated with enlarged Tvol. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tianjin, China. Tvol was measured by ultrasound in adults with long-term iodine sufficiency. Blood and urine samples were collected to evaluate biochemical indexes, thyroid function, and iodine status. Results: A total of 1,991 adults from the urban and suburban areas were analysed. The trend of Tvol increasing with age was observed in men under age 40 years and in women under age 52 years. In the quantile regression analyses, we found that body surface area (BSA) (β = 7.22, 95% CI: 5.33, 9.12), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (β = −1.48, 95% CI: −2.39, −0.57), thyroid nodules (TNs) (β = 6.70, 95% CI: 2.19, 11.22), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (β = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.63, 2.17) had a strong effect on Tvol at higher percentiles in males. The dominant factors influencing Tvol were BSA (β = 9.64, 95% CI: 2.66, 16.61), TSH (β = −0.78, 95% CI: −1.16, −0.39), and TNs (β = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.43, 1.79) in females. The largest reference values for Tvol based on BSA were 20.18 (17.79, 24.32) mL in males and 15.31 (14.05, 16.70) mL in females. Conclusions: Quantile regression analyses showed that a high BSA index, a decreased TSH level, and the prevalence of TNs were essential factors associated with the enlargement of the thyroid gland. Our findings reported the new reference values for Tvol determined by ultrasound based on gender and BSA in Chinese adults.
Laparotomy-Assisted Direct Cholangioscopy for Bile Duct Stone Removal via an Incision of the Jejunum
Authors: Sugimoto Shinya , Murabayashi Toji , Ichikawa Ayako , Sato Keita , Kamei Akira
Published: July 2021

A 77-year-old man presented to our hospital with epigastric pain. He had previously undergone hepatic left lateral segmentectomy, cholangiojejunostomy, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction at 42 years of age for intrahepatic stones and liver abscesses. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed bile duct stones and intrahepatic bile duct dilation of the caudate lobe. Bile duct drainage for the caudate lobe was necessary; however, the volume of his caudate lobe was very small, making percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) difficult. Therefore, we attempted laparotomy-assisted endoscopic biliary drainage. Under general anesthesia, an incision was made on the jejunum approximately 15 cm from the Y-leg anastomosis. An esophagogastroduodenoscope was directly inserted into the common hepatic duct anastomosed with the jejunum. The caudate lobe branch had severe stenosis, and the area upstream of the stenosis was filled with stones, sludge, and pus. The biliary stenosis was dilated using a balloon, and the stones were completely removed using a basket and a balloon catheter. There are various methods of biliary and pancreatic surgery and gastrointestinal reconstruction, and there are cases in which PTBD, EUS-BD, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with an enteroscope are difficult. In such cases, ERCP under laparotomy could be a good treatment option.
Expanding DSD Phenotypes Associated with Variants in the DEAH-Box RNA Helicase DHX37
Authors: Zidoune Housna , Martinerie Laetitia , Tan Daisylyn S. , Askari Masomeh , Rezgoune Djalila , Ladjouze Asmahane , Boukri Asma , Benelmadani Yasmina , Sifi Karima , Abadi Noureddine , Satta Dalila , Rastari Mandana , Seresht-Ahmadi Mehrshad , Bignon-Topalovic Joelle , Mazen Inas , Leger Juliane , Simon Dominique , Brauner Raja , Totonchi Mehdi , Jauch Ralf , Bashamboo Anu , McElreavey Kenneth
Published: July 2021

Missense variants in the RNA-helicase DHX37 are associated with either 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis or 46,XY testicular regression syndrome (TRS). DHX37 is required for ribosome biogenesis, and this subgroup of XY DSD is a new human ribosomopathy. In a cohort of 140 individuals with 46,XY DSD, we identified 7 children with either 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis or 46,XY TRS carrying rare or novel DHX37 variants. A novel p.R390H variant within the RecA1 domain was identified in a girl with complete gonadal dysgenesis. A paternally inherited p.R487H variant, previously associated with a recessive congenital developmental syndrome, was carried by a boy with a syndromic form of 46,XY DSD. His phenotype may be explained in part by a novel homozygous loss-of-function variant in the NGLY1 gene, which causes a congenital disorder of deglycosylation. Remarkably, a homozygous p.T477H variant was identified in a boy with TRS. His fertile father had unilateral testicular regression with typical male genital development. This expands the DSD phenotypes associated with DHX37. Structural analysis of all variants predicted deleterious effects on helicase function. Similar to all other known ribosomopathies, the mechanism of pathogenesis is unknown.
Effect of Sustained Interventions from Infancy to Toddlerhood in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate for Preventing Early Childhood Caries
Authors: Abirami Sivasubramanian , Panchanadikar Noopur , Muthu Murugan Satta , Balasubramanian Suganya , Murthy Jyotsna , Mohan Anusha , Haridoss Selvakumar , Subbalekshmi Thirunavukkarasu
Published: July 2021

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sustained interventions in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) for preventing early childhood caries (ECC). This prospective, nonrandomized interventional cohort study was conducted in infants aged 0–12 months with congenital CLP. Interventions were given to parents/primary caregivers in the form of combined oral health-care measures (sterile wet gauze piece, finger brush, toothbrush, and toothpaste) by a motivational interviewing approach. Education of primary caregivers on oral hygiene was provided by audiovisual aids and demonstration. Reinforcement of the prescribed regimen was done through daily short message services in caregivers’ preferred language and bimonthly telephone calls. Participants were followed up for 9–32 months from the time of recruitment, with a mean period of 18.3 ± 5.1 months. Rates of dental caries were represented as prevalence rates, incidence density, and transitional probability. The distribution of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) scores on different tooth surfaces affected in the intervention group was compared descriptively with that of the age- and sex-matched historical control groups. On analysis of surface-wise distribution of the ICDAS scores in the intervention group (n = 1,919), 1.2% (n = 24) had noncavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 1 and 2), 0.88% (n = 17) had cavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 3–6), and 0.26% (n = 5) had both cavitated and noncavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 1–6). The incidence density of caries-affected children observed at the first and last follow-ups was 1.2 persons/100 person-months and 1.3 persons/100 person-months of observation, respectively. The incidence density of new caries-affected tooth surfaces at the first and last follow-ups was 0.163 surfaces/100 surface-months and 0.062 surfaces/100 surface-months, respectively. Maxillary first molars had the maximum transition from sound to the cavitated lesion (11.5%), followed by maxillary incisors from sound to noncavitated (7.5%) at the last follow-up. Based on the newly developed assessment criteria in our study, sustained interventions proved to be significantly effective in preventing ECC in children with CLP.
Nintedanib-Induced Renal Thrombotic Microangiopathy
Authors: Fujita Takeshi , Nakagawa Hideyuki , Yokota Takashi , Umetani Jun , Nagawa Daiki , Nakata Masamichi , Narita-Kinjo Ikuyo , Murakami Reiichi , Shimada Michiko , Nakamura Norio , Tomita Hirofumi
Published: July 2021

Nintedanib is a unique tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to suppress fibrosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Nintedanib has been shown to suppress multiple processes of fibrosis, thereby reducing the rate of lung function decline in patients with IPF. Since vascular endothelial growth factor is one of this agent’s targets, nephrotoxicity, including renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), is a possible major adverse effect. However, only 2 previous cases of nintedanib-induced renal TMA have been published. Our patient was an 83-year-old man with IPF. As adverse effects including liver enzyme level elevation, diarrhoea, anorexia, and nephrotoxicity developed, the nintedanib dosage was reduced after 9 months. The digestive symptoms resolved promptly, but the proteinuria and reduced kidney function remained. Although the kidney injury had improved to some extent, we performed a percutaneous renal biopsy. The biopsy revealed typical TMA findings such as microaneurysms filled with pale material, segmental double contours of glomerular basement membranes, and intracapillary foam cells. After discontinuation of nintedanib, the patient’s nephrotoxicity improved. Nintedanib-induced renal TMA is reversible and is possibly dose-dependent. Here, we report the clinical course of our case and review the characteristics of nintedanib-induced renal TMA.
Use of Polypropylene Strips for Reinforcement of the Cruroplasty in Laparoscopic Paraesophageal Hernia Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Van Den Dop L. Matthijs , De Smet Gijs H.J. , Mamound Aziz , Lange Johan , Wijnhoven Bas P.L. , Hueting Willem
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is an effective treatment for symptomatic paraesophageal hernias. To reduce recurrence rates, the use of prosthetics for the crural repair has been suggested. Mesh-related complications are rare but known to be disastrous. To address another form of crural repair, polypropylene strips are suggested. This study aimed to assess peri- and postoperative complications of reinforcement of cruroplasty with polypropylene strips. Methods: From 2013 to 2020, patients with a primary or recurrent type 2, 3, or 4 paraesophageal hernia that underwent cruroplasty with polypropylene strips were retrospectively reviewed. Intra- and postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The incidence of symptomatic recurrent hiatal hernia (CT or endoscopy proven) and hospital stay were assessed. Results: One hundred fifty-eight patients were included. Mean age was 65 years (standard deviation 10.4), and 119 patients were female (75.3%). Almost 50% of surgeries took place between 2018 and 2020. Median follow-up was 7 months (interquartile range 17.5). Mean operation time in the primary hernia group was 159 min (standard deviation 39.0), and length of stay was 4.4 days. In 3/158 patients (2.0%), intraoperative complications occurred. Two patients developed a grade 4 and seven patients a grade 3 postoperative complication. No mortality was recorded. Twelve recurrences (8.2%) were detected in the primary hernia group and one (9.1%) in the recurrent hernia group. Conclusion: There were no mesh-related complications seen and symptomatic recurrence rate was low, but longer follow-up is needed.
Writings of the Subsoil in the Contemporary Congolese Novel
Authors: Garnier Xavier
Published: July 2021

The expression “geological scandal,” used at the end of the nineteenth century by the Belgian geologist Jules Cornet to describe the mineral wealth of the eastern Congo, has become even more relevant today if we think of the misfortunes that affect the region. Global predation in this part of central Africa is naturally at the heart of the literary preoccupations of many Congolese writers, who invent narrative forms that are able to account for what is being played out beneath the earth’s surface, in the bowels of the earth. In this paper, I wish to highlight the literature of the mine that begins in the colonial era of the Congolese novel and develops considerably in contemporary times. Through the reading of a few major Congolese novels, this article analyzes how the Congo’s subsoil is the vector of globalization.
On the Thrust Generation from an Elliptic Airfoil in Plunging and Translating Motion at Low Reynolds Numbers
Authors: Fahad Anwer Syed , Mohammed Yahya Syed , Athar Khan Mohammad , Masood Saif
Published: July 2021

In this paper, numerical simulation elliptic airfoil model, which mimics the biological locomotion, is studied. Elliptic airfoil undergoes a combined plunging and translating at low Reynolds number is simulated by using body fitted coordinate system. The moving mesh in the physical
domain is mapped to a regular fixed mesh in the computational domain through a time dependent transformation between the physical and computational co-ordinates. The governing equations of laminar incompressible flow are transformed in the computational plane by incorporating the time dependent
transformation, which naturally accounts for the mesh velocities. The transformed equations are discretized on the structured, collocated, o-type elliptic grid using the finite difference methodology. The unsteady equations are marched in time by using a semi-implicit pressure correction (projection)
scheme. Along with the time marching of the governing equations, utilizing the mesh velocities and the forward Eulertime integration also moves the mesh points. The effect of Reynolds number (Re) is investigated on the flapping flight propulsion is investigated. It is found that there exists
a critical Reynolds number (Rec) for every frequency after which there exists a thrust force. The effect of Rec is related to transformation of neutral wake to thrust generating wake. It is also found that the optimal frequency corresponds to a reduced frequency parameter of 0.7 where a lock
in exists. It is also found that this Stc is independent of Re and the mode of vortex shedding is same at Re = 100 and 200 for Stc = 0.7. Further, it is shown that the mode of vortex shedding present is always helpful in thrust generation.
Microstructure Construction of Pearl Necklace Like Structured Fe3O4/MWCNT Composites for Li-Ion Battery
Authors: Liu Heng , Tang Wenyi , Zhang Mu , Sun Xudong
Published: July 2021

The unique “necklace-like” structure of Fe3O4/MWCNT composites endows it with excellent electrochemical performance. The “necklace-like” nanostructure of Fe3O4/MWCNT designed to overcome the limits of Fe3O4’s
low conductivity. Lithium ions pass through the tubular tunnel of MWCNT to reach the center of Fe3O4 microspheres, and thus a redox reaction that diffuses from the inside to the outside occurs. The microstructure of nano Fe3O4/MWCNT composites was
designed by adjusting the addition amount of Fe3+, solvothermal time, addition amount of precipitant and electrochemical redox reaction. Realize the control of Fe3O4 microsphere size from 100 nm to 400 nm, the optimal discharge specific capacity of the composite
material is as high as 1080 mAh/g, and it has good cycle reversibility. The adjustment of experimental parameters is used to realize the controllable preparation of the size, density, and microstructure composition of the composite material, and the Fe3O4/MWCNT microstructure
adjustment is achieved by means of the redox reaction and ion implantation in the electrochemical reaction process.
Design and Simulation Analysis of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Robot Using Multi Photoelectric Sensors
Authors: Zhu Lihua
Published: July 2021

Robot technology integrates motion control, information fusion and wireless communication technology. Among them, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology is the key to realize robot autonomous navigation. In this exploration, multi photoelectric sensors are used for
information fusion to solve the nonlinear and uncertain problems of robot navigation system in obstacle avoidance. The acoustic optical sensor and photoelectric sensor are integrated to collect the information of the surrounding environment. The photoelectric encoder of the drive motor is
used to control the direct current machine with fuzzy PID closed-loop control. The methods of extended Kalman filter based SLAM (EKF-SLAM) and particle filter based SLAM (PF-SLAM), which are commonly used in navigation problems, are studied and compared. The proposed SLAM system adopts ARM11
high performance processor structure of S3C6410. ARM processor is responsible for task management, input and output, acoustic optical sensor can provide distance and position information, and photoelectric sensor can provide two-dimensional plane information. Their information fusion helps
to restore the three-dimensional information of the environment around the robot. In the simulation analysis, the robot moves in a circular way on the horizontal ground. SLAM algorithm based on the information fusion of multi photoelectric sensors can help the robot better perceive the surrounding
environment in unknown environment, increase the movement distance and reduce the overall positioning error; the robot can avoid obstacles well in autonomous mode after hardware and algorithm debugging. In the remote control mode, the movement of the robot can be adjusted by controlling the
direction.
Evaluation of Breakdown Voltage and Water Content in Transformer Oil Using Multi Frequency Ultrasonic and Generalized Regression Neural Network
Authors: Su Yang , Liu Ming-Hui , Kong Xu-Hui , Guo Chen-Jun , Zhu Jiang , Li Xiu-Ming , Zhou Qu
Published: July 2021

Power transformer is regarded as one of the crucial part of electrical power transmission and distribution system. The quality of transformer oil can directly affect the operation of the power transformer, and breakdown voltage (BDV) and water content are the two main parameters of
transformer oil quality. Monitoring the BDV and water content of transformer oil is considered as an important method to evaluate the safe operation of power systems. This work proposes the measurement of BDV and water content in transformer oil using multi frequency ultrasonic and generalized
regression neural network (GRNN). The BDV and water content of all 210 samples were firstly tested according to the traditional testing methods and the multi frequency ultra-sonic technology, separately. And then the 210 samples were randomly divided into training sets and test sets. The obtained
multi frequency ultrasonic data were set as the input of GRNN, and the BDV and water content as the output of GRNN. Moreover, the 20-fold-cross-validation was incorporated to obtain the best smoothing factor δ for GRNN. Finally, the GRNN model was trained by the training sets with δ
=4.54 and was evaluated with the test sets. All results show that the lower BDV or the higher water content of the sample will cause greater ultrasonic sound attenuation, and the prediction accuracy of the prediction model for BDV and water con-tent in oil is up to 95%. It provides a new method
for evaluating the health of transformer oil.
A Novel Type of Feature Extraction Algorithm Based on Multi-Directional Analysis for Visual Optical Electronic Nose
Authors: Zhang Wen-Li , Liu Zhao-Yu , Wang Heng , Liang Kun , Zhao Zhen-Zhen , Wang Yi , Liu Jian-Qiang
Published: July 2021

According to the fact that the response images of a visual optical electronic nose (E-nose) have a huge amount of data, various frequency components and complex periodic and directional information, a novel type of visual optical E-nose (VOE-nose) feature extraction algorithm based
on multi-directional analysis by directional filter bank (DFB) was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the gas sensing model of the VOE-nose was introduced, and the basic principle of DFB algorithm for feature extraction was described. Second, response images of NO2 in different wavebands
were collected by the VOE-nose platform. Third, typical feature extraction and DFB feature extraction algorithms were used to extract features of response data, then the feature dimension reduction and pattern recognition algorithms were used to analyze the features. The mean classification
accuracy is more than 95%, which verifies the superiority of the DFB feature extraction algorithm.
Bringing Microphysics to the Masses: The Blowing Snow Observations at the University of North Dakota: Education through Research (BLOWN-UNDER) Campaign
Authors: Kennedy Aaron , Scott Aaron , Loeb Nicole , Sczepanski Alec , Lucke Kaela , Marquis Jared , Waugh Sean
Published: July 2021

Harsh winters and hazards such as blizzards are synonymous with the northern Great Plains of the United States. Studying these events is difficult; the juxtaposition of cold temperatures and high winds makes microphysical observations of both blowing and falling snow challenging. Historically, these observations have been provided by costly hydrometeor imagers that have been deployed for field campaigns or at select observation sites. This has slowed the development and validation of microphysics parameterizations and remote sensing retrievals of various properties. If cheaper, more mobile instrumentation can be developed, this progress can be accelerated. Further, lowering price barriers can make deployment of instrumentation feasible for education and outreach purposes. The Blowing Snow Observations at the University of North Dakota: Education through Research (BLOWN-UNDER) Campaign took place during the winter of 2019/20 to investigate strategies for obtaining microphysical measurements in the harsh North Dakota winter. Student led, the project blended education, outreach, and scientific objectives. While a variety of in situ and remote sensing instruments were deployed for the campaign, the most novel aspect of the project was the development and deployment of OSCRE, the Open Snowflake Camera for Research and Education. Images from this instrument were combined with winter weather educational modules to describe properties of snow to the public, K–12 students, and members of indigenous communities through a tribal outreach program. Along with an educational deployment of a Doppler on Wheels mobile radar, nearly 1,000 individuals were reached during the project.
Is There Interdecadal Variation in the South Asian High?
Authors: Zhang Dapeng , Huang Yanyan , Zhou BoTao , Wang Huijun
Published: July 2021

The decadal intensification of the South Asian high (SAH) after the late 1970s, which is determined based on the geopotential height (H), is suspicious due to the lifting effect upon H caused by global warming. The updated reanalysis datasets ERA5 and JRA-55 indicate that the anticyclone in the upper troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau is relatively weak during 1980–2018 compared to that during 1950–79. This decadal weakening of the SAH after 1979 can also be observed in the radiosonde observation data. Correspondingly, the SAH defined by eddy geopotential height (H′) reflects a consistent decadal weakening variation. The decadal weakening of SAH detected from H′ after the late 1970s matches with a decadal southward shift of the East Asian westerly jet, causing ascending motions over the Yangtze River valley and descending motions over North China. Moreover, the decadal weakening and westward shift of the SAH is accompanied with positive relative vorticity anomalies over the northwest Pacific in the upper troposphere, which implies a declining and eastward shift of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and a weakened East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). Hence, the decadal weakening of the SAH after the late 1970s may contribute to the Yangtze River flooding/North China drought pattern through its connection with other circulation systems of EASM.
Spectrum of Near-Storm Environments for Significant Severe Right-Moving Supercells in the Contiguous United States
Authors: Warren Robert A. , Richter Harald , Thompson Richard L.
Published: July 2021

Proximity soundings have long been used to explore how the vertical structure of temperature, humidity, and winds influence convective storms and their associated hazards. In severe thunderstorm research and forecasting, convective parameters are often used to summarize certain characteristics of the sounding. While extremely useful, these parameters are unable to describe the rich complexity that is readily apparent in hodographs and skew T–logp diagrams. Motivated by a desire to retain more of these details, the present study uses self-organizing maps (SOMs) to group soundings based on their full vertical structure. The analysis makes use of a sample of more than 10 000 model proximity soundings for right-moving supercells associated with tornadoes and significant severe hail and straight-line winds in the contiguous United States (CONUS). Separate SOMs are developed for the wind and thermodynamic profiles, each with 3 × 3 nodes, resulting in a set of nine hodographs and nine skew T–logp diagrams that broadly represent the spectrum of near-storm environments for significant severe right-moving supercells in the CONUS. Both SOMs are shown to provide a good representation of the variability in key convective parameters, although, for the thermodynamic SOM, variations in LCL heights and midlevel lapse rates are somewhat limited. Based on the soundings assigned to them, the SOM nodes are characterized in terms of their associated hazards, their relationship with storm mode and mesocyclone strength, and their spatial and temporal variability. Potential applications of the SOMs in severe weather forecasting and idealized numerical simulations are also highlighted.
Location, Location, Location? School District, Length of Residence and Attitudes Toward Diversity and Neighborhood Schools in the Upper South
Authors: Alexander Alyssa J. , Parcel Toby L.
Published: July 2021

Attitudes toward diversity and neighborhood schools matter because they underlie many families’ decisions for residential location, with consequences for both school systems and students. Case studies of desegregation highlight locational dynamics that influence these outcomes, but differences in theory and methods limit rigorous comparisons among residents across such areas. This study focuses on two under-researched correlates of these preferences toward school assignment models: school district location and length of residence in that district. We evaluate whether school district location and length of residence decrease support for diverse schools and increase support for neighborhood schools, net of numerous controls. We use an innovative new dataset that features opinion polling of respondents’ views of public school assignments in Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; Louisville, KY; Rock Hill, SC; and Nashville, TN (5302 cases). We find that compared to having lived in a school district 7 years or less, living in that district over 15 years decreases support for diversity. Furthermore, living all one’s life in a district increases support for neighborhood schools. We also find that Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Rock Hill, and Nashville districts are less supportive of neighborhood schools than Raleigh, but that there are also interactive effects between length of residence and school district location. These results shed light on district differences in social forces leading to school resegregation.
Agility as the Discovery of Slowness
Authors: Prange Christiane
Published: July 2021

How can companies avoid the agility acceleration trap and align their level of agility with environmental complexity to include reflection and slowness? An answer to this question is pertinent to understanding the real value of agility, which is often equated with speed. This article introduces a framework for analyzing agility through three kinds of change—resilient, versatile, and transformational—with respect to the level of environmental turbulence. The value of this framework is demonstrated by company examples where “agility as slowness” in some areas and “agility as speed” in other dimensions provide a basis for competitive advantages.
Applying and Evaluating Engagement and Application-Based Learning and Education (ENABLE): A Student-Centered Learning Pedagogy for the Course Database Management System
Authors: Naik Shefali , Gajjar Kunjal
Published: July 2021

Ahmedabad University has evolved a framework “ENABLE.” Through ENABLE, concepts are taught from the context of real world. Industry projects are assigned to groups of students where they get engaged in real scenarios. Theoretical concepts are introduced as and when needed during the project implementation. Faculty serve as facilitators rather than teachers. Grasping and understanding complex concepts become much easier through ENABLE. Students are evaluated continuously through quizzes, presentations, class participation, assignments, peer feedback, and so on. In this article, the detailed implementation of ENABLE for the course Database Management System has been described.
Model abstraction for discrete-event systems by binary linear programming with applications to manufacturing systems
Authors: Cheng Lihong , Feng Lei , Li Zhiwu
Published: July 2021

Model abstraction for finite state automata is helpful for decreasing computational complexity and improving comprehensibility for the verification and control synthesis of discrete-event systems (DES). Supremal quasi-congruence equivalence is an effective method for reducing the state space of DES and its effective algorithms based on graph theory have been developed. In this paper, a new method is proposed to convert the supremal quasi-congruence computation into a binary linear programming problem which can be solved by many powerful integer linear programming and satisfiability (SAT) solvers. Partitioning states to cosets is considered as allocating states to an unknown number of cosets and the requirement of finding the coarsest quasi-congruence is equivalent to using the least number of cosets. The novelty of this paper is to solve the optimal partitioning problem as an optimal state-to-coset allocation problem. The task of finding the coarsest quasi-congruence is equivalent to the objective of finding the least number of cosets. Then the problem can be solved by optimization methods, which are respectively implemented by mixed integer linear programming (MILP) in MATLAB and binary linear programming (BLP) in CPLEX. To reduce the computation time, the translation process is first optimized by introducing fewer decision variables and simplifying constraints in the programming problem. Second, the translation process formulates a few techniques of converting logic constraints on finite automata into binary linear constraints. These techniques will be helpful for other researchers exploiting integer linear programming and SAT solvers for solving partitioning or grouping problems. Third, the computational efficiency and correctness of the proposed method are verified by two different solvers. The proposed model abstraction approach is applied to simplify the large-scale supervisor model of a manufacturing system with five automated guided vehicles. The proposed method is not only a new solution for the coarsest quasi-congruence computation, but also provides us a more intuitive understanding of the quasi-congruence relation in the supervisory control theory. A future research direction is to apply more computationally efficient solvers to compute the optimal state-to-coset allocation problem.
“I Hope I Make It”: Alternative School Students’ Attendance and the Need for an Expanded Accountability
Authors: Ewing Eve L. , Davis Bridgette , Guz Samantha
Published: July 2021

Few empirical studies describe the interior world of alternative school settings. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 alternative school students, discussing factors that contribute to absenteeism as well as the circumstances that led them to enroll in an alternative setting. We find that students’ regular attendance is facilitated by (1) stable housing, (2) a means of transportation to school, (3) feelings of belonging, and (4) flexible supports from staff. Given that two of these pertain to matters beyond the school, we argue for an “expanded accountability,” in which the language of “accountability” is broadened to encompass non-educational policymaking.
Obama and the use of force: a discursive institutionalist analysis of Libya and Syria
Authors: Rees Morgan Thomas
Published: July 2021

What factors explain variation in decisions to use force in American foreign policy? Consider the Obama administration’s decision to intervene in Libya. Upon assuming office, Obama outlined a foreign policy marked by a self-professed doctrine, ‘don’t do stupid shit’. In short, Obama sought to avoid the unnecessary use of military force, but when the threat of mass atrocity emerged, despite strong protests from senior advisers, he became drawn into the 2011 Libya intervention. By contrast, following chemical weapon attacks in Syria in 2013, Obama reneged on upholding his so-called ‘red-line’, pursuing diplomatic measures even though support for a military response was strong. But what explains this variation? Rationalist perspectives across the board have tended to overrate interpretive efficiency. Yet, such assumptions obscure the capacity for interests to be interpreted in different ways. To redress this issue, I build on discursive institutionalist insights, developing a model to show how principled and cognitive ideas act as weapons in institutional debates, serving to repress or displace information. To show how agents come to rely on principled or cognitive ideas, I develop a three-part model offering two mechanisms – cognitive repression and normative displacement – by which agents displace and repress certain types of information, depending on the ‘form’ in which that information is presented. This enables a more comprehensive understanding of how different interpretations lead to policy variation at critical moments of decision.
Dams and the Age of Abundance: Hydraulic Boosterism, Regional Growth, and the Reemergence of Water Scarcity in Central Texas
Authors: Busch Andrew M.
Published: July 2021

Austin, Texas, has long been a fast-growing city associated with high technology, live music, creative economic sectors, and an abundance of cultural capital. These traits, along with its location in the Sunbelt, usually explain its rapid and consistent growth. This essay argues that an artificial abundance of water, created by a series of dams and reservoirs built from 1938 to 1960, is an important factor in Austin’s development. Dams and water incentivized real estate development, provided power and recreational opportunities, and created an attractive image that leaders used to promote the city. Rapid growth caused by artificial abundance, however, also masked the city’s environmental risk and threatens to undermine its resilience as climate events like droughts become more frequent and intense. Thus, technocratic solutions to urban environmental problems often become problems themselves as their impacts on the landscape become naturalized over time.
You and I Both: Self-Compassion Reduces Self–Other Differences in Evaluation of Showing Vulnerability
Authors: Bruk Anna , Scholl Sabine G. , Bless Herbert
Published: July 2021

People tend to be overly critical of their own displays of vulnerability, whereas observers evaluate others’ showing of vulnerability rather positively (beautiful mess effect). We propose that self-compassion might buffer against such misperceptions of one’s own vulnerabilities. When confronted with challenging situations, self-compassionate people are kind to themselves, see adversity as inevitable, and face the difficulty of their circumstances without overexaggeration. Thus, we hypothesized reduced self–other differences in the evaluation of showing vulnerability in self-compassionate individuals. The hypothesis was addressed in four studies. The first two studies measured self-compassion either immediately (Study 1a) or substantially (Study 1b) before participants evaluated showing of vulnerability. Studies 2 and 3 tested the generalizability of the hypothesis across different situations as well as the discriminant validity of self-compassion’s role in the reduction of the beautiful mess effect. Implications for research and practice are discussed.